October 20, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

Jonathan, PDP face protest votes threat NEWS Page 6

•Anger in S/south, S/east

News Fayemi clears air on Ekiti’s debt P7 Sports Eagles: Martins, Uche to return P41 Business NBS scores economy low in Q3 P33

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 3007 MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: NIGERIA’S DIRECT INVESTMENTS HIT $67B P4 ‘GOWON TRULY COMMITTED’ P5

•From left: Former Head of StateGeneral Yakubu Gowon, his wife Victoria, Vice President Namadi Sambo, celebrator’s daughter and former PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN Vice President Alex Ekweme cutting Gen. Gowon’s 80th birthday cake in Abuja...at the weekend.

Nigeria puts pressure on Ghana to probe oil theft

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IGERIA is demanding a probe into the activities of a company, which it believes is involved in laundering stolen crude to Europe.

Wall Street Journal (WSJ), a US-based newspaper which levelled the allegations, said Saltpond Offshore Producing Company (SOPC) is suspected of being used to tranship and

•U.S. dumps Nigeria’s crude smuggle stolen Nigerian crude to Europe and that Washington is probing the company as part of a broader inquiry into how Nigerian oil gets stolen and laundered.

Sources within the intelligence community in Ghana told a local publication The Finder, that Nigeria is not happy that Ghana has not ordered official investigations

into the accusation when it was published.

Consequently, investigative bodies in Nigeria have officially written to their Ghanaian counterparts to investigate the allegations levelled against Saltpond Offshore Producing Company.

The US for the first time failed to import a single barrel of crude oil from Nigeria

•Ololade receiving the award from Ms Natland...at the weekend

Why The Nation man Ololade won, by CNN

in July 2014.

This troubling scenario, according to industry watchers, would not augur well for the Nigerian economy, which is highly dependent on revenue from oil.

Nigeria, Africa's biggest crude exporter, depends largely on crude proceeds to service over 85% of its budget.

Nigeria used to be the fifth largest exporter of crude oil to

HE Nation’s serial award-winning Assistant Editor Olatunji Ololade emerged at the weekend winner of the Health and Medical Category of the CNN African Journalist of the Year. Ololade received the award from the Managing Director of MSD South Africa, Kaja Natland in Arusha, Tanzania.

He won the award for his story titled: “This marriage will kill me - Tragedy of Nigeria’s child brides”. The judges praised Ololade for his excellent writing and attention to details.

This is what the judges said about his winning entry:

Continued on page 4

Continued on page 4

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Chibok girls: Anxiety over Fed Govt, Boko Haram deal

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

Parents, community, activists, others doubt deal Talks today in Chad

My heart tells me to keep my fingers crossed If the ceasefire was real, it will be a good omen and be prayerful, but my head tells me to just for the nation...But we should be wary of false wave it away. —Chibok community leader ceasefire.

—Rights activist Shehu Sani

D

OUBTS swept through the Chibok community yesterday over the ceasefire and imminent release of the abducted schoolgirls announced by the government at the weekend.

Some parents of the girls in captivity, the Bringbackthegirls campaigners,

From Yusuf Alli, Grace Obike, Abuja and Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Borno State Senator Ahmed Zannah, rights activist Shehu Sani, among others, have at best expressed cautious optimism.

Doubts over the ceasefire were strengthened by the weekend’s at-

tacks believed to be by the sect in Borno State. Many were killed.

Going by the terms of the said agreement, the meeting will continue today in Chad after which some of the leaders of the sect in detention will be swapped for the Chibok girls, this week.

One of the elders of the Abuja Chibok community, Dr. Dauda Iliya questioned the truthfulness of the truce because of the weekend’s attacks.

Iliya, a representative of the Abuja Chibok community, said he would like

to believe the truce but his head told him Continued on page 4

•SPORTS P23 •JOBS P35 •CEO P37 •MOTORING P39 •POLITICS P43 •FOREIGN P59

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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NEWS

When fear of E •From left: Executive Vice-Chairman, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Board member of the Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; and Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu during the launch of the Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund to revitalise the economies of post conflict and disaster communities in Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

•From left: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele; President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Mrs. 'Debola Osibogun; and Chairman, African Capital Alliance Mr. Dick Kramer at the 2014 Fellowship Investiture of the Institute...at the weekend.

•From left: General Manager, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) , Prof Bola Akinterinwa, Chairman of the occasion, Prof Anya O Anya, Prof Fidelis Njokanma, Mr Monday Ubani , Mrs Stella Ozojiofor and Mr Joe Nwokedi during the launch of Nwokedi’s book in Lagos... at the weekend.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

•From left to right: Director, HealthPlus, Jide George, CEO HealthPlus Limited, Bukky George, Regional Industry Head for IFC, German Vegarra and Investment Officer for IFC, Paul Mukasa during the signing of an agreement between HealthPlus, CasaBella International and IFC...at the weekend.

After surviving the deadly Ebola Virus, many would have expected British nurse William Pooley to stay away from Sierra Leone where he contracted the disease. But, the nurse is not afraid, as he has returned to the Ebola-stricken country to help fight it

H

E should be afraid. But fear seems to have no slot in his heart. At the heart of his boldness appears to be the belief that once you have been cured of Ebola, you are unlikely to have it again.

This immunity and the love of the people of Sierra Leone is making British nurse William Pooley return to the country where he was hurriedly flown out after contracting the deadly virus.

Pooley is now back in the country where he caught the deadly virus as he prepares to rejoin efforts to tackle the epidemic.

Pooley said he was “delighted” to return to Sierra Leone as he attempts to prevent “as many unnecessary deaths as possible” from the disease.

The 29-year-old is due to arrive in the capital Freetown tonight before he resumes work tomorrow in an Ebola isolation unit run by UK medical staff, King’s Health Partners said.

He became the first confirmed Briton to contract Ebola and was flown back to the UK in August. He was treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

Pooley said: “I am delighted to be returning to Sierra Leone to join the King’s Health Partners team. I would like to once again thank the team at the Royal Free Hospital and the RAF who provided me with such excellent treatment and support.

“But the real emergency is in West Africa, and the teams out there need all the support we can give them.

“I am now looking forward to getting back out there and doing all I can to prevent as many unnecessary deaths as possible.”

Pooley will be working in the isolation unit at Connaught Hospital where he will train local staff and help to set up new isolation units, after previously treating patients in a government hospital in Kenema.

He will join the King’s Health Partners team, a partnership between King’s College London and three NHS trusts - Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital

• Pooley

and South London and Maudsley.

Dr Oliver Johnson, programme director for the King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, said: “It is fantastic that Will has chosen to join our small team here at Connaught Hospital.

“The situation here in Freetown is getting worse by the day and so Will’s experience and commitment will be vital as we do everything we can to stem the flow of cases.

“The best way of stopping Ebola spreading even further is to fight it at its source and I look forward to working with Will to do just that.”

Last week, Pooley said he was preparing to return to West Africa to help deal with the Ebola epidemic because it is “something I need to do”.

Speaking in Whitehall in central London, he said he knew his family and friends would be worried but they should be reassured by his potential immunity to the virus.

“There is still a lot of work to do out there and I am in the same or better position than when I chose to go out before,” Mr Pooley said.

“I know my mum and dad are worried but they support me because they know this is something I have to do.

“My potential immunity is very reassuring for them, or at least it should be, and I will be returning in a more organised fashion than when I was out there originally.”

Last month Mr Pooley, from Eyke in Suffolk, reportedly flew to the US to undergo a blood transfusion to help an American being treated for the virus.

More than 4,500 people have died from Ebola, mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Britain’s latest Ebola aid flight carrying vital medical supplies landed in Freetown yesterday, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said.

It was the UK’s sixth aid flight and carried almost £900,000 worth of medical equipment needed for the 92 bed treatment facility in Kerry Town, including blood banks,

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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NEWS

of Ebola is not beginning of wisdom ‘ My potential immunity is very reassuring for them, or at least it should be, and I will be returning in a more organised fashion than when I was out there originally...The real emergency is in West Africa, and the teams out there need all the support we can give them. I am now looking forward to getting back out there and doing all I can to prevent as many unnecessary deaths as possible

‘ Lagos health workers for Sierra Leone L

AGOS State is to send some health workers who had helped in the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to Sierra Leone .

Governor Babatunde Fashola broke the news in Ikeja while speaking at a programme to commemorate the 2,700 Days of his administration in office.

The governor said the health workers were to replicate the state‘s virus containment strategies in Sierra Leone with a view to assisting the Ebola-hit country overcome the health crisis.

Fashola said although Nigeria was, as of now, free of the disease, there was still the risk of new infections from cross-border movements.

He said the state‘s planned mission to Sierra Leone was not only to assist the country to overcome the challenge, but also reduce the risk of the disease to countries within the sub-region.

Sierra Leone accounts for a substantial number of the over 4,000 global Ebola deaths.

“Lagos is free from Ebola, Nigeria is free from Ebola. .But that does not mean there cannot be another case. For as long as people are moving from countries to countries, the risk of infections is still there.

‘That is why I appeal to the Federal Government to continue to scrutinise people travelling into Nigeria from land, sea and air from regions where the problem is still ravaging.

“That is why some of the things the commissioner for health will be announcing very soon is the arrangements we are making to send some of our health workers and volunteers to go and help out in Sierra Leone.

“That is the only way we ,the whole of Africa and the World can be safe.”

Fashola expressed optimism that EVD, just like other infectious diseases, such as cholera that had once ravaged humanity without remedy, would soon get a cure.

He said Nigerians needed not live in fear of the disease coming back into the country but urged them to take precautions that would guard against new infections in the country.

Fashola said the state government had taken centrifuges and protective equipment such as goggles and gloves.

Mr Pooley was treated with the

Fashola (second right), his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr Lateef Ibirogba at the event...yesterday.

some initiatives to prevent a return of Ebola in the state.

Some of the strategies, according to him, include the deployment of screening equipment to schools and hospitals and the construction of sanitary facilities in schools.

Others are training and retraining of personnel on infectious diseases diagnosis and the sensitisation of residents on how to be safe from the problem.

Fashola also announced that he had appointed Dr Oluwakemi Sekoni his Scientific Adviser as a move to enhance better response to Ebola disease and other infectious ailments.

The governor said the responsibilities of the new adviser would include providing public information about infectious diseases for effective response.

Others are actions and co-ordinating sciencebased research on food sufficiency, air pollution and helping in all other things that were likely

experimental drug ZMapp and left hospital on September 3 after making a full recovery.

The UK, which has committed

to improve the general wellbeing of Lagos residents.

“Today ,I am announcing the appointment of Dr Oluwakemi Sekoni as my Chief Scientific Adviser . She would be presented at a formal inductiuon ceremony shortly, “he said.

Reeling out some of his achievements in the last 100 days, Fashola said the Mainland Power Plant which would supply uninterrupted power to government facilities in mainland area was completed withing the period.

He said the government also inaugurated a Power Academy that would train people on all aspects of electricity generation,distribution and transmission and help improve the power sector.

Fashola said the government also trained no fewer than 3,000 farmers on various aspects of agriculture and supported them with items to support their businesses.

He said work was sped up at the 70-gallon Adiyan Water Works to improve water supply.

£125 million to tackling Ebola, has put pressure on other wealthy countries to do more to combat the spread of the virus.

The Prime Minister has written to European Union leaders calling for them to double their contribution to one billion euro (£800 million).

Ms Greening said: “As part of Britain’s £125 million response we are building six treatment centres across Sierra Leone which are vital to controlling and defeating the Ebola outbreak.

“We will provide direct care for up to 8,800 patients over six months and this latest flight has delivered the kit needed to provide treatment for Ebola victims.

“Britain is committed to helping Sierra Leone defeat this terrible disease and we are calling on the international community to ramp up its efforts.”

Meanwhile, Ms Greening told Sky News’ Murnaghan programme that the UK was “well prepared” for the “handful” of cases experts had predicted were likely to occur in the country.

“The risk to the UK remains low,” she said. “In the meantime the most effective thing we can do is the work that we are doing with Sierra Leone to help them combat Ebola there.”

Shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy said the UK was “doing well” in the scale of its response but other countries had to do their bit.

He told the Murnaghan programme: “The fact is the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg has given many more times the donations than countries like Italy.

Ikea, the furniture warehouse, has given more or about the same as Italy.

“So there are countries that aren’t doing enough and we have to say that publicly and we have to try and persuade them. But if countries like Italy won’t do their bit we have also got to embarrass them.”

His return to West Africa coincided with the U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel order for the creation of a 30-member expeditionary medical support team to be able to provide emergency help in the event of an Ebola crisis in the United States.

A Pentagon spokesman said yesterday the team of five doctors, 20 nurses and five trainers could respond on short notice to help civilian medical professionals. A statement from Rear Admiral John Kirby said.

Three cases of Ebola have been diagnosed in the United States, prompting widespread concern about the potential spread of the virus. A Liberian man fell ill while on a trip to Dallas, Texas, and died on Oct. 8. Two nurses who treated him contracted the disease.

Kirby called the team “an added, prudent measure to ensure our nation is ready to respond quickly, effectively and safely in the event of additional Ebola cases.” He said it would consist of critical care nurses, doctors trained in infectious diseases and trainers in infectious disease protocols.

“They will not be sent to West Africa or elsewhere overseas and will be called upon domestically only if deemed prudent by our public health professionals,” the statement said.

The team is drawn from across the military services include 20 critical care nurses, five doctors trained in infectious diseases and five trainers in infectious disease protocols.

The team will go to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for training in infection control and special protective equipment. Training is expected to start within the next week.

Kirby said the team won’t be sent to West Africa or elsewhere overseas. He said members would be called up for service in the U.S. only if needed by public health officials.

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

Luxury tax to boost revenue likely

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•All Progressives Congress (APC’s) presidential aspirants Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at the meeting APC’s stakeholders in the Northern states in Kaduna...at the weekend.

Nigeria gets $67b direct investments in four years, says Emefiele

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ENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has said the Federal Government received foreign direct investments worth $67 billion in four years ending 2013.

The apex bank boss, who spoke at the weekend, said Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, which stand at $39.5 billion, can withstand nine months import cover, against three months regarded as norms internationally.

He spoke at the 2014 chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Investiture. The apex bank boss said the regulator would take steps that will make Nigeria withstand the oil price shocks ravaging world economies.

Emefiele, who was conferred with the Honorary Fellowship of the CIBN said the apex bank’s microeconomic reforms led to increased foreign direct invest-

By Collins Nweze

ments.

The CBN boss, who spoke on the theme: “Making Nigeria a major destination for foreign direct investment”, said the CBN is also creating policies that create macro-economic stability and growth, adding that price stability will remain a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) role in short and medium term.

He said despite pressures of speculative behaviours in the forex market, the CBN would continue to intervene where necessary to stabilise the naira.

“We will maintain healthy external reserves position. We expect the naira to remain strong going forward,” he said.

Emefiele said that the CBN would have zero tolerance for policies that undermine financial sector stability.

He advised bankers to be honest and exhibit highest level of

ethics in the course of their duties. “ We want sound corporate governance and professional ethics,” he said.

Analyses of the reserves based on data from the CBN showed that reserves were at $39.65 billion on August 25 and $38.4 billion on July 17. The rate of accretions to the reserves has been marginal but consistent since the CBN reviewed the bureau de change (BDC) policy guidelines.

The reserves were at $37.23 billion on June 25; $37.26 billion on June 26 and $37.31 billion on June 27. The reserves also rose to $37.54 billion on July 1 and continued the upbeat till the current position.

Further analysis showed that before the upbeat, the reserves had maintained a steady decline after closing last year at $42.85 billion.

The year-end figure represented a decrease of $0.98 billion or 2.23 per cent against $43.83 bil-

Continued from page 1

in July, imports of Nigerian crude fell to zero for the first time.

Data obtained from the US Energy Information Administration showed that US imports rose to 7.623 million bpd, up from 7.054 million bpd, in June.

But imports from Nigeria fell to zero in July, down from

89,000 bpd in June, all of which had gone to the US Atlantic Coast.

Reports indicated that before July, the US has reduced crude imports from Nigeria by 91%, putting the country's crude exports in disarray.

The US, which was hitherto the biggest importer of crude from Nigeria with over one million barrels per day, early this year imported an average of 100,000 bpd till June 2014.

Data obtained from the Nige-

rian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) revealed that by the end of last year, the US dropped to the 10th highest importer of Nigeria's crude, with 1.438 million barrels down by 15.111 million barrels in December 2012.

North America accounted for 22.19% of Nigeria's total crude export by December 2012, but it dropped to 2.23% by December 2013.

According to an NNPC report, "prior to the decline, the

the country to overcome the shortfall in its revenue, the government had to realise more revenue from taxes, fees, penalties and royalties.

“Special taxes should be introduced on luxury items so that there will be more revenue to provide goods and services for the generality of the people.

“And to cater for those who are not gainfully employed in terms of making sure that every child in Nigeria attends schools.

“This means that, both individuals and companies need to make sure that they pay their taxes on time and in full.

Measures need to be taken against those who are not paying taxes.

“If every child in Nigeria has to attend school, it means that governments, at the federal, state, and local levels, will provide the resources to cater for such people.

“So that no Nigerian child is left out of school and no Nigerian citizen is not in a position to develop themselves to higher level in terms of eduContinued on page 57

WHO to declare Nigeria Ebola-free

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•Emefiele

lion at end-December 2012. The reserves dropped to $38.79 billion as at March 12. Analysts said the reserves declined as imports of fuel and foods soared.

But the CBN said the decrease was driven largely by the increased funding of the foreign exchange market in the face of intense pressure on the naira and the need to maintain stability.

The CBN said the pressure on external reserves was deemed to be consistent with the seasonal annual payment of dividends to foreign investors.

Nigeria battles Ghana over probe of oil theft the US. While US crude imports rose by 569,000 barrels per day

HE Debt Management Office (DMO) is seeking the introduction of a special tax on luxury items for more revenue.

DMO Director-General, DMO, Dr Abraham Nwakwo said that revenue from luxury taxes would be used to provide goods and services for the generality of the people and cater for the unemployed.

Nwankwo spoke in Uyo during a retreat for members of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, organised by his office.

Speaking on “Implications of rebasing of Gross Domestic Product for public debt Management,” the DG criticised the state of the nation’s dwindling revenue.

He said although after rebasing Nigeria’s GDP had become higher; the country’s borrowing space was small.

Nwankwo said rebasing results showed that the country needed to generate more revenue in order that as the GDP was growing, government revenue would also be growing.

The director-general said for

US was the highest buyer of Nigeria's crude, purchasing 14.279 million barrels in December 2012, thereby accounting for 19.15% of Nigeria's total crude export and 86.28% of total crude export to North America.

Oil laundering allegation at Saltpond platform The accusation was that small vessels that have loaded "unofficial" oil in Nigeria's oil-rich Continued on page 57

IGERIA is expected to be declared Ebola-free today, just three months after fears that the virus could spread like wildfire through Africa’s most populous nation.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is preparing to announce that Nigeria has not had a confirmed case of Ebola for 42 days or two incubation periods of 21 days. It did same for Senegal on Friday.

The achievement is being welcomed, with no end in sight to the disease that has claimed more than 4,500 lives this year, most of them in west Africa, and mounting fears about cases around the world.

Close attention is being paid to how Nigeria managed to contain the virus, as special-

ists look for a more effective response to control its spread.

But there were warnings against any premature celebration, with complacency still a risk and luck considered to have played a part in containing the outbreak.

Eight people died out of 20 confirmed Ebola cases in Nigeria, with all infections traced back to a single source, Liberian finance ministry official, Patrick Sawyer, who arrived in Lagos on July 20.

Many feared the worst when Mr Sawyer died on July 25 in a private hospital in Nigeria’s biggest city, which is home to more than 20 million people.

Doctors were on strike at the time over pay and condiContinued on page 57

‘Why The Nation man Ololade won’ Continued from page 1

“This category provides the challenge of making often complicated and technical issues understandable and readable. Our two excellent finalists illustrate both the range of entries and how well many of those rose to the challenge. Our winner produced a moving account of Nigeria’s child brides and a close look at the devastating medical and personal implications of forcing young teenagers to marry much

older men. It is a major story on a widespread problem, written with a deep sense of humanity, and an excellent attention to detail. The medical issues are set out with clarity and the result leaves one with a tangible sense of the horrors of this practice and the long-term trauma. It is a moving and informative exemplar of the value of well-crafted health reporting. It was wellillustrated and effectively presented.”

Chibok girls: Anxiety over Fed Govt, Boko Haram deal Continued from page 1

to dismiss it.

“My heart tells me to keep my fingers crossed and be prayerful, but my head tells me to just wave it away and to dismiss it like I know the government to tell bull’s stories.

“I simply think the government is playing Nigerians for two reasons: One, I have received reports that two very well-known villages in southern Borno, one in Hawul in the village of shaffa was attacked and many people killed between Friday and Saturday.

“Two, the second village is Lassa in Askira/Gwuba Local Government. It was also attacked between Friday night and Saturday. I think, Kana Local government, so with this, why will Boko Haram be attacking villages, killing people and de-

stroying houses if indeed there was a truce that is number one.

“Number two; why should the government be the one announcing the truce, when it is the government and its army that are under attack? I think it is the people attacking that should be announcing any kind of truce.”

The leader of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy, Aisha Yusufu, said: “We are hopeful, waiting and really anxious. We are just surprised that a ceasefire has supposedly been reached and people are still been killed. Who are they having this ceasefire with if the Boko Haram doesn’t even know that there is an ongoing ceasefire?

“For me I don’t want to lay allegations; all I want to say is that what we Nigerians want from the government is the truth, nothing but the truth. It is high

time that the Nigerian government came out, to tell the people the truth, no matter how bitter it is and then we know what to do.

“Let them tell us the truth as a nation and then collectively we know how to sort it out together, but just lying about it or trying to politicise it will not work for us as a nation. We are hopefully waiting for Tuesday when they said that the girls could possibly be released.

“We honestly want this to end and the girls back so that we can begin to rehabilitate them.”

Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili, whose “Bring back our girls” campaign has highlighted daily protests in Abuja, told Reuters she was “cautiously optimistic”, but “extremely anxious, not knowing what the details of this ceasefire really are. If it happens, it would

be the best news in decades”.

“We were jubilating. We had every reason to be happy ... but since then the ceasefire has been broken in quite a number of places already,” Lawan Abana, a parent of the one of the missing girls, told Reuters by telephone.

He added that there were doubts about the credentials of the reported Boko Haram negotiator, Danladi Ahmadu, who was unheard of before. “Can we trust him that he can deliver on this promise of releasing the girls when he has not delivered on the promise of the ceasefire?”

Abana said.

Senator Ahmed Zannah (Borno Central) advised the Federal Government to tread with caution in implementing any ceasefire agreement with the insurgents.

Zannah told the News Agen-

cy of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the Federal Government must exercise wisdom and discretion in dealing with the issue.

He expressed doubt about the sincerity of Boko Haram on the ceasefire.

He said: “I do not think it is true, because the Boko Haram insurgents are still attacking communities in Borno.

“The insurgents attacked villages in both Northern and Southern Borno on Saturday.’’

Zannah said if the ceasefire was real and sincere, the insurgents would not have attacked the villages.

The government said the attacks may not have been Boko Haram but one of several criminal groups exploiting the chaos of its insurgency.

“Boko Haram is deeply frac-

tured. The Nigerian government has had a ... difficult time identifying a Boko Haram representative who could make compromises and guarantee the entire group will observe them,” risk consultancy Stratfor said in a note.

“It is quite possible that Abuja has reached an agreement with a legitimate representative of a specific cell ... that holds the kidnapped schoolgirls captive,” it said at the weekend.

Ahmed Salkida, a Nigerian journalist who was once close to Boko Haram and shared a jail cell with its founder Mohammed Yusuf in 2009, tweeted that Continued on page 57

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THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 20, 2014

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NEWS From left: Alhaji Abdulazeez Adeleke, Chairman, United Community Development Association; Mr Kola Olaiya (Nollywood actor); Mr Saidi Balogun, President, Golden Movies Ambassador; Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise and Campaign for Democracy; Prince Jide Kosoko, former President, National Association of Theatre Practitioners; Mr Afolobi Omolaja, Legal Practitioner and Property Consultant; Mr Dotun Adetunji, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu chapter; Deacon Bayo Obatugashe, Coordinator, Women Arise, Ikorodu chapter and others at a public lecture in Lagos...at the weekend.

of IDPs Gowon truly committed to one Minister seeks participation in 2015 polls T Nigeria, says Jonathan P RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, is truly committed to a united Nigeria.

The President spoke yesterday at Gowon’s 80th birthday thanksgiving service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

Dignitaries on the occasion included the Senate President David Mark; former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; former Army Chief, Gen. T. Y. Danjuma; former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya; former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; Ondo and Plateau State Governors Olusegun Mimiko and Jonah

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Jang.

Also present were the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John OdigieOyegun; Ijaw leader Chief Edwn Clark; some members of the Jonathan cabinet and other top government officials.

The President noted that Gowon, even with his federal might during the 19671970 civil war, did not see the Biafra as a side that should be crushed but was more

saddled with how to keep Nigeria one.

Jonathan said: “He (Gowon) was not bent on defeating an opponent but how to keep the country one. He is totally committed to keeping Nigeria one, even after his life in the military.”

The President said Gowon should be honoured, adding that the former Head of State is a good example of an elder statesman who is more committed to leaving a better Nigeria for generations yet unborn.

He said Gowon had been

working with every government and never failed to attend the Council of State meeting, except when it was inevitable.

Delivering a sermon, titled: God Keeps His Promises, the Archbishop of Jos, Dr. Ben Kwashi, likened the life of Gen. Gowon to the time of Joel in the Bible, adding that he did not disassociate himself from the troubles of his time.

The cleric said God had never and would never punish the righteous but would always judge and punish the wicked.

Court restrains ex-Head of State’s son from accounts

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USTICE Saliu Seidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained Mr Risqua Muhammed, son of late Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, from withdrawing from his accounts in any bank.

The judge granted a mareva injunction barring him and his company, AMG Petroenergy Limited, from tampering with their money until a debt recovery suit filed against them by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc is heard and determined.

GTB sued them over their alleged refusal to liquidate a multi-million dollar credit facility, despite repeated demands.

The judge ruled on an exparte application filed by GTB’s lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN).

By Joseph Jibueze

The bank said on May 18, 2011, it granted two import credit facilities for $40 million to the defendants, with an additional existing term loan of N630 million.

The facilities were said to have been for financing the establishment of local letters of credit in favour of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas/Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (NLNG, NNPC/ PPMC) and NGL to fund the payment of Gas/Condensate/Naphtha lifted based on allocation to the company by the Federal Government.

The bank said the facilities were also used to finance the

establishment of letters of credit for the purchase of refined petroleum products from international and local sources for onward supply to Total Plc, Mobil Oil Plc, Exxon Mobil and Total Upstream.

The facilities were further meant to accommodate associated freight and logistics costs, as well as refinancing of the existing debts of the first defendant (AMG Petroenergy Limited).

Mohammed, as the Chairman and Managing Director of the first defendant, was said to have personally pledged to repay the credit facilities.

But trouble started when, at the expiration of the facilities’ tenure in August 2012,

the defendants allegedly failed to meet their obligations.

Quakers said it was evident from the defendants’ actions that they were not prepared to liquidate the outstanding debt, which stood at N1.365 billion, while interest continues to accrue at the bank’s lending rate.

“The plaintiff cannot allow this flagrant violation of the defendants’ obligations to continue as its depositors’ and shareholders’ funds are at risk,” Quakers said.

The bank promised to indemnify the defendants in the unlikely event that the order ought not to have been made.

Justice Saidu adjourned till November 3 for hearing of the motion on notice.

Ndoma-Egba lists dangers of high turnover in parliament

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HEAD of next year’s elections, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba has said the country should be mindful of the massive disservice inherent in high turnover of members of the legislature.

The senator, who addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja, denied complicity in the alleged attack on a House of Representatives member John Eno. The Cross River Central senator said it was regrettable that only two senators survived from 1999 till date while the Senate lost 107 senators without anybody thinking of the implications to parliamentary institution.

The country, he said, should be wary of the mas-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sani Onogu, Abuja

sive haemorrhage and erosion of institutionalisation caused by continuous high turnover in parliament.

Ndoma-Egba noted that unlike the legislature, elaborate bureaucracy services the Executive and the Judiciary.

The senator said what constitutes the institutional memory of a parliament is the aggregate memory of its members.

According to him, in the United States, if about four or seven senators lose their positions during an election year, it is considered an upheaval.

He said in Nigeria, 30 senators hardly return to their po-

sitions in an election year.

Asked why he wanted to return to the Senate in 2015, Ndoma-Egba said: “First of all, the Nigerian constitution provides for tenure and age limit for the Executive to qualify for certain offices. In the Judiciary, you must practise for a certain number of years before you can be eligible for appointment. And there is a retirement age there.

“In the legislature, the provision is for an entry age; it has no tenure limit. It has no retirement age too. In the presidential constitution all over the world, it is the same practice because of the peculiarity of the parliament.

“There is an elaborate bureaucracy to service the Executive. There is a formal

handover and taking over notes during a change of government in the Judiciary.

“There is a hierarchy of courts and judicial precedents, so that when the highest court pronounces an issue illegal, every other court under it is bound by that pronouncement.

“The Judiciary also has a very elaborate archival system. If you are looking for a judgement delivered by a customary court in 1981, you are likely to find it.

“Now, in parliament, we have the bureaucracy that serves the institution. But parliament is made up of members and those members, when voted out of office, leave with their contacts, network, records, knowledge and experience.”

HE Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna, has called for provisions that would enable internally displaced persons (IDPs) to participate in next year’s elections.

The minister noted that IDPs, whether on account of insurgency or natural disasters, such as flood and any other circumstance, should not be disenfranchised to exercise their civic responsibility.

Addressing reporters in Abuja, Haruna said amendments should be made in the Electoral Act to allow them cast their votes and for their votes to count for any party or any candidate they choose.

He said: “That is actually the important thing. The National Assembly should take the fastest track to ensure that

From Augustine Ehikioy, Abuja

in the 2015 elections, such a provision is made for the IDPs in all parts of the country.”

Haruna said creating an enabling electoral environment for IDPs was not just a matter concerning the Northeast alone, adding that they are all over the country.

He said: “It will be unfair to deny them the opportunity to exercise their civic duty and their numbers run into millions. So, this is a personal appeal. I am sure I am speaking the minds of the IDPs.” Haruna said the peculiar circumstance of the IDPs should not be used to disenfranchise them.

Wogu: I’m leaving Labour Ministry better From Tony Akowe, Abuja

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ORMER Labour and Productivity Minister Emeka Wogu has said he was leaving the ministry better than he met it to contest the governorship seat of Abia State.

The minister spoke through Deputy Director, Press, Samuel Olowookere, during his handover to the permanent secretary, Dr. Clement Illoh.

Wogu resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday to face his governorship ambition.

The former minister said he repositioned the ministry and boosted its capacity for service delivery in the areas of crisis resolution, human and institutional development drives.

He urged the management and workers of the ministry and its corporations to always support the implementation of the Labour-friendly Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Dedicating his achievements to God and the workers, Wogu expressed appreciation to the President for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation.

‘Infrastructure to deliver 70% GDP by 2043’ HE Minister of Na-

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tional Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, has said the Federal Government is targeting a growth of about 70 per cent in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the current 20 to 25 per cent through the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan by 2043.

The minister spoke at a meeting with Commissioners for Economic Planning

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

and chief executives of planning agencies across the country.

He noted that for the master plan to be successfully implemented, state and Federal governments must establish delivery units within their ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to drive implementation.

Jonathan condoles with CAN

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has received news of the death of the founder and General Overseer of Greater Evangelism World Crusade Ministries International, Apostle Geoffrey Dabibi Numbere.

On behalf of his family and the Federal Government, the President extended his heartfelt condolences to Apostle Numbere’s wife, Mrs. Nonyem Numbere, his children, relatives and members

of the church.

He also commiserated with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the people of Rivers State on the death of the cleric.

Dr Jonathan joined them in mourning the spiritual leader and former CAN Chairman in the Southsouth, adding that his impact on the moral and social development of millions of Nigerians and non-Nigerians would be greatly missed.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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NEWS Editors to honour ex-NAN chief Remi Oyo tomorrow

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IGERIAN editors will tomorrow honour their former president and former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dame Oluremi Oyo, who died on October 1. She was 62.

Tagged: Media Afternoon of Songs and Tribute in Honour of Remi Oyo, the event will hold at NAN’s Media Centre in Iganmu, Lagos.

It will start at 4p.m and close at 6p.m.

The event is organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) and NAN. It will afford editors the opportunity to express their memories of the woman who led them for two terms (four years) and brought dignity and respectability to the guild.

The afternoon is expected to have hymns, Bible reading, prayers for the Oyo family, exhortation, testimonies, among others.

“It’s a solemn opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of the woman who served the NGE, journalism, and indeed, Nigeria well,” said NGE President Femi Adesina.

“Let the tribesmen and women of Dame Oluremi Oyo (editors) turn out in their numbers to honour the deceased and comfort her family,” Adesina added.

Other rites of passage for the week include a requiem mass by noon on October 22, at SS Joachim and Anne Catholic Church, Ijegun, Lagos; Christian wake on October 23 at 5p.m at NAN Media Centre, National Theatre, Iganmu and a funeral mass on October 24, at St. Dominic’s Basilica, Yaba, at 10a.m.

This will be followed by interment at Ebony Vaults at Atan Cemetery, Yaba.

Dame Oyo was senior special adviser (Media and Publicity) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2003 and 2007. She later became NAN Managing Director, a position she held till last year.

Six polio cases recorded in 2014

2015: Jonathan, PDP face tough task in Southeast, Southsouth

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ONTRARY to the assumption of an easy ride for President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 eletions, they may face some challenges in the Southeast and Southsouth.

Some angry stakeholders in the zones are threatening protest votes if the party’s primaries were not transparent to allow the people’s will to prevail.

One of the Southsouth governors has threatened to ask his favoured senatorial candidate to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unseat a two-term senator.

The development is said to be of concern to the PDP leadership.

Investigation by our correspondent showed that the PDP is at a crossroads in eight states following attempts by some governors to impose governorship candidates on the party.

A high-ranking PDP leader, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are having serious challenges in some

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

states in the Southeast and Southsouth. The consensus option is being resisted in about eight states.

“Some of the aspirants are already threatening to defect to APC or work against the interest of the party.

“We have a case where a governor is threatening to work against the interest of the party. We may lose some states in the Southeast and Southsouth unless we are circumspect.

“I can assure you that the President and PDP leaders will try to resolve the crisis.”

A member of the NWC said: “We have already opened discussions with some of the affected governors in order to put the success of the party above any other consideration.

“What you call problems or challenges are not limited to the PDP. We will sort things out in a ‘family manner’ to avoid going for the 2015 poll divided.”

Some of the governors facing tough tasks in anointing their successors are: Emmanuel Uduaghan

(Delta), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Sullivan Chime (Enugu) and Theodore Orji (Abia).

In Rivers and Imo states, the battle for the governorship slots is tearing the PDP apart.

While the crisis of confidence in Rivers State is between former Minister Nyesom Wike and some stakeholders, the struggle for the ticket in Imo has pitched former Governor Ikedi Ohakim against Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha.

The case at hand in Enugu State has pitched Governor Sullivan Chime against stakeholders.

In Delta State, favoured candidate, Tony Obuh, is facing a battle from Ovie OmoAgege, Ndudi Elumelu and Ngozi Olojeme.

But the issue in Delta is the opposition to the zoning of the governorship slot.

A source said: “As the PDP gears up to retain the Presidency and the governorship in Delta State, the party leadership needs to be conscious

of a startling fact: In 2011, elections in Delta Central alone accounted for about 60 and 50 per cent of votes in the presidential and governorship elections.

“Zoning in Delta State has been an issue of concern among the stakeholders.

Even though Delta North keeps pushing, it remains the only zone that is yet to produce a governor. Delta Central and Delta South are saying the zoning formula does not come to play as far as the 2015 elections are concerned.

“Many analysts believe President Goodluck Jonathan faces a tough reelection battle with the emergence of the All Progressives Party (APC), which is threatening PDP’s hold on the central government.

“In 2011, voter turnout in the Southeast and Southsouth was 65.8 per cent and 67.96 per cent. If Jonathan and the party must hold on to power, there must be an increase in voter turnout in the 2015 presidential election in these geopolitical zones...”

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From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

FORTY-eight senior noncommissioned officers (SNCOs) and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) from the three services of the Armed Forces at the weekend completed the highest clerical staff duty course in Jaji, Kaduna State.

The Commandant of the college, Air Vice-Marshal John Chris Ifemeje, urged them to always protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

He stressed the need for the officers to further build on their knowledge, adding that the more enlightened they were, the more efficient they would function.

Ifemeje said: “As supervisors, chief clerks and personal assistants, it is important to know that your superiors will depend on the knowledge you have gained here and, sometimes, the lives of your colleagues and innocent citizens of this country would depend on the decisions you make.”

First Lady seeks patriotism

By Bode Monogbe

•From left: Director, Defence Information, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Maj.Gen. Chris Olukolade; Coordinator, National Information Centre (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri and the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu (police Commissioner) addressing reporters on the state of the nation at the National Information Centre, in Abuja ...at the weekend

FIRST Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has urged Nigerians, especially those in government and politics, to be exemplary in their conduct.

She advised other Nigerians to cultivate good attitude and exhibit righteousness to enable all build a virile nation.

The First Lady spoke at the Wise Men Conference of the Christian Pentecostal Mission International in Ajao Estate, Lagos, through the Special Adviser to the President o Ethics and Values, Dr Sarah Jubril.

NDE trains 30 youths From Kolade Adeyemi Kano

By Nneka Nwaneri

HE Nigerian National Polioplus Committee has regretted that Nigeria still ranks third in the index of countries having the polio epidemic.

It is ranked with Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Chairman of Nigeria National Polioplus Committee (NNPPC), Dr Tunji Funsho, has said.

The chairman noted that though the country had been struggling with the epidemic since 1985, it recorded six cases this year in two states: five in Kano and one in Yobe.

But he said the cases represented 99 per cent reduction from previous cases.

A lot of work should be done to ensure that children are immunised against the virus, Funsho said.

The chairman addressed reporters at the weekend on the committee’s activities ahead of the World Polio Day on October 24.

He hoped that polio could be eradicated, like small pox, if everybody did the right thing.

48 senior officers, others conclude course

Balewa’s son: Jonathan’s consensus shameful

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R. Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, son of the late Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, has said the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as its consensus candidate is shameful.

He said those who agreed to make the President a consensus candidate were people trying to escape the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hammer or governors trying to secure seats in the Senate.

Tafawa Balewa said though he is the strong member of the PDP, he would not support the consensus because Nigeria is not a communist nation and the PDP a noncommunist party.

The politician addressed reporters at the weekend in Abuja, where he said that he was not engaging in antiparty activity for rejecting consensus and declaring his

From Grace Obike, Abuja

bid to run for the Presidency under the PDP. He said: “The consensus was taken very shamefully.

We used to blame the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the constituent parties that made up the APC, that they don’t have internal democracy. They would just choose someone and say this is the next person; that we had internal democracy.

“If you look at some of these people who gave the consensus, they all have loads of baggage behind them. On the same day, you would read in the newspaper that they had been given a pass that EFCC would not touch them and the governors would be able to get senatorial seats. So, all of these people are saving their butts.

It isn’t out of love. But we will not make it easy for them to go outside of the democratic principles. I am contesting.

“Choosing a consensus candidate for the party is not in the constitution of the party. I have been a member of this party since 1998 in the United States. We started the PDP. I remain a viable member and my rejection of the consensus is not being antiparty. We are not a communist nation. This is not a communist party. It is a democratic party and the name of the party is the PDP. It will remain that way. Even if these lily-livered people continue to carry out shenanigans, we will not allow it.

“I love this country with all my heart and I cannot watch this country dive into an abyss. I can rescue it. I will rescue it; I am going to rescue it. I think that the SevenPoint Agenda by (the late President Umaru) Yar’Adua was a little too much. It was okay and doing something on a time line basis with the Transformation Agenda, I ask: What are we transforming? That’s because I can’t

seem to go past the present continuous tense of the word ‘transform’; I don’t know what to transform. It is not moving where it should move.”

