The Nation November 26, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

Thugs on the rampage in Ibadan

My battle against cancer, by Soyinka

NEWS Page 8

NEWS Page 6

•‘Disease not a death sentence’

•Hoodlums burn homes, cars

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 3044 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

CBN devalues naira

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From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

HE battle to save the naira may have been lost, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday devaluing the currency.

The move is aimed at curtailing speculations against the currency, which has been battered by the relentless slide in the price of oil.

The CBN increased the benchmark interest rate to 13% from 12%. Nine of the 11 members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted for the devaluation. The naria is now to trade at N168 to $1 from the previous N155.

Continued on page 4

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Buhari: Jonathan not ready for free polls

•Interest rate now 13%

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•www.thenationonlineng.net

•Gen. Buhari

LL Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant Gen. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday knocked President Goodluck Jonathan administration for the invasion of the APC’s data centre in Lagos.

He said the clampdown was a foretaste of things to come in next year’s general elections.

Gen. Buhari said the government had shown that it would not conduct “anything resembling free and fair elec-

•APC’s criticism angers PDP From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

tions”.

He said the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was growing by the hour.

The aspirant, who made his position known in a statement in Abuja through his aide, Sabi’u Tunde, asked the Presidency to stop “defending the

indefensible”. The Directorate of State Security (DSS) said it stormed the data centre because it suspected that it was habouring illegal activities.

Gen. Buhari expressed regrets that the Federal Government was pushing the nation into chaos.

The statement said: “Almost everyday, the Jonathan presidency seems intent on demonstrating for Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: REVOLUTION LIKELY, SAYS AKANBI P5 EKITI HOUSE G-19 REJECTS EXCO P9

Disguised women bombers kill scores in market attack 98 injured in blasts Governor condemns ‘wicked’ bombers

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From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

CORES of people – a figure put at between 45 and 67 – were yesterday killed in a Maiduguri, Borno State capital market after two explosions. There were about 98 injured; about 30 shops and stalls destroyed and at least 25 vehicles razed.

Two women suicide bombers hit a densely populated line in the Monday market.

Two bombs were detonated, the first one at about 11.20am and the second at about noon by women in hijab, disguising as mothers.

As people gathered to assess the impact of the first blast, a second bomb was detonated by a woman who concealed explosives under her “hijab and strapped to her back”, pretending to be carrying a baby, witnesses said.

“The woman wrapped the explosives on her back, just like a baby and manoeuvred her way to the scene of the earlier explosion,” market merchant Abubakar Bello told French News Agency (AFP), whose account was supported by three other people “While the people were trying to help the injured, the second bomb blasted,” another witness, Sani Adamu, told Reuters.

Health worker Dogara Shehu said he counted more than “45 people killed, some of them completely decapitated” in an account backed up by a witness, who declined to give his name.

Another eye witness, Ali Zanna Kumalia, a WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS traders told our correKIDNAPPED ON spondent that “ around

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APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

Continued on page 4

•A girl sits beside a man injured in the double bomb attacks...yesterday.

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PHOTO: AFP

The woman wrapped the explosives on her back, just like a baby and manoeuvred her way to the scene of the earlier explosion

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•MILITARY INSISTS ON STATE OF EMERGENCY P5 P577 WHO: 300M ARE DIABETIC P5

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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NEWS

Devaluation of B

• Systems Engineer Manager, Levant and Emerging Africa Region, EMC, Mr. Travers Nicholas; Manager, Information Systems, Addax Petroleum, Mr. Shola Sani; Vice-President and Global Chief Technology Officer (CTO), EMC Sales, Patricia Florissi and Director of Information Technology, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Rasheed Adegoke at the 2014 edition of the EMC Forum in Lagos.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

•From left: Director, Business Segments, Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Olusegun Aganga and SMEDAN Director-General Alhaji Umar Bature Masari at the maiden edition of Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Summit in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

•From left: Legal Debt Recovery Officer, Somotex Nig Ltd, Mr Erhuanya Araghai; Managing Director, Somotex, Mr Anil Mohinani; Regional Manager, West Africa Eaton, Charles Iyo; and Country Manager, Eaton, Temitayo Awojole at the PHOTO: ADEOLA SOLOMON partnership signing between Somotex and Eaton in Lagos.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives Prince Gbolahan Lawal briefing the media on Seafood Festival 2014 in Lagos. With him from left are: Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Yakub Olajide and Category Manager Culinary (Commercial Officer) Nestle Nig.Plc Mr. Nordine Meguini.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

EFORE now, it had been widely speculated, and even canvassed, that the naira should be devalued, against the dollar and other major foreign currencies. Yesterday’s eventual intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) merely lent credence to what some public commentators felt was long overdue.

What CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele announced in Abuja the devaluation of the naira, the increase of the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 100 basis point from 12 per cent to 13 per cent, the adjustment of the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) for Private Sector Deposits and the gamut of the other pronouncements, are bound to have reverberating effects, in both micro and macro dimensions.

The first culprit of the increase in MPR, of course, is the real sector.

The cost of loanable funds would have risen, as a direct consequence of the raise in the base lending rate.

The development will be counterproductive, and against the thrust of the government’s touted plan to create jobs. There is an indirect correlation between increased interest rate and job creation.

The devaluation of the naira will lead to a chain of reactions, many of which may not have the intended results. For a largely monolithic-economy, one that largely depends on oil, the expectation that a devalued naira will drive export of local products, which do not exist in the required volume for now, will create additional burden on the populace, the reason being that the cost of consumables, across the board, will escalate. When you juxtapose the consequence of an inflation induced policy on an economy, nay the people who do not possess a corresponding purchasing power, by reason of unemployment, the consequences are better imagined than experienced.

No doubt there is the expectation that the government’s revenue, in terms of naira will move up, because of the wide exchange rate disparity between the dollar and the local currency. However, the point must be made that this expectation may be unrealisable of two variables- the falling oil prices and lower crude production aggregate.

Is there any escape-route? Certainly, but the question remains if Nigerians have been sufficiently sensitised to brace for this situation.

In the developed nation’s when currencies are devalued, it is to encourage exports, because the prices of local products serve as an incentive and a toast for foreign buyers.

In the process, they earn foreign exchange, increase production and create additional jobs. Unfortunately, that is not the position with Nigeria.

Another issue would be that Nigeria will have greater difficulty in paying its external debts, which are on a growing trajectory. Earning less foreign exchange in the face of growing external debts, is an illwind that blows no one good.

Varied reactions have greeted the policy shift. Renowned economist Henry Boyo described the eight per cent devaluation of the naira as “a big mistake”. He said the policy shift remained a wrong concept that will persist because the CBN has learnt nothing from history. He said the devaluation will even move to 20 per cent as the black market continues to outstrip the official rate.

Boyo said the prices of goods and services will gradually go up, as importers add the increase to the cost of goods and services. He equally sees the price of fuel going up, despite declining oil price.

•Emefiele

By Simeon Ebulu and Collins Nweze

He said Nigeria has learnt nothing from what happened to the Ghanaian and Zimbabwean currencies. “I see the naira being devalued by 20 per cent as time progresses. I have repeatedly said that mopping up the naira to achieve exchange rate stability is wrong. The CBN substitution of the naira allocations for dollar should be stopped. Allocations should be divided based on dollar certificates.

The exchange rate for the naira will continue to fall,” he said.

Managing Director, Head, Africa Macro Global Research, Razia Khan expressed surprises over the MPC meeting.

She said: “Wow! Big surprises from the CBN. Although we had forecast some CRR tightening, and an Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) devaluation to a more realistic level, the CBN MPC has exceeded expectations”.

For her, the CBN has shown absolute commitment to dealing with current challenges. They have not shied away from the tightening needed to sustain current foreign exchange reserves. The official devaluation of the naira, she said, allows the RDAS to move within the range that straddles the interbank foreign exchange rate.

“While the market reaction to the RDAS move in the near-term will be important, we think that these measures deal as comprehensively as possible with the challenges facing Nigeria. While Nigeria cannot do much to influence the oil price, the combination of measures today (yesterday) sends a powerful signal to all stakeholders on the CBN’s intent to do what it can to preserve macroeconomic stability,” she said.

Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital (RenCap), Charles Robertson, said the combination of a devaluation – with a rate hike and a reduction in liquidity via the CRR hike shows the CBN is serious about defending the new currency level.

He explained that the CBN took the decision based on emerging economic realities. The fall in oil price has undermined reserves position, and weakened CBN’s ability to defend the naira. FX reserves currently stand at 7 months of import cover.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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NEWS

on of naira... the good, the bad, the ugly

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We have about $4 billion -slightly more than $4 billion saved that we can fall back on.

We could have had more --but that's what we have at the moment. And then we have revenue-raising measures. Since our economic base has been shown to be much broader than we thought, we have kicked in measures to raise non- oil revenues

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Devaluation good for our business, says MTN A

FRICA’S largest telecoms operator, MTN, put a positive gloss on yesterday’s devaluation of the naira, saying the weaker currency would also reduce costs in its biggest African market.

Along with Standard Bank, Tiger Brands and Massmart, MTN is one of many South African companies tapping Africa’s largest economy and most populous market.

Nigeria is the biggest of MTN’s 22 operations across Africa and the Middle East and On the 2015 budget, he said the MPC’s budget oil price of proposal of $73/ barrel may be optimistic adding that the low oil price environment gives Treasury the opportunity to remove fuel subsidy. He said the MPC is positive about the inflation outlook, despite weaker naira and that inflation pressures have moderated in recent months.

The naira is under further pressure in the interbank market owing to strong dollar demand, the recent, sharp fall in Brent oil prices (down 23 per cent since late June), and uncertainty over the effect of normali-

A

contributed more than a third of the company’s 72.8 billion rand ($6.6 billion) revenue in the first half of this year.

Nigeria’s central bank devalued the naira by 8 percent on Tuesday after Governor Godwin Emefiele admitted plunging oil prices were making it hard to defend the currency.

MTN declined to quantify the impact on its revenues of the devaluation, which was triggered by a sharply weaker interbank naira rate over the last two months. However, it

sation of US monetary policy.

Minister of Finance Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala last week painted the sorry picture of the economy as a result of the ol price drop.

She told the CNN: “If you have an economy that depends on revenues as oil for 70 per cent of its revenues, you always are never comfortable. You always are waiting, and you always have plans in case oil prices fall.

“So, even though this has put us in an uncomfortable position, the issue is how are we dealing with it?

And we are reacting to it swiftly.

noted that the currency movement would also reduce its costs.

“We endeavour to have as large a portion as possible of our costs in each operation denominated in local currency, which would in turn offer some protection against the currency movement,” it said in a statement.

Although the naira is near a record low against the dollar, it is faring slightly better against South Africa’s rand , MTN’s

“We've taken down the benchmark price at which we were going to do our 2015 budget, and even our medium-term framework from $78 to $73, but that's not all.

“We have a scenario-based approach so that even if oil falls below the $73, we'll kick in with additional revenue raising and expenditure cuts. “ And coupled with appropriate monetary policies, I think we can manage a softer landing for the economy.

“I don't want to prejudge what OPEC will do, but that would be

reporting currency.

The naira has weakened nearly 7 percent against the rand this year, hitting a low of 16.23 naira this week, its softest since October 2013, but is still relatively strong compared to levels above 23.50 seen in 2011.

At its first-half earnings in August, MTN said rand weakness against the naira had supported group revenues.

helpful, I think. We want something that is fair to both producers and consumers. And if OPEC takes a balanced approach to both, then that is fine with us.

“We've not been waiting, folding our hands, waiting for this to happen. It's very difficult if 70 percent of your revenues come from oil.

And you have to be ready.

So, what we had done was put in a mechanism whereby we could save during times when oil prices were high, and we did manage to save a little bit. We have about $4 billion -- slightly more than $4 bil-

lion saved that we can fall back on.

We could have had more --but that's what we have at the moment. And then we have revenue-raising measures. Since our economic base has been shown to be much broader than we thought, we have kicked in measures to raise non- oil revenues.

When we've been working very hard in our Internal Revenue Service to strengthen our tax administration. We've had some success.

We've just raised a half billion more dollars, equivalent, in revenues this year alone. And we are shooting to go up to a billion next year.”

DAME awards: Encomiums for The Nation

N elder statesman, Chief Oladeji Fasuan and the first winner of the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) in Judicial Reporting, Gbolahan Gbadamosi, yesterday congratulated The Nation for her sterling feat at the DAME awards.

Chief Fasuan, the Jagunmolu of Ado-Ekiti, said The Nation since debuts climbed straight the top of the ladder where others were still struggling.

“Pointing to your significant success in a field crowded with all sorts of publications, some modern, some pedestal, you did not start at the bottom of the ladder, you climbed straight to the top of the greasy pole of your profession,” he said.

Chief Fasuan stated: “The intellect, depth, incisiveness and knowledge which your editorial writers, commentators and analysts bring into the profession and the Nigerian society at large almost has no equal since the (Nnamdi) Azikiwe days.

“No, I cannot miss a copy of your daily and weekend newspapers. Your back page writers and

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

commentators are must read for me and other discerning Nigerians. The accolades given to your paper are well deserved and should be sustained.”

Gbadamosi, in a congratulatory message, urged The Nation’s Senior Correspondent, Mr Joseph Jibueze who won the Judicial Reporting award to repeat the feat next year.

He described Jibueze as “a brilliant young man who strives to carry the banner of best tradition in reporting of the judiciary from trail blazers like Kayode Williams, Richard Akinola, Edeatan Ojo, Lawal Ogienagbon, Sina Aiyekoti, Kayode Matthew, Francis Famoroti, Mike Aruleba, Austin Agbonsunremi among others”.

Gbadamosi, the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), felicitated with the management of The Nation for the eight laurels, including the Newspaper of the Year.

Also, Mr Adeleke Adeyemo, a legal consultant

and a director of Vintage Press Limited, hailed the management, the Editorial Board and the members of staff for yet another season of awards.

The Nation, Adeyemo said, is indeed the best and its staff the brightest.

“The DAME Newspaper of the year Award and others are yet another challenge to keep ‘Still achieving still pursuing,’” he said.

Gbenga Omotoso emerged the Editor of the Year. Editorial Board Chairman 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 award-winner 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.

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.

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.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

NEWS

Disguised women bombers kill scores in market attack Continued from page 1

•THE MA TRIACH AT 99: Mama HID Awolowo greeting Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (left) and Delta State Governor MATRIACH Emmanuel Uduaghan during the church service to mark her 99th birthday at Efunyela Hall in the home of the Awolowos in Ikenne, Ogun State...yesterday

Continued from page 1

“Although we had forecast some tightening, the Central Bank has exceeded expectations,” said Razia Khan, head of African macro research at Standard Chartered Bank in London. “[It] has shown absolute commitment to dealing with current challenges [and] we think that these measures deal as comprehensively as possible with the challenges facing Nigeria,” she added.

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele announced the decision at the end of the MPC meeting. The last time the interest rate was tinkered with was exactly two years ago.

Other new monetary policy measures the CBN announced include increasing the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on private sector deposits by 500 basis points from 15 per cent to 20 per cent with immediate effect; widening the band around the midpoint by 200 basis points from +/-3 per cent to +/-5 per cent; retaining public sector CRR at its current level of 75 per cent; maintaining a symmetric corridor of +/- 200 basis points around the MPR; retaining public sector CRR at 75 per cent and retaining the foreign exchange trading position at one per cent.

CBN devalues naira

Emefiele said the Committee believed that “a more flexible naira in the face of non- existent fiscal buffers was the most viable policy option at a time of heightened demand pressure for foreign exchange and falling oil prices” The committee, he said, “was of the view that if it failed in taking the right policy actions now, the market would force the CBN to take more drastic actions in the future with far less foreign exchange reserves”.

Another reason for devaluing the naira, Emefiele pointed out, was the level of excess liquidity in the banking system. This development, he lamented, had made it imperative for the CBN “to address the sources of the foreign exchange demand pressure as a result, the Committee was of the opinion that the economy stood to gain by further tightening of monetary policy stance to anchor inflation expectations; and allowing some flexibility in the exchange rate to stem speculative activities and depletion of reserves.”

He said the CBN will confronts the issue of declining external reserves head-on in order to strengthen the value of the naira. Consequently, stabilising prices and maintaining exchange rate stability and chart-

ing a sustainable path for medium to long-term growth are the immediate top priorities.”

The CBN governor noted that the current economic challenges required bold policy moves on both the demand and supply sides of the foreign exchange market. “Consequently, bold policy and administrative measures in the management of the nation’s stock of foreign exchange reserves have become inevitable in order to align the market towards its long-run equilibrium path,” he said.

The Central Bank, he assured, “remains committed to a stable exchange rate within the limits of available resources and would continue to maintain sufficiently strong level of external reserves to meet its short term obligations and other regular balance of payments commitments”.

Emefiele stated that without prejudice to this commitment, Nigeria’s foreign exchange management framework “would have zero tolerance for infractions and would penalise economic agents whose primary objective is to speculate in the Nigerian market”.

With regards to the increased interest rate, Emefiele said the MPC was fully aware of the short run implications of a tight

monetary policy stance on lending and growth, but that “available data indicates that banking system liquidity has been lavishly deployed in pursuit of speculative foreign exchange trading at the short-end of the market”.

The MPC, he said, remains fully committed to the goal of promoting inclusive growth through lower interest rates in the medium- to long-term, but banks as agents of financial intermediation have a critical role to play in the nation’s development process.

A banking system with an overly high profit motive the CBN governor said “negates the core tenets of banking and purpose of a banking license. However, under the circumstance, monetary policy he said “must be bold and emphatic on the goals macroeconomic management seeks to achieve and encourage the flow of credit along those lines.”

Asked why it took the CBN so long to adjust the interest rate, Emefiele said the apex bank was “looking at what the impact will be if we tighten the monetary policy rates, regarding rising interest rates and all other consequences on the people”. “We thought that leaving it the way it was then will allow us to mon-

12 noon while people were carrying out their normal businesses at the famous Monday market, there was a blast, killing many traders.

Some of the dead and injured were evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and the Maiduguri General Hospital. Soldiers came to the scene later and started shooting in the air to disperse people.

Coordinator of Civilian-JTF Abba Aji Kalli told reporters in Maiduguri on telephone: “I am right here at the scene and I have before me 11 bodies yet to be evacuated. Many bodies have been taken away by relatives while others have been taken to the hospital.”

“We have many people that are seriously injured after the explosions,”, Kalli said.

“From what one of the survivors told me while being helped to get to the hospital, the bombers were two girls dressed in full hijab. One of them detonated herself and about three persons; all women were killed. Minutes after that when people came round to see what happened, another bomb went off after a girl screamed and many people, over 30 of them, got killed. We cannot say the exact figure for now because even before our arrival here some of the bodies had been taken away. Some, including those of the bombers, were mangled beyond recognition,” Kali said.

Abba Modu one of the traders who survived, said: “I was about 50 metres away from my shop when I heard the loud blast. I thank God for my life. It was just a little delay at home that saved my life.

“I had to join people to help the injured. I must say that it was not easy doing the job.”

A spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that “many people have been killed” but did not have an official death toll.

Neither the police nor the JTF issued a statement. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. But it bears the imprint

of Boko Haram, which is pursuing its plan to create a caliphate in the Northeast.

This is the first blast in Maiduguri metropolis since July 2, when a car laden with explosives was detonated not far from this area, killing 56 people, including traders.

The Borno State government said 54 people were admitted at the State Specialist Hospital, 14 of them critically injured.

Twenty were discharged.

Executive Secretary Hospital management Board, Dr Salisu Kwaya Bura, told Governor Kashim Shettima when he visited the victims at the hospital.

He said: “Out of this number, 14 who were critically injured have been referred to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for proper treatment while 20 have been discharged.”

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Sandar said 24 bodies were brought to the hospital but hospital sources said casualty was higher as some bodies were burnt beyond recognition.

Governor Shettima described the bombers as “wicked”, questioning “why would they choose the poor traders and children as targets”.

A source from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) who pleaded anonymity said over 40 bodies were brought to the hospital.

He said ambulances were also seen conveying the injured ones, with relations and friends running up and down in search of their loved one who left for the market in the morning.

The Borno Police confirmed the explosion.

Its spokesman Gideon Jubrin said the casualty figures were not available as at the time of the interview.

“We are just trying to get the details please,” he said.

There were reports that Boko Haram insurgents yesterday dispatched letters and pamphlets to residents of Kukawa town in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, informing them and the soldiers in the town of their plan to capture the town anytime soon.

Continued on page 57

Buhari: Jonathan not ready for free elections

Continued from page 1

all to see that they have mastered the art of how to push a nation into chaos within the shortest time possible.

“The early morning attack by security operatives on the APC data centre in Lagos on Saturday November 22nd is one such display in a growing chain of abuse and violation of the constitution and political rights of the people.

It is a reckless act that must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

“The APC Data Centre housed internal party membership information and also was an important vehicle to disseminate information to APC members.

“Yet, for conducting functions necessary and proper for a political party operating within the democratic context, the Centre became a hated target of the Jonathan government and the PDP.” He indicted the administration of being behind the attack on the APC data centre.

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APC’s criticism of President angers PDP

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be riled by the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) criticisms of the handling of critical national issues by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

A statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the party would no longer condone the “deliberate, unwarranted and sustained vicious attacks on the person and office of the President”.

The statement said the PDP had been watching carefully as “the rank and file of the APC, the governors, party leaders, presidential hopefuls and even sidekicks” compete “in a heavily subjective castigation of President Goodluck Jonathan with incendiary utterances, signposting its plans for the dastardly when it loses in next year’s general elections”.

The PDP accused the APC of working

The statement added: “The Jonathan government cannot claim ignorance. The security operatives conducting this illegal raid must have been ordered from Abuja. They would not have done what

cipitate an unprecedented electoral violence in which hundreds of innocent Nigerians lost their lives, yet, the same election was adjudged by local and international observers as the most credible in our recent history.

The PDP recalled that on November 5 at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, APC leaders asked President Jonathan to resign.

“It is therefore clear that the APC is not preparing for elections, rather actively planning to scheme itself into power in 2015 using violent uprising as replacement for peaceful polls “Nevertheless, we wish to assure all Nigerians that the PDP is not willing to kowtow the APC in this road to infamy but will remain focused in jealously protecting the interest of the nation while serving and confidently campaigning and marketing its manifesto to Nigerians.” ity was taking place at the people they have no intention Centre. These statements are of holding anything resemsuch plain lies. bling free and fair elections.

“These acts are but a fore“Their goal is not to create a taste of things to come. From level electoral playing field. these attacks, this government Their goal is to level the opis signaling to the Nigerian position into the dust through

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

in cahoots with the enemies of Nigeria “in an attempt to wreck our democracy and throw the nation into chaos, hence the urgency of the need to warn that enough is now enough.

“We know that the aim of the APC is to set the stage for violence, instill fear in Nigerians, discourage them from actively participating in the electoral process, thereby giving room for them to perpetrate all manner of electoral malpractices which is the only way they may hope to achieve political power in Nigeria.

“This position is reinforced by their constant threat to cause violent pandemonium when they lose the elections”.

The statement added: “Recall that today’s leaders of the APC had while contesting on different platforms in 2011, issued such threats and went ahead to pre-

they did unless given the mandate from their high bosses in Abuja.

“Attempting to defend the indefensible, they fabricate a story that the attack was necessary because criminal activ-

•Dr. Jonathan

the abuse of federal power.”

The APC presidential aspirant accused the PDP of becoming desperate to win next year’s poll at all cost.

The statement added: “The desperation of the PDP grows by the hour. Afraid they may be swept from office by the results of a free election fairly Continued on page 57

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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APC likens National Assembly invasion to coup

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the police invasion of the National Assembly last week was the equivalent of a coup.

It urged an independent enquiry to determine who ordered the invasion and for what purpose, to prevent a recurrence.

The party also said punishment should be meted out to culprits.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC said using weapons to attack an arm of the government and preventing it from carrying out its functions were tantamount to a coup, adding that the tear gas fired into the National Assembly by policemen was a chemical weapon.

‘’We are demanding an independent enquiry in view of the seriousness of the armed attack on the National Assembly and the danger it poses to our democracy. We are also alerting the international community to the happenings in Nigeria and urging them to show interest because of their investment in the country’s democracy,’’ it said.

APC said the denial by the Presidency of its involvement in the senseless attack was not enough to stop the fingerpointing at it (Presidency), especially because no one, not even the Inspector-General of Police, would have the temerity to stop the nation’s number four citizen from entering the National Assembly without an order from the President. ‘’This is why we have con-

•Urges enquiry tinuously held the President responsible for last week’s show of shame,’’ the party said, noting that the IG was just a tool in the hands of a President that had perhaps done more than any other President before him to truncate democracy. ‘’We make bold to say that President Goodluck Jonathan has worked assiduously to put Nigeria’s democracy in jeopardy, whether in Rivers where he backed a misguided police commissioner to usurp the constitutional duties of an elected governor, or in Ekiti State where he has so far refused to condemn the so-called impeachment of the Speaker by seven PDP members in a 26-member House of Assem-

bly. ‘’Also, besides the halfhearted and belated denial, the President has not condemned the attack on the National Assembly by the police. A President that is conversant with the dictates of the constitution, which he swore an oath to protect, would have gone ahead to make a national broadcast to condemn the police invasion of the Assembly and even promised to get to the root of the matter. Instead, our President has maintained an undignified silence in the face of the global outcry that has greeted the orchestrated police action,’’ it said.

APC advised President Jonathan to stop behaving as if he wanted to be the last President of a united Nigeria and to

stop actions inimical to the survival of democracy.

The party congratulated lawmakers, especially those who scaled the high gates of the National Assembly, for the sacrifices they made to defend democracy.

It said the legislators, by their action, risked their lives for the survival of democracy, hence they were heroes. ‘’The lawmakers, who united across party lines last week to restore the integrity of the House of Representatives and prevent an attempt to truncate our democracy, are heroes, because if they had not done what they did, no one could have imagined the consequences of the orchestrated police action against the National Assembly.

‘Over 197,500 visa applications processed last year’

‘’The senators, who stormed the House in sympathy and solidarity with their colleagues, including Senate President David Mark, should also be hailed for resisting tyranny and confronting anti-democratic forces,’’ APC said.

3,433 lawyers called to Bar •Awolowo’s grandson, Mimiko’s daughter too From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

T

By Precious Igbonwelundu

T

HE United States (US) Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria has said over 197, 500 visa applications were processed last year, including immigrant and nonimmigrant applications.

US Embassy Consular Chief Stacie Hankins spoke at a video conference aimed at highlighting the new visa procedures.

The embassy said 15,500 immigrant visa applications were received last year, 14, 900 of the applications were granted; while the majority of the more than 182,000 nonimmigrant visa applications for the same year were also approved.

“Between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013, the embassy in Abuja and consulate in Lagos received more than 182, 000 non-immigrant visa applications, of which 65 per cent was approved.

“Between October 1, 2013 and September 30, this year, we received more than 220, 000 applications. Again, the majority of those applications were approved,” said Hankins.

She said the US visa application witnessed a steady increase in the last five years, adding that the mission did not foresee a decline in the trend.

Since the bulk of visa nonimmigrant applicant fall within the tourists and student categories, Hankins said the embassy had expanded its distribution centres to Port Harcourt.

“As is the case with our DHL partner locations in Lagos and Abuja, visa applicants with approved applications can now collect their passports with their new visas from the DHL collection centre in Port Harcourt.

“Applicants will have the option of selecting any one of the three sites as their pickup location when they complete their online application. Similarly, applicants, who qualify for the drop box renewal programme, can submit their passports and applications to the Port Harcourt collection centre.”

•Mohammed

•From left: Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam; Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam; President Goodluck Jonathan; Kebbi State Governor Sa’idu Dakingari and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Environment, Uche Ekwunife, unveiling a plaque at the inauguration of the Great Green Wall project in Birnin-Kebbi...yesterday.

300m are diabetic, says WHO

T

HE World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that about three hundred million people worldwide have diabetes, while over one million died as a result of the ailment in 2012.

Also, five million Nigerians are estimated to be diabetic and less than 50 per cent of them are aware of their condition.

WHO said the condition had become a major public health concern and the burden “is increasing globally, especially in developing countries.

The Country Representative, WHO, Dr Rui Vaz, said an estimated 347 million people had diabetes worldwide with about 1.5 million deaths caused by the disease in 2012.

Vaz, who was represented by Dr. Mary Stephen, said more than 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occurred in low and middle income countries.

“In Sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 8 per cent of the

From Vincent Ikuomola and Kehinde Ore, Abuja

population above 25 years have diabetes.

“However, most people with diabetes in Africa are unaware of their condition and therefore do not seek treatment.

Untreated, uncontrolled or poorly managed diabetes leads to complications, such as heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, lower limb amputations, visual impairment and blindness. But, the good news is that healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes,” Vas added.

The Minister of State and Supervising Minister for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, said the challenges posed by the disease called for increased prevention among the nation’s population.

Pledging Federal Government’s support to the diabetes

group, the minister said the theme for this year’s commemoration, “Healthy Living and Diabetes,” had given greater room for more awareness on the disease.

He said: “Diabetes is increasingly becoming an epidemic in developing countries like Nigeria, especially among adolescents and young adults. This is partly due to the rapid socio-cultural change being experienced in most developing countries, leading to the adoption of new lifestyles and risky behaviours. Trade, foreign investiments and promotional marketing involved in economic development encourage these unhealthy lifestyles.

“The two major types of diabetes are types 1 and 2. In Nigeria and most parts of the world, type 2 diabetes constitutes about 96 per cent of all diabetic cases.

Fortunately, type 2 can be prevented and controlled by avoid-

ing risky behaviours and unhealthy lifestyle. The modifiable shared risk factors for diabetes include tobacco use, unhealthy nutrition, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol. The clustering of these risk factors in an individual predisposes him or her to diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.”

The President, Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Mr. Sunny Chinneye, said yesterday in Abuja at a briefing to mark this year’s World Diabetic Day that over a million people with the condition had registered in the association from different parts of the country.

He said people should desist from consuming alcohol, excessive fatty meals and smoking, noting that healthy weight and being physically active would prevent the disease.

Chinneye warned that the diseases had no cure, but could be prevented.

Revolution possible in Nigeria, says Akanbi

T

HE former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd), has said there is likely to be a revolution in the country because of disregard and negligence of poor masses.

He said Nigeria was not different from other countries that had moved forward through revolution by

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

its oppressed citizens.

Justice Akanbi briefed reporters yesterday on the launching of his autobiography, which will hold today in Abuja.

He said: “If you watch, the AU and the world frown at violent revolution. When someone gets there with that, it’s not recognised and pressure is mounted to make sure you go through the

democratic rule.

“But if you see what happened at Wagadugu recently when they had to go and burn some places, it’s not a coup as such but it’s a demonstration to show that the people are not going to take it. Hong Kong, before it became a corruption free country, it was the people who rose up as a body to challenge the police.

“When you push people

and they have their back on the wall, they are bound to react, revolution means no more than a change, it can be violent and it can be peaceful, but what happened in Wagadugu most recently is an object lesson for those who care to learn.”

When asked if revolution is possible in Nigeria, he said “its possible, if we go on without thinking of the ordinary people.

HE number of lawyers qualified to practise rose yesterday with the admission of 3,433 graduates of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) to Bar in Abuja.

Notable among them were the grandson of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Adedamilotun Oluwapelumi Aderemi, daughter of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Bibitayo Omolayo and former President, National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Ini Ememobong.

NLS’S Director-General, Olanrewaju Onadeko, said four of the successful candidates came out with first class, 96 in second class upper division, 620 placed in second class lower division while 2, 697 were in pass grade.

He urged the new wigs to adhere to the norms and ethics of the profession. Onadeko said the country was known to produce eminent international jurists, scholars and legal experts.

UN, Fayemi’s wife, INEC unite against electoral violence From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

T

HE United Nations, wife of the former Ekiti State governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mr. Akin Orebiyi have called for a multi-agency approach in tackling gender-based electoral violence.

They spoke yesterday in Ibadan at a conference on the reduction of gender-based electoral violence to increase women participation in politics.

It was organised by the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD) in partnership with the British High Commission.

Expressing displeasure with the physical, sexual and psychological violence against women and the many factors limiting them from participating in politics, Mrs. Fayemi said no society could develop without allowing women to be part of the decision-making process.

Reliving her experience in Ekiti politics, she said she fought and ensured that some women, including the late former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, got the party’s tickets.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2014

NEWS ‘Insurgency ‘ll soon end’

My battle against cancer,

by Soyinka ‘Disease not a death sentence’

T

N

OBEL laureate Prof.

Oluwole Soyinka opened up yesterday on his health status.

He said he was diagnosed with cancer last December.

But an expert and Founder of the African Cancer Centre, Lagos, Prof. Olu Williams, assured him that he would “not die of the disease.”

Williams, who said Soyinka had cancer because of his old age, added that the playwright would only “die with the disease.”

Soyinka, who spoke at a news conference at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said he opened up to create awareness about cancer and help people take measures to prevent it or seek medical attention.

He said he survived the silent killer (cancer) because of early detection, treatment and proper diet, adding that it dawned on him that the Soyinka family had a history of cancer.

The Nobel laureate noted that his initial reaction when he became aware that he had cancer was to see it as one of those challenges and nuisances that should be dealt with, adding that at a time, he considered it an unwanted squatter squatting in his body and had to get rid of it.

Although, Soyinka, who showed a crest to attest to his surviving cancer, did not tell

•Prof. Soyinka (middle), flanked by Dr. Soyinka (left) and Prof. Williams at the event...yesterday From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

reporters the nature of the cancer he was treated for, his son, Olaokun, a doctor, who is also the commissioner for Health in Ogun State, told The Nation his father was treated for “prostate cancer.”

Soyinka said he travelled overseas to get treatment, which was not meant to be so, following the absence of cancer care centre in West Africa.

According to him, quality diet could prevent some deadly diseases, while he drank a lot of water that hitherto was loathsome to him, during treatment.

The playwright said in 2011, a substantial amount (N400million) was approved in the budget as seed fund to assist in setting up a cancer care centre in Lagos, called the African Cancer Centre, a private initiative.

He added that the fund was yet to be released to the centre.

His words: “A few years ago, I was invited to become a board member of the Africa Cancer Centre and even delivered the inaugural lecture titled: “Cancers, lifestyles”. It never occurred to me to test myself because men had their tests like

‘

The important thing is that I am convinced that we have enough funds in this nation to build cancer centres, including research that this country requires

‘

women. It never occurred to me to test myself.

“I have heard people who lost their loved ones. They just told me, ‘Prof, we hope you’re having your own’? And I told them I had one 10 years ago and he said ‘no no, do it regularly’ and by accident in November last year, I discovered that I had cancer.

“So, it became just a question of making sure that it was by going for further test and once it was decided that indeed I had cancer, I was sure because in my family, we had an uncle, by the time he died, we didn’t have sophisticated ways of knowing what killed him.

“We just had to resolve at some number of things. But from the little things I know of

cancer, I came to the conclusion ages after he died of cancer and I said may be we have it in the family.

“Quite earlier, I had already made up my mind and sure enough it proved to be cancer.

Let me emphasise this, like many of you know, I am a very private person, I believe there are certain territories of individuals that should be private to them and their families. It is only when it is public interest that you probe into people’s health.

“For me, this is not a decision I like, but I felt I have all obligation being a member of the African Cancer Centre and also having even donated a performance during the festival to raise fund for cancer.

“I’m under obligation to make it known and to also demystify cancer. Many people feel it is a death sentence. Families feel it, friends, colleagues, they begin to look at you as if you are a ghost once there is a rumour that you have cancer. No, cancer is not a death sentence, it is curable. I have undergone the treatment and I am able to tell you that I even have a model, that’s my certificate.

“Finally, I finished on October 28 and everything is fine. I

Ezekwesili, others to speak at programme

T

WO-time ministerturned-activist Dr. Oby Ezekwesili is to give a keynote address at the 6th graduation/induction of the Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) on Saturday, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

WISCAR is a not-for-profit organisation set up to counsel and mentor young career women to realise their potential.

Dr. Ezekwesili will speak about “Pioneering Women: Initiating, Leading and Succeeding”.

The event will also feature a panel discussion by Nike Ogunlesi, the MD/CEO, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble; Maryam Uwais, managing partner, Wali-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Uwais and Co; Mrs. Boma Ozobia, managing partner, Sterling Partnership and Mrs. Funke Opeke, CEO, MainOne Cable Company.

The fifth stream of the 2014 WISCAR mentees programme will graduate at the event, while the sixth stream for the 2015 calendar year will be inducted.

The event will highlight the importance of ensuring an equal opportunity for men and women to contribute to the growth of the country by showcasing pioneering and successful women, the difference they have made and how they achieved success.

Speaking about the initia-

tive, the Founder of WISCAR, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, who is also the human resources executive of MTN, said: “WISCAR aims through its unique, structured and formal WIN with WISCAR mentoring programme to equip women with the skills and tools to be successful. WISCAR helps to develop and build capability in women in the workplace at the personal, interpersonal and organisational levels.

“The 12-month mentoring programme is designed to have a transformational impact on our mentees, enhance their performance and progress them up the career ladder. Our goal is to promote and enable the emergence of the next generation of wom-

C

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

lenges and guarantee citizens’ right to health.

The event was organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).

The communiqué was signed by the CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim, Coordinator, Community Health and Research Initiative (AMHiN), Dr. Aminu Magashi and Legal Officer, Open Soci-

ety Justice Initiative (OSJI), Mr. Maxwell Kadiri.

They implored development partners and multilateral institutions to pressurise Jonathan to endorse the Bill.

The CSOs recommended the implementation of commitments to develop the health sector, including the 15 per cent budgetary allocation to health care delivery. They advocated partnership among the stakeholders demanding greater accountability at all levels.

Civil societies were also

Nigeria to showcase herbal medicine

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AINSTREAMING herbal medicine into healthcare delivery system and harnessing its multi-billion dollar worth in global trade, will be at the forefront of the agenda at this year’s Festival of Herbs Expo, the organisers have said.

The festival popularly called HerbFEST, will take place in Lagos and is set to feature over 100 small and medium scale enterprises involved in the manufacture of herbal and natural products, as well as scientists, researchers, traditional medicine practitioners, the academia and indigenous healers.

The host and organiser of HerbFEST and Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), a federal parastatal under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Tamuno Okujagu, said nearly 80 per cent of Africans and Asians depended on traditional medicines for their primary healthcare.

Aviation stakeholder hails minister

By Raymond Mordi

A

N aviation industry stakeholder and Managing Director of Mas Continental Ltd, Mr. Marcel Ezenwa, has hailed the Aviation Minister, Mr. Osita Chidoka, for bringing the same commitment to service and reform, which he exhibited during his tenure as the corps marshal and chief executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

He spoke in Lagos while reacting to the gesture of the minister in instituting a N10million scholarship scheme for indigent children at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Ezenwa said Chidoka did the right thing by continuing the reforms started by his predecessor.

MDAs shun Reps’ investigative public hearing

•Ezekwesili

en leaders, who contribute to the success of organisations, are role models and agents of positive change within their respective organisations and country.”

Jonathan urged to sign National Health Bill into Law IVIL Society Organisations (CSOs) have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the National Health Bill into Law. They said the bill, which has scaled through the National Assembly, was passed to the Presidency on October 28 and is yet to get its nod.

In a communiqué after a media roundtable in Abuja, on the importance of Primary Health Care (PHC), the coalition said assenting to the Bill would address health chal-

want to use myself to encourage others to take whatever test available to you in our little circumstances here, but more importantly to encourage those who are in charge of health matters to take seriously the cancer menace, which many people called the silent killer.

“The important thing is that I am convinced that we have enough funds in this nation to build cancer centres, including research that this country requires. It is very capital intensive, some of it, but there are many ways and treatments for cancer just like there are many kinds of cancer. Even diet forms an important part, diet is critical.

“One of these major reasons why I decided that I have to make this appeal is that I happen to know that money was budgeted and approved for the cancer centre in 2011.

“I appeal that this money be released. Not all of us can gallivant about where we can stop over and have the necessary treatment. I think we should have diagnostic centres everywhere where elementary treatment can be given to patients.”

HE General Evangelist Worldwide, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Prophet Samuel Abiara, has said Boko Haram insurgency would soon end.

Speaking at the 29th anniversary of CAC, Agbala Itura, Lagos, the cleric urged Nigerians not to believe in people who saw nothing good about the country.

He said: “Put your mind at rest. Do not listen to prophecies of doom. You will witness the end of this year. You will enter the New Year with blessing and peace. Nigeria will not break. God will stop the bloodshed. He will command His angels to arrest those disturbing this country. Only ensure you are obedient to God.”

encouraged to develop and share robust strategies for engaging the media to ensure reporting on the issues affecting the health sector.

Other members of the CSOs include MacArthur Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Women’s Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Community and Health Research Initiative and Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON).

From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

TTEMPTS by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts to investigate the refusal of MDAs to submit their audited reports spanning several years, were truncated by the non- appearance of the MDAs involved.

Yesterday, the management team of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) numbering over 15, shunned the investigative public hearing initiated by the Solomon Olamilekanheaded House Committee on Public Accounts.

The Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and other tertiary institutions were part of the MDAs invited to the public hearing The affected organisations allegedly failed to submit their audited annual reports to the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF) as provided by the financial regulations.

On November 18 the committee summoned some MDAs, namely Petroleum Pricing Marketing Corporation (PPMC), Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as well as Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

The list also includes Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Voice of Nigeria (VON), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), among others.

However, legislative activities resumed fully, as senators held closed door session with the service chiefs, as the police deployed over 80 personnel in the National Assembly.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

7

NEWS

Protesting Ondo PDP members insist on primaries H UNDREDS of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters from the 10 wards in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State converged on Akure, the state capital, yesterday to protest the “imposition” of candidates by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Their counterparts in Owo Local Government also carried out a similar protest in the town.

The aggrieved party loyalists, who marched on the party secretariat, a c c use d Mi m i k o of imposing his candidates on the party.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, such as “Ondo PDP rejects Mimiko’s im-

From Damisi Ojo and Leke Akeredolu, Akure

position; “No Primaries, No Victory for PDP; “PDP constitution give no room for consensus”.

They were, however, restricted to the secretariat by the police.

The Owo PDP Chairman, Kehinde Lawal, said the party constitution do not give room for consensus but only primaries.

He said primaries were the secret behind winning elections, warning that any consensus arrangement would only divide the party and make it fail.

“Mimiko and his followers are welcome to PDP and if anyone wants to represent our party that person must subject him or herself to primaries.

“This is not Labour Party (LP) being managed by a group of people. PDP is not Jonathan’s and Mimiko’s property and they must allow the aspirants who paid millions to the party to participate in the primaries.

“If truly they are on ground, why are they afraid of primaries?

“On Saturday, we shall hold our primaries and anyone who wants to become PDP candidate must participate in the

primaries.”

The PDP supporters urged the leadership of the party to work in line with the provision of the constitution to safe guard the legacy of the party.

They insisted that all local government executives, ward chairmen and opinion leaders should be carried along in the decision-making process, even if there is room for consensus.

The Chairman,Ward Five, Chief James Omojuwa, said the way forward was for all aspirants to contest the primaries.

"PDP is a structured party that operates within its constitution and code of conduct. All these should be understood by all members.”

APC to Fayose: save Ekiti from criminals

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has urged Governor Ayodele Fayose to provide security for Ekiti people.

Reacting to t h e b a n k robberies in the state, APC’s Public Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun said the security experience of Ekiti people negated the campaign promises the governor made.

He decried the killing of security agents at Ikere, saying the laxity in

the operations of the police was not unconnected with the lack of motivation and equipment to fight crimes.

“We cried out the last time that cuts by the governor in the votes to security agencies will hurt their capabilities to fight crimes.

“Former Governor Kayode Fayemi bought armoured personnel carriers, equipment and vehicles for the police and adequately funded the

Court remands OPC leader in prison From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

A

•Adedipe

CHIEF Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has remanded in custody the state Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader, Adeniyi Adedipe, also known as Apase, for alleged murder.

Police prosecutor Caleb Leranmo told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 7 and September 25 in Ado-Ekiti.

Leramo alleged that the accused conspired to murder the former National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman, Omolafe Aderiye and attempted to murder Olumide Gabriel.

The police prosecutor said he had duplicated the case file and sent it to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

Adedipe’s plea for bail by his counsel, Chris Omokafe, was denied by Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye.

Magistrate Adegboye adjourned the case till December 1.

Economist advises governor

A

By Sina Fadare

N Economist, Tola Bolorunduro has urged Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola to make industrialisation his main priority in his second

term.

Bolorunduro said the people-oriented projects initiated by the governor had opened an industrial gate in the state.

“If the governor prioritises industrialisation , unemployment, hooliganism and thuggery will be eradicated.”

The economist praised Governor Aregbesola’s efforts on roads.

He said the rehabilitation will assist farmers to in their economic activities.

Army, Department of State Security (DSS) and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps for effective security provision.

“Throughout his tenure, Ekiti people went about their businesses and could sleep with their eyes closed.

“It is sad that like his first term, the governor will not work with the DSS. “Just a month in the saddle, we are recording

reverses even when the security vote to the governor has reportedly doubled while disbursements to security agencies have shrunk.

“We also seize this opportunity to appeal to the police to be fair in their handling of cases.

The siege by criminals is dangerous to Ekiti people, particularly opposition politicians, who are being targeted for attacks.

Public holiday in Osun

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HE Osun State government has declared tomorrow a work-free day to commemorate the second term inau guration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, in a statement, said the holiday was declared to allow people partake in what he called the celebration of the “Triumph of the Peoples’ Will.”

The ceremony comes up at the Osogbo Township Stadium.

The governor urged residents to pray for continued peace and sustainable development as the administration entered its second phase.

He called on civil servants to reflect on their commitment to duty, reiterating on his administration’s determination to develop the state.

The deaf congratulate Aregbesola

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EAF Supporters Group, an association of people living with hearing disability, has congratulated Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on his inauguration tomorrow.

The group, in a statement by its president, Afolabi Dahunsi, said: “The Deaf Supporters Group wishes to congratulate Governor Rauf Aregbesola on his second term inauguration.

“We thank God and rejoice with the governor and his family, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and all citizens.

“The deaf and all persons with disabilities are grateful for the opportunity to serve in your people-friendly and resultoriented administration.”

The group also pledged its readiness to work harmoniously with the people to make Osun better.

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F

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

“My take on this issue is that the House does not have a rigid system and being in that position is by election and by the will of members. It has nothing to do with the governor and it has nothing to do with any personality.”

Academy for inauguration

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola will inaugurate the Lagos Skipper Engineering Academy today at the Government Technical College, Ikotun.

The academy is the result of a collaboration between the Lagos Eko Secondary Education, the State Electricity Board, the State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) and Skipper Limited for the development of a state-of-the-art facility to produce skilled technicians.

The Academy will complement the three-year technical education programme run by technical colleges by focusing on both practical and theoretical training relevant to industrial and domestic needs.

Ekiti exco inaugurated

Olujimi defends governor ORMER Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi has absolved Governor Ayo Fayose of complicity in the leadership crisis rocking the House of Assembly.

Speaking in an interview with The Nation, Mrs. Olujimi exonerated Fayose from last Thursday’s “ i m p e a c h ment” of Speaker Adewale Omirin, saying the change of leadership was the internal affairs of the lawmakers.

Omirin was “impeached” by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers.

The former deputy governor said Fayose’s alleged complicity “was hearsay” by the governor’s opponents to prove that the desire to change the House leadership predates Fayose’s return to power.

