September 13, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

KIDNAPPED JOURNALIST, DONU KOGBARA, Page 6 FREED

Cabinet: Buhari consults Obasanjo over team May submit list of nominees in batches Page 5

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.09, No. 3337

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

N200.00

NEW CUSTOMS BOSS, HAMID ALI, SPITS FIRE

t ’ n o d I , k n i r d t ’ I don o d t ’ n o d I d n a e k smo

s g u dr

-Angelique Kidjo Pages 46 & 47

Ooni: Osun invites Giesi ruling house to pick candidate Page 8

‘I will jail corrupt Customs officers’ Page 4

BUHARI VOWS TO Page 4 PUNISH SOLDIERS WHO VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS

Considering my military background, I believe punishment must be punitive for others to see as deterrent.

Therefore, as an officer of the Nigeria Customs service, if you are caught involved in corruption, I am not only going to dismiss you, I will make sure I prosecute and jail you!

DSS: RIVERS POLL MARRED

BY VIOLENCE, THEFT Page 5 OF ELECTORAL MATERIALS Tribunal admits pictures of corpse, burnt election materials and vehicles as evidence

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

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CAPTURED

Missing 100-pound tortoise found unharmed

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100-pound tortoise is back with its owner after meandering more than a mile away from its northern New Jersey home in the United States of America.

A motorist spotted Sulley (the tortoise) on the side of a road at the weekend and called the state police.

Pattenburg Volunteer Fire Company's chief, Dan VanFossen, said they were about to go looking for Sulley on Friday afternoon when they got the call that the tortoise had been found. Volunteer firefighters and a search-and-rescue dog searched unsuccessfully for several hours on Thursday.

Sulley's owner, Laura Roerig, says the tortoise went missing from a backyard enclosure in Union Township on last Sunday morning when she went to church.

Roerig says Sulley is healthy and unharmed, but won't be staying in the enclosure until it's repaired. She said Sulley's in timeout.

Not exactly Azonto!

• It’s not everyday you catch a state governor and the nation’s top policeman in what looks suspiciously like a dancing contest! Indeed, it was no competition – just Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his wife, Iara and Mr Solomon Arase, Inspector-General of Police and his wife taking dancing dignified steps at a reception organised by the Edo State Government for the Police I-G on Friday.

•Tortoise

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BOUT one week after P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari made his last set of appointments, and raised quite a storm in the process, the controversy is threatening to become sectional. On August 27, the president had appointed six close staff, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Chief of Staff, and heads of the Customs and Immigration.

Many commentators and politicians, particularly from the Southeast, criticised the

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F feelers are right and press reports are not exaggerated, some of the states which have received bailout funds packaged by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are unlikely to learn any lessons from their financial debacle. Most of them have argued that their insolvency was caused mainly by the corruption and impunity rife under the past Goodluck Jonathan government. Others have also suggested tamely that the decline of oil sales and lower receipts compounded their cash flow problems. While there is some truth in their arguments and observations, these do not fully explain the several months they owed their workers.

Rather than feel justified by the exposure of the rot perpetrated under the Jonathan government, and exhilarated by the CBN loan, they should be mortified by their nearly absolute lack of financial management skills and foresight. They may be fairly good politicians and activists, great rhetoricians and rabblerousers, but obviously many of them are nothing more than ancient ideologues, experimentalists needlessly besotted to newfangled ideas and social theories, and reckless builders and spenders.

The bailout is just a stopgap. It should invite them to rework their state accounts, cut out sentimental and unproductive projects, and get their perspectives sorted out rather than be lured into exculpatory complacency and fresh spending.

BAROMETER sunday@thenationonlineng.net

Buhari appointments: Fighting fire with fire appointments, which they said were skewed, insensitive and sectional. President Buhari appointed those he could trust and who merited the offices they were given, argued his supporters, party and aides. The presidency further explained that the appointments were just starting, and no one, let alone ethnic groups, would be short-changed. When all is said and done, All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesmen enthused, everything and all the appointments would balance out.

While it is uncertain that the Southeast could be persuaded by the president's arguments, some northern groups have rallied robustly to his defence. One group in particular, the Concerned Elders of the North (CEN), flung in the public face a list of offices occupied by southeastern and SouthSouth appointees under the

Goodluck Jonathan presidency. In the CEN list, the Southeast and SouthSouth virtually colonised the 'commanding heights' of both the economy and politics. In two ministries, for example, according to the list, the Southeast was shown to have suffocated other sections of the country, claiming that all appointments were done on merit.

If the list were to be elongated, hinted CEN, some other startling facts could be unearthed, alarming and discomfiting very many people, including beneficiaries and victims of the arbitrariness of federal appointments in Nigeria. The CEN list came up with about 35 Jonathan federal appointments in almost perfect counterpoise to the 31 or so Buhari appointments.

There seems to be some weird logic in fighting fire with fire, number with number, and

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zone with zone.

But the exertions of the shadowy elders from the North were quixotic. Their list of the Jonathan era appointments was probably accurate but disturbing, just as the Buhari list has perplexed many and injured sectional feelings. Both lists speak ingloriously to the schisms disemboweling the country such that after many epochal crises, a civil war, and the ethical and material pillage undertaken by successive military regimes, lessons have not been learnt, nor have Nigerian leaders seemed capable of summoning the sensitivity, balance and altruism that the high offices they occupy demand.

It is curious how history is repeating itself in the controversies accompanying the appointments. To answer allegations of skewed appointments under Dr Jonathan, the former Minister

of Finance, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, argued passionately that merit and nothing else was responsible for the seeming slant. No one should blame the Southeast for being so successful in 'meriting' the appointments, she added in pained excitement.

Explaining the current appointments, President Buhari and his aides have also suggested that nothing but merit was responsible for the slant so far. Merit, it seems, is the new boondoggle. It will be done to death in explaining appointments before this decade is over.

As the country emerges from President Buhari's controversial appointments and Dr Jonathan's equally indefensible structuring of his presidency and federal establishments, the lessons of history may serve some useful purpose. Not too long ago in 1975, former head of state Gen Murtala Mohammed chose a young lieutenant, Akintunde Akinsehinwa, as his Aide-deCamp. Since then an ADC has not been lower in rank than a Lt.-Col., and preferably ethnically closer home. It appears the journey to true nationhood will be long and turbulent. Nor are there guarantees, going by what Dr Jonathan and his predecessors and successors did, that the lessons history teaches will be learnt or even acknowledged.

The exoneration of Zakari Biu

E comes closest than any living Nigerian, bar perhaps former president Olusegun Obasanjo, to the idea of a cat with nine lives. Zakari Biu, a former commissioner of police in charge of counter-terrorism in Abuja, has been so special that he is probably the only Nigerian police officer ever to be retired thrice. In 1999, perhaps partly because of the role he played under the Gen Sani Abacha regime, when he was disdained for his harsh tactics against government critics, the Obasanjo

government retired him. But he bounced back after Chief Obasanjo only to be retired again in 2012 for allegedly aiding and abetting the escape of Kabiru Sokoto, a Boko Haram militant accused of masterminding the bombing of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, where 44 people were killed.

Mr Biu appealed his second retirement, and was recalled and then retired again.

Dissatisfied, reports indicated, he again for the third time sometime this year appealed the sentence and was once

more recalled by the Police Service Commission (PSC), exonerated, reinstated and then retired a third time. After this pirouette, he is unlikely to appeal anything again or ask for reinstatement, at least on account of the controversy that has accompanied his police sojourn. Many commentators may not remember the controversial role he played under the Abacha regime, but on the escape and recapture of Mallam Sokoto they have sadly managed to situate him within the context of Nigeria's murky ethnic politics.

Instead of speculating whether his seemingly favoured treatment was justified or not, or make the unsupportable allegation that ethnic considerations played a part in his reinstatement and retirement, the PSC should be compelled to publish the 2015 proceedings that led to Mr Biu's exoneration side by side the 2012 report. It is important to let the people make up their minds whether there was fairness or unfairness in the treatment the obviously venerated Mr Biu consistently received.

By ADEKUNLE ADE-ADELEYE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

On Adegoke Adelabu

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BOUT a fortnight ago, the Ibadan people and the entire Yoruba race celebrated one of their greatest sons with a big splash. It was the centennial anniversary of Adelabu Adegoke, the political titan, emancipatory thinker and one of Nigeria’s most remarkable contribution to African nationalism and the decolonizing project.

It is remarkable that a man who died almost sixty years ago at the youthful age of forty two remains the object of such great adulation

and affection among the Yoruba people. This is a great lesson for our politicians. In the end, it is not the money you make that matters but the many whose life you touch in a positive and everlasting manner.

With his grand gestures of anticolonial defiance, his oratorical flourish, his imaginative fecundity, his verbal overkill and penetrating insight into the pitiable plight of the Black person, the charismatic and iconic politician touched the

life of many people and by so doing a affected the destiny of the Nigerian nation in a profound and positive manner.

To the best of our knowledge, Adelabu did not leave behind a vault of vast riches and stupendous wealth. Indeed such was his contempt for primitive accumulation that the late titan often sorely tempted fate, daring it to return him to the penurious circumstances from whence he came. His legacy resides in his political distinction, intellectual

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COLUMN

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu prowess and his exceptional brilliance as a student.

This morning, and by popular demand, this column republishes a tribute to Adelabu first published seven years ago on this page on the

golden jubilee of the great man’s tragic departure. It is also a labour of love and affection for snooper’s father who was a bosom friend and comrade in arms of the Ibadan political colossus.

Dancing with my father’s friend

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T was the time of music and memorable melodies, of spellbinding lyrics from those earthy geniuses of the talking drum and percussionists of political palavers.

There are certain images that are lodged in the consciousness forever, certain impressions that can never be erased from the human memory bank.

Memories are made of this. When shall good times return to Nigeria?

It is an act of filial affection.

Snooper takes a walk today away from the sclerotic deadliness of contemporary Nigerian politics to give a rare glimpse, a historic cameo, of one of Nigeria’s most charismatic politicians and his father’s bosom friend and fallen comrade in political arms, the late Gbadamosi Sanusi Adelabu Adegoke, a.k.a Penkelemesi.

Adelabu Adegoke died fifty years ago last week in a car crash around Ode Iremo aged forty two. For the gifted ironist and great Ibadan nationalist, it must have been the equivalent of an old Ibadan generalissimo falling in enemy terrain. A scrawny kid barely a year in school, snooper recalls the day of memorable mayhem with graphic intensity. It is an even more pleasant surprise that one retains a vivid memory of the man with the cat-like features and an amazing feline grace.

Spare of build and middling of height, Adelabu Adegoke was nevertheless a titan among men. He was a giant in every other respect: in prodigal memory, in precocious intellect, in stubborn idealism, in visionary imagination and contempt for mediocrity, and in his prodigious appetite and affinity for the fairer sex.

There was more than a hint of the ancient Ibadan warrior in Penkelemesi.

He was Nigeria’s first rock star politician. In his feckless courage and aptitude for stormy confrontations, Adelabu Adegoke often betrayed the nobility of the naïve genius. This freewheeling and swashbuckling devilry of the happy warrior was to serve him very poorly in the treacherous terrain of pre-independence politics.

Time after time, he was outgunned and out-foxed by more coolly

•Adelabu Adegoke calculating and Machiavellian scoundrels. But he retained his buoyancy of outlook; his vibrancy of intellect and optimism of granite will till the bitter end.

Had he lived, and given his contempt for the norms of the bread and butter politician, it would have been interesting to see how he would pitch his tent in the great AwolowoAkintola tango, or how he would view the antics of A.M.A Akinloye, his old comrade, who was to make a one hundred and eighty degree somersault back to right wing base. Adelabu Adegoke came upon the political scene like a meteor and expired with the dazzling brilliance of a meteor.

When beggars die, there are no comets seen but the heavens themselves blaze forth at the death of princes, observes the immortal William Shakespeare. The western Nigeria heavens did blaze forth on the death of Adelabu. Originating from beggarly and penurious circumstances, Adelabu was to overcome the straitened provenance of birth to become a shining star. Despite being born poor, he was a natural prince among men, combining an aristocratic hauteur with populist hell-raising.

A plutocrat of plural possibilities, what galled him most was unearned

merit and distinction and as the colonialists were to find out this royal rebel could be rude and rowdy with superiors while being cosy and conciliatory with subordinates. Adelabu was one hell of a political Robin Hood.

But despite his outstanding qualities as a politician, despite his warmth, his humanity and spontaneous vitality, it is as a dancer of genius that snooper remembers the great man. Nothing can be more electrifying than the political dance. It is a carnival of the possessed, an orgiastic chaos brimming with elemental possibilities and permutations, redolent of collective orgasm. With his lean wiry frame, eellike body dynamics and explosive footworks, Adelabu was a star dancer. He was what the Yoruba will call “akuruyejo” or the small one who is a lovely dancer.

It was a dull overcast afternoon. The first rains of the year came during the night turning the afternoon into a cool, lethargic affair in the small sleepy town. It was Adelabu’s bosom friend who picked his distinct scent from the distant echo of light music.

“Ah Adelabu ti nbo (Adelabu is coming)”, father announced to no one in particular as a grudging grin lit up his stern comely features. The entire household erupted in spontaneous

celebration. The women began chanting Adelabu’s praise with their husband staring at his assorted collection as if they were specimen from the zoo freshly liberated. Unlike his bosom friend, snooper pere was a man of amazing self-restraint. The unlettered damsels saw this as a rare opportunity as they crooned: Adelabu, Akande iji Igi jegede ti d’ana ru A nle bo lehin, o nl’ara iwaju Ekun oko Ayoka omo kumo.

This was Adelabu’s usual gambit, his signature tune and part of his huge repertoire of political tricks. He would pack his car at a distant and then proceed on foot in a carnivalesque procession.

Famously, he once abandoned his official car at Molete and then headed home on foot asking the good people of Ibadan to take possession of their property. The people responded with joyous lyrics.

Adelabu ma kowo wa na Igunnu loni tapa, tapa loni Igunnu Ma kowo wa na.

By the time Adelabu’s entourage reached the vicinity of our household, it had been transformed into a huge crowd of dancers and drummers, a colourful assortment of rural merrymakers, an agrarian tapestry of colour and chaos. Snooper and his various mothers joined the suburban pageantry to the delight and approval of the crowd. The prince of charismatic confusion was swinging and digging with regal abandon even as he winked devilishly at the more unprintable of the lyrics.

Meanwhile Ayan, the lead drummer, a rogue musical genius of inventive profanity, had worked himself into a state of delirious frenzy, frothing at the corner of the mouth as he dished out tons of provocative malediction against political enemies.

For the moment, he concentrated his attention on the palm tree, the symbol of the rival Action Group.

Inu Igbo l’ope ngbe A ki kole adete s’igboro Inu Igbo l’ope ngbe.

And later: B’a o r’epo mo a of’ori s’obe Ope nikan ko laiye.

By the time the procession reached our doorsteps, Ayan had raised the stakes, taking a vicious swing at Awolowo himself. By now, he had about him the look of a deranged hyena even as his talking drum pulsated with malice and mischief.

Bowo ba ba Awolowo yi yan ni e yan Kale ro njeba lola Bowo ba ba Awolowo yi yan ni e yan By this time, the procession had reached its destination which was our doorstep. The crowd puller had to be separated from the crowd. It was a rowdy separation. Adelabu disappeared into the bowels of the house to strategise with his friend and comrade in arms.

The curtains fell on a great man forever.

Six months later, Adelabu died in a car crash. Nigeria had lost one of its most illustrious sons.

Till date, snooper has continued to ponder how Adelabu would have dealt with the Awolowo phenomenon, particularly when it reached its full crushing momentum of mass mobilisation. Perhaps the pragmatic and more politically astute Ibadan politician would have surprised the ponderous Ikenne lawyer on the homeward stretch, cutting a deal that Awolowo would never have contemplated and saving his people from the long scourge of misbegotten federalism.

It is unlikely that Adelabu would have cut a deal with Awo. While Awolowo viewed Adelabu with wary curiosity, Adelabu viewed Awolowo with brash intellectual contempt dismissing him as an upstart. Where was Awolowo when he Adelabu was performing those academic miracles at Government College, Ibadan, Adelabu would have rued to himself.

But while Awolowo was a great political artist, Adelabu was a great artist in politics. The great artist in politics weaves powerful tapestries in the collective memory and imagination leaving behind only glimpses of his tortured and alienated genius. It is the great political artist with great stamina and stability who builds enduring empires. Fifty years on, yours sincerely remembers dancing with his father’s friend.

Drama as Okon submits his assets’ form

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S the historic trial of looters assumes a national frenzy with the Labour people putting in their heavy proletarian boot while demanding the Chinese treatment for corrupt officials, legal fireworks are crackling across the length and breadth of the nation. It appears as if some legal snipers are at work and are bent on toppling legal colossi from their Olympian penthouses.

The crux of the argument is as legally recondite as it is politically transparent. Dear readers, can a person lawfully declare his assets when he has not declared his liabilities concomitantly? In this particular case, the weight of evidence may also torpedo the evidence of weight, apologies to Timi, the Law. Put in another way, when do political assets become economic liability and when does economic liability translate into political assets?

The evidence of weight in one may easily become the weight of evidence in the other. But can political weight aid economic weightlessness through assets shredding or the shedding of political weight? It promises to be a battle royale between the jurisprudence of living oracles and the oracle of living jurisprudents, apologies once again to Uncle Tunji Braithwaite.

But you can trust Okon not to be left out of this epic legal melee. On Friday morning, the fey fellow sauntered into snooper’s bedroom clutching a raft of rumpled sheets with a drunken Baba Lekki in tow. The whole room was suddenly invaded by the foul stench of stale palm wine and raw tobacco.

“Oga I wan quickly reach them ICPC for dem Abuja office make man submit him assets. I no wan make dem

Buhari man come catch man for offside”, the crazy boy drawled with drunken gusto. “ I see. Since when has it come to this?” snooper grunted with a cynical hiccup.

“Dem Yoruba boy say dem Sheriff don come. I don see one for dem American film. The way him dey shoot people, Okon no fit sleep again. I no wan make dem Sikira people see man come kaput. Na the thin dem dey wait for”, the mad boy wailed.

“Get lost man. Is it poor church rats like you they are looking for?” an exasperated snooper screamed at the boy.

“Ah oga, church rat no be dat poor ooo. Na church rat get church when dem human rats don vamoose.

He get time like dat for Biakpan when I see with my korokoro eye as dem obonge church rat dey chase dem pastor.

He come chase am sotey and he come catch am by dem organ and he come bite him blokos bad bad, Naim I come pick race”.

“Okon, get lost. You are just a crazy crook”, snooper charged at the boy, trying to suppress his mirth at the whole comic episode.

“Oga cook no kuku be crook.

Dem crook dey Abuja, na dem dey cook book and na dem dey fry paper”, Okon sneered.

“Wo o ri yen so”, the crazy old man suddenly thundered and then turning to snooper. “Let me tell you, you have been indulging in argumentum ad hominid, the arguments of barbarians and primitive beasts of no nation”. Not having the stomach for an early morning confrontation, snooper decided to ignore the drunken contrarian.

“So Oga Okon, what are your

assets?”snooper asked in a conciliatory mood.

“Ha thank you oga”, Okon began with an expansive flourish” I get am for two thousand naira for bank. He be three thousand before before but dem bank boys thieve am, I get six yams I thieve for Ketu market. I get six eggs I nab for kitchen. I get two goats I capture when dem dey do two fighting. I get one dog I come arrest when him knack him partner kaput and him come dey cry. I get one monkey I nab as him dey cross road under dem pedestrian bridge for Oshodi. I get two chicken who dey abuse me for dem Isolo market, and and I get dem lady corset wey dem Charity forget after I wire am senseless and he no sabi road again. Na only one liability I get and dat one na Sikira who dey thieve all from Okon”.

It was on this note that snooper threw out the drunken duo.

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•Barata

I was never detained in Saudi Arabia, says Barata From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation FORMER Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Sen. Hassan Barata, yesterday said he was never detained in Saudi Arabia for false claims.

He said he has not travelled out of the country since he completed his tenure in the 7th Senate in June.

He also said he is still a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and does not contemplate any defection.

Barata, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent on telephone, said he left Yola on Friday for Kaduna with the Governor of Adamawa State, Jibrilla Bindow.

He said: “I have been in Nigeria; I don’t know anything about anybody’s arrest in Saudi Arabia. I am not in detention in Saudi Arabia. I am here in the country.

“Since I left office, I have not travelled anywhere; I have not gone to Saudi Arabia and I have not even travelled to Cameroon.

“I had been receiving calls from many Nigerians but I have told them that if I am in detention in Saudi Arabia, I could not have been talking to them.

“I am under pressure to sue for libel but this newspaper belongs to us, I cannot go to court against my boss whom I respect so much.”

Responding to a question, Barata said: “Since 1999, I had been in the National Assembly. I would rather be a Senator than being a staff of an embassy. Which one do you think is more honourable?

“The story is somehow because as I am talking to you, I travelled with the Governor of Adamawa State from Yola to Kaduna for a meeting of some governors.

“If I don’t belong to APC, I won’t be able to travel with him. I have not defected to any party.”

He said he had not been using official or diplomatic passport.

Barata added: “I have never been used official or diplomatic passport because I want my passport to be rich. I prefer to be using my green passport.

“It is such a mischief. I have surrendered everything in my possession. This is not my first time in the National Assembly.”

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

NEWS HE Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd) on Friday evening said corrupt officers and men of the agency will go to jail.

He also said all Customs Area Controllers, heads of units and departments will be accountable for infraction dealing with false declaration, deliberate misapplication of the tariff, undervaluation and concealment.

Ali read the Riot Act at his first meeting with all officers and men at the Customs Headquarters, in Abuja.

The meeting was a closed door session and the text of Ali’s address was kept under wraps because of the tension which enveloped the meeting.

Although there was panic among the top brass of the service, Ali said he will reward hard work in the same manner he will punish offenders.

He said: “Since I took over yesterday (Thursday), I have been receiving briefing notes to enhance my understanding of the Nigeria Customs Service. I have articulated some ideas to start with, and I have found it necessary to share these ideas with you. These ideas shall be the guiding principle and platform for a smooth takeoff.

“First and foremost, it is important that we know where we are going. We can start by

Customs: Ali says corrupt officers will go to jail • Reads riot act at tension-soaked meeting with service brass From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation ensuring that we pick up the mantle of Mr. President’s policy thrust. Therefore, in conjunction with you, moving with you and fighting with you we will fight corruption and restore discipline through attitudinal orientation for effective service delivery.

“However, I must stress this for emphasis. I will not tolerate indiscipline. I will not tolerate corruption. I have zero tolerance for corruption.

“Considering my military background, I believe punishment must be punitive for others to see it as a deterrent.

Therefore, as an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, if you are caught involved in corruption, I am not only going to dismiss you, I will make sure I prosecute and jail you. That is basic!”

Besides the war against corruption in the service, Ali reeled out 17 other agenda to reposition the Customs serv-

ice.

He added: “We will optimally achieve the core statutory functions of the service, of revenue collection, trade compliance, and facilitation, anti-smuggling activities, national security amongst others, based on the service motto of “Honesty and Justice”.

“We will commensurately further enhance the welfare of officers and men for maximum service delivery.

“We will ensure the strict application of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP-C45 Laws of Federation of Nigeria (LFN) as amended 2004, Customs codes, Extant Laws and Federal government’s circulars in all customs operations, through training and re-training of officers and men on how to apply them in their day-to-day operations.

“We will address all anomalies manifest in recruitment, training, posting and promotion of officers and men of the service.

“All customs officers and men shall adhere strictly to the

Customs clearance, guidelines and procedures. All Customs Area Controllers, head of units and departments shall be held accountable for all established infractions to do with false declaration, deliberate misapplication of the tariff, undervaluation and concealment.”

The new ComptrollerGeneral directed that “All Customs area controllers, heads of Units and Departments shall now send a weekly report on all proven cases of false declarations, deliberate misapplication of tariff, undervaluation, concealment and seizures with full compliments of action taken to the office of the Comptroller-General and all Customs Area Controllers, heads of units and departments will be accountable for infractions in their areas of operations.”

He added, “The extant procedures of disposal of seizures and overtime cargoes would be comprehensively reviewed to address the current abuse. A public statement shall be is-

President, Muhammadu Buhari (r) presenting Sword to the Graduating Best Cadet, F.A Tajudeen at the combined passing out parade of cadets of 62 regular course and short service course 43 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna yesterday.

Photo: NAN

sued as soon as the review exercise is complete.”

Col Ali promised an overhaul of the Legal and Investigation Units of the Service as well strengthening the service to meet the maximum demands of the emerging challenges.

According to him, “The welfare of officers and men shall remain uppermost in my mind, in the same manner; officers with corrupt tendencies shall not be tolerated. The Customs training colleges in Lagos and Kano and the Academy in Abuja shall be further upgraded to meet the current demand.”

He directed that the trading public, including Importers, Excise traders, Exporters and Agents are expected to comply strictly with the extant Laws, rules and regulations.

Also, “The service shall work hand in hand with other critical Agencies including but not limited to the Army, Navy, Air force, Central Bank of Nigeria, DSS, EFCC, ICPC, Immigration, FAAN, NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, Ports Security, Plant/Animal Quarantine, and NESREA. “The service shall also strengthen its existing relationship with commercial Banks, Terminal Operators, Shipping lines, Shipping Agents and various registered and recognized clearing Associations and all the maritime correspondents of the press at our areas of operation.

He pledged the service’s commitment to International Organisations such as ECOWAS, World Customs Organisations (WCO), World Trade Organisations (WTO) and other International Agencies under the United Nations.

Ali promised to run a 24hour policy for legitimate complaints from traders in order to ensure quality service delivery.

“The office of the Comptroller-General is open 24/7 to the legitimate complaint from members of the trading public in the spirit of optimising quality service delivery,” he added.

Buhari vows to punish soldiers who violate human rights

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari has warned members of the Nigerian Armed Forces against human rights abuse and violation in the cause of their duties.

The president sounded the warning yesterday at the combined passing out parade of the 399 officer cadets of the 62 regular course and short service course 43 of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna.

He added that officers and men of the Armed Forces should resist the temptation of harassing and intimidating Nigerians while carrying out their constitutional roles.

According to the president, the current administration would uphold the rule of law and it has therefore become necessary for officers and men of the Armed Forces to desist from conducts that infringe on the rights of citizens.

He noted that the fight against terrorism cannot be realised

Blessing Olaifa, Assistant Editor, Kaduna without a credible and effective military.

The president expressed the commitment of his administration to due process, merit and total observance of the rule of law as central pillars of a prosperous and democratic society.

The president enjoined the new cadets to play their roles as junior leaders in tackling the prevailing security challenges in the country.

President Buhari said: “While I applaud the integrity and sterling record of the Armed Forces as an institution, this administration will insist on the rule of law, and deal with any proven cases of deviation from laws of armed conflict (LOAC), including human rights abuses. In operational conduct Nigerians expect our Armed Forces to keep law and order and not to be-

have like bullies.

“The objectives of our fight against terrorism cannot be realised without a credible and effective military. On your shoulders therefore lies the mechanism to drive the junior leadership in our Armed Forces. The Armed Forces of Nigeria have a world-acclaimed reputation for valour, resilience and loyal service.

“Let me reiterate the administration’s renewed commitment to due process, merit and total observance of the rule of law as central pillars of a prosperous and democratic society. Rule of law as an element of good governance applies to the Armed Forces as much as any institution in our country.

“It is therefore gratifying to note that recently all three Services have taken steps to not only emphasise on strict adherence to rules in area of recruitment, promotions, procurement, project executions, and

more importantly, in civil-military relations.

“I would like to commend the NDA Leadership for reminding everybody that NDA is a Professional Military Education (PME) institution. In this regard, serious efforts have been made to ensure that academic endeavours must necessarily relate and serve the professional needs of the military.

Buhari added:”I expect that ongoing efforts to review all academic courses of study towards enhancing the professional education capacity of the military will soon be completed. The message of these ongoing reviews, which I hereby reiterate, is that Nigeria is blessed with many civil universities.

“NDA must therefore carve out a niche for itself as a military research university because of its uniqueness, instead of mirror-imaging and competing with civil universities.

That is why I want to recog-

nise and commend the current Commandant for continuing to support the new Centres of Excellence established by his predecessor.

“Let me assure you that the federal government will continue to work towards facilitation of the completion of the NDA’s permanent site.

“I urge you to remain steadfast in your uncommon task of producing world-class officers who will continue to bring home laurels for the Nigerian Defence Academy and for Nigerians.

“For you, the passing out cadets today marks the end of your very tough training in the academy and the beginning of your career as officers in the armed forces. As you are aware, some of those who started the course with you discontinued because they could not withstand the rigours of the physical, mental and intellectual challenges which you gallantly endured.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

NEWS

Cabinet: Buhari consults Obasanjo on team

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HERE were strong indications that the recent audience between President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo centred on national issues, especially the choice of ministers.

It was gathered that Buhari opened up to Obasanjo on the criteria for choosing his ministers.

It was learnt that the president said he was thinking of trying “new hands” instead of recycling the same old ones.

But findings confirmed that the president may send the list of ministers to the National Assembly in batches because of the likely merger of some ministries, departments and agencies.

The first batch is likely to meet the September deadline set by the president.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the meeting between the two leaders focused on what Buhari had done in the last 100 days, the challenges at hand, and the composition of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

A highly-placed source said: “Apart from other national issues, the president took time to explain the criteria he will be using to appoint his ministers. He said he might try new hands instead of using the same set of people that had served Nigerians.

“He also said anyone with tainted records or with issues on corruption may not get a slot in his cabinet. I think he is on the same page with Obasanjo on the anti-corrup-

• May submit list to National Assembly in batches From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

tion agenda.

“The president restated why he would need a team to fix basic things in the country.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “Buhari did not mention any name on the cabinet list to Obasanjo but he spoke on the benchmarks for

would-be appointees and those he won’t accept.”

After the closed door session, ex-President Obasanjo refused to speak with newsmen at the Presidential Villa.

When pressed to respond to reporters’ enquiry, Obasanjo said: “Comot joo” (go away).”

According to a reliable source, the president may

name the cabinet in phases because of the likely merger of some ministries, departments and agencies in line with the recommendations of the Ahmed Joda Transition Committee.

It was learnt that the president might name ministers for key portfolios like Petroleum Resources, Finance, Works, Aviation, Health, and Justice.

The source added: “The president is ready to keep to the September deadline but one of the options on the card is to name ministers in batches because of the likely merger of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“For instance, the Ministry of Special Duties is likely to be scrapped because it is only being used for constitu-

L-R: Chairman, The Infrastructure Bank (TIB) Plc, Alhaji Lamisi Dikko; Media Advisor to the Bank, Otunba Jide Adebayo; Managing Director, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, at the bank’s AGM at the weekend.

5

ency projects and other questionable contracts.

“Rather than keeping the nation waiting, the list may go to the National Assembly in batches.”

When contacted last night, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, who was about boarding a flight to Paris, said: “Honestly, I do not have any latest information on the appointment of new ministers.”

The Nation had exclusively reported that the president is on the final lap of consultations on his cabinet.

It was still unclear if the president will reduce the size of the cabinet from 42 to 36 or a lower figure.

Section 147(1-3) directs the President to appoint at least 36 ministers unless the constitution is amended.

The section reads: “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

“Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

“Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution: “Provided that in giving effect to the Provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”

DSS, opposition official say violence, material theft marred Rivers governorship poll

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WO senior officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and a member of the Action Alliance (AA) party said yesterday that the last governorship election in Rivers State was marred by violence, intimidation shooting and killings.

The DSS officials, Benson Chukwuma and Godwin Mbah, who said they each led a team of DSS officials to monitor and provide security at the election, said although things began well at the inception of accreditation on April 11 , the electoral process was disrupted by hired hoodlums midway, thereby preventing proper voting and compilation of results.

Kamuzu Omiete Blankson, who said he acted as the Collation Agent for his party (the AA), said the election was marred by violent sporadic shooting, burning of election materials and intimidation.

•Tribunal admits pictures of human corpse, burnt election materials, vehicles From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja The three gave evidence, upon being subpoenaed, at the hearing of the petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the election, Dakuku Peterside before the Rivers State governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja.

They gave evidence in relation to the conduct of the election in Ogu-Bolu, Andoni and Asari-Toru Local Governments of the state.

Respondents to the petition are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate at the election, Nyesom Wike Chukwuma, who testified as the petitioners’ 43rd witness and monitored in Ogu-Bolu LG, said the election was dis-

rupted at a point following attack on election officials by hoodlums.

“In ward 10, units 1, 3 and 5, they (hoodlums) removed original result sheets. It gradually spread to all the other wards. There was serious confusion in the place.

“The police was helpless because the thugs were not afraid of them. I quickly contacted the military to come to the scene. At the sight of the military officers, the people (thugs) started retreating.

“Because of the way and manner these thugs were behaving, the INEC ad hoc staff felt threatened, they started gathering their materials, left their various units and gathered at the LG secretariat.

“It was there they were able to gather the figures from which they declared the House of Assembly results.

“In a nutshell, the election was characterised by intimidation, harassment, snatching of electoral materials that prevented the smooth conduct of the election,” Chukwuma said.

Mbah, who said he led a team of DSS men to monitor election in Andoni Local Government, said members of cult groups and hoodlums prevented proper election in the LG. “By my own assessment, the election was characterised by violence, intimidation and irregularities because the situation created tension as some people, who were supposed to vote stayed at home. Even the ad hoc staff of INEC ran away.

“Members of a cult group called the Ice Landers, led by one Ephriam Bara, working for the PDP, shot indiscriminately. Bara is from Onyiada

in Andoni LG,” Mbah said.

Blankson, who said he worked as his party’s collation agent for Asari-Toru LG, painted a graphic picture of how “persistent sporadic shooting,” killings and burning of election materials hindered the conduct of actual election on April 11 in the LG. He tendered 12 photographs of charred election materials, buildings, vehicles and a human corpse, which he said he took after calm returned to the area after what was supposed to be election.

He said a day preceding the election day, guns boomed from 8pm to the early hours of the next day. He said on the day of election, he went to the Super RAC Centre located within the premises of the Kalabari National College in Buguma Town.

Blankson said, while there,

a group of young men, who were masked, invaded the place and burnt it down along with election materials kept there.

“From where I was hiding, I could see these masked young men shooting into the buses packed with election materials. They later set them ( the buses) ablaze. Some went into the hall where election materials were kept and set the hall ablaze.

“After some time, soldiers came and these boys that were shooting ran away.

“I also want this tribunal to know that what happened in Buguma that day is unimaginable. It was horrible; and, I wished it never happened,” Blankson said.

Under cross-examination, he admitted once being a member of the PDP. He said he defected because he was not comfortable with the party’s pattern of politics.

Jeremy Corbyn is new Labour leader

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EREMY Corbyn was yesterday elected as Leader of the Labour Party. He won with a landslide.

In his after victory speech, he promised to lead a Labour “fight back”. The veteran left winger got almost 60% of more than 400,000 votes cast, trouncing his rivals Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall.

He immediately faced an exodus of shadow cabinet members - but senior figures including Ed Miliband urged the party’s MPs to get behind him.

Corbyn was a 200-1 outsider when the three month contest began.

But he was swept to vic-

tory on a wave of enthusiasm for his anti-austerity message and promise to scrap Britain’s nuclear weapons and renationalise the railways and major utilities.

He said he had been a “bit surprised” by the scale of his victory but his campaign had showed “politics can change and we have changed it”.

He will now select his shadow cabinet - but without a string of existing members including Ms Cooper, Tristram Hunt and Rachel Reeves - who have all ruled themselves out.

He has also hinted that he wants to change the format of Prime Minister’s Questions he faces David Cameron

across the despatch box for the first time on Wednesday - suggesting other Labour MPs might get a turn.

The Islington North MP won on the first round of voting in the leadership contest, taking 251,417 of the 422,664 votes cast - against 19% for Mr Burnham, 17% for Ms Cooper and 4.5% for Ms Kendall.

Former minister and Gordon Brown ally Tom Watson was elected deputy leader.

Corbyn supporters chanted “Jez we did” as he took to the stage, putting on his glasses to deliver his acceptance speech.

The leftwinger, who has spent his entire 32 year career in the Commons on the

backbenches, promised to fight for a more tolerant and inclusive Britain - and to tackle “grotesque levels of inequality in our society”.

He said the leadership campaign “showed our party and our movement, passionate, democratic, diverse, united and absolutely determined in our quest for a decent and better society that is possible for all”.

“They are fed up with the inequality, the injustice, the unnecessary poverty. All those issues have brought people in, in a spirit of hope and optimism.”

He said his campaign had given the lie to claims that young Britons were apathetic

about politics, showing instead that they were “a very political generation that were turned off by the way in which politics was being conducted we have to, and must, change that”.

Corbyn added: “The fight back now of our party gathers speed and gathers pace.”

His first act as leader was to attend a “Refugees Welcome Here” rally, joining tens of thousands of people marching through central London in support of the rights of refugees.

Addressing cheering crowds in Parliament Square, he delivered an impassioned plea to the government to recognise its legal obligations to

refugees from Syria and elsewhere and to find “peaceful solutions to the world’s problems”.

“Open your hearts, open your minds, open your attitude to suffering people, who are desperate and who are in need of somewhere safe to live,” added the new Labour leader.

Singer Billy Bragg then led the crowd in a rendition of socialist anthem The Red Flag.

Corbyn earlier told supporters his first day at the helm of his party in Parliament would be spent opposing government plans to “shackle” trade unions by imposing higher thresholds for strike ballots.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015 Why we have not probed Aliyu, by Bello

NEWS

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Coomassie to Buhari: Probe religious organisations, others

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From: Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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ORMER Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie, yesterday backed President Muhammadu Buhari in his fight against corruption.

Coomasie, who is the Sardaunan Katsina, urged the president to extend the crusade to religious organisations, military, police, paramilitary and educational institutions.

Other areas the retired police boss wants the war against corruption extended to include human right associations and organised private sector.

The former IGP spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the 5th Convocation Ceremony of Al-Hikmah University.

He said: "The bold steps taken by the administration so far are highly commendable and it is our hope that these will be extended to other strata of the society.

"It is a fact that both Islam and Christianity abhor corruption under whatever guise.

"Therefore, it is the duty of every Nigerian to support the initiatives of the present administration so that the common wealth of Nigerian could be judiciously harnessed for the benefit of all citizens."

Coomasie, who doubles as the Pro-Chancellor of AlHikmah University, appealed to the federal government to offer financial assistance to private tertiary institutions.

Buhari greets Tukur at 80

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bamanga Tukur, on his 80th birthday ceremony slated for Tuesday in Abuja.

A statement by the Special Assistant to Tukur, Oliver Okpala informed that Buhari wished the elderstateman good health and thanked him for his services to the nation.

BoI secures CBN license

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HE Bank of Industry (BoI) has secured the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) licence to operate as a full-fledged Development Finance Institution (DFI).

The approval was in line with the apex bank guidelines that "all existing DFIs whether established directly by an Act of the National Assembly, incorporated under Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) or any other law shall be required to obtain licence from the CBN." A statement by the BoI noted that based on its plans to drive industrialisation, it has embarked on strategic and tactical initiatives to reposition its operations.

"BoI wishes to reiterate our readiness to continue to provide financial support to SMEs and large enterprises with good business propositions."

• From left: Former Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Executive Director, TGI group, Mr Farouk Gumel; Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Gov Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State at the northern re-awakening summit in Abuja at the weekend

Donu Kogbara, kidnapped columnist, regains freedom V

ANGUARD's columnist, Dornu Kogbara, who was kidnapped on August 30, has regained her freedom.

Kogbara, an Ogoni, was released at 10 pm last Friday but returned to her Nkpogu-Port Harcourt residence around 2 am yesterday.

The new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, visited her at 4:30 am at her residence.

The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammad Ahmad, a Deputy

From Bisi Olaniyi and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed Kogbara's release in a phone interview.

He said the renowned columnist was in a stable condition and unhurt and could not confirm if ransom was paid before she regained her freedom.

Ahmad also refused to give details of her release from the kidnappers' den.

The released columnist spoke briefly with reporters yesterday morning.

She was very angry with Niger Delta youths, who she alleged kidnapped her despite fighting their cause.

Kogbara stated the kidnappers told her Niger Delta youths had been abandoned and therefore, abducted her to take their share of looted funds.

Unknown to them, however, she said she was just a columnist and not a looter.

The kidnappers, who wore police uniforms, seized Kogbara on August 30 when they stormed her Nkpogu-Port Harcourt residence in a CRV

car, amid gunshots.

They quickly disappeared with the columnist whose whereabouts remained unknown for almost two weeks.

The Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the release of the "easy-going and peace-loving" columnist as a welcome development.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, the party said: "APC will like to thank the Almighty God for Kogbara's safe return to her loved ones."

Danjuma chairs IDPs rehabilitation initiatives

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HE federal government has appointed former Minister of Defence, Theophilus Danjuma, to supervise presidential interventions and initiatives aimed at rehabilitating Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the northeast.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this yesterday at the Northern Reawakening Forum organised to rebuild the 19 northern states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Osinbajo said there was need for a unilateral approach to streamline all interventions, including the presidential initiatives on IDPs for better impact.

The vice president, who stated that about 10 northern

S

ENATE Presidents Bukola Saraki, and Speaker Yakubu Dogara have expressed anguish over the bomb explosion that reportedly killed 14 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and injured 13 others in the Malkohi camp in Yola, Adamawa State.

The Senate President, in a statement from his media office, condemned the Yola blast in strong terms, saying the inhuman act could only have been perpetrated by sadists and evil people facing imminent defeat.

He said: "My prayers go out to the victims of the attacks at the largest IDPs camp located in Yola.

"The IDPs in the northeast need our support now

From: Vincent Ikuomola and Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

states remained the nation's poorest, emphasised that the new administration was committed to repair the damages.

He said the social safety nets, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), one meal daily for school children should be top priority among all the interventions, stressing that the north bears most consequences of poverty.

Osinbajo said: "We have been working on interventions in the north east due to immediacy of the crisis in that axis but the problems of diseases and poverty were exacerbated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

"We have government interventions such as presiden-

tial initiative on the north east, victims support group among others.

"All of the federal government initiatives are now under the chairmanship of General TY Danjuma. We hope that streamlining these efforts this way will help control immediate deliveries of succour to many of the problems currently in the north east."

The vice president said there was urgent need to rehabilitate the victims and integrate them to their original homes.

Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mohammed Umara, regretted that the northwest and northeast record the highest death rate of infants within the first 28 days.

He said the region also

records lowest literacy level, adding that poverty rate in 16 from 19 northern states had doubled since 1980.

Umara said that the forum was organised to restore traditional values of peaceful coexistence between different religious, tribes and promote political and socio-economic development in the region.

He expressed optimism that the forum would help address challenges of poor educational standard.

Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, called for prompt sustainable development programmes in the northern states.

Shettima said the governors had agreed to work together to redevelop the region.

Saraki, Dogara condemn Yola blast From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

more than ever. The insurgents have resorted to cowardly methods because they are being routed by our military.

"We must continue to pray for the success of the ongoing military efforts against the insurgents.

"We urge the military to remain resolute and focused because we are definitely witnessing the last days of Boko Haram in our country."

He called on security agencies and Nigerians to increase their vigilance and prevent Boko Haram renegades from taking cover in their

midst to carry out such dastardly acts in future.

Dogara described the blast as the highest form of evil.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker expressed concern over bombing of IDPs` camp.

While condoling with the families of the victims, government and people of Adamawa State over the sad incident, he tasked security agencies to provide adequate protection for the vulnerable people.

According to the Speaker: "The attack has shown that Boko Haram terrorists are

desperately trying to instill fear in the minds of the public even when their capacity has been sufficiently weakened and almost conquered by the military as a result of the ongoing onslaught by the security forces.

"I also want to use this medium to reassure our citizens that sooner, rather than later Boko Haram would be routed and peace restored in the north East.

"I commend the recent successes recorded by the Nigerian military in recovering lost grounds and I urge them to sustain the momentum until Nigeria is cleared of all terrorists groups.�

IGER State governor, Abubakar Bello, has assured his administration is not insensitive to the call to probe the immediate past administration of Mu'azu Aliyu.

He said his administration opted for the most effective and cost-efficient way to bring plunders of public funds to book.

He spoke in Minna in a state- wide broadcast to mark his administration's 100 days in office.

According to him: "The call from certain quarters to institute judicial commission of inquiry to probe the immediate past administration has not fallen unto deaf ears.

"However, my position and indeed that of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is to meticulously and professionally review the activities of the past administration."

He said the Financial Management Committee set by his administration to look at all major financial transactions of the state and local governments from May 2007- May 2015 has made substantial progress with findings.

Interim reports by the committee, according to investigations, revealed breach of due process, inflated contracts, noncompliance with financial guideline, huge cash withdrawals by government officials, private individuals and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials.

The governor assured that as soon as the committee finalises its work, the comprehensive findings will be made public and handed over to the security agencies for necessary action taken against those culprits.

Nigerians charged to confront terrorism

By Medinat Kanabe

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HE Deputy Public Affairs Officer of the United States Consulate, Lagos, Frank Sellin, has called on Nigerians to rise above their fears and boldly confront challenges, including terrorism.

He spoke at the viewing of 'Let's roll - the story of flight 93,' a documentary to commemorate the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States of America.

The documentary shown to members of the public at the hall of the US Consulate, Victoria Island, at the weekend, captures in visuals, the resilience displayed by passengers aboard one of the hijacked US aircraft in the attacked United Airlines Flight 93.

The passengers tried to regain control of the plane, thereby crashing it into a nearby field, rather than its believed target, the United States Capitol or the White House.

Addressing the audience, Sellin said records of the telephone calls made by passengers on the flight as well as analysis of the flight recorders revealed that its passengers had tried to regain control of the aircraft, which deterred the terrorists' intent.

According to him: "Untrained and unarmed passengers did not sit cow. They acted.

They teamed together and confronted the terrorists.

"Good, innocent, ordinary people took on the greatest risk any of us could face. Even though everyone on board lost their lives in the crash, those good people saved many others in Washington. We can learn a lot from their example."

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

NEWS

Ooni: Osun invites Giesi ruling house to pick candidate From: Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo HE process for the selection of new Ooni of Ife may have commenced.

It was gathered that the Osun State government was set to formally write the Giesi Ruling House to present candidates for the stool recently vacated by the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II. Sijuwade joined his ancestors on July 28, 2015 at the Saint Mary Hospital, United Kingdom after a brief illness.

Informed sources said that a crucial meeting was held last Friday at the Oke-Fia Government House, Osogbo, with Ife kingmakers in attendance.

The source, who preferred not to be named, further revealed that the kingmakers and government officials at the meeting resolved to formally write the Giesi Ruling House to present candidates.

It was also gathered that the state government further resolved not to entertain or consider candidates from other ruling houses.

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Ondo to pupils: resume with residency cards

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UPILS in public primary and secondary schools in Ondo State must resume for the 2015/16 academic session with their residents’ card (Kaadi Igbeayo), the government has said.

Proprietors of private schools have reportedly been put on the red alert on the importance of the cards in the distribution social amenities and on development plans by the government.

The state government said the directive was to set the tone for the implementation of its data collation initiative - the smart card, (a.k.a. Kaadi Igbeayo) in schools as pupils and students resume for a new session this week.

Information Commissioner, Kayode Akinmade, said in a statement that school’s

heads have been mandated to request for the cards from the pupils on resumption.

The statement reads: “As part of its strategy to ensure that residents comply with government’s directive to obtain the residency card, school authorities in the state have been ordered to request students to present photocopies of their parent’s card on resumption at school.

“To this end, a meeting has been held with heads of primary and secondary schools in the state instructing them to collect photocopies of the Residency Cards of the parents of their pupils and students as they resume for a new session.

“Consequently, all parents and guardians who are yet to collect their cards have been advised to do so before the re-

sumption of schools.

“Already, a meeting has been held with members of the State Chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) on the relevance of the cards in the task of revamping the education sector in the state.

“The Commissioner said the meeting which was followed up by a sensitisation and enlightenment programme was mainly to sensitise them on the relevance of the card which is in fulfillment of the governor’s promise during his inauguration in 2009 when he promised efficient service delivery to the people of the state by using accurate data of every resident of the state.

“Although the smart card

technology has been deployed by several governments for specific purposes, but to date, there has been no successful multipurpose smart card like the cards.

“It serves as an interface in all transactions between the government and residents; allows all residents equal access to government’s social and welfare services, allow government to monitor the distribution of such services even in the remotest parts of the state among others.

“The card would facilitate the systematic development of data-bases for efficient security and surveillance purposes, categorisation of citizens for employment, taxation and financial palliatives, and subsidised consumer products like farm tools and fertilisers.”

Ajimobi, others for unveiling of Western Post

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YO state governor Abiola Ajimobi will chair the public unveiling of Western Post newspaper, the regional weekly covering the old Western region. The unveiling ceremony holds on Tuesday at Bashorun Hall, Ibadan Civic Centre, Agodi GRA, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

As part of the programme, there will be a national conversation with the theme: “The Dwindling oil revenue: A case for regional integration”.

The Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Dipo Famakinwa, will present the lead paper while Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, and Director, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Prof. Anthony Kila, are among the Discussants.

The Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi; Olaopa and the first female Computer Scientist in Nigeria, Prof. (Mrs.) Adenike Osofisan will also receive awards for outstanding contributions to the region at the event.

Fashola’s twitter account compromised

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MMEDIATE past Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola at the weekend stated that his twitter account @tundefashola has been hacked.

The hackers, he alerted, have posted four tweets in a language that resembled Japanese on his account.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Hakeem Bello, said the twitter account must have been compromised on Friday.

•L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Osun State Investment Company Limited, Mr Bola Oyebamiji; Director General, National Automotive Council, Engr. Aminu Jalal ;Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; former Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Federal Matters, Idiat Babalola; former Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Muyiwa Ige and Divisional Head, Large Enterprises, Bank of Industry, Joseph Babatunde during the inauguration of Bola Ige Mechatronics Institute in Esa Oke, Osun State last week.

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REPORT has shown that over 60 per cent of lawmakers in the 7th Oyo State House of Assembly did not have constituency office.

Those with offices, also, were virtually unviable.

According to report of a constituency offices survey of members of the Oyo State House of Assembly conducted in 2013 by the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), a non-governmental organisation founded by the late human rights activist, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, only 20 out of the 32 lawmakers that served in the 7th (2011-2015) of the Oyo State House of Assembly had constituency offices.

Of the 32 constituencies with legislators during the time of the survey, only 20 had avail-

Most Oyo lawmakers didn’t have constituency offices, survey reveals From Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan able constituency offices addresses while 12 lawmakers did not provide the addresses of their constituency offices.

The report revealed that among the 20 constituency offices addresses identified and visited, only 14 offices were viable as others do not have addresses. Presenting the report in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, CCG programme officer, Mrs. Juliana Iregbu, explained: “The heart of democracy is participation and for any government to qualify as being demo-

cratic, it must be all inclusive and participatory, close and accessible to the people, satisfy their needs and aspiration, promote equality and social justice and ensure the security of lives and property.

“Therefore, it is always assumed that elected leaders would always work in the best interest of their electorate.

“Individual representatives are expected to maintain close contact with their electoral areas, consult the people on their needs and the issues they wish to be addressed, present them to the House of

Assembly for consideration, report back to their electorate the decision taken to develop their area as a whole.”

Explaining why the report came too late and not before election, Iregbu explained it had been presented to stakeholders at an earlier forum where it was agreed that it will be published and presented to the entire public.

She added that if they had made the public presentation prior to the general elections, some politicians could have misinterpreted it to mean political partisanship.

Why manufacturing sector is in recession, by LCCI

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HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stated that the nation’s manufacturing and service sectors have entered recession after recording successive decline over the last two quarters.

Its president, Remi Bello, who spoke at a media parley at the weekend, called for urgent measures to reverse the trend.

He blamed the sector decline on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) tight forex policies, which he said made it difficult for manufacturers to acquire imported inputs among others.

Bello pointed out the vulnerability of the nation’s

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie economy to external shocks and heightened fiscal challenges were beginning to manifest with the collapse of crude oil price.

According to him: “CBN foreign exchange policy needs to be urgently reviewed to encourage the inflow of autonomous funds into the foreign exchange market.

“The current tight exchange controls is a major disincentive to the inflow of Diaspora funds, export proceeds and other autonomous funds into the economy, thus worsening the foreign ex-

change crisis.

“The CBN needs to be creative in its fight against money laundering to minimise disruptions to economic activities.

“Its current approach has caused considerable disruptions to economic activities in the country.”

On the impact on the manufacturing sector, he said the sovereign risk perception of Nigeria has worsened over the last two months.

He explained: “Several credit lines for Nigerian investors have been lost following the numerous cases of payment defaults to foreign suppliers.

“Many companies are on

the brink of collapse because of the failure to access foreign exchange for raw materials and other critical inputs, even companies whose inputs are valid for foreign exchange also suffer the same fate.”

The LCCI boss called on the government to review some trade policy measures to boost customs revenue.

He also suggested regular value-for-money audit in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), greater vigilance on fiscal leakages from ghost workers, ghost pensioners and ghost institutions to stimulate the economy.

Tension over petition on Owaloko’s stool From: Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

A

FRESH tussle has been thrown up by one of the contenders of the vacant stool of Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Barrister Olatunde Olasore.

Olasore contested alongside six others during which the town’s kingmakers led by Chief Olusola Ogunsanya, the Orisa Iloko (2nd in command), chose Prince Akeem Ogungbangbe.

Ogungbangbe won with 11 votes while Olasore and Gboyega Alatise grabbed one vote each.

The remaining four others scored zero.

It was learnt that while the community was waiting for an official pronouncement on the decision of the kingmakers, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs invited the kingmakers to a meeting on the strength of the petition

by Prince Olasore, who alleged that the process was manipulated.

At the end of the meeting held behind closed doors in the office of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, a kingmaker, Chief Olusola Ogunsanya, sued for peace.

He said it was natural to entertain a complainant on chieftaincy matters.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. O.Oluwadare, promised that the final report on the matter would be sent to the governor, assuring that truth will prevail.

Osun lawmaker seeks blueprint on corruption

A

MEMBER of the Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate a national blue print on fighting corruption and establish a means of ensuring international standard in executing government business.

He spoke shortly after the end of a capacity building workshop on Transparency and Accountability for members of Houses of Assembly of states in the South West geo-political zone organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja last week.

The lawmaker asked the president to establish a Transparency Charter that will reawaken value and promote compliance with the established protocols of doing government business such as due process abandoned by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government in most states.

Oyintiloye said the charter must see to it that the costing of public work is done in such a way that the citizens are not short changed.

He said the charter, if properly developed, would ensure adherence to global standard in executing government projects, and activities, thereby eliminating cutting corners and shady deals.

9

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

•Saraki

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari's 'Change' mantra may never become a roaring success if the 'long-preserved' rotten and opaque financial system of the National Assembly (NASS) continues.

It is curious but true - about 3, 000 persons worked at the National Assembly for four years without ever seeing what a pay slip looks like. Deductions from the salaries of legislative aides have remained shrouded in mystery for many years, adding to long-held suspicions that the tradition of opaque financial processes is meant to benefit a cultlike few.

Indeed, the pattern of operations in procurement processes, award of contracts and other operations at NASS are pregnant with mind-boggling figures that no anticorruption body has ever dared to examine for once, since 1999.

A cursory review of the ongoing display of anger by legislative aides of the 7th National Assembly easily betrays the deepseated suspicion against the management of the National Assembly (NASS). After working in that environment, they clearly understand the proclivity of Assembly's top bureaucrats for sleight-of-the-hand tactics where huge sums are concerned.

One Assembly, two systems Presently, more than N9 billion of the aides' severance benefits is at stake. Legislative aides who had continuously wondered why their benefits and some long-standing allowances remain unpaid even after federal legislators in the 7th and 8th National Assembly had collected various hefty sums seem to have lost their patience.

Indeed, even outsiders smell a rat in the N150 billion annual budgetary expenditure that the National Assembly has enjoyed over the years, while catering for the privileged needs of 'Distinguished Senators' and 'Honourable Members', NASS bureaucrats tidily assign expenditures for procurements and other disbursements according to their chosen priority.

Altogether, more than 3, 000 legislative aides work for 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives at any given time. Each of the federal legislators basically

USED AND DUMPED

Former NASS legislative aides groan over unpaid wages, allowances Many of those who worked for National Assembly workers last week protested against a system they feelshort-changed them. Inthisreport, OurReporter, takes a look at their grievances and the budgeting style of the legislature. has five, comprising a Senior Legislative Assistant, two Legislative Assistants, Personal Assistant and a Secretary. However, Principal Officers are, however, allowed to have more and their own teams include Chiefs of Staff, Senior Special Assistants, Press Secretaries and Special Advisers.

Former Senate President, Senator David Mark was speculated to have had some 420 aides, including his son and others from Benue who never had duties in Abuja. The names and number of all aides is somewhat classified under the prevalent opaqueness that has become a cardinal principle of NASS' financial dealings.

It would be wrong to rush to a conclusion that it is a life of ease for all legislative aides.

Some get short-changed in various ways without daring to speak out. The scope of legislative aides responsibilities, which cover such crucial areas as administration, communication, public relations and research and documentation, as well as other support services are all geared

towards the success of their principals.

Fat pay on paper but thin in reality Generally, Senior Legislative Assistants are mostly on Grade Level 13 to 16 while Legislative Assistants are between Grade Level 10 and 12 and Personal Assistants are Level 08 officers.

Secretaries are mostly placed on Level 07. On the average, a Senior Legislative Assistant takes about N230,000 home monthly while Legislative Assistants earn about N 160,000, Personal Assistants N80,000 and Secretaries N70,000.

At the end of their four-year service, they all get 300 % of their basic salaries as severance allowances, as stipulated under the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission' s "Remuneration Package for Political and Public and Judicial Office Holders (Feb 2007 to date). Thus, Senior Legislative Assistants that served in the 2007 - 2011 6th National Assembly were paid about N3.9 million each as severance allowance while Legislative Assistants got about N1.6 million,

•Dogara

For Personal Assistants, most got about N1.1 million while Secretaries were paid about N780,000.

This newspaper's recent reports on various payments and allowances paid to the federal legislators were never disputed.

For legislative aides, it has become a mystery that rather than the long-standing practice of paying their stipends immediately after legislators receive their own chunky payments, the National Assembly management appeared to be aloof.

First was the outstanding Duty Tour Allowances (DTA) of approximately N70, 000 each, totalling about N200 million that ought to have been paid since April this year. It did not take long for legislative aides to have suspicions that a clique within the management of the National Assembly has perfected arrangements to divert a portion or the entire sums meant to pay their last DTA. However, officials of the National Assembly assert that the situation was only being misread by anxious persons.

But suspicious legislative aides who sought anonymity assert that while the National Assembly's management had dutifully paid the quarterly DTA of about N75, 000 - 90, 000 along with aides' salaries in the past, payment of the April 2015 quarterly DTA inexplicably remained in limbo.

"The National Assembly management is harbouring people who are smart by half and because legislative aides' attention is on the impending payment of severance benefits ranging from N1 million to about N4 million, these people want to eat the outstanding DTA totalling approximately N200 million for all aides", one of the legislative aides told The Nation.

Findings by The Nation indicates that rather than calm nerves, an undated official memo signed by the Director, Personnel Management Department, Dr. I. S. Habu, on behalf of the Clerk of the National Assembly and pasted on various Notice Boards within the National Assembly in July further

•Contd. on page 10

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

NEWS REVIEW

Former NASS legislative aides groan over unpaid wages, allowances

•Contd. from page 9

spurred suspicions as it unusually bore no date .

The memo reads: "I am directed to inform all legislative aides to please be patient regarding the payment of their severance gratuity and duty tour allowance (DTA), as management is making concerted efforts to secure the funds from the Ministry of Finance.

"I am to add that as soon as the monies are released, payment will commence without any delay."

When contacted, the Director of Finance and Accounts at the National Assembly, Alhaji Lasisi Bukoye, emphasized that there is no basis for allegations and suspicions, stressing that "No funds has been released by the Federal Ministry of Finance."

Also, the erstwhile chairman of the National Assembly Legislative Aides' Forum (NASSLAF), Mahmud Mohammed who became a member of the House of Representatives in June asserted that his leadership of the association would not have any reason to make compromises with any official who aims to short-change legislative aides.

"The management has put up a notice indicating that they are yet to access the required funds. The rumour (allegation of diversion) was so much that I advised them to write and put information on notice boards so that it would not be as if they are deliberately refusing to pay (legislative aides' DTA).

"The funds are yet to be released but they will pay because we had taken up issues with them.

"We are not expecting 100% payment because it would now be payment for two months out of the three months that makes a quarter.

"Things have been worked out, we are counselling our people to just have a little patience as the notice pasted by management underlines a commitment," Mohammed stated.

Long afterwards, without seeing the DTA payment and enraged by suspicions that they are about to be short-changed over both their duty tour as well as severance allowances totalling more than N9 billion, several of the 3, 000 former legislatives aides started mobilizing for a showdown.

However, the quick intervention of the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Ben Efeturi doused tension as he assured about forty protesting aides' representatives that everything would be done to address their concerns.

Efeturi who empathised with the aides asserted that the National Assembly's management would not unduly cause them pains or condone such acts that some were alleging.

The protesting aides who served during both Senators and members of the House of Representatives during the 7th National Assembly were led to the office of Acting Clerk by the Chairman of the South-West chapter of National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF), AlMaroof Yinka Ajibolu.

According to Ajibolu, the aides were demanding to know the truth over monies that ought to have been paid as Duty Tour Allowances (DTA) since April last year.

Although Efeturi's expression of sympathy and explanations that he was not aware of the problem swayed the aggrieved aides, several of them insistently told The Nation that there are suspicions that the funds may have been deposited in private accounts over a month ago.

"They promised to pay the DTA which ought to have been paid since April after legislators collected theirs but till date, the National Assembly management has kept quiet on the matter, knowing that we would be more focused on the severance allowance.

"Also, they ought to have paid us the severance allowance immediately after paying that of legislators but all that we are hearing is that some people are trying to figure out the best way to short-change us and ensure that we do not get our full entitlements.

"Such problems have occurred in the past but this time, we are more than ready for them as we know that President

• Maikasuwa Buhari and Speaker Yakubu Dogara would bring down the full weight of the law on any of the officials who may be implicated in National Assembly shenanigans," an aide who requested anonymity stated.

On July 24, this year, in response to enquiry, Alhaji Bukoye had told The Nation that the delay in payment of DTA was primarily caused by the paucity of funds as the National Assembly was awaiting release of funds from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Throughout August and till date, the expected payment never materialized.

On 1st September, this year, the National Assembly's management, policemen and scores of angry legislative aides managed to avert a showdown over unpaid N9 billion allowances as dialogue won the day, to buy more time.

Concerned about growing tension caused by restless aides in the 7th National Assembly who have suspicions that they were about to be short-changed by crafty officials, the National Assembly's management had drafted in scores of policemen and put its inhouse security teams on high alert.

However, the aides' representatives who held a meeting with top officials of the led by the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Ben Efeturi subsequently rallied their members to agree to the NASS management's request for a breather till Monday, 7th September, 2015.

More than twelve policemen occupied the lobby of the National Assembly till evening on Tuesday while scores of plainclothes security personnel and the National Assembly's security teams under the office of the Sergeant-At-Arms maintained high alert in strategic places within the complex.

Specifically, Yinka Ajibolu who is leading a ten-man team of Concerned Legislative Aides emphasized that opaque processes at the National Assembly justifies various suspicions also stated that 'anything can happen if current dialogue fails to yield results by next Monday when another meeting is scheduled to take place'.

Ajibolu who asserted legislative aides' suspicion that "the hand of the monkey has reached the bottom of pawpaw" later told a meeting of hundreds of legislative aides that while suspicions linger, the proceedings at the meeting with NASS management necessitate some patience until next week.

Recalling the account on that day, he said, "We met the Acting Clerk, the Director of Procurement and other officials but the director of finance was said to be away in New York; we asked when are they going to pay our severance benefits and how they are deriving the percentage of what they plan to pay us.

"We told them that the fact that they had the guts to inexplicably deduct one percent

of our salary while later telling us that they find it difficult to determine our basic salaries suggest to us that the hand of the monkey is at the bottom of pawpaw.

"We asked them what is happening to various sums of monies due to legislative aides as unpaid arrears; we asked them of the Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) that was unpaid since April; if they are saying that the National Assembly's N150 billion budget was affected by a N30 billion cut, why should our entitlements be affected by a 70 to 80 percent cut.

"We asked about the fate of our colleagues (Secretaries) who were made to sign for laptops that they never collected and those whose salary arrears have remained unpaid.

"They told us that they heard that we planned a protest for today (Tuesday) but we told them we only wanted to ask for what belongs to us and they asked us to come for a meeting on weekend and Monday.

"The Acting Clerk was suggesting that our protests should be taken to Ministry of Finance but we told him that it is not our duty to go there; he said that maybe the Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Finance is afraid of releasing more funds to the National Assembly because a Minister is not yet in place.

"Our members have been to the Salaries and Wages Commission and other government offices to gather necessary information and documents on our issues, including how they are supposed to calculate our benefits properly.

"The Acting Clerk told us that they (National Assembly) are in a financial mess because they also owe several hotels huge amounts but our area of concern is to meet the management team on Monday, especially on the issue of proper calculation of our entitlements.

"We are truly suspecting that the hands of the monkey has reached the bottom of the pawpaw but presently, nobody can hide anything from us again; we still remain civil until they prove otherwise and we shall wait till Monday when anything can happen thereafter," Ajibolu stated.

On Wednesday, 9th September, following deadlocked discussions, growing tension and mutual suspicions over the 7th National Assembly legislative aides' unpaid N9 billion severance benefits and Duty Tour Allowances (DTA), the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki intervened in the matter.

Initial involvement of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, were among strategies being canvassed by some of the 3, 000 aides who anticipated that there may be need to finally send a Save Our Souls appeal to President Buhari over non-payment of their

allowances long after old and new federal legislators had collected various forms of allowances.

A two-hour meeting held by the National Assembly's management led by the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Ben Efeturi and representatives of the aides led by Ajibolu two days earlier ended without any concrete outcome.

At another closed-door meeting summoned on behalf of the Senate President by his Chief of Staff, Senator Isa Galaudu on Tuesday, 8th September, 2015, both Galaudu and Efeturi emphasized the National Assembly's keen interest in resolving the issue which has caused undue tension and suspicion.

While the legislative aides led by Mr. Al-Maroof Yinka Ajibolu stressed that they had no intention to subvert any National Assembly official's position or cause crises unduly, Galaudu noted that the delay in payment of salaries and allowances affects other organisations and states while Efeturi expressed disappointment that it appears that he has been dragged before the Senate President's office over unpaid entitlements.

According to Galaudu, "The leadership of the National Assembly is keen to see that you are paid your entitlements; usually, at the end of every legislative session, payments are made in August but now, even salaries for August have not been paid.

"So, it is not yet time to complain…this is not peculiar to the National Assembly; you can even note that states were bailed out with funds "The Senate President wishes to assure you that we are taking all measures to ensure that you receive your entitlements as soon as possible," he stated.

However, the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Efeturi who stated that he had sought to convince the angry legislative aides of his keen effort to ensure release of funds by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance expressed surprise that he could be brought to such meeting over the pending issue.

"I was very surprised to see legislative aides seated here. I saw them in my office (on Monday) and I told them that if I see them going to any other office for a meeting, I'll be very bitter.

"They said they're not going anywhere for a meeting; I spent over two or three hours with them yesterday and now, they are here. I told them that I was going to tell the leadership of the Senate to tell them at Ministry of Finance.

"It was on that note that we stopped yesterday. There is nothing that we can do more than that; that is what could be done.

The Senate President cannot go and meet them and the way we are operating, you have to understand what is going on.

There is deeper dynamics about what is going on … if care is not taken, you will turn the entire thing into too much of politics and start having problems.

"Tomorrow, we are going to see the Permanent Secretary, to discuss with him and make efforts to see that the money meant for payment of severance allowances and all other allowances, including that of senators and even, induction programme (for all federal legislators) are sorted out," Efeturi pledged.

Speculations that funds had been lodged in fixed deposits for some unscrupulous officials' benefit have remained unproven and there are indications that the National Assembly's indebtedness to hotels and contractors is huge.

The Nation's findings indicate that the quiet involvement of President Buhari's liaison officials at the National Assembly Senator Ita Enang and Suleman Kawu - has really helped to douse tensions, especially as Enang was said to have met a key official from the Federal Ministry of Finance as well as the NASS management towards clarifying issues and ensuring that legislative aides receive their entitlements.

In a self-effacing manner, Senator Enang told The Nation that he would not like to make comments or take any credit for the official concerns of the National Assembly management.

It was gathered that like before, "next week" is the expected period of payment, failing which the spectre of tension is bound to rise once again.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

NEWS REVIEW 11

ANTI- CORRUPTION WAR •Oritsejafor

Bothered by the unscrupulous activities of some charitable and faith-based organisations in the country, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria has come up with measures to regulate their activities amid serious protestations, reports, Sunday Oguntola

FRC’s accountability

•Obazee

battles with chruches, mosques •Continued on Page 59

12

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Ropo Sekoni

13

Page 14

Femi Orebe Page 16

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Labour's timely campaign tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

Buhari must seize the momentum of the National Rally on Good Governance and Corruption

F

OR once in recent years, Organised Labour in Nigeria impressed me with the protest march it organised against corruption in 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, last Thursday. The states are Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Kaduna, Plateau, Rivers, Bauchi, Jigawa, Abia and Enugu. This is the way it should be. Labour is a critical segment of the country's population and should be in the vanguard of progressive movement, including calling governments to order when they are derailing. The last time we saw labour in action in this country was during the fuel subsidy riots in January 2012. Even by the time that struggle was over; many allegations were levelled against the labour leaders, with some Nigerians believing that they eventually sold out to the Goodluck Jonathan government.

Matters have not been helped concerning the Labour movement by the scams that have been brewing in its fold, first on the Nigeria Labour Congress' (NLC) now messy and controversial housing scheme, and the last February NLC elections that were stalemated.

Many people believed the latter was the result of the infiltration of the Labour movement by unprogressive elements in the country who would not want Organised Labour to speak with one voice, knowing that once they are able to unite, then, the antics of the corrupt ruling elite would be exposed and neutralised.

That Labour was joined by some civil society groups is a good development because the civil society groups that were very active in the military era simply went to sleep as soon as we returned to democratic rule in 1999. This, indeed, was one of the things that the looters exploited to empty our treasury.

I was fascinated not only by the protest march but also by the statements made at the rallies. Realising the despicable role that the judiciary had played in strengthening corruption in the country, the protesters warned: "Gone is the day when people that are corrupt will get perpetual injunctions restraining EFCC from prosecuting them. If we have such cases, Nigerian workers are ready to go to their residences and bring them to court and also interrogate the judge … We are also demanding that the penalty for corrupt public officers should be … capital punishment. It has worked elsewhere and there is no reason why it should not work here". But this threat will remain an empty threat unless if the protest was genuine and it came from the bottom of the hearts of the organisers and their members. The point must be made, and poignantly so, too, that this is the mood of the nation. Those who want President Muhammadu Buhari to move on without looking at this sordid past are either the looters or their agents. We need to know what happened to our collective patrimony.

I suspect that it is only a matter of time for the looters to quarrel with the capital punishment for them because rich people hate the sight of blood. It is for the same reason that they dislike the word 'revolution'. But they almost always instigate revolution with their actions. For those opposed to capital punishment, Ghana remains a typical example.

We all know what Ghana was like before the intervention of Jerry Rawlings who publicly executed six military generals, including former heads of state, over the same issue of corruption in 1979, in what has become known as the "Jerry Rawlings Solution". The result is what that

otufodunrin@thenationonlineng.net

08050498530(SMS only)

P

•Ayuba Waba, NLC President

•TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama

country is today. Even former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Farida Waziri, recommended the same panacea for Nigeria: "If some 20 high-profile offenders are tried and sentenced to death, this will send shock waves to Nigerians and curb both the impunity and intolerable prevalence of corruption in Nigeria", she once said. Ghana may not be the best of countries even today, but it is far better than Nigeria in terms of corruption.

Again, China has capital punishment for corrupt persons and that country is not doing badly either. When we even consider that what we are contending with are not pick-pockets but hardened thieves, then we see the need to be more draconian about corruption. For every naira that is stolen from the public till, someone suffers.

Indeed, we cannot count the number of people that the massive looting we witnessed in recent years had killed. We cannot quantify the amount of social dislocation either. So, why must we allow those who caused such havoc to continue to harass us with their ill-gotten wealth?

Labour has every reason to be worried about corruption. Many people have said it, and it is clear that this country has to kill corruption so that corruption would not kill it. Our textile sector is a typical example of how bad things have become for workers in the country and also a reason why Labour must be interested in how the country is being run. A company like Afprint, for example, used to operate three shifts with about 2,000 workers per shift; that was a workforce of 6,000 from one company alone. The 6,000 did not include management and administrative staff, not to talk of expatriate staff. All that is gone simply because of mismanagement and corruption in high places! And this is for just one sector of the economy. Unfortunately, many of those who ruled the country, particularly in the immediate past, do not seem to be remorseful of the grievous harm they did this country's economy through their unbridled lust for public funds.

Labour's intervention at this point in time is good. Indeed, elsewhere, such intervention would have sent the guilty panting because they know

the implication. Labour however has to put its house in order to be able to continue to speak with one voice and sustain the trust and confidence of Nigerians. None of those who stole this country blind would be happy seeing that NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) can come together to protest and even recommend the death penalty for them. If it is possible to check their pants, we would see evidence of the fear underneath. As for me, I do not have any strong sentiment for or against capital punishment. But then, I want to agree with Labour that people who brought this once-upon-a great nation to its present sorry state deserve nothing but the severest punishment. What they have done is worse than armed robbery. It is even the more annoying when such people are still walking as free citizens and making provocative and insensitive statements about the country, less than four months after losing out in a general election. In saner climes, many of these people would be hibernating in the remotest parts of the country, praying that no one should open the book of remembrance that would make people fish them out. Indeed, many of them would by now be cooling their heels behind bars or in hell in a place like China. But here they are, because this is Nigeria, they are just opening their mouths and all sorts of nonsense are coming out.

President Buhari should seize the momentum by ensuring that nothing goes wrong with the anti-corruption war. No one should be deceived that those who looted the country's treasury, like their type elsewhere, would go to sleep. As they say, corruption will always fight back. The corrupt know they have murdered sleep and therefore cannot sleep any longer, especially with a person like Buhari as president. So, they must be plotting every minute on how to scuttle the anti-graft war if they fail in their bid to negotiate their way out of the mess they put the country. I hear some of them are already being led to the president by some eminent people who they think can get them out of trouble. I also guess the president knows better.

As I have always said, however, Nigeria should be interested most in its money; those of them who are penitent and return their loot may be pardoned. But it won't be a bad idea if the hardened criminals among them rot in jail. If death penalty is considered anachronistic, then they should get nothing short of life sentence. There should be no opportunity of coming out of jail to enjoy the loot. That can only work in a country where people have a sense of shame; not in Nigeria.

“Labour has every reason to be worried about corruption. Many people have said it, and it is clear that this country has to kill corruption so that corruption would not kill it. Our textile sector is a typical example of how bad things have become for workers in the country and also a reason why Labour must be interested in how the country is being run.”

CHIBOK GIRLS: STILL ON MY MIND

Calling new Immigration Chief

ASSING through the Nigeria-Benin Republic boundary in Badagry can be a nightmare for any traveller not familiar with the route.

Last Tuesday and Thursday was not my first time of travelling to Togo and back by road, but I had expected that the situation would have improved since over four years when I did. But not much has changed.

What is supposed to be the border post with clear demarcation of buildings and gates is an open land area with all manner of temporary structures occupied by immigration officers on both the Nigerian and Beninoise sides.

Various barricades, some with ropes, are used by officials to supposedly check entry and exit of persons and vehicles across the two countries. With the lack of necessary infrastructure, what obtains at the border cannot in anyway be said to be thorough.

The border is so porous that that no matter how hard the immigration officials try, they cannot, given the situation they found themselves working, effectively monitor who comes in or goes out of the country.

Without any documentation, it is easy for anyone passing through the border to beat the official procedure and pay his or her way through, thanks to touts, especially on the Benin Republic side who are all over the border area.

While my colleague and I on the trip had our passports stamped without paying any fee on the Nigerian side, we were lured into the Benin side by touts and ended up paying some illegal fees, instead of waiting for our taxi driver to drive us across.

The touts were obviously working with the connivance of the officials. If not, I don't understand why they and some corrupt officials should be allowed to exploit innocent persons openly without being called to order.

Unlike the Nigeria-Benin border, the Benin-Togo boarder is well mapped out with tarred road and buildings for the officials to regulate entry and exit.

On my return from Togo, I met Nigerian immigration officials operating in temporary shed and dilapidated structures as offices. I could feel their frustrations about not having a conducive atmosphere to carry out their duties as they manage to work with the limited facilities they have.

I learnt they have to make do with small generators fuelled by them at night due to lack of electricity supply.

I notice on-going construction work at the border post, but I am not sure how long it has been on and how soon it will be completed. The border is yet another indication of dilapidation of various facilities in the country begging for attention.

If we are really serious about ensuring the necessary immigration procedures at our border posts to check mate the influx of illegal persons, there is an urgent need to build the needed structures and properly equip the officials.

The new immigration chief should make the Badagary border post a priority given the high traffic of persons on the West African route. It is a shame that Togo has a better border security post compared with us.

Given our size and resources compared with our neighbours, our facilities should be the benchmark for others to emulate.

14

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

COMMENT

Buhari's return of equality to public discussion F

OR the past sixteen years, our country's political and economic space has been dominated by two major themes: wealth creation and humanitarianism. All the PDP governments since the end of military dictatorship had focused on creation of material wealth at the expense of the welfare of majority of the citizens. Compared to many countries on the continent and despite the oil boom, Nigeria had paid lip service to provision of quality public education that can enable majority of the citizens compete in the expanding global economic space. General (now President) Buhari and the All Progressives Congress brought the theme of equality and what Aristotle called distributive justice back to the nation's political space first during the 2015 political campaign. Just last week, the Buhari presidency moved from the plane of campaign promise to policy development when the vice president announced that school children would be given one free meal a day in school.

The last time Nigerians were bombarded with messages about the importance of bridging the gap between the haves and the have-nots was during the last campaign of Chief Obafemi Awolowo for the presidency in 1983 and, more recently, during the campaigns of Action for Democracy and Action Congress of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007. When public policy rhetoric was not solely about war against corruption during Buhari's first coming or structural adjustment in the era of Babangida, it was about primitive accumulation in the Abacha presidency, and endless attempts at economic and fiscal restructuring of Obasanjo's second coming or the mania for wealth creation for and by those with assured access to the country's treasury in the last six years of Goodluck Jonathan.

The recent announcement that the Buhari presidency is poised to commence free meals for school children and modest social security for the destitute revives a tradition of public discourse that had gone out of fashion in most states of the federation until the 2015

The recent announcement that the Buhari presidency is poised to commence free meals for school children and modest social security for the destitute revives a tradition of public discourse that had gone out of fashion in most states of the federation until the 2015 presidential election. presidential election. But, as expected, the leaders of yesterday's party of power have started to pooh-pooh Vice President Osinbajo's announcement. They warned against simpleminded imitation of an Aregbesola model that the same party had campaigned against and identified as the source of failure of the Osun governor to pay workers' salaries as and when due. This theory of Osun State's failure to pay its workers ignored the fact that there were more PDP-controlled states that were also unable to pay their workers' salaries on time.

Also amusing is the PDP's silence on the negative impact of decline in revenue from petroleum and of the federal government's decision to take loans from domestic and international money markets to settle federal workers' wage bills.

Nothing is unusual about PDP leaders' negative stance on Aregbesola's initiative to improve access to and retention rate in public schools. The negative attitude of PDP spokespersons is in character with the struggle for power in a multiparty democracy. What is bizarre about PDP's characterisation of modest measures of social assistance to school children and poor citizens is the facile generalisation that such government expenditures on citizens are part of campaign rhetoric after elections.

Despite similar criticism of Aregbesola when he introduced this social programme a few years back, the programme has enjoyed commendation from its beneficiaries and the international community on account of Aregbesola's responsiveness to the state's most economically vulnerable communities. It is also on record that Fayemi's failure to win reelection in Ekiti in his second term bid was not because of his modest social security benefits to the aged of his state. Indeed, it was in spite

of his responsiveness to the most vulnerable group in the state.

It is a good beginning for Buhari and the APC that the poor and the forgotten in the country are the first community to benefit from his administration. Provision of free or subsidised meal for school children in elementary and secondary schools in many advanced countries has many advantages.

Research has shown that children who have breakfast concentrate better in school than those who do not, just as those who have nourishing food in or outside school also improve school retention rate than those who do not have the opportunity of nourishing meals. It may be difficult for those with easy access to the wealth of the country to believe that there are millions of school-age children in the country who are malnourished on a daily basis. But the truth is that the country's classrooms are full of children whose parents cannot afford to provide one nourishing meal a day. Without the kind of the model provided by the Aregbesola government, many of such children would have found learning too stressful and enervating.

There is also an economic aspect of free or subsidised meals for school children. It helps to stimulate agricultural productivity. Better opportunities for bulk purchase of farm produce for farmers exist in Osun than in any other state in the southwest. Bulk and regular purchase has the capacity to improve farmers' credit worthiness and to increase agriculturerelated jobs, not to talk of providing employment for cooks and chefs. A visit to Osun State will reveal that no state has better public hygiene culture than what obtains in Osun today. As this column observed a few years before Aregbesola came to power, each

school child should be given one glass of fresh milk and one glass of fresh orange or pineapple juice each school day as part of the meal for the day. Apart from the additional nourishment such beverages can bring, the provision of vitamin and protein-rich drinks is capable of stimulating modernisation of dairy farming in the savannah region while daily serving of vitamin-fruit juice can boost modern fruit farming in the rain forest region of the country.

On the few occasions I had visited Osun State, school children whom I interviewed were full of praise for the free lunch programme in their state. They were so enthusiastic about the free-meal policy that they described in glowing terms the meals given to them every day at the state government's expense. Some of them even repeated the clichĂŠd expression of "being given the opportunity to enjoy dividends of democracy." It was not surprising when parents came out in droves to defend their votes when the nation's security forces (or their clones?) supervised in a blood-thirsty way the state's gubernatorial campaign and voting last year.

If the experience of Osun school children is anything to go by, President Buhari and his party should act with confidence and waste no time to kick-start implementation of the free meal policy and other citizens' welfare-related policies. Majority of Nigeria's school children and their parents must be very excited about this policy. So must the federal government provide leadership to states on the need to use political power to enhance equality of opportunity for less materially-endowed citizens so that they too can add value in their own way to development efforts. Doing so will eclipse decades of politics of primitive accumulation by personalistic and patrimonial political and public office holders. It will also provide a new and enviable model for good governance in the country.

But the efforts to reduce inequality must not be limited to one free meal per day for school children or token social security assistance to the elderly or the poor. Majority of Nigerians need government assistance in many other ways to enable them meet their basic needs: transportation, health, jobs, and salaries that can pull them out of poverty.

Citizens are aware of the economic mess inherited by the Buhari government and do not expect miracles. However, they expect sincere efforts on the part of government at all levels to address poverty-alleviation and enhance equality across the country.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

COMMENT

15

Another feather to Fearon's cap Controversial and capacious Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon goes to Lambeth

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AMBETH in London is where the palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury is located; this is the official headquarters of the Anglican Communion worldwide and it is where Josiah Atkins Idowu-Fearon, Archbishop formerly of the Province of Kaduna Diocese, will reside for the next seven years. He has just been appointed Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion Worldwide with headquarters at Lambeth, United Kingdom.

By this appointment, Idowu-Fearon, nicknamed the "Muslim Bishop," is the second most important Anglican after the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the first African to hold this prestigious position.

The 66 year-old clergyman who hails from Kerinye, Kogi State in Nigeria's middle belt was until this appointment the Bishop of Kaduna diocese and Archbishop of the Province of Kaduna. He was previously the Bishop of Sokoto.

Controversial, versed and with a capacity for wide-ranging learning, he had his calling while in a military school training as a soldier. He narrated the story recently: "In my fourth year, it had become very clear that the Lord was calling me to be a soldier in His Army, to the extent that in spite of a direct entry to the Nigerian Defence Academy, I was given a sympathetic discharge by the late General Hassan Katsina in Lagos." This was to be the channel through which the Lord saved him, he surmised.

His priesthood started effectively when he enrolled at the foremost theological institution, Immanuel College, Ibadan, Oyo State. He later attended Birmingham University for Master's Degree and the University of Jordan, Amman.

While other Christian clergymen may have been incommoded by preaching and propagating the Christian faith in an overwhelming and sometimes volatile Muslim environment, Idowu-Fearon was led to finding space and accommodation for the two contending faiths.

It seems both a ministry and mission beyond his

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HERE is no denying that it is corruption that has brought Nigeria to its knees today.

It is, therefore, a welcome development when public office holders are in the forefront of agitation for life imprisonment for corrupt public servants.

It is in Nigeria that you have people who could not ride a bicycle before coming into government becoming the richest men after a spell of public service.

But it is also in Nigeria that people believe that everyone that went into government was nobody before. Indeed, there are people who were already HEN President Muhammadu Buhari and his vicepresident, Yomi Osibanjo, declared their assets to the public, many Nigerians expect governors should follow suit.

The constitution of this country expects all political appointees to declare their assets before taking the mantle of leadership.

Nigerians have been keen on seeing their state governors emulate President Buhari in publicly declaring their assets to the very populace that elected them into offices.

The inability of state governors to declare their assets to the public has sent wrong signal to the society that they would find it difficult to key into President Buhari's

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powers. Right there at Immanuel College, the hallowed centre of Christian learning, he had been introduced to what he described as the world of Islam.

This led him to study a 'strange course' at the University of Birmingham - Islam and MuslimChristian Relations.

Like a man whose path is paved by unseen hands, he proceeded to study Arabic Language at the University of Jordan. While bishops would ordinarily impart into fledgling priests, the finer essence of Christian theology, Idowu-Fearon was a visiting Islamic lecturer and Faculty member at both Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, Canada and at the Canterbury International Centre, United Kingdom.

What might be the driving force behind this curious and controversial meshing of Christianity and Islam? This is his explanation upon his encounter with Islam at Immanuel College, "my interest was aroused, I pleaded with the Lord for a scholarship to do some further studies in Islam; I felt the need to carefully study how the Koran represents the nature of Jesus Christ."

Idowu-Fearon would appear enigmatic to both Christians and Muslim faithful but, he seems like a man made for this season and environment. Former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, in a farewell toast, noted that the cleric was a reliable and dependable partner in the search for lasting peace, harmony and tranquility in Kaduna State; especially in the turbulent years between 2000 and TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye

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2002.

Idowu-Fearon co-established in his diocese, a Centre for the Study of Islam and Christianity, which runs certificate and diploma programmes.

In spite of barrages of attacks from some of his colleagues and even parishioners, he continues to preach open-mindedness and accommodation in religious practices. He notes that the Anglican Church is a group of churches comprising 38 different churches coming together; which is why it is a communion.

He also makes a distinction between the visible and invisible church. The invisible church, according to him, means Heaven and that is in the realm of God. On the other hand, the Bible teaches that whoever believes in Jesus Christ and is baptised is a Christian and belongs to the visible church.

Driving home his point, he opines that in the visible church, you have liars, thieves, adulterers, cheats and you cannot deny them membership of the church because all they need is confession of their sin.

The crucial point he preaches and perhaps his essence is that, "in order to create and promote a culture of respect for differences within our Communion, I encourage our bishops…to cultivate the habit of understanding positions other than their own.

With a PhD in Islamic Studies and his interreligion activism, he is considered a moderate conservative. Though he subscribes to the traditional Anglican stance on homosexuality, unlike the official stance of the Church of Nigeria, he is opposed to the criminalisation of gays. For his stance, the Church of Nigeria tacitly distanced itself from his nomination for the Lambeth job though it wished him well.

Here indeed is a path-breaker and a spirit in flight. We wish him a happy sojourn in Lambeth.

LETTERS

As Amosun advocates life sentence for corrupt officials

wealthy and had accomplished so much in life long before venturing into politics or occupying public offices. This point should never be lost on anyone even as we all rail against corruption.

By and large, it is corruption that has held Nigeria hostage and stifled its development. The structure and form of government we operate also allow corruption to fester.

I wholeheartedly congratulate President

Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts to deliver Nigeria from the bondage of corruption. I believe also that there is need to amend extant laws so that corrupt public officials (elected, appointed or career civil servants) can get life imprisonment for the sins of corruption as recommended by the governor of Ogun State,

Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

It is interesting that every government in Nigeria is trying to imbibe the Treasury Single Account in order to block leakages and end corruption.

Governor Amosun actually ordered immediate implementation of TSA when he mounted the saddle of leadership in 2011. It may shock

readers to discover that about 300 bank accounts were closed in Ogun State upon the introduction of TSA. How could one government either at the state or federal level operate hundreds of bank accounts without some funds ending in private pockets?

Apart from TSA, which played a vital role in boosting Ogun IGR from a paltry N750m a month to about N3bn per month within just two years, the

Governors and public assets declaration fight against corruption in the country, hence their shying away in declaring their wealth they accrued before coming into office as elected officers in the country.

One of the governors in the northern part of the country, when asked why he did not declare his assets, hid under the suit he instituted against one HE concept of celebrating 100 days in office is unnecessary and uncalled for, in view of the lessons we have learnt from the activities of some of our past leaders.

I am pretty convinced there are many more sycophants and praise singers than those who

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newspaper in the country for character assassination, hence his inability to publicly declare his assets.

The refusal of the governors in the country to declare their assets shows how they are relenting in fighting corruption in their states, which many Nigerian would not take them seriously.

The need for them to emulate the president of the country in making their assets public would go a long way to show to the world that Nigeria now is operating on the different and clear opposite to past government on issues of tackling the menace of corruption that has bedevilled the country's image around the

globe.

Nigerians expect governors across the country would deem it necessary to ensure the early declaration of their assets publically to clear the minds of ordinary Nigerian on the kind of leaders they elect to pilot theirs affairs in this present dispensation of change. That Nigerians are

100 days celebration unnecessary

genuinely want the president or governors to perform. In fact, these praise singers and sycophants are doing their usual work of seeking political appointments or contracts.

President Muhammadu

Buhari should understand that a majority of Nigerians voted for him because of their conviction that the president is not corrupt.

A corrupt person cannot fight against corruption. It has been established that the war against

corruption has always failed because the very people who are corrupt are the ones designing the framework and the institution to fight corruption.

Communities, churches and mosques give chieftaincy titles

introduction of e-payment by the Amosun administration also helped to block drainpipes in the finances of the state and curb corruption.

Finally, both political office holders and career public servants should take a lesson from the submission of Amosun: "It takes two to tango.

This anti-corruption crusade is not only about political office holders, government workers too should detest corruption. It is time we all denounced and stigmatised corruption. If we all come together to kill corruption, we would be the better for it."

• By Soyombo Opeyemi Abeokuta desperately and eager to cooperate to see a new dawn in their political, social and economic well being.

We hope the governors would do the needful in their own interest and the entire country by emulating President Buhari and VicePresident Osibanjo to declare their assets so as to assure citizens of their transparency.

• By Bala Nayashi, Lokoja. to corrupt public officials in Nigeria today.

In conclusion, President Muhammadu Buhari should ensure that himself and governors should not be allowed to celebrate 100 days in office.

•ATULUKU, AMOS ABU

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

COMMENT

Revisiting Ekitigate If the giddiness of his office will not permit governor Fayose to forever seek forgiveness from God, we, as chroniclers of events, owe him the duty of reminding him of the events surrounding the 2014 Ekiti governorship election.

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ACRIFICES are paramount in the development of any society. However, it is nothing short of a scam to impose stiff sacrifices on the people when those who sit on their wealth live in ostentatious opulence. Fayose has not cut his salary the way President Buhari did, nor has he reduced his fleet of cars or the huge public burden of maintaining the state house where he lives like a pampered and over fed king presiding over an impoverished people. Rather, he lives in filthy lucre, inflicting neck-breaking sacrifices on those he governs. It is all a ruse; a state-orchestrated deceit of the highest order. The imposition of tuition fees on Ekiti parents by an uninspiring leadership, with no economic vision, is just a plot to dis-empower the poor further." - Wale Adeoye, a multi-award winning journalist.

That epigram popped up on the ekitipanupo web portal as I wrote this article. And how timely it was as, being a member of the Fayemi Education Task Force, and knowing what great work that committee of experts, with many professors of education, former vicechancellors, school teachers, parents and administrators did only a few years back, I had no hesitation in concluding that the Fayose Summit was just a ploy to free state funds for the governor's unaccountable use as we have seen him do, wasting state resources, serially, on irrelevant advertisements. Otherwise, how could a governor in Nigeria's Southwest impose school fees in the year of our Lord 2015, some sixty years after Awo introduced free primary education in the region?

Incidentally, it was the reports from the summit that prompted this article.

For instance, it was reported, and I hope he was misquoted, that the highly regarded Ekiti icon and respected legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, said he and Fayose are two of a kind. I am hoping all he said is that he will cooperate with the governor in developing education in Ekiti. That way, many of us, his admirers, will sleep easy.

Another, which is the leitmotif for this article is this, credited to Fayose: "I have not seen in the history of the state where a man gives an incumbent governor 16:0".

If the giddiness of his office will not permit governor Fayose to forever seek forgiveness from God, we, as chroniclers of events, owe him the duty of reminding him of the events surrounding the 2014 Ekiti governorship election. And here, I shall rely exclusively on their own words as captured on the yet to be controverted Ekitigate tapes. None of those named in that show of shame has yet headed to the courts.

God is not man that you will deceive Him and He gives to all men according to the work of their hands.

When President Jonathan instigated, approved and funded Ekitigate - Chris Uba came to Ekiti with truckloads of naira drawn from the Umuahia branch of the CBN - his intention was to test run the rigging plan for his forthcoming election; a seemingly foolproof plan Musiliu Obanikoro relied upon to predict the president's unalterable victory. They obviously forgot that 'there's God o'. So solicitous was the

president about not being disgraced out of office that, according to the details of the Ekitigate tapes, he ordered the entire Nigerian army, through instructions to the Chief of Army Staff, to rig an election. I leave the reader to judge whether he succeeded in that vain hope. Ekitigate must, in its entire ramification, represent President Jonathan's lowest point in office as no Nigerian alive could have thought that the day would ever come when a head of state would suborn the Nigerian army to such infamy or debauchery.

The Capt Sagir Koli tape features the following individuals: Now governor, Ayo Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Brig General Aliyu Momoh, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Captain Sagir Koli and one Hon. Abdul Kareem.

I wish to specifically draw Fayose's attention to these key quotes in the hope that if anything would ever make him sober, they should: Musiliu Obanikoro: Jonathan's Minister of State for Defence: "I'm not here for tea party, I am on a special assignment by the President."

"That Daramola (Fayemi's Campaign Manager) I want him picked up in the morning! "Look here, you can't get promotion without me sitting on top of your military council - (has promotion in the higher ranks of the Nigerian Army become so cheap?). If I am a happy man tomorrow night, the sky is your limit" -(voice)https:// w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=bO2SyPkk52w Ayo Fayose: - PDP Gubernatorial candidate and now Ekiti State governor.

"We agreed in Abuja on the modalities to work, we agreed on a

sticker, that any vehicle you see that sticker, you allow that sticker. That sticker is on those vehicles; his own was sent to him, mine was sent to me. The one by SSS - (the same SSS Fayose now daily moans about its so-called illegal use) - was given to me to give to them.

There is no vehicle that left this place without that sticker. The people you just disarmed had that sticker clear and clean." "Today they went to "Efon"; they carry all the ….. where we are supposing (sic) to be collating THE THING INEC GAVE TO US - read RESULT SHEETS soft copies we now PRINTED and everything, because they see INEC on top of it. Why is my CONTACT MAN not with them? I said my contact man would be sitting in (sic) the check point PERMANENTLY. I convince this man to leave this people, they were said to sit in the sun. They packed all the COMPUTERS - (tell me what a candidate was doing with computers on the field on election day) - it took me more than 2 hours to get this man to release this people."

"CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF CALLED ME and he told me, you are in safe hands, he [General Momoh] would perform and if you have any issues, call me. He told me that I have made it clear to him that I AM JONATHAN for this election."(Voice) https:// w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=WOce2g4O9XM Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh: Commander of the Nigerian Army's 32nd Artillery Brigade, Akure.

"We have strike force, they just entered into the force. We can start arresting in the afternoon. There are about six special teams. "I have one "Strike force - Koro cuts in. "I have almost

forty soldiers after deployment". We have done a lot of arrest. Chief never believe me... he said OC mopol should handle them, we did. Now we have nothing less than 500 vehicles - (the same vehicles used in distributing the photocromic ballot papers Uba brought all the way from Igbo land) - with specific instructions". It's not because you are here sir. In fact if I start crying now…..

No no no. (A General?)

Fayose: "Excuse sir, I told Chief Uba (Chris Uba - a bloody civilian Jonathan turned to an army commander?) that he should send me some soldiers that should go with me. The war is eminent (sic). I was in my house when CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF called me, and told me he has briefed him (Momoh), and gave me his number because I never met him before. He told me he would perform, and if you have any issues, call me. He told me that I have made it clear to him that I am JONATHAN for this election. He only called me WITH INSTRUCTION FROM THE VILLA".

Now is that the election Fayose never stops breaking our ear drums about? Is that his licence to lead Ekiti to complete ruination? I think decency and penitence require that he stops these his funny jokes about 16: 0 20:0 or 30:0 and settle down to a modicum of governance.

There can be no stopping us drawing attention to these things as death will come when it will.

What remains to be done on the Ekiti governorship election, not for Ekiti, per se, but for the integrity of the Nigerian Army which for decades have been involved in peace keeping activities, mingling with armies from the civilised world, is for the Chief of Army Staff and the Director-General of the DSS to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to institute an indepth investigation into this lowest levels both the institutions have sunk so as to salvage something of their integrity and make their re-branding efforts a success. Also, Captain Koli, a hero and a patriot of the highest order, should be promptly recalled and integrated into the service he gave so much for.

Holding our lawmakers accountable ...We may call them also to book a tour of the national assembly structures... not to see where our money is going (we'll never see that) but to at least see where our lawmakers plant their behinds when they are debating those bills we know nothing about

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AST week, dear reader, we lamented the fate of one Mrs. Egede who fell in the hands of a brute; and we went to town on how the collective leadership of this country, executive and legislative, had contributed to her death. Sometime in the week, I then chanced on a newspaper report about a United States Congresswoman who gave us a lesson in Nigeria on how and why we must hold our lawmakers accountable. Oh yes, she also lamented that the said lawmakers had not done much, if anything, to help our Chibok girls come back home.

Truly, I have found it rather baffling that it is taking this long to find these blessed saints of God. What, I ask myself, are our more than fifty million men in this country doing if they cannot find these girls? What are they all going to do at work in their newspaper offices, police posts, army cantonments, corporate offices, fire stations, mechanics' workshops, university classrooms, national assembly, etc., when they cannot find a number of missing girls? Why, let supper be late a few minutes, the men begin to holler across the hall, 'what is going on in that kitchen? Why is supper so late? What have you been doing all day?' Um hun; now, our girls are missing and our men are hiding behind their newspapers. Oh, no more newspapers these days, eh, only cell phones? Prima.

I will not report the theories I have

been hearing over these 'missing girls' story. They are so many. Suffice it to say that they are not palatable in any way. Of greater concern to us today is this matter of how we can make our assemblymen and women begin to hear us when we holler across to them on any matter. For instance, when I look down my palm and my housekeeping money has disappeared into the market (no, not into my wardrobe), I should be able to holler to my councilman, state assemblyman, Federal Representative or Senator, and they must hear me and also do something.

They must all scurry to my aid. Ha!, in Nigeria you say? That'll be the day!

I tell you, I have always said Nigerians are biting more than they can chew on this democracy thing.

For starters, please if you understand the democratic system we are running and the way it is supposed to work, please raise up your hand.

Let's see, one....one...one... What, only my hand is up? I was using it to count.

Seriously, the level of democratic literacy in this country is too low.

Do you remember that at the beginning of this republic, every elected official found his way to the U.S. ostensibly to 'study the democratic system' and how it works at state expense? The idea was that they would come back and put their knowledge into good practice for the benefit of the Nigerian mankind.

Unfortunately, they came back with close to zero knowledge on democratic education but with a great deal of knowledge on something they call 'lobbying'. In Nigerian parlance, it means sharing office.

Now, occupying those offices, our lawmakers have become our masters.

Anyway, my point is that they failed to take the electorate along on those trips so that we could also learn how to have expectations in this democracy thing. Since that did not happen, we the electorate have somehow got on in the best way we can. Thus, our expectations have been directed not at statecraft or state development but self-development.

Now, what we expect from those lawmakers that come from our families hinges mostly on favours regarding what to eat, admission for our children, raising the marks of our children, adding to our housing funds, changing stubborn wives, changing useless husbands, buying new cell phones, new shoes, new cars, etc. Yep, they are useful after all, I mean the lawmakers. The only problem is that they escape with most of the funds that are supposed to be used to provide water, electricity, good One Reader's Digest article I read on the subject was very detailed on the five or so things that we are expected to call our lawmakers on and for. It says that we are expected to call them to 'express our opinion', particularly on bills. I add that we can also tell them what we think of them. I would advise that you be at least ten thousand miles away when

you do the latter one. Anyways, to do the first one, you must know what bills are being debated in the house in the first place. Since most of us are more occupied with what we will eat, however, what goes on in the assembly really does not feature much on the menu.

The article further stated that we should call our lawmakers more often because they can help us get our passports faster, particularly when we need to travel urgently.

Well, since most of us don't travel any farther than our villages to hunt game for holidays, we don't carry passports. The animals don't ask for passports before allowing us to shoot them. When they begin to ask, then we'll know what to do. However, this does not mean we should not call our lawmakers when we have emergencies; we should. Please call them when food runs out in the house, your husband is late coming home, your wife refuses to cook dinner... Perhaps, calling them frequently will reduce the number of people desperate to become lawmakers.

We are also advised to call them when we need help getting our benefits such as social security (we don't have that here) or veterans (they literally take care of themselves) or pensions. Now, you're talking. We need all the help we can get on how we can quickly collect our pensions or even health benefits. As a matter of fact, I foresee a situation where if our lawmakers cannot help us access those things quickly, they themselves can

quickly become our health or pensions benefits.

Then the article says we can call our beloved lawmakers to obtain funds for projects. Take me for instance; I'm always on one project or the other. Right now, I am trying to get my flower to grow into a tree.

So sorry, I shouldn't joke too much with this serious topic. Yes, there are so many projects that can do with some help from our lawmakers - e.g. how to make the government ban okada from taking pregnant women or nursing mothers as fares. In other words, there should be no more picking children on okada. The article says lawmakers usually know about federal grants for projects.

Well, with the rapacious appetite of our lawmakers for the nation's money since 1999, all I can say is that if you know about such grants, it is best not to let your lawmaker know.

By all means, we need to call our lawmakers. We need to put them on their toes. We need to let them know that we are around and kicking mad at the fact that they don't seem to want to know we are around. If for nothing else, we may call them also, as the article says, to book a tour of the national assembly structures.

We may want to go to the assembly not to see where our money is going (we'll never see that) but to at least see where our lawmakers plant their behinds when they are debating those bills we know nothing about. Call yours now. I will call mine just as soon as I know who exactly my councilman is... Yes sir, I have to start from somewhere.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

COMMENT

17

(133) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy Matthew 5, verse 7 “

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LESSED are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. This is one of the eight so-called "beatitudes" of Christ's "Sermon on the Mount". This is without question, the most widely known and admired of Christ's teachings.

I am not a Christian; I am not a religionist, but I regard Jesus as one of the greatest moral reformers and visionaries that ever lived. This does not satisfy fervently religious prayer warriors like my older brother, Elder Ben Ade Jeyifous, for whom both the divine conception and birth of Jesus, together with the narrative of his ascension to heaven are matters of both revealed truth and transcendent faith. To each man or woman his or her faith, his or her belief; it is enough for me that what Christ preached in his Sermon on the Mount remains as valid today as they were then and will be until the end of time - if such an end will come.

These thoughts, these reflections have their origins in a report that I heard on the World Service of the BBC three Saturdays ago, on August 22, 2015. Unfortunately, I caught only the last or closing segment of the report which was about a Nigerian-born woman who is an immigrant in Greece and had formed an incredibly vigorous and effective advocacy group comprised mostly of women to struggle for and obtain humanitarian relief for the thousands of refugees and migrants streaming into Europe at the present time. According to the report, this woman was until a few years ago herself a migrant or refugee; she does not have a highpaying job and her social and economic conditions are only slightly better than dire. And yet, she gives nearly all she earns together with total devotion in body and spirit to helping others who, like herself only a couple of yeas ago, are caught in this unfolding tragedy of waves of human beings fleeing form homelands that have become too dangerous to live in to foreign lands that are reluctant to give them humane and dignified welcome.

Since I heard only enough of that report to know that this woman is Nigerian-born and has an advocacy group that she co-founded, I have been engaged in a seemingly endless search on the Internet for her name, her identity and her life story, at least since she arrived in Greece. So far, my searches have yielded no concrete facts or accounts about this woman and her group.

But I will keep searching for I have no doubt whatsoever that I will eventually come across a source of information that will reveal all the relevant facts of this woman's life and experience. But meanwhile, she remains anonymous in my imagination, which is why I have no other or better way of thinking about her than thinking of her in the words of the title of this piece: a Dr. Stella Adadevoh in the debacle of the European refugee crisis. For of a truth, my head swelled with

Blessed are the merciful: a Stella Adadevoh in European refugee debacle

•The late Dr. Stella Adadevoh: her spirit lives on in faraway Greece.

great national pride when I heard that report of this woman on the BBC, just as I had been powerfully and ineffably moved by the accounts of the heroic role that Dr. Adadevoh played in rising selflessly and courageously to the threat of the Ebola pandemic contagion in Nigeria slightly less than two years ago. Then as now with the story of this woman in Greece, we have ample proof that Nigeria, like other national communities in the human family, can and does produce heroines that are made of the stuff of legend in the scale of their humanness, most especially in their mercifulness.

Mercifulness or compassion is very special because it is the most selfless and the least calculating of all the virtues enunciated in the Sermon on the Mount. True enough, Christ said that the merciful are blessed because they shall receive mercy. But what mercy did Dr. Adadevoh expect to get when she gave her safety, her life, to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus in her country? What mercy does this "anonymous" Nigerian-born woman in Greece expect from the acts of mercy she has expended in alleviating the suffering and the trauma of the refugees streaming into Greece and other European countries in the wake of the wars raging in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya? There is of course the theological or ethical consideration that some acts of mercy may be predicated on the presumption that acts of goodness increase one's stock of benefaction or recompense from the divine powers that are deemed

to rule the universe. But in the lived and concrete immediacies of life and existence, true acts of mercy do not come from expectations of what one may get later in this life or in the life hereafter when the final reckoning, the final computation of moral and spiritual profit and loss is made by God or Providence.

Indeed, we might ask here why genuine acts of mercy and human solidarity have been so sorely lacking in the European and more broadly, Western response to the debacle of the migrant or refugee crisis. Are these not, for the most part, Christian nations, these Western countries that have been so slow, so disinclined to show mercy, compassion and solidarity to the refugees and migrants?

Here, it might be productive to highlight the case of Germany which has, by a long shot, been the most "merciful", the most welcoming to the tidal waves of the refugees and migrants. In comparison to someone like the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, Chancellor Angela Merkel has been almost saintly in the compassionate statements she has been making about the plight of the migrants and refugees. While Cameron has more or less capitulated to the extreme paranoia of the British far right on the influx of the migrants and refugees, Merkel has repeatedly spoken very sharply against the racism and xenophobia of Germany's far right.

More significantly, she has stated that Germany is wiling to take about 800,000 refugees every year for the next few years. Here, you might say,

is genuine, "Christian" mercy and compassion expressed in the idiom and the protocols of formal state policy. That is until you learn that this policy is actually calculated to be demographically and economically beneficial to Germany. This is because Germany has an increasingly aging population profile in which the birth rate and the youth population are not demographically robust enough to offset the percentage of the population that is growing too old for the effective workforce. In other words, Germany's "mercy" here is predicated on the calculation that she will receive "mercy" in return from the consolidation of the stable workforce that is needed to ensure her economic supremacy in the European Union.

Perhaps the thing that most clearly and incontrovertibly distinguishes the "mercifulness" of Chancellor Merkel and that of the "anonymous" Nigerian-born woman in Greece who is committing virtually all she possesses to the relief of the suffering and trauma of the refugees and migrants is the fact that while Merkel and the other European political leaders insist on making distinctions between "refuges" and "migrants", the Nigerian-born humanitarian activist and others like her make no such distinction. In the context of the horrendous exploitation and trauma inflicted by traffickers on all those arriving in European countries from the Middle East and Africa, it is almost obscene and inhuman to make and insist on

such distinctions. Putatively, a "refugee" is someone fleeing from dreadful war zones, especially the zones dominated and terrorized by ISIS. Conversely, a "migrant" is someone fleeing from the ravages of extreme or dire poverty with no end in sight for present and future generations. But in many cases, war and poverty are linked, whether they occur in states embroiled in fullscale war or post-conflict countries that are more or less failed states.

Indeed, in the world we live in at the present time in this new millennium, poverty in the global south is often the extension of war into the domain of terribly unequal economic conditions within and between the nations of the world.

And indeed, the late Marxist scholar and thinker, Giovanni Arrighi has determined, through rigorous research, that inequality in our world comprises two-thirds (or 66.6%) between nations and only one-third (or 33.3%) within nations.

In other words, on this account, poverty is the continuation of war in the domain of economic production: the distribution and consumption of goods and services in our world are structured by great and incommensurable inequalities between the nations and peoples of the planet. The best and the most honest and humane among European thinkers and activists are very much aware of this fact and indeed make it the basis of their advocacy on behalf of the hundreds of thousands streaming into that continent at the present time.

Nonetheless, Germany has stated clearly that it has room and space only for "refugees" and none at all for "migrants". Ditto Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Some countries will take in neither "refugees" nor "migrants", Hungary being perhaps the most intransigent and vociferous on this insistence.

For the humanists and activists and their organizations, such distinctions, such language games used to mask outright racist and xenophobic sentiments and policies, amount to the collapse of genuine compassion and solidarity in a time of unprecedented crises of community and fellowship in our world. In this traumatic and traumatizing historical context for our world, one anonymous Nigerian-born woman, far away from home in a new home, is making a difference that is measured in the large-heartedness of the small acts of mercy and compassion that she and her advocacy group are taking to relieve the suffering and trauma that she sees all around her. I hope in time to find out who she is and thereby replace her present anonymity with the concreteness of a name, an identity.

• Biodun Jeyifo bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu

18

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

COMMENT

The Nigeria we seek; the professionals we need T HE recent controversy over the new administration’s appointments so far and the preemptive accusations of ethnic lopsidedness and bias reflect this perennial obsession and anxiety over representation at the expense of actual performance and service delivery. It is unlikely that there would have been this much controversy if government positions were truly perceived in terms of responsibility and service rather than power, privilege and prestige. Our national struggle with graft is inextricably linked to the popular perception of public office as an opportunity for self-enrichment - a place to which we are invited to “come and chop” and to claim our own portions of the national cake on behalf of our ethnic groups.

Given the clear commitment of the present administration to fighting corruption, it is also clear that a key component of any holistic anti-corruption campaign should be a battle to redeem the hearts and minds of Nigerians. There are changes that will be accomplished through diligent prosecution of official wrongdoing and reforms in the architecture of our institutions – certainly – the culture of official impunity can be dispelled once it becomes clear that for the first time in our recent history, there is a confluence of the political resolve at the highest levels with refined and strengthened institutional capacity to ensure consequences for bad behaviour. The certainty of punishment is one of the strongest disincentives for official misconduct.

But ultimately there also has to be a values reorientation of the society at large.

Today, there are grand possibilities for change. To begin with, we have in the presidency two men who register very favourably in the integrity perception index.

•Continued from last Sunday

T

HIS might allow experimentation with new forms of electoral representation, reintroducing political competition and participation first at the grassroots.

Phasing in democracy in this way could defuse grievances and pressures and give the government a stronger basis of legitimacy. With the economy in dire straits, there will be no shortage of grievances and pressures in the months to come.

Nigeria’s external debt remains in excess of $20 billion, and payment on short-term trade debts is lagging months behind. Oil production remains low and petroleum prices are likely to tumble further, as Babangida himself recently warned the nation. Hence, the prospect is for even less than the 1984 oil income of $10 billion, which is less than half the peak figure of four years ago.

Most economists believe that the only way out of the crisis is for Nigeria to reach agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a three-year $2.5 billion loan; negotiations on this have been deadlocked for three years because Nigeria has refused to accept the IMF’s stringent adjustment program.

Upon taking office, President Babangida seemed determined to come to an agreement quickly but then threw the question open to public debate, and the consequent intense opposition has clearly reduced his freedom of manoeuvre.

Reaching agreement on an IMF loan would unlock perhaps another $2.5 billion in loans and credits from other sources; it would also enable Nigeria to resume imports necessary to regenerate industrial production and employment. But critics denounce the hardships that would

By Kayode Fayemi

They are very worthy and believable vessels of the message of values reorientation.

An ethical reorientation today must have among its cardinal pillars a restoration of the idea of professionalism to governance, a rediscovery of the idea of government office as a place of responsibility and service of the common good, not sloth and entitled privilege. We must come to see government as an enterprise deserving only of the most exemplary characters. In short our entire conception of public service must change.

President Muhammadu Buhari has already long expressed his intention to fill his cabinet with technocrats. We may interpret the term “technocrats” to mean “professionals” who bring experience, expertise and integrity to their respective briefs. He has also signaled his disdain for pork barrel politics and distributing government appointments as mere “jobs for the boys”. When a preference is expressed for technocrats in government as against simply lavishing public office on run-of-themill political jobbers, we are casting our vote for a knowledge-based, values-driven and ideas-oriented approach to managing our common aspirations. We can therefore infer that his administration will favour the rise of professionals to the fore of power and responsibility.

We must however ensure that professionals, who would be privileged to serve in this dispensation and after, understand the need to be equipped with much more than professional competences in dispensing their duties. A dose of humility is required by technocrats and professionals when they contemplate engagement with governance. It is not enough to be

professionally qualified for the job; professionals need to purge themselves from the entitlement mentalities which hinder them from adapting to the peculiar environment of public office. In order to succeed, professionals need to learn the social skills and graces that will enable them function effectively in leadership positions in public service without necessarily making the full transition to becoming politicians.

Over the long term, professionals need a clean break from the prevailing philosophy that characterizes our educational systems – the undue emphasis on certification above thorough education which only serves to produce professionals with character deficits.

The Case for Meritocracy Looking forward to the new Nigeria we seek, only a meritocratic system can deliver excellence. By opting for the low hanging populist fruits of equal opportunity at all costs within the official bureaucracy, we have sacrificed the means by which we can achieve a truly equal society.

Worse still, we have encouraged the politicization of the public sector, its perversion as a zone of patronage where politicians can reward cronies and party loyalists with positions and the perception that it is a theatre of sectarian contestation by sectional champions purporting to seek positional advantages for the narrow constituencies and interests they claim to be representing. Indeed, the default assumption at the heart of the way the public service is run is that its purpose is simply “representation” rather than “service.”

Perhaps, the most tragic implication of the cavalier way in which the public service has been handled is that we are also sending a dangerous signal to the young about the relationship between

competence and honesty on one hand and promotion and recognition on the other. Nothing destroys the work ethic like the idea that hard work is futile; nothing subverts public ethics like the idea that honesty does not pay. One of the reasons public service is not esteemed in Nigeria is because it is regarded as a realm in which factors other than merit dictate one’s progress and promotion. A perverse notion of affirmative action and entitlement feeds a sense of unfairness and grievance which ultimately saps morale.

Consequently, we cannot attract our best and brightest into the public service and so cannot but put forward the most ill-qualified or at best average products to undertake critical national tasks. This has also popularized the association of public service with mediocrity. The mediocre and ill-qualified personalities who rise to leadership positions become faces of the nation and degrade the public service even further. Many of our top public functionaries through their substandard performances have contributed to the poor reputation of the public service. It is said that we perpetuate what we permit and we receive what we reward.

Mediocrity thrives because it is permitted and rewarded. Excellence will flourish and proliferate when it is not merely permitted but celebrated, encouraged and rewarded.

Conclusion The task of national rebirth is not for government alone. It is a collective duty that requires the enlisting of every one of us. We must reestablish the foundations of honesty and diligence as the surest way to success. Thus, the role of professionals, not only in government but the larger society cannot be overstated. Too often, we see that official graft and

nonperformance is usually aided by accomplices from the larger society, those who have learnt but whose characters have not been developed.

We must be reminded that in the pristine traditions of education and the intellectual grooming of succeeding generations, certificates from our citadels of learning are awarded to those who are considered worthy in both “Character and learning”. We must start putting round pegs in round holes, and entrench a meritocracy which enlists true professionals in every area of our national life, from the artisans to the public service to the private sector, even to the sanctums of faith.

We must discourage the adulation of overnight successes and stop fawning after those whose rise cannot be traced to a process of disciplined tutelage, selfless service and sound character development. We must denounce many of those whose rise to the limelight was aided by corruption and deception – those intelligent rogues who profit from the misery of others. We must restore the dignity in labour.

We must rekindle the patriotic spirit that favours the common good over personal interest in every area of our national life, so that finally, government working with an energized and empowered citizenry can deliver on its promises of tangible and intangible goods by which the Nigerian people will know without a shadow of doubt that Change has come and a New Nigeria has been born.

•Excerpts from a paper titled ‘Our New Nigeria: The Role of Professionals in Government’ presented by Dr. J. ’Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria at the maiden public symposium of the Advanced Media and Communications Academy, Ibadan on Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Buhari and August 27, 1985 (thirty years after)

By J.K. Randle

follow the required currency devaluation and subsidy cuts. They also dismiss the utility of another huge infusion of cash, which, they maintain, the country is no better equipped to manage than the massive infusions of the oil boom.

As President Babangida recognized in his recent independence- day address, “with or without the IMF loan facility,” all Nigerians “must make hard choices involving great difficulties and requiring sacrifices from everyone in every sector, including the Armed Forces.” With or without the loan, the prospect is for a prolonged period of economic austerity, in which consumption has to be limited severely and productivity sharply increased.

Knowing this, the Babangida government may well determine that the urgent need for government to be responsive to the popular will, in particular the opposition to the loan, outweighs the urgent need for new foreign exchange and restructuring of debt. The Reagan Administration’s new policy emphasis on economic growth as the best relief for debt crises in the Third World may eventually benefit Nigeria.

Further, since the Babangida government has struck a surprisingly cordial stance toward the United States and promised to remove bureaucratic and other obstacles to foreign investment, the time might be propitious for the United States to take the lead in helping Nigeria to restructure its international obligations.

Ultimately, however, the success of the new government is likely to depend on whether it can build a

national consensus around a coherent economic strategy, distribute the sacrifices fairly, and put a stop to the disastrous leakage of the country’s resources through corruption and mismanagement.

This will be difficult to do without some institutional means for ensuring open and accountable government. In this sense, 20 months of repression may have taught the valuable lesson that the choice between democracy and economic recovery is a false one.

We should also flash back to Major-General MuhammaduBuhari’s maiden address: In pursuance of the primary objective of saving our great nation from total collapse, I, Major-General MuhammaduBuhari of the Nigerian army have, after due consultation amongst the services of the armed forces, been formally invested with the authority of the Head of the Federal Military Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is with humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I accept this challenge and call to national duty.

As you must have heard in the previous announcement, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1979) has been suspended, except those sections of it which are exempted in the constitution.The change became necessary in order to put an end to the serious economic predicament and the crisis of confidence now afflicting our nation.

Consequently, the Nigerian armed forces have constituted themselves into a Federal Military Government comprising of a Supreme Military Council, a National Council of States, a Federal Executive Council at the

centre and State Executive Councils to be presided over by military governors in each of the states of the federation. Members of these councils will be announced soon.The last Federal Military Government drew up a programme with the aim of handing over political power to the civilians in 1979. This programme as you all know, was implemented to the letter. The 1979 constitution was promulgated.

However, little did the military realise that the political leadership of the second republic will circumvent most of the checks and balances in the constitution and bring the present state of general insecurity. The premium on political power became so exceedingly high that political contestants regarded victory at elections as a matter of life and death struggle and were determined to capture or retain power by all means.

It is true that there is a worldwide economic recession. However, in the case of Nigeria, its impact was aggravated by mismanagement. We believe the appropriate government agencies have good advice but the leadership disregarded their advice.

The situation could have been avoided if the legislators were alive to their constitutional responsibilities; Instead, the legislators were preoccupied with determining their salary scales, fringe benefit and unnecessary foreign travels, et al, which took no account of the state of the economy and the welfare of the people they represented. As a result of our inability to cultivate financial discipline and prudent management of the economy, we have come to depend largely on internal and

external borrowing to execute government projects with attendant domestic pressure and soaring external debts, thus aggravating the propensity of the outgoing civilian administration to mismanage our financial resources. Nigeria was already condemned perpetually with the twin problem of heavy budget deficits and weak balance of payments position, with the prospect of building a virile and viable economy.

The last general election was anything but free and fair. The only political parties that could complain of election rigging are those parties that lacked the resources to rig. There is ample evidence that rigging and thugery were relative to the resources available to the parties. This conclusively proved to us that the parties have not developed confidence in the presidential system of government on which the nation invested so much material and human resources.While corruption and indiscipline have been associated with our state of underdevelopment, these two evils in our body politic have attained unprecedented height in the past few years. The corrupt, inept and insensitive leadership in the last four years has been the source of immorality and impropriety in our society. Since what happens in any society is largely a reflection of the leadership of that society, we deplore corruption in all its facets. This government will not tolerate kickbacks, inflation of contracts and overinvoicing of imports etc. Nor will it condone forgery, fraud, embezzlement, misuse and abuse of office and illegal dealings in foreign exchange and smuggling.

•To be concluded next sunday

LIFE

SUNDAY

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

•Continued on Page 20

• Dickson

19

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

20 SUNDAY LIFE • Continued from Page 19

Disabled women who dominate their world

• Ugwu

• Ojugo

• Salami

• Komi

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

SUNDAY LIFE 21

M Global leaders gathered in Stockholm in August to find solutions to increasingly decreasing global access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. Assistant Editor, Seun Akioye who was at the conference reports

•Some of the delegates from Nigeria

By Femi Macaulay

•Januario

22

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

SUNDAY LIFE

Veteran journalist, editor, author and publisher, Mike Awoyinfa speaks on the soon to be launched book, '50 World Editors,' co-authored with his late friend and partner, Dimgba Igwe. He also sheds light on the content, quality and place of the book, with Gboyega Alaka.

•Awoyinfa (inset: Igwe)

47

PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

28

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

ETCETERA

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi

POLITICKLE

deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

Why, oh why?

OH, LIFE!

THE GReggs

IF people evolved from apes, why are there still apes? Why do insects squeeze into enclosed light fixtures only to die? Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why do bad decisions make good stories? Why is it easier to obtain pardon than permission? Why is it so hard to decipher the fine line between boredom and hunger? Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat would have materialised?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try? Or when we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologises for doing so, why do we say, “It’s all right?” when all we long to say is, “That really hurt. Why don’t you watch where you’re going?”

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that’s falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over? Why is it that you never hear father-in-law jokes? Why can you not laugh alone or talk to yourself as you walk along without the world thinking you are idiotic or mad?

And why is it that when walking down the street and you find that you are going in a different direction than intended, instead of turning and walking back in the direction from which you came you prefer to check your watch or phone or make an arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you’re crazy in randomly switching directions?

And why do bills travel through the post at twice the speed of cheques?

Why is it that broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist exchange places in middle age?

Why do you throw away junk three weeks before you need it? Why is it that you never recognise the significance of a mistake until you make it again?

And why is that by the time you find greener pastures, you cannot climb the fence to get in anymore?

Why is that more often than not, when someone is telling you a story all you can think about is that he finishes quickly so that you can tell your own story that is not only better, but also more directly involves you? And why do you get that sinking feeling at the moment you realise you are wrong during an argument?

Why is it that most of the people in the ‘people you may know’ feature on facebook are people you do know, but deliberately choose not to be friends with? Why is it that sometimes you will watch a movie that you watched while younger and suddenly realise you had no idea what it was about the first time you saw it?

Why is that we would rather attempt to carry 10 plastic shopping bags in each hand than take two trips to bring the items in? Why do we say “what?” a number of times before nodding and smiling because we still didn’t hear what someone said?

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are almost dead? Why is that the one holding the remote control device in a room full of people watching TV feels so much pressure from the others?

Why do opportunities always look bigger going than coming? And why are the misdeeds of the rich and great mistaken for error while those of the poor and lowly are for crimes?

I’ll catch you

CHEEK BY JOWL

I will seek and find you, I will grab and hold too, I will make you ache, shake and sweat until you whine.

I will run as you dine, I will make you beg for mercy, I will make sure you find the experience testy.

Even if you try to stay on top, I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I stop, And when I do, you will be weak for more than a day, Without a chance to be gay.

With season greetings, The Catarrh.

QUOTE Character is what emerges from all the little things you were too busy to do yesterday, but did anyway.

—Mignon McLaughlin

Jokes Humour Too Drunk A DRUNK stumbles through the front door of a bar and orders a drink. The barman says, “No way, guy, you’re too drunk.”

A few minutes later, the drunk comes in though the bathroom.

Again he slurs. “Give me a drink.”

The barman says, “No, man, I told you last time, you’re too drunk.”

Five minutes later the guy comes in though the back door and orders a drink.

Again the barman says, “You’re too drunk.”

The drunk scratches his head and says “I really must be. The last two places said the same thing.”

Lady and the Bird WHILE walking down the street to work a lady saw a parrot on a perch in front of a pet store.

The parrot said to her, “Hey lady, you are really ugly.”

Furious, the lady stormed past the store to her work. On the way home she saw the same parrot and it said to her, “Hey lady, you are really ugly.”

She was truly mad now.

The next day the same parrot again said to her, “Hey lady, you are really ugly.”

The lady was so incensed that she went into the store and said that she would sue the store and kill the bird. The store manager apologised. “That’s not good,” he said and promised that his bird wouldn’t say it again.

When the lady walked past the store that day after work the parrot called to her, “Hey lady.”

She paused and said, “Yes?” The bird said, “You know.”

Time Machine WHILE proudly showing off his new apartment to friends late one night, the old timer led the way to his bedroom where a big metal gong stood against the wall in one corner.

“What’s that big metal gong for?” one of the guests asked.

“Why, that’s the talking clock,” the man said with a toothy grin.

“How does it work?”

“Watch,” the old man said and gave the gong an ear-shattering pound with a hammer.

Someone on the other side of the wall screamed.

“You old fool! It’s 2 a.m. in the morning!”

•Adapted from the Internet

Writer ’s Fountain reat tips for writing: Every story has a beginning, middle and end. But unexpected voice can provide the most compelling, the secret to successfully getting a short story focused experience of the central story. Just be noticed is to add something special to your story, careful that you don’t unconsciously give the story something that captures the attention of editors to a supplementary character. Narrating the story and readers. The following are a few tips that will line through a character that is not central to the action is a common mistake many new authors help your writing stand out: Find a thrust. Explore your motivations, make, often with confusing or convoluted results.

Opposites attract. Elements that work against determine what you want your story to do and stick to your core message. Considering that the your character’s central desire will keep the reader most marketable short stories tend to be around 3, intrigued and prevent your story from getting 000 words, you’ll need to make every sentence stuck. You can also try approaching your core idea count. If you burden your plot by including too from an unusual direction. Dialogue, setting, and many distractions, your story will feel overloaded characterisation are all areas that will benefit from an unexpected twist. and underdeveloped.

The importance of a strong title. This can be Get a different view. Experiment with your short story point of view (POV). A unique, one of the most difficult – but one of the most important – parts of writing your story. How do you find inspiration for a great title? Have friends Exceptional matter: read your story and note which words or phrases •An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain. strike them or stand out. The excerpts they choose •As a general rule in the animal kingdom, just might hold the perfect title. As much as possible, the more complex or relatively big the eye in avoid one- or two-word titles, which may seem as relation to the body, then the smaller the rest taking the easy way out. of the brain.

Shorter is better. When writing, resist the urge •A zebra is white with black stripes. to go on and on. With a shorter short story, you •A hummingbird weighs less than a penny. will have more markets available to you and a •An octupus has three hearts. better chance of getting published.

G

PAGE 29

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Kogi PDP: Furore over plots to dislodge Wada Pages 30

Ikpeazu's new political orientation in Pages 33 Abia

• Secondus

PDP sinks deeper Peoples Democratic Party's crisis has deepened over leadership disagreements both at the national level and in many state chapters, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

T

HE move by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to put its house in order, following the party's devastating defeat by the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections, appears to be threatened going by recent developments within the party.

Sources within the party told The Nation that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu-led reconciliation committee, saddled with the task of returning the troubled party to its united ways, may have been forced by the unending infighting within the PDP to abandon the task.

The Nation gathered that the committee, for which Secretary of the party, Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jubrin, was expected to serve as secretary, while Senator Godswill

Akpabio; Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, and former Abia State governor, Senator Theodore Orji, are members, has not had any serious meeting since the emergence of Prince Uche Secondus as the acting party chairman.

This is just as the party's National Working Committee, the camp of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the party's ex-governors continued to trade blames over which organ of the party was responsible for the party's dismal performance.

A leading chieftain of the party from Kebbi State told our correspondent that the current leadership of the party cannot bring peace to the party because it is illegal.

According to the former Deputy Governor,

•Contd. on page 32

Pages 36 & 37

'Buhari's economic blueprint will be pro-people' Pages 34

30

I

T's a clear case of the more you look, the less you see. By last Monday, delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were already at Lokoja for the much-anticipated governorship primary. The aspirants were busy canvassing for votes, trying to win over delegates to their camps.

Election materials were on the way just as many of the electoral officials were also on standby. Everything appeared set until the National Working Committee (NWC) announced the postponement of the exercise.

Many party chieftains and delegates were caught unawares. They never saw the postponement coming. But members of the NWC, according to investigations, were simply working towards a pre-determined end. It took only a terse statement from the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, to explain the postponement was to address logistical challenges.

Operation stop Wada Findings however revealed that the postponement may have been a grand ploy by the NWC to prevent Governor Idris Wada from winning the ticket. The party had cleared Wada, Jibrin Isa, popularly called Echocho and Banjo Amoto for the contest.

Wada, it was gathered, had the support of most delegates who felt he was being embarrassed by the NWC. The governor has not enjoyed the best of relations with NWC members. On July 1, he stormed the PDP national secretariat in Abuja for a meeting with NWC members. But he was kept waiting for hours, a development many attributed to the members' reluctance to have a parley with him. The governor had sought for the meeting to seek explanations on why the PDP's leadership cancelled the ad hoc delegates ward congress in the state.

The NWC had explained the congress was cancelled because it was conducted by what it described as "unknown local organising committee." Wada's men had swept the poll, meaning he was fully in charge of the party's structure in the state.

After much horse-trading, during which sources said he expressed displeasure, the meeting ended without Wada securing favourable response.

But his men still went ahead to win the rescheduled congresses on July 14. Following the victory of his men, Wada said: "We have to reinvigorate and strengthen the party to meet the current challenges.

"You can't enter a governorship election without putting in place the executive council members. With the successful election of the executive officers of the party we are determined to retain the state.

"The new leadership is hungry to make a mark and to put their footprints on the sand

A

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

POLITICS

S Kogi State voters set their mind on the forthcoming governorship contest, ordinarily the primary elections for the selection of aspirants by political parties should present a fresh page for Kogi politics.

However, this may not be so for the PDP where the incumbent governor, Wada Idris, a contender for the party ticket, is already exhibiting with impunity the seeming quality of Rock of Gibraltar, yet ironically, he is regarded by a large section of his fellow party members as the needless fifth wheel.

For the PDP, it does seem that the party is carrying burning coals in its hands. In reality, most pundits believe that many Kogi voters have already characterized Governor Idris Wada's ambition as troublesome for the PDP as it has all the awkward potency to erase fairplay from all aspects of this important electoral process. Unfortunately, if this materialises and Wada emerges as the party's nominee for the gubernatorial race, there are real fears that such may put an end to the PDP's existence in Kogi State. This assumption is based on the objective analysis of the present circumstances in Kogi State where most citizens appear filled with frustration from the incumbent Governor Idris Wada's unfortunate failed leadership.

The common persuasion is that the PDP leadership should do things differently to assure the party faithful of a prosperous future.

Consequently, the position of Kogi PDP is critical. While Governor Wada Idris is insistent on contesting, half of PDP's membership is not responding to any appeal to retain their support for the party unless Wada steps down from the race. Right now, Wada carries an excess baggage of condemnations for a single contestant as he is rightly recorded to have not only led the PDP to a loss at the recent presidential

Kogi PDP: Furore over plots to dislodge Wada An high-level plot has been hatched to deny Governor Idris Wada the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi with serious implications for the party ahead of the November 21 governorship poll, reports Sunday Oguntola

• Wada of history, and there is a renewed spirit among the members who have put behind them the incidence of presidential and National Assembly elections."

But the development, it was learnt, piqued NWC members. The take-over of the party's machinery in Kogi State, it was gathered, was why many of them launched the Operationstop-Wada project conceived to frustrate the emergence of the governor as the party's candidate in the November 21 poll.

Unconfirmed reports said Wada was asked to make a certain financial commitment to get the ticket, a demand he was said to be ill-

disposed to. When the plot to stop him from having the state's party executives on his side failed, the NWC members reportedly resolved to wait for him at the primary. This, it was believed, was why the NWC declared that there would be no automatic ticket for the governor.

What played out last week, findings revealed, was because the NWC realised Wada was going to carry the day had the exercise gone on. However, sources close to the PDP national leadership said it was not supporting the governor because he is considered a hard sell.

One of them said: "The APC has become very formidable, being the ruling party at the centre. By fielding former Governor Abubakar Audu, the party has been even more unbeatable. Our candidate has to be someone who can take on the APC and Audu.

"The governor, if you ask everyone on the streets, has not performed. The masses cannot feel him. There is a general discontent in the state. Salaries are being owed and the civil service is at the lowest ebb.

"If we field Wada, we are as good as defeated. He doesn't have the presence and aura to attract votes. He's been on the saddle for four years with practically nothing to show for it. So, fielding him is out of the question."

The Echocho's experiment With that mindset, the NWC has been convinced it must look for another candidate that can win votes in Kogi. This, it was learnt, was why they settled for Echocho. Isa is considered a grassroots mobiliser with public sympathy. His philanthropic activities have endeared him to the masses, which many national party officials believe will swing the pendulum in favour of the PDP. In 2011, he won the PDP ticket. The primary was conducted in 2010. But a court ruling, two weeks to the election, punctured his ambition.

The court ruled that the tenure of five governors will end in 2012, not 2011 as earlier thought. When a fresh primary was conducted,

Kogi 2015: Between Wada and Echocho

By Petra Akinti Onyegbule elections but also lost most of his party members to the opposing APC party. As such, many analysts believe that in a proper democratic setting, Wada should have recognised the reality of loss of voters' confidence and its attendant consequences by not contesting the election in the interest of his party. Contrastingly, Wada, rather than do what is noble, seems to have allowed his ambition to drive him farther into a state where he seems to be ambiguously guided by no articulate political principle or future.

Nevertheless, winning the Kogi State governorship election still remains vital for the PDP in its bid to rebuild its party after the appalling defeat in the last presidential elections. Such a victory, without a doubt, will embolden the drivers of the PDP's reform process to increase momentum in regaining voters' acceptance and perhaps, enable the party mark progress in future elections. The outcome of PDP Kogi's primaries ought to be a litmus test for the electorate to determine whether the PDP is really transforming or still engages in imposition politics as usual.

Coincidentally, the pollsters have long made their predictions on the outcome of the PDP primaries. Their verdict clearly showed that Idris Wada will not permit an election that will disrobe his status as PDP State party leader but this prediction also suggests that if Governor Idris Wada is presented by his party to contest for a second term in office, he will only end up bringing for the party huge loss vote margin because many Kogi voters believe that Wada, in his first term in office, did not only exhibit low quality skills of political leadership but gross lack of management

• Echocho capacity. This is not to say that Wada is not legitimately qualified to be a contestant in the.

Indeed, aside the broad rejection that has confronted Wada's participation in the contest, his candidacy has raised many important issues relating to unabated deteriorating socioeconomic situation of people and businesses in Kogi State.

Another disturbing issue about Wada's reelection bid is on the vital question on whether he has any special potential electoral advantage above other aspirants except power

Wada won with the support of former Governor Ibrahim Idris.

The party chieftains believe his deep pocket and massive structure along with mass appeal will convince Kogi voters to pitch their tent with him.

But the Wada's camp is crying foul. It said the postponement of the primary was a recipe for defeat. The grand design of NWC members, Wada's supporters allege, is to hold the rescheduled primary tomorrow without allowance for appeal.

A delegate from Mopa Moro, who sought for anonymity, told our correspondent: "My real worry now with the postponed elections is that it sits well within the framework of a leadership that is ready to foster a candidate of its choice on the party, knowing that appeals cannot be entertained in time before the time allowed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) elapses."

Going by INEC's regulations, no party can replace a candidate by Tuesday, 15th September. Wada's supporters believe the plan is to declare Echocho as winner without the allowance for entertainment of appeals and grievances.

"The decision is a terrible lose situation for both the party and the aspirants," the delegate stated. Checks revealed that should the NWC declare Echocho as winner, Wada's men will work against his candidature with the party's structure.

One of them said: "Any aspirant that loses in an unsatisfactory manner will not have time to appeal, while any aspirant that emerges as the candidate will continually be distracted by litigations well into the campaign season of the general elections.

This postponement is just a recipe for disaster".

Already, the APC is relishing the distraction in the PDP, pointing out that the ruling party should never be considered serious going by its handling of the ongoing crisis.

An APC chieftain, who asked not to be named, said: ""Our excitement has become heightened, knowing that with the level of disorganisation and disunity within the PDP national leadership and the state leadership, they may just impose a weak candidate that will make us landslide winners in November.

"Or in the best case for them, they may elect a strong candidate who will however be distracted by litigations from some aggrieved members, paving the way for our victorious emergence in the general elections.

"So, you can see the reason for our jubilation. There really is no way out of this disaster for the PDP and we can start getting ready to move into Lugard House come January 2016." of incumbency which has already been deflated.

As such, given the above circumstance, an endorsement of Governor Idris Wada by the PDP will mean that the party, by its ineptitude, has provided a reason for voters to redirect their choice against its interest.

This is why the PDP needs to be clear eyed on Wada's self styled second term ambition.

Already, the aggrieved PDP party members in repudiating Governor Idris Wada's candidacy may have in anger given the Kogi electorate the impression that the PDP is in dearth of qualified candidates but fortunately this dangerous reputation has been debunked by the PDP primary election campaigns which has produced two very credible candidates, Jibrin Isah Echocho and Moses.

For Echocho, opinions appear to be swaying in his favour against Idris Wada even before the conduct of the PDP primaries.

Echocho is highly rated as a man that will assist the party in sparking development in Kogi State, given his leadership potential and intellectual capacity. Also, their firm confidence in Echocho seems to rest on the belief that a victory for Echocho at the PDP primaries will be deadly to the prospects of APC under Audu Abubakar because he remains the hope for many disgruntled PDP members that hitherto in protest voted for the APC's victory in the past elections.

Indeed, as it seems, Echocho will be a difficult political challenge for the APC as he will elicit such passionate support of the large electorate.

Even though it is largely acclaimed that there are no angels in politics, Echocho remains a formidable alternative to Idris Wada provided the power struggle for the PDP ticket does not permit any candidate to resurrect the old custom of rigging usually experienced in past primary elections.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Garba Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity. He was the Director in charge of the Media Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. In this interview, he speaks on Buhari's first 100 days in office and the gains so far.

Tony Akowe reports

Buhari is building a just Nigeria -Shehu

H

OW is the President celebrating his first 100 days in office?

The president is not celebrating the first 100 days. If you recall, when the President visited the United States, he did say he does not believe in celebrating 100 days because such activities are fraudulent and that he will not engage in deceit.

That is why he went to Daura, his home town. If Nigerians has anything to say about it, they should say it and I can assure you that the President will hear.

But there will be no special activities about that.

Does that mean there is nothing much to show?

Well, Nigerians will decide whether there is anything to show or not. You represent public opinion. Without meaning to blow our own trumpet, I just left a town hall meeting in Suleja, organised by the BBC and I took my notes. The ordinary Nigerians are praising President Buhari for security in the country and some of them scored him 90 percent and above. On power supply, I think this is an opportunity to clear the useless claim by the PDP that it is the work of Jonathan that President Buhari has come to claim credit for. The records are there with the Ministry of Power. All the records are there. They are saying power has improved because it is rainy season. Let me say that none of the hydro plants has added any megawatt. What is going on is that, like the Americans will say, there is a new Sheriff in town. People are taking their cue from the fact that there is a nononsense President who has taken over the administration of this country and his body language sends the message.

This is the thing that is responsible for the improved power supply. No hydro station has increased output. At the town hall meeting, somebody said they drove from Suleja to Yola and back without any policeman or soldier stopping them to ask for bribe and the same thing happened on the way back.

There is an environment that has been generated by the presence of Buhari in Aso Rock. Whether anybody likes it or not, it has changed things and we are feeling safer.

A lot of people were surprised that he had to take Col Hamed Ali to head the Customs when there are several career officers for him to choose from.

What informed that choice?

I don't know because the President didn't talk to me on this. Let me ask you one question. Do you, in all sincerity, know Col. Hamed Ali? If you do know him, how many of his types do we have in this country? This is the man who many probably felt should have gone to head the EFCC. But looking at the critical place of the Customs in the economy of this country, you need somebody like him. After oil, the next revenue spinner for the government is the Customs. I think the President has done the best thing anybody can do for

• Shehu

the Customs and for the economy of this country. Otherwise, smuggling will ruin Nigeria. Look at what is happening in the textile industry in Aba, Ikeja, Kaduna, Kano and Gusua. There was a time when they used to employ about 400,000 people.

All the textile companies in the country today can no longer employ more than 30,000 people. We have more Nigerians in need of clothing today than those socalled glorious days of the textile industry.

This is just one example. Look at the issue of rice. Ebonyi, Anambra, Niger, Osun, Kebbi, Sokoto and Kogi have been brought together by the President and given the matching order to produce the rice need of this country. The rice industry in this country has failed because cheap Asian rice is being dumped here. The President did not ban importation because that would have offended WTO. What he has done is to say if you want to import rice, go and source your dollars anywhere you can get it. But CBN and the banks will always supply to manufacturers who want to bring in spare parts, equipment and employ Nigerians and for those who want to pay for medical bills abroad and maybe for school fees. By that action, the scope of import has been significantly reduced and that will encourage local production.

There is so much cash crunch in the country today. What is responsible for that, especially considering the fact that this is happening under Buhari?

I don't know anything about cash crunch. Perhaps, the more competent people are the bankers. I should think there is more money now going to the people because the local farmer who could not sell his produce because nobody was buying will now sell their goods. The tailor who does three hours a day because of lack of electricity can now do 12 hours a

day and that will fetch him more money.

The revival of the economy is a process that will take a long time. It will not require government opening the vault and bringing out money to give to people. It is a working economy. Look at the businesses in the North-East that were closed for a long time because of lack of patronage because of lack of security.

Now, if you go to Yola, life is booming there, the same thing with Gombe. Even in Maiduguri, you will be surprised at what you see. In spite of the threat that hangs over their head, night life is resuming.

Nigerians are agitated about finding the Chibok girls and despite the improved security, they have not been found and a lot was said about them during the campaigns.

To be fair to President Buhari, did he ever say he will bring back the girls on the second day of his administration? What he has always said is that we don't even know where the girls are and that we need to go in there and get the intelligence and situation of things and then act. There is better intelligence now. In fact, Sambisa forest is under observation 24 hours in case somebody decides to move those girls from point A to point B. If there is any movement that is suspicious, we have drones; unmanned aircrafts that fly around the place at night and during the day, the men take over and fly the aircraft.

In the last few days, you even saw the Chief of Army Staff leading the troupes and I am aware that in the last few weeks, very interesting pictures have been sent to the President on the basis of which we will say to Nigerians, don't lose hope on the Chibok girls. I am not saying they have been found or that they have been seen.

But it is not yet time for Nigerians to say we have lost them.

POLITICS

31

From what you have said it does appear that the government was jolted by what it found on ground regarding the state of security because it appears you have to battle with this again like in the past.

This Boko Haram was there for five or six years under Jonathan and he did not end it. Now you have a president who came and said go and end it in three months and this is about to happen. From my conversation with these commanders, what they are saying to themselves is that they are not going to wait for three months, but do their best to beat the target given by the President. So, there is so much going on and I can assure you that the spirit is very high.

Should Nigerians hold Mr. President responsible if the insurgency is not ended in three months?

The President is responsible for the affairs of this country. If insurgency is not ended in three months, what to do is not to start blame game. As head of your home, if you tell your wife that your dinner should be ready by 5pm and you come home, the dinner is not ready, are you saying you will tell her to pack her things and leave your house or you look for explanation. The President has appointed people and given them the matching order to do this within three months. Supposing your wife says the grinding machine you bought is fake, will that be her fault that she did not cook dinner by 5pm?

Is the government comfortable with what seems like a sectional imbalance in appointments made by the President?

I hear that these appointments do not constitute 5 percent of the appointments the President is going to make and they will come in waves. The President has also made two more appointments from the South-West. Do you want northerners to start abusing him for giving two appointments to people from the South-West? They are emotional reactions to things that will come and go. This country has gone pass that stage. I am not talking about competence because in this country, we have so many competent people all over the place. But give it to the President, he has the right to choose those he will work with or cook his food. Somebody has cooked for him for 25 years and because of federal character, you want him to remove him and bring in another person. These appointments are like a fan which must blow all sides. These things will come and Nigerians will feel adequately represented because it is the requirement of the constitution of Nigeria and that is the position of the President because he is a fair leader, he is a just leader and will do right to all manner of people. Hold him to that.

• Abegunde CORRECTION LAST week on page 40 we published an interview with Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde (Abena) a former member of the House of Representatives for Akure North/ South Federal Constituency. We apologise that a wrong picture was used instead of Abegunde’s. The correct picture for the interview titled ‘My removal from National Assembly, sacrifice for progessive politics’, is published today.

The error is regretted. -Editor.

32

POLITICS

•Contd. from (Cover) page 29 Secondus' continued stay in office as Acting Chairman is unconstitutional and offensive to the collective sense of committed PDP members across the country.

"We must stop paying lip service to peace and rejuvenation in PDP. Unless we address certain fundamental issues, like the unconstitutional leadership foisted on the party by some selfish individuals; we will be unable to witness real peace in the party.

"Our constitution didn't provide for a lengthy stay for any Acting Chairman. But what do we have now? Secondus' continued stay in office as Acting Chairman is unconstitutional and offensive to the collective sense of committed PDP members across the country.

"The peace committee is stalled because the members are divided over the legality of the party's leadership. I can tell you authoritatively that some of us, unlike others, cannot be cowed to keep quiet while illegality continues in our great party. This is the time to revamp PDP and we cannot do it through an illegal leadership," he insisted.

Trouble in Wadata House Secondus, erstwhile Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, stepped in as the Acting National Chairman of the party last May when the then National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu'azu, tendered his letter of resignation. Back then, the party said Secondus will lead the party pending the time a replacement for Muazu would be found from the North-East.

But party sources alleged that the NWC of the party may have been scuttling all efforts to get a substantive chairman from Muazu' geo-political zone. The Nation learnt that several attempts have been made by party leaders and caucuses from the north to get the party to address the issue to no avail.

Tired of waiting, prominent party chieftains recently met in Abuja and decided to go all out to ensure an end to Secondus' stay in office. Expectedly, a faction of the NWC, loyal to the acting chairman, also vowed to have none of the attempts to change the leadership of the party.

Consequently, the national leadership of the troubled party has been thrown into a fresh crisis that many observers say may finally nail its chances to return to prominence in the nearest future.

The ongoing tussle blew open last week when a former aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, stormed the Wadata House headquarters of the PDP in Abuja and asked Secondus to vacate the seat. Accusing the Acting National Chairman of illegality, Gulak said he was in the secretariat to take over the seat of the National Chairman.

Gulak told journalists that he had informed members of the National Working Committee of the PDP that Secondus should leave office immediately.

He said he had submitted a letter to the NWC, informing the members that another person from the North-East should replace Mu'azu.

He said, "My visit was to bring in writing to the notice of the party my intention to replace the former National Chairman of the party, after his voluntary resignation".

"As a member, and by virtue of the constitution, I know there's a vacancy. So, it needs to be filled and I'm here to fill it.

We need vibrant, bold and courageous leadership in PDP. "The resignation of the former chairman was done voluntarily. And maybe due to the disastrous outing of the party in the last elections, he decided to resign as a man who wants to take responsibility for his actions.

"The position of the constitution is that when a principal officer of the party resigns, the replacement should come from the zone from which the former person had come."

Early signs that trouble awaits Secondus over the national chairmanship position emerged about two weeks ago, when a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Bala Mohammed, had gone to Ado Ekiti to ask for Governor Ayodele Fayose's support to become the PDP National Chairman.

The former FCT minister, also from the same Bauchi State like Mu'azu, had told Fayose that he should be allowed to complete the former national chairman's

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

PDP sinks deeper in

•Jonathan

• Ekweremadu

•Secondus

tenure. According to him, it is wrong for the party to look the other way while the SouthSouth, through Secondus, serves out the term meant for the North-East.

Introducing another angle to the festering crisis, Fayose, however told the ex-FCT minister that it was the turn of the SouthWest to produce the chairman of the PDP at the national level.

The Ekiti governor said Mohammed should go to his ward and start rebuilding the party, saying there was no need for a substantive National Chairman now and that Secondus should be allowed to finish Mu'azu's tenure, which should end in March 2016.

But while insisting the North-East should complete Muazu's term, Gulak frowned at Fayose's suggestion that the South-West should produce the next National Chairman of the party, saying that the governor must be ignorant of the party's constitution.

"Fayose should avail his mind to the provisions of the party's constitution. This, if he had, he should have known that a replacement for the resigned chairman should come from the North-East. I didn't say so, the party's constitution did. If the National Secretary had resigned, then it would have been natural for the successor to come from the South-West," he argued.

But, the party's National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwon, cautioned Gulak to tread softly as there was no time limit for Secondus to remain at the head of the party. He cited relevant sections of the party's constitution to buttress the NWC position.

"Section 47(6) of the party's constitution enables the NEC to, in the event of any vacancy, nominate somebody to occupy the position. And there is really no time limit under second 45 (2) where an Acting National Chairman may cease to act. So, it is still within the constitutional provision that the Acting National Chairman continues in his capacity until a congress is called by the NEC and a nomination is made thereto," he said.

But the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, created further confusion on the matter when he said the party's NWC was waiting for the Ekweremadu-led Committee' report before it could call for a NEC meeting.

"We are waiting for Ekweremadu-led committee report to know the next step to

take. The decision to either make an appointment from anywhere lies with the NEC," Metuh told reporters.

"And that is the same Ekweremadu-led committee that has stopped meeting following differences amongst its members on this same issue of who should lead the party. You can now see why the party is still far from real peace," a party source told The Nation.

Troubled state chapters The PDP is also battling crisis and factionalisation in many of its state chapters.

From Lagos to Bayelsa; Anambra to Kogi; Ekiti to Ondo, amongst other states, the party seems to be unable to hold its peace as its chieftains and members remain at daggerdrawn in spite of many truces arranged by the national leadership.

Trouble bell keeps tolling for the embattled chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the PDP, Captain Olatunji Shelle, as 35 of the 49 members of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) has signed a petition seeking his removal for the second time. Shelle was recently reinstated by the party's NWC following his removal by party stakeholders in the state few months back.

A chieftain of the party, Wahab Owokoniran, said the vote of confidence claimed to have been passed on Shelle was by fewer than 14 of the 49 members of the executive committee.

"Nothing can be achieved when majority of the party members and executives are aggrieved and we are urging the public to

disregard his posture as the Chairman noting that until the NWC takes a decision and intervenes, it is a graveyard peace," Owokoniran said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of a faction of the party, Kamaldeen Olorunoje, insisted he is the substantive chairman. He said only few members of the party were still behind Shelle. He declared that there is no way his group, being the majority, would sit together with those in the minority and led

by Shelle.

Olorunoje, who recalled that both himself and Shelle had appeared before the State Commissioner of Police to pledge to keep the peace, said it was now clear that the Shelle group had broken the accord by forcing themselves into the secretariat for the said exercise of confidence vote on Shelle.

While he insisted that he was not prepared to sit down with Shelle to resolve anything as enjoined by the NWC, Olorunoje, however, expressed his willingness to appear before the national leadership of PDP any time he and his group were summoned to do so.

"You should have asked him to show you the letter the NWC wrote to him on the crisis.

They asked him to bring peace to the party by calling everybody together. We are not sitting with him. There is no way those in majority would sit together with, or bow to the wishes of those in minority," he said.

As the state prepares for its governorship election, the crisis in Bayelsa State PDP has worsened, following last month's defection of its Chairman, late Col.

Fayose should avail his mind to the provisions of the party's constitution. This, if he had, he should have known that a replacement for the resigned chairman should come from the North-East. I didn't say so, the party's constitution did. If the National Secretary had resigned, then it would have been natural for the successor to come from the South-West

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

POLITICS

r into crises

33

•Ikpeazu

Ikpeazu's new political orientation in Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, who has spent 100 days in office, explains his tall vision, anchored on a new political orientation, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

W •Gulak

Sam Inokoba (retd), and many others to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The late Inokoba had shocked the troubled party when he led about 2,000 PDP members to the APC on Saturday at a mega rally at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The PDP in the state had come out to say Inokoba and his co-travelers' exit will bring peace to the party. But a scathing statement on Inokoba and the defectors, credited to PDP's Acting Chairman in the state, Serena Dokubo, is the bone of contention in a fresh crisis that is tearing the party apart.

According to reports, Dokubo said Inokoba was suspended on alleged corruption and anti-party activity. The acting party chairman described the defectors as spent forces without electoral value.

But a group in the state's PDP, Bayelsa Great House (BGH), condemned the statement ascribed to Dokubo. It accused him of instigating and deepening the party's crisis. BGH's Chairman, Ebinimi Owei, and Secretary, Victor Woyinkuro, said Inokoba took the right decision by leaving "confused persons, liars, greedy and desperate politicians in the PDP under the Restoration Government for the APC".

Owei accused Dokubo of doubling as an Acting Chairman of PDP and an employee of the Judiciary Commission. The BGH chief reminded the party chairman that Governor Seriake Dickson, during a PDP meeting at the Government House on July 30, attended by Acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus; National Secretary, Dr. Abila, acknowledged that Inokoba did not steal the party's money.

"We implore Serena Dokubo to face reality because PDP Bayelsa is sinking every moment he engages in lies, deceit and other cheap political propaganda.

"We therefore state that Governor Dickson should hold Serena Dokubo and Fynman Wilson responsible if he fails the governorship election, which is very clear.

The PDP is never an Ijaw party," the group said.

In Anambra State, the recent emergence of Ken Emeakayi as the state chairman has thrown the party into chaos as some factions, including that of former governor Peter Obi, insist he cannot lead the troubled party in the state.

•Mu'azu

The immediate past governor's spokesman and former commissioner for information and culture, Joe-Martins Uzodike, told journalists in Awka recently that they were not part of the whole exercise that produced Emeakayi.

Another faction, led by Comrade Tony Nwoye, also inaugurated a parallel state council and ward executive committees after resolving to reject the Emeakayi-led committee till the very end.

Uzodike told journalists at the special thanksgiving service at St Luke's Anglican Church, Uke, for Ubaka Emmanuel Onwuanibe for his successful four-year tenure as the pioneer Director-General of Ebonyi State Broadcasting Service: "We are never part of what is going on right now.

This is because we do not associate with crisis-torn body."

He said the only remedy is for all the feuding groups to come to a round table, seek peace, reconcile and spell out their terms of relationship in further pursuit of general peace.

Ahead of the 2016 governorship election in the sunshine state, there is palpable fear that the camp of the ruling PDP in Ondo State may soon be depleted as the former governorship candidate of the party, Chief Olusola Oke, and other prominent leaders may soon announce their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Since the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to PDP from Labour Party (LP), the party has been in disarray, which later affected its performance in the last Presidential and National Assembly polls.

In spite of plea from former President Goodluck Jonathan that Oke and Mimiko should unite, the duo operated parallel rallies for Jonathan's re-elections and remained political enemies till now.

Oke's camp has been unhappy over the imposition of candidates on them by Mimiko immediately after he decamped to the party.

"Should Oke defect to APC, there is going to be major crack in PDP here in Ondo. This is because he is the soul of PDP in the state. Mimiko is a stranger in PDP. Oke is the man who held the party afloat when they all left it to die," a party source told The Nation.

HEN he stepped into the Government House in Umuahia on May 29, 2015, announcing to all that he was out to assume the status of a common governor, not all took Dr Okezie Ikpeazu seriously. His critics dismissed his claim as another stunt to hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians. But after his first 100 days in office, Godwin Adindu, his Chief Press Secretary, is proud to identify evolution of a new political orientation as one of the first achievements of Governor Ikpeazu in Abia State.

According to Adindu, Ikpeazu achieved this feat by demystifying the office of the governor, a process he started not only by calling on the people not to call him, "His Excellency" and not to add "Executive," to his official title but also by cutting his salary by half.

Outlining some of the achievements of his boss in the first 100 days in office, Adindu said the new government in Abia has recorded success in the area of Integrated Payroll Verification System (IPVS). In this wise, the government conducted staff auditing to ascertain the actual strength of the workforce. This, The Nation learnt, has led to discovery of many ghost workers. As a followup in the war against ghost workers syndrome, the Ikpeazu-led administration is perfecting plans to introduce bio-metric system in the state civil service.

Another area the governor's spokesman said the new government has made some remarkable impact is its innovative efforts at raising the lean Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). He explained that to do this, the governor engaged reputable consultants to harness the state's IGR. The projection, according to Adindu, was to raise the state's IGR from N500m monthly to N1.5 billion.

Although this tall ambition has not been achieved within the first 100 days, Abia residents, who witnessed the multiple collections of fees by uncountable uniform officials in the past administrations, agree that some level of sanity may have been introduced in the state's IGR recovery assignments. Traders in particular have expressed satisfaction that the governor has also introduced market review through establishment of market committees.

It would be recalled that the first thing Ikpeazu did in the area of revenue collection was to cancel all manner of levies in the state. As we gathered, the state government lost millions of naira following this radical move, but it used the opportunity to harmonise the once confused sector. Besides the appointment of the consultants, Ikpeazu also introduced harmonization and banking system of payment of revenues.

Some commentators who spoke in his favour during the 100 days celebrations said his efforts towards harmonization of taxes and levies, his 'War against Double Taxation,' the new impetus his government has given the drive towards eradication of touts and illegal agents in the revenue drive were among his most popular actions in Aba and other parts of Abia State today.

Others included bold attempts to block leakages and drain pipes through which Abia State Government finances were allegedly siphoned.

Ikpeazu has also established the Abia State Economic Advancement Team (ASEAT) in an elaborate scheme to produce a new economic

blueprint for the state. The idea, he said, is to "drive a new economic initiative, set a more ambitous agenda and draw the roadmap for the new administration."

In the well-fought electoral campaigns leading to his emergence as governor, the issue of the deteriorating state of Aba urban city generated so much sentiment. As a result, it became the foremost campaign issue in the Abia 2015 governorship election.

This being the case, Abia citizens, noting Ikpeazu's personal attachment to Aba, are not surprised that he reportedly began work in Aba a day after assumption of office. According to Adindu, within the first 100 days, the governor has done so much in his bid to revive and to transform the commercial city of Enyimba. This he has done through, "Establishment of the Office of Aba Urban Renewal, designed to drive the new effort towards the infrastructural renewal of the city and ensure that Aba is transformed to a city of basic modern amenities."

The office is also assigned with the responsibility of ensuring order and sanity in building of shops, kiosks, offices and residential buildings, to drive the new programmes towards park reforms and general rehabilitation works.

As he explained, "the goal is to make Aba the SME capital of Nigeria."

Other areas Ikpeazu has made appreciable impact, according to Adindu, include government-public finance restructuring, construction of 27 roads, which cuts across Aba, Umuahia and Abia North, pension reform and payment of pensioners' salaries, reinstating of sacked non-indigenes and launching of E for EEducation for Employment, a novel programme rolled out to reactivate vocational education in Abia.

The governor's image make said his boss has not left out critical areas like agriculture and health. He launched what he termed Youth for Agriculture Programme, where 40 youths are to train at the Songhai Farms in Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin annually. Explaining to The Nation how this initiative will impact on hundreds of thousands of unemployed youths that could be engaged in agriculture, Adindu said "It's a train-the -trainer initiative in the entire agricultural value-chain."

In the area of health he said the new government has a programme where two tertiary health centres would be identified in each of the three senatorial districts in the state and will broker a public-private partnership arrangement where a private hospital management firm will take over these hospitals and run them.

In addition to that the "state is also reviewing its Health Insurance Policy with a view to reactivating and strengthening it."

Perhaps Ikpeazu's efforts in the first 100 days that have attracted the attention of Abians more than the others is his efforts at changing the story of Aba. Many today talk of the day his government commenced the dredging of the Aba River, an effort many hope will help to resolve the environmental riddle and enhance drainage flow in Aba. Ikpeazu's resolve to champion personally the "made in Aba campaign" has also boosted his image in the state and beyond. Reports have it that his suits, dresses and shoes are made in Aba. As Adindu puts it; "The governor is the chief brand ambassador of made-in-Aba goods. He has embarked on an aggressive promotion of Aba products and is setting up Marketing and Standard Regulatory Board to ensure that the Aba entrepreneur is encouraged."

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

POLITICS

National Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, is one female politician to watch in the current political dispensation. The Kogi Stateborn administrator is also the President of Council of African Political Parties (Women Wing). In this interview with Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, she spoke on President Muhammadu Buhari's 100 days in office, the Kogi governorship election, among other issues.

'Buhari's economic blueprint will be pro-people'

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari marked his first 100 days in office last week, what is your assessment of his performance?

Two words; quietly impressive!

Without injection of funds and devoid of any propaganda, we are witnessing significant improvements in virtually all aspects of our national life. Look at power for instance. Just a few months back, most parts of this country barely enjoyed electricity supply regardless of whether or not we paid electricity bills. But today, virtually all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria enjoy good to steady power supply. Also, the refineries are now in full swing and operating near their respective maximum capacities, when hitherto we were made to believe they would never see the light of day again. Filling stations now abide by the stipulated pump price of petroleum products as against ripping off hapless and helpless Nigerians. The anti-corruption crusade is taking firm roots across the country in spite of attempts to derail it. The Treasury Single Account (TSA) will go a long way in blocking the leakages in the system and enthroning accountability and probity in the public sector. The Assets of Our President and Vice President were published in line with their promise to Nigerians. You can also see the renewed sense of responsibility and dedication on the part of our security forces from the military to the Nigeria Police. I can go on and on; it's indeed a restoration of those basics, which decades of misrule had made

• Tijani us believe were unattainable luxuries. And this is just the beginning.

So what do you make of the opinions expressed by some analysts that the Nigerian economy is stagnating?

Let me start by saying that President Buhari I have come to know respect and identify with, is not solely preoccupied with paper economics, but also the tangible effects of the economy on the common man. As we are all aware, ours is for all intents and purposes a mono economy, literally dependent on oil which price continues to fall in the international market. In the life of the past administration, Nigeria sold oil for as high as a $120 per barrel, but today, it's barely $47 per barrel. In simple terms, we have lost about 2/3 of our national revenue.

That is bad news even in the biggest economies of the world. Nonetheless, as far as the President is concerned, the ordinary Nigerian should be able to live a better quality of life when we have steady power supply, better security of lives and property,

prompt and regular payment of salaries as exemplified by helping the states wake up to their responsibilities of paying the backlog of workers' salaries across the federation.

Allied with a systematic and comprehensive upgrading of our infrastructure road network, communication and an aggressive diversification of our economy, which is heavily dependent on oil is top on the agenda of this administration. This will in turn create millions of jobs for Nigerians and shackle the unacceptable level of unemployment in the country. In any case, some of the studies or indices being bandied around stretch back well into the previous administration and therefore cannot be a fair assessment of this administration's performance in the area of economic development.

The president has come under criticisms on what is regarded as his lopsided appointments. As an APC chieftain, what is your take on the controversy?

Controversy, I think the word 'opinion' better captures the views that trailed President Buhari's recent appointments. And in my candid opinion, it is rather premature in the life of this administration to make such assertions. He will cater to the needs of all parts of this country in the fullness of time; let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

Nigeria is so diverse, over 200 ethnic groups, and therein lies our collective strength. There are competent and honest Nigerians in all parts of this country. In any case, the President himself alluded to the issue of federal character when he said even if he wanted to sideline any part of the country; the law would not permit him.

You have a background in Urban and Regional Planning, what in your opinion is responsible for the housing deficit in Nigeria?

Any analysis or diagnosis of the problems in the housing sector must take into account the sum total of the historical antecedents in the efforts to reposition the sector. This will encompass a painstaking study into why we are where we are in spite of the numerous attempts by various regimes to bolster the fortunes of the housing subsector of our economy. The housing sector has been bedeviled with criminal inattention and lack of planning on the part of stakeholders. The sector contributes only about four percent to our GDP, compared to

advanced climes where the housing sector contributes up to a quarter of the National GDP. This is largely attributable to the lack of political will to overhaul the extant legislations regarding ownership, acquisition and management of land in country. This obviously constitutes an impediment to easy access to land and affordable houses for Nigerians.

What then is the way forward, how can we make the housing sector a key contributor to the Nigerian economy?

Our party, APC has a well thought out blueprint to bring the sector out of the doldrums. We believe that housing as an independent sector ought to be one of the key drivers of our national economy as a developing country. It can contribute significantly to creation of jobs, especially for the youths. We therefore intend to make it stronger than it is right now.

Hopefully, we will get to a place where it begins to play a vital role as a key component of our GDP. Significantly, we intend to create a sustainable land mortgage market by reforming land ownership so as to give the common man easy access to title deeds. The aim is to achieve a credible housing programme which cuts across all social classes of the society. A housing programme that will kill the over 17 million mass housing deficit problem we have in Nigeria presently; it is a huge challenge but it is not too difficult for a willing government.

You are from Kogi State; which gubernatorial election is scheduled for November. What are the chances of your party in the election?

It has never been brighter. The wind of change which swept across Nigeria earlier this year has not abated. The people of Kogi State deserves better than the back to back PDP regimes of incompetent and rudderless leadership.

You were recently elected as President of the Council of African Political Parties (women wing) headquartered in The Republic of Sudan, can you tell us more about that?

The Council of African Political Parties is an umbrella body of political parties or associations across the African continent.

I was chosen to represent APC, which happens to be the ruling party in Nigeria today and it was a rollercoaster experience.

Tukur, great political strategist at 80 N the mid 70s Nigeria was confronted with serious challenges in the area of ports administration. There was serious congestion in the ports, especially with the importation of cement; and then came a man who seemed to have waved the magic wand - Dr Bamanga Tukur, who successfully eased the congestion to the admiration of all and sundry. That feat of Dr Tukur as General Manager of the Nigeria Ports Authority shot him into national limelight and marked him as a rare leadership material.

The term, leadership, has been described as "a process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task".

That definition by leadership expert, Martin Chemers, notes that some understand a leader simply as somebody whom people follow, or as somebody who guides or directs others, while others define leadership as "motivating and organising a group of people to achieve a common goal.

Today, Dr Bamaga Tukur is a household name in the nation's socio - economic and political landscape. This even goes beyond Nigeria to across Africa and other parts of the world as he has relentlessly played key roles in Nigeria and beyond. For Pius Adesanmi of Carlton University, Canada, ''You may not need money and material aggrandizement to acquire the status of leader, you need to come to the table with an impeccable and unimpeachable moral and ethical capital, built through years of consistency, with the block of the personal example.''

It is a resounding testimony today that Tukur's mastery and excellent touch and personal example in several human endeavors has made him an all round success.

Born in 1935 in Jeda, Adamawa State, Tukur began his educational pursuit in Bauchi. He attended the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. A loving father and husband, Tukur is today an accomplished businessman, politician of no mean repute, an elder statesman, an industrialist and an ambassador of peace all rolled into one. The

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By Oliver Okpala former top civil servant is also a farmer with expansive agricultural investments along the various river basin authorities in the country.

His sagacity and broad based knowledge has been brought to bear in all his endeavors, which has also impacted positively on the nation's business environment. As a former top civil servant, governor and minister, Tukur's enormous experience, cutting across the private and public sectors of the economy, has carved an enviable niche for him. Furthermore, his vast business empire has helped to create jobs for teeming Nigerians and advance the cause of free and unhindered business environment in the country and beyond. As someone who has seen it all, Tukur served as Executive Officer in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the then Northern Region.

He attended the popular London School of Economics where he read Transportation and Economics in 1965. He went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburg in the United States. Upon his return to Nigeria he was appointed the Ports Manager at the Lagos Port Company from where he became General Manager and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Ports Authority between 1975 and 1982.

Thereafter, he threw his hat into the political fray as he contested and won the governorship election of the defunct Gongola State on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1983. Tukur served in that capacity as governor for three months as the military truncated the second republic on December 31st 1983.

From the works of Machiavelli's to the Sanskrit through the writings of Aristocratic, tzu and Confucius, there is the agreement that leadership is a matter of intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, courage, and discipline. Reliance on intelligence alone results in rebelliousness. Exercise of humaneness alone results in weakness. Fixation on trust results in folly. Dependence on the strength of courage results in violence. Excessive discipline and sternness in command result in cruelty. When

• Tukur one has all five virtues together, each appropriate to its function then one can be a leader.

Because of the presence of this mix of essential leadership traits in him, Tukur was not deterred. He veered into business as he founded BHI Holdings and DADDO Group of Companies. He went on to become the chairman of NEPAD business group, Afripractice Group and Executive President of African Business Roundtable. He had served at different times as a Director in the Nigeria Railway Corporation, the Nigerian Shipping Line, the Nigeria Army's Central Water Transportation and the Board of Custom and Excise.

The elder statesman is a member of the International Business Advocacy Council of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO and a member of OECD Africa Investment Advisory Board. Dr Tukur was elected chairman of the NEPAD Business Group in Monterrey, Mexico, in March 2002.

That same year, the Republic of Togo honoured

him with the National Honour of the Commander of The Order Of the Momo (COM) in recognition of his giant contributions to business in Africa. He was appointed member of the Ghana Investors Advisory Council by President John Kuffor in June 2002 and conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Niger in 2003 by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Tukur has no doubt made several contributions to national development. And as National Chairman of the PDP, he did not betray his long standing commitment to the ideals of discipline and justice. As he marks his 80th year on planet earth, it is worthy to note that whether in or out of government, Dr. Bamanga Tukur has always used his talent, wide connection, enterprise and noble endeavors to advance the cause of an indissoluble, united and prosperous Nigeria.

Through the years he has turned out to be a towering national unifying force and a rallying point that has not disappointed his admirers and supporters across the country.

Perhaps one of Tukur's greatest assets is his humility even in the face of many successes and achievements. A look at the history of great nations shows that a lot of things define them. Among the many things which define a nation are the sum total of the personal examples of the leaders they have identified and crowned in their history. When a nation says, ''this is who we are'' she is often talking about the crystallization of the shining examples of her heroes and heroines into a transcendental national identity.

No doubt, Dr Bamanga Tukur is one of our shinning lights. A good mixer and a great political strategist, he is indeed a blessing to the nation. At 80 it is expected that our nation and all men and women of goodwill will continue to draw wisdom and inspiration from this distinguished Nigerian elder statesman, matchless philanthropist and ageless administrator. –Prince Okpala is SA on Media to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

POLITICS

Agagu: A man and a story

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O

UR lust for a reversal of the testing times thickened with the thread of tales by daylight. Intriguing narratives and descriptive anecdotes rang clear with a glut of emesis and reminiscences. Almost everyone present at the first Olusegun Agagu Memorial Lecture which took place last year in Ibadan, had a story to tell. Nearly all the stories took us back to Agagu's epic sojourn in the corridors of power and his academic career in the ivory tower. And for several hours on that historic day of September 13, 2014, the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, was awash in cascades of diverse tongues.

The big story, of course, came from the rostrum where scores of distinguished guests had gathered.

The keynote address was presented by His Excellency, Festus Gontebanye Mogae, former President of Bostwana, who was represented by Myrong Bowang, Deputy High Commissioner of Botswana. Mogae defined public service and its numerous responsibilities. And concluded that Agagu employed the arsenal of public office to transform his environment. Mongae spoke as if he was a resident of Orisumbare Number, one of the many remote villages of Ondo State that Agagu visited in his voyage of rural urban integration. In other words, he succinctly accentuated the views of many unheard voices of appreciation for a life of service that Agagu lived.

There were more stories in form of inspiring tributes; cascading from the lips of iconic individuals who extolled the uncommon virtues of Agagu. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mrs Omobola Johnson, then Minister of Communication Technology, Mr. Oba Otudeko, Chairman Honeywell Group and Admiral Akin Aduwo, former Governor of Old Western State, took their time to talk about the Agagu they know.

In truth, their stories were gripping and gratifying. But there were largely moderated delivery of the 'high table' usually determined by time, defined by ambience and often decided by the tempers of the audience. Really, when people are called to the rostrum, their freedom is restricted.

They become frantically formal and unusually ceremonial.

But for the rest of us on the floor, it was freedom according to our preference. Sometimes, we cut chicken thighs with teeth and drink straight from the bottle of coca cola. We share jokes and stories with relative ease. That was the situation at the first memorial lecture last year. There was abundance of life on the popular side. Virtually everyone had something to say about Agagu. But not through the microphones. We spoke in loud whispers and stroke in warm laughter. Stories made the rounds.

The late former governor was the subject matter of jokes and anecdotes. From official to personal, from friendship to family ties, scores recalled their memorable encounters with Agagu. It was no holds barred. No rules. No regulations. The vivacity of the stories contrasted made the formality of the upper table where icons sat in suspended animation.

As governor of Ondo State, Agagu severally described himself as an executive prisoner locked up inside the Alagbaka Government House, daily led out by security operatives on a guarded tour of duty and similarly escorted back home at the close of the day. We are familiar with this story. There is a version of this prisoner's story known only to his cabinet members. It goes thus. Agagu was presiding over ministerial briefing at the state executive council chambers in Akure when a permanent secretary presented his ministry's reports. Hear him: "Your Excellency, we have not take approval for it but we have went..." The permanent secretary committed some unpardonable blunders. But Agagu ignored the syntax and clung to the substance. Nevertheless, at the close of work, we retreated to the Government House. As we were about to disperse, Oga, as we called the governor, beckoned unto us with burst of humour. "This governorship position is a very bad thing o," Agagu quipped. "Why sir …how sir" We all asked in unison. He said he noticed the perm sec's grammatical somersaults but he dared not laugh.

Can you imagine being denied such a golden opportunity of laughter?" Beyond his prodigious intellectual capacity, Agagu was humour personified.

It was a sin not to laugh at his memorial event.

Some of us who worked closely with him began to recall our very intimate moments with him. It was a case of a man and a story. Though I didn't hear the story those who sat afar, I noticed whispers and laughter everywhere. I sat close to Mrs. Tolan Aworh, Olorogun Eddy Olafeso, Barrister Sola Oludipe, Honourable Agboola Ajayi and host of other politicians of Onto State extraction. Then, someone brought a story of how Agagu frustrated

Buhari: The next 100 days

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• Agagu

By Yemi Olowolabi

his son, Feyi's plan to demolish his country home in Iju Odo. Feyi wanted his dad, who was then the governor, to build a befitting house at home. It was a coup he plotted with other accomplices who are still at large. He brought an architect and informed the governor of the demolition plan. Agagu responded with King Sunny Ade's song: "Won yo kumo, yo Kondo, won Fe wole ola…" They brought clubs and cudgels, they want to demolish the house of wealth." Everybody laughed. But he had made his point. That he was satisfied with his modest 4bedroom bungalow brick house. That is the essential Agagu, a super modest man with immodest gift of intelligence.

However, not all the stories made us laugh.

Some led us into deep reflection and appreciation.

Agagu was greatly misunderstood by many people and in many quarters. That was a point Agboola Ajayi emphasised. In his opinion, Agagu opened the gate of good life that all may come in. "Many of us are surviving on Agagu's name" This was corroborated by many of the story tellers of the day.

Agagu made people without knowing their names.

That was the story of Dipo Akinsola, former Special Assistant to the Senate President on Economic Matters. As aides of the governor, we had accompanied him to the office of Adolphus Wabara, then senate president on a visit. The senate president told Agagu to nominate someone to be his SA on Economic Matters. The governor thanked his host for the honour. As soon as we stepped out of the senate, Agagu turned to usHonourable Abayomi Sheba and I. "Do you know anyone with a Masters in Economics?" We started contacting our friends. Finally, Sheba called Dipo Akinsola who immediately forwarded his CV to us. Agagu sent the resume to the senate president without asking who Dipo was. And Dipo Akinsola became SA to the senate president.

There were many more stories that sounded like fairy tales. But those that sat close to me wanted to hear my own stories. I told them to wait for my memoirs. But the pressure mounted. I remembered sharing just two stories with them. First was the story of my aborted resignation as Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. After the 2007 governorship election in which Agagu was declared winner by INEC, I offered to quit my job.

The reason was simple. A lot of people wanted him to relieve me of the post and hire a more political person. The rumour was everywhere.

Since I couldn't ignore it, I personally offered to go.

And I told my boss. His reaction was disarming.

"Yemi, it is true people have come to me to complain that you are not loyal. Nobody has any evidence against you. And more importantly, nobody can fault your competence on the job… ignore the rumour… concentrate on your job. If I listen to every rumour here, I will even sack everybody" Agagu placed premium on competence and not primordial, political sentiments. I have more stories. But they are meant for another day. One thing is sure, both in life and in death, Olusegun Agagu remains an enigma whose name inspires hope of a better society.

-Olowolabi, Chief Executive Officer of Red Carpet Communications Limited, served as Chief Press Secretary to late Governor Olusegun Agagu

HE President and his government has been in focus in the past one week.

Many citizen as well as conventional journalists have called attention to the slow pace of the administration. Some have even hinted that the administration is yet to take off.

This is my view, too.

In defence, the President and his men have pointed out that there is a lot to do and it behoves him to look carefully before taking each step. Asiwaju Tinubu told the press while on a visit to the President in the past week that the slow pace was dictated by the level of rot in the system. The President himself acknowledged that He was aware that he is being called “Baba No Regret”.

There is no doubt that only tentative steps could have been taken in 100 days. And, it will be dishonest to say the President did nothing in the period. He introduced the Treasury Single account, for example and has said a lot about corruption, thus sending out signal that whoever wants a place in the government to corner the honey pot should stay away. On the War Against Terrorism, too, the Buhari administration has left no one in doubt that every inch of the Nigerian soil is too precious to be left to hoodlums to control.

However, I insist that the failure to constitute the Executive Council in the period is wrong and indefensible,. I hold on to the belief that it is even unlawful. I refuse to accept that the President needs all of six months to locate men and women qualified to serve Nigeria. More than most of his predecessors, it could be said of him that he means well and would do anything to protect the country’s integrity. Governance is, however, much more than good intentions. It involves more than the intention to plug leakages and loopholes. It requires rigorous analysis and policies. This is also hinged on having a good team to translate the intentions to policies.

What do I expect of the Buhari administration in the next 100 days? Governance. A real first glimpse at the ability and capability of the President would come to the fore when he hopefully unveils the muchawaited team this month. I hope he would not over-centralise, thus bureaucratise governance.

It is impossible for one man to run the affairs of a country as complex as Nigeria in the modern age. This is no time for any leader to play the superman.

He cannot be a strongman or

foreman. He is only one man; has only 24 hours in a day and cannot work round the clock. In knowledge, too, every man is limited; no one is an expert in all things. We want a President Buhari, not a General Buhari.

If 100 days is too short to catch a glimpse of Buhari, the action man, seven months cannot be so regarded. During the next 100 days, I expect that the first Buhari budget would have been presented to the National Assembly. I expect that his ministers would be appearing before the Appropriation Committees of both Houses and thus availing us the direction of things to come. Unfortunately, the heads of the ministry would not have sufficiently worked with the President to know his mind, or even the real philosophy of his government.

In the next 100 days, we expect to have seen the Foreign Policy Blueprint. I also expect that the energy policy would have been unveiled. Would the subsidy on petroleum products be retained or removed?

How would the administration create jobs for the teeming youth population? Does he just intend to give instruction to the MDAs to absorb more into service, or would he rather reflate, reposition, straighten and strengthen the private sector?

I look forward to a second 100 days when the full security blueprint would have been out.

All we can say so far for the government is that it is sincere in implementing the same template established by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, but to which he merely paid lip service.

Beyond the terror challenge in the North East, what is to be done with regards to the resumed spate of kidnapping in the South South and the South East? What about armed robbery in the West?

There should be a coordinated plan to secure lives and property in all parts of the country.

A major promise by the All Progressives Congress during the campaign was introduction of a social security scheme. This might not feature in the first year of the administration, in view of the socio-political outlook. But, it would be fraudulent for the President to keep silent till the end of the year.

President Buhari rode into power having triggered a crisis of expectation. The first 200 days would enable us assess his management skills and reassess our expectations. The beauty of the outcome of the 2015 polls is that the electorate now realizes that it reserves the power to install and remove governments.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

POLITICS

L

• Faleke

Faleke's triumphant homecoming in Kogi

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t is no longer news that the All Progressives Congress, (APC), has picked Abiodun James Faleke, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State, as its Kogi State deputy governorship candidate in the forthcoming election. What many may not know is that contrary to claims in some quarters that the youthful lawmaker is an outsider in Kogi politics, he has indeed, for many years, been part and parcel of the political system of his state of origin.

Faleke will run on the ticket which already has Abubakar Audu as the governorship candidate. Until he was elected a federal lawmaker, Faleke, of the Iyamoye-Okun tribe of Kogi, had been chairman of Ojodu Local Government Council in Lagos twice.

Even while practicing politics in Lagos, Faleke has on many occasions joined other progressives to intervene in the politics of Kogi State in one way or the other. For one, it is on record that he played very important roles in popularizing the APC within the Okun people of the state and their neighboring tribes in the run up to the last presidential election. He was also named director, Buhari/ Osinbajo presidential campaign, in charge of Lagos activities, in the build-up to the presidential election.

With his emergence as the deputy governorship candidate in the state, many people are saying, for Faleke, it is a much desired and awaited return to his state of birth.

Hon. Abiodun Awoleye-Dada is a member of House of Representatives, representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency. In this interview with Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, he explained how the crisis in the National Assembly was managed, the anti corruption crusade and many more.

Mimiko and the ‘liberal democratic ethos of the PDP’

AST week, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors angrily alleged that Nigeria is presently under a 'shadow' democratic rule and drifting into dictatorship. The visibly aggrieved governors went as far as comparing the current regime with the immediate past one in terms of respect for the rule of law. That led many Nigerians to join in the comparison.

And guess who led the band of angry governors to raise the allegations; it was the PDP Governors' Forum Chairman, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, after a meeting of the body, at the inner chamber of the Bayelsa State Governor's office Yenagoa. The Ondo State Governor in the communiqué decried the invasion of Akwa Ibom State Government House by the operatives of the Department of the State Security (DSS), contending that the development was against the spirit, ethos, values and fundamental tenets of democratic norms and tradition.

But questions are being asked if the forceful prevention of some APC governors from entering Ekiti State last year while the likes of PDP's Musiliu Obanikoro were allowed free entry by the armed forces, as well as the grounding of the aircrafts conveying Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi during the same era, were part of the much talked about "liberal democratic ethos of the PDP?"

• Mimiko

W

HEN Governor Ayodele made his new 'born again' status public while 'begging' Ekiti people to make him governor once again, not a few people doubted his claims.

But hardly had he returned to the Governor's Lodge that some people started saying he may have returned to his old ways.

And by the time he made his now regrettably popular statement on the 'possibility of an aged presidential candidate dying in office, it became clearer how changed he really is.

That was when the parable of the Leopard

A lawmaker's heart of gold

I

N a society where the plight of those in the rural areas hardly attracts serious attention, any act that demonstrates concern for these backwater communities is worth acknowledging. This vividly captures what transpired in Oke Agbo, an agrarian community in Imota Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) of Lagos State, on the morning of Saturday, September 5th.

On that rainy morning, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Jimi Benson, led members of his political group, the I CARE Movement, to rehabilitate a 73 year-old public school building that was in dire need of attention. Not only did the lawmaker made money available for the procurement of materials needed for the project, he also personally participated in the manual task of rebuilding the dilapidated classrooms and offices as well as fixing the broken down chairs and table.

Speaking to The Nation at UNA Primary School, Oke Agbo, the lawmaker said he was moved to embark on the project after he visited the school during his campaign tour of the area. He also said that Governor Akuwunmi Ambode recently assured him that he will fulfill all the promises he made to Ikorodu people during the election.

Fayose, the Leopard and its spots and its spots emerged in discussions about the Ekiti helmsman.

And as if determined to prove his accusers right, Fayose, through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, during the week, mocked President Mohammadu Buhari on the mud houses and livestock he declared as part of his assets. "Governor Fayose was

'APC is united in National Assembly'

H

OW has the All Progressives Congress (APC) managed its crisis in the National Assembly?

There is no more crisis or factions in the House, especially among APC lawmakers. We are one family now.

Although, we had issues in recent times, it was later resolved amicably. Since a winner has emerged and we have congratulated him and the loser has been compensated, that was why we all decided to end "war" and embrace peace.

All the factions have collapsed to one and there are no more crises again. In the first instance, we were all elected as members of the House of Representatives not as Speaker or Leader of the House. That is the fact we understand and it is what keeps us going. We have settled down for legislative business.

Going by the recent crisis in the House, do you think the National Assembly is ready to support President Muhammadu Buhari's anti-corruption crusade?

We are ready to give maximum support to the war against any form of corruption. Fighting against corruption

• Benson

• Awoleye-Dada

is the bedrock of the change we yearned for before the 2015 general elections. It is our resolution to follow the Act of the National Assembly, especially the Appropriation Bill, to the letter. We are going to ensure that the Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) are strengthened, because by the time we have a good budget performance, it will help to know where we are getting it wrong over the years. In the area of the overheads, where we have different kinds of people taking government money for personal use, the National Assembly and the Presidency would ensure that we have more money for capital projects. We would also look at the laws that will strengthen

all the anti-graft agencies such as EFCC and ICPC so that they can perform their duties effectively.

Many states cannot afford to pay salaries; what is the National Assembly doing to help the affected states?

Even before Mr. President talked about the bailout for the affected states, there was a motion in the National Assembly to support the affected states. But we needed to get to the rudiment of the whole issue.

The truth is that it is dangerous as most of the states in Nigeria are not financially viable. They cannot financially stand on their own without federal allocation. That is why the diversification of our economy from oil must be addressed now. We must invest in agriculture since we have a very good climate in Nigeria.

Critics are alleging that the war against corruption is only targeting members of the opposition, what is your take on this?

I can tell you authoritatively that the anti corruption mantra of this administration is not meant to witch-hunt anybody, but to get Nigeria back on track.

We have processes and procedures. If any member of my party is guilty of any case, such a person should be ready to face the music. Fighting corruption is one of the promises Mr. President made to Nigerians prior to the general elections and he is doing it with the fear of God. In his inauguration speech, he made it clear that he is for everybody and for nobody.

comfortable before he became governor, he is not a deceitful person who goes about parading mud houses and cattle herds as assets for cheap political publicity."

Following this recent attack on the president, not a few Nigerians, especially those who fell for Fayose's claim of being a changed person are wondering if the Leopard can truly change its spots.

Is the National Assembly doing anything to ensure that states taking foreign loans don't bite more than what they can chew?

What we are doing is to ensure that both the federal and the state governments follow the international procedures when it comes to the issue of loan. States in particular must have met the requirement before going for any loan. We would always ensure that the states applying for loans use it for developmental projects and not for paying outstanding salaries.

Do you share in the opinion of some Nigerians that the President has been rather slow in implementing his programmes?

When the President spoke on this issue, he said he was being slow and steady. That answers it all. What the present government has achieved in the last three months, the last administration was unable to achieve in the whole of the four years. For instance, the issue of power generation has improved which every Nigerian can see and feel. He was able to achieve this because the so-called saboteurs are afraid of the government of the day much unlike that immediate past administration which encouraged corruption and nepotism. The country's foreign reserve has also improved, while the insurgency in the North-East is being tackled with urgency and commitment.

Now, go to those ministries, you will see that even without ministers, the work is going on, because permanent secretaries are proving that they can handle their jobs effectively.

PILLOWTALK Raising a voice for the Nigerian girl With Temilolu Okeowo temilolu@girlsclub.org.ng 07086620576 (sms only) Please visit my blog www.temiloluokeowo.wordpress.com for more inspiring articles. Twitter@temiloluokeowo

YETUNDE OLADEINDE molaralife@yahoo.com

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Ogunmola's Palm Wine Drinkers' Club goes public T

HE opening scene of the play showed that it was going to be a bizarre sort.

The artistes had dressed up in different types of local costumes, dancing and singing to the stage. Each of them had a calabash of palm wine in his hand as they sang in a local tongue. The atmosphere suddenly became comic, most especially as Biodun Olayinka (Papa Ajasco) led the way in his usual characteristic manner. Adorned in an oversized local costume, with his own calabash obviously bigger than the rest, he swayed to the beatings of the drums and the praises being showered on the powers and potency of palm wine.

Welcome to the play, Palm Wine Drinkers' Club, written by Kola Ogunmola. It was staged at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, last weekend by the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture led by its director Olaitan Otulana. The play is a comic display of the potency of palm wine and why some people often chose to have it as a habit by consuming a lot of it from time to time. Lanke Emu (Papa Ajasco) who was the lead character was palm wine personified. He woke to the rhythm of palm wine. He dreamt palm wine and indeed turned it into a cult of sorts. His love for it was incomparable.

He did not want to marry except if it was possible for him to have palm wine as his wife. He was so addicted to it that the first scene on stage opened with him and lots of his close friends and associates in a party mood drinking gourds of palm wine. As they did so, they danced and sang to high heavens eulogising the need for more people to come into the club as new members. It was a dance-drama full of songs rendered both in English and Yoruba with the central message not lost on the audience.

