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FG raises alarm over plans to attack polling centres P.5

Abba

Vol. 5 N0. 1043

Ondo PDP: Court decides on contempt charge today P.10 P10

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Vote out parasites in govt –ASUU

Friday, February 6, 2015

P.12

N150

Poll shift: Council of State asks INEC to decide T OBIORA IFOH AND ROTIMI FADEYI

Election may not hold in troubled states

he National Council of State, NCS, yesterday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

L-R: Senate President David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, during the National Council of State meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

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Missing $20bn: Audit firm directs NNPC to refund $1.48bn P.2

...faults Senate committee’s figures on oil lifting

Hoodlums snatch 2,179 PVCs in Nasarawa –REC

P.50

News

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Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Missing $20bn: Audit firm directs NNPC to refund $1.48bn to Federation Account TOLA AKINMUTIMI

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he PriceWaterhouseCoppers (PwC) audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s, NNPC’s, accounts over the alleged missing $20bn crude oil money has revealed that at least $1.48bn was missing from the Federation Account.

Briefing the media on the highlights of the PwC’s audit report which was conducted on the order of the President, the Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Ukura Samuel, said the report specifically centered on NNPC’s costs; ownership of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC revenues, and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) subsidy.

He disclosed that based on the information available to PwC, and from analysis, the firm submitted that NNPC and NPDC should refund to the Federation Accounts a minimum of $1.48bn.

The PwC also flawed the Corporation’s operational cost from where the $20bn was alleged to be missing, describing it as “an unsustainable model.”

The report noted that 46 per cent of proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues for the review period was

spent on operations and subsidies while the Corporation was unable to sustain monthly remittances to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). It also revealed that the NNPC was also unable to meet its operational costs entirely from the proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues and had had to incur third party liabilities to bridge the funding gap.

The report stated further that NNPC provided transaction documents representing additional cost of $2.81 billion related to the review period, citing the NNPC Act LFN No 33 of 1977 that allows for such deductions.

However, PwC was at a loss “whether such deductions should be made

by NNPC as a first line charge before remitting the net proceeds of domestic crude to the federation accounts.”

Consequent upon these findings, the auditors recommended that “the NNPC model of operation must be urgently reviewed and restructured, as the current model which has been in operation since the creation of the NNPC cannot be sustained.”

The report also indicated that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), PwC stated that NPDC gener-

ated $5.11 billion (net of royalties and petroleum profit tax paid), relied on the legal opinion provided to Senate Committee by the Attorney General on the subject of the transfers of NNPC’s 55 per cent portion of oil leases (OMLs) involved in the Shell (SPDC) divestments which impacted crude oil revenues in the period.

The PwC reported that “the Attorney General’s opinion indicated that these transfers were within the authority of the minister of petroleum resources to make.”

The report added that “NNPC’s 55 per cent portion of oil lease (OMLs) involved in the Shell divestments related to the eight OMLs were transferred to NPDC for an aggregate amount of US$1.85 billion.

So far, only the amount of the US$100 million had been remitted. PwC also added that they had expected a transfer basis higher than the US$1.85 billion earlier mentioned.”

Expatiating further on the fiscal lapses in the NPDC, the PwC reported that NPDC had done a self assessment of PPT and

Royalty and had unpaid self assessed PPT and Royalty to the tune of $0.47 billion related to the review period, adding that there was no evidence however based on the audit that suggested that NPDC had been assessed for PPT and Royalty for the review period.

Based on these, auditors recommended that NPDC should remit dividend to the NNPC and ultimately to the federation account based on NPDC’s dividend policy and declared dividend for the review period.

On kerosene subsidy,

PwC discovered that $3.38 billion relating to DPK subsidy cost was incurred by the NNPC for the review period just as it also confirmed that that a Presidential directive issued on the 15th of June 2009 which ordered that subsidy on DPK be stopped and that that this was complemented by a correspondence between PPPRA and the CBN governor to the effect.

However, the auditors reported that “PPPRA had ceased granting subsidy on kerosene since the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Yobe State Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu, during the National Council of State meeting at the State House in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Poll shift: Council of State asks INEC to decide CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

INEC, to decide whether the elections would hold as scheduled, based on its level of preparedness.

It also directed the commission to perform its civic responsibility of conducting elections.

The elections are scheduled for February 14 and 28.

INEC Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, who also attended the meeting, has consistently insisted that the electoral body was ready for the conduct of the election.

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, briefed State House correspondents after the over sevenhour meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the meeting discussed the state of pre-

paredness of INEC, while the electoral body also had the benefit of input from council members, security chiefs and agencies.

Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Bala Ngilari (Adamawa) accompanied Mimiko to the briefing.

The Ondo State governor said that based on the exhaustive discussion and pieces of advice from council members, INEC, which is constitutionally empowered, would brief the nation on the conduct of the election.

Mimiko noted that INEC was asked to consult widely with stakeholders and come up with a decision.

On whether the decision of the council meeting was for a shift in the

conduct of the election, Mimiko said: “The Council of State is essentially an advisory body.

“The President in his wisdom had invited INEC to brief us on the state of preparedness. Based on what INEC briefed and based on perception of council members and security agencies, INEC was properly advised and you will hear from INEC.” The meeting, according to Mimiko, also noted that a few days to the election, 34 per cent of Nigerians were to get their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs. Also discussed were the new technology of card reader, the extent to which people are familiar with the new technology and security issues.

Okorocha said the council advised INEC to

go and perform its civic responsibility which is to conduct elections.

“That is what we rose to agree, it was a very challenging moment, and INEC has reaffirmed severally that they are ready, but because of concern of security agencies in some few local governments, council asked INEC to go and perform its civic responsibilities, which is the conduct of elections,” he added.

He maintained that there was no decision as to change of date or postponement of elections.

The governor, however, said that INEC might not hold elections in the troubled states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, where there are security challenges.

Okorocha also dis-

closed that the issue of whether or not Jega resigned was not tabled at the meeting.

Former head of state and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, led governors on the platform of the party to the meeting.

Also in attendance were former President Shehu Shagari and exheads of state, Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdusalami Abubakar and former Head of Interim National Government, ING, Chief Ernest Shonekan.

However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was absent.

Senate President, Senator David Mark; Speaker of the House of Repre-

sentatives, Aminu Tambuwal; National Security Adviser, Col. Sabo Dasuki (rtd); Attorney- General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke and. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, were also at the meeting.

The APC governors that attended the meeting were Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), ) Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa) Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) Governors on the platform of the Peoples CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, February 6, 2015

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Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Director, Corporate Communications/ CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah; President, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Mr. Charles Chijide; Director, Customer Services Delivery, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Ajay Bakshi and President, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), Mr. John Ehiguese during the fourth CEO Breakfast Forum of the International Association of Business Communicators in Lagos, yesterday.

L- R: Senior Manager, KPMG Advisory Services, Mr. Lawrence Amadi; Winner of Toyota Corolla in the recently concluded FirstBank Big Splash Promo, Ms. Uche Nworah; Zonal Coordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Eke Michael; Winner of Hyundai Elantra in the ongoing FirstBank Savings Bonanza, Mrs. Nnenna Sunny-Obioma; and Business Development Manager, Awka, FirstBank, Mr. John Okah at the FirstBank Savings Bonanza Draw held in Awka yesterday.

L-R: Cuba’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Sosa; Director-General, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhi and Lead Partner, Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development Company, Dr. John Agbidye, during the public presentation of Vidatox CH 30 Novel Bio Therapeutic for management of cancer in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO:

L –R: Head, Corporate Services Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Bola Adeeko; Chief Finance Officer, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Seyi Kumapayi; Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON; Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; Executive Director, Operation and Information Technology, Access Bank Plc, Mrs. Ojini Olaghere and Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna at Access Bank Plc Facts Behind the Offer at the NSE, yesterday.

National News

NCAA may ground 22 private jets over commercial usage OLUSEGUN KOIKI

A

s the deadline for grounding private jets engaged in commercial usage expired yesterday, there are strong indications that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Organisation, NCAA, may sanction about 22 defaulters.

National Mirror gathered that management of the regulatory agency held a meeting at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos to effect the sanction as directed

by Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, on Tuesday.

A document obtained from the Ministry of Aviation listed foreign registered private aircraft that had been issued with agency’s Flight Operations Clearance Certificate, FOCC, and Maintenance Clearance Certificate, MCC, whereby the owners were authorised to operate within Nigeria strictly for private operation only, and

…set to publish their names not for hire or rewards according to Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 8.2.1.9.

According to the document, the affected private jet companies are Air First, ANAP Business Jets, ATT Aviation Support Ltd, AVJET Corporation, BUA Group Limited, Chrome Air, Delmon Aviation/C&K, Dominion Air, EAN Aviation Limited and Executive Jets.

Others are Ferry Aviation Development Service, Gitto Construzioni, Grenfact Ventures Ltd., Gyro Air Limited, NAMCO Nig. Limited, Orlean Invest West Africa, Prime Air, Project Eagle Air Ltd., Southern Air, SWAT Technology Ltd., Tag Aviation Ltd. and Toucan Aviation Support.

Our correspondent gathered that the regulatory body would commence grounding of their operations as from Monday as against today earlier stated

by the minister.

The affected jet owners, our correspondent gathered, were unable to regularise their licences as directed by the minister.

As at yesterday evening, many of the 201 jet owners 111 Nigerian registered and 90 foreign registered - were yet to comply with the directive.

But a ministry source told our correspondent that no Nigerian registered jet was affected in the unholy practice.

The source said that most of the owners showed little or no concern to the directive while a few visited the NCAA headquarters to regularise their papers.

He also disclosed that NCAA had been directed by the minister of aviation to publish the names of the defaulting private jet owners and take the appropriate steps to revoke their licences.

NCAA spokesman, Mr.

Fan Ndubuoke, told our correspondent that the management was still in a meeting as at yesterday’s evening, but declined to comment further.

When our correspondent demanded the names of the defaulters and level of complaint by the jet owners, he promised to provide the information later, but as at the time of filing this

report, he was yet to do so.

Chidoka at the launch of the Aviation Commits Initiative in Lagos had threatened to ground private jets who engaged in commercial operations in the country.

He noted that there were 90 foreign registered aircraft in the country with additional 111 Nigerian registered carriers currently

in use in the system, stressing that some of them had diverted from their operational certificates.

The minister explained that their diversion from their operational certificates had led to loss of massive revenues to the Federal Government and urged them to regularise their papers before yesterday’s deadline.

INEC to engage more than 33, 860 ad-hoc workers in Lagos FRANCIS SUBERU

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ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said it would engage no fewer than 33,860 ad-hoc staff in Lagos State for the forthcoming general elections.

INEC Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, Mr. Olufemi Akinbiyi, made this known in an interview in Lagos.

Akinbiyi said four adhoc workers would be used in each of the 8,465 polling

•Lagos declares today work free for PVC collection units in the state, adding that training of the ad-hoc workers was ongoing.

He said the commission in Lagos had received more than 10, 000 smart card readers for the elections.

On the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter Cards in the state, Akinbiyi said that many more people were coming forward to pick up their cards.

He urged eligible voters who had been duly registered and had yet to get their cards to visit

their polling units to collect them before the Feb. 8 deadline.

Akinbiyi also spoke on the readiness for the elections, saying the commission was working hard to ensure early arrival of election materials at the polling units.

He said that the commission had evolved some strategies which would ensure that materials were moved to the local governments and wards in good time.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, February 6, 2015

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FG raises alarm over plans to attack polling centres JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

F

ederal Government yesterday disclosed that terrorists had perfected plans to attack polling booths in the forthcoming general elections.

Consequently, the gov-

ernment, through the National Orientation Agency, NOA, said it would soon mobilise at least 10 million signatures for peace, using its structures at the 774 local government areas.

The Coordinator, National Information Cen-

tre, NIC, Mr. Mike Omeri, stated this during a routine security briefing in Abuja.

He said the insurgents had planned to steal or buy Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, of female voters to deceive the electorate on their evil inten-

tion.

Omeri, therefore, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant before, during and after the general elections.

“Recent intelligence reports indicate that some unscrupulous Nigerians have perfected plans to surreptitiously collect,

L-R: SBG Head, Public Sector Group, UBA Plc, Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Group Managing Director, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and Executive Director, Resources, UBA Plc, Ms. Obi Ibekwe, during the official visit of UBA executive management to the Emir in Kano on Wednesday.

Poll shift: Council of State asks INEC to decide CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Democratic Party, PDP, at the meeting were Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Idris Wada (Kogi); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

Others were Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti); Mukhtar Yero (Kaduna); Willy Obiano (Anambra); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Acting Governor of Taraba State, Abubakar Danladi.

The governors of Borno, Yobe, Abia and Oyo states were represented by their deputies.

The governors of Kebbi, Benue and Ebonyi states were absent.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, service chiefs, the Director-General of the Directorate of State Security, DSS, Ita Ekpeyong, and the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, also attended.

Meanwhile, 10 registered political parties, under the aegis of Coalition of Progressive Political Parties, COPP, yesterday rejected calls for the postponement of the general elections.

The political parties insisted that the elections must go on as scheduled, stressing that the call for the postponement had nothing to do with the pace of distribution and collection of PVCs. The parties include Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, African Peoples Alliance, APA, Kowa Party, Mega Progressive People’s Party, MPPP, Social Democratic Party, SDP and African Democratic Congress, ADC. Others are Hope Democratic Party, HDP, Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, United Progressive Party, UPP, and Accord Party.

The declaration by the parties came two days after 16 other political parties called for the postponement of the elections.

However, addressing a press conference in Abuja, spokesperson of the

group and National Chairman of PDM, Bashir Ibrahim, said any attempt to postpone the poll would “plunge our country into anarchy.”

He said only INEC could determine whether or not to shift the election, adding that postponing the poll would amount to changing the rule in the middle of the game.

Ibrahim, however, said if INEC eventually postponed the exercise, the 10 political parties would abide by the decision but urged it not to “buckle under political pressure.”

According to him, if states affected by insurgency are eager to participate in the poll, there is no reason why the exercise should be postponed.

He said one of the political parties, which he did not name, rent crowds and agents to call for the postponement.

“The call for the postponement of the general elections is, therefore, a call orchestrated by one of the political parties which has continued to invest huge sums of money to ensure the elections do

not hold as scheduled out of fear of losing power for the first time since 1999.

“Our democracy has come of age and Nigerians are ready for change, we will not allow desperation and power-pondering to scuttle it and will do whatever is necessary to defend it and ensure that the general elections hold as scheduled.

“We call on INEC not to be intimidated by desperate elements and to proceed with its preparations for the general election as scheduled.

“We assure INEC we shall stand by it, shoulder to shoulder, to ensure our democracy is not undermined.

“We urge all major stakeholders, especially well meaning political parties and their presidential candidates, the INEC and the National Assembly as well as all the security agencies in the country to stand together to ensure that the 2015 general election is conducted as scheduled and guarantee that Nigeria survives to face another general election in

buy or steal the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, of female voters, hand over same to female suicide bombers and create access for them into polling centres where they will detonate bombs and kill unsuspecting voters.

“By this information, therefore, Nigerians, especially female voters, are warned to remain vigilant and also jealously guard and preserve their PVCs to avoid the possibility of their being lost to these bad elements,” he said.

Speaking at a separate press conference on the need for a peaceful election, Omeri, who is also the NOA Director- General, maintained that the agency was partnering with corporate bodies, individuals and the civil groups to sensitise people on the need to do the right thing.

According to him, the campaign becomes imperative in view of

reports received by the agency from its 36 states offices.

He noted that the reports “indicate palpable fear of the possibility of violence, regardless of the outcome of the 2015 general elections.

“Equally reaching us are reports of families moving to places they consider safe while others are stocking up on food and basic essentials in anticipation.

“This has led to the need for an urgent introduction of persuasive positive narrative of violence-free pre- and postelections outcome, which is key and an essential strategy to encourage non-violence within the period and thereafter.

“In view of the foregoing, the NOA and its partners have designed a comprehensive and strategic, Peace Messaging Campaign tagged; “Do the Right Thing #Wagepeace2015."

Missing $20bn: Audit firm directs NNPC to refund $1.48bn to Federation Account CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Presidential directive of 15 June 2009, but kerosene subsidy was appropriated for in the 2012 and 2013 FGN budgets due to the fact that the Presidential directive was not gazette and there has been no other legal instrument cancelling the subsidy on DPK. It therefore recommended that an official directive be written to support the legality of the kerosene subsidy costs to be followed by adequate budgeting and appropriation for the costs.

On the gross revenues generated from crude oil liftings during the review period Januray 2012 to July 2013, the auditors noted that total revenues generated was $69.34 billion and not $67 billion as earlier stated by the Senate reconciliation committee for the period from January 2012 to July 2013 and out of the $69.34 billion, $28.22 billion was the value of domestic crude oil allocated to NNPC. According to the PwC, total amount spent as subsidy for PMS amounted to $5.32 billion, $3.38 billion

was spent on subsidy for DPK (not appropriated), $1.19 billion was spent as other third party financing arrangement and equity crude oil processing costs. In addition, the auditors reported that total cost directly attributable to domestic crude oil amounted to $1.46 billion while other costs incurred by the NNPC not directly attributable to domestic crude oil was put at $2.81 billion. Revenue attributable to NPDC as submitted by the former NPDC managing director to the senate is $5.11 billion.

PwC stated that this amount needed to be incorporated into the financial statements of NPDC from where dividend should be declared to the federation accounts.

The auditors also revealed that signature bonus, PPT and Royalty yet to be paid by NPDC stood at $2.22 billion while total cash remitted into the Federation Accounts on crude oil liftings was $50.81 billion and not $47 billion as earlier stated by the Senate reconciliation committee for the period from January 2012 to July 2013.

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National News

Friday, February 6, 2015

Jonathan lacks ability to lead Nigeria –Soyinka ...says he should be sent packing

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obel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan’s government has failed to provide leadership for the people, urging the electorate not to vote for continuation of his administration in the February 14 presidential polls.

Soyinka, who spoke at the 2015 edition of Vision of the Child, VOTC, a yearly programme inaugurated in 2012, told the participating students that he has 60 reasons not to vote for continuation of the Jonathan regime.

The literary icon said: “I will not vote and I will not encourage anyone to vote for the continuation of this government, simply because your colleagues numbering over 200 were kidnapped.”

According to him, the Chibok schoolgirls kid-

napped on 14 April last year were sent on a mission to acquire education, but ended up being kidnapped.

“And the government of this nation failed to show leadership. So, anyone who says after that event that I will vote or cast my vote or encourage anyone to vote for this regime must be living in Sambisa forest.

“There has been a failure of leadership. Our children whom you represent today have been betrayed,” he added.

According to him, no appropriate action was taken to rescue them, saying it took the Jonathan government 10 days to even accept that the Chibok girls were missing.

He said: “After that dereliction of duty, after that failure of leadership, after that betrayal for our future, for anyone to think or to put

words in my mouth suggesting that I will vote or encourage anyone to vote for this regime is a travesty of intelligence.”

Soyinka also laughed off those who had claimed on social media that he was dead.

He comically told newsmen at the event not to misquote him, saying if they do, he would rise from the dead to correct them.

The 2015 edition of Vision of The Child has as its theme “The Road To Sambisa” and this year’s drew a total of 250 student participants from 60 primary and secondary schools within Lagos.

The age bracket for the participants was 9 to 12 years.

Their entries were assessed by a panel of eminent jury comprising teachers, artistes, child careers and social workers.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

-APC O biora Ifoh ABUJA

A

ll Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCPCO, yesterday described as bogus, claims

by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of transforming the railway sector.

APCPCO, in a statement in Abuja picked holes in President Jonathan’s repeated statement while campaigning for re-election that he resuscitated the country’s railways, which he said had been moribund for over 20 years. APC described such statement as a hoax.

“Director General of his campaign, Senator Ahmadu Ali, even stretches this moribund hyperbole to 35 years,” said Malam Garba Shehu, Director Media and Publicity, APCPCO. “On the campaign trail, the railway lies just seem to keep tumbling out.”

Among the claims which Malam Garba described as lies is the President’s statement during his campaign rallies that his government had rehabilitated and built about 3,500 km of railways.

“They have done no such thing as only about 2,000km have so far been

E

lectricity consumers in the FCT on Thursday cautioned Electricity Distribution and Generation Companies against misappropriation of the N213 billion power stabilisation fund.

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on February 2 disbursed N18.26 billion to five electricity distribution and generating companies as part of the N213 billion Nigerian electricity stability facility to the power sector.

The first beneficiaries of the fund are Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc and Ibadan Electricity Distribution

rehabilitated and less than 250km of new track has been built,” Shehu said.

He added that the quality of work done on these rehabilitations left a lot to be desired, because the government had shown a preference towards issuing contracts to their cronies, regardless of whether they had the essential skills or experience.

“A railway expert advises that the real test of the integrity of the more recently rehabilitated track infrastructure is when the rainy season arrives,” he said.

The statement also pointed out that the huge railway contracts awarded by the PDP-led government do not include most of the railway sidings and passing loops, effectively limiting the capacity of the lines in terms of the number of trains that can run on them at any time, thus making an unviable rail service even more unviable.

“They also do not say why the railway track rehabilitations which were supposed to take 10 months have taken 4 years and counting,” Shehu said.

APCPCO referred to the Jonathan government’s claim that it had commenced work on the

Lagos-Calabar coastal railway line as “another big fat lie.”

Shehu added: “How can they commence work on a project that has no appropriation? How can they commence construction on a project without a signed contract? Or is a Memorandum of Understanding now a contract?

“In any case where is the scope of work being described as Lagos to Calabar, when the LagosIbadan part of the route is in another contract (i.e. the Obasanjo LagosKano contract)? Will he pay twice for LagosIbadan? With the addition of Benin-Onitsha to the coastal line, what is the new cost and how is he going to pay for it all?

With more loans while the nation bleeds financially?”

APCPCO noted that all the lies were evidence of an overactive imagination.

“One railway project Mr. President and his media personnel have been silent about is the Abuja Rail Mass Transit. What Mr. President will not tell the people is how many Nigerians truly benefit from the hundreds of billions purportedly spent on the rehabilitation of rail lines and whether value for money has been achieved.

Company Plc, which received cheques for N5.16 billion and N11.36 billion respectively.

Others are the Jebba Hydroelectric Plc, Kainji Hydroelectric Plc and Shiroro Hydroelectric Plc which also received N816.83 million, N234.81 million and N678.650 million respectively.

The facility, which has a 10-year repayment plan, was granted at 10 per cent interest rate.

Some of the consumers told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the apex bank, which is the coordinating body, should ensure that a mechanism

is put in place to monitor the beneficiary companies.

A consumer who simpy identify himself Mr Jonathan said that if the fund would be judiciously used it would improve power supply in the country.

Another consumer, Mr Francis Abba, an engineer, said that the CBN must ensure that beneficiaries of the fund must use it for the purpose.

According to him, if the companies are not closely monitored, they may divert the money to other usages and the sector will continue to suffer.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, February 6, 2015

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Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG bars staff from foreign travels

…frowns at incessant request for change of birthdays OMEIZA AJAYI

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ederal Government has announced a ban on all foreign training and travelling by civil servants, citing recent unfavourable development in the international oil market for its action.

It said the development has affected its revenue stream and it has become necessary to introduce a number of cost-saving measures.

In a circular titled ‘Restrictions on Foreign Trainings and International

Travels by Public Servants’ issued from the office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the Federal Government, the Head of Service, Danladi Kifasi, said government has embarked on a number of measures to help manage the situation.

One of such measure, he said, was an embargo on foreign trainings and international travels by public servants in all MDAs, including parastatals, beginning from January 2015.

The HoS, who listed some guidelines/instructions to

be applied before any public officer can travel out of the country on government’s expense, stated further that “proposals for participation or attendance of international conferences, seminars, workshops, study tours, trainings, presentations of papers, Negotiating/Signing of Memoranda of Understating (MoU) abroad at government expense shall no longer be allowed except those that are fully funded by sponsoring/ host organisations.”

The circular further stated that no ministry, extraministerial office, depart-

ment, agency or parastatals shall send staff outside Nigeria for training at government’s expense, whether or not that agency draws funds from the Federal Government budget or meets its financial needs from revenue generated by itself.

It said public servants invited for foreign trainings/ study tour, conferences by any organisation, government or other bilateral/ multilateral organisations wouls be allowed to travel provided no travel cost, estacode application or any other cost on government is involved.

The official said local training will continue and, where necessary, foreign experts may be invited to conduct trainings for which there are no local experts and requests for international travels is essential, and strategic cases must be strictly justified with evidence of sources of funding.

Also, to ensure officers in the federal public service are not able to manipulate their records, the Federal Government said it has become necessary to introduce more stringent measures towards protecting data integrity on the IPPIS platform.

Assistant Director, Media Relations in the OHCSF, Ahmed Manga, in a statement yesterday said the new measures were contained in a circular titled ‘Incessant Requests for Change of Employee Date

of Birth and Date of First Appointment on the IPPIS Platform’, issued from his office and sent to all MDAs of the Federal Government.

Mr. Kifasi further directed that all requests for correction of ‘Date of Birth and Date of First Appointment’ by officers must be addressed to Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. He added that such requests must also be accompanied with employee’s personal files, containing records of service and other relevant documents to buttress the claims, and such requests should be forwarded through letters duly endorsed by Directors of Human Resources Management, HRMs, of their respective MDAs. He warned that any breach of these procedures will attract sanctions in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

Hemp: NDLEA nabs female couriers at Lagos Airport OLUSEGUN KOIKI

N L-R: Deputy National Chairman, Accord, Mr. Oke Adeposi; National Secretary, African People’s Alliance, Mr. Samaila Sijawa and National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Movement, Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim, during a press conference by the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties on the February general elections in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

INEC, APC colluding on PVC distribution —PDP OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, said more facts have emerged on alleged connivance of some officials of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and All Progressives Congress, APC, to deny non-indigenes in APC-controlled states of their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, for the February general elections.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday described the development as a crime against the electoral process, adding that the party has received overwhelming evidence from citizens in APC states following its earlier alarm

that non-indigenes who form the bulk of PDP supporters in Lagos were being denied PVCs. The PDP said apart from Lagos, the same scandalous practice is also being perpetrated in other APCcontrolled states, including Kano.

“Since our alert on Lagos State, we have continued to receive calls and comments from citizens from local governments and wards in APC states confirming the collaboration between some INEC officials and the APC to shut out non-indigenes in the states made up mainly of our supporters, it is deeper than earlier thought.

“Indeed, this inexcusable misconduct is also being perpetrated in Kano, Edo, Sokoto, Kebbi, Nasarawa,

Kwara, among other APCcontrolled states, where fraudulent INEC officials and APC are orchestrating hitches to disenfranchise non-indigenes.

“Evidence of this crime abound in Alimosho and Amuwo-Odofin local government areas in Lagos; Nasarawa Local Government and Sabon Gari area of Kano State and other strategic places where PVCs belonging to non-indigenes are even burnt to ensure they do not get to their rightful owners.

“We know the aim is to deny PDP its well-deserved victory in APC states since over 90 per cent of these non-indigenes are PDP supporters and will vote en masse for President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates of our great par-

ty at the elections. We are aware of a script already prepared to rationalise the eventual non-participation of the non-indigenes by attributing it to voter apathy,” the party said.

It urged its supporters in the affected states to remain calm and law-abiding as usual, the PDP charged INEC leadership to take immediate steps to halt the trend and ensure guilty officials are arrested and prosecuted. The PDP said: “Any delay in this direction is capable of sending wrong signal to the electorate and other stakeholders in the 2015 elections.”

The party also urged INEC to reinforce confidence in the process by ensuring that all eligible voters receive their PVCs accordingly.

ational Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, attached to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, has announced the arrest of two ladies who attempted to courier 78 parcels of dry weeds weighing 19.8kg and suspected to be cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE, from Lagos.

The suspects, Ebere Ohakwe Sandra, 30, and Obidike Ugochukwu Maureen, 33, were arrested at the departure hall of MMIA during the outward screening of passengers on an Etihad flight to Dubai.

An online statement by spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated that the drug was concealed in foodstuff and local alcoholic beverage called Alomo Bitters.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar, while confirming the arrest, said the case was under investigation.

One of the suspects, Ebere Ohakwe, who Ofoyeju said lives and sells foodstuff

in Dubai, confessed that her travel agent told her to smuggle cannabis in exchange for her visa.

She said she used to export foodstuff to Dubai, always stayed for two months before returning to Nigeria, since she lacks permanent visa, adding that she spent Christmas and New Year at home, and while she was preparing to go back, her travel agent in Dubai called her that somebody would give her a parcel to bring to him.

She added, “My first question was that I hope it is not cocaine, and he said it was not cocaine, but weed and that it is not something serious. He also promised that if I can take it to him he would prepare my next visa for free. That was how I agreed to take it.”

She also confessed that she implicated her friend, Obidike Maureen in the illicit business.

“Maureen is my friend.

We met in Port Harcourt and had been chatting always.

She told me she would like to visit Dubai to buy clothes because she sells female clothes. We concluded that we will both travel to Dubai when I am returning in January 2015.

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South West

Friday, February 6, 2015

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Ondo PDP: Court rules today as candidates warn Mimiko, INEC OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he Federal High Court in Abuja will today decide on the contempt charge before it involving the candidates of the Peoples Democratic

Party against the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC. Meanwhile, Ondo State PDP candidates in the forthcoming general elections yesterday warned the Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the Indepen-

dent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to plunge the state into violence through their penchant for disobeying court orders.

It would be recalled that the Ondo State PDP has been enmeshed in crisis

since the governor joined the “umbrella” party.

Without recourse to the old PDP members, Governor Mimiko is alleged to have been scheming to control the soul of the party in the state.

The situation has led to a

L-R: Chairman, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Lagos State, Chief Francis Akinkawe; President,YCE,Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), and Assistant Secretary General, Prof Bayo Olateju during a meeting of YCE in Ibadan, yesterday.

YCE tasks Yoruba on presidential candidates, flays endorsement KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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ith the general elections just few days away, the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, also known as Igbimo Agba Yoruba, has urged its kinsmen to think seriously and weigh the candidates on the basis of what the nation and the South-West region (the Yoruba-speaking people) of the country stand to gain in the next four years in casting their votes.

They asked the people to critically look at the presentation of each political party’s manifesto and track record in governance.

The YCE, which distanced itself from last week’s endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, spoke yesterday during the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the organisation held at its Ondo Street, Old Bodija, Ibadan, national head-

quarters.

According to the communiqué signed by Major General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), and Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), president and secretary-general respectively, which was read by Professor Bayo Olateju, the group said: “YCE is not a party to any purported endorsement given by any group or groups to a presidential candidate”.

Insisting on its dissociation from such an action, the group said YCE did not at any time sit with any group of people to consider and come to such decision. It restated its position since inception that Nigeria’s Presidency should go to the best candidate.

“Such candidate must have vision and mission of taking Nigeria and Nigerians from poverty to wealth, from insecurity of lives wand property to living secured, prosperous and in abundance, regardless of party affiliation, religion or tribe,” the YCE said.

The group equally

called on all political parties to caution and control their supporters from making provocative and inflammatory statements which could set the nation ablaze or

railroad the country into another civil war, adding: “YCE and all Yoruba unambiguously say no to violence and or war, we stand for peace and peace alone”.

OSSIEC holds referendum on LCDA Monday BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

O

sun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, yesterday stated its readiness to hold referendum for the creation of local council development areas in the state on Monday, February 9.

Addressing a press conference at the commission’s office in Osogbo, OSSIEC Chairman, Chief Segun Oladitan, said the exercise was in fulfillment of the requirement of the constitution.

Oladitan said universal adult suffrage has been adopted for the exercise, adding that the plebiscite would be yes or no vote.

Positing that the refer-

endum was not connected to politics, Oladitan noted that all existing polling units in the state would be used for the exercise.

He further explained: “Any community desirous of a council must mobilised its people to vote yes and get 2/3 of the total number of participants. Any means of identification other than PVC can be taken to the polling units on the day.

“Driver’s license, birth certificate or declaration of age will also be accepted by our staff, who will supervise the plebiscite across the state. Materials will arrive the polling units early and other logistics have also been provided.”

logjam, as up till date, the state is yet to come up with acceptable candidates for the state’s House of Assembly and the National Assembly.

Few hours to the Federal High Court pronouncement on the authentic candidates’ list, about 38 aggrieved members of the party gunning for elective positions raised the alarm on the consequences of continued violation of court orders by Mimiko and the INEC. They also called on security agencies to be on the alert because “not even President Goodluck Jonathan can guarantee peace when violence erupts.”

Chairman of the group and former chairman of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Dr. Olu Agunloye, and Secretary, Mr. Femi Adekanbi, after an emergency meeting in Abuja, stated that the continuous blatant disobedience of court orders on the festering political crisis in the state was capable of degenerating into chaos.

Agunloye, a former Minister of Defence, alleged that despite court pronouncements that the status quo be maintained concerning the issue of

who represents the state in the state’s Assembly and National Assembly, Mimiko had gone ahead to introduce candidates from his camp as authentic PDP candidates for the state.

Aside this, the one-time FRSC boss also accused INEC of aiding the governor’s alleged disregard for court processes by publishing the names of his candidates on its website, an act he described as utterly “despicable.”

Agunloye, said it was shameful that a governor who rode on the back of the rule of law to get into power, could be turning his back against court judgements.

According to him, if Mimiko is allowed to carry on the way he is doing, he would precipitate political crisis which neither President, Goodluck Jonathan, the governor, nor even the candidates would be able to contain.

He said: “We are representing all PDP candidates in Ondo State. While the CJN has pleaded that the judiciary not derail the democracy and never take bribes, the Ondo State governor, Okusegun Mimiko is working against peace by disobeying court order.

Speaker asks Ekiti govt to stop vendetta ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

S

peaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adewale Omirin, has appealed to wellmeaning Ekiti people to impress on the state’s government to stop political vendetta in the interest of the state.

Omirin, who said the present administration’s intolerance exhibited in the continuous closure of his petrol station was targeted at crippling him politically and economically over the factional crisis rocking the assembly.

The speaker told journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday that the governor had through the act of political vendetta affected the economic development of some Ekiti indigenes who had been employed in the petrol station and those who rented commer-

cial shops in the complex, which had been sealed since October last year when Fayose assumed office.

It would be recalled that seven Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers had impeached Omirin last year November and elected Dele Olugbemi as the new speaker, a development that threw the Assembly into protracted crisis.

Shortly after the governor’s assumption of office, the state government had ordered the closure of all petrol stations that had no approval or sited close to residential buildings, among which was Omirin’s petrol station.

Omirin said yesterday that it was rather disturbing for the government to be plotting against his little efforts to contribute to the economic development of the state.

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Friday, February 6, 2015

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South West

Vote out parasites in govt –ASUU president KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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resident, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge, yesterday called on Nigerians to actively participate in the forthcoming general elections and use their votes to unseat all “parasites” in government.

He made the call at a symposium ASUU organised on the 2015 general elections titled ‘Towards issue-based and violence-

free 2015 polls.’

The union boss in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, also condemned hate campaigns, which he said could plunge the country into violence if not stopped, charging Nigerians to ensure the elections usher in new crop of leaders interested in the development of the country.

He maintained that the callousness of parasites in government was being looked down on not only by

developed countries but also

by African countries that share history with Nigeria.

He therefore, enjoined the electorate to vote out corrupt and anti-people candidates contesting in the elections.

Fagge noted that the problems facing Nigeria such as unemployment, insecurity and infrastructural decay were the result of failed leadership, adding that time has come for Nigerians to unseat the parasites in government at all

233,568 PVCs not yet collected in Ekiti A BIODUN N EJO ADO EKITI

I

ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ekiti State has said 233,568 Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, were yet to be collected by registered voters in the state.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Ekiti, Sam Olumekun, said 498,598 of the 732,166 people who registered in the state had collected their PVCs as at February 2.

Olumekun, who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, also said the commission had taken delivery

CHANGE OF NAME

OKONKWO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okonkwo Nkechi Maureen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Anyaelegbulem Nkechi Maurren. All former documents remain valid. Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

of 2,653 card readers that would be used for conduct of the general elections in the 2,311 voting points in the state.

The REC, who said “only voters with PVCs are eligible to vote,” told the stakeholders: “Collection of PVCs is still ongoing at ward level in the state until February 8. Voting by proxy is an electoral offence.

We have been assured of security of lives and properties by the appropriate agencies.”

As part of the commission’s readiness for the poll, the REC said the body had got 9,244 poll officials for the CHANGE OF NAME

MBA:Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mba Charity Ndidiamaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Arukwe Charity Ndidiamaka. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWEKE: Formerly known and addressed as Nweke Onyedikachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Augustine Onyedikachi.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWOBODO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Beatrice Amaka Nwobodo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ugoji Beatrice Amaka. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

NDUBOKWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ngozi Jennifer Ndubokwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ngozi Chukwuemeke Enebeli. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

FAGBEMI: Formerly known and addressed as Fagbemi Racheal Titilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Akinmade Racheal Titilayo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EMEZIE: Formerly known and addressed as Mr. Emezie Enumanjo Augustine, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Umeh Enumanjo Augustine. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Otiti Daniel Dinamu, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Dinamu Ogidi Singesi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, February 6, 2015

general elections in the state, adding that it was still expecting the list of political parties’ agents, although he stated that the parties had up till today to submit the list of their agents as prescribed by the law.

While thanking the people for their cooperation in the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state which he said “contributed immensely to our success,” the REC said “we shall remain appreciative of the good working relationship with a view to improving on the set standard come the 2015 general elections.”

CHANGE OF NAME

ANENE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Anene Ngozi Ogechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nwigboji Ngozi Ogechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

levels.

He insisted that a government policy that is focused and sustained education sector would address the ills in the country, urging future policy makers to address the problems in education sector.

Setting agenda for the new government that would be elected, Fagge said the policy thrust of a new leader was to ensure that the constitution is people-friendly and ensure equitable distribution of wealth.

A former ASUU president and convener of the symposium, Prof Asisi Asobie, condemned politicians, who rather than address issues, embarked on personality attacks against candidates; thereby charging the polity with threat of violence.

According to him, only an issue-based campaign can avert apathy, ensure people participation, guarantee orderliness, violencefree polls and make results acceptable across party lines.

Chairman of the symposium, Prof. Adele Jinadu, called for the reconfiguration of the Nigerian state to make politics for public interest a goal to pursue rather than politics of personal interests.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Adigun Fauzat Abiola, now wish to be known and addressed as Iroko Fauzat Abiola. All former documents remain valid . General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

UGWUOKE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugwuoke Faustina Uchenna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chukwuemeka Faustina Uchenna. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, and general public take note.

Arepo 9: Police halt trial of suspects WALE IGBINTADE

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olice yesterday asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to stay proceedings in the trial of 20 men charged with pipeline vandalism and murder.

The accused include Felix Yayu, Ijou Faya, Yakubu Ebiwei, Augustine Ebiwei, Tamara Dembofa, Owei Atile, Agbara Tiewei, Rufus Godwin, Tiery Koiyetin and Ebis Sobijoh.

Others are Ibori Lawrence, Eberebu Ibori, Atinuke Odewale, Fatai Ishola, Ahmed Bashorun, Odewale Waheed, Susan Viana, Tuesday Filatei, Yeiyah Yellow and Ismail Abdullahi.

They were also accused of killing nine police officers in an oil bunkering deal at Arepo area of Ogun State on May 24, 2014.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the police in its application for stay of proceedings pending the outcome of its appeal against the foreclosure of its case.

Consequently, the trial judge, Okon Abang, said he would no longer be able to deliver his ruling on the nocase submission based on the application for stay of proceeding.

The judge held that it was the position of the law that all pending applicaCHANGE OF NAME

OKOYE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okoye Josephine Nkemakonam, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Okoye Josephine Nkemakonam. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

FAMILY CHANGE OF SURNAME

FAMILY CHANGE OF SURNAME

The family of Mr. Paul Okonta and Mrs. Uzoamaka Okonta, from Ezeagu in Enugu State, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Paul Chimaroke and Mrs Uzoamaka Chimaroke. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OHA NA NZE SOCIAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

UTURU FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Barrister Kelechi G. Nweke 2.Anthony Okechukwu Agbara 3.Okechukwu Joseph Anorue

CHANGE OF NAME

LEBEONU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Lebeonu Patricia Okwuchukwu, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs Umeh Patricia Okwuchukwu. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

We formerly known and addressed as Engr. Pius Echo now wish to be known and addressed as Ekoh Pius, Ekoh Rose and Ekoh Harrison. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

This is to inform the general public that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part C. of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

tions must be heard before a ruling could be delivered, adding that “having seen the fresh application, the court could not pretend.”

It would be recalled that the judge had foreclosed the case of the prosecution on October 20, 2014, for want of diligent prosecution, and consequently had granted the defence leave to submit a no-case application.

Justice Abang thereafter adjourned the case to February 11 for hearing.

The accused were arraigned on August 7, 2014, on a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, pipeline vandalism, oil theft and unlawful killings.

They had pleaded not guilty and have since been remanded in prison custody as the court refused them bail on the grounds that the allegations against them were grave.

In the charge the accused were alleged to have murdered ASP Abdullahi Bature, Inspector Raymond Oriere, Usman Mohammed, Tijani Jimoh and Oguntihemen Kolawole.

They were also alleged to have murdered corporals Elogbamen Timothy, Yakubu Aliyu, Usman Abdukarim and Dauda Mohammed.

The policemen were alleged to have been killed during the illegal oil deal of the accused.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part C. of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

-Chairman.

- Secretary.

-Treasurer.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To unite Uturu through football.

2.To expose Uturu footballers to national and international competitions.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED:K.G.NWEKE, ESQ. 080 395 770 61

(1) (2) (3) (4)

Philomena Anokwu – (Chairperson / President) General Felix Ogbonna Alily- (Rtd) Dr. Patrick Njoku Chief Udo Anokwu

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: (i) To increase access to quality healthcare for the informal sector (ii) To reduce out of pocket payment for healthcare. (iii) To mobilize communities to have pooled health fund.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. J. K. NJOKU CHIKE OSUOCHA & CO. OWERRI. 08037988280

Friday, February 6, 2015

We’ll adopt new approaches to confront Nigeria’s challenges –Sonaiya

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13

Politics

15

Votes, not campaign crowd’ll determine poll –TAN OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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he outcome of the February 14 presidential election will be determined by votes of eligible Nigerians and not by crowd present at rallies.

Director of Operations, Transformation Agenda of Nigeria, TAN, Mr. Ben Chuks Nwosu, declared this at a media chart with select journalists in Abuja yesterday, saying most people who are always present at rallies do not have Permanent Voter Cards, PVC. Nwosu who said he has attended the presidential rallies of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, especially in the North, said people of the region are rooting for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Predicting that President Jonathan will win with a landslide in the North Central, South South and South-East and at the same time secure students, women, and business group bloc votes, he said: “I think that statistics and bloc votes will determine this election, not euphoria or crowd at campaign grounds. The truth is that whatever figure that is placed on the table on the day of the election is what will determine the winner of the election and not the number of people that have collected their PVCs.” Nwosu, a former Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly predicated his assertion on the achievements of President Jonathan in the last four years, which he said are in the areas of agriculture,

transport, aviation, water resources, education and economy, adding: “Even the blind can see what the president has done to transform these sectors.

“We are convinced that General Muhhamadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot win the election with only their organised crowd at campaign grounds. I can

assure you that the organised labour, women, youths, the transport, aviation and agric sectors will give Mr President their bloc votes.”

Noting that Jonathan has always insisted on campaigning with a manageable crowd even from the members of his party, which were limited to what the security could control as against the

mammoth crowd that follows the APC candidate without control, Nwosu said TAN zonal rallies organised before the campaigns has watered the ground for a smooth sail by the President, adding that what TAN has done was to publicise and sell the achievements of President Jonathan.

He said: “I believe that

8 DAYS TO GO

this election may be close, but we are convinced that Mr. President will win his second term mandate because he has a record of performance.”

AA tasks INEC on strict adherence to election time table ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

L

eadership of Action Alliance, AA, yesterday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to strictly adhere to the 2015 general elections time table as scheduled.

It also noted that those calling for the postponement of the elections are enemies of Nigeria’s hard earned democracy.

In a text signed by AA National Secretary, Bar Kenneth O.Udeze, National Vice Chairman, Chief M.A Adenekan, FCT Chairman Chief Abubakar O. Sadiq and the National Legal Adviser, Bar Anaukyaa Mnenge Peter, the party said the acceptance of candidates by INEC from political parties without primaries been conducted by appropriate organs of the parties is unacceptable.

It also urged INEC chairman, Prof Attairu Jega, to beam his searchlight on

the department of political parties monitoring and liaison in INEC headquarters, Abuja.

It said: “AA does not have a presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections and based on the tremendous achievements recorded by the President in all sectors of the economy despite security challenges in the country, we have adopted him as our candidate.”

AA also faulted some nefarious conducts by some staff of INEC headquarters, who it said recorded “Tunde Anifowose Kelani and Ishake Paul Ofemile, as presidential and vice presidential candidates of our party without the knowledge of the party leadership and faithful nationwide.

“How he emerged as the presidential candidate of the party without primaries been conducted in accordance with our constitution is still a mystery to us.”

Members of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress, APC, party during the Mainland Local Government campaign mega rally at Yaba Bus Stop in Lagos, yesterday.

Agbaje promises Ajegunle residents potable water AYO ESAN

L

agos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje, in continuation of his state wide campaign yesterday assured people of Ajegunle in AjeromiIfelodun area of Lagos of adequate potable water supply if elected governor in next week’s election.

This was just as the founder of Foundation for World Peace, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, Archbishop Sampson Mustapha Benjamin called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega to resign his position if he cannot ensure that all eligible voters obtain their Permanent Voter Cards,

•As cleric tasks Jega on PVCs distribution PVCs before the general election.

Agbaje urged Ajegunle people to reject the All Progressives Congress, APC, government in the state with their votes, saying that the APC-led state government had failed to reverse the slum nature of the area since eight years ago when it took World Bank loan for the exercise.

Agbaje said eight years afterthe multi-billion dollar loan was taken from the World Bank, Ajegunle has remained as it was and totally abandoned, querying whether Ajegunle has been turned to Victoria Island since then.

Promising to transform governance in the state in areas of provision of quality education, health, roads, and job

opportunities, without molestations of market men and women, including okada riders, Agbaje also promised to take very good care of civil servants by paying them the National Minimum Wage and their other allowances, assuring that he would run an entirely different local government administration that would bring more development to the citizenry.

Archbishop Benjamin, who was a guest at the rally reiterated the need for voters in the area to obtain their PVCs, adding that the most important thing in this election remains the PVCs, pointing out that without the PVCs, it would be difficult for anyone to create the desired change in Lagos.

He said: “We must insist on INEC giving us our cards. The PVCs is not a privilege, it is our right.

INEC chairman, Jega must do everything not to disenfranchise any voter and if he has run out of ideas on how to handle the situation, he should honourably bow out.”

Urging the people to go and collect their PVCs to enable them vote in the coming elections, he assured them that their vote would definitely count in the exercise as no rigging would be allowed.

The residents, who came with various sizes of jerry cans to the rally, were seen queuing on the other side of the rally, where a tanker was parked to dispense kerosene to them.

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Politics

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We’ll adopt new approaches to confront Nigeria’s challenges –Sonaiya 8 DAYS TO GO

What are the plans of KOWA Party that may warrant the electorate to vote for you as its presidential candidate?

KOWA will tackle crime and improve the security of lives and property through the consistent pursuit of economic and social policies that generate employment, foster cohesive communities, and stabilise families. We will also ensure the strategic reformation of the criminal justice administration as well as upgrade and enhance law enforcement and security agencies including the judiciary.

On security, Nigeria spent N966 billionn in 2014 on all agencies that make up the security sector, in spite of all that, Boko Haram continues to take over several areas in the North-East, the most recent fallout being loss of control of border areas with Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

Our government will bring a new approach to confronting this challenge. We will start with efficient use of resources in the sector. Corruption and waste will be eliminated to ensure better welfare for officers in battle front.

We will provide arms, ammunition and equipment. These steps should engender greater trust in government’s efforts among the populace, who will then be encouraged to participate more in intelligence gathering without fear of their identity being revealed for monetary gains.

Furthermore, partisanship will not be allowed to influence security, which is a collective responsibility; expertise will be recognised wherever available and used for the common benefit. We will train and retrain our soldiers to confront the terrorists ravaging our country. Security will also form a crucial part of our foreign policy, given the international nature of terrorism. We will engage our neighbouring countries more and our partners in the West to leverage on the assets and knowledge in confronting Boko Haram.

We will empower the Police to the level they can effectively protect lives and properties; starting from improving the barracks, providing communication equipment, improving intelligence gathering through use of soft technology that is cost efficient and secure. In 2014, less than N7 billion was available for capital expenditure for police commands and formations.

This is grossly inadequate for the challenges facing the police.

We will put in place a plan that will invest at least N20 billion in capital expenditure every year.

A transparently managed fund that will involve the private sector will be set up to ensure provision of equipment for the police.

A major point of concern and worry among the people has been the increasing incidence of brutality visited on the populace by uniformed and arms-bearing officers. A KOWA government will seek to stamp out this worrying trend by all legal means possible. There will be zero tolerance for brutality in any form by our armed men and women, through training and re-training of our armed forces in order to re-orient their minds towards becoming much friendlier towards the people, and not extortionists and brutish.

How do you intend to tackle power supply, which is one of the major concerns of Nigerians?

A KOWA government will bring bold, ethical and dynamic leadership to the development and management of the energy sector, with the goal of promoting and encouraging investment in clean and renewable sources of energy, as well as to better manage our oil and gas resources by obtaining global standard agreements, rents and environmental terms with multinationals and local companies operating in the sector and enforcing strict energy efficiency standards and regulations for all operators in the sector.

KOWA will increase the capacity of our nation to refine petroleum products. We will also ensure delivery of timebound targets in electricity generation, transmission and distribution and strict performance management to ensure timely completion of new power projects.

Remi Sonaiya, the presidential candidate of KOWA Party, is the first female presidential candidate in Nigeria’s history. She talks about her plans to tackle insecurity, power, education, unemployment and economy, if elected Nigerian president. EBERE NDUKWU brings excerpts:

A KOWA GOVERNMENT WILL BRING BOLD, ETHICAL AND DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ENERGY SECTOR

Sonaiya

Partnership with the private sector will be enhanced in ensuring a quicker resolution of the nation’s power challenges.

Our policy for the sector will be to provide incentives and enabling environment that will attract investment. We will grant import waivers for power generation equipment and tax breaks for companies investing in new power generation plants. KOWA government will explore alternative clean energy sources like solar and wind especially in the North, while continuing with gas powered stations in the South. We will invest in completing a super grid while encouraging investment in an off grid system that will allow for development of small gas powered stations to be made available directly to targeted users.

Many believe that the Nigerian education system is getting weaker by the day, what measure will your government put in place to revive that sector?

So far, education has not had a sufficiently significant impact on life in general, as the approach tends to promote rote learning. Attention must be paid to both formal and informal/civic education.

In 2015, the Federal Government is projecting to spend N492 billion on education; of this sum, N472 billion will go to recurrent expenditure while N20 billion will go to capital expenditure. This imbalance will be radically redressed. KOWA’s reforms in the education sector will include ensuring that the content of education, whether formal or informal, and irrespective of field of study, will engender critical thinking as well as the spirit of enterprise and personal agency. The huge investment the nation makes in education must ensure that the products of our educational institutions become competitive on the global, excellence-driven market. This requires that fundamental changes be made.

A KOWA government will strive to ensure free, quality education at the primary and secondary school levels.

Quality trade, technical and tertiary education will equally be pursued. The policy on education will also address obvious areas of deficiency like the disparities among the various states in terms of educational achievement, as well as actively promote the education of the girl-child where needed.

How would your government, if voted into power, tackle the increasing unemployment in the country?

The level of unemployment is unacceptably high. Our plans for ensuring that a much greater portion of the populace find something dignifying to do for a living, are tied to our plans for informal and vocational education. We produce about 1.8 million graduates annually, yet only about 10 per cent are employed in their field of study. Paradoxically, employers complain that those they do manage to employ have to be extensively retrained. This means that we are faced with an educational system that produces people who can neither be employed nor be self-employed. Meanwhile, artisans like seamstresses, masons, carpenters and the like are frequently imported from our West African neighbours like Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Togo, who place much greater emphasis on skills acquisition.

KOWA government will pursue policies that support the giant strides already being made by young Nigerians in the technology and entertainment sectors without government’s support. KOWA’s intervention will be in the area of providing the enabling environment that will support growth in these and other sectors. Considering the potential for employment in the agricultural sector, a policy that will lower the entry barrier into the sector for young people will be pursued through providing guarantees for loans and tax incentives/breaks for agro/agro-allied businesses.

To create employment, KOWA will focus on technology, entertainment, agriculture and infrastructure maintenance (roads, government buildings and other public installations).

Considering the rapid crude oil price fall, how would you diversify the economy to make it less dependence on oil?

The Nigerian economy has been based almost exclusively on the exploitation of our oil and gas reserves. The plummeting of oil prices currently being witnessed makes even more urgent the need to diversify our economy.

And to do that, agriculture should support and provide raw materials for industry, export and food security. Nigeria’s rich agricultural resources must be harnessed to attain these ends, with the different regions of the country exploiting their natural endowments in coffee, tea, cocoa, cotton, groundnut, kolanut, plywood, rubber, maize, palm oil, cashew, yam, rice, beans, plantain, banana, wheat, millet, soy, plywood and many more.

This means that the farming population will be oriented away from mere subsistence farming to commercial farming. Steps are already being taken in this direction; KOWA will pursue it more aggressively.

Other steps to be taken will include the establishment of farming collectives and cooperatives to encourage food processing and healthy preservation; the provision of incentives (grants and soft loans, modern farming implements) to attract young, unemployed graduates into the farming business; the promotion of livestock production (e.g. poultry and fish farming) and the cultivation of economic plants (trees, flowers, vegetables) around homesteads by individuals and communities – to provide better nutrition,

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Friday, February 6, 2015

15

APC hails ICC intervention in Nigeria’s political violence OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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kiti State All Progressives Congress, APC, has hailed the International Criminal Court, ICC, for its readiness to try politicians who perpetrate violence against opposing party in the forthcoming general elections.

ICC, headquartered in the Hague had indicated that its scope of opera-

•Urges focus on Ekiti tion had been expanded to include trial of political leaders who unleash violence on opponents.

APC said this will put in check violent politicians in power against impunity in the perpetuation of violent attacks on the opposition. APC state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement said this is a welcome development

against the background of incessant violent attacks on APC members by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, thugs sponsored by the state government.

Calling on victims of political violence to furnish the ICC with details of attacks on them since the beginning of the processes leading to the 2015 general elections, Olatunbosun said: “By this ICC

declaration, we hereby serve notice to the court that we have more than enough evidence of attacks on our members by agents of government lodged in Adesua Lodge of the Government House, who have been helping the government to attack opponents.

He said it is good that ICC has now realised that constriction in political freedom through violence

8 DAYS TO GO

by powerful politicians against the opposition is another form of crime against humanity.

Praising ICC for invoking Rome Statute of July 1, 2002 to assume jurisdiction over political violence committed in Nigeria, the APC spokesman asked ICC prosecutor in Nigeria, Fatou Bensouda, to highlight the processes of reporting violent politi-

cians to the international court.

He added: “It is good that ICC has acknowledged that crimes under the purview of the ICC had already been perpetrated in Nigeria, Ekiti State being the most notorious. We thank ICC for sending its team to Nigeria. Victims of executive lawlessness can begin to compile the list of violent acts against them for onward transmission to ICC. We encourage victims of political violence to take advantage of the latest development to have sanity in our political process.”

PDP disclaims opposition parties in Enugu DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

E L-R: Bishop Benjamin Mustapha; Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje; Party chairman, Mr. Tunji Shelle and deputy governorship candidate, Alhaja Safurat Abdulkareem, during the party’s campaign rally at Ajeromi –Ifelodun Local Government, yesterday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL

Kwara gov shuns workers’ public debate WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

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wara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday shunned a debate organised by the state Joint Kwara Labour Congress at the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT secretariat.

Present at the debate were the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Simeon Ajibola; the Labour Party,

LP, Dr Mike Omotosho; Action Alliance, AA, Mrs Oyewusi Felicia; Alliance for Democracy, AD, Alhaji Abimbola Ibrahim; Social Democratic Party, SDP, Olalekan Alabi and New Nigeria Progressive Party, NNPP, Abiodun Olaiya.

Others included candidates of Mega Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP, Babatunde Tayo; United Democratic Party, UDP, Bayo Oshi; United Peoples Party, UPP, Mrs Comfort Kayode and Citizens

Popular Party, CPP, Hon Bamidele Omotosho.

PDP’s Ajibola mentioned a four cardinal point agenda that his government would pursue to uplift the state and its people if elected, to include agriculture, women and youth empowerment, functional local government system, integrated rural development and healthcare and rural infrastructures.

LP’s Omotosho also listed seven areas he would fo-

cus on if elected as governor of the state to include: social security, urban and rural development, education, employment and entrepreneurship, egriculture, industrialisation and healthcare.

AA’s Mrs Oyewusi said her party was ready to serve the masses as the party belongs to them, adding that government has neglected the people for so long, promising that she would see to the welfare of the people if

Group urges FG not to re-enact June 12 saga SEKINAH L AWAL

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he tiny cabal attempting to enact the June 12, 1993 abracadabra has been advised to desist before they drag Nigeria into another monumental tragedy.

This advice was given by the Director, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a release made available to National Mirror.

Saying that 2015 is dif-

ferent from 1993, Akintola added: “Too many groups are militarised at present and it requires only one wrong step in the wrong direction for Nigeria to be plunged into a huge conflagration.”

MURIC urged the Federal Government to appreciate the high level of political consciousness of the average Nigerian citizen today, saying it will be a colossal tragedy for anybody to underestimate the passion of Nigerians for their

Allah-given and fundamental human rights and the contempt Nigerians now have for those who are attempting to fool them.

Appealing to Nigerians, particularly the youth, to remain calm and law abiding, MURIC said: “This is the time to control tempers and ignore provocations.

Acts of thuggery leading to arson, maiming and killing will only drag this country back into the 1960s. We have no other country besides Nigeria.”

MURIC also advised INEC to screen its high level officials in order to ensure that fifth columnists are not allowed to throw spanners into the wheels of the 2015 polls.

It said: “We charge INEC chairman to take full charge of information being released to the public from now on until after the election; all information regarding the 2015 polls should be handled with all sense of responsibility and a high sense of patriotism.”

nugu State governor, Sullivan Chime, has declared that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State is not collaborating with any other political party in the forthcoming general elections.

Chime’s disclaimer became necessary following claims by some candidates of the opposition political parties in the state that they were collaborating with the PDP in the state.

Chime made the disclaimer during PDP campaign rally at Ogurute, headquarters of the Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of the state, adding that PDP is popular, strong and formidable in Enugu State and does not need the collaboration of another political party to win elections in the state.

Revealing that the clarification was necessary in view of attempts by some former members of PDP now in opposition political parties to mislead PDP supporters to vote for them and their political parties during the general elections, Chime, who specially thanked the people of Igbo Eze North Local Government Area for their unalloyed support for PDP since the inception of the party in 1998, further called on them to disregard such political gimmicks by those he de-

scribed as “selfish politicians” and come out en masse on February 14 and 28 to vote for all PDP candidates.

He said: “It is about selfishness, nobody should be confused, we will not vote for them, it is PDP all the way and we want 100 per cent votes for the PDP, and Igbo Eze North Local Government Area has been PDP all the way since 1998.”

Also at the rally, PDP stakeholders in Igbo-Eze North council distanced themselves from all the actions taken by Senator Ayogu Eze regarding the outcome of the December 8, 2014 gubernatorial primaries, saying that the senator “is on his own.”

Speaking through the member representing Igbo Eze North I constituency in Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon Michael Onyeze, they pledged their loyalty and support to the PDP-led leadership of Governor Chime, reassuring of their commitment to secure a landslide victory for the party in all the elections.

PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, thanked the people of Igbo-Eze North council for the tremendous support they gave to him in the 12 years he served as their representative in the National Assembly, assuring that he will do more to address their developmental needs as governor of Enugu State.

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Editorial

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, CFR PUBLISHER

SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO SEYI FASUGBA DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR BEN MEMULETIWON GENERAL EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF FIDELIS LEMCHI OWOAMANAM GM, ENERGY NEW PRESS GABRIEL SUNDAY HEAD, GRAPHICS

Federal Government’s fuel price slash

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n Monday, January 19, the Federal Government announced a reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or petrol) from N97 to N87 per litre. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, directed the Petroleum Products’ Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to implement the pump price reduction with immediate effect; and at present, most major marketers of the product are selling at the new rate.

Before the latest development, there had been calls by civil society groups, including the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and a lot of other stakeholders on the FG to reduce the pump price of fuel in view of the slump in the price of crude oil in the international market. The main logic behind the agitation was the conservative projection that with the Brent crude, the equivalence of Nigeria’s Bonny Light, selling at below $50 per barrel, the FG was making close to N19 per litre of petrol sold in Nigeria. The true arithmetic may, however, not be as simplistic as premised.

But the major point remains that with the price of oil dropping from $108 to $47.23, as was recorded on January 16, 2015,

about 60% reduction in oil price was reflected. But the pump price of oil doesn’t have to drop in a linear relationship pattern.

Crude oil price is not all the cost component that goes into determining the actual pump price of fuel; as was argued by the Executive Secretary of PPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed. We concur!

But what we don’t agree to is Ahmed’s convoluted argument that “even at the lowest crude oil price of $47.23 per barrel recorded on Jan. 16, 2015, the open market price of petrol was about the same as the former price of N97 per litre. What this means is that at the new price of N87 per litre, government is still subsidizing the pump price .” With this logic, the PPPRA boss apparently stood logic on its head; and attempted to stupefy Nigerians the more by his inference that “when the price of crude-oil reached the peak of $114.26 per barrel on June 18, 2014, the open market price of petrol was N157, but government still maintained the regulated price of N97 per litre and subsidized the difference of N59.51 per litre”.

We believe that in an election year, PPPRA should have steered clear of this massive oil subsidy bogey, which by its jaundiced mathematics, amounted to 61% of the price

WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF SUBSIDY; AND IT HAD BEEN PUBLICLY EXPOSED FOR WHAT EXACTLY IT IS

DAYLIGHT FRAUD of petrol at the filling station.

Nigerians never agreed to such configurations of subsidy with all the opacity in the mechanics of its determination, the incongruence of its implementation, and the scheme’s fat-cats’ beneficiaries, who were previously indicted but shielded, courtesy of the culture of impunity in the land. Ahmed should also be reminded that as a rule, it is PPPRA that should have worked out the correct pricing of petroleum products, including what kerosene and even deregulated diesel prices should be; and not the Presidency through the Petroleum Ministry. The PPPRA helmsman must be aware that constituent members of the agency, who statutorily sit on its board, especially the NLC, TUC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN and NURTW, have all described the price reduction as having been made by fiat or expressed in other words as diktat.

President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry

ON THIS DAY February 6, 2012 The British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of her enthronement. She ascended the throne on Feb. 6, 1952 at 25 following the death of her father, King George IV from blood clot. In her 60-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II has seen the 11 U.S. presidents serve in office and 13 British prime ministers. She has seen man make it to the moon and the crumble of the USSR.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

–

February 6, 1997 A jury unanimously found there was a preponderance of evidence to hold Oriental James Simpson, a former professional football star and actor, liable for the wrongful death of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, his ex-wife. The criminal trial which held at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in California, spanned from the jury’s swearing-in on November 2, 1994 to opening statements on January 24, 1995, and a verdict on October 3, 1995.

(LCCI), Alhaji Remi Bello, said the cut was too small. General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, also said although the price reduction was a welcome development, it did not reflect the expectations of the people.

Ozo-Eson said the 10.3% reduction did not compare with the 33% reduction most countries, including the United States, have effected. Comrade Bobboi B. Kaigama, the TUC President; and Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, described the reduction as insignificant and not commensurate with the fall in the price of oil in the international market. All the above functionaries and or their organizations are supposed to be on the board of PPPRA. We do know, however, that the figure, in the step-down format of reduction in China is something close.

Nonetheless, the gesture is a welcome one, though inadequate. But it could be remedied in the future. The FG should, henceforth, stop its reliance on voodoo subsidy calculations in explaining away reduction or increase in the pump price of fuel. It is provocative. Let’s allow sleeping ‘subsidies’ lie.

We have had enough of subsidy; and it had been publicly exposed for what exactly it is – daylight fraud.

x February 6, 1984 The Shiite Muslim militia Hezbollah, overran West Beirut, altering the country’s political balance and demonstrating a level of military discipline and efficiency that left the pro-Western government struggling to exert its authority. In the operation which saw the Lebanese army maintaining some neutrality, the Iranian-backed group routed Sunni Muslim militiamen. At least 10 people were killed in the fighting.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Friday, February 6, 2015

17

Africa and the dangers of global cultural uniformity NEW HORIZON Wale Ajao With

waleajao2002@yahoo.com, 08023112006 (sms only)

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or the purpose of conceptual clarity, cultural uniformity is used, in this article, to refer to the tendency to assume that all mankind must have the same way of life irrespective of geographical location. Cultural uniformity means that all Americans must think, dress, and behave exactly the same way as Nigerians, for example. It means that if we have two party system representative democracy in America, then we must have the same thing in Saudi Arabia or Nigeria. The belief in freedom of the individual as espoused in the American Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776 has been used, for example, as a basis to legitimize gay culture, hedonism and varieties of weird behaviours. How can that make sense in societies where individuals have never been free to transgress against communal traditions and values?

All in the name of mankind being the same, can we sensibly insist on a single religion for all of us in the name of the usefulness of democracy for national stability; can we then say all mankind must

have the same political party system?

What is the point in budgeting billions of dollars to force people outside America and Europe to accept gay and lesbianism that have never been part of the heritage of mankind outside the western hemisphere? Since 1900 when most of the present neo –colonial states in Africa and the rest of the developing world were created, it is not an accident that none of them has transformed into a big player in the global business and politics. A few of those former colonies that appear to be making little impact have had tremendous injections of foreign capital. And they have emerged as a very poor imitation of the West. They have been more of appendages rather than nations with their own soul.

One of the fallouts of 19th century imperialism that continue to block human peace, progress and stability, is the deliberate annihilation of the culture and traditions of the former colonies. With forceful integration added to the destruction of cultural identities of sub-nationalities, it is no wonder that forging national identity has been a mirage in the former colonies.

This is the reason why most African states are in a quandary. They are in a dilemma.

They have lost their ancient culture and traditions, which have been blackmailed, battered and shattered.

Nigeria cannot develop any of its 235 languages into national language because the colonialists said vernacular

WE SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT A WORLD CULTURE HAS EMERGED THAT MUST BE IMPOSED ON ALL OF US was derogatory. Yet post independent leaders could not successfully eradicate illiteracy and make western education available for all. In effect, with illiteracy still as high as 55 percent, use of English remains restricted to a small percentage of the society. And indigenous languages have long been relegated in the school system, so the average Nigerian has no clear cut identity. Another example can be seen in the place of traditional medicine in our life. For centuries, Africans used traditional medicine in child delivery, infant and maternal care and so on.

A lot of those legacies have been lost because the state has neglected them. Yet the Nigerian state has not been able to master orthodox medicine to the extent of giving Nigerians excellent medical care. With one doctor to about 1,000 Nigerians, our attempt to embrace modern medical practice has not fully succeeded.

Yet we cannot go back to traditional medicine because we have relegated it for so

long.

Our students fail English Language in large numbers when sitting for the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE). Yet we cannot teach them all subjects in their mother tongue because we have neglected our indigenous languages and we are still not doing enough to promote them. The same contradiction affects governance in our society. We cannot successfully practise the rule of law, which is the major requirement for democracy and economic prosperity. Yet we have long abandoned the rule of tradition to the extent that our young generation no longer knows the importance of our basic traditions, like respect for elders.

If the truth must be told, one of the glaring negative impacts of culture contact arising from the colonial conquest is the annihilation of African culture.

What needs to be done in contemporary times is for part of African tradition and culture compatible with current realities to be resuscitated. Though world trade has become an irreversible reality, we should not assume that a world culture has emerged that must be imposed on all of us. Exporting gay culture to Africa through billions of dollars to be spent by non-governmental organizations is a way of saying that all mankind must do all things in the same way. The correct position is that we will all do similar things in different ways.

Boko Haram: Why trans-national cooperation is elusive

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he impact of Boko Haram on transnational cooperation cannot be looked at only in terms of whether there will be a positive or negative effect. There are indeed numerous factors that can be looked at to determine the real impact of BH on transnational cooperation and why some West African countries are reluctant to be in alliance on this war. Those factors include; culture, strength of relationship, military cooperation and system of government.

The impact of cultural characteristics has often been noted as a possible predictor of trans-national cooperation on terrorism.

The importance of considering cultural variables has been attributed to the belief that cultural differences across boarder have shaped trans-national cooperation on terrorism behaviour in separate ways. A well known example of a cultural-based characteristic that might have an impact on trans-national intelligence cooperative behaviour is religion.

There is a negative perception about other countries foreign policy behaviour on highly Islamic countries. These negative perceptions not only fuel terrorist activities but also harm effective cooperation in the region. Since the end of World War II, increasing hatred for countries with large Muslim populations made those states without large Muslim population less likely to have transnational cooperation on terrorism or intelligence sharing. A further characteristic of nations that may influence international intelligence cooperation is native language.

We are likely to have more trans-national cooperation on the war against BH from W/ African countries with an English-speaking background than those without.

THE IMPACT OF CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS HAS OFTEN BEEN NOTED AS A POSSIBLE PREDICTOR OF TRANS-NATIONAL COOPERATION ON TERRORISM A nation’s Islamic characteristics may have a negative impact on its cooperation with other nations without. Conversely, a nation’s Christian characteristics may also have a negative impact on trans-national cooperation on the war against the BH sect.

In short, not only Islamic countries but also, Christian countries have less cooperation with each other, where there is a difference in religious beliefs. This fact is important because trans-national intelligence cooperation decreases as countries become more homogeneous in terms of being Islam or Christian. Any increase in the population belonging to more Islam or Christian faith decreases trans-national intelligence cooperative behaviour.

Nevertheless, the cultural differences of some of our African neighbours have a major advantage that cannot be trivialised. Intelligence cooperation with the intelligence services of our West African allies will give us access to human intelligence that would be difficult or impossible to acquire unilaterally, and such intelligence would inevitably be provided with particular attention to

cultural habits which could then be utilized more effectively.

These countries will have comparative advantages derived from geography, history, economic ties, socio-cultural affinity, and it makes sense to rely on others for such intelligence gathering as Piggybacking on a foreign service through liaison can help overcome shortfalls in language skills and cultural awareness. As well as reduce cost, the risks associated with collection activities, and instil habits of cooperation that can improve joint operations not only in fighting the Boko Haram but in other areas.

Another factor that can affect trans-national cooperation on the BH is our neighbouring country’s ties with the international community. Such ties can be regarded as treaties signed with other nations. Treaties affecting international cooperation could be those directly related to the issue of intelligence or those connected to other issues, such as national security and policy issues.

The general presumption is that the presence of security-related treaties is a factor contributing to trans-national cooperation on BH. However, treaties may have both positive and negative effects on cooperation. The different dimensions of the treaties, such as whether they are bilateral or multilateral, might have different effects on cooperation on BH all together. New treaties should be in the form of bilateral treaties in order to increase the intelligence cooperation among the signatory countries. However, both bilateral and multilateral treaties are important but should be important factors for the emergence of traditional intelligence cooperation and not other types thereof.

With respect to the issue of trans-na-

Counter-terrorism Tips With

Ethelbert Oney ethelbertoney@zissltd.com, 08029929121 (sms only)

tional cooperation on BH sect, signatories to the treaty will improve the quality of security policies and mechanisms to counter the sect. Apparently, defence and securityrelated treaties should be one of the most vital factors for the present trans-national cooperation among some of our African neighbours. As a concept that can be linked to international relations, a country’s international ties, as exemplified by signed treaties, have been deemed important particularly on terrorism related such as the BH sect. The strength of relationship between countries is also bolstered by historical relationships.

This new multi-lateral relationship shows that nations liaise on terrorism matters because it allows a closer political unity that bolsters alliance solidarity and purpose on terrorist organisations such as the BH. Other intelligence agencies from our African sub-region value the contribution of Nigerian intelligence agencies and respect their competences, scale, reach and capability.

To be continued Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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Mathematical weights of Lagos main guber candidates

L You can reach the top if determined

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ir, I have heard many people say that in today’s Nigeria, one always find himself not realizing his life dream. This is a fallacy. Many have the iron cast conviction that they can still realize their life dreams in the country.

Dr. Chile Daniel Ngusha of the Benue State University is a case in point. Through commitment, diligence and determination, persistence and unrelenting effort, he has achieved life ambition of becoming a professor in his chosen profession. Now a proud PhD holder, Chile was to be recruited into the Nigerian Police Force as a cadet ASP after graduating from the University of Maiduguri, but he turned down the offer with the reason that he wanted to be a professor. Accepting the offer, he said, would cut short his life ambition.

With that undying ambition, Chile got a lecturing job with Benue State University, and quickly proceeded for his second degree in the Mass Communication of the same university. He is a proud owner of a PhD degree.

This is commitment, diligence and determination can make possible.

It is only a question of time before he becomes a professor.

May almighty God give him more strength, knowledge and any other thing needed for actualizing his dream.

Awunah Pius Terwase, Makurdi, Benue State.

Enough of this political zealotry

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he bellicose and sanguinary rhetoric emanating from overzealous political rascals must be consummately condemned by all patriotic Nigerians. President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari must be verbally circumspect to avoid their ‘Man Friday’ from imitating them. Nigeria is too great a nation for this brouhaha and violence is not the exclusive monopoly of anybody or group.

Politicians beware!

Chief Bobson Gbinije, Warri, Delta State.

Letters to the Editor

ately, I have had sleepless nights over the contest of the two formidable political gladiators in the open arena of Lagos State for her exalted leadership throne. Who could be my preferred prospective governor?

Honestly, as a fair voter, I am very confused but not perturbed by the surge of supports for either of the gladiators, but on the basis of mathematical analysis for providence, AA is nearer the goal than JA in the ‘good luck’ alphabets prism.

Both gladiators are avid admir-

ers of our dear state. They are keen on moving her in the right direction to the next level; and they are exceptional achievers in their respective fields. But one thing stands between them in a striking manner: their ubiquitous and distinctive style of preparedness for the campaigns. The APC campaign machination is proactively doing a better job than the reactive style of the PDP in Lagos. If there is one thing APC has got right, it is its campaign strategy - reaching out to the hearts and minds of the youths, who are the

future of this state and country, is a cracker. The party has also done well in the management of resources because materials and funds get to the right hands and are used judiciously.

On the other hand, with all the resources at PDP disposal, JA looks animated like a McCainlike gladiator with invisible wires attached to his joints and remotely controlled by the likes of well-known PDP stalwarts in Lagos. Comparatively, JA appears to be throwing his punches in the air in a dark room and

I HAVE A DREAM! A boy wearing the National Youth Service Corps cap taking a salute, in Oyo State.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Ogun 2015: Between politics and personality

T

wo of the major factors that will return incumbent governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to power on February 28, 2015 are his exemplary performance in office and politics of accommodation. The residents of Ogun have not said Amosun is a perfect man, neither have they ever looked for a saint to govern them. All they seek is a man, who despite his human foibles, has their welfare as number one priority. In Amosun they find the politician of their dream.

When former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently endorsed Governor Amosun for second term, he gave his reasons, which, in my reckoning, are the same as those given by former United States’ Secretary of State, Colin Powell, while endorsing President Barack Obama for second term.

Just as Obasanjo belongs to a rival party, so is Colin Powell.

The fact is there comes a time

when even politicians must rise above politics and place public interest above political interest.

There has been a huge deficit in governance in Ogun before 2011, indeed Nigeria. Citizens had lost hope in the ability of politicians to restore the glory of the state. They seemed to try their luck in 2011 by casting their votes for the opposition candidate, Ibikunle Amosun.

Then within three and a half years, the ray of hope has suddenly become a full illumination.

What again does common sense teach us? Does it make sense to leave certainty for uncertainty, judging from where we are coming from? So, we must all appreciate Baba Obasanjo for doing what is expected of any rational person at this juncture of the history of Ogun State. Declared the expresident, “So, my people, I am not talking about other elections. I have come to tell you

that in order to appreciate what this personality (Amosun) has been able to do in the last three and a half years, let us give him our votes.”

Obasanjo went further, “In 2011, we were not together. We were together before and I did campaign against him. See what he has been able to do in the last three and a half years in the state. I cannot sacrifice performance for party.

“What happened in 2011 was politics, and we can all see the difference between politics and personality.” Therefore, I restate the call made recently that what Ogun needs at this juncture is continuity. Let us ignore the selfish and opportunistic declamations of the “tried and failed” politicians. Let us reward diligence, integrity, public spiritedness and sterling achievements. Let’s give thumbs up for the personality of Amosun.

Soyombo Opeyemi, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

stinging like an old tired queen bee on campaigning. Am I correct in assuming that, perhaps, your adopted party’s philosophy is incompatible with your ideological and Christian beliefs? Or simply put, it is just another classic case of a paradox that suggests that a human tongue (you) is heavily comfortable or protected when retracted in a set of (PDP) enamels casing, but could find itself (yourself) vulnerably exposed when the tongue is protracted from this casing (PDP) to face the real challenges of governing this well-entrenched APC state when a proper administrative structure has never been tested or perfected by PDP before. Mr. JK, please loosen up a bit and give us some of your known charms for a good fight in February. We can’t feel you at all!

Nonetheless, what are the most important qualities that a good leader of Lagos State needs to have? TRUST, INTEGRITY, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, CHARISMA, MAGNANIMITY,HONESTY, COMPASSION, CLEAR VISION, CONTINUITY OF PROGRESS, COMMUNICATION AND CREATIVITY, but the most single quality for me and for a majority of people of Lagos, is ???. Your guess is as good as mine!

Incidentally, I happened to bump into the APC governorship candidate in April 2014 and without any predetermined thoughts, l posed an intriguing question to him about illicit wealth accumulation in political office, and his response was genuinely spontaneous that if he is voted in as the next governor of this great state, wealth accumulation would not be his intention, either to enrich himself or his cronies, but he will be purely for selfless service to the wellbeing of the people of the state and beyond. So my instinctive response was, ‘please sir carry go and give it your best shot.’

Suffice to say, I will cast my vote in February, 2015 for the candidate that best represents these basic concepts of democracy: simple and easy to understand party manifesto for constructive discourse and criticisms. valuing individual life in the society through adequate security arrangements and effective use of rule of law, promoting equality for all persons regardless of tribe, religion or creed, disability or political affiliations, majority rule preserved and minority rights respected and encouraging freedom of expression and political debates for furthering public enlightenment on politics and governance.

Chief Oye Duntoye, Magodo, Lagos.

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FRIDAY

Flavour

Friday, February 6, 2015

Artistes unite for peace ahead of elections I

Okey Bakassi

Peace Anyiam Osigwe

politicians that are beating drums of war have foreign visas in their pockets” He continued by reading through a Sierra Leonean writer, Omar Bangura’s article.

“Our 11 years war in Sierra Leone was not even based on religious or tribal differences and see what we did to our country. The worst conflicts are those based on tribal and religious differences. See Central Africa, Bosnia.

“My heart bleeds when I read what you guys are saying because I know what this will lead to. You will be the losers!

All of you, whether Christian, Muslim, Ibo, Yoruba or Hausa, stand as one and save your nation together...”

In the same vein, AMAA founder, Peace Anyiam Osigwe, who was recently bereaved of his brother, reiter-

ates that ‘No Baga’ was promulgated to find the lost compassion in the souls of Nigerians.

“My Brother, Michael was shot dead travelling home. Between Okada and Benin, 70 people were on rampage, shooting at oncoming cars. He was with security personnel but 18 bullets were shot into him. I don’t believe we have a soul in Nigeria. Why do we always keep quiet? We are supposed to be our brother’s keeper. The pain of my brother’s loss is also what the families of the massacred 2000 people are going through in Baga. Are they not Nigerians? Are they not your brothers and sisters?

“The election campaigns are degenerating into hatred and we need to preach peace to stop it. At the end of the elections, are we not still going to be Nigerians? When violence erupts,

Kanayo O Kanayo

the people that will die are not politicians but the poor masses. The politician’s children are abroad.”

“We are not here to campaign for anybody. Instead of fighting or inciting insults, let’s talk about issues on how to move the country forward. Use your conviction to vote for anyone you want” She further disclosed that the ‘No Baga’ group will observe a ‘Unity Day’, on Saturday, 7th of February, 2015, at 12 noon, urging all Nigerians to join in one minute silence for the souls of the 28,000 Nigerians that have died from the Boko Haram killings and prayers for the nation at the Kypower ground, Archbishop Vining Church, Ikeja, Lagos.

Okey Bakassi complementing the view of his colleagues advises that it’s only the living that can become great.

WEEKEND STARTERS The Oriki of a Grasshopper continues at Terra Kulture

Oyelowo attends Selma premiere

T

T Wura Samba performs at Bogobiri

W

ura Samba, master of the samba brings you live music. Catch up with the fun as he makes you move your feet with his drums. Make it a date to always seek this thrilling and fun-

filled evening. The event’s address is at Bogobiri, Maitama Sule Street off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State, and it starts by 7pm on Saturday, 7th February, 2015. Admission to this event is free.

he Oriki of a grasshopper’, a play written by Professor Femi Osofisa and directed by Toyin Oshinaike is an interesting, hilarious and mind-gripping theatre production starring some of the very best thespians in the industry. Under siege of dogs, armed police and imminent insecurities, introspection reveals double standards of dissected personalities who project genuine freedom yet seek

monolithic ideological lifestyles. The venue for the event is at Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos State and the time is 3pm and 6pm.

The play will end on Sunday, 8th February, 2015.

he House on the Rock in collaboration with the US Embassy is set to have an exclusive screening of the critically acclaimed movie – Selma. Scheduled to take place at the church’s premises, the premiere is to promote peace and non-violence ahead of the 2015 general elections. Star of the movie, David Oyelowo and others guests are expected to be in Nigeria for the premiere. The event will have an ‘Invite Only’ press conference and red carpet event just before the movie screening.

Popular personalities from the music, movie, media and politics will also be present.

P. 26

n response to the incessant killings in the country credited to the deadly terrorist sect, Boko Haram and violent election campaigns that has metamorphosed from simple declaration of intentions to use of violent, vulgar and abusive words by political aspirants to outwit one another, Friday Flavour gathered that some concerned Nollywood actors and actresses including the Africa Film Academy Awards, AMAA founder, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and veteran actors Kanayo.O. Kanayo and Okey Bakassi have risen to preach peace and non violence with a new non-governmental association, No Baga, with the slogan “Vote Not Hate” Speaking recently, Kanayo O. Kanayo disclosed the meaning of “No Baga”.

“BAGA is actually an acronym for “Be A Good Ambassador”, but it also represents the town that was massacred by the Boko Haram sect in Borno State. The word No Baga is actually our way of saying ‘No more killings’ in the country. This is an advocacy group. It is not political, tribal, or religious. We are all Nigerians; we should not allow any form of violence in the forthcoming election.

“Election is not war. I saw the Biafran war as a 7 year old. I had to run into the bush with my father for months.

It’s only during a war that you will know that snakes and lizards are delicious. If it happens now, none of us can survive it, the rich and the poor. Those

Critics P. 22-23

Olawale Oluwadahunsi

Inside FCT P. 24-25

Arty News

Nigerian artistes advocate for peace with ‘No Baga’ which seeks one minute silence for 28,000 souls killed by insurgents tomorrow.

P. 32, 33

16 PAGES OF ARTS, REVIEWS, LIFESTYLE AND BUZZ TO START YOUR WEEKEND

Mirror Mongers

19

20

Artman In The House

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dad almost gave up on me for His literary masterpieces, ‘Ghost of Zina’, ‘The King’s Clarion Call’ and recently, ‘The Sage’ have garnered appreciation amongst literary enthusiasts, aside awards and other recognitions. Poet, publisher and playwright, and one time general secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Charles Ayo Dada bares it all on issues about his life and career in this interview with OLAWALE OLUWADAHUNSI. Excerpts:

What is your definition of an ideal woman?

One who is in tune with the Laws of God, and thereby seeks to fulfill her highest purpose within the confines of genuine womanliness.

What does it take to be a successful writer in a country like Nigeria?

Hard work, resilience and passion How difficult was it to publish your first book?

It was rather demanding process, but a rewarding one. I learnt all about the ropes and became a publisher in the process.

What are your most memorable moments in your career as an art personality?

Too numerous to mention really! I have had great art exhibitions, staged wonderful plays, hosted several musical and literary gatherings; where do I begin from really?

I also have received several local and international awards for my modest literary accomplishments, some of which include a Pat Utomi literay award, a special recognition award from the Redeemer’s University where I was honoured alongside Professor Ahmed Yerima and Professor Akachi Ezeigbo. All in all, we are grateful to the Lord for the experiences.

How was the experience like when you were being hosted by the President as one of Nigeria’s most creative writers?

Without a doubt, it surely is to be considered a rare privilege and honour. I was rather elated. We witnessed incredible performances from some of Nigeria’s finest artistes and the cuisine, expectedly, was on point. All in all, it was a rather glamorous occasion.

Your parents didn’t support your choice of career as a writer; instead they wanted you to work with an oil company. Tell us your experience, trying to convince them. Was it difficult?

My father virtually gave up on me initially and felt I was unrealistic considering the climes. I appreciated his concerns, given the state of affairs in the country, as he could clearly foresee the bleakness that lay ahead – which we are experiencing now.

Nonetheless, he wasn’t going to live my life for me and my path lay clearly before me. I started off with carpentry and an intense love for woodwork, which I took to artistic heights. In the process, every single thing I ever produced was sold. I then veered off into collecting art and then eventually writing. When I commenced my service in Mobil we were not communicating, and along the way it suddenly dawned upon me to send him a few things I had written.

Upon receiving them, he read through and immediately contacted me while expressing his great surprise. Eventually, he ended up managing my last book, ‘The Sage’, before he passed on. It was the difficult path – thankfully, it was the path which led to many significant fulfillments.

How did writing begin for you?

I had always scribbled a few things every now and again but kept them in my drawers when done. On a certain occasion, my sister stumbled into a poem I had written “Glimpses of Twilight” and asked me where I had found the piece. I told her that I wrote it and she was very surprised. She demanded on seeing a few more, which I showed her, and she encouraged me greatly to write more. That really bolstered my enthusiasm. Prior to that, however, I had experienced a grave traumatic experience

Ayo Dada

which got me penning down my feelings and experiences. These jottings were kept by me and were eventually published.

Tell us about the story behind ‘The Ghost of Zina’.

Zina was my soul mate with whom I shared an uncommon affection at O.A.U. Ile-Ife. We dated for years and it was an “I go die” affair on campus, to which many a person was witness. As fate would have it, the affair wasn’t consummated and the fallout of the break-up saw me severely traumatised. In the throes of emotional agony, the poems in this collection were written.

Your books are quite resplendent release after release. How do you keep the fire of creativity burning?

It’s the only way to go. I am a stickler for beauty and concern myself a lot with research. Added to this, I am an avid art collector and can be said to possess a love for beauty. I try to let this reflect on my work.

Ultimately, my spiritual beliefs grant me the conviction of the necessity of striving after perfection and harmony in all that we do.

Your house is like a museum. What prompted you to keep myriads of art works?

Whatever intrigues me in terms of beauty, which I can equally afford, I collect.

Sadly, I am quickly running out of room and have to acquire a greater space. Truth-

fully speaking, I have little value for money kept in a bank account. Why not purchase a product that you get to consume everyday, which doesn’t depreciate, but gains in value instead. Artworks are treasures for the spirit which serve to inspire just as they possess a material value.

Tell us about your family and background I was born into a healthy middle class family of Mr. Ayodeji Dada Snr who happened to be a senior career diplomat, and thus had the privilege of touring many countries of the world. The exposure has proven beneficial and is applied in all my dealings with my fellow man. He was possessed of high spiritual values, an affinity that I shared in deeply. My mother is a beautiful woman and I consider her embodiment of distinguished womanhood.

I have other brothers and sisters who are pursuing their dreams with significant delight and happiness.

You are not married yet. Why? You haven’t found the bone of your bone?

Maybe I have, who knows. I think the heavens have sorted that out a long time ago; only, we needed to grow into a greater maturity that would define the deepest purport of marriage. Marriage is a crucial and determinate point in a man’s life and he simply cannot afford to get it wrong. I believe my patience has eventually paid off.

What are your most difficult moments in your career?

It is finding a balance between passion and reality. At some point, at least at the early stages, it was difficult having to walk the ropes of passion and get others to pay for it. It’s a problem still confronting a lot of artists. With increased confidence, however, you get to put a premium on your talent.

How is your new book, ‘The Sage’, faring in the market?

The first print has been sold out. We are looking at doing a reprint and preparing for the international market.

You lost the Pat Utomi Literary award in 2006. How was the experience like?

Did I lose really? I was runner up in a shortlist that included three professors and on that strength my book was immediately recommended for use in many higher institutions. It’s also widely circulated around the world and I have received countless emails from my readers. It was an exhilarating experience for me; especially since it was my first published work.

I HAVE LITTLE VALUE FOR MONEY KEPT IN A BANK ACCOUNT. WHY NOT PURCHASE A PRODUCT THAT YOU GET TO CONSUME EVERYDAY, WHICH DOESN’T DEPRECIATE, BUT GAINS IN VALUE INSTEAD?

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Artman In The House

Friday, February 6, 2015

21

writing —Charles Ayo Dada

Charles with Laz Ekweme at National Playwrights confab 2013 Collecting his award at the 2006 Pat Utomi Literary Awards

FACT FILE •His first published work, The Ghost of Zina, was nominated for a national award (The Pat Utomi Literary Award) and has been reviewed extensively by the local and international press •Upon that platform, The Ghost of Zina has been eventually studied and performed in about 10 universities across Nigeria •With his first work as a publisher, he was permitted to publish the work of a distinguished veteran, Mr Segun Sofowote, ‘Retold Retouched: Three Tales of The Tortoise’. This is the only Nigerian book that was nominated for the NOMA award for publishing in Africa In 2007.

•His first stage play, ‘The King’s Clarion Call’ also found its way straight into the academia and many universities use the book today. It has been staged twice before an international audience to great acclaim with several calls for added outings.

DID I LOSE REALLY? I WAS RUNNER UP IN A SHORTLIST THAT INCLUDED THREE PROFESSORS AND ON THAT STRENGTH MY BOOK WAS IMMEDIATELY RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN MANY HIGHER INSTITUTIONS What books have you read that have swept you off your feet?

‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho. I feel that he is telling my story. It harps upon the necessity of following ones calling in life by unearthing our hidden treasures and potentials. The narrative is very beautiful and the language is simple but elegant.

Writers workshop with Dr Tony Marinho and Chude Jideonwo

What do you spend on books?

It’s abstract. But I buy a lot of books.

Which writer inspires you?

There’s a new writer on the block that intrigues me – Ayo Sogunro. I find his writings amazing; especially his collection of short stories “The wonderful Tales of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales…”

I admire Wole Soyinka’s craft greatly and another short story writer by the name of Chris Anyokwu. On the foreign scene, writers like Kahlil Gibran, Paulo Coelho, Marie Corelli, James Redfield are highly inspiring.

•In 2012, at the Redeemers University, alongside Professors Ahmed Yerima and Akachi Ezeigbo, he was presented a special recognition award which read: “In recognition of your outstanding contribution to the academic development of students and If you are going to write a new book, what society as a whole.” will it be about?

Whatever arrests me at any point in time;

•June 2013, he produced and super- cannot say really. The content, however, has vised a highly successful international to be uplifting and worthy of a genuine humultimedia drama production titled, manity.

“In the beginning there was Africa!”

What are your hobbies?

•Ayo is the once the Secretary of the I like to play chess, scrabble, basketball Association of Nigerian Authors, (La- and tennis. I also love travel and adventure; gos Branch). especially to Nature resorts.

•In 2014, he was invited by the Presi- Apart from writing, how do you relax?

I like listening to music; I go to the beach dent and celebrated as one of the a lot, play basketball or just enjoy good commost creative writers in Nigeria. pany.

His home filled with art works

What is your advice to upcoming writers?

They should keep to the narrow path.

It might start out rough and rugged, but at the end of the day it is rewarding and fulfilling. They also owe it to themselves to develop themselves further; and this can be accomplished by reading widely, and more importantly, ensuring that they have the discipline of penning down their thoughts.

How does it feel when you remember that

your books are widely studied in the academic circles both locally and internationally?

It’s rather elating and one cannot but be grateful to the Good Lord for the privilege. Moreover, I do not have a literary background since I initially entered the university to study medicine.

What is your philosophy of life?

Do unto others as you expect others to do unto you. Keep it simple. Stay humble.

Critics

22

Book

Friday, February 6, 2015

Inside Blood Lines and Other Plays

Author Chris Anyaokwu’s new book dramatises the many sides of polygamy I siguzo D estiny

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lood Lines and Other Plays, is a piece written by Chris Anyaokwu, a renowned creative writer, and literary critic with over eight publications on plays and short stories and numerous literary criticisms. The play was published by Kraft Publishers and came out at the end of 2014.

Unlike most publications in the literary world, ‘Blood Line’ is a quality production with quality paper. Its cover is attractive and colourful. Though the title sounds like one of these Christian devotional books, the title is simple but symbolical. It is nevertheless less attractive when compared with such titles as ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’ which ordinarily invites readers to come find out what the secrets are all about. The title of Anokwu play goes a long way in summarising the subject matter of the play which is based on family and paternity, issues the title ‘Blood Line’ easily suggests.

The play’s subject matter draws from the woes of polygamy, with thematic expressions of betrayal; materialism; power and fame; friendship, family and fraternity, and the jazzy and internet consciousness of the 21stcentury. Though polygamy is no longer a popular practice especially, in the southern-south of Nigeria where the playwright is from, he finds it a subject which is germane and can be metaphorically linked to very different issues that plagues our society. The subject matter may look irrelevant and over flogged, but a critical study of the play will reveal otherwise as the play like all precious stones and treasures, hides its deepest meaning beyond the surface. The issue of polygamy is not a new one in African literature. So many writers have written on the issue but Anyokwu attacks it with a different fer-

Music

vour and motive different from all other writers that have written on the issue. He laces it with strands of issues that he skillfully combined to make a perfect whole. Though the story line reads like Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segis’s Wives, it is not exactly the same. While Baba Segi in Shoneyin’s novel is unaware of his procreative inability, Chief Ogie is a collaborator in his wives’ extra-marital relationship in order to produce children. Nevertheless, no idea is a sole reserve of any writer, and the repetition of the subject matter of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives in Blood Line is simple literary intertextuality and adds to literary aesthetics and experimentation.

The subject matter in ‘Blood Line’ is socially and politically relevant especially to the Nigerian society as it exposes the decadence is the political system of Nigeria where very important positions are got by connection, lobbying and spiritualism . It also hammers on the social problem of marriage and infidelity. Unlike the hackneyed situation in most African literary works, Anyokwu takes a feminist stand by saying that the man could also be responsible for childlessness in African societies where due to the patriarchal system, childlessness is always blamed on the woman. The issues are not far from verisimilitude. Anyokwu captures the prevalent society’s surge towards the internet and social media which was also used in exposing and circulating the news of Ogie’s impotence. Though polygamy is becoming unpopular in the South-south of Nigeria, the issues raised in the play are not just relevant but realistic. The story line can also pass for a film. It can be used to produce something like one of those regular Nollywood movies.

Anyokwu’s uses very competent characters to play out the subject matter of the drama. The play is filled with realistic characters that are available in our society. Ogie’s children uses language that

is realistic and tact i l e.

Through language, he gave life to the scene where Ogie is initiated into the occult. The language is a creative imagination of the playwright accomplishes whatever effect the playwright sets to create.

There are many scenes that are unrealistic and didn’t add fittingly to the plot. The issue of impotence is something African men are very ashamed of and may not possibly share with the extended family. A man of that calibre

MI’s ode to unsung heroes

Few weeks into 2015 comes an inspirational song of morals from Jude Abaga. It is Regina Otokpa

A

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

s recorded and produced by MI and G-Plus, it is probably one of the biggest songs buzzing in the industry at present. Returning last Oc-

tober with ‘The Chairman’, a 17 tracker after a four year layoff, M.I has taken the industry by storm once again with this new single, a tribute dedicated to fallen heroes of the military who had shed their blood, laid down their lives while defending and protecting the country. As usual, he transmits his message in a coded but simplest way possible, with deep punch lines of truthful and open lyrics, directed towards the inexplicable attitude of leaders when it comes to sacrificing other lives to secure theirs.

M.I starts the song with a brief but soul stirring and truthful intro, with a thoughtful message about respect and appreciation... “In other countries the armed forces are respected for their sacrifice in my country, we never remember the sacrifice of the lives of those men and women...”

He hits on the disheartening attitude of Nigerians who according to him, have fallen short to appreciate the thick sweat and blood of countless young men and women of the military, who left comfort and love be-

hind to face the demons on the battlefield both home and abroad during peace keeping missions.

‘Another Man’, no doubt is far more than a remembrance song, with few lines in this unbeatable track record for the Nigerian fallen soldiers, he succeeds in drawing attention to the humane culture of the west, an attribute lacked in the country. He moans how fast good deeds are thrown overboard but encourages selfless sacrifice In the first verse, he reminds himself of the importance of soldiers in a country. Drawing inspiration from the heated war raging in the North East M.I appreciates the efforts of the military who strive day and night to wipe out the insurgents “You have never pick up a gun, pick up a knife, pick up a weapon and fight for my life. I never had to fight for my life so I don’t know the price of a life I leave it to another man I don’t know his name, an

In the first verse, he reminds himself of the importance of soldiers in a country

army of nameless citizens ready to die for the other residents. Tonight we celebrate what you ‘ve given to your land”.

For this rapper, the greatest gift to offer the fallen home or abroad while battling insurgents at the war front, is singing a song for these unsung heroes, fighting for the memories of everyone who have sworn to protect the citizens from wrong and had fallen in the process. For such Abaga “Put a million lighters in the sky tonight, for the Angels watching over me, angels watching over you. Put a million candles in the air tonight for Angels watching over us” With an amazing flow rate and tough lyricism, M.I spares not the whip for esteemed leaders as he consciously takes Another Man to another level, pointing out relevant issues when he says “How many die for evil politics. Those who have sworn to protect us from wrong whose going to sing them a song ... solders, police and families abandoned, die to protect us to hold up to standards remember those lives that were lost In the vanguard put your lighters up.

“All these leaders play games you know why, because they never have to take aim.

Never put holes in another man’s soul, another man die for the evil that you sow.

The whole world is heartless, who is going to push back the darkness. All I can do is to fight for the memory we have of our soldiers and marchers, put your lighters up.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

It is even out of place that characters from

Delta would swear with

Ogun, a god that is the reserve of the

Critics

Friday, February 6, 2015

Yoruba

cosmology

and educational status may rather stick to finding solution to his problem from medical practitioners rather than divulging his secret to his kinsmen. It is even out of place that characters from Delta would swear with Ogun, a god that is the reserve of the Yoruba cosmology Anyoku in his use of flash back left very significant issues unattended to.

We saw a very peaceful polygamous family and suddenly saw them tearing on themselves during the coronation of their father without the Playwright intervening to illumine in the change of attitude. The attitude of the characters is rather inconsistent which makes most of the characters round or dynamic characters. The scene where Atunne and Oghogho try to reconcile their difference as Ogie presides is rather unrealistic as Oghogho is too quick to conciliate and makes us doubt the seriousness of the conflict. The resolution of the conflict is also seeming confusing as the reader expected to see a character who as the playwright portrays, is capable of stopping Ogie from becoming a Central Bank Governor. We were surprised that the almighty enemy turned out to be Ehis, Ogie’s driver and friend who lacks the wherewithal to oppose such a wealthy and influential character like Ogie as portrayed in the play.

The play is generally a success because of the possibility of realising 100% of the play on the stage with a little exception for the scene of the coronation with so much crowd. This scene can be skipped without affecting the plot of the play or the director of the play can use about twenty five to thirty people to improvise for the crowd.

Anyoku’s book is a master piece and a success. His diction is clear and suits the thematic expression of the play. It is justice done on literary creativity. His style is simple and original especially with a very simple structure. The structure is divided into parts and scenes and the plot is simple except for the flashbacks which are easy to follow.

The most interesting aspect of the play is that the play is inexhaustible can be applied to many literary theories. Literary critics will have a field day working on the play which is essentially, engaging. For example, a critic may want to work on the symbolic meaning of the names of the characters which plays a very major role in the play’s characterization. Chris Anyokwu did in his play what Chika Anigwe did in her novel, Black Sisters Street.

23

Film

Tales about Black November

A relentless pursuit to discard Nollywood for Hollywood is portraying Jeta Amata as a filmmaker who forgot his identity in the new film, ‘Black November’.

U duak O duok

B

lack November, is a movie Jeta Amata characterizes as ‘the struggle of the Niger Delta people,’ but in reality, all he succeeded in doing is to showcase an unnecessary identity struggle from a seasoned filmmaker that even the very “oyinbo” (white) people he was trying to appease have now rejected. In review after review, some of the world’s top and most respected industry trade publications and newspapers including Variety, Hollywood Reporter, NY Times, LA Times, NY Daily News, LA Weekly have given him some of the most scathing reviews that should have any legitimate distributor concerned. Here are just some few examples and excerpts: “…There’s little going on in the final product other than good intentions, as Jeta Amata always seems overreaching for the right buttons to push. The filmmaker has trouble developing scenes, characters and plots. Never have Rourke and Basinger seemed so in need of direction.” ~ LA Times “Don’t be fooled by the names of Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger on the marquee. Despite the tantalizing prospect of a reunion of the stars of a certain ’80s-era hit erotic drama, their minor presence is largely extraneous to the proceedings of Jeta Amata’s overwrought and preachy thriller concerning the rampant corruption and political dysfunction plaguing oil-rich Nigeria. Despite its laudable intentions and important social message, Black November is far too ineffective to have the desired impact.”~Hollywood Reporter “Hollywood and Nollywood — the prolific, still export-resistant Nigerian film industry — don’t so much meet as exchange business cards in “Black November,” an impassioned but inert social tract disguised only notionally as a high-octane terrorism thriller. While the presence upfront of Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke lends the initial impression of cheerfully cheesy exploitation fare, their contributions turn out to be marginal: Auds chasing cheap thrills will be caught off guard by this earnestly angry study of Nigeria’s corruptionriddled oil industry, superficially bracketed by a standard-issue, Los Angeles-set hostage drama. Sadly, Jeta Amata’s film proves plodding and sanctimonious in either register.

Finally getting a multiplatform release after languishing on the shelf since 2012 — following a premiere at

the United Nations, no less — “Black November” (titled “Rise Up” on the copy viewed by this critic) won’t draw much international attention to its home country’s plight. ..~Variety The above sample reviews to me are very sad and highly disappointing to read because I believe these film critics; and had the same reaction from the film trailer.

In 2011, Jeta Amata announced a release of his movie ‘Black Gold.’ I should know. I published an exclusive interview with Mbong Amata (his wife at the time) who was the lead female character in his movie.

By 2012, the film had a new title, ‘Black November’ and a new trailer was released. However, what insiders heard, myself included, was that Jeta Amata hired a bunch of Hollywood professionals, and was reshooting some scenes to make it appealing to the American masses. Honestly I didn’t give it much thought after that.

By the end of 2014, Jeta Amata released a new trailer. This time the lead characters were completely changed, to be more specific they were Hollywood names Kate Basinger and Mickey Rourke instead of Mbong Amata and Hakeem Kae Kazim that seemed to play more of a prominent role in the initial trailer.

Worse, reports said 60% of the film was reportedly reshot and millions of dollars was spent in an effort to appease an American audience. Stop.

Think about it. Jeta Amata had to reshoot over half of his movie?

Think of the cost as a filmmaker; especially from foreign soil i.e. Naira to dollar value. Is it worth that kind of investment when even major films by big studios can barely fill theatres with films they put millions into?

Isn’t it about the story? Even thinking about the intensity of dealing with pre-production (budgeting, scheduling, insurance, locations, auditioning actors, crew, dealing with unions and guilds, equipment, production design) before we even touch production and postproduction should have any independent filmmaker’s head spinning.

Jeta Amata’s distributor concluded its press invitations to America’s top press members. The critics have now spoken and even they can smell foul play and set forth to share their views in their reviews. What is amazing is that Jeta Amata now seeks the support of the African press and audience to support his revamped and alienating film. How long will creative talents and Africans continue with this kind of behaviour? You isolate, and alienate your people to get the approval of the West but when you are rejected, then you crawl back and want everyone else to come “support” you as African and black people.

I have said this over and over again. African musicians, designers, filmmakers, how you make your people feel really matters. You can’t lose your main and primary target audience who has fed you and keeps feeding you all because you want to go global. That’s like turning your back on your family all because you now live in America or the UK; and consider yourself too extra cool with the American or British accent to even identify with your own.