Mrs. Olujimi maintained that the governor would always resist “every attempt to control the state from outside”, saying Ekiti people “are stubborn on principle and ready to defend their pride and integrity”.

Explaining why the PDP caucus chose to “elect” Dele Olugbemi as “speaker”, she said the action of pro-Fayose lawmakers was in tandem with the wishes of people.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

E

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

KITI State Governor Ayodele Fayose has inaugurated the State Executive Council, urging them to respect “the oath of secrecy”.

At a brief ceremony in the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Fayose urged the members to be proactive as governance was about service to the people.

The governor has urged contractors handling 26 projects awarded by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) during the last administration to proceed with the projects.

He said they would be allowed to execute the projects if they showed proof of competence and sincerity to contractual agreements.

Speaking on behalf of the contractors, Sunday Hezekiah hailed the gesture, assuring that the contractors would reciprocate the governor’s gesture by delivering good jobs.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2014

NEWS

Hoodlums continue terrorising Ibadan

•Loot shops, vandalise vehicles •APC chieftain accuses PDP youths

T

HUGS unleashed terror yesterday morning on residents of Opoyosa and Ayeye in Ibadan, Oyo State, looting and destroying property worth thousands of naira.

The hoodlums were said to have stormed the areas at midnight and were dispersed at 4am, when members of the state security outfit, Operation Burst, arrived at the scene.

Last Friday, hoodlums attacked residents and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who were waiting to receive Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

On Sunday, they attacked Born Photo, Idi-Arere, near

HID Awolowo eulogised at 99 From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, his Delta State counterpart, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Senator Daisy Danjuma and scores of others, yesterday, eulogised the matriarch of Awolowo dynasty, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, at 99.

The visitors, who were in Ikenne, Ogun State, to honour Mama HID, described her as a “virtuous woman,” “mother” and “purveyor of peace”.

Amosun, who was accompanied by his wife, Olufunso, said Mrs Awolowo was an embodiment of all that is good about a woman, adding that Nigerian women would continue to profit from her qualities as a “good wife and mother”.

Amosun said: “As we celebrate your 99th birthday, I pray to God that we shall all be there to celebrate your centenary birthday. You signpost all that is good in womanhood.

“You possess all the good qualities of a good wife and mother. We will continue to draw from your wealth of experience.”

A special thanksgiving at the family chapel, Efunyela Hall, was officiated by the Bishop of Remo Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rev. Olusina Fape.

Delivering his sermon, the Bishop of Ijebu South-West (Anglican Communion), Rev. Tunde Ogunbanwo, said longevity was a blessing and a gift from God, adding that the nonagenarian witnessed this year’s birthday because of God’s kindness and faithfulness to her.

Ogunbanwo said: “In our country where the average life span has been put at 46, it would take the fear of God and His mercy to enjoy long life.

“Mama HID has the fear of God in all she does. God honours those who fear Him. He is always happy and blesses those who fear and obey him.

“Mama, all your life, you have been enjoying the faithfulness and kindness of God. You are alive because God’s powers enable you to do so.

You have received grace and mercy to celebrate today.”

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Oke-Ado, Ibadan, vandalising vehicles, houses and looting shops.

Residents of Ayeye and Opoyosa woke up to discover some of their shops looted by the hoodlums.

Over 13 shops were looted, major roads littered with broken bottles to prevent vehicles from driving through.

Residents complained of gunshot sounds in the night, which they said caused anxiety among them.

A trader at Ayeye Market, simply identified as Baba Folake, who sells assorted

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•The scene of the attack...yesterday

drinks, described the incident as disturbing.

He said: “How long shall we continue with this violence?

Last Friday, it was the killing

of a policeman and destruction of property, many innocent people were injured.

“On Sunday, Born-Photo and Popo we learnt were

sacked by criminals, yet we have law enforcement agents in the state.

“Yesterday, it was agony resulting from losses. Many

shops were looted; we are trying to make ends meet because we trade with loans.

Please we need peace and order in the state.”

The Chairman, Ibadan North West Local Government, Wasiu Olatunbosun, blamed the attack on the opposition.

Olatunbosun fingered a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth leader in the local government as the mastermind of the attack.

He said: “What happened yesterday was politically motivated and it justified the alarm which was raised that the opposition planned to forment trouble in some local governments in Ibadan.

“The attack was led by a PDP youth leader in the local government and people saw him when he led these thugs to unleash terror on the people.

“When I learnt that these people have come to cause havoc, I called Operation Burst and that was why the damage was not much.”

Fayose to APC lawmakers: return home

KITI State Governor Ayodele Fayose has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers to return and join him in developing the state.

Fayose said: “I am a man of good conscience in this matter and one with good conscience fears no foe. So, I appeal to them to return home and work for the progress of our dear state.

“I took the oath to protect the life and property of all Ekiti residents, irrespective of their political beliefs and I cannot do anything to negate that oath.

“I want to emphasise that Adewale Omirin and I are brothers and I am ready to work with him.”

Dismissing reports of interparty bickering among lawmakers, the governor said his commitment to security of life and property in Ekiti remained firm.

Speaking with reporters af-

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Police meet parties’ leaders

HE police in Ekiti State held a meeting yesterday with party leaders, appealing to them to maintain peace.

The two-hour meeting followed the tension generated by the crisis rocking the House of Assembly.

The peace parley, summoned by the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, was attended by representatives of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), KOWA, African Democratic Congress (ADC),

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

ACCORD and others.

A source said Lakanu expressed displeasure with the tension generated by activities of politicians.

He said: “The CP told party leaders that the latest crisis was giving Ekiti a bad image and appealed for peace.

“The CNPP Chairman, Tunji Ogunlola, advised the PDP Chairman, Idowu Faleye, to facilitate regular meetings with the other parties.”

•Monarchs sue for peace From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

ter a meeting with the State Traditional Rulers’ Council yesterday, Fayose pledged to put enduring security measures in place to contain the trend of insecurity in the state.

Omirin said his life and that of the other 18 APC lawmak-

ers were not safe and that Fayose would have to assure them of safety for them to return.

The governor said: “It is my duty to guarantee the life and property of all Ekiti citizens as the chief security officer.

“What Omirin and his supporters are saying are mere political statements. That they are

not safe cannot be true. You know when we are playing politics, we can say anything.”

He promised to pay all monetary entitlements of former Governor Segun Oni, noting that the gesture was to promote unity and oneness.

“It is our duty to stop political vendetta in Ekiti. No one can take away the contribu-

tions of Segun Oni to the development of this state. The court might have ruled that he was never a governor, but that court cannot take away his achievements,” Fayose said.

A communiqué at the end of the traditional council’s meeting yesterday regretted the face-off between the APC and the PDP. The communiqué read by its Chairman, the Onitaji of Itaji, Oba Adamo Babalola, said: “As major stakeholders and leaders of our people, the council has decided to intervene by calling the two parties to order in the interest of Ekiti State.

“Council is of the view that the matter is purely domestic and ought not to have been externalised as it is being done.

“Council expresses strong feelings that the duo are representatives of Ekiti State and cannot afford to do anything inimical to the corporate survival of the state.”

Fashola seeks support for security agencies •Inaugurates police area command

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has solicited support for law enforcement agencies to protect the nation’s democracy.

Fashola said this yesterday at the inauguration of the Area C Police Command in Surulere.

“I believe that our law enforcement agencies deserve more than what we give them.

It is alarming to see the deplorable state of the facilities used by police officers in a country that produces oil, has 170 million people and abundant natural resources.

“I think that the Federal Government needs to give more to law enforcement officers, if we are to protect the country’s democracy and develop business.

It is only in a secured environment that investors will thrive.”

Recalling the October 4, 2005 incident, when the old command building was set ablaze during the police/Army clash, the governor said the pain as a result of the incident should remind us never to promote violence again.

“The history of how we got here must leave pain in our heart and remind us that this is what must never happen again.

From the ashes of a painful tragedy, this edifice emerged.”

He blamed the Federal Government for neglecting its re-

•Fashola inaugurating the building...yesterday. With him are Tsafe, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (middle) and others. INSET: The building.

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

sponsibilities to the police, saying that the state rebuilt the structure because it recognises the important role played by the police in the society.

Fashola said the building has facilities for data capturing, stressing that this is being implemented across the divisional stations in the state.

“We have started including data capturing rooms in all divisional police stations. It is a major but silent revolution that is ongoing across the state.

“We have embarked on the building of additional area commands. Some of them are: Idimu; Alimosho, Elemoro; Ibeju-Lekki, Ilase, AmuwoOdofin.”

He said the government has

also embarked on the building of police commands at Orile-Iganmu, Denton axis, Ladegboye, Ikorodu, Ketu Ereyun and Ketu Epe, Makoko and Ebute Ero to bring security closer to the residents.

“We have concluded plans to ensure that the state’s 117 divisional police stations have world standard patrol vehicle.

It will not be Hilux because

those ones are for operational purpose. They will be proper squad cars used in other advanced countries. With this, we would be able to police the state more.”

Inspector General of Police Sulaiman Abba, who was represented by DIG Mamman Tsafe, said the edifice will help enhance the service of police officers in the command.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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NEWS Ekiti G19 members reject nominess

By Sina Fadare

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•Public Affairs Director, U.S Consular, Mrs. Dehab Ghebreab (middle); Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (left) and Nollywood star Saheed Balogun, at the beginning of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in Lagos

Court acquits man accused of hiding mother’s remains in wardrobe

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N Imo State High Court has discharged and acquitted a retired principal and Guru Maharaji devotee, Chief Chimezie Osigwe, who was accused of killing his 85 yearold mother.

He was also accused of hiding her remains in his wardrobe for 10 years.

Osigwe, who was arrested in 2013 in Ejemekuru in Oguta after the dried body of his late mother was found in his bedroom, was acquitted for want of evidence by Justice Goddy Anunihu.

Delivering judgment in the suit, Justice Anunihu ruled

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was responsible for the death of the victim.

He ruled that the prosecution counsel lacked evidence to prosecute the defendant, who was alleged to have murdered his mother in August 2004 in his compound.

“No proof that he killed his mother, since a witness and report have said that she died as a result of the earthquake allegedly caused by the disturbance from the activities of the oil company

operating in the area. There is no proof of any harm or desecration on the body of her mother, neither was there any complaint from the accused siblings that the victim was murdered.

“The only fault was that the accused kept the victim for too long. But his explanation that he preserved the remains as evidence in the suit against the oil company that caused the death of his mother is rational, and as a direct child of the deceased, he has more rights on the deceased than the prosecution witnesses,” the judge said.

Osigwe, who addressed reporters shortly after the judgment, described the verdict as a landmark judgment.

His words: “We have now seen justice exhumed from injustice. As a member of Sat Guru Maharaji, I want the entire world to know that it was a dirty calumny. The truth was covered, but it has been defended by Guru Maharaji.

“The faith of Maharaji does not eat human flesh. How can people, who don’t eat meat and fish, eat human beings as they alleged?”

Lawyers explain court’s ruling on Enugu PDP ward congress

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AWYERS to Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have faulted the interpretation being given to last Monday’s ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja on the party’s ward congress.

They insisted that Justice Ademola Adeniyi turned down the plea by the plaintiffs to mandate the party’s national leadership to accept the November 1 ward congress results.

But they expressed “grave reservations and dissatisfaction” with the ruling, which upheld the purported ward congresses in Enugu State, saying that the verdict was fraught with many errors.

•Party appeals ruling The lawyers, however, said they have already filed an appeal against the ruling on behalf of the party.

The Chief Judge of Enugu State Justice Innocent Umezulike had in an earlier ruling asked the party not to accept any result purported to emerge from any congress because the congresses were not conducted in the state.

A member of the state PDP legal team, M. Vin Ene, said Justice Adeniyi “turned down the prayer by the plaintiffs that the PDP should accept the results from the purported congress, and this is quite instructive.

“Like we pointed out, the ruling was merely declaratory and did not command Elder Ajah to hold himself out as the Acting Chairman while that of Justice Umezulike commanded him not to hold himself out as the Acting Chairman.”

Ene also noted that Justice Adeniyi erred by refusing the application of some aggrieved candidates in the purported ward congresses to be joined as parties in the suit, which outcome directly affected their rights.

Also yesterday, a group, the Enugu Professionals Forum (EPF), condemned the reported threats to the life of an Enugu High Court

judge, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, which forced him to decline further hearing in a suit relating to the same matter.

The group, in a statement by its Interim President Nebechi Ugo, said the threats by undisclosed persons to Justice Ozoemena were “the handwork of political desperadoes who are hell bent on subverting justice and the rule of law in Enugu State.”

It said the development undermined the integrity of the judiciary and also heralded the efforts of unscrupulous persons to introduce terror as a weapon of actualising political ambitions in the state.

Rivers PDP crisis: Anger as party stops 12 aspirants

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HE Southsouth Screening Committee for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Rivers State may have disqualified 13 of them, it was learnt yesterday.

Though no reason has been given for the action, but the aspirants were declared ineligible on the allegation that they are not members of the party.

It was also observed that all the aspirants who attended the screening are from the Kalabari, Andoni and Ogoni axis.

The Ambassador Obed Wadzani-led screening committee sat for three days at the party’s zonal headquarters, on Circular Road, Port Harcourt. Those that were asked to go home are Chief Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack;

•Princewill: It’s sheer madness From Clarice Azuatalam and Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Nimi Walson Jack; Prince Tonye Princewill and Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

Others are Prof. Dom Baridom; Major Lancelot Ayanya; Gabriel Pidomsom; Oseleye Dennis- Ojuka; Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja; Sampson Ngerebara and Mrs. Abietedogho Bob-Hart including Henry Odien Ajumogobia, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Pawariso Samuel Horsfall; Capt. Sunday Nwankwo; Nyesom Wike; Bernard Mikko and Ibinabo Michael-West were said to have been given

the nod to contest.

Horsfall, Sunday and Mikko were among the 16 aspirants who pushed vigorously that the party should adopt the principle of zoning as enshrined in Section 7 3 (c) of the PDP constitution.

It was gathered that those disqualified flew to Abuja yesterday morning to submit their petitions to the party’s national headquarters.

The Spokesman for the Rivers Mainstream Coalition, Prof.

Israel Owate, condemned the disqualification, saying that it is strange that the screening committee could describe such prominent members of the PDP as not being recognised by the party, after being cleared to pur-

chase the expression of intent forms and nominations worth millions of naira.

Princewill, said: “This is sheer madness. I am not a PDP member after I raised hundreds of millions for the party, donated a multi-million media centre to the national headquarters and participated in all affairs of the party I was invited to?

“I am not a member but you collected millions for a PDP form. If this decision is true, this marks a new low in our state’s politics. This is a sad day for internal democracy”.

“My options now are to: appeal, quit politics altogether; stay in PDP even though they say I am not one of them, or to go to another party, not the All Progressives Congress (APC), and run?”

HE G19 members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly members have rejected the two nominees for the post of commissioner of finance and Justice, Mr. Toyin Ojo and Mr. Owoseni Ajayi respectively.

In a petition sent to the office of the Attorneys-General of the Federation and the office of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi –Okonjo-Iweala, the law makers from Ekiti noted that the governor had been informed that the purported consideration, screening and confirmation of the duo of Ojo and Ajayi in the House of Assembly on November 17, 2014"is extra constitutional, illegal and criminal in nature and therefore ultra vires” The petition which was signed by the 19 members of the State Assembly noted that those who purportedly confirmed the said nominees did not form the expected quorum of the Assembly which was against section 96, 1 of the 1999 constitution.

“The quorum of a House of Assembly shall be one third of all members of the House, therefore 7 cannot by any stretch of imagination be one third of 26” it stated Going down memory lane the Lawmakers argued that all what transpired in the Ekiti House of Assembly on 17th November when state mobile police and armed thugs invaded the House and purportedly held a session that screened and confirmed Mr Ojo and Ajayi was a ruse and not tenable.

The copy of the petition which was equally sent to Governor of the Central Bank, Accountant General of the Federation, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Chairman Commissioners for Finance Forum and all banks in Ekiti State stated that “the Ekiti State House of Assembly is yet to confirm Messers Ojo and Ajayi in compliance with the provision of Section 192 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The House therefore does not recognize them as commissioners in Ekiti State. Persons and institutions that therefore deal with them in that capacity do so at their own risk”

Elechi denies leading protest

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BONYI State debunked yesterday allegation that Governor Martin Elechi led a group of party faithful to a protest at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat in Abuja last Monday over attempt to foist a “fraudulent delegates’ congress list” on the state chapter.

The government also denied media reports, which also alleged a low turnout at a rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection it organised last weekend in Abakaliki, the state capital.

It described the reports as “syndicated media fabrica-

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

tions” by Abuja-based coalition of aggrieved politicians, who are desperate to blackmail Elechi for aligning himself with the popular decision of Ebonyi people to support Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu as a consensus candidate for the 2015 governorship election”.

Elechi’s Chief Press Secretary Dr. Onyekachi Eni said this in a statement.

He added that the governor was nowhere during the “imaginary visit, let alone leading a protest to the PDP secretariat.”

Funeral for Deaconess Awodele

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HE funeral for Mrs. (Deaconess) Christiana Olalonpe Moronfade Awodele has been announced.

She died on October 8 at the age of 73.

Her burial will begin on December 4 with a service of song at Akintan Street, Dideolu Estate, Ogba, Ikeja.

She will be interred at Ebony Cemetery on December 5 after a funeral service at The Apostolic Church Yaba Assembly.

•The late Mrs. Awodele

Reception will follow immediately at Railway compound, Yaba.

Obiano’s aide loses mother

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COMMUNITY leader, Madam Gloria Ihuoma Ofo, is dead.

She was 75 years. She died on September 17, 2014 after a brief illness.

The late Madam Ofo was the mother of the Senior Special Assistant to Anambra State Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Chioma N. Ezenyimulu.

She retired in 2004 as the Principal Librarian in charge of Enugu Campus Library of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, after 38 years in service.

Burial arrangement indicated her remains will leave Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre mortuary, Enugu tomorrow in a motorcade for her family compound in Atani

•The late Madam Ofo

Arochukwu at 10:00 a.m. where she will lie in state on Friday at 8:00 a.m.

Body leaves for Cathedral of All Saints, Ugwuavo Arochukwu for funeral service from 10: a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Internment will take place at her family compound at 1:00 p.m.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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NEWS

Three killed over Cross River PDP ward congresses

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HREE persons have been reportedly killed in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State in the rescheduled ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

An indigene of Akpap Okoyong, Ekpenyong Akiba Ekpeyong, who was to contest the elections, told reporters yesterday in Calabar, the state capital, that the congresses did not hold in his area.

According to him, supporters of Senator Bassey Otu, like himself, were hunted by the thugs of rival aspirants.

He said three people were killed yesterday.

Ekpeyong said: “I am a con-

•Police: one person killed

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

testant as a delegate. My form was bought in Abuja. But I want to tell you that there were no congresses at all in Okoyong. We did not even see the materials. What happened was that people suspected to be hired killers and thugs were hunting us down because we are Prince Otu’s supporters.

“So far, three people, who were loyalists of Prince Otu, have been killed. One of them, Effiom Ayi, was stabbed to death by the thugs.

He bled to death. They knew those of us who are Otu’s

supporters. They were armed with guns and sundry weapons and started shooting when they saw Otu’s supporters. So many people sustained gunshot wounds.

“The second person who died was the matron of the General Hospital in Creek Town. She was the wife of one of the coordinators of Otu - Akom Asuquo Ayi. She was coming back from work when she was told that they were hunting her husband’s people. She got down from the bike and before we knew it, a Dyna truck from behind knocked her down and she died on the spot. We want to

believe the incident was arranged.

“The third person who was killed was simply identified as Otu. He was macheted on the Okurikang Junction and pursued into the bush where he was killed. Since then, they have been vandalising houses and vehicles. My vehicle was vandalised.

“Since yesterday, the thugs have been looking for me to kill me because I have been an ardent supporter of Otu. Since yesterday, I have been hiding in the bush. This morning, I ran to Calabar. As I speak to you, I cannot go back to the village because they are still looking for me. That is why I came to you for help, to let the public know so that my life would be saved.”

Police spokesman Hogan Bassey said only one person was killed.

He added that the command was investigating the incident.

Protesting Delta pensioners shut down Assembly

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PROTEST yesterday

by Delta State pensioners disrupted activities at the House of Assembly complex in Asaba, the state capital.

The pensioners blocked the entrance to the complex over alleged non-payment of their arrears, which were said to be over N16 billion.

The placard-carrying protesters prevented people from entering the complex for several hours.

•Protesters allege govt owing over N16b arrears From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

They carried placards with various inscriptions, such as: “Retirees Are Dying Every day”; “Pay the Harmonisation As with the local govt retirees”; “Government, Pay five per cent of workers’ wage bill to Central Bank”; “Government Should Pay the Actuaries to Release

the Harmonisation figures”, among others.

It was the second time in two months the pensioners were protesting the alleged government’s refusal to release their five per cent share of the contributory pension scheme.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, in the wake of the first protest in September, invited the retirees to a meet-

ing where he was said to have ordered the release of N1.5 billion to pay their contributory pension arrears.

But two months after the directive, Chairman of ACR in the state, Mr. Ovwiroro Ajueyitsi Eric, alleged that “no concrete action has been taken”.

The union leader regretted that retirees continued to die without receiving their benefits.

APC to receive Umana, other PDP defectors

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HE Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it will formally received a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and leading governorship aspirant, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, into the party.

A statement yesterday by APC State Chairman Dr Amadu Attai said Umana’s defection to APC would be followed by a mass movement of other political leaders and their supporters “to our great party”.

The statement said a crossover rally to welcome Umana into the APC and formalise his membership of the party would hold tomorrow at Asan Ibibio in Uyo, the state capital.

The statement said: “The national leadership of the party, all APC governors, Speaker of the House of Representatives and all APC presidential aspirants are ex-

JTF rescues Bayelsa monarch

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COMBINED team of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, and the Department of State Security (DSS) have rescued the Bayelsa State monarch who was abducted by gunmen at Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area

Police rearrest suspect for N2.3m ‘theft’ From Okungbowa Aiwerie,

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Asaba

HE Delta State Police Command has rearrested a 25-year old suspect, who was declared wanted for his alleged role in the theft of N2.3 million belonging to an Asaba businessman.

The police said the suspect, the leader of the Viking Confraternity, was released in 2012 on bail from Ogwashi-Uku Prison for cultism-related charges.

But he was re-arrested for allegedly committing other crimes.

Police Commissioner Alkali Baba Usman addressed reporters yesterday in Asaba, the state capital.

The police chief said a victim of the suspect, Ahmed Ali, was attacked by a fouman robbery gang in Asaba after they trailed him from Abraka Park.

He named other members of the gang as: Nnadi Ugwuowa, Felix Igbeona, Babayo Ali and Babatunde Adebayo.

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From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

of Delta State.

King Augustine Ebikeme, the Pere of Oporomor Kingdom, was kidnapped on November 16 at the Kokori community when he was returning from an official engagement.

The incident provoked youths, under the aegis of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), who called for his immediate and unconditional release.

It was gathered that JTF Commander, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, led the combined team to free the monarch on Monday night.

Edo hails Lagos for procurement law

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

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•A Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Sir Tony Obuh (middle) with Chief Fred Majemite (right) and PHOTO: SHOLA O’NEIL other party supporters after he received his certificate to contest the party’s primary in Asaba.

Police arrest nine suspects in Rivers for alleged cultism

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HE Rivers State Police Command has arrested nine suspected cultists in Port Harcourt, the state capital, and Okwuzi, in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Gov-

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

ernment Area.

In a statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by its spokesman, Ahmad K. Mohammad, the police said

the arrest followed a tip-off by the public.

The command hailed the public for their support in the fight against criminality in the state.

The statement reiterated

the command’s readiness to rid the state of criminal elements.

It warned hoodlums and their sponsors to stop their activities or face the consequences.

Rivers CJ crisis: Supreme Court dismisses Agumagu’s appeal

HE Supreme Court yesterday dismissed three appeals filed by the suspended Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice P. N. C. Agumagu.

The court held that the appeal was premature.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) suspended Agumagu earlier this year on the grounds that the decision

by Governor Rotimi Amaechi to swear him in as the Chief Judge violated due process.

NJC esplained that it did not recommend him to Amaechi for appointment as the Chief Judge, as required under the constitution.

pected to attend the rally, which is being organised by Akwa Ibom State chapter of the party.

“Umana, who started the campaign to actualise his aspiration to lead the state as governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he is dumping the party following his illegal and unconstitutional exclusion from the party’s governorship primary in the state 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.

The state chapter of APC is expected to address a world press conference to give details on the new political development.

“We are glad to welcome Mr. Umana Okon Umana and his teeming supporters into the APC family in Akwa Ibom State,” the statement added.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Dissatisfied with his suspension, Agumagu applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja for a judicial review of the NJC’s decision.

In deciding how to proceed with the case, Justice Adeniyi Ademola heard the objection filed by NJC and other defendants with the substantive suit.

The NJC appealed Justice Ademola’s decision at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. To allow for prompt hearing of its appeal, it compiled the records within 14 days.

Agumagu’s lawyer, Akin

Olujinmi (SAN), objected to the compilation of records in 14 days.

He argued that the compilation did not follow due process.

Olujimi contended that the law stipulated 60 days for the records to be compiled and that the leave of court ought to be obtained.

He argued that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal, if the records of appeal were not properly complied.

The lawyer applied that the records compiled by NJC be struck out, a request the Court of Appeal refused. This prompted his appeal to the Supreme Court. He also asked the

apex court to stay proceedings in the pending appeal by NJC. In his appeal to the Supreme, Olujimi contended that the Court of Appeal was wrong in its interpretation of the provisions of the Court of Appeal Practice Direction of 2013.

Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who read the decision of the Supreme Court yesterday, said: “We have examined this and the other grounds of appeal and are satisfied that the issues in the appeal are matters that can be brought to this court when the appeals are concluded.

“Accordingly, the application for a stay of proceedings

of the pending appeals in the court of appeal is hereby struck out. Notice of Appeal to this court is also struck out.”

The court dismissed the appeal and ordered the parties back to the Court of Appeal for hearing of the main appeal.

The court said Agumagu should have appreciated the fact that the records were compiled earlier than the period stipulated by the law.

The court ordered the Court of Appeal to hear the appeal with dispatch. It said that anyone aggrieved by the judgment of the Court of Appeal was at liberty to appeal such judgment.

HE Managing Director of the Edo State Public Procurement Agency (PPA), Tom Uloko, has hailed the Lagos State Government for the implementation of the Public Procurement Law. Uloko spoke in Lagos when he led a team on a three-day working visit to the state.

The agency chief said Lagos was leading in the implementation of the law.

He said other states should emulate Lagos.

Oro reject Akpabio’s governorship proposal From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

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HE Oro in Akwa Ibom State have said they must produce the next governor in 2015, despite the political permutations of Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, the Oro said nobody would make them jettison the position.

The people said they had waited for 27 years since the creation of the state, supported the other two ethnic groups - Ibibio and Annang - to produce governors in turn.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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NEWS

Kano APC rejects consensus option

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ANO State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the state to produce consensus candidates for the state and national assemblies.

But the members rejected the suggestion.

The governor spoke yesterday at the Government House in Kano when APC caucus from each of the 44 constituencies met on next year’s elections.

He said consensus candi-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

dates were better than primaries for unity and progress.

Kwankwaso noted that the arrangement would forestall violence among aspirants and their supporters.

But the governor’s proposal has reportedly caused tension in the party.

Following the governor’s suggestion, party members shouted their rejection.

They said primaries were better than consensus.

The party members stressed that allowing people

to partake in elections was a democratic culture.

Also, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the state, Malam Salihu Sagir Takai, has formally declared for the race.

Takai said his aspiration was not a do-or-die affair but a sincere intention to rescue Kano from “a harsh government”.

Takai, a political godson of Education Minister Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, was stopped from realising his governorship ambition by

Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso in 2011.

The aspirant hoped that a consensus arrangement within the PDP might favour him.

According to him, it was a pity that the government had distanced itself from the people.

After the declaration on Saturday, all PDP aspirants from Kano were reportedly headed to Kaduna for screening and further discussions on how to arrive at a consensus arrangement.

Gemade denies rift with Suswam

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HE Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Planning, Barnabas Gemade has said he is not quarrelling with Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam over the Benue North Senatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Gemade, who occupies the seat at the National Assembly, said he had never and would not engage in a battle with anybody over his reelection bid.

The senator spoke through a statement by his legislative aide, Bob Jija.

He said PDP’s ward congresses on November 1 were marred in all the states controlled by the party.

Gemade said aspirants, who were victims of the party’s alleged malpractices at the congress, had peti-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

tioned its National Working Committee (NWC), including himself.

The senator said the clarification became necessary because of a story, titled: Bid for Benue North senatorial slot sets Suswam, Gemade on war path.

The statement said: “It is incontestable that Senator B. A. I. Gemade (Nom Iyange u Tiv) is humble, amiable, hardworking, God-fearing and honest. As a true Christian, he does not aid, abet or support violence or thuggery.

He cannot be on a war path or at daggers-drawn with Governor Gabriel Suswam or any other person over the ticket because he is not desperate.

“Gemade has not and will not engage in a battle with anybody with regard to his

re-election in 2015.

“It is equally interesting to note that facts about the ward congresses of the PDP on November 1, that were marred in all PDP-controlled states were in public domain. As such, all parties who were victims of the malpractice that was carried out on that day petitioned the NWC of the PDP, including Senator Gemade. The petition is being looked into on its merits.

“It has been stated elsewhere that the decision for the granting of automatic tickets to 40 PDP senators was a collective decision reached on November 6; it was not peculiar to Senator Gemade alone. As such, it would be ridiculous, preposterous and childish to accuse Gemade of speculating that Abuja was giving him an automatic ticket.

Fulani leader sacked for backing Jonathan

M

EMBERS of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-Cultural Association (MAKHSCA) has sacked its first national leader, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Badejo, over alleged partisan politics.

The association accused Badejo of buying a nomination form for President Goodluck Jonathan, a move it called a breach of trust.

MAKHSCA also accused the former leader of playing politics with the association’s name and running it as a personal business at the expense of members’ welfare.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

A statement in Kaduna by the association’s Acting Executive National Chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi and Interim Public Relations Officer (PRO), Malam Aliyu Iliyasu Ardido, said Badejo allegedly contributed MAKHSCA’s N20 million to Jonathan’s re-election bid.

It insisted that the association was apolitical.

The statement said: “Alhaji Badejo took N20 million for the association to contribute to the purchase of the nomination form for President

Jonathan without consulting anybody in the association.

“We want to reaffirm that the association remains a non-governmental, non-political and does not support any political party or candidate even though members are free at individual levels to support any party and candidate of their choice.

“Our host communities should disregard the earlier declaration by the former chairman that the association was supporting a particular candidate and stop molesting Fulani due to that declaration.”

Boko Haram: DSS to tighten security in Jigawa OLLOWING the inthe country were the result of schools crease in school attacks various factors, including

F

by suicide bombers, the Department of State Security (DSS) has promised to tighten security in schools in Jigawa State.

The state Director of the DSS, Yusuf Isyaku, spoke at the fourth inter-disciplinary annual national conference of Husaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic in Kazaure, Jigawa State.

He urged the school man-

K

From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

agement to improve security at the institution.

Isyaku noted that security measures should be updated in accordance with the dictates of modernisation.

The conference’s theme was: Rising Security Challenges in Nigeria: The Role of Humanities, Science & Technology.

The director said some security challenges bedevilling

“the feeling of neglect by sections of the society, poverty, unemployment, corruption, extremism, poor parental care, among others”.

He said there was need for Nigerians to be vigilant and report any security breach to the security outfit.

Isyaku urged the academics and the public to contribute to security matters for the safety of all.

Kano to ban street hawking

ANO State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has said his administration is planning the best way to ban street hawking across the state.

The governor said the plan had reached an advanced stage.

Kwankwaso spoke at the presentation of certificates and N30,000 empowerment fund to each of the 952 street

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

hawkers at the Government House in Kano.

The governor explained that the plan was to sanitise the streets, ensure safety of the hawkers and formalise their trades in line with global best practices.

He said when the ban is enforced, anyone apprehended would be prosecuted.

Kwankwaso said the measure would discourage lawless street hawkers.

The 952 street hawkers were traianed by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Metropolitan Affairs.

Over 170 places were selected and designated as business points for the trainees.

UNIJOS shut down

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•Four students injured in riot •STF: we didn’t shoot

HE management of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) has closed the institution indefinitely.

It ordered the students to vacate the hostels immediately.

The closure, the management said, was to prevent the escalation of the students’ protest, which started on Monday.

The hitherto peaceful protest degenerated into a riot on Tuesday when the students made bonfires and blocked the highways.

The management invited security agencies to quell the riot to avoid being hijacked by hoodlums.

In a statement yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, by its Registrar, Mr Jilli Dandam, the university said: “To avoid further es-

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

calation of the situation, the management met on Monday morning and directed that the university should be closed down until further notice.”

It added: “The university took steps to address the grievance of the students including the shifting of the second semester examination by one week and the setting up of a committee to look at the issues.”

The students, on Monday morning, blocked the entrance to the school and locked the school management outside.

The students demanded the revision of management decision to increase their development levy as well as school fees by next session.”

‘Emulate Nigerian Breweries’

•Suswam

“It is equally not true, and simply an affront to common sense to say, without a modicum of integrity and responsibility, that a serving President ...avoided attending the governor’s birthday as he was forestalling any confrontation on automatic ticket. Is Governor Suswam the only PDP governor seeking to be elected as a senator?”

C

O R P O R A T E organisations in Kaduna State have been urged to emulate the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc in delivering corporate social responsibility (CSR) to their communities.

Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero spoke at the inauguration of a library, staff room and head master’s office, built and furnished by the company at the Samaru Road LEA Primary School, Makera, Kaduna.

The governor, who was

represented by Deputy Governor Nuhu Bajoga, noted that such philanthropic activities by multinationals would develop the state.

He said: “While I commend NB Plc for its commitment towards partnering and supporting Kaduna State Government to further boost education through its CSR projects, I also wish to urge other multinational and philanthropic organisations to emulate NB Plc in its avowed dedication to the overall development of the state.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

•The men and women during the march ...yesterday

H

UNDREDS of men and women yesterday marched on Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State seat of power, protesting the rising incidence of rape and child abuse. The march was titled: “A walk to create awareness on rape in Lagos State.”

The protesters gathered under the bridge near Ikeja bus stop, from where they marched to the office of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

The event was organised by a civil society group, Partnership for Justice, with the support of the Justice for All (J4A) project of the Department for International Development (DFID)

Rights groups march against rape •Lagos releases help lines

By Joseph Jibueze

as part of the United Nations (UN) 16 days of activism on violence against women.

The groups collaborated with the Lagos State Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Team; Lagos State Gender Advocacy Team; Lagos Ministry of Justice; Lagos Office of the Public Defender; Ministry of Youth, Sport and Social Development; Ministry of

Health, among others.

The event was also in celebration of the first anniversary of the Mirabel Centre within the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where rape victims get free treatment and counselling.

They displayed placards with inscriptions: “Rape is real, speak out now!” “Be the change; help stop rape!” “A house where a woman is not safe is not a home.” “Make violence un-

Adultery allegations rock family

A

37-year-old trader, Mrs Medinat Alowonle, has sought the dissolution of her 17-year-old marriage before the Customary Court in Alakuko, a Lagos suburb.

She is accusing her husband of abandoning their matrimonial home.

Mrs Alowonle told the court that she left the house because her husband was fond of beating her.

She said: “The only expensive thing my husband can afford is a loaf of bread. He doesn’t know anything about our children’s education. He

•Head, Corporate Communications, BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2), Chief Steve Omolale-Ajulo speaking when President, Rotary Club of Lagos, Palmgrove District 9110 Nigeria Rotarian Bayo Banjo donated wheelchairs to BASL at the National Orthoepeadic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos...yesterday.

By Basirat Braimah

womanises a lot. I had to abort the last pregnancy I had for him because the troubles became unbearable. Even before I left his house, he already brought in another woman.”

The respondent, Saheed Alowonle, 38, a business man, said:”Through thick and thin, my wife stood by me.

Indeed, she was humble to a fault. She became wayward after I gave her some money to set up a business. I was deeply hurt when I realised she engaged in an extra-marital affair. I was made to bath

our children when my wife left our house for a while. She is also adulterous. All I want is our children. My wife is bad influence.”

He told the court that their son confirmed to him that a particular man was always visiting her shop.

The union, which was contracted under the Native and Customary Law, is blessed with three children - Ayomide (16), Konyinsola (11) and Michael (9).

The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, adjourned the case till January 6 for further hearing.

acceptable in your life!”

“Don’t wait to be a victim,” and “Stop rape now!”

They sang: “If you rape, you will rot in jail. Alausa – No rape! I was just playing with her – No rape!”

The deputy governor, represented by her special adviser, Mrs Risikat Akiode, announced dedicated help lines for child abuse (08085753932, 08102678442) and domestic violence: (08057542266, 08102678443).

She said the state would not tolerate child abuse or domestic violence, urging victims or anyone threat-

ened to call the help lines.

“Once the case is brought to our attention, we deal with it immediately. The lines are functioning,” she added.

Executive Director, Partnership for Justice, Mrs Itoro Eze-Anaba, said no fewer than 450 rape victims had been treated at the Mirabel Centre since it was established a year ago.

Among the victims, she said, were a 70-year-old woman; an 18-month-old child and a 14-year-old boy.

“We have serial rapists in Kosofe, Alimosho, Ikeja

and Agege. Lagos should allocate courts to deal with sexual offences so that such cases can be expedited. We also need more enlightenment to let people know that there is zero tolerance for rape. Traditional rulers should stop begging on behalf of perpetrators,” she said.

Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola said more should be done to protect older women and children against rape, as they are more vulnerable. “We must stand up against rape,” she said.

Civil defence trains private guard companies

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HE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has organised a stakeholders’ forum for Private Guard Companies (PGS). The theme was: “Importance of collaborative security protection towards a free and fair general election in Nigeria.”

The Commandant, Gabriel Abafi, said: “In all communities, residents are supposed to be neighbourhood watchers. They are the ones who can identify the hoodlums terrorising

By Basirat Braimah

them. Therefore, if the residents can fish them out and hand them over to security agents, there will be a hitch-free electoral process.”

The Guest Lecturer, Col Shobo Nojeem (rtd), urged monitoring agents to always consider the legal aspect of election.

“Monitoring agents are expected to be symbiotic.

So, they should cooperate with one another so as to achieve the same national goal. If the government can also provide sufficient equipment and fixed allowances for agents, they will be motivated to carry out their duties,” he added.

Olajide Bello, an official

of Servetrust PGL, one of the companies, said: “Tribalism shouldn’t be an option. Where there is team work, there must be team spirit. If members of staff are loyal and sincere, there will be free and fair election. Coming together is a good beginning; keeping together is progress and working together brings success. With all these in place, we will be able to achieve our aim.”

The president of Association of Licensed Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALSPN), David Ahimen, urged the civil defence corps and other security agencies to create a data base of staff in their proposed 2015 agenda for hitch-free operations.

Empowerment programme for youths

A

BOUT 290 youths between the ages of 14 and 25 will begin a nine-day training on Saturday at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (the Sea School), Apapa in Lagos , under the auspices of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).

The programme, with the theme, “Equip the Youths, Save the World,” is organised by Rotary District 9110, Nigeria, to inspire, motivate and teach youths in leadership and character development. The training includes physical drills to instill in them, self-reliance and ability to overcome any situation.

In a statement, the Chairman, RYLA Committee 2014, Dr. Adewale Ogunbadejo, said: “Participants will be exposed to motivational speakers, physical drills to develop their self-reliance. They will also undergo interactive sessions, seminars and workshops to awaken the leadership qualities in them.

“They will be exposed to vocational skill development in areas like: Cake baking, knitting, tie and dye, event management and decoration, making of liquid soap and air freshener and bead-making.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Life

15

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

US museum honours Onobrakpeya – Page 47

•Nigeria’s stand at WTM

Osundare bags national award – Page 47

‘Nigeria consumes its courageous voices’ Nineteen years after, the death of Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa is still raising dust in some quarters. As civil rights activists, scholars and writers across the world commemorate the anniversary of his brutal execution this month, critics say Saro-Wiwa represents Nigeria’s unfinished business. But, is his struggle a waste? Critics highlighted his relevance to the struggle for change and more.

Senior Correspondent, EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

Strengthening bond between Egba, Yewa in Diaspora

– Page 48

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HERE is something about November. As the air begins to change and the days begin to hurry to the close of the year, the Nigerian literati have come to approach the month with mixed feelings.

It has become a month of sober reflections as they remember two of their iconic voices –Chinua Achebe and Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Incidentally, both writers are dead. One died at the ripe age of 83; the other’s life was cut short.

And so, while it is the birthday anniversary of one, it is the month the other, Saro-Wiwa, met death brutally, 19 years ago, on November 10 to be precise, in the hand of the then military junta.

That Friday, the literati received the news of his execution with much pain. And, as if it were an icing on a cake, his death, critics say, broke “the icing” that held together “the cake” of peace in the oil rich Niger Delta region, birthing several

protests which, they opined, ignited the restiveness that the region later witnessed.

Nineteen years on, Wiwa is still being remembered for the struggle, his sacrifice and the change. As the literati commemorate his death anniversary this month with diverse activities, it calls to mind a symposium on Life and Work of Ken Saro Wiwa: Possibilities for Nigeria held at the just-con-

– CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

16

The Midweek Magazine ‘Nigeria consumes its courageous voices

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•Continued from page 43

cluded Port Harcourt Book Festival, Rivers State.

In short, he was a focus at this year’s edition. Several segments were dedicated to him, including a visit to his office that now houses the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation established by his children.

The organisers, led by Mrs Koko Kalango, said it was an attempt to immortalise him.

According to them, they not only believe the late Saro-Wiwa is worthy of emulation, but that the lessons in his example, if emulated, hold a roadmap to Nigeria’s advancement as a nation.

Little wonder that the symposium had as keynote speaker and discussants, scholars from his home state – Rivers.

Leading the deliberations was the keynote speaker, Prof Daniel Ogum. With him were the Head of Department, English Studies, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof Nkem Okoh; Prof Onyemaechi Udumukwu; Dr Chinyelu Ojukwu; Dr Obari Gomba, who moderated the forum.

They called him a “visionary social philosopher”, “an uncompromising environmentalist”, “an activist-qua-activist”, “a fearless leader”, “lover of his Ogoni ethnic nation” and more. Saro-Wiwa’s legacies and achievements as a creative icon, they say, live after him.

Ogum, in his paper entitled: Literature and Legacy called the late Saro-Wiwa “the legendary martyr for humanity”. The martyr, according to him, represents “the unfinished business of Nigeria”, adding that like a yam seedling, although buried in the mound of the Niger Delta liberation farm, Saro-Wiwa is regenerating.

Lamenting that instead of fighting insurgents, Nigeria is in the habit of killing its brightest minds, he linked the Niger Delta aggression and the Boko Haram insurgency to bad governance, warning that much more would happen if the pressing issues are not addressed. He decried that the region is in a sorry state, urging government and the oil companies to learn from the Saro-Wiwa tragedy.

He said: “Nigeria structure should pre-

• From left: Dr Gomba, Dr Ojukwu, Udumukwu, Prof Okoh and Prof Ogum

serve, not destroy courageous positive voices. People who spoke up in protest of appalling conditions in the Niger Delta were at risks of attacks, threats to their lives and death. The present mayhem appears to be a blast of a keg of the gunpowder of past misdeeds and negligence. Boko Haram insurgents have questioned our nationhood Had companies acted responsibly in their host communities over the years, there would have been no Ogoni and Shell Crises, no Egni and Total E&P Memorandum of Understanding crises, no Umuechem bloodbath, no Odi disaster and amnesty related issues.

“Saro-Wiwa came with a message which lives on in his absence. And our thought is to align with Wiwa’s vision of advancement through the principles of equity, who called on the Ogoni people to standby fearlessly and fight for their rights…quantum leap, saying if you must go to equity, you must keep your hands clean. Nigeria cannot be changed until its leadership commit to changing it. It is also hoped that the government, the trans-national oil companies and

their agencies will be guided by the landmarks of this event in making policies, especially those policies that affect ethnic minorities.”

While urging the young, especially up and coming writers, to emulate the example of the late writer, Prof Okoh said: “A writer who is not ready to die for justice is not ready to be a writer. Wiwa was one writer who was not afraid to confront injustice and corruption.

Young writers can learn a lot from Wiwa and the role of an artist in development. However, if you are going to confront the authorities you must be ready for the consequences.”

His comment sparked off heated reaction from the young in the audience and another debate, as many asked: “Must we die before Nigeria gets better?”

On her part, Dr Ojukwu sued for peace, she urged the youths to shun violence, but to “keep negotiating for peace and talking until agreement is reached”. While calling for forgiveness and reconciliation in the hearts of youths and Nigeria, she named the massive education of youths and women as one of the rem-

edy to curbing insurgencies.

“For me, therefore, the possibilities for Nigeria are captured in Ken Saro-Wiwa’s booklet, Letter to Ogoni Youth, where he most importantly admonishes the youth of Ogoni to embrace education, hard-work, self-discipline and shun corruption. He, however, adds that: “The qualities which I have urged upon you in this letter are general and should all Nigerians acquire them, we will have a better country catering fairly to the interest of all citizens”. There must always be some light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

Prof Udumukwu, who described Wiwa was a gift to Nigeria and not just Rivers State, said the government should make its environment favourable to its young and creative minds. He said: “The ability to recognise our differences is where our possibilities lie. Nigeria’s possibilities can be realised by encouraging a vibrant and active reading culture that goes beyond the university and schools to market places and motor parks.

POEM

I believe

By Iyamu Abiemwense

Though the world sees terrorist as a problem but Nigerian leaders sees it as a means to gain more from the blessed Nation, Though they rage war among the people,yet they flee from it.

Though they stand in rhythm of our Great National Anthem,but deaf to what it truly says.

Though they speak in understandable language they act in dark deceit, Though we haven’t fallen but their ways shaken’s us, Though they pledge to an oath but they took more delight in their dark oath, Though they have families, they care not about tomorrow, They rule for today and ruin our tomorrow, Yet they are known to be leaders, Leaders with dark eyes but in the light,it as white as snow,

•Director, LagosPhoto Foundation, Mr Azu Nwagbogu; Yomi Odesanya, Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism & Inter-Governmental Affairs) Disun Holloway and CEO, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Matthew Willsher

Though they do all this, Nigeria still stand, In delight of bearing the burden of pain, And hope upon the day break of the Earth!

As it hope to gain it total freedom Back.

Nigeria: Great People, Great Nation....

POLITICS

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

OGUN POLITICS No fewer than 12 aspirants are jostling for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Ogun State. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines their strengths, weaknesses and issues that will shape the contest.

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12 for governor in Ogun PDP

HE governorship contest in Ogun State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is gathering momentum. Ahead of the primaries, 11 aspirants have collected and returned the nomination forms to the party secretariat in Abeokuta.

The aspirants are Chief Kayode Amusan, Chief Anthony Ojesina, Prince Yanju Lipede, Dr Remilekun Bakare, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola and Dr Femi Majekodunmi, are Prof. David Bamgbose, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, Omoba Segun Adewale, Prince Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka and Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye.

The aspirants are from the “four corners” of the state. Though the state is delineated into three senatorial districts of Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West, the people see themselves more as belonging to four distinct zones. The zones are: Remo, Ijebu, Yewa and Egba, which have different ancestral and historical backgrounds.

