October 13, 2014

Ex-NBA boss Wali kidnapped NEWS

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•Lawyers, others seek release

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Obasanjo to PDP: drug baron can’t be my leader Ex-president shuns party’s peace talks Kashamu: I’m not wanted in U.S.

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From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo rejected yesterday the peace moves by his party’s leadership, saying he cannot be in the same group with “a drug baron” wanted in the United States.

He urged President Goodluck Jonathan and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to do the “needful” instead of begging him for forgiveness.

Said Obasanjo “Today, Nigeria needs all hands on deck to deal with our pressing problems of security, including the issue of Chibok girls, widening inequality, infrastructure, impunity, corruption, poverty and youth education, skill acquisition, empowerment and employment.

“These are issues of concern to most Nigerians. We all need to join hands to move Nigeria forward. I don’t need to be begged for Continued on page 4

As a former President... I cannot accept that the zonal leader of my political party... will be an indicted drug baron wanted in America. How do I explain that to friends outside Nigeria?

–Obasanjo

I wish to state ...that I am not wanted by anyone. Even if that were the case, there are processes... and they are not subject to anyone’s whims and caprices...

—Kashamu

•The scene of the accident in which people, vehicles and houses were burnt...yesterday.

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

15 die in Ibadan tanker fire

ST OR Y STOR ORY ON P AGE 7 PA •Man loses wife, three kids •20 vehicles burnt •SEE

•THREE SOLDIERS APPEAL DEATH SENTENCE P6 •BOI GIVES N629B LOANS P6

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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NEWS

Outrage as e SANs, others seek colleague’s release

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•From left: Mrs Shade Ashafa; Mrs Oluranti Adebule;Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola;Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye;Mrs Ronke Gainu Solomon during the launch of a book “Issues and Ideas in Education in Nigeria” and investiture of Senator Tinubu as Pillar of Education in Africa in Lagos.

• President of Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN)/ GM, MTN Consumer Marketing, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi presenting the first runner up award for Brand Reporter of the Year 2014 to The Nation’s Brand Correspondent Adedeji Ademigbuji at ADVAN Marketing Excellence Award at the MUSON Centre in Lagos...at the weekend.

• From left: Senior Asset Manager David Agiddi; Senior Manager, Administration and Corporate AffairsPatricia Akinlotan; Senior Finance Manager Taiwo Osindero; Legal Manager Chinyere Owualah; Audit & Compliance Specialist Olisa Nnajiofor, all of Seven Energy at the Nigeria Cup 2014 Gala Night organised by Ikoyi Club 1938, Golf Section in Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

•From left: Mr Ayodele Odukomayaiya, Mrs Adetoun Odukomaiya, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State governorship aspirant, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, his wife Bolanle, Mr Tokunbo Odukomaiya and Mrs Kemi Odukomaiya at thecelebration of life of the late Mrs. Comfort Olufunmilayo Odukomaiya at the First African Church Mission, David Parish Poka in Epe, Lagos.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

HERE is outrage in the land over the kidnap of former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Okey Wali (SAN).

Wali was kidnapped at about 9pm on Saturday in Port Harcourt.

NBA, in a statement by its president Augustine Alegeh (SAN), said: “ The Nigerian Bar Association has just received shocking news that the 26th President, Okey Wali (SAN) was on Saturday 11th October, 2014 at about 9pm kidnapped by unknown persons in Port Harcourt.

“Wali is a man of peace who has not only contributed immensely to the enthronement of rule of law and protection of human rights, but also to the development of our Nation.

“It is, therefore, saddening that he should become a kidnap victim.

This sad event is yet another reminder of the state of insecurity in which all Nigerians live.

“The NBA calls on the Federal Government to step up efforts to fulfill its primary constitutional role of providing for the welfare and security of all Nigerians.

“We passionately appeal to his abductors for his immediate and safe release to his family.”

There is no demand for ransom yet.

The men of the Rivers Police Command, headed by Dan Bature, immediately swung into action and recovered Wali’s car, which was abandonned at the Ozuoba Junction on NTA-Choba Road in Port Harcourt, while still on trail of the kidnappers.

It was learnt that the kidnappers trailed Wali, a Rivers indigene, to Ozuoba Junction, stopped in front of his vehicle, shot into the air many times to scare other motorists and passersby in the densely-populated Ikwerre community and dragged him out of his car into their steaming vehicle and sped off to Choba River, beside UNIPORT, where he was whisked away in a speed boat to an unknown destination.

Rivers police spokesman Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, who confirmed the kidnap of the ex-NBA President by telephone, assured that efforts were being made to ensure his early release unhurt, while expressing optimism that the gunmen would soon be apprehended and prosecuted, to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded people.

Ahmad said: “Okey Wali was kidnapped while going home, sometime in the early hours of last night.

As soon as the police got the information of his abduction, we swung into action. His vehicle was recovered at Ozuoba. We are still on their trail, with a view of rescuing him safely and possible apprehension of his abductors.”

The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) yesterday added its voice to the call on security agencies to secure Wali’s release.

The group’s Vice President, Emeka Obegolu said, in a statement, that PALU received the news of Wali’s kidnap “with a sense of foreboding.”

It urged security agencies in the country “to ensure the immediate release of this committed African Bar leader and his safe return to his family.

“We call on his abductors to spare Okey Wali SAN from harm as his voice has remained constant against all the evils besieging Nigeria and the African continent. We join his

•Okey Wali

By John Austin Unachukwu, Joseph Jibueze, Eric Ikhilae, Abuja, Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt, Eric Ikhilae, Abuja, Adebisi Onanuga, and Precious Igbonwelundu

family and the NBA in prayers for his safe homecoming,” PALU said.

Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja, Monday Ubani have urged the federal government and the Rivers state government not leave any stone unturned in securing the release of the former of the association , Mr. Okey Wali (SAN) from the custody of the kidnappers.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, Falana said all hands must be on deck in combating the menace of abduction, armed robbery, terrorism and other violent crimes plaguing the society adding “these crimes should be fought and defeated like the Ebola virus. Apart from mobilizing security forces to end these dangerous crimes the government should fight illiteracy and unemployment in the country”.

He advised the leadership of the NBA to go beyond the usual issuance of a press statement in demanding for the immediate release of the senior lawyer from the custody of the kidnappers. He recalled that when Kayode Ajulo and Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN were kidnapped in the Federal Capital Territory and Edo state respectively, he called on the NBA “to embark on a symbolic protest with a view to compelling the federal government to halt the obscene commercialization in the liberty of unarmed Nigerians and foreigners alike by human traffickers. But the Wali-led NBA ignored my call”.

He noted that since then, hun-

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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NEWS

ex-NBA chief Wali is kidnapped

•Alegeh

•Quaker

dreds of people have been kidnapped in Rivers, Bayelsa and other states of the Federation. “In the north east zone women and girls have been seized and subjected to serial rape by their abductors. While the fundamental rights of abducted persons to life, liberty, dignity and freedom of movement were being violated by criminal gangs the NBA felt totally unperturbed.

“Even the barbaric assassination of lawyers and the primitive abduction of over 270 Chibok girls in Borno state did not worry the NBA. As it is now

•Falana

•Obayuwana

crystal clear that no citizen is safe in any part of the country, lawyers can no longer maintain questionable silence in the face of the from massive violations of the human rights of the people by lawless individuals”, he stated.

The erudite lawyer stated, “having abdicated it’s responsibility of securing the life and property of every citizen the Federal Government has left the families and friends of the victims of abductions to pay ransom to secure their release from custody. Sadly, some of the

kidnapped persons lost their lives.

Henceforth, the NBA must institute actions praying the courts to compel the Federal Government to refund any ransom paid for the release of any abducted person. More importantly, the NBA should embark on urgent measures designed to compel the Federal Government to actualize section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of a Nigeria which stipulates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”, he said.

Ubani , in his reaction, described as highly condemnable the abduction of the immediate past President of the association, Okey Wali (SAN).

Ubani wondered why Wali, who according to him is not a politician, could be kidnapped.

“Wali’s abduction is highly condemnable. I plead for his release.

The abductors should spare the country and legal profession the agony of any pain and loss. The man is not a politician and does not have the kind of money they may be demanding. They should release him unconditionally and promptly too”, he pleaded.

To the first female NBA President, Dame Prisicilia Kuye, Wali’s abduction is a terrible thing which the government must stop.

She called on the government to put in place stiffer punishment for kidnappers and ensure the laws are fully implemented.

“The problem in this country is that we do not implement laws. If an example could be set with three or four people, the menace of kidnapping will stop.

“What has Wali done? Why kidnap him? This is also a threat to the judicial system especially if one recalls the Ekiti State saga, where a serving judge was beaten and his cloth torn.

“With the way things are going, there is every possibility of anarchy.

I urge the Inspector General of Police to look into these issues and get the suspects apprehended.

“Also, I plead with Wali’s abductors to release him. The government should also create jobs for unemployed youths in order to reduce the menace,” she said.

Former Attorney ýGeneral and Commissioner of Justice, Edo State, Dr. Ossgie Obayuwana, called on Nigerians to engage in civil disobedience in order to compel the government to meet its basic responsibility of securing lives and properties.

He described Nigeria as a failed state running on auto-pilot.

“I call on the Nigerian people to engage in civil disobedience ý until the state can assure us, her citizens of the protection of our lives and properties.

“The state has disarmed us and still not doing anything to provide protection for us; how can such a state expect us to continue to be

loyal to it and pay taxes?

“We should defer such a state until they realise that this matter is serious. When Goodluck Jonathan’s uncle was kidnapped, did that arouse the importance to put in place an effective police force? It did not. They just negotiated and got him released.

“This is a country where we had a judge kidnapped and his finger chopped off as a bargaining chip.

“The whole situation is evidence of a failed state because it shows the state has failed in its fundamental obligation of protecting lives and properties.

“When you call ýfor help from the police, there is no assurance you will get protection. Nigeria is on auto-pilot. You cannot be talking about democracy when its basics have been abused with impunity.

“Our police and military are overwhelmed. I am not surprised it is Wali because it could have been anybody at anytime. The only people who enjoy some measure of protection are those in political offices.

Perhaps, the executive but they tooo are not save because their relations are not spared.

“It is a fundamental challenge and the question all these poses to the Nigerian people is what to do to get the state to meet its obligation to the people? There is need for a new revolution to get the state to meet its fundamental obligations.

“People should revolt to get the government to meet its responsibility to the citizens as foundation to pay taxes,” he said.

Constitutional lawyer Norrison Quakers (SAN)ý said Wali’s abduction is a pointer to the security challenge in the nation.

“How do we explain the kidnapping of a thorough bred professional. If a former President of an association such as the NBA can be kidnapped at gun point, who then is safe?

“Government should immediately address the multifarious security issues, so that professionals can criss-cross the nation contributing their quota to societal development and encourage external investment.

“The spate of abduction is too rampant and frequent. The constitutional responsibility of government in terms of security must not only be seen to be done but must in fact be done, said Quakers.

‘Adoke didn’t instruct me to withdraw case against Lawal, others’

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INCE the instruction to withdraw the matter against former Minister of Works, Hassan Lawal and 11 others from court was communicated to me and implemented, I have been inundated with the enquiries from several quarters, including the media, on the exact role of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN,CFR. The persistent of such requests and the gross misrepresentations published in the media in that respect forced me to write this rejoinder for the records.

Ordinarily, I would not have joined issues because having carried out a professional instruction, my job was completed. However, as an officer in the temple of justice, I owe it a duty to clear the air on certain misrepresentations on the purported role of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN,CFR in the matter. Let me make it clear beyond

Lagos Lawyer Mr. Wahab Shittu explains the circumstances leading to the withdrawal of the case against a former minister and 11 others. His words: any shadow of doubt that there is no time did I receive any instruction from Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN CFR to discontinue the case. Indeed, I was briefed to handle the case by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the then leadership of the Executive Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri. The Instruction for me to discontinue the case was given by Mr. Chile Okoroma, Director of Legal Services of the Commission who conveyed the decision of EFCC to that effect.

I do not think it is necessary for me to attach the said letter of instruction to discontinue as communication therein is privilege, which is the reason I did not tender the letter in the proceeding in the court before the matter was withdrawn.

I must make the point that as a law

officer, I know it is within the discretion of EFCC to prosecute and not to prosecute any matter. I therefore have no further comment on the discretion exercised by the EFCC in discontinued further proceeding in this matter.

I must state unequivocally that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN,CFR neither gave the instruction to withdraw the proceeding nor interacted with me in any manner concerning this case. Consequently, any purported comments which sought to impugn the integrity of Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN CFR on the matter will not only be uncharitable but also unfair.

I made these comments not holding brief for Mr. Adoke SAN,

‘

I must state unequivocally that the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, neither gave the instruction to withdraw the proceeding nor interacted with me in any manner concerning this case

‘

he is competent to defend himself but to put issues in the proper perspective for the records.

•Adoke

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

Ex-Mint boss detained ahead extradition to UK From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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•Nobel laureate Prof.Wole Soyinka cutting the tape to inaugurate the Governor’s Lodge in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State...yesterday. With him are: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (right), Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (third left), Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (second left), his wife Olufunso (left), Fayemi’s wife Bisi (fourth left) and Ekiti Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu.

STORY ON PAGE 8

Continued from page 1

“Rather, I beg and appeal to those who are begging me to realise that we must put Nigeria’s interest above politics – party or personal – otherwise, we will all be judged at the bar of history if not the bar of current affairs.

“In addition, we must preserve, sustain and deepen democracy and democratic practices.”

The former leader insisted that he had never left the party and would remain a card-carrying member, having ruled the country for two terms on its ticket.

Obasanjo, who returned from a trip to South Africa at the weekend, made his position known in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday.

He was reacting to last week’s statement by PDP National Chairman Adamu Mua’zu and other leaders when they were welcoming back into the fold former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.

Mu’azu had said: “I want to join Governor Daniel to appeal to our Baba, President Olusegun Obasanjo, to forgive us. We are your children and we have been making mistakes; we have made mistakes and so we apologise.

“Please, Baba, we apologise;

I’ve not been indicted, says Kashamu

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HAIRMAN of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mobilisation Committee in the Southwest Mr. Buruji Kashamu, has denied being indicted in the United States.

In a statement last night, he said: “My attention has been drawn to yet another diatribe against my person by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in what was supposed to be his response to the pleas made to him to come back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“His statement is yet another cocktail of lies served with his legendary deceit.”

He said he was displeased at my allegedly being made the leader of the party in the South West. First, it should be noted that as against his earlier assertion that I am “a wanted habitual criminal...for whom extradition has been requested by the US Government...”, he has now described me “as an indicted drug baron wanted in America”. “ He used me to prosecute his battle against former Governor Gbenga Daniel. When it was time to field candidates for the 2011 general elections, he brought his stooge, Gen. Adetunji Olurin, and asked me to roll the party structure behind his anointed candidate.

“In his usual holier-than-thou manner, he talked about not being able to work with me because of his principles, honour and integrity. But the questions Nigerians should ask him are: Continued on page 56

come and lead us. Even the President (Jonathan) is waiting for you to come and lead us; you are our leader, we appreciate you, we thank you for your leadership and your courage.”

The former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, who was in South Africa over South

Sudan’s increasing insecurity and violence, said he almost cut short his stay there following “the avalanche of news, cacophony of appeals and pleadings from some quarters of PDP”, which he described as evidential manifestation of “misunderstanding and misrepresenta-

Continued on page 56

Ijaw, Ogoni renew claim to Rivers governor

Drug baron can’t be my leader that.

ORMER Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) Managing Director Emmanuel Ehidiamhen Okoyomon is to be extradited to Britain for trial.

Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN) has filed extradition papers in the Court in Abuja as a precondition for Okoyomon’s relocation.

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Okoyomon has been arrested and detained by the antigraft agency in preparation for his presentation to the court for extradition.

•Obasanjo

tion” of facts.

Obasanjo, who added that he had occasion to make his stand on vital matters affecting the party known to Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, who recently visited him on behalf of the party.

Obasanjo said issues of principle, morality, honour, integrity, commitment and character are to him paramount. He said he could not “accept that the zonal leader of my political party and, worse still in my zone, will be an indicted drug baron wanted in America.”

He went on: “During last week when I was in South Africa as the Chairman of African Union (AU) Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan and while with my Continued on page 56

HE battle for which area of Rivers State should produce Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s successor continued yesterday. The Ijaw, the Ogoni and a section of the Ikwerre backing Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike are involved.

The Ogoni added a new angle to it by organising a prayer session yesterday. The Ijaw, speaking through the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), at the weekend, said it was not negotiating its right to produce Amaechi’s successor.

The renewed battle is coming on the heels of condemnation of the violence at a parley of the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja last Thursday.

The violence is not unconnected with the quest of the Ijaw in Rivers PDP to stop Wike, an Ikwerre man, from succeeding his kinsman, Amaechi.

IYC President Udens Eradiri said the next Rivers governor must be an Ijaw person.

He spoke at a summit organised by the IYC in Warri.

“An Ijaw man must be governor in Rivers State, but we must help ourselves. Even now those who can’t even afford the form have started jostling to be gov-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt and Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

ernor,” Eradiri said.

Ogoni leaders from four of the Rivers State’s 23 Local Government Areas of Khana, Gokana, Eleme and Tai, spoke at a dedication service and special prayer session organised by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) held yesterday at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland.

MOSOP President Legborsi Saro Pyagbar called for an end to the political marginalisation of Ogoni people, who are yet to produce governor, deputy governor, speaker of the House of Assembly and chief judge, since the creation of Rivers state from the defunct Eastern Region on May 27, 1967.

Pyagbara also called for the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland’s environmental assessment, in order to end pollution, environmental degradation and marginalisation of the crude oil and gas-rich area by the FedContinued on page 56

Buhari, Kwankwaso begin battle for APC presidential ticket I’m for consensus candidate, says Saraki T HE bid for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket got on the fast lane at weekend, with Senator Bukola Saraki pulling out of the race.

The former Kwara State Governor said he would back a candidate that is acceptable to all party members. “I don’t think our party can afford too much internal racour going into the election,” the former Kwara State Governor said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has announced his interest in the race. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is set to join the race on Wednesday at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

Gen. Buhari was at the Lagos State House in Marina to seek Governor Babatunde Fashola’s support for his ambition.

He was accompanied by exBayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, ex-Minister Nasir ElRufai and former Speaker Bello Masari.

The attempt to get Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to step down for Gen. Buhari has failed.

Supporters of the governor said he will announce his candidacy on October 28.

Stakeholders tried to prevail on the governor to step down since both of them are from the Northwest zone, which has the

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ORMER Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki said yesterday that he suspended his bid for president in the overall interest of a better country and the success of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

Saraki, in a statement in Abuja, said “we need to change the way the country is run”.

Although he did not endorse any of the major aspirants that had indicated interest in the APC presidential ticket, there were indications that the suspension might be part of the moves to build a consensus on a candidate in the party.

Dr. Saraki said: “I am stepping down my ambition because Nigeria’s political outlook for 2015 is very complicated and this is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country’s overall interest.

“I don’t think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next year’s election. I therefore think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem of the party.”

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

highest voter population.

According to the APC nomination of candidates time table, presidential aspirants are expected to have obtained an expression of interest forms by October 19.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

He added: “I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party to join the opposition because of any personal interest. Anyone who understands Nigeria’s politics would know that it takes courage and self-sacrifice to do that. “ Therefore, whether it is on the issue of the party or all other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a Senator of the Federal Republic, I have been driven primarily by my desire to see a better and more purposely governed country.

“Party primaries in any healthy democracy would always leave several contenders disappointed and, sometimes bitter, as there would be only one winner. The party would then invest so much energy and time afterwards managing and reconciling various interests.

“APC can only live up to the aspirations of Nigerians for change if it is not derailed by too much acrimony from its primaries which is coming so close to the general elections.”

“We need to change the way the country

The sale of the forms will open from next Monday till November 6. The aspirants will be screened between November 10 and 12. The candidate will be elected at its national convention on December 2.

President Goodluck Jonathan has already been endorsed as the

is run, we need change in our security and the values we place on human life, we need to change the current disgraceful situation in security and corruption. “ And I believe only the APC can bring about this change and give our country the leadership it deserves. ”This is why some of us felt that we must make the necessary sacrifice and contribute to building a strong and united party that provides the only real alternative to the floundering government that has become so constipated on power and lost touch with the realities that ordinary Nigerians grapple with everyday.”

Senator Saraki recalled how he, along with other progressives in the PDP decided to “leave the party to join the APC when it was clear that PDP, especially at the national level, had become too invested in the personal ambition of one man at the overall detriment of the country and its democracy”.

A source close to the former governor said: “Senator Saraki has had the oppor-

consensus candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), although some members of the party are silently grumbling about the close of space for others.

Gen. Buhari’s supporters said at the weekend that the former leader remained the only Nige-

Continued on page 56

rian politician who has the courage and capacity to fight corruption.

National Secretary of the Buhari Support Group Ibrahim Daud said the Buhari Support Group, an umbrella body of about 49 voluntary youth organisations, have mobilised five

•Saraki

million Nigerians to attend Gen. Buhari declaration of interest on Wednesday.

According to him, Buhari is the only candidate who can defeat the PDP and stop corruption. “That is why the corrupt cabal that has held sway since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 is bent on ensuring that Buhari does not emerge president.

“They are only trying to protect their ill-gotten wealth to the detriment of the majority of Nigerians. Hence they cook up all kinds of mendacities and camContinued on page 56

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

NEWS

Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (fourth left); Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi-Laoye Tomori (third left); 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), Mr Ajayi Patunola (third 3rd right); his wife, Olayinka (second right), Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left), Osun State Chairman of NIESV, Dr. Seyi Adegoke (right); Mr Rowland Abonta (second left) and others during the investiture of Governor Aregbesola as patron of the institute, at the Government House, Osogbo...at the weekend.

#BBOG decries ‘military attack’ From Grace Obike, Abuja

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HE #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) advocacy has condemned the alleged attack by security agents on an Internally- Displaced People’s (IDP’s) camp in Durumi, Abuja.

The incident was reported by the BBC Hausa Service. It was alleged that military officers attacked the camp about 1am on Saturday and shot into the air.

The report alleged that three people were killed, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

The leader of the #BBOG group, Oby Ezekwesili, decried the attack.

Maku to resign next week From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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INISTER of Information Labaran Maku is set to resign on October 20 to run for the Nasarawa State governorship.

He spoke yesterday at a special mass thanksgiving at the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, St. Patrick’s Parish, Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

Maku announced the donation of N7.6million from his family and friends in the cabinet and outside the cabinet for the cathedral in Lafia.

Thanking God, he said whatever he had achieved from 1999 to date was by the grace of God. According to him, it is time to sacrifice the comfort of a ministerial position, join his people and go into the wilderness in Nasarawa State to stop the killings, miscarriage of justice and liberate the masses.

Stressing that he was a typical example of a grass to grace because of God’s favour, Maku said he was born to peasants farmers, who did not even record the date of his birth in a village that is likened to the biblical reference that “can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

He said: “Just thank God for me, just pray for me because by next week (October 20), anyone in the cabinet, who wants to contest election must step down. The time has come for us to do that.

“It is time to make my interest known. By the grace of God, I will sacrifice the com-

J

•Maku

fort of a minister by going into the wilderness. I want to sacrifice the comfort of the high office to join my people in the wilderness in Nasarawa State and fight for peace and justice.

“There is too much blood being shed here. There is too much evil taking place here.

There is too much destruction going on in Nasarawa State.

The time has come for us to ask God to bring this era to an end. It is only God who can do it. We are asking God that as we step out voluntarily, which is very important to me, as we go into the wilderness, what He did for Moses He will do for us by leading us to cross the Red Sea of politics, bring water out of rock, give us manna from heaven and pull down the wall of Jericho.

“There may be giants out there, all over, but like Caleb, we trust God that we will conquer. So all we need is prayer.

I thank God for what He has done for me. But this sacrifice I am making is for my people, to liberate them.”

Jumia, MTN to activate connectivity in three states

UMIA Nigeria and MTN offer another innovation to connect customers with technology in the Jumia and MTN connectivity week initiative.

“The connectivity week will bridge the gap between customers offline and the products available on Jumia with uninterrupted gadgets and

By Tonia ‘Diyan

Internet from MTN in three states beginning from today till Friday,” the Co-CEO, Jumia Nigeria, Nicolas Martin, has said.

He said customers could look forward to spotting the Jumia and MTN Truck during the connectivity week in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states.

Malabu: APC asks Jonathan to come clean on another monumental scandal

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to speak out and take action on the monumental Malabu oil scandal rocking his administration and putting Nigeria under the global searchlight as a corrupt nation.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said President Jonathan must end his silence on the matter since half of the $1.1 billion paid to Malabu Oil and Gas for oil field OPL 245 by two oil majors was allegedly used to bribe Nigerian officials, who in turn used the proceeds to buy jets and armoured limousines.

It said since the deal to pay Malabu the huge money was brokered and defended by the Jonathan administration, it stands to reason that officials of the same administration will know one or two things, and perhaps are part and parcel of the whole scandal.

"The only way to know for sure is if there is an independent investigation of the allegation, which has been published by the international media after Italian prosecutors intensified their probe into the deal. This is where President Jonathan comes in. He must allow an unfettered probe of this scandal that has again put Nigeria in bad light. Whatever happens, however, the names of those who received the bribes will soon be known, thanks to the determination of the UK and Italy to show that no one, who violates their laws, will go scot-free.

"Just like the Halliburton and Siemens bribery scandals that were also exposed from abroad, this Malabu scandal has again damaged Nigeria's standing in the comity of nations. While US, France, Italy and Germany have jailed officials and imposed fines on the foreign firms, which bribed Nigerian officials in the Halliburton and Siemens scandals, none of those who received the bribes here in Ni-

geria has been touched. The Malabu scandal must not go the same way," APC said.

The party said Nigeria has never had it as bad, in terms of runaway corruption that has cost the nation billions of dollars in money that would have gone into national development, as it is having under the Jonathan administration.

"There is no better way to say this. The Jonathan administration is swimming in corruption and the President has allowed it to fester because his government is feeding fat on the proceeds of graft. He has even tried to use semantics to cover up the extent of sleaze, saying stealing is not corruption," it said.

APC said besides the Malabu, Halliburton and Siemens scandals, the Jonathan administration has done nothing to tell Nigerians what happened to the $20billion in diverted oil money; the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fraud for which no person has been brought to justice; opaque crude swaps at the expense of

encouraging domestic refinery; payment of billions of naira in kerosene subsidy without appropriation and the gargantuan police pension fraud.

"Under your watch, Mr. President, there is massive looting of the commonwealth by the same people being paid by taxpayers to ensure a judicious utilisation of the scarce national resources. There is a growing culture of impunity because no one is punished for the looting. Now you have another chance to turn things around for the better.

"The Malabu scandal provides such a chance. Those who collected millions of dollars in bribes in the illegal transaction must be identified and brought to justice. We must not allow foreign countries to be the ones exposing corrupt Nigerian officials.

Our government must act like a responsible government by demonstrating it will not allow violation of its laws or encourage corruption," the party said.

Voters’ register: Court fixes November 25 for judgment

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FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has fixed November 25 for judgment in a suit seeking to void the voters’ register produced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in preparation for the coming elections.

Justice Ibrahim Auta chose the date last Thursday after listening to the parties.

The suit filed by a firm, Bedding Holdings Ltd (BHL), has as defendants, INEC, its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

Plaintiff’s lawyer, John Okoriko, argued that INEC and its agents were in breach of sections 2, 3 (3), 19, 25 and 26 of the Patent and Designs Act and an earlier judgment of the court delivered on January 28 by conducting voters’ registration, using his client’s patented process, without its prior consent.

The court in the judgment declared BHL as the owner of patent rights No: RP16642 and copyrights designs No: RD13841 over Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes (ECTBB) and patent rights No: RP NG/P/2010/202 - Proof of Address System/ Scheme (PASS) - embedded with the concept of the coded mental plate - and their application for the process of pro-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

ducing voters’ register.

BHL in the suit argued that INEC infringed on its patent rights by consistently utilising its patented inventions for the process of producing voters’ register, using the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines without its prior consent, an argument the court upheld.

The court awarded N17.3billion damages against INEC, Jega and AGF for the infringement and ordered them to always seek prior consent of the patentee -BHL - before using the invention, failing which any act for which it was deployed would be rendered a nullity.

The plaintiff stated in a supporting affidavit that rather than first obtain its consent, as ordered in the January 28 judgment, the defendants proceeded to engage in voters’ registration for the last elections in Ekiti and Osun states and the 2015 general elections, in breach of its rights.

BHL’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Sylvester Odigie, said in the supporting affidavit that it has become a pattern with INEC and Jega to disregard court judgments.

He cited a judgment given in his company’s favour on the ownership of the patent

right over the transparent ballot boxes being used for elections by INEC, which the electoral body has refused to obey.

Odigie urged the court to grant the prayers as contained in the suit, as a way of protecting its integrity, halting arbitrary conduct on the part of the defendants and in the interest of justice.

BHL is seeking an order nullifying the voters’ register produced by INEC for the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states and other future elections, using the plaintiff’s patented process without its consent.

It also seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from further infringing on the patented rights as confirmed in the January 28 judgment, by utilising the patented process for voters’ registration without first obtaining its consent.

The plaintiff wants a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of sections 2, 3 (3), 19, 25 and 26 of the Patent and Designs Act, and the subsisting judgment of the court delivered on January 28, INEC cannot use its (plaintiff’s) patented process for voters’ registration.

It also seeks a declaration that the continuous voters’

registration exercise being carried out by INEC towards future elections, without seeking the plaintiff’s prior consent, is an infringement on its patented rights as confirmed by the January 28 judgment.

The defendants have denied infringing on the plaintiff’s rights and violating any subsisting judgment. They urged the court to refuse the plaintiff’s prayers and dismiss the suit.

Arguing the counter-affidavit filed by INEC and Jega, their lawyer, Ebuka Nwaeze, said the judgment on which the plaintiff relied in filing the suit is on appeal.

INEC and Jega argued that issues raised in the suit have “been litigated upon and are subject of appeal before the Court of Appeal.

“There is no statute, agreement or enforceable instruments by which the claimant (plaintiff) is entitled to be consulted, its consent obtained before using ballot boxes now being used at elections in the country.”

They said the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, on March 17 granted them “the right to use the patent being claimed by the claimant.”

INEC and Jega argued that the suit “brought in bad faith” is an attempt to harass and intimidate them.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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NEWS

$9.3m arms deal: Presidency exonerates Oritsejafor

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HE Federal Government vindicated yesterday the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in the alleged involvement of his aircraft in the controversial $9.3m arms deal in South Africa.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan (Public Communication), Dr. Doyin Okupe, told reporters in Abuja that Oritsejafor, the Founder of the Word of Life Bible Church, has no hand in the deal.

He said: “Most Nigerians do not respect the sensibilities of other people. Oritsejafor is the President of CAN and head of all Christians in Nigeria, who is representing at least, 50 per cent of people in this country. When it comes to a man like that, people should be cautious and cir-

‘He has no case to answer’

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

cumspect.”

Okupe advised Nigerians not to play politics with issues of national concern, saying it was not patriotic.

According to him, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) did well by telling the truth.

The presidential aide said it would not be proper for the government to make public its plans on how to tackle insecurity.

Okupe said: “The linking of Pastor Oritsejafor with the controversial $9.3m arms deal is the most unfortunate thing.

To put the very respectable, responsible, honest and sincere CAN President in this matter is the extreme of mis-

Nigeria spends $3.3b on steel importation, says Fed Govt

chief. It shows what Nigerians can do. They go to any extent to politicise everything. What bothers me is the manner people want to bring down Pastor Oritsejafor on this matter. It is pure absurdity.

“Oritsejafor has no business in this matter. It is true that he owns the aircraft, but there are over 200 Nigerians, who have jets. Besides those who use them frequently, some give them out to get money and defray costs. If you park your jet, you pay parking charges everyday.

“He gave the jet to a company to manage. The company is managing it and these people gave out the plane. What has this to do with Oritsejafor?

If I have many cars at the airport and decide to give one to a car hire service and he de-

cides to carry somebody having Indian hemp, would you link me with the man who gave it out? Excuse me, this is ridiculous.”

He also responded to criticisms that the issue went out of hand because government did not speak on the issue before embarking on the adventure.

Okupe said: “Government cannot share all information about the issues because it is a security matter. It is an issue, which we cannot just bring to the public domain.

For goodness sake, we need to have some quiet innocent support. I am surprised that Nigerians want to discuss security issues publicly when a war is still going on.

“These are very serious national security affairs and running a government is not the same thing as running a

Pastor Chris Olukolade (right), Pastor-in-Charge, Northern Region 10 of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), Pastor Emmanuel Ibitayo, Pastor Adebisi Paul, Pastor Cecilia Omisakin and Pastor-inCharge, FCT Province 4, RCCG, Abuja, Pastor Dele Babade, during the inauguration of solar-powered street lights in Durumi, Abuja... yesterday.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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IGERIA has about two million metric tonnes of iron ore reserve, yet it spends $3.3 billion annually importing steel and iron, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has said.

He said the country had the second largest iron ore deposit in Africa and the 12th largest in the world, but it may end up spending $15 billion every year to import steel.

The minister spoke at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the inauguration of the Cold Roll Mill Project of Kamwire Industries Ltd. He said President Goodluck Jonathan “has set up a committee on how we can ensure that our industries, especially in the real sector, have access to affordable finance and the Bank of Industry will play a major role.”

His words: “We spend $3.3billion every year importing these items. In the next decade, because of the way we are growing, $3.3billion will become $15billion.

“Today, we have about a minimum of $14billion committed to the petrochemical sector, where its spread, as I have just described to you, hopefully will be gained by 2017 or 2018, when we will be selfsufficient and we will not import petroleum products.

“Any country, which relies on exporting raw materials without having a strong industrial and related service sector will remain poor. We have made a mistake for decades thinking we are a rich nation, exporting crude, thinking we have money.

But we do not have money. I am your former Finance Minister, so I know. We may have that competitive advantage, but what makes us different is what you do with that competitive advantage.

“We are working on infrastructure and power already, with a lot of commitments going into the power sector. We are working on it and we will get there. It takes three years or thereabouts from where you start.”

Shoprite, where everything is on the table and on display.

There is nothing shady about the South African deal and the Office of the NSA has done very well because at the appropriate time, they came in that, ‘yes, this money belongs to us and this was what it was meant for’. That explanation itself was okay. There is no hanky- panky on this matter.”

He said the second controversial deal had legitimised the first because it was a normal banking transaction.

“A company was mandated to do a national security assignment for the Federal Government and because of the extant laws in South Africa, that company was unable to deliver its contractual agreement with the Nigerian government. The company wants a refund, which is normal.”

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Court martial: Three soldiers appeal death sentence

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HREE of the 12 soldiers sentenced to death on September 15 by a court martial have challenged the rulling at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

The men, Igomu Emmanuel, Stephen Clement and Andrew Ngbede faulted the trial leading to their conviction and urged the court to quash the decision.

They raised 11 grounds of appeal in their case filed for them last Thursday by their lawyer, Godwin Obla (SAN).

The appellants said the charge on which they were tried and convicted “is vague, disjointed, imprecise and incoherent”, adding that they did not understand it.

They argued that not only were their names not stated on the charge, it also violated Section 36 (6) of the constitution, which entitled an accused to be informed of the details and nature of the offence for which he was

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

charged.

The appellants further argued that the General Court Martial erred in law and came to a perverse decision by convicting them in respect of the offence of conspiracy and failed to consider the defence of alibi, which they raised, but which was not investigated by the court martial.

“The General Court Martial erred in law and thus occasioned a miscarriage of justice when it disregarded the objection of the defence counsel raised before and at the arraignment of the appellants on the defective nature of the charge brought against them.”

The soldiers said they were charged and convicted at large under Section 114 of the Armed Forces Act and that the charge did not tie the offence they allegedly committed to any of the subsections of Section 114

of the Armed Forces Act. They said Section 114 did not define the offence of criminal conspiracy as an offence known to law.

The appellants argued that the first count of the charge “is ambiguous, uncertain and defective”, because they were charged under Section 114 of the Armed Forces Act, but punished under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Law. They also faulted the third count of the charge for being “uncertain and defective” because they were charged under Section 95 of the Armed Forces Act, which provided a punishment of life imprisonment if convicted, but were sentenced to death under Section 106 of the Act. The appellants said the General Court Martial based its decision on an equivocal, indirect, negative, uncorroborated and suspicious circumstantial evidence in convicting them.

They said the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Maj.-Gen. Ahmadu Mohammed, whom they were accused of attempting to murder, was not invited by the prosecution to give evidence on the alleged attempt on his life.

The appellants also noted that no ballistic evidence was produced to show that it was their shot that hit Maj.-Gen. Mohammed’s car.

They contended that none of the witnesses identified any of them as the person who shot at the GOC’s vehicle, and that the court martial merely relied on circumstantial evidence, which did not lead conclusively and indisputably that any of their shots was the one, if any, that hit the rear right door of the command’s Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

Boko Haram: Nigeria, Cameroon, three others meet IGERIA and Cameroon will meet on cross-border operations today in Abuja to adopt a legal

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framework for cross-border military operation as part of the efforts to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.

The meeting, which is coming under the Lake Chad Basin Commission, will also have in attendance Niger Republic, Benin and Chad.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is a follow up to the extra-ordinary summit in Naim-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

ey, Niger, which was attended by presidents of the member-countries.

This meeting, which is in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, is expected to be attended by ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of member-states.

The statement said: "The meeting is aimed at reviewing the security situation

arising from the activities of Boko Haram across their common borders and to agree on the adoption of a draft resolution by the African Union and the United Nations Security Council for the establishment of an appropriate legal framework for cross border military operations against Boko Haram insurgency in the region."

‘BoI has given out N692b loans’ From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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HE Bank of Industry (BoI) has disbursed about N692 billion loans to customers, the Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Aderinoye, has said.

He said the bank created approximately one million jobs and financed about 2,000 projects.

Aderinoye spoke at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

He said BoI is a leading development finance institution.

The managing director dispelled insinuations that accessing loans from the bank was cumbersome.

Said he: “The way to access finance from the Bank of Industry is very simple.

We have a website: www.boing.com, we have a lot of information in that website, such as the sectors we support, the products and ways in which you can apply.

“For instance, there are three simple processes: we have the application form, questionnaire and you need to engage at the end of the day with our analysts. We have seven zones. In addition to the head office in Marina, we are in Lagos, Akure, Asaba, Enugu, Bauchi, Kaduna and Abuja.

“When you want to take a loan from the Bank of Industry, it is important that as a promoter, you have a sound business model. The way we access business model at the bank is to ask you a few questions: First, the product you want to bring to the market; second, what is the target market (who are you going to sell the product to?) Thirdly, what stands your product out or what is your value proposition (why should anyone be interested in your product?) How is your product different from others in the market? Fourthly, which is more important, how are you going to deliver that value proposition to the target market.

‘Boko Haram doesn’t represent Islam’

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By Amidu Arije

HE President of the Ansaru-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, has described the Boko Haram insurgency as evil. He said it does not represent Islam.

Okunnu spoke at a news conference organised by the Muslims in Lagos State under the aegis of the Muslim Community of Lagos State, at the Lagos Central Mosque.

He said the claims of the group for fomenting trouble in the North had no basis in Islam.

“Boko Haram claims it has justification for being violent and embarking on terrorism.

Despite their claim of being jihadists, it is clear that they are not propagating Islam.

We wish to affirm that terrorism is alien to Islam. The religion represents peaceful coexistence and tolerance of other faith. Embarking on violence in the name of Islam is a sinful act. They are violating the fundamental principle of Islam, which is a religion of peace,” Okunnu said.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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NEWS Ondo APC vows to resist Mimiko From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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NDO State All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend urged the state’s progressiveminded people to embrace the party for a positive change, vowing to resist any intimidation by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Its Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, in an interview with reporters on the defection of Mimiko to the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), said he had directed wards and local government executives to open membership registers for new members in the 203 wards.

Besides, the former secretary to the state government(SSG) vowed that the party would resist attempts by the governor to scuttle and decimate the genuine yearnings of the citizenry to realise their individual and collective aspiration on the APC’s broad-based platform.

He condemned the alleged threat by Mimiko to declare vacant, the seats of elected members of the House of Assembly, who are set to join the APC vacant.

Kekemeke said: “It is our position that just as the governor and his acolytes in the Assembly exercised their right of freedom of political association by defecting to the PDP, other legislators, who intend to join APC, also have the right to do so without limitation and intimidation.

“We concede to the governor the right to freedom of the political association and he is therefore entitled to roam freely in the political environment. However, the people should not allow themselves to be fooled again.

“There is nothing surprising about Mimiko’s defection, since it has become his trade mark in his political life. But what is surprising now is the equal zeal with which the governor is attempting to deceive the citizenry once again.”

The party chairman noted that the move was an attempt to recreate himself in the PDP. He said: “We symphatise with the PDP in Ondo State which has expressed disenchantment with the political virus that has been foisted on it by its national leadership.

“It has even come to our knowledge that Mimiko has put in place mechanism to entice, intimidate and subdue the citizenry in the LP and PDP, who have expressed their willingness to work with APC. But we will resist every attempt to intimidate the people,” Kekemeke said.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (right) receiving All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the Lagos Government House...at the weekend.