He added: “I am in the race because I am a Nigerian. I am in the race because I don’t think Nigeria is going in the right direction. We need to turn the ship of state around and reposition it to where it should be heading.

“That the NEC or whatever mnemonic you want to use has endorsed him (Jonathan); that is fine. I hope that when the time comes, they will vote for him. I am appealing to all Nigerians and I am putting my wares out to know that I can do a heck of a lot better than we have now.

“Nigeria cannot afford to move at this snail pace because Nigeria is lagging behind in every area for a country this old and a nation this large. We are lagging in everything.”

THE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Kano State is training 30 unemployed youths on environmental beautification under its empowerment programme.

The state NDE Coordinator, Alhaji Aliyu Bichi, addressed reporters yesterday in Kano ion the training.

He noted that under the programme, the beneficiaries would be trained in POP, interlock and tree nurseries production.

Vehicle owners get ultimatum THE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of abandoned vehicles at the Area ‘M’, Idimu Division, to remove them or lose them to the public through auction, two weeks after this publication.

The vehicles are: One Explorer Ford Jeep (unregistered); one scrap Expedition Ford Jeep with registration number AS356KWL and one scrap Toyota Camry (DE621SMK).

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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NEWS

Fayemi clears air on Ekiti’s debt

13 injured in Ondo accident From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HIRTEEN pedestrians were injured at the weekend in an accident in Oka- Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

An eye witness said the incident involved three trucks belonging to a manufacturing company.

The trucks, it was learnt, were going to Abuja from Lagos. A resident, who identified himself as Gidado, said the victims were taken to a government hospital in the town.

Gidado said road accidents have become a daily occurrence in the town.

The victims were said to be indigenes, who were returning home.

10,000 for convention

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BOUT 10,000 people are expected to attend this year’s edition of the Jehovah’s Witnesses annual convention in Ilerin-Ilesa, Osun State.

The convention spokesperson, Paul Oyebisi, in a statement, said the convention, which begins on October 31, would last for seven weeks.

The theme of the convention holding at the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Ilesa Assembly Hall is “Keep Seeking First God’s Kingdom!”

He said: “This convention will hold every weekend for seven weeks. People of many faith pray for God’s Kingdom.

This convention will explain what that kingdom is and how it can be a positive influence in our lives.

“The highlight of the programme will be the keynote address every Friday morning, which will discuss how that kingdom is benefitting people.”

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ORMER Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has debunked the allegation by Governor Ayodele Fayose that the state owes N87billion.

In a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi said the state owed N36billion and not N87billion as claimed.

It said: “The media was awash last Friday with allegations of financial recklessness and huge indebtedness by the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi.

“Fayose had, in his inaugural speech, put the state’s debt profile at N57 billion. A day earlier, he had put the figure at N89billion during a televised interview.

“This is in addition to the various unprintable words he used to describe the Fayemi administration.

“Although former Commissioner for Information Tayo Ekundayo has responded to the allegations, it has become necessary to provide additional details to that earlier reaction.

“The concern here is that the public could be misled by the fraudulent claims and deliberate distortions of facts and figures.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the state’s debt as at October 15 is N36,316,017,758.93.

“Of this amount, N7,830,636,440.62 represents foreign loans incurred by previous administrations since the days of the old Ondo State.

FACTS AND FIGURES •Ekiti State has a debt of N36,316,017,758.93.

•Foreign Loans N7,830,636,440.62 •Internal Loans N28, 485,381,316.31 •Fed Govt owes Ekiti N17,710,728,299.06 •State’s balance N1,930,739,725.84 •Bond Sinking Fund balance N3,019,987,424.03 From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

“The difference of N28, 485,381,316.31 represents internal loan. This includes inherited loans from previous administrations and outstanding balance (debt) of the bond taken at the Capital Market.

“Despite this, the Federal Government owes the state N17,710,728,299.06. This include N10,839,493,135.63 (amount due from construction of federal roads); N4,012,384,082.60 (refund on Paris Club) and N2,858,851,080.83 (amount due on ecological projects).

“If the Federal Government had graciously paid part of this, the state’s debt profile would have been greatly reduced.

“It is our belief that Fayose was hasty in making a pronouncement on the state’s finances and other matters without first going through the handover note, which contains details of government transactions and financial situation.

Nothing can be more mischievous and irresponsible.

“The governor alleged that the state account was in red but the state bank balances as at

October 15 stood at N1,930,739,725.84. This comprised N1,463,805,908.56 (state account) and N466,933,817.28 (local government account).

“Also, the Bond Sinking Fund Account balance as at September stood at N3,019,987,424.03.

“Nothing could be farther from the truth than Fayose’s allegation that none of the MDAs account had up to N1million. For instance, the Ministry of Agriculture’s account is in the excess of N90million, while the MDG account has close to N1 billion.

“There is no responsible leader in Nigeria today that will not acknowledge the poor state of the economy, a development that has made it difficult for the Federal Government to meet its obligations to states.

“In the last two years, states have had to leave the monthly FAAC meetings empty handed, as they did last week. This is in addition to a huge reduction in the amount given to the states.

“In Ekiti State, for instance, the federal allocation has dropped by about N480million monthly since

the beginning of the year and this has placed a huge strain on government finances.

“The government has had to resort to bank facilities in order to augment the now insufficient allocation and pay salaries.

“As a government that is committed to its citizens’ welfare, the Fayemi –led administration had in 2011 approached the Capital Market where it raised a N25billion bond which it spent on infrastructure and projects which are regenerative in nature.

“Of the amount, about N14 billion has been repaid through the laid down repayment regime. The outstanding balance of the bond money forms part of the N28billion debt profile according to the state’s audited accounts, which were published in some newspapers last week.

“It is also pertinent to state that the governor’s claims that the former administration owed two months salaries are dubious. The only salary being owed is that of September and the development was sequel to the reluctance of banks to give the state facilities, following sundry allegations of collaboration levelled against the banks by Fayose.

“In all this, the Debt Management Office (DMO), a Federal Government agency, still rates Ekiti State as one of the least indebted states in the country.”

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HE Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) is to instal 500,000 electricity prepaid meters in the next three years.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Abiodun Ajifowobaje, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said the installation would begin in December.

The CEO said IKEDC would ensure effective metering for customers without meters to stop estimated billing.

He told NAN that the company was faced with challenges of adequate meters and insufficiency of energy from the National Grid.

Ajifowobaje, however, said IKEDC was working out modalities for a lasting solution to the problems.

The CEO said the company had established a customers’ forum’’ in all its business units.

“Our first phase plan is to ensure that about 300,000 pre-paid meters are rolled out by December while the others will be installed to replace faulty ones in the next three years.

“The IKEDC receives 350 mega watts to 450 mega watts instead of a daily energy supply of 1,250 mega watts from the National Grid.

“I am, however, happy to report that IKEDC is involved in talks with several partners to explore supply from embedded power generation, independent power projects and other sources, to improve supply.”

‘Jonathan’ll lose in Ondo’

Osogbo gets chief imam

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HEIK Musa Animashaun was installed yesterday as the 17th Chief Imam of Osogbo.

The ceremony was attended by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Asiwaju Musulumi in Yorubaland, Alhaji Tunde Badmus and other Muslim leaders.

The 78-year-old cleric succeeded Sheik Mustapha Ajisafe, who died on September 8.

Speaking at the ceremony also attended by members of the League of Imams and Alfas in the Southwest, the Chief Imam of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu Oladosu, urged the federal, state and local governments to correct the imbalance against Muslims in appointments into public offices.

He called on all citizens to learn to live together in peace and harmony.

“We all hope today that as Muslims and Christians, we will work together for a United States of Nigeria, which has been the dream of our founding fathers.

“And since God did not create humans to belong to one religion, everybody must respect the beliefs of others.”

Badmus urged Muslims, Christians and traditionalists to work together for the nation’s development.

500,000 pre-paid meters coming

•Aregbesola (second right); Animashaun (second left), Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun (right) and Badmus at the event...yesterday

Kumuyi to Fayose: rule with fear of God

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EEPER Life Bible Church General Superintendent Pastor Williams Kumuyi counselled Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to be Godfearing in his four-year stewardship.

Pastor Kumuyi, in a letter read at Fayose’s thanksgiving service, urged him to imbibe “integrity, openness, transparency and prudence in the discharge of his duties”.

The cleric, represented by Pastor Jeremiah Asemota, thanked the governor for picking the church for the programme.

Speaking at the service during what was tagged “testimony session”, Fayose pledged to resist attempts by sycophants to teleguide him.

The governor said: “Having a second chance is very rare. My return to government is not common in history. It is a rare miracle.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

“During the seven and half years of my political wilderness, I was taken to court over what I knew nothing about 59 times, aside the 45 days I spent in Ikoyi Prisons during my trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“My security and political aides, such as Dayo Okondo, were incarcerated for three and half years without committing any offence. I won’t allow sycophants to derail me again.

“All my property were left in the Government House because I had to flee. But this time my mission is to look after Ekiti people and not to fight anybody.

“I will not allow this position to go into my head or use it to oppress anybody. I don’t have anybody in mind to punish, battle with or fight in any

way.”

In her testimony, Fayose’s wife, Feyisetan, said: “God revealed to me that my husband will return as the governor, but he never told me the time.

“God told me that our return would be done in such a way that will beat people’s imagination. But because of the troubles we went through, at a time I prayed to God to push my husband out of politics. Later, God told me that He will leave him there for him to prove His power.

“Today, God has manifested His power. This is not by our power or strength, but by the grace of God.” Mrs. Fayose said her husband facilitated her closeness to God 19 years ago, when he took her to Deeper Life Bible Church.

“This is where I found God because I was deep in worldliness in terms of dressing and behaviour. Today, God has

seized my life and I thank Him for restoring our lost glory.”

At the service were Deputy Governor Olusola Eleka; former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala; Speaker, House of Assembly Adewale Omirin; lawmakers; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dupe Alade and the Sole Administrator, State Broadcasting Service, Mr. Lere Olayinka.

Others were the Southwest Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Makanjuola Ogundipe; State Secretary TKO Aluko, PDP BOT member Biodun Olujinmi; Pastor Sola Odumosu; Senator Bode Ola and Commissioner of Police Taiwo Lakanu.

A statement by Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary Idowu Adelusi in Ado-Ekiti said Lanre Ogunsuyi had been appointed as special assistant on Information and Civic Orientation.

FORMER chieftain of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in Ondo State, Bayo Sadibo, at the weekend said President Goodluck Jonathan would lose in the state.

He said this was due to the waning popularity of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Sadibo, who is the national coordinator of the Social Democratic Movement (SDM) a non-partisan organisation, described Jonathan as a good man.

He warned the President against promoting “failed politicians and political degenerates” from the Southwest because they would not help him to win elections in the zone.

Sadibo said Mimiko joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to avoid disgrace.

“Mimiko has the right to join any party. But because of the Labour Party’s (LP) dwindling fortunes in Ondo State, he quickly joined the PDP to avoid impeachment.

“Let me tell you, his defection has “ebolarised” PDP and the party’s fortunes have dwindled. Before his defection, PDP was enjoying some measure of acceptability with the people of Ondo State. Because of him, Jonathan can never win in Ondo State.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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NEWS Our projects impact on people, says Ajimobi

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said his administration has been executing projects that impact on the people.

He said this when the Country Director and executive members of African Development Bank (ADB) visited him at the weekend.

The governor said his administration would partner the bank in the provision of infrastructure to enhance living standards.

Ajimobi said his administration had rehabilitated the Asejire Water Plant, which had been moribund for 17 years.

With the inauguration of the rehabilitated water plant, Ajimobi said water supply to Ibadan and its environs had improved drastically.

“Since we have rehabilitated the Asejire Plant, which is now working at 80 per cent capacity, so many areas that had not had water for the past 17 years, now have water.

“It is our belief that the purpose of governance is to provide the atmosphere for the people and businesses to thrive,’’ he said.

The governor said his administration had repositioned the state to meet the challenges of the modern world through its urban renewal programme.

ADB’s Country Director Ousmane Dore pledged the bank’s readiness to continue to partner with the government in the provision of social infrastructure through a publicprivate partnership arrangement.

•Ajimobi (third left); Dore (third right); Country Programme Officer, Ando Mensah (second right), Principal Water and Sanitation Engineer, Tom Mugoya (right), Secretary to the State Government, Ismail Olalekan Alli (left) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Public-Private Partnership, Mrs. Folake Akinleye...at the weekend.

Governor praises Ambode

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Fashola flays bid to take over Lagos-Badagry road T

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has criticised the Federal Government‘s planned takeover of the Lagos- Badagry Expressway.

Fashola spoke yesterday at the celebration of his 2,700 days in office at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Agidingbi.

The governor said the Federal Government would have the state to contend with if it went ahead with the plan as revealed by the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, during his visit last month.

He said Lagosians in the last 2700 days had enjoyed the dividends of democracy and were un aware of the Federal Government’s plans to derail the state’s development process.

“About the light rail project, I told you the red

•’Fed Govt owes Lagos N51b’

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

line was delayed because we have not received Federal Government approval to share its corridor. On the statement credited to the Minister Onolememen.

Honestly I don’t know. I have not heard about it, I have not read it.

“I think it will be wise to hear what they have to say on the matter and I think it will be an unfortunate journey to even contemplate that idea.

“They will have us to contend with should that be the case but I don’t think that anybody who is sensible will want to stand in the way of development what will the objective be?

“You are not providing the money and the design; we are doing this so that our

state can move forward. I don’t want to believe he made that statement. I think we will leave it there.”

Fashola called on the Federal Government to return N51 billion that the Lagos State government spent on federal roads.

He noted that the state’s debt burden would be less and that the state would have less to borrow if that money was returned.

Speaking on speculations that he may be picked as a running mate to General Muhamadu Buhari, he said he was preoccupied with his duties as governor.

Fashola said he was at Buhari’s declaration because the former head of state sent him an invitation.

The governor denied speculations that governor-

ship aspirants in Lagos State were holding meetings to enable them come out with a consensus candidate.

He added that the APC had a constitution, which prescribes primaries as prelude for emergence of candidates for elective offices.

The governor gave pass marks to the APC aspirants, stressing that any of them could govern the state.

He warned the electorate against voting for people who seek to use the state for an experiment.

Fashola said his government recorded great achievements in various sectors in the last 2700 days in office, including the successful containment ofthe Ebola Viral Disease, launching of Sonmori Senior Comprehensive High School, Ifako Ijaiye, handing over of Motor Vehicle Administration Agency.

Why Ife, Modakeke are at ‘war’

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RESH facts have emerged on why the people of Modakeke and Ife are planning another round of war against each other.

It was gathered that the Ife people are accusing Modakeke residents of voting against their interest in the August 9 governorship election, which Governor Rauf Aregbesola won.

Following the result, the Ife people were said to have demanded that the residents of Modakeke, who are predominantly farmers, should not return to the farmlands owned by the Ife. The Ife were also said to be demanding royalties on the farmland which the Modakeke have resolved not to pay.

It was further gathered

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, during his campaign rallies to Modakeke communities, promised to appeal to Ife elders and traditional chiefs to allow the Modakeke return to the farmland on the condition that they would vote for him.

But with the more than 90 per cent votes in Modakeke for Aregbesola, this allegedly created “deep seated” animosity between Ife and Modakeke, resulting in a renewed plan by the two communities to go war.

The Modakeke and Ife communities fought a war from 1997 which lasted about five years over creation of Ife-East Local Gov-

ernment and the citing of the new council’s headquarters within Ife. Many lives and property were lost to the war, until the Federal Government under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, intervened and ended it.

Last week, Modakeke youths blocked the roads leading to Amokegun, Oyolowa, Alapata villages and would not allow motorists plying the areas to Ore in Ondo State have a thorough fare.

Armed with cutlasses, axes and guns, the youth, who were shooting into the air, made a bonfire on major roads across their communities.

Police spokesperson Mrs. Folasade Odoro said riot policemen have been drafted in the area.

Court of Appeal Ekiti moves to Ilorin

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HE Court of Appeal sitting in AdoEkiti, the Ekiti State capital, has been moved to Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The relocation, which might not be unconnected with recent politicallymotivated unrest in the

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

state in the past weeks, would be temporary, according to a source.

Hoodlums unleashed a series of unrest within the high court premises, which also houses the magistrate

and appeal courts.

Vice chairman, state chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Gbemiga Adaramola, confirmed the reports at the weekend.

Adaramola said the relocation would take effect from today.

HE governorship bid of an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant, Akinwunmi Ambode, received a boost at the weekend as letter of commendation written to him by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola became public.

Ambode, who retired as the state’s Accountant-General after 27 years, was described by the governor as a dedicated and selfless man.

A group, Lagos Deserves More Forum, also said at the weekend it had been working with different groups across the state to broaden Ambode’s political support base.

The group said it had been waiting for Ambode to collect the APC forms.

In the letter of commendation dated December 2, 2012, Fashola wrote: “I write on behalf of the government and people of Lagos State to specially praise you for the high sense of dedication, selflessness, loyalty and integrity, which you have brought to bear during you public service career.

“You have always been guided by the philosophy of a true public officer, who must place himself last while rendering service to the public. While convinced that your brilliance and zeal would make you excel in your future endeavours, please be assured of the support of the state government as might be required.”

Church donates borehole

By Olatunde Odebiyi

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HE General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye, dedicated yesterday the RCCG, Complete Sanctuary, Dominion Area headquarters, Lagos province 17.

He also inaugurated a water project in front of the church at 14, Jas Ojo/ Pipeline Avenue, , Iju Ishaga, Lagos.

He was represented by pastor in charge, Region 2, Pastor Joseph Obayemi.

The pastor in charge, Pastor Soji Omotunde, said the project was part of the church’s corporate social responsibility to the community.

“The church has done this to make water available in the area,” he said.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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NEWS

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PDP crisis: Court urged to restrain ex-chair

FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has been urged to restrain the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Ken Emeakayi, from further parading himself in that capacity, having allegedly resigned on January 9, 2012.

The request formed part of the five prayers contained in a suit by the party's Administrative Secretary, Casmir Ajulu, but filed by his lawyer, Kenneth Nkwocha. It has Emeakayi, the PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first, second and third defendants.

It is the plaintiff's contention that despite his resignation, and the pending expiration of the tenure of the party's Executive Committee, which he headed, on October 24, Emeakayi has allegedly continued to claim that he will (as the party's chairman) conduct the primaries for the national and state assembly elections next year in Anambra State.

Ajulu said the case was informed by his realisation that the internal bickering in the

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

leadership of the party would hamper its performance next year if not resolved.

He averred in a supporting affidavit that by the three judgments delivered by the Ihiala and Nnewi divisions of the High Court of Anambra State, the first defendant was to serve out what was left of the tenure of the Executive Committee, led by Chief Emma Nweze, which was inaugurated on October 25, 2010.

Ajulu said the first defendant's tenure as the chairman of the Anambra PDP's Executive Committee took effect from July 11, 2011 when Chief Nweze resigned and his resignation letter was received by him (the plaintiff) as the administrative secretary.

The plaintiff also showed a letter, which he said was written by the first defendant's lawyer, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), dated May 8 last year, asking INEC to note that the Executive Committee

(which the first defendant became its head at the resignation of Nweze), was inaugurated on October 25, 2010 and had a tenure of four years.

He said Emeakayi resigned as the chairman via a letter of January 9, 2012, following which he (the plaintiff) had been managing the affairs of the party and its secretariat.

He argued that even with the first defendant's resignation and following the expiration of his tenure as the chairman on October 24, he allegedly continued to parade himself as the chairman, who will conduct the national and state assembly elections in February.

Ajulu averred that unless restrained, Emeakayi "will continue to parade himself and hold himself out to the party's stakeholders in order to deceive them that he is the substantive chairman of the party in Anambra State, and the second and third defendants are likely to accord the

first defendant recognition, contrary to the provisions of the constitution, the subsisting judgments of the court and his resignation letter of January 9, 2012."

The plaintiff, who raised four questions for the court's determination, seeks among others, a declaration that the tenure of office of the first defendant as the chairman of the PDP, Anambra State chapter and a member of the Executive Committee, having been inaugurated on October 25, 2010, lapses on October 24 by effluxion of tome and by virtue of the extant judgments of courts of competent jurisdiction.

The plaintiff also prayed for an order that the first defendant can no longer parade himself, act or function as the chairman of the Anambra State chapter of the PDP after his resignation on January 2012.

He seeks an order declaring the acts, conduct, functions

and decisions of the first defendant beyond January 2012 when he resigned as the chairman of Anambra State PDP as being illegal, null and void ab initio, and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the first defendant from parading himself or holding out himself, in whatever manner or ways, as the chairman of the PDP in Anambra State beyond October 24.

Ajulu also prayed the court for an order restraining the second and third defendants and their agents from dealing with, liaising or according any recognition to the first defendant in respect of any party matter or business, howsoever described that relate to the office of the chairman of the PDP, Anambra State chapter beyond October 24.

No date has been fixed for the case's hearing, although Ajulu also filed an affidavit of urgency, urging the court to hear the case on the grounds that time was of the essence.

‘Why I want to be governor’

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ENATOR Ifeanyi Araraume spoke at the weekend on why he is seeking the Imo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket.

He said unresolved problems, which bordered on good governance, informed his desire to salvage the “heartland of Igbo land.”

His words: “For me, I had the aspiration first in 2007 and it didn’t work out that time. Certain things made me to say I wanted to be governor in 2007 because Imo is the heartland of the Southeast. It is the heartland of the East actually and I believe that in Imo, we have a lot to offer if only the state has in governance, somebody who actually knows what to do.

Killers of rights’ activist to die From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

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HE killers of Abiabased human rights’ activist, Chidi Nwosu, who was murdered at Ameke Abam in Arochukwu Local Government on December 29, 2010, have been sentenced to death by hanging by a High Court in Arochukwu.

The court, presided over by Justice Uche Okoroafor, sentenced the six killers- Acha Uka Awo, Chimezie Awo, Oti Uka Awo, Sampson Ngozi Atum, Awo Uka Awo and Iroha Orji Ogbuagu to death for their involvement in the act.

The convicts had through their counsel, Victor Mbanaso, entered a no-case submission on the grounds that the prosecution did not satisfy the requirement of the law by linking them with the murder.

Justice Okoroafor dismissed the no-case submission and requested that the accused should enter their defence, but they refused and relied on the evidence of the prosecution witnesses.

The evidence of the prosecution was that the first accused, a driver to the deceased, who usually stayed with him whenever he came home, did not sleep in the deceased’s home on that day, but that moments after his killing, he was seen scooping the deceased’s blood into a container.

Ebonyi PDP chair resigns From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

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•From left: Commercial Director, Grand Oak Ltd, Aare Fatai Odesile; Chairman, Lexcel Group of Companies, Mr. Ola Rosiji; Managing Director, Grand Oak Ltd, Mr. Ashkay Kumar and an Executive Director, Mr. Adekunle Rosiji, during the relaunch of Swagga Schnapps and introduction of Bitter Variants in Akure... at the weekend.

HE Chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Ugorji AmaOti, has resigned.

Ama-Oti, a former member of the House of Assembly, resigned to contest the Afikpo North/ Afikpo South Federal Constituency.

He briefed reporters on the outcome of the weekend’s Executive Council meeting.

Said he: “The resignation takes effect from today. I am happy that the request was granted because an employer can reject an employee’s request for resignation.”

Enugu professionals to Chime: forget the Senate

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NUGU State professionals worldwide have asked Governor Sullivan Chime to forget his senatorial ambition in the interest of the state.

They said his withdrawal from the election will ensure that the comparative advantage Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s continuity in the Senate would bring to the state and the Southeast is not jeopardised.

Their stand was contained in a letter to the governor signed by over 1,000 members across the globe.

The principal signees are Uchenna Nnamani for Enugu East; Desmond Ugwu for Enugu North and Moses Chinegwu for Enugu West.

Writing under the auspices of Enugu Concerned Professionals Worldwide, the professionals asked Chime, in the interest of the state, to “listen to the collective voices of reason and consider the distractions and great loss inherent in your contest for an elective position.”

They listed 10 reasons why the governor should stay away from elective office.

The group said: “As a lawyer, we will not bore you with the constitutional provision of no-term limit for the legislative arm of our presidential

Forum endorses governor, Nwobodo

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S the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) approach, Enugu State professionals operating under the aegis of the Enugu Professional Forum (EPF) have supported the senatorial ambitions of Governor Sullivan Chime and his Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo.

They are believed to be interested in the Enugu West and Enugu East senatorial seats.

Rising from its monthly meeting yesterday in Enugu, the EPF in a communiqué by the President, Nebechi Ugo and Secretary, Tony Ugwu, also approved the processes, which led to the emergence of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the consensus candidate of the PDP for next year’s governorship election.

The group said Chime and Nwobodo earned its endorsement followFrom Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

system of government.

“The importance of no-term limit must override the need for zoning, which is not constitutional.

“The increase in effectiveness of legislators is due to experience: the more you do something, the better you get at it. Experienced legislators make good laws.

“The Senate and the House

From Chris Oji, Enugu

ing their “exceptional performance and exemplary professional approach to the issues pertaining to government, governance and political administration.”

It noted that the duo, by their exploits, gave the people the reason to believe again in government, especially when it is in the hands of professionals.

The body said: “As a lawyer and administrator, Chime has, through his achievements in office, redefined public administration and good governance. He has shown that with good vision, clear conscience, selflessness and the commitment expected of a true professional, real and enduring changes can be brought to the lives of the indigenes.”

EPF praised Mrs. Nwobodo, whom it said, applied her professional experience and knowledge as a chartered accountant

of Representatives have incumbency and seniority rules, which favour re-elected and experienced lawmakers. Examples abound worldwide.

“The Enugu West has one Senate position and two House of Representatives positions. The ranking senator is also the Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

“The people of this zone will be short-changed if the in-

and an administrator to ensure that the governor’s vision for the state was accomplished, even in the face of financial challenges.

The group said the duo deserved to be engaged in higher services to the state and nation, adding that it was confident that they would excel.

It noted: “In Governor Chime and Mrs. Nwobodo, Enugu State is presenting to Nigeria, two consummate professionals and proven administrators, who have left an indelible mark on the history of governance.

They belong to the best of the best and they are assets to this country.”

The communiqué described the processes, which produced Ugwuanyi as the “quintessence of democracy”, saying although they (processes) would not foreclose primaries, they portrayed the thinking of Enugu people.

cumbent senator is denied the opportunity to be re-elected.

Besides the loss of seniority, a change in the Senate wipes away the power and influence of the exalted office, which is fifth in the succession ranking in the country.”

The Enugu professionals insisted that Chime’s presence in the Senate would short-change the state.

They said: “Enugu State houses the capital of South-

east, the home of Ndigbo. The zone has benefited from federal appointments and the projects emanating from the Office of the Deputy Senate President. The loss of the Office of Deputy Senate President and Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament will be a worst disservice to be visited on any people by their leader.

“It is necessary for the Southeast to copy the Northcentral, which has given au-

tomatic ticket to the Senate President. The governor should be in the vanguard of making sure that the position is retained for the people of Southeast, Enugu State and, specifically, Enugu West.”

The group feared that the political turmoil generated by the governor’s interest in an elective position could create a rift in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They said there could be violence and loss of lives, insisting that it would be wrong to engender wasting of lives over “unnecessary political battles, which are not even in the interest of the people.”

The professionals noted that Chime might have been best fit for the executive position, as “the art of legislation calls for the type of political sagacity needed to lobby, move and pass legislation.”

“The eight-year experience in the executive position has prepared you better for executive position and less to delve into legislature, where a different personality is better fit,” they said.

The professionals urged the governor to focus on bequeathing a legacy and “stay out of elective office to allow the people of Enugu East, North and West elect their senators and representatives.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

10

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‘How church can fight crimes’

‘Help, my daughter is dying’ •Woman needs N7m to tackle daughter’s ailment

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WHAT have I not sold to see my daughter regain her peace since a year now? Where else will I run to, God?” Mrs Hawawu Moronkola, a teacher, fought back tears yesterday as she bemoaned the worsening plight of her ailing daughter.

Three-year-old Sofiyyah Moronkola, according to her mother, was full of life until about a year ago, when it was discovered that her brain was harbouring a tumour. She has since remained in pains.

The girl needs an urgent corrective surgery in an Indian hospital where her problem is being handled.

Her helpless mother is hoping that Nigerians will come to her aid and give her daughter the opportunity to live well again.

She first underwent a surgery at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, but her condition later relapsed, hence her referral to India.

Doctors attending to her in an Indian hospital said the successful removal of the tumour would gulp a whopping N7 million.

Dr Shibu Pillai of the

T

By Amidu Arije

Department of Neuro Surgery, who is attending to her at the hospital, told her family that because of her age, Sofiyyah would “need chemotherapy instead of radiotherapy.”

Also Dr Sunil Bhat of the Paediatric Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Department of the hospital said she needs urgent attention to make her live.

“I wish to state that Moronkola Sofiyyah is under our care for tumour of the brain. She has undergone surgery and has significant neurological impairment.

The prognosis of this condition is poor. In view of her young age, we are not planning radiotherapy for her at this point of time.

She needs to have chemotherapy in order to cure her,” Bhat said.

Mrs Moronkola, who said the family had so far spent about N7 million on the girl’s ailment, urged kind-hearted Nigerians to come to their aid to save their child’s life. For donations, an account, Moronkola Sofiyyah, with number, 3084586338, has been opened with First

•Sofiyyah

Bank Plc. “Since the doctors at the UCH discovered the tumour in her, we have been borrowing, begging and spending. So far, we have spent about N7 million on her medical bills. It has been rough. We are crying out for help again because the tumour still persists and doctors have said we still need N7million for

the treatment. I have lost my sleep because I don’t want to watch her die. This is why we need urgent help from anybody or organisation and time is fast running out on her,” she said.

Saying that she could be reached on 07046302898, the embattled woman also gave her husband’s number as: 07084845018.

Woman held for girl’s murder, missing son

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WOMAN has been arrested for the murder of a fouryear-old girl in Lagos.

She was arrested by operatives attached to the Orile Police Station, following the death of Nosifat Mubo who was recovered after she was declared missing with her seven-year-old brother, Lateef, on October 3.

Their father, Moshood Mubo of 305, Church Street,

•The Chairman of Bariga Local Government in Lagos State, Mr Akeem Omoyele Sulaimon, presenting a gas cooker to a resident of the area while other officials of the council look on during the state-sponsored Eko Gas programme at the council’s secretariat.

By Jude Isiguzo

Lagos Island, reported at Adeniji Adele Police Station that two of his children left home around 6pm to buy biscuits on the street but did not return.

On October 9, Lateef was recovered from a woman, Aminat Akanni of 20, Mosallashi Street, Alakara bus stop, Orile, who allegedly stole the siblings.

When detectives at Orile

Police Station, where the case was earlier reported, interrogated her, she confessed to stealing the siblings and taking them to where she “murdered” Nosifat.

Further investigations revealed that Aminat is the step-mother of the children she stole, “owing to a misunderstanding she had with her husband and his first wife.”

The woman was said to have confessed to drowning the child and dropping her dead body at Orile where she was discovered by the police.

The command’s spokesman Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident, saying that the case had been transferred to Orile Police Station for further action.

HE desperation for quick wealth can be checked even without much ado by the police and other law-enforcement agencies, a cleric said yesterday.

The Bishop, Diocese of Lagos Mainland, the Rt. Rev Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, said if religious organisations de-emphasised prosperity preaching, which, he said, breeds morbid materialism, and harp on salvation, people would learn to wait on God. He condemned the rising spate of various crimes across the country, especially armed robbery, kidnapping ritual killing, assassination, looting of public treasury, corruption, prostitution and exploitation/oppression of the poor.

Maintaining that the police would have less jobs in their hands if people turn to God and cease struggling for the vanities of life, the frontline cleric added: “Open any newspaper today, watch the television, listen to the radio or get to any gathering, what you hear are scary news of one crime or the other to the extent that the capacity of our security agencies has been over-stretched.

This is where the church needs to play its role.”

“Our bible teaches us that if we seek first the Kingdom of God, he would add to it, all the good things of life that we now daily crave. This is where some sections of our religious organisations are getting things wrong. Rather than emphasise the ultimate salvation of people’s souls after their earthly sojourn, all we hear now are sermons about how to drive

•Rev Olawuyi

By Basirat Braimah

posh cars, pay heavy tithes and build mansions all over the place.

“It is time we woke up from our pathetic illusion to realise that life is not only ephemeral but vain without Christ. Therefore, our brethrens must be made to realise that in order to live a Christlike life and ultimately secure a place in heaven, they must eschew the habit of get-richquick-at-all-costs,” Rev Olawuyi admonished.

He urged the rich and the highly-placed at all levels and strata in the society to spare a thought for the lessprivileged, whom he said, constitute the majority of the nation’s populace.

“How righteous are you in your relationship with God? How fair are you to your fellowmen? How do you treat your maids and servants? Do you think about your next destination after this life?

Does your heart harbour hatred and malice? Do you cheat? These are among the questions we must address to puncture the worsening tension in the land,” Rev Olawuyi said.

The government at all levels, he however advised, must stop treating the welfare of the masses and the unemployed with levity because according to him, when a person is deprived and hungry, he is naturally predisposed to crimes in order to eke out a living.

Women living with HIV/AIDS seek help

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OME women living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) under the aegis of Coalition of Women Living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria (COWHAN) have urged the government to come to their aid.

The women, through their National Coordinator, Mrs Lucy Attah, made the appeal at a media briefing in Lagos.

Mrs Attah, who has remained infected for 17 years, with none of her three children infected, said the condition of the women living with HIV/ AIDS is pathetic since there is no support from any quarter of the society.

“We live with stigmatisation and discrimination and at the stage of child giving we are mostly rejected and abandoned; this is a serious case because the doctors and nurses are not ready to carry out their duties. Some of us lack proper counselling at clinics on infant feeding and this boosts HIV/AIDS among the young ones.

“The government is not doing enough to see to our plights. We have been subjected to neglect and stigmatisation, hence we are appeal-

By Omolara Ogunwale

ing that the government to do something about this to curb further spread of the disease,” she said.

Mrs Attah, who admonished every HIV/AIDS-positive patient to use his drugs, take his dose completely as instructed, warned that some of the drugs administered on patients by doctors have negative effects that could cause mental disorder and miscarriage among other dangers.

The National Secretary of the COWHAN, Mrs Priscilla Ingbian, lamented the inhuman treatment meted out to them at hospitals. She said the Viral Loads Machine which are meant for tests are not available, adding that less than eight centres in the whole world have the machines.

The group’s National Treasurer, Mrs. Blessing Obius, said: “For a long time now, patients do not have access doctors owing to their strike. On September 27, I lost a patient that I referred to the hospital for TB check; owing to their lack of dedication to the profession, the patient died. They told me there was no light for screening sputum and he gave up”.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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Fear grips community over cultists’ clashes

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ESIDENTS of the Toll Gate area of Mushin, Lagos State, moved about with measured steps and bated breath yesterday. Obviously, they were unsure of when next they would hear sporadic shootings by their enemies within – cultists of various nomenclatures that had for long locked horns in supremacy tussle.

The tranquility of the area was rudely terminated again last Tuesday when during the clash by the rival cults from Fadeyi and Mushin areas, a youth was shot dead on the neighbouring Railway Line.

The day before, a 32-yearold young man, who was simply identified as Tunde, was reportedly beheaded by

By Dada Aladelokun

some cultists who stormed the place in large numbers.

They were said to have taken away the victim’s head.

A resident who spoke with this reporter early yesterday on Okanlawon Lane, said.

“We no longer enjoy sound sleep here. Even during the day, everyone is in fear because these cultists have become terrorists here. We don’t know where to run to because the presence of policemen at the Toll Gate near us here means nothing to them.

“The killing of last Tuesday was the fourth in three days. The cultists came in large numbers. We were told that they were joined by others from Somolu,

Hand-wash campaign moves to barracks

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EGULAR hand washing will contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on health and nutrition, a group, the Healthy Living and Women Empowerment Initiative (HELWEI), has said.

At an enlightenment campaign named “Kick dirt, hug life” to mark the Global Handwashing Day at the Okota police barracks, it said most diseases could be prevented through simple hygiene.

Addressing police officers and members of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), the group’s Executive Director, Ebere OkeyOnyema, said hand washing is “a veritable behavioural tool essential for prevention of communicable diseases.”

According to her, more awareness on sanitation and hygiene for improved health is needed in communities.

“The common ailments we suffer such as malaria, diarrhoea and very recently Ebola are connected to ‘dirt’. To bridge the gap on knowledge, we sensitise communities, women and children through our campaign.

She said: “It is imperative, therefore, for us all to under-

By Joseph Jibueze

stand that we are products of our environment as well as our attitude, thoughts and actions. If we could imbibe the culture of keeping our environment tidy and regular hand washing becomes our lifestyle; it would lead to improved health status of the community members.”

The HELWEI’s team engaged in cleaning of the barracks and donated shovels, brooms, rakes and waste baskets among others, to it.

Okey-Onyema said they would return in six weeks to check how far the barracks’ condition has improved.

“We want to work beyond Ebola. Today it’s Ebola, tomorrow it could be lassa fever. When you imbibe this culture of environmental cleanliness and hand-washing, it becomes a part of you,” she added.

The group has also paid advocacy visits to the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Meat Sellers Association.

Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr David Akinola urged the barracks’ management to set up a first aid centre.

Residents flee as police arrest traditional ruler

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TEAM of policemen last Saturday stormed Oko-Olomi village in Elemoro area of Ibeju-lekki Local Government area of Lagos State and arrested its traditional ruler, forcing residents to flee the community.

The traditional ruler, Baale Tunde Olowu, his younger brother, Lukmon Olowu and another resident, whose name was given as Wasiu, were also allegedly arrested.

The community’s lawyer, Mr Paul Bamidele Ogundele, accused the police of overzealousness and wrongful usage of their position as lawenforcement agents to take side in what he described as a minor family problem.

Ogundele alleged that a woman, Toyin Awawu ElekuBakare invited the police on false allegation of malicious damage, attempted murder and threat to her life, “because she was losing grip of her hold to power in the village.”

By Jude Isiguzo

He alleged that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Elemoro Police Station allowed himself to be used by deploying policemen who came and chased the villagers away.

However, a senior police officer at the station said all the suspects arrested had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja.

Ogundele has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Executive Director, Civil Liberty Organization (CLO), Amnesty International and the Chairman of the Police Service Commissions (PSC), alleging abuse of Human Rights.

It was gathered yesterday that police authorities at Zone 2 have ordered that the matter be transferred to the zone’s X-Squad for proper investigation.

Bariga and Ebute Metta.

They came in at night when everyone was in deep sleep and got the boy (Tunde). I hid myself and my only son under my bed.”

When asked about why they were at war, the resident said: “What we learnt was that they came on a reprisal over the arrest of a leader of one of their gangs called Toba following a violent class that rocked the area over three months ago. As things are, we can only appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola to work with the police to secure this area because we are in deep trouble.”

A pepper seller on the rail line was asked why she was yet to display it by 10.45 am yesterday. Palpable fear was

all over her as she replied: “My son, one has to look well here now since these bad boys won’t stop fighting. Did you not hear that they beheaded two young men last week? Since we are not sure of when next they will come with their trouble, we must be watchful. In fact, I’m contemplating staying at home for some time now because I cherish my life.”

A suspected worker at the Toll Gate who spoke with The Nation said human traffic across the rail line to and from Mushin had thinned down because of the notoriety of the area.

“You can observe that the whole place appears desolate. If you were familiar with this area, it used to be

busy with various activities.

Even beggars are afraid to do their “business” here now as they too don’t want to die,” she said.

Though she said policemen attached to nearby Alakara Police Station had joined hands with those at the Toll Gate to keep watch over the neighbourhood, she maintained that more must be done by the authorities to protect lives and property in the area because of the dangerous weapons being used by the hoodlums.

Sources from the state police command hinted yesterday that the incessant clashes in the area were being seriously investigated as efforts were being made to secure the area as well as other parts of the state.

Muslim youths condemn insecurity

By Ibrahim Adam

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HE Youth Wing of the Nasrullahi-liFathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) has urged government to improve the security situation in the country.