But, Ogun Central, which parades seven aspirants, seems to dominate. The aspirants from the zone are: Amusan, Ojesina, Lipede, Bakare, Majekodunmi, Sarafa and Bamgbose. Those from Ogun West are Isiaka, Akinlade and Adewale.

Ogunleye is the only aspirant from Ogun East.

Ogun State PDP, Chairman Chief Bayo Dayo said every member of the party irrespective of the zone they come from have the right to seek the party’s governorship ticket. “We will provide a level-playing ground for all aspirants to test their popularity and whoever emerges from the primary becomes the party’s flag bearer. “As umpire, we don’t have preference for any aspirant; our concern is to conduct an open and transparent primary, so that the result would be acceptable to all aspirants,” the chairman observed.

Dayo, an engineer, said: “At my age, I am not looking for political appointment from whoever becomes the governor on the platform of our party next year. The aspirant that would be chosen to fly the party’s flag would be the popular choice of members in Ogun State. We shall keep to the provisions of the PDP Constitution and the rules guiding the conduct of primaries, as stipulated by our party.”

Observers believe the chairman’s observation was premised on the speculation that the Presidency has endorsed the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, as the party’s consensus candidate for the election. The speculation has created a fresh division in the ranks of party stakeholders, particularly other aspirants, who are insisting that the authorities in Abuja do not have the right to impose a candidate on them.

The two factions of the party in the state are already at each other’s throat over the matter. The Jubril Marins Kuye (JMK)-led faction is rooting for Bankole to emerge as flag bearer. The Presidency and the party’s national leadership, it was learnt, have keyed into this project.

The group is also calling for the dissolution of the state executive installed by multi-billionaire, Prince Buruji Kashamu.

But, the Mandate Group loyal to Kashamu has warned the Presidency against any action that would destabilise the party and mar its chances at the poll next year. It said: “This late hour scheme is meant to cause a fresh round of crisis after the party has been stabilised and it is now functioning very

ernment between 2003 and 2007.

Ishola was among PDP stakeholders in the state that fell out with Daniel.

President Umaru Yar’Adua appointed him Minister of Mines and Steel Development on July 26, 2007. He was dropped on October 29, 2008. Observers said his ouster was not unconnected with the disputes between him and Daniel.

Abiodun Akinlade

•Isiaka

well. We wish to state that this is not the time for anyone to start using the names of the President, the Senate President/the National Chairman to cause disaffection and further any selfish interest.

“Even, if they want to foist the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, on the party and give him automatic ticket for the governorship election, they should not throw away the baby with bath water. Any attempt to do so would cause more grievous harm than it was meant to resolve.”

The Mandate Group reminded those behind the “Dimeji-Bankole-Must-BeGovernor” campaign that it was the same Bankole who lost his re-election bid for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, which is made up of only one local government.

A party stalwart explained why the Presidency and the PDP national leadership prefer Bankole as the party’s flag bearer. He said: “The party’s determination is to wrestle power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state next year. The first step in winning an election is to put forward a candidate that has integrity and whose credibility is not questionable.

Given the performance of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun State, the PDP can’t afford to gamble in 2015 with a greenhorn or a local champion.

We need a strong candidate that will deliver Ogun State to the PDP next year.”

Dayo reacted that any aspirant that got his ticket from Abuja should expect the Abuja people to come and vote for him in Ogun State. Nobody can impose a candidate on us, he re-affirmed.

It could not be ascertained, if Bankole had collected the nomination form.

Dayo said the state secretariat is not aware as there is no record to that effect. He said, may be, he had collected the form from the national headquarters, Abuja.

Since the inception of this dispensation, PDP governorship candidates in Ogun State have always emerged through primaries. For instance, in

•Bankole

1999, Senator Martins Kuye from Ogun East and Mrs. Titi Ajanaku from Ogun Central slugged it out at the primaries and Kuye emerged as the winner. In 2003, Gbenga Daniel, Doyin Okupe and Col. Shoda (rtd) from Ogun East; Chief Jide Taiwo and the late Mr Kunle Arojo from Ogun West; Femi Majekodunmi and Captain Raji from Ogun Central participated in the primaries. Daniel won the shadow election. In 2007, it was Daniel versus Lekan Ojo from Ogun West. Again, Daniel picked the ticket.

In 2011, Gboyega Isiaka, Gen. Idowu Olurin from Ogun West and Sarafa Ishola from Ogun Central contested for the ticket, which was eventually won

by Olurin.

Interestingly, some of the old contestants are among those vying for the 2015 governorship ticket. Below are the profiles of some of the aspirants:

Dimeji Bankole

He was elected into the House of Representatives on the PDP ticket in 2003 to represent the Abeokuta South Constituency. He was re-elected in 2007. On October 30, 2007, Bankole was elected Speaker, following the resignation of Mrs. Patricia Etteh. He defeated his rival by 304 votes to 20. On his election, Banole said: “I am taking over the mantle of leadership at a very difficult time. I want an independent House that Nigerians will be proud of, this is my first task.”

During his tenure as Speaker, the House ensured the return of about one trillion naira unspent funds by Government Ministries, Department and Agencies as part of annual budget process. On June 13, 2008, Bankole and his deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada were arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a 17-cout charge of misappropriation of N10 billion loan obtained by the House. However, they were discharged and acquitted by the court on January 31, 2012.

• Akinlade

last year at a political gathering in Ijebu-Igbo, home of Ogun State PDP financier, Prince Kashamu. He is regarded as one of the confidants of Kashamu.

Amusan who hails from Ogun Central is being groomed by the Kashamu group to split the Egba votes, where the incumbent Governor Amosun also came from. Kashamu once lamented that if Amusan, who is younger than Olurin, was fielded as the PDP governorship candidate in 2011, the fortune of the party would have perhaps, been better at the poll.

Gboyega Isiaka

He contested the PDP governorship primaries in 2011. Initially, he was declared winner, but INEC did not recognise the congress through which he emerged. He pulled out of the PDP and followed his godfather Gbenga Daniel to form a new party called Peoples Progressive Party of Nigeria (PPN) on which platform he contested and lost governorship election in 2011.

Isiaka and his principal are back in the PDP. He is still eyeing the office.

Many perceive Isiaka as a cool-headed young man, intelligent and hardworking, but his link with Daniel may work against him. This, according to analysts, was what marred his chances in 2011. The electorate saw Daniel in Isiaka in whatever direction he turned.

To them, a vote for Isiaka was a vote for Daniel and, by extension, a call for the continuation of Daniel’s style of governance, perceived at that time as a debilitating yoke that should be thrown off.

The people of Ogun State have not forgotten that while Isiaka was at the helm of affairs at the Gateway Holdings Limited, he did little or nothing, as the Managing Director, to stop the concession of assets of Ogun State.

Sarafa Ishola

He was Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government from 1997 to 1998.

He was elected a member of the He was appointed Special Assistant to House of Representatives in 2007. He the Minister of State, Finance (1999-2003). declared his governorship ambition He was the Secretary to the State Gov-

Kayode Amusan

‘Any aspirant that got his ticket from Abuja should expect the Abuja people to come and vote for him in Ogun State.

Nobody can impose a candidate on us, he re-affirmed’

Akinlade is a member of the House of Representatives from Ogun West.

He returned to the House on the ticket of the ACN in 2011. Today, he is eyeing the Oke Mosan Government House, banking on the goodwill of Yewa, who have never produced governor since the state was created 38 years ago. He had contemplated defecting to the Labour Party where he thought the ticket would be given to him to actualise his goal. Analysts have identified impatience, immaturity, and unguarded optimism as his major weakness. According to observers, Akinlade would have had a good chance of becoming governor, if had waited in the APC till 2019. But, he wants to give it a shot once more on the platform of the PDP

Anthony Ojesina

He is a former Commissioner for Environment. Despite his unsuccessful attempt in 2011 to pick the ticket, Ojesina has his eyes fixed on Oke Mosan Government House in 2015. He has promised to harness the resources of the state to create jobs and industries. He plans to enhance the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and improve healthcare delivery.

Rafiu Ogunleye

Alhaji Ogunleye was the deputy governor to Chief Olusegun Osoba in the aborted Third Republic. Ogunleye, a chieftain of the APC, defected to the PDP last year. Lack of patronage from the Amosun Administration was the reason he gave for dumping the party.

Ogunleye said his presence in the governorship race was borne out of his desire to rescue the state from the mal-administration. He said that with the abundance of human and mineral resources God endowed the state with and now that it had become a destination of choice for investors, there was need to strike a balance by voting in an experience politician of his status, who would create wealth and turn the state’s economy around.

Yanju Lipede

Prince Adeyanju Lipede was former Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government. He is the brain behind the Omoba Nbo Foundation, which has changed a lot of lives in the state.

Prof. David Bamgbose

He was a former member of the Accord Party. He runs a private College of Education in Ogun State. His business cuts across real estate, agriculture and other international holdings. He is the Executive Secretary of Business Forum in Nigeria. He moved to the Accord Party in order to because the PDP will afford him the wide range to reach out to a large audience. His entrance to the race on the PDP platform will make the governorship race more difficult for him because those who he met on ground and have been nursing the ambition for quite some times. He is the most lettered among the aspirants.

18

THE NATION WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2014

RACE TO 2015

‘

One cannot say what will happen tomorrow, but it is left for Governor Kwankwaso and the APC as a party to do what is right

‘

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Hon. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila is a governorship aspirant in Kano State. In this interview with TONY AKOWE, he warns about the dangers of imposition of candidates.

A

‘APC ‘ll not impose candidates’

S a former opposition leader before Kwankwaso joined the APC, what is your relationship him now?

Our relationship is cordial. We had to come together at one point to salvage our people. In so doing, we looked at the larger interest of the nation, which is the principle behind the formation of the APC. Both leaders and followers of the APC have strong desire for justice, fairness and internal democracy. The same desire brought those in erstwhile nPDP like Kwankwaso to the APC, because they knew that the PDP is leading Nigeria to perdition. In other words, since our party was formed on the principles of change and justice; which implies that we will change how we conduct primary election, change those former ways by which party faithful were compelled to field candidates they don’t like. It is the resolve of the APC that a true alternative to the PDP is provided for all Nigerians to realise their dreams and ambitions. That is why we agreed to work with those who came in from the PDP. But, our greatest concern now is that Nigerians are watching to see if the APC will live its name and deliver true internal democracy to them. It cannot afford to fail them because if it does so, Nigerians will surely reject it. I was a member of the merger committee that gave birth to the APC, which adopted the broom as its logo, Change as the motto and all these were premised on the desire to bring about the much-needed change in our polity. If the APC continues

on this worthy path, we will celebrate and thank God. We must not repeat what happens in the PDP, where sitting governors impose their anointed candidates on the people by all means. We agreed in principle to work together with Governor Kwankwaso because we expect that he will do justice to all by allowing for internal democracy.

There’s the party constitution, primary election guidelines and then there is conventional wisdom, which entails that you have a moral burden to do justice to all since you are the leader of a group preaching and advocating for justice at all levels.

Do you have fears that Governor Kwankwaso may not create conditions for free, fair and transparent primaries?

One cannot say what will happen tomorrow, but it is left for Governor Kwankwaso and the APC as a party to do what is right because, if you do thing right the you are helping yourself and not someone else.

If they do justice, I think he is helping himself and the party because he too will stand for primary election at the presidential level and if he wins, he will face the incumbent PDP candidate, which has the electoral body, the police and other security agencies. Therefore, anything anyone does is what others will surely do to him.

We are not begging anybody to do what is right. But, it is now a public knowledge that our aspiration is a litmus test to the APC and its leaders. Nigerians are watching to see if

•Sumaila

we will turn around to repeat the same kind of unjust imposition and undemocratic tendencies we have been accusing the PDP of perpetrating. They should be reminded that by rejecting same in PDP they have helped to enlighten our people on what is right and as such the people too won’t accept such from them. We also know that Kano people who play progressive and classic politics do not accept imposition. If you dare impose anyone on them, they will surely reject such imposition. History has shown that there was never a time that an incumbent governor has been able to impose his anointed candidate in Kano

and 2015 won’t be an exception, especially now that the people are even more enlightened than before.

Are you referring to what happened in 2011?

Yes, in the presidential election, General Buhari got 1.6 million votes, Shekarau polled 500,000 and Goodluck Jonathan got 400,000 in the PDP with Kwankwaso as the party’s candidate. But, in the governorship election, the PDP got 1.1 million votes; the ANPP got 1.04 million votes; while General Buhari’s CPC got 170,000 votes. This shows that our people are capable of making choices in all elections by choosing candidates and not political parties. It is now left for the APC at both national and state levels to practice what they preach. If they fail to do justice to all, then Nigerians will know that there is no difference between the PDP and the APC. They will surely know that they are two sides of the same coin.

Can you tell us briefly what happened in the defunct ANPP that led to its defeat?

Let me correct the insinuation that Shekarau imposed the candidate on us. It wasn’t Governor Shekarau who single-handedly picked the candidate and imposed him on us. It was the party bigwigs of not more than 300 of us who said they have given Shekarau the right to choose anyone he wants. The mistake we made then was that we didn’t consult the people to know if that is what they wanted or not. On seven occasions we told Shekarau that he should choose anyone he wants and that we were solidly behind him. It was after he

anointed the person he wanted that some of those who gave him the goahead to do so failed to go back home to our people to deliver the candidate. The people didn’t even trust them. God knows it wasn’t Shekarau who imposed the candidate on us in the ANPP. We should be fair to him because it was the party leaders that asked him to do so.

What is your advice to the APC in that regard?

Again, my advice to APC leaders at all levels is to take what happened in Ekiti State is a big lesson. They should not deny popular aspirants the opportunity to fly the party’s flag. There was no reason for us to have lost Ekiti, if not for the insistence of the party leaders that the incumbent must do a second term, even against the people’s will. The governor did well, but the people didn’t want him and yet the APC leaders fielded him. But, in Osun, the governor won because the people wanted him. Therefore, I want our party leaders at both national and state levels to know that we cannot afford to repeat what happened in Ekiti in 2015. If the APC loses the presidential and governorship elections in 2015, then the leaders should be held responsible because Nigerians are yearning for change, because they are tired of the PDP. But, from all indications, some APC leaders have followed this ignoble path that may lead to the party’s Waterloo. It appears that, having learned such from the PDP, they are trying to impose it on us. But, this is not why we formed the APC and we will do everything possible to stop them.

Former Minister of State for Finance Dr. Yerima Ngama is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Yobe State. He spoke with JOEL DUKU on his ambition and plans for the state.

Ngama: PDP ’ll take Yobe out of poverty

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HAT informed your decision to run for the governorship?

Yobe State was created in 1991 by General Ibrahim Babangida after touring the old Borno State and seeing the abject poverty, lack of education facilities and everything that a modern society should have. So, this is enough to tell you that this part of Nigeria is the poorest and it’s the place that has the highest level of illiteracy and backwardness. In fact, if you remove Yobe and Borno from the MDG goal table, Nigeria will meet all the MDG goals.

But, once you insert them, you will not meet it. So, I feel that this is a state that people have to make sacrifice to come and develop.

When we started, because of our backwardness and tradition, we found ourselves in the hands of those that are just available. But, 16 years after, the story has not changed. Up till today, Yobe occupies the last or second to the last spot in all development indices.

Take unemployment for instance.

Ours is 70 per cent: we are last in primary schools enrolment. In children of school age that are out of school, we are third to the last with 54 per cent —- Zamfara is the last with 74 per cent; while Borno is second to the last with 68 per cent. These are all APC states. That is to tell you that we are so unfortunate to find ourselves in the hands of people who don’t know their left from their right.

Political leadership is the basic thing we need before we develop; you need good governance to develop. Look at the way politics is being played in this state, you will cry because what has politics got to do with civil service appointments?

The moment somebody starts playing politics with his civil service, you know that he has already lost track; he doesn’t know what he is doing.

This is the kind of people leading this state.

This is why some of us have to sacrifice to come back to Yobe and seek for the peoples mandate to provide good leadership.

What gives you the assurance that you will get the PDP ticket?

Well, being a non-PDP state, when I became a Minister I also became the leader of the PDP in the state and I know the kind of leadership I have provided. The people also know the kind of leadership I have offered.

Throughout my tenure, I don’t discriminate between who is in the APC or the PDP. When it comes to employment, I employ people from everywhere, and whatever we get we

share it to everybody. I think because of the development projects we provided; we became a threat to the APC government.

Before I become a Minister, when late Mamman Ali became the governor, I provided a blueprint for the development of the state. I told him that I don’t want a kobo from him. I assembled 43 experts who are indigenes of Yobe State to implement the plan. So, cooperation with any government in power is something I cherish. But, immediately Mamman Ali died, we came to launch a book, but Governor Gaidam refused to attend. That means as far as he is concerned, he doesn’t need any help from outside. Even inside, only people who are very close to him are granted audience to see him. So, you see, this is the kind of person we ended up as a governor. But, now we have the opportunity to actually look for a better person to provide leadership.

Why do you think you are the right person for this job?

You see, I was brought up in a competitive environment. Being a banker, everybody knows you cannot survive if you don’t know your onions. I actu-

ally grew from manager to Executive Director in Diamond Bank, which is a purely merit-driven bank. Ninety per cent of the staffs were all from the South, and some are even from outside this country. Our Chief Operating Officer was a Briton when we started. It‘s only your talent, commitment and performance that will sustain you in that bank. Throughout my career in Diamond Bank, there was no single day I did not met my target.

Go and find out.

But, the public sector and private sector are two different things?

What you have said is true. But, wherever one finds oneself, one has to use wisdom. I could remember a story about Mallam Aminu Kano. During colonial times one administrator went and gathered people and to tell them that they have to pay Haraji (tax). But, people walked away in annoyance.

When Mallam Aminu came, he faulted the administrator’s approach, saying he should have told them about the benefits of what he intended to do, and tell them how much money he is budgeting for it, and invite those who can to contribute their share to the

‘You cannot come to people and begin to tell them about what they cannot afford. No matter how good your intention is, if you don’t know how to motivate and carry people along, you have failed as a leader’

•Ngama

good course. Afterwards, people contributed their share to the good course and some people even offered their labour free.

So, you have look at the society first and consider what they can afford. You cannot come to people and begin to tell them about what they cannot afford. No matter how good your intention is, if you don’t know how to motivate and carry people along, you have failed as a leader.

What are the chances of the PDP in Yobe today?

I think it is the responsibility of the media to tell people that Yobe is the worst state in Nigeria because it does not have good leaders. Go to Dutse and Gombe, they are far better than Yobe; everybody knows that Governor Gaidam‘s administration has failed because how many times have they sat to meet?

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

The best form of austerity

Creaming off •Federal Government throwing more money into privatised power firms will not solve the problem

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INALLY, a whopping $213 billion has been harnessed by the government and warehoused for the sole use of the newly privatised power firms in the hope that they will begin to behave better and light up the country. But since we believe strongly that funding may not be the problem of the Nigeria power sector, we may well be witnessing an exercise in futility and so much pearl thrown at swine.

After so many decades of heeing and hawing, Nigeria’s power sector which was solely a public affair was privatised. Government divested her majority interests in generating (Gencos) and distribution (Discos) companies. Since November 1, 2013, government had licensed over a dozen private Gencos and Discos that now generate and distribute electricity across the country. The transmission leg of the electricity chain was handed to another private firm (Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN) in a lease management arrangement.

But one year after government’s divestment and one year of private firms running electricity generation and distribution in Nigeria, the only things that seem to have changed are rapidly rising tariffs and more frequent outages. Power generation has remained low and sometimes dropping to crisis levels. Distribution continues at its old lackadaisical best, reminiscent of the old days when it was marinated in government’s bureaucratic morass of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. Watchers of the sector have adduced numerous reasons why the power situation has regressed even after privatisation. First, it is believed that the bidding process was compromised and the wrong people were favoured by government. The crisis lead-

ing to the forced removal of the then power minister, Professor Barth Nnaji, is a pointer. Second, there is no evidence that the new owners are anxious to make investment commitments as expected. Having raised huge facilities from banks to acquire the assets, most of them are simply creaming off the substantial earnings from their operations to pay back loans; most of the new so-called investors have made little financial commitment to the project.

Another point to ponder is: was there no due diligence by the new investors? How come they did not find out that there was a huge debt overhang in the power sector?

Why were the dilapidated assets they groan about now not revealed before the purchase? Why are so many issues being raised only after the plants had been acquired?

Tariff has been increased twice in one year since divestment and another one planned for December, yet service remains poor. There seems to be much more than meets the eye in the entire power transactions. For instance, new owners have hedged in meterising the system; conveniently adopting the old, but non-accounting method of power distribution.

The modest pre-privatisation efforts at metering were jettisoned. Even consumers who for many years had paid for meters (which were supposed to be issued free of charge in the first place) are yet to get the instrument.

In a sense, it is salutary that the Federal Government is not giving up as it strains to right its wrongs. Getting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to mobilise long-term funds at low interest to bolster privatised firms would ordinarily be commendable but these are far from ordinary times. Nei-

ther are we in ordinary situations. We aver again that the problem with the power sector is not a lack of fund. The sector, like most others, is beset by debilitating corruption.

There had been over a dozen funds of this nature. Recall the Nigeria Shipping Fund; an earlier power fund in 2010 and an airlines rescue funds, to name a few.

None of these was ever accounted for.

They were funds that were suspected to have largely ended up in private pockets.

We warn once again that what is happening is a vicious cycle of government and its cronies in the power sector creaming off the nation’s common wealth. Nigerians need to know: how much have the various investors injected; how much have they realised from operating the firms; how much real stake do they have; is there a chance that firms merely creaming off could lose their licenses? More questions than answers.

‘We warn once again that what is happening is a vicious cycle of government and its cronies in the power sector creaming off the nation’s common wealth. Nigerians need to know: how much have the various investors injected; how much have they realised from operating the firms; how much real stake do they have; is there a chance that firms merely creaming off could lose their licenses? More questions than answers’

Search for research

•· N7.8 billion university research funds underutilised

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HE shocking announcement that N7.8 billion in funds meant for research in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions are yet to be drawn upon is a sobering reminder of the fact that the lack of money is not always the major problem confronting the enhancement of research in the country. According to the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, N10.052 billion was allocated to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for institution-based research between 2009 and 2014. The funds are domiciled in Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and are accessible to federal and state-owned tertiary institutions. Over 70 per cent of this amount has not been touched, a development the minister sees as demonstrative of a lack of seriousness on the part of the putative recipients.

Along with teaching and community

‘TETFund appears to be more interested in sitting on the money than ensuring that it is properly utilised. In an information technology era, there is no reason why it has not embarked upon a relentless publicity campaign to ensure that there is keen competition for the research funds domiciled with it. If Nigerian researchers assiduously apply for grants from bodies like the Ford and Carnegie Foundations, there can be no reason why they should overlook locally-available funds’

service, research is a pillar of the tertiary education system. Research is vital to the social, economic and political progress of any society. World Bank figures show that the United States spent 2.79 per cent of its GDP on research and development between 2010 and 2014; China spent 1.98 per cent within the same period. The fact that similar figures are not available for Nigeria is an unflattering testimony of the nation.

Whenever unions like the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) embark on their often-interminable strike actions, the lack of funding for research activities is usually one of their major grievances. They complain that the low ranking of Nigeria’s higher institutions is due to the dearth of research conducted within them, and cannot be remedied without proper funding. The unions often go on to argue that the alleged refusal of federal and state governments to provide the required funds is part of comprehensive attempts to cripple the country’s education system, and thereby render it less “troublesome.”

There is obviously a profound disconnect between the demand for research funds and their blatant under-utilisation, and it is a situation for which all the concerned parties are responsible. The administrators of TETFund have not done enough to publicise the availability of research funds; the tertiary institutions could have done more to avail themselves of the funds; the unions ought to have focused their energies on accessing what was available, instead of making unsubstantiated accusations.

TETFund appears to be more interested in sitting on the money than ensuring that

it is properly utilised. In an information technology era, there is no reason why it has not embarked upon a relentless publicity campaign to ensure that there is keen competition for the research funds domiciled with it. If Nigerian researchers assiduously apply for grants from bodies like the Ford and Carnegie Foundations, there can be no reason why they should overlook locally-available funds.

The nation’s tertiary institutions are perhaps the most culpable culprits of all.

They are supposed to be more aware than anyone else of the significance of research and the vital necessity of obtaining the resources with which to propagate it. Securing research grants should be made a mandatory condition for promotion; comprehensive programmes should be set up to enlighten lecturers on the researchgrant writing process; closer cooperation should be sought with funding agencies such as TETFund in order to ensure that opportunities are not wasted.

The unions must seek to protest less and achieve more. They should transcend the superficial satisfactions inherent in blaming federal and state governments for all that is wrong in tertiary education and focus on solutions. It makes no sense to demand increased funding for research if available funds have not been fully utilised. The unions should concentrate on ensuring that whatever bureaucratic or other unnecessary obstacles prevent their members from accessing research funds are overcome.

Money for research is available. Tertiary institutions are full of viable research projects crying out for funding. It is time to stop making excuses and put those funds to work. In the abundance of water, only the fool is thirsty.

S

IR: In any nation where there exists minimum government with maximum governance, unlike ours, government programmes are the only way to make up for reduced personal consumption during recession.

Robust public sector spending reduces unemployment and therefore increases the number of income-tax payers. Today in Nigeria, government gathers 2,000 semi-skilled youth with mandate of sweeping our roads on monthly salary of N7,000 and go to pages of newspapers and other media outlets to announce that they have created four thousand jobs!

If government must cut spending in the face of downward slope of crude oil price, then it has to start from itself.

Has anyone ever taken a look at the Nigerian president or ministers’ or governors’ convoy? Even when our governors attend occasions such as wedding and naming ceremonies in honour of their cronies and friends, they move around with endless phalanx of vehicles fuelled and maintained at public expense. Governors’ wives never miss occasions such as thanksgiving, naming ceremonies, burial ceremonies, weddings, birthday and even get-together during which they travel with bevy of praise singers in plenitude of vehicles fuelled and maintained with public fund.

The Nigerian government says it is broke, yet it concedes revenue to oil thieves and pipeline vandals. There is infrastructure decay all over the place, and the country appears to be heading to a precipice but it was in the midst of all these that President Goodluck Jonathan decided to empty the treasury for a pilgrimage to Israel in the annual tradition of sponsoring religious faithful to Holy Lands. This year alone no fewer than 30,000 Nigerians will go on Christian Pilgrimage to Israel and Rome.

For the Muslims, 76,000 Nigerians performed the 2013 Hajj following the reduction of Nigeria’s quota by 20 percent from 90,000. Thirty percent of the pilgrims go on self-sponsorship, leaving the rest 70 percent on government sponsorship.

Paradoxically, those who go on government sponsorship are the well to do individuals, governors, ministers, senators, reps members, House of Assembly members and even the Local Government chairmen. Government’s sponsorship of pilgrims is absolutely wrong and unacceptable. We say we are a secular state; there’s nothing stopping anybody from embarking on such spiritual exercise on his/her personal bills. The Moslems do so as part of their religious obligations. But then, it is not the business of government to do the sponsorship. Many churches in Nigeria today are wealthier than so many public liability companies; hence they should take up the responsibility of sponsoring the less privileged members on pilgrimage.

The best austerity measure for countries like Nigeria today is to cut down executive spending and outright ban on sponsorship of pilgrimages at all levels of government.

• Onogwu Isah Muhammed, Lokoja, Kogi State.

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

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY,NOVEMBER 26, 2014

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Nigeria is a land of milk and honey.Yet, we suffer like those in dry land. We produce and export oil, yet we are faced with acute fuel scarcity. We queue for petrol, kerosene, diesel and even for water!

Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer. Its 37.2 billion barrels of proven oil put the country’s reserve second place on the continent to Libya. Yet, in spite of its impressive potential, she is the only member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries that imports refined fuel and still experiencing scarcity.

Our problem here is spelt in 10 letters: C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N. Yes, corruption everywhere; in offices, workplaces, schools, even in reli-

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Still on trouble with Nigeria gious houses! In fact,it is more disheartening that it even thrives in police stations and in courts. You hear of nepotism, favoritism, partiality, injustice and of course, abuse of state pardon and prerogative of mercy shown to somebody that should have been allowed to rot in prison! No wonder,we come after Bangladesh and Haiti in corruption rating.

Not too many years ago, Malaysia took her first palm seedlings from Nigeria. Now,she realizes more on palm oil than Nigeria does on petroleum! Or will you say the US$20 billion she realizes annually on palm oil is the same thing as the US$12 billion Nigeria realizes on crude oil? And, that’s the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

We were once recognized as one of

the leading producers of agricultural produce in the world. What do we see now? Nigeria imports rice and beans! It would have been better if we stopped at that, but we still import irrelevances.Or, how do you see the importation of matches, toothpastes, toothpicks, toilet soaps, spoons and, insane enough, packaged water!

Black out today, power failure

Breaking the silence on open defecation

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IR: “I am moved by the fact that a child dies every two and a half minutes from diseases linked to open defecation. Those are silent deaths – not reported on in the media, not the subject of public debate. Let’s not remain silent any longer”. The above quotation from the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, is a clear reflection on the danger of open defecation which has been a common practice in many nations, towns and villages for centuries. Sadly, this practice is still prevalent in Nigeria.

Out of about one billion people that practice open defecation worldwide, about 49 million are Nigerians while 600 million reside in India. It is however estimated that around 68 million Nigerians are likely to be added between now and 2025, if concerted efforts were not made to arrest the problem. According to Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2011), Ekiti State contributes highest to open defecation practice with 60.8 percent followed by Plateau and Oyo states with 56.2 and 54.0 percent respectively. Abia has the lowest rate followed by Lagos at 1.2 and 2.0 percent respectively.

Kano State has 4.0 percent while Zamfara, Benue and Kwara have 9.8, 52.5 and 50.5 respectively.

Open defecation as one of the fundamental aspects of sanitation mir-

rors our underdevelopment as a nation. It is a terrible practice with various consequences on human health, dignity and security, the environment, and social and economic development. The profoundly damaging health and developmental consequences of this menace has often been overshadowed by other aspects of our socio-economic life that is also in decay.

Many people seem not to understand that the quality of our lives as human beings is substantially a reflection of the quality of the environment which we inhabit. The spread of numerous gastrointestinal and diarrheal diseases is associated with it, whether through direct contact with fecal matter or via tainted food and water. According to World Health Organization, 88 percent of diarrhea cases are attributable to poor excreta management. Diarrhea is the second largest killer of children below five years, only next to pneumonia yet open defecation practice is commonplace in our great country.

There is, therefore, an urgent need to join Jan Eliasson, in the campaign to break the silence on open defecation and give sanitation the priority attention it deserve in our national life. Content of the recently developed national road map for the elimination of open defecation

should be followed to the letter. It is heartwarming that states such as Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Delta have developed their respective road maps.

As problems related to open defecation gain greater attention, the importance of broader WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) issues, such as access to clean drinking water, must gain traction as well.

One of the ways to trigger this is

for all states in the federation to have functional rural water and sanitation agency that is well positioned to ensure that 2025 target of elimination of open defecation is maintained. Every Nigerians must elect to live a dignified life through toilet revolution.

• Rasak Musbau Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

tomorrow! That’s the Nigerian scene. No salary today, minimum wage crisis tomorrow. In fact, workers do not get paid until the 37th of the month! To where will this lead us? High cost of living, low standard of living.We are still developing, lagging behind with all we are endowed with.In fact, those that regard Nigeria as a developing country are, to my mind, hypocritical. Nigeria is an under-developed country! Ours is a country which has seen over two score years and which is still unable to stand upright, let alone walk, much less run!

All these notwithstanding, we never discontinue fooling ourselves by regarding the country as ‘’the Giant of Africa’’. What an ignominious misnomer!

Swaziland is a very tiny sovereign entity having no other resources than sugarcane, yet, it has developed to a reasonable extent.

Nigeria on the other hand is blessed with so many human and natural resources.Throw a stone in any part of the country and you are most likely to pelt a doctor, professor, lawyer or an engineer. Despite these, there is nothing to show for the generous endowment.

Now, tell me, why is Nigeria underdeveloped? It’s a question for all and sundry.

• Kazeem Olalekan Israel, Ibadan,Oyo State.

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Let DSS produce copies of cloned cards

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IR: We challenge the Directorate of State Security (DSS) to produce and show Nigerians the copies of the cards it claimed that APC is cloning in its Data Office in Lagos. The laughable explanation of the DSS spokesperson that the centre was being used to clone permanent voters card is not only cheap but only confirms the hatchet role the DSS has assumed on PDP’s dirty ways to retain power at all costs, even with Nigerians clearly fed up with its misrule. We believe that such allegation must be followed up with hard facts and which hard facts could be more convincing than the DSS presenting to Nigerians copies of the cloned cards, directly linked to the APC data.

For the avoidance of doubt, the

APC Data Centre is a legitimate operation by a legitimate Nigerian political party responsible for the digitalization of the membership of the APC and had carried out its lawful operations in adherence to the laws of the country. That the DSS has become a purveyor to the lies and dirty intrigues of the PDP cannot change this fact and we see what happens as far more serious than the Watergate Scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the United States.

We are really baffled at how critical security agencies of the state have been muddled and clearly diverted to partisan influences. It is a monumental shame that the DSS has become such a rampaging attack dog for the PDP when it should be

working to enhance the security of the nation. It is baffling how President Jonathan and the PDP have turned a critical security outfit into the raging attack dogs of the PDP. Is it any wonder that they have left Nigerians to their fate as insecurity threatens to overrun the entire country while doing the dirty missions of the PDP? We expect the DSS to immediately display the cloned cards it alleged the APC was manufacturing in its Data Centre and we use this medium to tell Nigerians that the APC will neither flag nor be intimidated in its resolve and desire to end PDP’s reign of corruption, ineptitude, division, impunity and lawlessness.

•Joe Igbokwe, Publicity Secretary, Lagos APC.

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COMMENTS

‘Our Girls’; ‘Scale the fence in defence of democracy’; Austerity, Fiscal Responsibility; ‘Ember’ ‘

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UR girls are still missing since April 15 and no sign of a solution.

So, another austerity period looms. Have we learnt no lessons? Far more than the financial Tony demands of civil Marinho servants, it is the greed of the political class which sucks the blood of the treasury like a giant leech. It is never satisfied and always takes more and more. All the political class is paid and given too much in ‘Salaries and Perks’, ‘SAPping’ the treasury dry. There are no concrete answers given to questions of how much they take home. Is it N10m and N30-40m monthly for National Assembly – NASS Reps and Senators respectively? No wonder the political struggle in NASS showed members prepared to ‘Scale the fence in defence of democracy’ - their own democracy! Politicians from across parties, every Special Adviser in every ministry, every political hanger-on from LGA to Aso Rock, and do not forget senior civil servant administrators, all have easy access to secret allocations of land which they sell for millions and have many perks as of right, merely for being in-post?

Yes, the price of oil has crashed reducing the revenue but that crash should also bring down the cost of the so-called fuel subsidy. Yet the pump price has not been affected. Why? The first round of belt-tightening should be within the billions/day blood sucking political class. We expect NASS to pay as much attention to political budgetary waste as to power tussles. NASS must immediately announce cuts in NASS operational costs including costs of public hearings and committee meetings. NASS must go part-time. Salaries must reduce by 75% to or better still replaced by sitting allowances.

Constituency projects must be scrapped. There should be an announced and effective slash in numbers of active politicians paid by governments at all levels by at least 75%. The post of Special Adviser should be severely scrutinised as a cost-saving opportunity. Special Advisers should be reduced in number

by 80%. Special Advisers should revert to being used parttime and on demand, as the need arises, not permanent. There is something called fiscal responsibility. As interest rates remain the highest in the world, except for some ‘Favoured Areas’ and the naira plunges lower and lower because of political profligacy, can we say we have a government demonstrating fiscal responsibility? Will this be a debate question during the elections?

In addition to the political questions around the budgetary waste, we must ask hard economic questions. Why is our oil not being bought by many countries? It is because of shale oil and oil at nearer points than Nigeria to the countries in need. For example, Angola and Ghana are nearer to the US and UK markets than Nigeria. So why would they buy from Nigeria? Is the Nigerian market as business friendly as the markets of Angola and Ghana for example. Has Nigeria started producing enough kerosene? Why have we not, as a gasproducing nation not moved from kerosene to gas for cooking? As a tropical nation, why have not moved more massively into renewable energy like solar energy? As the people brace up for the political and financial mayhem about to be unleashed in the name of democratic elections, is any politician offering hope in these areas? Manifestos are easier to write than practice.

The impossible and too often impassable Ibadan-Lagos road is under punishingly slow repair. We sympathise with the family of the contractor murdered on the expressway. Beyond that malicious tragedy, must we suffer a near-death experience in order to smile in Nigeria? So many missed meetings, so many millions of wasted hours and billions in lost opportunities on a road that should have been made six lanes over 30 years ago. When first approved, it was supposed to be a six lane road, three-a-side. Instead, the government upgraded airport road in Abuja into a misplaced 10-lane ‘masterpiece’ just to rub our noses in their disgraceful arrogance of power while showing us that they actually know the right thing to do even if they put it in the wrong place.

Unfortunately, those long charged with the responsibility for good roads are loaded down with National Honours for their dishonour. With their ill-gotten proceeds of unexecuted

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Wingless Eagles!

AD enough, a treacherous, lousy Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign ended with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the current champions, spectacularly failing to get the required result right in front of their home fans at the last hurdle. With this, they crashed out of contention for the ultimate African football glory. And so, for the second time, the Cup of Nations will be played without a defending champion come January/February 2015.

Nigerians are still in shock, trying to rationalize just how a team that shone so brightly in South Africa, last year, could have had such a wretched outing in the just concluded qualifying series, culminating in a limp exit. Of course, this is setting the team’s pedigree against the background of the fact that they were involved in a group in which bookmakers would have ordinarily concluded that picking one of two spots was agiven. In Group A of the African Cup of Nations qualifying series, was Nigeria alongside South Africa – a team still feeling its way through football on the continent since its golden period of the mid-90s until the early 2000s. The South Africans have always struggled to survive under the shadow of their more illustrious Super Eagles opponents whom they had hardly ever even picked a point off in football. There was also a plucky Congo (Brazzaville) team that had failed to qualify for the tournament since the 2000 edition. And then, there was a Sudanese team who had been a lacklustre force in African football and had never, ever even scored a goal against Nigeria.

Now, given this statistical and

historical edge Nigeria had against the other teams in the group, it was certainly too hard to believe that Nigeria could not pick one of the two automatic qualifying spots.

However, with six unconvincing performances and a measly eight points, the African champions limped out of the qualification with their chance of defending their crown come January 2015, emphatically ended. In the final, decisive match against South Africa on Wednesday last week in Uyo, the Eagles only managed a 2-2 draw when an outright victory would have taken them to 10 points and given them second spot behind the already-qualified South Africans. It was perhaps instructive of the wretched journey through the series that the team’s ultimate implosion came in Uyo, a few kilometres from neighbouring Calabar, in Cross River State, where the path to perdition was laid by the home team on September 6, when they lost the first match of the series 3-2 to Congo, a loss they never recovered from. Now, a lot of people are busy with forensic examination of the tragedy that Nigeria’s qualifying campaign was.

But then forensic examinations have never come any easier to conduct if you eschew unnecessary sentiments and look at the picture matter-of-factly. The on-off relationship between Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles’ coach and the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, certainly did not help matters.

It would be recalled that on Thursday, October 16, the NFF had

‘Obviously, the reasons for Nigeria’s ultimately doomed qualifying campaign are many, but the hope is that by the time the next competitive engagement comes around, the football authorities would have imbibed enough lessons from this latest failure of grand proportions’

announced the sacking of Keshi as the Super Eagles coach. This followed several tension-filled months dating back to the Nations Cup in South Africa, during which time it seemed that even as the most successful indigenous coach to ever handle the Super Eagles, Keshi was perennially living on borrowed time. Such a poisoned atmosphere never augurs well for a team, no matter the difference in opinion.

And speaking of differences, it seems that Keshi has always been too ‘different’ even for his own good. This, no doubt, affected his team selection many times as he was always at loggerheads with this player or that player. For instance, he only recalled striker Ikechukwu Uche to the fold for the final two matches of the qualifying campaign after keeping the player in the cold since the Nations Cup in South Africa. This was despite repeated calls from many Nigerians and the good form the player exhibited for Almeria, his Spanish league club.

Keshi also famously had fallouts that ended up robbing the team of the services of some of its best players at crucial times.

Looking back on the Uyo match, one may also have to ask why it seemed that the Super Eagles did not have a plan as to what to do with set pieces other than to simply lump the ball towards the penalty area and hope that there is a lucky connection in favour of the team.

Tactically more astute teams always seem to be able to be inventive with set pieces and while they don’t always work to plan, at least, it keeps providing the opponent with surprises. At the last World Cup, Costa Rica, for instance, tried a particular routine on free-kicks three or so times in their group game against Uruguay and eventually got a goal from it in the second half. France scored their second goal against Nigeria from what was an intelligently executed corner kick routine. And there is where you put the blame on the

or improperly ‘executed’ contracts, they then seek other political offices like governorship and NASS membership unmindful of the deaths and delays from contract failures!

We again ask what it costs the federal government supervising engineering team and indeed the minister[s] of works and transport, demanding better, one or two feet wider, usable lanes with smoother surfaces in the interest of the comfort of and human rights of millions of fellow Nigerian babies, children, women and children who are forced to use the roads daily?

It is very sad that government responds to the ‘ember months’ as special times to fix the roads. Roads and road users kill and maim all year round and not during ‘ember’ months only. So please fix the roads and potholes year round to save many lives and much property in ‘non-ember months’.

Travellers in ‘non-ember months’ have as much right to smooth safe journeys as in ‘ember months’ of September, November and December.

PS Thanks to those who came to my performance of ‘You Do Not Know Me’ in Lagos.

‘Why have we not, as a gasproducing nation not moved from kerosene to gas for cooking? As a tropical nation, why have not moved more massively into renewable energy like solar energy? As the people brace up for the political and financial mayhem about to be unleashed in the name of democratic elections, is any politician offering hope in these areas?’

doorstep of Keshi and the coaching crew.

But the team’s problems obviously run deeper than Keshi.

For one, Nigeria currently lacks enough players playing regularly at the highest level of club football, so match sharpness seems to always be an issue. That fact was cruelly exposed at the last World Cup when Nigeria got as far as they could by qualifying for the round of 16.

Anything else would have been a bonus, a huge one, given the overall playing quality of the team.

Removed from the sterner test of the global stage and the likes of Argentina, Nigeria admittedly had enough to do better against the lesser might of the likes of South Africa, Congo and Sudan.

This means that the team has problems that are not related to skill only.

Starting from the performances at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, it was clear that there are all sorts of problems with the Super Eagles. This is not to say that the issues were not there even when they won the CAN in South Africa anyway. The fact is that a coach may be able to coach many things into a footballer, but then there are occasions when you expect a team to put its life on the line for the cause. You will be hard pressed to find higher motivation than to play a must-win match in front of your own fans, against an opponent that had hardly ever picked points off you, and who in this case, does not have the added pressure of needing the points to advance. Yet, that was the scenario the Super Eagles handled with such lifeless, insipid and uninspired approach last Wednesday.

Obviously, the reasons for Nigeria’s ultimately doomed qualifying campaign are many, but the hope is that by the time the next competitive engagement comes around, the football authorities would have imbibed enough lessons from this latest failure of grand proportions. However, we

Dele Agekameh must learn to keep aside our sense of entitlement as far as football is concerned and realize that we must grow football from its roots up if we are to find our true bearings, rather than our continued accidental or artificial success in the game.

Going into the Nations Cup come January, 2015, Algeria will be one of the early favourites. The beauty of that is that starting from the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola and then the World Cup in South Africa later that year, one could see that the Maghreb nation was quietly building its national team. What they have done during the past four years is to accept their inadequacy and go into tournaments more focused on collective progress and the long term result than expecting to win.

Today, they are Africa’s most organised, technically astute and formidable team. And if they end up winning the cup in February, it will not be a shock. We can toe a similar path. We simply must be more realistic in our expectation and become more committed to the positive growth of the sport by building better stadia, committing more resources, and the whole gamut.

Send reactions to: 08058354382 (SMS only)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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COMMENTS ‘I have never heard or seen in the history of democracy all over the world where the police are used to harass lawmakers simply because of different ideologies. Nigeria is being governed by a constitution which everybody should espect. Republicans have taken over the house in the U.S., still Obama did not raise an eyebrow. The president and his backers should understand that if there is no Nigeria today, they will be nowhere to be found. Jonathan should check himself very well if not, he will use his own hand to make America’s prediction to come to pass.

From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos’ Really, I think your last paragraph should have read: ‘In Abuja and with Abuja, nothing flows like lies’. From Olu. • Jonathan

For Olatunji Dare It would be in order for the president to stop, ponder, meditate and think about the numerous problems of this country with the hope that the small still voice which speaks from within may reveal the true position of things in the country to him. As things are today, he has done very little to convince his countrymen of his leadership prowess. For now, we should believe everything Dr Jonathan said about his achievements, except the facts. From Adegoke O. O. He has declared for second term, inspite of the nation is on fire over insecurity and other vices, then where are we going from here?

Time will tell. From Chika Nnorom I am very happy with what I read here, we need more for so-called politicians, hoping that they will listen. From Segun.

Re-Gradgrind in Abuja. One thing that is clear was that, Mr President had to say something and respectfully too. So, to me, there was nothing wrong with Mr President addressing his crowd as ‘My people, My brothers and Sisters’. You do not address crowd and say nothing hence I saw nothing wrong in Xraying his credentials so far! Whether the credentials are worth the salt to Nigerians, that would be determined at the 2015 February Presidential election. From Lanre Oseni.

Prof. Just read the stuff on the ‘Great Declaration’ in Abuja. We must all be living on the moon to believe those transformation tales President Jonathan reeled out. Little wonder even the well paid rented crowd from all over the 36 states, show little or no spontaneity to the long boring speech. They were content with milling around the venue, unconcerned with the podium and just serving out the purpose for which they were hired. Call it ’Stomach infrastructure - PDP’s new fad. We heard one big madam has been moving around the country with expired Thai rice for ‘her people’. See what Nigeria has become.

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ACH year, on November 25, we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the ensuing 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, culminating in Human Rights Day on December 10. Established in 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly, these events create a global platform for action by governments, organizations, and individuals to mobilize and call attention to the urgent need to end gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence cuts across ethnic, racial, socio-economic, and religious lines.

It knows no borders. Globally, an estimated one in three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. According to the World Health Organization, at least 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced such

‘Whether it occurs in our own homes and neighborhoods, or across the world, gender-based violence has no place in our society. As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said recently, “This is a fight that demands action from every single one of us. We have to communicate in a unified way with a single loud voice that there is no place in the civilized world for those who commit genderbased violence’

For Segun Gbadegesin Those Nigerians supporting President Jonathan know deep inside of them that they are not patriotic Nigerians. All they are saying is that they are selfish, ignorant, narrow minded, insensitive, clueless, shameless dancers, lining up behind their chief drummer pitting other Nigerians who think otherwise. From Wankar Daniel Re-A straight tree is felled. With all the encomia you poured, late Samuel Oyewumi Oladeji served humanity to the fullest. He was also a Workaholic. I know what it meant to have veered into Social Sciences of Management Science and Economics, from Pure Technology-Engineering of Mechanical-Engineering. Yet, he excelled. May his soul rest in peace and continue to bless his family, amen. From Lanre Oseni.

