THE NATION, October 25, 2014

2 NEWS

B

ARELY 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan declared his intention to contest next year’s presidential election, prominent Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has warned him against the move.

The Islamic scholar believes that Jonathan is guiding Nigeria into chaos and turmoil whose end he said is only known to God. In a letter he posted on his facebook account, Sheikh Gumi said: “Mr. President, what I heard from people who are close to you, you are humble with a soft heart. But still, humility is never enough for effective leadership.

“Leadership is about listening and taking good advice from people of wisdom, not from those that benefit from you or have any agenda other than the unity and progress of this nation.”

The full text of the letter is as follows: “Mr. President, “We have never met despite the fact that we were all born and we lived for more than half a century in this great vast country, Nigeria. It’s here we all grew up and were educated, and I presume except by divine prudence, it’s here that we will all be buried.

“So, what truly matters is the legacy that we will bequeath to our children and the next generation of Nigerians to come. We will not want it a burnt country with hundreds of thousands dead, maimed or displaced because of the thoughtlessness and recklessness of its stewardship.

“Nigeria today is a single railway line with two heavily loaded trains heading towards each other from opposite directions. You’re the driver of the heavier train, and please do not think that even a cart on the railway cannot derail you with great catastrophe to humanity.

“You need to come out of the cocoon and face the reality. Denial of the truth can

THE NATION, SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25, 2014

Gumi slams Jonathan over 2015 bid •President divisive, should forget about re-election

Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna never solve problems.

“Mr. President, from what I heard from people who are close to you, you are humble with a soft heart. But still, humility is never enough for effective leadership. Leadership is about listening and taking the good advice from people of wisdom, not from those that benefit from you or have any agenda other than the unity and progress of this nation.

“The mantle of the leadership of this country was given to you under oath. Almost four years ago, you swore to protect ‘the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“You said: ‘I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions, and ‘I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will’ “Unfortunately, many people, including me, believe you broke some of your oath.

I’ll only need to refer you back to the honest open letter advice you were given by your political godfather. You appear more Ijaw than Nigerian.

“It’s seldom fathers will deceive their children. Yet you never listen. And sadly, by your recalcitrance, you are dangerously leading this nation to chaos and turmoil that only God knows where it will end.

“Muslims have officially registered to you on occasions your partiality. Northern groups have complained about your bias. The youth about your neglect.

“You have divided the nation gravely on the religious divide. Already, we heard a call in a church that you are

Gov Yari heads APC Extraordinary Convention Committee AMFARA State Gov-

Z

ernor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, is to head the planning committee for the extraordinary convention of the All Progressives Congress meant to amend the party’s constitution.

Inaugurating the 19-member committee at the party’s national secretariat, the National Chairman of the Party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, said that the committee was expected to oversee the constitution amendment as well as other activities leading to the convention to select its presidential candidate.

Speaking after the inauguration, Governor Yari assured that the committee will successfully carry out its mandate of ensuring the amendment of the party’s constitution to pave way for a successful convention to pick candidates for the Presidential election as well as other offices.

He said: “The mandate given to us as far as the committee is concerned is to ensure that the organisation is done to ratify the amendment of the sections of the

Tony AKOWE, Abuja party’s constitution so that we can have a successful convention.

“As party members, we will work 24/7 to see that the party achieves its aim.”

Members of the committee include the National Secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni; former Gombe State governor, Senator Danjuma Goje; Senator Ajayi Borrofice; Hajiya Aisha Rufai Ibrahim; Alhaji Bala Borodo and Hon. Temi Harryman.

Others are Dr. Anyim Nyerere; National Organising Secretary of the party; Sen. Osita Izunaso; the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the National Welfare Secretary of the party, Dika Umaru Lada.

The committee also has the six zonal National vice chairmen from the SouthSouth, South-East, SouthWest, North-Central, NorthWest and North-East as members.

Former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipriye Silva, is to serve as the committee secretary.

now a saviour. Now, not of Nigeria but the church in Nigeria. With this religious zeal on both sides, each side looking at the wrong people for salvation, the nation is heading towards disaster.

“My fellow countryman, it’s unfortunate that your stand on many issues have made you into a polarizing figure while the exalted office you occupy needs a nationalistic one.

“Surely with the Christian

votes and northern PDP followers you can win another election. But you will also set the nation into another turmoil because that segment of the nation that rejects you do so because they believe rightly or wrongly you are involved negatively in the Boko Haram saga. “ The natural thing any good leader will do in this situation is to step down for a person all the segments of the nation will

have confidence in for their well-being; a credible person that will not stir apprehension.

The decision is not about your rights but about responsibility.

“Therefore, as you pray in the Holy Land, seek for God’s indulgence to show you the light of honour and do the right thing. It’s God’s command that Nigeria stay united and ‘what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder’.

“A word of wisdom says: ‘He who consults is never disappointed and he who seeks God’s choice never regrets.’ So, please don’t brush it aside; call men of wisdom to advice you too.

“I, for a start, I am hereby candidly advising you to relinquished your presidential ambition because of peace, stability and well-being of millions of innocent Nigerians. There are many politicians that can ‘finish’ it on your behalf. The PDP can present Akpabio or Obi or Orji, etc.”

•Lagos APC governorship aspirant, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, during his declaration at Onikan Stadium, Lagos... yesterday PHOTO: Niyi ADENIRAN

My agenda for Lagos, by Ambode

L

•Former Accountant-General declares for governorship

AGOS State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, yesterday unfolded his agenda, saying that he would build on the foundation laid by Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, and his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He promised to preside over a government of continuity, which will promote accountability, quality leadership, good governance and equal opportunities for all Nigerians, if elected as the next governor.

Ambode said: “Lagos is my state and you are my people. I shall work to serve you. I shall never do less. Here and now, I dedicate myself to this task. I shall not flinch nor lose focus.”

The former Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance declared his intention to run for the number one seat at a carnival-like rally at the Onikan Stadium, Onikan, Lagos.

“It was witnessed by notable traditional rulers from the five divisions of Lagos State, Muslim and Christian clerics, friends and associates, and party supporters from 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

At the rally were party chieftains, including Pa Abiodun Sunmola; Pa Alabi Macfoy; the Chairman of ‘Conference 57, Hon. Akeem Sulaimon Pris; House of Representatives members-Alhaji Yakubu Balogun, Dr. Sanuel Adejare, Hon. Toyin Suarau, Hon.

Emmanuel OLADESU, Group Political Editor and Musa ODOSHIMOKHE Morouf Akinderu-Fatai, and Hon. James Faleke; former Agriculture Commissioner Asipa Kaoli Olusanya; Hon. Paul Kalejaye; former members of House of Assembly Hon. Obafemi Durosimi and Babatunde Ogala; Hon. Bolaji Ariyoh; Chief adeola Oyedele; Primate Dare Akindele and Mr. Rotimi Martins.

Others include Mrs. Teju Phillips; Hon. Segun Adetola; Dr. Fola Fosudo, and a retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Onanuga.

The representatives of the Muslim Community was led by Imam Olubodun Gbajabiamila, who stood for the Chief Imam of Lagos, Imam Garuba Akinola. Other dignitaries include the three wives the Eleko of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu-Olori Fadeke, Olori Titilola and Olori Olanike.

Wide endorsement Gbajabiamila, who rendered the opening prayer, reflected on the challenges of governance, saying that Ambode is competent to succeed Fashola.

He said: “Ambode has been assessed by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Akiolu; the Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Akinola Garuba and the political leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. We pray that he will excel in the office.”

No fewer than 60 traditional rulers and chiefs were at the venue. They included Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja of

Noforija Epe; the Alagege of Orile-Agege, Oba Ambaliu Agbedeyi; the Onitire of Itire, Oba Lateef Dauda; the Onitedo of Itedo, Oba tajudeen Elemoro; the Olu of Ojokoro, Oba Oluwalambe Taiwo; Oba Ayinde Balogun of Isheri; the Onibeju of Ibeju, Oba Rafiu Saliu; the Olorogun Ado of Lagos, Chief Waheed Yesufu; Chief Lateef Ajose; Chief Muideen Shobalu; Chief Tunde Temionu, and former Chairman of Kosofe Council, Hon. Tunde Braimoh, who was the master of ceremonies.

From sunrise, the stadium was aglow with festivities, with ace musicians, Wasiu Pasuma and Olamide, and popular comedians, Mr. Babatunde Omidina (Baba Suwe), Mr. Lamidi Opebe and Mr. Ojo Arowosafe (Fadeyi Oloro), thrilling the crowd.

“Banners of different shapes welcomed the party faithful to the venue. Itinerant drummers ushered in party leaders and other eminent persons to the high table. The event, which lasted for five hours, was peaceful.

Enter the host Around 10.40 am, the aspirant stormed the stadium with a large crowd that followed him from his residence. Decked in a white agbada with a blue cap to match, he waved the broom to the jubilating crowd, dancing and singing.

He was led to the podium by Pa Summola and presented to the people by Hon. Oris, who reiterated the support of the 57 council chairmen for his ambi-

tion.

Oris said: “Tinubu started the journey to modernity in Lagos.

He was succeeded by Fashola, the actualiser. Today, we present Akinwumi Ambode.

Lagos requires a financial wizard to continue from where Fashola will stop next year. He will do better.”

Excited at the huge crowd of supporters, Ambode exuded confidence, saying that it attested to his popularity and acceptance by Lagosians, following his state-wide consultations.

He said: “In recognition of this support, I, Akinwumi Ambode, in your presence and in the presence of God, formally put myself forward to run for the position of the governor of Lagos State. I make this declaration with the highest sense of responsibility. I am putting nyself forward because I belive I have the qualities required to continue the giant strides which our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has achieved in Lagos in recent years.

In his speech titled Continuing the Progress, Securing the Future, the Epe born politician said having witnessed 15 years of growth and development under Asiwaju Tinubu and Fashola, Lagos State deserved a governor that would build on their achievements.

He said: “I stand before you today in the spirit of the continuity of excellence that Lagos is known for. My vision and mission is to create a clean, se•Continued on Page 4

THE NATION,

News 3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

PDP kicks as Amaechi marks 2007 Supreme Court ruling

•Buhari, Atiku, Okorocha storm Garden City for mega rally •PDP protests alleged order to close shops, markets

F

ORMER Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd); ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the Governor of Kano State, Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, all presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will today storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State for Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s 7th anniversary of his Supreme Court victory.

Also to honour Amaechi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), are two other presidential aspirants of the APC, Rochas Okorocha, the Governor of Imo State and Sam NdaIsaiah.

Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, will lead nine other APC governors to the mega rally, among other eminent personalities.

The elaborate event, scheduled to commence at 7 am and transmitted live on many television stations, will hold at the newly-built 65,000 capacity Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta-Ali near the Port Harcourt International Airport, constructed by the Amaechi administration to boost sports in Nigeria.

The committee put in place to oversee the mega rally has the state’s Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, an engineer, as Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, with the state’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chuma Chinye, as Secretary, while the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, is the Chairman of the Publicity Sub-Com-

2015: Let’s vote Jonathan out, Amaechi advises youths

G

OVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has advised Rivers youths not to allow Rivers State to crash by ensuring that they use their votes to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from wining the Presidential election in 2015.

He said it has become necessary for Rivers people to prepare to vote against President Jonathan because of the hatred he has for them.

Governor Amaechi spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt during the 30th /32nd convocation ceremony of Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt mittee.

Genesis of anniversary The Supreme Court, in its landmark judgment of October 25, 2007, had sacked Sir Celestine Omehia and pronounced Amaechi the duly elected governor of the state. He was inaugurated the following day at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Amaechi and Omehia, both Ikwerre, hail from Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.

Semenitari, while speaking on Rhythm FM Port Harcourt’s Funky Four Plus One, said the rally would also be used by the governor to render account of his stewardship to the people of the state who renewed his mandate during the 2011 elections.

Precious DIKEWOHA, Port Harcourt Ignatius Ajuru University of Education held at the Rumuolumeni main campus of the university.

Amaechi said the President had made things difficult for the state, which has resulted in decline in the revenue base of the state.

He said the students would not get jobs after graduating if they didn’t act fast to resist President Jonathan and his agents in the state.

He noted that the President She noted that the NGF chairman and the leaders of the APC did not believe in renting crowds like some unnamed chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, stressing that the massive supporters of Amaechi volunteered to be at the stadium, without being induced, to honour a performing governor.

Rivers information commissioner said: “Governor Amaechi’s problem is that he is very frank, straightforward, calls a spade a spade and does not speak from both sides of his mouth.

“Governor Amaechi’s critics know that if he says something, he will stand by it.

“Governor Amaechi has conscience. They promised him a lot of things to abandon the fight on the ceding of Rivers oil wells to neighbouring states, but he refused. Another gover-

gave Soku oil well to Bayelsa State and Etche oil well to Abia State, adding that no federal project had been executed in Rivers State since Jonathan became the President of Nigeria.

“As fresh graduates, what you need now is job. The President is not creating an enabling environment that would aid your employment. You must get ready to have your voter cards as the only weapon to vote the President out in 2015.

“We must not allow him to win. If he does, the state

will crash. You can imagine that as a South–South President, all the roads linking the South-South are not passable. That is evidence that his government is corrupt.

“Believe me, you will not get a governor that will be like me; I mean a governor that will look at the President in the face and tell him his mind. I have walked out in the meeting with the President twice and no governor will have the mind to do that. We must be ready to vote him out.”

nor would have sold out and abandoned his people, for his personal interest and benefits, not Governor Amaechi, who will always stand by his people and will never negotiate the future of Rivers State for his pocket.

“Governor Amaechi felt it was not proper to keep quiet, when Rivers State’s oil wells were being ceded by the Federal Government to Bayelsa and Abia states, with revenues accruing to Rivers State now dwindling, thereby making Rivers people to suffer untold hardship and delivering ongoing projects being affected.”

Further speaking on the mega rally, Semenitari stated that today is a landmark day because seven years ago, Amaechi was appropriately and duly acknowledged as the winner of the 2007 governor-

ship election in the state.

She noted that the day is significant in the sense that it would be the last time the NGF chairman would be celebrating October 25 as governor of Rivers State, reiterating that next October 25, he would no longer be governor and that he would make a mega statement at the mega rally.

She said the new stadium has 40,000 sitting capacity but could take up to 80,000 people, with many people from the 23 LGAs of the state complaining that the number of persons officially told to come was small and many people volunteering to come by themselves.

She stressed that all the entrances to the stadium would be left open to prevent any incident, with a strong team of medical personnel to be led by the Commissioner for Health,

Dr. Sampson Parker, while crowd and traffic control would be efficiently handled by the appropriate agencies, with a strong security team to be in place.

Semenitari added: “Rt. Hon. Amaechi has three graces. He became the governor of Rivers State by the grace of God, the grace and the will of Rivers people, and by the grace and permission of the Supreme Court.

“Governor Amaechi will address Rivers people at the stadium. For the first time, he will publicly speak to the crowd on why he took certain political decisions and he will take feedbacks from the people.

Since democracy is about participation. It is time for true Rivers people to speak.

“Once has God spoken, twice we have heard that power belongs to God. We know that there is a God who rules the affairs of men. Governor Amaechi and the peace-loving people of Rivers State will continue to put their trust only in God.” She assured that Amaechi would finish strong and complete almost all the ongoing capital-intensive and peopleoriented projects, with the people to continue to be adequately empowered.

The Chief Press Secretary to Amaechi, David Iyofor, also yesterday, in an online statement, quoted the Rivers governor as stating that despite poor funding to states by the Federal Government, the NGF chairman was determined to •Continued on Page 4

THE NATION,

4 NEWS

T

SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25, 2014

Dozie is new Diamond Bank’s MD as Otti resigns

HE Board of Diamond Bank Plc has announced the voluntary resignation of the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Alex Otti, from the bank. The board said Mr. Uzoma Dozie, will take over from him, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Data obtained from LinkedIn, a global social networking site, showed that Dozie was prior to yesterday’s appointment the Deputy Managing Director of the bank. He ascended that

Collins NWEZE

position in April. The new Diamond Bank boss has a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Chemistry from University of Reading, United Kingdom.

In a statement, the bank’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe (Obi of Onitsha), announced the changes in management.

He said Dozie’s appointment was in recognition of his extensive managerial capabilities and wealth of bank-

ing knowledge. He also added that it was in consonance with the bank’s succession strategy.

There were earlier speculations that Otti would be seeking a political office as Abia State Governor.

Speaking on the outgoing GMD/CEO, the chairman said he would be sorely missed, adding that Otti achieved enviable landmarks during his time. He described his tenure as “the brightest years of Diamond Bank’s 24 year-history.”

“Dr Alex Otti is a fine gen-

tleman with an outstanding career in the Nigerian banking industry. We are pleased with the time he spent at the helm of affairs of Diamond Bank Plc and wish him every success in his future endeavours,” Igwe Achebe added.

Under Dr. Otti’s leadership, Diamond Bank made a remarkable return to profitability and has continued to record impressive growth across all performance indicators year-on-year.

After writing off toxic risk assets which resulted in the loss of N16 billion in 2011,

the lender posted a profit before tax of N28.36 billion in 2012 and N32.5 billion in 2013. The bank also saw its total assets rise from N564.9 billion in February 2011 to N1.18 trillion by December 31, 2012 and N1.52 trillion on December 31, 2013.

He is credited with creating the office of the Chief Risk Officer and designating an Executive Director to head the department. He also spear-headed the expansion of the bank by doubling the full staff count from around 2,000 in 2010 to over 4,000as

at mid-2014,even as he vigorously grew the bank’s footprints from a network of 210 branchesin 2011 to over 265 branches three years later. It was also under his watch that the bank established an international subsidiary in the United Kingdom, in addition to expansion in Francophone West Africa (Senegal, Togo, and Ivory Coast).

It is to be noted that the Central Bank only recently classified the bank as one of the eight systematically important banks in Nigeria under his watch.

Buhari, Atiku, Kwankwaso, storm P/Harcourt for Amaechi

•Continued from Page 3

complete most of the projects started by his administration.

Amaechi, according to Iyofor, expressed confidence that the reserve fund in the state coffers amounting to N19 billion, which was approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly, would be used judiciously, especially to complete ongoing projects before the end of his tenure.

Governor vows to complete ongoing projects Speaking during an inspection tour of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium ahead of the APC’s mega rally in Port Harcourt today, Amaechi said: “We will shame those people who think we cannot complete our projects. We promised to work on Oyigbo Road, complete Elioparanwo Road and also work on Rumuagholu Road and several others.

“We will also furnish our primary schools and carry out renovation of our secondary schools. But we are starved of funds by the Federal Government. So, how do we complete our projects? That is why I said we will work until May 29, 2015, before leaving office.

“While saving N1 billion monthly, I knew that there could be a time when the economy of the country or state will be challenging. So, I started saving the money in our reserve fund. But the problem of money is not only in Rivers State. The Lagos State Governor has complained bitterly, including other APC governors. The approval of the N19 billion by the Rivers State House of Assembly from the reserve fund will help us to complete our projects.”

Worried by alleged high level of stealing in Jonathan’s administration, the NGF chairman also stated that the Federal Government had derailed from its vision of creating wealth for the Nigerian people, to sabotage the economy of the nation and deliberately impose unnecessary suffering on innocent Nigerians.

Amaechi said: “Stealing is increasing by the day, but President Jonathan said there is no corruption in the country. Corruption in Nigeria is uncontrollable. People are stealing our money every day and the police are helpless because they are part of the system.

“The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said Nigeria is not broke. If she is saying that there is money in the country, let her pay us our debts and our money.

“She said the shortfall in revenue does not mean that Nigeria is broke. When Commissioners of Finance converged on Enugu, almost everybody left without money. How then can we define being broke?”

PDP kicks Reacting to the planned mega rally in a statement yesterday, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State condemned alleged plan to shut down markets and shops in Port Harcourt for the sake of the rally.

The statement signed by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media to the State Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, said it was insensitive and smacked of lack of concern for the welfare of the people “by coercing them to remain indoors simply because an uncaring governor wants to celebrate a controversial court victory that took place seven years ago, which has caused the people more pains and backwardness.”

The party said it was shocked that a governor who wants the people to continue to support him in his future political career could not be moved by the conditions of public servants in the state who were being owed months of salary arrears and allowances yet Gov Amaechi is excited to organize such a jamboree with the State resources.

“It’s also surprising to the PDP that Amaechi who had wasted huge resources of the state in legal battles in defence of his faulted participation in

Sudanese Ambassador dies in Abuja

T

HE Ambassador of Sudan to Nigeria, Dr Tagelsir Ali, died in Abuja yesterday.

According to the Media Advisor to the embassy, Mr Mohammed Abdulrahman, Ali, 66, died at about 1 am yesterday at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Ali, who was posted to Nigeria in February, 2012, the advisor said, was down with malaria.

He said: “He had malaria, there were some complications and he passed away around 1 am early this morning.

Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja “There is a presidential jet coming by 5 pm (yesterday) to take the remains to Sudan for burial. He was 66 years old.

“He loved working in Nigeria and had zeal to develop the bilateral relationship between Sudan and Nigeria and was able to stretch himself very well.”

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, said the ministry was aware of the ambassador’s death.

the April 26, 2011 governorship election, claiming that his first tenure actually terminated on May 28, 2011, is still laying claim to October 25, when the controversial Supreme Court ruling was given as the date he took over the reins of office and power in the state.

“This is nothing but self deceit, a feature of a warped mind,” the statement added.

However, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, described as a blatant lie and a campaign of calumny, the Rivers PDP’s allegation that Governor Rotimi Amaechi ordered the closure of markets

and shops in Port Harcourt today to celebrate the 7th anniversary of his Supreme Court victory.

Okocha, who is the Chairman of the Mobilisation Committee of the anniversary and doubles as Amaechi’s Political Adviser, also stated that the decision of many Rivers people to attend the event was

voluntary, in view of the governor’s impressive performance, adding that nobody was hired.

Okocha said the celebration was neither a jamboree nor a waste of Rivers government’s funds, describing Rivers PDP leaders as confused and visionless and that Rivers remains an APC state.

•From left: Chief of Administration, Army Headquarters, Maj-Gen. Garba Wahab; representative of the Federal Government, Amb. Matin Uhomoibhi; Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman and the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Toure, at the United Nations Day in Abuja yesterday Photo:NAN

Ambode unveils agenda for Lagos

•Continued from Page 2

cure and prosperous Lagos State driven by a vibrant economy and supported by quality service, equity and justice.

“I am resolved to offer you genuine leadership that will be accountable with all the principles of good governance, a government of inclusion that will not leave any race or gender behind. No matter your age, sex, tribe of any other status, as long as you reside in Lagos, we will make Lagos liveable for you.”

Ambode promised to implement the APC blueprint on wealth and job creation, in consonance with its agenda for change and prosperity for Nigerians. He said stakeholders, including the aged, widows, artisans, students, children, the physically challenged and professionals, will be carried along by his administration.

He added: “For corporate Lagos, Lagos is open for business, even for greater business. We have the political will to move Lagos to the next level. We are going to face our challenges by ourselves. Nobody is going to do that for us. With our collective will, we will overcome them.”

Gazing at the party primaries and general elections, he said:

“I call on Muslims, Christians and people of other religious persuasions to come out en mass and ensure we vote in a candidate that has the interest of Lagos and Lagosians at heart.

A candidate that is passionate about Lagos. A candidate that truly understands the needs of the ordinary people. I am the candidate.”

Ambode also said that his administration will not discriminate against any tribe or ethnic group.

He said: “Lagos is the most cosmopolitan state in Nigeria and there is no room for discrimination. Whether you are Igbo, Efik, Ijaw, Hausa, Fulani, a foreigner, whoever you are, so far you live and work in Lagos, our government will work for you and you will be adequately represented.”

Urging Nigerians to also support the push for power shift at the centre, the politician advised Lagosians to mobilise their families and relations in and outside the state to vote the APC in next year’s election.

Firing salvos at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he added: “We are tired of transformation without motion. In their kind of transformation, the more they brag about, the less we see things transformed.

And God will help us.”

Ambode paid tribute to pa-

triots who have served Lagos meritoriously. He said Lagosians will not forget the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Asiwaju Tinubu and Fashola.

He urged them to also vote for a new governor who will lead the state to greater prosperity in next year’s election.

Ambode added: “I stand before you today as the bridge between the elderly and the youth. I hold before you a beacon that summons us all to building together a more prosperous Lagos. I have the competence, experience and determination to lead Lagos State to greater economic heights and prosperity. I ask for your support and your votes that will send me to Alausa to continue my tradition of selfless service to this great state.”

Testimonials Ogala, Olusanya and Temionu, who spoke, shortly before the declaration, attested to Ambode’s competence, urging delegates to vote for him at the primaries.

Ogala said: “I was privileged to work with him as a legislator when I was a member of the House Committee on Finance. I found him to be very committed. A perfect gentleman. He has a good pedigree.

He is educated. He went into the civil servie and became a permanent secretary.

“In tose days, when the local governments were starved of funds by the Federal Government, the councils survived the onslaught because of the financial wizardry of Ambode under the leadership of our able leader, Tinubu. For Lagos to continue to grow, we need Ambode.”

Olusanya said Ambode will get the highest number of votes at the primaries and the general election from the six local governments in Ikorodu Division. He described him as a “techno-politician”, who has garnered experience in grassroots politics as a civil servant in the local government and civil service.

The former commissioner added: “Ambode kicked off his career in Lagos as a waste disposal agent. He moved to the local government as a treasurer. He moved to the civil service and through creative financial engineering, the state survived when the Federal Government moved against the local governments. “ On behalf of the six Ikorodu local governments, I tell you that Ambode will have the votes of delegates. He will get 85 per cent of the votes from Ikorodu.”

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

NEWS 5

FG, Boko Haram ceasefire, gimmick to return Jonathan in 2015 — Ango Abdullahi, Arewa chair Coomasie T WO Northern leaders have described the re cently announced ceasefire between the Federal Government and the dreaded Boko Haram group as a political gimmick to return President Goodluck Jonathan to office by 2015.

The Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), IGP Ibrahim Coomasie (rtd), and a top member of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi, said the sincerity of the Federal Government was doubtful, as people are still being killed on daily basis.

They said: “We in the Northern Nigeria are the ones losing because our people are still being killed, property being destroyed and people charged with the constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property are not doing much”.

‘I doubt the agreement’

IGP Coomasie (rtd) said: “First of all, I have my doubt over the existence of the ceasefire agreement. Previously, several attempts have been made to reach a ceasefire agreement and get amnesty for members of Boko Haram. But, none received adequate attention.

“This insurgency has been going on for five years and we have been hearing of

Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna

many Boko Haram leaders being killed. They said Shekau had been killed.

Later, they said he was alive.

Now they said he had been finally killed.

“We want to know the leaders of Boko Haram negotiating with the government.

And who has broken the ceasefire agreement? Is it national, continental or international. And then, what are the guarantees for this ceasefire and why did Boko Haram break the agreement and they started shooting and killing people immediately after the announcement of the ceasefire.

“Immediately after the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, it has created certain doubt as to whether the whole thing is true or just a gimmick. But, if it is true, and we are sure we are dealing with the right people from both sides, then there is hope for this country. But, if it is not true and it happens to be another gimmick, which I believe it is, then, there is more to it.

“There are certain questions which need to be asked at the appropriate time. We will ask those questions. We believe that eventually, the truth will come out. We think all are gimmicks. Maybe something became a stum-

bling block, but suddenly, they rushed into a ceasefire and less than 48 hours after it was announced, it was broken.

“Some said it was broken because the government rushed to announce the ceasefire agreement. If that is anything to go by, it means, that the ceasefire was not concluded before the government announced it. But it could also be that the whole thing is a lie and that is why Boko Haram reacted.

“Head or tail, we in the Northern Nigeria are the ones losing because our

people are still being killed, property being destroyed and people charged with the constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property are not doing much.”

‘It’s a reaction to our ultimatum’

Similarly, Professor Abdullahi said he had wished the ceasefire agreement were true, but, according to him, it was a gimmick for the purpose of 2015 elections.

He said: “This is because the population generally believe that President Jonathan is not doing enough, either

deliberately not doing enough or he is incompetent and unable to do anything.

“The point now is that, as we head for 2015 elections, he wants to show Nigerians that he is still in charge and that he is able to achieve result, so that he can continue in office, that is all. You remember that two months ago, we in the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) gave an ultimatum that by the end of October, we must see result about Chibok girls, but we were called names by the sycophants around the Presidency.

“So, we see this as a reaction to our ultimatum, especially now that the ultimatum is about to expire. Having realised that there was no result, they had to go into hasty announcement of a ceasefire.

“If the ceasefire is true, we see it as a very good thing for the country. Since the announcement of the agreement, so many people have been killed, bombs have been detonated, more women have been abducted, so where is the ceasefire?

“So, it now left for Nigerians to judge as to whether the President is succeeding or he is failing.”

Gunmen kidnap Dezani’s sister as abductors free ex-NBA President Wali

A

relation of Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, Osiya Agamah, has been kidnapped in Port Harcourt, police said yesterday.

There were conflicting reports about the relationship between the victim and the minister as at the time of filing this report.

A source described the victim as a younger sister of the minister, while another source said she is a distant relation.

According to reports, Agamah was kidnapped at

Rosemary NWISI, Port Harcourt and Precious IGBONWELUNDU

gunpoint on Tuesday night, as she approached her car.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the police are at a loss as to why the woman was abducted, adding, “we are not aware if any ransom demand had been made”.

Muhammad said she was kidnapped around the Leventis area of Port

Harcourt while returning from church.

Investigation is said to have commenced into her abduction.

Meanwhile, after spending 13 days in the den of kidnappers, former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Okey Wali, yesterday regained freedom.

Wali was kidnapped on October 11 at his residence in Port Harcourt by unknown gunmen.

A statement issued by the NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, confirmed Wali's release, commending security agencies on the role they played.

Alegeh said he had spoken to Wali, adding that “the former NBA boss is hale and hearty.”

He said Wali expressed his thanks and appreciation to members of the bar and bench, the security agencies, friends and family members for their concern, support and prayers during the period of his ordeal.

Alegeh described the spate of kidnapping and insecurity across Nigeria as worrisome, calling on the government to urgently address the situation.

"The Nigerian Bar Association is greatly delighted by the safe release of Okey Wali, SAN and wishes to express appreciation to all NBA members and well-meaning Nigerians who supported the Bar and the Okey Wali fam-

ily during this trying period.

"We must also commend NBA members for keeping calm throughout this period and not taking any steps that may have directly or indirectly jeopardised the efforts for his safe release which have now yielded positive results.

"The NBA also wishes to place on record its appreciation of the efforts of the security agencies in securing the safe release of Wali.

"The Director-General of the State Security Services [SSS], the Inspector General of Police and the SSS State Directors and Police Commissioners in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo states who worked tirelessly to secure his safe release deserve special mention.

"While we celebrate the safe release of Wali, we must hasten to reiterate the fact that the spate of kidnapping and general state of insecurity in our country is cause for great concern.

"A safe and secure country is one of the primary roles of our government and we call on the government to promptly address the present state of insecurity in the country.

"We cannot continue to live in fear of kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals. We call on the government to take much more seriously its constitutional duty of providing a safe and secure environment for all Nigerians," said Alegeh.

Olowude buried in Lagos •Oluwabunmi (second left) during the service. With her are, from left, Dr. Sade Adeyi, Bukky Olowude and Andrew Olowude PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

Major crisis looms in Nigeria if insurgency, poverty persist — Falana

H

UMAN rights law yer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), yesterday, warned that Nigeria may be plunged into a major crisis in 2015, if the security challenges and other pressing issues affecting her are not addressed by the government.

Falana, who spoke on “Current Security Challenges: Implications for 2015 Elections,” a lecture he delivered in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said the

Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta nation’s badly managed political economy gave rise to the current insecurity in the land.

The lecture was organised by by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Paramount FM, Abeokuta Chapel, to mark its 2014 edition of the Press Week.

The civil rights activist said: “Nigeria is wonderfully

rich, but badly managed.

Though Nigeria would not break, a major crisis is imminent next year.”

According to him, the spate of kidnapping, robbery, terrorism, human trafficking and other vices followed from the pervasive poverty in the country.

Falana said the Federal Government had failed to sufficiently arm the military in battle against the purveyors of sectarian crises.

Falana said: “Nigeria

should be unanimous in fighting all forms of menace confronting the country like we confronted Ebola.

“Government should wake up in the provision of security to the citizenry, that is the government primary responsibility.”

Falana condemned the government’s attitude of deploying soldiers during elections, saying “it is illegal.”

He advised that Police should be well equipped and allowed to do their security job during elections.

T

HE widow of the Execu tive Vice Chairman of Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc, Oluremi Andrew Olowude, Oluwabumni, could not hold her tears as she sobbed freely yesterday during the funeral of her husband at Ikoyi Baptist Church, Lagos.

His children, siblings and some other sympathisers consoled the widow, while they also wiped the tears in their faces at intervals He was buried at Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens around 2:28 pm amid tears and sober looks.

Olowude died on September 27 during an illness at age 63.

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), described the deceased as a good man whose life is worthy of emulation.

Olatunde ODEBIYI He urged people to do as the cleric told then at the funeral service.

Rev (Dr) Ademola Ishola, former General Secretary Nigerian Baptist Convention, described the deceased as a man that added value to all.

He urged the gathering to live not for themselves alone, but for the benefit of others.

"Relate with good people, mould others and add value to others just as Olowude did in his life time, " he said.

The widow, Olubunmi, described her husband as an amazing man who was incomplete without insurance.

"Your exit has brought me out of my old world and into a new one; a world where things can go wrong, more wrong than I could ever have imagined, " she said.

THE NATION SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25, 2014

6 NEWS

A

former Military Gover nor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), yesterday raised the alarm over excessive borrowing from banks by some governors to campaign for the 2015 poll.

He also accused some governors of selling off assets, including shares, belonging to their states.

Umar, who made his feelings known in a statement in Abuja, asked the anti-corruption agencies to intervene because legislatures in the affected states had been caged

2015 poll: Umar raises alarm over excessive borrowing by governors for campaign Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation by these governors.

The statement said: "It has become necessary to alert the nation to a dangerous trend, indeed an explosive scheme, by which some state governors are mortgaging the future of

their states through excessive borrowing from commercial banks and other financial institutions to finance projects of dubious viability.

"The motive is entirely unclear. But one suspects it is either to fraudulently acquire campaign funds as the 2015 elections approach or retire-

We ‘ll accept outcome of APC primaries, says Kwankwaso

T

HE Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not split because of presidential primaries.

He also said none of the party's presidential aspirants will defect to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) or any party after losing the presidential ticket.

He added that the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as PDP presidential candidate is "not a settled matter."

On the insurgency in the North-East, he asked the Federal Government to negotiate or crush Boko Haram insurgents.

Kwankwaso, who made the submissions at a briefing in Abuja, said Nigerians were already tired of PDP and would effect a change in 2015.

He disclosed that he would make a formal declaration on October 28 in Abuja Kwankwaso, who exuded much confidence, said: "I don't think any of us will contemplate leaving APC, if none of us gets the ticket to fly the flag of the party.

"Whatever is the case during our primaries, we are coming together as a family to ensure the success of our party .

"You see for people like me, who have millions of supporters, it is not easy for me to be flying from one party to the other.

"On the issue of consensus, that is already in our constitution and I believe it is very important. We do not know what the party has in mind. While consensus has an advantage,

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation so also going for primaries.

"As far as I am concerned, there will be either consensus or primaries and one person will win and emerge as our candidate. I don't think anyone of us will have reason to leave the party. I am confident I will get the ticket "But in case I don't get the ticket in free and fair primaries, I will not leave APC. "And what I said about not stepping down was clear. I said I did not sit with anybody to discuss that. Each one of us is already in the field seeking support."

The governor expressed confidence that APC can defeat PDP in 2015.

He added: "Nigerians are sick and tired of PDP; our people want change. During the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, the level of insecurity was low. But the graph is now rising to the extent that in some parts of the country, people are flying flags other than the nation's Green, White, Green."

Asked if the incumbency factor will not boost the chances of PDP, he added: "I want to remind you that in elections, whether in developing or developed countries, you normally have fatigue. PDP has won elections four times, fatigue has set in.

"In all civilized or developed societies, parties always win elections two or three times and people naturally ask for change whether they are doing well or not."

Responding to a question on President Jonathan's qualification for 2015 poll, he said: "I am not sure if it is settled. If it was settled, he would have declared a long time ago. Instead, he kept peeping outside to see if the coast was clear.

"The constitution says a President must spend eight years in office, not eight and a half years."

On insurgency, Kwankwaso said: "As for me, the issue of whoever is fueling the insurgency, whether the party in government or the party not in government, does not matter. We have two options: these are either to negotiate or crush them militarily.

"We have passed the level of who is behind it; we have to end the insurgency. We must not put politics into the issue of doing it.

"All of us should join hands with the Commander-In-Chief to support the military. Also, anyone who takes over this government on May 29, 2015, his number one priority should be security for all Nigerians."

P

Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja and Oluwakemi DAUDA

“We have no choice as neighbours and brothers, but to work together in unity and determination to deal decisively with these threats to our security and stability which impede our development potential.

“The increased cooperation and coordination of controls, the exchange of data and intelligence which will result from the implementation of the joint border posts will certainly help our countries individually and collectively to successfully confront some of these challenges.”

Continuing, he said: “I am confident that by simplifying clearance procedures and reducing unnecessary delays and inconveniences associated with existing conventional border posts, the joint boarder post (JBP) will promote greater integration, development and prosperity within and among

"We, therefore, appeal to the anti corruption agencies to intervene."

He advised banks to live up to the ethics of their sector by checking some of these governors.

He said: "We also warn banks to desist from connivance with those governors.

They need to be reminded of their civic responsibility and banking ethics to protect helpless public.

"They must be aware that

most of these states have already lost the capacity to meet their financial obligations due to huge debt burden and diminishing revenue.

"The bankers must not forget that, in the past, collapse of oil prices in the world market has often led to widespread collapse of Nigerian banks because they never learned to say 'no' to prodigal but cash-strapped state governments in such critical periods."

Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (middle), with Mr. Joop Berkhout (left) and a former Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Arie Van Wiel, shortly after receiving "The Voice Achievers Award 2014" for his outstanding example in Leadership and Governance in the Netherlands recently

Synagogue: T.B. Joshua, contractor to testify November 5

A

Lagos Coroner inves tigating the building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) yesterday fixed November 5 for Prophet Temitope B. Joshua and the contractor of the building to testify.

Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe fixed the date despite efforts by the church's counsel, Jude Nnadi (SAN), to draw its attention to the fact

Joint border posts ‘ll check terror, other crimes, says Jonathan RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday maintained that creation of joint border posts will go a long way in checking terrorism and other trans-border crimes.

He made the remark during the foundation stone-laying and re-launching ceremony of the construction of Seme-Krake joint border which is one of the seven posts earmarked for construction in the sub-region.

Stressing that the region has no choice, but to work together to overcome the challenges, he said that the joint border posts will promote greater integration, development and prosperity in the sub-region.

He said: “Your Excellencies, our sub-region faces many challenges today. They range from the insidious and new wave of terrorism and insurgent activities to such other trans-border crimes as human and drug trafficking, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, among others.

ment benefits.

"Some of them are also desperately selling off state's assets, including shares and other long term investments."

Umar appealed to anti-graft agencies to stem the tide of unjustifiable borrowing by some governors.

He added: "In a situation where state legislatures have reduced themselves to all, but an arm of the executive, it is unrealistic to expect them to check and stop this fraud.

the countries of our sub-region.”

“The launch of this project represents an important movement in the ECOWAS integration protocol. An enhanced Seme-Krake joint border post will, no doubt, ameliorate the present hardship being experienced by border users and officials operating along the Nigeria-Benin borders.”