I simply have no empathy for Jeta Amata or anyone in his shoes. It is a choice he made and if the results swung the other way, he probably would still keep the status of continued alienation of his community all in the name of trying to become this big sensational Hollywood name. *Ms. Uduak Oduok is an Attorney and Partner at the U.S Law firm of Ebitu Law Group,

24

Inside FCT

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

One Chance syndicate on the prowl There is an increasing case of ‘One Chance Robbery’ within and around the Federal Capital Territory. Many residents have fallen victim at one time or the other to this dreaded syndicate. Some victims of the ugly development recount their bitter experiences.

Gloria Usman

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ccording to Sade, “my encounter with the One Chance criminals is what I am still trying to come to terms with. It happened to me two month back. At about after 8:00pm, I had just closed from work, so I boarded a taxi from Wuse 2 where my office is, to go to my house in Gwarinpa. On our way, I observed that the driver took me through an unfamiliar route; but it didn’t occur to me that he had an ulterior motive. I thought he was avoiding traffic, only for him to stop on a lonely road not too far from Gwarinpa. Then another member of the gang hiding inside the boot of the car came out from the passenger’s seat and pointed a pistol on my head. So the driver and his cohort then snatched all my belongings and forcefully asked me to undress myself and open my legs with the pistol pointed on my forehead. When I tried to disobey them, they beat me to a stupor and raped me until I passed out.

That is all I can remember before I found myself on the hospistal bed. Each time I remember what I went through, I feel a great pain inside my chest that I can’t explain. I will never forgive those who did this to me.”

For John, it is similar too. “At about 8:00pm I was around Area 1 to join a taxi going to Berger, so while waiting a car pulled by with about two males, one female occupants and the driver, so I joined them, at first everyone was silent in the car and then all of a sudden the lady sitting close to me just brought out a sharp knife and pointed to my stomach and asked me to cooperate and handover everything or get killed. I became so terrified at that moment and I pleaded with them to spare my life, so I handed over to them all my belongings, so when we were approaching Berger Bridge, they pushed

Typical Abuja highway

me out of the moving vehicle leaving me with serious injuries; that was how I lost all, I am just recovering. But I thank God that I am alive”.

Nnenna recounted her experience thus: “I boarded taxi from Lugbe going to Area 1 at about 9:00pm, as we started moving I realised the car was jerking, I now asked the driver what was wrong with his car; he replied that his fuel was almost finished that if we get close to any filling station he would stop and buy a gallon; we managed, but when we approached a nearby filling station, he opted to go and get fuel across the other side of the road unknown to me that it was all a plan. Before I knew what was happening, he returned with four other boys; they pounced on me and started raping me, I was trying to scream but no way, all of a sudden one man came from nowhere stoned the car and the boys fled and left me there; it was the man who took me to the hospital”.

Mrs. Ngozi has had similar experi-

I observed that the driver took me through an

unfamiliar route;

but it didn’t occur to me that he had an ulterior motive ence. According to her, “I was on my way back from a meeting, when I was stopped along Kubwa express by a group of gunmen who snatched my car, there were five of them, so they forcefully raped me, tore my clothes and left me naked and went away with my car, at that point I didn’t know what to do. I was praying to God to bring help my way, just then a good taxi man came my way, took me to his house, called a doctor and treated me for days be-

fore I regained consciousness. I am traumatised because this country is no longer safe for women and girls and yet the culprits are working freely on the street and still plotting more evil.”

Salmat narrating her ordeal said, “At about 10pm, I boarded a taxi from the airport to town on reaching close to NAN only for my driver to stop on that lonely road not far from NAN and said his car was overheating, that he wanted to take a tool in the boot to check the fault in the car but before I could say ‘driver hurry up is getting late’, he came into the cab with five other men fully armed with riffle and they started beating the driver and asked him to lie down, facing the ground. So one of them pointed a gun at me, dispossessed me of everything I had and then they forced me out of the car and started raping me and when they were done, they zoomed off and left me there. It was terrible”

IDPs seek reunion with families, improved welfare Olufemi Adeosun

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buja, the nation’s capital, is beginning to feel the toll of the increasing inflow of refugees from the battlefield of Northeastern states of the country. As the insurgency rages on in some communities in Maiduguri and some parts of Adamawa State, the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)’ camps in Abuja swells, raising serious security concerns.

This is even as some of the displaced persons are calling on the Federal Government to scale up its level of interven-

tion to them beyond mere distribution of relief materials. For instance, when Inside FCT visited one of the highly populated camps in Abuja, a good number of IDPs appealed to the relevant authorities to help them locate some of their loved ones displaced to other parts of the country, including the neigbouring country, Cameroun.

When our correspondent visited Waru village, one of the IDPs camps in the FCT, there were over 3,000 people being sheltered by the community. The the spokesman of the terror victims, Mr. Paul Amos recounted the heart-rendering story of their escape from what he described as “the marauding beasts whose only claim to humanity is being of the human flesh”.

When our correspondent visited Waru village, one of the IDPs camps in the FCT, there were over 3,000 people being sheltered by the community He said although the host community and some government agencies had been coming to donate some relief materials for their upkeep, the Federal Government should scale up the intervention programme, stressing that distribution of relief materials, as important as they were, would not assuage for other things missing in their lives.

Amos solicited support in the areas of education and in re-uniting with their

loved ones scattered within and outside the shore of Nigeria.

At another camp located at the outskirts of Games Village, the IDPs who were predominantly women and children, appealed to government to cater for their health needs. The women, who wore forlorn look, with their children strapped on their backs, also looked malnourished and thoroughly stressed.

One of them who simply introduced

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Inside FCT

Friday, February 6, 2015

25

Court orders AMAC to build new shops for traders Joel Ajayi And Gloria Usman

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raders, under the auspices of Karu Market Traders Association, in the Federal Capital Territory continued the legal tussle with the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon Jiba Micah, and the Director, Development Control Unit in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Yahaya Yusuf, as strong indications have emerged that justice may not be too far from the aggrieved businessmen and women.

Recently more than 5000 traders of the demolished Karu Market in the FCT have approached the High Court sitting at Apo, asking it to commit Hon Jiba and Mr. Yusuf to prison over the demolition of the market 15 months ago, (November 15, 2013) contrary to the court order. Counsel to the traders, Barrister Francis Agbo, had told the presiding Judge of Court 12, Silvanus Oriji that their action amounted to contempt of court; hence, the duo should be sentenced to prison.

The allegations made against the AMAC chairman were not done by him.

He was not the one who demolished the shops. And the allegation against Hon Jiba to have sold the temporary shops to another people is unfounded. The consent judgment permits the second respondents to erect temporary shops. And they have done that on consent judgment.

Monday Pankshin, one of the aggrieved traders, is one of the beneficiaries.

At the sitting on December 12, 2014, the Chairman of AMAC, Hon Jiba, was also in attendance while counsel to the AMAC chair, Barrister C.I. Okoye, asked the court to strike out the case, argued that the traders’ application was baseless.

In a counter-argument, Barrister Agbo said it is insufficient to say Hon Jiba was not responsible for the demolition of the market without providing the court enough evidence.

Agbo also, argued that contrary to the agreement entered into by the traders and AMAC authority not to involve a third party in the sales of the temporary and new shops being built by the authority, AMAC contracted the project to a developer, thereby selling the shops to their

friends and cronies.

“The belief is that there would be no third party in the allocation. So how come that those shop owners whose allocations were in their names were not given shops? Is it because they came to court?

The party to this is about 5, 000, so if one or two persons were given shops, what about the rest?” he queried.

The presiding judge, Silvanus Oriji, who ordered the AMAC chairman to come forward for questioning, wondered why the names of the traders, who were shops owners before the demolition of the market, were not given to the developer of the site before the publication of advert for expression of interest by buyers.

The judge, who was visibly angry, however, asked Hon Jiba if the aggrieved traders could be given allocation. He replied “From the beginning, we have carried everybody along. I don’t know up till now they are still dragging the issue. I have told them that we will give them” Treasurer of the Karu Market Trad-

herself as Aisha, told our correspondent that her 6-month old baby had been suffering from pneumonia in the last one week without any proper medication.

Hear her,”I gave birth to six children.

Four of them were killed by Boko Haram people who invaded our home some weeks ago. My husband was also killed when he wanted to ferry us to safety. I and my two children-one 4years old and the other 6month old-had to walk some kilometers in the dead of the night before we were rescued by a good Samaritan.

“Although, our lives are saved here, my two children have been in and out of sickness. Because we stay under an open roof, we are exposed to cold. My last born has been suffering from pneumonia in the last two weeks and I cannot afford money to give her proper medication. I want to appeal to our government to come to our aid.”

Children at IDPs camp

Traders at Karu market during the demolition

Displaced trader at Karu market

I am happy because the court is the last hope of the common man. We are common people; that is why Micah Jiba is looking at us as nothing. ers Association, Monday Pankshin, who spoke with Inside FCT on the development, said he was happy over the new development.

Narrating his experience, “When they came to the market, they selected few of us and gave us and they said they will continue to give not knowing that they have sold the whole temporary shops. We started seeing different people occupying the temporary shops and we reported the matter to our lawyer. The Hon chairman himself came to the market on the 18th March, 2014 and he saw the whole mess, even the Reallocation Committee that he set up is also a mess up.

“Only 15 of us have been given the temporary shops out of 5, 000 traders, but interest of other 5, 000 traders is my concern. So I am not fighting for myself alone. Most of our people have nowhere to selling their goods. So what pride will I have if I will be selling my goods and my colleagues will be hanging around? Even the shop they gave me, I have given it to

a member of us because he doesn’t have anything as a family man.”

“It was even more disturbing that the fifteen traders were only given temporary shops while the permanent shops were given out to their friends and cronies.

He added that, “Although, AMAC chairman promised in the court provide shop but the whole shops in Karu Market have been sold; the temporary shops have been sold, even the permanent ones, they have sold them. This is not something that is hidden. But I hope that God will touch his mind to abide by what he has said.

On his part, the General Chairman of the Karu Market Traders’ Association, Emmanuel Obidiume, who said that the traders sought for justice on their property that was demolished contrary to court’s judgment, described Jiba and Yusuf ’s action as inhuman and barbaric.

“I am happy because the court is the last hope of the common man. We are common people; that is why Micah Jiba is looking at us as nothing. But we thank God for judiciary of Nigeria which has proved really that they have the fear of God and that they have interest for the poor masses and they will allow justice to prevail,” he said.

26

Mirror Mongers

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Traders at Erekesan Banking inside Babcock University P market eople, especially the students are wondering why all banks have been closed in Babcock University since Monday by the school authority, thereby frustrating students and making them cashless with no way of getting cash to pay for the things they need. Babcock is a private university and the students are not allowed to protest because doing so calls for disciplinary actions.

MM gathered that the nearest place

to withdraw money is Sagamu which is about thirty minutes drive from the school and this could endanger the lives of students as many don’t know their way about outside the school to Sagamu.

According to a source there, “If your ward is in the school, try to get cash across to them, I don’t know why the banks have been closed but i am sure it was done for a good cause and will reopen soon”.

Erekesan market

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ome people are groaning and gnashing their teeth over the fate that befell them. They are people whose lives depend on the activities at the Erekasan Market in Akure, Ondo State. They come in the mould of traders, loaders and sundry other artisans whose lives revolve around the activities of this market located on Oba Adesida Road in Akure, Ondo State.

MM gathered that the market has been shut for years now and all efforts to open it have failed like a pack of cards. To survive some of the traders whose businesses have since collapsed have been doing all sorts. But the plea really is that something should be done fast in this regards before the victims of this decision turn to serious security threat in the state. Hope someone

Photos that broke the Internet

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t is not as if the ‘world wide web’ is a piece of glass plate, but when things happen in an abnormal way, it leaves a lot to be desired. That is what happened a few days ago when photos of 2Face and Pero Adeniyi, the mother of his three kids surfaced online in a rather uncompromising manner as you can see. They are kissing, smooching and telling each other sweet-nothing, according to die-hard romantics. Of course, this development left some people especially the wife of the musician uncomfortable, which is quite understandable. Since then several rumours have been flying, that anytime he is in America, he visits Pero and his kids and

spends time with them but this does not go down well with his wife Annie Macaulay.

Someone close to the couple squealed that, “Annie has been fighting Pero to stay away from 2Face and she does not want him to have any contact whatsoever with Pero or the kids she had for him but the musician has turned a blind eye to her plea and this results in constant fights between them. I don’t know if they planned to meet there or it was a coincidence. Pero and Tuface were seated at the VIP section, all cosy and laughing and having the time of their lives and when Annie stormed in, the club management sensed trouble and asked her to come with them into a room”.

Okorocha and his kinsmen

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he second term plan of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State may have suffered a major setback as the people of Orlu Zone where the governor hails have advised him to forget about his re-election bid.

The apex socio-cultural organisation of the entire Orlu geo-political zone, Orlu Zurumee, who cautioned the governor against dabbling into the governorship race is threatening to mobilise forces against him. Adducing reasons Governor Okorocha should be halted in his second term aspiration, the President General of Orlu Zurumee and former Special Adviser on Project Monitoring to Governor Okorocha, Prince MacDonald Akano, argued that “Okorocha has

Okorocha

over-stayed his welcome and that there is dire need for positive change in Imo State”.

One second question and answer with Ibrahim Babangida oming presidential As the major candidates in the forthc ders have been elections woo voters, some past lea er military making comment the options. Form to a question President, Ibrahim Babangida reacts odluck Jonathan: about his support for President Go atJonathan’s at identt J Do you support Presid tempt at re-election? ther, if tion says for one reason or ano

2Face and Pero Adeniyi

The Constitu vice should take over. the President cannot perform, his n of a ploy to make the You can’t fault that. So the questio is in the saddle is false. I country ungovernable because he why should the North is ask think the question we should in, I think at that Aga le? nab over make the country ung tenure of the Umaru stage when he completed the first e stakeholders in the Yar’Adua-Jonathan ticket, what som aside and allow anstep to North thought he would do was e the two terms of plet com and e com other northerner to an agreement, whether the presidency because that was power to the South and, written or not written, to concede get it. also eight years later, the North will

Friday, February 6, 2015 Rabi Al-Akhar 17, 1436 A.H.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

Call to Worship On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the Messenger of Allah, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

IN HIS LIGHT

with

USTAZ

A. ZAFARAN e-mail: zafabumuneeb@yahoo.com

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s human beings, we are all repeating history. We are all acting our roles as script writers, heroes, villains and spectators. We forget so quickly that all resources and powers belong to God. He alone gives to whom He wishes and shall thereafter judge accordingly.

The desperation at which politicians pursue power today is worrisome. Indeed, power intoxicates the ungodly more than liquor. The upholders become blind, daft, deaf, dumb and lion-hearted that there is no sacrifice they cannot make to achieve their ambitions. They can waste human lives and even ignite wars!

The way Nigeria is going today, we need the guidance of God and thereafter the indomitable spirit of patriotic Nigerians to keep on struggling until we get leaders who will listen to our yearnings and not kill us for political ambitions.

For those who have eyes to see and read, who have ears to hear and listen, our current political rulers ride on religion as a horse and will almost become worse than pharaoh as soon as they are seated on the throne. Were it to be religious consideration, Buhari cannot be the choice of the Muslims and neither will Jonathan ever be that of the Christians. Judging by the current situation, only the enemies or bigots or sycophants will incite religious sentiments.

Chibok girls’ issue remains a mysterious misfortune to the nation and their families especially. The masterminded insurgent and inhuman Boko Haram has pressed and challenged our national

There was once a Pharoah security. Huge monies have been stolen from the nation’s coffer. Billions and trillions ofnaira are factually analyzed by the past apex banks herdsmen to be missing but no investigation or logical explanation to prove otherwise. Confirmed criminals are gallantly walking in our streets and confidently expressing opinions in our national dailies and on the social media networks. Some are even appointed as election directors!

Established cases of corruption are noted and cast into the dustbin as old tales or ordinary stealing! The third arm of government has been rendered armless but harmful. Justice is now a bartered trade in our courts. Profligacy has become the other name for leadership at the federal and state levels; shamelessness and perjury have become the national pledge and anthem. Blatant desperation for political office has become religiosity. Non-performance has become a poster and booster for continuity.

WE MUST GO OUT AND VOTE FOR CHANGES THAT WILL BRING US SECURITY, SOUND EDUCATION, PEACE, FOOD, GOOD ROADS AND SHELTER Where then do we go from here? With what I have read within the past six months alone – revealing facts and figures, it is clear that Nigeria has not got patriotic pilots for its affairs. We are in a precarious situation. Even if Buhari whom nobody has established any single record of corruption becomes the president, that alone will not bring change. We must expect some hard times as sacrifice to get on the tract. We must continue in the same spirit as we are now to expose all the politicians in our grassroots. They are birds of the same feathers. We must cut their wings. They have built enough bridges where water never exists. They all engage in ‘ordinary stealing’ and

cover their tracts. But it is often said in my local adage that ‘let us drive away the hawk before we return to the hen’.

Egypt, as we all know, is often described as the cradle of human civilization. It was ruled by Pharaohs. One of them ruled during the time of Prophet of Musa (Moses). He was terribly intoxicated by his wealth and power. He forgot that he was born by a human being. He forgot that he grew up like every other mortal. He forgot that he used to sleep and wake up and that he used to use the privy. He got to a point that he declared himself as the most high god. But Allah (SWT) still gave him respite, perhaps he would repent.

ZAKAT IS 2.5% OF YOUR TOTAL WEALTH, KNOWN AS NISAB. AFTER HAVING FULFILLED ALL OBLIGATIONS, PAY YOUR ZAKAT

Hijab: We will not rest till we get et justice –MSSN 29

Muslim sisters displaying placards at the rally organised by Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC, in Lagos on Sunday.

JNI tasks Nigerians on peaceful elections 29

Bishop Oyedepo o should apologise e to Nigerians – MURIC 29

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Call to Worship

Rabi Al-Akhar 17, 1436 A.H. Friday, February 6, 2015

Ensuring violent-free elections I ...

A s the 2015 general elections draw nearer, all hands must be on deck to ensure free and fair elections as well as forestall violence of any form. All well-meaning Nigerians must be deeply-concerned about the conditions under which ordinary Nigerians are living.

Let us cast our votes peacefully, avoid violence in all forms as it won’t pay anybody to take to violence under any guise and let us seek redress in law court if aggrieved. Parents and guardians should not allow their children/wards to be used as political thugs because those politicians will not use their own children as thugs. This also applies to our security agents too.

It will be to the benefit of all to have a free and fair election devoid of violence because all citizens will be proud of a truly-working nation with good leadership, where the economy favours all, with constant electricity supply, good road networks, discipline, quality healthcare delivery,

quality education at all levels devoid of strikes among others. Then, why must you be used to cause trouble?

It is glaring that many are tired of so much corruption and growing danger of insurgents while calling for strong stance against corruption with several stories of misappropriated funds.

Millions of Nigerians are not feeling the impact of the too much money at the FG’s disposal due to mismanagement. The gap between the rich and the poor is so wide. With millions of Nigerian youths jobless, we should be mindful of the popular adage that says; devil find work for idle hands.

Our security agents cannot be deemed serious if they fail to promptly arrest and prosecute all those uttering hate speeches and threats.

We will only be deceiving ourselves if we fold our arms and concluded that all is well; these unemployed youths are ready tools for those who will want to use them in fomenting trouble.

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Taqwa Schools recently took the first position at the National Robotic Olympiads and represented Nigeria at the 2014 World Robotic Olympiads, WRO, which took place in Sochi-Russia.

The Managing Director of Taqwa Schools, Alhaja Maryam Alimi said that the vision of the school is a great one while describing the atmosphere in Taqwa Schools

THE PLATFORM with

Sekinah

F ANYBODY IS AGGRIEVED

Lawal

SUCH A PERSON SHOULD GO TO COURT AND SEEK LEGAL

REDRESS INSTEAD OF TAKING LAWS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS Parents, guardians, our religious leaders and most importantly, the politicians themselves, must do everything possible to avoid violence.

Politicians must discourage all forms of hate speeches and not overheat the polity. True Nigerians must be promoting peace always; now, during and after elections. It must not be business as usual and apart from candidates and their supporters, our security agents have critical roles to play here. Let us resolve as a nation to conduct a free, credible and violence free elections in the country.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Atahiru Jega, should realize that things are changing and

Taqwa School holds inter-house sports

aqwa School’s 6th Biennial Interhouse sports competition will come up on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at Agege Stadium, Lagos.

The chairman of the occasion will be Dr. Wale Ahmed, Lagos Commissioner for Special Duties while Alhaja Fatimah Hamzat Olowo will be the Special Guest of Honour.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

as that of total education.

“We are very proud as we equally raised the bar by winning the Lagos State Private Schools Table Tennis “Talent Hunt”, the Science Olympiad Competition in Lagos State with 3rd Position (Overall), the Quiz Competition of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos with 1st Position on Saturday, July 5, 2014.”

that Nigerians will not tolerate any form of malpractice under any guise.

INEC must be ready and seen to be really ready for the task ahead by ensuring adequate availability of all materials, organize and monitor its staff and materials adequately. No late arrival of election materials to polling units.

E-mail: sakinah207@yahoo.com t: 08055102994 Part of transparency is to announce results at each polling booth before proceeding to the collation centers. Failure to do so will give room for manipulation of results. In order to avoid violence, the election must be free and fair and truly seen to be so.

For the players, it must not be a do or die affair. Engaging in violence will not pay anybody and this we must drum into the ears of

all those who are planning and threatening to cause trouble.

If anybody is aggrieved about the outcome of the election as stated earlier, such a person should go to court and seek legal redress instead of taking laws into their own hands by resulting into violence. Let us keep up with our prayers believing that Nigeria will come out of these forthcoming elections stronger.

‘Obey Allah, use Hijab’ ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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he Director, Islamic Leadership Academy, Kuje-Abuja, Alhaji Yahaya Musa Muhammad, has called on Muslim women to obey the rules and regulations of Allah according to the Sunnah and Holy Qur’an by using their Hijab.

The school also distributed Hijab to one hundred Muslim women to mark the

World Hijab Day. During his lecture, he explained that Hijab is not only meant for prayer but mode of dressing for believers adding that women should always maintain the use of hijab to earn Allah’s pleasures.

He further urged them not to feel shy in using Hijab when going out, saying; “nakedness is allowed only to their husbands for their satisfaction. The poor attitude of women towards hijab is as a result of igno-

rance and is punishable in the sight of Allah,” He said.

He assured that the institution will continue to mark every year’s event as part of her commitment to promote the use of Hijab in the life of a Muslim sister.

In conclusion, he lamented how some miscreants are using the Hijab to bomb their fellow human beings and assured that the school will continue to build on moral support for children as leaders of tomorrow.

Christians show support for Hijab day

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veryone was impressed when a Christian and Reporter from Radio Nigeria, Mrs. Ruth Akinwunmi-King mounted the podium in a hijab and shouted takbir, Allah is Great. She said she just

wanted to show her solidarity for Muslim ladies.

Ruth Akinwunmi-King was one of the non-Muslims, who wore Hijab on that day. “The hijab is not a sin, it is just for women to look modest,” Ruth reiterated in her speech.

Another Christian, Gbadamosi Ayomide from Osun State University also spoke on the World Hijab Day. According to her, “I look beautifully

good in it. It is cool. It gives you a distinct look.

I respect those that use it because it takes a lot of courage to identify with your religion as part of your person.”

Omotosho Temilade is a 500L Law student. She aired her feelings about hijab: “I look different. I look nice and people appreciate me. It’s not bad to use it and it adds to my beauty. I don’t feel hot at all.

Place your adverts here for optimal reach ZAKAT IS 2.5% OF YOUR TOTAL WEALTH KNOWN AS NISAB AFTER HAVING FULFILLED ALL OBLIGATIONS, PAY YOUR Cross section of Muslims during a walk to mark the World Hijab Day organised by Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit, in Lagos, recently.

ZAKAT

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Call to Worship

Friday, February 6, 2015 Rabi Al-Akhar 17, 1436 A.H.

29

WHD: We will not rest till we get justice –MSSN AISHA TITILAYO

T

he Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, has vowed not to rest until they get justice on the case of Hijab in Lagos public schools.

Making this known was the Amirah of the Lagos State Area Unit of MSSN, Hajia Hafsah Badru during a walk to mark the World Hijab Day, WHD, in Lagos on February 1st.

“We will never rest till we get justice. The Ikeja High Court that we ap-

… Hijab is a sign of modesty –Ruth proached for judgement in favour of Hijab ruled against it claiming the secular nature of Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole would not permit that. We have appealed the case and no matter what they do, they cannot frustrate us, we will continue to be law abiding and ensure that we see the case to a successful end, Insha Allah.”

She stated that the WHD is geared towards fostering religious tolerance and understanding by inviting

women, Muslims and nonMuslims to experience the Hijab for one day.

Explaining the reason for this year’s theme, ‘Covered by Choice’, Badru stressed the need for all to know that it is female Muslims’ willingness and choice to wear the Hijab.

She continued, “To many people who think the Hijab is a symbol of oppression and segregation, it is not. You will only subject us to oppression by denying us its usage. We choose to wear it, we love it.”

She called on governments at all levels to consider their demand on the issue. “We are not calling for the Hijab to be something compulsory, our demand is simple: permit Hijab and discriminate not against nor victimize the Hijabites.”

Reacting to the ploy of ‘Islamising’ schools, Badru said it did not hold any ground since the mode of dressing in all government schools were designed by the colonial masters who are Christians hence,

Christians are not complaining because it suits their religion.

Noting that to reveal and expose are natural behaviours of animal, not humans, Badru expressed her bitterness regarding how women who have dedicated themselves to ensuring morality and modesty are the ones being punished while those who have chosen the path of immorality go scot-free. “I won’t stop being worried, sometimes weep when I remember how female Muslim pupils are flogged, punished and molested for using the Hijab. I am sorry to say without regret that our government, certain individuals, corporate

organisations are unfair, partial and unnecessarily aggressive when it comes to us practicing that part of our religion (wearing Hijab).”

“A righteous and modest woman is the pillar, cornerstone and foundation of any society because of her role in the family. But how can a woman get the best comfort in this world? How can she be successful, impactful, true to her femininity, honoured and loved when her right to dignity is threatened? What Islam has established is not a restriction of the freedom of women but a firm protection for her. They should please live and let us live.”

Stop harassing women in Hijab –Al-Mu’minaat

A L-R: Chairman, Gowon Estate Muslim Community, Alhaji Nurain Adeleke; Director, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola and representative of The Muslim Congress, TMC, Alhaji AbdulWahab Adetunji during a press conference organised by MURIC in Lagos, recently.

SEKINAH L AWAL

A

s the 2015 elections draw near, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, under the leadership of its President-General, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, has called on all Muslims and Nigerians in general, to demonstrate real and genuine sense of patriotism, responsibility, tolerance and commitment to peace and stability in Nigeria, before, during and after the forthcoming elections.

The appeal was contained in a release made available to National Mirror, saying that call for peace is both a religious and civic obligation as it is apparent that the elections in the next two weeks are the most keenly contested in the history of our country with the political atmosphere increasingly getting charged.

“For instance, Bishop Oyedepo of Winners Chapel, was reported to have made a lot of inciting hate speech recently, Tompolo and Asari Dokubo are not left out, this is just to mention but a few.”

JNI tasks Nigerians on peaceful elections In view of this rather worrisome situation, JNI, therefore, called on all Nigerians to shun violence in any way, in any form and at all phases of the elections and its aftermath.

The body specially called on the prime actors; INEC, the presidential candidates and contestants at all levels, as well as political party leaders and officials, to do whatever it takes to avoid utterances and actions that could precipitate violence.

JNI asserted that the most significant antidotes to violence are free, fair and credible elections on one hand and faithful acceptance of the outcome of elections by all.

“In any election, there must be winners and losers, and we would only get it right when the elections are obviously and manifestly seen to be transparent and credible in conduct, and consequently the losers accept defeat in good faith.”

The Sultan thus made a clarion call on the principal contenders in the presidential and gubernatorial races to, as a matter of faith, personal reputa-

tion, and statesmanship, respect the Abuja Peace Accord and guard against all actions and utterances that may trigger violence while INEC should keep to its duty with faith and sincerity to God and to the country by demonstrating real commitment to free,

fair and credible elections.

In conclusion, the body prayed for violence-free elections and God-fearing and responsible leaders at all levels of governance that will lift the nation to higher levels of prosperity and faster pace of development.

mirah, AlMu’minaat Organization, Hajia Aisha Ilyas expressed satisfaction over the conduct of female Muslims during the procession, calling on the Federal Government and Governor Babatunde Fashola to expedite actions in putting an end to victimisation and daily harassment of female Muslims in Hijab.

She said, “The harass-

ments at places of data capturing and biometrics, at commercial banks, when we go for verification number, drivers’ license at Federal Road Safety Commission, international passport and Nigeria Immigration Service and passport for national identity card at the NIMC have become a daily affair for Muslim women, we want a stop to all these.”

…Allow our children use Hijab in schools –FOMWAN

H

ighlighting the significance of Hijab, Alhaja Rahmatallahi Olaniyan, Naibatul Amirah, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria, FOMWAN, emphasized that Hijab is a regalia of dignity and a command-

ment of Allah as stated in the glorious Qur’an.

She appealed to Governor Babatunde Fashola to allow the use of Hijab in secondary schools and advised students not to abuse Hijab but use it to propagate Islam.

Bishop Oyedepo should apologise to Nigerians –MURIC AISHA TITILAYO

T

he Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has called on the presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo to apoligise particularly to Muslims and Nigerians generally over the provocative statements he made in his church recently, rather than being economical with the truth.

MURIC’s Director, Prof.

Ishaq Akintola, said that the statements are capable of inciting Christians against their Muslim compatriots, breaking Nigeria and turning the country into a state of chaos especially at a time like this. Akintola stated

… Says TV clips have been doctored that the video clips made available on some television stations where Bishop Oyedepo denied the allegations have been doctored, stating that MURIC has the original clip that was first released and he could make it available to journalists for verification.

Citing some of the statements made by Bishop Oyedepo at a press conference held in Lagos, MURIC condemned and questioned how the pulpit, which is a platform of love and kindness, the place for hope when it is lost has been used to incite Nigerians against themselves.

MURIC continued, “This is a misleading rhetoric

calculated to whip up ethnic sentiments. It is the last thing we expect from a cleric of his caliber.” Quoting Oyedepo to have called on the Lord to break up Nigeria, MURIC said Oyedepo has failed to lead his followers responsibly.

Making reference to an earlier released video and audio clip by Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, that Muslims and Islam are a common enemy that needed to be defeated, MURIC accused the Nigerian security agencies of employing double standard in the interpretation and application of rules.

“We can imagine what would have happened if it was an Imam or Sheikh

that uttered such treacherous utterances.”

MURIC observed that if Pastor Bosun had been arrested and questioned then, Bishop Oyedepo would not have made his own provocative statements. MURIC therefore urged the Jonathan-led administration to look into the matter and take necessary actions to put an end to hate speeches by religious leaders.

MURIC however called the attention of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and other Christian organisations, who are keen on keeping the country united and peaceful to break their silence on the issue and respond.

30

Call to Worship

Rabi Al-Akhar 17, 1436 A.H. Friday, February 6, 2015

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya

Allah burdens not any soul ‘Allah burdens not any soul beyond its capacity…’ (2:287) This Quranic verse explains that God does not give commandments which are beyond human capacity. Thus the responsibility of putting the commandments in practice is obvious and a believer cannot make excuses that such and such commandment is beyond his capacity. If we believe in God, then it is an essential part of our belief that all He commands is within our capacity and we should make an effort to practice it in accordance with our individual capacity.

Every human is different from the other in his mental and physical ability and in his knowledge and intellect. Thus, God has made His commandments flexible in the sense that they have minimal as well as maximum standards of attainment which should be practiced with honesty. This leaves no room for objection that God has given someone a nature which does not correspond with God’s commandments. No one can say that God commands to attain the highest of standards while someone cannot attain them because they do not have the physical capacity or indeed mental capacity to do and have other weaknesses as well. By stating ‘Allah burdens not any soul beyond its capacity…’ God has removed all reasons for such excuses.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that God is High and Holy far above putting His creation through difficulty of abiding by commandments that are beyond its capacity. His commandments are not like human instructions put in place to generate kudos. God’s mercy and compassion for mankind is endless. When man acts upon God’s commandments he is rewarded manifold. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also said that the Shariah is based on mildness rather than harshness. Everyone will be dealt with in accordance to their individual capacities and every one apart from those mentally unwell has been given limitations according to their capacities. Thus, a standard has been determined even for those with low intellect. Had this not been the case it would not have been essential for everyone to believe and only those of high intellect would have had to have belief.

People have varying levels of intelligence; some have more capacities than others. This can be seen in worldly matters, some people have high level of ability, some have mediocre while some lag behind. Some people excel in one particular profession while others excel in another profession. In education people are inclined to different subjects. All these are natural aspects. All people are not the same. Neither God created them the same nor do circumstances allow them to be the same. Even with equal opportunities provided some people excel while other lag behind. Factors other than intelligence

A BELIEVER CANNOT MAKE EXCUSES THAT SUCH AND SUCH COMMANDMENT IS BEYOND HIS CAPACITY play their part in this. It is the same in matters of belief, some surpass others.

It can be hoped that everyone would believe but it cannot be possible for everyone to have the same level of belief and practice. God does ask why people do not believe, however, the Holy Qur’an does not demand why are believers not like Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umer (may Allah be pleased with them).

Hadith relates that a man asked the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) about Islam. He was told five daily Prayers are obligatory. He asked if there were any other Prayers. He was told no, but if he wanted to he would offer optional (nafl) Prayers. He was told fasting for one month was obligatory. He asked were there any other obligatory fasts? He was told, no, but if he wanted to, he could keep optional (nafl) fasts. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) then told him about Zakat. The man asked if there was any other kind of Zakat. He was told, no, but giving alms (sadqa) was a meritorious option. The man went away swearing by God that he would neither do any less nor any more than what he was told. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said if this man spoke the truth he has found success.

Indeed people are not required to attain the level of Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umer (may Allah be pleased with them) but it is explained that optional (nafl) acts earn reward and they also make up for any deficiencies in fulfilling what is obligatory.

My Hijab: By choice by faith

I

n the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful.

The global trend towards Islam is definitely not a nice one. Not necessarily for any reason other than power rivalry.

The continuous competition for the domination of the world; spiritually, economically, socially, culturally and indeed intellectually cannot be over-emphasized.

Today, western civilization has continued to dominate the affairs of the people using different tools such as; intellectual power, military power, economic power, social power and political power. They control the media; thus influencing the thinking of the people with highly-manipulated information that sinks into the sub-consciousness of the people.

People are being made to think negative of Islam. Whenever Islam is mentioned what comes to mind is violence, terrorism, poverty, illiteracy, e.t.c.

However, the situation of man has been explained in the Qur’an to guide him always to tranquility. Each time man is being misled; Almighty Allah continues to reminds him and warn him of the consequences. Thus the following; Al-Araf 7:46, Al-Ahzab 33:53, As-Sad 38:32, Al-Fusilat 41:5, Ash-Shura, 42:5, AlRur 17:45, Maryam 19:17.

Al-Nur 24:31 (“say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands fathers or their sons or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or sisters sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendance who lack vigor, or children who know not of women’s nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn on to Allah altogether, oh believers, in order that yeh may succeed”.

Also; “By the Fig and the Olive. By the Mount of Sanai. By this land made safe. We have created man from the best stature. Then we reduce him to the lowest of the low, except those who believe in Allah and do righteous deeds, theirs

2015 election: Group warns against violence HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE.

M

embers of Al-Fathu-u-Qareeb Muslim Organization of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, have called on all political parties to eschew acrimony and violence before, during and after the forthcoming general election.

The State Missioner, Mallam Mah’d Hasiy Salaudeen made this appeal during the group annual prayer session organised towards ensuring a violent free election and peace in the state and for the country as a whole.

According to him, it is an annual event to pray for members and the country as a whole saying this year edition was specifically targeted towards ensuring a peaceful election in the country.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

He called on all stakeholders to ensure that the election is hitch free urging politicians and political parties not to see the contest as a do or die affairs saying it’s only Allah that chooses leaders.

He advised them to see their emergence as ordained by God and show good representation of the people by bringing dividends of democracy to their doorsteps.

Also speaking, the National Secretary, Alhaji Bisiriyu Oyelade said the leadership of the Islamic group have been sensitizing members on the need to participate in the forthcoming election by voting wisely. We have sensitized them on the need to collect their Permanent Voters Cards and vote according to their conscience. Clerics across the state were present at the one day event.

is a reward unfailing. So who will deny the judgment, Is not Allah the best conclusive of Judges” Q95 v1-8.

These are the golden word of Allah in the Qur’an that expound the reality of the situation man has found himself today. The human dignity is reduced to unbearable status. Moral values no longer have place in the society because the home front is turned apart in the name of civilization.

In Christianity It is well known that Catholic Nuns have been covering their heads for Hundreds of years. St Paul in the new Testament 1 Corinthians 11:3 – 10; “if a woman does not cover her head she should have her hair cut off. And it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved off, she cover her head.” For these reasons and because of the angels, the women ought to have sign of authority on her head”.

In Judaism According to RABI DR MENACHEM M. BRAYER ( Professor of Biblical Literature at YESHIYA UNIVERSITY) in his book “THE JEWISH WOMEN IN RABINIC LITERATURE” say “it was the custom of Jewish women to go out in public with a head covering which sometimes, even covered the whole face leaving one eye free “ he quote some famous ancient Rabbi saying “it is not like the daughters of Israel to walk out with head uncovered and curse be the man who let the hair of his wife or daughter be seen. Rabblince law forbids the recitation of blessings or prayers in the presence of a bare headed woman’s hair is considered “NUDITY”.

DR. BREYER also mentioned that “During the TANNAITIC period of the Jewish women, failure to cover her head was considered an affront to her MODESTY”.

When her head was uncovered she might be fined FOUR HUNDRED ZUZIM FOR THE OFFENCE” Mothers being the back bone of the family and the first school for the child no longer emphasize the need for modesty and dignity making children to become exposed to molestation and sexual harassment. The increase in single motherhood in advanced countries due to deceit of unfaithful men.

Islam has come to restore the dignity of man (especially the woman). Other problems include unending rape issues in India, Nigeria and worldwide; prostitution globally, sexual harassment, incest among others.

On February 1st, the world joined millions of Hijab-wearing Muslims, nonhijab wearing Muslims and non-Muslim supporters of freedom and equity to commemorate the World Hijab Day, WHD. A day founded by a Bangladeshi-American woman Nazma Khan to give women and critics of the Hijab the opportunity to experience the Hijab by putting themselves in the shoes of the Hijab-wearing Muslim women in order to appreciate what the head-covering is really about.

HAPPY WORLD HIJAB DAY Courtesy Al-Muminaat, Abuja

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday February 6, 2015

Celebrator,Senior Client Service Executive,Miss Ogechi Odigbo cutting her birthday cake,flanked by her immediate right,General Manager,Mr Anietie Udoh,Senior Marketing Executive Mr Micheal Efengbe,by her immediate left the MD/CEO Marketing Edge Publication Mr John Ajayi and Mr Taiwo Osho,Consultant recently.

L-R:, Director, Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Mrs. Ayo Otaigbe; Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria Mr. John Ugbe, and Chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation, Nigeria Prof. Olu Akinyanju, during the presentation of a Brand New Toyota Avanza to the Foundation in Lagos,

L-R: Cancer survivors, Mrs. Khadijat Banua; Miss Gloria Orji and Mrs. Fatima Maina, during the World Cancer Day in Abuja,

L-R: Riye Archdiocesan Lay President, Sir Yomi Legusen; newly presented Remo Diocesan Lay President, Sir Engr. Lana Odutola and his Remo Central lay President, Sir Babatunde Runsewe, at Revd Mellor Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Sagamu, Ogun State.

People In The Mirror

31

L-R: Members of the Selection Committee, Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, Prof. Akin Mabogunje; Chairman, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and member, Mr Bola Akingbade during the announcement of former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki as the recipient of 2014 Award in Lagos, at the weekend.

PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

L-R: Chineme Agwuna of Wild Fusion; Adewara Christian, Tade Davis, Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Diamond Bank PLC , Ayona Trimnell,and Tosin Ayodeji, members of the Amazing Crew, winner of the Diamond Bank #youneedanewbank Dance Competition, during a courtesy visit to the Diamond Bank corporate head office in Lekki recently.

L-R: Chairman, United Plateau, Mr. Zara Chi-Ke; Pastor Paul Gindiri; former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Samuel Mafwai; State Chairman, Veteran Journalists, Mr. Gideon Barde and his wife, Evangelist Grace, cutting a cake to mark Plateau’s 39th anniversary in Jos,

L-R: Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi; former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge and FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, during a forum with the UCH management in Ibadan,

32

Arty News

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Uche Ogbuagu drops, Ka O Puo

A

INEC film shoot

INEC partners Nollywood on democratic ethos NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

W

ith elections drawing closer by the day, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is partnering with Nollywood to entrench and deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

The Attahiru Jega-led electoral umpire recently contracted one of the leading film companies in Nollywood, Macnuel Productions Limited to produce and package a short movie aimed at sensitising and educating the voting public on the procedures for accreditation and voting during the forthcoming national exercise.

The production was won by the Chidi Nwokeabia-led Macnuel based on their pedigree and track record in the nation’s motion picture industry.

The star-studded flick accord-

ing to Nwokeabia, will contain detailed visual illustration of the activities at the polling station on election days, including the process of arrival at the polling station, opening of poll and authentication of the PVC, while using the latest technology- the smart card reader.

It will also entail accreditation, close of accreditation, commencement of voting and closing of polls.

The well-scripted advocacy/ enlightenment movie was shot at various locations in Surulere, Lagos recently and featured some of the biggest names in Nollywood, several up and coming talents alongside a large cast that all supported the crew to achieve maximum result.

Nwokeabia and his highly experienced crew made use of high end movie equipment for the

shoot of the epoch flick that has been applauded by many within and outside the industry.

Interestingly, the flick will be produced in both English and Pidgin languages to help it achieve the required result and impact.

According to the producer, ‘’Since the introduction of the permanent voters card and the smart card technology, which are new in our voting process, the movie project will not only encourage voters to be part of the electoral process, but will help educate them on how to exercise their voting mandate.

When completed this awareness movie will air on major TV stations in Nigeria. It will also help us achieve violence free election and eliminate rigging. We are really grateful to INEC for partnering with us on this laudable initiative.”

fter a long trail of controversy, Nigeria’s top comedian cum entertainer, Uche Ogbuagu has released his much anticipated comic album, titled: ‘Ka O Puo.’ The album which is said to be the most hilarious and philosophical outburst from the voice of the deceived and oppressed, according to sources close to Ambassador Ogbuagu who is a media executive in the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is exclusively distributed by Remmy Jes Productions Limited, in its outlet nationwide.

During an interaction with newsmen recently in Owerri, Ogbuagu who informed that the 3 tracks album has one recorded in English language (Leaders of Next Tomorrow) which x-rays the true position of average Nigerian youth in today’s politics, adding that the track 3 titled ‘Iga Awota’ (You won’t understand) is designed to expose the deplorable decay of Igbo culture by both politicians, religious and social class.

He further said that the album, ‘Ka O Puo’ is a promise fulfilled and that even threat from Imo state government agents who hijacked the first 100,000 copies from the distributor could not stop it, adding that they have doubled the production to 600,000 copies.

Since the final release, controversy has continued to trail it, even as a known social commentator in Imo state by name, Ifeanyi Osuagwu has described Ogbuagu’s courageous effort as one without fear to stand for justice of the common man.

“We are all aware of what is happening in Imo today. What will have as a government is one without respect for due process; of which we can all attest that within

Uche Ogbuagbu

the past three years of administrative reign, it’s been joke upon joke.

“And I’m happy Uche Ogbuagu is out again to redirect the people on the dangers of remaining quiet, instead of going out there to cast our votes for the right candidates. At least, he has carefully taken his time to expose the ills in government, and now we are enlightened,” he said.

According to the rib-cracker, Talkison Entertainment International (his underground recording studio) located at Akabo, will also be releasing two albums of Imo born artistes, titled ‘Nigeria Dey Pregnant’ by Elder Ken who hails from Orlu zone and ‘Onye Chimere Eze’ by Chief Goddy Ibeawuchi who hails from Owerri zone.

He further disclosed that before recording the album (Ka O Puo) which he said is for every home who believes in the truth, he said he embarked on research that took him years after his 2011 album titled ‘Oku Di Over’ pleading that all those the album may offend should bear with him. The video, he also said will be in the market in two weeks time, as well as uploading of the video on YouTube which according to him can be viewed in a week time.

CONA boss applauds the book, MIIP

N

igeria’s renowned brand wizardry and city design consultant, Amb. Prof.

Chinedu Asinu-Anosike (Cona) has rated the book, Most Influential Igbo Personalities otherwise known as MIIP, as the first of its kind in the East of the Niger.

The book, MIIP which aims at celebrating Igbo icons got lauded when the editorial team visited the art icon in his office in Owerri for presentation.

Marveled by the rationale behind the book, the Chief Executive Officer of CONA Group, a conglomerate, further hailed it as an excellent idea that will encourage sincere development

and unity of Nigeria.

“It is the first of its kind in the East of the Niger. It’s an excellent idea. We must encourage such meticulous package, that’s if we really want to maintain sincere development and unity of our dear country. I commend the team, especially Mr. Femi Adesina for backing such vision,” he said.

Also rated as one of the reputable icons from the Igbo region, MIIP noted on Prof.

Asinu-Anosike, “Early enough, he discovered his calling as a philanthropist; and to give back to the society as one of his corporate social responsibilities, he founded the CONA Anosike Sup-

port Foundation (CONASUF) incorporated as a non-governmental organisation committed to bring succour and hope to the less privileged.

“Through this NGO, the man CONA has positively and in no small measure affected the lives of downtrodden and vulnerable persons in various parts of Nigeria. The organisation led by reputable and renowned Nigerians as members of its Board of Trustees has awarded hundreds of scholarship to indigent but brilliant orphans and vulnerable in grassroots rural communities; provided free medicare to poor pregnant and nursing mothers, to help preserve life; and techni-

At MIIP presentation

cal consultancy to other NGOs.” The President of Editors’ Guild of Nigeria and Managing

Director of the Sun Newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina wrote the foreword of the book.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arty News

Friday, February 6, 2015

33

I compose songs in my dreams —Moral More I have a song featuring Phyno cooking underground. Though I love his person and pattern, the song actually demands of him. The song is going to be the style of music that he does so he is the right person to draw in but he is not really my dream artiste to work with.

Asogwa Emmanuel is an Abuja-based artiste who goes by the stage name, Moral More. In this interview with REGINA OTOKPA, he condemns the attitude of entertainers in pitching tents with politicians.

Excerpts:

Who then is your dream artiste to work with locally and internationally?

Locally I would love to work with 2Face Idibia and internationally Chris Brown, Bruno Mars and some few others.

When did you go into music?

I ventured into music way back in 2003, before then I was a chorister in my local church from where I developed the interest to go into music fully because music in itself gives me great joy.

We have seen some entertainers parading the country with politicians to campaign for votes. As an artiste, what do you make of this behaviour?

For me that is not right. Everyone can share opinion when it comes to national issues but as a brand you command supporters and fans. If they are not careful, most of them are going to damage their reputation. As an artiste the right thing to do as opinion leaders is to advise Nigerians in general to vote wisely and desist from violence rather than being in a political cabal or taking to Twitter or Facebook to say some negative things or insult the opposition. We have gone beyond this stage.

What kind of music are you into?

Basically I am into Afro hip hop but here in Nigeria we don’t really have any genre, we can still do anything that comes up provided its good music and comes with a message.

How long were you a chorister before the swop over to secular music?

I spent about two years as a chorister.

Now that you’re an Afro hip hop artiste, what happened to your membership in the church choir?

I still go to church but not in the choir anymore Could you name some of the artistes who thrill you the most?

In Nigeria I am always thrilled by the performance of someone we refer to as “father” Tu Face Idibia; he is amazing, he is a good role model and he remains one of the biggest things to have ever happened to the Nigerian music industry. Everything everybody is benefiting from in the industry now is from this Benue talented act.

Because of him I am proud of anyone from Benue state. I look up to him and I would love to do just anything with him.

Looking back at the events of previous years, how do you view entertainment generally in the country now?

From my own perceptive, entertainment is going smoothly. Countries all over the world now appreciate all forms of entertainment coming from Nigeria or Nigerians. Also, other African countries now look up to Nigeria entertainment wise just like we look used to look up to the U.S. I watched some of our artistes who went to some West African countries on tour and some of them even the president were on ground to welcome them in at the airport, which is amazing. There have not been any records as far as I know from another country that our President went to welcome. I see Nigerian entertainers beyond human expectation. I can remember, we were rated second in the world a few years ago after U.S Coming back home, what is your definition of entertainment in Abuja?

The entertainment industry in Abuja for now is down but I think with hard work from all involved, it will pick up. Way back in 2009 when we chose the entertainment industry, it was very strong that everyone wanted to be in Abuja. Artistes from different parts of the country were trying to relocate back to Abuja even some of them who ran to Lagos before it assumed that

Moral More

standard were trying to come back but when insurgency turned its face on Abuja, entertainment died a natural death here in Abuja but I think it is trying to pick up again and I bet you, in the next one year, entertainment in Abuja will hit the sky and all those who ran away will come back to their base.

Could you tell us more about your works?

I have released three singles but no album yet though i am planning for it. I dropped my first single ‘Feel the Boy’ way back 2009 followed by the video shortly after. It enjoyed a tremendous airplay. I got a lot of feedback on the song and that was the song that blew me up. After that in 2013, I dropped a club banger ‘Attention’ and recently, a collabo with all the signed artistes with my record label, Xeries Records and we dropped a single titled ‘Wazobia’. It is a key song and presently, it is being used by politicians for their campaigns because it is a peace song and really nice.

Was the song specifically produced with the upcoming elections in mind?

No, it is an evergreen song. It never talked about election but it preaches peace. The whole idea of the song is to remind Nigerians that we are one, to preach and promote the need for peaceful coexistence in every nook and cranny of the country. It doesn’t have a restriction on play, it is an evergreen song, a party jam which is being played in clubs, on the streets, and campaign grounds. There are series of peace songs in Nigeria but they are very slow but Wazobia is a fast song just like Nigerians love to have it and we are trying going to shoot the video of the song on the 28th day of February.

Haven’t we gotten an album from you?

Nobody drops an album anymore. You cannot drop an album if you are not known in Nigeria and even the so called big acts, keep dropping singles until their album is finally compiled. I am still working hard and carrying out promo to make sure my music circulates before I drop an album. I

have a lot of songs to drop but I ust rush into dropcan’t just ping them down, ratherr I will p r o mote the ones e I have ped dropped and climb he top. unto the e do you Where draw your inspis from? rations So many thingss inspire me but I don’t have to do anyto thing draw it out. ws from all It flows over the place most especially when am alone and y dreams. I don’t know in my how it happens but I compose songs in my dreams nce I translate it to reand once ality, it always rocks. One thing I don’t do and will never do is to take anything to get inspired.

Which of the standard artistes do you look forward to working with?

‘I WASN’T BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON, I WAS BORN WITH A RUBBER SPOON BUT

I THANK GOD FOR LIFE.’.

But do you y believe these artistes can influence the decision of Nigerian voters?

Of course; we p preach good music, we transmit good messages through our movies and music and each artiste has a fan base so there is a tendency to be able to influence people’s m mindset by pitching tent w with an aspirant.

What was grow growing up like for you?

It wasn’t fun funny; I wasn’t born with a silver spoo spoon, I was born with a rubber spoon but I thank God for life.

I come from a ver very poor background but God has alway always seen me through.

Each time I am aske asked “what’s my worst moment” my respons response is always that all my past was my worst moment. But I am grateful but most time times I wonder why in Africa people, especiall especially parents don’t support anything music for fo fear their child is about to jump into a train t of dissipation but all these things wo work out by the grace of God. Though it still amazes me why Nigerian artistes don’t get g record deals and government has contin continued to be adamant of the situation, watchi watching many talents die every day.

If given a shot at it, what would you do to turn the situation around?

There are lots of facilities we don’t have in the entertainment industry in general, that if put in a place can bring about a rapid growth in the industry. If I am opportuned to even be the Minister of Tourism, I will delegate persons to take care of that.

The challenge hindering the breakthrough in the industry under this present administration is corruption but we need to move beyond that to build the industry to the highest level.

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Friday, February 6, 2015

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•Malecon

Natural island of history, culture Steeped in faded grandeur, Cuba, Caribbean’s largest island, drips with history, culture, and a captivating mystique.

OLUWADAHUNSI

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

C

uba abounds in natural beauty. This vast island has more than 3,000 kilometers of coastline, much of it rimmed by dazzling beaches. Coral reefs glimmer in the turquoise waters, and Cuba’s lush countryside and sublime islands have played host to presidents, provided refuge to revolutionaries, and inspired writers from around the world, Hemingway among them.

Live music wafts through the cobbled squares in Havana’s

Diego Velasquez Museum

World Heritage-listed Old Town, vintage cars still cruise the streets, and the beautiful old buildings of Cuba’s colonial cities evoke the feel of a country frozen in time.

The island of Cuba was inhabited by numerous Mesoamerican Indian tribes prior to the landing of explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492, who claimed it for the Kingdom of Spain. Cuba remained a colony of Spain until the Spanish–American War of 1898, after which it was briefly administered by the United States until gaining nominal independence in 1902. The fragile republic endured increasingly radical politics and social strife, and despite efforts to

strengthen its democratic system, Cuba came under the dictatorship of former president Fulgencio Batista in 1952. Growing unrest and instability led to Batista’s ousting in January 1959 by the July 26 movement, which afterwards established a government under the leadership of Fidel Castro.

Since 1965 the country has been governed as a single-party state by the Communist Party.

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, and with over 11 million inhabitants, is the secondmost populous after Hispaniola, albeit with a much lower population density than most nations in the region. It is a multiethnic country whose people, culture and customs derive from diverse origins, including the aboriginal Taíno and Ciboney peoples, the long period of Spanish colonialism, the introduction of African slaves, a close relationship with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and proximity to the United States.

economic repercussions in Cuba, and led to speculation about the emergence of a two-tier economy.

Cuba has tripled its market share of Caribbean tourism in the last decade; as a result of significant investment in tourism infrastructure, this growth rate is predicted to continue. 1.9 million tourists visited Cuba in 2003, predominantly from Canada and the European Union, generating revenue of $2.1 billion. Cuba recorded 2,688,000 international tourists in 2011, the third-highest figure in the Caribbean (behind the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico).

Geography Cuba is an archipelago of islands located in the northern Caribbean Sea at the confluence with the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It lies between latitudes 19° and 24°N, and longi-

Tourism Tourism was initially restricted to enclave resorts where tourists would be segregated from Cuban society, referred to as “enclave tourism” and “tourism apartheid”.Contacts between foreign visitors and ordinary Cubans were de facto illegal between 1992 and 1997. The rapid growth of tourism during the Special Period had widespread social and Peninsula de Zapata

tudes 74° and 85°W. The United States lies 150 kilometers (90 miles) across the Straits of Florida to the north and northwest (to the closest tip of Key West, Florida), and the Bahamas to the north.

The main island named Cuba is 1,250 km (780 mi) long, constituting most of the nation’s land area (104,556 km2 (40,369 sq mi)) and is the largest island in the Caribbean and 17th-largest island in the world by land area.

The main island consists mostly of flat to rolling plains apart from the Sierra Maestra mountains in the southeast, whose highest point is Pico Turquino (1,974 m (6,476 ft)).

Climate With most of the island south of the Tropic of Cancer, the local climate is tropical, moderated by north-easterly trade winds that

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blow year-round. In general (with local variations), there is a drier season from November to April, and a rainier season from May to October. The average temperature is 21 °C (69.8 °F) in January and 27 °C (80.6 °F) in July. The warm temperatures of the Caribbean Sea and the fact that Cuba sits across the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico combine to make the country prone to frequent hurricanes. These are most common in September and October.

Biodiversity Cuba signed the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity on 12 June 1992, and became a party to the convention on 8 March 1994. It has subsequently produced a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, with one revision which was received by the convention on 24 January 2008.

The country’s fourth national report to the CBD, however, contains a detailed breakdown of the numbers of species of each kingdom of life recorded from Cuba, the main groups being: animals (17,801 species), bacteria (270 species), chromista (707 species), fungi, including lichenforming species (5844 species), plants (9107 species) and protozoa (1440 species).

Cuisine A traditional meal of ropa vieja (shredded flank steak in a tomato sauce base), black beans, yellow rice, plantains and fried yuca with beer. Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish and Caribbean cuisines. Cuban recipes share spices and techniques with Spanish cooking, with some Caribbean influence in spice and flavor. Food rationing, which has been the norm in Cuba for the last four decades, restricts the common availability of these dishes. The traditional Cuban meal is not served in courses; all food items are served at the same time.

The typical meal could consist of plantains, black beans and rice, ropa vieja (shredded beef), Cuban bread, pork with onions, and tropical fruits. Black beans and rice, referred to as Moros y Cristianos (or moros for short), and plantains are staples of the Cuban diet. Many of the meat dishes are cooked slowly with light sauces.

Garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves are the dominant spices.

Literature Cuban literature began to find its voice in the early 19th century.

Dominant themes of independence and freedom were exem-

Playa Giron

Escape

Friday, January 6, 2015

plified by José Martí, who led the Modernist movement in Cuban literature. Writers such as Nicolás Guillén and Jose Z. Tallet focused on literature as social protest. The poetry and novels of Dulce María Loynaz and José Lezama Lima have been influential. Romanticist Miguel Barnet, who wrote Everyone Dreamed of Cuba, reflects a more melancholy Cuba.

Writers such as Reinaldo Arenas, Guillermo Cabrera Infante, and more recently Daína Chaviano, Pedro Juan Gutiérrez, Zoé Valdés, Guillermo Rosales and Leonardo Padura have earned international recognition in the postrevolutionary era, though many of these writers have felt compelled to continue their work in exile due to ideological control of media by the Cuban authorities.

Popular Cuban music of all styles has been enjoyed and praised widely across the world.

Cuban classical music, which includes music with strong African and European influences, and features symphonic works as well as music for soloists, has received international acclaim thanks to composers like Ernesto Lecuona.

Havana was the heart of the rap scene in Cuba when it began in the 1990s.

Tourist attractions Habana Vieja or Old Havana A UNESCO world heritage site, Habana Vieja or Old Havana is a well-preserved slice of Cuban history. Strolling around the cobbled streets and gazing up at the grand Baroque and neoclassical buildings, it’s easy to imagine what life in Cuba was like 200 years ago.

Extensive renovations are now breathing new life into the historic buildings. Major attractions here include the Plaza de la Catedral, home to the Cuban Baroque Catedral de San Cristobal; the legendary restaurant and Hemingway hangout, Bodeguita del Medio; and the military fortress, Castillo de la Real Fuerza.

Varadero Varadero is one of Cuba’s most famous beach destinations. It stretches along the Peninsula de Hicacos, which juts into the sea off the north coast where a drawbridge connects it to the mainland. More than 50 hotels line this popular palm-fringed strip, and its magnificent white-sand beaches draw visitors from around the world. Highlights include Parque Natural Punta Hicacos (Parque Natural de Varaderos), a nature reserve with a pretty beach, and the two caves, Cueva de Ambrosio

Trinidad

35

Santa Clara

and Cueva de Musulmanes.

Trinidad Exploring the town of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is like stepping back in time.

The beautifully restored buildings and cobblestone streets in the city center imbue a quaint colonial feel. Much of the architecture dates from the 17th to the 19th century when Trinidad prospered from both the sugar and slave trades.

Today, Trinidad is one of Cuba’s most popular tourist towns and the streets are often packed with foreigners. Travelers can soak up the lively ambiance of this charming city in the cobblestone Plaza Mayor, the city’s central square. Above the square stands the Neoclassical Church of the Holy Trinity (Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima Trinidad). Other highlights are the Church and Monastery of Saint Francis (Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco) with its distinctive bell tower, the Museum of Colonial Architecture (Museo de Arquitectura Colonial), the art gallery at the Casa de Aldeman Ortiz, and the Palacio Brunet, a grand home, built in 1812 and still featuring original frescoes and marble floors.

Guardalavaca Rimmed by glittering beaches, Guardalavaca, in the Holguin province, is quieter and more remote than Varadero. Lush foliage fringes the sweeping strand of beach here providing plenty of shady patches for those seeking respite from the tropical sun. Divers and snorkelers can explore a plethora of sea life along the coral reefs.

Cayo Coco Another of

Cuba’s

idyllic

beach destinations and one of its most isolated, Cayo Coco starred in Hemingway’s novels, Islands in the Stream and The Old Man and the Sea along with nearby Cayo Guillermo. As part of the Jardines Del Rey, the combined archipelago of Sabana-Camaguey, Cayo Coco is connected to the mainland by a bridge, though most visitors arrive by air.

Parque Nacional Vinales A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Parque Nacional Vinales is a beautiful, verdant valley in the Sierra de los Organos, north of Pinar del Rio. Steep limestone hills called mogotes slice through the valleys creating a dramatic landscape. The valley floors in the Parque Nacional Vinales are agricultural areas where tobacco, fruit, and vegetables are grown. For outdoor enthusiasts, the park offers fantastic hiking and horseback riding in the hills. Nearby, the charming town of Vinales is a great base for exploring the surrounding area. Tour companies also offer day trips here from Havana.

Baracoa One of the highlights of eastern Cuba is beautiful Baracoa, the oldest city in the country.

It was founded in 1511 in the province of Guantanamo and construction began on the first church here around that time.

Cut off from much of the outside world until the 1960s when the La Farola highway was built, the city still has a remote feel.

Today, visitors come here for the charming colonial architecture and lush countryside where waterfalls and pretty beaches provide a cool counterpoint to the steamy jungle. The flat-topped peak of El Yunque presides over

Varadero_cuba

all this tropical beauty, beckoning hikers to take the guided ascent to its 589 meter summit. The hillside is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where rare birds and plants thrive.

Santa Clara When beach towns and resorts all start to see the same, Santa Clara, in the province of Villa Clara, will add some depth to a Cuban itinerary. Rich in cultural attractions, Santa Clara is a vibrant university town and the famous site of the last guerrilla battle led by Che Guevara in 1958. His body was laid to rest here, and his mausoleum and monument, the Memorial Comandante Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, are the town’s big attractions. Etched on the bronze statue of Che Guevara in Plaza de la Revolucion is his final letter to Fidel Castro, while the mausoleum lies beneath. Adjacent to the monument, the Museo Historico de la Revolucion exhibits some of Che’s personal items.

Che fans should also see the poignant Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindado, a small boxcar museum and the site of the final battle between Che Guevara and the Batista troops.

Malecon Conceived in 1901 and partly built in 1902 and beyond, the Malecon is Havana’s famous seafront promenade. A walk along here offers a stroll through the history of the city. The promenade runs 7 kilometers from the Habana Vieja quarter to the Vedado, the central business district. Along the way, travellers will find an assortment of wellpreserved 20th century buildings that represent a mixture of architectural styles including Art Deco and Neo Moorish.

Friday, February 6, 2015

36

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

G

reat cars don’t always enjoy a lot of fanfare, and the 2015 BMW 2 Series illustrates the point. Before the 2 Series’ debut last year, several auto stakeholders knew it would be replacing the entry-level 1 Series, but aside from its smoother styling, it just looked like a variation on Images the same sporty theme.

Once you have driven the 2 Series, though, you will likely wonder why there is no more fuss about this attainably priced all-star. Its engines are relentlessly capable, its interior is much nicer than that of its predecessor, and its superb handling makes it perhaps the purest driver’s car in BMW’s lineup.

Taking centre stage for 2015 is the new 2 Series convertible, equipped with a fabric roof that powers up or down in 20 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. If you opt for Comfort Access (BMW’s version of keyless ignition and entry), you can even operate the top remotely using the key fob.

Also new this year, and a significant departure from the strictly rear-wheel-drive 1 Series -- is xDrive all-wheel drive, offered on the coupes as well as the 228i convertible. If you want AWD in your two-door BMW, the case for buying the larger, pricier 4 Series just got a lot harder to make.

Body styles The 2015 BMW 2 Series is a twodoor coupe or convertible with seating for four. There are two trim levels: 228i and M235i. The convertibles are equipped similarly to the coupes, except they feature automatic pop-up roll hoops and a power-operated fabric roof that’s black by default, with two optional colors (Anthracite and Brown) enhanced by a metallic weave.

The 228i comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, fog-lights, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding heated side mirrors, cruise control, automatic dual-zone climate control, leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping leather-

2015 BMW 2 Series

Convertible with improved comfort for passengers wrapped steering wheel (with paddle shifters on automatic-transmission models), eight-way manual front seats and 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks. The standard electronics array includes Bluetooth connectivity, BMW’s iDrive electronics interface with a 6.5-inch display and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD radio and a USB/iPod interface.

Aside from its more powerful six-cylinder engine, the M235i adds 18-inch wheels, summer performance tires, adaptive suspension

dampers, sportier variable-ratio steering, upgraded brakes, adaptive xenon headlights with LED accent lights, a sport exhaust system, gray exterior mirror caps, an aerodynamic body kit, dark (“Shadowline”) exterior trim, a rear spoiler and a sunroof.

Inside, you will find 10-way power front sport seats, driver memory functions, upgraded aluminum trim and an M Sport steering wheel. The M235i also comes standard with exterior and interior ambient lighting.

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Mirror Drive

Options on the 228i include the M235i’s xenon headlights and the somewhat confusing trio of the Sport Line, M Sport and Track Handling packages. The Sport Line package adds 18-inch wheels with a few different tire options, a non-adaptive sport-tuned suspension, eight-way manual front sport seats and a smattering of aesthetic upgrades (including black exterior mirror caps and red upholstery stitching).

The M Sport package is a pricier alternative to the Sport Line package and features the sport seats plus 18-inch M wheels (with similar tire options) and the M235i’s adaptive suspension dampers, exterior upgrades (except the xenon headlights) and M Sport steering wheel.

The Track Handling package can be ordered either separately or in conjunction with the Sport Line or M Sport package. It adds the M235i’s sportier steering and brakes, as well as -- if not already specified – the adaptive dampersand a set of 18-inch wheels with summer tyres.

In other words, if you want a 228i with the M235i’s suspension bits, the Track Handling package will suffice on its own. But if you want the sport seats and styling enhancements, you’ll need one of the other packages, too.

Performance The 2015 BMW 2 Series is rearwheel drive by default, but all-

wheel drive (“xDrive”) is optional on every model except the M235i convertible. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, with a six-speed manual offered as a no-cost option on rear-wheel-drive models only.

The 228i has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 240 hp and 255 poundfeet of torque. EPA-estimated fuel economy for the 228i automatic is 28 mpg combined (23 city/36 highway) with rear-wheel drive and 27 combined (23 city/35 highway) with AWD. The rear-wheel-drive 228i manual drops to 26 combined (22 city/34 highway).

The M235i steps up to a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine that pumps out 320 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy estimates for the M235i automatic stand at 25 combined (21 city/32 highway) with rear-wheel drive and 24 combined (20 city/30 highway) with AWD. The rear-wheel-drive M235i manual drops to 22 combined (19 city/28 highway).

All 2 Series models have an automatic stop-start function, which shuts off the engine when you’re stopped to save fuel.

Automatic-transmission cars also have a launch-control feature.

Safety Standard safety equipment on the 2015 BMW 2 Series includes four-wheel antilock disc brakes (with brake-drying and fading-

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compensation features), traction and stability control and hill start assist for manual transmission cars.

Front-seat side airbags, front knee airbags and (on the coupe) fulllength side curtain airbags are also standard.

Optional safety equipment includes front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a lane-departure warning system and a frontal collision mitigation system with automatic braking.

The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2 Series its top rating of “Good” in the small-overlap frontal offset, moderateoverlap frontal offset, side impact and roofstrength tests.

The 2 Series’ seat and head restraint design was also rated “Good” for whiplash protection in rear impacts.

Interior design Inside, the 2 Series employs an understated, driver-centric control layout that will be instantly familiar to BMW fans. Materials quality is very good for an entrylevel luxury vehicle, giving up little to the ostensibly fancier 4 Series.

BMW’s iDrive infotainment system controls one of two available displays: the base 6.5-inch version or the Technology package’s crisper 8.8-inch widescreen. While the iDrive system looks good and responds quickly to commands, we’ve found it often requires a few more clicks and whirls of the dial to access desired functions as compared with Audi’s MMI or Mercedes’ COMAND interfaces.

In typical BMW fashion, there are multiple front-seat designs to choose from. Auto analysts preference is for the ultra-supportive sport seats, whether you get the 228i’s optional manual chairs or the M235i’s standard power thrones.

As for rear passenger space, the 2 Series is a compact car, and adults won’t fit comfortably unless they’re compact themselves.

That’s not unusual for the segment, though, and the backseat works nicely as a parcel shelf or a place to buckle in small children.

Trunk capacity in the coupe is a respectable 13.8 cubic feet, and the rear seatbacks fold down to allow transport of longer items.

In the convertible, BMW projects a 7 percent improvement over the 1 Series convertible’s 8.5-cubic-foot cargo hold with the top down.

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Friday, February 6, 2015

Mirror Drive

A

UDI AG says it exceeded its goal of 1.7 million deliveries of 2014 by another 41,100 supplies.

The company in a statement by its sole distributor in Nigeria, Stallion Motors stated that by year-end, the company handed over around 1,741,100 cars to customers, which represented 10.5 per cent more than the previous year.

The company stated that it was once again able to accelerate its growth pace and achieved with around 165,600 additional customers the second-highest volume increase in its history.

The coveted Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, models (+15.8 per cent) and the A3 family available worldwide for the first time in 2014 (+53.2 per cent) contributed primarily to the strong sales total.

In December, Audi said it continued to post double-digit growth and concluded the year with sales up 14.7 per cent to around 150,000 units for the month.

Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, Rupert Stadler, described 2014 as impressive evidence of the Audi brand’s

AUDI AG: Sets new record year with over 1.74 million deliveries in 2014 strength, emphasizing that the auto company accomplished a very successful record year even before the second stage of its model initiative.

He however noted that conditions in many markets continue to be challenging.

Sales chief Luca de Meo emphasises the ongoing globalization of AUDI AG’s business as an important success factor.

“Last year, we advanced in all regions around the world and gained market share. We increased our lead in the Chinese premium segment and concluded the year in Europe significantly above the pre-crisis level of 2007.

“On the U.S. market, Audi is growing at almost three times the rate of total automotive sales. Overall, Audi achieved new all-time highs

in 50 countries in 2014. Globally, the company’s deliveries increased by more than 100,000 units for the fifth year in a row. Compared to sales of 949,729 units in 2009, almost 800,000 more customers chose the brand with the four rings last year,” he said.

In the United States, deliveries more than doubled in the same period of time, from 82,716 automobiles in 2009 to 182,011.

…As ŠKODA delivers 1.04 million vehicles worldwide

F

or the first time in its 119year company history, Skoda Auto Company says it sold more than 1 million vehicles in year.

The company told auto journalists that worldwide, its deliver-

ies increased by 12.7 per cent to 1,037,200 vehicles last year (2013: 920,800 deliveries).

The global market share improved to 1.4 per cent (2013: 1.3 per cent). In December alone, global ŠKODA sales increased by 16.9 per

cent to 81,900 units (December 2013: 70,000).

This was the best December ever in the company’s history. In 2015, the car maker intends to grow further with new models. “ŠKODA made good ground in

MAINTENANCE TIPS

How to replace fuel hose Continues from two weeks ago.

T

he user of the motor vehicle should locate the hose clamps that attach the fuel hose to either the fuel line or the steel/plastic tubes the fuel line is connected to. Unscrew a tightening screw on one of the clamps.

Slide the clamp down the hose and put it aside. If it is not damaged, it can be reused and place your small bucket or container

beneath the fuel hose and firmly pull the hose off of the connecting tube. In most cases, petroleum will leak when the hose is disconnected, so place your bucket or container beneath the end of the hose and allow the remaining fuel to drain and wipe any spilled fuel up with rags.

After doing this, the driver should find the other end of the fuel hose and remove it in the exact same way, but should expect some leaking fuel on that end too. After this, you should clean off any gunk on the

connecting tubes with your rags.

Push one end of the new fuel hose into a connecting tube and slide clamps over the end of the tube that is not attached, and then push the unattached end of the tube into the other connecting tube. Both ends of the fuel hose should now be connected and in place.

You can now slide a clamp over the hose and position it where the hose and connecting tube meet. You can use your screwdriver to do this and turn the tightening screw in a clockwise rotation, tightening it firmly. Repeat this procedure on the other end of the fuel hose too.

After the stage, you can now turn on any fuel tank valve, or if applicable, replace the fuel pump fuse.

Start your vehicle or small engine and check for leaks. If any leaks are found, the fuel hose may need to be repositioned or you can tighten the clamp a bit more.

a challenging 2014 environment and has successfully continued to grow,” says ŠKODA Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland.

“By setting a new sales record and delivering more than 1million vehicles for the first time, the brand has established itself in the ‘Champions League’ of international high-volume manufacturers. The impact of the biggest model campaign in our company history is getting stronger and stronger.

“Since 2010, we have redesigned almost the entire model portfolio and expanded into new segments.

With our new models, we are increasingly winning over new customer groups. And we won’t take our foot off the accelerator in the coming years,” says Vahland.

The comprehensive model campaign, which was started four years ago, was once again the priority for the Czech manufacturer.

“The acceptance of our models and of the brand is higher than ever before. We were able to increase our market share in almost every region,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing.

Back in March, the pioneering study ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ was the first rocket of last year’s ŠKODA product fireworks. The Octavia GTEC, Octavia Scout, three special Monte Carlo editions for the Citigo as well as Yeti and Rapid Spaceback followed over the course of 2014.

The new ŠKODA Fabia provided the year’s grand finale in November.

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Cocktail

Friday, February 6, 2015

Nearly 300 manatees fill Three Sisters Springs

T

he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closed Florida’s Three Sisters Springs to the public when nearly 300 manatees unexpectedly moved into the area.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex announced Monday the Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River was temporarily closed to swimmers and boaters when 293 manatees were counted in the interior of the springs.

Laura Ruettiman, an environmental education guide at the springs, said the area has seen more manatees than usual this year.

“We have a record number this year,” Ruettiman told USA Today. “We have 150 more manatees here than have ever been recorded in the past.”

Officials said the springs reopened to the public Tuesday but would be closed again as manatees returned to the interior of the springs with the rising tide.

Man jailed 14 months for wrong-way drive on highway

A

British man who drove in the wrong direction for 9 miles on a busy highway before crashing was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.

Mitchell Locke, 20, who was caught on video driving the wrong way on the M25 and A2 near the county of Kent, England, was sentenced to 14 months in a young offenders’ institution and told

he would need to pass an extended road test regain his driving privileges.

The court heard Locke had been smoking marijuana and believed he was being chased before crashing into another vehicle near the town of Bean. The driver of the other car was treated for whiplash and cracked ribs while her 2-year-old son, who was in the back seat, was not injured.

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Oddities Oddities

Coast Guard rescues dog from icy waters

T

he U.S. Coast Guard said an ice rescue team in northern Michigan rescued a dog that jumped into an icy bay near a shipping channel.

The Coast Guard Station Frankfort said Petty Officer 1st Class Kurt Lubbers looked out from inside the station Tuesday and observed the dog jump into Betsie Bay, near the Frankfort Shipping Channel.

Crew members activated the search and rescue alarm, contacting the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan and Benzie County 911, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Tim Putnam donned his ice rescue gear and swam out to rescue the dog.

The Coast Guard said it took Putnam about 20 minutes to swim the approximately 200 feet to

the dog because of the large amount of broken ice in the bay.

Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Morris jumped into the water to help Putnam reach the six-foot-

high break wall and the two officers and the rescued dog were pulled out of the water by officers with the help of Donald Ruff and Steve Brown.

The dog was warmed

Petty Officer 3rd Class Tim Putnam of Coast Guard Station Frankfort, Mich., warms up the dog that he rescued from the ice-filled waters of Betsie Bay of the Frankfort Shipping Channel, on Monday

up inside the station’s boathouse before being taken to the Animal Welfare League of Benzie County, where veterinarians said the canine did not have any serious injuries.

“This was a total team effort by the members of our station and Mr. Brown and Mr. Ruff who assisted getting our members up the wall and back onto dry land,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert Nendza, officer of charge of Station Frankfort.

“Our crews train regularly for ice rescues, and in this case, we wanted to make sure we were the ones taking the risk of going onto the water instead of an unprepared bystander.”

The Animal Rescue League said the dog was reunited with its owner.

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Maritime

39

Confusion trails FG’s new rice import policy The criticisms that trailed the 110 per cent tariff on brown and parboiled rice compelled the Federal Government to review the policy, which was believed to have fuelled the smuggling of the commodity. Under the new policy, government slashed the tariff from 110 per cent to 30 per cent for rice farmers with backward integration and 60 per cent for other categories of dealers to promote local industry.

But the complicity of the importers, Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Trade and Investment has thwarted this lofty policy, reports FRANCIS EZEM.

T

he decision of the Federal Government to effect a downward review of the 110 per cent tariff on imported brown and parboiled rice into the country was no doubt with the best of intentions.

The review followed public outcry over alleged massive smuggling of the commodity through unapproved routes occasioned by the porous nature of the nation’s borders with neighbouring African countries with the attendant huge loss of import revenue to the government.

Under the new fiscal policy issued in June, 2014, which also brought to an abrupt end several months of criticisms and agitations, tariff on rice was reduced from 110 per cent to total of 30 per cent for husked brown or paddy rice in its natural, unprocessed state.

This comprise 20 per cent duty and another 10 per cent levy for only investors with capacity to mill rice locally with verifiable backward integration programme.

Just like the 110 per cent tariff introduced in 2013, the essence of this new tariff regime was to ultimately promote local production of rice, in which the government had tremendously invested in. The second leg of the policy requires commercial rice dealers to pay 60 per cent duty, which is 50 per cent lower than the 110 per cent tariff.

The new policy is designed to bridge the national supply gap to be determined by a committee to be put together in future for a period of four years.

In line with this, the Nigeria Customs Service issued an implementation guideline requesting the importers with certain quantities of the product to come up with letters of indemnity to forestall payment of demurrage In a memo dated July 7, 2014, which was also published on the website of the Apapa command of the service and entitled: ‘Interim 2014 Fiscal Policy Measure on Rice’, stated that this interim measure only applies to investors with rice milling capacity, urging pure rice traders who already have rice laden ships awaiting clearance at the ports as at Friday, June 13, 2014, to comply promptly and strictly too.

The circular reads in parts: “This is to inform you that pending when the next fiscal policy Measures on Rice are issued, all importers of rice with shiploads already awaiting clearance at Nigerian Ports will be allowed to clear their consignments upon the submission of a letter of indemnity to the Nigeria Customs Service. The indemnity is to allow them clear their various consignments of rice without attracting further demurrage pending when the next 2014 duty rates and levies are announced, at which they will pay the new rates accord-

Bags of rice

ingly”.

The circular also stated that the government has however directed all importers of the commodity with shiploads waiting at various ports in the country as at Friday, June 13, 2014, to commence the process of clearing them immediately.

Investigations showed that not even one importer complied with this directive.

Instead, the importers thronged the Federal Ministries of Trade and Investment and Agriculture and Natural Resources in a desperate bid to obtain a certification indicating that they have capacity to mill rice locally with backward integration programmes.

In what appeared a confirmation of this, Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa Area 1 had said: “These importers are not coming nearly two months after we issued the directive, which was duly communicated to them. But we are waiting because at the end of everything, the fiscal policies of the government must be strictly enforced, which is a statutory responsibility of the service” The primary aim of seeking for such certification is to enable them import foreign

parboiled rice at the 30 percent tariff meant for local rice milling investors with capacity to do backward integration programmes as against the 60 percent duty for pure importer-dealers.

It was further gathered that many of them were actually issued with such certification from the two ministries and so Customs has no other option than to allow them import their consignments at the rate of 30 per cent tariff.

This economic sabotage by the officials of the two ministries on the one part and the importers on the other has helped to make a mess of this lofty government initiative, designed to enhance local production of the product and conserve huge sums of scarce of foreign exchange.

Regrettably, rather than achieve the lofty objectives of boosting the nation’s food security policy by encouraging local production of this staple food as well as creating job opportunities by the teeming youth population, the review of the policy has further led to loss of revenue to the government.

For instance, most of these commercial rice importers now import the commodity

THESE IMPORTERS ARE NOT COMING NEARLY TWO MONTHS AFTER WE ISSUED THE DIRECTIVE, WHICH WAS DULY COMMUNICATED TO THEM. BUT WE ARE WAITING BECAUSE AT THE END OF EVERYTHING, THE FISCAL POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE STRICTLY ENFORCED, WHICH IS A STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SERVICE

at the paltry 30 per cent at the expense of the government.

Import statistics released by the Nigeria Customs Service shows that at Apapa Port alone, in 2011, import duty on rice constituted a total of 54.3 per cent of the command’s revenue, which reduced to 38.7 per cent in 2012 when the implementation of the policy began.

The records also show that the contribution of import duty on rice further declined to an all time low of four per cent in 2013, when the effects of the policy began to be felt, as it accounted for only N4.1 billion out of a total revenue generation of N226.4 billion.

For the 2014 figures, the revenue from rice import at the command, though the government reduced the tariff by over 50 per cent, it only accounted for 12. 1 per cent of the total revenue generation, as N36.2 billion was collected from rice import out of a total revenue figure of N265.1 billion collected at the end of the 2014 fiscal year.

Similarly, it has also thwarted the government efforts at promoting backward integration in rice production in the country, which would have brought about a lot of economic benefits to the nation.

This rather sad situation calls for a serious inquiry into the role of the two ministries as well as the importers in enforcing the review of the rice policy by the government.

Stakeholders are also unanimous in their resolution that any one found culpable in this matter should be adequately punished, especially given the quantum of the dislocation caused the national economy by these acts of sabotage.

40

Business Maritime

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria’s maritime industry has sustained growth trajectory, says group STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

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he Maritime Watch Dog, a non governmental organisation, NGO, recently took a critical look at Nigeria’s maritime industry and concluded that it has recorded tremendous growth and development in all aspects of the industry, especially in the last four years.

Legal adviser and secretary of the group, Mr. Macjohnson Odey ii, who spoke at a one-day stakeholders’ forum held in Lagos, said the industry has fared well in terms of capacity building covering both human and infrastructural capacities, fleet expansion, domain awareness and enhancing maritime safety and security, among others.

While addressing stakeholders at the forum, Odey attributed this rare feat to transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, which paid great attention to the industry more than ever before in its history.

“We have keenly observed developments in the maritime industry of Nigeria’s economy over the years and we are enthusiastic to record and proclaim that in contrast to years of denial and decay, which led to a harvest of liquidation and closure of government institutions, the industry has grown in leaps and bounds especially in the last four years”, he said emphatically.

The Maritime watchdog listed government institutions in the transport sector that fell victims of such huge harvest of liquidation and closure to include the Nigerian National Shipping Line NNSL, Nigerian Airways, Nigerian Railway Corporation NRC, Palm Line Services and Elder Dempster Line, among several others.

In terms of capacity building, Odey listed the training of over 2, 500 Nigerian cadets drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country in world-class maritime universities in United Kingdom, India, Philippines, Romania and Egypt under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme NSDP. Available statistics show that a total of 17 states of the federation and Abuja have all keyed into the NSDP comprising Borno, Yobe and Gombe, which is the North East, while the North Western states include Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina, North Central includes Benue, Kogi, Niger, FCT and Plateau states.

Others include Ebonyi rep-

Jonathan

resenting the South East, Akwa Ibom for the South-South while Lagos, Ondo and Ekiti cover the South West geo-political zone.

While disclosing that the Federal Government bears over 70 per cent of the entire cost of training these cadets under the NSDP, a brainchild of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, the gov-

Akpobolokemi

ernment would save over N3billion annually when these cadets start working on board vessels operating in the country.

He also said: “The President’s commitment towards the NSDP is unwavering. The ongoing effort of the present administration in exploiting the available niche in the country and contributing to the global pool of seafarers is

also significant in this regard.

We therefore commend this programme, which knows no ethnic, political or religious boundary” Other capacity building projects listed by the group include the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko and the NIMASA Shipyard and dry dock facility both in Warri South Local Government of

Delta as well as the establishment of maritime training institutes in six Nigerian universities.

The universities include the University of Lagos, University of Nigerian, Nsukka, Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Niger Delta University, Amasoma, Bayelsa State, Anambra State University, Uli and Federal University Kashere, Gombe State.

He also commended the government over the establishment of the Satellite Surveillance Centre, as part of measures to rid the nation’s territorial waters of criminal activities, through which the country has lost huge sums of money.

“The fight against piracy, oil theft, smuggling and other criminal activities within the nation’s territorial waters have reduced drastically through the presence and operations of the satellite surveillance centre, which is also commendable”, he also said.

Nigerian Shippers seek new port order

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ndigenous importers and exporters under the aegis of Shippers’ Association of Lagos State have made a strong case for the evolution of a new port order in Nigeria characterised by efficiency, reduced cost of operation and user-friendly port environment.

President of the association, Reverend Jonathan Nicol, who spoke in Lagos at the inaugural shippers day celebration organised by the association, observed that the current trend of events in the industry does not make for

growth and development.

Nicol, who lamented the negative effects of the perennial gridlock on most port access roads on trade facilitation, noted that it is not possible for cargo to get to their destinations on schedule, which is not in tandem with the spirit and letter of trade facilitation.

He regretted that most government agencies seem to have resigned to fate in terms of addressing the challenges posed by this perennial gridlock, which he said has left shippers at the

receiving end.

Nicol, who also took a swipe at the Nigeria Customs Service over its emphasis on revenue generation as against trade facilitation, noted that the global trend these days is for customs administrations to facilitate trade, which boosts government revenue in the process.

He decried the attitude of some officers of the service, especially those in the valuation unit, who are in the habit of imposing value on importers; a development he said does not

conform to international best practice.

Meanwhile, Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa command, Comptroller Charles Edike, said recently that the service would not sacrifice revenue generation and security on the alter of trade facilitation.

Edike, who insisted that the service would continue to harmonise these three core functions of the service, pledged that none would be promoted or ignored at the expence of the other.

Piracy incidents in Asia hit five-year high

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he number of piracy incidents reported in 2014 in Asia, a total of 183, is the highest recorded figure in the five-year reporting period (20102014), piracy watchdog ReCAAP said in its latest annual report.

The figure represents a 22 per cent increase compared to 2013, when 150 incidents were reported.

Out of 183 reported incidents, 168 were actual incidents and 15 were attempted attacks.

Of the actual incidents in 2014, 102 incidents (61 per cent) occurred onboard ships at anchor and at berth. These incidents occurred at ports and anchorages in Indonesia (39), SCS (23), Bangladesh (14), India (11), Vietnam (6), Philippines (5) and Malaysia (4).

The number of incidents re-

ported in the South Asian region in 2014 has increased compared to 2013 figures, mostly due to a rise in piracy activity in Bangladesh.

Notably, the number of incidents reported in the Southeast Asian region was the highest in 2014 during the 2010-2014 reporting period.

Compared to 2013, this is a 15 per cent increase, mainly in the South China Sea (SCS) and the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS.) The number of incidents reported in these two areas had tripled in 2014 compared to 2013, the report shows.

Most of these were less significant and petty theft incidents onboard ships while underway in SOMS and onboard ships while anchored/berthed in the SCS. These incidents involved per-

petrators who were opportunistic in nature, did not harm or treat the crew with violence; and entailed little or no economic loss as the perpetrators escaped immediately when the crew was alerted. Such incidents resulted in the perpetrators escaping empty-handed in 55% of the cases in SOMS and 65% of incidents in the SCS. The report shows that there have been improvements at certain ports and anchorages in Indonesia, such as Belawan, Dumai, Pulau Nipa and Samarinda, which reported an overall decline of 50% in 2014 compared to 2013.

With regard to the gravity of the incidents, the report indicates that 13 (7 per cent) were Category 1 (very significant) incidents, 41 (23per cent) were Category 2

(moderately significant) and 114 (62 per cent) were Category 3 (less significant) and petty theft (minimum significant) incidents.

Of the 13 Category 1 incidents, 11 incidents were siphoning of ship fuel/oil by perpetrators who boarded the ship to siphon the ship manifest of fuel/oil.

Most of these incidents were Category 1 in nature because the perpetrators were armed with guns and knives; involved larger group of men who took control of the ship; threatened, tied and locked the crew in the cabin; siphoned the fuel/oil onboard the ship to another tanker/barge that came alongside; and before escaping, destroyed the ship’s communication and navigational equipment and took the crew’s cash and personal belongings.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, February 6, 2015

Court orders shell, Total, Agip to preserve interests in OML 25 WALE IGBINTADE

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Federal High Court in Lagos has directed Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd and two other oil companies to preserve their 45 per cent participating interests in Oil Mining Lease, OML 25.

Other oil companies affected by the order are Total E & P Nigeria Limited and Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited.

Justice Mohammed Idris made the order after hearing arguments presented by counsel to Crestar Integrated Natural Resources Limited, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN. The applicant had sued the oil companies on the claim that they were planning to dispose their shares in the Oil Minning Lease, OML, 25.

The order reads ‘’an order is hereby made restraining the defendants/respondents, whether by themselves, their management, servants, agents, assigns,

privies, proxies, fronts, staffers or any other person whomsoever called acting under their authority from proceeding or continuing to negotiate or engage in any transaction or contract calculated or purported to transfer, sell, farm out or otherwise charge, encumber, dealing, dispose of or divest the defendants/respondents 45 per cent participating interest in Oil Minning Lease No. 25 ,OML, to any person, authority or agency pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

The court also made an order restraining the defendants, their agents, assigns or others acting under their authority from declaring any other bidder apart from the applicant as the preferred bidder for the assignment of the defendants 45 per cent undivided participating interest in OML 25 pending the determination of the motion on notice.

According to Crestar in its 16 paragraph affidavit in support of the application deposed to by its managing director, Mr. Ad-

eniyi Olaniyan, OML 25 is jointly owned by NNPC with 55 per cent interests and the three defendants with 45 per cent .

The company had alleged that it had paid $453,320,000 to an escrow account with JP Morgan in London, which was nominated by the defendants, consequent upon which a Sale and Purchase Agreement, SPA, was executed by Crestar and the defendants.

It further alleged that under the Joint Operating Agreement, JOA, by which the defendants and NNPC were operating the OML 25, NNPC had 30 days, from the date it was notified of the intention of the defendants to assign their interests to Crestar, within which to exercise its pre-emption rights.

The defendants’ notice to NNPC was alleged to have been dated July 3, 2014 and promptly delivered to NNPC which responded by a letter dated October 27, 2014 to exercise its pre-emption rights to buy the defendants’ interests in the OML 25.

41

World Bank partners Nigeria on climate change OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he World Bank has expressed its readiness to help Nigeria in the areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation in order to enable the country realise its agricultural potentials.

Already the bank has committed $30m to combat gully erosion problem in the South Eastern geopolitical zone under the Erosion and Watershed Management Programme, NEWMAP. Nigeria’s World Bank Country Director, Marie Francoise MarieNelly, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday at a meeting with the delegation from the Ministry of Environment, led by the minister, Mrs. Laurentai Mallam.

The minister had visited the World Bank Abuja office to present the ministry’s plans and programmes for the environment sector and seeking for technical and financial assistance to realise them.

But the Marie-Nelly maintained that going forward; the bank would be more strategic in all its interventions programmes in the country to avoid duplication.

According to her, although the bank has been engaging in a num-

ber of programmes in the country, it would be more willing to help Nigeria in building climate resilience to boost agriculture production.

Asked to name the intervention areas, the World Bank country representative, said,”We are actually doing a lot already. For instance, we have a large programme to address gully erosion in the South. We are also engaging in rehabilitating important irrigation dams in order to enhance the capacity for agricultural production.

“What we are doing here today is in response to the request of the government, in more strategic moving forward, identifying in more strategic way what we are each doing and see how our interventions are in line with the new priority, particularly in the areas of mitigation and adaptation.

She added that one key area the bank is looking at is climate smart agriculture, stressing that its studies, had shown that unless Nigeria changes its agricultural practices, there would be a quantum slide in agricultural yields.

According to her, the bank is also working with the federal government to transform some of the gas that are being flared daily to energy.

FG mulls ‘no insurance, no contract’ policy MESHACK IDEHEN

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he National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has said that the Federal Government was putting modalities in place to ensure that persons or organisations seeking to participate in contract award processes show certificate of compliance of compulsory insurance as

L-R: General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, MTN Business, Mr. Ladipo Nylander, CEO, InTarget Mobile Advertising, Mr. Lazarus Muchenje, Acting Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN, Mr. ‘Tsola Barrow and GM, Enterprise Sales, Mrs. Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, during the MTN Mobile Advertising Forum in Lagos, yesterday.

We got N886m from N2.2bn cassava bread fund –Master Bakers ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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ational President of Master Bakers Association of Nigeria, Mr Simeon Abanulor yesterday confirmed that members of the asscoation nationwide got a total of N886m so far out of the N2.2bn cassava bread intervention fund provided by the Federal Government, Apparently reacting to claims of the Lagos State chapter of the association earlier in the week that majority of their members did not ac-

cess the fund, Abanulor, said that only 76 master bakers were left to be mobilized and he attributed the delay to slow documentation by the BoI. Specifically, the Lagos State Chairman of the association, Prince Jacob Adejorin, had alleged during a protest that only 34 out of over 50, 000 master bakers in the state had been trained while just four had so far benefitted from the skill empowerment programme.

Making the clarification during a media briefing in Abuja,

he explained that the amount disbursed through the Bank of Industry, BoI to 96 master bakers across the country was meant for equipment support.

Abanulor who faulted the Lagos chapter’s claim, disclosed that Lagos, like other states, had received four equipment in accordance with their request, adding that members from all the geo-political zones of the country have benefitted from the amount disbursed so far.

The association president said the BoI had promised the dis-

bursement of the remaining fund by next week.

On the N14m given to each of the first batch of beneficiaries which the Lagos chapter said was on the high side, he said it was not too much going by the current prices of the equipment they use, such as the 2000 capacity rotary oven, super mixer and 80kv generator to power their engine.

He lauded the Federal Government on the cassava bread initiative, saying that due to the commitment to it cassava bread is now available in the country.

a way of enforcing compulsory insurance.

According to the insurance sector regulators, the move is part of efforts to ensure that Nigerians comply to compulsory insurance, thereby deepening the industry and growing the economy.

Disclosing this at a seminar organised by the Commission yesterday in Lagos, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel, said the government wanted to focus on insurance as the next growth area for the country’s economy.

Daniel said the Commission had engaged the Police for the enforcement of compulsory insurance and for the prosecution of offenders, but realized that the Police was overstretched, following which the Federal Government decided to support the compulsory insurance policy by demanding for certificate of compliance to compulsory insurance by individual and corporate contractors.

He listed the compulsory insurance policies as including, the third party motor insurance; the group life insurance; the occupiers liability; builders liability insurance; as well as professional indemnity insurance.

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Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ADB partners Nigerian youths on agribusiness SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

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frican Development Bank, ADB, has partnered Nigerian youths on agriculture development in the country.

Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA Dr Nteranya

Sanginga, who disclosed this in Ibadan, Oyo state, said Africa cannot fully developed without engaging unemployed youths in agriculture.

He said, the youth’s ‘Agripreneurs’ initiative is a landmark programme aimed at providing youths from diverse disciplines, the training and opportunities to engage in agri-

culture business and entrepreneurship, urging participants to proactively seek synergies in the development of youths and agriculture Sanginga also noted that inclusive growth of the continent could be achieved through joint implementation of mechanisms in agribusiness, which would work for farmers as well as con-

L-R: Chuka Mordi; Director, CBO Investment Management, Ayodele Elegba; Founder Comicpanel.org, Sulaiman Teslim; Founder Shopinfo.com.ng, David Ugoagbara; Founder Priceleaker.com, and Bex Nwawudu; Director, CBO Investment Management at the presentation of seed-funding cheques to the I.T entrepreneurs, as part of CBO Investment Management’s CSR activities.

Pfizer to buy Hospira for $15bn to boost drug business DAVID AUDU

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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n what is described as another ambitious buy in pharmaceutical industry in recent times, Drug maker Pfizer is again inching towards a deal that will see it pocket the biggest provider of injectable drugs, Hospira, for about $15 billion to boost its portfolio of generic injectible drugs and biosimilars.

For Pfizer, the deal is the largest since its failed takeover attempt of AstraZeneca Plc, which rebuffed its $118 billion approach last year but has remained a subject of takeover speculation.

Pfizer said the latest move showed its commitment to deploy capital and deliver revenue and earnings per share growth in the near term.

The deal is expected to add 10 cents to 12 cents per share to Pfizer’s earnings in the first full year after the deal closes, it said.

The move will increase Pfizer’s business in established drugs, or those no longer covered by patents.

Hospira makes generic versions of injectible drugs that are widely used in hospitals and sells several biosimilars overseas.

It has other biosimilars in development. Drugmakers are racing to develop biosimilars, which typically cost 20 percent to 30 percent less

than the original, as big-ticket patents on biotech drugs expire and cash-strapped healthcare systems cut costs.

There are no approved biosimilars in the United States yet.

A U.S. regulatory panel endorsed the first one in January from Novartis AG, a copy of Amgen Inc’s blockbuster cancer drug Neuopogen, but it has not yet been approved.

Biosimilars are expected to account for about one-quarter of

the $100bnin sales from off-patent biological drugs by the end of the decade, according to a study compiled by Thomson Reuters BioWorld.

Hospira is seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market a copy of Johnson & Johnson’s blockbuster arthritis treatment Remicade.

The total enterprise value of the deal with Pfizer is about $17bn, including debt, the companies said.

sumers.

“A young ‘agripreneur’ coming from a communication background is working on fish. First, you might think communication and fish, where is the link, but when you start understanding how sales figures of fish products can increase throughout value chains by involving young people coming from different sectors like communication or marketing, it might become an eye-opener for engaging in new partnership opportunities.”, he stated.

According to him, youths in agriculture would provide the potential for massive job creations in Africa. Creation of business opportunities for unemployed youths in agriculture has been at the centre stage of an African-wide initiative led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

The Representative of the Minister of Agriculture and

Ecobank, Orange sign money transfer partnership deal ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

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range and pan-African banking group, Ecobank have rolled out a service that will enable Orange Money subscribers who also have accounts with Ecobank to transfer money between their respective accounts.

A statement jointly issued by both companies said that the service had already been launched in Mali and will be rolled-out in several other African countries, including Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry, Niger, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during the first half of 2015.

FCMB promotes workplace wellness through Health Week

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irst City Monument Bank, FCMB, Limited has commenced its yearly Employee Health Week.

The health week, which commenced last Monday and will end tomorrow, is primarily aimed at promoting healthy living for employees and their families.

Since the programme began, FCMB has been carrying out a variety of activities with focus on good nutrition, exercise, and early detection of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, among others. The aim of the program is to prevent and reduce health risk factors which

affect employee productivity.

The highpoints of this year’s FCMB Employee Health Week is the deployment of doctors to 20 select branches nation-wide, to conduct quick examinations such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels and Body Mass Index ,BMI, tests for employees.

Employees will also receive free comprehensive health checks and free mammograms screening.

A Family Fitness Day event has been scheduled for Saturday, February 7 in Lagos, where employees, their spouses and children will engage in various fitness activities, including aero-

Rural Development, Dr Lekan Quadri said more than 60 youths from six countries across Africa attended the business training with the theme, “Empowering Agripreneurs on Agripreneural and Business Management” held in Ibadan, Oyo state.

He therefore lauded the youthin-agriculture initiative of IITA. Chief Executive Officer of Ekimiks Nigeria Limited, Mr Ekiyor Tope Miriki, who sponsored the workshop, said the programme was designed to create opportunities to help young people to exit from unemployment.

“With the business survival rate being less than 50%, a business in agriculture is even more demanding due to the economics involved in the process”, he stated.

The scheme also supports such initiatives in Tanzania, DR Congo, Zambia, Kenya, and Mozambique.

bics, cycling, games, and stress relief therapy. There will also be a dedicated health corner, where a team of medical experts will enlighten participants on various health issues and provide tips on healthy living.

Speaking on the significance of the Health Week, the Divisional Head, Human Resources and Change Management of FCMB, Felicia Obozuwa, said that, ‘’this is one of our initiatives aimed at promoting the wellness of our workforce, improving the health of our employees and their family members to ensure a healthy society.

The parties stated further that the partnership will facilitate money transfers for both Ecobank and Orange customers by offering them the possibility of topping up their Orange Money e-wallet from their bank account, and vice versa.

Customers can use their mobile phones to securely transfer money at any time without the need to go to a distribution point or to have physical cash.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Orange in charge of Customer Experience and Mobile Banking, Laurent Paillassot said the partnership between Orange and Ecobank will further enrich customer experience adding that by “facilitating exchanges between Ecobank and Orange Money accounts, our customers will be able to conduct financial transactions quickly and in complete security, bringing them the best of both worlds. We want to offer this service wherever it makes sense.”

Patrick Akinwuntan, Ecobank’s Group Executive in charge of Domestic Banking, said the partnership further demonstrates Ecobank’s commitment to make branchless banking a reality by activating multiple service channels in every country in which the company operates.

“Our unique pan-African footprint also enables us to be at the forefront of efforts to develop the market for cross-border mobile financial services in Africa.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, February 6, 2015

ECCIMA targets private investors on trade fair complex devt DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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nugu International Trade fair complex, the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ECCIMA, has appealed to the Federal Government to give the chamber the approval to partner the private sector in the development of facilities at the site.

ECCIMA President, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye made the appeal while addressing journalists yesterday in Enugu to flag off activities for the 26th Enugu InternationalTrade Fair slated to begin on March 27.

Okoye said that there was still infrastructure absence at the permanent site even though the state government had been maintaining internal roads and general environmental status of the complex.

He explained that this year’s

fair would attract the highest number of foreign firms in attendance ranging from 150 to 200 firms expected from India, United Kingdom, United States, China and other parts of the world.

The ECCIMA President pointed out that the essence of the fair was to get business minded people, researchers and innovators together to interact and then go back to develop themselves.

Okoye said that ECCIMA was aware of the general elections slated for this month, noting that they have started preparing for the fair working with the current time table of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, but at the same time ready to make any necessary adjustment if desired.

He noted that Enugu International Trade Fairs had impacted positively the economy of Enugu, South East and Nigeria in gen-

eral.

“The results are there, we have a lot of companies in Enugu state and they have gained a lot from the past fairs. I can mention a company like Innoson, which all of you knows; he manufactures vehicles now.

“They have been coming to participate in the Trade Fair, manufacturing plastics, now they are manufacturing vehicles,” he said.

He expressed the optimism that this year’s fair would a great success adding that it has been well packaged.

The ECCIMA boss announced that the Chamber was also collaborating with banks and marketing communication firm based in Lagos to enhance and boost the level of participation and visitors to the Fair through a unique introduction of gift presentations to lucky visitors to the Fair.

Airtel delivers Range Rover Vogue to winner ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

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elecoms service operator, Airtel Nigeria, has fulfilled its promise to reward one of its loyal customers this year with a brand new 2015 Range Rover Vogue.

In fulfilling the promise, the Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, on Wednesday, gave the keys of a brand new 2015 Range Rover Vogue to Mr. Abiodun Adio, a commercial truck driver, who won the grand prize in the justconcluded Red Hot Promo, which began last year.

Narrating how he got the news that he has won the luxury SUV, 48-year-old Adio said that he just got a call informing him he has won the grand prize but thought it was all fraud, saying that his

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‘Why we brought GTR conference to Nigeria’ ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

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he growth experienced in the Nigeria economic was a major factor the hosting of the Global Trade Review, GTR 6thAnnual West Africa Trade & Export Finance conference in Lagos.

The conference, which had an exhibition section, was well ended by representatives of companies from key sectors of the West African economy, with Turkish companies dominating the exhibition section of the GTR event.

Producer of the event, Paul Greetham, said at the conference, which ended yesterday that “Nigeria’s economy has flourished of late with optimism growing in many sectors.”

According to him, the conference was organised to bring together the people that really make a difference in the market to discuss new strategies, address industry opportunities and to strategically align their expert policies with international financing standards.

Expressing his appreciation for the presence of big players of the Nigerian economy at the event, he said that there were so many high- level delegates in attendance adding that the networking, session, has always been a key feature throughout the day of every of GTR event, was a success.

Greetham noted that the networking lunches, an evening drinks reception and numerous breaks all offered delegates ample

opportunity for everyone of them to do serious business in West Africa and to create new business contacts and builds relationships with the market’s main players.

He said that “The annual West Africa trade and export finance conference has rightly become a flagship event within the GTR calendar.”

Managing Director of GTR, Peter Gubbins recalled that many delegates and supporters return yearly to the event saying that they have helped develop the key industry.

He said that the GTR conference has become a hotbed of contemporary discussion and unrivaled networking saying that “We look forward to facilitating business in the region for many years to come.”

fears are confirmed when he called the number and the number did not go through.

Elated Adio could not hide his excitement and appreciation praying that business will boom this year for Airtel describing the gesture as a “total turnaround in the journey of his life”.

Congratulating the winner, Ogunsanya expressed satisfaction with the success of the promo and commended the Telco’s customers for their loyalty stressing that the company will continue to seek out avenues of reciprocation.

He noted that the company remained passionate about creating enabling platforms for its customers to achieve their dreams which it has demonstrated by introducing the second season of the promo to continue the cycle of giving back to customers.

Emir of Kano commends UBA on banking reforms JOHNSON OKANLAWON

L-R: Managing Director, Meksan Transformer, Yakup Yavuz; Vice President Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mrs. Margaret Oguntala; Trade Foreign Manager, Meksan Transformer,Tanel Candemir, and Managing Director/CEO, Kenol Nigeria Limited, Engr. Olu Ogunduyile, at the Kenol/Meksan stand during the Global Trade Review 6th Annual West Africa Trade and Export Finance Conference and Exhibition in Lagos, recently.

43

he Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has commended the management of United Bank for Africa, UBA, for the leadership role the bank played in the financial industry reforms, when he was the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The Emir, speaking during the visit of the executive management of the bank his palace in Kano, said that because of the UBA’s commitment to the reforms introduced by the apex regulatory institution, the bank’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Phillips Oduoza chaired the committee on financial inclusion, which championed financial inclusion, the cashless and mobile banking initiatives in the country.

“The reforms introduced by

CBN towards improving Nigeria’s financial landscape were a collective decision and responsibility of everybody, but I should emphasise the contribution of UBA. UBA’s Group Managing Director chaired one of the critical committees that drove the reform,” the Emir said.

He praised the bank for offering him a job when returned from Sudan after bagging a degree in Islamic studies.

“I am not surprised by the role played by UBA in ensuring that we succeed. The Bank defied all odds to offer me employment after my education in Sudan in Islamic Studies, and provided me an opportunity to advance my career in banking. The institution has been instrumental to my success as a banker, for which I am grateful. My relationship with UBA was further extended to CBN,” the Emir said.

Courteville operations in 22 states, African expansion on course MESHACK IDEHEN

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he Managing Director of Courteville Business Solutions Plc, Mr Bola Akindele, said the company’s Auto Registration service is now in 22 states across the country.

He said several countries in Africa, including Zimbabwe, Ghana, Sierra Leone, amongst others have all embraced the services of the firm, saying the company plans to pursue its African expansion project with more drive.

Speaking with National Mirror in Lagos on Wednesday, the Courteville managing director said it was important for Nigeria technology based firms to be given support by the government, if economic growth and development is to be sustained.

He decried the situation where virtually unknown foreign firms are favoured above and beyond indigenous companies when certain projects are to be executed, even when the indigenous firms have the capacity to initiate and execute such technology based projects.

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Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG to establish dairy production zones STORIES: ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

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he Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has unveiled plans by the Federal Government to establish dairy production zones with a view to operating a modern dairy system that would increase milk production in Ni-

geria.

Adesina made this proposal when the Management of Friesland Campina WAMCO, paid him a courtesy visit at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

The Minister suggested the need to establish a Dairy College, where people can learn to be dairy farmers, saying, “We need to create a young genera-

FAO reiterates commitment to end hunger in Africa by 2025

I

n a bid to combat hunger and end poverty in Africa, the Food and Agriculture Organisations, FAO, has reiterated its commitment to join forces with the African Union in its combat to end hunger in Africa by 2025.

This emphasis was made by FAO Deputy Director-General, Ms. Maria-Helena Semedo, at a High-Level intervention at Addis Ababa to mark the official Launch of the AU Strategy and Roadmap for facilitating the 2014 Malabo Commitments on agriculture.

She said, “At FAO, we are proud to have partnered with the African Union and the Lula Institute in contributing to the Declaration to End Hunger in Africa by 2025.

With a focused set of actions at national, sub-regional and continental levels, the investments and commitment we make to alleviating hunger on the continent are

critical prerequisites to achieving the African vision articulated in the Agenda 2063”.

The 2014 African Union summit had already endorsed the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods. One of the seven commitments that were adopted was – ‘Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025’, which grew out of the Renewed Partnership to End Hunger in Africa by 2025, involving the African Union Commission, its NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency, NPCA, the Institute Lula and FAO among other partners.

According to the FAO official, the organisation has enhanced its assistance to four initial focus countries – Angola, Ethiopia, Malawi and Niger, to design and deliver value-added actions in support of their efforts to end hunger.

tion of dairy farmers and young entrepreneurs”. He said the ministry would be willing to set up young dairy farmers with funding support.

Adesina commended WAMCO for scaling up its milk production from 100,000 Litres to 2.2 million Litres, adding that Nigeria has no business importing milk when it can producing enough of it.

He proposed the creation of two dairy production zones in any of the 14 Staple Crops Processing Zones, SCPZ, and as-

sured on the readiness of his ministry to provide the necessary infrastructures.

The Minister restated his ministry’s commitment to the development of grazing reserves and ranches in Nigeria, stating that there was nothing wrong in having commercial and public ranches simultaneously. He disclosed that a National Policy on the development of ranches is being put in place by the government.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Friesland Campina

WAMCO Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jacob Ajekigbe said the visit was a follow-up on their previous meetings and to show their commitment to the MoU signed by the company with the ministry in 2011.

Ajekigbe sought more support from the ministry in the area of infrastructure development to enable them increase their productivity level.

He commended the minister for the excellent job he has been doing in the agricultural sector.

L-R: Chairman, Friesland Campina WAMCO, Mr. Jacob Ajekigbe, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Raul Kolaco

YEAP has helped my fishery business -Entrepreneur

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he Chief Executive Officer, CEO, TEPEBO FARMS, Adenuga Adeniyi, has commended the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme, YEAP, of the Federal government, saying it has helped him to establish and grow his fish farming business.

Adeniyi, a winner on the 2014 Nigerian Agriculture Award, NAA, was one of the fortunate 27 agric entrepreneurs who received grants from the Federal Government during the Agrifest 2015 celebration which recently held in Abuja.

He said he had earlier benefitted from the Youth Employment in Agriculture Program, YEAP, which was launched in 2014 by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Buoyed by his deep passion and affinity for agriculture, Adeniyi, a graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, said he visited different fish farms during the strike period and school breaks so as to have the much-needed on-farm experience which he so desired. In the course of doing this, he worked for three months without pay on a fish farm just to learn the rudiments of the business prior to his NYSC program.

However, he stated that he faced several challenges ranging from unavailability of land, to scarcity of quality fingerlings, high cost of procuring feeds, adulterated feeds and most of all, lack of access to start-up capital.

Despite all the odds, he re-

mained undeterred and pressed on as a result of his inextinguishable drive and his belief that if properly done, fish farming could be very lucrative.

During the period of his struggle, the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme, YEAP, was launched. Components of the programme included training, mentorship, access to land and finance, market networking and so much more.

Adenuga said that he became one of the beneficiaries of this highly-laudable policy program by the Ministry of Agriculture and gradually began to realise his dream of establishing his own fish farm.

Adenuga, who stated that his fish attracted foreign demand due

to good packaging and quality of the fish, maintained that some products from Nigeria are rejected for exportation due to insensitivity of the entrepreneurs to the standard packaging.

According to him, shortly after he had started production and harvesting of his fish, a family friend travelled with some smoked fish from his farm which he shared with some other people abroad.

Having been impressed with the packaging and quality of the products, they requested for more and after several orders and many more referrals, he officially ventured into exporting of his fish.

“Today, my story is an inspiration to not only young farmers, but also to all those with entrepreneurial aspirations as well,” he said.

He was also recently invited by the RISE Network to share his success story with students of Tai Solarin University in Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, South-west Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Adeniyi said that some of the most important factors militating against youth involvement in agriculture are lack of capital as well as the dearth of training, which is very necessary for anyone who wants to start up any venture, especially in agriculture.

However, the agric entrepreneur is unshaken in his belief that agriculture as a business has the adequate capacity to produce millionaires citing the example of the old cocoa farmers who made a lot of money and were very rich from their dealings in cocoa.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Friday, February 6, 2015

45

Access Bank’s Rights Issue for long term investment – MD JOHNSON OKANLAWON

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anaging Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, yesterday urged investors to take position in the ongoing banks’ Rights Issue.

Speaking at the bank’s Facts Behind the Figures on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos, he said that investors should not be wary of the current market price of the bank, saying that distortion in the market dragged down the price.

He said, “We don’t manage share price, but the fundamentals of the bank. We are going to give good returns on investment as our target is to be among top three banks in 2017.”

He said that the bank is talking to institutional investors, high networth investors

and individuals, particularly the investors who understand the value of long term investments.

According to him, shareholders have started taking their Rights because they know that the crisis is going to be over.

Igwe, who said that the bank has highest foreign investors, added that it has a moderate risk appetite and that was why its expoture in the power sector is low.

Under the Rights issue, the bank is raising N52.6bn is selling 7.628 million shares of 50 kobo each at N6.90 to existing shareholders.

Analysts at Meristem Securities Limited, an investment frim, noted that incorporating the expected dilution of earnings from the bank’s rights issue, “we arrived at a target price of

N8.74 for 2015, which also reflects the tighter operating environment expected.

“Access bank however remains a good company, from which we expect an impressive performance in 2015 in spite of the restrictive operating environment, in furtherance to the bank’s achievement in 201,” they said.

The Chairman of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, said that he is subscribing to the issue despite the fact that it is coming at a critical time when prices of stocks are dropping.

According to him, it is better to take the issue at N6.90 per share than to buy it at the current market price where you will be paying transaction charges and some other levies.

He added that the addi-

FG sells N192bn treasury bills JOHNSON OKANLAWON

F

ederal Government yesterday sold N192.4bn worth of treasury bills with maturities of between three months and one year at lower yields compared with its previous auction.

The Debt Management Office said said yields on the 3-month tenor paper attracted 10.98 per cent at an auction on Wednesday, 0.22 percentage points lower than 11.20 per cent fetched at the last auction on January 21.

The yield on the 6-month paper fell 0.29 per cent to 13.9 per cent against 14.19 per cent at the previous auction, while the 1-year

paper fetched 14.30 per cent, 0.26 percentage point lower than 14.56 per cent at the January 21 auction.

Total subscription fell to N461.9bn compared with 611.2 billion demanded by investors at the last auction.

The DMO sold N45.17bn in the 3-month paper, N30bn in the 6-month note and N117.2bn in 1-year bills.

The WSTC Financial Services Limited had said the yields on fixed-income securities such as bonds and Treasury bills would remain attractive this year as the government was expected to borrow more.

Another factor expected to keep the yields high, ac-

cording to the company, is the maintenance of tight monetary stance by the Central Bank of Nigeria Analysts at the WSTC, Olutola Oni and Motunrayo Giwa, in a report titled: ‘Nigeria: 2014 Economic Review and 2015 Outlook’, said the yield on the 10-year sovereign bond stood at 13.10 per cent at the commencement of 2014 and surged by 217 basis points to close the year at 15.27 per cent, as foreign investors repatriated capital and exited Nigerian assets amid weak macroeconomic outlook and burgeoning political risks.

“We expect yields in the fixed income market to remain attractive in 2015.

tional capital will enable it to leverage enlarged balance sheet and optimise returns in a sustainable, risk-controlled manner and enhance shareholders value.

The Access Bank nine months results, which was presented to local and international in­vestors at the Nigerian bourse, showed 17.3 per cent increase in gross earnings to N181.8bn, from N155bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

Also, its total assets rose to N2.07trn, an increase of 13 per cent from N1.84trn recorded in the same pe­riod of 2013, while the tier-one bank’s profit for the period rose 28 per cent to N35.4bn, from N27.6bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Its basic earnings per share increased 28 per cent to 154 kobo, from 121 kobo.

Our position is informed by our expectation of aggressive government borrowing (on account of shrinking revenue) and maintenance of tight monetary stance by the CBN,” they said.

They further said they believed that the tight monetary stance of the CBN aimed at attracting foreign capital in the face of higher country risk premium (the fallout of weak macro fundamentals and heightened political uncertainty) and market reaction to the normalisation of rates in the United States would sustain high yields in fixed income securities.

Index dips 1.4% on bearish trading trend HANNAH AYANGBILE

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rading in equities closed on a negative note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, halting three days bullish trends.

Specifically, the All share Index depreciated 1.36 per cent to close at 30,200.97 points, as against the appreciation of 1.99 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 30,617.96 points.

Market Capitalization lost N122bn to close at N10.077trn, in contrast the gain of N200bn recorded the preceding day to close at N10.198trn.

On the sectorial indices, the NSE 30-Index declined 1.49 per cent to close at 1,364.12 points, while the Banking Index shed 2.08 per cent to close at 316.51 points.

The Insurance Index was up 0.46 per cent to close at 141.95 points, while the Consumer Goods Index dropped 1.35 per cent to close at 792.19 points.

The Oil and Gas Index depreciated 0.42 per cent to close at 354.29 points, while the Lotus Islamic Index dipped 0.81 per cent to close at 1,978.09 points.

The Industrial Index lost 1.32 per cent to close at 1,960.42

points. The Alternative Securities Index remained flat at 1,213.36 points.

Champion Breweries Plc led the gainers’ table with 63 kobo or 10.03 per cent to close at N6.91 per share, followed

by Dangote Flour Mills Plc with 33 kobo or 10.00 per cent to close at N3.63 per share.

Ikeja Hotel Plc gained 33 kobo or 9.88 per cent to close at N3.67 per share, while the UAC Properties Plc rose 97 kobo or 8.84 per cent to close at N11.94 per share.

RT Briscoe Plc appreciated six kobo or 8.22 per cent to close at 79 kobo per share.

Conversely, Flour Mills

Plc depreciated N1.90 or 5.00 per cent to close at N36.10 per share, while the Trans Express Plc declined five kobo or 5.00 per cent to close at 95 kobo per share.

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc shed 36 kobo or 4.92 per cent to close at N6.95 per share, while the Honey Flour Mills Plc dipped 16 kobo or 4.85 per cent to close at N 3.14 per share.

Skye Bank Plc dropped 10 kobo or 4.76 per cent to close at N2.00 per share A total of N477.495 million shares valued at N3.963trn were traded in 4,417 deals.

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 30,200.97 points Market capitalisation 10.11trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CHAMPION

6.28

6.91

0.63

10.03

DANGFLOUR

3.30

3.63

0.33

10.00

IKEJAHOTEL

3.34

3.67

0.33

9.88

UAC-PROP

10.97

11.94

0.97

8.84

RTBRISCOE

0.73

0.79

0.06

8.22

AIICO

0.80

0.84

0.04

5.00

ACCESS

5.42

5.69

0.27

4.98

INTBREW

20.50

21.50

1.00

4.88

CUSTODYINS

3.83

4.00

0.17

4.44

ABCTRANS

0.53

0.55

0.02

3.77

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

FLOURMILL

38.00

36.10

-1.90

-5.00

TRANSEXPR

1.00

0.95

-0.05

-5.00

DANGSUGAR

7.31

6.95

-0.36

-4.92

HONYFLOUR

3.30

3.14

-0.16

-4.85

SKYEBANK

2.10

2.00

-0.10

-4.76

UBA

3.67

3.50

-0.17

-4.63

GLAXOSMITH

42.00

40.10

-1.90

-4.52

WEMABANK

0.94

0.90

-0.04

-4.26

TRANSCORP

3.00

2.89

-0.11

-3.67

ZENITHBANK

18.11

17.49

-0.62

-3.42

FGN Bonds Offer

Bid Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.53

97.40

15.00

97.55

14.89

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.22

99.60

15.28

99.75

15.20

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.39

102.15

15.29

102.45

15.20

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.98

104.70

15.27

105.00

15.20

14.20 14-MAR-2024

9.10

94.90

15.25

95.20

15.18

10.00 23-JUL-2030

15.46 67.50

15.63

67.80

15.55

Closing Market Prices of February 5, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

7-May-15

10.05

10.31

6-Aug-15

12.85

13.73

21-Jan-16

13.80

15.90

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

16.4667

1M

14.7779

3M

15.2000

6M

16.6751 The Fixings of February 5, 2015

46

Capital Market

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at February 5, 2015 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

48

News

National Mirror National Mirror Wednesday, April 23, 2014 Friday, February 6, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

Community Mirror I have spoken enough, our efforts start February 14. We should go and vote that day and vote right, I will talk after the election.

Former president – Olusegun Obasanjo

Monarch seeks assistance for fire victims Richard Ndoma CALABAR

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he Ezeigbo Nna Ndi Igbo in Council Sir Emmanuel Ezenwenyi has called on both the Federal and Cross River State government to come to the aid of the Bedwell Community fire disaster Victims in Calabar.

Just as he appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency SEMA to come to the aide of the victims who now live like destitutes.

He made the appeal when he led a delegation of the Ndi

igbo in council and several igbo stakeholders in Cross River state to commiserate with the fire victims in Calabar.

In a Save Our Souls, SOS, letter signed by President General for the Igbo community in Calabar, Barrister Fedelis Onyebueke called on public spirited individuals, Government Agencies, faith based organisations and NGOs to come and give succour to the affected traders so that they can start up afresh again.

The trader swho said they lost goods worth over N500million to the a fire disaster which broke out on January 3,2015 stressing

that the inferno destroyed 11 stores, motor tires warehouses and a residential abode of a landlord to that fire incidence lamenting that they have now become homeless.

One of the fire victims who spoke to Community Mirror Mrs. Innocent Udoye lamented that since that gory fire incidence that claimed trucks load of motor tire worth millions of naira life has not been easy for the Udoye`s family.

She said that their ware house was gutted by fire when the shop was stock with motor tyres before they travelled for the yuletide only for them to read on the

pages of newspapers that their shop was among shops gutted by fire.

Earlier, Chairman Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association in Bedwell Calabar, Chief Anthony Umegiaku said he is surprised that a place like Bedwell whose traders pay much money as tax to both the state and federal government had no good toilet facility, water nor good security system.

He recalled how in November 2014, hoodlums at night attacked and invaded Bedwell

Men arraigned for alleged robbery, cultism Dare A kogun

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Women at an empowerment programme organised by the Kaduna State Government recently. PHOTO: NAN

he Lagos State Police command has arraigned three men before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos State over alleged robbery and membership of a secret cult.

The suspects- Arinze Eze Amos Roys and Abdullahi Ganiyu are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, robbery, being armed with dangerous weapons and belonging to a secret cult.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Ajayi Omoniyi, of the State Criminal investigation Department, SCID, Panti in Yaba, Lagos, told the court that the offences were committed

Group charges politicians on electoral promises Adele Ademola

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nongovernmental organisation One Mind Association of Nigeria, OMAN, has called on political office holders in the country to fulfill promises which they made to the electorates who voted them into office.

According to the chairman of OMAN, Prince Olatunji lawal Aromire, OMAN is a pressure group that deems it fit to move around the different parts of the country sensitizing and educating the general public about the forthcoming elec-

tions.

“Enlightenment campaign on the qualities to be possessed by aspiring political office seekers has been the focus of our house to house campaign”, he said.

He stated that the era where political office seekers would pledge to the electorate and fail to fulfill their promises is obsolete, completely not accepted, and obnoxious to God and humanity.

While urging Nigerians to listen and keep records of promises made by political aspirants, Aromire vowed that the group would hold account-

able any elected officer in the country, who fails to honour their pledge to the electorate.

Meanwhile, at a meeting held recently with Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila, the leader of opposition in the Federal House of Representatives, the Vice Chairman of OMAN, Joel Confidence noted that Gbajabiamila has so far been responsive to the needs of people in his constituency as he urged him to continue in that stride.

It was reported that in the extensive interactive session with Honorable member attended by a large followership of OMAN/ community leaders held at the

market maimed, loot and carted away motor battery and several other valuables which worth millions of naira and when the traders made a distress call to the police no policeman responded adding that now fire struck again yet nobody seems to be coming to their aid.

“This is why we are going to form vigilante groups comprising of 25 able body young men who would lias with the police to enable them function adequately in order to protect our self from further invasion by hoodlums” he stated.

OMAN secretariat, the minority leader of the House of Representatives explained his roles and duties to the audience.

He mentioned how well he has been achieving his responsibilities, pointing out some of the roles he played outside his official specification which impressed the attendees who promised to support him to further his political aspiration.

Also speaking at the forum, Board of Trustees member of OMAN, Mr. Hakeem Olusegun aired his believe that only sincere leaders with integrity and credibility should be voted into elective positions.

on November 27, 2014 at Eze’s residence.

He alleged that the accused persons and others who are currently at large had invited the complainant, one Stephen Asamba, and forcefully initiated him into their secret cult called “Arobaga”.

The prosecutor said that the accused persons also threatened the complainant with a cutlass and other dangerous weapons before they forcefully dispossessed him of his handset and N89, 000.

Omoniyi said that the offences contravened Sections 42, 295(1) (2) (4) and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The pleas of the accused were, however, not taken.

Brief

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he Abule Egba North Community Development Association (CDA) will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow.

According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the CDA, Elder Paul Crown and the Secretary, Mr. Nasiru Aliu, the meeting will take place at Peace Shalom Nursery/Primary School, No. 32, Paul Street, Abule Egba, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Lagos at 12pm.

The statement added that the essence of the gathering is to felicitate with the residents and re-awaken their interest and participation in community development and governance.

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South South

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jonathan is last civilian president —Prophet • Predicts interim govt

CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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oyal House of David Ministry’s Prophet Godfrey Gbujie yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan will be the last civilian president to rule Nigeria before another civil war breaks out.

He said the nation “is at the crossroads of the last phase of 20 years reign of demons beginning from 1995-2015.”

The prophet, who claimed to have predicted the deaths of former military ruler, Gen. Sani Aba-

cha and President Shehu Yar’Adua, told newsmen in Owerri that neither Gen. Muhammadu Buhari nor Goodluck Jonathan would be president in 2015.

“Buhari has a mission divinely imposed on him, but he shall not rule this country again; even if he wins, God has not determined him to find His favour. Jonathan is the last elected president of this country,” he stressed.

He refuted the possibility of military take-over, saying no military coup will succeed against the Jonathan administration.

Nigeria to split in three However, he said “a loyal military commander will form interim government as there is going to be temporary vacancy in Aso Rock,” adding that head of the interim government would convene a national peace conference.

According to him, another crisis would erupt from the North, which will be led by two generals. “The two generals will emerge to lead a war from the North, which will eventually lead to the emergence of a young man from the East, who shall be chief peace mediator for the nation at

the time of national crisis.”

The prophet, who claimed that God was angry at Nigeria and its rulers, said his vision reveals “the very bloody civil crises, which the Omnipotent God has decreed and is about to bring upon Nigeria.

“The nation has been condemned to geo-political disintegration and three independent nations shall emerge from her ruins. Biafra shall be re-established and Oduduwa nation shall emerge while the Northern Nigeria might prefer to answer Republic of Northern

Imo State Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (right) and Senator Arthur Nzeribe when the latter hosted supporters of Ihedioha in the State

Nigeria at the time.”

He warned: “Do not despise the word of prophecy; I encourage whosoever

reads or hears these prophecies to believe them and offer praises to God as each comes to fulfillment.”

PDP disowns opposition parties in Enugu DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

G

overnor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state is not collaborating with any other political party in the forthcoming general elections.

Chime’s disclaimer became necessary following claims by some candidates of opposition political parties that they were collaborating with the party in the state.

Chime spoke during PDP campaign rally at Ogurute, headquarters of Igbo Eze North Local Government Area.

He said PDP was popular, strong and formidable in Enugu and does not need to collaborate with another political party to win elections in the state.

Chime revealed that the clarification was necessary in view of attempts by some former PDP members, now in opposition political parties, to mislead PDP supporters to vote for them and their political

parties during the general elections.

The governor, however, thanked the people of Igbo Eze North council area for their unalloyed support for PDP since its inception in 1998, urging them to disregard such gimmick by “selfish politicians” and turn out en masse to vote all PDP candidates on February 14 and 28.

Also at the rally, PDP stakeholders in Igbo-Eze North distanced themselves from all the actions taken by Senator Ayogu Eze regarding outcome of the December 8, 2014, governorship primaries in the state, saying the lawmaker “is on his own”.

The stakeholders spoke through a member representing Igbo Eze North I constituency in the state’s House of Assembly, Michael Onyeze.

They therefore pledged their loyalty and support to the PDP-led state leadership of Governor Chime and re-assured the party of their commitment to secure landslide victory for the party in all the elections.

Ohanaeze faction dismisses Jonathan’s endorsement Anambra to recruit over D A 1,000 health workers ENNIS ENUGU

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faction of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has refuted the purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term by the group.

The group led by its disputy President-General, Gary Igariwey, had on Tuesday endorsed Jonathan for the February 14 presidential election.

But another faction of the organisation led by Chief Ralph Obioha yesterday distanced itself from the endorsement, insisting it would be counter-productive to commit Ndigbo to any form of blanket support.

The group said it had

no intention of endorsing either President Jonathan or Muhammadu Buhari in the election.

In a joint media briefing addressed by Obioha and Dr Zed Chukwujama as chairman and secretary of the organisation’s caretaker committee, respectively, as well as Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, chairman of the organisation’s Elders’ Council, the group asked the Igbo at home and those residing in various parts of the country to vote according to their conscience.

They expressed dismay that until now none of the two major presidential candidates, including President Jonathan of PDP and Buhari of APC has entered into any form of agreement with Ndigbo on the four cardinal issues they

outlined.

The issues, according to them, include security of lives and property of Ndigbo, infrastructural development in Igbo land, reparation for atrocities and war crimes against Ndigbo, at least, at the level recommended in the Oputa Panel Report, and Ndigbo’s future after the tenure of the would-be president by 2019.

“Of the two candidates, only one sent a high-level delegation to us and we told them that we must see the candidate himself because whatever agreements to be reached will be implemented by him, if he wins and becomes president. We have not seen the candidate as at now. The other presidential candidate has not made any contact with the commit-

tee, which is the authentic legal organ of Ohanaeze. If his belief is in some other area or persons to gather the Igbo nation into one basket, we can only wish them good luck.

“Where do the Igbos belong and what is their fate after the incumbency of whoever wins in 2015 election? President Jonathan has said after his second term it will be the turn of the north. On the other hand, if Buhari wins and desires to emulate Nelson Mandela and bows out after one term because of his age, it will be reasonable to expect another northerner to complete his term. Thereafter, he would want to exercise his constitutional right of second term, making 12 years,” they noted.

FRANCIS EKPONE ONITSHA

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orried by manpower shortage in the health sector, Anambra State government said it will recruit over 1,000 workers across board in all secondary health centres in the state.

It also revealed that more health equipment would be procured to make the 37 general hospitals in the state functional.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, in a meeting with Heads of General Hospitals in the state, stated yesterday that the administration of Governor Willie Obiano was poised to enthrone health

system that can match others in the world.

“We are aware of the challenges facing the health sector in this state and Governor Obiano is set to tackle them head-on. We shall address the issue of infrastructure, procure more equipment and employ more health workers to make health institutions functional.

“The governor has announced salary increment for all health workers in the state by 15 per cent and has also signed the Primary Healthcare Development Agency Bill into law, which aims at establishing the board that would take care of the management of all primary healthcare in the state under one roof.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South East

Friday, February 6, 2015

Delta APC vows to resist rigging AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

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arely eight days to the February 2015 general elections, Delta State All Progressives Congress, APC, has vowed to fight with the last drop of its blood against any form of rigging by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Addressing a press conference yesterday at the party’s state secretariat in Asaba, shortly after an enlarged meeting with members of the party from Delta North senatorial district, APC governorship candidate running mate for the state, Chief Vander-Puye Osoloka, noted that the party had brought a change that would rescue the country from catastrophic gov-

ernment.

According to Osoloka, the people are tired and disgruntled about PDP in the state and at the national level, adding that apart from the fact that PDP government has lost grip, the party is desperate to cause violence in order to maneuver elections in the country, “but APC has moved round all the 25 local governments, sensitising people about the dividends of democracy APC was about to bring to them and how to curtail the excesses of PDP. On the party’s faith in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the possibility of its candidates decamping to PDP after victory, Osoloka stated that “APC has no reason to doubt INEC to conduct a free, fair and credible

elections since the commission has been sensitising the people on collection and usage of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and the lapses inherent in the last general elections.

“Members of APC have been screened, committed; while the dubious ones have been shown the way out, one of them who decamped recently has been on the party’s suspicion list and failed to win his ward during the last primaries. APC is gaining more ground and recently you saw how the Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, adopted APC, its presidential and gubernatorial candidates.

“So, I want to advise Deltans to give their total support to APC, cast all their votes for the party and dis-

regard the last minute confusion organised by mischief makers that another candidate from the Labour Party has been adopted,” Osoloka stated.

Also speaking, the Director General of Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Delta State APC governorship candidate, Benjamin Ogbalor, called on Nigerians and Deltans to come out en-mass and cast their votes for General Mohammadu Buhari and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and all APC flag bearers come February 14th and 28th respectively.

While describing the16 years of PDP rule in Nigeria and Delta State as a monumental failure, Ogbalor called on all and sundry to embrace change by giving their votes to APC.

L-R: Director-General, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Peter Obi; Delta State Governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; National Chairman, PDP, Adamu Mu’Azu, and running mate to Senator Okowa, Kingsley Otuaro, during PDP presidential campaign in Asasa on Wednesday .

FG clueless on power, says Oshiomhole

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do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, says it’s a shame that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Federal Government budgeted almost a billion naira for the purchase of diesel and petrol to fuel generators in the Presidential Villa.

He added that this showed that the PDP-led government has given up and has no clue on how to fix the problem in the power sector.

The governor said the fact that the Federal Government has to use generators at the nation’s seat of power indicates that the common man has no hope of getting uninterrupted power supply from the power distribution companies in the country and should therefore punish the inefficiency of the PDP-led Federal Government by voting them out in the February 14 general election.

Speaking yesterday at the campaign rallies of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at Ibillo in Akoko Edo Local Government and Otuo in Owan East Local Government Area of the state, Oshiomhole said 16 years after taking over power, the PDP was yet to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in the country.

He said: “When PDP took over power in 1999, they promised to fix the power challenge of Nigeria in six months. Now it

Poll: South-South group accuses INEC of bias FRANCIS SUBERU

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group under the agies of Southern Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities, SNEN, has berated the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for planning to favour the northern part of the country in the forthcoming general elections.

According to the group’s Chairman, Ogoriba Wilhelm, INEC’s biased disposition is evident in the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, saying the country

was being structured by INEC in such a way and manner that will favour the northerners, even as he alleged that some top INEC officials are working closely with All Progressives Congress, APC. Wilhelm, who addressed a press conference at Lagos Island on Wednesday, noted that the unjust pressure Jonathan was subjected to was as a result of “born to rule” mentality of the northerners.

He said: “They think they have been shortchanged because the country was designed in

a manner that leadership was given to them and any other person not from the north is not supposed to rule, so for Jonathan who comes from a conquered part of the country to seek second term in office is a total disloyalty and they have decided to take the power back through election they are planning to favour them.

“Out of 10 top officials in charge of this upcoming election, eight of them are from the North West and some of them are now close associates of APC and having such relationship with a top contending

party will definitely take its toll on the election.”

He, however, cautioned Nigerians to think over the kind of change they want as some people are coming with the mindset of turning national properties to their own.

“Who are these people that want to take power, those that have turned state properties to their own? Those that have stolen from the west and now want to expand their coast to have federal might? If we are clamouring for change, the question is for what? Right now, there is something on ground,

49

why don’t we allow it to continue and we improve on it.

On the issue of Boko Haram, if Jonathan wins the coming election knowing that he would not exceed the next four years, the Book Haram will subside because it is just a militant wing of enforcing Jonathan’s removal.”

On his part, Secretary General, Lower Niger Congress, Mr. Tony Nnadi, said 2015 is the year that would define whether Nigeria will remain as a country or not, as the need for restructuring was inevitable.

is 16 years, yet we have no light. In the Presidential Villa in Abuja, one billion naira was budgeted for the purchase of diesel. So it is obvious that the PDP government cannot give us power. With PDP there is no hope.

“All we can do for you is to buy transformers and extend cables, but whether you get light or not is not in the hand of the state government. It is in the hands of PDPled Federal Government. Even in Government House, there is no light. Even Edo, Delta and Ondo electricity have been sold to private individuals. It is these private individuals that bring bills for light not provided.

“The issue of darkness is everywhere in the country. For 16 years now, they have not been able to fix light. Nobody can solve it unless it is addressed from the federal level. Government is not supposed to send people to collect money from you when they didn’t give you light, but that is the situation today.

“The solution is to change the head so the entire body can become whole. That is why this year, we are calling for change. Change from darkness to light because if we don’t make the change now, we will remain in darkness for the next four years.

“As long as we don’t have light, we can’t get jobs because you can’t create jobs when there is no power. Take a critical look at it; a woman decides to open a salon shop which is supposed to be a small scale business, but today, after buying the necessary equipment, you must get a generator, purchase diesel to run it and provide money for maintenance cost”.

Oshiomhole said the PDP Federal Government has failed to deliver on its promises to the country after being saddled with the responsibility to make a difference in the nation in the past one decade and therefore do not deserve to remain in power beyond this election year.

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North

Friday, February 6, 2015

Hoodlums snatch 2,179 PVCs in Nasarawa –REC IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said 2,179 Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, were snatched by unknown persons during a distribution exercise in Nasarawa State.

Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the state, Abdullahi Danyaya, disclosed this yesterday at a stakeholders meeting in Lafia, the state capital.

He said out of 1,223,388 PVCs received by the commission, 956,468 have been distributed, while 266,920 were yet to be distributed.

He further stated that the commission received 1,807 card readers in readiness for the February polls, while 750 were being expected.

According to Danyaya, the card readers are among innovations the commission introduced in the electoral process to checkmate fraud.

He said INEC has not

made any provision for special polling units for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state due to non-existence of refugee camp in the state.

The INEC official noted that the commission’s office in Lafia had received ballot boxes and other non-sensitive materials for conduct of the general elections in the state.

Corroborating the views of security heads in the state, Commandant of the Nigerian Security and

Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Musa Andekin, warned politicians to avoid issues that would degenerate into bloodshed before, during and after the elections.

His words: “Nasarawa is a fragile state because killings have taken place for some time therefore, we need no more bloodshed. Security agencies are committed to peaceful election; hence, I call for cooperation among stakeholders to ensure peaceful conduct of the general elections.”

Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and Mai Tangle, Abdu Maisharu, during the governor’s campaign visit to Billiri Local Government Area on Wednesday.

PHOTO: NAN

Beddings, TV, others cause cancer, expert warns …says disease gulps $200trn globally MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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ur phones, television, beddings, clothing and many other items we use daily cause cancer to our body, a medical expert, Dr Olufemi Ladeinde, has said.

Ladeinde, who practiced medicine for about three decades in the United States of America, and is now a consultant at Rencare Integrated Healthcare Services, Lagos, stated this in Abuja yesterday during introduction of the first medicine for cancer into Africa and Nigeria.

The drug, Vidatox 30 CH, attracts about 30,000 Germans with cancer to Cuba where it is produced by Labiofam Group, and remains one of the most reliable medications for the disease, Ladeinde said.

Cancer, he noted, costs about $200 trillion worldwide to manage, adding that the disease now affects people of all ages, not just the elderly that had previously been known with the disease.

On how cancer develops in the body, he said unhealthy eating habits and meals promote the disease.

“You are poisoned by the food you eat, the water you drink, sometimes by the cloth you wear, the bed you sleep in. How are you not going to get cancer in that environment, it is impossible. The beds you sleep in these days, all the beddings, blanket, bed sheet are all supposed to be immersed in fire retardants.

“Fire retardants are cancerated; but you sleep in the bed and you breathe in every night. Six hours.

For eight hours every night as you sleep, your

mobile phone is close to you in your bed, your flat screen is against the wall. You said it is switched off, you only use your remote control, the red light is still on, and the waves are still coming. If you are sleeping on a bed that is made of springs, the springs in your bed become amplifiers,” he maintained.

Besides, the doctor said sleeping at the right time remains a major factor to checkmating all diseases, including cancer. This he said help in detoxification of the body system. “You can’t detoxify, your body does. For you to detoxify, you need to sleep. And, you need to be asleep by half past ten. You know why? It is when you are sleeping that your body detoxifies. It knows what to do.

And the hormones that support you to do this are many.

They call a board meeting when you are sleeping. The chairman of the board is melatholine.

“Melatholine is the hormone that puts you to sleep.

Your body begins to produce it as soon as it is dark. It is automatic, it is natural. But production of melathone stops at midnight and takes off at 2am. So, if you are not in bed at 10:30, you know what will happen, melatholine is not going to call a board meeting.

If it doesn’t call a board meeting, detoxification is not going to happen. If detoxification doesn’t happen, you are dead. It is as simple as that.

“You then say that but I sleep for six hours. Nobody sleeps for six hours at a stretch. You know what you do? You sleep in circles. Each sleep cycle is only 90 minutes.

So, you go in, you go out. Over one night, you sleep maybe four or five cycles. The very first cycle is the one that does detoxification. If you miss that cycle, detoxification for that night is gone. You will accumulate the toxins till the next day,” he added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Controversy trails burnt Katsina church building JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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burnt pastorage that belongs to St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dutsinma council area of Katsina State is generating controversy in the state.

The building was gutted by fire days ago, but people are divided as to the actual cause of the incident.

Chairman of the council area, Lawal Bature, while reacting to the issue, said the fire may have been due to electrical fault.

He said such things happen often and that the fire should be seen as an act of God and not caused by arsonists.

“We should not blame anyone for the fire incident. This thing can happen anywhere and to anyone, but I don’t think it was deliberate.”

But the church pastor, Bala Williams, differed, saying the church was set on fire by suspected miscreants who set fire to the pastorage’s rooftop.

According to Williams, “I was sleeping in my house with my wife and children on Tuesday midnight when I heard an unusual movement on my rooftop; the

next thing I saw was fire burning on all parts of my house.”

He said the fire gutted the entire building and his belongings, adding that he had to rush to the boy’s quarters in the church premises housing youth corps members and mobilised them to put off the fire.

He added that while searching behind his burnt house, he recovered a plastic bottle containing petrol and solution, and that he suspected it was what the suspects had used to burn the house.

It would be recalled that last year, a church in Jibia council area of the state had been set ablaze for the second time by suspected miscreants in the area.

Gov Shema

Borno builds houses for monarchs in Maiduguri INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

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orno State government has built residences for seven traditional rulers to occupy whenever they are in Maiduguri, the state capital, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Baba Kaka Garbai, has said.

He said Governor Kashim Shettima’s administration was determined to accord traditional rulers all the respect and attention they deserve.

Garbai, while inspect-

ing the traditional rulers’ houses located at Bama road in Maiduguri yesterday, said the administration has high regard for traditional institutions, and as such would do anything humanly possible to make their reign very comfortable and successful.

The engineer constructing the houses, Engr. Emat Mohammed Kois, who took the commissioner round the seven houses, said all the construction work have been completed, with furnishing also almost completed.

Friday, February 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

51

World News We are summoned to push back against those who would distort our religion for their nihilistic ends

–United States President, Barack Obama PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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iplomatic efforts are under way to end renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine.

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are heading to the capital Kiev to present a new peace initiative.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is also in Kiev, said the US wanted a diplomatic solution, but would not close its eyes to Russian aggression.

Fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels has killed more than 5,000 people since last April.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending regular troops across the border.

Russia denies direct involvement but says some Russian volunteers are fighting alongside the rebels.

Speaking in a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Kerry said it was a “critical moment for this region, for this country, for the prospects of peace”.

“We want a diplomatic resolution but we cannot close our eyes to tanks that are crossing the border from Russia and coming into Ukraine,” he said.

US President Barack Obama is said to be considering sending “defensive” weapons to Ukraine.

The US is currently only provid-

Ukraine crisis: Leaders push for peace in new diplomatic effort

US Secretary of State John Kerry (right) met President Poroshenko in Kiev, yesterday

ing “non-lethal” assistance.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said any decision by the US to supply weapons to Ukraine would “inflict colossal damage to Russian-American relations”.

Several senior Western officials have also expressed concern at the prospect of US arms being sent to Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier likened the option to “throwing more weapons on the bonfire”, while Nato commander Philip Breed-

love said governments must take into account that the move “could trigger a more strident reaction from Russia”.

Meanwhile, Hollande said that he and Mrs Merkel would present a new peace proposal based on the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine, which could be “acceptable to all”.

However, he warned that diplomacy “cannot go on indefinitely”.

“Ukraine is at war. Heavy weapons are being used and civilians are being killed daily,” the French leader said.

Hollande and Mrs Merkel will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday.

A spokesman for the Kremlin said Mr Putin would discuss “the fastest possible end to the civil war in south-eastern Ukraine”.

The talks in Kiev come as Nato unveils details of a plan to bolster its military presence in Eastern Europe in response to the Ukraine crisis.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg says it will be the biggest reinforcement of its collective defence since the end of the Cold War.

90-year-old Mugabe falls down stairs during public function

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imbabwe’s 90-year-old President Robert Mugabe fell down a staircase as he walked off a podium after addressing supporters at Harare international airport, a news agency’s correspondent said.

He had just returned from Ethiopia where he took over the rotating chairmanship of the African Union.

Africa’s oldest leader, who turns 91 later this month, had concluded his homecoming speech when he tumbled to his knees on a short flight of stairs in an incident witnessed by journalists and hundreds of supporters.

He was quickly helped up by aides and walked to a waiting car.

Mugabe took over the post of African Union chairman on Friday, replacing Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

In his speech, Mugabe said he felt honoured that Zimbabwe was elected chair of the AU, pledging to use his position to push for development in the continent.

“The AU must be the engine of development in Africa. We should be the engine of development in Africa,” Mugabe said.

“We want real progress to be achieved to develop all our countries.”

He said “no African country” opposed Zimbabwe’s elevation to lead the organisation.

The former liberation war

WORLD BULLETIN ‘ISIS executes three of its Chinese militants’ The Islamic State has killed three Chinese militants who joined its ranks in Syria and Iraq and later attempted to flee, a Chinese staterun newspaper said, the latest account of fighters from China embroiled in the Middle East conflict.

China has expressed concern about the rise of the Islamic State, nervous about the effect it could have on its Xinjiang region, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan.

But Beijing has also shown no sign of wanting to take part in the U.S.-led coalition’s efforts to use military force against the militant group.

Around 300 Chinese extremists were fighting with the Islamic State after traveling to Turkey, the Global Times, a tabloid run by China’s ruling Communist Party’s official newspaper, said in December.

Ghana’s prison hit by deadly clashes after fire At least one person has been killed and four others wounded in clashes at a prison in Ghana’s Kumasi city when inmates tried to escape after a fire broke out, officials have said.

Security officers battled with the prisoners, leaving one inmate dead and four policemen wounded, they added.

The prisoners tried to escape as they were being evacuated from their cells after the fire broke out.

The fire was caused by lightning, officials said.

“We had to open the inmates’ [cells] for their lives to be spared,” Kumasi prison spokesman James Annan told a news agency.

Rebels release three South Sudanese hostages

Mugabe

hero is Africa’s third-longest serving leader.

He was met at the airport by a group of cheering supporters who raised placards with messages of support.

“Your greatness resonates across Africa and beyond” read one card.

The leader also used the op-

portunity to lambast Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta for appearing before the International Criminal Court (ICC), when the AU had advised him against it.

“I told him that you will make your father’s soul feel ashamed.

We don’t want to hear that again.”

A South Sudanese civil servant and two humanitarian workers have been freed by rebels who detained them when their U.N. World Food Program helicopter landed by mistake in a rebel-held region, a WFP spokeswoman said yesterday.

The incident came at a sensitive time in the world’s newest country with President Salva Kiir and rebel commander Riek Machar seeking to seal a deal to end a conflict that has ravaged the oil-producing state since December 2013.

WFP said in a statement that the three had been picked up.

“It is unacceptable to harass or detain people travelling on a humanitarian asset,” WFP said.

“We call on all parties to recognize and respect the neutrality of these humanitarian flights and to refrain from interfering with the delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance to people in need.”

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Friday, February 6, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that the bearer of these names Solomon Braebiyo Young and Solomon Braebiyo refers to one and the same person.

All documents remain valid. Niger Delta University and the general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that the bearer of these names Bendict Tamunokubie and Benedict Tamunokubie Godswill refers to one and the same person.

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TRINITY DOMINANCE MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

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General public take note.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to worship God. Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Trigis Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: JOHN IFEANYI AMOS - GENERAL OVERSEER PUBLIC NOTICE

GOD’S GRACE DIVINE MISSION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for CHANGE OF TRUSTEES AND AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990

COMMENT

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nkem Gladys Ohanuzuo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nkem Gladys Kazeem. All former documents remain valid.General Public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly addressed and known as Miss Oginni Oluwakemi Ileladewa, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Johnson Oluwakemi Ileladewa.

All former documents remain valid.

Ikinyinwa/Iponda Community High School Iponda, State of Osun and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adelaja Salimat Adebukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Makinde Salimat Adebukola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

EZEIKE: Formely known as Ezeike Nwakaego Gladys, now wish to be known and address as Ekwueme Gladys Nwakaego.

All former documents remains valid. NYSC, Fed Poly Oko and public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IKE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ike Perpetua Ebere, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Arinze Perpetua Ebere.

All former documents remains valid. Public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IFEDIORA: Formerly known as Miss Ifediora Anthonia Onyinyechi, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Ekwenze Anthonia Onyinyechi.

All former documents remains valid. Public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OPARA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Bright Oluchi Opara, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bright Oluchi Egesimba. All former documents remain valid. Imo State University and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AKHIDENOR: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Akhidenor Omonigho Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aisuan Omonigho Mary. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME This is to inform the general public that the original Certificate of Occupancy in respect of plot No. BNB 8038 belonging to Agbo John Agbo is missing. Whoever finds it should contact Agbo John Agbo of No. 8 Ochoga Lane Otukpo and Ministry of Lands & Survey, Makurdi.

1.John Ifeanyi Amos - General Overseer 2. Martins Taiye Adebayo 3. Ali Charles Dick

1. Evang. Danjuma Goshwe Fwenji 2. Dr. John Kat-Dang Jinung 3. Mr. Ezekiel Etukudo 4. Mrs. Elizabeth John Hirse 5. Mr. Chir-tau Vongman 6. Barr. Tampi Kup-sar Wudapba 7. Mr. Sunday Mallo

CHANGE OF NAME

OGIRI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogiri Justina,now wish to be known and addressed as Olomu-Canus Justina Tubolayefa. All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE:

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

BABATUNDE: Formerly known and addressed as Babatunde Funmilayo Yetunde, now wish to be known and addressed as Segbeji Funmilayo Yetunde. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

- Deceased

- Removed COMMENT

1. Evang. Danjuma Goshwe Fwenji 2. Dr. John Kat-Dang Jinung 3. Mr. Ezekiel Etukudo 4. Mrs. Elizabeth John Hirse 5. Evang. (Mrs.) Deborah Danjuma G. Fwenji 6. Mr. Chir-tau Vongman 7. Barr. Tampi Kup-sar Wudapba

- Retained - Retained - Retained - Retained - New - Retained - Retained

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. Teaching people to live Holy and spirit filled lives 2. Saving and raising people to serve the Lord 3. Impacting Spiritual gifts into lives of men and women

Any objection to the Changes should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: EZEKIEL ETUKUDO. FOR: SECRETARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mufutau Suliyat Busola, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Muftau Suliat Busola. All former documents remain valid. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHIJIOKE: Formerly known as Miss Chijioke Chiamaka Christabel, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Nwodo Chiamaka Christabel.

All former documents remains valid. Public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeniyi Kuburat Toyosi, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Adeniji kuburat Toyosi.

All former documents remain valid.

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta and general public take note

PUBLIC NOTICE MARGARET MODUPE EKUNDAYO FOUNDATION The above-named Foundation has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

LOSS OF ORIGINAL LAND DOCUMENTS

SIGNED: EZEKIEL ETUKUDO FOR: SECRETARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CHANGE OF NAME

NDIAYE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ndiaye Fatou Cisse now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olateju Fatou Cisse. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that the bearer of these names Ibere-Azini Faith Weleguo , Ibere-Azini Faith and Ibere-Azini Faith W. refers to one and the same person. All documents remain valid. Niger Delta University and the general public should please take note.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

All comments or objections should be forwarded to the Chairman Board of Trustees God’s Grace Divine Mission or the undersigned within 21 working days of this publication.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Osundairo Esther Oluwasomidotun now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olayiwola Esther Oluwasomidotun.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ebikabo-Ere Juliet John, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ebikabo-Ere Juliet Orubo. All documents remain valid. UBA Plc & the general public should please take note

Chief (Mrs.) Margaret Modupe Ekundayo Mr. Martin Olayimika Ekundayo Mr. Felix Oluwagbemiga Ekundayo Mr. Peter Oluwafemi Ekundayo Mr. Emmanuel Abiodun Ekundayo

Public display on appointment of Evangelist (Mrs.) Deborah Danjuma G. Fwenji as a Trustee to God’s Grace Divine Mission, in accordance with provision of the Constitution and for purpose of Company and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990 Part ‘C’ which make it mandatory for proponent of all new appointed Trustee.

Hereby announces a twenty one (21) working days Public notice of information.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mary Williams Habu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Mary Daniel Dacher. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OKEKE: Formerly known as Miss Okeke Ezinne Maryann, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Nwankwo Ezinne Maryann. All former documents remains valid.

NYSC, UNN and public note.

Signed: Agbo John Agbo.

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original land documents and re-issue belonging to Mrs Cynthian Adaora Okolo with Approval No. KB.41789( Old file No. FCT .2032) in favour of Hanifat Yusuf issued by the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) situated at Plot No J285. Of about 1200sqm in Mpape layout.. If found contact Abuja Geographic Information System and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ikotun Oluwabunmi Kemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Funto-Akinyemi Oluwabumi Kemi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKWENZE: Formerly known as Miss Ekwenze Lauretta Ngozi, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Chukwuma Lauretta Ngozi. All former documents remains valid. Public note.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote quality education that meet all international standards.

2.To nurture talented individuals who will contribute to the betterment of the society and humanity at large.

3.To set up schools and oversee the managerial structure of schools to ensure qualitative and excellent standard of education.

4.To empower the youths to be more productive, and more determined to succeed by re-channeling their abilities and zeal into positively constructive ventures that will have direct meaningful impact in the life of the citizens.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: HAWKES LEGAL; 1ST FLOOR, 23A MARINA (MAMMAN KONTAGORA HOUSE) MARINA, LAGOS.

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSOCIATION OF MOBILE PHONE TECHNICIANS, ONDO STATE

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE:

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The general public is hereby informed that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Mr. Akinola Ige 3. Mr. Oluwafemi Frank Oladele 5. Mr. Aminu Saka Arowolo 7. Mr. Adolphus Chukwuemeka Ibegwam 9. Mr. Oluwole Anthony Olubodun

2. Mr. Victor Okechukwu Efe 4. Pastor Olaoye Williams 6. Mr. Sola Joseph 8. Mr. Ayorinde Alasoadura 10. Mr. Ayinde Taliatu Adewale

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

To empower the youths To enhance unity of members To arrange training and self-developing programmes for members To encourage self – reliance of members To render assistance to the poor and needy.

Any objection to the proposed registration must be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: EKERETE UDOFOT ESQ., PP: EKERETE UDOFOT & CO.

Friday, February 6, 2015

My team is still a work in progress, s, despite the Super 6 success. We are yett to reach the peak we desired

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

Gervinho urges mates to win trophy 54

–National U-20 Coach, Manu Garba

Referees enthuse over UK training

T Musa

Ahmed Musa misses Doumbia at CSKA EVEREST ONYEWUCHI WITH AGENCY REPORT

N

igeria international, Ahmed Musa, has said that Russian champions, CSKA Moscow, will cope without Cote d’Ivoire ace, Seydou Doumbia, who has joined Roma.

Musa said Doumbia was a great asset to the team and will be greatly missed, but maintained the team will do well without him.

“Doumbia was a good player for us and good friend. He contributed well to the team’s suc-

cess and no doubt we will miss him here, but the team will surely do well without him around.

We just have to move on as he has done same. I wish him well in his new club, Roma,” Musa said.

Cote d’Ivoire striker, Doumbia, scored 61 goals in 95

games he played for the Russian army team between 2010 and 2015.

He is currently in the Elephants squad that has qualified for Sunday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.

However, the Cote d’Ivoire head coach, Herve Renard, feels his players need to improve from their semi-final display against DR Congo on Wednesday, if they are to end a 23-year wait for an AFCON title.

The Elephants beat DR Congo 3-1 to put themselves one win away from a first Nations title since 1992.

“To be fair with you, I didn’t like this game,” Renard, 46, said.”I think we didn’t do all the things we should.”

The Frenchman added, “I think sometimes we were too easy. We are in the final; this is the most important thing.”

he second batch of Nigerian referees to be sponsored on a capacity building programme in the United Kingdom returned to the country yesterday, full of appreciation to the Amaju Pinnick-led Board of Nigeria Football Federation.

The referees completed an eight-day training programme in England and departed Heathrow Airport, London for Lagos on Wednesday night aboard an Arik Airline flight, arriving Lagos yesterday morning.

Mr. Tunde Adelakun, the Director of CAF Football Hall of Fame, who organised the training programme on behalf of the NFF, disclosed that he assembled some of the best and experienced English Referees’ Instructors, who belong to a consortium of former referees that formed an outfit known as You Are the Ref. International Ltd. with its Head Office in Sheffield.

Among the emphasis during the course were: “Manangement and recognition of foul challenges; correct match incident analysis; high and medium intensity physical fitness training sessions and; correct match preparations.”

In a statement yesterday, the NFF said apart from watching some matches on television, such as Chelsea vs Liverpool, for post match technical discussions, the Nigerian referees were accorded recognition when they arrived for the second leg of the Capital One Cup competition between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspurs, and at the Premier League match between the Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers.

Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, led the 18 referees to England.

54

Sports

Friday, February 6, 2015

Gervinho urges mates

AFCON 2015

to win trophy

Cote d’Ivoire won 3-1

3

C

ote d’Ivoire winger, Gervinho, has urged his team mates to march to the title after the Elephants defeated Leopards of DR Congo 3-1 in Wednesday’s quarter final.

The AS Roma player netted the second in a 3-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in an exciting semifinal encounter at the Estadio de Bata.

The win secured the Ivoriens’ place in the final of Africa’s showpiece for the third time in nine years.

Having seen his country lose on penalties to Egypt in 2006 before missing from the spot himself in the Elephants loss to Zambia in 2012, Gervinho hopes it will be third time lucky for the West Africans who are seeking their first AFCON title since 1992.

“It was difficult because we faced a good team,” Gervinho said.

“We managed to keep our calm and took advantage of our chances, we were efficient. No matter how you do it, you have to win this kind of games and it’s what we did.

“We are going to enjoy the Gervinho (orange shirt) moment, it has been a long way swerving during the semi final on Wednesday which for us.”

Result Ghana

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

0

E’Guinea

Ibenge ‘gutted’ by final miss

D

R Congo Coach, Florent Ibenge, is gutted by the semifinal loss to Cote d’Ivoire but is proud of The Leopards race at the 2015 Africa Cup. Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday outclassed DR Congo in front of goal with three top draw goals in Bata to win 3-1 and reach Sunday’s final at the same venue.

“I am disappointed with the defeat, we are competitors, we wanted to qualify, but we saw a team that must not be ashamed of their performance, that showed a good side of Congolese

La Liga:

Rodriguez blow for Madrid R

Ibenge

football,” Ibenge said yesterday.

“This team doesn’t have a lot of games mes behind her, six in the he qualifiers and five here. Itt takes time and there ere were e serious players on the other side,” he added. ded.

The Congolese have a chance for consonsolation tomorrow ow in the battle for or bronze medal.

Rodriguez

ea eal al Madrid attacking tack ta c ing ck midfielder, James fi Rodriguez, has been Ro od drriig g guez, ruled ru rul uled out for two with months w ith it h a broken metatarsal.

The Colombia lomb lo mbiia mb ia iinnnternational tern te rnat rn a io at iona nall na requires surgery surg su rger rg ery er y on the fifth th he fift fi fth ft h metatarsal meta me tata ta tars ta r all rs bone off hi his b bo ne o is right after righ ri g t fo gh ffoot ot a fter ft er

sustaining tthe he iinjury n ury in his side’s nj Wednesday 2-1 in over Sevilla on nW e ne ed n sd sday ay y. scored opener Rodriguez scor red d tthe he e o pe p enerr Madrid diving for Real Madri rriid wi with th h a d ivin ivin ng the minute before header in th he 12 12th m 12th inut nute e befo b efore e having leave the field before havi ha ving vi ng g tto o le leav av ve th he fi iel eld d be efo ore half-an-hour. half ha lff-a -an an-ho h u urr.

Sergio Ramos also Defender S errgi ergi gio io Ra R mo m mos os is is a lsso lso out expected to be ruled do u ffor ut or a ffew or ew weeks with an apparent hamweek we ekss wi ek ith a n ap ppa pare pare ent nt h am a mstring that will likely keep stri st ring ng iinjury njjur ury y th hat w illl li il like k ly ke ly k eep ee weekend’s Madrid him out o of tthe he w eeke ee kend nd’s ’s M a rid ad derby against Atletico Madrid. de d erb rby y ag agai insst At A leti le tico co oM adri ad rid. d.

“Sergio had hamstring “S Ser ergi gio ha gi h d a ha h m tr ms trin ing g problem.

We cannot evaluate le em. m W e cann c ca an ot e valu uat ate it yet as must wait days,” Coach we w em usst w u wa ait it ssome o e days om y ,,” ys ” Coa o ch Carlo Ancelotti yesterday Carl Ca rlo rl o An Ance celo ce lott lo ttii sa tt said aid dy esste terd rday ay.

Tunisia risks AFCON blackout

T

unisia faces being banned from the next Africa Cup of Nations after refusing to apologise for accusing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of cheating.

The North Africans made the allegation after conceding a controversial stoppage-time penalty in a 2-1 defeat by Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals on

Tunisia FA boss, Jary

Saturday.

After a meeting on Wednesday, the Tunisian FA refused to apologise with a spokesman saying the team had “suffered scandalous injustice from referees”.

CAF, which fined Tunisia after players confronted referee Rajindraparsad Seechurn after the final whistle, had wanted the 2004 champions to apologise for “in-

sinuations of bias and lack of ethics against CAF and its officials, or to present irrefutable evidence to substantiate the accusations”.

CAF later fined Tunisia $50,000 for what it termed “the aggressive attitude of some supporters in the stands, invasion of the pitch after the final whistle by players and substitutes of the Tunisian team-insulting the referee of the

match and trying to physically assault him-and the regrettable behaviour of the President of the Tunisian Football Federation, Wadie Jary.

The Tunisian federation was also ordered to pay for damages after their players broke a changing-room door and a fridge.

Qualifying for the AFCON 2017 finals starts in June.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘How OkoyaThomas lifted Nigerian tennis’ AFOLABI GAMBARI

A

former Nigerian tennis star, Dr. Sadiq A. Abdullahi, has revealed that the late philanthropist, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, also sponsored tennis in the country despite his renowned affiliation to table tennis.

Abdullahi, who was at different times champion of the Dala Hard Court Championship, told National Mirror yesterday in his tribute that the multiple chieftaincy titles holder had contributed immensely to tennis development in Nigeria.

“Very few people will remember what he personally did to encourage us during our active days and I think it is worth saying at this point,” Abdullahi, who is an Associate Professor at the Florida State University and currently on sabbatical at the Federal University, Kashare, Gombe State said.

“Aside being a reputable patron of the Nigerian Tennis Federation, he also helped me and Rolake Olagbegi as well as our other contemporaries with funds to attend competitions around Africa.

“He also organised junior tennis competitions and donated rackets to junior players to encourage them at different times.”

Okoya-Thomas passed on in

Lagos on Monday and tributes have since poured on him from far and near.

Late Okoya-Thomas

Golf insurance: PGA honours late members

T

he Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria has issued families of deceased members with claims of life insurance benefits due them.

PGA Director, Festus Makelemi, who spoke at a brief ceremony attended by the beneficiaries in Lagos, said: “This is to further communicate that we have not forgotten the dead and the moments they spent with us is indelible.

“Also, this is our own measure to support you in these trying times and we hope it will help mitigate the immediate challenges that you face.”

Sports

Friday, February 6, 2015

Makelemi presented a cheque for N1million naira each to the families of late Umo Edet of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Pender Umuebu of Ikoyi Golf Club and Richard DietteSpiff of Air Assault Golf Club in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The trio passed away last year under different conditions.

Operation Director, Dominic Andrew, said the PGA would also explore measures aimed at educating its almost 200 members on health issues and first aid in critical health condition.

The insurance policy also covers disability for members of the association.

MANDATE

THE

SYLVESTER IKUEJAMOYE

mopheys13@gmail.com 0805-407-1194 94 4 (SMS (S SMS S only) onlly))

Unveil your sports agenda IV

S

port is an all round instrument. Call it medicine for all wounds, and you will be spot-on. Its capacity and capability to heal wounds and to reduce tension is not in doubt.

Sport is positively central to all segments of the society. Little wonder it takes pride of place in the priority list of developed and developing countries. If there is no clear and well structured sports policy, the billions of naira expended on sports will ultimately go down the drain.

In this fourth segment of the topic, annual quarterly sports evaluation conference/colloquium is strongly recommended.

This will help to X-ray and possibly evaluate the level of our sports development. It will also be a period to score various departments, administrators and federations based on performance. Part of the reasons why we have not got it right or grapple with some nauseating issues with our sports development strategy is our inability to closely monitor programmes and activities of the federations.

The conference being advocated is that of a very serious working conference and not the type that usually turn out to be jamboree with heavy money expended but little result. With so many retired and experienced as well as very exposed sports men and women all over Nigeria, manpower should not be our problem, more so, that our Ivory Towers are loaded with sports’ technocrats of international standard in Sports Management and marketing.

From Ahmadu Bello Uni-

versity, Zaria to University of Ibadan and indeed some other universities in the country, they are all over. The combination of theory and practical would serve as unique blend that will make the outcome of the conference/ colloquium interesting and result oriented. The outcome will also serve as reservoir for future consultation and guidance in our determined efforts in laying a good foundation and platform for sports sustainable growth and development.

The need for sports policy blue print is Germaine in all ramifications if we are serious about sustainable growth and development in our sports sector. This, in my humble opinion, should be what ardent sports lovers demand from those seeking our votes. Sports should be considered as an important sector which must be given priority. It is advisable that those being assigned responsibilities in sport sector should be people with the required experience and passion for sports. It is practically a common but unwritten rule or law that whoever is to be appointed a Minister of Justice must necessarily be a lawyer. Same for whoever is to be appointed Minister of Health must also be medical doctor or a pharmacist or a product of health related discipline.

In the same token, no one is appointed as Accountant-General of the federation if not a trained Accountant.

It is as a result of this that consideration must be given to those who have passion and special interest in sport when appointment is to be made in

55

the future. Sport is unique and more complex. It goes beyond mere paper qualification. Passion, outstanding interest, dedication and commitment must be of serious consideration. Paper qualification alone has proved inadequate in the past. My argument here is that while relevant academic qualification is important, it should be an addition to other very important indices as enumerated above so as to be able to drive and implement the Sports Policy Blue Print of our dream.

The level of sports followership is massive. There is therefore, the need for concerted effort not only to sustain the huge interest but also to keep pace with the other part of the developed world. The sector can only enjoy reasonable private sector participation if there is a well and clearly defined sports policy.

So, there is no better time than now for those seeking our votes to unveil their sports agenda for Nigeria.

Next week, the concluding part of this topic will address yet another critical and important aspect of the expected ideal sports policy for the country.

Hard but the bitter truth The size of a man is not a measurement of his comfort or discomfort. Try not to live a life of deceit. You may fool people for a while but certainly, not for ever. Hard But The Bitter Truth.

Until next week Friday, stay out of trouble and God bless Nigeria.

NBF boss, Minimah

Ibile Games 2015 ends today

Oshodi

A

fter two weeks of competition, the Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games 2015 will be rounded off

today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi; his counterpart in the Education Ministry, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye; Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Lagos State House of Assembly, permanent secretaries, tutor generals, executive secretaries of Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas, principals of public and private schools

in the state, chief executive officers of sponsors of Ibile Games at the ceremony where the popular Baba Ajasco will entertain spectators amidst district march past and callisthenic display.

The Main Organising Ministry of the competition said yesterday that events would commence at 10am ahead of the finals of 100m in both JSS and SSS boys and girls, 100m (deaf) boys and girls, 4 x 100m in both JSS/SSS boys and girls, all of who will get token reward from the organisers.

WORLD RECORD

Highest scores for Top Skater

Vol. 05 No. 1043

N150

Friday, February 6, 2015

The highest scores for the 1997 arcade classic Top Skater were achieved by Tai KuangNeng (Malaysia). On the Easy/Novice course, Tai Kuan scored 1,160,526.

Your vote matters: A clarion call on Nigerian youth

I

am speaking directly to Nigerians born between 1980s and 1990s. As a member of this generation, we have watched Nigeria emerge from its dark days of military dictatorship into a fledgling immature democracy. The purpose of this piece is to implore, coerce, beg, and cajole you to exercise your right to vote on Valentine Day. My generation occupies a very special temporal space in Nigeria’s history.

Some of us were born towards the end of Buhari/Idiagbon tenure, most of us were born in the Babangida years and the youngest of us were born under Abacha regime. We remember tuning in to our television sets to watch our military leaders promise elections and transition to democracy year after year. We also remember the excitement that surrounded the 1993 elections - who can forget ‘Hope 93’? We saw the two main parties run

R

eports yesterday said world’s number one fighter, Floyd Mayweather Jr., has been denied a visa to enter Australia due to his violent past.

Mayweather was scheduled to embark on a two-day promotional

Guest Columnist

Lanre Jimoh

spirited campaigns that culminated in the freest and fairest election Nigeria has ever seen. Unfortunately, we also watched the great MKO Abiola arrested, languished in an unlawful detention and eventually died under mysterious circumstances.

Fast forward to 2015, we have enjoyed an uninterrupted 16 years of democratic government albeit with a lot of imperfections. The process has been ugly and the results are reflective of that. When kingmakers impose candidates using all the powers at their disposal, we end up with rulers and not leaders. Worst of all, we end up with rulers whose main goal is to reward their benefactors and thereby ensure self-perpetuation at the expense of the masses they took an oath to serve. In 2010, when acting President Jonathan was sworn in, I wrote an article urging him to have just a one point agenda: ensuring credible elections. Unfortunately, Mr. President had his own agenda.

Historically, democracy is not a native form of government to most groups in Nigeria. The Igbo people’s council of elders’ form of government is the closest thing to a democratic government in pre-colonial Nigeria. Democracy was birthed in Athens around 600 BC and now perfected by the United States of America today. However, the largest democracy in the world is India, which shares many similarities with Nigeria like a heterogeneous, diverse population with multiple religions and mul-

MY GENERATION OCCUPIES A VERY SPECIAL TEMPORAL SPACE IN

NIGERIA’S

HISTORY tiple party system that features a main ruling party and a coalition of smaller opposition parties. When we adopt a system of government that is not native to us, there is a learning curve associated with it and we must expect some growing pains. That is why I get irritated when people compare us with the USA (whose bi-cameral legislature and presidential system of government we adopted- wrongfully or rightly?) The USA has had over 200 years to perfect their democracy and we are less than 20 years into ours!

This brings me to my main point: Even in the USA, election malpractices do occur (from the election of John Kennedy in 1960 to the election of George W. Bush in 2000). Again, my generation is old enough to remember how close the votes were in Florida and how we were disappointed about how the whole recount issue was handled.

In the end, George Bush won Florida by only 537 votes! Can you imagine if those 537 people decided not to vote because they thought that ‘their votes would not affect the outcome of the election’? That is why I am pleading with you to go out there, get your PVCs

and vote.

I decided to write this article as a concerned Nigerian in Diaspora. I had the opportunity to participate in the last elections as I was back home doing my youth service and it felt amazing. Unfortunately, our electoral institutions are not strong enough to allow absentee ballots yet; so I will be unable to vote next month. However, in my discussions with my friends in Nigeria, there is a new way of disenfranchising people- making it impossible to get their PVCs. My fellow Nigerians, this is only a ploy and we will not allow systematic rigging.

Even in the USA, some southern states have been creative in filtering which Americans are eligible to vote. The most famous one again is Florida in the 2012 election.

The Tea Party republicans put up rigid voter ID laws to disenfranchise African Americans and other immigrant population. The result was a backlash that saw President Obama winning Florida handedly with 74,000 votes. In fact there was a 102 year old African American woman in Florida, who went to the polling station multiple times and had to wait almost four hours in order to cast her vote. There was another 92 year old man, who waited five hours to cast his vote. These are people who remember the days they were legally ineligible to vote. They saw their friends die for the right to vote and they are willing to do whatever they can to ensure that that right is never taken away from them by ridiculous ‘new voter suppression laws’!

Please get your PVC even if it takes five hours to wait. Then, I want to urge you to make up your mind on who you want to vote for. Your vote does matter and will count.

Happy Valentine’s Day in advance Nigeria!

Dr.Jimoh wrote from Tennessee, USA

Sport Extra Domestic battery earns Mayweather Australia visa denial tour for charity-based events in Sydney in conjunction with prominent Australian publicist, Max Markson, only to be refused entry on the grounds of being convicted and jailed in 2012

for a domestic battery offence involving a former girlfriend.

“The Government takes very seriously its role in protecting the Australian community from the risk of harm by

non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct and/or conduct that is of serious concern,” Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Michaelia Cash, said yes-

terday.

Mayweather, who had been expected to announce a mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao during Sunday’s Super Bowl, has been on holiday in the Caribbean.

Mayweather

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