Mr. Sam. O. Oladeji was my HOD at the Ibadan Polythecnic in 1982. His death is very painfull and came at the least expected time.

May God grant him eternal rest. From Idowu, D.O. Why opinion poll is normally allowed on certain issues of national importance in a democratic dispensation is to ascertain what the majority of the people would prefer, hence power belongs to the people. Jega may not have conducted a plebiscite on the issue but those who want the additional polling booths stopped are more in number. Their opinion should be representative of the opinion of the people, and should be adhered to, be they southerners or northerners. It isn’t part of the requirements of a good government or its agents that whatever decision it takes must be implemented, no matter what the people or their representatives say about it. The government or its agents aren’t there in power for themselves but for the people and what the people want. From Emmanuel Egwu Is this writer the same as Professor Gbadegesin of Howard University, Washington, D.C and member of Egbe Yoruba USA and Canada. My name is Bolaji Olaribigbe, Former National Public Relation Secretary,

EOY, under Agba Akin Odusanya NEC. I am sincerely touched by the demise of that great achiever-oyewumi. may almighty god receive him and may his soul rest in perfect in peace amen. From mrs Kate chinwe odigwe.

Re: A straight tree is felled. Samuel Oyewumi Oladeji knew he was on assignment and so he was never found idle. He touched everyone, everywhere and everything, and positively too. He touched mine too. RIP S. O.O. From AKIN ALAGBE, Dean, Faculty of Buisness and Communication Studies, The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

For Tunji Adegboyega Re: Jonathan’s Nigeria. Inasmuch as all Nigerians know that there had been monumental and a catalogue of problems before and on full assumption of office by President Jonathan and Co., we need to know that three major problems are stagnating Nigeria’s progress - deepened corruption that is not killed. The second is refusal to diversify the economy since the 1980s and third, overpoliticisation of our polity by the PDP and APC is the worst. They both see each other as enemies rather than as husband and wife.

The current woes are beyond the president!

The existing political parties are not synergising … Tell us, which state for example is diversifying aside road/rail infrastructure. They are all guilty of Nigeria’s woes.

From Lanre Oseni.

Tunji, you need not say more: indeed, you hit the nail on the head already on “Jonathan’s Nigeria”. More grease … From Gabriel, Abuja.

After reading your “Jonathan’s Nigeria”, I see a re-enaction of … but who will bell the cat? From Sam Abba, FCT. I think Okonjo-Iweala’s portfolio should be changed to coordinating minister for austerity measures. Thanks, From:Tunde Ogunrinde, Orun-Ekiti.

I have just finished reading your comment titled “Jonathan’s Nigeria” in The Nation on Sunday of November 23. The Bible says “we should pray for our leaders” not to take side with the unbelievers to tear them down.

Study Ecclesiastes 10:20. Stop prophesying

doom (negative). What President Jonathan is today is what the anti-Christ (Boko Haram) promised him that “they will make Nigeria ungovernable for him”. You people (journalists) are not helping matters. When God is tired with Nigeria, He will just do what He did to the former USSR. No region will stand with another as it was in the civil war. Can you tell me what our Igbo brethren did during the “June 12” saga? What our Middle Belt brethren told their Hausa /Fulani brothers during the just-concluded National Conference? If not, I’ll tell you. Thanks, Prince Anietie Obisio.

Tunji, you did a good job by taking the government to the cleaners. It’s not the president’s fault; it’s the fault of Nigerians who elected him. The country stinks in the hands of Jonathan and his finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. God bless you. From David Olaleye.

Tunji, I commend your article of November 23. You are comparable to some of the bests in the profession. Please fire on. Anonymous.

I read your comment of Sunday November 23 where you talked about Tambuwal, governance and the economy of Nigeria. I felt disappointed that you failed to understand the illegality in the actions of our law makers. How and where in the world and by our laws a legislature will abandon the party that sponsored his election in the house and still be a member? As far as section 68 sub-section (g) of our Constitution is concerned, Aminu Tambuwal is no longer a representative not to talk of still being a speaker. It is high time we respected our laws as a people and as a nation, please.

Anonymous.

Those that replaced Shagari did not change the country for the better. Rather, Buhari’s shortsightedness and general weakness as a leader and soldier literally ushered in the locust years of the IBB-Abacha reign. And, while the infernal regime lasted, Gen Buhari was neither visible nor audible. From Kuteyi, R.R., Ondo.

I am a regular reader of your column and I must tell you that your incisive presentation of facts on whatever topic you chose to write on help as many people, including my humble self, to understand our country, our political dynamics and our leadership structure/ echelon better. … We need such to enable Nigerians understand the nation’s present political development and influence their voting decision come 2015. Anonymous.

I have never heard or seen in the history of democracy all over the world where the police are used to harass lawmakers simply because of different ideologies. Nigeria is being governed by a constitution which everybody should espect. Republicans have taken over the house in the U.S., still Obama did not raise an eyebrow. The president and his backers should understand that if there is no Nigeria today, they will be nowhere to be found.

Jonathan should check himself very well if not, he will use his own hand to make America’s prediction to come to pass. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

Gender-Based Violence: Global Call to Action

By Maria E. Brewer violence at the hands of an intimate partner.

Moreover, women and girls with disabilities are two to three times more likely to suffer physical and sexual abuse.

Gender-based violence occurs in Nigeria just as it does in the United States and every other nation. According to the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, approximately 80 million Nigerian women and girls are victims of this type of violence.

Society as a whole pays a huge price for gender-based violence in the areas of health, justice, economic, and international security.

According to a recent World Bank report, the estimated costs of such violence run from 1.2 percent to 3.7 percent of GDP—the equivalent to what many governments spend on primary education. In Nigeria, that would roughly equate to between 1.1 and 3.4 trillion naira.

Gender-based violence also fosters the spread of HIV/AIDS by limiting one’s ability to negotiate safe sexual practices and by limiting disclosure of HIV status and access to services due to fear of reprisal.

Ending this global epidemic will require all of us to take action. We must recognize that gender-based violence is, at its root, a manifestation of the relatively low status of women and girls around the world.When women and girls can live free from violence and are afforded equal opportunities in education, healthcare, employment, and

political participation, they lift up their families, their communities, and their nations and act as agents of change.

Prevention and elimination of genderbased violence require a multi-faceted approach. It will require increased advocacy and partnerships between the international community, governments, multilateral organizations, private sector companies, and grassroots advocates. It will require empowering women and girls to speak up for themselves and educating men and boys to speak up and speak out for their mothers, wives, partners, sisters, and daughters. It will also require adequate legal and judicial frameworks.

Many nations have passed legislation addressing gender-based violence. In March 2013, the Nigerian House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition bill. The signing of this bill into law would empower all parties to work together on its implementation in order to increase accountability and address impunity.

The United States is proud to have made gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls a cornerstone of our foreign policy. This includes a strong focus on addressing all forms of gender-based violence. In 2012, the United States released its first-ever Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally, the strategy sets out concrete

objectives and actions to marshal the United States’ expertise and capacity to address gender-based violence. Since the launch of the strategy, the United States has made significant strides to increase coordination of violence prevention and response efforts internally, across U.S. government agencies, and with external stakeholders, including partner governments, civil society, and the private sector.

To commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to ending human rights abuses around the world, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and U.S. Consulate General in Lagos this year are organizinga number of activities, including screening films on preventing gender violence, organizing workshops and panel discussions with civil society members and expert panelists, and promoting “Orange Your Neighborhood” activities that create safe spaces for women and girls.

Whether it occurs in our own homes and neighborhoods, or across the world, genderbased violence has no place in our society.

As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said recently, “This is a fight that demands action from every single one of us. We have to communicate in a unified way with a single loud voice that there is no place in the civilized world for those who commit gender-based violence.”

•Brewer, is Charge d’Affaires, ad interim, U.S. Embassy to Nigeria

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Stories by Taofik Salako

Delta deal to bring U.S. crude to Pennsylvania Refinery

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ELTA Air Lines Incorporated (DAL), the largest United States carrier by market value, is trying to cash in on the biggest oil boom in the nation's history by bringing more domestic crude to its refinery near Philadelphia.

The Atlanta-based airline signed a five-year agreement with Addison, Texas-based midstream company Bridger LLC to supply the Trainer, Pennsylvania, refinery with 65,000 barrels of crude a day, more than a third of the plant's capacity.

Delta is hoping that greater use of domestic crude will help it turn a profit at the refinery, which it bought from ConocoPhillips in 2012 in an attempt to control prices and supplies for its fleet.

U.S. crude production has risen 55 percent since the start of 2010, making prices cheaper than in the rest of the world.

"We definitely believe domestic crude will be competitive versus foreign alternatives," Graeme Burnett, Delta's senior vice president for fuel optimisation, said by phone July 18. "We want to push the levels of domestic crude as high as we can."

Trainer is 100 miles (160 kilometers) from New York Harbor, the delivery point for gasoline and diesel futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Delta imported about 140,000 barrels of crude a day to feed the plant in April, mostly from Nigeria and Norway.

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

Banks may raise N400b to boost capital base

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ANKS may raise some N400 billion in the current capital raising phase to strengthen their capital base in view of the impending implementation of the Basel II. The Basel II is the second global standards of capital adequacy issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision under the auspices of the Basel, Switzerland-based Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the oldest international financial organisation that coordinates central banks and standards for the international financial markets.

The Basel Committee has issued three sets of the global standards including Basel I, Basel II and Basel III, which increased stricter capi-

By Taofik Salako

tal risks and exposure management requirements from one level to another.

Basel II seeks to strengthen banks' risk and capital management through three main areas, otherwise known as pillars. The first pillar deals with minimum capital requirements, the second pillar deals with supervisory review process while the third pillar deals with processes relating to market discipline.

The pillars generally ensure that the greater the risk to which a bank is exposed, the greater the amount of capital and required supervisory framework.

After initial delay, Nigeria has set October 31, as the cutover date for the implementation of Basel II.

Investment banking sources said many banks have started the process of raising funds, a new level of activities that is expected to increase the momentum of the current phase of fund raising, which gathered pace in 2013.

Several pundits in the know of undercurrents in the capital market indicated that banks might raise some N400 billion to boost their capital base and strengthen their compliance level in view of the stricter requirements under Basel II. According to the sources, although the average capital adequacy ratio in the banking industry is high and most banks are above regulatory benchmark, banks might need to sup-

port their adequacy ratios, which are expected to fall after the cut-over.

The sources indicated that banks might combine debt and quasi-equity instruments with outright equity issues with focus on both tier I and tier II capital.

Market sources, some of who are involved in the capital raising processes, said the upwardly performance at the stock market should encourage banks to float supplementary capital issues.

Many banks, including Sterling Bank, Skye Bank, Diamond Bank, Unity Bank, Wema Bank and Zenith Bank have already completed initial phase of capital raising and have outlined further plans to raise more funds.

Several analysts' reviews on

RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-0.2958 -206.9 -242.1 -156 -1.9179 -238 -40.472

‘Over 1000 police families to receive compensation soon’

By Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

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DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/ troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion

the banking sector have outlined capital raising as a major theme for the banking sector citing new regulations and emerging business opportunities.

Banks, under the auspices of the Bankers Committee, had decided to increase lending to the power sector.

The strategic funding plan is focused on aligning the banking system to provide adequate financing to meet the peculiarities of the power sector.

Nigeria is estimated to need more than $35 billion to meet its target of 40,000 megawatts by 2020.

•From left: Managing Director, Capital Bancorp Plc, Mr. Aigboje Higo; Head, Legal and Regulation Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Ms. Tinu Awe and Chairman, Capital Bancorp Plc Mr. Olutola Moboluri at the launch of Bancorp e-Trade at the NSE in Lagos.

Power sector gets 70% of domestic gas supply O improve electricity supply in the country, 70 per cent of total domestic gas supply put at 1.5 billion standard cubic feet per day (scf/d) is dedicated to the power sector, it was learnt.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, who made this known, told The Nation that to further harness the gas resource for monetisation and development, the corporation has established a directorate to accomplish that objective.

He said: "The gas sector has witnessed commendable improvements in line with Federal Government's initiative to further monetise the gas resources of the nation. This led to establishment of the Gas and Power Directorate of the corporation, which is anchoring the gas revolution

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NERFUND: Govt may extend bidder exit date for interim managers - P 26

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

agenda launched by Mr. President aimed at enhancing gas utilisation in the country.

"We are focused on the development of and installation of new infrastructure for gas processing, transmission and distribution nationwide.

"Also as a result of the interventions, gas supply to the Nigerian market has grown from 300 million cubic feet per day a few years ago, to an all time high of 1.5 billion cubic feet per day, of which about 70 per cent is dedicated to support the power sector."

He also said gas flaring in the oil and gas industry has significantly reduced from 28 per cent two years ago to 10 per cent today, adding that in the past few years, the corporation has embarked on the most aggressive expansion of the nation's gas pipeline infrastructure for effec-

tive transmission and distribution of natural gas.

He said: "We are in the process of completing construction of pipeline connections to all gas fired power plants. Also the construction of a second 450 kilometre Escravos-Lagos pipeline system is almost completed. The EscravosOben and Emuren-Itoki segments have been completed and put into use, leaving the Oben-Emuren segment, which will be completed before end of the year. The construction of 120 kilometre East-West pipeline system has also commenced."

The NNPC lamented the unwarranted vandalism of the corporation's pipelines especially the major trunk lines through which crude oil is conveyed to the terminals for export. The development led to the intervention of the Federal Government with the setting up

Pension: Lagos is most complaint state - P38

of a committee. The actions of the committee led to improvement in oil production.

"It is pertinent to note that Nigeria's production and export is dependent on four main crude export pipelines - the Trans Forcados pipeline to the west, the Ogbanbiri/Temidaba/Brass pipelines in the centre, the Trans Niger pipeline and Nembe creek trunk line to the east respectively. When these pipelines are compromised and vandalised, over 500,000 barrels of oil per day are potentially at risk.

"Consequently, the Federal Government had to intervene with the setting up of a committee consisting members of the National Economic Committee. With the help of the committee, production increased slightly last year and is currently ramping up. We hope to see further improvement by year end," he added.

VER 1,000 families of Nigerian police officers and men who died or sustained injury during active service between 2012 and last year will soon receive adequate compensation, The Nation has learnt.

The victims are those who were not covered as a result of the nonpayment of insurance premium on the Group Life Assurance Scheme of Federal Government workers to insurers following the enforcement of ‘No premium, no cover’ policy by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) in the insurance industry.

Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head Insurance Department, Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Turner disclosed this in an interview with The Nation.

He said the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar had been working with the Budget Office to pay the affected families.

He said following the enforcement of the ‘No premium, no cover’ policy’by NAICOM, the money to be paid to the families cannot be termed as insurance claims any longer but compensation because no premium was paid to the insurers.

Turner assured that going forward, premium on police Group Life Assurance Scheme will be paid up front.

He noted that the police presently have insurance cover running for the year, as insurance premium has been fully paid.

He believes premium should not be tied to quarterly allocation of the budget releases.

He however stated that NAICOM ought to give a special concession to the police and other security forces in paying their premium owing to the nature of their job and the time when the Federal Government budget allocation is released, knowing full well that premiums are paid from the budget which comes every January after most of these polices may have been due.

Hibiscus flower export as forex earner - P39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

N220b MSMEs fund: MfBs, finance houses shun loan over collateral M

ICROFINANCE Banks (MfBs), finance houses and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) are not drawing from the N220 billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) fund because of stringent drawn-down policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

An insider in Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN) expressed the group’s challenges in drawing from the fund.

The source said CBN’s demand that borrowers provide 100 per cent nearcash cover in treasury bills or fixed deposit has made it difficult for any finance house operator to draw from the fund three months after drawndown started.

The source said there was no point providing total coverage for loans and still lend according to the CBN’s directive.

“The demand that borrowers provide 100 per cent near-cash cover on loans is unacceptable. As I speak with you, no finance house operator has drawn from the loan because the CBN cannot force people to invest in treasury bills or keep fixed deposits be-

Stories by Collins Nweze

cause they want to borrow,” the source said.

The source claimed that as the situation is now, only commercial banks are meeting the drawn-down policy and are accessing the loans, a practice, he said, defeats the objective of setting up the fund.

Part of the CBN’s policy guideline on the loan requires 80:20 ratio for on-lending to micro enterprises and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and request that 60 per cent of the fund, representing N132 billion, be earmarked for providing financial services to women-owned businesses were said to be reviewed in the final guidelines concluded at last week’s meeting with stakeholders.

There is also a clause that participating financial institutions can only finance agricultural value chain activities, trade and commerce; cottage industries, artisans, among others.

The banking watchdog said to ensure that productive sectors of the

economy continued to attract more finance necessary for employment creation and diversification of the country’s economic base, a maximum of 10 per cent of the commercial component of the fund will be channeled to trading and commerce.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele said MSMEs are globally recognised as the critical engines of economic growth due to their potential to create jobs, boost production, generate income and reduce poverty.

In spite of this recognition, MSMEs do not have the adequate financing needed to play this pivotal role in its development trajectory.

A joint report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and McKinsey, the financing gap of this critical sub-sector of the country, is about N9.6 trillion as of 2010.

The N220 billion, Emefiele said, is meant to address this gap and unlock the potential of the MSMEs as an innovative way of improving their access to finance, shoring up their potential for job creation and enabling

• Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ikpoki (middle) after receiving the award of Net-Winner at the Citibank Nigeria Golf Day Celebration. With him ( left) are Managing Director and CEO, Citibank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Omar Hafeez; and Business Manager, United Airlines, Mr. Monday Ukoha.

Banks rush to achieve 40% BVN target

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to enrol 40 per cent of their customers on the Bank Verification Number (BVN) platform by December 31, and 70 per cent by March 30, next year has prompted lenders to pay more attention to the policy.

The exercise involves capturing of customers’ physiological or behavioral attributes – fingerprint, signature among others has commenced in some banks’ headquarters and branches across the country.

The Nation’s findings showed that bankshas raised their communication and enlightenment programmes concerning the BVN, advising their customers to comply.

An emailed note by Diamond Bank to its customers read: “We are pleased to inform you that you can now register for your Bank Verification Number (BVN) at Diamond Bank as directed by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This involves the issuance of a series of numbers (BVN)

that uniquely identifies each customer in the Nigerian banking industry. The purpose of this exercise is to further improve financial service delivery by protecting you against identity theft, minimising your exposure to fraudulent transactions and increasing your accessibility to credit facilities and other financial services”.

The lender went on to list branches where customers can be enrolled.

Similar message also came from GTBank to its customers. the bank explained that BVN is an initiative of the CBN to give customers a unique number that can be verified across the banking industry. It went on to explain the enrolment process.

CBN Director, Banking and Payments Unit, ‘Dipo Fatokun said the apex bank will monitor lenders to ensure compliance. He explained that where an existing customer wishes to register the BVN with his/ her bank, capturing his signature and photo identification document may not be necessary, as the bank is

expected to have those records during account opening.

Also, where a customer wants to do a change of name, after his/her enrolment, on BVN, due diligence should be exercised and appropriate legal documents obtained, before the change is effected.

Fatokun said the new directive is aimed at fast-tracking the enrolment, adding that banks are to give more attention to the enrolment of their customers.

The CBN had set June 2015 deadline for bank customers to enrol on the BVN platform. The BVN enrolment, which involves capturing of customers’ physiological or behavioral attributes – fingerprint, signature among others, is ongoing in some banks’ headquarters in Lagos.

The exercise is a continuation of the $50 million biometrics project involving the CBN, the Bankers’ Committee, Dermalog and Charms Plc. It was meant to assign unique number to every bank customer for enhanced security of transactions.

them reduce poverty within the country.

Emefiele said the CBN would be committing human, material, and financial resources to monitoring both the disbursement and utilisation of the funds by the participating financial institutions. These stakeholders, he said, will be required to submit periodic returns on disbursements as well as an analysis of the social impacts of the Fund adding that the regulator will also undertake regular on and off site checks to ascertain veracity of the reports received.

The CBN chief said while the micro-loans would be administered through private or state owned microfinance institutions, Finance

Houses, and Cooperative Finance Agencies, the SME loans would be disbursed through the DMBs. State governments will be able to access up to N2 billion each for lending to eligible beneficiaries through participating financial institutions in their states.

He said the fund is also in conformity with CBN’s resolve to create a professional and people-centred central bank that will act as a financial catalyst for job creation and inclusive economic growth.

“While these are our ultimate goals, our main intermediate objective is to ensure that these funds get to people at the very bottom of our social pyramid at single digit interest rates.

Without achieving this objective, I have no doubt that it would be impossible to achieve the ultimate goal of job creation and poverty reduction,” he said.

Agusto & Co sees pension assets hitting N6.9tr

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GUSTO & Co, an indigenous rating agency, has projected an upsurge in pension assets from N4.5 trillion to N6.9 trillion by end of next year.

“We are even more bullish on 2015 when we expect year-on-year growth of 31 per cent to N6.9 trillion as our forecast is premised on the increase in pension fund contributions by 300 basis points,” a report by the agency said.

It said the bulk of organisations with staff of only three are mainly in the informal sector or outside the formal financial system.

The agency said Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) typically view this clientele base as cost inefficient because of fragmentation and poor compliance.

It said PFAs would not be motivated to invest in the distribution infrastructure to serve this segment of the market.

The report said: “The increase in employers’pension contributions to 10 per cent will increase labour costs and associated overheads for small businesses. It will also taper disposable income albeit marginally. The National Pension Commission (PenCom’s) capacity to sanction erring firms in the informal and semiformal levels while boosting compliance is also in doubt.”

It said going forward, the largest cache of new registrations would come from the public sector. “With only eight state governments in full compliance and 27 states in various levels of compliance, and one state in total abstention, PenCom’s subtle but effective drive at increasing compliance by the state governments could significantly increase

the aggregate registration numbers.

PenCom has increased the compliance of states by barring the PFAs from investing in municipal bonds issued by states that have not adopted the contributory pension scheme,” the report said.

President Goodluck Jonathan signed the new Pension Reform Bill 2014 into law, repealing the Pension Reform Act 2004. This new Pension Act consolidates amendments made to the 2004 Act and also includes significant reviews such as the exemption of military personnel and Department of State Security (DSS) personnel from the contributory pension scheme.

The 2014 Act also incorporates subsequent reviews to the 2004 Act such as the Universities (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2012 (which revised the retirement age and benefits of university professors) and the Third Alteration Act (which places responsibility for pension matters with the National Industrial Courts).

It also creates a better framework to sanction erring pension fund defaulters though Nigeria’s weak institutional capacity to deal with financial crimes means these provisions have been met with cynicism.

For instance, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has been empowered by the Act to carry out criminal proceedings against employers who fail to remit their share of the pension contributions within a specified time.

However, PenCom’s authority to prosecute these erring offenders is subject to the fiat of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation which is typical of these institutional constraints that has led to cynicism.

Protect your MasterCard, Enterprise Bank urges

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NTERPRISE Bank Limited has called on its MasterCard holders to protect their cards against internet fraudsters by subscribing to MasterCard Secure Code.

In a statement the Corporate Communications Department of the lender said Secure Code provides a second level authentication of cardholder when performing on-line transactions. This solution, it said, is supported by MasterCard in providing additional comfort and security when transactions are done online.

The bank said when making an internet purchase, the cardholder’s identity is always authenticated at the point of payment before the merchant submits an authorisation request.

The bank said customers can do online transactions from the com-

fort of their homes or offices by visiting its website to register all the MasterCard variants including the Debit, Prepaid (both in dollar and naira) as well as the Credit card, among others.

The lender said the service restores the cardholder’s confidence while shopping online and enables the cardholders to identify phishing sites while protecting cardholders from fake web merchants.

Enterprise Bank started operation in August 2011, as a full-service commercial bank with a national banking license.

The bank operates via a sizeable distribution network of over 160 branches spread across major markets and commercial centres in Nigeria, and with over 177 automated teller machines (ATMs), 57 Cash Centres and 2,000 point of sales (PoS) terminals.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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MONEY The world economies, especially those of sub-Saharan Africa, have come under pressure in recent months as Brent oil prices slumped. The impact has been worrisome as it has taken a toll on the naira and foreign exchange reserves. Charting a way forward was the focus of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) Africa Financial Summit hosted by Access Bank Plc in Lagos, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

Fixing endless economic crises I

N the last one month, managers of the economy have known little or no rest. They have been taking pains to explain to local and international investors the way out of the ‘economic tsunami’ that has hit the economy.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, used the opportunity presented by the Institute of International Finance (IIF) Africa Financial Summit held in Lagos to explain to the world what the government is doing to wriggle out of the crisis. The naira and foreign exchange reserves have been badly hit.

The minster who spoke on Positioning Africa in the context of an uncertain global environment stressed the need for African countries to adopt belt-tightening measures to cushion the effects of the dwindling prices of crude oil on their economies.

She emphasised the need to plug leakages, increase the drive for revenue as well as develop the non-oil sectors in the continent.

The naira has come under pressure in recent months over sharp fall in the price of Brent oil prices, and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) determination to save the currency has badly hurt the position of the reserves.

The foreign exchange reserves stood at $37.5 billion on Monday and analysts insisted that the fall in the international price of Nigeria’s benchmark Bonny Light crude to about $78/barrel has fuelled fears that the CBN will be unable to hold the line on the naira exchange rate which closed last week at N176 to dollar.

The minister also urged policy makers in the continent to strive to ensure economic prosperity, arguing that with the right policies, Nigeria and other nations in the continent would be able to sustain growth despite the economic headwinds.

She admitted that events unfolding over the last six months have cast a shadow on global economic recovery in the aftermath of the 2008/09 financial crisis.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said the slowdown in global economic activity, coupled with the end in the quantitative easing in the United States (U.S), will affect sub-Saharan Africa’s economy, in addition to other challenges faced at the moment.

She said: “Many countries on the continent depend on commodity exports as the main source of revenue. The ratio of commodity exports to total merchandise exports is very high in several African countries – and to give a few examples, the ratio ranges from 60 per cent in South Africa to 89 per cent in Zambia and Ghana, 96 per cent in DR Congo, and so on.

“In Nigeria, our crude oil exports alone accounted for about 83 per cent of the value of our total exports in 2013, according to our National Bureau of Statistics.”

The minister advised countries in the region to aggressively look for alternative sources of revenues and stem leakages.

“It is now imperative to drive up domestic resource mobilisation, especially taxes.

In several African countries, including Nigeria, tax revenue to Gross Domestic Product is below 15 per cent – the conventional (International Monetary Fund) IMF threshold for satisfactory tax performance. There are many leakages and gaps to be plugged, and more effective tax administration could contribute to improving revenues,” she said.

Revenue leakages The Washington-based thinktank, Global Financial Integrity (GFI), said at least 60 per cent of the nearly $1 trillion in illicit flows from the continent is due to trade mispricing and international tax evasion.

The minister said the GFI has been asked to carry out a study on Nigeria. This, together with the work being done by

McKinsey to strengthen tax collection will go a long way to support efforts to drive revenues up.

“Based on the results of the first few months of the year, I’m fairly confident that additional tax revenues from these efforts will surpass the $500 million previously estimated for 2014,” she said.

She explained that based on 2013 data, about 70 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s merchandise exports go to countries or zones that are experiencing challenges at the momentthe U.S (10.01 per cent), Europe (26.5 per cent), Japan (three per cent), China (21 per cent), Brazil (three per cent), and India (seven per cent).

The minister said a marked slowdown in these markets would weaken demand for commodity exports from the region, with immediate negative spillover effects on our external and fisscal positions.

She said: “This year, we’ve seen a fall in the prices of several commodities, the most recent of which is oil. Our crude oil – bonny light, which traded at $110.2 per barrel in January this year, reaching $114.6 per barrel

by June, is now trading at about $83 per barrel.

“The price of gold, which peaked at about $1383 per ounce in March this year is now trading at around $1160 per ounce. Iron ore which traded at around $130 per dry metric tonne at the beginning of the year is now trading at around $76 per dry metric tonne, which is a loss of more than 40 per cent of its value this year.”

Continuing, she said prices of some agricultural commodities are also on a downward spiral, with the price of cocoa falling by about 10 per cent from $3,252 per tonne at the end of September which is just a few weeks ago, to about $2,900 per tonne now.

Cotton has also taken a hit, from about 93.5 cents per pound a year ago to 63.5 cents now, while coffee which traded at 221.4 cents per pound just a month ago, is trading at about 186.3 per pound now – which is nearly 20 per cent fall in price within a month.

The minister said the end of quantitative easing by monetary authorities in the U.S. is resulting in a reversal of foreign investor sentiment in emerging markets including frontier markets such as sub-Sahara Africa.

“Capital outûows are putting pressure on countries with large external financial needs.

In addition, regional challenges, such as the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa is weighing down on the region’s short to medium term economic outlook,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala said the ensuing decline in activity may lead to reduced appetite for investment, with more long-term implications on the growth momentum in the sub region.

She added that sub-Saharan Africa’s economy is expected to continue to perform respectably in the face of global economic challenges.

Access Bank CEO speaks

• Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

The Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe said banks are not fringe players in global economic equation, arguing that many of the lenders have helped in building multinational companies that have made Africa proud.

Wigwe said: “At Access Bank, we believe in the future of Africa. We have set ourselves the ambitious target of becoming the world’s most respected African Bank. For us that means more than being the biggest, the fastest growing, or even the most profitable in the short term.

“It means building a strong, sustainable institution that sets new standards in governance and transparency and which actively helps other financial institutions to do the same. It means driving financial inclusion by extending banking services to a new and growing cohort of businesses and individuals who will be the growth champions of tomorrow. And it means keeping our customers at the heart of everything we do.”

Africa rising Wigwe said Africa’s private sector has woken from its slumber and a new spirit of entrepreneurship is sweeping across the continent.

“The criticisms in the 1960s that Africa has underdeveloped middle class that does not contribute to the growth of capital would be ludicrous today. A vibrant, growing consumer class is increasingly serviced by innovative local capital. From Fast Moving Consumer Goods to telecoms, street vendors to sophisticated local retailers, the African private sector is driving economic growth.

“When taken together, the investment case is clear. We have the market, the market environment, and the entrepreneurial zeal that means that business can thrive,” he said.

Wigwe said Africa must align with global standards and best practice while maintaining the cultural identities and local knowledge and worldview which allow it to act and react to local economic realities.

“We must take on board and test new innovations in banking while ensuring that we maintain the best aspects of the ways we

‘The criticisms in the 1960s that Africa has underdeveloped middle class that does not contribute to the growth of capital would be ludicrous today. A vibrant, growing consumer class is increasingly serviced by innovative local capital. At Access Bank, we believe in the future of Africa. We have set ourselves the ambitious target of becoming the world’s most respected African Bank. For us that means more than being the biggest, the fastest growing, or even the most profitable in the short term’

• CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

work today. And we must also take advantage of the technological revolution that is changing the face of banking all over the world but be careful to ensure that we do not become slaves of data; that it doesn’t replace judgment and experience.

“Technology has enhanced access to capital, expertise and distribution, and aided the storage and use of data; it presents us with a profound opportunity to deepen and widen access to financial services to people and companies across the continent and we should ensure that we use it for good,” he said.

Africa economies Senior Manager at IIF, Andrew DeSouza, said South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia constitute one of the fastest growing areas of the world this year estimated at 4.9 per cent.

However, several factors, both internal and external, have stopped it from growing faster.

He explained that prospects for stronger growth next year and beyond are encouraging, but there are pockets of concern.

He said: “Lower commodity prices and faltering global demand in recent years have hit export earnings and weakened the current accounts in several countries. The impact has not been uniform, however, due to varying degrees of natural resource dependence and deviations in price movements across different commodities. Diversifying economic activity, broadening the export base, and adding domestic value to natural resource extraction will be key to sustaining growth and reducing vulnerability.”

Hydrocarbons are becoming more important in Africa, and will continue to do so going forward. Oil and gas discoveries in East Africa could be a game changer over the next decade, providing revenue for much-needed infrastructure development and turning around large current account deficits, he added.

DeSouza explained that a major constraint on growth and economic diversiûcation has been the grossly inadequate power generating capacity in most countries. The tide now appears to be turning, however, and plans are already being implemented in a number of countries to ramp up generation and improve transmission and distribution.

For him, fiscal pressures have intensified and government debt is on the rise. “The biggest challenge is to increase revenue without dampening growth while shifting resources towards development spending. The countries with the largest deûcits tend to be those that have let their wage bills spiral,” he said.

The IIF manager said the rapid adoption of mobile technology in recent years has led to a marked increase in ûnancial inclusion in many countries. Kenya was at the forefront of this revolution with the introduction of M-Pesa in 2007, but this has spread to other countries and the technology is becoming increasingly more sophisticated and widely adopted.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS

Transcorp Hotels not spinning off from Transcorp T RANSCORP Hotels Plc will remain a subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc and has not started any process to disengage from the parent company, the management of the company has said.

Managing Director, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, said the company was not engaging in any spin off process and its recent initial public offering (IPO) was solely intended to raise funds to finance its business expansion and renewal project.

Against the background of allegation by a shareholders’ group that the IPO did not follow due process, Ozigbo said the company complied with all extant laws and rules and regulations and duly received approvals of its shareholders, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

According to him, while Transcorp Hotels Plc is a subsidiary of

Stories by Taofik Salako

Transcorp Plc, it is a separate legal personality and its shareholders and board took their decisions to change the name, convert to public a company, do an IPO and list on the floor of the NSE based on legal requirements.

He noted that prior to the IPO, the two owners of Transcorp Hotels were Transcorp Plc and the Federal Government, which met and approved the change in status and the IPO. “Legally and practically speaking, there is no basis or requirement for the shareholders of Transcorp to approve the above activities of Transcorp Hotels. The latter is a company of full legal status with its own shareholders and Board that direct its affairs. Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) (section 33(1) & section 50(1)-(7) provide that any company may, by special resolution (75 per cent shareholders’ approval),

change its name or convert from a private company to a public company or a public company into a private company, etc. For the purpose of the IPO and listing, the Investments and Securities Act and SEC Rules require the approval of the shareholders and board of the issuer to offer shares to the public, not its parent or holding company’s shareholders. Whether or not Transcorp Hotels is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Transcorp, the legal status does not change,” Ozigbo noted.

He pointed out that the SEC and NSE would not have approved the IPO if the consent and approval of the parent or holding company’s shareholders were required by law.

He noted that Transcorp was not in the process of hiving off a business, which would have required the approval of Transcorp Plc’s shareholders and another separate approval process since shares issuance and spin off require separate approval process.

•From left: Mr Roper, Mrs Oworu and Dr Ajogwu at the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Nigeria needs to diversify from oil and gas, says Oworu

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HE Commissioner for commerce and industry, Lagos State, Mrs Olusola Oworu, has said Nigeria must diversify from oil and gas and focus more on manufacturing in order to create wider base for the economy.

The Commissioner who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola at the foundation stone-laying of the Lekki Mall by Novare Africa Property Fund, said the decline in the global crude oil price has exposed the risk Nigeria is facing by unduly dependent on oil.

“The country is totally dependent on oil and gas for its revenue and its foreign exchange, and as you can see the price of oil is falling; from a $100 per barrel to $80 per barrel, so what we are saying now, is that rather than rely solely on oil and gas we must diversify the economy, and one way to do that is to focus on manufacturing.

The longer it last a lot of things that we import, we can produce locally,” Oworu said.

Oworu added: “What we are saying now is that rather than creating jobs in other economy, we must create jobs in our own economy by encouraging our manufacturers to come and setup here in Nigeria and Lagos state in particular. That’s why we have been working so hard to ensure that the environment remains conducive for businesses to come because it’s only the private sector that can drive this development, so we are making sure that things are in place for businesses to come in Nigeria, making sure that Nigeria is a major attraction for foreign direct investment and

By Sampson Unamka

local investors because Nigerians are the ones that can develop this economy.”

She further said to promote such development, the government is working with the Lagos Business School to ensure that state remains number one attractive destination for foreign investors.

Oworu, however,thanked Novare Africa Property Fund for their interest in Nigeria and Lagos in particular.

In an interview with The Nation, Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Novare Africa Property Fund, Mr Derrick Roper, said the Lekki mall is going to change the way people do their shopping in this part of the world and create a formal retail that’s going to be secure and safe for people, adding that families will be able to have access to entertainment, good and cheap quality shopping.

Speaking on the impact of the mall to the economy, he said “We will be creating a lot of jobs as well for people that live around here, it’s going to be over a 1000 jobs for people that work in the mall in the different shops, on top of that its going to create another 200 jobs for other services to the mall”.

The mall estimated to cost $83 million was embarked on two years ago, and it’s going take another 18 months for construction to end.

According to Derrick, when the mall opens in April 2016, it will be the biggest mall in West Africa.

He further said from a total of 20 hectares of land space, only seven

hectares had been used adding that, the company’s plan is to expand the mall in future.

Also at the event, Chairman Urshday Limited, Dr Fabian Ajogwu, lauded the cooperation received from the Lagos state government.

He said urged the private enriches the environment with great opportunities for people and makes Lagos state better and indeed a good source of revenue for the state government.

“Transcorp Hotels is simply going public and asking for subscription of its share from the public. Transcorp, and its shareholders, is not in any way negatively affected or prejudiced by this development. It continues to be the majority shareholder in Transcorp Hotels, receiving its dividends and consolidating its accounts as required by law,” Ozigbo noted.

He pointed out that as a mark good shareholder relations and shareholders’ right to know, Transcorp Plc had formally informed its shareholders of the development is its subsidiary, Transcorp Hotels, by

publishing a “Letter to Shareholders” from the chairman of Transcorp adding that the parent company could not have informed its shareholders at the last annual general meeting because the IPO was not in view then.

He said the company would use the net proceeds of the IPO to undertake world-class renewal of its flagship Transcorp Hilton, Abuja and build new hotels in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The company also plans to build a world-class banquet facility in Abuja to position the nation’s capital as the conference hub for the continent.

May & Baker receives WHO cGMP certification •Eyes higher earnings on global contract manufacturing

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HE World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified May & Baker Nigeria Plc as a pharmaceutical manufacturing company with adequate facilities and processes that meet the global health organisation’s current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP).

The announcement, which was communicated to May & Baker Nigeria by the world health ruling body, caps a deliberate and sustained effort by the company to seek international accreditation and certification for its production processes and products.

The certification opens an opportunity for global drug contract manufacturing to May & Baker, whose Ota, Ogun State-based manufacturing complex known as The Pharmacentre was designed and positioned as the most modern pharmaceutical factory in the West African region.

Nigerian pharmaceutical firms previously were not in a position to participate in international tenders for medicines against the three pandemics that require WHO prequalification. Health experts identified this as a major constraint on the local supply of medicines, especially anti-retroviral (ARVs) drugs, anti-malarial and anti-tuberculosis agents.

The road to the WHO GMP certification began as far back as 2008 when May & Baker commenced the construction of a world class manufacturing facility at Ota, Ogun State.

The facility, which was commissioned in 2011 by President Goodluck Jonathan, was designed to meet all requirements of international pharmaceutical manufacturing best practice, from civil works to equipment installations, quality assurance, input supply and production processes.

In 2012, the company applied to

the WHO for GMP certification.

May & Baker Nigeria Plc’s Pharmacentre was inspected by WHO experts four times between 2012 and 2014 in the course of mandatory and advisory inspections. In all inspections, positive reports were made about the Pharmacentre, while improvements to processes, documentation and further training were carried out. In September, 2014, the WHO finally gave a nod to the company as having met the requirements for GMP certification.

Managing Director, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, noted that the firm has become synonymous with excellence since it started operations in Nigeria in 1944 as the first pharmaceutical company in the country, pointing out that the WHO certification is not an end in itself but another motivation for further attainments in the quest for excellent healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

He outlined that May & Baker was the first pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, first to introduce a new dosage Chloroquine regimen, first ISO-certified pharmaceutical company, first to set up ARV plant in Nigeria and first and only pharmaceutical company in Nigeria to delve into local vaccine production.

According to him, the company has by this certification confirmed that the confidence and funds committed in the Pharmacentre will be used as a spring board to attain greater participation in both the local and international pharmaceutical markets.

He however pointed out that the journey to WHO’s prequalification of products is not yet over as the company would soon commence the next stage which will involve the presentation of specific products for prequalification by WHO.

•From Left: Director, Capital Market Commission (CMC), Angola, Mr. Patricio Villar; Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; Chairman, CMC Angola, Mr. Augusto Archer Mangueira and General Manager/Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE, Mr. Bola Adeeko, at the familiarising tour by the CMC Angola team to the NSE ... on Monday

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

PAGE 29

Going by the World Health Organisation (WHO) records, the average life expectancy in Nigeria is 47 years.

Even though that of Ekiti State is put at 54, the highest in Nigeria, Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports that the member representing Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, regards the figure as low. To further enhance the well-being of members of his constituency, he built the Joan Taiwo Daramola Memorial Hospital

•Front view of the hospital

Ecstasy in Ekiti community over 32-bed hospital

H

INSIDE

E is famous for his penchant for the welfare of people of Ekiti State. This proclivity to people’s well-being is better enhanced by his political belief, which the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party that preaches overall development of the human person as against stomach infrastructure.

By means of this political platform, Bimbo Daramola has become an unquantifiable driving force for human capital development and empowerment. He is consistent in pontificating politics of welfare and development, which he always emphasised and recommended as the only panacea that would bring succour to the suffering Nigerian masses.

Being a consistent and seeming in-

We’ll not beg even in disability, says couple PAGE 32

corrigible proponent and vanguard of good governance, Hon. Daramola has endeared himself to the Ekiti masses.

This is so because not only does he preach it, he also acted it since his election in 2011 as a member of the National Assembly to represent Ikole/ Oye Federal Constituency.

On November 8, this year, Hon. Daramola added another first to his dossier as a trail blazer among public servants in Ekiti State. He built a 32bed hospital worth over N100 million for members of his constituency for improved health care delivery.

It is not only the monetary value of the project that speaks volume, but its conception and being the first of its kind by any federal legislator in the history of the 18-year-old Ekiti State.

The hospital built with his personal

funds is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. The project was not executed with funds provided by the National Assembly under the constituency projects’ funds.

In fact, Hon. Daramola had always been on the good side of history as far as the politics of Ekiti State is concerned.

He is a man of unblemished records of service and his political antecedent in a generation that lays much emphasis on stomach infrastructure has not been tainted in anyway.

One of these scintillating services he had rendered to the people was that he and ex-governor Kayode Fayemi joined efforts to fight for the liberation of Ekiti State for three-and-a-half years under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Today, the gains of the protracted

Lifeline for leadership training centre PAGE 32

•One of the wards of the hospital

battle are being savoured by the people in terms of infrastructural facelift which the immediate past government engendered in the state.

He also served as the Director-General of the Kayode Fayemi campaign organisation in a bid to consolidate the gains of democracy for Ekiti people in

the June 21, 2014 Governorship election. He is still in the struggle to rescue the people from the claws of locusts masquerading as friends of the masses.

Shortly after his victory at the polls

Uneasy calm at Seme Border over electricity PAGES 36

•Continued on page 32

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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THE SOUTHWEST REPORT Politicians advised on 2015 general elections

By Olalekan Ayeni

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HE Founder/General Overseer, The Power of Prayer Church Worldwide, Bishop Samson Olagbokun Similoluwa, has called on Nigeria leaders to have fear of God in all they do, especially now the 2015 general elections are fast approaching. This, he said, is to avoid bloody crisis that could disintegrate the country. He also urged Nigerians to forsake their sins and walk with God for Him to end bloodshed in Nigeria.

He urged politicians to always put God first in all they do and ensure they work together to make Nigeria great.

Bishop Similoluwa made the call during the 30th anniversary of the church.

He said Nigeria needed leaders that would be mindful of the welfare of the people.

“We look forward to a country where justice and peace reign; where health care system is functional; where the judiciary is independent; and schools deliver quality education.”

He said Nigerians should shun moral decadence, bribery and corruption, electoral rigging and malpractices and pray for their leaders.

Similoluwa urged politicians to shun do-or-die politics and cultivate good characters that can move the country forward and appealed to youths to avoid being used as thugs in the 2015 general elections.

A prayer session was organised in respect of the present situation in the country, so that God would restore normalcy in the country.

The General Overseer, Great Commission Bible Church, Reverend Olu Johnson, who led the prayer asked the congregation to speak with one voice for God to stop bloodshed that is currently rocking the country.

They also prayed for the quick release of the abducted girls’ from Government Girls’ Secondary School Chibok in Borno State who have been held captive by Boko Haram since April 14.

He thanked God and everyone behind the success of the ministry, the donors of the church camp ground and the programme anniversary committee. He prayed that the anniversary will mark the beginning of another new thing in their life.

How to avoid diseases, by dieticians From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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IETICIANS in the country have advised Nigerians to eat balanced diets.

They noted that eating more of fruits and vegetables would go a long way in preventing deadly diseases, especially diabetes.

In a statement issued in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the dieticians, under the aegis of Institute of Diatetics of Nigeria (IDN), said though diabetes is a deadly disease, it could be completely prevented or tamed if the people could eat more balanced diets.

The statement signed by the association’s National Secretary, Mr Tajudeen Ahmed said, dieticians body, through her branches in all the states in Nigeria, has organised awareness lectures on the onset and management of diabetes mellitus, especially dietary management.

He pointed out that dieticians are part of the team of health care providers that manages the deadly diabetes in hospitals.

According to him, diet is important in diabetes management and the dietician is the most important member of the diabetes health management team.

Ahmed also revealed that November 14 of every year is set aside as commemorative anniversary of diabetes mellitus globally, which he said was birthday of Dr. Frederick Banting who was credited with the discovery of the miracle drug known as insulin that is used in diabetes control.

He said to avoid deadly diseases; people should consume less of sugary foods (simple sugar) and eat more of complex carbohydrates, vegetables and fruits instead.

•Governor Ajimobi (arrowed) addresses the crowd at the Ibadan North Local Government Area during his meet-the-people tour of the 33 local government areas on Friday

•Governor A Caretaker Ch of Ibadan la

For four days last week, Governor Abiola Ajimobi toured the 11 local government areas that ma in the past three-and-a-half years. BISI OLADELE, who covered the tours, writes that Ajimobi’s ac

F

OR residents and visitors to Oyo State, particularly from January, 2012, the state has been galvanised into a society where orderliness, civility and modernity reign.

The achievements of Ajimobi-led administration were perceptible in all parts of Ibadan, the state capital and in other major towns such as Iseyin, Ogbomoso and Oyo. Interestingly, Ibadan, which has the highest population in the state, is where the governor has stiff opposition. This is despite the state capital being the highest beneficiary of significant projects by the administration.

As modern cities emerge amid peace and security, critics of the projects and Ajimobi’s leadership style increased, even as the government explains to the people why the projects were undertaken.

Last week, the governor and his team took their enlightenment campaign to all communities in Ibadan to address residents on the reason for the policies and projects.

The four-day tour followed the success of those to Oke-Ogun, Oyo and Ogbomoso the previous week where the governor did the same.

Ajimobi began with a programme for commercial drivers at an event centre along Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, Soka Ibadan on Tuesday.

At the meeting, the governor, whose arrival threw the huge crowd of drivers into jubilation, hailed them for conducting themselves within the ambit of the law and totally shunning violence since the inception of his administration.

Governor Ajimobi told the cheering crowd that when he inherited a society some of whose features included violence, thuggery and brigandage, his pledge was to enthrone peace and harmony as well as create an atmosphere where business and other lawful activities will thrive.

Deploring the situation where commercial drivers had constituted themselves as a menace to the society, the governor commended the drivers for support his administration by stopping violent activities within the state’s branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

He specifically praised them for being calm even when he deplored modern buses to major routes which commuters board at subsidised prices.

The governor pledged to gradu-

Ajimobi tours, presents score ‘As you co-operate with us, we plan to reward you with assistance. Whenever you look back and compare our administration, you will always say that ours is better. But please, don’t give in to deceit...Peace has returned to the state under Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration....Ibadan was one of the dirtiest; roads were bad and narrow but the Ajimobi administration has improved all of that. We urge you not to rest on your oars. We also promise to do our business peacefully’ ally do away with rickety buses by assisting drivers to purchase new buses.

“As you co-operate with us, we plan to reward you with assistance.

Whenever you look back and compare our administration, you will always say that ours is better. But please, don’t give in to deceit,” Ajimobi said.

The governor urged them to continue to support his administration as he makes efforts to ensure that the state regains its glorious position.

Earlier, the Chairman of the union, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (aka Fele), expressed joy for the governor’s presence at the event, saying it showed the respect the governor accords commercial drivers in the state.

“We are happy to have the governor here. This is unprecedented in the history of our union.

“Peace has returned to the state under Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

Ajimobi has brought the change we want-peace and security. Ibadan was one of the dirtiest; roads were bad and narrow but the Ajimobi administration has improved all of that. We urge you not to rest on your oars, sir. And we also promise to do our business peacefully,” he said.

At Sasa in Akinyele Local Govern-

ment, the governor had a meeting with traditional rulers, market traders, artisans, politicians, commercial drivers, religious and community leaders during which he explained his policies and programmes as well as the reasons behind them.

The leader of Orogun community, Mr. A. Ogunsola praised the governor for fulfilling his electoral promises. He, however, urged the governor to improve water supply to the area and renovate the Orogun Link Road.

Other community leaders who spoke also praised Governor Ajimobi for his achievements, stressing that his accomplishment would speak for him.

The Oniroko of Iroko, Chief Abioye Olasunkanmi, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers in the local government, requested inclusion of more chiefs in the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, citing historical reasons.

Chief Olasunkanmi praised Ajimobi for his monumental achievements, saying as a retired teacher, he had not witnessed recruitment of 5,300 teachers on one occasion, with new recruits sourced from their localities.

Devoid of any campaign colouration, the traditional ruler said Ajimobi’s achievements were already speaking for him for the 2015

elections.

He said the current administration has particularly made the welfare of teachers a priority, adding that Ajimobi’s infrastructural development as well as the urban renewal policy is unparalleled. He urged him not to relent.

Chief Olasunkanmi also pledged the support of traditional rulers and their subjects in the local government for Ajimobi as he lifts the fortunes of the state.

Responding, the governor said he had succeeded in sustaining the rich history of the “firsts” established by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo by undertaking projects that are first of their kind in the history of the state.

According to him, his administration adopted the principle underlining the Abraham Maslow’s human needs pyramid which stipulates that physiological needs are the very basic that should be met first.

Accordingly, Ajimobi said the principle informed his administration priority attention given to issues such as peace and security without which nothing meaningful could be achieved.

Governor Ajimobi said meeting the basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter requires earning an income which explains why his administration employed 20,000 youths into the Youths Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O).

He reminded his audiences at the councils that his administration had employed several others into the state civil service, attracted no fewer than 13 investors who had employed residents in their various factories and establishments while capping it with recruitment of 5,300 teachers at once.

Ajimobi emphasised that stomach infrastructure means teaching people how to fish instead of giving them fish. By employing and creating job opportunities for residents, the governor said the act is already having positive multiplier effects on the economy of the state.

At Ibadan North East Local Government Area, the governor told traditional rulers that the amount of capital flow into the state has increased by 697 per cent approximating $3.49 million, up from $500,000 between the first and second quarter

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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THE SOUTHWEST REPORT We’ll not beg even in disability, says couple

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•Governor Ajimobi (left), being presented with a calabash containing traditional gift of Kola nuts and bitter kola by the Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government Area, Mr. Idris Lapade (middle) and the Aare of Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadan land, Chief Lekan Alabi, when Ajimobi visited the council area on Thursday.

areas that make up Ibadan where he presented his score card to the people t Ajimobi’s achievements will silence critics of his policies and programmes.

score card in Ibadan ‘Southwest Nigeria was at the top destination for capital importation in the first half of 2014, with about 98 per cent of total capital imported in the Region...This impressive performance located capital importation into Oyo State as having increased by 697 per cent, approximating $3.49 million, up from $500,000 between the first and second quarters of the year...Happily, our uninformed and mischievous cynics have again been proved wrong in their assertions that there is capital flight in Oyo State’ of the year.

According to him, the figure has proved wrong allegations from the opposition parties in the state that the state was witnessing capital flight since the inception of the Ajimobi administration.

Governor Ajimobi said he was not quoting from a statistics manufactured by him but a report released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics, a Federal Government institution.

“As revealed in the report, total capital imported into the country stood at $5.8 billion as at the end of the second quarter of 2014, relative to the $3.9 billion recorded in the preceding quarter. Of these, Southwest Nigeria was at the top destination for capital importation in the first half of 2014, with about 98 per cent of total capital imported in the Region.

“This impressive performance located capital importation into Oyo State as having increased by 697 per cent, approximating $3.49 million, up from $500,000 between the first and second quarters of the year.

“Happily, our uninformed and mischievous cynics have again been proved wrong in their assertions that there is capital flight in Oyo State,” the governor said.

Governor Ajimobi said his mis-

sion in governance was to redeem the state from the shackle of underdevelopment, even as he urged the people not to be deceived by the antics of deceitful and selfish politicians who are out to discredit the present administration.

He pointed out that his administration has continued to play the politics of development, truth and honesty to establish a veritable platform for performance and good governance.

“I am not a desperate politician who is out to canvass for votes by all means. My mission is to redeem the state from under-development and deceitful politicians,” he said.

In Ona-Ara, Iddo, Oluyole, Lagelu and other councils in the city, the governor explained that driving traders away from the road was for their ultimate benefit as vehicles crushed them during accidents.

He also pointed out that the city could no longer continue with the habit of cholera-prone practices at roadside shops by some traders which is responsible for outbreak of communicable diseases.

As a solution, Ajimobi emphasised that his administration built neighbourhood markets to accommodate those driven away from the road, saying no previous administration did that even though they also

drove away traders from the road.

Additionally, he said that his administration gave out the shops to the traders at no cost, pointing out that Chief Bola Ige’s administration which built markets did not give out the shops free.

Furthermore, Ajimobi said his administration gave out N20 million to the traders as incentive. This, he said, was aimed at improving the lot of traders.

In the same manner, Ajimobi said his administration embarked on cleanliness of the cities, infrastructural development and the urban renewal project to change the position of the state from the second dirtiest to one of the cleanest. These, he said, aimed at enhancing people’s good health and make the state attractive to investors.

Ajimobi also explained that his administration chose to make the welfare of teachers a top priority because his dream to overhaul the education sector would be a mirage without first making teachers happy.

The same, he said, applied to civil servants who have also been enjoying 13th month salary, regular local and foreign training as well as free transportation to and from state secretariat from Mondays to Fridays.

Why would a governor sack those trading on the streets? Why would a governor build neighbourhood markets, give out the shops free and give interest-free loans to traders?

Why would a governor convert major roads in four cities to dual carriage ways at the same time? Why did Ajimobi channel resources to urban renewal project, and why would he engage 5,300 teachers at once in the face of dwindling allocation from the Federation Account?

All these and many more were some of the issues the governor explained to the people as he toured Ibadan last week.

Governor Ajimobi was warmly received by teachers, politicians, artisans, women groups and other categories of residents at all the local government areas with pomp and ceremony.

On the governor’ steam were his deputy, Chief Moses AlakeAdeyemo; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Olalekan Ali; commissioners; members of the National Assembly; Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Akin Oke and political appointees.

HOUGH they are physicallychallenged, they remained undaunted. Adewale Olukayode and his wife Olufunmilayo are Akurebased fashion designers. They seem to be joined by fate. Both are hearing impaired and dumb. Interestingly, both are engaged in the same professionfashion designing.

It is a common feature among some physically-challenged to take to the streets and solicit people’s assistance.

Some would hang “I am deaf and dumb.

Please help me” on their necks like garlands.

Whether genuine or fake, many have used this method to beg for alms from members of the public.

Olukayode’s situation is excitingly different because he did not take advantage of his disability to go to the streets begging.

He did not allow his disability to weigh him down. Ade, as he is popularly called by his admirers, is a trained tailor/fashion designer.

Every day, Ade, a native of Akure, treks from his house along Oda Road in the Akure metropolis to his shop.

The 45-year-old Ade is not just an ordinary tailor as you may think. He sews for the rich and the not-so-rich in the society. His clientele cuts across all social strata.

One of his numerous and prominent customers is the former Deputy Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Samuel Aderoboye.

But how does a hearing impaired man understand customers’ specifications in terms of style?

‘Every day, Ade, a native of Akure, treks from his house on Oda Road in the Akure metropolis to his shop...45-year-old Ade is not just an ordinary tailor. He sews for the rich and the not-so-rich in the society. His clientele cuts across all social strata’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Aderoboye said he simply brings sketches or drawings of any style he wants to Ade. Others, who also patronise Ade, said they have never regretted patronising him as their designer, as his expertise has continued to attract more customers to him.

Like Ade, his wife, Olufunmilayo who is also hearing impaired and dumb designs and sew for women. The union of the two physically-challenged couple is blessed with two kids.

•Mr and Mrs Olukayode

NGO trains 500 women, youths

By Ambrose Nnaji

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ORRIED by the awful plight of the downtrodden, the Blessed GumpatFoundation (BGF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has expressed its concern over the alarming rate of poverty in the country, even as it said many are busy accumulating wealth for themselves.

Founder of the NGO, Pastor Prisca Timpaul has continued to advocate the need to uplift the living standard of the people, including women and youths by empowering them in order to be self-reliant.

She said there is no going back in building a more economically viable society that will provide a favourable environment for the needy.

According to her, empowering women and youths with skills is the best option in checking the rate of social vices such as stealing, kidnapping, rape, prostitution and under age marriage, among others that are prevalent in the society.

She said the government is not doing enough to put in place adequate infrastructure that will enhance job creation for the people. She, therefore, appealed to public-spirited individuals, non-governmental organisations and the church to be more aggressive in tackling unemployment in the country.

Timpaul also said her skill acquisition centre does not only train its participants but also equips and empowers them to be financially independent and self-sufficient.

According to her, participants are trained in such areas as hat making, bead making, snacks (pastries), cake making, event decorations, dishes (African), tiedye and production of liquid soap, bleach, hair/body cream, air freshener, stove thread, shampoo, cocoa beverages, disinfectants such as izal and dettol.

“We will no longer hear any woman say I am not doing anything in this church. The intention is to make sure that our people don’t complain that I they are not doing anything, and that has been accomplished. As an organisation, we are building people, empowering them and making sure that they are avenues through which the lives of others would be affected positively,” she said, adding that the training was free for all participants.

The foundation, which she said began about eight years ago in Ikotun-Egbe, a Lagos suburb, before it was relocated to Ogun State, was borne out of the need to reach out to the indigent women many of whom, she said, were living with men but were not legally married to them due to poverty.

On what informed the establishment of the Social Welfare for the Needy and Unemployed, Timpaul said it was an act of God. The Social Welfare for the Needy and Unemployed in Nigeria and in the

•Continued on page 35

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

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THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Aspirant donates computer sets to Ondo APC From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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N aspirant for the Akure North State Constituency in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Leye Akinola has donated four sets of computer and printers to the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

He said the donation was to facilitate administrative convenience and easy passage of information to relevant agencies for the growth of the party.

Receiving the items, the state Chairman of the party, Isaac Kekemeke praised the donor for the gesture, even as he promised to make good use of the facilities.

Kekemeke, who was Secretary to the State Government (SSG), reiterated that there would be no imposition of any candidate on the electorate in the choice of candidates for the 2015 general elections.

He further said the party would abide by the wishes and aspirations of the people in the state and would not bow to any external interference.

According to him, those who claimed to have been endorsed by the leadership of the party outside the state are merely spreading falsehood, noting that it is an attempt to frustrate other aspirants within the party.

The chairman re-assured all aspirants as well as members of the party of level- playing field.

He appreciated God for the rising fortune of the party in the state within the shortest time.

Kekemeke revealed that prominent politicians in the state are set to join the APC soon.

Speaking with reporters shortly after presenting the computer sets, Akinola said: “The gesture was informed by my desire to contribute to the development of the party. I was also motivated by the commitment and the developmental drive of Kekemeke to the APC. I decided to run for the position so as to contribute my quota to the development of the people of my local government in particular and the state in general.”

He said he is aspiring as a party man and not as ‘group’ man, noting that he does not belong to any group but only to the APC as a party.

He said he decided to run for the position so as to contribute his quota to the development of the people of his local government in particular and the state in general.

He explained that he had executed projects that impacted positively in the lives of the people of his town.

Akinola promised to do more for APC both at state, local and ward levels for the development of the party.

•One of the buildings under construction

•Part of the land that water has washed away

•A 50-year-old building at the centre

Lifeline for leadership training centre T

HE Sea School, one of the units of Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Lagos, is a Mecca of sort for most of the highbrow schools in Lagos. If they are not visiting the place for excursion, the schools ensure that their new prefects are taken to the island for retreat and leadership training.

Aside being a tourist centre, the island, which is about two kilometres long, 300m wide, is a training centre for security agencies in Nigeria.

The cool breeze; serene environment, the almond trees that mitigate scorching sun; array of ships that dot the sea, make one appreciate nature. If one is upset before visiting the island, one’s nerves would be calmed.

However, those beautiful vistas were in the yesteryear. The once dazzling school has become fetid.

Things seemed okay at the Sea School until about three months ago, when the embankment collapsed and water began started to

By Gbenga Aderanti

wash off part of the island.

It was quite difficult to notice that all is not well with the Sea School until the Minister of Youth and Social Development, Boni Haruna, visited the school.

His visit to the school opened a can of worms.

Though there are new buildings being erected in the school, most buildings in the school are more than 50 years old, as most of them were built in 1965. To worsen the situation, the original Master Plan of the centre is lost or so it seems.

The once prestigious school is currently in darkness. Seemingly, it has been yanked off the National Grid.

At its inception, the centre enjoyed constant power supply, but the privatisation of the Dockyard changed the situation.

The Director-General, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Mr. Michael Oladele Fawole said: “Until 2005, Nigerdock was supplying electricity to the centre but when a new company took over

•Part of the collapsed embankment

Nigerdock, they refused to supply light to the school even though we promised to pay the bill. There is a village in between us and they knew it was going to be difficult to get them pay for light, the company declined our request. Since then, we have not been having light. Because of the situation, we have been using generator.

“The centre spends an average of N300, 000 a month on fuel in order to power the school.

“While the centre would want to host many visitors, the hostels are

•Mr. Michael Fawole (right) explaining a point to the minister

inadequate. It is so bad that students are accommodated in the new library.”

During the visit, the minister had a dose of the hardship members of staff of the centre go through. As he sat in the office of the Coordinator of the centre, Mrs Lambert Oyebola Faleye, the minister was sweating profusely. It took him a while to sign the visitors’ book and when the heat became unbearable, he had to remove his jacket.

Transporting people in and out of the island is also a challenge. The

D-G further explained that the centre has three water buses, the three would have been enough if they had been functional, adding that “it is only one that is functional. We would have loved to have a 50-seater or 100-seater boat.”

Grim as the situation on the island may seem, it is probably one of the safest places to live in the country.

While many have become frustrated and leave the security of their lives and properties in God’s hand, the people on the island sleep with

their two eyes closed. It is difficult to commit crime on the island and go scot free.

Aside personnel from the military and other security agencies undergoing training on the island, marine police are constantly on patrol to prevent criminals from carrying out their nefarious acts.

Bad as it may seem and despite all the challenges the institute is experiencing, the D-G said the centre has continued to make judicious use of its limited resources.

“Despite all these challenges, we

have continued to perform. I thank members of our staff who often times find it difficult to believe that we are handicapped. I think that there is a proof that we are trying our best,” he said.

The minister, who was accompanied by some officials of Ministry of Environment to assess the situation, acknowledged the limited facilities and decayed infrastructure and inadequate funding of the centre and promised that the problems would be solved. He said about N2 billion would be expended on the

centre. ”We will do the needful to change the way things are done here. We will also improve the working environment, improve the facilities and reposition the school,” the minister said.

Haruna promised to provide a new layout for the school so as to know where to locate some of the infrastructure.

“It is not unlikely that this school will be the same again. We will create an enabling environment for you because there is so much here

Ecstasy in Ekiti community over 32-bed hospital •Continued from page 29 in 2011, he instituted a programme called Abo Mi Re, which means “this is my scorecard” through which reeled off his empowerment programmes for his constituents and even beyond.

This was in a bid to banish poverty among the masses.

The project is the flagship of the numerous programmes he had instituted on this platform.

The hospital, christened ‘Joan Taiwo Daramola Memorial Hospital’, built in memory of his late mother, was located in Ire Ekiti, his country home in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The number of eminent Nigerians who were at the well-attended inauguration ceremony of the hospital confirms that it was not a child’s play or one of those programmes shoddily conceived under the guise of empowerment to delude the people.

The important personalities at the epoch-making event included were former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal ex-Governors Kayode Fayemi, Segun Oni, Niyi Adebayo, State Chairman, APC, Chief Jide Awe

and many others.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Daramola said with the medical equipment installed in the hospital, it is now one of the best in the state.

He said making it the best or creating unhealthy rivalry with other health institutions was not his intention, adding that his aim was to make it play complementary role to hospitals such as the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti and the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti for efficient and robust medical services that can enhance the health of the people.

Hon. Daramola, who said Ekiti State has the highest life expectancy in Nigeria, which was put at an average of about 54 years, going by the records of the World Health Organisation, was emphatic that the 47-year average life expectancy in Nigeria is a shameful and frightening trend that needed to be combated at all costs.

He expressed discontentment with the 54 years average age for Ekiti, even as he described it as too low to be happy about. He was of the view that health status of the masses determines their life expectancy.

Considering the enormous resources available in the country,

Daramola said no Nigerian would have been expected to die prematurely due to poor medical facilities, if the leaders have been prudent and focused.

The lawmaker urged government at all levels to place high premium on adequate investment in the health sector to reverse the frightening level of low life expectancy in the country.

Nostalgic of the experiences he had with her late mother, whom he described as pillar of the family, Daramola clarified that the multi-million Naira hospital aims at contributing to the well-being of the downtrodden, who suffer ill-health daily for lack of adequate and affordable medical care.

Hon. Daramola said Ekiti State’s status as having the highest life expectancy in Nigeria with an average age of 54 years, had confirmed the pervasive rot and mismanagement in the system.

For smooth running of the hospital, the APC chieftain said he would partner with the Anglican Communion, owners of Ile Abiye Hospital in the running of the institution for optimal efficiency, saying his dream is to make the hospital one of the best in the country.

He said: “I instituted what I called Abo mi re, which is my scorecard. This donation is the flagship of all that I have

•Abubakar (third from right) cutting the tape to declare the hospital open. With him are Chief Segun Oni (second left), Dr. Fayemi, Hon. Daramola and Otunba Adebayo.

•The hospital reception hall

done for the people since they sent me to the National Assembly to represent them. Political office holders must learn to give back to the society. I have given out a lot of things. Everything I have done in the past may be denied or run out of season, but this one is the flagship and will be in use even when I am dead.

“I built the hospital as a way of giving back to the people for entrusting in

me their mandate in the House of Representatives. The stride is one of the ways to improve on the abysmally low life expectancy among the rank and file of the downtrodden masses.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who inaugurated the project after being honoured with a traditional title by Onire of Ire-Ekiti, Oba Victor Bobade, lambasted President Goodluck Jonathan for running the most inept

government in the history of the country.

Particularly, Atiku said the country never had it so bad in the area of health care delivery, which he said is fast becoming the most retrogressive sector in Nigeria.

Speaking about the state of the country’s economy, which he said brought about the pervasive rot that had permeated other sectors, the presi-

dential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, said: “Nigeria was sick under PDP misrule and there must be serious efforts to salvage it.”

He posited that the fortunes of the country would have been better managed if competent and those with passion for service like Daramola were elected into positions of authority, particularly the Presidency.

Continuing, he said: “Certainly, Nigeria is not healthy. When you look at the issues of economy and insecurity in the country, you will know that certainly, Nigeria is not healthy. The only thing that can salvage Nigeria’s situation is to seize the opportunity to bring about a change by voting in APC.” Atiku, who praised Daramola for the initiative, advised the Ekiti people not to mortgage their future for a bag of

rice.

“I believe the people of Ekiti surely don’t need stomach infrastructure.

Would you forego education for stomach infrastructure? Would you forego health care for stomach infrastructure?

Would you forgo infrastructural development for stomach infrastructure?

“Today Japan is the third biggest economy in the world. They don’t have the farmland that you have in Ekiti

‘Despite all these challenges, we have continued to perform. I thank members of our staff who often times find it difficult to believe that we are handicapped. I think that there is a proof that we are trying our best...We will do the needful to change the way things are done here. We will also improve the working environment, improve the facilities and reposition the school’ that could be leveraged upon. I will make sure that the needful is done,” he said.

State but they have education and technology. Anybody who is telling you all you need is a bag of rice; no.

No; Ekiti people, no.”

The immediate past Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his predecessor, Mr Segun Oni, urged the people to give priority attention to infrastructural development, rather than anything that will serve immediate needs.

They said: “For us as progressives, health is wealth. The health of our people matters most to us than simplistic and populist sharing of public money.” They described the initiative as a model that will improve the life expectancy of the people.

A resident of the constituent and native of Ilupeju Ekiti, Mrs Mary Olatunji, described the lawmaker as godsend to Ekiti people. She said Daramola was one of the few Nigerians who put his political activism into play in his service to the people.

“Hon Daramola is our own. He can win election anytime here not minding the party in power. He always put the masses first and the way he does his things is unique. He has brought uniqueness to governance in Ekiti,” she said.

Mrs. Olatunji said the people of Oye and Ikole Local Government Area can now seek medical help in the hospital as alternative to hospitals in Ido and Ado-Ekiti.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

32

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

33

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Aspirant donates computer sets to Ondo APC From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A

N aspirant for the Akure North State Constituency in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Leye Akinola has donated four sets of computer and printers to the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

He said the donation was to facilitate administrative convenience and easy passage of information to relevant agencies for the growth of the party.

Receiving the items, the state Chairman of the party, Isaac Kekemeke praised the donor for the gesture, even as he promised to make good use of the facilities.

Kekemeke, who was Secretary to the State Government (SSG), reiterated that there would be no imposition of any candidate on the electorate in the choice of candidates for the 2015 general elections.

He further said the party would abide by the wishes and aspirations of the people in the state and would not bow to any external interference.

According to him, those who claimed to have been endorsed by the leadership of the party outside the state are merely spreading falsehood, noting that it is an attempt to frustrate other aspirants within the party.

The chairman re-assured all aspirants as well as members of the party of level- playing field.

He appreciated God for the rising fortune of the party in the state within the shortest time.

Kekemeke revealed that prominent politicians in the state are set to join the APC soon.

Speaking with reporters shortly after presenting the computer sets, Akinola said: “The gesture was informed by my desire to contribute to the development of the party. I was also motivated by the commitment and the developmental drive of Kekemeke to the APC. I decided to run for the position so as to contribute my quota to the development of the people of my local government in particular and the state in general.”

He said he is aspiring as a party man and not as ‘group’ man, noting that he does not belong to any group but only to the APC as a party.

He said he decided to run for the position so as to contribute his quota to the development of the people of his local government in particular and the state in general.

He explained that he had executed projects that impacted positively in the lives of the people of his town.

Akinola promised to do more for APC both at state, local and ward levels for the development of the party.

•One of the buildings under construction

•Part of the land that water has washed away

•A 50-year-old building at the centre

Lifeline for leadership training centre T

HE Sea School, one of the units of Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Lagos, is a Mecca of sort for most of the highbrow schools in Lagos. If they are not visiting the place for excursion, the schools ensure that their new prefects are taken to the island for retreat and leadership training.

Aside being a tourist centre, the island, which is about two kilometres long, 300m wide, is a training centre for security agencies in Nigeria.

The cool breeze; serene environment, the almond trees that mitigate scorching sun; array of ships that dot the sea, make one appreciate nature. If one is upset before visiting the island, one’s nerves would be calmed.

However, those beautiful vistas were in the yesteryear. The once dazzling school has become fetid.

Things seemed okay at the Sea School until about three months ago, when the embankment collapsed and water began started to

By Gbenga Aderanti

wash off part of the island.

It was quite difficult to notice that all is not well with the Sea School until the Minister of Youth and Social Development, Boni Haruna, visited the school.

His visit to the school opened a can of worms.

Though there are new buildings being erected in the school, most buildings in the school are more than 50 years old, as most of them were built in 1965. To worsen the situation, the original Master Plan of the centre is lost or so it seems.

The once prestigious school is currently in darkness. Seemingly, it has been yanked off the National Grid.

At its inception, the centre enjoyed constant power supply, but the privatisation of the Dockyard changed the situation.

The Director-General, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Mr. Michael Oladele Fawole said: “Until 2005, Nigerdock was supplying electricity to the centre but when a new company took over

•Part of the collapsed embankment

Nigerdock, they refused to supply light to the school even though we promised to pay the bill. There is a village in between us and they knew it was going to be difficult to get them pay for light, the company declined our request. Since then, we have not been having light. Because of the situation, we have been using generator.

“The centre spends an average of N300, 000 a month on fuel in order to power the school.

“While the centre would want to host many visitors, the hostels are

•Mr. Michael Fawole (right) explaining a point to the minister

inadequate. It is so bad that students are accommodated in the new library.”

During the visit, the minister had a dose of the hardship members of staff of the centre go through. As he sat in the office of the Coordinator of the centre, Mrs Lambert Oyebola Faleye, the minister was sweating profusely. It took him a while to sign the visitors’ book and when the heat became unbearable, he had to remove his jacket.

Transporting people in and out of the island is also a challenge. The

D-G further explained that the centre has three water buses, the three would have been enough if they had been functional, adding that “it is only one that is functional. We would have loved to have a 50-seater or 100-seater boat.”

Grim as the situation on the island may seem, it is probably one of the safest places to live in the country.

While many have become frustrated and leave the security of their lives and properties in God’s hand, the people on the island sleep with

their two eyes closed. It is difficult to commit crime on the island and go scot free.

Aside personnel from the military and other security agencies undergoing training on the island, marine police are constantly on patrol to prevent criminals from carrying out their nefarious acts.

Bad as it may seem and despite all the challenges the institute is experiencing, the D-G said the centre has continued to make judicious use of its limited resources.

“Despite all these challenges, we

have continued to perform. I thank members of our staff who often times find it difficult to believe that we are handicapped. I think that there is a proof that we are trying our best,” he said.

The minister, who was accompanied by some officials of Ministry of Environment to assess the situation, acknowledged the limited facilities and decayed infrastructure and inadequate funding of the centre and promised that the problems would be solved. He said about N2 billion would be expended on the

centre. ”We will do the needful to change the way things are done here. We will also improve the working environment, improve the facilities and reposition the school,” the minister said.

Haruna promised to provide a new layout for the school so as to know where to locate some of the infrastructure.

“It is not unlikely that this school will be the same again. We will create an enabling environment for you because there is so much here

Ecstasy in Ekiti community over 32-bed hospital •Continued from page 29 in 2011, he instituted a programme called Abo Mi Re, which means “this is my scorecard” through which reeled off his empowerment programmes for his constituents and even beyond.

This was in a bid to banish poverty among the masses.

The project is the flagship of the numerous programmes he had instituted on this platform.

The hospital, christened ‘Joan Taiwo Daramola Memorial Hospital’, built in memory of his late mother, was located in Ire Ekiti, his country home in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The number of eminent Nigerians who were at the well-attended inauguration ceremony of the hospital confirms that it was not a child’s play or one of those programmes shoddily conceived under the guise of empowerment to delude the people.

The important personalities at the epoch-making event included were former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal ex-Governors Kayode Fayemi, Segun Oni, Niyi Adebayo, State Chairman, APC, Chief Jide Awe

and many others.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Daramola said with the medical equipment installed in the hospital, it is now one of the best in the state.

He said making it the best or creating unhealthy rivalry with other health institutions was not his intention, adding that his aim was to make it play complementary role to hospitals such as the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti and the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti for efficient and robust medical services that can enhance the health of the people.

Hon. Daramola, who said Ekiti State has the highest life expectancy in Nigeria, which was put at an average of about 54 years, going by the records of the World Health Organisation, was emphatic that the 47-year average life expectancy in Nigeria is a shameful and frightening trend that needed to be combated at all costs.

He expressed discontentment with the 54 years average age for Ekiti, even as he described it as too low to be happy about. He was of the view that health status of the masses determines their life expectancy.

Considering the enormous resources available in the country,

Daramola said no Nigerian would have been expected to die prematurely due to poor medical facilities, if the leaders have been prudent and focused.

The lawmaker urged government at all levels to place high premium on adequate investment in the health sector to reverse the frightening level of low life expectancy in the country.

Nostalgic of the experiences he had with her late mother, whom he described as pillar of the family, Daramola clarified that the multi-million Naira hospital aims at contributing to the well-being of the downtrodden, who suffer ill-health daily for lack of adequate and affordable medical care.

Hon. Daramola said Ekiti State’s status as having the highest life expectancy in Nigeria with an average age of 54 years, had confirmed the pervasive rot and mismanagement in the system.

For smooth running of the hospital, the APC chieftain said he would partner with the Anglican Communion, owners of Ile Abiye Hospital in the running of the institution for optimal efficiency, saying his dream is to make the hospital one of the best in the country.

He said: “I instituted what I called Abo mi re, which is my scorecard. This donation is the flagship of all that I have

•Abubakar (third from right) cutting the tape to declare the hospital open. With him are Chief Segun Oni (second left), Dr. Fayemi, Hon. Daramola and Otunba Adebayo.

•The hospital reception hall

done for the people since they sent me to the National Assembly to represent them. Political office holders must learn to give back to the society. I have given out a lot of things. Everything I have done in the past may be denied or run out of season, but this one is the flagship and will be in use even when I am dead.

“I built the hospital as a way of giving back to the people for entrusting in

me their mandate in the House of Representatives. The stride is one of the ways to improve on the abysmally low life expectancy among the rank and file of the downtrodden masses.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who inaugurated the project after being honoured with a traditional title by Onire of Ire-Ekiti, Oba Victor Bobade, lambasted President Goodluck Jonathan for running the most inept

government in the history of the country.

Particularly, Atiku said the country never had it so bad in the area of health care delivery, which he said is fast becoming the most retrogressive sector in Nigeria.

Speaking about the state of the country’s economy, which he said brought about the pervasive rot that had permeated other sectors, the presi-

dential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, said: “Nigeria was sick under PDP misrule and there must be serious efforts to salvage it.”

He posited that the fortunes of the country would have been better managed if competent and those with passion for service like Daramola were elected into positions of authority, particularly the Presidency.

Continuing, he said: “Certainly, Nigeria is not healthy. When you look at the issues of economy and insecurity in the country, you will know that certainly, Nigeria is not healthy. The only thing that can salvage Nigeria’s situation is to seize the opportunity to bring about a change by voting in APC.” Atiku, who praised Daramola for the initiative, advised the Ekiti people not to mortgage their future for a bag of

rice.

“I believe the people of Ekiti surely don’t need stomach infrastructure.

Would you forego education for stomach infrastructure? Would you forego health care for stomach infrastructure?

Would you forgo infrastructural development for stomach infrastructure?

“Today Japan is the third biggest economy in the world. They don’t have the farmland that you have in Ekiti

‘Despite all these challenges, we have continued to perform. I thank members of our staff who often times find it difficult to believe that we are handicapped. I think that there is a proof that we are trying our best...We will do the needful to change the way things are done here. We will also improve the working environment, improve the facilities and reposition the school’ that could be leveraged upon. I will make sure that the needful is done,” he said.

State but they have education and technology. Anybody who is telling you all you need is a bag of rice; no.

No; Ekiti people, no.”

The immediate past Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his predecessor, Mr Segun Oni, urged the people to give priority attention to infrastructural development, rather than anything that will serve immediate needs.

They said: “For us as progressives, health is wealth. The health of our people matters most to us than simplistic and populist sharing of public money.” They described the initiative as a model that will improve the life expectancy of the people.

A resident of the constituent and native of Ilupeju Ekiti, Mrs Mary Olatunji, described the lawmaker as godsend to Ekiti people. She said Daramola was one of the few Nigerians who put his political activism into play in his service to the people.

“Hon Daramola is our own. He can win election anytime here not minding the party in power. He always put the masses first and the way he does his things is unique. He has brought uniqueness to governance in Ekiti,” she said.

Mrs. Olatunji said the people of Oye and Ikole Local Government Area can now seek medical help in the hospital as alternative to hospitals in Ido and Ado-Ekiti.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

34

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Agency organises programme on morality I N line with its core mandate to orientate, mobilise, sensitise and enlighten the public, the Ondo State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has organised a one-day “Do the Right Thing Campus Focus Programme” hosted by the Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of the State.

The enlightenment programme whose theme was “Nigerian Tertiary Institution of Learning- Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Implications for National Transformation” was attended by major stakeholders in the education sector, including students, traditional rulers, youth corps members and top government officials.

Various papers were presented by resource persons who included Dr Tolu Ademujimi, Mr. Titilayo Femi Kings and the Special Assistant (SA) to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Sports Matters, Mr Olamide George.

It was observed that the intrusion of western culture had negatively influenced Nigerian cultures so much so that all tertiary institutions are characterised by vices such as cultism, examination malpractices and sexual harassment, among others.

A communiqué issued after the programme decried the spate of social vices among students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, which were described as major problems militating against the realisation of the desired quality education in the country.

It noted that impunity, disrespect to rule of law and constituted authority are also some of the major problems in the country.

It said: “Youths constitute a greater percentage of the populace in any given society and the bedrock of its development.

“Therefore, efforts must be geared towards re-orientating them on the need to embrace attitudinal re-adjustment and moral rectitude.

Participants praised NOA for organising the programme, especially now that moral decadence has become the order of the day in our national lives, including the campuses.

•Mr. Famose addressing participants at the event

•Students at the seminar

•Traditional rulers at the event.

‘The intrusion of western culture had negatively influenced Nigerian cultures so much so that all tertiary institutions are characterised by vices such as cultism, examination malpractices and sexual harassment...Youths constitute a greater percentage of the populace in any given society and the bedrock of its development...’

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

They also praised the proprietor of Elizade University, Chief Ade

Ojo, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Valentine Aletor and management of the institution for instilling discipline in its students and staff.

They noted that there was urgent need to build and re-enforce the character of the youth with core values of honesty, hard work, patriotism, obedience and tolerance.

Government, religious institutions, parents and teachers were also urged to instill discipline and moral values in the students in order to reduce social vices in tertiary institutions and the society.

“Doing the right thing implies showing practical example for others to follow rather than verbal pronouncement. School planners/administrators should introduce practical learning where talent is recognised to suit the present generation of youth.

“There is the need to hold a similar programme entitled “Do the

Right Thing: Leadership Focus.

“Freedom should not be taken for granted by students of tertiary institutions. Rather, they should maximise every opportunity to build their future,” they said.

In his keynote address, the Director-General, NOA, Mr Mike Omeri who was represented by the Ondo State Director, Mr Bode Famose, pledged the determination of the agency to sensitise the public on the need to enhance cultural values for genuine transformation in the country.

He assured that similar programmes would be organised on regular basis, particularly among students in various higher institutions across the country. He urged the citizens to do the right things to transform Nigeria.

The Vice-Chancellor, Elizade University, Prof. Aletor appreciated the NOA’s management for availing them the opportunity of hosting the sensitisation programme in the University community, which, according to him, would enhance the moral and cultural values of the students.

Present at the event were traditional rulers, including the Alara of Ilara-Mokin, Oba Aderemi Adefehinti, Onibuji of Ibuji, Oba Folagbade Ojo, Onimariwo of Mariwo, Oba Adegoke Aluko, Obanla of Igbara-Oke, Chief Olu Ajayi and top government officials from the state and local governments.

HIV/AIDS: Getting to Zero campaign holds in Lagos

T

HE National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Coca-Cola and Friends Africa, have concluded plans to hold the Third World AIDS Day on December 6 in Lagos.

The campaign, whose theme is Getting to Zero, aims at removing stigma and discrimination from those living with HIV and AIDS. The campaign will also leverage on the power of sports to create more awareness about HIV and AIDS stigma and discrimination. As a result, it hopes to assemble an array of stars to play for pleasure.

At a briefing in Lagos, Friends Africa’s goodwill ambassador and Olympic Gold Medallist, Mr Emmanuel Babayaro said: “I am excited to inform all that there is increased commitment from Nollywood and the entertainment industry to continue to advocate for HIV-free generation. We cannot let

By Joseph Eshanokpe

this continue and the only way to end stigma is to increase the number of voices drawing attention to the issue.”

He reeled off names of those that would play in the event entitled: Superstars Play for Life, to include JayJay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Celestine Babayaro, MI, Sound Sultan, Dr Sid, Uti Nwachukwu, ID Cabasa, Femi Obong Daniels, Afeez Ayetoro, Segun Arinze, Fred Amata, Nonso Diobi, John Njama and Sexy Steel.

Other celebrities are Mobi Oparaku, Ben Akwuegbu, Teslim Fatusi, Emeka Ezeugo, Taiwo Enegwa and Abdul Isah.

Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Friends Africa Dr Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba said: “The major issue facing the eradication of the pandemic remains the stigma and discrimina-

•From left: Mr. Ugorji, Mrs Mojekwu, Mr Babayaro, Mrs Victor-Laniyan and Dr Ikemba at the event. tion of people living with HIV and AIDS. “HIV and AIDS is not the same as living with diabetes or hypertension

as the continuing stigma has caused people to neglect the collection of their drugs. The campaign remains focused on ensuring that stigma and

discrimination are completely eliminated from Nigeria.”

She said the event would be sponsored by Coca-Cola, Access Bank,

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

35

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT An Ibadan lawyer, Mr. Kunle Alade has stressed the importance of forensic science in resolving high profile murder cases in Nigeria. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports that Alade said the one forensic laboratory is inadequate for the country and advocates for more of the facility than the one established by the Nigeria Police Force. Excerpts:

‘Forensic science helps in solving high profile murder cases’ W

hy are you miffed that there is only one forensic laboratory in the country?

I have always wondered how Nigeria survived the past 54 years prosecuting criminal cases without applying forensic science as a tool in handling criminal cases. There is an area I have always been interested in. While growing up, I had always been fascinated about an idea of finger print being extracted from an item and translated into data that can be used to compare with other people’s finger prints to see if there is a match. This is something I have always been interested in.

I believe that I have started on the right part which is setting up a Centre for Forensic Criminology and Legal Research. Let’s see where the centre takes us to and then we will take it from there.

Forensic as a science is a veritable tool in resolving criminal cases. We can talk about different aspects of it. There are the DNA profiling and finger print extraction. There are so many areas of forensic science that I believe government can take interest in and turn it round.

Is it very necessary for the country to develop forensic science to resolve criminal cases?

Good legislations can help the country to have a framework for forensic criminology to thrive. It’s worrisome that in Nigeria, we have none of such. It will be fine if our lawmakers could sit up and evolve legislation as regards forensic criminology as a veritable tool for solving criminal cases in Nigeria.

It will be good for us to have that kind of framework to work and build on so that this area can thrive and help us resolve most of the unresolved murders and criminal cases generally.

What are the major components of criminal justice and forensic science? How will these two complement each other in tackling crimi-

t.

FCMB, FBN Capital, FBN Asset Management, Exxon Mobil, SO&U, Owu Sportswear, CoolWazobiaInfo, Beat FM, Brilla FM, Jobberman,

•Lab technicians at work

nal matters?

In today’s criminal justice system, the traditional methods of proof, eyewitness’ account and confessions have become unpredictable. Criminal trials last for what seems like eternity, while the criminals are becoming cleverer and more scientific.

It has become pertinent that law enforcement agents; lawyers and the judiciary learn to rely on more authentic and concrete methods of proofs in order to solve criminal cases. This approach has to be reliable, objective and not prone to easy manipulation.

This solution is provided by science because by nature, scientific evidence is more or less exact, far more reliable and does not turn hostile under threats. Science is based on clues and materials which are always dependable.

What are the benefits of investing in forensic science in a developing country such as Nigeria?

The benefits of employing forensic science as a crime-solving tool are immense. The police, courts and juries, the world over, are also in-

‘Forensic analysis in criminal investigations such as homicide, rape and assault involves DNA testing, keeping a data base of present and past offenders, finger print dusting mechanism, bodily fluid collection and analysis...It helps the police to identify criminals responsible for assault, robbery, kidnapping, rape and murder.

Forensic scientists provide scientific evidence for use in the courts to support either the prosecution or defence in criminal and civil investigations’

SportsDey, SFH, LASACA and NEWPHAN. The Public Affairs and Communications Director, Coca Cola Nigeria, Mr. Clem Ugorji, said: “Every problem in the community can be solved when there is a golden triangle which strongly involves the government, people and civil societies. The power of awareness cannot be equated to anything else and the first step needed to address the pandemic is to encourage more people to get tested and know their status. This is what Coca-Cola remains committed to.”

Head, Corporate Communications and Sustainability, Access Bank Plc, Mrs Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan said: “Although Access Bank remains committed to ending the scourge against the pandemic; we are still not there yet. There is need to increase advocacy, our reach and the impact of the campaign to more communities and the surrounding environments.”

Head, Corporate Communications and CSR, FCMB, Mrs Uche Mojekwu, said: “FCMB remains focused on ensuring a healthy workforce by empowering communities with the necessary life skills needed to address stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV.”

She urged the media to report the successes of the project and contribute their quota by spreading the word about HIV and AIDS and its impact.

The campaign scheduled to hold from December at the Campos MiniStadium, off Catholic Mission, Onikan, Lagos would feature a weeklong free voluntary counselling and testing of over 20,000 people, distribution of thousands of IEC materials, provision of accurate information about the pandemic, dissemination of vital information to over three million people using several media platforms, including local languages to further educate and empower people with information needed to help prevent new infections.

The Play for Life campaign will also feature a novelty football match scheduled to hold on Saturday, December 6 by 11:00 a.m. at the Campos Mini-Stadium Onikan, Lagos.

The match will bring together over 3,000 spectators and communities of person’s living with HIV and AIDS to witness the selfless display of renowned football players and celebrities playing against one another and lending their voices to a laudable cause.

creasingly demanding more objective scientific evidence.

In Nigeria, it appears that we have not turned our minds to the benefits and potential of Forensic Science. Our Police Force, the Bar and Bench have been far less successful in developing an enabling environment for Forensic Science to thrive in Nigeria.

Consequently, we often see criminal trials conducted from inception to conclusion without applying thorough scientific analysis.

The establishment of the first forensic laboratory at the force CID in Lagos is commendable. However, their presence and expertise is urgently needed all over Nigeria. This has to be replicated in all the other 35 states of the country.

Is it not grave to assert that Nigeria has not shown enough interest in developing forensic science to aid in solving criminal cases?

There is an evident lacuna that exists in the Nigerian criminal justice system as it pertains to the use of scientific cum forensic applications. The Evidence Act, Penal Code and the Criminal Code make no provision for forensicbased analogy in criminal or general law in Nigeria.

Despite the worldwide pre-eminence of this field, Nigeria is still living in the dark ages as it regards the use of forensics in solving crimerelated issues. There is an obvious dearth in the practice and use of forensic to solve crimes in Nigeria.

The use of forensic analysis to solve crimes such as homicide, rape and assault involves various multi-faceted processes. Over the past decade, there has been an increasing fascination in the field of forensic science around the globe. Forensic science is undergoing a global expansion and it is becoming increasingly important, both as an area of study and in the criminal justice system.

What area of criminal investigation can forensic science apply?

•Mr. Alade

The use of forensic analysis in criminal investigations such as homicide, rape and assault involves DNA testing, keeping a data base of present and past offenders, finger print dusting mechanism, bodily fluid collection and analysis, among others.

It helps the police to identify criminals responsible for assault, robbery, kidnapping, rape and murder. Forensic scientists provide scientific evidence for use in the courts to support either the prosecution or defence in criminal and civil investigations.

A common misconception about the work of forensic scientists is that they merely investigate murder and homicide. However, their job entails much more as they also focus on numerous specialisations, including DNA analysis, drug analysis, forensic chemistry, forensic anthropology, forensic photography, latent fingerprints and crime scene investigation and so on.

For instance, some forensic scientists use scientific techniques in order to determine if industries are releasing harmful chemicals into the environment in dangerous quantities. As a result of the unimaginable detail that goes into each investigation, forensic scientists often specialise in specific areas which include toxicology, which is the study of poisons and drugs; odontology which is the study of teeth and bite patterns; pathology, the study of body fluids and tissues; and even entomology, the study of the type and degree of development of maggots on a corpse to determine how long ago the victim died.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

36

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT Nigeria’s land border with Republic of Benin at Seme is the major gateway in and out of the country from and to other West African countries. But, residents of the town are becoming increasingly discontented with lack of electricity supply from the National Grid. RAYMOND MORDI reports.

Uneasy calm at Seme Border over electricity

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HE proprietor of the Lord’s New Generation Schools, Seme, Lagos, Oluwaseun Falola, is not happy with the state of affairs at one of Nigeria’s international borders with the Republic of Benin. He is not happy because the land border that constitutes the major gateway in and out of the country, as far as other West African countries, are concerned, is not connected to the National Grid and does not enjoy electricity supply from any of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The situation has been like that for close to a decade.

Falola believes the country can benefit more in terms of revenue from the area if electricity is provided.

His words: “This is a border town. It is a very important centre of commerce. In this case, Seme is situated along the coast, close to the Atlantic. It should be developed into a tourist attraction to generate more revenue for the government. We have over 50 villages around Seme Border; the area is known as Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA). It is not only Seme alone that is suffering from this light problem. All the villages within the LCDA do not have access to light.”

Chief Ibidun Joshua, who is indigenous to the area, said there is practically no government presence in the area. He noted that it is ironic that the so-called giant of Africa is not living up to expectation in terms of citizens’ well-being.

He said: “There is no hospital here, no industries and no government presence whatsoever. There is no standard primary or secondary school in this town. Most of our children attend private schools.

“The only public primary school here has no decent classrooms and no fence. The pupils would be in class, watching vehicles zoom past on the road leading to the border. Besides, the area is water-logged. The environment is not conducive enough to teaching and learning. The same thing applies to the only government secondary school in the town. Is it when we resort to riots that the government would pay attention to our needs?”

Joshua said the community has not had light for the past seven years and that their kith and kin across the border are enjoying uninterrupted supply

•Adeyemo

of electricity.

“We speak the same language with the people at the other side of the border. Indeed, it was in 1974 that the boundary was demarcated and we were placed on this side, while some of our kinsmen were put on the other side. Our people are becoming impatient with government in so many areas, But, I believe once government gives us light, other things would follow,” he added.

Falola wants the Federal Government to do something to address the problem because it is tarnishing the image of Nigeria.

“In the neighbouring villages across the border in the Republic of Benin, the light never blinks,” he said.