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15 die in Ibadan tanker fire

T was all tears yesterday, as 15 people, including a family of three children and their mother, were burnt to death in a petrol tanker fire on Saturday night at Molete, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The tanker was said to be coming from ChallengeMolete end of the road when the driver lost control.

The vehicle then somersaulted and caught fire, spilling its fuel content, spread into a mechanic workshop, shopping mall and otherareas.

A middle-aged man, who parked his vehicle to buy bread, lost the three children and his wife when the fire enveloped the family’s car.

Over 20 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, many shops and goods worth several millions of naira were also destroyed.

It took the intervention of the state fire-fighters to stem the spread of the fire into other thickly populated residential areas.

Eyewitness said government and private ambulances conveyed some of the burnt victims to the University College Hospital (UCH) in the state capital, where they are receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) .

“It is God’s protection that is most important. Many, who died, never dreamt of this.

Imagine a man that travelled from Ijebu-Ode to this place

•20 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, others destroyed From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

and only to stop to buy what he would eat, it was then the fire came, claiming his three children and his wife.

“It is a terrible incident. I was discussing with my friends, when we suddenly heard a deafening sound and people ran out of fear. But before five minutes, we saw fire covering everywhere. May God protect us from unforeseen occurrence,” an eyewitness, who gave his name as Ade, said yesterday.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi visited the scene twice between Saturday night and yesterday morning to sympathise with those affected by the fire.

Some policemen prevented people from entering the area. A rope was tied to fence away intruders as policemen keep watch.

But the governor commiserated with the families of those who were burnt to death.

Ajimobi, who arrived at 8am, was visibly shaken by the gory sight. Accompanied by the Commissioner of Police Kola Sodipo, he was conducted round the scene of the inferno.

He ordered that a crane

be brought to take the carcass of the tanker, which had crossed the road from obstructing traffic.

Ajimobi, who spoke with reporters, enjoined them “to take solace in the fact that death will come when it will.”

He said that many who sought to take political advantage of his administration’s genuine love for the people, especially traders on the streets, must have seen the danger of politicising genuine government policies.

“As I came here this morning, gentlemen of the press, you yourselves could hear statements from the crowd that gathered here.

They keep shouting ‘And Ajimobi had warned us against street trading o!’ The problem we have is that politicians seek to profit from the lives of the people. Our administration has genuine love at heart for our people.

This is manifesting itself gradually and our people themselves can see that love,” he said.

The governor was told that the bulk of those who lost their lives were traders who refused to move to the nearby Scout Camp market,

which had over a thousand stalls with modern conveniences built by the government and given to the traders free.

“I sympathise with the dead and their families of the dead. This will show our love for the people in our desire to stop street trading. I learnt that a few days ago, another trailer veered off the road at Mobil area and hit the MTN building. If it had been before now when street traders gathered at the Mobil area, I imagine the number of casualties we would have been talking about,” he said.

Government, he said, had seen through the hazards posed by street trading, stating that it was why his administration made it a kernel of its urban renewal exercise.

“Apart from vehicles that skid off the road, killing our people, high tension wires also get cut and kill our people selling their wares by the road side. Our people should not listen to evil politicians who mislead them.

“They should support us to fight the menace of street trading, by asking them to leave the road and we will not allow evil politicians to profit from this genuine love by misleading our people,” he said.

Ekiti launches free school bus scheme

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KITI State’s primary and secondary schools’ pupils will ride in free buses when schools reopen for the new academic session The gesture, courtesy of the state government, came barely a year after Governor Kayode Fayemi promised to make public schools more attractive and more competitive.

The governor, who presented 10 luxury buses through his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, at the weekend, said his administration had never deviated from its commitment to the provision of a conducive environment for learning.

He directed that pupils in private schools wearing uniforms should be allowed free ride in any of the buses designed for their routes in city centres, including AdoEkiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti and Ijero-Ekiti.

The presentation of the buses, according to him, was to fulfil a promise he made to the pupils at a live programme on Ekiti Television, an arm of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES).

The pupils, drawn from public primary schools, had during the chat asked the governor when they would start riding in buses to schools like their peers in privately-run schools.

PDP congress: Senator decries Alao-Akala’s tearing of ballot papers

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ENATE Deputy Whip Hosea Agboola has described the tearing of ballot papers by former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala at the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Southwest zonal congress as “a show of shame.”

Agboola spoke in Ibadan at the weekend in reaction to the former governor’s alleged action and outbursts over the purported removal of the name of his candidate as a zonal youth leader at the party’s congress by “some forces that were against him.”

The development nearly turned the congress, which was held last Saturday at the Apex Multipurpose Hall, Agodi in the state capital into a pandemonium when AlaoAkala expressed his dissat-

•Filani protests illegal imposition of candidate

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

isfaction with the conduct of the election and angrily collected the ballot papers from the state’s delegates and tore them up.

The former governor was shouting as he expressed his grieviance to the Chairman, Screening Committee of the congress, Senator Emmanuel Anozike and the financier and Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu.

But speaking, Agboola denied playing a fast game on his former boss (AlaoAkala).

He said: “I was casting my votes for aspirants of my choice when he emerged

‘I was casting my votes for aspirants of my choice when he emerged from my back and tore the ballot paper in my hand’ from my back and tore the ballot paper in my hand. It beats my imagination that a person of former governor’s status could resort to selfhelp in a matter as this.

“His action caught me un-

awares because I never expected it and the truth was that we reasoned that since he, like some of us, was instrumental to the formation of the state executive under Yinka Taiwo’s leadership, there was the need for us to allow the Minister of State for FCT, Jumoke Akinjide, whose people were not included in the state executive, to present the candidate for the office of the party’s zonal youth leader, to give them sense of belonging.

“The party is bigger than everyone of us and as for me, we should eschew bitterness and unhealthy rivalry if we genuinely have the interest of our party at heart. It is high time all of us joined President Goodluck

Jonathan in his transformation agenda beyond 2015.

And that is what we have been doing with Senator Folarin and Hon. Muraina Ajibola among others in the last few weeks.”

The congress would have turned violent if not for the quick intervention of the Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose and Kashamu, who pacified Alao-Akala and later called a meeting to resolve the issue.

The Southwest Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP, Chief Ishola Filani also protested the imposition of a late aspirant at the congress.

Filani, who appeared briefly at the venue, pre-

sented his protest letter to the chairman of the congress committee.

He also copied the party’s national chairman; the chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief of Staff to the President, Governor Segun Mimiko, Governor-elect of Ekiti State Mr. Ayo Fayose and the party’s Board of Trustees in the zone through Chief Olabode George.

The aggrieved PDP chieftain noted that till last Thursday, he was the only aspirant contesting the National vice-chairman Southwest.

But some undisclosed forces imposed the present the Chairman of PDP in Ekiti State, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, against him, which he said, was a breach of the party’s constitution.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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NEWS

Mysteries of Fayemi’s defeat ’ll be unravelled, says Soyinka

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HE mysteries surrounding the defeat of Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi in the June 21 governorship election will be unravelled one day, the Nobel laureate, Prof. Woke Soyinka, has said.

Soyinka spoke yesterday in AdoEkiti, the state capital, while inaugurating the new Government House , christened “Ayoba Villa”.

He was apparently amazed at the outcome of the election despite Fayemi’s performance, which he said had placed Ekiti on a strong footing through the programmes and legacy projects put in place.

The dramatist said the state had been “resurrected from its dull state by Fayemi’s good works,” adding that the joyful atmosphere that permeated the event was an indication of his conviction.

He advised the people to put aside all the mysteries surrounding the loss and continue to build on the “good foundation” the governor had established.

Soyinka said the government lodge is open to the next governor to “either honour or desecrate.”

He added however that the decision to toe Fayemi’s honourable path is the choice of the governor’s successor.

The poet, who noted that Ekiti State had known many

•Tambuwal, governors, clerics attend outgoing-governor’s thanksgiving honourable people like the late Governor of the old Western State, Adekunle Fajuyi, stated that he had been watching Fayemi and he was happy that the outgoing governor did him proud.

His words: “I have known you, I am watching you and I am proud of you. This building here, this edifice, has known honourable people. This edifice, I know it didn’t exist at the time I want to speak of very briefly, but I am talking about the seat of government in Ekiti State. It has known honourable, brave, intelligent and committed people like for instance Adekunle Fajuyi.

“My hope is that it will after the departure of Kayode yet again know honourable, intelligent, committed, humanistic rulers.

Don’t despair, don’t give up. I have the honour and the delight of opening this building and applauding the gesture that it is being done without the slightest rancour, being done to leave it open to a next governor to either honour or desecrate. The choice is his”.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, said posterity would be a better judge that Fayemi ruled Ekiti State in dignified ways to the extent that

We won’t recognise Akure LP’s convention, says NLC

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he left indelible marks.

He added that Fayemi combined good governance and politics, saying despite losing election, the governor still continued to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

The speaker hoped that successive administration would continue where Fayemi stopped.

Earlier, a church thanksgiving was held at the St. Patrick Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti for the successful completion of the four-year term of the Fayemi-led administration, which is the second time a governor would complete his tenure in the state since the beginning of civil rule in 1999.

The Vicar General of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Most Revd Felix Odesanmi, in his homily, praised Fayemi for his consistency in gratitude to God. He recalled that the governor had on assumption of office in 2010, came to give thanks to God. The assistant Bishop of the Ekiti Catholic Diocese added that the governor’s achievements would continue to speak because he is leaving Ekiti better than he met it.

Fayemi, who read the second lesson from Philippians 4 verses 12 20, thanked God for helping him successfully complete his tenure

and fulfilling the promises he made to Ekiti people.

The governor, who said that it was the extraordinary grace of God that made it possible for him to be Governor of Ekiti State - which was an opportunity for him to serve the people, added that the Ekiti success story had not yet ended.

He noted that everything that happened during his administration was about moving Ekiti forward so that it could be better than what he met.

The governor said it was left to the incoming administration to either honour it or desecrate the service done to the people.

He stated that honour, integrity and compassion to the people had guided his government in the last four year, even as he thanked the people for their support.

“For us, the job is not finished.

It is not yet over. We are committed to deepening democracy in this country. We are not tired of serving our people and we will continue to offer service to our people. You can see this building. It shows that we did not just start strong, we also finished strong. We have not concluded. We are on a journey. We are not yet at the destination. We

will keep moving until a greater Nigeria, a Nigeria of our dreams becomes a reality”, the governor said.

At the event were the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, his wife Olufunso, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence, the wife of the Governor of Osun, Mrs. Serifat Aregbesola, wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed.

Others were the former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, APC National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun, former Governor of Abia State, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, and wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof.

Modupe Adelabu.

The Bishop of Ondo Catholic Diocese, Most Revd Jude Arogundade, his Ekiti counterpart, Most Revd Felix Ajakaye, retired Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev Samuel Abe, the Alaaye of Efon, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye and the Alare of Are Ekiti, Oba Boluwade, among other important dignitaries, were also at the event

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

IGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) has said it will not accept any leadership emerging from Saturday’s National Convention of the Labour Party (LP).

The convention elected the LP’s former National Chairman, Dan Nwanyanwu, as the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees.

NLC General Secretary Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson told The Nation in a telephone interview that the workers’ body would not accept any leadership that emerged from the Akure convention, which he described as flawed.

The NLC, he added, would come out with a definite position within the week after due consultation with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other stakeholders on the way forward.

He noted that the LP was founded by the unions, adding that they were not parties to whatever came out of the convention, which took place in Akure.

But the NLC and the TUC had, at a news conference two days to the convention, said that they would not accept attempt at making the LP an appendage of another political party.

The unions said they were against a governor who belongs to another party sponsoring and hosting the national convention of LP. They called for the postponement of the convention for stakeholders to meet and decide on another venue and date for the convention, asking all members of the party to ignore the call to go to Akure to attend the convention.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Dr. Kadri Hamzat (middle) listening to Mr W. Loesser, Divisional Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc during an inspection of Eko Bridge...yesterday.

With them is Jinmi Hotonou.

PHOTO:OMOSEHIN MOSES

Osun APC to PDP: produce verdict nullifying legislators’ election

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SUN State All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (APC) to produce a certified true copy (CTC) of the pronouncement of the Federal Court of Appeal, which sat in Akure last week and nullified the elections of federal and state legislators conducted by Rufus Akeju in 2011.

The party said until the PDP can produce the CTC, Nigerians and Osun people should discountenance the party’s claim that the court had nullified the elections.

APC Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement, said there was “no such declaration by any court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” adding that what the PDP has fed the public “is not only a misinformation, it is a blatant lie.”

The APC stated as follows: “Before the 2011 election was held, the PDP went to the Federal High Court, Osogbo to stop Amb. Akeju, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, from supervising the said election on the allegation that the commissioner was allegedly a card-carrying member of the ACN (now APC) and a close associate of Senator Bola Tinubu, APC National Leader.

“The Osogbo Federal High Court granted the PDP an interlocutory injunction restraining Akeju from supervising the conduct of the election, but refused the prayer that INEC be restrained from conducting the election. However INEC immediately appealed and obtained a stay of execution of that ruling pending the determination of its appeal.

“Curiously, while the appeal was pending, prior to

the election, the PDP also went back to the same Osogbo Federal High Court. Against all known legal procedure to demand a stay of proceedings of the case it took to the High Court. So effectively, not only the INEC, but also the PDP stopped any further action on the substantive matter until the determination of the appeal in the Court of Appeal, Akure. “ The elections held while the litigation was practically on hold.

“After the elections (which the PDP lost woefully), they went to court - not the Tribunal - to seek to nullify the election by bringing a fresh suit instead of the initial suit appealed against. The INEC promptly challenged the court jurisdiction to entertain the suit and the PDP on their own volition promptly withdrew the suit. “However, on the initial suit pend-

ing at the Federal High Court, which the PDP got an order for stay, ACN then applied to be a joinder and the application was granted.

But when other political parties sought similar joinder, the court rejected their application and they also immediately appealed that decision. “ So effectively, four different applications were before the courts - two in Osogbo and two at the Court of appeal, Akure. The appeal

by INEC against the interlocutory injunction granted the PDP before proceedings were held up in Osogbo was the one determined on Friday in Akure. “ Our authentic information is that the court declared that the process of filing the appeal by INEC was defective, hence incompetent and was as a result struck out. “The Court of Appeal neither made pronouncement on the substan-

tive suit, which is not before the Court of Appeal, but still pending in Osogbo, nor did it declare the elections of 2011 ‘null and void’ (as the PDP is misleading Nigerians). “ As you read this, the PDP has a live case before the Federal High Court in Osogbo where it seeks the court to pronounce Amb. Akeju incompetent (because he is allegedly partisan) to conduct the 2011 election.

That case has been put on hold by the PDP itself and until the party reopens the case, and get a pronouncement of ‘guilty as charged’, against Akeju, the Osun REC remains innocent.

What Akure court did was to strike out a defective notice which can still be refiled.

“The substantive case in which the PDP is seeking a court’s (not the Electoral Tribunal) pronouncement that the legislative elections

of 2011 were allegedly null and void, has been withdrawn at the Federal High Court, Osogbo. So, an Appeal Court cannot make a pronouncement on a matter that has not even been heard or argued by the parties involved, at the High Court.

“This completely exposes the stupidity of PDP’s claims that, by any warped implication, the Friday’s pronouncement by the Federal Court of Appeal in Akure has any direct or indirect bearing on the substantive case in Osogbo. The case is yet to be determined by the Federal High Court.”

The APC therefore appealed to the public and the media “to be wary of information coming from the PDP and cross-check facts before arriving at conclusions or disseminating fallacies, which Osun PDP has become notorious of spreading.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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NEWS Cleric endorses Ekweremadu for Senate

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POPULAR Enugu Catholic priest, Rev. Ejike Mbaka, at the weekend endorsed Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu for next year’s election.

The cleric declared his support at the weekly prayer vigil at the Adoration Ministry ground in Enugu.

He said the Deputy Senate President had done well and deserved to be re-elected.

Rev. Mbaka said: “We have had a Senate President and we have equally had senators. But Ekweremadu has given the people of Enugu and the Southeast the feel of governance.

“Many of the roads and development projects you see around Awgu, Oji River, Ezeagu, Aninri and many parts of Enugu and the Southeast came courtesy of the quality representation by Senator Ekweremadu.

“Besides, he is here with his wife. He has demonstrated the ability to keep his family. That is the first test of a leadership.”

The cleric described Ekweremadu as a man with a good heart and compassion.

He said the church would stand by him to ensure he returns to the Senate continue his good work for Enugu and the Southeast.

Rev. Mbaka added: “Talking about Enugu West Senatorial or Enugu State is even local politics. What is at stake here is the Igbo interest and Nigeria. The Igbo cannot sacrifice what they have because of the selfish ambition of anybody.”

Nsukka professionals congratulate Ugwuanyi

•Rev. Mbaka anointing Ekweremadu in Enugu...yesterday. With them is the senator’s wife with others.

Anambra communities agog for T Ngige’s scholarship S

EVEN communities in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State were in celebration mood yesterday as Senator Chris Ngige distributed his scholarship in the areas.

The communities are: Amansea, Ebenebe, Ugbenu, Mgbakwu, Amanuke, Urum and Achalla.

It was the grand finale of the scholarship in Anambra Central Senatorial District, consisting of the seven local government areas Ngige represents at the National Assembly.

The scholarship comprises 350 for secondary school pupils and over 20 for students in tertiary institutions. They are among the 6,000 he distributed.

Dignitaries at the event included traditional rulers from local government and top politicians, especially those of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Leadership publisher and APC presidential aspirant Sam Ndah-Isaiah also at-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

tended the ceremony.

The scholarship for Awka North Local Government Area was shared among beneficiaries at Eziogbo Community Primary School at Amansea.

Community leaders, traditional rulers, community leaders and the parents of the beneficiaries hailed Ngige for assisting the less privileged in the area.

Among speakers at the event were Chief Dennis Ngene, Chibuzor Obiakor, a House of Representatives aspirant; Igwe Ben Nweke of Urum; APC State Youth Leader Muomaife Augustine.

The people expressed gratitude to Ngige as the first politician to do so much for his constituents.

They said the senator’s contributions to the people’s welfare were akin to what the late Premier of Western Region,

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, did for the Yoruba.

It was learnt that beneficiaries of the Ngige scholarship cut across all political parties.

Addressing the crowd of over 10,000 people yesterday, Ngige said the scholarship was among his programmes for the state when he was governor.

The senator said it was stopped by the enemies of progress.

He said: “When I went to the Senate, I promised myself that such a dream must not die since many families find it difficult to foot the bills of their children in schools.

“This scheme is a continuous thing because it will not stop, even if I die. That is why it has to go to over 6,000 students in Anambra Central.”

Two banks, he said, would administer the scholarship for Awka North Local Govern-

ment Area. They are Unity Bank and Keystone Bank.

Ngige said three other banks would handle other areas.

The senator said APC would alleviate the suffering of the people in Anambra and other parts of the country.

He said: “Without knowledge, you cannot achieve anything. This is the reason for developing the human capacity of these children.”

Nda-Isaiah urged the people to vote for APC in next year’s elections to enable the nation make progress.

He noted that none of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governments had given out such a high number of scholarship within a short time.

The Leadership publisher said what Ngige did in Anambra Central Senatorial Zone had not happened in the state.

Obi of Onitsha seeks more care for underprivileged

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HE Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe (Agbogidi) has urged Nigerians to care for the underprivileged in the society.

The monarch hailed the national carrier, Globacom, for re-awakening the cultural essence among Nigerians.

Igwe Achebe spoke at the weekend in Onitsha, Anambra State, at the beginning of this year’s Ofala Festival.

The monarch urged Nigerians to always show love and concern to the less privileged, adding that such affection would give them a sense of belonging in their communities.

He explained that during his seclusion before the Ofala started, he told his ancestors and God to forgive the people’s communal misdeeds and give them a brighter future.

Igwe Achebe said Globacom had been support-

ing the Oreze International Arts Exhibition, as part of the Ofala celebrations, in the last two years.

He said: “For the second year running, our indigenous artists have mounted an international art exhibition in this palace as part of the Ofala Festival. The exhibition is showing the works of 80 artists from Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo and Nigerian artists in the Diaspora.

“We are grateful to Globacom and the artists for collaborating with the organisers of the exhibition since inception. We would like to thank all our sponsors for their continued support to make Ofala Onitsha second to none as a cultural festival. In particular, we thank Globacom Limited, which has been our main partner for the fourth year.”

The monarch also hailed the Federal Government for containing the Ebola Virus

Disease (EVD) outbreak.

He noted that had the virus not been contained, it would have caused havoc in the country.

In a goodwill message, Globacom Chairman Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. said this year’s Ofala Festival “means a lot to us in the Globacom family as it signals the beginning of a new phase of our relationship with the Onitsha palace on Ofala Festival”.

He added: “The 2014 festi-

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val commemorates the renewal of the partnership for another three years. It is a confirmation of the abiding faith and implicit confidence your majesty and the people of Onitsha have in us. We see and regard this as a call to greater responsibility.

“I want to assure all that we will not fail in this task of making Ofala one of the biggest and most celebrated festivals in this part of the universe.”

•Hail Chime, PDP

HE Nsukka Professional Group (NPG) has hailed Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for making House of Representatives member, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the party’s consensus candidate for next year’s governorship election.

In a statement by its president Dr. Basil Onugu and Secretary, Otoboeze Chikwado, the group noted that Ugwuanyi did not only emerge as the party’s consensus candidate but also has the qualities that made it possible for his fellow aspirants and other stakeholders to have confidence in, trust and respect for him.

The statement said: “There is no iota of doubt that Ugwuanyi is eminently qualified, competent and has the right compliment of skills set necessary to, not only sustain but also ad-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

vance Chime’s enviable legacies to the next level.

Above all, unity and peace remain not only a sine-quanon but also most imperative for the sustenance of the current tempo of development in the state.

“Ugwuanyi is not only an epitome of peace but also large hearted and quite accommodating to the weak and the mighty alike. He is a team player of choice.

“We will also thank Chime and the leadership of the party in the state for their consistent demonstration of dedication and commitment towards ensuring that Enugu North Senatorial Zone produces the next governor in 2015. It is not common in our political clime to find leaders who are concerned about equity, fairness and justice, as demonstrated in the course of this exercise.”

Jonathan to open NAFEST Oct 21

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will open the 28th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) on October 21 at the Township Stadium in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, at noon.

The festival will hold from October 19 to 26.

This year’s festival, with the theme: Celebrating Nigeria @100: The Role of Culture as a Vehicle for National Unity, is the first time Ebonyi State would host the national festival since its inception.

The week-long fiesta has participants from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Participants also include non-governmental organisations (NGOs), schools

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

and international agencies.

A statement by the organisers, the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), said Ebonyi State had made arrangements to feature cultural events, such as traditional dance drama, arts and crafts competition, children’s essay writing competition, children’s painting competition, traditional children’s storytelling competition, traditional wrestling, traditional cuisine competition, traditional furnished apartment, among others.

NCAC said the festival, which will close on October 26, would promote cultural interaction, peace and national integration.

Family, others hold 10th year for slain pilot Agbeyegbe

EN years after he was killed by suspected assassins, the family of Captain Jerry Agbeyegbe, Aviation industry players and associates yesterday held a 10th year remembrance anniversary.

The event was held at the family’s home in Ifako Ijaiye, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.

The late pilot was the General secretary of Nigeria

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), the aviation safety watchdog.

He was killed on October 12, 2004 on the Oworonshoki axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Agbeyegbe was critical of issues affecting air safety in the country.

He was also a former president of the National Associa-

tion of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

Agbeyegbe led a safety campaign in the industry in the late 1990s and 2004.

The late pilot also led many protests against the liquidation of the former national carrier, the Nigeria Airways Limited and the take-off of Virgin Nigeria Airways.

He was consistent in his

clamour for safer airspace and the need to ensure that navigational aids at the airports were calibrated.

Agbeyegbe was Nigeria’s foremost airspace system inspection specialist with over 25 years experience spanning corporate and charter, training school, commuter airline, regulatory authority and special application-aerial inspections operations.

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2014

10

NEWS

Security guard killed in Edo

Flood sacks Warri residents

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ESIDENTS of some parts of Warri, Delta State, yesterday were devastated as flood took over their homes and streets, following a midnight downpour.

Places like Etuwewe, Walter Odeli Road, a larger part of the Third Marine Gate Road, to Gbiaye Street, all within Marine Estate, were sacked by the flood, trapping some residents indoors.

Many worshippers waded through water to reach their destinations.

Also, the situation made most parts of the estate nogo areas for tricycles, the only means of public transportation through that part.

A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said the situation was worsened by the fact that the drainages were blocked and not channelled into any canal.

“This flood you are seeing here came from the midnight rain.

“There was no flood yesterday, in fact, there was no rain for like two days and everywhere was dry, except for places where the road is bad, such as Odeli Road.

“The problem here is lack of drainages, the ones you see here are all blocked and even if they had been free, they lead to nowhere,” he said.

Commissioner for Environment Frank Omare could not be reached for comments.

Commissioner for Information Chike Ogeah said the government would sort out

Pirates attack passengers From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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EA pirates at the weekend waylaid a passenger speedboat, injuring travellers and stealing valuables.

It was gathered that the pirates attacked their victims near Kiberi-Bio on the Ogbia-Nembe-Brass waterway in Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

The incident was said to have occurred barely two days after the state chapter of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) ended its strike over insecurity in the waterways.

The attack occurred on a boat travelling from Ogbia to Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area.

The hoodlums, who were said to have struck at 3pm, also made away with the speedboat after forcing the driver and the passengers off.

“They left with two women and two children .

We don’t know what they want to do with them,” a source, who pleaded for anonymity, said.

The source, however, said nobody was killed in the attack.

State MWUN Chairman Lloyd Sese insisted that the security situation on the waterways had become frightening.

He said the incident had justified the strike.

The MWUN chairman said a meeting between the government and the union’s leadership would hold in Yenagoa this week.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

A SECURITY guard on Lagos Street opposite the Oba Market in Benin City, identified as Oboh John, has been killed, following the continued battle for the collection of revenue from traders.

Another guard was beaten to a coma by yet-tobe identified gang.

Two families- the Osulas and Obazees- have been at war for the last four days over the collection of revenue from street traders.

Three persons were injured last Wednesday when both families engaged in a free-for-all.

Goods worth millions of naira were stolen after the guard was killed.

A trader, Ebere Chukwu Okafor, said she lost cash and goods.

“Most of our goods were stolen. We want security in this market. I discovered that our shops were broken into. They took the money I kept.”

Police spokesman Noble Uwoh said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

•Some residents wading through the flood...yesterday.

the situation after the rainy season.

“I know I’ve taken this thing up with Oga, especially in Warri, we’ve had a lot of complaints, especially on roads.

“What I know the governor said at that time was that

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the rains are the cause of the problem.

“They are the cause of the delays in the construction of the roads and drainages.

“Not only in Warri, but also in Asaba, go to the Okpanam Road axis, you will see the major problem there, but the

governor is working on all those things.

“I think it’s this climate change that is the major problem; at least before we used to have what they call August break, but you see how the rain has just been going on and on.

“So the best thing is just to wait, let the rains stop then we’ll continue and that’s why we’ve been talking about finishing strong, we understand that by the last quarter of the year, we will be able to do more construction,” Ogeah said.

How robbers killed Oneya’s daughter

ECURITY has been strengthened at strategic routes in and out of the twin-cities of Effurun/ Warri and other towns in Delta State, following the Friday killing of the daughter of former military administrator of Kano State, Brigadier General Dominic Oneya.

The intense security patrol in the beleaguered area came as fresh information showed that the late Ms Frances Oneya might have been targeted in error.

The mother of four was on her way home from a new generation bank in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, when she was shot at

From Shola O’Neil, Regional Editor South south

close range by the hoodlums, who apparently trailed her from the bank in a tricycle.

The robbers rained bullets on the Honda Accord, marked Delta TDU 767 AA, which she was driving. Two of the bullets hit her in the neck, killing her instantly.

The robbers made away with a Ghana-must-go bag, which they apparently thought contained money but left behind the N250,000, which she withdrew from the bank and kept under the seat.

A source said: “The bag they took away contained clothing materials, including guinea

brocade and other stuff, which she took to the bank for sale.

They probably thought that the bag contained the money.”

It was gathered that when the robbers realised the futility of their operation, they expressed their anger by shooting sporadically into the air.

Police spokesman Celestina Kalu said the N250,000 the victim withdrew from the bank was found intact inside the car.

It was learnt that Gen Oneya was with his wife at Adagbarassa in Okpe Local Government for the funeral of his colleague, Brig Gen Patrick Aziza, when he heard the news.

“Gen. Aziza was yet to be buried when he got the news about 11am on Friday. Out of respect, he waited till the interment before he left. It was on his way home that he got the report that she was dead,” a source said.

Armed soldiers from the Joint Task Force (JTF) yesterday took over security in parts of Effurun and Warri.

It was gathered that the move was part of an intense manhunt for the gang and other criminals, who have been terrorising the twin-cities.

The security men were seen at the popular Airport and Jakpa roads.

Police warn Edo politicians against thuggery

•Recover arms used for attacks •PDP lawmakers, leaders flee

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HE police in Edo State have warned politicians to stop sponsoring thuggery.

The police said they would not allow breakdown of law and order in the state.

Thugs invaded the Legislative Quarters on Saturday, attacking All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers and their families.

A statement by police spokesman Noble Uwoh said anybody caught would be prosecuted.

Uwoh warned politicians not to not to take laws into their hands but to seek redress in court.

He said the upsurge of political violence in the state does not augur well for its peace and tranquility.

Commissioner of Police Foluso Adebanjo said policemen have been placed on 24 hours security patrol around Benin City and environs.

Adebanjo said arms and ammunition used in the attack have been recovered.

He said the police were on the fleeing attackers and added that those arrested would soon be charged to court.

Nine PDP lawmakers and some party leaders have fled the state for fear of a reprisal attack by APC supporters.

It was gathered that APC supporters have been spoiling for “war” but for the continued appeal by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who urged them not to take the law into their hands.

The Speaker, Uyi Igbe, in a petition, alleged that PDP members were behind the onslaught.

From Osagie Otabor and Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

Igbe accused the police of complacency. He said: “It was gathered that the police were informed of the attack after the incident at the Benin Airport on Friday, where thugs manhandled government officials as they waited to receive President Goodluck Jonathan.

“But curiously, rather than strengthen security in the area, policemen attached to the complex and some of the lawmakers were allegedly withdrawn.

“They went on a rampage destroying vehicles, buildings and assaulting lawmakers and their families. Furthermore, after the exit of the hoodlums, a fez cap was found in the premises with an inscription ‘Final Push’, which is the slogan of a group believed to be sponsored by a PDP lawmaker.

“Let me remind the commissioner that having heard the news of a possible attack yesterday, we expected that the security in and around the premises should have been strengthened to foil the attack.

“Also the few police officers who were supposedly posted to the legislators quarters were absent at the time of the attack.

“This barbaric act lasted for an hour causing residents and neighbours to flee. In addition, police response was very slow, despite several emergency calls. I wish to request your speedy investigation in this matter.”

Akpabio advises PDP chairmen From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

AKWA Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has urged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairmen not to take sides with government critics.

Akpabio spoke while addressing Akwa Ibom people at the Ibom International Airport on his return from Abuja at the weekend.

He said: “State chairmen of the PDP must regulate their duties effectively in which they were elected for and not to take sides with those who are bent on criticising the efforts of the present administration.”

On the various criticisms by some PDP elders against his administration and the office of the state PDP chairman, Akpabio said: “The destiny of the state is in the hands of the youth and don’t look at those elders who want to bring disharmony into the state through tribal or ethnics sentiments, remember that the future belongs to you all.”

The governor, accompanied by the state PDP Chairman, Paul Ekpo, said: “Some misinterpret it that I want the youth to be against the elders, but I can never incite the youth against elders.

“I encourage the youth to respect them so that their lives can be long on earth but at the same time respect is reciprocal.

“My administration has always respected and carried elders along.

“We have also succeeded in giving a future to our children by touching them through education, health, agriculture, among others, so I assure the people of good governance for sustainable development and I must thank you all for supporting my administration.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

11

NEWS Nyako’s suit for hearing

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From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

USTICE I. K. Banu of the Adamawa State High Court will on Wednesday hear a suit challenging the process that led to the impeachment of former Governor Murtala Nyako.

Nyako is praying the court to set aside his impeachment and reinstate him on the grounds that the legislators failed to comply with the provisions of Section 188 of the constitution.

Justice Banu, on September 30, fixed hearing for October 15, following complaints by parties that they were not yet served with copies of the plaintiff’s processes.

The defendants are the Speaker, Ahmadu Fintiri (sued in person), and members of the impeachment panel - Buba Kaigama, Hajia Laraba Hassan, Njida Kitto, Joshua Abu, Binanu Esthon, Alhaji Sa’ad Lawan and Esthon Gapsiso.

Boko Haram: Nigeria, Cameroon, others meet

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From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

IGERIA, Cameroon, Niger Republic, Benin and Chad will meet today in Abuja to adopt the legal framework for cross border military operations.

This is part of efforts to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting is a follow up to the extra-ordinary summit held in Naimey, Niger.

The meeting will be attended by Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers of member states.

The statement reads: “The meeting is aimed at reviewing the security situation arising from the activities of Boko Haram across their common borders and to agree on the adoption of a draft resolution by the African Union and the United Nations Security Council for establishment of an appropriate legal framework for cross border military operations against Boko Haram insurgency in the region.”

‘There’s another Sambisa Forest C in Plateau’ OMMUNITIES in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, which have been under serial attacks by gunmen, have said their attackers are camping in the PlateauKaduna forest.

Over 30 people have been killed since the attacks began on October 2.

At least 13 villages have been captured by the insurgents.

Daniel Gyang from Shonong said the Special Task force (STF) on Jos Crisis advised them to vacate the village.

He said: “Besides Shonong, residents of Lwa and Sharbutu have also been

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

advised to vacate the village by government troops. We believe them because the number of the gunmen doubles that of soldiers in the areas. The soldiers can defend themselves when the gunmen come but they cannot defend us.”

A village head in Riyom, Magaji Gwong, said: “Based on the communication we are sharing with our neighbours in Kaduna State, these terrorists are the same ones attacking some villages

there and they are based in this mountainous forest.

“We have been suspecting this development since, but when we report to security agencies they tell us they can’t go there and that their area of coverage does not extend to the forest.

“I am confident that if the Federal Government sends more troops there, they will discover another Sambisa forest. The problem is that there are only a handful of soldiers here and these terrorists send more fighters to scare the soldiers. Reinforce-

ment is needed before these gunmen wipe out the entire local government.”

Many villagers are fleeing to Riyom, the local government headquarters.

However, spokesman of the special task force Captain Ikedichi Iweha said the troops are in control of the areas.

He claimed peace was restored in the area last Thursday.

The member representing Riyom in the House of Assembly, Daniel Dem, and the Council Chairman, Josephine Piyo, urged the Federal Government to deploy more troops in the area.

14,000 ghost workers in Benue councils

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From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

HERE are 14,000 ghost workers in local government councils in Benue State, Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Prince Solomon Wombo has said.

Wombo said the interim report of an automation process in councils revealed startling discoveries, adding that of the 29,600 workers on councils’ payroll, only 15,056 were genuine.

He said even 12-year-old children appeared for screening during the exercise.

Wombo said a committee would be set up to review the report.

Man found dead in Kaduna

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From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

34-year-old graduate of Business Administration from Kaduna Polytechnic, Moshood Mohammed, was the yesterday found dead at NASFAT Village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Mohammed was reported missing last Thursday.

According to his brother, Kamal Yinka, Mohammed left Kaduna on Thursday morning to join a friend, who was supposed to take him to Ilorin in Kwara State, their country home, for a wedding scheduled for the weekend.

Yinka said: “We were surprised to see his friend two hours later, who said he waited for Mohammed at Mando Roundabout but didn’t see him. We thought it was joke until this morning (Sunday) when we found his body around NASFAT Village.

“His death is a big blow to our family because Moshood was a young man with a promising future. He just got married and has a two-month-old baby. He just got employed and his aged mother and immediate family were dependent on him.

“We suspect that he was assassinated, but by who? We don’t know. So, we are leaving the assassins to God. If it is his position in the office they are interested in, let them have it. God will judge.”

Police Commissioner Umar Shehu said: “I am not aware of the case, please call the PPRO.” Police spokesman Aminu Lawan didn’t pick his call.

Youths back Wamakko

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From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

SOKOTO State Governor Aliyu Wamakko yesterday got a nod from the Sokoto Youths Enlightenment Forum to vie for the Sokoto Central senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The forum comprises over 2,500 youths from across the state.

Speaking with reporters in Sokoto after its general meeting, the forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Bashiru Abubakar, said Wamakko’s endorsement was informed by his performance.

Abubakar said: “We want Wamakko to contest the senatorial position due to his landmark achievements as a governor for nearly eight years. We are desirous of an exemplary representative of his caliber, whose record of transparency, accountability and even spread developmental projects stand for him.”

He listed some of the governor’s achievements as: the successful take -off of the state university; construction of an orthopaedic hospital, the College of Agriculture, Wurno, and the School of Midwifery in Tambuwal; women and youth empowerment.

•Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (middle) addressing the press after his visit to Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed (left) and Sen. Kabir Gaya at the Government House, Ilorin.....yesterday.

Shehu Sani: northerners’ll be in slavery, if…

H

UMAN rights activist Comrade Shehu Sani yesterday said commoners in the North would be in “perpetual slavery”, if they did not resist money politics and elect credible leaders.

He said disaster awaited the region, if it continued to depend on “the Niger Delta’s oil money, which forms the monthly federation allocation to states”.

Sani, who wants to contest the Kaduna Central senatorial election on the platform

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

of the All Progressives Congress (APC), addressed railway pensioners and workers yesterday at Kaduna Junction, state headquarters of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

He said: “Northern states cannot continue to survive on Niger Delta’s oil money.

Our states are bereft of ideas that will generate revenue to run our affairs. There is no state in the North than can pay one month salary with-

out federation allocation, and federal allocation is derived from the sale of the Niger Delta’s oil. This is dangerous and spells disaster in the future. Is it possible for someone to be feeding you without controlling you? Our visionary leaders like the late Sir Ahmadu Bello foresaw these dangers, yet our leaders betrayed the course of common good. If Nigeria splits today, the North is in danger.

“We must resist money politics and elect credible

people. We must protect our votes. We are only number one in population. We have the highest number of senators, governors, local governments and councilors but have the highest number of beggars and oppressed citizens.”

Leader of the pensioners Mohammed Aliyu said their pension is 5,000 each. The pensioners pledged to work against money politics.

The gathering ended with prayers for peace and unity.

Dankwambo to consult stakeholders

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ESPITE his declaration as Gombe State Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship candidate by the party’s State Executive Committee (SEC), Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo said he has left his options open to the outcome of consultations with stakeholders.

Speaking at the airport on his return from hajj, Dankwambo said: “I was surprised to hear that there was a vote of confidence, not endorsement, a vote of confidence in me by my people that they don’t mind if I continue.

“But governance and politics are very complicated.

They require a lot of consultations and discussions. So,

By Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

that will depend on the outcome of my discussions and consultations with the people of Gombe State.

“If I say I want to continue, I won’t be fair to my party. I need to interact with some people and see if I really have their support.

“So, in due course, I will

tell you my position is.”

He said despite of his party’s support, he required the people’s support to be reelected.

Dankwambo said he was satisfied with his performance.

Senator Lidani, who announced the party’s stand on Dankwambo in 2015, said: “It is a political issue, therefore,

•Dankwambo

he has to consult and get advice from people.

UNILORIN produces 48 First Class graduates

F

ORTY-EIGHT graduates of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) will be awarded First Class degree certificates at the 30th Convocation on October 30.

In a statement, the institution’s Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, said 5,421 students would receive first degree certificates in various disciplines.

One thousand, one hundred and ninety

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

(1,190) are graduating with Second Class Upper; 2,814 with Second Class Lower; 1,068 with Third Class and 84 with pass.

Eighteen Diploma graduates, 642 Master graduands, 106 Ph.D graduates and 142 Postgraduate Diploma graduands will also receive their certificates.

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Minister flays condition of prisons I

NTERIOR Minister, Mr. Patrick Abba Moro, yesterday said government had initiated efforts to tackle the worrisome condition of inmates in Nigerian prisons in order to meet up with international standards.

He spoke during his visit to the Medium Security Prisons, Kirikiri in Lagos for its on-the-spot assessment and ascertaining the damages and the cause of the riot that rocked it last Friday.

The minister said: “From the information made available, the immediate cause of the riot is that an inmate came unauthorised and installed some gadgets without the knowledge of the officials. What it meant therefore was that a convict, who brought in some gadgets, instigated the inmates to complain and that led to the fracas. But, the police and other security agencies have intervened and calmed down the situation.

“More fundamentally, there is need for us to think about the level

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•Five died in riot, says inmate

By Jude Isiguzo

of freedom the inmates enjoy, especially compared to the level of international practices. The two gatherings representing the inmates are the chapel and the mosque. Christianity is Christianity, and in the world over, one worship ground is usually provided for the inmates. The prison services must review the institutions of worship in our prisons.”

“What also comes to mind is the state of facilities in some of our prisons. It requires some level of rehabilitation. At the moment, we have the issue of congestion, and it is very unacceptable that we have a prison which is accommodating 2,536 inmates. Out of this number, only 98 are convicts. We have 2,434 inmates awaiting trial,” he added.

“When we finish our assessment,” Moro noted, “we will be able to address the problem of con-

gestion in our prisons. The president has approved an inter-ministerial committee for this. This is one committee that will come up with some solutions. We are working on that. We must have facilities that conform to international practices.”

However, contrary to claims by the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) that only one person died during the riot, facts emerged yesterday that five inmates were killed.

About 9.45 pm on Saturday, according to an inmate, “Five inmates were killed. It was not a jailbreak, but a riot. The new Deputy Comptroller of Prisons (DCP) ordered that some of the things we used should be seized. These items included fan, generator, pots and others. But what annoyed us was that he also banned raw food in the prisons. This means our family members or anybody can no long-

er bring raw food for us. The type of food they cook in this place is bad. This is why most inmates cook.

“We heard they said only one inmate died; it’s a lie! The person who said that is a liar! Let me tell you the truth, none of us planned to escape. And those killed were deliberately shot and not because they attempted to escape.”

On Friday, guns boomed at the Kirikiri area, forcing those residing to scamper for safety. It was later discovered that inmates were rioting. Initial report however claimed that some inmates attempted a jail-break.

The immediate cause of the Friday riot, a source said, was when a warder tried to seize a fan belonging to an inmate called “General Overseer.” The inmates, it was learnt, started chanting “we no gree ooo ...we no gree,” following which the situation snowballed with the inmates pelting stones at warders and breaking glasses.

The prisons’ authorities, the source said, were forced to bring in soldiers, who allegedly opened fire on inmates who allegedly attempted to escape.

Fatinikun said a probe panel had been constituted to look into the cause of the riot, adding that seven inmates sustained injuries. Three, he said, were treated and discharged, while four were hospitalised.

He revealed that an inmate died last Saturday morning, while three were still in hospital.

Lions clubs lift health centre

HE Lions Clubs District 404 A1, Nigeria, has donated multi-millionaire eye equipment to Iga Idunganran Heath Centre on Lagos Island, which was built by Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu.

Among the equipment were Slit Lamp Bio microscope, Perkins Tonometer, Visual Acuity Chart (Automated Text Chart), Professional Autolense Meter, Keeler Ophthalmoscope, Professional Keeler Retinoscope, Minor Microsurgical set, Trial Lens Box Set, Head Loupe, Near Point Charts, Automated Refractometer and Automated Vision Chart.

Led by its District-Governor, Laitan Onolaja, an engineer, the entourage was received by Oba Akiolu who was also the special guest of honour.

Onolaja said the gesture was part of the cardinal points of the club to assist the less-privileged.

He thanked Oba Akiolu and Zenith Bank for providing the health centre for the people, saying: “This is a laudable achievement because it is not an everyday occurrence that an individual initiates this, and this is what prompted us to contribute our quota to complementing Lagos State government’s effort in providing first-class health for its

•Empower 40 youths

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

citizenry. The equipment donated today is of high standard and nobody will need to travel abroad seeking for eye treatment.”

He urged the state government to provide ophthalmologists that will run the clinic, while he promised his club’s readiness to render services when the need arises.

Commending the clubs for the gesture, Oba Akiolu praised the non-governmental organisation for their care for the less-privileged in the society.

While praising the Lions clubs for giving good medical care to the people, the paramount ruler commended the gesture of Zenith Bank under the leadership of Mr Jim Ovia on the project.

“There is no human being that doesn’t have one form of ailment or the other. By the time I conceived of the idea of this health centre, there was no support because they wanted Motor Park. I was not deterred because I know more of this benefit will come,” the monarch said.

Oba Akiolu, who described the equipment as high-standard, urged the ophthalmologist to

•From left: Oba Akiolu, Onolaja and Dr. Sokunbi ... at the event.

take proper care of the equipment.

In her words, representative of Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Funmi Sokunbi thanked Lions clubs for the “laudable project,” explaining that it would go a long way in fighting avoidable blindness, which she said, was on the rise in developing countries.

The present Lagos State administration, she said, was committed to eradicating blindness in the state and partner with private organisations or individuals to make health affordable and reachable for the citizenry.

In a related development, Lions Clubs (District 404 A1) has also sponsored 40 young people to an Aspiring Entrepreneurs Programme (AEP) at Fate Foundation, Lagos. The participants selected from a large pool of applicants were required to present a business idea as part of the application process.

The five-day capacity-building programme is specially designed for aspiring entrepreneurs to provide them with basic skills, tools and networks required to start and run successful businesses with best practices in entrepreneurship while

My husband maltreated me during pregnancy’

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•Moro

37-year-old woman, Oluwashola Kehinde, has sought the dissolution of her 18-year-old marriage to her husband, Moruf, before the Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos, alleging that her husband is callous and irresponsible.

Mrs. Kehinde, a food vendor, said: “My husband started committing adultery a few months after our wedding. He sent me out of the home because I accused him of womanising. It was most saddening because I was already carrying a seven-month pregnancy then. His attitude is somewhat strange. He always blows hot and cold; he is very unpredictable. My sister, out of anger, once bit him hard because he is fond of beating me. That is the story behind the deep cut on his back.”

She added: “At some point, I returned to his house after several pleas from his relations who assured me that he had changed. But

By Basirat Braimah

the situation got worse as he formed the habit of disappearing from the house whenever I got pregnant. He would leave home for over two months on the excuse that he was broke. Even when he had money, he would only buy his own food and eat it alone, not minding how we survive. He is a callous man.

“My husband once came home 12 days after he angrily left the house, pleading for forgiveness.

He said if I wasn’t ready to forgive him, he would kill himself. I went to bed, thinking he was joking. Surprisingly, my husband hung himself to the ceiling fan in the room. He kicked the jerry can he stood on and urinated on his body. By that time, he was almost lifeless. So, I quickly used a knife to cut the rope before I called on our neighbours. My husband came around about 30 minutes after. Till date, I keep asking what

would have happened, if he had died in the process.”

Mrs Kehinde said they were given a quit notice when for many months, her husband couldn’t pay rent. She added: “It was at that time that he took a few clothes and left the house. For almost two years that we have lived as a couple, my husband doesn’t ask after the wellbeing of our children, thus prompting my sister to take custody of two of our children. I am tired of accepting him back.

None of his relations knows what I am going through. I don’t want the marriage anymore; I only want him to cater for our children’s education.”

However, Mr. Kehinde, a 45year-old commercial driver, said: “Frustration led me to attempt suicide. I wasn’t happy for the fact my wife was the only one responsible for our children’s upkeep.

But I give her money when I have.

When I was driving a private ve-

hicle, we never had problems and everything was almost perfect.

Money is always the cause of our argument.

“I left the house after the incident because her mum said my wife needed some respite. At times, she doesn’t give me food. Each time I sleep beside her, she leaves the bed.

Contrary to what she said, there is no scar on my back.

“The rope I used in hanging myself was the one my wife asked me to buy for the clothes line. I was psychologically tortured. But I have learnt my mistakes. I still love my wife because she has been good to me and I promise to turn over a new leaf.”

The marriage, which was sealed under Native and Customary Law, is blessed with five children.

The court President, Chief Awos Awosola, advised the couple to maintain peace and obey the law. He adjourned the case till October 30.

sticking to business fundamentals at all times.

The foundation, it was learnt, will conduct periodic reviews of the participants’ activities to identify how the knowledge acquired has improved their self-empowerment.

Accommodation was provided in Lagos for the youth drawn from various parts of the country, while feeding, transportation and cost of the enterprise training was completely borne by the clubs.

‘Embrace use of cooking gas’

By Emmanuel Udodinma

R

ESIDENTS of Oto –Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have been urged to embrace the use of cooking gas in their home as it has been seen to be cleaner and safer.

In an awareness and free gas distribution campaign, the council in conjunction with Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Development urged residents to embrace the use cooking gas because it safe and cheaper.

The council chairman, Mr Bolaji Kayode Robert said that the distribution of free Eko Gas Cylinder will benefit people the council.

He said: ‘‘Lagos State government has displayed usual determination and commitment in achieving set goal aimed at improving the quality of lives of its citizenry and I can categorically say that those of us at the grassroots are direct beneficiaries as can be witnessed here. ‘‘This administration has lived up to international standards of good governance found only in the developed countries.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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NEWS

Nigeria is a failed state, says Nda-Isaiah

JUSUN slams AGF’s selective obedience •Seeks implementation of ruling on judicial autonomy

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

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EADERSHIP publisher and a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Sam Nda Isaiah, has said Nigeria is a failed state and needs urgent revival.

The publisher said his criticisms of the Federal Government were not against President Goodluck Jonathan but against the bad aspects of his administration, which were affecting the masses.

Nda-Isaiah, who addressed reporters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during his consultations with members of the Sam4Nigeria Presidential Campaign Organisation, said he had always supported past administrations.

The politician explained that he usually withdraws such support the moment an administration derails from its promises to Nigerians.

He said: “People accuse me of criticising President Jonathan. I am not half as critical of him as I was of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

When they came in, I supported them. But once they started doing things that were against the betterment of the masses, I withdrew my support. What I should even be accused of is not being critical of what is going on in the country.”

Nda-Isaiah attributed the socio-economic problems in the country to the concentration of powers in the hands of those he called typical politicians.

The publisher said such people were insensitive to the plight of the masses.

He said: “I am not a typical politician; I am just bringing myself to serve Nigeria because of the change we want to bring. Politics is too serious to be left to typical politicians.

You can see where that has led us to in the country.”

The frontline journalist stressed that he was the best among APC aspirants because of his “big ideas”.

‘We’re working for Buhari’s victory’

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GROUP, Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC), has promised to work for the victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s presidential election.

The group, which promoted the ideals, goals and objectives of the former head of State, said it would use whatever is legally necessary to ensure Buhari’s victory at the polls.

A statement by the group’s Southwest Coordinator, Ayo Fatola, said its National leader and a former minister, Alhaji Umaru Dembo, promised stakeholders that with the support of the North and South coordinators, Dr Nasiru Ladan Argungun and Pastor Ezekiel Longe, BSGC would mobilise sufficient people and resources for Buhari’s success at the primaries and the 2015 election.

The group named its Southwest coordinators as: Comrade Babatope Omobulajo (Ekiti); Mike A. Adeyanju (Ondo); Alhaji Isiaka Isamotu (Osun); Deacon Isaiah A. Oyemakinde (Oyo); Chief Derin Adebiyi (Ogun) Chief Ajibade Emiabata Balogun (Lagos).

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

•Adoke

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HE Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has criticised the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Bello Adoke (SAN), for allegedly being unfair in his constitutional duties.

JUSUN President Marwan Adamu said the union’s criticism followed the AGF’s prompt obedience of the October 8 ruling, which sacked Adamawa State Acting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

Adamu noted that the AGF had been reluctant to comply with a judgment delivered on January 13, granting fiscal autonomy to the Judiciary.

Both judgments were delivered by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The union leader urged Adoke to direct the accountant-general of the federation to comply with the January 13 judgment in the manner

he directed the suspension of the Adamawa State governorship by-election and the swearing-in of James Ngilari.

He said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim; Labour Minister Emeka Wogu; the Minister of State Finance, Bashir Yuguda (who is also the chairman of the Federation Account Allocation Commissioners (FAAC) and other stakeholders, had directed JUSUN members to shelve their planned resumption of the suspended strike on the Executive’s alleged unwillingness to comply with the January 13 judgment.

Adamu said: “We appreciate the directive by the attorney-general of the federation and minister of Justice to the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, instructing him to comply with the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“We also want to say that since the Minister of Justice, as the chief law officer, has just woken up to his constitutional responsibility now on the Adamawa governorship crisis, he should also replicate same on the judgment of the same judge in JUSUN’s case against the governors on the financial autonomy of the Judiciary, by directing the accountantgeneral of the federation to

comply with the court judgment.

“We are hoping that he instruct him (the accountantgeneral) to that effect as soon as possible because since January 13 the accountantgeneral of the federation is yet to comply with that judgment, especially on the provision of Section 162(9) of the Constitution.”

He said the union was committed to ensuring the independence and financial autonomy of the Judiciary.

The union leader added that JUSUN would resume the suspended strike, if it noticed that the Executive was unwilling to keep to its words.

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2014

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NEWS Rivers traffic agency crisis deepens

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•Six arrested

HE crisis in the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMA-RIV) deepened yesterday, as policemen arrested and detained six of its officials for unionism.

The Acting ControllerGeneral, Confidence Eke, claimed they were arrested for criminal activities.

The six officials were arrested by security personnel from Zone 6, Calabar, Cross River State and moved to Calabar, where they are being detained.

A source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the officials were arrested at a meeting.

The source said: “We believe that Eke is behind the arrest and detention of our leaders.”

The Acting ControllerGeneral claimed that the six officials were arrested for stealing a bus and attempting to sell it in Owerri, the Imo State capital, before the

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

vehicle was recovered.

Eke, who spoke through the agency’s spokesman, Nimi Brown-West, also claimed that the officials broke into the Zone 5 office and removed equipment, which he said was reported at the Olu Obasanjo Divisional Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt.

Eke said: “Besides the crimes committed, the six officials refused to honour their postings from their respective zones to other zones.

“They also assaulted some officials and destroyed official documents. They were arrested at our Moscow Road office in Port Harcourt and none of them works there.”

Eke urged the public not to take the unionists seriously, but to allow policemen to do their jobs.

More Dangote Cement coming

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From James Azania, Lokoja

HE management of Dangote Cement Company said yesterday that it would release 29 million tons of 42.5R grade cement into the market before December.

The Regional Manager (Safety), Johnson Olaniyi, said this at a facility tour and seminar organised for building block makers at the Obajana plant in Kogi State.

He allayed fears of scarcity of cement in the market, saying the company has stepped up production of the 42.5R grade.

“Dangote Cement is making a minimum of 1million storage capacity of the 42.5R cement at its depot nationwide.

“We are also making delivery easy through our new three approaches of self-collection, depot and home delivery. So, the issue of scarcity of the 42.5R cement will never arise.”

He said the 42.5R cement would address building collapse in the country, adding that the 42.5R cement is better for block molding and the 32.5R cement for plastering.

The National Chairman of Block Makers Association of Nigeria (BMAN), Rashidi Adebowola, said the facility tour was to acquaint members on the art of making cement.

NSCDC intercepts vessel, crude oil

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VESSEL loaded with bagged petroleum products has been intercepted by the Bayelsa command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

A suspect, Munemene Ziba, was arrested in connection with the vessel, which was laden with sacks of oil described within the creeks as “a condom system” of transporting crude oil.

The state Commandant, Desmond Agu, said the suspect claimed to be a member of the anti-vandalism task force on oil theft in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Agu spoke at the weekend shortly after receiving the

•One suspect arrested From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Commissioner of Police, Valentine Ntomchukwu and Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Air Vice-Marshal Umar Omeiza.

“He claimed to be a member of the task force that was set up by the government while he is not a member.

“I am prosecuting him as an impersonator and for illegal possession of the product. He was caught at the Yenagoa waterside while coming from South Ijaw,” Agu said.

Urhobo youths hail suspension

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From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

RHOBO youths in Delta State have hailed the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) for ostracising some politicians accused of working against Urhobo’s governorship interest.

The UPU, in a published advertorial last week, ostracised three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains- Olori Magege, Monday Igbuya and Ben Igbakpa- for working against Urhobo’s interest.

The youth urged the UPU to extend the same treatment to other “disloyal” Urhobo politicians.

President, Urhobo Media Group, Daniel Ekiugbo said: Much as Urhobo politicians fronting aspirants from other districts have fundamental and democratic rights to so freely associate, UMG is strictly opposed to anyone exercising such privilege to ridicule the UPU.” Rex Anighoro of the Coalition of Urhobo National Youth Leaders and Stakeholders (CUNYLS) described the UPU ban as “a definitive and needful action towards sanitising the political class betraying the Urhobo nation.”

Omonigho Matthew said: “It is a good, timely decision but certainly not enough. UPU should drop any executive member who is an active member of any party so UPU can fight justly.”

Unuajefe Choice said: "UPU has more work to do and let all anti-Urhobo declaration masterminds and supporters be fished out and sanctioned for life.

Michael Kalabu said: "There are more people to be sanctioned, those executing anti-Urhobo agenda, many are hiding under party loyalty to sell Urhobo, UPU should move down to Udu council area too, there are many betrayals there."

PUBLIC NOTICE

MADUEKWE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Maduekwe Onyinye Blessing now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chilaka Onyinye Blessing. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

The commandant said 638 illegal refineries were destroyed in Southern Ijaw by the task force, which was established in partnership with NSCDC. He warned persons wearing uniforms of security agencies to desist from such act and called on the police and other security agencies to protect their uniforms.

Agu said the suspect was

caught wearing a vest with an inscription, “SILGA Task Force”.

He, however, said the suspect confessed that he stole the vest during the rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Southern Ijaw.

But the suspect claimed that he was arrested at the waterside, adding that he knew nothing about the bagged product.

“I was caught at the Yenagoa waterside. I was not even inside the boat. I was not driving the boat,” he said.

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Sell them now!

I

We wonder what the Federal Government is still doing with our moribund refineries

F Nigerians still harboured any pretension that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would ever get the nation’s four refineries to function optimally, the latest figures emanating from the corporation ought to settle that. We refer to the corporation’s record of output for the month of June, which shows the combined refineries delivering a measly 10.46 percent of their installed capacities.

That month, for instance, we are told that the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) could not produce a litre of fuel. The two refineries in Port Harcourt could at best deliver an average of 17.96 per cent. As for the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), the best it could was a mere 13.44 per cent of installed capacity. In other words, out of the 445,000 barrels per day combined capacity of the refineries, they could only deliver 10 percent.

In 2012, that is two years ago, the same refineries operated at an average of 31.1 per cent capacity.

The situation prompted the petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to declare at the sidelines of the June 2012 meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria, that: “At this point in time, we are trying to ensure that our refined petroleum products are produced in the country within the next 24 months or so.

To do that, we need to do the TAM of the refineries that we already have on ground, we have already moved into the first phase of the TAM of Port Harcourt, using the original people that built them.

So, at the end of this year, Port Harcourt should be up to 90 percent capacity and by the end of 2013, Kaduna, and then Warri will follow suit.”

The TAM was expected to have cost the nation $1.6 billion. And that was long after two of the refineries – the one in Port Harcourt and Kaduna – were sold by the departing Obasanjo administration for $700 million in 2007, only for the sale to be reversed by the Yar’Adua administration later that same year.

The point made in our earlier editorial bears reiteration here: the refineries have become drain-pipes that the nation hardly needs.

We understand all the arguments that have been made against their sale. Most of them are no doubt persuasive, particularly those about not selling these vital assets to cronies of top officials of government at give-away prices. Fears about possible lack of observance of due process in the sale process have also been expressed. These issues, with due respect, are simply more ideological than economic. They are unhelpful to the cause of charting the way forward. A better way to frame the issue is to ask whether it makes sense to continue to pump public funds into the refineries even when there are no guarantees that the NNPC or the Federal Government can ever get them to deliver real value.

And who benefits from the current situation? Are these not the middlemen, contractors and their allies in the bureaucracy who see TAMs, as avenues to milk the nation dry? How does the economy which continues to shell out fortunes on im-

ported fuel at great costs to its stock of foreign reserves benefit? Or the ordinary citizen on whose benefit the contraptions that are as good as scraps are supposedly held in trust?

Is it not better to sell the refineries to willing private investors to stop the current haemorrhaging of the public till? For, while it is bad enough that the nation continues to live in the illusion that it owns refineries, the fact of the matter is that it has nothing of refining capacity to boast of. Most unfortunately, the scarce funds which could have been used in other sectors are pressed to service that corruption infrastructure that they have become.

As it is, the nation would lose nothing by selling the refineries. Rather, it would relieve the treasury of the burden of the so-called TAMs that are nothing but drain-pipes.

‘Is it not better to sell the refineries to willing private investors to stop the current haemorrhaging of the public till?

For, while it is bad enough that the nation continues to live in the illusion that it owns refineries, the fact of the matter is that it has nothing of refining capacity to boast of. Most unfortunately, the scarce funds which could have been used in other sectors are pressed to service that corruption infrastructure that they have become’

The N213bn question

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•Why would govt want to give this huge sum to privatised power firms?

BOUT one year after the privatisation of Nigeria’s power sector, we are today at the threshold of disbursing a whopping N213 billion to the privately held firms. Shall we say this is the gain Nigerians have reaped from the divestment?

Nothing else seems to have changed for the beleaguered consumer who for decades has borne the brunt of government’s ineptitude and mindless official graft that has been the bane of the power sector. Tariff has been reviewed upwards twice in the last one year while power supply has dropped in most places. Unannounced outages remain the norm. Prepaid metering which had started in earnest before divestment has been kept in abeyance while bills have become even more arbitrary and crazy now more than ever before.

The institutional troubles besetting Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission and distribution have not by any chance been scratched by the change of guards of

‘Where is the CBN getting this huge sum from? Would these private firms repay the money?

Was there no due diligence before the power assets were acquired? Was this fund approved by the National Assembly? Would the CBN intervene in other private sector concerns? Questions and many more un-asked questions in this murky power business’

November 1, 2013; the problems merely changed hands. The same troubles have remained at every leg of the power value chain.

While some generation capacity has been achieved, it cannot be deployed because of the same old reason of inadequate gas supply to new plants. Transmission facilities are antiquated and inadequate. They are said to be undergoing frantic upgrade by the new holding firm, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). In like manner, the distribution arm of the chain suffers from the same acute obsolescence.

To illustrate this gridlock in Nigeria’s power grid, what it means is that if more power is generated (as indeed it is), it cannot be fed into the national transmission grid because it lacks the capacity to carry much more now. And if perchance it does carry more, it may be difficult to discharge and distribute the wattages to the end-user because most of the present transformers and cables are not of this era. This is the sad tale of the Nigerian power sector today.

The question then is: what has happened in the last one year after the transfer of national power assets to private owners? Why have there not been some massive upgrade, refurbishment and replacement of facilities by the new owners? This may well be the crux of the matter: the power reform process is said to have been fraught with discrepancies and had been less than transparent. In other words, the generating and distribution companies (GENCOs and DISCOs ) have been parceled to the wrong elements that have neither capital nor expertise to drive such a crucial sector of the economy.

For instance, most of the so-called investors had borrowed from banks to purchase the assets and are either borrowing more or are applying the yields from the acquired

firms to service the debts. They have made little investments of their own. And because they are cronies and party stalwarts who hurriedly ramped up special purpose firms to buy up the power assets, they are either balking at investing or they have no funds of their own to throw in. Either way, it does not matter because they do not have any personal stakes in the business. In fact some of them are actually already creaming off the paltry yields from the DISCOs and GENCOs. As it stands, the Federal Government is stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. The new owners hold the nation to ransom and government cannot move against them to revoke their licenses because the scenario is akin to what the legendary Afrobeat musician Fela, described as ‘paddy-paddy’ business. Not after the divestment exercise had been hailed as the ‘biggest’ and perhaps the best in the world.

The result of all these: government is shovelling a mind-boggling sum of N213 billion into a privatised power sector in what it nebulously termed ‘intervention fund’.

Explaining this new move, Sam Amadi, Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC said the fund provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is for the financial viability of the sector and not “intervention as subsidy.”

He said further that it is not coming from taxpayer or crude oil revenue.

We ask: where is the CBN getting this huge sum from? Would these private firms repay the money? Was there no due diligence before the power assets were acquired? Was this fund approved by the National Assembly? Would the CBN intervene in other private sector concerns?

Questions and many more un-asked questions in this murky power business.

Case for community policing

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N the face of rising crime rates and increasingly diverse and complex problems in the society, the traditional model of policing has come to be viewed as an ineffective approach to fighting crime. In the light of this, an approach to policing that places great emphasis on police-community relations, and on the usefulness of engaging the community in problem identification and solving efforts, has emerged under the banner of “community policing”. Most countries, especially those in the advanced democracies of the world, have adopted the community policing model of law enforcement as an effective strategy for fighting crime and criminality.

Traditionally, police outfits have responded to crime after it had occurred and, therefore, are structured to support routine patrols, rapid response to calls for assistance from danger, arrests, and follow-up investigations. Community policing, on the other hand, calls for a more strategic and thoughtful incorporation of all these aspects of police business into an overall broader police mission focused on the proactive prevention of crime and disorder. In a nutshell, community policing rests on the belief that law-abiding citizens in the community have a responsibility to participate in the police process.

In 2004, community policing was introduced in Nigeria under IGP Tafa Balogun. The endeavour was an attempt by the Nigeria Police Force to improve on its performance. It was the Force’s effort to change crime prevention and control to a modern and professional policing capable of providing maximum security to lives and property in Nigeria. Unfortunately, community policing culture has failed to make any meaningful impact in the Nigerian environment due largely to corruption, institutional constraints (police officers’ resistance to community policing), inadequate manpower (both in strength and expertise), insufficient education and training, inadequate equipment, and poor conditions of service of the average policeman.

No doubt, the ultimate success of community policing in Nigeria will depend on the effective implementation of the following programmes; (i) Weeding out corrupt elements in the police force; (ii) implementing a comprehensive strategy to overcome the challenges that may militate against instituting community policing by addressing issues like community participation in community policing, community policing as an anticorruption tool, human resource development for community policing and decentralizing policing duties and responsibilities. It also includes restructuring police formations and computing the actual cost of executing community policing operations in Nigeria. Other aspects of the programme must include a comprehensive training and re-training of the entire police force on the philosophy and culture of community policing, as well as the education, counseling and sensitization of the citizenry on the practice of community policing, including their roles as participants in the fight against crime and criminality in the society.

There is no doubt that Suleiman Abba is on the right track as far as the quest to put a handle on crime and criminality is concerned in Nigeria. His vision for community policing is spot on. Community policing has the capacity to break down the barriers separating the police from the public in crime prevention and control matters, while inculcating in police officers a broader set of community service ideals. As a matter of fact, community policing will promote and support organizational strategies to address the causes of crime, to reduce the fear of crime and social disorder through problem-solving tactics and community-police partnerships.

• Nkem Ibekwe, Abuja.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: “Leaders must have that sense of trusteeship, that they are only temporarily in charge of the destinies of their people and that their duty is not only to discharge that trust, but also to pass it on to equally trustworthy and competent hands.”

Lee Kuan Yew A nation governs best when its leader governs free men. Since the return to democracy in 1999, many states have not fared well neither endowed with a kind of leadership and development anticipated by the masses despite the huge allocations they received from federation account. We have been hurt, and we have been disillusioned. We have seen a wall go up that separates us from our own government. We have lost some precious things that historically bound us and our government together. We have been a nation adrift for too long.

There is a fear that our best years are behind us, but with effective and honest leadership, our best is still ahead.

Niger State fell among the category of states that dividends of democracy and good governance have not been so palatable. A journey from Suleija-Minna, Minna-Bida, Lambata-Lapai-AgaieBida, Minna/Sarkin-Pawa, Bida-

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Leader Nigerlites deserve

Doko, Kwakwuti-Kafinkoro, Agaie-Katcha-Baro, SabonWuseGaram-Bwari, NewBussa-Babana, Bida-Mokwa, Lemu-Zungeru, Tegina/Birnin-Gwari, Bida-Katcha, and Kontagora-Rijau road will tell the pitiful condition of our roads across the state. Education, healthcare, agriculture, job creation and social sector do not justify the billions of naira said to have been channelled to them.

In many parts of the state, majority of primary and secondary schools remain dilapidated as they were in 1999. Travellers along Abuja-Kaduna and Suleija-Minna road can verify by taking a look at Government Arabic Girls College Dikko, Government Girls Secondary School, Sabon-Wuse and Government Science College, Izom respectively. The case of the two female schools are more pathetic;

in early 80’s to mid 90’s, they both played host not only to the pupils from the state, but have been the darling of FCT residents mostly public servants who regarded them then as the best choice for their children because of standard, facilities, environment and its proximity. Today, the glory of both schools is now past.

Even the foreign scholarship scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate studies embarked upon by the entire northern states to boost manpower and selfreliance in field of Medicine, BioTechnology, Engineering, Information technology, Agriculture, Industrial Design, Architecture, Renewable Energy and Pharmacy; Niger State is only one yet to adopt the initiatives.

Despite being purely agrarian, many of its Local Government

Councils cannot boast of a single functional tractor nor tell last when fertilizer, pesticides or seedlings where sold at subsidised rate to the farmers. A state which was created in 1976 is now lagging behind Katsina, Akwa-Ibom, Jigawa, Gombe, Delta, Kebbi, Osun, Ekiti and Zamfara States created in 1987, 1991 and 1996 respectively in terms of physical and human development. Even the states of Yobe and Borno that are engulfed in insurgency for past three years appear to fare better in physical and human development.

We need a leader who can inspire us, unite us around the principles that we share and rally us to a common purpose. Nigerlites wouldn’t approve of candidates that are intellectually bankrupt or devoid of ideas. The next governor must create an open-door policy,

dent Goodluck Jonathan as the candidate that should be supported for Ekiti governorship election.

Further more, during the Ekiti governorship electioneering, Mimiko was in Ekiti State four times to campaign for Labour Party’s candidate, Bamidele.

Let me also state that Mimiko handsomely paid Fayose’s former Personal Assistant, Goke Olatunji to support Bamidele against his boss.

However, after the Ekiti governorship election, President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly told Mimiko that despite his claim of being rooted in South-west, Labour Party could not get up to 20,000 votes in Ekiti.

The President also reminded Mimiko that if he had not supported his re-election bid in October 2012, he wouldn’t have won, meaning

that Mimiko has been rejected by the common people of Ondo State.

And shortly after the Ekiti governorship election, Fayose went to the LP Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti to thank Opeyemi Bamidele for dividing the APC. Affirmatively, the division among the Ekiti APC greatly aided the victory of Fayose.

Mimiko was expecting Fayose to also pay him a thank you visit in government house, however, rather than going to Alagbaka to pay homage to Mimiko, Fayose proceeded to the Ondo PDP Secretariat in Akure to thank his party members for their moral support.

Mimiko has been kicking against Fayose ever-since.

That Mimiko could choose Abuja for his defection shows that the maradona of Ondo Politics is afraid

of his people. Why? Because a good politician defects where his people resides. Segun Oni joined APC at his Ifaki-Ekiti country home. Fayose rejoined PDP at his Afao-Ekiti country home. Bamidele joined LP at AdoEkiti. Senator Boluwaji kunlere joined PDP at his Igbotako country home.

Trust PDP, if a sitting governor is decamping in Abuja, particularly inside the villa and the president was right inside the same villa but was not at the ceremony, national chairman of the party was not present and BOT Chairman Tony Anenih, in Abuja was also not present!

Governor Segun Mimiko; please get ready for battle of supremacy which you might not win this time around.

Still on Mimiko’s defection to PDP

IR: Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State thinks he can always succeed with his manipulative and maradonic styles of politics.

He manipulated late Adefarati and succeeded. Mimiko manipulated late Olusegun Agagu and triumphed. He manipulated Bola Tinubu and got away.

The latest of the Mimiko’s manipulative politics was his claim that he helped Ayo Fayose and the PDP to win in Ekiti.

The fact is that Governor Mimiko, through the help of Senate President, David Mark, former Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Ogiadome and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ayim Pius Ayim, took Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele of the House of Representatives to Presi-

• Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, Magodo, Lagos.

because in a democracy, it shouldn’t be just loyalists, party men, the wealthy, and the well-connected that should have access and influence.

Every eligible voter in the state must play a role in changing the course of the state’s history. The state has had enough of elected officers who have turned the state agencies and programmes into personal piggy banks, granting favours to their family, friends, godfathers, thugs, ballot-box snatchers and election riggers, mistresses, rewarding donors, and furthering their own interests.

• Ibrahim Muye Yahaya, Muye, Niger State

Army or oppressors?

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IR: I wish to say a very big thank you to all those who helped train our men in uniform (Army) especially those within and around Auchi, Edo State.

Our military men, it appears, have so prepared for combat that they don’t seem to remember that we are in a democratic system and that we, bloody civilians are not at war with them, and that they were commissioned to protect and not to oppress us, bloody civilians.

Hardly does a week go by without incidents of military men beating up civilians within Auchi (I know not of other places). This is often at the slightest provocation. For instance, an officer comes to use an ATM machine, he expects everyone else to move aside from the queue and anyone stupid enough to complain gets a nice beating. As a boys scout, I recall how much emphasis was placed on discipline among our members. Are these fellows not trained in the rudiments of law and order?

It’s not just at ATMs that our men show how poor their moral values are but they try hard to show it everywhere else. I hope somebody becomes concerned about this before these soldiers have nobody to protect (or oppress).

• Ishaq Umason, Auchi

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

COMMENTS

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HAT’S in a name? Its significance is perhaps demonstrated by the recently reported but unclear killing of Abubakar Shekau, the commander-inchief of the terroristic Islamist militia Boko Haram. In a reflection of the haziness that has reigned since his death was first announced in August last year, the latest news of the killing of a terrorist by that name heightened the confusion. Was he killed a second time?

Interestingly, the uncertainty was complicated by the release of a 36-minute video in which a figure claiming to be Shekau said: “Here I am, alive. I will only die the day Allah takes away my breath.” He also declared: “Nothing will kill me until my days are over…Some people asked you if Shekau has two souls. No, I have one soul, by Allah.”

Compounding the drama is the intriguingly unresolved question as to whether Shekau’s soul goes marching on as indicated by the video. Although the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in a statement, shot down the appearance and utterances of the character in the video, it nevertheless left a sufficient margin for the invalidity of its own position, even if unintentionally. The DHQ said: “The Defence Headquarters is studying the claims made in the video purportedly released by the terrorists showing their leader Abubakar Shekau as dismissing his death.”

It is relevant to highlight the puzzling contradictions by considering the background to the denial of death. The initial affirmative answer by DHQ spokesman Major-Gen Chris Olukolade to the question of Shekau’s death did not fully settle the issue. According to his statement, “The troops captured some of the terrorists and their equipment. In the course of those encounters, one Mohammed Bashir, who has been acting or posing on videos as the deceased Abubakar Shekau, the eccentric character known as leader of the group, died.”

However, it would seem that things may not be so clear.

It is curious that a similar claim by the Cameroonian Army, supported by images, gave the credit to that country’s

‘It is fascinating that the claim and counterclaim related to Shekau’s existence illustrate the potency of the name. In this case, while the military probably hoped to project state capacity by taking credit for the alleged killing, Boko Haram possibly intended to present a picture of invincibility by discrediting the claimed killing. In a profound sense, there is a clash over the name Shekau’

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HE quest for women’s advancement in Nigeria can only begin with a closer look at the prospects of the girl-child with regards to her worth in society. To underscore its importance, the status of the girl-child was one of the critical issues discussed at the 4th United Nations conference on women, Beijing in 1995 with over 186 countries in attendance, and after which nine strategic objectives were outlined to galvanise governments to uphold the rights of the girl-child and ensure her protection.

It may seem trite to say every woman was once a girl-child and that every girl-child is a potential woman and mother.

But these assertions take on added significance when their place in society is considered. Every great woman celebrated today was once a girl-child who had access to education that qualitatively shaped her transition from childhood to adulthood; from obscurity to prominence and from days of small beginnings to a future of great accomplishments.

Hence, concealed in every girl-child is a potential Mother Teresa, a future Margaret Ekpo, a possible Fumilayo Kuti, a Gambo Sawaba.

If education is indeed a key determinant of favourable outcomes in life and the pathway for a girl-child to become self-actualized as a woman; a national asset and a raiser of future nation builders, then girl-child education in Nigeria deserves priority attention. Indeed surveys have shown that educated girls become better mothers and educated mothers insist on their girl children being educated which implies more girls going to school and the progression continues towards a more gender compliant system.

In spite of the strategic role the girl-child plays in the development of a nation, and the transforming impact that education has in the empowerment of the girl-child, United Nations statistics show that a vast percentage of them either do not go to school at all, or drop out at a certain level due to adversities like child-marriage, child-labour and trafficking, terrorism and sexual exploitation. Indeed the girl-child has continued to confront enormous challenges militating against her educational progress.

If education is indeed a key determinant of favourable outcomes in life and the pathway for a girlchild to become self-actualized as a woman; a national asset and a raiser of future nation builders, then girlchild education in Nigeria deserves priority attention.

Shekau: A reality check soldiers who reportedly carried out a cross-border raid inside Nigeria where they killed Shekau in an aerial bombardment of his hideout.

Either way, ignoring the contentious circumstances, the death of the Boko Haram leader should reassure the troubled public that the country’s military may be winning the terror war after all, despite mounting criticisms of its alleged operational minuses. But the matter may not be that simple.

It is noteworthy that Olukolade said: “The name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists’ leader”. He also gave an insight into the multiple identities of the rebel who was allegedly killed, saying, “On restoring normalcy after the encounter, inhabitants of the community who were victims of terrorists’ activities corroborated the information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed, alias Abubakar Shekau, alias Abacha Abdulahi, alias Damasack etc.”

The commonsensical implication of the alleged use of the name for branding purposes is that another so-called “fake Shekau” may emerge from the ashes of the previous ones, with the scary suggestion of continuity. Certainly, it would be unreasonably optimistic and a grave error for the military to interpret the claimed death of this particular Shekau as a definitive victory over Boko Haram.

The anti-terror campaign just cannot afford complacency, even if it is true that the terrorists lost their chief, according to the DHQ, “in the Konduga battle in September.”

Such a situation should be a setback for the insurgents, and it ought to be exploited maximally by the military, which means that the force must seriously address every possible hindrance, especially issues related to the effective equipping of the fighters and their welfare. In this con-

nection, the point must be emphasised that the intervention of Cameroonian troops, to the extent that their involvement possibly affected the believability of the reported killing of the Shekau in question, leaves a great deal to be desired.

The country must emphatically reclaim its capacity to defend its territory, and this certainly cannot be achieved through spin doctors who continue to paint a bright picture of a systematic weakening of the enemies without convincing evidence. It is worth mentioning that news of the killing of the rebel leader was accompanied by a claim that 135 Boko Haram terrorists were either captured or surrendered in Yobe and Adamawa states. Figures of captives or those who have surrendered will have to translate into a clear progressive crushing of the terrorists for any meaningful result.

News of a proposed recruitment of members of the Civilian JTF, a volunteer group of locals, into special security forces in furtherance of the war on terror suggests that the Goodluck Jonathan presidency may be expanding its approach to the long-running terror-related security challenge in the country’s Northeast, which the imposition of a limited emergency rule has done little to arrest.

As things stand, with Boko Haram having responded formally to the alleged killing of its leader through an apparent disproof, it remains to be seen what turn its terrorism would take and the consequences. It is noteworthy that in the last two months particularly, the terrorists appeared to have reimagined the execution of their five-year-old violent campaign, ostensibly for an Islamic territory, and have embarked upon a determined seizure of space, in addition to the frighteningly familiar bombings, raids and kidnappings. The military must be prepared.

It is fascinating that the claim and counterclaim related to Shekau’s existence illustrate the potency of the name.

In this case, while the military probably hoped to project state capacity by taking credit for the alleged killing, Boko Haram possibly intended to present a picture of invincibility by discrediting the claimed killing. In a profound sense, there is a clash over the name Shekau.

Indeed, Olukolade defined the weight of the name, from the military’s perspective, saying, “Since the name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists’ leader, the Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title as well as all terrorists that seek to violate the freedom and territory of Nigeria.” On the other hand, the suggestion that Boko Haram may be interested in sustaining the name by using others to carry the identity indicates its value to the terrorists.

However, in the final analysis, the battle is beyond the Shekau brand, and not to recognise this reality would amount to a trivialisation of the confrontation with evil.

Whether Shekau is dead or alive is not as important as restoring peace.

Why Nigeria’s future is tied to the girl-child

By Emmanuel Archibong According to a 2014 UNICEF report, Nigeria has 10.5 million children out of school, the highest number in the world with about 60 per cent of those children being girls. It also stated that “almost one of three primary age children is out of school, and roughly one of four junior secondary age children is out of school.” What this implies is that the Nigerian girl-child is one of the most disadvantaged in the world suffering from neglect in all its ramifications especially in the northern part of Nigeria.

It was in view of such challenges that the convention on the rights of the child was framed in 1989, which gives every child irrespective of gender, a right to education.

Furthermore, the United Nations designated October 11 annually as International Day of the Girl Child and which was first observed globally in October 2012. The objective of this day is for everyone to reflect on the dwindling prospects of the girl-child and her overwhelming but surmountable challenges. It is designed to provoke global interventions at all levels and to protect every girl child regardless of their geographical location. Nigeria is marching in lockstep with the rest of the globe. She is a signatory to that UN convention on the Rights of the Child since 1999, and is also a signatory to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. But there is clear need for more concerted action regarding the protection of the rights of the girl child in Nigeria.

In response to the growing challenges of the girl child in Nigeria, and to commemorate this year’s United Nations International Day for the Girl Child, the reinvigorated National Centre for Women Development under the leadership of Lady Onyeka Onwenu is leading the charge.