He said the project and other similar projects are expected to be completed in good time in order to help enhance trade and cargo movements across West Africa.

“This will help to reduce substantially the time spent between border points and cut costs incurred on transacting business. The over impact will also contribute to regional economic growth,” he said.

He expressed deep appreciation to President Yayi and the government and good People of Benin Republic for their invaluable partnership with Nigeria.

Precious IGBONWELUNDU

that Joshua has no material evidence to give.

Nnadi had explained to the court that the church may not field Prophet Joshua because he was not an eyewitness, but Komolafe insisted that the prophet must appear as summoned for the purpose of the investigation.

Also to testify on November 5 is the Nigeria Police Force, while South Africa, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Office of the Surveyor General of Lagos are to testify on October 30.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and the state Fire Service yesterday testified before the coroner.

An operational officer of the fire service, Olayimika Adebayo, while testifying, countered the church's position that the building collapsed as a result of implosion.

He said there was no sign of fire on the first day of the disaster, adding that an outbreak only occurred on the fourth day, September 15, which was caused by the shifting and moving of earth machines, iron rods and other free burning materials.

Olayimika said the Alausa Control Room was called on September 12 at about 1:17pm by one Eze who reported the collapse.

He disclosed that an estimated figure of 211 persons were in the building.

"The building that collapsed

was a five-storey building undergoing re-construction.

Based on the number of victims rescued and recovered, there was an estimated 211 occupants. The building at the time was used as a guest house," he said.

According to Olayimika, a 10,000 capacity fire truck marked LA 148A40 was dispatched to the site upon the alert with four fire men, which got to the site at 1:32pm.

"When we got to the main entrance of the SCOAN, the fire team was prevented from gaining access to the scene of the collapse. After five minutes of argument with persons who introduced themselves as church security officers, we were eventually allowed to approach the gate to the scene.

"It took another 15 minutes to enter the site. However, we were not allowed to participate in the rescue operation until the morning of the following day.

"I observed that at the site, members of the church had commenced rescue operations.

"Since we were denied the opportunity of performing our statutory functions, we remained at the scene of the collapse and I was able to carry out a 360 degree check which involved assessing the scene situation, the extent of damage and the physical cause of the collapse.

"I observed that there was no sign of fire or smoke, and I did not perceive any corro-

sive odour.

"It took much persuasion and intervention of other emergency responders, even after identifying ourselves before we were allowed to participate in the rescue operation.

"During the process of the recovery operations, 131 persons were rescued alive with various degrees of injuries, while about 80 bodies were recovered suspected dead and taken over by the ambulance provided by SCOAN. "All the bodies recovered were whole, not dis-membered or burnt. Also, there were no scattered bricks.

"The floors and pillars were also not shattered, rather the floors of the building had collapsed on top of each other.

The collapsed building did noot depict any sign of explosion or implosion," said Olayimika.

Earlier, the witness from LASTMA, Wasiu Oladiti, said after getting the information about the collapse from a LASTMA officer in Ikotun, he contacted Lagos Traffic Radio to relay alternative routes to motorist coming to Ikotun from Isolo to take other routes.

Speaking with journalists outside the courtroom, the South African Ambassador, Lulu Mnguni, said DNA samples had been collected from both the deceased and their relatives.

He said the samples are currently in a South African laboratory in Cape Town, adding that the process of identification was ongoing.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

COMMENTARY

7

Sincerity, politics and religion ONY Blair was the Prime Minister of the UK from 1997 to 2007 and won three consecutive elections in 1997, 2001 and 2005 albeit with a reduced majority in the last one, when the British electorate was by then disenchanted with him in spite of his popularity. The reasons for that disenchantment as well as his reaction to it form the basis of our discussions here on this topic. Today, I use the benefit of hindsight on Tony Blair’s fall from political grace to grass and his struggle to preserve his legacy, singularly ruined by the invasion of Iraq in 2003 with the US President George Bush, to assess the use or misuse of religion to stoke the embers of resentment and prejudices which are really uncalled for in a normally or constitutionally secular state like Nigeria and the UK which incidentally was our former colonial master.

Let me state categorically that I am an unrepentant admirer of Tony Blair and George Bush for their reaction to 9/11 and the subsequent global war on terror from 2001. I regard both as strong leaders that history, sooner than later, will vindicate even though the Islamist violence of beheading human beings nowadays could be traced to their actions and inactions on the manner they prosecuted the global war on terror. Today however I want to use the sincerity of leaders as a litmus test of their quality of leadership and performance by taking them up on their utterances and actions in such a way that one can see whether they mean what they say or are just taking their people or followers for a ride. Which in a way can mean that they are either talking from both sides of their mouth or are being deliberately fuzzy or ambiguous with their utterances and actions in order to befuddle their audience.

I deal with three clear examples of what I have in mind on religion . First was the announcement that the President of the Republic has finally accepted the offer of the ruling party, the PDP to contest the 2015 elections but he would be proceeding to Jerusalem this weekend to perform a pilgrimage and would be back in the country by Monday. President Goodluck Jonathan’s intention to contest for re election must be the most open secret in Nigeria’s political history. Yet he called it an offer from the party for which he is grateful. His pilgrimage therefore is an act of gratitude to God in Jerusalem from where he will come back refreshed to face the rigors of a campaign which in its undeclared and unaccepted form had gulped up millions of naira in terms of funding for thousands of groups and caucuses that know ‘who the cap fits’ and media costs for banners, posters, bill boards that have heralded the much expected offer to a willing candidate seeking re election.

The second example was the bold headline this week that said in some newspapers that Governor

T

Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state ‘supports‘ Jihad but ‘condemns’ Boko Haram. The initial reaction to this headline is that the Governor was involved in a war of ‘irreconcilable differences‘ as Jihadists are Boko Haram and Boko Haram are unrepentant jihadists. That the Governor was chewing much more than he could bite will be the impression you would go away with if you did not read the story but left with the impression created by the headline. The story however was a far cry from the headline.

The story was that at a lecture series- the Femi Okunnu Lecture Series of the Law Students Society of the Obafemi Awolowo University – Governor Aregbesola defined the concept of Jihad as an Islamic concept that preached being at peace with God and that the concept has nothing to do with violence and killing and maiming of innocent people and children like Boko Haram had done and is still doing in Nigeria. This was a bold move by a Nigerian leader who has never hidden his Muslim credentials even when it diminished his political capital and goodwill in doing so at least in his state. That was glaring in the fierce and grim political battle he fought for his political life in the last election in his state. One wonders if more leaders in Nigeria especially from the North had come out to say what the Osun state Governor had said, what would have been the state of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria today?. Really such denunciation and conceptual analysis earlier on would have made Boko Haram a thing of the past in our national life by now. Instead, most religious leaders and adherents in Nigeria turned a blind eye to the rise of the Boko Haram horror as if it was unethical to condemn it, even when it was obvious it was bringing opprobrium on Islam in Nigeria and globally. Now the Osun state Governor has belled the cat philosophically, logically and conceptually and has separated the wheat from the chaff for Islam, even though his first calling as Governor is to be secular. But then as the Yorubas say, it is not who killed the snake that mattered but that the snake was dead.

To me, Governor Aregbesola’s conceptual analysis of Jihad sounds the death knell of Boko Haram in Nigeria.

That analysis should be sermonised and made to reverberates in all our educational institutions, mosques and churches in the interest of our collective security, peace and unity.

The third example was the news item that said that the Federal government is not giving secret funds to PDP governors to run their states in the run up to the 2015 elections. The denials were from the governors of Nasarawa and Plateau states and given the usual religious divide in Nigeria one is conveniently from a dominantly Muslim state while the other is from a predominantly Christian one. Again a kite is being flown for a mischievous and undisguised purpose. Obviously the ruling party is suffering some political compunction given the way it has used federal might to run some elections in states it considered hostile turf in recent times. The governors even had the temerity to offer counselling to non PDP governors. It asked them to galvanize their internal revenue generation machinery instead of waiting for their state allocations from the Federal government in Abuja. As if this advice is not applicable to PDP states.

Obviously there is a missing link of sincerity in this jigsaw puzzle of unsolicited advice from the zone of comfort that the PDP governors find themselves relative to opposition governors as we approach this watershed election of 2015.

Let me round up with the Tony Blair analogy on the eve of his third election victory in 2005 when the Iraqi invasion and the non availability of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq had turned the invasion into a huge lie and made a spin doctor of a hitherto credible Prime Minister. An analysis in the Economist at that time put Tony Blair’s fate quite succinctly. It noted that sincerity was the essence of success in any endeavour especially politics. Even if the sincerirty was faked success was still guaranteed. In Tony Blair’s case it noted however that the British public and electorate found out that he was deceiving them but justice was served nevertheless. This was because when he stopped faking and became sincere they never believed him again. Hence the much reduced parliamentary majority in the 2005 elections when the issue became when he would quit and hand over to his eventual successor Gordon Brown.

Unbelievably the Tony Blair spin saga ended on a religious note. Having been discredited in terms of credibility by the anti Iraq invasion, anti war lobby in his nation and the EU, the former British PM had his own back in the corridors of power in the Vatican. Tony Blair, whose wife was a well known Catholic took his family to the Pope in Rome, Italy and converted to Catholicism. Thus turning his back as it were on the Church of England where it was unthinkable at one time to contemplate or consider any politician who was non Anglican for the high post of Her Majesty’s Prime Minister, a post he held for 10 years. That to me was vintage retribution to the anti war lobby for the image of spin which has stuck like a bug to the Tony Blair legacy ever since. That again sums up how sincerity in and out of office may affect political success especially where religion the timeless opium of the masses, is concerned.

Legislative immunity in whose interest?

HE way our lawmakers are going and in the absence of a drastic action to check the worsening legislative impunity and arbitrariness being shoved down our throats, we may wake up one day to read the news that they have promulgated a law compelling us to sacrifice our heads on a platter if they so wish. Without any iota of doubt, the Nigerian legislature is overreaching itself and it has become a bully to this democratic process. Truth is these folks have turned the noble task of promulgating law for the good governance of the collective into a huge joke. It is, in my opinion, infantile illogic to keep on peddling the lie that our lawmakers’ kindergarten behaviour can be excused on the fact that the Nigerian democracy remains an experiment, 15 years on. So much for a 15-year-old toddler on the throes of survival in an incubator. Some would even say it is yet to get a life of its own. That is simply not true.

They seem to embrace the mundane rather than take seriously matters of urgent national importance. Just like they did last year and the year before that, our federal legislators again trooped to the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Thursday (23/10/2014) for another round of sermons at their National Breakfast Prayer Meeting. As observed by one commentator, the sumptuous delicacies provided by one of Abuja's five-star hotel appear to have received more attention than the truthfulness and patriotic fervour that the preacher from faraway United Kingdom was trying to stir.

The truth is that our democracy, 'nascent' as some would tag it, is becoming dangerously obese; a mockery of the time-worn ethos of what representative governance is all about elsewhere in the world. It is possible that we have spent the last 15 years of this democratic journey searching for the right answers with the wrong persons. We may, as well, have been treading a path that leads to nowhere. Here I speak not only of an executive that rides roughshod on the citizenry and enforces the laws mainly in the breach or carries out its constitutional responsibility on the prism of party affiliations and

T

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913

similar outrageous considerations. I do not even speak of a highly-compromised judiciary whose image has been ruinously battered by the free flow of stolen petrodollars in which justice is negotiated to suit the whim of the highest bidder. I speak not of a legislature that has surrendered the arduous task of law making and checking the excesses of the executive to the gratifications that come with throwing a blind eye to this deepening, systemic rot.

In less than 16 years, we have since zoomed past the learning curve such that our home-grown brand of democracy has one or two things to teach the world.

Today, governance has become such a mumbo-jumbo affair that one can hardly tell if there exists a clearly demarcated schedule of responsibilities as obtainable elsewhere. No, this is not just about the basic definition of democracy as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That is too elementary a description of the serious business of governance for the jet age politicians in Nigeria to decode. The people hardy matter in a system where personal aggrandisement has been elevated to an art and where a devious kick in the groin has been unleashed on the principle of checks and balances. What we have here is a perfect synergy that elevates the self over and far above the interests of the collective.

Nigeria's democratic progression is frustratingly retrogressive. Very soon, we may end up having a legislature that is nothing more than another powerful appendage of the executive. Should that happen, as I suspect it would, it will be a dangerous coalition of power and an ultimate collapse of common sense. Already, the hallowed chambers, otherwise known as the National Assembly, have been infiltrated by erstwhile state chief executives who daily contribute nothing other than a daily dose of sleeping allowance to the business of law making. Among that crowd of stupendously rich but idle politicians are persons answering one corruption case or the other at different courts spread across the country. So, we have a queer arrangement in which people of questionable character and despicable background are constitutionally empowered to make laws for the rest of us. Of course, apologists including those who eat crumbs off them would easily argue that these persons got the mandate to proceed to Abuja through the electorates. That argument, we know, cannot justify the sacrilege. Besides, can we really claim ignorance to the farcical drama that props up strange characters in our political system?

Even before the infiltration of these persons, the quality of legislation has been anything but ennobling. Right from the days of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian legislature at the national level has continuously denigrated its own authority. It got to its head when Obasanjo unilaterally saw to the ouster of, at least, two Presidents of the Senate with a failed attempt to remove one Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Speaking from a presumed Olympian height, Obasanjo, without any recourse to any proven case at the court of competent jurisdiction, literally pronounced a sitting Senate President guilty of receiving financial gratification from a serving minister to 'pad up' the budget of the Ministry of Education. It was also at that period that one

• Continued on page 8

8

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

COMMENTARY

To stop Ebola, go to the source HE sheer scale of human suffering in West Africa in relation to the Ebola Outbreak is spelled out in black and white with the current numbers from the World Health Organization (WHO). As at 8 October, 4,032 fatalities have been recorded, with Liberia recording the highest thus far with 2,316; 930, in Sierra Leone, 778, in Guinea and 8 in Nigeria this year. Its been spoken of over and over again; the subregion’s Ebola outbreak is the world's deadliest to date and the WHO has declared an international health emergency. Apparently, many rural communities in Africa view Ebola with much the same fear and misunderstanding as westerners did when the AIDS epidemic began, and have sometimes turned on overstretched health officials struggling to contain the epidemic.

Those on the frontlines have been among the hardest hit by the disease. Ebola is a viral illness of which the initial symptoms can include a sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and a sore throat. Subsequent stages are vomiting, diarrhea and - in some cases - both internal and external bleeding. The disease infects humans through close contact with infected animals, including chimpanzees, fruit bats and forest antelope.

It spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments.

Even funerals of Ebola victims can be a risk, if mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased.

The incubation period can last from two days to three weeks and it should be known that the current outbreak is the deadliest since Ebola was discovered in 1976. On August 8, the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

As the Ebola outbreak is currently underway in several West Africa countries, exponentially rising in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, surely and widely, the epidemic continues to grow and spread into new areas, threatening more lives and potentially the economies of affected countries. The statistics from the WHO are particularly grim especially when looking at the rate of new cases over the past month. In Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone alone, nearly 2,800 new infections have been recorded. That’s about a third of all Ebola cases- an indication the virus is spreading at a faster rate than previously. In Liberia alone, the Ebola epidemic is insidiously decimating the population of the country and social and economic life there is literarily on a “standstill”.

The situation there is so severe and gloomy that the President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, had to declare a state of emergency in August, as the country continues to grapple with the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.

The state of emergency included ordering the closure of schools and markets and the quarantining of affected communities, in an attempt to halt the Ebola epidemic. The spread has also been overwhelming health workers and health facilities, with reports that doctors were forced to turn patients away at one of Liberia's main Ebola isolation wards in a sign many were belatedly coming forward.

T

The Ebola epidemic has also effectively crippled the country’s economy due to the “lockdown” as most economic activities are virtually non-existent. The same gloominess and ominousness applies to other affected countries across the West African sub-region.

This has consequently elicited somewhat “stringent and draconian precautionary measures” by other countries in attempts at ensuring the virus doesn’t find its way into their borders. Such measures includes, alienating Africans, the imposition of travel bans on African nationals and refusing Africans entry into such countries. There have been reports that some countries have been unduly unfair and excessive to Africans at entry points. However, it should be known that effectively tackling the Ebola scourge should be embarked on from the source. To stop the spread of Ebola we need to go to its source, control it and stop its spread from the source. The latest figures from the WHO shows that this is far from happening. The source here is the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The tragedy of Ebola is that we know how to tackle the disease, and with the right resources, information and on-the-ground support, this disease can be “nipped at its bud”. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is already a global threat to public health and it’s vital that the international community remains at the forefront of responding to the epidemic. Even so, without mass mobilization of the world to support the affected countries in West Africa, it will be impossible to get this disease quickly under control, and the world will have to live with the threat of Ebola for a lot longer than necessary.

The general international response has up to this moment been slower than the rate of transmission of the disease. This slower-than-the-virus response has got to change. The acceleration of the translation of commitment to physical facts on the ground is what is urgently needed now. Commitments on paper and commitments during meetings are good, but commitments as physical facts on the ground are best. The international community needs to step up to the plate and deliver additional resources, not just money, but trained medical and clinical personnel to lead efforts on the ground.

To prevent what is currently a crisis from becoming a catastrophe, effectively tackling the Ebola epidemic in West Africa will involve building of “Ebola hospitals” in affected countries, consisting of treatment cen-

tres and an Ebola Training Academy. Also, replicating the Nigerian experience in curbing the spread of Ebola by effectively utilizing more aggressive and consistent public awareness campaigns, which yielded positive results and tracking all possibly infected individuals, who came in contact with the primary carrier of the disease; quarantining, observing and treating them.

Thus, Nigeria was able to effectively halt the spread of the virus, which claimed 8 lives as reports suggest, the lowest when compared to the other affected West African countries. Notably though, kudos needs to be given to the Lagos state government. The success story of Ebola in Nigeria should be duly attributed to the fact that its first point of entry into Nigeria was at a state where the structure of governance was professional and organized. The Lagos government, in collaboration with the Federal government effectively took control when it was announced that a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, coming into the country tested positive to the virus.

There’s every possibility that, had the late Sawyer come into Nigeria via another state, perhaps we would be singing a bitter tune. An example is the continuous and lingering Polio cases (already eradicated in most countries) that still exist in some parts of the country.

Furthermore, the provision of technical assistance by international health organizations, through the deployment of multidisciplinary team of experts involved in a range of outbreak response activities such as surveillance, communication and social mobilization, infection control, logistics, data management, is needed in combating this epidemic.

The direst need in West Africa and the affected countries is for doctors and nurses. A large number of health care workers have being infected in this outbreak and majority of them have died as a result. The other need is for hospital beds, as the most affected countries are short of beds (according to the WHO Liberia needs 2300, Sierra Leone nearly 900 and Guinea 50). Without the hospital beds, infected patients are turned away- back into their communities, thus infecting others.

Hazmat suits should be made available for health care workers and West African countries should temporarily close their borders to affected countries, until such a time the epidemic can be controlled. In addition, albeit there have only been a handful of Ebola cases spreading beyond West Africa, governments around the world should ramp-up precautionary measures. Temperature screenings at airports should be introduced at all points of entry and exit in all countries.

Ultimately, the world needs to know that to get ahead of this disease, we have to collectively rise to the challenge. We can collectively contain it and beat it. We know how to do this; it may sound a little complicated but it is doable. It just requires a large focus of resource and effort to deliver it. All hands must be on deck and the focus must be one in order to ensure the eradication of Ebola right from its very source.

Legislative immunity in whose interest?

• Continued from page 7 of Obasanjo's favourite ministers accused some members of the Senate of receiving millions of naira to screen ministerial nominees. I remember then that this particular issue ignited riotous rage and passion by the lawmakers. Sadly, it ended up just the way it started---an anti-climax. A coerced minister reluctantly offered an apology and the matter, grave as it was then, was swept under the Senate's red carpet in deference to the ruling party’s dispute resolution strategy---- family affairs.

Since then, Nigerians have witnessed countless 'collaborative' efforts between the executive and the legislature.

Unfortunately, the collaboration has not in any way deepen democracy but rather entrench group interest in a "you rub my back and I rub your back" political arrangement. This is the tragedy of this democracy right from inception. This, definitely, is not the time to reel out a catalogue of memorable events to justify how this romance between the legislature and the executive has gravely affected the entrenchment of a robust democratic system. With more serving state executives planning to join their colleagues in the Senate in 2015, we can only visualise a lame duck legislature that would be at the disposal of the executive should President Goodluck Jonathan make it back to power. Right in our faces, the legislature is gradually becoming a safe haven of some sorts for people who should be having their days at the courts, to account for their stewardship. The ones who do not really fancy the drudgery at the Senate are preparing themselves for appointments as ministers, ambassadors or chairpersons of boards and parastatals.

The list, as I write this, is endless.

If the legislature has become this manifestly corrosive, one can only assume that it would become worse if it eventually talk its way through conferring members with immunity regardless of how 'partial' that may be.

You cannot help but wonder why the lawmakers are hankering over immunity at a time when Nigerians clamour for its removal as key privileges enjoyed by the President and Governors. The answer is simple. Like their counterparts in the executive, these folks are becoming uncomfortable with the searchlight being thrown at them by the public. They thrive better under the cover of a legislation that legitimatized impunity.

They want to become lords of the manor, trampling and bullying the rest of us with relish. These, by the way, are lawmakers saddled with the responsibility of checking the abuse of power!

No matter how they couch the language, the fact remains that the demand for legislative immunity in 'words spoken or written" in the recently passed harmonised version of the amended constitution is selfserving and untenable in a democracy. It would practically hand over the licence to commit murder to the lawmakers. Should that happen, we should just kiss goodbye to a citizen's right to sue any lawmaker that tramples on our rights. What it means is that all manner of legislative rascality would be excused on the platform of legislative immunity including the outright abuse of privileges as it happened in the case of the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mrs. Arunma Oteh, who exercised her rights to be heard and consequently won in the court of public opinion. It means some lawmakers who dubiously obtained huge funds from Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the

name of capacity building courses in countries close to the end of the earth would justify the arrant exploitation on legislative immunity. It means state governors planning to join their idle benchwarmers at the Red Chamber would have the freedom to abuse a trial judge and claim immunity on 'words spoken or written' in the course of performing their duties as lawmakers. Why should anyone with half a sense allow this crazy kite to fly in the first place?

As succinctly argued by the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, the subtle attempt by the lawmakers to foist their authority on us and transform into some kind of demigods should be rejected by all well-meaning Nigerians. It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good except, of course, the ones pushing for it.

Claiming that the move exposes "the hasty inordinate ambitions of the Senators to convert themselves into emperors by granting immunity of whatever form or shape on themselves while in the line of duty", Onwubiko equally cautioned the lawmakers against playing smart with the intelligence of Nigerians. He said it is a "primitive acquisition of crude immunity clause for mere selfish and undemocratic reasons which stands condemnable and is hereby repudiated for being the classical case of attempting to steal powers that does not belong to these politicians.'

In other words, it is tantamount to legislative robbery!

Surely, we cannot allow our democracy to sink deeper than the laughable brand we have been displaying to the outside world. Can we?

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

9

10

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

11

12

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

13

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

•The ransacked sitting room of one of the victims. Inset: Expended bullets outside his house

Cry of two communities:

SAVE US FROM Story on pages 14&15

!

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

14 While Ibaa and Ubima communities are not the only communities in Rivers State where cultists are giving residents sleepless nights, cult-related activities in the two communities in recent times have become a cause for concern to many people, particularly in Ibaa, PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA, who visited the two communities, reports.

all them gunmen or cultists, the truth is that they have seized the peace of Ibaa and Ubima communities in Rivers State. Their emergence is widely believed to have been unwittingly facilitated by some community leaders who before now had used them to achieve some personal ends before their relationships turned sour. Today, the nefarious activities of rival cult groups in the said communities have gone out of control as they daily inflict pain and sorrow on hapless residents and cause the untimely death of others.

Although Ibaa and Ubima are located in two different local government areas (Ibaa is located in Emohua Local Government Area, while Ubima is based in Ikwerre Local Government), they are both populated by the Ikwerre tribe. Before the latest fracas between the rival cult groups in Ubima, the people had witnessed several other bloody clashes, prompting one of the elders of the town, Chief Owhor Amadi, to lament that the community had become the haven of violence.

“This is not the Ubima we used to know,” the elderly man lamented in a chat with our correspondent. “Today, residents of the community are living in fear. The people cannot trust one another.

“It amazes me that children are wielding sophisticated weapons. If you have a little quarrel with any of them now, some people will start shooting before you know it. In the past, we entered our houses and slept without locking the doors or windows. Some of us stayed outside till midnight. If you try that today, you will find yourself where you never dreamt of if you are lucky to be alive.

“Some members of the community have just returned from their hideouts after a recent attack by unknown gunmen. Others are yet to return because they are scared by continual shootings at night. Of course, the shootings recently led to the death of Mr. Uche Abor, an okada (commercial motorcycle) rider who was struggling to get his daily bread.”

It will be recalled that Governor Rotimi Amaechi had chased cultists away from Port Harcourt shortly after he assumed office as the governor of Rivers State. Before then, Port Harcourt residents were forced to retire to bed as early as 5:30 pm as a result of the heinous activities of desperate cult groups. The cultists, who the governor flushed out from Port Harcourt, are believed to have retreated to rural communities like Ibaa, Ubima, Etche and Okrika.

Ubima community had been relatively calm after a supremacy war that broke out between rival cult groups in 2007.

The battle resulted in the destruction of about 20 houses, while scores of residents were left to nurse serious injuries.

Admitting his involvement in the 2007 incident, a repentant cultist, who gave his name simply as Azubaba, said: “I am

C

•Late Uche's wife and their only kid

In the throes ,

It amazes me that children are wielding sophisticated weapons. If you have a little quarrel with any of them now, some people will start shooting before you know it. In the past, we entered our houses and slept without locking the doors or windows. Some of us stayed outside till midnight. If you try that today, you will find yourself where you never dreamt of if you are lucky to be alive

telling you this because I have repented.

In 2007, there was need for our cult group to reclaim Ubima territory. The opportunity came when a member of a rival cult lost his mother.

“He invited his group to assist him in the funeral of his mother, but we said we would not allow him to bring strangers into our community. He disobeyed our order and brought enemies into our territory. We attacked them at the burial and everybody ran away, including the family members of the deceased.

“A day later, the group came back to revenge at night and started destroying our houses. We also went back to burn down their houses. Since then, the community had been living in peace until early this year. I wouldn’t know those

who are behind it now, because I am no longer a cult member.”

In March this year, the entire Ubima community was thrown into chaos after suspected cult members beheaded a 28year-old man, Onyemuche William, and kept his head on top of the fence of a school in Omuawa, a neighbouring community. His gruesome murder almost instigated a serious communal clash between Omuawa and Ubima before the two communities’ councils of chief resolved the matter amicably.

However, family members of the victim are still insisting on the arrest and prosecution of all the people who had a hand in the murder of the young man.

Narrating how his deceased brother was murdered, Onyemuche’s elder

,

brother, Mr. Iheanyi Williams, said: “As I returned from a journey, I was told that somebody called my brother on the phone in the night. He boarded a motorcycle and left. After about two hours, we received a call that he had been murdered. We thought it was a joke, but we got to the scene and discovered that the severed head was my brother’s. We arrested some people in connection with the murder and the case is still on.”

Last month, the community was in the news again as Chief Sabinus Ordu, a community leader and one of the heads of the farms where Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) recently discovered oil, was hacked to death while he was working on his farm. Although the police have made an arrest

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

•The late Uche Abor

15 cer, Ahmad Muhammad, had said that three suspects were being held in police custody in connection with the incident.

Muhahmad said: “The command is aware of the incident.

Our men are already there while normalcy has been restored.

Nine persons were killed and the Commissioner of Police has personally visited the community to assess the situation.”

Elder Francis Woke, one of the community leaders in the area, said the cult groups renewed their hostility in the community after one of them was murdered.

He said the community woke up in the morning to discover that some young men in the community had been murdered.

He said: “We woke up around 5 am on that fateful day to discover that cult boys had turned the community into a war theatre. Some people met their brothers lifeless. There was seri•Chief Dikewoha's gate where the suspected cultists attacked him ous commotion which made some people to relocate from the community immediately. Some cultists suspected to be members of Islanders, Dewell and Degbam fraternity clashed at the community over territory control, leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties."

Mr. Anthony Davies, a brother to one of the men shot dead during the recent clash, said his brother was shot while he was trying to escape through the back door. He insisted that his late brother was not a cult member. “My brother is not a cultist.

When we heard gunshots that early morning, he was frightened. He woke up to find out the people that were shooting.

One of them called him by name. The next thing I heard was the sound of a gunshot. He bled for 30 minutes before he gave up the ghost.”

Monday Woka, an indigene of Ibaa and one of the leaders of •Bullets at the windowside of one of the houses attacked by suspected cultists the vigilance group in the area, said: “The first gunshot experienced in Ibaa community started on June 26, 2008. It was on Thursday, when one of the community leaders and elders gave one Akintola N3,000 naira to give to some boys who had stopped working for him. On receiving the money, another group of boys opened fire, inflicting series of injuries on them.

“On Friday 27, the community leader sent JTF to work with the vigilance group. On Saturday 28 of that month, the same community leader sent some house. But because of the protector, they boys to kill a vigilance group member. minated in the death of one Uche Abor. could not enter. They started shooting at All the suspects ran away after commitThe gunmen were said to have traced the late okada rider to his compound and us, destroying the window glasses and ting the murder. After the incident, he other properties with bullets. My father, shot him dead. He was married with sent someone to invite the murderers who was sitting at the sitting room, was children, and his family members said back to the village. This time, they came almost hit by one of the bullets. I think he did not belong to any cult. looking for all the members of the vigiThe situation forced many members of we identified one of them. Their plan lance group. was to kill my father, but God is on the the community, particularly women, to “The first vigilance member to be throne. They destroyed properties worth killed was Timi Chimarohaka on June go into hiding for fear of the unknown.

Abor’s younger brother, Emeka, told The millions of naira. The following morn28, 2008. The next was Ndukwu Ozohuo Nation that “my brother is not a member ing, our house became a tourist centre. in 2009. After that, all the vigilance men of any cult group. Some people even There were more than 200 bullets scatleft the village. The elder, whose name I tered in front of our house and in the sit- don’t want to mention, said he has dissaid I was the one they were looking for ting room.” before they sighted my brother, but I solved the vigilance group and empowYet, the situation in Ubima would don’t belong to any cult. ered cultists who were now working seem to be better than that of Ibaa, “On that fateful day, he came back with him. which has experienced many clashes befrom work and stood in front of the “Don’t forget, Pastor Orji Nyegbula, tween rival cult groups. And each of house at about 10 pm when some gunwas also slaughtered for preaching these clashes goes with brutal killings men stormed our house and grabbed against the activities of cultists in the and destruction of properties, forcing him. They wanted to take him along but community. In his own case, his eyes the people to flee. Some residents were he was wrestling with them. The next and intestines were separated from his still mourning the loss of their loved thing we heard was a gunshot. His relifeless body. These boys had been workmains have been deposited at the mortu- ones and nursing the wounds they susing with the elder but he refused to pay tained from the last clash when our corary.” them. This is the main problem the peorespondent visited.

After killing Abor, the gunmen were ple of Ibaa are facing now.

While normalcy appeared to have resaid to have gone to Chief Michael Dike“We are calling on Ibaa leaders to call woha’s house to kill him but did not suc- turned to the beleaguered community the elder to pay off the cultists he used when our correspondent visited, many ceed. to perpetuate the wicked act because of the residents were yet to return home One of his sons, GodSave Dikewoha, right now, these boys are killing innoin spite of the presence of the Joint Taskwho took the reporter round bullet ridcent people in Ibaa community. For Ibaa dled house, said: “After killing Mr. Abor, force (JTF). After the last clash, the to have peace, the elder has to pay off the next place they visited was our Rivers State Police Public Relations Offi- the boys."

,

My brother is not a cultist. When we heard gunshots that early morning, he was frightened. He woke up to find out the people that were shooting. One of them called him by name. The next thing I heard was the sound of a gunshot. He bled for 30 minutes before he gave up the ghost

,

of cult gangs over his killing, the community is still not at peace.

One of the community’s kingmakers, Chief Micheal Dikewoha, who himself only narrowly escaped cultists’ bullets the night Uche Abor, the okada rider, was killed, said they gathered on Tuesday October 7 to finally announce their findings in the murder of the late Ordu before they proceeded for his funeral.

One of the community leaders and relation of the deceased Ordu, who pleaded anonymity, said some people were not comfortable that the deceased farmer was about to become a millionaire with the discovery of oil on his land.

Hence they hired some cultists in the community to murder him. He said that after the last meeting the deceased Ordu had with representatives of Shell, he returned home rejoicing that God was about to favour him.

“I think that was where the enemies began their plan against him. You know that in their family, he was the head. So, some persons believed that if they killed him, it would become their farmland and they would sit on the money that Shell was expected to pay.”

The dust raised by Ordu’s death was yet to settle when the rival cult groups engaged in a supremacy battle that cul-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

16

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

49

,

The fresh gush of infrastructural development, no doubt, has a direct impact on the increasing influx of new businesses into the state capital.

This development has also prompted the government and private developers to build new houses to meet the growing demands for both business and residential accommodation

•The new General Hassan Katsina Road •Gate to the Kogi State Government House

•Another dual carriage way in the city

,

•Another roundabout in the city

L O KO JA :

Confluence of history and modernity N spite of its historical significance, Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, before the state was created in 1991, remained largely a rural haven. But all that was to change when Abubakar Audu mounted the saddle in 1992 and in spite of the teething challenges of having to midwife a state, soon turned the state into one construction yard.

Subsequent administrations have since built on the Audu administration’s foundation to turn Lokoja, the state capital, into a befitting state capital. Hence, from pristine state pre-1991, Lokoja now boasts of all the trappings of a real modern city with an attractive network of roads, beautiful roundabouts and exquisite structures dotting the nooks and crannies of the city.

I

n James AZANIA, Lokoja n Besides, Lokoja is one place in Nigeria that is replete with historical monuments. Aptly referred to as the confluence state, it holds this pride of place among the state capitals, being the place where the history of Nigeria began in 1914. The building from where the late Lord Frederick Lugard proclaimed the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria, a century ago, stands till date.

Numerous other features, including its rocky landscape, intermittent roundabouts and numerous tourists’ sites commend Lokoja to millions of visitors.

Leveraging on these, government has risen over the years to turn Lokoja and

ca s Y t i C

•A roundabout in the city

Pe

other surrounding cities like Koto-Karfe, Ajaokuta, Obajana, Shintaku, Gboloko and Gbobe into destination areas for Nigerians, particularly with their nearness to the nation’s capital, Abuja.

Lokoja itself is about two hours’ drive from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Residents of Lokoja continue to bask in the new-found scenery replete with beautifully constructed streets and ornately designed roundabouts and streetlights dotting the landscape. However, Lokoja, with its hilly terrain, has its own fair share of challenges, among which is the problem of erosion, which in the past created very serious problems, including the flood disaster of 2012.

The Wada administration has, no doubt, committed itself to ensuring that the ugly incident does not reoccur, which is why it has commenced the

massive channelisation of the state, most especially the capital. The government, through its agencies such as the Kogi State Road Maintenance Agency (KOGROMA) and the Kogi State Environmental Protection Agency (KSEPA), have been busy addressing the challenges of the environment to prevent the state from being plunged into the likes of the 2012 flood disaster.

The fresh gush of infrastructural development, no doubt, has a direct impact on the increasing influx of new businesses into the state capital. This development has also prompted the government and private developers to build new houses to meet the growing demands for both business and residential accommodation.

An indigene of the state, Ishaya Abaji, who relocated recently from one of the North East states, said the new shape of

Lokoja hastened his home coming. He said: “I was undecided about coming back home, even though our people had been insisting that I relocate together with my family for a long time but you know how village life is, considering the children and all that it will entail.

“All this was going through my mind when I came with a cousin to Lokoja recently, and everything fell in place. The place has become our own London.

Lokoja can compete with other places and the sky is our limit. Here I am now, and the village is not too far either. I am very proud of the new-look Lokoja.”

Another resident said: “Lokoja of now is different from the Lokoja of the past; people are now coming back and establishing businesses because they are seeing a city of their dream. We can all live our dreams right here in Lokoja; that’s my take.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

Life has been hellish –Widow of Lagos baker allegedly tortured to death

n Kunle AKINRINADE n •Moriamo (left) and some of her children

T

,

After his (her husband’s) death, there was no one to run the bakery, so the place had to be shut. Even many of those who had approached us to rent the place would not come back after negotiation. To worsen matters, I have been sent packing from where I was selling fashion items because the owner claimed he wanted to use the place

,

My movement from Swiss prison to Kirikiri was like going from heaven to hell —Convicted drug pusher and robbery suspect suspected drug pusher deported from Switzerland and arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Lagos State Police Command for armed robbery, has confessed that he took to armed robbery because it was the only kind of trade that could fetch him the kind of fortune he had sought in hard drug business.

Thirty-five-year-old Prince Onyeka, a native of Orlu, Ideato South Local Government Area, Imo State, was accused of leading a three-man robbery gang that stabbed a taxi driver and collected his cab. Luck, however, ran out on them as Onyeka and the two other members of the gang, Clement Igalo (23) and Ikenna Amuh (35), were arrested by SARS men.

Confessing his involvement as the gang’s leader, Onyeka said: “I am

A

n Ebele BONIFACE n the leader of the gang. I am married with three children. I am a native of Orlu, Ideato South Local Government area, Imo State. I am a trader who buys and sells cars in Lagos, but I don’t have a car stand. I buy from street boys who snatch cars or remove them from parks. At other times, I get my supplies from Cotonou in neighbouring Benin Republic.

“I am an alumnus of King’s College, Lagos, where I made all my papers in 2010. I was later admitted into Imo State University (IMSU) to study Theatre Arts but I withdrew at 200 Level to travel abroad. A friend I had attended school with sent me an invitation letter from Switzerland and I left.

“Unfortunately I started dealing in drugs to survive when I got to

Switzerland. I was selling cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs for somebody. I used to carry drugs from Equatorial Guinea to Switzerland by swallowing five bags weighing eight kilogrammes. I did it for four years before I started my own drug business.

“At the time I was doing it for somebody, I was paid N1.5 million for every successful trip. After three years of operating on my own, I was arrested and sent to jail for one and a half years for carrying 10 kilogrammes of cocaine in Bangkok, Thailand.

“While in prison in Switzerland, I was paid 100 dollars monthly. It will also interest you to know that the government fed us in prison two times a day with choice food, unlike here in Nigeria. We were also pro-

Continued on page 50

HE saying that time is the greatest healer of wounds certainly does not hold for Mrs. Moriamo Quadri, who lost her husband to alleged police brutality in 2011.Three years after the incident, she has had to battle the unending agony trailing his death.

The 47-year-old native of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, told our correspondent in her sparsely furnished living room during the week, that the death of her husband has created a big hole in the family.

On September 7, 2011, Mariamo’s husband, Ismaila Quadri, a baker, was supervising his workers in his bakery, when a team of policemen stormed Andrew Kanu Street, Oke Oko, New London, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb where the bakery was located, to carry out a raid on hemp smokers.

The policemen did not stop at that, they were said to have dragged Quadri out of his bakery on the allegations that he was the kingpin of hemp smokers and beat him up. He was arrested and taken to their station where he was allegedly tortured, leading to a fractured spinal cord and his eventual transfer to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH),Ikeja.

Then came the hint of bad news on September 15, 2011, when Moriamo was told of the death of her husband.

The widow lamented: “When, he was alive, he took very good care of me and his children. He always stuffed the house with food items and paid the school fees of his children. He was always pampering his children with gifts and the bond between them was so strong till his unfortunate death.”

But the death of her dutiful husband was just the beginning of her anguish. According to her, the bakery established by her husband had been

•Prince Onyeka

Continued on page 50

24

ENTERTAINMENT

Continued from

Page 21

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

38

‘Style, for me, is an extremely silly idea’ Hassan Bello is the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the agency charged with the responsibility of protecting Nigerian importers and exporters. In this interview with OKORIE UGURU and JOHN-AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he speaks about his life, profession and philosophy, Excerpts: OT much seems to be known about you beyond the fact that you are the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council...

I am a lawyer by profession. I graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. I have also attended various courses. I am a maritime lawyer. I started working in the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as a Deputy Director and head of the Department of Legal Services in 1988. I have organised the maritime seminars for judges for eight years. I have a passion for developmental law, especially commercial law. I am interested also in arbitration and mediation. I have also attended many courses on that. My interest is International Law generally.

How were your growing up years?

I grew up in Birnin Kebbi where I was born in the early 60s. I went to Federal Government College, Ilorin and then School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University. I grew up in an academic environment. My father was a judge of the Sharia Court. So, learning was of utmost importance, and if you know the history of Birnin Kebbi well, they are among the most educated people in that region. What is even more important is that girl or child education is emphasized. The people of Birnin Kebbi are liberal and industrious. So, I am happy to be part of that.

Would it be right to say that you were born with a silver spoon?

There was no spoon actually (laughs). We ate with our hands.

But the values then

N

• Bello

were clear. I think it is the same thing if you reflect on your time in the village. Those who stole were scorned. Those who were lazy were avoided.

Whatever you got was merited. It must be earned.

Did being the son of a judge bring extra pressure on you while growing up?

There was not much pressure. It was actually a carefree kind of growing-up. The only thing is that there was this communal spirit. People helped one another and there was respect for elders. Even when we were going to primary school, we engaged in community works like helping to build houses. If somebody’s house collapsed, all of us would go there. The class hierarchy was not much at that time.

You were what you were by your industry and capability and not where you came from. That was why some of these almajiris that you see going round to beg for food then were not from a particular class. Even emirs’ sons did that.

It is just that it has been misused. Almajiri simply means a pupil. It was just meant to bring him down so that he would know what other people experienced. It

was a kind of egalitarian society that we grew up in.

By virtue of your father’s position, you must have had a lot people in your home sharing anything you had?

Oh yes! My mother in particular started charity even when it was not in vogue. I have said that many times that our house almost became a hospital because she would go to the hospital and bring people who were discharged, but had no money to go home. There were, of course, many children. We grew up at times asking: ‘are we not the owners of this house?’ But she wouldn’t care. We grew up with servants and everybody eating from the same pot. It was a socialist set-up. I am sure it was so in many houses. Humility was a guiding principle in everything that we did.

Why did you decide to follow in your father’s footsteps by studying Law? It was not a conscious decision. Even when I was in secondary school, I was more adept at the arts subjects, not science. I wanted to read History actually because it was very fascinating. I wanted to know how people lived, what their means of protection was, the hierarchy and how they evolved.

Up till now, I have keen interest in archeology and anthropology because unless you know where you are coming from, you wouldn’t know where you are going. History was my area of interest in the university. Even when I got admission to read Law, I came back and said I wanted to read History because Law for me at that time was something boring. It took me two years to actually adapt to Law. Outside River Rima, Birnin Kebbi does not have much of water. Why the interest in maritime?

Maritime is not all about water. You have ports now that are not maritime-based. You have inland ports; they have the same status with the sea ports and most of the goods are destined for the hinterland anyway. Besides, it is wrong to say that Kebbi does not have mass of water. Kebbi is a wet land. Apart from River Rima, we have the River Niger going up to Yauri. Water is a means of transport and agriculture. It is one of the wettest regions. It is not arid; it is aquatic.

Most people of your generation preferred going to Kaduna, particularly

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

39 Fulani thing. The Fulani philosophy tells you to put others before yourself and sacrifice. Most of all, the guiding principles were tolerance and humility.

Of course, if you are tolerant and humble, you also have to be industrious. Help the society and respect other people’s points of view, identities or faith. Nigeria, at that time, was one in which there was more tolerance. Even now, the rift we have is caused by the elite. Ordinary Nigerians suffer the same hunger, poverty and so on. I can’t see myself as different from anybody in Nigeria.

Is there a particular experience in your life that you considered as a kind of watershed?

I think it is going to Ilorin because that was where I discovered reading.

We were reading so

• Bello

Barewa College and so on. Why Ilorin in your own case?

I went to Ilorin and some even went further. You would find Birnin Kebbi people in Warri, Enugu and so on. Wherever there is learning, you will find a Birnin Kebbi man. So, it was not difficult to choose Ilorin. At that time, you would sit the common entrance examination. If your marks were so high, you would be interviewed for Federal Government colleges. I came to Sokoto from Kebbi to do the interview for the Federal Government colleges. I was interviewed by the then principal of the Federal Government College, Sokoto, Mr. Olaniyan, who incidentally, when I got to Ilorin became the pioneer principal of the school. Mine was the pioneer set.

The school was one that shaped our way of thinking. It showed us that the whole country is one actually. You would never see us discriminate on the basis of nationalities because all our prejudices were removed. Anybody you see from Federal Government College, Ilorin is already purged of any bias. We look at people as individuals.

What are some of the values you picked as a child that you have held on to and have shaped your philosophy of life?

Tolerance and humility, these are what you are taught at home. You tolerate people who have different views and ways. That is what they drum into your head. You must also be humble.

Humility does not mean that you should be docile.

It simply means that by listening to people, you gain more. De-emphasise self-importance. It is a

much. We read literature books and so on. We wrote the WASC in Class Three. By then, we had completed the syllabus. We read so fast. That was where I nearly lost my eyes. I was so addicted to reading that after light-out, I read with a torchlight. A senior pointed that out to me when he caught me, but nobody could stop us from reading. That was the most important thing. The gift that you treasured most was to read. That is still with us. We read all the time.

The world is a village now. You have to read

‘

What we should be looking at is one’s contribution to the society.

That should be uppermost. I consider the idea of style, perfume and so on extremely silly

‘

about others so that you bring positive changes into the society. I think knowledge shaped the world and we should have an open society.

People should demonstrate what knowledge they have. Each culture is knowledge-based. The knowledge I acquired is what has shaped my life.

What is your dress sense?

I don’t have any dress sense. I wear suit because it is the uniform. I wear kaftan because it is accepted. I don’t think dress or style should be emphasised.

But you look good in the suit you are wearing…

They are extremely elitist; they should not be given any preponderance. What we should be looking at is one’s contribution to the society. That should be uppermost. I consider the idea of style, perfume and so on extremely silly.

Yet you look good in what you are wearing…

It is accidental.

Considering your busy schedule, having to shuttle between Lagos and Abuja and so on, do you ever have time for your family?

Well, you create time for your family all the time. You should be a family man. And not only your family, even your neigbours, you should bond with them. Neigbourliness is extremely important. This is also what we are taught in our religion. Leisure is being with the family, children and so on.

How do you relax?

I relax by reading. I can’t go to bed without reading. I have to read one thing or the other. I always find some excitement from reading. I follow it up, make my research, and this has guided me. Even in management, treat people with patience and care because people matter so much. Your staff lost an uncle, it is very important that you are involved in that so that there would be that sense of community. I was brought up that way and that is what I apply even here.

I am a beach person. Every week, I go to the beach, but I go with my books. I am also a football fan and other sports because sport is also a way of channeling energy. It is very important also because of its economic contribution to the society. We used to have university basketball teams, in ABU, OAU and so on. I don’t know what has happened to them. I think we have corporate sponsors supporting these inter-university competitions. I think that marks for vibrancy and takes the students away from so many unnecessary things. So, I believe in sports.

How about polo?

Polo is not a sport. It is a pastime of the rich.

Are you still in touch with some of your contemporaries at Federal Government College, Ilorin?

Yes, we have an old boys association even though I am not a very good member. I have good friends among them. Many of us have grown in our life endeavours, including Buhari Bala who is also a board member here. By the way my boss and I went to school together in Ilorin. He was my classmate. So also is ex-governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke. Mr. Marc Wabara was in HSC, ahead of us. Okeleke Nzeogwu, who was younger brother of Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, was our head boy. We also had retired Admiral Yenusa. There are many of them and all of them have done well in their careers.

We have to thank the Federal Government for the initiative. At that time, we had three Mathematics teachers. We had extremely good teachers.

Some believe the unity schools have lost their relevance and should be scrapped. Do you share that opinion?

I don’t. They couldn’t have lost their relevance.

In fact, they are more relevant now than ever before because the sense of belonging, the sense of respect for nationalities and their different ways…we understood our differences even at that time, but the heterogeneity was not a stumbling block to tolerance. It was a two-way thing. In fact, the Federal Government colleges are even needed more now so that the rift that has been forced upon us by the irresponsible elite will be mended.

You are married with children. Will there be the third generation of legal men in your family?

I hope so.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

50

CRIME

&

OTHER STORIES ‘My movement from Swiss prison

Police parade kidnap suspect who collected N15m ramsom

Continued from page 19

n Uja EMMANUEL, Makurdi n HE Benue State Police Command has paraded a suspected kidnap kingpin, Chinedu Emelewa, who allegedly kidnapped a Gboko-base oil magnate, one Agbasi, in Gboko, Benue State.

It was said that the family parted with N15 million ransom before Emelewa’s gang released the victim.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hyacinth Dagala, who said investigations into the matter was still going on, told newsmen that the suspect on September 30, 2014 led an eight-man gang, armed with guns and allegedly adducted his victim Agbasi, as he was returning to his house in Gboko South.

According to CP Dagala, they forced Agbasi at gunpoint and drove away with him in his Toyota Highlander jeep towards Lessel Road, in Ushongo local government area after they shot sporadically into the air.

They smuggled their victim into another

T

•Emelewa Honda CRV jeep and abandoned the highlander jeep, the police said.

They also held their victim for five days.

Investigation by the police, the CP said, led to the arrest of the suspect Chinedu Emelewa of Ezinitife, Aguatu Local Government Area in Anambra State, who allegedly confessed to the crime and mentioned his gang members at large.

Items recovered from the suspect included N937,000 cash, which is part of the ransom; Hondoa CRV jeep with registration number NNE 364 CF; assorted GSM SIM cards and one number plate.

The police said the suspect would soon be charged to court.

Monarch builds hospital in Lagos community O alleviate the problems confronting his people in accessing healthcare services, the Baale of Cardos community in Ayobo/Ipaja Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Chief Moruf Kaka Owonla, has built and equipped a 25-bed hospital.

The hospital, according to the monarch, was established in line with his vision to make life better for his people.

He said: “I considered setting up Rosebol Hospital because of the residents of my community who usually travel long distance to receive medical treatment at Ipaja. It was the same reason for which I established a school in this community to ensure proper education of children of residents, so

T

n Kunle AKINRINADE n that we can encourage and promote literacy in our community.

“The unique thing about the hospital is that its services and fees have been tailored to the needs and economic power of residents in a rural community like ours in such a way that they can walk into the hospital and get treated at affordable fees. We have competent doctors and other medical practitioners who will ensure that patients are well attended to 24 hours.”

A community leader, Elder Abayomi Kehinde, commended Owonla for setting up a hospital to boost healthcare delivery in the community, saying:

“This is a rare gesture and only a traditional ruler with a heart for his people can stake his resources on a project like this. The hospital will definitely go a long way in reducing the stress being faced by people of this community in receiving prompt medical attention as we have had to travel thousands of kilometers to access treatment in a public health centre.”

A resident, Rosemary Nwoko, said the hospital will go a long way towards addressing the healthcare challenges of the people of the community.

“The coming of the hospital will definitely reduce the agony of people of this community during emergency situations or unexpected medical crises.”

‘Life has been hellish’

Continued from page 19

shut because there was no one to manage it. With about six children to take care of, the loss of the family’s breadwinner began to take a toll on the domestic responsibilities that Moriamo had been forced to shoulder.

“After his (her husband’s) death, there was no one to run the bakery, so the place had to be shut. Even many of those who had approached us to rent the place would not come back after negotiation. To worsen matters, I have been sent packing from where I was selling fashion items because the owner claimed he wanted to use the place.

“Our first son, Tajudeen, was about formalising his admission to study Economics in the university when his father was brutally killed and my siblings are the ones taking care of his tuition, while his younger sister, Rashidat, has so far lost university admission twice simply because of lack of money. I do not know how I am going to fund the education of my three other children because I don’t have a tangible source of livelihood.

“I currently teach in a private secondary school having lost the opportunity to study Economics in the university twice.

Each time I passed the university matriculation examination, there would be no money to pay for my tuition and it’s almost a hopeless situation now,” said Rashidat.

vided with bedspread and mattress. Four men lived in one room. In the morning, every inmate was asked to choose from the menu list the food he wanted. I usually requested for juice, salad and shawama. In the afternoon I went for yam porridge or fried rice with chicken or fish.

“When I was deported to Nigeria, my wife advised me to stop drug business and join car dealers. I was living at Okota with my family then. At times I would go to Cotonou to buy. At other times, I would go to buy from street boys because stolen cars are very cheap and give a lot of gain.

“Although I made some money from buying and selling stolen cars, I spent a lot sponsoring my younger brother in the university. My first son is in secondary school. My wife is a complete housewife. I also have an extended family and sponsor my in-laws’ children in the university. My father and mother are both dead and I am the bread winner of the larger family.”

Asked how he became a prisoner in Nigeria, he said: “In October last year, I was called by one of the street boys to come and receive one Toyota Hilux at Maryland, Lagos near Mr. Bigg’s Restaurant but on getting there, I was arrested by the officer in charge of SARS, Mr Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police.

“Kyari warned me to stop buying stolen cars and charged me to court. I was remanded and later released on bail. But while in Kirikiri Medium Prison, I experienced a lot of pain, hunger and shame. I slept on the floor, fed myself and when I did not have money, I remained hungry because I could not eat the food.

“I found it very difficult to adjust because I had the money to make a choice in prison.

Every week my brother, sister or wife would bring money for my feeding.

“We were eight in a room in Kirikiri because I was privileged to stay in a privileged cell. In the other cells, one room contained between 80 and 100 persons. In some cells, people sleep standing up while some sleep on top of their fellow inmates for lack of space. The difference between Swiss and Nigerian prisons is like heaven and hell.

“When I came out, I was confused because I had no kobo. I had nothing to eat not to talk of trade with; a man with a wife and children who had to pay rent and children’s school fees, just to mention a few.

“I lost the house where I was living before.

My children stopped going to school. My wife took my children to Nkpor after Onitsha to live.

So I was idle for weeks. I was frustrated so much so that I went back to do the business that was giving me quick cash-buying and selling stolen cars. I even started to go with the street boys to rob because I needed money to feed my family.

“My wife did not know what I was passing through. I used to tell her that I was going to market to hustle. I did not mention any particular market so that she would not come to look for me.

“My first laughter came when I received one Camry car on credit. I sold it and got some money. I bought it for N200,000 and sold it for N500,000. I was very happy and relieved a little.

“I got another one for N300,000 and sold it for N650,000, but the criminal buyer called Israel has not paid me a dime. He is from Owerri in Imo State but I gave him the car in Agbor, Delta State, and when he heard that I had been arrested by the police, he ran away with the car and cut off all communication lines between two us till date.

“I was given the car on credit by another receiver, and that was what made me to start stealing cars. I became a full-time robber but I have never shot or killed any victim because I never operated with gun. I used master key.

“I later met one Taiye whom I had known when I was remanded in Kirikiri, but we never discussed business till we came out. I met him at Cele Bus Stop on Mile 2 Expressway in Lagos. He greeted me and, being somebody I knew in prison, we started discussing business.

“We went to a nearby beer parlour to cool our brains and think about the way forward. As we were discussing, he told me that he was eager to snatch a car but had not found a courageous guy to accompany him. He then told me that since I could drive fast I should follow him and see the miracle he would perform.

“He said I should not be afraid because the important thing was to be clever, fast and smart.

I asked him about the gun that would be used to scare away ‘opposition’ and he said he had none but could provide an alternative. I asked him what the alternative was and he brought out a kitchen knife.

“I told him that he should give me one week to gather courage. He became disappointed and asked me whether I would be alive and my children and wife would die of hunger in the land of plenty.

“Three days later, we met again but I was still afraid because of what I had suffered in prison.

I did not know that he had made up his mind to take me to a robbery operation. He said I should follow him to Airport Road and I was the one that paid for our transport, food and drinks.

“There he stopped one airport taxi, a Toyota Camry which had no passenger. He told the driver that he was going to Aguda in Surulere and they agreed on N3,000. He asked me to sit beside the driver while he sat directly behind the driver in the back seat.

“As we reached a point in Surulere, he asked the man to stop. The driver was expecting to be paid but Taiye held him by the neck but the man started shouting. I wanted to collect the car key from the driver but he held on to it. Taiye stabbed him from the back and pulled him out of the car, giving me the opportunity to move the car.

“When I had moved a distance, I waited for Taiye to come but he could not meet up because people were gathering and searching for the robbers. When Taiye tried to enter, he fell down and I had to move fast to enable us escape with the car.

Council tackles street trading, builds T

•The late Quadri The Nation had broken the death of 52year-old baker on Saturday September 24, 2011 following his torture by men from the Ipaja Police Division and followed it up in the edition of Saturday October 18, 2011, following which the Lagos State government wrote to the then Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafis Ringim, asking for compensation for Quadri’s family.

The suspected policemen who allegedly tortured the late baker to death are currently being prosecuted in a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

O discourage street trading and traffic congestion, the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area during the week inaugurated two new markets in the council area.

The new market stalls at Aiyewaadun Market in Alagbado and Abattoir Market, New Oko-Oba, were commissioned by the Iyaloja General of Lagos and President General of Market Women and Men of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs.) Folasade Tinubu-Ojo. Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the LCDA, Hon. Benjamin Adeyemi Olabinjo, stressed that the handing over of the market lock-up stalls is one of the many community development projects being implemented to discourage street trading and traffic gridlock in the community.

“These new market stalls were built because of the menace of street trading and attendant traffic problems in the council area.

Besides, about four years ago when Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo visited the two markets during the weekly Lagos market sanitation exercise, she expressed her displeasure at the deplorable

n Kunle AKINRINADE n

sanitation conditions of the markets urging me to do something about it.

“I took her remarks as a challenge to address the poor state of the markets and I am happy that she is here today to commission the projects. I want to admonish those who are still trading by the roadside to take advantage of the new market stalls and stay off the roads in their own interest. The traffic situation at the Kollington bus stop and Old Abeokuta Motor Road where the two markets are located are worrisome, hence, the need to relocate street traders from our roads.”

The Iyaloja of Ojokoroland, Chief (Mrs) Eniola Oluwabunmi and Babaloja of IfakoIjaiye, Chief Akinloye Fagbola, expressed their gratitude to Hon. Olabinjo and TinubuOjo for the building and inauguration of the market stalls.

Tinubu-Ojo, while declaring the stalls open, praised Hon. Olabinjo for his effort in implementing the projects as well as dis-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

51 olukunle87@yahoo.com

to Kirikiri was like going from heaven to hell’

•Clement Igalo (left) and Nkenna Amu “I could not go far with the car, so I parked it and ran. Already, Taiye had found his way and escaped from the scene.

“After two days, I went to where I parked the car on a street near Adetola in Aguda, Surulere area and met it there. I tried to call Taiye’s number but the line was not going through. I called again and somebody picked the phone. That was when I suspected that there was a problem.

“I was even afraid to go and look for a buyer because I did not know the condition that Taiye was. Later, I contacted one Israel and told him that I had a car for sale, a Toyota Camry, and that the car would soon be in Lagos.

“He asked me to bring it down to the East. On our way to the East, I hired one Godwin to drive the car. At a point on the road, the two tyres burst at a place near Shagamu. I managed to buy a fairly used tyre for N4,000 and replaced the second tyre with the spare tyre.

“As we got to Benin, two other tyres burst and I did not have enough money to buy two tyres. We had to sleep there with the driver, Godwin.

“One of my friends I had met in SARS cell in Lagos, named Smart, called me and told me that he wanted to give me one of the cars I had given him as collateral for

owing him the N300,000 my brother’s friend, IK, and lawyer used to perfect my bail in court.

“On getting there, under the Iyana Ipaja Bridge on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, I was arrested by SARS operatives. I did not know that they were SARS men until they took me to their vehicle. They told me that their boss, SP Kyari, wanted to chat with me.”

Asked how many operations he had carried out since he got out of prison, he said three. “I have visited SARS cell twice.

The first visit was last year. It involved a Toyota Hilux I snatched. The second one was the one I was arrested for. It was not successful. It was foiled by SARS operatives.”

The second suspect, Clement Igalo aka Taiye, a native of Ekpoma, Edo State, said: “I am single. I reside at No. 23, Car Wash Street, Ikotun. I live there with my elder brother. I attended Ekpoma Primary School and Ekpoma Community Secondary but dropped out in Junior Secondary Three.

“I proceeded to Dopemu in Lagos to learn aluminium work for three years. I served one Ismaila before he travelled to the village and abandoned aluminium work in Lagos. It made me to leave and look for another work with which I could survive. I became a bus conductor to one

Akeem. I had no room of my own, hence I lived with my brother in Ikotun.

“As I was doing conductor work, I met a friend called Ahmed and he led me into conducting for long vehicles. We used to shuttle between Lagos and Ibadan.

“In 2011, there was a fight among members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and that was where I knew Prince. I was arrested by the police at Cele Bus Stop during the NURTW fight.

I was charged to court and remanded.

“Later, I was granted N50,000 bail.

My mother took me on bail. I did not know how much she paid because it was from her own money.

She was the one who called the lawyer to perfect the bail. The court later discharged and acquitted me and I went back home.

“A friend called Toyeeb, a bus driver, had tried to lure me into armed robbery but I refused until I met Prince. I met Prince at the prison yard and we discussed about robbery. When I came out, I started my conductor work again until August this year.

“One day, Prince called and asked me where I was. I told him I was still at work. When I closed around 8 pm, I called him and told him that I was at home. Three days later, he called me and I told him to meet me at Cele Bus Stop.

“He took me to a beer parlour in Ijesha.

We drank and he told me that there was a job he had in hand. I asked him the kind of job and he said armed robbery and that it would pay well. I asked him about the business and he said we only needed to dress well, like someone going to a party.

“I asked where he was taking me but he refused to tell me until night came. We took a bus to Airport Road junction where we got a taxi and he told the taxi driver to take us to Aguda where we attacked him and collected his cab. “ The third suspect, Ikenna Amuh, said: “When I finished primary school at Ogunnike Primary School in Obiaagu, Enugu State in 1990, I could not go to secondary school. I went to Onitsha to learn how to sell motor spare parts at Nkpor.

“Prince is a hardened criminal. He has been talking nonsense. He is the one who put me in this mess. I had decided to resign from this bad job but my meeting with Prince destroyed all my efforts. He lies a lot.

“He is the one who made me a criminal. My trouble started the day I met him, and I pray not to meet him again in my life.”

new market stalls couraging street trading.

“I am happy to be here today for the commissioning of the new market stalls and I sincerely appreciate the efforts of the Ojokoro council chairman, Hon. Olabinjo, following my appeal to him during a visit to the markets a few years ago.

The markets were in a decrepit state when I visited and he had assured me that he would do something about them and I am glad that he went ahead to renovate the markets. ‘’To this end, I am using this opportunity to urge people to desist from indulging in street trading on the roads because it not only disrupts free flow of traffic but endangers their lives and we will not hesitate to take punitive action against those who engage in street trading in this market henceforth.”

IN BRIEF Missing persons Name: Obianuju Ojimba (Female) Age: 39 years, Height: 4ft tall; Completion: Fair Language: Igbo and English fluently Contact: Rosemary Ojimba of No. 3 Keystone Street, Victoria Island, Lagos or Alausa Police Station Name: Emmanuel Moriye (Male) Age: 16 years, Height: 4.6ft tall; Completion: Dark Language: Yoruba and English fluently Contact: Ogunyemi Kehinde of No. 34 Ogunnaike Street, Dopemu Agege, Lagos or Dopemu Police Station Name: Oluwakemi Olorode (Female) Age: 10 years, Height: 4ft tall; Completion: Dark Language: Yoruba and English fluently Contact: Okosun Olayinka of No. 18 Alfa Yusuf Street, Dopemu, Lagos or Dopemu Police Station Name: Latifat surname unknown (Female) Age: 14 years, Height: 4.5ft tall; Completion: Dark Language: Yoruba and Togolese fluently Contact:Kafilat Adigun of No. 4 Benjamin Street, Lagos Island or EbuteEro Police Station Name: Sunday surname unknown (Male) Age: 21 years, Height: 5.2ft tall Completion: Dark Language: Yoruba and Cotonou fluently Contact: Saheed Yusuf No. 60, Aroloya Street, Lagos Island Or Ebute-Ero Police Station Name: Temitope Adeyinka Age: 40 years, Height: 6ft tall; Completion: Light Language: Yoruba and English fluently Contact: Adeyinka Emmanuel of No. 16, Ape Road, Alagbado, Lagos or Alagbado Police Station Name: Nofisat Olugbode (Female) Age: 19 years, Height: 5.6ft tall; Completion: Dark Language: Yoruba and English fluently Contact: Felicia Adebayo of No. 2, Wuraola Street, Alagbado Lagos or Alagbado Police Station Name: Ahmed Zannah (Male) Age: 22 years; Height: 5.6ft tall; Completion: Fair Language: Hausa and Kanuri fluently Contact: Abubakar Abuguja of Amorinre Johnson Street, Lekki Lagos or Maroko Police Station Stolen vehicles Type: Toyota Camry S/Car 2007 Reg. No: SMK 951 AZ Colour: Custom Chasis No: 4T1BF22K5VU010701 Engine No: 03733518 If seen contact any nearest police or Idimu Police Station

Type: Mitsubisi Montero Jeep Reg. No: UQ 326 KJA Colour: Black Chasis No: Nil Engine No: Nil If seen contact any nearest police or Ilupeju Police Station

Type: Lexus 300 Jeep Reg. No: KJA 839 CU Colour: Metallic Chasis No: Nill Engine No: Nill If seen contact any nearest police or Morogbo Police Station

Type: Mitsubishi Gallant Reg. No: GGE 887 BK Colour: Ash Chasis No: Nil Engine No: Nil If seen contact any nearest police or Dopemu Police Station

Recovered vehicles

•From right: Chairman of Ojokoro LCDA, Hon. Benjamin Olabinjo; Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo and the LCDA Vice Chairman, Mrs. Sherifat Hassan-Olajoku (left) during the commissioning of the new market stalls.

S/No Makes of vehicle Reg. No. Colour Location 1 Infinity FX.35 Jeep MUS 444 BK Black Ajah Div 2 Toyota Camry DF 398 LSD Black Area J Command 3.

V/Fanagon Bus GGE 909 XD LSCC Igando Div 4.

Toyota /lCruiser AAA 690 BH Black SARS Ikeja 5.

Toyota Camry EKY 228 BV Black Sabo Div 6.

KIA Sedona MUS 447 CU Silver Alakuko Div 7 Honda Accura Jeep GT 906 EKY Black Ogombo Div 8.

Honda Accord MUS 80 DA Black Ojodu Div 9.

Honda Accord LSD 860 BH Custom bar Beach Div 10. BMW KTU 545 BL Ash Okokomaiko Div 11. BMW S/Car LND 127 CM Ash Area ‘D’ Mushin 12 Honda Accord SD 272 AAA Green Satellite Div 13 Toyota Camry EQ 66 LND Black Isheri osun Div 14 Honda Acura MUS 550 BK Ash Sabo Div 15. Chrysler S/Car BKW 184 AA Green V/Island Div 16 Nissan Optima KTU 546 NG Black Igando Div 17 Toyota Starlet KTU 781 AL Ash Dopemu Div As usual members of the public who have claims on these vehicles should check at the police station mentioned against them with their original documents.

Coping with Diseases h

it

W

Professor Dayo Oyekole,

Ph.D. (Ibadan), NMD, FNCP.

Tel: 0803-330-3897 Website: www.holisticlifecare.com E-mail: kolemetric@yahoo.com

53

56

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

57

Fayose, Police are planning to clampdown on us, Ekiti APC leaders raise alarm T

HE leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, yesterday raised the alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government in the state and the Nigeria Police were set to "put notable members of our party out of circulation".

According to a release signed by Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party's spokesperson in the state, the clampdown on the APC leadership was another plan to cow the opposition into submission since their plan to muscle the House of Assembly had failed.

The statement read: "The PDP is known for orchestrating violence, as they planned to do on the House of Assembly today, but for the quick intervention of the police who put the PDP hoodlums in check.

"On the list of leaders and members to be arrested, according to reports, are the party chairman, Chief Jide Awe and top members of the party who served under the Fayemi administration.

•Sheathe your sword, governor pleads with lawmakers n Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, Ado-Ekiti n "The intention is to put the leaders out of circulation so that the Fayose administration will have a field day in dishing out lies to the public without response from the opposition.

"Part of the plan is also to clamp down on some APC legislators in the House of Assembly who will be arrested on trumped-up charges which they have already prepared. We wonder why the PDP-led government under Mr. Fayose is suddenly interested in charging people to court on fake charges when it has desecrated the judiciary.

"We also like to remind them that they should be more interested in the speedy trial of the eligibility matter

against the governor rather than clamping innocent people into detention.

"The APC is a law-abiding party that can never be silenced through any form of intimidation by the ruling PDP. We believe we have a duty to as a viable opposition expose the lies and chicanery of the Fayose led administration.

"We urge our members to be steadfast and go about their lawful duties without any fear of molestation as the security agents have been adequately informed about the evil machinations of the PDP government.

"We equally appeal to the security agencies not to yield to the anti-people machinations of the government by refusing to be a tool for suppressing

the voice of opposition which the constitution of Nigeria guarantees.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, yesterday appealed to members of the State House of Assembly to sheath their sword and join him in the task of building a better state.

Fayose spoke yesterday at the inauguration of Mr Dele Omotosho as a Justice of the High Court in the state.

He urged the lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, to work with his administration to ensure a smooth running of government and for the progress of the state.

According to him, the interest of Ekiti should be paramount in the estimation of all indigenes, irrespective of political or religious affiliation, noting

that the corporate interest of the State far outweigh personal or individual interest or ambition.

“I am not in office to punish perceived enemies or opposition party members. I have not come to retaliate any bad thing done to me in the past by anyone. I am for the progress of this state and to care for the people who voted me".

Speaking further, he said, "I am ready to work with the Assembly. I am a man of uncommon history, coming back to office after eight years is divine. I have a stern warning from God, 'do not avenge'.

"I plead with the other two arms of government that Ekiti should come first. You may not like my face and I may not like yours, but Ekiti should be number one. Vengeance belongs to God and everything works together for the good of all," he said.

APC chieftains hail Amosun over visit to Ota WO prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ota, Ogun State, Chief Jide Ojuko, a one-time commissioner in the state and Alhaji Wasiu Dawodu, a member of the advisory committee, have hailed State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun over his visit to the town.

The duo described the governor, who defied to heavy rain to address party members, loyalists and residents, as a man of the people.

The governor, who was on a familiarization tour of the 20 local government areas of the state, listed his achievements in Ota and Sango areas of the state.

Amosun described Ota as an industrial giant and the economic nerve centre of the state, and promised to give serious attention and facelift to areas, such as Agbara, Igbesa and Ota on road, water, electricity and other infrastructural developments.

The governor appealed to party members and residents to troop out en-masse during the next registration exercise to collect their permanent voters’ card when the exercise kicks-off in November.

Present at the occasion were traditional rulers, party members and residents of the areas.

Ikuforiji pays 'thank you' visit to Bishop Ademowo

T

Women group holds national conference in Enugu USINESS and professional Women in, Nigeria will hold its annual conference cum Annual General Meeting at the Conference Hall, the Oaklands Amusement Centre, EbeAno Tunnel By-Pass, Enugu, from 7th to 8th November 2014.

The theme for the event, which would have dignitaries and members attending from different parts of the country, is ‘Making a Difference through Leadership and Action’.

According to the National President of the organisation, Mrs Angela Ajala, the event promises to be thought-provoking and inspiring.

Other presentations include topics like the -Power of Collaboration and Cooperation, Winning Strategies for Businesses, Political Participation and Leadership for Women, Personal Branding and Developing a mind-blowing Business Plan.

There will also be an interactive panel to discuss the topic: ‘Breaking the glass ceiling for Women: Myth or Reality’.

BPW- Nigeria is the Federation of Business and Professional Women in Nigeria.

B

n Oziegbe OKOEKI n

HE Speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, yesterday paid a 'thank you' visit to the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Diocesse and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Reverend Dr Ephraim Adebola Ademowo, for his support all through the period of his trial in the High Court by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for money laundering.

The speaker, who was accompanied by his wife, Pastor Mayowa, told the Bishop that he appreciated his support in the last three years of his trial at the High Court. "You always assured me to be calm and to pray and that God would take control and indeed God took control as you rightly said," Ikuforiji said.

He informed Ademowo that he and his wife are part of the Anglican family because they both wedded in the Anglican Church 29 years ago, "so we see you as a father and we are happy to be with you. I thank you for all that you have been doing, for your support and assistance and also for your support and assistance to government of Lagos state. We say a big thank you and we solicit for your continuous support.

"I am sure with men of God like you and a few others who stand solidly behind the government of Lagos State. , we can continue to be hopeful that God in his infinite mercy will take us to a higher height," Ikuforiji said.

Responding to questions from journalists, Ikuforiji said, "I deem it fit to come and say a big thank you to our father here, for the support he personally has given me over the years, especially since the issue of the EFCC investigations and the court came up. He has always supported me with prayers, good words, and he is always counselling me.

"And the fact that he also showed clearly he trusted my person, he believes I was not the type that detractors were trying to paint before the world. And he was always reassuring me that he knows that God will vindicate me at the end.’’

T

•Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (second left); National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Odigie Oyegun (right); National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left) and the National Treasurer of APC, Alhaji Bala Muhammed (second right) when the national chairman paid the governor a courtesy call in his office...yesterday.

Group threatens to pull out of Ondo PDP over Mimiko A

group within the Ondo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under the aegis of Rescue Forum, of Friday threatened to dump the party if its current structure in the state is dissolved because of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The group said its members welcomed Mimiko to the party and acknowledged his leadership, but warned against taking steps that could create constitutional crisis in the state chapter.

In a communiqué issued after a meeting in Akure, the group said, dissolving the existing party structure, when primary and general elections are fast approaching, was not the best way to add value to the party.

n Damisi OJO, Akure n

The communiqué was signed by Tunde Owonidahun Chairman, John Ikuyajolu Secretary and Jimoh Hakeem, the Publicity Secretary.

OSPRF accused Mimiko of plans to create factions in the state chapter.

It said: "The just-concluded membership registration exercise undertaken and sponsored by the governor in the state and the creation of a new state party secretariat, also by the governor, are attempts to create and maintain a parallel pseudo membership and illegal party

structure.

"This is against the court order that mandated that status quo be maintained pending the determination of the case before it.

"It is, therefore, our avowed belief that he, who profits from the altars of the Rule of Law, must be a respecter of the law."

The group advised Mimiko to build trust among the Ondo PDP leadership and generate confidence of members through his actions before the next congresses of the party.

It wondered why members of the State House of Assembly who were said to have defected to the PDP with the governor are now moving to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Tension as Lagos doctors demand unpaid salaries

By Wale Adepoju Medical doctors under the aegis of Medical Guild, Lagos State chapter, yesterday urged the state government to pay their withheld salaries.

Its Lagos State Chairman, Dr Biyi Kufo said the salaries in question were withheld because they were involved in a nationwide strike declared by the Nigerian Medical Association, which is the parent body for all doctors associations in the country.

Kufo, who spoke to journalists in Lagos, said: “The state government should pay doc-

tors’ salaries for three days it joined the Nigerian Medical Association’s declared national strike between April and May in 2012. Also, the salaries of doctors for August were withheld because of another nationwide strike which was held from July 1 to August 25. This is despite sending necessary letters to notify the government concerning the commencement of strike,” he said.

He alleged that the state government was out to victimise doctors, stressing that it was only doctors in Lagos State that was not paid salaries for the pe-

riod of strike.

“All 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja received their salaries. When we complained to the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, he directed us to the state Health Service Commission (HSC), which employed us,” he noted.

Besides, state government cited a “no work, no pay” policy for its action but this rule was applicable to doctors alone, as other professionals were never made to suffer similar fate.

He said efforts by the associ-

ation to resolve the matter did not yield any result. “We sent letter to the governor and meetings were held with the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris but the matter still persists. A delegation of medical elders, led by Prof Michael Bankole of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) was pointless,” he said.

Vice chairman, Medical Guild, Dr Salau Oseni said there is more to the issue than meets the eyes because it appeared the government hated doctors, as such wanted to victimise them.

58

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014 Photos by Biodun ADEYEWA

• Con-

•From left: Mr. Vincent Oyo, widower of the late former MD of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs Remi Oyo, performing ‘dust to dust’ rite. With him are: the former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke Jnr; Tolu Abudiore, son-in-Law, Ote Abudiore, daughter; Otome Oyo, son and Nkem Oyo, daughter-in-law at the Mrs Oyo’s burial in Lagos...yesterday

•From left: Olusegun Oni, former Governor of Ekiti State; Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun State and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Ekiti State Governor,

Eulogies as Remi Oyo is buried T was a solemn moment yesterday at the St Domnics Basilica, Yaba Lagos, where a funeral service for the late Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dame Priscilla Oluremilekun Oyo, was held.

In his sermon, the parish priest of St. Timothy and Titus Catholic Church, Ijegun, a Lagos suburb, Rev Fr Jude Abulu, recalled his last moment with the late Oyo when he went to administer on the deceased Communion rounds for the sick.

"She was in tears. I thought she was crying because she knew she would die, but it was because she was happy to receive the Sacrament."

I

•From left: Frank Nweke Jnr.; Comfort Obi; Ima Niboro, Managing Director, NAN; Femi Adesina, President, Guild of Editors; Mr. Lanre Idowu; Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Mr. Biodun Shobanjo

Nneka NWANERI

He preached a life of selfless giving, which the late Oyo did even till the point of death.

The late Oyo, who was ordained as a knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great in 2011, was a former Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, to former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2003-2007.

Her remains were interred at the Ebony Vaults of Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos.

At the funeral were: Managing Director of The Sun Newspapers, Mr Femi Adesina; Mr Lanre I down and Frank Nweke Jnr, among other professional colleagues.

Cash-for-arms deal: South Africa returns $15m to Nigeria HERE are indications that Nigeria and South Africa have resolved their differences over the cash-for-arm deal that went awry.

An online medium, Cable News, yesterday quoted South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Lulu Louis Mnguni, as saying that the money had been returned to the Nigerian government.

South African authorities had on September 5 seized $9.3 million cash belonging to the Nigerian government and another $5.7 million about two weeks later on the ground that the transfer process was against South African financial law.

But Nigeria’s National Security Adviser

T

Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja with agency report (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, insisted that the transactions were legal.

The issue almost caused a major dispute between both countries as Nigeria moved to sanction South African companies operating in the country.

Indications however emerged that the South African government was willing to return the money after some diplomatic moves early this month.

Confirming the return of the money, Mnguni said: “South Africa’s relations with Nigeria comes a long way. So now, this actually will

make us much more closer, to see how we can close some of these gaps that result in such accidents.”

While also reacting to the Synagogue building collapse and its effect on the relationship between the two countries, Mniguni said both countries had come a long way and the collapse could only make them closer and stronger.

The South African ambassador added that the seizure of the funds by South African government was in no way related to the Synagogue collapse.

“South Africa’s relations with Nigeria is priceless, it cannot be sold for $15m,”

Supreme Court sacks Delta lawmaker HE Supreme Court yesterday ordered Edoja Akpodiete, representing Ughelli North Constituency II in the Delta State House of Assembly, to vacate his seat, barely four months to the end of his tenure.

The court, in a unanimous judgment yesterday, held that Akpodiete (of the Democratic People's Party (DPP) was not the elected candidate at the election, held on April 26, 2011, but Jenkins Gwede of the same party.

Justice Walter Onnoghen, who read the lead judgment, held that Akpodiete was not only a pretender to the seat, having withdrawn from the election in writing and collected the deposit he paid to the party (DPP) before the election, he illegally earned salaries and allowances as a legislator since 2011.

The court ordered that Akpodiete vacate his seat and a fresh certificate of return be issued to Gwede, who should take the seat Akpodiete wrongly occupied. It also ordered Akpodiete to refund to the state coffers, all he had earned as a legislator

T

•Orders him to refund salary and allowances earned since 2011 since 2011.

The court came down hard on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the partisan and "worrisome" role it played in the whole episode.

The apex court held that INEC wrongly adjudged Akpodiete the winner of the election and issued him with a certificate of return even when it was aware that he (Akpodiete) had ceased to be the sponsored candidate of the DPP more than 45 days before the state House of Assembly election held on April 26, 2011.

It described as "worrisome" INEC's conduct and awarded a cost of N650,000 each against INEC and Akpodiete, in favour of Gwede.

The court upheld the documentary evidence BT Gwede, showing that the DPP had notified INEC that Gwede was its candidate after Akpodiete withdrew from the election and had the N2m he paid for

n Eric IKHILAE, Abuja n nomination refunded by the party.

The apex court noted that INEC, by its action, “foisted on the electorate of Ughelli North Constituency II, a pretender to the seat, who not only withdrew from the election in writing, but collected the deposit he paid to the 4th respondent (DPP) for the said election.

The 1st respondent (INEC)is hereby ordered to issue the said appellant with a certificate of return in respect of the said House of Assembly election held on April 26, 2011.

“The 2nd respondent ( Akpodiete) is hereby ordered to vacate the seat of Ugelli North Constituency II in the Delta State House of Assembly forthwith.

“It is further ordered that the said 2nd respondent, Edoja Rufus Akpodiete, refunds to the coffers of the Delta State House of Assembly all

monies/sums of money he collected by way of salary, allowances whatsoever and however described since he took his seat in the said House of Assembly under the pretext of being the duly elected candidate of the 4th respondent representing Ugelli North Constituency II, within 90 days of this order,” the court said.

Gwede had challenged Akpodiete's participation in the election at the Federal High Court in Asaba. The court dismissed Gwede’s case in a judgment delivered on June 27, 2012 for lack of jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it was election related.

He appealed to the Court of Appeal in Benin.

The court, in a judgment on May 22, 2013 resolved the issues raised in Gwede's his favour, but refused to make any consequential order, a decision he further appealed to the Supreme Court

FG raises committee on Ogoniland restoration ...As MOSOP president, monarch brainstorm with stakeholders n John OFIKHENUA, Abuja n FFORTS by the Federal Government to seek an enduring solution to the issue of environmental restoration of Ogoniland as proposed in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP Report) received a major boost yesterday with the establishment of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee on Ogoniland by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke.

The 14-member committee, which is expected to hit the ground running, is saddled with the immediate responsibility of proposing a focused engagement and implementation plan with clearly defined steps. The group is also mandated to advise the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, (HYPREP) Advisory Council on the manner in which assets and funds of the project may be held and utilized.

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee, Mrs. Alison-Madueke stated that the establishment of the committee is a direct response to the yearnings of the Ogoni people and other stakeholders for inclusion in the effective engagement by government to activate an enduring and robust environmental restoration of Ogoniland.

The Group General Manager (Group Public Affairs Division), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC ), Mr. Ohi Alegbe , who made this disclosure in a statement, quoted her as saying: ``It is based upon the further recommendations of the HYPREP Advisory Council, that I have reached out to patriotic Nigerians from within and outside the Ogoni community to constitute this Multi-Stakeholder Consultative Committee."

Alison-Madueke further stated that it is expected that this committee will brainstorm and develop suggestions for a clear and actionable roadmap for the restitution of the Ogoni people and restoration of the environment for healthy living conditions.

E

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

NEWS 59

APGA crisis worsens as woman leader confronts Ojukwu over Umeh F

RESH crisis may be brewing in the All Progressives Grand n Gbenga OMOKHUNU, Abuja n positioned to pull down our Alliance, (APGA), as wife of the former leader of the party, Bianca” who knows next to national chairman because of Bianca Ojukwu is up in arms against the National Chair- nothing about the party, how political reasons, then she has man of the party, Chief Victor Umeh over the running of the it has been managed over the lost it because Indi Igbo and party. years and the individuals, Anambra people love Chief Bianca Ojukwu, who is who have made sacrifices for Umeh and appreciates what Nigeria’s Ambassador to the growth of the party, will he has done for them so far Spain and a chieftain of suddenly be attacking the na- and cannot abandon him now,” she enthused.

APGA, has recently engaged tional chairman".

The woman leader posited in criticism of Chief Umeh The APGA Woman Leader and his leadership of the noted that, "Chief Umeh has that Chief Umeh "has been party. demonstrated exemplary called by his people to come Chief Umeh, who is set to leadership and character that and represent them in the n Precious DIKEWOHA, n contest for the senatorial seat Nigerians are proud of; I won- Senate, and he is focused on Port Harcourt in Anambra State in the 2015 der who can claim ignorance that assignment and will not OVERNOR Chibuike elections, has, however, re- of what the man has done, ex- be distracted by anybody under any guise."

Amaechi of Rivers State mained silent probably in re- cept Bianca."

She advised Bianca to She advised Bianca to "rehas advised youths in spect to the former leader of "focus on giving Nigeria a the party, late Dim Chukwuespect Chief Umeh as her nathe state not to allow Rivers tional chairman and elder positive image in Spain or reState to crash by ensuring that meka Odimegwu Ojukwu.

While Umeh may have brother, and appreciate the re- sign your Ambassadorial asthey use their votes to stop President Goodluck Jonathan chosen to be silent on Bianca's spect the man accorded our signment and return home to from wining the presidential attack on him and the party, former leader, Dim Ojukwu, try your luck in partisan poliAPGA's woman leader, her husband, in life and in tics and see whether you can election in 2015. match Chief Umeh's accomHe said it has become neces- Ezinne Amaka Agbiogwu has death" Agbiogwu further stated plishments." sary for the people of the state risen stoutly in his defence The APGA chieftain also reto prepare to vote against Pres- and asked Bianca to "keep that "whatever misgivings ident Jonathan because of the quiet and face her Ambassa- Bianca has against the na- vealed that, "all the women in hatred he has for Rivers people. dorial assignment, pointing tional chairman, if there is any the party were solidly behind Governor Amaechi spoke out that without Chief Umeh at all, can be addressed with- Chief Umeh's senatorial amyesterday in Port Harcourt there will not anything like out trying to cast aspersion on bition because of his contributhe hard earned corporate tions to the party and love for during the 30th /32nd convo- APGA in any state by now" Agbiogwu, in an interview image of the hard working women development despite cation ceremony of Ignatius the pull-him-down antics of Ajuru University of Education, with selected newsmen in chairman" wondered why "In any case, if she has been the Bianca." held at the Rumuolumeni Abuja, main campus of the university.

Amaechi said the president had made things difficult for the state, a situation which he claimed has resulted in the decline in the revenue generation of the state.

IVERS State governor and Chairman of the carry out renovation of our secondary schools.

He said the students would Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) But, we are starved of funds by the federal govnot get a job after their graduaChibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said he is ernment, so, how do we complete our projects? tion if they didn’t act fast to redetermined to complete most of the projects That is why I said, we will work until May 29, sist President Jonathan and his started by his administration, despite poor fund- 2015 before leaving office. agents in the state. ing to states by the Federal Government.

“While saving the one billion naira monthly, He noted that the President Governor Amaechi expressed the confidence I knew that there could be a time when the econgave Soku oil -well to Bayelsa that the reserve fund in the state coffers, amount- omy of the country or state will be challenging.

State and Etche oil- well to Abia ing to N19billion, would be used judiciously So, I started saving the money in our reserve State, adding that no federal used to complete ongoing projects before the end fund. But, the problem of money is not only in project has been executed in of his tenure.

Rivers State. The Lagos State governor has comRivers State since Jonathan beAmaechi stated this during an inspection tour plained bitterly, including other APC governors. came the President of Nigeria. of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium ahead of The approval of the N19 billion by the Rivers “As fresh graduates, what the APC mega rally in Port Harcourt, billed to State House of Assembly from the reserve fund you need now is job, the Presihold tomorrow. will help us to complete our projects,” Amaechi dent is not creating an enabling According to him, “it is so alarming that we explained. environment that would aid cannot pay salaries and even complete our projWorried by the high level of alleged stealing your employment. You must ects. But, we will shame those people who think in the Jonathan’s administration, Amaechi said get ready to have your voters’ we cannot complete our projects. We promised the Federal Government has derailed from its vicard as the only weapon to to work on Oyigbo roads, complete Elioparanwo sion of creating wealth for the Nigerian people vote the president out in 2015. road, and also work on Rumuagholu road and to sabotage the economy of the nation and de“We must not allow him to several others. liberately impose unnecessary suffering on inwin. If he does, the state will “We will also furnish our primary schools, nocent Nigerians. crash, you can imagine that as a south –south president, all the roads linking the southsouth are not passable. That is an evidence that his governHe said, "We decided to work with you ben Osagie OTABOR, Benin n ment is corrupt and he is the cause we have seen the situation of the PDP and INSMEN of Chief Tom Ikimi in Igueben saw that there is no way the PDP can win election most corrupt President in Local Government Area yesterday again in this state."

Africa. dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for “Believe me, you will not get The Unit Secretary of the PDP, Patience Ogthe All Progressive Congress. a governor that will be like me, beifun, said she joined the APC train because of They said they decided to defect because they developmental strides of the party.

I mean a governor that will foresaw that the PDP 'cannot win any election look at the President in his face Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who played again in the state'. and tell him his mind. I have host to the defectors, said the people could tesAmong the defectors were executives of the walked out in the meeting with tify to the changes that have taken place at PDP at various wards of Igueben. the President twice and no Igueben under his administration.

Omorodion Reuben in Ward five said the polgovernor will have the mind to Oshiomhole assured the defectors that the 'loitics of Igueben would not be concluded without cust' would never return to power in the state do that. We must be ready to them. vote him out.” again.

2015: Lets vote Jonathan out, Amaechi advises youths

G

Poor funding by FG won’t stop me from developing Rivers –Amaechi

R

Ikimi’s kinsmen join APC

K

Why I quit Jonathan's govt –Dagogo Jack HE immediate-past chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP), Engr. Reynolds Bekinbo DagogoJack, has said that he resigned his appointment as the chairman of the presidential task force on power to heed the clarion call of the people of Rivers State.

Dagogo-Jack spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt at a rally organised by his friends and supporters as part of their solidarity to support his governorship aspiration under the banner of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing the crowd of supporters, Dagogo-Jack said Rivers people are at a very crucial cross road in defining the future direction of the state, adding that the past decade has been mostly wasted in playing politics without structured development and social welfare.

He said he resigned his appointment because of genuine

T

n Precious DIKEWOHA, Port Harcourt n solidarity visit from different social and geopolitical groups in the state, which he said means a lot to him.

“Our state is one of the three most blessed economies in Nigeria, with deep seaports, huge untapped tourism potentials, massive wasting gas reserves, arable wet lands best suited for commercial agriculture, geographically well-positioned to serve the market needs of other states.

“Rivers people have shown a lot of genuine solidarity, asking me to run. This confirms that they desire my stewardship, that they have faith in me. It gives me the strength to carry on, knowing that they will stand by me all the way.”

60

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

NEWS

Kogi West youths back Smart Adeyemi for third term Bukola AMUSAN, Abuja OUTHS from Kogi West senatorial district, under the auspices of Smart Adeyemi Continuity Movement (SESACOM) has commenced rally for the re-election bid of Senator Smart Adeyemi for the third term.

Thousands of youths at a rally held at the Children's Amusement Park, Lokoja extolled the achievement of the senator in the house and promised that they were going to work for his re-election.

In his welcome address, Comrade Oladele John Nihi, said the youths are committed to the continuation of Adeyemi as he has represented his constituency well and should be allowed to continue to enhance development in the constituency.

The Director General of Senator Smart’s campaign organization represented by the former Chairman of Ejumu local government area, Mr Fehinti Dada, said Senator Adeyemi has performed up to expectations.

According to him, having Senator Smart for the third term will strengthen his capability to adequately advocate for the constituency at the National Assembly.

"We need someone to help us spread development to our area.

If we have a third term senator in the national assembly, he would be strong to advocate for things that would bring development to his people because his voice as a senior senator would be respected and nobody can be principal officer in the national assembly if he is coming for the first time.”

Dada who ruled out any form of rotation in the area, said there was no rotation formula for contesting for the seat adding that where such arises, it should be amicably settled among the leaders.

“Even if the seat is zoned to another federal constituency, nothing stops others from contesting. So our leaders most address this issue, our leaders must seat down to settle this issue of rotation from this tenure. Let this person go.

Y

• Bauchi State Deputy Governor visits victims of bomb blast in Azare, LGA...yesterday

Gemade to Suswam: Respect your elders HAIRMAN, Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Barnabas Gemade, has charged Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam to learn to respect his elders even in the contest for political office.

A statement by Gemade’s Legislative Aide, Bob Jija, made available to our correspondent in Abuja said that Gemade gave the charge as he rounded off his consultative tour of Sankera political bloc, Benue State.

Governor Suswam is said to have completed plans to vie for Benue North East Senatorial seat under the plat-

C

Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The seat is currently being occupied by Gemade who is also a former National Chairman of PDP. Sankera comprises of Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas of Benue State.

The statement said that Gemade who laced his speech in Tiv custom and tradition reminded the governor that it is a taboo in Tiv nation for a minor to ask his elder to stand up for him to sit.

Jija quoted Gemade to have

said while addressing the people of Sankera that with the support shown him during the visit, he is sure that his second term ambition is already a done deal.

Gemade was also quoted to have added that, “in the history of Tiv nation, there is nowhere a younger person has ever asked an elder to stand up and give him (the younger person) a seat.”

The lawmaker was said to have declared that such an action of a younger person asking an elder to stand up for him would not be acceptable in Tiv land.

Gemade said, “I want to

thank you very sincerely for your overwhelming support.

With God and you behind me, I believe nothing is going to stop my re-election to the National Assembly in 2015.

“What you need to do now is to choose delegates who can write names of their choices without been supported by anybody.

“Our party, the PDP, which I am a founding member allows for a second term in office, even for those who perform very low.

“We are all witnesses to that and there is no way a star like me will not be allowed to go for a second term. That cannot happen.

“A younger person has never asked an elder to stand up and give him a seat in our land and I will not accept that.

“Those who are younger should go for other things that are even more attractive and leave my Senate seat.

“I am ready to help in looking for an alternative for them if they wish. But if it must be this Senate seat I am occupying, nobody should try to unseat me because that will not be acceptable.”

Jija quoted Hon. Bemkor Ugbidye and Ajagu Bogbenda, who spoke for Ugondu and Gaambe-Tiev respectively during Gemade’s Ugba LGA consultative visit, to have assured of their overwhelming support for the incumbent senator.

Jija said that the stakeholders however noted that “God gives leadership” and charged Gemade to look up to God for the actualization of his aspiration.

Jija noted that in Zaki-Biam, Ukum LGA, PDP Deputy Chairman for Ukum, Mr. Akoko, Hon. Akumaveyol Tor Musa and Lord William Annase, described Senator Gemade as a friend of Ukum.

The speakers, Jija said, assured that they have no excuse not to support Senator Gemade’s aspiration.

He quoted Lord William, who is also the National President, Ukum Development Association, to have said that it was Gemade who made their son, Prof.

Daniel Saror Senator in 1999, describing him as the (Ikyarem) of Ukum people.

Jija said that Senator Gemade was also given a heroic welcome to KatsinaAla LGA last on Saturday when he addressed PDP stakeholders and elders at

Kano records six polio cases in six months —Health Commissioner Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano ANO state has recounted 5 cases of Wild Polio Virus in the last 6 months in the state which now accounts for two per cent global burden even as the government restated dedication to eradicate the scourge of the virus before the end of 2014.

Addressing Journalists on the backdrop of 2014 world Polio day, the state commissioner for health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf explained that the fresh 5 cases were discovered in four local government areas.

Represented by permanent secretary in the ministry Alh. Dahiru Musa, the commissioner noted despite the current status, Kano is winning the war against known factors responsible for initial rejection of polio immunization.

Dr. Abubakar noted that " compare with last year when 15 new cases were discovered and some years back when Kano takes the led in the world, today we can confidently say government is winning the fight. As I speak we have eradicate polio in 40 local government areas left with 4. Currently there is 240 cases of polio and Kano has five share cases that is almost two per cent. " And appropriate measures are being put in place to stop further spread to other part of the state. That is taking a tremendous efforts in the improvement of routine immunization coverage which is one of the strategy to stamp-out polio in the state. So far the story is a successful one and we are not relenting on the campaign on the media".

Lamenting some of their critical obstacle militating the success of routine immunization exercise, Dr Abubakar revealed that about 140 children were deliberately invaded from the exercise adding that the development took the intervention of Emir of Kano Alh. Muhammudu Sanusi who led the team on awareness and the need for compliance.

He stressed that Kano has expended N360 million across the 44 local government councils in the last six months and contributed N140 million into joint basket purse alongside federal government, world health organization WHO and other partners to eradicate the scourge of polio in the state.

K

NNPC takes delivery of 66,000 litres of stolen crude oil James AZANIA, Lokoja Nigerian Navy yesterday handed over 66,000 litres of crude oil it recovered from suspected pipeline vandals to officials from the Lokoja, Kogi State, station of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

The Commander, NNS Lugard, Commodore Shuwa Mohammed commended NNPC for quick outcome from laboratory analysis of the stolen products.

The stolen products which were transferred and loaded at the NNS Lugard Naval base in Lokoja, were moved in two heavy duty trucks, to be decanted back into NNPC pipeline network.

The NNPC Station Chief in Lokoja, Mr. Idoko Ameh, who was on ground to accept the stolen product thanked the Navy for collaborating with the NNPC to "fight this evil of vandalism in our land".

The emptied wooden (Cotonou) boat in which the stolen product was being transported was later towedaway from the water shore and set ablaze.

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

61

62

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

63

SPORT EXTRA JONATHAN URGES FALCONS

Bring back the AWC trophy • Congratulates team for for 2015 FIFA Women Word Cupqualification

• Jonathan

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the Falcons of Nigeria on their qualification for today's fi-

nal of the 2014 African Women’s Football Championship in Windhoek, Namibia and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, the President urged them to go all out against Cameroon in the African Women’s Championship Final.

He said the team must not fail to continue its glorious domination of African Women’s football with an-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja other victory, having won eight of the 10 previous championships.

The statement reads: "Although the Falcon’s scintillating performance thus far in this year’s AWC tournament makes them the bookmakers’ favourites to win the final match, President Jonathan urges them not to take victory against Cameroon for granted, but to prepare very well and put their acclaimed soccer skills

and strength to the best possible use on Saturday to achieve victory."

"The President assures the Falcons and their handlers of the full support and best wishes of the Federal Government and all soccer-loving Nigerians as they strive to add another international sporting laurel to the glory of their fatherland."

He joined other Nigerians in praying for the team’s victory and looks forward to receiving them in Abuja with the Championship trophy.

if we qualify.”

Nigeria are currently third in Group A in the qualifying series for the 2015 AFCON

with only the top two and the best third-placed teams advancing to the tournament proper.

Enyeama wants AFCON 2015 moved over Ebola

N

IGERIA skipper Vincent Enyeama has said next year’s AFCON should be shifted because it may be too risky to stage the competition on account of the deadly Ebola disease.

Hosts for the 2015 AFCON Morocco have asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to move the tournament to a later date as a result of Ebola, which has so far killed almost 5,000 people in West Africa.

And 32-year-old Nigeria and Lille goalkeeper Enyeama said: ”I really wish it doesn't happen (AFCON) with all the people that will be moving around.

“But I'm not CAF. I'm not the one who calls the shots.”

Enyeama confirmed that he was fearful of the spread of the Ebola virus.

“It's risky for everyone because you go to Africa and then everyone is hugging you

and shaking you, and what can you do? You're at risk,” he admitted.

“But if it happens I will play,

ITTF WORLD CUP

Quadri gets Hong Kong foe in round of 16

A

S the ongoing ITTF World Cup enters the knockout stage today, Nigerian table tennis ace, Aruna Quadri has been paired against Tang Peng from Hong Kong, who is rated number 16 in the world. The game begins 12 noon local time.

In the qualiying round played yesterday, Quadri defeated World number 37, Russia's Alexander Shibaev in the last group match of the first round.

He had earlier beaten Japan's Matsudaira in the first game.

From the start of the encounter, Quadri pinned back his Rus-

I'll give my best against Cameroon — Oparanozie

W

ITH four goals from the Super Falcons' first two matches against Cote d'Ivoire and Zambia,Turkey based striker Desire Oparanozie was already topping the goal scorer's chart of the 9th African Women Championship (AWC) which ends today.

Though the power playing forward was rested in the Falcons' last group game against the Brave Warriors of Namibia,she has failed to find the back of the net thereafter.

With compatriot,Asisat Oshoala and Cameroon's woman 'mountain' Gaelle Deborah all on three goals apiece,Oparanozie's quest to emerge the Golden Boot winner of the tournament is already under huge threat.

"Yes,I still want to emerge as the highest goal scorer of the championship but the trophy is more important than my target" the light complexion attacker told NationSport.

From Olalekan Okusan, Dusseldorf, Germany sian opponent and never gave him a chance as he won easily 11-6, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 to confirm his place in the main draw.

Quadri told NationSport after the match that he capitalised on his opponent’s mistakes to claim the victory.

"I was a bit nervous early in the game, but when I discovered he was making some mistakes I had to capitalise on this to earn points. I knew I had to win the game because he lost to Japan’s Matsudaira in his first game. I just thought I would win 4-3, but when I discovered he was making some mistakes, I quickly

used this to gain points. I think he did not get his rhythm tonight (yesternight) because I knew him as a good player having beaten him at the Czech Open this year," he said.

"I never thought I will progress to the next round because I was in the same group with players who were ranked higher than me. So, I had nothing to lose and I knew if I win it would be a massive result. I am ready to face any player because they will be under pressure as they are ranked better than me. I am hoping for another upset."

It would be recalled that Quadri defeated the Russian 43 at the last Czech Open.

From Onyewuchi Nwachukwu in Windhoek "You remember I was one of the players the coach rested for our game against Namibia and in the semi final,the South African defenders went hard on me even though that's not an excuse" Oparanozie promised that nothing will stop either her or her striking partners from scoring the goals that will give Nigeria the title today.

"We've been missing scoring chances in previous matches,I don't think the same will happen against Cameroon.We talk regularly after training and what Nigerians will see of us in the final will be total football."

In the meantime,Oparanozie could easily win the prize for the most popular Falcons' star among the Namibian fans at the (AWC).

Any time the Nigerian anthem was on before a match and Oparanozie comes on the big screen at the Sam Nujoma stadium,the fans especially the men scream in ecstasy and in most cases admonishe to show respect to the anthem by being quiet.

Even when the Nigerian team file out of the dressing room for their matches,the fans are at the stadium were fond of screaming 'Paranozie, Paranozie'.

A diminutive volunteer named Lee has been in cloud nine after the Falcons' forward promised to give him her jersey today.

Another age cheats squad? No please • Continued from back page 17 World Cup which Nigeria hosted, we placed second, with many of those discovered playing in novelty leagues instead of competing with their contemporaries.

We were U-17 champions again in 2013. It is only fair that Siasia makes the bulk of that squad the nucleus of his team.

Many would argue that they should be left to graduate into the U-20 side. I have no problem with that, except for the fact the exceptional ones among them, such as Ihenanacho, should be allowed to play for the U-23 side and the Super Eagles, like the English are doing with young lads, such as Raheem Sterling.

Siasia must hit the schools, polytechnics and soccer academies, such as the one run by Kashimawo Laloko, NFF’s youth team programmes and maybe some universities to find boys under the age of 23.

The domestic league has been corrupted with ageing players who ask you which of the ages they belong when you ask such questions. It is easy for them to ask if you want their football ages or their real ones. Such pool cannot help our cause, if we must see players graduate to the Eagles and stay as long as Nwankwo ‘King’ Kanu did.

Talents can be found in the grassroots. Our coaches must face the fact that some of them played for the Eagles while in school.

That tradition needs to be sustained, if our coaches can be as adventurous as the likes of Alabi Aissien, Adegboye Onigbinde, Willy Bazuaye, Charles Bassey, the late Udemezue, the late Eto Amechina et al.

We need young players to replace those showing signs of weakness, those who have been in-and-out of injuries and those who have retired. We must stop the recycling of players who have failed us in the past.

Foreign coach for Eagles

• Quadri

Pinnick–led NFF files Stay-of-Execution

• Court to hear case Wednesday

T

HE Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Amaju Melvin Pinnick has filed a Stay of Execution at the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division over the court’s ruling of Thursday, October 23 setting aside the elections of September, 30, which brought the body to office.

NFF’s lawyers went to work immediately the ruling was made on Thursday and were able to file for the Stay of Execution on Friday. The court has now set Wednesday, October, 29 for hearing of the Stay of Execution.

On Thursday, there was serious apprehension across the nation that the country could be in for severe sanctions from world

football –governing body, FIFA which had issued a stern warning earlier that they would not take kindly to any interference with the NFF’s electoral process.

A hitch –free election eventually took place in Warri on September, 30, following three months of debilitating crises, and FIFA, CAF, NFF sponsors, the National Assembly and other highly –placed institutions and individuals have recognised the Pinnick –led Board and extended their congratulations.

FIFA has also made it clear that any interference from any third parties in the NFF’s administrative process will lead to an automatic ban that would not be revisited until its 65th Congress scheduled for Zurich, Switzerland on May, 29.

I’m a fan of foreign coaches for the Eagles. My support for these foreigners stems from the fact that Nigerian coaches don’t know how to manage success, except for Adegboye Onigbinde; not even Shauibu Amodu. Amodu ranks next to Onigbinde in the sense that he has upgraded himself by attending refresher courses. He accepts mistakes.

Amodu’s biggest weapon rests with the fact that he doesn’t blame players openly when the team loses. He takes responsibility for any result, a trait many Nigerian coaches lack.

Our coaches have refused to transit from being players to coaches. They manage the big players’ ego. Rather than take risks by playing fitter and younger players desirous to prove their mettle, they always err on the side of caution by parading our stars who have seen it all. The absence of a will to achieve greater things (motivation to excel) among the players is chiefly responsible for the sloppy style we have seen during Eagles’ matches.

Most Nigerian coaches don’t watch matches involving our players either here or in Europe.

They pride themselves in saying that they don’t read the local newspapers nor do they watch television. Little wonder, they goof in their selection by inviting injured players to prosecute our matches.

Need I talk about their medieval times tactics which ridicule them before the players anytime they are asked to groom the Eagles?

Our better exposed players mock them after training, having been groomed by experienced European managers. Our players have lifted their game beyond the mediocre level while our coaches still mark time with archaic styles.

Europe-based players wouldn’t be able to replicate their club form with the Eagles until our coaches are at par with their European managers in terms of tactics and management.

This is not to say that all European managers are good tacticians. We have failed to get good foreign coaches because we have anchored our search on some unscrupulous Nigerians and their cronies. In other climes, such an exercise is either advertised or the country head-hunts four coaches who are thought to have what they want for the Eagles, for instance.

In picking these four, they have benchmarks and they are ranked based on their individual capabilities. They start by sounding out the best of the four until they get the right one. Indeed, all these processes are kept under wraps until the selected coach has agreed to all the terms for the job.

We must learn to do things right to avoid controversies and ensure that the coaches take us seriously.

Thank you Falcons I don’t hide my love for all our female national teams. They are magicians. When they win matches, I marvel because they barely play the game here. Nigerian female players play the game on empty stomachs. They play for the love of the game. I always join the prayer group when they have their matches.

I’m therefore excited that Falcons have qualified for the senior World Cup in Canada. I pray that many of the players secure better deals in Europe. Indeed, if they get lucrative contracts in Europe, they would serve as models to other parents to encourage their girls to play the beautiful game.

In today’s final game against Cameroon in Windhoek, it is my wish that Falcons lift the trophy again. I want them to be rewarded for their efforts. These girls have been unfairly treated by our sports administrators.

Imagine if it was the Super Eagles in the finals of the male version of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Sports Minister would have been resident in Namibia since the quarterfinals day. Government officials would have been roaming the streets in Namibia. The Presidency would have organised telephone interviews between the girls and President Goodluck Jonathan. Such is our sense of balance.

Several governors would have been in Namibia today to support the girls, not forgetting the blue-chip firms struggling for spaces in the newspapers, radio stations and television channels to eulogise the girls.

Lastly, those who ascribed the Super Eagles’ shambolic outing at the Africa Cup of Nations’ qualification matches to the crises at the NFF should, by now, accept that they were wrong, given what our girls have achieved in the continent and the world under the same circumstances. The Falcons have shown skills, patriotism and discipline. Without these, no team can do well. This is the lesson of our dearest girls’ feat.

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

Only now that we seem to have beaten the threat of an Ebola pandemic does it come with a startling revelation that in actuality, it was the specter, not the reality of a pandemic that inspired us to dig deep into our collective selves and find the capacities we have in us to beat the threat

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 3012

—Biodun Jeyifo

I

F I am not mistaken, the term, 'stomach in frastructure', was first popularised, at least in the media, by the Lagos State University (LASU) based academic and journalist, Dr Dapo Thomas. After a visit to Ekiti state, Dapo Thomas had written about Governor Fayemi's superlative performance in terms of provision of physical and social infrastructure but noted, rather light-heartedly, that some disgruntled elements would prefer Fayemi to cater for what they called 'stomach infrastructure' than his frenetic construction of roads, schools, medical facilities and other legacy projects.

After the June 21 Ekiti state governorship election, in which the tempestuous and excitable Mr Ayo Fayose of the PDP unexpectedly recorded a landslide victory, the issue of stomach infrastructure was no more a laughing matter. It had become the focal point of myriads of analyses on the outcome of the polls. Fayose's electoral triumph and fairy tale return to an office he was disgraced out of six years earlier was attributed by many commentators to stomach infrastructure. The Ekiti electorate reportedly preferred a morally tainted and ideologically vacuous Fayose to an urbane, brilliant, visionary and performing Fayemi simply because the former inundated them with bags of rice and fresh mint wad of Naira notes.

Of course, this column has refused to identify with such superficial and utterly misleading analyses of Ekiti politics. Stomach infrastructure does not adequately explain either the outcome of the last Ekiti state governorship election or the political sociology of the Ekiti people. For one, the use of money or material goods to seek to entice voters was not limited to any political party. No one can claim sainthood in that regard.

Again, it is all too easy for people to collect money or other forms of bribe from unscrupulous politicians and yet still vote for a party of their choice no matter how impoverished the latter. Thus, the late MKO Abiola's massive injection of funds into the South-west in the second republic never translated into electoral success for his party in the region even though the people unhesitatingly partook of his financial largesse.

In any case, the PDP was effectively in control of Ekiti in 2007. This was in addition to the party's control of Nigeria's resource-laden centre. The PDP was doubly in a position to deploy 'stomach infrastructure' to retain control of the state as it so desperately desired. Yet, a Fayemi who was not in office and had negligible means to compete with a sitting government in terms of 'stomach infrastructure' triumphed at the polls.

It was certainly not because of stomach infrastructure that the people of Ekiti stood resolutely

by Fayemi throughout his epic struggle in court to reclaim his stolen mandate. It was not stomach infrastructure that informed the massive support of the Ekiti electorate for the APC in the state and national assembly election in 2011.

Even the resurgentAyodeleFayose who sought to be elected Senator on the platform of the Labour Party suffered ignominious defeat in the election.

Ekiti: A political economy of stomach infrastructure

•Fayose Yes, I agree with the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka that Fayemi's defeat in the governorship election remains a mystery. However, the mystery, for me is not Fayose's victory.

Rather, it is the APC's inexplicable squandering of its goodwill in Ekiti such that the party lost in all 16 local government areas of the state without the slightest whimper from an electorate purportedly robbed of their votes through a certain mysterious creature christened 'photochromic ballot'.

I have no doubt in my mind that Fayose is a very vulnerable incumbent. He does not appear to have learnt any lessons from his past misadventure in office. Thus, his continuing rambunctiousness and combustible spontaneity make him prone to political self- demystification.

However, the APC can only maximally exploit and take advantage of Fayose's ingrained weaknesses if the party urgently undertakes a sober analysis as regards its severe setback in Ekiti,engages in a thorough soul searching and faces the future on the basis of reality and not illusions.

Even then, can we situate the emergent phenomenon of stomach infrastructure within the

•Fayemi framework of the political economy of Nigeria?

I think so. Stomach infrastructure refers to the tendency to place excessive emphasis on satisfying one's physical and material appetites even to the detriment of upholding more ennobling and elevating values. It refers to a penchant for instant gratification of one's desires in the immediate even at the cost of more enduring long term benefits. In this sense, stomach infrastructure is likely to thrive within a context of deepening and pervasive poverty, ever widening inequality and the widespread perception of political actors across party lines as greedy, grasping, mindlessly corrupt and self- seeking.

Despite the pejorative sense in which the term stomach infrastructure is used, the reality is that satisfying the need of the stomach, the imperative of daily sustenance is the very foundation of human existence. Although he never used the term, I am sure the late political economist, Claude Ake, must have something like stomach infrastructure in mind when he declared in his magnum opus, 'A Political Economy of Africa' that "To begin with, economic need is man's most fundamental need. Unless man is able to meet this need he cannot exist in the first place. Man must eat before he can do anything else - before

he can worship, pursue culture or become an economist".

However, Ake is quick to clarify what he means when he states further that "Just as economic need is the primary need, so economic activity is man's primary activity. The primacy of work, that is economic activity, is the corollary of the primacy of economic need…In short, man must eat to live but he must work in order to eat…It is true that man does not live by bread alone. But it is a more fundamental truth that man cannot live without bread". (By the way, I think Ake's jibe at Jesus here is misguided. When Jesus says 'man shall not live by bread alone', he already implies that bread is a necessary condition for human existence but insists that satisfying the physical appetite is not a sufficient condition for a fulfilling life.)

With the benefit of Ake's insight, we can see the fundamental difference between Fayemi and Fayose's approach to stomach infrastructure.

Fayemi knows that man must eat to live but also realises that man must work in order to eat. He thus concentrated on aggressive and radical modernisation of infrastructure that can liberate the potentials of the economy, create jobs and boost prosperity through self-reliance.

If he were of a more contemplative cast, Fayose would realize that there is really no viable alternative to Fayemi's developmental vision for Ekiti. Rather than a wholesale repudiation of his predecessor's legacy, he would continue with Fayemi's legacy structures while taking steps to more concretely link the implementation of these projects with the local Ekiti economy.

Unfortunately, Fayose creates the impression that he has the magic wand to provide food for the people ofEkiti without the necessity of work.

He has thus promised his delirious supporters free rice and chicken at Christmas. He has appointed a personal assistant on stomach infrastructure for this very unproductive function of free food distribution. This is very insulting. The industrious people of Ekiti certainly do not want to be treated like children by a paternalistic state.

They want a state that will create the environment for them to be productive and self -reliant.

Fayose does severe violence to the image and psyche of the Ekiti people when he says the governor of their imagination is one who eats boli and drinks 'agbojedi' on the streets with them.

No, Fayose should seek to measure his success as governor by how many of his supporters he is able to rescue from the drudgery, misery, indignity and dangers of selling boli and 'paraga' on streets, motor parks and highways.

True, one can question Fayemi's prioritisation of projects. But Fayose should realize that he stands on shaky moral ground to do so. For, the truth is that a N3 billion state house that belongs to Ekiti and is visible for all to see is infinitely preferable to a billion Naira fictional Integrated Poultry project that did not produce even one chicken with the money gone down the drain!

Fayose has been given a rare chance for selfredemption. Time is of the essence. He cannot make progress piloting the affairs of Ekiti state with his gaze fixated on the rear view mirror.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Another age cheats squad? No please

O

UR coaches have started again. Must Ni geria always win age grade competi tions? How have these pyrrhic victories helped our senior national team like we see in other climes? Anytime Nigerian coaches throw age-grade camping open, they unwittingly surrender the exercise to unscrupulous agents who pressurise them to pick their wards. Besides, the coaches get confused, leading to wrong selection of players.

What our coaches must know is that the NFF has since 2010 produced good U-15 lads who should form the nucleus of the country’s 2016 Olympic Games squad in Brazil. The others should come from our spectacular Golden Eaglets of 2009 and 2013. Those who were 14 and 15 in 2009 should be 21 and 22 in 2016. Of course, every member of the 2013 Eaglets is a

potential member of the Olympic Eagles, if Samson Siasia is serious with this assignment.

Siasia should never be allowed to pick players from the Nigerian leagues. I dare say that there is no 22-year old in any cadre of our leagues. We must stop our coaches from parading boys who present sworn affidavits to back their ages. If we cannot find the right players here, then we can head for Europe where Chelsea FC’s manager Jose Mourinho introduced a 17-year old Dominic Solanke to play for the Blues in their 6-0 whiplash of Maribor in Tuesday’s Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal has a lot of Nigeria-born kids who can help us stem the ugly tide of always playing old men in age-grade competitions.

We must ensure that the bulk of players who make the Brazil 2016 Olympic Games squad should constitute the Super Eagles team to the

2018 World Cup in Russia. That is the way other football nations plan their Mundial. If we follow this route, it simply means that most of the players would have played together as a team for close to five years. I will suggest that the NFF, in constituting the Eagles’ technical crew, should find a role for Samson Siaisia and Gabra Manu in the Eagles. What this would do their teams is that they would know the playing pattern at the senior level and try it out with our junior teams. Scouting for players in our domestic leagues for a competition slated to hold in 2016 in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, is another fraudulent exercise of parading age cheats at the Samba Olympics.

We have been Olympic Games gold medalists in Atlanta in 1996. We were runners-up to Argentina at the Beijing Olympic Games, losing 1-0, no thanks to Di Maria’s cheeky lob over the head of goalkeeper Ambrose Vansekin. We

have nothing else to prove in that cadre. What haunts us like a sore thumb is the fact that not many of the products of our youth teams have graduated into the Super Eagles.

Siasia has shown mastery of this cadre but he must spare us the thought of fielding players who would storm the camp with sworn affidavits to substantiate their ages. Siasia’s employers must tell the coach what they expect of him. We need to use our age-grade teams to discover and nurture school boys, not adults in our leagues.

We have excelled at U-17 and U-20 since 2007, when the late Yemi Tella produced young boys who dazzled the world with their skills.

Most members of that glorious squad have disappeared like ice cream under the scorching sun. Again, in the 2009 edition of the FIFA U-

•Continued on Page 63

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025, Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Marketing: 01-8155547, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, Tel/08099650602. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 ` Website: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: saturday@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: DELE ADEOSUN