Seme border is a thriving centre of commerce. Interestingly, Nigerians from the four corners of the country are to be found there. As should be expected, there are also citizens of other West African countries living there, particularly those from the neighbouring Benin, Togo and Ghana.

According to some residents, there are five different communities of Nigerians living there. This is made up of the Egun people or natives, the Yoruba community, the Igbo community, the Niger Delta community and the Hausa community. Their major occupation is fishing. Aside from those employed by government agencies at the border and other ancillary service providers, most of the settler elements in the area are engaged in trading.

The entire community is adversely affected by the problem. All the Federal Government agencies here like the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police, Port Health and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are feeling the pinch.

•Usman

They buy diesel in large quantity to provide electricity for their operations.

But, other residents believe those working with government agencies are not bothered about the problem because they make enough money at the border to fuel their generators.

Chief Emmanuel Adeyemo, a retired Major and leader of the Yoruba community in the area, said government is treating Nigerians living along the border as aliens. “All the politicians we have been voting for at various levels, thinking they will do something for us, have disappointed us,” he told our correspondent.

Adeyemo, a native of Ogbomoso in Oyo State, came to Seme on November 29, 1984 when he was posted there as part of a 17-member security team to secure the border. Today, he is a traditional title holder in Seme and has risen to become the leader of the Yoruba community. He has no immediate plans of leaving the place because he regards the area as home.

Similarly, Captain Umaru Usman (rtd), a native of Kano State and the spokesman of the Arewa community in Seme, said it is only during the period of electioneering campaign that politicians suddenly remember that people living along the border are Nigerians.

“I am tired of complaining about this matter. We have been complaining about it for some time, but nothing has come out of it,” he said, adding that it is unfortunate because it would be difficult for him to adjust to life outside the border.

“I regard this place as my home now because those indigenous to this land have been generous enough to give us land to bury the remains of our relatives. In my custom, wherever you bury the remains of your close rela-

•Joshua

tives is home,” he said.

The situation on the other side of the border contrasts sharply with what obtains on the Nigerian side, as communities and businesses in that axis have power supplied to them by the government of Benin Republic.

There are six commercial banks operating in Seme at the moment. It used to be 11, but five have closed shop over the light issue because the cost of running their operations is extremely high. They rely on generators for their operations. The banks operating there include First Bank, Union Bank, Zenith Bank and Diamond Bank.

Some Nigerians doing businesses around the border town prefer to live across the border. They stroll in and out of the country at the beginning and at the close of work. Falola lived across the border for five years between 2006 and 2011.

“I preferred to live there because there was light there to make life more meaningful. There was light to charge your handset, power your radios and television and equally to sleep. I cannot afford to sleep in heat.

But, when the molestation against Nigerians became too much, I had to return to the country. When any misfortune befalls the people of Benin, the blame is invariably heaped on Nigerians, particularly the Igbo,” he said.

In spite of the availability of electricity, he says Benin Republic can never be compared to Nigeria; in population, knowledge and education, infrastructural development generally and resources.

“Nigeria is miles ahead. It is just this issue of unavailability of light that is the problem. We have everything we need to be a great country. Our prob-

NGO trains 500 women, youths •Continued from page 35 Diaspora led by the Chief Executive Officer/President, Peace Ambassador Joy Kolawole had donated much hospital equipment, ranging from beds, crutches, needles, syringes and mattresses to the Blessed Gumpat-Foundation to be distributed to hospitals.

Receiving the donation, Timpaul said Ajuwon Health Centre, Akute, Otta General Hospital and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) are among the beneficiaries.

While appealing to the federal and state governments and other publicspirited individuals to support the organisation, Pastor Timpaul urged those who have received the training to give freely to others. She expressed disappointment that after the training, some of the beneficiaries find it very difficult to help others.

While donating the items, Mrs. Kolawole decried the rate of unemployment in the country. She urged

•Pastor Timpaul (right) receiving a hand over note for hospital equipment from Mrs. Kujenya Grace, Nursing Officer in charge of the General Hospital Ifo (left) during the graduation ceremony. With them are other members of the group.

the Federal Government to put in place adequate infrastructure that would help in the establishment of small and medium enterprises that would create job opportunities.

She said the organisation has secured employment for over 125

members in Agro Farm at Mokololucky community in Ogun State. She called for sponsorship from groups and individuals, corporate bodies and government agencies in carrying out the selfless service.

Contributing, Israel Nneke said the

country will be a heaven for all when those who are richly endowed begin to use their riches to help the less-privileged.

He, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to support the good work of the organisation.

lem basically is putting square pegs in square holes,” he added.

There was an attempt during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first tenure to provide electricity to Seme and its environs, but it failed. The late Olusegun Agagu, who was then the Minister of Power and Steel laid the foundation stone for the project on November 23, 2000. The communities were eventually connected to the National Grid in 2006. But, after a few months, according to Falola, the light went off.

“What we learnt then was that the cables that were used were inferior.

Like every other Nigerian contractor that wants to maximise profit, the contractors used inferior cables,” he said.

Other accounts say vehicles plying the route started colliding with the electric poles, causing disruption in power supply.

In Joshua’s view, the job was given to a wrong contractor. “When we noticed the way he was executing the job, the community wrote to government, complaining about the poor quality of the job of the contractor. But government ignored us. Eventually, when it was time to inaugurate the project, the late Olusegun Agagu, who was then the Minister of Power and Steel, bypassed the community and went straight to Customs Barracks to inaugurate, without involving members of the community.

How can they install high tension wires along the expressway? No sooner, vehicles started damaging the poles and no efforts were made by government to repair the damaged poles.

The community tried to intervene on a number of occasions to remedy the situation on self-help. They raised money and tried to repair the damaged poles. According to Usman, representatives of the five communities went to Ikeja in 2011 to procure a transformer.

But, the transformer is still in the premises of the late Baale of the town.

He added: “We also spent money trying to prepare the place we were supposed to mount the transformer, but as we speak, it is still lying intact within the late Baale’s compound. I spend N1, 000 to buy fuel to power my I-betterpass-my-neighbour generator every day.”

In the last effort, which brought some disaffection between members of the community and the local government authorities, the sum of N500, 000 was allegedly raised through voluntary self-help effort and handed over to a high-ranking official of the local council. He had promised to use the money to appeal to PHCN officials to do something about the power situation at the border. But, he allegedly pocketed the money and nothing came out of the attempt.

Now, everyone is fed up. “You cannot approach any household now to say they should contribute money towards fixing the light,” one of the residents noted. Unless, government intervenes, Seme and its environs are likely to remain in darkness for a long time.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS

‘Why foreign investors are dumping Nigerian equities’

F

OREIGN investors are nervous about Nigeria’s macroeconomic and monetary outlook and increasing political risks as the nation struggles with steep decline in global crude oil price, insecurity and political tension.

Against the background of a recent exclusive report by The Nation that Nigeria recorded net foreign portfolio investment deficit of N101 billion over the past 10 months, financial and investment experts said the sell pressure from the foreign investors was due to anxieties over the nation’s economy and political situation.

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Mr. Olumide Oyetan, said the foreign investors were concerned about the adverse effect of the decline in global crude oil price on Nigeria’s macro economy, especially the stability of the nation’s monetary and exchange system.

According to him, foreign investors were anxious Nigeria may be forced to devalue its currency directly or indirectly, thus exposing them to foreign exchange risks and potential loss of value.

He however noted that the downtrend at the stock market occasioned by the foreign investorsinduced sell pressure presents opportunities for investors to build up their portfolios at good prices.

Head, research and investment advisory, Sterling Capital Markets, Mr. Sewa Wusu, also said investors were anxious about Nigeria’s macroeconomic and monetary outlook in the light of the declining global oil prices and rising economic risks.

According to him, foreign investors are pulling out from their Nigerian assets including stocks because of exchange rate risks and concerned over Nigeria’s macroeconomic and monetary stability.

He said foreign investors were concerned and were pulling out to play safe because of apprehension over implicit and explicit devaluation of Naira, especially in the light of the declining oil prices and its impact on Nigeria as oil-dependent mono-product economy.

“It’s flight to safety, they are pulling out from Naira-denominated assets including stocks, we also saw that affecting the bond market too,” Wusu said.

Head, financial advisory, GTI Capital Limited, Mr. Kehinde

Stories by Taofik Salako

Hassan, said the political risk was also a contributing factor as investors are worried about the tension in the political terrain as the 2015 elections draw near.

According to him, the foreign portfolio inflow-outflow scenario may remain unchanged till the end of this year.

Head, equity research, FBN Capital Limited, Mr. Olubunmi Asaolu, underscored the need for Nigeria to further diversify its economy to stave off negative impact of decline in crude oil price.

According to him, intense naira pressure due to the recent fall in oil prices has killed off any hopes of a late-year recovery in Nigeria’s equity market. This has further highlighted the consequences of the nation’s huge dependence on the oil sector.

Asaolu said the falling oil revenues do not bode well for reserves and increase the risk of currency devaluation, which simultaneously lead to the offshore investor community finding ways to exit.

This then compounds foreign exchange pressure.

In its latest Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) report, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) indicated that Nigeria has so far recorded a net foreign portfolio deficit of some N101.41 billion over the past 10 months as divestments significantly outpaced investments by foreign investors.

The NSE report is generally regarded as a credible gauge of foreign portfolio investments in Nigeria as it coordinates data from nearly all active investment bankers and stockbrokers. Nigeria presently operates a mono stock exchange, which makes the NSE the sole gateway to the nation’s stock market and the NSE’s benchmark indices, the country indices for Nigeria.

The NSE report used two key indicators - inflow and outflow - to gauge foreign investors’ mood and participation in the stock market as a barometer for the economy.

Foreign portfolio investment outflow includes sales transactions or liquidation of equity portfolio investments through the stock market while inflow includes purchase transactions on the NSE. The latest report, which aggregates data for the 10-month period

Afrinvest woos customers to NASD OTC

A

FRINVEST Securities Limited (ASL) has set in motion plans to grow its NASD OTC portfolio with the firm wooing clients to come forward with their share certificates for dematerialisation.

The NASD OTC is a technologically-driven over-the-counter (OTC) trading platform where equities of companies that are not listed by on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) can be traded.

Managing Director, Afrinvest Securities Limited (ASL), Charles Egbunonwo, said with the firm’s 15- year membership of the NSE, it is well positioned to support clients’ understanding of the workings and intricacies of the NASDOTC trading platform.

“We have knowledgeable professionals with deep insight of the market and we are able to execute our clients’ trades effectively under the platform,” Egbunonwo said.

According to him, ASL is seeking to create liquidity for investors of some public companies that are not listed on the NSE by trading their shares on NASD OTC with transparency and safety, and without price

restrictions.

“We have started reaching out to our customers to take advantage of the unique opportunities that the NASD OTC platform provides and submit their share certificates for dematerialisation,” Egbunonwo said.

Shares of companies that can be traded on the NASD platform include Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Niger Delta Exploration and Production Plc, Food Concepts Plc, Industrial and General Insurance Plc, Consolidated Breweries Plc and Geofluids Plc, SWAP Technology Telecomms Plc and BGL Plc. Others are Trustbond Mortgage Bank Plc, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Riggs Ventures West African Plc, Afriland Properties Plc, Arm Life Plc (Crystalife Plc), Partnership Investment Company Plc, Resourcery Plc and Jaiz Bank Plc. Inaugurated in July, last year, NASD is registered by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO).

The platform allows trading of a broad range of instruments over-thecounter, including bonds and securities not listed on the NSE.

ended October 31, 2014, showed that foreign portfolio outflow was N676.67 billion as against inflow of N575.26 billion during the period, representing a net deficit of N101.41 billion.

Foreign investors remained the dominant bloc at the Nigerian stock market. Total foreign transactions during the period stood at N1.25 trillion compared with domestic transactions of N964.74 billion, representing foreign-domestic ratio of 56.5 per cent to 43.4 per cent. Aggregate foreign and domestic transactions stood at N2.22 trillion over the 10-month period.

Nigerian equities market particularly has witnessed increased foreign divestment in recent period.

In October, when foreign transactions accounted for 87.5 per cent of total market transactions, foreign outflows totaled N101.22 bil-

lion as against inflow of N52.06 billion. Total transactions stood at N175.10 billion in October, with Nigerian individual and institutional investors only contributing N21.82 billion.

The foreign portfolio outflow had impacted negatively on the overall market situation at the Nigerian stock market. In October, the stock market lost an average of 8.88 per cent, equivalent to about N1.17 trillion.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed October at N12.437 trillion compared with the opening value of N13.607 trillion for the month, representing a loss of N1.17 billion. The All Share Index (ASI), the composite valuebased index that tracks prices of all quoted equities on the NSE, closed October at 37,550.24 points as against 41,210.10 points re-

corded as opening index for the month.

The decline in October pushed the average year-to-date for the past 10 months to -9.14 per cent.

This simply amounted to a loss of N789 billion, although the average decline in market capitalisation was moderated by new listings.

The ASI indicated a 10-month average decline of 9.14 per cent.

The ASI, as the pricing barometre for the stock market, serves as the country index and measures the pric-, ing direction of the country’s stocks within a particular period.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities had opened this year at N13.226 trillion, indicating a loss of N789 billion. The ASI had opened the year at 41,329.19 points, representing average 10-month return of 9.14 per cent.

•Deputy Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu (middle) receiving the ‘Best Bank in Risk Management’ award from GUS Wiggle, CEO Linkage Assurance Limited (left) while Dotun Adeniyi, the Skye Bank’s Executive Director, Enterprise Risk Management cheers on at the Risk Awards organised by Conrad Clark in conjunction with UK Institute of Risk Management.

S

Experts urge shareholders to promote good corporate governance

HAREHOLDERS need to ensure that quoted companies comply with global best practices in corporate governance to sustain long-term growth and accountability.

Securities and investments experts who spoke on corporate governance at the two-day Journalists Academy organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said shareholders should pay more attention to good corporate governance and hold their directors accountable to global best practices.

Director, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Edosa Aigbekaen, said shareholders should serve as a pressure group that have to consistently look at the management of the companies and identify certain corporate governance practices that must be challenged.

According to him, shareholders have unduly focused on short term gains and dividend payments by companies and thus failed to execute their constitutional mandate of ensuring that companies conform to the best ethical practice.

“Shareholders should pay more attention to monitoring how their companies are managed. While some institutional investors are known to demand good corporate

practices from the managers of their companies, a lot more is expected from the majority of the small holders who are known to be very passive. They do not attend annual general meetings and so, there is no real effort to take management to task regarding their management of the companies,” Aigbekaen said.

He noted that while the corporate governance framework in Nigeria is regulatory-driven, it is important for shareholders to have meaningful engagement with companies and hold the management to account for their performance.

Aigbekaen, who is also the secretary to the board of SEC, said shareholders should not mortgage the long-term growth of their companies and overall health of the capital market on the altar of short-term gains.

“If we talk of long term, we should talk of serious engagement.

Outside the country, the shareholders even engage analysts and financial experts to look into how a company is working and being run. This is not what we have seen here. Here, shareholders are not as active as they should be in

the Nigerian business environment and this goes a long way in manipulating corporate governance provisioning by companies,” Aigbekaen said.

According to him, lack of good corporate governance undermines the regulatory interest, consumers’ interest, government interest as well as corporate stability of the companies, profitability and accountability.

Registrar, Institute of Capital Markets Registrars (ICMR), Mr. Walker Ogogo, noted that due to the pressure by shareholders on companies to pay dividends, most board of directors have in many instances laid unusual emphasis on returns on investments through payment of dividends rather than sound management of the companies.

According to him, by paying dividend, these executives appear to be in the good books of the shareholders who look the other way while internal processes of the firms’ continue to decay.

He noted that the emphasis of the shareholders should always be on long-term returns pointing out that the interests of all stakeholders need to be protected in ensuring long-term returns to investors.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

38

THE NATION

BUSINESS P ENSION

NCRIB solicits CAC’s assistance in registration of brokerage firms

T

HE Nigerian Council of Reg istered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has solicited the support of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for the incorporation of new companies wishing to go into insurance broking.

NCRIB President, Ayodapo Shoderu, who made the call during a courtesy visit of the NCRIB delegation to the Commission’s office in Abuja, said it would ensure sanity and professionalism in insurance broking practice.

The Council urged CAC to request for evidence of professional qualifications of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) or its equivalent, from at least a director of prospective firms as required for companies going into other professional practices.

He explained that the request would further ensure greater professionalisation and improve the quality of service delivery by the companies.

The NCRIB chief, who applauded the CAC for ensuring effective corporate governance in business through its efficient and dispassion-

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

ate approach in the registration and incorporation of business institutions in Nigeria, particularly under the management of the Registrar General, Mr. Bello Mahmud, stressed the need to imbibe the position of the Council on registration of new firms.

While intimating the Registrar and his team with the workings and importance of insurance brokers in relations to the economy, he explained that NCRIB, the umbrella body of all Registered Insurance Brokers in Nigeria, with over 500 members operating within the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, should be allowed to play a pivotal role in sustaining the economy.

Mahmud, however, assured the Council of the Commission’s commitment to adhere to laws and regulations that spelt out the basic minimum requirement before registration of any broking firm, charging his management team to pay attention to details as enumerated by the NCRIB president.

Mahmud enjoined the industry to reconsider its stand on the implementation of ‘No Premium, No Cover’ policy, stressing that many organisations have found it difficult to meet up with their insurance obligations.

According to him, many insured people still find it difficult to get their claims when there is need for it.

Shoderu said the request of the commission on the amendment to the implementation of “No Premium, No Cover” was not within the jurisdiction of the Council, stressing that the Insurance Act prohibit the practice.

He further said with the implementation of the policy, no underwriter could hold on to genuine claims.

No underwriter will provide cover without payment of premium and no Broker can hold to premium beyond a stipulated time. The onus is on brokers to help their clients pursue genuine claims when the need arises.

That is one of the reasons while we clamour for involvement of duly registered insurance brokers while transacting insurance business, he said.

Lagos retirees to get N1.7b under CPS

•Fashola

I

N fulfillment of its cherished commitment to the Contribu tory Pension Scheme (CPS), the Lagos State Government will be paying over N1.7 billion to another set of 319 retirees, Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Rotimi Hussain has said.

He made this known in a statement signed by the Press and Public Relations Officer, Taofeek Lawal and made available to journalists

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FUG assets hit N30b

ENSION assets under the man agement of FUG Pensions Limited, a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) have hit N30 billion, Acting Chairman, FUG Pension, Adeyinka Shogunle has said.

He made this known while addressing retirees during the company’s Retiree Forum in Lagos.

According to him, total payment made to retirees till date is N3 billion while Retirement Savings Account holder (RSA) unit price has cumulatively grown from one naira to N1.82 kobo.

He said this means that retirees’ investment return has grown by 82 per cent.

He noted that the board and management of the company have ensured safety and good investment return of every retiree.

FUG Managing Director, Usman Suleiman, disclosed that the com-

•From left: Managing Director, First Pension Custodian Limited, Kunle Jinadu; Managing Director, FUG Pensions Limited,Usman Suleiman; Acting Chairman, FUG Pensions Limited, Adeyinka Sogunle; Managing Director, New Devco Limited, Mohammed Sani and A. M. Salif, representing the National Pension Commission during the FUG Pensions Customer Forum in Lagos.

LASACO Assurance reiterates commitment to customer service

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ASACO Assurance Plc is com mitted to customer service and to remain vibrant player in the financial services sector, Managing Director, LASACO Assurance, Olusola Ladipo-Ajayihas said.

Ladipo-Ajayi, who spoke in Lagos, said this had manifested in several strategies being deployed in developing innovative products and services to align with the aspirations of the customers.

He said: “The company has established a solid reputation excellence customer service delivery and prompts claims settlement. The company since inception has thrived on the platform of qualitative customer’s service delivery.

The brand does not only have focus on quality service delivery but also places a high premium on delighting the customers. The brand delights the customers to win through brand loyalty.

‘’It has been able to secure greater levels of loyalty from its customers through a dynamic service delivery.

“Since inception, Lasaco Assurance has continued to re-invent the wheel to ensure that customers derive good benefits out of their relationship with the company.

Expectedly, Lasaco Assurance has never been tired of building on such assets of integrity, reputation and good corporate identity as a means of deepening its bond with the customers. With this strive, it has, therefore, remained a reference point for maintaining a solid pedigree as a forward looking and vibrant organisation.’’

He continued: “The company has over years re-invented the rules of customer service. It has developed a strategic blueprint to position itself as a one stop shop for excellent customer service. Lasaco Assurance

has a mission to sustain the quality of life and it has not reneged on this premix to provide customer centric service while also raising the bar of service delivery.”

in Lagos.

He said the beneficiaries would be collecting the money which represents their past service benefits before the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme in April, 2007 during the 14th Retirement Bond Certificate presentation ceremony.

Hussein noted that the ceremony was specially designed by the Lagos State Government to celebrate and express appreciation to its retirees for showing great commitment and dedication to the service of the state while still in service. ‘’This is regularly done in fulfillment of Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola administration’s uncompromising commitment at ensuring that every worker who retires from the State Public Service gets his or her retirement benefits with relative ease,’’ he said.

The state government has paid a total sum of N27.1 as at the 13th Retirement Bond Certificate presentation in September of this year.

pany as at last year had 1600 retirees but that at the moment has 3500 retirees.

He said they had put new systems and processes in place to ensure better service delivery to retirees and contributors.

He said: “The forum which was held three months ago in Kano to sensitise retirees will hold this week in Asaba, Delta State.

“The forum has become a regular and nationwide event. We are at presence poise to give not only high standard service but global service.

We are ensuring that the pension fund under our management is been managed properly.”

FUG Investment Analyst, James Oni, further noted over N700 billion has been carted away from Nigeria through the capital market by foreign investors due to insecurity, elections among others.

Legacy Pension Managers eyes informal sector

T

O grow its share of the mar ket, a leading Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Legacy Pension Managers Limited, is planning to go into Nigeria’s hugely under tapped informal sector.

The move, which would it leverage on its yet-to-be released guidelines by the National Pension Commission (PenCom), would see the PFA explore effective strategies, such as bond building with operators in the informal sector to enable it penetrate the market.

The pension managers, which has also paid over N20 billion in benefits in its eight years is also aiming to expand its information technology infrastructure to enable it

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

boost its customer service delivery.

Disclosing this at the sidelines of its Customer Forum in Lagos, Moustapha Muhammed, General Manager, Legacy Pension Managers Limited, said having seen a substantial growth on all fronts, against the backdrop of a consistent and focused management team, the firm is now set to grow its market footprint into the informal sector.

“Since inception, we have had a stable and credible management board and this is a huge advantage for us, “ he said.

‘Japan pension fund’ll double local stocks to 24%’

J

•Ladipo-Ajayi

APAN’S $1.2 trillion pension fund will double its allocation target for local stocks, according to analysts, who’ve ratcheted up expectations for equity buying while sticking with projections for a reduction in bonds.

The Government Pension Investment Fund will increase its domestic equity allocation to 24 per cent of as-

sets from 12 per cent, according to the median estimate of 12 fund managers, strategists and economists polled by Bloomberg over the past two weeks. That’s up from 20 percent in a similar survey in May. The Topix index soared four per cent on October 20 on a Nikkei newspaper report that the fund would set a 25 per cent local-share target.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

The growth of technology has enabled the rise of entrepreneurship. The last five years have seen a rise in the number of young entrepreneurs. Technology hubs, business incubation centres have sprouted in the city and have become a habitat for many young entrepreneurs, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

The rise of digital entrepreneurs T

HE parade of new technologies and scientific breakthroughs is unfolding on many fronts. One of the areas benefitting from this trend is mobile technology, which influence is stimulating the creation and growth of the digital economy. The emergence of digital system is helping so many entrepreneurs to develop mobile enabled services that are transforming lives, communities and institutions.

Adebola Adeola, co founder, Topup Genie, a Lagos-based online airtime retail outlet, is one of those that has keyed into this technology regime. Adeola is capitalising on high penetration of mobile phones to launch mobile airtime business to meet the airtime requirement of phone users.

For this 2003 graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, his inability to secure work permit in the UK after his education, forced him back to his home country. He got back and participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Iseyin, Oyo State, in February 2009.

There, Debola met his partner, Lanre Oyedotun.

After a few months, they began to draw plans that eventually led them to starting a venture.

Debola served at a company called CA Consultants. He was with the firm during the service year which ended in February 2010.

After the youth service, he started working on building an ebay clone with Oyedotun.

This drove Oyedotun to quit his job seeing potential in the startup.

Some time into the venture, they realised they needed an online payment processor – a relatively unknown system in the country as at 2009. They tried partnering with a technology company and made significant progress with ‘U-Paid’. The idea was that the company would provide the payment technology, while they would handle the business development.

Eventually, they met with MTN and GTBank and were gathering some momentum. It turned out the solution they were trying to assemble was a form of mobile payment solution.

In line, the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) had a framework for it but it required them to have N500 million to do it in Nigeria. It was an herculean task raising that

kind of money.

Nobody would give two unproven graduates that amount of money to experiment with, so thwey wentback to the drawing board.

While working on the payment solution, they had obtained Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) licence and decided they would do what they call an MVP (minimum viable product).

They decided to build an airtimevending platform for mobile phones.The MVP was ready around January/February 2011. It took about 18 months to connect to the mobile networks, so they manually scratched a lot of recharge cards during that time.

They have a company that sells airtime to mobile phone customers. They incorporated the business under the name iThena Logic Ltd, and the service was hosted at: www.topupgenie.com.

They initially bought and scratched thousands of recharge cards which they uploaded manually unto their MVP to prove the concept and later raised funds to build a more robust platform.

They launched the second

version in July 2012 and grew revenue at an impressive rate of about 23 per cent monthly, mainly through word of mouth. They were really excited but it was shortlived because in November, last year, GTBank introduced the One Time Password (OTP) to improve security. However, the initial implementation was poor and caused sales to dip by 90 per cent in one day. Then, there was the issue of fraud. The financial industry had to confront cases of fraudsters using stolen banks’ Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card details to purchase airtime. The cases were rising rapidly so they implemented customer verification checks. This was effective but it had a negative impact on their businesses due to the ‘stress’ involved with verification checks. The other challenge was the absence of a robust payment infrastructure. Sometimes, operators experienced incomplete transactions and errors across all channels. These were too frequent and affected faith in e-commerce generally. These channels include POS, ATMs, online payments, etc.

While more people are getting online now and there is improved payment infrastructure, Adeola’s

•Adeola

concern is that major telecoms service providers are now involved in air time credit lending for individual subscribers.

Rather than wait to see more of their market share taken, he told The Nation, the company is focusing on organisations because the market for individuals is well catered for.

The approach is to help companies manage the distribution of airtime to their staff to which there are numerous benefits.

Environmental entrepreneurship is thriving across Nigeria. Eco-entrepreneurs are promoting local solutions to various environmental issues, ranging from desertification to deforestation and drought, saving communities and creating jobs, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Eco-entrepreneurship takes the centre stage NNOVATIVE social and environmental start-up enterprises are springing up all over the country to tackle key development challenges at community level. From making products out of recycled plastic and organic waste materials, to a women’s farming cooperative that improves food security. A lot of social entrepreneurs are working towards building flourishing communities in which eco-entrepreneurship drives sustainable development.

One of them is Kelechi Okezie, Chief Executive, Neighbourhood Environmental Watch (NEW).

The environmental entrepreneur is working to transform forests into a source of income for rural residents. What informed his venturing into social entrepreneurship was the growing rate of deforestation in the Niger Delta region and most part of the North. Though the impact of deforestation was immense, he chose not to approach with high technology products. Instead, he sought to address it through agric business strategy.

He was convinced farming with good seeds combined with the power of small business, can help stop it. Subsequently, he began a search for high-quality seeds of high rewarding crops which he gives and recommends to farms.

As a strategy, he sources seeds that can create both environmental benefits and solid profits for farmers.

Once, he has found them, he partners with women in communities to establish a small nursery where seedlings are tested for climate and cultural relevance.The women help to select species and

I •From left: Nwoseh, Mrs Ajuwon and Onas at the event.

UK group moulds youths into entreprenuers

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HESE are not the best of times for graduates, especially with the economy mired in recession and youth unemployment on a record high.

For this, there is national campaign spearhead by United Kingdom-based Proten UK Limited to highlight opportunities for businesses and encourage jobless youths to start and build a business.

For its Chief Executive,Opy Onas, the downturn should not be seen as a bad omen; rather it should push many youths to set up their own businesses and become part of a generation of young entrepreneurs.

Addressing a one day seminar on “passion to profession boot camp” in Lagos, Onas said with the unemployment crisis, youths have no options but to take their future into their own hands and be in control of their destinies.

Against the backdrop of rising youth unemployment, he challenged young people to think creatively and invent new products or services that address every-day market opportunities.

By Daniel Essiet

As an entrepreneur, he urged youths to be steadfast in their quest for entreprenuerial success because he had experienced huge barriers himself in the topsy-turvy terrain of business. Throughout his professional experience, he has found that the most important aid for startup is networking .

Onas, an entreprenuerial motivator, said his experience in the UK has led him to conclude that there is an opportunity for those who want to engage in the emerging and thriving business areas. He said his organisation is helping young people with practical support around careers, interview techniques, employability skills and CV workshops, adding that participating entrepreneurs would be offered real-life inspiration about the possibilities of setting up their own businesses by sharing their own entrepreneurial backgrounds and stories.

The vision of his organisation, he noted, is better living for all by championing entrepreneurship and encouraging youths to engage in value-adding operations.

Country Representative, Merdian Entrepreneurs Society, UK, Mrs Kafayat Ajuwon, said the organisation provides start up loans.

She said her organisation has created an online platform where intending entrepreneurs can upload their ideas and find investors to fund their businesses.

The online platform,according to her, helps to pitch entrepreneurs to venture-capital investors.

She said described the online portal as a matchmaking site, where people can list their needs, interact with potential mentors.

Basically, she said meridian entrepreneurs creates an avenue for networking, growing a business and starting a new business through offering various seminars such as business idea development, social media marketing, business planning, branding, mentoring and all other business needs among like-minded people.

Youth Analyst, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Mike Nwoseh said his organisation had been very innovative in its approach to building entrepreneurship capacities among youths.

these are chosen to ensure crop diversity, maximal returns and nutritional value.

Once the seedlings have been chosen, they are transferred to the communal and household lands for growth. Communities are educated on types of soil-enrichment plants and how trees can act as a natural soil rejuvenator. The crop yields from the communal land are directed towards community needs and projects. The economic returns from improved yields act as a strong incentive for the community to protect their land and forests.

With increasing patronage, Okezie he is transforming the rural forests into a source of income for rural residents. For him, what the farmers have got in terms of good seeds discourage them from destroying the forests. He believes if the forest does not provide money for the people, it will be impossible to save it. With that the farmers can earn some money and thus making the forest more valuable than lumber exploitation or land clearing.

The economic value provided by the seeds also protects the surrounding trees. The seeds are produced at their highest levels when they live in healthy, primary forests.Therefore, farmers are incentivised to protect entire forests in order to access the largest, best-quality crops.

His success so far has led his organisation, Neighborhood Environmental Watch (NEW) to explore relationships with new communities and consider expanding its operations to other areas. Currently, his organisation cannot fulfill all of the requests it receives, meaning expansion at some level is necessary.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

China to cut rates on fears of deflation

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HINA’S leadership and central bank are ready to cut interest rates again and also loosen lending restrictions, concerned that falling prices could trigger a surge in debt defaults, business failures and job losses, said sources involved in policy-making.

The surprise cut in rates, the first in more than two years, reflects a change of course by Beijing and the central bank, which had persisted with modest stimulus measures before finally deciding last week that a bold monetary policy step was required to stabilise the world’s second-largest economy.

Economic growth has slowed to 7.3 per cent in the third quarter and policymakers feared it was on the verge of dipping below seven percent - a rate not seen since the global financial crisis. Producer prices, charged at the factory gate, have been falling for almost three years, piling pressure on manufacturers, and consumer inflation is also

weak. “Top leaders have changed their views,” said a senior economist at a government think-tank involved in internal policy discussions.

China cut the RRR for some banks this year but has not announced a banking-wide reduction in the ratio since May 2012.

“Further interest rate cuts should be in the pipeline as we have entered into a rate-cut cycle and RRR cuts are also likely,” the thinktank’s economist said.

Friday’s move, which cut oneyear benchmark lending rates by 40 basis points to 5.6 per cent, also arose from concerns that local governments are struggling to manage high debt burdens amidst reforms to their funding arrangements, the sources said.

The cut helped send Asian shares broadly higher on Monday. The CSI300 Index. CSI300 of the largest companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen opened up 1.2 per cent at its highest level since June, last

year, while the Shanghai Composite Index. SSEC opened up 0.8 per cent.

Top Chinese leaders had been resisting a rate cut, fearing it could fuel debt and property bubbles and dent their reformist credentials, but were eventually swayed by signs of deteriorating growth as the property sector cooled. Until then, they had persisted with targeted policy steps, such as cuts in reserve ratios for selected banks and liquidity injections into the banking system. But these failed to bring down borrowing costs for the corporate sector.

“Increasing liquidity by the central bank has failed to lower borrowing costs for the real economy,” said a former central bank researcher who now works for the government.

“Employment still holds up, but corporate profits have been squeezed as producer price deflation bites, and it’s unreasonable for banks to have hefty profits.”

Ericsson, Econet sign faster connectivity deal

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RICSSON has announced that it has been selected as the sole supplier by Zimbabwe’s largest provider of telecoms services, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, for its core network upgrade programme.

The deal will see the companies working to upgrade the 2G/3G/4G/ LTE networks, future proofing it for the rapid mobile expansion in the country.

Group CTO of Econet, Bernard Fernandes, says: “We have chosen our trusted long-term partner Ericsson to accompany us on this journey and look forward to the ability to launch new products and quality services to our customers.”

Building on the companies’ existing long-term partnership, the new scope will rationalise and upgrade the core network as well as introduce the latest Ericsson network architecture. The agreement includes a complete multi-access Evolved Packet Core with Evolved Packet Gateway on SSR 8020, SGSN-MME and Service-Aware Policy Controller as well as Mobile Switching Center and Media Gateway. It also includes close integration between

policy and charging functions, which will enable Econet to reduce timeto-market for new offerings and increased personalisation capabilities.

In the Harare area, which currently carries more than half of all traffic on the network, the project will also upgrade the radio access network (RAN) to include Ericsson’s multistandard RBS 6000 family of base stations for macro and small cell networks.

Pieter Goosen, Country Manager for Ericsson Zimbabwe, says: “Econet is the market leader in Zimbabwe and this project will give them one of the most advanced Core networks on the continent, providing them far more capacity to manage and scale their network.”

Econet Wireless (Pvt) Ltd is a provider of telecommunication services with 9.2 million registered subscribers. The firm offers solutions in mobile wireless, internet access and charging solutions as well as overlay services such as Ecofarmer, Ecocash and HPS. Econet launched its network in 1998, and has grown to be the largest provider of telecoms and payment solutions in Zimbabwe.

Etisalat, Creative Focus Africa empower entrepreneurs

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•From left: Praise, Kc, Chidnma, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah; Sir Shina Peters, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Dr Okechukwu Itanyi and Iyanya during the courtesy visit of MTN Ambassadors to NCC headquarters in Abuja.

Oil price slide, sanctions cost Russia $140b

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HE falling oil price is costing Russia up to $100billion a year, while Western sanctions have hit the country by $40billion, its Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has said.

He made this known at an international financial and economic forum in Moscow.

Reports suggested Russia could cut its oil production by about 300,000 barrels a day in an attempt to support the oil price.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’(OPEC) members will meet in Vienna this week where falling prices will be discussed.

Vladimir Putin has said 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.

“The modern world is interdependent. It’s far from guaranteed that sanctions, the steep fall in oil prices and the loss of value of the national currency will lead to negative results or catastrophic consequences only for us,” the Russian president told TASS, the official news agency, on Sunday.

The European Union (EU) and the United States imposed sanctions on Russia following its annexation of the Crimea region in Ukraine and its alleged involvement in eastern Ukraine.

A member of the OPEC oil cartel may decide to cut production to support prices. Brent crude was trading at $80.25 a barrel on Monday, down 11 cents, while US crude was 10 cents lower at $76.41.

Iran, Libya and Venezuela have urged other OPEC members to sup-

port oil prices by reducing output, although Kuwait has said that a cut was unlikely.

The oil price has been falling since the summer on abundant global supply, partly due to the US shale boom, and lower demand in Europe and Asia. Brent crude has fallen by more than a third and hit a four-year low of $76.76 a barrel on November 14.

Daniel Bathe, of Lupus alpha Investment, said: “The market would question the credibility of OPEC and its influence on global oil markets if there were no cut.”

Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s biggest producer and exporter, has sent mixed messages about a possible cut.

Olivier Jakob, an analyst at Petromatrix, said the Saudis could be influenced by the conclusion of talks about Iran’s nuclear programme in Vienna, which are being extended until next summer.

Aviva shares hit by £5.6b merger talks with rival VIVA’S shares have fallen over four per cent and Friends Life have risen over seven per cent in early trading following the insurers’ announcement that they are in talks about a possible £5.6billion merger.

The firms said on Friday that they had agreed the terms of a possible deal.

A tie-up would create the United Kingdom (UK’S) leading insurance, savings and asset management firm by customer numbers.

Monday was the first opportu-

A

nity for investors to react to the potential deal.

Aviva said the deal would strengthen its balance sheet and help drive future growth.

But Panmure Gordon analyst Barrie Cornes said the share price fall indicated shareholders were still uncertain over the benefits of the potential deal, which appeared to contradict Aviva’s plans to expand overseas.

“It’s a surprise. Aviva seems to be moving into an area that doesn’t seem to be particularly attractive.

The UK market is very mature and there is not much in the way of growth opportunities,” he told the BBC. However, fund managers said the potential merger made sense following a radical overhaul of the pensions market ending the compulsory purchase of annuities products which provide an income in retirement.

The changes mean sales of annuities - one of life insurers’ most lucrative products - have dropped sharply.

HE Fifth Creative Focus will hold next Monday at the Havillah Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

It is being held in partnership with Etisalat.

This year’s edition titled: Creative Focus – The challenge would showcase and promote young entrepreneurs in the interior design, architecture and landscape, publishing industry, photography and arts, food and beverage, agriculture, fashion design and accessories, lifestyle products, graphic design, website and blog development and beauty and hair care sectors of the economy.

Also, a new campaign #WetinBeYourNumber aimed at youth and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) empowerment would be launched on social media.

Etisalat has been a major sup-

porter of small and medium enterprise in Nigeria, empowering more than 100 businesses in Nigeria with its Easybusiness Millionaires Hunt where no fewer than 10 winners got N2million each in grants and more than 50 others trained at the Enterprise Development Centre of the Lagos Business School on how to take their businesses to the next level.

The exhibition is a yearly event that aims at showcasing and growing creative and innovative businesses in Nigeria to provide a viable platform for SMEs to thrive and to set the economy in the right direction.

This year’s exhibition is expected to attract about five million applications out of which the 50 most inspiring SMEs would be selected from across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria before 10 winners.

CIPM inducts 740 associates

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EVEN hundred and forty new associates have been inducted into the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM).

This brings the number of new members inducted by the professional body this year to 1, 419 compared to 1, 069 members inducted last yer.

At the institute’s 18th Induction of the Institute in Victoria Island, Lagos, its President/Chairman of Council, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, said the increase in the number of inductees yearly is an evidence of the growth in the institute and its role in nation building.

He urged the new inductees to demonstrate best practice in the development and effective de-

ployment of their competences as human capital professionals and by this, command the due respect the profession deserves through the quality of their contribution to organisational performance and corporate success.

Speaking on the theme, Knowledge management- A critical tool for business sustainability, Human Resources Director, Friesland Foods WAMCO Nigeria Limited, Mr Tominiyi Oni, said knowledge management plays an indispensible role as a precursor to attaining a more comprehensive and sustainable competitive advantage.

He reminded the inductees that knowledge of yesterday might not be relevant in today’s challenges.

BT, Telefonica in ‘talks’ over O2 deal

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ELECOMS giant BT is in talks with Telefonica about buying the O2 mobile network from the Spanish firm.

“All discussions are at a highly preliminary stage and there can be no certainty that any transaction will occur,” said BT. In 2002, BT spun off O2, then called BT Cellnet. In 2005 it was acquired

by Spain’s Telefonica for £17.7billion.

BT said it had also been approached by the owners of another network, believed to be EE, about a UK buyout.

Richard Hunter, head of equities at Hargreaves Lansdown stockbro-

kers, said it was a sector “ripe for consolidation”.

However, he added: “I think there would be some kind of irony that they would effectively be buying back a business that they previously had.”

Deutsche Bank values O2 UK at £9bn, while UBS values it at £9.6billion.

E’s owners - France’s Orange and Germany’s Deutsche Telekom - put plans for an initial public offering of EE on hold this year. They said recently that their strategies in the UK would depend in part on how aggressively BT went into mobile.

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

US museum honours Onobrakpeya In appreciation of his contributions to the arts, Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya has been honoured by the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, US, reports Assistant Editor OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

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ROM the calibre of guests, one could imagine the class of event.

The colourful ambience of the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, US penultimate Wednesday, also left no one in doubt of the significance of the 50th anniversary gala in the history of Smithsonian.

The grand banquet was attended by top creative minds, such as former American Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Robin Sanders, Drs Bill and Camile Cosby, Prof. Perkins Foss, Samuel L. Jackson and his wife, Dionne Warrick, Victor Ekpuk, Inalegwu Okwa, Aki Debayo Doherty, Kagbare Onobrakpeya, among others.

But, it turned out to be a celebration of everything that is noble and ennobling about Nigerian arts and artists. And the star of the day was Nigeria’s Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya.

To the founder, Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation, and initiator of Harmattan Arts Workshop, it was a day of honour. He was honoured by the Smithsonian Institution in recognition of his significant achievement in the arts over six decades.

Director and Chief curator, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. US, Dr. Christine Mullen Kreamer said: “It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African Art to participate as our artist honouree at our museum’s 50th anniversary Gala on November 7.

We would be honoured to recognise your significant achievement in the arts over more than sixty years and your contributions to furthering the careers of many artists within and outside Nigeria. You are an inspiration to many.”

In his acceptance speech, Onobrakpeya described the honour as a crown for a lifelong effort in his creative endeavours. He said it is also in recognition of the hard work of different people and groups who are dedicated to the building of artistic personalities and relevance, for the visual art particularly, the old and modern African art.

AWARD The elated living legend said: “I am happy and very grateful for being an honoree during the celebration of fifty years of life of the museum of African Art Washington D.C. I thank the museum for the honour. It is a great recognition and a crown for a lifelong effort in my creative endeavours.

“The honour is also recognition of the hard work of different people and groups who are dedicated to the building of artistic personalities and relevance, for the visual art particularly the old and modern African art.

I hold the award on behalf of my family for whom my restless work as an artist has denied my time and funds. I also hold it for my friends, fellow artists, individuals and corporate sponsors, cultural engineers including the press. It is an affirmation that their labour continues to yield positive results. I congratulate the Museum of African Art for its golden jubilee. May it continue to grow in the development of the visual art from Africa and Diasporas to the benefit of the entire world.”

Back home, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan applauded the honour conferred on Onobrakpeya, one of Nigeria’s most renowned artists, by the Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts in Washington DC, US. In a congratulatory letter to the world-famous 82 years old sculptor, painter and printmaker who was named the Artist Honouree on the occasion of the museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations, President Jonathan said that Prof. Onobrakpeya’s outstanding and remarkable portfolio of works over several decades made him very worthy of the recognition by one of the most distinguished art institutions in the world.

“You are indeed a Living Treasure of Nigeria. From your first, decisive intervention as a member of the Zaria Art Society when you and your colleagues fused colonial art practice with traditional art-forms and philosophy, you have been the consummate artist.

•From left: Sanders and Onobrakpeya

“Indeed, there is hardly any individual more deserving of recognition at the Smithsonian’s celebration of 50 years of African art and culture. You have been a catalyst as well as a mentor and inspiration to generations of artists.

“I note that the Washington programme at which you were honoured included an event tagged, ‘Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue’.

This too is apt, for you continue to be at the forefront of dialogue between artistic traditions in Nigeria and around the world.

“Closer to home, your works in the State

House Art Collection have given me many moments of meaningful reflection, as I am sure they have done for many visitors to the Presidential Villa,” President Jonathan wrote to Prof. Onobrakpeya who received the UNESCO Living Human Treasure Award in 2006.

Declaring that the celebrated artist’s works have been “a high point of beauty and dignity” in the lives of Nigerians, the President prayed that Prof. Onobrakpeya will continue to ennoble the country’s cultural space for many more years.

Transcorp Hilton wins World Travel Awards

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RANSCORP Hilton Abuja, for the second consecutive year, has won the prestigious Nigeria’s leading hotel 2014 and Nigeria’s leading MICE hotel 2014 awards presented by World Travel Awards.

The General Manager Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Mr Etienne Gailliez, was delighted by the recognition, saying: “To receive these two prestigious awards in key categories from World Travel Awards is a great honour and an achievement for our hotel and indeed for team members who have and continued to work tirelessly to make ours the leading world class hotel in Abuja. I am delighted that our commitment to the consistent delivery of world class experience to all our guests has been recognised once again by a reputable industry watchdog. I have no doubts that the awards will spur us to work even harder and attain greater heights of

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

TOURISM excellence.”

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, who received the awards on behalf of the hotel at the Nigerian stand at the World Travel Market in London last Wednesday, said he was pleased that the outstanding work and dedication of the team at Transcorp Hilton Abuja continues to be recognised internationally.

Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs Sally Mbanefo noted that it is remarkable that Transcorp Hilton Abuja has won these awards consecutively.

Osundare bags national award

Adelugba, ‘Baba’ of theatre goes home As the distinguished Professor of Theatre Arts, director, actor and critic, Dapo Adelugba dies at 75, former colleagues and the literati, say his death a great loss to the world of theatre. Assistant Editor, Arts, OZOLUA UHAKHEME and EVELYN OSAGIE report.

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HE Nigerian theatre would not forget, the renowned theatre scholar, Prof Emeritus Dapo Adelugba, who died last weekend in a hurry. The Professor of Theatre Arts, critic, actor and writer is one theatre artist and teacher who has touched many lives during his over 40-year teaching career.

According to sources, Prof Adelugba, 75, passed on in a private hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State around 11.50pm on Sunday. The literati, friends and former colleagues say his death is a huge loss to the industry.

Until his death, the late Adelugba was an Emeritus Professor of Theatre at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

Dramatist and poet, Prof Femi Osofisan described the death of Prof Emeritus Dapo Adelugba as a tremendous loss, saying he was a hardworking teacher who dedicated all his life to teaching to the detriment of his life. He said: “It is a pity he had to die in such circumstance.”

Renowned Poet Odia Ofeimun said Adelugba will always be remembered for as long as drama needs to be taught and taken seriously. He called the late professor a man “exceedingly passionate about drama”, who

TRIBUTE was very humble. Ofeimun praised his love for his students, saying every drama school in Nigeria owes Adelugba whoppy gratitude for his conscientious commitment to the theatre.

Ofeimun said: “Prof Adelugba was a great man who did not push himself to be noticed.

He simply did a good job without minding who was looking. He was exceeding passionate about drama at the centre of all knowledges. He loved every generation of his students. No one taught that business like he could.

“As I wrote in Opelenge, my poem for him in I will Answer Questions With Stones if they Take my Voice, he was “djinnn of the stage” who “never abandoning the shrubs”, grew “taller with the tallest”. Even those of us who were not in his classes were his students.”

Former Deputy Editor, The Guardian newspaper and poet, activist and dramatist Mr Ben Tomoloju, described the death of Prof Adelugba as a huge and sad loss to the theatre and intellectual community.

Born on March 9, 1939, Prof Adelugba had

his education at the University College, Ibadan where he studied English. While at the university, apart from taking part in a lot of productions such as Wole Soyinka’s Swamp Dwellers, where he acted as the ‘Blind man’, he was president of University College, Ibadan Dramatic Society, where he adapted Moliere’s Les Fourberies de Scapin (The Trickeries of Scapin) to That Scoundrel Suberu.

In 1964, he submitted his Master’s degree dissertation at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he wrote on Nationalism and the Irish Theatre. He later joined the teaching services of the University of Ibadan, where he retired in 2004. He is currently with the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

As part of the celebration of his 70th birthday, former and current students of Theatre Arts in all the Nigerian universities and other theatre practitioners, whose careers were affected by his work, mobilised resources and energies and celebrated the late professor on December 2009. Among other activities, play productions, conferences and lectures have been scheduled before his death. Also planned was A Nite of Tributes and production of a short documentary film on his life and work.

By Evelyn Osagie

AWARD

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ENOWNED poet and essayist, Prof Niyi Osundare has been named one of the recipients of this year’s Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) award. Osundare was announced winner of the prestigious award by Chairman, NNOM Governing Board, Prof Etim Moses on Monday.

Announcing the award, Prof Essien, said: “Professor Niyi Osundare who, through outstanding scholarship, researches and services to humanity in the field of humanities, has successfully carved his name in gold in the hearts of the people of this nation and many nations of the world.

“Niyi Osundare, a poet, dramatists and an essayist, has been Nigeria’s noted nature poet of English Language expression, and a readily accessible serious poet, who sets out to engage the reader, and has made a most significant contribution to the Nigerian poetic English diction.”The investiture will be performed by President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday 4th December, 2014 at the Presidential Villa”.

He said Osundare will be decorated with the award in Abuja on Thursday, December 4 by President Goodluck Jonathan. Born in Ikere Ekiti in 1947, Osundare attended universities in Ibadan, England and Canada. He is now a distinguished professor of English at the University of New Orleans, USA. He has won many awards for his poetry including the prestigious NOMA. Osundare’s poetry collections include Song of the Marketplace, Village Voices, The Eye of the Earth, Waiting Laughters, Midlife, and Tender Moments.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Chief ‘Femi Shodunke, is the President of Olumo Progressive Association, Canada, a socio-cultural Yoruba sub-ethnic group of Egba and Yewa indigenes from Ogun State. The former Deputy Editor of the Nigerian Compass newspaper speaks on the leadership of his association its successes and challenges, and the Nigerians in Diaspora in an interview with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

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HAT are the objectives of your association?

“Thank you. Let me start by saying that we are a group of Egba and Yewa indigenes in diaspora in Canada. Our association was founded in 2006. The association is to, among others, promote family atmosphere and unity among Egba and Yewa descendants; to promote cultural and social values of our subethnic (and Yoruba in general) tradition, norms and values; to improve and uphold the image of our people and to protect our reputation in Canada. It is, similarly, our focus to involve in the provision of infrastructure and amenities, and to engage in communal projects in Canada and also to help, and contribute to the development of Greater Toronto Area community, Canada and Nigeria in the areas of socio-economic, education and health advancement, among many.

Olumo – the rock – is in Abeokuta, and it is synonymous with the name of your association, but there are Yewa indigenes among your members. Why not a joint name?

For you to understand why the name is like that there is the need for a bit of historical background, explanation and understanding of the rationale behind it. This association was originally founded by the Egbas. Later, more members came in who are Egbas too, but historically their ancestral root is in Yewa. In fact, virtually all of them were born in Abeokuta – in Ibara, Oke-Ilewo, and Joga, though these communities too are in the main Yewaland. These areas are in Abeokuta, in what we generally called Egbaland. So, to a larger extent these members are Egbas in actual fact. And in fact, outside the country we don’t even remember who this is or that once we are able to share similar identity, ideas and aspirations together.

Are there ties between Olumo Progressive and other similar associations promoting the image and interest of Nigerians in diaspora?

Yes indeed, we relate quite well with other associations as at when and where necessary,

• Shodunke (centre) and other guests

Strengthening bond between Egba, Yewa in Diaspora INTERVIEW particularly in the advancement of our ethnic culture, particularly Yoruba and Nigeria in general. Under the umbrella of Yoruba Community Association, indigenes of Owo, Ekiti, Eko, Kwara and Ile-Oluji do come together and meet to promote the course of Yoruba race, and Nigeria in general. We also relate cordially with other associations rep-

resenting Nigerians in general here in Canada. Similarly, we relate well with similar bodies outside Canada. For instance, Olumo Progressive Association is one of the 17 chapters of Egba National Association US and Canada and barely couple of months ago, we met in Dallas, Texas, US to celebrate the 5th Biennial Convention of our association and virtually all the 17 chapters were in attendance.

How do you relate with those at home and how do they feel the impact of your association?

Definitely, home is our base and that’s where we come from to this part of the world.

Therefore, we cannot forget our people at home. Part of the relationships led to the constant presence of Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and his team, and Otunba of Yewaland, Chief Ayinde Ibikunle at our events, most of the time. Similarly, because we monitor events going on at home, that was why we were able to identify our fellow indigenes doing great things at home to develop our communities, and the decision to honour them in faraway US, the national headquarters of Egba National Association.

However, let me quickly say that recently our chapter in conjunction with Egba National Association gave N1 million scholarship to indigent students chosen from our communities to cushion their financial burden in higher institutions in Nigeria. Also, our chapter is working on donation of some health equipment to our people back home in Nigeria. And in order to further the advancement of Yoruba language in Canada, we are planning to donate some historical books on Egbaland to some libraries here, as there are plans by the Yoruba Community Association to ensure the inclusion and teaching of Yoruba language in Canadian high schools.

As President of your association, how has the journey been?

Well, it is full of challenges in various dimensions, particularly in a foreign land. But with the support of my loyal members, we are forging ahead in the overall interest of the association, our members and our people at home. In fact, under my able leadership, we’ve won the right to host the next convention of Egba National Association holding here in Toronto.

•Continued on page 49

Benin hosts Whose centenary cial, political and cultural memory, with a particular emphasis on 1914. The multiseries exhibitions will include performance art, installation art, poetry reading, community workshops, songs/choreography, painting, photography, video and collaboration between contemporary Nigerian artists with traditional Edo bronze casters and their wards, in a series of community based art projects in Benin City.

The exhibition will explore themes around the centennial commemoration of Nigeria’s amalgamation, as well as and the multilayered nature and prevalent results of colonialism in the country, revealed in the primordial space of Benin, where history was itself played out a hundred years ago with the exile of •Gate to Igun Street, Benin City

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HOSE Centenary, a multiseries exhibition will open at Igun Street, Benin City, Edo State on December 6, featuring performance art, installation art, poetry reading, community workshops, songs/choreography, painting, photography and video.

The collaborative project is being curated

by Inês Valle and will feature Jude Anogwih, Jelili Atiku, Josephine Ebiuwa Abbe, Victor Ehikhamenor, Andrew Esiebo, Taiye Idahor, Peju Layiwola, Elizabeth Olowu, Wura Ogunji, George Osodi and Jumoke Verissimo.

The event is the first time a multi-dimensional art show is being held in the country focusing on a historic event that borders on our nationhood and the global issues concerning restitution and vandalisation of arts.

According to one of the participants, Jude Anogwih, there are plans to take the show to other parts of the globe such as Portugal and UK next year. He said local

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

PERFORMANCE artists and artisans in Benin will be strongly involved in the interactive sessions of the show. “It is a shift from the regular format of presenting art event. It will be preceeding the famous Igue festival in Benin while complementing the 100 years anniversary celebration of Nigeria,” he said.

The ground breaking art intervention will begin with public art exhibitions and life performances following a procession route from the King’s quarters at Akenzua Street, through Airport Road, Ring Road and will culminate at Igun Street - a world heritage site and the home of traditional bronze casters in Benin City who for centuries have produced the bronze works the city and country is renowned for.

The project is a critical analysis of significant historical aspects of Nigerian so-

Oba Ovonramwen to Calabar in 1897 and eventual entrenchment of British rule.

The year 1914 also brings to mind the passing of the king who stood against British imperialism in defense of his kingdom. In its rhetorical form, several questions emerge: Who and what is being commemorated? In what forms do these memorialisations occur?

Whose Centenary? is a two year long series of artistic collaborations that also aims to redefine the boundaries of museological spaces in Africa, where places, people and their memories continuously enrich our understanding of life, art and history. Therefore, Igun Street is apprehended as a living museum, becoming an ideal space for this first intervention.

Miss Niger Delta audition holds in Port Harcourt

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HE race is on for who becomes the next Miss Niger Delta 2014.

Contestants from the states across the region will be converging in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for an audition which is proceeding the battle for the crown come Saturday, December 20.

The pageant, according to the President, Miss Niger Delta organisation, Prince Sodin, seeks to promote the rich cultural heritage and dignity of women, saying the pageant does not permit bikini wears and indecent dressings or exposures during the event.

Sodin said this year’s edition, entitled: One voice for peace, empowerment and transformation, will take place at Doctor Gabriel Cultural Centre, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, adding that winners of the competition will be expected to build bridges of peace not only in the Niger Delta region but through synergy with other queens from other regions to promote peace, love and socio-cultural integration.

He added that the audition will be holding this Friday at Berverly Hills Hotel, GRA, by 9am.

“The event which is not all about crowning beauty queens but designed to promote socio cultural integration, tourism, human capital development and through various advocacy projects. The Miss Niger Delta competition has carried out various programmes that has promoted early education for children, protection of the girl-child rights, campaigns on indecent dressings and prostitution, HIV/ AIDS/ Sickle cell, breast cancer, environmental protection, examination malpractice, cultism and other social vices.

“The winner will be going home with a cash prize, a brand new car, a trip to Durban South Africa, while the first runner-up will go home with a cash prize, a trip to Dubai and the second runner-up goes home with a cash prize, a trip to Tinapa, Cross Rivers State. Other contestants will also go home with consolation prizes,” he said.

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E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Moved by the importance of birth registration to the nation’s development the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the National Population Commission (NpopC) are collaborating with the media to improve birth registration in the country. To acquaint the media with issues surrounding birth registration, they held a workshop in Kaduna for journalists from across the country, reports EVELYN OSAGIE.

UNICEF, Commission make case for birth registration T ODAY’S developmental challenges and security requirements has raised a renewed concern of population experts for having in place a veritable registration sys-

tem.

An effective system of vital registration is critical in the life of any nation, experts have said.

It is this concern that informed the policy decision to ensure 100 per cent registration coverage by 2015, according to the Chairman, National Population Commission (NpopC), Abuja, Mr Eze Duruiheoma (SAN).

Describing “Civil Registration” as the continuous, permanent and compulsory recording of the occurrence of vital events, such as births, deaths, morbidity, marriages, divorces, etc, by a registrar on a continuous basis in accordance with the legal requirements of a country, Mr Duruiheoma said, it provides government with needed information that would help in policy interventions to improve the quality and standard of live of the citizenry.

He decried the low rate of birth and death registration coverage of hard to reach areas, particularly in the Northern. He noted that despite the commission’s efforts and the 36,000 registration centres across the country, the 2013 Demographic Health Survey say 43 out of every 100 child under the age of five go missing at birth.

To change the trend, the Commission Chairman said the commission is partnering with relevant agencies and bodies. “The commission has embarked on multi-sectoral approach via collaboration with all relevant agencies, such as UNICEF, and institutions to consolidate the gains. UNICEF has been remarkable and outstanding in this effort.

The Commission with the support of UNICEF have established excellent working relationship with the health sector.

“Integrating birth registration services into the national health care delivery is on-going basic service program that avails the Commission the use health centres and personnel to boost the registration. Similar partnership is being worked out with the Education sector, faith-based organisations and some NGOs to improve on the registration outreach and coverage,” Mr Duruiheoma said.

He made the observations at a three-day workshop for journalists in Kaduna in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

While blaming the low rate on the lack of adequate public awareness on the importance of birth registration and ingrained

•From left: Hajiya Zainab Mahmoud, Garba Rano and Sharon

ADVOCACY socio-cultural beliefs that impacts negatively on registering births and deaths, he said: “The commission is partnering with the media to intensify publicity and public enlightenment of the vital registration exercise, particularly at the grass root level”.

The key messages developed by the media on birth and death registration along with the commission’s efforts, according to the Hon. Usman Ya’u Jama’a, Federal Commissioner representing Kaduna State, is sure to “greatly ameliorate the daunting challenges of ignorance and inadequate enlightenment that is posing a serious challenge to our efforts at attaining the 100%

registration by 2015”.

On her part, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Child Protection Specialist, Sharon Oladiji has raised concern over the refusal of the leadership of seven out of the 29 out of the 36 states to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with NpopC. She urged other the states, which include Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to draw inspiration from their counterparts.

Communication Specialist with UNICEF Abuja Office, Mr Geoffrey Njoku, expressed hope that the dreams of attaining 100 per cent birth registration rate in 2015 can be achievable through the help of the media. He called for support from media practitioners and adminis-

Strengthening bond between Egba, Yewa in Diaspora •Continued from page 48

And we have mapped out plans for other projects for the immediate benefit of our people here in Canada and in Nigeria.

What are the major impacts your leadership has made in the last one year?

The cohesion of our members in this part of the world is very significant, as this environment is more of an individualistic society compared to our home country where family ties and cohesion are of greater necessity.

However, as part of cohesion, we meet regularly, give pieces of advice to members, and helping those in need in the area of immigration issues amongst others. You’ll recall that I told you earlier that we’re part of the N1 million scholarship assistance to students in Nigeria. And we relate well with government agencies, and our name, Olumo Progressive Association, is well known not only in Ontario, but the entire Canada.

What are you doing to maintain good image for your people and Nigeria in Canada?

It is a must task for us to ensure good image for our people and our country. Therefore, this is why from our level we carry out adequate screening for intending members.

Only those that are found in good character, names and have identifiable sources of income are allowed to be members, not just anybody because we want to be many. And

• Shodunke

our members are found in various sectors of the Canadian economy and social life doing their best legitimately, though there is the possibility of few erring ones, but we have not recorded such to my knowledge anyway.

Besides, you should trust Nigerians, we always excel wherever we find ourselves, and we are doing that here – contributing our significant quota to the development of Canada in various sectors of life and development in this land of greater opportunities. For instance, the slogan of Ontario is “Yours to discover” and our people are, indeed, taking the

ample advantages to discover the milk and honey in Canada.

What is your professional background?

I am a trained journalist. I started my journalism career at Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic), Abeokuta where I studied Mass Communication and got Higher National Diploma (Upper Credit).

I later went to the University of Ibadan where I obtained a Master of Communication Arts.

Let me however, remind you that I’ve worked in National Concord, The Comet, The Nation and lastly the Nigerian Compass, where I was the Deputy Editor (Sunday), before I moved to Canada four years ago. You’ll see all along that I am a newspaper man. And in Canada in order to prove my worth – when I was faced with the challenge of “You never school here” coupled with no practical knowledge in North America – and to sharpen my professional dexterity with modern trend in journalism, I decided to enrol for a Master of Arts in Media Production at Ryerson University, Toronto, which I concluded last year.

And I have been doing my job, and looking forward to being independent in my chosen profession pretty soon – to realise my longterm ambition of publishing online, particularly as my master’s thesis is on online publication for effective political information dissemination, enlightenment and education.”

PHOTO: EVELYM OSAGIE

trators, saying: “Vital Registration is the rights of every child and aids national development.”

He said: “UNICEF is collaboration with the Vital Registration Department of NpopC to scale up birth registration rates, especially in the country’s northern parts. We call on the media to be at the vanguard of the campaign.”

Communication Officer, UNICEF Lagos Office, Blessing Ejiofor, called for the cooperation of every citizen in ensuring that their wards are duly registered, while urging government at all levels to put in place laws that would require parent to compulsorily register their wards.

At the end of the workshop, participants said, they were ever so determined to lend their voices to the campaign.

Fayemi congratulates Osundare

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ORMER Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has congratulated renowned academic, Prof Niyi Osundare, on his emergence as the 2014 winner of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) award.

The award, the highest and most prestigious prize for outstanding intellectual and academic attainment, will be presented to Osundare by President Goodluck Jonathan on December 4 in Abuja.

Fayemi, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, described Osundare as a respected Ekiti ambassador, adding that his works are what distinguished him as one of the very best in the field of literature.

The former governor added that Osundare has used the arts to contribute to the sociopolitical and educational development of the country.

“And for us in Ekiti, it shows that hard work and merit still count. It is also an indication that the current picture of a gluttonic lot being painted about Ekiti people is an aberration.

“It is hoped that the success and exploits of Ekiti Ambassadors and icons, such as Prof Osundare, would continue to inspire our youths not to continuously seek and stick to the path of honour and greatness.”

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E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

The attendant evils of free, checked culture

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N his fourth publication, Diverse But Not Broken: Wake Up Calls For Nigeria, Dr. IyorwueseHagher examines the pervading culture of our society, Nigeria. What should be and what should not be. As the ‘what should be’ had been turned inside out while its reversetakes center stage.

The author broaches the evils of certain culture practices in the nation that has reduced Nigeria to its current state, an eagle with broken wings. Likewise, he expands on the shackled cultures that would have made a difference.

Literary icon, Chinua Achebe said, the problem with Nigeria is her leaders or lack thereof. The author emphasizes, the Nigerian leadership culture, wallowing in lies and grand corruption. These endemic qualities ensure that leaders, no matter how honest or will powered, cannot change that culture. Since those mired in that culture are more dominant than the ideologies of the leader.

Once he is successfully sitted at the Aso Rock, the reader inherits the Neopatrimonial crowd that ensured his rigged ascent. The leader’s fear of penchants of office tenants, those who manage to outlast governments; and the undecided voters is less than the pacification of his excessive lovers and the opposition prepared to oust him at all means.

These excessive lovers must be appeased lest they turn into excessive haters. To avoid this pendulumic swing of votes, leadership turns a blind eye on their antics; of amassing wealth, turning personal celebration into state affairs, collecting traditional titles and taking medical jaunts abroad. All these further widen the gap between the supposedly poor electorates. It hardens the capillaries of the haves

BOOK REVIEW Title: Author:

Diverse But Not Broken Iyorwuese Hagher

and embitters the hopeless have-nots.

On the lower rungs of power, there is no exception. The writer calls attention to developments in Benue community sometime ago, the creation of ten traditional chiefs, where there was none before. According to him, there was no need to create more liability for Benue people, for a few who play advisory roles to the government. This capacity the Tor Tivas well as the existing wards represent. The new bill shows contempt to the 1999 constitution, by seeking to confer powers on traditional chiefs. It is a return to feudalism where some traditional leaders believe they have the divine rights to rule and would do anything to hold power. Also, it is retrogressive to the efforts of its ancestors who knew better to install the Tor Tiv. They had with care ensured that any Tiv would inherit the title. Thus at the death of the Tor Tiv, his children are the least likely to inherit.

The icy fingers of the free yet damaging culture trickles down to the education system. Among politics being played in

higher institutions, the endemic culture of cultism, drug addiction, fallen standards, ill-facilitation, indigenization of admissions and strikes has devalued education. Unknown to leadership its lofty ideals of meeting 2015 MDGs and the 20.2020 vision is unrealistic, owing to the dearth of intellectuals and lack of research in universities.

Further crippling progress is the western ideologies that African needs more scientists than arts graduates. The Intellectual whom the author describes as one who refuses to be confined to his designated specialization, foliage elsewhere and everywhere. This is contrary tothe academic, a specialist who has disciplined his curiosity to operate largely within designated area. Intellectuals are the bearers of change in a society. Through their canvass, books, ideas, music and humane outlook, they reflect to the society, truths it fails to see or heed. They foresee the self destruction it’s racing towards. In similar manner of individuals like Galileo, Socrates, Aquinas, John Locke, Descartes, Leonardo Da Vinci, Picasso, Van Gogh did, Fela. Problems exist in society like ours where the intellectuals distance themselves from national discourses today.

The artist’s admiration of Achebe is expanded as he describes the man’s contribution as an intellect to the nation. Achebe without mincing words writes to cause headaches to those who have”refused to hear one another, especially the anguished voices of those undergoing oppression”, the underdogs at any point in time. In Things Fall Apart, it was against the western world that he defined the humanity of Africa. In No Longer At Ease and Man of The People, he stood with the victims, the poor, against predatory leaders who has failed their post independence expectations.

Hagher ends the 287 pages of lectures, essays and tribute collection with poetic reminisces of his intellectual residence, Canada. The poems rich in imagery, allusion, rhetoric, personification, euphemism, irony and satire explore the plun-

Three writers for Ebedi

PMAN sends SOS to Jonathan, Tambuwal

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HE Performing Musicians’ Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), has sent an SOS to President Goodluck Jonathan and Hon Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives, calling for the immediate liberalisation of collective administration in Nigeria.

“The forced monopoly in the copyright administrative system in Nigeria is killing entertainment business even more than piracy. We have demanded for audience and written series of letters to the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), and the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) on the issue, but have received no response,” Lucciano lamented in a chat with The Nation.

According to Gabriel, in August 2010, a group of entertainment practitioners, under the aegis of Concerned Copyright & Intellectual Property Owners (CCIPO), protested against the imposed monopoly and the Attorney General promised to reverse the situation within two weeks.

“Four years on, the problem is still there and this is unacceptable,” Gabriel continued, recalling that in May 2013, PMAN, alongside other stakeholders, also participated in the Investigative Public Hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committees on

dered depths of Dawson city, the true descendants of Canada, the Inuits and the Yukon. It also champions the minority in Canada, and the simplicity lost in the vast diplomatic games of leaders and the led.

The author’s tone conveys his emotions, from unpleasant awe and despair of leadership culture, to pity for Nigeria’s Failed Code of Shame. The tone veered to outrage in the Chieftaincy Institution and Constitutionality in Nigeria, then advocatory to Artists as Intellectuals in the society, and admiration in his tribute to Achebe.

The reader is swept along with tides of emotion evoked. Few exceptions appear in technical terms and couched words in chapter 13, and the author’s prolonged citations to prove a point.

Some points were also not properly nuanced, his marshaled points on Nigeria’s utilization of her soft power, enlightening, does not clearly reveal, the idle nature of Nigerian embassies in their host countries, which contributes to her negative image abroad. In countries like South Korea, UAE, Czech, Russia, what have those countries done for Nigerian residents much more in the projection of our unique cultures.

Indeed, the Nigeria creative industry is an active propagator of Nigerian culture; selling Nigerian languages to the world.

It has however, been over run by western identification. It is skimpily clad, bottomshaking dancer, offensive and nude. The greater avenues of exporting unadulterated (the least unchanged at the most) culture, the moving theatre and literature lack the financial clout and policy to thrive. Both have the capacity to resurrect the Nigerian textile industries and fashion, values and African leadership ideologies to gain louder reception. This is precisely what the Korean music, film and fashion industry wields smoothly. Persuasive power.

It is with pride and shame that we must embrace the lessons, challenges and criticism bound in this book and work as leaders and followers to uproot the harmful cultures that is yet to break Nigeria.

By Mercy Michael

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ADVOCACY Justice and Judiciary, which presented its report and recommendations to the plenary session of the House of Representative on December, 18, 2013. This was followed by the adoption of the report and its recommendations which culminated in the passing of far-reaching resolutions directing the NCC to immediately end the monopoly.

Gabriel disclosed that one of the resolutions was that the NCC should approve MCSN as a collecting society immediately. He described the continued refusal to register MCSN as casting NCC as being compromised and pursuing the interests of a particular section of the industry among others.

“More than nine months after, the NCC has done nothing to carry out the directives of the National Assembly and this is tragic! Now we are faced with a regulatory agency which is acting with absolute impunity in order to protect the vested interests of a cabal. What NCC is saying by their determination not to obey the National Assembly’s directive is that the National Assembly is a toothless bulldog!

“NCC is equally rubbishing the Transformation Agenda of the President, which is aimed at enthroning the rule of law and respect for the fundamental human rights of citizens and open-

•Tambuwal

ing up the entire economy for all Nigerians to participate.

“It is on this basis that PMAN is calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to wade into this matter and call the officials of the Nigerian Copyright Commission to order and save the music industry. PMAN equally calls on the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, to bring the powers of the National Assembly to bear on NCC. ”If Monopoly is bad for all the other sectors including the political sector where we have more than 50 political parties jostling for power, definitely, it cannot be good for the music and the creative industries at large,” Gabriel concluded.

HREE writers have arrived at the Ebedi International Writers Resort in Iseyin, Oyo State, for the October/November Residency Programme. They are Stephen Adinoyi, Tukura John Daniel and Zaasi Dawn Meneh.

Adinoyi, a Kaduna-based writes poetry, short stories, plays and film scripts. He is a former Vice Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Kaduna State Chapter and the past Chairman of the Kaduna Writers League. His works have featured in several newspapers and magazines in Nigeria and abroad, and has participated in many BBC and Commonwealth playwriting competitions.

He has also been published in an anthology of Pidgin English, If Yu Hie Se A De Prizin, while his pidgin play, A No Beta Pas Mai Nebo, was recently staged in Abuja. He is a graduate of Mass Communications and a Consultant in Human Resource Development and Educational Services.

Adinoyi will spend his time in Ebedi completing a collection of short stories entitled: Tales Of Chrislam. The work focuses on the tragedies, gains, loses, hypocrisies, perversions, ignorance and extremisms of the two major religions in Nigeria. It also touches on issues relating to these religions in other parts of the world.

On his part, Tukura, an Abujabased writer and filmmaker, will be utilising the solitude at the residency to complete a new screenplay and a novel. Tukura has at-

By Evelyn Osagie

RESIDENCY tended many workshops on screenwriting, such as the Ford Foundation/Afrinolly Writers Workshop and the Bold & Beautiful Academy organised by the New York Film Academy.

Between 2013 and 2014, Tukura undertook an online Screen writing course organised by the New York Film Academy. His creative works include the screenplay, Every Woman that is currently in preproduction in Los Angeles, US. He also wrote the screenplays Avnigo, for Ford Foundation’s Cinema4change and Mrs & Mrs Johnson for MNET. Meneh from Rivers State is the third resident. He intends to use his six-week stay at Ebedi to work on his debut novel, The Lion’s Dream and to carry out further research on other manuscripts he is currently working on. The 2007 Accountancy graduate from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology has worked extensively in the area of research into the folktales of the South-South and North-Central states of the country.

The Ebedi International Writers Residency, a private initiative for writers to complete their on-going works at no expense to the writers, is in its fourth year of existence.

Since inception, it has played host to over 50 writers from Nigeria and other African countries.

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SHOWBIZ Winners emerge in Spirit of Lagos song contest

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HE civic and cultural advocacy initiative, Spirit of Lagos, has closed curtains on its first project, a theme song contest which produced three winners, adjudged to have captured the essence of Lagos, the commercial hub and most populous city in Nigeria.

Tagged Spirit of Lagos Theme Song, the contest which was flagged off on August 29, with over 238 entries, saw Amadin Samuel Ihegie, winning the coveted prize of N500, 000, having polled a total of 2,782 votes to defeat other finalists.

Amadin, who was formally presented to the public at the Freedom Park, Lagos on Tuesday, will, according to the organisers, have his song reproduced professionally and adopted as Spirit of Lagos theme song.

The panel of judges, which include seasoned professionals, was headed by Pa Benson Idonijie, first

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By Victor Akande

manager to late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Coming next to Amadin in the competition, was Miss Temitope Susan Fajemilehin, who polled 783 votes and got N200, 000 for her effort, while Michael Uzoma, the second runner-up with 218 votes, was also rewarded with N100, 000.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Olaniyi Omotoso, the Project Director, Spirit of Lagos, expressed appreciation to the contestants for their professional conducts while the competition lasted. He added that the essence of the contest was to preserve the positive ideals which Lagos is known for.

According to Omotoso, the project is expected to change the mindset of Lagosians towards their environment, public infrastructure and neighbours, among other virtues.

•Emeka Nwokedi, Music Director at the MUSON, Amadin Ihejie in handshakes with Benson Idonije, and Olaniyi Omotoso, at the unveiling ceremony

He said the theme song contest is just one in a series of other projects of behavioral transforma-

Kollington, Sasha P, 9ice, others thrill at ‘K1 Live Unusual’ concert

HE much publicised Fuji-pop concert “K1 Live Unusual”, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, last Friday, delivering exciting performances from some of the biggest names in the Nigerian music industry.

At the show, which was planned as a fusion of the Fuji and Hip-hop genres, the convener, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1 The Ultimate) performed some of his popular hits like Talazo system, Baby mi show colour re, Omo Niger and Eyo with collaborations with indigenous rapper Olamide, 9ice, Sasha P, Muma Gee, Ara and his daughter Honey B. The unusual concert which attracted lots of music lovers was hosted by the King of comedy, Alibaba, with rib-cracking comedy from Buchi while 2shotz, Sir Victor Olaiya, Saheed Osupa, Shola Allyson, DNMT and celebrity disc jockey, DJ Jimmy Jatt took turns to entertain the audience.

Notable faces at the concert include, Engr Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State, First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola

By Medeme Ovwe

Fashola, Chief Kollington Ayinla, Femi Adebayo, Dayo Amusa, Olakunle Afoja, Chief Kenny Ogungbe, Tunde Kelani, Chris Jeyibo, Seun Soyinka, ID Ogungbe, Mary Atuyota, Aremo Oniru, Doris Simeon, Kunle Afolayan, Fathia Balogun, Ayo Animashaun, Chris

Ihidero, YAW, Toolz, Tunde Ednut, Tee Billz, Toke Makinwa, Teju Baby Face and actress Sikiratu Sindodo.

Produced by Green Light Productions, the show was supported by LASSA, LIRS, Beat Fm, BHM Group, HIP TV, Ray Power, Primetime Africa, Naija Fm, Classic Fm, Kennis Music and Sodium Brand Solutions among others.

• Governor Aregbesola with guests at the event

BBA: Emotions overflow as ex-housemates depart

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HE latest prank by Biggie, the voyeur lord in the ongoing Big Brother Africa show, did work well, as the 10 remaining contestants were stunned to discover last Sunday, that the ex-housemates that joined them the previous week, were not meant to contest the USD300, 000.

The housemates had been under severe tension, believing the exes, who had been watching their game, knew their weaknesses and were better prepared.

Luclay added to the tension on Friday, when he lost his cool, claiming only one contestant was capable of beating him to the prize money. He had showered the housemates with insults after Biggie asked him to wear his microphone. The instruction triggered a primal rage that had clearly been lying dormant inside him, especially after his altercation with Goitse.

He had everything to say about how the Hotshots were way out of their depth in the game. He said they lacked what it took to win the prize money.

But when on Sunday, Biggie revealed to them that the exes were just a ploy, some of them were in tears.

Tayo could not believe his fate as he sat down and wept. After Biggie told the housemates to unfreeze, Goitse stayed in her position and had tears run down her cheeks. Idris also stayed in his chair and did not move as he

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

perhaps could not believe what had happened. When Tayo started crying, M’am Bea went over to comfort him and soon after, she went and wept in Ellah’s arms. Nhlanhla joined the ladies in a group hug and encouraged M’am Bea not to cry as they had gone through a lot already.

The housemates did not seem at all impressed with Biggie’s prank but were definitely glad to have remained in the house. Idris went to sit outside and Ellah joined him. He did not look like he was keen on any company but remained calm nonetheless.

Goitse sat on her own upstairs, cry-

• Tayo, Sipe and Trezagah

ing and staring into nothingness.

Idris went up to her and held her in his arms while she cried. The two bonded a little as they reminisced about Feza who had given them a talk. Downstairs, Butterphly sat quietly, seemingly in a sulky mood.

Housemates started thinking back to the characters that were brought into the house and analysing how they strategically played them.

With only two weeks left of the Big Brother Africa show things are bound to still get heated up in the house.

Although there were no nominations for possible-eviction among the housemates last week, Biggie revealed that all housemates are up for eviction this Sunday.

tion that will be unveiled in the coming months, noting that the public advocacy project is an en-

gagement platform that aptly describes the four cardinal points of the Spirit of Lagos campaign.

December date for Nollywood Health Convention

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OLLOWING weeks of preparation, all is now set for the third edition of the annual Nollywood Health Convention and Awards, organisers have said.

The event, scheduled to hold at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos on Sunday, December 7, is powered by the Saving Life for Africa Diabetes Foundation (SLAD) in collaboration with the Victor Osuagwu-led Lagos State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).

Nollywood filmmaker and founder of SLAD, Obi Madubogwu, who survived a very severe diabetic challenge, disclosed that the aim of the convention is to promote the health and well-being of Nigerians, especially those living in rural and urban areas.

“As entertainers and mirrors of the society, we want to drastically help reduce the mortality rate of all and sundry, especially the less privileged in our community. We are encouraging and calling on Nigerians, mostly our members to come out on December 7, to check and know their health status. We have gathered a team of medical experts to assist us in doing this.

This convention on health is for all and sundry,” he said.

Among those expected to grace the event is President Goodluck Jonathan who will be attending as the special guest of honour at this year’s event, which begins with a blue carpet at 2.p.m.

With the theme, Live Healthy, Perform Better, the duo of Doctors

By Medeme Ovwe

Segun Ogundimu and Uche Ejiofor are expected to deliver papers at the event as guest speakers.

Top music stars expected to thrill guests at the convention include Tuface Idibia, Timaya, Iyanya, Mr. Raw, Flavour, Phyno, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Kcee and several others.

Organisers say that there will also be an All-Star drama on health at the anticipated gathering of who-is-who in Nollywood.

High-point of the gathering will be the investiture of President Goodluck Jonathan as the grand patron of AGN/SLAD alongside the presentation of awards and medals to all the patrons, patronesses and health ambassadors of the initiative.

• Obi Madubogwu

I’ve got a crush on Chidinma, says Wizkid

S

By Adewoyin Adeniyi

TAR Boy, Ayo Balogun, aka Wizkid, as revealed he has deep liking for 2010 Project Fame winner, Chidinma Ekile.

Wizkid, who made his thoughts known as guest artiste on the popular MTV Base, did not mince words, as he gave some exclusive scoops about himself.

The documentary, which airs this week, showcases the other side of Wizkid and reveals various interesting facts about him.

“I’ve had a huge crush on Chidinma for a long time… she doesn’t know it but it’s true,” the singer said.

Wizkid will also reveal his journey through music and how he has managed to maintain the hype.

The show airs this Thursday, 27th November at 6pm on MTV Base Channel 233 and STV at 10pm.

• Wizkid with Chidinma

52

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

53

BUSINESS EXTRA Ebola: Govt warns against frozen chickens’ smuggling

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HE Federal Govern ment has warned smugglers of frozen chicken to desist from the act as it could bring back the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

A statement by the Federal Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, regretted that despite the ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products, frozen chickens have continued to find its way into local market through land border.

The US Academic Decathlon Agricultural Information Network was quoted to have said 90 per cent of frozen chicken in Nigeria come in through the Republic of Benin and other West African countries.

It blamed the illicit trade for the decline in the consumption of local chicken, jobs and decrease of national income generated from the poultry sub-sector.

The statement rgretted that the sale of frozen chicken had become a means of livelihood for some Nigerians, lamenting that its continued consumption pose great health risk.

It said factors such as the

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

lenght of time the chickens are frozen before getting to the country makes it risky for consumption, according to nutritionist.

It added that the quality was usually very low due to the break in cold chain during several hours of land journey in the country through illegal routes and absence of quality certification or standard of instruments used.

It warned that besides the above factors, the recent outbreak of EVD in some West African countries had shown that the handling of these products could transmit the disease.

According to the statement, people handling these frozen chickens were not known and there are no checks on the storage facility and the mode of transportation used.

The statement also claimed that the deaths caused by EVD and burial places may not have been properly reported in some of these West African countries.

It warned that Nigerians should not assume that all affected West African countries had achieved 100 per cent tracking and control of EVD as Nigeria has scored.

Fed Govt recognises Glo’s investment size, jobs creation

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LOBACOM has been listed as one of the top 100 firms in Nigeria for the fiscal year.

The top 100 companies list is based on international benchmark set by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). The benchmark includes the amount of turnover, level of investment in the country and the number of jobs so far created in the economy. Others are the impact that these companies have had in the communities where they operate, level of corporate governance and the amount of long and medium term investment plan.

The list was announced in Abuja yesterday by the Chairman, Assessment Committee, Jim Obazee. Obazee said Globacom and the other companies on the list were creating wealth and jobs for the economy and should, therefore, be honoured for their pa-

triotism and spirit of enterprise.

Obazee said the activities of Globacom and the other top 100 firms had gone a long way in creating confidence in the local investment environment. ‘’This has gone a long way in drawing other investors into the same environment thereby improving the business climate of Nigeria’’.

Other companies named as 100 Top companies in Nigeria are FirstBank, Dangote, Chevron and MTN. Globacom is top player in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, boasting heavy investment in integrated telecoms infrastructure and personnel. It has also made the same investments in neighbouring Benin Republic and Ghana through its mobile telephone network; and to Senegal, Ivory Coast and other West African countries through its Glo 1 infrastructure.

SON, ANLCA partner on goods seizure

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HE Standards Organisa tion of Nigeria (SON) and the Association of Nigeria Licensed Clearing Agents (ANLCA) have partnered to address the issue of seizure of goods already cleared at the ports on the highway.

ANLCA President, Prince Olawiyola Shittu said his association had resolved to engage SON as a regulatory body to seek a more robust engagement as a prelude for a useful collaboration in the interest of the public. He regretted the loss of revenue to both government and importers alike over the issue.

Shittu, who spoke with The Nation in Lagos after a meeting with SON’s Director-General, Dr. Joe Odumodu, said ANLCA has resolved to engage the regulator to train his members on standardisation to ensure that substandard goods

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

don’t come into the country.

He promised that his members will profile their clients to ensure that they comply with regulatory requirements in the importation of goods and services.

On the appropriateness of seizing goods already cleared at the ports in shops and highways, Shittu said opinions are divided on the merit of the action of SON, adding that as a responsible association, ANLCA has resolved to work with the regulatory agency to sanitise the nation and protect it from unscrupulous importers who import fake and substandard goods.

According to him, the ugly effects of fake and substandard goods in the economy cannot be over emphasised and should therefore be tackled in different frontiers.

• From left: Managing Director/CEO, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Nnamdi Okafor; Operations Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Biola Adebayo; Chairman, PMGMAN/Managing Director SKA Pharma, Mr Okey Akpa and past Chairman PMGMAN, Emma Ebere, during the conference on production of medicine in Nigeria by Pharmaceutical Manufacture Group of Manufactures Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) at Ikeja.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAM

Rungas, German firm sign pact for $50m cylinder firm R

UNGAS Limited a subsidiary of African Liquefied Petroleum Gas Equipment Company and the its German partner, Kautex Maschinenbau, have signed agreement to establish a $50 million composite cylinder manufacturing company at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.

The signing ceremony held yesterday at the Boardroom of the Lagos Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) with the Commissioner, Taofiq Ajibade Tijani, Representative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Retail Limited, Omonibo Tari in attendance.

The Chairman of Rungas, Mr. Olanrewaju Runsewe, said MEMR was chosen for the event because Lagos State is the advocate for use of LPG in Nigeria with its Eko Gas project.

He said the construction of

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

the composite cylinder firm is expected to start next month and to be completed within 15 months with a target production of 500,000 cylinders per year.

Runsewe said FirstBank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Bank of Industry (BoI), and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), are funding the project.

He said: “Rungas supply cylinders to a number of oil majors, including Oando, Forte Oil and MRS and we have others in the pipeline.

Our area of investment is primarily in LPG and the need to support infrastructure especially in cylinders.

“I believe with this initiative, it will spur the market in the

sense that the oil majors can now have the confidence in knowing that they don’t have to invest more money in cylinder importation or local production rather they will put that money into storage facilities.

“Currently, we have 250,000 metric tons of LPG available in the country yearly of which we only have storage facility for about 20,000 tons. Therefore, the establishment of this company will impact the value chain and for organisations, such as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) that have been advocating for a marketer-owned cylinder structure, it is cheery news because end-users of the LPG will not bother about owning cylinders.

“Also the initiative will have positive impact on human lives and the environment. Currently, most people use non-clean fuel and I believe that this project will allow people to move to LPG which is cleaner and safer.

Besides, the project will create a lot of jobs.

“The project will cost about $50 million. The funding will come in form of debt and equity and we have two local banks, First Bank and UBA supporting us and we also have supports from the Bank of Industry and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). I want to thank the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa for his vision. “The NCDMB will pay 50 per cent of our interest rate and provides us with 30 per cent corporate guarantee, which gives the banks confidence to finance the project.”

CBN empowers Osun small businesses with N2b

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HE Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele on Monday said the peoplefocused programmes and policies of the Rauf Aregbesola administration since inception have established him as “the strongman of Osun politics’.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Development and Finance, Mr. Paul Nduka Eluowe, the CBN chief said the polices had raised the state to a higher pedestal.

He spoke at the official ceremony for the disbursement of N2 billion CBN Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Fund (MSMSEDF) and the distribution of the second batch of 22 mini-buses, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The scheme is a partnership with the CBN. Under the CBN’s N220 billion MSMSEDF, the N2billion secured by Osun is already being disbursed.

Emefiele said the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are essential ingredients of growth for any serious developing country.

He priased the governor for formulating policies and programmes that have eco-

nomically and financially empowered the people of the state.

The CBN boss urged the governor to ensure that 60 per cent of the N2billion given to the state go to women and two per cent to the physically challenged people in the state.

He said: “I am overwhelmed by the number of people present at today’s event. It shows that you are the strong man of Osun politics.

“Your programmes have shown that you are loved by your people with this massive attendance. I hope you will continue to be the strongman of Osun.

“I am not surprised that majority of the people in attendance are women. The CBN believes that women are supposed to be empowered to unleash their potentials.”

Aregbesola, in his address titled: Marching onto greater development heights, said his determination to drive the state to a prosperous height was borne out of genuine commitment to take the state to the height of socioeconomic and industrial development.

Aregbesola said his administration is conscious of the fact that the success of any development enterprise was dependent upon the active involvement and participation of the people.

He said Osun, with carefully thought-out policies, programmes, conscious mobilisation and proper organisation of the people, would continue to grow.

The governor added that the most effective ways of making people the driving agents of development is to economically and financially empower them, and then allow them to handle the rest.

He said: “We thus decided to come up with various economic empowerment schemes in order to give our people the economic wherewithal and the financial enablement to make them job-creators and wealth generators in a manner that will be beneficial to all and sundry.

“In order for the programmes to have the widest coverage for maximum outcomes, we have decided to spread the net to include the people in the lower rung of the socio-economic ladder –

the small traders, the market women, the artisans, the transporters, the smallholder farmer, and the craftsmen and women among others.

“It is for this reason that we have established the Osun Micro-Credit Agency which was officially inaugurated on July 9, 2014.

“It was aimed at ensuring easy access to credit facilities by operators of micro, small and medium scale enterprises, particularly those in the informal sector of Osun economy.”

The state Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, said Osun was the first state in Nigeria to get N2billion from the CBN to improve MSMEs, adding that the money was a product of financial engineering.

He maintained that 50 per cent of the money is expected to be used for agriculture and commerce.

Bolorunduro promised that the loan would be judiciously used by the beneficiaries.

“Osun is the first state to have assessed and secured the N2billion loan for CBN for the purpose of development, he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

54

Business Extra Accenture sees mobility, data driving economic growth

ICT promotes better smart grid, says Huawei

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NFORMATION and communications technology (ICT) is the foundation of a better connected smart grid, Chinese technology firm, Huawei has said.

It added that data acquisition, protection, and controlling a better connected smart grid requires innovative ICT applications. Typical ICT applications used in a better connected smart grid includes the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing, and intelligent broadband solutions.

According to a statement, IoT provides a better connected smart grid which is an example of typical IoT application for the electric power industry. IoT technologies support the effective integration of communications infrastructure and grid infrastructure, interconnection between high volumes of devices, and improvements in the depth, breadth, and density of information sensing throughout the entire operations of a better connected smart grid.

“As a leading ICT solutions provider, Huawei launched a convergent and industry-leading IoT gateway that adopts broadband power-line communication (PLC) technologies.

Leveraging an open machineto-machine (M2M) platform and rich interfaces, the Huawei IoT gateway enables bi-directional high-speed interconnections between smart meters, sensors, and controllers. This provides an effective channel for connecting grid terminals to the IoT,” the statement said.

The tech giant said electricity systems are generating increasingly large amounts of data, which poses challenges to system operations and in-depth data analytics, stressing that electric power companies in the United States (U.S.) started to install phasor measurement units (PMUs) across the nation in 2009.

It added that the PMUs collect data on the voltage, current, and status of a number of nodes on the grids at a frequency of 30 times per second. The data collected easily exceeds several terabytes (TBs), stressing that to make matters worse, the huge amounts of data can be scattered across a long distance.

The Huawei OceanStor UDS massive storage system adopts an innovative architecture that enables EB-level scalability to support big data applications in the electric power industry.

On cloud computing, it said many electric power companies have scattered data nodes because they have operations and electricity substations at different locations, adding that to help address this issue, Huawei has developed the DC2 cloud data centre solution.

According to Huawei: “Leveraging innovative technologies such as distributed computing and virtual resources management, the DC2 cloud data center solution supports the effective utilisation of scattered resources. This improves the electric power company’s overall computing capability for industry-wide data collection and sharing.

These abilities allow grid operators to implement indepth data analytics, enjoy the benefits of business intelligence (BI), make better business decisions, and coordinate production operations in a unified and effective manner.”

B

‘December deadline for new capital base stays’ A

ARELY a month to the deadline, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has insisted that it would stick to the December 31, this year deadline for the implementation of the new capital requirements for capital market operators.

Against strong lobby by trade groups for extension or alternative capital requirement, the apex capital market regulator said all the operators would have to comply with their capital requirements by January 1, 2015.

Director, Collective and Investment Scheme, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mrs Louisa EniUmukoro, said the January 1, 2015 take-off date for the new capital base for market operators remained unchanged and any operator that fails to meet the deadline will not be allow to continue as a standalone entity.

According to her, operators, including fund managers,

By Taofik Salako

that couldn't meet the deadline will have to consider mergers and acquisitions.

"If you can't meet the minimum capital by January, you are out or we encourage you to go for merger," Mrs EniUmukoro said.

SEC had announced major increases in minimum capital requirements for capital market functions under a new minimum capital structure that is expected to take off by January 1.

The apex capital market regulator increased minimum capital base for broker/dealer by 329 per cent from the existing N70 million to N300 million. Broker, which operates with capital base of N40 million, will now be required to have N200 million, representing an increase of 400 per cent.

Minimum capital base for dealer increased by 233 per cent from N30 million to N100 million.

Also, issuing houses, which

facilitate new issues in the primary market, will be required to have minimum capital base of N200 million as against the current capital base of N150 million. The capital requirement for underwriter also doubled from N100 million to N200 million.

Trustees, rating agencies and portfolio and fund managers had their minimum capital base increased by 650 per cent each from N40 million, N20 million and N20 million to N300 million, N150 million and N150 million respectively.

A Registrar will now have a minimum capital base of N150 million as against N50 million at the moment.

While the minimum capital base for corporate investment adviser remained unchanged at N5 million, individual investment advisers will have to increase their capital base by 300 per cent from N500,000 to N2 million.

The Nation had earlier re-

ported that SEC was not considering any extension or change in the details of the new capital requirements.

According to a regulatory source, SEC had carefully weighed all the options before deciding on the new capital requirements and the deadline.

The source had noted that the Commission decided on the new capital requirements in the best interest of the capital market as poor capitalization was partly responsible for the recent recession and cases of malpractices in the market.

"The downtrend in the past was due to laxity in the regulatory framework and operators' malfeasance. Everyone has acclaimed the improvement in the regulatory environment, so when you strengthened the regulatory surveillance, you must have stronger operators with adequate capital and relevant competencies to ensure stable market growth," the source said.

•From left: Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade; Director of UK Trade and Investment, Mr. Mike Purves (representing the British High Commissioner) and President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Prince Adeyemi Adefulu, at the NBCC Presidential Dinner and Awards in Lagos.

CCENTURE has said the adoption of mobility and big data would drive the growth and development of the nation’s economic development.

The global consultancy firm said the world is going digital, stressing that the country could no longer play the ostrich, adding that for the country to be among 20 leading economies of the world by 2020, the nation must leverage on technology through digital literacy.

Accenture Business and Systems Integration Manager, Mrs. Funke Olakanmi-Nobel, who spoke at the Sixth annual Information Technology Development Programme organised by Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) at the Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, said the world is shrinking owing to technology and youths need to explore what and how technology could enhance their lifestyles.

She said: “The world is going mobile and most technology is being assisted by mobility while big data is the latest trend and Nigeria must leverage on these things for a refined economy”.

She said the firm is supporting the forum basically because Accenture believes in the future of the youth and is poised at helping them become employable through enhanced IT skills.

“Accenture supports technology and innovation; just as Accenture is part of this forum in terms of sponsorship, to raise employable youths through IT. “Our aim is to support young ones with innovative ideas and other initiatives in Nigeria, so that technology can actually grow in the country,” she added.

Traditional banking may end 2025, experts warn

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ECHNOLOGY experts have predicted that between 2025 and 2030, a market economy could readily emerge in Nigeria and the entire sub-Saharan Africa, doing away with traditional banks.

They have, therefore, urged banks to embrace technology and redefine their operations models to meet the emerging demographic and social change or lose relevance, as more core banking services would be delivered outside the regulated banking industry.

The experts warned that the current shape and make up of the banking industry in Africa and, particularly in Nigeria, is inevitably going to change. The sheer scope and speed of evolution in customer behaviour, technology, changing market dynamics and aggressive nonbank competitors such as telcos and technology companies meant banking in the future cannot simply be a continuation of banking as it has been.

Industry stakeholders, in-

By Lucas Ajanaku

cluding bankers, financial analysts, risks analysts and financial technologists, who spoke during the eNNovators Breakfast Series (EBS) 10, organised by Financial Technology, magazine agreed that for banks to continue to be relevant, their management should invest heavily in technology, rediscover and reassert their roles in society and connect with millennial generation aspirations.

With 2025: the End of banking as we know IT as its theme, the experts agreed that central banks across Africa require a radical orientation, adding that the central banks need to change their mindset and approach, as currently banking regulators appear to be focused on tactical responses and their strategic objectives for the future of banks and banking are clouded by political expediency and the ‘too big to fail’ debate.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Innovectives, an epayment company, Emmanuel Agha, who pre-

sented the lead paper, which is a summary of PricewaterHouseCoopers (PwC) research on “The future shape of banking - Time for Reformation of Banking Institutions”, explained that banks are facing rapid and irreversible changes of which the current models are no longer sustainable into the future.

According to him, while the PwC paper did not look at the end of banking as a grouping of services focused on meeting financial needs, it is imperative to look at the end of banking and banks as we currently know them. He warned that a failure to adapt could also mean the end of some regulatory bodies and instruments.

He explained that the substitution of non-bank providers of banking services is a challenge, which does not reflect in banking regulatory frameworks, or yet – fully at least – in policy and regulatory change agendas.

Agha argued that, “the challenges and dilemmas posed by the parallel changes in

technology, customers and revolution are not confined to the incumbent banks or even the non-bank pretenders. Banking policy and regulatory community would face its own challenges and struggle for relevance”.

Quoting from the research, Agha painted a future with three fundamental hypotheses.

The first is a future in which core banking service delivered outside of the regulated banking industry. The second is a situation where banks still have advantages but – to be part of the future – they need to invest heavily, rediscover and reassert their core role in society, and secure the ongoing support of policymakers The third harped on regulators, regulation and the need to radically change orientation, realignment “from policing to protecting and with public policy shifting its focus – to some extent – from institutions to markets and services”.

Managing Partner, Grand Central, Chinenye MbaUzoukwu, who presented a supporting paper, noted that

bankers were challenged intellectually and managerially to respond to a socio-economic formation undergoing radical change.

According to him: “A banker is challenged to claim a role in the emerging dispensation or be shunted aside by the more professional group outside the sector. He faces the task of redefining his roles and relationship; his competition and alliances; his goals and mission. His key resources in this new dispensation are information technology.”

He stated that one might state unequivocally that the extent to which “a financial institution commits to, and implement a pervasive deployment of IT tools and strategies will be the primary indices for accessing growth and longevity in the new dispensation”.

OUR ERROR The Business cover today, (Page 25) is not the scheduled one. It is a misrepresentation. This ought to be the correct page. The error is regretted. Editor

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

55

MONEYLINK

NEXIM Bank offers N300b guarantee to exporters

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HE Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) has disclosed that it is offering N300 billion as funding support to Nigerian exporters in 2014. The fund is part of its commitment to boost credible non-oil exports for the country.

Speaking at the 2014 Nigeria Nonoil Export and Investment Development Conference organised by Business Journal in Lagos, NEXIM Bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Roberts Orya, said that the bank has been working on deepening export-import trade and attracting foreign investments.

Orya, who was represented by the Head of Strategic Planning of NEXIM, Tayo Omidigi, said that

Stories by Collins Nweze

over $1.3 billion in foreign exchange has been facilitated through the bank, financially intervened in guarantees with over N100 billion and created 2,000 direct jobs.

He stressed the need for the diversification of the economy, away from oil and the importance to promote the non-oil sector, urging stakeholders to look deeply into avenues that will induce growth to develop the sector.

He regretted that the country failed to invest in the non-oil sector especially in oil palm, as Nigeria has low agriculture productivity.

According to him, in other countries, 10 per cent or more of their

FCMB restates commitment to oil sector growth

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CMB Capital Markets Limited, the investment banking arm of FCMB Group Plc, has restated its commitment to enabling the realisation of Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves growth agenda by actively supporting indigenous operators.

The Executive Director of FCMB Capital Markets Limited, Mr. Tolu Osinibi, stated this at the Oil Council World Assembly 2014 conference that held in London on 17 and 18 November. The Oil Council World Assembly is the largest business network platform for oil and gas leaders and other stakeholders across the globe.

Speaking at the conference, Osinibi stated that “FCMB Group’s support of the oil and gas industry remains strong”. He explained that the financial institution’s involvement in the sector “is in line with our commitment to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth”.

He added that the ongoing structural shifts in the industry, especially assets divestment by the international oil companies in the past few years, has resulted in a significant increase in participation of indigenous operators across the industry value chain and the consequent increase in investment in the industry that will happen over the next few years as the acquirers develop the assets bought. FCMB has played, and will continue to play a significant role in supporting the growth of the industry by arranging appropriate financing for operators to enable them execute their projects.

Commenting on FCMB’s participation at the Oil Council World Assembly, he explained, “our presence and active participation at the conference as well as being a co-sponsor, reflects our focus on being a strategic partner to key stakeholders across the industry value chain.

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

152.19 9.17 1.12 1.19 2,237.65 1.39 1,710.65 1,092.63 115.26 121.16 1,117.51 1.2147 1.2858 0.7802 1.0972

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

C/PRICE 24.40 157.47 1.79 1.05 0.63 43.58 2.13 5.76 3.02 4.12

1,116.70 1.2072 1.2858 0.7666 1.0972

Speaking at the event, Regional Manager, South-South, Ecobank Nigeria, Chinedu Ibe, said the essence of the promo was to reward the bank’s customers. He noted that it was also part of financial Inclusion strategy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “This is an opportunity to reward our customers who have been doing business with us and also to encourage people to join the banking populace.”

Explaining the dynamics of the promo, Product Manager, Liability Products, Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs. Mrs. Osinuga Mofoluwaso, said the draws was in two categories for Classic and Advantage customers. According to her, to qualify for classic or advantage category, customers must have a minimum balance of N10, 000 and N50, 000 respectively. She stressed that the more a custome saves the more chances he/she has to win any of the prizes.

DATA BANK

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

CHANGE 2.20 10.07 0.10 0.05 0.03 2.07 0.10 0.27 0.14 0.19

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

28.00

26.60

-1.40

6.55

6.23

-0.32

11.40

10.85

-0.55

0.67

0.64

-0.03

WAPIC

F

IRST set of winners have emerged in Ecobank Giant Prize Giveaway promo which was unveiled in September to reward existing and new customers of the bank who actively operate their current and savings accounts. The regional draws held in Port Harcourt saw 21 customers carting home various prizes including inverters, IPAD Air, Smart phones; air-conditioners, generating sets, LED televisions, mobile phones and washing machines.

Some of the winners contacted on phone during the draw were full of excitement, describing Ecobank as customer-centric bank. In particular, Samson Sunday Ochowei of Mission Road 1, Bonny Branch who won a washing machine, said Ecobank’s service delivery cannot be rivalled in the industry. “Ecobank to me offers personalised services. One is always encouraged to do business with the bank. I will continue to bank with Ecobank.”

Transaction Dates 17/11/2014 10/11/2014 06/11/2014

INTBREW UAC-PROP

Winners emerge in Ecobank Giant Prize Giveaway promo

ANSARD Insurance Plc has emerged the first place overall winner in Insurance & Pensions category at the 2014 Nigerian Risk Awards which held in Lagos.

Also, Omokayode Oluwole of the Enterprise Risk Management Unit of Mansard emerged the First Runner Up for the Risk Manager of the Year award. The Nigerian Risk Awards organised by Conrad Clark Nigeria Ltd in collaboration with Business Day and UK Institute of Risk Management is dedicated to rewarding organisations and individuals who have achieved results through the effective implementation of enterprise risk management principles.

Winners were chosen by a panel of 18 high calibre judges from Risk Management Consultants background in the UK, USA, Cyprus, Germany and Nigeria.

Initiatives deployed by the company which were key to its emergence as the first place overall winner in Insurance & Pensions category include, reinforcement of risk culture & awareness and building of capacity through communication and training, both local and overseas.

Also at the fourth edition of Marketing World Awards which held on November 7, 2014 at Oriental Hotel, Mansard Insurance plc was adjudged Insurance Brand of the year.

The Marketing World Awards is an annual event organised by Instinct Wave Group to reward, recognise and celebrate companies with outstanding marketing initiatives.

In the same vein, the Nigerian Stock Exchange has recognised Mansard Insurance plc as one of the companies quoted on the exchange with outstanding corporate governance performance endorsed and recognised amongst seven other pilot companies.

This was disclosed by the NSE when it announced its newly introduced Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS).

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS)

LOSERS AS AT 25-11-14

DANGFLOUR

M

•Orya

Bid Price

GAINERS AS AT 25-11-14

SYMBOL O/PRICE PZ 22.20 TOTAL 147.40 UBCAP 1.69 VONO 1.00 NEM 0.60 FLOURMILL 41.51 LIVESTOCK 2.03 DIAMONDBNK 5.49 AFRIPRUD 2.88 UPL 3.93

budgets are allocated to agriculture while Nigeria budgets about three per cent to the sector resulting in persistent low records in the raw solid minerals of the non-oil sector.

Orya further listed the non-availability of long-term funds, poor infrastructure and transportation constraints as part of factors that have continued to hamper trade and investment with other countries.

Speaking on the theme, “Nigeria – Beyond Oil and Gas,” the Group Managing Director of Mutual Benefit Group, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, decried that Nigeria’s dependence on oil over the years has adversely affected its agriculture.

Mansard recognised for governance role

CHANGE

Inflation: October

8.1%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b) Money Supply (M2)

Currency

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

CBN EXCHANGE RATES November 21, 2014

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

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

NAHCO

4.90

4.70

-0.20

CUTIX

1.47

1.41

-0.06

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

CONTINSURE

0.93

0.90

-0.03

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

FIDELITYBK

1.66

1.63

-0.03

UBN

8.15

8.11

-0.04

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

SKYEBANK

2.47

2.46

-0.01

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

56

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY SUMMARY AS AS AT AT 24--11-14 25-07-14 DAILY

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-11-14

T

Stock Exchange delists Starcomms, Big Treat, two others

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has delisted Starcomms Plc, Big Treat Plc, Afroil Plc, and Pinnacle Point Group over their failure to restructure their operations and improve their corporate governance.

The Exchange had in June 2014 issued a three-month notice of compulsory delisting to 24 companies. Out of the list, one company had fully complied with the NSE’s listing status while 14 companies had taken some steps to redress their situation. On October 14, the Exchange also issued a onemonth final delisting notice to nine companies that failed to regularize their listing status after the initial notice of compulsory delisting.

The Nation had earlier reported that four out of the then outstanding nine defaulters had taken steps to regularise their operations.

The delisting of four companies confirmed the exclusive story.

The NSE yesterday stated that the delisting was due to non compliance with provisions of the listings rules of the Exchange and pursuant to Clause 15 of the General Undertaking.

According to the NSE, the four companies were delisted because they failed to take any appropriate steps to

regularise their listing status.

“The notice provided a three- month window for each of the affected listed companies to regularize its listing status with the Exchange.

Subsequently, a final delisting notice was published on Tuesday, October 14, 2014. As of today, one of the affected companies has fully regularized its listing status. Further, 19 companies have taken some steps to regularize their listing status. The Exchange will continue to engage these 19 companies with a view to bringing them into compliance with their post listing obligations,” the NSE stated.

parts and regulators to contribute to the association's rich legacy and promote African stock markets.

He outlined that his administration would focus on four key strategic objectives to support the effective mobilization of capital for economic development and realise the mission and vision of ASEA. These strategic objectives included strengthening of the Association's governance, financial and reporting framework; promotion of sustainable development of African capital markets; facilitation of an increase in market access at the

regional level and promotion of cross-listing among African Exchanges; and alignment of the goals of African capital markets with those of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Besides the NSE, other members of the new executive committee included the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), Casablanca Stock Exchange (CASA), The Egyptian Exchange (EGX), Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE), Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), and Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

Onyema leads African Exchanges

C

HIEF executive officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema, has been elected as the President of African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA). This decision was reached at the Executive Committee meeting of ASEA after its 18th Annual General Meeting in Diana, Kenya. Mr. Karim Hajji, the chief executive officer of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, was also elected as the deputy president of the Association.

In his remarks, Onyema promised to work with ASEA members, global counter-

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

NEWS

Buhari: Jonathan not ready for free elections Continued from page 4

conducted, they will go to any length to hold on to office.

“We are swiftly approaching a telling moment in our history. The crumbling PDP government is trying its utmost to stop the irresistible force of the people’s desire for progressive change that will establish peace and security as well as bring widely-shared prosperity for all.

“The PDP knows the APC is the vehicle to bring this change; thus the PDP is doing all it can to damage that vehicle. The

APC is an idea whose time has come because we are committed to govern Nigeria as if it were a great nation and not to destroy it as if it were a conquered country.”

Gen. Buhari said the APC would not accept anything other than free and fair elections in 2015.

The statement said: “Nigerians are watching. The APC, for one, will seek free and fair elections. Nothing more, nothing less. The APC will also abide by the results of such elections.

However, we will not stand idly and watch this govern-

ment dismantle even the small, incomplete fragments of democracy this nation has struggled so hard and long to build.

“To allow this demolition will be more than a tragedy for the APC. It will separate the nation from its future greatness.

“We shall use all legal and constitutional means – from the courts, to the press, to protests – to alert the people and world to the shadow this government seeks to cast over the nation, and we shall use these same means to disperse that shadow so that free and fair elections can be had.”

CBN devalues naira

Continued from page 4

itor it while also using other means to tighten it.”

He added: “What we did was necessarily not to alter the rates of the CRR but what we did was that we operated through the Open Market Operation to tighten. We felt that having gone this far and we needed to continue to ensure that the cost of liquidity management is moderated, we needed to go through the means of tightening the CRR where the cost of the liquidity management would be reduced a little.”

The CBN governor also took a swipe at the recent decision to reduce the budgetary benchmark price for crude oil sales to $73, describing the benchmark price as “overly optimistic”.

According Emefiele, “available data shows that a number of six-month oil futures are currently signed at below US$70/ barrel while improvements in technology have driven down the break-even cost of shale oil production to an average range of US$52-US$70 per barrel. In the light of this development, the Committee is of the view that the oil price benchmark of US$73/ barrel proposed in the 2015 Federal Government budget may be overly optimistic, requiring considerable caution on the budget’s revenue projections.”

A weak public finance, he explained, “may impinge adversely on growth prospects as it shows up in reduction in critical public and private consumption and investment spending.”

The apex bank helmsman noted that the CBN was “not that

T

optimistic that this drop will not continue, particularly given what is happening in the Middle East, the fact that, for instance, if Iran reaches a deal with the USA and the other stakeholders that they are negotiating ways to ensure that the supply of crude oil into the market will further increase, it will prick further reduction in crude prices and also have adverse consequence on the economy”.

“That is why the committee feels that we need to put it on notice that the $73 per barrel anchor benchmark for the budget is not pessimistic enough. I think there is need to be first pessimistic so that you protect your downside rather than being optimistic and leaving your downside open and when the risk eventually occur you found out that you have a problem.”

To defend its position, members of the Committee noted that “unlike in previous episodes, the current downturn in oil prices is not transitory but appears to be permanent; being a product of technological advancement.

Currently, the USA which use to be Nigeria’s former major oil export destination now meets on average 80 per cent of its domestic oil demand from local shale oil retorting technology production and exports over 8 million barrels of crude oil daily.

The MPC also “found credence in the permanency theory of current oil price dynamics in the fact that the political restiveness in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has not created uncertainty in oil supplies as both Libya and Iraq (Southern) have open and strong

supply lines in the market. A nuclear deal with Iran could further complicate the situation, opening up the supply space for new oil supplies from Iran.”

In the Committee’s view, “the softening crude oil prices could provide necessary leverage for the fiscal authority to reduce budgetary outlays on fuel subsidy and channel such savings to growth enhancing sectors of the economy” in order words the CBN is tacitly in support of the reduction or withdrawal of subsidy on fuel as it currently stands.

On the impact of the European Central Bank (ECB) decisions on Nigerian market, the CBN governor said the view of the apex bank “is that no doubt different events in different parts of the world will naturally have its impacts on different economies”. “What we are concerned about at the moment is to ensure that we take measures that will effectively protect our economy and ensure that we are able to reasonably withstand those shocks when they arise.”

On what to expect in 2015, Emefiele said “fiscal measures have been introduced by the fiscal authorities. We will continue to monitor the situation.

What I foresee is that the tightening measure would continue unless we see improvement in the global environment, particularly in the area of oil price where we appear to have some vulnerability. We would continue to monitor and what I am trying to say is that we will continue the resistance stance of tightening.”

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

“I can tell you that the Senate was very impressed with the response from the military and like I said, the military has shown itself to be capable of dealing with the insurgency.

“The question of the state of emergency was not what was on the table today and we are going to wait until it is brought to the floor of the Senate, then, we will discuss it.

“When the Senate takes the question of the State of Emergency, of course, you will be there because it would be discussed in the open plenary.

“I think what happens with the State of Emergency is there in the Constitution.

On the speculation of impeachment process against President Goodluck Jonathan, Abaribe refused to comment describing it all as “rumour.”

Service Chiefs at the parley included Chief of Army Staff Lt.General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu and Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) Ita Ekpenyong.

Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba and Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh did not attend.

Military insists on state of emergency HE Armed Forces yesin Adamawa, Borno, Yobe terday insisted on the

continuation of state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

This was the highlight of about eight-hour executive session the Senate held with Service Chiefs in Abuja yesterday.

It was gathered that the military top brass who attended the meeting insisted that continuation of state of emergency in the states was the only way the country could win the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

Senate President David Mark said after the meeting that they discussed extensively with the military top brass.

The upper chamber, Mark said, noted the challenges and progress made by the Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency in the NorthEast.

“Let me say that it has been a very robust discussion ,” Mark said.

He noted that the Senate planned to discuss the Thursday invasion of the National Assembly yesterday but could not because of the interaction with Service Chief. It will now be taken today.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and

Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnya Abaribe, said the Senate spent more than eight hours interacting with the Service Chiefs . the discussion he said was “very frank and very detailed.”

The Senate spokesperson said that they were impressed with the responses they received from the Service Chiefs.

He said the military has shown that it is capable of dealing and winning the war against insurgency.

He assured that the Senate and indeed the National Assembly had resolved to assist the military to win the war on insurgency.

On the extension of state of emergency, he said that it was not discussed since it was not on the table.

He said, “We looked into what have been the constraints of the Nigeria military in dealing with the insurgency.

“We also looked into the budgetary provision for them and we looked into what has been done so far by the military in containing the insurgency.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS Tunisia polls: Essebsi, Marzouki for run-off

Kenyan villagers flee to Army base after Al-Shabab killings

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T

UNISIA’S presidential election will go to a run-off after no candidate secured an overall majority in the first round of voting, official results have shown.

Beji Caid Essebsi of the secular-leaning Nidaa Tounes party came first with 39 per cent of the vote, ahead of interim leader Moncef Marzouki (33 per cent).

More than 25 candidates were competing to become the North African country’s first freely elected president.

It follows the ousting of long-time leader Zine elAbedine Ben Ali in 2011.

The presidential election is viewed as a landmark in Tunisia’s transition to democracy since then.

Under a constitution passed earlier this year, the president will have limited powers in a political system dominated by parliament.

The president will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but can appoint or sack senior officers only in consultation with the prime minister.

The president will also set

•Essebsi

•Marzouki

foreign policy in consultation with the prime minister, represent the state and ratify treaties.

Mr Essebsi, whose party won the most seats in recent parliamentary elections, will turn 88 this week.

He held public office under both Mr Ben Ali and independence leader Habib Bourguiba and has based his appeal to voters on stability and experience, as well as a secular outlook.

Critics say he represents a return to the past.

Mr Marzouki, 69, was a prominent human rights activist forced into exile by the Ben Ali regime. He has been interim president of Tunisia

since 2011, having been elected by the national constituent assembly.

His focus during the election campaign was on transitional justice and a rejection of past authoritarian government.

The Islamist Ennahda party, which has been prominent in Tunisian politics since Mr Ben Ali was deposed, did not field or endorse a candidate in the election.

It came second in October’s parliamentary elections, losing out to Nidaa Tounes.

Analysts say many of its supporters are likely to back Mr Marzouki.

The run-off vote is expected to take place in December.

UNDREDS of people have fled to a military airstrip in Kenya’s Mandera region amid fears that militants could launch a new assault.

Many of them are non-Muslim civil servants who are demanding that the government evacuate them from the region, a BBC reporter says.

Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab gunmen killed 28 people in a bus attack on Saturday.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta is under growing pressure to end attacks by the group.

Al-Shabab is based in neighbouring Somalia, but has stepped up attacks in Kenya since 2011, when Kenya sent troops across the border to help battle the militants.

The BBC’s Wanyama Chebusiri, in Nairobi, says the opposition and some ruling party MPs are calling for an overhaul of Kenya’s security agencies, including the dismissal of Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku and police chief David Kimaiyo.

About 100 people protested in Nairobi on Tuesday, chanting “Mr President, we demand security.

Mr Ole Lenku has flown to the restive Mandera region in an attempt to allay the concerns of people, our reporter says.

There are no reports of a specific threat, but many people in Mandera are worried that al-Shabab could strike again, especially as the festive season approaches, he adds.

Six unions - including those representing doctors, teachers and civil servants - have advised members to leave until security forces can ensure their safety.

The call could affect more than 10,000 teachers and 16,500 civil servants in major towns such as Mandera, Wajir and Garissa, Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper reports.

“Their lives are clearly in danger,” Kenya Union of Teachers leader Wilson Sossion is quoted as saying.

“We have already lost enough members of the teaching force and can’t risk any

further,” he added.

Our reporter says 20 of the 28 killed in the bus attack were teachers who were returning to their homes for the Christmas holidays, following the closure of schools.

Many of the teachers, doctors and government officials who work in Mandera are from other parts of Kenya and no longer want to stay in the north-east, which borders Somalia and has been badly affected by al-Shabab’s insurgency, our correspondent adds.

Hundreds of people have left their homes with their belongings and are now camping at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) airstrip, demanding that they be given safe passage out of Mandera, he says.

Deputy President William Ruto has said the military has killed more than 100 alShabab militants linked to the bus attack.

The armed forces carried out two operations in Somalia, destroying equipment and a camp from which the bus attack was planned, he said.

Ebola: Sierra Leone’s workers dump bodies

B

URIAL workers in the Sierra Leonean city of Kenema have dumped bodies in public in protest at non-payment of allowances for handling Ebola victims.

The workers, who went on strike over the issue, left 15 bodies abandoned at the city’s main hospital.

One of the bodies was reportedly left by the hospital manager’s office and two others by the hospital entrance.

The workers have now been sacked for treating the corpses in a “very, very in-

humane” way, an official said.

Sierra Leone is one of the countries worst affected by this year’s Ebola outbreak, with more than 1,200 deaths.

Kenema is the third largest city in Sierra Leone and the biggest in the east, where the Ebola outbreak first emerged in the country.

The burial workers told a BBC reporter they had not been paid agreed extra risk allowances for October and November.

The BBC’s Umaru Fofana in Freetown says the bodies have now been taken away

but the workers had refused to end their strike.

A spokesman for the government’s National Ebola Response Centre, Sidi Yahya Tunis, said the workers had been sacked not for striking, but for indiscipline by treating the corpses in a “very, very inhumane” manner.

He said there would be an investigation into why workers had not been paid, since both the government and World Bank had released money for high-risk pay to district health management teams.

“Somebody somewhere has to investigate where these monies have been going, who have been paid these monies... Action will definitely be taken against those who delayed their pay,” Mr Tunis told the BBC.

•Residents and relatives searching the rubble for survivors

Cairo building collapse kills 17

A

BLOCK of flats has collapsed in Egypt’s capital, Cairo, killing at least 17 people, officials say.

Seven people were also injured when the eight-storey building in the western suburb of Matariya collapsed overnight.

Emergency services chief Gen Mamdouh Abdul Qader said rescue workers were searching through the rubble for 15 people who were believed to be trapped.

The residents of four near-

by buildings have been evacuated as a precaution.

In January 2013, the collapse of an eight-storey block of flats in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria left 28 people dead.

Locals say the block of flats collapsed in seconds, killing residents as they slept. At the scene we saw rescue workers searching beneath mounds of rubble and concrete, some digging with their bare hands.

Neighbours told us the

building was originally three storeys high and had wooden supports, rather than concrete ones.

Several more floors were added - two of them illegally, according to officials. Several years ago the authorities told the residents to go, but that order was ignored.

Campaigners say unauthorised construction and lack of oversight mean many residential buildings in Egypt are death traps.

Pope warns of ‘haggard Europe’

P

OPE Francis has warned that the world sees Europe as “somewhat elderly and haggard” during a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The Pope said the continent felt “less and less a protagonist”, in a world that regarded it with mistrust.

He also called for a “united response” to help the boatloads of migrants arriving in Europe.

Pope Francis’s whistle-stop visit to Strasbourg disgruntled some, who accused him of neglecting Europe.

Many of Strasbourg’s Catholics were upset that the Pope would not meet them or visit

the city’s cathedral.

The four-hour visit - the shortest made by any Pope abroad - was his second European trip since his election last year. He travelled to Albania in September.

Addressing the Parliament on Tuesday, the Pope called for action following the deaths of thousands of migrants who have drowned while trying to cross the Mediterranean.

“We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery,” he said.

“The absence of mutual support within the European Union runs the risk of encouraging... solutions which fail to take into account the human

dignity of immigrants, and thus contribute to slave labour and continuing social tensions.”

The treatment of migrants was a subject he also touched on during a second speech at the Council of Europe, Europe’s main human rights body.

His remarks came as the Greek authorities said they were trying to rescue a cargo ship, believed to be carrying some 500 migrants, that was adrift off the eastern Mediterranean island of Crete.

The Pope also used his visit to Strasbourg to call for the creation of jobs and better conditions for workers.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

NFF Appeals Committee’s verdict next week

N

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick will in the next seven days find out if he will remain in office or face a new election as the Electoral Appeals Committee will announce their decisions next week.

A top official of the NFF Electoral Appeals Committee exclusively told AfricanFootball.com: "Our ruling should be out in the next seven days.

"We want to do a thorough job. We should have push out the ruling this week but my col-

leagues in the committee attended the Federation Cup final in Lagos at the weekend and that has delayed our sitting a little.

"But hopefully our ruling would be out next week."

The appeals committee conducted a public hearing to lis-

ten to several appeals against the September 30 polls in Warri.

The petitioners included Iyke Igbokwe, Suleyman Muazu and Sani Fema.

Igbokwe has already alleged there is pressure on the committee by some top government officials to throw out his petition.

Aguero scores hat-trick in Man City’s win

S

• Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates with teammate James Milner (r) after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League clash last night

Eriksson eyes Aaron Samuel

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EWLY appointed Shanghai East Asia manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, is hopeful of landing the signature of Aaron Samuel in the January transfer window, SL10.ng can reveal.

Shanghai East Asia have made contact with the attacker, and the club have firmed up their interest by offering him a threeyear contract, which is being studied by his agent.

Having said that, Aaron Samuel and his camp have reservations about the striker continuing his career in the Chinese Super League next season, meaning Sven Goran Eriksson needs to convince him to accept the proposal.

Russian, German and Turkish clubs are also watching Aaron Samuel with interest, after putting himself in the shop window during the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, where he netted

• Samuel

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS CSKA Man City APOEL PSG Schalke BATE Shakhtar

1-1 3-2 0-4 3-1 0-5 0-3 0-1

Roma Bayern Barcelona Ajax Chelsea FC Porto Bilbao

two goals in four matches for the Super Eagles.

And based on the average wages earned by players in the aforementioned countries, the teams can match his 650,000 euros per season take-home pay.

“I can't say right now the teams in Russia and Turkey that are interested in Aaron Samuel.

China is a big league also. He will

leave China if we have a club that can pay both what Guangzhou R&F and Aaron wants,” Atta Aneke, who represents Samuel told SL10.ng.

In 2014, Aaron Samuel chalked up 8 goals for Guangzhou R&F, and this is supplemented by his five strikes for Norwegian team Sarpsborg 08 prior to his move to China.

FIRSTBANK AMATEUR OPEN GOLF C'SHIP

Eze emerges champion

M

ONDAY Eze of the prestigious Ikoyi Golf Club on Sunday emerged winner of the 53rd edition of the FirstBank Lagos Amateur Golf Championships, which took place at the Ikoyi Golf Club, Lagos.

Eze who came close to winning last year, had a total gross of 152 to beat Milo Ajah of the Ikeja Golf Club to the second place.

Ajah’s total gross was 155; Uche Eze of Ibadan Golf Club with a gross of 155 came third.

The championship started on Friday and ended Sunday evening with a dinner party where winners in all categories were presented with beautiful prizes.

About 100 amateur golfers from all the nook and crannies of Nigeria participated in the championship.

The oldest and most prestigious golf tournament in West Africa, this edition like the previous ones was preceded by a coaching clinic on Saturday for children above the age of 14years and adults interested in improving their skills. They were tutored by the duo of Joakim Rasik and Bjorn Pettersson, both, PGA members.

Speaking after the championship, First Bank’s Head of Sponsorship and Events, Bridget Oyefeso assured that the bank

By Adeyinka Adedipe will continue to support the development of sports in Nigeria.

She said, “I am very proud that First Bank is sponsoring this tournament which is well sought after and we look forward to more years of partnership with Ikoyi Club. We have thoroughly and hugely invested in sports over the years and we have supported a lot of junior clinics and even sponsored two of the junior golfers to the UK to participate in an international competition.”

Oyefeso also noted that the bank is looking forward to exposing subsequent winners of the championship to international tournaments in order to help.

• Eduok with FA Cup MVP award recently

ERGIO Aguero's hattrick handed Manchester City a dramatic 3-2 win over Bayern Munich to give them a major boost in their bid for qualification for the Champions League knockout phase.

Aguero's first half penalty was cancelled out by Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski strikes before half time, but the Argentinian striker pounced on two late mistakes to hand City all three points.

In the ninth minute, Arjen Robben's mazy run across the edge of the box ended with a scooped pass towards goal which found Sebastian Rode, who was only denied by a good Joe Hart save.

Franck Ribery then saw his goalbound shot bravely blocked by a combination of City defenders, but just seconds later the game swung in the favour of the home side.

Aguero collected Frank Lampard's through ball and just as he was about to shoot, Medhi Benatia scythed down the striker inside the box and earned himself a red card.

The Argentinian striker picked himself up to plant the spot kick beyond the reach of Manuel Neuer and hand the Citizens the lead.

Eduok to miss Siasia’s screening

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OLPHINS’ FC goal poacher, Emem Eduok will not be part of Wednesday’s screening exercise for the National U23 team in Abuja.

Eduok was listed in Batch B of a group of players to strut their stuff for places in next year’s All Africa Games and Olympic Games team but it seems that will not happen for now.

In Sunday’s Federation Cup final against Enyimba, Eduok received a knock after an Enyimba defender went hard on him in the second half.

Though he was able to complete the game, he may have to rest his legs as he left the pitch after the game limping.

“I will show myself to the coaches in Abuja as a sign of good faith so they know I want to be part of the team. I would have loved to be part of the training but I do not want to aggravate the injury which does not seem very serious right now,” Eduok said.

“I want to believe that Samson Siasia and the rest of the coaching crew will call me up again at some other time.”

Emem Eduok scored twenty five goals this season, twenty in the League and four in the Federation Cup with Dolphins and one for the national team.

• Akpom

Man City, Spurs, Everton chase Chuba Akpom

T

OTTENHAM Hotspur are monitoring the transfer situation of Anglo - Nigerian starlet Chuba Akpom, the Daily Star has claimed.

The contract of the Arsenal striker will expire at the end of this season, and the Gunners brass are doing all they can to convince him to renew the agreement.

Aware of the fact that he is

down the pecking order of forwards at the Emirates, the England youth international is reportedly weighing the pros and cons of extending his stay at the Emirates.

The 19 - year - old has been on the books of Arsenal since the age of 8.

Chuba Akpom has not made an appearance for the Londoners in the Premier League since the start of this season.

Etisalat for Ghana Corporate Soccer Championship

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ELECOMMUNICATION giant, Etisalat has emerged the champion of the second edition of the Nigeria Corporate Soccer Champions Cup, following a 2-0victory over Chevron in the final match played at Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos.

With the victory, the winner will slug it out against Samsung in Ghana at a yet to be fixed date in December. Samsung was the champion of the Corporate Soccer Ghana.

To emerge champion in the championship, described as highly competitive by the commissioner for budget in Lagos, Ben Akabueze, Etisalat defeated EMTS Group in the semi final by 2-0 before lifting the giant trophy with the same margin over last year's runners up, Chevron.

Chevron got to the final by 5-4 via penalty shootout over championship debutant, Kings Pride Group, while the bronze medal went to EMTS who defeated Kings Pride Group by a lone

goal in a very keenly contested match before a fairly large crowd at the same venue.

Speaking after the trophy presentation, an elated Etisalat captain, Andrew Enebeli Dre, Manager, Service Delivery, having expressed happiness and excitement at emerging champions, appreciated the fighting spirit and good football artistry displayed by other teams. He said the team will try its best not to disappoint in Ghana.

"All I can say is that we shall go to Ghana and make Nigeria proud and I commend the organisers of this championship for the initiatives and the success recorded during the championship”, he said.

Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Soccer Nigeria (CORPSON), Onome Obruthe, while speaking, thanked the teams and the players as well as the companies that participated and assured that the championship will grow bigger and bigger in the next edition.

Chivita, Manchester United partnership thrill fans

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OOTBALL fans across Nigeria have commended the management of Chi Limited on the recent signing of a multi-year partnership deal with Manchester United football club of England.

The fans were especially delighted that the partnership will ensure nourishment that Chivita 100% fruit juice, will add more excitement to the game. A cross section of football fans interviewed to, commended the initiative as a step in the right direction.

“My husband and son are huge Manchester United fans and their love of the legendary club is only matched by their desire for Chivita 100% fruit juice. My daughter and I have always been huge fans of Chivita 100% as well. We have equally become fans of Manchester United club in solidarity with the males in the family. This partnership is truly heartwarming for our family” said Mrs. Shade Balogun, a middle aged mother of two who resides in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.

According to Olalekan Andu, a passionate Chelsea football fan, “we need to see more brands

stepping up to support the game of football. The partnership which Chivita 100% has entered into with Manchester United, will no doubt add more excitement to the game. I regularly take Chivita 100% for its refreshing taste and health benefits and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future” Also, Michael Ibeneme, an athlete and professed Liverpool fan, noted that as an athlete himself he takes Chivita 100% for its refreshing taste and health benefits for optimum performance. “I feel very comfortable recommending the fruit juice to fellow athletes like myself as well as football supporters across the country” he added Speaking on the partnership deal, Chi Limited’s Head of Marketing, Probal Bhattacharya said “Chivita 100% and our other brands always had the privilege of being part of life’s special moments. Through this partnership, Chivita 100% will also be an active part of the most exciting moments for football fans across Nigeria, during and beyond the games, always bringing the celebratory mood to life in a unique and refreshing manner.”

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9 NO.3,3044

‘Obviously, the reasons for Nigeria’s ultimately doomed qualifying campaign are many, but the hope is that by the time the next competitive engagement comes around, the football authorities would have imbibed enough lessons from this latest failure of grand proportions’ DELE AGEKAMEH

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

A

FTER the announcement a fortnight ago by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that it has suspended – abandoned, was more like it - its plan to create 30,000 additional polling units until after next year’s general election, it is obviously an academic exercise to still dwell on the subject. But then even academic exercises do have their uses; they do help at least to ensure the triumph of reason over sentiments, even if in the long run.

And on this subject of new polling units, I have no doubt that what we have seen is a classic case of the triumph of propaganda over fact. This much should be obvious to the reader after a careful consideration of the first reaction reproduced below to my piece on the subject last week.

Hakeem Kazeem’s is one of the several I received.

Kazeem’s, to me, is symptomatic of how statistics can be so easily deployed to bamboozle the credulous. Like so many who have spoken and written about the now abandoned new polling units because of the propaganda that its distribution was meant to favour the North which Professor Attahiru Jega, its chairman, comes from, Kazeem clearly assumes the existing ratio is just, fair and equitable to all sections of the country.

Even the most casual consideration of the figures in contention shows nothing could be further from the truth. The North, including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, has slightly over 40.5 million voters. Its existing polling units (PUs) are 63,368 or roughly 52% of the existing 121,348.

The South with 29,856,650 registered voters has 57,981 PUs, roughly 48% of the existing figure.

This clearly does injustice to the ratio of the voting population of the North which is 57.5% against the South’s 42.5% of the total of 70,383,428 registered voters.

This difference between the two regions hides the even more important detail of the distribution of the PUs among the states. In the South only Lagos and Edo have over 600 voters per PU. Delta, Rivers, Ogun, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Oyo and Cross River less than 600 with Ebonyi, the highest, at 571. The rest have far less than proposed minimum of 450. Indeed, Ekiti (313), Bayelsa (327) and Anambra (387), have less than 400 each.

The North is a study in contrast. The lowest number per PU is 512 for Kogi, with Jigawa a close second (515) and Gombe a not-so-distant third (545). Kano and Katsina have between 550 and 600. The rest have well over 600, with Plateau clinching the top prize at 791 and Niger not too far behind with 762.

However, the platinum medal goes to Abuja which has 1,588!

What all this meant was that the much ballyhooed increase of about 20,000 for the North as against 8,400 or so for the South would have only altered the current ratio of 52:48 in favour of the North to a new ratio of roughly 55.7:44.3.

This would have been more in accord with the spread of the country’s registered voters even though it still not fair and equitable enough. In absolute figures these would have been 83,600 PUs in the North as against 66,440 in the South.

Clearly the focus on the ratio of 3 to 1 increase in favour of the North, rather on the whole picture, was a deliberate statistical

RIPPLES

3 MILLION JOBS COMING–Fed Govt

Hmm, another JOB SCAM in the making

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Still on INEC’s abandoned new polling units

•Jega

sleight of hand by those afraid of a free and fair election to frighten the unwary into believing there is a plan afoot by INEC to rig the election in favour of any presidential candidate from the North.

Well, commission has made its decision but it was clearly a decision based on sentiments rather than the facts, as a close reading of some of the reactions to my piece last week reproduced below should convince the reader.

Sir, Your piece dated 19th of November portraying (Professor Attahiru) Jega as a victim of blackmail is jaundiced and misplaced. Granted that the North has a higher population than the South by as much as 5% as claimed by you, does that justify the huge disparity in the additional polling units awarded by Jega to the North as much as ratio 1-3 (over 33%)! Haba Mallam! As a true Muslim where is your sense of justice, equity and fairness? +2348023036314 Hakeem Kazeem, Sir, Jega may keep promising credible, free and fair elections based on his personal integrity and not that of the institution he is ‘driving’. The surest way to embarrass a professional driver is to hand over a malfunctioning car to him and block all possibilities of the car’s repairs. Let Jega prove otherwise come 2015 elections.

+2347034483605 Wankar Daniel.

Sir, I honestly think Jega should resign. The job has done an irreparable damage to his reputation. I used to trust his person and principles. But after what happened in Kaduna, Katsina and Bauchi in the 2011 elections I don’t feel the same about him. The abusive song that appeared after the 2011 elections, though I don’t subscribe to its contents, I share the frustration and anger of the singers. +2348033111000 Dr. M. L. Yahuza.

Sir, You speak as though you do not know the sensitivity of this matter. How many times has the South been short-changed just for peace to reign? You probably got your university education because a higher scouring Southerner was dropped to accommodate your state quota. The list goes on. The North cannot continue to trample roughshod on the South and the MiddleBelt under any guise. Even in states and local government creation it’s either equal or no distribution of new polling units. +2347032170069 Endee Anozie, Sir, I am a pioneer staff of INEC, now retired. Since the first voter registration was conducted in 1988 or thereabouts, all subsequent voter registration exercises have amounted to simply splitting and spreading the existing polling stations.

I am surprised Jega has succumbed to the pranks of Southern ethnic irredentists and chickened out of conducting a routine electoral exercise. +2348036177178 John Tyav, Makurdi.

Sir, I think Jega should have been resolute in creating the additional polling units albeit for a different reason. While Nigerian population figures remain in valid dispute, the large mass of the North is indisputable. The idea of a half empty North suggests some sort of dispersal of the population. So even on the basis of convenient access,

HARDBALL

A

N interesting picture of what may be described as the latest fashion accessory in the country’s corridor of power came through a noteworthy observation by The Punch presidency watcher, Olalekan Adetayo, who writes a weekly column called ASO ROCK Lens. He wrote recently: “As the 2015 presidential election draws nearer, President’s men are falling over one another to display their loyalty to the man who has been endorsed as the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.” Of course, he was speaking about President Goodluck Jonathan.

Adetayo continued: “One of the ways they are showing their loyalty is the way they attach pin-ups on their lapels and dresses in the case of women. Some of the lapels only have the President’s portrait. There are other pinups with only inscriptions such as ‘Goodluck to you’ among others.”

It would appear that Adetayo was speaking of promotional badges. To go by his observation, badge producers with the right political connections must be doing well; more specifically, badge makers who have the ear of the politically powerful must be laughing all the way to the bank, considering that, appar-

Aso Rock badge show ently, money is no object when it comes to the Jonathan re-election project. It stands to reason that if expense is no object, then providers of such items related to the Jonathan re-election ambition must be in paradise.

It is conceivable that, given the circumstances, those who are interested in profiting commercially from the opportunity would reach not only new heights of creativity but also new depths of desperation.

Instructively, Adetayo also observed: “The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs introduced another dimension to the matter when it produced digital pin-ups, seeking votes for the President. The item which is rechargeable has the message scrolling on the chest of whoever attaches it to his lapel.”

However, it is equally imaginable that the sycophantic badge wearers may also exhibit creativity and desperation. For instance, there could be individuals who would display more than one or two dif-

if we say we want a polling unit within a comfortable walking distance of every Nigerian, then the North may well have more than tenfold more polling units than the South.

What is key is finding a way (electronic voting) to ensure VALID voting. +2348098050590 Dr. Ogbuagu, Jos. Sir, It was the late Dr. Abel Goubadia that conducted the 2003 (elections) not Prof. Maurice Iwu as you mentioned in your column. +2348036466756 Muhammad Auta.

The error was corrected in the last copy I sent to the editors but it apparently failed to meet their deadline. The online editions contained the corrected paragraph which read: Obasanjo’s lamentation then was in defence of the terrible record of Professor Maurice Iwu, Jega’s predecessor, in his conduct of the 2007 elections which was more or less universally condemned as hardly free, fair and credible.

Obasanjo had replaced the late Mr Abel Goubadia, whose conduct of the 2003 election was adjudged even worse than that of 2007, with Iwu as INEC’s chairman in 2005.

MH Sir, Your column is always a delight to read. (However), I only want to correct a point in the 19th November edition. Chief Sunday Afolabi was never an Afenifere member talk less of being a chieftain. +2348056119569 Olalere Isola.

Sir, The late Chief Sunday Afolabi was not an Afenifere chieftain. He fell out with Awo’s political camp in the build up to 1983 general elections. He never returned. +2348030490107 Adebayo Salako.

Re: As President Jonathan declares his 2015 bid...

Sir, In fighting Boko Haram, you do not seem to have any role for Aliyu Gusau and Sambo Dasuki, the Defence Minister and NSA (National Security Adviser). Remember you pestered Owoeye Azazi until he died. So these two have no questions to answer in this war against insurgency? +2348023243751 Alabi Williams.

Sir, My question to you as a true and sincere Muslim if President Jonathan is to be a Muslim will you ask him to resign? +23480328905863.

Yes, I would. Twice, first, on September 20,2008 and second, December 2, 2009 I said the late President Umaru Yar’adua should resign from his job when it became obvious that he could not cope with the rigours of his office due to his failing health.

MH •For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above ferent badges, and wear them in ways thought to be maximally visible and effective.

Indeed, this observed publicity approach in the place of power reminds Hardball of the new age advertising concept known as “human billboard.” In effect, the badge wearers have chosen to play the role of billboards, but that isn’t all. They could also be seen as “mobile billboards”, another development in modern-day advertising. So, this particular activity of the advertisers of Jonathan and promoters of his presidential re-election dream may be considered a study in how to sell an unappealing product to an unwilling market. It is an example of high-pressure salesmanship.

Interestingly, it should not be surprising if the pro-Jonathan badges are regarded as emblems of allegiance in Aso Rock, where power seems to be all that matters and service to the people appears to be of no importance.

But beyond Aso Rock, these badges more likely suggest grovelling of a nauseating kind. Those who strut around wearing them must be small-minded men of straw, which includes the women too.

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Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO