The Nation May 17, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

10-year old suicide bomber kills 7 in Yobe attack

PDP govs plot mini convention to oust Party chair in Singapore Muazu on medical vacation

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Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.09, No. 3218

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

MAY 17, 2015

N200.00

SENATE PRESIDENCY

APC may conduct primaries for Lawan, Saraki, Akume Party blasts Lamido, Aliyu over attack on Buhari Page 4

•Fourth from left, National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Vice President-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; groom’s father and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr. Dele Alake; groom’s mother Olasunbo; former National Chairman, APC, Chief Bisi Akande; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; bride’s father and former Managing Director/CEO Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr. John Akinleye and wife Mrs. Christiana Titilayo, at the wedding ceremony of Mr and Mrs Alake at The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Olive Tree Parish, Ikoyi, Lagos yesterday.

Photo: Solomon Adeola

B’HARAM: BUHARI TO DICKSON KICKS OVER FORMER EGYPTIAN DECIDE FATE OF 72 Page 5 BID TO REVIVE NGF PRESIDENT MORSI Page 67 Bayelsa Assembly sack SOLDIERS ON DEATH ROW Gov, lawmakers for defecting to APC SENTENCED TO DEATH Pages 6 & 7

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

American woman charged with removing body parts from rival’s corpse

CAPTURED

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N American woman accused of slashing the face and cutting body parts off the corpse of a romantic rival is due to appear in a Tulsa court tomorrow for a hearing on increasing her bail, law enforcement officials said on Friday.

Shaynna Sims was charged last week with the “unlawful removal of body part from deceased” for cutting off the toe and breasts from the body of the other woman as it was awaiting cremation at a funeral home, the Tulsa District Attorney’s Office said.

A court appearance planned for Friday was adjourned to tomorrow, prosecutors said.

Sims, also known as Shaynna Smith, had already been charged with crimes including interrupting a funeral, stealing shoes meant for the woman and unauthorized dissection for slashing the face of her former boyfriend’s lover as it laid in a casket.

Lawyers for Sims were not immediately available for comment. She posted $43,750 bond on Monday and was released from the Tulsa Jail, the Tulsa World reported.

The deceased woman died of natural causes relating to a long illness, local broadcaster News on 6 reported.

Prosecutors said that before the body was set to be cremated, Sims “crudely cut and removed a toe for the dead body and crudely cut out and removed the breasts from the dead body,” according to papers filed in a state district court on Wednesday.

Prosecutors said it was too early to say what sort of sentence they are seeking in the case.

Fight of the century Former United States Republican Party presidential candidate Mitt Romney, 68, took a beating when he ran against Barack Obama in 2012.

Not satisfied with being beaten once, two days ago he did the unthinkable by stepping into the ring with former World Heavyweight Boxing champion Evander Holyfield, 52. He wasn’t attempting suicide as the bout was a fun event that raised over $1 million for CharityVision - a ? ? organisation ? ? dedicated ? ?to saving ? the? eyesight ? of ?impoverished ? ? people ? in developing ? ? nations. ? ?It is run ? by his ? son?Josh. ?Holyfield ? nonprofit won when Romney threw in the towel after two rounds.

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has a disturbing penchant for creating and nurturing disturbing and inaccurate parallels about his life and presidency. Last Sunday, at a thanksgiving and farewell service held in his honour at the Cathedral Church of the Advent (Anglican Communion), Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja, he once again extravagantly indulged himself. He boasted of his courage and conviction in taking some very costly decisions for the sake of the country, decisions he and his unhappy and reluctant aides and ministers, he added, were certain to pay for. It was then the president joked that he hoped his wife would not divorce him like F.W. de Klerk’s wife divorced the former apartheid leader when he took the costly but patriotic decision of ending white supremacist rule.

Said President Jonathan: “ When FW De Klerk took the decision to abolish minority rule in Republic of South Africa (RSA), even his wife divorced him. I hope my wife will not divorce me. But that is the only decision that has made RSA to still remain a global player by this time. If we still had that minority rule there, by this time, nobody will be talking about RSA. “ Any other president would have been chary of entertaining such horrendous thoughts, let alone voicing them. But for President Jonathan, the coarseness of a joke is no barrier to his wry sense of humour. His wife, by some accounts of that ceremony, loudly decried that parallel, though the president apparently meant it as a joke.

What was not a joke was the

sunday@thenationonlineng.net

Between Jonathan’s fatalism and fairweather friends

president’s account of the breakdown of relationship between F.W. de Klerk and his wife, Marike.

Unfortunately, President Jonathan got his history, and by implication, his parallel, wrong. As a few writers have

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HILE President Jonathan is busy trying to write his own history, or more accurately, rewrite it, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, is also determined not to allow anyone but herself write about the PDP’s economic management, in style and substance. In her words: “We cannot take away the fact that the Jonathan administration, in spite of the challenges caused by 50 per cent decline in the price of oil, has made a clear and measurable difference in many important areas

pointed out, the de Klerks divorced because the former apartheid leader had an affair with another woman, the wife of one the ruling apartheid party’s financiers, Elita Georgiades. As a matter of fact, the divorce was at the instance of the husband, not the wife. Mrs de Klerk actually begged for reconciliation, but her husband was adamant.

Perhaps, President Jonathan had another parallel in mind: that of comparing the bitterness felt and openly expressed by Mrs de Klerk over the end of apartheid to the wrenching unhappiness felt and also expressed by Dame Patience over her husband’s loss of the presidential election in which she invested so much. Marike was a racist par excellence who

never reconciled herself to the end of white rule. Even during the inauguration of Nelson Mandela, which took place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, she was the only one sitting when Mr Mandela was ushered in. Her bitterness, however, never extended to her marriage, not even after Mr de Klerk’s torrid affair with Mrs Georgiades was exposed.

On her own, Dame Patience was a bitter hater of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which she derisively punned repeatedly as an expired drug. She also loathed the APC presidential candidate whom she said was dead in the brain, and dedicated to jailing people. She was not prepared to take food to her husband in jail, she moaned.

President Jonathan drew attention, albeit an inaccurate one, to the parallel between

Mrs de Klerk and Dame Patience to underscore the weight and epoch-making virtue of his momentous decision of conceding electoral defeat. It was pointless. He can’t write history, no matter how hard he tries. That job belongs to historians, and they will take their time in writing it and assessing his presidency. It is not certain they will be kind to him, but they will note and remark the concession he made at his defeat, and try to weigh evidence of its impact.

In suggesting his friends had deserted him, it is also not known exactly what President Jonathan had in mind. Did he think his aides, ministers and other friends, many of them contractors, love him for who he is or for his ideas, assuming he had any? Surely, he is not so impressionable as not to understand human nature, especially the fickleness of the hu-

man mind. The president also spoke of persecution, a torment he warned his aides and ministers to be prepared for, perhaps as a consequence of the PDP’s electoral loss. It is truly disheartening that President Jonathan reasons in exceedingly simple and unimaginably boyish ways, even after ruling Nigeria for more than five years.

Until he hands over later this month, thus ending his protracted agony, President Jonathan will continue to seek ways to lessen the impact of the electoral tragedy that befell him. No one believes his sanitised version of the electoral war. Contrary to what he says, he did everything possible, much of it unlawful, disingenuous and retrogressive to win the poll.

Despite his subterranean moves and indefensible spending, he lost, perhaps, as he put it fatalistically, because God wanted it that way. Let him then keep his peace, and let the historians or iconoclastic posterity do its work. Let him stop interfering with the work of nature.

Okonjo-Iweala leaves ‘good economic legacies.’ Hahaha! and anyone who says nothing has been done and nothing is being left behind is being very unfair to facts and to history.

Attempts to rewrite history will not stand. You cannot just wipe the slate clean for political reasons. We are not perfect but no one can take away the fact that we are leaving some good legacies behind.”

Dr Okonjo-Iweala is a troubled woman. She obvi-

ously has the nagging feeling that they will be judged failures on account of the huge mess the Jonathan government had made of the economy.

What she failed to grasp is that the 50 percent drop in oil earnings did not start in 2010 when President Jonathan took office.

It started only last year. Simply put, the government she serves did not prepare for this lean time. In addition, that

same government spent rather recklessly and mostly lawlessly. Even though she worries that some analysts might be trying to rewrite history, she really has no defence. As far as history and legacies go, they do not need writers and rewriters: they will write themselves, without help if need be, either from Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s supporters or detractors.

By ADEKUNLE ADE-ADELEYE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

COLUMN

In search of African avatars W

ITH the dramatic ascendancy of General Mohammadu Buhari in the Nigerian presidential sweepstakes and the restoration of electoral normalcy in a larger chunk of the nation, it has become fashionable to dream again about the possibilities for Nigeria in particular and the lost continent of Africa as a whole.

As this column keeps hinting, the omens about the Buhari administration itself are still not very clear. While some encouraging signals are coming from the retired general and former military autocrat, the incoming administration appears swamped and besieged by some deadwood and dinosaurs from the old order who are bent on stamping their accursed imprimatur on what should be a new beginning for Nigeria.

From the old volatile west, there have been some rumblings.

Some starry-eyed idealists in league with cynical revanchists of the defeated ancien regime are dropping the heavy hints that the dominant political group in the west has sold the Yoruba nation to the Hausa and Fulani feudal oligarchy. It is alleged that a frenzied and wholesale northernization of the power apparatus is proceeding apace while ambitious and perfidious lieutenants of the man known as the Lion of Bourdillon are sharpening their knives for an inevitable confrontation.

Some of these political anxieties are worthy of analytical consideration. In and out of power, it is normal for any cohesive and organic power formation to bind and bond together. This resilience which comes from strong feudal ties and alliances and the superior capacity to organize itself and disorganize others as the occasion warrants is the secret and source of the strength of the old north. Once it identifies its interests, no other power formations in the nation comes close to the north in projecting and protecting its own.

Be that as it may, it will be very foolish and strategically shortsighted in post-military Nigeria for any power formation however dominant to imagine that it can impose its will and political eccentricities on the rest of the nation. Nigeria can never return to that past. Those who believe that this is still possible after Abiola and Abacha as well as those who raise the bogey of renewed ethnic domination are merely incapable of dialectical reasoning in all its rigorously paradoxical possibilities.

Rather than pointing at the inevitability of renewed ethnic domination, the political resurgence of General Buhari merely points at the ineluctability of a new beginning.

Until things finally fell into place, the general had been at it for quite some time without any possibility of success even as his adversaries actually imagined that they had seen the last of the old warrior from Daura. While the block voting from the core north certainly helped, it was the explosion in national consciousness and the dramatic expansion of public space and the global means of communication and public enlightenment that set the pace.

This is why this morning, this columnist solemnly appeals to the general not to allow himself to be captured by ethnic hawks and other tale bearers. The general should see himself as a product of a national upheaval, a pan-Nigerian coalition against evil governance and authoritarian misrule represented by the outgoing PDP government. If by any chance, Buhari is unable to fulfill his destiny as the man to lead Nigeria out of the wood, such is the

(Why the Third World is the lost world)

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu

•Pandit Nehru

current political ferment in the nation that many rival claimants would be thrown up by the crucible of contradictions.

One of the key areas that must command General Buhari’s attention is indigenous knowledge production. Buhari will be the recipient of a thousand papers about how to reform and revamp our educational system but all this will come to naught if there is no fundamental capacity building attempt to indigenize our knowledge system.

This is the key to all successful societies and nations from the western powers, China, Japan, India, the Asian Tigers and the advanced societies of the world.

The largest chunk of the Third World is powerless and backward and will continue to be powerless and backward because it lacks the production of organic and indigenous knowledge to power its political, economic and technological development. Yet, the very notion of a huge chunk of Africa and some parts of Asia and Latin America as the Third World is steeped in remarkable ironies.

Before it became a veritable and enduring marker of backwardness and underdevelopment, it was the radical and progressive leaders of these countries such as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Surkarno who proposed the term at the Bandung conference as a way of distinguishing countries within their spheres of authority which pursued a middle road policy of mixed economy as against capitalist and socialist countries which belong to the first and second worlds respectively.

Yet after the collapse of the Second World and actually existing socialist countries, one would have thought the term Third World would itself disappear, but it has clung to these countries like an ugly limpet. The fact is that if knowledge is power, the production of knowledge is the production of power.

Those societies that cannot produce organic and authentic knowledge will only produce powerlessness and utter poverty. This is because poverty of knowledge cannot lead to knowledge of poverty.

This poverty of knowledge is at the roots of Nigeria’s abysmal poverty and its continuous production of powerlessness in all its dimensions and ramifications despite outlandish oil riches. Unfortunately as the dismal career of our current economic witchdoctor, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, attests to, and as the large scale looting of our national patrimony and the utter ruination of economy confirms, you cannot redeem poverty of knowledge or gain knowledge of poverty by importing clever examinees from Harvard and other western citadels and sanctuaries of knowledge and power production. They will simply chew the cuds.

Unless they retool themselves or readapt their analytical skills, Harvard products must reproduce Harvard productions. These glorious citadels of western knowledge and learning and their productions are not meant for the easy consumption of non-western societies.

They were not established to help Africa solve its spiritual, economic or political problems.

Knowledge and power production is not a charity ball. Every society must lift itself up by the bootstraps. Establishing ascendancy in human society is not a tea party.

In the brutal and unremitting battle of knowledge production and its concomitant production of power, human societies without organic capacity for indigenous knowledge production must fall by the way side.

But you do not have to reinvent the wheel. The evolution of human society is marked and characterized by cross-fertilization of ideas with insights from one society or civilization acting as prodding insight for other human communions.

Western knowledge production benefitted a lot from Arabic sciences which arguably took its impetus from Egyptian civilization.

The infusion of philosophical ideals and injection of scientific knowledge which allowed the West to overcome the Dark Age came largely from intellectuals, scientists and philosophers fleeing the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks. When a set of ideas is

forcibly imposed on other societies such as we found in Western colonization, it is the equivalent of epistemological rape.

Yet rape victims often survive to play first violin. It is only in Africa that they appear unwilling to do so. Let us look at the career of two of the Third World avatars who made momentous contributions to springing their respective societies from western knowledge-trap. Although a Cambridge graduate, the late Lee Kuan Yew related to western ideas with considerable aplomb. He was not averse to cocking a snook at western civilization or sneering at what he considered its dubieties. As far as he was concerned Singapore is not America or England.

He once confessed to an interviewer that his greatest luck was that he was able to identify other colleagues who had the intellectual confidence and self-assurance to take apart any western concept or idea and then see how it can be adapted or discarded in accordance to the Singaporean reality.

With that, he was able to boost the indigenous knowledge production which transformed Singapore from a Third World colonial backwater to gleaming and glittering First World in one generation. It may help to recall that Yew was of ethnic Chinese stock. The Chinese often view western arrogance with the sublime contempt of the bearers of an older human order.

The other avatar is our own Obafemi Awolowo. Although a private student, Awolowo gained a degree in commerce in addition to his legal qualification. Yet through sheer mental discipline and extraordinary willpower, he was able to acquire a formidable knowledge of western society and institutions and by leveraging the insights gained, he acquired knowledge of a former colonial dominion which remains unmatched in its penetrating acuity and originality.

When Awolowo applied the knowledge acquired to his Yoruba people, he was able to frog march them to the frontiers of western modernity within a momentous decade. In terms of knowledge production and political consciousness, this epochal boost has placed the western region of Nigeria at the cutting edge of political sophistication and intellectual awareness.

Perhaps the best compliment the west could pay to Awo was when a British prime minister described him as belonging to the first rank of administrators anywhere in the world.

Yet it needs to be stated that there is nothing preordained and inevitable about the ascendancy and triumph of western modernity over its other rivals. It was a function of random contingency, geography and the spectacular role sheer luck often plays in human and societal affair.

By the end of the tenth century China was the leading empire-nation in the world with its ocean-going liners and their fabled mastheads described by spellbound observers as huge clouds unfurling in the skies going as far as the port of Mombasa in contemporary Kenya.

Artifacts recovered in that ancient port suggested Chinese presence dating back to the seventh century.

By the beginning of the twelfth century, Portugal had emerged as the first truly modern nation-state.

But it was precisely at this point that the Chinese mandarinate became embroiled in a murderous power struggle with the feudal dynasty over the destiny of the nation which led to China being closed off to the outside world for centuries.

By the time the veil was lifted, the world had moved on. In the case of the Portuguese, geography and location led the intrepid sailor, Vasco da Gama and his successors, towards Africa and India rather than towards Latin America and its vast riches and vaster colonial possibilities.

Even then, the race to full western modernity was a ding-dong affair among western nations, with Portugal yielding ascendancy to Spain and with Holland economically trumping the Spaniards barely sixty years after gaining independence. England completed the military and economic rout of the early colonial powers only for England in turn to be militarily and economically shellacked by the emergent American superpower. In all these struggles for ascendancy, it is the nation with superior knowledge that always prevailed.

If it is of any comfort, we might as well add things have not always been this bleak and dreary in Africa. When the Portuguese adventurers arrived in the old Kongo Kingdom around present day Angola, they met a society vastly superior in organization and cohesion to the one they left behind at home.

They loitered around listlessly a bit, hoping to encounter the mighty army which underwrote this might empire.

Alas, there was no army, only a loosely coordinated and rudimentary fighting force not much better than a hunting pack. The emperor had no clothes on. The Portuguese could not believe their luck. They then proceeded to sack the empire with clinical cruelty. In the next few decades almost all the surviving inhabitants were captured and transported as slaves to the new colony of Brazil through the new slave port of Luanda.

The lesson to be learnt from all these encounters is that knowledge matters and human capital is the driving agency behind all societal advances. It will take at least three decades and three generations of unbroken progressive leadership to reverse the damage done to Nigeria and its capacity to produce its own organic human capital. We will be lucky if the damage is not more fundamental and irreversible.

It may well be the time to resume the search for African avatars all over again. Pandit Nehru once ordered that if India could not clothe itself, the proud nationals of the new country should go naked.

Within a few years, India had achieved self-sufficiency in the production of apparels. Nehru was tapping into the subliminal pride of the people of an ancient empire. They would have recalled that Indians used to joke about the poor quality of western fabrics when western adventurers finally made it to the Indian subcontinent five hundred years earlier.

At this critical point, Nigeria and Africa need leaders who will mend the broken spirit and resuscitate the collapsed morale of the founding continent and original cradle of mankind. This is the crucial significance of what appears to be a new beginning in Nigeria.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

NEWS

Senate presidency: APC may conduct primaries for Lawan, Saraki, Akume

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) is not keen on zoning principal positions in the 8th National Assembly especially Senate presidency and speakership of the House of Representatives.

It prefers to allow members decide those who lead them.

The party, according to its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has decided to throw the positions open to those interested in occupying them.

He hinted that the APC would rather "do what we did during the presidential primaries."

Top ranking party officials are understood to have been holding consultations on the sharing of positions to avoid cracks in their ranks and ensure a smooth take-off for Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari.

Six blocs in the party are said to be interested in the various offices.

These are members of the New PDP who defected to APC, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and the South-South.

The South-East and the South-South are eyeing the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation with Chief Odigie-Oyegun, a retired

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Federal Permanent Secretary, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, exGovernor Chris Ngige and exGovernor Ogbonnaya Onu tipped as the favourites.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that party leaders from the nation's six geo political zones have been locked in marathon consultations on power sharing in the last one week.

The latest of such held on Thursday in Abuja on how to give every bloc a sense of belonging and keep APC family united.

A governor, who spoke in confidence, said: "We have started consultations because the polity is being heated up on how to share power in the new administration of Gen. Buhari.

"While we consider the heat as normal in a democracy, we will not allow the jostle for power to cause crisis in our party.

"Some of us believe that once we get the take-off right, there will be stability for the new government.

"So far, six blocs have emerged in the party seeking for inclusion in the power sharing formula. They are New

PDP, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and the South-South.

"Three of the most vocal blocs comprise of members of the defunct New PDP, the North-East and the South-West who are making a strong case for top positions.

"While the North-East is calling on the party to address its marginalisation and suffering under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, members of the New PDP said their sacrifices must be appreciated in the power sharing modules.

"The North-East said it delivered the second largest bloc votes after the North-West during the presidential poll.

"The South-West also claimed that it virtually lost relevance in the scheme of things under Jonathan and ought to be adequately compensated.

"These tendencies are at play in the jostle for the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other principal officers of the National Assembly.

"We are trying to accommodate all these tendencies in such a manner that it will be a win-win situation for all."

The National Chairman of APC, Chief Odigie-Oyegun,

who spoke on the phone, said: "We will throw these positions open, we will do what we did during the presidential primaries.

"There has been much noise these days. We will allow the members of the National Assembly to choose their leaders.

"Nobody is going to impose leaders on the Senatorselect and members-elect of the House of Representatives.

Otherwise, there will be no stability.

"There are too many interests, let them sit down and decide who should be their leaders.

"We have got to a stage that we should allow them to elect their leaders on their own and move forward with our plans for the nation."

It was gathered that some leaders of the party from the South-East and South-South have been recommended for the SGF slot.

They are Chief OdigieOyegun, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Governors Chris Ngige and Ogbonnaya Onu. Chief Audu Ogbeh from the North-Central is also belived to be in convention.

None of those mentioned was willing to talk on the speculations.

APC hits back at Aliyu, Lamido

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused Niger Governor Babangida Aliyu and his Jigawa counterpart Sule Lamido of getting stuck in the pre-election mode and urged them to "wake up to the reality that electioneering campaign is over and it is time for nation building."

Its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, branded the governors' recent unprovoked vituperation against the APC and the President-elect "uncouth, ill-intentioned and in bad faith." ''Nigerians have switched from pre-election to post-election mode, making the unsolicited advice and the rehash of the vitriolic electioneering campaign rhetoric from the two governors totally out of tune with reality," Mohammed said in a statement in Lagos.

APC's commitment to Nigeria, according to him, is "sacrosanct, irrespective of the state of the economy, hence we do not need any cheeky advice from Governors Aliyu and Lamido.

"We are not making any excuses, but we will let Nigerians and indeed the world know how much the economy has been wrecked and the role of anyone in bringing the economy to its knees.''

He added: "The two governors' historical revisionism has been beclouded by the trauma they suffered - and are still suffering - from the shellacking they received during the elections, hence they have forgotten even the role they played in seeking to scuttle the change that Nigerians so much desired and for which they voted. ''Governors Aliyu and Lamido are so bitter and traumatized that they have forgotten it was their party, the PDP that divided Nigeria along its

ethnic, religious and regional fault lines.

"They have forgotten that it was their party that cleaned out the commonwealth in its desperation to win at all cost, at a stage shunning the Naira for US dollars and helping to crash the value of the local currency. ''Governors Aliyu and Lamido are also imagining where they would have been now, had they not betrayed the G7 of which they were original members, seeing the group up to the starting line but cunningly refusing to take off when the race was flagged off.

"They made a wrong choice and lost out and they must live with the consequences of their choice, instead of continuing to snipe at some imaginary enemies ''The chance to be part of a historic opportunity to rebuild Nigeria was offered to the two governors on a platter of gold, but they chose to put their personal interests above the national interest.

"The fate they have now suffered is a direct consequence of their shortsightedness and selfishness, and they must accept the full blame for that.''

The APC pledged to redeem its campaign promises, irrespective of the parlous state of the economy, saying however that "the change that Nigerians have voted for will not come overnight but through gradual, painstaking and consistent acts of good governance, discipline and perseverance. ''We are therefore calling on our compatriots to give their unalloyed support to the incoming administration as it embarks on charting a new path for the long-suffering nation, while shunning the naysayers who, in their own time, frittered away the opportunity to rebuild Nigeria,'' APC said.

Cut down costs of governance, TUC tells Buhari

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•National Chairman All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Lagos State Governorelect, Akinwumi Ambode at the presentation of the book The Amaechi years last Thursday... in Lagos

10-year-old suicide bomber kills 7 in Yobe attack

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FEMALE suicide bomber said to be about 10 years old yesterday blew up herself and six others at the jam packed Abacha market, Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.

Thirty-three other people were wounded, some critically, in the attack.

The victims were mostly hawkers selling smoked fish and sachet water at the exit to the Damaturu Central Motor Park.

The wounded were rushed to the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital for treatment, according to the medical director of the hospital, Dr. Garba Fika.

One of the early sympathisers at the medical facility was Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.

He was briefed on the

From Duku Joel, Damaturu conditions of the victims.

The attack bore the signature of Boko Haram, which has increased its attacks in the last one week in the state and neighbouring Borno following weeks of reverses inflicted by the army.

Suspected terrorists of Boko Haram penultimate Friday attacked the College of Administrative and Business Studies, Potiskum in Yobe State.

One of them blew up himself after policemen, assisted by staff and students of the institution frustrated his effort to unleash terror.

His two accomplices were arrested.

Another gang of terrorists retook Marte, about 112 kilometers from Maiduguri on Friday.

Simultaneously, some others launched a quick strike on Mule on the outskirts of Maiduguri, less than 48 hours after an aborted attack on the Giwa Army barracks in the Borno State capital during which 12 people died.

Two other raids earlier in the week on Bale and Kayamla by Boko Haram insurgents had claimed 55 lives.

Doctors and nurses were seen at the emergency ward of the Sani Abacha battling to save victims of yesterday's suicide bombing.

An official appealed for blood donation for the victims.

Dr Fika told Gaidam

that he and his team were trying their best and might refer some of the patients to the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru or Azare in Bauchi State if necessary.

The governor said government would foot the bill of all the victims.

He described the attack as unfortunate and said the country would overcome the terror menace.

Consequent upon yesterday's attack, the authorities shut down the Abacha Market.

Security personnel asked buyers and sellers to leave the area immediately.

A security source told The Nation that they needed to sweep the market and determine that there is no left over of any explosive device before the market can be reopened for business.

HE Trade Union Congress (TUC) has advised the incoming Buhari-led government to reduce the cost of governance by drastically cutting down on political appointments.

In a communiquĂŠ at the end of its National Executives Council (NEC) meeting, the labour body also asked the incoming government to strengthen anti-corruption agencies to bolster its promise to fight against graft.

TUC further frowned at attempts to undermine the labour movement by government's refusal to include it in the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC).

It said a situation where labour laws are being reviewed by the NLCA to the exclusion of TUC amounts to flagrant violation of the rights of its members.

The TUC said: "The NECin-session calls on the federal government to halt the continued scarcity of petroleum products as it impacts negatively on all components of the Nigerian economy.

"The Congress frowns at the way and manner public office holders are paying themselves severance benefits running into billions of naira without addressing the legitimate concerns of the workers

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

on the issue of pension and gratuity.

"The Congress-in-session calls on the incoming government to restore payment of gratuity along with pension."

The labour body added: "The NEC-in-session calls on the federal government to immediately halt and reverse the last minutes transfers of the operatorship of OML 42, OML 40 and OML 30 which are being arbitrarily handed over to Neconde Energy Limited, Eland/Elcrest and Shore Line respectively.

"It demands for the immediate reinstatement of the operatorship rights of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the NNPC subsidiary that has been successfully operating the assets to avert the brewing industrial crisis in NNPC in view of the impact it will have on the ongoing transition process.

"The NEC-in-session calls on the federal government to as a matter of urgency pay serious attention to ailing industry, particularly the textile sector of the economy that use to be the second largest employer of labour after government."

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

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HE fate of the 72 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny is to be determined by presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari when he assumes office, The Nation has gathered.

Most of the low- ranking soldiers were condemned to death by firing squad for refusing to fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

The others were convicted for either inciting their colleagues to mutiny or protesting alleged non-payment of salaries, allowances and lack of equipment to repel the insurgents.

However, they have approached the Federal High Court asking that their conviction by the court martial be set aside on the ground of lack of jurisdiction.

Their applications were filed separately by Femi

NEWS

Boko Haram: Buhari to decide fate of 72 death row soldiers From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Falana(SAN), Olisa Agbakoba( SAN) and a former President of the Senate, Chief Ameh Ebute.

The 72 are those found guilty from the over 300 arrested and charged by the military authorities.

They include 54 soldiers from the 111 Special Forces Battalion of the 7 Division of the Army in Maiduguri; four from 81 Battalion of the same division and 12 others for firing at their then commanding officer, Maj-Gen. Ahmed

Mohammed on May 14, 2014 at Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri.

The Nation gathered that the military authorities are being held back from acting on the verdict because of the applications filed by the condemned men.

A top military source, who confirmed the development, said: “We may not be able to take action on the judgments of the Court Martial because there are some applications in court bordering on the jurisdiction of the tribunal, the Armed Forces Act, and fundamental human

rights.

“It will be sub judicial to act on any matter before the court. The military has to subjugate itself to the rule of law in a democracy like ours.

“As it is now, we may have to leave the fate of these soldiers to the new administration to address.

“The good thing is that the new government has placed premium on counterinsurgency in the NorthEast.”

The source said the soldiers remain in custody ”pending judicial consideration of appeal ap-

plications.”

Another source however said: “The case of the 72 soldiers is a major challenge for the military. We have never had such a high number of soldiers facing mutiny in Nigerian military.

“The matter is also a booby-trap for Buhari, who is a no nonsense and highly disciplined Army General.

“The final decision of the President-elect will have implications for military ethos. But it is certainly an issue he has to key into his counter-insurgency plan for

5

the North-East.

“And of course, we have the rule of law factor beclouding the entire case.”

The counsel have asked the court to declare that “Section 133(3)(4) & (5) of the Armed Forces Act, dealing with the convening authority of Court Martial, is inconsistent with Section 36(1) of the Constitution and therefore null and void.

“That the composition of the Court Martial was unconstitutional and contrary to Section 36(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees a fair trial to accused persons by a tribunal constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.

They want an order setting aside the decisions of the Court Martial made on September 16.

Re-elected Borno senator, Zannah, dies at 60 •His death a big blow, says Mark

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•The Prelate & Moderator of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Prof. Emele Uka (second left) praying for the new Principal Clerk of the Church, The Rev. Eseme David William (kneeling) during the reception service at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Aba recently. With them are the Deputy Clerk, Rev. Daniel Etim (first left); the Moderator of Aba North Presbytery, Rev. Dr. Chinedu Okorafor (second right) and the Clerk of the Presbytery, Rev. Anthony Ufere.

PDP crisis: Muazu sighted in Singapore

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O V E R N O R S elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have set in motion machinery for a mini convention of the party to thrash out the fate of the PDP embattled national chairman, Mallam Adamu Mu’azu.

Mu’azu, who is currently out of the country on ‘medical vacation’, was reportedly sighted in Singapore yesterday.

A source close to him said yesterday that he might not be back in Nigeria until after the May 29 change of guards at the Aso Rock Villa.

Mu’azu has come under severe pressure to relinquish his position following the defeat of the party in the last elections.

He said he will do no such thing.

He left the country about two weeks ago on ‘a short medical vacation’ although PDP sources said it was to allow tempers to cool down and for the party’s chair to stave off pressure from the Presidency and party leaders on him.

Leading the Mu’azumust- go campaign are the

•Governors plot mini-convention •There is a case in court, says NWC member From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

party’s governors who are now plotting a mini-national convention.

One of the top sources said: “The last time we heard from the National Chairman was from Singapore. He is certainly abreast of every development in the party.

“His position and that of the National Working Committee is that we should keep the party intact instead of fanning the embers of discord by pushing for the dissolution of the NWC. “Muazu had emerged as the party’s national chairman in January 2014 and will it help the survival of the party to be contemplating a change of leadership again in May 2015? We will just be a laughing stock.

“And President Goodluck Jonathan bought the idea during the week when he appealed to governors and party leaders to sheathe their swords in the interest of the survival of PDP.”

But there were strong indications that PDP governors and leaders might demand for a mini-National Convention to look at “issues in the party.”

The convention is likely to hold after the submission of the report of a committee headed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu.

One of the governors said: “At our meeting, the President actually played a conciliatory role as a leader.

But the body language of the President and other leaders was the urgent need for a drastic change.

“No one in the party wants Mu’azu and his team any more. The earlier the NWC members realises this, the better for them.

“The PDP governors and leaders will have no choice than to ask for a mini-National Convention. The NWC members do not own the party and they cannot dictate to the party.

“Really, I do not see how Mu’azu can survive the de-

mand for change by PDP leaders and members.”

A high-ranking NWC member however said there is already a case in court seeking to stop any party leader to either remove Muazu or force him to resign.

The NWC member asked the agitated PDP members to respect judicial process.

“From our records, two PDP members (Tasiu Iliyasu Hussaini and Waziri Amadu) have filed an application before an Abuja High Court to stop the party from forcing the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and NWC members to resign.

“In the May 14, 2015 application, they urged the court to restrain the party from dissolving the National Working Committee without following the relevant guidelines in the PDP Constitution.

“So, to the NWC, the party has to maintain the status quo until the final determination of this suit. We are not going anywhere.”

HE senator representing Borno Central, Alhaji Ahmed Zannah, died yesterday in Abuja.

He was 60.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) senator was originally elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011 after defeating former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, who contested on the platform of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

Zannah was reelected in last month’s election only to succumb to stroke yesterday.

He returned to Nigeria recently from medical treatment in London.

He was a vitriolic critic of President Goodluck Jonathan over his poor handling of the Boko Haram menace in the Northeast, which led to the dislocation and capture of a substantial population of his constituents.

Senate President David Mark described Zanna’s death as a big blow to the senate and the nation.

The Chairman of Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki, expressed sadness at his demise.

Mark, in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said Zannah’s death was one too many.

He is the fifth member of the 7th Senate to pass on.

The President of the Senate noted that Zanna was a gentleman who was very mindful of his legislative assignments and the welfare of his constituents and the nation at large.

He said: “Senator Zanna’s death coming a few days after the demise of Senator Uche

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Chukwumerije is a big blow to the Senate and the nation.

“This is certainly not the best of times for us. These deaths in quick succession are heart breaking.

“We cannot question the will of the Almighty. We can only ask that our Creator give us the fortitude to bear this sad loss and grant the deceased eternal rest.”

Senate spokesman, Chef Enyinnaya Abaribe, in a statement, saidZanna would be remembered for his love for his state particularly the people of his Senatorial District.He said: “The Senate will surely miss his painstaking approach to committee work and care for legislative details with regards to bills and motions.” Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is currently in Ghana on official assignment, was similarly shocked.He said Zannah was a dedicated Senator who made his constituents and the entire nation the centerpiece of his legislative odyssey.

Saraki, in his own tribute, said Zannah was an exemplary leader who will be dearly missed.

He added that Zannah would be “remembered as a passionate legislator who fought to protect the people of Bama who sadly have had to deal with insurgents in the last few years and for always putting comfort of his people before his, as evident in him vacating his home to internally displaced people in his home town.

“His contributions on the floor of the Senate and wealth of experience to guide the institution would be greatly missed.”

Man gets 2 years jail, 12 strokes MAGISTRATES’ Court sitting at ‘Yan-Azara, of cane for theft

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Tudun-Wada, Zaria, has convicted one Lukman Ibrahim, 27, of Turunku Road, TudunWada, Zaria, to two years in prison with 12 strokes of the cane for theft.

In a summary trial, the presiding magistrate, Mohammed Abdurrahman, sentenced Ibrahim after he pleaded guilty to the offence against him.

Abdurrahman said the convict has an option of N15, 000 fines but must take 12 strokes of the cane without an option.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Ibrahim

Mohammed, had told the court that Ibrahim trespassed into a lady’s room and stole her valuables.

He said the matter was reported by one Rebeca Amadu of Rimin Tsiwa Estate, TudunWada, Zaria, at the Tudun-Wada police station.

Mohammed said the convict trespassed into Amadu’s room and took away some of her belongings that included a laptop valued at N70,000, a purse containing N2,500 and a Techno mobile phone valued at N19,000.

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African Peer Review rates Jonathan's admin low

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

NEWS

HE African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has rated the President Goodluck Jonathan administration below average.

It said the 2011-2015 development plan initiated by the administration failed to improve the nation's economy and the well-being of Nigerians.

The five-year development plan focused on three key areas, namely Strong, inclusive and noninflationary growth; Employment generation and poverty alleviation and Value re-orientation of the citizenry.

But the APRM, in a statement in Abuja, said: "While the plan looked good on paper, it has not succeeded in producing significant improvement.

Indeed, corruption has worsened over the past five years."

The APRM was inaugurated on 9 March, 2003 by African leaders within the context of their initiative - the New Partnership for Africa's Development - as an instrument for selfmonitoring for good governance.

The body has, at its fulcrum, the deepening of democratic and development practices and covers four themes: Democracy and Good Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate Governance and SocioEconomic Development.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, National Steering Committee of the Second Peer Review of Nigeria, Senator Ken Nnamani and Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy and Development, Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, the APRM described the country as "having a paradox of extreme riches as well as mass poverty."

It added that stakeholders, mainly from the third tier of government in both private and the public sectors across the country, agreed after the exercise in Abuja last Friday that despite its abundant rich natural resources, the country's over-reliance on its rich oil resource base has had an adverse effect on its economy.

It noted that the development had resulted in the neglect of other sectors, leading to high levels of corruption, poverty, high unemployment rates, poor infrastructure, low growth rates, and widespread insecurity and crime.

The validation meeting emphasised that it was imperative that Nigeria consolidates its efforts towards diversification of the economy to reduce the impact of external shocks, and encourage private sector-led development.

Boko Haram: Troops arrest suspected female suicide bombers U

Gunmen abduct Adamawa lawmaker

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OLDIERS have arrested some females suspected to be Boko Haram's suicide bombers in the Northeast.

The arrests were made during the ongoing combing of Boko Haram cells in the region, it was learnt yesterday.

The suspects are currently undergoing screening just as the Defence Headquarters vowed to regain control of Marte, Borno State, which fell into the hands of the terrorists last Friday.

The DHQ said there was no cause for alarm on the purported gathering of the insurgents in Marte, which was liberated some months back.

Speaking on the arrest of the female suicide bombers, a highly placed source said: "A few of these suspected female suicide bombers have been arrested by troops and they are being questioned and screened accordingly.

"The nature of this insurgency is that the

*DHQ vows to reclaim Marte innocent can be the most dangerous.

"But many of them intercepted during encounters with troops have become weak and might not be able to survive.

"This is why we are paying more attention to the profiling of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are coming into camps. Some of these IDPs are suspects but we have been painstaking enough to detect them.

"We have placed all IDPs on surveillance. We do not want the gains recorded by the military to be wiped away by Boko Haram infiltrators posing as IDPs." Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters yesterday said there was no cause for alarm over the alleged reassembling of Boko Haram insurgents in Marte, Borno State.

The DHQ said efforts were on to sack the fleeing

FROM: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

insurgents from the In its twitter handle, the Defence Headquarters gave insights into why the fleeing insurgents were able to relocate to Marte.

The DHQ said: "There has not been any static deployment of troops in Marte for quite sometimes in line with the need to emphasise more aggressive patrol of many threatened isolated communities while the assault on the forests and mountain hideouts of terrorists is ongoing.

"Only occasional patrols and surveillance have been undertaken towards the area as the bulk of troops are engaged in the operation to clear the terrorists from all identified enclaves in the forest

"Besides, Marte had been deserted by citizens most of whom had fled to other towns while others are in IDP camps located in Maiduguri and other places.

"It is understandable that those terrorists escaping from the offensive operations in Sambisa and other enclaves are looking for place of respite.

"They must have found the Marte deserted and decided to harbour there."

The DHQ assured Nigerians that the insurgents will be flushed out of Marte.

It added: "Now that their presence is reported, the issue will definitely be addressed in a very short while.

"There is really no cause for alarm in the way some reports are presenting this situation as if it is a meaningful resurgence of terrorists. This will only fool the terrorists and their sympathizers into false celebration "There will certainly be no respite for terrorists anywhere in Nigeria. Wait and see."

NKNOWN gunmen have kidnapped the member representing Toungo Constituency in the Adamawa House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Usman.

Usman was said to have been kidnapped by the gunmen who stormed his residence at Kofare Ward of Yola around midnight last Friday.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adamawa Police Command, Othman Abubakar, said the lawmaker was taken away at gunpoint.

He however said that the police were investigating the incident.

Usman is one of the only two members of Adamawa Assembly who won their re-election for a second term after defecting from PDP to APC in the just-concluded general elections.

The incident brings to three the number of kidnapping recorded in the state within six months.

NAN recalls that Alhaji Sani Ribadu, a brother to Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Wilson Gundiri, a brother to Engr Markus Gundiri were earlier kidnapped but later released.

Gundiri was the Adamawa SDP gubernatorial candidate in the just-concluded general elections.

Thousands protest presidential election results in Togo

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•Athletes at the 2015 Okpekpe 10km road race in Edo State‌ yesterday

Dickson kicks over moves to reconstitute Governors Forum

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AYELSA Governor,

State Seriake

Dickson, yesterday deplored what he called moves by some outgoing governors to reconstitute the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) barely two weeks to the end of their tenure.

He also faulted alleged use of the body for partisan purposes in the past.

Dickson, reacting to the summoning of a meeting of the group for tomorrow, said that based on the roles these governors played in the crisis which engulfed the NGF, they should not be allowed to foist another NGF contraption, which could threaten the stability of the nation's democracy.

"Having gone through those period of the NGF crisis with my respected colleagues, most of whom are now ending their respective governorship tenures, I believe I owe it a duty to our nation and our fledgling democracy to alert the nation and caution my

respected colleagues especially the incoming governors that they should not allow the outgoing governors, most of whom created the NGF crisis to foist on our country and political system another NGF contraption that will in due course threaten the stability of our democracy and be a distraction to citizens and the leadership of our country, as the NGF crisis or tussle did between 2012 till date," he said in a statement He said that the crisis in the NGF was caused by his colleagues who felt the leadership of the forum was an avenue to higher political office and as such the NGF became a bargaining tool and a matter of life or death.

Dickson, who claimed that he had always believed the NGF should not function as a trade union, said the fresh idea of reconstituting the body in the dying days of his outgoing colleagues was meant to shortchange the new governors.

He added:"My view which I expressed during the days of the crisis which I still maintain was that the NGF shouldn't function like a trade union or a parallel federal government, either of which will distort our system and make it a virtual implosion predictable or inevitable.

"From inception of the NGF till date, the leadership has always been surreptitiously put in place without the input of all members, especially the incoming governors as new members, thus shortchanging it.

"This is what the outgoing members who have destroyed the forum plan to do. I disagree with this. I believe that the outgoing members, most of whom allowed themselves to tear the NGF, should let things be and just go.

"Thereafter, a process of consultation should be put in place by the existing PDP Governors Forum and APC Progressive Governors

Forum regarding the desirability and procedures for bringing about its leadership after May29, when the new governors would have taken office and therefore become members".

The governor queried the hurry in summoning the divided leadership of the forum.

The majority of the forum members are with their Chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and the minority members, including Dickson are backing Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State.

The crisis, believed to have been engineered by President Goodluck Jonathan, was partly responsible for the dumping of the PDP by five of its governor who ended up in the APC. President Jonathan was opposed to the candidature of Amaechi, who enjoyed the support of 19 of his colleagues against the 16 backing Jang.

HOUSANDS of opposition supporters marched through the Togolese capital yesterday to protest the results of presidential elections that extended the Gnassingbe family's nearly five decades in power.

Observers have called the April 25 election free and transparent and the United Nations has approved of the conduct of the exercise.

But the opposition in the West African nation of some seven million people labelled the results fraudulent.

President Faure Gnassingbe won a third term in office with 59 percent of the ballots while his closest rival, longtime opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre, finished with 35 percent.

"We need people to be aware of the seriousness of the situation and that, together, we are working to stop it," Fabre, who has declared himself the elected president, told AFP yesterday.

Adele Wavisso, a 32-yearold bread seller, among the protesters in Lome, said: "Those in power know very well that we did not vote for Faure. Our president is Fabre and we will not give up."

The opposition has said it decided not to challenge the results at Togo's Constitutional Court because it was biased in favour of the president.

Gnassingbe's father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, seized power in a coup and ruled with an iron fist for 38 years over the former German- and Frenchadministered colony until he died in 2005.

The military then installed his son as leader and elections later that year were marred by allegations of rigging as well as violence, which left up to 500 people dead and thousands injured.

Gnassingbe then won 2010 elections that the opposition also declared fraudulent but which were judged acceptable by the international community.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

NEWS

'PDP has no power to stop Rivers council poll'

3,056 get N778 million from NYSC WAP

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

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HE National Deputy Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Oji Ngofa, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has no constitutional power to stop the forthcoming local government elections slated for May 23.

He said only Governor Rotimi Amaechi has the constitutional responsibility to conduct local government elections and not the PDP. Ngofa said all efforts by the PDP to stop the local government elections through court process were futile.

He also argued that the decision of the PDP to boycott the elections was because of its lack of popularity at the grassroots.

The absence of the PDP, according to the APC chieftain, would not affect the process when over 27 political parties have indicated interests in participation.

According to him: "The PDP failed the basis of which they went to court, of course, there plan was to stop Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from giving voter's register to Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

"We want to use the local government elections to show Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner how to conduct elections."

Otubu: Nigerians should support incoming administration

By Sunday Oguntola

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HE General Evangelist of Motailatu Cherubim and Seraphim Church Worldwide (MCSCW), Prof.

Elder Joseph Otubu, has appealed to Nigerians to be prepared to pay sacrifices that will make the coming change a reality.

Change, he said, doesn't just happen in any society without collective resolve and support.

He challenged Nigerians to offer the incoming administration maximum support to enable it bring about the muchawaited change.

Otubu, in a statement, said: "Now that Nigerians have made their choice and chosen to be identified with the change mantra, the onus is on us to support the incoming administration.

"We have to be ready to support tough decisions and policies that the administration will seek to implement."

Otubu, a renowned Professor of Gyneacology, added that the incoming administration will only make impact when Nigerians show tremendous belief and trust.

He tasked Nigerians to be patient with the Buhari-led administration for its policies to bear fruits.

"Nothing happens in a vacuum and for nothing. So, if we want to see real changes, we have to be ready to wait and allow the policies gestate without obstruction."

While saying constructive criticism will not be out of place, Otubu however warned that excessive harassment of government officials and policies will not take the nation to the Promised Land.

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• L-R: Lagos deputy governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Bishop of Lagos West Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. James Odedeji; his wife, Lydia and Bishop of Lagos Mainland, Rt. Rev. Adebayo Akinade during the Bishop presidential address at the ongoing Synod of Dioceses of Lagos West Anglican Communion at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral G.R.A Ikeja Lagos… yesterday PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

Four Bayelsa lawmakers sacked for joining APC

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AYELSA State House of Assembly at the weekend wielded the big stick against four of its members, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The defecting lawmakers identified as members of the antiDickson's camp were sacked by the assembly led by Speaker Kombowei Benson.

It was gathered that the lawmakers' seats were declared vacant by Benson, believed to be a loyal member of the Dickson's camp.

Following the loss of President Goodluck Jonathan on March 28 and ahead of the 2016 governorship election in the state, major stakeholders of the PDP are leaving in droves to APC. But the defectors attributed their decision to the interna wrangling in the PDP, which led to the emergence of two factions.

The defectors whose seats were declared vacant are: Fini Angaye (Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 2); Alfred Egba, (Yenagoa constituency 1); Victor Prezi (Ekeremor Constituency 3) and Azibola Omekwe (Ogbia

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• Sack in the right direction, says Dickson From: Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

constituency 1), which is Jonathan's constituency.

Benson reportedly said the decision to declare the seats vacant was based on the provision of Section 109 (1) of the constitution.

Governor Seriake Dickson hailed the decision, saying it was a step in the right direction.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the action of the state legislature was constitutional and would also instill party discipline and sanitise the polity.

He condemned changing of parties at will by politicians, saying it was no longer acceptable and practicable in a thriving democracy.

"The assembly has by this singular act set the pace and shown the direction of the new PDP in the State, where party discipline and loyalty, must be the overriding principles and factors for all members, going forward.

"Indiscipline, disloyalty and greed have been the bane of the

PDP at state and national levels in the past. Such acts would no longer be tolerated for whatever reason in the party."

He went on: "We will continue to do the needful by ensuring that only those who respect the position of the party on issues are allowed to remain while all those with selfish and unacceptable behavioral patterns will be shown the way out for the good of the PDP.” Also at the memorial of the late Maj. Jasper Adaka Boro yesterday, the governor further descended on the defecting lawmakers, dismissing them as betrayers.

He said it was embarrassing that the senator representing Jonathan's Bayelsa east, Clever Ikisikpo and the Ogbia federal constituency lawmaker, Nadu Karibo, ditched the PDP for the APC. Their actions were interpreted by PDP leaders in the state especially Jonathan's associates as embarrassment to the President and the PDP. At the Boro's wreath-laying ceremony which took place at the Heroes' Park Yenagoa,

Dickson who was represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah, declared the defectors persona non grata.

Apparently referring to them, Dickson said: "Even in the Bible, Jesus told his disciples 'you will deny me three times before cock crows'. We are still having about two weeks (to the handover) and the denial has started. Those are not the examples that we should follow.

"As a people, we must stand united no matter the case. We must have a rallying point. Just because election is lost at the national level, our people are running to Jon others for no reason.

"The main beneficiaries of the system are the people abandoning our cause and joining to betray us. It is utmost callousness. By selling us out, l don't think those people will ever have a say in this land," he said.

The event marked in low key was attended by few government officials, members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Ijaw National Congress (INC).

Most of the shops in Yenagoa were closed and the IYC President, Mr. Udens Eradiri led a procession of Ijaw youths around the city in honour of Boro.

Oshiomhole: I can do what young people do

ARELY 24 hours after he wedded former Miss Lara Fortes, Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday participated in the annual 10 kilometers Okpekpe road race.

The governor, who completed the 10 kilometer race under the VIP section, was joined by Chief Mike Ozekhome, Chief Oseni Elamah, Nollywood artistes and other dignitaries.

In his speech after the race, Oshiomhole said he worked

•Runs 10km 24 hrs after wedding From Osagie Otabor, Benin

very hard to ensure he emerged winner of the race.

He said: "I worked hard but was not successful. To do 10 kilometers after the wedding assured me that I am capable and strong to what young people can do."

Oshiomhole urged businessmen to key into his administration's rural development by setting up cottage industries, hotels and amusement parks in Okpekpe com-

munity in Etsako East local government area to boost the economic potentials of the community.

According to him: "I am excited that Okpekpe community is not only now at the world map but people from various part of the world of various countries and various continent are now participating actively in what is now known as the Okpekpe annual 10km road race.

"I am informed that in this

year we have more participants than the previous years and by logic we expect that more and more people will participate."

"This is one practical way to remind all of us that there is life outside urban cities and that the real Nigerians, the forgotten majority are in our rural communities."

The Okpekpe road race marathon competition, which commenced in May 2013, has been dominantly won by athletics from Kenya, Ethiopia for male and female categories.

Senate presidency: Suswam mobilises support for Akume

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ENUE STATE governor, Gabriel Suswam, has publicly declared support for the ambition of Senate Minority leader, George Akume, to preside over the eighth senate.

He spoke at a meeting of Benue state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders at the party's secretariat on New Makurdi road, Makurdi.

PDP leaders in the state were led by its chairman, Dr Emmanuel Agbo and his deputies from the three senatorial

zones. The governor promised to deploy all hid goodwill and networks across the nation to canvass support for Akume.

Akume, he stated, has served meritoriously as Minority Leader and will serve the Senate well if elected to the exalted position.

It is believed that Suswam's support for Akume might swing votes in his favour.

Suswam is a member of the influential Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) with five members as senators-elect.

They include Aliyu Wammako(Sokoto); Theodore Orji(Abia); Godswill Akpabio(Akwa Ibom); Jonah Jang(Plateau) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano).

Also, Suswam was in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007.

Many of his colleagues have since graduated to the Senate.

Some of them include: Binta Garba (Adamawa North); Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central); John Eboh (Cross River Central); Fatima

Raji-Rasaki (Ekiti Central); Philip Aduda (FCT); Nazif Suleiman (Bauchi) and Bala Ibn Na'Allah (Kebbi South).

Others are: Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central); Gilbert Nnamdi (Enugu); Buhari Abdul Fatai (Oyo North); Olaka Nwogu (Rivers South East); Usman Nafada (Gombe); Ali Ndume (Borno) and Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South).

It is believed that if he succeeds in influencing these senators-elect, Akume might clinch the presidency.

total of 3,056 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have benefitted N778, 350,000 from its War Against Poverty (WAP) programme since inception, the Chairman, NYSC National Governing Board, Chief Gordon Bozimo, said disclosed yesterday.

Bozimo was at the Akwa Ibom State NYSC Camp at Ikot Itie Udung in Nsit Atai local government area as part of his nationwide assessment visits during the 2015 Batch 'A' Orientation camping.

He stated that the NYSC management has devoted great attention to skill acquisition to reduce unemployment, promote post-service self reliance and ginger wealth creation among corps members.

He added that the Board has also established a bakery and water production factory at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Kubwa in Abuja with the intention of replicating same in all six geo-political zones.

Bozimo said the Board has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to give to foster access to loan facilities.

NARTO, PTD ask members out of Lagos roads From: Tony Akowe, Abuja HE National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTDA) have asked all their members to immediately comply with the directive by the Lagos state government to vacate Lagos roads until petroleum products are available in the state.

The Lagos state government had asked all tanker owners and drivers to remove their vehicles from the roads in the state as part of efforts to decongest the roads taken over by trucks waiting to lift fuel.

Addressing a joint news conference in Abuja, National President of NARTO, Alhaji Kassim Bataiya and his PTD counterpart, Chief Salimon Oladiti, said the organisations were working with government to ensure sanity on Lagos roads.

They said that while most depots in Lagos do not have fuel, it was unfortunate that tankers that have managed to lift from the six depots are not able to leave Lagos because of traffic gridlock.

According to them: "As you are aware, for close to a month now, the nation has been hit by serious petroleum product shortages arising from the inability of NNPC and major oil marketers to ensure adequate supply of the product to the market. As Nigerians, we regret that this situation still persists.

"We saw and heard from the electronic media that NNPC has pumped 1.2billions litres of petrol into the market but only six depots out of 54 loading depots facilities have petrol in the Lagos area.

"We therefore concede to Lagos State Government the right to take any action they deem fit to restore public order and ensure environmental safety.

"We are worried that even the loaded trucks cannot move out of Lagos due to traffic gridlock.

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Expert lists benefits of space tourism to economy From Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

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space expert, Mr. Oladunni Paul, has revealed that the Nigerian economy would receive a major boost if opportunities in space tourism are harnessed for economic purposes.

According to the National President for Space Tourism Society in Nigeria, ý government and private bodies can generate a lot of revenue from space tourism apart from benefiting from sponsorship and scholarship programs.

Stressing that Nigerians would gain massively if they key into the idea, Paul noted, “We stand to benefit a lot in the area of internally- generated revenue. In the United States where I represent one of their agencies, we organise trainings weekly and monthly and anybody coming to that training would be levied. We have trainings for different categories of people; individuals, family, group, students starting from age 9, corporate and government organisations.”

Shedding more light on this aspect of tourism, he said, “ýSpace tourism is about flying into the space for leisure. For example, on April 28, 2000, Dennis Tuto, an American entrepreneur and astronaut, became the first person to travel to space; the first space tourist. We celebrated the 14th year anniversary not long ago and space tourists came from all over the world and it has greatly improved the revenue base of the country.

“If you are going to the John F. Kennedy Space Centre in New York or U.S space and rocket centre for daily camping or daily visiting where they conduct you round so many objects, either model or objects that have gone to space and come back, you will be charged some amount of money. The space was formally developed to make students develop keen interest.ý “Unlike Nigeria, space tourism is well funded in America and there is no how you would expect an organisation that is not well funded to generate money.

It is when it receives enough funds from government that it will function. America generates a lot from space tourism. Experienced astronauts are always available to interact with people; they give lectures and mentor people.”

Group drums support for Gbajabiamila

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

NEWS

group, Asiwaju Grassroots Foundation, Koji State chapter has drummed up support for Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In a release signed by its Chairman and Coordinator, Comrade Jatto DanBello Azeez, the body described Gbajabiamila as a lawmaker imbued with the political acumen and intellectual capacity to lead the House of Reps in the next dispensation.

He said, “Gbajabiamila’s wealth of experience in legislative business will help to stabilise the parliament for efficient performance especially at this crucial time that the country is agitating for true independence of the legislature. The group is of the opinion that Gbajabiamila has always been in the forefront of the agitation for legislative autonomy even in his capacity as the Minority Leader.”

Ex-Ekiti Speaker declares interest in governorship A

How to end fuel scarcity in Nigeria, by ex-Senator From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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ORMER Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Femi Bamisile, has declared his interest to run for the governorship of the state “in the immediate future.”

He intends to pursue his ambition on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bamisile, who made the declaration in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Saturday, said he used the phrase “in the immediate future”, because he believes that the incumbent gov-

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

ernor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, may not complete his term in office due to his “renowned abuse of the rule of law.”

The former Speaker who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC shortly before the June 21, 2014 governorship election, pledged to pursue a one-point agenda centered on Human Capital Development.

The one-point agenda, according to him, would drive the other cardinal programs of his

administration.

Bamisile said: “With the character of the incumbent governor of Ekiti who has a very little regard for the rule of law and sanctity of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an election may come sooner than expected.

“And if he continues to rape the Constitution without any challenge from the hallowed chamber and the temple of justice, 2018 is not too far to contest.”

According to the former lawmaker, the APC would

form the next government in Ekiti if the party can accept the previous defeats in good faith, develop internal mobilisation strategies, review its election strategies and ensure credible and transparent primaries.

Bamisile noted that the primaries which produced the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has become a reference point in Nigeria and Africa, saying the sustenance of this practice would further strengthen the APC and position it as a potent election winner.

•Vice Principal, Dansol High School, Mrs. Margaret Okooboh; Ogun State SSG, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Miss Tolu Adaghe, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Principal, Dansol School, Mr. Esan Oladapo, Mr. Tunde Akinmiju, Hon. Lola Akande, during the annual Leadership Lecture at Dansol School Hall in Lagos at the weekend.

PHOTO; Taiwo Okanlawon

Oyo govt didn’t sponsor anyone to Hajj, says Ajimobi O

YO State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has disclosed that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the hajj exercise embarked on by some clerics in the state was personally sponsored by him and not from the purse of the state government.

He spoke yesterday at the turbanning/installation of the new Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniyy Abubakri Agbotomokekere, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Ajimobi also stated that it is illegal for any government to sponsor people to Hajj with public money.

The governor, while regaling the audience with six things, which he noted he shares with the new Chief Imam said: “One, he is prayerful to become the Chief Imam at 80 years old which has never happened before, and I am also prayerful and broke the

ýsecond term jinx in this State.

Secondly, he is being turbaned in May, while I will also be sworn in for my second term in office on May 29.

“Thirdly, he bears AbdulGaniyy, and my father too bears Abdul-Ganiyy.

Fourthly, his grandfather bears Ishaq, and I aslo bear Ishaq. Fifth, there were 11 clerics who contested for the position of Chief Imam, but he was chosen, while there were also 11 governorship

candidates that contested with me but I won. Lastly, he is a Sheikh and I am a Shehu.”

In his address, the Seriki Musulumi of Yorubaland, Chief Yekini Adeojo, urged the new Chief Imam to add value to the legacies left behind by his predecessors.

He also admonished Agbotomokekere to emphasise the importance of education in the development of the nation, while also appealing to the people of the state to support the new Chief Imam.

UNIOSUN lecturer gets Canada’s $4.45 million research grants

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lecturer in the Department of Agronomy and Crop Physiology of the Osun State University, Prof. Clement Adebooye, has been awarded $4.45 million by the Canada’s Government International Development Research Centre.

Speaking at a press conference, the university’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Oguntola Jeliliý Alamu, said the grant was to advance indigenous vegetable production and utilisation technology in the Southwest Nigeria and Republic of Benin.

He further disclosed that the University through Adebooye was working in collaboration with a Canadabased research consortiumý, the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Parakou, Benin Republic; University of Manitoba and Uni-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

versity of Saskatoon, Canada.

He added that the research team on the project would work to expand novel farming practices to 50,000 farmers and promote demand through indigenous vegetable production and value addition technology.

Alamu said a team in the institution will also lead a research on innovative farming techniques, training of farmers, value- addition technology and general superintendents of the project activities.

He listed Osun, Oyo, Ogun,Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara and Lagos States in the Southwest and Benin Republic among the states where the project will be implemented.

The university don also disclosed that the project will

support the School Feeding Programme of the state government (O-MEALS) through the formation of Young Vegetable Scientists Clubs (YVSC) in selected secondary schools.

He said: “It is known that these indigenous vegetables are potent sources of nutrients, which help the development of cognitive ability of children and also help to build good body structure in addition to combating diseases.

“Therefore, our university is playing the expected role of contributing to the development of the State through research. Under this project, full funding is made available for the training of 3 MSc/PhD candidates, attendance of about 25 international conferences and purchase of high profile scientific equipment.

“Consequently in a similar project funded by IDRC to

the tune of $3 million that was implemented by Prof.

Adebooye and his team from 2011-2014 in Nigeria, more than 1,400 farmers increased their yields and doubled their incomes by using improved farming practices to grow underutilised indigenous vegetables at 22 locations in Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti States.

In his address, Prof.

Adebooye said the project titled ‘Synergising Fertiliser Micro-Dosing and Indigenous Vegetable Production to Enhance Food and Economic Security of West African Farmers’, is being jointly funded by the Canada’s Government International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) under the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF).

Second Republic s e n a t o r , Olorunnimbe Farukanmi, has identified the establishment of functional refineries in Nigeria as the only solution to incessant fuel crisis in the country.

Speaking against the backdrop of the lingering fuel scarcity in the country, Farukanmi, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), noted that the problem would persist until the nation’s crude oil are refined locally.

Charging the incoming administration of Gen Muhammadu Buhari to ensure proper repair of the country’s refineries and establish more to cater for the nation’s needs, the former lawmaker accused successive administrations for ruining the nation’s economy.

To revive the economy, Farukanmi called on the next administration to prioritise the agriculture and manufacturing sectors He also advised the incoming government to reduce salariesn and allowances of political office holders in all tiers of government, saying this policy would ensure that only people genuinely interested in serving the people contest for public office.

While maintaining that politics should be a vocation and not a profession, Farukanmi stressed the need to make political appointment a part-time one in order to ensure efficient service delivery.

Ansar Ud Deen women launch school project

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HE Lagos State women council of the Ansar Ud Deen Women Society has launched an appeal fund for a Nursery and Primary school located in Fakile in ikotun area of the state.

The event, which also doubled as the organisation’s annual Asalatu General Assembly, had many guests in attendance, including the state chairman, the National Missioner and members from branches across the State.

Speaking on the fund raising, the Chief Missioner, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Olarewanju Ahmad, said: “The project is a laudable one and we are impressed with what the women are doing.

We promise to give them the necessary support to make sure that this dream becomes reality.”

In her address, the State chairperson of the Council, Alhaja Risikat Oke, said, “Our targets are children within the Ikotun environment irrespective of their religious background. We started the project about three years ago. It is a twostorey building that would be equipped with facilities which would help to empower and change the lives of children in the community positively.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

Unmask electoral material thieves, APC tells Abia Police C T

HE leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has urged Abia State Commissioner of Police, Habila Joshiak, and heads of security agencies in the state to unmask the real actors behind the recent attempt to steal sensitive electoral materials; card reader machines among others from Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital.

APC, addressing journalists through its State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Benedict Godson, after the party’s meeting in Aba, commended police authorities in the state for their prompt response and arresting of the INEC staff who were used by people yet to be unmasked to carry out their thwarted criminal act and asked that security agencies in the state should intensify their intelligence net to expose the people behind the

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

act no matter how highly placed.

Godson said that bringing such persons to book would help to teach others intending to be used or already in the act a big lesson.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State, wishes to condemn in strong terms, the show of shame in the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Umuahia in the attempt to steal and manipulate the Card Reader.

“This act has indicated the party’s stand in the sham called election in Abia State from the Presidential/National Assembly elections to the Governorship/State Assembly elections. The act has brought so far the fact that the entire electoral process in Abia State was a charade, and rigging competition that if it is in a civilized society, the entire election ought to have been cancelled for lacking in

credibility, transparency and devoid of fair play.”

APC Publicity Secretary while accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for massively rigging the just concluded elections in the state, called on INEC to declare candidates of the party winner of the governorship and of various seats in the state House of Assembly.

“It is common knowledge that both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were involved in this rigging competition, using the security and INEC officials and were equally involved in cash spray which makes it nonsensical for any of the two parties to claim victory since neither of them obeyed the civilized rules of the game. So, they both lacked the moral and social right to be so declared.

“The Governorship/State

Assembly elections in Abia State should be cancelled and a fresh election held with a total overhaul of the INEC and security personnel in Abia State. This remains the only solution to Abia electoral debacle or in the alternative, INEC should produce the authentic result as shown in the records of the card reader machines which shows the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to have won the gubernatorial election with the majority seats in the state Assembly”.

Recall that INEC staff, Nnamdi Nwabuko and Herbert Ejiofor, bothy of INEC ICT unit were recently arrested by Police and other security agencies while they were attempting to whisk away some card readers from INEC headquarters in Umuahia and has since been in police custody where it was believed they were being investigated and interrogated by the police

NEWS Tackle corruption in petroleum industry, Buhari told

HIEF Emeka Diwe, an industrialist based in Aba, Abia State, has called on Nigeria’s president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to tackle corruption that has bedeviled the country’s petroleum industry. Diwe also wants Buhari to shun calls in some quarters for removal of fuel subsidy.

Speaking in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state, Diwe stressed the call for non-removal of fuel subsidy saying it was going to bring serious hardship on the less privileged, pointing out that one of the major problems drawing back development in the country was corruption.

“Fuel subsidy is not our problem. There is danger in this proposal calling for the removal of fuel subsidy because it is going to negatively affect the masses.

“Corruption is the only factor militating against the working of our refineries, the welfare of the common man and the capacity to address the poor state of infrastructure in Nigeria. The removal of subsidy will only create a negative impact on the lives of the people.”

Advocating for proper management and prudent spending of the available scare resources, Diwe, who is the Managing Director of Unik D Industries, an agro based conglomerate, said “I advocate for a better man-

9

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

agement of Nigeria’s wealth.

The only way to do this is by tackling corruption; even if Nigeria removes fuel subsidy 100 times, the country will still be turning round and round without making any headway in its bid to address the so-called critical sectors.

“Corruption is a cankerworm in Nigeria; let Buhari fulfill his promise of fighting corruption and see if there won’t be visible changes and development in all sectors of Nigeria’s economy. Let him plug all these loopholes from where funds are looted; the moment he does this, those calling for removal of fuel subsidy will understand that we don’t need the removal of fuel subsidy for Nigeria’s economy to bounce back.”

He lamented that the high level of corruption in the country has brought disaster to governance in Nigeria.

According to him, “there should be drastic actions to fight corruption, not these half hearted measures we have witnessed over the years. Many corruption cases have been going on for more than eight years now; yet we claim to be fighting corruption.”

He said if the Presidentelect can tackle corruption, funds to finance development projects across the country would be in surplus.

‘Buhari should invest more in agriculture’ From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

A •APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh (2nd R), consoling the sisters (Umuada) in Azikiwe family, over the death of Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe, the Owelle of Onitsha, in Onitsha yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

NEWSPAPER proprietor, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, has urged the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to invest more on agricultural development and diversification of the oil to create more jobs, encourage food security and boost the nation’s economy.

He made the call during

Correspondent chapel condemns threat to colleague

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HE chairman Aba Correspondent Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Okechukwu Ukegbu, has condemned the alleged threat to life of one of its members, Mr. Ijendu Iheaka, by the Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Mr. Ikechukwu Anyataonwu.

Iheaka is the News Agency of Nigeria’s (NAN) Aba correspondent.

Iheaka, on Tuesday went to seek Anyataonwu’s reaction on the efforts his agency (ASEPA) was taking to evacuate mountainous refuse heaps littering major roads and streets of the city thereby causing traffic gridlock in the city.

According to the NAN’s correspondent, when he first called on the ASEPA boss, he was not in the office. When he called later, Anyataonwu asked the reporter to meet him at the Abia Hotels instead of his office at Pound Road area of the town.

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

On getting to the hotel, ASEPA DGM, who said he was already going out because he had an emergency, asked the reporter to join him in his car.”

When I got to the hotel, instead of responding to my questions, the ASEPA GM started to threaten me, asking me where I live; if I’m married, if I do clean-up exercise in my house?

Do I know what it takes to evacuate refuse? Why do you want to stop your own on the path to greatness? I was once a journalist and write whatever you care; you are the one to suffer it”.

The NAN reporter added that the ASEPA GM boasted in his car, “You did not employ me. The man who employed me would have sacked me if he was not satisfied with my performance. So, get out of my car and go and write whatever you want and nothing will happen.”

Iheaka however, raised the alarm over his safety and that

of his family following the alleged threat to his life by the ASEPA DGM. Ukegbu in an interview with our correspondent described the actions of the ASEPA DGM as unfortunate and unbecoming for government official to conduct himself in such a manner, adding that it was a crying challenge and disaster the Governor-elect, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu must address when he assumes office as the governor of the state after his swearingin on May 29.

According to the Aba chapel chairman, “it is on record that some days after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day, some yet-to-be identified hoodlums attacked the Sun office in Aba and some days after this year’s World Press Freedom Day celebration, government officials assaulted and tried whisking away some journalists working in the state.

“It is a mark of gross irresponsibility and indecency on the persons of government functionaries. I am tasking

Ikpeazu to be mindful of the class of people he is going to hire to work for him to avoid the image and reputation he has built for himself over the years being dented by a few individuals. Journalists have the right to seek for any information that they want which the Freedom of Information Act empowers them and any attempt by government functionaries to refuse disclosing such information would be counter-productive.

“There is no rationale for government official(s) to vent their anger on journalists who serve the public selflessly and anyone that does that is wallowing in ignorance or is beclouded by the office that he occupies. Journalists should not be a vulnerable group that everyone should always intimidate”.

He called on the government and other security agencies in the state to ensure that the environment remains conducive and secured for journalists in the state while perform-

ing their professional duties.

However, some journalists in the state have equally called on the incoming governor to ensure that there would be a better and more conducive working environment for journalists, insisting reporters must be allowed to carry out their official work without fear of being molested, humiliated, killed or maimed by any person or government official who felt aggrieved by a reporter’s report, stressing that there are legal and democratic ways of fighting for their rights or channeling their complaints in order to get justice.

The ASEPA DGM could not be reached for comments while filling this report. However, a check round the commercial city of Aba on Saturday has it that refuse were yet to be evacuated in some parts of the commercial city even as some residents warn of possible outbreak of epidemic if nothing is done to redeem the ugly environmental situation of Aba.

an interview with journalists shortly after visiting the management of Umuebe Farms at Ezamgbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

According to him, over dependence on oil encourages mono-economy and this places the economy in jeopardy and needs to be redressed by the incoming administration.

“I want to embark on full scale agriculture now that the world is facing serious recession due to the oil glut; that is why I decided to visit Sam Egwu’s farm to widen my experience.

“First hand information of the workings and management of the farm would go a long way in assisting me to go into big time agriculture in order to contribute to the war against hunger.

“I operate a farm in my country home, Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State and currently farms crops such as corn, okoro, mazie, various vegetables, poultry, piggery, among others.”

Ezeemo, who is the publisher of Anambra State based newspaper, Orient Dailies, state leader of PPA and its governorship candidate in the Nov.16, 2013 governorship election in Anambra, however regretted that lots of farm produce were lying waste or poorly handled or utilized.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

NEWS

It's not yet time to defect says Ogboru Osagie Otabor, Benin

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OVERNORSHIP candidate of the Labour Party in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, has said he was yet to decide whether to defect to other political parties.

Chief Ogboru lost the April 11 governorship race to Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of the People's Democratic Party.

Ogboru spoke to reporters at Iyamho, Estako West Local Government at the wedding reception of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

He said his rumoured defection was what he read in the newspapers.

His words: "This is something I read in the newspapers. There is time for everything. It is not time for that yet. You never can tell when it will happen."

Rivers denies PDP allegation R of misconduct O

Speaker: 'I am not intimidated,' says Iriase

IVERS State Government has described as unfounded the allegations levelled against it by the state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) published on the website of an on-line medium.

In the report filed by Jerry Needam, Special Assistant on Media to the State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah on behalf of PDP, some government officials like the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr George Feyii, the Information Commissioner, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and other government officials were accused of looting and selling of government properties as well as engaging in illegal employment.

Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

Other allegations levelled against the government officials are that they stole and vandalised some unregistered brand new cars assigned to different departments of government, as well as some equipment for Monorail, Farms, Schools, Hospitals and Government Media Houses.

Reacting to the report, the Rivers government however stated categorically that "the report as it affects the person of Mr George Feyii, the Secretary to the Rivers State Govern-

ment and indeed other public officers mentioned in the publication, is totally misplaced, sensational and a blatant falsehood."

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt this weekend by the office of the SSSG, it said government decided to respond to "these baseless and frivolous allegations in the realisation that many wellmeaning people of the State might be deceived into making mischief out of the many lies already sold to them."

The statement, which was signed by Mr Joe Korka-Waadah, the Special Assistant on Media and Pub-

licity to the SSG, expressed the personal disappointment of Mr Feyii with the report and described it as "callous, inhuman and devilish for anyone to have thought of embarking on rudderless voyage of smear campaign against men and women of proven integrity in Governor Amaechi's government."

The statement also frowned at the on-line medium for publishing that kind of report without any attempt to establish the veracity of the story or its source.

Government therefore called on well-meaning Rivers people to be on their guard and watch out for wolves that are masquerading as sheep in their midst.

Niger-Delta youth, women group pledge support for Buhari Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

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HE Niger-Delta Youths, Women Security for Buhari under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC, yesterday pledged their unflinching loyalty and support for the president-elect, Rtrd. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

The group, in a meeting held in Sapele, Delta State, gave the pledge while endorsing the APC's SouthSouth Security Coordinator, Commander Bibi Oduku, as the only known leader of the group that will represent them adequately.

The meeting, which was convened by Comrade Felix Ubokan with representative from Edo State, Comrade Sagbene, Ondo State, Comrade Emiloju Nicholas, Comrade Freeborn Umukoro, Comrade Okaretie Godspower, Comrade Chuks Agali and others, said the endorsement was in fulfilment of Commander Bibi Oduku's successful handling of the security matters during the election of Buhari.

While expressing explicit confidence in the leadership of Commander Oduku to pilot the affairs of the Niger-Delta region under the incoming administration of Gen. Buhari, they said only tested persons with successful track record of hard work can represent them in the region.

The convener of the meeting, Comrade Felix Ubokan who called on the incoming administration of Gen. Buhari to see Commander Oduku as their eye and leader who can bring relative peace to the NigerDelta region.

Speaking further, Ubokan said a recent publication in The Nation newspaper of May 10, 2015, where the women Coordinators of the group (NigerDelta Youth, Women Security for Buhari) were referred to as Niger-Delta women leaders for APC was a typographical error and should be pardoned.

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (6th right), Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu (4th right), Special Adviser on Commerce & Industry to the Governor, Mr. Seye Oladejo (2nd left), the Chairman, Ignite Enterprise & Employability Project, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika (7th right) and others during the Official Kick Off and Loan Disbursement to the First batch of Ignite Ideas Contest organized by the Lagos State Government in conjunction with Ignite Enterprise & Employability Project and the After School Graduate Development Centre (AGDC) at TBD, Oregun, Ikeja at the weekend

3,056 NYSC members draw N778m from anti-poverty programme

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total of 3,056 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members nationwide have drawn N778, 350,000 from the NYSC War Against Poverty (WAP) programme since its inception, the Chairman, NYSC National Governing Board, Chief Gordon Bozimo disclosed yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Chief Bozimo was at the Akwa Ibom State NYSC Camp at Ikot Itie Udung, in Nsit Atai Local Government Area as part of his nationwide assessment visits during the 2015 Batch 'A' Orientation camping.

Speaking on a number of issues regarding the scheme and the current employment realities in the country, Chief Bozimo commented on the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, saying that NYSC management has in the last few years devoted great attention to it, drew inspiration from the Board and strengthened the original mandate of the Scheme by providing the Skill Acquisition/Entrepreneurship life-line in order to reduce unemployment, promote post-service self-reli-

Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo ance and ginger wealth creation.

Encouraging the Corps members, the Chairman said apart from the numerous Skills Training Centers established by 17 State Secretaries across the nation, the Board had in partnership with the private sector established a Bakery and a water production factory at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Kubwa in Abuja, with the intention of replicating same in all six geopolitical zones of the country.

He advised the Corps members to take up and continue with the Skills and Entrepreneurship training for their own good, adding that the training does not prevent them from taking employment in sectors of the economy they so desire, but will give them an alternative platform to test their ingenuity, entrepreneurship ability and creative sources for extra income.

In order to open up other sources of funding for trained Corps members to finance small and medium scale enterprises apart from the NYSC WAP, Chief Bozimo said the Board has signed a Memorandum of Un-

derstanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry to give easy access to loan facilities.

He announced to the admiration of the Corps members the decision of the Board to liaise with relevant financial institutions for the deployment of mobile cash machines to all orientation camps. This, the Chairman said, is to check both security challenges and the demand for cash by Corps members while on Camp.

He commended efforts of all tiers of government in making the scheme a success, advising them to be of good character and never to do anything that will dent the image of the body.

He also commended the reports received about the 2015 Batch 'A' good behaviour, urging them to keep to it. He said the NYSC Scheme, through its policies and programmes, has made landmark contributions to the development and unity of the nation.

He said the visits of the Board to Camps is to interact with Corps members, interact with State Governments and other stakeholders, with a view to

finding solutions to challenges they are facing. Such visits have resulted in new or extensively renovated camps in Jigawa, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Kaduna and other States, he added.

He made several undisclosed amounts in donations to various sub-groups like the Brass Band, the Cultural Troupe and others, and also gave the Corps members a cow though monetized.

He ordered the Camp management to discontinue the use of firewood for their cooking.

The State Coordinator, Lady Ngozi Chukwuka, appreciated the efforts of the NYSC Board. She also informed the Chairman of the efforts of the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio in ensuring that life in the Camp is safe, as well as his several donations to the State NYSC. She however complained of power problem at the Camp, and asked for assistance from the national office to be able to tackle some of the issues, including cooking with fire wood which is necessitated by the large number of Corps members posted to Akwa Ibom.

Osagie Otabor, Benin NE of the contenders for the race to replace Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Pally Iriase, has said that he is not intimidated by the support being garnered by other contenders.

Hon Iriase warned the party hierarchy to be careful not to emphasise party in the contest for the speakership because the voters are not determined by party membership cards.

Speaking to reporters in Benin City, Hon Iriase noted that all elected lawmakers, irrespective of party affiliations, have the franchise to vote on who emerged Speaker.

According to him, "I am not intimidated. Newspaper reports can be very deceptive.

If I call a meeting, people will attend. If my other co-contestant called a meeting, people will attend. It is for you to know who is truly where."

"We have to be very careful not to emphasize party in the contest for Speakership.

The reason being that the voter's card needed is the certificate of return and not party membership card. Both the APC members and other political parties' lawmakers have the franchise to vote. That means we have to focus on the fact that the constitution provides that the members will elect the speaker. If there are many contestants, the person knows what to do."

DESOPADEC Commissioner gives 35 tricycles to disabled persons Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

T

HIRTY-five tricycles popularly known as Keke-Napep, was this weekend distributed to the disable persons of Urhobo extraction by the Delta State Petroleum Oil Development Commission, DESOPADEC, through its Commissioner, Hon. Christopher Ominimini on behalf of the commission and its Commissioner, Chief (Dr.) Henry Ofa. During the distributing at Ughelli, headquarter of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, the commission's Commissioner representing Ughelli North and Ethiope East Local Government Areas, Ominimini said the tricycles were given to aid those with disabilities as source of livelihood.

While handing over the keys and the particulars of the tricycles to the recipients, he warned against selling them and urged them to use it for commercial purposes in order to generate daily income.

Ominimini who further sued for peace among them, charged them to prove to the state government and the people that their disability does not make them different from the normal and able-bodied persons in the society.

He challenged them to turn their misfortunes to usefulness instead of begging for arms, saying that some of them are highly educated and those who are not educated can further their education or learn trades that will better their lives.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

•Lagos State SURE-P recruits protesting

A

LL through last week, and the one before, recruited officers of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Task Force, were on the streets of Lagos and Abuja, protesting what they described as an attempt by the outgoing federal government and the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to use and dump them.

In one of the protests held at the Ojota, Lagos State office of the troubled Task Force, protesters accused the coordinator of the programme, Alhaji Abdul Razak Rafiu Otto, and prominent PDP leaders in the state, of owing them three years salaries running into millions of naira.

According to Pelumi Damazio, a graduate of Bayero University, Kano, who claimed he was recruited as an official of the Task Force in August 2013, after parting with about N30, 000, neither him nor any of the twenty three other young men and women on the same team with him have ever been paid a penny as salary or entitlements in the over two years of their membership of the controversial organization.

"We've not been paid a kobo. We were promised a monthly salary and other emoluments when we were recruited. We were made to pay for so many things before and after we were recruited. And while they continued to use us for various party assignments and others odd jobs, we were constantly told that the modalities for our payments were being worked out between SURE-P and FERMA. "Today, the information we are getting is that the programme has being cancelled by the federal government and the Task Force has been dissolved. Nobody is telling us who will pay us the money owed us. Nobody is talking about how we will be resettled by the government after wasting so much of our lives in a project we were assured had the backing of the presidency.

"Some of us are even asking for the refund of the monies collected from us by the organizers here in Lagos. But we got no answer. The big bosses stopped coming to the office after the last general elections. Efforts to get them to explain the situation of things to us failed and we had no choice but to take our case to the streets. On Monday, we are sending a delegation to Abuja

COUNTDOWN TO MAY 29

SURE-P/FERMA's task force of controversy Following its botched attempt to withdraw the subsidy on petroleum products in 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan's administration set up the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) as an intervention initiative to reduce the harsh effects of the price increase. But as the elections of 2015 drew closer this agency along with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) soon gave rise to a "Task Force" that was contesting authority with state agencies on the streets of Lagos. But from the very start the task force has been trailed by controversy over recruitment and its real agenda. Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, investigates whether this is an initiative gone wrong or whether it is sheer fraud. He also examines what becomes of recruits who were promised federal jobs. to go and protest at the National Assembly," an angry Pelumi explained.

At another protest held at the PDP secretariat in Ikeja, the protesters accused the party's national officers and chieftains in Lagos of being responsible for the dehumanizing condition recruits were subjected to and of extorting money from them.

"The party leaders and the management of the Task Force used the SURE-P/FERMA job to exploit desperate job seekers for their selfish political gains. We also have it on good authority that the federal government, through SURE-P and FERMA, on several occasions, released huge sums of money to party leaders,

as emoluments for recruits in the Task Force.

"Shortly before the election, we read in the papers that money was released to settle us.

But when we confronted the management, they said it wasn't our own Task Force. But last week, an official of SURE-P confirmed on the pages of newspapers that money was released for our benefit," another protester said.

One of the recruits, Vincent Aderibigbe, said: "We read that a PDP chieftain in Lagos told the President that he paid us N350,000 each. This is a big lie. We have not been paid a dime for the three years that we have worked. We have over 70,000 staff and they owe all of us. So, I don't know where he got that figure from."

Some women among the protesters who spoke with our correspondent in tears alleged that they lost their pregnancy while participating in some rigorous assignments while some said they lost their husbands while running around to secure and keep the job.

"I lost two pregnancies while pursuing this silly work. Even when I told my commanders that I was pregnant, they insisted I participate in some tasking assignments. In the course of that I lost my pregnancies twice. Eventually, my husband sent me packing and I am now left with nothing. Even the job is now non-existent.

This is wicked," Ronke Edu-Osime, a mother of two from Epe Local Government lamented.

THE BIG RIP-OFF Investigations by The Nation revealed that thousands of job seekers across the country are alleging a massive rip-off by two agencies of the federal government which lured them into parting with about N50, 000 each, refused to pay them salary and other emoluments for about three years, and are now trying to disband the organisation into which they were allegedly employed.

The job applicants accused FERMA and SURE-P of making them part with the money on the promise of employing them in a Federal Task Force. About thirty thousand graduates are believed to have paid the money.

Investigation showed that none of the applicants has been deployed since the organisation commenced enlistment in 2013.

They have not been paid either.

Some of the affected people told The Nation that they were made to pay for uniform, enrolment forms, medicals and data capturing among others. They said the recruiters told them that they would be controlling traffic on federal roads across the 36 states.

But instead of the promised traffic control job, the applicants ended up being used by the PDP as security and protocol personnel at its rallies and programmes across the country.

Unable to cope with regular invitations to the rallies and drilling sessions while not being paid salaries or allowances, some of the applicants opted out. The situation did not stop more people from applying, sources said. •Contd. on page 12

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

NEWS REVIEW

SURE-P/FERMA's task force of controversy •Contd. from page 11 One applicant said: "I applied for the programme in January last year. Since then, I've paid N32, 500 for uniforms that I am yet to get. I also paid N2, 200 for the enrolment form. All I've got so far is a letter enlisting me as part of a FERMA/SURE-P empowerment programme.

"My friend even paid N10, 2000 for what they called late form. But no employment letter was given to me yet."

Some of them sighted at the Ojota office of the Task Force in Lagos early this year said they were made to report there for daily drills and trainings.

"None of us has been given any job. This is the ninth month. We have paid so much.

We even paid for medical. This T-Shirt and cap, we bought them for N2, 500 each. We also paid for another form called traffic form.

Some people have spent more than N50,000 but I've only spent about N40, 000," another applicant said.

Asked why they went round the country to be part of political rallies, another applicant said the recruiters said it is necessary to remind the President that they were still waiting for his approval for their postings.

"They said we must go and parade at every rally where the president is present so as to remind him that we are still waiting for his approval. They say it is only when that approval comes that we will be posted to various federal roads across the country."They even promised we will take over the control of all federal roads in Lagos from the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA). Sometimes we even control traffic along the expressway here at Ojota and at Shangisha area. We do this for free because we are not being paid yet," he added.

PROMISES AMIDST UNCERTAINTY While the recruits and several other observers, especially public commentators and opposition politicians, started expressing doubts over the programme from the moment it berthed, its promoters claimed the federal government granted approval to SURE-P and FERMA to set up a task force to maintain traffic on the federal roads.

According to them, the Presidency's plan for the organization was for it to deploy its men on federal roads in the state to maintain law and order because the Act setting up SURE-P/FERMA empowers it to carry out such civic responsibility on federal roads.

"Our recruits have nothing to fear.

Opposition politicians are only trying to discredit the programme. Officers are yet to be posted because the agencies are still working on the salary structure and scope for the programme. As soon as that is done, officers will be posted to different federal roads in the state.

A graduate would get no less than N80, 000 as monthly salary when we are ready to roll out; but as the salary structure and scope are still being deliberated upon, one may have to exercise patience. For all potential SUREP/ FERMA officers, patience is the word for now," the National Co-ordinator had said in December 2013.

Speaking early this year on the controversies surrounding the programme, Otto said the programme was legal and in conformity with the laws of the land.

"This programme has been in existence for the past three years now and it was set up by the Federal Government to further make the people feel its impact more. We are not out to deceive anybody. Whatever we are doing is legal and we are bound by the law of the country.

"The question one should ask people making this insinuation is: did the President complain to you that we are doing illegal things here? Did the State Security Service, SSS, complain about our activities? This is a federal government programme for all states.

"We are not just in this state we are in all the 36 states of the federation, including

•Jonathan at Lagos rally

•George

Abuja. So, I don't see why anybody will be talking about deceiving people here," he said.

THE MANY APPROVAL CARROTS Perhaps to further heighten the hope of recruits and would be applicants, co-ordinators of the controversial employment programmes announced in June 2014 that the federal government had granted approval to the SUREP/FERMA task force set up to maintain traffic on the federal roads in Lagos State to resume full operations on the roads.

At an elaborate media ceremony held in Lagos, Otto explained that the organisation would, in a matter of weeks, deploy its men to federal roads in the state to maintain law and order, warning that any attempt by the Lagos State government or its officials to interfere in the management of traffic on the federal roads would be resisted.

Warning intruders to steer clear of activities of the establishment, Otto said the approval of the agency was made possible following several efforts it put on ground with the support of the

federal government to ensure adequate facilities including human capacity and other logistics were on ground.

"All plans to resume work and operation on the federal roads in Lagos State are almost perfected and very soon, we will be on the federal roads to maintain law and order. As at date, we have thousands of men trained for this job and I can tell you authoritatively that they are men and women who are qualified to carry out the duties that would be assigned to them.

"Tricks by anyone in the state to prevent the agency from performing its civic duty to maintain and control traffic on the federal roads in the state will be dealt with under the federal government law", Otto said.

The decision of the management to fine tune issues of staff salary structure and scope of work with the federal government was also communicated to the recruits. They were assured that with the FG approval in the kitty, their employment was about to be regularized.

NEW TASK But the promised deployment was not to be. And after months of waiting on the promoters of the project to make good their promises, recruits of the taskforce were suddenly told to forget about the traffic control jobs as their major responsibility is to recover all the abandoned properties of the Federal Government in the state.

This came after effort by the agency to position the recruits on federal roads in the state were resisted by the Lagos State Government, who saw the agency as threat to the survival of its own traffic management agency, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

At the height of the face-off between the task force and LASTMA, the state government, which did not hide its disapproval of the Federal Government agency, six months ago, arrested no fewer than 200 officials of the SURE-P/ FERMA taskforce.

Other activities of the SURE-P/FERMA taskforce, according to the alleged fresh directive from the Presidency, was ; to assist the Federal Government to recover and maintaining right of way, control and manage traffic, ensure adherence of residents to road setbacks and enforcement.

The recruits were also told that that the agency would as part of its first assignment recover the federal government properties in Lagos Island axis of the state which were already occupied by some residents of the state.

One of such properties which was to be recovered by the agency is the 25-storey Independence Building, now Defence Building.

Though the tallest building in the Central Business District (CBD), it was not serving any purpose for the central government but now serves as home for illegal occupants.

But The Nation learnt that apart from a few attempts between July and September 2014, to eject some illegal occupants at the Tafawa Balewa Square, National Stadium and some toll gate offices, the new assignment was soon abandoned by the Task Force and its men returned to their waiting game.

"Twoteamsofmenandwomenwereformed in June 2014 to start the recovery assignment.

Just about fifty of us were involved. They went to Tafawa Balewa Square, National Stadium and some toll gates to chase away illegal occupants. They did that for about two months or so. But by September, 2014, the teams were no longer going out," our source said.

YET ANOTHER TASK

By January 2015, it was a tale of another directive by the Federal Government to Otto's controversial force. Away from the botched •Contd. on page 68

Ropo Sekoni

13

Page 14

Femi Orebe Page 16

SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

Jonathan’s Freudian slip tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

I guess the president wanted to say he and his aides would be prosecuted; not persecuted

S

PEAKING before God and man at a thanksgiving and farewell service organised in his honour at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja, last Sunday, President Goodluck Jonathan stirred the hornet’s nest when he said that he and his ministers and other aides would face a lot of persecution after leaving office on May 29. “If you take certain decisions, it might be good for the generality of the people but it might affect people differently. So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathise with them, they will be persecuted. And they must be ready for that persecution.

“Quoting Tai Solarin, may your ways be rough. To my ministers, I wish you what I wish myself. They will have hard times; we will all have hard times. Our ways will be rough,” the president said at the service.

Many Nigerians have since then been wondering when the president became a prophet. But those who remember the tale of the professor and his driver would know that when leaves have stayed too long in soap, the leaves too become soap. President Jonathan, by now, we must realise has stayed too close to many prophets; so, he might have tapped the anointing for prophecy from some of his prophet-friends. But that is not where I am going today.

My point is that even if the president is now gifted with the power of prophecy, what he saw concerning himself and his aides could not have been ‘persecution’, but prosecution, after he might have stepped down from office. The last time I checked the meaning of ‘persecution’ in the dictionary, it defines it as ‘hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression”. For me, the operational words are “hostility”, “ill-treatment” and “oppression”.

Do Nigerians have any cause to be hostile to President Jonathan and his team after handing over on May 29? The answer is ‘yes’. Do they have the right to ill-treat the president and his aides? Again, the answer is ‘yes’. Do they have to oppress the president and his team? I am afraid, again, the answer is ‘yes’.

If President Jonathan had said that he and his team would be prosecuted after leaving office, not many people would have expressed consternation, because that is what many of them deserve after messing up the lives of millions of Nigerians. So, the onus, as things stand, is on President Jonathan to explain why they should not be prosecuted.

If not for the fact that we are in a democracy, we should have done what one of our Number Two citizens said in the military era when talking about some people involved in fraud. He said they (the government) would jail them (fraudsters). “We would jail them”, he said. When one of his aides reminded him that that was not due process and that people are first prosecuted and jailed, only if found guilty, the Number Two retorted, “yes, we would prosecute and jail them!” If the president wants to be told the truth, the fact is that in the court of public opinion, they are already guilty as (yet to be) charged. The average Nigerian would not mind if most of his officials are first persecuted before being prosecuted.

When President Jonathan won his first election ever and became president in 2011, the exchange rate was less than N170. Today, it

• Jonathan

goes for over N200 to a US dollar. Indeed, just how profligate his government can be is shown in his disbursal of funds in the Excess Crude Account (ECA). In February 2010, Dr Jonathan, then Acting President, gave the federal, states and local governments $2bn to share from an earlier balance of $6.2 billion, leaving about $4.1 billion. Again, in March 2010, he approved the disbursal of a further $1 billion from the account, leaving about $3.1. The move brought to $3 billion the total amount of Nigerian oil savings that Jonathan approved for disbursal to the country’s 36 states and government agencies in one month! When the government was accused of trying to pacify the states with the reckless disbursements, the government denied. But it would seem the states had seen the fiscal indiscipline at the federal level and therefore asked for their own share of the pie. None of these disbursements would have been painful if the government had spent the money judiciously, say on regenerative projects. Sadly, we lost a substantial amount of these earnings, aside the regular earnings that went into the Federation Account, to the government’s incompetence and massive corruption, which, rather than tackle headlong, the president regarded as ‘mere’ stealing.

Which sector of the economy is the government leaving healthier than it met it? The government keeps celebrating the fraudulent increase in the megawatts of electricity that are not producing light for Nigerians. The oil and gas sector is corruption-ridden, and that is why we cannot make refineries work here and resorted to importation of fuel, with the shameful record of the only crude oil producing nation that does that. Yet, our leaders are not ashamed.

They were even at a time celebrating non-interruption in fuel supply for years.

The whole thing becomes the more nauseating when some of the people in the government begin to talk of the government’s achievements as if these are invisible as Abdul’s fabled

Although President Jonathan had prayed for himself and his team, saying their roads be rough, I do not want to say ‘Amen’ to that. But our president who feels fulfilled after leaving us worse than he met us should understand that Nigerians may neither pray for him nor curse him and his team, but their mouths would not be idle either

shoes. For instance, it was in the midst of this demoralising milieu that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the minister of finance and coordinating minister for the economy, went on a trip of selfglorification by telling Nigerians that the Jonathan administration would be leaving behind ‘solid economic legacies’.

One wonders what the ‘solid economic legacies’ are and where they are. Do these ‘solid economic legacies’ include the 400,000 barrels of crude oil lost daily all through the Jonathan years, and before? Even at the rock bottom $50 per barrel price of crude oil in the international market, that translates to a lot daily. We can only imagine what we lost daily when oil was selling for well above $100 per barrel before the fall in prices late last year. Was there nothing the government could have done about this? Or, was it simply a case of the government looking the other way when the stealing was going on because its cronies were involved?

I guess the drastic fall in the price of crude oil when it did, and the worsening exchange rate are God’s own way of showing disapproval of the prodigality of the Jonathan government and the massive looting of the treasury that it permitted. So, God completed the mission by ensuring that the government was defeated in the presidential election because it would have been suicidal for the country to continue along the line of perdition that the government set it on. That was one of the reasons why the entire world was interested in seeing the back of the Jonathan government because we would simply overrun our neighbours should Nigeria implode; which was almost certain if the president had been reelected.

The truth is, Dr Jonathan hasn’t the faintest idea of how to run a modern state, not to talk of wean a great country off its perpetually potential greatness to that actual greatness that it was destined to be.

And, instead of the people in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) burying their heads in shame for the rudderless and corrupt manner their party steered the affairs of the country thus far, they are busy fishing for excuses on how and why they lost the election, an election they should not have had any chance of doing well in in the first place, but for the new lows that they sank the country.

The point is that President Jonathan’s government is worse than that of a former military governor in the country who said he met the state treasury empty, and left it empty. Dr Jonathan cannot say that. He met the treasury with some cash and left it not only empty but also with a lot of debt for his successor. It is just that politicians are incurable optimists. I do not envy the presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari at all, knowing the gargantuan mess he is inheriting. Although President Jonathan had prayed for himself and his team, saying their roads be rough, I do not want to say ‘Amen’ to that.

But our president who feels fulfilled after leaving us worse than he met us should understand that Nigerians may neither pray for him nor curse him and his team, but their mouths would not be idle either.

CHIBOK GIRLS. STILL IN LIMBO. SINCE APRIL 15, 2014.

State Salaries brouhaha

By Anthony Ademiluyi

L

AST year December, the Vice-President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu raised an alarm that twenty-two states of the federation had not paid workers’ salaries for some months. Then came an avalanche of excuses from the helmsmen of the various states. Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola blamed the inability of the state to pay its workers for five months now on the dwindling revenue from the federation account which has been reduced by 40% since 2013.

He claimed to have depleted the resources of the largely civil service run state to pay the workers and had exhausted all means of borrowing as the banks wouldn’t give him any more money.

Gabriel Suswam of Benue state resorted to illegally deducting from the civil servants salaries and still owes them a backlog citing the same lame excuse of dwindling revenue from the federation account.

Bauchi state owes its teachers for 11 months while workers in Plateau state haven’t received salary alerts for some months now. The same sorry situation holds sway in Abia, Oyo and even in oil rich Rivers state. The same buck passing is a recurrent decimal among the governors that the problem is with the falling revenues from the centre.

Why should the governors be overtly dependent on the centre for the running of their states? Why can’t there be creative ideas generation on ways to shore up their internal revenue base in the true spirit of federalism? They were elected to solve the problems of their states and not to whine like babies as to the overwhelming challenges.

The nation cannot continue depending solely on the revenues from crude oil that is fast becoming a topic of study for students of archaeology in the nearest future. We are in the epoch of a knowledge driven economy with the highest premium placed on human capital development.

The Singapore miracle didn’t come about with natural resources; it was made possible through the total development of the human person. Most states in the country are far larger and more populous than Singapore. What then is their excuse?

It is a shame that these chief executives have outsourced their thinking caps and have demeaned themselves to running to Abuja cap in hand to beg for handouts while using their governed as hapless baits.

They need to be more responsible and alive to their daunting responsibilities and realize that the only constant thing in life is change. If the revenues drop due to no fault of the centre as they have no control over the oil prices in the global market, they must come up with winning solutions. True leaders emerge through crisis which they do not run away from.

We won’t be talking about Sir Winston Churchill if he didn’t stand up to Adolf Hitler, Abraham Lincoln would have paled into a mere footnote if he had not found a solution to the Confederate General, Robert Lee in Ulysses Grant who later emerged as America’s President. Von Giap ensured Vietnam made the all-powerful United States pull out of the mountainous country through the effective use of guerilla tactics. He also used that same strategy to frustrate the French out of the country.

Ademiluyi wrote from Lagos.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

COMMENT

Implications of change manifesto (5) Apart from the obvious “wetin-you-carry and wetin-you-have-forus” police culture on inter-state roads and urban streets, the prevalent culture in the current police force is the sale of police service at all levels

W

HILE a ‘pure’ neopatrimonial state is probably rare in the real world, the case of Nigeria comes close, in terms of all the characteristics noted: use of state resources for private aggrandizement, widespread corruption (famously squandering and misusing Nigeria’s abundant oil resources), bureaucratic incompetence, and having the state disconnected from society, making it difficult for state elites to mobilize internal resource and in turn enhancing their dependency on the vicissitudes of oil revenues. State-led development lacking purpose or capacity thus repeatedly turned into development disasters.

The political economy of sovereign Nigeria constitutes a sad and tragic story. In spite of immense natural resource-based wealth, common Nigerians are probably not much better off early in the twentyfirst century than they were at the time of independence. Failure to sustain economic growth, especially in manufacturing and industry, has been an important ingredient ofthis overall failure.—AtulKohli The focus of today’s piece in the series on Implications of Change Manifesto is on the President-elect himself. I have deliberately opened today’s column with a quotation from AtulKohli, author of State-directed Development: Political Power and Industrialization in the Global Periphery.In my little research on General Buhari, I have been told that he is one of the country’s former heads of state who always visited bookstores anytime he was out of the country to fill one of his boxes with books to read.I would therefore not be surprised if he has read Kohli’s book. The country’s situation is likely to be worse when he assumes office than it was in 2004 when Kohli documented his assessment of the country. As many pundits in both traditional and social media have already acknowledged, General Buhari is coming back to govern Nigeria at a time that the condition of the country may be worse than it was in 1984 when he first came in as military dictator.

As the President-elect has already acknowledged, he is now a democrat, as distinct from his status of military dictator three decades ago.

In addition, like his predecessors and succes-

sors in the game of authoritarian rule, he ruled the country as a believer in unitary model of governance and as a passionate centralist. He gave evidence that he believed that political unity of Nigeria and the belief of the average Nigerian in the territorial oneness of the country depended solely on running a country in which the center commanded every other part in the manner of a colonial master versus a colonized territory.

But his pronouncements during the campaign and after the election confirm his theory that whatever he did in 1984 was in response to the character and challenge of the time. There is no doubt that he has come to accept the dynamic nature of human experience and constructions. For a man of his experience and age to have accepted or preferred to run on the manifesto of change, no further evidence is needed for the average citizen to start viewing General Buhari as a democrat.

With his statements (reported in the media) that he has no constitutional obligation to accept nominations for ministerial appointments from governors, he is already departing from the business-as-usual model that made everybody in political office to see his or her position as an opportunity to manifest feudal privileges. If a person is elected a governor, consequentially, he/she is not elected to become the sole ruler of a fiefdom. What is the logic in the PDP arrangement that expects governors to nominate candidates for ministers while governors do not accept nominations for commissionerships from local government chairs? Stating publicly that he has no desire to get involved in who becomes Senate President or House Speaker and expressing his readiness to work with whomever the National Assembly chooses for these positions, General Buhari gives additional evidence of his democratic credentials. The Aso Rock of General Obasanjo and Dr. Jonathan appointed aggressive lobbyists for these positions in the past, without worrying about what damage that line of action did to the principle of separation of powers.

General Buhari is not only coming to power

at a time that the country is on its knee economically, he is also assuming presidential power when the polity is in the abyss morally, at a time when it is common knowledge that trillions of dollars had been stolen from the nation’s purse in the past fifty years. Having already promised Nigerians and the international community of his commitment to the primacy of the rule of law, it seems to be a given that the President-elect will put an end to the culture of impunity that had prevailed for about sixteen years. He should also not become vindictive because of the smear campaigndirected at him in the days before the elections. That majority of Nigerians preferred to give him the mandate to govern them, despite the dirty campaign by his opponents, should have been enough compensation for him for weathering the storm of insults.

But Mr. President-elect needs to be reminded that he has so much to change, if Nigeria is to be liberated from the wilderness of underdevelopment, poverty, and instability.

Most of the institutions he is inheriting have been denatured or damaged. For example, he needs to know that the police system he is inheriting is as corrupt as any other sector of the polity. Apart from the obvious “wetin-youcarry and wetin-you-have-for-us” police culture on inter-state roads and urban streets, the prevalent culture in the current police force is the sale of police service at all levels. Those who witnessed the election in Ekiti, Osun last year, and in many parts of the country last month are not likely to hesitate to add that the secret police is as morally compromised as the rest of the polity. Even the so-called Road Marshalls created to reduce accidents on the roads by enforcing traffic codes are not any better than their counterparts in police uniform.

It is also part of the folklore of corruption that all agencies including those charged with giving approvals to institutions and academic programmes are not immune from Nigeria’s brand of bribery and corruption.

The prevalent folk belief is that if the new president sets out to jail all corrupt citizens,

most of the houses in the country will have to be converted to jail houses. Similarly, customs men on inter-state roads that are distant from border towns often serve as illegal toll collectors. There is no doubt that leadership by example is going to change over 50% of corrupt citizens to good citizens, but the General has to have a bold and workablestrategy to deal with the brave and incorrigible corrupt men and women in the public service. The security service system in its entirety needs to be re-structured and given a new orientation about public good and public service.

More importantly, the President-elect needs to be firm about reducing the country’s recurrent expenditure. Too many perquisites for public servants and political officers have to be reviewed while unjustifiably high salaries for legislators need to be pruned down. The model of over pampering lawmakers and senior public servants grew out of a culture of gastronomic response to themanna from the bowels of the Niger Delta when leaders had no vision of governance other than personal enrichment. There is no reason why retired permanent secretaries at any level of government must be getting free generators and free diesel to run them after retiring from service, especially in a country that pays 18,000 naira as minimum wage, which, we are told, many governors can no longer pay on time.

Finally, while the President-elect should (as expected) obey the spirit of the oath of his office to protect the constitution, he needs to be friendly to those who call for overhauling of the 1999 Constitution, especially those who demand re-federalization of the country as a reliable way to promote sustainable federal democratic governance. The demand for demilitarization of the polity through a popular review of the constitution imposed on the country by military dictators, like commitment to fight corruption, improve national security, provide enabling infrastructure, diversify the economy, and create an education system that promotes access, quality, and relevance, ought to be seen as part of the direly needed change of which decades of military and civilian personalistic and patrimonial governance had robbed the country.

To be continued

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

COMMENT

15

N9 billion scandal In the expected era of change, the jumbo pay for lawmakers and ministers is obscene and unacceptable

T

HE reprehensible allowances allotted to elective and appointive officers of state by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), even though legal are odiously immoral. It is condemnable that officers of state can hide under the guise of collecting what is legally due to them to fleece the country. We are perturbed that incoming senators, House of Representatives’ members and also ministers to be appointed by President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, will be depleting the public till

by N9bn upon assumption of office.

Isn’t this ludicrous? We wonder why housing allowance for these men/women should be 200 per cent of annual salary; furniture allowance - 300 per cent of annual salary per year and motor vehicle loan - 400 per cent of annual salary. But more to come as the regular allowances built into the salaries of these officials are scandalous. The lawmakers will commence collection of these allowances immediately after the new president inaugurates the eighth National Assembly on June 5, when the tenure of the seventh National Assembly would have expired.

Why should a nation in wanton corruption and with a lot of deficit in infrastructure be paying a total of: housing- N433, 649,600m for 109 senators per four years at N4, 052,800 yearly per senator: House of Representatives’ total- N1, 421,412,150 for four years at N3, 970,425 per member each year. For furniture allowance; a total of N650, 474,400 will be spent on the Senate with each of the entitled 107 senators collecting N6, 079,200. The total furniture allowance for House of Representatives members is N2, 132,118,225 with each of entitled 358 members collecting N5, 955,637.50. For vehicle loan, each of the 107 senators collects N8, 105,600 totalling N867, 299,200 for Senate while each of the 358 representatives gets N7, 940,850.50 totalling N2, 842,824,479. Unfortunately, it is on record that in 2007, the RMFAC commendably turned down requests made by the current Senate President David Mark through a letter dated November 15, 2007 titled “Monetisation policy as it affects senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” stating that the vehicle loans for senators totalling about N856m to the sixth Senate members be converted to grants for official cars. But RMFAC was ignored in the end.

The Federal Government provides official accommodation for Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, respectively. The Federal Capital Territory Administration is currently building new houses for them.

Furthermore, the lawmakers’ vehicle maintenance and fuelling - 75 per cent of their monthly salary;

I

T is almost certain that within weeks General Muhammadu Buhari, the President-Elect would be sworn into office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria riding on the platform of the All Progressives Congress which swept the poll in the last presidential election.

The retired but actually not tired army general put paid to the inept and arrogant reign of the Peoples Democratic Party.

It is our belief that as a former army general with a lot of war strategies under his epaulettes it should be expected that the president elect is acutely aware that he cannot fall in the governance battle field where the landmines destroyed the PDP troops when it imploded after it began with so much goodwill from the people in 1999 at the return of democratic government following a long period of military interregnum.

For the Nigerian League of Democrats, a very compelling issue that the president-elect should give consideration and attention to, is the number of national problem that he is contemplating line to tackle as government begins business. According to the League, General Buhari should avoid the disease that commonly plagues governments at the local, state and federal level when they try to

personal assistants - 25 per cent; domestic staff - 75 per cent; entertainment - 30 per cent; utilities - 30 per cent; newspapers/periodicals - 15 per cent; wardrobe - 25 per cent; house maintenance - five per cent and constituency - 250 per cent.

There are other entitlements that they do not receive directly but are provided and paid for by the government. Government picks the bills of their special assistants, security, legislative aides and medical expenses. The lawmakers are also entitled to tour duty/ recess allowance/estacode; for a senator, the tour duty allowance is N37, 000 per night; estacode is $950 per night and the recess allowance is 10 per cent of their annual salary. For House of Representatives’ members; the tour allowance - N35, 000 per night; estacode - $900 per night and the recess allowance - 10 per cent of annual salary.

On the executive side; housing; a minister gets N3, 915,160 totalling N140, 945,760 for 36 ministers at one per state. Furniture; a minister collects N6, 079,200 totalling N218, 851,200 for the 36. And vehicle loan: a minister gets N7, 830,320 totalling N281, 891,520 for all ministers. Scandalously, the total cost to the nation on housing, furniture and vehicle allowances for incoming lawmakers and ministers amount to about N7.3bn. Yet they are still entitled to the remaining N1.7bn meant for motor vehicle maintenance, fuelling, and others.

The ministers’ allowances are: motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance – 75 per cent of salary; personal assistan t -25 per cent; domestic staff - 75 per cent; entertainment - 45 per cent; utilities-30 per cent; monitoring - 20 per cent and; newspapers/periodicals 15 per cent. Government caters for the ministers’ security personnel, medicals and special assistants. A minister collects amongst other s- tour duty allowance N35, 000 per night; estacode-$900 per night and the leave allowance - 10 percent of annual salary.

For the special advisers to the president-elect: housing allowance - N3, 885,750; furniture – N5, 828,625;

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

•Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile

•Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye

•Associate Editor Sam Egburonu

•General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

motor vehicle loan-N7, 771,500. Also, the special adviser collects allowances such as motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance – 75 per cent of their salaries; personal assistant – 25 per cent; domestic staff – 75 per cent; entertainment – 45 per cent; utilities – 30 per cent; and newspapers/periodicals – 15 per cent. Again, government also provides for their security personnel, medicals and special assistants. The tour duty allowance - N25, 000 per night; the estacode - $800 per night and; leave allowance - 10 percent of annual salary.

We call on the RMFAC to quickly seek amendment of the law dishing out this kind of unsustainable allowances to these sets of public officers. The commission should realise that these people are called upon to serve the country and not to milk her dry by seeing the call as an avenue to make debauched fortune.

What obtains at the federal level is equally being replicated in the states, giving room to corruption galore. At the root of this challenge is the warped federal system in place in the land. Quite sadly, after collecting this kind of obscene pay and making money from other sources at the expense of the state, the country would still provide severance pay to some of these elected officers at the expiration of their tenures. After all, the severance pay of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, nonreturning federal lawmakers, ministers and aides to the president will reportedly cost the nation N3.24bn. What double jeopardy!

The reality is that there is a preponderance of excessive comfort amongst those holding elective and appointive positions in this country. This should not be so as it acts as disincentive to those who have toiled for decades in other sectors to make the country a better place for all. Our First Republic elected officers, particularly the legislators, did not enjoy such over-pampering yet, they did their job creditably. Indeed, they did their law making on part time basis. In many other countries, including the very rich ones, there is nothing special about being a legislator or minister. These people leave among the ordinary citizens in whose interest they make laws, board public buses and share a lot other things in common with the people. If anything, these mouthwatering perquisites that our elected and appointed officers enjoy make people want to die contesting for these offices or make them reluctant to leave when their time is over.

It is inequitable, unfair and unacceptable for people who should be servants of the people to be waxing fat at the expense of the ordinary citizens. Gen Buhari has promised to look into this; he should do so without delay.

What we pay these categories of people is out of sync with the national minimum wage. It is simply unsustainable and outlandish.

LETTER

Success recipe for General Buhari

By Niyi Adebanjo

dissipate energy in covering the entire field without getting anything done at the end of their tenure.

In charting an uncluttered course that can lead to tangible achievements for the Buhari administration, the League advised that the general who is the recipient of the largest numbers of votes ever cast for any presidential candidate in the country, should try to streamline its projects to the critical areas and avoid an cumbersome bouquet of projects that will bog down the administration in a merry go round that will bring the nation into a repeat performance of older regimes that failed woefully and brought zero growth in national development.

However, the organization did not specify in either ascending or descending in selecting the order or picking the preferences in development initiatives that should be the priority of the president-in-waiting. For them, any of the following: the battle to reach zero tolerance for corruption, the establishment of facilities for generating sustain-

able and affordable electricity, improving the level of infrastructure creation should rank very high for the administration. In the organization’s estimation, these projects will infuse the economy with a degree of strength and will by extension reduce and tame the ever burgeoning army of the unemployed Calculating that what has given the nation its biggest pressure is the hydra headed monster of corruption and impunity in government, the group believes that the government must deal with corruption in such a way that will ensure that the average Nigerian is made aware of the mortal danger that corruption poses not just to the growth and sustenance of the country but to the personal development of their lives and families.

Suggesting a measure that will give added bite to the campaign against corruption, the group believe that people guilty of corruption should not only be made to forfeit the proceeds of self-enrichment but should equally serve a term of jail time, to make them suffer just in the same way they in-

flicted punishment on the citizens who were denied of the provisions that was due to them if the money so allocated was not misappropriated.

The League believed that for there to be synergy that will guarantee a seamless operation in government, General Buhari must revisit the Steve Oronsaye’s report on civil service reform. The organization is of the view that the cancer of corruption can only be removed if premium is once more paid on professionalism in the civil service and the organization is insisting that a radical approach that will bring the civil service to the admirable service oriented public office of the 1960s should be the standard that the new government must resolve to reach.

Assessing the current public officers in government the organization concluded that the change that Buhari is hoping to bring about can only be sustained and upheld if the opportunism and the attitude of self before the nation is not curbed through a mass layoff or a grand re-orientation of the staff of the civil service especially the upper echelon of the

federal working force across the nation.

The group is also suggesting that the new government should erect some of its policies on the pillar of some of the programmes that proved successful with previous governments in Nigeria. The group specifically selected former President Ibrahim Babangida’s commercialization initiative, saying it is shoulders and heads above the privatization agenda of the PDP government which is reflective of thoughtlessness and recklessness of the party.

We are of the strong opinion too that the Buhari administration should avoid sycophancy and make deliberate efforts to hear the real issues that can drive development. The new government must reward initiative and creativity which was absent in the long hard years of the outgoing especially in the public sector which is the engine room of the government.

In line with that suggestion, the League will also counsel the forthcoming Buhari administration to ignore the clamour of the mem-

bers of the PDP that Buhari should not review the privatization programme is an indication that government of PDP has special interest in how the programme was conceived, framed and executed adding that the people of the nation must come first before the interest of a few who believe that the assets of country belongs to them and their cliques alone.

The League is confident that with the pedigree of General Buhari, his penchant for openness, his love for Spartan living, his unflinching pursuit of a high level and discipline, the goodwill he has harvested among Nigerians, that it will be an impossible if not a difficult task for him to be derailed by a highly discredited group like the PDP. General Buhari and the APC’s job has been made easy by the disappointment, disillusionment and despair raised to an unusually high level in Nigeria by the government of President Jonathan. All that Genral Buhari need to do is to travel the road not taken by the party it successfully dethroned in April. Long Live General Muhammadu Buhari, Long Live All Progressives Congress and Long Live Nigeria.

Otunba Niyi Adebanjo, is National coordinator, Nigeria League of Democrats

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

COMMENT

Still about the outgoing PDP government It is imperative for the incoming administration to do something revolutionary in the area of Energy which successive PDP governments has turned to a sink hole, with billions of dollars sunk with only monumental failure to show

I

T is no longer news that the campaigns were thoroughly engaging.

Long before the Peoples Democratic Party , out of unremitting pressure from the APC , worsened by the Bauchi intra-party stoning of a Presidential rally, graduated into a festival of hate , with the First Lady – she actually turned a neuroscientist, pronouncing on the status of opponents’ brains - and Femi Fani-Kayode leading the pack, this column had taken its position very early: stay ramrod with the APC budding campaign, avuncularly propagating those sterling qualities that made the President-elect stand out so distinctly one was n’t ashamed to suggest he should be adopted as the consensus presidential candidate because, defeating and sending PDP into political oblivion had become a moral obligation for any truly patriotic Nigerian. Just as well, as the APC Presidential primaries would later come to see the erstwhile governor of Ekiti state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, lead his colleagues of the election committee gave the world, unarguably, Nigeria’s best presidential primary election of all time, far from the shambolic one coordinated by a one time Foreign Affairs Minister for the Peoples Democratic Party. The party’s ruination of Nigeria, snippets of which we are beginning to see with Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s , unarguably, first ever candid statement about the Nigerian economy -that the Federal Government now borrows to pay salaries -, has become so complete that another four years of a Jonathan administration would have meant disaster on an industrial scale.

One of my most engaging readers who wrote in from tel. no.080745729— sent in the following highly nuanced

reaction to last week’s article: In An Era Of Change, Nigerians Expect To See Credible and Measurable Changes.

Happy reading.

Sir, you were very right in your analysis today but may I add that there is a great need for the incoming administration to do a painstaking audit of the liabilities it is inheriting and it must let the public know its findings as a matter of urgency. The Director-General of BPE, Mr Dikki, said what most of us who refused to be fooled by this government’s economic team knew all along. And it is interesting to see the President’s appointees sing a new song now. Where was Dikki all these daysk when they were telling us tales about ‘’rebasing the economy’’, ‘’double digit economic growth’’, ‘’double digit foreign direct investment’’ etc, whereas the reverse is the case for the economy.

Unlike the rest of them, the National office of statistics, all through the years has been releasing figures that portray the correct position of our economy without minding the harassment from the vindictive PDP Federal government. In fact, Prof Soludo quoted profusely from the data received from that office in his confrontation with the Finance and Coordinating Minister, Dr OkonjoIweala.

Despite the suffocating pleas to the President-elect to be magnanimous in victory, it is of utmost importance that he deals away with the heads of most of the para-statals and commissions under this present administration in order to bring in fresh and untainted hands who can deliver the Change the APC has promised

Nigerians. Nigeria has an agency or commission for virtually every matter under the sun, but, what have we got? The National orientation commission has been turned into a PDP propaganda mouthpiece at a time there has been no greater need for a new rebirth, and a new discuss on what our values were, and should be.

There is the Nigerian communications commission which is meant to regulate telecoms and digital communication, but all we get is a non-existent regulator. I can go on and on, but my point is that we cannot afford not to completely overhaul these agencies just because General Buhari is being enjoined to be magnanimous in victory.

It is imperative for the incoming administration to do something revolutionary in the area of Energy which successive PDP governments has turned to a sink hole, with billions of dollars sunk with only monumental failure to show. The Buhari administration will score a big plus if it is able to do something cogent and visible in the power sector. One of the reasons for President Jonathan’s massive defeat in the last election is, without doubt, the incessant lies being told Nigerians about the exact situation of the power sector in the country. The incoming government must ensure that Nigerians know, at all times, what the problems are, and how soon they intend to get them rectified. There is also an urgent need for a complete, and radical, reassessment of our economic policies to bring down the exchange rate as well as guarantee food on the table of the common man. Nigerians are aware of the booby traps being laid for the incoming government by the outgoing one but Presi-

dent Buhari, once sworn in, must not shy away from UPROOTING the traps, no matter whose ox is gored.

It is man’s inhumanity to man for the Petroleum Minister to claim that there is a subsidy on kerosene.

She should check out the dispensing prices everywhere, to see that it has never been less than N100 per litre.

And this has been so for the past six years, that is, through the entire Jonathan administration. I am overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems confronting the incoming President but he has reached a point of no return. Did you, for instance, see how these PDP people shared our common heritage running into over 2 trillion naira to prosecute an election in which they were thoroughly bought low?

That is God at work.

Another evidence of the government’s totally amoral way of doing things came from a totally unexpected quarters during the past week.

A N155 million-election largess is allegedly at the center of a fierce legal battle between two members of the President’s Ijaw ethnic group. The plaintiff is asking to be paid a whopping sum of N155 million for political services rendered the defendant in relation to the President’s re-election bid for which the latter is alleged to have been paid about N20Billion.

The case, filed at an Abuja High Court, is now scheduled for hearing on Thursday May 28, 2015.

But so what? Didn’t ‘Cry Baby’, and his ‘Auto Mogul’ brother fight dirty over a bank loan running into billions? The case, simpli cita, is therefore of little or no interest to this columnist. Rather, what interests me, and should worry Nigerians, now that we

To tackle the problem of education,weneedafishinghook…

The school system in Nigeria is itself not a reflection of the national aspirations but of the decrepit state of the society. I believe that no system can be better than its society

D

EAR reader, I came across a piece of news some days ago that began with the following: ‘A think tank established by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to study critical areas of the economy and make recommendations to guide the incoming government on a smooth take off Thursday submitted its report to president elect, General Mohammadu Buhari…’ First, Obasanjo commissions a group to conduct a study. The report of that study is presented directly to Buhari not to Obasanjo who commissioned it; and Buhari accepted it! Wonderful! As Sherlock Holmes would say, something does not quite sit right there, Watson!

Anyway, that was just an aside. Today, we want to talk about something that is not sitting right with the nation right now: education, and well, fishing.

Fishing is one activity that I love, from a distance. I don’t fish and can’t fish. But, I admire fishermen. They are schooled to have an infinite amount of patience in order to be able to tackle the equally endless but elusive schools of fish parading the ocean, lake and pond floors.

I have seen people camp overnight to catch one fish. Arhh! That is so much beyond me. I am in that school that believes that when I call once and the fish don’t bite, then we should amicably go our separate ways.

By now, I think everyone acknowledges that the educational sector of this

country is in dire straits. While everyone sees that the system has gone awry, the populace does not seem agreed on the possible causes or even the possible cures. The situation is a little like the patient who seeks a first, second, third and fourth opinions on his ailment. Now, tell me, what does he expect to hear? One day, he will wake up on an examination table to find all four of them congregated and looking down on him. Clearly, he knows the news can’t be good for his health.

I am of the school that believes that the woes of the educational system in this country can be traced to the neglect of our public primary schools. I think I have said this before. Those of us who grew up in the sixties, seventies and eighties would remember going through school systems that were responsive to the needs of the pupils and the society. The schools led the environment wherever they were located, not to talk of the reverence given the headmaster.

The schools’ environments called many a toddler to desire schooling, even before reaching the age of pulling the other ear. Usually, in the village or any environment, the schools had the best lawns (ever green), the best flowers and solid good buildings (both very colourful). When I was growing up, there was no end of admiration for the head who presided over this establishment in his ramrod

straight posture, agility of movement in his fine shorts and rolled stockings, and readiness for action as he supervised the growing of plants and pupils. If you misbehaved then, that figure would become even straighter.

Then also, schools’ populations did not try the limits of the teachers. Today, however, the country has on its hands exploded school populations, decayed infrastructures and a social structure that is much frayed and torn on its moral edges and body polity.

Let us take them one after the other.

Primary schools and school children are no longer what they used to be. No more do you get the well constructed block housing two or three classrooms in which neat rows of desks are arranged. I hear it on good authority that classrooms now contain triple their capacities. When you have six or seven arms, each containing seventy and above pupils, you are bound to have a situation where they only meet when they queue to collect their testimonials, maybe on graduation day.

I have driven through many towns and villages across this country and I have observed that school blocks appear to be the most dismal things in many towns and villages. The walls are peeled and worn down to the very mud, sands and cement used to construct them. Many have spaces for windows but no window panes; spaces for doors but no such wooden things grace their entrances; and many do not even have blackboards. I have been in a class-

room where I could not get a seat to sit on. There were seats all right but they were in various advanced stages of decomposition. Unfortunately, secondary schools are no better: too many pupils, not enough schools.

The situation is compounded by the fact that the teachers who are expected to handle these crowds are not paid their remunerations regularly. I think between the federal, state and local governments, the monthly dues of teachers have been allowed to dwindle and slide into the land of ghosts.

Gradually, teachers have been made to look like beggars after performing their statutory functions.

However, there is the fact that somehow, the system of recruiting teachers has been clogged down by the malicious Nigerian factor which says it is whom, not what, you know that determines recruitment or promotions. I hear that there are primary school teachers who can hardly read or write but cannot be sacked; those who can read and write are poorly motivated; and so on. Remember the problem the Edo State Governor had when he tried to bring the state’s teachers up to par in terms of quality and how the NUT stood in his way thinking he was trying to sack its members? Well, that’s the kind of thinking we are talking about. No one is ready to bring in Mother Quality.

Yet, Mother Quality must be brought in if we are to get anywhere in the educational system. The tender

are heading into austerity times, is how symptomatic it could very well be about the manner in which the outgoing presidency gifted friends and cronies sweet heart deals. What should, therefore, bother us are the following disclosures accusing the respondent of abandoning numerous contracts awarded him by the presidency. The following contracts were cited as examples: Sand-filling of the Bayelsa State Cargo Airport worth N10 billion, the Maitama extension (infrastructure) worth N150 billion; the supply of engineering materials at N67 billion; the Waterfront Shore protection at Otuoke and Ayakoromo at a cost of N5 billion; the reclamation project at Akipilai community at the cost of N5 billion; the internal road networks at Otuoke at N4 billion; Construction of 2000 hostel rooms at the Federal University, Otuoke at a cost of N4 billion; and the construction of the Opume/Okoroba seven mile road at the cost of N10 billion. What is worse is the allegation that the gentleman has since changed the name of his company.

Since impunity confronts one whichever direction you turn your gaze, I do not think the in –coming government needs any further evidence to put in place a Failed Contracts Committee to investigate such failed contracts which must run into thousands in PDP’s 16 years of the locust. This will have the added advantage of enabling persons so accused to clear themselves, failing which every penny must be recouped, with interest. They should, in addition, be blacklisted by both the Federal and state governments throughout the country. It would be a big shame, if it turns out true that somebody allegedly so close to the President, continues to be patronized by federal agencies even after he had severally abandoned multi-billion contracts awarded him by the same Federal Government.

The least the President can do is to have this matter of contract abandonment, not the bit in court, by somebody described as his close ally to be thoroughly investigated and appropriate steps taken.This story does not in any way elevate the presidency at all. years of primary school are the years in which children’s cognitive systems can be properly tuned towards brilliant performance in adulthood. It is the period when facts are imaginatively presented and children’s fancies are allowed to roam. They learn about becoming part of a system bigger than themselves and also how to put back into the system they draw from. Without the teacher’s sound knowledge of educational methods to rely on, these years end up draining away and the child is left to gather what he/she can through peers, internet and on the streets. In most cases, it’s the streets that win and the society loses, as it is doing now.

We should also note that the school system in Nigeria is itself not a reflection of the national aspirations but of the decrepit state of the society. I believe that no system can be better than its society. Indeed, every system within a country is a microcosm of the larger social system. So, the school system cannot miraculously be cleaner, more moral or more efficient than the society. What we are witnessing is that it has just yielded to the general decay in the society. We run a society where corruption is standing boldly in the way of funds allocated to repair and build classroom blocks, pay and train teachers, furnish and bring up to international standards the insides of classrooms at the primary and secondary levels. Yet, we expect good results. Seriously?!

Right now, every concentration is on the university system (and it is poor enough at that) to the detriment of the primary level. In order to get the desired goals in the school system, we have to go fishing. We have to plunge in at the deep end of the river with our fishing hook and net and roil out the dirt and sediments that constitute problems in the system. Then we can begin to build on what is left.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

COMMENT

17

(116) Even as it goes into the darkness of oblivion, PDP is turning on all the lights of wanton, catastrophic misrule WILL the last person to leave please turn off all the lights?

Universal mantra of energyconserving organizations and enterprises OU see it as a slogan, a legend boldly written on the walls of many rooms of energy-conserving organizations or enterprises: will the last person to leave please turn off all the lights? Sometimes, it is expressed, not as a question but as a categorical demand: will the last person to leave please turn off all the lights! High energy bills cut into the profit margin of enterprises. With organizations that are not profit making, the underlying logic is the same: the operating capital of the organization must be spent wisely otherwise the organization’s future may be compromised irreparably. More generally, this slogan or mantra is part of the “Green” culture and thought of conservationists all over the world: the resources of our planet, though renewable, are not infinite in supply; we must use them with consideration for the needs of those who will come after us, just as those who came before us did a lot of conservation so that we of present, living generations could have resources to consume. In other words, the logic of our mantra is this: turn off all the lights when you leave at the end of the day so that tomorrow there will still be lights to turn on. Our defeated ruling party seems either utterly unaware of or completely indifferent to this wisdom of prudent organizations and enterprises, this wisdom, indeed, of the ages.

The most rampant and notable manifestations of this reverse or counter-logic of the PDP to conservation of resources for the incoming, successor administration and future generations of Nigerians can be seen in the spate of last minute projects and procurement of foreign loans that the party, both at the federal and state levels began to launch or announce after its defeat by the APC. Coupled with these are last minute appointments of its chieftains to posts that carry with them, explicitly or implicitly, considerable financial remuneration. A case in point in this regard was the announcement two weeks ago of the appointment of a large group of new Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of Councils to our federal universities. I shall come back to this particular item later in this piece.

For now, let me turn my attention to what I consider the most portentous and unconscionable item of all, this being the announcement barely three weeks ago of the commitment of our country to the construction and commissioning of nuclear power plants through the signing of a joint venture agreement between the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and Rosatom, a Russian state-owned corporation that builds, commissions and maintains atomic energy power plants in many parts of the planet, especially in the developing world. Readers will remember, I hope, that I dealt with this issue in last week’s column. I return to it this week from a new and very urgent perspective.

This new perspective can be indi-

Y

•Is darkness over the PDP darkness over Nigeria?

cated with this question: why is it the case that NAEC made the announcement of Nigeria’s commitment to a “nuclear future” in electricity power generation at the very end of the life of the Jonathan administration and the rule of the PDP? As I revealed in last week’s column, NAEC came into existence in 1976; and for years now its CEO, Dr. Franklin Osaisai, has been going around Africa and the world making flowery and improbable declarations about a rosy and necessary future for atomic power plants in Nigeria and Africa. But for more than four decades, nothing concrete, practical and definitive was done about these declarations until less than a month to the end of the PDP as a ruling party. From this, we are left with no other conclusion but this: atomic power plants are the last and most cynical bequest of the defeated ruling party to a country that has finally rejected its long period of wasteful, catastrophic misrule.

I base this conclusion on the presupposition that Dr. Osaisai and NAEC could never have entered the agreement with Rosatom and committed Nigeria to a frightening future of atomic power plants without the knowledge and approval of the Jonathan administration. Statutorily, NAEC is responsible and reports to

the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology; it cannot and does not take any actions and decisions without that Ministry’s approval. So far, at least in media reporting of the agreement between NAEC and Rosatom, no mention has been made at all of the Ministry’s involvement in the brokering of the agreement.

But neither has a disclaimer come from the Ministry. Knowing how terribly dysfunctional, messy and rudderless administrative processes have been in Jonathan’s governance style and culture, it is not improbable that the decision to commit our country to a future of nuclear power plants was made completely without any due and proper administrative processes. My guess is this (and I admit that it is only a guess): having dreamed and talked for years and decades about nuclear power plants in Nigeria, NAEC and Dr. Osaisai finally saw their chance in the redoubled messiness and chaos of the dying days and weeks of the PDP and the Jonathan administration. It is this guess that furnished the metaphors of darkness and light in the title of this piece: even as the PDP slips irreversibly into the darkness of historic oblivion, it has turned on the full, frightening and spectral lights of atomic power plants in Nigeria.

H

So what if Harvard is not Ajegunle?

A, the travails of deadline pressures on writers of weekly columns! The deadline for this columnist is 6:00 pm every Friday. Now, I am an unretired, full-time teacher and researcher, with full responsibilities for teaching and mentoring both undergraduates and graduate students. In order to be able to keep writing this column and, especially meet my deadline, I have more or less trained myself to compartmentalize my work and time. Thus, for about four to six hours every Friday morning wherever I am in the world, I set aside everything and concentrate completely on writing my column and sending it off before the deadline.

But immediately after that, I shut out the column and turn to other things in my life and my work. In general, this arrangement has worked well and productively for me. But occasionally, things don’t

go so smoothly as was the case last week. How so?

Well, last week, in a phrase that I recognized as rather unfortunate not long after I had sent off my contribution to the Editor of this newspaper, I compared Harvard University to Ajegunle, more or less implying that the rabidly obnoxious statements that were maliciously credited to Wole Soyinka in the lecture he gave on April 29 at Harvard were far more likely to be made at Ajegunle than at Harvard. By the time that that realization came to me, it was past my deadline and therefore too late for me to have the unfortunate phrase removed or changed. Well, as I feared, along came an email to me from a resident of Ajegunle taking strong exception to my invidious comparison of Ajegunle to Harvard. This

Fortunately, the lights can be turned off on the agreement between NAEC and Rosatom. In other words, a decision to commit our country to a future of nuclear power plants is a decision that should go into the darkness that will soon consume the PDP. Ordinarily, all decisions hastily and haphazardly made by an outgoing administration in the last few weeks of its life are not considered binding on the incoming administration – unless they are deemed beneficial to the country. At any rate, going nuclear in power generation when we have an abundance of natural gas and hydrological resources is nothing short of irrationalism, not to talk of the historic worldwide turning away from nuclear power plants. Thus, one of the very first things that the new administration should do is terminate the agreement with Rosatom and open the matter for full debate and review by the Nigerian public. Indeed, it is surprising that a country, any country can go nuclear without a full debate having taken place among lawmakers, civil society organizations and all interested stakeholders.

Similar considerations apply to the appointments in the last few weeks of PDP chieftains as Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of Councils of

proud denizen of Ajegunle was not impolite or unkind to me; rather, he merely wanted to have me know that Ajegunle is the abode of hardworking, upright citizens most of whom are not prone to expressing the sort of hateful sentiments that I wrote about in my column.

To cap his remonstrating comments, our doughty Ajegunle resident offered to be my host should I be moved to come to Ajegunle and get to know the place better!

Well, I wrote back to say that the offending phrase is much regretted. In innate human worth and dignity, Harvard has no advantages over Ajegunle, none whatsoever!

My point in making the comparison was simply that in places like Ajegunle in comparison with places like Harvard, people generally don’t watch and monitor what they say,

federal universities. On this particular issue we come to one of the most crucial things that will indicate whether the APC will be a different ruling party from the PDP. Here, nothing but the complete depoliticization of the appointment of Chairmen and members of the governing councils of our universities will show that the APC wants to establish a break with the decadent “ilabe” mentality and culture of the PDP as a ruling party. Mark my words, compatriots: if the chairmen and council members recently appointed by the PDP are removed and replaced with APC chieftains and benefactors, that will be a sure sign that things in general will not change fundamentally from the period of the reign of the PDP to that of the APC. It is no secret in our federal and state universities that the majority of the chairmen and members of the governing councils of our tertiary institutions regard their appointments as juicy, lucrative rewards for their positions in the ruling party.

For long, ASUU and all the other unions in our tertiary institutions have decried this tradition and called for its termination. This will be one of the most eloquent indicators of the genuineness of the “change” manifesto of the APC.

what they express about their neighbors. Harvard is, you might say, a cathedral of learning. As in cathedrals of worship, in cathedrals of learning, you don’t simply open your mouth and say anything at all that pleases you, especially in a public lecture. But that also means that what you gain in propriety you lose in human spontaneity and perhaps also camaraderie and solidarity. At any rate, let it be known that throughout my adult life, I have been equally at home in places like Ajegunle and Harvard. Indeed, Oke-Bola in Ibadan where I reside when I am in Nigeria has become in the decades since I was born and raised there, an “Ajegunle” in miniature!

Biodun Jeyifo bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu

18

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

COMMENT

sms only: 08116759748

E-mail: festus.eriye@gmail.com Twitter: @EriyeFestus

Fuel Subsidy: Time to slay the sacred cow H

OW apt that the final images of Goodluck Jonathan’s shambolic presidency, is a nation camped out at petrol stations in desperate search of fuel! For long stretches of his tenure it seemed as though the queues had disappeared for good but the malaise was only being kept at bay by artificial solutions.

In the last few weeks the experience of the average Nigerian trying to purchase petrol for his car or generator has been hellish. Very few bought at the official rate of N87 per liter. The product sold for between N150 and N250 per liter depending on location and intensity of the problem on a given day.

The latest crisis has revived calls for the removal of fuel subsidies which different administrations have struggled with over the last two decades. The very suggestion that the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration could discontinue a system that guarantees artificially cheap petrol has provoked a predictably hostile response from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The union has always been the vanguard for resisting hike in fuel prices over the years. It successfully stared down a succession of presidents – from Olusegun Obasanjo to Jonathan - over the issue.

The almost visceral reaction of labour and other activists revolves around the sense that the bulk of Nigerians who subsist on less than $2 per day would be hurt by the removal of subsidy. They also argue that this is the only benefit that this vulnerable segment of society gets from government and should not be touched.

These arguments might be appealing emotionally and politically but they are becoming increasingly indefensible. Our experiences during these never-ending cycles of fuel scarcity demand that we re-frame the basis for the discussion.

Also, the ongoing prosecution of the offspring of highly-placed members of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and their associates over subsidy payment scams raises the question of who really is being subsidised.

On paper the subsidy is supposed to protect the less economically empowered in the society. But every time marketers throw a fit and refuse to import, we all – rich and poor – end up paying outrageous prices for petrol and carry on with our lives. In fact, the most powerful continue to get the products at subsidised rates because of their connections while those in the lowest rungs bear the brunt.

Kerosene is supposedly subsidised for the poor and should sell for N50 per liter. But nowhere in Nigeria is the product retailed for less than N120 – and that is when you can find it. Meanwhile, the marketers keep getting paid billions of naira that doesn’t translate into a subsidy for impoverished citizens.

Nigeria isn’t the only country on the continent that has operated or continues to operate a regime of fuel subsidies. But over time many have come to the conclusion they could no longer continue to do so. The latest

•Out of stock

to announce it is ending them from September 30 is Angola.

Angola, just like Nigeria, imports virtually all of its fuel despite being Africa’s second largest producer. This is because of its insufficient local refining capacity. The result is she spent four percent of her 2013 budget on subsidies.

Justifying the move, a government statement said: “Gasoline now joins the free price system, ending the burden on the state of the cost of subsidies. The ongoing effort to adopt realistic prices will help strengthen social programmes and reduce inequality, since subsidies benefit the most favoured groups and encourage fuel smuggling to neighbouring countries.”

It is interesting that the Angolans make the point about those who really benefit from the subsidy regime.

What an irony that when labour unions oppose attempts to change the existing system, they are actually helping the emergency businessmen feeding fat on it to continue taking us all for a collective ride.

The point at which we find ourselves in Nigeria today the issue isn’t just whether subsidies that ostensibly benefit the ‘poor’ are good and desirable. The equally relevant question is whether they are affordable and sustainable. Can a country that is borrowing to pay workers and contractors continue to pay out trillions of naira in subsidies that don’t subsidise?

The problem is compounded by the changing revenue profile of the country. In the boom years the payments may have been bearable, but with oil prices crashing to unprecedented lows they no longer make sense.

And it isn’t as if the figures have remained static. Between the Obasanjo years and the Jonathan tenure they ballooned from an average of N300 billion that was being spent yearly up to 2007 to N 2.7 trillion by 2013! From a little over N400 billion under President Umaru Yar’Adua there was a quantum leap to over N1.2 trillion in the first year of Jonathan’s presidency.

Even more embarrassing is the fact that between the Federal Gov-

ernment and the marketers there’s no agreement as to what is currently owed to them. While they claim N200 billion as outstanding, the Ministry of Finance says the figure is N131 billion.

Whatever the true figures are it doesn’t make sense paying out N2.7 trillion to subsidise consumption.

Petrol might be an important product which price ultimately affects the pricing of other goods and services, but it isn’t the only variable that determines that.

That raises the question of how to move forward. First, we need to accept that the market doesn’t respond well to unnecessary political meddling. We need to review and repeal all legislation regulating the petroleum industry whose construction was not based on purely economic considerations.

One of the pillars of the subsidy regime is the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) Decree of 1975. It was created to equalise the cost of transporting petroleum products from depots to filling stations and ensure that they are available at uniform prices throughout Nigeria. Elementary economics, however, tells us that distance will impact the price at which a product is ultimately sold in different locations.

Even at the best of times, in spite of the existence of this legislation,

petrol always sold at prices higher than the official rate in Nigeria’s extremities. Meanwhile, the marketer who has delivered his cargo, dutifully queues up to collect PEF payment (subsidy) for a product that the poor man in Damaturu buys for N120 per liter or more.

Times have changed and the unions also need a reality check. The NLC has argued in the past that while it isn’t opposed to ending fuel subsidy, it wants certain measures put in place before such an action can be contemplated. Among other things it wants the refineries working, an efficient public transportation system as well as other welfare measures in place first.

While these are not unreasonable demands they are not very practical.

Fixing the existing refineries or building new ones could take anything from 24 to 36 months. Those who would like to see new refineries sprout also have to realise that investors are not philanthropists. It is a non-starter to think they would be attracted to a system that expects them to pour billions into a project only for the state to fix the price at which they sell what they produce.

Again, putting in place the sort of mass transit system that could move millions daily at a cheap rate could take up to five years – if not longer.

In the interim as we wait to create the perfect conditions for a painless exit from wasteful subsidies, we are forced to continue with payments that the country cannot afford! It is a vicious cycle and not the right way to go.

Putting palliatives in place must go hand in hand with the necessary reforms. Imagine how many buses or train lines N2.7 trillion can buy.

Just think of the number of refineries that can be built for that amount.

You can build countless roads, schools and hospitals for what we throw away yearly.

Religion is a touchy subject but the more I think of the subsidy the more I am reminded of India where there’s so much poverty and yet well-fed cows roam free because they are considered sacred. We’ve made the fuel subsidy into an idol that must not be touched. Unfortunately, it is our commonwealth draining away yearly while leaving the mass of the people untouched.

The only way forward is to confront this cancer headlong. Nigerians are already paying outrageous amounts for petrol and I doubt whether deregulated prices can be worse. Indeed, if you were to poll our longsuffering population and offer them regular fuel supply at higher prices or intermittent scarcity at existing rates, they would jump at the former.

Most of these arguments are not new. What has been lacking has been the political will to do what is necessary. Previous administrations were not able to convince people that the subsidies should go because they were sleaze-infested and distrusted by the people. That was why the argument that the subsidies were the only things the poor benefitted used to resonate.

But against the backdrop of the exposure of massive scams dogging the scheme, the incoming administration has an uncommon opportunity to tap into peoples’ frustrations arising from the pains of scarcity to remove the subsidies once and for all.

There is no right time or painfree way to do so. The trouble with us is we desire to get to heaven but want to be saved the trouble of dying first. We want to have lovely babies but want to be spared the pains of childbirth.

Buhari wrong on that traffic order

P

R E S I D E N T - e l e c t Muhammadu Buhari is determined to execute his change mandate in every possible way. He has started by slowly charting what would be a no-frills, no ostentation presidency. Towards that end he recently directed his convoy to obey all traffic regulations; that includes stopping meekly at traffic lights.

That is refreshing coming from a Nigerian leader. We are used to everyone from local government councilors to governors brushing us off the road as they sweep past with their cavalcade.

Amazingly, the pronouncement was received with very little fuss until former External Affairs Minis-

ter, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, intervened to point out the dangers inherent in Buhari’s order to his men. I totally agree with his observations.

In an age when terrorism has become a fact of daily life it doesn’t make sense for a governor or president to turn himself into a sitting duck by stopping at every traffic light. It might be a populist move but it isn’t wise.

Those engaged in protecting dignitaries would tell you that it is very difficult for an assassin to hit a moving target. Nigeria unfortunately has the sad history of the late General Murtala Muhammed whose promising reign as head of state was terminated as he stopped

at a traffic light.

People understand that there are certain privileges that come with high office and they are not likely to hold it against Buhari if his security team claims the right of way so he can move on. He won’t the first world leader to do so neither would he be the last.

We appreciate that he is trying to set a leadership example that citizens can emulate. But he must allow those assigned to protect him to do their job in the best way they know so that he would be alive to carry out the assignment for which he has been elected. He should rescind his order without delay in the national interest.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

‘G

OD be with you till we meet again.’ It was one hymn that reverberated deep into the souls of the large crowd. And the choir rendered it with much conviction to let the crowd know that it was time to bid her good bye. Madam Mary Adekitan Oyegbile, mother of Olayinka Oyegbile, the Deputy Editor of the Nation on Sunday who died at the age of 91, on March 8, 2015 at Ogbomoso, Oyo State was one woman who lived her Christian life to the fullest.

During the wake-keep at her residence in Ogbomoso, many attested to the fact that she was everything a mother both to her children and everybody who had close contact with her. In his sermon the Pastor of Masifa Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, Dr. Idowu Adetola described her as a Christian mother who stuck to her old spiritual values. “They were values she not only cherished so much, but those she also refused to do away with. These were values she would raise and tried to defend and uphold in the church.”