It also urged Nigerians to be more security-conscious.

The Zonal Head of Da’wah of the society, Nurudeen Balogun, said: “Security is not for the leaders alone; the various communities and people need to be up and doing in terms of the protection of their lives and property.

“Security is essential at this time of insurgency; we should be mindful and watchful of those around us. This is vital for us to be able to reduce insecurity.”

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 20, 2014

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NEWS Imoke opens 10th Carnival Calabar’s activities

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ROSS River State Governor Liyel Imoke has kicked off the mock event of the 10th edition of the Carnival Calabar, with the theme, “Celebration Time”, in Calabar.

The governor, who was represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham, stated that this year’s event was significant in the life of the administration since it will serve as “a hallmark celebration to user in” the next government.

“Ten years is no mean feat.

For us, Carnival Calabar has grown bigger and bigger as we promised Cross Riverians and Nigerians when we came on board in 2007. With our vision of institutionalising the event, by allowing private sector to be the main drivers while government regulates, there is greater hope that this carnival will grow in leaps and bound,” he said.

Imoke noted that the institutionalisation of the yearly festival was still been test-run following the formation of the Carnival Calabar Band Associations, which are now the main drivers of the event.

“Last year you said it was the biggest. This year is going to be extra ordinary,” the governor said.

Imoke, who praised the private organisations for discovering the event as one of the major brands in the country to invest in, said: “There is no other mega brand than the carnival. If you want to enjoy visibility in your business, the carnival is the best deal.”

Chairman, Carnival Calabar Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, added: “Today, the private sector has taken full ownership of the celebration with the band enjoying enormous sponsorship.”

He stressed that this year’s “event will be fireworks.”

2015: Akwa Ibom SSG resigns to run

Bomb: PDP desperate to create fear, says Edo

THE Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, will resign his appointment today, it was learnt yesterday Emmanuel, who has been under intense pressure from different quarters to contest the next year’s governorship election, appeared to have heeded the pleas and is set to declare his governorship ambition tomorrow.

Speculations had been rife that the former banking chief, who became SSG less than a year ago, was set to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio, whose second term expires next’s year.

But with his resignation and declaration scheduled for Uyo, he has put paid to those speculations.

Maeba to run for Rivers governor From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

SENATOR Lee Maeba has promised to solve the problem of housing facing the people of Rivers State when he becomes the governor next year.

He made the promise in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at the weekend, when he declared his ambition to run for the governorship position on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The senator, who represented Rivers South East in the Senate, condemned the free-for-all, which ensued among PDP members during a parley at Legacy House, Abuja, urging politicians to eschew politics with bitterness.

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DO State has described the claim of a bomb attack in Benin, the state capital, and subsequent statement credited to a politician, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as another phase of alleged desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to causea crisis.

The government said it was intended to spread falsehood and sow fear in the minds of the people to simulate a crisis.

Commissioner for information & Orientation Louis Odion said this in a statement yesterday after Ize-Iyamu spoke to reporters in Benin, blaming Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) at a mini-estate belonging to him.

The explosion reportedly occurred at about 10:30pm on Saturday night at the estate located on Dennis Osadebey Avenue in the state capital, which also houses Shalom Dental Clinic, being operated by Ize-Iyamu’s wife.

But Odion said no sooner had the purported “bomb attack” been reported by an online medium with further claim of bomb explosion within Government House, whenIzeIyamu quickly called the media briefing to accuse the governor as the explosion’s master-

• Cobham (third right) after unveiling the 2014 and the 10th Edition of Carnival Calabar on behalf of Imoke ... yesterday. With him from left are: wife of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Eneyi Odey; Mrs. Gloria Cobham; Ita-Giwa; Mrs. Imoke and Mr. Gershom Bassey.

Also, Chairman of the band associations, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, who was excited about the level of sponsorship the association has enjoyed following the legal framework put in place by the government, said she was amazed to observe that

despite the financial challenges the state has faced over the years, it has remained consistent and committed to the actualisation of its tourism drives.

She announced the gains of the private sector’s participa-

•Ize-Iyamu: governor to blame From Osagie Otabor, Benin

mind.

The commissioner noted that the report of a bomb explosion at the Government House was “patently false”, adding that “by IzeIyamu’s account and his haste to accuse Comrade Oshiomhole of culpability for a supposed crime yet to be investigated, we are persuaded to believe he is merely acting out a script”.

The statement said it was “laughable that any sane man” would be “targeting an obscure clinic that is, at best, now moribund.”

It also reads: “Mr. Ize-Iyamu’s wild allegation fits into PDP’s jaded style of stage-managing assaults on its agents to be used as pretext by its thugs to attack officials of Edo State Government and agents of the APC. “Again, Mr. Ize-Iyamu’s reference to cultists being engaged against PDP is ironic and laughable. Even as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Oshiomhole was known for his non-violence philosophy. On the contrary, Edo people know those with the history of cultism and violence dating back to their school days.

“Against the backdrop of this

latest purported attack on his wife’s clinic, which we believe was stage-managed, we wish to alert the police to put Pastor Ize-Iyamu and his co-travellers under close watch as allegations of this nature had always been the prelude to staging an attack on APC members in the past.

“Again, we call on the PDP to look within its ranks to get to the root of the attack on a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Rasaq Momoh. We also call on the police to thoroughly probe top leaders of the PDP for the attack on the Edo State Legislative Quarters penultimate Saturday.”

Ize-Iyamu, while briefing reporters on the explosion, alleged that Oshiomhole had consistently threatened him ever since he dumped the APC for the PDP. “This is a clinic built by my wife. Oshiomhole cannot destroy my property. I received a call from one of the occupants of the house at about 10:45 yesterday (Saturday) that an explosive had been detonated at the compound. I quickly rushed there and I ac-

tion in the event, as including N15 million donation from the Nigerian Port Authority and a brand new Hilux van donated by the SCOA (Nig) Ltd. She stressed that the proceeds and other donations were used in acquiring a befitting office for

tually found out that a bomb was detonated.

“The security agencies saw the wires and batteries used across the road as well as the footprints of the people. The target obviously was my wife’s clinic, but the bomb detonated at the gate house. To God be the glory, the security had strolled to parade the compound when they bombed the gate house.

“I want to say that I am not too surprise at what happened, though the dimension is shocking. I categorically say that I hold the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, responsible for what has happened.”

Also, the state Police Command confirmed yesterday that an improvised explosive device (IED) was responsible for the explosion at the estate.

Deputy Public Relations Officer, Ejiroro Ahwara, in a statement, said the IED was made up of two tiger batteries of 1.5 volt each connected to a long wire, adding that it was thrown into the estate from the outside.

It said the explosion only affected the surrounding ceiling boards at the estate security post and part of the main gate.

He said some suspects have been arrested while the IED has been recovered by the bomb disposal unit for analysis.

‘N70b needed to complete East West road’

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BOUT N70 billion is required to complete the East-West road, according to Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Niger Delta Warman Ogoriba.

The lawmaker, who spoke at the House of Representatives Press Corps’ Interview series “Hot Seat”, at the weekend, also expressed the resolve of the House in ensuring sufficient provision in the 2015 budget

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

to complete the project.

His words: “We will again look at the reports submitted by the contractors, such as Setraco, RCC to see what updates they have. But for the budget, I think what we need to finish the EastWest road in 2015 is about N60 to N70 billion.

“And it depends on how much we get from the budgetary allocation for 2015 as well

as SURE-P intervention. That is when we will know if the road will be delivered by then. But besides that, work has gone very far and we believe it will continue like that till the end”.

While giving update on the public hearing on the ongoing developmental projects in the oil producing states, the lawmaker expressed displeasure over the complacency of some contrac-

tors towards the developmental projects.

He added that the public hearing by his committee revealed that some contractors were not taking the projects seriously.

He threatened that zero allocation would be given in next year’s budget to contractors, who failed to appear before the committee as well as those indicted for poor performance by the ministries of Niger Deta and Environment.

the bands, which she said was a normal practice by carnival organisers globally.

The governor’s wife, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, later presented the utility vehicle to the bands’ association.

Community vows to banish lawmaker From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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HE people of Urhonigbe community in Edo State have denounced one of their sons, who is the lawmaker representing Orhionmwon South Constituency in the House of Assembly, Friday Ogierkhiahi.

They accused Ogierkhiahi of selling their collective mandate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), vowing to excommunicate him.

The lawmaker also lost 1,500 supports, including Urhonigbe South (Ward 8) Executive members to All Progressive Congress (APC), at a rally held at the weekend in front of his Orhionmwon home.

The defectors said they were returning to where they originally belonged, having been deceived by Ogierkhiahi.

Chief Edosa Iyegunmwena and John Ogbeiwi, who led the defectors, said the traditional head and elders had sent a message to the lawmaker and the PDP to stay clear of Urhonigbe as the community has benefited immensely from the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led government and that they “can never be bought over with a pot of porridge.”

“We stand here in front of Friday Ogierkhiahi’s house to tell you people that we own this community, not the little boy that still move around the town without clothe. A little boy of yesterday came here to deceive us. Now that we are wise, we asked him to tell us what PDP has done before and now, since he (Ogierkhiahi) became legislator; he should show us projects. Every year, Ogierkhiahi collects N36 million for constituency project,” they said.

Ijaw group, Itsekiri leaders in Warri trade words over councils’ polls

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N Ijaw pressure group, Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group (WIPMG) and Itsekiri leaders in Warri, Delta State, traded words yesterday over elective posts ahead of Saturday’s local councils’ polls.

It all started with WIPMG threatening that “it will not be well with the Itsekiri in Warri”, if they corner all the

From Shola O’Neil, Regional Editor, Southsouth

positions for the Saturday’s councils’ elections in the three Warri local government areas.

The group’s coordinator, Chief Patrick Bigha, said: “There will be trouble if they (Itsekiri) refuse the Ijaws to feature a candidate, especially in the Warri North and Warri South West

state constituencies.

“As it stands now, in all the three Warri local government areas, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearers in the October 25 election are Itsekiris. They are hell bent in grabbing all the House of Assembly constituencies in Warri as well as the House of Representatives seats.

“We smell danger in Warri, hence this warning,” he said in

a terse statement made available to The Nation.

Bigha advised the Itsekiris not to throw the state into another round of crisis over the issues.

The Nation’s checks revealed that the Itsekiris are flag-bearers of the ruling PDP in the Warri LGAs and are poised to clinch the House of Assembly slots of the party in the

primaries.

But reacting to the threat, Itsekiri leader and chieftain of the PDP in Warri, Chief Ayiri Emami, said elective offices are not won by threat of war or violence as is being done by their Ijaw counterparts, but through negotiation and political lobbying.

“It is unfortunate and sad that the Ijaws are making threat

over an election that is product of lobbying and choice of credible candidates. People who ran away from the PDP cannot come and dictate candidates to the PDP,” he stated.

Also, a prominent Itsekiri youth leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reminded the Ijaws that they “do not have a monopoly on violence.”

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Enthroning meritocracy in government

Crude reality

•Falling oil prices: another warning that Nigeria must diversify its economy

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UCH as the Federal Government may have been unfazed by the acclaimed industrial scale theft of crude said to have shrunk national revenue by nearly 40 percent; there is however, a new reality that it must have to deal with: the downward trajectory in global oil prices. The prognosis can hardly be more disconcerting. Between mid-June and September 30, oil prices in the international market fell by more than 18 percent. Indeed, the price for September 30 was $94 a barrel – the first time it would fall below $100 per barrel since June 2012; last week, it plunged further to a four-year low of $87.74 a barrel before making a recovery to $88.46 per barrel.

No thanks to the crawling European economy, the slow growth in China, and the shrunk US domestic fuel consumption – all of which have left global supply outstripping demand – the prognosis would appear grimmer than was perhaps feared.

Consider, for instance, that the International Energy Agency projected the growth for world demand for oil this year at a mere 1.5 percent; when contrasted with the fact that total production of crude and liquid fuels actually grew by 10 percent in the last five years, one is left with no other conclusion than to say that the continuing downward pressures on crude prices would endure for a while.

The implication for the Nigerian economy must be seen as particularly dire at a time the accruals into the distributable pool have also been shrinking steadily – no thanks to the menace of crude theft and production shut-ins, both of which have made nonsense of annual projections of

crude output. With actual oil prices already hovering around the $80 per barrel band, the possibility of convergence between the benchmark price and the actual price – or worse, the latter falling below the benchmark price at some point, would no longer seem far-fetched. Were that to happen, the nation would most certainly be presented with a novel scenario after more than a decade of pontificating over what to do with the so-called Excess Crude Account.

No doubt, the situation is not only predictable, it has long been predicted. Presently, with perhaps the exception of the Federal Government and a handful of states, most states and local governments are today barely able to fund their activities on account of their vastly reduced allocations. Already, capital projects across most states are known to be on hold, thereby constricting their capacity to regenerate and renew critical infrastructure. The situation is likely to get worse in the coming months as the reality of declining oil prices bite harder.

Far from suggesting that the doomsday is here, there are good reasons to worry about in the latest development. For the macroeconomy, the picture cannot be anything but grim. The implication of the falling oil prices means that inflow of foreign exchange would be curtailed. Given the import-dependent nature of the economy, there would be more relentless pressure on the foreign reserves and with it the prospects of further battering of the national currency. Of course, we have seen what unmet revenue expectations have done to successive budgets in the record number of abandoned projects currently littering

the landscape.

Obviously, we knew that a moment like this would come. That was why in several editorials, we admonished the Federal Government to spend wisely and to focus on developing those infrastructure that would give the economy a lift, particularly those that could serve as a springboard to diversify the economy. Rather than heed our counsel, the Federal Government seems to believe in stacking the nation’s money away in foreign banks in the guise of saving for the rainy day –funds that could have been better deployed to boost the nation’s competitiveness.

The choice facing the nation remains essentially one of diversifying the economy to reduce the current dependence on oil.

Unfortunately, we do not see how the nation can achieve this without substantial improvement in power and transportation infrastructure. A good complement to this is to curb the import of fuel by boosting local refining to reduce the pressure on the foreign reserves.

‘The choice facing the nation remains essentially one of diversifying the economy to reduce the current dependence on oil. Unfortunately, we do not see how the nation can achieve this without substantial improvement in power and transportation infrastructure’

Polymer scandal •It is sad that charity may begin abroad again, with the request for extradition of Nigerian suspect

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HE collaboration between the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to extradite the former boss of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), Mr. Emmanuel Okomoyon, to the United Kingdom, to face trial for alleged crime committed against the Nigerian state, is a further indictment of our jaundiced criminal justice system.

In case the AGF does not appreciate it, the fact that Mr. Okomoyon will need to be extradited to the UK, to face trial over allegations of fraud against NSPMC, totalling over N750 million, between 2006 and 2008, for the printing of N20 polymer notes, is a sure advertisement of our country’s inadequacies. This is particu-

‘We are concerned that no single indictment was made against Mr Okomoyon in Nigeria; or is the office of the AGF and the EFCC saying that what allegedly transpired between the officials of CBN, NSPMC and the Australian company is not a crime in Nigeria? If it is a crime, why has the Nigerian legal system seemed unperturbed? Again, if as alleged, there are culprits in the CBN and NSPMC, why are they not on the same train with Mr. Okomoyon?’

larly so with respect to the office of the AGF, which has failed to show enthusiasm in prosecuting high profile frauds.

Also indicted is the EFCC which reportedly had been investigating the alleged crime since 2012, following a request by the British National Crime Agency, after the Australian authorities allegedly discovered that some people at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the NSPMC were bribed by Securency Pty Limited of Australia, to secure the contract. According to press reports, the current attempt to extradite the former boss of NSPMC is in furtherance of that alleged crime, which from all accounts happened under the nose of our criminal justice system.

While we have no qualms with the attempt to extradite Mr. Okomoyon to UK to face charges, if the law permits, we are concerned that no single indictment was made against Mr Okomoyon in Nigeria; or is the office of the AGF and the EFCC saying that what allegedly transpired between the officials of CBN, NSPMC and the Australian company is not a crime in Nigeria? If it is a crime, why has the Nigerian legal system seemed unperturbed? Again, if as alleged, there are culprits in the CBN and NSPMC, why are they not on the same train with Mr. Okomoyon? Indeed, is the silence of our criminal justice system orchestrated, or do such offences as alleged, fall within what President Goodluck Jonathan would rather refer to as stealing and not corruption?

For us, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. While Mr. Okomoyon should fight his cause, it is necessary that all the other alleged culprits are made to face the music. Indeed, since it was our common wealth that was allegedly swindled, it is intriguing that our officials seem not perturbed enough, to go after those involved. Regrettably, the pattern of not giving a damn over scams like these has been the character of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government since 1999. We recall similar shameful allegations of scam, like the Siemens and Halliburton scandals, which were condoned by the Federal Government in Nigeria, while the co-conspirators in other countries are serving jail terms and paying huge penalties for the same crime.

As we have always argued, no nation makes progress when corruption is treated with kid glove, as has been the attitude of the present government. The allegations and the treatment meted to Mr. Okomoyon is just one of the several instances of government treating, lackadaisically, serious issues that undermine the state. Mr. Okoyomon was indicted and suspended from the Board of the CBN over the disappearance of N1,000 notes; that was the end of the matter. As in the present case, which has been described as ‘a web of forgery, identity fraud and money laundering, running into millions of naira’; the culprit was not availed a trial in our courts.

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IR: “When we Athenians are met together in the assembly, and the matter in hand relates to building, the builders are summoned as advisers; when the question is of shipbuilding, the shipwrights...

But when the question is an affair of state, then everybody is free to have a say - carpenter, tinker, cobbler, merchant , sea captain, rich and poor, high and low anyone who likes gets up , and no one reproaches him, as in the former case, without having learned...yet giving advice”.

- Plato Plato’s point - as quoted above from his philosophic dialogue - Protagoras - is that governing a society is not a free-for-all fanfare but a skill that requires a specialized and intensive training. For Plato, leadership or perhaps governing a state is an art exclusively reserved for those who have soaked their intellectual cum moral cloaks in the bloodstream of ethics and science of statecraft.

Nigeria, which ought to be model to other African states, is today a compact history of leadership failures.

Since her attainment of self-rule on October 1, 1960, Nigeria has not experienced pragmatic, incorruptible and patriotic leadership at all levels of government.

The cause of this appalling situation is not far-fetched; we failed to evolve pragmatic models and/or mechanisms through which we can sustain the political structures that colonialism bequeathed to us, so as to transcend the problems we face.

The geographical area we now call Nigeria was made up of about 250 ethnic nationalities that have achieved distinct social life and have ruled themselves according to their diverse societal mores, ethos, customs and traditions long before the advent of British colonialism.

Out of colonial mercantile interest, they were amalgamated into a single unit and were administered differently under the British device of ‘divide and rule’.

On the attainment of self-rule, political power was seen as the be-all and end-all of politics as elites of various ethnic nationalities fought to control the governmental machineries at the centre. This saw to the emergence of parochialism, ethno-religious politics as well as the enthronement of mediocrity.

Plato in one of his treaties on statecraft - Republic offered the theory of ideal state as ensuring the greatest happiness of the greatest numbers. The pragmatic strand of this principle is meritocracy.

The principle of meritocracy posits that political power should be vested on individuals with uncanny ability of making morally informed political judgment as well as demonstrable achievement in their fields of study. For Confucius, political meritocracy starts from the assumption that everybody should be educated.

However, not everybody will emerge from the process with equal ability of making morally political judgements. Hence, an important task of a political system is to select the bests for political recruitment.

In Nigeria, meritocracy can be nurtured by creating institute for leadership training in which people having interest in occupying public offices should go for leadership training. There, individuals with political ambitions are exposed to the art and science of statecraft.

The eligibility for vying for public offices shall be detected by their understanding of the nature and workings of government which should be measured by their performance in the said institute. They shall be tested on personality traits and psychology, ethics, vision and ambition as well as family antecedents.

Through this means, mediocre adventurism in Nigerian politics will be curbed ; its murky waters drained and refilled with waters of transparency, accountability, fair play, equity and justice and more importantly, ‘meritocracy’.

• Asikason Jonathan, Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State.

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

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

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

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

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: One of the outcomes of the recent Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja was the confirmation that a new labour migration policy would be implemented in the country. I was indeed elated by the policy which the minister of labour extolled as very crucial to protecting Nigerians travelling or working abroad.

The vision of the policy document which had been waiting since 2010 is to build an effective, responsive and dynamic labour migration governance system in Nigeria. Its three pronged mission is to provide an appropriate framework at national level to regulate labour migration; ensuring benefits to Nigeria as a country of origin, transit and destination; and ensuring decent treatment of migrants and their families and contributing to development and national welfare.

Migration, a reality of globalization, is a historical and natural necessity driven by the quest for selfpreservation and actualization or economic emancipation. However, a huge industry of human exploitation has grown around it.

Child labour, sex-slavery, human drug trafficking are mostly the ills that signpost migration where victims gain little while the cartels behind it distort the values of the society with their obnoxious wealth. The various aspects of the new labour migration policy are of cause essential to regulate those recruitment agents operating as modern day

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

Rescuing Nigerian migrants slave dealers not interested in the plight of the migrants, but in what they could make from them.

In the last seven or eight years that I was opportune to travel to a number of Asian countries on academic and professional missions, I have been exposed to different cases and fortunes of many Nigerians who sojourn in such countries. Although, I met many who are credible ambassadors of Nigeria working as expatriates and professionals and who I am always proud, the situation of many others is of grave concern.

In the oil-rich sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, there is a small but vibrant community of Nigerians, mostly engineers and geologists, working in Brunei-Shell Petroleum Corporation. In that country’s main referral hospital, RIPPAS, a Nigerian is a consultant physiotherapist.

At the country’s premier university, I met another group of Nigerian scholars engaged in teaching and research at the university. A few of them, on completing their contract, returned to either Australia or UK.

An exception is Dr. Ibrahim Abikan who graduated with a Ph.D in law from a top Malaysian University, taught at UBD briefly and returned to the University of Ilorin from where he took a study leave.

In Malaysia, I encountered hordes of young Nigerians pursuing graduate study programmes. Many have completed and are retained as lecturers, but the story I heard of many Nigerians in that Asian country is not palatable. I met some of them working as waiters in some hotels in Kuala Lumpur. I witnessed a meeting between the Nigeria High Commissioner (with concurrent accreditation to Brunei) and members of Nigeria in Diaspora Organization, NIDO (Malaysia) in 2008 where the high commissioner practically lampooned them.

When some of them alleged that the high commission was not protecting their interest, he declared, ‘I was not sent here to come and be hobnobbing with fraudsters and 419’. Sometimes in 2009 while attending an international conference organized by the Asian Media In-

formation and Communication Centre in New Delhi, India, I visited the Nigerian High Commission to interview its senior officials; one consular officer gave depressing reports of Nigerians languishing in various Indian jails for a range of offences.

From these experiences, I concluded that majority of Nigerians in search of greener pasture abroad were not prepared for their journeys nor did they have the requisite qualifications and means to sustain them as migrants. The question I always raise is how they find it easy to leave Nigeria and become a nuisance abroad. It is on this account that I heaved a sigh of relief when the Federal Government announced that a labour migration policy would come in force in the country. Indeed, it is a long overdue policy given what many Nigerians endure living abroad and the image they presented of the country.

• Abdulwarees Solanke, Voice of Nigeria, Lagos

Horn-free Day: Fashola scores another goal IR: Chief Nicholars Lugard, an erudite academic and celebrated administrator gave The Polytechnic Ibadan’s 39th graduation lecture early December 2013. He noted that one of the challenges facing the Nigerian nation of contemporary time is that Nigerians still celebrate the heroes and heroines of their fathers and grandfathers. The academic chief wondered why our own generation has not had our own heroes and heroines. The chief is not the only

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one that has fulminated on the tragedy. Many have been known to throw their hands in the air while acclaiming all is lost for Nigeria.

This hopeless and hapless case changed for the better with the birth of democracy in 1999. Let the truth be told, this dispensation has thrown up some new political heroes who have remained largely unsung. One prominent unsung hero of our time is Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State. A myriad of thoughtprovoking ingenious acts in Lagos

State attest to this. Select ban on Okada on some Lagos roads, though badly politicised by some political hawks, is one testimony to this. No civilized city in the world use Okada for public transportation. A Christian friend who recently pilgrimaged to Israel told me on coming that he never heard any vehicle touting horn for the over one month he spent in the Holy Land. It is in such civilized acts which accord with global best practices that thumbs up the Fashola’s administration as civilized and in the

comity of advanced administration’s anywhere in the world. Noted and agreed that other state governors like Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, a list that crosses political divide, Fashola stands out like a shining star.

Who says we have no heroes?

• Femi Oyedemi, The Polytecnic Ibadan.

NDDC scholarship: What’s going on?

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IR: I wish to draw the attention of the authorities to the way the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is toying with the future of youths they are supposed to be committed to building.

Early this year calls were made by the commission for entries for the Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme. Exams were held in March in which not less than 4000 youths travelled from all parts of the country even overseas to write.

Follow-up interviews were conducted and rounded up by April 24, which had no less than 1500 candidates. The successful scholars ought to have departed for studies in September, but as I write, NDDC has not released the final results of this scheme.

Not even an official statement on the delay has been issued. Most prospective scholars have lost their admissions that took quite a lot to obtain, not to talk of risks taken travelling from one end of the country to the other to participate in tests and interviews.

Please, we want to know what is happening to the final list; has the monies allocated for this year’s scholarship been converted for electioneering campaigns?

Is this the way NDDC is fulfilling their mandate to the youths of the region?

NDDC is failing its own youths!

• Oluwaraji Rasaki, raji_saki@yahoo.com

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

COMMENTS

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T was perhaps predictable that the inauguration of Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on October 16 would feature acrobatic stunts, especially by the new helmsman who lived up to his reputation for attention-grabbing and selfprojecting performance. In the countdown to the swearingin, following his controversial electoral victory in June, it was a drama of claims and counter-claims by his critics and supporters about what is to be expected when he eventually takes up the reins of office.

Interestingly, Fayose gave a useful insight into what to expect from him this time, eight years after he first governed the state from May 2003 to October 2006 when his four-year term was aborted by his impeachment and removal. To start with, Fayose may pay more attention to the metaphysical these days, given his expressed intention on the eve of the inaugural ceremony. He reportedly said, during a programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ado-Ekiti: “I am expecting all clerics. They would first be at the Government House to carry out a thorough spiritual cleansing before we enter the building.” He continued: “Even if they are up to 1,000, they are all welcome for the cleansing. But anyone who is not sure of his calling shouldn’t come. They would be in front, we shall follow them. Our men of God would use the power of prayer to conquer all evil.”

With such a symbolic beginning, it won’t be surprising if Fayose should expand the focus and scope of the so-called “thorough spiritual cleansing” to include the state’s 16 local government areas, given that his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, must have stepped on their soil during his time in the saddle and may have made them “impure”.

This spiritual dimension introduces a fascinating and thought-provoking perspective that deserves contemplation.

Such thinking, particularly in the context of a high political office like the position of governor, may unfortunately

‘This inaugural address is a study in selfdefinition, and even self-clarification. The governor’s effort in making sure that nothing is perhaps left to the imagination in the presentation of his personality must be commended. At least, it gives the people standards to judge him by, never mind if the standards bespeak pedestrianism’

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N life, it is often chance encounters and seemingly innocuous events that help to reorder our perspective on serious issues. When the phrase “ the labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain’ is put out there, ones mind inevitably flashes to the Azikiwes, Awolowos, Abubakars, Dick Tigers et al of this world. For me, a chance encounter in September this year with a white lady in Zurich, Switzerland has helped reorder my analysis of personalities and their contribution to the Nigerian story. My wife had dragged me (as usual) to an antique sale. In the hall, a white lady, perhaps in her seventies walked up to us and politely asked where we were from and we proudly answered Nigeria. The next thing we heard from her were – kaaro o! Ekabo , shay Nigeria lo ngbe abi London ni (Yoruba for good morning, welcome, do you live in Nigeria or London).

We laughed in surprise and told her we did not speak Yoruba. Obviously we were curious to find out what the link was. She told us she had lived and worked in Nigeria in the seventies and eighties with Tai Solarin. She was one of the teachers at Mayflower School, Ikenne. We chatted about this and that and she regaled us on the good times she had in Nigeria and how committed Tai Solarin and his wife were to bettering humanity through education. She had a very good general impression of Nigerians and gave many instances of incredible acts of kindness, generosity and trustworthiness she had experienced. We drew attention when we burst out laughing at her mimicked recollection of the incredulous expressions and gesticulations of the market women in Ikenne when she spoke Yoruba to them. She regretted her inability to keep up with Nigerian news for the past couple of years, apparently because the Nigerian newspapers disappeared from the embassy website following an upgrade! We bought a collection of Nigerian stamps of the fifties and sixties from her. The ones where the price indication will be 2s 6d i.e. two shillings and six pence - called ‘2 and 6’ in those days!

I first came into close encounter with products of Mayflower Secondary School when a record six of them were admitted to do ‘A’ Levels in Kings College Lagos in 1978. Not only did they all come with distinctions in West African School Certificate, they all passed the subsequent Higher School Certificate exams in flying colours. Before I lost touch with Ogayemi and co, I knew they had all become medical doctors or engineers. These were not children of privilege but through the instrumentality of the single-minded vision and humanity of Tai Solarin who gave them a chance in life, they have become useful not only to themselves but to society; sadly though in most cases that society is in foreign lands as many of them are working abroad. That aspect could not have been Tai’s dream but a result of the fact that whilst people like Tai Solarin were building, others were destroying. Happily though, the few Mayflower boys I know are a tiny fraction of the multitude that have passed through that school and become productive citizens in our society. If we had a few more Tai Solarins, Nigeria would have definitely been better for it. The encounter really got me thinking about how an unsung hero can have such an enduring positive impact on society and how we sometimes don’t really appreciate the importance and extent of their contributions to nation building.

Fayose’s inaugural acrobatics encourage a socially unhelpful approach to the spiritualisation of politics and governance, which, in itself, is not negative.

Indeed, it would probably be a positive development if more of the country’s political leaders should be guided by values that transcend the worldly and materialistic, for such orientation may likely prompt a greater concentration on possibly the overriding governmental purpose, which is “the greatest happiness of the greatest number”.

It is noteworthy that Fayose did not clarify the religious platform of the clerics expected to perform the decontamination, whether they would be exclusively Christians because he is a Christian, or whether the spiritual cleansers would include priests of other faiths, for instance, Islam and indigenous religions. This highlights the spreading problem of religionised politics and governance in the country; and it should be disturbing that Fayose may be about to infect Ekiti State with the virus. Furthermore, if his words, “all clerics”, meant unrestricted inclusiveness, does this suggest that, when it comes to religion, his administration would be disinterested?

There is an aspect of this planned cleansing that fundamentally mirrors Fayose’s concept of governance. It is the implication of money, which the participants are likely to be paid in return for their services; or to put it euphemistically, which they will probably be offered for their prayers. Such reward, after all, is what Fayose’s buzzword is all about : “stomach infrastructure”.

It is instructive to note that among the first appointments Fayose announced is the “personal adviser to the governor

on special duties and stomach infrastructure”, which has helped in defining not only the seriousness he brings to the funny phrase, but also his thinking on good governance. In his inaugural address, he said: “I have forgiven Ekiti for removing me unjustly and I declare peace, prosperity, progress, employment, food, and stomach infrastructure. You can put tar on the road but if I don’t have a car and I’m hungry, then that tar is meaningless. Tarring our road is wonderful but putting food inside this stomach is very important.” He added: “Already, I am grooming your chicken for Christmas.

I am getting your rice ready to do stomach infrastructure.

When I defeated them, they said it was as a result of stomach infrastructure. I will banish hunger in your midst. I will work hard to put food on your table.”

This inaugural address is a study in self-definition, and even self-clarification. The governor’s effort in making sure that nothing is perhaps left to the imagination in the presentation of his personality must be commended. At least, it gives the people standards to judge him by, never mind if the standards bespeak pedestrianism.

Fayose, who is 53 years old, said: “They want me to look like the governor of their imagination but I am governor of your own imagination, the governor that eats boli (roasted plantain) with you, the governor that drinks agbo jedi (local herbal mixture) with you, the governor that knows that the resources of this state belong to you.” He went on: “When I come to buy boli tomorrow, I will drop something. I will look after you. They are too clean in their own eyes to go to the jedi sector and that is why you voted them out. Whether they call it stomach infrastructure, it is their business, because I am going to appoint a special adviser for stomach infrastructure.”

As things stand, Fayose would need to continue to eat boli and drink jedi as a way of socialising; and he would also have to “drop something”, that is, pay far more for them than they are worth in order to make the street vendors happy and demonstrate that he is a “good governor”. It is relevant to wonder what might happen when boli is out of season. Maybe Fayose would then switch to agbado yiyan (roasted corn). Or isu yiyan (roasted yam). So, he is likely to continually make seasonal changes in his eating habits to show that he is, as they say, “a grassroots politician”.

Certainly, it would have been out of character if Fayose had not seized the moment for self-glorification. He said: “By the grace of God, I am the first son of Ekiti to be governor here twice and the first Nigerian politician to defeat two incumbents and all former governors of this state that have served at one point or the other.” Congratulations, Your Excellency!

Tai Solarin, Buhari et al

By Edo Ukpong Tai was an atheist and wore only khaki clothes. We have many religious leaders in Nigeria. If I examine their lifestyles and societal impact, it will be ironic but I will not be wrong in concluding that Tai lived like one subjected to God’s guidance as evidenced by his life of simplicity and love for fellow human beings. I do not know what motivates our religious and political leaders, but it is obvious to me that it is Tai whose life reflects the genuine fear of God. Men like Tai Solarin are ultimately the people’s heroes because at the end of the day humanity is the religion they practice and their impact is more wholesome and beneficial for humanity as a whole as opposed to the crass exploitation of fellow human beings by religious and political leaders (assuming there is a separation).

Give me a Tai Solarin any day!

So what concerns Buhari with Tai Solarin? Just reflecting on Nigeria and how we have come to this sorry state of self inflicted national despair leaves one emotionally drained.

This country is drifting dangerously towards anarchy or dancing on the brink as per John Campbell. We need a figure that can take the lead in pulling us back. Rather than we Nigerians to think seriously about rescuing our future in our leadership preferences, we are being goaded like sheep to ignore character and rather focus on religion or tribe. Corruption is at the root of the Nigerian failed state conundrum. The simple truth is that nothing good can happen to Nigeria if the corruption issue is not tamed! Buhari is not the most honest or the only honest man in Nigeria. But out of all the presidential aspirants, he is the only one with the pedigree, credentials, strength of character and personal example which suggests he can wage a meaningful war against corruption.

I am not naïve to think that corruption will disappear with a Buhari presidency or that there will be no corrupt people in a Buhari government. The point is that a simple application of common sense suggests that a man who most corrupt or corruptible people are already certain will not join them but fight them to stem the rot will be beneficial to the anti corruption war. A war we must all join if this country is to survive meaningfully. The head of any establishment is important not only for managerial reasons but also because his own personal style acts as a cue for those he heads. It is unlikely that a man who has been Petroleum Minister, State Governor and Head of State and evidently not stolen will develop itchy fingers at 70+.

Why should I bother about his personal religion? I will not!

And for the same considerations, the Christian and Muslim parents who sent their children to Mayflower School did not bother that the principal and proprietor was an atheist! In the type of country we must have, everybody must be free to practice any religion they choose or were born into or none at all. Religion should be personal and no business of the

next man or government. The propaganda of Buhari as a religious fanatic is nonsensical but unfortunately in a country like ours polarised by poverty, lack of education and hopelessness, the charge is not dismissed with the contemptuous hiss it deserves. Buhari as head of state banned government subsidy for Muslim Hajj! When he arrested the Emir of Kano and ordered the crating of Umaru Dikko back to Nigeria to answer for monumental corruption, was he persecuting Christians?

As GOC, he led the successful rout of the Maitatsine sect (precursor to Boko Haram). Fanatic indeed! Twisting words or ascribing fictitious statements to Buhari must not be allowed to go unanswered this time. Take it from me, the people feeding this propaganda are not afraid of Buhari the devout Muslim, they are afraid of Buhari of the ‘War against Indiscipline and Corruption’ fame! It is the smokescreen they hope to obscure our vision of him and befuddle our judgment. It must not work.

Others say he is too old! Too old for what? Is he looking for a place to revamp our Super Eagles? The question should be whether he is healthy enough to withstand the rigours of presidential duties. How has he kept himself? Mandela became President of South Africa at 74, that country’s people were smart enough to know that Mandela’s age was not the issue, what was of paramount importance was that his country needed him to perform a national duty. Come of the hour, cometh the man!

Let me close with the lesson of the departure of the Swiss lady from Nigeria. She was attacked by armed robbers on the road in Lagos. She couldn’t get over the trauma of a gun being poked at her head and left Nigeria. Only God knows why she was not killed but when the robbers asked her where she worked and she mentioned Tai Solarin’s name, it had an effect! That effect is perhaps why she is alive today. Evidently the robbers know those responsible for their plight and the endemic corruption that breeds criminality. What if she had worked for A or B or Z or ...I am not good at decoding so I don’t know! All I know is that the robbers did not bother to ask her religion or tribe or that of my Uncle Tai for that matter!

• Ukpong is a Legal Practitioner

‘The people feeding this propaganda are not afraid of Buhari the devout Muslim, they are afraid of Buhari of the ‘War against Indiscipline and Corruption’ fame! It is the smokescreen they hope to obscure our vision of him and befuddle our judgment’

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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COMMENTS

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AMES Entwistle, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, spoke very extensively last week on the raging insurgency in the north-east of the country and his home government’s perception of the matter. Apparently reacting to reports that the US was undermining Nigeria’s efforts in the war, he debunked such a notion contending they are heavily involved in supporting Nigeria’s response to terrorism through training of soldiers and information sharing.

Even as some of the issues he raised were quite illuminating, others threw up contradictions that question his proper understanding of the complex issues involved in this war. These were evident not only from his responses to why the US government has been blocking the sale of certain military equipment to Nigeria, but also in his assessment of the propelling motivation of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Before now, there have been reports that the US has been blocking efforts by the Nigerian government to procure military equipment, especially Cobra helicopters from Israel on grounds of human rights abuses.

Entwistle corroborated this when he said that human rights abuses by Nigerian soldiers in the north-east had stood as a sore thumb when the US considers requests from Nigeria for arms.

According to him, “before we share equipment with any country, we look at a couple of things. Does it make sense in terms of that country’s needs? The second thing we look at is the human rights situation in that country.

As you all know, there have been instances.

I’m not saying across the board, of human

‘There is a huge moral question raised by blocking the Nigerian government from buying arms even as the same envoy admitted that Boko Haram had “gone beyond a small insurgent group, with a couple of guns to a very effective collection of conventional force”.

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Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Boko Haram: The US angle rights abuses by the Nigerian military in the north-east”.

He said the kind of questions his country is interested in is the use to which such equipment will be deployed. If it is such that can adversely affect human rights situation, they will have to take responsibility for its proper use or lack of it, he further explained.

The US government is within its rights to determine which country it sells its arms. It is also within its rights to withhold such sales where in her calculations human rights will be adversely affected by their use. It may as well have information on cases of human rights infractions since the war against terrorism commenced in this country. Neither can genuine concerns on human rights issues be discounted.

But there is a huge moral question raised by blocking the Nigerian government from buying arms even as the same envoy admitted that Boko Haram had “gone beyond a small insurgent group, with a couple of guns to a very effective collection of conventional force”. If that is the case, the net effect of barring Nigeria from purchasing the needed arms to effectively contain this upsurge, is for the insurgency to get out of control. And when this happens, human rights abuses will further escalate to unimaginable proportions. So also will the killing and maiming of defenceless people especially given the murderous records of the insurgents. What then will be the position of the US: to begin arms sales to the government or allow the war get out of hands? This poser has been raised to underscore some of the contradictions in the current posturing of the US.

MPUNITY and abuse of office is not a historical colonial experience. It is a bye-product of our political sub-culture of indiscipline during both the military regimes and civilian administrations. Our public and private lifestyles are characterized by reckless disregard to the rule of law because we are wont to believe that as government officials, we are embodiment and custodians of law and social etiquette and therefore watchdog over other citizens.

This is partly due to weak institutions and not so vibrant docile Civil Society Organizations that find it difficult to call public officials to account.

Impunity is further promoted in our society by our customary and primordial diffidence to authority as bequest of ancestral divinity from the gods. It therefore becomes a norm that those in authority appropriate the coercive power of the state for personal aggrandizement and oppression of the hoi polloi. Impunity and abuse of power is against the spirit and doctrines of democracy in a civilized society. Ordinarily, service in any government institutions or department should be a privilege not a licence or weapon to torment and oppress the citizens.

Even though we are a country supposedly governed by the rule of law, lawlessness define most government officials who erroneously think they are where they are because they are the best qualified to be there. Sadly, impunity and abuse of authority and power permeate all strata of our society. The worst culprits are some members of the security forces and paramilitary organizations who do not know the difference between the garrison style discipline in their professional callings and the respect of rights of ordinary citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. What more, they bear arms without the requisite mental capacity to understand that their duty to the state and citizens alike is the protection of the law and the oath they took on enlistment rather than the capricious whims of political godfathers.

This is why the policeman on the street or at the road-block would turn his weapon on innocent citizens for refusing to give him gratification and find a name to call it, ‘accidental discharge’, whereas it is an obvious case of murder. Again, the same police would investigate and at the end of the day, the investigation report may never see the light of day. When it sometimes does, the case will remain in court perpetually for lack of diligent prosecution. In the face of this impunity, we all keep mute because we place more value on wealth than human life. If we agree that nobody is above the law, then those responsible for enforcing the law must ensure that they uphold the letters of the law so that the nation would not be thrown into a state of anarchy. If those who should enforce the law themselves take the laws into their own hand and act with impunity, we should not lie helpless. It is our civic responsibility to demand the removal of public officials who their political masters find it difficult to bring

Without prejudice to the reported cases of human rights abuses either by the insurgents or the military, it will not serve the interest of this country to allow the war be prolonged because our military lack the needed equipment to bring it to a conclusion.

Even now, a lot of Nigerians hold the view that Boko Haram would have been history if President Jonathan had been very decisive in dealing with the menace when it reared its ugly head. Terrorism is a very complex war that does not permit of some of the calculations of conventional warfare.

The US has no doubt about this as it has been waging wars against it in many countries. It would therefore appear cloudy for the same government to allow the Nigerian situation degenerate because of perceived human rights abuses. The right approach is to support the government to acquire the necessary and sufficient equipment to halt the killing and maiming of innocent souls by the insurgents while not losing sight of human rights issues.

The ambassador appeared more controversial when he made his prescriptions on how Nigeria can end the current challenges facing it. According to him, “a genuine change through democratic process is the most precious and powerful tool to bring the desired change in a nation like Nigeria”.

This statement is very loaded especially when it is considered that the current government came into power through the type of change Entwistle is canvassing. There is therefore the question of what a genuine change through a democratic process would imply in this case and how it will solve our

current security challenges. In other words, to what extent can we regard a sitting government that wins another mandate through democratic process as qualifying for the kind of change process envisaged by the ambassador? And if this happens, what impact will it make on the current challenges in the absence of the needed arms to confront the scourge frontally? Or are we looking at change in terms of a departure from the status quo? If it is so, we needed to be told how that will play out in our current circumstance.

These are the posers for the envoy to clarify further.

This has become necessary given his further assertion that the war now has more political than religious undertone. Hear him, “a year ago, I would have said they are religiously motivated. But as they killed more and more Muslims, it’s hard for me to believe they were motivated by religion”.

This appears an oversimplification of the matter as it casts the sponsors of the insurgency in the mould of people incapable of enacting complex strategies to obfuscate their real intentions and prolong the war. Boko Haram has never hidden their intention to install a theocratic state in this country. It is true they have in the last one year or so been killing Muslims and Christians alike. But that cannot in any manner whittle down the ideological basis of the movement which is deeply rooted in religion.

It may well be that its sponsors, facing increasing challenges from their warped ideological promptings, had to change tactics to bring about the current situation that has left Entwistle seemingly confused. As a tactic, it has worked out well for strategists of the insurgency group. But nobody should be deceived by that.

If the insurgents are no longer solely targeting Christians, it is not a matter of choice.

Having been confined to states where the phenomenon is most prevalent, it has become difficult for them to penetrate the abode of Christians. This should not be misconstrued as benevolence or loss of direction. For, at the slightest chance, they will definitely show their true colours.

What Nigeria needs now is support both at home and beyond to wrestle the terrorists to the ground. That the terrorists are now also killing Muslims does not in any way mask the potent danger which they pose to human lives and property.

Taming the monster of impunity

By Mike Kebonkwu to order or be subjected to the rule of law. We have to make the demand relentless and loud enough until the will of the people prevails and the erring official purged of his delusion that he is not answerable to ethical call of duty. Every day, we are confronted with obscene impunities and lawlessness from government officials and members of the security forces and the police; on the road, in public places and even in discharge of their official functions.

I am not aware of any country in the world were government officials and law enforcement agencies take liberty in driving against traffic in addition to harassing and intimidating other road users out of the way with their siren. Many Nigerians have lost their precious lives to the impunity and lawlessness of official convoys driven by security men who are most of the time under some substances. Recall the killing of the prolific writer and activist, Professor Festus Iyayi who was brutally killed by a governor’s convoy.

I refuse to see that incident as an accident; it was a cold-blooded murder, period.

We are perhaps where we are today due to the inability of those in government to understand that they are not above the law. Furthermore, we have not done our part as citizens to insist that the elected and appointed officials should carry out their duties in accordance with the rule of law and due process. This brings me to the gross abuse of authority by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Mbu Joseph Mbu when he ordered the arrest and detention of an Africa Independent Television Reporter, Amaechi Anakwe who reportedly referred to him as controversial. He later had the reporter arraigned at a Magistrate Court in Abuja for what he alleged as defamation of his character; character that he has never shown to possess in his public life. Let me quickly observe that the conduct of Mbu is not a reflection of the behaviour of senior Nigeria police officers. It would be uncharitable to paint the entire Nigeria Police with the paint of impunity and abuse of authority because there are fine police officers who have discharged their duties creditably well.

Defamation is an offence known to Nigerian law. There are civilized procedures prescribed by law to bring an action if anybody feels wronged. If Mbu were not a police officer, would he have had the temerity to commandeer another citizen and harry him into detention for a perceived offence against him? Looking at word as allegedly used, ‘controversial’ and in the circumstances, it is only a functional illiterate that would have come to that conclusion

that it was defamatory. The same Mbu referred to himself as a ‘Leopard’ who caged the ‘Lion’ in Rivers State, referring to Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the gross misconduct he got away with. This was a Police Commissioner who in the ordinary course of duty was to take instruction from the governor as chief executive of the state but became a fifth columnist. This was a misconduct for which the Police authorities should have called him to order failing which, the Civil Society Organizations should have made it a point of duty to demand for the removal of the man not just from Rivers State but from the Police because he had become a black ship and an albatross to the force.

As if that was not enough, he was brought to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and of course Nigeria’s centre of gravity as a reward for a job well done. In no time, he started acting out his insanity by harassing peaceful “Bring Back our Girls” protesters and making unguarded political statements, yet nobody or group deemed it necessary to speak up.

There should be no place in government institutions and department for breeding individuals who have scant respect for the rule of law and ethical practice. If the Police authorities find it difficult to bring the likes of Mbu in their rank to order because of his perceived closeness to powers-that-be, then the people should rise in unison and in one voice demand that the man should not be allowed to remain in the Police. We have to tame the monsters in official toga and deny public officials, no matter their bloated ego the liberty of abuse and recklessness that has become a lifestyle in public places.

•Kebonkwu Esq writes from Abuja

‘Defamation is an offence known to Nigerian law. There are civilized procedures prescribed by law to bring an action if anybody feels wronged. If Mbu were not a police officer, would he have had the temerity to commandeer another citizen and harry him into detention for a perceived offence against him?’

25

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 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

Capital market, not banks, holds ace for SMEs’financing - P. 37

Jobs as dance instructor - P. 35

Lagos trains 700,000 on energy conservation

News Briefing Chevron JV invests $7b in gas flaring elimination

CHEVRON Nigeria Limited and its Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Joint Venture (NNPC/ CNL JV), has invested over $7 billion to stop routine gas flaring from its operations in Nigeria, it was learnt.

–Page 26

By Akinola Ajibade

O

Nigeria loses N58b annually to insurance quacks

NIGERIA loses about N58billion in accruable revenue from the insurance industry annually to the unwholesome activities of quacks, the Chief Executive Officer, Venia Group, Kola Oyeneyin has said.

–Page 26

Fed Govt insincere about job creation, says NECA THE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has said if government is sincere in its job creation initiatives, all its policies should have employment content. The group also described the three million yearly job creation target of the Federal Government as an illusion.

–Page 26

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 RATES

Inflation

-8.2%

Treasury Bills-10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending

-15.87%

Savings rate

-3%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$39.6b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

£

-242.1

$

-156

¥

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

• From right: Prof Emmanuel Edozien, Chairman PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti , Corporate Affairs & Admin Director, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and Sir Sunny Nwosu, President, Independent Shareholder’s Association at the 66thAnnual General Meeting of PZ Group of Companies held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Nigeria’s $7b tourism industry untapped, says NTDC chief

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ITH the potential to earn at least $7 bil lion yearly from its tourist markets, stakeholders in the tourism industry have emphasised the need for sustainable partnerships and linkages to harness the opportunities in the industry.

Specifically, Nigeria’s tourist markets hold a $4 billion domestic market and a $3 billion Diaspora market yet to be maximally explored for growth.

According to the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the domestic tourism market has a very high revenue and job creation potential but remains under explored, as Nigerians’ preference for foreign tourism takes toll on the sector.

Speaking on the sideline of

By Okwy lroegbu- Chikezie

a seminar organised by the Hotel, Tourism and Entertainment Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos, the Director-General, NTDC, Mrs Sally Mbanefo, stated that religious tourism topped the bulk of domestic tourism recorded last year.

She said: “In 2013, Nigeria recorded a total of 4,037,808 international tourist arrivals which accounted for $649.5 million in expenditure, while 3,081,808 domestic tourists accounted for $470.6 million during the period.

“Religious tourism recorded over a million domestic tourists and a substantial number of international tourists in 2013. In order to address the challenges bedeviling the tour-

ism sector, there is need to address certain concerns including, infrastructure challenge, legal changes, funding, collaboration between state governments as well as with the private sector.”

She said though efforts were being made by the government to address the issue of capital flight through tourism, there is still more to be done.

She said: “The NTDC and government in general are aware that developing our local tourism industry for domestic consumption will not be an easy task as it is no longer a secret that more and more Nigerians that can afford it travel abroad everyday.

“Government can no longer fold its arms and continue to watch the daily capital flight that leaves our over 4,279 hotels and numerous restaurants

dry. Nigeria must put in place a mechanism through which benefits can be derived from all departures. “We must develop domestic tourism, not just for paid travelers alone, but leisure infrastructure in our various communities for citizens who cannot afford to travel.”

She also urged the creation of a National Tourism Policy, which she argued would help to develop sustainable tourism by capitalising on heritage diversity as the basis for promoting domestic and international tourism.

On the challenges, Mbanefo urged government on the need to build competitive infrastructure, establish tourism on arrival and also review the Land Use Act to enable private sector access land for development.

VER 700,000 people have been tutored on energy conservation through twitter in Lagos State, it was learnt.

The people, it was gathered, were taught how to minimise the volume and cost of electricity consumed for growth in the state.

Sources close to the state Ministry of Energy said the exercise is on-going, in view of the government’s commitment to help residents reduce their energy bills and live a better life.

A worker of the Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB), Adedeji Akolade said the development became necessary in order to save cost, reduce emission of carbon dioxide and live a healthy life.

Akolade said the government has introduced Energy Conservation Month to achieve result in that regard.

He said the Board has visited Aja, Ikorodu, Epe, Eti-Osa, Oshodi, and other areas to educate residents on the need to imbibe the culture of using energy in an efficient manner.

He said energy conservation helps in preserving the environment, apart from saving cost of electricity.

Akolade said the campaign dubbed, ‘Conserve Energy, Save Money’ (CESM), ran throughout the 31 days in the month during which people were made to know the benefits inherent in conserving energy.

“Our workers would move round Lagos to educate residents on the issue. During the road show, we are going to demonstrate how people can use calculator to conserve the resident energy,” he said.

Mr Ganiu Mabifa, a participant during the road show said the campaign of the Lagos State government is timely giving the fact that people are paying huge electricity bills.

He urged other states to come up with an energy conservation campaign for growth, adding that its benefits are enormous.

Dangote urges foreign investments in Africa’s resources

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RESIDENT of Dangote Group and the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote has described Africa as a blessed continent with numerous natural resources, arguing that with its abundant blessing in natural resources, what the continent needs now is trade both within itself and with the international communities.

Dangote said the growth rate of Africa will hit seven per cent, once the challenge of infrastructure, especially

power is fixed in the continent.

He said: “If we can take care of the infrastructure, mainly power, we can hit a growth rate of seven per cent…The future is bright because we have what it takes to really get to the next level, we have the best land and of course water, we have all the resources countries like China and others are looking for within Africa in abundance…We really don’t need aids anymore in Africa,

what we need is trade” Dangote urged developed countries to promote investments in Africa rather than providing aids for the continent. He argued that through investment in the real sector, the continent can achieve real growth and development.

He explained that most people do not seem to know much about Africa, but have only a notion of the continent that is based on history or hearsay. He enjoined the western nations not to “give

any more aid to Africa” but to partner with businesses there and invest. He said: “You will make money and we’ll make money and it’s better for everyone, and the continent will experience real growth and development” Dangote who has investments in more than 14 African countries acknowledged that business risks exist in Africa but are no major consequences. He said: “Before, there was the risk that gov-

ernments might nationalise assets but now we have investment agreements in the countries that say if it does get nationalised, they’ll have to pay us.”

Dangote argued that few people know much about Africa and instead rely on historical information or hearsay for its facts. “I am not saying it is as good as elsewhere but investment in the continent comes with almost the highest ROI in the world.

26

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS

Chevron JV invests $7b in gas flaring elimination

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HEVRON Nigeria Limited and its Nige rian National Petroleum Corporation Joint Venture (NNPC/CNL JV), has invested over $7 billion to stop routine gas flaring from its operations in Nigeria, it was learnt.

Its Manager, Gas Project, Mr. Debo Lukanmbi, who stated this, noted that the huge investments in its gas projects have resulted in substantial reduction of the volume of gas routinely flared from its operations in the country.

He also said between 2008 and last year, the company was able to reduce flaring of associated gas (AG) from its oil fields by 60 per cent and expects to further reduce it by 95 per cent by end of next year. He said there gas projects that now utilise substantial volume of gas which would ordinarily have been

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

flared.

The natural gas projects being handled by Chevron Nigeria Limited according to data gathered from the company include the Escravos Gas Plant (EGP) project, Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) project and the Sonam Field Development project, West African Gas Pipeline project, Ohaji South field project, and Agura Independent Power Plant project.

According to the data, Chevron is involved in natural gas projects in the western Niger Delta and Escravos areas, including the expansion of the Escravos Gas Plant (EGP), construction of the Escravos Gas-toLiquids (EGTL) facility and the Sonam Field Development Project.

He said: “Chevron operates

and holds a 40 per cent interest in the EGP development.

The EGP Phase 3B project is focused on eliminating routine flaring of natural gas associated with crude oil production. The project includes installation of 74 miles (119 km) of subsea pipelines and modifications to the production platforms. The project is expected to be completed in 2016.

“Also, Chevron and the NNPC are developing the EGTL facility, a $10 billion 33,000-barrel-per-day gas-toliquids project designed to process 325 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from the EGP expansion. Chevron is the operator and has a 75 per cent interest in the plant, which is scheduled for startup this year.”

However because of unexplained delay, the startup may not be accomplished this year, but The Nation gath-

ered that although pre-commissioning tests are being carried out, the project will be formally commissioned in first quarter of next year.

He said: “The Sonam Field development is designed to use the EGP facilities to deliver 215 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to the domestic gas market and produce a total of 30,000 barrels of liquids per day. First production at the 40 per centowned and operated project is expected in 2016.

“Also with a 36.7 per cent interest, Chevron is the largest shareholder in the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited, which owns and operates the 421mile (678-km) West African Gas Pipeline. The pipeline supplies customers in Benin, Ghana and Togo with Nigerian natural gas for power generation and industrial applications. It

has the capacity to transport approximately 170 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.

“The Ohaji South field located in oil mining lease (OML 53), is planned to be developed jointly with the third-party-owned AssaNorth field. Chevron holds a 20 percent non-operated working interest in this project, which is planned to supply natural gas for the domestic market. However, Chevron is evaluating this asset for possible divestment.

“Chevron operates and holds a 40 per cent interest in the Agura Independent Power Plant project. Phase 1 of the development project has a design capacity of 330 megawatts. A final investment decision is pending conclusion of commercial agreements and renewal of offshore leases.”

‘How to deliver viable air transport in Africa’

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

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OUTH Africa’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms Lydia Sindisiwe Chikunga has urged African leaders and government to lay a solid foundation that would create conditions for the emergence of a sustainable and viable air transport sector in the continent.

She said one of the ways to deliver a viable air transport sector for the continent is for government to position the sector such that it could meet the integration imperatives of the continent underpinned by enhanced connectivity in intra- African trade and tourism.

Chikunga spoke on the sidelines of the Airport Council International Africa region conference in Durban, South Africa.

She said the air transport sector holds the key to the development of Africa if leaders would put the right policies in place to promote aviation.

She urged a revisit of the air transport liberalisation policy agreed by the African Union (AU) in 2002, affirming that signatories to the historic agreement must remain committed to the deregulation of air services.

She said: “The objective is to lay the solid foundation that will assist in creating the conditions for the emergence of a sustainable and viable African air transport sector that is designed to meet the integration imperatives of the continent underpinned by enhanced connectivity, intra-African trade and tourism.

WAAPP sets up independent monitoring team • From left:Greg Jobome; Chief Risk Officer, Access Bank Plc, Adedoyin Odunfa; Managing Director, Digitalý Jewels, Obinna Nwosu; Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc and Mike Purves; Acting Deputy High Commissioner and Director, UK Trade & Investment, Nigeria at Access Bank ISO 22301 BCMS Certification ceremony held in Lagos.

Nigeria loses N58b annually to insurance quacks

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IGERIA loses about N58billion in accruable revenue from the insurance industry annually to the unwholesome activities of quacks, the Chief Executive Officer, Venia Group, Kola Oyeneyin has said.

According to him, this huge annual loss and the attendant erosion of confidence in the industry is part of the reasons the sector has not been able to significantly contribute to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Speaking during the unveiling of autogenius.com in La-

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• ‘NAICOM ‘ll tighten noose’

By Lucas Ajanaku

gos at the weekend, he said the application of information communication technology (ICT) into the insurance business will not only eliminate quackery and the sour taste its activities leaves on its victims, it will also drive penetration, reduce losses and ultimately improve the bottom line of the operators.

He said the product allows people to buy insurance policies online within the comfort of their living rooms, adding

that it also guarantees quality and good prices.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) said it is has started a process that would see its supervisory roles strengthened further to allow it respond to emerging issues in the industry.

Commissioner of Insurance, Fola Daniel, who spoke on the occasion expressed delight that ICT and insurance was converging, adding that the development would help deepen insurance reach in the country.

He said it was also in line

with NAICOM’s Market Development Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) which is seeking to explore ways of making the risk bearing industry contribute more to the GDP. “We are pleased to note that NAICOM has begun the process of fine-tuning some of its supervisory policy frameworks aimed at among others, to increase insurance penetration through principle-based supervision.

“That, when completed, will open up more distributions channels and other intermediation services for the purpose of insurance market growth,” he said

Represented by an official of the orgainsation, Segun Farina, he said insurance penetration is comparatively low in Nigeria and relatively untapped, stressing that looking at the country’s population, that is a pointer to immense opportunities inherent in this sector of the financial services in the country.

He said: “We believe that this partnership between Hightower Insurance Brokers and AutoGenius which culminated in the development of this product could be one among other efforts aimed at deepening insurance penetration through ICT online, real time and mobile solution.”

dential Jobs Board inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the real private sector which represents the grassroots enterprises and entrepreneurs are excluded in the composition, adding that the three million expected job creation is not visible.

He said: “This is a welcome development that would aid in addressing the time bomb of high unemployment

among our youths, currently put at 80 per cent by the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) in June, 2014.

“We hope that this initiative will not go the way of others, whose outcomes were never known to the public or implemented for the benefits of the country.

Jobs are important to the reduction of poverty, enhancement of security and sustainable economic growth.

Fed Govt insincere about job creation, says NECA

HE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Associa tion (NECA) has said if government is sincere in its job creation initiatives, all its policies should have employment content. The group also described the three million yearly job creation target of the Federal Government as an illusion.

Its Director General, Mr Segun Oshinowo, said the question Nigerians should

• ‘3m jobs yearly target ruse’

By Toba Agboola

begin to ask is the employment content in the government’s policies.

He praised the local content policy in the oil and gas sector which according to him, focused more on job creation.

He said: “In any policy that

the government is introducing or has introduced, Nigerians should begin to ask what the employment content is. The local content policy is a good policy and I think government should extend it to other sectors.”

Oshinowo decried the exclusion of the real sector from the composition of the Presi-

I

By Daniel Essiet

N a bid to ensure a cred ible and timely feedback on its numerous projects and activities in the country, the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, (WAAPP-Nigeria) has set up an Independent monitoring and evaluation team consisting of agric. researchers, and scientists from selected Universities, Agricultural Research Institutes and Colleges of Agriculture in the country.

Inaugurating the committee, the World Bank Task Team Leader and Chairman of the monitoring team, Mr. Salau Shehu, remarked that WAAPP-Nigeria had opted to set up an Independent monitoring team made up of home-grown researchers and scientists as opposed to the normal consultancy services The will monitor and evaluate its numerous researchoriented projects being executed all over the country.

The new approach, he said, will promote participatory ownership of projects, thus leading to the overall success of the programme.

The team, he added, should be seen more as a social corporate responsibility outfit rather than the usual commercially oriented consultancy group as members of the monitoring team are only entitled to the normal daily subsistence and transportation allowances, in line with World Bank rate.

27

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

AFRICAN BUSINESS

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Islamic finance elicits interest from African states

FRICAN markets are gradually opening to Islamic finance, buoyed by governments’ debut sales of sovereign sukuk (Islamic bonds) and legislative efforts to make the sector more attractive for companies across the region.

According to Reuters, despite the strong growth of Islamic finance in its core markets of the Middle East and south-east Asia, the industry has lagged behind in Africa, which is home to one in four of the world’s Muslims. But this year a string of transactions is helping to broaden the sector.

Governments across the continent are using sukuk as a way to attract cash-rich Islamic investors, with South Africa making a $500 million (R5.6 billion) issue last month.

The Tunisian government could

soon follow with a dollardenominated deal that it hopes to place by year-end; Kenya is considering a sukuk issue.

Nigeria’s Osun State made a small local currency sukuk issue last year and Gambia has been issuing short-term Islamic paper in its own currency for years, but the region’s booming dollardenominated bond market could hold the greatest promise.

The eurobond market in subSaharan Africa saw a record $14bn in issuance last year and the figure was $10billon so far this year, said Megan McDonald, the global head of debt primary markets at Standard Bank.

Eventually, 15 per cent to 20 per cent of such issues could be sukuk, as the market would develop over two to three years, McDonald said.

McDonald added: “We do expect to see others, firstly governmentlinked institutions in South Africa such as Transnet, Eskom and Sanral, which the Treasury is hoping can tap the market.”

South Africa attracted $2.2billion in orders for its sukuk and had not ruled out tapping the market again. Interest in making issues was also coming from other state and national governments, McDonald said. “The Treasury is open to coming back to the market,” said McDonald.

Islamic finance follows religious principles including a ban on interest and gambling. To obey these rules, contracts often attract double or triple tax as they require multiple transfers of underlying assets. Countries are now studying tax treatment for sukuk.

Somalia considers new oil, gas frameworks

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OMALIA’S federal government has called on major international companies to resume hydrocarbons exploration in the country.

Petroleum Minister Daud Mohamed Omar said a new framework for oil and gas exploration is in process of being created in an effort to attract investors, given that Somalia has lagged behind Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in exploration for hydrocarbons.

“This not only demonstrates a commitment to re-opening the oil and gas industry, which will [lead to] economic and social development, but further confirms historic security risks associated with Somalia are continuing to diminish,” he told the East Africa Oil & Conference.

Shell, along with other companies that acquired onshore and offshore blocks in the 1980s, stopped exploration activities and declared force majeure when civil war erupted in Somalia after President Mohamed Said Barre was deposed in 1991.

Omar said Somalia is discussing with Shell and ExxonMobil a way forward for the joint venture’s blocks that would enable exploration activities to restart and develop the country’s hydrocarbons resources potential.

“Companies with contested blocks ought to come. We hope discussions will help pave the way towards long-term development of

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• Mohammed (left) with the chairman of the airline, Mr Babatunde Babalola during a meeting in Lagos.

Discovery Air expands operations

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FEW months after it commenced operations on the domestic scene, Discovery Air has disclosed plans to expand its flights operations.

The new routes according to its Managing Director, Captain Abdulsalami Mohammed, is part of measures to consolidate its market share on key routes, which he listed to include: Lagos - Uyo, Calabar, Pot Harcourt , Owerri and Yola.

This expansion of flight operations according to the Discovery Air boss is part of plans to register itself as a leading carrier on the domestic route. This comes just as one of the one a Boeing aircraft that went for major maintenance checks has arrived the country.

According to Mohammed, the aircraft went for C- check in ATC Lawshan , in the United Kingdom.

The airline will commence the ew routes next month.

According to the Managing Director of the airline, Captain Abdulsalami Mohammed Discovery Air the expansion of operations of the airline would change the face of domestic air travel.

He said :” The return of this additional aircraft is in line with our vision to commence operations soon in the Nigeria

aviation market.

“We are excited that our dream of providing quality service to our prospective guest is becoming a reality.

Its Sales and Marketing Manager, Davids Odeyemi said the market is viable and “very competitive but with what we have on ground, we will penetrate the market. Also the staff in high spirit with their experiences.”

The airline also said it intends to entice more passengers to its services with attractive and competitive airfares for the flying public.

Mohammed said air travel experience would be improved with the commencement of the airline, adding that it has experienced hands to make its vision a reality.

He also said that timely departure of flights and quality onboard experience would be given priority by the management, maintaining that its Boeing aircraft are state-ofthe-art equipment, which would give the passengers the required comforts in the air.

Discovery presently has two Boeing 737-300 aircraft in its fleet with a plan to increase the fleet be-

fore the end of third quarter.

He said the airline was set up about a year ago with the aim of providing the Nigerian travellers very good customer service, and to also fill the gap of shortage of commercial aircraft in the country.

He said: “We are not coming into the system just like any other airline. We want to make a difference in the industry. Over the years, I want to categorically say that passengers have not been enjoying value for money, but with our entry into the sub-sector, passengers would experience a difference.

“We want to raise the bar in the industry and make our services be competitive with what we have abroad. Without the passengers, there can never be the airlines.”

He noted that the average age of Nigerian airlines is five years, but assured that the airline would remain in the air for several years due to the recruitment of capable hands to its team.

He specifically noted that unlike in Europe and America where there are finance companies that are willing to lease aeroplanes to operators, Nigeria is however seen as a high-risk country and operators are therefore forced to pay upfront making them to grapple with limited resources.

a sustainable oil and gas industry as one way of rebuilding of the economy,” he said.

Shell was awarded a concession for offshore five blocks (M3-M7) in 1988 and was later joined by ExxonMobil in a 50-50 joint venture.

Omar said the security threat from al-Shabaab militants had been reduced as a result of other African nations deploying solders in Somalia to assist the government and offshore pirate attacks subsiding as a result of international naval patrols.

International oil companies are expected to weigh the security situation and the risk of becoming entangled in political disputes as a result of contested exploration deals being inked at different times in the past.

Analysts say Somalia wants to catch up with Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique to the south, where recent hydrocarbons discoveries have the potential to transform the region into an exporter of oil and gas starting in 2018.

On August 28, Somalia began proceedings against Kenya at the International Court of Justice in a dispute over maritime borders in the Indian Ocean. Somalia wants the ICJ to determine the maritime boundaries of Somalia and Kenya in the Indian Ocean, including the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

The presidents of Kenya and Somalia met in New York in late September to try to diplomatically resolve the dispute.

SITEI confab holds Friday

HE Sustainability in the Extractive Industries (SITEI) conference organised by CSRin-Action, a non-profit organisation devoted to the advancement of social ethics, social responsibility and corporate governance in Africa, will hold on Friday at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to its Executive Director and Conference Convener, Bekeme Masade, the annual conference, which is in third year, has received endorsements and confirmation of attendance by keynote speakers, industry captains and heads of relevant government agencies, ministries and parastatals.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Local Content Participation, Accountability and Transparency.” The event will address the challenges of local entrepreneurs, job seekers, policies and critical issues surrounding the

implementation of quality local content participation in the extractive industries and proffer practical solutions towards improving entrance, accountability and transparency in the sector.

Bekeme Masade said the conference, which holds this week Friday is a call to action for players, aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals in the sector to play more active roles towards better industry practices and a more rewarding experience for all. “We are hoping the conference would encourage the youths in particular to explore the unique opportunities that abound in the sector in Africa and leverage on the current boom in investments in mining and associated infrastructure. We are also hoping that investors, lenders and bigger companies reduce the entry threshold for healthy competition and the empowerment of the average, focused citizen,” she said.

Minister extolls BoI’s contributions to HE Minister of Industry, Trade economic growth and Investment, Olusegun

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Aganga, has extolled the contributions of Bank of Industries (BoI) to industrial growth in Nigeria.

Aganga, who spoke in Ilorin during his pre-commissioningvisit to the Cold Roll Mill project of Kam Industries, Ilorin, said the bank has justified its establishment over the years via its adequate financial grants to viable and promising indigenous industrialists.

The minister, urged more qualified Nigerians to access the loans at the BoI noting that industrial revolution remained one of the economic thrusts of the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “We always require more funds to create the much needed enabler, to give enough money to fund industries in Nigeria. The BoI is rendering great assistance in this respect.”

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the BoI, Rasheed Olaoluwa while justifying the lifeline given to the Kam Industries, said the industries had over the years maintained the required standard and regulations of would be beneficiaries of the loan of the bank.

Besides, while lamenting the dearth of many applicants for the BoI loans he gave explanations on how the loans could be easily accessed, praising the Federal Government for cre-

ating enabling environment for the bank.

Olaoluwa said: “The Bank of Industry is the leading development finance institution in the Nigeria.

“Over the years, we have financed several development projects. We have financed close to 2,000 projects all over the country in several sectors.

“The other day we compiled statistics and the number we got was in the tune of N692billions in total loans we have granted to date. In the process we have created approximately one million job opportunities. The way to access finance from 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 various sectors that we support, the various products and ways in which we can apply.

“For instance we say 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 NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

28

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Virgin Money delays float amid market chaos V IRGIN Money is extending the timetable for its £2bn stock market listing because of market volatility which has prompted the collapse of several high-profile City deals.

Confirming a report by Sky News the bank, which is part-owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, issued a statement on Friday saying that it will delay a plan to sell shares on the London Stock Exchange until after the end of this month.

We’ve built strong aerial fibre network, says Phase 3

“Virgin Money continues to progress its plan for an initial public offering, mindful of market conditions. It now expects admission to occur later than October this year and as soon as constructive market conditions allow,” the company said.

Its chief executive, Jayne-Anne Gadhia, said: “Virgin Money continues to perform strongly and we remain focused on delivering a successful initial public offering as soon as market conditions allow.”

In a statement, Virgin Money had said that

it expected admission of its shares to the London market to take place before the end of October.

Sources insisted that the plan to raise £150million by selling shares in the company was still on track to take place following positive initial discussions with potential investors.

Earlier this week, Aldermore, another socalled challenger bank, said it was abandoning its flotation because of the tough equity market conditions which have seen the FTSE-

100 have its worst week for many months.

Scotland’s rejection of independence in last month’s referendum and Virgin Money’s strong recent trading had persuaded the bank’s board to press ahead with a flotation this year, rather than waiting until 2015.

Virgin Group and WL Ross, a US-based investment vehicle, collectively own just over 90 per cent of the bank, plan to educe their stakes in order to comply with listing authorities’ requirements relating to the number of shares which must be freely floated.

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HE Chief Executive Officer, Phase3 Telecom, Mr. Stanley Jegede has said the firm has invested massively in building a very robust aerial fibre to ease connectivity across the country and the entire West African sub-region.

Speaking after receiving the prestigious award of Nigeria Customer Service Awards, Abuja, he said the recognition is a call to do more in the area of helping connectivity among businesses in the country and the entire West Africa.

He said: “To be recognised and celebrated with a Nigeria Customer Service Award for the modest efforts the entire Phase3 family invest in using the best aerial fibre technologies to build a strong, secure, quality network to ensure the connectivity of all Nigerians and the West African sub-region with the rest of the world; is a great honour and an indescribable feeling of joy.

“We are grateful to God and thank our clients, partners, stakeholders and well wishers for their trust in our capabilities and continuous patronage through the years. In a congratulatory message, the organizers commended Phase3 Telecom team for the company’s emergence as customers’ favourite in the network management category.

“It is prove that Nigerian customers and consumers are aware and uncompromising in identifying exceptional service even in a complex sector. Phase3 is encouraged not to rest on their oars as they continue to positively exceed expectations in providing services to their clients. Phase3 is currently the most reliable aerial fibre infrastructure company in not just Nigeria but the entire West African subregion and this must be applauded and celebrated as it is no little feat to achieve.” .Now in its third year under the coordination of Dr. Aliyu Ilias and his team; the National Customer Service Awards (NCSA) is an organisation set up to recognise, commend and celebrate companies in Nigeria that deliver excellent and efficient customer service. The scope of this platform is to “create consciousness among corporate business owners to go beyond paying lip service to customer service strategies and intents” but to establish deep and lasting connection with customers. In addition to this, it is also a drive to “reward the companies that meet the award assessment criteria”. The awards’ credibility ride on winners in each category being nominated by consumers and individual sector stakeholders while winning votes are determined by the collation of over fifteen million votes through highly credible voting options that include; online poll, customer survey, mystery shoppers™ and short code.

It would be recalled that the company announced in September of this year that it has added Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) services to its growing network to enable clients, both new and existing access as well as share large amounts of data from multiple locations even in the most remote of locations.

A development that is testament to Phase3’s talents, innovations, contributions and commitments to ensuring its clients connectivity needs are met at all times and in all spheres”.

Thus, Jegede maintains that, the Phase3 family understands that the customer is king and theirs is an uncompromising vision to always provide the most reliable, unparalleled and world-class broadband network services to its clients and it is with humility that they thank their customers and everyone who voted for them as they acknowledge the award..

He maintains that the company hopes to continue to deliver on the promises made to its clients, partners and the industry. Especially in the area of network expansion in West Africa as well as investment in communications technology that enables its clients to share critical and big data within a secure, reliable and scalable infrastructure that provides them an affordable and flexible opportunity to grow their business operations no matter their location.

From left: Director,Local Organising Committee for Hitachi/ Cambridge University Regional Partnership Round-Table on Education in Nigeria; Princess Bukky Oluderu; Minister of Science&Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama; Senior Accessibility Consultant,Product and Services Group, Hitachi Solutions Europe Ltd, Mr. Gabriel Swatzell; Managing Director, Green Circle Network Africa, Mr Ladipo Oke, during the Hitachi/ Cambridge University Regional Partnership on Education in Nigeria in Lagos.

Rolls-Royce warns on profit again as economic growth slows

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RITISH engineer Rolls-Royce warned on Friday that deteriorating economic conditions meant its profit would not rise next year as previously forecast, sending its shares plunging as much as 16 percent.

Rolls-Royce said the market for its main aircraft engine business would strengthen but customers in the oil and gas, mining, construction, industrial and agricultural sectors were cancelling or delaying orders.

“The economic environment has deteriorated, and it has deteriorated quite quickly,” Chief Executive John Rishton said.

Wherever you look there were signs of economic slowdown such as the fall in oil and iron ore prices, an absence of growth in Europe and a slowdown in China, Rishton said.

The company, which as recently as July predicted growth in 2015, said underlying profit next year would at best be unchanged from 2014 and 3 percent lower at worst.

The downgrade was the second this year by the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines after U.S. group General Electric. It paves the way for another year of stagnation after more than a decade of strong growth.

Oil prices have slumped more than a fifth since June, prompting customers in that sector to cancel orders, the company said. Rolls-Royce also blamed tightening sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis for hitting its results.

The company said while its direct exposure to Russia was limited, clients with projects in Russia, or exposure to Russia, were not buying as many diesel generators, for instance, as Rolls had expected prior to the sanctions.

One of the businesses dragging on Rolls’ performance — its energy gas turbine and compressor division — is being sold to Siemens.

The sale of the business, which accounted for about four per cent of profits last year, is expected to be concluded by the end of the year.

World stocks hit a nine-month low on Friday as investors worried about a range of issues from the fragile state of the European economy following recent weak German data, the impact the Ebola virus and unrest in the Middle East.

Rolls-Royce was by far the biggest faller among 300 European blue-chips.

Its shares slumped as much as 16.3 percent to 787.5 pence, the lowest since Sept. 5, 2012 and the sharpest one-day loss since the last profit warning in February when they plunged 17.8 percent before ending down 13.6 percent.

“This is the second profit warning within eight months for Rolls. People don’t like that, and they don’t like it especially from a company that has given them the impression that they have highly visible revenues and earnings.

There is a big sentiment component to the price movement today,” said Harry Breach, an analyst at Westhouse Securities, which as a “neutral” rating on Rolls-Royce shares.

Rolls-Royce said in February that government defence budget cuts would mean flat profits for 2014. It said then: “This is a pause, not a change in direction, and growth will resume in 2015.”

Until this year, the company had enjoyed 11 years of strong profit and revenue growth as soaring demand for fuel-efficient engines for

passenger jets made by Airbus and Boeing boosted its civil aerospace unit, which accounted for 43 percent of sales in 2013.

Rolls-Royce reassured investors that the outlook for its aero engine business remained good, thanks to increasing demand for travel in emerging economies and the need to replace older aircraft with new, fuel efficient models.

Analysts said a small cut to the production rates of the Airbus A330 plane, also announced on Friday, would only have a marginal impact on the company.

“The message from management today is that civil aerospace is fine, but what they’re saying today is the profit warning today is really about the other segments,” said Breach.

Espirito Santo analyst Edward Stacey said the 2015 downgrade amounted to an 8 to 10 percent cut to the market consensus forecast for RollsRoyce earnings per share (EPS).

Thomson Reuters StarMine showed analysts have been reviewing their forecasts recently: in the past 30 days, 10 of 25 analysts cut Rolls-Royce EPS forecasts for 2014 by an average 0.5 pct.

For this year, Rolls said it was on track to post unchanged underlying profit from 2013, excluding adverse foreign exchange impacts and a oneoff charge already announced, as cost cutting had helped stave off the impact of delayed or cancelled orders.

Releasing medium-term guidance three days earlier than scheduled, the company also said on Friday that in the medium term it expected group return on sales of 13.5 per cent to 14.5 per cent, helped by slightly stronger margins of 14.5 percent to 15.5 per cent at its civil aerospace unit.

How CSR, sustainability initiatives can boost businesses, by UN, others

T

HE Manager, United Nations Global Compact in Nigeria, Innocent Azih, has urged firms to adopt robust and sustainable corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, saying they are capable of boosting businesses.

He spoke at the CSR West Africa 2014 organised by Afrocet and Informat in Lagos.

He said the effects of the CSR on businesses are many, urging management of companies to measure the impact of their CSRs. He said over 10,000 firms susbscribe to the UN Global Impact, adding that such firms stand to gain from it. “CSR and good governance ensures business growth and fight corruption. The Global Network helps to promote CSR and the implementation.

CSR is not core business but it is; it is wise to be involved in CSR,’’ he said.

He added: “Global Network enhances disclosures, boosts sustainability, training, connects you globally on what you are doing to raise the red flag on reputation risksand create awareness for CSR.” Haed, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, TGI Group, Annuj Bhartia said his firm promotes cooperatives and community-based organisations (CBOs) in the country, adding that their effort could lead to sustainable development. He said: “It is challenging. It is a slow and dynamic process. It is participatory.’’ On sustainability, he said it is not about building structures alone, but also about creating skills. ‘’CSR is business in a long term. Your organisation should be involved in your CSR. We have designed models which are

in line with business. It may not give tangible results but it may give you intangible results I the long run,’’ he added.

Haed, Public Affairs, SANOFI, Northeast Africa, Demeji Agbolade, said the firm does its CRS in partnerships with others. “CSR is more impactful when you partner other stakeholders. Partnerships are key to us and are the bedrock of our CSR to do tailormade programmes. Our responsibility is towards people, our patients,’’ he said.

The organisers expressed the optimism that CSRs’ impact would grow busineses in the country.They thanked their partners Access Bank, MTN Foundation, LAFARGE, Nestle Nigeria PLC, Ericsson for participating and for boosting CSR in their various organisations. The conference Director was Sadie Walter

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

29

ISSUES

• Tobacco

Tobacco Bill: Torn by health, economic devt With over N213billion in taxes from the tobacco industry, the Senate may have opted for a middle ground solution to the heated debate over tobacco ban. In the interest of the economy, the industry, smokers and non-smokers, the National Assembly plans to harmonise the Tobacco Bill before the expiration of their session , write MUYIWA LUCAS and ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

U

NLIKE the uproar that greeted the public hearing at the Lower House when it deliberated on the controversial Tobacco Bill, the session inside the hallow chamber of the Senate was far from stormy when it conducted a public hearing on the issue last week. The hotly debated bill

sought to regulate and control the production, manufacturing, sale, advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco or tobacco products in the country.

But when the Senate Committee on Health whose legislative input is expected to enhance a robust bill that would pave way for tobacco law deliberated on the

matter for four hours, it was devoid of the usual hot exchanges. All the stakeholders, both for and against the bill, walked away after the presentation of about 48 submissions. The understanding was that the bill was not aimed at throwing people into the job market and stop tobacco industry from operating as a business. Rather, it

was to protect public health.

At the public hearing, last week, the Senate assured Nigerians that the new Tobacco Bill will not create unemployment or result in the closure of multinational companies that manufacture cigarette in the country. The Chairman of the • Continued on page 30

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

30

ISSUES

Tobacco Bill: Torn by health, economic devt •Continued from page 29

Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, gave the assurance saying the new bill is designed to safeguard the health of the people.

Okowa, who was reacting to the concerns raised by the Oyo State government in which it complained that any stringent regulations in the industry would worsen the economic situation of its people, assured that the interest of all stakeholders would be taken into consideration in the passage of the bill. He also noted that the intention of the Senate is to regulate the tobacco industry in a responsible manner, adding that the rights of the younger generation needs to be protected “Our intention in the National Assembly is not to drive the industry away by stopping them from manufacturing.

“We only believe that they need to be regulated so that they will continue to act in a responsible manner. It is not only about the industry, but also about the retailers and our attitude as Nigerians. It is a comprehensive thing. People have the right to smoke, but we also want people to realise that smoking is injurious to their health and that they need to protect the right of other people who do not smoke and of course, the young ones need to be protected. Cigarette is the only product that we allow people to buy and sell in Nigeria legally even when we know it has a lot of injury and health hazards,” he said The Senate President, David Mark, also explained that the National Tobacco Control Committee and the Tobacco Control Unit were being proposed by the Bill as the administrative bodies to handle the harmonisation of the executive bill, the Senate bill and stakeholders’ input at the hearings before it becomes a law.

He said: “Much of the contribution of the negative effect of tobacco and tobacco products in the country is the illegal production, distribution and advertising of the product by many vendors, which has led to the cause of many diseases and untimely death of many Nigerians. This gathering has onerous task of assessing issues not limited to just tobacco distribution, sale, advertising, manufacture and sponsorship but also issues like age restriction and penalties, effects of secondhand smoke, both in children and adults smoking in public places.”

Senators Okowa’s and Mark’s clarifications were in sync with the position of the House of Representative, which deliberated on the matter few mionths ago. Its Chairman House Committee on Health, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, had assured that the tobacco bill was not intended to kill tobacco business, but rather to ensure that the business of tobacco was conducted in a regulated manner that would guarantee a healthy environment for all concerned. He explained that the public hearing was aimed at ensuring that all the parties to the bill were given opportunity to air their views as the bill, when enacted, would reflect the collective wishes of Nigerians.

However, the position being canvassed by the National Assembly apparently did not go down well with some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other critical stakeholders most of who favour a total ban of tobacco business. Their desire is premised on the health implication of tobacco consumption. Armed with statistics of deaths related to tobacco consumption, a coalition made up of Envi-

•Mark

•Speaker, House of Respresentative, Tambuwal

‘

•Minister of Trade and Industry, Olusegun Aganga

Our intention in the National Assembly is not to drive the industry away by stopping them from manufacturing. We only believe that they need to be regulated so that they will continue to act in a responsible manner. It is not only about the industry, but also about the retailers and our attitude as Nigerians. It is a comprehensive thing. ronmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), and the National Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), insisted that a tobacco control bill that is in sync with the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) would not only promote public health, but also fulfill Nigeria’s obligation under the FCTC. “The public hearing on the National Tobacco Control Bill is a welcome development and presents another opportunity for our lawmakers in the Senate to side with the people by ensuring that the bill is in tandem with the FCTC, which is the first global health treaty. The Senate must stand firm in the face of growing misinterpretation of the tobacco control bill by agents of the tobacco industry. It must remain vigilant and resist the deceptions and lies of the tobacco industry and those fronting for them,” ERA/FoEN Director, Corporate Accountability, Akinbode Oluwafemi said.

Also, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani said: “The public hearing is coming at a time that the health burden instigated by tobacco products has started assuming alarming proportions.

Nothing short of effective regulation of the manufacture, sale and distribution of such lethal products is needed now.”

But in fairness to tobacco producers, a lot of efforts have been made to curtail, through self regulation and corporate social responsibility possible health effects of tobacco.

The Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, BAT West Africa, Mr. Freddy Messanvi, said this much when he explained that BATN has always supported the passage of a balanced and evidencebased regulation of the industry in Nigeria. His words: “Through co-operation between BATN and regulatory agencies, we have achieved reduction in the incidence of illicit trade from over 80 per cent to around 20 per cent today.”

Messanvi therefore, warned that the proposed regulation should not force a

‘ ’

“Through co-operation between BATN and regulatory agencies, we have achieved reduction in the incidence of illicit trade from over 80 per cent to around 20 per cent today.”

’

legal and regulated business out of operation and leave the market at the mercy of smugglers and illicit traders. He added that in passing the bill to law, it was important to consider trends and implications in other countries with similar legislation.

Similarly, Habanera Limited, an affiliate of Japan Tobacco International (JTI), said it was not happy that tobacco advertising was banned in Nigeria by Advertising Practitioners Council (APCON) through its Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion, even while the bill iwas still being debated and yet to be signed into law.

The General Manager, JTI, Mr. Grant Mowat, said that while the ban is rigorously enforced, no justification has been presented for why the bill is needed in the light of existing restrictions. “This ban is rigorously enforced, sufficient and complies with Nigeria’s entire obligation in terms of Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC). Despite this, the Bill proposes new measures. No justification has been presented for why they are needed in the light of existing restrictions, nor has there been any assessment of whether they will be effective or what the negative consequences might be,” he said.

For the Chairman of Tobacco Growers Association of Nigeria, Rasheed Bakare, there is need for a bill that would promote and encourage sponsorship of tobacco farming as well as provide incentives to farmers. Anything short of that, he said, would not only destroy their main source of income, which is tobacco farming, but also throw their children out of school.

On its part, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) requested that certain factors be put into consideration in the pursuit of the bill. These factors include putting into consideration the manufacturing capacity of the industry, which if eroded will affect the tobacco industry’s contribution to the economy. According to MAN, thousands of rural farmers actively engaged in tobacco cultivation through support by tobacco companies leading to wealth creation, financial empowerment and better standard of living.

That is not all. MAN also noted that the tobacco industry contributes over N100 billion in revenue to government through excise duty, taxes and levies, corporate social investments among others. MAN warned that the current bill not only contravened trade agreements with other countries, but also will lead to loss of jobs, lrevenue, and an end to economic and so-

cial benefits enjoyed by rural farmers through CSR activities and promotion of smuggling among others.

For pro-tobacco stakeholders, Clause 3 of the draft bill is perhaps, the most unpopular provision. The clause provides that tobacco products will not be sold at open markets, shops and kiosks. For instance, the National Tobacco Retailers Association, Onuwankpu- Igbsagu Community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, BATN, and a host of others, argued that doing so implies killing their businesses through the back door.

This much was highlighted at last week’s public hearing by the Director of Public Prosecution in the Oyo State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Tajudeen Abdul Ganiyu. The DPP told the committee that hundreds of Oyo indigenes, especially youths, would be out of job if the new bill forced the British American Tobacco Company in Ibadan to close down its operations.

Ganiyu said: “We are looking at a situation whereby the bill would put the industry out of business and throw the workers out of employment because we are going to suffer the immediate result of people being thrown out of market as it is going to increase the crime rate in our state.We are also concerned about the area of partnership between the state government and BATN. The company has been helping the Oyo people by empowering them to set up small entrepreneurs throughout the state.

We have the tobacco farmers who are also being empowered too by the tobacco firm.”

Ganiyu was not done. “As a member of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control(WHOFCTC) that adopted the treaty on Tobacco Control, the Nigerian Government and the National Assembly have to live up to this mandate by ensuring that adverse effects and burden of tobacco and tobacco products on our public health system are sustainably controlled.

We must understand that for this Bill to be sustained, it needs more than government’s backing. We must shun illegality in this business sector in its entirety.”

Interestingly, the Senate is not unmindful of the economic implications of banning tobacco, which was why the upper legislative chamber favours a balanced tobacco bill that would meet the expectations of all stakeholders. Besides, the current National Assembly winds up soon and because of the next election, the present wants to hasten the process to prevent a fresh debate on the bill by the next assembly if the present assembly fails to conclude the deliberation.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

31

MONEYLINK

BDCs demand $50,000 weekly forex sales

B

UREAUX De Change (BDC) operators have urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to increase the $15,000 weekly foreign exchange (forex) sales to each operator to $50,000.

The BDCs also asked the regulator to extend its occasional intervention in the foreign exchange market to reduce demand pressure at the retail end of the market.

Speaking under the aegis of Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the BDCs lamented that while over

Stories by Collins Nweze

2000 operators have laboured to comply with the N35 million mandatory caution deposits, the $15,000 weekly sale to each BDCs by the CBN is inadequate to cover operating costs.

“Considering the difficulties that BDCs are currently facing, due to the volume of the weekly sales granted to BDCs as against the associated costs in the business, we are strongly suggesting that the CBN consider increasing the weekly sales to BDCs from $15,000 to $50,000, the

Association said in an appeal letter to the CBN Governor. Making a case for extension of CBN forex intervention to BDCs, the Association said,” it said.

The association also appealed to the apex bank to reduce the mandatory caution deposit to N15 million from N35 million, to free up cash for BDCs to meet day-to-day operations.

“After the expiration of the deadline for the payment of the increased caution fee of N35million, we noticed that a good number of

irrespective of the imminent change of ownership, following the full payment of the bid amount of N56billion by Heritage Bank Limited.

According to the bank, “the transparency and successful sale of the bank by AMCON should serve as a guarantee to our esteemed customers that the combination of the two banks is a step in the right direction that will ensure increased potentials for further value addition to all stakeholders.”

Undoubtedly, the synergies of

combining Heritage Bank’s aggressive market focus and technology orientation with Enterprise Bank’s legacy and branch networks would produce a highly customercentric institution.

All structures, it continued, have already been put in place to engender a seamless transition to a new financial institution that will distinguish itself as a bank of preference in the industry. The bank encouraged everyone, including customers of the two combining entities to fully embrace the emerging bank.

Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank, Obinna Nwosu, said the certification is based on international best practices deployed by the bank to manage business continuity.

According to him, the ISO 22301:2012 specifies requirements to plan, establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain and continually improve a documented management system to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptive events when they arise.

He said, “The ISO 22301 standardization certification will help improve

the bank’s business by ensuring planned, effective Business Continuity Management at all levels, including: Organisation-wide identification and understanding of critical business processes and the impact of disruption, timely and orderly responses to incidents/business disruptions.

Speaking at the event, Mike Purves, Acting Deputy High Commissioner and Director, United Kingdom Trade and Investment, expressed satisfaction that the British Standard Institute is helping to improve standard in Nigeria.

Bureau de Change Operators could no longer conveniently carry out their weekly trading due to lack of cash.

“To avoid the possibility of such BDCs closing shop even after having made the effort to pay their caution fees, we are sincerely pleading that the Central Bank should consider the possibility of reviewing the caution fee from N35million to N15million in order to financially empower the BDCs to carry on their weekly trading”, it said.

Enterprise assures customers on quality service

T

HE management of Enterprise Bank Limited has reassured its customers that the emergence of HBCL Investment Services Limited (HISL) as the new owners of the bridge bank will not in anyway disrupt its operations but would rather strengthen its ability to provide better services to its customers.

A statement from the Corporate Communications Department of the bank during the week said customers of the bank would continue to enjoy excellent service delivery,

A

Access Bank gets ISO certification

CCESS Bank Plc has been awarded the International Organisation for Standardisation, ISO, 22301:2012 certificate for ‘Societal Security - Business Continuity Management Systems.’

The award, the bank said in a statement, was presented to the bank by the British Standard Institute, BSI, after about three months of rigorous business impact analysis across all the departments of the bank.

Speaking during the presentation of the certificate in Lagos, Group 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 1,691.94 1,086.81 119.85 121.16 1,117.51 1.2387 1.2866 0.8694 1.0864

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

O/PRICE

FBNH

C/PRICE

Transaction Dates 15/10/2014 13/10/2014 08/10/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: September

8.3%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

7.27

DIAMONDBNK

5.57

5.84

4.85

ACADEMY

1.32

1.38

4.55

NPFMCRFBK

0.90

0.94

4.44

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

207.10

215.90

4.25

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

30.00

31.00

3.33

3.02

3.08

1.99

ZENITHBANK

21.08

21.40

1.52

ETI

18.05

18.25

1.11

0.94

0.95

1.06

AFRIPRUD

WEMABANK

LOSERS AS AT 16-10-14

SYMBOL LEANAFRCA

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

1.44

1.31

-9.03

577.16

548.31

-5.00

CAVERTON

4.40

4.18

-5.00

AIRSERVICE

2.01

1.91

-4.98

SEPLAT

WAPCO

TERLING Bank has attributed its decision to support the 2014 Social Media Award, Africa to the need to recognise and celebrate excellence, creativity and the impact of social media on human socio-economic development through its tools and platforms by individuals and organisations across the continent.

The bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications Shina Atilola in a statement, said that the award also provides platform for the lender to further consolidate its position as a leading light in the social media space.

He added that the bank cannot overlook the importance of social media in today’s society and the increasing role it plays in the lives of people on a daily basis, hence the need to identify with the Award.

Sterling Bank recently won the Most Innovative Bank Award organised by the Nigerian Telecoms Awards courtesy of it’s

Money Supply (M2)

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$39.4b

US Dollar

155.70

155.72

$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%

13-10-14 Rate (%) Rate (%) 12-10-14

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

116.85

111.06

-4.96

2.05

1.95

-4.88

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

FIDSON

3.50

3.33

-4.86

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

REDSTAREX

4.20

4.00

-4.76

174.00

165.80

-4.71

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

8.55

8.15

-4.68

NASCON

Amount Sold in ($) 349.97m 349.96m 399.99m

Currency

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

Amount Offered in ($) 350m 350m 400m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES October 15, 2014

EVANSMED

MOBIL

Social Lender, a product that allows members of the social media community to obtain quick cash from the bank.

Explaining the modalities for the award, Mr. Femi Aderibigbe, the Project Lead of the Award said that there are nomination opportunities into four categories of 15 awards, “interested individuals and organisations can nominate from October 1 till 27, 2014 for a chance to win any of the coveted awards. All entries will be judged on influence, originality, creativity, scalability and impact. The judging process will see winners emerge through an open and credible system involving the general public, a virtual council and jury”, he said.

He listed the Award prizes to include dollar denominated cash prizes, professional and institutional trainings on social media and access to mentorship opportunities amongst other benefits for excellence and impact in social media practice.

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS)

11.80

STANBIC

Aminu

DATA BANK

11.00

FO

President

Sterling backs social media awards

Bid Price 168.06 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.33 1,691.94 1,086.15 119.03 120.30 1,116.70 1.2304 1.2866 0.8527 1.0864

GAINERS AS AT 16-10-14

SYMBOL

S

•ABCON Gwadabe

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 20, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-10-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-010-14

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

33

EQUITIES

NBS scores economy low in third quarter

I

F the outcome of the performance in key sectors of the economy in the last quarter is anything to go by, it is correct to say the economy is in doldrums.

This is the verdict of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which published the inflation estimate for September 2014 penultimate week, as the publication highlighted a 20bps decline in the Headline index to 8.3per cent in September from 8.5 per cent in August. This marked the first decline in the Headline Index after six consecutive increases.

The Headline Index, sub divided into the Core Index and Food Index primarily reduced by a 30bps decline in the Food sub index to 9.7 per cent in September from a 13 months high of 10.0 per cent in August, while the Core Index stayed flat at 6.3 per cent.

The Food Index constitutes approximately 50.0 per cent of the to-

E

Stories by Taofik Salako

tal basket and as such mild increases in the Food Index is likely to drive the Headline Index higher.

The decline in the Food Index may be associated with moderate supply increases since the harvest season commenced.

Despite the moderation in the Headline Index recorded in September, a long list of macroeconomic and socio-political headwinds still pose a challenge to price stability. For instance, the impending increase in systemic liquidity during the upcoming elections, expected food challenges due to deteriorating socio-political challenges, expected maturity of AMCON’s N978.35bn bond and recent capital reversals by FPIs are likely factors that may determine price levels in the medium term.

Finally, the Naira has lost approximately 2.0 per cent within the

European stock markets rally as volatility abates

UROPEAN stock markets have staged a recovery after a week of precipitous falls and volatility.

London’s FTSE 100 index was up nearly one per cent in mid-morning trading, while Germany’s Dax and France’s Cac 40 were both up 1.5 per cent.

Concerns over a weakening European economy and downwardly revised growth forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had unsettled investors.

But better-than-expected United States (U.S.) industrial production data helped steady the ship.

The FTSE 100 has fallen 10 per cent since early September, wiping £175billion off the value of listed businesses.

Explaining the recent convulsions in the markets, Carl Weinberg, chief economist and managing director at New York-based consultancy High Frequency Economics, said investors had taken fright over the faltering European economy and a slew of weaker global economic data.

Some “untested” economic indicators had given the impression the European market was recovering when it was not, Mr Weinberg argued.

“The underlying economy is as bad now as it was a week or two weeks ago.

“But the perceptions have changed and that’s causing turbulence in the markets,” he told the BBC. Steven Saywell, head of foreign exchange strategy at BNP Paribas, said the real concern over the faltering eurozone economy was inflation, currently running at 0.3 per cent.

“We believe the risk is it could fall even further,” he said.

BNP Paribas believes European Central Bank president Mario Draghi should take bold measures to buy sovereign bonds in an attempt to convince investors that the rate of inflation would increase.

This period of volatility was no worse than it had been in the past, Mr Weinberg maintained, and was a necessary condition if markets were “to make money”.

In recent years, central banks maintaining a policy of low interest rates had dampened market speculation, but now that it was a question of when rates would rise, rather than whether, this was stimulating investor activity, Mr Weinberg argued.

But such speculation was countered

last two months and poised to depreciate further; and considering the 13.0 per cent contribution of imported goods to the index, the inflation index is bound to tick higher in coming months.

On the global scene, the bearish trend in the global equity market persisted for the fourth consecutive week on the back of concerns with the consistent decline in crude oil prices, sparking fears of a slowdown in global growth. Within the BRICS region, the China Shanghai Composite Index led the decline, shedding 1.4 per cent W-o-W followed by the Russian RTS and the India BSE Sens declining 0.8 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively.

However, the Brazil Bovespa gained 0.6 percent while South Africa JSE recorded a rebound from the previous week performance 1.6 per cent.

In the developed market, both the

UK FTSE and the US S&P 500 declined 0.3 per cent and 0.5 per cent W-o-W respectively, despite the rebound experienced.

Similarly, within the Europe and Asia region, the Japan Nikkei dipped 5.0 per cent W-o-W, followed by the France CAC 40 and Hong Kong Hang Seng shed 1.0 per cent and 0.3 per cent W-o-W respectively. The Germany DAX gained 0.7 per cent W-o-W on the back drop of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s recommendation to postpone the end of the loose monetary policy.

Within the African space, the Egypt EGX 30 led the decline by a substantial 10.0 per cent, the Nigerian ASI shed a significant 5.6 per cent while the Kenya NSE 20 closed flat.

In a bid to calm the recent volatility of the Naira, the CBN increased its bi-weekly intervention at the Primary market this week, as it sold

US$700.0m compared to US$400.00 sold last week.

The CBN sold US$350.0m penultimate Monday at the marginal rate of 155.75/US$1.00 while it increased the marginal rate by 1kobo to N155.76/US$1.00 when it sold another US$350.0m.

However, the FX market witnessed renewed pressure on Tuesday as the Naira weakened by a marginal 30kobo to 164.15/US$1.00.

Despite the Dollar sales by Shell on Wednesday, the Naira sustained pressure, depreciating 45kobo to close N164.60/US$1.00. On Thursday, the Naira breached the N165.00/US$1.00 mark to close at its weakest position in eight months (N165.30/US$1.00). W-o-W, the Naira closed at N165.35/US$1.00 and N169.50/US$1.00 at the Interbank and BDC segments respectively on Friday, a 65kobo and 50kobo depreciation respectively.

•From left: NAHCO Cargo Customer Relationship Manager, Mr. Abiodun Oyebade; Secretary-General, International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), Mr. Douglas Brittin; and Head, Corporate Communication and Business Development, Mr. Adesanya Onayoade, at the NAHCO stand during this year’s International Air Cargo Forum in Seoul, South Korea.

by recent comments from Andrew Haldane, the Bank of England’s chief economist.

He said UK interest rates should remain low to avoid long-term

economic stagnation, after giving a downbeat assessment of the UK economy.

Weaker global growth, low wage growth and financial and political risks contributed to his more cautious

view.

“This implies interest rates could remain lower for longer, certainly than I had expected three months ago,” he said in a breakfast meeting speech to business leaders.

Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers.

Rest assured that you can count on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) as one of your allies and partners particularly when it comes to the financial resources you need to pursue some of your engagements.”

Responding, Mr. Albert Okumagba, President/Chairman of Council, CIS, thanked the NSE president for his commitment to the institute, stressing that as a body they look forward to mutually rewarding relationship with the NSE.

Aig-Imoukhuede tasks stockbrokers on service delivery

F

ROM the incumbent President of Council, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede has come a charge to professionals in the stockbrokerage sub-sector: “Rededicate yourselves to duty as society’s expectation from you is very high.”

The new NSE helmsman spoke as a guest of honour at a public forum organised by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in Lagos at the weekend.

According to the immediate Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, as professionals, stockbrokers occupy a prime position in the scheme of things, especially in the running of the economy, which is why the society repose a lot of trust in them.

Waxing philosophical, he said: “If you study statistics, geography and demography, one thing that you would conclude because statistical evidence supports it, the job called stockbrokering is the one that is reserved for privileged people. Not a small number of people but privileged people.

And I would explain why. They thus carry a national trust of wealth creation. The burden of wealth creation at least from the financial market is imposed on the profession called stockbro-

•Pledges NSE support kers.”

Speaking further, he said: “If you look at the demography of professional earnings, stockbrokers are typically number one, two and worst case, number three of the professional hierarchy of earnings. And in terms of statistics in the proportion of earnings in a financial are typically in 20 per cent. So, it goes without saying that we need to position stockbrokering for better performance because better performance of stockbrokering means better performance of the economy, and very importantly, better performance for our pockets.”

He also hinted of plans by the NSE to lend critical support to the CIS whenever the need arises.

“As the President of the Council of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), I consider this community, my primary constituency. You’re significant repository of trust thrust upon you by virtue of your profession. You also have significant expectations from those who have been entrusted with running the Exchange. This interaction will give us the opportunity to create a win-win framework that would benefit the market and

benefit you. ‘’I do look forward to much more detailed interactions between the Council and the management of the Stock Exchange and the entire body of the

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; three of the ten winners of the maiden edition of Etisalat Easybusiness Millionaire Hunt, Oluyomi Ojo, Adesuwa Ojumola, and Idongesit Umoh during a courtesy visit by the winners to Etisalat Head Office, Banana Island, Ikoyi Lagos .

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

34

BUSINESS NEWS

Capital, infrastructure bane of business ideas, says Otti

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ACK of access to finance is the bane of implementing new business ideas in Nigeria. Even when financed, it is only when requisite infrastructure exists that business ideas can be transformed into profit generating ventures, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti, has said.

Otti, who was guest speaker at the public session lecture of the 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ikeja branch, held in Lagos at the weekend, said financial

By Chikodi Okereocha

institutions must therefore develop more products that would adequately provide capital to entrepreneurs.

At the public session with the theme, ‘Creating a Vibrant Economy Through Sustainable Entrepreneurial Development,’ the bank chief said: “The banking sector has a critical role in sustaining the tempo of entrepreneurship growth in the country through Small and Medium Enterprise, SME banking.”

He noted that there was need to improve SMEs access to finance was necessary because of their

role as catalysts to economic growth.

According to him: “Entrepreneurs organise, manage and assume the risks of a business or enterprise. They start businesses and are willing to risk loss in order to make profit. The entrepreneur is always willing to apply new ideas to elements that already exist in the socioeconomic terrain by identifying a need and developing mechanisms to satisfy such.”

The Diamond Bank boss identified self-employment as one of the issues addressed by entrepreneurship. He said: “Unemployment

and poverty are among the major economic challenges the country faces today. However, the good news is that there is unarguably a direct positive relationship between job creation and poverty reduction. Therefore, poverty in Nigeria can be significantly reduced by entrepreneurship through financial independence and opportunity it offers entrepreneurs to make profit and provide employment to others.”

He also said entrepreneurs nurse and develop innovations that ultimately lead to the development of new products and services. He said the development of new products, in turn, equally opens the economy for more employment opportunities, increased consumer spending, an added opportunity for the government to generate income through tax.

Dr. Otti noted that because of the critical role of SMEs as growth catalysts, there is need to address the challenge of infrastructure, which has hampered the growth of the sector. Every business thrives on an

efficient infrastructural system. It is only when requisite infrastructure exists that business ideas, even when financed, can be transformed into profit generating ventures,” he said.

He however, said potential entrepreneurs should take advantage of the various government initiatives such as the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN), as well as some intervention funds instituted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) targeted at developing entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman MAN Ikeja branch, Prince Oba Okojie, said manufacturers’ inability to access funds with ease has led to the closure of many factories.

“In last few years, a large number of manufacturing companies closed shops nationwide. The ever busy industrial estates are now shadows of their past glory,” he lamented, adding that this has made young people who have been gainfully employed to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the economy idle and exposed to all kinds of vices.

Transcorp, Hilton seal Port Harcourt hotel deal

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anytime, anywhere and on any device. By empowering employees to work more flexibly, not only can overall productivity increase but work/life balance and job satisfaction also improve significantly.”

Its Product Manager, Abu Etu said: “The increase in employee mobility and the usage of multiple devices among employees, introduces some complexities that slow down processes in the workplace. The Enterprise Voice solution allows businesses to communicate with their staff across different devices maintaining one number and dialing behavior, so that every business call is answered.”

Successful business communications in the modern environment require secure real-time collaboration, single phone number reach, and solutions that can ensure mobility while reducing cost.

The firm said the Vodacom Business Connect enables enterprises with existing Private Branch Exchange(PBX) infrastructure to make and receive external calls. It integrates seamlessly with the customer’s legacy PBX and supports a wide range of protocols and interfaces including SIP, FXO and E1.

For enterprises without an existing PBX, Vodacom now offers Business Express, which is an IP PBX solution hosted from Vodacom’s data centre.

This solution provides businesses with the functionalities of a PBX without the need for any cpital expenditure (capex) investment.

Vodacom Enterprise Voice Solution comes with an edge that can make a big difference with automatic call hunting between staff, dedicated conference bridge, all at cost effective rates, helping businesses to reduce their telephony expenses. Customers can answer calls to their office landline number on multiple devices, so they will never miss a business opportunity.

RANSCORP Hotels Plc, the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, has signed an agreement with Hilton Worldwide, to develop a 250 guest room Hilton Hotels & Resorts-branded property in Nigeria’s garden city, Port Harcourt.

According to a statement, the Transcorp Hilton Port Harcourt will be situated at Evo Road in the city and will be a full-service, upscale hotel featuring almost 1,400sqm of state-of-the art conference facilities and meeting rooms, alongside stylish and creative leisure facilities including six restaurants and bars, a gym, spa, pools, and tennis and squash courts, all targeting Nigeria’s burgeoning middle class.

This is the third partnership between Transcorp Hotels Plc and Hilton Worldwide which is creating a portfolio of world-class hotels in the country, including the awardwinning Transcorp Hilton Abuja named Nigeria’s leading hotel – along with the Transcorp Hilton Lagos which is expected to open in 2017.

This announcement comes right on the heels of Trancorp Hotels’ initial public offer (IPO) to raise N8 billion to pat-finance the development of the new hotel projects in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The offer closed about four days ago.

Speaking on the deal, Senior Vice President, Development, Europe & Africa for Hilton Worldwide, Patrick Fitzgibbon, said: “We are delighted to once again be partnering with Transcorp Hotels Plc and further cementing our long-standing relationship to introduce our famous Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand to Port Harcourt. In 2014 the country became the largest economy in Africa, and this fast paced growth is expected to continue for the coming years. This

announcement further strengthens our growing hotel portfolio in the country – within which our core brand Hilton is at the forefront.”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Managing Director/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Valentine Ozigbo remarked: ‘We are excited to have achieved such a significant milestone in our hospitality expansion plan. It fully underscores our commitment to excellence and quality, and positions usto deliver superior returns to our stakeholders. Our long-standing relationship with Hilton Worldwide has been and remains very strategic in ensuring that our hotels are or will be market leaders, providing world-class guest experiences and hospitality to suit a diverse clientele base in Abuja, Lagos and PortHarcourt.”

Also, Global Head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Rob Palleschi, said: “With our long-standing success and history in the country, the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand is wellknown across Nigeria’s domestic and international communities. I have no doubt that Transcorp Hilton Port Harcourt will help to reinforce our reputation as the dynamic and innovative brand and forwardthinking global leader of hospitality.

It is great to see the growth and success of the brand in this key strategic market.”

With its abundant supply of natural resources, well developed financial, communications and legal sectors and the second largest stock exchange on the continent, Nigeria is regarded as an economic powerhouse within Africa. With this comes an increase in the need for travel, leisure and hospitality in various cities across the continent. Hilton Worldwide is strategically positioned to fill the gap with the creation and development of new hotels and resorts to provide world class hospitality and lasting memories.

retailers, pharmacists, entrepreneurs, supermarket operators, salon operators, photographers, fast-food operators, Commercial Telephone Operators and other Small and Medium Scale business operators.

To deepen the penetration of Glo Xchange in the country, the company is partnering some key players in the financial institutions including First Monie, Ecobank, StanbicIBTC Bank and Zenith Bank. The company said that more banks would join the partnership in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria regulations. At the programme, Glo mobile money experts gave orientation

to the attendees as they were eager to know more about mobile money and how to operate the Glo Xchange network business. They also gave the participants the opportunity to ask questions for further clarifications, after which they signed up as Glo Xchange Agents.

Speaking after the training at the Owerri Centre, Njoku Chinelo from Irete said the project was a “nice one from Globacom, and will greatly enhance business growth”.

Ogbonna Chioffor and Peter Ike spoke in the same vein. Chioffor called it a wonderful and encouraging opportunity created by Globacom

“…which will facilitate convenience of monetary transactions and avoidance of bank stress, delay and risk”.ý Ike said it was “pure empowerment of people by Globacom whereby one can start a business with funds as little as N10, 000”.

Abichi Okeke from Makurdi welcomed the programme from Globacom and said that it will profitably engage more Nigerian jobless youths John Iorpuu from Afia Town, Ukun LGA in Benue state hailed Glo Xchange as another first from Globacom, adding that “ýit will ease and make monetary transaction more convenient than ever.” James Pilaakya from Korina, Konshisha LGA

Benue state said it is an impressive grassroots-oriented platform by Globacom, saying that it will make rural financial transaction possible where there are no banks. The attendees also said Glo Xchange will facilitate financial transaction to the remote areas where there is no financial institution.

A statement from the Head of Mobile Money Financial Business, Globacom, Mr. Esaie Diei said Globacom would continue to empower Nigerians economically while also encouraging the federal government’s financial policies of financial inclusion and cashless

•From left: Etu; Group Head, IT, PZ Cussons, Serge Yao and Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Guy Clarke, during the launch at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.

V

Vodacom strengthens voice suite

ODACOM Business Nigeria has enhanced its enterprise voice suite with the launch of two new solutions, Business Connect and Business Express. These are enterprise-grade fixed telephony solutions made for Nigerian businesses and specifically designed to give superior and costeffective voice services.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos at the weekend, its Head of Operations, Vernon Van Rooyen, said the innovatives products would reduce capital expenditure (capex).

He said: “We’ve worked hard to develop the right tools specifically for the businesses in Nigeria. We have regional numbers approved by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for all our customers. In addition, our solution is integrated allowing employees across all departments in an organisation to easily locate and communicate with colleagues, which enables them to reach one another

T

By Alvin Afadama

Glo Xchange agents expand across country

HE number of mobile money agents around the country has continued to swell as the Glo Xchange train moved to in Imo, Benue, Niger, Plateau and Kogi over the weekend.

In the new locations, participants joined their fellow countrymen in other parts of the country to eulogize the benefits of the mobile money super agent network.

About 1,500 potential agents gathered in Owerri, Markurdi, Minna, Jos and Lokoja to receive orientation and information on the technical details of the Glo Xchange Network. They included Glo trade partners, sub-dealers,

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

35

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• The African drumming and dance troupe, Soul in Motion.

PHOTO: GAZZETEE.NET

Dancing is gradually becoming a money-spinner in the nation’s entertainment industry. The huge demand and support for it as an integral part of Nigerian movies, musical videos, commercial advertisements and competitions by big brands have opened new vistas for professional dance instructors to coach career dancers.

OLUWAKEMI DAUDA reports.

I

N most schools (primary and secondary) in Lagos and other cities, dance instructors are being invited to instruct and coach pupils the techniques and art of dancing, especially when such schools have events and ceremonies.

Uniform dance steps in a choreographed manner always add spice to such events.

These instructors are usually paid handsomely for their expertise and time.

A job-seeker only needs to explore his or her talent in dancing to fit in and explore it. Interestingly, the tough economic times have made many a job-seeker to look elsewhere by being creative; using their God-given talents to make ends meet. A talented dancer, who has horned his skills in dancing doesn’t need to look further in search of the golden fleece. His or her feet can pay the bills.

Skilled dancing is not common to all and not everyone is blessed with it. And when the need arises for it, a dance in-

Jobs as dance instructor structor comes in. People looking to keep fit and stay in shape, nervous brides and grooms or someone hoping to boost his or her confidence on the dance floor are all potential students.

What is dance?

Dance is an art which allows people to move their bodies to express themselves in a non-verbal form. It is usually accompa-

nied with music. Various ideas and emotions are expressed when dancing. Some dance steps are used for storytelling, while some others are in form of pantomime, ballerina or contemporary dance. However, dance has gone beyond a mere form of art to becoming an act, which could be learnt and mastered.

Since dance is a physically demanding art, a dancer must work very hard to stay physically fit. This will often include a strict diet,

with a rigorous exercise routine.

Dance could be categorised into various forms and styles and each style has its own message and unique steps. One good thing about it is that you don’t only learn how to dance, but you will become a professional dancer.

There are many reasons people choose to learn to dance. It could be for making new friends, a way to exercise their body or a way to fight shyness.

Technically, a formal education is not absolutely necessary for a dance career, but studying under an experienced dancer or in a prominent dance school can be very helpful.

Most dancers start their careers at a very young age. Professional ballerinas, for instance, usually start dance classes at tender ages before they are enrolled in school. As they grow older, they move up to more advanced classes.

•Continued on page 36

36

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

JOBS

Jobs as dance instructor •Continued from page 35

During their teenage years, dancers could also choose to attend special performing arts or dance schools. Though they will get a general high school education in these schools, young dancers will also take various dance classes in order to horn their skills.

After high school, some dancers prefer looking for work, while others choose to attend tertiary institutions or a performing arts school.

Choreographers and dance instructors should always have a solid dance education. Ideally, they should be well-rounded and be able to perform many types of dances. They should also be very experienced and talented in at least one particular type of dance.

However, a dance instructor may need to get his or her instructor’s certificates, especially if he or she will be coaching pupils.

Benefits A dance instructor can get started because he or she needs little money to start. Findings revealed that no expensive equipment is needed to teach someone to dance. Rhythm (music) and know-how are what dance students need to get started.

A quality dance class is worth the cash. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average annual earnings for instructors in dance studios and schools at $34,460 and that is why many Nigerian youths are taking interest in it.

Requirements What is needed most is passion for dance. Many people, who sign up for dance classes, are looking for how to master simple steps.

The instructor’s enthusiasm can be contagious for new dancers. A love of the craft will inspire students in a dance class to keep trying and, more importantly, keep coming and paying their fees.

Ability to train others on how to dance is trickier than just being able to dance. To teach some dances, an instructor has to be able to do both the male and female parts, which basically means knowing how to do a dance in reverse when the need arises.

The most important part of any new business is attracting customers. Experts say it is ideal to teach in a dance studio or school with an already established clientele.

The smart way to attract students, they say, is by going to schools, contacting people through online and newspapers, distributing fliers around the neighborhood, or use the best idea-the all-important skill of networking.

A 21-year-old Olamidun Majekodunmi is taking the big leap into the world of dance. She is instructing at a dance studio in Lagos.

As a young girl, Majekodunmi fell in love with dancing while growing up in the United States (U.S.). Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, she moved to America at the age of nine and took her first contemporary dance class at the age of 10. Now 21 and back in Nigeria, she is passionate about giving other young children the opportunity she had and has set up a one-of-its-kind contemporary dance school, The Studio, where she grooms young children’s talents with professional dance classes.

Situated in the heart of Abuja, Majekodunmi and her team of professional dancers offer classes in ballet, hip-hop, theater, music, creative arts and fitness with the aim of helping children nurture their talents and build their dreams. The Studio also serves as a play centre and offers children’s party planning services.

• Dancers in action.

She identified the following as different types of dance.

“Ballet is one of the most common types of dance, and many other types of dance are actually based on ballet. This style of dance has been around for centuries, and it is often considered to be one of the most beautiful. Although classical music is usually used to set the scene for a ballet, other types of music can be used as well. Modern dance is similar to classic ballet, but it generally does not follow the same strict rules, guidelines, and dance moves.

“Tap dancing is another popular form of dancing. Unlike most other dancers, tap dancers need special noise making shoes with metal

plates that make a tapping sound when the dancer strikes her foot on the floor. Along with expressing herself through movements, a tap dancer will also usually add to the rhythm of the music – or make her own music – by tapping her shoes on the floor.

“Jazz dance generally consists of very bold moves and it is often set to upbeat, energetic jazz music. Unlike some other forms of dance, the intrinsic nature of jazz dance often allows dancers to add quite a bit of personality to their performances.

“Hip hop dancing and breakdancing are both very new types of dance. These types of dance are set to modern hip hop music, and dancers are often encouraged to im-

‘A quality dance class is worth the cash. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average annual earnings for instructors in dance studios and schools at $34,460 and that is why many Nigerian youths are taking interest in it’

provise different dance moves,” she said.

Some other popular forms of dance, she said, may include folk, Latin, and western dances.

Given the fact that this sort of business is pretty unique in Nigeria, the response, she said, has been quite favorable. “We also have a strong marketing plan so we’re reaching out to our target market every possible way we can. People always call to say how they’ve been looking for a place like The Studio and they love the idea behind it. It makes me feel really good,” she said.

Some dance schools in the country are: Vivace Koncept Inc., 23, Bawala Street, Pedro, Gbagada Phase 2, Shomolu, Lagos; Kay C & Jonah Dance Company, 10, Onipede Street, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos; The Dance Company; and Sport Technical College Orozo, Nyanya, Abuja.

There is also a Black Roots International Dance Company at No 2 Kingsway Road Ikoyi, Lagos.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

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EALISING that their job search campaign doesn’t have to be a never-ending struggle, successful job seekers approach the process with patience and persistence. In the job search craze, there are those who land a job right away and those who struggle through the process of finding one for a long time. ‘Luck’ is usually the response one hears from disenfranchised job seekers when they find out that their neighbor down the street was offered a position after only a two-week search. With many job seekers vying for only a few open positions, the truth is that ‘luck’ rarely has anything to do with it. If you want to be among the highly successful job seekers make it an habit of doing the following seven things outlined below: .

Search with purpose

Instead of trying to fit into a mould set by a hiring organization, target companies that match your goals and career values; doing this will allows you to focus your energy into searching for a position that is a natural fit.

After all, you don’t want to find yourself embarking on another search within a year’s time because you made a decision in haste.

Always be prepared Be ready for your day’s activities by 9 am. Opportunities rarely land on your lap and you have to be prepared for the surprises that may

Things-to-do for successful job hunting

By Olu Oyeniran

come up during the day. You don’t want to be caught sleeping when someone calls to discuss an employment opportunity.

If you find yourself answering the phone like this: “hello? . . . well . . . um . . . well, like I was kinda sleeping. . . how long is this gonna take? . . . who are you again? . . . like I, um, contacted so many places, cuz, you know, like, I can’t like find a job . . .” then it is time to reprioritize your needs.

Waiting until things are about to get absolutely out of control before you begin aggressively looking for a position can be a costly mistake.

You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are running low on resources and desperation is about to set in. This is when mistakes are made and your job search may begin to suffer.

Develop a job search plan Organize your job search, map out a strategy, set priorities, and establish goals. The greates source of confidence is knowledge and preparation. Begin your search with a clear focus and a plan. Participate in a number of activities including answering newspaper ads, posting your resume on the Internet, and going on informational interviews.

Bypass Human Resources A human resources representative is also known as a “screener.” The screener’s job is to review resumes and match your experience with a checklist of requirements set forth by the hiring manager. If there are enough matches, the human resources representative forwards the resume to the decision maker.

Unfortunately, not much is left to the screener’s interpretation. This is why most opportunities are lost – because the screener doesn’t have the luxury of making a decision based on instinct; he or she is instructed to follow the lead of the hiring manager.

Since the decision makers (e.g., National Sales Manager, Marketing Manager, or CEO) are the ones who determine who is ultimately hired, it is advisable that you apply directly to them.

Write follow-up letters Well-written follow up letters can make a difference as to whether you get hired. A follow-up letter is more than a simple note thanking the interviewer for his or her time. It should be a sophisticated letter that either re-affirms your interest in the position, serves as an opportunity to mention an important point you

neglected to bring up, and/or provides an opportunity to offer new insight on a topic that was discussed during the interview.

Avoid toxic job seekers Support systems (even those created by you) are a great way to generate ideas and for networking purposes. However, some are also a breeding ground for negativity.

“There is no job in Nigeria now”.

‘Didn’t you hear of so many people who lost their jobs in XY company last month?”, You can’t get a job there unless you know somebody”.

Are not what you should surround yourself with. Check those people around you, especially those you involve in your job search endeavors. Do they offer words of encouragement? Are they supportive of your efforts, or do they feed into your insecurities/negativities?

Create a positively supporting system.

Be good to yourself There are two types of job seekers. One that has a laid back approach, and the other that always feels “there aren’t enough hours in the day” and compulsively searches for a job without taking a breather.

Following in the footsteps of the

latter is the fastest way to reaching burn out and when careless mistakes are often made. Though your job search should be your primary activity, don’t allow it to consume your every waking moment.

Every so often take a mini vacation; spend time with people who support you, listen to music and participate in activities you enjoy.

Clearing your mind replenishes your energy and will allow you to continue searching for a job with a fresh outlook.

EkiniConsult & Associates is organizing three 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 attend. If you are interested, sendin your name, location, email address and GSM no to 080-83843230. 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 20, 2014

37

THE CEO The small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) sub-sector is vital to the economy for so many reasons. One is its potential to create jobs for the growing army of the unemployed. But access to loanable funds has been one of its greatest challenges.

Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Aruma Oteh, says the capital market could mobilise ‘patient capital’for the SMEs. She says the cash needed to bridge the huge infrastructure gap in the country could also be sourced from the capital market. Oteh, who was re-elected chair, Africa and Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC), International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), for another two years, spoke on the significance of her reelection and efforts of the group to restore investors’ confidence. Oteh spoke with some reporters including, Assistant Editor NDUKA CHIEJINA, in Abuja.

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OW can the SMEs sub-sector tap from the capital market?

I think first and foremost is the recognition globally about the importance of SMEs because they are the ones who create jobs. I think there is a greater focus on how SMEs can be supported. In our own country, President Goodluck Jonathan recently set up an SME Council. He set up a Job Board, all of which are focused on how we can practically address the challenges we are facing with SMEs. I believe our capital market is an absolutely important solution for a number of reasons.

The first one is that we need economies of scale.

We need to provide funding at reasonable cost; the capital that is patient so that people could grow their businesses. Banking finance is not patient. It is short term, sometimes particularly in AME where the interest rates are relatively high. What we need is capital that would be there for a long time. A market-based finance that is short term (would certainly not help SMEs) and there is a global recognition of that.

This is why some of the things we are focusing at the meeting in Brazil is really the value that capital markets bring to SMEs. If they can enable SMEs, have them to list, which is why a lot of the discussions are around how to better support SMEs to list in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the alternative securities market modelled after what you have in the UK, the one in Johannesburg where you have got one enterprise that have advisers who basically nurture them and guide them through the process of listing on the exchange and staying on the exchange.

You have models such as what you have in Egypt where you have a dedicated exchange, the Nile Exchange to SMEs. But some of the more interesting things we are seeing is Crowd Funding; being able to raise money via internet by people who basically are interested in that particular initiative. We are seeing in a number of Asian countries the securitisation of loans that are given by SMEs. There is a lot of best practice around the world, but there is also lessons from experiences that have not gone well which are useful.

I think what is great is that today, everyone is

•Oteh

Capital market, not banks, holds ace for SMEs’ financing

relying on IOSCO. The G-20 has asked IOSCO to provide its research notes so that they could essentially scale up the lessons of good practice.

How viable is the capital market for infrastructure funding?

It is interesting that you bring up infrastructure. SME financing and infrastructure are two areas that IOSCO feels that market based financing can help tackle. With infrastructure, it is clearly an area that is important to the development of any nation. Some of the statistics show that Africa’s GDP (gross domestic product) shrinks by two per cent because of the weakness of infrastructure. We know that our needs in terms of infrastructure in Nigeria is over $3.9trillion over the next 30 years. The Africa Development Bank (AfDB) said in the next 10

years we would need about $350billion. Therefore, the issue is with the challenges government are facing and with banking finance being short term coupled with some of the more difficult regulatory requirements that banks are facing, the alternative is basically to structure different kinds of vehicles that allow you to go to the capital market and raise money.

So you can either have project finance where the specific structure that is set up, where the flows that are received from that particular infrastructure project are used to meet the obligations from that particular structure. So you can have securitisation; you can have project finance; you can have a variety of options which are available in the capital market.

Just as SMEs finance needs patient capital, it also needs you to match the requirement of

‘Countries in Africa and the Middle East have huge needs for infrastructure, setting up Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, to be able to create jobs ... Jobs is an issue not only for Africa and the Middle East, but also for all countries of the world’

certain investors with the different structures that infrastructure can provide. It can be structured such that you can have predictable cash flow which is what some investors require. It can be structured such that you can match long term liabilities with long term assets. So, it also gives you an opportunity that other kinds of vehicles may not give you. It is great that we are focusing on infrastructure as well.

What are you doing about financial literacy?

Financial literacy is an area that IOSCO has focused on so much. In Nigeria, we have also focused this important issue. But I think it is better to step back and talk about why IOSCO exists. IOSCO is the global standard setter for capital markets around the world. Therefore, when you are a member of IOSCO, when you meet the requirements of becoming a member, an investor has confidence that they can invest in your market because they believe you are abiding by global best practices. So confidence building is very important in the capital market. The second thing that builds confidence is the knowledge you have; that you are familiar with what is being offered to you. The moral lesson from the global financial crisis is that people, particularly retail investors must •Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

38

THE CEO

Capital market, not banks, holds ace for SMEs’ financing •Continued from page 37

be armed with knowledge so that they are not investing in things they are not familiar with.

The agenda of financial literacy at the individual country level or IOSCO level is very important.

With respect to Nigeria, we have a capital market literacy plan which we will launch in November at our capital markets stakeholders retreat because essentially, we think that is key.

If we build financially literate citizens, we will transform Nigeria because people would be able to save wisely, spend wisely and invest wisely. My own guidance always to Nigerians and prospective investors is that if you don’t understand it, don’t invest in it.

Nigeria is having a third shot as chair of AMERC, what does this mean?

First and foremost, I think the starting point should be International Organisation of Securities Commission (IOSCO), which has 200 members that cover 95 per cent of the capital markets around the world. So, to have qualified as Nigerian is very important. The way that we work at IOSCO is to organise ourselves through technical committees and also by regions. There is an American region, there is an Asia Pacific region; there is Europe region and there is an Africa Middle East (AME) region which, potentially, has 70 capital markets.But there are 24 of us today, regulators who have met the requirements to become members of IOSCO. First, being members of IOSCO means we have met the requirements to abide by global best practices. So, when domestic or international investors look at our markets, they can feel comfortable and confident that these are markets that operate on global best practices, that are world class.

I think, therefore to lead the AME, shows that there is confidence in us as Nigerians that first, we will be a good example. Secondly, that we will be able to make sure that the issues that affect the Africa Middle East Council are brought to the table. As the chair of AME region, we are also on the board of IOSCO, which basically decides what happens for all the capital markets around the world. So, the confidence that members have in us to be able to represent them adequately, be at the table when issues are being raised is also very important.

And I think it is also an evidence of the hardwork that we have done as chair and secretariat for AMERC, I mean people have seen what we have done over the years and have decided that they would like us to continue. So I think it is based on the good work that we have done and also based on the fact that we are a good role model in terms of what we are doing in our own markets. Also, that we can basically represent them on the board of IOSCO.

•Oteh

How were you able to bring Africa and the Middle East together?

Actually, my perspective is different and I think it also comes from having led the AMERC of IOSCO. I think there is a lot that we share. There are lots of common narratives. I think the level of poverty, the youthful population, the traditional cultures are worth looking at.

We have very traditional societies that have cultures that have come from several thousands of years; we fortunately are countries that have a high number of people who are very poor, whether in Africa or the Middle East. We have a youth population which is a positive one if managed properly and a time bomb if not managed properly. We are basically the future of the world. If you look at some of the fastest growing economies in the world, they are actually in these regions. The opportunities for the world basically exists in AME. What that means is that you can leverage the capital markets, which I believe is an opportunity for any country to ride on to realise its potentials. Some of the things that the capital market can do is provide funding for large companies or small companies or for governments for infrastructural development.

The countries in AME have huge needs for infrastructure, setting up Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), to be able to create jobs.

Jobs is an issue not only for AME but also for all countries of the world.

Being able to support SMEs is also important and the capital market can do that. The capital market can also ensure that as these countries are building systems, they are building systems that are based on best corporate governance practices because funds are directed at entities that merit it, the entities that deserve it, the higher performance entities. So having the capital markets fuel corporate governance is also something that is promoting and fostering capital markets.

The third thing which is very important is the issue of creating wealth. I think for many of these countries, ensuring that the living standards of the people is rising. This is important and capital markets create wealth either through enabling young people or older people who have ideas to be able to promote these ideas, raise money for those ideas but also to have people participate in the success of those companies.

So, those are wealth and income distribution characteristics of capital markets. I think those things are important particularly for any country in the world, but more so for these newer economies that, in my opinion, are the future of the world.

What are the focus this year’s conference?

•Oteh

‘Some of the countries in the Middle East and Africa have been the top performing markets across the world. Our country both in 2012 and 2013 was among the top performing. Other countries in the region, UAE and a number of others were also among the top performing’ First, the theme for the conference is ‘Market Based Financing, Global Growth Looking Ahead.’ I think there is a general realisation all over the world that banking finance is not going to help us address some of the challenges we face. One is the stronger and stricter regulation of banks particularly with the entrance of the requirement where they are supposed to put up capital for loans; that they make and and that. This is something that has come out on the heels of the global financial crisis as well.

I think it is a challenge because governments no longer have the resources that they had to support the development of their economies and so there is a greater emphasis on alternatives. If you look at what the Financial Stability Board is looking at, what the Bank for International Settlement at, if you look at what G-20 is looking at, everyone is looking at what alternatives that available.

And the alternative is market based finance because there is a lot more that can happen in that fore. Therefore, it is pertinent that IOSCO is focusing on this theme now. And that is why we are having discussion on how we can scale up the support to SMEs across the world; what are the lessons from around the world that we can learn; how can we make sure that infrastructure financing is available while ensuring that the environment controls the risks that investors have to face by focusing on infrastructure. In short, the issues are: What are some of the lessons from around the world? What are some of the alternative approaches? This is why there are discussions within IOSCO about the benefits of non-interest financial products and Islamic finance.

You have seen countries such as the UK, Japan and others announce that they are going to go to the markets to do ‘Sukuk’. So you are finding non-traditional borrowers also looking at non-traditional markets. So for us in Nigeria, it is very interesting to learn from the experience of others; we listened in the AMERC meetings to the other countries from the region with respect to Islamic finance. And I think Egypt’s example where they have a comprehensive law which basically focuses on non interest financial product and if you then want to focus on Islamic finance, it is a subset of that and also very interesting.

I think it is interesting that other countries such as South Africa have been actively using these instruments, Islamic finance instruments, and they are available to both the Muslims and non Muslims population. Similarly, Kenya and also a country such as Zambia are also looking at it. We in Nigeria are looking at it because it is clearly an area that other countries are looking at and we are trying to see whether it can

help us in our financial inclusion agenda so that we can ensure that it helps us address some of the challenges that we face in Nigeria.

Whether it be that some people feel excluded and therefore, to some extent, it could help us address some of the social cohesion and security challenges that we face in our own country. It is very interesting to look at the examples that other countries have had in this area.

IOSCO chair, Greg Medcraft said issues with banking and funds are not coming the way it used to. What is your reaction to this?

I think if you assess, and in my opinion, the countries in AME have been very serious about implementing global best practices. What we have seen particularly in the last four years that I have been chair of the AMERC region is that countries are particular about building world class capital markets. Whether from South Africa to North Africa, from Zambia to Algeria, I think everyone wants their capital market to be the first port of call for investors, whether domestic or international. When I listened to the country presentations as to what each individual country is doing, I was very excited about what we have achieved in the last four years. I think everyone recognises the value of people not saying these are developed markets and these are undeveloped markets. Everyone wants to be a world class market and it is very exciting for me.

I also think we have seen the benefit. You have seen a number of countries doing very well. Some of the countries in MEA have been the top performing markets across the world.

Our country both in 2012 and 2013 was among the top performing. Other countries in the region, UAE (United Arab Emirates) and a number of others were also among the top performing. Some of the issues we talk about in Nigeria, I hear other countries talk about them, which is to make sure that our markets have the right depth and breath, there is sufficient listings so that investors can have variety of stocks to choose from; that there is enough liquidity so that investors can enter and exit the market when they want to, such that that capital market operators are meant to operate on global best practice and that when people do the wrong things, they are brought to book by the regulator.

We share experiences about what we are all doing across the region and some of the things that we are doing in Nigeria, we see in other parts of Africa.

I tnink that confidence is being rebuilt; it does take time to rebuild trust when trust is broken, so I must say that I am actually impressed with how quickly a number of the markets in AME region have been able to rebuild trust.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

39

BUSINESS MOTORING

•Interior

•Interior

The Trumpchi GS5, a sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a new entry into the Nigerian automobile market courtesy of Choice International Group (CIG). The Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC) product was put to test by Motoring Correspondents last Monday from Lagos to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

Trumpchi GS5’s triumphant entry

G

UANGZHOU Automobile Group Co. otherwise known as GAC began the construction of facilities to produce vehicles for a new own-brand automotive marque in 2008.

Last Monday, Choice International Group (CIG) Motors, the sole representative for GAC brand of vehicles, introduced one of the GAC brands - the new Trumpchi GS5, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), to the motoring journalists.

The journalists alongside CIG officials took a test drive from Victoria Island, Lagos to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) at Moniya in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The drive was pleasurable as auto journalists were exposed to the uniqueness of the Trumpchi GS5.

It would be recalled that the first Trumpchi model to go into production, is Trumpchi Sedan, a four-door mid-size saloon car model based on the platform of the Alfa Romeo 166, went into mass production in September 2010.

The first 500 Trumpchi Sedans produced were delivered to the organising committee of the 2010 Asian Games in October 2010.

The Trumpchi Sedan was formally unveiled to the public at Auto Guangzhou in December 2010, and public sales of the vehicles began in the same month.

The Trumpchi GS5, a sport utility vehicle based on the same platform as the Trumpchi Sedan, was launched in March 2012.

Trumpchi made its first ever appearance at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2013 while the production version of the Trumpchi GA3 compact sedan was unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2013.

Trumpchi cars currently in development include a subcompact model released in July 2013 and a compact luxury model planned to be launched in 2015.

Inspired by “snow leopard”, Trumpchi GS5 adopts the design concept of light and shadow sculpture and creates leading trend temperament for city fashion. Double wishbone and multi-link suspension combination distinctly highlight the characteristics of accurate diversion, clear direction and steady control/operation, which satisfy with the spirit of conquering and challenging for the elite of the cities, presenting the wild nature of SUV. The combinations of the flowing lines and the connections of the curved surfaces filled with tensile force have jointly created the vehicle’s touch-and-go posture.

Addressing pressmen at the IITA Conference Centre, the Sales and Marketing Director of auto firm, Kayode Adejumo, said the exercise

•The GS5

was the first major attempt by his company to formally unveil the GAC brands to newsmen in grand style.

According to him, it was a way of making Nigerians and prospective customers gain insight into the unique selling points of the brand.

The introduction of the brand, he said, was informed by the need to offer Nigerians the best from China with the highest standard applied in vehicle manufacturing, giving value for money with the most advanced technologies imputed.

“We are here to offer Nigerians the best from China with the highest standard applied in vehicle manufacturing, giving value for money with the most advanced technologies imputed,” he said.

He said GS5 2.0L and the mid luxury SUV currently the flagship were first set of models

to be launched into the market The SUV design concept of “Swirling is embedded in 17-Inch wheel hub made of Aluminium Alloy. The unrivaled honour is reflected through the 10-spoke wheel hub containing the shapes of the finest diamonds. And the 5-spoke wheel hub shows the emphasis on unique and fashionable spirit.

Boasting of a leading design concept on European style, the GS5 is solid and possesses classified innovation and elaborate work of art.

There are 100 LEDs on the vehicle which make the gorgeous stars light when they are turned on.

The design concept of “Wings of Light” hides the active movement factors into a quiet and peaceful background. The gorgeous combination of light and shadow emitted by the vehicle flies through the darkness of the night,

leaving only a view of its back for the rivals to look at with the complex feelings of envy and astonishment.

The transmission is a 5-speed manual or a 5speed automatic. Available on a 2.0 engine with 150hp and 183nm; the 2.0 is based on an old Fiat ‘Twinspark’ design.

Mr Felix Lee of CIG Motors promised that seven new models from the GAC stable would soon be introduced into the nation’s auto market.

Lee said the company would soon open 14 after sales centres to cater for their clientele, noting that discussions are on with various partners on building assembly plant in the country.

He promised that users of the GS5 would find it of high quality compares to its competitors, saying that the highest standard was employed in manufacturing it.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

40

MOTORING

T

Toyota tops Best Global Brands list

OYOTA is the most valuable automotive brand on this year’s Interbrand’s Best Global Brands ranking.It moved from 10th to eighth.

Although Toyota was fined US$1.2 billion by the U.S. Justice Department in March 2014 and recalled nearly 6.4 million vehicles worldwide just a few weeks later, the Japanese automaker met the crisis head on and kept the reputation of its 77-year-old brand intact. This year’s increase in sales demonstrates growth not only in the US, but also in markets like China and Europe.

This is the 15th annual ranking of the 100 most valuable global brands. The value of each brand is converted into a dollar value to produce the table. The Best Global Brands study is Interbrand’s annual report on the world’s most valuable brands. Interbrand’s method looks at the ongoing investment and management of the brand as a business asset, taking into account financial performance, the role of brand in the purchase decision process, and the strength of the brand.

Mercedes-Benz, Germany’s

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

automotive pioneer, has revitalised itself with new models and fresh expressions of its brand, resulting in a record 14 percent increase in sales. Sales rose 9.5 percent in the US (Mercedes-Benz’s largest market), demand has been revived in Europe, and the brand is closing in on competitors in China. In India too, the brand is on a roll. Continuing to provide the comfort, performance, and safety consumers have come to expect from the brand, while also offering dramatic styling and innovative new features, it’s no wonder Mercedes-Benz’s models still captivate.

Honda has been ranked 20th.

Although its ranking in 20th place remained the same from last year, according to Interbrand the dollar value of the Honda brand increased by 17 percent to US$21,673 billion dollars.

Volkswagen comes at 31st. It is hard to find a global car brand that is as clear and consistent in its design and brand story.VW has made German engineering and reliable

technology its hallmark.Its latest models, particularly the seventhgeneration Golf and the up, remain true to the brand but benefit from minor changes that give them an edge. Remaining relevant and responsive, Volkswagen has persistently strengthened its ‘Think Blue’ sustainability initiative. It recently won Germany’s National Energy Globe Award for the initiative and for its commitment to making its global

car plants more sustainable by 2018.

Ford Motor Co is at 39. With record sales in key markets and its biggest-ever new product line-up, Ford is on a roll. As a result of growth in the North American and Asia-Pacific markets, Ford increased global sales by 12 percent. The Focus is the bestselling car in the world and the FSeries has been the best-selling pickup truck in the U.S. for 37

consecutive years.

Hyundai drives in at number 40.

Delivering on the brand direction ‘modern premium’, the Korean carmaker is riding on its brand slogan, “New Thinking, New Possibilities.” Hyundai is one of the fastest growing automotive brands, in terms of both volume and brand value. At the heart of Hyundai’s growth is its strategy to differentiate and increase relevance by creating customised products.

MINI Cooper excites Golfers

I

T was a day of excitement and funfare as Golfers took turns trying to make a hole in the luscious green lawns at the Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, Lagos on Independence Day. The occasion was the second anniversary of the Lakowe Lakes Golf Club and Independence day Tournament in partnership with the MINI brand as a MINI Cooper was presented by Coscharis Motors Limited for the Hole In One prize.

Guests on arrival were greeted with the seemingly smiling faces of various colours of MINI Cooper brand displayed at strategic

locations within the Club to add colour to the event. The Golfers could put in their best to win the red coloured MINI Cooper.

Speaking at the event on behalf of Coscharis Motors Limited, the General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Services, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde explained the rationale behind the MINI brand’s partnership, saying MINI resonates with the calibre of audience at the Golf event, which invariably allows the brand connection to the right audience.

The MINI car as the winning prize, Babarinde said, is to provide value added excitement for the fun loving Golfers.

KIA appoints new distributor

K

IA Motors Nigeria has announced a new partnership with Mitob Motors Limited to further expand its market reach and easy accessibility to teeming customers.

Speaking on the partnership, Assistant Vice President, Dealer Development, Dana Motors Limited, Mr Sanjay Tatpati, said: “This joint venture with Mitob Motors is an important step in our expansion plans for the Nigerian market.

Finding the right partners to work with in satisfying our customers is very vital to us. We are excited at working with the experienced team that Mitob Motors are bring-

ing to us and are confident that our customers will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this relationship.”

Chairman, Mitob Motors Limited, Mr Olutoyin Okeowo said, the relationship is to provide customers with quality vehicles and services.

“We constantly seek ways to exceed our customers’ expectations and we believe this partnership will give us the opportunity to do just that,” he said.

He noted that the new Kia Showroom will offer full range of KIA vehicles, from the Picanto to Quoris where customers can visit and make their purchases.

•Singh (left) and Arayenka during sign on ceemony

Hyundai signs pact with Truckmasters

H

YUNDAI Motors Nigeria Limited has appointed Lagos-based automobile vending and aftermarket shop Truckmasters Nigeria Limited as one of its provisional dealers at a sign-on ceremony in Lagos.

The auto firm charged the new agent to be steadfast and extend its role beyond being a simple sales and service shop to become customers’ lifetime companion.

Managing Director, Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Stallion Group, Mr Parvir Singh, said Truckmasters facility will provide sales and technical support to teeming customers in Lagos.

He urged the newly commissioned agent to embrace Hyundai global vision of being “Life time partner in automobiles and beyond,” while moving one step closer to customers by making

Hyundai buyers’ beloved brand.

“It isn’t enough to be successfully certified and expect your organisation to keep performing at high level, using smart practices rather, you need to be focused and make compliance to standard an on-going habit,” the Hyundai Motors director counseled.

Singh urged the new agent to embrace the principle of maintenance and improvement as standard ways of working throughout an organisation.

He said: “A car is no longer simply a means of transportation that links people to people but a life space that occupies a central role in people’s lives.

“Hyundai has made remarkable strides at local and global markets owing to high quality and emotional appeal of its products, which have become part of the brand’s modern premium strategy and

brand direction to ‘Live Brilliant’.”

Managing Director, Truckmasters Nigeria Limited Anthony Arenyeka, hailed the initiative, saying: “I am delighted to be part of this team and together we will take Hyundai to deserved heights.”

Arenyeka said Truckmasters was inspired by the success of Hyundai both as local and international brand and seeks to consolidate on the brand’s achievement to enhance growth of Hyundai clientele in Nigeria.

“We are ready to collaborate with Hyundai Motors Nigeria to develop a local brand that would in future place Nigeria on the global map of technologically inclined nations and Truckmasters seeks to play key role that extends beyond being a simple car sales and aftermarket shop to become customers’ lifetime companion,” he assured.

SAFE DRIVING

Conference, road safety and national development

•Continue from lastweek

Why on earth should the Nigeria police officers leave their primary jobs to be helping state governments to arrest motorcycle riders or prosecute offenders of state government traffic laws, arresting drivers not using seat belt, looking for expired driver licence with little or no attention to the security of Nigerians in their domain if it is not for personal financial gains?

Current and potential farmers have heard too much theories about how good and rewarding agriculture is but what stops the Federal Ministry of Agriculture from approving five model farmers in each state of the Federation,

finance them, monitor them, create local and international markets for their produce so that the whole nation can see how truly profitable and rewarding farming is and how it’s used to generate employment by the model farmers. This demonstration will encourage other farmers and prospective farmers to courageously step into the terrain and enjoy the local and international markets already created and widened to accommodate more farmers and generate more benefits for job creation and growth of the economy.

What is wrong if it is agreed that any vehicle with factory – fitted tinted glass must always have their windows down whenever they are

moving on the road since the glasses cannot be replaced. Criminals are even the fastest to get police permission to use tinted glasses. What then are we talking about? A conference deliberation on effectively proffered solution to this problem.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture is boasting that their fertilisers are being distributed adequately to farmers but is anyone talking about the effects of the fertilisers on the health of the consumers of the produce of these Farmers?

This year alone, road accident has killed far more than the number of people killed by Ebola all over the world from 1976 to October 2014, thereby making road accident far more deadly and calling for more

attention than the dreaded Ebola Virus disease.

If we are really sincere and committed to reducing the rate of road accidents and fatalities in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Transport must be organising an Annual National Conference on Transportation and the resolutions must be taken seriously for implementation by the Federal, state and local governments, their agencies as well as other stakeholders concerned in the overall interest and development of Nigeria.

The Federal Ministry of Power is saying that 4,500 megawatts of electricity will be available in Nigeria this year. But has the same ministry carried out a need – analysis to de-

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

termine which Town or City in Nigeria needs more regular electricity to make sufficient impacts in manufacturing, production or service delivery that will make sig • To be continued

43

MONDAY OCTOBER 20, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The emergence of James Ngilari as the new governor of Adamawa State, following the removal of Acting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri by the Abuja Federal High Court, has thrown the race for next year’s governorship open in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). RAYMOND MORDI and LEKE SALAUDEEN examine the implications of the power shift for the contest.

Adamawa: Succession game continues W

ITHIN three months, Adamawa State has been governed by three governors. But, the political drama in the state continues. The exit of Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri as the acting governor and the emergence of the former Deputy Governor James Ngilari, as the helmsman provides a fresh glimmer of hope for those who had lost out in the power game. Following the Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, the by-election was cancelled.

The opposition has celebrated the removal of Fintiri as a vote against the growing impunity in the state. But, nevertheless, the current set up still favours the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which staged a comeback in Adamawa after the impeachment of former governor Murtala Nyako on July 14. With Ngilari still a member of the party -- having refused to defect with Nyako to the All Progressives Congress (APC) -- the decision to shove Fintiri aside did not upset the power equation.

The party has however gone back to the drawing board to chart the way forward.

No doubt, Fintiri is the greatest loser in the ongoing drama. While waiting for the outcome of his petition, he has returned to his former position as the Speaker of the House of Assembly. But, his position as the Speaker is still in jeopardy because he comes from the same local government with Ngilari. The former Acting Governor has appealed against the High Court ruling, but his action has been described as a deliberate ploy to distract the new government.

Adamawa is likely to witness a longdrawn power struggle. The crisis within the PDP has not been put to rest. With this development, fresh shadow poll is expected to be held next month, in line with the party’s time table for next year’s general elections. But, Fintiri may not emerge as the party’s governorship candidate.

He featured prominently in the drama that led to Nyako’s impeachment. But, before he agreed to lead the battle, he had insisted that he would only accede to the plan, if Nyako was impeached alongside his deputy, Ngilari. Though the PDP leadership was not favourably disposed to Fintiri’s condition, it had to play along to get Nyako out of the way.

After taking charge, Fintiri wasted no time in consolidating his hold on power.

According to a source in Yola, the state capital, immediately he took over, he paid the two months arrears of salaries being owed civil servants. The former acting governor, he added, had promised to settle other arrears, including leave allowances, after the Sallah break. Besides, Fintiri reached out to local council chairmen, party stakeholders with political largesse, including cars, contracts, cash and promises. Thus, he had clinched the party’s ticket for the botched by-election through the power of incumbency and state resources at his disposal.

According to the source, the national leadership of the PDP agreed to surrender the ticket for the by-election to the Speaker on condition that he would not participate in next year’s governorship poll. However, after Fintiri secured the ticket, he publicly said only God would determine whether he would participate in the election or not.

The statement did not go down well with party leaders, who saw it as a veiled indication that he may renege on the agreement. The fear of the PDP leadership and the Presidency was that the party may not be able to contain him again, if he had been allowed to win the governorship contest.

Thus, events appear to have aided the party’s quest to stop Fintiri.

It is also not guaranteed that Ngilari would stay beyond next year’s governorship election. He may have been instrumental in removing Fintiri, but observers

•Ngilari

say he may not likely get the party’s ticket for the election. The Nation gathered that he is not popular in the Adamawa PDP because he does not believe in sharing money. The source said civil servants, who were looking forward to receiving their arrears of leave allowances that Fintiri had promised to pay them after the Sallah break, are not happy with his emergence as governor. “Since he was sworn, he has not uttered a word concerning the allowances,” he said.

A party stalwart, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ngilari would encounter difficulties dealing with the House of Assembly, which is firmly under the control of Fintiri. He said an indication that members of the House are not in support of Ngilari administration was that only one of them attended his inauguration. He said impeachment proceedings cannot be ruled out against the new governor because some of them are already boasting that they have a dossier on him. “Even, if they don’t impeach him, they would frustrate him to the extent that at the end of his tenure he would have nothing to point at,” he said.

There are signs that Ngilari is moving to probe the short tenure of his political arch-rival. Ngilari’s supporters have accused Fintiri of plundering the state’s treasury. They say he ran the state as a personal estate, devoting much time and state resources to providing ‘stomach infrastructure’ to stakeholders. The Ngilari camp queried the rationale behind the millions of naira spent by the ousted regime to acquire Prado Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV’s) for the local council chairmen in the state.

In the view of observers, what all these boil down to, is that all is not well with the Adamawa PDP as preparations for the No-

•Fintiri

vember 29 governorship primaries get underway. The ruling party, has already penciled down former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to run on its ticket for the election.

But, would Fintiri fold his hands and watch his best chance of becoming governor slip through his fingers? Many observers see Fintiri, a 1991 graduate of History from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, as a grassroots mobiliser, who understand the undercurrents and intrigues of politics. Others insist he is a political schemer who will leave no stone unturned in utilising any political opportunity to score a point and feather his nest.

The fate of the PDP is likely to be determined by what happens under Ngilari’s watch. The rift over next year’s election may tear Adamawa PDP into shreds, if selfish interests are allowed to prevail. A lawyer Mallam Abdulkadir Yusuf advised Ngilari to thread softly. His words: “The new governor should be mindful of the nature of Adamawa State as a diverse and plural society and therefore rule the people with justice, fairness and fear of God. The new governor is further advised to heal the deep wounds of mistrust and mutual suspicion inflicted on the people of the state by the illegal government of the acting governor.”

Aside from Ribadu, the PDP has more than enough contenders. The aspirants include Dr. Umar Ardo, an academician; Aliyu Idi Hong, a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and a protégé of Professor Jibril Aminu; Awwal Tukur, son of former national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and a former member of the House of Representatives; and General Buba Marwa (retired), former military administrator of Lagos State. The list also includes Marcus Gundiri, Senator Abubakar Gurei, and Mr.

‘The fate of the PDP is likely to be determined by what happens under Ngilari’s watch. The rift over next year’s election may tear Adamawa PDP into shreds, if selfish interests of individual stakeholders are allowed to prevail’

Ahmed Gulak, a former Presidential adviser on political affairs.

Many aspirants have been eyeing the governorship for a long time and so it is likely to be a fierce battle. For instance, Senator Girei has been in the contest since 2003 when he insisted in participating in the primaries against the wish of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, after other aspirants stepped down for Boni Haruna. He also aspired in 2007 alongside Nyako. Similarly, Dr. Ardo contested in the last primaries with Nyako and challenged the result at the Supreme Court. He has been an active member of the PDP Stakeholders and Elders Forum and he was a key player in the fight to remove Nyako.

Marwa and Gundiri are not new to the Adamawa race, having aspired under different political platforms. For instance, Marwa was a former member of the PDP. He had pitched tent with the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), because he was denied the ticket in 2007. He contested the 2011 election under the CPC and returned to the PDP in April 2014 when he realised that he might not get a fair deal in the APC, when the leadership of the party was handed over to former Governor Nyako.

Adamawa is home to some founding fathers of the PDP. The party had ruled the state since 1999. But, with the defection of Nyako, the state came under the control of the APC. When the plot against Nyako gathered momentum, the Presidency penciled Ngilari down as the heir to the throne. But, powerful stakeholders rejected the choice, fearing that, if given the chance, the deputy could consolidate his hold and have an edge in next year’s election. So, the Presidency had no choice but jettison the idea.

For the APC, the situation in Adamawa provides a glimmer of hope that the party might stage a comeback. The thinking is that something may go wrong within the PDP, which would help the APC to bounce back. Indeed, the Adamawa APC sees the recent judgment as a welcome political development. The state chairman, Madam Binta Garba, said, with the outcome of Ngilari’s case, the party was hopeful that Nyako, who was also challenging his removal, would return. “One down, we are waiting for the next judgment regarding Nyako with full hope. Once more, the judiciary deserves commendation for checking impunity,” Garba said.

The re-emergence of Ngilari, which made the by-election unnecessary, will give the party more time to prepare for the decisive encounter. Senator Muhammad Bindow, who emerged at the APC primaries may be retained as the candidate for the contest.

Nyako’s exit has made the party’s future in Adamawa uncertain. Some insiders believe that the fortunes of the APC in the state declined as a result of Nyako’s largerthan-life influence. The decision to handover the leadership of the APC to the former governor, following his defection from the PDP in November 2013, did not go down well with original members of the party like Marwa, Gundiri and others.

Indeed, most of the APC leaders, who received Nyako when he was declaring for the APC at the height of the PDP crisis, have jumped boat for the sake of their political survival.

It was the former governor’s bid to actualise the governorship ambition of his son that put him on a collision course with major stakeholders in the Adamawa APC. This led to the exodus of such members to the PDP; even members of the state House of Assembly, who had earlier indicated interest to follow him to the new party, had to jettison the idea at the last minute when it was obvious that their interest was at stake.

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POLITICS Legal luminary Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) spoke with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN on the National Conference report, corruption and preparations for next year’s general elections.

‘My plan for Kosofe’

By Leke Salaudeen

‘2015 election ‘ll determine Nigeria’s fate’ M

D

ID the National Conference succeed in addressing the na tional question?

The National Conference addressed some of the national problems, not all of them. If the conference recommendations are fully implemented, it would assist in galvanising the country into the path of progress. For instance, one of the greatest banes of Nigeria is the over concentration of powers in the centre. Like I did say at the plenary of the conference, most countries that disintegrated had problems of over centralisation. A case in point was the old Soviet Union. Before its demise, there was no country that was as coercive, militarised, oppressive and centralised like the old Soviet Union. But, it broke into pieces. Today, we have Russia, Georgia and Ukraine etc.

That was why each time I watch our political leaders, who are largely illiterates on television or read them on the pages of newspapers, saying Nigeria cannot disintegrate, I laugh at their folly and ignorance. Nigerian leaders don’t read; they don’t appreciate the immediate and remote causes of disintegration of countries like Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Sudan and the like. Take for instance what happened in the United Kingdom (UK) in recently. If not for the timely intervention of political leaders from all shades of opinion, Britain would have broken into two. Look at the type of concessions made by Prime Minister David Cameron. For almost a week the Prime Minister and leaders of opposition were on their kneels begging the Scots, making concessions, devolving executive, legislative and judicial powers to the Scots and the Welsh.

One of the most instructive lessons of the UK episode was that British political leaders used the Scots experience as a contact point to address the complaints of Wales and Northern Ireland. They did not wait for them to start their own agitation. Powers were devolved down the ladder because everybody is becoming local champion the world over.

How do we relate the UK episode to the Nigerian experience?

The British experience is similar to our local experience. Before President Goodluck Jonathan conceded to the idea of national conference, the tension among the ethnic nationalities was very high. Even now the tension is still there; it is so thick that you can slice it with a knife. If the various complaints of the aggrieved nationalities are not addressed, the life span of Nigeria may not be up to 20 years and God forbid, Nigeria will go the way of Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and Sudan.

What should be done to avert disintegration?

Nigeria and Mr. President have started on a good note by bringing about the conference. Even though the recommendations are not far reaching enough, but if fully implemented, the political leaders would have succeeded in assuaging the feelings of the aggrieved, at least to some extent. But, if the recommendations are not implemented and the grievances are not addressed, we don’t need the United States or the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to tell us that Nigeria will break into pieces. It is not a prediction; it is an event that will become inevitable. It’s just a matter of time.

Can we say that Nigeria is a failed state?

The ominous signs are there. One of the most informed Nigerian leaders is Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State. He is cerebral. He happens to be one of the few leaders that thinks before he speaks on national issues.

After the Ekiti election, he posed 13 questions for national discourse, which unfortunately, the sociologists and opinion writers have not addressed. Two days ago, the same Fashola posed two fundamental questions over the national disgrace that

•Akintola

was brought on us in far away South Africa through the exportation of $9.3 million by some charlatans in our midst. Rather than address the questions, our National Assembly has been trivialising it, for the purpose of sweeping it under the carpet.

Corruption has never been this celebrated in the annals of this country.

Criminal charges are being withdrawn against rogues, including those from whom several millions of dollars had been recovered. All they need to do to sustain their loot is to join the ruling camp whether at the centre or state level. Many of those who go about claiming to be disciples of Awolowo and Sardauna lack the discipline of these great nationalists. Those leaders were leaders through and through. They were not businessmen. The present crop of leaders double as political leaders and businessmen. Hence, they are the financiers of their political parties. They have their hands in banking, oil and gas, aviation, media, hospitality business and real estate. They have stolen too much for the owners to see (apology to Chinua Achebe).

Meanwhile, the larger section of the society is suffering. There is injustice everywhere. Injustice is the root cause of Boko Haram insurgence, kidnapping, political thuggery and the rest of the vices we have in this country today. To say Nigeria is approaching the status of a failed state is an understatement. We have only been lucky in Nigeria because when there are crises in one part of the country, the rest of the country remains calm. You can imagine now that we have Boko Haram in our hands, if we have to add Niger Delta militants and Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) political crisis in the Southwest and MASSOB violence in the Southeast, all at the same time, there will be nowhere to run to.

Today, everybody is running to the Southwest, especially the political leaders who have relocated their families to Lagos because the Southwest is the safest region in the country. Where will they run to if we are to have similar insurgence in the Southwest? A time will come when there will be a spontaneous crises in all the geo-political zones, if the grievances and complaints associated with over centrali-

‘The larger section of the society is suffering. There is injustice everywhere. Injustice is the root cause of Boko Haram insurgence, kidnapping, political thuggery and the vices we have in this country today’

sation are not addressed.

Do you think the general election scheduled for next year would hold, in view of the security challenges in the country?

It will hold, but it might be the beginning of the end of Nigeria, if votes are not allowed to count. I must say I pity those who don’t have community values in their regions and communities; those who don’t relate with their kith and kin in their places of birth. A time will come when Abuja and Lagos will be too hot for them to stay. They are now thinking they are safe. Unfortunately, for them, they don’t even have feelings for the locals in their host communities. Anyone in doubt should go down the memory lane and read about what happened to the British and the Asians in Uganda and currently what is happening to British farmers in Zimbabwe.

The bottom line is that we should address the fundamental issues of poverty, injustice, cheating and the issue of our core value system, which has been jettisoned.

Are you confident that the INEC would conduct credible elections next year?

The Yoruba have a say that morning shows the day. When you are talking of credible election, it is not something you situate solely on the door step of the INEC. It is an event that will necessarily need the contribution of all the stakeholders -- the political class, the executive, the legislature, the judiciary and the security agencies. Election is a process; it is not one day event.

Elections generally are made in Nigeria before the polling day. The INEC is just one out of the many stakeholders involved.

INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega had expressed his commission’s frustration when he said politicians vote money before the election to bribe electoral officers, police, State Security Service, military personnel, traditional rulers, election observers, media houses, opinion writers and political analysts. So, who is left? Who can stand up confidently and say he has not been compromised? We will be asking for too much to expect any miracle from the Jega-led INEC. What do you expect from INEC in a situation where the powers that be rolled out tanks and militarised regions that are opposed to the ruling party, where all opposition leaders are rounded up on the eve of election? Can there be free and fair election in such circumstance?

The 2015 election is not about Jega alone, but all of us.

Are you saying that the elite are promoting corruption?

When we are talking about corruption in Aviation sector the other time, a particular regional newspaper mobilised all its columnists to defend the fellow accused of improper conduct and official corruption. To them, nobody from that region must be touched even when caught hands down engaging in corrupt practices.

That paper has set out to defend people from that region alleged of ignoble conduct. How do you build a nation in that type of set up? It is impossible. Why should we blame Jonathan for failing to fight corruption when supposedly informed people have taken it upon themselves to defend their kiths and kin irrespective of the crime they committed?

Again when a particular minister was accused of filling up all available space in her ministry with people from her ethnic group which was too glaring for everybody to see, the army of defenders from the same ethnic group saw nothing wrong with it. This underscores the fact that Nigeria cannot survive for long. During the 2011 election, a state in the South-south with 1.3 million voters recorded 1.29 million votes and yet the judiciary certified that result. With this kind of things, there can’t be free and fair election.

EMBERS of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ward F, Ikosi/Isheri, Kosofe Constituency II, Lagos State, have re solved to break the jinx of non-representation at local and state levels in the past 15 years. They appealed to the party to pick the House of Assembly candidate from the ward.

The Ward Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Salau disclosed that since 1999, the ward has not presented candidates for councillorship, council chairmanship, House of Assembly or any elective office.

Salau, who spoke at the presentation of Mr Adetunji Adebanjo as the endorsed candidate of Ward F for the House of Assembly primaries, advised the party to ensure that justice, equity, and fairness reigns in the constituency.

He bemoaned the dearth of infrastructural facilities in the area, which he attributed to the lack of representation. “If we have our sons in government, things will not be like this,” he said.

A member of the party executive, Mr Idris Adebanbo regretted that Ward F which has the largest number of voters and the highest number of polling units had been relegated to the background since the beginning of the present dispensation.

Adebanbo said: “The House of Assembly ticket should be conceded to us this time around because the person representing us now has been in government in the past 15 years. It should go round, it’s not meant for a particular ward.

We are calling on the party leaders at the state level to ensure that elective offices are rotated among the wards”, he added.

The aspirant, Adebajo promised that he would not disappoint the people of his ward if given the ticket and elected. “I know their problems, I know their needs. That was why they drafted me into the race. They knew my antecedent as human right activist under the tutelage of late ChiefGani Fawehinmi.

“If I become a member of the House of Assembly, I will lobby the state government to make sure that infrastructural facilities are provided in my constituency”, he said.

•Adebajo

Lagos 2015: Groups demand credible governorship candidate

By Aminu Arije

T

HE Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), the Muslim Lawyers Asso ciation of Nigeria (MULAN), the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) and the Lagos State Chapter of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria have urged political parties to present credible and reliable governorship candidate for next year’s elections.

Their spokes man, Prof Ishaq Akintola, who addressed a press conference in Lagos, said religion sentiments should not be a yardstick to determine the choice ofcandidates. He therefore, called on Lagosians to vote for credible politicians, who will serve the society .“The Muslims of Lagos State believe that the faith of the next governor should not really be the issue. Rather, Lagosians should fish out a trustworthy person, somebody with the right credentials of transparency, hardwork, vision and integrity. Lagos State needs someone who can guarantee employment for young graduates, security of lives and properties, freedom of speech, equal rights, justice, respect for Allahgiven and fundamentals human rights as well as freedom of religions”.

“In particular, Lagos State needs a governor, who is prepared to treat both Christians and Muslims equally, no matter his personal affiliation,” he said.

The don said sentiment should not be used in determining who emerges as Lagos Governor. He cited cases in the past when religion was not a determinant factor in picking governorship candidates for Lagos. He said Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was elected on merit not on religions basis likewise Governor Babatunde Fasola he therefore called on the Christians to eschew the call for a Christian Governor come 2015.

“Sentiments apart, the demand currently being made by Lagos Christians for a Christian governor in 2015 is therefore, parochial, divisive and ridiculous. It makes a mockery of democracy,” Akintola debunked the claim of an Islamic scholar who is parading himself as the endorsed running mate to a governorship candidate by Islamic organisations. He advised him to stop parading himself as such, as no Islamic organisation has endorsed anyone for such position.

“We hereby dissociate ourselves from the so called endorsement. We assert clearly, unambiguously and categorically that Islamic organisations were not consulted before the unauthorised endorsement. The Islamic scholar is advised to desist forthwith from parading himself as the mouthpiece of Islamic organisations in Lagos State while we advise gubernatorial candidates to explore the possibility of genuine dialogue with leaders of Islamic Organisations in the state,” he said.

Also commenting on the case of Hijab which is in court, Prof Akintola said the Muslims in the state will insist on the use of Hijab in public, adding the slogan of Muslims for Lagos 2015 is ‘No Hijab No Vote’.

•Prof. Akintola

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POLITICS Group endorses 2015: Taraba South insists Kwankwaso for President on consensus candidate A P

By Raymond Mordi

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Taraba South District have adopted Chief David Kente as their consensus candidate for next year’s governorship election. They advised the former Defence Minister, Gen. Yakubu Danjuma, to support his candidature, saying that he is popular.

Danjuma is backing the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Mr. Darius Ishaku, for the position. The stakeholders alleged that the elder statesman has endorsed the minister without consultation with them.

As the Southern Taraba’s consensus candidate Chief David Sabo Kente declares his governorship ambition in Wukari today, his people have urged General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) to drop his choice for the state governor’s slot. They also said that Ishaku may not be in touch with the political realities because he has lived outside the state.

The stakeholders said in a statement by the Secretary of Screening Committee for aspirants, Chief D.S. Nyaturi, that Danjuma’s “unilateral and unpopular” decision is in conflict with the interest of the people. He said Taraba South will stand by the recommendation that Kente should be supported by the stakeholders.

The community leader said Ishaku’s choice as the consensus candidate has implications for the PDP in next year’s elections.

•Kente

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

He said: “Naming the minister as the PDP candidate for Taraba South may likely cost the party the governorship seat, if the people’s grievances are not addressed and laid to rest.”

The National President of the Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN), Mr. Benjamin Bako Danborno, said for the sharing formula should be honoured by the stakeholders so that the slot will not slip away from the district.

He appealed to those he described as the “Abuja based Southern Taraba elders, elitesand politicians” to reflect

on the negative consequence of ishaku’s candidature.

He said: “Let us all go back to the decision that was arrived at four months ago by all traditional rulers, youth groups, market women and religious leaders, who after one year of painstaking consultation across the nation, especially among Taraba State indigenes, arrived at an equitable, just and fair power sharing formula.

“That power sharing formula necessitated the zoning of the governorship slot to Wukari Local Government an Area from where the consensus candidate earlier voted to represent them, Chief David Sabo Kinte, hails from.

The senatorial slot was zoned to the Kuteg clan, while the House of Representatives slot went to the Chamba tribe, Donga Local Government.

Other key political officers were shared between the Tiv and Ichen people for political balancing and equity.”

Danborno wondered why some politicians in Abuja would decide to upturn the power sharing formula and influence General Danjuma to make an unpopular decision that has trigered anger and protest by the people.

He said: “We call on well-meaning people of the state to throw their weight behind Kente, who has distinguished himself and brought glory to Taraba in all spheres and vote him as the next governor.”

I’ll not defect from PDP, says Agbaje

•Agbaje

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AGOS State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspir ant Mr. Jimi Agbaje has said that he will not defect to another party, if he wins or loses the ticket at the primaries.

He spoke on his ambition at a meeting with party women and youths in Lagos.

He said: “Why will I leave the PDP? Such a situation makes no sense. People who insinuate that, if I don’t win the primaries, I will leave the party, forget my antecedents. I am not diverting supporters to anywhere.

“In 2007, I aspired on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Later, I went to the DPA. We did not win the elections. But, if I was just party hungry, I would have jumped out into another party. But I remained within the party and sponsored many members who contested in the local government elections.”

He said, although he had been offered the positions of the deputy governor and a senator in the ACN, he rejected the offers.

Agbaje added: “I do not seek power for myself, but for service. The PDP is the best platform for my aspiration and I would remain there, even if I don’t not make it.

“The PDP is my last bus stop. My back is to the wall. It is forward ever, backward never.”

Akwa 2015: Groups back Emmanuel for governorship

N

O fewer than 150 groups are backing the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for the governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They explained that Emmanuel should succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio because he has a good track record.

The groups include Notable among the groups who have thrown their weight behind the yet to be declared ambition include Itai Afe Annang, Ati Annang, Afigh Iwaad Ekid and youth groups.

The people of Ekid nation have also unfolded plans to organise host a rally to drum support for the SSG. The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee and the Chairman of Eket Local Government Council, Hon. Aniekan Akpan, who spoke after a meeting at the Eket Township Stadium, said Emmanuel is favoured by zoning.

The meeting was attended by political leaders, traditional rulers, religious

leaders, union leaders, women and youths.

Also, the Ibibio Elders’ Forum has unfolded plans to campaign for Emmanuel, ahead of primaries. The forum said his candidature will foster unity and harmony in Ibibioland.

The group described the SSG as a competent professional and astute administrator with a wealth of experience spanning decades in the private sector.

Emmanuel was applauded for assisting many Ibibio youths to secure employment in many sectors of the country.

It said: “Emmanuel is the only Ibibio on the board of the African Finance Corporation and the highest ranking Akwa Ibom son in the financial world. Akwa Ibom should not go to war with a mere recruit when they have a ‘General’ like Udom Emmanuel.”

Former Minister of Lands and Housing Chief Nduese Essien said, if Emmanuel becomes the governor, he will work for the best interest of the state and continue with the uncommon

The aspirant also rejected the insinuation that he is a mole in the PDP. He said: “People say I am a mole. It is impossible.”

Agbaje promised to treat party members equally, if he becomes the governor. He said: “Ignore such talks.

I will not be a sole administrator. And you can see that my structure is run by core PDP chieftains. My DirectorGeneral is Chief Rahman Owokoniran, a frontline PDP figure.

You can also see with me here Leke Adefala, the Legal Adviser of Lagos PDP, and Engineer Shiaba, a PDP chieftain, who is our Director of Logistics.”

Agbaje said he will not indulge in character assassination during the campaigns. He added: “There is no PDP aspirant that I don’t have a oneon-one relationship with. And none of you will hear me abuse or malign any aspirant. My failure to grant press interviews is part of the strategy because I don’t want to be goaded into saying unpleasant things about any aspirant.”

GROUP, ‘Possibility Nigeria Project.’ has urged the governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, to run for the Presidency, saying that he has the experience to run the highest office.

Speaking at a rally in Lagos, its Southwest Coordinator, Mr. Oscar Oladipupo, said Kwankwaso will tackle the challenges bedeviling the country and halt the “I-don’t-care attitude” exhibited by the Federal Government and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Oladipupo said the Kano State governor will replicate his achievements in the last three and half years, with limited resources at his disposal.

He said: “I invite all of you to think about how he has been able to positively affect lives in Kano. With the little available, he have built 220 kilometers worth of roads in local governments across the state, built brand new infrastructures, including overhead bridges on metropolitan roads, unprecedented number of classrooms for children, 24 new empowerment institutes to instill skills in our people, including a brand new university, and so on and so forth.”

Oladipupo added: “Painfully today, human life has no value in Nigeria; on a daily basis, people are being killed, others maimed. Criminality is at its peak. No stable electricity, where it exists; in most places it does not exist at all. Education is at its lowest ebb. There is too much oil money missing and above all, corruption has found a permanent residence in Nigeria.”

He said he cannot be happy as a Nigerian, seeing his countrymen suffer in the midst of too much wealth in the country. “I am sure you are not too. An average Nigerian has become a beggar in his own motherland,” he added.

Minister joins governorship race in Benue

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

A

GROUP, ‘Ortom Support Group’, has called on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Benue State to support the governorship ambition of the Minister of Trade and Investment, Chief Samuel Ortom.

Its leader , Mr. Jirgba Kwaghhange Bitacy, said the group has written to delegates on the need to support him at the primaries.

Describing Ortom as a bridge builder, he said he will continue with the great work done by Governor Gabriel Suswan.

He said: “Our group is committed to the economic prosperity of Benue state. We recognise that good and effective leadership is critical to the achievement of a prosperous and competitive Benue State. Thirty eight years after its creation, Benue is still very far behind, in terms of socio-economic and infrastructural development, when compared to other states.”

Bitacy added: “It is common knowledge that during such conventions, unpopular candidates emerge flag bearers because delegates’ conscience is bought with huge sums of money and they end up voting for a candidate that eventually brings regrets and gnashing of teeth by majority of the people.

“The good people of Benue demand that you conscientiously consider their plight as your top priority and exhibit integrity by sticking to whomsoever you believe has the blessing of the majority of the people, based on their track record. In true democratic settings, representatives only do what the majority of the people feel is the best for them, which is why, the decision of the majority is final. We need a selfless leader that can lead courageously, believing in God and in the people that together we can rise from our shambles to be a great state of investment destination.

“Many qualified candidates have emerged for the governorship race. But, after a painstaking investigation and critical examination, the Ortom Support Group in Lagos has concluded that Chief Samuel Ortom, the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, a frontline governorship hopeful on the

EdoAPC urges aspirantsto avoid smear campaign From Osagie Otabor,s Benin

E

DO State All Progressive Congress has advised aspirants to shun charac ter assassination and campaign of calumny. The chapter said that any acts capable of creating disharmony should be avoided during the electioneering The party also directed that members of the executive committee should not identify with any aspirant or join their campaign train.

Its Secretary, Chief Osaro Idah, spoke at a meeting with the aspirants at the party secretariat on the Airport Road, Benin-City, the state capital.

Idah advised the aspirants to advetise the party to the people and win more supporters for the chapter, ahead of next year’s polls.

He said any aspirant who bring the party into disrepute would be disciplined.

Urging them to avoid any act of blackmail, Idah said the party has no room for politics of bitterness.

He said: “This party is supreme. You should avoid a campaign of calumny.

Go out and publicise the party, but do not allow party executives to join your campaigns”

Aspirant urges Edo PDP to respect zoning From Osagie Otabor, Benin

•Emmanuel

transformation of the state.”

The Chairman of the forum, Dr Okon Uko, decried the falsehood, propaganda, blackmail and the pullhim-down syndrome in Ibibioland.

He described the SSG as the most competent and credible aspirant in the race.

Uko added: “He will attract foreign investment to the state and implement policies that will lead to the industrialisation of the state.”

H

OUSE of Representatives aspirant Deacon Sergius Ogun has urged the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State to abide by the zoning principle in the party’s constitution.

Deacon Ogun is contesting in Esan South East/Esan North East Constituency. The seat is being occupied by Hon Friday Itulah, who is seeking reelection in next year’s election.

Hon. Itulah and other lawmakers, including Senator Odion Ugbesia, have threatened to leave the PDP, if the party adhered to zoning.

Deacon Sergius, who spoke with reporters after picking his nomination form, said zoning was for equity, justice and fair play.

He said any plan to jettison zoning could lead to crisis in the party.

Deacon Sergius said: “If you do not do that, only one part will be sending people to the Senate and State House of a Assembly. That will not be fair. That is what lead to crisis.

“The party has said they would maintain zoning and I stand by it. If the party change its mind, we will sit down and reconsider everything.”

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SHOWBIZ

BON 2014: Amaechi lauds Nollywood •Iyabo Ojo, Desmond Elliot, Ivie Okujaye, Tope Tedela shine

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OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has praised the Nigerian motion picture industry for what he described as its pivotal role in the nation’s economy.

Amaechi, who spoke at the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, which held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last Thursday, noted that not only did Nollywood start as a protest literature by addressing social issues, but it also provided employment for several people in the movie production chain.

But a report purportedly saying that the governor insulted Nollywood practitioners who trained in other professional areas has now gone viral in the social media.

The governor, who arrived in Port Harcourt for the ceremony that evening from his trip to Abuja, where General Muhammadu Buhari had declared interest in the 2015 presidential race the previous day, had just presented Recognition Awards to veteran artistes, such as Liz BensonAmeye, Nobert Young, Kasimu Yero and Adebayo Salami, when he was asked to give his speech on the occasion.

“Let me say, first and foremost, that this organisation is entirely that of BON Awards...” As if the governor knew that his speech might be misrepresented, he said: “If you were not my friends, we probably wouldn’t have had this hall for use, as some government officials had fixed a dinner or cocktail here this evening before I arrived.

But I told them to move it to the other side.” This statement was greeted with thunderous applause.

Amaechi went on to state

By Victor Akande how Nollywood had rescued the Nigerian economy, by employing hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths who, despite their qualifications, may have remained jobless because of the unemployment challenge in Nigeria. Speaking interactively, the governor had asked the audience at each point, if they agreed with his analysis.

Corroborating his remarks, popular entertainer Okey Bakassi confessed that he is an Agricultural Engineering graduate of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. This threw the hall into another round of laughter.

The governor then recalled a recent conversation between actress Kate Henshaw and her colleague, Basorge Tariah Jnr., on how they both used to trek the streets in search of jobs and how Nollywood became the saving grace.

He then delved into a similar challenge in the banking sector, where many women are employed for marketing, noting that such system had been promoting prostitution indirectly.

Amaechi said: “If you look at the Nollywood industry, it first started as a protest literature, an expression by the people that we are tired of the current leadership in Nigeria. We need change. Then, funding of the industry became a problem. The Onitsha traders who began to fund these films now determined what kind of contents that were made. At that point, it was no longer about protest literature... So, they began to explore stories about witchcraft. I stopped watching at that time. But here now, I watched The Meeting (movie produced by Rita Dominic), which again was another protest work of art… In the

•Gov Amaechi, Patience Ozorkwo, Iyabo Ojo and Alex Mouth at the event

film, we saw a Minister who was abusing his office; you saw the professor waiting and you saw the whole community of people who tried to see him. But to be able to do so, they have to corrupt the secretary… Our films must continue to explore social issues.”

The governor, therefore, urged practitioners to produce more movies that will address social messages rather than allowing political interest to becloud their works, saying they owe the country that duty as her heroes.

“Nollywood is important to me, as it is important to the Nigerian economy.

From Kenneth Okonkwo, who has joined politics, to the producers of The Meeting, there is an underlying message, which is the inability of Nigerian elite to lead Nigeria out of the comatose that we found ourselves,” he said. He added that even where jobs are available, the civil service, for example, sometimes does not employ people based on merit.

The governor then said he had contracted veteran actress Joke Silva to produce into a movie the popular Chinue Achebe’s book, Man of The People, which he said is another socially relevant classic.

The main categories of the awards gave accolades to

•AY flanked by Liz Benson and Okey Bakassi

the like of Iyabo Ojo whose movie, Silence, clinched the Movie of The Year diadem, while Ivie Okujaye and Tope Tedela won the Best Actress and Best Actor respectively.

While Desmond Elliot won the Amaka Igwe Director of The Year for the movie, Apaye, Femi Jacobs and Rita Dominic clinched Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively Others include Yinka Quadri, who won the Best Actor in the Leading Role (Yoruba) award while Ayo Adesanya picked the Best Supporting Actress (Yoruba) honour. Abdulateef Ad-

W

By Victor Akande of the world prepares for digital migration on June 17, 2015.

Expectedly, spectrum will expand, demanding for more contents for broadcast platforms. This challenge is expected to be matched with the new school of thought that says “Audience is king”.

Consequently, Koko will be expected to implement strategic production of contents, not just for the channels, but in such a way that they also increase the audience figures.

Yibo, who is one of the judges of Nigeria’s Got Talents, alongside Kate Henshaw and Dan Foster, is one of the pioneers of the Nigerian comedy industry. By expressing his other gifts, Koko became noted for arts-set-design and float construction.

Interestingly, he is the consultant and artistic director for the Masta Blasta Band, the

of Food (Being Mrs Elliot), Best Sound (Render To Ceaser), Best Production Design (Osunfunke) and Best Short Film (Brave).

Others are Best Comedy Movie of the Year (30 Days In Atlanta); Best Cinematography (Apaye); Best Screenplay (Render To Ceaser); Best Documentary (Fatai Rolling Dollar); Best Edited Movie (A Mile From Home); and Best TV Series (Lekki Wives).

Other notable guests at the event are Kenneth Okonkwo, Shola Sobowale, Moses Inwang, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Patience Ozokwor, Ayo Makun (AY) and Emem Isong.

GUS 11: Iwuoha Ikenna, Nwagbagiro Sandra evicted

Yibo Koko lands MultiChoice appointment ITH an enviable dossier, versatile artiste, Yibo Koko, continues to navigate different facets of the broadcast and entertainment businesses, the latest being his recent appointment as Head of Production for Africa Magic.

Koko, an actor, filmmaker, director, dancer, choreographer and set designer, who has a strong academic and professional background in dramatic arts, will, by his new appointment, relocate to Lagos from Port Harcourt, his present base.

Taking over from Erika Klopper, M-Net’s manager of local productions at MultiChoice, Koko’s job will see him leading in the planning, managing and coordinating of all productions as well as playing a key role in developing and commissioning local contents for Africa Magic Channels.

Koko’s new job becomes timely, as Africa and the rest

edeji and Ijeoma Agu won the Most Promising Actor and Actress; Daniel K Daniel and Linda Ejifor picked Revelation of The Year Male and Female; Olamide Davids’ performance in Black Silhouette fetched him the Best Child Actor, even as Priscilla Ojo, Iyabo Ojo’s daughter won the Best Child Actress laurel.

Also rewarded are Best Kiss In A Movie-Majid Michel and Beverly Naya (Forgetting June); Movie with the Best Social Message (Our Difference); Movie with the Best Special Effect (A Mile From Home); Best Use of Make Up (Cobra); Best Use

F •Koko

group that came tops last year at the annual Calabar Christmas Carnival.

Koko has won several awards, including Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of his contributions to the growth of the Nigerian Film industry (2010); Overall Best Concept Designer for Movement/Choreography/Carnival Float for Rivers State contingents at the Abuja Carnival (2008 and 2009) and Outstanding Achievement in Film Making Award at the 42nd Brooklyn Arts Council International Film Festival, Long Island University, New York (2008), among others.

OR both Iwuoha Ikenna and Nwagbagiro Sandra, their balloons of hope in the ongoing 11th edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search The Mission were punctured at the weekend when they were evicted, thereby jeopardising their dreams of winning N10m and a brand new SUV. Their eviction has, therefore, brought to a premature end their quest to find the General’s War Helmet Interestingly, viewers got to know their individual mindset, following their eviction, during an interview session.

Obviously distraught, Sandra gave a picture of someone who was in company with an incompatible partner in the jungle. “Since we became partner, it hasn’t been going on well. It is taking time for him to pick up and you can’t push him more than that. It is so un-

fortunate that two of us are team mates. I can’t help it; I’m trying my best. But if he goes down, I go down with him.”

On the other hand, Ikenna painted a rather gloomy picture when he disclosed that he had foreseen his premature exit from the moment he was paired with Sandra.

“I knew that my days were numbered since the day I was paired

up with her. I knew both us were not compatible. I’ve been living another kind of life that I don’t like; I’ve been under subjection.

But I think God has the best for me,” she said.

Following their eviction, they have now joined both Eriata Blessing and Erjiakpor Loretta who had earlier been evicted from the Gulder Ultimate Search XI. The duo, who had been bogged down by poor performance, emerged last in the ‘Protect Your Shield.’

•Sandra

•Ikenna

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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NEWS Bashi Ali to Jonathan: save my vision

T

By Olalekan Okusan

N

INE months after the inauguration of the 17man Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Bash Ali Boxing Project, the World Boxing Federation cruiser weight champion has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to allow his world title bout to be staged in Nigeria.

In an open letter to the President, Ali lamented that since the setting up of the LOC, the committee has spent over N50 million on logistics.

He said if the approved $1 million fee was not paid to the International Boxing Union (IBU) by October 31, Nigeria would lose the right to host the event as well as the profit that would have come from TV rights.

Ali, 58, said the first LOC for the bout was constituted in 2006 to coordinate funding to host the first Guinness World Record fight to be staged in Africa, but this did not materialise.

He said despite several meetings with officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to execute the project, his efforts were frustrated by the attitude of the officials.

Urging the President not to

•Ali

allow his dream of inscribing Nigeria’s name in the annals of history to fizzle out, Ali said nine months after the inauguration and several meetings with some key bank officials, there was nothing to show for it.

He said a bank official was demanding $10 mil1ion from the $30 million fight purse and $100 million cut from the pay per view (PPV) TV profit to make happy some government officials, who are angry that with me.

Ali said: “The IBU has offered me 15 million euro to fight in Germany but I will not allow bad and corrupt government officials to drive me away and kill my dream for a better Nigeria.”

Ali urged President Jonathan to pay the required fee and appoint a representative to take charge of the fight purse and the PPV TV profit.

25 killed by ‘Fulani’ in Taraba

WENTY five people were yesterday killed by suspected Fulani men in Sondi, Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.

But the police said they recovered seven bodies.

It was learnt that the hoodlums attacked Sondi in the morning as residents were preparing for church, setting homes on fire.

National President of the Nigeria Association of Wapan Students (NAWAS) Tsokwa Addanti Ajidiku said the attackers, dressed in military camouflage, invaded the vil-

•’Security operatives ignored us’ •Police: we’re on ground From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

lage around 8am Ajidiku blamed the attack on the “lukewarm attitude of security operatives”, who he alleged had prior knowledge of the invasion but failed to act.

He said: “We are not happy with the security operatives because they were aware that these attackers would invade the village today. The attack-

ers wrote us and we informed them, but they didn’t prevent the attack.”

Ajidiku said House of Assembly Speaker Josiah Kente, who is one of the members representing the area, had not done enough to end the crisis.

Police Commissioner Ademola Omole said: “The attackers are Fulani men.

About seven people are feared dead and some persons sustained various degrees of

injuries. We are fully on ground now. I have sent troops to the area and peace has returned.”

A resident, who did not want to be named, said: “Why is it that the attacks are targeted at Southern Taraba? Why are the attacks targeted at Christians? Why are the attacks directed at Jukun and Tiv residents?”

Yesterday’s attack came a few days after the Speaker and majority of the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in Acting Governor Garba Umar for, among other things, restoring peace to the state.

Ngama: why I want to be governor

F

ORMER Minister of State for Finance Dr Yerima Ngama has explained why he wants to be Yobe State governor.

He said it was to reverse the state’s “unfavourable development indices for the good of the common man”.

Ngama is the only aspirant who has picked the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) N11 million nomination form.

There are indications that former Minister of Police Affairs and Agriculture Adamu Maina Waziri is also interested in the seat, which he has contested and failed four times.

Speaking with reporters in Damaturu, Ngama said: “There can never be a better time to serve Yobe than now.

My ambition is hinged on the plight of the common people,

Jonathan for Jigawa From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will tomorrow visit Jigawa State.

He is expected to inaugurate some projects.

Ex-Kwara deputy speaker dies at 62 From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

F

ORMER Kwara State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Hajia H.B. Badmus is dead. She was 62.

Hajia Badmus was the deputy speaker from 2003 to 2007.

She died in her Offa country home and has been buried according to Islamic rites.

House of Assembly Speaker Razak Atunwa described her death as “a great loss to Kwarans”.

Atunwa said the deceased was a honest, committed, caring and excellent parliamentarian, who contributed significantly to the state’s growth.

He urged the late Hajia Badmus’ family to take solace in the fact that she lived a life worthy of emulation.

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

who are poor in the majority.

I am convinced that the time to offer myself for the service of my state at this exalted capacity is now.

“My ambition is not personal; it is the ambition of every common man that desires change in Yobe. Together, we are going to reverse the negative developmental indices that have characterised our dear state since its creation in 1991. In any development statistics taken in the country, you will discover that Yobe is either the second to the last or the last.

“The time has come for our people to live a good life and make healthy children for future generations and that is what I represent if I am voted as governor.”

Pledging to eradicate polio and other diseases, and reduce child/maternal mortality if elected, Ngama said: “We have the worst result in maternal mortality rate; 218 of every 1,000 women die at childbirth.

Polio has been eradicated in all states except Yobe. This is unacceptable.”

•Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam (right) dancing with the Parish Priest of Saint Donald's Catholic Church, Karu, Rev. Fr. Sam Tumba during the priest’s 50th birthday thanksgiving service...yesterday. With them is Maj.-Gen. Shehu Abdulkadir (rtd.).

PHOTO:NAN

Bishop to Suswam: pay August, Sept. salary

T

HE Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Most Rev. Williams Avenya, has urged Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam to pay the August and September salary of workers.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the bishop urged Suswam to update salary payment before his tenure expires.

He spoke yesterday at a thanksgiving ceremony organised by the Vandeikya Traditional Council in Tse Mker, Vandeikya Local Government Area, in honour of the governor.

The bishop, who was represented by Rev. Fr. Stephen Iortyer, said: “It is on

•Nigeria has financial challenges, says governor record that your administration has improved the welfare of workers, especially primary school teachers. Please update salary payment before your tenure ends next year.

“You have carried out a lot of infrastructural projects. Some have been completed while a few are ongoing. Please ensure that all your projects are completed in record time.”

He urged the governor to fix the IhughTse Mker road.

The bishop urged politicians to teach the younger generation “positive poli-

‘Conduct Niger council polls now’

Atiku groups lobby Bauchi APC delegates

T

HE Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and Atiku Support Group are lobbying potential Bauchi State All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates to the presidential primary to vote for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

The groups, led by Mallam Abdulrazak Namdas and Alhaji Abdullrahman Jimeta, the former chief of staff to impeached Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, said they were consulting with and lobbying party leaders and potential delegates in the six Northeast states to support Atiku.

At a meeting with Bauchi APC leaders and potential delegates, Namdas said Nigeria needed a president that would develop it, unite Nigerians,

T

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

address insecurity and resuscitate dead industries in the Northeast.

He said Atiku had the best political structure across the country, adding: “With his strong political structure across the country, if given the APC ticket, Atiku will send President Goodluck Jonathan away in 2015.”

Namdas urged prty leaders and delegates to critically weigh the chances of the three aspirants before handing over the party’s ticket.

He said: “Nigerians are tired of the misrule of the present administration and their last hope is the APC. This is why the party’s leadership must be careful in selecting the presidential candidate.”

ticking” to facilitate development.

Suswam said the nation was facing financial challenges and Benue was not an exception.

He said he was hopeful that the discussion between the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the review of workers’ salary would end on a positive note.

The governor pledged to complete the rural electrification project in the area and fix the Ihugh-Tse Mker road before his tenure expires.

•Atiku

Jimeta said: “Atiku is a national politician. He doesn’t know religion or ethnicity, North or South, he knows only one Nigeria. We urge you to give us your support so that together, we can bring about the desired change.”

Bauchi APC Deputy Chairman Shuaibu Rahma said the party would be fair in its decision.

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has condemned the inauguration of caretaker committees in the 25 local government areas.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Vatsa, the APC said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was “afraid” to conduct council elections.

It said the appointment of caretaker committees was not only “unconstitutional, but a naked show of impunity, a trademark that has become the identity of the PDP”.

The statement reads: “We view the excuse given by Governor Muazu Aliyu that the 2015 general elections are close as untenable and unacceptable. What is the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) doing that it cannot conduct the election now? The councils have a three-year term, why should NSIEC abandon its constitution-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

al responsibility? The electoral body, like the PDP government, has failed the people.”

APC likened the inauguration to “a jamboree”, saying it was a of the state’s scarce resources in the face of many unmet needs of the masses.

“Aliyu is afraid of holding local government elections for fear of defeat, hence the appointment of unconstitutional caretaker committees to continue to do his bidding and rig the 2015 general elections, but the chief servant should be told that he will meet his political waterloo at the polls, as the people have realised that the last seven-and-a-half years have been deceitful.

“APC is ready for local government elections and we demand that NSIEC conducts elections in the 274 wards and 25 local governments NOW.”

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NEWS Chibok girls: Anxiety over Fed Govt, Boko Haram deal Continued from page 4

whoever Ahmadu is, he is not a member of Boko Haram’s senior “Shura council” nor does “he speak for them, as far as I know”.

“It’s interesting the timing comes as Jonathan is about to announce he wants to run for a second term. Is it by sheer coincidence?” All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesman Alhaji Lai Mohammed said by telephone.

The President, Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Shehu Sani, yesterday said there had been cautious optimism on the ceasefire.

He said the patterns of the ceasefire were not in line with the mode of operation of the sect, adding that only the leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, could order the release of the Chibok girls.

He, however, said it would be a good omen for the nation if the ceasefire was real.

Sani, who is one of the facilitators of dialogue with the sect, bared his mind on the ceasefire in a chat with our correspondent.

He said: “There were a lot of doubts about the ceasefire because this is not the first time. In 2012, one Abdulaziz, who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the sect, declared ceasefire five times. A minister confirmed that Abdulaziz was representing the group.

“In 2013, Mohammed Marwana also spoke on behalf of the sect and declared a ceasefire which never held.

“In 2014, Danladi Ahmadu claimed to have negotiated a ceasefire. But the sect is saying that Danladi is a name that is unknown to the group.

“This is not the style of the sect.

All the precepts or prayers of the sect were also not part of Danladi’s speech.

“Contrary to what Danladi said, members of the Ahlul Sunna Li Daawa Wal Jihad do not refer to themselves as Boko Haram. Such a name is alien to the group.

Responding to a question, Sani added: “From our own experience in negotiating with this group, they had insisted on the total release of their men as a precondition for the release of the Chibok girls and ceasefire.

“The group will not put ceasefire first before negotiating other terms. I do not think so.

“So, the so-called talks in Chad were very doubtful. The Federal Government should beware of raising false hopes to achieve political advantage or boost the morale of the military and security agencies.”

Sani said it was still possible to get the Chibok girls out of captivity through dialogue.

“If the ceasefire was real, it will be a good omen for the nation because we want peace in the country; we want to put the insurgency behind us. But we should be wary of false ceasefire like the cases we had in the past.”

Adamawa State indigenes under the aegis of Save Adamawa Communities from Terrorists (SACT) also yesterday expressed doubt about the ceasefire. It said the terrorists might be re-strategising.

The group said in a statement issued in Kaduna at the weekend that the sect might have suffered heavily in the hands of the military and wanted to use the ceasefire to acquire more arms for deadlier attacks.

The statement signed by its chairman, Mr. Josiah Garba, recalled the invasion and destruction of nine villages in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State and called on the Federal Government to allow people in communities being terrorised by terrorists to carry arms to defend themselves.

The villages are Zah, Mubang, Kingin, Kopre, Buwarya, Pana, Larh and Garha.

Garba added that the attacks had been going on since April without anyone confronting the terrorists, adding that the latest attack was in Garha where houses, including the biggest church in the area, were destroyed while many people were killed.

“These attacks have been going on for too long without the security agents coming to our aid. Whenever we call the soldiers to tell them of what is happening in our communities, they don’t come until after the terrorists had finished their operations then they will come just to see the destruction and the bodies.

“The terrorist normally come in broad daylight and when they

come, the villagers will start running for their dear lives. Those who are unlucky are killed, houses are burnt while young boys and girls are captured and taken away.

“Unfortunately, people who are supposed to draw attention to our plight are not saying anything about this ugly situation.

“We have our representative in the House of Representatives, Hon. Francis Haske Hananiya representing Hong/Gombi Federal Constituency but he has never drawn attention to our predicament before the floor of the house. Even our representative in the House of Assembly, Aminu Iya Abas, has never mentioned these attacks on the floor of the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

“As far as we, concerned, the government has just left us at the mercy of Boko Haram and it is very unfortunate. We and our property deserve to be protected by the government.

“If the government is not ready to protect us, we should be allowed to carry arms and confront the Boko Haram. The unfortunate thing is that if you are found with a small knife, you are treated as a criminal, but they allow Boko Haram to be moving around with sophisticated weapons, killing people and destroying our property.

“This is nonsense, if the government is not willing or is failing in its responsibility of protecting the citizenry, we should be allowed to carry arms so that we can defend ourselves.

“Many people don’t know where their wives or their children are. That is the situation here. Everything is completely destroyed. Up till this moment, no relief material has been sent to displace people who were chased out of the homes without taking any of their belongings.

“We are very skeptical about this so called ceasefire and we call on the government not to be deceived by the terrorist as this may be a ploy for them to acquire more arms for further attacks. Government should take adequate steps to secure our communities” the statement added.

Nigeria accuses Ghana of failure to probe oil theft Continued from page 4

Niger Delta frequently come to discharge at Saltpond. There, the Nigerian crude is mixed with Ghanaian oil. It comes from Nigeria, but it gets a certificate of Ghana origin.

The oil is then transferred to larger tankers for transhipment to Europe.

The provenance of the other oil that made its way to an Italian refinery over the course of the past year, however, is not clear.

Three cargoes, listed in shipping documents as "Saltpond blend crude oil," went to Genoa's terminal for delivery to Italy's Iplom SpA refinery, according to shipping and port records and officials.

The WSJ reported that two

cargoes, unloaded in August 2013 and February 2014, carried about 340,000 barrels altogether, according to Genoa port officials.

The third tanker, unloaded in April of this year, carried 132,000 barrels. Together, that's more than four times the platform's 2013 output of around 100,000 barrels, according to the Ghana government’s figures.

Giorgio Profumo, Iplom's president, confirmed to WSJ that his refinery had received crude labelled as coming from Saltpond, but said he believes the cargoes were legitimate because they are approved by the Ghana authorities.

Saltpond platform was inaugurated in 1978 to pump oil from an offshore field. In its

heyday, the field, located seven miles off the country's coast, produced more than a million barrels a year. That has dwindled to just over 100,000 barrels over the course of 2013.

But since last August, three tankers picked up more than 470,000 barrels from Saltpond, transporting it to an Italian refinery near the port of Genoa, according to port officials, ship-tracking services and port records, reports the WSJ. Some US and Nigerian officials suspect Saltpond is one of several destinations that smugglers use to tranship stolen Nigerian crude, effectively laundering it by making it appear to come from a legitimate source outside of Nigeria, says the US newspaper.

WHO to declare Nigeria Ebola-free Continued from page 4

tions in the public health sector.

Yet the doomsday scenario of rapid spread among a

170-million-strong population, devastating Africa’s leading economy and oil producer, did not materialise.

“Nigeria acted quickly and

early and on a large scale,” John Vertefeuille, from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told AFP.

Luxury tax to boost revenue likely Continued from page 4

cation and skills.

“The bottom line is that our debts are sustainable if we use the statistics of the rebased GDP, we will be under illusion that we have more borrowing space.

“But the emphasis is that we do not have more borrowing

space because GDP has increased.

“We do not service debts with GDP, but with revenue and revenue is suffering some setbacks in terms of its size ability to the GDP,” he said.

Nwankwo said that regular interactive sessions and retreats with senators on the

economy would update their knowledge on the development with regards to the economy and public debts management.

He said the knowledge would enable them do their jobs effectively in terms of oversight functions on public debts management.

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59

FOREIGN NEWS

Amazing neuroscientist, caps the Nobel in Medicine

J

OHN O’Keefe, FRS FMedSci (born 18 November 1939) is an AmericanBritish neuroscientist and a professor at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and the Department of Anatomy (University College London).

He is known for his discovery of place cells in the hippocampus and his discovery that they show temporal coding in the form of theta phase precession.

In 2014, he received the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience “for the discovery of specialized brain networks for memory and cognition”, together with Brenda Milner and Marcus Raichle. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2014 together with MayBritt Moser and Edvard Moser.

Born in New York City to Irish immigrant parents, O’Keefe attended Regis High

School (Manhattan) and received a BA degree from the City College of New York.[1][2] He went on to study at McGill University in Montreal, where he obtained an MA degree in 1964 and a PhD degree in Donald Hebb’s Department of Psychology in 1967 supervised

by Ronald Melzack.[3][4][5] He originally went to University College London in 1967 as a US NIMH postdoctoral fellow working with the late Patrick Wall. He has been there ever since, and was awarded a professorship in 1987. He is a citizen of both the United States and the United Kingdom.

O’Keefe and his student Jonathan Dostrovsky discovered place cells by systematically analyzing the environmental factors influencing the firing properties of individual hippocampal neurons.[6][7] His

many publications on place cells have been highly cited. In addition, he published an influential book with Lynn Nadel proposing the functional role of the hippocampus as a cognitive map for spatial memory function.[8] In extensions of his work, place cells have been analyzed experimentally or simulated in models in hundreds of papers.[9][10][11] In further research on place cells, O’Keefe described experimental data that indicates temporal coding by the timing of action potentials. In a 1993 paper, he demonstrated that place cells spike at different phases relative to theta rhythm oscillations in the local field potential of the hippocampus.[12] As a rat enters the firing field of a place cell, the spiking starts at late phases of theta rhythm,

•John O’Keefe:

and as the rat moves through the firing field, the spikes shift to earlier phases of the theta cycle. This effect has been replicated in numerous subsequent papers, providing evidence for the coding of sensory input by the timing of spikes.

Numerous different models have addressed the potential physiological mechanisms of theta phase precession.

Germany’s Merkel urges reforms in EU

•Merkel

G

ERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel told parliament on Thursday that Europe must push

ahead with efforts to cut public deficits and improve competitiveness because the euro zone debt crisis has not yet been overcome and its causes have not been eliminated.

Speaking to the background of nervousness in financial markets about signs of a global slowdown, Merkel said European Union leaders must bear in mind, as they debate ways to boost growth, that painful fiscal reforms have begun to pay off.

“Early successes prove that we chose the right path from the start,” she said, citing improved productivity and finances in some euro zone states and what she termed the “successful” exit of Ireland, Portugal and Spain from their

bailout programs.

“But - and I will say this again and again - we are still far from our goal,” Merkel said.

“The crisis has not yet been permanently and sustainably overcome because the causes, regarding the set-up of the European economic and currency union and the situation of individual member states, haven’t been eliminated.”

“We have to press ahead determinedly with our efforts for sustainable growth and solid public finances and the creation of jobs,” said Merkel, who is under pressure to allow member states such as France and Italy greater flexibility under EU deficit rules so that they can focus on measures to create employment.

Liberia’s president urges world help on Ebola

L

IBERIAN President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the whole world has a stake in the fight against Ebola.

In a “letter to the world” broadcast on the BBC, she said the disease “respects no borders”, and that every country had to do all it could to help fight it.

President Johnson Sirleaf added that a generation of Africans were at risk of “being lost to economic catastrophe”.

The Ebola outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people across West Africa, including 2,200 in Liberia.

International donations have so far fallen well short of the amounts requested by UN agencies and aid organisations.

In the worst-affected countries - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - about 9,000 people have been found to have the Ebola virus, which kills an estimated 70% of those infected.

The Ebola outbreak has

killed more than 2,200 people in Liberia alone The letter, commissioned by the BBC and read out on the World Service’s Newshour programme, starts with the words “Dear World”.

She goes on to say that the fight against Ebola “requires a commitment from every nation that has the capacity to help whether that is with emergency funds, medical supplies or clinical expertise”.

Thousands of West Africans are being kept in isolation to try to stop Ebola from spreading She said it was not a coincidence that Ebola had taken hold in “three fragile states... all battling to overcome the effects of interconnected wars”.

Liberia, she noted, had about 3,000 qualified doctors at the start of the civil war in the late 1980s - and by its end in 2003 it had just three dozen.

The virus spreads between

humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments.

Donors have given almost $400m (£250m) to UN agencies and aid organisations, short of the $988m requested.

Separately, the UN has also appealed for donations to a $1bn Ebola trust fund, intended to act as a flexible source of back-up money to contain the disease.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Friday that the fund, which was launched in September, had received just $100,000 (£62,000) in donations so far.

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told the BBC he was “bitterly disappointed” with the international community’s response.

“If the crisis had hit some other region it probably would have been handled very differently,” he said in a BBC interview.

U.S., four European nations call for end to violence in Libya

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HE United States and four European countries jointly called over the weekend for an end to violence in Libya.

The governments of France, Italy, Germany, Britain and the United States said in a statement that they “agree that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis” and expressed dismay that calls for a ceasefire had not been respected.

Dozens of people have been killed in Benghazi in days of fighting between Islamic militant groups, including Ansar al-Sharia, and pro-government forces led by former General Khalifa Haftar, who began an offensive on Wednesday.

The joint statement voiced concern over Haftar’s offensive and said Libya’s “fight against terrorist organizations can only be sustainably

addressed by regular armed forces under the control of a central authority.”

Libya has failed to build up state security forces and disarm former rebels who helped remove Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled the country for 42 years until his downfall in 2011.

The United States and its four European allies also condemned Ansar al-Sharia and said “Libya’s hard fought freedom is at risk if Libyan and international terrorist groups are allowed to use Libya as a safe haven.”

The statement threatened sanctions against individuals who “threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya or obstruct or undermine the political process.”

But, like Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble who has faced repeated criticisms of Berlin’s stance at International Monetary Fund talks in Washington and from other EU finance ministers, the chancellor showed little sign of being swayed.

C

Catholic synod: Gay rights groups disappointed

ATHOLIC gay rights groups say they are disappointed after bishops rejected proposals for wider acceptance of gay people, which had the Pope’s backing.

The call to “accept and value” homosexuals was in a draft report, but failed to win the backing of two-thirds of the bishops at a synod in Rome.

The final report says only that anti-gay discrimination is “to be avoided”.

Two other paragraphs suggesting divorced and remarried Catholics could receive communion also failed to pass.

The synod will meet again in a year’s time for further discussion.

Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community... Are our communities capable of this, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?

The Church affirms that unions between people of the same sex cannot be considered on the same level as marriage between man and woman.

The Church teaches: “No grounds whatsoever exist for assimilating or drawing analogies, however remote, between homosexual unions and God’s design for matrimony and the family.” Nevertheless, men and women with homosexual tendencies should be accepted with

respect and sensitivity. “Any sign of unjust discrimination in their regard is to be avoided.

More than 200 bishops from around the world had spent two weeks at the Vatican discussing some of the most controversial issues around family life.

The gathering has revealed a fracture line in Church opinion over how to adapt traditional teaching on human sexuality to 21st Century attitudes, says the BBC’s David Willey in Rome.

Pope Francis had made a powerful appeal to traditionalists not to lock themselves within the letter of the law, but conservative cardinals and bishops carried the day at the end of the synod, our correspondent adds.

On Sunday Pope Francis beatified one of his predecessors, Paul VI, who banned artificial contraception for Catholics in 1968.

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PREMIERSHP... PREMIERSHP... PREMIERSHP... PREMIERSHP...

WENGER blasted as ‘rude, arrogant’ after attack on journalist

A

RSENE Wenger has come in for a storm of criticism after his staggeringly rude responses to a BBC journalist in a postmatch interview.

The Frenchman was talking to seasoned football commentator Jacqui Oatley following Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Hull - and repeatedly criticised both Oatley and her questions in a gruesomely patronising manner.

Though the questions seemed anything but unfair, Wenger reacted very badly.

"So you feel you didn't win the game because they didn't come out of their half enough?" asked Oatley, attempting to sum up Wenger's complaints about Hull sitting back and defending.

"I didn't say that," he retorted. "You don't listen very well to me."

The next question received similar treatment.

"Two wins out of eight matches in the Premier League this season. Who or what do you think is to blame for that?" asked the BBC staffer.

"Why do you always want to blame people?" Wenger

Warnock eyes brighter future for Zaha

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RYSTAL Palace manager Neil Warnock believes Wilfried Zaha's hard work behind the scenes will reap rewards.

Zaha marked his return to Palace from Manchester United in style with a lastgasp equaliser on his second debut, securing a 3-3 Premier League draw at Newcastle United in August.

The 21-year-old earned a start in the goalless draw against Burnley, but was withdraw after 69 minutes before enduring three matches as an unused substitute.

That run ended on Saturday

•Wenger

came back with - showing fairly that if anybody wasn't listening carefully, it was Wenger himself.

He then added a few more comments about "trying our best" before finishing with, "I

don't understand the question."

A more meaningful answer - "we've conceded too many goals" - did eventually come after Oatley followed up.

But that in itself sparked yet

another incredible exchange: Oatley asked Wenger about the Gunners fans who have been vociferous in their criticism that the club did not bolster the defence in the summer.

Oscar coming of age at Chelsea-Mourinho

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SCAR'S tactical nous has allowed him to evolve into a "fantastic" team player, according to Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

The Brazil international scored his side's first goal in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday as Chelsea maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

And Mourinho was gushing in his praise of the 23-year-old after Chelsea extended their unbeaten start to the new

season "Oscar did fantastic against Arsenal and again [at Palace]," said Mourinho.

"He's not a number 10 that plays with the ball on his feet; he is a number 10 that looks back, looks to the side, analyses the game and sees where the team need him to move to get the ball and where the team needs him to move to create balances.

"For example, in the first half when they had [James] McArthur playing man-to-

Van Gaal: Places up for grabs

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ANCHESTER United manager Louis van Gaal insists none of his players can expect to walk straight back into the side.

United have been hampered by injuries throughout an indifferent start to the campaign, particularly in defence, with the likes of Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones all sidelined.

New signings Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo and midfielders Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia have also been among the casualties.

These problems are now starting to ease, although Wayne Rooney is suspended for another two games, but Van Gaal claims no senior player can take a place for granted.

The Dutchman said: "Nobody is walking back in my team. You have to earn it on the training ground - every player knows that.

"I have great respect for the players I use at this moment

man with [Cesc] Fabregas, I was so happy with that.

"Fabregas was taking McArthur from the central area and Oscar was dropping back to play. Oscar and [Nemanja] Matic controlled the game completely for us.

"Oscar, at this moment, is not a number 10. He had an evolution - a mental, tactical evolution that allows him, in my opinion to be a fantastic player.

"People forget that he arrived here two years ago and he is still so young."

•Welbeck

A

•Van Gaal

Andre Ayew to quit Marseille •Oscar

Welbeck: Hull City draw was "bittersweet"

and I have also the confidence in these players.

"When you mention Rooney, Carrick and Jones of course they are great football players, but we have more great football players.

Sometimes the other football players are doing better. It is not only the name.

"I have seen, for example, the youngest player, (Paddy) McNair, was outstanding in his first match. You have seen the reaction of the fans. Every time he touched the ball applause.

RSENAL striker Danny Welbeck has admitted that his side's 2-2 draw with Hull City was "bittersweet" as lost further ground in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners took the lead through Alexis Sanchez, but were pegged back almost immediately by Mohamed Diame before Abel

with an impressive cameo against Chelsea, where Zaha set up Fraizer Campbell's 90th-minute strike in a 2-1 defeat for Warnock's men - the first fruits of some intensive work on the training ground during the recent international break.

"Wilfried's been working very hard with me over the last 10 days," Warnock said.

"Wilfried knows what I think about him and what I'm going to do with him and he's clear about that.

"His discipline is a lot better.

He's learning when to do his tricks and when not to do his tricks.

"If he's in the right area when he gets the ball, he's as good as anybody."

Following a deeply frustrating 12 months at Old Trafford, Warnock believes former Palace forward Victor Moses serves as a useful example to Zaha.

A one-time Selhurst Park favourite, Moses has gone on to carve out a career as an established if nomadic topflight presence across spells with Wigan Athletic, Chelsea, Liverpool and Stoke City - the latter two on loan from the London club.

"The penny just dropped for Victor," said Warnock, who managed Moses during his first stint with Palace.

"I remember saying to Victor 'you could go to the very top or you could be playing for [non-league club] Bromley - no disrespect to Bromley - in the next couple of years'.

Hernandez handed the Tigers the lead early in the second half.

Arsene Wenger's side pressed late in the match and eventually got their equaliser when Welbeck struck in the 91st minute, but the England man was only partially content with his stoppage-time leveller.

"It was bittersweet because we started the game well," Welbeck told the club's official website. "They got the early goal and made it difficult for us because they just sat back. I was pleased to get a goal but disappointed not to get the three points.

"There's different ways you can look it at because they've been working hard all game, they maybe got a bit tired towards the end.

"You don't see those sort of things on the pitch but being on the pitch makes things more difficult. We need to see how we can evaluate it from there."

Arsenal are sixth in the Premier League table, with 11 points from eight games this season.

M

ARSEILLE forward Andre Ayew appears ready to leave Stade Velodrome, French daily newspaper L’Equipe can reveal.

The highly rated footballer will be out of contract in the summer, but he has so far failed to suggest he will be leaving the club.

However, L’Equipe has learned that Ayew has decided to look for a new challenge and even changed his agents of late in an attempt to secure a big club

move.

The 24-year-old has been linked with quite a few top sides in the past, with English Premier League believed to be his favourite destination.

Bar loan spells with Lorient and Arles, Ayew has spent his entire career up to date at Marseille, making 141 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring 36 goals in the process.

OM lead the race in French Ligue 1 following a brilliant start to the season and they are 3/5 to defeat to Toulouse and record eighth victory on the bounce.

•Andre Ayew

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Falcons return to training for Bayana Bayana A

FTER observing Saturday as rest day,the Super Falcons of Nigeria resumed serious training ahead of the African Women Championship semi final tie against the Bayana Bayana of South Africa on Wednesday.

The team led by coach Godwin Okon arrived at the Namibia Football Association's technical study astro turf pitch at about 3 pm Nigerian time and immediately went into action with all the 21 players in the squad involved in the training.

The session was grueling and hard under the harsh and windy weather in Windhoek

From Onyewuchi Nwachukwu, in Windhoek which saw the coaches drilling the players on how to hold onto possession and accurate passes as well shooting practice.

The practice session which lasted for over two hours left most the players gasping for breath.

The goalkeepers were not left out of the intensive session as the three shot stoppers in camp led by number one choice Precious Dede were drilled rigorously with more emphasis on keeping set pieces.

They were no serious injury

worries for the team except for Europe based Francisca Ordega who complained of slight headache after yesterday training.

A situation the medical crew of the team said was no cause for alarm.

After the session,the chief coach of the Falcons,Edwin Okon told NationSport that there would be no mercy for the South Africans on Wednesday when the semi final comes up at the Sam Nujoma stadium in Windhoek.

"You can see how we worked hard at this training session.We'll continue to work

harder in the days before the semi final game because we don't want to leave any stone unturned in our quest to win the trophy for the seventh time.

"I have instructed my players that it will be mass defence and mass attack against the Bayana Bayana of South Africa.That's why our tactics and formation in training are meant towards achieving this target.We know what is at stake and we are doing everything to achieve victory on Wednesday."

AHMED MUSA

AFCON ticket is my top priority

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• Musa (left) in action against a Sudanese player during their AFCON 2015 qualiufier at the Abuja National stadium on Wednesday

Amodu confident ahead latest rescue mission

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IGERIA interim coach Shaibu Amodu has said the Super Eagles could still qualify for next year’s AFCON despite the difficult position they find themselves.

As a result of CAF’s regulation for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Nigeria need to score three goals in Brazzaville on November 15 and not concede more than one to steady their ship for Morocco.

This is because they lost 3-2 to the Congolese in Calabar on September 6, and should both teams finish on equal number of points, CAF will take into consideration the team that scored the most away goals in the fixture involving both teams.

Once Nigeria hit three goals in Pointe Noire and do not concede

RESULTS England - Premier League QPR 2 - 3 Liverpool Stoke 2 - 1 Swansea Italy - Serie A Fiorentina 0 - 2 Lazio Atalanta 1 - 0 Parma Cagliari 2 - 2 S’pdoria H.Verona 1 - 3 AC Milan Palermo 2 - 1 Cesena Torino 1 - 0 Udinese Spain - Liga BBVA Atl.Madrid 2 - 0 Espanyol Deportivo 3 - 0 Valencia Elche 0 - 2 Sevilla Germany - Bundesliga Hamburger 1 - 1 H’nheim Paderborn 3 - 1 E. Frankfurt France - Ligue 1 Marseille 2 - 0 Toulouse Bordeaux 1 - 1 Caen

more than one, all they need do to qualify is defeat South Africa in Uyo on November 19 to qualify for the final tournament.

With Nigeria’s best legs certain to be part of the fight for shirts for the Congo match, Amodu believes it is a mountain that could be surmounted.

“If Congo came here and scored three goals, nothing stops us going to Congo to score three or more goals,” he declared.

“We have done it before. We will do it again.”

The present situation is no less daunting, but Amodu is not ruffled.

In April 2001, then NFA sacked Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere with Nigeria’s 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying ship in troubled waters.

They brought in Amodu, with Stephen Keshi and Joe Erico as his assistants. They needed to win all of Nigeria’s last three matches of the campaign to be sure of a place in Korea/Japan.

Ever confident of his own ability, Amodu led the team to turn back Liberia 2-0 in Port Harcourt,

hammered Sudan 4-0 in Omdurman and dismissed Ghana 3-0 in Port Harcourt to qualify for the World Cup. In November 2009, Amodu faced the same challenge, when the Super Eagles needed to defeat Kenya in Nairobi and hope Tunisia did not win in Mozambique to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

The Eagles won the match 3-2, and qualified for the World Cup. As for the South African challenge, Amodu led the team to beat South Africa home and away in the preliminary race for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The 56 –year-old tactician will have the assistance of Salisu Yusuf (a brilliant young trainer who has handled Kano Pillars and Enyimba), Gbenga Ogunbote (the brain behind Sunshine Stars FC’s meteoric rise to national and international prominence) and Aloy Agu (one of the best goalkeepers in Nigeria history who has shone in similar position previously).

SKA Moscow star Ahmed Musa has told AfricanFootball.com his top priority for this year is to qualify Nigeria to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Defending champions Nigeria walk a tight rope in the AFCON 2015 qualifiers and risk losing the chances to defend their title they won last year in South Africa.

But Ahmed Musa, who scored twice against Sudan in Abuja last week to keep the Super Eagles alive in the competition, has revealed his foremost personal target is to ensure Nigeria beat the odds and march on to the finals of the biennial tournament.

"I am happy that I am scoring goals for my club and country. I will keep working hard and do my best every time, but my top priority this year is to help my country qualify for the Nations Cup so that we could go defend our title,” said the winger whose rich vein of form in front of goal saw him grab another brace for Russian champions CSKA at the weekend.

“We are in a must-win situation in the remaining two games. We cannot afford another slip" Nigeria are currently third in Group A with four points from three games and need to beat second-placed Congo away and group leaders South Africa at home next month to stand a chance of advancing to the Nations Cup tournament proper.

WTF MANCHESTER GRAND PRIX

Chukwumerije set to face stiff opposition • Leaves for London tonight

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IGERIA’S sole representative in the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Grand Prix holding in Manchester this week, Chika Chukwumerije will today depart the country aboard a Lufthansa Airline to Manchester, United Kingdom (UK).

However, the Beijing Olympics bronze medallist is expected to face stiff opposition from 31 top taekwondists including the current Olympics champion, Gabon’s Anthony Obame in the men’s +87kg.

Chukwumerije qualified to take part in the tournament following his world rating, while he will compete against the best in the world at the three-day championship holding at the Manchester Central Convention Complex In total, 250 of the world’s best players will gather for the three day event and after series stopoffs in Suzhou, China and Astana, Kazakhstan.

The Team Nigeria captain to the 2012 London Olympics was in danger of losing out on the prestigious Grand Prix, after missing out in Suzhou, China, but he ensured he competed at the 2nd Grand prix of the year in Astana, Kazakhstan, held 29th August – 2nd September 2014, in order to gain enough momentum to make it to Manchester.

In Kazakhstan, he fought his way into the last 16 to be able to secure a spot at the Manchester Grand Prix this month.

The WTF Grand Prix, is currently the most interesting and competitive series on the WTF Calendar, and has had the Taekwondo global world buzzing since the inaugural edition in December 2013. Only the world’s top 31 athletes in each weight category, based on their recent 2014 WTF Olympic ranking, are eligible for the tournament, and the Grand Prix series have a direct impact on qualification for the

By Olalekan Okusan RIO 2016 Olympics, as a massive 40 Olympic ranking points are at stake.

Meanwhile the host – Great Britain has named a 14-strong squad for the Manchester leg of the World Grand Prix series including Olympic champion, Jade Jones, and London 2012 bronze medalist, Lutalo Muhammad.

Great Britain’s Performance Director, Gary Hall, wants to replicate and potentially better the 2013 performances when Manchester Central again stages the tournament later this month.

The event sees the world’s best athletes come together to compete not just for the Grand Prix title, but also for valuable ranking points in the lead up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Chungwon Choue, World Taekwondo Federation President, said: "We are extremely excited about the WTF World Taekwondo Grand Prix”.

“The inaugural event in Manchester last year was a great success and served to highlight the passion and enthusiasm that exists amongst fans to see regular Olympic-standard competition between the world’s best athletes.”

Chairman of GB Taekwondo, Jeremy Beard said: “Having worked closely with the World Taekwondo Federation over the last couple of years to develop the concept of the Grand Prix, we are delighted to be hosting it in Manchester once again.

The best Taekwondo athletes will gather to reach the valuable 40 WTF Ranking Points and the $ 5,000 cash prize.

The ranking points rating include the first places getting 40 points, second places gets 24 points, 3rd places get 14.4 points while 5th place will get 8.64 points.

Danagogo supports Uyo boxing match • Bout fixed for Nov. 8

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SC Chairman has thrown his weight behind a world boxing foundation (WBF) vacant World Middle weight title fight scheduled to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State by November 28 this year.

The organizers of the event had visited the National Sports Commission last week to intimate the Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo and the Director General of the NSC, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye of the proposed world title match.

The Minister, however, gave his support to the fight after the organisers had given details of the fight.

The main event will feature

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja Nigeria’s King Davison Emenogu, WBO International light middle weight champion as well as the newly crownred Commonwealth Super Middle weight Champion, Nigeria’s Isaac Ekpo.

Other top boxers that would fight on that day in Uyo includes the current WBF Junior Welterweight Champion who is also a Nigerian, Gifted Cole and the current West Africa Lightweight Champion, Nigeria’s Jude Ilo. All are due to arrive the country a forthnight the event.

GOtv ‘Hood to Hood’ Season 2 set to kick off

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HE season 2 of the GOtv Hood to Hood Football championship set to hold between Sunday 19 October, 2014 and 1 November 2014 at the Legacy/NIS pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The plans for the tournament were unfolded at a press conference held at the Secretariat of Sports Writers’

Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in the National Stadium, Lagos.

Speaking at the Press conference, the General Manager GOtv, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa disclosed that the GOtv Hood to Hood football championship is an initiative aimed at contributing towards the development of football at the grassroots.

Amkpa assured that the season 2 of the competition promises to be more exciting with a larger crowd of spectators expected. ”All the matches will be played at both the Legacy and NIS pitches of the National Stadium which will enable teeming football lovers to watch the matches live while adequate media coverage will be provided by Supersport”, she said

• World Boxing Foundation fight stars with Sports Minster

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014

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Lothar Matthaus, Keller interested in Eagles' job G • Keller • Matthäus

ERMANY World Cup legend Lothar Matthäus and Jens Keller are among the candidates vying to coach Nigeria's National Team.

In football parlance, both Germans are deemed free agents , therefore, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will not have to part with a single euro as financial compensation to any club or association to secure their signature.

For the past three years, Lothar Matthäus has been in the unemployment market after severing

Sheikh Adnan claims ARCO Tennis trophy

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HE Table Tennis section of the Ikoyi Club 1938 was agog on Friday as it staged the finale of the 4th edition of ARCO Table Tennis Tournament which witnessed several games ranging from the Men’s Doubles, Veteran Singles and lastly Men’s Single Division One. Pakistan born Sheikh Adnan was the man of the moment, as he claimed victory thrashing his opponent Dele Kuti 4-1 in the Men’s singles division one final, saying the victory came because of his love for the game.

“I love table tennis a lot and play it at my leisure and it was a great moment for me to be crowned the winner” said the joyous Adnan.

However, President Nigeria

By Bowale Odukale Football Federation Amaju Pinnick who took up the post barely three weeks ago heaped praise at the sponsors of the tourney ARCO Petrochemical Engineering Co. Ltd for their dedication to the development of sports in the country.

Pinnick also charged big organizations in the country to fol-

low ARCO footsteps and make sports better in order to improve the current status of sports in the country.

In his words “Arco petrochemicals started the first “ARCO under football Championship” in 1999 Delta State and since then always present in talent discovery, spreading tentacles in all human endeavor in all sports activities.”

ties with the Bulgaria national team, whom he handled for 12 months, from September 23, 2010 to September 19, 2011.

On the other hand, Jens Keller is searching for a new employer after he was relieved of his duties earlier this month at Bundesliga side Schalke 04.

Both high profile coaches have given their word that they will send in their applications to the eggheads at the Nigeria Football Federation before the end of this week.

Retired Germany skipper Lothar Matthäus could not be reached for comments on Saturday as he was doing punditry on television, but his representative has indicated that he's eager to handle the Super Eagles so long as the NFF meets his demands.

Before the appointment of a substantive manager to coach the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Federation has put together a plan B by naming a consortium of coaches, led by veteran Amodu Shuaibu, to handle the national team.

Eagles: Interim coaches meet on game plan

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EW Super Eagles coaches led by Shuaibu Amodu are expected to meet in Abuja this week to agree a game plan for next month’s win-or-bust AFCON qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

A top official informed

AfricanFootball.com: “The newly appointed coach will meet in Abuja most likely on Friday to agree on how to go about the matches against Congo and South Africa.”

Amodu and his assistants Salisu Yusuf and Gbenga

Ogunbote are expected to brain storm with the newly appointed NFF technical committee led by Enyimba chairman Felix Anyansi.

They are most likely to draw up a list of players to be called up for the final two qualifiers.

Guinness seeks stronger ties with NFF • ARIK keen to be Official Airline

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HE new Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has hit the ground running in its determination to give assurance to current partners and woo more sponsors, with a visit to the corporate headquarters of Guinness Nigeria PLC and ARIK Airline on Friday.

The high –powered team led by NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, also included 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, Chairman of the newly constituted Marketing, Sponsorship and Television Advisory Committee, Emeka Inyama, NFF Marketing Consultant, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor and Director of Marketing, Mr. Adama Idris.

Speaking to a Guinness team led by the Managing Director, Mr. Seni Adetu and also including the company’s top management, Pinnick expressed heartfelt appreciation to the company for its support for Nigeria football over the years and assured that the new Executive Committee very much desires to continue to partner with the establishment.

“We thank you for your huge support to the NFF, Nigeria football and the national teams for so many years now. This is to assure you that the new board wants to continue to partner with you and also to ensure that you gain maximum mileage from this partnership.

“Our vision is to relate professionally with our partners and ensure they reap maximum mileage in return for what they put into the system to support our

teams. We will also be very transparent in what we do with your money and be accountable at all times,” Pinnick said.

Responding, Guinness MD, Mr. Seni Adetu thanked the new NFF board for the visit and particularly expressed delight at the youthfulness of the new NFF President.

“We are happy to have a young man at the helm this time. It is reassuring. Guinness Nigeria PLC has remained a strong partner of the NFF and the National Teams over the years, in rain and sunshine. We have no regrets whatsoever.

“I want to assure you that wherever there are grey areas, we will jointly sit down and look at them and address this in order to have an even stronger and better partnership.”

Guinness Nigeria PLC has been a strong and reliable partner of the NFF for several years now.

Apart from duly fulfilling its contractual obligations, the company sponsored the high –profile international friendly between the Super Eagles and the senior team of Argentina in Abuja on June 1, 2011, hosted the Eagles to a lavish reception in Lagos following the team’s triumph at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and branded the Super Eagles’ housewear at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

The NFF team also visited the offices of leading Nigeria airline, ARIK where they met with the Public Relations and Communications Manager, Mr. Adebanji Ola.

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 9 NO 3,007

‘There is a huge moral question raised by blocking the Nigerian government from buying arms even as the same envoy admitted that Boko Haram had “gone beyond a small insurgent group with a couple of guns to a very effective collection of conventional force”.’

EMEKA OMEIHE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HIS columnist cried to the rafters after the Chibok girls were whisked away by the bandits in the name of God. I titled the piece, Swap the Girls Now, on May 19, 2014, and not a few thought it a heresy.

The presidency forswore dining with the enemy, which was what the whole idea was interpreted to be. Now, they want to exult that they have actually dined with the damnable foes and are on the verge of releasing the girls after six months in captivity. But is this an act of heroism or desperation by the Jonathan administration?

When the tragedy first occurred, the Jonathan administration did not accept it. They asked questions rather than provide answers.

Some of them asked, how was it possible that hundreds of girls could be abducted in a convoy and no one stopped them? So they said it could not be true. The enemies of Jonathan were at work again. They did not wish him well. Even the president went live on national television asking the parents of the abducted to provide the names of the students. His wife categorically said the girls were not missing.

That was the first scene of the drama. It was the stage of denial.

Later the same administration knew that it had happened. It started to tell the country that it knew what was going on. It was the work of the opposition party, the APC. When Oby Ezekwesili rallied the young and the old behind her # Bring Back the Girls movement, they accused her of working with the opposition party. They wanted to rally Nigerians behind Jonathan’s innocence. He is an innocent man.

He provided the soldiers. He declared emergency. What else could he have done? The APC should leave Jonathan alone. They put the point as nakedly as they could. This became worse when CNN flew into the country, and reported day by day the updates of the events.

Doyin Okupe said to the nation on CNN about the Nigerian military being on the trail of the militants with aircraft and tanks, etc. We never saw any result. It was the stage of propaganda.

When propaganda did not work, they saw that the whole of the world focused on us. John McCain, senator and former presidential candidate in the United States, lambasted our bumbling military and leaders. Ditto Hilary Clinton. We heard nothing but silence from the vaults of the presidency. They wanted to divert attention from what was going on in the country. They wanted to see if it was possible to scale the acceptability of the president against the narrative of the missing girls. So, they orchestrated a new campaign called Bring Back Jonathan. It back fired. It was the desecration of the innocence of an idea. Like crude oil spilling on pristine waters, it was a dangerous gamble.

They also made surreptitious moves on the media to play it down. But three newspapers, inspired by The Nation, began a permanent column on the front page, urging the federal government to bring back the girls. They had no answer. They sulked. They demurred. They

RIPPLES ONLY GOD CAN STOP CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA–says Cleric

I beg stop disturbing God... HE’s not EFCC CHAIRMAN.

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

How the girls haunted Jonathan

‘

‘ Jonathan was less interested in the Chibok girls’ freedom than the freedom for him to campaign for the second term’ • Mrs. Ezekwesili

cowered. It was the depression stage.

Not long after, Malala, the now winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace, came calling. They had no choice but to allow the relations of the missing girls to visit Aso Rock. It was a grudging concession. The humiliation was colossal. It took a teenager to wake them out of their supercilious torpor. The president had called off, in official cowardice, a trip to the village to show solidarity.

Now, in a torpedo of the African tradition of visiting the bereaved, it was the bereaved that visited the condoler, and what condoler! This was the end of denial. They no longer could say, even to themselves, that it was a politically motivated kidnap.

Again, the matter had begun to sour. The matter became intractable. More and more people died from the bullets of the godless bandits. Territories fell, Boko Haram flags flew defiantly, video clips proclaimed the rhetoric bluster of their leader, pictures from the northeast bled with gore and streamed with tears, soldiers mutinied, their wives blighted the streets with

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protests. What the Jonathan administration thought would go away became a monstrous albatross.

It became difficult to blame the opposition, although there was some level of gloating from the APC that it was Jonathan’s cross. But Jonathan

Fayose versus Fayemi versus Maths

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FTER all his rhetorics at his swearing in, Governor Ayo Fayose said his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, left a debt of N84 billion. Fayemi responded through his former Information Commissioner Tayo Ekundayo that it was not right. Ekundayo said the debt was far less. Explaining that of the N25 billion bond, N14 billion has been paid, he urged the new governor to look at the handover notes and figures before bellowing falsehood to the world.

Hmm! So what is the story? Is it that Fayose does not understand maths? Or is it

HARDBALL

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E are in for a good time. I mean we the reader and writer, starting from 16 October, 2014, Ekiti State would become the honey pot for juicy Hardball materials. Those who know the new governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose can vouch that he doesn’t take prisoners. He ‘shoots’ from the hips and he can outgun any cowboy.

Fayose is like the proverbial animal in Igbo lore that chews his food coolly while the hunter exhausts himself shooting at it – anu ana gba egbe o na ta nni! We expect to get, at least, one titillating gist per day from that quarter with Fayose now fully in charge. The game is on already. On Tuesday at a live television interview, he challenged all the clerics in Ekiti to report en masse and effect spiritual cleansing of the government house before he would step into it.

Hear him: “I am expecting all the pastors; they would first be at the new State House to carry out a thorough spiritual cleansing before we enter the building…

“Even if they are up to 1,000, they should all come for the spiritual cleansing… but any pastor who is not sure of his calling shouldn’t come.”

is leader and leaders take responsibility. From depression, they descended to a place of ambiguity. They had no answers. The imagination was empty of rhetoric. Ezekwesili and her followers drummed up the campaign.

Although CNN and the international media had moved elsewhere, Nigeria was still on the radar.

The conversation never ceased. It was like a low burning flame that never petered out, stubborn, illuminating, spreading, lapping up more victims of leaves and dry paper. The big house, with its big kerosene tank, is threatened.

Then the inner sanctum of the regime started worrying. Not because the girls were not released. But because the TAN campaigns were revving up and it was getting close for Jonathan to unfurl his ambition. He will not have “I have no shoes” kind of mantra to latch on to. Rather the Chibok girls will stick to him like what we in the Niger Delta call jiga, that little worm that hid under toes of shoeless boys playing around rivers and ponds. He did not want that. They – he and his team - had to get this Chibok nonsense out of the way. They moved into the desperation phase.

That explains why he eventually dined with the enemy. Remember that picture of him with Ali Modu Sheriff with Chad leader? That was part of the deal. Hypocrisy is the hallmark of the desperate. He can don any identity in order to get things done. Why did he not say, well, Modu knows a thing or two about this matter, and we can parley with him so we can get the girls out?

Rather his party called APC Boko Haram party when Modu was an APC man. But when he became a PDP man, Olisa Metu and presidency votaries lost their tongue, only to regain it in chatting with him on the Chibok girls.

So, are we to thank Jonathan if the girls actually come out? Or he will thank himself for having taken an albatross out of the way of his ambition.

It is what we can call a gift horse in the mouth. A cynical boost of goodwill. He would not release the girls if not because his campaign is about to take off. It is an act of selfishness. It reminds me of Lord Byron’s lines in his Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte, “He had no objection to true liberty except that it would make the nations free.”

Jonathan was less interested in the Chibok girls’ freedom than the freedom for him to campaign for the second term.

that Fayemi wants to deny his debt? If it amounted to N84 billion, we never knew that any such loans were taken unless he took them in secret, and such loans are never done in secret. They are matters of public record.

Fayose has the opportunity to unveil the documents to the public now. Or it will be assumed that he wants to acquire N84 billion in debt to buy rice and stew for Christmas in furtherance of his stomach infrastructure policy. God so kind, he has appointed an office of stomach infrastructure. If he does not unveil the debt clearly, then he will be involved in what is called fuzzy math.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Fayose and the 1,000 clerics This is a foretaste of the ‘goodies’ to come from Bobo Fayose, the only governor with ‘street credibility’. Imagine a thousand clergymen raining ‘fire’ on the demons that may have been implanted in the imposing new edifice on the hill. It would only be by the special grace of the almighty that even the building will not be razed along with the ‘enemy’.

Whoever thought there was something untoward in Fayose’s victory (other than the power and ingenuity of stomach infrastructure) would be convinced by the upwelling of excitement in the state last Thursday. Ekiti shut down for Fayose, was the blazing lead headline of some newspapers.

The state was indeed shutdown and the star of the day was in his elements; he did not let anyone down.

A man of his own wiles and ways, he is not constituted to impress or conform to your ways or mine; he does it his own way regardless. Thus on his special day, his inauguration as governor for the second time, he turned out in open-armed, almost body-

hugging, danshiki. For the uninitiated, danshiki is hunters’ dress. He matched it with a cap that would have better suited a flowing agbada and he covered his eyes with a lightless photochromic glasses.

His turnout on his big day reinforced the victory of the street and signposts the days ahead. He insinuated so much in his inauguration speech that it would be business as usual, but this time in an unusual way, if you can decode that. He rode into the venue in a Mercedes Benz 200 1965 model; he told squirming multitude that the out-gone government had thrown the state into an ocean of debts totaling about N84 billion, though he had not even set his foot into the governor’s office yet.

And here is the banger: he announced his advisers shortly after and feted the loyal people of Ekiti with what must be their just dessert: a Special Adviser in charge of STOMACH INFRASTRUCTURE. Wow, it must be a-dreamcome true for the great people of Ekiti, a great reawakening.

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