Under the inspiration of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan and in collaboration with an NGO, Friends Africa, the centre is convening a 2 -day Women and Girls summit with the theme: Reinforcing the Agenda for Girl Child Education on October 13-14 and is expected to witness a convergence of diverse key stakeholders in girl child education.

According to the First Lady, “educating the girl-child is educating a nation” and “access to education is a fundamental human right, whether a child is physically challenged or disadvantaged.” Indeed, educating the girl-child is one of

the most important investments any country can make for its future. It empowers girl-children and women with the ability to insist on their rights, and become more profitably integrated into the society.

Lady Onwenu visualizes the Women and Girls Summit as a “game changer” and designed to midwife concrete changes in the society. On a television programme recently, she spoke of the brazen neglect of the girl-child in Nigeria over the years and said this was why the summit would not be the usual talkshop which often masquerade as action but would have a concrete and sustained follow up plan of action that will be meticulously implemented to tackle identified issues head-on. This she said is in a bid to reposition the girlchild as a national asset beginning with free access to quality education.

If such an outcome is realised, then the convocation of the women and girls summit will be a true game changer and coming at a time when the fiendish threat of Boko Haram to the dignity and self-actualization of women occupies centre stage. . Archibong is an Abuja-based public analyst.

In spite of the strategic role the girl-child plays in the development of a nation, and the transforming impact that education has in the empowerment of the girl-child, United Nations statistics show that a vast percentage of them either do not go to school at all, or drop out at a certain level due to adversities like child-marriage, child-labour and trafficking, terrorism and sexual exploitation.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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COMMENTS

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HE feverish preparations for last Saturday’s governorship bye-election in Adamawa state came to an abrupt end with the swearing-in of former deputy governor, Bala James Ngilari as the new substantive governor.

An Abuja Federal High Court had in a suit between Ngilari, the speaker of the state House of Assembly and five others ruled that the former deputy governor did not resign properly from his office following the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako a few months ago. The court therefore ordered the acting governor, Umar Ahmadu Fintiri to quit the seat while Ngilari be sworn-in immediately.

The court further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to halt last Saturday’s bye-election in that state. With these ruling, that election was put off even as Fintiri reportedly appealed the judgment.

Expectedly, the turn of events has jolted many especially stakeholders in Adamawa politics. This is more so as it came barely three days to the conduct of the bye-election which the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and the All Progressives Congress APC would have used to test their strength. The development has come to mean so many things for so many people depending on the prism from which it is being viewed. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and presidential aspirant of the APC saw the verdict as a temporary delay of the overwhelming desire of the people of the state to vote out the PDP government. While accepting the verdict, he saw it as nothing than postponing the doomsday for the PDP. Even within the PDP, the development has come with some discomfort. This is palpable from the reaction of the party through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh. He had urged the new governor to maintain the balance in the party. Fintiri is equally un-

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Adamawa’s botched by-election comfortable with the situation and has vowed through his lawyer to press on to reverse the swearing-in of Ngilari. The PDP is also not certain of Ngilari’s direction given the turn of events and their earlier preferences for Fintiri.

In spite of all this, the PDP is not worse off following Ngilari’s ascendancy since he remains a member of that party. In a way therefore, the party has turned out as the eventual beneficiary of the verdict even as Fintiri is one of theirs. The party is the eventual beneficiary because the outcome of the bye-election could have gone in either direction. Since nobody could say for certain which party was going to emerge victorious, a situation that brought back the former deputy governor is still of advantage to the PDP despite their differences with him.

One other moot issue arising from the verdict is the hurried swearing-in of the beneficiary even when the judgment has been appealed. This is bound to raise questions. Issues could be raised as to why the swearingin could not wait for the appeal to run its full course. Fintiri’s counsel Bayo Ojo has faulted the swearing-in arguing that the “implication

‘For a great majority of the people, it matters little who is there provided they are made to benefit from the mandate which leaders exercise. He would have made a big difference by the way the benefits of governance are felt in all the nooks and crannies of the state’

B

ROADLY defined, user fees are monetary charges for the consumption of public goods and services. These fees became fashionable in countries where the recurrent budget is no longer sufficient to provide public goods and services due either to increased demand or greater pressure on public resources.

Recently, the NYSC introduced charges for corps members who wish to use its new online registration and mobilization application. Since the announcement, debate has raged about whether prospective corps members should pay to use the online platform. Specifically, some have raised questions about the amount charged, and whether it is the right price to be charged for such service.

Legitimate as these questions are, it is difficult to even begin to talk about right price until we have assessed the product or service on offer. In terms of tangible deliverables, I hear that the new application is designed to enable prospective corps members to register online from any location, save time that would normally be spent travelling and queuing up in schools to collect call-up letters, allow corps members to print call-up letters directly from the internet as well as enable them to retrieve lost call-up letters with the aid of biometrics. So, they are saying in essence that the system is being reformed for greater efficiency.

From the debate so far, there seem to be no contention over the efficiency claims. So, it is safe to assume that this is a settled matter – that we all accept the reality that the old system needs some kind of modernization.

So that takes us very quickly to the subject of appropriate pricing.

Not unexpectedly, the subject of pricing constitutes the core of academic and policy literature on user fees, since the argument for abolition has long been pegged back by the reality of the inadequacy of public sector finances. To this end, focus has shifted (inevitably)to the method of pricing and level of fees to be charged.

In the classic user charge framework, there is a price that allows the public good or service to be provided optimally – at the right quantity and desired quality. However, society is unwilling (or unable) to pay this price, so government must subsidize to the tune of the difference between the cost and the socially desirable price. However, as capacity to subsidize diminishes, either quality declines or quantity of goods also diminishes to the point that a sizable fraction of the population is denied the benefit of the service due to scarcity.

Here is where user charges become necessary. They are necessary to raise additional resources to increase quantity of goods or raise quality so that they (goods, services) may once be available in greater quantity and better quality.

But this is the economic solution, not the social welfare one. Because the presence of a user charge creates its own brand of social exclusion. Incidentally (and maybe for reasons of convenient scape-goating), this category of social exclusion historically has assumed greater popularity than the one created by resource insufficiency. The literature how-

of the appeal is that the order of the court cannot be complied with until the appeal process is disposed of. This is to forestall a situation where a fait accompli will be foisted on the appeal court” At things stand, we are yet to hear the last on the matter unless the PDP persuades Fintiri to drop the appeal.

No doubt, the verdict took the people of Adamawa by surprise and made a mess of all the preparations and investments the various contenders ploughed into their campaign. It must have shattered dreams; dashed ambitions and left with it, trails of woes.

The larger effects on political calculations in the state will linger for sometime to come.

Above all, it has saved INEC the burden of conducting election in one of the states that has been the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency; a state that has for the third time been under a state of emergency. It has denied the commission the relevant experience it would have called into action in managing elections in the more volatile Borno and Yobe states. That experience has been lost at least for now.

The commission had come out last week with the information that elections would not hold in two local governments most susceptible to terrorism attacks. It would have been a worthy experience seeing how that will play out. It would have also been rewarding to witness the responses of the insurgents on the election day. Even for the areas where the election was billed to hold, it would have been a test case for the impact

of the insecurity on voters’ turn-out. All these have been lost with the cancellation of Saturday’s bye-election.

Adamawa is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society where adroit political balances play a major role in determining who occupies what office. We saw this at play prior to the ascendancy of Fintiri as the acting governor. We are also witnesses to the zoning arrangements the ruling party put in place for the 2015 elections. These are bound to be altered by the court verdict and Ngilari’s triumph.

The controversy surrounding the purported resignation of Ngilari was all part of the complex dynamics of the plural politics of that state. The main issue then was his religion.

He had to be traded off in a controversial or stage managed resignation to garner the support of the assembly men to impeach Nyako.

But all that have come to naught following his victory at the court and eventual swearing-in. Apparently conscious of the political coloration of that state, Ngilari has promised an open and transparent government. He has called on the people of the state to “rise above primordial differences of religion, ethnicity and political affiliation” pledging to “address our challenges which are not limited to general security, poverty, hunger, reconciliation and disease” One thing that appears certain is that he will have to contend with the task of reconciling the contending tendencies in the state. The state is sharply divided now and his ascendancy may not go down well with some bigots. He must work hard to prove that primordial predilections are only veritable tools exploited by the elite to exploit the masses.

For a great majority of the people, it matters little who is there provided they are made to benefit from the mandate which leaders exercise. He would have made a big difference by the way the benefits of governance are felt in all the nooks and crannies of the state. Time is not in his favour as he will be saddled with events leading to the 2015 elections.

He can still make his mark even with the limited time he has. The way he perceives his assignment which he has attributed to God will make the difference. For now, his triumph has diffused the political heat which last Saturday’s election was bound to generate.

Another look at NYSC user fees

By Godwin Okpene ever observes, with considerable validity, that the inability to subsidize, reinforced by the unwillingness to user-charge, actually hurts the poor more than the rich, as the latter possess the capacity to afford and access alternative (though more expensive) sources.

In the context of the NYSC call-up letter and miscellaneous charges, this scenario may have played out in the domain of long-distance travel (to collect call-up letters) and the variety and quality of options available to the different social classes before the new regime. So much has been made (and rightly so) of the hundreds of miles and the number of hours it took corps members to travel to pick up call-up letters. But nothing says that even back then, all classes of corps members were doing this drill. For some it was just a car drop away from the next airport and back, mostly a single day. Maybe even a few hours. These ones wouldn’t be bothered about the cost as with the distance. They just didn’t need the stress. But the not-so-privileged corps members just did not have this option. So with the old system (without the option of user charges), the not-so-rich were simply condemned to the distance (and the stress). So we find another NYSC-case correlation with the user charge hypothesis – that the poor suffers more with poor services. The rich have the option of flight.

And maybe they could also receive theirs through other (express) means, who knows.

But there is something still unresolved about the appropriate level of pricing in the NYSC call-up letter and miscellaneous charges debate. In the literature, the right price is prescribed to be high enough to improve service provision and expand access, but not so high as to disadvantage the poor to the benefit of the rich. Hence the next vital and very core social welfare proposition of user fees – the quality-equity substitution. It says: Do not be too beholden to raising quality that only the rich can afford the new quality. In other words, do not rob equity to pay quality. This takes us back to the ‘user fees, no user fees, both benefit the rich, both punish the poor conundrum’.

So what price is most appropriate, that NYSC can charge for its online registration and mobilization service? It is foolhardy to pretend to know for sure, to the last cent (kobo), or to aspire to this goal in a 1,500 words essay. But I can attempt to do a product content analysis on one hand, and agency comparative analysis on the other, with greater confidence.

According to the NYSC’s explanations, the cost of the services was derived from the material costs and the personnel cost. The material cost includes cost of providing hardware. I do not know the entire composition of the hardware paraphernalia, but I assume it is the cost of computers, accessories, biometric machines etc. These items and accessories we

understand are to be deployed in all the NYSC orientation camps across Nigeria. The software cost, we also understand to be cost of programme application (simply software). If the organization would hold the entire registration database on the internet storage system as we assume it would, then it would also include cost of bandwidth ‘sold’ to NYSC and maintained by what the IT people call ISP (Internet Service Provider). The personnel cost is simply the cost of deploying IT personnel to these centers in 36 states and the FCT to operate the systems.

Going back to the user fee postulations, this is not a social welfare conception. It is entirely an accounting one. So we are back to the normative contestations around user fees.

Except that this time, we might actually be seeing a problem where there is really none to see. If it is not an essential service, and if it is an avoidable cost to the user, then, as they say in basic economics, demand for this service is nearly perfectly elastic. Given this realization, we can therefore no longer talk about a ‘safe price’ but a ‘risky’ one – if people are not willing to buy at the price you offer it, you cannot sell.

So maybe the one to ‘feel for’ here is the NYSC and its ISP taking what is effectively a business risk. But, incidentally, neither is our social welfare candidate so there is really nothing here for us to fret or fume about. But we can return to the broad discussion on user charges in the context of what is efficient, what is fair and what is necessary.

For starters, there can be no disagreement, even among die-hard social welfarists, on the need to improve the welfare of society through better quality services. It is our eternal desire that government would one day provide for not only our needs, but also our desires. But, like the Americans would say, that would be the day! The grim and very present reality is that resources do not grow in proportion to our needs, much less our desires. Plus, the public sector has universally never really been an expert in quality and efficiency in service provision.

We are therefore reminded that we need new approaches to public welfare themes. The growing popularity of the public-private model obviously signifies the absence of a more practical alternative to providing public goods and enhancing social welfare. Inevitably, partnership between state and non-state actors will continue to generate discussions on the balance between the role of government, society and the market.

While we have a legitimate responsibility to ensure that all actors are accountable, we cannot however expect to share in the output of these partnerships without assuming our own share of responsibility for the inputs. It is in this context that I see the efforts by the NYSC to improve its service delivery systems and processes.

• Okpene, a policy analyst, lives in Abuja.

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Sovereign Wealth Funds are managed conservatively.

They don’t borrow money the way banks do, so you can’t compare this business to banking business. This business does not expose itself to that kind of risk. It is not the same thing as private equity •Managing Director/CEO, NSI A, Uche Orji

CEO

JOBS

‘DelayedGasMasterPlanimplementation impacts on earnings’ - P. 37

FESTAC Phase II opens fresh vistas - P. 35 News Briefing Nigeria to earn N31.15tr from Lekki port project WHEN the Lekki port in Lagos comes into operation in 2016, it will grow the national economy by contributing $20 billion (about N31.15 trillion), a source close to the project promoters has said.

–Page 26

Nigeria commits fund in AfDB to fight Ebola NIGERIA is to commit her Trust Fund in the African Development Bank (AfDB) to ongoing efforts targeted at containing and eventually eradicating the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said.

Fed Govt mulls $5b Sovereign Wealth Fund

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HE Federal Govern ment is taking steps to increase the investible funds available to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Agency (NSIA) from its current $1.5billion to about $5billion, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke in Washington DC at a specialised meeting with the Business Council for International Understanding, said Nigeria remains a converging point for investors, being the largest economy in Africa and

From Simeon Ebulu, Washington DC

26th largest in the world. Aside that, she added that Nigeria’s economy is now highly diversified, especially after the rebasing a few months ago.

She said government is in the process of opening up other sectors of the economy to shift emphasis away from oil. She however noted that oil and gas will still continue to play important roles in driving the fortunes of the economy. According to her, the ultimate aim of the government is a push towards making it a non-oil based, adding that the shift

could be realised, as there are so many sectors that are available to be exploited.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala identified sectors yearning for investment to include services, which is contributing 51per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); manufacturing and industry, 26 per cent; agriculture -22 per cent and telecommunication, which she said has grown from 0.8 to eight per cent in contributions to the GDP, among several other sector. She added that the development is pointer to the fact that government’s projections are both attainable and realisable. She said one in-

teresting aspect of the economy is that it has consistently grown between six and seven per cent, which she stressed is a selling point, in addition to available human resources.

Dwelling on security, she said the scare created by the Boko Haram insurgency is already being contained, pointing out that the army has done excellently well in addressing the set-backs the insurgency threatened to create. “As far as security is concerned, we have made some gains, and we are putting together some kind of building blocks to address it,” she said.

Professionals urge govt on local aircraft repair facility

–Page 26

PwC, NCCN differ on Global ranking

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

PRICEWATERhouseCoopers (PwC) has said that the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2015 Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) which put Nigeria at 127 out of the 144 countries assessed was in order.

–Page 31

A

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

-$117.4/barrel -$2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

- ¢132.70/pound

Cotton

- ¢95.17pound

Gold

-$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

-$163/lb

Inflation

-8.2%

Treasury

Bills

-

10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending

-15.87%

Savings rate

-3%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$39.6b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

£

-242.1

$

-156

¥

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

• From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Prince Ise-Okejie; Chief Operating Officer, John Mercado; Executive Director, Chris Erewele and Chief Marketing Officer, Chidi Ibisi, all of Broadbased Communications, during the launch of the firm’s Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) equipment in Lagos.

NACCIMA urges timely release of 2015 budget

RATES

The minister said the government is also in the process of addressing the challenge of finance, with the establishment, in a few months time, of the Development Bank of Nigeria which is expected to provide long term finance for between seven and eight years and beyond..

Speaking earlier, NSIA Managing Director, Uche Orji, said the agency is on track in its investment projections, saying it made a $100million in Seven Energy to help in providing a pipeline to deliver gas to the Calabar National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).

T

HE Nigerian Associa tion of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has urged the executive arm of government on timely release of next year’s budget, warning that a repeat of what happened to this year’s budget would gravely hurt the economy.

Its President, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, said there is need to start the budgeting process early enough so that it could get to the approving bodies on time.

He said: “Late release of budgets by the government is another challenge. The highly politicised environment in which business and economic activities are pursued, resulting in some conflicting and policy and goals that affect optimal efficiency in service delivery and advocacy pursuit needs to be addressed.

“The timing of our budgeting such as crafting, submission to the legislators for dis-

By Toba Agboola

cussion and subsequent signing into law by Mr. President, and presentation to the nation requires serious attention; a neat budget should get to the president in November while every ministry, department and agency (MDAs) should receive their release in December to enable them start implementing in the following year.”

He said government should give serious consideration to the contributions of stakeholders in the economy such as the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and groups such as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and others rather than preoccupy itself with appointing individuals government committees. He said this is critical to the growth and development of the industrial sector.

According to him, the challenges facing the small and

medium scale enterprises (SMEs) could be solved if necessary infrastructures were put in place.

Abubakar said the new SMEs industrial zones initiative of the Federal Government would go a long way in reducing the challenges facing the subsector.

His words: “In spite of being the major driver of the economy, SMEs in Nigeria are faced with challenges such as poor or decayed infrastructural facilities (especially roads, power, and energy supply) resulting in high operation cost. This is due to huge investment in private electricity generation and transportation. Although we know the government is working very hard to solve this problem, (the impact is yet to be felt).”

He said the worsening state of insecurity, especially the sectarian violence in the Northeast and kidnapping in the Southsouth and Southeastern parts resulting in se-

rious threat to lives and properties as well as resurgence of armed banditry and robberies were threatening sustainable growth of the economy.

Abubakar said the establishment of the National Council on MSMEs and the creation of SMEs industrial zones council is timely, adding that it came at the time the sector was seriously in need of government’s intervention.

He said: “This is what we have been agitating for. With this, the government will be more sensitive to the problems of the SMEs, and with the SMEs industrial zones initiative, this will afford the operators access to basic facilities that have constituted major challenges to their operation and productivities.

“If the government can implement it very well, it will bring about the development we want to the SMEs in the country.”

VIATION industry professionals have urged the Federal Government to create the requisite business operating environment that will encourage investors to set up aircraft maintenance facilities in the country.

They argue that the move will not only check the huge loss of foreign exchange (forex) through capital flight, enhance the development of indigenous capacity but could also turn the country into aircraft maintenance hub for other African countries.

Chief Executive Officer, Finum Aviation Services, Sheri Kyari and the Chief Executive Officer, Aeroconsult, Babatunde Obadofin agree that setting up such facilities in the country would check capital flight, arguing that the fear of policy summersault has been a major disincentive to investors in this area.

Kyari who is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, pointed out that lack of maintenance facilities in the country is encouraging capital flight, adding that private investors could be encouraged to provide such facilities.

He regretted that the fear of policy somersault is creating a problem for private investors to go into the business.

Kyari said :” The next facility that is of dire need today is a maintenance centre capable of handling all the commercial airliners in the country that require heavy maintenance. The absence of this asset is encouraging capital flight and this music has been played for too long to the extent that is now losing its flavour.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

26

BUSINESS NEWS World Bank urges Pandemic Emergency Fund

T

• From left: Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo and Head, Corporate Communications, Strategy and Research, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Kayode Lambo, during signing of the share sale and purchase agreement of Mainstreet Bank Limited in Lagos.

Nigeria to earn N31.15tr from Lekki port project

W

HEN the Lekki port in Lagos comes into operation in 2016, it will grow the national economy by contributing $20 billion (about N31.15 trillion), a source close to the project promoters has said.

But he lamented that the project is now being threatened by lack of financiers as most of the banks and other financial institutions that initially showed interest in bank-rolling the multi-billion naira project have since backed out because they are not sure of the viability of the project, especially since it does not hold the prospect of an early return on investment (RoI) to them.

• Banks, other financial institutions back out

By Oluwakemi Dauda

A source close to the promoters of the port lamented that some of the banks approached by the managers of the port were not willing to give financial assistance based on their fear that they would not be able to recoup their money on time.

The source told The Nation that over four banks have been contacted by the management of the port but only one has shown interest without financial commitment.

Aside bridging the capacity deficit, he said, the port would

have significant positive macro-economic impact estimated at over $360 billion over the entire concession period.

He lamented that funding is now the major problem threatening early development of the port.

He denied the allegation that the promoters of the port are inexperienced.

The port, he said, would be viable for business when it commences operation and urged the banks to invest in the project.

About 163,000 new jobs, he added would be created in the economy if supported by the

local lenders.

The source said: “Don’t forget that the Lekki port is a multi-billion dollar projects which cannot be funded by individuals. As the promoters need the assistance of the government, they also need the financial support of the banks. The port is not an ordinary port such as the ones in Apapa or any other part of the country, but it is a deep sea port. The port will spur economic development around the state.

“The funding involved is huge, the work is going on but we still need the support of our local financial institutions to develop the port and make it the hub in the sub-region.”

Nigeria commits fund in AfDB to fight Ebola

N

IGERIA is to commit her Trust Fund in the African Development Bank (AfDB) to ongoing efforts targeted at containing and eventually eradicating the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke at the weekend in a live-telecast conversation which centred on the ‘Impact of the Ebola Crisis: A Perspective from the Countries’ as part of the topical issues being discussed at the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Group meetings in Washington DC, United States (U.S.), drew attention to the various efforts already being made by the Nigerian government to contain the EVD scourge, saying the support of the private sector was remarkable.

She said the country has committed $3.5 million earlier to fighting the scourge through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), pointing out however that winning the war against the disease would require stronger private sector participation and strengthening of the health systems on a global scale.

She lauded the Nigeria’s private sector for the support which enabled the Federal Government to contain the scourge, pointing out that the failure of the governments in

• Kim meets affected countries’ leaders From Simeon Ebulu, Washington DC

the region and the international community to swiftly join forces in the current fight against the disease could impact negatively on the subregional economies.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said engaging the private sector would help in quick mobilisation of needed resources, including funds and logistics, to enable the various initiatives of the governments and other countries still battling with the crisis achieve the desired results in a timely manner.

She said: “The lesson we learned is that quick communication and mobilisation of logistics that the president of Liberia mentioned is key. Our private sector was very active in donating money and helping with the logistics. The additional suggestion I want to make is that we have to bring in the private sector.

They have varied expertise in logistics and we need them to come in and move the logistics in these situations.”

She said Nigeria was quick in moving resources, especially money three months ago through ECOWAS, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan donated $3.5 million to the countries. “We have been working through Redeemers University and our Centres for Disease Con-

trol to train health workers and do laboratory works. We stand to do more and are ready to do more. I have talked to Donald Kaberuka (AfDB president) about using the Nigerian Trust Fund at the AfDB to try and move quickly and my final point is short and medium term.

Short term, yes humanitarian but medium term, Marshall Plan to strengthen health systems,” Okonjo-Iweala added.

She urged the global community to help West Africa, particularly the affected countries, avert a potential crisis that could roll back the economic development achievements the sub-regional economies had recorded through various reforms in recent years.

To underscore the seriousness the global community attached to containing the scourge, the World Bank Group President, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, met with the leaders of the three most affected states at the World Bank Group headquarters at the weekend.

He said the leaders, made “extremely specific requests based on what they need now” to address the challenge. He admitted during a press conference that “the crisis could have an enormous impact.”

“The World Bank Group released a new economic impact assessment that said if the

epidemic is not quickly contained, and if it spreads to neighouring countries, the two-year regional financial .impact could reach $32.8billion by the end of 2015,” he said, warning “that would be catastrophic for the people of the west Africa region.”

One of the things that Secretary of State of the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom, Justine Greening, pointed out was that every day “we invest, every day that we don’t put money into stopping the crisis, many more dollars and pounds that we’re going to have to use later. It is an extremely good investment right now to prevent this kind of loss, to put all the money on the table right now, to get the response going.”

He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) just estimated that Liberia alone would need 360 foreign medical workers to treat those infected. “Now, one of the sticking points of getting foreign medical staff into these three countries has been the lack of medical evacuation. We heard this from the European Commission and from the U.S. that both of those groups have now committed to medically evacuating health workers and other workers, the responders. This has been a major road block and now with the announcemen, I think that we’re on a much better path to be able to staff the response,” he stated

HE President of the World Bank Group, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, has called for the establishment of a new Pandemic Emergency Facility that would respond rapidly to future outbreaks by delivering money to countries in crisis.

Kim, who spoke in Washington in Washington DC, in a speech titled, Tackling the Most Difficult Problems: Infrastructure, Ebola and Climate Change, at the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank Group meetings, said the move became necessary in the wake of a “late, inadequate and slow” global response to the Ebola outbreak.

He said he would like to develop the proposals for a financial instrument with the United Nations, the IMF and regional development banks.

He said even as the focus should now be intensely on doing everything possible to stop Ebola, planning must also begin for the next pandemic, which “could spread much more quickly, kill even more people and potentially devastate the global economy”.

Kim observed that the

From Simeon Ebulu, Washington DC

world has an IMF to coordinate and work with central banks and ministries to respond to financial crises,” but noted that “when it comes to health emergencies, however, our institutional toolbox is empty: There’s no such center of knowledge and skill for response and coordination.”

He said the Bank Group’s financial teams have proposed several solutions, including the pandemic emergency facility. “The device would pre-package a response, establishing contingent funding agreements with donors and receipt mechanisms for possible recipients. So when a global health emergency is declared, financial support would be readily available and flow quickly to support an immediate response” Kim said the Bank’s work on Ebola, including the innovative use of crisis funding to disburse $105 million over nine days in emergency funding, had been informed by its focus over the past two years on climate change.

Don’t encourage criminal activities, says EFCC

P

ROFESSIONALS in the non-banking profes sions have been reminded that professional confidence and privacy with clients do not translate to encouraging criminality.

They were also asked to carry out due diligence for politically exposed persons, their relations and friends before engaging them as clients.

The call was made by an Assistant Director in the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Gbolahan Latana in Lagos, where he spoke on “Structuring business for an effective regulatory compliance”.

He said there is wisdom in doing diligence on clients in order not to run foul of the relevant laws of the country as ignorance according is not an excuse.

By Okwy lroegbu- Chikezie

Canvassing the importance of knowing your customer (KYC), he stressed the fact that centralisation of information collected from customers is a requirement of law that has to be kept for five years by professionals and not to be manipulated in any way.

Noting the damage that terrorism and money laundering can cause an economy Latana canvassed a culture of complying to relevant laws backed with strict law enforcement and regulation, where adequate punishment is meted to offenders. He argued that terrorism and other economic crimes could only be achieved by cutting off the flow of terrorists financiers to ensure a stable economy.

‘Agriculture can reduce rural poverty’

I

MPROVED agriculture could play a critical role in the economies of rural communities by providing a buffer against the skyrocketing unemployment rates experienced by most of the countries, the Agricultural and Rural Management Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, has said.

Its Deputy Director, Directorate of General Administration, Dr Ademola Adeyemo, said a lot of communities were experiencing increases in unemployment largely due to instability in the agriculture sector.

According to him, when the agric sector is properly repositioned , it would be built around the goals of improving lives and livelihoods through collaboration, responsiveness to changing conditions, persistence and innovation.

Through it, he said the gov-

By Daniel Essiet

ernment will be able to address the challenges of poverty and hunger, seeking solutions that will change lives by improving the earnings potential and standard of living of rural and urban households.

To achieve it, he said a value chain approach is necessary which will include improved input supply and higher farm productivity, reduction in postharvest losses, access to higher-value markets and shifting to highvalue crops.

Without a dramatic transformation, he said the current food production system seems unlikely to feed a growing population.

According to him, more efforts should be directed at diversification and intensification of rural production systems.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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ISSUES

• Wellhead Monopod Jacket

Stakeholders in the oil and gas industry have warned about the dangers of Nigeria’s depleting crude oil reserves. They have pointed out the implications of exploiting the reserves without replenishment. The Federal Government appears not interested in addressing the issue thus raising fears the economy may collapse someday soon, EMEKA UGWUANYI reports.

F

OR several years now, Nigeria’s depleting oil reserves has been a subject of discussion at major oil and gas fora. The continued depletion of the reserves without replenishment has become worrisome to stakeholders in the oil and gas industry for several reasons.

The reasons for their worries are not far-

Dangers of Nigeria’s depleting oil reserves fetched. Earnings from the sale of crude oil, according to data, constitute over 80 per cent of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings, at least over the past two decades. Therefore, operators of the oil and gas industry are of the view that an industry that occupies such an important position in the economy should be taken seriously. Besides, they expressed fear that if the decline in reserves continues unchecked, it will get to a point where the country will transit from a net exporter of crude oil to a net importer of crude. Their reason is that as the population continues to grow with increasing standard of living and advancement in technology, energy needs will double.

In 2003, the Federal Government in its aspiration to grow reserves while empowering and increasing participation of indigenous operators in the industry, awarded 24 marginal fields to local firms.

Out of the 24 fields awarded, only eight have started production as a result of funding constraints. According to the former Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Osten Olorunsola, besides funding issues, issues around host communities and lack of technical expertise, contributed to lack of development and production from the fields.

Definition Industry experts and the United States

Energy Information Administration (EIA), define oil reserves as an estimate of the amount of crude oil located in a particular economic region. Oil reserves must have the potential of being extracted under current technological constraints. For example, if oil pools are located at unattainable depths, they would not be considered part of the nation’s reserves. Therefore, crude oil proven reserves are the amount of technically and economically recoverable oil.

However, experts say that reserves may be for a well, for a reservoir, for a field, for a nation, or for the world but different classifications of reserves are related to their degree of certainty. The total estimated amount of oil in an oil reservoir, including both producible and non-producible oil, is called oil in place.

However, because of reservoir characteristics and limitations in petroleum extraction technologies, only a fraction of this oil can be brought to the surface, and it is only this producible fraction that is considered to be reserves. The ratio of producible oil reserves to total oil in place for a given field is often referred to as the recovery factor. Recovery factors vary greatly among oil fields. The recovery factor of any particular field may change over time based on operating history and in response to changes in technology and economics. It may also rise over time if additional investment is made in enhanced oil recovery techniques such as gas injection,

surfactants injection, water-flooding, or microbial enhanced oil recovery. Proven reserves are those reserves claimed to have a reasonable certainty (normally at least 90 per cent confidence) of being recoverable under existing economic and political conditions, with existing technology, experts say.

Stakeholders’ views The Royal Institute of International Affairs also called Chatham House, an independent policy institute based in London, in April 2008, carried out a study titled ‘Resource Depletion, Dependence and Development.’ The study focused on some oil producing countries including Nigeria. The study showed that Nigeria’s oil and gas production will begin to decline from between 2021 and 2022, adding that Nigeria’s hydrocarbon export earnings would no longer support imports to the rest of the economy. The study was conducted even when Nigeria was growing its reserves. Now that Nigeria has started dipping hands into its reserves, the production decline and its economic impact may begin to occur before the Chatham House’s timelines. The study also noted that by 2036, Nigeria will be consuming all its oil and gas production domestically, insisting that Nigeria’s de• Continued on page 30

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

30

ISSUES

Dangers of Nigeria’s depleting oil reserves •Continued from page 29

pendence on oil and gas is unsustainable.

Also, the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigeria chapter, which are outstanding oil and gas professional bodies in the country, have in the past few years been drawing the government’s attention to the economic threats that oil reserves depletion poses to the nation. Past presidents of NAPE who also work for different international oil companies (IOCs) or run their private oil firms including Dr. Kingsley Ojoh, Isaac Arowolo, Jide Ojo, Dr. Mayowa Afe and also the incumbent, Mrs. Adedoja Ojelabi, have been urging the government to encourage aggressive and sustainable exploration by creating incentives that will drive that purpose to replace used reserves.

For instance, Ojoh who spoke at the sixth yearly mini conference of NAPE held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said drilling activities had become too low that exploration activity, which peaked in the late 60’s dropped to a very low level in 2010. He noted the urgent need to encourage aggressive exploration for hydrocarbons now for tomorrow’s resources and reserves.

He said: “While Brazil builds up reserves and production of liquids in the next decade, Nigeria’s future is not as promising. There is urgent need to replace production in Nigeria.”

He said Brazil had discovered 36 billion barrels of liquid from exploration in 10 years and could produce over four million barrels per day by 2030. Ojoh said building reserves and production beyond 2020 and 2025 should be given priority for the country to continue to remain in the business of oil and gas in 2030.

NAPE President, Mrs. Adedoja Ojelabi, also said exploration for fresh discoveries has become imperative. She noted that the only means of rescuing the nation from continued depletion of oil reserves is to start aggressive exploration. According to her, all the oil companies are willing to embark on exploration and production, adding that the right environment has to be there.

She said it is important to replace used reserves arguing that the IOCs and independent oil producers have their reasons for shunning exploration now.

“They are being careful because we are talking about investments here. Investment in the oil sector is capital intensive. It is not something one jumps into without doing proper economic analysis. We have the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is pending. Hopefully it would be passed. Any investor would want to ensure that the environment is okay, free and fair to enable him recoup his investment. I believe all the parties are working to create that enabling environment,” she said.

The Director, DPR, Mr. George Osahon, during this year’s Nigerian Oil & Gas Conference in Abuja, said Nigeria’s oil reserves had depleted to 35 billion barrels.

Before he assumed office, data showed that the reserves were in excess of 37 billion barrels.

He drew the attention of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the industry to the dangers of the depleting reserves. He urged the government and all the stakeholders to urgently address the situation before it becomes unmanageable.

“What we now have in our reserves are 35 billion barrels.

Niger Delta is finally showing signs of maturity as its reserves are beginning to drop and I think everybody must be worried about this,”he said.

To address the situation, Osahon said the nation must boost exploration and find more oil to replace the depleted reserves.

He said: “Oil reserves are dropping and our output is dropping too. What are we supposed to do to correct this? The only way is exploration, exploration and exploration. We need to do more in this regard to have more reserves.

“We have reached the plateau of production in the Niger Delta and we are already going down. A lot of money has to be spent to increase our reserves at the old fields. Aggressive exploration is needed the Chad Basin. The fact that we have not found anything at the Chad basin as at today does not mean that oil is not in the basin. We are optimistic about this. We are sure it would help us to boost our reserves.”

He said all stakeholders in the oil industry have to do everything to increase the reserves, stressing that this could be achieved by carrying out more seismic data gathering and drilling of exploration wells. “We have come up with strategies to boost our reserves and in due course, we would make this known,” he added.

Global Chairman, Energy and Natural Resources Sector of KPMG, the auditing giant, Mr. Michael Soeting, told reporters in Lagos that the government should be concerned over lack of investments in the oil and gas exploration and production, which is resulting in depletion in oil reserves and revenues. He said the United States (U.S.), which used to be Nigeria’s biggest market, is becoming a net producer and exporter of oil and gas, adding that by the end of this decade U.S will be producing about six million barrels of oil per day.

He said although, Nigeria has found alternative markets in Asia, China, India and Japan, these countries may depend on Nigeria only in the short term because many countries including China, South Africa and Argentina have huge reserves of shale gas and oil.

Other countries, he added, have discovered conventional oil and gas and the implication is that the multinational oil firms have

‘

Nigeria’s oil and gas production will begin to decline from 2021 and from 2022, Nigeria’s hydrocarbon export earnings can no longer support imports to the rest of the economy.

’

•Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke

•NNPC Group Managing Director, Joseph Dawha

•Osahon

‘

We have reached the plateau of production in the Niger Delta and we are already going down. A lot of money has to be spent to increase our reserves at the old fields. Aggressive exploration is needed in the Chad Basin. The fact that we have not found anything at the Chad Basin as at today does not mean that oil is not in the basin. We are optimistic about this. We are sure it would help us to boost our reserves choices to make in terms of where to invest their money. He said that besides embarking on aggressive exploration, Nigeria should encourage investment through creating enabling environment and policies, citing the PIB, for instance.

He said: “The Nigerian economy depends on crude oil export and there is need for the country to do it right. Non-passage of the PIB has resulted in investment apathy in the sector. The IOCs are uncertain about what the fiscal terms in the PIB would become after passage and they have refused to invest. Unfortunately, more countries are becoming energy players across the world, creating alternative markets for the IOCs to channel their investment.

“After PIB was introduced about 10 years ago, countries such as Ghana, Mozambique Angola and others have discovered oil and are already attracting investment from IOCs.” Some former officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) such as Mr. Mike Olorunfemi, Akin Adetunji and Ade Olaiya who rose to top management positions before their retirement, also pointed out the need to check the depleting reserves. They said DPR’s statement that Nigeria’s oil reserves is depleting rather than increasing should be a concern to every Nigerian. For the oil and gas industry regulator to say that the reserves have declined to as low as 35 billion barrels as against almost 40 billion barrels when they left the corporation, is worrisome, they added. They said: “The implication of that for Nigeria is that if nothing is done drastically and aggressively to stop the decline and replace the depleted volume, Nigeria will sooner than later end up being a net importer of crude, not even net importer of products because there wouldn’t be reserves to tap from.

In their book launched last week, titled Nigerian Oil and Gas: A mixed blessing? A Chronicle of NNPC’s Unfulfilled Mission, the trio elaborately explained the dangers of reserves depletion.

Consequences Soeting said: “With continued reserves, production and revenue decline, Nigeria’s ability to fi-

’

nance its budget will be greatly threatened, unless it puts in place measures that will grow its crude production capacity.”

The former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, had told the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the period of 2014 to 2016 that revenue shortfall was caused by continued attacks on major oil pipelines by oil thieves and vandals. The attacks also contribute substantially to decline in oil production and reserves.

“The critical and most important point to note here is that when the artery conveying crude oil to the terminals is hit, this reduces our production volume by 150,000 barrels per day and the period the line is down accounts for the drop in crude oil production. From February to date we have witnessed so much breaches and each time we go down, about 150,000bpd goes down,” he said.

He said there is no doubt that the menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism have received the highest intervention from President Goodluck Jonathan, which led to constitution of a committee by the National Economic Council, comprising some state governors, NNPC, DPR, IOCs, security agencies and other relevant bodies to work out modalities to mitigate the menace.

Solution Nigeria is said to have depleted over one billion barrels of crude oil yearly between 2012 and 2013 from the reserves. Besides, in the past five years, no exploration activity has taken place and for over a decade, the Federal Government has been shifting the post on datelines of achieving 40 million barrels of oil reserves and four million barrels of oil production per day. Currently, the same targets have been set for achievement by 2020.

However, all the stakeholders agree that the only way to stop, restore and grow reserves is through aggressive exploration activities to find more oil. The Chatham House was of the view that besides exploration, Nigeria has to exit from dependence on oil, make other sectors of the

economy active.

The Institute commended Nigeria’s Transformation Agenda including serious macro economic and monetary reforms since 2004, embracing Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and undergoing radical overhaul to increase transparency in oil deals as well as introduction of local content targets to encourage greater national involvement in the oil industry.

NAPE chiefs say besides investment in exploration activities, industry stakeholders should also invest in technology. Previously 2D was used for seismic data gathering, from where the industry moved to 3D and now many countries are using 4D, therefore Nigeria has to step up its technology for search for oil and enhancement of oil production from existing oil fields. For instance, Adedoja said: “There is need for technology, there are also issues of funding and of regulation. Some of these issues may make the IOCs and independent producers to be a little bit careful about their investments.

Soeting advised Federal Government to boost reserves in accordance with international best practices, noting that one of the factors responsible for reserves and revenue depletion is tax holidays given to indigenous operators who took over some marginal fields from the IOCs and non-passage of the PIB. He also said Nigeria needed to diversify the economy, build additional refineries to stop product importation.

Passage of the PIB will give direction to investment in the oil and gas industry. Currently, oil firms are skeptical about putting their money into finding and developing new fields because of the alleged contentious provisions in the bill. For instance, Soeting noted that Nigeria and other resource-rich countries should realise that investment inflow is shrinking because of threats to investment. He also said there is increased scrutiny by the stakeholders of the IOCs on their capital expenditure (capex) level. “You have seen in the fourth quarter 2013 announcements that most of the IOCs talked about reducing their CAPEX because they are not having enough returns,” he said. The stakeholders warned that a stitch in time saves nine and the time to start is now!

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

31

MONEYLINK

PwC, NCCN differ on Global Competitiveness ranking

P

RICEWATERhouseCoopers (PwC) has said that the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2015 Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) which put Nigeria at 127 out of the 144 countries assessed was in order.

The PwC Partner, Tax and Regulatory Services, Taiwo Oyedele dis-

Stories by Collins Nweze

closed this during a one-day media training held in Lagos. He said the WEF carried out its work with diligence, with data collected from experts from different sectors of the economy, adding that he supplied information relating to taxation to the firm.

But Chief Executive of National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN), Chika Mordi faulted the ranking by WEF. In a statement, he insisted that a perception gap exists between the way some ranking agencies view Nigeria and the reality on the ground.

The NCCN boss said the agency

Ecobank Nigeria selected to support UK exporters U NITED Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF), an arm of the UK Government that works as an export credit agency, has named Ecobank Nigeria as one of its partnering financial institutions to help deliver £3 billion Direct Lending Facility (DLF) support to UK exporters.

Under the DLF, UKEF will provide loans to overseas buyers in order to finance the purchase of goods and services from UK exporters. Loans are available to cover new international sales by any business exporting from the UK, to any country where UKEF medium term cover is available, and can be made in pounds sterling, dollars, Euro or Japanese Yen. Some of the other selected 20 financial institutions include Citibank, Bank of China, Barclays Bank Group, Deutsche Bank; JPMorgan Chase Bank Group; The

Royal Bank of Scotland Group; and Lloyds Banking Group, among others. Ecobank is the only selected Nigerian financial institution.

According to the Chief Executive of UKEF, David Godfrey, “This is a key milestone in the delivery of the £3 billion Direct Lending Facility. Panel members cover a wide range of overseas markets, with complementary geographical strengths that will make it easier for UK companies to arrange competitive loans throughout a worldwide network,” explaining that “the reach will increase UKEF’s capacity to lend to overseas buyers of UK products and services. It will also provide a springboard to help us cater for the needs of a broad range of companies, in a variety of sectors, requiring loans of different sizes.”

Managing Director, Ecobank Nige-

ria, Jibril Aku, described the appointment as a great feat, stating that it was an eloquent testimony of the bank’s strides in international trade.

“This international recognition is a great feat. It is a great privilege to have been selected alongside other global brands. This will help to enlist more local companies importing British goods,” he said.

On the appointment of 16 British Bankers Association (BBA) members to the 20 strong DLF panel, Executive Director of the BBA, Irene Graham, said: “International trade plays a vital role in supporting our economy and the DLF means that export finance will be cheaper and easier for businesses to access. The banking industry has worked with UKEF to revise the facility and it’s very pleasing to see the range of BBA members that will partner the department. This is invaluable support for businesses selling overseas.”

FITC marks 30 years of bank directors’ training

T

HE Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) will on Tuesday, celebrate three decades of successful Bank and Financial Institutions Director Training.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, Managing Director/CEO, FITC, Dr. Lucy Newman said the firm initiated the Bank Directors’ Continued Education Programme

(CEP) series in 1985, in line with the FITC mandate to protect, promote and advance the knowledge and practice of banking and finance.

The programmes, she said, was also aimed at exploring innovations that enable efficiency and quality of banks and financial institutions, including effective practices of corporate governance.

She said the 2014 edition, being the

Name

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND

168.40 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,688.73 1,131.19 122.85 121.16 1,117.51 1.2381 1.2875 0.8705 1.0829

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

Transaction Dates 29/09/2014 24/09/2014 22/09/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: August

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

2.42

2.66

9.92

14.99

15.73

4.94

AFRIPRUD

3.21

3.28

2.18

FIDSON

3.33

3.40

2.10

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

FIDELITYBK

2.01

2.05

1.99

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

COURTVILLE

0.51

0.52

1.96

217.55

220.50

1.36

FLOURMILL

61.30

62.00

1.14

DANGCEM

215.15

217.01

0.86

18.75

18.90

0.80

LOSERS AS AT 09-10-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

AGLEVENT

1.47

1.33

-9.52

UBCAP

2.15

2.05

-4.65

15.20

14.50

-4.61

5.70

5.49

-3.68

UAC-PROP TRANSCORP

•Sterling Bank CEO Yemi Adeola

account is domiciled will be responsible for the payment of the charge of N65 for the first three withdrawals from another bank’s ATM. The bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola, explained that “the charge payment was never suspended by the CBN. Rather, the responsibility for absorbing the charge was transferred to the commercial banks to pay on behalf of their customers” to encourage the use of ATMs by Nigerians.

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS)

CHAMPION

ETI

T

O cushion the effect of the perceived reintroduction of the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) charge of N65 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Remote-on-Us transactions on its customers, Sterling Bank has announced the deployment of additional ATM points nationwide thereby increasing its footprint at existing and new locations.

The bank said that additional ATMs will be added to existing branches while ATM Galleries will be put in place in strategic locations nationwide. A robust infrastructure to support the expansion has also been put in place, the bank said.

Remote-on-Us transaction occurs when a card holder goes to the ATM of a bank other than his or her own bank to make a withdrawal. The card holder will be charged N65 after making three withdrawals from such ATMs after a given month. The bank where his or her

DATA BANK

IKEJAHOTEL

FO

tinations. The country also outperformed peers like South Africa and Ghana in macroeconomic stability, this is reflected in stable exchange rates, single digit inflation, fiscal restraint, low debt levels and lower poverty levels,” he said.

Continuing, he explained that the most disturbing aspect of the report, Mordi added, was the appraisal of security. Nigeria’s security situation is one of the main reasons cited for the drop in rankings.

Meanwhile, Ukraine scored higher than last year and its security position is adjudged to be “localised.’

Sterling Bank deploys more ATMs

Bid Price 168.06 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.68 1.33 1,688.73 1,130.51 122.05 120.30 1,116.70 1,2298 1,2875 0.8539 1.0829

GAINERS AS AT 09-10-14

SYMBOL

30th year of such sessions, with the theme “Board Effectiveness for Sustainable Value Creation”, will hold from October 14 to 15, in Lagos.

Newman said this year’s edition of the programme is special, because it marks the 30th anniversary of the programme targeted at chairmen, executive and non-executive directors of banks and other financial institutions.

recognises the fundamental importance of continuing in its mission to improve Nigeria’s international competitiveness and address constructive portions highlighted in the index.

He said the agency is already taking steps to redress this misalignment between perception and reality both internally and externally.

“For example, Nigeria’s foreign direct investment (FDI) remains the largest in Africa. A recent Wall Street Journal list of multinational CEOs ranked Nigeria first among emerging market investment des-

Money Supply (M2)

Amount Sold in ($) 499.95m 349.96m 349.96m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES October 9, 2014

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$39.4b

US Dollar

154.70

155.71

$97.9

Pounds Sterling

250.7724

252.3929

Euro

200.3394

201.634

Swiss Franc

165.7385

166.8095

Yen

1.445

1.4544

CFA

0.286

0.306

231.3531

232.8481

25.1773

25.3409

N16.42 trillion.

N17.2 trillion 16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 350m 350m

08-10-14 Rate (%) Rate (%) 09-10-14

WAUA Yuan/Renminbi

Overnight (O/N)

11.00

10.917

Riyal

41.259

41.5256

1M

12.464

12.393

SDR

232.156

233.6562

3M

13.281

13.201

6M

14.205

14.110

FOREX RATES

INTENEGINS

0.58

0.56

-3.45

HONYFLOUR

3.96

3.83

-3.28

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

INTBREW

31.47

30.50

-3.08

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

ZENITHBANK

23.51

22.80

-3.02

STANBIC

33.00

32.03

-2.94

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

OKOMUOIL

34.00

33.01

-2.91

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Oct. 9, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.10

T-bills - 182

10.22

T-bills - 364

10.30

Bond - 3yrs

11.52

Bond - 5yrs

11.55

Bond - 7yrs

12.13

32

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-10-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-10-14

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

33

EQUITIES

NSE supports direct market access in West Africa

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange has hinted of plans to support the West African Capital Market Integration (WACMI) programme through Direct Market Access (DMA) as an interim step to the implementation of Sponsored Access.

In Phase 1, brokers in WACMI member countries will now be able to trade securities and settle in markets other than theirs through local brokers in those domestic markets.

The main objective of Phase 1 is to enable brokers that are not registered market operators in Nigeria to participate in the market by granting them remote access to The NSE’s trading facility through a local Dealing Member Firm.

With DMA, a Dealing Member Firm (Sponsoring Member or SM)

Stories by Taofik Salako

can allow a Sponsored Participant (SP) to submit orders to the trading system under the member firm’s trading codes via the member firm’s order management systems (OMS). In the next sub-phase, Sponsored Access, unlike DMA, will allow a Sponsored Participant to submit orders under a Dealing Member Firm’s trading codes to the trading system without passing through a member firm’s order management systems; instead their orders pass through a series of validation checks provided by The Exchange and the orders are monitored by the member firm in real-time (i.e.

Exchange’s infrastructure).

In order to support WACMI based applications for the DMA

programme, The Exchange has established a comprehensive internal process to ensure seamless integration.

As part of the process, Dealing Member Firms who wish to provide DMA services to Sponsored Participants are required to in-

form The Exchange by submitting a DMA Notification, along with other required information and seek the NSE’s “No Objection” to the DMA arrangement.

Any active Dealing Member firm in Nigeria that is registered with the Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC) and licensed by the Nigerian Stock Exchange can apply for Phase 1 under the WACMI programme. The Dealing Member firms must have an OMS vendor that is certified by the Exchange for sub-phase 1, DMA.

Experts applauds X-GEN one year after

O

NE year down the line, experts and market analysts have described as laudable the X-Gen, a brainchild of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) launched on September 30, 2013 as the next generation trading platform and catalyst for boosting trading in Africa.

The delivery of the new age technology serves as a testimony that the NSE is devoted to providing 21st century technologies to support the growth of the Nigerian Capital Market.

After a successful year of operations, X-GEN has demonstrated its innovative trading capabilities and the Nigerian capital market has benefited immensely. “It remains the game changer. This platform has enabled the Exchange to create an improved trading experience”, said Mr. Ade Bajomo, Executive Director Market Operations and Technology.

“With the launch of X-Gen, we have achieved so much in one year; improved market order flow, increase in the number of trades, high availability, direct market access, remote trading, and income diversification. We are mostly excited that X-Gen has also brought about the advent of mobile trading technologies to the retail and institutional segments of the Nigerian capital market”, Bajomo added.

The X-GEN platform has the capacity to allow investors to have real time access to the market as well as their portfolios, via the web and mobile phones (including smartphones and tablets running IOS and Android operating systems). This gives investors the ability to execute market orders in near real time conditions anywhere in the world. Riding on the new platform, many dealing member firms of the NSE have tapped on the benefits of to introduce on-line trading platforms to deepen their businesses.

The President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike remarked that “The X-GEN system is very robust, it has friendly market features that make the trading experience simple and easy. Mr. Madubuike believes that through the new trading platform, market transparency has increased. “We have become more efficient and we value the great offerings that the platform has to offer”, he said.

The launch of X-Gen showcases NSE’s untiring commitment to providing first rate platforms that will enable all stakeholders create durable wealth. Nigeria has now become a global player with innovative and market leading tools to compete not just in Africa but on a global basis.

•From left: Chief Economic Adviser, Dr Nwanze Okidegbe; IMF Deputy Director African Department, Mr David O. Robinson; Nigerian CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Director Monitoring Policy, Mr. Moses Tule; Senior Resident Representative in Nigeria African Department, Mr. Gene Leon; Alternative Executive Director Africa Group 1 Constituency, Mr. Okwu Joseph Nnanna and Director Budget Office Dr. Bright Okogu during a meeting at the 2014 Annual Worldbank/IMF Meetings in Washington DC.

Access Bank records N42.2b profits

A

CCESS Bank Plc has announced an impressive profit of N44.2 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2014 based on improved efficiency, rising market share and strong risk management practices. The bank’s profit before tax (PBT) showed an increase of 20 percent from N35.1billion recorded during the same period in 2013.

Access Bank Group unaudited IFRS nine results released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday also showed gross earnings of N182bn, up 17per cent from N154bn in the corresponding period of 2013. The growth in gross earnings was driven by an increase in interest income from loans.

Similarly, Access bank posted

21per cent growth in operating income to N126bn from N104bn in 2013. Customer deposits increase by 11per cent to N1.5trillion from N1.3trillion in FY 2013. The bank’s asset quality ratios also improved as Non Performing Loan (NPL) ratio was down 20bps to 2.5per cent, from 2.7per cent in December 2013.

Further analysis of the result indicated that Access bank continued to improve on its operating efficiency and steady income growth resulting in cost to income ratio of 61per cent in third quarter 2014 compared to 75per cent in 2013. Total assets grew by 14per cent to N2.1trillion from N1.8trillion in full year 2013.

Loans and advances of N1.1trillion showed an increase of 33per cent compared to

N811bn in full year 2013.

Commenting on the result, Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe said “The Bank’s resilient 3Q 2014 results reflect consistent improvement in our balanced growth and target metrics. Our performance over the past three quarters demonstrates the effectiveness of our corporate strategy as the Bank continues to grow its market share in key segments whilst enhancing shareholder value.”

“We have implemented a disciplined and conservative capital enhancement plan, designed to ensure we maintain our moderate risk appetite. This will ensure a stronger capitalised Bank, enabling us to remain competitive and take advantage of significant

Onyema bags national award

T

HE Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Mr. Oscar Onyema, recently bagged the national award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

The award ceremony, which was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, was a celebration to publicly recognise those who have distinguished themselves in various fields, and whose lives have positively affected their fellow citizens and humankind.

The 2014 awardees are believed to be persons who have been found worthy in both character and individual accomplishments to deserve this distinguished honour.

Onyema was appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Nigerian Stock Exchange in April 2011, and over the last three years his focused strategy has been on cleansing, restructuring and making the Nigerian capital market more accessible, by implementing innovations centered on technology, transparency and product development, as well as on advocating changes to policy.

As the Chairman of the West African Capital Markets Integration

Council (“WACMIC”) he is propelling the successful integration of the various stock exchanges in the West African sub region.

In addition to serving as CEO of the Exchange, Mr. Onyema also serves as the Chairman of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, the clearing house for the Nigerian capital market and is also a dedicated Council member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria (“CIS”).

He is currently the Vice President of the African Securities Exchanges Association, and a member of the Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum. Mr. Onyema also serves on the boards of all NSE subsidiaries, as well as FMDQ OTC PLC (FMDQ).

Onyema’s effort to restore and grow investor confidence in the Nigerian capital market is advancing the Nigerian economy towards a path of sustainable growth and development. During his time at the Exchange, he has enhanced the corporate governance of the NSE and that of listed companies, so as to increase market transparency, and to enable stronger regulation,

•President Goodluck Jonathan (left) presenting National Honour as Officer of the Order of the Niger OON to the Chief Executive Officer of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema OON, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

operational and delivery efficiency.

Through several “zero tolerance” policies implemented, investor confidence has increased thus allowing millions of African inves-

tors to create durable wealth in the Nigerian securities market. This has resulted in an increase in the proportion of local investors accessing the capital market, with the

percentage of local participation now up to 50% (July 2013) compared to 33% in 2011. market opportunities in the execution of our long-term strategy,” he added.

34

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INSURANCE

Pension liabilities, others our major challenges, says PTAD

T

HE Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) which manages pensions under the old pension scheme, the Defined Benefits Scheme, has highlighted huge pension liabilities, absence of credible database and resistance to change and entrenched interest as its major challenges.

Its Director-General, Ms Nellie Mayshak, made this known at a sensitisation workshop on pension management under PTAD held in Lagos.

She said the Directorate is also challenged by the lack of adequate awareness by some concerned stakeholders about PTAD and wrong impression and misperception of PTAD by some pensioners and critical stakeholders.

According to her, the event is part of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, especially as it affects the need to pay close attention to pension administration and management as a panacea for timely and effective pension payment under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS).

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

The target audiences of the workshop are pensioners, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners’ (NUP) representatives, sector unions’ representatives (pensioners) in parastatals, police, civil service and paramilitary (customs, immigration and prisons, Pension Board of Trustees (PBOTs), underwriters and brokers of PBOTs. She reiterated that PTAD’s mandate is to make budgetary estimates for existing pensioners and officers exempted from this scheme under Section 5 (1)(b) of the Act, prepare and submit the monthly payroll of pensioners to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for direct payment from the budgetary allocation maintained with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); issue payment instructions to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and to maintain a comprehensive database of pensioners under their respective jurisdictions.

Others are to ascertain deficits

Stanbic IBTC Pension launches customers’ e-mail data campaign

T

O foster seamless interface with customers in a safe and effective manner, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), has launched a customer email data collection exercise.

Its Chief Executive, Dr. Demola Sogunle, said under the initiative, customers are required to provide their email accounts for easier dissemination of information for seamless flow of information with them.

Sogunle who made this known to reporters in Lagos said the PFA which has over one million retirement savings accounts (RSA) holders under its administration, is currently running a complimentary campaign showcasing multiple service channels through which both existing and potential customers can reach it.

He said the prioritisation of emails for communication with customers had become imperative as delivering hard copies of RSA statements and other corre-

spondence are increasingly challenging due to several factors.

Among these, he stated, include change of postal address, telephone number, marital status and name or relocation to far-flung areas where communication by other channels is difficult.

He said: “Over the last couple of years, we have identified email as a channel by which we can get information across to our clients in an efficient and safe manner. Obtaining up-to-date information on clients, via email, is also much faster.

Our target is to have the email mandates and valid email addresses of almost all our clients on our database before the end of 2014.

“The campaign would run on major media platforms in order to ensure the message reaches the entire spectrum of the PFA’s clientele. The accompanying customer bio-data update, which is the first in the series the PFA is embarking upon, will be periodic and intended as best practice “.

NCRIB’s confab on disaster management, regulation coming

T

HE Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has said insurance involvement in disaster management will take the centre stage at its forthcoming National Insurance Conference in Abuja scheduled for October 22, its Public Relations Manager, Dele Ayeleso, has said.

He said the theme of the conference is “Disaster Management: Any role for Insurance?” He stated that the chairman of the events organising committee, Sola Tinubu, said the conference is expected to draw participation from disaster and insurance management institutions from both home and abroad and will further impress the role of the insurance industry in disaster management in the country.

According to Tinubu, the insurance industry, which has the professional obligations of risk mitigation, had often been sidelined in disaster management in Nigeria against practices in other parts of

the globe.

He said the conference could not have been more timely than now considering the chain of events happening all over the world leading to unprecedented losses in human and material assets.

“The conference which has the sub theme: “Insurance Regulation: The Global Perspective” would provide platform for discussing current trends with regard to insurance regulation in Nigeria,” he said.

Dignitaries expected at the conference include the Senate President, David Mark, Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President, Ghana Insurance Brokers Association (GIBA), Nathan Adu, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ade Abolurin, Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani Sidi, among others.

in pension payments if any to existing pensioners or the categories of officers exempted under section 5 (1)(b) of the Act and carry out such other functions aimed at ensuring the welfare of pensioners and render monthly returns on pensioners, deceased pensioners, details of NOK of deceased pensioners and on any other issue as may be required from time to time Speaking on the organistion’s result, Meshack stated that a consolidation of the three pension offices; CSPD, PPD & CIPPD, and Pension Departments /Boards of Trustees of all federally funded parastatals has been achieved.

She added that there has been improved monthly pension payments, mechanism for tracking failed payments to pensioners and restored payment of monthly pension to genuine pensioners removed from payroll She said: “We have successfully conducted a mini-verification of some categories of police and civil service pensioners and they have been placed on the payroll. We have establishment of a robust complaints resolution mechanism, improved services for pensioners and tackled reported fraud cases in collaboration with pensioners, unions and agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“We have also ensured minimal

interference from other agencies, digitalised pension payments, improved understanding and collaboration with unions, banks and other partners, good relationship with all stakeholders and a befitting office space and home for pensioners.

“Above all, a zero tolerance for corruption; there has not been a single incident of misappropriation of pension funds since PTAD and there will never be.”

She listed part of the results to be achieved as the verification and biometric data capture exercise, establishment of a comprehensive, authentic and credible database of pensioners under the DBS which will ensure effective planning and management of pensions; elimination of ghost pensioners; elimination of duplication of payments.

Others are to correct and eradicate anomalies such as over-payments and under-payments; pay pensions, gratuities, death benefits

•Mayshak

and other pensioner entitlements; update records of next of kin; enroll new pensioners; establish state offices and establish a PTAD call centre.

‘Directorate is also challenged by the lack of adequate awareness by some concerned stakeholders about PTAD and wrong impression and misperception of PTAD by some pensioners and critical stakeholders’

Less than 15% Nigerians insured, says Irukwu O

NLY between10 and 15 per cent of the persons who should be insured are insured in Nigeria, whereas in Europe and America, they have between 90 and 95 per cent, Founder of NSIA Insurance, Professor Joseph Irukwu has said.

He said with this ugly scenario, there is a lot to be done by all the stakeholders in the industry.

Speaking during celebration of the the firm’s 25th anniversary in Lagos, Irukwu said the gap between the insured and uninsured in the country was too large.

The company is formerly known as African Development Insurance Company (ADIC Insuraance).

He said this means that there is still a large space left for investors and that in the next 25 years, the volume of business penetration and premium would have gone up by not less that 25 per cent.

He noted that this will translate to having more funds to manage in the company and the insurance industry. “So, I think the future will

be very great for anyone who decides to invest in insurance,” he said.

He said he felt fulfilled and elated at what the company has achieved so far, adding that he has lived up to his original vision of making it a leader in the African insurance industry.

He said he sees a brighter future for NSIA Insurance, its customers and shareholders, and backed the company to play a more prominent role in the African insurance industry in the future.

Tracing the history of the company, its Chairman, Board of Directors, Pascal Dozie said a lot has happened since it first opened for business on September 1, 1989 as ADIC as it was then popularly known.

He said the company was acquired by Diamond Bank in 2006 following the recapitalisation of the industry by the Federal Govern-

ment, which raised the capital base for insurance companies to N5billion In July 2011, Diamond Bank sold its 96.15 per cent stake in the firm to NSIA Group, an Ivorien firm with footprints in 11 other African countries, as part of strategy to divest itself from all non-banking subsidiaries.

The company became known as NSIA Insurance. But the change in ownership had no negative impact on the business, as its customers continued to benefit from the expertise, personal service and range of products that made them come to ADIC, he said.

Dozie who is also the Chairman of MTN Nigeriia attributed the success of the company to its adherence to the core business values over the years as initially set by its founder, Irukwu, who had a burning desire to set up a model insurance company that will be known for its integrity, prompt payment of claims and pursuance of global best practices.

LASACO settles N2.4b claims

L

ASACO Assurance has said it met its obligations to customers and had settled insurance claims and benefits totaling N2.417 billion between last year and this year, its Managing Director, Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi has said.

According to him, this represented an increase of N1.05 billion over the corresponding amounts settled in the previous year.

The LASACO boss spoke to reporters in Lagos. He said it is part of the organisation’s vision to ensure customer satisfaction and deepen its market share and penetration.

He noted that one of the areas the firm has distinguished itself over the years is in the area of prompt claims settlements.

He said: “We have remained

• Ladipo-Ajayi

consistent through a dynamic and proactive structure put in place to meet the expectations of our given clientele. This is part of our re-

solve to meet our obligations to our customers as a credible and reputable insurance conglomerate. It is part of our strategic goal to focus on prompts claims settlement in line with our core values of integrity, responsiveness and transparency.

“It is also a customer-centric policy, which consistently focuses on meeting the expectations of our clients while adhering to ethical standards.”

Ladipo-Ajayi said with the deployment of ICT tools, LASACO is poised to deliver superior value to its clients across the key sectors of the economy, adding that it is the vision of the company to continue as a market leader in insurance and financial services industry in Nigeria.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

35

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• ????????????????????

• Construction workers on building site

Are you skilled or unskilled in the construction or estate management business? If your answer is yes, get ready for fresh opportunities as work begins at the FESTAC Town Phase II development, MUYIWA LUCAS writes.

FESTAC Phase II opens fresh vistas T

HE concession of the New FESTAC Town Phase II project by the Federal Government to a private firm has opened new job opportunities for the unemployed - skilled and unskilled.

At the signing of the concession agreement in Abuja, last month, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, said: “This concession and subsequent development of the FESTAC Town Phase II will create several jobs for Nigerians.”

The Vice Chairman, Messrs New Festac Property Development Company Limited (NFPDCL), Sir Isaac Chuks, (concessionaires to the project), said the project will create over 3,000 jobs yearly

when it starts. By implication, this translates to over 90,000 jobs that will be created over the concession tenure of the project.

Experts say this figure may, however, be an under-estimation given the volume of work to be done on the 1,126 hectares of land for the housing project.

For instance, four companies – Fung Tai Engineering Limited, PW (Nigeria) Limited, SCC (Nigeria) Limited and Energo (Nigeria) Limited - are set to start work on the project.

The companies, aside having their permanent workers, will require the services of ad hoc or casual workers for the project.

Fung Tai Engineering, for instance, is sad-

dled with the sandfilling and land reclamation of the area.

This aspect of the project will, no doubt, require a lot of hands and articulated vehicle operators. Therefore, thousands would be employed. Besides, it would also create a high demand for sand, gravel, iron, steel, cement and other related construction materials. This will engage more people to in the supply end of the project.

There will be opportunities for electricians and automobile technicians as their services would be required to effectively keep the machines and other equipment to be used in perfect working condition.

Considering the scope of the project, engineers across the various categories in the

profession would be gainfully engaged. These include civil and structural engineers, surveyors and others.

A former UN Habitat representative in Nigeria, Professor Bade Falade, said the housing and urban development sector holds many solutions to the country’s economic problems, including unemployment, because the city is the vehicle for growing the economy.

“If you plan the cities very well, then the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country will go up. It can also contribute to huge employment as several people are employed on building •Continued on page 36

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

JOBS •Continued from page 35

sites,” Falade said.

With an approximated 50,000 housing units to be delivered on about 7,000 serviced plots, complete with standard infrastructure and essential services under the scheme, a new town is in the offing in FESTAC. As part of the agreement, the serviced plots, to be realised through the concession, are to be complemented with green areas, off street parking, power supply, petrol station, shopping malls, hospitals, hospitality centres, well laid roads, water works, street lights, sewage disposal systems, incinerators and all other necessary support infrastructure.

At this stage, more artisans and professionals will be required.

For instance, architects are required to design buildings for the estimated 7,000 plots of land to be developed there. Therefore, at an average of two plots awarded to an architect, that translates to 3,500 architects getting jobs in the scheme. The same applies to other professionals in the construction sector such as town planners, builders, surveyors, structural, civil and electrical engineers, facility managers, and others.

Others to benefit at this stage of the scheme will include water engineers and artisans, such as brick layers, plumbers, welders, electricians, suppliers of building materials and others.

With the global shift to going green to preserve the environment against climate change, the designated “green areas” in the scheme, will obviously require the services of horticulturists.

Hence, another huge employment opening for those in the trade.

With the determination of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to enforce, to the fullest, the provisions of the building code in the state, to prevent building collapse, employment opportunities will also

FESTAC Phase II opens fresh vistas

• Eyakenyi

open for site supervisors and inspectors in the agency.

The agency’s General Manager, Dr. Abimbola Animashaun said to reinvigorate the new phase of strict monitoring, enforcement and compliance (MEC), the

• Dr Animasahun

agency is putting in place new measures, one of which is the appointment of approved inspectors, whose duty would be to ensure that residents of the state complied with building regulations.

“We need to get approved inspectors; it will be like privatising the inspection stage before certification. We found out that no matter how many staff we have, we cannot cover it all. So the approved inspectors will be

‘If you plan the cities very well, then the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country will go up. It can also contribute to huge employment as several people are employed on building sites’

helping us to carry out the stage inspection and certification. The approved inspectors are coming very soon. They will be in all the nooks and crannies of the entire state,” Animashaun said.

As part of the features in a new town of this magnitude, facilities such as grocery stores, fuel stations, quick service restaurant, and other service providers, will be part of the scheme.

Therefore, the project will also give birth to employment for people that will work in these facilities. For instance, the fuel stations will employ attendants to dispense the products, while even its construction will require suppliers of steel pipes and tanks.

Selling a project of this magnitude does not come easy, especially when it is considered that it is on the “off-taker” basis.

Therefore, marketing workers or personnel will equally benefit from the project. This is by way of attracting buyers to the scheme. Already, a consortium of six firms has been engaged by the concessionaires to market the project.

Going by the magnitude of the land to be marketed, chances are that the marketing consortium will equally take on more workers on ad hoc arrangement to complement their existing strength.

Other employment opportunity the new town will offer include security service providers, who will have to recruit more personnel to meet the residents’ security demands.

Eyakenyi, said there will be a multiplier effect on the economy.

He said part of government’s earning from the concession agreement will be ploughed into rehabilitating FESTAC Phase I. This means that the rehabilitation of the Phase I scheme, built in 1977, is in the offing. Therefore, maintenance engineers, surveyors and other artisans, will also get job opportunities.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

E

MPLOYMENT experts agree that skill identification is essential to a successful job search. Employers want to know what it is you can do for them-not just what you’ve done for someone else. Knowledge of your unique skills is needed to successfully complete an application, write a resume or answer interview questions. Skills Identification is a key initial step towards new employment.

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines a skill as “a great ability or proficiency, expertness that comes from training, practice, etc.” A simple definition is that a skill is anything you can do right now.

Everyone has skills, hundreds of skills, many of which employers are looking for in an employee. Yet most people can only identify a few skills and are generally unable to describe them to an employer. Employers need to hear what you can do.

If you’re looking at purchasing a product that will cost you thousands of naira a year for many years, you also would want to know that it can do. The more skills you have identified, the easier it is to convince a potential employer that you have what it takes to do the job.

SKILLS CATEGORIES

Job skills Job skills are those skills specific to a job or occupation. An administrative assistant is skilled in typing, word processing, answering telephones, company correspondence and filing.

How to identify your skills

By Olu Oyeniran

An accountant would list accounts receivable, performing accounts payable, payroll, figuring taxes, using a 10 keys adding machine and computer accounting programs. A salesperson would include customer service, record keeping, order processing, inventory management, billing and product displays.

Job skills are important to employers for obvious reasons.

These are the specific skills they look for in a candidate to accomplish the duties of the job. Job skills do not always come from employment.

Along with the skills you used in previous jobs, you may have developed job skills through education, hobbies, community activities and life experiences.

Common activities such as shopping, managing finances, balancing a bank account, hosting a party and teaching a child all contain potential job skills.

Self-management skills Sometimes called “personality traits,” these self-management skills are skills you use day-today to get along with others and to survive. They’re the skills that you unique. Sincerity, reliability, tactfulness, patience, flexibility, timeliness and tolerance are examples of self-management skills. Employers look for these

skills in candidates as evidence of how they will fit into the organisation. How a person will fit in is an important consideration to employers.

Transferable skills These are skills that can transfer from one job or occupation to another. They may be either self-management or job content skills, and may or may not have been developed through pervious employment. For most jobseekers it’s very unlikely that they’ll find a job that is identical to their opportunities. It’s also important to look for ways to express this transferability to a prospective employer.

Duties Many people have trouble distinguishing between their skills and duties. Duties are the basic functions of an activity. Skills are tools to accomplish those functions. Duties or functions are a part of any organised activity, whether it’s employment, volunteer work or hobbies.

A simple example is the management of a lemonade stand.

The basic duties of a lemonade stand owner might be to manage lemonade operations including product, marketing, distribution and finances.

These are many skills needed to accomplish these functions including: mixing, measuring,

planning, sales, customer service, writing, cash handling, record keeping, maintenance, timeliness, dependability, accuracy and motivation. A complete list of skills would be very long.

Writing out the duties or functions of an activity first can be useful way to begin identifying skills. When presenting your skills to an employer, it’s best to tie them to specific activities in which they were used. It’s not enough to tell the employer your skills: you need to be prepared to tell where, when and how you used those skills.

Writing your skills Identifying, listing and describing your skills isn’t an easy task.

However, it’s critical to job search success and you should plan to invest the time needed.

Listed below is an outline for skills identification that has been successfully used by many jobseekers.

• List by title a job you’ve held.

Start with your most recent employment and work backwards.

• Write a detailed description of four to five major duties.

• Think of the skills needed to accomplish each duty you’ve listed. Write those skills down on a piece of paper. Remember to look for both job and selfmanagement skills. Be sure to include tools used, machines operated, knowledge applied, etc.

• Repeat the above steps for each activity you anticipate describing to an employer either on an application, in your resume or in an interview. Use this process for other work-related activities including hobbies, volunteer work and community experience.

Once you’ve completed this process, you should have a long list of skills-A list too long to tell an employer. Go through the list, select and prioritise those skills that match your job(s) target(s). 3-8 can be optimal, depending on your years of experience and relevancy. These are the skill you will use and sell in your job search effort- deciding what you will like to do, during interviews and in your resume/CV EkiniConsult & Associates is organising 3 free and open workshops, “Knocking on the Right Doors- Strategies for Uncovering the Hidden Job Market” for The Nation readers in Lagos. A free eBook of the same title will be given to those who may not be able to. If you are interested, send-in your name, location, email address and GSM no to 0808384-3230. Precede with the word ‘ATTEND’ for those who want to come and ‘FREE EBOOK’ for those who want the free eBook only.

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates. He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

37

THE CEO The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Oilserv Limited and Frazimex Limited, Mr. Emeka Okwuosa, an engineer, says the petroleum industry can add more value to the economy than it currently does. This, he says, can be achieved through increased domestic gas utilisation and local capacity development.

Okwuosa speaks to Assistant Editor EMEKA UGWUANYI on this and other national issues.

‘Delayed Gas Master Plan implementation impacts on earnings’

I

NDIGENOUS oil services companies are recording remarkable success and are gradually taking over the petroleum industry from foreign firms. What do you think is responsible for this?

The Local Content Act is a combination of efforts. Originally from the private sector, and later on the Federal Government taking a cue from that and getting the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) involved. So, between the private sector service companies such as ours and the NNPC, we were able to put together what we have today. But we thank the NNPC representing the Federal Government, for moving when it was required. If we hear about local content as a law today, some of us may not know that it took us 20 years fighting for it. After the first 15 years, NNPC did a very good job of setting up a sub-division within its group. Again, luckily and incidentally, the Group General Manager of the division at that time was the same Engr. Ernest Nwapa who currently superintends the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). That is why Nwapa’s position in NCDMB gives all of us joy because you see an individual who understands what the issues are and who was involved from the beginning, in getting to where we are today. That gives him the background and opportunity to be able to drive the process, because it is not about us as individuals, but how we create opportunities in Nigeria for the future of the country. When we talk about the future of the country, we are talking of how we, as individuals, impact the system to ensure that the extraction of oil and gas in the industry is done in a manner that would retain most of the values in Nigeria. The good story is that today, after 20 years, we can beat our chest and say we have actually been able to achieve a lot.

But we have not got there yet because the target is still far away. When I came back in 1993, I made up my mind to make a change in the system. With the experience I acquired, in conjunction with my colleagues, we started the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) with the sole purpose of developing capacity in oil and gas industry, from service provision to exploration and production of crude.

Nigeria is said to be more of a gas province than oil; yet there is a dearth of gas supply in the country. What does the country lose to the delayed implementation of the Gas Master Plan?

• Okwuosa

The Gas Master Plan (GMP) should be executed faster because we are losing value.

What we are losing by not executing it is difficult to quantify. It depends on the model you use. Do you know that Nigeria, as we speak, has the capacity to take and use five billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. If you look at the cost of gas at 1000 cubic feet, which varies between $2 and $6 depending on where it is being sold and transported to.

This is a huge amount of money being lost on daily basis. But this situation is not as straight forward because there are several issues around gas as a commodity. One of this is the issue of gas commercialisation.

For instance, if I own an oil block and you want to take my gas, there is a cost for me to produce that gas, clean it up and put it in a condition that you can pipe it. That cost has to be covered by a commercial arrangement.

If the commercial arrangement is not right for me to do that, I’ll leave the gas there or burn it. That is the problem we have dealing with the international oil companies (IOCs).

They also have a clear case of being able to get value from what they are doing. It is not just the cost of gas but also the cost of processing and moving this gas. They have to recover that. If they can’t recover that, then why are they into the business? So there has

to be a win-win situation. And that is where I think we are moving to and I believe there is a commercial framework for that and it is a matter of driving that arrangement.

Your company was awarded the East-West pipeline contract. At what stage is it, and when will it be completed?

The project is to raise the OB3 pipeline. The OB3 pipeline is the largest pipeline being done in Nigeria. It is a 48 inch pipeline and we have never built a pipeline of that magnitude. This is the first time such pipeline is being executed. We call it OB3 because it goes from Obiafu-Obrikom in Rivers State to Oben in Edo State. So instead of calling it OB-OB to Oben, it is called OB3.

We were awarded the contract for half of it, and we commenced activity. This contract is an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) project. We have finished the engineering and have procured the entire pipes. The pipes started arriving from November last year. Some constraints were there but they have been solved by NNPC. The major constraint was the right of way. It was only in April that NNPC secured the entire right of way. I think there are still some gaps. In Nigeria today, the most difficult aspect of the kind of work we do is dealing with communities. Ordinarily we have

‘The fibre optic vandalism detection system is so sensitive that it can differentiate between somebody coming to dig, walking on top of it, or driving a car across the line. So, you can determine what is happening along that right of way and whether it is a threat to the pipeline. And there is a control system and access controls to enable you take action immediately. Such are technologies that can be deployed to curb pipeline vandalism’

a law in the country that should enable us to acquire the operating pipeline license (OPL) as it is called. Ordinarily, you go to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and apply, go through the processes, which involve detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) and all the requirements before issuance of the licence, and with that licence you go in there and build the pipeline. But it doesn’t work that way in Nigeria. You have to go back and take it meter by meter and start negotiating with individuals to make sure you have a framework to enable you work. So, it was only in April we got that and we have commenced work. The bottom line is that building a pipeline is not like going out there to buy a car, which you just start and ride away. It is a long process. But I believe clearly that now that we have started, within the next 20 months we should be done with the construction all things being equal. There are other things that could delay but we don’t hope for that.

Is there a guarantee that your community engagement strategies would ensure delivery of the project in 20 months?

We can’t guarantee that community issues will not impact delivery of the project, but the good story is that we are experts in what we are doing. We have experience that goes beyond discussing it. We have been talking about OB3 but beyond OB3 we are executing 10 other projects. We have a total of 11 projects going on at the same time. And we have been doing this level of activity for a very long time. So, what it shows is that we have a method of engaging communities that enables us understand the communities, understand their needs and go for win-win situation. Discuss with them and agree on what has to be done, which includes opportunities for provision of jobs, sub-contracts, security, and also do some community de•Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

38

THE CEO

‘Delayed Gas Master Plan implementation impacts on earnings’ •Continued from page 37

velopment projects for them. If you agree with them, you sign agreement and execute accordingly.

What is the cost of the 11 projects your company is executing?

The 11 projects are worth more than $550 million. This capacity we showcase is typical of what PETAN represents in promoting indigenous capacity to deliver on challenging assignments. We in PETAN do not represent government but we collaborate in building industry capacity to ensure that national economic aspirations are realised in full through creation of value in the domestic economy.

With vandalism challenges in crude oil and gas supply, can the LNG be used to close the gap between production and consumption centres?

The use of LNG and investment in gas supply alternatives are all commercial issues. If it is commercially reasonable and can be funded, it can be done; otherwise, it cannot be done. It is not based on technicalities at all. It is possible to go and set up a regasification plant, buy LNG, regasify it and pipe it but it is not worth the cost in Nigeria because we have the gas already. All we need to do is pipe it where we want to use it than to build a regasification plant. That means that you sell your gas as LNG and import another LNG back, re-gasify and pipe, all in the name of averting pipeline vandalism.

All the challenges of pipeline in Nigeria are superficial and transient. All it takes is for the country to have a proper master plan and execute it in a way it makes sense. There is no difficulty in building pipelines; it is a matter of how we work about that. So, building a regasification plant is not commercial enough to make it workable. We have a lot of gas offshore. If the country decides to harness the gas, it is a policy issue and NNPC will take it and talk with the international oil companies (IOCs) and strike a commercial arrangement whereby the IOCs will extract proper values from their gas, whereas government will create the right environment to be able to utilise this gas in a way that is commercially attractive. It has to match it. It is business. It is not a very big issues but it can be done. And I believe there is a plan to do that but it is a matter of executing that plan.

What is your take on funding challenges faced by indigenous players?

Funding is a key issue in capacity building. For us, at the very early stage it was very difficult because Nigerian banks and funding institutions were not tailored to doing this kind of business. They were more tailored to importation of materials. So in the early 1990s if you went to them for facility to execute contracts, they would only give you facility for three months. And you don’t do these projects in three months. But today we have gone beyond that. Funding is not really a major problem for us because we have built capacity that enables us to continuously perform. And what banks want is to be sure that when they lend you money, they can get it back with interest, not stories that the project has failed. Oilserv and Frazimex have never done any project that failed. In fact, before we sign a project, banks would have lined up to give us facilities. It might not be the same with other companies. The experiences differ from one firm to another. But really, anywhere in the world you have to understand that money is always available. It is a duty of matching money with what it needs to do. That process is the issue. If you want to raise a billion dollars, you can do that so far there is credibility in the process of utilisation.

Secondly, the issue of pipeline vandalism is a major problem in Nigeria. But there is technology solution to that. The 54 kilometre pipeline we are building from Umudasege to Umugini in the Niger Delta will host the pioneering vandalism detection fiber optic system that we are installing. The fibre optic vandalism detection system is so sensitive that it can differentiate between somebody coming to dig, walking on top of it, or driving a car across the line.

So, you can determine what is happening along that right of way and whether it is a threat to the pipeline. And there is a control system and access controls to enable you take action immediately. Such are technologies that you can be deployed to curb pipeline vandalism. There are other technologies you can also deploy, but we have to consciously deploy more technology in pipeline protection and that calls for massive investments.

• Okwuosa

‘What people fail to understand is that gas is related to our ability to feed ourselves. Gas is the main source of urea, which is the main component in fertiliser production. So, the fertiliser that you apply to be able to have good yields in agriculture comes from gas. But, unfortunately, the only fertiliser plant we have in Nigeria is the one built over 30 years ago, which is now owned by Notore. How come a country that has so much resource has only one fertiliser plant?’

• Okwuosa

How have Oilserve and Frazimex contributed to local capacity development?

Oilserv is purely engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company in land, swamp and offshore terrains. It has great capabilities. We build pipelines, flow lines and facilities associated with pipelines; from manifold stations, pigging stations to metering stations, among others. The capacity we have today is similar to what Wilbros had when it held monopoly in the country.

When you talk about Oilserve, we are not

just doing challenging jobs but also building capacity and training people. I can tell you that all the people working in Oilserv today are Nigerians. And some of these individuals left universities in the 1990s and early 2000s and came in as fresh graduates.

Today, some of them are general managers, some of them are managers. So you can see that Nigerians can do it if given the opportunity, but you need to be trained. We move into other countries as expatriate companies, which nobody would have thought about

20 years ago.

Frazimex specifically focuses on engineering design ranging from feasibility studies, front end engineering, to detailed engineering. Frazimex also is involved in gas development. You hear about gas to power.

How important is gas to the country’s economic survival?

Today, gas is the key driver in terms of capacity building in the Nigerian economy.

If Nigeria can articulate and seriously commit to the implementation of the gas master plan, make gas available to every part of Nigeria, you will see that with energy available, it is possible to have things like power generation made easy. What people fail to understand is that gas is related to our ability to feed ourselves. Gas is the main source of urea production, which is the main component in fertilizer production. So the fertiliser that you apply to be able to have good yields in agriculture, comes from gas.

But unfortunately, the only fertiliser plant we have in Nigeria is the one built over 30 years ago, which is now owned by Notore.

How come a country that has so much resource has only one fertiliser plant? And I know that some quantity of fertiliser is being imported to meet the country’s consumption need. Meanwhile we sell our gas as liquefied natural gas (LNG); the countries that buy the gas would produce fertiliser with it and sell the fertiliser to us. It is the same story about importation of refined petroleum products.

You ask yourself whether it makes sense to have the crude, and you cannot refine it. You sell the crude, provide jobs for people where they have refineries and they sell to you the refined products, which you have no control over the quality. Obviously these are the issues we have to address, and in addressing it what we are doing in our own little way is to continue building capacity in our own field in such a way as to be able to make a difference in the country.

Is there any collaboration between Oilserv and Frazimex in jobs execution?

I would like to clarify that one part of Frazimex manages and handles engineering design and feasibility. You have the other aspect of gas development and power. And you have another aspect also that manages Exploration and Production portfolio. For Oilserv, the synergy there is that it retains the main value of the EPC but when we bid and get EPC projects, which means it covers from engineering all the way to commissioning; Frazimnex comes in to manage the engineering aspect as part of the Group. As I speak to you Frazimex is handling engineering scope of a job being executed by one of our competitors. That doesn’t stop Frazimex from working for us as a group.

Considering your knowledge of gas business, what is your view on developing LNG projects in the country?

Nigeria has capacity to build a number of LNGs but I’m not an apostle of LNG. In fact, LNGs are not different from what we do with crude oil. You take your crude oil and sell to somebody, and they use it to develop their place. What is more important to us in Nigeria is how to pipe gas all over Nigeria to enable us develop with our gas. So, as a first option we must have gas available to all Nigerians and not to outsiders, because we can create the value, and money will come out of it and we can make payments to the same international oil companies (IOCs). So, there should be a conscious effort by the government through the NNPC to drive this home.

What is the size of your company’s workforce?

Oilserv employs more than 400 people.

Why I cannot put a figure is that you heard the number of projects we currently handle.

By the nature of our business, the number of staff I have today might be different from the one I will have next week. It moves up and down but it has always varied between 400 and 500. And that includes the project staff members. They do not include community based staff who are ad hoc workers because as you finish your project in one community, you drop the ad hoc workers from the community and pick another ad hoc staff from the next community.

What particular services does your firm export?

Services that we export are the services that we’ve developed already, from engineering to construction, to maintenance of facilities, power generation, and to gas-to-power systems as well as exploration and production.

We export services to across West Africa and East Africa. And we will continue to develop that as we move on.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

39

BUSINESS MOTORING

•2015 Honda CR V

Like its predecessors, the 2015 Honda CR-V is roomy, fuel efficient and loaded with family-friendly features. It is a top pick among compact crossover SUVs, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency reports

2015 Honda CR-V unveiled H

ONDA, by no means, is a volume leader in the global automotive scene. But in North America, customers have a particular affinity for a handful of the company’s models, such as the Civic and Accord sedans, and the CR-V crossover. In the immense popularity than the latter segment, Honda’s CR-V is second to nearly none; routinely outselling other popular entries like the Toyota RAV4 or the Ford Escape.

Given the heated competitive nature of the crossover segment, Honda is going the extra mile to keep its bestselling utility fresh and appealing. For 2015, the CR-V has received a rather substantial refresh, which is more than just skin deep. In addition to exterior tweaks and changes, there is a new powertrain to match its new face, and CR-V buyers around the world will be better for it.

Starting with the outside, it is easy to see that the new CRV is very much a derivative of the 2014 model. This is by no means a complete redesign, but rather a substantial refresh to carry it through the next couple of years. The shape, dimensions and cues are all very much the same or similar.

Most of the styling changes occur in the front, where some new headlights and new grille now exist more harmoniously than before. There is also a new front fascia, which offers more chrome and gives the front end a different demeanour.

The sides are now punctuated with new 17-inch and 18inch wheel packages, but its otherwise business as usual; the limited plastic body cladding insinuates that the CR-V is up for some rough-and-tumble driving, but its minimal enough that it doesn’t choke the overall styling or design; this was present in the earlier generation, though.

Inside, careful consideration has been paid to the materials and textures around the cabin, which now feels far more

•Interior

•Interior

premium and upscale than previous, more utilitarian generations. Autoblog, which was able to take the new CR-V for a spin, noted that the “centre console armrest is now standard, as are telescoping sun visors that slide to cover the length of the side windows and rear-console ventilation ducts.”

There is a new seven-inch touchscreen and Display Audio telematics interface, which Autoblog notes can be tethered to the “next-generation of Honda Link, the automaker’s webbased infotainment interface.” While more tech and toys are always good for attracting younger demographics, the key to the CR-V’s success—its generous cargo real estate, especially with the seats down—remains intact. The highswinging trunk also allows for easier ingress and egress of larger objects, as well.

The most notable bit of news, however, is what happened underneath the hood. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine has been replaced. Only now, this one is branded with Honda’s Earth Dreams moniker, which means it is more efficient and more potent. Though it has the same 185-horsepower rating, torque is up from 163 to 181, and the whole unit is lighter than its outgoing predecessor.

This is mated to a new CVT transmission, which in turn

yields fuel economy figures of 27 miles per gallon in the city, 34 on the highway, and 29 on the combined cycle—not bad for a small SUV, by any measure. For all-wheel drive models (an option available for every trim level), those figures decrease by a single mile per gallon each.

“In addition to offering unsurpassed smoothness, (the new CVT) has a 33 per cent wider overall ratio spread than the outgoing five-speed to improve efficiency and drivability,” Autoblog said.

Honda took the refresh/redesign of the CR-V one step further and used wider front and rear track dimensions to accommodate wider wheels. The suspension has been tinkered with to offer a smoother ride, and the chassis has been firmed up to improve handling. Safety has also been paid attention to, and the 2015 model is expected to receive the sought-after Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The base CR-V starts at a hair over $23,000, though wellappointed models—including the new Touring Premium trim—can handily surpass $30,000 once loaded up with features.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

40

MOTORING

Kia wins design prizes at Paris Show

K

IA Motors was among the biggest winners at the Automotive Brand Contest 2014, an annual international design competition run by the German Design Council for automotive brands. The independent jury for the awards picked Kia as the winner in three categories.

The Kia design team, led by Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Designer of Kia Motors Corporation and Hyundai Motor Group, won the Team of the Year title for its work across three continents. Kia Motors has design centers in Korea, California and Germany.

Two prizes were also awarded to Kia vehicles. The Kia Provo, a sporty B-segment concept car unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, was named Best of Best in the Concepts category, while the second generation of the cult compact SUV, the Kia Soul, was distinguished as Winner in the Exterior Volume Brand category. The award presentation held at the Paris Motor Show last week.

“Peter Schreyer and his international team have done a grand job over the past few years,” the jury stated, justifying its choice for the special Team of the Year award.

“In an apparently saturated environment of formal possibilities for the

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

Kia brand, they have come up with a unique brand design that stands out from the crowd and gives it an unmistakable face,” the jury added.

Peter Schreyer commented: “This triple triumph is a fantastic endorsement of the work done by our design team, who absolutely deserve this success. I am thrilled about the awards and proud of my team.

“First-class automobile design doesn’t happen by accident; it is the product of a continuous process based on passion and attention to detail. And only by striving for a lively exchange of ideas, and by being open to influences from different areas, is it possible to be really creative. The most important aspect, however, is team spirit, which can even reduce to nothing the distances between continents. The Kia design team consists of people of roughly 20 nationalities, languages and cultures – and every team member brings to the job the same passionate motivation to create something unmistakably Kia.” The Automotive Brand Contest, established in 2011, has quickly developed into a highly respected design competition. It is held by the German Design Council (Rat für Formgebung), which was founded in 1953 as an initiative of the German Federal Parliament to

Group holds exhibition, awards

A

N exhibition and award for stakeholders in the transport sector will hold in November.

The event is organised by the Network of Road Transport Correspondents and Reporters of Nigeria in conjunction with Greatpen publishing ventures, publishers of tricycle operator’s world.

The event, according to the chairman of the organising committee, Mr Dare Enimola, is geared towards showcasing and appreciating contributions made by stakeholders in the transportation sector in developing the nation’s economy especially, in the construction of Inner city and rural community roads.

He said the event will promote development and articulate activities of people in the road sector towards achieving a common goal.

Enimola added that it will also acknowledge contributions made by stakeholders in the promotion of every strata of the road transportation sector thereby train, educate and enlighten stakeholders on what is trending and encourage cross pollination of ideas for optimum

•Aregbesola

By Olatunde Odebiyi

returns on investment.

Awardees in the executed road projects category included, Governors Babatunde Fashola; Godswill Akpabio; Rauf Aregbesola and Ibikunle Amosun.

They will be awarded for the construction of inner city and rural community roads, drainage, bridges, culverts and sidewalks.

Others are Kayode Opeifa; Toyota brand of vehicles; Bajaj brand of tricycle; Tvs star brand of motorcycle; C & C construction company limited; Nana Motors Nigeria limited; Mrs Oil Company Limited, among others.

•Kia Provo

strengthen the design competence of the German economy. Today, this foundation counts among the world’s leading competence centers for communication and knowledge transfer in the field of design.

The independent institution is

sponsored by more than 200 companies, from both Germany and abroad. The Automotive Brand Contest is open to all companies in the automobile industry and their partners in the supply industry, and in the fields of design and brand

communications. There are 10 award categories and four special award categories covering the entire design spectrum–from vehicle design and concepts, to brand design and multimedia networking, to campaigns and events.

‘Abuja fair ‘ll enhance auto policy’

A

S preparations for the hosting of the premium auto show in Nigeria gets to an advanced stage, the platform for the annual event has been described as litmus test to the shape of things in the industry with the current paradigm shift in the sector.

According to the Organising Committee Chairman of the 16th Abuja International Motor Fair, Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, “the automobile is undoubtedly the primary yardstick of success for any auto exhibition. This means auto enterprises showcasing at any exhibition must ensure visibility and wholeness/completeness, not leaving anything to chance”.

He said: “The reinvigorated auto policy no doubt caught some stakeholders unprepared, confused and some highly prepared. These various states have caught some on the wrong footing and they needed to stay afloat and the ready ones; all need to show that they are ready to play big in the new era.

“It is this unique opportunity that the motor fair has been packaged to provide to stakeholders. Therefore, showcasing amongst others at the event, will ultimately show the state of preparedness or otherwise of participants. This does not apply only to the automobile companies, but equally to those which services and or products complement the automobiles because the incidence of the policy falls on all of them”.

Agwu disclosed that preparations are in top gear, stressing that the 16th edition is loaded with a whole lot of

…GAC to showcase brands CIG Motors, sole representative of GAC brand of vehicles will showcase two of its latest models at this year’s Abuja Motor fair.

The two models making waves in Nigeria since their arrival a few months ago, are GS5 2.0L engine mid-luxury SUV and the GA3 1.6L saloon.

Disclosing this in Lagos last week, Sales and Marketing Director of CIG, Mr Kayode Adejumo, said the high quality auto-brand will leave no stone untouched in making Nigerians and attendees of the 16th edition of the Abuja Motor Fair have a new feel of the global automobile appeal and experience.

According to him, “GAC Motors will be participating at the fair to

showcase two of our models, the GS5 2.0L engine vehicle, our mid luxury SUV, which is the flagship in our range and the GA3, a 1.6L saloon which is our current entry level”, adding that the car company is in the country to offer Nigerians value for their money.

“We plan to create excitement with our special promotional offer on the GS5 with an all expense paid business trip to China for seven days up for the first 10 people who purchase the vehicle,” he noted.

He said GAC brands’ unique selling points are irresistible to prospective car owners. Some of these, he hinted, are advanced world class factory with stamping, welding and painting.

content designed to showcase the strength and resilience of the participants as well as create an educative and fun-filled atmosphere for those that will visit the show.

Concerning this year’s theme, which promotes the culture and attitude of self-belief and self–confidence, Agwu noted that aside the known strong brands that will be at the show, a few others will make their debut, therefore, creating an ambience for debutants to rub shoulders with the ‘big boys’, which will further expose them to the workings of the industry.

He said the build up to the event has shown the quality of an inter-

national A-level automobile exhibition in many aspects.

“One of which is, the high technical content of exhibits, which will represent the latest trend and the most advanced level of the world.

Therefore, this exhibition plays a real role of weather vane in the Nigeria and West Africa automobile market.

“This edition will show not only new entrants from the various brands, but also the hot spot products in the market. All these exhibits focus on displaying the new achievements and new breakthroughs in various aspects, particularly the indigenous ones,” he said.

SAFE DRIVING

Conference, road safety and national development

W

HEN President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the National Conference and gave them the task to accomplish, there were lots of skepticism as to whether the conference can end peacefully or reach any meaningful conclusion.

Though Nigerians are still praying for the adoption and implementations of the recommendations of the National Conference, the fact however remains that the National Conference was a huge success and a step in the right direction. There is without doubt, a fresh air in the atmosphere that Nigeria as a nation is heading towards a greater height in true federaralism, unity and peace as a result of the resolutions of the Na-

tional Conference.

It is a tru-ism that there are many crises in all the sectors of the Nigerian economy calling for more proactive actions. There are challenges in the Security sector, Health sector, Transport sector, Agricultural sector, Power sector, External Relations, Youth Unemployment, Religious and Tribal crises among others.

The Success of the recently concluded National Conference is a clear pointer to the fact that unbiased and result-oriented conferences can be used to regularly resolve all the crises in all the sectors facing challenges in Nigeria to foster the growth of the Nigerian economy.

The absence of such proactive action is mainly responsible for the non – accomplishment of the Millennium

Development Goals and will also make the accomplishment of the Nigerian vision 20:2020 difficult if at all possible.

For over two years now, I have used several medium to advocate for an annual or at worse biennial National conference on Transportation.

This proposed conference is to bring all the Stakeholders, Decision Makers and Observers together to regularly resolve the crises in the sector as well as formulate proactive policies for the coming years.

There is no doubt about the fact that there are crises between the Federal Road Safety Commission, State Ministries of Transport, Vehicle Inspection Unit, Motor Vehicle Licensing Authorities, Nigeria Police Force, State Traffic Management Agencies,

Driving Schools, Local Government Authorities and other Stakeholders in one way or the other, while the rate of road accident and fatalities keep increasing in the country.

Furthermore, there are several draconian laws and regulations at the Federal and State levels that need to be re – addressed and amended for the good of Nigerians and the Nation as a whole.

Many things are wrong with several sectors in Nigeria and the earlier they are addressed, the better for the development of this great nation. For example, as at today, it has not yet been resolved who regulates the Driving Schools in Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Commission or the State Governments.

Nigeria recently ranked 191 out of 193 countries with the worst case of

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

road crashes and fatalities. And we are yet to take proactive actions practically to drastically reduce the high rate of accidents and fatalities in Nigeria.

•To be continued

43

MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

KWARA POLITICS Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has been endorsed by many groups and organisations. Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH examines other hurdles he must cross to secure a second term.

Ripples over Ahmed’s endorsement T

HE endorsement of the Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for another term in office is generating ripples.

The governor was endorsed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, and other stakeholders at a meeting in Ilorin, the state capital. The general consensus was that Ahmed has fostered peace and harmony in the ruling party and confronted the challenges of development facing the state. The governor was also applauded for his loyalty to the leadership, the party and the people. Many stakeholders also praised his humility and candour.

During the meeting, a party chieftain, Alhaji Yusuf Aiyedun, urged stakeholders from the Kwara North and Central senatorial districts to allow Ahmed, who is from the South, to spend another four years in office.

Aiyedun, who is from the South, pointed out that the governir has lived up to expectation. He said a vote for continuity would enable him to complete his projects, adding that it would also foster stability.

The Chairman of the Kwara Central APC, Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, shared Ayedun’s view. He said: “Governor Ahmed has shown unequal humility and loyalty to the party structure, the leadership and the people of the state, despite his position. I, however, advise the governor to spread the dividends of democracy across board.”

A party elder from Kwara North, Senator Ahmed Ahmed, said the governor has achieved a lot, despite the shortfall in revenue. He advised him to consider other zones for political patronage.

The APC woman leader, Sarah Adebay, who spoke on behalf of women, endorsed the second term bid. But, she urged the governor to impelement the 35 percent affirmative action.

Saraki described Ahmed as a loyal party man, saying that he deserves a second term. He observed that the governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in the interest of the state. Hailing his steadfastness, he said he has rejected overtures and pressure on him to betray the good cause. Saraki noted that Kwara is the only state, which has remained peaceful, despite a transition.

He however, clarified that the endorsement does not preclude the governor from participating in the November 15 primaries.

The PDP has welcomed the decision by the APC to field Ahmed as its flag bearer for the election. But, it said that the decision will become the party’s albatross, stressing that it would inflict a debilitating blow on the APC. According to the APC, the next election will be a walk over for the opposition.

The PDP has not endorsed any aspirant. The contenders include senator Gbenisola Saraki, AlhajiIbrahim Jani, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), Prof.

Abduraheem Oba Shuaib, Dara, Senator Ajadi Makanjuola.

The PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Rex Olawoye, said the opposition received the news of the endorsement with mixed feelings. He described the endorsement as the imposition of a particular candidate on the APC. “The PDP is sad that the leadership of the APC has refused to deviate from its

•Ahmed

•Saraki

• Belgore

• Prof. Oba

trademark practice of imposition and ‘I-dash-you-position,’ which characterised their political sojourn in their former party.

“One would have reasonably expected that the former governor, Saraki, would have learnt in his new party a lesson or two in democratic ideals, which he refused to learn in the PDP. The situation seems to have gone from bad to worse.

“This is because whereas, the APC leadership, in a statement released by its Publicity Secretary, ruled out automatic ticket for all aspirants contesting under its platform, the party’s godfather, in a brazen show of raw power, overruled the whole party machinery to impose his puppet godson on the party.

“This is why we are not losing sleep over the reported imposition of Ahmed by his godfather, in clear breach of the resolution of the party.

As a party, we believe that there couldn’t have been any better Sallah gift for Kwara PDP members from the APC than the imposition of Ahmed. To say the least, candidate Ahmed is an easy walk-over for the PDP in 2015.”

But, Saraki dismissed the PDP criticisms as misplaced, unwarranted and the antics of busy-bodies, urging the party to concentrate on its internal affairs.

He said: “The party has not in any way endorsed the governor for another time. The party is holding its primaries for governorship elections.

I endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for another time as a person.

Anybody that has the aspiration to become governor on the platform of the APC can go and contest. My assessment of the governor’s administration made me to endorse him for

•Senator Gbemisola Saraki

• Ajadi

another term in office.

“If it were an imposition, I will force the chairman of the party and the party structure to release a statement as they do in the PDP to say that they have endorsed Abdulfatah Ahmed. The party has not said that. It is my own opinion. The PDP should go and focus their time to how they will have a candidate.

The former governor added: “They are jumping the gun. They are already looking at the elections when they have not had a candidate. Everybody in the PDP wants to be governor. They should go and focus on electing a candidate. When they achieve that, then, we start to discuss their chances of winning. The challenge before them is to have a candidate before they start talking about whether Governor Ahmed is a walk-over or not.

“We all know that that is talk; even

‘The PDP has welcomed the decision by the APC to field Ahmed as its flag bearer for the election. But, it said that the decision will become the party’s albatross, stressing that it would inflict a debilitating blow on the APC. According to the APC, the next election will be a walk over for the opposition’

some talks are reckless. You have not addressed the selection of your candidate and you are talking about another party. They should assure Kwarans how they will have a violent-free selection or election of their candidate.

They should leave our party alone.”

The APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, said Saraki’s endorsement of Ahmed has sent fears down the spines of PDP members.

He said the party will hold its primaries on Saturday, November 15.

Buhari said: “If Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed emerges as our flag bearer at the governorship primaries, his candidacy would not only crush the PDP, but also ensure a landslide victory for the APC. “The statement credited to the PDP describing Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s candidacy as a walkover for the PDP is laughable. This laughable statement is contradictory to the feelers from PDP leaders and members in Kwara State as the endorsement by APC stakeholders has sent jittery down the spines of Kwara PDP. The PDP can continue to live in self-denial. This is the same party that made several failed attempts to propagate a non-existent feud between Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki. For the PDP to have learnt the latter endorsed the former, it is understandable that the PDP will express its frustrations and bitterness.

We sympathise with the PDP. The APC spokesman added: “It is pathetic and pitiable that Kwara PDP lacks the understanding of distinctness between the endorsement and the imposition. The endorsement of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term by APC stakeholders is a product of painstaking review of his performances and policies in office.

“This endorsement is not unusual. It is just one of the numerous endorsements Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has enjoyed from prominent Kwarans and groups, including Okada association, NURTW, artisans, the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara North Youth Consultative Forum, the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS), Ilorin Emirate Students Union and other groups.

“This is not imposition; it is endorsement. Imposition is the bedrock of the crises ravaging the PDP in Ilorin West Local Government Area where unacceptable persons were imposed as PDP executives in the local government. The APC is unlike the PDP where imposition is practised.

“The fact that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has led a responsible and responsive government is no news to Kwarans; the achievements of the APC government are visible and impactful in the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

“Surprisingly, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party is seriously aggravated in its frustrations and bitterness that it would claim road doesn’t exist where newly constructed road exists. This is the narrative of the disgruntled and deserted PDP in Kwara State.

“As announced by Kwara APC on Thursday, 4th of September, 2014, we reiterate that there is no automatic ticket for all aspirants, in all categories, contesting the 2015 general elections under our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State.”

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2014

44

POLITICS The electorial chances of women governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

• Dabiri-Erewa

• Nwaogu

• Esuene

• Olejeme

APC, PDP: Which party ‘ll produce first woman governor?

T

HE advent of democracy in Nigeria has come with numerous dividends; key amongst these is the benefit of freedom.

Freedom of expression, freedom of speech and even the freedom to dream. In the dark days of military rule there were certain dreams which could not even be entertained let alone actualised. The formation of political parties were closely monitored and dare regulated by the powers that be. The emergence of candidates was (and possibly still remains) a delicate issue. We all still remember vividly the June 12 elections, subsequent result annulment and the entire drama that followed. Thank God for democracy.

Though not yet the perfect democracy we yearn for, it is still laudable that we have witnessed 15 uninterrupted years of democracy with President Jonathan (the man without shoes who is now president) obviously going to seek re-election come 2015.

At the state level, there are several examples of how democracy has enabled the somewhat ‘everyday Joe’, aspire to political leadership and achieve that ambition on the platform of democracy. From the likes of Babatunde Raji Fashola, Adams Oshiomole, Godswill Akpabio, Rochas Okorocha, Sule Lamido, Rauf Aregbesola, the list continues to grow. These names and many more may have struggled to attain elected leadership positions with our past systems in the eras long gone (hopefully never to return). The crop of aspirants continues to improve daily at several levels – even though it must be said, there is still great room for improvement – showing that the Nigerian democracy continues to solidify its existence and is potentially here to stay.

Each passing moment of our nation’s democracy continues to present with it an opportunity to create history, an opportunity for change, an opportunity to show Nigerians and the world at large that our nation has gradually begun to move past sentimental politics and is gradually approaching a crescendo of ‘result oriented’ politics; where tribe, gender, age and background matter least when weighed against competency. Several permutations and combinations have begun for the upcoming elections in February, 2015. However, permit me to focus today on an issue that could potentially define our nation’s history and showcase the commitment of our various parties to actualizing the cause of true democracy. Our women.

As preparations continue in earnest for the upcoming elections next year February, several contenders continue to emerge on various fronts. At this point it has become seemingly impossible to ignore the increase in female contenders particularly for governorship posts. This is yet another benefit of democracy-the freedom to dream – which must be applauded. The question however, beckons: which state would produce Nigeria’s first elected female governor? It has to be said that it is a bit disappointing, that after over fifty years of independence Nigeria is yet to produce its first female elected governor not to talk of president; this is despite the existence of democracy in the last fifteen

By Olakunle Olayinka

years. The achievement of this major milestone will go a long way in further enshrining and securing the foundations of our nation’s democracy; not necessarily because the nation desires female leaders but because we have competent candidates who continue to remain disadvantaged solely because of the gender factor – I speak as a man here - . Let us review the profiles of some of our likely history makers.

Senator Helen Esuene

Senator Helen Esuene is a sitting Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing AkwaIbom South and is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She has served in various ministerial capacities under different administrations as; Minister of State for Health (2005 – 2006), Minster of Environment (2006 – 2007), Minister of Environment and Housing (2007). She has made very clear her intentions to replace GodswillAkpabio as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom and hopes to bring change to the state.

Dr. Ngozi Olejeme Dr. Olejeme is a Nigerian philanthropist, entrepreneur, politician and administrator. Dr. Olejeme presently sits as the chairman of the board of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Subsidy Reinvestment Program (SURE P) and Trust Fund Pensions PLC. She is also a member of several other corporate boards.

Dr.Olejeme is strongly being touted as the successor to the sitting Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and has been backed by a great proportion of Delta indigenes at home and abroad.

She is vying for the post of Delta Governorship position on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and appears to be garnering supporters in droves daily. She appears a very strong candidate for the post by all indications and cannot be taken lightly by other contenders.

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Formerly known as a media doyen establishing herself as an erstwhile broadcaster with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has advanced her political career greatly in recent years. She is a sitting member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikorodu constituency in Lagos State and is presently serving her third term as a House Member. She was formerly the chairman of the committee on Media and Publicity and is presently the chairman of the Committee on Diaspora Affairs and has won several local as well as international awards for her effectiveness in this role. Described while being presented with the Diaspora Bridge builders Award in Washington recently, “as a virtuous, respected, trustworthy, courteous woman with strong values, demonstrated ability to achieve results and a woman worthy of emulation”. She is very well known for her commitment to justice and is also strongly being touted as a possible successor to Governor Fashola on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). All eyes are particularly on Lagos, to set the pace as it has always done. Though Hon Abike Dabiri Erewa has not formerly declared her intention to run she had told a group of young Nigerians, who had a social media interactive session with her.

“I don’t doubt my capacity and capability. Sometimes people say to me, you are very good but you are a woman. There are still challenges for women in politics in Nigeria but we must not be discouraged. Consultations are ongoing; ultimately it will be my party, APC’s decision.”

Senator Nkechi Nwaogwu

Senator Nwaogwu is a sitting Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Abia State in the upper assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). An ersthwhile professional, Senator Nwaogowu was an astute banker before venturing into the murky waters of Nigerian politics where she has excelled greatly. She has served as chairman of various committees making visible change and impacting society. She is presently chair-

man of the committee on banking. She is by no means a stranger to blazing the trail; having been the first woman to win a seat from Abia state both at the House and subsequently the senate. In her words “if my party would support me, I will run for the post of governorship.

It is my aspiration, my desire”. She hopes to succeed Governor Theodore Orji on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The profiles of the above contenders are by no exhaustive. There are possibly more female contenders vying for governorship positions but the four listed above appear to be at the forefront in the race to becoming Nigeria’s first elected female governor. Their credentials and experience are top notch, their political relevance and clout is reasonably strong.There is however only one challenge; they are from a disadvantaged gender in this part of planet earth.

It is however notable that despite the numerous parties in the country only two parties (PDP and APC) present possible hope to these seeming ‘outliers’ in the complex political equations of their various states. The great question thus beckons; who will create history by providing Nigeria with her first female elected governor?

Lagos, Abia, Delta, or Akwa- Ibom?

Both the PDP and the APC claim to be progressives, change originators, parties with foresight and dynamism with a goal of actualizing a better Nigeria. They both claim in their founding ethos to be parties which are liberal; with a vision to create a level playing field for all aspirants. Party primaries are just around the corner with the heat cooking in the kitchen of the various parties. Consultations, dealings, and all the usual politicking are in high gear. We can only hope that whether man, woman, old or young our political parties would present candidates with a credible pedigree with the capacity and wherewithal to implement positive change. Who will make history with Nigeria’s first elected female governor? APC or PDP? Only time will tell.

Olayinka is an IT consultant and Computer Science doctoral student.

Rivers 2015: I ‘m answering call to service

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ORMER member of the Rivers State House of Assembly Chief Hon. Ibinabo MichaelWest has joined the governorship race on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said he decided to answer the call to service, following pleas by his people.

Michael-West is from Buguma. He represented Asari-Toru Constituency II for eight years. He explained that he decided to obey the call to service to avoid the wrath of his people.

The aspirant, who described himself as a problem solver, promised to give a new lease of life to the state, if elected in next year’s election.

He said: “I have decided to declare my intention to contest the governorship election on the

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of the clarion call by well-meaning individuals and groups.

“If given the opportunity to govern Rivers State, I will take the state to a new height and shall bring pride to our party, the entire people of Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.

“What we have today is not the Rivers State of our dream or the dream of the founding fathers. We need bold ideas, clear dream and vision to refocus, redirect Rivers State, get it out of the wood and bring it to the path of growth and development.

“Today, Rivers State is like the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs, but is left to starve.

The natural consequence of this on the people is

the suffering and the gnashing of teeth in the midst of plenty, which I am prepared to change.

Michael-West promised to liberate the state from poverty of ideas and mobilise the stakeholders for the challenges of industrialisation. He also promised to unite the state.

He added: “I will embark on the urgent liberation of the people, if given the opportunity to govern the state. I will restore the lost glory and the beauty of this blessed state and our people will begin to legitimately enjoy their resource.

“The strangers will also be happy and proud to visit and dwell among us. Our people would no more be described as poor and beggars of their own resources. The people of our state will become happy and contribute their quota to development.”

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2014

45

POLITICS

My plan for Anaocha Constituency, by aspirant

Chief Benjamin Okoko is a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with reporters in Uyo, the state capital, he speaks about the politics of zoning and other partisan issues. KAZEEM IBRAHYM was there.

Princess Theodore Ekemezie is a House of Representatives aspirant in Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia Constituency, Anambra State. The Peoples Democractic Party (PDP) chieftain, in this interview with NWANOSIKE ONU, speaks on her ambition, zoning and preparations for primaries.

‘There is zoning in Akwa Ibom’

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HY are you contesting for the House of Representatives?

I want to represent the people of Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka Constituency in the House of Representatives because I want to serve. There are things I need to do for my people that have not been done.

There are changes I need to make and leave a good footprint that other persons after me will follow. In line with what myfather has done and what the family has done so far, I promise that I will do more. My people would never regret voting for me.?

That is why I am interested in the House of Representatives for now.

You are new in the politics of Anambra State. How do you intend to cope with the rigour?

Anambra State is my state. The constituency l intend to represent is my constituency. I am very popular here. I run an NGO for the less privileged. It is called the Child Empowerment Foundation from 2006 till date. I have 86 students under my scholarship. So I can’t say that I’m new. I’m not new. I’m more popular. Women and men know what I’m going to do and I will not disappoint anybody.

Why are you contesting on the platform of the PDP, despite its crisis?

We don’t have crisis in our party. The Peoples Democratic Party is the best and the largest party in Africa. The crisis you are talking about happened a long time ago when we were in Egypt. But now, we are not with Egyptians again. We have a qualified National Chairman from Bauchi State. The former governor of Bauchi State, Ahmed Adamu Muazu. With him, we don’t have crisis again. Immediately he became our national chairman, he refined our party. He rehabilitated our party. We now call him the bridge builder and he’s doing more. We have a qualified person as the President of Nigeria. We also have good personalities in our party. So, what party do you expect me to join? My family started with the PDP and we are still there till tomorrow.

What is your chance at the primaries?

In the PDP, we have a number of people coming out. I believe that my people are not cowards. They are intelligent people. You can’t impose anybody on them. You can’t force them to vote for anyone they don’t want to vote for.

Women are the people that vote, not men. Women are very wise and intelligent as well. So, they know who would work for them. A woman has been there before, Hon. Uche Ekwunife. For eight years, she did it perfectly, excellently, and wonderfully. She is from my constituency. They all know me too. With what I have been doing or with what I have done before under my NGO, by giving their children scholarships, they believe and they know I will do more, if they vote me in. So, by the Grace of God, being a servant of God, I believe I will get there, no matter the challenges. The Bible says that we would pass through the wilderness before we get to our breakthrough. So, that is my wilderness. I do not see it as a challenge. It must happen and someone will be there and I will be the person.

You are an evangelist. Why do you want to leave your religious work for politics, which people see as a dirty game?

We know that politics in Nigeria is a dirty game; we know that most politicians are not what they say they are, in terms of having the fear of God. Being an ordained evangelist, the General Overseer of NAIN Evangelical and Healing Ministry, God called me to come and save people. The first thing I would do is to obey. I obeyed the word of God and came out. I believe, if we have three or five servants of God in politics, we would make changes in politics. We are going to rehabilitate and reposition the political life of people. We would also change the mindset of people towards politics. So, that is why I • Mrs Ekemezie am going there.

‘Mushin needs federal presence’

By Leke Salaudeen

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HE chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla (Mushin 2), has promised to attract federal presence to his constituency, if elected as a federal legislator in next year’s election.

Ayinla made the promise in Mushin, Lagos West Senatorial District, when he unfolded his ambition to contest for the House of Representatives.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said: “Whoever wants to represent the people must be conversant with the needs of the people and also have the experience and ability to lobby the executive arm to get what the people deserve.

“If given the ticket and and elected into the House, I will not disappoint the people. I have done it at the state level. I’m still doing it and the people are pleased with me. I have written a letter to inform them of my intention to serve them at the National Assembly, but they insisted I should come and speak to them. That is why I am here today.”

Ayinla said that he is fit to represent Mushin in the Lower Chamber because he has legislative experience spanning 11 years.

He said he had attracted many projects to the constituency through lobbying and interest aggregation.

The Chairman of the APC in Mushin Local Government, Aremo Michael Kufisile, assured that the party would not impose any candidate on the people.

He said: “The party will create a level-playing ground for aspirants. The leaders of the party at the national level have directed that aspirants must go through primaries and we shall enforce the directive. We are assuring members and the • Ayinla public that the elections will be free and fair.”

• Okoko

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N 1999, 2003 and 2006 you contested for the governorship, but with out success. Why are you contesting again?

It is said that greatness is not in how many times you fall, but being able to rise each time you fall. 1999 is a story everybody knows. The 1999 election was supposed to be a coronation for me as everything was set. But, some leaders of the party approached me and prevailed on me to withdraw my candidature. I accepted it without any condition. In 2003, I ran and the party decided that the incumbent should have a second term. In 2006, we had about 60 aspirants. There was confusion, but the party decided it was Governor Godwill Akpabio that should have the ticket. He got the ticket and ran. In 2011, I didn’t run because I became wiser. I came to understand my party better, knowing that it is not easy to run against the incumbent seeking a second term. In 2015, Akpabio is finishing his second term. So, I feel I have to come out. With the experience I have the previous times, I really understand the politics better this time. I am quite optimistic. I will be successful this time and four is my lucky number.

What is your position on the zoning of the governorship?

I am not running because of zoning.

I am running on my credentials as Benjamin Okoko for the governorship election. Talking about zoning, I want to say that it started with me. I made the supreme sacrifice for zoning. In 1998, the elders came to me and said they wanted to do zoning. When they brought the issue of zoning, I had my own idea about it. I accepted and advanced my reason and thinking and how I felt zoning should be done. For me, zoning is the basis for expansion and accommodation within the party.

But, the leader at that time felt zoning should be done at the senatorial district. I allowed it. But, at the end, people were cleared to contest the primaries, but the leader said that I should allow Obong Victor Attah to run, that they wanted to start zoning from Uyo Senatorial District. I was a young man of 37. With that arrangement, we had Obong Attah from Uyo. He ruled for eight years. Governor Akpabio from Ikot Ekpene District is about to conclude his eight years. I am yet to see anybody from Ikot Ekpene coming to say he wants to run for the governorship. Even, when Uyo was finishing its turn in 2007, there were still some people in Uyo that came out to run, which was not right. In politics, you have the good the bad and ugly.

The point is that good must always strive to dominate so that it overwhelmes the bad, the ugly and create a better society that is governed by law and order and allow stability that brings progress and prosperity.

A situation where there is confusion, what does a statesman do? I want to be governor of Akwa Ibom State, governor of everybody. I have to show statesmanship. If there is confusion, I should try to create order and put things straight. If there is confusion, I should not add to the confusion. Two wrongs do not make a right. Uyo did governorship for eight years with Obong Attah, Ikot Ekpene has done with Chief Akpabio. It should go to Eket. But, anybody from Uyo, who wants to run is allowed to run. I will

defeat him. Even, if anybody from Ikot Ekpene wants to run, allow him to run.

I will defeat him. I am running on my own merit and pedigree. I don’t want any affirmative action to help me to be governor. But, I made the first sacrifice.

Zoning started with me in this state. It is not something I should talk about.

You have not heard me giving a position paper on zoning before.

But, zoning started with me. Some people are out to distort history to suit whatever reason. But, they will not be able because the charismatic people are still alive. The actors that were there in 1998/1999 are still around. We laid the foundation for the structure to prevail.

If you want peace and order in the society, which is the basis for development, then, we should try and ensure accommodation within the polity. That is my position and I reason like a statesman. But, that is not to say one is afraid of the contest. Anybody is free to run.

My aspiration is not because of Eket, even though the zoning is very right and correct. Anybody who wants to test his ability should come and he will be defeated.

In the spirit of statesmanship, if you are called to make another sacrifice, would you accept it?

That time, it was on the basis of zoning. That time, they said they wanted to start from Uyo; let me leave it. For me, power is service. What will the party tell me now? Already, the party has spoken. The party has zoned it to my senatorial district.

Now that you are coming out, what is your vision and blue print for the state?

Governor Victor Attah was resource control, Governor Godswill Akpabio uncommon transformation; Governor Benjamin Okoko will be uncommon sacrifice. That is my vision.

How are you going to achieve or go about this uncommon sacrifice?

It has to do with my own value of life. How do I see life? What do I want in life? For me, great societies are built on the sacrifice of the people, who determine that the cause of history must go this way. If water is flowing toward a specific direction, you can say, no let it flow this way and change its cause. I like to go into history as the poorest man that left the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge after my tenure. What does that mean? I will give my own to the service of the people. Government will never have enough resources to do everything it should do. One hundred per cent of resources of Akwa Ibom I will commit to the development and wellbeing of the people of Akwa Ibom State.

I hope that sacrifice of my stewardship will help the cause of our people and inspire others who will come after me to truly see that there is greatness in giving your own and greatness in poverty. There is greatness in contentment.

After my tenure, if I leave office with a

‘I made the supreme sacrifice for zoning. In 1998, the elders came to me and said they wanted to do zoning. When they brought the issue of zoning, I had my own idea about it. I accepted and advanced my reason and thinking and how I felt zoning should be done’

trouser I wear, I will be a happy man. I will be a true soldier and die at my post, provided the needs and welfare of the people of Akwa Ibom are met and that is why I have christened my aspiration “uncommon sacrifice”.

The governor may want to anoint a candidate. Will that not affect your chance?

The governor is not a traditional ruler; the governor is not a religious leader.

The governor is not even a judge that should not take side. The governor is a politician first and foremost. He is entitled to his own interest. As a politician, it is most unfair to expect a politician not to have interest. You come into politics with certain interest. For me, it is the legitimate right of every politician to take a position on any issue, whether to support this project, vote this way or any issue of legislation. Democracy envisages those things and defines how those things are resolved between the majority and the minority. It is the legitimate right of the governor or any politician to say that is his preference. The people will always have their say. The governor that takes that positon knows that it is his own position, that majority of the people will always have their way in democracy. If you look at the people, who want to succeed the governor now, anyone of them at one point or the other had sought for the support of the governor, either they were working together with the governor. And they did that conscious of the fact that the governor has the right to support anybody he wants. His vote is a strong vote because of the advantages of his position. But, it is God that enthrones. And God is a very jealous God. Whatever position anybody takes, at the end, God will enthrone.

Some people have alleged that the insecurity in the country is due to the activities of politicians. What do you have to say?

We always have this issue of insecurity, even during the period of the military. There were cases of uprising here and there. Leadership is supposed to ensure and guarantee the safety of the citizenry. In a democracy that is made by politicians and run by politicians, the buck stops on their tables. They should take the responsibility. If the polity is doing well, the administration gets accolade for it. If there are problems, they get a knock for it. But, I don’t think the political class will deliberately or has deliberately gone out to create a situation that will bring the country to the insurgency and the insecurity that we have today. It could be through the omission by the leadership or commission by leadership. But,I don’t think it is premeditated because they know that people will died and you don’t know those who will die. It could be anybody, a close friend or relation. It is just unfortunate the situation we have found ourselves.

The political leadership is doing everything possible about it. I have the hope that, at the end, Nigeria will overcome it.

What advice do you have for the people of Akwa Ibom as they prepare for elections?

They should support Benjamine Okoko to be the next governor of Akwa Ibom State so that, together, we will build a state that will meet the needs and aspirations of future generation. I will unite the state, reconcile all groups, stop the political pressure, tension, insecurity, restore peace to the state, reach out to everybody. I will not leave anybody behind because Akwa Ibom needs us now more than ever before. The issue of unemployment, the creation of wealth in the polity, the industrialisation will be addressed through the provision of constant power supply during my regime.

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2014

46

TAN deceitful, says Opadokun

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HE Co-ordinator of the Coalition for Democrats for Electoral Re forms (CODER), Mr. Ayo Opadokun, has flayed the Peoples Demo cratic Party (PDP) for kicking off its campaigns in disguise.

He alleged that the pro-Jonathan group, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) have been twisting facts and figures in a bid to launder the image of the non-performing President.

Lamenting that the country has regressed into the Abacha era, he said the pre-campaign drama and the gale of endorsements undercores the reality of mediocrity in the polity.

Opadokun, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, said the campaign group has been peddling falsehold and misinformation on the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “TAN is the incarnate of pro-Abacha groups. The group lies unreasonably without an atom of shame. They lie about the road constructuion.

The achievements they talk about in education is deceptive and this has consequences. Graduates cannot write suitable applications for employment.

“Despite the state of emergency in the Northeast, Boko Haram abducted 419 girls in Chibok. What were the security agents doing? This government is on the way to self-destruction. Thay are rehabilitating the railways, using the old method.”

Opadokun said the Federal Government has turned Nigeria into a country of imports. he also chided the President for claiming to have reduced poverty by 50 percent at a time the country is in misery.

He added: “We are always importing fuel for domestic consumption, despite being the sixth largest producer of oil. There is the false claim by the President that he has reduced poverty by 50 percent. Why is that data different from the one given by the MAN and other agencies and experts. In the Human Development Index, Nigeria is in the low category. We export two million barrels of crude oil daily. Where is the evidence on the standard of living? The presidential statement is extremely unguarded. There are too many governments without governance.”

Opadokun also reflected on the agony of commuters on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, wondering why contractors have failed to provide another alternative road for them. He said the contractors have held commuters to ransom under the guise of construction.

The pro-democracy activist also chided the Federal Government over the controversial arm deal, which he said has exposed the country to ridicule in the comity of nations.

He said: “It is a global embarrassment, which has reduced the worth of Nigeria as a country that has a disdain for transparency. Why cash payment?

It has been alleged that the cleric’s private jet carried the money for the arms deal. If you want to buy ammmunitions, why no follow the due procees?

This has shown that the President has no willingness and capacity to fight corruption. After the immigration scandal, what is the Minister of Interior still doing in government? What is the Minister of Petroleum still doing in government? Nigeria must rise up. Life cannot continue this way.”

Opadokun urged Nigerian to vote wisely in next year’s election to maintain a clean break from the past.

He added: “Nigeria must vote wisely. Those voted into power must do the wish of the people. The opposition must reorganise its fold and produce a bleue print that can be implemented as a credible alternative platform. The people should use their votes to decide the tone of governance. Those who have not performed should be shown the way out. But, they should also be prepared to resist rigging. Our people must shine their eyes.

•Opadokun

Abaribe lauds zoning to Abia South From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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BIA State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has lauded the party for for zoning the slot to Abia South Senatorial District.

He described Governor Theodore Orji as a man of his words, saying that he is committed to equity, justice and harmony.

The politician said the rotational principle will foster peace and unity in the party.

The senator, who spoke with reporters in Ohuru, Obingwa Local Government Area, said power shift to Ukwa Ngwa will give the area a sense of belonging because the ethnic group has not enjoyed the slot since 1999. He said it is evident that the governor is leaving behind a good legacy.

Abaribe added: “The zoning of the governorship to the South is the greatest legacy project of the administration. The governor has been building legacy projects in the state, but the biggest and best legacy he will be leaving for the people is the legacy of the mind, which is the zoning the governorship to Ukwa/Ngwa. It is the biggest and the best legacy, which will bond the people of the state together.”

The aspirant said that, if given the opportunity to serve, his administration would reflect character,competence and integrity.

He said: “I will be willing and ready to deliver the intangible things for the state and its people. With all I have done and passed through and the exposure I will bring to the table, I will do a good job. My experiece as a former deputy governor and senator will be of immense assistance to me.”

Abaribe said that he is being guided by the admonition of his former principal and the father of the Labour Minister, Emeka Wogu, that integrity is a great assest.

He promised to unite the party and use its structure to campaign during the general election, instead of setting up an independent structure.

Abaribe said he would intensify his consultations with stakeholders across the three zones to erase the insinuation that the candidate is a product of a zone.

He said he enjoyed a cordial relations with the governor, adding that he has been given him pieces of advice on good governance.

Fafaa Dan-Princewill is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Rivers State. In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he speaks on the politics of zoning, the chances of the party at the polls and other national issues.

‘Jonathan does not need Wike, Amaechi to win’

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HY do you want to become the governor of Rivers State?

I’ve been aspiring to govern the state for some time now. Way back, during the Babangida Administration, I contested under the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).

My reasons for contesting are still the same; not much has changed. I want good governance; we need stability in the state and the kind of leadership that will contribute its quota to national development. We have gone through the amnesty programme; there is now an urgent need for stable and mature government. I believe I have the quality, but I am still going through some consultations. I have not formally announced that I am running, but I am sure it is an open secret.

Could you shed light on the controversy triggered by zoning?

There is really nothing controversial about the sharing of power arrangement in Rivers State. Anyone who is familiar with the Rivers State terrain understands the dichotomy between the riverine and upland areas. We met it, we did not create it. In every political arrangement, where you want even development and want to share the privileges and advantages of political power, there must be a balance. The Rivers people arrived at what I will call a simple formula. The state is classified into two parts; the riverine and the upland areas. The arguments are becoming clearer at every election. There will always be some people who will be in the mainstream and others who will be aggrieved. But, by and large, our people have displayed some level of maturity and understanding when it comes to the dynamics of power sharing. I will give an example. In 1999, the only reason why I did not contest for the governorship was because I am from the riverine area. It was not zoned to us. The riverine people had wanted to take a shot at the contest, but since it was not zoned to their area, they could not.

Though the reality conflicted with their interest, they had to accept the situation in good faith. They decided that they will take the chairmanship of the party and allowed an upland person to become governor. That was what happened. In line with this arrangement, Chief Marshal Harry became the chairman of the party and Chief Peter Odili became the governor. They were both from the same Senatorial District. So, clearly in Rivers State, zoning is not by Senatorial District; it is rotated between the upland and riverine areas. That is why you could have the chairman of the party and the governor from the same area. It has always been so and I think that is fair. No one from the riverine area contested the primaries. Ben Giderim, an Ogoni, is from the upland area. Chief Sargeant Awuse, an Ekwerre, is also from the upland. The same goes for Odili who became the governor. No riverine person contested against them.

If the PDP ticket is given to someone from the upland area, what will be the implication for the election?

Well, I would not predict what the electorates will do. I’ve listened to a lot of arguments, which I think translates to blackmail. I will advise all aspirants, whether upland or riverine, not to blackmail the President or the leadership of our party. If aspirants from the riverine insist on taking a shot to govern

• Dan-Princewill

the state, I think all the Rivers people will support the idea as a just and fair thing to do. If we go against zoning, it is possible that there will be a backlash. But, as a leader of the PDP, I will not want a backlash. I want the President to win, the party wants the President to win, and even those who are blackmailing the party want the President to win.

Nyesom Wike is one of the most formidable aspirants. Can you beat him at the primaries?

This is not a boxing contest, where you boast that you will defeat your opponent within specific rounds. But, you are correct, Hon. Wike, Minister of State, Education, is a formidable politician. He is a PDP stalwart in the state. No one can say that he is not strong in the state. I read with amusement when he said he even mentioned them by their name - that he will defeat some people in their wards. I thought it was funny. I noticed that he avoided mentioning some names. I think it is fair that as much as he seems so formidable, he has only contested election in one local government out of the 23 local governments. I have contested state wide. There are other people in the party that are contesting now who have also contested state wide. As somebody who has been in politics in Rivers State for decades, long before he joined politics, I think it would be unfair for us to be saying who will command more support or than the other. We will all join hands and work together. I think that is the way to go.

Since Governor Rotimi Amaechi left the PDP, it has been polarised.

What are the chances of the party at the election?

Again, I think it is very unfortunate that Governor Amaechi left the party and it was a serious mistake.

Rivers State is a PDP state. The rea-

‘I think it is unfortunate that Amaechi defected. Nevertheless, that will not affect the fortunes of the PDP in Rivers State. Firstly, the biggest political asset is President Jonathan. It is not Wike, Amaechi or every other person. Any experienced politician knows that Rivers State is the political base of President Jonathan. He grew up there, taught there and lived there’

sons for which he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not shared by the populace in Rivers State. Again, I was very unhappy when I read that Hon. Wike said he was fasting that Amaechi should make the mistake of defecting. And his fasting succeeded. But, funny enough, immediately after Amaechi defected, Wike took the initiative of re-building the party. I think it is unfortunate that Amaechi defected. Nevertheless, that will not affect the fortunes of the PDP in Rivers State. Firstly, the biggest political asset is President Jonathan. It is not Wike, Amaechi or every other person. Any experienced politician knows that Rivers State is the political base of President Jonathan.

He grew up there, taught there and lived there. The people know that he is a Rivers man. He also married to a Rivers State indigene; a formidable lady herself and politically very strong. Whatever you might say about the First lady, she has a powerful political presence in the state. So, don’t think it is Amaechi, Wike or any one of us that will make the President win or fail in the state.

He is a good asset in the state and that is his base. When he was sworn in as President, and he went home, it was Port Harcourt that he went.

He did not even go to Bayelsa State.

Anyone who is basing the Rivers State electoral calculus on Amaechi, Wike or others is making a fundamental mistake. The President will do extremely well in Rivers State.

How can we avert violence in Rivers during elections?

That is a reason for concern. I think we can all join hands in appealing to all the contestants, all the aspirants to avoid any act, either by commission or omission that will lead to violence. I think that is already being done. Most Rivers people have agreed that we should put violence behind us. The President has said it over and over that a single life should not be lost because of his ambition. I think that message is clear in Rivers State. I hope that there will be no violence. Even Governor Amaechi, a Rivers man and our brother, is equally concerned.

The governor claims that the President has not done anything for Rivers in the last seven years...

I am not in the shoes of the governor. I don’t know exactly what the issues are. He said that the President has done nothing, but frankly I don’t think that is a fair assessment.

Amaechi’s position is not shared by the electorate. The mere fact that we have a President who is a Rivers man is rewarding. He is a Port Harcourt boy; this on its own adds value to the state. There are many direct and intangible benefits that come from this. There are many projects; there are many developmental projects.

Rivers State is the home to the oil sector. Any development of Nigeria without Rivers State will make no sense. Fairly, I think that is an exaggeration. Governor Amaechi obviously is angry and not in good terms with the President. He would say whatever he wants to say.

What is your advice for the political class?

What Nigeria needs is for everyone, including the politicians, to join hands to make our country greater.

Our country is at war, whether we like it or not. We are a nation at war right now. The crisis that Boko Haram has plunged the country into is something that calls for concern.

My advice for every politician, especially in Rivers State, is to look beyond the election. We must understand that this country is for all of us. If things turn out well, it will be for the benefit of all of us. People holding position of authorities should act in a responsible manner.

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SHOWBIZ

Star The Winner Is: Winner gets prize amidst fanfare

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•GUS contestants in Aguleri jungle

Gulder Ultimate Search: Contestants recount arduous life in jungle

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CONTESTANT in the ongoing Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) reality show, Chinedu Ubachukwu, has advised friends and family members to think deeply before applying for GUS in the future.

According to the University of Port Harcourt graduate, would-be contestants must brace up for tough times, as staying in the jungle could be very harsh and unpleasant.

Ubachukwu, who is a member of the Orange team in the 11 th season of the show, stressed that he would discourage loved ones from competing on the show.

He said: “To be sincere, if I should leave here, I won’t advise a loved one to come here. But the loved one may think I don’t want him to progress in life. Because he or she may think that I’ve come and I’ve made it and I don’t want him or her to make it. But here in the jungle, it is really tough.”

Ironically, the graduate of Petroleum and Gas Engineering had dreamt of being in the jungle for the show, ever since he was young. It would be recalled that prior to entering the Aguleri forest, he said, “Gulder Ultimate Search is the first reality show I grew up watching and I have always admired the participants and I have always imagined myself in the jungle. I’m so happy and feel so fortunate to have made the last 14 this year.”

Otto Canon is another contestant who only got on the show after four unsuccessful attempts. He too, admits that competing on the programme is very tough. “There’s so much difference between watching Gulder Ultimate Search on TV and experiencing it in reality. When you watch the show on TV, you really can’t tell what the feelings are like.”

On his experience this far, Canon said: “I’ve come to appreciate food so much that the least piece of rice or gari means so much to me right

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi now. At home, I don’t eat left over gari, but right now, I don’t care. At home, I’m very conscious of the water I drink. I will rinse the tumbler which I want to use to drink water, because I am particular about the tumbler being clean. Right now, I am very comfortable drinking water from the stream. The jungle is a place that humbles you and kills your pride.”

Sharon Robinson, who finally got in after failing twice challenged anyone who thinks that GUS is easy to fill in the form and try next year.

Evidently, life in the jungle has been a stark contrast to the luxuries of city life which the contestants are used to. The 14 contestants have had to depend on rain and stream water to quench their thirst, even after competing in grueling games.

Their sleep has been cut short when it rains, because the palm fronds which serve as the roof of their huts sometimes fails to provide them the needed cover.

The contestants have had to depend on palm kernels and ‘baby’ sugarcane which sprout from the grounds not too far from their jungle abode.

Dr. Ikenna Emedike, one of the contestants, incurred the wrath of the Council of Elders and was almost evicted for taking cassava without authorisation. His action was considered as stealing.

He gave the excuse of hunger and the desperate need to survive in the jungle.

“When I was walking to the stream, I saw a heavily weeded farm looking like it had been abandoned for years. So I looked at it carefully and when I saw there was a cassava sprout, I felt it was abandoned. If it had been properly weeded, I wouldn’t have touched it.

However, I admit stealing it, because it wasn’t my farm.

It was just about survival,” he said.

Notwithstanding, the show anchor man, Chidi

Mokeme, described his act as shameful. Ikenna, alongside Otto Canon, his partner in the Indigo team, however appealed for forgiveness from the rest of the clan. Even though they were forgiven, the team lost three points.

For the first time on the show, contestants were paired into groups of two members each. They were asked to pick up circular objects from a calabash and the two that picked the same colour formed a clan. There were seven colours in all – representing the colours of the rainbow. They were also instructed to wear colourmatching bandanas provided for them at all times.

While the Indigo Team is made up of Otto Canon and Ikenna Emedike, the Blue team has Addoh Evi and Iroh Noella. Blessing Eriata and Loretta Erijakpor formed the Green team; Sandra Nwagbagiro and Chinedu Ubachukwu made up the Orange team; Samantha Appi and Sharon Robinson are the Red team; Emmanuel Afolabi and Joshua Nwagboso are the Yellow team, while Iwuoha Ikenna and Cosy Joe formed the purple team.

The teams would garner points from various tasks, with the winning team getting seven points while the losing team would be awarded one point.

After four games, Team Blue currently leads with an overall score of 22 points, followed by Indigo which has 19 points. Teams Purple, Orange and Yellow currently occupy the third, fourth and fifth positions with 17, 15 and 11 points respectively. The Red team is in sixth position with 10 points while the Green team is the lowest ranked with six points.

The show airs daily on African Magic World (DSTV), Real -Stars (Star Times), Minaj TV Obosi (Terrestrial), Ebony Life TV (DSTV), Galaxy TV (Lagos, Ibadan and Ondo), Hip TV (DSTV & GoTV), Nigezie (Star Times) and WapTV (Star Times) from 10pm to 11pm, and on the AIT Network (Terrestrial) from 10:30pm to 11:30pm.

ICHEAL Achu, winner of the justconcluded Star The Winner Is, was the cynosure of all eyes last Friday, as he was presented with his prize of N10million and a brand new 2014 Volkswagen CC. Not just that, Achu’s package also came with a recording deal with Universal Records, as announced

by Nigerian Breweries Plc., organisers of the music game show.

Apparently overwhelmed, he screamed several times, shedding tears of joy, as friends and relatives gathered to share the glorious moment with him.

The well-attended event which held at the Nigerian Breweries Bar, Iganmu, Lagos, was also attended by fans of the show and officials of sponsoring company. Notable celebrities at the event include show host Uti Nwachukwu, former Mr. Nigeria Bryan Okwara, Yaw, Dotun, Temi and Mannie of cool FM, Chris Ihidero Destiny Amaka and OluwaseunP amongst others.

Interestingly, another lucky winner emerged at the victory party, when Uti Nwachukwu hosted a mini Star The Winner Is, by conducting a duel round be-

I

By Medeme Ovwe tween two guests; Kenny Blaize and Belinda, with the latter coming tops and smiling home with a prize of N50, 000.

Although the maiden season of Star The Winner Is has come and gone, viewers have not stopped talking about the twist that gave Achu the enviable diadem.

Achu and co-finalist, Job Idoko were offered N2 million to walk away or wait to see the 101 Jury results

which would reveal who actually won the duel round.

Apparently, Job fell more to the pressure and walked away with the money – this automatically qualified Achu as winner of Star The Winner Is Season 1.

However, when the real result was revealed, it turned out that Job had higher votes, but it was late, as he had forfeited his spot to Achu.

That way, Achu became the crowned winner of the first season of Star The Winner Is.

•Micheal in Brand New Car

Celebrities gather for Network Conference 2014

T was a gathering of leading lights in the showbiz industry last Tuesday, at the Royal Events Center, Ikeja, Lagos, where career experiences and knowledge took the center stage.

Tagged ‘Network Conference 2014’, the event, the first in the series, was put together by James ‘Abinibi’ Alabi, Founder of Abinibi Multimedia.

Speakers at the event include multiple award-winning singer, Sound Sultan; foremost comedian Ali Baba and colleague, Julius Agwu; Founder/CEO BHM Group Ayeni Adekunle Samuel; ace photographer Don Barber; Nollywood filmmaker

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi Kunle Afolayan and Executive Director, 141 Worldwide, Sulaiman Momoh.

The motivational and inspiring sessions charged attendees on the need to strive to be professionals and get better at whatever they do.

According to the convener of the conference, the network which attracted creative practitioners from graphics, animation, advertising, makeup, fashion, web design, photography and printing spheres, “ also serves as a platform for them to exhibit, discuss their portfolios and network freely unhindered by socioeco-

nomic barriers.”

According to Abinibi, “those that missed out on the event can follow it up on Twitter with the hashtag #theNetworkNigeria, and join in the conversation.”

•Kunle Afolayan

I’ve not quit music, says MI

By Mercy Michael

•MI

F

OR some time now, Loopy Records honcho, Jude Abaga, aka MI, has been absent from the music scene, fuelling rumours that he was done with music.

However, in a recent in-

terview, the award-winning rapper revealed the reason for his absence and why he hadn’t released an album for a long time.

According to him, certain changes that occurred within his label were responsible for the break.

“Chairman is a song I released last year. The following day after its release, a couple of changes started happening in the label. First was my brother, Jesse Jagz, who wanted to leave, but I didn’t know about it. We discussed it and I understood where he was going with that. But it just sort of changed the dynamic of the label. Usually, when you are producing music and relying on people, you might need some time to reassess and come back, when that

changes. So, I was supposed to put out my album last year, but it was a good opportunity for me to reassess,” he said.

He further explained that after putting out Chairman, different opportunities came up, which kept him busy throughout last year. “I was travelling all over the place and didn’t have time to record. But this year, we made a conscious decision with my management that I am not going to do anything until this album is done.

“I released this ambiguous statement that I’m done.

I’m sorry. I just wanted to get their attention. You see, the election season is around the corner and I wanted to put out these images that will tell young people before they start advertising to you to vote rightly,” he added.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

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FOR THE RECORD

Let’s rededicate ourselves to the service of Nigeria Independence Day address by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), on October 1, 2014, at the National Day Parade, Police College Ground, Ikeja, Lagos.

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EAR Lagosians, today, October 1, 2014, we are once again celebrating the anniversary of our independence from British colonial rule.

Today marks 54 years since Nigeria became an independent sovereign nation, following the germination of a seed that had been sown seven years earlier, when in 1953, Anthony Eromosele Enahoro introduced a private member’s bill demanding self-government.

For emphasis and clarity, let me repeat that by records and history Nigeria is 54 years old irrespective of what the centenary revisionists say.

We have never celebrated amalgamation day. We have only celebrated Independence day.

When our first Prime Minister mounted the podium on the October 1, 1960 he spoke to an independent and a newly born nation. That happened 54 years ago, not 100 years ago.

We can only imagine the exultant joy felt by our Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa when he said in his Independence Day Speech:“This is a wonderful day, and it is all the more wonderful because we have awaited it with increasing impatience, compelled to watch one country after another overtaking us … when we had so nearly reached our goal.”

Indeed he mirrored the views of millions of Nigerians and echoed their thoughts.

When the British “Union Jack” flag was lowered for the last time and the green-white-green Nigerian flag was hoisted in its stead, the crowd went wild with jubilation, filled with high expectations of a greater tomorrow.

Independence Day soon became easily the most significant day in our national life, accorded a pride of place that was difficult to surpass.

Independence day became synonymous with the Governor or President in open-top cars inspecting Guards of Honour; beautiful parades; exciting fireworks and National Day Award ceremonies.

As a school boy, I remember struggling hard to get selected to march for my school in the National Day Parade, the endless rehearsals, and the keen anticipation of waiting to see if I would be picked.

There was no prize given and none was expected. It was enough that your school had participated.

Bursting with pride, we would milk our success for weeks and months afterwards, wearing our school uniform with pride, basking in the recognition as we went to and from school in public transportation and displaying a sense of superiority over other less fortunate schools.

October 1 also became the day on which political batons changed, and elected officials handed over to their successors. A day for inspiring speeches and sober reflection on our growth as a nation.

Such was the depth of our civic pride.

Today, sadly, the excitement has waned. October 1appears to have now become a hollow ritual. The flame of national pride seems to flicker.

October 1 has regrettably become no more than just another work and school-free day.

This is not how it should be.

I know that our teeming youths and children, who now form a sizeable proportion of our population, expect more from Nigeria on a day like this. And so it is to you that I dedicate my remarks on this 54th Independence Day. What is the importance of a day like this? What does it mean to you?

What should it mean to you?

All over the world, Independence Day anniversaries are celebrated with great fanfare, splendour, respect for the nation and a deep sense of patriotism.

In some countries, festivities leading up to Independence Day start up to three weeks earlier. Some hold Independence Day beauty pageants; some re-enact their independence, others play the National Anthem on the dot of midnight on all radio and TV stations. All put country before self, at least for that day.

We should not be any different.

As I said on Independence Day in 2007; my first Independence Day address as governor: “Irrespective of our varied political temperaments, the occasion of our nation’s independence should serve as a rallying point for renewing faith in her capacity for greatness and a platform for the rededication of those of us privileged to exercise authority to the most important responsibility of the sacred mandate bestowed on us – SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE.” These are the values that inspired and motivated our founding fathers.

In his historic Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa also said: “Words cannot adequately express my joy and pride at being the Nigerian citizen privileged to accept from Her Royal Highness, these Constitutional Instruments which are the symbols of Nigeria’s independence. It is a unique privilege, which I shall remember forever, and it gives me strength and courage as I dedicate my life to the service of our country.”

Service to our country. Noble words indeed and the words upon which the foundation of our nation was built.

It seems to me that there is no better time to rekindle the flame of Nigeria’s promise than now.

We should reflect on Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa’s words and rededicate ourselves to the service of Nigeria.

We ought to see October 1 as a day to rekindle our national pride.

Being young Nigerians, you may well ask, how do I serve my country?

Let me answer by telling you about the Spirit of Lagos.

The Spirit of Lagos embodies all the values that should make us good citizens of this wonderful country called Nigeria.

The Spirit of Lagos is the embodiment of all things good about Lagos and Nigeria, and the lifeline that connects our glorious past with the bright future we all desire.

Having the Spirit of Lagos means having the understanding that we all have a part to play in the wellbeing of our country, by doing the right thing in every and any little way we can.

For example: by disposing of waste properly and observing basic rules of sanitation and hygiene, by obeying traffic rules and using pedestrian bridges, by offering a helping hand to the elderly, the young and the less able, by being honest and acting with integrity, by being safety-and-security-conscious, by protecting public property because it is your own property, by being

‘Words cannot adequately express my joy and pride at being the Nigerian citizen privileged to accept from Her Royal Highness, these Constitutional Instruments which are the symbols of Nigeria’s independence. It is a unique privilege, which I shall remember forever, and it gives me strength and courage as I dedicate my life to the service of our country’ courageous and law-abiding, and setting good examples and by being considerate and looking out for one another - one for all and all for one.

That is the spirit of Lagos.

These were some of the values that coursed through our veins in Lagos and by extension, Nigeria, in what we commonly refer to as “the good old days”.

Nigeria of those “good old days” has not changed. It is us who have changed, and it is us who must again change.

Some of the changes that we need has already started happening. And this is why one of the things I would like to do today is to publicly acknowledge the heroic efforts of our health workers in the management of the Ebola epidemic.

Because of their service and heroism, we were able to declare Lagos State Ebola-free on September 18, 2014.

I have heard some stories emanating from campaign podiums with claims of conquering Ebola.

The question we must ask is whether those who make these claims saw Ebola?

It is women like Stella Ameyo Adedavoh to whom such a claim rightly belongs.

It is young Nigerians like Dr. Morris Ibeawuchi, who first made contact with the index case patient and continued to treat him who saw and conquered Ebola.

He got infected, from doing his job, got sick, survived and is back to his job.

It is first responders from the Lagos State Ministry of Health like Dr. Jide Idris, Dr. Yewande Adesina, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Dr. Kayode Oguntimehin who saw Ebola.

They responded to the call from First Consultant Hospital. They spent 12 hours daily in the early days supervising the construction of Ebola containment facility when the epidemic broke.

The Lagos State Infectious Disease Hospital which later became the epicentre of Ebola management used to house tuberculosis patients and patients with infectious dis-

‘

This is a wonderful day, and it is all the more wonderful because we have awaited it with increasing impatience, compelled to watch one country after another overtaking us … when we had so nearly reached our goal.”

’

eases.

Those patients vented their anger on these people when they had to be moved to create room for the Ebola centre. I know they spat at Dr. Adesina for doing her job.

Dr. Abdul-Salam Nasidi of the National Disease Control Centre in Abuja saw and conquered Ebola. He helped in no small way to co-ordinate the containment.

Dr. David Brett-Mayor of the World Health Organisation saw and conquered Ebola. He singlehandedly started the Ebola isolation ward having cleared and cleaned the room. He admitted and cared for the patients before any Nigerian doctor joined him.

Professor S. A. Omilabu, the dedicated virologist at LUTH, saw Ebola and conquered it. He coordinated the fault-free testing for Ebola and managed all the samples professionally.

Peter Adewuyi saw Ebola and conquered it. He led the contact tracing team of many dedicated officers for the first two weeks.

Mrs. Funmi Lagbokun, Mrs. Modupe Aiyedun Davies, Mrs. Basirat Adeoye, Ms F. O. Bamgboye, Mrs. K. O. Oshisanya, Mrs. Kazeem Abioye, Mrs. Abiola Lasaki and Mrs. K. Adeshina all saw and conquered Ebola.

They were the dedicated team of nurses, nursing aid, care giver, health assistant and hygienist who commenced work voluntarily in the Ebola containment ward without any demand other than the sense of duty.

Yemi Gbadegesin and Abdulsalam saw and conquered Ebola.

They coordinated the de-contamination, removal and burial of the index case and other cases, and it is because of them that First Consultant can reopen for business.

Dear Lagosians, these were the people who saw and defeated Ebola.

Let no person tell you otherwise.

These men and women, who showed courage, who risked their lives are our true champions and heroes.

They showed the spirit of service, the spirit of Lagos and the spirit of our “good old days”.

Nobody should take this credit away from them.

They are not celebrating because they know that the work is not finished. They are already working with our people and planning to volunteer to go and give help in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Their reward for hard work will be more work and they tell me that they are ready.

You and I also know that Dr. Adaora Igonoh, Dr. Akinniyi Fadipe, Mr. Dennis Echelonu and Mrs. Kelechi Enemuo also saw Ebola and conquered it.

They are the survivors whose stories you have read about. Whose anxiety we saw live, when they agreed to visit me in the office at the risk of stigmatisation.

At great personal discomfort, they stepped out and forward, to help you and I find our feet. To reassure us that all was well.

They saw and conquered Ebola.

Businesses such as First Consultant Hospital, and hotels that have suffered cancellations and yet have not laid off their staff are the heroes of our Ebola experience, and we all must rally round them in the spirit of Lagos to help them get back on their feet.

Words will never be enough but bringing back those values they represent, will. This is the spirit that used to course through our veins; the spirit that made us the great nation that we are. And we can bring that spirit back. By changing our

•Fashola

thinking.

How can you serve your country? I say, take the spirit of Lagos everywhere you go. From Badagry to Bayelsa; from Somolu to Sokoto; from Epe to Ebonyi; Alimosho to Adamawa; from Lekki to Lafia; From Ikeja to Ijebu-Ode, all of us, Nigerians all should serve our country by changing our thinking and striving to give our best for collective benefit.

By making a conscious determination to changing the way we act.

We can serve our country by doing something good and positive in our homes, in our schools and in our communities.

It doesn’t matter how little it is.

Together it makes a whole. We can serve our country by pledging in our hearts to restore, share and protect our communities, our states and our nation.

In the weeks and months ahead, we will begin to celebrate ordinary Nigerians doing extraordinary things. And on a dedicated day in the near future we will come together to celebrate and honour our heroes, and hold them up as shining examples. Heroes recognised and chosen by you and I for the things they are doing for the benefit of others and the society at large without expectation of reward.

Let the arm bands you are wearing be a constant reminder to change your thinking. We will distribute wrist bands all over Lagos and beyond. Wear them with pride but more importantly, let them remind you to act with integrity.

As I have said before, I know that the temptation to focus on our failures and lament our national deficiencies is great. I know that the temptation to compare our achievements with our potential and conclude that we could have done much better is perhaps inevitable. But I say to you the Nigerian youth, choose to take on a more positive attitude.

It is a choice and that choice is yours.

Let us see the cup as half full rather than half empty. Let us thank God even for the mistakes of the past, from which we can learn invaluable lessons to face the future with hope. Let us count our blessings, address our weaknesses and harness our strengths, so that we can courageously turn yesterday’s shortcomings into tomorrow’s successes.

Let us change our thinking.

Fellow Nigerians, next October 1, I will not have this opportunity to address you. The lot will fall on my successor. So while I have this opportunity, let us thank God for endowing us with undying faith in our innate capacity to fulfil our divine destiny as a people.

Let us patriotically reaffirm in our hearts that Christian or Muslim, we are one nation under God; that North or South, we are one indivisible nation; that PDP or APC we are all Nigerians and that what binds us together far outweighs what little divides us.

We will yet attain those great lofty heights we sing so gustily about in the second stanza of our National Anthem. And it will happen in my lifetime. So help us God.

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2014

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FOREIGN NEWS

Voting begins in tense Bosnia election

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OTING has begun in Bosnia in an election dominated by nationalist rhetoric and a stagnant economy.

It comes nearly 20 years after the end of the devastating Bosnian war in which more than 100,000 people were killed.

Tensions between Bosnia’s main ethnic groups - Muslims (Bosniaks), Serbs and Croats - remain high, and some groups have called for secession.

The country is one of the poorest in Europe, with joblessness at 44% and youth unemployment even higher.

Polls will close on Sunday afternoon and the first results are expected later on Sunday evening.

It is the seventh election since the US-brokered Dayton peace agreement ended the 1992-1995 war between the main ethnic groups.

In February, mass violent protests broke out in Bosnia, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with political elites and the high levels of corruption in the country.

Analysts say protests could return if the new government does not tackle corruption and the spluttering economy.

Bosnia is split into two “entities”, the Serb Republic (Republika Srpska) and the Muslim-Croat Federation, which are both under international supervision.

The elections are for the regional parliaments of each entity, as well as for the state of Bosnia as a whole.

Voters will also choose the three members of Bosnia’s joint presidency, which will be made up of a Croat, a Muslim and a Serb.

There was a big clean-up after government buildings were attacked in February Correspondents say the election campaign has been fought along nationalist lines, with each ethnic group calling for a different vision for the country.

Bosnian Serbs have called for the dissolution of the state, the Croats have pushed for secession within Bosnia, and the Bosniak Muslims for unity between the groups.

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik said that his policy would be for the Serb Republic to be “less and less an entity and more a state”.

Muslim leader Bakir Izetbegovic criticised both Croat and Serbian leaders for pursuing the politics of “referendums and divisions”.

The country is seeking membership of the European Union, but has been hampered by its failure to meet EU targets for reform.

The EU said on Friday said that a new government would be expected to “bring much needed reconciliation in society and politics... and close the gap with the rest of the region and ensure progress towards the EU”.

A

•One of the embattled neigbhourhoods in Gaza

Rebuilding Gaza: Donors pledge T millions at Cairo summit HE war in Gaza destroyed an estimated 18,000 homes and more than 100 schools International donors are pledging hundreds of millions of dollars to help rebuild Gaza at a conference in Cairo.

The US has committed $212m (£132m) in aid while Qatar has promised $1bn (£622m). The UK will give $32m (£20m).

The Palestinian Authority is appealing for a total $4bn (£2.5bn) to rebuild Gaza after the 50-day conflict between Israel and Hamas.

At least 100,000 Gazans lost their homes in the war and much of the territory’s infrastructure was damaged.

Earlier the Palestinian and Egyptian presidents called on Israel to commit to a long-term peace initiative.

Mahmoud Abbas and Abdul Fattah al-Sisi urged Israel to give up land seized in the 1967 Middle East war and accept a fair solution for Palestinian refugees in exchange for full recognition.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that with winter approaching, the thousands of Palestinians displaced from their homes needed urgent help.

The Palestinian Authority says it needs $4bn for reconstruction efforts in Gaza UN Secretary-General Ban KiMoon, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and envoys from

dozens of countries are attending the Cairo conference, which is hosted by Egypt’s President Sisi.

At the opening of the conference, President Sisi urged “the Israelis, both the people and the government” to put an end to the conflict.

“We should turn this moment into a real starting point to achieve a peace that secures stability and flourishing and renders the dream of coexistence a reality,” he said.

Mr Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, said it was “time for truth and justice to prevail”.

Israel was not invited to the conference but Foreign Minister

Bolivia election: Morales bids for third term

Syria: Kobane situation remains ‘dangerous’ says U.S.

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B

OLIVIANS are heading to the polls, with left-wing President Evo Morales bidding for a third term in office.

Mr Morales has been in office since 2006 and is widely tipped to win, having presided over a period of economic growth and reduced poverty.

Voting, which began at 08:00 (12:00 GMT), is compulsory for the six million eligible Bolivians.

Unofficial results are expected around four hours after voting ends at 16:00 local time.

Evo Morales became the first indigenous president in 2006 and is even more popular now, and not only among his Aymara ethnic group.

He won the trust of many thanks to

•Opinion polls suggest a first round victory for Evo Morales, seen here voting in Chapa...yesterday PHOTO: AP

Bolivia’s good economic performance.

Supermarkets, cinemas and restaurants are popping up everywhere.

The new cable car in La Paz is perhaps the best example of the changing times in Bolivia, which remains one of the poorest countries in the region.

It connects La Paz with the satellite city of El Alto, home to thousands of migrants. There, a monument to Che Guevara sits next to a brand new shop-

ping centre, surrounded by thousands of poorly built stalls selling counterfeit products.

A giant campaign poster of “Evo” overlooks the scene. His face is likely to stay there for five more years if, as predicted, he wins a landslide victory on Sunday.

Since 2006, Mr Morales’s government has focused on education subsidies, increased pensions and spending on public works.

Ebola: Health care worker tests positive at Texas hospital

TEXAN health worker who treated Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan before he died is also infected with the virus, according to a preliminary test.

The unnamed worker, who is in a stable condition in an isolation ward, wore full protective gear while treating Duncan, a Dallas health official said.

If confirmed, this is the first known transmission of Ebola on US soil.

Responding to the news, a top federal health official said there had been a clear breach of safety protocol.

Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, died on Wednesday.

The current Ebola outbreak, concentrated in

Avigdor Lieberman said any rebuilding efforts would need his government’s consent.

Rebuilding depends on Israel allowing in enough construction materials, the BBC’s Orla Guerin in Cairo reports.

This is a contentious issue because Hamas has used cement to build tunnels into Israeli territory in the past, our correspondent adds.

Announcing the UK’s $32m donation in Cairo, International Development Minister Desmond Swayne said the international community could not continue to pick up the pieces of the conflict indefinitely.

Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, has resulted in more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases, and at least 4,033 deaths.

No details of the health worker’s identity or position at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital were given, in accordance with family wishes.

Dr Daniel Varga, of the Texas Health Resource, said the worker had worn a gown, gloves, mask and shield when providing care to Duncan during his second and final hospital admission.

The hospital, he said, was still confident that the precautions put in place would protect workers when interacting with patients at the hospital.

But Dr Tom Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said there had been a clear breach of protocol.

He told US broadcaster CBS in an interview that the CDC would investigate the measures taken to try to keep Duncan alive in its investigation into how the health worker had become infected.

All those who treated Duncan are now considered to be potentially exposed, he added, saying he was “deeply concerned” about the new infection.

“I think the fact that we don’t know of a breach in protocol is concerning because clearly there was a breach in protocol.”

Mike Rawlings, the mayor of Dallas, said steps had been taken to decontaminate common areas in the patient’s apartment complex as well as the patient’s car.

More tests on the US health care worker are being carried out at the CDC in Atlanta.

HE situation in Kobane in northern Syria remains “dangerous” says US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Fighting between Islamic State militants and Kurdish defenders continues, with more than 500 people reported dead in a month of conflict.

Mr Hagel said that US-led air strikes had made progress against the militants, but they still occupied areas on the town’s outskirts.

The fight against IS in Syria and Iraq would be a long-term effort, he said.

US aircraft have bombed IS positions as Kurdish fighters cling on to the town’s vital border crossing with Turkey.

Mr Hagel, speaking in Chile, said: “We are doing what we can do through our air strikes to help drive back Isil,” as IS is also called.

At least 553 people are said to have died in a month of fighting for Kobane.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based Syrian opposition body which monitors the conflict, counted 298 IS fighters among the total of the dead.

Turkey, wary of its recent long conflict with its own large Kurdish population, has ruled out any unilateral ground intervention.

Mr Hagel said that the US had made “considerable progress” in talks with Turkish officials over plans for Turkey to train moderate Syrian rebels and provide them with equipment for their fight against IS militants.

He said US military teams would hold more talks in Turkey in the coming week.

But he declined to comment further, saying he was waiting for Turkey to make its own announcement.

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2014

55

FOREIGN NEWS Cyclone Hudhud pounds India’s regions

C

•Ban Ki-Moon meets Libyan delegates in Tripoli PHOTO:AFP

UN chief calls for peace in Libya during surprise visit

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HE UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has called for peace in Libya during a surprise visit to Tripoli as part of a UN-brokered reconciliation process.

On his first visit since 2011, when Col Muammar Gaddafi was ousted, he told MPs meeting at a hotel in the city there was “no alternative to dialogue”.

Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini accompanied him.

The UN brokered talks last month between rival parliamen-

tary factions, after months of militia violence.

Instability has plagued the oilrich country and the new parliament elected in July has been forced to meet outside the capital as rival militias battle for control of the city.

Mr Ban and Ms Mogherini arrived in Tripoli by plane from neighbouring Tunisia, where the UN mission to Libya has been based since it was evacuated during the summer.

MPs were called to a city hotel amid tight security.

Triumphant Nobel Laureate Mahala and other matters arising

G

LAD to be back in the saddle. The column was out couple of weeks due to one technical issue or the other.

We are of course still very much committed to focussing on events on your globe.

Tops of the news last week which were phenomenal were series of daily announcements, citations and proclamations coming out of the Nobel Swedish and Norwegian Comitteses listing different categories of the prizes.

Alfred Nobel left no explanation as to why the Peace Prize was to be awarded by a Norwegian committee while the other four prizes were to be handled by Swedish committees He set up this now prestigious annual prize November 27 1895 to be effective 1901 ""to advance

•Malala

intellectual perspicacity and promote inspirational thoughts. " according to records.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee received valid nominations of 278 different individuals and organizations for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. 47 of these were organizations.

Interestingly and according to records, the first nomination for Martin Luther King Jr. arrived to the Norwegian Nobel Committee in 1963. Not until now, 50 years later, the nominators are revealed.

Mahatma Gandhi, the strongest symbol of non-violence in the 20th century, was never awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

So far 128 Laureates have been recognized since commencement in 1901 and this year including 103 individuals and 28 organizations thus having have the privi-

“Libya needs a strong parliament and a strong government,” Mr Ban told them. “The fighting must stop...

Enough of killings, enough of displacements of people.”

Ms Mogherini, who is set to become the EU’s new foreign policy chief next month, delivered a message of support for the Libyan parliament.

Italy, she said, was “fully committed to staying by your side - on the side of the Libyan people... to save Libya from a destiny it doesn’t deserve”.

YCLONE Hudhud is pounding the eastern Indian coast, causing extensive damage and prompting the evacuation of some 350,000 people.

At least three people have been killed in Andhra Pradesh and three in Orissa.

The cyclone, classed “very severe”, brought winds of 205km/h (127mph), as it passed over the coast near the city of Visakhapatnam.

The winds and heavy rains have brought down trees and power lines, and damaged crops in both states.

It is feared a storm surge of up to two metres could inundate low-lying areas and hundreds of relief centres have been opened in the two states. Disaster relief teams have also been sent.

The authorities say the next few hours will be crucial.

The strength of the cyclone has been revised upwards since Friday, and the Indian Navy is on standby to assist.

The three deaths in Andhra Pradesh occurred in separate incidents in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts, Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao said.

Hymavathi, the special commissioner for disaster management for Andhra Pradesh state, said: “Hundreds of trees have been uprooted

Brazil election: Silva backs Neves

T

HE Brazilian environmentalist Marina Silva, who came third in Sunday’s presidential election, has backed opposition centrist candidate Aecio Neves in the second round.

Mr Neves won 33% of the votes in the first round to 42% for President Dilma Rousseff, who is running for a second four-year term.

Ms Silva failed to qualify for the 26 October run off, with 21%.

She cited Aecio Neves’ “commitments” as the reason for supporting him.

Global Focus DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor sms 08134230367

daborgu@gmail.com lege to be so honourably decorated, of course with the financial benefit that comes with the prestigious award.

We still do relish the award in Literature that was bestowed and proudly earned by our very own WS Professor Wole Soyinka back in 1986.

We are however especially happy and enamoured about Saturday's announcement of a cowinner in the Peace Category by the Nofrwegian Committee of the youngest winner ever, 17 year old Pakistan born Malala Yousafzai, a child education activist who was shot in the face by Taliban militants in her country for her courageous defiance in a school bus having been warned not to attend school ever again.

Well, she has won the Sakharov Award, spoke to the international community at the United Nations and recently came to Nigeria to awaken our clueless president on the urgent need to urgently seek the release of our Boko Haram kidnapped Chibok girls, as if a man who called himself president of a 170 million nation has to be lectured on what to do when even a single life of his national is at stake. What an intuitive bravery for the former and what a shame for the latter.

This column congratulates her feat and it just goes to justify this lifelong saying that at the end of the day, it is not how long but

and power lines knocked down.”

He added: “The situation is very severe. The national highway in the region has been shut.”

Local journalist Hridayesh Joshi told the BBC from Visakhapatnam: “The situation is becoming increasingly bad. There is very strong wind and rain right now - objects are flying and smashing things.

In its latest report, the India Meteorological Department said sea conditions would become “phenomenal” off the north Andhra Pradesh and south Orissa coasts.

It also warned that a storm surge of up to two metres would “inundate low-lying areas of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam”.

The director of the Bhubaneswar centre of the IMD, Sarat Sahu, told the BBC that Hudhud was “likely to trigger heavy rains in most parts of south Orissa and the neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh and Telengana”, raising fears of heavy flooding.

Pradeep Kumar Mohapatra, a special relief commissioner, said that authorities were ready.

Last October as many as 500,000 people in India were evacuated when a severe cyclone called Phailin swept through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states.

how well.

Meanwhile, while we were out, Afghanistan's departing president, Hamid Karzai, used his final speech to his cabinet and senior staff members to make a bitter swipe at the United States and some of her Western allies , blaming them for many of the country's ongoing problems, especially with the Talibans.

"America did not want peace for Afghanistan, because it had its own agendas and goals here," he said. "I have always said this: that if America and Pakistan want peace, it is possible to bring peace to Afghanistan."

Amid dispute and a lot of electoral disputations, the country managed to swear in a new President in what this column earlier predicted when American Secretary of State was on his relentless shuttle diplomacy and arm-twisting. American-trained Professor of Economics Ashraf Ghani, who interestingly lost to former Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Abdullah in the general election in April by sizeable margin but could not make the constitutional margin of 51% now magical y in a twist of logic lost to then American -favoured Ghani in the runoff.

But to avoid a crisis, and in a quirk power arrangement, Abdullah will now hold a nebulous power holding position that

will allow him to either be a prime minister or appoint someone to occupy the number two position.

Interesting. In the meantime the Taliban are still festering.

After a reprieve, following the clean bill of health for the two American volunteer Samaritan workers from Liberia who were transported to isolation in Emory University School of HJealth in Atlanta Georgia, we sadly learnt now of another volunteer and a contraction of the deadly Ebola virus disease by another in a Dallas Texas Hospital. The case worker we understand treated Thomas Eric Duncan who we reported earlier in this column as having died from the ailment according to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) The Middle East continues to be a boiling point. The U.S.-led air war in Syria has gotten off to a rocky start, with even the Syrian rebel groups closest to the United States turning against it, U.S. ally Turkey refusing to contribute and the plight of a beleaguered Kurdish town exposing the limitations of the strategy, according to sources in the hinterland.

Even America, with all her military might is now admitting that probably military strikes might not get the job done although they will continue with target strikes, but vows to c ontue regardless of the cost to materials and human.

We shall continue to monitor all these especially as they affect the people of Syria and Iraq. Kobane is now the endangered City and the ISIS are firmly in control in spite of the U.S and allied bombardments.

Finally, please remember our globe is our heritage. Let's continue to keep her clean in our everyday living. Go green, plant a tree in your neighbourhood and put a smile on a tight face, by doing an act of random kindness.

See you next week.

56

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

NEWS Obasanjo to PDP: drug baron can’t be my leader Continued from page 4

fellow Commissioners, we were deliberating on how to help that new country (South Sudan) out of its problem of security and violence, I received an avalanche of news and cacophony of appeals and pleadings from some quarters of PDP leadership.

“Talking of inviting me back to PDP is wrong and it is a great misrepresentation as I have never left the PDP and I will never leave the PDP. “I have said it before and I will say it again, I rose to become the President of Nigeria on the platform of PDP and for that reason alone, I will remain a card-carrying and ward-active member of PDP for as long as I have to be a political party member.

“Secondly, nobody has per-

sonally offended me as a result of my membership of PDP. If, however, anybody or group feels offended by my continued membership, I will offer an unreserved apology but continue to remain in the Party.

“I have had occasions to say to the President, the Senate President and the Party Chairman separately that I have no quarrel with any individual or group in the Party. There are, for me, issues of principle, morality, honour, integrity, commitment and character, which are paramount.

“For instance, as a former President of Nigeria, the Chairman of West Africa Commission on Drug and a member of Global Commission on Drug, I cannot accept that the Zonal leader of my political Party and, worse still in my zone, will be an in-

dicted drug baron wanted in America.

“How do I explain that to friends outside Nigeria? This is only one of the many issues that I have pointed and still pointing out.

“I have national and international standard to maintain and reputation to keep and sustain.

For these reasons, I opted to remain active only at the ward level of the Party till the leadership does the needful.

“But under no condition will my commitment to Nigeria be diminished. And, for me, it is commitment to Nigeria first and any other commitment can only follow in second or third place.

Where any other commitment is in tandem with what I see and understand as commitment to Nigeria, such other commitment

the Rivers House of Assembly, Dr. Innocent Barikor; Chairmen of the four Ogoni local government councils and other eminent personalities.

MOSOP president said: “Twenty four years after the launch of the OBR, it is our time to produce governor. If we miss it this time, God forbid, we will have to wait till 2031. We must stop the political marginalisation of Ogoni people now. The MOSOP’s campaign is not centred around any political party.

President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Rotimi Amaechi and leaders of all the political parties should look the way of Ogoni people, as they are taking their decisions. We have competent persons. We are angry in MOSOP. That is why we are involved in this campaign.”

Pyagbara also assured that Ogoni people would sink their political differences this time and speak with one voice, while calling on the youths and others to shun violence and bloodletting, drop their personal interests and support the collective Ogoni interest to produce Rivers governor next year, adding that behind the tragic history of Ogoni people, there is hope.

The President of the umbrella organisation of Ogoni elite, KAGOTE (Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme), Dr. Peter Medee, expressed optimism in Ogoni producing the next occupant of Brick House (Government House) in Port Harcourt, but said the peace-loving people must continue to be united.

Medee said if an Ogoni is not elected as Rivers governor next

year, the people would have to wait for another 24 years, saying the campaign against zoning was a conspiracy against the Ogoni people.

Abe said Ogoni people would not continue to be slaves, saying: “This is liberation time. Ogoni people are prepared to move forward by producing the next governor. The unity of Ogoni must continue.”

Maeba, who is of the PDP, declared that: “It is our time to produce Rivers governor. People who can do it are in Ogoniland.

Dr. Peter Odili is of Rivers West Senatorial District. Sir Celestine Omehia and Governor Amaechi are from Rivers East Senatorial District. It is the turn of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District and an Ogoni person will be the next governor of Rivers State. Elections are coming and they are now saying no to zoning. We will not accept it.

“When we produce Ogoni governor in 2015, it will be easier to have Bori State.”

Rt. Rev. Ndinwii said he was glad that Ogoni people were now speaking with one voice, while admonishing them not to betray the just cause.

He said: “Whatever happens in Ogoni, we should demonstrate faithfulness, love and forgiveness. If we do, good things are on the way and all of us will celebrate.

A PDP governorship aspirant, Mr Tonye Princewill, condemned last Thursday’s violence at the party’s reconciliation parley in Abuja.

Nyesom Wike yesterday insisted there was no violence at

‘I’m for consensus candidate’ Continued from page 4

•Kashamu

will share a pride of place with Nigeria.

“I must hasten to thank the President, the Senate President and the Chairman of PDP with whom, at their instances, these issues have been discussed and laid to rest. My interest and commitment to Nigeria go beyond partisan politics.”

Ijaw, Ogoni renew claim to Rivers governor Continued from page 4

eral Government and the oil companies.

The MOSOP president, who took the first lesson from Isaiah 6: 1-8, requested a minute silence for all Ogoni, who lost their lives in the course of the struggle, including the renowned environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Pyagbara declared that an Ogoni emerging as the next governor of Rivers state was nonnegotiable, in order to ensure justice, equity and fairness. He urged all the political parties, especially the APC and the PDP, to field only Ogoni persons as their governorship candidates.

The service, which had as theme: “That We May Be One,” was presided over by the Bishop of the Methodist Diocese of Bori, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ndinwii, had the governorship aspirants of two of the political parties in attendance.

The governorship aspirants at the service were the representative of the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was represented by a member of the House of Representatives, Barry Mpigi, an Ogoni, who represents Tai, Eleme, Oyigbo constituency and Abe’s predecessor in the Senate, Lee Maeba, of the PDP. In attendance at the service were also the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee; Rivers Commissioner for Works, Chief Victor Tombari Giadom; the representative of Gokana constituency in

the meeting.

Wike, through his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, supplied pictures showing factions of the party exchanging pleasantries.

He added that a chieftain of the party, Chief Sara Igbe, after being part of the peaceful process, “went ahead to mislead journalists who were not around”.

Princewill, in a statement at the weekend, apologised to Nigerians on behalf of the party.

He said the incident was regrettable.

Princewill’s statement by his Personal Assistant (Media and Publicity), Wabiye IdoniboyeObu, reads: “As the 2015 elections draw closer, statements, actions and decisions become more influential in moulding the future of our dear state. The incident at the Legacy House in Abuja is not just condemnable but an embarrassment to Nigeria’s democracy, the PDP and the good people of Rivers State.

“Portraying the party in a bad light will not help its growth and existence and will do those of us who wish the President well, no good whatsoever.

“No individual’s ambition is more important than the peace and development of our state.

Following the perceived security challenge, and advice from some PDP national stakeholders, Prince Tonye was not present at the integration committee sitting, but had earlier submitted his memorandum. A Rivers state in crisis is a region in crisis. And our region in crisis will not bode well for our beloved nation. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”

tunity to discuss and exchange thoughts with other Presidential aspirants, namely, General Buhari, Alhaji Atiku and Governor Kwankwaso.

“Senator Saraki stated he is convinced that they are committed to see that APC will be able to come up with a credible and acceptable candidate that will take our dear country on a

Alleged N750m fraud: ex-Mint boss for extradition to UK today Continued from page 4

Britain is seeking Okoyomon’s extradition over his alleged role in the bribery allegation involving officials of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Security, Minting and Printing Company (NSPM) and Securency International Pty of Australia between 2006 and 2008.

“The AGF will argue the application for the extradition in court and once it is endorsed by the judge, we will extradite Okoyomon to the UK,” the source said.

Okoyomon was the chief executive of the NSMPC until November 2013 when he was suspended by the Board of the CBN in the wake of the N1000 notes disappearance scandal.

According to some sources, the extradition was approved by the Federal Government, following substantial investigation into the scam by the EFCC in collaboration with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the British National Crime Agency (BNCA).

It was learnt that the outcome of the investigation revealed a “kind of international network and the diversion of the bribe sums into slush accounts in the UK and Canada”.

Okoyomon has been under investigation since 2012, following a request by the British National Crime Agency.

“The request for extradition also followed the discovery by

paigns of calumny to discredit Gen. Buhari and lower his estimation in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society.

“At first, the antagonists of Nigeria’s national development concocted and fed Nigerians with the lie that Gen. Buhari was a religious bigot, who would convert Nigeria to an Islamic state if elected president.

“Those that know the General intimately know that though he is a dedicated Muslim, he has no trace of religious or even ethnic bigotry. Gen. Buhari is one of the most munificent politicians of our time!

“Now that the gambit of religion cannot work anymore, they are trying to use age as a criterion to discredit him. But it has come to public knowledge that all these tales being fabricated by his political opponents are only strategies employed to maintain their stranglehold on the people.

“The 2015 presidential election shall be a political turning point for Nigeria, as the citizenry have become increasingly aware of the antics of the corrupt ruling class and other detractors and

saboteurs of the nation.

“This time, the gambit of religion, age or any other primordial sentiment will not deter the people from voting for Buhari in 2015. Even though we agree with the idea of generational change in leadership, we believe that only a mature politician like Buhari will be able to wrest power from the PDP, before sanitising the polity.

“Gen. Buhari is the only presidential aspirant that can make a full declaration of his assets before taking office. He will also declare his assets upon leaving office, to enable the people to make candid evaluations of his stewardship.

“We should bear in mind that massive unemployment, terrorism/insurgency, disease prevalence are all linked vicariously to high-profile corruption and impunity by the ruling class.

“For Nigeria to make meaningful and steady progress, a mechanism must be put in place to tackle corruption and indiscipline, and this mechanism can only be driven by an incorruptible leader like Gen. Buhari.

“This is because we have watched corruption in public

places escalate steadily over the last 16 years that the PDP has been in power. We must effect the necessary leadership change now, to move Nigeria and indeed Nigerians out of the doldrums.

“We can say affirmatively that the epoch-making declaration of General Buhari will witness the unprecedented attendance of not less than five (5) million passionate supporters of the General.”

One of Kwankwaso’s Campaign Coordinators, Chief Olisaemeka Akamukali, said Kwakwanso planned to declare his presidential ambition on October 23.

He said after a nationwide consultation with party leaders and other political stakeholders regarding the presidential election, the governor had decided to throw his hat in the ring.

He hinted that the governor slowed down his campaign due to pressure to yield ground to Gen. Buhari, stressing that rather than ask the governor to step down, it is the former Head of State who should make way for a younger candidate - in line with the need for generational

shift.

He said: “In as much as we agree that Buhari is a man of integrity but you will also agree with me that age is not on his side. He is 73, going to 74 years and Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar is close to 70 years old. But Kwakwanso will be 58

by October 21.”

He explained that it was wrong for anybody to regard the governor as a “dark horse” in the contest, adding that Kwakwanso had long years of experience in politics, beginning from 1991 when he emerged as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

He said: “Kwakwanso has long years of experience in politics. He has been a parliamentarian, a governor and two-time minister. When he contested the governorship election in Kano state and lost, he congratulated the winner and waited for eight years before staging a comeback.

“The governor is a grassroots politician and one who tries to carry his followers along in his undertakings

the Australian authorities that some CBN and Mint officials received bribes and kick backs from Securency Pty Limited, a polymer substrate producing company for the contract to produce N20 polymer notes for the CBN between 2006 and 2008.

Another source gave some insight into the findings of the EFCC and international agencies involved in the probe.

The bribes were routed through offshore accounts in the UK and other jurisdictions The EFCC investigation uncovered a web of forgery, identity fraud and money laundering running into millions of naira.

The erstwhile Mint boss allegedly used the names of his driver and clerk to open bank accounts in which he diverted funds without their knowledge.

He allegedly forged a driver’s licence with the photograph of his driver but bearing a different name belonging to his official clerk to open the account in which N368million proceeds of laundered bribery funds were traced, with Okoyomon as the sole beneficiary.

“Over N750million is alleged to have exchanged hands between officials of the CBN, the NSPMC and Securency International Pty of Australia (now Innovia Security Pty Limited).

President Umaru Yar‘Adua launched the N5, N10 and N50 polymer notes on September 30, 2009 at the Presidential Villa.

I’ve not been indicted, says Kashamu Continued from page 4

where were his principles when he used to take me into the inner recesses of his abode?

Where was his honour when he served me breakfast, lunch and dinner in his Hilltop mansion?

Where was his integrity when he mounted the rostrum to sing my praises, praying for me as he did in May 2010 during a

Buhari, Kwankwaso begin battle for APC presidential ticket Continued from page 4

different path. “ Senator Saraki said even though his endorsement was being courted by the other aspirants, in the spirit of playing a role to being part of the solution to ensuring a rancor, bitter free presidential primaries, he will not officially endorse any of the candidates immediately, but will work tirelessly to see that whoever emerges is acceptable by all”.

“Remember he was once a member of the Group of seven governors who protested the goings-on in his former party. I will not be surprised if many of them still in the PDP will want to support his aspiration to become president.”

Akamukali added: “The issue of anointing candidates for elections has been rejected by the APC and that is why the party is insisting that there shall be transparent primaries. The fears of some of the aspirants may be due to the fact of their previous experience where they never face competitive primaries to emerge as party candidate.

“That is why such people are pushing for consensus. The generality of the party is saying ‘no, let us do things differently from what the PDP are doing’. We must have a transparent primary.

He maintained that the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, party’s national Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Atiku were together in the SDP with the Kano State governor adding that Kwakwanso is still retaining the affinity he had with the political network.

reception for the former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye?

Despite his pretensions, the reason I have become the target of Obasanjo’s wicked campaign of calumny and blackmail is his perceived loss of political relevance in Ogun State and the South West. He is against the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan and he had wanted to use the erstwhile National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the former National Auditor, Bode Mustapha and the ex-National Vice-Chairman, Segun Oni, to thwart Mr. President’s re-election. The almighty Allah Subhana wa tala used me to stand up to him and the rest is history.

“Before his very eyes the PDP in the South West is on a rebound and we are winning elections.

Now, on the issue of my socalled indictment in the United States, I wish to state for the umpteenth time that I am not wanted by anyone. Even if that were the case, there are processes and procedures to follow, and they are not subject to anyone’s whims and caprices, not even Obasanjo’s because no man is God. “I have never in stepped my feet into the U.S neither do I have any business there. I was wrongly accused, arrested, tried and freed over the same indictment. If after a full trial on the basis of the same indictment, the British courts exonerated me, which other indictment is Obasanjo talking about? What happens to the general principle of International Law on double-jeopardy?.”

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NEWS

World Bank to Nigeria: plan for drop in oil prices •Nigeria won’t borrow to fund shortfall, says Okonjo-Iweala

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HE World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have urged Nigeria to take proactive steps in readiness to match the expected drop in revenue, arising from the continuous drop in the prices of crude oil.

The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who made this known yesterday in Washington DC, said the drop in oil prices is of great interest to Nigeria, since the economy is largely driven by revenue from oil.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, who addressed the Nigerian press at the World Bank Group headquarters, said the development will naturally arouse interest and lead to questions being asked as to how Nigeria would manage if oil prices continue to decline.

She said as a consequence of these developments, the IMF and the World Bank Group are asking that countries, especially like Nigeria, the emerging markets and lower income countries, should be ready with contingency plans to be able to continue to manage their economies, “should the mediocre growth continue

From Simeon Ebulu and Bukola Afolabi, Washington DC

and oil prices continue on the decline trajectory.

She said the World Bank Group President, Dr.Jim Yong Kin and his IMF counterpart, Christine Largard, have urged that “we should have the right mix of policies, including building up our buffers to be able to sustain the economy,” adding that the Nigerian team to the conference, including the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Director of Budget, Dr. Bright Okogu, the Central Bank Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Dr.Sarah Alade, and others on the Nigerian team to this year’s meetings, have been strategising and articulating the options open to Nigeria, in conjunction with the global financial institutions so as to be able to come up with strategies on how to manage the economy.

They said we should be ready with contingency plans and that we need to continue with our structural reforms, as well as “build up buffers and be ready with a contingency plan,” Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, stated.

But the Minister ruled out

any recourse to borrowing from the Brettenwood institutions to manage any fiscal shocks and vulnerabilities arising from the declining crude oil price at the international market.

She gave the assurance against the backdrop of anxiety in some quarters that the nation’s rising external debt profile and declining revenues may cripple the business of governance,even as the two development finance institutions have advised governments of developing and frontier economies to adopt contingency plans to manage downside effects of expected revenue shortfalls.

Nigeria’s crude Bonny Light like the Brent crude fell from about $100 per barrel to about $84 per barrel over the last few days raising fears that the 2014 and 2015 budget implementation may suffer a setback.

But responding on options for these contingencies in the light of falling revenues, Okonjo Iweala said that Nigeria would not take further external borrowings from the Brettenwood institutions, but may tighten government expenditure profile and build up the country’s buffer.

Amosun’s aides, others injure in bus, convoy collision

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WO aides of Governor Ibikunle Amosun and some occupants of a commercial Mitsubishi bus conveying foodstuffs were injured yesterday morning when the passenger bus ran into one of the Sports Utility Vehicles(SUV) in the convoy of the governor.

The accident occurred at about 9.30am on SapaadeOgere, Ogun State, stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway when the governor was travelling to Ekiti State.

The affected jeep in the convoy was damaged.

According to a source, the vehicles in Amosun’s convoy were going in the direction of Ibadan, Oyo State, when the rickety bus coming at the opposite end crashed into one of them.

It was learnt that the accident occurred at a failed portion of the road, where repair work was being carried out.

The driver of the commercial bus, it was gathered, lost control when he came face-toface with convoy at the bad portion and rammed into it.

The women in the commercial bus were said to have been injured even as the governor alighted to sympathise with them.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, who confirmed this to reporters, said no life was lost.

He noted that it was just a minor accident as nobody sustained injury.

He said: “We are going to Ekiti. Only one jeep was affected and we have transferred the occupants to our own bus.”

elections because we need to know the new wards and the new polling units before going to the polls”.

It added: “If the new voter cards and the new voters register are yet to be seen, please tell us how you can conduct elections. Once these structures are put in place, LASIEC will move into action.

“Some PDP-controlled states have not conducted local government elections in the last eight years, but we are not PDP. We do the right thing, we follow the rules and we get results. However, if these issues are not resolved before the October deadline, Lagos State government may appoint caretaker committees to replace the outgoing LGA Chairmen.”

On the allegation that the government officials are provoking PDP members by removing and destroying PDP signs, the APC said it must “be known that Lagos State has a Signage Agency called LAASA and if Lagos PDP wants its services, they know what to do. Advert agencies in Lagos

know that it is not business as usual as LAASA has cleared the mess in Lagos and set up new standards for Outdoor Advertising.

“Lagos State government has not provoked anybody or any group, but sometimes decisions are taken in the overall interest of 25 million Lagosians. Rather it is Lagos PDP that has been provoking Lagos APC. “We saw the provocation when a junior Minister in the Ministry of Defence, Senator Obanikoro, went with armed soldiers to Ilubirin Housing Estate to harass contractors building homes for Lagosians.

We see this provocation when one of our leader on the island, Alhaji Azeez Asake, was brutally murdered by PDP thugs after their rallies at TBS. We see these provocations on a daily basis at old toll gate Lagos where Lagos PDP is training thugs for 2015 elections in the name of SUREP. PDP is on the wrong side of history in Nigeria and the same history will remain our witness.”

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Lagos APC to PDP: you can’t say Fashola’s govt is bad democratic model

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AGOS State All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the allegation that Governor Raji Fashola-led government was a bad model of democratic governance as baseless and the biggest joke of the 21st century.

The Lagos PDP, in a recent statement, accused Fashola-led administration of not showing signs that it was willing to conduct local governments’ election as the tenures of the office-holders end in October 29, 2014.

But the APC, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Joe igbokwe, said: “Now, contrary to this bedtime stories of Lagos PDP, we want to make it clear that Lagos State government is prepared to conduct local government areas (LGA) elections as it has been doing in the past, when INEC concludes its delineation exercise in some states.

“INEC is creating new wards and new polling units in some states, including Lagos and until it finalises that very important exercise, it may not be feasible to conduct LGA

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SPORT EXTRA Editors call for Keshi's sack

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• Super Falcons’ player (right) in action against Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday night

NIGERIA 4 -2 COTE D'IVOIRE

MVP award thrills Okobi

D

ELTA Queens' star Ngozi Okobi has been on cloud nine after she was unanimously adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the game between Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire which the Super Falcons won 4-2.

The Ivorians had qualified for the tournament on the strenght of their heroic elimination of the defending champions,Equatorial Guinea during the qualifiers and they really proved that against the Falcons but experience gave the Nigerian women the edge.

Okobi's performance against the Ivorians was simply sublime especially her contribution to the first goal which Esther Sunday benefitted from to put Nigeria ahead in the 11th minute of that encounter.

The smooth talking player rounded up two Ivorian de fenders in a quick counter attack before the loose ball fell onto Sunday's path who cooly slotted in.

Okobi later told NationSport that she was indeed delighted that her contribution to the team's victory was appreciated by the organisers of the award but she was quick to add that their ultimate prize was to win the trophy that has eluded Nigeria in the past two editions.

"Yes,i'm delighted to be named the Most Valuable Player of a difficult game like this"the eloquent Okobi began in the interview.

"Every player wants to be appreciated but I want to commend all the players.The Ivorians proved that their elimination of the defending champions during the qualifiers for this tournament was not a fluke.They gave us a great fight.

"Our ultimate aim is to reclaim the trophy, which has eluded us in the last two editions.We’ll achieve this,” she said.

No injury worry for Falcons

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ARELY 12 hours aft e r winning 4 - 2 against Cote d'Ivoire, the Super Falcons returned to training yesterday.

The squad, led by coach Godwin Okon, arrived at the venue of their match against the Ivorians to embark on a light work out, obviously to keep some of the players who did not take part in the game against Cote d'Ivoire in good condition.

HE Guild of Sport Editors, the umbrella body of all managers of sports in the Nigerian media, has called for the immediate removal of Stephen Keshi as caretaker coach of the Super Eagles following Saturday's disgraceful loss to Sudan in a 2015 AFCON qualifier in Khartoun. The body wants the new executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation to ask Keshi to stay away from the team for the reverse fixture of the AFCON qualifier in Abuja on Wednesday.

'The Guild feels Keshi should not be honoured with a place on the Super Eagles bench on Wednesday in the reverse fixture after toying with the emotions of over 100 million football loving Nigerians through his unnecessary arrogance, unguarded and sometimes insulting utterances as well as questionable invitation of players to the national team,"said the Guild's president Tony Ubani in a statement on Sunday.

'We also want the NFF not to re-open contract extension talks with Keshi who seems to have lost the motivation to take the Eagles beyond where they are now.''

The body wants the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF to take a holistic look at football development in Nigeria starting with the leagues.

• Keshi ''The success of any country's football depends on how it is able to develop its league to not only provide quality players for the various national teams but also provide employment for millions of Nigerians.''

The body cited England who last won a major tournament some 48 years ago but its FA has developed its league to be the best in the world with millions of job opportunities for its people and wished the new NFF emulated them. Ubani said: ''We demand a total restructuring of the various leagues and an enforcement of all laws guiding club football in Nigeria. A situation where clubs do not have youth teams and where players' salaries are not paid promptly cannot engender growth. We want the new NFF executive committee to be bold in taking some decisions on the administration of football in the country," Ubani said.

‘Why I benched Perpetua Nkwocha’

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ORMER African Player of the Year,Perpetua Nkwocha was surprisingly left on the bench as the Super Falcons trashed Cote d'Ivoire 4-2 in Saturday's second game in Group B fueling speculations that perhaps that the ex-golden girl of Nigerian women soccer may have arrived unfit for the tournament.

Even when coach Godwin Okon adopted an all attacking formation against the Ivorians by opting to start three strikers,Ngozi Okobi,Esther Sunday and Desire Oparanozie,there was still no place for Perpetua until the dying minutes of the game when she came in for Cecilia Nku. During camping for this tournament there was heated debated about the value the foriegn players will add to the team since they had little time to train with the rest of the home based players who enjoyed more time in camp.

When NationSport sought from Coach Okon why he

• Nkwocha

decided to keep Perpetua on the bench for a greater part of the game,the Rivers Angels coach replied that all the players he took to the tournament had equal rights in the team in terms of being selected for matches.

"Perpetua Nkwocha is not injured"Okon began in an interview with NationSport after the game.

"You saw that we introduced her in the second,so that should answer your question on her physical fitness.That she did not start against Cote d'Ivoire does not mean that something is wrong with her.Everybody is fine in my team and they will have their chances to play"he said

Falcons’ best yet to come, says Okobi

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GOZI Okobi who was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Super Falcons’ 4-2 win of Ivory Coast at the on going Africa Women Championship (AWC) says the best of the team has yet to come.

"I was overwhelmed when I was named the Most Valuable Player and I dedicate the award to my family" "What we played against Cote d' Ivoire is just a tip of the iceberg as Super Falcons are capable of doing greater things in this championship.

We always knew the Ivoireans who eliminated the 2012 champions Equatorial Guinea will be tough so we took them seriously "In the next game we will see a different Falcons. We shall play better now that we have navigated our opening game succesfully. Out target is to reclaim the title and we are here

to give our best to achieve that" Okobi stated The Super Falcons opened scoring in the 12th minute of the game through Esther Sunday who latched on to a sassy play by Ngozi Okobi to beat the Ivory Coast goalkeeper The Ivorians responded 10 minutes later when Rebecca Elloh was fell in the box by Onome Ebi and Fatou Culibaly Tiegnou coolly beat Precious Dede to level up score at 1-1 Falcons persistent pressure yielded fruit in the 54th min. when Mariam Diakite scored an own goal while attempting to clear her goal area to give the Nigerians a 2-1 lead.

Desire Oparanozie made it 3-1 in the 74th with a good finish from Esther Sunday's floater. But Cote d Ivoire pegged Nigeria back when Christine Lehoues Yeble was gifted a loose ball to fire home.

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TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘For a great majority of the people, it matters little who is there provided they are made to benefit from the mandate which leaders exercise. He would have made a big difference by the way the benefits of governance are felt in all the nooks and crannies of the state’ EMEKA OMEIHE

VOL 9 NO 3,000

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HE cliché that one day is eternity in politics did not only happen in Adamawa State, it may be the Adam of things to come in the country. It reinforces the topsy-turvy of the polity.

Heroes emerge in a climate of corruption.

Startled stalwarts turn their assured strides into pussyfooting.

Now, we know that barring another judicial jolt, Murtala Nyako has been yanked off the throne. Umaru Fintiri is finito. Bala Ngilari is the eagle landing.

Where are the Ribadu sweepstakes for 2015? Whither Buba Marwa? The man rejected is now the head of the corner.

Ngilari swished out of the shadows to become the lodestar. The humiliated has become the illuminated. Beware of the ides of the court.

So, the Adamawa drama reflects what can go right in this polity when we follow law and order, when individuals count for nothing except under the spell of the grundnorm of political behaviour: the constitution.

The Justice Ademola Adeniyi verdict is a city set on a hill. Fintiri and Ngilari are PDP. But Ngilari was their forbidden son thrust into outer darkness. Justice flushed him back as the Joseph of the city.

But travel many miles south, we see the flip side. In Ekiti State, rapine replaced respect. A court judge was harassed by loyalists of a governor-elect. In the same country where a court rules to uphold decency, miscreants in the vanguard of a politician of so-called grassroots affinity turned the hallowed precincts of justice upside down. It became the beehive of bullying, raw chants, barbarous dances, mauling, shirt tearing. A riot of the earthy.

Dark and Macabre. This is what playwright T.S. Eliot called Murder in the Cathedral, the violation of what is otherwise called sacred.

The capstone of this absurdity is that the court is shut down. The reason: to stop any adjudication until governor-elect Ayo Fayose is sworn in. Fayose is believed to be afraid that the court may nullify his candidacy and thereby fail to become governor. This is a gangster approach to justice.

We should not forget that this logic featured in the same Adamawa of today’s justice. A martial air of jackboots and brooding guns pervaded Nyako’s impeachment process. Armed men besieged the premises of the courts and home of the judge. Ngilari was forced to write a letter of resignation. The then speaker, Fintiri, was the head as Nyako and

RIPPLES NIGERIAN ROADS NO LONGER DEATH TRAPS-MINISTER

Yes, they are no longer DEATH TRAPS but BURIAL GROUNDS!

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

The rabble or the law

‘

When persons privatise power, might becomes right.

The Adamawa verdict affirmed the rule of law. Now, in Ekiti, is it the rabble or the law?

•Ngilari

•Fayose

Ngilari spun in the headwind. With Nyako yanked off, Fintiri swaggered into Abuja to tell his masters that he had delivered. His masters said thank you faithful servant but we want somebody else as governor. Fintiri fumed. He was now governor with a lot of power and hand in the cookie jar. His masters flinched and said he should stay in office till 2015. Ribadu or other favorite sons would wait to replace him. That was an agreement.

The court judgment has denied us the drama to come. Would Fintiri have played Jonathan with them and denied any agreement?

Fintiri sat pretty, peacock-style on the throne. Then Festus Keyamo struck as Justice Adeniyi weighed in on the side of the law.

In Adamawa, the rule of law has prevailed, at least for now.

We cannot have democracy unless we respect the law of the land. In Adamawa, Ngilari claims he was coerced to write a

I

T is an outright dubious award. It is so dubious it stank even to Jonathan Forbes as he served the odious dish.

You should have seen the grimace on his face and his body language as he presented the worthless token to our Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke. He knew he was suckering her but why not, let the Niggers pay. Even the dainty lady and her coterie of aides and favour-chasers knew they were being had big time but all is fair that transpires in the Big Apple.

It would have been nice to publish the citation that earned our oil minister the Forbes Best of Africa Award in Leadership. However, her apologists have been assaulting Nigerians with what they consider her legacy achievements. They tell us she was the first female Nigerian director in Shell Petroleum but they failed to say it was a sideshow in Shell’s Staff Cooperative or that anybody whose parents were Shellite could easily join the firm and rise to any level. Neither did they mention the minority quota.

They said she was the first female transportation minister and oil minister and Hardball asks: to what end? Just any folk could be so opportune. They said she introduced local content and I say the legislation was ready before she got to

’

letter of resignation. Imagine that Nyako was coerced to receive it. Even the law may not have saved Ngilari. Justice would have cried impotent in the Nigerian wilderness.

But Fintiri and his cohorts were so sure in their perfidy because they thought they were law unto themselves. We are fortunate for their folly.

Yet the political behaviour of the elite in both instances leaves much to be desired. It was not just a PDP errancy. The APC crouched in the sidelines to take advantage.

Atiku Abubakar fished in the stormy waters.

Power in the raw beclouded a search for decency. The principle of the separation of powers triumphed in Adamawa. That principle is at stake in Ekiti. It is because our politicians love the Greek philosopher Meno, who postulated that might is right.

But for these politicians, they love to subject the state under their manipulative duress.

They forget that two things make democracy work, the rule of law and the will of the

HARDBALL

people. It is not might that makes right. Right makes might. Or else we shall have, as is emerging in Ekiti, a Hobbesian law of nature where life is “nasty, brutish and short”.

The concept of the balance of power inspired Montesquieu to prescribe separation of powers first implemented by the United States. It was to avoid hubris, where the executive usurps the judiciary. That is what we are witnessing in Ekiti. The president should not turn this democracy into a gangster enclave where the gang is star. Where powerful men trump the law, we have what Hobbes describes as the “war of all against all”. In that case, Hobbes says, “the law of nature and the law of nations are the same”. Episodes like that destroy democracy.

But Fayose can say he is right. The people have voted for him. True enough. But the law that made the elections also made the courts. The concept of the rule of law is to check even the excess and barbarian instincts of democracy. That was the misinterpretation of Rousseau’s The Social Contract when he called for the supremacy of the “collective will”. It detonated the French Revolution that burned France, ended in the Napoleonic orgies around Europe and installed one-man rule instead of popular government.

In Ekiti, Fayose’s rabble is in the throes of installing a first in Nigerian politics. On a raft of the rabble, he now has a society of thugs. If he continues with them into the state house, Ekiti will turn its society of thugs into a state of thugs, thereby enthroning the savage virtues of the street . Then might becomes right. That was how Hitler’s rabble rose. This column is not saying Fayose has the sophistication or organisation or intent of the Nazi party. But he has a grain of it to the extent that he works with a rabble.

In his book, Hitler: A Study in Tyranny, Alan Bullock lamented when Hitler became Furher. He wrote that a street gang had taken over the most powerful country in the world.

Fayose should decide whether he will subject himself to the law or subject the law to himself. Louis the 14th once said, “I am the state.” He said it in the age of absolutism, or the divine rights of kings. Yet long before him, the man who framed the French State, the great Cardinal De Richelieu, noted that the state is bigger than anyone, including the king. When the state is bigger than anyone, the rule of law prevails. When persons privatise power, might becomes right.

The Adamawa verdict affirmed the rule of law. Now, in Ekiti, is it the rabble or the law?

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

What Jonathan Forbes told Diezani… office. Besides, Hardball thinks that stuff is tokenistic nonsense. They need to find out what the Brazilians, Venezuelans and even Algerians are doing on their oilfields.

They say she ushered the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and I say what does that mean? Whatever it may be, she cannot push it through parliament in three years notwithstanding the huge war chest at her disposal. They said she has built oil and gas pipelines and I say why did she bother, she could simply have sold the crude in jerry cans.

The cheek of it all: they said she has ensured there has been no petroleum scarcity and I broke down and wept for our much raped motherland. At what cost is this if nearly all the fuels consumed in this huge country are imported and largely from countries that have no crude oil deposit. By the admission of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria’s four refineries have been operating at 10 per cent capacity for sometime now.

In 2012, after the fuel subsidy protests, Diezani told Nigerians that four Greenfield refineries would be built in

two years. No earth has been turned anywhere for this purpose. The cost of importing just petrol into Nigeria in one year will build all the refineries we ever needed.

If Diezani is truly a great African leader as Forbes wants us to believe, and if she was a Shell hot shot as her people have written, how come she cannot figure out that it is utterly stupid for Nigeria to be importing all its fuels in the last quarter century? Does she not know that Nigeria is the only major oil-producing nation still importing its fuels? Does she not know that there are about 6,000 opportunities Nigeria is failing to tap in every barrel of crude oil it exports?

If she was such a great leader, how come she could not see the strategic madness of exporting 6,000 products and buying back each of them at a premium? A thousand and one questions Hardball has for Diezani but what is the point, she will answer to history.

But what did Jonathan Forbes say to Diezani as he handed her the odious trophy.

Hardball was embedded and he can exclusively report that Jonathan said to Diezani: ah, mugu don fall!

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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