Amid cheers and acknowledgement from those who benefited from her Christian wisdom and motherly affection, Adetola went on to remind the crowd comprising of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as family friends and well-wishers from far and near, that as a moralist, a disciplinarian and a leader, Madam Oyegbile often challenged other

GLAMOUR/OUT & ABOUT

29

Madam Adekitan Oyegbile goes home in blaze of glory Madam Mary Adekitan Oyegbile, mother of Olayinka Oyegbile of The Naiton Newspapers, who died on March 3, 2015 was finally laid to rest on May 9, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Edozie Udeze who attended the ceremony, reports women to show good examples to their children. “This was why she did not stop her habitual visits to the church.

Even a few days before she died she paid me a visit in my office. She was able to climb the stairs and after we prayed together she went away. As she did so, she continued to look back as if she forgot something. I didn’t know it was to be her last visit to me,” he said.

But the children, Adetola admonished could take consolation in the fact that their mother lived for humanity.

She was one woman who believed so much in the true values of Christian life in Christ Jesus. She mentored so many people asking them to believe in the Christian ethics of being strong spiritually. For this reason and more, she was loved by the congregation of her Baptist faithful both way back in Jos where she lived and had all her children and in Ogbomoso where she retired to in the 1993. Until her demise, Madam Oyegbile was said to have

maintained her hold on most of the people that mattered to her.

In his tribute, Olayinka described his mother as the pillar of the home front, someone who sacrificed so much to ensure the best for her kids. “I owe mama a lot in life,” he began in a somber and reflective mien. “She was the original raconteur and writer of my first book Home Away from Home.

Indeed it was from her that I learnt the skill of telling engaging stories which I’m still to perfect.”

While reading the biography of his mother during the Church service, Olayinka reminded the congregation comprising of people from all walks of life that Madam Oyegbile lived her early life when family-ties and compassion were still in vogue to impact on other people, mostly immediate and distant relations. “Does that still happen today?” he asked as he surveyed the crowd in the church. “Yes, hers was when family-ties were strong.

Her early education at Ikirun was ab-

breviated when her father recalled her home and sent her to her uncle in Jos to take care of her uncle’s children.”

Thus began her sojourn to Jos where she not only met her husband but began a new life as a trader, a community and church leader.

Married to Late Pa Emmanuel Adesina Oyegbile in 1943, she earned her first nicknames soon after. Variously known as Iya Alapati, Iya Ibeji, Iya Titi Olaoda and so on in Jos, she was soon to be nicknamed Mama Jos of Ogbomoso. All those names went on to situate her enviable place in the lives of those who had close contacts with her. This was why she was equally recognized and rewarded by the Baptist Church, Jos with the certificate of Senior Citizen and Deaconess in 1992. Also in 2003, the Women Missionary Society (WMS) of Masifa Baptist Church, Ogbomoso conferred on her a special honour in recognition of her outstanding roles towards the growth of the church.

Before her finally interment on Saturday, May 9, Dr. Adetola quoted Psalm 116 verse 15 that the death of a siant is precious in the sight of the Lord. “Therefore living a virtuous life is not vanity. Indeed Christian life is not vanity. A good Christian is the one who had lived a dirty life but has now confessed her sins. She is now seen as a consecrated person, with absolute obedience to the precepts of the Lord. That is why the Bible says that the death of a saint is precious before his sight.”

She is survived by Matthew Akin Oyegbile, Adeola Theresa Ehigie, Grace Omonike Ogunrinu, Janet Taiwo Dina, Kunle Kehinde Oyegbile, Sunday Olayinka Oyegbile and Timothy Olawale Oyegbile and many grand and greatgrand children.

Entertainment of guests followed soon after the interment at Soun High School, Ogbomoso with a live band dishing out series of highlife and juju renditions. The atmosphere was soothing as guests were treated to all sorts of drinks, food and merriments.

•L-R:

Mrs. Toyin EniOlorunda, Mr. Olusegun Adigun, Mr. Thompson Ladipo, Engineer Yekinni Ilufoye, Mrs. Dunni Musa, Dr. Rasheed Odunola, Mrs. Abebi Nike Ogunrinu, Mrs. Taiwo Ogunbiyi, Arc. Kunle Oyegbile, Mrs. Foluke Ogunbiyi, Ajayi and Mr. Olayinka Oyegbile all Old Students of Baptist Grammar School Igbaja, Kwara State (1979 Set).

PHOTOS: MUYIWA HASSAN Mr. Olayinka Oyegbile and Barrister Timothy Oyegbile.

•Children of the deceased (L-R) Mr. Mathew Oyegbile, Mrs. Adeola Ehigie, Mrs.

•Minister •Grand and great grand children.

Mr. Akin Owoeye of Environment Rights Action (ERA), Mr. Seun Akioye of The Nation, Mr. Olatunji Buhari of ERA and Mr. Emmanuel Laye.

in charge of Masifa Baptist Churchi, Idi Araba, Ogbomoso, Rev. Dr. Idowu Adetola leading other ministers in procession at the beginning of the funeral service.

• L-R: Online Editor, The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Akpeji Livingstone, Ag. Training Editor and Member Editorial Board The Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Banji Adisa and Mr. Lekan Fadeyi of LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.

•L-R:

•Mr. Morakinyo Abodunrin of The •Dr.

Nation and his wife, Labake.

Debo Areo of The National Museum and Mr. Dunni Olaifa.

•Mr.

Edozie Udeze of The Nation and Pastor Mark Taiwo.

30

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

ETCETERA

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi

POLITICKLE

deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

The fix My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die!

The Child is father of the Man; And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety.

—William Wordsworth, ‘My Heart Leaps Up When I Behold’

CHEEK BY JOWL

OH, LIFE!

THE GReggs

FAR from lenient, the judge handed down the sentence. The young man would spend the next 10 years behind bars. Unlikely until the emergence of credible leadership via democratic means, the verdict signalled democratic change, thought many in the courtroom. “It’s such a shame to see a bright young man end up like this. But the society is responsible for failing the child as much as the man,” someone said.

That society must include me, I thought. As the subject’s older brother’s friend, I followed his development from childhood, and often attempted some carefully weighed counsel or two. No one, least of all the brother, listened. “Let’s give him some time. He’ll learn from experience,” he said. But his sibling slipped fast.

Nobody slapped the wrist with which the boy raided the soup pot for extra helping while the mother turned her attention elsewhere. No one reprimanded him when he returned from school with pilfered books and pens. And when he lied to get his way, none mentioned in strong terms how wrong it was.

Despite a tendency to perpetrate pranks, he managed to evade notice through primary school until he got to secondary school. There he raised his naughty game a notch. Errant, and lacking in academic discipline, he fell behind. English Grammar lessons turned Greek and common Maths problems assumed the shape of rocket science. A combination of peer pressure and the desperation to pass without perspiring pushed him to registration with a miracle study centre that promised a ‘minimum’ of six credits including English and Mathematics at secondary school certificate level and an admission-guaranteed score of ‘at least’ 280 in the university matriculation examination.

In a higher institution at last, the young man coursed through the campus as much as it passed through him. To ensure his on- and offcampus carrying-on didn’t slow him down, he resorted to ‘sorting’, the colloquial term for gratification offered corruptible varsity staff. It helped sustain a breezy lifestyle described by illicit drugs, cultism and student unionism en route to a second class upper degree in a difficult course when more studious but ‘less resourceful’ mates suffered an extra semester or year.

Graduating from a life of examinations without sweat and mercantile unionism to national youth service, the man encountered odds he deemed relevant to the recent past. Choosing to stay away from a north ravaged

by Boko Haram insurgency, he had his hapless parents ‘sort’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) officials for a posting to the country’s commercial capital where, with further sorting, he hoped that decadeslong efforts would culminate in a juicy bank position.

He found himself in a merciless job market after service instead. To his shock, recruitment conditions of a first class degree, years of experience and allied accomplishments penetrated his thick skin. But a way soon opens for the relentless wayfarer, and the man considered himself up to the task, but not before paying his dues on the pock-marked streets of the former national capital. Assisted by crooked errand boys on a notorious Lagos Island address after roving the city’s road network in futility, he forged enough documents to beat the requisite ‘10 years of cognate experience’ and sundry employment booby-traps.

•Concludes next week

QUOTE Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up.

— Lee kuan Yew

Jokes Humour First Aid A FELLOW decides to take off early from work and go drinking. He stays until the bar closes at 2am, when he is extremely drunk.

He doesn’t want to wake anyone as he enters his house, so he takes off his shoes and starts tip-toeing up the stairs.

Half-way up the stairs, he falls over backwards and lands flat on his buttocks.

That wouldn’t have been so bad, except that he had couple of empty beer bottles in his back pockets, and they broke with the broken glass carving up his buttocks terribly.

But he was so drunk that he didn’t know he was hurt.

As he undressed a few minutes later, he noticed blood. He checked himself out in the mirror, and, sure enough, his behind was badly cut up. He repaired the damage as best he could under the circumstances, and he went to bed.

The next morning, his head and rear end hurt so much. While hiding under the covers and trying to think up some good story to tell his meddlesome wife, she came into the bedroom.

“Well, you really tied one on last night,” she said. “Where’d you go?”

“I worked late,” he said, “and I stopped off for a couple of beers.”

“A couple of beers? That’s a laugh,” she said.

“You got plastered last night. Where did you really go?”

“What makes you so sure I got drunk last night, anyway?”

“Well, my first big clue was when I got up this morning and found a bunch of plasters stuck to the mirror.”

Court Cracks Q: THIS myasthenia gravis - does it affect your memory at all?

A: Yes. Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?

A: I forget.

Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you’ve forgotten? ***** Q: What is your date of birth?

A: July fifteenth.

Q: What year?

A: Every year. ***** •Adapted from the Internet

Writer ’s Fountain OW to hook the reader: What would grab the reader’s attention who writes for the type of reader for whom you and hold it? You must know that the reader are writing. How did he hook you, how did he doesn’t expect a killer moment, like a beautiful keep you reading on and on? What was the pace song, to last on and on. No author can maintain of the book, and when did he tighten the line?”

Some writers grip you in tension from page excitement for too long. He drops it on the reader to page.

They leave you grieving that you had and then goes into exposition or dialogue which will carry it for a bit and then increase the tension completed the book or the series, especially when they hook you with the opening sentence on the on the line at just the right moment.

This is the craft of the art or the art of the first page. Find the outstanding hook in such craft – knowing when to tighten the line. Avoid books and use it as a technique, and store it a trite opening line like “It was a dark and stormy among your growing toolbox of hooks.

Just as TV mystery or crime series put you night”. Consider the following tips instead. right at the crime scene during the first few Look at the beginning lines of any author minutes and you are hooked, want to be hooked, and expect to be hooked, you cannot Human moves: stop reading a book filled with suspense to the •According to a British law passed in 1845, end. attempting to commit suicide was a capital As a technique, you may use a bit of flash offense. Offenders could be hanged for trying. forward or backward at the beginning of a •A walla-walla scene is one where extras long narrative. You may use it as a prologue pretend to be talking in the background — to draw the reader into the book. He will want when they say “walla-walla” it looks like they to find out “what happened next.” are actually talking.

The opening hook doesn’t have to involve •Another word for volleyball is mignonette. violence or intrigue. It could involve aesthetics.

•After human death, post-mortem rigidity A writer’s skillful use of language may as well starts in the head and travels to the feet, and invite the reader for more than a passing leaves the same way it came – head to toe. interest in your story.

H

PAGE 31

MAY 17, 2015

• Mu'azu

Inside PDP's troubled house • Jonathan

• Anenih

Pages 36-37

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

POLITICS

As the race to the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other Principal Officers hots up, a group of returning and new members have formed a new bloc to influence who becomes the new leaders. Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi examine the influence and implication of the new power bloc.

Patriots deepen intrigues for House of Reps Speaker

T

HE race to the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is getting tougher as intrigues deepen with the emergence of a powerful bloc called the Patriots, which is determined to influence who becomes the next Speaker. In earlier permutations, what was not factored into the equation was the emergence of a powerful bloc of lawmakers that has decided to take the decision of picking the Speaker of the 8th House of Representatives.

The bloc that emerged from the 5-day induction course for the in-coming lawmakers was made up of in-coming and returning lawmakers in the Green chamber. The membership cut across all political parties in the 8th Assembly. As if waiting for the emergence of the group, the contenders, one after the other, began official declaration of their interaction to run for the House top job. The top contenders include the current Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos), Chairman, Finance Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin (Kano), Chairman, House Committee on House Services, Yakubu Dogara (Bauchi), Chairman, Agriculture Committee, Mohammad Monguno (Borno) and Pally Iriase (Edo) Though the Patriots claimed to be nonpartisan with no candidate in mind to support, it was however gathered that the group's aim is to take a commanding position in the run-in to the Speaker's office. The Patriot is counting on its number which it intends to maximise by being the decider in the game. According to a source in the group, the membership has grown to about 96 and still counting.

It won't be farfetched to say that the emergence of The Patriots forced the contenders out of their shell as each one of them made their official declaration one after the other. According to the group, "its emergence was to discourage executive meddlesomeness in the emergence of the Speaker. Besides, imposition of candidates on the House has never endured the rigours of the activities of the House," the group noted.

Though it affirmed that it was not in support of any particular contestant, if the body language of one of the contestants is anything to go by, then informed analysts might be in for a rude shock as their favoured choice may not be in consonance with that of the Patriots.

The group however stated that its emergence was borne out of the need to appraise the role of an effective legislature in times of change? While agreeing that the question is pertinent, it stressed that it was aware that with general elections over, a new government that campaigned on the platform of Change will soon emerge. Relying on the promise of the incoming government to focus on security of life

A

• Gbajabiamila

• Monguno

Certainly, the 8th National Assembly does not deserve either a tribal or divisive leader. The House needs a leader, not a boss, as the first among equals. All these are much-abused words in the Nigerian governance parlance • Iriase and property, anti-corruption and employmentgeneration as the corner-stone of its post-election programmes, the group said the leaders Nigerians deserve in the House must possess qualities like integrity; knowledge; competitiveness; capacity; versatility; track record; accessibility; reliability; and networking. "Certainly, the 8th National Assembly does not deserve either a tribal or divisive leader. The House needs a leader, not a boss, as the first among equals. All these are muchabused words in the Nigerian governance parlance. For the 8th Assembly to be taken

seriously therefore, our leadership aspirants must pass the integrity test through open scrutiny of their credentials," the group noted.

To achieve this, the group is insisting that contestants for the position of Speaker of House of Representatives must be engaged in a public debate. The televised debate, according to the group, would afford Nigerians the opportunity of scrutinizing the credentials of the contestants.

Leader of the group, Musa Sarkin Adar, said the group is not just another group meant to add to the numbers. "As you may be aware of, there

are different interest groups currently campaigning on behalf of different aspirants for leadership positions of the 8th National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives. This is a normal trend that follows general elections, and as part of the transition of member- elect into properly constituted members of the Green Chamber.

Our group deliberately focuses on both election processes and quality of candidates, as opposed to business-as-usual group that crowd around individual candidates wishing to contest for speakership and other positions. Our major interest is the facilitation of the emergency of a dynamic and responsible leadership in the 8th House of Representatives in the overall national interest. Currently, we do not have aspirants in our fold because we do not want to place the cart before the horse. We are most interested in setting the parameters - principles, vision, mission, quality and commitment of those who aspire to lead us, as opposed to supporting individuals in return for sharing the spoils of office. The Patriots is ready and committed at supporting positive change as basis for repositioning Nigeria along the genuine path of peace, Justice, reconciliation and development," he noted.

Adar said the importance of nonpartisanship of the group should be emphasized for fear of being misunderstood. "The Patriots is a bi-partisan assembly of both returning and newly elected members of the House committed to a transparent and improved process of leadership selection in the Green Chamber. Our membership is all- inclusive, cutting across parties, states, zones, ethnicity, faith(s) gender, age-group. We place Nigeria first. We are change-agents and opposed to business-as-usual in governance," he added.

Nigerians might want to ask, what is the difference between the Patriots and others before it like The Integrity Group that existed in the House before now? According to Adar, the Patriots group has a vision and a mission which it intends to adhere to even after the House election process. His words: "Our group's vision is to spearhead the rebirth of credible parliamentary democracy, specifically in the House of Representatives, but remain a vibrant and vigilant multi-party institution committed to bequeathing the values of human freedom, peace and development to the 21st century generation of Nigerians and beyond.

"We are also equipped with a mission statement determined to facilitate the emergence of a responsible and dynamic leadership committed to the security and wellbeing of Nigerians, anti-corruption, political correctness, and exemplary leadership so that others may copy.

Besides, the group pointed out that in the process of evolution of nations many nations tend to throw up leaders at some point of their historical epochs that eventually confronted their prevailing challenges and became heroes. We are of the strong opinion that the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, is that potential leader in whom Nigerians have great hope and expectations. He enjoys the support, prayer and goodwill of all of us. As a consequence of that, we must have a strong personality at the helm of affairs of the House that would not only support the in-coming government but one that also possesses the determination to ensure the independence of our legislature. How far the group can go is a matter of time.

Khadija Abba-Ibrahim: case of gender balance?

T the dawn of the 6th National Assembly in 2007, Hon. Khadija Bukar AbbaIbrahim made a solemn covenant with the people of Damaturu/Gujba/Gulani/Tarmuwa Federal Constituency to serve them wholeheartedly.

Interestingly, in all ways, she has kept faith with this promise.

Therefore, as she returns for a third term after being endorsed by her people and her party, APC, it is obvious that her experience will come to bear in the hallowed chambers.

As political alignment and re-alignment hot up before the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly in June, Abba- Ibrahim from the NorthEast is mostly favoured on many fronts to become Nigeria's first female Deputy Speaker of the lower House.

Apart from making history with such a decision at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, the opportunity of having a woman as a Deputy Speaker in its first outing as a ruling party is seen by gender enthusiasts as an important achievement APC government will make to fulfill a gender balance.

She joined the 6th National Assembly on May 29, 2007 after serving as Commissioner for Transport and Energy in Yobe State between 2004 and 2007.

By Gbenga Dan Asabe During her first tenure as a lawmaker, she held several leadership positions. She was Deputy Chairman of both the House Committee on Rural Development and House Committee on Communication. She also served as member in the Power, Water Resources, Interior, Women Affairs, Appropriation, Electoral matters, Banking and Currency, Petroleum upstream, Police Affairs, Sports and Constitution Review Committees.

In 2007, she was returned to the lower chambers of the NASS; and then, her responsibility in the parliament doubled, as she was appointed Chairman, Privatization and Commercialization Committee. She also sat on the Board of committees on culture and tourism, environment, industries, interior, Millennium Development Goals, Niger-Delta Development Commission and Youth and Social Development.

Her legislative interest cuts across humanitarian projects like development of health sector, development of the education sector, with regard to the female child education, women empowerment and maternal protection.

She has won several awards, including Thisday Newspaper Woman of Distinction Award in 2012.

Prior to that, she had won Transparency and Accountability Initiative Award as Most Outstanding

• Khadija Female Lawmaker in Nigeria. In 2008, she was honoured with the SATBILA Award by NEPU-PRP committee. She also won the Northern Nigeria Women Merit Award in 2007. In addition, the Rotary Club International gave her a Distinguished Leadership Award in 2006.

Apart from her legislative stake in Abuja, she has been much at home in the war against the destruction of her people by the deadly Boko Haram sect. She has committed her energy to lobbying governments at both state and national levels to liberate her people, and this is coming with some results. She is also involved in the advocacy and support for internally displaced people, which includes donation of money and relief materials to the camps of the IDPs. She has also given some of the IDP children scholarships.

She also mobilized NGOs and international donors for support, especially in the area of clinical psychology and counseling for the displaced people to help them recover from the post- event trauma.

Born on January 6, 1967, Abba- Ibrahim holds a B. Sc in Business Studies and Sociology from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom (1989).

Before then, she had bagged a Diploma in Sociology from the Padworth College, Reading, UK (1986). She obtained her 'O'level certificate from the Headington School, Oxford, UK, in 1985.

Apart from being a law maker and public servant, she was a Resident Commissioner for NICON Insurance, Yobe State, between 2006 and 2007.

–Asabe, a media consultant, is based in Lagos

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

POLITICS

33

Issues as governorship contest shifts to tribunals

• Peterside

As the 2015 electoral battles shift to the tribunals, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, in this report, identifies some of the major issues under contest in the governorship race

I

N Nigeria, the contest at the tribunal is the last lap of the electoral battle. Unlike the other phases, like the election proper, where the contestants may win voters' support by making mere promises, victory at the tribunals is determined primarily by logical presentation of facts or evidence as proof of being the preferred candidate. So, issues and facts, rather than mere display of real or artificial support at election rallies, are the central kernel that determines the final winner.

For the 2015 governorship race, the tribunals have become the final battleground and the petitioners are understandably not taking the matter lightly. So, in the states where the governorship election is under contention, petitioners are making grave allegations of rigging, malpractice and other forms of manipulation that resulted in the announced results which they are contesting.

As a result, one of the most recurring preliminary requests of petitioners is for leave to inspect the ballot papers and results sheets used in the elections. So far, the tribunal judges have granted such requests with ease, a development observers say may signal prompt dispensation of justice within the specified period of 180 days. Another major issue so far is the demand to compare the number of accredited voters with the aid of card reader with the number of votes cast. The contention is that in some of the states hotly contested, the petitioners are alleging that the accredited voters do not tally with votes cast. It remains to be seen how the tribunals will rule on this intriguing matter.

Some of the states where the governorship contest is generating so much heat include: Rivers In Rivers State, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Peoples Democratic Party's governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, as the governor-elect, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside are contesting the result.

The contest is so hot that Rivers Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is sitting in Abuja instead of in Port Harcourt.

It would be recalled that Wike was declared winner of the election, having polled 1,029,102, which represents 87.77 percent of the votes while the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, came second with 124,896 votes (10.65 percent).

APC has since condemned and rejected the result even as some international monitors insisted there was no election in the state. Also, APC in the state accused INEC of frustrating its petition before the tribunal. The first major controversy was on alleged refusal of INEC's Resident Electoral Commissioner's refusal to release relevant electoral documents to APC to enable it file its petition.

• Wike Before finally filing the petition, the State Chairman of the APC, Davies Ikanya, had to call on the world to prevail on the REC, Dame Gesila Khan, to release the election documents to enable it meet up with the deadline in filing its petition at the election tribunal.

He said the party had severally, officially written to INEC in the state and appealed to the commission's Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for the release of election documents, stressing that the REC had refused to provide the materials.

Ikanya said the party resorted to calling for the world's intervention because it had exhausted available means to get the election documents from the REC. According to him: "The difficulty in getting the documents has confirmed our fear that the result sheets never existed." He also alleged that out of the 17 documents requested only one was released to his team.

But the INEC denied the allegation as said it never denied APC access to documents to challenge election results at the tribunal.

Mr. Roy Obijuru, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, said the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Gesila Khan, had released documents to the APC on demand.

He said INEC received an application from APC on April 12 to release Certified True Copy of forms EC8C, EC8C (1) and EC40 (G) for the Governorship and House of Assembly elections for the 23 local government areas.

"Records show that representatives of APC in the state and other political parties that applied commenced the collection of the requested documents from April 16 to April 29.''

The statement said a second application for Certified True of Forms and Electoral Documents for the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the 23 local government areas of the state was received on April 28.

Another controversy was on service of court summons. Peterside had to file a motion ex-parte which, amongst others prayed an Abuja court to grant a leave to the petitioner to bring his application outside or before the hearing session.

Other prayers sought by the petitioner included an order for him to argue some issues outside or before the hearing session.

He also sought for an order for the petitioner to deliver to the third respondent, the PDP, the court processes through the state chapter of the party.

His counsel, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) told the court that the bailiff of the Court of Appeal in Rivers has tried twice to affect the service of court processes on the governor-elect but was not successful. According to Akeredolu, the motion ex-parte is supported with a 19 paragraphaffidavit of non-service and a written address to support the argument.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Mu'azu Pindiga, granted the application after listening to a motion ex-parte brought by the petitioner's counsel, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

The grand battle at the courts for the Rivers State's governorship seat has just begun and may likely last beyond the May 29 swearing-in date.

Cross River Another state where the battle at the tribunal is red hot is Cross River. There, the tribunal, before commencing sitting, announced that it received 26 petitions from aggrieved politicians and political parties that contested the March 28, National Assembly and April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

• Ambode The secretary of the tribunal, Mr. John Tsok, who made the announcement in Calabar also spoke with journalists, when he said, "As we speak, the tribunal has received four petitions for senatorial election, nine for House of Representatives, two governorship and eleven for the state House of Assembly.

More than the other petitions, the governorship election petitions are generating ripples in the state. At its inaugural sitting at the Federal High Court complex, the Cross River State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which has members like Justice Muniya Olusegun Olagunji and Khadi Musa Babayo, the tribunal chairman, Justice Aliyu Mohammed Mayaki, recalled that the tribunal was constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Z. Bulkachuwa, pursuant to section 285 of the Nigerian Constitution.

He said the case before the tribunal is against the governor-elect, Ben Ayade of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed by the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the just-concluded election, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo and Sylvester Nsa, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Before the commencement of the tribunal sitting, there was tension in the state over the outcome of the governorship election. Both APC and Labour Party are not convinced that PDP candidate won the election.

For example, there were reports of how the APC chieftains in the Akwa Ibom, painted the picture before the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on how the PDP allegedly rigged the polls conducted in the state.

According to Akwa Ibom State APC stakeholders, led by the APC governorship candidate, Umana Okon Umana, the results declared contradicted the number of voters accredited through the card reader machine used in verifying the Permanent Voters Cards at the polling units.

Whereas the card reader captured 437,128 voters and transmitted same to INEC in Abuja, for the governorship and House of Assembly elections, the figure declared by the state INEC office was 1,122,836 - a difference of 685,708.

As they put it before the president-elect, "Your Excellency, we are pleased to inform you that we have challenged the outcome of the purported elections at the Tribunals.

"It may interest you, Sir, to know also that figures declared in the elections by the Akwa Ibom State INEC office were at variance significantly with figures captured by card readers and transmitted to INEC database in the Commission office in Abuja.

"For instance, data obtained from INEC Head Office in Abuja show that the total number of accredited voters captured by card readers for the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State was 437,128, but the figure declared by the state INEC office was 1,122,836."

This will form the primary issue before the tribunal.

Lagos In Lagos, where PDP governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, is challenging the victory of APC's Akinwunmi Ambode, the Election Petitions Tribunal at its inaugural sitting at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja Division, Justice Sylvanus Oriji, Chairman, Lagos State National and State Houses of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal said election petitions are "delicate and sensitive to

• Agbaje handle because they must be heard and determined within 180 days as specified by Section 285 (6) of the 1999 Constitution."

The judge said it was now established that any judgment delivered by an election tribunal in an election petition after 180 days from the date of filing is a nullity.

He urged lawyers to give the tribunal the necessary support and co-operation both at the pre-hearing conferences and throughout the hearing of the petitions.

"Without your co-operation, it will be difficult for the tribunal to succeed in its onerous task to conclude all the pending election petitions within 180 days as stipulated by the Constitution.

"In this regard, the tribunal will not tolerate any action or omission (or strategy) aimed at delaying or frustrating the expeditious hearing and determination of the petitions."

On the governorship election petition, Oriji first granted leave to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje to inspect election materials used for the April 11, 2015 elections.

The judge ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide Certified True Copies (CTC) of all polling documents, including printed data from card reader machines in every polling unit in the state.

The orders were among the two prayers out of five prayers filed by the Agbaje before the tribunal through his counsel, Clement Onwuenmunor. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is represented in the matter

by Ademola Sadiq.

The petitioner had through his counsel, Onwuenmunor urged the tribunal to order INEC to provide CTC of all polling documents including printed data from card reader machines in each polling units in the state.

Responding to the ruling, counsel to APC, Sadiq, did not object, saying the ruling was made on point of law.

Sokoto In Sokoto State, the Chairman of the threemember tribunal, Justice Anselem Nwaigwe, in his inaugural speech also cautioned petitioners against any attempt to influence the members of the tribunal.

According him, "any attempt to influence members of the tribunal would be resisted, while the full weight of the law would be visited on such persons."

Nwaigwe said the outcome of the justconcluded 2015 general elections gave rise to the four petition already received by the tribunal in the state.

Yobe: Yobe is another state where the tribunal, which is sitting in Abuja commenced by granting the PDP candidate in the April 11, poll, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, permission to inspect the materials used by the INEC for the conduct of the poll.

The tribunal headed by Justice Mojisola Dada, granted the order for inspection of the polling materials in her ruling on an ex parte application filed by Waziri, through his counsel, Folashade Aofolaju.

Justice Dada was the only member of the panel in attendance during the proceedings, which were solely scheduled for hearing the petitioners' ex parte application.

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POLITICS

Buhari: Beware of Ekiti failure!

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N this season of power transition from one government to another, it is not unusual for all sorts of characters, including ones with no iota of electoral value to mill round the new political leader so as to gain underserved access to the corridors of power under the guise of wanting to render 'selfless service' to the nation. Following from this premise, this writer could not but quickly seize the moment to admonish General Mohammadu Buhari, president-elect, to beware of the so-called 'technocrats' with no electoral value when their gaunt democratic pedigree is subjected to the klieg light.

Permit me to state before going further that the writer is a freeborn indigene of Ekiti State. And consequently, in view of the blustery politics that is currently going on in that state between the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress(APC) lawmakers, it would amount to being unjust to one's ancestors to remain apolitical as a crucial stakeholder from that state. It is from this prism that this writer takes his pen to share his view with the public about how the state gets to this sorry pass. And except some drastic political steps are taken, it could take a long while before the avoidable storm could subside.

Let me start by stating that the inspiration to write this article came from the issue-based article written by one Hakeem Adisa about the unrealistic politics of idealism that Fayemi came to play during his sojourn as governor of Ekiti. It becomes so unfortunate that he abandoned the politics of realism that brought him to power because of his disastrous miserly approach to politics that made him to make pecuniary profit from his own electoral failure while those people that are required to nurture the party that brought him to power wallowed in abject poverty.

This writer has taken sufficient time to read through the piece: 'What does Kayode Fayemi want?' and the counter one: Hakeem Adisa: 'A masqurade's needless rant against Fayemi' by one Olayinka Oyebode, who describes himself as Fayemi's Chief Press Secretary.

The two articles were published in The Sun newspaper of Monday, May11 and 12 respectively.

The rejoinder refers to 'sterling personality and democratic credentials of Dr Fayemi.' And erroneously believes that it aims to 'sow a seed of discord among some prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and also pitch the National Leader of the party and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, against some leaders of the party through a deliberate but senseless attempt to demonize them.' This could not be true since to this writer that article merely exposes the ingrained but avoidable political guile of Fayemi and his proclivity for erroneously thinking himself to be vaingloriously superior to benevolent political partners that is gradually preparing his ground for political perdition.

For example, his spokesperson in his rejoinder gleefully stated that Adisa 'bared his fangs against Fayemi, heaped up every imaginable distortion of facts of history to demonize him and make him unworthy in the congregation of right thinking men and women.' The piece he describes as 'at best a long rehash of unfounded allegations and fabricated reports garnished with questionable sources and innuendoes.' Yet he unsuccessfully and convincingly could not convince the educated and politically discernible in Ekiti State and observers across the country that issues raised by that man called Adisa such as Fayemi's needless political garrulity, contempt for political party, its leadership and party members that brought him to power, disloyalty to his

• Buhari

By Jide Adamolekun

benefactor through surreptitious undermining of benefactor's interests, consistent hypocritical attitude, his unreliability on matters of sanctity of promise, his hypocritically being miserly that became his undoing when others know what he is benefitting from the same government and his deliberate isolation of party loyalists in a political climate that is all about the people, amongst others.

Oyebode went ahead to confirm that Fayemi had a dalliance with Obasanjo even if such is ad-hoc as 'a participant in Africa Leadership Forum's CSSDCA initiative and its security and demilitarization series. He was also involved in several committees set up by President Obasanjo purely on a technocratic basis. For example, he served on the Presidential Implementation Committees on NEPAD, on the MDGS and on Security Sector Reform and Conflict Management. He was also the main Technical Adviser to the Oputa Panel set up

by President Obasanjo to investigate human rights violations.'' But this Fayemi spokesman forgot to tell Nigerians how much of public fund was expended on these projects and the degree of positive impact they had on the wellbeing of the populace.

Could participation in projects that have not positively impacted on the lives of the people be altruistically described as nationalistic or rather, an ingenious means of creating money for the boys for their un-nationalistic 'loyalty.'

The question of who brought Fayemi closer to Tinubu was not faithfully answered. It is trite that during the apogee of the NADECO struggles abroad when Tinubu led the pack, Fayemi, like several others might had, on few occasions, met with

the Jagaban Borgu for help in the United Kingdom and the United States. It is also true that Fayemi had frequently expressed his contempt for Tinubu, in private conversations with friends including a renowned professor known more for his column writing prowess and mastery of the Queen's language that was also on exile during the same period. Fayemi should tell the world what level of cordiality existed between him and Tinubu since 1994 and 2005 before someone brought him to Tinubu's office as a sitting governor. Ekiti people and others across the nation want him to tell them who that 'someone' was. Or did he just walk straight into the Alausa Governor's Office without appointment? If he got an appointment, who scheduled the appointment with then Lagos governor, if not Opeyemi Bamidele that he also subsequently betrayed? His spokesperson also mischievously omitted his response on how he got money with which he funded his election as governor, how much it cost his benefactor and whether it was true that a powerful commissioner in Lagos gave him the first tranch or not. The same funding he miserly could not provide during his reelection as would be proved later.

As a bona fide Ekiti indigene, it is confounding to note the observation that 'Fayemi's achievements in the four years he served as governor of Ekiti State are well documented in the hearts of the people and has become a standard through which the incumbent administration and future administrations would be measured.' It is quite deluding for Fayemi to be alluding to his conspicuous public consumption as achievements. Could it be the pointless billion naira worth of Government House that he built in a state that reeks of poverty that he calls an achievement? Could it be

As a bona fide Ekiti indigene, it is confounding to note the observation that 'Fayemi's achievements in the four years he served as governor of Ekiti State are well documented in the hearts of the people and has become a standard through which the incumbent administration and future administrations would be measured

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015 the un-used stadium he built when an old newly refurbished one is in place? Or could it be his abandoned costly entertainment centre in a state known for undying craving and pursuits for educational excellence? These, amongst others, are conduit pipes through which billions of naira were wasted in Ekiti under Fayemi that prompted the people to truly vote him out of power, the Ekitigate notwithstanding because the people would have revolted if the result had not reflected their true wishes in the 16 local government areas of the state.

To dispute the fact that Fayemi is a 'political neophyte' is to deny the obvious. The fact that he deprived incumbent Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose, the senatorial ticket in 2011 is just a manifestation of his treachery against a man that really helped him prosecute the Ido-Osi election re-run that catapulted him to office. His betrayal of Fayose has been the hallmark of his relationship with his political benefactors, which is why Buhari must be careful with Fayemi's sly personality.

As an indigene of Ekiti, this writer knew what transpired during the governorship election that threw Fayemi out of office. His haughty behavior at that time sent many of his staunch party faithful away from him. It was at that time that this writer felt for Tinubu for committing his resources and time on this ingrate and for especially the entire Ekiti people that have always been on the side of progressive politics. We all saw power slipping away from Fayemi's hands but he stayed away from notable people that could help him, including Tinubu, the shrewd political strategist whom he told everything was in order when he was asked how far with his preparation for his re-election bid. Fayemi relied solely on the current governor of Lagos State to give him the magic want to win his reelection. Unfortunately the strategy that Governor Babatunde Fashola gave Fayemi failed him and even in the 2015 elections, Fashola's political strategy could not save him from losing his ward and even Surulere Local Government.

What a lesson for other over ambitious political 'technocrats'! Let us ask Fayemi whether it is part of the political strategy of a technocrat during electioneering to give his commissioner paltry N150 and SSAs miserly N50, 000 to be used to galvanize support at the local level during his election when his own promoter spent billions before he assumed office? What hypocrisy! This is why it becomes laughable whenever Fayemi goes around parading himself as Head of the Directorate for Policy, Research and Strategy of the APC Presidential Campaign. For goodness sake, what correct policy, research and warped strategy can this failed Ekiti former governor that was mercilessly beaten by Fayose come up with?

Finally, he destroyed any goodwill in his touted victory concession speech when in an interview conducted by one Dapo Thomas and published by two national newspapers, not long after his failed re-election bid, where he said that he did not concede defeat but that the public misconstrues his semantics.

Publications don't lie. How can Fayemi now be comparing his ambivalent concession with that of President Goodluck's unambiguous victory concession phone call to President-elect Buhari, even before the final result was announced?

President-elect Buhari must note that Fayemi, as a touted technocrat, cannot truly represent Ekiti because he has no electoral value whether in that state or across the entire Yoruba land. The president-elect must also note that the party he destroyed in Ekiti actually brought him to power without Fayemi delivering the state. Let Buhari start thinking beyond 2015 by realizing the importance of taking serious people that truly can be considered as technocrats and genuine beneficial politicians.

Fayemi, a failed politician and ilk could not sincerely be counted among this class. –Dr Adamolekun is an educationist residing in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

POLITICS

35

I have gone through a lot of persecution, intimidation -Ochei

Y

OUR resignation as Speaker, many believe, was not unconnected with your governorship ambition, why do you think the governor moved against you?

Well, if you say it is not unconnected with my gubernatorial ambition you are not far from the truth because as Speaker, I carried the office to the best of my ability and of course it clearly showed in my leadership style. Naturally, my style of leadership came with its own class and that offended some people because the status quo did not understand that style neither was it in conformity with the norms they were used to because I brought a lot of innovations into ensuring that we had an effective service. I believe in building institutions and I believe that one of the ways to help democracy to thrive is to sustain and build democratic institutions that will pass the test of time. And there is no how you start putting such into place that you are not going to step on some toes though not deliberately. I mean, in doing that, some persons will not be comfortable with you, so if the governor moved against my gubernatorial ambition, I had a gubernatorial ambition, no doubt, and he is aware of it and maybe when he felt I wasn't his choice anymore, he decided to move against me because if I had continued as Speaker, there was no way he would have been able to stop me from becoming the governor of the state. So, one of the ways he felt to do it was to move against me early enough and probably whittle the influence which the office, he believed, endowed me with. The office came with a lot of paraphernalia and those paraphernalia of state had its way of putting you right there at the top. That also shows I did not have his backing, his moving against me meant he has extricated himself from anything that could be counted as his support for my candidature.

Did he at any time support your ambition to be governor?

Yes, he did at some point.

Did he actually give you his word?

Well, I think it is immodest for me to start discussing our personal discussion but I can tell you I had his support at a time.

Is there any truth in the speculations that the opulence and grand scale of the renovations of the State Assembly brought you into direct conflict with the governor?

I wouldn't say that that was the reason because as you know, the legislature isn't independent so our funds come from the governor; so if he approved it and paid for it, why would it put me in a collision course with him? I just believe that there were some persons who were not comfortable with the leadership style of ensuring that we brought a change in the way things were done. You

Victor Ochei, ex-Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, divides opinion in political circles in Delta State. In this interview with Okungbowa Aiwerie, he speaks on the intrigues surrounding his resignation, his failed governorship bid, his relationship with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and his achievements during his tenure as speaker.

• Ochei

see, change is the only thing that is constant in life and man doesn't like it but it must come and when the changes started coming, the innovations, the staff, we decided to put everybody in line. At a time people were not coming to work but they got paid at the end of the month because that's the way structure works and we had to introduce the clocking system and they rebelled against it then. I said "you have what you call the time book and now you have an electronic clocking system, what's the difference," and they eventually complied with it, but only after a lot of arguments. It has helped to put in place checks and balances where people now started coming to work and we knew those persons who were not ready to work.

Some attribute the genesis of your travails with the leadership of a legislature that was perceived too independent of the executive arm of government. For example, the issue of the legislature vetoing Governor Uduaghan on the death penalty for convicted kidnappers and other such legislations?

Just like I said earlier, there are people who will always believe "why should the legislature be independent?" This is because that's the style they are used to.

But the legislature, by the constitution, is independent of the executive arm, so also the judiciary but they complement each other. I have always maintained that there is separation of powers amongst these three arms of government but the most important thing is that the walls separating them are

permeable, they always intertwined, so when people say that you are too independent, is that when you want to make laws you go to the executive arm and ask them "will this law be good for you?" When you make laws the way the constitution empowers you as a law maker to do, they fight you and say you are too independent. These are the kind of questions I've not been able to come to terms with. Some people look at law making process as one that should be done to suit the dictates of the executive arm or the judiciary. I don't see anything wrong with the independence of the legislature like we tried to put it in my own time to ensure that the legislature stands on its own.

These are three partners where the biggest is the executive, and the legislature and the judiciary which are the smaller partners but if they try to bully you and you refuse to be bullied, then you are read to be too independent minded. Now, overriding the governor's veto of the antikidnapping law, was it an act done outside the Constitution?

Section 100, subsection 4 and 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic enables us to go ahead and override the governor's veto because there's a process to follow. Now, did we follow that process? And if indeed they felt that was the problem, why didn't they go to court? Because where there is a disagreement between the legislative and the executive arms, the judiciary will come and sort the issues out, we followed the constitutional procedures and what is most important at that time, Section 47 of the Nigerian Constitution says "my

job is to make laws for peace, order and good governance."

Now I'm not to make laws for the governor and if killing anybody who is found guilty of kidnapping or terrorism would bring about peace, order and good governance, then so be it.

That's what suits us and kidnapping then had reached its peak when the governor's cousin was kidnapped, when the SSG's son was also kidnapped, a former SSG's aged father was kidnapped; the Speaker's younger brother was kidnapped too. If close relatives of public officers who have all the paraphernalia of state protection can be kidnapped" then they may just kidnap the Speaker on his way to his office and that would have been it. So we needed to find our own way of contributing to resolving that issue and that was ensuring that the bill was passed.

Now the governor had no issues with the bill truly speaking, the capital punishment was just the end of it, one bit of it. And things like destroying houses where the victims were kept, nobody quarreled with all of that.

It is just that the governor as a medical doctor said he was not going to sign and our own position was if the judiciary condemns someone who is found guilty, the governor has a choice.

He could either commute the death sentence to life imprisonment at the point of signing the warrant or he could sign the warrant for the person to be killed or he could just leave it, if he leaves it, the person remains a condemned criminal, if you commute it, the person would have enjoyed clemency if you also signed the warrant then you would have acted within the ambits of the law. So it's not about the governor.

Many in the camp of Gov Uduaghan feel your strong showing at the PDP primaries prevented his candidate David Edebvie from clinching the PDP governorship ticket while Okowa's camp blame you for not accepting to vie for the Delta North Senatorial seat and almost scuttling the Anioma chance at producing the governor, is this view justified Well, if it is justified where do they place me? If the governor team believes that I scuttled their dream of bringing an Edebvie on board because you wouldn't give me the support and Okowa's team believe that I almost scuttled Okowa's dream by not going for the senate and supporting him, where does this leave me?

Whichever part of the divide I go to I'm being knocked. Well, it clearly shows I was on my own in the primaries. Okowa had his support, the governor had his support and then whatever I got was my personal effort by the grace of God and for me, it is a show of total acceptance of my person regardless of all the travail I've been through. One year prior to that time I had gone through a lot of persecution, oppression,

intimidation, and I said it would have been easier to say to me Victor, please do not run for the office of the governor; can we offer you something else? They were not ready to offer me something else. It was like 'listen, we are fed up with you, you need to leave this system', for me, you cannot deny me my rights; what is my right, I'll fight for it till the end and I needed to prove that regardless of your feelings or how you perceive me, it doesn't aggregate to how the generality of Deltans see me and they showed it out. I heard lots of people say "they didn't give you the opportunity of making 40 or 50 votes." They were shocked when the votes were counted and for me, if you watched me, I raise my hand and I said to God be the Glory.

I have vindicated myself, for me, I was a hero of the primaries because I had nobody backing me. I justified Delta North people picking my name as the top three representing them.

You have borne your defeats with remarkable equanimity, do you feel resentful at your political opponents, especially Gov. Uduaghan?

You have used the word equanimity of hearts so why should I be resentful towards anybody; things will naturally happen, everybody cannot like you, don't even delude yourself that you are doing very well and so people will like you.

People are going to hate you but then again, I've learnt early in life that for you to be great, you must be willing to be very well misunderstood, hated and misrepresented. But it's the path to greatness and you must choose whether you want to be on the path of greatness or you want to please everybody and you'll be the biggest failure that ever lived. So, it is your choice to make people like you, people will say crazy things about you all of that but it's a path to greatness, so I bear no resentment to anybody and I'm happy because whatever you don't get today isn't a guarantee that you cannot get it tomorrow. For instance, Abraham Lincoln failed several times before he landed the American Presidency. So, no resentments at all, not even at Governor Uduaghan. Like I said, he's the governor and he has lots of influence no doubts, but he has a choice to choose somebody and it doesn't have to be me even though I was very close to him and I would not hold it against him that he didn't support me. its life!

When he was vying to become governor, I didn't support him but it never stopped our friendship. We even worked more closely than those that even supported him. So, it's like that. •Contd. on page 69

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Inside PDP's troubled h Name calling and finger pointing is now the past time of leading stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in reaction to the party's defeat in the last general elections. Is this the beginning of the end for the party, asks Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, in this report

T

HE reality of its defeat in the general elections appears just sinking in with leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

From May 29, the party would be assuming a new and very unfamiliar role as the major opposition party after 16 uninterrupted years of dominating the country's political landscape.

In the last few weeks, bottled up animosities and mutual distrust among members, which the party leadership managed to suppress prior to the elections, have finally blown open as senior members of the party go after each other jugular all in a desperate bid to settle scores.

Within the party, no one is willing to take responsibility for its massive drubbing in the polls. In President Goodluck Jonathan's camp, which comprises of some governors, ministers and members of the National Assembly, Adamu Mu'azu, the PDP National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), must be held responsible for the party's defeat and they must step aside honourably. But the embattled Mu'azu and his colleagues have so far rebuffed all attempts to force them to quit.

Tense moments before elections It was during one of the weekly meetings of the PDP NWC at its Wadata Plaza in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sometime in January to review the party's campaign for the elections.

Midway into the session, according to a source, it was apparent that none of the members was pleased with how the campaign had fared despite the huge funds reportedly running into billions that had been expended.

One of the members from the SouthSouth, The Nation reliably learnt, repeatedly asked why the party's campaign was not resonating with Nigerians compared to that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he claimed, operated on a much leaner budget.

At the end of the almost four-hour session, the NWC reached a consensus that the campaign should be refocused to highlighting the "achievements of the President in the last five years," away from the "hate campaign and speeches" against the APC and its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

The National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu'azu, was then mandated to reach out to the President; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Anthony Anenih

• Jonathan

and the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Ahmadu Ali. Separately and collectively, Mu'azu met the trio and reportedly expressed the concerns of the NWC on the direction of the party's campaign.

As the campaign got more heated and with secret surveys carried out by the party, indicating that the hate campaign was doing more harm than good to its image and electoral fortunes, Mu'azu, as a last resort, allegedly got across to the PDPPCO's spokesman, Femi Fani Kayode (main promoter of the hate campaign) to "take it easy."

Sources say it was a garrulous Fani Kayode, who allegedly lectured Mu'azu that it was not in anyone's place to teach him how to carry out his duties, while reportedly adding for effect that those who gave him the job are pleased with his performance.

His response was similar to what he told Mallam Garba Shehu, his counterpart in the APC, who once admonished him on the need to be civil in his utterances on his party and candidate.

Control over campaign and funds Another major issue that demoralised some chieftains of the party before the elections was the issue of who was in charge of the campaign, as members of the NWC were allegedly relegated to the background in the scheme of things.

Sources disclosed that even Ali, the campaign's DG, played little or no role in the campaign, as he was subservient to Anenih's authority. The Presidency and Anenih, it was gathered, were also in-charge of campaign funds much to the displeasure of Mu'azu and his colleagues in the NWC. All the directors in charge of units in the campaign organisation, including Fani Kayode, allegedly drew funds for their operations from Anenih and the Presidency, it was learnt.

The funding of the state chapters of the campaign also came directly from these two sources. In some states, according to a credible source, funds are disbursed to

• Mu'azu

individuals in the good books of the powers that be instead of the formal campaign structures.

An instance is that of Lagos State where the current Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro, allegedly received money from the Presidency to prosecute the party's campaign in the state.

The minister, it would be recalled, organised several campaign rallies for the President's re-election under the Independent Campaign Organisation in some parts of the state.

A few weeks before the March 28 presidential election, Obanikoro also organised the visits of several interest groups, including market women and artisans to the President at the State House in Marina, Lagos.

Chief Bode George, the acclaimed leader of the party in the state, was allegedly sidelined by the Presidency, which believed that Obanikoro "had the savvy to deliver the state for the President."George was angry, but however, decided not to rock the boat.

Jonathan enraged But as field reports across the country flashed a danger signal on the possible outcome of the elections, an apparently worried President Goodluck Jonathan took his destiny in his own hands by personally taking charge of his campaign.

In private sessions with his close aides, the President reportedly regretted not taking the initiative early enough, but vowed to give all it takes to make the best use of the remaining period of the campaign.

But as it later turned out, his intervention proved to be too little, too late as he lost to APC's Muhammadu Buhari.

Mu'azu angry At a review of the election held at the Presidential Villa, the President was also reported to have told his guests, which included his vice, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Mu'azu, Anenih, Senate President, David Mark, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, NWC

members among others that his concession notwithstanding, the party should challenge APC's victory at the tribunal.

The President allegedly added that his conceding defeat was for the sake of peace and stability of the country and that from reports he had received across the country, the election was allegedly rigged by the APC in connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

A decision was finally reached that the party should issue a strongly-worded statement personally signed by Mu'azu rejecting the results of the presidential election and its resolve to proceed to the Election Petition Tribunal.

Mu'azu, however, failed to carry out the presidential directive. He also allegedly refused all entreaties from some governors to do so.

His argument, it was learnt, was that since the President has conceded defeat, an act which received acclaim in both the local and international community, challenging the results would create tension in the country and dent the credibility of the President and that of the party.

From that point till now, Mu'azu has become a marked man or so to say. The ranks of those calling for his resignation has continued to swell even as it is not yet certain how he would navigate through the political landmines set on his path by aggrieved supporters of the outgoing president.

What is GEJ's stand?

Perhaps to buy time and allow tempers to cool, Mu'azu recently set up a PostElection Review Committee, headed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to ascertain the root and immediate causes for the party's dismal performance in the last elections and suggest the way forward.

The committee has met some senior members of the party, including President Jonathan, who urged members to close ranks and avoid making statements or engaging in acts capable of destroying the party.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

POLITICS

d house

Ibori's men return in Delta

His camp's Plan B Even as Mu'azu has reportedly appealed and extended the olive branch to aggrieved members, sources say his camp is allegedly working on a plan B in the event that his opponents refuse to give up.

Similar to the formation of the new PDP by some governors and chieftains early last year, supporters of Mu'azu are allegedly threatening to form a parallel PDP if those calling for his removal carry out their plan.

However, there are speculations that the President is disposed to Mu'azu's resignation in order to allow for a 'proper restructuring" of the party. His alleged stand is against the backdrop that the National Chairman allegedly worked against the party and the President at the elections.

Those for and against Mu'azu Almost all the PDP governors in the South-East and South-South are strongly in support of Mu'azu's resignation, The Nation learnt.

Curiously however, most outgoing PDP northern governors with the exception of Niger's Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, have kept mute on the issue.

As a source puts it, "Ibrahim Dankwambo and Idris Wada of Gombe and Kogi states are the two PDP governors in the North post-May 29. Even Wada's re-election in 2016 is hanging in the balance as APC appears to have gained tremendous ground in his state. The other governors have lost their states to APC, so no one is sure how they would react to Mu'azu's removal.

However if care is not taken, Mu'azu's removal could polarise PDP along the North/South divide."

If Mu'azu goes, what next?

Can Mu'azu survive the onslaught against him in the next couple of weeks?

The answer to this poser, said sources, would largely be determined by the disposition of PDP governors in the South, who, based on the results of the general elections, would constitute the new power base of the party from May 29.

From all indications, these governors would fund the party in the next four years and likely leverage on this to call the shots on who becomes what and how in the party.

A roll call of these governors includes Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa). They would be joined by newly elected governors, including Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ifeanyi Ugwanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Nyesome Wike (Rivers), Ben

UT for the twist of faith and the death of former President Umar Yar'Adua, Chief James Onanefe Ibori could have been the indisputable leader of the SouthSouth caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His influence was sluicing through regional barriers and crossing the Niger River to the North, East and West of Nigeria. In spite of that tragedy, Oghara, Delta State-born Ibori still would have commanded immense influence in the region, but for his brush with anti-corruption agencies over his management of the funds of the oil-rich state that he ruled - or plundered according to the EFCC - for eight years.

Yet, ardent followers and supporters of the convicted ex-governor are quick to point that his travails are due mostly to the fear of his immense influence and power by President Goodluck Jonathan, who he successfully upstaged during the brief Yar'Adua years. In spite of being the Number 2 Citizen, in those years, Goodluck Jonathan always came out a distance second best in his several brushes with Ibori, both in Aso Rock and regional politics.

However, in the twilight of the Jonathan administration, there are indications that Ibori is coming back stronger and pulling the strings, even from far away London, where he is serving the last of his 13 years jail term, following his guilty plea and eventual conviction for money laundering, on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, by Southwark Crown Court for his crimes. Although there is possibility that he could face further trial in Nigeria, the stigma has not dampened his political clout and followership both within and outside his state. He has friends across the political divides and still enjoys cooperation of his former colleagues, including very powerful members of the National Assembly.

Those who are conversant with the political landscape of Delta State during his reign could say that nothing much has changed from 1999 when the cherub-faced politician bestrode the scene like colossus' to 2015, when one of his former commissioners is waiting in the wings to take over the state's affairs on May 29.

Ibori's 'men' are back and still fully in control as indicated by the outcome of the last elections in the state. From the governor-elect (Senator Ifeanyi Okowa) to the three senators, there are few politicians in the state who can say 'no' to the man popular known as 'Odidigborigbo'.

One source said, "Rather than being tempered by his years in detention, Ibori has remained the power behind the throne in the state; not only because the outgoing governor is his brother, but the incoming administration is firmly in his sphere. There is a rumour now that the list of commissioners and other appointments being considered by Senator Okowa included 40 percent of names sent from London. The outgoing governor only has about 10 percent. That is to tell you how powerful Ibori still is in this state."

While the claim of the former governor getting 40 percent of the appointments seemed somewhat exaggerated, there is no doubt that the Ibori clique has bounced back strongly in the state. The list of those elected into the next republic and other appointments would firmly confirm this.

B Ayade (Cross River) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom).

• Anenih

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Eyes on 2019 Battle for the soul of PDP even as the next elections are still four years away, it was gathered, is said to be the underlying factor responsible for the ongoing brickbats in the party.

Whichever of the warring camps is in control of the party in the next four years, argued political pundits, would be well positioned to determine who eventually emerges as the party's presidential candidate and its governorship candidates in the 36 states in the 2019 general elections.

Who becomes new PDP leader?

As he steps down come May 29, there are conflicting reports on the outgoing president's game plan concerning his political future.

Not a few of his supporters are proposing him to take over from Chief Anthony Anenih as the Chairman, BOT of the party, while others counter that assuming the position would be demeaning of his status as a statesman.

Jonathan, however, is keeping his future plans close to his chest, a source in the PDP told The Nation.

So, who else in the PDP does the cap fit?

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who some chieftains of the party have reportedly pleaded with to return and lead the party, has already ruled himself out.

Another big fish being allegedly wooed is former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, whom many in the party argue, has the stature and resources to command a broadbased support across the country.

But this scenario remains unlikely, said sources close to the Turaki of Adamawa.

Another name being bandied is that of David Mark, the two terms Senate President.

Mark's success in ensuring the stability of the National Assembly for the last eight years, said sources, has positioned him as a potential leader of the PDP going forward.

What future awaits PDP? How the PDP overcomes its present challenges and come out stronger and better for it, political analysts posit, depends on the loyalty and discipline of its leaders to make the necessary sacrifices needed to make the party live up to its new-found status as the main opposition party both in words and in deeds.

From Uduaghan to Okowa From 1999 to 2007, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, outgoing and incoming governors respectively; Senator James Manager and Chief Ighoyota Amori formed a powerful axis of key confidant to Chief James Ibori.

Uduaghan, his blood cousin and childhood friend, was the Commissioner for Health from the beginning to the end of Ibori's first tenure.

He was appointed Secretary to the State Government on May 29, 2003; it was the first appointment made by Ibori immediately he took his oath of office during his second coming shortly after Ibori left the Asaba Cenotaph, venue of his inauguration.

The duo administered the state without commissioners for nearly three months. Even when appointments were later made, there wasn't any doubt that Uduaghan was the de facto governor; he held the rein of power while now embattled former governor travelled round the world in pursuit of further education and his business interests.

Those who knew the relationship between the cousins predicted, rightfully as it turned out, that the ground was being prepared for

• Ibori From Shola O'Neil, S'South Regional Editor, Port Harcourt the older cousin to take over from his more adventurous and political savvy younger sibling. Rewind to 2015 and Uduaghan is rounding up an eight-year two-tenure as governor.

At a keenly contested governorship primary of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) at Ogwashi-Uku, Uduaghan barely defeated Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. The outcome of the rancorous almost threw a spanner in the works of Ibori and that of the party in the state, as the defeated Okowa and his supporters reportedly threatened to work against Uduaghan's election.

Ibori stepped in swiftly and an amicable agreement was reached. A source in the know about the deal, said it led to Okowa's appointment as Uduaghan's SSG. The aggrieved Ika-born Okowa was asked to await his turn at the expiration of Uduaghan's eight-year tenure in 2015. As part of that deal, Okowa worked for and supported Uduaghan during the January 2011 re-run election and the proceeding election months later.

While awaiting his date with destiny, Okowa contested and won both the PDP senatorial primaries and general election to represent the Delta North Senatorial District in the upper house of the National Assembly in 2011.

Still, Okowa remained heavily linked to Ibori, who sources said had anointed him as Uduaghan's successor long ago. Although the incumbent had two other aspirants, the Ibori apparition loomed large, with his daughter actively campaigning and supporting Okowa, who had appointed her as one of his aides.

James Manager: Senator James Manager was the Ijaw element in the political quartet which wielded so much power under Ibori. He was the pioneer chairman of the PDP in the state and as Commissioner for Works; he was very powerful; so much so that when he left the position, the ministry he headed was split into three - Works, Housing and Transport.

He was the first to move to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a Senator in 2003.

His victory at the PDP primary was reminiscent of the tension and threat of war similar to the one that forced Uduaghan to backtrack on his ambition to succeed him in the December 2014 PDP Delta-South senatorial primary.

One school of thought said he was eased out because he was becoming too ambitious and uncontrollable, while another claimed that he was 'deployed' to the seat of power to prepare the way for Ibori's ambition at the bigger stage. He is widely seen as a diehard loyalist of Oghara-born political maestro and his closeness with the former governor has enabled him become the first politician to make a sensational fourth term return to the Red Chamber in the Delta South Senatorial District.

•Contd. on page 42

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• Mimiko

• George

• Akinjide

• Kashamu

removed as chairman. They don't have the power to do that. I am in Ibadan for the PDP South-West leadership executive meeting and we heard of their misdeed while there.

"I am still the chairman of Lagos PDP and nobody can remove me illegally. I am not a controversial person and I believe in doing my best. I have the singular opportunity to serve the party and I have done my best."

Defending allegation that he manipulated the party's gubernatorial primary, Shelle said "Jimi Agbaje remains the credible candidate that I know and my pedigree and integrity remains impeccable.

Only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has the powers to impeach me, definitely not Owokoniran and Olorunoje. They have missed it because they failed to follow the party's constitution."

Oyo In Oyo State, trouble returned to the embattled state chapter of the PDP following the suspension of the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide and Senator Ayo Adeseun from the party by the Yekinni Adeojo-led party caucus.

Consequently, the party, which suffered massive defeat at the last general elections, is now in turmoil as political gladiators continue a macabre dance of allegations and counter allegations that have seen the PDP in the state without a generally accepted leadership.

Party sources claim the suspension of both Akinjide and Adeseun followed suspicions that they worked against the governorship candidate of the PDP, Senator Teslim Folarin, during the April 11 gubernatorial election in the state, resulting in the disgraceful fourth place position of the party in the election A former state chairman of the party, Alhaji Kunmi Mustafa, a PDP leader in Ogbomoso, Chief Saka Balogun, and a former House of Representatives member, Dr. Maroof Akinwande, were also suspended from the party for anti-party activities.

But a prominent member of the party in the state, Chief Olopeeyan, said the suspension of Akinjide and others cannot stand. He condemned Adeojo and the state executive members of the party over what he described as a move capable of truncating the relative peace in the party.

Ogun In Ogun State, the pre-election crisis that pitched Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu against all other renowned PDP leaders in the state is not abating; rather, it is escalating with strong indication that a mass exodus of members and stalwarts is currently looming.

Recently, a former chairman of the House of Representatives' Committee on Aviation, Hon. Dave Salako, warned the national leadership of the PDP to either correct all the wrongs done by Kashamu or watch the

party in the state move from one crisis to another.

At the wake of the crisis, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and eight other aspirants had boycotted the party's governorship primary election which produced defeated candidate, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka.

Bankole had been joined by the Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Jubril Martins-Kuye groups in rejecting the results of the primaries conducted by the Kashamu faction. But the national leadership of the party supported Kashamu and his people in having their ways.

Sources within the party say the disgruntled factions are now moving for a change in the leadership of the party in the state. Expectedly, the Buruji Kashamubacked executive committee is insisting on finishing its tenure next year before bowing out of office.

"The situation on the party in our state is such that there is no acceptable leadership. Party chieftains are at loggerheads and the members are confused. Things are so bad that many members are contemplating dumping the party and joining other parties.

Several peace meetings called before and after the elections yielded no fruit as Dimeji Bankole and others are insisting that Kashamu must relinquish the control of the party to them for peace to reign. Of course, the Senator-elect sees himself as the leader of the party in the state for now," Diran Layode, a former party executive in the state, said.

Ondo And in Ondo State, two parallel executive committees continue to battle for the soul of the PDP. With the not too impressive performance of the ruling party at the last general elections, Governor Olusegun Mimiko is being blamed by old party leaders, for the trouble in the party.

The Mimiko backed faction of the party, led by the State Commissioner for Community Development at the land Cooperative Service, Clement Faboyede, is struggling to put aggrieved members in check as it labours to rebuild a badly battered party inherited by Mimiko following his defection from the Labour Party (LP) last year.

However, the old PDP members, who are still furious over the manner the governor cornered all party tickets for his cronies, have regrouped under a factional chairman, Mr. Olu Ogunye.

Prominent PDP leaders, like the party's gubernatorial candidate in the last governorship election in the state, Sola Oke, State Coordinator for SURE-P, Adedayo Omolafe, Hon. Martins Abiloye, Femi Adekanmbi, Bamgbe Atimise, Olabisi Johnson, amongst others, are with the Ogunye faction.

PDP: South-West chapters no longer at ease

The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems more pronounced in the South-West chapters reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

H

ARD TIMES are really here for ousted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the gale of crises that have been rocking the ruling party since its unexpected defeat at the last general elections. The latest of the troubling news concerning President Goodluck Jonathan's embattled party is the confusion now brewing in its SouthWest chapters.

As things stand, it would not be wrong to say the state chapters of the PDP in the South-West, as well as its zonal structure in the region, are seriously threatened by infightings arising from allegations and counter allegations over the handling of the last elections.

Consequently, suspensions and counter suspensions of leading chieftains, as well as forceful removal of party chairmen and other executive committee members, are now the order of the day as PDP in states like Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ondo struggle to shake off the crippling effect of their poor performance at the last general elections.

Sources within the party say the confusion rocking the state chapters is not unconnected with the power tussle playing out at the national level where some leaders of the party are vigorously seeking to remove Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu from office as the national chairman of the party.

Several bigwigs of the party are blaming Mu'azu for the loss and demanding his resignation, but the national chairman has repeatedly fired back at his critics that he would not resign despite the pressure being mounted on him to do so.

Muazu's refusal to step down and allow for a new leadership to take charge of the post -election affairs of the party has pitched him and his executives against some prominent chieftains, including serving governors and aides of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, according to reports.

Consequently, the party is divided, down to the zonal and state chapters across the country, along the lines of those who want Mu'azu to continue in office and those who want to see him out of the chairmanship at all cost. The two groups, sources say, now have their loyalists struggling for the control of the party at all levels.

"What we are seeing in the state chapters are fallouts of the power struggle at the top. The two factions struggling to pocket the party at the national level now have their allies struggling at the zonal and state chapters.

All these allegations and counter allegations are as a result of the disagreement at the national level. And unless this is quickly addressed, PDP is treading on a very dangerous path. It may be the party's road to extinction.

For a party that has to start learning how to be in opposition after 16 years in power, I'm afraid in-fighting is not the best way to begin," Comrade Lukas Ngo-Martins, a former state executive committee member of the party in Delta State told The Nation.

Lagos In Lagos State, where it appears as if junior Interior Minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, and former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Bode George, are back to their fighting days, the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the party, Mr. Tunji Shelle, has been relieved of his duties.

According to reports that emanated from the party secretariat last Monday, the Executive Committee of the party sacked Shelle, for allegedly misusing election campaign funds.

It was also gathered that the decision of the committee to sack the state chairman is based on the belief that, the ex-party chairman allegedly manipulated the party's primaries last year, a development that led to the defeat of the PDP at the polls.

The committee appointed Kamaldeen Olorunoje, a staunch ally of Obanikoro's, to hold the office in acting capacity.

Speaking to The Nation on the matter, Olounoje, said Shelle was impeached by his colleagues in the state executive committee on the strength of the report of a disciplinary committee set up to investigate some allegations leveled against him.

"He (Shelle) unilaterally rendered the PDP structure inactive before, during and after the general elections without the approval of the executive committee. He allocated funds to various party members and officials according to his wishes without seeking the approval of the State Working Committee (SWC).

He hijacked the functions of the party's treasurer and secretary, to the extent that the money received by the party was outsourced to a third party who keeps it in his bank account and disburses from it and party guideline on payment for nomination form was breached by allowing his favoured aspirants to collect forms without payment."

But Shelle, who came out barely an hour after his alleged removal to create further confusion by insisting that he is still the chairman of the party in the state, said his alleged impeachment is illegal and cannot stand.

"Nobody should take this bunch of unserious people serious; I have not been

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

‘The Ogbonnaya Onu that I know’

I

T was about 32 years ago, when I was already an employer of labour having established my first Company, Chel Water Nigeria Limited, that I met Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, a brilliant, self-effacing and consummate academic, when he was a member of the Board of Directors of Nigercem Nkalagu, now in Ebonyi State. Our friendship has remained unbroken and waxed from strength to strength. It is therefore my singular honour and privilege to write about a man I have been very closely associated with for over three decades.

Onu was born on 1st December, 1951, to the family of His Royal Highness, Late Eze David Aba Onu, Eze Adu of Uburu in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State in Nigeria. The academic brilliance of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu manifested very early when he obtained Grade One with Distinction in his West African School Certificate examination at Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. He went further to obtain distinctions in Physics and Chemistry at the Higher School Certificate Examination at the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu, graduating as the best overall student. In 1976, he graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos (Unilag). He later obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering (without passing through a Masters degree) at the reputable University of California, Berkeley, California, USA, in 1980.

On returning to Nigeria, Onu taught at the University of Port Harcourt as the Pioneer Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. On several occasions he served as the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt. He was also elected as a member of the Governing Council of the University. Onu did not limit himself to acquiring high grade certificates in academic institutions; he had time for extracurricular activities where he also excelled. His capabilities as a leader of his peers and others shorn like a thousand stars. A few examples will suffice. While in the University of California, Berkeley, he was President of the African Students Union. He was also a member of the Graduate Assembly of the University of California at Berkeley as well as the President of the Nigerian Association of Northern California Incorporated (Inc). Back in Nigeria, Dr. Onu served as the President General of the Old Boys Association of his Alma Mata, Izzi High School Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

While in Port-Harcourt, Onu became President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt. He was also the Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers of Old Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States' Chapter. Dr. Onu was a pioneer National President of Raw Materials Society of Nigeria. The Society ceased to exist when the Federal Government established the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and Dr. Onu served as a member of the first Board of Governors of the Council.

When he delved into partisan politics, his attributes as an articulate political strategist and sagacity manifested and blossomed. Not many will remember that Onu was an aspirant for the Senatorial seat in the Old Imo State on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). That attempt could well be referred to as Onu's political baptism, as he did not emerge to become the candidate. But having stepped out in the political arena there was no looking back for the ebullient and calculative personality.

Upon the creation of Abia State and partial return of Nigeria to partisan politics by the General Ibrahim Babaginda military

• Onu

By Chekwas Okorie administration, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu joined the Nigerian Republican Convention (NRC) and threw his hat in the ring to contest for the governorship nomination of his party with the legitimate ambition to become the first elected governor of the newly created state on the platform of his party. I remember accompanying him to consult a number of party big wigs and major stakeholders in Abia State. We went to Dr. Chris Adighije at his Olokoro country home in Umuahia. Dr. Adighije later became a Senator of the Federal Republic. He was helpful in securing the support of Chief B.B. Akpugo, a major power broker in Abia State and NRC and a few other opinion leaders in the state. My late Uncle, Mr. J. U. Agwu, a Permanent Secretary in the First Republic government of M. I. Okpara, stood solidly with Dr. Onu at that time and their friendship endured until my uncle died. I remember us reaching out to these leaders with traditional kolanuts as tradition demanded and very affordable modest drinks. Dr. Onu did not get into the gubernatorial race with a large war chest, but his integrity, sincerity of purpose, humility, clear understanding of what he wished for Abia State and a high dose of political sagacity were some of his strong attributes. Whoever he encountered just once was convinced to support his candidature. In spite of paucity of funds, Onu won the nomination of the NRC in Abia State to fly the party's governorship flag and proceeded to sweep the polls at the governorship election to become the first elected Governor of Abia State in 1992. It was a near miracle to move from the classroom as a university teacher to win a governorship election in Igbo land where money is a major issue. It was in that year, 1992, that Dr. Onu appointed me as a member of Abia State University Governing Council.

As the beloved he set out from the very onset to introduce landmark reforms in the state, he introduced free maternal healthcare programme.

Security of lives and property were considerably enhanced, such that within a single year, the Abia State Police Command received two letters of commendation from the Inspector-General of Police. He abolished the state of origin syndrome in Abia State and proceeded to appoint non-indigenes of Abia State into his government.

This was to underscore his belief in Nigeria's unity as an instrument for national integration and development. It was Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu that founded the Abia State Polytechnics in Aba; he established the College of Education at Arochukwu and attracted the Michael Okpara Federal University of Agriculture at Umudike, near Umuahia. Dr. Onu established the Abia Broadcasting Corporation in Abia State as well as the National Ambassadors Newspaper which then won several awards as the best state-

owned newspaper. He achieved all these within a period a little more than 20 months with federal allocation ranging between 40 and 60 million naira monthly.

It was Dr. Onu that christened Abia State "GOD'S OWN STATE" and symbolized his noble dream for the state by building the "Abia Tower of Peace". At the resumption of partisan politics in 1999, Onu emerged as the first presidential flag bearer of the then All Peoples Party (APP) which was later known as All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). I was a member of the national caucus of APP. Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu with whom I joined the party, became a member of the Board of Trustees of APP. Other notable Igbo members of APP at that time included Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Arthur Nzeribe, late Chief Evan Enwerem, Dr. Joshua Odunna, etc. It is to Dr. Onu's eternal credit that he showed an unalloyed loyalty to the party in the spirit of the supremacy of party and as a true democrat that he submitted to the directive of the party leadership to relinquish his position as presidential flag bearer to pave the way for Dr. Olu Falae of Alliance for Democracy (AD) to become the presidential flag bearer of APP in a curious political alliance between AD and APP. While all the notable members of APP moved out of the party at different times and for different reasons, Dr. Onu remained committed to the party. Little wonder his fellow party men and women in September 2010 in recognition of Dr. Onu's rare political fidelity, discipline, steadfastness and exemplary commitment to the party's ideals elected him as the National Chairman of the party.

It was from this privileged position that he proceeded to reposition the ANPP that was already degenerating to a regional party and brought the party back to national reckoning. Onu as the leader of the foremost opposition party in the country which by extension made him the defacto leader of opposition in Nigeria, led his party to a historic merger with the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, which was ultimately registered as All Progressives Congress (APC) on July 31, 2013. Dr. Onu is a member of Board of Trustees of APC and was appointed by the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, as a member of his transition committee.

Onu is the author of many books and has garnered awards and chieftaincy titles too numerous to be accommodated in this brief piece. He is married to Dr. Chinyere Onu with children who like their parents are upwardly mobile.

I wish to conclude this brief narrative by acknowledging from personal experience of more than 30 years of unbroken friendship with Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu that he is a first class gentleman whose word is his bond.

Any understanding reached with Ogbonnaya Onu is bankable. There is no difference between written and unwritten agreement as far as he is concerned. His integrity, sincerity and honesty are incomparable. His humility is disarming. Betrayal and inordinate ambition are vices that are alien to Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu's personality. Entrust him with a sensitive national responsibility, you can sleep with your two eyes closed.

It is a common saying that if you show me your friend and I will show you who you are. I am therefore privileged to refer to Onu as my friend and brother. I urge all his friends to continue to pray for him in his stride to continue to render service to his fatherland as destiny beckons on him.

–Chief Okorie is the National Chairman and 2015 Presidential Candidate of UPP.

POLITICS

39

Enugu: Ugwuanyi’s consolidation plan

O

N May 29, 2015, Enugu State will be among the states that will join the Federal Government of Nigeria to witness the inauguration of new administration at the national and state levels.

The significance of this epochmaking event lies in the fact that Nigerian democracy through the outcome of the just concluded general elections has gained its firm footing in the scheme of things and maintained its pride of place, not only in the continent of Africa but also in the global world.

It has also proved cynics who predicted doom for the country wrong.

Enugu being a state strongly controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the inception of the present democratic dispensation in 1999, has witnessed tremendous progress, made possible through the visionary leadership of the incumbent Governor Sullivan I. Chime. His vision for the state, which he unveiled immediately after he took over the mantle of leadership in 2007 brought rapid transformation, especially in the areas of good governance, infrastructural development, peace and security. This was made possible through his 4-Point Agenda which was adopted to aggressively tackle the decays in the socio-economic and political system of the state.

His administration's blueprint, namely, Service Delivery, Physical Infrastructure, Economic Expansion and Employment and Rural Development was not only an integral part of the policy thrust of the PDP in line with its manifesto; it was also a "social contract" between the PDP government and the people of Enugu State.

Today, it will not be out of place to state that the PDP-led government of Governor Sullivan Chime, as it winds down its administration, can beat its chest and boast that it has delivered on its promises to the people of the state through the implementation of its 4-Point Agenda.

Many believe that Chime's administration has done well in the areas of road construction and rehabilitation, agriculture, transportation, housing, and promotion of peace and security in the state, among others, and will be remembered for this legacy he will be leaving behind in a few days to come. They also believe that his achievements endeared the people to his party, the PDP and brought enormous fortunes, most especially during the electioneering process.

It was, no doubt, on the premise of the above, that the GovernorElect of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, during his electoral campaigns, did announce his resolve to wholeheartedly adopt the principles of the 4-Point Agenda of Chime's administration, through "Seamless Continuity and Consolidation".

Ugwuanyi's decision in this regard, according to him, during his acceptance speech as the Governor-Elect of Enugu State at the PDP Campaign office in Enugu, was also based on the fact that "Government is a continuum.

And when a people are lucky to have been blessed with a foresighted leader who has laid a solid foundation for the socioeconomic development of our State within the last eight years, it is only rational to continue and consolidate that vision".

He went further to add: "I reaffirm my commitment to seeing through the legacy of the Present 4-Point Agenda, namely: Physical Infrastructure, Economic Expansion and Employment, Rural Development, and Service

By Louis Onyebuchi

Delivery and to usher in the New 4-Point Agenda namely; Employment Generation, Social Services and Good Governance, Rural Development, Security and Justice, both running concurrently".

The incoming governor, who went into rhetoric in driving home his message of absolute commitment to build upon the gains of the present 4-Point Agenda, literally exclaimed: "Let the word go forth from here to the heights of the undulating hills of Udi; take the word to the elevations of Nsukka; let the tidings go forth to the farmlands of Nkanu land and indeed to every nook and cranny of the Coal City state that seamless continuity and consolidation have come".

From the foregoing, it became clear that Ugwuanyi, while sticking to the principles of continuity of the laudable programmes and policies of the present PDP government in Enugu State, also unveiled a new 4Point Agenda, implicitly articulated to consolidate on the gains of the legacy of the outgoing administration for the continued development of the state.

Ugwuanyi's new vision and philosophy of governance, intrinsically ideological, speak volume and present a systematic road map towards building a greater Enugu State.

For instance, under his "Employment Generation" agenda, Ugwuanyi promised to pursue the goal of employment generation in the state through "investment promotion, agriculture, skill enhancement and provision of critical public utilities and infrastructure". In actualizing these, he intends to attract more private investment to the state through policies and programmes that would provide enabling environment for businesses and other economic engagements. He also intends to continue with the construction of critical intercommunity and urban roads while ensuring that the existing road network in the state are maintained adequately.

In all, Ugwuanyi promised to continue to adopt the process of consultation with the people at various levels to give them a sense of belonging and fair hearing in the conduct of government business. In this regard, he pledged to adopt the principles of fairness, equity and justice in the allocation of government resources and distribution of public amenities, among others for the greater glory of the state.

As the Coal City State gleams in the eyes of this "Seamless Continuity and Consolidation", many believe that Ugwuanyi who had emphasized that "there is work to be done" has the required experience, vision and commitment to take the State to greater heights. I wish him a resounding success!

–Onyebuchi, writes from Enugu.

• Ugwuanyi

40

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

POLITICS

Lagos Speaker: Will zoning be jettisoned?

As the race for the next Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly peaks, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports on the leading aspirants' chances against the debate on zoning

T

HERE are strong indications that a certain zoning formula expected to be adopted by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Lagos State House of Assembly to fill leadership positions in Assembly may be jettisoned.

As the 8th session of the Assembly is expected to convene in June to elect its leadership and commence its proceedings, the expectation within and outside the party is that the position of the Speaker of the Assembly will be ceded to only lawmakers from the Lagos Central Senatorial District.

The assumption that the position will be zoned to the zone may have been informed by the need for the party to carry the people of Lagos Central along in the scheme of things. With the emergence of Akinwunmi Ambode from Lagos East as governor and Oluranti Adebule from Lagos West as deputy governor, many observers have given the speakership to the Central Senatorial District.

However, ahead of the inauguration of the 8th session in June, strong indications have emerged that the party's leadership in the state may have decided to allow the Assembly members a free hand in selecting its leadership, especially the next Speaker.

Party sources told The Nation that a pressing need to ensure the emergence of a capable and dependable individual as the next helmsman of the state legislature is responsible for the decision to lay less emphasis on the alleged expected zoning arrangement that would have kept lawmakers outside the central district out of the race.

The Nation also learnt that previous precedence where expectations of zoning formula were dashed in preference for stability and competence in the leadership of the legislature are being cited by the promoters of the new thinking within and outside the ruling party, to support their call for the election of the next House leadership based on merit and competence.

"The situation we found ourselves as party leaders after the last general election is such that we must be very cautious and proactive in the way we handle the management of Lagos State henceforth.

Things are rapidly changing and we must also adjust with the change if we are to remain in government for a longer time.

In the next Assembly, we are going to have eight vibrant opposition members from our arch-rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Not only are they PDP members, some are also nonindigenes elected into the House with bloc votes. We have never had such situations on our hands before. Such a large and critical opposition has never been in the legislature before now.

We must consider all these in deciding who leads the next House if we

are desirous of a peaceful and effective administration. The Speaker must be the most competent and the most capable of the people qualified to aspire. For this to happen, less emphasis must be placed on zoning," a state party official from Lagos Mainland Local Government, told our reporter.

The Nation learnt that the possibility of the zoning arrangement being ignored in the emergence of the next Speaker may be responsible for the ongoing scramble for the coveted positions by about six ranking returning legislators, including those who are not from Lagos Central.

Currently, the list of those keenly interested in the speakership include Honourables S.O.B Agunbiade, a third term legislator from Ikorodu area of Lagos East Senatorial District, Mudasiru Obasa from Agege in the Lagos West Senatorial District and Funmilayo Tejuoso, who was Deputy

AN you tell us the gains and pains of the last elections, only 20 of you are coming back and almost all the principal officers are going and the Deputy Speaker of LSHA, who is the most experienced lawmaker in the Assembly, would not be coming back. How do you think this would affect the Assembly?

When you lose, you have the pains, there is no doubt that the current Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly is an asset to the House by experience and we would miss that; there is no doubt that some legislators who make the plenary what it is are not returning right from the primaries and the elections and the effect of that is that we would be having 20 new persons coming to replace 20 lawmakers that are not coming back. We would miss the fact that we have worked and lived with some people for four years or eight years, and this presupposes some intimacy and affections, all of this would tell on us.

You are fond of some people, you would remember the good times you have spent with some people, but the consolation is that God has reasons for everything, and there is no way a large number of people can always be together forever. My own philosophy of life is that every human being is an infinitesimal unit of life, you have come to play a role and when the role is completed, you would leave to play another role. So, I won't be surprised that some of these people, who are not returning to the House, might take up some responsibilities higher than the House and they can still render their services to humanity. Again, you would make new friends, the gains is that our party, through which we were elected, has now been incorporated into the federal level because we control the federal and that will make our resolutions and aspirations to be accomplished without the undue interference of political intrigues of the party in opposition or the party in power against the opposition.

All those ones would go and you can be sure

C

• Agunbiade

Speaker between June 2007 and August 2009 before she was impeached, from Mushin in the West Senatorial District too.

Others are Olanrewaju Osun from Lagos Mainland in the Central Senatorial District, Wasiu Esinlokun, who is the immediate past chairman of Lagos Island Local Government in the Central Senatorial District, and once served in the Lagos Assembly 1999 to 2003 and Rotimi Abiru

from Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos East Senatorial District.

Of the six, some pundits readily put the race down to a contest among Agunbiade, Oshun, Tejuoso and Eshilokun. Reasons adduced for this permutation range from competence to popularity as well as party influence. But with the party likely to allow the legislators make their own choices, some say it may be difficult for both Eshilokun and Tejuoso to go far in the race.

'Speaker of 8th Lagos Assembly sho Hon. Sanai Agunbiade represents Ikorodu constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly. He is the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions. In this interview with some Assembly correspondents, Agunbiade who has his eyes on the speakership seat speaks on what the 8th Assembly would look like and qualities the Speaker of the 8th Assembly must possess. Oziegbe Okoeki reports that the bills we passed into laws in creating an additional 37 local governments would have a quick passage because we have the majority in the National Assembly. So, attending to the Bill would not be in vain and we would now see our LCDAs transforming into local governments and that would boost development in the local governments and it would further expand the dividends of democracy to the people of Lagos State by the party. The local governments and the LCDAs would flourish; these are some of the gains the election has brought to us. The election has also shown us that Nigeria is coming of age because the introduction of card readers and PVCs were able to eliminate rigging and now we can say that the votes of individuals counted in the elections that have just been concluded.

We can say that we have won by the people's mandate and nobody can accuse us of rigging.

We were accredited and we voted and the number of accredited voters tallied with the number of votes cast and we can say that there was no case of the number of voters exceeding the number of accredited voters. So, all these are bringing the electoral process into conformity with international standard and we know that the other problem would be attended to and in due process, they would be attended to in the next election and we would have smoother and better elections.

Now that you have 20 returning lawmakers and 20 new lawmakers, what are your expectations of the coming assembly?

My expectation of the coming assembly is that we would have crossfire of debates because

the way we would see things might not be the way members in the opposition in the 8th Assembly would see it. There are times, when we have to argue some things on party lines, there were times we saw things in the 7th Assembly on party lines and we would all agree, but in the 8th Assembly, you would expect some digressions; you would expect some antagonism based on the philosophy of the party and based on the manifestoes of the party. So, you would see due considerations and you would see shades of opinions and debates and I want to believe that the caliber of the people that are coming, we should expect more robust and constructive debates. Though it may be very hot, and some undue party colouration and I believe that all of us would work together in the interest of the development of Lagos State and in line with democratic tenets and institution called the legislature and we would look at Bills for laws from different perspectives. The challenge would be that we are all humans and there would be mutual suspicion of marginalisation because the new members are just coming and it would take time before they learn how things are done. Things that you would see as that is how it is done, people that are just coming are from different backgrounds; if they raise an issue that is not properly supported, they may feel that it is the victimization of the majority.

But we will make them see the way things are done and we would expect them to take time to learn the way things are done in the Assembly. So, they have to be very patient and they have to be ready to collaborate with those

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

POLITICS

• Oshun

• Tejuoso

Following her impeachment as Deputy Speaker of the House in 2009, Tejuoso has tried severally to return as a principal officer of the House but have always been turned down by her colleagues who feel she is not deserving of another opportunity.

"Hon. Tejuoso is a fantastic lawmaker in her own right but it is unlikely she will get the support of our people in her aspiration to be Speaker. This is because a good number of us who witnessed the events

that led to her removal in 2009 are still around. About ten of us who were in the House then have been re-elected. So, with such records as hers, it is unlikely if we would want to elect her Speaker," a member of the House said.

Speaking further, our source said Eshinlokun's major challenge is the fact that only three of his colleagues in the 1999 to 2003 session would be returning to the House.

"We really cannot say much about Eshinlokun's capability as a leader. We didn't meet him in the House. Only three of his colleagues would be returning to the Assembly when we reconvene. So, I don't see how we will decide to give the speakership to a man we really don't know as a legislator," he said.

For Agunbiade, who is being urged on by some of his colleagues based on his credentials, zoning remains the only

together, both new and old, legislators of the ruling party and those of the opposition party.

We must be futuristic and at the end of the 8th Assembly, they should think of where they want the Assembly to be and it should be higher than where we are now to uphold the principle of the Lagos State House of Assembly being above the common standard of excellence. We also expect the leadership that would be able to convince Lagos residents that the 8th Assembly is an improvement over the 7th Assembly in the quality of the laws we make, in the human capital development in terms of training, transformation of the institution to a point of reckoning in the state. The leadership of the House should be passionate about the manifestoes of the party, and give democratic dividends to the people of Lagos State. I look forward to a leadership that would bring about the enabling environment to the governor that would be taking over in the state; they should be able to make the institution of the legislature that would make the new executive to surpass the achievement of the current executive of the state. So, at the end of the day, the people of Lagos State can say 'thank God, we are getting better than we were in 2015.'

Do you see the eight lawmakers from the PDP coming into the Assembly defecting to the APC as we have had before?

I don't want to count my chicks before they are hatched; they are individuals, they are adults and presumably they are exposed. There is freedom of association and if they see reasons for identifying with the progressives and they can justify whatever they do within the ambit of the law, we would welcome them. I want to say that the environment should be enabling enough to erase party coloration such that anytime you are coming here; you are coming to our House of Assembly rather than their House of Assembly. So, the effect of this would allow party colouration to fizzle out; they may come in as PDP and leave the House as APC members.

Can we say there are some constraints that worked against certain goals of the House and with the slogan 'Change,' can the Lagos State House of Assembly key into this?

I don't see any government that has done it all, no government can do everything; government is a continuum, so every government would continue, where its predecessor ends it. You set goals, but before the exit of man on earth, you cannot accomplish all your goals. If you have to live your life again, you have to continue, where you stopped, I want to say that the 7th Assembly really tried in human capital development, lawmaking, representation, institutional building and all that. Whatever that is left to be accomplished is the duty of the next Assembly and I pray that God Almighty would help us to be able to put in place the leadership that will continue the dream, the vision of the Assembly and accomplish the dreams of the forefathers of Lagos State to further actualize the manifestoes of our party.

The price of crude oil has fallen and many people are scared of the ability of the government to fund a lot of projects and other things and people are calling for diversification of the economy, how do you think this can be achieved?

We don't have to be monolithic and any businessman would want to maximize his profit. Nigeria as a country has a lot of mineral resource untapped; it has a lot of economic potentials, it is time now for us to tap into the untapped resources as well as venture into the various economic potentials that we have really identified. Lagos State in particular is planning for its tourism potentials and people are encouraging Nigeria to tap into her potentials so that we would generate a lot of income through that. It is to the advantage of Nigeria if we generate income from different aspects of our endeavour. We cannot continue to sit on gold and cry of hunger; we should use what we have to get what we want, so I support diversification of our economy.

mbly should be good crisis manager'

• Agunbiade that they meet there, they should also be able to have it at the back of their mind that they may be from different political platform, they must know that they are representatives of their constituencies, who are of different political parties and since they have voted for them, their interest must merge into one, and it should be brought to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

What do you expect in picking the new principal officers of the state house of assembly?

Well, I pray that God would guide us right.

I would expect that the leadership of the new dispensation should be crisis managers, they should be able to anticipate crisis of opinions, ideas, perceptions and when you anticipate, you would prepare to harmonise opinions with the transparency of your leadership to win the confidence of everybody, such that when you disagree with a man, he would have confidence in you that you are not disagreeing out of malice, but out of principle and procedure. The leadership should bring all of the people

41

albatross. And with the indications that an open contest may be declared, he is looking very good to emerge as the next helmsman of the Lagos Assembly.

Reacting to insinuations that he may not be keen about the speakership, Agunbiade said he is very much interested in the job but quickly added that he is also committed to the decision of his party.

"I am not in any way lukewarm about this aspiration. I want to serve Lagos State in the capacity of the Speaker of the next session of the Assembly. It is an aspiration I am very serious about. But like every loyal party man, I am conscious of the fact that the party must be respected at all times," he said.

Giving reasons why he is in the race, Agunbiade said, "I would expect that the leadership of the new dispensation should be crisis managers, they should be able to anticipate crisis of opinions, ideas, perceptions and when you anticipate, you would prepare to harmonise opinions with the transparency of your leadership to win the confidence of everybody such that when you disagree with a man, he would have confidence in you that you are not disagreeing out of malice, but out of principle and procedure.

The leadership should bring all of the people together, both new and old, legislators of the ruling party and those of the opposition party. We must be futuristic and at the end of the 8th Assembly, they should think of where they want the Assembly to be and it should be higher than where we are now to uphold the principle of the Lagos State House of Assembly being above the common standard of excellence. These are the reasons why I think I am the next man for the job," he explained.

For Oshun, the zoning argument remains his best chance to get the job.

Following the low rating of Eshinlokun for the speakership by his critics, many pro-zoning agitators have thrown their weight behind the Lagos Mainland lawmaker.

"The central district cannot afford to lose the speakership for whatever reason.

Even if Eshinlokun is not fit for the job, we have another candidate in Lanre Oshun from the Mainland. What is fair is fair and we will insist on this till the end," a party leader from Lagos Island told our reporter.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

POLITICS

APC finding feet in Bayelsa

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Still on the 'coup' in Lagos PDP

HE defection of Senator Clever Ikisikpo, the lawmaker representing Bayelsa East, President Goodluck Jonathan's constituency, has continued to generate ripples in the state. Others who defected alongside Ikisikpo include Nadu Karibo, a serving member of the House of Representatives from the state; Azibola Omekwe, reprensenting Ogbia Constituency 1; Hon Fini Angaye , Kolokuma/Opukuma Constituency 2 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, former Ogbia Local Government chairman, Hon Innocent Kaku and a chieftain of the party, Nadari Banigo. Sources disclosed that the immediate former governor of the state, Timipre Sylvia, is the brain behind the defections, even as many close associates of the President have also finalised plans to join APC in the next few weeks.

HE age-long hostility that has characterised the relationship between the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro and Chief Olabode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has reared its ugly head again, albeit this time with more fury and venom. A few days ago, some members of the state chapter announced the removal of its Chairman, Mr. Tunji Shelle, a move allegedly sponsored by Obanikoro to clip George's wings and take control of the party apparatus.

Expectedly, George, not known to shy away from a battle, has declared Shelle's removal as a failed coup that is of no effect, null and void. Feelers in the party, however, indicate that a group of nonaligned members of the party believe that both George and Obanikoro should hands off the party for peace to reign.

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• George

• Obanikoro

Oke Ogun APC leaders battle Koleosho

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lleged attempts by Chief Adeniyi Koleosho to reintegrate himself back into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State is not going down well with leaders of the party in the Oke Ogun area of the state. In the run-up to the governorship elections, Koleosho, a former Secretary to the State Government in the late Lam Adesinaled administration, allegedly campaigned for the governorship aspiration of Adebayo Alao-Akala, the Labour Party (LP) candidate. The massive victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the Oke Ogun area reportedly shocked Koleosho, who reportedly made a volte face claiming he made Ajimobi's success possible. But APC leaders in the zone, led by former deputy governor, Iyiola Oladokun, have vowed to resist Koleosho, who they allege has never hidden his dislike for the governor.

• Sylvia

• Ikisikpo

• Koleosho

Ibori's men return in Delta •Contd. from page 37 Ighoyota Amori Chief Ighoyota Amori is the Senator-elect on the platform of the PDP to represent the Urhobo people, who are mainly in Delta Central Senatorial District of the state. He is a man who prides himself as the alter ego of Chief James Ibori.

Amori, like Ibori, hails from Ethiope West LGA of the state and he is believed to be instrumental to Ibori's victory in 1999. He was very powerful in the eight year administration of the Ibori, so much so that he assumed the sobriquet of 'Odidimadi'.

He was believed to have used his relationship with the governor to influence the appointment of his loyalists into key positions. It was an open secret that the former governor allotted the Urhobo parts of the state as a fiefdom to Mosogarborn Amori.

At the height of his prominence in the state's politics under Ibori, he was seen as the kingmaker, not only in the politics of his locality and senatorial district, but in the state.

Although he was demystified by the outcome of the governorship primaries and the subsequent election, Amori remained close to Ibori. Sources say he pays regular visits to his 'Leader' in London and usually returns with a political compass for the caged politician's followers.

Delta State House of Assembly On the other hand, Ibori's first child and daughter, Erhiatake (Take for short) is also warming up to take a seat in the State House of Assembly after her victory in the April 11 election on the platform of the PDP. Power brokers in the state told our reporter that she would easily have been made the Speaker but for the rule that a first timer cannot assume the highest post in the House.

However, it is not only in Take and the other highflyers that the 'legacies' of Ibori has endured in the political scene of the state. His followers and supporters still hold very high elective political positions and appointments in all facets of the state's politics from the House of Representatives to the State Assembly and even local government councils.

The member representing Uvwie, Sapele and Okpe Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, Hon Evelyn Oboro, is a known fanatical supporter of the former governor, who mentored and played a key role in her emergence as Chairman of Uvwie LGA during his tenure.

She is returning to the Green Chamber for a record second term in the Uvwie, Okpe and Sapele Federal Constituency.

The incoming State Assembly also has a plethora of Ibori loyalists from the fourth term Hon Daniel Mayuku, Chairman House Committee on Appropriation to Speakership candidate, Hon Monday Igbuya, Talib Tebite and Tim Owhefere to greenhorns like Chief Michael Diden, a former Chairman of Warri North LGA and DESOPADEC commissioner; Reuben Izezi, a former student activist, who got his first political appointment under the former governor; Hon Orezi Esievo, who was drafted from Shell Petroleum Development Company and appointed a commissioner by the former governor and Toju Abigor among others.

It is against the background of the above scenario that the fate ahead of Ibori and the outgoing President is strikingly contrasting. Although he was tamed, the situation on ground in Delta State and with his key allies still occupying prominent positions in the two main political parties, APC and PDP, nobody who truly understands Nigerian politics would want to bet against Ibori getting the last laugh.

Wada's health status worries Kogites

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HE alleged poor health condition of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State is giving people of the state serious concern, it was gathered. His absence at last week's Council of States meeting at the Presidential Villa was attributed to his health condition, which has generated controversy in the state. But aides of the governor say the report of the governor's alleged ill health was unfounded.

They contend that his absence at the COS meeting was nothing unusual, as he was not the only governor not present at the session.

• Wada

48

New WOMAN

IN VOGUE

By Kehinde Oluleye

Tel: 08023689894 (sms) E-mail: kehinde.oluleye@thenationonlineng.net

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

New WOMAN

49

Beauty

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ss Meg Otanwa's OLLYWOOD actre s been beyond e ha style in recent tim style by itself is 's eg reproach. M shionista's minutes of any fa worthy of a few dressed consideration. months, Meg has skirt Over the last few om fr slew of situations . But es with aplomb in a ec pi er stunning dinn ost m & blouse wear to us s ha at tion style th na bi m co r he s it' rb into enamored. ing this simple ga and The keys to turn s ou ni class are inge erials at show-stopping m y lit ua cuts, high-q g rin tte fla eur fig sture. and disciplined po d skater skirt, dazzling re ye la g in Her strik bination e looks is a com tir en d an le camiso s. So, it ur ho re and afte fic of e th th bo for Otanwa us to copy Meg wouldn't hurt striking style.

N

ANT to up your “how to apply eyeliner” game? Whether you're an eyeliner rookie or not, these makeup artist techniques will help you master stunning eyeliner looks on your first try.

Eyeliner is not only a way to play with colour and make a statement; it's also the perfect instrument to reshape your eye. You don't have to go under the knife for bigger-looking eyes if you know how to wield an eyeliner brush for your eye shape. Don't believe us?

Take it from eye makeup guru, Taylor Chang-Babaian, author of “Style Eyes.”

“Wherever you put darkness is where your eye is drawn to,” says Chang-Babaian, “which means eyeliner allows you to change the shape of your eye.”

Got small eyes? Make them bigger with a smudged, smoky wraparound. Want to elongate your eyes' width? Do an exaggerated winged tip. The possibilities are endless we've got 10 eyeliner styles to get you started. Here, how to apply eyeliner with your favorite liquid, gel, pencil or marker eyeliner.

1- Brighten Eyes When you look like you only slept 20 minutes last night, the oldest trick in the book to appear awake and bright-eyed is to apply a beigecolored eyeliner to your lower inner rim (aka your waterline). “It helps counteract tired, red eyes,” says Chang-Babaian, “and makes your eyes look larger.”

How to apply: With your index finger, gently pull down your lower lid to expose your inner rim. Then with your pencil, gently go over your waterline, taking care to not poke yourself in the eye.

2:Colored Bottom Liner- It's easy to wear a statement eyeliner look even if you don't have a steady hand or hours of practice. All you need for this bold eye makeup look is long-wear pencil eyeliner in a bright color of your choice. Long-wear eyeliners are usually twist-up pencils, so you can't control the sharpness of the tip, which prevents drawing a straight edge. However, unlike kohl pencils, longwear pencils will give you bold matte color that'll last for hours.

How to apply: Apply the eyeliner to just your lower lashline from the inner to outer corners, using short strokes. To pull it into a cohesive look, you can apply eyeshadow in the same color family to your upper lids, but make it two shades brighter. Break up the bright color by applying a thin black line to your upper lashline and apply mascara.

3-Natural Definition The upper inner rim doesn't always get as much attention as its lower counterpart, but it's an equally important area to define. Applying black eyeliner to your upper rim will intensify your lashline, giving you natural looking definition without the hard edge of a liner. How to apply: All you have to do is lift up your upper lid, while looking down into a mirror, and apply the black eyeliner pencil in short strokes.

4- Smudged Wraparound The smoky eye is way easier than it looks. All you need is a black kohl pencil and a flat angled brush. How to apply: With your pencil, scribble a line along your upper lashline from the inner to outer corners. Line your lower inner rim with the liner as well for instant definition. Then draw a line along your lower lashline until you connect the two lines at the outer edge. With your flat angled brush, smudge the lines out around the entire eye until you've achieved your desired level of smokiness.

Chang-Babaian stresses the importance of smudging.

5-A winged tip eyeliner style is one of the most versatile eye makeup looks. You can choose to do a subtle wing. For this look, you need a good, smudgeproof cream or gel pot. Chang-Babaian recommends using a pot over a liquid liner for this look, because liquid tends to have a more reflective finish. How to apply: Apply the liner with an angled or pointed brush from the inner to the outer edges of your upper lashline. You want to make your line at a 45-degree angle, starting from your outer corner. The key to achieving the right winged tip is to “really consider your eye shape,” says Chang-Babaian, which means to follow the slants of your eyes.

Expert tip: Draw the winged tip with eyeshadow first, so that it's easier to erase if you mess up. Then go over the shadow with your cream liner. And to make sure that the wings are straight, hold a business card against the outer corner of your eye to use as a ruler.

Raising a voice for the Nigerian girl With Temilolu Okeowo temilolu@girlsclub.org.ng 07086620576 (sms only) Please visit my blog www.temiloluokeowo.wordpress.com for more inspiring articles. Twitter@temiloluokeowo

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

‘ANA needs reorganisation’ Denja Abdullahi has been in the exco of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) for close to 15 years in different positions. Currently the Vice President of the association, he now wants to be the president as the election draws near. He spoke to Edozie Udeze on why he is the man for the job

•Abdullahi

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HE 2014 ANA Convention was rescheduled twice before it was eventually held in Ibadan. What exactly was the problem and how was it resolved?

The problem of the 2014 Convention had to do with the perennial problem of ANA in being over-dependent on States’ governments for the financing of its annual conventions.Rivers and Kaduna States’ chapters of ANA were considered for the hosting and both states could not come up in good time with assurance of the capability to host.At a point,we decided to give it to Rivers State and it was a cat and mouse game in getting their state government to endorse the hosting for sponsorship.The government gave some initial endorsement but the arrow head was caught up irretrievably in a political struggle we are all aware of. That was how that went away.We then decided to look inward to do the convention within our modest means as an association in Ibadan.In the build up to that,we at the late hour got some support from the Presidency and we had a very successful convention. Right now,we are already looking to the future of ANA conventions where we would wean ourselves from going cap in hand to states’ governments and where members would start enjoying fewer subsidies.If we crave financial independence and less stress for everyone,that will be the way to go.

It is an election year at ANA and as the incumbent Vice President. Are you one of the likely candidates for the ANA Presidency?

Naturally,I should be interested in becoming ANA President at the next election going

by my long years of service to the association.

I established a chapter of the association in early 90s in Kebbi State when I was lecturing at the WaziriUmaru Federal Polytechnic,BirninKebbi.I moved to a public service career in 1998 and revolutionized the operations of the association in the FCT where I have become one of the pillars of the association.In 2001, I was elected into the National Executive Council of ANA as an ex-officio member; in 2003 I was elected as Assistant General Secretary; in 2005 I was elected as the substantive General Secretary and returned unopposed for the same position in 2007;between 2009 to 2011 after the expiration of my very eventful tenure as General Secretary under theDr Wale Okediran Presidency,I reverted to the position of an exofficio member by constitutional provision; and in 2011, I was invited to contest for the position of Vice President,which I won.So you could see that it is only natural I aspire to be the next President. I have served the association in so many capacities; I have been the longest serving member of the Association in the National Executive Council ; I have rendered innumerable servicesto the association and I have been faithful to the ideals and causes of the association and it is only natural and a matter of duty for me to offer myself to serve again at the highest level.

Having come through the ladder, from ExOfficio toAssistant Secretary to Secretary General, then VP in the last four years,that should qualify you as the longest serving ANA Executive. Should you emerge the next ANA President, what should be the expectation of the

literary community? What would you be doing differently?

The literary community should expect an all-inclusive administration where every member will be given the chance to contribute his or her talents and expertise to the development of the association. ANA is a voluntary organization with no war chest funds lying out there for it to use or pay staff to mind its affairs daily.In that kind of set up and from my experience, it is only freely given, sincere and committed outpouring of self that give vibrancy to the association’s activities. I will also take the hard-nosed decisions that will wean the association from dependence on government patronage with regards to funding our conventions and other programmes. Rather, I will stake ANA’s claims to legitimate support from the government at all levels. I will advance this by intensifying along with other like creative associations the advocacy for the establishment of the national endowment funds for the arts ,so that the creative sector can access funds for viable programmes and projects.

I will also internationalize the operations of the association by collaborating with other writers’ unions across Africa and the world. I am already talking to the Pan –African Writers’ Association(PAWA) with headquarter in Accra ,Ghana on how to galvanize Africa through the literary and cultural fronts as it was in the 60s but in line with the contemporary world. ANA under my watch, ANA will return to its fundamental objectives of being a writers’ craft union that will be committed without fail to the advancement of the interests of its members within the overall pursuit of building and maintaining an egalitarian society. Of course, the developmental objectives of the association such as hosting of workshops, seminars, conferences and celebratory activities will not be relegated to the background.Lastly,I have plans to repackage the annual convention to make it more of a writers’ affair where books, authors and creativity will be fully celebrated.We will pull out some activities within that annual convention to stand on their own as full-fledged events.

How does your Presidency intends to solve the problem of funding which has been a major headache of the association in recent time?

What are your plans for the association?

I have mentioned some of the ways in which we can overcome the perennial problem of funding in my earlier response.Ensuring that we overcome the problem of funding will start by members paying their dues and even extending that by making voluntary contributions.We shall create platforms for the facilitation of that so that we do not have to wait for the year end at conventions for members to pay their dues.You must pay your dues to the association whether you attend the yearly conventions or not or you cease to be a member. I told you of some hard decisions that must be made to attain financial solvency. Members may have to reasonably pay their way to the annual conventions and through them though a subsidy regimen will still be in place. ANA will also approach individuals, corporate bodies, local and foreign grant giving agencies and foundations for institutional supports that will free us from the problem of funding our projects and programmmes. I told you earlier of staking our claim for institutional support from the government at all levels; as somebody who has a lot of experience working in

government,I know where this pool of support lies and how to access them. I also know that ANA has done more than enough all these years for the society in the area of arts ,literature and culture to be in good stead to ask for such support.I will also ensure a business model is introduced to the running of the association’s financial and economic affairs and that will be premised on the MammanJiyaVatsa Writers’ Resort we are working on in Abuja. I will ensure that resort is eventually built with all the income generating facilities that are being thought-out placed on it and subsequently run like business so that the association will at least become financial solvent to run 50% of its operation without looking outward.

You are a public servant and a cultural activist, are we likely to see a change in ANA’s attitude towards national issues in the last four years. ANA is supposed to be a pressure group but not much has been seen in this direction of the Association.

Yes, there will be a change. ANA is a craft union and it is given as writers that we will always be on the side of the people.ANA will always be pro-people as it has been no matter the period. ANA can also engage in advocacy in line with its founding objectives.We will put pressure on governments and institutions where our interests and that of the generality of Nigerian people are threatened or violated.We will also not wait for that to happen as we will be working not to even get to that stage. My conception of the writing business is not that of a recluse standing aloof from the society, looking on with disdain on happenings and maintaining a hypocritical sanctimonious self.No, we will be involved in subtle and direct ways in shaping a working society as envisioned by us and others.

With the rise of various literary prizes like the NLNG and Etisalat Prizes among others, don’t you think there is need to review ANA prizes in terms of its monetary value and general appeal?

The review of ANA prizes has started with this administration. I was at the head of a panel set up to review the prizes and our recommendations led to the abrogation of Prizes that have long been abandoned by the endowers with ANA just maintaining the prizes for the sake of it.I am referring to the erstwhile NDDC Prizes and others. We have a manageable prize regimen that we administer now,so what we need to do in the near future is to further audit them and repackage them in line with contemporary expectations. New prizes will also be introduced that will be meaningful,developmental and sustainable.

What do you make of the current political climate in the country? What is the role of the writer/ANA? We are in perilous times with agents of darkness working round the clock to subvert the progress of this country. What is good for all of us, whatever are our political associations, religious inclinations and ethnic derivations is to allow the people to exercise their sovereign right to elect their leaders as provided for in our constitution and laws.We should all support INEC to deliver a credible 2015 elections and whatever is the true outcome of that process, we should be ready to live by it. The writers’ role is to work towards ensuring that this happen and we should not join hands with those canvassing for this not to happen.

56

THE NATION ON SUNDAY,

ARTS

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VERYBODY who lives in Lagos is aware that Lagos is a busy place. The morning and evening traffics make it unbearable for those who live on the mainland and work on the island, a contemporary topic which makes Lagos more of a suffering and smiling place for many, even though the place is called the Centre of Excellency.

Chika Idu, a contemporary Nigerian artist who lives and does his painting in Ikorodu but goes to the island to market his artworks, said the traffic in Lagos forced him to abandon his car for boat. The artist said he was struck by the activities that go on in the water when he started using the route He said: “Lagos is a very busy city with a very poor road network. A 20 minutes trip can turn into a three hours journey, so I sought an alternative to driving; a friend introduced me to the ferry terminal, what a relief....now I can reduce a four hours journey by three hour thirty minutes. A ferry ride is quick and relaxing; from the lagoon, I began to see Lagos from a whole new angle but the peace is quickly disturbed when I sight the dredging that goes daily on hourly basis” In order to create awareness and draw attention towards these activities, Idu said during a press session last week in Lagos that 20 of his recent watercolour and oil paintings will be on display on Saturday, May 23, at Alexix Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos, which he is using to campaign against this. The exhibition with a theme: The Other World; will run until May 30. “The Other World is more of environmental awareness campaign due to my experience on the water from Ikorodu to Victoria Island.

MAY 17, 2015

Artist shares his experience in the other world

•Some of the works that will be on display

By Udemma Chukwuma

“The water is calm, the boat ride gives a different view of Lagos but you cannot totally ignore the rate of environmental liquidation and pollution that goes on in the water and the boat ride is not very safe because of the high buildings creating a caution over the waters. There are signs that say this part of the water is safe or unsafe,” said the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, graduate.

He is of the view that there is an urgent need for the government to check what goes on in the lagoon. “The last

time I counted eight dredging companies scattered from Ikorodu to Victoria Island, tons and tons of plastics and unidentified objects submerged floating in the waters, families living by the river banks defecating, dumping, washing and at the same moment fetching water for cooking and children swimming in the waters, I mourn for the life that is supposed to be underneath these surfaces, the waters look dead,” he pointed out.

With Idu’s emerging awareness for environmental pollution, natural disas-

ter and health hazard, he fears what will happen if the storm should strike. He believes natural disaster could occur if the sand excavators are not controlled. Also, he pointed out that the waste and defecation, which the inhabitants discharge into the lagoon, could lead to health catastrophe.

“Through my works, I have tried to draw attention to the subject, how it should not be necessary, how it is, with the intension to open a dialogue on our endangered marine,” he said.

His works are character-

ised by its heavy texture and hazy rendition. Idu calls this technique “light against visual distortion”, a technique he has used for 16years, inspired by observing the behaviour of light striking against visual imperatives like dust and misty fog.

His themes are women and children. He sees himself as an activist and his work as the beginning of a dialogue, and not the centre of the dialogue or the end of it. “My work is around children because they also have problems such as child abuse, child trafficking; children becoming the bread-

winners of their families, the negligence and the abuse, which children are forced to endure. I know this has been banned in Lagos but do you know what goes on after a law is enacted?”

You may say Idu is a painter who changes your mood about life when you look at his paintings; this you will see in works such as Task, Dept, Descend, which will also be on display.

Idu specialises in oil and watercolour and he works with pallet knives for oil and sable brushes, tooth-brush for water colour. His works have his footprints at the back of the canvas. He is from Delta State.

He had his early childhood education in Lagos. In the year 2000, he in conjunction with eight other painters opened a studio in EbuteMeta, Lagos, called Defactori Studio, where he was elected coordinator. In the same year, he created the first ever watercolour society of artists called Sables. He is currently an art teacher at the French International School Lagos.

He has participated in over ten group exhibitions and many solos.

The exhibition is being curated by Mrs. Patty Mastrogiannis. She said: Chika’s work can diversify very low key paintings and vibrant colours. He actually can switch moods as he paints.

“His work is very nicely palliated and he uses the media which is not very easy to copy. You will immediately know Idu’s work when you see it. His style is unique and I have been dealing with Chika for the past three years and we have been doing well in terms of sales. We are very proud to show him in Alexis Gallery even though he is not signed under us.”

‘The trumpet moves me spiritually’

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ITH the stage name of Biodun Batik, the type characteristic of most jazz musicians, Biodun Adebiyi has indeed moved a bit higher in his career. A thorough-bred saxophonist, he has been into this sort of entertainment for over fifteen years where he has somewhat carved a niche for himself.

As a teacher and a molder of characters, he finds it easier to reach out to his people via the melodious rendition of music. “Yes,” he began with an aplomb of gusto in his voice, “I teach music at the Lagos State University where I answer Biodun Adebiyi. But while on stage, I am simply known as Biodun Batik. I have been at the music department of LASU for about thirteen years during which I have encountered and groomed so many students.”

When Biodun is not too engaged with his students, he runs his jazz band, “when you talk of jazz in this part of the world, or the type of music where you have so many instruments – horns and so on.

That is why Femi Kuti, Lagbaja, Professor Laz Ekwueme in his days, all of whom played well.

All these people traveled round the world to play at world jazz festivals. So, for me, I play African jazz,” he said.

About his role at the 3rd Lagos Jazz Festival, Biodun was first of all grateful to the organizers for their interest in this genre of music. “The first edition was in 2008 and I played there. It was hosted by Ayo Sadare. And believe me what the guy is doing is great.

Around here, the kind of mu-

Biodun Adebiyi, otherwise known as Biodun Batik is not only a lecturer in Dramatic Arts at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, he is also one of the most outstanding jazz musicians in the country at the moment. A prominent Saxophonist, Batik participated in the last Lagos International Jazz Festival, where he shared his experiences, high and low moments as an entertainer, teacher and music instructor and more with Edozie Udeze. Excerpts sic he is promoting is not appreciated by many. Art music, simply put, is music that is not in anyway popular. This includes Western classical music like jazz. This also includes Apala music here in Nigeria.

Yet we have the popular ones that the people can always yearn for. This is a high breed of African, a little bit Western, put together like hippo and all that…

But you see, popular music is popular in principle, theory and in practice. Popular music attracts the most attention even in all climes of the world.”

He gave examples with Whizzkid, Davido and the rest whom he described as the rev of the moment. “The kind of crowd you see here today, if it is Davido or so, it will be more than this. As a popular music, you only need to do a little advert and people would be here in thousands. But our own brand of music is for the elite. It is indeed enlist both in terms of composition and the pattern of presentation. You must be a real art enthusiast and so to be in tune with jazz music. It is a music that paints the picture of life through the usage of instruments. It is to depict the mood and the inner feelings of people. That is why I said I just feel for Sadare for having the time

and the resources to organize this sort of show.”

Although, to him, jazz music may not be totally Western in terms of origin, Biodun however believes it is a fusion of African percussion. “Western, African and Afro-Cuban percussion give you the right source for jazz. They all come together to produce that unique sound that sends people asking for more. Western instruments and musical form those are the things that come together to give you jazz tunes. In all you still have the African effect.”

But must jazz always be made an elitist form of music in every sense? “Ah, generally, there is no way you cannot make it elitist. No way. Let us even talk about some other media, like painting and all that.

Enter where they are doing art exhibition. All you see are big people, rich men and women.

Hardly you ever see a poor man buying art works. What will he do with it? He doesn’t even know the value not to talk of entering an exhibition hall. This is also the sort of euphoria surrounding jazz music. So it cannot change, it cannot be made for everybody.

“At times a jazz musician would be playing, someone

like my grandmother in the village would ask; who is this one making noise? But to the elite, to the informed person, that is good music. That is why the orientation and appreciation of jazz cannot change.”

Biodun also elaborated on the role of some traditional instruments that without them jazz ensemble or arrangement is not complete.

“Oh, let me explain this in two ways. “Historically jazz actually started as an acoustic sort of music. Acoustic because when jazz music started, some instruments were hard to come by. So, then, you had double bass, then you have fido bass. You have trumpet, you have drums, you have banjo. So, you also have piano. These are the basic ones that give the rendition its proper blend. These are instruments you don’t electrical connect to play on stage. And that was how jazz started. People like Louis Amstrong, King Oliver, then gave new phase to jazz. They are the masters of all times.”

As a trumpet player, Biodun revealed that once he handles the instrument he is in another world. “Trumpet appeals to me spiritually. Of course I started from the church. The oldest instruments, even when you check the Bible is the trumpet. It was used to fall the wall of Jericho. That shows you how powerful it is and that is what it does to me when I handle it.

It touches my heart; or moves me both physically and spiritually.”

•Adebiyi

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

Page 58, 59

NSITF in troubled waters

-- Page 53

Furore over N25b housing bond •xx

Page 59

‘I’m not the big ego CEO’ •Lawal

Page 60

Firm partners Arik Air, SAHCOL on agro-allied export

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•From left: Member, Board of Directors, Junaid Dikko; Chairman, Board of Directors Hakeem Bello-Osagie; Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Willsher and Member, Board of Directors, Isabella Okagbue, all of Etisalat Nigeria, at the launch of Etisalat Nigeria Data Centre in Abuja…recently

Govt may default on N24.564 billion housing fund F RESH facts emerged at the weekend that the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan may not be able to redeem the N24.564 billion guarantee on housing which is expected to mature later in May 24, 2015 before it exit in May 29.

President of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) Rev. Ugo Chime gave this hint in Abuja, warning that it was wrong for the government to pass the buck on the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).

Making a case for the payment, Chime said: "The FGN Guarantee for the Mortgage-Backed Bond is irrevocable and unconditional therefore federal government has to redeem its guarantee. Failure will cause the Nigerian bond market and FGN reputational damage." It may be recalled that former President

Stories by Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf and Nduka Chijena

Olusegun Obasanjo initiated the federal government's N100billion mortgage-backed bond, with a desire to ensure success of the sale of federal government's non-essential residential houses in the Federal Capital Territory to public servants under the monetisation policy of that administration.

The five-year bond was initiated in 2007 to ensure success of the sale of federal government's non-essential residential houses in the FCT to public servants.

FMBN and its issuing house sold the first tranche of N26 billion in 2007. Impressed with the outcome, Messrs FMBN SPV Issuer Limited in 2012 issued another N6billion notes by way of private placement to qualified institutional investors.

The Series 2 Fixed Rate

Notes issued under the N100billion Residential Mortgage Backed Securities Programme which is sponsored by FMBN, is 100 percent guaranteed by the gederal government of Nigeria. An application will be made to list the Series 2 Notes on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The bond which matures on May 24, 2015, compels the federal government to pay a whopping N24.564billion to Note holders; and failure to so do at maturity, will lead to the call of FGN Guarantee that backed the transaction. Such an action will spell doom for the country in local and offshore financial circles.

The Nation gathered that the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala has reportedly directed FMBN to sell off its assets to redeem the guarantee.

Chime however, warned

that the federal government should think through the whole affair to avoid a scandal.

Raising a poser, Chime asked: "Where is the money?

Was it injected into the NHF? This money should have been used as seed fund to assist the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to make houses more affordable.

"I don't think that at a time when the government should be thinking of beefing up the capital base of FMBN it should be asking the bank to sell off its assets. It is gross dereliction of duty to the masses. This entire controversy is a distraction at this moment.

"The federal government should pay the money that is due in a few days as this date has not come to them as a surprise. There are no assets for the FMBN to sell off to be able to meet the deadline, even if there were how many days will it take to do so and meet up with the deadline?"

BX World, an EU certified cargo agent, has signed agreement with Arik Air and Skyway Aviation Grand Handling Company (SAHCOL) to handle agro-allied export.

The MoU followed approval to the firm by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as an "Authorised Cargo Agent."

According to the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ABX World, Captain John T Okakpu, Nigeria has immense agricultural potential, even as only 40% of her 84 million hectares of arable land cultivated, plus 263 billion cubic meters of water - (having two of the largest rivers in Africa).

In addition, Nigeria has the required manpower to support agricultural expansion. With an estimated 80 million farmers, Nigeria can cultivate enough food for its people and feed the world too, Captain Okakpu said optimistically.

He added that, ABX World believes tapping into the sector can only be sustainable when the private sector expertise is allowed to thrive.

Red Cross trains 20 immigration staff in Kebbi

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HE Kebbi State Red Cross Society as part of its activities to commemorate this year's World Red Cross day has trained 20 Immigration Services Staff on capacity building.

The State Chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Sadiq Abubakar Yelwa at a press conference in Birnin-Kebbi expressed dismay over the inadequate support for the organisation by the state government.

Enumerating some of its activities, the state branch chairman said that the society also trained officers of the

GIS scandal: Fed Govt terminates partnership with company

F

O L L O W I N G T h u r s d a y ' s demonstration by interns under the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) for nonpayment of their allowances, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has directed the immediate termination of the partnership with Forcecon Networks Limited (FNL).

In addition, the minister has also directed that the firm

be investigated by security agencies.

A statement from Suleiman Haruna, Communication Specialist for GIS said some of the reasons for the termination of the partnership include: nondeployment of the interns to work on mobile money business months after they were deployed to the company (FNL).

Besides, he said sending timesheets showing that interns have worked and

requesting for payment of their monthly stipend when it is clear that the interns have not worked at all.

The guidelines guiding, Haruna stressed, "Only allow payment for the number of days worked every month.

Interns were paid for some months as a result of the deliberate falsehood of the company and its Managing Director, Mr. Paul Okafor."

Another reason for terminating the partnership the GIS spokesman said, was

that interns were coerced into signing an undertaken to pay out N7,500 of their monthly stipend for training with Lekki Business School and that Forcecom removed graduates that would not sign up to the payments from the scheme.

Forcecom was also accused of "sending standing order of N7,500 monthly deduction to the bank on behalf of Lekki Business School even after he had agreed with the PIU at a meeting that the company is not suppose to collect the

On the choice of Arik Air as cargo airline partner, he said that as Nigeria's leading commercial airline, the airline was the first to operate a fleet of 26 state-of-the arts regional, medium haul and long haul aircraft including two Airbus A340-500 making the airline the first operator of the wide bodied aircraft in Africa.

According to the ABX World boss, when Arik Air commenced its cargo operation in 2011, it actually strengthened the intercontinental cargo operations by adding Johannesburg, South Africa to the already running import activities from London Heathrow and New York JFK. This means that Arik Air's guests now have an unprecedented freighting opportunities and possibilities.

As part of preparations for the commencement of the programme, ABX World had engaged competent and IATA certified consultants for refresher courses for the staff; which has been applauded by Arik Air and SAHCOL managements.

money. Some interns had paid this money already."

The finance ministry and GIS also accused Paul Okafor of "asking interns to pay N30,000 into another company's account as an agent trading account when the guidelines states that mobile money agents will open trading accounts directly with the mobile money operator.

He also fraudulently connived with graduates to register in January 2015, and backdate their engagement date to

From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi Federal Road Safety Commission, Arugungu Zonal Office including series of first aid training for NYSC at the orientation camp.

He added that the branch trained community representatives and grassroots volunteers corps across the state and also providing relief materials to the victims of flood disaster in Bagulmawa and Mera communities of Augie local government in conjunction with State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

November 2014. The GIS online platform will never allow payments to this category of interns."

Haruna further added that: "Plans to brief all the interns matched to FNL in all the pilot states they were deployed. The briefing with interns for the FCT was done on Tuesday May 12, 2015. At the briefing, all the interns admitted that they had not yet started the mobile money business while some expressed surprise that they received payment even though they were yet to start work."

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

BUSINESS

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HIS is certainly not the best of times for the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) as the organisation has been in the news lately, albeit, for the wrong reasons.

At issue is that the workers' union is at daggers drawn with the present management and board as it is convinced that the latter no longer considers their welfare as a top priority while the management on the other hand feels the former is trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Crux of the matter Accusations bordering on staff neglect by the management have been on for some time now with the workers' union angry that their grievances were not been promptly addressed by the management.

Things, however, came to a head some weeks back, when some staff picketed the headquarters of the NSIFT, Abuja, where they pressed home their demands for improved staff welfare, payment of 33 per cent increment to retired members of staff of the organisation, among others.

The Deputy General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Chief Joseph Okunade, who led the protest march, said it was carried out to fight the injustice and maltreatment of NUP members.

Some of the protesters carried inscriptions such as "Pension Matters: Board approved N350 million, Trust Fund received N200 million, Balance N150 million. Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, where did you keep NSITF Pensioners' N150 million? Alh. Munir, Do you know?", "Mr. President, is Dr. Ngozi Olejeme above the law?" Dr. Ngozi Olejeme and NSITF Management, pay your in-house pensioners their entitlement."

However, a petition dated April 24th, 2015, allegedly signed by bonafide staff of the NSITF under the aegis of the League of Concerned NSIFT Staff Nationwide, Abuja, titled: 'Allegations of Fraud, Mismanagement and Poor Staff Welfare against NSITF Management' and made available to The Nation, the group offered a better insight on the NSITF crisis.

Citing the vision and mission of the NSITF, whose overriding mandate is: "To be proactive in providing social security protection and safety nets for all Nigerians against deprivations and income insecurity in accordance with national and international laws, conventions and

NSITF in troubled waters

HE NSITF some few months ago was alleged to have fleeced prospective employees of N1, 000 under the pretext of giving them jobs but failed to do so at the end. What really happened?

It is a very unfortunate and mischievous statement as this is very far from the truth.

To put the records straight, it is not a matter of a few months ago, but something done as far back as 2011 and 2012 when the Employees' Compensation Scheme (ECS) was about to take off.

Furthermore, I must point out that the recruitment exercise was handled by a consultant who at the initial stage, charged a token of N1,000 to defray cost of his logistics such as hiring interviews venue, paying for stationery etc, and it was the lowest compared to the N2,500 and N5,000 charged by some agencies that were also recruiting new staff at that time.

What we did was in line with government approved policy as we were even cleared by the Federal Character Commission.

At this juncture, it must be pointed out that the NSITF Board is made up of members from employers and labour organisations among others. Naturally, they will never condone anything that will short-change unemployed Nigerians.

I need to remind you that not all members are based in Abuja. The policy everywhere is that if you call them for a meeting, you have to take care of their transportation, accommodation and sitting allowance which they are, by law, entitled to.

This Committee carries out a very important function under the ECS. Members are appointed based on their vast knowledge and experience in the industry. The vetting and verification they carry out have always assisted Management in arriving at what should be paid as compensation. It is noteworthy that in the first quarter of this year, 2015 alone, it was able to make a saving of over N60million from bills submitted by some employers as claims.

The board is alleged to have strip the Managing Director of his executive management functions and put the same in the hands of a serving police officer with power to fire and hire and transfer without transfer allowance?

I don't know about that. As far as I know, we carry out our normal functions without let or hindrance. Any recruitment, transfer or firing is done in accordance with laid down rules and procedures.

There is a Board Establishment Committee which oversees the issues of staff recruitment and discipline.

The monthly wage bill of NSITF is allegedly close to N1billion leav-

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The worker's union of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) doesn't trust that the present management and board of the Fund can protect their interest, thus setting both on a collision course. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf in this report examines the issues

• NSITF Headquarters, Abuja

world best practices," the workers' union said the above lofty ideals have not been actualised since the inception of the organisation.

According to the group, particularly worrisome is the inability of the NSITF management board to effectively administer the new policy regime on Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS), which takes care of employee injury.

"Not less than 700 workers have died in terror-related violence in Maiduguri, Kebbi, Kano and Abuja, on their way to work. The NSITF had not compensated the families of the victims till date," the group revealed.

The group alleged that the implementation of the ECS by the NSITF began on a faulty start as the management did conspired with a consultant to charge hapless prospective employees N1, 000 each, an exercise they said was clearly at variant with the laid down procedures.

The aggrieved workers were also irked by the fact that contrary to the practice in NSITF and Public Service Rule, fresh and permanent employment to officers above the age of 50 years was approved, with significant numbers of former retired or retrenched staff of NSITF benefitting from this alleged infraction.

Also of concern to the League of Concerned Staff of NSITF Nationwide, is the fact that the board has completely appropriated the functions of management, with members of a concocted committee under the vice grip of the board running the affairs of the NSITF and allegedly paying themselves sitting allowances far exceeding the figures they are expected to vet and approve.

The medical histories of the staff, the group further revealed, was not known, unlike in time past, when workers were referred to government hospitals for their medical reports.

'No ghost workers at NSITF' Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Mr. Munir Abubakar in this interview with Tony Akowe speaks on the festering controversy over poor staff welfare, among other issues. Excerpts: There is also the allegation that a number of former retired or retrenched staff of NSITF receiving monthly pension were given fresh appointment and fresh confirmation of their appointments. Can you expatiate on this?

Yes, we engaged ex-staff as well as other people from various organisations. Each appointment was given on its own merit. Don't forget that with the Pension Reform Act, the issue of pensionable appointment is no longer applicable.

All employees come under the PFA regime where their monthly pensions are deducted and paid to PFAs of their choice. We have a robust welfare package for all staff, some of which can only be accessed or enjoyed after the staff must have served a given period of time. These include vehicle loans, salary advance, rent advance and so on.

You cannot give this to staff who have barely spent a few months in

service. You must have served a prescribed period of time to enjoy or qualify for these facilities. That prescribed period is the same period needed for someone to be confirmed.

This is what some have misconstrued as confirmation.

Allegations are rife that there are a lot of ghost workers in the system.

Can you react to this?

This cannot be true. Our payroll is highly computerised. The Administration and Audit Departments always carry out, as a point of duty, thorough verification of our payroll before salaries are paid. We do not have any ghost worker in our system.

The board is alleged to have appropriated the functions of management such that employees in respect of their injured employees that is aboveN100, 000 have to be approved by a committee of the board. In the end, what members of the committee would take as sitting allowances

would far exceed the figures they would be sitting to vet and approve.

How will you react to this?

This is baseless. First and foremost, there is nothing like usurpation of management power by the Board. Our Board is a special one in the sense that the NSITF Act 1993 refers to it as MANAGEMENT BOARD OF THE FUND. Whatever we do, we derive our functions from what the Management Board has approved. I am glad to say that the day-to-day running of the organisation is done by the Management without any interference whatsoever by the Board, whose membership is on part time basis.

As regards the issue you raised on a Committee of the Board in charge of claims vetting and verification, it is surprising to say that the Board members sit and pay themselves claims higher than what they approve for claims. This is very strange.

The NSITF board, the group further argued, has allegedly the taken over the management of Trustfund Pensions Plc- a pension fund administration established by NSITF with clear disregard for corporate governance procedures among others.

The group further emphasised that it is not in the best interest of the public for the NSITF to be the approving authority for what goes on at the Trustfund Pensions, saying over N50billion worth of pension assets is in the custody of Trustfund and risked being mismanaged under the NSITF. Perhaps to show that the NSITF

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015 union was on rapprochement with the central labour, the group said the factional Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Issa Aremu, has promised to take on their case with the incoming administration with a view to reposition the organisation.

Quoting Aremu, the group emphasised that: "The ECA should be strengthened to cover workers who lost their lives in terror-related violence just as we want NSITF and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, particularly the factories inspectorate division and the relevant departments in the Ministry of Health, the trade unions and the employers in promoting health and safety education, awareness and healthy and safe work practices."

Meanwhile, The Nation gathered that the NSITF has since set up a committee to look into the payment of 33 per cent increment to retired members of staff of the organisation.

NSTIF's Managing Director, Mr. Munir Abubakar, who reportedly had a two-hour meeting with protesting ex-workers of the organisation in Abuja last week, to address the concerned staff.

Abubakar reportedly attributed the protest to a lack of understanding on the workings of pension administration in the country.

At the committee meeting was the NSITF General Manager, Administration and Human Resources, Olusegun Basorun (Chairman); Deputy General Manager, Henry Ehhasomi; Assistant General Manager, Legal, Mrs. Toyin Arokoyo; Principal Manager, Human Resources, and Mrs. Grace Benson (Secretary).

The ex-workers represented at the committee by Mbazigwe Akonye, Rukkayyat Alkali, Ayo Olutekumbi and Joseph Okunade.

Abubakar said the meeting with the ex-workers ended with an amicable resolution of the lingering conflict.

He stated that the action of the ex-workers was able to give them insight into the efforts being made by the management of the NSITF to resolve the matter.

At the meeting, the NSITF boss was able to disabuse the distrust that retirees have against the management, saying ever since the issue started over two years ago the management has been doing its best to ensure an amicable middle ground that will be acceptable to

the retirees. "I am extremely pleased that we have finally found amicable solution to the matter. The picketing of our office by the pensioners' union has also afforded them to see what the management has been doing and the efforts that have gone into resolving the matter," said an elated NSITF boss.

Expatiating, he said: "Like I always say to all the stakeholders that the NSITF is a big organisation and it is in the best interest of the Nigerian workers to create enabling environment that will allow smooth implementation of the Employees Compensation Scheme.

"I assure the retirees that management is always seeking for ways of bettering their collective interest. The management sees the retirees as our ambassadors and therefore we cannot do anything that will harm their well being."

Ina related development, the NSITF boss also addressed some of the concerns raised by the League of Concerned NSITF Staff Nationwide.

Speaking with our correspondent in Abuja over the weekend, he said claim that the NSITF had embarked on arbitrary recruitment was spurious.

"Let me correct an impression.

We have not recruited thousands of workers. It is true we have employed some workers in the last few months, but appointing collection agents is a requirement of the law and how the scheme operates. The staff you referred to, have other jobs that are prescribed for them. In the implementation of the scheme, there are various aspects that are expected to be executed by various sets of professionals and stakeholders."

He further explained that some of the misgivings that persist border on the realignment of processes and procedures of integrating both new and new staff, saying "In establishment where there are old and new staff due to additional responsibilities, there are bound to be complaints of sidetracking, especially by the older staff who may feel they have not been given what they deserved. The thinking is also that they remained with the organisation where we were struggling for the implementation of the Employees Compensation Scheme.

What we can do is to try to be fair to all sides. And this has been done and we will continue to ensure fairness to all."

ing little or nothing for allowances for industrial hazards. Could you shed more light on this?

Our wage bill is nowhere near this figure. Let it be known that we

have separate accounts for salaries and compensation. Both salaries and compensations are paid as at when due. We have never reneged on the payment of compensation.

•Abubakar

BUSINESS

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Furore over N25billion housing bond T The recent approval of the payment of N24.564billion debt allegedly owed to federal government Bond holders by President Goodluck Jonathan now poses a serious threat to the country's rating by local and foreign investors.

The Mortgage-Backed Bond floated to finance the acquisition of non-essential residential housing units sold by the federal government in the FCT to the Federal Civil Servants is said to be entirely a federal government initiative.

The FGN Guarantee for the Mortgage-Backed Bond is irrevocable and un-conditional therefore federal government has to redeem its guarantee. Failure, experts say "will cause the Nigerian bond market and FGN reputational damage."

A statement obtained on the transaction showed that: "The Mortgage-Backed Bond was issued under a Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) incorporated at Corporate Affair Commission, namely; FMBN SPV Issuer Limited, FMBN SPV Funding Limited and FMBN Mortgage Trustee Limited."

These, officials of the FMBN say, "are distinct entities from FMBN; hence it is wrong and misleading to say that the bond is FMBN bond. Once the FGN Guarantee backing Series 3 is called, Series 2 will become due as provided by the Trust Deed because it will no longer have any credit enhancement support."

Given the provisions of the agreement, it was revealed that the federal government can redeem the guarantee to meet the matured obligation and subsequently recoup from the un-remitted collection by Aso Savings and Loans Plc. (N4.54 billion), Non-Performing Loans (N3.64 billion) and outstanding Mortgages.

Genesis of the bond issue The bond issuance programme was initiated in 2006 at the instance of the federal government of Nigeria to ensure the success of the sale of federal government non-essential residential houses in the FCT to public servants under the monetisation policy of the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The N100billion mortgage-backed bond was to enable needy public servants get funds to acquire houses of the choices. Understandably, the then government directed the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, which business is similar to the one envisaged by government through its Minister of Finance, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to facilitate the bond programme.

In order words, FMBN became the facilitator of the Bond Programme rather than the initiator. The then government in order to ensure to make the transaction independent of FMBN, it was carried out through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), namely: FMBN SPV Issuer Limited, FMBN SPV Funding Limited, and FMBN Mortgage Trustee Limited. The bond is managed by a Board of Trustees of which the FMBN SPVs (not FMBN) is a member. In addition to being the transaction sponsor, FMBN played the additional role of interfacing with relevant government agencies and stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), etc., to ensure smooth running of the bond operations.

The bond programme that was sponsored by FMBN SPV Issuer has the following under listed co-parties with their respective professional roles in the bond transaction: UBA Capital, Lead Arranger/Adviser for Series 1 Bond, UBA Capital Trustees, Notes Trustees, FBN Trustees Limited,

•Kumo

By Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor) Security Trustee, G. Elias & Co; Transactions Counsel, Dunn Loren Merrifield Ltd, GIC Provider, Bond Series 2 & 3, Aso Savings & Loans Plc, Mortgage Loan Originator/Servicer and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc that was the Account Bank for Series 2.

While the 1st Series of the Bond was issued on May 25, 2007 for the sum of N26billion with maturity date of May 25, 2012, the 2nd Series was issued on April 3, 2012 for the sum of N6billion with maturity date of April 3, 2017.

At the maturity date of the first Series on May 25, 2012, it was refinanced and became Series 3 Bond with maturity date of May 25, 2015.

It was gathered that given economic realities of the past that have continued to threaten policies and plans of government, there have been challenges troubling the bond transactions as well as the agreed payments to holders.

Thus, in the event of shortfall or default by FMBN SPV Issuer Limited, the Trustee will call on the guarantee in line with the provision of the Notes Trust Deed that underlie the transaction. Another obligation under the transaction is the fact that Mortgage Loan Originators that double as Servicers are under the transaction, expected to remit collections from the Mortgagors to the designated SPV account monthly.

Come May 24, 2015, the Series 3 bond will be maturing with obligation on the federal government to pay a whopping N24.564billion to Note holders; and failure to so do at maturity, will lead to the call of FGN Guarantee that backed the transaction.

Such an action will spell doom for the country in local and offshore financial circles.

Okonjo-Iweala was said to have advised President Goodluck Jonathan to approve the payment of a debt she approved under the Obasanjo Presidency in 2006 long before Jonathan became President.

According to sources close to the Ministry, Okonjo-Iweala advised the President to instruct FMBN to pay the debt, "a development that poses grave danger to the liquidity of the primary mortgage finance institution."

Observers also noted that she ought to have advised President Jonathan on "the needful thing to do."

Among the strategies recommended by the experts are: "The federal government can redeem the guarantee to meet the matured obligation and subsequently recoup from the unremitted collection by Aso Savings & Loans Plc totaling about N4.54billion.Then it has to look at the non-performing loans of about N3.64billion and outstanding mortgages to redeem its obligation under the Series that will soon fall

due," said the Chief Executive of a private mortgage finance company who is trying to "avoid been caught between fighting giants."

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the Debt Management Office (DMO) and the Federal Ministry of Finance had argued back and forth over the bond, which eventually prompted the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance , Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to issue a directive, mandating the FMBN to accept responsibility for the bond.

According to the directive conveyed through a letter dated 5th May 2015, addressed to the Minister of Lands and Housing, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, Okonjo-Iweala recommended that assets of FMBN be sold to offset the sum of N24.564 billion, being the first tranche of the bond, which matures on 24th May 2015.

The letter reads in part; "I wish to recommend that Mr. President considers directing the Honourable Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to direct the FMBN to raise funds to pay its maturing obligation of N24.564 billion on May 24, 2015, as it must forestall imposing a crisis on the economy."

Meanwhile, Managing Director of FMBN, Gimba Ya'u Kumo, in a letter dated 29th April 2015, addressed to the DMO, had explained that the bond issuance programme was at the instance of the federal government.

He had also added that the federal government's guarantee that supported the bond transaction was between the federal government as the guarantor, and UBA Trustees Limited as the Notes Trustees.

Kumo stressed that FMBN was just a facilitator of the bond programmme, through a Special Purpose Vehicles incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), namely FMBN SPV Issuer Limited and FMBN SPV Funding Limited and FMBN Mortgage Trustee Limited.

The Series 3 Notes of the FMBN SPV Issuer Limited zero coupon notes residential Mortgage Back Securities Programme that raked in N24.56bn was concluded in 2012 and the issue, which was sponsored by FMBN with a three-year maturity date, achieved 43 per cent oversubscription.

Industry analysts posit that passing the buck at this time that the bond is almost maturing is unhelpful but rather that efforts need to be directed at finding solutions to the problem adding that the Debt Management Office being the federal government agency that Manages National Debt should take the lead in advising the government on appropriate options.

Failure of government to honour its guarantee on the bond may lead to lack of confidence by investors in government bonds both local and sovereign bond and it may also create rating problem for the entire bond market-downward rating by both local and international rating agencies.

Reacting to this claims by FMBN a top official of the Ministry of Finance told The Nation that DMO "has been telling them (FMBN) for over a year to pay the money. This is not a new conversation at all." The official said it was the natural duty of the federal government to guarantee the bond, "but it was FMBN that collected the money so they should pay."

The Finance Ministry official lambasted the FMBN stressing that "FMBN has not been a great success since it was created. Under its watch Nigeria has recorded 17 million housing deficit, and it has only done 30,000 houses for 160 million Nigerians."

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

BUSINESS

OU’VE been in charge of the Lagos State Polytechnic as Rector for nearly four years, what are the things you can say you’ve brought on board?

I have always been a part of the institution even before emerging as the Rector. It was from here I was appointed Rector. So, I’ve been a part of the many success stories about Lagos State Polytechnic before and during my Rectorship. But largely, while we can boast of many physical developments in the last four years, I want to say I place more emphasis on the hugely successful administrative re-organisation we’ve done here since I came on board.

Today, we can boldly say in Lagos State Polytechnic, we have a system that works. We’ve placed great premium on workers’ productivity and dedication.

We’ve been able to re-orientate our internal publics on the need for all sector of the institution to seamlessly contribute its quota towards the common goal. A development that resulted in mass change of opinion about our goals here as partners in the business of moulding lifes.

Also, we’ve tried very hard to be fair to all. In ensuring discipline and encouraging human capital development, we sought to be balance and fair to all irrespective of the fact that at a point, this earned me the tag of a difficult CEO. But the truth of the matter is that I’m neither difficult nor egoistic.

My desire has always been to get the job done. I am not the big ego type of boss.

However, I will not hesitate to take action where a worker fails in his or her duty.

This has nothing to do with highhandedness or ego. It has to do with ensuring that all the deliverables are delivered to the very maximum.

Talking about the type of boss you are, what style of leadership would you say you adopted?

Like I said earlier, my maxim is ‘let’s get the job done.’ It doesn’t matter what the relationship between me and the man who gets the job done is. Neither am I affected by the affinity between me and the woman who fails to get the job done.

Pleasing our employers by delivering the deliverables is the crust of my style. Of course ensuring that we the workers also get pleased in return by the employers is the other half of my style. For me, it is about adequate remuneration for adequate productivity. Both parties must fulfill their part of the bargain. And if you consider the type of responsibilities expected of us as an academic institution, you will agree with me that it is important that we do our work well just as it is important that we should be satisfied at all times by our employers.

And how well would you say your style rubbed off on the individuals that worked with you all these years?

Thank you. Immediately I took over the leadership of the institution, considering the state of things at the time, I appealed to all my staff to go all out and find ways of developing themselves on the job. There was huge need for the Polytechnic to improve on the quality of its staff. Determined to ensure this while reducing casualties, I set about helping my workers to find and pursue various avenues of improving their qualifications for their various jobs and positions.

As we speak, we have over 200 members of staff pursuing Master’s and Doctorate degrees, locally and internationally. A good number of them are receiving assistance in many ways from the institution in pursuit of these self-development initiatives. This is one way I tried to make impact on the people I work with. Also, when I took over for example, in the school of Agriculture, there was just one Ph.D holder, but today, we have six of them.

And the relative peace the institution enjoyed under my leadership is a direct

‘I’m not the big ego CEO’ Dr. Abdulazeez Abioye Lawal, who has been the Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic, joined the institution thirty years ago and rose through the ranks to become its Chief Executive Officer some years back. In this interview with Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, he speaks on his experience in office as well as the many styles he adopts in managing the academic organisation.

•Lawal

result of my leadership style. I operate and open door system all the way. While we will not encourage indiscipline, we also ensure that everybody have their say. We hold regular meetings with all unions on campus. The Student Union, the Academic Union, the non-Academic Union and even our host community; we are always discussing with them. This is the secret of the peace we enjoy here. I don’t send representatives or delegates to these meeting, I go myself. And it is easy for me to do this because I don’t see myself as the big CEO with the big ego. For me, leadership is nothing more than an assignment and I just want to do it well.

As a chief executive, especially in an

academic environment where agitation over motivations is constant, what is your opinion on staff motivation and related issues?

Before becoming the Rector here, I’ve been part of the system here for over twenty years. And if you check my records in all the departments and sections I worked, you will find out that I am always eager to champion workers’ interest. This is because I see motivation as an essential role of management. My take is that if you want people to work and work well, with all their hearts and might, then you must set a machinery in motion that will encourage them to belief in the system they are laboring for. So, in terms of our human

resource policies, I go for the best you can get in the land. And when it comes to compensation, I also insist on the best we can get.

And how do you view the issue of discipline?

That I cannot compromise. An indiscipline staff cannot be optimally productive. I told you earlier, some people have interpreted the importance I attach to discipline to mean high handedness on my part. But it is not so.

Unless we place importance on discipline in the work place, productivity will always suffer. And when that happens, the whole essence of management is defeated. I motivate my staff to the very best level and at the same time, I ensure discipline to the very best level. So for me, it is let’s get the job done to the very best level once we have been motivated and disciplined to the very best level.

As the Rector, what can you recall as one of the toughest decisions you took over time?

Well, it is also about disciplining staff. Although I want discipline, it is also always painful for me whenever I have to dismiss or demote anybody so much that I always wished they had been careful enough to avoid the mistakes that would warrant such action to be taken by the institution. Sadly, we had to do these once or twice in my tenure.

I recall the school had to dismiss a member of staff for gross misconduct sometimes ago. There was also the case of some lecturers in the Computer department who got demoted by the recommendation of the Senior Staff Appointment and Promotion Committee (SESAPCO). Although the matter that led to the dismissal and demotions has been happening before I became Rector, I was nonetheless saddened when I had to approve their punishments.

But we had to do what we had to do.

The staff members involved were queried for various misdemeanors, interrogated by panels after a petition written by a student to the Governor’s office had indicted them. They were found guilty and following punitive recommendations made to the Governing council by the panels, they were dismissed and demoted.

What’s the most outstanding decision ever taken?

Funny enough, the one I can quickly remember has to do with the most difficult decision I stated earlier. When these members of staff were punished with dismissal and demotion as appropriate, one of those demoted bagged a sponsored scholarship to study in the United Kingdom, Saheed Adelanwa is the name. His scholarship request was granted around the same time he was indicted by the panel. I battled within myself as to what is proper for me to do about the contradictions. A staff who had just been found guilty of a grave offence is being awarded a scholarship that is to be founded by the Polytechnic. But at the end, I personally invited him to come forward and take the scholarship. I also ensured that he got all financial and moral assistance he needed from the institution. He is currently in the United Kingdom studying.

Another good decision I took was ensuring that due process was followed in the appointment of the person to succeed me as I finish my tenure. I ignored all temptations to be involved in the process. I was not even a member of the selection committee. The government took charge and appointed a committee that was chaired by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment. A consulting firm, Phillips Consulting, was also engaged to be part of the process.

Today, I can confidently say I did not influence the emergence of my successor.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

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HE National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC] flagged off a nationwide on- the- spot bread test for the detection of the banned potassium bromate and other harmful bread improvers.

The three-day event, tagged: 'Bread monitoring Exercise for Bakery Facilities nationwide and Good Hygienic Practice seminar' had a large turnout of bakers and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, held at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi [FIIRO] Lagos, the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii regretted that though potassium bromate was banned and removed from the list of bread improvers, generally regarded as unsafe ingredients by the Food and Agricultural Organisation/ World Health Organisation expert committee on food additives worldwide in 1992, "a nationwide surveillance carried out by NAFDAC in 2010 revealed that some bakers are still persistent in the usage of this dangerous chemical."

The continual usage of potassium bromate by bakers, he said, was mainly because of low cost and the ability of the improver to act as an efficient oxidizing agent.

However, he counseled that the toxicological studies on potassium bromate have convincingly shown that it degrades vitamins A2, B1, B2, E and Niacin which are the main vitamins available in bread.

The NAFDAC boss, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mrs. Elizabeth Awagu said the substance under reference was poisonous to humans.

It is expected that over 500 bakeries in Lagos State will make their

P

&G's flagship laundry brand, Ariel, a world-class brand with an innovative pedigree has announced the launch of Ariel Automatic powder to help Nigerians experience brilliant stain removal in 1 Wash with their automatic washing machines.

Partnering with leading fashion designer, Folake Folarin-Coker, the launch of new Ariel Automatic unveiled an exclusive, cutting-edge washable line under her Tiffany Amber label, inspired by Ariel and the Perfect Match concept.

"I am proud to be associated with

NAFDAC clamps down on bakers using banned substances

•From left: Chairman, Association of Master Bakers, Lagos State, Prince Jacob Adejorin, Director, Project Management and Design Department, Federal Institute for Industrial Research Oshodi, Dr. Patrick Irabor and Special Assistant to the DG, NAFDAC, Mrs. Elizabeth Awagu at the flag off ceremony for the Annual Bread Monitoring Exercise and Seminar organised by NAFDAC held at FIIRO, Oshodi in Lagos…recently

bread available for the test.

Besides, bakers will further be trained and certificates issued to participants whose bread is bromatedfree.

However, the Chairman, Master Bakers Association, Lagos Chapter, Prince Jacob Adejorin, appealed to the organisers of the event, NAFDAC, to reduce the cost of N12,500 fees which participating

F

She complained that a lot of bakery facilities have not been carrying out regular laboratory testing of bread for bromate which is one of the food safety issues observed with bread in Nigeria.

NAFDAC, she said, has put in place several measures to ensure food safety and protect the health of Nigerians. Among these, noted the Director, is ensuring that flour is ad-

P&G's Ariel Automatic arrives in Nigeria a global, leading brand that is also conscious of trends in African fashion. My designs have always reflected an eclectic mix of European and African influences, and with this line, these are combined in an expression of 'the perfect match.'

Thanks to Ariel, I can also be confident that these garmentswill stay beautiful for longer, even as they are washed and cared for at home,"

Fanta entices children with new Fanta play campaign ANTA'S new play campaign is offering kids the creative opportunity to explore a whole new world of fun, especially with the introduction of its fun, youth-centric characters including, Gigi- the adventurous fun loving and intelligent leader of the pack, Tristan- the cool dude with urban and dapper style, Todd- who seems a little nerdy, independent and is full of life and

bakers will have to pay in other to be part of the workshop.

"Many violations, ranging from the use of banned substances such as potassium bromate to improper packaging and labelling lapses have been observed among many bakers," bemoaned Mrs. Mainasora Ogochukwu, Director, Food safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN) NAFDAC.

equately fortified with vitamins A and B and the enforcement of mandatory compliance with good hygiene practice and good manufacturing practice at food production facilities.

Mrs. Mainasora Ogochukwu stressed that effective protection of the over 167 million Nigerian public against food borne diseases requires a preventive management approach.

"The global strategy is preventive and not reactive and the Industry, Association of Master Bakers and Confectioners of Nigeria and other stakeholders need to work together with regulatory agencies to ensure the production, distribution and sales of wholesome bakery products to the consumers" added Mrs. Ogochukwu Still speaking, she said that this exercise which is part of the NAFDAC Bread Quality Initiative brings On-the-spot testing of bread and improver to Bakery Facilities adding that every bakery whose product is analysed will be issued a report. This she said is in line with the global trend of transparency between the regulators and the industry.

She further noted that the exercise will identify the gaps and subsequent intervention strategies required to ensure and sustain the production of safe and wholesome bakery products.

In her remarks, Dr. Gloria N. Elemo, the Director General FIIRO called on the Bakers to continue the 20% inclusion of the newly developed high quality cassava flour in the wheat used for bread making.

The Director who was represented at the event by a Director of the Agency, Dr. Patrick Irabor commended NAFDAC for organising such an event and said it was well timed.

Floyd- the gadget guy who is always ready to defend his love for music.

Others are Maude -who literally "lives to play" with her amazing ability to turn the dullest location into a party hub, Andy- who is a little more laid back but passionate about skating and riding waves, Lola -who is fun and very competitive in nature and of course, the mysterious Lhava twins, who always seem to know where the fun and action is happening.

Although all the characters are from very diverse backgrounds, they are all united by their love for play.

These amazing characters also offer parents the opportunity to relive their youth by offering them access to the creative and dynamic world of play.

said Folarin-Coker.

Ariel has also partnered with the Vlisco Group's Woodin brand to understand trends in African fabrics and thereby deliver cleaning that also protects and enhances the continent's unique style.

"The Woodin brand is inspired

by African culture and it is constantly evolving to define a new African fashion identity. We are excited to partner with Ariel to deliver our fans a cleaning solution that can keep their treasured Vlisco fabrics beautiful," said AdaezeAlilonu, Marketing Manager, Vlisco Fabrics.

Speaking at the event, P&G

Nigeria Commercial and Brand Director, Ehinomen Enekabor, said that: "Ariel believes that innovation starts with the consumer. We gain insights into people's everyday lives, so that we can combine 'what's needed with 'what's possible, through the latest technology and innovation. With more and more Nigerians investing in automatic washing machines, it is important that Ariel is able to offer them a world-class product, specifically designed for this purpose."

She added that, "Ariel's partnership with Ms Coker and with Vlisco Fabrics enables us to stay

•Guests at the launching of Ariel Automatic powder.

abreast of current industry trends in textile and fabric innovation, where imagination and technology combine to produce exciting new fashions. This further strengthens our ability to deliver to Nigerians a product that will be the 'perfect match' for their style."

Ariel Research and Development Manager, Patience N'Kamba Makenga wowed the audience with live demonstrations of new Ariel Automatic's performance, not only its superior cleaning and stain-removal, but also how it helps to protect and enhance fabrics.

62

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

63

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

INTERVIEW

‘You can’t be a good Christian L and not help others’

AST year, the church launched the Grace and Mercy Project (GAMP) in Nigeria, what will be different this year?

We could not have done it without His enablement and our members back in the United Kingdom who were very supportive of this vision.

During GAMP 2014, we promised that it would be a yearly event and here we are again to do one of the things we do best - supporting our community.

GAMP2015 will run from 20th – 26th June 2015. As well as giving out free items throughout the week to members of the community that want and need them, we have quite a number of activities planned and packed for the day including live music by well-known musical artists, comedians, free food and many others.

The part that fills my heart with great joy is the fact that some of the students that we were able to train (for free) through our School of fashion set up immediately after GAMP2014 will be graduating on the day.

What is really the motivation behind all these humanitarian gestures?

During the launching of GAMP last year, I shared in detail how over the years we have been actively supporting our local community and beyond in various aspects of life.

We have been known to assist the less privileged in the community. We provide support by giving out free food to the hungry via our Food Bank and we go into the community with medical professionals to conduct medical check-ups and many more other activities.

Through being actively involved in our community, we have also gained knowledge and a wealth of experience in helping people to discover their potentials and make a living by embracing the most fundamental education.

We have been blessed to have as our members, various professionals who are able and willing to give their time and share their skills and knowledge to provide assistant with our various outreach programmes.

What we are doing here in Ikorodu, Nigeria is a tangible extension of the work that we do in the United Kingdom. If we can help our community in the UK, it is only natural to want to do the same and by His grace more in our homeland, Nigeria.

We hope to do much more here as the Lord will continue to help us to show His kind of love to all.

What testimonies do some of the donors have to share?

GGIC is a very peculiar

The founder and senior pastor of Grace to Grace International Ministries, Dagenham, UK, Pastor (Mrs.) Atinuke Adesanya, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on an humanitarian project of the church in Nigeria. Excerpts: body of Christ as we are givers and it is therefore not a surprise that most of our donors are members of our Church.

Giving selflessly is a key component to many spiritual and religious beliefs and knowing that one has taken action in line with your spiritual beliefs by offering your resources to others in need can bring a sense of inner peace and contentment.

Many of our donors have commented that they gave towards GAMP out of spiritual and moral conviction. Having shared the vision with them, I believe they felt inner pull to become involved with the project by donating financially, materially, their time and skills as well.

Last year, we had people who are not medical professionals but they contributed in helping us provide health check-ups to people in Isawu by donating money to buy medical equipment.

Likewise, a number of our members would have loved to come last year but were not be able to take time off work but some of them helped by supporting someone else who is able to do so and in so doing, they were directly helping the people in Isawu.

Our members that travelled with me last year for GAMP2014 also testify about having the opportunity to build on their social knowledge and circles whilst reaping the physical, mental and spiritual benefits from the labour of love they contributed towards the success of GAMP2014.

We’ve had people testified of feeling better about themselves after helping to support the project, because they know very well that they have done something that may save lives or help others who are less fortunate.

You don’t have to be a millionaire to realise that helping others gives you a good feeling, whether you do it by donating your time or by donating money.

It’s hard to believe that all these gestures are not related to the establishment of a church in Nigeria. Is that

•Adesanya

true?

The main reason we have been able to do what we do in supporting our community as a Christian organisation is because of the love Christ within us as a body. Naturally, human beings often find it almost difficult or have no flare to want to help others, especially strangers and without the intention of getting something back in return.

Of course, there are individuals that have the gift of giving and are always looking to help even strangers in need. However, the love of Christ makes it an impulsive thing for us to do.

Our Church is already established here in Ikorodu and like I mentioned earlier, one of the things our ministry is well known for is supporting our community. We believe that as individuals, we all have something within us to give and impact our community, likewise as an organisation we cannot just exist in a community and not impact lives.

The Grace and Mercy Project (GAMP) is a platform to ensure we are able to achieve our set objectives of positively impacting the lives of people within our community.

What shape will GAMP 2015 take?

The first day would be a variety day; mainly to celebrate great achievements

since the launching of GAMP till date.

For example, some of the students we trained in our School of Fashion will be graduating and awarded for their commitment to turn their lives around and have a voice in the community. We aim to have live entertainments throughout the day with musician, comedians and other very important dignitaries in attendance. The remaining days of the week, we will be giving away some free items and carrying out free health checks. We have come again with a team of medical professionals from the United Kingdom to deliver this personalised care.

How many students are graduating and what are some of the incentives you are offering them?

One of the primary aims

of this initiative was that by implementing a positive educational initiative of this sort, we would be helping a group of people who, in the nearest future, can significantly contribute (in their own way) to the Nigerian economy through this local government and create a better future financial security for themselves, family and the masses by expansion.

When we set up the Grace School of Fashion, we had quite a number of people that enrolled to join. It was very clear for us then that the need to empower individuals to build and create the lifestyle they desire was there. Of course, some of the people dropped out for one reason or the other and quite few stayed on.

However, as we all have our individual style and pace

of learning, we can confirm that up to five students will be graduating this year.

We are not planning to offer them incentives; the free training was the incentive we gave them to make a change in the lives. Nonetheless, each of the graduating students will be awarded some tools for their trades and some monetary gifts mainly for their commitment to learn and change their circumstances and to assist them in establishing their own enterprises.

If we have more of these gestures, what do you imagine will happen in the society?

It is a human nature to just go about their daily lives and simply pretend that everyone is living well and that problems don’t exist or convince ourselves that these are small, inconsequential problems that affect just a few.

The truth of the matter is that if destitutions are left unchecked, they are the kinds of issues that can dramatically affect the quality of life of not just individuals but the community at large. Sooner or later, it will become very difficult to sustain a community when too many people are living at the margins.

This is what the Grace and Mercy Project (GAMP) is all about; working at the edge of society, finding the places where the community is frayed and in our own capacity, repairing them to make the community as a whole stronger.

We all have an important role to play in helping to move people from the margins into the mainstream. If we have more of these gestures coming from individuals, government officials, organisations or even co-operate bodies’ our society will experience a massive explosion in the quality of life of our people.

Our people need to realise that as they step out and help people to elevate hardship, they are in fact expanding the impact of their own work.

By improving the quality of life for others, we are ensuring individuals are spiritually and physically equipped to enable them become better Nigerian citizens.

NEWS

Christian journalists to honour Adadevoh

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R. Stella Adadevoh, who was reputed to have stopped further spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria, will receive with a posthumous special award during the annual couple’s dinner and integrity award ceremony of the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ).

Adadevoh will bag the professional integrity award of NACJ, according to its secretary general, Charles Okhai.

The event is scheduled to Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

He said: “This year’s award promises to be a high society celebration and a well deserved honor for the Nigeria’s illustrious sons and daughters who have demon-

strated high sense of integrity in their place of duties.

“The main objective of the Award is to encourage Nigerians to be integrity conscious and thereby shy away from corruption.

“People like Dr Stella deserve to be honored and celebrated, dead or alive in appreciation of their bravery and patriotic acts.”

64

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

WORSHIP

Adeboye charges parents on proper upbringing

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HE general overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church OF God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has advised parents to avoid amassing ill gotten wealth for their children but teach them the values of hard work, honesty, and integrity.

He gave the advice at the special monthly prayer and thanksgiving service by the church at its national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

Adeboye said parents must not encourage mediocrity among their children or ward but motivate and empower them to work.

He lamented the desire among youths to make wealth without hard work, attributing the mass unemployment among the young population to this menace.

According to him: “There are boundless opportunities and possibilities for young

By Adeola Ogunlade

people willing to work and burn the midnight candles instead of cutting corners.”

Adeboye, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Personnel and Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said there was no free launch even in Freetown.

He said whatever anyone was enjoying was the handiworks of those who have sweated things out for us to enjoy it today.

He noted that many well known businessmen, who have died in the last 20 years but failed to give a good legacy of hard work, honesty and forthrightness for their children have had their business edifices, empires and monumental achievements crumpled.

Although, the respected preacher asserted there were lots of distraction and discretion among modern youths, he urged parents to take out time to understudy the psyche and philosophi-

cal build up of their children so they could help them better.

He said: “Parents should take time to create or invest more time in bringing up their children in the manner they will be proud of.

“If you accumulate wealth for your children, they will squander it.”

He cautioned parents who spent all their lives amassing ill gotten wealth for their children, saying it was not necessary.

Adeboye stressed: “What you don’t work for, you don’t value it. What we can do is take care of ourselves and enjoy the little we have and give our children good moral and education.

“Every individual has what they need to make their lives comfortable. We will be destroying the lives f our children when we accumulate all gotten wealth for them.”

COLUMN

Living Faith

By Dr. David Oyedepo

Engaging the demand of discipline for success! (2)

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AST week, I began this series by showing you the importance of discipline in the school of success. This week, I will continue that teaching on the platform of discipline.

Discipline is essentially about living a guarded lifestyle. It is being a law to oneself in a bid to accomplish set goals. The following are aspects we must be disciplined in, in other to experience Success in our lives: Breakthrough Thoughts:Exploits is our birthright in redemption,but our thoughts determines whether we possess it or not.This is becauseonly those who think success succeed and only breakthrough thinkers command breakthroughs (Proverbs 23:7).

Thus, it is important for us to discipline our thoughts to align with divine agenda or we miss out of God’s success plan for our lives (1 Peter 1:13; Philippians 4:8; Numbers 13:32-33).

Breakthrough Words: It is our words that create the •General Overseer of Christ Healing Evangelical Church (CHEC), Pastor Samuel Ogunfowokan events of our lives and break(2nd right) greeting players of the church's football shortly before a novelty match with the through words are required Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church team as part of the 2015 international convention of to command breakthroughs, CHEC at Mowe, Ogun State… recently because life and death are in the power of the tongue. We must understand that our

By Adeola Ogunlade bles as the Pastor in charge of words are as creative as God’s HE Assistant Pastor in the RCCG Testimony Chapel, Word, because we are created charge of the Redeemed Christian pendent on optimism and faith Akute noted that that govern- in His image and likeness Church of God (RCCG), La- in God, especially during testy ment was still “far” from Ni- (Proverbs 18:21; Genesis 1:26). Coincidentally, our gerians. gos Province 40, Pastor times.

He said the challenges of inHe stressed that those words stem out of our Goke Aniyeloye, has appealed to Nigerian to be op- security and economy woes who are going to rule the na- thoughts, for out of the abuntimistic and pray for the in- bedeviling the nation also indi- tion must have the fear of God dance of the heart, the mouth coming administration of cate that Nigerians require re- in them and believe in the speaks. Therefore, we need oneness and indivisibility of disciplined thought and General Muhammadu deem the nation. tongues (Matthew 12:34; Aniyeloye noted that God the country.

Buhari.

He challenged the presi- Mark 11:23).

He spoke with reporters cannot be left out in finding soBut, for our tongue to be ahead of the RCCG, Testi- lution to the challenges facing dent- elect to focus on his campaign promises, assuring him disciplined, we must let the mony Chapel, Akute, Ogun the nation.

He canvassed intense of the church’s support in State seven Super Sundays service from May 9-June 27. prayers so that the nation can prayers.

He appealed to Buhari to Aniyeloye stated that surmount the myriads of probbe very careful and weary of the success of the incoming lems plaguing it.

Aniyeloye, who also dou- the people around him. administration would be deHE President of the Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic MinisBy Sunday Oguntola OD is still in the Baptist Conference of Nigeria tries (TWOREM) Internabusiness of answerand Overseas fasted and tional Lagos, Nigeria, Oladipupo ing prayers and res- of the National Association of prayed throughout the ordeal Prophet cues His people from known Chambers of Commerce, Indus- of Omotosho, who is a trustee Funmilade-Joel, has declared that fasting and prayer and unknown dangers, tries, Mines and Ag-riculture of the church. chairman of the Christian (NACCIMA), Chief Debo “God honoured our without obedience to God Association of Nigeria Omotoso, at the Chapel of Great prayers and bought him back will not get Christians any(CAN), South West region, Commission, Awe in Oyo State. safely to us, showing he is where.

Omotoso, who is also the with us and the same who resHe spoke at the church’s Archbishop Magnus Atilade, chairman, Bond Group of Com- cued Daniel and the three He- interdenominational quarhas stated.

“The God of Daniel is panies was abducted in his resi- brews from the furnace of terly programme tagged: “Bojuwomi’. still alive today. He deliv- dence in Awe in March by gun- fire,” he explained.

Funmilade-Joel exers us and listens to our cries men who disguised to be workAny other Christian, who every day. He is a miracle ers of a dry-cleaning firm. dares to trust in God, Atilade plained it was very imporHe was later rescued by men assured will enjoy similar diworker and will never leave of the Oyo Police Command in vine protection. us stranded,” he stressed.

He urged Christians to Ajia community in Egbeda area Omotosho, who was FOOTBALL comput their faith in God and of Ibadan a week after his ab- beaming with smiles, apprepetition in honour remain convinced that He duction. ciate the church for staying in Atilade, who gave the the gap for him during the of the late leader of will always fight their batcharge at the service, attributed abduction. tles. the Cherubim and SeraAtilade spoke during a the rescue of the Ashiwaju of He said the incident has phim Movement Ayo Ni thanksgiving service for the Afijio land to the miraculous reinforced his faith in God and O, Dr Gabriel Fakeye, will miraculous deliverance of hands of God. will bring him closer to his soon take off.

He said the entire Gospel maker. the national vice president The competition, ac-

Be optimistic on Buhari, cleric challenges Nigerians

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Word of God dwell richly in us.

When our lives are filled with the Word, we think, speak and act scriptures, thereby creating the future we desire (Colossians 3:16; Joshua 1:8; 1 Samuel 17:4546; 50, Job 22:29).

Breakthrough actions: It is one thing to think right, another to talk right and yet another thing to act right. Our actions must align with our thoughts and words; otherwise, our thoughts and words would be of no effect (1 Samuel 2:3).

For instance, David spoke strongly and spontaneously when he confronted Goliath. His action went along with his thoughts and words, thus defeating Goliath (1 Samuel 17:43-51; Genesis 12:1-4, 22:1-3; Hebrews 11:7).

It is important for us to recognize that these three areas of discipline are very vital in determining our success in life. This is because, we cannot think like grasshoppers and emerge as lions. Moreover, our thoughts can stop God, our words can limit Him and our actions can put Him off from intervening in the affairs of our lives. Therefore, we must discipline our thoughts, words and actions to align with the truth, which is the Word of God (Philemon 1:14).

Discipline is obviously a fundamental requirement for exploits and the following scriptural examples validate this claim: Joseph: He was a highly disciplined man and he demonstrated this when he refused to yield to the demands of his master’s wife. He said, “How can I do this wicked thing and sin against God?” As a result, he became the breadwinner of nations and the core preserver of Israel (Genesis 39:9, 21/41:15-16, 3844).

Daniel: He purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king’s rich food. As a result, he commanded dominion in Babylon, the land of his captivity (Daniel 1:8, 17, 20/5:11/ 6:1-10, 11-30).

Nehemiah: He refused to partake of the governor’s bread. He led a revolutionary army and was an exemplary leader. He was a man sold- out to his task and the well-being of the people. As a result, he was promoted from a cupbearer to the governor of the nation. We must, therefore, note that our dignity is a function of our discipline (Nehemiah 1:1-10, 4:15-16, 23).

Paul the Apostle: He determined to subscribe to what was profitable (1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 10:23). No wonder, it was said of him, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.” Even the demons affirmed, “Jesus, I know; Paul, I know!” He also wrote two-thirds of the New Testament. Therefore, discipline enhances our productivity and it is the highway to distinction in the pursuit of any task (Acts 14:11, 19:14-15; 1Corinthians 9:24-26).

Friend, are you Born Again? You can become born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. You can be saved right now as you say this prayer:”Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”I will continue this teaching next week.

Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books —Exploring the Secrets of Success, Success Buttons, Success Strategies and Success Systems.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners.

We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org Sunday Newswatch Times May 24, 2015

NEWS

‘Prayer and fasting without obedience won’t work’

Put your faith in God, Atilade charges

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T

tant to obey God at all times and also respect the laws of the land.

He stressed that without obedience to God, fasting and prayer would be an exercise in futility.

The cleric maintained that prayer and fasting will never deliver to Christians what obedience cannot deliver.

He challenged Christians to do away with disobedience, avoid partial obedience and always depend on God for favour and grace.

On the state of the nation, Baba Sekunderin, as he is popu-

larly called, charged the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to be courageous enough to take decisive steps in rendering great service to his fatherland.

He charged him to win the battle for interrupted power supply, encourage private sector and foreign stakeholders to participate in vital sectors.

According to him:”It is not a change in government that can lift Nigeria up but a change of attitude by everybody.”

Football competition for late Fakeye

A

cording to Primate Ayoola Omonigbehin, will aim to win souls and empower youths.

He said: “The competition will help to engage youths in productive ventures, while diverting their attention from

gang life and irresponsible living.”

Omonigbehin added that a football club, Fakeye clubs, will also be floated to commemorate the exemplary efforts of the deceased church leader.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015 CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE CHANGE OF OF NAME NAME ISOLA

IKUFORIJI

65 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

SANNI

DANIEL

DIALA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Isola, Fayoke Ruth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwabunmi Fayoke Ruth. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Dr. (Miss) Olaomopo Zainab Ikuforiji, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. (Mrs.) Olaomopo Ikuforiji-Daniel. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Sanni, Rebecca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olajide, Rebecca. All former documents remain valid. Diocese of EkitiOke, Anglican Communion and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Daniel Oluwatoyin Osinimega, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ojo Oluwatoyin Osinimega, all former documents remain valid, general public take note.

OLAGUNDOYE

SHOLAOGUN

OBAMOGIE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Oluwuni Simeon Oladoye and Olawuni Simeon Oladoye refer to the same person and now wish to be known and addressed as Olawuni Simeon Oladoye, all former documents remain valid, NECO Office and general public take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Olagundoye, Omowumi Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dare, Omowumi Abiodun. All former documents remain valid. Hospital Management Board, Ondo State aGeneral public should take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Mr. Sholaogun, Kehinde Olusegun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Oluwashola Kehinde Olusegun. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

FALADE

ALEMETO

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Olubunmi Omolola Falade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olubunmi Omolola Akintobi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OGWU I,formerly known and addressed as ALLISON CHINEYEMBA OGWU, now wish to be known and addressed as WEALTH CHINEYEMBA RICHARD. All former documents remain valid.

University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State and general public should take note.

BALOGUN

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Morayo Balogun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Morayo Adekoya-cole. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

GANDONU

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss OpeyemiToluwase Gandonu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Opeyemi Toluwase Opayemi . All former documents remain valid. Lagos Television and general public should take note.

OKOYE I,formerly known and addressed as Okoye, Uchenna Patricia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okoye-Chinwego Uchenna Patricia.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

FALUA I,formerly known and addressed as Falua, Modupe Bolanle, now wish to be known and addressed as Kadiri, Modupe Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OKUNBOR

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss AdesuwaElizabeth Okunbor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adesuwa Elizabeth Ogundana. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OBALADE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Obalade, Okotolani Yetunde Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eletu, Omotolani Yetunde Temitope. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

AFOLAYAN

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Afolayan, Omolabake Aishat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gbadamosi, Omolabake Aishat. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Alemeto, Mercy Modupe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwashola, Mercy Modupe.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ALEMETO I, formerly known, called and addressed as Offor Jenovine Chinweokwu, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ONYEANUSI JENOVINE CHINWEOKWU. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria,Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA) and the general public to please take note.

NSHII

OLAFADE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Olufade, Olubunmi Enitan, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dosumu, Olubunmi Enitan. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

DADA

BENWA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss BENWA ONYINYE GLORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CLEOPAS ONYINYE GLORIA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ADELEKE I, formerly known and addressed as ADELEKE, Amina Eniola, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEDAYO, Amina Eniola. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

MAKANJUOLA

I formerly known and addressed as MISS MAkANJUOLA Oluwatoyin Abigeal. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AFOLABI Oluwatoyin Abigeal. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

GREG I formerly known and addressed as Miss Greg, Faith Aiterebhe. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwasusi, Faith Aiterebhe.

All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should please take note.

NWAKUNA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwakuna, Chinenye. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Enwefah, Chinenye. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

PAUL

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Promise Ogechi Paul. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Ogechi Obi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OSHODI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oshodi, Silifat Modupe. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebayo, Silifat Modupe. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

RAMONI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ramoni, Adenike Racheal.

Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oke, Adenike Racheal. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IGE

I formerly known and addressed as Olaide Olanrewaju Ige, now wish to be known and addressed as Ogunleye Olanrewaju Ige. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity and general public should please take note.

YAKUBU

NWOKOCHA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ifeoma Samuel Nwokocha, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ifeoma Samuel Timothy. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

GALADIMA

I formerly known and addressed as YOSI DAUDA GALADIMA, now wish to be known and addressed as YOSI DANIEL ADAMU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

OFFOR

AMOS

ANULUMADU

I formerly known and addressed as Mustapha Folasade Taofikat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Balogun-Mustapha Taofikat Folasade. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Government and the general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Ayinde Abdul-Afeez Olayinka and Ayinde Abdul-Afeez Olakunle refer to the same person ?and now wish to be known and addressed as Ayinde Abdul-Afeez Olakunle, all former documents remain valid JAMB, Osun State University and general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adekoya, Abiola Deborah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibukunolu Abiola Deborah. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MUSTAPHA

I,formerly known and addressed as Dada Gbemisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Olatunde Dada Gbemisola. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Azeezat Toyin Yakubu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Azeezat Toyin Tiamiyu. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ADEKOYA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Maryann Chidimma Offor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maryann Chidimma Onoh. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State government and general public should please take note.

AIDE I,formerly known and addressed as Adie Udeyie Elizabeth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Elizabeth Udeyie Angboji. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

OLAOYE

I formerly known and addressed as Olaoye, Adetola Rachael, now wish to be known and addressed as Akinfenwa, Adetola Racheal. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Nshii Nkechinyere Rebecca, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NWOKPOR GODWIN JOSEPH. All former documents bearing my former names remain valid. The general public to please take note.

ALARIBE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Precious Chinasa Alaribe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Precious Emmanuel Ezekiel.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Obamogie, Evelyn Omosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omoniyi, Evelyn Omosede. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Board, University of Sokoto Teaching Hospital Board, Igbenedion University, Okada, Edo State, Anglican Communion and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Lynda Ngoli Anulumadu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lynda Ngoli Ewuzie. All former documents remain valid.

Tansian University, Voice of Nigeria and general public should please take note.

EMOKPAE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Emokpae Oghogh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Bright Kwani Oghogh. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OGUNGBEMI I formerly known and addressed as Ogungbemi, Akinola Ebenezer, now wish to be known and addressed as Popoola Akinola Ebenezer. All former documents remain valid. First bank of Nigeria Plc. and general public should please take note.

IBRAHIM

I formerly known and addressed as Ibrahim Waliyat Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Ibrahimm Waliyat Oyedokun. All former documents remain valid.

First bank of Nigeria Plc. and general public should please take note.

GOGWIM

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Vanessa Launna Gogwim, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Vanessa Launna Omoyola. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADEKOYA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adekoya Alice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adekoya Iyabo Olabisi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AJAYI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibukun Opeoluwa Ajayi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibukun Opeoluwa Opeodu.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as DEBORAH B. AMOS, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. DEBORAH BAWA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

HARUNA

I formerly known and addressed as MISS HARUNA JOY ABODIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. HARUNA JOY ABODIA OMOYEMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

MABASO I formerly known and addressed as MISS MABASO KHANYISILE PRECIOUS, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EZEOKA KHANYISILE PRECIOUS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

AZUH I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHINYE THELMA AZUH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHINYE THELMA SODADE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

IFIONAYI

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AIGBOVBIOSA IFIONAYI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AIGBOVBIOSA OSAYANDE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ALIYU I formerly known and addressed as Miss Maryam Muhammad Aliyu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maryam Muhammad Aiyelero. All former documents remain valid. General Public Should please take note.

ALIYU

I formely known and addressed as Aliyu Oladoja, now wish to be known and addressed as Ali Oduola Oladoja, all former documents remain valid, general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, LASISI MUJIRAT ADERONKE is the same person as AZEEZ MUJIRAT ADERONKE All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

OFFOR

ODIKANWA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss ONYINYECHI LORRETTA OFFOR now wish to be known as Mrs. ONYINYECHI LORRETTA NWOKEYI. All former documents remain valid Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. and general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odikanwa Uchechi Martha, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iheanaezuru Uchechi Martha. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss BLESSING ADIELE, now wish to be known as Mrs. BLESSING GORDON MAYINTA. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

ASOMAKU

ADIELE

ORLU

I,formerly known and addressed as Sophia Asomaku, now wish to be known and addressed as Sophia Tersoo-Mhar.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss GLORIA CHIOMA ORLU, now wish to be known as Mrs. GLORIA CHIOMA MICHEAL. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

DIOKPALA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss KELECHI .M. AHUKANNA, now wish to be known as Mrs. KELECHI .M. AKPAN. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ruth Odinachi Diokpala, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ruth Odinachi Osaluwe. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OLATUNJI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olatunji Motunrayo Esther, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adefila Motunrayo Esther, all former documents remain valid, general public take note.

AHUKANNA

IHEJIRIKA

I, Formerly known and addressed as MISS IHEJIRIKA NANCY OZIOMA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JOSEPH NANCY OZIOMA. All former documents remain valid. FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NEKEDE OWERRI, NYSC and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME MENDAL

PEDRO

I,formerly known and addressed as Mr. Mendal Nemai Chandra, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Nirmal Madanmohan Singh. All former documents remain valid. general public should please take note.

ENWELU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss CHIGBU ANURIKA PRECIOUS, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. MBABUIKE ANURIKA PRECIOUS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss SANDRA ULOMA DIALA, now wish to be known as Mrs. ENYIOKO SANDRA ULOMA. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss MARILYN IYADA PEDRO, now wish to be known as Mrs. MARILYN IYADA TAYLOR. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Enwelu Oluchukwu Faith, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nkem-Ndubuisi Oluchukwu Faith. All former documents remain valid. general public should please take note.

UKOKWU

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ukokwu Chinenye Cynthia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Matthew-Etuh Chinenye Cynthia. All former documents remain valid.

Insourcing Limited, FBN LTD, Fed. Poly Nekede, NYSC and general public should please take note.

OFFIAH I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Offiah Violet Odinakachukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chukwuezi Violet Odinakachukwu. All former documents remain valid. Mayfresh Mortgage Bank LTD and general public should please take note.

OBUBA I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Obuba Amarachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amarachi Sunday Ezenwa. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ABIAYI

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Abiayi Janeth Aja now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyebuchi Janeth Aja. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc Item, Bende L.G.A and general public should please take note.

ENOGWE

I, formerly known and addressed as ENOGWE JOHNSON KELECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as CHIMAOBI JOHNSON KELECHI. All former documents remain valid. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and general public should please take note.

NWACHUKWU

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWACHUKWU ANN UGOCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ANIMMAKU ANN UGOCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADEYINKA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeyinka, Adebimpe Ramota, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akinsipe, Adebimpe Ramota. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MAIYE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Maiye, Funmilayo Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyedele, Funmilayo Eunice. All former documents valid. First Bank Plc and general public should please take note.

EBENEZER

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ebenezer Remilekun Temitayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Arowora Remilekun Temitayo. All former documents valid. General public should please take note.

OJENIYI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojeniyi Temitope Agnes, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adekunle Temitope Agnes.

All former documents valid. General public should please take note.

OLAREWAJU

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Olarewaju Beatrice Adenike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Owolabi Adeola Fadeke Beatrice. All former documents valid. General public should please take note.

IBEM I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibem Ifunanya Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mbanaso-Kester Ifunanya Joy. All former documents valid. General public should please take note.

WILLIAMS

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Williams Olubunmi Veronica, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Awude Olubunmi Veronica. All former documents valid. General public should please take note.

OMOLE

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Omole Deborah Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Ayeni Deborah Abiodun. All former documents valid. General public should please take note.

CHIGBU

ADEYEMO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeyemo, Muinat Folake, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abdulrauff, Muinat Folake. All former documents remain valid. The Emmanuel Alayande College of Education Oyo and general public should please take note.

AZEEZ

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Azeez Zukurat Labake, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Yusuff Zukurat Labake.. All former documents remain valid. The Oyo SUBEB and general public should please take note.

AJISAFE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajisafe Oluwafunmilayo Matina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oladosu Oluwafunmilayo Matina. All former documents remain valid. The Oyo SUBEB and general public should please take note.

AKINADE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AKINADE OYEBOLA MOTUNRAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AKANDE OYEBOLA MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. The Oyo SUBEB and general public should please take note.

ONASANYA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Onasanya Rukayat Ayomiku, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. Wahab Rukayat Ayomiku. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OLUFOWOBI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Habeebat Desayo Olufowobi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Habeebat Desayo Moshood. All former documents remain valid. All government Agencies within and outside Nigeria and general public should please take note.

LAWAL I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omolara Lawal, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omolara Akinbode. All former documents remain valid. Local, State and Federal government Agencies in Nigeria and general public should please take note.

ADODOH

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Tina Adodoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tina Ebi. All former documents remain valid. Local, State and Federal government Agencies in Nigeria and general public should please take note.

ADVERT: Simply produce your marriage certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of name publication, with just N4,500. The payment can be made through FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. Account number 2017220392 Account Name - VINTAGE PRESS LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to gbengaodejide @yahoo.com or thenation_advert @yahoo.com.

For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 0 8 0 5 2 7 2 0 4 2 1 , 08161675390, Emailgbengaodejide@ yahoo.com or our offices nationwide.

Note this! Change of name is now published every Sundays, all materials should reach us two days before publication.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

66

EBERE WABARA

WORDSWORTH 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

Parent-Teacher Association N ATIONAL Mirror of April 27 welcomes us with copious grammatical crises: “We’ll restore peace in (to) APGA—Ufomba” Next is its Views Page: “Parents have thus out of greed or fear of discharging their responsibilities to the (their) children, (needless comma) give (given) them out….”

“Both the federal and states (sic) government (federal and state governments) must take steps to ensure that….”

“There is thus the need to separate politicking from electioneering campaign.” (Editorial) ‘Electioneering’ encompasses ‘campaign.’ “…and the ousted leadership of the school’s parents/teachers’ association.” Education Today: parent-teacher association “St. Saviour’s school commissions (inaugurates) N200m classrooms” “Forex reserves drops (drop) 0.17% to three month (three-month) low” Because of its grouping role, the hyphen forms adjectives. Otherwise, some lexical combinations will become awkward and ambiguous.

Please note that ‘but’ and ‘however’ cannot cofunction. And this: ‘at’ applies to a definite time; while ‘about’ refers to an approximate time. Therefore, to use both in the same environment is contradictory and confusing.

But you can say ‘at or about’…in an informal setting that allows such escapist latitude! Lastly: ‘likes’ take ‘compare with’ and unlike terms ‘compare to.’ An example, talking football: You can compare FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi with Real Madrid playmaker Christiano Ronaldo, but Messi to Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man.

However, at a classical level, some likes are incomparable with one another: Nigerian local league players cannot be compared with, but to, either Messi or Ronaldo!

Still on National Mirror: “…activities of unlicensed designers is (are) shrinking its market in Nigeria.”

“Air-purifying, energy saving (why omit the second hyphen?) AC unveiled as Panasonic stirs competition” “Police counsel Ogun monarchs on grassroot (grassroots) policing” “Unlawful possession of firearms: Vigilante boss exonerated” Community Mirror: vigilance boss or vigilantes’ boss

“Ota DPO calls for concerted efforts (effort) in traffic management” Finally from the Back Page of NATIONAL MIRROR which circulated three blunders: “In this critical area, this government has failed woefully (abysmally)….”

“Another job creating (job-creating) initiative like the….” “…functional national infrastructure which are still lacking in our oil dependent (oil-dependent) economy.”

“Mama, tens of decades of exemplary contributions to the upliftment (uplift) of common people….” There is no such word known as ‘upliftment’ in the English language lexicon.

THISDAY of April 22 did not practise robust journalism, as it advocates, on nine occasions: “Enjoy round the clock banking!”

(Full-page advertisement

by GT Bank) At your service adjectivally: round-theclock banking!

“HICC pledge (pledges) to support FG’s war against corruption.”

“Our daddy, on this auspicious occasion of your birthday anniversary….” ‘Birthday’ and ‘anniversary’ cannot cofunction in the same environment.

“I am not an advocate for albinos to marry themselves (one another)….”

“It was a beehive of activities…as the celebrant’s (celebrator’s) parents….” Fairground: a hive of activity (not a beehive of activities)!

“Your fight for the less privilege (less-privileged) and down trodden (downtrodden) has (had) indeed changed lives for the better, (a full stop) you are (were) indeed a rare gem.”

(Full-page advertisement) National Mirror Views Page of April 20 takes over the baton with this error: “…the interest of the common man in the street.”

The man in the street is basically common! Do not aggravate his circumstance by adding ‘common’!

“Glo’s Move to Greener Pastures (Move-toGreener-Pastures) campaign hits over 50, 000 views (sic)” “Man charged for (with) tossing wife off cruise ship” The last slipshod entry from National Mirror just before its editorial: “Italy’s first back (black) minister gets death threat” Now the Editorial: “…which are interpreted to include the right for (to) sexual preferences.”

“FG says its (it’s) suffering (suffering from)

cash crunch” “Ex-dep Senate President, Legogie (another comma) dies at 65” (Front Page) “Globacom to storm eight cities with Glo slide and bounce tour” Voice of The Nation: Glo slideand-bounce tour. Does the telecommunications company have issues with hyphenation?

“Encomium galore as Anambra council boss bags award” City SUN: Encomiums galore “The Lagos PDP, until recently, was bedevilled by intra-party crisis (an intra-party crisis) that has made….”

“APC presidential shoes fits (how?)

Okorocha” “Obituary announcement” Just obituary!

“Corruption destroying the fabrics (fabric) of Nigeria” “Eagles (Eagles’) attack worries Keshi” “Aba IPP to be commissioned (inaugurated/ launched…) in August— Prof. Nnaji” The Guardian of April 18 goofed: “…work at Baro Port (Niger State), Oguta (Imo State) and Jamata (Lokoja, Kogi State) (a comma) according to the government (another comma) has reached an advanced stage.” What is ‘an advanced stage’?

How is the reader expected to know the extent of work carried out with this kind of ambiguous phrase (journalese)? This is loose thinking and speculative writing! Let reporters and their editors express their findings in graphical or statistical terms (percentage)—this way, the reader develops a fair idea and perception of the scope of work done.

This makes sense in the absence of exactitude! “…the set-up that has proved to be every inch a drain of (on) public purse…”

From The Guardian of April 2 comes the next set of gaffes starting from its Front Page: “The Federal High Court, Abuja division (another comma) yesterday ruled that the President of the Federal Republic on (of) Nigeria….”

“The meeting, which took place behind closeddoors (closed doors—no hyphen) or the closeddoor meeting….”

“The university teachers said yesterday that they declared the strike to register their displeasure over (at) Federal Government’s alleged refusal to pay their ‘earn allowance’.” Also, displeasure with someone…. “…on the ground (grounds) that….”

Tears as fire guts Kwara community market T HERE was wailing and gnashing of teeth yesterday in Offa, Offa local government area of Kwara state as an early morning fire gutted the popular Owode Market in the community just as the state governor Abdulfatah Ahmed expressed his sadness over fire outbreak.

Shop owners and traders at the market wept uncontrollably.

It was gathered that the inferno which was said to have started around 1:30 a.m, reportedly burnt down a large section of the market.

The fire was said to have been caused by a power surge from an electric pole.

The Nation gathered that

Stories from Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

the traders had earlier called the attention of the PHCN official s to rectify the bad pole before the incidence.

However, the spark occurred again at the midnight triggering massive inferno which was razed shops.

It was gathered that fire service men battled spiritedly to put out the fire but were hampered due to lack of access road in the market.

Expressing his sadness at the unfortunate mishap,

Governor Ahmed promised to look into the matter with a view to evaluating the extent of the damage.

"I am shocked and saddened by this incident at Owode market. I sympathise with the people of Offa and environs, especially those who lost valuable property to the fire. While comforted that no live was lost, we will review this incident with a view to prevent a recurrence," Governor Ahmed lamented.

A member of the Kwara state House of Assembly, Hassan Oyeleke who visited the scene of the incident, promised to liaise with appropriate authorities in order to provide immediate relief for the victims.

•From L-R: Father of the bride, Mr Yemi Ajayi of The Nation; Mother of the bridegroom, Mrs. Funmilayo Olaniyi; The couple, Mr and Mrs Adeniji Olaniyi; Father of the groom, Mr. Olusola Olaniyi and the mother of the bride, Mrs. Monsurat Ajayi at the solemnisation of Holy matrimony of their children Oluwabusayo and Adeniji at the Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Ogun Province (10) Ado-Odo Otta Ogun State... yesterday.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Whereabouts of Kogi lawmaker unknown

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EADERS and stakeholders from Igalamela/Odolu local government yesterday raised the alarm over the alleged disappearance of the lawmaker representing the area at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Friday Sanni Makama.

Addressing reporters in Lokoja, spokesman of the stakeholders and counsel to Makama, Barrister John Adele, alleged that the lawmaker was arrested Friday night and "flown" to Abuja yesterday.

He stated that efforts to secure his release proved aborting, saying the arrest was politically-motivated.

He added, "Honourable Friday Sanni Makama was

From James Azania, Lokoja arrested just before the commencement of Odolu Day celebration and flown to Abuja the next day.

"Even at that, we are prepared to continue to pursue his release and we are determined to ensure that the good people of Igalamela/ Odolu constituency receive quality representation in the state House of Assembly.

"His arrest coming just after winning his re-election and to say that a lawmaker is being arrested for armed robbery and criminal conspiracy calls for a lot of questioning."

The counsel however admonished the beleaguered

lawmaker not to take the laws into his hands but should allow the rule of law to prevail.

Some of the other leaders from the neighbourhood who spoke, blamed Makama's arrest on the activities of political detractors.

They called on the Inspector General of Police, President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) to intervene in the matter.

It would be recalled that violence marred the April 15 supplementary election for the Igalamela/Odolu state constituency, which was later declared in favour of Makama, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

Kwara APC backs Saraki for senate presidency

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HE Kwara South All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday threw their weight behind the former governor of Kwara state, Senator Bukola Saraki for the coveted seat Senate presidency.

The party also organised a prayer session for the success of the senator in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun local government area of the state.

Kwara South senatorial district is made up of seven out

of 16 local government area of the state.

Briefing reporters shortly after the prayers, Chairman, Kwara South APC stakeholders, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun said the district "is unanimously in support of Sen. Bukola Saraki's bid for the senate presidency. We believe that he is eminently qualified, charismatic and cosmopolitan with undeniable records of outstanding leadership of the Nigerian Governors' Forum

Wamakko inaugurates rice mill

A

RICE milling factory established by an indigenous investor in Sokoto, Alhaji Nura Attajiri was inaugurated at the weekend by the state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko.

The rice mill is to complement rice production in the state and beyond.

However, the combined capacity of the mill is 1,250 kilograms, per hour, while the firm operates for eight hours daily, six days a week.

Wamakko who was

From: Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Muhammad Arzika Tureta commended Attajiri for the gesture.

The governor who noted the efforts put to realise the establishment of the rice, said: "The firm was set up with two loans of N20 million and N10 million instalments, advanced to him by the state government out of the nearly

and active roles as a bridgebuilder and unifier in his years as a senator."

Balogun added that the people of the district "derive immeasurable joy from the current groundswell of support for the senator in the state north-central zone, and across the whole of Nigeria.

It is our collective project and in due course, our leader will emerge as the next senate president by the grace of God." N3billion loans disbursed to farmers and agro-investors in the state.''

Wamakko while stressing the landmark achievements recorded by his government thus far, also said it gave top priority to the providing subsidised fertlizers, agricultural inputs, tractors, pesticides and extension services, among others.

He further expressed happiness that such efforts were now yielding results with more people in the state producing more food for subsistence consumption and sales.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015 Ex-Chad leader's atrocities trial to open in Dakar on July 20

President returns to Burundi after army says coup bid failed

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ORMER Chadian dictator Hissene Habre's trial in Dakar for torture, war crimes and crimes against humanity will begin on July 20, the special tribunal set up to judge him said Wednesday.

Once dubbed "Africa's Pinochet", Habre has been in custody in Senegal since his arrest in June 2013 at the home he shared with his wife and children.

Rights groups say 40,000 people were killed during the 72-year-old's eight years in power in Chad under a regime marked by fierce repression of his opponents and the targeting of ethnic groups.

"The session of the Extraordinary African Chambers tasked with judging Habre will open on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 9:00 am (0900 GMT)" in Dakar, said the court, which was set up following a 2012 agreement between Senegal and the African Union.

The first session will be presided by Gberdao Gustave Kam, president of the tribunal, the court statement added.

Kam, 56, a former judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, is a technical adviser to Burkina Faso's Ministry of Justice and practised as a lawyer in Ouagadougou.

Delayed for years by Senegal, where Habre has lived since being ousted in

Beijing rebukes US over South China Sea Islands row

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HINA'S foreign minister told top US diplomat John Kerry on Saturday that Beijing was "unshakeable" in its defence of sovereignty, as tensions between the powers mount over Chinese islandbuilding in strategic but disputed waters.

The United States is weighing sending warships and surveillance aircraft within 12 nautical miles -- the normal territorial zone around natural land -- of artificial islands that Beijing is building in the South China Sea. Such a move could lead to a standoff on the high seas in an area home to vital global shipping lanes and believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits.

Beijing regards almost the whole of the South China Sea as its own and after talks in the Chinese capital Foreign Minister Wang Yi said sternly: "The determination of the Chinese side to safeguard our own sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock and it is unshakeable."

Kerry was less assertive in public, saying at their joint press conference that Washington was "concerned about the pace and scope of China's land reclamation" and urged it "to take actions that will join with everyone to reduce tensions".

The region needed "smart diplomacy", he said, rather than "outposts and military strips".

P

• Mohamed Mursi Urteil Kairo Todesurteil. An Egyptian court sentenced the country's former president to death yesterday

Ousted Egyptian President Morsi sentenced to death

A

N Egyptian court sentenced ousted President Mohammed Morsi and over 100 others to death Saturday over a mass prison break during the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak and later brought Morsi's Islamist movement to power.

In what appears to be the first violent response to the sentence, suspected Islamic militants in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula gunned down three judges and wounded three others traveling in a car in the northern Sinai city of al-Arish, according to security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

As is customary in capital punishment cases, Judge Shaaban el-Shami referred his death sentence on Morsi and the others to the nation's top

Muslim theologian, or mufti, for his non-binding opinion.

El-Shami set June 2 for the next hearing. Regardless of the mufti's ruling, the sentences can be appealed.

Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, was ousted by the military in July 2013 following days of mass street protests by Egyptians demanding that he be removed because of his divisive policies. Morsi's successor, AbdelFattah el-Sissi, was the military chief at the time and led the ouster. El-Sissi ran for president last year and won the vote in a landslide.

Also sentenced to death with Morsi in the prison break case were 105 defendants, most of them tried and convicted in absentia. They include some 70 Palestinians.

Those tried in absentia in Egypt receive automatic retrials once detained.

Supporters of Morsi and his now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood chanted "down, down with military rule" as el-Shami announced the verdict in the courtroom, a converted lecture hall in the national police academy in an eastern Cairo suburb.

Egyptian Judge Shaaban el-Shami sentences ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, in a converted l ‌ Prosecutors alleged that armed members of the Palestinian Hamas group entered Egypt during the 18-day uprising through illegal tunnels running under the Gaza border with Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Taking advantage of the turmoil, the militants fought their way into several prisons, releasing Morsi, more than 30 other Brotherhood leaders and some 20,000 inmates, prosecutors say. Sev-

eral prison guards were killed and parts of the stormed prisons were damaged.

Those sentenced to death with Morsi on Saturday include the Brotherhood's spiritual leader, Mohammed Badie, as well as one of the Arab world's best known Islamic scholars, the Qatarbased Youssef al-Qaradawi.

Hezbollah and Hamas operatives who had been convicted and sentenced to jail terms over terror-related charges were also broken out of jail in 2011. Hundreds of protesters were killed during the uprising and dozens of police stations across the country were stormed by demonstrators. Media commentators maintain that the jailbreaks and the attacks on police stations were part of a Brotherhood plot to spread fear and chaos to ensure the fall of Mubarak.

U.S. says its troops killed senior Islamic State leader in Syria raid

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MERICAN special operations forces killed a senior Islamic State leader who helped direct the group's oil, gas and financial operations during a raid in eastern Syria, U.S. officials said on Saturday.

The White House said President Barack Obama ordered the overnight raid that killed the man identified as Abu Sayyaf. U.S. officials said his wife, Umm Sayyaf, was captured in the raid and was being held in Iraq.

This was the first known U.S. special forces operation inside Syria apart from a failed secret effort to rescue a number of U.S. and other foreign hostages held by Islamic State in northeastern Syria last year.

White House National Security Council spokeswoman

Bernadette Meehan said in a statement that U.S. personnel based out of Iraq conducted the operation in al-Amr in eastern Syria.

"During the course of the operation, Abu Sayyaf was killed when he engaged U.S. forces," Meehan said.

"The president authorized this operation upon the unanimous recommendation of his national security team and as soon as we had developed sufficient intelligence and were confident the mission could be carried out successfully and consistent with the requirements for undertaking such operations," Meehan said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks at a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, in this ‌ Meehan said the opera-

tion was conducted "with the full consent of Iraqi authorities" and "consistent with domestic and international law."

The White House said the U.S. did not inform Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in advance of the raid, or coordinate with Damascus. Shortly before the U.S. announcement, Syrian state television said the Syrian army killed an Islamic State leader responsible for oil-related affairs, identifying him as Abu al-Taym al-Saudi.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that U.S. special operations forces conducted the operation targeting Abu Sayyaf and his wife. Carter said Abu Sayyaf was involved in the militant organization's military operations and helped direct its "illicit oil, gas and financial operations as

well."

Carter said the wife "played an important role in ISIL's terrorist activities.

Meehan said during the operation U.S. forces freed a young Yezidi woman "who appears to have been held as a slave by the couple."

Meehan said the wife is now in U.S. military detention in Iraq.

No U.S. forces were killed or wounded during the operation, Carter said.

"The operation represents another significant blow to ISIL, and it is a reminder that the United States will never waver in denying safe haven to terrorists who threaten our citizens, and those of our friends and allies," Carter said, using an acronym for the Islamic State organization.

RESIDENT Pierre Nkurunziza returned to Burundi on Thursday, his office said, after the army chief declared that an attempted coup staged when the east African leader was abroad had failed.

But bursts of gunfire in the capital and fighting for control of the state radio during the day indicated there was still determined opposition to the president, who sparked protests and the coup attempt by his move to seek a third term.

Critics said his re-election bid violated the constitution and a peace deal that ended an ethnically fuelled civil war that ended in 2005, plunging the nation into a deep political crisis.

But before announcing his return, loyalists of the president said they were in control of the major strategic assets, such as the airport and presidential offices. They also said they still controlled the state broadcaster despite the heavy fighting.

"President Nkurunziza is back in Burundi after the attempted coup. He congratulates the army, the police and the Burundian people," said a brief phone text message from the presidency.

Iran navy fires shots at tanker as tensions rise in Gulf

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RANIAN naval vessels fired shots at a Singaporeflagged tanker in the Gulf on Thursday, in what appeared to be Iran's latest attempt to settle a legal dispute by force with passing commercial vessels, U.S. officials said. The incident unnerved the shipping industry just as President Barack Obama met with Gulf allies to try to allay their concerns that Iran would be empowered by a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the West lifting sanctions.

One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Iran had attempted to intercept the vessel in international waters because Tehran says the tanker is liable for damage to an Iranian-owned oil platform it hit on March 22.

The White House, Pentagon and State Department declined to confirm emerging details about the episode but acknowledged concern about Iran's conduct."This is exactly the type of challenge that many of the (Gulf) partners are focused on," said White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

NEWS

SURE-P/FERMA's task force of controversy •Contd. from page 12

property recovery assignment, the task force, according to Otto, was to ensure that illegally pasted posters were removed from all federal roads.

Promptly, the agency ordered the immediate removal of all posters, sign posts and billboards from all Federal Government-owned roads in Lagos State. Otto attributed the directive to approval granted the establishment

by President Good-luck Jonathan to take charge of all revenue collections on all advertisements placed on all federal roads in the state on behalf of the federal gov-ernment. The directive also includes all political posters placed on federal roads in the state.

According to him, plans had been concluded to deploy officials of the task force to man roads and direct traffic in the state and ensure no per-son places any form of com-mercial or advert materials on federal government owned roads.

Any defaulter, who refuses to remove any advert material or places new one, Otto said, would be made to face the law.

"Failure to heed this advice which takes immediate effect will attract serious con-sequences. We at the Task Force have a job to do and we will do it. No effort to stop us this time will succeed," he said.

But after a few attempts to effect the order, leading to clashes between officials of the Task Force and Lagos State Government agencies, Otto's men soon abandoned that assignment again, to focus on their participations at PDP rallies and campaigns. This was their main occupation from that time till the last general elections which saw the PDP defeated across the country.

THE BODE GEORGE FACTOR While insisting that PDP leaders were part of the plot to deceive them, some victims claimed that they picked recruitment forms at the residence of Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP and leader of the party in Lagos State.

"I heard about the Task Force at our party meeting in Ikorodu. We were told to go to the house of Chief

T

HE world Sickle Cell Day (June 19) is right around the corner, and it presents yet another opportunity to spread awareness about sickle cell disorder (SCD) and also to reflect on how devastating the effects can be on affected persons and their families.

Although neighboring countries also have an S gene carrier with a frequency of about 1 in 4 of their populations, Nigeria’s large population means that far more people are affected. Over 40 million Nigerians are healthy carriers of the S gene (HbAS). This number of carriers far exceeds the total population of every other affected African country and indeed, of several of them put together.

Consequently, about 150,000 Nigerian children are born each year with SCD. According to Professor Olu Akinyanju, chairman of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN), “Sickle cell disorder is the commonest inherited disorder in the world and three quarters of cases occur in Africa.

In Nigeria, where it affects two out of every 100 children born, it causes suffering for many patients and their families,” he said.

Professor Akinyanju explained that the Foundation was established to address the problems of SCD in Nigeria in a systematic, scientific and sustain-

•

Bode George to get the form. And that was exactly where I picked my own form. As part of the empowerment programme, we were promised that we would be trained in recognised institutions in the country.

"But up till now, no form of training had been organised for any of the teams. Instead, we were used for political rallies whenever any prominent government official was in the state in the build up to the last general elections. On many occasions, they told us that we were to participate in the rallies on the instruction of Bode George.

"We were also encouraged to be attending PDP meetings in our various communities. There is no doubt that our party leaders knew about the Task Force and what Otto and his gang were doing to us. When the President came to Lagos, they took us there and Chief Bode George came to address us, promising to tell the President to speed up our employment.

"When the President waved in our direction, Otto rushed down to

Kolade

tell us that it was a sign of approval following a short discussion between him and Chief George. There were also times some of us were asked to go and control traffic at PDP programme and even parties being hosted by its chieftains.

"It is painful that these people collaborated to use us and now, everybody is feigning ignorance of our existence. We will continue to protest until somebody answers us," Deji Kupoluyi, another victim from Ibeju-Lekki, who is a graduate of BioChemistry from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, said.

LAME DENIALS Although none of the promoters of the programme were available to respond to the allegations of the victims, SURE-P's spokesman, Mr. Suleiman Haruna, while reacting to allegations by the victims, said the agency paid all interns registered under the programme. He explained that where there were complaints of non-payment, employers of the interns wrote to SURE-P and such complaints were always resolved.

He, however, noted that the SURE-P employment programme was anchored by FERMA, which was supposed to pay them the training allowance.

"We don't owe anyone in SUREP. The SURE-P/FERMA programme in Lagos belongs to FERMA. How we operate is that we have employers who engage the interns, but we pay the interns through the employers," he said.

Further investigations by The Nation at SURE-P, an intervention established for the purpose of reinvesting the fund saved from fuel subsidy into critical basic infrastructure, revealed that the FERMA Task Force was actually enlisted as part of youth empowerment programmes being undertaken by the agency as far back as 2013.

A former chairman of SURE-P, Christopher Kolade, had said in 2013 that there were 111,000 youths on the programme's payroll by the end of September that year.

According to him, some of the job seekers comprising graduates of tertiary institutions, ordinary diploma holders and secondary school leavers, were receiving paramilitary training under the SURE-P employment programme since 2012.

What is left to be established, according to officials of SURE-P who spoke with our correspondent, is why the cadets in Lagos were not paid for the duration of their enlistment.

TROUBLE LOOMS A visit by The Nation to the Ojota office of the Task Force revealed that the once bubbling compound has now been deserted by officials, save for hundreds of protesters who daily throng the place to lament the treatment meted out to them by then agency and call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate the over N463 million job scam perpetrated by SURE-P officials.

Sources at the office say none of the officials have been to the place since the day of the last presidential

election. It was also learnt that efforts by members of staff and the Task Force recruits to reach the leadership of the organization have been futile.

"We heard that some of them are out of the country while others are lying low while arranging their own exit from the country. It is not only cadets who are being owed here; they also owe administrative staff and suppliers. I am a supplier of stationery materials, and they owe me N678, 000,' a woman who pleaded anonymity, said.

Speaking to The Nation at the office on Thursday, Comrade Bolaji Oni Orisan, Chairman of the Civil Society/Labour Coalition (CSLC), said the body has decided to wade into the matter upon the receipt of several petitions from victims of what they called a "big fraud, perpetrated against helpless Nigerians by fellow Nigerians using some institutions of state."

"They coughed out about N50, 000 and were only given SURE-P labelled polo shirts and face caps respectively. They also paid N10, 000 each for registration forms even though "This form is not for sale", was boldly written on the forms.

"Look, about N512 million may have been collected from these people who were deceived into believing that they were participating in a Federal Government programme. Now the perpetrators appear to be on the run and nobody is saying anything about it.

"A total sum of N268.37 billion for various social safety net programmes and infrastructure projects was voted for SURE-P in the 2014 budget. The federal government had said 78 per cent of this amount, has been spent on various job creation initiatives and infrastructure projects. So who got the monies meant for these people?

"We will pursue this to a logical conclusion largely because the Federal Government's name, and in fact, the Presidency, was used to dupe Nigerians in a brazen manner while party chieftains provided cover for the brains behind such and unpatriotic scheme," Oni-Orisan said.

Inside MultiChoice’s support for sickle cell foundation of Nigeria Olusesi Shorounmu (Dr.)

able manner.

One of the measures deployed by the Foundation to control the disorder is capacity building. The Foundation is involved in the training of various cadres of health care personnel in order to improve the standard of care available to persons with the disorder.

Research also plays a vital role in the fight against SCD. Comparatively, the USA which only has about 2000 children with sickle cell anaemia (HbSS) born annually, started from 1972 to allocate funds for SCD care and research. Consequently, the average life expectancy of African Americans with HbSS has grown from 14 years in 1973 to 53 years in 2003 and now to about 60 years. In fact, all the interventions now available for the modern management and treatment of SCD stem from research done in America.

Although the value of research is underestimated in Nigeria, its importance has made

•John Ugbe the Foundation embark on various research programmes so as to help improve the quality of live and life expectancy among affected Nigerians. Research though requires adequate funding.

MultiChoice Nigeria is aware of the importance awareness and research play in the control of a scourge such as SCD. For that reason, MultiChoice Nigeria, in 2009, signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) with SCFN. This partnership officially made the fight against SCD, a key Corporate Social Responsibility undertaking by MultiChoice Nigeria.

Since MultiChoice and the Foundation went into partnership, MultiChoice has supported the Foundation in several ways among which was the creation of an awareness drive about the disorder. A10-minute documentary covering key facts on the disorder was developed by MultiChoice and aired across its DStv platform and other free to air channels in Nigeria Speaking on the partnership, John Ugbe, Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, explained how MultiChoice supports the Foundation’s activities from time to time. “According to the WHO, 200,000 infants are born with sickle-cell in Africa every year, with Nigeria accounting for about three-quarters of these births. 60% of whom will die in infancy. This is worrisome, but as an organization that promotes family values we will contribute

to the fight against the disorder,” he said.

Ugbe explained that the partnership with the SCFN is an ongoing initiative. “From time to time, we support the Foundation by donating motor vehicles they require for doing their work.

MultiChoice has also assisted the Foundation to create avenues for fund generation by providing clearly marked donation boxes in all its branches across the country. Funds generated from this source are remitted to the Foundation’s account to support its daily expenses,” Ugbe added.

Professor Akinyanju has appealed to more corporate bodies to emulate the live-saving gesture of MultiChoice by coming to the aid of the Foundation. “Access to appropriate treatment, low funding, high cost of capacity building and astronomical cost of equipment, to mention a few, have rendered the resources available to the Foundation, nothing more than a drop in the ocean” he said.

•Shorounmu, a medical doctor, writes from Abuja

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015 •Contd. from page 35 From the foregoing, would you say we are truly practising democracy, judging from the overbearing nature of governors and the fact that the state legislatures are not financially autonomous? Is this the ideal?

You could attribute the very slow growth to the fact that amongst the three arms of government, the legislature is the least developed because even during the military interregnum, you always had the courts and the executive arms functioning, but the legislature must always be suspended and for as long as you suspend the legislature, it becomes comatose; its growth is slow, so if you see the legislature not performing properly, it's as a result of the slow growth which is associated with the military interregnum. The other thing that's responsible for that is the kind of democracy we run today because its yet to be deepened; the legislature in other climes is a career; you see people in legislature in certain African countries staying 20 to 30 years because the longer you stay in the legislature the better you can get and the more influence you can wield. But whether with regards to the executive arm, the governors will always want someone they can manipulate. They want a rubber stamp legislature. Now my question is this "when you know the law says so, why do you not allow the legislature to make its own laws so that it can flow very well but they just want you because they need you to do what they have to do and the legislature, like I said, has also not helped itself. If you look at Ekiti State where the governor is elected by the rule of law and he allows 7 members to impeach a Speaker out of 26 member Assembly when Section 91 or 92 clearly states that you need two thirds members of the Assembly to impeach a Speaker. This happened in Ekiti State because the 7 members are in the same party with the governor and the governor uses his might to ensure that the majority people are chased away.

Now in Enugu State you have 8 people in a 24 member House impeaching a Speaker where you need a minimum of 16 people. It doesn't make sense but the governor is comfortable with them but they forget that in their oath of office, they swore to protect, defend and uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is only in Lagos that the legislature runs independent of the state; they pass a self-accounting law, they made their laws. The governor doesn't interfere in the House. In their payments and everything, they have their funds.

That's the way institutions can be strengthened and that is the way of deepening democracy, ensuring that it is practiced to its fullest but there are excesses that come with it.

These excesses are teething problems that must be associated with growth.

You did not initiate this type of legislation, I mean this selfaccounting bill. What prevented you?

When you try to initiate a self accounting bill, you are telling the executive arm clearly that I'm coming for you but like you said, they said I was too independent minded, but I didn't initiate the self -accounting bill so that tells you if we were really trying to be too independent.

POLITICS

'Governors always want rubber stamp legislature'

• Ochei

I understand the Supreme Court has said they should put the status quo ante until June 18th and by June 18th the current 7th Assembly of the National Assembly would have been gone and by the rules of the House, there has to be another Assembly that would have to now take that matter because we didn't finish it in the current session so that amendment is dead. It was to be carried in this alteration that the House will be autonomous. The first time the state houses of Assembly shot it down. They shot themselves in the foot not because they wanted to but because the governors feared that if they became too independent, there will be problem but now the judiciary is becoming more autonomous so why would you not make the other arms autonomous?

These are the changes that will naturally come with time. I didn't initiate such a bill because those kinds of bills bring you in direct confrontation with the executive and whatever you prescribe as what is due to the legislature must be given to them whether there is a financial crisis or not, it must come and nobody wants to know.

And it also has its own issues; like I tell people, when the state legislatures goes fully independent, one of the problems they are going to have is when it is month end and time for the allocation to come, the members will come for their own share from Mr. Speaker and if he refuses, right there and then the signatures of 2/3 members will be complete and they'll impeach him and elect someone else who will share the money. You will now have less control of those who'll be able to make laws and regularly check the attendance ensuring that they stay in attendance and get their seating allowances because don't forget, you are only a first amongst equals as a speaker and all members are equals.

Some say the Delta North Senatorial seat was offered to you

in lieu of your forfeiting the Delta State gubernatorial position, how do you respond to this?

Well, nothing can be farther from the truth. If you say that, then it's not the truth at all. The senatorial seat was never offered to me. I ran for the PDP gubernatorial primaries and it was clear, so why would I come and run for it? I also felt that I should run for the senate because I didn't want to come in as a Delta northerner. I've always believed the results spoke for those who contested the primaries in Delta North; the two top contenders were the governor-elect and myself; it's clear. The easiest proposal would have been if he takes the governorship seat, I should move up to take his seat in the senate and that would have been the best for our senatorial district. It has nothing to do with anybody offering me in lieu of another. No, I congratulated him after Dr. Okowa won the PDP primaries. It was my personal decision to run for the governorship position.

Your tenure as Speaker witnessed a lot of capacity building programmes, including seminars retreats for legislators, how did this impact on the quality of legislation?

I want to believe that the quality of legislation we passed in my tenure remains top grade and I owe it to the kind of exposure that we received. We went all out in search of capacity building and the governor was very magnanimous in ensuring we had the best House.

We were really exposed.

What will you say was your major accomplishments during your term as a Speaker?

The utmost dream in my heart when I came on board was to build the institution called the legislature. This was my third term in the House and it was best you left a mark. Also, the environment where one works influences one's output, so we gave the environment a priority.

It is on record that you supported the governor elect Okowa politically since 2006.This presupposes that both of you should enjoy cordial political relationships. He's going to be governor from May 29th, but if he doesn't reciprocate your support, how would you react?

I was also thaught very early in life in one of my Bible knowledge classes in school. We had a Reverend Thomas Tracy who used to take us Bible knowledge in secondary school and once we were studying the nine beatitudes and he said he was going to teach us the tenth one ,we waited eagerly for it and it went this way "Blessed are those who expect nothing for they shall never be disappointed'. So, I don't expect anything so I wouldn't be disappointed. If none reciprocated, I will not be disappointed. If it is reciprocated, then it will be a big surprise but won't change the fact that I'll always keep a cordial relationship as much as I am allowed to do so because I respect him a lot; he is a big brother to me and I love him and respect his

The best politicians are the most controversial. If you are not controversial, then you have no business in politics

69

political sagacity. I believe he does feel the same way too.

You divide opinion in political circles in Delta State, why do you think certain interests within your erstwhile party, the PDP, were uncomfortable with your political ambition?

In political circles, you will always divide opinions and let me tell you, the best politicians are the most controversial. If you are not controversial, then you have no business in politics. I believe a lot of factors may be responsible for it but chief amongst them will be that people want to maintain status quo as it was in 1999 status quo so should it be in 2015 and I say the elections we had in 1999 were far different from the one we had in 2003 and that of 2003 was different from 2007; 2007 was different from 2011 and also 2011 was different from 2015 and 2015 will be different from 2019. So whatever we do, we must remember it's a mandate you are holding.

Someday, some divisions will also bring you to a convergence and then it becomes a rallying point.

Politics is very fluid.

To what do you attribute your strong showing at the governorship primaries?

For me, what you call strong showing is an expression of peoples' belief in you. It was an expression of their belief in my person. They came out to express it regardless of the intimidation. Don't forget it was a delegate primary. I only had delegates given to me from my own place. They were just 10 but for you to have made that kind of showing it means you went beyond all the senatorial districts.

So I believe it's an expression of the faith they had in me and also an acceptance of your person across the senatorial districts but you are one Deltan who had a kind of spread and like I said the primaries is not always a test of popularity because less than a thousand persons determine the fate of the whole of Delta State in regards to the party in question. I believe it's one, the Grace of God, two, the implicit faith and confidence people have in your person and three, an expression of the fact that you are liked across board.

Why did you not contest for the governorship position on the platform of the Accord Party (AP) after your defection from PDP, you had the momentum going for you?

I had momentum going for me but my not contesting the governorship was one thing, we should learn to have integrity regardless; as men, whether you play politics or not. I got up from that primaries and I congratulated the Governor-elect today. And hugging him means we are from the same senatorial district, the same senatorial district that hasn't produced a governor since 1999 and it was the desire of my senatorial district to produce a governor. Now, if I went to Accord Party and contested for governorship on the platform of Accord Party, what I would have succeeded in doing was to divide the votes of Delta North and the chances was the possibility that if I don't clinch it and the governor elect doesn't clinch it, generations unborn of the Anioma extraction will not forgive me, they will see me as the one who scuttled our chance of producing governor. They won't see it that you also had the right to contest; they will see it that one of our sons had made it and you didn't want to support him and so it is in my best interest as a politician going forward to support him.

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SPORTS THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Aso Table Tennis Championship records upset

EXTRA

MAY 17, 2015

FRENAGE Academy gives out 80 scholarships

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HE eleventh edition of the Aso Table Tennis club national championship was held at the Indoor Sport Hall of Abuja National stadium from May 5-8, 2015, with new champions emerging.

The tournament witnessed some upsets as all categories were keenly contested encounter.

In the Men single finals, Italian based 2nd ceded Ojo Onalapo from Ondo state emerged the new champion, defeating Portugal based 1st ceded Seun Ajetumobi from Taraba state.

Onalapo attributed his victory to God and hard work and further stated that the championship and the victory he attained will propel him to strive for more laurel for the nation at the international events.

New champions also emerged in both men and women doubles, which had 27 states and FCT participating.

Other winners are current national champion in the Cadet Boys Single, Abayomi Animashaun from Ekiti state, who retained his position by defeating Martins Abayomi also from Ondo state in the Cadet Boys single finals.

In the Cadet Girls single finals, Muyibat Bello over ran Rufiat Jimoh to emerge champion. In other categories, Bose Odusanya from Lagos state emerged the new champion in women single finals by defeating the former champion Itoro Akpan from Cross River state.

The founder of Aso Table Tennis club, Dr. Olusegun Ajuwon whose 61st birthday coincided with the tournament appreciated participants and Nigeria Tennis Federation officials for making his 61st birthday memorable. Dr Ajuwon further stated that the future of Table Tennis in Nigeria was bright considering the level of enthusiasm been displayed by the youths.

He urged Nigerians to support sports developments especially tennis in order to engage the minds of the younger RESULTS England - Premier League Southampton 6 - 1 Villa Burnley 0 - 0 Stoke QPR 2 - 1 Newcastle Sunderland 0 - 0 Leicester Tottenham 2 - 0 Hull City West Ham 1 - 2 Everton Liverpool 1 - 3 C/Palace

Steven Gerrard flanks by his daughters at Anfield yesterday

NFF slam code of conduct on F/Eagles, Falcons The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reintroduced a code of conduct designed to ensure players and officials adhere to same set of rules while representing the country.

The code has been devised by the NFF and the 18-page document spells out the obligations of the football authority, coaches and players called up to the national team at all levels.

It also sets forth expected standards of behaviour for

all players and makes it clear that violations could result in disciplinary action, fines, suspensions or even expulsions.

An attempt to introduce it ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was met with stiff resistance from players.

But the NFF is desperate to avoid a repeat of the bonus rows that led to players boycotting training at last year's World Cup in Brazil, and before that almost caused the Super

Eagles to miss the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup. "In the interest of the nation and as a means of regulating the conduct of players and officials representing the country at any point in time, the NFF executive committee endorsed a proposal for all players and officials of the National Teams to sign a Code of Conduct," the NFF said in a statement.

"Starting with the contingent to the Fifa U-20

World Cup in New Zealand and the Fifa Women's World Cup in Canada," it added.

The delay in paying agreed bonuses upset Nigeria players so much that they came within a whisker of boycotting their game against France in the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan intervened and made money available enabling the NFF to pay the bonus money to the striking squad in Brazil.

Gerrard's farewell turns into a nightmare

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ILFRIED Zaha's strike on the hour mark saw Crystal Palace defy the script on Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard's final match at Anfield.

The Reds took the lead through Adam Lallana in the first half but it was cancelled out just before the break by a curling free kick from Jason Puncheon.

Then, 22 seconds after coming off the bench, Zaha tapped in amid cries for offside. And Palace's three points were confirmed when Zaha was brought down for a penalty - another controversial call from the FA Cup final referee Jon Moss with the former Manchester United forward outside the box when brought down by Alberto

Moreno.

All afternoon in Liverpool, the sense of expectation was almost palpable. Last year they were anticipating silverware; this year it was something else, like the feeling before a wedding, a desire for no-one to spoil what is intended to a joyous ceremony.

There was a guard of

RCCG Region 21 Cup hots-up

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HAIRMAN of the o r g a n i z i n g committee of The Redeemed Christian Church God (RCCG) Region 21 Cup otherwise known as Pastor In Charge of Parish Cup, Pastor Samuel Akinlade has reiterated the intention of the church to form a formidable football team that will compete for honours in Nigeria The Pastor in charge of Parish Cup has two groups comprising 1,5,7and 10 in group A and Group B made up of 2, 3,4 and 8 with 4 having qualified having won two straight matches in a row while 6 which should have joined in the semi final

could not having lost their second match Ten teams are featuring in the competition with preliminary matches being played at the Lead City University football pitch, LAUTECH and the Olubadan Stadium pitches while the Lekan Salami stadium main bowl will host the finals slated for June 27, 2015 Pastor Samuel Aknlade who was the former coach of Julius Berger , NCRI, Femo Scorpions and International Brewery (IBL) said that the RCCG was keen to form a football team to evangelise and help reduce crime rate among the youths.

He noted that the church would not hesitate to capitalize on this to win souls for Christ saying the tourney is a result of the success of the Province 1 Pastor In Charge Cup held last year.

Speaking in the same vein, Pastor Makanjoula Anifowose of province 10 lauded the introduction of the tourney, saying it is valuable , worthy, and should be copied by other churches to win souls for God and a way of fighting juvenile delinquency He added the tournament would also aid physical fitness needed for spiritual upliftment.

honour the like of which you have rarely seen before a competitive match, including opposition back room staff, managers, squad players and officials; there was Gerrard emerging with his three daughters LillyElla, Lexie and Lourdes; and there was a rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, set to a backdrop of Gerrard themed banners and mosaics that would have stirred that flintiest soul.

Yet perhaps inevitably what followed in the immediate aftermath was something of a let-down. So momentous was the occasion, a humdrum endof-season game could hardly do it justice. For long periods in the first half, the only discernable atmosphere was the sound of south London voices from the Palace end singing: 'Have you ever seen Gerrard win the league?’

Presumably that is not how Gerrard had imagined his big day. But, as the 3-3 draw at Selhurst Park last season had proved, Palace are the not the kind of guests to settle for a quiet evening as wallflowers.

WING to cash constrain that always debar talented pupils from getting opportunity to realized their potential, the Ibadan based soccer school, Frenage International Soccer Academy has offered 80 scholarship slots for pupils to be recruited into the Under-13, 15, 18 categories of the academy.

The offer would be available as the academy has thrown its camp open for parents to bring their wards for an open trials to recruit aspiring footballers into U-13, U15, U-18 and free age categories in preparatory to its 2015 Soccer Fiesta event tagged 'Frenage Soccer Summit'.

The recruitment which commends on Monday 18th May at the Lead City University camp of the academy according to the technical head of the soccer school, Tunde Odubola popularly known as Zico will not attract any registration fee, but to encourage the youths and give those with cash constrains opportunity to showcase their talent.

“Though the quality of services we offered at Frenage is not come for cheap because the standard is at par with what anyone can get anywhere in the world but the management have identified that many talented ones are been constrained by this registration and training tuition fees, hence offers this 'once in a while' opportunity” said the former 3SC Coach.

WYC: Awoniyi says Flying Eagles ready

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AVING made the final 21 list of Flying Eagles for the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in New Zealand where Nigeria is billed to take on Brazil, North Korea and Hungary in the group stage, Flying Eagles gangling striker Taiwo Awoniyi has said that the team remain one big family and there is no distraction at all in the camp.

Awoniyi has come to establish himself as the main striker of the team and further confirmed his prowess with a hat trick in Yesterday's test game against 1. FC Nürnberg.

In a chat with www.footballlive.ng, he noted the squad was focused and believes with God on their side, there is no limit to what they can achieve.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

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Kenyans dominate 3rd Okpekpe Road Race

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Southampton's Sadio Mane celebrates the first of the first-half treble on his way to the fastest ever Premier League hat-trick

W/C: Okon rules out unfit players in Falcons

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UPER Falcons head coach Edwin Okon has said his side will not accommodate unfit players for the upcoming Fifa Women's World Cup in Canada.

The African champions are currently intensifying preparations for their campaign at the World Cup with group opponents, USA, Sweden and Australia in waiting for the kickoff of hostilities.

Okon said all the players both home and foreignbased are being knocked to shape aimed at getting the very best for the nation at the Mundial.

“We're working twice round the clock to put the players to perfect shape as there is no room for rest at the moment.

“So far preparations are going on smoothly and according to our lined up programme until we head

out for the final phase training tour.

“Some key players from the Under-20 side is shockingly realising that training at the mainstream team is quite different from what it is at the underage cadre.

“Courtney Dike who joined from the Falconets and few others have admitted that training is tough compared with what it was previously.

“However, all the players have shown unusual determination to be counted in the programmes lined for the World Cup and they're coping perfectly well.

“Out of 26 training at the moment we'll determine the final 23 that will head to Canada for the World Cup campaign.

“Whoever that is proven not to be 100% fit will be dropped as there is no room for automatic shirt.

'Emenalo deserves better recognision'

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HELSEA technical director Michael Emenalo deserves to be better recognized after what he has delivered at the EPL champions, according to African football specialist Tunde Adelakun.

UK-based Adelakun, who is also the Chief Executive of New African Soccer, noted that if Emenalo were from another clime, he would be reverred for his

achievements.

"Emenalo cannot be excluded from the stories of success at Chelsea Football Club" Adelakun said.

"And when the names of big Africans who made Chelsea successful are being mentioned - the likes of Drogba, Essien, Kalou and even guys like Celestine Babayaro before him, we must not forget to praise Michael Emenalo".

Emenalo was a member of the 1994 Super Eagles squad, a central defender who joined in taking Nigeria to its highest ever FIFA ranking of 5th best in the world, winning the African Cup of Nations and representing the country in the 1994 World Cup. "In this day and age when managers are hired and fired, where managers come in to clubs and say they don't

want to work with this sporting director or the other, Emenalo has weathered them all, working successfully with some of the greatest names in world football who have gone to manage Chelsea", he said, making reference to the likes of Ancelotti, Villas Boas, di Matteo, Benitez and now Jose Mourinho.

"And along the way, he's picked up titles as part of the Chelsea crew - including the prized Champions League and two Premier League crowns."

Tunde Adelakun, who also heads a body known as Africans Abroad Recognised, which, as the name clearly defines, aims to celebrate Africans who are doing well in the diaspora, stressed that it's not only these high profile titles that define the man Emenalo.

"When you also look at the results of the Chelsea team across the board - youth cup championship success, the women's team cup triumph development squads that come directly under his care and office, then you have to admit that he must be doing something right," he presented.

ENYAN Korio Alex and Tanui Anfele on Saturday won the third edition of Okpekpe Road Race in the men and women category respectively to go home with the $25,000 prize money.

Despite starting the race behind schedule, the duo returned in time of 29:20 and 33:34 respectively to win the men and women race ahead of other athletes.

Ethiopian Leish Gebrisilashe came second in the mens race ahead of Kenyan Amos Mutio in time of 29:22 and 29:24 respectively.

It was all Kenyan affairs in the female category with Rionoripo and Mary Wacera coming second and third respectively behind Anfele in 33:52 and 34:31

From Charles Ogundiya, Auchi respectively.

One of Nigeria hopeful in the race, Aderonke Olumudi, failed to complete the race after dislocating her ankle when she tripped on a stone after completing 3km of the race.

Despite just getting married on Friday, the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, was part of the celebrity race where he also finished the race like other athletes.

During the presentation, the new wife of the governor, Iara Oshiomole, performed her first duty as the first lady of the state as she presented the women winners with their prizes.

'Barca not out for revenge’

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TLETICO Madrid were the scourge of Barcelona last season but the Catalans' coach Luis Enrique says they will not be on a revenge mission when they visit the Calderon on Sunday looking to win back their La Liga crown.

Barca hold a four-point lead at the top of the table with two games remaining and will clinch the title with victory over Atletico, irrespective of how secondplace Real Madrid get on in their simultaneous match against Espanyol.

It would be Luis Enrique's first silverware as Barca coach, having joined the club last year.

His side are still on course for a treble thanks to their devastating form in the second half of the season, led by the lethal attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Atletico claimed the title

on the last day of last season at Barca's Nou Camp he Champions League. stadium in a winner-takesall finale at the end of a campaign where they also knocked the Catalans out of the Champions League.

"There is no feeling among the players of revenge.

Atletico were just champions and had a great season. It was unique and now this season is totally different," the Barca coach told a news conference.

"We are not looking for revenge and for us the opportunity to win the title ncentive.”

Barca have bounced back under Luis Enrique, having last won the title two years ago and failed to win any silverware under former coach Gerardo Martino last season.

They now have the chance to repeat their 2009 treble success.

Mane scores fastest ever EPL hat-trick

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ANE'S three goals came in two minutes and 56 seconds with Saints 3-0 up inside 16 minutes.

They were 5-1 up at halftime with two strikes from Shane Long, while Christian Benteke headed home his 15th goal of the season for Villa before Graziano Pelle's late volley.

The result lifts Southampton to sixth with one game left while Aston Villa missed the opportunity to seal their Premier League safety.

Saints felt they had an early goal wrongly disallowed when Pelle was flagged offside but it mattered little after three stunning minutes at St Mary's.

Mane side-footed home on 13 minutes after Shay Given's initial save. He had his second when Long

latched onto Ron Vlaar's poor backpass and the Senegalese was on hand to stick it away into an empty net.

He created history with a fine first-time side foot from just inside the box to seal his hat-trick and also beat Robbie Fowler's 21-year record of four minutes 33 seconds for Liverpool in 1994.

The goal prompted wild scenes at St Mary's and there was more to come with Long curling home from 12 yards for 4-0.

His second and Southampton's fifth was a stunning strike from 40 yards that flew over Given and into the net.

Villa had a consolation on the stroke of half time through Benteke's header from close range in what was a breathless 45 minutes of football.

Schweinsteiger nets as Bayern lose again

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A S T I A N Schweinsteiger scored on his 500th appearance for Bayern Munich as the Bundesliga champions lost to relegation battlers Freiburg.

Bayern won their 25th German title last month but have now lost five of their last six games in all competitions.

M i d f i e l d e r

Schweinsteiger put Bayern in front but Admir Mehmedi equalised for Freiburg before strike partner Nils Petersen grabbed a late winner.

Hamburg dropped into the relegation zone after a 21 loss at Stuttgart .

Hamburg, the six-time German champions and 1983 European Cup

winners, are the only side to have played in every season of the Bundesliga since it was created in 1963.

Midfielder Gojko Kacar put the visitors ahead, but Stuttgart captain Christian Gentner levelled and Martin Harnik secured all three points for the hosts, who moved above their opponents in the battle to avoid relegation.

QUOTABLE “We will politely ask those who stole government money to return the funds. This is because people who are in government now are there to work for themselves but the APC government is made up of people who are ready to work for the masses and betterment of the country. ”

SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 9, NO. 3218

—Kaduna State Governor-elect, Malam Nasir El-Rufai on looters in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

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HORTLY before President Goodluck Jonathan’s government announced the postponement of the general elections initially scheduled for February 14, there were speculations the elections might not hold altogether, or that at best it would be postponed perhaps indefinitely. Eventually, when the postponement came through a tangled skein of announcement that jostled back and forth between a reluctant Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and an eager Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, it was for six weeks in the first instance.

Nigerians were deeply sceptical. In fact, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) believed the postponement was a breather to afford the dispirited and frantic Dr Jonathan the opportunity to arrest the momentum triggered by the APC candidate at the time, Muhammadu Buhari, and stave off what was thought to be the president’s anticipated defeat.

But a stonefaced Air Chief Marshall Badeh told the public that the military needed six weeks to neutralise Boko Haram and make the elections safe and credible. Analysts had wondered why the government seemed very sure that Boko Haram, which could not be defeated or neutralised in more than three years, could suddenly be degraded sufficiently in six weeks to enable a smooth election.

A few short weeks ago, the jigsaw seemed to have fallen into place. The missing piece was apparently supplied by South African mercenaries who had been retained by the Jonathan government to fight Nigeria’s war. But despite the rather very public knowledge of the role the mercenaries are playing in the Boko Haram war, the Nigerian authorities are still prickly about the subject.

So far, both the military and the government have refused to confirm stories of the role the mercenaries are playing. Those who suggested that mercenaries were fighting the war for Nigeria, including the sceptical and critical Nigerian media, were tagged unpatriotic and disloyal. A German radio reporter, Musa Ubale, who publicly posed the question of the mercenaries to visiting Chadian President Idriss Deby last Monday was disaccredited from covering State House activities and expelled.

President Deby of course deflected the question very cleverly, but Nigeria was not so clever in handling the embarrass-

Boko Haram and our mercenaries ing matter with as much delicateness as the troublesome subject demanded.

And just about the same time the Jonathan government was taking umbrage at media questions on the mercenaries, the leader of the mercenaries in question, Eeben Barlow, formerly of the South African Defence Force, but now retired, was addressing the Royal Danish Defence College on how he had led his band of about 100 mercenaries to degrade Boko Haram as a fighting force. Now 62 years old, the colonel explained that as bush war experts, age was not a disadvantage. In detail, he carefully led his audience through tactics and logistics he and his men, some of them veterans of special forces units, deployed against the band of ragtag Boko Haram insurgents. He was careful to suggest that Nigerian soldiers were demoralised and disorganised.

Why Nigeria is still denying the role of the mercenaries in turning the tide against Boko Haram is unclear. However, the news

of the mercenaries as a factor in the counterinsurgency operations in the Northeast is everywhere in the media, local and foreign. Col Barlow has seemed to make the job easier for Nigeria by identifying where the problem with the Nigerian military lies. According to him, the Nigerian military is demoralised and disorganised. These problems had been identified even by Nigerian soldiers in the early part of the war. But rather than face these issues squarely, rather than address the complaints of deserters and mutinous troops, the military brass preferred to fling the law and military rule books in the faces of deserters, some of whom have been, or are being, tried for mutiny.

Consequently, the problem with the Nigerian military has refused to abate. In a move that is clearly image-damaging, if not outrightly treasonable, the Jonathan government opted to recruit mercenaries without legislative backing, paid them well — by some account nearly $500 per day — and en-

Redefining political persecution and national cleansing

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N his controversial remarks at a farewell and thanksgiving service held in his honour in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan, among other dubieties, prepared the minds of his ministers and aides for what he felt certain would be their lot soon after he vacates the presidency. Prejudging President-elect Muhammadu Buhari’s modus operandi, Dr Jonathan insinuated that his successor would needlessly execute policies and inaugurate inquiries both designed to afflict officials of the last government. Addressing his loyalists on the implications of conceding defeat to Gen Buhari, the president had said: “If you take certain decisions, it might be good for the generality of the people, but it might affect people differently. So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathise with them, they will be persecuted. And they must be ready for that persecution.”

The president obviously conflates a panel of inquiry into clear or suspicious wrongdoings with persecution. He regards Gen Buhari’s suggestion to investigate a few individuals and government agencies, particularly the NNPC, with hefty insufferableness. There will, however, be a number of inquiries, though the president-elect has said he will not be bogged down probing his predecessor.

No matter what warnings have been

•Jonathan •Buhari given by the outgoing president, some of his aides and ministers, especially in agencies where humongous sums of money were illegally taken for the purpose of funding Dr Jonathan’s reelection, will be probed. Indeed, contrary to the president’s apprehension, the suspicion in many circles is that Gen Buhari will struggle not to probe agencies and ministries where a lot of stealing took place. But because the scale of stealing would probably be huge, he will have no choice but to probe, even at the risk of categorising the process as a deliberate and calculated persecution of opponents or something more sinister.

Importantly, as is typically Dr Jonathan, he often engages in insouciant, definitional imprecision. But persecution involves har-

assing and punishing someone who has done no wrong, or because of his political, religious and cultural beliefs and persuasion.

Inquiries, on the other hand, implies an effort to serve justice after wrongdoings had been investigated and blames apportioned where necessary. If there is a thin line between the two, it exists either only in the minds of those crying wolf where there is none or where indiscrete and selective probes are ordered to punish a target, prove a point, or stigmatise the opposition. Gen Buhari will likely conduct himself above suspicion, given his antecedents and his recent philosophical convictions.

In any case, persecution or no persecution, the public will leave their elected leaders in no doubt what is expected of them.

Gen Buhari was not elected to sympathise with those who under Dr Jonathan, or perhaps earlier, undermined the peace, security and financial wellbeing of the nation.

The president-elect probably understands that, and being a hard man himself, will very likely refuse to be incommoded by the feelings and sentiments, or even the persecution complex, of his predecessors and opponents. He knows why he has been elected to preside over the affairs of Nigeria in this most dangerous and inauspicious of times.

He will discharge that responsibility with considerable aplomb and defiance, even if it kills him.

gaged in frenzied procurement of weapons through extra-budgetary processes.

This clearly indefensible financial haemorrhaging will have to be investigated painstakingly, in addition to setting up a board of inquiry to examine what went wrong over the years with the Nigerian military. The Jonathan government was not responsible for the birth of Boko Haram, a fact it keeps stressing, but it was astonishingly remiss in tackling it, even allowing the menace to fester badly and dangerously. And to worsen its laxity and complicity, it has done everything wrong in fighting the insurgency.

More embarrassingly, last week, Boko Haram insurgents once again threatened Maiduguri’s suburbs. In fact, to cap a bad week for Nigerian arms, the insurgents were reported to have retaken the northern Borno town of Marte. The beleaguered town has oscillated between Nigerian and rebel control more than thrice since the Boko Haram war began. After learning of what befell Marte, displaced Nigerians planning to return to their liberated towns will think twice before committing such a rash action. They will be unsure whether the military actually has a holistic strategy to defeat Boko Haram and keep recaptured territories safe and secure. Or they will wonder whether the insurgents are not being emboldened by a supposed fracture in relations between Nigeria and its mercenaries. Given the government’s reticence in the war so far, few explanations are expected to be offered to help citizens make sense of the yo-yo between federal troops and insurgents.

It was wrong and embarrassing for the Jonathan government to be so precipitate in tackling the German radio reporter’s question. It suggests the government had something to hide. But no matter how many reporters are expelled, the Nigerian military will still have to address the question of how the war is being fought, and what, if any, are the roles being played by South African mercenaries. They must also grapple with the image problem and ethical crisis such a big and supposedly powerful country like Nigeria is having by recruiting mercenaries to fight a war weaker and less endowed neighbouring countries like Chad consider a cakewalk. Chad has a military strength of about 30,000 men in a population of a little over 10 million. Nigeria has a troop strength of about 200,000 in a population of about 170 million, and about 300,000 paramilitary personnel.

Less than 10,000 men were needed to wage the war against Boko Haram militants numbering less than eight thousand men, but Nigeria failed to muster this number for reasons only Dr Jonathan’s government can explain. Worse for Nigeria, Col Barlow’s mercenaries were not more than 100, before whom Boko Haram fighters have fled. Clearly, too many things have gone wrong.

The president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, himself a retired army general and former head of state, has reassured the country he would prioritise the Boko Haram war and knock the menace into a cocked hat. He has promised to find out what went wrong with Nigeria’s once proud military, and find and quickly administer the necessary remedies. He will find his countrymen backing him to carry out the rebuilding required to restore Nigeria’s fighting image. There will be no quick fix as he has warned, nor are Nigerians expecting facile solutions. Let Gen Buhari proceed with the firm caution and determined and calculated deliberateness needed to give Nigeria a rebirth in every broken area of national life, starting with the military. The country has been thoroughly disgraced by the recruitment of mercenaries, especially white, former apartheid soldiers, many of them old enough to father a good number of Nigerian soldiers who have proved unwilling or unable to fight.

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Website: www.thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE