States declare austerity budgets

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62312

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

Faces at President Jonathan's Niece's traditional marriage •see pictures on P.17

States declare austerity budgets •To spend N9.6 trillion compared to 2014’s N12 trillion •Plan to spend N5.04 trillion on recurrent expenditure JONATHAN, BUHARI IN NEW YEAR OUTING SERVICE

We won't go to court if election is free and fair

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AGOS—WORRIED by the dwindling economic fortunes of the country, the Federal and 31 state governments of the country have proposed what has been termed as ‘austere’ budgets to contend with the challenges.

According to Vanguard investigations, the 31 states and the Federal Government, barring supplementary appropriations, will spend N9.626 trillion in 2015 as against N12.188 trillion spent in 2014 (see table).

States that are yet to present their 2015 budget proposals are Continues on Page 5

Nigeria: Stop Treasury Bills scam •P.44

...We found Buhari qualified — APC

Mr & Mrs

9&16

53

By Clifford Ndujihe, Deputy Political Editor

COLUMNISTS:

8

President Jonathan loses sister

Inside tomorrow

MUTINY: UN moves to avert killing of 54 soldiers 8

Boko Haram seizes military base in Borno

N150

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

FIRST SUNDAY/THANKSGIVING—Above: President Goodluck Jonathan (3rd R); Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (3rd L); Anglican Bishop of Ogbia Diocese, Rt. Rev James Oruwori (2nd R); wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Rachael and others after the first Sunday of the year church service at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Otuoke in Ogbia, Bayelsa State. Below: From Right: Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Pastor Enoch Adeboye, his wife, Pastor Folu; Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and wife Dolapo, during the Lagos State Government 2015 Annual Thanksgiving Service, in Alausa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

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POCKET CARTOON

AKWA IBOM CHOIR—Akwa Ibom State record-breaking 9,999-man choir performing at the recent state carol in Uyo. The event has earned the state a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest number of Christmas Carol singers.

States declare austerity budgets Continues from Page 1 Ondo, Abia, Rivers, Yobe, Jigawa and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

If the remaining states and FCT were to spend exactly what they spent last year, their total expenditure will be N10.6 trillion, still a far cry from the N12.188 trillion spent last year.

The prevailing free fall of crude oil price, refusal of US (Nigeria’s major oil importer) to patronise the country and discovery of oil by many

countries and alternative energy sources are already hurting Nigeria’s finances. This accounts for why many states owe their workers two to six-month salary arrears.

Recently, the term ‘austerity measures’ crept back into Nigeria’s lexicon on account of the brewing hardship. The last time austerity measures dominated the air waves was in the early 80s when Nigeria’s Naira lost value in quantum leaps against the US Dollar and other leading

world currencies.

To worsen the matter, most of the governments at all levels apart from spending less than what they spent last year, have also allocated lower sums to capital e x p e n d i t u r e .

Collectively, only N3.342 trillion (47.63 per cent) is allocated to capital expenditure (provision of infrastructure and amenities among others), while N5.041 trillion or 52.37 per cent is to be spent on recurrent expenditure (salaries, emoluments of public

2014

Akwa Ibom 498.5 Edo 160.1 Ekiti 103.8 Ogun 210.28 Osun 234 Bauchi 133.7 Taraba 83.33 Plateau 225.1 Kwara 115.65 Delta 450.73 Anambra 159.469 Katsina 106.8 Kaduna 198.6 Niger 104.2 Enugu 93.75 Bayelsa 374.6 C/River 180.146 Adamawa 97.9 Oyo 188.9 Sokoto 125.9 Benue 130 Imo 137.685 Kogi 128.96 Borno 178.5 Nasarawa 113.076 Zamfara 114.8 Gombe 107.7 Ebonyi 85.635 Kano 219.2 Kebbi 151 Lagos 489.69 Ondo 168 Abia 115.3 Rivers 485.524 Yobe 102.899 Jigawa 180.1 FCT 271.5 FG (N trillion)4.962 Total (N trillion)12.188

2015

CAP

492 159.3 80.94 210.354 197.08 127.89 96 215.5 119.85 327.68 164.496 110 203.7 80.8 96.7 320.621 149.443 100.89 141.778 112.5 98.6 141.219 110.213 175.9 107.905 92.8 86.7 80.018 210.761 166.825 489.69

268 87.5 31.96 92.09 110 65.08 53.301 122.9 46.46 161.6 110.98 75 72 38.5 54.94 175.78 59.79 42 55.05 61.7 45.7 21.521 60.054 113 44.474 42.8 42.8 42.026 135.549 126.889 249.232

4.358 9.626

634(bn) 3.342

Those to spend more

States that proposed to spend more in 2015, though marginally, are Ogun, Taraba, Kwara, Anambra, Katsina, Kaduna, Enugu, REC Adamawa, Kebbi and Imo. 94.7 (19.25 %) Among the states only 68.99 (44.23%) Lagos State has 48.72 (60.19% 118.26 (56.2%) proposed to spend 87 (44.15%) N489.69 billion, the 62.80 (49.11%) exact sum it spent last 42.653 (44.43%) year.

92.5 (42.93%) While presenting his 62.1 (52%) N141.778 billion 2015 166.07 (50.7%) budget proposal 53.52 (33.5%) 34 (30.91%) tagged ‘Budget of 130.9 (64.3%) Repositioning’ in Oyo 42.6 (52.17%) State, Governor Abiola 41.795 (43.2%) Ajimobi, who is seeking 144.84 (46%) re-election, pledged 89.67 (60%) that no new taxes 57 (56.50%) 86.72 (61.17%) would be imposed on 50.5 (44.89%) the people, 52.8 (53.55%) notwithstanding the 119.699 (84.43%) 50.159 (45.51%) poor financial situation of the state occasioned 62.9 (35.76%) 63.431 (58.78%) by sharp drop in oil revenue. The state 50 (53.88%) 46.658 (53.82%) spent about N190 39.992 (47.48%) billion last year.

75.212 (36%) He said rather than 39.940 (31.48%) impose new taxes on 239.948(49.11%) the people of the state a strategy had been put in place to enhance the level of cost effectiveness of revenue collection, 2.616 (60.03%) especially with respect 5.041 (52.37%) to existing fees and

STATES' BUDGETS IN NBILLIONS STATES

servants and political office holders, running costs, among others).

The worst culprit is the Federal Government, which allocated N634 billion (14.55 per cent) of its N4.358 trillion proposed budget to capital expenditure.

The central government spent N4.962 trillion last year.

Among the states, Imo is worse off.

Governor Rochas Okorocha proposed N141.22 billion and allocated N119.70 billion (84.43 per cent) to recurrent expenditure. Capital projects got a miserly N21.5 billion (15.57 per cent).

While presenting the budgets, the governors cited dwindling collectible revenue from the Federation Account as the main reason for scaling down the budgets. They promised to improve on their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to augment the budgets. And they hope to boost their IGR through taxation among other sources, which will boil down to the citizenry and businesses paying more.

levies.

However, the governor said priority would be given to expanding the state’s taxable base through accelerated gainful employment generation by private investors in the state. Of the N141.8 billion budget the sum of N86.72 billion (61.17 per cent) is allocated to recurrent expenditure while N55.05 billion (38.83 per cent) will be for capital expenditure.

In Ekiti state’s N80.78 billion “budget of reality ”, which represents 77.7 per cent of the 2014 budget of N103.8billion, Governor Ayodele Fayose said N48,717 billion was allocated to recurrent expenditure while capital expenditure would gulp N31. 956 billion.

According to him, the size of the budget was informed by his government’s desire to live within its means and go with an achievable estimate rather than “decorate the budget with unrealistic figures.”

The governor, who called for “expeditious passage of the bill,” explained that the budget would be funded by revenue from the federation allocation, internally generated revenue and other sources.

He also explained that his government would access N5billion internal loan contrary to his earlier stance that he would not borrow to run his government.

Capital expenditure: FG allocates 14.6% Presenting the budget to the National Assembly on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the budget has an aggregate revenue target of N3.602 trillion made up of oil

revenue (N1.918 trillion) and non-oil revenues (N1.684 trillion).

This expenditure figure is made up of N412 billion for Statutory Transfers, N943 billion for Debt Service, N2,616 billion for Recurrent (Non-Debt) and N634 billion for Capital Expenditure (inclusive of SURE-P). In other words, only N634 billion will be spent on infrastructure and provision of direly needed amenities.

To fund the budget, Okonjo-Iweala said IGR “actual receipts have continued to grow from about N182 billion in 2011 to N274 billion in 2013 and then, N328 billion as at October 2014” and decried leakages and nonremittance of funds to the treasury by some agencies.

She said President Jonathan has “subsequently issued an unequivocal directive to all revenue agencies to ensure remittance of their obligations to treasury and all relevant government bodies are now working with banks to ensure strict compliance, and so we have projected IGR receipts of N450 billion for 2015”.

She continued: “In 2015, the federal government will be ramping up the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)/McKinsey initiative to contribute an extra N160 billion in tax receipts and an aggregate of about N460 billion over and above the 2014 levels in the 2015-2017 period.”

On taxation, the minister hinted of a possible but gradual increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) as a long term measure. In the medium term, she said focus will be on tax policy to see where opportunities lie to streamline and rationalize certain taxes and levies while looking to boost others.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Woman bites off man’s private part in Edo

Five die, seven injured in Ogun multiple road crash

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY—THERE was pandemonium, weekend, in Benin City, Edo State, after a middle aged man (name withheld) lost his life following a fight with a lady, who chopped off his private part The incident which occurred around Isihor area of the city shocked the residents, considering the way and manner the heated argument between the lady and the deceased resulted to bloodshed.

It was learned that the lady ran her SUV car into the deceased Honda SUV, a development which led to a shouting bout. The deceased, who was said to be in the company of his brother, reportedly slapped the woman several times which led to the fracas.

An eyewitness informed Vanguard: “After the slap, the woman went straight to the man’s trousers and bite his private off and spat it on the tarred road to our greatest shock."

Vanguard learned that the man gave up the ghost while he was being rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH. Contacted, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Edoigiawerie, said the command was yet to be briefed on the incident.

60-yr-old man burnt to death in Ondo

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—TRAGEDY struck, yesterday, in Showo village, ObafemiOwode Local government Area of Ogun State, when five persons, including a threeyear- old- girl and her young mother, lost their lives while seven sustained serious injuries in a multiple road accident on the Abeokutasiun-Sagamu Road.

Our correspondent, who witnessed the accident scene gathered that, the seven persons who sustained

KURE— A 60-year-old father of six, Oyinleye Ige, was reportedly burnt to death in a fire incident that gutted his house in Ita-Ogbolu area of Ondo State.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased, just relocated from Akure, the state capital to his home town after he suffered stroke.

His children and wife reportedly refused to join him at the home town but always visited.

Sources said that he died inside his room midnight following the fire incident allegedly occasioned by a candle which fell on his bed and burnt him on the bed.

His health condition reportedly did not allow him to shout for help or run out of the room when the fire started.

His neighbours said that he stayed alone in the house and by the time they discovered that smoke was coming out from the building, he had been burnt beyond recognition.

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occupant was reportedly on top speed and veered off the road to the next lane for vehicles heading towards Sagamu and colluded with a passenger Mitsubishi car with number ÉPÉ 925D LAGOS. It was gathered that those who sustained injuries were rushed to a state hospital at Ijaiye but were rejected due to the ongoing strike by health workers.

They were later taken to a private hospital at Panseke, while the remains of those that lost their lives were abandoned at the scene of the crash at press time.

7 escape death as articulated truck rams into 2 vehicles at Police checkpoint

By Bose Adelaja

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AGOS — A fire outbreak in the early hours of yesterday, at Ebute Meta area of Lagos, consumed no fewer than 45 vehicles and about 100 makeshift structures.

The imported fairly used vehicles were meant for conversion from right to left hand drive in a bid to conform to the Nigerian system. No life was, however, lost in the incident.

Vanguard gathered that the inferno, which started from one of the makeshift structures was noticed by a neighbour, who raised alarm which attracted sympathisers, who contacted the fire fighters.

But the fire fighters arrived late as the vehicles had already been severely burnt.

Contacted, Director, Lagos State Fire Services, Razaq Fadipe, confirmed the incident, saying he got the distress call around 2 a.m and deployed his men immediately.

Police parade 17 suspected cultists in Rivers Scene of the accident. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

By Ikenna Asomba

By Dayo Johnson

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injuries included the driver of a security vehicle.

It was gathered that a staff of Lagos State Waste Management Authority lost his life.

The accident, which occurred around 5:30 p.m., drew a lot of sympathizers who stopped to give assistance to the injured victims, before the arrival of the officials of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency.

Our correspondent gathered that a black Nissan Almeria with number KSF 803 CX LAGOS with a lone young

45 vehicles razed as fire guts mechanic workshop in Lagos

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AGOS — SAVE for mother luck, Mrs. Martina Nwizu, her son and four other occupants of a Nissan Quest with number plate LAGOS KJA.746CX, as well as Mr. Tony Ajeh, a Toyota Corolla driver with number plate LAGOS ME 436.AAA, would have been dead, when a fully-loaded articulated truck rammed into their vehicles, yesterday, at Otto Woff Bus-stop on the OshodiApapa Expressway, Lagos.

Vanguard gathered that the accident occurred at 3.30p.m., as a result the uncoordinated flagging-down of vehicles by some policemen from the Kirikiri Police Station, who mounted a road-block on that portion of the road.

While Mrs. Nwizu and the occupants of her car were said to be heading to their house at Berger Suya area of Ajegunle, after spending their Christmas holiday in their village in Anambra State, Mr. Ajeh, was said to be heading to Kirikiri

area of Ajegunle from Ilupeju, before the accident occurred.

Vanguard learned that the policemen had flagged down Mrs. Nwizu’s Nissan Quest car driven by her son, and at the same time flagged down Mr. Ajeh’s Toyota Corolla car, to request their vehicle particulars and other documents.

In the process, an articulated truck marked, LAGOS KJA.92KG, fully loaded with goods was also said to have been flagged down by the same policemen.

The truck driver simply identified as Hassan, was said to have seen the policemen late, which left him with no option than to ram into the Nissan Quest and Toyota Corolla cars, in a bid to stop.

Speaking to Vanguard, Mrs. Nwizu, who was full of thanks to God Almighty that no life was lost, said: “We were coming all the way from our ancestral home in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. If anyone of us had died, what would people say, that we

travelled these long miles from the east only to be killed close to our home in Lagos?”

Giving his account, Mr. Ajeh, whose Toyota Corrolla was badly hit from behind, said: “I was just driving down and a policeman stopped me and I stopped. As I stopped, I appealed to him to allow me steer clear off the road, because it was dangerous to just park on a very busy expressway like this. Before I finished talking to him, a truck from no where rammed into my car.

“The policeman that stopped me is with no: 231776 from Kirikiri Police Station. We had no conversation before it happened, just that I was appealing to him to allow me park well, as he flagged me down, before the accident happened."

At press time, the Divisional Crime Officer, DCO, of the Police Station was said to have directed that the affected vehicles be towed to the Kirikiri Police Station, where the victims would be made to write statements.

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— THE Rivers State Police Command has paraded 15 suspected cultists arrested in a hotel on Oboburu Road, Akabuka community in ONELGA area of the state.

State police spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, said three pump actions, one English made double barrel, one locally made pistol and two dane guns were among items recovered from them.

According to Muhammad, the suspects were about going for an operation in the area when they were arrested.

Gunmen, last year, killed no fewer than 30 persons at separate operations in the local government.

“The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that in its increased onslaughts on criminals to usher in year 2015, has on a tip off raided a suspected criminals hide out," Muhammed said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015—7

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8—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

54 soldiers on death row: UN to intervene to avert execution

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS — THE United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions, Mr. Christof Heyns, has said that “appropriate actions, including communication to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan is being considered regarding the imminent execution of 54 soldiers in Nigeria.”

This followed a petition to Heyns by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, in December 2014 in which the group asked five UN human rights independent experts to individually and jointly use their “good offices and positions to urgently request the Nigerian government and its military authorities not to carry out the mass death sentences imposed on 54 Nigerian soldiers for what the government claimed was disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer.”

The development was disclosed by SERAP’s Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, in a statement, yesterday.

He said: “SERAP has been in discussion with Johel Dominique at the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions both on the telephone and via email.

Johel Dominique has confirmed that the Special Rapporteur is considering appropriate action to avert the imminent execution of 54 soldiers on death row in the country.

"We have also confirmed to the Special Rapporteur that SERAP has the consent of Mr Femi Falana, SAN, the legal counsel to the 54 soldiers to file the petition.

“SERAP welcomes the decision by Mr. Christof Heyns to intervene in the matter.

Given his longstanding human rights commitment and achievements, we have absolutely no doubt that Mr Heyns will work assiduously to ensure that justice is done in this matter and we wish him well as he strives to do that.”

SERAP had in a petition dated December 23, 2014 and addressed to five special rapporteurs stated: “It is not right or fair to try everyone in mass proceedings, and that such unfair trial should not send someone to the gallows."

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Boko Haram seizes military base in Borno As explosion kills 2 in Adamawa M AIDUGURI — SUSPECTED Boko Haram militants have seized a military base outside the Nigerian town of Baga near Lake Chad after engaging troops in a fierce battle that lasted several hours, witnesses said yesterday.

This was even as a blast suspected to be from an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, also claimed two lives in Dahlehi Community in the Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

“They (the militants) overwhelmed the troops and forced them to abandon the base which the gunmen took over,” local resident Usman Danssubdu told AFP after fleeing to neighbouring Chad following Saturday’s raids.

The base is used by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which was established in 1998 to battle cross-border crime but whose mandate was expanded to fighting Boko Haram when the Islamist group emerged.

The force is made up of troops from Nigeria as well as Niger and Chad.

Hundreds of fear-stricken residents from Baga and five other Nigerian towns and villages have poured into neighbouring Chad to escape Boko Haram raids on their homes on the shores of Lake Chad, witnesses said.

Residents of Kauyen Kuros, Mile 3, Mile 4, Baga, DoronBaga and Bundaram fled across the lake in fishing

BIRTHDAY: From left: Mrs Kemi Ajayi; Mrs Toyin Imoyo, daughter of celebrator; Dr Iyabo Foresythe, the celebrator; Chief Abiodun Adeniji; Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos and Chief Seinde Akinsete, chairman of the occasion during a special prayer to mark 80th birthday of Dr Iyabo Foresythe, the Iya Abiye of Lagos, in Lagos, weekend. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor boats and canoes into Chad following hours-long attacks on Saturday by hundreds of militants from the Islamist group.

“We are now seeking refuge in Gubuwa, Kangallam and Kaiga villages inside Chad near the border with Nigeria,” Dansubdu told AFP by telephone from Gubuwa.

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen late Saturday also raided the town of Babban Gida, 50 kilometres from Damaturu, the capital of neighbouring Yobe State, according to residents, who said they destroyed several buildings.

Explosion kills 2 in Adamawa

Meanwhile, a blast suspected to be from an IED also claimed two lives in Dahlehi community in the Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Chairman of the Local Government, Alhaji Mohammed Jibrilla, has said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Yola.

He said the incident occurred when some youths lit fire to warm themselves because of harmattan cold but mistakenly added a leather object they picked by the roadside containing a strange object.

He said the leather object suspected to be an abandoned IED exploded,

killing two of the youths.

He said: “The development was followed by an explosion which killed one person on the spot while the second died shortly before admission at the Yola Specialist Hospital. Two other injured youths are now on admission in the hospital.”

Jibrilla advised the public to be vigilant and to report any strange object to the authorities.

NAN reports that Maiha Local Government was one of the local governments recovered recently from insurgents by the military.

Contacted, the Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Othman Abubakar, confirmed the incident but did not give details.

What presidential election is all about, by Kukah Z ANGON KATAF — THE Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has said that the 2015 generation election was not about who would either win or not but about the one who would be ashamed of the state of the nation and do the right thing.

Kukah spoke at Ungwar Rana, Ashafa Ikulu Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State during the burial of a retired military officer and community leader, Lt. Col. Christopher Waziri Zonkwa, who died at the age of 74, weekend.

The Bishop said it did not matter who emerged President after the elction as, according to him, Nigerians were interested in somebody who will address the problems facing them just as he lamented that "everything in this country (including election) is done by

arrangement.’’

He blamed the country’s leaders for failing to move the country to the path of progress after over 50 years of independence.

According to him, it was regrettable that Nigerians were still talking about same issues after several years of nationhood.

His words: “The issue of 2015 elections is not about who wins, but it is about somebody who is ashamed of the state of the Nigerian nation and strives to do the right thing. This is a country where people steal and go to other countries to set up businesses and buy houses.

“The things that Nigerians are doing today, especially politicians, are responsible for why things are not working. We must ask ourselves why we are still talking about the same issues 40, 50 years after.

“The election is not about

prayers alone, it is about whether politicians can understand that politics is about service and allow free and fair elections to hold.

Everything done by arrangement

“Whether the country will stand or fall, depends on whether the politicians will stop their greed. We cannot go on like this as a country.

“Everything in this country is done by arrangement; there is no how we can make progress when everything is done by arrangement “Nigeria is the only country that does not think and plan for the future, all the developed countries think and plan 10 years ahead. For instance if America hears of happenings in other parts of the world, they think of how it is going to affect the

Americans and begin to plan ahead.”

On the late Lt. Col Zonkwa, Kukah described him as a principled man who served the military and his people well.

Also in their tributes, former Military Governor of Rivers State, Maj. Gen. Zamani Lekwot and his Kaduna State counterpart, Maj. Gen. Tanko Ayuba, retd, described late Zonkwa as a humble, resourceful and hard working officer.

Ayuba said: “I knew the late Lt. Col. Zonkwa since 1962 when we were serving together in the military. He was a private then and we grew together in rank in the Army.

“His hard work, loyalty and dexterity endeared him to many top military officers and commanders who he served under. His lifestyle in retirement was characterised by humility and hard work. His death is a big loss to the people of Kaduna State and the nation.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015—9

We screened and found Buhari qualified —Member, APC screening c'ttee

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

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AGOS— All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), was scrutinised and found educationally qualified to be the party’s presidential flag bearer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, a member of the party’s committee, who screened all five presidential aspirants, has said.

Abayomi’s assertion came as a senior Buhari aide affirmed that the campaign would not go into the mud with the candidate’s rivals on the issue.

The senior campaign official said officials of the Buhari campaign were not in any way bothered on the issue given what he said was the uprightness of the General on the issue.

Abayomi in a statement yesterday affirmed he was a member of the presidential screening committee who scrutinised Buhari’s qualification for the presidency and found him fit and awarded him a certificate of clearance.

He further asserted that even without the production of the certificates that General Buhari was eminently qualified for the race and the presidency.

“As a member of the APC Screening Committee, I can affirm unequivocally that Gen. Buhari met the education qualification prescribed by the constitution,” he said as he went on to list the schools and courses attended by the former head of state.

He said: “Still the question remains, has General Buhari without presenting especially his school certificate or its equivalent met the education precondition set for presidential candidates in the constitution?”

“To begin with, the Constitution does not prescribe the presentation or show of any certificate to qualify for election to the office of President. Under section 131(d) of our military constitution, a person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if 'he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.'

"While a certificate may unequivocally show that a contestant has been educated up to at least School Certificate level, his education without a certificate may show, again unequivocally that he has been educated up to the equivalent of School Certificate level.

"For example, assuming A is the best student in Ajuwa Grammar School, Okeagbe, Akoko. Now on the very day before the commencement of the West African School Certificate Examination, he sexually

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harassed the daughter of the English teacher as a result of which he was dismissed, will A be said not to have met the education qualification of section 131(d) of the constitution?

“In my view A has not only been educated up to at least School Certificate level he would also be deemed to have been educated to its equivalent.

This position finds support in section 131 (d) which neither

prescribed a pass which is required for certification nor a fail which denies it. The interest of the constitution is with the level of the education of the candidate howsoever acquired, not the certificate he acquires ipso facto.

“The APC screening committee was made up of several eminent, highly educated and enlightened men and a woman. They came to the conclusion after putting APC

presidential aspirants through a most rigorous test that all the APC aspirants met the constitutional qualifications including education qualification to contest for election to the office of President.

"They confirmed this by awarding them a certificate. The qualification set by the constitution for contest is the level of education not its certificate."

FESTIVAL: From left: Vice President Namadi Sambo and Chief of Kagoro, Mr, Ufuwai Bonet, during the 2015 Afan National Festival in Fadan Kagoro on New Year day. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Bakare wants February polls postponed by 6 months

By Dapo Akinrefon

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AGOS — CONVENER of the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, Pastor Tunde Bakare has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to postpone the February general elections by six months to enable it review the election timetable.

He spoke in Lagos yesterday in his state of the nation’s address with the theme, "The Gathering Storm and Avoidable Shipwreck: How to Avoid Catastrophic Euroclydon, at his church, the Latter Rain Assembly.

Warning of impending dangers for the country if the warning signals were ignored, Bakare said the only way to avert the storm was to urgently address some fundamental flaws in the polity.

He said: “I must state that the proposal for suspension of elections is not with a view to giving the president an avenue for undue tenure elongation but for the purpose of building a coalition that will bring lasting solutions to our problems.

“I have clearly painted a picture of where we are, a disaster is

ahead of us. If the northerner emerges as winner, whether he has won that election fair and square or not, people will allege rigging. If Jonathan wins the election, fair and square, they will allege that he used his power of incumbency to rig the election.

"The weather is not conducive for any election in February this year for that matter and I have quoted the right sections of the constitution that empower the president and the National Assembly to extend the election for a six months, provided it is not to stay in power or to elongate but to be working critically to ensure that these things are put in place before we go to the elections. This is my considered opinion and I believe I have the spirit of God. “In suspending the elections and to gain the support of all stakeholders, the president must not act with the intention to seek re-election. Rather, he should, within the period, commit himself to building a non-partisan coalition comprised of major stakeholders and competent statesmen from each geopolitical zone.

"This coalition, headed by the president, will constitute a combined force that will tackle terrorism and address what I have earlier referred to as the fundamentals, within a time frame of two years or less.”

According to him, these factors have directly and indirectly contributed to the current economic crisis, political instability, and the security situation in the country.

He highlighted the problems which must be addressed to include “the awkward geopolitical structure of the federalism and the consequent lopsided economic structure in which a single product from one region of the country contributes the bulk of the revenue of the entire nation despite the abundant resources spread across the nation.”

Warning of the danger ahead as the country prepares for the elections, Bakare further lamented the level of preparedness of INEC as evidenced in the shoddy manner the distribution of the PVCs was being handled.

TUC demands reduction in pump prices of fuel

By Victor Ahiumayoung

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AGOS — TRADE n i o n Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday in Lagos, expressed shock that the Federal Government was yet to effect a drastic reduction in the pump price of fuel in line with falling crude price in the international market.

In a statement to welcome Nigerian workers to the New Year, TUC’s President, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, called on government to immediately reduce the pump prices of petroleum products to ameliorate the suffering of the Nigerian masses.

According to the statement, “on the recent drop in the price of crude, account has it that following the unexpected drop in the prices of crude, government is planning to employ some austerity measures to cushion the effect on the economy.

"The labour movement and some fore-sighted wellmeaning Nigerians had for several times called on government to make utmost use of the excess dollar we got by diversifying the economy to no avail.

Unfortunately, our politicians are only interested in rushing down to Abuja for monthly allocation.

"Yes, our economy has just been rated the biggest economy in Africa. How do we agree with that when in practical terms when the lending rates, cost of living and doing business are unreasonably high?

"Additionally, the hasty and deliberate devaluation of the naira which has also brought untold hardship to the real sector and all other facets of the economy have to be addressed as congress will not tolerate cases of job losses arising from government’s insensitivity.

“It becomes pertinent to warn against such move now to avoid worsening the spate of insecurity in the country today, which was occasioned by the gross mismanagement of the economy. No wonder, unemployment figures remain high; unimaginable crime rates, poverty, epileptic energy sector and inexplicable high tariff have become our lot."

U

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

PENGASSAN tasks FG on local refineries

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AGOS—THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), yesterday urged the Federal Government to demonstrate commitment to stimulating local refining of crude oil in 2015.

The General Secretary of the union, Mr Bayo Olowoshile speaking in Lagos said only domestic refining would end crises in the oil and gas sector.

“The key focus of the government in 2015 should be to stimulate local refining of petroleum, white products and petrochemical products.

“Domestic gas production for energy, industry, agricultural and automotive purposes should be given ultimate attention in the New Year,” Olowoshile said.

The PENGASSAN scribe said government should cut the rate of importation of products by 50 per cent.

“Job creation and manpower utilisation should also be a priority of the government at such time like this when crime rate has increased.''

Nigeria'll not break up in 2015 — NLC SCRIBE

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AGOS–THE Nigeria Labour Congress NLC yesterday said that the prediction that Nigeria would disintegrate in 2015 would fail.

Mr Peter Ozo-Eson, the General Secretary of the NLC said in Lagos that the country would overcome its challenges.

“I am confident that the prediction will fall flat on the face; Nigeria will not disintegrate in 2015.

“Yes, we have these challenges, we however have confidence that Nigeria will rise to the challenge and deal with these challenges.

“Nigeria had faced challenges in the past, probably more severe than now and we did not disintegrate.

“I believe that this country is so united and has created ties that are not easily dissolve-able; the prediction will not come through,” he said.

C M Y K

We're not on strike — LUTH DOCTORS

By Chioma Obinna

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AGOS—MEDICAL doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, yesterday dismissed reports that doctors at the hospital were on strike, describing as a false.”

The medical doctors under the auspices of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, LUTH branch, in a statement tagged:

...As Medical Guild gives Lagos govt 21-day ultimatum “Setting the Records Straight,” signed by its president, Dr. Moronkola Ayinde RamonKolade stated that doctors in LUTH and other hospitals across the nation were on their duty post and taking calls.

Ramon-Kolade, who described the reports as misinformation, misrepresentation and impersonation said the reports

were untrue.

“To set the record straight, doctors in LUTH, Lagos state hospitals and nationwide are not on strike. We are always at our duty post and have been taking our calls.”

He explained that since the commencement of the ongoing Joint Health Sector Strike, JOHESU, the power supply has

LUNCHEON: From left: Prof. Kolawole Raheem; President, Oasis Women Organization, Mrs. Mojisola Adams; former Head of Philosophy Department, University of Lagos, Prof. Sophie Oluwole; beneficiary, Mrs. Rachael Abas, and Chief Promoter, Olokun Festival Foundation, Chief Gani Adams, during the 7th annual empowerment luncheon of Oasis in Lagos.

become more unreliable; consumables and equipment locked away by the striking workers but they have been able to keep the hospitals running to the best of their ability.

Ramon – Kolade further revealed that the ongoing strike of health workers have doubled their responsibilities in the hospital.

In another development, medical doctors under the employ of the Lagos State Government yesterday issued a 21–Day ultimatum to the state government, threatening to withdraw their services at the expiration of the period should the government fails to meet their demands.

A press statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Tope Ojo and Secretary, Dr. Saheed Babatunde, said the decision was reached at the State NMA’s Emergency General Meeting in Lagos.

The doctors under the auspices of Medical Guild also threatened to mobilise members of the state NMA to commence withdrawal of service in all institutions in the state if all issues remain unresolved after one week of expiration of the Guild’s ultimatum.

Fashola, Osinbajo fault FG's economic policies

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend punctured the economic policies of the Federal Government, saying it lacks safety net for an economy on the brink of recession.

This came as leaders of various students unions of the tertiary institutions in Lagos pledged their support for the Lagos APC governorship candidate, who are in one way or the other connected to the ivory tower and teaching profession even as they called for change at the centre.

The duo, who spoke at an interactive session with student union leaders of tertiary institutions, which took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square Hall, added that corruption mismanagement and lack of accountability were largely responsible for the country’s under-development.

Fashola described the austerity measures being proposed by the Federal Government as deceptive, adding that the official excuse it gave that because it was

losing 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the people have to tighten their belts is not tenable.

He said, “Largely because of their inefficiency, they have now come to say tighten your belt as austerity has come. Stop losing

400,000 barrels first because 400,000 barrels even at 50 dollars would give you about 20 million Dollars per day. When you multiply that by 190, it would give you about N3.8 billion a day that is being lost.”

Fashola, who also faulted the recourse to an increase in Value Added Tax as part of the belt tightening regime stressed that; “Before you come back to the citizen to say tighten your belt you must do your job first.''

Ambode unveils manifesto, promises to make Lagos work

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AGOS—THE All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has promised to make Lagos work for everyone if he is elected into office by focusing on Security, Economy, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Social Welfare and Good Governance.

In a document released in Lagos yesterday containing his manifesto, vision and mission with the theme: “Making Lagos work for everyone”, Mr Ambode said his administration will provide leadership, accountability, governance, opportunity and service.

On economy, he said his government will, among other things provide job by; *Establishing an Employment Trust Fund with a commitment of N25bn in four years by the government one billion naira to be accessed by each of the five

divisions in the State for the next four years); Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos and Epe Divisions *Establishing Small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme, to be managed by reputable stakeholders from the private sector, civil society in conjunction with government; *Encouraging Corporate Lagos to participate in the Employment Trust Fund and other areas of need that will help take our Youth off the streets. *Providing adequate security for local and foreign businessmen and women to operate without fear of investment losses. *Address regulatory matters on a fast-track basis with the aid of effective e-governance solutions for businesses. *Re-inventing the ‘Middle Class’ by taking deliberate actions with commensurate political will to propel the middle class into the engine room of the

economic prosperity of Lagos;and *Collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to establish a credit system that is a win-win for everyone to boost trade and commerce.

On education, Ambode promised to continue the current schools renovation program statewide to improve learning environment, upgrade libraries and create new ones into elibraries in each LGA/LCDA in the State,Establish IBILE meal scheme in all our public schools and pay bursary for students in higher institutions and introduce scholarship into our Vocational and Technical Colleges.

He also said his administration will ''Reposition LASU and Lagos State Polytechnic and other tertiary institutions in the state as global centres of academy and continue the current schools renovation program state-wide to improve learning environment.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 — 11

I'll reconcile Obasanjo, Daniel, Kashamu, others – ISIAKA

By Daud Olatunji

MIMIKO AT 1ST SUNDAY Olusegun Mimiko (2nd right), Chapel of Grace, Ondo State wife, Pastor Faith, at the first chapel, in Akure, yesterday.

them if voted into power.

Isiaka said discussions were on-going with all the aggrieved members and leaders, describing them as important members of the family.

He said “our state is blessed

SERVICE OF THE YEAR Ondo State Governor, Dr his wife, Olukemi (2nd left) flanked by Chaplain of the Government House, Pastor Waleola Akinfiresoye and Sunday service of the year, at the Government House

with very giant and accomplished men. And the responsibility of the governor is to manage all of these. It is my responsibility to reconcile Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Prince Buruji

Kashamu and a lot of others.

“There are grouses here and there, but we are working on it.

We are hopeful that we get most of it resolved, we might not get all of it resolved, but, we will get most of it resolved”, he said.

Ekiti APC, NUT bicker over apology to Fayemi

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI—THE All Progressives Congress and the Nigerian Union of Teachers in Ekiti State have engaged each other in a war of words over a statement credited to the state chairman of NUT, Comrade Samuel Akosile, The state wing of APC has in a statement accused Akosile, of misrepresenting the interests of his members.Akosile had in a statement disowned the teachers that were said to have apologised to former Governor Kayode Fayemi in a live radio programme over their opposition to him during the June 21, 2014 governorship poll.

In a statement by State Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun in Ado Ekiti yesterday described the statement as unfortunate.

“The statement does not represent the collective views of the teachers who celebrated Christmas in hunger compared to the pomp with which they celebrated previous Christmas under Governor Kayode Fayemi,” Olatubosun said.

Reacting swiftly,the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Samuel Akosile, , wondered how the APC spokesman, who is not a teacher, C M Y K

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

A

B E O K U TA — T H E governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Prince Gboyega Isiaka has pledged to reconcile former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation committee of the PDP in South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, ahead of the coming elections.

Isiaka, popularly called GNI, who stated this during the inauguration of Goodluck and GNI youth movement, GnG, in Abeokuta, yesterday, disclosed that, he had begun the moves to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party.

Obasanjo, Daniel and others have been having issues with Kashamu, who is in control of the party structure in the state.

Speaking shortly after the inauguration of the youth movement, whose members will serve as the foot soldiers for both the President and Isiaka during the electioneering campaign, Isiaka commended the organisers of the GnG led by Fatai Adesegun and pledged not to disappoint

Return to work, health workers urged

would know his members more than him.

Olatubosun, however challenged Akosile to deny the various welfare packages for teachers during Fayemi’s administration which according to him ranges from salary increment four times to promotion of teachers which had been suspended by previous administrations.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed confidence that it will win all seats in the National and State Assemblies as well as record overwhelming victory for President Goodluck Jonathan in the coming elections in the state.

The party also passed a vote of confidence on Governor Ayo Fayose, saying he has brought the state back to the path of progress.

The PDP, in a statement by the State Secretary, Dr Tope Aluko, in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend, said at a special executive meeting marking the end of 2014, appraised the political situation in the state and was confident of its performance.

“We look at the main opposition All Progressives Congress ( APC) and all we can see is that they can never

recover from the thrashing they got the other time. The people of the state have rejected them and their hypocrisy.

UPN tackles Fasheun over comment on PDP

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—THE Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) yesterday, tackled the founder of Oodua People’s Congress, Dr. Frederick Fasheun over his plan to merge the party with the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the coming elections.

The party also rejected the current list of candidates purportedly released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the forthcoming general elections where its name and candidates were omitted.

The Ogun state chairman of the party, Prince Shoye Oyenuga and the governorship candidate, Prince Rotimi Paseda stated these at a press conference and formal presentation of the party’s candidates for the elections held in Omu-Ijebu, in Odogboolu local government area of the state, the homestead of the party’s governorship candidate.

The party while reacting to the claim by Fasheun insisted that the UPN would field its Presidential candidate and not merge with any party including the ruling PDP. Fasheun had said in an advertorial said

SOGBO–THE c h a i r m a n , governing board of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital ABUTH, Zaria, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun has appealed to the striking health workers in the country to call off their nationwide strike in the interest of all Nigerians.

Rising from its 91st meeting, the board charged the striking workers to rescind their stand on the on-going strike as a way of reciprocating President Goodluck Jonathan’s reforming step in ordering holistic review of the entire health sector and meeting the demands of the striking workers.

Briefing newsmen in Osogbo on the outcome of the meeting, Chief Oyedokun described the President’s swift response in setting up a committee to look into the grievances of health workers as good, arguing that the gestures demand the cooperation of the union in embracing dialogue as well as showing the spirit of sacrifice.

12 —

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015—13

Nobody can give PDP ultimatum —WIKE

By Jimitota Onoyume & Davies Iheamnachor

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ORT HARCOURT— PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that nobody can give the party ultimatum or direct it on what to do.

Wike, at the sensitisation rally on non-violent election organised by the Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, said that the ultimatum issued

by PDP statesmen and chieftains from a riverine ethnic nationality in the state cannot be adhered to by the party.

Similarly, PDP Elders Forum in the state has called on the national leadership of the party to ignore an ultimatum for the party to substitute the governorship candidate of the party with somebody from the riverine part of the state.

The Rivers Leaders and Elders Council, led by Chief Albert Horsfall, had handed the party a 7-day ultimatum to substitute the candidate of the party, Wike, with somebody from the riverine area, insisting that it would be unfair for Wike, who is from Ikwerre to succeed Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is also from Ikwerre area of the state.

Wike, in a statement, said it was an empty threat as no single individual can give the

‘DELTA GOV: Okowa’s emergence an act of God'

By Festus Ahon

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S A B A — A F O R M E R chairmanship aspirant for Ukwuani Local Government Area, Delta State, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Basil Ishiekwene, has described the emergence of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as the state PDP governorship Candidate as an act of God. Ishiekwene, while speaking to newsmen urged all party faithful to rally round Senator Okowa to ensure victory for the PDP in the February general elections.

He said: “Senator Okowa’s emergence as candidate of the party is a welcomed development because it goes to show that only credible politicians with massive grassroots support can still win elections."

party instruction on what to do, adding that elder statesmen do not incite the polity but seek for peace.

“Nobody can sit in his house and give directives. You cannot be in your house and say, I direct Riverine, because we refused your children from flying the flags of PDP for the House of Representatives. Elder statesmen do not talk anyhow.

Theirs is to make peace and not incite the polity.

“When they have received favour from Amaechi, they think they can direct PDP on what to do. You cannot direct an association you don’t belong to.

They are making empty threats, mark it today, their efforts are in vain. If they know me very well, they will not be talking again.”

On its part, the PDP Elders Forum, in its statement by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, said that the call by the Horsfall-led

group was undemocratic.

“Chief Horsfall and his group are fully aware that in partisan politics, governors are not appointed as is being demanded by them but must emerge from political parties through elections and for a political party to win an election, it must be strong, popular and field a flag bearer with the capacity to lead the party to victory."

DEDICATION: From right: Rivers PDP governorship candidate, Mr Nyesom Wike; deputy governorship candidate, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo; former Rivers State governor, Sir Celestine Omehia and former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili, during the church service to dedicate the PDP campaigns for the general election at the Saint Paul's Anglican Cathedral, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

Edo APC calls for Orbih's arrest over N142m allegation

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, weekend, called on the Edo State Police Commissioner to arrest and prosecute the state Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, over his claim that Governor Adams Oshiomhole spent N142 million to commission projects executed by the state government.

The state party Chairman, Mr Anselm Ojezua, said that Orbih should also be arrested for forgery, “Since he could forge government documents just to misinform the public. We cannot afford to rubbish the name of a governor who has done so well for his people on the alter of politics. That is why Orbih should be arrested.

“By now, the people of Edo State already know that Orbih is speaking from the figment of his imagination and that the PDP has nothing to offer Edo people. I would have been satisfied if Orbih had shown them something in Iguobazuwa that the PDP achieved in their 10 years

administration in Edo State.

Nobody in PDP has the moral justification to even point accusing fingers at anybody regarding corruption, a person whose leader and President has redefined corruption to discount stealing.

“Secondly, N20 billion is said to be missing and the President

promised Nigerians a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Up till this moment, we don’t know the auditors despite the fact that Nigerians have subscribed to the Public Procurement Act, which makes it imperative for the President to run a transparent government."

Military pensioners give Jonathan 30-day ultimatum over pension arrears

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—ANGRY military pensioners in the country have given President Goodluck Jonathan a 30-day ultimatum to pay pension arrears or risk actions that may jeopardise next month’s presidential election.

The National Association of Military Pensioners, in a letter to Mr. President by its National President, Major Eromafuru Benson (rtd.), said: “The time has come for you to pay all accumulated military pension

arrears or risk the 2015 general elections from taking place.

“We have waited this long after five years of absolute neglect by your administration. We have been cheated, deprived and treated like slaves and second class citizens in this country despite all cries, pleading and even begging for what belongs to us.

“If after our 30 days ultimatum which will expire on January 30, you still refuse to pay us, then the 2015 general elections coming up in February will witness horrible incidents."

How Omatseye won Delta South senatorial ticket, by Owei

By Chris Ochayi

A

BUJA—THE Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Prince Owei, has said that the former Director General of Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Temisan Omatseye won the party’s primary election for Delta South senatorial district.

Owei, who spoke with Vanguard in an interview in Abuja, warned that the party stands the risk of losing the senatorial seat if the ticket was not given to the winner of the primaries.

He appealed to the party’s national body to give the ticket to the winner of the primaries, noting that denying Omatseye of his victory will rob the party victory at the polls.

A-Ibom sets up 10-man c'ttee for revenue generation

By Tom Moses

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YO — W O R R I E D by the dwindling economic fortunes arising from the shortfall in oil revenue, Akwa Ibom State Government has set up a 10-man Revenue Advisory Committee to evolve a sustainable plan for improved revenue generation for the state.

Members of the committee, which is headed by the Dean of College of Permanent Secretaries, Mrs. Grace Iwok, has Elder Offiong Udofffe as Secretary, Mr. Offiong Eduongo, Lady Gloria Umoren, Dr. Effiong Abia, Mr. Offiong Charles, Mr. Anietie Edem and Mr Okokon Essien as members.

They are expected to seek new strategies to boost the capacity of the state’s internally generated revenue.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Urhobo reject Buhari, pledge support for Jonathan

By Godwin Oghre

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OSOGAR—THOUGH the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has failed to produce an Urhobo as its governorship candidate for this year ’s governorship election in Delta State, the Urhobo nation at home and in the Diaspora, contrary to its earlier stand, has conveyed their approval and support to President Goodluck Jonathan, who is re-contesting this year ’s presidential election under the platform of the PDP. They promised to deliver over one million votes to the President in the presidential election.

It will be recalled that the Urhobo had earlier vowed to vote, both at the governorship and at the presidential elections, in favour of the political party which gives its governorship ticket to an Urhobo aspirant.

This it had affirmed in what it generally regarded as, Uvwiamuge Declaration, which said that the Urhobo nation was sacrosanct.

By this development, the Urhobo have, at the presidential level, dumped the only two parties in the

state, presenting Urhobo governorship candidates, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Labour Party, LP. The current twist of event occurred, when the Urhobo nation, through its umbrella body, the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, led by its

President-General, Chief Joseph Omene, leading an eight man team of prominent executive and non-executive members, was at the Presidential villa, Abuja, where it conveyed to the President, its willingness and readiness to deliver its

estimated over one million votes to the PDP, with Mr President as its candidate in this year ’s Presidential election, even when the party’s governorship primary election in the state was won by a non-Urhobo from Delta North.

THANKSGIVING: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and wife, Ekaette (middle); Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Sam Ikon (left), and the state deputy governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, during an inter-denominational thanksgiving service organized by Akwa Ibom State Government in Uyo.

Peterside promises greater devt in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume

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system, the traditional rulers and fathers, to lend their voice of critique, so that the people can take the right path.

“Your majesties, I know that it is not going to be an easy decision, at a time when our

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNORSHIP candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has called on Ikwerre traditional rulers to join in the effort to promote political justice and equity in the state.

Peterside, when he paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Isiokpo Ancient Kingdom, Eze Blessing

By Jimitota Wagor, in Isiokpo, Onoyume headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area ORT HARof the state, said that COURT— THE traditional rulers have a role to play in the drive governorship candidate to ensure sustained of Peoples Democratic development in the state. Party, PDP, in Rivers He said that if elected, State, Mr Nyesom Wike, he will ensure greater has called on the church development of the state. to pray against any emerging “Now we are about to cultist make another decision as governor of the state this to who will be the year.

Wike, at St. Paul’s governor of Rivers State.

Ikwerre, as an ethnic Anglican Church, Port nationality, has a very Harcourt, Rivers State, critical role to play at this while dedicating his point in time. As campaign to God, said custodians of Ikwerre that he had never been culture, and Ikwerre a cultist and was never values, at a time of invited as a student in national moral crisis, we the university to join expect the custodians of any cult group.

Describing himself as a our culture and value good Christian, Wike

children are exposed to rice; you will give them that rice and they will go to toilet the next day.

“The Ikwerre man is known to work hard and keep his dignity. He is never known to

be a beggar. It is not our culture, it is not our tradition.

So, today, at occasions, they dish out N1,000, N2,000, but you know that N1,000 can never go round any Ikwerre son. It will only go round a few cronies.”

Pray that no cultist emerges governor this year —WIKE

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said that if elected, he will respect elders and the traditional institutions in the state.

He said: “We are not hypocrites. Some of us are from very good Christian backgrounds.

We don’t need to bring television to people and start rolling on the ground for people to know that we are good Christians. All of you know that my father is a pastor. I am sitting here today saying that I am a child of God. “Mr. Vicar, let me say this and I want everybody to hear me say it. I attended the University of Port Harcourt, where I read Political Science. I went to the University of

Science and Technology, where I read Law and later, the Nigerian Law School.

From the University of Port Harcourt to the University of Science and Technology, I never belonged to any secret cult in the universities.

“I want to challenge anybody who will even say that I was once invited, but I refused. I have never been invited and this is because they knew I would not come.

I want you to pray that any person that is a member of a secret cult and has not come to the church to confess and renounce secret cult, should not be governor of this state.

“Also, as I speak here,

if I am a member of a secret society and now I am saying that I am no longer in a secret cult, then pray also that I should not become the governor of this state.”

NEW YEAR: Asagba, Nwoko urge Deltans to embrace peace

T

HE Asagba of s a b a , His Royal Majesty, Prof. Chike Edozien, has enjoined Deltans to embrace peace and remain united as the country enters into the New Year 2015.

Also, Delta State Coordinator of the Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, Prince Ned Nwoko, who has predicted that this year ’s general elections will be a milestone in the country ’s political history, asked Nigerians to remain peaceful.

In his New Year message, Prof. Edozien said: “The people of Asaba and indeed Delta State, have every reason to thank God for ushering them into 2015,” adding that what citizens need was a peaceful atmosphere that will provide the enabling environment for development.

Meanwhile, Nwoko, the Delta State Coordinating Director of Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n Ambassadors of Nigeria, has assured that the campaign mobilisation group will identify with Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in the f o r t h c o m i n g governorship election in the state.

In his New Year message to Deltans, Nwoko, who recently lost his 22 year old son, thanked numerous friends, associates and family for their messages of solidarity.

A

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015—15

'Nigeria's doomed, should Jonathan rule 4 more yrs'

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA — HEAD, Media and Publicity of the Buhari Support Organization, BSO, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, yesterday, warned that Nigeria would be doomed should President Goodluck Jonathan be allowed to rule for another four years.

Maduekwe who spoke to Vanguard in Abuja, also claimed Jonathan deceived the people of the south east especially the Igbos by adding “Azikiwe”, to his names; a name he adopted from the first President of Nigeria, late Dr. Nnmadi Aizikwe, a revered Igbo man.

According to him, the promise of building a second Niger bridge in Anambra State by the president administration which it never realized was very ridiculing to the Igbos.

According to him, “If Jonathan is allowed to remain in office for the next four years, I am sorry, we probably may not have a country because we have lost much under him. In 13 or 14 local government areas of this country, alien flags are being flown by people we do not know. It is irreconcilable. As a former member of the House of Representatives who was Chairman, Committee on Defence, I definitely know the capacity of our military.

I know what our military can do. But the commander in chief currently is not providing that political will to enable our military to do things the way they have been known in the past.

Mark loses bid to secure automatic tickets for Senators despite Jonathan’s intervention ... Senator hopeful's name smuggled into INEC list of candidates

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA — THE move by Senate President, Chief David Mark, to secure automatic tickets for some of his principal officers, who were schemed out of the Peoples Democratic Party’s primaries by their governors, has finally collapsed.

One principal officer of the Senate, was, however, still hopeful, weekend, that his name might have been smuggled into by the party after the intervention of the President with his governor.

The strident attempt to salvage the lawmakers, who reportedly ‘lost’ the mock election in most cases to unknown politicians, failed when the governors of the affected states confronted Mark before President Goodluck Jonathan to drop his fight for the affected senators.

Mark, Vanguard learnt, had led a group of lawmakers to the Presidential Villa in a last minute attempt to convince Jonathan to intervene in the face-off between the senators and their governors so that they could be given the tickets of the party to return to the upper legislative chambers this year.

But in accepting to intervene, Jonathan reportedly asked the governors of the affected states

to be present when Mark would be presenting the request for the special tickets for those who lost the election in their states.

Vanguard learned from a principal officer, who attended the meeting that despite the presence of Jonathan, most of the governors, who turned up to defend why the senators should not return to the Senate in 2015, made scathing remarks that infuriated the embattled lawmakers and almost resulted in a hot exchange of words.

A governor from one of the South-South states, who is opposing the return of a key committee chairman, who had been in the National Assembly since 1999, reportedly told Jonathan that the senator had no electoral value and should not

continue to occupy the seat in the Senate.

The governor even boasted that apart from the first election, which the lawmaker won in 1999 to the House of Representatives, he had subsequently been relying on others to win election, having not been able to secure the support of the people on his own.

The senator in turn, told Jonathan that it was the governor, who created problems for him, having snatched a federal educational institution approved for his constituency to his own (governor’s) village, thereby making him appear as if he had not performed.

The governor of a principal officer from the southern part of Nigeria is also said to have vehemently opposed the return

SENSITISATION: Women wing of former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah's campaign organisation, during sensitisation within the Orum-Etiti community, in Anambra State, yesterday.

Yero condemns attacks on Ambe-Madaki, murder of district head

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ADUNA—GOVERNOR of Kaduna State, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has condemned the incessant attacks on innocent citizens in Ambe-Madaki Village in Sanga Local Government Area of the state as well as weekend’s murder of the District Head of Zangang in Atakar Chiefdom,

Mr. Yohanna Daniel Shinkut, describing the acts as ‘’devilish and unwarranted.’’

About 15 persons were reportedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the area Friday morning.

Yero’s reaction over the killings was contained in a statement

signed by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Ahmed Maiyaki in Kaduna, yesterday.

The governor said the new wave of attacks in Southern Kaduna were clear indications that some desperate persons were bent on creating confusion in the state for their selfish gains

Okonjo-Iweala sued over refusal to reveal salaries of political office-holders

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA — MINISTER of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been dragged before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, over her alleged refusal to grant access to details of salaries and emoluments that political office holders receive from the federal budget per annum.

A non-governmental organisation, Centre for Social Justice, through its lawyer, Mr. Nnajiaka Kingsley, is praying the court to issue an order of mandamus, compelling the

of the senator who had the sympathy of Jonathan.

The man, a top-ranking lawyer, was said to have been edged out of the PDP Senate contest following a battle of wits that saw the senator and former friend of the governor toeing a path different from the governor on the forthcoming governorship election.

It was, however, learned that Jonathan had asked the governor to tamper justice with mercy and allow the lawyer’s name to be sent to INEC because of his strategic position in the Senate and closeness to the seat of power.

As at Sunday, the senator was said to be upbeat that his name had been submitted to INEC, but asked his close associates not to make it public.

minister to disclose the details of salaries and emoluments of civil servants as distinct from that of political office holders.

The plaintiff, in the suit filed pursuant to section 1, 20 & 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, and section 48(1) & 51 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007, further prayed the court to declare that the action of the Minister in denying it access to the information, by ignoring an application that was made to her since February 3, 2014, without explanation as to why such details could not be made public, amounted to an infringement of the applicant’s right guaranteed

and protected by section 1(1) of the FOI Act, 2011.

It told the court that the conduct of the respondent was in violation of section 4 of the FOI Act, 2011, and section 48 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

Consequently, it urged the court to award N500, 000 as damages against the Finance Minister over her continued refusal to disclose the information sought from her office.

Whereas section 4 of the FOI Act provided a time line of seven days for a public institution to accede to any request for information, section 20 on the other hand prescribed 30 days for

an applicant who was denied access to information, to go to court to seek for a judicial review of the action of such public institution.

The plaintiff contended that section 48(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act stipulated that the Federal Government should ensure that its fiscal and financial affairs are conducted in a transparent manner and accordingly, ensure full and timely disclosure and wide publication of all transactions and decisions involving revenues, expenditures and their implications for its finances.

and asked the people of the affected communities to remain calm as the government had taken measures to restore law and order there.

“Surveillance has been intensified in the affected communities to ensure adequate security of the people,” he said.

According to him, the government had also directed the full payment of medical bills of all injured victims while the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, had also been directed to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the ugly incidence.

The further statement read in part: “Though we have recorded tremendous progress in ensuring unity and peaceful coexistence in the entire state, it is obvious that some enemies of our dear state are bent on sowing seeds of discord in order to score cheap political points.

"I call on the entire people of Kaduna State to remain united in the face of this calculated attempt at dividing us, we must work together to put our common enemies to shame."

16—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Ohanaeze Ndigbo in South-Africa seeks credible elections in Enugu

By Francis Igata

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NUGU — AHEAD of next month’s general elections, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in South-Africa, yesterday, said it had commenced a door-to-door campaign aimed at ensuring that elections in Enugu State were credible.

The leader of Ndigbo in South-Africa and Patron, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Enugu State, Chief Mike Urama, who briefed journalists in Enugu, after a reception organised for them by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu State chapter, said the doorto-door campaign would stamp-out political and voter apathy, political thuggery, electoral malpractice and violence.

He said they were determined to fight victimisation, discrimination and marginalisation of voters on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity and the likes.

While calling for the quick resolution of the lingering crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over the choice of its governorship candidate, he said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in South-Africa decided to support Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi after a credible assessment of all the aspirants.

The group commended the PDP for the transparent conduct of its governorship primaries, noting that “this show of uncommon understanding and solidarity is unequalled and unparalleled. It is indeed a practical demonstration of cohesiveness that exists with the party.”

He stated that the Gburugburu International Support Foundation, South-Africa, which according to him, had over 1.5 million membership strength, “is committed in support of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and had long ago been gathering support for him because of his outstanding virtues in expanding the frontiers of excellence.

“If you move around Enugu State and have interaction with all manner of residents, the artisans, drivers, traders, civil servants, professionals, they are all clamouring for Ugwuanyi.

PRIMARIES: Imo APGA crisis deepens

as aspirant drags party, INEC to court

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI — THE crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Imo State, has deepened as one of its chieftains, Chief Jude Iheakanwa, last week, dragged the party, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Mr. Paschal Nneji, to the Federal High Court, Owerri, challenging the substitution of his name as the Imo East senatorial candidate of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

The angry party loyalist is, through his counsel, Chief Okey Ehieze, urging the court in suit number, FHC/OW/252/2014, to restore his senatorial candidature.

Iheakanwa is equally seeking a declaration that being the sole contestant, he was the winner of the APGA primaries conducted on December 6, 2014, for electing the party’s candidate for Imo East senatorial district at the 2015 general elections.

He is also praying for “a mandatory order directing the second respondent, APGA, to forward the plaintiff’s name to the first defendant, INEC, as its

candidate for Imo East senatorial district.

While urging the court to set aside the submission of Mr. Nneji’s name to INEC by APGA as its candidate for the 2015 election, Chief Iheakanwa also asked for an order restraining INEC from according recognition to Nneji as APGA candidate for the senatorial election.

Chief Iheakanwa is also seeking for an order restraining Mr. Nneji

“from parading, holding out or presenting himself and allowing himself to be so paraded, held out or presented as the second defendant’s (APGA) candidate for the Imo East senatorial district for the 2015 general elections.”

In his 26-point affidavit in support of his motion, Chief Iheakanwa averred that neither Nneji nor any other person obtained form, was screened and contested the primaries with him.

“Unless restrained by this honorable court, the first defendant, INEC, will go ahead to publish the name of the third defendant, Nneji, as the second defendant, APGA, candidate for Imo East senatorial district in the general elections of 2015, hereby excluding me from contesting the election as the candidate of the second defendant,” Iheakanwa averred.

ADDRESS: President, Civil Right Congress, and APC Kaduna Central senatorial candidate, Mr. Shehu Sani, addressing executive members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Kaduna, yesterday.

APC insists it'll form parallel govt if election is rigged

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC has pledged to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan if he wins next month’s presidential election fair and clean but also vowed to form a parallel government if the election is rigged.

The party in a congratulatory message to Nigerians on the occasion of the Yuletide and Eid el-Maulud celebrations said it was clearly aware of the bleak celebrations occasioned by government corruption that has brought misery to the large majority of the working class.

Telling Nigerians not to despair that hope was near, the party in the statement personally signed by its national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said: “We are aware that it has been a bleak celebration for all of us because of the poor performance of the economy, litany of failed promises and general decay in governance in our dear country including unpaid salaries which is as a result of the drop in the state and local government revenue. The drop in state and local government revenue is as a result of corruption in government, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC and oil theft supervised by government.

“We ask all Nigerians to exercise fortitude because the change we seek is almost here. We wish to also remind you that the change

we expect will be a consequence of your action. That action will be to vote massively for the All Progressives Congress, APC in the next election to herald a new dawn and bid farewell to the failed leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party. We ask you to collectively insist on free, fair and transparent elections because that is the only way to allow the wishes of the people to manifest.

“As a party we assure you that

we will congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if our presidential candidate and party are defeated in free and fair elections and will not go to court.

However, as a party we wish to reiterate that we will not hesitate to consider forming a parallel

Nobody can remove me, Ebonyi PPA chairman insists

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI — THE em battled Ebonyi State Chairman of Progressive Peoples’ Alliance, PPA, Prince Samuel Uche Udeogu, weekend, insisted that no amount of plot by those he described as enemies of progress, could remove him as Chairman of the party.

The Chairman who made the statement in Abakaliki, emphasised that the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party only had the right to dissolve an appointed State Executive Committee, SEC, but not an elected SEC by the state congress of the party, supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Abuja.

According to him, any attempt by an individual or group of persons to foist a governorship candidate on the party would be resisted as the party had already endorsed a candidate which would soon be made public.

government if the 2015 elections are rigged either by the use of security agencies (police, military) to harass intimidate and cajole voters or through the use of a compromised Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015—17

President Jonathan's niece's traditional marriage

From left, mother of the bride, Mrs. Nancy Paul; the groom, Simeon; the bride, Inebharapu; President Jonathan; First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Vice President Namadi Sambo; father of the bride, Chief Aruareni Paul and wife of the governor of Benue State, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, at the traditional marriage ceremony of Inebharapu Paul, Niece to President Jonathan, and Simeon Onyeaechi, in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, weekend. Photos: State House

From left, Dame Jonathan, Mr. & Mr. Onyeaechi (the couple)President Jonathan (right), another guest, and Vice President Sambo, during the cutting of the cake by the couple.

The couple dancing

From left, Simeon Onyeaechi, his bride, Inebharapu Paul, President & Dame Jonathan.

From left. Vice President Sambo; former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda and Governor Theodor Orji of Abia.

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His Royal Majesty, Diette Spiff, blessing the couple

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 EVERYTHING is possible during campaigns. However, there is a lot that we can learn if we pay more attention to campaigns for the 2015 elections, especially the presidential one, where all the verve seems to be.

Yam farmers have promised to raise N5b for General Muhammadu Buhari. The farmers explained that they would sell their products at a bazaar price of N1,000 for a tuber of yam to raise the money. By the arithmetic, five million tubers of yam would be available for the sales. Do not worry about the logistics of moving five million tubers of yam to one location, for with politics, wonders happen.

We admire the ingenuity of the farmers, but would still remark that whether the money was raised from business barons (mostly in anonymity) or five million farmers (if each sacrificed a yam) who cannot easily be identified, they are not different from friends of President Goodluck Jonathan, who gave him N21.3 billion. The farmers’ event may hold in a stadium, while business moguls shelled out their billions in the comfort of bespoke ambience,

Billionaire yam farmers they are all violating our laws that forbid donations for political campaigns, other than from members of a political party. Like their richer colleagues, they have hugged fame.

Section 221 of the Constitution states: “No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at an election, or contribute to the funds of any political party, or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election.”

If the five million farmers pass party membership test, they would be in good standing with the law, since the peg for individual contributions to political campaign is N1 million.

Yet the farmers could violate Section 221 of the Constitution since they are promoting their cause through their association. The law makes no distinction between farmers and barons, if it did, it would be discriminatory.

Section 91 (2) of the Electoral Act puts a ceiling of N1 billion on the electoral expenses of a presidential candidate. The farmers intend to blow that target by N4 billion, friends of Jonathan violated the law to the tune of N20.3 billion. They are both guilty.

Outside the law, Buhari bears the moral burden of explaining how his campaign would accept donations of N1,000 from ordinary yam farmers, after he had told everyone that the maximum contribution from any individual to his campaign would be N100.

The farmers in their enthusiasm would be unaware of the inflation they would introduce to a choking economy. Five million tubers of yam withdrawn from the national food basket is a high number that could create more hunger and we do not expect that yams bought at N1,000 could be eaten.

OPINION Who is afraid of a presidential debate?

By Adewale Kupoluyi

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S the presidential election contest becomes fiercer, the candidates are busy perfecting their winning strategies to enable them occupy the Aso Rock Villa this year. From all indications, the major contestants in the race are certainly those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and the All Progressives Congress’ Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Senate had earlier last year, voted against a bill seeking to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct presidential debates in the 2015 general elections. The clause was contained in a bill seeking to alter the Electoral Act that was proposed by INEC, as part of legislations required for the smooth conduct of elections. The bill requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives before it is eventually forwarded to the president for his assent.

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The overall interest of Nigerians should be paramount at all times, therefore, what should constitute a vital component of the electoral process is a virile presidential debate that would enable eligible voters have a clear picture of what the candidates and their parties have to offer them. This became imperative going by the past experiences and the seemingly crisis of leadership and trust between leaders and followers in the nation. Over the years, the country has suffered so much in

The candidates should tell us how they will end the endemic security situation ravaging the land

the hands of their leaders that the commonly used phrase of dividends of democracy has always been a mirage. Due to bad governance, life has been very difficult for the people as basic social necessities are not being provided. It will be a great disservice if they are still made to suffer in the next dispensation when denied the type of leadership desired by them.

This time around, we should avoid voting for the wrong candidates just on sentimental, parochial or mundane basis.

There should be a radical departure from the past as only credible, well-prepared and focused should get the people’s mandate. No doubt, we should ensure that we get certain things right before heading for the polls come February.

To begin with, the candidates should tell us how they will end the endemic security situation ravaging the land. For many months now, the deadly attacks by the Boko Haram sect have continued to wreck monumental havoc by killing innocent people

and destroying valuables without much resistance by government forces. It appears that more resultoriented approaches should really be deployed in ending the menace that has perpetually become a nightmare. Therefore, our law enforcement agencies need a total turn-around if we are to win the battle against terrorism.

The epileptic power supply has been the lot of the nation over the years. Failed promises and deregulation policies have been a recurrent decimal in this critical sector. The country has not witnessed much development due to the power crisis that has crippled many industries resulting into low capacity utilisation and capital flight. Many people, who could afford to buy generators, celebrated the Christmas and New Year festivities in total darkness across the nation.

Nigerians would want an end to this miserable life. The unemployment situation has reached an alarming rate that should give any serious contestant headache. Most employment programmes put in place by the

successive governments have had very little impact on the economy because those close to the corridors of power are oftentimes the only beneficiaries.

Voters will be interested in how this monster will be tamed.

Specific packages that should really reduce poverty, restore stability and inject life into our educational system, health and aviation sectors, should be unfolded.

The people are yearning to see an end to perennial fuel scarcity and collapse of physical infrastructure such as the railways and roads. The turning around of the bad shape of our economy should also be uppermost to the presidential hopefuls. The declining accruals from the nation’s oil proceeds is a timely warning for the incoming government to decisively diversify the monolithic economy that has put so much dependence on oil at the neglect of other viable money-spinning options like agriculture, mining and tourism.

Continues tomorrow *Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015— —19

By Adeyemi Olufemi

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N more experienced democracies, the choice of who deserves to be elected the president of Nigeria between President Goodluck Jonathan and former Head of state General Mohammadu Buhari, in the 2015 presidential election would be a forgone issue due to the fact that both contestants have been in office as president and Nigerians have experienced the governance styles of both, with first-hand observation of their strengths and weaknesses, and importantly what both achieved while in office.

It is important to examine the public records for the facts of what both did while in office because as Professor Wole Soyinka said about the public records of General Buhari while he was in office, “History matters. Records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future”.

Hence to commence an examination of the record of both leaders we must start with the most critical, security. Much has been said about the record of performance by President Jonathan on security, while he declared a state of emergency and changed several Service Chiefs, all these efforts have been adjudged more from the fact that the well-resourced Boko Haram, like ISIS in Syria and Iraq, the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as their Salafist comrades in Chechnya, Russia are still holding ground against the Nigerian Army.

What is however without doubt is that with respect to the Jonathan government, the threat to the security of Nigerians are from external forces, Boko Haram, Kidnappers, armed robbers, etc. The latter two have been a problem for every government depending on

Jonathan vs Buhari: Who has a better record? scale, while religious zealots have periodically caused mayhem in the North generally and the North East in particular, in other regimes although with greater brutality.

In comparison however, whereas the threat to the security of Nigerians came from forces external to government in the Jonathan regime, with the Buhari regime, government itself was the source of the greatest threat to the security of Nigerians. Under Buhari’s regime anyone could be detained at his whim using draconian decrees, the list of those incarcerated under Buhari is lengthy, Sam Mbakwe, Fela Kuti, Femi Aribisala, Bisi Onabanjo, Bola Ige, Audu Ogbeh, and so many others. Individual security was so bad under Buhari that when Pa Adekunle Ajasin was acquitted twice by courts that found him not guilty of Buhari’s accusation of corruption, the Buhari regime re-arrested and detained him under Decree no. 2. While Buhari detained Tai Solarin and denied him medication even while Tai Solarin was having persistent asthmatic attacks.

Even worse, Buhari ordered the judicial murder of Bernard Ogedengbe , who was sentenced to death under Decree 20 for a crime he committed before Decree 20 was enacted whereas it carried a lighter sentence when he committed the crime.

Buhari refused to accept any pleas to spare Ogedengbe’s life, hence under Buhari the state denied the individual his life at the whim of 'President' Buhari.

To summarize the state of security under Buhari’s regime, Professor Wole Soyinka expressed shock that any Nigerian will ever contemplate voting for Buhari as a president thus,

“Buhari enslaved the nation. He gloated and gloried in a masterslave relation to the millions of its inhabitants. It is astonishing to find that the same former slaves, now free of their chains, should clamour to be ruled by one who not only turned their nation into a slave plantation, but forbade them any discussion of their condition”.

A second but important sphere for comparison is education, because although Nigerians like to celebrate oil and gas and the easy wealth it brings, globally it is acknowledged that the most important resource for a nation is its human capital, its people, their abilities and capabilities and how these capabilities are enhanced through education, formal and informal. In this regard, even some elders in the north of Nigeria who now tout Buhari as the presidential candidate of the north, like

Some have criticized the growth, saying it did not trickle down to all spheres of society, but the same thing has been said of the Chinese development which is poised to become the biggest economy in the world

former Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Coomasie, are unable to wipe out the indelible annals of public record, where Buhari is noted to have stopped food subsidies in Nigerian universities and thereby prioritized the introduction of malnutrition into universities as an opportunity cost for other economic decisions. In contrast, Coomasie and his ilk are unable to deny the fact that Goodluck Jonathan has built more Universities in Northern Nigeria within three years from 2011 to 2013 than any northern leader ever did between 1960 and 2013. The list of these universities include, Federal University Lafia (2011), Federal University Wukari (2011), Federal University Lokoja (2011), Federal University Kashere (2011), Federal University Dutse (2011), Federal University Dutsin-ma (2011), Police Academy Wudil (2012), Federal University Gashua (2013), Federal University Gusau (2013) and the Federal University Birnin-Kebbi (2013), before this only the Gowon and Babangida governments built up to four universities each while others established one or two between 1962 and 1988.

Moreover, apart from the overwhelming and unprecedented investment in primary school education, through the universal basic education, vocational schools, and the launching of the special funding of the all-embracing education called Almajiri education -the very first in the history of northern Nigeria- the Jonathan administration took children from the streets of northern Nigeria and gave them new opportunities, whereas some elders of northern Nigeria who called western education

Buhari on corruption and insurgency

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By Chukwudi Enekwechi

HE cankerworm known as corruption has continued to diminish our humanity as a people, given that it comes with abject poverty, penury and want. When President Goodluck Jonathan ran for Presidency in 2011, he anchored his campaign on “fresh air” which in ordinary parlance would imply change of our situation as a people for the better.

Unfortunately, almost four years down the line ordinary Nigerians have lamentations and pain to show in place of the promised “fresh air”.

On daily basis, this writer and I believe some average-income Nigerians are buffeted by many phone calls from friends and relations seeking for financial assistance, to solve such basic problems like feeding and clothing. Beggars are found at all corners of the country, yet a few individuals have amassed tremendous wealth at the behest of our federal, states and local governments without any tangible effort to justify for the wealth.

One can easily see through the gambit that Nigerians are been fleeced by people who have access to government and public till, and they do this in cahoots with their brief case contractors partners. Flowing from this malaise, we now have its Frankenstein monster being manifested in insurgency presently ravaging the entire C M Y K

North East region of Nigeria.

The question is, should we continue in this manner as a nation? Obviously such a situation is unacceptable, and as a people, we must seek solution towards rescuing the country from the precipice. Luckily, another round of elections is around the corner, and Nigerians have another opportunity to liberate themselves from the shackles of bondage imposed on us by the PDP- led administration.

Since 1999, the party and its leaders have betrayed Nigerians by truncating all chances they had to rebuild Nigeria. This

Today, these are the two major problems confronting us as people, and unless we elect a leader with the determination to restore sanity to Nigeria, we face the risk of imminent danger and catastrophe

betrayal is mainly attributed to the greed, and gluttonous appetite for primitive acquisition of wealth by a few people with access to power. Therefore, 2015 presidential election offers Nigerians a golden opportunity elect General Muhammadu Buhari as the next President.

By doing so, he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in dissuading public office holders to shun corruption. Similarly, as a General in the Nigerian Army, he is better positioned to tackle the menace of Boko Haram headlong and once more restore peace and calm to several restive communities in the North East region.

It is futile, and indeed senseless to believe that the Jonathan administration can stop the menace of Boko Haram. To believe so will amount to living a lie, and time is running out on all of us. The earlier we take the bull by the horn by electing General Buhari as our next president, the better for the peace and oneness of Nigeria.

It is only in an era of peace that people can thrive in their various life endeavors.

A situation where we continue to live in perennial fear will not augur well for development and the Jonathan administration having spent trillions of naira without nipping the nefarious activities of the Boko Haram in the bud should step aside, for Buhari to step in and stabilise the polity.

“Haram” denied them formal western education but offered instead religious knowledge and USD 2000 Kalashnikovs to use as Boko Haram foot soldiers.

Again on the very critical issue of the economy, some have attributed Buhari’s regime with stabilizing the economy at a turbulent time by using counter trade to keep the IMF in abeyance, but this was not the independent assessment of evaluators who observed that the counter-trade mechanism was abused to siphon public funds by converting Nigeria crude to laundered funds for cronies of the Buhari regime. Of course, this could not be scrutinized by the Nigerian press. Those who dared ended up at No 15 Awolowo Road in Lagos or other such detention centres created to silence critics of the Buhari government. Still, independent assessors at the GATT, later the WTO, had written in their report number BOP/W/102 of September 1986 that on the Counter trade,” “Four principal countertrade agreements were concluded with Brazil, France, Italy, and Austria. This policy, while permitting a certain amount of extra imports to enter, was subsequently seen as causing considerable diversion of trade and substantial extra cost to the economy as a whole”. In contrast the past four years of the Jonathan administration has seen a steady economic growth of over 6% with a much larger GDP. Some have criticized the growth, saying it did not trickle down to all spheres of society, but the same thing has been said of the Chinese development which is poised to become the biggest economy in the world.

•Mr. Olufemi, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.

It is not surprising that Buhari is garnering mammoth support across the country, considering his track record of fighting corruption and insurgency. Today, these are the two major problems confronting us as people, and unless we elect a leader with the determination to restore sanity to Nigeria, we face the risk of imminent danger and catastrophe.

Much as I do not want to sound alarmist, yet this is the stark reality facing us as a people. We cannot afford to act Nero and go to sleep while the nation is burning.

We must pull back the country from the brink, or else we shall all suffer for our collective inertia and mindlessness.

Buhari’s likely victory at the polls next year definitely offers a vista of hope that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. As the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo postulated, “all hands must be on deck” if we must have a chance of reclaiming our humanity from the twin cankerworms of Boko Haram and corruption in high places.

It is equally consoling that General Buhari in his acceptance speech at the just concluded national convention of APC had promised to rule Nigeria based on equity, transparency, and good governance. As a people, we cannot ask for more, considering Buhari’s pedigree as a man who keeps his words. Indeed, Buhari’s presidency is the way to go from 2015.

•Mr. Enekwechi, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, MONDAY MONDAY,, JANUARY 5, 2015

Governor Ajimobi after commissioning a resort located inside the former evil forest

At last, an end to Ibadan evil forest and criminal hideout

By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

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HE joy of hundreds of school children who thronged the Agodi Resort and Conferences Centre to enjoy the rustic environment, knew no bounds as they played with the state of the art recreational facilities provided in the once “evil forest”.

Prior to its transformation by Abiola Ajimobi-led administration, Agodi Resort and Conferences was largely seen as an ‘evil forest’ because it was a hideout for criminals who made Agodi and its environs a dreaded place.

Abandoned garden Apparently irked by the activities of these hoodlums, the state government embarked upon the reconstruction of the abandoned garden. The government last week, showcased the new-look Centre which instantly became a tourist destination.

Apart from attractive facilities like circus train, children’s and adult swimming pools, the lush green environment gives the place a befitting scenery.

No wonder students came from Sunshine Group of Schools, The Concord School, British-African International School and Solid Bridge Group of School, stormed the C M Y K

Resort to play with its modern facilities.

The centre which has added to the aesthetic beauty of Ibadanland, will also increase the internally generated revenue of the state and add to other relaxation and resort c e n t r e s l i ke the Trans Amusement Park and others.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi said the facility will bring about N500 million into the coffers of the State Government annually.

The new Resort sits on 62 hectares of land in-between the State Government Secretariat and the popular Premier Hotel in the heart of Ibadan.

Justifying the project, the Governor said his administration was motivated to embark upon the reconstruction of the Gardens which was neglected by successive administrations in the state.

“Agodi Gardens was in a sorry state when we first visited the place. It was desolate and empty.

Everything was very bad. It had deteriorated so much and it was very shameful to us in Oyo State,” he said.

Governor Ajimobi said that the project had transformed from a mere garden to an ultra-modern resort centre in an ecologically attractive environment, with facilities such as a recreation centre, golf course, chalets, a conference centre as well as zoological garden and an amusement park.

World class hospitality centre “Places like that are in South Africa, Dubai and others. This is what we want to recreate in Oyo State. We want people to come here from all over the world and enjoy themselves in a worldclass hospitality centre,” he said. He described the newlook agodi Garden as the best form of stomach infrastructure for the people of the state.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of J. D. Capital, the Consultant that handled the project, Mr. Makin Soyinka said the project will restore the

ancient town to its fading glory.

“Our visionar y and hardworking governor has jump started the process of placing Ibadan back on the global space.

This journey to the rejuvenation of our ancient and historic city, the rustic city of Ibadan is clearly exemplified through what he has done with Agodi Gardens.

It is a clear testament of the clarity of vision and purposeful leadership of a great leader of our time. This dream and vision must not die or suffer any setback, rather must be celebrated and

supported to ensure it goes to the next level,” he said.

Continuing, he said: “The first step in this rebirth process is the rebranding and creation of a brand identity for the garden. This has commenced with the renaming of Agodi Gardens to “A g o d i Re s o r t & Conferences”.

He said the Centre will provide international class entertainment for both children and adults especially during the yuletide and news year celebrations.

The Commissioner for Tourism commended Governor Ajimobi for his unflinching support throughout the decision making process. While promising that a lot more would be done to ensure the resort meets international standard, the commissioner said what is on ground now is just a tip of an iceberg.

2015: When Lagos ushers in New Year with fireworks

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

I

T is no longer news that in spite of the prevailing political uncertainty in the country, Nigerians welcomed the New Year 2015 with a great deal of enthusiasm and fanfare.

In fact, many Lagosians tried very hard to outdo themselves in this regard.

But perhaps more remarkable in how Lagosians ushered in the New Year was the spectacular fireworks that heralded it at the dot of 12 mid-night as 2014 gave way to 2015. This was the climax of the count down to usher in the year 2015. Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Femi Otedola and Nigerian Breweries boss, Kufre Ekanem were among other

prominent personalities who were present at the great countdown event in Lagos.

The event was also enlivened by performances by Sir Victor Owaifo, Sir Shina Peters, Daddy Showkey, 2face, Banky W, Omawunmi, Olamide, Phyno, Reminisce and many others.

Governor Fashola, who described the programme as “a huge success”, expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to the corporate organisations who partnered with the state government to organise the 2014 Lagos Countdown The 2014 Lagos countdown was organised by the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA.

JANUARY 5, 2015

2015 Economic Outlook

Experts predict political crisis, social unrest, increased production cost

BY OUR REPORTERS

T

he Nigerian economy will be influenced in 2015 by post election crisis, social unrest, and increased cost of production courtesy of high interest rate and devaluation of the naira.

These were the views of economic experts who spoke to Financial Vanguard on the direction of the economy in the New Year. Though they expressed optimism that the economy will further grow in 2015, they however opined that the rate of growth will be determined by a host of factors chiefly the 2015 general election.

“The biggest risk in the environment will be the coming elections”, said Victor Ogiemwonyin, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Partnership Investment Company Plc. “2015 is an election year, things might slow down a little because governments at all levels will have to find their feet after the election”, said Sunday Thomas, Director General of the Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA. Reflecting the views of the international community, Razia Khan of Standard Chartered Bank based in London, said, “Politics and elections, due in February 2015, are the key risk events.”

Explaining further she said, “The powers of incumbency are likely to favour the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Unlike previous elections, however, it is not clear how much uncertainty will subside postelection. Evidence of a deeper northsouth divide in the country, with little

attempt to steer away from more divisive rhetoric, is likely to raise the political temperature. Independent studies suggest that only four of Nigeria’s 36 states may be spared some level of political violence. With little evidence that the authorities are able to curb the worsening Boko

Haram insurgency, security fears in the north may discourage a high voter turnout.

On their part, analysts at Financial Derivatives Company predicted post election violence irrespective of the outcome. They said, “Nigerians are pensive and are entering the New

Year in nervous anticipation of a soon to be keenly contested election and a misery index that is gradually climbing.

In addition to the global oil market dynamics, the prospects of the Nigerian economy in 2015 hinges on the electoral calendar. Consequently, the above outlooks on the macroeconomic indicators are likely to change significantly depending on the outcome of the general elections.

The elections are likely to be keenly contested but the combination of a close race, allegations of rigging and the use of the military in some voting areas will call the election results into question, regardless of who wins.

Likely violent rioting mostly in the north or the south-south regions may be inevitable depending on the outcome of the elections. These challenges will likely affect the macro Continued on page 22

SIGNING - From left: Mr. Ephraim Faloughi, Chairman, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, STI; Mr. Kazeem Raji, FCMB Capital Market Limited; Mr. Oluseun Ajayi, Vice Chairman, STI and Mr. Wale Onaolapo, MD/CEO, STI at the signing ceremony of the proposed rights issue of the underwriting firm billed to commence in January, 2015.

C M Y K

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Cover Story

Vocation and technical education – A key to improving Nigeria’s development. part 3

A

VISIT - From left: Mr Fola Olusanya, Head, Business Support, Secure ID; Mr Gbolahan Olutomiwa, Principal Manager, Large Enterprise, Bank of Industry; Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe, MD/CEO, Secure ID and Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, MD, Bank of Industry during the visit of MD, Bank of Industry to the State of the Art EMV Plant of Secure ID in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Experts predict political crisis, social unrest, increased production cost Continues from page 21 environment and policies options.”

Increased cost of production Economic experts also predicted increase in cost of production for businesses in 2015 occasioned by high interest rate and devaluation of the naira.

“The combined austerity measures of the government and tighter monetary policy would put additional pressure on consumer prices.

Therefore, we expect inflation rate to cross the double digit mark in the first half of 2015,” said Alhaji Remi Bello, President of Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LCCI He noted that as a result of the import dependent character of the economy, the sharp increase in exchange rate will naturally push up the operating cost of enterprises in the economy.

“Many firms are already feeling the heat across all sectors. In the few weeks, naira exchange rate has depreciated by about 11 per cent in the interbank market and over 12 per cent in the parallel market. The impact of the depreciation on operating costs will be very profound in 2015,” Explaining how the high interest rate would impact businesses, Samuel Durojaiye, President, Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN), said, “You will find out that those who borrow money from banks will not be able to pass the increase in interest rate to buyers of their products; then if workers C M Y K

cannot get salar y, those products will not sell, now if those products don’t sell, how will they cover those loan repayments. And the private sector will be crowded out because they would not be able to borrow at that high rate of interest. So you will find that some private businesses might collapse and that means more people out of employment.”

Declining Government revenue Another factor predicted to influence the economy in 2015 is declining government revenue as a result of fall in crude oil crises.

This according to Remi Bello would negatively impact businesses that depend on the government sector. He said, “Businesses driven by government patronage are likely to experience a decline in 2015 given the current government revenue outlook.

“Capital projects of governments will reduce drastically and this would affect some segments of the private sector.

The unfavourable revenue outlook may result in the suspension of some capital projects.

Generally, government contractors would experience a slowdown in tempo of activities in 2015. With declining revenue, the risk of default in payment for jobs executed for government agencies will be higher in the short term. This situation calls for cautious engagement with government contracts at all levels of government.”

The impact of the decline in government revenue according to Durojaiye and

Kunle Ezun, and Economic analyst, could trigger strikes and social unrest, if not carefully managed.

According to Kunle Ezun, “If this government continues and the outlook for the oil price works out, a lot of this state government will not be able to pay salaries, as a result we might see in our hands social unrest.”

Durujaiye on his part explained, “Some states have over bloated their workforce when revenue was very good. Now they would have problem paying these salaries. The labour is already saying it would not allow retrenchment. Some states now have not even paid November salary fully not to talk of December and the revenue coming in January would even be lower than what they distributed in November, except they want to clear the excess crude account.

So we should be expecting riot and strikes and an increase in social misdemeanour. If people cannot collect salary how would they pay their children’s school fees? So there would be a ripple effect, if care is not taken.

Growth prospects In spite of the above scenario, experts were optimistic that the economy will experience growth in 2015. They pointed to the agriculture sector as a major source of economic growth for the economy.

“Agriculture will dominate the investment direction in the year 2015, with Nigeria’s over dependence on oil and Continues on page 23

task oriented team of workers n entrepreneur is a person who makes who no longer depend on individual managers for all plans for a business or a piece their decisions to achieve of work and gets it going.

Anyanwuocha (2001) observes targets. Technical process reengineering are also required that the entrepreneur is the to redesign technical work chief co-ordinator, controller processes, jobs, and organizer of the organizational structure, production process. The management system, and also entrepreneur combines other in process designs using in factors of production (land, manufacturing industries. capital and others) in such a These components of ICT way as to obtain maximum have great implications for the production of goods and enhancement of services at minimum costs. In entrepreneurship education order to effectively enhance in technology and vocational occupational skills in the education field of work. present day, entrepreneurs According to Azuka, Nwosu, need also to acquire Kanu and Agomuo (2006), information and classroom behaviour must communication technology align with ICT- driven knowledge and skills. Mkpozi environment which is (1996) observed that a country constantly shaping and rethat is developing and shaping the work place and manufacturing its own goods consequently, what is learnt either from Hi-Tech or small/ and how learning takes place. medium scale industries using There are various numbers indigenous skills and exports of opportunities for some of those goods to other technology and vocational countries is usually education graduates with economically stable. This entrepreneurship skills in ICT could be better achieved driven technical and vocational through the acquisition of education environment. These entrepreneurial and opportunities exist in various occupational skills in forms for the enhancing technology and vocational entrepreneurship skills. education. Individuals with Nwabuona (2004) views technical and vocation skills entrepreneurship education as and good knowledge of ICT are the identification of the general characterized by self-reliance, characteristics of entrepreneurs self-employment and fit and how potential properly into today’s technical, entrepreneurs can be trained entrepreneurial and business in management techniques world. needed for effective The entrepreneur should performance of persons for therefore possess technical long time survival of an skills, ideas and management skills which are organization after necessary for the the acquisition of success of the occupational skills.

This could venture. One of Therefore, the roles such skills is be better technology and information and vocational achieved communication education in through the technology which enhancement of is characterized acquisition entrepreneurship by employee skills is to identify of empowerment and equipped entrepreneurial and involves the graduates with and making of critical wealth of unskilled and occupational skills, technical semiskilled knowledge, and a skills in workers to be good measure of technology skilful and self-confidence and functional in using information today’s world of vocational and communication work. It also technology education involves the competence. development of

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 — 23

This article was first published on 30th May 2012. We bring the article to you readers as a reminder that Vanguard had warned the nation about the impending fall in oil prices in this column as far back as 2012.

Looking at development in the international oil market, Nigeria may be heading for another difficult time from external shock. This time, the impact on the economy may be worse than the impact the 2008 global financial crisis had on it. Oil prices are tumbling and traditional importers of crude oil are either finding alternatives or are over supplied. Nigerian economy may face very difficult time in the next two or so years.

What are the various arms of government doing about this?

The Sovereign Wealth Fund that would have acted as cushion is under litigation?

Last month in this column “Hear these bickering Governors” we warned the nation that more oil discoveries are being made across the globe and that the US is developing its internal oil reserves to reduce its dependence on imported fuel.

It is already happening.

Nigeria has over the years come to depend on crude oil export for its revenue that is shared among the three ties of government. Only last week Tuesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria Monetary policy Committee raised alarm over the deteriorating national economic growth stating that “The growth and development of the Nigeria economy will continue to be at risk so long as progress is not made in structural reforms.’’ The committee also warned that “The proposed upward review of electricity and import tariffs on wheat and rice as well as the rising global food and energy prices could further put upward pressure on prices in the near-term”.

Provisional data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that real GDP in the first quarter of 2012 grew by 6.17 per cent down from 7.68 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 7.13 per cent in the corresponding period last

year. The real GDP growth for fiscal 2012 is projected at 6.5 per cent down from 7.45per cent in 2011. This confirms a disturbing and uninterrupted trend of decline going back to Q1 2010.

Crude oil production was estimated to have declined by 2.32 per cent in quarter one 2012 compared with the decline of 2.41 per cent in the corresponding period of 2011.

Non oil real GDP growth estimated at 7.93 per cent in Q1 of 2012 was much lower than 8.73 per cent recorded in Q1 of 2011.’’ Growth in agriculture in the first quarter of 2012 also declined to 4.15 per cent compared with 5.54 per cent in Q1 of 2011 and 5.74 in fourth quarter 2011. In general, the paradox of rising poverty incidence in the face of impressive economic growth further reinforces the call for the implementation of appropriate structural reforms in the key sectors notably agriculture, power and the petroleum sector to stimulate productivity What does this imply for the average Nigerian? In a period when oil prices are high, the economy is struggling, what then happens when oil prices fall below the budget bench mark, many states, local government and even the federal government will find it difficult to pay salary not to talk of embarking on development projects. Poverty which is staring the nation in the face will worsen. Every Nigerian must learn to save now, do not spend that extra cash in your hands, the rains are here and it seems it is too late to save for the rainy day.

But Nigerian policy makers are not addressing their minds to this trend and development in the oil market. Instead they are politicking with creation of more states as cost center.

From where will these new states if created be financed?

Equally saddening is the

The proverbial rains are here; Nigeria which way to go? fact that the nation’s leading politicians instead of facing governance are busy scheming for who become president in 2015. Nigerians are more at home with who ever will put food on their table, ensure their children attend good schools, and provide health care, security of property and lives.

The only way to achieve this is when there are resources to carry out governance. For too long successive governments have paid lip service to the transformation of the nation’s economy, yet 52 years after independence the nation’s economy is at risk as a result of the vagaries of the international oil market.

Oil market reports last week indicated that Europe is facing a glut of high quality crude oil grades, only a year after war in Libya created a serious shortage. Continental Europe faced with sovereign debt crisis its demand for oil has fallen and the United States has cut imports due to greater availability of domestic supply.

This development has led to a steep weakening in values for much high quality sweet and low-sulphur grades in a rare market development potentially suggesting oil futures prices have scope to correct yet lower in a much oversupplied market.

Oil prices have come down, refining margins have improved but it is still a terribly bleak picture for me. I’m struggling to sell in Europe, the U.S. has cut barrels and it is only Asia which regularly saves (us) from a steeper fall, a major trader in sweet grades in Europe was quoted by

Reuters as saying. Physical crude grades are priced via differentials versus benchmark dated Brent and these diffs – as they are known in the industry jargon – have sunk over the past weeks to the lowest level in years on the Mediterranean sweet grade market. For instance, Algeria’s light sweet Saharan Blend BFO-SAH fell to a seven-year lows and Kazakhstan’s CPC Blend BFO-CPC hit a two-year low by mid-May. Libyan grades have been trading at large discounts to their official selling prices (OSP) and even the market favourite – super high quality Azeri Light – has fallen steeply BFO-AZR. Traders cite multiple reasons for the drops. Prominent among them is the return to the market of the much missed 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of Libyan crude, which dramatically changed the picture from last year, when consuming nations released 60 million barrels of strategic stockpiles.

Second is an overhang of West African crude as the United States, a significant buyer of Nigerian and Algerian grades, is becoming increasingly reliant on new domestic production of sweet crude from its shale reserves in North Dakota and Texas.

Those are estimated to have produced 1.2 million bpd in April. U.S. imports of Algerian crude are on a steep downward trend from a high of 827,000 bpd in 2007.

Imports in February this year were 256,000 bpd, down from

the 2011 average of 358,000 bpd, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.

Imports of Iraqi crude are shrinking but at a slower rate.

February imports were 271,000 bpd, nearly a one-year low, far below the average for the last four years of 480,000 bpd, EIA data showed. U.S. imports from Africa and the Middle East will fall even further in the months to come owing to the reversal of the Seaway pipeline, which unlocked a crude supply glut in the U.S. mid-continent for Gulf Coast refiners. Seaway’s initial flows will be 150,000 barrels per day, expected to rise to 400,000 barrels per day. BP was already offered two 500,000 pipeline cargoes of U.S. sweet crude from Cushing, Oklahoma, just prior to the pipelines reopening. With the U.S. domestic production rising, we are seeing the arbitrage drying up, a trader in West African crude said.

U.S. data shows oil imports from Nigeria fell to 352,000 bpd in February, the lowest since December 1996, compared with 948,000 bpd a year earlier.

In late April, differentials for Nigeria’s Qua Iboe grade BFO-QUA hit multi-month lows as traders cited slack U.S. demand. The picture will be however different in June as a plunge in Brent futures has prompted traders to take more Basra Light into Europe to capture a price advantage.

Bickering governors and oil thieves, now that the chickens have come home to roast which way for Nigeria?

Business & Economy Experts predict political crisis, social unrest, increased production cost Continues from page 22 the sharp drop of almost 50 per cent in the price of crude”, said Idowu Asenug, Managing Director, Eriku Farm, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

“Government and investors will have no alternative than to deepen their investment in agric business! This trend of super investment that started in the last three years will obviously continue as investors seek investment

options for their capital. The year will witness continuous investment in rice, cassava, sorghum, maize and the livestock sector ”, he added.

Aviation experts also expressed confidence about the growth prospects of the industry in 2015. They predicted that the industry will enjoy reduction in cost of operation due to the fall in aviation fuel (JET A1) courtesy of declining crude oil prices.

Insurance operators also said that they expect the sector to grow in the New Year.

Chairman of Nigeria Insurance Association (NIA) and Managing Director of Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr. Godwin Wiggle, said that insurers are optimistic that 2015 will be better judging by the economic growth in recent times.

He said, “2015 is an election year, however; we are hopeful that things will be better. In

terms of the ‘no premium, no cover,’ we will begin to benefit from the policy because now we are collecting premium on the go. So now, we are writing less business with more cash unlike in the past when we are writing more business with less cash.”

On their part, chieftains of the fledging electronic commerce business in Nigeria said that they expect more business patronage this year,

notwithstanding the risks in the economy. Sim Shagaya, the Chief Executive Officer, Konga.com, enthused that the year 2015 would be a year of even more business growth.

“We have only seen the tip of the iceberg where ecommerce is concerned and we can look to the successes of global giants such as AliExpress, Amazon and the likes, for a rough preview of what the future holds.”

24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 — 25

Business & Economy

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

T

he Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has warned Nigerians not to buy cement without expiry date effective from January 2015.

The Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the directive to inscribe expiry date on the commodity by the manufacturers were reached by the 25-memeber Technical Committee on cement and approved by SON for implementation last year.

“The expiry date on cement is six months shelf life for bag, while for air-tight container it is one year. As from January 2015, if you don’t find expiry date on cement, don’t buy it because when you do, if anything happen to your building, you only have yourself to be blamed,” Odumodu stated.

Recall that almost four months ago, SON issued a 60-day ultimatum to cement manufacturers on product labelling and traceability requirements.

Primarily, the new guidelines mandate the manufacturers to indicate on product bags the manufacturing and expiry dates, product application information as well as the batch numbers of the

Expert recommends Biogas for alternative power generation

By EDIRI EJOH

T AGM: From left- Vice Chairman, Capital Express Assurance Limited, Mr. Anthony Aletor; Managing Director, Mrs. Bola Odukale; Chairman, Otunba Babatunde Adenuga; and Company secretary, Mrs. Joy Sulucainan, during the Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos.

SON discourages patronage of cement without expiry date products.

Cement manufacturers, including Dangote Cement, Lafarge Nigeria, Unicem, Ibeto Cement, Ashaka Cement and Sokoto Cement, had appealed to the agency to review its initiallyproposed 30-day deadline to enable them to implement the changes in their processes.

The move, which is expected to enhance traceability in case of product failures, also places a responsibility on cement manufacturers to ensure that their products meet required guidelines and health and safety requirements.

Nigerian cement producers are also expected to submit their advertisements and

commercials for preapproval by the SON before they are sent to the media, while processes should be initiated to ensure that products are properly stored by distributors and retailers to avoid compromising product integrity.

Mike Susan Foundation plans skills acquisition for host community

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

A

wka-based Mike Susan Foundation, MSF, has concluded arrangement to commence Skills acquisition and scholarship programmes for people in the state.

Speaking during the end year healthcare and charity outreach programme held at Amawbia, Anambra State, Mrs. Gloria Odumodu, the managing director of the Foundation, said “ The time has come for the foundation to impact more incisively on the people and community so that the needy can begin to take care of themselves the more.

“The Skills Acquisition programme will start with few beneficiaries. Every great thing started small. We have to learn as the project progresses. We start off in the New Year with Aluminium Fabrication and fashion designing. The first is for boys while the other is

for girls.

Aluminium fabrication is a new industry.

Our people can go into it now and share in the potentials.”

According to her, applicants are to apply online at www: mikesusanfoundation.org and giving their basic personal data. “No skill is lowly or incapable of making a person rich or better able to meet the needs. The important determinants for success in any endeavour are focus and discipline. The world market is open to anyone who works hard to be the best in his or her chosen field. Be it fashion, body care including massaging, people are travelling distances to get satisfaction.

Today, people are looking on the world scene, trying to bring their products to that market,” she said.

The Managing director said the foundation would liaise with the best practitioners in the respective industries to screen applicants, and draw

the training programme.

MSF will ensure that the selection process is above board, and will pay the cost of training and support the successful candidates at the end of the training in order for them to start off in life.

Stressing on Scholarship scheme, she disclosed that it will take off in the 2015/2016 academic year.

According to her, the scheme is open to medical/pharmacy students of Awka indigene admitted to state and Federal institutions.

The chairman of the occasion, Professor Eliezer Offodile noted that Awka has a history of art and craftsmanship so that the skills acquisition projects fit into the way of life and the artistic talents.

The Auxiliary Catholic

Bishop of Awka Diocese, Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye, also pleaded that the board of MSF includes art and crafts in the skills acquisition programme, noting that there are lots of unemployed and untrained youth looking for something worthwhile to do with their lives.

Dr. Joseph Odumodu, Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, stated that he expects his kinsmen, especially the youth, to take the skills acquisition programme seriously and take whatever knowledge they garner to higher level that bear on superior goods and services.

“The MSF Skills Acquisition project is not just to help people get training, our dream is to culture beneficiaries to think of the world, think of others and how to make a difference in life generally,” he said.

he Project Director of Aienam Liks International, Mrs. Chioma Nima, has stressed the need for Federal Government to invest in Biogas that enables the converting of waste to serve as renewable source of energy.

At the recent delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, Nima explained that the epileptic power supply that has eaten deep into the country’s development can be contained to the minimum level as well as overcome if appropriate biogas utility is initiated in the country. “Biogas technology initiative is another source of power supply and should be embraced in Nigeria.

“The country has a lot of industries, factories and other means at which resourceful amount of waste can be harnessed and then converted into biogas to serve as a renewable source of energy,” she stated She argued that the country is blessed with diverse potentials in biogas technology but had not been given the desired attention for it to thrive in the plant, despite its long existence in the country.

“The country has never been denied of biogas plants, as there are several located in different state such as; in Achara, Enugu state, Zaria, Kaduna, kebbi, Yobe.

Although they are all pilot projects dated way back as 1996 and most of these plants are not functional.

According to her, there is need for the country to imbibe maintenance culture in its operation as well as facilities which she said “is really taking its toll in many stalled projects in the country.”

She noted that, “to every beginning of a project, applauds and complementary often ravage the atmosphere, but after one or two years of , what follows is decay due to lack of maintenance which do leads to abandoned project.

Also speaking, Mr. bolada Shoremekun, added that biogas technology can help rid the country of it waste since

26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Banking & Finance

F

inancial experts have predicted year 2015 to be a year of crises, risks and opportunities mixed together.

While there is consensus on the 2015 election and crude oil prices as major risks for the economy in the new year, there is however divergent opinions on the direction of monetary policy and exchange rate of the naira. Their views on wide ranging economic and banking issues are presented below.

A. FACTORS WILL SHAPE ECONOMY

THAT THE

Taiwo Oyedele, Partner, Head of Tax & Regulatory Services, PwC In Nigeria, clearly the 2015 elections will have a major impact in shaping the economy from business confidence to employment generation, capital market growth, monetary and fiscal policies among others.

Financial Derivative Analysts Our findings reveal that the Nigerian macroeconomic environment will continue to be vulnerable to exogenous shocks in 2015. This is mainly because oil prices and international capital flows will continue to be dominant features in the Nigerian macro- economic equation.

In addition to the global oil market dynamics, the prospects of the Nigerian economy in 2015 hinges on the electoral calendar. Consequently, the above outlooks on the macroeconomic indicators are likely to change significantly depending on the outcome of the general elections.

Victor Ogiemwonyin, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Partnership Investment Company Plc 2015 will be a crisis management year with plenty of risks and opportunities. The biggest risk in the environment will be the coming elections.

The economy will also be challenged because of the falling oil prices. The final risk factor will be the insurgency/ insecurity, and how we manage it going forward. Any of these factors can have major impact for the country and the economy. A smooth election will immediately spark economic recovery with those betting on the opportunities, and all the dislocation it has brought with it, being the big winners. A bad election will be hard to overcome quickly especially in a bad economy.

The discontent around us will be a very dangerous factor in the mix.

Razia Khan, Managing Director/Head, Africa Macro,

*Taiwo Oyedele

*Victor Ogiemwonyi

Expect crises, risks and opportunities in 2015 —Financial experts

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

Global Research, Standard Chartered Politics Elections, due in February 2015, are the key risk event. The powers of incumbency are likely to favour the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Unlike previous elections, however, it is not clear how much uncertainty will subside post-election.

Evidence of a deeper northsouth divide in the country, with little attempt to steer away from more divisive rhetoric, is likely to raise the political temperature. Independent studies suggest that only four of Nigeria’s 36 states may be spared some level of political violence. With little evidence that the authorities are able to curb the worsening Boko Haram insurgency, security fears in the north may discourage a high voter turnout.

Samuel Durojaiye, President, Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN) The outlook for the Nigerian economy is not different from that of the global economy. If you look at what is happening to resource prices, and that includes our crude oil, prices have come down by over 40 percent. Crude oil is now selling around $60 per barrel and sometimes below $60.

When we had our budget at $78 we still found it difficult and had to cover up with about N1.1 trillion in loans. Now that

oil price has gone down to $60, you have a situation where, if we are not careful there won’t be anything for capital expenditure, because 75 percent or 70 percent of our earnings is going into recurrent expenses. So you will find out that if we are not careful, the entire budget or revenue might just go into recurrent expenditure and there won’t be anything to meet capital expenditure.

Some states have over bloated their workforce when revenue was very good. Now they would have problem paying these salaries. The Labour is already saying it

I would expect a loose, more relaxed, monetary policy in 2015 because of the negative impact of tightening on interest rate which dampens economic activities from capital market decline to high cost of doing business especially for manufacturers, SMEs and agricultural businesses.

would not allow retrenchment.

Some states now have not even paid November salary fully not to talk of December and the revenue coming in January would even be lower than what they distributed in November, except they want to clear the excess crude account.

Kunle Ezun, Economic and Research Analyst There is problem with the assumptions guiding the budgets. Yes the crude price benchmark has actually been reduced to $65 per barrel. But how feasible is this? Given expert view that crude oil price might bottom out at $45 or $50 per barrel. Even now oil is going for around $60 to $61. If you now put the global demand and supply dynamics into perspective, the price may actually be hovering around a maximum of $55. This means that the issue of Excess Crude Account or accretion to the reserves will be minus. So that is a major issue. Then again is the issue of the exchange rate being set at N165 to the dollar, even when the CBN has moved the mid- point to N168, it shows a major disconnect between the CBN as the monetary authorities and the fiscal authorities.

There should have been input from CBN into that budget. If you put that into context, and now plug in the growth outlook, the government has said they are looking at five percent, which I actually agree with them. But they have not come out to tell us what will actually drive the growth to achieve 5 percent.

Also election is coming up. If the election produces a new government, there is going to be a stop gap hence the whole outlook is going to change, especially in terms of personnel, processes, which may affect everything that has been put in place for 2015.

I see a lot of issues around the election. If the election produces a new government, we would have to go back to the drawing board and change our permutations.

If this government continues and the outlook for the oil price works out, a lot of this state government will not be able to pay salaries, as a result we might see in our hands social unrest.

Harrison Owoh, Managing Director/Chief Executive, H.J Trust BDC I see a bright outlook for the economy in 2015 because there is definitely going to be changes both in the administration and in the management of the economy.

Also for banks, there is going to be reforms, and also in the capital market. So there is a bright outlook, you know in Nigeria we know how to correct our short comings.

B. MONETERY POLICY Taiwo Oyedele I believe the major reason for the recent tightening was the fear of inflation in view of the naira devaluation given that Nigeria is heavily import dependent. Fortunately, inflation rate has been stable and in fact eased from 8.1 percent in October to 7.9 percent in November 2014 according to the National Bureau of Statistics. This is due in part to more local production of food but also because the falling crude oil prices is helping many countries reduce their production costs and hence lower their prices which partly offsets the exchange rate induced higher import costs into Nigeria.

Given that inflation is not likely to be such a problem as earlier envisaged, I do not expect more tightening in 2015. In fact, I would expect a loose, more relaxed, monetary policy in 2015 because of the negative impact of tightening on interest rate which dampens economic activities from capital market decline to high cost of doing business especially for manufacturers, SMEs and agricultural businesses.

Just to point out also that a tight monetary policy puts a strain on government in form of higher debt service burden.

Even though Nigeria’s overall debt to GDP ratio of 13 percent is well below the global benchmark, it is a source of

Continues on page 27

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 — 27

Banking & Finance Continued from page 26 concern to see that debt service to projected government revenue for 2015 is about 26 percent. Put differently, we will spend about a quarter of our earnings (943 billion) to service debt, much more than the entire budget for capital expenditure of N633 billion. In my view this is the true measure of Nigeria’s debt burden and a reflection of our capacity or lack thereof to increase borrowing. We really cannot compare ourselves with many countries who borrow at close to 0 percent interest rate only on the basis of their debt to GDP ratios.

Financial Derivative The contractionary monetary policy environment is expected to remain in 2015 but with limited appetite to tighten further. As a result, money market rates are expected to fluctuate between 9 percent and 14 percent in 2015.

However, market liquidity will remain the underlining factor influencing money market rates. Hence, it is expected that there would be frequent CBN interventions to maintain a relatively stable liquidity position. Furthermore, likely increase in the US and euro area interest rates will increase the level of capital flow reversal leading to tighter monetary policy measures.

Ogiemwonyin Tightening was needed to signal a new regime of tighter monetary policy. Luckily, we have not seen a hike yet in inflation. Inflation is currently at 7.9 percent and expected to be stable for the first quarter until higher foreign exchange rates work its way into inflation during the year. On the other hand, election spending might be such that will force the CBN to hike rates to slow inflation, and not a reaction to naira devaluation.

A further tightening will have significant effect on the financial markets as assets adjust to new prices and available liquidity dry up. The growth forecast of 5.5 percent will definitely not be realized.

Any tightening will be for a short time though, and reinflation of the economy will follow immediately after the elections.

Razia Khan We forecast further tightening by the CBN, including an additional 100bps hike in its monetary policy rate (MPR) to 14 percent in March 2015. This is unlikely to prevent inflation rising to double digits by second quarter of 2015. We forecast that inflation will remain in low double digits until second quarter of 2016.

Expect crises, risks and opportunities in 2015 —Financial experts Razia Khan Despite recent monetary tightening by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the naira exchange rate will remain vulnerable to weaker oil prices.

We forecast a high in dollar exchange rate of N190/$ in first quarter, reflecting investor concern around weaker oil prices as well as the elections.

*Razia Khan

Durojaiye The monetary policy of the CBN would be so tight. CBN has already given us sample of what to expect, and because of what is happening, interest rates have gone up to about 30 percent now. For prime lenders some banks are charging 25 to 27 percent. So the average man will be getting interest rate of 30 percent average and above.

Harrison Owoh There is going to be a relaxation of the monetary policy to enable banks lend to the real sector like agriculture, infrastructure, SMEs. C. EXCHANGE RATE Taiwo Oyedele I think it is a difficult balancing act of keeping many balls in air at the same time.

The reality is that the CBN as a matter of necessity must continue to defend the naira.

The key issue is what should be a realistic exchange rate band. For the 2014 budget, government estimated the midpoint exchange rate at N160 to the dollar with a benchmark price of $77.5 per barrel of crude oil. The average crude price for the entire 2014 is still above $80 yet the CBN could no longer defend the exchange rate and this calls to question whether the exchange rate was realistic in the first place. This can only be partly explained by the less than budgeted volume of crude production. For 2015, we see that the federal government used a rate of N165 for the 2015 budget even though the CBN has earlier devalued the naira to N168. The forecast in the international market for crude oil prices in 2015 is somewhere around $60 to $70. I therefore do not see how we can defend the naira to be anywhere around N165 or N168 in 2015.

*Samuel Durojaiye

Financial Derivative Analysts The parallel market rate is expected to cross N200/$ as dollar d e m a n d pressure persists. A N 2 0 0 exchange rate is only a 15 percent adjustment as against 45 percent devaluation

*Bismarck Rewane of Financial Derivatives

in 2009. Although, projecting the value of naira is currently clouded by several domestic and exogenous factors, the fair value of the currency is expected to be between N180/ $ and N195/$ at the interbank market. The naira adjustment

Put differently, we will spend about a quarter of our earnings (943 billion) to service debt, much more than the entire budget for capital expenditure of N633 billion.

by the CBN is timely and the depreciation of the naira has reduced over time because the official rate is closer to equilibrium. A further depreciation of 3-5 percent is also expected at the official market. This is due to anticipated impact of the global oil market spiral on external and fiscal buffers which limits the central bank’s ability to support naira.

Ogiemwonyin Foreign Investors making their exits are already gone. I expect the Naira will most likely settle around the N180 to N200 to the dollar range.

Devaluation beyond this range is not envisaged unless the election crisis becomes unmanageable.

The oil prices will settle around the $60 per barrel mark and the slide in the naira value will slow. The naira should be allowed a value within the band currently set and adjusted quickly to avoid massive devaluation that comes with waiting to take a decision, and making it an event when we then devalue.

Durojaiye It is a very tough situation.

Now two things work together, the rate of interest and the value of your currency. CBN does not want to allow the currency to find its level. If you protect the value of the currency, you cannot protect the interest rate at the same time. So there must be a balance. And in balancing, you have to ask yourself, where is your revenue coming from, and you cannot balance what you don’t have. If the revenue is not coming in, it would be difficult to allow the naira go to N300 or N400 per dollar. So the CBN will still want to protect the naira to some extent. It would allow interest rate to go up, to discourage people from borrowing to invest in foreign exchange. It is a tight situation.

Kunle Ezun A lot of people actually see the naira further devalued. But for me I don’t think so. I think what we have today will be maintained. Maybe we may continue to see naira at N185 or N180, but I don’t think the CBN will further devalue the naira. Even in 2009 when oil went to $30 we only had devaluation once. Because when you devalue twice in six months, you are sending a wrong signal. You are saying your first devaluation was not done correctly. Because it is expected that when you devalue the first time, you should have taken into consideration that there might be further drop in oil price and do a holistic devaluation. So if the CBN devalues again, it will send a wrong signal about our economy. So I think the CBN will continue to manage the naira outlook, through the managed float, which allows them to come into the market weekly to moderate the exchange rate.

D. BANKING AND FINANCE Kunle Ezun Most of the banks actually make their money from government securities, from Continues on page 36

28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Corporate Finance

By PETER EGWUATU & NKIRU NNOROM

S

takeholders in the Nigerian capital market have expressed confidence that the 2015 will impact on investors’ return on investment provided there is a hitch free general election and sustainable favourable reform policies that will impact on companies’ activities.

Speaking on the outlook for 2015, Mr. David Adonri, Managing Director, Highcap Securities Limited said “In 2015, if price of crude oil stabilizes and the macroeconomic authorities continue tight monetary policy, intensifies austerity and curtail imports, confidence will return to the economy and the capital market. However, long term solution lies in diversification and restructuring of the economy to be less import dependent”.

He said that the devaluation of the Naira was an evidence that the macro economy was in distress in 2014. He added that all along, the CBN had embarked on tight monetary policy to curtail inflation and defend value of the Naira. According to him, heavy decline in price of crude oil, insecurity in Northern Nigeria and increased political risk took huge toll on the capital market in 2014.

In his own view, Mr. Tola Odukoya, Managing Director, Asset Management & Research, Dunn Loren Merrifield, stated that the economy fared well in the first half of the year 2014 , but the consistent decline in oil prices over the last few months has put the domestic economy at risk given Nigeria’s reliance on oil revenues.

“Meanwhile, I believe the significant progress being made towards diversifying the economic base via manufacturing and agriculture will positively impact economic growth in the 2015 if the current policies and pace of progress are sustained,” he said.

On the capital market, Odukoya opined that the current state of the market, the adverse economic condition and outlook, coupled with the prevailing political and security climate, impacted negatively on the domestic capital market in 2014.

He, however, stated that the current state of the market presents a very good opportunity for investors given the attractive asset prices. According to him, his optimism is based on his

*Mr. David Adonri

*Emeka Madubuike, Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria

Capital market: Stakeholders express optimism for growth medium-to-long term outlook for the Nigerian, which is strongly positive, despite the short term challenges that will occur in the months ahead.

Commenting as well on the outlook for 2015, BGL Plc in its Economic Review and Outlook for 2015, stated that the International Monetary Fund, IMF forecast that Nigeria would grow by seven per cent in 2014 and 7.3 percent in 2015 would be supported by the sustained strong growth of the non-oil sector which is expected to grow by 7.7 percent in 2014 and 7.9 percent in 2015.The company added that key downside to the forecast includes the possible loss of the economic value added of the North East regions if the scale of insurgence increased.

“In addition, the recent slump in oil price and the consequence of fiscal and monetary policy actions, which are largely contractionary, represent potential drags on output growth,” the company added in the report.

On the equities market, the research firm noted that fundamentals show that Nigeria’s equities market may be significantly underpriced, adding that Price Earning, PE ratios of most sectors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, are lower than that of its peers.

On sector to sector review, BGL researchers stated that the banking sector,

agriculture and oil and gas are very attractive, while the Fast Moving Consumer Goods, FMCG, sector which were hitherto overvalued have experienced significant price correction and the sector currently offers value for investments.

“Beneath the impressive valuations of the Nigerian equities market is the expanding middle income group attracting improved financial performance of firms in the FMCG and retail space.

“Due to identified

“If price of crude oil stabilizes and the macroeconomic authorities continue tight monetary policy, intensifies austerity and curtail imports, confidence will return to the economy and the capital market”

infrastructure gaps in terms of housing, transportation and power, we expect more focus on building and construction going forward.

In addition, since the provision of the infrastructure needs is largely to be private sector driven, we expect better efficiency and transparency in the handling of the projects with positive implication for the capital market.

“The merger between Lafarge WAPCO Cement Plc and Ashaka Cement Plc in order to achieve cost reductions through scale and removal of duplicated duties has positive potential effect on the sector. The newly launched Mortgage Refinance Company (MRC) is expected to boost housing development over time; leading to increased demand for building materials,” the report stated.

They said that consumer goods stocks, which are defensive stocks and have the capacity to generate cashflow all year round portends huge value for these companies.

In addition, the ban on the importation of some items and the increase in tariff on some will create a favourable competitive environment for the players in the sector.

“The ban on importation of refined cube sugar is expected to generate increased business and volume of sugar manufacturers; hence our optimism on their stock performance.”

The return to profitability of some consumer goods companies after years of negative performance signal that they have started benefiting from the restructuring embarked upon while the consistent positive performance of the industry bellwethers offers an attraction to the sector ’s stocks, the company said in the report.

It further stated that the conclusion of the Petroleum Industry Bill is expected to unleash significant investment in the sector, particularly unlocking value for the downstream petroleum sector as well as the upstream sector, while the increased foray of indigenous oil & gas companies into the upstream and midstream oil & gas sectors and the expansion into power generation and distribution offer significant upside for the stocks of quoted oil & gas companies in Nigeria. Companies with operations in the upstream, mid-stream and downstream sectors like Oando Plc portends great inherent value especially with the purchase of the assets of Conoco Phillips Nigeria Limited.

In his own reaction, Mr. Taiwo Oderinde, National Coordinator, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PROSAN),“The year 2014 was so significant in the history of our capital market because of some landmark events that took place. First, our market capitalisation grew to fourteen trillion naira .It shows a full recovery after 2009 global financial crisis.

"Also, Nigerian Stock Exchange was admitted to the World Federation of Exchanges. By implications, our NSE now has access to the global economy and it becomes easier for our market to attract more foreign Investors. Furthermore, three, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria were formally admitted as the Nigerian representative in the World Federation of Investors in Vienna in September 2014.

We hope that the regulatory bodies will improve on their statutory roles despite the fact that there are lots of challenges confronting them.

Apart from some of the positive and notable events in the year 2014 there are lots of challenges facing our Capital market that is hindering her smooth running .Among the challenges are: Need to strengthen our market legal framework, Investors education, under capitalisation, need for Continues on page 29

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 — 29

Corporate Finance

Guinness explains investment in capacity expansion …To increase Orijin production

By PETER EGWUATU

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uinness Nigeria Plc has explained that the increase in its investment in capacity expansion was as a result of increased demand for its products , even as its dividend payout to shareholders in 2014 financial period reduced, following a strategic decision made by the management.

The company explained that this decision was taken following strategic management plan that would see it increase dividend payout to shareholders in the future, just as it disclosed plans to increase production of Orijin to meet the high demand of the product in the country.

Speaking to journalists during a facility tour at Guinness Nigeria Plc in Lagos, Corporate Relations Director of the company, Mr.Sesan Sobowale said: “The company has decided to retain part of the profit made in 2014 to expand its production, instead of incurring interest from the banks. We don’t want interest payment to banks to keep growing, so that is why it was decided that part of our profit should be retained and used for further expansion that will attract higher profit and thus enhance dividend payout.’’

The company paid a total of N4.8 billion in the financial year ended 30th June, 2014 as against N10.5 billion in the corresponding period of 2013, representing 320kobo per share as against 700 kobo per share respectively.

Speaking on the company's new product Orijin, Sobowale said “Following the increasing demand for the product an expansion of the plant has already commenced to ensure there is wide spread availability. We work ahead of distribution as in the last couple of months there has been increased promotional activity. The product has varieties and will contribute its quota to the company’s bottom line’’.

He added that Orijin has two varieties and people should not take them as one product. There is one that is bitter with less sugar and the other one

TOUR - From left: Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale; Marketing Manager, Innovation, Ms. Omosefe Odaro and Ogba Plant Manager, Mr. Tunde Adegbola all of Guinness Nigeria Plc, during a media brewery tour for Orijin at the Ogba Plant in Lagos. that has a little more of sugar. We are working with other stakeholders to actively promote responsible consumption of our brands.

In his words, “The Orijin drink comes in two variances, ‘Orijin bitters and Orijin ready to drink’ known as ‘Orijin beer ’ made from our traditional roots and herbs. We are bringing the herbal and food flavored drink conceived from the home of Guinness to the people

and the reason is satisfy Africans. As a heritage drink coming from the roots, the people will endorse and appreciate the drink.”

On community development, he said, "We are also very committed to the development of communities where we live and operate. Through our flagship social investment programme, 'Water of Life',

we have provided portable water to over one million people across Nigeria. We have always remained committed to Nigeria even when harsh economic realities at some points in the history of our country had forced many companies to divest from Nigeria.

On Adulteration Sobowale also emphasized on the issue of

adulteration, stating that it is a global phenomenon and any brand that is successful will face adulteration. He said that Guinness as a brand has existed for over 250 years on the strength of quality.

“We have taken steps to build in an anti counterfeit measures to combat adulteration, but it’s obvious that you can differentiate original from fake when you see this product. Also distributors, retailers and beer parlour owners have been educated on how tob identify the fake. These are our precautionary measures since we put out the product to market over a year ago”he added.

On health “We are assuring the public that the quality is very good to health because Guinness has a stamp of quality on it. It has been prepared to the highest quality standard and it has been certified by NAFDAC. The Director General of NAFDAC has inspected the factory site and was impressed.It will interest you to note that Orijin drink clinched the year ’s ADVAN Awards for Marketing Excellence, Innovation Category and Marketing World Awards for Excellence in Marketing Innovation.”

Capital market: Stakeholders express optimism for growth Continued from page 28

Fundamentals show that Nigeria’s equities market may be significantly underpriced, adding that PE ratios of most sectors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, are lower than that of its peers

amendments of CAMA among others. For the year 2015, its a an election year which is normal to affect our market. But once the election is over and hitch free from crisis, the market will bounce back. The bearish run will continue until the 3rd quarter before it shows improvement.

Speaking on the outlook for capital market in 2015, the Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, Mr. Olumide Oyetan said “There is bright future for the market as long as there continue to be positive policies and proactivenesss of operators. We are going to promote the culture of investing in Exchange Traded Funds, ETFs in Nigeria.

"It’s just like taking out some insurance policies out of one’s life and begin to gamble on which other insurance policies would take your adequate cover. There is the need for the investors to learn how to invest and invest in the long-term

securities like the ETFs." Speaking on the ETF contribution towards attaining N1 trillion minimum capitalisation targets in 2016 overall growth in the stock market for the year, he disclosed that the Stambic IBTC ETFs contribution would be minimal for the period, judging from the low investors education on the funds and some other factors needed to be addressed in promoting such aspect of investment.

On the NSE meeting the N1 trillion target market capitalisation, he said “As a component of $1 trillion target by the Exchange, though, its a laudable move but we are still far from that feat because lots have to put in place to achieve the target.

When all those factors, as being put together by the management of the Exchange are in place like bringing more products, derivatives, options and many more, then, that becomes achievable and then ETFs Year-on-Year would start increasing.

C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

E-Commerce

Kaymu launches app for Android watch

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ocket Internet’s online marketplace,Kaymu, available in several markets across Africa, has launched an app on the Android watch in a move expected to make shopping even more accessible for the online shopping community in Africa and being the first African business to launch an app for the Android phone on the continent.

In a statement Sami Louali, Kaymu’s CEO said: “Kaymu is reaching new boundaries in the digital space. This gives users both functionality and an increased level of accessibility”. He also added: “What it also does is integrate the Android watch and phone so as to provide a seamless browsing experience which is what most consumers are looking for these days. It makes shopping and browsing across different devices easier and makes for a more integrated experience.”

The functionality of this app is dual – it lets users browse products featured in the catalogue on their watches itself and also displays all push notifications. Moreover, links on the alerts, when clicked automatically open on an Android phone.

Currently, Kaymu connects close to 40,000 sellers to buyers and helps them bring their business online, the launch of the app is in line with the firm’s mission to bring the African consumer online.

According to a 2013 report

by McKinsey, more than 50 per cent of urban Africans said they had accessed the Internet on their mobile device at the time of the study.

And by analyzing the current trends, it looks like the use of the Android watch will increase rapidly as well.

AWARD - From left: Engr. Femi Akintunde, Managing Director, Alpha Mead Facilities & Management Services Limited being presented with the “2014 Health and Safety Hero Award”

by Mr. Jacob De Jonge, Executive Board Member, Occupational Health and Safety Association at the 4th International Safety Conference in Abuja recently.

2015: E-commerce operators see increased growth, seek improved infrastructure Stories by JONAH NWOKPOKU

A

head of 2015 business year, operators in the ecommerce ecosystem expect astronomical growth that will be driven by increased conversion of the offline market.

Some of the operators who spoke to Financial Vanguard say the year 2015 will see among other things, large shift in moving offline users online.

Conversely, operators and industry watchers alike also believe there will be major shift in marketing strategy as most of the online operators will make an incursion into the offline marketing space.

They also expect better payment infrastructure

which will curtail the challenges of online payment and consolidate on the gains made on the space in 2014.

In this regard, more collaboration between epayment players and other online businesses will define the space this year.

They however argue that improvement in basic infrastructure like logistics, road network, and power are necessary to improve the gains made in the sector already.

E-Commerce is here to stay “E-commerce in Nigeria,

Arik Air unveils ‘Explorer’ to boost online services

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est and Central Africa’s largest carrier, Arik Air has unveiled an online travel package product, Arik Explorer which incorporates

Bizinvent unveils Nigeriaelections2015.com to monitor 2015 polls

B

izinvent, a creative and technology company focused on providing enterprise solutions for small and medium scale businesses has created a website, www.nigeriaelectiona2015.com, a visual listening open data platform aimed at making more information available to the public.

According to the promoter, the website will aid visualizing information, including facts, ideas, topics, issues, statistics, queries available in volumes, velocity, veracity and variety to a bare C M Y K

and Africa as a whole, is experiencing exponential growth. It is safe to say ecommerce is here to stay and will undoubtedly experience more growth. The Nigerian ecommerce industry, only second to South Africa’s on the continent, is projected to take the top spot in the coming years,” said Marek Zmyslowski, CEO of Jovago.com.

He added: “It’s a gradual growth; right now the major challenges are still the lack of basic infrastructure and the challenges/downtimes with online payment. Fortunately

we have local and international players working hard to make this better.”

For Sim Shagaya, the CEO of Konga.com, the year 2015 would be a year of even more business growth.

“We have only seen the tip of the iceberg where ecommerce is concerned and we can look to the successes of global giants such as AliExpress, Amazon and the likes, for a rough preview of what the future holds.”

On what could be done better in the sector in 2015, Shagaya said the missing elements of basic infrastructure must be attended to by all stakeholders if the sector is to make as much considerable progress.

According to him, “The missing elements for ecommerce are the same that have been implicated over and over again, for keeping the power of commerce and entrepreneurship from being fully unleashed in Nigeria today. These include: lack of power, infrastructure, good roads and well developed transport system.”

“In the industry, there is still a big opportunity to improve the delivery fulfilment timesKonga already has plans in place to improve on this significantly in 2015,” he added.

“2015 will be a big year for Nigeria as a whole,” noted the Co-CEO of Jumia Nigeria, Nicolas Martin.

“Nigeria has become the biggest economy in Africa and we believe that it will keep on growing. We have great plans to serve Nigerians better, create more jobs, and expand our value proposition,” he added.

minimum of words and imagery.

According to Bizinvent, “The idea is for the designed information to aid us clearly understand the elections chatter, cutting through the noise and revealing the hidden connections, patterns and the ordinary Nigerian citizen’s dilemma underneath it all which in turn would lead to informed decisions, accurate implementation, transformation and change knowing fully that a well informed electorate is a pre-requisite for democracy.”

airline seats with hotel and other ancillary options like car hire and travel insurance.

Arik Explorer ’s internet booking functionality will enable its hotel partners to upload rooms and vehicles on the company’s website in real time and customers will also have the options of using Arik’s mobile app to make bookings with their mobile phones and tablets.

The Arik Explorer which was launched in Lagos recently offers travel package in two levels which include premium and affordable and will be for both outbound and inbound travel from Lagos and other destinations serviced by Arik Air. According to the Managing Director of Arik Explorer, Mr. Kencho Omojafor, the business strategy of the

company will revolve around the need to provide quality service to the various target customers with the view to fully satisfy their needs.

He said: “We will continuously provide enjoyable quality excursions, trips and hotels on time and on budget, develop enthusiastic and satisfied customers all of the time, and establish a market presence that assures short term and long term profitability, growth and success.

This product will establish a reputation as a differentiated, specialty provider of city/adventure travel and excursions. We will also provide unparalleled service to our international and local tourists to Nigeria, the West Coast and beyond.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 — 31

32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 — 33

34 —Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

E-Commerce

China’s Huawei 2014 smartphone sales rise by a third

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uawei Technology Co Ltd’s [HWT.UL] smartphone sales rose by almost a third to $11.8 billion in 2014, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, showing the Chinese telecoms firm’s continued ascent in the global handset wars.

The division shipped about 75 million smartphones in 2014, according to the yearend memo to employees sent

by Richard Yu, the head of Huawei’s consumer business.

Although that represented a more than 40 percent yearon-year increase, the figure lagged behind Huawei’s previously stated sales target of 80 million units.

Huawei spokeswoman Maggie Qi said the company does not comment on internal memos.

The results, which are due to be publicly announced in the coming weeks, reaffirm Huawei’s place among a small coterie of rising smartphone makers, including Xiaomi Inc [XTC.UL] and LG Electronics, whose growth rates are eclipsing those of industry leaders.

Pressured by low-cost vendors, top ranked Samsung Electronics Co is likely to see its shipments nearly unchanged this year.

India working to fix e-commerce payments post-Uber case

U

.S. taxi-hailing company Uber Technologies violated Indian regulations by “bypassing” rules when it used an overseas gateway to conduct transactions in the country, Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan said in a television interview.

The central bank is working to set a legal framework for the use of advanced ecommerce technologies but in the meantime no one can treat the absence of a solution as an excuse to violate Indian rules, Rajan told NDTV television.

“We are willing to work to try and solve the problem, in fact we have some solutions which are coming up on doing low value transactions without too much ‘jhanjhat’ (hassle) as they call it. But the point is you cannot violate regulations,” Rajan said.

C M Y K

E-commerce: Jumia's quest for innovation, strategic partnerships

By JONAH NWOKPOKU

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he year 2014 was an impressive year for ecommerce in Nigeria. All the indices indicated very positive and tremendous improvement for the sector.

As the business year drew to a close, Nigeria’s pioneer online retailer, Jumia.com released an infographic, a data representation detailing its operations for the entire year. The infographic contained facts, figures and mileage the online retailer covered in 2014. It illustrated Jumia’s orders for the entire year, strength of calls received, quality of customer service and brands that dominated sales in the entire year.

For instance, the infographic showed that the orders made on Jumia, when stacked up on each other will be 220 times as tall as the world’s tallest tower, the Hurj Khalifa. The infographic also took into cognisance the number of visits made to the online store, which was more than 200 million page views.

It further showed that the farthest distance the retailer covered in delivery of single item was 1,590 Km to Kukawa, Borno State just to deliver a flash drive. Other important information that the infographic captured was the mobile trend which it put at 50 percent including some of its strategic partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and the over 78 million Nigerians reached through its aggressive offline marketing campaign.

Strategic partnership with MTN In 2014, in a move that further redefined the ecommerce industry in Nigeria, Jumia secured new rounds of investments in the initial sum of €120 million, about N24.5 billion from Africa’s largest telecommunication company, MTN Group, a move that has been seen by many as the strongest alliance in Nigerian corporate circles. This investment, among others made by existing shareholders, strengthened Jumia’s position as the leading online retailer in Africa. This saw the launch of the MTN ‘Be Better ’ campaign, which according to CMO, MTN

*CEO of Jumia, Jeremy Doutte

Nigeria, Bayo Adekanbi, “Taps into the desire of Nigerians to live a better life for themselves and their families, looking at various facets of their lives. MTN therefore encourages Nigerians to enrich themselves with the power of information powered by the internet on their mobile devices. This way they can make better decisions, learn and do new things.”

Jumia and MTN also embarked on series of campaigns aimed at sensitizing their customers as to the amazing world of opportunities across both platforms.

The Jumia/MTN connectivity week, This saw both brands storm the streets with an aim to bridge the gap between customers offline and the over 100,000 products available on Jumia as well as the amazing gadgets and services from MTN across Lagos, Ibadan and Ogun State.

To end what has been a remarkable year MTN launched the ‘Season of Surprises’ campaign, that had some lucky customers get Jumia vouchers for their loved ones.

Providing service excellence Speaking about the growth of Jumia in 2014, Co-CEO Jumia Nigeria, Nicolas Martin, said; “This time last year, I said to all my staff that we will be 10 times bigger than what we currently are but

*CO-CEO of Jumia, Nicolas Martin

interestingly, some of them found it really hard to believe.

2014 is over and guess what, we are over 10 times bigger. I am indeed not surprised, our customers have been all we have and we constantly work to provide them with service excellence making every trip to our store a shopping experience to remember.”

Huge potential of ecommerce in Africa Also speaking, Co-CEO of Africa Internet Group, Jeremy Hodara, said; “We are very pleased to have been given this show of confidence, which acknowledges Jumia’s success. We consider this recognition of the huge potential of e-commerce in Africa and the strong momentum of Jumia across the continent.”

In 2013, Jumia became the first African company to win an award at the World Online Retail Awards in Paris, where it was celebrated as the “Best New Retail Launch” of the year. In 2014,

How Jumia started In 2012, Jumia started in a garage in Lagos, Nigeria. Before long, the company had built up its own logistics infrastructure – a 90,000 square feet warehouse and its own fleet of drivers capable of delivering products all around 36 states in the country including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

In 2013, Jumia became the first African company to win an award at the World Online Retail Awards in Paris, where it was celebrated as the “Best New Retail Launch” of the year. In 2014, Jumia was nominated at the same event for the ‘Best CSR initiative’ in partnership with the ‘1 Child, 1 Book’ initiative by the Tosin Jegede Foundation.

Now, with operations in 10 countries, Jumia is the largest e-commerce company in Africa and has increased astronomically the amount of sales processed through its mobile and desktop applications in 2014, mobile responsible for 50 per cent of that traffic.

With its marketplace platform for third-party merchants, Jumia also offers an entry point for many international and local brands/ SME’s who are looking to enter or grow their presence on the African continent.

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Commodity Index

Micro-Finance

Microfinance banks activities leapfrog in style in 2014

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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ctivities in the Micro finance Banks (MfBs) sub sector in 2014 leapfrogged in style from what it used to be. So many funds were pumped into the sub sector in the year under review and a new president elected to man the National Association of Micro finance Banks, NAMB, and awards were given for o u t s t a n d i n g performances to some members of the association for best practices.

Launch of N220 billion MSMEDF MSMEs are globally recognised as engines of economic growth as a result of their ability to create jobs, boost production, generate income, and reduce poverty.

However, MSMEs in the country do not have the adequate financing needed to play this pivotal role and findings show that the financing gap of this sub-sector is about N9.6 trillion as at 2010.

To this end, the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) designed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to be accessed via the Microfinance Banks to support MSMEs was launched by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja this year and so far, only 20 states have applied for the fund and only nine MfBs have been given, the other eleven will get approval when they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

NAMB Elects New Officers At its 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, NAMB elected new national officers that will run the affairs of the association from 2014 to 2016.

Those elected were Mr. Valentine Whensu as President, Mr. Peter Nwafor as 1st Vice President, Sen. Umar as 2nd Vice President.

Others include Barr.

Peter Oiwo as Legal Adviser and Lady Frances Becky as

NAMB President, Mr. Valentine Whensu Treasurer.

Four point agenda In his acceptance speech Whensu pledged to build on the achievements of the previous administration, promising to focus on four areas using the four pillars of Advocacy, Capacity Building, Networking and Selfregulation.

In a chart, he told FV: “on the issue of advocacy we have taken it to some organizations like the CBN, NDIC, AfDB, MITI and that is what earn us a say on the MSMEs council. We have also brought to their notice that we should have a SMEDAN council in all the 36 states, where NAMB would have a representative in all those states.

“In terms of capacity building, most of our states are doing their capacity building in order to improve on the space gap on this sub sector. In terms of networking we have networked with some organizations that matters to see how we can move NAMB forward.

“We hope to do more after now because we are looking at how we can bring in fund into this sub sector so that this business can be done well and also that people will have access to fund at cheap rate so that they can do their businesses,” he said.

FMO Invest EUR 7.5 million in LAPO MfB Other activities that enhanced the sub sector’s effort in the year is the agreement signed

by LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited and FMO, the Netherlands Development Finance Company, over a local debt facility of 7.5 million euro.

The partnership would help in promoting

financial inclusion among the grassroots and the loan has a five years tenor.

LAPO MfB is owned by Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe as a nonprofit microfinance institution, in the late 1980s to provide financial and social empowerment services to members of low income households. The bank transformed into a licensed bank in 2010 and currently is one of the leading banks in Nigeria, with presence in 27 states and a client base of over one million.

Accion MfB bags EFInA, LEAD award, others Other events that impacted positive into the sub sector ranges from various awards received, where Accion Microfinance Bank stand out with seveeral of the awards in the year under focus.

The awards include: Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) Award for the financial service provider that has deepened financial inclusion in Nigeria in the microfinance category.

The announcement was made at the EFInA Financial Inclusion Conference which took place in Lagos.

Assessment was made in 6 areas including Customer Impact, Reach to Un-served and Underserved Segments, Scale, Financial Inclusion Strategy, Learning and Consumer Protection.

Also, the 2014 Lagos Enterprise Award (LEAD) for Best Microfinance Bank of the Year and this is the fourth consecutive year the bank has won the award.

The announcement was made at the LEAD Awards ceremony which took place in Lagos.

In the same vein, the bank emerged as the LEAD Centenary MFB of the Year for its effect on the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

The recognition is in acknowledgment of the bank’s contributions to s u s t a i n a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t , commitment to financial inclusion and impact on the nation in general.

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36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

SO YOU WANT TO BE GOVERNOR IN 2015?

NOTE: ack in May of last year, a warning was issued on these pages to those wanting to succeed incumbent governors about the financial disasters ahead.

Few took notice. As you read the column again, several states owe staff salaries, some up to four months and the calamity is just unfolding.

The drop in the price of crude oil, which was then mentioned as a possibility, is now a certainty and it is worse than anybody could have imagined and will last longer than imaginable. By May 2015, hardly any state will be able to fulfill its obligations to its workers. Hundreds of thousands of civil servants will be retrenched at Federal, State and Local Government levels and by the private sector. Please read on.

“Looking from the fact that the funds from the Federation Account are not judiciously utilized by the states and they are not accountable to the people and the state legislature, our concern is that even if they get money from bonds and it is not invested, the state will be left with a huge debt burden , which will hurt in the long term.” Dr Usman Muttaka, Head of Department of Economics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

That statement credited to Dr Muttaka was quoted in the PUNCH of May 25, 2014, in a report titled STATES RAISE

B

N514BN THROUGH BONDS IN FIVE YEARS, written by Simeon Ejembi. The report could not have come at a better time as elections are about to be held in Osun and Ekiti States in a few weeks; and the rest of the country next February. For too long, elected governors in all the states of Nigeria had taken it upon themselves, to get their states into long term debts, mortgage the future stream of state revenue long after they have left office – with hardly anybody asking questions.

And all these in a democracy.

LEAGUE TABLE OF BOND DEBTS BY STATES. Below are the current levels of bond debts owed by some states. Those are not the only heavily indebted states, however. How much Akwa Ibom and Rivers as well as Ogun and Oyo States owe is not included yet. Naturally, the State of Excellence should set the pace and Lagos State has not disappointed in this respect. But, some of the other states should give their people a lot to worry about given their ranking, see below, on the revenue from the Federation account – which still constitutes the bulk of their revenue. The figures and the capacity of some states to carry the debt burden, in the event of a downturn in crude oil prices, should frighten those wanting to take over from outgoing governors.

The first thing which

strikes a casual observer is the penchant for states with low revenue ranking to borrow comparatively more than those with high revenue profile.

Lagos is unique among all the states on account of its relatively high Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, as

1.

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3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

S TAT E Lagos Bayelsa Delta Osun* Ondo Edo Ekiti Gombe Imo Kwara Ebonyi Niger

nothing wrong with governments borrowing to finance capital projects. But bond financing is supposed to be used for projects which will generate the funds with which the loan will be repaid.

That means that funds meant for a project cannot be DEBT N187b N50b N50b N30b N27b N25b N25b N20b N18.5b N17b N16.5b N15.6b

if those projects are also yielding revenue to help repay the debt. It is worse when they go into drain pipes leading inexorably to private pockets.

The lame duck governors, who can keep their lawmakers at bay, have had the benefit of enjoying a free hand to disburse public funds as they chose. They have enjoyed the benefits of exercising power

RANK th 5 4th rd 3 th 18 1 1th rd 23 th 34 3 6th th 13 nd 32 3 3rd th 12

*Osun has drawn only N30b out of the N60b it planned to eventually borrow under the state government’s debt issuance programme; which means that the figure could rise any time from now. a percentage of total revenue collected. But, most other states depend almost exclusively on the allocations from the Federation account.

Most spend virtually every kobo collected now and they still experience difficulties in meeting their financial obligations. With federally allocated revenue on the decline, the states will experience increasing difficulties in meeting their financial obligations. Debt defaults loom as distinct possibilities.

O r d i n a r i l y, there is

diverted to any other purpose –however urgent or meritorious. In mature democracies, the legislature ensures that this is done. But, there is probably no single independent State House of Assembly in Nigeria today. All without exception have become appendages or rubber stamps of the state governors.

It is therefore most likely that some, if not most, of the funds collected for some specific projects have been diverted to other end uses. It would have been bad enough

unchecked and they can depart while passing the bill to their successors to pay. That explains why, with the exception of Osun and Ekiti, as well as Anambra and Edo, whose governors are not departing in 2015, every governor is eager to select his own successor. None wants to pass the baton of office to a hostile or uncooperative new governor who might expose any shady

deals that might have been associated with those projects. The would-besuccessors are warned to be wary of the booby traps awaiting them in the Governor ’s office. Once you have been imposed on the people by the outgoing governor, you will be expected to live with the problems which a mortgaged future will mean for the state. And, if it means sacking a lot of state workers, then the burden will be yours not that of the man who got the state into the mess in the first place.

Economy

Expect crises, risks and opportunities in 2015 —Financial experts Continues from page 27

investment incomes, so their income will be determined by how much government borrows in 2015 and the outlook for the monetary policy. If the budget is running into deficit, the government will fall back on the banks to finance the deficit; it means they will borrow at high rate. So a lot of banks will continue to do more of investment in government securities than lending to real sector. The real sector needs more of intervention funds because I don’t see any of these

banks lending to the real sector, because the outlook does not support banks lending to the real sector. As at today, the power generation has dropped to 2,900 MW, and most of the businesses hardly survive on their own. So the banks will play safe in 2015, and it means that it would pay them to continue to invest in government securities which are more like a risk free instruments.

Durojaiye For the Finance Houses subsector, 2015 is going to be

very tough because apart from interest rate going up, your borrowers, people who take local purchasing orders (LPO) at margin of 20 percent and they are taking the loans for three months. How would they pay? If you increase your interest rate, and somebody has 20 percent on the LPO, and don’t forget that most companies might not be able to sell according to their budget; they will not be able to increase price. They will want to reduce cost, so the man might not have a margin of 20 percent. So how

does he pay back the loan he has borrowed? There would actually be delayed in repayment.

E. INFLATION Financial Derivatives The headline inflation is expected to range between 10 percent and 12 percent in 2015. In a highly import dependent economy, some of the price effects of the devaluation will be passed to the consumer. This is based on the persistent decline in global food, energy and other

imported goods and services prices.

Although the devaluation of the naira is expected to increase inflation as a result of the pass-through effects on import costs, this impact is likely to be muted due to the lower global commodity prices and anticipated increase in local production of staple food crops. However, there is a marginal probability that inflation would temporarily spike above 9 percent due to the increase in electricity tariff, speculative trading around the elections and other policy developments.

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Tax Matters

It also considers the statutory deductions allowed in the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) such as the National Housing Fund contribution and the pension contribution as well as the statutory consolidated relief allowance.

A cross section of representatives of customers of United Parcel Service, who were rewarded for their outstanding performance during the year 2014.

Computing tax returns using the firs tax calculator

By OLUMIDE SOLATE

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omputing taxes can be so cumbersome, especially for the tax types that do not consider any deduction or relief; such tax types include the Value Added Tax (VAT) which is currently 5% of the total sum and the Withholding Tax (WHT) whose rate depends on the particular transaction in question and is also applied to the total sum.

Other tax types which consider certain deductions and reliefs for the benefit of the taxpayers usually require some measure of technical expertise in their computation, especially in the identification of the deductions and reliefs allowed.

Conscious of this fact, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) incorporated a tax calculator application in its redesigned website to help users compute their taxes and at least have an idea of the amount of taxes they should pay, based on their income.

The tax calculator is one of the best features on the redesigned FIRS website.

This will help taxpayers have an estimated idea of

their tax assessment before they file their returns at the nearest FIRS office or via

the e-filing platforms. It is designed to take care of computations for both

individual (PAYE and Personal Income Tax) and corporate (Company Income Tax) taxpayers.

The corporate section takes cognisance of the type of industry the company operates in, the statutory deductions allowed by the Company Income Tax Act, the applicable capital allowance and unrelieved losses as well as the number of years the company has been in operation. If all the required fields have been correctly filled, a hit on the ‘CALCULATE TAX’ generates the Company Income Tax, corresponding Education Tax and the Information Technology Development Levy (where applicable).

The individual/enterprise section caters for persons in paid employment, partnership businesses and those that are selfemployed. This section makes provisions for both earned (from paid employment) and unearned (other income such as rents, royalties etc.) income. It also considers the statutory deductions allowed in the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) such as the National Housing Fund contribution and the pension contribution as well as the statutory consolidated relief allowance. After filling all the required fields, a hit on the ‘CALCULATE TAX’ button gives the tax payable broken into monthly instalments.

The Tax Calculator is specifically designed to make life easier for all classes of taxpayers. If you ever experience any page loading issue while using the platform, please refresh your page.

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44— Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 Email:lesleba@lesleba.com, lesleba@gmail.com Blog page:www.lesleba.com/blog2 Website: www.lesleba.com Tel:0805 220 1997

NIGERIA: STOP TREASURY BILLS SCAM

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n last week’s article we discussed why inclusive economic growth is made unattainable in Nigeria by the process, which the Central Bank adopts for reducing money supply in order to restrain inflation. It is clear that whenever the Central Bank sells Treasury bills to control money supply, it is unwittingly forced, inspite of the attendant oppressive rates of interest, to borrow funds that will simply be kept idle; ironically, in a manner that is reminiscent of a man who cuts his nose to spite his face, the same CBN is also actually responsible for instigating the inordinately high interest rates attached to government’s huge domestic borrowings!

On the 19 th of December 2014, the CBN auctioned government Treasury bills and thereby borrowed N195bn from the open market at interest rates which range from 9-16% for the 90 to 360 days debt instruments respectively. Incidentally barely a week or so after this auction, as an admission of failure to reduce Naira surplus with existing controls, measures, the CBN also gave notice that it would borrow another tranche of N 1200bn with possibly the same high interest rates also applicable before the 30 th March 2015.

True to its words, last week, the CBN advertised its ‘Bid Notice’ to auction T/bills and borrow N160bn on the 8th of January 2015. Indeed If CBN’s strategy for reducing surplus Naira is projected along this pattern of

borrowing for 2015, we may sadly need to pay over N 600bn from our already lean treasury, to primarily the commercial banks, for the joy of borrowing some of the surplus funds which were largely created by CBN’s creation and substitution of Naira values for distributable dollar denominated revenue; clearly no real development and economic growth can be predicated on such a reckless strategy. Indeed, failure of this strategy is best amplified by the deepening poverty which has become accentuated nationwide, despite the fortuitous accumulation of bountiful reserves from a bullish crude oil market which persisted for over 5 years.

Thus, we have actually become poorer when we were stupendously richer and not even the “embarrassing” availability of systemic surplus Naira could redeem our economy! It would therefore be foolhardily to continue to adopt the same arrangements which have distorted our economic fortunes for so long and suddenly expect that our social infrastructure and welfare would rapidly improve, especially when it is also clear that our Small and Medium Enterprises which are, generally regarded as the prime engines of growth and job creation, are incapacitated socially antagonistic strategy that ensures that SMES forever remain in a lop sided competition with the CBN and the Debt Management Office for the available ‘surplus’ funds in the market.

The question then, is why does CBN and the government persist in this macabre emasculation of our economy? It is difficult to suggest that our economic management team is ignorant of the cause of the clear failure of its policies to instigate economic growth that creates increasing jobs!

Surely, the evidence of failure of this strategy is clearly mirrored in the rising rate of unemployment and our stubbornly famished industrial landscape, in which consumer demand is stringently capped by an average inflation rate of about 8% in recent years.

Sadly, the way things are, we may never witness below 3% best practice inflation and monetary policy rates that are characteristic of economies where genuine economic growth and vastly enhanced social welfare exist. Sadly, however our government has consistently, inexplicably, sustained an obtuse liquidity management strategy that will ultimately propel our economy into a tail spin with considerable adverse consequences for everyone.

Furthermore, the National Assembly appears to have readily acquiesced to this annual rape of our economy with CBN’s Treasury bills borrowings, which inevitably makes it difficult and expensive for SMES to access funds, but nonetheless immorally and inequitably subsidises bank profits with over N600bn interest payments on borrowed funds that will inexplicably be quarantined as idle deposits

by CBN! Regrettably, the farcical complexion of this strategy, is that the trillions of Naira surplus funds borrowed and quarantined by CBN actually exist simultaneously with the need for additional medium and long term loans at equally oppressive interest rates to fund annual budget deficits! Inexplicably, the government and the National Assembly appear determined to sustain this odd process which continuously throws up a handful of very rich Nigerians while increasingly more than 80% of our fellow countrymen still live on the proverbial poverty benchmark of U$D2/day.

Fortunately, we are in a democracy, and it is also the season of political campaigns leading to the eventual elections in Febr uary.

Consequently, the parties that seek our votes must be asked to state their position on CBN’s “Treasury Bills scam” in very clear terms i.e., whether or not they would stand on the side of the people quickly stopping the blatant rape of our patrimony with CBN’s failed attempts to reduce excess Naira supply by unwittingly borrowing trillions of Naira that will simply be kept idle at a time the real sector remains starved of funds! No election candidate or political party can be trusted with the management of public funds if they condone the enrichment of a small minority of Nigerians with payment of over N600bn interest charges on government debts, which are not applied to redressing the condition of over 160

million Nigerians who still wallow in poverty.

Unfortunately, we are all helpless victims of this brazen scam and, so long as any government sustains such inequitable and oppressive strategy for managing money supply there is clearly no possibility that Nigerians will ever be redeemed from this economic bondage; fortunately, politicians and critics cannot suggest that the required public declaration of their opposition to the Treasury Bills scam has any ethnic, religious, political or cabalistic colourations.

The simple question, therefore, is whether your political party will stop or sustain this apparent betrayal of the trust Nigerians on this matter of managing public funds wisely.

Consequently Nigerians should raise their voices in support of any campaign to stop CBN’s economic malady.

Everyone can let their voice be heard on this campaign by simply tweeting your name and telephone number with the slogan “I support the NSTBS campaign” to the twitter handle @Lesleba #NIGERIA STOP TREASURY BILLS SCAM (NSTBS).

Similarly, the same message can be sent as text messages on mobile phones to 08052201997.

Please be assured that if the size of participants is sufficiently impressive, a compiled summary of respondents will be made available to frontline political parties as a guide to what kind of change most Nigerians want.

The future of Nigerians yet unborn is at stake, this is no time to sit on the fence!

Business & Economy Exhibitors, consumers rate marketplace exhibition high

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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articipants including exhibitors and consumers have described the just concluded annual marketplace exhibition held in Lagos as successful.

Speaking at the event, Head, Planning committee of the exhibition, Mrs Moji Awokoya noted that the decision of the church to establish the concept is in line with desire of the overseer to see to the empowerment of its members. While declaring the fair open, The initiator of the event,Pastor Taiwo Odukoya explained that the annual

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marketplace was borne out of the need to support government in its own little way as a church by growing enterprise and promoting business through such intiative..

Odukoya who spoke on the essence of fair which had been on for a while pointed out that this year's edition had recorded remarkable progress when placed side by side with previous editions She said, ”As you can see, it is quite successful. All the stalls have been taken. We would have to return money to a lot of people because of space. We are hoping that

next year that it will even be much bigger and there will be a lot more publicity.

We still have more spaces.

Next year, we don’t have plans of moving it next year.But it will be much bigger next year”.

Commenting on what is responsible for the attraction and its impact on small business, Awokoya stated that consumers within the environment appreciated the gesture and as such responded in large numbers to partake in the fair.

She said, ”Patronage is one of the things. It attracts the people within the community."

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Michael Eboh Franklin Alli Ebele Orakpo Ifeyinwa Obi Rosemary Onuoha

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Group Business Editor Deputy Business Editor Energy Editor Asst. Business Editor Snr Bus. Correspondent Insurance Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Energy Reporter Industry/Agric. Reporter Energy Reporter Maritime Reporter Insurance Reporter

CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Nkiruka Nnorom Jonah Nwokpoku Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

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Media/Marketing Capital Market E-Commerce Industry Micro Finance Graphics Department

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BOMB BLASTS: RTEAN calls for modern motor parks with security gadgets across Nigeria

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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B U J A — N AT I O N A L President of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Shehu, has called on the government to establish modern parks across the country with modern security gadgets to curtail the incessant bombings in some parts of

the country.

Specifically, Alhaji Shehu canvassed for the mounting of Close Circuit Television, CCTV, cameras in the parks and many sensitive areas to detect criminal elements with devilish intentions to cause mayhem through bombing.

Speaking in an interview in Abuja, he noted that in many countries like South Africa and Saudi Arabia, security gadgets were positioned in their parks to detect contents

in loaded vehicles.

He said: “Security is a collective responsibility. In Nigeria, we need modern motor parks with CCTV, and other security gadgets.

What we have now are fenced spaces, while South Africa and Saudi Arabia have modern motor parks.

After vehicles have loaded, there is a machine that they have to pass under. If the vehicles carry anything that could cause disorder, the

machine would detect it. But here, we don’t have something like that and even when we load at the park, there is no police escort.

“We try to monitor movements at our parks and whenever we see any dubious movements, we report to the police. We also have a committee, if the driver is loading any vehicle, some people will be there if they perceive any odour of alcohol, they will transload it immediately.

“Times without number, I have talked to the media that the immunity we

have, has some consequences, we have thugs who hide under the immunity, they incite the youths, in their speeches, they undermine the security.

I give example of River State governor who said that if they rig the election, they will form another government. If not that he is a serving governor, I don’t think that he would make the statement at Eagle Square and go free."

Oduah flags off campaign, meets supporters

By Lawani Mikairu

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ORMER Aviation Minister and senatorial candidate, Princess Stella Oduah, has kicked off her campaign for the Anambra North Senatorial seat.

The campaign started in Ayamelum where she was received by the traditional ruler of the community and former Chief Judge of the state Hon Justice Paul Obidigwe.

In his remarks, Justice

Obidigwe commended the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders for their support for Oduah, noting that Oduah’s election was an opportunity for the PDP to take over the entire state.

Other party stakeholders who eulogised Oduah for her achievements in the aviation industry included incumbent member representing the area in the House of Representatives, Chizo Obidigwe.

Protests mar Abba town union election

By Francis Igata

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N U G U — FOLLOWING protests trailing the conduct of Abba Town Union election on December 28, 2014, the electoral panel chairman, has declared the election inconclusive.

The election was meant to elect the President General and Secretary among other offices of the National Assembly Town Union, Abba, Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State, to steer the affairs of the town for the next three years.

While briefing newsmen in Enugu after the deadlocked, the Electoral Panel

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Chairman/Returning Officer , Ozumba Uzochukwu alleged that, ”Ire village brought three candidates for the position of president general. The electoral panel asked the three aspirants to stand before the voters to enable voters queue behind their preferred candidate.

“When we started counting, we discovered that some voters were engaging in multiple voting. They were shunting the lines to be counted more than once.”

Ozumba lamented that prior to the election, one of the aspirants complained against the campaign of calumny mounted against him which might have worked against him.

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Enugu APC gov candidate promises free education

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L L PROGRESSIVES Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate, in Enugu State, Mr. Okey Ezea, yesterday, promised to provide free education in the state, if elected.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, he said “One of the questions people often ask is how can free education be financed? ‘Once we adequately exploit our sources of internally generated revenue, the question is answered. We can generate money from busy centres of business in the state such as Enugu Metropolis, Nsukka, Udi, Awgu, Oji and also the huge agricultural potential that we have yet to tap,” he said.

Ezea noted that the state required necessary political would to provide free education which he promised to educe in governance if he was elected.

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Akwa Ibom unity choir breaks Guinness world record T

HE Akwa Ibom State choral group has broken the world record for the largest number of Christmas carol singers in the world. The record, which has been officially certified by the Guinness World Records and pasted on its website, www.guinessworldrecords.com, was broken by the unity choir, a 25,272 man-choral group, in a concert in the Uyo Township Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2014 with Guinness World Records representatives in attendance. The record consigned to the history books the former record of 15,674 carol singers, which was achieved the previous year (December 15, 2013), by a group known as CENTI in Bogota, Columbia.

The Akwa Ibom unity choir sang a medley of The First Noel, Joy to the World, O Christmas Tree, Hark the Herald the Angels Sing, Once in Royal David’s City and O Come All Ye Faithful in an electrifying rendition which lasted more than twenty minutes.

Guinness World Records adjudicator, Liz Smith, who did the announcement in Guinness World Record Headquarters, London, United Kingdom congratulated the choir and said “It is now time to reveal the report of the official attempt to break the Guinness World Record of the

largest group of carol singers. Our team of highly trained record specialists have reached a decision. The record to beat was 15,674. I can now confirm that your attempt to break the record has been successful.

Congratulations on receiving a new Guinness World Records Title. The title of the largest group of carol singers has been achieved

by Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir.

You are officially amazing.”

Breaking the news to Akwa Ibom people, Governor Godswill Akpabio said “This month, we broke the Guinness Book of World Records, for the largest number of

carol singers ever in the world.

This momentous feat was achieved when Akwa Ibom people drawn from all the nooks and crannies of the state came together in the spirit of love and brotherhood. I believe that if we imbibe the virtue of love and stand together in brotherhood in the New Year, we would keep setting records and the walls of division, which have been erected by some selfish politicians, would tumble down.”

In his comments the Permanent Secretary, Protocol, Akwa Ibom State Government, and organizer

of the record-breaking choir, Mr Aniekpeno Tom Mkpanang, described the Guinness World Record as “another feather to the cap of a record breaking governor who has already garnered record breaking accolades and honours for his great visionary leadership from the academia, churches, traditional institutions and the global community. Many of these institutions are places you cannot buy records from, which dispels the notion of sceptics that most such awards are bought. With this record from Guinness, earth and heaven celebrate him.”

Clark’s wife flags off door-to-door campaign

A

By Etop Ekanem

BEOKUTA — IN fulfilment of her promise to run a different kind of electioneering campaign, senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Ogun Central district, Dr. Bisola Sodipo-Clark, has commenced door-to-door campaign as part of her strategies to win the February election.

In what surprised some residents of Abeokuta, weekend, the medical doctor turned politician led her campaign team to many homes in the Ibara area of the capital telling residents

about her programme and thanking them for their support so far.

The chairperson of the National Eye Centre, Kaduna who is also a former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State promised her constituents that if voted into office she would use her wide contacts to attract enviable projects that will affect the lives of the people as she did when she was Commissioner for Health.

She said: “I served you before and the records are there. You remember I worked hard to ensure that most of the general hospitals in Ogun State got adequate funding that led to their

establishment. I will do it even at a higher scale this time. I know who to meet and where to go to attract life-improving projects for you.”

Sodipo-Clark promised to ensure the installation of a major power transformer that will make life better for residents of some parts of the state capital who have been without electricity for the past three years. “The Ibadan Distribution Company through my intervention and the support of President Goodluck Jonathan shall put smiles on your faces this new year. Your electricity shall be restored."

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015—49

Lagos welcomes 1st baby of the year at Isolo General Hospital

By Chioma Obinna

T

•Mother of the 1st baby of the year 2015 in Lagos, Mrs Ogechukwu Onyejieke, poses with her baby that was born 12.01am at the Isolo General Hospital weighing 2.5kg with a body length of 33cm and head circumference of 47cm.

Photo: Chioma Obinna.

HE First baby of the year in Lagos state was born to Mrs. Ogechukwu Onyejieke, at the Isolo General Hospital, Lagos on January 1, 2015.

Baby Onyejieke was born at 12.01am at the Isolo General Hospital weighing 2.5kg with a length of 33cm and head circumference of 47cm.

Two other babies, a boy and girl were also delivered through normal birth at the same hospital. The 1st baby was delivered under the supervision of a Consultant, Dr, Akhaboa.

The proud 23-year-old mother of the first baby is a Make-up Artist and this is her first baby.

The mother, Ogechukwu Onyejieke who hail from Imo State and her baby were doing well. She said she felt great that her first baby arrived on the first day of the year.”

The second baby of the year is Baby Ogunnoiki who was born at 12:01am at the Lagos Island Maternity through Caesarian Section (CS).

The baby girl weighed 2.3kg with head circumference is 33cm and length 45cm. The baby and mother, Mrs Sherifat Ogunnoiki, an Estate Management consultant, are in stable condition.

The third baby of the year came at 12:04am at the Ajeromi General Hospital, Ajeromi, Lagos, to the family of Mrs Rukayat Mamud through

NHIS set to cover 40% of Nigerians in 2015 -- THOMAS

By Sola Ogundipe

F

OLLOWING its reorientation and repackaging over the last one year, the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, is set to meet its set target of ensuring coverage for 40 percent of Nigerians in the formal and informal sectors. Currently, an estimated 17 percent of Nigerians are covered under the Scheme.

Disclosing this to Vanguard Health & Living, VHL, in Abuja, Executive Secretary/CEO of the NHIS, Dr. Femi Thomas, said the signing of the National Health Bill into an Act has further opened, opportunities aimed at enhancing the potential of the Scheme to the benefit of Nigerians.

Noting that the Scheme has seamlessly penetrated the informal sector to take advantage of home-grown products that enable access to improved life expectancy, better maternal health, child health, etc., he said in 2013, the enrolment figure was 2 percent or 5.2 million lives, but at least 2.2 million lives (40 percent what was met) has been added.

"My arrival coincided with two critical challenges. One was the target set for the Scheme by Mr. President himself, for the extension of coverage to no less than 30 percent of Nigerians by 2015.

The other was the emergence of

•Dr. Femi Thomas.

Universal Health Coverage, UHC, as a new global objective set for all nations by the World Health Organisation, WHO, towards enhancing the economic prosperity and social well-being of humanity.”

Thomas who noted that the set objectives coincided with his personal agenda, said since he came in as Executive Secretary, there has been a rapid upscale of coverage, tangible and visible improvement in the quality of care available under the Scheme, and the restoration of the enrolee to a place of eminence and pride in the implementation of the Scheme.

“I am happy to report that we have

completed the moulding of the building blocks, laid crucial structures and have commenced the implementation of certain strategies to make health insurance easy and accessible to all Nigerians.

These are manifestations of a comprehensive assessment of the strength, weakness and opportunities of the Scheme which revealed there was inherent capacity not only to meet the Presidential target of 30 percent coverage, but surpass it. Arising from that, NHIS has set for itself an institutional target of 40 percent coverage by 2015.”

The NHIS boss explained that in the course of the past year, the Scheme undertook a painstaking study of standards, processes and strategies adopted by governments and technical organisations locally and internationally, to acquire information and deepen knowledge that will help the Scheme borrow a leaf from best practices and avoid pitfalls in the experiences of others and to help frog-leap health insurance coverage in Nigeria.

“We went to the oracle headquarters in the US. Oracle did the website for Obamacare and we needed to know what actually went wrong with Obamacare. We went to the US state department to ask questions about digitalisation of insurance processes. The HMOs are now planning for digitisation.

normal delivery. Baby Mamoud had a birth weight of 3.49kg.

Fourth baby was Medinat Yinusa who was also born at Ajeromi General Hospital at 3.05 am with birth weight of 4kg. Congratulating the mothers while presenting them gifts, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, who led the tour of the hospitals, urged the mothers to take good care of the children.

Fashola who expressed appreciation to the management of the hospitals and the entire ministry of health for their commitment to successful implementation of the various reforms in the health sector in the past years said part of the success was provision of maternal and child centre.

She stressed the need for mothers to eat well and maintain high level of hygiene during pregnancy.

On her part, the Medical Director, Isolo General Hospital, Dr. Olufumilayo who stated that deliveries have increased to 2,200 annually lamented shortage of personnel and equipment in the hospital.

“Our staff strength has dropped from 550 to 409 while our patronage is on the increase. Our 4th challenge is relating to equipment. We need more modern equipment in order to keep up with the technological advancement in the medical field.”

NHB will provide regulatory framework for health sector -- MDCAN

By Victoria Ojeme

P

RESIDENT of the Medical Consultant Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, Dr, Steven Oluwole, has said that the recently signed National Health Bill, NHB, will provide framework to regulate, develop, and manage the country's National Health System as well as set standards for rendering health services in the country.

Oluwole said: "The Act harmonises the tiers and modes of health care delivery in the country. In other words no health care services should exist outside of this framework. This should promote developments and standards that would benefit patients.

Asked if this will reduce the continuous strikes in the health sector, Oluwole stated: "Since the Health Bill is not a Labour Act, the operations of Unions and Associations under extant Labour Laws are not the subjects of its provisions. However, provisions of the Act that clearly defined roles, should end agitation that are based on professional rivalries.

“The provision is quite clear, There is hereby established for the Federation the National health regulation of health services, without prejudice to extant professional regulatory laws," he avowed.

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

•Mu'azu:

•Jega:

•Oyegun:

SIX WEEKS TO ELECTIONS:

Where are the parties?

ABOUT 40 days to the 2015 general elections, most discourse on the exercise are fixated on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in a country of 26 registered political parties.

T

By Charles Kumolu

HE release of the names of presidential candidates and their running mates by the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, has for the umpteenth time raised questions on the visibility of other political parties in Nigeria.

Of the 26 registered parties, only 11 submitted names of candidates to run for the presidency.

The certified parties as obtained from INEC website include: Accord, A; Action Alliance, AA; Advanced Congress of Democrats, ACD; Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN; Alliance For Democracy, AD; African Democratic Congress, ADC; African Peoples Alliance, APA; All Progressives Congress, APC; All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; Citizens Popular Party, CPP and Democratic Peoples Party,DPP. Others are Independent Democrats, ID; Kowa Party, KP; Labour Party, LP; Mega Progressive Peoples Party,MPPP; National Conscience Party, NCP; New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP; People For Democratic Change, PDC; Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP;

Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA; Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN; Social Democratic Party, SDP; United Democratic Party, UDP; Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN and United Progressives Party, UPP. The 11 parties that are fielding candidates for the polls are APC, PDP, KP, HDP, ACP, AD, UDP, ADC, NCP, AA and UPP. The LP and APGA had already adopted President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP as their sole presidential candidate. That pegs the number of those without candidates for the office of the president and most elective positions at 15.

Parties appear and disappear Though the country posses a political history where parties appeared and disappeared in various guises, the gradual amendments of the electoral law which led to an increase in the number of parties from three in 1999 to 63 and now 26, made expectations of a robust representation of the various parties in the 2015 general elections rife.

The October 2014 lifting of the ban on political campaigns by INEC increased anticipations.

But so far, the political

landscape is largely dotted by the activities of the APC and ,PDP leading to concerns over other parties that were registered by the INEC to participate in the exercise.

Although, platforms like the SDP, APGA and LP, seem to be having some negligible level of representation at regional levels, the perceived parochial ideologies behind their formation, appear not to have done much to increase their visibility.

The SDP for instance, is a fallout of the alleged absence of inclusive representation in Ogun State chapter of the APC, which ultimately alienated the supporters of a former governor of the state, Chief Segun Osoba from the party.

PDP's appendages For APGA and LP, analysts are yet to be convinced that they are not appendages of the ruling PDP. But for INEC, the perceptibility of a few others would have remained in the dark, given that they are not known to have commenced campaigns or embarked on other electioneering activities.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that aside some dissatisfied governorship aspirants, who defected to APGA to actualize their

aspirations, none of the presidential candidates have made serious moves beyond the purchase and submission of nomination forms.

Faced with this grim situation which contravens popular craving for a robust multi-party election, questions abound as

to the rationale behind having such parties with little or no presence.

Speaking on the matter, Director General of Centre for Good Governance and Accountability, CGA, Dr. Aliyu Madugu told Vanguard that poor presence of the parties is not unconnected with the absence of ideologies behind their formation.

“When parties are not convened out of conviction and vision, what do you expect?’’

Madugu asked, ‘’these parties don’t exist for the common good of the society. Behind the reasons for these parties are selfish and pecuniary interests.

I expect INEC to prune the number of these so called parties after now.”

Visuality of most parties

But for INEC, the perceptibility of a few others would have remained in the dark, given that they are not known to have commenced campaigns

Madugu’s assertion was dismissed by the presidential candidate of Citizens Popular Party,CPP, Dr. Sam Eke, who cited the current insecurity across the country as the major factor limiting the visuality of most parties.

Absence of ideologies: Eke, who is also the National Publicity Secretary of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, said: “The insecurity in the country is what makes it look as if some parties are not participating. So long as the the Boko Haram insurgency has not been brought to submission, people would be discouraged to get involved in the electoral process.”

On the assumption that most of the parties are lacking in Continues on page 52

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015—51

How Tompolo, Dokubo are keeping Nigeria safe — Bozimo, ex-police Affairs Minister ALAOWEI Broderick Bozimo, a renowned lawyer and elder statesman from Delta State was Minister of Police Affairs during the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration. In this interview in his Warri country home, he discusses the politics surrounding the recent acquisition of warships by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo for a government agency, says President Goodluck Jonathan is in good position to win the presidential election, ethnic relations in the Niger Delta among other issues.

Excerpts

By Akpokona Omafuaire

A

S a former minister of police affairs with insight into security matters, are you worried by insinuations that the recent purchase of warships for NIMASA by Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s company could be a cover for ethnic and other political battles in the Niger Delta?

First of all, military or security equipment are always procured through contractors. The army or police, whenever they want to purchase equipment, put out tender for it and acquisition is made through contractors and the supply is delivered to the police, army, navy as the case may be.

So the mere fact that on this occasion, the contractor is Tompolo makes people feel jittery.

Let me also say that people, that is the former militants you know were on ground in the creeks, they know where the bunkerers go through and where security breaches can happen, so the moment the NIMASA or navy seek assistance to police these areas, they are the persons best suited for the kind of gadgets, the kind of boat that can assist in arresting this kind of bunkering and that explains why you have people like Tompolo assisting in the West and the likes of Asari Dokubo assisting in the East because they know the terrain and what the issues are so they assist government and NIMASA. I think that the whole thing is politically structured to demonize people like Tompolo and then distract attention from the real issues.

In any event, this thing has been there for over two years, how come that on the eve of the elections this matter resurfaces and Tompolo is being presented as a general who can take on the Nigerian Army or indeed the whole world? I think it is mischievous and politically

motivated.

Now, I want you to draw a parallel with what is happening in the North East, remember on one occasion I had advised that we should have community soldiering as we had community policing and that was the strategy that was virtually adopted and you can see the results with local hunters and vigilante who know the terrain.

They are able to take on the Boko Haram and more effectively than soldiers who are well trained but who don’t seem to have the stomach to want to fight.

If Nigerian soldiers really want to fight, Boko Haram is no match but we all know that we have fifth columnists, people who are half hearted about the battle run away when they see the insurgents because they don’t want to engage them but the vigilante groups and the hunters who are

committed to defend their territory, do.

You see the result, they are very effective. So drawing a parallel, that is why I say that when you have militants and young men who were fighting in the creeks to redeem themselves of the oppression of oil companies and the injustices in the Niger Delta, these people know the terrain and what the challenges are, so it was only natural for them to assist the authorities the way they have done.

Somebody talks about the vessels having guns installed on them, that is the standard practice, as Minister of Police Affairs, when we got boats from contractors and we gave them to police, the police will always adapt them for their own use, they will mount guns on these boat for their purposes, so it is no big deal for what we are seeing with NIMASA and the patrols.

Now, you find out that because the patrols have been very successful, the bunkerers have resorted to going into the high seas where they go to establish their taps virtually on the bed of the river to get crude oil out.

So, we must be careful, we politicians, let us not politicize this issue. I read in the media where someone said Tompolo has acquired warships and wonders what will happen, bla bla bla an all that.

Re-establishing peace in Warri

The kind of boat that can assist in arresting this kind of bunkering and that explains why you have people like Tompolo assisting in the West and the likes of Asari Dokubo assisting in the East

We have re-established peace in Warri and we want it to stay that way, we don’t want people inciting the various tribes against each other. For one reason or the other we want peace to endure because without peace certainly development will continue to elude us and our people will not be happy. We know what we went through during the last episode of war between the Ijaws and Itsekiris or indeed the Urhobos and Ijaws, we have had enough of that, we want to live our lives in peace and politicians should stay away from these places and not incite the various tribes against each other.

What is your reaction to the decision of the House of Representatives to investigate the purchases of the warships?

Well, I don’t have any quagmire about that at all, well if in exercise of their oversight functions they want to investigate, why not?

•Bozimo:

But don’t you think the Itsekiri people should really be afraid of the warships given the friction occasioned by the EPZ disagreement?

I think the fears are unjustified, and let me also say quickly that if you look at the undercurrent or the underlying factors that gave birth to these fears, you find out again that it is all politics.

You know that there are allegations that Tompolo influenced the coming about of the local government Chairman of Warri South West Council Area. So where anything doesn’t go right in Warri South West Council, Tompolo is the chap you batter.

The EPZ project seems to have strained the relationship that existed between the Ijaws of Gbaramatu and their Itsekiri neighbours, what is your opinion?

Well, as you know, I am an Ijaw man and therefore I don’t want to say anything that will give the impression that I am biased, so I move on from all that. But what concerns me is that I was involved in the sense that we felt the full brunt of the Itsekiri/Ijaw war that occurred several years ago. I remember, we had to relocate form Warri every time the bombs and bullets were flying to our various villages.

I believe that the establishment of the EPZ is a very healthy thing, it is good for Ijaw, Itsekiri and Nigeria, there must be a way

where we dialogue and resolve it. My personal view is that if acquisitions have been made and the engineers are there they can start, every other outstanding issue can be addressed later.

This country is in a hurry for development, our crude oil prices have dramatically dropped, the economy is getting knocks here and there, so anything we should do to prop up the economy, we must do instantly. It mustn’t be dragged down with these arguments.

As far as I am concerned, a rose still smells as a rose, it doesn’t matter what name you gave to it.

So naming of the EPZ and quarrel here and there to stop the project from going on I don’t subscribe to it.

Sufficient wars I believe that we the Ijaws and Itsekiris can strike a balance along the way, whether we like it or not eventually we must jawjaw. Nobody can take on war now between the Itsekiris and Ijaws, I know that the Ijaws don’t want war; I dare say too that the Itsekiris don’t want war because we have had sufficient wars. So these so-called people instigating this thing when the bullets will fly they will take off, some to America, Europe, some of them to the villages and

Continues on page 52

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

How Tompolo, Dokubo're keeping Nigeria safe — Bozimo Continues from page 51 disappear and Warri will be left in ashes. We have had enough of that that is my personal view.

The EPZ naming has degenerated to the matter of land ownership; don’t you fret that this can lead to war?

I don’t think so, as I have already said, none of these tribes have the stomach for any more wars that is the first point. But, you will see people posturing, trying to impress the various tribal group saying I spoke loudest, I defended our people more, it is all politicking, that is my view on that. Let me also add that of course land is always at the bottom of these things, but I know also that by virtue of the land use act, all lands within the territory of Delta State is vested on the governor on behalf of all the people of the state. So when you come to the bottom of it all, you see land is important but my view is that it must never obstruct the development of our area because at the end of it we will suffer, the land will be there, all of us will die and go away but the land will be there.

Since the emergence of Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa as the PDP governorship flag bearer in the coming election, there has been stern bickering amongst ethnic group on who will produce the Deputy Governor, with some ethnic insistent to dump the party if they are not given the slot, what is your view?

Well, I suppose that is what politics and democracy is all about, people get into politics o win power that is all they are there for.

Strongest and biggest party Politicians want to win power to do good for their people hopefully, at times they even do bad for their people, so that is the to be expected but what one is finding now, it is becoming almost obscene, everybody threatening to leave one party for the other especially the PDP being the strongest and biggest party. People tend to blackmail the PDP for all sorts of reasons, it is very unfortunate, I don’t want to mention tribes but we all know that most of the tribes, their trump card is that it either goes this way or we are going to vote that way en mass, this is the trend and is very unfortunate.

Because I thought that the whole idea of a free and fair playing field was for Nigerians to study the programmes of the parties and vote convinced one way or the other. But the way it is going, it seems as if nobody is interested in the programmes of the parties, all they do is this is what I want if you don’t give it to my tribe then all hell will break

this country but this sort of blackmail from the tribes and all kinds of groups. If I were he, I will just call everybody’s bluff and say okay let’s see, if you cut our nose to spite your face, that is your business, that will be my attitude but it is very unfortunate.

Do you suppose that Jonathan has performed adequately to win re-election as President?

Of course, that is what I am really saying, but for his performance all these blackmails from former heads of state, from all kinds of quarters, from even friends who he ought to trust, from Boko Haram , from this group, from that group, from every possible person wouldn’t be there.

I believe very strongly that at the end of it, truth will prevail and by the time people get to vote they will think carefully that it is not by shouting or grandstanding nor blackmail or threats. At the sober moment, Nigerians will vote right because God is a Nigerian.

•Bozimo:

lose. I think it is high time honesty and I dare say somebody like Jonathan -he may be smiling all the time but I think the man may surprise everybody - might just say, I will finish and go to my creek and stay.

The man is not that desperate that he will do anything to win power, he has said so, he said he won’t shed any blood of any Nigerian to win power.

And I think that he is honestly and genuinely doing his best for

What counsel do you have for Deltans as we progress towards the elections?

I must say this to Deltans, I myself and some of us believed that power should shift towards Delta North, from day one that is the position I took, and I am quite happy that the shift has produced

a solid person that is Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa.

You know he is very humble, resourceful, intelligent and calm, I believe that he deserves to be voted for as governor. So I advise that all of us, my father’s people the Ijaws, my mother’s people the Urhobos will join hands and deliver Okowa, at the end of it, we will all be happy.

Anything short of genuine decision to vote on the records of the acceptability of the candidate, anything short on that in the long run will spell disaster for us as a state.

Lastly, was it true that it was Tompolo who arm twisted the governor to back down on his senatorial ambition?

Tompolo! how?, Well I don’t know about that, I think you should ask Tompolo, the governor and the deputy governor, but I don’t know that.

The governor is a young friend of mine, very sensible man I don’t think he is a kind of man that you just threatened like that, after all Tompolo has been in this state all the while with the governor, so how would he threaten him, that he will kill the Governor or what, I don’t think that is the real thing, I am sure that the real thing is somewhere else I don’t know, I can’t help you there, perhaps you ask them yourself.

Where are the parties?

Continues from page 50 ideology, he said: “It is unreasonable for some people to suggest that the parties exist for personal reasons because INEC is so powerful now that it can deregister any party. The parties primarily exist to win elections. We are working to correct these impressions at the level of IPAC but IPAC is a toothless bulldog. Efforts are ongoing to introduce the IPAC bill in the next dispensation to enable IPAC carry out its functions efficiently.

The system now is not too enabling for other parties to thrive, since the PDP and APC are making it a do or die affair. Both parties are at war at the expense of the political space.”

Asked if the situation does not corroborate submissions that some parties have not justified their reasons for existence, Eke responded thus: “Suggestions that the parties have not justified reasons for their registration is wrong.”

Limiting the political space Hence, he cautioned: “Any attempt at limiting the political space to accommodate few parties is wrong.

That amounts to inviting anarchy. All the parties should be allowed to develop at their own pace. Their presence should not be limited as a result of the number of candidates they

•Umeh: APGA chairman are able to field. The performance and presence of parties should be based on how well they perform in the elections.”

Continuing, he said: “INEC did not release 11 names as being reported by the media. The number of presidential candidates is 14. That report ended up embarrassing other parties. My name is number seven on the list as a presidential candidate of Citizens Popular Party, CPP.” For the National Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, funding remains a major challenge limiting the conspicousness of most of the platforms.

“Every registered party is interested in presenting candidates for elections.

The major challenge that confronts them

is the issue of funding. The parties lack the financial resources required to sponsor candidates.

“Most of the parties are weak because they depend on elected people for sponsorships. Some are trying their best but there are limits to that. That is why we have been calling on INEC to make funds available for the parties. Till this moment nothing has been done in that respect. All over the world, electoral umpires provide financial support for political parties.

“My party, the NCP has fielded candidates for the presidency and we have done so in the current process.

But that could not be replicated for other elective positions. What some of the parties that currently have presidential candidates have succeeded in doing is to popularize their platforms. That is why some adopted the President as their sole candidate.”

Continuing, he said: “It is not true that the parties lack ideology. One of the prerequisites for party registration is manifesto. Every registered political party has a manifesto which spelt out what it seeks to achieve.

Poor or near absence of enlightenment has also confined some of the parties to the backwater. That aspect is money consuming and most of these parties cannot afford the money required.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015— —53

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2015: Opposition’s criticism, edge for Jonathan —Macaulay the Jonathan’s administration by

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—PUBLICITY Secretary of the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Deinghan Macaulay, yesterday, said the antidemocratic disposition of the opposition parties and their non-recognition of President Goodluck Jonathan‘s laudable achievements were the fertile ground for the party’s victory in the forthcoming general elections.

Macaulay, who addressed newsmen in Asaba, said “Jonathan’s achievements in roads construction, the rebasing of the nation's economy as the best in Africa, attracting investors and the conduct of free and fair elections in Ekiti and Osun States deprived the opposition parties viable

means of criticising the president.

He said, The unfounded criticism of the opposition parties are indirectly campaigning for the President and come Februar y, the electorate shall reward the PDP with another four years at the national and state levels.”

Describing Jonathan as a democrat, who do not stop the opposition party from winning elections in Edo and Osun states, he said; “He is an apostle of free and fair elections.”

Naming some of the achievements of Jonathan to include the two automobile industries in Nnewi and Lagos, the building of 61,000 housing units in the six geopolitical zones and the upgrading of the Almajiri schools, Macaulay advised Nigerians to keep faith with

voting him in the Februar y presidential election to enable him implement the resolutions of the recently concluded National Conference.

On the statement credited to the deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, one Frank Timi, that Niger Delta people were not behind Jonathan, Macauley said, “That is the greatest joke of the century."

President Jonathan loses sister

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has announced the passing away of his younger sister, Mrs. Nancy Jonathan-Olei.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Mrs. Jonathan-Olei passed away, Sunday, at a hospital in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State after a brief illness.

Aged 52 years, the statement added that burial arrangements will be announced later by the family.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015— —53

Vanguard CLASSIFIED UVIETESIVWI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ejovwoke Mercy Uvietesivwi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ejovwoke Omojoye.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Correction of Name

AYO M AW O — I , formerly known and addressed as Ayomawo Abraham, now wish to be known and addressed as Agare Abraham. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONWUDIRO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Justina Ifeoma Onwudiro, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Justina Ifeoma Moka.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

U G B O M A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Nonye Hope Ugboma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nonye Hope Nwaobi.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Reconciliation of Name This is to confirm that Igboh Gabriel Ikechukwu and Christian Gabriel Ikechukwu is one and same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Christian Gabriel Ikechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMOH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omoh Rume Helen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rume Helen Urephu. All former documents remain valid. Eagle Flight Microfinance Bank and General Public please take note.

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2015: Opposition’s criticism, edge for Jonathan —Macaulay the Jonathan’s administration by

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—PUBLICITY Secretary of the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Deinghan Macaulay, yesterday, said the antidemocratic disposition of the opposition parties and their non-recognition of President Goodluck Jonathan‘s laudable achievements were the fertile ground for the party’s victory in the forthcoming general elections.

Macaulay, who addressed newsmen in Asaba, said “Jonathan’s achievements in roads construction, the rebasing of the nation's economy as the best in Africa, attracting investors and the conduct of free and fair elections in Ekiti and Osun States deprived the opposition parties viable

means of criticising the president.

He said, The unfounded criticism of the opposition parties are indirectly campaigning for the President and come February, the electorate shall reward the PDP with another four years at the national and state levels.”

Describing Jonathan as a democrat, who do not stop the opposition party from winning elections in Edo and Osun states, he said; “He is an apostle of free and fair elections.”

Naming some of the achievements of Jonathan to include the two automobile industries in Nnewi and Lagos, the building of 61,000 housing units in the six geopolitical zones and the upgrading of the Almajiri schools, Macaulay advised Nigerians to keep faith with

voting him in the February presidential election to enable him implement the resolutions of the recently concluded National Conference.

On the statement credited to the deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, one Frank Timi, that Niger Delta people were not behind Jonathan, Macauley said, “That is the greatest joke of the century."

President Jonathan loses sister

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has announced the passing away of his younger sister, Mrs. Nancy Jonathan-Olei.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Mrs. Jonathan-Olei passed away, Sunday, at a hospital in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State after a brief illness.

Aged 52 years, the statement added that burial arrangements will be announced later by the family.

54 —

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 — 61

ON THE RUN......Ramires of Chelsea evades Troy Deeney of Watford during the FA Cup Third Round matchon January 4, 2015.

FA Cup: Chelsea whip Watford C

HELSEA overcame a stubborn first-half performance from Watford to eventually ease to a 3-0 victory in the FA Cup third round yesterday.

The Premier League leaders had been frustrated by their Championship opponents during a goalless first half at Stamford Bridge, provoking manager Jose Mourinho into action at the interval.

Mourinho sent on Willian and top scorer Diego Costa at the start of the second half in place of Oscar and Andre Schurrle, and the two had the desired impact as both were involved in breaking the deadlock just before the hour mark.

Costa cut in from the left and passed to Loic Remy, who in turn found Willian and the Brazilian curled a

sublime shot into the net from just outside the area.

With the breakthrough

made, Chelsea struck a quickfire double blow in the final 20 minutes to put the result beyond doubt.

Manchester clubs progress

M

ANCHESTER City and Manchester United were among a slew of Premier League teams to leave it late in overcoming lower-league opposition in the FA Cup on Sunday, as third-tier Sheffield United delivered the biggest shock of the third round.

Makeshift striker James Milner scored twice — including an injury-time winner — as Man City, the jointleader in the Premier League, came from behind to beat secondtier Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at home.

Man United were also unconvincing against Yeovil and needed goals in the final 26 minutes

from midfielders Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria for a 2-0 win.

Campbell-Ryce. The team managed by former England forward Nigel Clough have eliminated five Premier League teams from cup competitions in the last two seasons.

QPR, which are struggling in the Premier League, have won just two FA Cup games in 11 years.

Also Sunday, Southampton were held to a 1-1 draw by secondtier Ipswich, Crystal Palace — managed for the first time by Alan Pardew — thrashed non-league side Dover 4-0 and Sunderland beat second-tier Leeds 1-0.

Valencia end Real’s winning run

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ALENCIA came from behind to end Real Madrid’s clubrecord winning streak with a richly deserved 21 La Liga win yesterday.

Leaders Real travelled to Mestalla to resume their season having won their last 22 competitive games, but were greeted by a firedup, aggressive Valencia side not short on quality themselves.

Valencia were superb from the off, but the newly crowned club world

champions still took an early lead courtesy of a controversial penalty from their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo - his 26th Liga goal of the campaign.

However, the hosts were undeterred and forced a thoroughly deserved equaliser shortly after half-time through Antonio Barragan’s first Liga strike since March 2007.

And, roared on by a boisterous home crowd, Nuno Espirito Santo’s

men edged in front on 65 minutes when Nicolas Otamendi rose highest to power a towering header beyond Iker Casillas from Dani Parejo’s excellent corner.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side reacted in the manner of a side who many fancy to sweep the board in terms of major trophies this season, but Valencia stood firm and claimed an invaluable three points that move them above Sevilla and into the top four.

62 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Russain player shot dead G

A S A N

Magomedov, a 20-yearold footballer for Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, has been shot dead near his home in Russia’s North Caucasus.

Magomedov was driving on Saturday when his car was hit with machine-gun fire and he died from his wounds while being transported to hospital, Anzhi said.

No arrests have been made and the motive is unclear, the club added.

Anzhi sent “deepest condolences” to the family of Magomedov, a midfielder in the club’s youth and reserve teams.

There were no reports of any other casualties.

Anzhi chief executive Sergey Korablev said: “We grieve together with everyone who was dear to Gasan.

“I hope the police

quickly find the killers and they suffer just punishment.”

The region of Dagestan, where the attack took place and where Anzhi Makhachkala are based, has become the focus of Islamist militant activity in the North Caucasus.

Gun battles between rebels and Russian security forces are not uncommon.

Anzhi challenged for the Russian Premier League title in recent years, but were relegated to the second tier last season after billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov withdrew his financial backing.

For several years the club had a policy of basing star players among them former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o - in Moscow to avoid Dagestan’s security risks.

Bafana get perfect Afcon send-off •Pip Zambia 1-0

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AFANA Bafana will head to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations still unbeaten under coach Shakes Mashaba after a 1-0 victory over Zambia at the Orlando Stadium yesterday afternoon.

Thuso Phala came on in the second half to score in the 80th minute in the friendly match against the 2012 Afcon champions.

Bafana ensured a perfect send-off and are now set to depart for the Afcon championship in Equatorial Guinea starting January 17.

The Zambians came out the stronger of the two teams in the opening minutes with Rainford Kalaba and Emmanuel Mayuka stringing passes

together with pace and flair.

Chipolopolo came out with the intention to assert themselves and on the right flank Lubambo Musonda beat three challengers to lay-off Mayuka running into the home team’s territory.

Eduok: I’ve signed for Esperance D

OLPHINS striker Emem Eduok insists he has signed a three-and-a-half-years deal with Tunisian league champions, Esperance while insisting he has no contract with Norwegian top division side Sarpsborg 08.

He explained that his botched move to Norway was as a result

Torres draws 45, 000 fans

of failure of Sarpsborg to meet terms with his parent club Dolphins, which necessitated his move to Esperance.

“I went to Norway, but Dolphins didn’t approve that move because they said the money they offered was too small as the Norway club offered 150, 000 Euros but Dolphins said they cannot accept that,” Eduok told Goal.

“And Dolphins advised

I should move to Tunisia, which I did and they are aware of it. I’ve signed a three and half years deal with [Esperance],” he said after he passed a medical with the club.

“It is for Dolphins to agree their own part before I can complete my move, because I have agreed my own part,” he continued.

“I don’t think it’s a bad move for me. I believe I can always do my best,

no matter where I am. I think it’s good for me.

The weather in Tunisia is cool, but I think I will get use to it with time.

“I just want to keep doing my best and keep on scoring goals in the Champions League, league and FA Cup. I just want to be myself, do my best and help the team to achieve their goals as the new season is about to start,” he concluded.

Podolski lashes out against Matthäus UKAS Podolski has L gone on the counter after remarks made by ex-

•Torres ... heads th ball at hid unveiling

A

•Phala

•Eduok ... moving to Tunisia

TLETICO Madrid unveiled striker Fernando Torres to 45,000 fans at Vicente Calderon Stadium on Sunday.

Torres, 30, has returned to his boyhood club seven-and-a-halfyears after leaving to join Liverpool.

His loan from AC Milan, which runs until the end of the season, does not become official until Monday but he

watched Saturday’s win over Levante.

“I was missing something to motivate me, something that I could only find here,” said Torres.

Torres, who scored 84 goals in 214 league appearances for Atletico from 2001-2007, could make his debut against Real Madrid in the first leg of a round-of-16 Copa del Rey tie on Wednesday.

•Podolski ... punches Matthaus

football player Lothar Matthäus, having a dig at the manager for his lack of success in the dug-out.

“I find it very amusing that Matthäus of all people should give me tips on how to behave”.

Podolski then included the hashtags “#Erfolgscoach and #Greenkeeper”, the former meaning “successful manager”, clearly making fun of the manager ’s mediocre successes achieved at Salzburg’s Red Bull and Rapid Vienna, and also with the Hungary and Bulgaria teams.

The player then included the symbols of a girlfriend and a heart with an arrow through it, probably in reference to the five times that Matthäus has been married.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 — 63

Pinnick: Expect changes in 2015

NTTF begs NSC for fund

RESIDENT of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has reiterated that the new Executive Committee under his leadership will not be discouraged by anyone or institution from effecting the positive changes in all aspects that will turn things around for the better for the nation’s football.

Speaking ahead of this week’s meeting of the Executive Committee scheduled for Lagos, Pinnick said the executive team will be invited to consider well –thought and properly –articulated proposals that will be diligently implemented to lead Nigeria football to a new, exciting thoroughfare.

“There are a lot of things that we want to do, and which we hope to seal at the meeting in Lagos.

There is urgent need to buoy the domestic League, give it credibility and implement those measures that will bring back the glory days. We also must think of how best to prepare the National Teams for competitions, while also looking intensely at developmental programmes that will assure the future of our football.

“We must look at the way and manner we employ coaches into the National Teams; everything should be appropriately documented in order that we avoid litigations and situations of trainers being unhappy while doing their job.

There must be a lot of professionalism in all these.”

HEAD 2015 ITTFAfrica Senior Championships: NTTF appeals to NSC for financial backing Few weeks to the kickoff of the 2015 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championships holding in Cairo, Egypt, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is passionately appealing to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to support the team financially to be able to be part of the championship.

The tournament according to Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) serves as qualifiers for this year’s World Championship scheduled for April in China.

Also, the championship would aid Nigeria’s players in their quest to improve their world rating in the globe.

According to NTTF Secretary General, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, the Cairo tournament serves as prerequisite for any team to be part of the 2015 World Champion-

P

Ideye *Continues from BP

club, Dynamo Kyiv in July.

The 26-year-old has failed to impress following his move to the Midlands and has scored just twice in 12 appearances on the back of a summer in which he was excluded from his country ’s World Cup squad.

Sunderland were in the running for Ideye at the end of last season and hope a £6million offer will persuade new Albion manager Tony C M Y K

WE'LL BE BACK... Super Eagles players, Efe Ambrose, Mikel Obi and Vincent Enyeama wave to the fans, after failing to qualify for AFCON 2015.

A

GLO-CAF Awards: Okocha, Kanu lead ex-internationals to gala night E

X-Internationals and former Super Eagles Captains, Austin ‘Jay-Jay ’ Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo will be among the generation of old Super Eagles’ players who will attend the 2014 Glo-CAF Awards gala night coming up on 8th January in Lagos, Nigeria.

In a statement from the organisers of the awards, Globacom, Okocha and two former African Footballers of the year, Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Nosa Ikpeba, are

Pulis to sell.

Pulis had dropped a very strong hint on Saturday that there will be a lot of transfer activity at West Brom this month.

“We have a difficult job on our hands. A lot of clubs are fighting for survival. “This will be a big window for us. We need to strengthen the team and the squad,” Pulis was quoted as saying by the club’s official website, www.wba.co.uk shortly after watching the Baggies trounce Gateshead 7-0 in the FA Cup.

•Okocha

•Nwankwo

expected to grace the awards aptly labeled the Oscars of African football.

It is believed that their presence at the event would spur younger

football players to greater height.

Okocha distinguished himself playing with Einthract Frankfurt FC of Germany, Fernabache of

Pascal

which will be a good omen.

“Seeing that we have failed to qualify to the AFCON, these games should mean a lot to us and hopefully we will make them count,” he stressed.

The Super Eagles are presently training in Abuja, and have been buoyed by the arrival of new Esperance of Tunisia recruit, Emem Eduok who recently signed a threeand-half-year deal with the Tunisian giants.

The team is scheduled to depart for the United Arab Emirates via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on January 8, and will be led by Super Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi.

*Continues from BP

Ivory Coast this January in two friendly matches in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Pascal says it will mean a lot for Nigerian football in the New Year, if they start with wins.

“Those games against Sudan and Ivory Coast are games that I think we should win because we have to start the New Year on a positive note,” he said.

“They are not must win games but it will mean a lot to us if we can win those games because it means we will start the football calendar on a good note,

Turkey, Paris St Germain of France and Bolton Wanderers of England. He is noted for his flamboyant skills and dribbles on the pitch. A two-time winner of the BBC African Player of the Year, he was honoured with the Legends Award along with Ex-Moroccan International Mustapha Hadji at the 2011 GloCAF Awards. He wore many caps for the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles before he retired about eight years ago.

Martins *Continues from BP

Eagles.

Martins played two matches under Keshi’s watch in 2013 – a friendly against Venezuela in Miami and a World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar – without scoring.

“I don’t think [Keshi] likes me, that’s all. I don’t have any issues with him,” Martins told media when asked about his relationship with the coach who is yet to have his contract renewed.

“I respect him as a coach but I think Keshi doesn’t like me.”

Martins scored the

ships in China while it would also improve the country’s chances of getting good rating in the world.

“The competition was scheduled to hold in Sudan this year but because of the Ebola Virus Disease, it was cancelled.

But the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) just confirmed to us that the tournament will now be hosted by Egypt and this is a must for us and we must make it down there. For now, we are hoping to assemble our best players within and across the globe so that we can have a strong team. We are using this medium to appeal to NSC to support us financially in order to be part of this competition. The performance of Aruna Quadri has now put more attention on Nigeria and for us, we need to be part of the competition to ascertain our status as continental power house,” the NTTF scribe said.

Ike Uche *Continues from BP

matches.

Uche scored in the 17th minute to put his club 20 ahead, before the hosts scored two goals to earn a point.

The former Real Zaragoza player lasted for 75 minutes before he was replaced by Giovanni Dos Santos.

He thanked the fans for supporting the club throughout the encounter.

“2-2 draw against #elche Thank you fans for supporting us all game long. Keep working for next game @VillarrealCF,” Uche tweeted. lone goal in the Football for Hope charity match organized by the Lagos State government that left Governor Babatunde Fashola’s side on the losing end on Saturday at the Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos.

Other stars that played in Martins’ team were Asisat Oshoala, Lukman Haruna, Babatunde Michael, Razak Omotoyossi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Onome Ebi and John Dosu.

The BRF All Stars paraded former internationals Victor Agali, Jonathan Akpoborie, Gbenga Okunnowo, Godwin Okpara and Waheed Akanni.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Sunderland eye Ideye's move

B

ARCLAYS English Premier League club Sunderland are reportedly interested in bringing Nigeria international striker, Brown Ideye, over to the Hawthorns.

Respected British

•Ideye

publications, The Mirror and The Daily Star, are reporting that Ideye’s time at the Hawthorns may be up following his record £10million transfer from Ukrainian

•Continues on Page 63

Why Keshi ignored me —Martins S

EATTLE Sounders striker Obafemi Martins has said that his being frozen out of the national team was due to coach Stephen Keshi’s personal decisions.

The Seattle Sounders forward just came off a season where he led his side to Major League Soccer play-offs as well as winning the Supporters’ Shield.

Despite being in top form and scoring 17 goals in the just ended season where he earned nomination for the Most Valuable Player award, Martins was ignored for the Super Eagles’ 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign.

Last month he called time on his international career after earning 39 caps and scoring 18 goals in the span of 10 years playing for the •Continues on Page 63

Ike Uche begins 2015 with a goal

N

IGERIA interna tional Ike Uche began 2015 with a bang as he scored in Villarreal’s 2-2 draw at Elche at the weekend.

The 30-year-old striker has now scored five goals in 15 games this season and Villarreal are now sixth on the Spanish La Liga table with 31 points from 17

•Continues on Page 63

•Keshi

•Ike Uche

Pinnick: Expect changes in 2015 — Pg 63

Pascal wants Eagles revival against Cote d’Voire HEAD of the Super Eagles should based Super Eagles will A friendly matches win those games so as to play the Jediane Falcons against Sudan and Ivory start the country ’s of Sudan and Africa YELLING... Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins in (Seattles colours ) yells after scoring.

Coast, former Nigeria international Patrick Pascal believes the

football calendar on a positive note.

A predominantly home

Cup of Nations bound

•Continues on Page 63

Okocha, Kanu for Glo-CAF Award — Pg 63 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Perspire (5) 2 Lunge (6) 8 Penitent (5) 10 Middle (6) 11 Poke (4) 14 Consuming (6) 15 Discussed (7) 18 Through (3) 19 Barrier (3) 21 Adroit (4) 23 Dissuade (5) 24 Network (4) 27 Lair (3) 29 Summit (3) 31 Swung (7) 32 Lent (6) 34 Departed (4) 35 Amatory (6) 38 Tree (5) 39 Fiery (6) 40 Coin (5)

DOWN: 2 Sorrow (3) 3 Wrong (6) 4 Hill (3) 5 Sort (4) 6 Rebelled (6) 7 Objective (6) 9 Ebbed (7) 12 Knock (3) 13 Dreadful (4) 16 Relax (4) 17 Old-fashioned (5) 20 Threatened (7) 22 Repute (4) 24 Pester (6) 25 Deer (4) 26 Venerate (6) 28 Disregard (6) 30 Enclosure (3) 33 Deceased (4) 36 Material (3) 37 Tavern (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Select 5, Void 8, Organ 9, Rob 10, Nude 11, Clan 12, Essay 13, Abroad 16, Sign 18, Cram 20, Ate 22, Lot 23, Yen 24, Pier 25, Item 28, Divert 30, Screw 32, Root 33, Near 34, Van 35, Fence 36, Load 37, Bridge.

DOWN: 1, Spread 2, Liberate 3, Canvas 4, Presented 5, Vacancy 6, Only 7, Dune 8, Ode 14, Diligence 15, Man 17, Got 19, Reserved 20, Aim 21, Erected 26, Mirror 27, Stance 29, Oral 30, Sofa 31, Wee.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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