Binder1 june 4,2014

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 106

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Confab okays three-year moratorium on fuel subsidy removal lNew funding scheme for SWF rejected Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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he National Conference yesterday resolved to steer a middle course

on the proposal for a total removal of fuel subsidy.

After two days of heated debate, delegates endorsed a compromised position to give the Federal

Government a three- year moratorium during which it must put in place the necessary refining infrastructure to pave the way for the removal of the con-

troversial scheme.

The resolution came just as some delegates pushed for the removal of the Deputy Chairman of the conference, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, over alleged manipulation of

some decisions of the conference to protect some interest groups.

The delegates were protesting Akinyemi’s refusal to allow a division of the house to ascertain the true position of the confer-

ence on the issue of making port development and ownership a matter on the concurrent legislative list.

At the resumption for the afternoon session of the conference yesterday, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Chibok: IG overrules Mbu on protest ban

lRight to peaceful protests inalienable, says police boss lOur protest is lawful, Ezekwesili, others insist lGroup sues FCT police chief, seeks N200m damages Tunde Oyesina, Emmanuel Onani, Johnchuks Onuanyim and Ummal-Fadal Babagirie Abuja

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he Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday reversed the decision of the Commissioner of Police, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, banning protests over the abduction of over 200 pupils abducted from Chibok, Borno State in April.

According to Abubakar, peaceful protests cannot be banned because it is the inalienable rights of Nigerians.

Mbu had on Monday clamped a ban on protests in the FCT in connection with the abduction of the schoolgirls, saying this was necessary to prevent a breach of the peace in the face of brewing tension

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arising from the activities of some fringe groups opposed to the campaign.

Justifying the ban, Mbu, in a statement, said: “As the FCT police boss, I cannot fold my arms and watch this lawlessness. Information reaching us is that too soon dangerous elements will join the groups under the guise of protest and detonate explosive aimed at embarrassing the government.

“Accordingly, protests on the Chibok girls are hereby banned with immediate effect. I urge all to encourage our security agencies in this war and appreciate them for the sacrifices we have made and are still making.”

But amid the outrage over the order, Abubakar explained that there was no order banning peaceful assemblies or protests anywhere in Nigeria.

In reference to Mbu’s order, he said what the police CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Former acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Sarah Alade (left) and CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, during the handing over ceremony on the assumption of duty by Emefiele in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Atiku: No more rift with Obasanjo Onyekachi Eze and Wale Elegbede

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ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday affirmed that his relationship with former President Oluse-

gun Obasanjo was now cordial.

According to him, he has put the past behind him and there is no more rift between him and his former boss who worked against his presidential

ambition in 2007.

Atiku therefore told leaders of Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), a group that recently embarked on a mission to reconcile Obasanjo and his former

deputy, that he no longer harboured hatred or enmity against the former president.

Obasanjo and Atiku had engaged in a bitter power struggle in the runup to the 2007 presidential

election.

The former president had deployed state instruments against Atiku, including investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Pension law: Akpabio seeks removal of N100m medical ceiling for ex-govs }4

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Chibok: IG overrules Mbu on protest ban CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

issued was an “advisory notice, enjoining citizens to apply caution in the said rallies, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.”

Irrespective of his clarification, the main group championing the release of the girls, #BringBackOurGirls, headed by former Vice-President, World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala Usman headed to the court yesterday to challenge the ban.

The group also vowed to continue with the protest, saying it was lawful.

The IG at a press briefing in Abuja reiterated the police’s earlier statement that the right to peaceful assembly was inalienable as it was constitutional.

Abubakar, represented by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), stated that the “police did not ban peaceful rallies” but only issued advisory notice “to protesters to be wary of criminal elements, who may hijack the exercise to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.”

Responding to questions from reporters, he said peaceful protests were “in line with democratic norms and customs,” add-

ing that the present police force “has demonstrated a very strong sense of democratic policing.”

In a veiled rebuke of Mbu, Abubakar said: “The ultimate authority of the police flows from the Inspector General of Police.”

He, however, warned protesters to apply caution “against the backdrop of current security challenges in the country, coupled with a recent intelligence report of a likely infiltration and hijack of otherwise innocuous and peaceful protests by some criminal elements having links with insurgents.”

The about-turn by the police came as the #BringBackOurGirls

groups sought a court order against the ban and insisted that the protests were legal.

Ezekwesili and Usman in a statement yesterday in Abuja in response to Mbu’s order, also said they had hired Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), an activist and a lawyer to challenge the ban in court.

In the statement issued by their information officer, Mr. Rotimi Olawale, the group accused the police of double-speaking on the issue of protesting, referring to a statement credited to the IG on the police website, which stated that the police were not against peaceful protest.

The group said: “We are

members of the #BringBackOurGirls Abuja Family, a citizens’ movement advocating the speedy rescue of the over 200 girls abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. Ours has been a single-issue campaign for the safe return of the abducted girls. In the last 34 days, we have done so through peaceful daily sitouts, and some marches to key governmental actors urging them to act swiftly to rescue the girls from the terrorists.

“Earlier today (yesterday) we received with shock the statement credited to the FCT Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu that ‘...all protests on

the Chibok girls are hereby banned with immediate effect’.

“We wish to remind the Commissioner of Police Mbu that he cannot take any action that violates our constitutionally guaranteed rights as citizens, particularly our rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, amongst others as enshrined in Chapter Four (Section 40) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

“Over the last 34 days, we have been widely acknowledged, including by the police and the Federal Government delegation, which represented PresiCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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L-R: Dr. Ahmad Abdul’alim Mohammed of International Islamic Fiqh Academy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, and Secretary General, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Iyad Amin-Madani, during a visit by OIC officials to Maiduguri …yesterday

Atiku: No more rift with Obasanjo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

(EFCC) and stripping him of the powers of the vicepresident, all in a bid to stop Atiku from succeeding him.

The climax of the power struggle was the removal of Atiku as vicepresident after he was manoeuvred out of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); a move that made Atiku to join the defunct Action Congress (AC).

However, the Supreme Court, in a judgement delivered on April 22, 2007, upheld the verdict of the Court of Appeal that the former president lacked the power to remove his deputy, except through impeachment.

It was against the backdrop of the war of attrition that some individuals and organisations,

including former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and NYLF, had tried to reconcile the duo.

NYLF had on March 30 visited Obasanjo in Ota to make a case for an improved relationship between him and his former deputy during which the former president said he had forgiven Atiku.

“On the request that you made, I do not have any grudge against anybody. And if there is any, I have forgiven all as a father,” Obasanjo had said.

To complete the reconciliation process, NYLF met Atiku in Abuja yesterday with the former vice-president saying he has only opponents in politics and not enemies.

He added that what he had with Obasanjo were mere

disagreements.

“I don’t harbour any grudge against my former boss. Yes, we had disagreements in office.

These were mere disagreements. I harbour no hatred or enmity against him or anybody. I never had anything against him and I will never have,” he said.

He thanked the group for successfully brokering peace between him and Obasanjo, adding that its effort had marked the leaders of the youth organisation as seriousminded people who are fully prepared to take over the leadership of the country.

On the current security situation in the country, Atiku appealed to the Federal Government to take the challenge more

seriously.

“If we can go to other countries to rid them of these kinds of problem, it shows that we have the capacity to put this one down immediately so that the suffering of the people can be reduced,” he added.

Earlier, chairman of the group, Mr. Elliot Afiyo, expressed satisfaction with the joint decision by both Obasanjo and Atiku to accede to the group’s request to bury the hatchet, stressing that the development would go a long way in healing the ills in the country.

He described Atiku as an “honest and forthright leader, a courageous and dogged democrat, a loving and compassionate guardian, an accommodating and caring shepherd and a role model.”

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Emefiele’s assumption of office heralds new era in CBN Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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ew Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, assumed office yesterday in Abuja to herald a new era for the apex bank that had gone through tempestuous times under his predecessor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Sanusi was suspended last February by President Goodluck Jonathan for alleged financial wrongdoing, claims that Sanusi denied.

Emefiele, 52, dressed in a brown suit and a tie to match, was received by the four deputy governors of the bank and was immediately ushered into his office after which he had a brief meeting with them.

The deputies that accompanied Emefiele to the boardroom were Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, Dr. King-

sley Moghalu and Dr. Sarah Alade, who had been the acting CBN governor until yesterday.

It was learnt that during the meeting, the new CBN governor expressed his gratitude to Nigerians and promised to unveil his agenda for the economy and the banking sector at a press briefing slated for tomorrow in Abuja.

There was however tight security around the vicinity of the CBN headquarters as he assumed office. The back entrance to the apex bank building opposite the National Ecumenical Centre, which CBN governors usually use was manned by military and police personnel assisted by other personnel from private security outfits.

With his assumption of duty, among other pressing things, Emefiele would be seeking to ward off pressure to devalue the nation’s currency and keep

inflation under control.

During his screening by the Senate, he had pledged to maintain stability in the naira even as a slump in foreign currency reserves limits the banking watchdog ability to uphold the currency peg.

He also promised to deploy “development banking model” to drive economic growth and development in the real sectors of the economy to the benefit of all Nigerians.

“We would ensure that whatever decisions we take at the CBN in the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) would be those that would lead to improvement in the level of employment in Nigeria.

We would ensure that we work with the manufacturing companies to ensure that we improve on their level of production and ensure that we improve and achieve economic growth in Nigeria.

“I will take it as a pri-

mary responsibility to ensure that the attempt to dollarise the Nigerian economy is discouraged.

We should not allow it because it would create a problem for the economy,” Emefiele, the 10th indigenous governor of the apex bank, had said.

Other past CBN governors since inception are Roy Pentelow Fenton, Alhaji Aliyu Mai-Bornu , Dr. Clement Nyang Isong, Mallam Adamu Ciroma and Mr. Ola Vincent.

The rest are Alhaji Abdulkadir Ahmed, Dr. Paul Ogwuma, Chief Joseph Sanusi, Professor Charles Soludo and Sanusi.

While Emefiele said devaluation would be “devastating” for the economy, investors have increased bets the bank will lower the midpoint of the currency peg from N155 per dollar.

The CBN is “likely to maintain naira stability as the overriding priority

ahead of February 2015 elections,” Philippe de Pontet, Africa director at New York-based Eurasia Group, said in an e-mailed note to clients.

The naira has dropped 1.4 per cent against the dollar on the interbank market this year and was trading at N162.30 by the close of business yesterday.

MTN Group Ltd. (MTN), Africa’s largest phone operator, said last month the naira would probably be devalued after the elections.

Nigeria’s external reserves have slumped 15 per cent this year to $37 billion as the country struggles to meet output targets for oil, its main export earner.

Theft and illegal sales by criminal gangs in the oilrich Niger Delta have caused output and revenue to fall in the past two years.

Crude makes up about 80 per cent of government revenue and 95 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign-currency income.

Naira stability is key to keeping inflation under control. Under Sanusi and Alade, a tight monetary stance was combined with CBN support for the naira

to keep consumer-price growth below 10 per cent.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record 12 per cent since October 2011, helping to bring the inflation rate down to 7.9 per cent in April, inside the 6 per cent to 9 per cent target band.

Jonathan’s unexpected action in suspending Sanusi caused the naira to drop to a record low of N168.90 against the dollar on February 20 as investors worried that the bank’s independence would be threatened.

Emefiele was the Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc, a position he had held since August 2010. He was also, before then, Deputy Managing Director of the bank, having been appointed into that position in 2001.

He had been on Zenith Bank’s management team since inception and held various management positions in the bank, including serving as its executive director in charge of corporate banking, treasury, financial control and strategic planning.

Confab okays moratorium on fuel subsidy removal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (right) and Sole Administrator, Nnewi North Local Government Area, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, during the governor’s inspection of road projects in Nnewi...yesterday

National convention: APC moves to zone offices lJaja joins chairmanship race Leo Sobechi

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a subcommittee out of its National Convention Committee to work out an arrangement to zone the party’s national offices ahead of its forthcoming national convention.

Senator Joseph Waku, a member of the convention committee, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday shortly after the committee’s closed-door meeting at the Sokoto State Government Lodge in Abuja.

Waku said the committee would continue to fine-

tune modalities on how to zone the party’s national offices and ensure there is no rancour in the party.

He, however, declined to name the membership of the sub-committee.

He said that the committee also constituted subcommittees to deal with different responsibilities toward ensuring a successful national convention of the party.

“We have just constituted some sub-committees for our convention, especially those that will zone the national offices.

“We will converge to fine-tune on how these sub-committees will work,

especially when to submit their reports to the National Convention Committee.

“Membership of some committees were not complete at the meeting; so we will continue with our meeting today (Tuesday) to address some of the issues that are still pending.”

The APC had inaugurated a 15-member committee ahead of its national convention scheduled for June 13 and 14 in Abuja.

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State is the chairman of the committee, while Senator Chris Ngige is the secretary.

Meanwhile, indications

have emerged that former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Sam Sam Jaja, has joined the national chairmanship race.

Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, is pushing for Jaja’s candidacy.

Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, is one of the contenders for the seat.

According to a source, the idea of playing up Jaja to the national chairman is to garner enough votes in Rivers and to ensure that APC contests effectively for the Niger Delta votes with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Akinyemi read out the compromised motion on the issue of removal of fuel subsidy to delegates.

The motion was formally presented by Chief Dan Nwanyanwu and seconded by Dr. Joe Nwogu and thereafter it was put to a voice vote in which those in favour of the new proposal had the day.

The initial proposal was for a five-year moratorium but delegates elected to reduce it to three years.

The resolution came same day the proposal that the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) be funded from the Federation Account and not from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was rejected.

The Committee on Public Finance and Revenue had recommended that 50 per cent of funds in the ECA be transferred to the SWF but an attempt to reduce it to a minimum of 30 per cent was rejected, leaving it at the original benchmark of 50 per cent.

Another proposal that an equivalent percentage of proceeds from the solid minerals sector be ploughed into the SWF was accepted.

Delegates also resolved that the budget of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fis-

cal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) shall be on first line charge. However, a proposed amendment that salaries of elected office holders shall be in line with that of the civil servants was rejected. Similarly, the proposal that the Fiscal Responsibility Act should be enshrined in the constitution was rejected by delegates.

Also yesterday, the proposal that designated government departments and agencies must comply with the constitutional provision which required that they should remit a percentage of the revenues generated to the Federation Account and to withhold 20 per cent was not approved.

The bid by Lagos State to change the rule on Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue to enable states where they are generated to keep it instead of remitting it to the Federation Account for distribution to all states was also rejected.

Meanwhile, some delegates have called for the removal of Akinyemi.

Leader of the protesting delegates, Mr. Orok Duke, said they were angered by the decision of Akinyemi to shut them out when they had a case to raise on the issue of ports development.

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Pension law: Akpabio seeks removal of N100m medical ceiling for ex-governors Tony Anichebe Uyo

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o defuse the tension generated by the amendment to the Akwa Ibom State Governors and Deputy Governors’ Pension Law, Governor Godswill Akpabio has written

to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Samuel Ikon, seeking an amendment to some of the controversial clauses.

In one of the clauses, a former governor and deputy governor are respectively entitled to a N100 million and N50 million

Chibok: IG overrules Mbu on protest ban CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

dent Goodluck Jonathan at one of our meetings for the peaceful, disciplined and decorous manner we have always conducted the activities of our movement.

In consonance with our approach, we shall tomorrow be in court with our lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) to file a suit challenging this purported ban by C.P. Mbu. “We, the members of the #BringBackOurGirls Abuja Family, remain resolute and will persist in using all lawful means to sustain our peaceful advocacy for the safe rescue of the Chibok girls. We therefore encourage all those in Nigeria and other nations that have similarly taken a stand for the cause of the girls to continue to do so with the clarion call: BRING BACK OUR GIRLS, NOW AND ALIVE!!!”

In a suit filed yesterday at an Abuja High Court, Falana, representing Usman, urged the court to uphold his client’s right to freedom of conscience, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly as well as her right to associate as guaranteed by sections 38, 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

She is also praying the court for a declaration that the decision to ban protests and rallies related to the Chibok girls is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void as it violates the fundamental rights entrenched in the constitution.

The plaintiff also wants a declaration that the defendant, the commissioner of police, is not competent to ban the protests and therefore asks for an order of perpetual injunction restraining him, agents and privies from further preventing the group from taking part in any protest and rally in exercise of members’ freedom of conscience and assembly.

The plaintiff is also praying the court for an order directing the defendant to pay N200 million as damages for the act of violation.

No date has been fixed for the hearing.

Speaking with journalists at the entrance of the court, Usman said the group hoped to get an injunction against the police to stop them from implementing the ban.

According to her, the protest will continue because the people know their rights and will not be deterred or intimated by anyone.

Members of the group after leaving the court premises, marched on the National Human Rights Commission premises where they were received

by Mrs. Oti Ovrawah, who stated that the work of the commission was to receive complaints on human rights violations.

According to her, “We heard about the ban and there is no doubt that there is right to peaceful protest as guaranteed by the constitution. We have heard your protest and the commission is part of this because we want our girls to come back alive. We are going to take this up definitely because that right is entrenched in our constitution and the constitution is the grundnorm in Nigeria, so just go about your protest peacefully.”

Also addressing journalists, Falana said the protests would continue in different forms until the girls were brought back.

“For the government, I can assure you that what happened yesterday will be deeply regretted because your protests were meant essentially to wage a psychological war on those who abducted these girls. Those who have stopped the rallies have now become agents of the terrorists. But what happened now is the height of impunity in our country and I have made it clear to the police authorities.

“Because they allowed Mr. Joseph Mbu to get away with a lot of illegalities in Rivers State, he has now CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

medical treatment ceiling yearly with their spouses.

Akpabio, who described the controversy generated by the law as “political, unwarranted and a siege on truth,” said it was unfortunate that the action on the part of the state government and lawmakers has been subjected to partisan politics.

His words: “I reject, in its entirety, the unwarranted condemnation of this altruistic amendment.

I am deeply saddened by the vilification of the honourable members of the House of Assembly for undertaking a course of action which, we as a state, should applaud. Truth has been under siege and today, I have decided that we should lift this evil siege by proposing to the House of Assembly that the parts of the amendment putting a N100 million ceiling and a N50 million ceiling on the medical treatment of former Governors and former

Deputy Governors respectively be expunged from the amendment.

“Let it revert to the openended situation inherent in the law before the amendment. I will further advise, in observance of the articles of faith guiding the discharge of the Office of Governor that, through extant circulars, a medical insurance scheme be put in place for the authentic and proper management of the medical treatment of former governors and deputy governors and their spouses in order to ensure that the open-ended nature of the law is not abused.”

He said contrary to insinuations, the law is not new. “It was enacted in 1998 as the Special Grant (Former Chief Executives) Edict. It was amended in 1999 by the Special Grant (Former Chief Executives – Amendment – Edict of 1999) and was retained in Cap. 122 Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000.

“It was amended in 2002 by the Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2002, which was later repealed by the Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2006 assented to by my predecessor in office on April 26, 2007.

However, in the course of its implementation, we noticed a lacuna in the 2007 law, particularly on account of its open-endedness in the provisions relating to the medical expenses and provision of funds for the employment of domestic staff for the former Governors and Deputy Governors.

“Working with the House of Assembly, we sought to protect the law from abuse by putting a ceiling on the medical expenses for the treatment of these senior citizens of Akwa Ibom State. The ceiling, which was pegged at N100 million per annum for former governors and N50 million per annum for former deputy governors, was

never meant to be given, either in part or in whole, to anybody at anytime for any reason.

“It was meant to be paid to health institutions involved in the treatment of the former governors and former deputy governors and their spouses. It was, therefore, deliberate falsehood and organised misinformation to claim that the same money will be paid to former governors or deputy governors every year. This has never been the practice and the amendment has added nothing to give credence to this obviously politicised orchestration.”

The governor appealed to Akwa Ibom politicians to always be objective in their analysis of issues.

“Let them remember that I am not a governorship candidate. Instead of firing brickbats at me, let them tell the good people of Akwa Ibom State their plans for the state.”

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, East Africa Exchange, Paul Kukubo; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Aruma Oteh; and Africa Exchange Holdings, Jendayi Frazer, during SEC’s visit to EAX in Rwanda.

Senate to vote on constitution review today …confirms appointments of CBN’s MPC members Chukwu David Abuja

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he Senate will today resume voting on the report of its Committee on Constitution Review, which passed second reading and recommitted to the Committee for further legislative action about two months ago.

Also, in keeping with the promise of the Senate to expedite action on the constitution review exercise, it is expected that the Upper Chamber will conclude voting, pass it and go for harmonisation with the House of Representatives before

going on recess tomorrow.

Substantial part of the review will centre on the Electoral Act, which many senators have sponsored bills to effect its amendment.

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, had anchored one of the bills, seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2010 (SB, 455), to provide for tenure of office of Secretary, power to issue duplicate voters card, determine voting procedure and for other related matters 2014, which was jointly sponsored by members of the Committee on Review of the 1999 Consti-

tution.

Senator Abu Ibrahim also sponsored another bill, which seeks to amend the Electoral Act No.6 of 2010 (as amended) to provide for the holding of elections on the same date, accreditation of voters by electronic means and confer on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) power to cause a debate to be conducted for candidates contesting election for the office of the President.

Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman, Committee on Constitution Review, said that the Senate was doing everything to ensure

that the amendment to the constitution was completed and harmonized with the House version in good time.

In another development, the Senate yesterday confirmed the reappointment of Prof. Chibuike Ugochukwu Uche, Dr. Adedoyin Salami, Dr. Shehu Yahaya, and Abdul Ganiyu Garba as members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

It also confirmed the appointment of Mr. Hassan Bashir and Mr. Emmanuel Fayemi as members of the National Population Commission (NPC).

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NJC orders most senior judge to take charge of Rivers judiciary Tunde Oyesina Abuja

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he National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday directed the most senior judge in the High Court of Rivers State Judiciary to henceforth perform the functions of assigning cases to all the judges of the court and also carry out other related administrative duties.

The council also instructed that the most senior judge in the Customary Court of Appeal of Rivers State Judiciary perform the functions of

assigning cases and also carry out other related administrative duties.

This directive will ultimately set the NJC and Rivers State Government on collision course as the state has warned Rivers judicial workers not to have any dealing with appointees of NJC. The decision of the council was contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the NJC, Soji Oye, at the end of its 67th meeting held in Abuja.

According to him, the council had earlier noted with concern the non-ap-

pointment of a substantive Chief Judge or Acting Chief Judge for Rivers State and its attendant consequences on the general administration of justice, particularly vis-à-vis assignment of cases and other related administrative duties in both the High Court of Justice and Customary Court of Appeal of Rivers State.

The council, however, hinged its decision on the ground that law abhors vacuum and therefore, where there is a vacuum, the law must fill it up.

It will be recalled that

there has been controversy between the council and the Rivers State Government on the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi had appointed Justice P.C Agumagu as the Chief Judge but the Council in its February meeting suspended Agumagu from office on the ground that the governor lacks power to, singlehanded appoint a Chief Judge.

Not satisfied, Agumagu through his counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN) had approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (right) and National Chairman, Northern Youth Leaders Forum, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, during a courtesy visit by the group in Abuja …yesterday

Adoke misled Jonathan on emergency rule, says Clark Tunde Oyesina Abuja

F

ormer Minister of Information and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark yesterday accused the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), of misadvising President Goodluck Jonathan over the declaration of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Clark stated that a full-scale state of emergency ought to have been declared where all democratic apparatuses should have been suspended, including the governors and members of the state House of Assembly.

The elder statesman however noted that the AGF had refused to advice the President appropriately for reasons best known to him (Adoke).

Clark cited the submission from some quarters that the president lacks power to order a full-scale state of emergency based on a Supreme Court judgement in a suit filed by a for-

mer Governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, that the constitution did not give the Federal Government such power to suspend democratic structures in any state where state of emergency is being declared.

He submitted that such position was a misconception of the apex court judgement.

Clark, who stated this in an open letter he addressed to Adoke, added that governors of the three states where the state of emergency has been declared should be suspended alongside their state assemblies.

He added that the three governors were anti-Jonathan and pro-Boko Haram.

He however stated that persistence of insurgence in those states shows that something is wrong somewhere.

The Ijaw leader noted that the constitution provides for democratic structures which empowers individuals to hold offices.

He, however, added that the constitution equally gives the President of the country undefined spec-

trum of inherent powers which he can exercise if and when such action is in public interest.

His words: “A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that announces that the country is in a state of emergency.

It allows the suspension of and change to some functions of the executive, the legislative and or judiciary during the period of time.

It alerts citizens to change their normal behaviour and orders government agencies to implement emergency plans.

“Emergency is legal, constitutional and procedural, and remains the panacea to peace, development and national rebirth, not adhering to it, is courting anarchy. The President need to suspend the affected states’ political structures to have unimpeded control of the situation because the roles of these governors have revealed them as conspirators who are hiding under guise of opposition, to foster their political nests and display their politics of bitterness, hatred, ethnicity and religion to dispar-

age him (Jonathan) and scuttle his constitutional right to seek a second term as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

“Mr. Attorney General even if you believe that your interpretation to Section 305(3) is the correct interpretation you know fully well that Mr. President in exercise of his inherent powers, can use other extraordinary measures to bring the insurgency to an end, and the doctrine of necessity is definitely one of the extraordinary measure. These facts, as Attorney General and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, are well known to you as alternative measures available to Mr. President to crush the insurgents, but for reasons best known to you, you failed to advise him to take the bull by the horns.

“One would have expected that in a serious matter as this, due diligence and sincerity would make it possible for public officers to give correct advice to Mr. President to enable him handle this case with all his inherent powers.”

challenge the suspension.

The matter is still pending before Justice Ademola Adeniyi.

The Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Wogu Boms, had on Monday kicked against the decision of the NJC to appoint an administrator to head Rivers State Judiciary.

The state government also warned the judicial workers not to have anything doing with the NJC’s appointees.

Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha has been speculated as the Administrative Judge appointed by the NJC. But Boms stated that the NJC and the Rivers State Judiciary lacked powers to make such appointment.

According to him, “the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission is a body established by the constitution, which is equivalent to the National Judicial Service Commission (NJC) at the national level, while the NJC takes care of federal judges, the state judiciary takes care of the state judges and staff of the judiciary. We are not aware of such development that Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha has been appointed administrative judge in the state.

And our attention has not been drawn to such development, either by the Chief Registrar who is like the secretary of the Judiciary or anybody at the NJC level.

“The NJC do not have the powers to make such ap-

pointment in Rivers State for the Judiciary, whether they call it Chief Judge or Acting Chief Judge or Administrative Judge, however described. It is illegal and the NJC is practically incapable of making such appointment.”

He maintained that it is only Amaechi that is constitutionally recognised to appoint a Judge or Chief Judge, and not any other body or commission, as widely speculated.

“The only authority recognised by the constitution to appoint a Judge or a Chief Judge is the governor of the state and not any other body or commission, and that such body will be acting absolutely illegal to do so, and cannot do so, if they are led by anybody to do so,” Boms stated.

Boms said the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission in its Monday meeting had passed a resolution directing the Chief Registrar to inform all staff of the judiciary that disciplinary measures, including dismissal awaits any staff that deals with any Judge as Chief Judge or Acting Chief Judge or Administrative Judge not duly appointed by the Governor of Rivers State.

“That is the decision of the JSC and we shall carry it out to the letter. They are staff of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission and not of the NJC. There is no law authorizing anybody to act illegally,” he said.

Chibok: IG overrules Mbu on protest ban CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

come to Abuja believing that he could continue.

“I can assure you that we are not going to allow them get away with it. It is perhaps more painful for me than anybody here because in December 12, 2007, we won the battle for Nigerians to protest peacefully – that was the case of APP and IGP where the Court of Appeal restrained the police perpetually from preventing any group of Nigerians to demonstrate and protest peacefully.

“What Mbu did yesterday was not only illegal but contemptuous and contempt is a criminal offence,” Falana added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, has said the abducted girls are safe and the Federal government is doing all it can to rescue them and reunite them with their families.

Moro, in an interview with BBC, yesterday

said: “The Federal Government is mobilising all resources at its disposal to ensure the quick release of these girls. And as much as possible, in order not to endanger the lives of these girls and undermine the very process of securing their release, Nigeria has attempted seriously to abide by the rules of engagement to the process.”

On how long it will take for their release and if the girls are safe, he said: “Yes the girls are safe. There is no doubt about that because there is nothing to the contrary.

And let me say this that the question of how long does not arise anymore. I think that what is paramount now is that government is making very serious determined efforts to ensure that these girls are rescued on time and reunited with their families.”

6

NEWS

Stories by Adesina Wahab, ADO-EKITI

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said about 76,000 people were registered in the continuous voter registration exercise conducted in the state last March.

Disclosing this in Ado-Ekiti at a stakeholders' meeting held with traditional rulers in the state, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Halilu Pai, said the newly-registered voters were in

EKITI 2014 ELECTIONS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

INEC expects 76,000 additional voters addition to the 657,000 people registered for the 2011 general elections.

Pai gave the assurance that the electoral body, working in tandem with security agencies, political parties and others, would conduct credible election in the state.

While briefing the monarchs, Pai allayed the fear of late commencement of election, adding that the commission had started the distribution of nonsensitive materials to

all the 16 council areas, adding that the sensitive materials would arrive two days to the election.

The REC, who noted improvement in the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), however, appealed to those yet to collect theirs to do so, saying nobody without the card would be allowed to vote.

He said "although the commission was not expecting 100 per cent of collection of the PVC,

only 61 per cent of the cards had so far been collected."

He dismissed rumour making the rounds that some politicians were planning to clone the PVCs with the aim of committing electoral fraud.

He said it would be difficult to clone the cards considering the security features embedded on the PVCs and the ballot papers.

He appealed to traditional rulers to prevail

on their subjects to ensure peaceful election, pledging that INEC would ensure that all votes counted.

The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Felix Uyanna, said security operatives had mapped out strategies to ensure that all the 2,195 polling booths are secured.

He said no fewer than 12,000 policemen would be deployed in the state to provide security during the election.

He added: "Each polling booth will be manned by three policemen headed by an officer not below the rank of a Superintendent of Police and will be complemented with other officers from sister security agencies.

"Besides, there will be 200 counter terrorist officers, two DGs, AIGs, there will also be four sniffer dogs, horses and two aircraft that will be hovering in the sky to monitor."

PDP will win June 21 poll, says Adeleye

A

fenifere chieftain, and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has described the June 21 governorship election as "a must win for the PDP", promising not to waiver in his support for the party's candidate, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

Adeyeye, who urged his supporters to continue to work assiduously for the victory of the PDP and its candidate, added that; "My support for Fayose is total and we must all join hands with him to win the election."

In a release issued in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, Adeyeye said there was nothing to benefit in failure, adding that he remained steadfast and committed to Fayose's gubernatorial ambition and that all his supporters had been mandated to return to their various wards to mobilise support for the PDP. "I am happy with

the commitment of the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) family to this election and I want to urge them to double their efforts, so as to ensure total victory for our party.

"I therefore call on all members and supporters of our party, the PDP not to allow anyone to hoodwink them with unfounded rumour.

"Rather, they should remain focused and concentrate their efforts on winning the governorship election so as to rescue Ekiti State from the hands of Governor Kayode Fayemi and his All Progressives Congress pillagers," he added.

While describing the suits being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state against the candidature of Fayose as an indication of acceptance of defeat, Adeyeye said; "No judge worth his career in a State High Court would attend to a case involving a Federal Agency."

Fayemi harps on vigilance

W

ife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, has called on the electorate in the state to be vigilant and not allow any unscrupulous politician to truncate their wish in the coming governorship election in the state.

Addressing women in Efon Alaye, Aramoko and Ijero-Ekiti yesterday as part of her efforts to support her husband's re-election bid, she called on voters to go and collect their permanent voter cards (PVC).

According to her, vigilance on the part of the electorate was vital, as everything necessary must be done to allow the will of the people to prevail.

"I implore you all to go and collect your PVCs as that is the only way to go and vote and show your support for Governor Kayode Fayemi.

"Go out there and vote for Governor Fayemi on election day and also ensure that you defend your votes. The Fayemi administration has done a lot to improve the welfare of women, children and senior citizens and will still do more if given another opportunity," she said.

Fayemi appealed to the women to also take the message of voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to other voters in their communities.

Also speaking, State Women Leader of the APC, Mrs Funke Owoseni, expressed the confidence that the APC candidate would win the election.

Owoseni urged the women to take the message of voting for the APC candidate to all nooks and crannies of the state.

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (left) and All Progressives Congress supporters, during the party's women campaign for the re-election of Governor Kayode Fayemi, at Efon-Alaye...on Monday

‘APC planning to implicate Fayose in murder case'

T

he Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO) yesterday raised the alarm that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was planning to implicate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Ayo Fayose, in a phantom murder case.

Briefing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the Director General of AFCO, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, alleged that some APC leaders held a meeting penultimate Monday in Osogbo, Osun State where the plan was hatched.

"Their plan is to kill an innocent person and clean the blood with customised vests or T-shirt bearing Ayo Fayose and dump the items and the weapon used in conspicu-

l Allegation spurious, says party

ous area few kilometres away from the scene of the crime to justify their nefarious plans.

"The APC leaders have also concluded arrangement with some already compromised and corrupt police officers, who have agreed to collect money and help them with spurious investigations thereafter," Anisulowo added.

He said the PDP had contacted necessary security agencies with the information and that more still needed to be done to prevent criminally-minded persons from setting the state on fire.

"The PDP and its candidate, Dr Peter Ayodele Fayose, cannot and will

not kill any Nigerian for the sake of looking for power. We are therefore not going to fold our arms and allow these propagandists and wicked souls to rope us into another orgy of violence," he stated.

Anisulowo appealed to media practitioners to be wary of propaganda being churned out by the APC He also indicated PDP’s interest to confront a group called EEleven in any court of law over AFCO’s statement that the body had defrauded the state in the management of the stateowned Fountain Hotels.

But the Director of Media, Kayode Fayemi

Campaign organization, Dimeji Daniels, who refuted the allegation, said AFCO was only crying foul aimed at diverting attention and shifting the blame for its planned chaos and other heinous crimes.

“Mr Fayose plans to shift the campaign from the realm of ideas to the ring of violence, killings and murder. The PDP and its candidate have lost out in the culture of debate and tradition of decent politics that are the hallmark of the APC. Mr. Fayose has been visiting brothels and red lights areas across the state where he hopes to recruit the dregs of the society for his planned attacks on the people of the state”, Daniels said.

Bamidele slams governor for arrogance

L

abour Party governorship candidate Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the poll, is only engaging in intellectual arrogance by thinking that nobody can face him in any debate over issues bordering on the coming

poll.

He said he is not afraid to face Fayemi in any debate to argue any issue bordering on governance and the development of the state.

Bamidele described the impression by Fayemi that his opponents are timid to face him in a debate as baseless and unfounded, saying he is more politically exposed

and experienced to be threatened by anybody.

In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday by his media aide, Ahmed Salami, he advised Fayemi against engaging in intellectual arrogance and urged him to come down from his self-imposed Olympian height.

He said, “I can’t be intimidated by Fayemi in any form. I think I am vast

in terms of education, brilliance, eloquence and general knowledge of the economic situation of the state to confront Governor Fayemi in any debate .

“My participation in Ekiti governorship contest is not by accident or spontaneity. I have prepared for it over years and I have what it takes to govern a highly educated state like Ekiti."

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Fashola inaugurates Land Use Tribunal Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday inaugurated a 15-member tribunal on Land Use Charge Assessment Appeal to ensure that no property owner is unduly charged.

The governor explained that the tribunal came about as a result of the need to adjudicate on appeals coming from citizens, who feel aggrieved by the law, adding that the Land Use Charge creates room for an appeal.

New Telegraph gathered that the state government had sealed several companies and houses over charges on land use.

While some property owners described the charges as too exorbitant, others had dragged the state government to court for what they described as 'illegal' closure of their premises by the state agents.

But speaking while inaugurating the tribunal headed by Mr. Ayodele Odunlami, Fashola who was represented by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, said the inauguration of the tribunal was to ensure justice and fairness in the charge payable by the property owners in the state and ensure that nobody is unduly charged.

7

Arms, ammunition discovered in Zamfara lawmaker's home ARMOURER

Top politician in Gusau converts his house to an armoury, held by Police Mohmammed Munirat Nasir GUSAU

P

andemonium nearly broke out in Gusau yesterday when a

4.71m

cache of arms and ammunition was discovered in the house of a Zamfara lawmaker by security operatives.

According to a reliable source, some men who were arrested with arms in Kano made a confessional statement that they got the arms from the suspected lawmaker in Zamfara State.

The raid on the houses of the law maker (names withheld) which

The total population of UAE (representing 0.07% of world’s population) in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

was carried out by security operatives led to the discovery of arms and ammunition in large quantity.

“During the search, several AK47 rifles, two boxes of life ammunition and several tins of tear gas were discovered in his residence in Gusau, while a grenade was discovered in his Tsafe residence”, the source said.

However, when con-

122TWh

The annual worldwide use of geothermal energy for direct use in 2010.

Source: Unesco.org

tacted yesterday, the embattled lawmaker maintained that he was invited by the police and he had made a written statement.

The Zamfara State Command, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Lawal Abdullahi, said the operation was carried out by a special team from Abuja but declined to make further comment .

542m

The number of individuals using the Americas region in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

Suit seeking 2nd term endorsement for Jonathan stalled Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he suit brought by an Igbo Socio-Cultural group, Igboezue, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja seeking to compel the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office was stalled yesterday due to the non-service of the processes on the defendants.

The trial judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati ordered the plaintiff to effect service on the President and the PDP. He consequently, adjourned further hearing on the matter to June 30.

Specifically, the Igbo-

ezue Socio-Cultural Association, had dragged President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Court asking it for an order to compel the party to endorse the President for a second term in office.

The group is also seeking for a declaration that the party's failure to endorse the President for a second term in office and President Jonathan's reluctance to declare his interest for a second term in office is unacceptable to well meaning Nigerians.

The plaintiff also asked for an order directing the party to endorse Jonathan for a second term in office, having regards to his good performance.

Aba, Ariaria under Enugu Disco Abdulwahab Isa ABUJA

he Bureau of Public EnTclared terprises (BPE) has dethat both Aba and

Ariaria districts are under the Enugu Disco.

A BPE statement issued yesterday put paid to the raging controversy that has dogged the privatisation of Enugu Disco.

According to the privatisation agency, since Aba and Ariaria Districts fell under Enugu Disco, the contracts between NEPA and APL have now been inherited by Enugu Disco in consonance with the principles of succession of title and Section 8 of the EPSRA 2005.

It admitted that there was a Lease Agreement dated April 28, 2005 signed between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Aba Power Limited (APL).

"This agreement is for the generation, transmission and distribution of power to residential and commercial consumers in Aba, and Ariaria Districts that fall under Enugu Zone of NEPA in Abia State.

However, it said the agreement which relates to the ring-fenced area in Aba and Ariaria Districts was amended by another Supplemental Agreement dated August 31, 2006.

L-R: Foremost journalist, Mr. Tayo Balogun; former Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Patrick Ekeji; Managing Editor, New Telegraph Newspaper, Mr. Felix Abugu; Editor, Saturday New Telegraph, Mr. Laurence Ani and Deputy Editor, Daily, Mr. Emeka Obasi, during a courtesy visit by Ekeji to the Corporate Head Office of New Telgraph in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the allegation by former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode that the APC has sympathies for insurgents has confirmed PDP’s earlier position linking utterances of some APC's leaders to the spate of insurgency and sectarians violence in the country.

Fani-Kayode had in a widely circulated statement said that he left the APC for the PDP because he felt that nation-building was far more important than party politics, party affiliation or party formations.

Fani-Kayode in a statement made available to

APC full of wolves, says PDP New Telegraph also stated that he left APC because as a devout and committed Christian, he cannot remain in a party where a handful of people that have sympathy for Boko Haram and those who have a clear Islamic agenda are playing a leading role.

The statement reads in part: “I wish to inform the general public that as at today, 2nd June 2014, I have left the APC and gone back to the PDP. I wish the APC well in all their endeavours but as at today we have parted ways forever and my spirit has left them.

“My reasons for leaving the party are because I consider nation-building as

being far more important than party politics, party affiliation or party formations. I am a devout and committed Christian and I cannot remain in a party where a handful of people that have sympathy for Boko Haram and that have a clear Islamic agenda are playing a leading role.”

PDP in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said Fani-Kayode's revelation was a clear vindication of PDP's stand that the APC is a party of bloodthirsty, religious and ethnic bigots averse to the unity of the country.

“We have now been vindicated. The truth may be

hidden for sometime but it has a way of expressing itself. The world can now see that we do not speak for nothing when we described them in their true nature; a cult, a hypocritical lot, wolves in sheep skin, devils who, through their utterances, stoke the fires of violence by night only to wear messianic robes in the morning to shed crocodile tears for their victims.

“Nigerians are no longer at a loss regarding who their real enemies are. They can now see why the APC feels no pain but seeks always to gain political capital out of the bombings and killings in

Onolememen harps on infrastructure, enabling environment Dayo Ayeyemi

F

or any meaningful development to come to any nation, infrastructural development, a conducive environment and manpower development are

very vital. The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, an architect stated this during the commissioning of the rehabilitated Federal Ministry of Works Highway Training Centre, Ugoneki in Edo State by

the Technical Vocational Education and Training Project (TVET) and Project Implementation Unit of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), which is domiciled in the Federal

Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

A statement by the Information Officer in the ministry, Mrs Aso Uchenna, said the minister, was represented by the Controller of Works, Edo State, Mr .

Denis Orji.

The minister further stated that in line with the transformation agenda of President Jonathan, the inauguration of SURE-P to re-invest funds accruable from partial withdrawal

of the petroleum subsidy into a combination of programmes, has really benefited the Nigerian masses more especially on road infrastructure considering the reduced accident rate on the nation’s highways.

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Registration: Music, movie stars storm Lagos secretariat Muritala Ayinla

ollywood and music stars yesterday stormed the Lagos State secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, to participate in the ongoing resident registration exercise, carried out by the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency (LASRRA).

N

This was even as the General Manager, LASRRA, Ms. Yinka Fashola, disclosed that the agency has so far captured 1.8 million residents in the exercise, reiterating that the exercise would enable the state government adequately and efficiently plan for Lagos residents and allocate resources

to meet their needs.

The stars in the entertainment industry, who stormed the state secretariat to register as Lagos resident include: King Sunny Ade, Kate Henshaw, Prince Jide Kosoko, Saheed Balogun, Foluke Daramola, Adebayo Salami and Segun Arinze, among others.

Court strikes out Osun PDP suite against Aregbesola L-R: Director, Training and Education, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State, Bishop James Adekoya; visioner, Most Talented Gospel Artist of Nigeria (MTGAN), Pastor Bennie Ogbonna and Managing Partner, Jasek Consulting Limited, Pastor Joseph Okonmah, at a press conference on the Most Talented Gospel Artist of Nigeria (MTGAN) held in Lagos…yesterday

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Woman hit by bus, on danger list in Ibadan Sola Adeyemo

Ibadan

fate of a woman, who Tbushewasalong hit by a commercial the UI/Mokola

Road in Ibadan, yesterday hung in the balance as she was conveyed to an undisclosed hospital.

She was seriously injured when a car with registration number: AKR 595 AE, hit a Toyota Liteace passenger bus with Oyo State number plate; LUY 385 XA, thereby hitting her down as she was waiting to catch a bus.

Eyewitnesses told New

Telegraph that both vehicles were moving towards Mokola Roundabout when the car collided with the bus.

According to an eyewitness, who gave his name as Josiah, the driver of the passenger bus lost control, running into the woman.

EFCC arraigns two for N140m fraud Emmanuel Onani

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned Ahmed Ali Mohammed and Nuhu Ibrahim Ishaq, before a high court sitting in Minna, on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining by false pretence.

T

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects “allegedly paraded themselves as directors of Sandabe International Company Limited and in that assumed capacity, fraudulently obtained N140 million from one Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago.”

Count two of the charge reads: “That you

Ahmed Ali Mohammed, and Nuhu Ibrahim Ishaq, sometime between 1st March, 2010 and 1st April, 2010 at Minna in Minna judicial division of the High Court of Niger State, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N140 million from one Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago under the false pretence.”

Stakeholders to discuss transportation, infrastructure Dayo Ayeyemi

t a ke h o l d e r s at the first African Regional Congress of the International Road Federation (IRF), will discuss in Abuja, ways to identify new innovative resources to bridge the current infrastructure financial gap in the

S

continent.

The conference, which will hold from today till June 6, will also provide opportunities for sharing case studies, best practices and new technologies that can contribute to making Africa a shining example in inter-model transport system.

Besides, it will provide

a unique forum for sharing the latest industry technologies, solutions and best practices from all over the world while it will also avail the delegates’ avenues to exchange knowledge that they will take back to their respective countries for the benefit of their industry and societies, at large.

Boko Haram: NASFAT to hold prayer session nationwide Mojeed Alabi

gainst the backdrop of the menace of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram and many other inanities facing the nation, the Nasr ul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT) has declared Sunday, June 8, as a special day of fasting and prayer for the nation and indeed, the entire world.

The group, which said

A

its action is in line with the Qur’anic injunction that; “Whenever mankind is confronted with evil, the surest counterforce to use is to seek Allah’s refuge and help,” said all the zones and branches of the organisation, home and abroad, will engage in fasting and prayer soliciting Allah’s relief from the siege that has been inflicted on the country.

In a statement signed by its President and Secretary, Alhaji Sheriff Yussuf and Lukmon Folorunsho respectively, the society said the actions of the sect have manifested in wanton killings, maiming, abductions, arson, disruption of economic activities, extortion and general state of fear and insecurity unleashed on the nation.

Adeolu Adeyemo

OSOGBO

suit filed against AAregbesola Gover nor Rauf and Attorney-

General of Osun State by the state chapter of the People Democratic Party (PDP) has been struck out by the state high court sitting in Osogbo.

Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, had approached the court to restrain the government from demolishing the parameter fence of the PDP secretariat, along the Gbongan/ Ibadan Expressway in Osogbo.

Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe, however,

struck-out the suit for being incompetent.

He then upheld the preliminary objection filed on behalf of the state government by a legal team from the Ministry of Justice, led by Olajide Obisakin, the director of litigation and advisory service, appeared along with Hassan Agbelekale.

Don’t associate political parties with violence – CNPP onference of Nigeria Cyesterday Political Parties (CNPP) warned the

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, to desist from associating political parties with the violence bedeviling the country.

The CNPP also in a statement from the National Secretary, Chief Willy Ezugwu, advised the minister to desist from what it considers as ‘hate speeches.’

The conference demanded that the demands

of political parties on the credibility of the voters’ register, proper utilisation of budgetary allocations, rescue of the abducted Chibok girls, among others, should be addressed by the Federal Government.

Kwankwaso, Bayero bicker over Wazirin Kano stool Muhammad Kabir

KANO

he Kano State TEmir government and the of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, yesterday continued to bicker over the turbaning of the Chief Imam of Waje Mosque, Nasir Muhammad Naisr, as the Wazirin Kano, with

the government insisting that the appointment was null and void while the new Waziri vowed that his appointment has come to stay.

Nasir, whose installation generated a lot of controversy with the state government, has been at the centre of the bickering, because of

allegations that he was a ‘controversial figure,’ who might plunge the state into crisis.

Reports said that the government had written two separate letters, ordering the Emirate council to cancel the turbaning ceremony or be prepared to face the full wrath of the government.

EFCC opposes Sylva's request to stay trial Tunde Oyesina

ABUJA

he Economic and TCommission Financial Crimes (EFCC) yesterday asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to refuse a request by former Bayelsa State

governor, Timipre Sylva, not to proceed with his trial, pending the outcome of a an appeal he filed.

Counsel to the EFCC, John Ainetor, submitted that Sylva’s request was misplaced on the round that his request was capable of setting wrong signal

and defeating the course of justice.

He argued that Sylva only filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of proceedings, but failed to take the necessary steps to compile records and ensure that the appeal was entered.

Bayelsa to sustain human capacity development Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

ayelsa State government Bcontinue yesterday said that it will to initiate policies

that will improve human capacity development.

Governor Seriake Dick-

son, who made the pledge, said his administration will continue to pay attention to the educational sector, as it remains the surest means of improving the human capacity development index of the state.

Speaking at a public lec-

ture and awards ceremony marking the birthday of the pioneer Commissioner for Agriculture and one time Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Steve Azaiki, in Yenagoa, Dickson said his administration is people-driven.

to transform Ogbunike cave I have no political ambition, says Oyewumi, Kalu’s aide Anambra nambra S t a t e has awarded contracts Vincent’s Catholic Church,

pecial Adviser to SAbia former Governor of State, Dr. Orji Kalu,

Prince ‘Kunle Oyewumi, has denied speculations in some quarters that he was interested in contesting for an office in 2015.

Oyewumi, son of the Soun of Ogbomosoland,

Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, was a Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals during the regime of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State.

Oyewumi, however, said that he has no political ambition for 2015

despite the news making the rounds.

In a statement he personally signed yesterday, Oyewumi said he has not mandated anyone or group to canvass or campaign for him, noting that he is presently not disposed to active politics.

A

gover nment has taken steps to transform Ogbunike cave, a tourist centre in the state, into a world-class tourist attraction facility.

To this end, Governor Willie Obiano has said that the feasibility study for the project was underway.

Already, the government

worth about N2 billion on roads that traverse Ogbunike community and the cave, one of the biggest tourist centres in the country.

Obiano spoke about this at a thanksgiving mass organised by Ogbunike Catholic community to honour him and his wife, Ebelechukwu, at Saint

Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area.

The governor told the people that the government has advertised for competent professionals that will handle the feasibility study, explaining that the centre would have all the necessary facilities when completed.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

9

Dana crash: Absence of AIB report stalled verdict, says coroner Wole Shadare

A

coroner’s inquest into the June 3, 2012, Dana plane crash in Lagos was concluded yesterday without a definite verdict on the cause of the crash.

The coroner, Mr Oyetade Komolafe, said that he could not give a verdict on the crash due to the absence of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) report.

Curiously however, the AIB report was released yesterday.

Komolafe said that the testimony of the pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, however, showed that 153 passengers died in the

0.44

crash which occurred at Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos. ``The causes of death listed included severe burns, multiple injuries, blunt force trauma, hypertension, suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, asphyxia and severe cerebral injuries," he said.

The coroner also noted that the bodies of both the pilot and co-pilot could not be identified to ascertain whether they were under the influence of alcohol.

Komolafe made some recommendations for effective management of emergencies in the country.

He recommended the establishment of a nation-

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Nigeria in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

al body for body handlers and retrievers.

He said:``There is an urgent need for the establishment of a forensic science laboratory in each geopolitical zone and any state that can have such.

"There is also the need for the enactment of a national Coroner's Act and provision of fire services in each local government area of the federation.’’

Other recommendations by the coroner include provision of equipment for all emergency agencies and establishment of a radio unit service in all emergency units.

He also called for in-

20m

The number of people living with diabetes in Africa in 2013.

Source: Idp.com

ter-agency cooperation among all agencies handling emergencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inquest was instituted following a petition by a Lagos-based law firm, Falana and Falana Chamber.

The inquest commenced on June 18, 2012, but was halted three months later after a group filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos challenging the jurisdiction of the coroner.

It, however, resumed proceedings after the suit was dismissed for lacking merit.

A total of 17 witnesses,

$US451.8bn The nominal GDP of Norway (IMF) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

including security agencies, emergency agencies, representatives of the airline and other governmental agencies, testified during the inquest.

However, AIB released an updated report on the Dana plane crash yesterday.

Spokesman for the agency, Tunji Oketunbi, in a statement said the interim report of the accident was in accordance with Annex 13 to the convention on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Aircraft Accident Investigation Regulations 2006.

Oketunbi said June 3, 2012 about 1545 hours, 5NRAM a Boeing MD 83 on domestic scheduled commercial flight operated by Dana Airlines as (Dana 0992), crashed into a

densely populated area following a total loss of power in both engines while on approach to Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos, Nigeria.

According to the report , “All of the 153 persons on board the airplane, including the six crew members were fatally injured.

There were six confirmed ground fatalities.”

He noted that the purpose of the investigation was the prevention of aviation accidents and incidents not to apportion blame or liability. He noted that three interim safety recommendations were made to Dana Airlines and one to the regulatory authority.

These recommendations, he stated, were accepted and have been implemented by the operator and the regulatory authority.

NLNG free from NDDC levy

T

L-R: Sokoto State Commissioner for Transport, Alhaji Umaru Magwari Tambuwal; Executive Director, Institute for Government Research Leadership Technology (IFGRLT), Amb. Moses Essien; Professor of Building, University of Jos, Prof. Akidoyeni and Deputy Chairman-inCouncil, IFGRLT, Prof. John Akanya, during the Institute's induction of patriotic citizens in Abuja …on Monday.

CNPP tackles Maku over ‘hate speech’ Senate targets N100bn annual IGR for FCT l Advocates changes in Information ministry

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has advised the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, to exercise restraint in his utterances to avoid stoking the embers of division along ethnic, religious and political lines.

The group was reacting to a statement credited to the minister that the #Bring Back our Girls protest was sponsored by the opposition parties.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said the minister was ignoring the fact that the situation in Nigeria had gone

beyond trading blames.

According to the statement, Maku should not drag political parties into the crises bedevilling the country since it is now apparent that the country is battling a full-fledged insurgency that has no ethnic, religious or political sympathies in the selection of its targets.

“It is worrisome that the minister seems oblivious of the fact that foreign intelligence agencies would attach credence to comments coming from him being the nation’s image-maker. These unguarded utterances would thus go on to affect how foreign countries make policies about Nigeria, including economic and investment

Chukwu David ABUJA

T

he Senate yesterday said it expected the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to generate an internally generate revenue (IGR) of N100 billion annually Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, stated this when the lawmakers passed the Bill for an Act to establish Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Board.

The bill is to enhance the internal revenue generation base of the nation’s capital city. It also makes it compulsory for property owners in the FCT to pay tax on their property.

Commenting on the bill

after its passage, Adeyemi said: “This is one of the first bills that the Senate is passing for the FCT. The bill empowers the FCT to have a revenue board.

Don’t forget that since the creation of the capital city, we have never had a revenue board in place, and that explains why the FCT administration has all along been focusing on the national budget to meet the needs of FCT. “With the coming of the board in place, FCT would be able to generate revenue internally and that will help to augment what is coming from the federation account. In this year’s national budget, FCT has just about N30 billion, although we have statutory allocation which is about N250 billion.

he Nigeria LNG Limited has said that it was exempted by law from paying the three percent tax for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In a statement yesterday by the organisation, it said it was worried by recent reports of a demonstration by youths under the name, Niger Delta Youth Stakeholders Forum, over NLNG’s alleged refusal to pay a three percent (3%).

The statement signed by the General Manager, External Relations, Kudo Eresia-Eke, said that the NLNG Act of 2004 exempted the organisation from the tax and was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2011 It said, “Following an initial suit filed by the NDDC, the Federal High Court on July 11, 2007 delivered judgement stating that NLNG was not liable

to pay the NDDC levy.

NDDC then proceeded to challenge the High Court ruling at the Court of Appeal. The Appellate Court also ruled in NLNG’s favour. NDDC appealed further to the Supreme Court in October 2011. The Supreme Court subsequently dismissed NDDC’s appeal, ruling that NLNG is legally exempted from paying the NDDC levy in accordance with the provisions of the NLNG Act. “It is instructive to note that when the representatives of the demonstrators were invited into a meeting with NLNG management and presented with this fact, they claimed to be unaware of it. They then immediately undertook to go back and inform the crowd of demonstrators numbering about 40.

The protesters dispersed shortly afterwards.

11 die in Niger boat mishap

T

he Niger State Disaster Management Agency has confirmed the death of 11 persons in a boat mishap between Garafini-Kodo and Garafini riverine area of Borgu Local Government Area of the state.

The Special Adviser to the governor in charge of the agency, Alhaji Mohammed Shaba, told journalists yesterday in Minna that the accident occurred on Monday.

Shaba said that 18 passengers were aboard the ill-fated boat when the accident occurred between 5.00 pm and

6.00pm.

He said that seven persons survived the incident which, he described, as unfortunate while 11 others who were confirmed dead had since been buried.

Shaba, who told journalists that the cause of the incident was yet to be ascertained, said that the boat was conveying the passengers from Garafini-Kodo to Garafini.

“The cause of the incident would be made public as soon as it was confirmed,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor’s aide as saying to journalists.

10 News CONFUSION The courts will soon be animated with petitions and counter orders in the bid to interprete the duration of the Idris Wada administration Muhammad Bashir

Lokoja

A

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Dr. Tom Ohikere, has said that the tenure of Governor Idris Wada will expire in 2015.

Contrary to the gen-

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Wada’s tenure ends in 2015, says APC l Governor: You are not competent to decide that

eral belief that the tenure of the governor will elapse by 2016, Ohikere said the immediate past administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, had encroached on the fouryear tenure of the incumbent governor.

“The former governor could have even gone beyond the one-year tenure of the incumbent, if not for the intervention of the Supreme Court that sent him packing. Wada’s tenure was to start in 2011, alongside other governors, but his political benefactor, the man

who made him governor, usurped one year from his supposed four years, Ohikere disclosed.”

But Governor Wada, through his Special Adviser, Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi, urged the people to disregard Ohikere’s claim, as he was not qualified to define the tenure of his principal.

Edi insisted that only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has the authority to decide the tenure of any elective office through the Electoral

Act. He said: “It will be over ambitious for Ohikere to carry the toga of APC chieftain. But, having said that, as to the issues he raised, he is totally incompetent to say when election will hold, where and how it will hold, as it is only the electoral body that can decide that.”

Ohikere, who was the Information Commissioner under the PDP administration of former Governor Idris, argued that governorship election in Kogi State will

hold in 2015.

“The Supreme Court judgement that ended Ibrahim Idris’ administration clearly said that the PDP in Kogi State illegally spent nine years in office, in addition to the two years spent by the present administration.

“PDP tenure in Kogi State ends in 2015; like in the case of Amaechi’s PDP in Rivers State. I am aware that they are on self-deceit for believing that they can stay beyond 2015 in Lugard House. They know the

facts of the matter.”

Reacting on the opposition party’s readiness to defeat the PDP in the next election, Ohikere said; “We are going to begin aggressive work in the next two months.

“We are re-engineering to address issues that harp on development and under-development of Kogi State, especially as it affects our people, if the leadership has been fair or unfair to the people. Then, we will be looking at what we as APC have to offer the people,” he added.

Pharmacists’ council inducts nine from Danfodio varsity Umar Danladi Ado

Sokoto

Registrar of the Aof cting Pharmacist Council Nigeria (PCN), Mrs.

Senator Bukola Saraki (left) and Prince Turki Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, during his courtesy visit to Aziz Al Saud, on his new position as Governor of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia

Adum: Suswam's legal tussle delayed my guber ambition Cephas Iorhemen

Makurdi

I

mmediate past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Benue State, Mr. Alex Adum, has attributed his late resignation from the state executive council to contest next year’s governorship election to the protracted legal tussle between Governor Gabriel Suswam and his rival, Prof. Steve Torkuma Ugbah.

He dismissed insinuations that he had ignored the governor’s directive that aspirants wishing to vie for elective offices, particularly the governorship position, should resign from office.

Adum told journalists in Makurdi yesterday that as the Attorney-General, it was incumbent on him to remain in office since he had some briefs, particularly concerning the Supreme Court case, insisting that his action was not out of tune, since he was not just a commissioner.

Alluding to whether

he contravened the directive, which the governor gave earlier in the year that those aspiring to replace him should resign from office, Adum simply said; “Well I’m not the governor and so, I am not competent to comment on that.

“There is a difference between a declaration to contest and contesting election. Those are two different things. An express intention to contest election does not amount to contesting election.

“If you pick up the relevant Electoral Act and the qualifications for contesting election under the constitution and the disabilities of contesting election under Section 183, you find it clearly stated out.

“The governor said ‘those of you working with me, who are desirous of contesting election, should resign from your appointment and go.’ All the people that resigned had declared their intention to contest election before they resigned.” Adum explained.

Gloria Abumere, yesterday said no fewer than nine graduates from Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, have been inducted into the pharmacists’ council.

At the occasion, Mrs. Abumere said parents have the best influence on their children, especially in the choice of a career. She said this at the induction and oath taking ceremony of inductees.

The acting registrar

said parental support, encouragement and steadfastness were key to promoting academic excellence in children.

“The success being celebrated today was born by your vision, courage and selfless sacrifice; and note that your role in guiding the graduands as children/young adults to be worthy citizens of Nigeria, is still very important,” Mrs. Abumere added.

She warned the newly inducted members not to relent in the sacred responsibility of serving as role models thereby motivating young people to accomplish their pursuits in different areas.

SDP frowns on Osun’s fresh N21.3bn loan

Adeolu Adeyemo

OSOGBO

O

sun State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday frowned at the new N21.3 billion bank loan obtained by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, two months to the governorship election.

The party in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo by its Chairman, Mr. Adeola Isola, condemned the development, describing it as an eyesore.

He called on all banks in the country to stop

lending money to the state; “I believe that this money is being prepared

by Aregbesola for the forthcoming polls and our party won’t hesitate to probe Osun finances, because we are sure of victory in the August 9 polls.”

He also challenged the state government to come out clear and open up on the state’s debt profile.

The SDP chairman expressed surprise at the new loan granted the state government by two commercial banks, saying the issue of the N350 billion debts allegedly

taken before now was still a subject of concern to the people.

He challenged Aregbesola to deny his allegations of fresh loans while noting that the government has put Osun on a debt yoke that will remain in the next 25 years.

According to him, information at SDP’s disposal showed that the first tranche of the loan, totaling N11.36 billion was provided by EcoBank, while the second tranche of N10 billion was granted by Zenith Bank.

“In the list, Aregbesola planned to use N1 billion

for payment of accrued pension arrears of between 2011 and 2012; N5 billion for the purchase of promissory note for Sammy Limited and Hong Ye Construction Limited; N1 billion to re-capitalise Osun State Investment Company Limited; N1.5 billion for civil servants’ mortgage loans and N500 million for scrapping of MDS area of Osogbo.

“While the above are to be repaid over 48 months, N1.5billion will be used to bridge salary payments and N860 for counterpart funding of UBEC,” he stated.

You’re intellectually lazy, Oshiomhole tells Edo PDP leaders Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

do State governor, AdEterday ams Oshiomhole, yestook the leadership

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the cleaners for what he described as their intellectual laziness.

He said the party’s Chairman, Chief Dan

Orbih, only offers comic relief to the people of the state.

Oshiomhole, who spoke when he received the new leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Mr. Anselm Ojezua, in his office at the Government House, Benin City, said the state government remains accountable and transparent and will not

be deterred by the flimsy accusations of the opposition party.

The governor said the comments made by the party’s leadership have revealed the quality of leadership in the opposition in Edo State.

The governor said: “For example, when we took N25 billion bonds in 2010, I did explain and

I repeated it severally that we are servicing the bond.”

He said his administration spends “about N520 million every month to service the bond. How such servicing has become an issue, only an illiterate will wonder that we took a bond and we are servicing it.”

News

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

11

Ogun commences free mobile medical services etermined to make enjoy qualitative healthDcessible healthcare services ac- care packages. to the people, par“This would further ticularly at the grassroots, Ogun State government yesterday commenced the free Mobile Health Service scheme tagged; ‘MTNF Y’ello Doctor.’

Flagging off the services at the Odeda Local Council Secretariat, Odeda, the state focal person Dr. Olayinka Adeyemi, said people in the rural communities would be given free treatment that needed primary healthcare intervention alongside free drugs.

Adeyemi added that services to be rendered would cover preventive and curative healthcare, urging the people to explore the opportunity to

strengthen efforts at improving the health of individuals in the rural areas to access quality healthcare services; enhance healthcare system and referral services.”

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Eunice Bolarinwa and Mr. Ganiyu Abudu, appreciated the gesture of the state government and other collaborative partners, imploring them to sustain the programme.

The pilot scheme of the free mobile medical services is expected to cover communities in Odeda, Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota, Abeokuta South and Ipokia Local Government areas.

...moves to decongest prisons gun State government Odalities has put in place mothat will ensure

speedy dispensation of justice in an effort to decongest prisons in the state.

Attor ney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu, who stated this yesterday said the government also aims at reducing the large number of inmates awaiting trial.

She said Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who granted amnesty to 15 inmates and commuted death sentences passed on nine convicts to life imprisonment in commemoration of his third year in office, was moved by the deplorable condition of prison formations and has met with stakeholders in the criminal justice system, including the chief judge, controller of prisons,

commissioner of police and herself.

“Our people should expect that justice will begin to be dispensed more speedily. Case files will be brought to court faster, so that the number of those awaiting trial will be significantly reduced in the very near future,” Akeredolu said.

She also said that the governor, during his visit to prison formations in Oba, Ilaro and Abeokuta, had deployed health officials to attend to inmates with bad health conditions.

The Controller of Prisons, Mr. Joseph Olanrele, revealed that 450 inmates are awaiting trial, stating however that the state governor has mandated stakeholders to ensure that those who are not supposed to be behind bars are not kept there unnecessarily.

Osun Labour Party receives defectors he governorship ambiTbade, tion of Mr. Fatai Akinof the Labour Party

(LP) in Osun State, yesterday received a boost, following the defection of about 1,000 members of the Accord Party in Isokan Local Government, to the party.

In a release by his Director of Media, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, the defectors, led

by Mr. Adeola Adeniyi, cut across the eleven wards in the local government.

While receiving the new members on Monday, Akinbade and the state Chairman of the party, Timothy Olatunji, noted that they had taken the right step that would go a long way in salvaging the state from the misrule of the Rauf Aregbesola administration.

Speaking further, the governorship candidate, who was the former Secretary to the State Govern-

ment (SSG), admonished other contenders and stakeholders in the election not to create tension through unguarded utterances capable of creating avoidable conflicts.

To this end, he said electioneering campaigns should be issue-based, imbued with new ideas that could meet the needs of the state and its people.

“Through our actions or otherwise, we should not create avoidable fears and tension in the minds of our people. Politics should not be played on do or die basis. Our problem is that we have always refused to be students of history.”

While speaking through their leader, Adeniyi, the defectors said they chose Labour Party because they believed in the candidature of Akinbade as the only one that could bail the state out of its present situation.

L-R: Branch Manager, Lekki-Chevron, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Anthony Nwobodo; Zonal Head, Lekki, Mrs. Violet Odu and Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr. Enase Okonedo, at the Second LBS Africa Business Conference organised by the school in partnership with FCMB in Lagos

6,435

The number of people in refugee/ refugee-like situation in Mexico in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

50,632

The number of pending asylum seekers of Ecuador at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

30.79

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Norway in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

No going back on new fees, says OAU lStudents’ Union: We will continue to resist it CONFRONTATION There may be tug-of-war in the coming weeks between students and OAU authorities over tuition Mojeed Alabi

uthorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday said there was no going back on the new fees charged by the institution, citing dwindling subvention from the Federal Government, inflation and increased expenditure.

The university’s ViceChancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, who addressed the

A

media yesterday on the issue, accused the students of distorting the facts about the new fees and misinforming the public.

Omole, who said the university paid about N30 million for electricity alone in the month of April, added that the economic reality of the university has made the old fees payable by students unrealistic.

He said the new fees were introduced to ensure the continued growth and excellent performance of the ivory tower, which he boasted was the nation’s best.

“It was 10 years ago, precisely during the 2004/2005 academic session that the university administration last reviewed the charges that were paid by all categories of students. The

charges paid then, which were in line with the economic realities of that time, were the charges still being paid until this new review.

“It is evident that the current economic realities have made those charges unrealistic and unsustainable.

“Indeed, the university administration did a comparative analysis on the regime of charges in other federal universities in the country and it was discovered that the charges paid by students in OAU were not only ridiculously low, but have become very unsustainable if our university is to survive.”

The vice-chancellor also gave reasons why the former charges had to be reviewed.

He said it has become

imperative for the new regime of charges to be introduced as the cost of providing education has risen worldwide. Also, inflation, which has eaten deep into the allocation from the government, has made the old fees unsustainable.

Meanwhile, the university’s students’ union has reiterated its commitment to fight against the implementation of the new fees, saying all issues raised by the university were not tenable enough to warrant what it described as more than 300 per cent increment.

Students’ Union President-elect, Ibikunle Isaac, said the students had appraised all the reasons raised by the vicechancellor and were not convinced of any need to further ‘overburden’ the them with the new fees.

Bayelsa CNPP in crisis over Dickson’s N5m monthly stipends Chris Ejim

Yenagoa

A

new crisis is rocking the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in Bayelsa State, following the dispute over the sharing formula to be adopted on the N5 million monthly stipend approved for the leadership of over 25 political parties in the state, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The dispute is between the leadership of the CNPP led by Comrade Lucky Akpeli and the state chapter of the

Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), led by Prince Oniekpe.

While the Oniekpeled IPAC claimed the action of the CNPP chairman on the nonsharing of the monthly stipend was a violation of an earlier agreement among 25 chairmen, the CNPP Chairman, Lucky Akpeli, denied the claim, saying that the fund was meant for chairmen of political parties.

New Telegraph gathered that the first sign of crisis was the claim by some people that the N5 million from Governor Seriake Dickson,

could have been diverted by the Special Adviser to the Governor on InterParty Matters, Hon. Steven Diver.

A meeting at the office of the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Political Matters, Chief Alfred Agbedi, however, resolved the matter and Diver’s involvement in the whole saga was curtailed.

At the peace meeting held on April 28, 2014, it was agreed that three persons should be responsible for the collection and sharing of the money.

New Telegraph gath-

ered that Akpeli, however, reneged on the agreement and collected the N5 million meant for May 2014 and has refused to share the money as agreed.

Sources confirmed that protest calls have been made to the duo of the Principal Executive Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Douye Diri and the Special Adviser, Political Affairs, Chief Alfred Agbedi.

Contacted, Oniekpe declined comment, insisting that it was an internal issue, ‘and would be resolved by all concerned.’

12 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sanctity

Wednesday,

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com otuntise@yahoo.co.uk

0802 393 8212

Wednesday, JUNE 4, 2014

Police arrest Rho Vivour’s wife, daughter’s abduc

The suspected kidnappers

Taiwo Jimoh and Tope Sobowale

P

olice have arrested three suspected kidnappers of wife and daughter of Supreme Court judge, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour.

The suspects, Monday Odieto (32), Godspower Ovwigho (31) and Stanley Efetobor (29), were also said to be responsible for the abduction and eventual killing of the former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chudi Nwike.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who paraded the suspects before journalists yesterday, said Odieto was arrested by the Ikoyi Divisional Police, Lagos.

According to him, the suspect confessed during interrogation that he belonged to the 30-man gang of kidnappers who abducted the wife and daughter of the Supreme Court judge.

Thereafter, the officer in charge of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad

Police widows bemoan eviction Taiwo Jimoh

P

ains and sorrow seem to be the lot of the widows of policemen living at the Police Mobile Force, 20 Squadron (MOPOL 20), barracks, Ikeja.

Tears have barely dried from their faces for the loss of their husbands, most of who died in active service when another misfortune came knocking.

The widows and their children have been ejected from the barracks, without being paid allowances due to their husbands and fathers.

When NT Metro visited the barrack, their belongings littered everywhere at the premises of the barrack. The Sunday evening down pour in Lagos destroyed most of their properties.

The affected children and women said that it was just a case of man’s inhumanity to man.

Some of the women, who were said to have lost their husbands about three

to five years ago, said they were still staying the barracks because their husbands’ entitlements had not been paid.

“Where do they expect us to get money to rent house when we have not been paid. Some of our children are even out of school because we have no money to fund their children education. Some of those who left secondary school could not go to university because of lack of money. We struggle to feed them, now the police authorities have thrown us out,” one of the widows said.

Another widow, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were given a three-day quit notice.

She said what they saw next was that on Saturday morning was a truck load of mobile policemen who came and forced them out.

A copy of the quit notice signed by one Usman M. Nasarawa, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and O/C PMF 20 Provost,

for Commanding Officer, Police Mobile Force, 20 Squadron, Ikeja dated May 28, 2014 reads: “It has come to my notice that despite the fact that you have been transferred/demobed/retired from the Squadron/Force long ago, you are still occupying the Squadron’s official quarters/ barracks which your continuous occupation of this quarters is il-

(SARS), Abba Kyari, went after the kidnappers.

Manko added that after a long manhunt, Ovwigho was also arrested at Ikorodu and was identified by Odieto to be part of their gang.

Efetobor, according to the commissioner, also confessed to be part of the team who went to rescue ‘Rufus’ their leader while he was been taking to court in Warri, Delta State and killed three officials of the Nigeria Prison Service.

He said: “When the former Deputy Governor of Anambra State Chudi Nkwike was kidnapped the suspects confessed

they demanded N30 million from his family members, instead the kidnappers were given N5 million.

“The kidnappers were said to be annoyed over the amount of money given to them and killed Nwike in the process.

They asked his wife and his family members to use the remaining money that was supposed to be given to them for the burial of the former deputy governor.”

Police also paraded three others, Ibrahim Lawal (27), Emmanuel Adewale (25) and Yomi Olarewaju (25), for planning to kill a businessman in Lagos.

The suspects were arrested at Pekkas Night Club on Allen Avenue while plan-

ning h Man format immed club to One given t som fr sleepin He a N100,0 Ore at larg The would vestiga

Free my sick son, widow begs ju Juliana Francis

A

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has appealed to the Chief Judge of Imo State to look into the case of one Mr Stephen Anoruo, who has been awaiting trial in Owerri Prison Since 2008.

The Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), which made the appeal, said that Anoruo had been awaiting trial for that long due to the

absence of any complainant or witness. Anoruo’s case had also suffered several adjournments.

According to NOPRIN, Anoruo is now critically ill in prison and his mother, a bedridden widow, is being asked by prison officials to pay the bill at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri.

The woman, who did not have money to pay, approached NOPRIN to assist in saving her son’s life.

Anoruo was said to have been

arrested by the pol detained at Imo S Investigation Depa Owerri. His Inves Officer (IPO) was bang.

Anoruo was repo because someone money alleged that in the kidnap of the w Executive Officer and tor of Associated Bus Mr. Frank Nneji.

Reduce loss of policemen’s lives, CP tells banke Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

R

ivers State Police Commissioner, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, yesterday warned banks to take measure to reduce the death of policemen guarding their business premises or escorting their cash vans.

Ognsakin, who gave the warning at a Bankers’ Forum with the police in Port Harcourt, expressed sadness at what he termed indiscriminate killings of policemen on banks’ services.

His warning came on the heels of the killing of three policemen and a bank official by armed rob-

Ogunsakin (middle) addressing the forum

bers at Igwuruta, last week.

It was gathered that the policemen were pulled out, by a high ranking bank official, from their bank guard duty and made to escort him with about $400,000.

Noting that the men were ambushed and killed by robbers who also carted away the cash, Ogunsakin pointed out that there was a huge difference between policemen on guard duty and those who

serve in specie es He explained men on guard d as stationary un who serve in spe released, based on to the police hea should have on th and must use Ar nel Carrier (APC He said: “Speci be the only ones to banks should end provisions for Ar nel Carriers.

“It is not the am men escorting ca but the quality available to them

7TH ASSEMBLY: ISSUES THAT SHAPED THE HOUSE THREE YEARS AFTER / PAGE 40

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, POLITICS

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

13

NIGER DELTA’S POLITICAL CLASS ARE GREEDY –EVAH

p-15

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014

T

he Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly recently had its cohesion and unity tested when its members bitterly disagreed on the passage of the Executive Pension Bill brought to the House by Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Traditionally, the House is well known for taking decisions at its executive meeting usually held in the Speaker’s office and only come to the floor of the House to rehearse or act the outcome of the their understanding to the admiration of the people in the gallery.

But for the pension bill, the centre could not hold in the 26-member House during the deliberation of the bill. New Telegraph observed that only 19 members attended the sitting which snowballed into heated argument before the House settled for voting.

The Speaker, Sam Ikon, immediately ordered the vacation of public gallery leaving only the lawmakers in the chambers to decide the fate of the bill, 10 people voted for the bill as passed by the Assembly while nine voted against.

The lawmakers who voted for the bill, New Telegraph gathered from an insider included the members representing Oruk/Anam, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ukanafun, Essien Udim, Mkpat Enin State constituencies, Others included the representatives of Mbo, Oron /Udung Uko, Ikot Ekpene, Etim Ekpo/Ika and Abak State constituencies.

The nine lawmakers who voted against the bill were those representing the Urueffong/Oruko, Nsit Ubium, Ini, Onna, Eastern Obollo, Ibiono Ibom, Itu, Uruan and Uyo State Constituencies.

New Telegraph further learnt that the six lawmakers stayed away from the sitting because of the controversial nature of the bill which had generated uproar across the state.

The Pension Law as passed by the Assembly has empowered a democratically elected governor or deputy of former Cross River and of Akwa Ibom after office to enjoy pension for life at a rate equivalent to the annual basic salary of the incumbent governor or deputy governor respectively.

The law also provides former elected governors and their deputies a new official car and a utility which once in every four years, one personal aide and the provision of adequate security for the governor and deputy governor during their life time at the expense of the state government.

Clause I sub-section (C) of the law allows for the provision of funds not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5

Akwa Ibom: Controversy trails jumbo pension pay The “Governors and Deputy Governors’ Pension Bill 2014” has continued to generate controversy in Akwa Ibom State as stakeholders voiced opposition to the bill which has been passed by the House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Godswill Akpabio. TONY ANICHEBE reports million per month in favour of governor and deputy governor to employ a cook, chauffeur and

security guards.

The law also made provision for free medical services in fa-

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAW

Pension Annual basic salary of incumbent governor or deputy governor

Medical expenses Ex-governors =N100m Ex-deputy governors =N50m Widows of ex-governors = N12m Widows of ex-deputy governors = N6m Cars Governors/deputies: Two cars in every four years

Accommodation Governors: 5-bedroom mansion in Abuja or Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor: Allowance of 500 per cent of annual basic salary Security Provision of adequate security during lifetime Staff Personal aide, cook, chauffeur and security guards

vour of former governor and spouse at a sum not exceeding N100 million or the equivalent of $600,000 per annum or N50 million or equivalent of $300,000 per annum in favour of former deputy governor.

Clause One (e) of the law as passed by the House gave approval for the provision of a befitting house not below a five-bedroom mansion in either the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or Akwa Ibom State for the governor while a yearly accommodation allowance of 500 per cent of annual basic salary was approved for the deputy governor.

Clause One subsections F, G and H made provision for furniture allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary once in

every four years; provision of a yearly maintenance and fuelling of allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary and the provision of 300 per cent severance gratitude of annual basic salary depending on the time the officer leaves office.

The new law also include yearly utility allowance of 100 per cent of annual basic salary respectively in clause one subsections I and J. The lawmakers in upholding Clause Two of the amended law maintained that a former governor or former deputy governor who receives a severance gratuity under the provision of the public and political office holders (Remuneration) law cap. 101 laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000 (as amended) shall not be eligible to obtain any other severance gratuity under the law.

In the case of death of a former governor or deputy governor, the law mandates the state CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

‘Nigeria’s foundation is very weak’ There was a mutiny at Maimalari Barracks in Borno State recently. What do you think this portends for the military and the country?

Well, the chicken is coming home to roost and what used to be spoken about in hushed tones has exploded itself into public consciousness by this incident.

People have long suspected that moral and enthusiasm in the military has gone down south and abandoned the establishment. Now, we see that it is actually so.

For a country that is going through what Nigeria is going through at the moment to experience that, shows that there is no control in that establishment. It is unheard of in any settled military establishment that any junior officer will raise his gun against his commander.

If that is bad, multiply it many times over in a fluid situation like we have in the North-East where mayhem is on a free reign. This same military is supposed to be addressing the situation. That leaves you wondering what is actually happening. A soldier turning his weapon against his commander is an indication that the two are on opposing sides. So, which are the sides in this conflict? Where does the military stand? If it is true that the military is divided, then, it is scary. It is scary in the sense that we may be turning our rifles against ourselves.

That also goes to lend credence to some insinuations that some people in the military are on the side of Boko Haram. It is therefore not a small mater at all. It is one that must be thoroughly investigated.

If there are insurgent soldiers in the military, then, the military cannot fight the war we are facing.

From turning their guns on their commander is a short distance from turning it on their commander-in-chief. Do you harbour any fears?

Anything is possible. Is there any surprise that the president did not go to Chibok as we were told he would go? The president is an entity whose movement involves a lot. The president does not just pick up his hat and start going anywhere.

There must be security and political analysis of the situation. It is likely that he was warned not to go there. He may have been warned that he may not be safe there.

Could it be from Boko Haram alone? If it is from Boko Haram, we have enough soldiers to protect him down there. But if the president is cancelling his trip in spite of the security on ground, it also lays credence to suspicion that the president is not safe from even elements within his own military. That is what really baffles me. It scares me. It also portends danger for the country. If our military cannot be trusted enough to protect their commander, then we have a problem.

You may ask: do we really have a military? I have great respect for our soldiers and some of my best friends from university are in the military, so my comment should not been seen as denigrating those people, but we should look at the establishment the way it is. In 1966, we had a situation where the army was divided and we ended up with a civil war. Are we having a repeat situation? Is a recurrence on the way? I am scared.

Do you think with the intervention of the international community that the game will change?

It should change the game. First of all, we have more intelligence, not the type that is tainted with sectionalism, politics and religion; we have dispassionate intelligence generated with technology. If we have surveillance, it will just capture what is there.

Two dialogues are going on in Nigeria at the

A delegate to the ongoing National Conference and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan (SAN) shares some insights on key issues affecting the polity with LOUIS ACHI. He analyses the implications of the recent mutiny by some soldiers and is emphatic that though he firmly believes in one Nigeria, the country’s unity must not be at all cost

Edosomwan

moment. One is the national confab and the other is being done with insurgency. Looking forward, what do you make of these?

I have said it several times that I came to the National Conference with the mandate of my people to work for the unity of Nigeria and I will do everything it takes to preserve the unity of this country. However, I also maintain that Nigeria’s unity cannot be at all cost. Therefore, those who are taking that unity for granted, may at the end find out that their game of brinkmanship may have been taken too far. The National Conference is being participated in by the whole of the country.

The other one that is being done with AK47s is being done by a section of the country. Other sections of the country are not fully insulated from it because we all suffer the consequences. If you remember the post-election violence, the children who died, the youth corpers, came from all over the country. To that extent, we are all affected. But in that conversations too, only two regions of the country are not fully troubled. In the South-South, disturbances in the creeks are beginning to rise again.

I suspect that could be in reaction to some utterances that have emanated from this conference seeking to stifle their aspirations and expropriate them further of what they believe is their Godgiven gift.

Well, I am glad to be part of this conference. The other conference we do not want because the consequences are very dire. So, those who are taking the unity of this country for granted should go and read history again. They should look at the history of states where we have had such situations like we have now and

what has become of them.

For now, we have a very weak Nigerian state. What I mean by this is that the foundation upon which this Nigerian state was erected is weak. You cannot have too many nationalities in one state and expect a miracle of fusion and we are here debating harmonious co-habitation.

In spite of that, some people are advancing very drastic positions. I hope all sides realise that we cannot play with the unity of this country because if we break, and it is possible; let no one tell you it is not possible, the humanitarian implications will probably be the worst in the whole continent of Africa.

Therefore, we must do what it takes to fix the situation. I also think that at this point, we need to put away our brinkmanship and look at the fact that we are

We have a very weak Nigerian state. What I mean by this is that the foundation upon which this Nigerian state was erected is weak. You cannot have too many nationalities in one state and expect a miracle of fusion and we are here debating harmonious cohabitation

several nations, with over 20 nations in this country that can live independently and recognised under international law.

So, what is the big deal about being together if we can’t stay together? On the hand, there are great advantages staying together. To that extent, we have that advantage but if we want to throw that away, we know where we will belong and what punch can you throw when you are just a small nation?

There is therefore a lot for us to work for in terms of forging a united country that will meet our collective aspirations.

In doing that, we must recognise our differences and use them as platforms for co-habitation and cooperation. Then, we can find harmony in our differences.

In the light of your argument, how do you see rising agitation by minority ethnic nationalities in the North; who are beginning to seek their own identification away from dominance by the majority ethnic groups?

That is what I am saying; our differences can be the basis for a harmonious co-habitation. It’s as simple as that. I am a Bini man and I cannot be Igbo. You can’t force me to be either Igbo or Fulani or Yoruba or Efik. I am Bini. But do I have platforms for cooperation with them?

Of course I do. I see the Efik man as my brother just as I see the Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba etc as my brother.

But am I Fulani? No. Is the Fulani a Bini? No, he is not. He is Fulani. To that extent, we cannot ignore those voices that are crying for recognition. Don’t forget that the Wilkins Report of 1958 was given expression following situations like this.

All those were later given expression first, by the 1963 promulgation of Midwest region, and thereafter the creation of 12 states by Gowon.

Things were going on very well until the military took over and turned everything on their head. We started seeing nepotism, favouritism, political calculations that were manifestly sectional and we became a unitary system of government so much that when we returned to civil rule in 1979 we were handed a constitution that was unitary with an overloaded centre that is so powerful and yet very far from the people. If a federal road is bad in your area today, no one remembers the president; people complain that the governor is not doing anything.

How do you explain to the man on the street that it is a federal road and should be fixed by the Federal Government? So, what we have now is a legitimate issue for discussion. Should we continue to burden ourselves with an overloaded center or have an inverted federalism?

Some are arguing that the system we have is good enough and should not be changed. If it is good enough, then, why are we here? Why is the country falling apart? That is self-deception and I don’t want to engage in that.

Look at security for instance. There has been argument for state policing and some people are insisting that we are not ripe yet for that, as governors will abuse it. Well, that may be so but what has happened to the federal police? Has is not been abused by the Federal Government?

We all knew what happened in Bayelsa State under Obasanjo. We all knew what happened in Plateau and Ekiti states under Obasanjo with the police. That was Federal Government abusing the federal police and misusing it for political gains.

But if you look at it critically, that was at the personal level of political patronage.

How about the general level of crime prevention and securing lives and property? It is not possible to have a monoCONTINUED ON PAGE 15

POLITICS 15

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE The National Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), Mr. Joseph Evah, in this interview with NDUBUISI UGAH, speaks on the need for the implementation of the United Nations report on Ogoniland and the position of Niger Delta at the ongoing National Conference, among others. Excerpts:

Niger Delta’s political class are greedy –Evah class we have in our region. Ninety per cent of them are gamblers. They don’t have conscience like the Yoruba politicians. So, if we identify few that can work for the people, we have to encourage them. If anybody talks of replacing the Presidential Adviser on Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, we will fight the person. These are the few people proving to the world that we are in government. Kuku and Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi of NIMASA are part of the few great Ijaw leaders, who have distinguished themselves in governance.

The secret of Dickson’s leadership qualities and that of the likes of Ambassador Godknows Igali, among others is reflected in the spirit of the struggle for mankind. When my set of the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG) left the scene after the military era, the set of Dickson took over. I was the spokesman of IMG when late Gen. Sani Abacha hanged late Ken Saro-Wiwa. It was God who saw the plight of Ijaw people and anybody who tries to be funny with Dickson’s mandate will face the power of the gods and I know he will never derail.

You met recently with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle and Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation, Mr. Rick Borton, in Lagos. What informed the parley?

The meeting was about the situation in the Niger Delta. I told them the situation is very bad and we needed international assistance like the apartheid situation in South Africa. They are aware of the situation and I don’t want them to pretend about the bad situation. There is no industry in the region to industrialise it. I told them to encourage President Goodluck Jonathan to implement the United Nations report on Ogoni.

The Ogoni report is a masterpiece; it is a roadmap to cleanse the Niger Delta. I don’t know the reason for the delay in the implementation. President Jonathan owes this generation and the future general a duty to implement the UN report on Ogoni, which by extension means the clean-up of the Niger Delta.

Do you think the American are ready to assist the Niger Delta the way you have presented your argument?

The Americans are ready because how long are we going to run round a cycle about development. They have seen that the Niger Delta youths are peaceful and law abiding who cannot be engaged in idle activities. We want massive engagement strategy to save the situation. Some of the governors are really trying their best but we want coordinated approach by the Federal Government and for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ministry of Niger Delta and others to be able to work out the situation. When you hear that the Federal Government is owing NDDC N800 billion, you will wonder whether we are in a mad country that does not want peace. The Federal Government owing NDDC since former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s era is a shame. And that our royal fathers are in court pursuing this debt case is equally shocking.

Bayelsa State is the homeland of the Ijaws. How do you rate the state governor, Seriake Dickson?

Governor Dickson is very focused.

You know that I don’t manage words as a social critic about our politi-

Evah

cians. Dickson by every standard symbolises the Ijaw character and boldness. You know I criticised him when some youths were arrested for demonstrating over employment issues, and as a listening leader, he allowed the court to set them free. You see Dickson is a selfless servant who will not compromise hardwork to deliver the best for the people.

But there were speculations that the presidency is planning to replace three governors and one of them is Dickson.

How true is this?

It is just a rumour. There is nobody in the presidency that is planning such a thing. When you say the presidency; what do you mean by that? Are you referring to President Jonathan? And of course, he will never plan such a thing. The president is lucky that somebody who is prepared to work is there for him to have rest of mind in Abuja. The president and his wife are all pleased with Dickson. Let me tell you the truth, no normal Ijaw person will talk about replacing Dickson now.

If you give the Niger Delta people independence, they would destroy themselves in 24 hours.

If we are allowed to go our way, the Niger Delta situation would be worse than what we are seeing in South Sudan because we produce the highest number of greedy politicians Anybody thinking about that needs to re-examine his or her head. This is a governor that the speed with which the government took off has not yet abated. We know the kind of political

‘Nigeria’s unity shouldn’t be by force’ CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 4

lithic policing of our country in such circumstance as to guarantee life and property. The federal police cannot take the protection of lives and property to the nooks and crannies of this country.

It cannot do it. That can only be achieved with state and community police.

Does the fact that there have been 31 applications to the National Conference for state

creation bother you?

Yes, it does. It bothers me very much.

I think its because minorities are craving for fellowship and identification.

Another reason is that people are trying to create empires for themselves.

There is a point it gets to and it becomes a joke and every local government will want to become a state. I think there should be a limit to that. I had thought that we’ll take a hard look at the geo-

political zones and regions; and if people forget their ambitions to create fiefdoms and work out modalities for co-existence, recognising the profoundness and respect for minorities’ rights, I think the clamour for more states will reduce. Right now, the South-East wants a state because of equality of zones; yes, you can argue for that, but the whole structure, if regionalised, will make for better efficiency.

Do you agree with Jonathan’s stand on the no-go-area at the National Conference?

Every area has to be discussed. The president cannot dictate to us what to discuss and what not to discuss. We must discuss on all areas including whether we should disintegrate or not. You can see that the Yoruba region came to the conference with regional identity. Resource control and true federalism is our watchword at the conference. Maybe the president is afraid that some people really want to break up Nigeria.

So, what is the position of the Niger Delta concerning the prediction that Nigeria will break-up?

Niger Deltans are not interested in breaking up Nigeria not even after we have seen what is currently happening in South Sudan. Look at them, they say they want a break up and with the kind of greedy politicians we have in Nigeria, I don’t think that even the masses would really want this country to break up. The masses know that if we separate this country, the greedy political class would destroy us in a matter of seconds. For instance, if you give the Niger Delta people independence, they would destroy themselves in 24 hours. If we are allowed to go our way, the Niger Delta situation would be worse than what we are seeing in South Sudan because we produce the highest number of greedy politicians.

So, the president should not be afraid of break-up. Now, see how politicians are jumping from one party to the other. Only God will save us in this country. These people are not even supposed to be called politicians in Togo.

They are so shameless. I wonder if their children don’t ask them: “Daddy, you were wearing the uniform of this party yesterday, now you are wearing that of another party, and now you are returning to the former party? Why? Daddy, what is your problem? You have been running round a cycle. The other day, you carried a broom and now it is tomatoes and fowl leg again. This is too bad.”

16 POLITICS Recently, some leaders of the APC defected to the PDP; what is the problem with your party?

APC is too hot for some people who don’t wish the state development. The kind of prayers that people of this country and Edo State are praying is for a government that will remember that the essence of governance is about the welfare of the people. These kinds of prayers led to the emergence of the Adams Oshiomhole as governor. So, anybody in the APC who cannot imbibe that culture of development and change; whether he or she is elected or selected, the seat will be hot for that person. And when the seat becomes too hot, such person will not have choice than to leave the party.

So, those people that have left, I am sure the fire of the prayers of the people to have development have burnt them and that was why they left. They can go to the PDP because their slogan is share the money. So, those who have the character of the PDP can’t survive in the APC; some of them are already leaving. We don’t have regrets about it.

Are you not worried that four lawmakers defected in the House to join the PDP? We know ourselves as legislators. For you to be a lawmaker, it is measured from the number of motions moved in the House and the bills you have proposed.

And from the project angle, one may ask how many projects has a lawmaker done?

How have you impacted on the lives of the people? For example, I would start from Etsako West constituency 2 and relate it to Etsako West constituency 1. For Hon. Razak Momoh that left for the PDP, go and check if he has projects? And also check the amount of money given to him for projects? Go to constituency 2 which I represent and compare the amount of money allocated and the projects executed; you will see that the difference is very clear. How many motions has he moved that has impacted on the lives of the people? Look at the number of motions moved and bills passed by me. So, you will discover that if you measure those of us in the APC and those that have moved to the PDP, you will discover that the fire of the prayers of Edo people is burning them greatly and they are refusing to repent. The only way they feel they can continue to be relevant is to join the party that encourages what they are doing.

For me, I think it is all about conscience and about the people. The APC is too hot for them and that is why they are seeking consolation in the PDP and the only way the fire will not burn them is to refund all the money they have collected in the name of constituency projects and the bad things they have done in the name of governance. I don’t think their leaving matters to us.

How do you react to claim that the former National Vice Chairman (South-South), Ize-Iyamu owned the structure of the party?

When he said he made the Comrade Governor to win 18 over 18 in the last governorship election, the question I want to ask him: Was he responsible for the agent in his polling booth? All the agents of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in all the units in the 18 local government areas of Edo State were not brought by Ize-Iyamu even though he was the director general of Oshiomhole campaign organisation. When you don’t have a say as to produce an agent of a political party that is going for an election; that is to tell you that we didn’t even trust him in our midst. We saw him as a saboteur because I knew how he hijacked Grace Group for selfish interest.

For us, Edo in Safe Hands was formed to encourage the Comrade Governor and to police; some of them that we saw as anti-government and anti-development.

Even though when the governor was not happy with the formation of Edo in Safe Hands, we didn’t bother if the governor was happy or not; we were happy with ourselves that we want to defend what we have. And when we went out with

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Shaibu: Why APC lawmakers defected to PDP in Edo Mr. Philip Shaibu is the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly and represents Etsako West II on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with CAJETAN MMUTA in Benin City, he speaks on the defection of four APC legislators to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the crisis rocking the state chapter of the rulling party. Excerpts:

our programme, we didn’t do it with the intention to make the governor happy because we saw it ahead that Ize-Iyamu and his group were almost decamping even at the eve of the governorship election but when he saw that the Edo in Safe Hands mass movement and the Edo Solidarity Movement, (ESM) and other organisations were determined to rescue Edo State the way they did in 2007, he didn’t have any choice than to remain.

When he was appointed director general of the campaign, there was outcry in the system but the governor as usual begged us that we should work with him for his success but he was interested in his own ambition. We stood our ground to work for the governor.

The 18 over 18 the governor got was owing to his developmental strides and the Edo people made it possible; it was because of the governor’s acceptability.

When I watched him on TV, I laughed.

It is more disturbing when a pastor will lie on air then you know that there is a problem. I think it is time the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) to scrutinise some self-acclaimed pastors because the end time is coming. I watched him on TV lying that somebody was putting on a T-shirt of the Comrade Governor and the person was lynched.

If a pastor lied then we should know that we are in big trouble. I think Ize-Iyamu’s fixation to be governor is affecting the way he behaves. How many elections has Ize- Iyamu contested and won? I want to tell you today that when people talked about Lucky Igbinedion’s government, people will shout that it was a failed government but I want to tell you today that Igbinedion’s government failed courtesy of Ize-Iyamu. Igbinedion was the best local government chairman because he didn’t have the likes of Ize-Iyamu in his cabinet. At the beginning of Lucky’s first term as governor, that was when College of Education, Ekidolor was upgraded, College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi was revamped and Ambrose Alli University was also revamped. So, how come when Ize-Iyamu became the Chief of Staff and later Secretary to the State Government (SSG) that the government derailed?

These are the people who destroyed Igbinedion’s government and today they

For Hon. Razak Momoh that left for the PDP, go and check if he has projects? And also check the amount of money given to him for projects... How many motions has he moved that has impacted on the lives of the people?

Shaibu

are back again to derail Oshiomhole’s government, but because of his strong will and labour background, he refused to allow himself to be derailed. They are agents of darkness who come in form of pastors to deceive the people.

There are reports that more APC lawmakers in the House may defect to the PDP. What are you doing to stop this?

I can tell you that when you go to Edo North, Edo Central and South, if you go to constituencies there, all the hardworking honourable members in these areas, their people are happy with them. If they walked on their streets, the people will want to shake their hands because of what they have done for their people and that is why the prayers of guidance will continue to be with them and that is why all of us who are left are unanimous that Edo people prayers are working. This fight is beyond physical; it is spiritual and I will continue to seek God’s face in all these. We are united and I can assure you that some of the PDP members are already talking with us and very soon one or two of them will join us and I want you to know that there are still some good people in the PDP. Those that do not mean well to Edo are leaving to PDP. Most of those who defected to the PDP are accusing Governor Oshiomhole of taking over the party’s structure and that you and Hon. Osarodion Ogie are misleading the governor. What is your take on this?

Does the Comrade Governor look like someone that can be misdirected? The governor is a man of strong will. So, for you to get him to do anything, you must prove your case beyond any reasonable doubt. If the governor is lily-livered the way he (Ize-Iyamu) derailed Igbinedion’s administration he would have derailed Oshiomhole’s government but because of the strong will and character of the governor, he has not succeeded. So, the issue of over-bearing does not come in at all.

Imagine, a pastor that is sinking, he came from the angle of a congress that it was not well conducted and the governor called for a meeting of leaders and it was cancelled. The second rerun for Ize-Iyamu was worse than the first one.

So, such a person that could not win his ward in a party primary can come up to say he won 18 over 18 for the governor is funny. The same person that rejected consensus was now calling for consensus when he has been defeated twice. If he says his problem is Phillip Shaibu and Ogie, then there is something behind it that he knows that we know. Outside government, we can be friends but as far as government policies are concerned, I always disagree with him especially when government resources are scarce and when a lot of development is needed.

So, I don’t know when Phillip has become a problem to him, after all, I am not seeking to be governor; Ogie is not contesting as well. We were able to detect his evil doing and that’s what he is not happy with.

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

17

Will National Convention unify APC? YEKEEN NURUDEEN writes on the challenges before the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of its June 13 and 14 National Convention

I

n a couple of days, the major opposition party in the country, All Progressives Congress (APC) will conduct its National Convention.

At the convention, the party would elect its national officers who in turn would come up with guidelines for the party’s primaries.

The convention was fixed for May 24, but the party’s spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said current happenings in the country and some knotty issues within the party necessitated its postponement to June 13 and 14.

There is no doubt that events and happenings within the party before, during and after the convention would, to a large extent, determine its electoral fortunes in the 2015 elections.

Equally, the outcome of the convention would also make and mar the aspirations and political future of a number of power brokers in the party.

As it stands, there are indications that all is not well within the party. And if care is not taken, the brewing crisis may sweep all fortunes the party has accumulated since the celebrated merger of key opposition parties last year.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) merged to form the APC. Before its 10th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday May 20, it was scooped that there were feelings of discontent among the major power brokers within the party.

The crisis that greeted the congresses of the party in some states on one hand, the choice of key officers of the party ahead of the convention as well as zoning of offices on the other hand were the major issues that preoccupied the party’s leadership.

This much culminated in series of meetings by governors on the platform of the party.

On Sunday May 11, the governors met in Kano State to perfect an agenda which insider sources said would have shocked party leaders such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Major General Muhammadu Buhari as well as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

But the sudden appearance of Atiku and Buhari put paid to the agenda of the governors who it was gathered had their blueprint for the convention and 2015 elections.

As a result of the inconclusive nature of the meeting, it was gathered that the earlier scheduled NEC meeting of the party could not hold on Tuesday May 13. This, the Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed had confirmed to New Telegraph.

Though he simply said that the party had some unresolved issues arising from its states’ congresses. It was obvious that there were more to it than meet the eyes.

But the party leadership later converged at Imo State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja in a meeting that dragged till 1a.m. When the meeting ended, none of the party leaders was willing to open up on what transpired inside and resolutions.

Tinubu who came out first declined comment even though he promised to return to brief journalists. But he never did. What was however clear from the meeting which was well attended by all the party leaders including Interim

Akande

Sylva

Ikimi

Onu

National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Buhari, Abubakar, was that all was not well.

However, the aftermath of the party’s NEC meeting threw open what hitherto has been hidden. When Mohammed addressed journalists at the end of the meeting, it became clear that the structures of the party was changing hands.

He announced the date for the convention as well as the convention committee. Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State and Senator Chris Ngige were named as chairman and secretary respectively.

Their emergence, it was gathered, was the handiwork of the governors in the party who from all indications are poised to wrest the party from the stronghold of Tinubu.

Tinubu, sources revealed, had nominated Kawu Baraje and Senator Ajayi Borrofice for the same positions but the governors who have other plans edged out the former Lagos State governor.

The governors are not done yet with their scheming especially as the convention draws closer. They are also being alleged to be ready to install key national officers of the party. For the National Chairman of the party, the governors are gunning for one of their own though an ex-governor.

Former Bayelsa State governor, Timpre Sylva, findings revealed is the preferred choice of the governors. If this

There is no doubt that events and happenings within the party before, during and after the convention would, to a large extent, determine its electoral fortunes in the 2015 elections is anything to go by, it means, Tinubu would test his might again, against his erstwhile foot soldiers as it is believed that he prefers Akande to emerge as the substantive National Chairman.

An Akande’s leadership of the party many stakeholders believed would guarantee continuous stronghold of structures of the party by the former Lagos State governor.

Meanwhile, a group in the party on the other hand are scheming to install former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, a chieftain of the party from the South-South.

This is against the background of an unconfirmed report that the leadership of the party has zoned its National

Chairmanship to South-South. Another potential candidate for the post is the former National Chairman of the defunct ANPP, Ogbonnaya Onu, who sources said is an independent candidate with no godfather.

Onu, sources disclosed may enjoy the support of former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who is yet a strong bloc in the party.

Though odds look to be favouring Ikimi as some governors are said to prefer a Christian National Chairman but some other governors are also said to oppose to his choice.

While all these are expected to play out at the convention, Mohammed, who many Nigerians say has redefined opposition party media relations and also an ally of Asiwaju Tinubu is touted to retain his post after the convention.

Whether or not the governors would have their ways against other forces including those of former governor of Lagos State remains to be seen.

Undoubtedly, events at the convention on June 13 and 14 would point the way forward.

If the governors succeed, then, they will also determine who flies APC flag in next year’s presidential election. But if reverse is the case, then, all power brokers in the party may return to the trenches.

MORE STORIES ON PAGES 40-44

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014

LITERATURE

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

TONY OKUYEME

“While thought exists, words are alive and literature becomes an escape, not from, but into living.” ― Cyril Connolly

tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com okuyemeogom@yahoo.com

Uncommon moral relativism in Common Fate Book: Common Fate Author: Iddahson Daniel Publisher: Kennyson Boorville House Year: 2011 Pages: 108 Reviewer: Oladipo Kehinde (brighthousecreations@yahoo.com)

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ruth is greater than religion. It is second to love. Common Fate is a novel that brings to the fore the mores, culture, ceremony and traditional belief system of the Owailo. The fact is that Africans cannot abandon their tradition.

There is a glimpse of light in the heart of darkness. What is the black man’s place in history? Religion is an important aspect of life; it influences many things. In the village of Owailo, the luster values of religion are heeded at high esteem. Festival, rituals and ceremony are in a circle.

The seasons and harvest mean a lot to the Owailos. They speak to the spirits of the river, mountain, forest and woods. Ojonya faces humiliation and ignominy, as it is forbidden for a lady to see Alekwu masquerade. She is a pretty lady, the dotting eyes of the young men.

She asks herself many questions but the answer is for her to run naked to the river while the young men beat drums after her. The drums speak the language of deceit and mischief. The author writes: “When she got there she jumped into the river. When she got up she saw Aladi at the bank with a wrapper waiting for her to come out. “ p 13.

The men set her up for being a devoted

Common Fate is a novel that bring to the fore the mores, culture, ceremony and traditional belief system of the Owailo Christian. There is a grouse between the Christians and the villagers. Truth is the true religion.

Onyela, the mother of Onjoya is a victim of ethnic clash. A whole community is being set ablaze on the pivotal of sexual immorality committed by two adults. Guns, machetes, spears and fire brings out the orgy of violence in humanity: “ Many were impaled alive, some were killed and mutilated, some escape naked, some old men and women were allowed to flee the land. ” p 40.

The purpose of life is to be decent to one another on earth: spirit of tolerance.

Igli, Igbombe and Igbotu caused terror in the village and neighbouring villages as their hands are idle. They engage in nefarious activities that bring shame to their families. To satisfy their escapade and urges, they embrace tragedy.

We are for each other as part of the creative consciousness. We have to embrace moral relativism. Ojoya and Onyela suffer collective pain. Daniel uses lucid words to propel the story .It is full of suspense and comic relief. There are many parts that lead to one source. We are interconnected.

CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards: Call for entry date extended Tony Okuyeme

T

he entry date for the 2014 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards has been extended by one week, bringing the new closing date for submitting entries to Friday June 6, 2014.

The extension of the call for entries, the organisers stated in a release, will provide opportunities for more journalists to submit entries for this year’s awards. The prestigious awards, now in their 19th year have attracted thousands of entries across the continent, making it one of the biggest media awards in the continent. The awards represent the very best in journalism from across the African continent, and are a highlight in CNN’s editorial calendar.

Two Nigerians emerged winners at the awards last year. The winners are Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye of Sunday Punch in the UNICEF-sponsored Envi-

ronment Category and Tolu Ogunlesi, a freelance journalist for Ventures Africa, Nigeria, in the Coca-Cola Company, Economics and Biz Awards category. Ogunlesi’s story was an investigative report on the Eko Atlantic City.

This year, the competition will recognise excellence in the following categories: Culture Award; Digital Platform Award; The Coca-Cola Company Economics & Business Award; Environment Award; Free Press Africa Award; Mohamed Amin Photographic Award; MSD Health & Medical Award; Print General News Award; Radio General News Award; Sport Award; Television Features Award; Television News Bulletin Award; Francophone General News Awards; and Portuguese Language General News Awards.

From the winners of these categories, an independent judging panel will choose the overall winner of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2014.

Osundare, Jeyifo, others for Soyinka International Conference Tony Okuyeme

T

wo Nigerian distinguished scholars, Professors Niyi Osundare and Biodun Jeyifo are among leading literary giants that will present papers at this year’s Soyinka International Conference.

While Prof. Jeyifo, a leading literary critic and cultural theorist, will deliver the Conference keynote lecture, entitled “WS and the Nigerian/African Left: Clarifications and Reflections On That ‘Jacobin’ Moment”, Osundare, a prolific poet, dramatist and literary critic, will give the keynote for the plenary sessions of conference paper presentations.

Titled The ‘Soyinka Impulse’, the International Conference which is on the theme, “Art, Humanity, Transitions and Permanence: Calibrating Soyinka @ 80”, is organised by the Wole Soyinka Society in collaboration with the University of Lagos, to further the perpetuation of the cultural and artistic legacy of Nigerian Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, as well as to celebrate his 80th birthday.

It will hold from July 10 – 14 2014, at University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.

Co-Conveners of the Conference, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (MS), University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni and Lecturer of Visual & Performing Arts, Kwara State University, Dr. Bisi Adigun, in a release stated that the programme of events include five plenary sessions of conference paper presentations, each of which will be keynoted by the following distinguished scholars: Nigerian Prof.

Niyi Osundare, Indian Prof. Anjali Gera Roy, British Dr James Gibbs, Nigerian Prof. Isidore Diala, and South African Prof. Motsa Zodwa; presentations of a few sketches from the Soyinka’s Blackout, Blowout and Beyond – Satirical Sketches; and a visit to Abeokuta, where a site-specific performance of excerpts from Soyinka’s very first Yoruba tragedy, A Dance of the Forests, will be presented.

The programme of events also includes the staging of Death and the King’s Horseman at the main auditorium at UNILAG.

19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Our VISION To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

Our MISSION To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

Sanctity of Truth w w w.new telegraphonli ne.com

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

WEDNESday, JUNE 4, 2014

Pension scheme, global practices and transparency

I

n June 2012, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) in an effort to find a workable pension scheme for all employees in the state’s public service passed a bill on the issue into law. In a release entitled “AKHA Passes Contributory Pension Bill” and signed by Ernest Akpan, Press Secretary to the Speaker, the House announced that they had passed “The Bill to Establish A Compulsory Pension Scheme For Employees in the Public Service of Akwa Ibom State and for other Matters Connected therewith.” That was apparently in conformity with the Pension Act of 2004.

However, AKHA may have stirred the hornet’s nest with that amendment of the Akwa Ibom State Governors’ and Deputy Governors’ Pension Law, which pegs the perks and privileges of former governors and deputy governors at approximately N200 million a year for governors.

The bill as amended provides that the governor and the deputy governor are entitled to 100 per cent of their current salaries for life. The governor is entitled to a new official car and a utility car every four years, a personal aide and security to be provided for by the state for life. While the governor is en-

titled to N5 million monthly as allowance for domestic aides, his deputy would be entitled to N2 million. In addition, the governor is entitled to a medical allowance of N100 million per year for himself and his wife while the deputy would get a medical allowance to a limit of N30 million per annum.

The bill also provides that all former governors of the state should be entitled to “a befitting house not below a 5-bedroom mansion in either the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or Akwa Ibom State for the Governor and a yearly accommodation allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor; (300 percent of the deputy governor’s basic salary is N6, 336,645).

“Provision of furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary once in every four years; (A total of N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the deputy) “Provision of yearly maintenance and fueling of vehicle allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary; (A total of N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the deputy) “Provision of severance gratuity allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary as at the time the officer leaves office; (Another N6, 671,115 for the governor and

N6, 336,645 for the deputy) “Provision of yearly utility allowance of 100 percent of annual salary; (with the governor taking N2, 223,705 while his deputy takes N2, 112, 215) “And provision of entertainment allowance of 100 percent of annual basic salary; (Another N2, 223,705 for the governor and N2, 112, 215 for the deputy).”

The Bill entitled “Akwa Ibom State Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Bill, 2014” is an amendment to the original bill first passed by the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah, a former president and chairman of council of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and adds sundry provisions into the bill that would add a hefty N200 million as comfort allowance to past governors of the state every year.

Although the bill derives from an old existing law passed in 2006 and applies to all former democratically elected governors and their deputies, we believe that the bill is unreasonable and inequitable.

It is inequitable because while the Bill envisages that governors and their deputies live very well after leaving office, it does not seem to take into account the challenge that poses for the psychology of

the masses who are the governors/deputies’ employers but who wallow in unemployment, poverty, lack decent shelter and no institutionalised economic safety nets. In any case, the electorate only cast their votes for governors and their deputies, and not their spouses whose interests have also been deliberately accommodated in the new bill. Such laws that evolve at the twilight of various administrations (e.g, Lagos, Rivers and others) at federal and state levels are telling us that Nigerians are not all equal before the law.

We urgently need to emulate global best practices and embrace transparency, credibility and fairness to all. We insist that making provisions and allowances for the comfort of leaders past and present must have a human face and the appurtenances of good governance at all times. The argument that making such princely allowances for the comfort of leaders is an antidote to stealing while in office is untenable, as the act of stealing has more to do with depravity of the mind, ungodliness and lack of self control.

The new pension bill in Akwa Ibom and similar ones in other states are not good at all for the moral health of the society and should be put on hold.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALLA Managing Editor, North YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

OPINION

Edo State had no money (1999-2007)

Prince Mike M.A. Wilkie

O

n August 27, 1991, the defunct Bendel State was split into Edo and Delta States. Within a period of six years, there were military governors and John Oyegun, a civilian, who presided over the affairs of Edo State before the emergence of Lucky Igbinedion as governor in 1999. Igbinedion won the gubernatorial contest on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and governed the State for a period of eight years.

Lucky Igbinedion could not contest anymore in 2007 in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which stipulates only two terms of four years each for a sitting governor. In 2007, Professor Osariemen Osunbor also of the same political party was pronounced winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The professor was in office briefly until the Supreme Court had a contrary opinion. The court declared Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN (APC) as the authentic winner of the election and he was sworn in as governor of the state.

Adams who proceeded to win his second tenure in office will govern the state until 2016. The tenure of the Comrade Governor has witnessed some fantastic and marvelous achievements in Edo State when compared with the administration of Lucky Igbinedion. This piece has not the slightest time to delve into the achievements of Oshiomhole but is a clear attempt to x-ray the quintessential opinion of Lucky Igbinedion that during his eight-year tenure, Edo State had no money.

In the Vanguard Newspaper edition of May 13, 2014 at pages 40 and 41, the erstwhile governor granted an interview to the paper’s Abuja correspondent in which he tried to clear some issues as far as his administration was

concerned in Edo State (1999-2007). One of the fundamental issues, which drew my attention was the question put to him that he looted the treasury of Edo State while in office as a democratically elected governor. His response was that Edo State had no money to loot. He added that his father, Chief Osawaru Igbinedion and Chief Tony Anenih, the incumbent Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loaned him money for the running of the state. Further, he stressed that such borrowed money was used to pay workers’ salaries and wages including some other miscellaneous expenses.

Deep in me, Lucky’s response is totally unacceptable and he should better tell that to the marines. His assertion is a clear indication that as at the time in question, the two chiefs were even richer than Edo State. And, this scenario is what the Dangotes cannot even boast of. Again, I took time to critically examine his defence and I conclude that it was a tale told to the marines, which signified nothing.

The mustached ex-governor could not explain what happened to the monthly statutory allocation from Abuja to his State within the period in question. And, finally, Lucky opined that he was poorer as governor than his pregovernorship years. If he was properly quoted, it means that the EFCC was totally wrong for all the charges of fraudulent acts brought against him in a competent court of law. Then, what was the essence of the obnoxious “plea bargaining” which the court adopted if he was innocent?

The concept of “plea bargaining” compelled Lucky to pay about N3million rather than go to prison. In any case, he ended-up as a convict and there is no indication that the ex-governor appealed against this “historic Judgment”.

Without the slightest contradiction, Lucky Igbinedion volunteered to sleep away at the expense of the required development of Edo State. On the whole, Edo people did

not witness the dividends of democracy throughout Mr. Igbinedion’s period. He was another Emperor Nero who preferred to sleep, while Rome was on-fire.

On the contrary, Adams Oshiomhole who is yet to announce that the state has no money, let alone, to borrow from some Edo chiefs, has gone ahead to develop the state.

Those who pay official or private visits to the state can attest to the fact that Mr. Oshiomhole has tried without money, to give a facelift to Edo. These wonderful achievements, in all its ramifications, have elevated the incumbent governor as the architect of the development of modern Edo State.

Judging from the success of the Comrade Governor, Lucky has obviously been proved wrong and to show that the money of the state can still be used for the purpose of development. His statement on the financial status of Edo State when he was governor is unfortunate and selfdefeatist.

Let it be known, for the purpose of clarity, that the willful inability of the ex-governor to deliver the dividends of democracy to the door-steps of Edo people triggered off the hatred of the voters against the PDP in the state. Professor Osariemen Osunbor who succeeded Lucky, briefly in office, before the court sent him on political recess tried to improve and liberate Edo from the shackles of underdevelopment. His performance far exceeded that of Chief Igbinedion’s administration if there is any ample evidence to suggest that he made an attempt to do so.

I hold the view that the former governor should tender an unreserved apology to Edo people, who may deem it fit to forgive him as nobody on earth or anywhere can play God. • Prince Mike Arayuwa Wilkie (uwa1950@yahoo.com), 08023097251

Manipulation of youths to promote regional politics (2) Solomon Dalung Continued from yesterday (Mathew 11:28-30) hile Islam means submission.

The title “Muslim” etymologically directly related to Salaam and the name Islam means a person who submits to Allah in Salaam. The submission to Allah (the Arabic proper noun for “God”, One and only) is based on humility.

An attitude of humility within one’s own self cannot be accomplished without total rejection of violence, and personal attitude and alignment toward peace.

These two dominant religions in Nigeria advocate peace and humility and deemphasized violence. So how can we reconcile the current wave of socio religious and ethnic conflicts that characterized the polity where majority of the people profess these faiths? What can be responsible for the collapse of both moral and spiritual values to the extent that incessant killings of fellow human beings has displaced the humility and peace demanded by God? Social Harmony in Nigeria.

Nigeria enjoyed considerable religious stability for sometimes until early Eighties when religious fundamentalism provoked social convulsions beginning with the Mai-

W

tasine crisis in Kano, latter in Bulunkutu in the then Borno State and Yola in the then Gongola State. These was accompanied

by Kafanchan crisis which later spread to Kaduna and Katsina in the then Kaduna State, etc. This doctrinal paradigms shift was not limited to any of the dominant faiths but evolved simultaneously from the late Sixties and erupted into violent conflict situations during the Second Republic with attendant consequences on peaceful co-existence and social harmony.

What went wrong?

Many reasonings has been engaged by Scholars to re construct the shift in social harmony with culture of violence dominating the political landscape. Of great concern is the introduction of armed struggle as means of realizing set objectives. It has been contended that rising ideological differentiation within religious movements has heightened the traditions of intolerance between the heterogeneous nationalities in Nigeria. These ideological driven groups usually emerged as reformist movements but gradually metamorphosed into violent confrontation even within the same religion or the state. It is usually claimed that religious inspirations from Holy Scriptures is the motivational drive and so obedience to Almighty God becomes the creed. Anything to the contrary generates hostility that usually occasioned heated

debates and ultimately violence.

No doubt, fanaticism as a variety of religious ideology has a fair contribution in escalating crisis however, it does not offer acceptable justification. It is more of defeatist theory intended to evade critical evaluation of the issues at stake. Granted fanatically driven ideology has impacted negatively on our national polity but something might have provoked it?

On the other-side of the debate are those who opined that ideological differentiation has been with us yet communities had enjoined peaceful co-existence. Therefore, the question of disharmony is outside religion but there are political forces that manipulate the religious environment to advance parochial interests. It is further submitted that the collapse of the political institution is a major factor for instigating ideological embers of discord considering the diminishing welfare conditions of majority of the populace. Early Greek political thinkers like Democritus, had laid the philosophical frame work of this type reasoning when he postulated “that since modern civilization has failed man, man should revert to the state of nature and cohabitate like the animal kingdom”.

This extreme solution suggests that failure of political leadership can provoke serious frustration with severe socio-political consequences.

No wonder, the failure of leadership in Nigeria coupled with injustice perpetuated by the ruling class encouraged the evolution of arm carrying groups.

From the Niger-delta militancy to Odua Peoples Congress, (OPC), notorious Bakasi boys, Movement for the survival of sovereign state of Biafra, (MOSSOB), endemic human carnages of Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa and Kaduna States and the current rampage of Jamaatu Alih Sunnah lidah wati wal Jihad, otherwise known as boko haram are indices of leadership malignancy. At the centre of leadership collapse is brazen corruption with celebrated impunity. The display of ill gotten wealth by the ruling class definitely has frustrated the upcoming generations which now considered as mere subterfuge, the saying that the “youths are leaders of tomorrow”. If at the age of fifty in this country, yet one is not yet qualify to hold the position of National Youth Leader of a political party, then where lies the hope for a tomorrow?

A careful review of the above sociopolitical theories while applying same, there do doubt that leadership over time abandoned early welfarist philosophy of nation building for ostentatious family empires. Indeed, this created both moral and institutional decay that bred frustrations and hatred amongst peoples.

RIVERS, UNESCO PARTNER ON GIRL-CHILD, WOMEN }p-25 LITERACY

CAMPUS

UNIMAID COUNTS LOSSES, AS SANDSTORM WREAKS HAVOC }p-28

EDUCATION

21

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/education

KAYODE OLANREWAJU, EDITOR, EDUCATION

kayode.olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com kayolanre@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014

Outrage trails high fees in higher schools OVER PRICING

Stakeholders are calling for caution if university education is not to be priced out of the reach of the poor, going by the high fees charged by the institutions.

Kayode Olanrewaju, Mojeed Alabi and Cajetan Mmuta, BENIN

C

an access to higher education, especially university system go unhindered?

How many parents, especially those in the lower income bracket will afford to send their children and wards to higher institutions of learning in the country? Will university education not be for the children of the rich alone? What happens in a situation where children of the poor are shut out of the university education, in a country yearning for development?

These are some knotty issues stakeholders are expecting the federal and state governments to untie if the current rate at which universities are increasing students’ fees is not anything to worry about.

Few weeks ago, the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife proposed to hike the university’s tuition fees, orchestrating the prevailing financial situation of the Ivory Tower and the need for uninterrupted maintenance of its academic standard's reasons.

Little did the proposal for the new fee regime at the university was announced that the students, joined by the postgraduate students trooped to the streets to challenge the action of the management.

In the process, the IbadanIlesha Expressway was barricaded by the irate students, while stranded motorists had to spend several hours on the road.

But, while justifying its action for fees increment, the OAU management had said: “Having carefully, critically, analytically and comparatively weighed the pros and cons of all indices that are useful for uninterrupted maintenance of our academic standard, the University Senate, at its sitting on Monday 5th of May, 2014, unanimously agreed and approved that N71,150 for new students in Humanities and Social Sciences; N78,400 to be paid by students in Sciences; and N81,400 by those in Clinical Sciences and Pharmacy.”

Wike

Obafunwa, LASU VC

Omole, OAU VC

The students, who flayed the development and threatened to make the campus ungovernable for the management, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, insisted that the claim of the management in terms of dwindling allocation to the university, increasing expenditure and other reasons advanced by the institution were not enough to make them pay more.

That of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo Lagos, has in the past three years remained an albatross, which its ill-wind has continued to blow the university and the state no good.

In the last three years, the university has been shut down several times following series of protests by the students, who vowed to ensure that the Lagos State Government reverses the fees for the university to know peace.

Under the contentious fees, LASU students are now paying between N195,500 and N345,500 depending on the departments and the courses of study, against the N25,000 they were paying before the increment in 2011.

When established in 2007, the Osun State University (UNIO-

SUN), Osogbo, was one of the highest fees paying public university in the country, with students paying as high as N220,000 before the fees were slashed to about N100,000 by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration four years ago.

The story is not different at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, where students are charged over N100,000.

Parents and students of the newly established Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), are also not finding the fees regime of over N102,000 not funny after all.

In other institution including Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ogun State students pay about N95,000, while non-indigene students of Rivers

State University of Science and Technology pay N70,000, with indigenes paying less.

The trend of new fees regimes is fast catching up with most of the public universities, which allegedly believe they are in contest with private universities.

Worried by the development, parents and concerned stakeholders have continued to bemoan high tuition fees in public universities, saying there was no justification for such increment, in view of the abundant resources in the country.

They, however, blamed the trend on the high level of corrupt practices in all sectors of the country’s economy, saying rather than channeling the nation’s huge resources to education and training of the youth, it is either being mismanaged or ended in some private pockets.

Expressing dismay over the attitude of government towards adequate funding of tertiary education, Chief Kayode Aliu, a retired NEPA General Manager, wondered the despite that Nigeria is well endowed, cost of education, especially at the university level is alarming.

He said: “The nation is natu-

They say our economy is the fastest growing, but the people remain the poorest, and they say that is not a contradiction

rally endowed with abundant resources to make education tuition-free or affordable to the youth. The youth is the future of every nation, and that shouldn’t be an exception in Nigeria.

Quality development, good governance and good society could only be achieved through good education. The government can provide free education with the nation’s wealth, but what is lacking is the will and readiness to do so. There is the need to reverse the trend and make university education affordable for the children of the poor.”

Meanwhile, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Nasir Issa Fagge, who faulted moves by the institutions to increase fees, said OAU lecturers were ready to fight the increase to the finish.

In an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, Fagge noted that fee increment is a product of the imposition of the education policies from the Bretton Woods institutions of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), saying the union had suggested other ingenious ways of raising funds for the universities and not by adding to the burden of the already overburdened parents.

He pointed out the Education Tax Fund (ETF), now Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was a creation of ASUU, insisting that it was unfortunate that as soon as the Federal Government realised the success of the initiative, it decided to divert the funds to other channels, and thereby defeating the purpose for its creation.

The ASUU President added: “It is quite unfortunate that our university administrators are CO NTINUED O N PAGE 22

22 EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Children’s Day: Centre trains pupils in African values, tradition Mojeed Alabi

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ome pupils from selected schools on the Lagos Island, last week, joined their peers from the rest of the world to mark this year’s Children Day celebration in a more unique way.

Beyond the festivities and match past, which formed the major features of the celebration throughout the country, the children were trained in African values, ethics and traditions.

It was at an event organised by a Lagos based African cultural institute - Ethnic Heritage Centre, Ikoyi, where the children’s knowledge of indigenous languages, culture and tradition were sharpened as a way of identifying the beauty of their roots.

Worried by the dwindling fortunes of African values and traditions, especially the gradual extinction of indigenous languages among the growing population of African youths and Nigerians in particular, the centre reiterated the needs for schools to develop interest in the teaching of indigenous languages, and African ways of life, as solution to what it described

The pupils identifying indigenous food items during the event.

as ugly development.

The centre, which as part of activities marking the annual Children’s Day celebration, said: “We brought together the kids to test their knowledge of indigenous languages, culture and tradition as a way of emphasizing

the importance of identifying the beauty of their roots.

According to its founder and Managing Director, Mrs. Nwamaka Madichie, the centre has in the last one year of its existence taught several Nigerian children, especially those living

abroad how to speak and write their indigenous languages particularly the three major languages of Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.

Madichie noted that the centre was established in response to her failure as a mother when

her children could not speak her Igbo language fluently, and their inability to recognise local Igbo foods “despite the fact that they come from a region known for her rich varieties of foods.”

While stressing that not more than three expatriates had been hired to teach Nigeria’s languages in the last one year at the centre, Madichie condemned the gradual abandonment of History as a subject of study in Nigerian schools.

To her, such development is one of the reasons Nigeria’s unity seems to be threatened given the raging spate of violence that has almost ravaged the entire country.

As a way out of the present situation where children are exposed to foreign values and culture, at the expense of their indigenous values, traditions and culture, she insisted that the craze for foreign ideas and ways of life among the youths must be discouraged by every home in the country.

However, the pupils were taught African storytelling, local foods, traditional dance, even as they were tested on identifying local items such as vegetables and fruits, among others.

Outrage trails high fees in higher schools CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

lacking the required skills to run a university system successfully and the reasons are not farfetched; they are products of politics and so they become stooges to those who appointed them. Are there no other means of sourcing for funding in the universities when most institutions in the world rely entirely on donations, research grants, and by rendering services to the societies such as consultancy services?

“Where we found it difficult to understand the whole thing is that where does the university want the parents to get the money? Is it from the same population where more than 60 per cent live below poverty line? They say our economy is the fastest growing, but the people remain the poorest, and they say that is not a contradiction. The Britton Woods are only playing upon our intelligence to the advantage of America and Europe, and we will not take that.”

On how to generate funds by the universities, the Group Managing Director of Energy Bank, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, at a meeting with OAU Vice-Chancellor recently, suggested the need for the institution to work with business development managers, who should convert the huge resources it is blessed with to wealth.

Ibrahim specifically spoke about the landed properties the university is blessed with, saying nothing should have stopped it from being the major food supplier in the South-West geo-political zone.

Towards this end, he advised the management to engage in private public partnership to ensure accountability and adequate management of its businesses and resources.

Though, investigation by New Telegraph revealed that the management of OAU is planning to reduce the proposed fees, but the students, who said they are still awaiting the authorities’ decision, have insisted that unless the university takes their recommendations on how to fund the university without fees hike sacrosanct, it (university) may further push for further increment.

However, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Environmental Accountants, Dr. Segun Lawal, wondered why the government at all levels

Fashola

are planning to take education, especially university education out of the reach of the children of the poor.

Lawal, who insisted that this portends great danger to the country, said education is a social responsibility of the government to the people. He critisised that Lagos State which is orchestrating free education for charging astronomical fees at LASU. He said: “Though, we realise that education may not be entirely free, the students and parents should be carried along in case of any increment. If we may ask,

what are the institutions doing with the money and what of their allocations from government? There is the need for the institutions to add value in terms of municipal facilities on campuses, such as regular water and electricity supply, good and adequate hostel facilities, congenial classroom environment, and other learning facilities, but unfortunately these things are not in the institution despite what they get from government and they continue to increase fees at random.”

To avoid some of the crises on campuses, Lawal suggested that students and their parents should be carried along in any vital decision that is going to affect them.

He lamented that with this trend several parents would not be able to send their children to the university, going by the per capita income of the parents, in this country where most states are not paying the N18,000 minimum wage.

Similarly, the National Coordinator of Education Rights Campaign, a nongovernmental organisation, Mr. Taiwo Hassan, insisted that the Federal Government can only justify increase in fees after it may have recouped all the alleged stolen commonwealth, saying the missing funds from the national treasury are enough to run free education from the basic level to the university level.

To OAU Students’ Union President-

elect, Ibikunle Isaac, the university does not exist in isolation, citing several other public universities where fees are not as high as what OAU is charging and yet the students do not suffer basic facilities necessary to ensure good academic performance.

Isaac enumerated the trend of fees in some universities as follows: Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK (fresh students N20,100; returning N21,000); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (N23,000); Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (fresh students - N24,000, others-N14,000); University of Abuaja (N32,500); University of Benin(fresh students - N45,000, others -N14,000).

Therefore, according to Isaac, if other federal universities could charge as low as above, OAU does not have any reason to increase its fees, even as he insisted that the institution should be more creative in its approach to fundraising.

The Executive Director, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Reverend David Ugolor, noted that such hike would act as barrier to the poor people in accessing university education, adding that it would make university education a highest bidder.

Ugolor said: “I do not support any form of high fees in university system. This is because the poor people will no longer have access to education and it will rather worsen the insecurity level of the country by providing ready materials for the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect.”

According to him, the responsibility of providing qualitative education rests with governments at all levels and for the youth to be gainfully employed and to contribute to national growth and development.

Chief Victor Olufemi, a politician, who said he was highly disappointed, wondered that despite the high cost of living in the country, universities, which have become exclusive preserve of the rich, are now charging exorbitant fees.

“If the situation remains like this, many of us have to withdraw our children from the universities to learn vocations such as tailoring, panel beating, carpentry and motor mechanics. I have a graduate at home and since 2008, who has not got a job.

So, what is the reason for the increase in fees in universities?,” he said.

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Kayode Olanrewaju

T

his will be cheering news to school proprietors and other key stakeholders in the education sector: the stress and hardship students may encounter in the Computer Based Test (CBT) examination mode, will soon be a thing of the past.

This is courtesy of an ELearning Solution that will enhance easy learning for students and facilitate effective conduct of examinations, developed for primary and secondary schools, and higher institutions in the country.

The e-learning software is designed to address the Computer Based Test (CBT) needs of students writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Common Entrance Examination and other computer based text examinations in the school system.

The initiative is an IT pet project of the duo of Kehinde Kolade and Adedokun Sola Bamigboye, graduates of Physics Electronic and Economics from the Lagos State University (LASU) respectively.

The e-learning solution, according to the IT experts, is software for questions and answers type of examinations.

While explaining that the initiative was a response to the need to provide urgent solutions to the nation’s Information Technology challenges, Kolade said the first phase of the flagship programme is deployment of the software for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation

IT experts design e-learning solution for schools, exam bodies

Bangbaje and Kolade

Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Kolade and Bamigboye noted that the CBT software will expose students to computer interaction based on objective test mode.

Explaining the modus operandi of the software, the duo said they developed a portal where users could use the portal for preparation for the CBT online based examinations.

The e-learning solution software designed for schools, they pointed out, has the off-line version deployed for schools where users do not need to connect to the Internet, but on the premise of the schools or the

organizations.

“Besides, there is the online version where schools can register their pupils and teachers using the platform of the CBT examination,” they said, adding that some schools have websites without e-learning contents and materials for their websites.

With this e-learning solution software and flagship IT programme, Kolade hinted that such schools or institution could integrate CBT contents and materials into their website.

Describing this initiative as novel in the development of CBT in the nation’s school sys-

Children of Fountain of life Primary and secondary schools, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos with them are: L-R: Head, Corporate Head Office branch, Keystone Bank, Zeinab Maduagwu, Business Manager, Ajah Branch,Keystone Bank, Ijeoma Ejiofor and Product and Market Support, Omua Imuzeze at the 2014 Keystone Bank Children's Day celebration in Lagos.

JOS

A

s part of efforts towards enhancing science education for technological and industrial advancement of the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has initiate a quiz competition for secondary school students across the federation.

This year's competition, which aimed at improving the students’ knowledge in science, is already at its final stage in the six geo-political zones of the federation.

Don tasks govt on adequate welfare for teachers Appolos Christian

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tem, which according to them would benefit schools, higher institutions, ministries of education and other educational agencies and parastatals, they noted that through the interactive content, the students could learn outside their classrooms.

They stressed: “Through this software, the teachers could also teach their students without having to be physical or stay in the class based in the study materials developed on the software. It is a complete educational and examination materials that will expose the students to CBT examination mode and facilitate easy teaching and learning in schools.”

NNPC’s competition improves pupils’ science knowledge

Musa Pam

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The theme is: "Nurturing our youth towards technological advancement."

Addressing participants at the North-Central zone of the competition in Jos, comprising students from Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger and Plateau States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said the competition was key to the nation's advancement.

He said: "I congratulate the various schools and students that have emerged champi-

ons and are now representing their various states here at the zonal contest. This year’s edition of the competition is the 13th in the series of the initiative borne out of the desire and commitment of the NNPC to ensure positive development in the core science subjects of Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, as well as English Language".

Alegbe reiterated that education is the foundation on which nations are built, saying essentially that "science education remains the cornerstone of industrial advancement.”

"In view of this, there is the need for NNPC to make "science and technology education a fulcrum in which an appreciable percentage of its community relations is anchored".

The Group General Manager further pointed out that the NNPC gives the quiz competition attention because it aims at assisting the nation's future leaders to prepare towards contributing to national development.

His words: "Over the years, NNPC has given the national quiz competition the attention it deserves. Part of the aims of the competition is to support the Federal Government’s campaigns towards uplifting the standard of education in the country.

“It is also to stimulate the interest of students in the study of sciences, create an atmosphere of challenge within schools in order to improve teaching and learning processes, share ideas and build a solid foundation for science development in Nigeria as well as promote unity among the various youths in the country".

He noted that the competition had produced several winners since the inaugural competition in 2001, and urged the contestants to give their best by doing honour to themselves, their parents and schools.

The competition for the North East zone will take place next week.

University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) don and Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Solomon Olorundare, has called on the government at the federal and state levels to as matter of conscious effort, treat Nigerian teachers with respect.

He said teachers in the primary and secondary school sub-sector and lecturers in tertiary institutions should be well remunerated, saying teachers play important role in the success of education development of any nation.

This was part of the thrust of the 147th inaugural lecture of the university, which was entitled: “Theory into Practice: Beyond Surface Curriculum in Science.”

For the country to bequeath a sound and pragmatic education system to incoming generations and attain sustainable development, he said the government should properly fund the education sector, as well as treat teachers with respect in terms of adequate welfare package and provision of teaching and learning infrastructure in schools to boost their morale.

The Professor of Science Education lamented: “The prevalence of poorly motivated, half committed and unenthusiastic teachers in the school system across the country is a serious contributing factor to the dilapidating state of Nigeria’s education sector.”

Worried by the alarming rate of students’ failure in school, the lecturer pointed out that ‘teachers should not be solely held responsible for either the good or poor performance of their students, saying the roles of the government and parents are other contributing factors.

Ado poly gets dean, others

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new Dean has been named for the Students’ Affairs Directorate of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti.

He is Dr. Kunle Ifesanya.

His appointment as announced by the polytechnic management had since taken effect from March 26, 2014, sequel to the retirement of the former Dean, Mr. O.B Akinleye.

Ifesanya, a Chief Lecturer and the immediate past Head of Department of Architecture, holds a Ph.D in Architecture.

Also, the management has appointed Mr. Thompson Adegboyega, an engineer, the Dean of the polytechnic’s Continuing Education Centre as the Chairman, Committee of Deans. He also replaced Akinleye, who held sway as the Committee’s Chairman.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rasheed Adebimpe, has also been named as the Director Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Engineering Innovation (OOCEI), in an acting capacity.

Adebimpe, a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, is expected to turn around and improve the productivity of the centre.

24 EDUCATION | INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

19-year-old MAPOLY student Rector sues for peace, tolerance on campus wins Airtel talent hunt ...gets brand new car, record deal T

L-R: Aderinokun, Omoniyi (Zlatan Ibile), Oye and Oshinlaja at the event

F

or shinning brightest at the Airtel One Mic Campus Tour talent show, 19-year-old Temidayo Omoniyi, an undergraduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, last week became a proud winner of a new KIA Picanto car.

It was at the grand finale of the music talent hunt sponsored by Airtel Nigeria, a leading telecom service provider for students of tertiary institutions in the Gateway State.

According to Airtel Nigeria Regional Operations Director, Lagos, Mr. Femi Oshinlaja, the programme was initiated as part of its corporate social responsibility, to create a unique platform for Nigerian youths to showcase the abundant talents which this country is blessed with.

“It is for this reason that we have remained committed to our goal of seeking opportunities to promote youth empowerment and development,” he said.

Omoniyi, a National Diploma (ND I) Business Administra-

tion student, popularly called Zlatan Ibile, defeated five other finalists in the keenly contested grand finale held at the OK Centre, Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, then state capital.

Apart from smiling home with the star prize (a brand new KIA Picanto car); he got full artiste makeover and recording deal with ID Cabasa’s Coded Tunes.

For over two hours, the six contestants at the finals of the competition, held the audience spell bound by their breath-taking lyrical performance.

The panel of judges comprising music producer, ID Cabasa; versatile rapper and singer, Reminisce, and DJ Jamalot assessed the finalists using a range of criteria which include, appearance, stage performance, connection with the audience, punch line, wordplay and creativity.

The contestants were also rated by their performance at Acapella, freestyle and their individual studio songs.

Congratulating Zlatan Ibile on his victory, Oshinlaja noted

that he proved himself to be deserving of the grand prize, saying his performance and lyrical prowess earned him the confidence of the Airtel One Mic Judges.

He added: “The Airtel One Mic is a testimony to our quest to discover and support raw talent and also to achieve their aspirations.”

Other Airtel officials at the event include the General Manager, Enterprise Operations, Dokun Oye; Zonal Business Manager, Kunle Adegboyega; Regional Marketing Manager, Segun Aderinokun; Regional Trade Marketing Manager, Lotanna Anajemba; and Manager, Internal Communications, Felix Ofulue.

While expressing gratitude to Airtel Nigeria for the opportunity availed him to exhibit his music talent, Omoniyi thanked telecom service provider for its support for students in tertiary institutions and most especially in the area of talent hunt, which he noted has helped in setting him on the path of achieving his dreams through music.

Don proffers solution to unemployment rate

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irector, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Olufemi Onifade, has suggested a way out from the high rate of unemployment ravaging the nation.

The lecture, who is an ardent advocate of entrepreneurship education in the country, lamented how tertiary institutions produce thousands of graduates yearly, of whom 99 per cent go about looking for non-existence jobs, while he advised that "one can make do with what one can do with the hands."

Onifade added that "it is one thing to know how to do something; it is another thing to make it beneficial to oneself and to one's immediate environment".

His words: "If you want your service or product to get acceptability, you have to know who,

what, how and where your product is highly needed. And, then you aim at that. Someone who is going to be in an enterprise has to be creative. Think of where his or her products will sell and make use of all available opportunities to expose himself to the world.”

The Director noted that everyone is a stakeholder in entrepreneurship sector and should be prepared to create jobs bearing in mind that some “people are into a particular vocation or profession which they grow to learn through their parents and which they have great passion for."

Onifade called on the government to create the enabling environment for small scale businesses to thrive, urging the youths to change their orientation from the preconceived notion that vocation in craftmaking was meant for certain categories of graduates or

people.

On auto-mechanics, he said we should not leave the vocation for people who have no education or go to school, or those who have just finished primary school.

There is nothing wrong for a graduate or holders of diploma certificates to go into vocations, because they will be better trained.

Ajewole, VC

owards ensuring academic stability and peaceful coexistence on campus, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti has appealed to members of the polytechnic community to embrace peace and eschew violence, victimization and religious intolerance.

Dr. Taiwo Akande, who gave the charge during an interactive meeting with all religious organisations and their leaders in the polytechnic, stressed that it was through this that they could collectively ensure harmony and adequate security of lives and property on campus.

The Rector spoke on the need to sustain peace in the polytechnic community, reiterating that there was no room for religious intolerance or religious bigotry, since the institution is operating in a secular society.

Akande, however, reaffirmed that certain area on campus had already been designated since the take-off of the polytechnic for the various religious groupings on campus for the convenience of members of staff and students to worship their God, warning that all illegal structures erected by religious groups on campus outside the approved place of worship will be removed accordingly.

Besides, the Rector cautioned that classrooms should

not be used for religious activities, even as she insisted that any group causing religious conflict or muscle flexing will face the full wrath of the law while the perpetrators would be brought to book.

She admonished the students to abide strictly by the laid-down rules and regulations guiding religious activities in the institution by ensuring that necessary approvals were obtained from the management before embarking on any open crusade.

The Deputy Registrar in charge of Examinations and Records Unit, Mr. Oyawoye said all religious fellowships on campus, should in addition to other requirements choose as patrons members of the senior management staff of the polytechnic, while advising religious groups to live in harmony with one another.

Akande, Rector

UAC tasks parents on children's welfare

U

AC FOODS Limited, a joint venture between UAC of Nigeria Plc and Tiger Brands of South Africa, has rolled out the celebratory drums for kids and feted children from over 20 schools in Lagos State to commemorate the 2014 Children’s Day celebration.

Speaking at the occasion, the company’s Managing Director, Dr. Tawanda Mushuku, tasked parents to be alive to their responsibilities in ensuring that the children are given the best training and education.

He explained that the annual event was borne out of the company’s desire to demonstrate love and care to the children.

The event, tagged: “UAC Foods Children’s Day Funfair,” which held at the Sky Power Club, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, had the trappings of a carnival with children lapping up the exciting experience throughout the day.

Mushuku said: “It is our pleasure to celebrate the future leaders of this country. We want to see you excel and be responsible leaders in future and we implore you to study hard, be focused and listen to your parents and teachers and, above all, be good children as the future of the country is in your hands. UAC Foods is there for you all the time, producing

quality products that are nourishing.”

In her remarks, the General Manager, Marketing, UAC Foods Limited, Mrs. Joan Ihekwaba said the company was using the occasion to connect with the concerns of millions of Nigerians, who were in deep pain over the plight of the kidnapped school girls of Chibok, over a month ago in Borno State.

She counseled parents to continue to be at their best in training their children, including sending them to school and inculcating sound family and moral values in them, saying these virtues formed the foundation of any good society where peace, unity and love are cherished.

The highpoints of the event were rendition of poem anchored on the safe return of the Chibok girls to their families; games, dancing competition and presentation of gift items to children who participated in the Rising Star Promo.

The Rising Star Promo, which ran in selected schools in Lagos between January and February this year, was aimed at instilling discipline and reporting to school in good time between 7a.m and 7:45a.m.

Many of the children, who participated in the event, went home with lots of prizes including bicycles, guitars and school bags.

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Nigerians should involve in developing curriculum for schools, says Rector

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Alhaji Ma’shud Elelu has been at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State, where he called the shots as the Rector for the past four years. In this interview with BIODUN OYELEYE, he shared his challenges in leading one of the oldest polytechnics in the country, and expectations for the new Rector who is expected to resume this month.

How has the last four years been as the Rector of the polytechnic?

It has not been easy but I think that of all the years I have spent here as the Rector, this week happens to be most eventful and as one I will be never forget in my life. I have begun to wonder, that there will a time that people will appreciate what one has been doing.

This week alone, I have received two awards without soliciting or knowing the people who bestowed the awards on me. One of the awards is the Kwame Nkrumah Award awarded to me by the West African Students Union. I am expected to meet the President of Ghana in December this year. We are only three in Africa. I have been wondering how they arrived at my name for the award.

Again, Governor Abdufatah Ahmed gave the members of the National Association of Kwara State Students an assignment to go round all the higher institutions in the country where we have Kwara state indigenes and assess the institutions. I didn’t know they were doing that only for them to come out and said I came top in their assessment in terms of human capital development.

However, when we came in here about four years ago, we met an institution that is very old. It was established in 1975.

It has neither here nor there in ensuring that it meets its mandate while the morale of members of staff was very low. The polytechnic was then just coming out of a prolonged strike, which led to the closure of the institution; and dismissal of some of the workers and which again led to court cases.

On resumption, the first thing we did was to find out the challenges on ground and we came up with three-point plans - staff reorientation and development, infrastructural development and student welfare. We found out that those were the main challenges we were going to face.

So how did you tackle those challenges?

The first thing I did was to convene a stakeholders’ conference of members of staff, leadership of the institution, government, the Governing Council, members of the community and students. Because I knew there was the challenge of unionism which led to the sack of some of the staff members, I brought in the National Vice-President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Isa Aremu. We then articulated all the discussions and solutions were proffered. On the other hand, we took inventory

of the available infrastructure.

From here, we were able to develop an action plan.

Secondly, we reached out to our friends at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to come to our assistance. From there we were able to get some assistance for training, conferences, workshops and seminars. We also introduced what we call staff industrial training so that on every long vacation, members of staff are pushed to various industries at the polytechnic expense to learn about the new technology in town.

In the area of infrastructural development, since we know the finances of the state government, we again approached the various organisations to assist us. I have an album that shows everything about the polytechnic in terms of classroom, library. We also tried as much as possible to access our funds at TETFund as at when due, and sourced for donations at the Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PDTF), etc.

We went a step further since one of the things that will make the students have confidence in the system is to reorganise the students’ union in terms of how its elections were conducted. In the last four years, the students’ union elections have been crisis-free and that is because the management is effectively involved in the elections. The management is involved in the sense that we monitor and supervise the students’ elections in order to ensure transparent exercise.

Besides, we are also linking our students with their wouldbe employers. The polytechnic is now getting jobs for some of the students before they graduate. All this raise the morale of students. For students to have more confidence in the management, we put the Rector’s phone numbers and those of other principal officers in the public domain. At any point in time students could call the Rector.

To curb examination malpractices, we introduced conference marking. We are the first polytechnic in the country to introduce conference marking and this made the NBTE to advise some institutions to learn from Kwara State Polytechnic. Of course, the NBTE has also taken up our staff training model to the Federal Executive Council.

The conference marking prevents an individual lecturer from determining the fate of his or her students in an examination. For instance, if we have seven questions in a paper, seven different lecturers will mark that paper. While the lecturers sit according to their Schools to mark the papers, and the Deputy Rector (Academic) will go round the marking centre to supervise the exercise.

As a result of this, our students in the last three years have been getting their results before the commencement of another semester. It took us a lot of time to achieve this; there were oppositions and it was during one of our meetings with members of the state House of Assembly Committee on Education that the idea finally came to fruition.

The management also ensures that the money that is due to students gets to them directly.

When this administration came in we saw that students were paying certain amount of money during registration as Students’ Union fees and we found out that there was no transparency in the exercise. What we did was to ensure that no cash payment was made to anybody, rather such money should be paid online as part of the school fees. Indeed, this is remitted to the union and throughout the union had money to execute some projects. The Rector is not a signatory and it is not only the Students’ Union leaders, but other students’ associations on campus are signatories to the account.

It will interest you to know that among Nigerian polytechnics, Kwara State Polytechnic is the first to establish an Entrepreneurship Centre. We built it in 2011, and shortly after I was invited by the NBTE, which later announced that all polytechnics must have a centre for entrepreneurship before they can be accredited by the Board. That again has helped our students.

As I am talking to you now, well over 200 members of staff have attended one seminar or the other within and outside the country. That is different from the Masters and PhDs programmes the polytechnic is funding. Currently, we have more than 45 lecturers in institutions outside pursuing their Masters or Ph.D programmes.

Some are in the United Kingdom, while some of them are in

To curb examination malpractices, we introduced conference marking

Elelu

Malaysia, U.S.A and Thailand respectively.

On the issue of cultism, which was a big challenge when we came in, though a societal problem, we overcame that by setting up an enlarged security committee comprising security agents, students and community heads, where our students live.

With this enlarged security networking of the polytechnic’s Chief Security Officers with heads of the various communities where our students live off campus, we were able to reduce cultism and other cult activities to barest minimum.

What is your vision for the polytechnic?

Well, whoever is taking over from me as the Rector of the polytechnic, will have enormous challenges to contend with, particularly in the area of hostel accommodation for students. We have tried our possible best, but administration had not been able to surmount that problem. That rubs on security on campus. If you are able to accommodate as many students on campus, you should be able to control and secure them as well. The government has tried on its part. The management is now planning to partner with the private sector on building of hostels for our students. When the government advised us on this, we advertised for interested orgnisations and individuals in building hostels to bid for it.

Let me say that we only got two responses, out of which only one turned up at the end of the day. At the end of our discussion, what the person said he would charge per bed space is about ten times what the polytechnic is charging. Of course, you can blame him, because he is a businessman.

What would you suggest as to how to tackle the challenges of the education sector?

Well, there is need for what I

There must be synergy between the society and the institutions will call cooperative education to ensure that the community takes part in developing and designing the curriculum our institutions are going to use to train the students.

Everybody must be involved.

There must be synergy between the society and the institutions.

Once there is synergy among all stakeholders, we would be able to come up with sustainable work plans to follow for some years, and which could be reviewed periodically.

In Kwara State Polytechnic, we have the NBTE curriculum for every programme we run.

But in every two years we introduce new things that we think would be relevant to the community where we operate so that when the students graduate, they will be relevant to their communities. So, we need cooperative education where all stakeholders come together, develop the curricula and the principles of what we are supposed to do, and how to do it. That would bring us out of the present woods the nation finds itself.

When we are talking of cooperative education, it is not only for students, but also for members of staff. What type of staff do we need? How do we train them? What kind of staff do we employ? What should the polytechnic be for?

And, of course, teachers’ education should be part of the plan. Again in our plan, we must be able to introduce hands-on vocations. Vocational training for the development of the country must be in the plan irrespective of whatever one is doing.

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10-year-old pupil wins Sterling Bank Maths contest

Dr. Ogunbanwo, Mr. Sulaiman Temilade, Ogunsanwo, Mrs. Adebola Ogunsanwo and Mr. Wale Ogunsanwo at the event.

Kayode Olanrewaju

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gunsanwo Temilade Ayomikun, 10-year-old Primary Six pupil of Tomobid School, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos was the cynosure of all eyes, as she mounted the podium amid thunderous ovation to receive her award, at the award ceremony of the Mathematics competition, held at Caleb International College, Magodo, Lagos.

The competition was organised by Sterling Bank Plc for primary school pupils, as part of activities marking this year’s Children Day. Over 2,000 pupils wrote the Mathematics examination, at the Dola Hall of Caleb International College, Lagos on May 24.

Ogunsanwo, who was accompanied to the ceremony by her father, Mr Wale Ogunsanwo, a Deputy Registrar at the Yaba College of Technology, and mother, Mrs Adebola Ogunsanwo, a retired banker, was crowned as the overall winner of the competition with 95 per cent score.

She smiled home with N500,000 star prize a certificate of excellence and N50,000 in the bank account already opened for the winners by Sterling Bank Plc. Ojo Opemiposi of Olumowayo Nursery and Primary School, Agbado Station, who scored 84 per cent to place second went home with N300,000; while Ebiakpo Abeokuta, scored 81 per cent and received N200,000.

Among the best seven winners that received between N150,000 and N75,000 are Prosper Udo-Ozoagba, who came forth with 72 per cent; Aromolaran Toluwalase Daniel (5th) with 45 per cent; Awodola Winnie Eniola (6th) scored 43 per cent and Onyejekwe Chima Henry scored 40 per cent to place seventh.

All the 51 winners in the competition received certificate of excellence, and N50,000 in the bank account opened for each of them by the bank, while the management of Caleb International College promised to offer any of them who is willing provisional admission into the college.

While savouring her outstanding performance, Ogunsanwo said she was confidence that she was going to win the competition because she believes in herself.

“I prepared very well for the competition because I love Mathematics. It is my best subject. The competition was in two stages – objective and theory. I thank Sterling Bank for the opportunity to participate in such competitive examination at this tender age.”

Mr. and Mrs. Ogunsanwo, who expressed joy over their child’s performance, buttressed the girl’s position that they expected her to win, given the fact that she has been coming first in all her examinations in the school.

On what they are going to do with the cash award, they said

she will go on vacation with the money.

Setting the tone of the presentation ceremony, the Executive Director of Caleb Group of Schools, Dr. Dolapo Ogunbanwo, described the pupils as the ‘Chike Obis’ of tomorrow and urged parents to nurture the talent in their children and wards, as they need to be nurtured to be successful in this 21st Century.

But, she cautioned parents to be careful in choosing schools for the children, warning that they should not look at the structures, number of vehicles, or the teachers’ and pupils’ dressing, rather they should concern themselves about how such schools will nurture the skills, abilities and intellect of the children.

According to her, these are the attributes a child needs to equip himself or herself with to be successful in the Century.

The Director, who regretted that Nigeria is not on the PISSA Rating of high schools internationally, however said that moves are being made by Caleb Schools to put the country on the PISSA score in the next five years through its quality education delivery.

Sterling Bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, who pointed out that the competition was the initiative of Caleb International College, noted that it is being supported and sponsored by the bank to develop and empower the children to acquire qualitative education.

Ekiti CP warns students against election violence

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tudents of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti have been warned against involvement in election violence, especially as the state prepares for the governorship election, billed for June 21.

The Commissioner of police of Ekiti State Command, Mr. Felix Uyana, gave the warning when he paid the management of polytechnic, a visit last week.

The police chief, who lauded the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande for maintaining a crime-free environment, especially since he assumed the mantle of leadership in polytechnic, described

the institution as a major stakeholder in the business of security in the state.

While seeking the support of the polytechnic in maintaining peace in the state, Uyana implored students in higher institutions in the state, not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs during the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

In her remarks, the Rector, however, pledged the institution’s support for the successful policing of the state, and pointed out that the students and members of staff of the

polytechnic are law abiding citizens, she noted that the possibility of have a few bad eggs among the students could not be entirely ruled out.

Towards this end, the Rector listed some security challenges facing the institution, and sought the Commissioner’s intervention to nip them in the bud.

Meanwhile, Akande advised the State Police Command to put in extra efforts at maintaining peace in the state, especially now that the state is in the build up to its gubernatorial election in June 21.

Nigerian teachers flay poor treatment by French school Emeldah Ogene ABUJA

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igerians teaching at Ecole Francaise Marcel Nursery, Primary & Secondary School, a French school located at Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja, have alleged a high level discrimination against them by the French owners of the school.

Piqued by the rising cases of alleged racial discrimination, especially against members of Nigerian teaching staff in the school, one of the teachers, Miss Joan Akemu, who teaches English was said to have petitioned the Public Complaints Commission, alleging among other things, termination of employment without benefits or entitlements, racism and denial of fair hearing and maltreatment of Nigerian employees by the management of the school.

According to a source in the school, Nigerian teachers were not allowed to register with the Teachers Registration Council (TRC) being a professional body of all qualified teachers in the country.

Besides, the school was alleged to be operating without the supervision of relevant education agencies in the country, because the Director of the school, Mr. Serge Leandri, said the French Embassy advised that the school management should be “discrete” in their

operations.

However, when New Telegraph visited the school, the Director, who declined comments on the matter, insisted that the school`s lawyer must be present before he could comment in the issues raised.

It was gathered that there was a great salary disparity between the white and the black workers.

Investigations by New Telegraph revealed that Nigerian teachers in the school were only entitled to their basic salaries without any form of allowance, while their white (French) counterparts enjoyed huge salary packages which they referred to as “Brown Envelop.”

Besides, the source, who claimed that most of the French teaching staff did not possess degrees or requisite teaching qualifications, noted that the school is running entirely French education curriculum without any bias for Nigeria system.

The teachers accused Leandri of allegedly harbouring hatred towards the Nigerian teachers, who were said to be less than five in the entire three arms of school.

“The 12 year-old school has not been inspected by any of the Nigeria’s education regulatory agencies in the past few years.

English Language is taught only one and half hours per week on the school time table. "

Kalejaiye (right) and other officials of the society at the event

Muslim students urge pupils to be focused N igerian students have been urged not to be deterred in pursuing their academic goals and desires in the face of the current insecurity challenges in the country.

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, gave the advice at the annual youth conference of the society organised as part of activities to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration.

The President of the society, Kaamil Kalejaiye, in a statement which was made available to New Telegraph, said these are hard-times for Nigerian youths, a period he associated with the various challenges facing by the younger generation.

“You will all agree with me that being a youth in this country at this moment is not just tough, but thorny considering the numerous challenges the youths are facing in terms of unemployment which has turned many of our so called future leaders into future killers,” he added.

Kalejaiye noted: “I mean the

average age of every suspected armed robber, kidnapper and rapist paraded by security forces in the country today will fall between the age of 20 and 30years, and our government is doing nothing to address the situation, rather it is taking advantage of it.

“Most of our political leaders use the youths as thugs during elections and we gullibly jump at their monetary inducement in exchange of our lives, just because where the future lies seems not to be clear to many of us.”

This year’s edition, with the theme: “Nigeria Centenary: Where Lies the Future?”, took place across the 43 area councils of the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State, with a large turnout of students from secondary school and higher institutions.

Some of the guest speakers at the event charged students to remain focus and not be derailed, especially in their academic pursuit, as well as advised them to spend less time on the internet.

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Rivers, UNESCO partner on girl-child, women literacy

R-L: Minabelem Micheal West, Dame Lawrence-Nemi, UNESCO Officials Ateh Abang, and Dr. Muhammed, Sir Alli Orui

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partnership that will reduce illiteracy level among girl-child and women, and empower them through the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has been endorsed by the Rivers State Government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO. The programme is under the UNESCO P&G Project on Empowerment of Girls and Women in Literacy and Skills Development through the use of ICT. The state Commissioner of Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, who disclosed this when the Project Coordinator of the UNESCO P&G Project visited her office in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said the River State has become the hub of education in the country in view of the Governor Rotimi Amaechi administration’s huge investment in the education sector.

According to the Commissioner, the state government did not only build new structures in schools, but also award scholarships to students of the state origin.

She said the UNESCO’s empowerment programme would give girl-child an optional form of education, adding that the programme would further boost literacy level of the state considering the role of women in national development.

Towards this end, LawrenceNemi pledged that the government would provide the necessary logistics for the smooth take-off of the programme in the state.

Meanwhile, for effective implementation of the programme, the Commissioner raised a 10-man committee, which has as members herself; the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Minabelem Michael West; Director, State Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education, Nuaton Nwanikpo; Chairman of the state SUBEB, Sir Alli Oruitemeka; a representative of the Ministry of Women Affairs; three representatives from some selected Non-Gov-

ernmental Organisations; and three officials of UNESCO. In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, said the project will promote the level of literacy among the women folk in the state, pledging the readiness of the state government to prioritise education, which he described as the bedrock of development in any society.

However, Nwanikpo reiterated the readiness of the State Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education for the take-off of the programme, stressing that the agency has been at the fore-front of improved adult literacy in the state.

According to him, the project will go a long way to compliment the government's effort at eradicating illiteracy in the state, even as he hinted that educating women and girls would contribute immensely to the economic and literacy growth of the state.

The Coordinator of the UNESCO Project on the Empowerment of Girls and Women in Literacy and Skills Development through the use of ICT, Dr. Sufiya Muhammad, said the main objective of the project is to increase literacy rates among girl-child and women, in order to accelerate

and underpin the national efforts of achieving the Education for All (EFA) goals.

According to Muhammad, the project will empower over 60,000 girls and women in the state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who are illiterates and who dropped out of school, through the acquisition of basic literacy and vocational skills.

Some of the areas of focus of the project will include: identification of beneficiary communities for the project; identification of centres for the project; listing of number of classrooms and facilities such as tables, chairs and desks; listing of number of expected learners per classroom; classification and registration of learners, including low performing junior secondary students, advanced literacy (school-drop-outs) and basic literacy; as well as identification and listing of facilitators for all the identified centres.

The state and FCT were said to have been chosen by UNESCO as pilot phase of the programme in the country, because of its huge investment and achievements in education.

AAUA challenges student leaders on quality leadership Kayode Olanrewaju

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call has gone to the leaders of the newly-elected Students’ Union executive of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, to uphold and sustain the tenets of responsible, responsive and purposeful leadership, which have become the norms of student’s unionism in the university.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi made the call during the swearing-in ceremony of the union leaders for the 2013/2014 academic session.

Ajayi, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, said: “Without doubt, responsible and purposeful student unionism has become a culture at Adekunle Ajasin University. I therefore enjoin the new student leaders, who we are inaugurating today to imbibe the kernels of responsibility, transparency, responsiveness, patriotism and maturity that make AAUA student unionism unique and tick.

“As people who hold power in trust, the new leaders should realise that what they make of the peaceful environment and academic stability as entrenched by their predecessors will determine what and where their place will be in the history of the university, now and in the years to come. I, therefore, enjoin them to be on the good and enviable side of history by helping to build structures that will make this university sustain the peace and stability it is currently enjoying.”

While reaffirming that the university considers student unionism as an important platform for building future leaders and strengthening the nation’s nascent democracy, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor recalled how “on a yearly basis, the management organises leadership summit for elected student leaders to properly induct them into the workings of students’ democracy.”

Responding to some issues raised by the union, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor noted that the issues of late computation and missing students’ results had become a thing of the past.

He said: “Such issues before usually characterised and affect-

Female lecturers at the University of Lagos, Akoka during their protest rally against the abduction of students of GGSS, Chibok, Borno State.

Mimiko, VC

ed 100 and 200 Levels students.

But, since the management introduced computer-based test to replace the paper and pencil test mode, we can all be assured that that the university has eradicated all the anomalies from its system and operations.”

Ajayi, however, noted that the university has put all machinery in motion to review its entrepreneurship programme, saying: “We are going to inform the students in due course what the new programme will be, while the problem of ENT 401 had already been addressed permanently.”

He said the management would be responsive to every genuine demand appropriately presented to it by the union, even as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor reiterated the determination of the Mimiko-led administration to address students’ welfare with its utmost vigour, as well as make the university a conducive environment for academic activities.

According to him, “between 2010 and now, the administration has embarked on over 60 projects on campus, in which most of them had been completed, thereby addressing the challenges of inadequate classroom and other learning facilities frontally.”

He congratulated the entire students and their leadership for the successful conduct of the elections, while he gave kudos to the Students’ Affairs Division and the Students’ Union Electoral Committee for organising fair and hitch-free election.

Ajayi saluted the former leaders of the students’ union for demonstrating high level of patriotism, maturity, responsible and responsive leadership.

The Dean, Students’ Affairs, Dr. Olujide Ajidahun, urged the student leaders not to renege on their promises to represent the interest of their fellow students, and project the image of the university in a good light.

He advised the union leaders to perform creditably well to justify the confidence reposed in them by the students and management by being diligent, accountable and not to lose focus in their academic pursuit.

The President of the union, Kokumo Segun Ikuogbebe, in his inaugural speech, pledged his administration’s readiness to provide an enviable leadership, even as he solicited the support of the management to achieve this.

The high point of the ceremony was the election of members of the Students’ Representative Council, in which Tomide Oloruntobi emerged the Speaker, while Korede Ibrahim and Oladotun Idowu were elected as Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip respectively.

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French research centre, UI set to address social vices

UNILORIN students’ union elects leaders Hammed Muritala UNILORIN

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he Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA), a Francebased research institute has spoken of plans to partner with the Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan (UI) on how to curb social vices in the country.

The partnership was disclosed by the France Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne De Labroille, during a visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, in his office.

According to Mr. Jacques, under the collaboration, the centre will assist in addressing issues of socio-political violence, which he said has continued to hamper the country’s growth and development in all its spheres of development.

While welcoming the visitors to the university, the ViceChancellor, who described the gesture as laudable, explained that the university has over the years sustained the existing robust relationship between the institution and research institutes or centres globally for its overall development.

Adewole, who pledged the university’s cooperation with the institute towards achieving results, noted that the collaboration is not only apt, but also timely, even as he urged the centre to focus more on long term solutions to African problems.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor solicited the establishment of a French Language laboratory in the university, and the retraining of members of staff of the institution’s French Language Department.

Towards this end, he assured the Ambassador of the determination of the university management to integrate French Language into the General Studies curriculum of the university, before the end of his tenure as Vice-Chancellor.

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One of the damaged structures

UNIMAID counts losses, as sandstorm wreaks havoc

Taiwo Isola UNIMAID

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he relative peace that recently returned to the campus of the University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, was once again shattered last week by violent storm that ravaged the entire university community, destroying properties worth millions of naira, and leaving many business owners, especially at the campus market, helpless.

The storm, which started on Monday around 2pm, kept the entire community members under fear for several hours while it lasted, as they scampered for safety.

The development, according to the students, left branches of trees torn apart while others were completely uprooted with building roofs blown off.

Faculties and lecture halls were not left out in the destructive storm.

The Department of Geology

and the Faculty of Education were more affected as raindrops fell into lecturers’ offices destroying several documents and furniture. Many lecture halls also had parts of their roofs removed. The new College of Medical Sciences and Faculty of Pharmacy were also not spared.

A lecturer at the college, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said; “I was in my office when the storm started, and I had thought it would only rain briefly and stopped, but when it became heavy and thunderous, I went blank especially when I remembered that my car was under a tree outside. And when everything was over, I found my car completely damaged.”

The case was not so different at the university staff quarters as tree branches fell on houses and cars. The trees planted everywhere on campus and at the staff quarters have always provided cool environment, but on

Masters' student in Diplomacy and Strategic Studies, Imo Chinasa, and the course Coordinator, Dr. David Aworawo displaying his plaque as the Most Outstanding Lecturer, awarded to him by the programme's graduating class at a dinner held at the weekend, at Jevinik Place, GRA, Ikeja.

this particular afternoon, and due to the storm they became a curse. Electricity poles were also uprooted and this left the university community in complete darkness in the first few days, but which was restored some days later to some locations on campus.

The commercial areas of the university and the Ecumenical Centre were the two most badly affected by the ravaging storm. Rows of shops were swept away and many traders are still counting their losses.

Fatima Suleiman, a student who was writing her examination when the storm began, said: “Our hall was vibrating.

The ceilings were detaching themselves and falling. Everybody was scared. We all wrote our exams with sands covering our heads and our answer scripts.”

Abdulwahaab Abdulahi, who was at the Modibbo Lecture Theatre (Yellow LT) at the time of the storm, recalled: “I was terrified when trees were uprooted right before my eyes.

I had never witnessed such storm in my life, talkless since I came into this campus.”

Tola Bamigboye, who was in her hostel before the storm, also has a tale to tell.

“I was busy washing my clothes when suddenly I became fearful as a result of the cloudy weather and the sudden heavy down pour with violent storm,” she recounted, she also added: “Instead of the normal dark cloud, it was brown. The cloud was thick with sand. I had thought it was the usual sandstorm that blows for about few minutes and covers everywhere with sand but my assumption was wrong. After the sand storm raged for two hours, the rain storm assumed a dangerous dimension all over the place. It was terrible scene to behold.”

Meanwhile, the university management was yet to make any categorical statement on the fate of the private business owners who lost their valuables in the storm, whether any help would come their way or not.

tudents of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State, last week, went to the poll to elect new officers who would pilot the affairs of the institution’s chapter of the Students' Union for the next academic session.

At the end of the election, 300 Level student of the Department of Mathematics in the Faculty of Physical Sciences, Ahmed Ishowo Yakub, emerged the President-elect.

Ishowo had 919 votes to edge out other five aspirants with his closest rivals; Aweda Jeremy from the Faculty of Engineering and Aloa Idris from the Faculty of Law polling 505 and 322 votes respectively.

The election results were announced by the Electoral Commission officer shortly after the election in the presence of all the aspirants’ agents, security men and the campus journalists, at Lecture Theatre I. Other elected officers are Anifowoshe Titilope (VicePresident) from Main Campus; Alabi Elizabeth (VicePresident) from College of Health Sciences; Kadiri Kofoworola (General Secretary); Oseni Salmat (Assistant General Secretary) and Oludowole Faith as Financial Secretary; Bakare Hammed (Welfare Secretary) from College of Health Sciences; Mohammed Lawal (Welfare Secretary) also from Main Campus; Adeniran AbdulKareem (Public Relations Officer); Amadasun Osaretin (Social Secretary) and Ayinde Bashir, who is to serve as Sports Secretary.

Towards conducting a more convenient, easy, free and credible election, the Independent Students Electoral Commission (ISEC) of the union adopted the e-voting system in which students voted through the university portal.

The Chairman of the electoral body, Sulaimon Funsho, who described the e-voting system as an innovation that affords students the opportunity to vote for their choice of candidates anywhere in the world, said it was the first of its kind on any Nigerian campus.

A member of the ISEC and former Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Kwara State axis, Akorede Shakir, advised every institution to adopt the new e-voting system, noting that it was stress-free and highly secured.

Yakub

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Hoodlums invade Benue State varsity, rape students

Suswam

Victoria Ewoh

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oodlums, who are yet to be apprehended invaded the female hostel of the Benue State University, Makurdi, the state capital, raped the students and carted away their valuables.

The invaders, alleged to be members of a cult group were said to be armed with various weapons, including guns, axes and cutlasses stormed the hostel on Sunday night, leaving in their trail agony and trauma.

The technical block of the female hostel invaded by the hoodlums was said to be located close to the Vice-Chancellor's office.

It was learnt that about 20 female students were said to have been raped by the cultists, while seven others beaten pulp and blue during the invasion.

The suspected cult members were said to have carried out their operations without any challenge from the university’s security operatives.

Angered by the inaction of the security operative, the female students were said to have during a protest marched to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charity Angya, the following Monday, demanding why the security men failed to protect them.

The Vice-Chancellor, who assured the students of adequate security beef-up on campus, however followed the protesting students into their hostel to sympathise with the victims of the incident. The seven students, who were said to have sustained injuries during the attack on their hostel were said to have been taken to the university clinic for treatment.

The Dean, Students’ Affairs, Professor Armstrong Adejoh, noted that the university authority is doing its best to ensure adequate security of lives and property of the students, and other members of the university community. He pledged the readiness of the management to forestall such occurrence on campus in the future.

According to him, the university would liaise with necessary security agents in order to heighten surveillance within and around the students’ hostels.

The students, however, described the incident as inhuman and pure act of wickedness, while appealing to the university authority to ensure the safety of all students by putting in place adequate security measures on campus.

Scholars extol Ade-Ajayi’s virtues ...seek return of history to school curriculum

Hammed Hamzat UI

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t was one of those rare moments when virtues such as hard work, diligence and dignity are extolled and rewarded, as eminent scholars, members of the academia and educational administrators gathered at the Boardroom of the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI) to celebrate one of their own.

It was the 85th birthday anniversary of a Professor Emeritus and renowned Historian, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Jacob F. Ade-Ajayi.

The event, organised by the Organisation for Historical Research in Nigeria, was a colloquium/ roundtable discussion on the fate of history as a subject in Nigerian schools, and an assessment of the intellectual contributions of Professor Emeritus Ade-Ajayi, not only to the field of History in the country, but also the education sector as a whole.

Welcoming guests to the talk-shop, the President of the association, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, lauded members for turning out in large number to grace the occasion, and to celebrate the erudite scholar.

According to him, the or-

Ade-Ajayi

ganisation was instituted with the aim of restoring and integrating History into the mainstream of the nation’s secondary school syllabus.

Prof. Bolanle Awe, who chaired the programme, thanked the association for taking such bold steps towards reviving the teaching of History in Nigerian schools, especially at the secondary school level.

She condemned the fact that the subject had been relegated to the background, saying such is the reason behind the high level of decadence in the Nigerian society.

Prof. Awe, the first female Professor of History recalled that Prof Ade-Ajayi has done

a lot to safeguard the teaching of the subject in Nigeria schools, and the continent of Africa by extension, pointing out that what assisted the developed nations of the world was the huge investment of those nations in their history.

According to her, the current state of insecurity ravaging the country would not be unconnected with the loss of the nation’s sense of history.

In his lecture, entitled: “Lessons for the Profession of History Taught by the Life of the Historian,” Nigeria’s former Representative at the UNESCO and Professor of History, Michael Omolewa, said the main thrust of the lecture is to identify the beauty

of the life of Prof. Ade-Ajayi in order to inspire the new generation.

Omolewa, a former Dean of Faculty of Education at the University of Ibadan, described Ade-Ajayi as a great historian, saying his passion for history is one of the factors that have guided him into maturity as a scholar and fuelled the excellence for which his works are known.

Meanwhile, the guest lecturer, who noted that it was unfortunate that efforts of Ade-Ajayi to return history to the school syllabus are yet to see the light of the day, urged stakeholders to reflect on the situation and ensure that the restoration of the subject into school curriculum is achieved as soon as possible in order to guide against the unfortunate incidences of corruption, violence and armed banditry.

In his remarks, Professor Akanmu Adebayo of the Kennesaw State University regretted that history is fast dying globally, even as he urged participants to work hard to ensure that History is sustained in our schools.

Other dignitaries at the event include Prof. Wale Oyemakinde and Prof. Ademola Popoola as well as members of staff and students from several institutions.

Media cautioned over role in election coverage

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The VC in handshake with one of the university's representatives at the competition.

FUTA students win medals in maths contest

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he management of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and the contingent of the institution to the just concluded National Mathematics competition in Abuja, are still savouring the outstanding performance at the competition.

The university won four medals, comprising one silver and three bronze medals at the competition organised by the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) for university students across the country.

Presenting the award to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, the Head of the institution’s Department of Mathematical Sciences, Dr. Olusegun Olotu, said the yearly competition, is aimed at bring-

ing out the best in the students and institutions in Mathematics in order to keep the students and universities abreast of modern trends in the teaching and learning of mathematics.

While receiving the award, the Vice-Chancellor lauded the sterling efforts of the team and congratulated them for winning laurels and doing the university proud in the competition.

He said: “I am proud that FUTA has done it again. You are the Chike Obis of our time.

You have proven to the world again that our institution is a greatuniversity. I commend you for making this institution proud. You have done well by bringing honours home. You did not go for the competition

and return as mere spectators.

We are convinced that you will do better next time. Of course, we all realise that national competition, especially in disciplines such as Mathematics is never a smooth ride and it is on this that we are saying well done to you. But, you should not rest on your oars until the university comes top in subsequent edition by winning gold medal next year. On the part of the management we will continue to support you.”

The team, led by Olotu has as other members Dr. T.O. Awodola and Mr. A.S. Afolabi, while the students who represented the university are Adenipekun Olatunde, Obideyi Boluwaji, Adara Emmanuel and Afolabi Opeyemi.

he media has been advised to maintain its neutrality and play the role of an arbiter in the coverage and reportage of political activities and happenings in the country, especially during the electioneering campaign and governorship election in Ekiti State.

Federal Polytechnic, AdoEkiti Rector, Dr. Taiwo Theresa Akande gave the advice at the polytechnic’s Council Chambers, when the management of the Federal Radio of Nigeria (FRCN) Progress FM in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, led by new General Manager, Pastor Kayode Akinsola visited the management of the polytechnic.

The Rector, who noted that the media, particularly the Radio stations that has a way of reaching out to a large number of the public as a result of its accessibility and coverage, expressed the polytechnic’s willingness to collaborate with Progress FM, as it plans to commence the Department of Mass Communication.

She appealed to the visitors to educate and enlighten the public on the essence for which polytechnic education was set up which included, production of graduates and middle level manpower with the requisite skills and sound technological footing to face modern day work challenges.

30

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

BRF winners laud Lagos transportation policies Muritala Ayinla

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he pupils who emerged as the winners of 2013 Be Road Friendly quiz competition in Lagos State have commended the state government for taking a giant step at improving transportation system in the State.

They praised the government for organising the BRF competition, which is aimed at exposing primary, junior and senior secondary school pupils in the state to road safety culture.

Speaking on behalf of the winners shortly after arriving from a 7-day transport education tour in United Kingdom, Akinnagbe Oluwabunmi of Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbokuta, Ikorodu urged the federal and state governments to emulate the United Kingdom by providing an enabling environment to ease the movement of the citizens.

Akinnagbe, who was marveled about the transportation system she experienced in London, appealed to the

various tiers of government in Nigeria to collaborate in order to alleviate the suffering of the people through provision of effective transportation system for commuters in the country.

Commending the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola for the on-going construction of the 27 kilometer Blue Line rail system from Okokomaiko to Marina, she said that the completion would, no doubt, move many commuters at the same time, increase the economic activities of the state, improve the better living conditions of the people, reduce traffic congestion, as well as connect people to their various locations without undue delay.

The winners of the quiz travelled to the United Kingdom on Saturday May 10, and returned to the country on Saturday May 16, and during the sevenday transport tour, the winners visited the London Department for Transport (DFT), London Transport Museum and several other places of interest.

The winners: Achanya Mary (Langbasa Primary School, Ajah), Adeoye Samuel (Ajelogo Primary School, Ketu), Anipupo Adesewa (Government Comprehensive Junior College, Agege), Adisa Mariam (Stadium Junior Grammar School, Surulere), Adebanjo John (Ansarudeen Senior High School, Falolu, Surulere) and Akinnagbe Oluwabunmi (Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbokuta) during the programme ar Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, Ikeja.

Private schools owners set for unified exams Jonah Iboma

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owards improving the quality of education offered by private schools in the country, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, (NAPPS), has said it will work towards having a unified examination for their schools.

The President of the Lagos State branch of the association, Otunba Yomi Otubela, disclosed this during the just concluded 2014 quiz competition for private schools in the state.

Otubela, who noted that NAPPS’ vision, is to create a benchmark for the schools in terms of quality education provision, added that having a unified examination would go a long way in standardising what schools are teaching and showcase the quality of education offered to students.

He explained that current situation whereby children are tested by teachers in the schools they attend did not give a true reflection of the quality of work they do, stressing that this informed the decision to institute the quiz competition.

“With different rounds including Mathematics, English and General Science, the competition was an exciting session for the competing schools as well as the guests,” he said.

In the primary school category, Ifako International School, Ifako, emerged the winner with 10 points out of the six schools that took part in the competition.

Interestingly, the five other schools were tied on six points each, before Monadale Children's School, Ikeja came out of the group to emerge second, while Wuraville from Shomolu came third in that category that was moderated by Augustine Ighodalo.

For the Junior School category, subject areas covered include Mathematics, English, General Paper and ICT. Kolabest School, Oshodi/Isolo emerged winner, while Unique Heights School based in the Kosofe area of Lagos, placed second just as Bola Olat School from Somolu placed third.

In the Senior Secondary School category, which also had six schools slogging it out against one another in Mathematics, English, ICT, Science, Humanities and Social Science, Providence Heights Secondary School, Ifako came top, while Great Grace High School, Alimosho emerged in the second position and Divrel College, Mushin placed third.

Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, in her remarks, commended the organisers, describing the competition as a step in the right direction.

EDUPEACE with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)

Olorundare’s recipe for our ailing education

A

dekunle Solomon Olorundare is a Professor of Science Education and two-term Dean of Education at the University of Ilorin. Among other leadership responsibilities, he is the current National Chairman of the Committee of Deans of Education in Nigerian Universities. His academic and professional accomplishments are an eloquent testimony to his erudition.

If Nigerians are worried about the parlous state of our education with complaints that our schools are bad and our institutions produce half-baked or quarter-baked graduates, it is clear that this situation would bother a foremost educationist of Prof. Olorundare’s caliber. His recommendations should therefore be taken seriously, if we are a serious country.

In his well-received inaugural lecture, “Theory into Practice: Beyond Surface Curriculum in Science Education” delivered on Thursday, May 22, 2014, Professor Olorundare dwelled on many issues that appertain to revamping science education specifically, and education at large, in Nigeria.

According to the don, “our teachers are still poorly remunerated and are generally not given a place of respect/ honour by the society. These are obvious reasons behind the poor motivation among the teaching force.” In the light of the quoted observation, a component of Professor Olorundare’s recipe for Nigeria’s ailing education sector is what I deem three R’s for the teachers: remuneration, respect and recognition.

Today, our teachers are poorly remunerated and disrespected; they are accorded no recognition by the society. A parent went to the school of his child the other day in Ilorin and beat up the teacher for “disciplining” his son. For having the guts to intervene, the Principal himself received a thunderous slap.

Nothing happened. That’s the type of humiliation the poor teachers of tomorrow’s leaders are subjected to routinely by an unappreciative society.

To turn-around the education sector, first, serious attention has to be given to teacher-remuneration. Professor Olorundare’s recommendation of a special Teachers Salary Scale is therefore urgent for all schools in Nigeria regardless of ownership. A situation where the previous slogan of the Academic Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), “My Take Home Pay Can’t Take Me Home” is the actual condition of our various school teachers does not bode well for our education.

It is now a fad for some entrepreneurial charlatans to establish schools without thinking of how to maintain them. To worsen the situation, there is a large pool of unemployed youth to be exploited. They inflict the frustrated lot on the starry-eyed pupils and offer them beggarly salaries. Many of them are trapped in such schools wasting the lives of the pupils away while parents are deceived with grades.

This partly explains why high failure rates are recorded yearly in our public examinations. There is even a lot of corruption in the system of administering such examinations. Hungry teachers do not always have academic integrity. They are vulnerable to inducement by desperate candidates and their conniving parents.

If teachers are well paid, the pupils will be well taught. But if they are poor-

Our teachers are still poorly remunerated and are generally not given a place of respect/honour by the society ly paid as things stand today, the sorry situation will remain the same.

The second R is respect and it is obvious to the blind that teachers are not respected in Nigeria. Everyone makes reference to the achievements of the Chinese but one secret of their greatness appeared last year when Professor Peter Dolton and Dr Oscar MarcenaroGutierrez developed the Global Teacher Status Index, a first comprehensive attempt to compare the status of teachers across the world.

According to the Index, as reported in The Guardian of the United Kingdom on October 3, 2013, teachers in China have the greatest respect from their people and it is the only country where people compared teachers closely to doctors. South Korea, Turkey, Egypt and Greece all value their teachers more than other European and Anglo-Saxon countries.

Besides, in the UK, the status of head-teachers is rated highest while Singapore, South Korea, USA, Germany and Japan pay the highest salaries to their teachers. Nigeria did not feature at all!

Closely tied to remuneration and respect is recognition. When are we going to be like China, South Korea, Turkey and Egypt where parents are “most likely to give encouragement to children to become teachers” because of the recognition they enjoy in such countries?

I do not remember attending an occasion where someone is accorded recognition as a school teacher. Yet, you have Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Architects, and so on taught by the same teachers given recognition. Being a teacher is a blessing, Nigerians should not turn it to a crime!

As a result of little or no recognition in the society, some of the best materials for the classroom are not teaching because they cannot live with the ridicule the society directly and indirectly subjects teachers to.

The way out, therefore, out of the crisis bedeviling our education sector is to mind our three R’s for teachers, in the light of Olorundare’s lecture: real remuneration, respect and recognition. l Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Acting Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, UNILORIN.

FEEDBACK Re: Apathy of duty Good day, Sir. I always enjoy reading your write-ups in the New Telegraph because they are always an intellectual masterpiece. I was a typical Igbo trader in the street of Lagos before I decided to go back to school. I was called to the Bar in 2009 and I’m presently doing my LLM in UNILAG. I aspire to be a lecturer like you and possibly get my doctorate.

Thanks for the inspiration through your writings.

Barrister Maduka, Lagos.

BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS ECOWAS gets common statistical database The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) common economic, monetary and financial database (ECOBASE), designed to harmonize regional statistical data for monitoring of macroeconomic convergence and facilitate economic development and regional integration has been launched.

}p-32

Nigeria’s cocoa processors seek export subsidy to boost capacity Cocoa processors in Nigeria, the fourth-largest producer of the beans used in chocolate production, want government to financially support the industry that they say is no longer competitive in the world market.

}p-32

Insecurity bullies NSE’s $1trn cap target Security challenges anywhere in the world are not only considered an impediment for business, it also sends warning signals to investors to take their investible fund to another country where there is adequate safety of lives and property.

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Ghana cripples Nigeria trade with Niger, others

Moves by Nigeria to regain its shipping business with the landlocked countries may be futile after all. Ghana has established Inland Container Depots for Burkina Faso and Niger for effective cargo transhipment from Tema Port to their destination.

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BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) SIMEON OGOEGBULEM, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry/Agric) GODSON IKORO , Asst. Editor (Money Market) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

31 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

‘NNPC NOW ATM FOR POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS' }p-32

AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

Nigeria spends N648bn on rice importation –CBN LOW EXPORTS Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire still record low agric exports despite huge opportunities

tural sector, it would be able to feed itself and have surplus for export, stressing the need to improve domestic market to harness Africa’s natural resources.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer, Good Africa Coffee, Uganda, Mr Andrew Rugasira, noted that mineral resources

abound in Africa that could be explored even as transformation in the agricultural sector was being pursued.

According to him, Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire, which have huge coffee resources, export less products compared to Germany.

Rugasira said: “Germany

exports on the average about 12 million metric tons of coffee worth about 9. 3 billion dollars compared to the 10 million metric tons with a value of 2.2 billion dollars by countries in Africa. Germany does not grow coffee but they export more than us; it needs to be changed.”

Bayo Akomolafe

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that Nigeria spends an average of N648 billion ($4 billion) yearly importing rice.

CBN’s Deputy Governor, Dr Sarah Alade, stated this in her presentation at the on-going Africa Rising Conference in Maputo, the Mozambique capital.

She added that the on-going agricultural transformation programme embarked upon by the Federal Government had attracted many foreign investors.

Dr Alade who was a panellist in a session with the theme: “Structural transformation and private sector development in sub-Saharan Africa” said that agriculture was key to economic development in Africa.

She noted that on the average, Nigeria spends about $4 billion on rice importation.

Dr Alade said if Africa was able to transform the agricul-

Abdulwahab Isa ABUJA

T

he Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is set to introduce a replacement for the current symbol of quality mark - NIS, New Telegraph has learnt.

NIS, Nigerian official symbol of quality, is a patent symbol of SON, which it gives to any product that attains its quality control specifications.

SON, it was learnt, set machinery in motion to invent new quality trade mark on discovery that many fake products are carrying NIS endorsement.

The new logo to be released soon carries distinct security features difficult to be compromised.

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Vision and Talent, Mr Paul Uduk; Director of Administration and Corporate Programme, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Rose Oputa, and Deputy Human Resource Manager, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), Mr Oluyinka Williams, at a workshop organised by Vision and Talent in Lagos.

PHOTO:ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

SON moves to counter faking of NIS mark SON’s Director General/ Chief Executive, Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu, confirmed the impending lunch of the new logo to New Telegraph at a chance encounter at Abaji, an outskirt of Abuja, shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony of Nestle water factory.

While lamenting the rampant case of faking SON’s quality logo, Odumodu said that the agency had procured scanners to be distributed to field officers to detect and arrest people the

quality mark, adding that the organisation was in the process of automating all its processes.

“We are in the process of automating our process. Whoever tells you SON is coming up with a new quality logo is right. Within the next one month, you will see a new NIS logo and that will give you an idea of which one is genuine product and ones that aren’t.

In fact, we have actually procured some scanners that our people will take round to ensure that those who are misrepresenting

us are brought to book,” he said.

He further said that those faking the quality logo risks jail terms if caught.

“They will all go to jail I can assure you. Nigeria has gotten to a stage where whoever contravenes laws should face the consequence. Look at Boko Harram, it started slowly and we all kept quiet and today, it has become a monster. Anybody we found to have comprised our quality mark, we will take care of them,” Odumodu said.

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE April 2014...............................7.9% March 2014............................7.8% Feburary 2014 ........................7.7%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at May 30)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N167 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N232 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $37.147bn as at 27/5/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at May 30)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N260.72 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N212.01 Source: CBN

32 BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

ECOWAS gets common statistical database DEVELOPMENT West African states to deliver more reliable statistics Jonah Iboma

T

he Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) common economic, monetary and financial database (ECOBASE), designed to harmonise regional statistical data for monitoring of macroeconomic convergence and facil-

itate economic development and regional integration has been launched.

According to details released by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadré Desire Ouédraogo, the database would assist member states in the generation and transmission of relevant statistics in various sectors of public finance, balance of payment, national accounts, prices and other information required by regional institutions.

The launch of the database took place in Bamako, Mali, during a four-day meeting of representatives of member states and regional institu-

tions, which ended last Monday, where the commission’s president was represented by the Commissioner for MacroEconomic Policy and Economic Research, Dr. Ibrahim Bocar Ba. “It (ECOBASE) will also help to strengthen national and regional capacities in the management and reporting of statistics,” the commissioner explained, assuring that the commission will provide member states with necessary support to ensure the effective and efficient operationalisation and implementation of the database.

Recalling the community’s ultimate objective for the cre-

ation of a common monetary zone through the convergence of national economic policies and harmonisation of monetary and financial instruments, Ba urged member states to respect the criteria for macroeconomic convergence; harmonise their budgetary, monetary and financial policies and ensure that their foreign exchange rates are governed by market forces.

He acknowledged the difficulties experienced by member states regarding budget deficits and on-going important reforms in the management of their financial policies, but expressed optimism that the “challenges are not insurmountable.

In his welcome address, Mr. Seydou Moussa Traore, Director-General of Mali’s National Institute for Statistics and Chairman, Council for National Economic Policy, applauded the ECOBASE as the fruit of a long process of consultation at various levels for the advancement of regional multilateral surveillance and monetary union.

He said that the database covers not just the key economic sectors, but also constitutes a platform for the region to take into account the other relevant multilateral surveillance sta-

tistics.

To this end, Mr. Traore noted that over the past 20 years the ECOWAS Commission has continued to support Member States in various reforms necessary for regional integration through multilateral surveillance mechanism, adding that the implementation of the ECOBASE would strengthen this process.

The ECOWAS Director for Research and Statistics, Mr. Mahamadou Yahaya, explained that the database is an economic tool that seeks to ensure timely update and harmonisation of statistics at national and regional levels through coordination and collaboration of national and regional institutions.

Mr. Brehima Sanogo was represented by Mali’s Minister of National Planning at the launch.

The ECOBASE has already been endorsed by regional Ministers in charge of Statistics and was adopted by the Council of Ministers last December. This is in line with the ECOWAS Commission’s quest to harmonise statistical information required for economic decision-making, policy formulation and regional integration.

Bank Verification Number: CBN Dep governors register UNIQUE ID L-R: Assistant, Market Direct, Viju Industries Nigeria Limited, Mr. Andy Liao; Zonal Operation/Technical Manager, NTS-STar TV Network Limited, Mr. Aminu Onaolapo; Brand Strategist, Mr. Ayokunle Idowu; and Brand/Marketing Manager, Mr. Somoye Habeeb, during the first monthly draw of the on-going StarTimes ExtraTime promo in Lagos.

The initiative would allow banks to give their customers unique identities

Nigeria’s cocoa processors seek A export subsidy to boost capacity Sunday Ojeme

WITH AGENCY REPORT

C

ocoa processors in Nigeria, the fourth-largest producer of the beans used in chocolate production, want government to financially support the industry that they say is no longer competitive in the world market.

Bloomberg quoted chief executive of the Cocoa Processors Association of Nigeria, Felix Oladunjoye, as saying that the processors were working with government to obtain regular cash payment under an export grant just as they also want government to help boost consumption of locally grown beans.

Oladunjoye said: “Since we don’t consume here, the foreign buyers dictate our price which is often unfavourable. That will change if we can sell locally.”

Cocoa futures traded in London climbed to the highest since September 2011 last Friday with cocoa shortages

poised to extend into the next decade. Increasing demand for chocolate in Asia has spurred expansion of cocoa-grinding capacity in Indonesia.

“Nigerian cocoa processors are uncompetitive in the international market,” Oladunjoye said.

An export program which started in 1984 worked until about eight years ago when the payments became “irregular,” he added.

“There are eight companies in the country that have capacity to process 200,000 metric tons of cocoa a year, down from 16 companies in 2007,” he said.

Nigeria’s cocoa output was 250,000 tons last year, the Cocoa Association of Nigeria said. “The average factory can create more than 1,000 jobs directly when operating at full capacity. Today, such a factory is employing 150 to 200,” Oladunjoye said. Already, Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, has raised its output target by about 5.9 per cent to its highest level in three years, a person familiar with the government’s forecast said.

Farmers will harvest 900,000 metric tons of the chocolate in-

gredient in the 12 months that end Sept. 30, the most since 1.025 million tons were collected in 2011, said the person who asked not to be named because the information has not been made public. The previous estimate was 850,000 tons.

The main growing regions of Ghana and Ivory Coast, the world’s largest producer, got about 110 per cent of average rainfall in the 30-day period through the middle of May, according to the Commodity Weather Group of Bethesda, Maryland. Producers in West Africa account for about 70 per cent of global output.

The main crop will be 850,000 tons and the so-called light crop will be 50,000 tons, the person said. The light crop is reaped during a second, shorter harvesting period.

Noah Amenyah, a spokesman for the government’s Ghana Cocoa Board, didn’t immediately respond to phone calls and a text message seeking comment.

Cocoa for July delivery dropped 0.3 per cent to 1,945 pounds per ton on NYSE Liffe.

ll the deputy governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have been registered in the Abuja branch of the apex bank as part of the commencement of the nationwide registration for the Bank Verification Number (BVN).

The most senior deputy, Dr. Mrs Sarah Alade, who was registered at the Abuja Branch of the bank last Monday, according to a statement from the CBN, was accompanied to the registration venue by Alhaji Suleiman Barau, Deputy Governor (Corporate Services), Dr. Kingsley Moghalu (Operations) and Mr. Adebayo Adelabu (Financial System Stability).

The project, which is an initiative of the Bankers’ Committee, aims at promoting financial inclusion drive and preventing money laundering in Nigeria’s financial system.

It was launched by the CBN last February, to revolutionise banking and payment systems in the country.

The biometric authentication is also aimed to address the safety of customers’ funds and to avoid losses through compromise of Personal Identification Numbers (PIN).

With the BVN, driver’s license, international passport, national identity card, and other documentation that

identify customers would not necessarily be required when making transactions as soon as a customer gets his BVN. Also, customers who are not educated or who do not have identity cards with which to open bank accounts can do so seamlessly.

The project is expected to provide a centralised platform through which banks may enroll and uniquely verify the identity of each customer for ‘know your customer’ (KYC) purposes, perform credit checks, verify customer’s integrity and to authenticate customers from a point of transaction device.

The biometric authentication is meant to address the safety of customers’ funds and avoid losses through compromise of Personal Identification Numbers (PIN).

During the launch in Lagos, suspended CBN governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had said that banks would have captured biometric details of all customers nationwide within the next 18 months.

Sanusi said that the platform already rolled out nationwide attracted no charges, adding that it would allow banks to enroll and verify the identity of each customer from any point of transaction device.

Managing Director of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr Ade Shonubi, whose company provides the connectivity service, lauded the initiative.

Shonubi said that the initiative represented a major landmark in the Bankers Committee’s efforts at promoting financial inclusion drive and prevent money laundering in the system.

33

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

SYNERGY Nigerian water security against sea robbery has taken new dimension.

Bayo Akomolafe

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he Nigerian Navy and the 16th escort taskforce of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAN) have launched a joint anti-piracy drill in the Gulf of Guinea.

This is the first time that Chinese and Nigerian navies would launch such a drill in a bid to improve coordination and cooperation between the two countries in maintaining maritime security and anti-piracy action.

Chinese, Nigerian navies in joint anti-piracy drill In the first three months of the year, Nigeria accounts for six incidents of the 12 reports in West Africa including the hijacking of a supply vessel, which was used unsuccessfully to hunt for other potential vessels to hijack.

The pirates stole a large quantity of the tanker’s gas oil cargo in three separate STS operations. The vessel was under the control of suspected Nigerian pirates for over a week before the owner regained contact,

off Nigeria, approximately 1,200 nautical miles from the initial boarding. One crewmember was injured during the incident.

The International Maritime Bureau said that in the last three years, Nigerian pirates accounted for 31 of the region’s 51 attacks, more than in any year since 2008.

It added that Nigerian pirates ventured far into waters off Gabon, Ivory Coast and Togo, where they were linked with at least five of the re-

L-R: Veteran Nigerian movie producer, Tunde Kelani; Managing Director/Chief Chef, Labule Restaurant, Mrs. Binta Adisa and Managing Director, Noah's Ark Communications Limited, Mr. Lanre Adisa, during the opening of Labule Restaurant in Ogudu Lagos.

FG to states: Protect power assets James Nwabueze Abuja

M

inister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, has called on states and local governments nationwide to join in the campaign to protect power infrastructure now under intense vandalism across the country.

Special Adviser, Media, to the Minister of State, Power, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement, noted that the menace of vandalism has caused interrupted supply of electricity to some areas, communities and industrial concerns.

According to the statement, Wakil made the call at Kumbotso, Kano State, after commissioning three transmission sub-stations completed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Power.

The Minister had earlier com-

missioned two other sub-stations at Tamburawa and Kwanar Dangora, all in Kano State.

Addressing the audience after commissioning the facilities, the minister called on states, local governments and people of Kano State to join hands with the Federal Government in protecting all power installation and equipment located in the state from vandals. “It is our collective responsibility as good citizens of Nigeria to protect all key power equipment and installation located within our areas.

“Government should be encouraged to spend scarce resources on improving and expanding the nation’s power infrastructure rather than replacing the vandalised ones, it makes more economic sense to do so. Also, my appeal goes to the state government to urge the good people of Kano State to desist from encroaching on the TCN’s Right of Way in order

to prevent unnecessary deaths resulting from electrocution or other accidents arising from such encroachment. This is more so as such encroachments hamper access to transmission infrastructure when there is the need to work on them, with a view to rectifying faults,” the minister counselled.

He described the commissioning of the sub stations as “a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts at improving power supply in Kano State and its environs.

This is in realisation of the cosmopolitan nature of the state as the hub for commerce and economic activities, which dates back to centuries.

Wakil explained that with “the upgrade, the Kumbotso substation is now capable of delivering more reliable and qualitative power up to 450MW to Kano metropolis, Kankia in Katsina State, and some towns in Jigawa State.”

gion’s seven reported vessel hijacks.

A total of 12 vessels were

hijacked, with over 300 crew members taken hostage and one killed in 2013.

SEC boss lauds EAX on support to farmers Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

irector General of the SecuDmission rities and Exchange Com(SEC), Ms Arunma

Oteh, has lauded the initiative of the East African Exchange (EAX) of supporting smallholder farmers to reduce postharvest losses.

The initiative, she said, has led to an increase in the income of the farmers and accelerating progress in linking commodity markets across the East African community.

Oteh spoke when a SEC delegation visited EAX during the 49th Annual African Development Bank (AfDB) meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

She expressed delight at the activities of EAX which she said contribute to promoting crossborder trade in the region.

Responding to presentation on the activities of the Exchange’s operations as well as the progress the Exchange has made since it began operations in 2013, Oteh stressed that Nigeria has a similar effort, adding that the two countries can share experiences.

EAX’s CEO, Mr Paul Kukubo, who briefed the delegation on the Exchange’s current activi-

ties in Rwanda and expansion strategies for the East African region, explained its regional focus and launching of new offices in Kenya and Uganda.

According to him, the Rwandan government had recently made available thirteen (13) warehouses located in several grain producing sites of the country in support of farmers’ cooperative groups.

Among others, the Exchange, he said, will support farmers to address post-harvest losses through better storage and collateral management.

EAX, according to him, has signed up Collateral Management International, a highly reputable collateral manager worldwide, to support the farmers in addressing postharvest losses and improve their income.

“The Exchange will also provide the farmers access to finance, linking them to banks through its electronic warehouse receipts program, as well as providing a trading platform for them to trade their product. An electronic warehouse receipt represents commodities stored in an exchange-accredited warehouse with specific quality, quantity, ownership and reference location stated on the receipt.”

New NIPC boss assures of teamwork Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

ewly-appointed Executive Nment Secretary, Nigerian InvestPromotion Commission

(NIPC), Hajiya Saratu Umar, has promised to work with staff towards achieving the mandate of the commission.

A former management officer at Nigeria Export and Import bank (NEXM), Hajiya Umar, who assumed duties recently pledged building a team work that would reposition NIPC ranking with other corporate entities in global best practices.

“I am fully committed to excellence and professionalism. I believe in collaboration and team work. My vision is to make NIPC the gold standard of excellence and international best practice on the continent and a world

class investment promotion agency, comparable to any in the world,” Hajiya Umar said during her maiden interactive session with the media.

NIPC is a government agency saddled with the mandate to promote, coordinate and monitor all investments in the country.

“This mandate is key to promoting economic growth, creating jobs and generating wealth for Nigerians,” she said, noting that the commission must remain focused, while defining strategies for the greater achievements of the agency’s objectives.

She further said that while implementing its mandate, NIPC would support the National Industrial Revolution Plan launched recently by President Goodluck Jonathan, adding: “We expect a massive rise in Nigeria’s measured GDP to increase the economy’s appeal to investors.”

34

FCT | BUSINESS WATCH

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

T

he Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr Yemi Kale, was burdened last week.

His worries were two folds.

A government agency saddled with the responsibility of providing credible and reliable data, securing public trust on NBS data is non-negotiable.

But importantly for Kale, his deeper worry was the penchant of politicians playing politics with figures released

by NBS to score, in most cases, cheap political points.

It was on this apprehensive note that Kale began his preliminary remarks last week as he strove to address journalists on data production and dissemination processes and the release of the second, third and fourth quarter 2013 job creation survey results.

Controversies Responding to controversies dogging figures released lately by the bureau on job creation, he explained that it was the responsibility of NBS to ensure that the data emanating from it is credible, reliable and understood.

“In recent times, there has been some scepticism about data produced by the NBS especially when it appears positive. This scepticism is understandable given that for a long time in our national history, data users and the general public have been disappointed.

Many of you will, however, have observed that data from NBS have been both positive and negative in recent times.

As a developing country, it is expected that some indicators will reveal progress in some areas while others will reveal existing challenges,” he stated He further explained that the mandate of NBS is to “identify those indicators whether positive or negative for proper planning and decision making by government, the general public and development partners and NGOs or domestic and foreign investors.”

Bureau of Statistics: Proof of figure as burden Kale, with the benefit of hindsight and speaking from an informed position on the workings of NBS, ruled out the possibility of manipulating data or figure coming from the agency for undue political advantage. He boasted that NBS is staffed with competent field officers regularly deployed to carry out data and armed with specific questionnaire across the spectrum of a given location.

He disclosed that data and figures released by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international agencies that Nigerians religiously rely on were sourced by the global bodies from the NBS.

Kale

Job creation figure A pronouncement by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister for Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala and later some top government functionaries that 1.6 million jobs had been created out of the 1.8 million target set by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration triggered instant public reactions.

Nigerians were enraged that government officials could claim creation of 1.6 million jobs without its impact being felt by way of reduction of the huge army of restive unemployed youths in the country.

As to be expected, proofs, and supportive evidences were demanded by members of civil society groups. Okonjo-Iweala did not conjure the job creation figures on her own as she relied on figure made available by the statistics bureau.

Clearing the air and mis-

Transcorp Hilton pledges support for expo Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

N

igeria’s flagship in the hospitality industry, Transcorp Hilton, has declared its support for the forthcoming Food and Cultural Fair in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The food fair is being organised by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) later this month at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transnational Hotels and

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Tourism Services Limited, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, made the pledge when he received the management of the institute led by chairman of its Governing Board, Kanayo O. Kanayo.

Ozoigbo noted that participating in the food fair will provide Transcorp Hilton the much-needed platform to promote Nigerian Cuisines and seek ways to improve services in the nation’s food industry.

Transcorp’s General Manager, Mr. Etinne Gailiez, promised that the hotel will bring its wealth of experience to bear on the successful hosting of the exhibition.

understanding trailing 1.6 million jobs, Kale came clean last week when he was taken up by journalists. But, Kale, who told journalists that he was not interested in playing politics with the figures, said categorically that not more than 1.3 million jobs were created in 2013, blaming the confusion on interpretation of the information.

His words: “Though it is difficult to clarify, but in the interest of transparency, I will.

The economy had created only about 1.1 or 1.2 million jobs in 2013. Because the NBS wanted to give a full four quarter estimate, it gave an estimated figure for the fourth quarter, which took the figure to 1.6 million jobs.

“But, if one looks at the actual figure, it was not up to that. It would be only 1.2 or 1.3 million jobs. That 400,000 jobs or so that were added was after looking at the job trend in the country, the NBS estimated that maybe by the first quarter of 2013, it would have been about 1.6 million. But, that was just an estimate.

“If one looks at the new numbers since then, the actual figure for that quarter was about 200,000 jobs, which take the real figure to 1.3 million jobs, and not 1.6 million jobs for those four quarters between 2012 and 2013.”

He said that he had to make the point very clear that it was an estimate and not real figure that was quoted, pointing out that when the real count was taken later, the NBS had found out that it was not up to the initial estimate.

According to him, “job creation is, no doubt, a pressing topic in Nigeria. It takes centre stage with policy makers at all levels of government as stakeholders struggle with the

fact that despite several years of impressive annual growth rates, unemployment and under-employment remain relatively high. This doesn’t mean that jobs aren’t being created. With the sheer number of foreign brands entering the country and expanding the networks, banks expanding branches every year, shopping malls springing up everywhere, clearly jobs are being created,” he said.

“Government did not say it created 1.6 million jobs. What the NBS said was that 1.6 million jobs were created in the economy. The NBS never specified how the jobs were created and by who, because the NBS does not have the capability to find out who is the person that created what. It is possible that some government policies were part of it, or Nigerians did it on their own.

What the NBS said was that this was how many we saw,” he explained.

Data as political instrument Indeed, while it is pretty certain that figures, data released

by NBS would have gone unchallenged in a military setting, such will be scrutinised in a proper democratic setting.

The ruling party would want to play up on it especially if the figure lends credence to government policies impacting positively on economy. The opposition parties, in the same breath, will naturally feast on figures/data indicative of an impoverished people and economy.

The example was a recent report by the World Bank that ranked Nigeria as one of the countries harbouring the poorest people in the world. Opposition parties took government to the cleaners, leaving its appointees on the defensive.

Improving dat quality Instructively what is obtainable at NBS presently may not be the best and the standard practice for other statistic organs elsewhere. There is room for improvement, a fact admitted by the NBS chief executive.

He said the agency was currently re-directing its focus on improving quality of its data.

“Our efforts so far to improve data quality has resulted in a comprehensive review of NBS’s data production processes. The review covers all aspects of data production, including planning stage, filed work, data entry, data processing, to data dissemination and archiving. With respect to filed work, NBS, as many of you are aware, has offices and staff in all the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that regularly collects data across the country.”

To underscore mileage recorded by the bureau in the area of data production, he disclosed three important areas it has excelled lately.

The first, he said, is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) performance tracking survey 2014.

“This is the second in its series, coming two yeasts after the successful conduct of the 2012 MDGs performance tracking survey, and a year before the 2015 target date of the MDGs. As before, the exercise is being undertaken in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs. The aim of the exercise is to report on progress made in Nigeria with respect to the MDGs. The survey covers both urban and rural areas of all 36 states including the FCT. “The second statiscal exercise that is on-going is the National Census of Commercial and Industrial Business (NCCIB) and the last being National Agriculture Sample Census (NASC), another major data activity of NBS,” he said.

FCT | BUSINESS WATCH 35

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The Nigerian Programme Coordinator of Revenue Watch Institute, Garba Dauda, spoke to select journalists on the sideline of a Roundtable on Remediation of Audit Reports held in collaboration with the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (NEITI) in Abuja recently.

He barred his mind on the cost of the delay in the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the budget and sundry issues. JAMES NWABUEZE was there.

What in your opinion has made NNPC to remain in the spotlight with regard to alleged misappropriation of funds and issues relating to accountability?

It is not that NNPC cannot work professionally, but because there are political hands in all of these, they are under undue political influence. Sometimes you need to even sympathise with NNPC because of what they are going through, than thinking that it is their own making that some of these things are wrong. If you take politics out of our oil business, certainly it is going to function well the same way every other business is functioning in this country.

The PIB, some people are now thinking of unbundling that document so that the controversial areas could be set aside and some other segments dealt with separately. What is your take on that?

Sincerely speaking, two years ago, I engaged this particular issue at the Lagos Oil Club, and what we were considering then was whether it was not a mistake to package the PIB into the omnibus document that it is. Perhaps we would have been able to pick all these laws in beats and pieces and come up with a new law that is going to handle all these things. For instance, you do a lot on fiscal regime, you do a lot on unbundling the NNPC, and you do a lot on national oil company and a lot on national gas company. And I then realised that many people anticipated that there was going to be this big fight except that they did not know that it is going to take this shape, and this long time. And the idea was that “let us sit down and do a big fight once and for all.” But it has turned out that the big fight is lingering and there does not seem to be an end to the big fight. So it is the length of that big fight, the seeming unending nature of that big fight that is making people to think backward now, and to begin to ask themselves “would it not actually have been better to do it the way we had anticipated it?”

So it is not something I am going to say the answer is here or there, but I can only say that if we are determined as a country to move on the PIB, we will be able to move it on. The unfortunate thing is that because we have not signed the PIB since 2008, even the MoUs that we have always used to managed to patch these laws also stopped since we set the PIB in motion. So we are losing at two ends, on one front, we are no longer doing MoUs to patch them, which means we are taking what we have been taking before 2008, on the other front, we have not had a PIB that will enable us maximise government’s stake in terms of money. So from both sides we are losing and the question I ask is “can’t our political leaders come together and say in the same way we treat PDP issues as a family affair, in the same way we treat APC issues as a family affair, in the same way we treat Labour Party issues as a family affair, why don’t we form a bigger family and get the National Assembly to move on the PIB?” Do you have any estimate as to what the country is losing as a result of the delay in the passage of PIB into law?

I don’t have any estimate, and even if you are going to be making an estimate now, that estimate can only be based on what you are losing with the stoppage of MoUs since 2008. Then, the other one would only be anticipatory based on what is contained in the PIB, which, of course, nobody will expect would easily sail through. There would always be negotiations to know what the balance fiscal regime should be. So certainly we are losing a huge amount of resources.

Why do you think it has been very difficult for government to implement NEITI findings?

I have just told you that NNPC has become the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of many people in politi-

‘NNPC now ATM for political office holders' Whether it is the community that is stealing the oil or government that is taking the oil legally, the communities do not see any difference. Sometimes they even benefit more when the thieves are taking because they are dropping some crump which they (the communities) pick cal offices. So if you are going to implement some of these findings some people are also going to be denied of their access to resources. That one is very obvious.

So the matter is you are going to choose between what one is going to be losing as an individual and what the country is losing, and we have this lackadaisical attitude to things - as long as I am not the one losing it, if it is government, it is okay as long as my own pocket is still lined. So this is where I find a fault and I think as a people, until we begin to learn how to put our individual interest behind and allow the collective will to decide our national lives we may not really get anywhere as a country.

Do you think government and international oil companies (IOCs) have been responsible enough to their host communities?

The only angle from which I am going to be coming in on that would have to do with the issue of recorded oil theft, recorded incidents of oil theft.

As things are at the moment, it does not matter who is stealing oil from the communities.

I often say it, whether it is the community that is stealing the oil or government that is taking the oil legally, the communities do not see any difference. Sometimes they even benefit more when the thieves are taking because they are dropping some crump which they (the communities) pick. In a normal society, the IOCs are ordinarily not supposed to be responsible to the communities because they pay all their taxes, royalties and all those things. But the issues are that in a situation where they go to bed, the only governments they see are the oil companies that are working in their midst, so they hold them responsible for their crisis. It is in this context that the IOCs are strongly being put under fire.

• Dauda Do you think the short period we

have is enough for the effective implementation of the budget?

Sincerely speaking, I do not know. I know that the budget has been passed and I know that there has been this forward and backward discussions with the National Assembly, and I have heard the minister for information saying that the National Assembly have distorted the document, and I have also heard the National Assembly saying that this is the budget they are proposing for the country. So, what I am asking is, “is the budget already acclaimed to have been passed, is that what they are still discussing?” If it is what they are still discussing, is it then true that the budget has been passed” But it is obvious we are almost half way into the year. I do not see us running away from the same problem we encountered last year. Sincerely speaking and this is very personal to me, I see a situation where we are going to be very good in meeting up all proposals on the expenditure end but the capital projects end we will still have the same problems we used to have.

To what extent would you describe the magnitude of official oil theft in Nigeria?

My PHD thesis is on oil theft. I have been to the Niger Delta, I have crisscrossed all the creeks in the Niger Delta, I have spoken to people across the line, the security, the crude oil marketers and the oil marketers on this. I know quite a lot of those things you are saying but continuously I have also told many people that we are probably running after not more than 25 per cent of what is locally refined in the bush at the expense of the quantum of what is actually being officially stolen, or what is going out of the country. That is the reality in Nigeria and I strongly believe that is also the reality when if you look at things from the point of view of that, that is what the IOCs want us to pursue or those in political offices. If we want to really follow up with the issue of oil theft, let us be holistic, let us be comprehensive enough that we take on the issues as a whole. And when I say I am doing a PHD thesis on this topic, I am talking about a PHD thesis that is 300 plus pages so I have researched in and out of these things.

36

BUSINESS | THE INVESTOR

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chris Ugwu

S

ecurity challenges anywhere in the world are not only considered an impediment for business, it also sends warning signals to investors to take their investible fund to another country where there is adequate safety of lives and property.

Insecurity has remained a key risk factor, which raises concerns to both local and foreign investors world over, as they are faced with the task of taking investments decisions that would not only bring about business growth and development but also contribute towards the economy where they have investment holdings.

Save for the recent bullish run witnessed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as a result of significant earnings posted by some companies, the impact of the sectarian violence in some parts of the country, especially in the north east zone and ripple effects of economic crises in Europe have helped to sustain the depression in the Nigerian Capital Market and investors’ confidence.

These events are capable of reversing the gains the economy has recorded, including the recent rebasing of the Nigeria’s economy, which catapulted the country to become the largest on the continent. $1trn capitalisation Market pundits are apprehensive that if the spate of violence is not tackled frontally, the projection of the Exchange to grow its market capitalisation to $1trillion (N155 trillion) in 2016, might be a mirage. This is because when people feel insecure, their appetite to invest or buy investment products reduces and that is why all over the world, any country that radiates an environment of insecurity naturally repels investment initiatives from the international community and their local investors.

Investment analysts have continued to caution that the impact of the continued sectarian violence, political instability and ripple effects of Euro economic crises had brought the Nigerian Capital Market and investors' confidence to its lowest status in recent years.

They said the country was currently facing high level of capital flight, and declining interest of foreign investors in the economy due to the securities challenges.

NSE’s optimism Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, had said in 2012 that the Eurozone crisis and other uncertainties in the economy occasioned by the unrest in some parts of the country also accounted for the huge sell out in the Exchange.

“Foreign investors were faced with a number of challenges from their own countries, and the Eurozone, a factor which led to the huge outflow of foreign portfolio investment and a consequent decline in the value of transactions in the capital market. Of course, we also had our own local challenges.

The Eurozone credit crisis remains a key risk to the world economy in 2012, with increased concerns surrounding the sustainability of sovereign debt instruments, especially with the unrest and volatility in certain regions of the world economy.

“We continue to watch it closely and it raises concerns about sovereign debt sustainability. If you add to that what is going on locally; unrest and volatility in some regions of the country, these present concerns for us in the capital market, “he said.

The NSE boss had however, expressed optimism on the $1 trillion target, noting that it also depended on certain factors including: Federal Government’s successful unbundling of oil sector through passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and encouragement of companies in the

Ms Oteh

Oscar Onyema

Insecurity bullies NSE’s $1trn cap target telecommunications and energy sectors of the economy to list in the market among others.

“When we gave the target, we said a number of things needed to be aligned.

Government said they want to privatise power. We need the support of the government to ensure that the 16 utilities are listed with the telecom companies.

The National Assembly should approve and pass the PIB to provide unbundling of companies and enable the oil majors to take positive decision. Activities in the oil and gas sector are slowing down because everybody is watching to see what is happening,” Onyema said.

He said the Exchange would continue to put in place processes and procedures that would drive market recovery, while embarking on reforms and investor enlightenment to enhance the viability of the market.

Onyema noted that the Exchange proposed several rules to codify the accepted mode of engagement in the market, adding that of a particular interest was its proposed Related Parties Transaction rule and rules around the conduct of AGMs. He said while the NSE’s focus from 2011 to 2013 has been on revamping corporate governance, improving human capacity, cleansing and restructuring the market, improving technology, product

The tempo of economic activities in the Northern part of the country has declined; access to the markets by companies in the southern part of the country has reduced resulting in loss of sales; while many enterprises have relocated

development, and advocacy for changes to policy, “from 2014, we are determined to shift gears to drive innovations centred on increasing global visibility for the Nigerian capital market”.

Onyema said the Exchange intend to develop a larger footprint on the African continent and ultimately, targeting emerging market status.

He added that this is the reason why it is very much in support of the WACMI efforts and similar programmes.

He noted that the improved regulatory environment and performance of quoted companies from 2012 till date, has positively impacted on stock market prices and overall market indices.

“All vital performance metrics in the Nigerian Capital Market have bounced back from the critical low to which they backslid in 2008 and have generally remained upbeat with the market capitalization of listed equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) increasing by over 47.33 per cent in the past year alone.

Also, the average daily value of shares traded went up by 57.36 per cent from the N2.65b recorded in 2012 to N4.17b EOY 2013,” Onyema said.

He said that year to date 2014, local Investors participation in the market stood at over 50 per cent (50.72 per cent) compared with the 49.28 per cent foreign participation.

Operators’ view The Managing Director, Lamberth Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri said that globalization and liberalization has made free flow of investment of capital across national borders possible with ease. He however, affirmed that if the government fails to decisively confront violent extremism in Nigeria, efforts at attracting foreign investment may be a mirage.

“Vibrancy of the capital market is conditional on the investment climate in every country. Where insecurity persists, the investment climate will not be conducive. Because peace and progress are intertwined, investment has tendency to always migrate to secure environ-

ments where peace is assured.

“Violence kills people and destroys assets. Therefore, no sane investor will risk his hard earned savings in a strife torn economic environment. This is behind the recent exodus of foreign portfolio investment from our capital market in the wake of deteriorating security situation in Nigeria. “ Globalization and liberalization of capital markets has made free flow of investment capital across national borders possible with ease. Frightened domestic investors can move their investments to conducive foreign markets thus compounding the woes of the capital market.

Also, such capital flight can exacerbate the pressure on the domestic currency,” Adonri said.

The prevailing security situation occasioned by long drawn insurgency has negatively impacted investors’ confidence and limits the realization of the tremendous potentials that the economy presents, especially post-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rebasing, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) had also said.

President LCCI, Mr. Remi Bello said it would be difficult to attract investors at this time just as the risk of long-term investments in the economy has been heightened by prevailing conditions.

Bello noted that the tempo of economic activities in the Northern part of the country has declined; access to the markets by companies in the southern part of the country has reduced resulting in loss of sales; while many enterprises have relocated.

Conclusion With the over 200 girls seized by the Boko-Haram since seven weeks ago yet to get into the waiting arms of their parents, President Goodluck Jonathan should try all his best possible to bring back these girls given the embarrassment and international dimension the issue has taken. It is only after he has succeeded in doing this, that the international community including foreign investors can take Nigeria seriously.

BUSINESS | BRANDS & MARKETING 37

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

LOCAL CONTENT Federal Government should use local publicist to solve its image crisis.

Salvaging Nigeria’s image

Dele Alao

T

he country, for the umpteenth time, is facing another round of image challenge created by the rising attacks of Boko Haram, kidnapping, especially the Chibok girls and handling corruption issues with kid gloves, among others.

According to Global Strategist, JSP Communications, Dr Phil Osagie, “The 200 Chibok girls, the Boko Haram crisis, intense politics, multi-billion dollar scandals and many others are big Public Relations problems on government’s plate.”

It will be recalled that in March 2009, an attempt to reverse the country’s dwindling image tagged: Rebranding Nigeria Project, was launched in Abuja, Nigeria, with a slogan: Nigeria: Good People, Great Nation.

According to the then Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili, “Nigeria cannot wait until it solves all her problems before it can stand to give serious thought to re-branding its battered image. This is because our development is tied to our image. This negative perception has had destructive effects on our people and stymied our growth and national progress.”

As it were, the rebranding project, an attempt to “heal” the country’s image problem, failed.

Perhaps, this informed the decision of the present administration to jettison the idea of home-made image laundering project, for a foreign-made image project.

Recently, the media was awashed with a report that

Jonathan

the Federal Government was seeking to hire a foreign Public Relations firm to manage its image especially outside the country, at an alleged cost of $800 million, in view of the image challenge.

Although the Federal Government has since denied the hiring of a foreign firm, Public Relations consultants in the country under the aegis of Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), in fury, said that government’s decision was neither strategic nor advisable and represents instead a needless strategic gaffe added to the many avoidable missteps of the Federal Government in handling of its communication and reputational challenges.

“The purported search is premised on a wrong foundation of white washing Nigeria before

Maku

foreign media and audiences.

However, the real challenge before the Federal Government of Nigeria lies elsewhere and that is at the home front with its citizens, representing the primary stakeholders. The search also misunderstands modern communication and public relations. Public Relations is based on the RACE principle –Research, Action, Communication and Evaluation- that demands strategic insight and action as the basis for engagement (communication) with stakeholders.

The current run of bad press arises from a failure to set the agenda through right actions for positive media coverage of the Federal Government and Nigeria,” the body said.

PRCAN then charged the Federal Government to deploy professionalism and strategic measures to regain the confidence of its primary

Skye Bank floats new IT product R ising from its 2014 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, Skye Bank Plc, has introduced a new information technology software; Oracle Flexcube 12.

The Chief Executive Officer Designate of the bank, Mr Timothy Oguntayo, said: “The new software now powers our operations and serves as the pivot of our new banking era of efficiency, convenience, speed and security.” “What we are unveiling today is the product of our successful upgrade of the earlier Oracle Flexcube 6.2 version which our bank had adopted for several years. This new software will serve as the core IT platform for new capabilities and business growth.”

Oguntayo noted that technology has changed the way people interact every day, which, in turn, has changed the businesses around the people.

“The banking industry has undergone tremendous changes with the adoption of

e-commerce, social media, instant messaging and self-service banking. Increasingly, we are faced with unprecedented changes in customer behaviour and expectations as a result of advances in technology and the fierce competition in a rapidly expanding financial services landscape.

“Buffeted by such trends as e-commerce, social media, instant messaging and selfservices, the need for new electronic banking platforms to deliver enhanced convenience has become imperative as these new patterns of customer behaviour shape the way banks develop, market, and deliver their services,” he added.

According to the CEO designate, in line with the bank’s commitment to service excellence through the use of information and communications technology, the bank, he said, in the last 24 months, has made significant investment in bestin-class technology.

“I am happy to announce

that we have, last month, cut over to our new and improved core banking system with robust transaction processing capabilities that will enable us to provide superior service and consistent experience for our customers across all channels. The upgrade is at the centre of our IT transformation program, a strategic decision that has far reaching implications on the bank’s future business strategies and success,” he said.

Also, the many benefits of the new software, he said, include: seamless customer experience across all channels, fully centralised transaction processing model to eliminate retail/corporate dichotomy, improved business intelligence and product extensibility.

Meanwhile, the bank has introduced a new card, Skye Plus.

It is an internet and mobile banking platforms designed to provide customers anytime anywhere access to a wide range of banking services.

stakeholders as no amount of engineered positive mention in foreign media would change this.

“The primary duty of a brand is to carry out its core mission and Brand Nigeria is currently performing woefully in its task of rendering service to citizens,” PRCAN said.

It added: “We believe that 50 years into independence and some weeks after the World Economic Summit for Africa in Nigeria our government should be promoting indigenous expertise and be concerned with its standing with its internal stakeholders over and above other considerations. The Federal Government of Nigeria must desist from actions such as the recent listing requirements rolled out by the Securities and Exchange Commission for ratings agencies and this move to hire foreign publicists which means that it has no faith in Nigerian professionals because that undermines the basis for its own existence.”

PRCAN then implored the Federal Government to desist from move to hire foreign publicists.

In a different point of view, Osagie said: “Since most of our negative image is fuelled from abroad and the Western media are largely in control of the most influential organs of mass communications, government may see some wisdom in speaking to the West in their own language. CNN, BBC, New York Times, Washington Post, The Economist, Reuters, Bloomberg, Financial Times and such influential media largely shape the thoughts of investors and key global decision makers.”

But, how best could the falling image be addressed?

The General Secretary, PRCAN, Muyiwa Akintunde, said: “First, there has to be a perception audit. How precisely is Nigeria rated among her own people and by the rest of the world?

This will throw up indices that will help in distilling the perception challenge faced by the country and appropriate strategies to tackle them. For stakeholders to

believe in the campaign, there must be a tangible government programme or project that resonate with their collective aspirations otherwise the campaign will be regarded as yet another propaganda.”

Also, chief executive officer, Curve Communications, Deola Odunowo, noted that to achieve a desired image for the country, the country must be self-sufficient and innovative in information management system.

“There is an urgent need to re-think our values for time and data management so we can lead the rest of Africa out of the mental poverty era in the 21st century,” Odunowo added.

Osagie also noted that an orchestrated clean-up campaign of the country’s image from a strategic and fundamental point of view is perhaps better started at home “The sincerity of purpose and genuineness of the action determines the success of any PR campaign. It is therefore argued that, trying to fix our PR problem from the outside is far less effective than the inside out.

As someone remarked, ‘actions speak louder than words, but intentions speak loudest,’” he said, adding that “engaging a foreign agency is a vote of no confidence in the local communications industry and sends a wrong signal both within and without. The massive campaign budgets being thrown around, though unsubstantiated, puts a big question mark on government’s much trumpeted declaration of greater transparency, accountability and war on poverty.”

The global strategist, therefore called on the Federal Government to issue a statement or make a pronouncement to end the rumour mongering and wide speculations about the proposed hiring of foreign PR agencies at a staggering fee of almost one billion dollar.

He said: “No matter what government says, people will still believe what they want to believe because their perception is their reality. But silence in this case will not be golden. And will do more good than harm.

Government certainly has the rights to engage foreign service providers, if it sees such a move as being of greater national interest. But it will be more meaningful if the campaign is coordinated from both within and external. That way there will be greater synergy, and the various tactical media campaigns both locally and globally can dovetail into a strategic whole.

“There should be a more visible effort to address the key strategic issues and top public concerns. Issuing daily reports on the Chibok girls, security briefing sessions in greater frequency, public enlightenment security campaigns, greater display of empathy by the leaders to the governed, instituting a new regime of leadership austerity measures and an increasing servanthood leadership model,” he added.

38 BUSINESS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Ghana cripples Nigeria trade with Niger, others Nigeria seaports lost a whooping N136 billion in 2013 to diversion of cargoes to neighbouring ports due to hostile business environment. Some of the consignments belong to the landlocked countries.

BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

M

oves by Nigeria to regain its shipping business with the landlocked countries may be futile after all. Ghana has established Inland Container Depots for Burkina Faso and Niger for effective cargo transhipment from Tema Port to their destination.

Already, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has developed standard alert for the transit cargo.

With the latest development, the GPHA’s Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Mr Paul Ansah, explained that the country is now the second largest container handler in the West Africa region.

He noted that Tema Ports handled 842,000 Twenty Equivalent Units in 2013.

Ansah explained during a visit to GPHA office by the officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and journalists that the port authority had embarked on port expansion on 400 hectares of land which would thrice capacity of Tema Port.

Until 2006, about 70 per cent of Niger Republic cargo were transited through Nigerian seaports as against the current zero per cent.

Currently, over three million metric tons of cargo of Niger Republic which were formerly handled by Nigeria had been shared among Togo, Benin and Ghana.

Due to hostile environment, it was revealed that the country lost a whooping N136 billion in 2013 to diversion of cargoes to other neighbouring ports.

It was revealed that Niger was shipping about 2.5 million metric tons of its cargo from Benin Republic, 1.5 million metric tons in Togo and close to a million metric ton in Ghana.

Last year, the Federal Government sent some officials from various agencies to the land-locked countries.

Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) led the trade delegation made up of port concessionaires, port administrators, government officials and other

Lagos Port Complex, Apapa

shipping service providers to Niger Republic.

The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the council, Mr. Hassan Bello, said that the essence of the trade mission was to strengthen trade agreements between Nigeria and Niger Republic to enable Nigerian ports handle more of the import and export cargo of the land-locked country.

He said that his major preoccupation at the moment was to reinvigorate the council to play its role of trade facilitation.

The executive secretary said: “Nigerian ports can do up to three million metric tons annually and up to two thousand Niger Republic-bound containers monthly from our projection.

Don’t forget also that Nigeria has strong diplomatic relations with Niger Republic and an international obligation to landlocked countries around it.

He stressed: “We are the sec-

retariat of all the importers and exporters and we must now begin to really protect their interests.”

However, the private terminal operators, under the umbrella of the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) have made their position known to government that if government would not provide adequate arrangement to tranship cargo to the land locked countries no concessionaires was ready to do the business.

They said that the era of wasteful spending had gone when Nigerian Ports Authority played the role of a ‘father Christmas.’

Chairman of the association, Princess Vicky Haastrup, said that it would be impossible to handle transhipment cargo for Nigeria’s landlocked neighbouring countries, saying that it was not a commercially vi-

able venture.

She said: “Except the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is willing to subsidise the landlocked country’s transactions at Nigeria’s seaports, no STOAN members will have anything to do with their cargoes.”

Haastrup said that the terms and conditions under which NPA handled tran-shipment cargoes in the pre-port concession era were not favourable to the ports.

She explained that the price, which NPA charged the landlocked countries including Chad and Niger Republic for the handling of the consignments, was ridiculously low and not commercially tenable.

“NPA as a government agency was probably playing the normal ‘big brother’ to neighbouring African countries but we are private people, we cannot do that Father Christmas

for anybody.

“If the landlocked countries are ready to pay the normal rates in cargo handling, we will be very willing to do business with them,” she said, adding that terminal operators would handle transhipment cargoes of the landlocked nations only if NPA is willing to pay the shortfall in the amount paid by shippers of the affected countries.

She identified inconsistent government policies as major burdens to their operations.

According to the president of the Lagos Shippers Association, Rev. Jonathan Nicole, the country lost N24 billion yearly to vessels clearance delays at the port.

This, according to him, could be clarified with the Union of African Shippers Council. He noted that over N800 billion went into invisible transactions at the port in the period.

Port state administration: Don scores NIMASA high NAVIGATION Maritime administration emphasises on proper navigational equipment, appropriate manning and crew qualifications.

Bayo Akomolafe

A

don at the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Ghana, Dr York Abaidoo, has said that the Flag and Port States administration by the apex maritime regulator, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was in line with the international best practise.

He explained that NIMASA and Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA)’s responsibilities on the flag and port states were defined through a myriad of international conventions and

regulations.

Abaidoo who delivered a lecture at a three day capacity building sponsored by NIMASA for information officers and media executives covering the industry, stressed that the two countries had effectively exercised control over the ships operating on their waters.

He said that the agencies ensure that ships comply with the relevant International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions in their jurisdictions.

The RMU lecturer added that measures had been taken in line with article 94 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He declared: “The duties of the Flag State are set forth in Article 94, which delineates the jurisdiction and control the flag state may assert over the administrative, technical and social matters of vessels flying its flag. This Article establishes steps that may be taken by the

flag state to ensure safety at sea, utilise qualified surveyors and proper navigational equipment, maintain appropriate manning and crew qualifications, and cooperate in marine casualty and incidents of navigation.

“Such conventions have set

Akpobolokemi, NIMASA DG

parameters for the roles of both port and flag states, and the system has been based on the roles as described in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78); the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS); the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978 and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), among others.”

He explained that the Flag State has the authority and responsibility to enforce regulations over vessels registered under its flag, including those relating to inspection, certification and issuance of safety and pollution prevention documents.

“As a ship operates under the laws of its flag state, these laws are used if the ship is involved in an admiralty case,” he said.

BUSINESS | MARITIME

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

FG restates support for free zones • Operator seeks execution of NEPZA Act JOBS Free Trade zones to create thousands of jobs.

T

he Federal Government has reiterated its continued support for Free Zones operations in the country with a view to maximising job creation potentials of such enterprises as well as facilitate trade and foreign direct investments (FDI).

The Minister of Industries, Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, made the declaration during a facility tour of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) base in Apapa, Lagos.

The Minister was accompanied on the tour by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Free Zones Enterprises (NEPZA), Mr. Gbenga Kuye.

Aganga who stressed that it was in the overall interest of the nation’s economy to support, promote and nurture such enterprises, however pointed out that the operators were so far satisfied with the level of patronage offered by government, but that what the Free Zones promoters were clamouring for was for government to stick to the implementation of the laws guiding their operations,” he said.

Operations of Free Zones in Nigeria are guided by the NEPZA Act as well as the Nigerian Content Act 2010.

According to Aganga, “the NEPZA Act setting them up has already guaranteed all the necessary governments’

encouragements to make them operate optimally. The whole idea is to be able to attract investors to these one-stop-shops and create jobs.

“So what we need to do as government is to make sure that all those things in paper are fully implemented and not that we are not doing enough to support,” he added.

The minister’s position had earlier been corroborated by the Managing Director of LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, who in her address, lauded the continued encouragement and support being offered by government in sustaining the free zones.

According to her, government’s positive steps in promoting enterprises such as LADOL have been made manifest through Industrial Revival Plans embarked upon by government.

“We thank the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, for the enabling environment he has created so far and the encouragement provided for Nigerians through the Industrial Revival Plan.

“We at LADOL have pledged to continue to do our part to help make that plan a reality through our continued investment in building critical and strategically important infrastructure,” she said.

According to her, the infrastructure development at LADOL had resulted in “job multiplier by 10 to 15 times, through the development of related industries such as steel manufacturing and engineering.”

Shippers berate Customs over illegal port charges ANTI-TRADE Shippers condemns Customs officials over sharp practices at sea ports.

S

hippers under the aegis of Shippers’ Association of Lagos State (SALS) has said that the collection of unlawful levies by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was a hindrance to trade facilitation and realisation of fair and equitable port pricing system in Nigerian ports.

President of the association, Reverend Jonathan Nicole, said in Lagos that fees such as “general purse, endorsement fee, customs examination fee, Customs intelligence Unit (CIU) fee, and enforcement fee” were illegal.

Nicole blamed government for turning blind eyes to the illegal tolls by Customs and other government agencies at the port, saying that such practices discourage fair port

pricing system in Nigeria He said: “These are invisible transactions and are not receipted for. It is believed that about one third of the total revenue for government is assumed to have entered into private pockets. The Nigerian government should be blamed for this. In order to get equitable port pricing, all these illegal tolls in the Nigeria Customs formations must be dismantled.”

He also said that a PreArrival Assessment Report (PAAR) document once issued should be accepted as the final document for the determination of customs duties and should not be subjected to queries from junior field officers.

Nicole charged the new economic port regulator, the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), to commence its duties effectively, one of which is regulating the excessive charges within the nation’s port system.

He said: “It is not going to be easy. You need to step on toes; please do so with factory boots for posterity sake.”

39

Machinist flays Webb Fountain’s operations at Onne POOR SERVICE Customs service providers’ inefficiency is crippling businesses.

Bayo Akomolafe

G

eneral Manager of the West African Container Terminal (WACT) Nigeria Limited, Onne Port, Mr Innocent Ogbuji, has condemned the non-compliance with the 24-hour service directive of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) by IT service provider, Webb Fontaine.

He said that the attitude of the company had limited the

scope of work at the port.

Ogbuji noted: “The Federal Government has pronounced that the ports should operate 24 hours, seven days a week.

He said that the IT providers open for services between 9.a.m. and 6 p.m., thereby limiting the scope of work in the port.

“On weekends, they don’t even work at all, thereby slowing down the free flow of containers. Another challenge we have is in the area of the road.

The road leading to the port is in bad shape.”

However, he said that the calling of WAFMAX, Maersk Line’s jumbo ships at Onne Port, would increase the flow of containers into the port.

Ogbuji added that the in-

crease in container flow would consequently increase revenues earned by both government and the terminal operators.

He said that the jumbo WAFMAX ships would create a lot of job opportunities for the people around the port environment because it would require more hands to bring containers out of the ports.

“This terminal is not congested; vessels berth alongside without waiting time.

When the containers are discharged, they also leave the port on time. The roads inside the port, you can see, are very good. The only area where we have challenges is between here and Eleme Junction which is not that bad but need to be worked on.

Minister of Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, (second right), flanked to his right by the Managing Director of LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, and the Managing Director of Nigerian Free Zones Enterprises (NEPZA), Mr. Gbenga Kuye, when the minister toured LADOL base in Lagos.

Customs generate N7.4bn revenue at PTML Temitope Sobowale

T

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Port and Terminal Multi-Service Limited Command has generated 7.4 billion in April.

Outgoing Comptroller of the command, Timothy Aremu, disclosed this while handing over the leadership of the command to a newly appointed Area Controller, Adegoke Folorunsho.

He noted that the command had placed a bench mark of eight billion naira for the month of May. Aremu also said that the command was able to overcome the challenges associated with the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) recently introduced by the service.

He explained that the increase in revenue was evident

in the collections which the command made in April 2014 which was over 50 per cent higher than the previous year and was the first of its kind recorded in the history of the command.

Aremu noted that this feat was achieved by a combination of dedicated personnel and appropriate application of available technology.

He urged the incoming Comptroller to tap into the reach technical knowhow of the staff to ensure that the N8 billion bench marks of the command for the month of May is achievable.

“I enjoin you all to keep working assiduously with the new CAC in order to maintain the rise in revenue profile of the command,” he added.

Aremu who described the

initial challenges faced by the introduction of PAAR as teething problems added that such problems were not unusual for any project at inception as they are surmountable.

On his part, Adegoke Folorunsho, solicited the support of the staff so that the set target would be met.

Speaking on the possibility of importers diverting cargo to neighboring ports, he said that doing so would attract additional cost on the part of importers, adding that using neighbouring countries would not be cost-effective as importers would pay duty in that country.

He explained that the vehicle would be escorted to the Nigerian side by gendermes and another duty would be paid before it would be allowed into Nigeria.

40 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

7th Assembly: Issues that shaped the House three years after Legislative independence Since the House of Representatives was inaugurated on June 6, 2011, it has been consistent in trying to assert its independence especially in its relationship with the executive. As part of the process, the House independently voted for Speaker Aminu Tambuwal (North west) and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha (South East) in violation of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) zoning arrangement and choice of South West and Mulikat Adeola-Akande as speaker and Ishaku Mohammed Bawa (North East) as deputy speaker. The House had since then taken independent decisions, not minding the position of the executive.

The outgoing third session began sitting on June 25, 2013.

On Friday, June 6, the 7th House of Representatives will mark three years anniversary, which has been a beehive of activities.

Tough decisions, controversies, defections and counter defections across parties, investigation of corruption allegations in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and general oversight characterised activities of the Aminu Tambuwal-led chamber. PHILIP NYAM reviews some of the major activities.

Factional fight The beginning of this session was quite eventful. In June 2014, members of the PDP in the House engaged in a factional fight as the visit of the then factional PDP national chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje with his National Working Committee and the G-7 governors led to rowdiness unknown to the House in recent times.

Takeover of Rivers Assembly On July 10, the House of Representatives after intensive debate and approval of a motion, based on Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution, assumed the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

This was as a result of the violence that marred the sitting of the assembly the previous day. The House also directed the Inspector General of Police to immediately redeploy the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, who had been accused of bias in the matter.

The House noted that Mbu did not live up to his responsibilities of protecting the lives and properties of people in the state. Although, an Abuja High Court had declared the take over as illegal, the House appealed the judgement and the case is pending. Up till date, the state assembly is yet to reconvene.

N255m bullet proof cars As part of its legislative functions, the House carried out series of investigations in the course of the year. But one of the most popular probes was that of the two BMW bullet proof cars bought by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah. The aviation committee, which conducted the investigation indicted the minister and among other things recommended that President Goodluck Jonathan should review her continued engagement as a minister.

The House adopted all the recommendations and agreed that Oduah should be made to face the consequence of spending public money on unbudgeted expenditure such as the purchase of the cars by facing a three year jail term and a fine of N100,000.

Oil benchmark row The face-off between the House and the executive continued unabated with the disagreement on the crude oil benchmark. This disagreement led to the late presentation of the 2014 budget estimates. In fact, for the second time since 1999, the president failed to present the budget himself as he was represented by the finance minister, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who laid the bill in both chambers.

The executive had submitted the proposed MTEF/FSP document to the National Assembly on September 17 with a projected $74 per barrel crude oil benchmark. President Jonathan was first billed to present the 2014 proposed bud-

Tambuwal

get to a joint session of both chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday November 12 but the move was shelved due to “emergent circumstances”. At the rescheduled date of November 19, Jonathan this time blamed his inability to present the bill on the failure of both chambers to reconcile their positions on the 2014-2016 MTEF. The budget was finally laid by minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on December 19, 2013.

The Katsina 10 A very interesting but intriguing aspect of the House in the outgoing session was the emergence of two sets of eight lawmakers each from Katsina State laying claim to eight constituency seats. On January 12, 2012, a court ruling dismissed 10 lawmakers who were sworn in at the inception of the 7th assembly and replaced them with a fresh set. Certificates of return of the lawmakers were withdrawn and new ones issued to their replacements. The ousted lawmakers headed to the courts for redress. Hence November 1, 2013, the Appeal Court ordered the reinstatement of the displaced lawmakers after declaring the take- over of their seats illegal.

The matter is before the Supreme Court

now for final adjudication.

Defection of 37 Lawmakers Another twist in the politics of the outgoing session was the defection of 37 members elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). With this development, the APC started claiming numerical superiority.

This however opened a floodgate of defections and counter defections in the House. While some moved to the APC, others left APC for PDP. Indeed, it has been a ding dong affair. Presently, the defecting lawmakers are locked in a lawsuit with the ruling PDP, which is angling for them to lose their seats. The case is now in the Court of Appeal.

Alison-Madueke’s N10 billion expenditure on jet Another investigation that has caught the attention of everyone is the alleged wastage of N10 billion on the charter and maintenance of a Challenger 850 aircraft for nonofficial use by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke. This investigation has been shrouded in controversy as the minister and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have gone to court seeking to stop the House from looking into the matter.

President Jonathan had in his last

media chat berated the lawmakers for consistently inviting the minister, explaining that the attitude of the parliament was counterproductive as it interferes with the work of the executive.

Although, the court refused to grant the minister’s prayers, she has filed a second suit and is even insisting that she can only appear before the House with the approval of the president.

Lawmaking The primary objective of the parliament is lawmaking and the 7th House in the last session has passed some critical bills. It has also passed very important motions most of them leading to investigation of MDAs. The House Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review of the 1999 Constitution has completed its review of the 1999 Constitution and is awaiting the inauguration of a harmonisation committee to meet the Senate. The committee held what it called Peoples Public Sessions (PPSs) in all the 360 federal constituencies across the country. It was contentious because some stakeholders such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had kicked against the idea and instead made case for a referendum but the lawmakers insisted that the constitution did not envisage a referendum. Some of the high points of the reviewed provisions waiting to be amended include immunity for lawmakers. The House amended section 4 of the 1999 Constitution to insulate members of the legislature from civil or criminal proceedings in respect of words spoken or written before the House or a committee.

It also voted in favour of full financial autonomy for local governments by amending Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. It also voted for independent candidature and amended Section 81 and 121 to include the National Security Agencies; and the Nigerian Police, alongside the States Houses of Assembly, AttorneysGeneral, the Auditors-General, as bodies to be included in the first line charge of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation and states. The House also amended Section 124(5) to include the presiding officers of the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly to join the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors and leadership of the Judicial Arm as persons entitled to pension after leaving office, provided they were not impeached or removed.

Amaechi’s aircraft controversy Another investigation, which the House carried out that attracted the attention of many, was the grounding of Rivers State-owned Bombardier B700 Global Express jet by the NCAA. After a thorough investigation, the House joint committee on justice and aviation indicted the NCAA for illegally grounding the aircraft, and demanded the prosecution of Caverton Helicopters for misleading NCAA to illegally ground the aircraft. The committee also absolved the governor, Rotimi Amaechi of any wrongdoing. The report has since been adopted by the House.

Investigations into Service Wide Votes The House Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) has since 2013 been investigating the operations and utilisation of the Service Wide Votes domiciled in the Presidency. It has so far probed into how the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) led

by Anyim Pius Anyim and the Ministry of Information under Labaran Maku used N100.561 billion disbursed to them between 2004 and 2012. Several MDAs including INEC, NNPC have been quizzed by the committee, which has revealed that between N900 billion and N1 trillion was withdrawn from the account between 2004 and 2012 with nothing to show for it. The report of the Service Wide Votes investigation is expected in the last session of this Assembly.

These and many more were part of the activities of the Tambuwal-led 7th House of Representatives in the last legislative year.

POLITICS 41

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Democracy at 15: Echoes from the Senate Nigeria is 15 years into democratic rule. From 1999 till date, the country has witnessed a lot of positive and negative changes in virtually all facets of its national life. In this report, CHUKWU DAVID captures Senate’s appraisal of the performance of civil rule within the period

P

olitical analysts all over the world have reached a consensus that democracy is the best system of government. Many have also come up with the aphorism that the worst democracy is better than the best military dictatorship. In fact, the conviction is so high that those who call for any other form of government as alternative to democracy are usually branded ‘enemies’ of the people.

It has got to a point where regional governments such as the African Union (AU), European Union (EU), and indeed, the United Nations (UN), have agreed to resist any military intervention in democratic nations within their jurisdiction.

They try to discourage military interference in governance of nations by imposing sanctions on a junta that overthrows a democratically elected government.

Nigeria was under dictatorial regime of the military for about 30 years. Barely six years after independence, the military struck and seized the reigns of power and remained there for nearly three decades.

Attempts were made at intervals to return to democracy but to no avail. For the first time in the history of the country after the 1966 military takeover, Nigeria successfully returned to civil rule in 1999.

The country was also able to operate and sustain democratic governance for one and half decades.

The experience alone attracted a lot of excitement to Nigerians, who suffered the prolonged military dictatorship, with its attendant regressive and horrific impacts on their socio-economic lives.

Consequently, across the length and breath of Nigeria, commentators, analysts and all who have one experience or another in the past 15 years of democratic governance, have been expressing their feelings on their perception of the new political order. They have been doing a comparative analysis of democracy and military dictatorship, with a view to establishing the advantages of one over the other.

In the mood of celebrating this year’s Democracy Day, the Senate devoted Wednesday May 28, which was the eve of the 15th democracy anniversary, to appraising the journey so far within the country’s uninterrupted democratic rule in a nation that was under the bondage of military dictatorship for so long a time.

The ball was set rolling with the motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and other 108 Senators.

The motion was entitled, “felicitation on Nigeria’s 15th democracy anniversary”, in which they congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan, all former Presidents and Heads of State of Nigeria, the Legislature, the Executive, Judiciary and all Nigerians on the successful operation of democratic rule in Nigeria for 15 years without interruption.

Leading the debate on the motion, Ndoma-Egba said: “The Senate notes that Nigeria’s nascent democracy is maturing as she celebrates the 15th anniversary of her democracy tomorrow; satisfied that Nigeria’s bastion of democracy, the

Mark

National Assembly is steadily canalizing its practice and procedures in line with international best practices; confident that the developments in the transport sector, success in agriculture, promises in the power sector, and the imminent passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will transform Nigeria into an economic power; determined to enact legislation that would facilitate the transformation agenda and deliver bountiful dividends of democracy to her citizens and build stronger bonds of unity.”

With the above preamble by the leader, he set the pace for contributions from the members, who were set to pour their hearts out on how they perceived the performance of democracy within the period.

Besides congratulating the present and past political leaders of Nigeria, the Senators also paid tributes to all those they considered to be patriotic citizens, and pillars of the democratic process and the Armed Forces for subordinating themselves to civil authority in the past 15 years, and urged Nigerians to unite in the prosecution of the war against terrorism and agents of instability.

In their various contributions, some of the legislators admitted that, in spite of the challenges facing the country, democracy had actually attracted a lot of positive dividends to the nation, particularly in the area of freedom of speech, which many of them harped on. They also noted that democracy had brought about transformation in the power sector, roads, education, agriculture, etc.

The lawmakers specifically commended the National Assembly for its positive contributions to the growth, development and sustenance of democracy.

They recalled the various interventions made by the apex legislature to broker peace in times of conflict in the country.

Some of, for instance, noted how the National Assembly saved the democracy from collapse through the doctrine of necessity, which resolved the stalemate that emerged during the illness of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Contributing to the debate on the motion, Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, noted that the National As-

Ndoma-Egba

sembly had done well within the 15 years of democratic governance. He, however, lamented that the executive had neglected the nation’s apex parliament by not respecting its resolutions over the years.

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, on his part observed that the democracy had recorded tremendous achievements in 15 years, pointing out that a lot of infrastructural facilities had been put in place. He, however, frowned at the attitude of Nigerians towards the law, regretting that Nigerians were in the habit of violating the constitution and other laws of the land.

He said: “Nigerians don’t obey laws. All countries in the world that must move forward must obey God and also obey the law,” he stressed.

Senator Emmanuel Paulker said: “The worst form of democracy is better than any form of military dictatorship. Power is almost stabilising; industries will come back on stream as power is improved upon. So, democracy is the best government that should be practiced in human society.”

Senator Ahmed Lawan noted that

The relationship between the Executive and the Legislature deteriorated from 2011 till date.

It is not anything to write home about. Our resolutions are not respected. And Mr. President is ill-advised...

There is a complete breakdown of law and order. The current problem in the country is not ethnic or religious, it is a function of failure in governance

within these years of democratic rule, the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature had improved, but pointed out that the situation deteriorated again from the year 2011.

According to Lawan, “We have made some progress in the area of infrastructural development. The legislature has improved. We have graduated into better National Assembly; better legislators.

The relationship between the Executive and the Legislature has improved. Before, it was a fight; to the extent that we almost impeached President Olusegun Obasanjo if not for the intervention of Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

“But the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature deteriorated from 2011 till date. It is not anything to write home about. Our resolutions are not respected. And Mr. President is illadvised. We need to work together with the Executive to have a better working relationship. Nigerians need employment.

Enabling environment should be created for Nigerians to be employed. There is a complete breakdown of law and order.

The current problem in the country is not ethnic or religious, it is a function of failure in governance.”

In his views, Senator Smart Adeyemi said that democracy remained the best form of government irrespective of the prevailing security challenges in the country. He noted that the media and the late MKO Abiola should also be commended for the efforts they made towards the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. He said that every part of the country had benefited from the dividends of democracy.

Adeyemi, a journalist, further noted that insecurity, corruption and unemployment were the major vices plaguing the nation. He also called for the creation of more states and state police to be able to tackle the numerous problems in the country more effectively. Adeyemi stressed that a federation should not have a centralised police structure as is currently the case with Nigeria.

“We must salute the Nigerian media for their role in the enthronement of democracy. We must also salute MKO Abiola for the role he played in making democracy a reality. Moreover, there is no part of Nigeria that is not better than how it was before democracy came on board. We have made progress. But inseCONTINUED ON PAGE 44

42 POLITICS The advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999 ushered in three political parties.

WALE ELEGBEDE looks at the development of the parties and the challenge of internal democracy

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Fourth Republic: Political parties still developing

T

he complexity of Nigeria’s political climate is not in doubt, a simple probe and observation into its itinerary would gleefully produce a feeling of failed promises, vested interests and a winner takes all syndrome.

Since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, political parties have found themselves enmeshed in the same intricate circuit. As the most important base in the electoral process, the significance of political parties cannot be undermined as they are major organising principle of modern politics.

Between the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) which is the first political party in 1923 and the latest entry into the register of the electoral body, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 2014, surge of water have passed through the political sphere with several manners of political parties emerging with the common denominator of wrestling for power at all levels.

Political parties in the Fourth Republic At the return of democracy in 1999, the process of electioneering was initiated through the 1999 Constitution.

Against that backdrop, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave recognition to only three parties namely, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Peoples Party (APP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) for its first elections.

A peep into the historical mappings of these three parties that berth the new democratic dispensation after a tortuous military regime indicate that the composition of the parties were done in doubts as the sincerity of the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led administration was being tested. Thus, the parties were viewed as another vehicle of the military that no one knows where it will stop, hence, the emergence of fluid gathering of people to form the parties.

Late Justice Ephraim Akpata was the first chairman of INEC responsible for the 1998/1999 elections that re-introduced democracy in May 1999.

After the victory of the PDP in the local government elections in December 1998, the AD and APP decided to perfect plans for a merger, a process Akpata was critical of, saying that the two parties wanted to “derive the benefits of a merger without going through with one.”

In the February 27, 1999 presidential elections, the AD and APP fielded a joint candidate, Chief Olu Falae, who lost to the PDP candidate, General Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo gained 63 per cent of the votes.

Elections for the governorship were held in January 1999, with the PDP winning 19 out of 35 states, the APP winning nine states and the AD winning six states.

After the elections, a major move to expand the political frontiers commenced with the intense legal battle led by the late Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and Alhaji Balarabe Musa against INEC for more parties to come into the political turf.

The highly celebrated legal battle in 2002 succeeded in removing different obstacles to party registration, resulting in an unprecedented increase in the number of registered political parties.

By 2003, under the leadership of Dr. Abel Guobadia, INEC registered 25 new political parties, bringing the number of political parties that contested the 2003 elections to 28. Some of the parties include the National Conscience Party (NCP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Justice Party (JP), National Ac-

Umeh

Year 1999 2003 2007 2011 2014

Mua’zu

Number of Parties 3 28 54 63 30

tion Council (NAC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Democratic Alternative (DA), among others.

During the April 2003 elections the ruling PDP extended its grip on power at the federal and state levels of government especially in the South-West where it garnered five states from the AD, leaving only Lagos state.

With time, it became obvious that a good number of the parties registered for the 2003 elections can’t muster the energy to deliver from the highly tasking electoral process, a development that made most of them went into obscurity and could not rise to the challenge of running a political party that has a national outlook.

Some of the parties became alternative platforms to disgruntled politicians while others could be likened to pure family businesses with some business associates co-opted to give it a political face. Many of them were considered to only be interested in the collection of election grants from INEC. Again, few months to the 2007 elections, INEC under Maurice Iwu registered additional 17 political parties to contest the general elections.

Though election observers from the European Union described the elections as “the worst they had ever seen anywhere in the world,” with “rampant vote rigging, violence, theft of ballot boxes and intimidation,” the late Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP was declared the winner of the presidential poll.

As if the flood gate was just opening, Nigeria’s political space witnessed another unprecedented emergence of 63 registered political parties for the April 2011 elections. But not long after, INEC under Prof. Attahiru Jega came with a hammer through Section 78(6) of the 2010 Electoral Act, which provided INEC with the power to de-register any political parties that failed to win any executive and legislative seats in elections. So, the commission in August 2011,

I don’t think we practice democracy yet because the drivers of democracy are the political parties and since our parties are constituted in a shabby way, we can only live with it until there is change de-registered seven parties and later conducted two more de-registration exercises thereby reducing the number of parties from 63 to 25.

One major development in the growth of party politics in the past three years was the merger of three opposition parties – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Challenges of internal democracy Speaking with New Telegraph, the National Chairman of the UPN, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, said the bane of political parties in the Fourth Republic is lack of internal democratic mechanism, adding that the absence of this process has led to the disconnection between political parties and the masses.

“Nigerian political system is devoid of ideological leanings and principles.

The sinner will always abuse the saint.

I think there is no basis to think that INEC has any fault in the development of party system. I don’t think we practice democracy yet because the drivers of democracy are the political parties and since our parties are constituted in a shabby way, we can only live with it until there is change.”

Already, some of the identified challenges of internal democracy emanate from absence of party ideology, nomination of candidates for elections, zoning formula, funding of parties and indiscipline among others.

While many are still contesting whether there is a behavioural difference between political parties in the Fourth Republic and that of earlier republics, some other people averred that the fundamental difference lies in the

Akande

operating pattern which includes the political environment, disposition to service delivery among others.

For Chief Chekwas Okorie, national chairman of the United Peoples Party (UPP), the action and inaction of political parties in this dispensation should be placed at the doorstep of INEC, who he alleged has been working to stifle and undermine the political process to suit the PDP. Clearly, there are certain inexorable truths about the Fourth Republic political parties. First, most of the parties to a satisfactory degree are not properly organised. Their pattern and attitude to organisational effectiveness appears pedestal and to say the least, they are somewhat reactionary at the expense of propelling feasible programmes for the populace. For example, the swift tendencies of floating parallel executive committees when the beat is not going the way of particular groups is so rampant among parties, not even the PDP could wash itself off this mud.

Although the era of godfatherism that was the face of early session of the Fourth Republic is gradually fading away, the problem of conflicting court orders and injunctions have been severally abused by politicians and this has ripped apart so many parties and their candidates.

For example, the ongoing crisis in the All Progressives Group Alliance (APGA), has made the party to relocate its secretariat to the court room in what may turn out to be the longest legal battle within a political party.

Also, absence of basic rules, adherence to party’s constitution, fraudulent or absence of authentic membership registers, unrecognised financial practices and accountability, irregular process of selecting candidates, manipulation of congresses, non-existence of party ideology and modus operandi, are some of the rabies eating up political parties in the Fourth Republic.

Considering the gamut of challenges that daily betide political parties in Nigeria, it would only take a proper shape-up from the populace, the INEC and the civil society before political groups can start putting up co-ordinated conduct, thereby engineering stability in the development of democracy in the country.

As at today, only few parties are dominant: PDP, APC, LP, APGA and Accord.

Majority of the existing parties only exist in names.

POLITICS 43

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

government to take adequate and full financial responsibility of their burial.

The law further provides payment of a condolence allowance in a sum equivalent to the annual basic salary of the incumbent to his next of kin in addition to providing the sum of N12 million as medical allowance per annum to the surviving spouse provided that such a person was married to the governor at the time he or she was in office and if the wife had served the state as first lady, while N6 million was approved for the wife of the deputy governor who was in office and has served the state as wife of the deputy governor.

Opposition from lawmakers But before the bill was passed, it met stiff opposition from nine lawmakers led by Hon. Bassey Etinam representing Orueffong/Oruko state constituency and Onofiok luke representing Nsit Ubium state constituency.

Etienam, who opposed the bill drew members’ attention to poor economy, lack of employment for many graduates and lack of any functional industry in the state while huge funds are being approved for persons who have had the opportunity to supervise the distribution of state resources as governors and deputy governors.

Other lawmakers, who opposed the bill, were of the opinion that such huge resources allocated to former political officers could as well improve the plight of commoners whose economic fortunes appears to be dwindling daily and wondered what could become of the state and its people in the absence of crude oil and with the emergence of more former governors and deputies.

Labour’s protest The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Akwa Ibom State council on getting wind of the bill which was only submitted on Friday May 23 to the state Assembly and passed on Monday May 26, mobilized thousands of workers to disrupt the Assembly’s proceeding. But the Speaker of the House, Ikon; his deputy, Udo Kerien Akpan and the Chairman, House Committee on Labour, Ayang Ayang stormed the secretariat of the NLC to appease the aggrieved workers.

Reacting to the development, the state NLC chairman, Uyime Usoro, stated that: “Section 210(3) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria provides that pensions shall be reviewed every five years or together with any state civil service salary reviews, whichever is earlier. It is on record that salaries of public service workers have been reviewed in 2005(12.5 per cent), 2007 (15 per cent) and 2012 (current minimum wage) and no proportional increases have been made to increase pensions as the constitution demands.

“Our position is that if they must give themselves these jumbo pensions for serving the state for few years, they should first of all ensure that the pittance accruable to those who spent all their productive years in the service of the state should be harmonised and paid in arrears.

“Primary school teachers and local government retirees who have not been paid pensions and gratuities since, in some cases, 2009 should be paid. After they can decree any amount of money for themselves.

“The rush by the House to sit uncommonly on Monday to pass the bill is to pave the way for another bill to provide the same jumbo package to House of Assembly members and other political office holders as pensions for life and severance benefits. Also note that the protest is purely a labour matter and should be seen as such,” he said.

Speaking further Usoroh said the bill was discriminatory and political aimed at excluding some deputy governors from benefitting from it.

The NLC state chairman said if anybody had served the state at the level of

Trouble over pension jumbo pay

Akpabio

It’s a laughable situation that people generate controversy over the pension law. The law has been in existence in Akwa Ibom State…All the former elected governors and their deputies have been enjoying the pension –Governor Godswill Akpabio a governor and deputy and you want to compensate them it should be for everybody except someone was impeached since impeachment is like dismissal.

He said the union believed that it was political to say that someone who served only three months in office and his tenure was terminated by the military would be a beneficiary while someone who had served for two and half years and then resigned would not benefit from the pension.

“We still maintain that some provisions of the law, especially, the section that has to do with conditions to benefit from the scheme is not fair to those exempted as the public is aware of the politically induced circumstances that led to the resignations of affected former deputy governors,” Usoro said.

Etok kicks The senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, Senator Aloysius Etok described the law as “ugly, bitter, and exploitative, against the state and its people.”

Etok who is the chairman, Senate Committee on Pensions and Establishments, condemned the law noting that a former governor would be entitled to more than N2 billion in a year and wondered where the state will get such fund for an individual when other pressing needs affecting the state are piling up.

The two-term senator also expressed surprise that the present administration led by Akpabio that could not implement the 2006 former Governor’s Pension Law for the ex-governors now sent “jumbo pension proposal” to the state House of Assembly for speedy passage into law.

He said: “Having read through the contents of the proposed bill, I completely disagree with it. In fact, I condemn the proposal in its entirety because the entire resources of the state would be captured for the benefit of very few people at the expense of the development of the state.

“From what I was trying to calculate, I realised that one former governor would be earning more than N2 billion

Ikon

Attah

The essence is to encourage them to face their jobs and knowing that even if they cannot build a house of their own, the state has already made a law to provide a house for them. And so they wouldn’t be bothered about accumulating personal wealth –Speaker Sam Ikon a year and the state cannot afford that.

What of when the state now have about four to five former governors, where will we get funds to handle such jumbo pension? Therefore, it is a law made in completely bad faith.

“My advice to the state House of Assembly is to immediately reverse the law. There is nothing wrong with the 2006 Governor’s Pension Act, which the governor in person has not been able to implement for the former governors.

What about when you have jumbo allotment of resources to them? I have already urged the people to disregard that and that everybody should be calm because I am certain if members of the State House of Assembly are doing the bidding of the people, they will never touch that kind of proposal, not to talk of passing it into law.”

Speaker on the defensive Against the backdrop of the tension generated by the law, the Speaker, Ikon, explained that there was no external influence on the lawmakers’ decision to pass the “Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Bill 2014” into law, since it was in the interest of the people of the state.

Speaking with newsmen at the Assembly complex shortly after the passage of the bill, Ikon said as long as Akpabio remains a governor, he was not entitled to benefits from the law, maintaining that it was only an amendment of three clauses of the existing 2006 Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law. He condemned what he termed the politicisation of the new law by a section of the media and pointed out that the law is “just a third version of the second amendment to a law that had already existed.”

He explained that it was the responsibility of every state government to cater for the welfare of elected former governors and deputy governors after

Why don’t you people ask him how much the state has paid to its past leaders? Why don’t you people ask him how much he has been paying to Obong Attah and others –Victor Attah they had served the state selflessly and meritoriously, maintaining that there was nothing particular about the law passed by the House of Assembly to that effect since same was applicable in other states of the federation.

“The essence is to encourage them to face their jobs and knowing that even if they cannot build a house of their own, the state has already made a law to provide a house for them. And so they wouldn’t be bothered about accumulating personal wealth,” he explained.

The Speaker observed that the law has to equally accommodate medical bills for former first ladies because it will be absurd to see them going cap in hand begging for monies for medical treatment after occupying high profile office.

Ikon, who expressed disappointment over the negative publicity accorded the bill, advised political opponents to desist from such self-destructive mission as the speedy passage of the bill is for the benefit of the generality of Akwa Ibom people.

He also explained that the law made provisions for former governors of the old Cross River State who hail from Akwa Ibom State, because there was no law in present Cross River State that made provisions for them.

He said that it was unfortunate that the media went viral on the passage of the pension bill, whereas several bills by the Assembly such as the Widows’ Right Act, Pension Law for all Public Servants in the state as well as the HIV/ AIDS Control Agency were enacted by the House of Assembly with little or no publicity by the media.

Also speaking on the law, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniekan Umanah, made it clear that setting a maximum limit of N100 million per year provision on medical expenses for former governors and N30 million for former deputy governors did not mean that such an amount is granted yearly as given, but rather it meant that the total amount to be expended on the medical bill of a former governor or deputy is now limited by the law.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

44 POLITICS CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

curity and unemployment are the most critical challenges facing us as a nation.

Corruption pervades every facet of the system.

“Corruption is in the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary. It is improper to see corruption from the perspective of one arm or level of government. The time to restructure this country is now.

We must restructure our country as a true federal system. Nigeria was a federation before the colonial masters came.

There is need to create more states. We need more states in order to be able to govern ourselves; create employment.

We should review the system in the way we are administering our affairs.

“We need to tackle state governors who are misplacing priority. Why should a governor be requesting for social benefits after office for serving his people?

Is that the kind of service Nigerians deserve from us? These excesses must be curtailed.

Senator Bagudu Atiku Abubakar on his part commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for doing a good job to stabilise democracy in the past elections. “We must reduce our consumption and tackle insecurity to make our democracy work,” he said.

Senator Ayogu Eze noted: “Nigerians are the greatest enemies of what should come to us. A country that will make progress is a country that is proud of itself. But everyday, we open the pages of newspapers, we abuse the President, abuse everybody. We should have faith and pride in what we do as a nation. Nigerians denigrate our soldiers in the North East. The country will never break up; we must work together to build it”.

Senator Kabiru Gaya said: “We are making progress; but the corruption level was not as high as it is now. The issue of security is now beyond the North

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Democracy at 15: Echoes from the Senate

Adeyemi

Ekweremadu

East, North West and North Central. Corruption creates more problems in the system. When we invite somebody to come and answer questions on corruption allegations, the person refuses to come and nothing happens to him.”

On his own, Senator Adegbenga Kaka noted: “Democracy has come to stay, but we have killed dignity in labour. That is why we have unemployment. In Nigeria, a work made for an engineer is given to a carpenter. People don’t want to work but they want to have good things of life.

Look at the on-going national conference, it is dominated by people above 70 years, instead of the young people. Democracy does not allow corruption, whereas favouritism and nepotism direct the way we do things. We must change from all

these in order to move forward.”

In his concluding statement on the motion, the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark pointed out that freedom of speech was the greatest gain of this democracy.

Mark said: “What we have gained most in the current dispensation in the last 15 years is the freedom for us to speak freely. Today, we can discuss our problems; and if we can identify and discuss the problem half of the problem is solved.

Sixteen, 17 years ago there was no way in which anybody here, no matter who you are, would have gotten up to criticize the government. One or two persons who did it had to run away for their lives. But today, all of us here can get up and criticize the government, say what our problems

Akwa Ibom: Controversy trails jumbo pension pay CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 3

“Even though we wish our former leaders to be sound in health, the money approved is the maximum approval that can be approved in a given year, and is not just given probono, but only after verifiable due medical processes,” Umanah said.

On the issue of provision for a spouse in the event of the death of a former governor, Umanah said it was not in the good image of the state for a former governor’s wife to struggle for survival after the death of her husband.

He said: “For God’s sake, where has our society dumped its sense of gratitude to leaders who toiled day and night for the state, that people would wish that former governors and their families should be neglected and allowed to suffer.”

Akpabio speaks However, Governor Akpabio, described as laughable, the criticisms that have trailed the new law that would enable him earn over N200 million as pension annually.

He said: “It’s a laughable situation that people generate controversy over the Pension Law. The law has been in existence in Akwa Ibom State. I am the one implementing it.

“I know what I am talking about and because I wear the shoe, I know where it pinches. All the former elected governors and their deputies have been enjoying the pension. The pension was first established in 2000 and was further amended with certain provisions added in 2006.”

While explaining the general principles of the new law, he said: “It’s really not a retroactive law, neither is it a new law. It is an existing law that went through amendment.”

He noted that the old law was openended in terms of benefits payable to past governors, deputies and their

Our position is that if they must give themselves these jumbo pensions for serving the state for a few years, they should first of all ensure that the pittance accruable to those who spent all their productive years… should be harmonised and paid in arrears –NLC state chairman, Uyime Usoro spouses.

His words: “We had a situation where bills from former deputies and their spouses worth N29 million were brought from several hospitals they claimed they went for treatment abroad.

“Because the bill did not specify whether the hospital should be in Nigeria or not, most of what I have seen in the past seven years has been bills from hospitals abroad.”

In the course of implementing the existing law, Akpabio said some former governors and their deputies have brought bills ranging from $50,000, $70,000, and sometimes $112,000.

He argued that it was against decorum to question the medical bills of past leaders on grounds that they are high.

He mentioned an instance where a former leader requested for funds to hire a aircraft to take his spouse for treatment abroad.

Earlier, while signing the bill into law penultimate Wednesday, Akpabio

Umana

explained that the reason behind the passage of the amended Pension Law of Akwa Ibom State which had been in existence since year 2000, was meant to block loopholes and check abuses of the open-ended privileges extended to former chief executives and their deputies.

According to him, “The Nigerian constitution empowers the state Houses of Assembly to make laws for the well-being of its people, so we have today made the Pension Law for former governors and their deputies.

This law was made in the year 2000 and was amended in 2006 and is now being amended in 2014.”

He added that “the new law states that all staff of the former governors should not earn more than N5 million annually and staff of former deputy governors should not earn more than N2 million annually.”

With this development, Akpabio noted that “no former governor can spend more than N100 million in a year for medical expenses and no former deputy governor can spend more than N50 million for medical expenses, because such extra money would not be spent by the

are. So, that, to me is the greatest gain of the current democratic dispensation.

“And all of you have spoken like genuine, patriotic statesmen and women, because the issues that you have raised are very germane to our current democratic dispensation. What we want is a government for the people and by the people.

We want a government where everybody would be a participant, a government that would look after the welfare of the people. And gradually we are beginning to get that. We are not where we want to be yet. Certainly not! But there is no doubt in anybody’s mind that we know what we ought to do; it is how to begin to do it properly. I think that is the issue.

Whether it is the rule of law or healthcare delivery system or infrastructure or security.

“The issue is, we can identify the problem. Now that we have identified the problems, we should concentrate on the ways that we can go about solving these problems. My personal advice would be that we must ensure that there is a credible election so that any government that is elected has the mandate of the people.

So, we must work hard to ensure that we have credible election. And whoever is elected then has the mandate and he can work with the people and for the people.”

From the opinions of the senators, it was evident that democracy has yielded positive results in Nigeria in the past 15 years. Just like other nations that had a chequered history of political development, with long period of military rule, there are challenges to be tackled ahead.

To achieve this fast, however, it requires the cooperation and collaboration of the three arms of government and the citizenry. With this, Nigeria can easily overcome its various challenges and move ahead. state government, because we are making sure that we cover all the loopholes of financial wastages.

“For the widows of former governors, they would receive a minimum of N1 million monthly for medical expenses and N500,000 for the widows of former deputy governors.”

The governor noted that the monies so appropriated would only be spent when any of the beneficiaries were admitted or being treated in any hospital, adding that, if at the end of the year, no one visited the hospital, the money would be returned to the treasury.

Attah fires back Former governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah, also condemned the new pension law. He challenged Akpabio to disclose how much he has paid past leaders in the state.

He said: “If Godswill Akpabio says he conceived the new law to put a ceiling to the expenses made on previous leaders of the state, somebody should have had the guts to ask him how much he has been paying to the past leaders.

“You journalists are afraid of Akpabio and that is why you have always shied away from asking some pertinent questions.

“Why don’t you people ask him how much the state has paid to its past leaders? Why don’t you people ask him how much has been paying to Obong Attah and others?

“You journalists should go and look at the law critically and ask him whether Obong Attah has been enjoying any of the benefits provided for in the law.

“You should also ask him whether he built a retirement home for me either in Uyo or Abuja. Ask him to tell you how much he has been paying to Obong Attah as retirement package after I left office.

“These are questions Akpabio should answer and should provide verifiable records to Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians. I want to enjoy my retirement in peace.”

METRO 45

of Truth

June 4, 2014

odes-

ctors

how to murder the businessman. nko said that after receiving the intion about the hired assassins, he diately drafted his men to the night o cordon off the area. e Adebayo Orekoya was said to have the suspects N140,000 to kill his boriend, one Ade Victor, for allegedly ng with his wife. also promised to pay the assassins 000 after killing the man. ekoya, according to Manko, is still ge. e commissioner said the suspects soon be charged to court after inations were concluded.

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LASU students’ protest over hike in fees grounds Lagos

Aliyu mourns, as 11 die in boat mishap

Mojeed Alabi

Minna

M

any residents of Lagos, most especially commuters, had a hectic time moving through major routes yesterday, particularly the Egbeda, Ikeja, Oshodi roads.

The students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, blocked the roads for several hours to protest the increased fees by the university management.

The students, who had moved from the institution’s main campus at Ojo, had started what they described as a total paralysis of activities in Lagos State at the popular Egbeda bus terminus, where all routes were blocked, leaving commercial motor transport operators and their passengers stranded.

The protesters moved from there to the Iyana-Ipaja-Oshodi Road where they reportedly forced many pedestrians and motorists to join the protest.

This led to confrontation between the students and the residents.

The students were also said to have overpowered policemen, who had trailed them from Egbeda axis.

They said the protests would not stop until Governor Babatunde Fashola was forced to reverse the new fees to N46,500

We need school, roads, hospital, community tells Amosun Muritala Ayinla

T

he residents of Abule Ojo Elepo Akan in Obafemi Owode Egba Local Government Area of Ogun State have called on Governor Ibikunle Amosun to provide basic amenities in the community to raise the people’s standard of living.

They also appealed to the governor to extend construction of roads to the community to fast track development in their area.

Speaking with NT Metro, the Baale of the community, Chief Nojimudeen Jolaade, who made the appeal, also bemoaned the plight of the residents, urging the government to immediately provide those amenities to better the lot of the people.

Jolaade said the community had no health centres to cater for the health needs of the residents, adding that the community had been left out in the on-going development and infrastructural renewal in the state.

He said: “Governor Ibikunle Amosun is trying. We all love him for bringing dividends of democracy to the larger num-

ber of residents in Ogun State through opening of roads in some parts of the state hitherto known as remote areas. But we want him to include our community in the many projects he is currently doing.

Chief Jolaade

Dan Atori

N

iger State Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has condoled with the emirate and the people of Borgu Local Government Area over Monday’s tragic death of 11 persons in a boat mishap in the area.

The governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel Ebije, that the incident happened at Garafini Kodo area of Borgu, adding that seven other passengers were rescued.

Aliyu described the incident as Gridlock as a result of the protest at Ikeja Along, on Agege Motor Road, Lagos. unfortunate, pledging that govern

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI ment would investigate the cause and N63,500, per student. our commonwealth attend- of the disaster and continue to The Students’ Union Presi- ing world class universities work towards checking rising cases of boat mishaps within dent, Nurudeen Yusuff, said all over the globe.”

The students had free day communities in coastal areas of they were deter mined to force the governor to listen until they got to the Nigerian the state. to them.

Army Shopping Arena, OsHe said: “This is no doubt a He said: “We will make La- hodi, where a team of anti- dark moment for us here in Nigos State ungovernable for riot police squad confronted ger State. These were people who were hale and hearty and in good Fashola except and until he them. listens to our cries because The students, motorists, health condition pursuing differwe cannot continue to fold pedestrians and traders at ent legitimate courses until they our ar ms when our only the popular Oshodi markets met their untimely deaths. weapon of liberation, that scampered for safety as the “I see this as a personal loss not just in my capacity as a governor, is, education is being taken police shot sporadically. away from us, and their chilThe police also arrested but first as a human being who atdren continue to live fat on many of the protesters. taches much premium to human life and dignity.”

Robbers raid Benue College Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

A

rmed men believed to be robbers yesterday raided the College of Advanced and Professional Studies (CAPS), Benue State, and attacked the students.

This came barely two weeks after gunmen robbed and raped female students of the Benue State University, Makurdi.

In yesterday’s attack, about six gunmen invaded the institution about 4:30am and forced their way into the female hos-

tels while the girls were sleeping, apparently to rape them.

It was gathered that the gunmen had on arrival at the college, tied and blindfolded the unarmed security men before carrying out the operation.

However, upon hearing the noise of banging on the doors, the students raised the alarm which attracted the attention of their mates in other blocks, who joined them in shouting.

This forced the invaders to take to their heels.

But before they fled, the robbers had snatched valuable

items such as handsets, iPads, laptops, etc.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Daniel Ezeala, said no report of such incident had reached him at press time.

But the Sole Administrator of the CAPS, Dr Tyotom Keghku, confirmed the attack to journalists.

He, however, said two female students, who were injured in the attack, were rushed to a private hospital in Makurdi for treatment, adding that they were discharged later.

Ogbunike Cave road to gulp N2bn

Onah Onah

G

overnor Willie Obiano of Ananbra State has awarded the contract for the construction of the road leading to Ogbunike Cave to make it one of the most beautiful tourist centres in the west African-sub region.

The contract is worth N2 billion naira.

The government has also set

the ball rolling for the transformation of the cave into a world class tourist attraction centre with feasibility study underway.

Obiano disclosed this at a Thanksgiving Mass organised

by Ogbunike Catholic Community in honour of the governor and his wife, Ebelechukwu, at Saint Vincent’s Catholic Church, Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area.

According to the governor, the government has already advertised for competent professionals to handle the feasibility study and explained that the tourist centre would have all the necessary facilities that would promote the cave and its environs as a tourist centre.

These facilities may include standard hotel and recreation centre.

Obiano disclosed that the contractor for the road project had been mobilised up to 30 per cent while the project would be launched within the next two weeks.

He said: “I believe that the roads when completed will open up the Ogbunike community and create both business and income generation opportunities for the youths in the area.”

46 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

3-Jun-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

Description 9.20 29-JUN-2014 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

29-Jun-07 28-Sep-07 23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10

9.20 9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

45.00 100.00 535.00 470.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 110.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

29-Jun-14 28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

0.07 0.32 0.89 2.20 2.90 3.15 3.24 3.99 5.07 5.39 7.65 9.78 14.49 14.97 15.47 16.14

10.28 10.70 11.28 11.73 11.85 11.81 11.82 11.89 12.06 12.06 12.60 12.67 12.85 12.87 12.90 12.98

8.24 10.22 10.65 11.66 11.79 11.69 11.70 11.79 11.99 11.97 12.55 12.62 12.81 12.83 12.84 12.93

99.89 99.50 94.00 102.45 107.75 94.93 93.47 96.31 114.60 80.34 118.20 108.40 113.97 97.47 70.83 80.00

100.04 99.65 94.50 102.60 107.90 95.23 93.77 96.61 114.90 80.64 118.50 108.70 114.27 97.77 71.13 80.30

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,334.84 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

#

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.41 0.97 1.46 2.52 2.88 3.09

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 3.20 1.00

11.83 13.98 13.75 13.71 14.98 12.81

95.40 87.68 104.75 97.02 90.32 92.87

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.17 0.37 1.24 0.85 1.14 1.15 2.88 1.71 3.58 2.55 4.34 2.55 2.55 3.13 3.20 5.47 3.17 3.88 6.49 6.58 3.88 3.92

1.56 1.34 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 1.00 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

12.00 12.09 15.87 14.48 15.87 14.89 17.36 12.54 13.64 13.51 12.92 12.71 12.92 12.81 12.82 14.02 14.55 14.62 13.29 14.25 13.32 13.83

100.25 100.59 96.27 99.34 98.09 100.93 83.82 102.07 100.96 101.19 103.45 103.93 116.87 104.21 106.88 101.78 100.49 100.38 100.86 103.08 113.67 113.33

07-Oct-14 18-Dec-14 31-Dec-14 17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20

0.35 0.54 0.58 0.72 0.80 0.88 2.32 2.40 3.33 2.14 2.10 2.27 2.27 4.30 2.37 2.46 3.58 6.45

1.00 5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 4.52 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 1.00 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76

11.72 16.21 19.74 16.03 12.21 13.91 12.67 13.02 16.35 13.51 15.11 16.86 16.72 12.92 13.97 17.80 14.01 15.05

99.86 98.63 98.52 95.98 99.86 100.40 100.60 102.42 91.61 108.74 101.81 102.41 101.97 103.44 103.64 98.76 105.45 100.79

11-Feb-18

3.69

1.00

12.86

92.33

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

14.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00 5.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

572.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO GTB µ NGC *UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA# *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA NAHCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

07-Oct-11 18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10 17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13

11.50 13.50 17.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 17.00 16.00 15.25

11.80 13.17 2.00 15.00 37.50 1.50 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.94 8.01 3.63 1.00 35.00 3.00 0.54 4.50 2.05

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

180.17

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.79

4.64

111.03

111.96

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.18

3.95

103.52

104.39

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.21

5.09

108.39

109.27

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

Corporate Eurobonds AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.96

3.31

111.94

113.06

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.00

4.41

104.60

105.72

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.26

5.98

99.02

100.06

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.10

6.69

100.40

101.56

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.56

8.12

94.48

95.88

AFREN PLC

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.21

4.57

113.39

114.61

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.41

6.20

99.35

100.20

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

6.98

6.58

104.50

106.00

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.02

5.73

102.38

103.53

B-/S&P; B/Fitch B+/S&P; B+/Fitch B+/S&P B/S&P; B/Fitch B/Fitch B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 16 23 30 37 44 51 58

FIXINGS Maturity 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14

Bid Discount (%) 9.50 9.25 10.00 8.00 9.85 9.70 10.00

Offer Discount (%) 9.25 9.00 9.75 7.75 9.60 9.45 9.75

Bid Yield (%) 9.54 9.30 10.08 8.07 9.97 9.83 10.16

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.8750 12.2538 13.3543 14.1937

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.75

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

11.00

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

162.42 162.57 162.83 163.41 164.62

162.52 162.85 163.21 164.13 165.98

Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 10.50

A-/GCR NIGER A+/Agusto KADUNA A/Agusto *EBONYI Nil *BENUE A+/Agusto *IMO A+/Agusto; A+/GCR LAGOS A-/Agusto *BAYELSA A/Agusto EDO A+/Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA A-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER A/Agusto; A-/GCR† Wednesday, June 4, 2014*EKITI A-/Agusto *NIGER A/Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO A/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS A/Agusto; A-/GCR *OSUN A/Agusto *OSUN Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI A/Agusto *EKITI A-/GCR *NASARAWA Sanctity of Truth

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 EKITI IIthe 31-DEC-2020 to14.50 lower risk of building 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 collapse, is threatening profit

15-Oct-09 14.00 31-Aug-10 12.50 30-Sep-10 13.00 30-Jun-11 14.00 30-Jun-09 15.50 19-Apr-10 10.00 30-Jun-10 13.75 30-Dec-10 14.00 30-Sep-11 14.00 04-Oct-11 14.00 09-Dec-11 14.50 12-Dec-13 14.00 14-Feb-12 15.50 02-Oct-12 15.50 22-Nov-12 14.50 12-Dec-12 14.75 30-Sep-13 14.75 27-Nov-13 13.50 31-Dec-13 15.00 31-Dec-13 capacity and volume14.50 for the 42.5 06-Jan-14 15.00 grade cement, he said.

6.00 15-Oct-14 0.37 8.50 31-Aug-15 1.24 16.50 30-Sep-15 0.85 13.00 30-Jun-16 1.14 18.50 30-Jun-16 1.15 57.00 19-Apr-17 2.88 50.00 30-Jun-17 1.71 25.00 31-Dec-17 3.58 50.00 30-Sep-18 2.55 9.00 04-Oct-18 4.34 20.00 09-Dec-18 2.55 12.00 12-Dec-18 2.55 27.00 14-Feb-19 3.13 20.00 02-Oct-19 3.20 80.00 22-Nov-19 5.47 30.00 12-Dec-19 3.17 11.40 30-Sep-20 3.88 87.00 27-Nov-20(NSE). 6.49 Stock Exchange 5.00 The new 31-Dec-20 6.58line rules are in 5.00 31-Dec-20 3.88 with international standards 5.00 06-Jan-21 and will help to improve3.92 safety

1.34 12.09 100.59 4.44 15.87 96.27 3.23 14.48 99.34 4.46 15.87 98.09 3.48 14.89 100.93 5.59 17.36 83.82 1.00 12.54 102.07 1.79 13.64 100.96 1.80 13.51 101.19 1.00 12.92 103.45 1.00 12.71 103.93 1.21 12.92 116.87 1.00 12.81 104.21 1.00 12.82 106.88 1.94 14.02 101.78 2.74 14.55 100.49 2.74 14.62 100.38 1.00 100.86 richest man13.29 Aliko Dangote.

1.94Dangote14.25 103.08 shares fell 2.3 per 1.44 to N229.50 13.32 as of 11.30 113.67 a.m. cent 1.95Lagos, paring 13.83 113.33 in gains for the

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

47

Lafarge to list combined S’Africa, Nigeria units in Lagos Profit threatened by new cement rules MERGERS

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

The new company Lafarge Africa will be worth more A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO than $3 billion GTB Aa/Agusto Corporate Bonds

µ Nil NGC Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS Stories

by Chris Ugwu BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO afarge SA, will combine its A-/Agusto FSDH South Africa business with A/GCR UBA publicly traded*C &Nigerian BBB-/GCR I LEASING unit Lafarge Wapco, listing BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA# its AfricaBB-/GCR interests *TOWER together on # A-/DataPro†; the Lagos bourse, AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR Wapco's *TOWER# CEO said yesterday A/Agusto; A/GCR .

UBA The new company Lafarge Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA # Africa will be worth*CHELLARAMS more than BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR $3BBB/GCR billion, CEO Guillaume *DANA Roux A+/Agusto; said in aA-/GCR news conference.

LaNAHCO

L

farge holding company will TOTALthe OUTSTANDING VALUE own 73 per cent of it.

Supranational Bond These developments came AAA/S&Pafter it emerged hours IFC that the newly TOTAL introduced OUTSTANDING rules VALUE for the production and use of cement Rating/Agency

Issuer

margins at Lafarge.

The Standards Organisation of11.50 Nigeria (SON) told manufacLAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 turers of the building material 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 that 52.5 grade cement may 17.00only NGC 31-DEC-2014 be10.00 used to build bridges and 42.5 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 grade for columns, 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015slabs and molding of blocks, 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016Dangote Cement Plc said in an e-mailed 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 statement on Tuesday. The 32.5 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 grade will be limited to plaster13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 ing, Joseph Odumodu, 18.00it C&Isaid.

LEASING 30-NOV-2017 chief executive officer of SON, MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 didn’t immediately answer calls MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 orMPR+5.25 replyTOWER to text messages seek9-SEP-2018 ing comment

by Reuters.

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERAproduces 18-OCT-2018 more of “Lafarge MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 the 32.5 grade and will need to in16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 cur additional cost for the higher 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 grades, resulting in lower margin,” Pabina Yinkere, head of research at Lagos-based Vetiva Capital Management Ltd., said 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 by phone yesterday. Dangote, Africa’s largest producer of the building material, controls Description

Lafarge, the world’s second- 572.90 in the building and construc- year to 4.8 per cent. Lafarge largest cement producer with tion industry, according to traded 0.6 per cent lower at 63.26 operations in 64 nations, is Dangote, controlled by Africa’s euros in Paris.

07-Oct-11 11.50 11.80 07-Oct-14 0.35 1.00 11.72 99.86 adding capacity in13.50 countries 13.17 18-Dec-09 18-Dec-14 0.54 5.21 16.21 98.63 such01-Apr-10 as Nigeria that need new 17.00 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.58 8.71 19.74 98.52 infrastructure to support a fast- 15.00 17-Aug-10 10.00 17-Aug-15 0.72 4.88 16.03 95.98 growing economy. Nigeria is the 37.50 he apex09-Dec-15 market regulator, AGM/EGM meetings 99.86 of public 09-Dec-10 12.00 0.80 1.00 12.21 most06-Jan-11 populous in Africa with Securities and Exchange companies and I therefore urge 14.00 1.50 06-Jan-16 0.88 2.63 13.91 100.40 about 170 million people. you allow yourselves to 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 Commission 29-Sep-16 (SEC) has 2.32 en1.00 not to 12.67 100.60 “The 32.5 grade14.25 of cement 5.53 joined shareholders of quoted be manipulative 25-Oct-13 25-Oct-16 2.40 1.34used as 13.02 102.42 tools has 30-Sep-10 never been proven companies30-Sep-17 in Nigeria to ensure by so that to13.00 by any 20.00 3.33 4.52public companies, 16.35 91.61 empirical to be the 0.94 that they always gether, we can 30-Nov-12 evidence 18.00 30-Nov-17 comply 2.14with 1.88 13.51 serve you 108.74better cause of building 16.00 collapse in 8.01 provisions09-Apr-18 of code of conducts in 09-Apr-11 2.10 3.48protecting 15.11your investment 101.81 Nigeria,” for shareholders in market.

09-Sep-11 Paris-based 18.00 Lafarge 3.63 09-Sep-18 association 2.27 is5.20the Nigeria 16.86 capital102.41 said09-Sep-11 in an e-mailed16.00 statement. 1.00 sued by the09-Sep-18 commission.2.27 succeed101.97 in ensur5.06“For us to 16.72 There are several 14.00 impending 35.00 The Director SEC, ing 22-Sep-11 22-Sep-18General, 4.30 1.00 effective 12.92corporate 103.44govercourt18-Oct-13 actions challenging SON’s 3.00 Ms. Aruma Oteh, who 2.37 stated nance in public the 15.75 18-Oct-18 2.29 13.97 companies, 103.64 claim, the company17.00 said. this yesterday regulators and 17-Feb-12 0.54 17-Feb-19in Lagos, 2.46at a 6.11 17.80 the shareholders 98.76 Lafarge regu- 4.50 shareholders workshop entitled have together105.45 to ensure 01-Apr-14 is also battling 16.00 01-Apr-19 3.58 2.16 to work 14.01 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.76 the right 15.05people are 100.79on the lators in Kenya, where it has 2.05 ‘AGM as a14-Nov-20 Platform for 6.45 Value that been accused of flouting domes- 180.17 Optimisation’ organized by the board of companies; maktic competition rules. Its Nige- Independent Shareholders As- ing sure they are doing their ria unit increased first-quarter sociation of Nigeria (ISAN) and job effectively, evaluating the 11-Feb-13 11-Feb-18 1.00 92.33 and profit by 33 per cent10.20 to N8.1 bil- 12.00 the PR Plus Consulting 3.69 Limit- outcome of12.86 the processes lion ($49.9 million), it said in an 12.00 ed, said some shareholders as- structures they put in place April 28 filing to the Nigerian sociations give the impression and proper structinisation of of collusion with boards of individuals before they are put Issue Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price some public companies. in important positions that Oteh, who was represented will have impact on shareholdPrices & Yields

by Deputy Director SEC, Mr. ers benefits. Asking the right 07-Oct-11 6.75 4.79 ob4.64 111.03 will change 111.96 as witness the progress the 500.00 Suleiman 28-Jan-21 Alhassan, said questions that the Exchange has made since it servations at AGMs show that negative perception of compa18-Dec-09 5.13 500.00 3.95 towards 103.52shareholders 104.39 began operations in 2013. companies12-Jul-18 are praised4.18 when nies is Also visited was Mr. Samactually their performances also very important,” she said.

01-Apr-10 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.21 108.39 5.09 109.27 Chairman PIELLE Consultuel Nwanze, a board mem- are poor. ber of the Exchange and 1,500.00She noted that shareholders’ ing Group and Life Vice PresiFinance Director of Heirs roles in ensuring the effective- dent, Nigeria-British Chamber Holdings, the proprietary ness of internal control systems of Commerce, Mr. Peter Walker, 01-Feb-11 11.50 owned 450.00 01-Feb-16 investment company of companies in which they said AGM as a113.06 platform 3.96 are 3.31 using111.94

by Tony part of ownership for optimisation 19-May-11O. Elumelu, 7.50 one of 500.00 19-May-16 were impor5.00 4.41 value 104.60 105.72 must the Exchange’s key6.00partners, 400.00 tant. draw on the lessons of history 08-Nov-13 08-Nov-18 6.26 5.98 99.02 100.06 as well as Mr. Christopher 2(e) of the7.10code and the three interdependent 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 “Section 25-Jul-17 6.69 100.40 101.56 Marks, former Global Head 300.00 requires that shareholders as- prerequisites for effectiveness 09-May-13 6.88 02-May-18 8.56 8.12 94.48 95.88 of Debt Capital, BNP sociation and their members and build on them as five pillars 08-Apr-12 10.25 Paribas 300.00 08-Apr-19 5.21 4.57 113.39 114.61 Bank (France). 6.25 should not22-Apr-19 be manipulated at for accountability . 100.20 22-Apr-14 500.00 6.41 6.20 99.35

Code of conduct: SEC tasks shareholders

T

Oteh lauds EAX’s support for farmers FGN Eurobonds

T

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P he Director

General of Nigerian Securities and BB-/Fitch; FGN Exchange Commission BB-/S&P (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh, has BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P commended East Africa ExTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE initiachange (EAX) for their tives to support smallholder Corporate Eurobonds farmers to reduce post-harvest losses their B-/S&P; B/Fitch and improve AFREN PLC I income.

GTBANK PLC I B+/S&P; B+/Fitch She also laudedGTBANK the progPLC ress they made in linking B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC commodity markets across B/S&P; B/Fitch FIDELITY BANK PLC the East African Community B/Fitch AFREN PLC area and promoting cross borB+/Fitch; BB-/S&P B/S&P; B-/Fitch

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6.75 JAN the 28, 2021 der trade across region.

According to a statement, 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 Oteh, who led a delegation of the Nigerian SEC to pay a vis6.38 JUL 12, 2023 it to the East Africa Exchange (EAX) during the 49th Annual African Development Bank (AfDB) meetings in Kigali, 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 Rwanda recently, stressed that Nigeria has ef7.50 MAY a 19,similar 2016 fort and the6.00 two can NOVcounties 08, 2018 share common experiences.

7.25 JUL 25, 2017 She called in 09, to2018 acquaint 6.88 MAY her group10.25with the ExAPR 08, 2019 change’s operations 6.25 APR 22, 2019as well 8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

8.25

FMDQ Daily Quotations List 6.63

300.00

07-Aug-20

6.98

6.58

104.50

106.00

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.02

5.73

102.38

103.53 3-Jun-14

3,460.00

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject **Treasury BillsOTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

FIXINGS Money Market to the FMDQ Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) 16 19-Jun-14 9.50 9.25 26-Jun-14 9.25 9.00 FGN Bonds23 30 3-Jul-14 10.00 9.75 37 10-Jul-14 8.00 7.75 Issuer Description Rating/Agency Issue Date 44 17-Jul-14 9.85 9.60 51 24-Jul-14 9.70 9.45 9.20 29-JUN-2014 29-Jun-07 58 31-Jul-14 10.00 9.75 9.25 28-SEP-2014 28-Sep-07 65 7-Aug-14 9.95 9.70 4.00 23-APR-2015 23-Apr-10 72 14-Aug-14 10.30 10.05 13.05 16-AUG-2016 16-Aug-13 79 21-Aug-14 10.20 9.95 15.10 27-APR-2017 27-Apr-12 86 28-Aug-14 10.35 10.10 9.85 27-JUL-2017 27-Jul-07 93 4-Sep-14 10.20 9.95 9.35 31-AUG-2017 31-Aug-07 100 11-Sep-14 10.80 10.55 10.70 30-MAY-2018 30-May-08 NA NA 107 18-Sep-14 10.80 10.55 16.00 29-JUN-2019 29-Jun-12 114 25-Sep-14 10.80 10.55 7.00 23-OCT-2019 23-Oct-09 128 9-Oct-14 10.50 10.25 16.39 27-JAN-2022 27-Jan-12 170 20-Nov-14 10.35 10.10 14.20 14-MAR-2024 14-Mar-14 184 4-Dec-14 10.40 10.15 15.00 28-NOV-2028 28-Nov-08 219 8-Jan-15 10.55 10.30 12.49 22-MAY-2029 22-May-09 233 22-Jan-15 10.70 10.45 8.50 20-NOV-2029 20-Nov-09 247 5-Feb-15 10.80 10.55 10.00 23-JUL-2030 23-Jul-10 261 10.75 10.50 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE19-Feb-15 275 5-Mar-15 10.55 10.30 310 9-Apr-15 10.40 10.15 324 23-Apr-15 10.60 10.35 Description Rating/Agency Issuer 338 7-May-15 10.50 10.25 *from the Amortising Agency Bonds #bonds, the average is Risk Premium is a life combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills NA

AMCON FMBN

***LCRM

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

KWARA NIGER Modified Duration KADUNA Buckets *EBONYI *BENUE <3 *IMO LAGOS 3<5 *BAYELSA >5 EDO Market *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS

Bonds

NIBOR

Tenor O/N Outstanding Value 1M (N'bn) 3M 6M 45.00

100.00 535.00 470.27 NITTY 452.80 Tenor 20.00 1M 100.00 2M 300.00 3M 351.30 6M 233.90 9M 600.00 12M 110.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 NIFEX 591.57

Current Price ($/N) 4,334.84 BID($/N) OFFER ($/N)

Coupon (%)

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

Rate (%) 10.8750 12.2538 Maturity Date 13.3543 14.1937 29-Jun-14 28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 Rate (%) 27-Jul-17 10.0829 31-Aug-17 10.1733 30-May-18 10.4932 29-Jun-19 10.9412 23-Oct-19 11.5399 27-Jan-22 11.7774 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.75

O/N TTM (Yrs)

REPO

Tenor 0.07 Call0.32 1M0.89 3M2.20 6M2.90

Tenor

11.00 Bid Yield (%) Rate (%) 10.28 10.50 10.70 12.09 11.28 13.06 11.73 13.64 11.85

Bid ($/N)

Spot Offer 7D Yield 14D (%) 1M 8.24 2M10.22 3M10.65 6M11.66 1Y 11.79

3.15 11.81 11.69 3.24 11.82 11.70 3.99 11.89 11.79 :Benchmarks 5.07 12.06 11.99 * :Amortising Bond 5.39 12.06 11.97 µ :Convertible Bond 7.65 12.60 12.55 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 9.78Management Corporation 12.67 12.62 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 14.49 12.85 12.81 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 14.97 12.87 12.83 IFC: International Finance Corporation 15.47 12.90 12.84 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables 16.14 12.98 Management 12.93

NOTE:

162.42 162.57 Bid Price 162.83 163.41 99.89 164.62 99.50 165.87 94.00 169.50 102.45 176.51 107.75

Offer ($/N) Price 162.52 162.85 Offer Price 163.21 164.13 100.04 165.9899.65 167.8594.50 173.72 102.60 186.61 107.90

94.93 95.23 93.47 93.77 96.31 96.61 NA :Not Applicable 114.60 114.90 # :Floating80.34 Rate Bond 80.64 ***: Deferred coupon bonds118.50 118.20 108.40 108.70 †: Bond rating expired 113.97 114.27 97.47 97.77 70.83 71.13 80.00 80.30

NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company NGC: Nigeria-German Company UBA: United Bank for Africa O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development Company # Risk WAPCO:West Africa Portland Company Avg.Cement Life/TTM Valuation Yield Indicative Issue Value (N'bn) Maturity Date Premium (Yrs) (%) Price (%) 162.4000 162.5000

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.41 0.97 1.46 2.52 2.88 3.09

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 3.20 1.00

11.83 13.98 13.75 13.71 14.98 12.81

95.40 87.68 104.75 97.02 90.32 92.87

12.00 12.09 INDEX15.87 14.48 15.87 14.89 1,091.28 17.36 1,086.75 12.54 1,077.10 13.64 1,080.17 13.51 12.92 12.71 12.92 12.81 12.82 14.02 14.55 14.62 13.29

100.25 100.59 YTD Return 96.27 (%) 99.34 98.09 100.93 9.1276 83.82 8.6747 102.07 7.7101 100.96 8.0174 101.19 103.45 103.93 116.87 104.21 106.88 101.78 100.49 100.38 100.86

1,304.32

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

Bid Yield (%) 9.54 9.30 10.08 8.07 Coupon (%) 9.97 9.83 9.20 10.16 9.25 10.13 4.00 10.51 13.05 10.43 15.10 10.61 9.85 10.47 9.35 11.13 10.70 11.15 16.00 11.18 7.00 10.90 16.39 10.87 14.20 10.98 15.00 11.26 12.49 11.48 8.50 11.65 10.00 11.65 11.46 11.41 11.70 Issue Date 11.63

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 969.68 923.07 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 1,111.79 19-APR-2017 951.30 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 592.49 701.57 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 2,673.97 2,575.94 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 Weighting by 31-Aug-10 Outstanding Vol 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 35.83 19-Apr-10 36.93 30-Jun-10 27.24 30-Dec-10 100.00 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13

14.00 14.00 Weighting by Mkt 12.50 Value 13.00 14.00 15.50 36.26 10.00 41.58 13.75 22.16 14.00 100.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50

17.00 6.00 8.50 Bucket Weighting 16.50 13.00 18.50 0.36 57.00 0.37 50.00 0.27 25.00 1.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 % Exposure_ 31-Aug-15 Mod_Duration 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 18.62 19-Apr-17 37.29 30-Jun-17 44.09 31-Dec-17 100.00 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20

0.17 0.37 1.24 Implied Yield 0.85 1.14 1.15 11.80 2.88 12.44 1.71 12.93 3.58 12.54 2.55 4.34 2.55 2.55 3.13 3.20 5.47 3.17 3.88 6.49

1.56 1.34 Implied 4.44 Portfolio Price 3.23 4.46 3.48 114.8958 5.59 128.3415 1.00 92.3297 1.79 113.7153 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 1.00 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00

48 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Non-oil export to drive Nigeria's economy, says FBN Capital

GRADUAL GROWTH Nigeria’s economy is expected to grow at 7 per cent in 2015 Stories by Godson Ikoro

marginally impacted on the economy.

The FBN Capital – a research and investment group expressed said this in their publication of the national outlook for the month of May 2014.

In their statement, titled

N

igeria’s non-oil export will continue to drive the growth of her Gross Domestic Products (GDP) at 7.1 per cent this year and 2015 even as the rebased economy

“New national accounts, old robust growth,” the group said: “We see Nigeria’s GDP growth at 7.1% this year on the back of the strong non-oil economy.

While Nigeria is not an island protected from global headwinds, we feel that a firm oil

Modern retail approaching take-off

D

evelopers of shopping malls have bought into the story of rising household consumption; urbanization and mobile money in Nigeria perhaps more than any other single investor group.

This was the conclusion of FBN Capital in one of its reports obtained by New Telegraph.

Lagos, according to the experts, currently boasts of two international quality malls but one planned extension and three new developments could add a further 85,000 square metres (sq m) in the next two years.

In Abuja two new malls covering 67,000 sq m could open over the same horizon.

Elsewhere the local media has reported five projects totaling 68,000 sq m across the south at various stages of development.

According to FBN Capital, the same drivers lie behind the acquisition of a life insurer in Ghana last December by Pru-

dential, the UK-based financial services group, and its study of opportunities in East Africa; and the purchase in April of Protea Group, the South African hotels and Leisure Company, by Marriott International of the US. There are many other examples.

The research group said an international management consultant has claimed that the rationale for developing malls and manufacturing consumer goods becomes compelling when incomes per head reach US$3,000.

This happens to be the result of the rebasing of Nigerian national accounts i.e. nominal GDP in 2013 of US$510billion with a most recent population figure of 170 million.

However, a leading investor in the Jabi Lake mall under construction in Abuja commissioned market research, which identified 68,000 households within its target area spending

at least US$150,000 per year on consumables.

The entry point for the foreign investor is more on the private equity side than via listed securities. They can, of course, buy, Shoprite and Pick n Pay in South Africa. However, quoted construction companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) should see good new business from a rapid growth in malls.

However, some analysts draw parallels with India, where modern retail space soared from 142,000 sq m in 2001 to 2.7m sq m five years later. India’s population is about seven times the size of Nigeria’s.

Nonetheless, FBN Capital said they expect a strong growth in the space in Nigeria because its incomes per head are far higher than India’s and because developers are not constrained by the opposition to multi-brand retailing which has traditionally marked Indian government policy

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

price will compensate for the loss of significant production to leakages. We see growth at 7.0% in 2015. The GDP rebasing had a marginal impact on growth rates.”

Furthermore, it said that the FGN’s transformation agenda is stuttering in the face of the strength of vested interests; arguing that progress is greater where those interests are weaker (such as agriculture and power), and slower where they are stronger (such as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the wealth fund).

FBN Capital said that after the election; however, it anticipates deregulation of the petrol price.

On the stability of the economy, the researchers said though the

new governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has resumed, its policies are unchanged.

“MPC’s tight stance over three years has delivered the objective of single-digit inflation. We see small token cuts in the policy rate but no softening on either the cash reserve requirement for banks or the use of administrative measures in defense of the exchange rate,” the experts said.

Consequently, the Federal Government’s bond yields have settled in a range of 12 per cent to 13 per cent.

The experts argued further that the next step is likely to be gently downwards; stressing that they are among the highest anywhere for local markets of comparable liquidity.

NSIA, GuarantCo partner on Nigeria's infrastructure

T

he Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and GuarantCo, a development finance fund with key objective of encouraging private sector involvement in the domestic financing of infrastructure projects have entered into an arrangement to explore the potential creation of a Nigerian Credit Enhancement Facility (NCEF).

A statement from the NSIA, said that the specific objective of this partnership was attracting the investment interest of a pool of capital for which safety was paramount such as the pension funds, insurance companies and Sovereign Wealth Funds.

The statement noted that the key barrier preventing these forms of capital from investing in infrastructure projects was the absence of an appropriate credit enhancement mechanism that bring infrastructure projects up to a credit quality that represents appropriate investments for their stakeholders.

To bridge this gap, GuarantCo has partnered with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority to explore the potential for establishing a Nigerian Credit Enhancement Facility that would provide credit enhancement for critical infrastructure projects by improving their credit ratings to investment grade. Consequently, such a vehicle could also potentially attract international capital.

The NSIA and GuarantCo partnership, according to the statement, was therefore, seen as a potential catalyst for unlocking long-term patient capital, typically required by infrastructure projects to be commercially successful.

It is expected to have positive effects on the Nigerian economy given the strong correlation between critical infrastructure and accelerated economic growth.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Uche Orji, Managing Director and CEO of the NSIA stated, “One of the statutory mandates of the NSIA is the enhancement of Nigeria’s in-

frastructure and in fulfilling this mandate we are desirous of establishing the necessary institutional frameworks and sustainable enablers that will attract long-term capital necessary for this purpose.

“We are excited about the potential role this partnership can play in revolutionising the extant model of infrastructure development in Nigeria; now and into the future.”

Mr. Chris Vermont, Head of GuarantCo at FMFM (Frontier Markets Fund Managers) also added, “GuarantCo shares NSIA’s vision for mobilising new sources of finance for infrastructure through creating a Nigerian Credit Enhancement Facility. We are proud to be partnering NSIA as they map out a prudent but ambitious pathway for Nigeria. We hope our experience of best practice across many markets can be combined with NSIA’s local expertise in the service of the country” NSIA was set up by an Act of the National Assembly (the NSIA Act) in 2011with the objective of promoting fiscal stability, building a savings base for future generations of Nigerians and enhancing the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure NSIA’s investments are made through three distinct funds: Stabilisation Fund, Future Generations Fund, and the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund.

GuarantCo is a company of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and is funded by four of its members the Department for International Development UK (DFID), the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (DGIS).

GuarantCo aims to encourage private sector involvement in the domestic financing of infrastructure projects and to promote local capital market development in low-income countries through the provision of local currency guarantees.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014 Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053

Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET 49

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at June 3, 2014

Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 13.05% FGN AUG 2016 Federal Totals

Symbol FG102016S1

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 103.35

1

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 107,279.32 107,279.32

100

107,279.32

100

1

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

107,279.32

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 2 56 16 74

Current Price 0.50 33.00 37.00

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 3.20

Daily Summary (Equities)

AGRICULTURE Totals

101

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 3,000 576,812 130,971 710,783

Value Traded 1,500.00 19,207,601.00 4,806,638.79 24,015,739.79

Quantity Traded 527,329 527,329

Value Traded 1,672,232.73 1,672,232.73

1,238,112

25,687,972.52

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY IT Services

ICT IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. IT Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. HOLT PLC. Published byJOHN The Nigerian Stock Exchange © TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 13 4 311 51 379

Current Price 1.40 1.15 4.00 61.83

Quantity Traded 317,857 1,237Page 32,758,592 7,379,264 40,456,950

Symbol COSTAIN

40,456,950

587,193,118.51

No. of Deals 17 17

Current Price 1.29

Quantity Traded 514,460 514,460

Value Traded 645,610.40 645,610.40

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 66.52

Quantity Traded 169,895 169,895

Value Traded 11,269,621.77 11,269,621.77

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 17.50

Quantity Traded 294,437 294,437

Value Traded 5,178,719.21 5,178,719.21

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 10.47

Quantity Traded 22,000 22,000

Value Traded 218,900.00 218,900.00

CONGLOMERATES Totals

379

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014 Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

UPDCREIT

2 2

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

68

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Symbol DUNLOP

1,000,792

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Value Traded 444,792.46 1 of 14 1,360.70 130,488,721.52 456,258,243.83 587,193,118.51

2

of

14

17,312,851.38

Quantity Traded 10,093 10,093

Value Traded 5,046.50 5,046.50

Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB

No. of Deals 57 14 4 197 272

Current Price 177.27 26.01 2.93 182.00

Quantity Traded 462,823 62,943 100,692 2,178,417 2,804,875

Value Traded 81,924,371.01 1,644,592.70 295,027.56 394,984,069.45 478,848,060.72

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 44 44

Current Price 90.00

Quantity Traded 653,923 653,923

Value Traded 58,858,135.27 58,858,135.27

Symbol No. of Deals DANGFLOUR 58 DANGSUGAR 96 FLOURMILL 105 HONYFLOUR 33 MANDRID 1 Daily Summary (Equities) NASCON 60 UTC 3

Current Price 8.00 9.69 77.50 3.93 5.35 13.00 0.54

Quantity Traded 377,916 2,688,533 2,737,734 299,458 425 1,271,906 13,842

Value Traded 3,017,345.71 25,890,801.85 212,244,911.39 1,176,901.15 2,163.25 16,480,799.60 7,514.68

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONSUMER GOODS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products Food Products Totals

Page

3

of

Symbol

No. of Deals 356

Current Price

Quantity Traded 7,389,814

Value Traded 258,820,437.63

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 64 52 116

Current Price 77.00 1,083.00

Quantity Traded 249,189 146,662 395,851

Value Traded 19,021,922.86 158,757,593.10 177,779,515.96

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 32 1 33

Current Price 4.20 1.58

Quantity Traded 362,207 497 362,704

Value Traded 1,525,836.40 750.47 1,526,586.87

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 55 73 128

Current Price 36.00 48.61

Quantity Traded 443,101 2,279,710 2,722,811

Value Traded 15,953,080.86 113,702,665.54 129,655,746.40

14,340,071

1,105,493,529.35

Quantity Traded 22,133,030 14,814,598 10,488,593 9,003,796

Value Traded 218,026,402.54 99,593,307.10 180,963,093.15 18,481,163.38

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

951

Daily Summary as ofSERVICES 03/06/2014 FINANCIAL Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053 Banking

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 179 DIAMONDBNK 115 ETI 165 FIDELITYBK 87 Daily Summary (Equities)

ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC

Current Price 9.86 6.82 17.20 2.07

Page

Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014 SKYE BANK PLC Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053 STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC.

Symbol GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN

No. of Deals 413 144 57 199 67

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 29.80 3.42 2.34 7.47 10.11

Quantity Traded 21,679,545 6,671,586 2,876,565 9,895,628 767,398

4

of

Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services

OANDO PLC Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053

14

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. Activity Summary on Board MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. EQTY

OIL AND GAS Published by The Nigerian Exchange © Petroleum and Stock Petroleum Products Distributors

TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

14

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014 Employment Solutions Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053

Value Traded 639,678,757.06 22,982,755.81 6,584,124.51 74,345,305.70 7,838,461.21

C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY IKEJA HOTEL PLC

Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals 7 34 297 1,764

Current Price 0.50 0.98 24.55

Quantity Traded 1,191,950 3,464,284 23,512,992 126,499,965

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST GUINEAINS INTENEGINS LASACO LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM OASISINS PRESTIGE REGALINS UNITYKAP WAPIC

No. of Deals 28 9 9 1 3 1 1 4 39 1 24 17 10 1 1 37 186

Current Price 0.82 1.05 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.46 0.50 0.84 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 0.76

Quantity Traded 2,346,590 644,430 2,612,667 500 160,130 3,910,343 9,287,100 153,873 5,595,487 864,800 3,336,072 Page 6,252,445 152,971 110,000 5,000 2,033,046 37,465,454

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Page

Value Traded 595,975.00 3,369,294.16 587,424,036.04 1,859,882,675.66 Value Traded 1,936,631.59 677,411.50 1,306,333.50 250.00 80,065.00 1,955,171.50 4,643,550.00 76,936.50 13,562,008.21 432,400.00 5 2,780,609.20 of 14 3,132,632.50 81,030.00 55,000.00 2,500.00 1,545,609.96 32,268,139.46

6

of

14

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals OMATEK Symbol

1 1

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 1.12

Quantity Traded 24,245 24,245

Value Traded 25,942.15 25,942.15

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol ABBEYBDS ASOSAVINGS

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1.35 0.50

Quantity Traded 500 3,165,000 3,165,500

Value Traded 645.00 1,582,500.00 1,583,145.00

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. SIM CAPITAL ALLIANCE VALUE FUND STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX SIMCAPVAL STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 66 53 707 114 6 1 29 86 1,062

Current Price 3.28 3.32 15.21 4.00 0.51 98.33 24.70 2.52

Quantity Traded 31,233,132 6,929,617 28,039,309 10,277,842 63,806 50 236,656 2,832,076 79,612,488

Value Traded 98,784,621.43 23,374,399.80 430,417,922.99 41,206,190.26 32,941.06 4,900.00 5,866,520.60 7,037,785.82 606,725,281.96

246,767,652

2,500,485,184.23

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Value Traded 35,400.00 35,400.00

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

3,019 Symbol EKOCORP

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.72

Page

7

of

Quantity Traded 160,228 183,422 12,639 732,650 1,091,220 5,000 57,050 2,242,209 2,252,209

4,514,985.28

Current Price 0.61

Quantity Traded 188,015 188,015

Value Traded 113,689.15 113,689.15

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol NCR

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 15.99

Quantity Traded 200 200

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 2 1 3

Current Price 0.50 2.21

Quantity Traded 5,126 100,000 105,126

9 Symbol No. of Deals ASHAKACEM 93 BERGER 21 CAP 34 CCNN 61 DANGCEM 34 DNMEYER 1 FIRSTALUM 3 IPWA 1 PAINTCOM 1 Daily Summary (Equities) PORTPAINT 3 WAPCO 64 316

Current Price 25.99 9.30 39.00 10.00 228.00 1.06 0.50 0.52 1.40 5.00 112.50

Value Traded 373,803.48 525,411.92 848,034.96 1,307,970.80 1,299,795.62 35,000.00 89,568.50 4,479,585.28

Page

8

Value Traded 3,040.00 3,040.00 of

294,341

340,792.15

Quantity Traded 3,306,866 114,233 189,520 1,026,247 400,862 4,600 48,008 7,811 14,614 97,000 203,020 5,412,781

Value Traded 85,501,638.74 1,011,622.76 7,427,242.25 10,319,637.97 91,399,942.80 5,106.00 24,004.00 4,061.72 21,482.58 504,400.00 22,773,715.55 218,992,854.37

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 1.94

Quantity Traded 228,103Page

Value Traded 9 424,451.18 of 14

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 2 6 8

Current Price 1.61 16.22

Quantity Traded 5,000 45,621 50,621

Value Traded 7,713.30 725,514.90 733,228.20

5,691,505

220,150,533.75

334

228,103

424,451.18

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,581,250 1,581,250

Value Traded 790,625.00 790,625.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 471 471

Current Price 21.98

Quantity Traded 13,329,149 13,329,149

Value Traded 292,475,472.07 292,475,472.07

No. of Deals 40 40 (Equities) 264 30 78

Current Price 48.41 3.50 257.01 125.00 44.16

Quantity Traded 162,896 1,097,945 1,514,251 360,067 338,685

Value Traded 7,974,158.91 3,891,418.32 385,898,359.14 45,118,767.98 15,032,530.91

Symbol TOTAL

No. of Deals 37 489

Current Price 173.00

Page Quantity Traded 92,867 3,566,711

10 of 14 Value Traded

16,054,870.71 473,970,105.97

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 47 47

Current Price 676.95

Quantity Traded 575,666 575,666

Value Traded 387,180,375.10 387,180,375.10

19,052,776

1,154,416,578.14

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA Daily Summary FO MOBIL MRS

1,013 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 1.04

Quantity Traded 293,611 293,611

Value Traded 306,330.44 306,330.44

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 5 6 11

Current Price 4.41 2.31

Quantity Traded 160,000 282,950 442,950

Value Traded 708,220.00 640,534.50 1,348,754.50

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 64,000 64,000

Value Traded 32,000.00 32,000.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals CAPHOTEL 1 IKEJAHOTEL 2

Current Price 4.55 0.90

Quantity Traded 10,000 21,000

Value Traded 43,300.00 18,280.00

Page

11

of

Symbol

No. of Deals 3

Current Price

Quantity Traded 31,000

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 3 4 6 13

Current Price 1.71 1.75 4.14

Quantity Traded 45,000 62,000 132,960 239,960

Value Traded 73,350.00 109,800.00 550,471.20 733,621.20

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.85

Quantity Traded 40,700 40,700

Value Traded 34,439.00 34,439.00

Symbol INTERLINK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.90

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 932.00 932.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE

No. of Deals 8 57 65

Current Price 2.37 4.75

Quantity Traded 148,017 1,777,603 1,925,620

Value Traded 350,769.89 8,466,968.85 8,817,738.74

Specialty Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014 INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053 Specialty Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Support and Logistics

SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

EQTY Board Totals

14

Value Traded 2,563.00 221,000.00 223,563.00

Symbol CUTIX

NAHCO Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals No. of Deals 23 23

SERVICES Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Current Price 2.33 2.84 68.00 1.78 1.21 7.36 1.57

69

OIL AND GAS Totals

Hotels/Lodging Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

No. of Deals 4 4

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

SERVICES

Daily Summary (Equities)

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. Healthcare Providers Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053 DN MEYER PLC. FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Building Materials Totals

Published byHotels/Lodging The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG)©PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange OASIS INSURANCE PLC Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053 REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products Published byCUTIX The Nigerian PLC. Stock Exchange ©

Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Symbol COURTVILLE

ICT Totals

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Food as Products Daily Summary of 03/06/2014 DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC.

No. of Deals 7 10 10 18 19 1 3 68

Daily Summary as of Totals 03/06/2014 HEALTHCARE Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Totals Daily Summary asProduction of 03/06/2014

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN PHARMDEKO

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price Current Price 4.89

Quantity Traded Page Quantity Traded 287,941 287,941

Value Traded 61,580.00

14

Value Traded 12 of 14 Value Traded 1,409,306.49 1,409,306.49

147

3,326,982

12,745,202.37

6,090

334,421,390

5,628,340,747.68

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 1,280.00 1,280.00

Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals Daily Summary as of 03/06/2014 CONSUMER GOODS Totals Printed 03/06/2014 15:49:53.053

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 1 1

ASeM Board Totals Equity Activity Totals

Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

14

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

Current Price 1.34

1

1,000

1,280.00

1

1,000

1,280.00

334,422,390

5,628,342,027.68

6,091 No. of Deals 1 5 6

Current Price 1,958.00 19.11

Quantity Traded 50 250,210 250,260 Page

Value Traded 97,900.00 4,781,513.10 134,879,413.10 of 14

ETF Board Totals

6

250,260

4,879,413.10

ETP Activity Totals

6

250,260

4,879,413.10

50 WORLD | NEWS

S

yrians voted yesterday in an election expected to deliver an overwhelming victory for President Bashar al-Assad, but which his opponents have dismissed as a charade in the midst of Syria’s devastating civil war.

Rebel fighters, the political opposition in exile, Western powers and Gulf Arabs say no credible vote can be held in a country where swathes of territory are outside state control and millions have been displaced by conflict.

State television showed long queues of people waiting to vote at polling stations in areas under state control, as well as crowds waving flags and portraits of the president.

For many Syrians, politics took second place to the overriding yearning for stability after three years of war which have killed more than 160,000

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Syrians vote in wartime election set to extend Assad’s rule people. “We hope for security and stability,” said Hussam alDin al Aws, an Arabic teacher who was the first person to vote at a polling station at a Damascus secondary school.

Asked who would win, he responded: “God willing, President Bashar al-Assad.”

Islamist insurgents battling to overthrow the 48-year-old president, who has ruled Syria since succeeding his father 14 years ago, dismissed the vote as “illegitimate”.

But the Islamic Front pledged not to target polling stations “because we decided not to involve civilians in the conflict”.

It urged other rebels to do the same. Damascus residents said

mortar shells struck residential areas in the capital on Tuesday, most likely fired from rebel suburbs. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Assad is running against two relatively unknown challengers who were approved by a parliament packed with his supporters, the first time in half a century that Syrians have been offered a choice of candidates. But neither of Assad’s rivals, former minister Hassan al-Nouri or parliamentarian Maher Hajjar, enjoys much support.

“It’s a tragic farce,” French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. “The Syrians in a zone controlled by the Syrian government have a choice of Bashar

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asma cast their votes in the country’s presidential elections at a polling station in Damascus

Qatar allowing freed Taliban men to move freely in country

Q

atar has moved five Afghan Taliban prisoners freed in exchange for a U.S. soldier to a residential compound and will let them move freely in the country, a senior Gulf official said yesterday, a step likely to be scrutinized by Washington.

U.S. officials have referred to the release of the Islamist militants as a transfer and said they would be subject to certain restrictions in Qatar. One of the officials said that would include a minimum one-year ban on them traveling outside of Qatar as well as monitoring of their activities.

“All five men received medical checks and they now live with their families in an accommodation facility in Doha,” the Gulf source, who declined to be identi-

fied, told Reuters. “They can move around freely within the country.”

Following the deal under which freed the last American soldier held in Afghanistan was freed, concerns have been expressed by some U.S. intelligence officials and congressional advisers over the role of the Gulf Arab state as a bridge between Washington and the world of radical Islam. The Gulf official said the Taliban men, who have been granted Qatari residency permits, will not be treated like prisoners while in Doha and no U.S. officials will be involved in monitoring their movement while in the country.

“Under the deal, they have to stay in Qatar for a year and then they will be allowed to travel outside the country. They can go back to Afghanistan if they want to,” the

official said. The five, who had been held at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba since 2002, arrived in Qatar on Sunday where U.S. security personnelhandedthemovertoQatari authorities in the Al Udeid area west of Doha, site of a U.S. military base.

U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl had been held for nearly five years by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan and his release followed years of onoff negotiations.

A diplomatic source said Qatar has flown in family members of the five released Taliban men and gave them accommodation paid for by the government. On Sunday, Qatari Foreign Minister, Khaled al-Attiyah told a news conference that Doha got involved in the case because it was a “humanitarian cause”. He did not elaborate.

or Bashar. This man has been described by the U.N. Secretary General as a criminal,” he told France 2 television. But for many Syrians exhausted by war, particularly the minority Alawite, Christian and Druze communities, the Alawite president offers a bulwark against radical Sunni Muslim insurgents and the promise - however remote - of some form of

stability.

At the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, thousands of people stood in the sun in a tightly packed queue to vote at a polling station set up for Syrians inside Lebanon - despite warnings from the government in Beirut that any refugee who crossed back into Syria would lose their refugee status.

Ebola death toll now 5 in Sierra Leone

F

oreign mining company personnel have left Sierra Leone while others are undergoing body temperature screening at work sites, company officials said yesterday as the death toll from an Ebola outbreak in the country rose to at least five victims.

The new cases come after the deadly virus that causes severe bleeding was blamed for about 200 deaths in neighbouring Guinea and Liberia. The Ebola disease has had a 70 percent fatality rate during the first crisis of its kind in West Africa.

Deputy Information Minister, Theo Nicol said the government was doing all it could to contain the “scourge” of Ebola. None of the 15 confirmed cases in Sierra Leone has been in the capital of Freetown.

London Mining Company spokesman, Osman Lahai, said yesterday that eight of their nonessential staff had left Sierra Leone over the weekend as a result of the deadly viral outbreak.

London Mining has advised all its non-essential staff who are on holiday abroad not to return

to Sierra Leone, he said. No cases have been reported near the company’s Marampa iron ore mine, and production has not been affected by the health scare.

However, Lahai said the company also has introduced mandatory body temperature screening at their sites, and those with a high fever would be referred to hospital for further examination. A spokesman for a second mining company, African Minerals, said body temperature screening also has been introduced at its sites. Anthony Navo said that employees also were being urged to stay away from areas that had recorded Ebola cases.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has hit some of the poorest countries in the world, where health care resources are already stretched. Sierra Leone is mineral-rich, but its economy and health care system were ravaged by a decadelong civil war that ended in 2002. Some 60 percent of Sierra Leoneans get by on only $1.25 a day.

US shuts Afghan transit base in Kyrgyzstan

T

he United States, yesterday shut its air force base in Kyrgyzstan that had been the main transit point for military personnel and cargo headed to Afghanistan for 12 years.

Washington was forced to shut the Manas Transit Centre, north of Bishkek after Kyrgyzstan, an ex-Soviet country seeking closer ties with Moscow, refused last year to extend its lease.

In a symbolic ceremony, US officials handed over keys to the Manas Transit Center to the Kyrgyz authorities. Commander of the base, Colonel John Millard, said at the cer-

emony that some 5.5 million troops of the anti-terror coalition passed through the base in the Central Asian nation since it was established in late 2001, in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the US. US ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Pamela Spratlen said that all military personnel would leave the base in a week.

Russia maintains its own base in Kyrgyzstan and is expected to be pleased by the move as it vies for influence in Central Asia. The United States has moved its main transit base for Afghanistan to Romania, which in April approved an increase in American troops at a base on the Black Sea.

Why I dropped Sunday Mba -Keshi

Emmanuel Tobi

S

uper Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has identified the late report to camp as part of the reasons he dropped Sunday Mba, who helped Nigeria secure a third Africa Cup of Nations triumph last year.

Mba, who scored the winning goal in the 2013 Nations Cup final against Burkina Faso, was late in

joining the Super Eagles’ training squad in London last week because of a visa hitch.

But Keshi said the midfielder has since not shown enough desire to be part of the 23-man squad going to Brazil.

“His lateness to camp contributed (to his missing out) but outside that he did not show the

hunger, the fight, we expected from him,” explained Keshi.

“We have only two and half weeks to prepare for the World Cup and he was not giving us what we wanted. He was very relaxed and it was unlike him.”

The six other players who will not be on the flight to Brazil next week are Joel Obi (Inter Milan),

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis), Nnamdi Oduamadi (AC Milan), Obinna Nsofor (Lokomotiv Moscow), Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves) and Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers).

Nigeria are drawn in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina and Iran. They kick off their campaign on 16 June against Iran.

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

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Mba

Barcelona plan £56m bid for Aguero }p-53

WEDNESday, june 4, 2014

eagles list: the delay, drama, intrigues Adekunle Salami

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he Super Eagles list released by the Nigeria Football Federation at midnight on Tuesday, was characterised by delay, drama and intrigues which affected major stakeholders.

Our correspondent learnt reliably that it was not easy releasing the list as the officials of the football house in Abuja were exchanging calls with Stephen Keshi and his team in the USA. The NFF did not release the list to the public until midnight and it was learnt that this was due to the intrigues involved in the final list.

Some names were subjects of debate between both parties, while the public was waiting for the list. Keshi, it was learnt sent the list to Abuja before the 5pm he promised, but the issues that came up afterwards delayed

it for another seven hours.

After it was eventually sent to FIFA, the NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, insisted that the list be delayed till the next day since the deadline of FIFAhad been met.

“It was tough. The NFF office was open till close to 12 midnight because of the list. Various issues came up on the names as regards fitness, injuries and attitude.

The delay also occured because the body was not ready to break the news of the dropped players to those affected due to the time difference between Nigeria and the USA,” our source said.

New Telegraph can also reveal that there was tension in the team’s camp in Philadelphia as Keshi did not tell the dropped players early enough about the development.

Ejike Uzoenyi who was a victim of the intrigues, was

said to have been so tensed up that at a point he was unable to sit still, as he paced continuosly. It was an uneasy calm in the USA, while confusion reigned supreme with people circulating all manner of lists especially on the Internet.

“It is not worth it. The players knew that seven of them will leave. It was unfair to have kept journalists awake because of the list.

Why is our case different?

It is a shame,” Group Sports Editor of the Nation, Ade Ojeikere said on Tuesday.

Michael Babatunde, it was learnt benefited from the drama as his name entered in the last minute.

Same cannot be said of Sunday Mba, Uzoenyi and Nnamdi Oduamadi. The trio were victims of the drama and intrigues, while Babatunde Michael, Michael Uchebo benefited. Obinna Nsofor suffered a knock and Nwofor (left) this ruled him out easily.

NBBF Technical Director, Bakare, resigns Ifeanyi Ibeh

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yo Bakare has resigned from his position as Technical Director of the Nigeria Basketball Federation. The former Head Coach of the country’s male and female national teams made this known on Tuesday at a press conference in Lagos.

“After due consideration of my personal commitments at this time, I have decided to Bakare withdraw from my role as Technical Direc-

tor of the NBBF. This is not a sudden decision but is made after a lot of consideration, discussion and consultation between the Federation and myself,” said Bakare, who was only appointed in March 2014.

Bakare, who is also an international scout for American professional basketball side, New York Knicks, added that his decision was “mutually and amicably made” and that it was “not a consequence of, or reaction to

any events or incidents, real or imagined.”

He added that he has the highest personal and professional regard for NBBF President, Tijani Umar, and will continue to support the programmes of the NBBF. NBBF President, Umar, in an interview with New Telegraph, acknowledged receipt of Bakare’s resignation. He said: “He has discussed with the federation and his resignation has been accepted.”

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Super Eagles World Cup squad

Name: Vincent Enyeama DoB: 29 August 1982 (aged 31) Position: Goalkeeper Club: Lille (France) Caps: 89 Goals: 0 Debut: 4 May 2002 (against Kenya)

Name: Austin Ejide DoB: 8 April 1984 (aged 30) Position: Goalkeeper Club: Hapoel Beâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;er Sheva (Israel) Caps: 32 Goals: 0 Debut: 16 June 2001 (against Namibia)

Name: Chigozie Agbim DoB: 28 November 1984 (aged 29) Position: Goalkeeper Club: Gombe United (Nigeria) Caps: 11 Goals: 0 Debut: 11 January 2012 (against Angola)

Name: Juwon Oshaniwa DoB: 14 September 1990 (aged 23) Position: Defender Club: Ashdod (Israel) Caps: 10 Goals: 0 Debut: 28 October 2013 (against Jordan)

Name: Joseph Yobo DoB: 6 September 1980 (aged 33) Position: Defender Club: Fenerbahce (Turkey) Caps: 95 Goals: 7 Debut: 24 March 2001 (against Zambia)

Name: Godfrey Oboabona DoB: 16 August 1990 (aged 23) Position: Defender Club: Caykur Rizespor (Turkey) Caps: 34 Goals: 1 Debut: 23 May 2012 (against Peru)

Name: Shola Ameobi DoB: 12 October 1981 (aged 32) Position: Forward Club: Newcastle United (England) Caps: 6 Goals: 2 Debut: 14 November 2012 (against Venezuela)

Name: Ogenyi Onazi DoB: 25 December 1992 (aged 21) Position: Midfield Club: Lazio (Italy) Caps: 19 Goals: 1 Debut: 13 October 2012 (against Liberia)

Name: John Obi Mikel DoB: 22 April 1987 (aged 27) Position: Midfield Club: Chelsea (England) Caps: 58 Goals: 4 Debut: 17 August 2005 (against Libya)

Name: Uche Nwofor DoB: 28 February 1989 (aged 25) Position: Forward Club: Heerenveen (Holland) Caps: 5 Goals: 3 Debut: 3 March 2010 (against Congo DR)

Name: Michel Babatunde DoB: 24 December 1992 (aged 21) Position: Forward Club: Volyn Lutsk (Ukraine) Caps: 3 Goals: 0 Debut: 20 June 2013 (against Uruguay)

Name: Victor Moses DoB: 12 December 1990 (aged 23) Position: Midfield/Forward Club: Chelsea (England) Caps: 19 Goals: 6 Debut: 29 February 2012 (against Rwanda)

Name: Emmanuel Emenike DoB: 10 May 1987 (aged 27) Position: Forward Club: Fenerbahce (Turkey) Caps: 21 Goals: 10 Debut: 9 February 2011 (against Sierra Leone)

Name: Elderson Echiejile DoB: 20 January 1988 (aged 26) Position: Defender Club: Monaco (France) Caps: 41 Goals: 2 Debut: 2 June 2009 (against France)

Name: Efe Ambrose DoB: 18 October 1988 (aged 25) Position: Defender Club: Celtic (Scotland) Caps: 35 Goals: 1 Debut: 13 October 2012 (against Liberia)

Name: Azubuike Egwuekwe DoB: 16 July 1989 (aged 24) Position: Defender Club: Warri Wolves (Nigeria) Caps: 32 Goals: 1 Debut: 23 May 2012 (against Peru)

Name: Kenneth Omeruo DoB: 17 October 1993 (aged 20) Position: Defender Club: Chelsea (England) Caps: 16 Goals: 0 Debut:9January2013(againstCapeVerde)

Name: Michael Uchebo DoB: 2 February 1990 (aged 24) Position: Forward Club: Cercle Brugge Caps: 2 Goals: 1 Debut: 6 March 2014 (against Mexico)

Name: Ramon Azeez DoB: 12 December 1992 (aged 21) Position: Midfield Club: Almeria (Spain) Caps: 1 Goals: 0 Debut: 5 March 2014 (against Mexico)

Name: Reuben Gabriel DoB: 25 September 1990 (aged 23) Position: Midfield Club: Waasland-Beveren (Belgium) Caps: 11 Goals: 1 Debut: 3 March 2010 (against Congo DR)

Name: Osaze Peter Odemwingie DoB: 15 July 1981 (aged 32) Position: Midfield/Forward Club: Stoke City Caps: 59 Goals: 9 Debut: 4 May 2002 (against Kenya)

Name: Kunle Odunlami DoB: 5 March 1990 (aged 24) Position: Defender Club: Sunshine Stars (Nigeria) Caps: 9 Goals: 0 Debut: 28 October 2013 (against Jordan) Name: Ahmed Musa DoB: 14 October 1992 (aged 21) Position: Midfield/Forward Club: CSKA Moscow (Russia) Caps: 34 Goals: 5 Debut: 5 September 2010 (against Madagascar)

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Transfer Updates

Barcelona plan £56m bid for Aguero

B

arcelona are hoping a £56m bid will be enough to convince Manchester City to part with star striker Sergio Aguero.

City are facing a fight to keep hold of Aguero, who according to his father is keen on a switch to the Camp Nou. There have been no suggestions that City are willing to sell the Argentina international. But despite this, new Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has made the 26-year-old his No.1 summer target.

Atletico fans reject Soldado

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tletico Madrid supporters are against the potential summer move for Roberto Soldado.

The Tottenham striker is a reported target for the Spanish champions following a poor debut campaign in England but Atleti fans aren’t keen.

Soldado, who joined Spurs from Valencia for £26million last summer, is the subject of an online petition by Atletico supporters who do not want him to make his way to the Vicente Calderon.

Milan yet to make decision on Balotelli

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C Milan president Silvio Berlusconi says no decision on the future of Mario Balotelli will be made until they have a new coach in place.

Balotelli has been strongly linked with a return to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Chelsea both reported to be showing interest in the former Manchester City star.

“Will Balotelli stay? We have not decided about the market yet, neither for signings or for sales,” Berlusconi said.

Bayern, Barca fight over Ramsey

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rsenal could face a battle to keep Aaron Ramsey after reports claimed Barcelona and Bayern Munich are both keen on the midfielder.

Ramsey was a huge hit for the Gunners last season and his performances and eye for goal from midfield have now attracted the attention of Barca and Bayern, who are both keen to bolster their midfields this summer, and could test Arsenal’s resolve by making a move.

I want to quit- Lallana

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iverpool have been boosted in their attempt to sign Southampton’s Adam Lallana after he told them he wants to leave this summer.

The Saints skipper is looking to follow striker Rickie Lambert to Anfield after the World Cup in Brazil has come to an end and, although he has not yet handed in a transfer request, he has let the Saints board know exactly where his mind is at.

Marseille reject Napoli offer for Ayew

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lympique Marseille are reported to have rejected an offer of €8m plus Goran Pandev from Napoli for Ghana forward Andre Ayew.

The French giants have declared that the 24-year-old, who is currently preparing with the Black Stars team for the 2014 World Cup , is not for sale.

New Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa also considers the Ghana international an integral part of the team he intends to build to challenge for the Ligue 1 title next season.

Keshi’s 23-man World Cup list

Ex-internationals and coaches react to Keshi’s final list for the World Cup holding in Brazil Nigeria has bad record with final list -Memuletiwon

Yobo has no business in Brazil -Ezeugo

’m shocked at the incluIthat sion of Joseph Yobo in list because we have

a weak defence and Yobo no longer has the ability to withstand a very strong attacking side.

Well, Keshi may have included him in the team because of his experience, otherwise he has no business in the team.

I hope he considered the interest of the nation before he came out with his final list, I wish them well. At this point in time nobody will dispute his judgment.

Emeka Ezeugo (Former Super Eagles defensive midfielder)

The list is balanced -Iroha

he list is balanced; I am okay with it.

T The coaches have done very well to have compiled such a list. It must have

been very difficult for them to have arrived at the final 23, otherwise they wouldn’t have left it until the eleventh hour before submitting it.

All that is left is for the players who didn’t make the final list and for the entire country to wish the team the best in Brazil and to forget whatever differences may exist.

Ben Iroha (Former Nigeria defender)

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t has become a norm for Nigeria to be the last to release her World Cup list. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, FIFA fined Nigeria for sending Eagles’ World Cup list late; I think this development is not good for the image of our country.

For goodness sake, it is a media event and I expected the NFF to have considered the media houses before putting their personal interest forward.

Ben Memuletiwon (General Editor, National Mirror)

Mba, Uzoenyi exclusion justified -Chukwu

K

eshi has made his choice. I know people will react because players like Mba and Uzoenyi were dropped given what these players have done in the past, but there is something they call current form; maybe Keshi has players who on current form are better in the positions of the dropped players.

He has selected the players that he feels can give him what he wants at the World Cup. It is unfortunate that he has to go with only 23 players, maybe the players that were dropped would have gone if the number was to be increased.

Christian Chukwu (Former Green Eagles captain)

No surprises in Keshi’s team -Duamlong

I

wasn’t surprised with the list released by coach Stephen Keshi. He is in the best position to know the best players that can make the country proud in Brazil. His name is at stake too and he will take the glory if the team succeeds and the stick if the team fails. What the team needs from us now is prayers and supports.

Ben Duamlong (Ex-Kaduna Utd coach)

We need peace to excel in Brazil -Edoreh t was not right that the media Iissue were kept in the dark over an like this, but I wish them

good luck.

I will however, not want to dwell on this because we have a competition ahead of us and we should eschew bitterness and forge a common front.

The players that have made the final list should be our priority and our prayer is for them to have it good in Brazil, I rest my case.

Fred Edoreh (Lagos SWAN Chairman)

NFF is not organised -Ubani

I

t is disrespectful of the NFF to exclude the media in an event such as this. I say this because they intentionally kept the list to themselves until an unholy hour before releasing it because they had something to hide.

It is a shame to have a country that has been tipped by pundits to excel at the World Cup enmeshed in suspicion of distortion; it shows that we are not an organised society.

I want to say here that this attitude must change and we must wake up to our responsibilities and ask questions were necessary because these individuals that run football in Nigeria are not excluded from accountability of their stewardship.

TONY UBANI (Vanguard Sport Editor)

to pick one player to watch, it Murray set to renew Monfils rivalryhad would probably be Monfils.

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ndy Murray will renew a rivalry sport.” with Gael Monfils at the French The pair have been friends ever Open in Paris on Wednesday since those early days and if Murray that began 16 years ago in Rouen, France. Murray was 10 and Monfils 11 when they met in the semifinals of a junior tournament, the ormer champion Maria Sharapova Frenchman winning before losing fought her way into the semifinals at the French Open on Tuesday. to Murray’s brother Jamie in the The seventh-seeded former world final.

“He used to play with glasses,” No. 1 came from behind to beat rising said the Wimbledon champion. “He 20-year-old Spaniard Garbine Muguhad shaved hair, but quite a high ruza, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. Muguruza shocked cut. He was the same as he is now. defending champion Serena Williams He was just a great athlete, moved in the second round last week.

Sharapova trailed 6-1, 5-4 against unbelievably well, smiling on the Muguruza before suddenly catching court,” Murray said.

“He enjoyed playing in front of fire and winning nine of the last 10 a crowd, even though it was a small games.

Sharapova completed a career crowd. When you’re 10, 11 years old, playing in front of 40, 50 people feels Grand Slam with a French Open title like it’s loads. He’s just always been a in 2012 and lost to Williams in last great entertainer, and he’s great for the year’s marquee finale at Roland Gar-

The Frenchman, who is eight months older, also has fond memories of matches against Murray.

Sharapova reaches semis

F

Sharapova

ros.

Two more quarterfinals will be staged on Wednesday, when fourthseeded Romanian Simona Halep takes on 27th-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova and 10th-seeded Italian Sara Errani battles 28th-seeded German Andrea Petkovic.

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EFCC to tackle match-fixing Brazil: We have a complete team – Kpakor Charles Ogundiya in Nigeria League lAs LMC plans to use a 50-man Referee team

Jude Opara Abuja

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has written the Nigeria Football Federation to furnish it with the names, address and occupations of all the referees involved in the officiating of Nigeria Premier League matches.

The information is expected to reach the anti-graft body before the end of July, 2014. The agency is said to have resolved to check the incidents of match fixing by tracking the referees who have been variously fingered in the messy deal.

Many analysts have blamed the poor attendance of fans to league venues largely on the poor officiating which often times trigger hostilities, a situation that

has become worrisome to the managers of Nigerian football.

Meanwhile, in an effort to control the incidents of match fixing, the League Management Company has written the Nigeria Referee Association to furnish it with the names of 50 referees that will be officiating Premier League matches.

Also the LMC demanded another list of 50 referees that will be handling national league matches as well as the list of 120 assistant referees for both leagues.

New Telegraph learnt on good authority that the LMC and the Nigeria Football Federation after receiving a lot of complaints about irregularities at match venues decided to restrict the number of the officials to a manageable number.

Nsofor, Akpeyi take solace in God

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former international, Moses Kpakor, has informed New Telegraph that the current Super Eagles team are poised for a brilliant outing in Brazil, claiming that the team is complete.

The former midfielder said that since the famous 1994 Super Eagles squad, this was the first time Nigeria will not be relying on a particular player to deliver the goods, adding that all the players in the current side are capable of being match winners.

“Today, Nigeria has once again a formidable and experi-

enced team, such that it is impossible to single out, or depend on one, player to deliver the goods,” said the former BCC Lions of Gboko star. “Since the 1994 squad, it is now we have such a squad that anybody can score, which is very good for the team.”

Kpakor urged the players to adhere to the technical crew’s game plan, while advising the NFF to give the coaches all the necessary support.

“Our secret to success lies in the game plan designed by the technical crew. All the players must work within the team’s tactical plan and not try to take matters into their own hands in a bid to sell themselves. The NFF

NSC, NFF illegal, says Sports Minister Ifeanyi Ibeh

T

he Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo, on Monday confirmed that both the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation are illegal bodies.

Emmanuel Tobi

D

ropped Super Eagles players, Obinna Nsofor and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, have taken their exclusion from Nigeria’s World Cup team in good faith, while taking solace in God. According to Nsofor who is recuperating from an injury; “In all things give Him thanks. I praise you almighty God from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me. You are the almighty God and you have the final say.”

For Warri Wolves goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, making the final 30 provisional list is a source of encouragement for his budding football career.

“God has destined it, but I want to give thanks to the coaching crew for the opportunity to be among this team. I wish the team a great success in Brazil.”

Nsofor

AFN postpones Benin Golden League finals …inaugurates MOC for Calabar trials athletes to participate in the finals Charles Ogundiya

T

he Athletic Federation of Nigeria has postponed the Golden League finals earlier scheduled for this weekend in Benin, Edo state, to allow the athletes proper rest ahead of the All Nigeria Athletics Championship in Calabar, Cross River state, later in the month.

Speaking to New Telegraph, a member of the Federation, Kayode Thomas, said there was need to move the finals forward due to the coming trials in Calabar, with the aim of protecting the athletes against injuries and fatigue.

“It will be too much for some of the

must also give the coaches the all-important confidence needed to excel at the World Cup,” he stressed.

Kpakor further stated that Super Eagles attack would be too hot for teams to handle in Brazil. He said: “The attack is our best bet, and I am not surprised at all because Keshi was an attack minded player during his active days despite playing from the central defence.”

He however advised the team to make sure they defend their lead and learn not to concede goals and being forced to come from behind at the World Cup so as not to put undue pressure on themselves.

this weekend, then travel to Warri for the Grand Prix next weekend and then the Commonwealth Games trials in Calabar.

“The federation wants the athletes to be fit ahead of the trials in Calabar so that we can have our best athletes qualify for the Games,” Kayode said.

Meanwhile, AFN has inaugurated the Main Organising Committee for the 2014 AFN/CRS All Nigeria Athletics Championship slated for the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar, Cross River, from June 19-21, which serves as trials for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Marrakech 2014 Africa Athletics Championships.

While speaking with journalists in Lagos, Danagogo said both bodies had no legal documents setting them up. He also said a bill had been sent to the House of Representatives to legalise the two bodies although that has not been passed by the House.

The Minister disclosed that upon assumption of office, he requested to see a copy of the proposed bill in order to understand its content and, possibly, make his input, as well as find a way to facilitate its speedy passage by the legislature.

Danagogo, who made all these known during his visit to the National Stadium complex, also commented on the deplorable condition of the stadium’s main bowl, venue of some of Nigeria’s glorious sporting moments, as well as the National Institute for Sports which is situated on the grounds of the 40-year-old sports complex which hosted the 2nd All African Games back in 1973.

The Minister expressed shame at the appalling state of both the main bowl and the NIS, stressing that he had prior knowledge about their pitiable states but had no inkling they were far worse than he had imagined.

On the equally deplorable condition of the National Stadium’s swimming pool, Danagogo assured that the facility will soon be fit for use, adding that he recently held a meeting with a group charged with the task of renovating the pool.

Falconets intensify preparation with Ghana friendlies Mercy Jacob

N

igeria’s U-20 women National team continues their preparation for the World Cup in Canada, with two legged friendly match against Ghana’s Black Princesses on 6th and 8th June in Ghana.

The team will depart the country today (Wednesday) for the friendly match with

the head coach, Peter Dedevbo, confirming 22 players for the two encounters.

According to the coach, the girls are physically and mentally fit to take on the Ghanaian side, promising a better outing for Nigeria.

“I take this match not just as a friendly, but as an opportunity to prove the superiority of the

Falconets on the continent.

“I need to give all players the opportunity to show their skills and seek a place in the final list for Canada, especially the new players,” he said.

Ghana and Nigeria are the two countries to represent the continent in the 7th edition of the FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup.

FG should hands off VAT, says Nyam Louis Achi and Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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delegate to the ongoing National Conference, Col. Tony Nyam (rtd), yesterday asked the Federal Government to hands off the collection of Value Added Tax(VAT) as it amounts to "hijacking revenue" which it has played no part in creating.

Nyam, a delegate of the Federal Government, gave the advice while contributing to the debate on the Report of the National Conference Committee on Public Finance and Revenue. He said that VAT being a consumption tax on goods, should,

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

as a matter of necessity, be collected solely by the states from where the value was obtained or the consumption made, particularly when it is the states that bear the cost of infrastructure and other burdens arising from the consumption of such goods.

"The Federal Government needs to discontinue the bad example of not putting to practice, the virtues of the principles of fairness. The government needs also to discontinue its encouragement of ‘sharing’ rather than ‘baking’ as it were, the national cake," Nyam said.

He argued that some goods such as alcohol from which VAT is de-

rived had been banned in some states of the federation while the VAT collected on them were brought into the general pool to be distributed across board. According to him, it would only be fair for those states where VAT is derived to collect and utilise such a tax.

Nyam criticised the over-dependence of the Nigerian economy on petroleum resources and advised that a deliberate attempt be made to diversify the economy to open up other sources of wealth. He attributed the alleged high level of corruption in the oil sector to conflict of interests, arguing that the Federal Government remained an "interested partner" in

a strategic National business in which it was supposed to be a regulator.

He observed that one of the root causes of corruption in the management of public finance in Nigeria was the presence of incentives for public officers to steal public funds in their custody.

"One of the root causes of corruption in our public finance management system has been the incentive for embezzlement which is being induced by our reliance on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as the major means through which we source our revenue. Our reliance on the Joint Venture (JV) agreement between the NNPC acting on our behalf and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) is the key barrier to the promotion of transparency and the prevention of the leakages in our public revenue mobilisation mechanisms. "

Adebanjo, Mimiko , Others seek removal of fuel subsidy

...women lawyers kick against proposal Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

E

lder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and the Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Prof Femi Mimiko were among delegates to the National Conference who yesterday backed the proposal for a total removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

The duo said the removal of oil subsidy had become necessary given the corruption associated with the scheme.

In separate contributions to the debate, Adebanjo said the scheme was long overdue for scrapping because its'

Edo APC crisis: Idahosa faults Iyamu’s claim on party’s formation, structure Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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King Alfred Diete SPIFF (left) and, Eze Cletus Ilomuaya, during deliberations at the National Conference…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Oil theft: Clark fingers military chiefs Louis Achi and Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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lder statesman and one-time Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark , yesterday accused some unnamed serving and retired military officers of being behind the business of illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.

Clark, a delegate at the ongoing National Conference who stated this during a debate on the report of the Committee on Public Finance and Revenue, threw his weight behind the total removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

In addition to the role played by the security agencies, Clark said that some officials of the NNPC have also been colluding with the oil thieves at the oil export terminal, a situation that has made it difficult to ascertain the

exact quantity of crude oil Nigeria exports daily.

He lamented that often, the people living in the oil-bearing communities were blamed for the spate of crude oil theft, but that it was actually the security agents of the Joint Task Force (JTF) assigned to protect the pipelines that have colluded with those they call “vandals” to perpetrate the act of stealing crude oil.

Clark said he had had cause to report the development to the Federal Government during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo which led to Obasanjo directing his then Minister of Defense, General Theophilius Danjuma (rtd) to investigate the allegation. According to Clark, that investigation resulted in the indictment of some military officers two of whom lost their positions.

"The military officers

who are in Niger Delta have hands in stealing this oil. I made this point to President Obasanjo and he asked Danjuma who was there as Minister of Defense to look through and he went and found that it was true. So, what I will suggest is that the troops in the Niger Delta should be changed from time to time. In doing so, you will find that the stealing of oil will be reduced, he said.

Clark who went down memory lane, narrated how in 1972 as Commissioner for Finance in the defunct Mid-West State, he travelled with former President Shehu Shagari, who was then Federal Commissioner for Finance, to Forcados Terminal where Nigeria’s crude oil was been exported and discovered that government officials were just interested in what comes to them than in protecting the interest

of Nigeria.

According to Clark, the youths of oil-bearing communities were only involved in illegal oil bunkering to a small degree or what he called "bucket bunkering" insisting that the youths of Niger Delta lacked the technological know-how required for such operation,.

"I have always said that our young men at home do bucket bunkering. They have no facility, they also lack the technology, but those who steal this oil are people who come from abroad.

Have we forgotten the case where three admirals were fully involved?

They were court-marshaled."

According to him, the involvement of the local people would be greatly minimised if they were gainfully employed in protecting the oil pipelines located in their communities.

bottom line had been corruption. On the other hand, Mimiko described fuel subsidy as " a huge infrastructure of corruption in the country." Adebanjo however advocated a gradual removal of the scheme over a given period during which, the Federal Government should build new refineries and repair existing ones to increase the local refining capacity and put an end to fuel importation.

"I support removal of fuel subsidy. On this, I find it difficult to understand the argument of those who want subsidy to be sustained. It is evident that fuel subsidy in this country is a huge infrastructure of corruption.

mbattled for mer South-South National Vice chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, yesterday came under the sledge hammer of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Special Adviser on Politics, Charles Idahosa, over who formed and owns the party’s structure.

Idahosa who faulted the claims by Ize Iyamu told journalists in Benin, the state capital that former Governor Lucky Igbinedion could not have handed over to the ex-Secretary to the state government who recently defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he was still the SSG. According to the APC chieftain, as at May 29, 2007, Iyamu was the Sec-

retary to the State Government (SSG) when Igbinedion handed over to his successor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor also of the PDP. Idahosa described as embarrassing the false assumption of the Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), when he knew nothing about what happened in the party then.

He said, “It is very embarrassing when people talk about forming a party when they knew nothing about what happened in the party. The present APC started from MRDD, ACD, AC, ACN and today APC”.

The governor’s aide stated that, “For those of you who are familiar with the politics of Edo State, you will know that we were very central in the formation of the MRDD, myself and Senator Roland Owie who is in PDP right now.”

Imo seeks more role in Oputa’s burial Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

he Imo State Government has expressed dismay over what it described as the politicisation of the burial of the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa by his family.

Commenting on the burial programme of the late Jurist published in some national dailies by the family and signed by Charles Emeka Oputa, (a.k.a Charly Boy), government expressed regrets that in spite of its commitment and desire to see that the late Jurist was given a befitting burial, his family is apparently bent on side-tracking the state government in the burial.

A statement signed by Sam Onwuemeodo, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the governor read in part, “The government had expected that the family would liaise with it to come up with a burial arrangement or programme that would suit what the late Justice represented in Nigeria and Imo state in particular. Reducing the burial arrangement of the late statesman totally to Oputa family affair was unacceptable to the Imo State Government.”

The statement advised the family of the late not to politicise the burial or reduce it “to just an Oputa family affair. That would be most uncharitable to such a great man.”

World Record

On Marble

You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

– Albert Einstein

Sanctity of Truth w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha WEDNESday, JUNE 4, 2014

An 8.3 magnitude-earthquake that struck in Bolivia near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in 1994 is the deepest earthquake ever recorded.

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Nigeria’s troubled citizenship: Indigenes versus settlers

N

igeria’s socio-political experience is replete with a troubling history of deep contestations between indigenes and settlers. These contested terrains rather than shrinking are intensifying with unbelievable animosity. It’s continued manifestations are sure to impugn the capacity of the fragile and volatile state called Nigeria as we are currently observing. Official response to this protracted malaise has been half-hearted, that many accuse successive governments at the national, states and local governments of complicity. Arguably, Nigeria is about the third most ethnically diverse nation in the world, a population of more than 170 million with over 250 ethnic groups, and equally unwieldy amalgam of crisscrossing identities. These recursive identities, and other mundane categorizations, have been both cause effect of violent conflicts.

Such primordial identities have become widespread and prominent that national integration will continue to be elusive until we interrogate the misapprehension of citizenship in Nigeria, and how the dichotomy between indigenes and settlers has helped to fuel and sustain it.

Most problems bedevilling Nigeria are traceable to the character of the Nigerian state and its political economy. The concept of the Nigerian state does not hold any appeal to the average Nigerian. Given the skewed character of the nation, the artificiality of its amalgamation, the emergent cities under colonial rule became readymade theatres of competition along the lines of ethno-religious divide. All over the patterns of social existence were not spared of suspicions. This development explained the proliferation of several town unions and other community development associations in the urban centres in the face of overwhelming impersonality of social life. The incessant struggle to gain relative advantage in the competitive struggle for scarce socio-economic resources was the impetus for the consolidation of this exclusivist behaviour.

Indigenes are largely those persons or group of persons who claim to be the original inhabitants of a given community, or can trace their ancestry to the original inhabitants. That is why in Nigeria, a major demographic requirement is town of origin, local government or state of origin.

They refer to themselves as “sons of the soil”, the Amalas or Ndi Nwe Ala (those who own the land) or the descendants of the original inhabitants. Indigenes feel entitled to the choicest resources of the place in question, and expect to be so treated, accorded these rights. The observed pattern is that indigenes are accorded special treatment in both public and private sectors

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in those communities. On the other hand, settlers are those who cannot trace their history to these original ancestors or inhabitants. They are latter day arrivals, who have settled with their families amongst their host communities. In Nigeria, any person who stays on a permanent basis outside his traditional area of patrilocal ancestry is considered as a non-indigene, or at best a settler. It does not matter if the person’s parents migrated decades earlier, and he was even born in the community, or he has lived there for an extended period of time. Try as they would, the indigenes would not accept the naturalization of these new entrants. To do so would be to reduce their expected preferential outcomes which normally accrue to them on the premise of ascription.

In Nigeria’s body politic, the dichotomization of indigenes and settlers is used to determine who gets what, when and how. This primordial classification which has found its way into every facet of our modern national life is used to convey politics of exclusion that is characterized by a monopoly of societal resources by indigenous groups, while also denying others seen as settlers of a taste of the pie. It doesn’t matter if the settlers are, strictly speaking, the more productive group.

The struggle to gain access, control and dominate has been at the centre of inter-community, even inter-personal relation. The settler groups, with time started challenging the pre-eminence of the well heeled indigenous groups which in turn elicited the anger and hatred of the latter. There are however, situations or times, when the settlers would lord it over the majority of indigenous groups exercising tremendous influence over the allocation of cherished societal values, power, wealth, prestige etc. Nigeria public space since independence has experienced a plethora of these cleavages in inter-community relations. The Ife – Modakeke, Aguleri – Umuleri, Itsekiri – Urhobo and Ijaw, Ogoni – Andoni, Hausa –Fulani Versus Berom, Jukum – Tiv, etc are some of the recent hotspots.

In 2011, the Abia state government owing to poverty of ideas and clear lack of direction fatuously sacked about 2000 workers on the inglorious excuse that they are not indigenes.

In 2013, Lagos State Government deported a lorry load of unemployed persons to Anambra State under the guise of ridding the state

of destitutes. That cruel policy of returning the so called non-indigenes to their state of origin generated tremendous uproar as it was roundly condemned by well meaning Nigerians. In the eyes of many, the action of celebrated Governor of Lagos State was a faux pax.

The universities and polytechnics are not immune to this unfortunate polarization. University of Maiduguri and Nnamdi Azikiwe University have recently been rescued from excessive statism and politics of indigeneity in the race for the Vice Chancellorship. A university epistemologically is a universal institution that should not be bogged down by petty clannish sentiments and propinquity. What should always be at play is the principle of merit, not where the person comes from. Kudos must be given to the Governing Councils of both Universities for insisting that the right thing be done. Happily too, both ASUU and Students’ Body of Nnamdi Azikiwe University have congratulated the winner, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku. This is what it should be. To deny, or exclude any brilliant outstanding scholar on the premise that he is not an indigene or from the host state or community is to quicken the destruction of an already bad educational system. In other climes, universities even go the extra mile of searching out persons of known capacity, competence and pedigree to come and preside over university affairs.

I have also read with considerable disdain stories emanating from Federal Polytechnic Oko where a section of Oko community, in league with the traditional ruler are at war with the management of the institution for very primordial and banal reasons. It is desirable to have cordial town-gown relationship but to seek to teleguide the Rector, or harass and intimidate him on the basis that the rector is not an Oko indigene is indefensible.

Professor Godwin Onu has discharged his duties creditably, that the Federal Government in its wisdom has reappointed him for another term of four years. What is left is for Oko community to rally round the Rector, partner with the Polytechnic authorities to advance the cause of learning. The ideology of indigeneity has unfortunately become a potent weapon of ethnic and sub ethnic permutations in the dexterous moves to gain advantages or favoured outcomes to

the marginalization of the supposed outsider.

To cast some Nigerian citizens in the mould of internal foreigners is a comedy of deceit.

Governments at different levels have also not helped matters. In the bid to allay the perceived fears of exclusion by different component units of Nigerian Federation, the federal government came up with the obnoxious and pernicious doctrines of Federal Character and Quota System. Admission into unity schools, employment in Nigerian public service are based on the kindred policies of quota and federal character, which place premium on primordial policies rather than merit. This widens the gulf between settlers and indigenes. That is why a candidate from Ekiti, Oyo, Anambra or Imo may have to suspend his ambition and passion to make way for a person from perhaps Sokoto, Zamfara, Ebonyi, etc. The frustration faced by young applicants is palpable. Nigeria suffers.

Our sense of citizenship has been grossly devalued and abused. The identification with pan Nigerian sentiments and social spaces suffers in the face of the onslaught from pre modern attachments. The crisis of identity of the Nigerian citizen is ubiquitous. Who a Nigerian citizen is, what are his duties and responsibilities, and also what privileges and rights are available to him are indeed not clear owing to constitutional lacuna, where states and local governments are at liberty to curtail some of these rights in the light of indigene or settler label. The Nigerian nation needs to overcome some of these divide and rule colonial policies. I clamour for the immediate removal of indigeneity as a concept in public policy. A country should not be encouraged to have two sets of citizens – one, indigenes, and the other settlers, except perhaps if it is on a road to self destruction.

OmoBaba STEALING IS NOT CORRUPTION -ICPC

- Then, what is corruption?

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