The mood of the celebration had got to a maddening crescendo when suddenly they ran out of palm wine. The left-over given to some of the guests was so bitter that they also rejected it. This was the time when Alaba, Lanke Emu's special tapper was called in to produce more fresh palm wine.

While the people waited with high expectations, urging him on to make it a bumper one, the chord carrying him carved in and he fell from the tree. Alaba was feared dead instantly and immediately the party turned into mourning for the dead.

Mourning The Dead As they sang deep-rooted dirges for the dead, Lanke could not stand it. His penchant for palm wine soon overwhelmed his emotions. Alaba was his only source of succour. How could he live or even survive without Alaba's palm wine in his life? While others mourned the dead, he bemoaned his fate based on the exigencies of palm wine.

Even when other people sought to revive his spirit with palm wine by other tappers, he still could not be assuaged.

At this point, he went into a trance, a profound midday reverie sort of, that took him away from the living to the world of the dead. His soul wandered and wondered into the deep foyers of life, imagining that he needed to go find Alaba wherever he had gone to. This format presented a different way of showcasing the play, for it offered the audience a clue into the spirit world.

Lanke Emu encountered so many different and diverse scenes and issues while he wandered into the strange elements of life.

The spirit world where he got to, did not want to spare him. But they got together and gave him different charms and amulets

It is a hilarious play, very comic, just to spice life and make people laugh. As the Palm Wine Drinkers' Club went on stage in Lagos last weekend, its central message was not lost on the audience. Edozie Udeze reports.

•A scene in the play with which to overcome his task. With an empty shell of a snail hanging on his neck, Lanke set sail on his expedition into the spirit world fully determined to discover Alaba.

"Oh, palm wine," he bellowed, “whatever can I do without you?" he asked in his sleep.

Lanke then began to guzzle kegs of palm wine when he was only 8 years old. Out of all the children born of the same parents, he vowed to make palm wine his only companion till eternity. "It is only what makes me come alive," he declared in a deep dream occasioned by the gods of palm wine.

The Dream In his dream also, he met Bisi who had been hoodwinked by a handsome spirit husband to marry her. Even when Lanke forced himself to rescue her from the jaws of the devil, he also found it difficult to make himself amenable to her. Although marriage was conducted between the two, it did not bring hope and solace to Lanke.

The Intoxicating presence of palm wine in his system had taken roots that not even the offering of the comfort of a woman could sway him. He encountered more problems and hardships on the way, only to be woken by his people who told him that Alaba did not really die.

But even then, waking him was a big task. He only came alive when they poured a cup of palm wine inside his mouth. "And so, where is Alaba?" he asked. "He survived the accident," they told him. "He only sustained minor injuries but he is now fit and ready to go". This was the cheering news he had waited for. And with it the drama came to an end with more kegs of palm wine going round for the celebration.

With the infusion of drama and dance, embedded with endless songs and celebrations, the play evoked series of comic moments to relieve tension. The appearances of masquerade spirits in different forms and guises not only terrified the audience but also intensified their longings and expectations, hoping for more intriguing scenes, nonetheless.

•Otulana

•Olayinka

PHOTOS: EDOZIE UDEZE

Otulana explained that it was comic in approach to help embellish the place of palm wine in certain celebrations in the land. "You could see his special love for palm wine and even how he began by inviting his people for a celebration. Then he went into a trance because he lost his favourite palm wine tapper. All the things that happened in the stage happened in a dream. It shows you the power of dreams and what we encounter when we sleep. But Lanke was seriously entangled on his own to be able to make something out of it."

Part of what the Lagos State Arts Council does from time to time is to package plays for the stage to entertain the public. "Yes, we did this to put the public in a lighter mood," Otulana said. "As a Centre, what we do is to bring laughter into the lives of the people.

There have been so many other plays we've done in the past, which pricked on the conscience of the people. Some of the plays are to encourage people to be morally upright and to see the good in the society. It is a bi-monthly preparation to keep the theatre scene alive."

For Papa Ajasco (Olayinka), it was a show away from their routine at their Ikeja office to show how comic theatre could be used to diversify theatre. "We are doing this show now to let people know what we are capable of doing. We call it season of plays and we've brought it here at the Terra Kulture to intensify our reach out. It is part of what we do to make people enjoy theatre and to tell them that life can be fun at times,"

Papa Ajasco said.

He explained that dance was introduced into the play to make it interesting and appealing. "It is all about the life of this man who loves palm wine beyond compare. He goes into a dream about this tapper who falls from a tree and dies. The essence of this play is that people can sit down and write this sort of beautiful story on palm wine.

That the story itself can become a play on stage, shows how versatile and deep our playwrights can be. Now you have a full play on just palm wine - it is so intriguing.

One cannot do without palm wine when you are getting married, during burial and other traditional functions in the society.

When you get to certain places in Nigeria, palm wine is a big deal and people hunger for it. It is not only nutritious and healthy, it is good as part of your tradition."

Olayinka who expressed his special love for stage drama, said there is no room to compare TV and stage. "I love stage more. It is where you bring out your best as an actor.

You dare not mess up on stage because the audience will find you out. So when I am on stage, I am conscious of what I do to make the audience follow and be happy."

The play has been on for a while, but it will be staged today at the same venue to let people appreciate the more the efforts of the council to make people turn to stage for relaxation. In Palm Wine Drinkers' Club, Ogunmola's ability to eulogise and give life to palm wine is indeed the best way to celebrate this special gift to humanity.

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T

HE phrase, it is good to catch them young has continued to reverberate in the world of theatre arts in Nigeria. In the setting of the National Troupe of Nigeria, this aphorism has been their watchword whereby the management has never looked back in its efforts to ensure that drama permeates the lives of the younger ones. This was why penultimate weekend the theatre scene in Nigeria was agog with series of performances by children and teens in the Creative Station programme put in place by the National Troupe of Nigeria.

It is not only that this programme has been on in the past 6 years, the idea to use it to keep the young ones occupied during their long vacation and to also use it to teach them all aspects of the theatre is what has made the exercise quite commendable.

Since its inception, the programme has grown from strength to strength, incorporating into it more aspects of the stage theatre in order to enable the children to be more versatile and vast as artists.

This year's theme was not only anchored on the history of slavery and the import of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade which happened between Europe and Africa and the New World, the story was also used to remind everybody about the modern day slavery. Presently, a lot of issues bordering on poverty and the increasing cases of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea into parts of Europe has become a big headache not only to the European Union but to the Arab world and African leaders who have continued to orchestrate wars and strife to further impoverish their people.

The scene opened with children singing in a choral form to welcome guests. With the Exhibition Hall of the

O

THE NATION ON SUNDAY,

ARTS

VER forty fascinating artworks that document day-today activities, captured by eight contemporary Nigerian artists are currently on view at Alexis Gallery in Victoria Island, Lagos. The show is sequel to a group exhibition organised by the gallery last year, titled Fate. This makes it the second edition of the show, and it will hold annually so said the exhibition curator and gallery owner, Mrs Patty Mastroginnis.

"Fate is about peace and destiny," said Mastroginnis, "And the artists getting together through fate." The mixed media, installation, drawing and painting exhibition explores subject matter in divers-portraits, landscapes, and scene from everyday life. They all coexist with impressionism, abstract, figures and realistic subjects. Fate focuses on world peace which the artists captured with their works.

The guest artist of the show, George Edozie who had a solo exhibition at the Museum Of Contemporary Art, North Miami, Florida, United States of America, said it gives him joy to partake in the show with the young artists who have not

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Slave Trade comes on stage

•Creative Station children dramatising Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

By Edozie Udeze

National Theatre, Lagos packed to the brim, it was interesting to see the children in their best forms marshalling out songs and being their own persons. The outing, in fact, the arrangement was so glorious as the children glittered in their orange and black costumes.

This sort of costume further embellished the scene and helped the songs to permeate the audience.

The ease with which the children took hold of the command performance before such a large audience, showed how much work the

director of the programme, Josephine Igberaese, put in place to ensure that the presentation came out fine.

This was why she explained that "the programme has now metamorphosed into a family." This was also proved right because the children, both in and out of stage, no longer thought or behaved according to their social classes. On stage, they were able to blend, dishing out songs and performances that dwelt on human experiences across nations and races. "From what I hear, Igberaese continued, "the interactions among the children continued beyond

the station which is one of the objectives, that of breaking barriers and social class. This is why I call them children without borders for this singular reason."

It is for this reason that the month of August has been earmarked in the past 6 years to teach these children how to dance, how to do creative writing and do improvisation. Also in the kitty for them is to be taught how to do voice-over, sing and mime. On the whole, they were taught this year how to dwell on historical themes to do stage plays. The theme of the play this year was Akrifa, coined from Africa, in order to re-direct their attention to

the issues that pertain to the continent.

According to Mike Anyanwu, the director, Legal Services of the National Troupe who wrote the play, he took his inspiration from an episode that happened in 1807. This was soon after the Abolition of the Slavery Act in England. "Indeed, the plot revolves around a slavery expedition by a band of British slave merchants.

These set of merchants attacked the people of Africa at the height of their annual thanksgiving festival.

However, their success and effort to ship their human cargo to Europe were stalled."

This was where the stage

play was based on.

Interestingly, the children were able to interpret the scenes to the delight of both the playwright and the audience. The thematic thrust of the play based on man's inhumanity to man was basically to disabuse children's mind towards wickedness and avarice. The human race has to begin now to agitate for peace and togetherness and love across peoples of the world. This is one of the primary reasons for bringing the children together, using theatre to indoctrinate them. Theatre has a universal language based on total entertainment and education. It is for people to use it to preach peace and to reach out to a wide spectrum of the society.

The author put it this way: "it is yet another literary and theatrical re-enactment of the 300 years of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade in which over 3 million slaves from Africa were transported to the America. This was basically between the 15th and the 18th centuries… finally, the play encourages constructive gender inclusiveness in Africa.

The director of National Troupe, Akin Adejuwon was so excited that in his opening remarks encouraged both the parents and their children to continue to show interest in the programme. He said, "this will afford us more opportunity to develop more talents in this field. Just sit back and enjoy these repertoire of presentation and see how the children have fared so far."

Among the guests present were Yemisi Shyllon, Uche Majekodunmi, Mike Ileka, Kehinde Kamson, Ibukun Odusote and many others.

Eight artists showcase at Alexis

By Udemma Chukwuma

had solo exhibitions. "I don't see anything wrong in exhibiting with them," he said. Edozie has one work in this show titled 10 Faces of Onyeoma.

Another artist participating in the show is Stanley Dudu who said the last time he participated in a group show was in 2010. "I need every show which I can get from a group and I think this is one of them," he said.

It was a five man show in the first edition and only three out of the five are participating in the ongoing show.

Darlington Chukwumezie was one of them. He took a bolder step this year by showcasing recycling art. "I am fascinated with lose objects I find in the environment," he said, "The way people look at certain materials or objects is deferent from the way I see it, I see it in abstract form. I am using my work in this show to bring things into existence, things which are not and also make people see that the objects have values," the artist explained.

Seeing Afeez Adetunji

•On Erand by Adeyemi Uthman

works you would think he went to one of the institutions in the country to study art, but this gifted

young man is a self-taught artist. To him, self education is vital. Learning from talented artists has been

part of his training and development. "I am working on lines, I got interested in impressionism style…using dotted colour to form image.

Lines create feeling and sensation and I see it as a tool I can use to convey my message." He works focus on societal issues. He paints rooftops and adds figures to it because "what comes to my mind when I see rooftops is what goes in the mind of those living in the houses which is see top."

"My art is influenced by the ever changing landscapes of the developing topography of my Nigerian urban/cultural environment and scene.

Evolving from the style and textures of the impressionist movement, I have been able to create and achieve my own trend and style of painting, using such medium as acrylic or oil on canvas," said Henry Akhile who also partook in the first edition of Fate.

Ike Gerald Chiemezie is exhibiting for the first time in Alexis Gallery and his works are philosophical. He claimed that people call him global peace artist. "As an artist my strategy is global

peace," he stated. His works focus on family, relationships and global issues. Chiemezie's works in this show mainly depict wedding scenes. Majority of the works have yellow background. "I believe the smallest part of the whole society is family, if two people agree to get married and they are happy together, they will raise happy kids and it will be easier for this happy kids to obey the laws of the society." His works come with Latin titles such as Auctor Amanti(Champion Lover), Regina Puella (Queen Girl, etc. This could be as result of his Catholic background.

Works by Seye Morakinyo who just joined the gallery is also on display, and the works focus on success and growth.

In addition the curator said the gallery is committed to providing unique exhibition opportunities for younger artists. However, they are no longer signing in more artists for now in order to reduce the work load of managing the large number of indoor house artists under it.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

‘Schools need to invest in security’

Page 52

How far can states bailout funds go?

•Kamal

•CBN headquarters

Page 53

Greece, Nexim Bank partner on non-oil export

T

•From left: AlekosIkonomopoulos and Orya during the visit

ing Director/Chief Executive, NEXIM Bank, Mr Roberts Orya, thanked Mr AlekosIkonomopoulos for taking the initial collaborative step.

Orya used the opportunity to provide an update on the Sealink Project implementation and maintained that the

Sealink is a private sectordriven project and that NEXIM Bank is only facilitating its establishment in line with its mandate, as the Trade Policy Bank of Nigeria to promote and deepen non-oil export trade.

He said the Sealink Project would promote intra and inter-African trade, thereby fos-

tering regional integration, economic growth and development in the West and Central African sub-regions.

He said, “Greek investments in Nigeria today exceed US$5 billion, and are growing.

They include flour mills and a cement factory in Calabar, Cross River State.”

Stories by Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf Council Members of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

The NDIC boss said “bank examination reports had indicated that the high incidences of fraud and forgeries in the banking system had been linked to outsourced or contract staff.”

Expatiating, he said “in as much as regulators appreciated the necessity for banks to cut costs, it was incumbent on all stakeholders to fashion out capacity building and other strat-

egies to motivate all employees to contribute positively rather than engaging in criminal acts that impact adversely on the entire banking system.”

Of concern to him, he stressed, is the plight of female employees in the banking industry.

He noted that “banks often engaged female employees and set for them very high targets on deposit mobilisation and other asset creation ventures, which put undue pressure on the female employees.”

Responding, the President of the Institute, Mrs Debola

Osibogun regretted that over 75 per cent of fraud cases in the sector had been traced to outsourced bank staff who were neither professionals nor members of the CIBN. Mrs. Osibogun who lamented that the Institute had no control over the banks, however hinted that a Committee of the Institute was already working with heads of operations of banks on the challenges being posed by the outsourced staff and would soon submit its report to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for consideration.

NEPC restates commitment to export trade

T

HE Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has restated its commitment to the non-oil export.

Giving this charge was the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive, NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo. The event was at a seminar tagged: ‘Export for Beginners: Export Trade Procedures, Documentation and Product handling’ in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

The NEPC boss said the need to galvanise efforts towards the growth and expansion of the non-oil exports has become inevitable, in view of the dwindling fortunes of the nation’s oil revenue, caused largely by the volatility of the oil prices in the global market in recent times.

S

MILE Telecoms Holdings Ltd (“Smile”), which owns and operates mobile wireless 4G LTE broadband networks in the 800MHz band in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, has raised additional $365 million for equity financing. The funding will be used to expand Smile’s existing 4G LTE mobile broadband networks and services, such that by the end of 2015, Smile will offer clear voice services and have national coverage comparable to the largest 3G network in each of its current countries of operation.

The funding is comprised of $50 million of equity, raised from the Public Investment Corporation on behalf of Government Employees Pension Fund (“PIC”), and a $315 million multi-tranche, multi-jurisdictional debt facility led

by African Export-Import Bank with participation from the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Diamond Bank PLC, Ecobank Nigeria, the PIC, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited and Standard Chartered Bank.

T

NDIC to banks: No to casualisation

HE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has sounded a note of warning to banks, saying it is no longer at ease with the use of contract staff deployed in most deposit money banks as well as the practice of compelling female staff as vehicles for money deposits.

Giving this warning was the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Corporation, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim.

He spoke in Abuja during a courtesy call on him by the President and other

Smile boosts expansion in Africa with $365m

CAC to rescue ailing businesses

T

HE Greek Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr AlekosIkonomopoulos, has indicated interest to partner with Nexim Bank in his country’s quest to develop the nation’s non-oil exports.

The ambassador, who visited the bank in company of the wife of Mr Ayodeji Ayodele, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Greece, pledged mutual cooperation to boost trade relations between the two countries.

“We shall create the enabling environment for Greek investors to collaborate with Nigeria in the areas of technology, maritime and agriculture,” he stated.

Responding, the Manag-

51

The Councils’ boss who was represented by the Zonal Controller, NEPC, Lagos Zonal Office, Barr.

George Enyiekpon, observed that in the past, many exporters who had attempted to venture into the export market had their fingers badly burnt because they went about it in a wrong way, which is why the Council deemed it fit to organise the interface and discussion session to guide prospective exporters.

“It is on record that madein Nigerian goods, over the years have elicited great demand from the international market due to compliance by serious Nigerian exporters to work according to acceptable quality specifications,” he stressed.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of

Commerce and Industry, Ogun State, who was represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Olufemi Olaoluwa, said indeed the nonoil export can be a viable foreign exchange earner if well harnessed.

The misconceived notion that crude oil is the only lucrative and major export and foreign exchange earner is regrettable, he said.

“Great opportunities rivalling proceeds from oil still abound. Nigerians need to key into this sector,” he said.

Mrs. Francisca Odega, Chief Trade Promotion Officer, NEPC, implored prospective exporters to perfect all the documentation required in order to profit from their businesses.

Echoing similar senti-

ments, Mr. Yakubu Olagunju, Head of Administration and Human Resources, NEPC, Lagos, said there is need for would-be exporters to have a better understanding of the international trade before they take the plunge to avoid costly mistakes.

On his part, Otunba Toyin Taiwo, President, Ogun state Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA), who was represented by Chief Bidemi Mulero, the Secretary General of OGUNCCIMA, while lauding the NEPC for its commitment towards the growth and development of the non-oil exports, however impressed on the Council, the need to scale up its activities in Ogun state, in terms of awareness creation among others.

HE Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has set machinery in motion to prevent unnecessary liquidation of companies.To achieve this, the Commission has set up a Business Advisory Committee with terms of reference as follows: law, finance, audit, human resource, information and communications technology, business management among others.

Confirming this development, the Director of Public Affairs, CAC, Churchill Williams, in a statement on Monday said the establishment of the committee is a strategic, proactive step taken to place the Commission in a strong position to discharge its responsibility in global or cross border insolvency practice.

Justifying the need for the committee, Williams said: “The Nigerian economy is largely private sector driven with investors doing business across all spheres of the economy and the rescue mission will contribute to sustainable growth and performance by enterprises,” he said.

NAHCO commissions Enugu warehouse

N

ATIONAL ground handling provider, nahco aviance, is set to Commission its multi-million naira warehouse at Enugu on Thursday.

The new warehouse, the first of its kind at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, would be commissioned by the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The customs bonded warehouse is expected to be the hub of cargo activities in the entire south east where goods destined to the region would be berthed and cleared before being moved into the eastern hinterland.

The Manager, Communication and Corporate Services, nahco aviance, Tayo Ajakaye, said in a statement that as part of events leading to the commissioning of the warehouse, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of nahco, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, will lead other members of board and management to pay a courtesy call on the governor of Enugu state on Wednesday, September 16.

Yahyah and his team would also have a series of meetings with major stakeholders in the Air cargo and aviation sector during the two – day event.

How technology can drive business growth

By Ambrose Nnaji UMAN Recourses Executive, MTN Nigeria, Amina Oyagbola has urged business organisations to put in place adequate technological facilities that would the drive the growth of such the company adding we must use technology as much as possible.

Amina who stated this during the 2015 Annual Lecture and Luncheon of the Personnel Practitioners’ Consultative Association, (PPCA) Ikeja Branch, Lagos said technology as an enabler would enable the business organisation create openness when everything is put in the system, again, it would enthrone the ethical drive to check leaders.

In his lecture titled: ‘Promoting Business Growth: The Role of Corporate Governance and Business Integrity’, the guest speaker, Dr. Christopher Kolade said a business grows through expertise, efficiency, marketing and alliance with businesses.

According to him, all stakeholders have interest and expectations that are affected by the firm’s performance. He said all interests are not always in alignment however, corporate governance would helpful in balancing disparate interests. The Chairman, PPCA, Ikeja, Ifeoma Onwuachu, said human resources professionals should have the ethics in their hands and not deviate from its tenets in practice.

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52

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

BUSINESS

T

HE parlous state of the economy occasioned by dwindling oil receipts made bailout inevitable. Little wonder the federal government had in early July approved the sum of N804.7 billion as lifeline for states, to enable them pay their workers several months of arrears of salaries.

Subsequently, President Muhammadu Buhari had okayed a three-pronged relief package, including sharing of fresh allocations, granting of soft loans and restructuring of states’ debt-servicing payments.

To achieve that, the CBN had provided a soft landing for the states to repay the loans in 20 years just like the restructured commercial debts the Debt Management Office (DMO) converted to local bonds to help the states reduce their debt-service outflow and free resources for meeting other obligations, particularly, clearance of arrears of salaries and pensions.

The release followed the restructuring of their debts into bonds by the Debt Management Office at an interest rate of 14.83 per cent of the value.

The Director-General, DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, had said in Abuja that the 14.83 per cent would be paid by the 11 states whose debts had already been restructured in the first phase of the exercise.

The restructuring, he said, had been effected, noting that with the arrangement, the bond already issued would mature on July 18, 2034.

The first 11 states that got their debts to commercial banks restructured are Osun, N88.6bn; Delta, N69.8bn; Ogun, N55.4bn; Imo, N37.1bn; Ekiti, N18.8bn; Kwara, N15.6bn; and Edo, N11.9bn.

Others are Benue, N10.9bn; Oyo, N9.1bn; Bauchi, N6.5bn and Kogi, N0.81bn.

Expectedly, a number of states, The Nation gathered, had received the much promised bailout by the CBN. The Nation gathered that the CBN has since made disbursements to Ebonyi, Osun and Niger states even as documentation from other states are being expected at the CBN before the release of their bailout.

A highly placed source, who confided in The Nation who kept the figures released to the states under wraps, however said the bailouts are tailored to the individual needs and the final agreement reached between the states and their banks.

According to the source, the remaining states have not finished with the conditions which include getting the consent of the states executive councils to agree to the bailout and their various legislatures ratifying the decision of the executive to access the bailout.”

Pressed further, the CBN source said each state government is to negotiate an agreeable interest rate with their banks.

Alleged exclusion from bailout

It is however instructive top note that a number of states claimed they may have been sidelined in the disbursement of the bailout funds.

Firing the first salvo, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, said the state did not get any bail-out funds, from the President Muham-madu Buhari-led federal government.

Wike made the claim in Port Harcourt, at the ‘People’s Forum’ held at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, as part of the activities to mark his first 100 days in office.

“For record purposes, I wish to tell this Forum that Rivers State did not get bailout funds from the

•CBN headquarters, Abuja

How far can states bailout funds go?

The much anticipated N804.7 billion lifeline for states by the federal government has become a subject of controversy with many arguing that the disbursement of the funds has been skewed in favour of some states to the detriment of others. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf examines the economics of the bailout funds federal government. It is important to let you know the facts, before people start saying a different thing.”

His counterpart in Ondo, Governor Olusegun Mimiko said the state also hasn’t been able to access the funds.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Chief Yele Ogundipe who made this disclosure while speaking with journalists in Akure, the state capital, said the government was yet to access the said fund, adding, however, that process leading to the bailout fund is ongoing.

He further explained that the Federal Government had earlier directed that states can only access the fund through commercial banks and Ondo State just got an offer letter from a commercial bank on the 3rd of this month.

The commissioner said, “We are currently processing the payment and what the Federal Government has done is to instruct the state to access the funds through the commercial banks.

“We have approved one of the commercial banks like most other states have done and they just gave us an offer letter on Thursday, 3rd of September.

“Of course, we immediately prepared memo for the state executive council’s approval which came on Monday that we should access the loan at the rate specified by the Central Bank which is a single digit rate of 9 per cent” Ogundipe stated further that government is hopeful that “within the next one week, the N14b will be received,” adding that it is still collating all its papers to be forwarded to the Central bank.

He, however, promised that workers in the state would be paid a month’s salary before the end of this week while the remaining two months arrears would be paid as soon as the bailout fund is accessed.

Conditions for accessing bailout • Resolutions of the State Executive Council authorising the borrowing • Consent of State House of Assembly • Issuance of Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) on repapayment States delaying bailout The apex bank has however said states yet to receive their shares of the bailout for the payment of workers’ outstanding salaries are responsible for the delay.

The CBN said it would approve the release of the funds within 24 hours to any state that had fully complied with all necessary conditions for the loan.

It, however, said some of the cashstrapped state governments would be able to access the funds before the end of this week.

The Director, Corporations, CBN, Mr. Ibrahim Mu’azu, confirmed the development to one of our correspondents in a telephone interview.

Mu’azu said, “Actually, the delay has been on the part of the state governments. As soon as they meet the requirements for accessing the loans, the CBN will give approval within 24 hours and they will be able to get the money.

“More states will be able to access this week; a few of them will meet the requirement and get the CBN approval to access the fund this week.”

Mu’azu said the state governments were aware of the basic requirements for accessing the loan.

According to him, a majority of the states are currently working to meet the requirements, adding that as they do so, they will get the central bank’s approval immediately and gain access to the bailout.

Mu’azu had last week said that the approval for the bailout was based on the CBN’s decision to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to consider ways of liquidating the outstanding staff salaries owed by state and local governments.

Corroborating Mu’azu, a source at the CBN who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the apex bank lamented that “some state governors were complaining that the CBN has not given them a kobo when they have not complied with the conditions. The day meet up with the conditions is the day they will get their bailouts” he said.

He urged such state governors not to complain and politicise the bailout exercise but endeavour to meet the conditions.

The conditions for accessing the loan facility from respective banks the CBN said “include resolutions of the State Executive Council authorising the borrowing and State House of Assembly consenting to the loan package, as well as issuance of Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) to ensure timely repayment.

By issuing the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO), “it is clear that the facility is not free, the states’ financial exposures to the banks becomes first line charges that will be deducted from their monthly allocation from the federation account as a result of the ISPO.” The CBN official explained that the reason there was specific figure attached to the facilities to be disbursed to the state governments is because “every state is to come up with its specific needs in order to access the facility from the commercial banks. They’re (states) working out what they need from the banks ac-

cording to the conditions they reached with the banks.”

The funds were disbursed to the states that had complied with the requirements as agreed with their respective banks.

Template for repayment A breakdown of the loans repayable at an interest rate of nine per cent over 20 years is as follows: Abia- N14.152b; AdamawaN2.378b; Bauchi- N8.60b; Bayelsa N1.285b; Benue - N28.013b; Borno - N7.680b; Cross River - N7.856b; Delta - N10.036b; Ebonyi - N4.063b; Edo - N3.167b; Ekiti - N9.604b; Enugu - 4.207b; Gombe - N16.459b; Imo - N26.806b; Katsina - N3.304b; Kebbi - N0.690b; Kogi - N50.842b; Kwara - N4.320b; Nasarawa N8.317b; Niger - N4.306b; Ogun N20.00b; Ondo - N14.686b; Osun N34.988b; Oyo - N26.606b; Plateau - N5.357b; Sokoto - N10.093b and Zamfara - N10.020b.

Divergent views on bailout funds Meanwhile, financial and economic pundits who have ventilated their views on what to expect from the release of funds to states raised different posers.

An economic analyst and Head of Portfolio Management at Meristem Wealth Management Limited, Mr. Taiwo Yusuf, reacting to the development, said a huge chunk of the N338bn would be used to pay salaries, which falls under recurrent expenditure.

He noted that the N338bn would go into the economy without any major stimulation in economic activities because the multiplier effect of the payment of salaries might not lead to a significant revamp in economic activities.

Mr. Chinedu Nwankwo, an economist and Chief Executive Officer, Investments Upgrades is also on the same page with Yusuf.

According to him, the N338bn might increase the purchasing power of the affected workers and lead to increase in consumption, but it might not necessarily lead to any increase in production activities soon.

But the Head, Research and Investment, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, a research and investment advisory firm, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, said the payment of the N338bn to workers would lead to an increase in economic activities and the purchasing power of the workers as well as the production of more consumer goods.

According to an Abuja-based development analyst, Odilim Enwagbara, the disbursement of the fund to states is good for the economy because money meant for development of the economies of the states will now be available and fully utilised for that, adding that, no longer will such money be shared with the banks for outrageous debt service.

He pointed out that one of the benefits is that the states will henceforth have access to all allocations coming from the federation without having the banks to first deep their hands into the money before it gets to them. This, he said, means that states' allocations will get to the states first and wholly. He said the development will ensure that money meant for the states will be spent purely on the development of the states, unlike the present situation where such funds are diverted on the pretense that it is being used to service bank loans.

When asked if the states had learnt their lessons, Enwegbara said, "Whether they have learned their lessons or not is immaterial.

What is important here is that state governors will no longer go on a borrowing spree; money they borrow to divert into their personal accounts or placed in high interest-yielding fixed deposit accounts, which meant that salaries and projects the money is meant for are not met.”

BUSINESS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

MTN Foundation marks decade of social giving

T

EN years in the life of any organisation is a milestone indeed. For MTN Foundation, looking back 10 years after, the journey has really been eventful.

As such when the Foundation brought out its drums and cymbals to celebrate its modest success thus far, friends and well-wishers from far and near fanned out en masse to witness the epoch event.

As would be expected, the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos was filled to overflowing during the eighth graduation ceremony of the MTN Foundation-MUSON Music Scholars Programme.

For the scholars and beneficiaries of the two-year MTN Foundation (MTNF) music scholarship programme, they naturally displayed their mastery in music, as a testament to how far the Foundation has kept faith with them.

Dennis Okoro, a Director in MTN Foundation while commending the graduands for living up to the values of the Foundation, noted that their diligence, dedication and determination made them successful in the programme. So far, the MTN Foundation has invested over N200 million in the MTNFMUSON Music Scholars Programme, he said.

Besides, in the last nine years, the programme has produced 212 music scholars who have received exposure in the creating of world class music. Only recently, some of the awardees, who are sought after locally and internationally, got the opportunity to compete with the rest of the world in Europe bringing home laurels.

Among the talents that have passed through the school is Ayo Ajayi, who is the Music

Stories by Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf Director for ‘Saro: The Musical’, a stage production that has taken Lagos by storm in recent time.

A good number of the band members in that production are made up of the programmes alumni.

Echoing similar sentiments, General Manager of MUSON Centre, Gboyega Banjo, said in an interview that one of the main ambitions of the centre from the start was to give training in music for the grade examinations.

“But by 2005, we thought we should be able to do more and we started the programme to award diplomas in music. I was a member of the delegation that approached MTN Foundation then to talk generally about what we were trying to do. It resulted in their decision to partner us by awarding scholarships to all students who are enrolled,” he recalled.

Now, the Foundation, which he said is interested in providing sponsorship to more students of the school, sponsors a maximum of 30 students per set.

The programme which is structured to run two sets currently in a year can produce maximum of 60 students in a one year.

It is interesting to know that the programme is just a minute aspect of the Foundation’s contract with Nigerians to better their lives. No matter where beneficiaries come from or their status in life, MTNF will give them hope, the gift of life and that of empowerment of a better future.

It could be a group of children with hearing disabilities who have the need to communicate in sign language at the Demonstration School for the Deaf; it could be the distribution of treated

mosquito net for people in the Foundations Partners Against Malaria and AIDS in the Community (PAMAC) project in Kogi State; or the smiling faces of the MTNF Rural Telephony recipients across Nigeria. That is not forgetting others that have benefitted from the MTNF Science and Technology Scholarship and its Universities Connect project.

More people will stand up to be counted in the Foundation’s Disability Support project, the Sickle Cell project, the Haemodialysis Centres, amongst other medical intervention projects.

Amidst several attestations to MTN Foundation’s philanthropy, Mr. and Mrs. Olympas Adeniran from Oyo State will forever be grateful to the Foundation for revamping their lives which hitherto seem to be heading to no course at some point. On the completion of his B.Sc programme, Mr. Adeniran found life so difficult because he could not be gainfully employed. But on coming in contact with the Foundation as one of the MTNF Rural Telephony recipient, his story has changed.

While the Adeniran family count their gains, Master Great Nkor and his parents will never forget the relief they got through the intervention of the Foundation in resolving complicated case of surgery caused by a sever burnt to Great.

At one year and three months, Great was severely burned in a domestic fire accident. After undergoing 11 operations with the help of the general public, the ordeal was never over until the family came in contact with the MTN Foundation.

“The journey with MTNF began when a lady I did not know suggested I write to the

Foundation. I wrote the letter and I took it there my self...then we heard from MTNF that the Management had approved that some funds be released for Great’s treatment. MTNF got the doctor, the hospital and did everything,” Mrs Nkor recounted.

Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTNF said that in setting the Foundation up, “MTN conducted an in-depth research to find out the primary needs of Nigerians and how best it can give back, it is there for all to see.

From the research conducted by Phillips Consulting, we were able to identify three basic areas: education, health and economic empowerment. With this foresight, we invited key stakeholders from the education, health, and poverty alleviation agencies, to brainstorm and develop a framework for the activities of the MTN Foundation.

That meeting was very instrumental in setting the tone for the Foundation.”

Ugboma explained that the philosophy of the telecommunications company is that people are very important to it, since, without the people the company would not be in business. Over N11 billion spent on the company’s CSR interventions and still counting, that sentiment has not changed. That is no doubt why the total number of the Foundations projects now stands at 21 with 344 project sites in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

What is more, the Foundation has learned well on the job owing to the challenges encountered early on.

Despite the challenges experienced, Ugboma said, the Foundation has implemented numerous value-adding projects that have earned MTNN commendation from many quarters.

‘Schools need to invest in security’

Alhaji Akande Kamal is chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Lagos state chapter. In this interview with Omolewa Oshin, he speaks on the measures put in place by NAPPS to curtail threat of insecurity in schools in some parts of the country. Excerpts:

I

S security really a challenge in schools?

Security is a challenge to the owners of schools and there are series of seminars. Thankfully, the Ministry of Education has been in the vanguard of how these schools will secure the children under them. Right now, we have sensitise our members to put these measures in place when we resume later in September.

What is NAPPS doing at the national level with regards to the issue of Boko Harram especially in the North East of Nigeria?

Yes of course, NAPPS is not

so a powerful organisation in terms of security, securing peoples’ lives. We have the military in charge of that- the federal government is taking a drastic step o make sure the issue of Boko Harram issue is put to rest. So we are hoping that by the grace of God according to the President Muhammadu Buhari that before the end of this year Boko Haram issue will be a forgone issue in this country and the proprietors in the north will be happier to see that their schools return to normalcy.

How prepared are the proprietors in securing their schools in view of the rising insecurity

across the county?

The Director-General at the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Soyombo held a workshop with us. At that workshop, part of what she discussed with us was to sensitise our members on how to secure our schools starting from the gates, in terms of security. The security personnel we put there, how our gates are manned so that not anybody can just enter the school at their will, they must be properly checked.

We have let our members know that coming from September when we resume, all schools must be secured.

What specific measures have

From left: Chairman, Personnel Practitioners’ Consultative Association, Mrs. Ifeoma Onwuachu, Integrity Ambassador Award, Miss Josphine Ugwu, guest speaker, Dr. Christopher Kolade and the Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola at the PPCA 2015 Annual Lecture and Luncheon in Lagos.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ABONYI Formerly addressed as MISS ABONYI BETHEL AGAEZICHI, now wish to be addressed as MRS. MICHAEL BETHEL ADAEZE. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, and general public take note.

ONYIJE Formerly known and addressed as Miss ONYIJE, LILIAN CHIKA, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. OKAFOR, LILIAN CHIKA. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EKEH Formerly addressed as Miss EKEH, BLESSING OLUCHI. Now wish to be addressed as Mrs. BALOGUN, BLESSING OLUCHI. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UDECHUKWU Formerly addressed as UDECHUKWUEZE MICHAEL, now wish to be addressed as ONYEDIKACHUKWU MICHAEL. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ANI Formerly addressed as MISS ANI LOVINA CHINWENDU now wish to be addressed as MRS. UCHENNA LOVINA CHINWENDU. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NWEKEAKU Formerly addressed as NWEKEAKU EBERECHUKWU JOSEPHINE now wish to be addressed as IGBOEKWE E B E R E C H U K W U JOSEPHINE. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ANIODO Formerly addressed as MISS ANIODO EBERE SANDRA, now wish to be addressed as MRS. EBERE SANDRA AKUNNA (NEE ANIODO). Former documents remain valid. NYSC, and the general public take note.

NDIGWE Formerly addressed as MISS NDIGWE UCHENNA FELICIA now wish to be addressed as MRS. ONUORAH UCHENNA FELICIA. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, and general public should please take note.

ELO Formerly addressed as MISS ELO CHINASA JUDITH, now wish to be addressed as MRS AKPAKA CHINASA JUDITH. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IGNATIUS Formerly addressed as MISS IGNATIUS CHINWENDU JUDITH, now wish to be addressed as MRS. CHINWENDU J. ZACKYEZE. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

AKINWALE Formerly addressed as Miss Akinwale, Odunayo Oluwabamise, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Elias, Odunayo Oluwabamise. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Muhammed Abdullahi and Abdulkadiri Mohammed refers to one and the same person. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note.

UNALI Formerly addressed as Miss IHEAKACHI ETU NNALI, now wish to be known as Mrs. IHEAKACHI NNALIEGWUDOUGLAS. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

AWUZIE Formerly addressed as Miss AWUZIE STEPHINE CHINWENDU, now wish to be known as Mrs. NWIWU, STEPHINE CHINWENDU. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

•Kamal NAPPS put in place to safe guide their members’ school?

The specific measures we have put in place includes among others, is securing our gates. We propose that there should be one entrance and exit gates. And for all members that do not have security personnel, we encourage them to employ professionally-trained security experts.

How do you intend to involve the school communityparents, teachers and student in the fight against insecurity in private schools?

We will sensitise our parents, call for Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meetings and advice them to come for PTA meetings all in the efforts to ensure that these children must be secured not only in the school but even at homes.

53

ORAKWE Formerly addressed as Miss CHINWE FIDELIA ORAKWE, now wish to be known as Mrs. CHINWE FIDELIA IDIAKE. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

NIC-AMUSO Formerly addressed as Miss RUTH CHIMEH NIC-AMUSO, now wish to be known as Mrs. NIC-RIUTH ANTONY ONYIGE. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

OBISIKE Formerly addressed as Miss OBISIKE VICTORIA CHIBUROMA, now wish to be known as Mrs. OBULOR VICTORIA CHIBUROMA. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

UDOK Formerly addressed as Miss JOSEPHINE INYANG UDOK, now wish to be known as Mrs. JOSEPHINE OMOJOLA MICHAEL ONITEKUN. all former documents remain valid, general public take note.

OKOEGBUALE Formerly addressed as Miss OKOEGUALE, FAITH EFE, now wish to be known as Mrs.FAITH EFE HENRY .A. OMIJIE. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

OYIOMA Formerly addressed as Miss NKEM ROSEMOND AMADI OYIOMA. Now wish to be addressed as Mrs. AUSTINMARK OKEREKE NKEM ROSEMOND. Former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

POROKIE Formerly addressed as Miss POROKIE NEKABARI CATHERINE. Now wish to be addressed as Mrs. KOGBARA NEKABARI CATHERINE. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AHANONU Formerly addressed as AHANONU ELIZABETH UWAOWUNKEONYE. Now wish to be known and addressed as.

AHANONU HEPHZIBAH Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OKON Formerly addressed as Mr. OKON, ESSANG JUNIOR. Now wish to be addressed as. Mr. GODWIN ESSANG. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

GODWIN Formerly addressed as USHI GODWIN. Now wish to be addressed as OYE OZUBU. Former documents remain valid. Julius Berger Nigeria Limited and General public should please take note.

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54

The Special Adviser to President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Joseph Makoju, holds the view and very strongly too that aggressive investments in manufacturing across Africa by the indigenous conglomerate, is one sure way of driving African integration.

To him, Africa is best developed by Africans, not by foreigners whose investments comes with a lot of strings attached. He spoke on this and other issues with Assistant Editor, Okwy IroegbuChikezie

T

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

BUSINESS

HE Dangote Zambia cement plant, the latest in the series of such investments in Africa, has just been inaugurated. What is your take on this?

I thought I have seen it all after 40 years in the cement business until I came to Zambia cement plant. The factory is modern, state-of-the-art, with capacity to deliver high quality products at cheapest prices that will change the game in the cement industry in Zam-

‘Africans need to drive development in the continent’ •Makoju bia. With the plant, Nigeria has become the undisputed political and economic leader in Africa. We produce high quality products and have closed the cement demand gap. We hit the market with higher quality cement and at a low price. This has never happened in the country. We came with our brand that is the toast of builders with its rapid setting quality. Our brand of 32.5 and 42.5 grade cement is a leader any day. The plant is significant in every material way with its 1.5 million tons capacity, with plans to have additional production line in the nearest future. Zambia has a rapidly growing economy, ranking 10th on World Bank list of “Ease of Doing Business.” Nigeria is made proud by the presence of Dangote Cement Industries and the enthusiasm that has greeted the inaugura-

tion of the factory.

In all, what is the Group’s capacity, and how many countries are they operating in currently?

We are in about 14 African countries, and at the moment we are already having over 25 million metric tons per annum in Africa. In Nigeria alone, we have 29 million tons per annum as our installed capacity. Apart from Nigeria, Dangote owns cement plants in other countries in Africa comprising Ghana, Cameroun, Senegal, Ethiopia, Congo, Cote d’ Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Niger, Mali and Zambia.

While the company is already producing cement in Zambia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Senegal, Cameroun, Ghana and of course Nigeria, new plants in the other African nations have reached advanced stages of

construction, with many to be commissioned very soon.

How do these investments align with Nigeria position as leader in Africa?

For so many years Nigerians have yearned to see Nigeria establish itself as a leader in Africa in concrete terms. We have all been frustrated when the country was unable to rise up. But you will agree with me that in the last few years with the political changes and with the economic advancement of Dangote in African countries and its strong presence, any Nigerian anywhere, can stand up to be counted. Nigeria can confidently assert itself as not only the political leader of Africa, but also her economic leader.

It is more about economic diplomacy rather than political diplomacy. But what Dangote is doing here is strengthening Nigeria’s position

undisputedly as the leader of Africa, politically and economically.

The Zambian government gave incentives to investors. Do we have such incentives in Nigeria to attract foreign investors?

Dangote is a philanthropist, but when it comes to investment, investors are not philanthropists; they will only go where they would make good investment returns and investors cannot invest in just any country but in countries that they are given special, attractive incentives in terms of tax and other reliefs. In Zambia, we have a good welcome; the government is very progressive, they are out to attract investors like Dangote. We have responded to the favorable environment created here.

How many jobs has this plant created?

This is a cement plant and it is very hi-tech. Usually, you find out that the actual operators on the plant are not too many, but with this plant we will have 750 operators. In terms of real employment generation, it has a big multiplier effect because many industries are going to grown around here from our experience with other plants. Besides, we are also investing in the haulage sector. Ours will take off next week and they will be employing over 2,000 workers. So looking at this plant alone, in a very short period of time, we will be accounting for direct and indirect employment of over 10, 000 workers and it will continue to grow.

Will the investments bring down the price of cement?

Our operations are huge with large installed capacity that has made us self-sufficient in cement and a net exporter of same in the sub-region. The price of cement in the last four years has been going down.

This is not considering the costpush effects in our operating environment. I can confidently tell you that the price will be lower. We are on the right track, we are stabilising the market, increasing our efficiency and we believe that going forward, cement price can only go one way despite the other cost-push effect like devaluation of naira and other pressures on the operating cost. We have succeeded in holding the price of cement down and the cement industry should be highly commended for this because most other manufacturers have not been able to do this; they passed on the increases by increasing their prices. But in our case, we are allowing the forces of demand and supply to take its course. We did not hold the price down but the prices are actually going down.

‘How to run a successful startup’ Oluwabunmi Aina an accountant by training worked in the bank for 15 years before setting up shop as Chief Executive, Avantarge Capacity Development Programme, an initiative dedicated to enterprise development.

In this interview with Ovwe Medeme, she speaks on the prospects and challenges of the small scale enterprise sector.

F

ORAY into business When I left banking, I went into business. I’m into distribution of oil and gas. I also run a programme called Avantarge Capacity Development Programme.

What Avantarge Capacity Development Programme is all about I realised that the government alone cannot provide adequate employment opportunities for every graduate in need of employment. I have a story I need to tell the people.

They need to know that they can start small and be on their own without going for white-collar jobs. There is space for everybody, if you really want to start out small, to start your own business.

What we want to do is to train entrepreneurs, people who want to start their own businesses. We train them on the nitty-gritty of starting out, how to register their business name, how to start small, grow their business, set up their sustainability, how to put sustainability in place and how their business can outlast them.

You realise that in Nigeria today, when we start our businesses, at the end of the day, it stops at a point. This is because we want to start big rather than start small and ensure that the business grows along the line.

How startups can weather the initial storm Like I said, first and foremost, let your passion drive you. I’ve met people who say they want to do a particular business but they don’t have money. I was speaking with a guy, he runs a travel agency and I asked him what his plan was for the future. He said to me that he wants to be like

•Aina

one the big names we hear. I asked him to calm down. I know the history of the person he mentioned. I advised him to start small and grow along the line. You can’t start today and want to be like the Dangotes of this world.

We know there are many challenges facing us as a people. Finance is one of them. I started with intermediating. I didn’t have money to buy a whole truck of diesel. What I did was, I know somebody who needed the product; I know somebody who had the product, then I mediated. I brought them together and I earned my own commission. That was how I started. And there are so many things like that that we can do if we know where our strength lies. One other thing is to create a niche for yourself.

You can’t say because you are doing

this, you want to serve everybody.

The woman on the street who wants to buy a litre of diesel and the one who wants to buy 10, 000 litres are not the same. Why don’t you look for an area where your strength is? If your strength is in connecting somebody who needs a truck to somebody who has a truckload, go along that line. If your strength is in supplying a litre from door-to-door, do it. Just know where your strength is. Know the market you want to serve. Then there is the issue of finance. One thing with entrepreneurs is that they don’t keep records. I met a woman recently who bakes cakes. Coincidentally, she used to work in the bank. I asked her how much she makes on each bag of flour and she said that she doesn’t keep records. She doesn’t even have a bank account. All she knows is that she is doing business. It shouldn’t be like that. There’s no bank that would give you a facility when you don’t even have a record for what you are doing.

So the lack of proper accounting is also a problem for entrepreneurs.

They need to be educated on how to arrange their books. Those are areas that we can help with. We can teach them about how to keep a proper book of accounting. We have been running our programmes but we want to really come out now. I’ve gone to societies, to small groups, to my neighbourhood, in my church, I’ve done a lot of trainings for people.

Next level

What we are looking out now is, we want to start a weekend seminar for about 60 people. We want them to register. We will bring them together and take them through a weekend on how to start their own businesses.

Along the line, we might even bring them together to form a cooperative society. This is another avenue of funding businesses. If a bank will not trust an individual, when they come together as a group, they look at how they present their case. Mind you, the Central Bank of Nigeria has a scheme.

The Bank of Industry also has a scheme for entrepreneurs. But because people don’t put their books together, they don’t have proper accounting records. That is why it is difficult for them to access these facilities.

Why SMEs can’t access loans No bank will give a facility to somebody who does not have records.

You are doing a business and you don’t have a record of your activities for the past three years, what would the bank go on? That is a big problem. Another thing is that the interest rates which the banks are charging is a bit on the high side. That is minus for SMEs. The Bank of Industry facility is one digit but going to the commercial banks might be expensive. But if you have your records together, it is safer to go to the Bank of Industry.

Target market My target audience is the young graduates who are unemployed and the ones who are employed but are

not satisfied with their jobs. A lot of people go to work complaining every day. They don’t like what they are doing but they still go to their place of work. There is no way they will put in their best. They leave home reluctantly in the morning because they have to make a living. Those are the people we are targeting. We are also targeting those who are retired but are not tired.

Advice to startups I’m a graduate of Fate Foundation.

Fate Foundation is a place you go to and they train you on how to set up your business. Like I said earlier, no government can provide jobs for everybody. The only thing they can do is to educate people on how to start their small businesses. That is the area the government can come it. They can probably send them to places where they can be taught. The way we are taught here is that you go to school, pass well, write a good application and then you go to seek for paid employment. That is the orientation we have but there is a shift all over the world. There is no way we can satisfy everybody. I know a lady, a graduate who studied Economics from the University of Ife. She makes beads. Today, she is big in that industry. She could have stayed back at home for five years looking for a bank job. At the end of the day, she might not get to work there. Today, she travels to Italy to buy materials to make her beads.

55

WITH JILL OKEKE jillokeke@yahoo.com, 07069429757, 08158610847 THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Distinguishing between original brands and counterfeits

M

RS Obiamaka Okeke felt some irritation on the upper lid of her right eye. However, she dismissed it, believing it was nothing serious and that soon enough it will disappear. But she was wrong as two days later she observed that, that particular eyelid had started to swell up.

She went to Park Lane Hospital G.R.A Enugu where a doctor prescribed some medications for her. On reaching home, she went to Klinemed Pharmacy, on 14 College Rd. Abakpa Nike and bought Lincomycin 500mg by Mekophar, 297/5 Ly ThuongKiet Str. Okeke eagerly started the medication as directed by the physician and the pharmacist simply referred to as Emeka.

After a complete day of the medication, she noticed she was not getting better but rather she was getting worse.

The swelling was increasing.

She then went back to the pharmacist to query the efficacy and the genuineness of the medicine. “Are you sure this medicine is the original one because you see that my eyelid is swelling the more?” She asked the pharmacist.

Dispelling her fears, Emeka convinced her of the genuineness of the medicine and explained that she needed to take more of the medication before she may notice some positive changes.

•Adulterated and Counterfeit Products

Though not convinced with that explanations, Obiamaka reluctantly left for home and continued with the medicine as advised by Emeka. However, after three days of being on the medicine, she had no respite. Both the upper and lower lids of her right eye and the surrounding areas have all swollen up that she could barely see with that eye.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you view the situation, her time in the Coal City was up. She only came to Enugu for a short holi-

day to see her lovely mother.

With the swollen eye and all, she had to board an Areo flight back to Lagos.

Of course she received some glances from curious passengers who wondered what must have gone wrong with such a beautiful face. Immediately she landed in Lagos, without going home, she went straight to a doctor who, after listening to her and examining her, requested to see the medication she was taking.

The doctor took the pack of the medicine, examined it, hissed and threw it aside say-

Sprite brings trump dance to UNILAG

F

OR the scores of students and guests who attended the 2015 edition of the Battle of the Year (BOTY) Nigeria Break Dance competition, which held on Saturday, August 22nd, at the Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium and on Sunday, August 23rd at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos, the events could be described in just one word –exciting!

From start to finish, the performances by the contestants appeared out of this world. From the amazing body twists, to the break dance stunts, the 2-day event practically had the audience fully awed as they watched mindblowing dance moves each contestant displayed to outshine the opponents.

The 2015 edition, sponsored by Sprite, featured the B-Boy crew battle, B-Boy oneon-one, popping, locking and krumping break dance categories. The first day of the event kicked off with more than 150 dancers registering to participate in this year’s competition.

At the end of the one-on-one battle, 24-year old Michael Obi and Victor Amanjo emerged winners of the locking and popping categories respectively, while 16-year old Bolu Ewedemi and Adesanya Bolaji came tops in the krumping and B-Boy one-on-one categories, respectively.

Interestingly, this year’s competition featured one fe-

male, talented 21-year-old, Roseline Udochi, better known asLady Rage, who participated in the krump category. Although she put up an impressive performance, she only made it as far as the second round of the competition.

Speaking on her passion for break dancing, the 300level UNILAG undergraduate stated that, though break dancing appears to be more skewed towards males, her love for krump spurred her to enter into the 2015 contest. “Dance, for me, is a form of self-expression, irrespective of your gender. I love what I do, dancing, and I am not intimidated by the boys,” Udochi said.

With the last of the oneon-one battle categories, krump, over, anticipation shifted to the main battle of this year’s competition – the B-Boy crew battle – which took place on Sunday, the second day of the competition. Of the thirteen crews who entered for the battle, four of them, namely, 619, Floorworkz, Space Unlimited and Squad One made it through to the semi-final round.

After a keenly contested six-round face-off, with each crew displaying their very best moves, Space Unlimited eventually clinched the golden ticket to represent Nigeria at this year’s International BOTY World Finals in Braunshweig, Germany, courtesy of Sprite.

Speaking at the event, the

Senior Brand Manager, Flavours, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Toyin Nnodi, remarked that “What we have seen at this year’s competition clearly confirms the fact that Nigeria is a country with many youths who have amazing talent. Sprite is committed to being the spark that fuels the passions of Nigerian youths, and we are happy to have brought this to life at this year’s edition of the BOTY event.”

ing that the consumption of even ten packs of it would have been of no effect as that particular brand of that medicine was not working.

“We have complained about that particular medication so I do not know why it is still in circulation. If it had been the Pfizer brand, the swelling on your eyelids would have disappeared,” he said.

Prescribing Ampiclox and Chymotrypsin for Mrs. Okeke, he regretted that government regulatory agencies were not living up to expectations.

Confirming what the doctor said, Anthony Akhimien, ex- President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria said that their professional body has formally made complaints about the poor efficacy of that particular medicine and wondered why it should still be sold to people.

After three days of taken the medication prescribed for her by doctor in Lagos, Mrs. Okeke saw that the swelling was almost gone and by the fourth day she was happily back to work.

She was lucky. Some peo-

ple have died in cases like this while some have remained maimed. We have so many documented cases of people dying due to fake and adulterated products in Nigeria.

The incidence of fake and adulterated products cuts across every segment. It is not limited to drugs alone. According to Hansen Maduagwu, the National Coordinator, Anti Counterfeiting and Piracy Initiative, “the degree of counterfeits in Nigeria has grown tremendously that even brand owners are finding it difficult to distinguish between their original brand products and the fakes.”

Just recently, Nigerian Ball Point Pen Industries Plc, producers of BIC shaving stick, bemoaned the large scale counterfeiting of its products by an Onitsha-based company, Bendusco International Agency and D&K Industries Limited.

The company’s National Sales Officer, Mr. Fatai Olashore, who is also the representative of BIC in Nigeria, said, “Bendusco International Agency Ltd and D&K industries have engaged in manufacturing, importing and selling of fake BIC shaving sticks for over 12 years.”

The representative of BIC who displayed the adulterated products said a raid led to the recovery of millions of fake, adulterated and substandard BIC shaving sticks.

The Nigerian Ball Piont Pen Industries regretted that as a result of this, it laid off employees.

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) had also raised an alarm over the threat of fake and counterfeit products to the real sector.

A top official said the real sector was under siege as manufacturers were big victims of large scale product adulteration, faking and counterfeiting. He said that counterfeiting was killing local initiatives, creating unemploy-

ment and increasing poverty level.

The Anti Piracy Manager, Microsoft Nig., Temofe Ugbona said that there are quite a number of resellers in the country in possession of high quality counterfeit soft ware, “a trend resulting in many consumers who believe they are purchasing from a reliable source unknowingly becoming victims of software piracy.”

Investigations revealed that even at the popular Computer Village Ikeja, there are more fake telephone and computer accessories than the original ones. There are even shops and warehouses within the market where the parts are assembled, refurbished and sold as brand new ones.

While reiterating the need to play it safe, Microsoft urges consumers to ask questions, investigate the packaging, watch out for ‘too good to be true’ prices and demand genuine software to ensure what is paid for and to protect families and businesses from the threat of malware associated with pirated or counterfeit software.

Just as piracy has also eaten deep into the fabrics of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, Vitafoam, one of Nigeria’s oldest manufacturing companies, has said that counterfeiting and imitation of its products are the major challenges facing the organisation and the industry at large.

The company said the imitation of its products is a major obstacle especially in the north and that complaints keep coming in.

It could be recalled that the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) had called for a proper regulation and monitoring of pharmaceutical industry and for stricter laws and policies to be enacted with full implementation and enforcement in order to stem out the menace of drug counterfeiting in the country.

Strength of LG bodyguard home theatre system

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OW, more and more people are turning their ordinary TV rooms into home theatres in a bid to make times with family and friends more memorable. They have often times met a brick wall as most home theatre systems on offer are incapable of performing on many levels. However, this challenge was recently met by LG Electronics, a global leader in home entertainment with the introduction of the LG LHD 675 bodyguard home theatre system with dual subwoofers and strong bass sound into the Nigerian market.

Easy to set up and operate, the LG LHD 675 bodyguard home theatre system with customised sound tower speakers enables music lovers enjoy quality movies and

pictures. It is the logical choice for people who want to enjoy a variety of media as well as watch movies.

The device comes with integrated dual subwoofer; it also comes with a streaming

feature, enabling users fill their living room with music by streaming tunes from mobile phones or MP3 player to their home theatre system.

“We are pleased to announce that LG LHD 675 bodyguard home theatre system will be among the first devices in the market to feature the most up-to-date specs and features,” said Mr. Hyunseung Shin, General Manager, Convergence Audio/Video Division, LG Electronics, at a press briefing at the company’s showroom in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

“In a great way, we designed the LHD 675 to be a turnkey solution with great sound quality and smart functionality for added value; and we packaged it in a compact, stylish design,” explained Shin.

Explaining further, Shin said that while the Bluetooth connectivity is at the heart of LG LHD 675, its wireless sound sync function makes it possible to beam sound from LG Smart TVs wirelessly through the speakers of LG bodyguard home theatre system, which again signifies the prowess of this great product. “The advent of TV technologies inching towards slimmer product depth has attributed to a compromise on TV sound output. The slimmer TVs appear, the lesser the sound output is the regular norm.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

INTERVIEW

'Why we focus on strong family values' The Senior Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre (HICC), Pastor Bolaji Idowu, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the unique features of the church and related issues. Excerpts:

•Idowu

I

N just a little after ten years, Harvesters International Christian Centre has become one of the fastest growing. What has brought the church this far?

The truth is there are many churches but what makes us stands out is that we have a deep concern and love for people. We'd go to any length to be a blessing to them and that brings out creative ways in which we provide superior value for the total man.

So, the strength is that when we come in touch in people, we love to serve. Our volunteers want to do something for someone

else. We love to be of service and a blessing to others. Just loving people and asking them to come the way they are.

We don't judge people; we don't fight people here.

We just tell them to come and their lives will not be the same again.

How were you able to instill that spirit of love and service in the workforce?

Well, it is a culture here and when something is a culture you don't teach it.

You just be the culture.

People will see it and they will follow suit. People are just becoming the culture they see.

So, you hold how many services?

We hold four services on the mainland and two services on the Island.

And these are essentially young families?

Yes, we are a mixture of young families, newly married, young people and family people.

These are those many church leaders consider to be problematic. How do you galvanise them towards a church like this?

Everybody wants to become to a place where there is love. And that is what we essentially do. We make everyone feel at home; we don't judge.

We preach practical, simple messages that are yet impactful. We have one of the best children's churches in the world because the teachers are trained and dedicated.

We have strong family values, which we try to pass across in the social media. I have huge followers on twitter where I teach some of these values. That is because we believe the family should be the starting point for reformation in the society.

Once you fix a family, you have fixed a society.

With over 5,000 in the headquarters church, you must be thinking of moving again, right?

Yes, we are. We were concerned about if people will come when we started off but today, our major challenge is space. The more we create some space, the sooner people fill them.

So, for the headquarters church, we are looking for a bigger space where we can put up our facilities.

We are starting a centre in Ikeja and we might just start churches in other states too. We get comments like, 'when are you starting a church in Abuja? When are you coming to London?'

We are working on all that and will see what we can do.

Expansion is good but could also be hurtful. Some churches have grown to the point that they are now hurting. What are you doing to ensure the expansion does not turn around to hurt the church?

What you just have to do is to keep the vision and inculcate it in people. Our expansion is not out of

pressure; it is just out of huge demands. Our church in the Island is just a little after a year but we are already counting 1,000 people. We can't keep people from coming but we have a responsibility to stay through to the vision.

But I don't want our church to be known for the numbers only; I want us to be judged for the marriage that was almost going through a divorce but got saved; the man that was saved from pornography and the lady saved from prostitution. We want to save lives, not just counting numbers.

It is the transformation caused by the word of God that we want to be known for.

Any plan to build capacity of the workforce to cope with the expansion?

Yes, we have started that. We are involved in some in-house training. By next year, we will start the Harvesters College to train the manpower that we need. We also want to strengthen the church's community by imparting them.

You recently had a comedy show in the church.

To some, a church should not be involved in such frivolities. Do you agree with them?

We are involved in the business of soul-winning and so whatever will bring people to God is not out of place. You must know that half of the people that came out were turned back.

There was an overflowing everywhere.

So, we accomplished the mission to bring people to the church.

Then on why we did comedy, I'd say God's people need a place to unwind with their families.

They want to laugh and smile but not in a place where they will be drunk.

If the church offers pure, godly comedy, it will help God's children to feel at home.

One of the amazing testimonies I heard after the show was about a couple that had been fighting for five months. They came to church and sat beside each other. They had not spoken for those months. But when the show started, they started laughing together and ended up reconciling.

They leaned over themselves and started talking again.

So, you are planning to have more of such shows?

Yes, we are planning.

I mean why shouldn't we have it again if another family will be reconciled?

It is part of the love we are talking about. If it will bless people, we will do it.

At the end of the show, we had over 200 people committing their lives to God. That was the highpoint for me and we are glad we did.

NEWS

T

HE Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim (ESOCS) has finally laid the controversy on the final resting place of its founder, Saint Moses Orimolade to rest.

Orimolade, who founded the church in 1925, died on 19th October, 1933 and was buried at the Ojokoro parish of the church on the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

Tongues have however been wagging on whether or

How Orimolade's corpse was exhumed, reburied

By Sunday Oguntola

not the remains of the highly revered Orimolade were exhumed and reburied somewhere else.

Speaking on the controversy last week, the Baba Aladura of the church, Dr Lazarus Onyeleonu, confirmed that the remains of the late founder were indeed exhumed.

• ESOCS relaunches for exploits at 90 This, he said, was his tomb was billed to be taken over during the construction of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration.

To forestall the possibility of having such a tomb run over, he said the body was

exhumed on the special request of the late juju maestro, I.K Dairo, who was a member of the church.

"I.K Dairo requested for the honour and the church granted it. The late founder was then reburied in a special tomb at Ikare, his hometown in Ondo State," he informed.

Onyeleonu, who spoke at a briefing on the 90th anniversary of the church, admitted that internal bickering have stunted its growth over the years.

He however said the church has grown to 77 provinces with over 1,600 parishes worldwide.

He assured that the next decade will witness monumental developments

within the church, pointing out that it has acquired a 70-acre land on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway for the proposed Orimolade Unity Centre.

Activities marking the anniversary climax today with an induction/ thanksgiving service at the Mount Zion headquarters of the church on Tejuosho Street in Lagos by 9am.

helped rightly. This is because there are many pastors that have been misled by their wrong associations.

• Pastors must seek for HELP-- Don't destroy yourself with selfimportance. Nobody can do the work of the ministry alone without HELP. Seek for help in the right places.

This is the work and ministry the merciful Lord

has committed into my hand in the last 25 years.

Our ministry has been of HELP to some pastors through our books, tapes, resources, conferences and personal consultancies. You can take advantage of them today.

CHURCH CLINIC

I

HAVE come to discover through my years of pastoring and over 25 years of studying, sharing with pastors that the most endangered species in Christendom today are PASTORS. So far, the statistics are not encouraging-only one out of pastors that start the ministry at 23 years will still be in ministry when they are 60 years old. Only 5% of

Pastors as endangered species

By Dr Francis Bola Akin-John

pastors are adequately trained for ministry. 50% of pastors watch pornography.

86% are tired, burnout and discouraged about ministry.

Well, the reason for all this is that many pastors enter the ministry with lots of IGNORANCE. Others

took it only as a CAREER. Many others believe that they don't need to learn and improve themselves while lots of pastors have BAGGAGES--personally, maritally, financially, mentally and morally.

• Pastors NEED HELPWe must help pastors if we

want the body of Christ in the world to be what God intends her to be. The number one reason for the bad condition of our churches is the quality of our pastors.

• Pastors must receive HELP- You must network with the right leaders to be

•Akin-John (08023000714; akingrow@gmail.com) is President of International Church Growth Ministries

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

WORSHIP

Kumuyi brings transformation to Agege

T

HE General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor (Dr) William Kumuyi is bringing his message of spiritual, moral, physical, material, political and economic transformation to the people of Agege in Lagos as the state-wide crusade of the Church berths at Agege on Wednesday 23 September, 2015. It is billed to take place at the Agege Stadium complex.

This crusade with the theme of "Supernatural Power of God's Wonders" is coming on the heel of the promise of the political change made by the new political administration in Lagos state.

Clearly, since the anchor of the Christian belief is that things that are seen are made from the things not seen, there cannot be effective change unless spiritual change is first and foremost completed.

This crusade is then a task consciously taken by the man of God who understands the linkages of times and seasons in the move of God in providing transformation for His people.

There is the assurance that Agege and it environ will be turned downside up with the move of God for Jesus because wherever the spirit of God is there is liberty. Liberty has been programmed for Agege and there is the promise also that like in the days of Prophet Elijah in the Old Testament fire will come down from heaven to consume everything that God has not put in place. In another dimension, mountains will be moved, valley will be filled up and all crooked places made straight through the

By: Olu Ayela

power of God. .Other area where Kumuyi has promised that the mighty finger of God will do wonders is in the prosperity of the people of Agege and its neighbourhood. There will be spectacular miracles which have never been heard of or seen before in the locality of Agege.

Businesses that have been dead, all others that are ailing, many that are not doing well will receive life and flourish again. This will be boom time for Agege to replace the pall of gloom that has been over the place. It will be a greater repeat of what happened when Pastor Kumuyi brought the presence of God some years back Pastor Kumuyi has held two of this kind of crusade before and it bears repeating that they were highly successful. The first one which was a one day-crusade just like the one coming up in September 23 was in Central College, then known as Dairy Farm College in 2004 and the second one, at the Cocoa Ground Ogba in 2009.

The Dairy Farm College Crusade was a spectacle to behold. For a crusade billed for 5pm on the day, there was already a sea of humanity flowing through the vicinity of Ogba before noon. There was an overflow of people moved by the hunger and thirst for salvation, the word and the touch of God in their lives.

People were expectant that the presence of God brought by Pastor Kumuyi will make a remarkable difference in their lives.

The excitement and the pleasure of the crusade were

not just in the mammoth crowd or the wonderful miracles that happened but what occurred on the second day after the programme had officially ended. It defied belief that thousands of people still trouped into the crusade venue buoyed up in faith with what transpired the previous and got miracles.

One in particular was a leper who got perfect healing in the presence of the onlookers.

The college's securities had prevented him from entering but got in through another gate and holding onto the pulpit where the Pastor had preached and instantly, was healed from his leprosy. The celebration that followed that singular act of healing ranged through the Agege community and it brought about extra addition in the preaching of the gospel in Agege.

The second crusade held at Cocoa Ground at Ogba 2009. It was also spectacularly successful. It was a three-daypower packed and power soaked event. It witnessed explosion of the power of God and since then Agege and its environment have never been the same. It actually became a reference point for crusades in Agege.

People will always ask after then whenever the Deeper Life is holding evangelism and rallies that people will ask when the G.S will visit Agege again. Now, the G.S is set for Agege and the awakening and transformation is about to shower.

• Ayela is a veteran journalist

•Permanent Secretary of Lagos Ministry of Health, Dr Jemilade Longe, who represented Governor Akinwumi Ambode and Pastor in Charge of RCCG City of David, Idowu Iluyomade, commissioning the new wing of the hospital

Book on Oyedepo goes to shops

A

BOOK on the founder of Living Faith Ministries, otherwise known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, is out.

Titled Leadership Secrets of David Oyedepo, the book written by Pastor Morack AkinDavid was launched in Lagos recently.

The book, according to the author, aims at transforming leaders through exposure to certain germane values and traits.

Akin-David said he studied the personality and leadership qualities of Bishop David Oyedepo for years before writing the book.

According to him: "What brought this book to bear is what I call can call prophesy.

In 2009, a group of pastors were ordained by the bishop and I was one of them.

By Udemma Chukwuma

"During the training, he paused and said; 'some of you are writers.'

"These words inspired me.

I stared gathering materials for the book from then and I completed the manuscript within two weeks," he revealed.

Recalling the challenges he faced while writing the book, he said: "People asked if the Bishop commissioned me to write the book.

"Some even asked why I put his picture and his name on the book or what of if the Bishop rejects book.

"These words started getting at me but I didn't up.

What mattered to me then was the fulfillment of writing on him.

"I didn't care if the book will be sold at the end of the

day or not. If you are a person of vision, you will not care if people care in the dream or not."

Akin-David said that his dream is to launch a campaign promoting transformational leadership using the book as a tool.

"I see the book as a tool and not a book; a tool to promote transformational leaders in our society and country, to teach them what leadership entails."

57

COLUMN

Living Faith

By Dr. David Oyedepo

Provoking heaven's order of Financial Fortune! (2)

L

AST week, we began this teaching by identifying what heaven's order of Financial Fortune means in various contexts.

Also, we understood from scriptures that the Law Of Love is the anchor law in the school of financial fortune and not giving as we have erroneously believed in time past. This is because giving is an instruction that follows the greatest commandment in the law, which is love (Job 22:21-25; Matthew 22:36-40).

This week, we shall be examining how Father Abraham walked in the realms of financial fortune.

First, we must understand that Abraham was a diehard, unreserved and unrepentant lover of God. That was why he walked in the realms of financial fortune. Remember, God speaking through prophet Isaiah said: Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody (Isaiah 51:1-3).

From the above scripture, "Zion" connotes the church of Christ and that church represents every redeemed child of God. Also the word "Blessed" in the same scripture means to make rich (Proverbs 10:22).

Therefore, God wants to bless us and make an Eden of our lives as He did unto Abraham. However, we must identify and follow the steps that brought Abraham into that realm before we can walk in same (Hebrew 6:12).

Therefore, let's examine the examples of Father Abraham • He was a Liberal Soul:

For instance, when Abraham saw three men passing in front of his house, he ran after them, invited them to his house and took care of them.

Unknowingly, they were angels (Genesis 18:2-8; Proverbs 11:2425).

We must understand that we are essentially blessed to be a blessing and the larger our hearts to being a blessing, the larger God blesses us. God will never bless any man beyond his commitment to being a blessing; first to God and then to humanity. Thus, if we love God, we will give liberally towards the cause of His Kingdom and we will be supernaturally blessed in return (Proverbs 28:27; Luke 6:38).

• He was a Lover of Souls: Abraham pleaded for the rescue of the souls of men and women of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible says: the Lord is …not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9; see also Genesis 18:20-33).

This implies that Abraham loved to see souls saved as God does.

As a result, Abraham won the love of God because anyone who loves what God loves truly loves Him (John 14:21; 1 John 5:3).

Thus, we prove our love for God by obeying His commandments and one of such commandments is to pray for souls to be saved and established in God's Kingdom (John 15:16 Abraham's love of souls endeared him to God's and as a result, he enjoyed the flow of heaven's order of financial fortune. The "hotter" our love for God is, the greater the flow of His fortune in our direction (1 Corinthians 2:9).

• Abraham was blessed of the Lord: In narrating the parable of the rich fool, Jesus said that the rich fool saw Lazarus at the bosom of Abraham. This implies that Abraham's love for God provoked God's blessing upon him and that in turn launched Abraham into realms of financial fortune on earth and in heaven (Genesis 14:19, 24:1; Proverbs 10:22).

• Abraham loved God to the point that he became God's friend: We must love God and prove it by obeying Him with delight just like Abraham did, and then, we are on our way to

the Abrahamic order of financial fortune (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23).

• He was a personal and corporate tither: Abraham paid personal and corporate tithe, and also taught his children to do same. As a result, he walked in the realm of financial fortune (Genesis 14:18-20; Genesis 18:17-19; Genesis 28:20-22). From scriptures, we discover that our tithe, which is ten percent of all our earnings, gifts, etc., belongs to God. This is because everything we have and own was given to us by Him and our tithe is a covenant acknowledgement receipt for God's blessings, which qualifies us for the next (Leviticus 27:30-32; Malachi 3:10-11).

All these made Abraham a symbol of generational blessing. Remember, Christ died to connect us with the Abrahamic order of blessings.

This makes Abraham our redemptive example for walking in financial fortune (Galatians 3:13-14).

However, we must walk in the steps of Abraham to partake of his order of financial fortune and the law of love is the guaranteed platform upon which these steps operate. This is because anyone can give without loving, but no one can love without giving. Friend, when we love God by being committed to the promotion and advancement of His Kingdom, we are on our way to realms of financial fortune.

Therefore, welcome to your realm of heaven's order of financial fortune in the name of Jesus!

Do you have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus? Are you born again? If you aren't, you can do so as you say this prayer: "Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins.

Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!"

For further reading, please get my books: Breaking Financial Hardship, Understanding Financial Prosperity, Financial Prosperity, Covenant Wealth and The Hidden Covenant of Blessings.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

NEWS

RCCG women lift Lagos orphans

T

HE Miracle Zone Good Women Fellowship of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Provinvce 19, has donated cash and consumables to orphans at the Red Cross Orphanage Makoko, Lagos.

The women, led by the Minister in-charge of Zone (MICZ), Sister Bola

By Wale Adepoju Olonisakin, said it was necessary as believers of Jesus Christ to show the love of God through charitable deeds.

She said the gesture, which conforms to the doctrine of RCCG and the injunctions from the Mother-In-Israel, Pastor Folu

Adeboye, was to evangelise for Jesus Christ.

Olonisakin said: "We are supposed to keep watch over the flock placed under us as exemplary women.

"When we do this, we will be able to give a good account to God at the end of time," she said.

She charged Nigerians, especially the affluent, to remember the poor and orphans.

According to her: "We should show them that we love them. It is by grace that we are not in their shoes. It is not because we are better than them."

Assistant matron of the orphanage, Mrs. Taiwo Idowu said there are different categories of abandoned children in the home, including the motherless, abandoned, humanitarian and missing ones.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

58 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEKOYA Formerly addressed as Miss Funke Opeyemi Adekoya, now wish to be known as Mrs. Adereti, Funke Opeyemi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OZOR Formerly addressed as Miss Ruth Ewere Ozor, now wish to be known as Mrs. Ruth Ewere Bolarinwa.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEOLA Formerly addressed as Miss Tejumade Grace Adeola, now wish to be known as Mrs. Tejumade Grace Ibietan. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKPU Formerly addressed as MISS AKPU PRISCILLIA NGOSI, now wish to be known as MRS. MOGAJI PRISCILLIA NGOSI. Former documents remain valid.

Lagos State Ministry of Education District II and general public take note.

BASSEY Formerly addressed as Glory Effiong Bassey, now wish to be known as Glory Yusuf Ishaku.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OYEWOLE Formerly addressed as Miss Oyewole Maria Abimbola, now wish to be known as Mrs. Ayodele, Maria Abimbola.

Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLUDEYI Formerly addressed as Miss Abigael Bukola Damilola Oludeyi, now wish to be known as Mrs. Abigael Bukola Damilola Akintola. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKEREDOLU Formerly addressed as Miss Elizabeth Anuoluwapo Akeredolu, now wish to be known as Mrs. Elizabeth Anuoluwapo Akeredolu-Eromosele. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BABALOLA Formerly addressed as Miss Babalola, Olabisi Taiwo, now wish to be known as Mrs. Abe, Taiwo Olabisi. Former documents remain valid. Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (N.B.R.R.I) and general public take note.

AKINMOLA Formerly addressed as Mr. Akinmola, Michael Abayomi, now wish to be known as Mr. Akinmola Michael Abayomi. Former documents remain valid. Ondo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and general public take note.

ABILA Formerly addressed as Miss Abila, Opeyemi Helen, now wish to be known as Mrs. Oboko, Opeyemi Helen.

Former documents remain valid.Federal Road Safety Corps and general public take note.

AMODU Formerly addressed as Miss Amodu, Oluwakemi Elizabeth, now wish to be known as Mrs. Ojo, Oluwakemi Elizabeth. Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

JIMOH Formerly addressed as Jimoh, Toluwase, now wish to be known as Oluwasijibomi Toluwase.

Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

NSIKAN Formerly addressed as Nsikan Etete Ikpe, now wish to be addressed as Jedidiah Etete Ikpe.

Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

SOLOMON Formerly addressed as Solomon Nkereuwem Ekong, now wish to be addressed as Solomon Uwem Udoma. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

TAJUDEEN Formerly addressed as OJURONGBE TAJUDEEN, now wish to be addressed as OJURONGBE OLAWALE WAHEED. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADESANYA Formerly addressed as Miss Adesanya, Adefunke Mary, now wish to be addressed as Mrs.Famose, Adefunke Mary.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OGIE Formerly addressed as MISS OGIE, ANGELA ENEKHALE, now wish to be addressed as MRS. ABEGUNDE ANGELA ENEKHALE. Former documents remain valid.

University of Ibadan and general public take note.

ALAWODE Formerly addressed as MISS ALAWODE, TAIWO FATIMA, now wish to be addressed as MRS. ADEMOLA, TAIWO FATIMA .

Former documents remain valid.

University of Ibadan and general public take note.

DAVIES Formerly addressed as Miss Davies, Tolulope Adedoyin, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ayeni, Tolulope Adedoyin . Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME Bola Akinola is the same person as Moses Bola Afusatu. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. Gtbank and general public take note.

GBOGILA Formerly addressed as Miss Gbogila, Omotunde Idowu, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Adebowale, Omotunde Idowu.

Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

ALARAPE Formerly addressed as Alarape, Titilayo Muinat, now wish to be addressed as Sodiq Titilayo Muinat. Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

OGUNGBOLA Formerly addressed as Miss Ogungbola, Abiola Mariam, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Fatai, abiola Mariam. Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

FATUBERU Formerly addressed as Miss Fatuberu Adeshola Daniels , now wish to be addressed as Mrs. St. Joseph Enitan Aduraleke Adeshola Daniels. Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME Dauda Ahmed is the same person as Dauda Hammed, that my name was wrongly written by GCE. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid.General public take note.

ADEOYE Formerly known as MISS EBUNOLUWA ADEOYE henceforth wish to be known and called MRS. EBUNOLUWA AKANDE. All former documents remain valid.

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and General Public take note.

AINA Formerly addressed as Miss Aina, Oluwabukola Mary , now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Olajide, Oluwabukola Mary. Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

SADIQ Formerly addressed as Miss Sadiq, Fatimo Ololade, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. AyoAdebero, Fatimo ololade. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

RASAQ-OYETOLA Formerly addressed as Miss Azeezat Atinuke Rasaq-Oyetola, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Azeezat Atinuke Azeez. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

OKECHUKWU Formerly addressed as Miss Okechukwu, Adaku now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Okeibunor, Ngozi Adaku. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AZIEKWE Formerly addressed as MISS CHINWENDU, ROSE AZIEKWE now wish to be addressed as MRS. IKECHUKWU, CHINWENDU ROSE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EZEONYE Formerly addressed as MISS CHIDINMA NWAKAEGO EZEONYE now wish to be addressed as MRS. CHIDINMA NWAKAEGO STEVENS. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LAKEHINDE Formerly addressed as Lakehinde Kehinde Agnes now wish to be addressed as Bakare Kehinde Agnes. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AKANBI Formerly addressed as MISS AKANBI, DAMILOLA MODUPEOLA now wish to be addressed as MRS. SALAMI DAMILOLA MODUPEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should take note.

OYETUNJI Formerly addressed as MISS OYETUNJI, AMINAT FUNMILOLA now wish to be addressed as MRS. SADIQ, AMINAT FUNMILOLA. Former documents remain valid, TESCOM OYO STATE and general public should take note.

OLU Formerly addressed as Miss Olu, Faith Omolade now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Onile, Faith Omolade. All former documents remain valid. NABDA and general public should take note.

OLAWALE Formerly addressed as ADIATU SHINA OLAWALE now wish to be addressed as ADIATU SEMIU OLAWALE. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

IBOI Formerly addressed as Miss IBOI, LAWRENTA ENIWE now wish to be addressed as Mrs. EFURHIEVWE, LAWRENTA ENIWE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

DAVID Formerly addressed as Mr. IGBEDE DAVID now wish to be addressed as Mr. OGBEMENDE JOHNBULL .

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

DURUEKE Formerly addressed as MISS DURUEKE, GRACE ADAKU now wish to be addressed as MRS. GRACE ADAKU OTUBU. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EKONG Formerly addressed as Miss Mfonobong Ekong Ekong, now wish to be known as Mrs. Mfonobong Emmanuel Emenyi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKON Formerly addressed as Emmanuel Sunday Okon, now wish to be known as Emmanuel Sunday Sampson. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

HARUNA Formerly addressed as Miss Racheal Haruna, now wish to be known as Mrs. Racheal Abuh.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

FETEPIGI Formerly addressed as Miss Muna Toyin Fetepigi, now wish to be known as Mrs. Muna Toyin Nyananyo. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKEWALE Formerly addressed as Miss Okewale, Muinah Omotola, now wish to be known as Mrs. Balogun, Muinah Omotola. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AYODELE Formerly addressed as Miss Ayodele, Ayodeji Funmilayo, now wish to be known as Mrs. Oguntoyinbo, Adodeji Funmilayo.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWOKORIE Formerly addressed as Miss Adaku Ifeoma Nwokorie, now wish to be known as Mrs. Adaku Ifeoma Mbadiwe. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BAMIDELE Formerly addressed as Bamidele Rhoda Omolola, now wish to be known as Michael Rhoda Omolola.

Former documents remain valid.

Michael Otedola College of Primary Education and general public take note.

AMODU Formerly addressed as Amodu, Olubunmi Bamidele, now wish to be known as Fafunso Olubunmi Bamidele. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AYEMOMI Formerly addressed as Ayemomi Yetunde Oluwakemi, now wish to be known as Adenuga, Yeyunde Oluwakemi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OPOOSUN Formerly addressed as Omoyemi Opoosun, now wish to be known as Omoyemi Opoosun Olarewaju.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEOLA Formerly addressed as Miss Adeola Oluwatosin Oluwaseun, now wish to be known as Mrs. Busari, Oluwatosin Oluwaseun.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEYINKA Formerly addressed as Mrs. Adeyinka, Abiola Oreoluwa, now wish to be known as Mrs. Idowu, Abiola Oreoluwa. Former documents remain valid. Ogun State Local govt. Service Commission and general public take note.

KADURUMBA Formerly addressed as Barr.

(Miss) Kadurumba Ijeoma Linda, now wish to be known as Mrs. Nwachukwu Linda Ijeoma. Former documents remain valid. Madona University, Nigeria Law School, Imo State University, WAEC and general public take note.

YAYA Formerly addressed as Yaya Olusegun Victor, now wish to be known as Sulaimon Abiola Ahmed.

Former documents remain valid.

Nigerian Immigration Service and general public take note.

ADEDAYO Formerly addressed as Miss Adedayo, Adebola Esther, now wish to be known as Mrs. Kiyesola, Adebola Esther.

Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ONI Formerly addressed as Miss Oni, Oyebola Adenike, now wish to be known as Mrs. Ayodele, Oyebola Adenike. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UKI Formerly addressed as Idorenyin Sunday Uki, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Idorenyin Clement Akpan.

Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

NWABUDO Formerly addressed as Miss Nwabudo, Esther, now wish to be known as Mrs. Anakwe, Esther Adaku. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

OKONKWO Formerly addressed as OKONKWO, EBELE PHILIPA, now wish to be addressed as OSELOKA, EBELE PHILIPA. Former documents remain valid.

National Orientation Agency, NOA and General public take note.

ASEMOTA Formerly addressed as Miss Pamela Osatohanmwen Asemota, now wish to be known as Mrs. Pamela Osatohanmwen Etta.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OGU Formerly addressed as Chinedu Kemgbonuwe Ogu, now wish to be known as Chinedu Kemgbonuwe Edionwele. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ORUKOTAN Formerly addressed as Miss Orukotan Oluwawemimo Janet, now wish to be known as Mrs. Oluwole, Oluwawemimo Janet.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

SADIQ Formerly addressed as Sadiq, Fatimo Ololade, now wish to be addressed as Ayo-Adebero, Fatimo Ololade.

Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

AKANDE Formerly addressed as Miss Akande, Sherifat Adebola, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Bello, Sherifat Adebola. Former documents remain valid. Oyo state Internal Revenue Services and general public take note.

NWANWRI Formerly addressed as Miss Nwanwri, Usiochi Salome, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Opera, Usiochi Salome. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IMOUKHUEDU Formerly addressed as Miss Imoukhuedu, Ohomoime Selinah, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Onwuli, Ohomoime Selinah.

Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

ISIWU Formerly addressed as Miss Isiwu, Ukamaka, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ofoegbu Ukamaka. Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

AKPAN Formerly addressed as Miss Mary Tom Akpan, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Akpana, Mary August. Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

OGBONNA Formerly addressed as Miss Ogbonna, Joy Nwawuba, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Joy Nwawuba Wilson Aguwamba.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ACHA Formerly addressed as Miss Nkechinyere Esther Acha, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Nkechinyere Esther Ikechukwu.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OGUNDELE Formerly addressed as Miss Ogundele, Temitope Christiana, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Dakoru, Temitope Christiana.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

UJINWA Formerly addressed as Chidozie Benjamin Ujinwa, now wish to be addressed as Chidozie Benjamin Oranyelu. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLUKOYA Formerly addressed as Olukoya Temitidara Matthew, now wish to be addressed as Olukoya Azeez Matthew. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEBOWALE Formerly addressed as Miss Adebowale, Grace Bosede, now wish to be addressed as Gbuyiro, Grace Bosede. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

HELLANDENDU Formerly addressed as Miss Hellandendu Malatl Mary-Anne, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Abatan, Malatl Mary-Anne.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I am GIIMA Jerusalem and the name MEEBARI was wrongly inserted in my GCE Certificate. The two result bearing GIIMA JERUSALEM and GIIMA MEEBARI remain valid. General public take note.

OWOADE Formerly addressed as Miss Owoade, Bose Yetunde, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ojeniyi, Bose Yetunde. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NJOKU Formerly addressed as Njoku Cosmas , now wish to be addressed as Abana Jude Cosmas. Former documents remain valid.General public take note.

ARIJE Formerly addressed as Miss Tomilola Faith Arije, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Tomilola Faith Ajayi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OJORA Formerly addressed as Ojora, Aminat Ajoke, now wish to be addressed as Ojora, Aminat Saka.

Former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

HAMZAT Formerly addressed as Miss Hamzat Muizat Opeyemi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Hamzat Quadri Muizat. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OTALOR Formerly addressed as Miss Otalor, Obiageli Helen, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Kefas, Agbanuma Helen Obiageli. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NZEMEKE Formerly addressed as Miss Nzemeke, Lorretha Nneka, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Abire, Lorretha Nneka. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UGADA Formerly addressed as MISS CHISOM OGECHI VIVIAN UGADA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHISOM OGECHI VIVIAN ONAGA. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ONUMAEGBU Formerly addressed as Miss Onumaegbu, Nzubechi Rossane, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chidi- Christian, Nzubechi Rossane. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and the General Public should please take note.

IHEDIUKO Formerly addressed as Miss Ihediuko, Chinyere Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. George, Chinyere Joy. Former documents remain valid. Umuahia North Local Government and the general Public should please take note.

SAIDU Formerly addressed as SAIDU FUNMILAYO HALIMAT, now wish to be known and addressed as HALIMAT SAIDU HAMZA. Former documents remain valid. General Public should please take note.

ONOBRUDU Formerly known and addressed as Miss HELEN UZEZI ONOBRUDU and wish to be addressed as MRS.HELEN UZEZI UDHUOVORI. All former documents remain valid,general public should please take note.

OGEDENGBE Formerly known as MISS VICTORIA OGEDENGBE, henceforth wish to be known and called MRS. VICTORIA AREMU WILLIAMS. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

DASHE Formerly addressed as MRS. SARAH AUDU DASHE, now wish to be addressed as MRS. SARAH AUDU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

NDOKANI Formerly addressed as MISS NDOKANI, FUTURE, now wish to be addressed as MRS. CHIMENEM FUTURE WAGWULA. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ODESANYA Formerly addressed as MISS ODESANYA, ABIODUN OPEYEMI, now wish to be addressed as MRS. OJO, ABIODUN OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

GANIYU Formerly addressed as Miss Ganiyu, Bilikis Abidemi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Rasheed, Balikis Abidemi.

Former documents remain valid. Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYO SUBEB) and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, NWOGU ESTHER and NWOGU ESTHER .C. refers to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. WASSCE and general public please take note.

ONIKOLA Formerly addressed as MISS ONIKOLA, MUTIYAT OMOWUMI, now wish to be know and address as LAWAL, MUTIYAT OMOWUMI. Former documents remain valid. Osun state polytechnic,iree ,NYSC and general public should please take note.

ADEBISI Formerly addressed as MISS ADEBISI LATIFAT ADEITAN,now wish to be know and address as IMRAN LATIFAT ADEITAN.Former documents remain valid. Osun state polytechnic,iree ,NYSC and general public should please take note.

UKANGE Formerly addressed as MISS FELICIA MARCELLINUS UKANGE now wish to be addressed as MRS. FELICIA ISAAC AGOBIE. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OBI Formerly addressed as MISS OBI, MERCY ONIWO now wish to be addressed as MRS. IYORIOBHE MERCY ONIWO. Former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ELEWECHI Formerly addressed as MISS ELEWECHI CHINONYE VIVIAN now wish to be addressed as MRS. ALOZIE CHINONYE VIVIAN. Former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

IBOROMA Formerly addressed as MISS IBOROMA, JOY TAMUNOIBIFIRI PEACE now wish to beaddressed as MRS. UWEM, JOY TAMUNOIBIFIRI. Former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHIAKA Formerly addressed as MISS CHIAKA, ONYEKACHI STELLA now wish to be addressed as MRS. ELEBEKE, ONYEKACHI STELLA. Former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

AMADI Formerly addressed as MISS VICTORIA CHIENYENWA AMADI, now wish to be addressed as MRS. VICTORIA CHIENYENWA NDUKA. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ODIONG Formerly addressed as MISS ANNIE AUAKANAM ODIONG now wish to be addressed as MRS. ANNIE EKONG BASSEY. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

VONGA Formerly addressed as BINCHAK SMART VONGA, now wish to be addressed as BINCHAK ZACHARIAH UMARU. Former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

SHAIBU Formerly addressed as MISS MARYAM SHAIBU, now wish to be addressed as MRS MARYAM PETER DAUDA. Former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

TAYLOR Formerly known and addressed as Yewande Abimbola Taylor, now wish to be addressed as Yewande Abimbola Obiomah. Former documents remain valid. UNIJOS, Jos University Teaching Hospital, NYSC and general public should please take note.

UBANI Formerly addressed as Miss AUGUSTINA NKEIRUKA UBANI, now wish to be known as Mrs. AUGUSTINA NKEIRUKA IHEANACHO. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

AKPOMED Formerly known and addressed as AKPOMEDAIYE MIRIAN. now wish to be known as MIRIAN C. STEPHEN. Former documents remain valid general public take note.

YORGBARA Formerly addressed as Miss DAUGHTER LEGBO YORGBARA, now wish to be known as Mrs. DAUGHTER LEDEE-MICAH. Former documents remain valid, College of Health Science, HOSH. and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME KAINE HARRY and WARIBOKO GEORGE refers to one and the same person now wish to be known as WARIBOKO GEORGE, all former documents remain valid, genral public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME IGWE AGWU NGWOBIA and UKOHA UCHE NGWOBIA refrs to one and the same person now wish to be known as IGWE AGWU NGWOBIA. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

AGWU Formerly addressed as Mrs. Agwu Mary Uzoma, now wish to be known as Mrs. Chukwuemeka Mary Uzoma. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

NEWS REVIEW 59

FRC’s accountability battle with churches, mosques •Continued from Page 11

•Sultan

•Emefiele

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

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UHAMMADU Buhari, the President of Nigeria says something almost subconsciously that underscores the philosophy of the foreign policy of his administration: that it is more cost effective, politically and economically to be at peace with your neighbours. This, he once explained, "is something I learnt from the army".

President Buhari put this principle to immediate practice when he assumed office. On his fourth day in office after inauguration, he embarked on his foreign policy, visiting this country's immediate neighbours, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, which was stood down at the last minute due to other pressing international engagements. It is important that we have a government at this time that realizes how a country's domestic progress is linked to how it conducts its foreign policy.

Students of international relations will however not give full marks to President Buhari in attempting to reset our relationships with the French-speaking neighbouring countries without talking to their metropolitan headquarters in Paris. Without meaning to belittle the flag and independence of the countries that surround us, history teaches that the safest, quickest and cost-effective way to an enduring relationship with them is the

Buhari goes to Paris

By Garba Shehu

path that takes you through Paris. If President Buhari should therefore reshape the texture and contours of the relationship with France, Nigeria can alter the subregional dynamic to everyone's benefit.

Against this background, the oncoming three-day State visit to France by President Buhari starting on Monday should raise expectations of economic and strategic announcements.

It is equally important that the French President, Francois Hollande, who is one of the better performing leaders of Europe, had been among the very early world leaders to call and congratulate our President upon his historic victory in the elections. In that conversation, he said two things that were noteworthy.

One, he offered the friendship and partnership of France in President Buhari's plan to rid Nigeria of terrorism and rebuild the country economically.

His pronouncement that relations between our two countries are "strategic" has equally excited the Nigerian foreign policy establishment. It points to Nigeria's opportunity.

In my layman's understanding of the internationalization process, a strategic relationship

between two countries presupposes that although they will keep their separate identities, the two states in that kind of relationship are ready to share almost everything. The second thing President Hollande said to our then President-elect was, "come to France, and let us host to you to a bilateral discussion." From here, Hollande, Germany's Angela Merkel, Britain's David Cameron and Obama encouraged President Buhari to, on getting into office put together a "wish list" of his government and country and table it at the "G7" meeting in Germany early in June, with a promise to come to the aid of our country.

In dealing with Europe as an entity, most foreign policy experts will recommend that you stay focused on France and Germany. The United Kingdom, though this country's longest-standing partner, is not one you can bet on because of their own ambivalence towards Europe. With one leg in and one leg out, the English are still debating among themselves whether to stay in Europe as a community or get out.

It is equally fundamental that France's investment on the African continent is the largest in Nigeria. And it is still growing. French interests

here are strongly represented by such companies as Total, ELF, LaFarge, Societe-General, SCOA and so on.

The best outcome for Nigeria during this visit should reflect favourably on key priories of the Buhari administration which are security, economy and the war against corruption. An added one would be the strengthening of cultural cooperation that should hopefully be beneficial to both states. We as a country are in the midst of our Frenchspeaking siblings in Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin bordering this country to the north, east and west. The attitude of our authorities to this ground reality has not been very good so far. Past efforts to infuse the French language into our school and communications systems have largely fallen flat. The zeal with which French language was taught in the 60s and 70s in our schools is no longer there. This willful negligence, if I might call it one, has cost our trained and highly mobile manpower a lot of opportunities in the countries that surround us.

Niger for instance, has oil and it is the world's second largest source of uranium. The currency utilized in these countries is a regional currency, itself backed by France.

For their part, France is itself concerned about the world-wide decline of French as a spoken language against the rise of English language.

It will be a good outcome for France to support Nigeria to re-establish French in our institutions of learning and as a language of doing business.

Next is the issue of the diversification of the economy and the government's plan to place emphasis on agriculture and mining as a way of moving from the singular dependence on oil as the mainstay of the economy. To create jobs and wealth, this country needs a massive inflow of foreign direct investment in agriculture, mining and manufacturing. The French have been loyal to Nigeria and have stayed back in, even when some of our dearer partners have decided to sell their assets and go away. This is an area the new administration hopes to build upon and it is clear from the structure of the bilateral discussions as well as the membership of the delegation are reflective of this desire.

Lastly and more importantly is the issue of security in the country and the Lake Chad basin area.

Since his assumption of office, President Buhari has squared up to the threat of Boko Haram terrorism with

a single-minded determination. Without waiting for the envisaged foreign support and assistance, Boko Haram is near resolution. If they were correctly reported in their press conference a few days ago, the military has indeed declared victory in the war.

But the world still needs to come together to help this country manage its fallout.

In this regard, President Hollande needs to make his friends and allies in the G7 to sharpen their response and keep their promise of assistance for which President Buhari was requested to present a wish list. So far, there is evidence of that support in the areas of training and the sharing of intelligence but beyond these, it is hard to say that we are getting commensurate responses to the high hopes that we harboured in dealing with the war and reconstruction.

Such promises especially as regards to access to military hardware and the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, donated or paid for should be pursued so that the victory over terror in our region is not a temporary one but one that will usher in permanent peace, tranquility and wealth for our beleaguered populations and the part of the continent they occupy. • Shehu is Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) to the President

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SPORTS THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Egypt: We are not afraid of Eagles

N

IGERIA will have a huge mountains to climb when the qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations resumes in March next year as Egypt, who are top of Group G of the qualifiers say they have no plans to relinquish top spot in the group.

The Super Eagles trail Egypt by two points after two match days with the Pharaohs of Egypt grabbing all maximum points so far in the qualifiers.

They defeated Chad 5-1 in N'Djamena last weekend and are aiming for Nigeria's scalp when the double header takes centre stage next year.

The Super Eagles barren draw in Dar Es Salaam meant Egypt opened a two point gap at the top of the group with Nigeria trailing them ahead of the double header between both sides from March next year.

Egypt's first choice goalkeeper Serif Ekramy has sounded out the battle cry as he says nothing will stop Egypt from qualifying for her first Afcon in six years.

“We want to write history again. We did not qualify for the last three editions but this time we will do our best to go to Gabon,”Ekramy told Egyptian sports website www.yallakora.com “We don't look at the names of other teams in the group. We are not afraid of anyone not even Nigeria.”he added.

Nigerian women silent Congo to reach Table Tennis final From Olalekan Okusan, Brazzaville

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HE venue was filled to the brim and the atmosphere was tensed but for over two hours, the Nigerian women team yesterday silent the Congolese fans when they defeated the home team 3-0 in the table tennis event of the 11th African Games.

This victory confirmed that Nigeria will be battling it out in the final against Egypt who had earlier defeated Algeria 3-0 to hit final.

But the Nigerian tie against Congo Brazzaville was not without intrigue as the noisy Congolese fans intimidated Nigerians throughout the encounter.

EPL RESULTS Everton 3 - 1 Chelsea Norwich 3 - 1 Bournemouth C/Palace 0 - 1 Man City West Brom 0 - 0 S’pton Arsenal 2 - 0 Stoke City Watford 1 - 0 Swansea Man Utd 3 - 1 Liverpool

EXTRA

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Five-star Ronaldo makes history in rout

A jubilant Iheanacho wheels away in celebration after scoring moments after entering the game from the substitute's bench

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Iheanacho keeps Man City soaring

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ELECHI Iheanacho o p e n e d h i s Manchester City account with a last-minute winner as his side maintained their perfect start to the Premier League campaign by winning 1-0 at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Palace, who had started the day in second place, looked set to claim a point before Iheanacho finished from close range shortly after appearing as an 89thminute substitute to secure

City's fifth successive win.

It was only the 18-year-old Nigerian's second senior appearance and drew the attention away from an impressive debut for Kevin De Bruyne, who arrived from Wolfsburg in a £54 million move shortly before the end of the transfer window.

De Bruyne was introduced as a first-half replacement for the injured Sergio Aguero and the loss of

the Argentina striker added to City's mounting injury concerns ahead of next week's Champions League clash with Juventus.

A bad-tempered game threatened to flare up when Scott Dann brought down Aguero with a kick to the knee in the 17th minute and the City striker was forced to withdraw seven minutes later. Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, and his players were incensed Dann

escaped with only a yellow card and when Yaya Toure reacted by bringing down Palace's James McArthur in a similar manner, Pellegrini and Palace manager Alan Pardew clashed physically on the touchline.

Iheanacho's late intervention brought relief for Pellegrini, but Aguero's injury added to the manager's concerns after David Silva and Raheem Sterling were both forced to miss this game.

Siasia slams Dream Team after Congolese scare

N

ATIONAL Under23 Coach, Samson Siasia says the team were lucky to record a 1-1 draw against Senegal in their last Group B game of the men's football event of the Brazzaville 2015 Games on Saturday.

A last minute equalizer from substitute, Mustapha Abdullahi ensured that the Dream Team VI secured the valuable point to finish top of the group.

I was expecting a better play chances too, the only chance From Akeem Lawal and from what we had in the first they had, they score. We Patrick Ngwaogu, Brazzaville game. But so many mistakes create lots of chances we However, a visibly angry coach Siasia in a chat with NationSport immediately after the match played at the Kentele Stadium expressed worry over the team's inability to convert their numerous chances in the game.

He said: "It was a terrible one, it wasn't a good match.

right from the first half, passing the ball to the opponent, loosing possession, we can't even keep the ball, we can't string four to five passes among ourselves, it was a terrible one.

"We keep having chances and cannot score right in front of the goal. Senegalese players didn't had enough

cannot score. Though I keep asking the boys why is it that we cannot score goals? It's terrible, wasn't a good game at all, we were just lucky. " I'm angry because simple things they have to do but they don't do it and it gives us problem. You can't keep the ball for too long when you can pass it, these are just easy things.

Ighalo wins first EPL match for Watford

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IGERIA striker Odion Ighalo gave Watford their first win in the EPL this season to celebrate his new fiveyear contract in fine style.

Ighalo scored in the 59th minute with an assist from skipper Troy Deeney to give his promoted club their first full points in the English top flight.

It was his second goal in the EPL having scored on the opening day against Everton on his debut in the

English top flight.

Watford did well to hang on to that lead despite playing a man short after 64 minutes, when Valon Behrami was sent off.

The win has moved Watford to 17th place on the table with four points.

On Friday, Watford announced Ighalo has agreed a new five-year deal that will keep the 26year-old forward at the club till 2020.

Ighalo

R I S T I A N O Ronaldo has become Real Madrid's alltime top goalscorer in La Liga, breaking the longstanding record of Raul.

The Portugal star bagged a hat-trick inside the first 20 minutes of Saturday's clash away to Espanyol to move level with the former Spain striker on 228.

And Ronaldo surpassed Raul's record in the 61st minute as he tapped home Gareth Bale's cross from close range to increase Madrid's lead to 5-0 on the day.

The former Manchester United man has now also scored 28 hat-tricks in Spain's top flight, four more than any other player.

Ronaldo reached the record in just 203 appearances for the 10-time European champions.

He is now behind only Hugo Sanchez (234), Telmo Zarra (251) and Lionel Messi (286) in the all-time Liga standings.

AAG: Okoh, Owoyemi target medal in Track & Field

N

IGERIA Athletics Coach Gabriel O k o h h a s dismissed the threat of South Africa , Ethiopia and Kenya in the track and field event which starts today, He said Nigeria will always have their dominance when it comes to track and field in Africa, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria has prepared the athletes for the expected challenge.

"We went to the World Championship but we are going to do much better here in track and Field , we are going to be best in Africa for this Africa Games," said the former Nigerian international.

Okagbare's arrival boost Team Nigeria

From Akeem Lawal, Brazzaville

N

I G E R I A ' S sensational sprinter, Blessing Okagbare hit the Team Nigeria camp as the athletics event of the ongoing All Africa Games, Brazzaville 2015 starts today at Stade Lumite, Kintele.

A c c o r d i n g t o information available to NationSport the athlete arrival in camp has boosted the morale of other athletes who sees her as role model .This will put an end to speculations that she opted out of the games.

It was disclosed to NationSport that the heat for 100m, 200m, 400m male and female decathlon will commence today.

QUOTABLE There were snatching of election ballot materials, shooting and allocation of figures and all kinds of impunity happened at the election. I visited about eight LGs in the company of three National Commissioners of INEC, including my staff.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 9, NO. 3337

—Head, Election and Party Monitoring Department of INEC, Charles Okoye testifying before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, Friday.

I

N his controversial analyses of African affairs, former president Olusegun Obasanjo often puts on scholarly airs on account of his experience in government. He had supervised an activist foreign policy during his rule as Nigerian military head of state between 1976 and 1979, and had taken more than a passing interest in foreign affairs as elected president between 1999 and 2007. Now, he feels supremely qualified to write disquisitions on African and world affairs. But with the passing of notable and cerebral African leaders like Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Leopold Senghor and Nelson Mandela, among others, the African analytical field is today populated by less gifted rulers and experts than the world average.

In a statement he issued last week on Europe’s refugee/migrant crisis and the Muammaer Gaddafi factor, Chief Obasanjo said, inter alia: “It is time for the international community and particularly African leaders to take a good look at the factors responsible for the death and destruction in the Mediterranean by illegal migration of youths from Africa and address the causes in an honest, responsible, humane and holistic manner rather than the current futile attempt to half-heartedly deal with the symptoms rather than the cause...Although there are strenuous efforts to deny it, it is undeniable that the vacuum created by the lack of effective governance in Libya precipitated by the direct action of Western powers is responsible for the current anarchy in that country. The current inflow of African refugees into Europe from Libya is a direct consequence...The government in Libya which in 2000 acted humanely and responsibly to stem the outflow of illegal migrants to Europe has been replaced by unconscionable bandits and terrorists who have forcibly seized the instruments of state to facilitate human trafficking and illegal migration for their own material benefit.”

Apart from establishing a spurious direct link between Mr Gaddafi’s fall and the repeated waves of migration to Europe, Chief Obasanjo also attributes the crisis to mainly economic and conflict factors. Not only did he misread the migrant crisis from the Libyan perspective, in the process betraying his indefensible support for the late Libyan leader, he also believes that Western powers were short-sighted in their machinations against Mr Gaddafi. By Chief Obasanjo’s acknowledgement, however, the migrant problem predated the fall of Mr Gaddafi, stating that about 17,000 Nigerians were repatriated from Libya in 2000. Economic factors explain only a little part of the crisis. In propping up the insurrection in Libya, Western powers merely responded to the looming stalemate in the Libyan war of resistance and liberation, a war accompanied by extreme butchery, a war triggered more by the widening gyre of the Arab Spring than by Western machinations. More importantly, the migrant crisis the world is witnessing today is less a product of African crises than Iraqi/Syrian civil wars. Even though numbers are still being compiled, most of the migrants come, in descending order, from Syria, Western Balkans, South Asia, some parts of Africa, notably Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan, and Afghanistan. Syria accounts for the highest number of migrants.

Indeed, the altruism Chief Obasanjo read into the actions and responses of Mr Gaddafi to the illegal immigration of some Africans in the opening years of the 21st century is absolutely misplaced. Mr Gaddafi repeatedly tried to profit from the illegal migrations, seeing it as a form of punishment for Western powers than a depressing manifestation of poverty and misrule on the continent. In 2010, for instance, Mr Gaddafi attempted openly and shamelessly to coax $4bn out of Western powers in exchange for his country’s help in stemming the flow of migrants and refugees.

The quality of leadership and statesmanship has declined all over the world.

In Africa, it is worse. Chief Obasanjo’s arguments show why Nigeria has never had any significant impact on the course of continental history, let alone world history.

European leaders struggle to comprehend the migrant crisis, and seek ways to respond to it.

Their efforts, though grounded in deeply historical understanding of the dynamic

Europe’s migrant refugee crisis: Re-enacting Mfecane

•Obasanjo

•Gaddafi

interplay of social, political and economic forces, have been desultory. Nigerians must be wary of Chief Obasanjo’s contributions to the crisis. His contributions simplify and misrepresent the process.

They fail to take into account the forces shaping the Middle East. And they fail to even take cognisance of the undercurrents of African history.

Contrary to Chief Obasanjo’s sanctimonious anger, Europe has been more dispassionate and less emotive about the migrant crisis, though it fears its economies and societies could be overwhelmed.

One of the reasons is that for a continent that experienced two major wars barely 22 years apart in the last century, they are no strangers to mass movements of people across borders and sometimes across continents. They are familiar with the pressures that accompany massive dislocations occasioned by wars and economic meltdown.

Importantly, unlike Chief Obasanjo and many others who fail to accurately contextualise the migrant crisis in Europe, European leaders are familiar with epochal migrations that have taken place over more than two millennia.

Yet, African history boasts of one of the most impactful migration crises in the world: the early 19th century Mfecane (interpreted: crushing or scattering) or Difaqane in the Sesotho language, which convulsed the Zulu people and other around them in Southern Africa. No student of African history can fail to appreciate the chaos and mass movements triggered by the Mfecane between 1814 and 1840, and perhaps up to 1850s. Not only did the Mfecane cause mass movements and misery, as Europe, Syria, Iraq and others are experiencing, it also depopulated the Southern African region, influenced the formation of nations in that region, and paved the way for predatory colonial adventures that redrew and distorted the borders and histories of the indigenous populations.

The Mfecane took place in the general area between the Drakensberg mountains, Kalahari Desert and Limpopo River, and was triggered by a host of factors ranging from land pressures, the nationbuilding wars of Shaka the Zulu, long distance trade, expansion of the presence of Cape Whites, decline of many indigenous kingdoms in the region, struggle between powerful kings, to wit, Sobhuza, Zwide, Dingiswayo, Moshoeshoe and Mzilikazi around the Pongola River

and beyond. Then, of course, came the brutal and ambitious Shaka the Zulu with his new technique of warfare, and the region was never the same again.

It is estimated that the region was depopulated to the tune of about one or two million people, though the estimates are controversial.

Chief Obasanjo’s so-called deal with Mr Gaddafi is nothing but an awkward attempt at selfpromotion, a disingenuous attempt to draw public attention to a hitherto unknown part of his public service years. The Libyan factor in the ongoing migrant crisis in Europe is minute. The main triggers are the heedless United States invasion of Iraq in combination with the civil war in Syria, itself a consequence of the Arab Spring, and the seething and endless struggle between the Sunni and Shiite power groups in the region. The vacuum created by the deposition of Saddam Hussein reopened the conflict between the more populous Shiites, who were kept out of the power loop for decades, and Mr Hussein’s minority Sunnis who ruled through the Baathist political party. The US invasion and the clumsy and unreflective foisting of Western-type democracy naturally tilted the scale in favour of the majority Shiites, paradoxically backed by the hated Iran. The Sunnis, with powerful backers from other Sunni Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, felt embittered and are believed to have acquiesced in the formation first of al-Qaeda in Iraq and then ISIS. To a wise ruler outside the region, the entire Middle East and surrounding states are a political caveat. The struggle between the Sunnis and Shiites is expected to continue for a long time, and both the internal structures of the conflict and the outcomes will not be determined by popular democracy, but by force, as Yemen is showing. Invading Iraq was unwise, and it is not clear how the US committed that egregious blunder. How to recapture the escaped genie will be the preoccupation of the world in their effort to resolve the migrant crisis putting massive pressures on the European Union (EU). Millions have already been uprooted in the warridden region, nearly on the scale of the Mfecane.

And the impact is felt in wider areas than the revolutionary movements that savaged Southern Africa in the opening decades of the 19th century.

There are suggestions that the crisis should be tackled from the root. This is sensible but difficult, for the monster unleashed by

the Syrian and Iraqi wars will not be easy to subdue. The oxygen upon which they depend will be difficult to eliminate. Russia views the conflict in the region as an extension of the Cold War, as a competition in which flexing of muscles could not be ruled out. Russia has been a longstanding ally of Syria, and in fact has a naval base located in the Syrian Mediterranean Port of Tartus, and is now actively involved in the Syrian civil war. It is not clear how the Russian approach would conduce to peace in that region, or curb the flow of refugees to Europe. If anything, the ISIS war may even intensify. It is true neither the US nor Europe has a clue how the complicated war and migrant crisis can be resolved. Both are loth to sustain Syrian leader Bashir al-Assad in power, for that is what it would amount to if Western powers put boots on the ground to fight ISIS. And they are equally wary of destroying ISIS because of the unintended consequence of strengthening Iran and its Shiite regional allies. Russia is not incommoded by any such considerations. It wants Mr Assad to be part of the resolution of the crisis in Syria, and is anxious to retain not only its influence in that country but also its base. Russia’s resupply of Syria may therefore prolong and complicate the war in Syria, and by implication the migrant crisis.

Neither the Mfecane nor the current migration from ISIS-held territories was the first mass movement in history, as novel as the migrant crisis may be to the present generation.

The controversial First or Second millennium exodus of probably less than a million Jews believed to have fled Egypt (Pop, 3.5m people at the time) is another example. The wars of Genghis Khan, Mao Zedong’s 1934 Long March, and the flight of Protestants from Europe to the New World (America) also triggered dislocations and movements. This column has argued many times that the world has not witnessed the end of the redrawing of borders.

As wars, economic and climate pressures occur, people will undertake willing or forced migrations, some harrowing, and others adventurous. This generation is indeed privileged to witness a movement of the European migrant crisis proportion, and to document and analyse the story. But the analyses must be sober and unaffected by the selfpromotion and romanticism of the kind dished out by Chief Obasanjo last week.

The Syrian and Iraqi civil wars will not be resolved in a hurry, notwithstanding the best efforts of Russia, US and Europe.

Resolving the wars is beyond the ken of Arabs and Persian peoples. The struggle between Sunni and Shiites in the Middle East will also continue for years, with perhaps occasional abatement. Iran will probably continue to grow into a major regional power, constitute itself into a specific and pressing threat to Israel, holding strongly to and nurturing the ambition to colonise the entire region as its Persian forebears did, as the Ottomans executed, and as Alexander the Great also accomplished with great flourish. It is a fallacy to think that multilateral security organisations such as the United Nations can keep the peace for a long time. In the face of national ambitions, empire-building objectives and economic pressures, such international arrangements are bound to wilt or collapse. The current migrant crisis merely foreshadows these frightening and destabilising possibilities.

This is, however, not to suggest that efforts should not be made to tackle the terrible nightmare. Chief Obasanjo narrowed the search for solution and anchored it on a wrong misunderstanding of the forces at play and the historicity of the phenomenon. It is important not to lose sight of where the migrant crisis is coming from. Importantly, the dynamics of the mass migrations and the underlying forces that are shaping them must be properly understood and contextualised in order to find a solution, not the ‘lasting’ solution Chief Obasanjo idealistically conjured. There is, however, little evidence so far to show that all the interested powers and countries involved in the crisis have a clear understanding of what the problems are, let alone expertly juggle the factors necessary to dispose the region to peace and tranquillity.

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Website: www.thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE