Binder1 march 13, 2015 by Newtelegraphonline

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NIGERIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph

Vol. 2 No. 387

Friday, March 13, 2015

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

At last, Reps receive Petroleum Industry Bill report

Rules for oil, telcom firms' listing on NSE coming

15 days to go...

Jonathan said at a meeting with the capital market community in Lagos that the government attached much importance to the capital market, which reflects significant performance of the na-

Nigeria Nigeria votes votes

Chris Ugwu

he clamour for highly capitalised firms such as oil, telecoms and power companies to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) received

a boost yesterday as the Federal Government promised to come up with guidelines and incentives to encourage major companies in these sectors to list on the bourse. President Goodluck

tion's economy and would strive to make the market attractive to investors and issuers. Jonathan also said a substantive Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission

(SEC) will be announced in April. Following the exit of the Director General of the Commission, Ms. Arunmah Oteh, the erstwhile Executive CommisCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

2015

5 201}14-15

Mercenaries here to fight Boko Haram

lWe're not aware, says Defence Headquarters lForeigners get $400 a day for services }2

Quick Read Editorial

Dangerous passengers on moving trains }19

Tinubu: Presidency }5 plans to kill me

L-R: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; President Goodluck Jonathan and President of Council, NSE, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, at the launch of the NSE X-Gen Trading Platform at the NSE in Lagos...yesterday.

Mass sack hits construction companies Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

aced with cash crunch occasioned by clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; difficulty

to honour debt obligations on schedule, construction firms have resorted to massive staff layoffs, New Telegraph investigations have shown. Checks by New Tele-

graph on the state of affairs in most construction firms revealed that the Federal Government and states are heavily indebted to various construction firms handling their

projects; a development that has left the companies with no option, but to resort to sacking of staff, citing redundancy as an excuse. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Travel Advisory

Your guide to local and international flights }4

News

Friday, March 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Foreign mercenaries here to fight Boko Haram Emmanuel Onani Abuja

s part of measures to flush out Boko Haram out of the NorthEast before the general elections, Nigeria has procured the services of South African and former Soviet Union mercenaries to fight the militants. A report yesterday by Reuters, quoting regional, defence and diplomatic sources, said Nigeria hired hundreds of mercenaries from South Africa and the former Soviet Union to assist troops in routing out the militants who had taken over some local governments in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe state that equal the size of Belgium. The decision to bring private military contractors to the fight is a critical one for the government of Jonathan, who is locked in a tight election campaign against the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. In confirming the presence of hundreds of foreign military contractors on the ground, including recently in the city of Maiduguri, security and diplomatic sources put the total number higher than the hundred or so previously reported. In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) late on Wednesday, President Goodluck Jonathan had said two companies were providing "trainers and technicians" to help Nigerian forces. He did not name the firms, or the nationalities, or give numbers. But Nigerian soldiers disputed that the foreigners were only present as advisers, telling VOA yesterday that many of the soldiers were participating in actual combat. One soldier, who is living alongside the foreign personnel in a barracks in the city of Maiduguri, identified the foreigners as South Africans, Ukrainians and others. He said they were flying aircraft from the Maiduguri airport. "The South Africans don’t want to deploy with any Nigerian military units, they want to go on their own," the sergeant, who was not authorised to speak to the media, told VOA. Another soldier, a corporal, told VOA that Nigerian and foreign soldiers had been massing near the town of Bama earlier this week for a planned offensive. Earlier this week, news reports said a South Af-

rican ex-soldier who was working as private military contractor was killed in the North-East. It was unclear if that death came in the same incident. "The white soldiers, they were the only ones who knew how to operate the mobile rocket launchers," the corporal said. The corporal, who was also based in the barracks in Maiduguri, said South African pilots had been flying combat missions, using Nigerian jets; surveillance planes and helicopters, along with jets he said appeared to be South African. "All the aerial attacks are being done by the white soldiers using Nigerian and hired military aircraft," he said.

Another officer, who served as a top aide to the commander of a brigade in Borno state, told VOA that there were between 100 and 150 foreign soldiers, mainly South Africans, working out of Maiduguri and they were flying fighter jets daily out of the Maiduguri airport. On February 27, a VOA reporter witnessed a convoy of around 30 vehicles— armoured personnel carriers, mine sweepers and open-backed troop transport trucks — driving north on the main highway between the capital Abuja and Maiduguri. The drivers were white and men visible in the backs of the transport trucks were overwhelm-

ingly white. Some of the trucks had what appeared to be Nigerian flags painted on the doors. But a West African security source and a South African defence source said the foreign troops were linked to the bosses of former South African private military firm, Executive Outcomes. Executive Outcomes was best known for its involvement in Angola's 19752002 civil war and against Revolutionary United Front rebels in an internal conflict in Sierra Leone in 1995. It disbanded in 1998, under pressure from the post-apartheid government in Pretoria to curtail mercenary activities. The West African se-

curity source said several hundreds of foreigners were involved in running major offensive operations against Boko Haram and were being paid around $400 a day in cash. Their impact on the fighting so far could not be quantified, but the general run of the campaign has seen the tide turn somewhat against Boko Haram in recent weeks. Separately, a South African defence contractor confirmed to Reuters that ex-Executive Outcomes leaders were involved in the deployment, which came after the six-week postponement of elections due to the threat from Boko Haram insurgency. One Abuja-based dip-

lomat said the South Africans were backed by soldiers and hardware from the former Soviet Union in an alliance against Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people in its six-year campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria. "It's an incoherent mix of people, helicopters and random kit from all sorts of different sources, but there is an element of internal cohesion from the Nigerian army. "It appears to be a desperate ploy to get some sort of tactical success up there in six weeks for the electoral boost,” the diplomat said, adding that the numbers of soldiers involved CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Joseph Dawha (left) and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, at a budget defence at the National Assembly in Abuja...yesterday. Photo ELIJAH OLALUYI

Buhari, Oyegun, Amaechi canvass for South-South votes Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) yesterday urged the people of the South-South to vote for the party in the forthcoming general elections if indeed they want change in the country. Buhari, who spoke at the party’s South-South zonal rally held at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, told thousands of party supporters that a vote for the APC was a vote against corruption. “If we don’t kill corruption; corruption will kill Nigeria,” he said, and promised to build infrastructure and make the economy work. He said that the Peo-

ples Democratic Party-led government has wasted $20 billion in the last 16 years, warning that they will regret if they vote for the PDP in the forthcoming elections, because the party lacks the capacity to fight corruption, insecurity and make the economy work. Buhari noted that corruption has affected the oil industry and crept into the energy sector. He said: “In 16 years, the PDPcontrolled Federal Government had spent over $60 billion in the energy sector, yet we still can’t generate up to 4,000 megawatts of electricity in the country. If you reflect pensively, you will agree that corruption has taken Nigeria backward. “Please, I would like you all to sit down and reflect on how much Nigeria has

fared in the last 16 years of the PDP. What has been the government’s strategy on the economy? There is insecurity, there is poverty. “If for any reason, you vote in the PDP in any state or at the centre, I assure you that you will regret it. You are the one that will suffer.” In his speech, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun urged party supporters to keep the message of change that the APC preaches alive, and come out in large numbers to cast their votes on March 28 and April 11. “The PDP is so confused, so disoriented such that they never had a sense of direction. Let me warn; they are down, but not yet out. There is a lot of work to be done to ensure that the funeral of the PDP that was suspended for six

weeks takes place. “The South-South used to be the rigging zone of the PDP, but promise me there shall be no rigging on election days. Please go out and bring in all the possible votes for the APC on March 28.” On his part, Governor Rotimi Amaechi said that over 30 APC members have been killed in Rivers, noting that those responsible shall be held accountable, just as he said that the caretaker committee chairman of Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni has been arrested by the police and currently being detained in Abuja. Amaechi said that the APC in Rivers was contending with the police, which he alleged had been indiscriminately arresting its members. He told the people of

the South-South that Buhari will continue with the amnesty programme, and include those that were not included, while retrieving guns in the wrong hands. “In 2011, the president got 1.8 million votes; let him come and get it this time. Everywhere in Rivers State, the police are harassing our people, but on May 29, they will come and salute us again.” Amaechi, who also alleged that the in-laws of Barr. Nyesom Wike, harassed his wife in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, urged party supporters not to leave the polling units after the election. “In the South-South, we write our results; people don’t vote. The PDP is afraid of the card reader, because if it works, the PDP will lose,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH Friday, March 13, 2015

Travel Advisory

Friday, March 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed , Fri) New York-Lagos W3 108 (Tues,Thurs, Fri) Lagos-Johannesburg W3 103 Johannesburg-Lagos W3 104 Lagos-Douala - (Tues, Wed ,Thur) Douala-Lagos - (Tues, Wed, Thur) Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos

Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

-(Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun) -(Mon, Wed, Fri) -(Daily) - (Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs 08:05hrs 13:35hrs 18:00hrs

hrs 14:44hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

AWB 201 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

17:00hrs 06:00hrs 08:00hrs 17:00hrs 08:00hrs 15:20hrs 21:00hrs

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos - Addis Ababa ET900 Addis Ababa - Lagos ET901 Abuja - Addis Ababa ET910 Addis Ababa - Abuja ET911 Enugu - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Enugu ET931 Kano - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Kano ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

12:30hrs

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

18:30hrs 05:15hrs 05:30hrs

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

12:00hrs 21:30hrs 23:50hrs

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

HF 851 (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri)

Departure Arrival 14:00hrs 15:55hrs 16:30hrs 18:15hrs

KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm

Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45

(SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50

AEROCONTRACTORS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

NEW TELEGRAPH Friday, March 13, 2015

Tinubu: Presidency plans to kill me

lSays Jonathan wants to make him VP in interim govt lHis claim is baseless –PDP Temitope Ogunbanke and Onyekachi Eze

ll Progressives Congress (APC) national leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday alleged a plot by the presidency and some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to assassinate him. He said in a statement in Lagos that they had employed trained snipers to

attack or assassinate him before the March 28 presidential election. Tinubu, in the statement by his media office, also accused the PDP of seeking to blame him for the murder a former Lagos PDP gubernatorial candidate, Chief Funso Williams. He also alleged a plot by President Goodluck Jonathan administration to offer him the position of vice-president in an interim government if he

would agree to dump the APC presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. According to the statement, the presidency intends to put Tinubu out of circulation by trapping him in a contrived criminal process until the elections are over, in order to weaken the opposition party before the general elections. It said: “With the election less than three weeks away and the outcome

possibly against them, the Goodluck Jonathan presidency and the hardliners in the PDP have embarked on a new strategy to put brake on the momentum APC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari seems to be gathering. “The agenda is to tackle Bola Tinubu and weaken his political influence nationwide and plot to undermine his leadership in South Western politics can be said to have gone into overdrive.

“The first part of the strategy is to dredge previously discredited claims of illicit wealth in hopes of silencing Tinubu or lessening his public image. However, they fear this public relations attack may be too soft as Tinubu has been taken before the ICPC and the case against him dismissed. If this attack does not deter his party activities, the presidency and PDP are prepared to take more drastic action if they believe it necessary to

L-R: Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Founder, Support Our Troops Foundation, Mrs Funmi Ogbue; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; the foundation's Chairman, Mr. Tunde Ayeni and an Ambassador of the foundation, Mr. Sammy Okposo, during a courtesy visit to the SGF in Abuja...on Wednesday

win the election by throwing the APC into disarray. “This part of the plot has two options, the first of which is to employ trained snipers to attack Tinubu or assassinate him. “The second option more crafty is that the PDP will seek to resuscitate the case of the murder of Funso Williams a former Lagos gubernatorial candidate by blaming Tinubu for the killing. They are already coaching inmates and others. They are offering them the promise of early release and money if they will make statements implicating Tinubu in the Williams murder. But the PDP refuted the allegations, describing them as baseless. A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi FaniKayode, said the people had become prisoners of their own delusions and victims of their horrific and terrifying hallucinations. “We are not in the least bit interested in the formation of an interim government and we are even less interested in participating in any contraption in which Bola Tinubu would play any role. “Those who killed Funso Williams know who they are and it is very clear that his spirit is now tormenting his murderers," he said.

sack hits Rules for oil, telcom firms' listing on NSE coming Mass construction companies CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

sioner, Operations in the Commission, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo has been acting as the SEC helmsman. As the biggest economy in Africa, the president said the nation's capital market ought to equally be the largest, adding that the only way to achieve that is to ensure that big companies operating in the economy make their shares available for Nigerians to invest in and benefit. He said he had discussed with MTN during one of his visits to South Africa on the need to list their shares on the NSE. "When I met with MTN in South Africa, we discussed the need for them to list. We are working hard to make sure that companies that are supposed to list do so. That is the only way the Nigerian capital market and economy can grow so that Nigerians can participate. Definitely, if you take the power companies, as they grow bigger,

they will list,” he said. The president added that after a proper study of the situation, the government would come up with the guidelines for the listing. "We will certainly come up with guidelines in that regard. It is only proper to study something and meet with technical experts before coming out with the final pronouncement on it. But we will definitely encourage most of these companies to list and make it a condition for them to benefit from government; in some areas you must do certain things properly. So, I believe we will give you what you want," he said. Jonathan assured stockbrokers and executives of listed companies that the government would continue to partner the private sector and hands off the management of business in order to solely face the provision of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

"We will continue to partner the private sector. We are moving away from where government used to be the best manager of companies, best investors, to area where the government will create the enabling environment for the private sector to manage the economy," he stated. Just recently, NSE Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar Onyema, had said the bourse was making progress in its bid to persuade MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat, the nation’s four telecommunications firms, to list their shares and offer ordinary citizens part-ownership. The NSE boss, who spoke on the sidelines of the ongoing World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) in Seoul, Korea, told Bloomberg by phone that discussions on the issue “has moved from them (the telcos) not wanting to list, to them looking at how to deal with the issues that would make it unat-

tractive to list.” According to him, the NSE is “gaining traction,” in trying to entice more companies to place initial public offerings to better mirror the make-up of the Nigerian economy. While the last rebasing of Nigeria’s economy showed that the telecoms sector is a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), none of the telecommunication companies is present on the bourse. While none of the operators have come with applications to list stock, the companies did highlight “structural issues” hindering initial public offerings, Onyema said, adding that the bourse is working with the Federal Government to address any shortcomings. Onyema said: “Some don’t need to raise capital, but some do. If any one of the four carriers wanted to raise capital on the NSE, I don’t see that not being successful.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Construction giants like Julius Berger Plc., Strabag, Dantata & Sawoe and Arab Contractors, categorised as dominant players handling multi-billion naira construction projects for federal and state governments, are the worst hit in the gale of retrenchments in order to stay afloat. Among federal projects currently being handled by JB Plc., are the Abuja Centenary City, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the 2nd Niger Bridge. A cross-section of Julius Berger staff affected by the layoffs told New Telegraph that the retrenchment started last October. “We thought it would end, but my brother, no unit was spared in the sacking exercise which started October last year and is still ongoing in the name of redundancy. “The personnel department, whose staff are expected to be spared of

redundancy, have had its fair share and the simple reason is that the company can no longer cope with the huge wage bill in the face of billions of debt owed it by the Federal Government and states," a source said He said activities in most sites had been scaled down, including at the Abuja Centenary site, where most of the working equipment have been returned to the yard, leaving just skeletal activities and a few site staff. A staff of Arab Contractors told New Telegraph that his company, currently handling the Enugu Secretariat Complex, has not only sacked some staff, the job hours have also been reduced. According to him, they used to work seven days a week before now (including Fridays and Saturdays), but a memo had just been sent directing staff on site to close work by 12p.m. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Friday, March 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

At last Reps receive Petroleum Information Bill report Philip Nyam Abuja

fter almost three years, the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) finally submitted its report yesterday. Chairman of the ad hoc committee, who is also House Chief Whip, Hon. Ishaku Mohammed Bawa, who presented the report, said the committee scrutinised the whole 363 sections and annexures of the original bill and made some amendments and recommendations. At a joint briefing with the Deputy Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Ogene, Bawa said the 23-member ad hoc committee held public hearings in the six geopolitical zones, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which afforded stakeholders and general public the opportunity to make contributions to the law. He said the original bill covered salient areas such as establishment of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, incorporation of National Gas Company, es-

tablishment of petroleum directorate and National Asset Management Company as well as imposition of new tax regime such as Nigeria Carbon Tax. In the report of obtained by New Telegraph, the committee recommended the “complete removal” of section 191 of the bill that gives the president discretional powers to grant petroleum licences and lease and instead proposed biddings for the award of licences. On the powers of the minister of petroleum, the committee retained the conventional powers of the minister under section 6 of the bill but recommended the removal of powers of the minister either to serve as chair-

man or to recommend to the president the appointment of chairmen of boards of such agencies. The committee also amended section 174 recommending that 30 per cent of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) shares be sold through public offers at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as well as section 185 proposing that 49 per cent of Nigerian Gas Company shares be sold through public offers at the stock exchange. The report recommended creation of Frontier Oil Services Agency in sections 193 to 217 to step up exploration activities in various Frontier Acreages of Nigeria’s oil industry which com-

prises, among others the Anambra, Sokoto, Benin, Chad and Benue Basins. The Frontier Oil Service is to be funded through taxes from oil producing operations as well as National Budgetary allocations in a dual funding strategy aimed at strengthening the Agency’s and its operations so as to broaden government’s revenue base. This is captured in section 209. Also, in the report, oil production measurement is to be made at the flow station and not at the point of export. Under section 116, the Petroleum Host Community Fund is created to benefit any community where oil facilities and installations such as pipe-

lines, depots and refineries are located. Under section 203, the committee retained environmental remediation funds, which obligates petroleum investors to pay adequate compensation for the remediation of environmental damage. The committee in section 225- 229 retained three conventional licensing systems namely petroleum exploration licence, petroleum prospecting licence and petroleum mining leases but with different durations for the licences regimes. It has also retained with some amendments, provisions in the bill which uphold the sanctity of existing petroleum contracts.

The House had in its resolution of November 15, 2012 constituted the ad hoc committee on PIB with the mandate to look into the bill and make recommendations on how or what form to pass the bill into act that will provide for legal, fiscal and regulatory framework for the nation’s oil and gas industry. Meanwhile, the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has said Nigeria is losing due to the non-passage of bill and appealed to the National Assembly to pass it before the end of the 7th Assembly. She disclosed this yesterday while fielding questions from reporters after a budget session with the House.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

21o C 13oC Very Cloudy

ABUJA

21o C 13oC Very Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

27o C 19oC Thunder Storms

KANO

35oC

18oC

Partially Cloudy

ENUGU

38oC

25oC

Mostly Sunny

IBADAN

22oC

13oC

Rain Showers

CALABAR

34o C 24oC Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

36oC 19oC Mostly Sunny

37oC

25oC

Partially Cloudy

L-R: Data Centre Manager, Galaxy Backbone, Michael Ayeni; Chief Client Solutions Director, VCE, Eyad Badder; Regional Manager, North, Resourcery, Abiodun Yusuf and Executive Director, Kitskoo Cloud Services, Monu Ogbe, at a seminar in Abuja…yesterday.

Mutiny: Appeal Court stays execution of convicted soldiers Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Court of Appeal, Abuja Division yesterday stayed the execution of the death sentences passed on two of the 12 Nigerian soldiers court-martialled by the Army authorities in September 2014. The soldiers were tried under the General Court Martial (GCM) which sat at the Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja, on sundry allegations of offences ranging from disobedience to particular order, insubordination, false accusation, criminal behaviour, conspiracy to commit mutiny and mutiny under the Armed Forces Act 2004.

All the 12 soldiers, who stood trial before the GCM, were convicted on September 15, 2014 and variously sentenced to life imprisonment and death for the respective charges following their trial. Three of the convicted soldiers, CPL Stephen Clement, CPL Igomu Emmanuel and PTE Andrew Ngbede, however approached the appellate court through their counsel, Godwin Obla (SAN), to challenge the decision of the Court-Martial which convicted and sentenced them to life imprisonment and death. However, while delivering its ruling on the application for stay of execution filed before it by CPL Igomu Emmanuel and PTE Andrew Ngbede,

two of the convicted soldiers, the Court of Appeal restrained the Nigerian Army or its agents from carrying out the execution of life imprisonment and sentence to death imposed by the GCM and ordered that the convicted soldiers be granted access to their counsel. The court presided by Justice Abubakar Jega Abdulkadir also ordered the Nigerian Army to avail the convicted soldiers of the Record of Proceedings of the GCM which tried and convicted them to enable them compile records for their appeal. The application for stay of execution filed by the third convicted soldier, CPL Stephen Clement, is yet to be heard as it was not listed.

Mass sack hits construction companies CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

on Friday while Saturday is cancelled. This, he said, was aside staff retrenchment carried out due to salary challenge. Head, Corporate Communications of Julius Berger, Mr. Adeyemi Adebanjo, however, denied in a telephone interview that his firm carried out massive lay-offs. He said some staff were relieved of their duties as a result of redundancy. He added that the company was not under obligation to keep certain staff when the sites they handled had been concluded. However, he was unable to mention any of such sites when he was pressed further on the issue. He also denied that government’s (states and federal) failure to honour

payment obligations was the main reason for the massive staff retrenchment. "No worker is laid off as a result of any perceived shortfall in fund or inability of government to meet its commitment to the company. Few workers being laid off were as a result of completion of projects being handled by these workers. Call it redundancy and you will be absolutely correct. Julius Berger is and has continued to be alive to its responsibilities to its staff, as well as to Nigerians in terms of timely completion of projects. A sure sign of distress by an ongoing concern is inability to pay wages. No worker will tell you he or she is being owed by the company," Adebanjo said.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH Friday, March 13, 2015

N7bn spent on National Conference unnecessary –Buhari

lSays Nigerians should not accept further poll shift Temitope Ogunbanke and Murtala Ayinla

he All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has described the N7 billion spent on the 2014 National Conference convened by President Goodluck Jonathan as a waste. Speaking yesterday during a town hall meeting with Nigerian youths and students in Lagos, Buhari said there would not have been industrial actions in the nation’s tertiary institutions had the N7 billion spent on the confab devoted to education. "Federal Government voted N7 billion to do a National Conference which is the duty of the siting National Assembly. If they have put the N7 billion in education, our students in universities and other tertiary institutions would have had no break in their academic pursuit. This government don't care about what happen to us; all they care is about their own pocket," he said. Buhari, who charged Nigerians to kick against any attempt to shift the March 28 and April 11 general elections, explained that the whole idea of the 2015 general elections is to save and rescue Nigeria from the current economic free fall, insecurity and high unemployment. He said timely, free and fair election is key to protecting Nigerian democracy, saying that there is no constitutional provision for frivolous shift in the date of elections. He urged Nigerians to rise against further attempt to postpone the elections. His words: "It is a question of saving the country from free fall. I have not come here to make promises to you, but to tell you that we have a duty to save our nation. And that is what March 28 and April 11 election dates are all about. No Nigeria should accept any postponement because there is no constitutional provision for postponement. We must conduct election and it must be free, fair and credible. "The important issue for us is insecurity. Second issue is unemployment, and it affects you all, that still have more than 40 years to go. No matter how well I love to live, there is no way I live another 40 years. "I want you to reflect on how lives have been in the last 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Partyled government. What is the strength of the naira

from when they took over and now? It is now over N220 to one dollar. To revamp the system, there is need for trillions of naira but where will they get it from? PDP has killed this country in the last 16 years. If we don't kill corruption in Nigeria, it will kill Nigeria. Many of us are still here because we have nowhere to go in the world than to stay in Nigeria." He reiterated that the APC's mission is to rebuild the economy by addressing the problems of unemployment, insecurity and corruption. "Our objective is to throw away PDP and rehabilitate our country. We will not be distracted

by their plans and smear campaign. The problem of Boko Haram went haywire when the police arrested and killed their leaders, instead of prosecuting them. It got so bad that Chad, Niger and Cameroon had to come and help the Nigerian military to liberate 14 council areas from the Boko Haram. PDP has killed the country. That is why this election will be very defining, especially for the youth and the change we all want," he said. In his address, the Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Organisation and Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, took a swipe at Ekiti State governor, Mr.

Ayodele Fayose, and those who believe that Buhari is not fit to govern Nigeria. He said the reason they have allowed Buhari to speak ex tempo on the occasion, was to show that he is fit to be president, contrary to lies coming from the opposition party. "Buhari is fit to govern Fayose as President," Amaechi said. “All those who predicted the death of the Nnamdi Azikwe died before his death." APC National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun expressed satisfaction with the students that spoke at the event. "Truly, the future belongs to you and no one will hand it over to you on the platter of gold. We

have had 16 years of bad leadership and six years of retrogression. You must from now know that everyone you put in office must be responsible to you. It is not by fighting or setting houses ablaze, but by having a voice and it must be by your vote," he said. Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and APC governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir elRufai, who spoke on the Buhari’s age controversy, said countries in the world, at their most critical moments, had relied on the wisdom and experience of their elderly, citing examples in countries that are called advanced today. Lagos State governor,

Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said that integrity and untainted records stand the Buhari/Osinbajo candidacy out. "I have said this to help you make informed decision and not on the basis of what your friends decide. Buhari is contesting because past leaders have failed to keep their promises. "It is obvious that the current administration has failed and he [Jonathan] too admitted it. He was here in Lagos and asked you to come with him. Come to where? You should ask him. These are some of the issues we should put on the table to make meaningful choice," Fashola said.

L-R: Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, his daughter, Neya and former South African President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, during Mbeki's visit to Kalu in Abuja... on Tuesday.

We're not aware of mercenaries presence, says DHQ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

were in the "low hundreds." John Stupart, editor of African Armed Forces magazine, identified the troop carriers as Reva III, manufactured by a Pretoria-based company called Integrated Convoy Protection. After reports of South African military trainers first surfaced in the Afrikaans-language Beeld newspaper in January, the country's Defence Minister, Nosiviwe MapiseNqakula, made clear her displeasure, saying any deployment would be illegal under 1998 anti-mercenary laws. "They are mercenaries, whether they are training or skilling the Nigerian defence force, or scouting for them. The point is they have no business to

be there," she was quoted as saying in South African media. South Africa has banned its nationals from participating directly in hostilities for private gain. Georgia, seen as a major source of mercenaries, has laws before parliament criminalising participation in a broad range of foreign military activities. Reuters was unable to reach the former bosses of Executive Outcomes through military contacts in South Africa. The appearance of foreign private soldiers came four months after Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, said Washington was not helping the struggle against Boko Haram and had failed to share intelligence and sell Nigeria the weapons it

needed. The presence of mercenaries from South Africa and the former Soviet Union adds to the broad array of forces lining up against Boko Haram, which has emerged in the last few years as subSaharan Africa's biggest security threat. Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin have committed troops to an 8,700-strong regional force. This week, Chad and Niger launched a joint military offensive deep into Nigerian territory. U.S. and European Special Forces have just completed three weeks of war games with regional counterparts near Lake Chad, one of boundaries of a Boko Haram sphere of influence thought at one time to be the size of Belgium.

However, when New Telegraph contacted the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, for official reaction, he said the military was not aware of the development. Responding in two separate text messages, Olukolade said: "Sorry, I don't know anything about that claim. I just know that Nigerian military and security forces are putting in all the resources, training and experience acquired over the years to address the security challenges. "Our neighbours operating under the auspices of the Multinational Joint Task Force are also backing our efforts from all our borders with them. We also have some offer of training and intelligence assistance from friendly countries. Some of these

arrangements predate the present operations." Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has vowed that the military will never concede any territory to Boko Haram again. Badeh told a civil society group, Nigeria in Save Hands, which embarked on a solidarity rally to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja that the troops have all they need now to stop the militants. Badeh, represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans at the DHQ, Air Vice Marshal Umar Omeiza, said: "The troops are saying never again, never again, never again. "We are not going to allow terrorists to occupy any part of the country. Boko Haram is a common enemy for all of us."

News

friday, march 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

PDP, APC trade words over Nigeria-Morocco face-off Onyekachi Eze and Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday continued their hot exchange of words, over the face-off between Nigeria and Morocco. While the PDP told the APC to be patriotic, the APC demanded that the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan come clean on the embarrassing situation.

The PDP also warned that “ in a time of war, you do not join hands with foreign governments or foreign kings to undermine the interest of your nation or to denigrate your President.” In a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the party noted that anybody or political party that joined hands with foreigners to denigrate the nation, belittle the foreign policy, undermine its credibility in the comity of nations

or work against country's vital core interests by assuming the worst about the conduct of her foreign affairs is a traitor and is not worthy of being called a Nigerian. "For the APC to even begin to assume that it is true that our President or any of our government officials lied in this episode with the King of Morocco and for them to so readily accept the suggestion that we have done anything wrong or that we have somehow misled our people about what actually transpired speaks volumes", Fani-Kayode

stated. He noted that the APC has shown, by its plea for a clarification on the Nigeria/Morocco episode, that it is a party that simply cannot possibly comprehend or grasp the complexities of national leadership or the conduct of foreign affairs. “Our President is certainly not a liar. Our President and our government have done Nigeria proud when it comes to the conduct of foreign affairs over the last few years and when it comes to building bridges with other nations. This is par-

Navy partners US, Europe, to combat oil theft Flora Onwudiwe

o combat the growing incidence of piracy and crude oil theft, especially in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigerian Navy (NN) is in partnership with 21 countries for its annual joint multinational maritime security exercise. The exercise themed, 'Operation Obangame Express' would kick off between March 19-27. Obangame is a Cameroonian word for together-

ness. The event, which will hold in Ghana is a joint collaboration that would involve the navies of the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango, declared yesterday at a briefing held at Navy dockyard Apapa to unveil this year's event. Other countries participating in the exercise include Ghana, São Tomé

and Principe, Spain, Turkey, Denmark, Portugal, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Benin Republic, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, France, Norway and Belgium. The Western Fleet Commander, Commodore FI Musa; Command Operations Officer, Commodore AMO Sunmola and Commanding Officer, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Daniel T. Ikoli. Others were Com-

are you the one we are looking for? A fast-growing newspaper needs the services of the following: 1. Online Editor 2. Production Editors 3. Head, Supplement 4. Business Development Executives – South East, South South and North West ONliNE EDitOr: Candidate for this post must have at least a first degree in Mass Communication, Social Sciences or Arts and 10 years’ post-qualification experience, four of which must be in the online department of a reputable newspaper. The candidate must have good writing and editing skills, news judgment and be Internet savvy. He must be able to generate content for the web edition of the newspaper. PrODuctiON EDitOrS: Candidates for the post must have at least first degree in Mass Communication, Social Sciences or Arts and 10 years’ post-qualification experience, four of which must be in a similar position. In addition, the candidates should have strong computer skill and an eye for details. They should be able to drive the production process in such an efficient manner to ensure that the production deadline is timely met. HEaD, SuPPlEmENt: Candidate for the post must have at least first degree in Mass Communication, Social Sciences or Arts and seven years’ post-qualification experience. He/she must have strong editorial background with good writing skills. He must have proven track record in supplements and event execution and must be able to conceive and execute revenue-generating ideas. Business Development Executives in: i. South East ii. South South iii. North West Candidates for the post must possess a minimum of HND/BSC in Mass Communication, Marketing or Social Sciences with at least 3 years’ post qualification experience in similar position. He/She must have very strong communication skill and must be able to meet required sales target. Such candidates are also expected to reside in zones applied for. interested candidates should direct their applications to tHE HEaD, aDmiNiStratiON, DailY tElEGraPH PuBliSHiNG cOmPaNY limitED, 1, aJimOBi StrEEt, OFF acmE rOaD, aGiDiNGBi, iKEJa, laGOS or newjobstoday2015@gmail.com. The applications should reach the company within one-week of the publication of these vacancies.

manding Officer NNS ARADU, Commodore OH Ngabalak; Commanding Officer, NNS Okpabana, Captain AM Ibrahim; Command Intelligence Officer, Captain PE Meteke and Command Information Officer, Lieutenant Commander Sani Abdulsalam. Ango said that a total of 18 ships are expected to partake to provide opportunities for all participating countries to look for a lasting solution to maritime illegalities.

'Obanikoro’s clearance, national tragedy' Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress presidential campaign organisation (APCPCO) yesterday condemned the clearance of Senator Musilu Obanikoro as a minister by the Senate, stating that it was a national tragedy. The campaign organization also stated that President Goodluck Jonathan was uncouth, therefore would not have the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari stand in debate with him. The Director of Media and Publicity of the APC campaign organization, Mallam Garba Shehu, stated the above while fielding question from journalists after a press briefing at the campaign office in Abuja. Shehu, who briefed journalists on what was presently going on in government and what APC would offer if voted in, said, corruption level now was overwhelming. He also faulted those saying some APC members are corrupt, even as he said that they are in APC because they have agreed to change.

ticularly so when it comes to our relationship with other African countries. “If they want a clarification about the Moroccan affair, they ought to go through the appropriate channels and perhaps attempt to reach our Foreign Minister in order to find out what really happened. The APC had yesterday asked Jonathan to explain the Nigeria's diplomatic row with Morocco, a North African country, which has forced the Kingdom to recall its Ambassador to Nigeria, while portraying Nigeria

as a liar. Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, in a statement issued in Lagos, said Jonathan must in particular clarify the thorny issue of whether or not he spoke with King Mohammed VI of Morocco. APC, demanding explanations from President Jonathan, said, ''According to published reports, the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry had said President Jonathan spoke on the telephone with the Moroccan King."

Oil price: Alison-Madueke seeks diversification of revenue Adeola Yusuf

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has declared that the Ministry and its parastatals are focused on mitigating the effects of lower crude oil prices by directing efforts and investments towards the diversification of oil revenue base in 2015 and beyond. This, the minister said, in a statement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), would be achieved by enhancing gas operations, expanding retail outlets and increasing refineries’ capacity utilization. She spoke at the 2014 budget performance and 2015 budget defence presentation before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum ResourcesUpstream, Downstream and Gas Resources. "Mrs. Alison-Madueke

stated that the ministry will expand its revenue frontiers by enhancing gas operations, expanding retail outlets and increasing refineries’ capacity utilization while at the same time minimizing the losses," the NNPC statement said. The Petroleum Minister noted that the year 2014 was packed with several industry activities, the most apparent being the upsurge in divestment and acquisition transactions that are boosting the number of Nigerian upstream operations. “However, the petroleum ministry still faced a number of challenges, such as pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, declining crude oil prices, inadequate funding. Notwithstanding, with all hands on deck and the support of the National Assembly, the industry performed well in 2014,’’ Mrs. Alison-Madueke said.

Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire sign LNG contracts Adeola Yusuf

igeria is about to sign a multi-million dollars gas supply contract with the Republic of Cote D’ Ivoire. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which gave this hint on Wednesday, maintained that the government of the Republic of Cote D’ Ivoire had already signalled its intention to procure Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supplies from Nigeria in support of its growing power needs. This forms a part of Nigeria’s move to seek broader frontiers for its Liquefied Natural Gas away from the traditional Asian-pacific hub received a sub-regional push. The package which, ac-

cording to a statement by the NNPC, is the first of its kind in the West African sub-region would see Nigeria commit a small chunk of its daily LNG output, which stands at over three billion cubic feet of gas per day, to its sub-regional neighbors in the first instance before the eventual extension of the West Africa Gas Pipeline to Cote D’Ivoire and Senegal. A director at the Ivorien Ministry of Energy, Kone Moussa, stated, when he led a delegation to the NNPC Towers Abuja, that his country would be relying on structural diversion of LNG Cargoes from Nigeria, as a starter within the next few months to tackle the growing energy needs.

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, march 13, 2015

News

national

Court summons YDP officials over misrepresentation of judgement summon

Party officials summoned to explain why court judgement is portrayed negatively

Tunde Oyesina Abuja

Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja yesterday

N'Assembly slashes own budget by N30bn

ordered the leadership of the Young Democratic Party, YDP, to appear on March 23 over an alleged misrepresentation of its judgement on the registration of the party. Justice A.R Mohammed, while making the order, noted that the court was embarrassed by the claim of the party officials at a press conference that the court, on March 4, 2015 ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to shift the 2015 elections in order to accommodate the party in the polls.

The court, however, ordered YDP's lead counsel, Kelvin Nwofor, SAN, to investigate the issue and produce all the persons who addressed the press conference in court. INEC had filed an application for stay of execution of the March 4, 2015 judgement. The electoral body is seeking a stay of execution of the judgement on the grounds that it had filed a notice of appeal dated March 9, 2015 against the March 4 verdict before the Abuja Division of the Court of

Appeal. Delivering a short ruling, Justice Mohammed, who said he received calls from different parts of the country and abroad, adding that the party's claim during the said press conference had put the court in "a very negative light". He said if Nwofor failed to comply with his directive to produce the persons involved in the press conference on March 23, the court would not hesitate to "cite any person who misrepresented its re-

cord and judgement for contempt". "As far as the court is concerned, no such orders were made. In fact, even the plaintiff, the Young Democratic Party, did not seek such reliefs from the court. It is therefore, very unfortunate that the court is portrayed in a very negative perspective. "One would have expected the person concerned to approach the court and obtain the certified true copy of the judgement to see the orders made by the

change of nameS

Chukwu David

OLUKO

Abuja

I formerly known as Oluko Jesukomiyo Oluwamiiseun Elliot now wish to be known as Oluko Jesukomiyo Oluwamiiseun Elliot. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

he National Assembly has reduced its 2015 budget by N30 billion instead of the N35 billion earlier proposed in the various meetings of the Committees of Finance and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives. This was contained in the report of the Conference Committee of the House and the Senate on the harmonised version of the 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework(MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper(FSP), which was approved by the Senate yesterday. The approval of the MTEF followed the presentation to the Senate of the Conference Committee report by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi (PDPKaduna North).

IPAC raises concern over failure of card reader Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to critically look into the concerns raised from last Saturday's field test of the card readers in 12 states of the country. These concerns, he said are the failure of the machines to detect fingerprints, as well as the length of time spent to accredit a voter. IPAC, which is an umbrella body of registered political parties in the country, at a meeting with the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega yesterday, expressed its support to the commission in the conduct of credible elections in the country.

court. "In the light of the embarrassing situation, I hereby direct the learned senior counsel to the plaintiff to investigate this ugly development and bring the persons or possible persons who held the press conference to court on the next adjourned date to show the court where the said order was made, failing which the court will not hesitate to cite any person who misrepresented its record and judgement for contempt", the court held.

ERUKPEME

I formerly known as Amaka Endurance Udeonu now wish to be known as Amaka Endurance Erukpeme. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADAMU-ILUFOYE

I formerly known as MISS ILUFOYE SHAKIRAT OLUWATOSIN now wish to be known as MRS. ADAMU – ILUFOYE SHAKIRAT OLUWATOSIN All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NWAIKWE

L-R: Public Relations Officers, Immigration, Mr. Obua Chukwuemeka; Prisons, Enobore Francis; Customs, Mr. Wale Adeniyi and Commissioner for Budget, Abdul Iyaji, at the formal presentation of four books, by Acting CP, Emmanuel Ojukwu in Abuja …yesterday

Fashola faults FG on Almajiri schools Muritala Ayinla

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday flayed the Peoples Democratic Party PDP-led Federal Government for failing to design the Almajiri school system in a way that will make graduates of the school employable. The governor, who said the schools have no feasible end gains, added that there is no competitive advantage for graduates of Almajiri schools in the present scheme of things. Speaking at a programme tagged Support Our Schools Breakfast Meeting with Governor, held at the City Hall in Lagos yesterday, Fashola queried the rationale for setting up the schools without plans for the end gains for those who enrol in them. He said the purpose of training someone is for him or her to use the knowledge gained and the skills acquired to his benefits and benefit of the society, wondering which organisations or firms could employ the graduates of Almajiri schools.

He said: "If you train people to acquire certain skills, you must develop avenue where the skills will be useful; that will be the end gain. We have thought this through and as graduates of our technical and vocational colleges, they will become our major contractors. "And so, it worries me; what is the end gain of products of the Almajiri schools? Will you put your child there? Will any company looking through its job appraisal consider such graduates from Almajiri schools? What chance will the products of the Almajiri school have working for multinational company? Are we giving the children a fighting and survival chance when we segregate them into Almajiri schools? Think about it." As part of measures to encourage vocational and technical education in the state, Fashola said his government has issued over 600 contracts as annual maintenance projects of Lagos schools; saying graduates of the state's technical schools are the main beneficiaries.

Disregard rumours of Mu'azu's resignation, PDP tells members Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied the rumour of the resignation of its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu. The party also expressed confidence of winning the general elections because of the nationwide acceptability of President Goodluck Jonathan and its other candidates. PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity

Secretary, Olisa Metuh yesterday, however, charged party members to remain focused on the campaigns. He added that the party was impressed with the quality of leadership of President Jonathan, his performance and his numerous verifiable achievements in all sectors of the economy. "President Goodluck Jonathan has left no one in doubt that he is a national leader and one of the greatest bastions of Nigeria’s unity."

PUBLIC NOTICE THE BROOK ESTATE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION REDEMPTION CAMP

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1 of 2004. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) OYEFOLU BABATUNDE OLUKUN 2) OYEWOLE FRANCIS OLUFEMI 3 ENGR. ABIA GODWIN DANIEL 4 ADEWALE A. KEHINDE 5. SADOH DORCAS MODUPE 6. BAMIGBOYE KUNLE TAYO

-CHAIRMAN

-SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1 To safeguard life and property in the Estate. 2. To promote social interaction vote, neighbourliness and mutual help among residents.. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: SECRETARY 07036345958

I formerly known as Miss Ruth Amarachi Nwaike now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ruth Amarachi Nwaike Freedom. All former documents remains valid. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADISA

I formerly known as Miss Olaniyi Oluwatoyin Olayinka now wish to be known as Mrs Adisa Oluwatoyin Olayinka.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ODEBIYI

I formerly known as Miss. Ilufoye Fatimat Ayo now wish to be known as Mrs. Odebiyi Fatimat Ayo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DANIEL

I formerly known as ADEMOLA DEMILADE HAMMED now wish to be known as DANIEL EMMANUEL OKON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ENO

I formerly known as DAMILOLA CHRISTIANA HAMMED now wish to be known as ENOBONG EMMANUEL OKON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ACHINIRU

I formerly known as OKARTER CHRISTIANA ADAUGO, now wish to be known as ACHINIRU CHRISTIANA CHINEYE JOHNSON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ALLI

I formerly known as SANNI RUKAYAT ADEOLA, now wish to be known as ALLI RUKAYAT ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro RESURGENCE

After a long while, armed robbers resurface in Lagos with an attack on a bank Camillus Nnaji

our persons were feared killed yesterday when a gang of armed robbers raided a branch of new generation bank at Lekki area of the Lagos metropolis. The bank located on Admiralty Way, Lekki, was taken unawares by the armed robbers. The robbers were said to have come in a canoe through the water. According to a witness, the robbers killed three police escorts of a passing civilian Coaster bus and a fish seller. The robbers, numbering about 12 and dressed in full military uniform, arrived a few minutes before 5pm via a boat through Lekki-Ikoyi toll bridge and immediately began firing into the air. The operation, it was learnt, lasted exactly 25 minutes. Another witness told our correspondent that the shooting caused pandemonium as everybody was running helter-skelter. “Everybody was taken unawares because nothing of this kind has happened here before. They killed four people but I do not know how much money they stole from the bank,” the witness said. Another person, who gave his name simply as Yusuf, said

Robbers kill four in Lagos bank raid

File picture of suspected armed robbers

those in the area were shocked by the incident. He said: “For over seven years, there has not been any major robbery attack in Lagos.” When contacted on the

phone, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed there was robbery at the said bank. He, however, said three per-

LAWMA employee sells pistol for N5,000 Shola Adefuwa

etectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State have arrested an employee of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) for attempting to sell a pistol to a colleague.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

The suspect, Paul Basir, 22, said he picked the gun on the ground and thought selling it would fetch him more money. Basir, who resides at Mile 2 area of the metropolis, was arrested on January 11, at Ojota by SARS. He said: “I have been working with LAWMA since 2010. My duty is to park waste. On January 10, while working at Gbagada area, I saw a gun and picked it. I showed one of my colleagues. He said I should throw it away. He told me that if we should take it to the police, they would arrest us.” Basir added that the following day, he informed another colleague at the office. The guy expressed shock and accepted to buy it from him. He said: “I told him that the gun is for sale that he should bring N8,000, he said he could only afford N5,000, so I gave him the gun. I was shocked when I

saw him with a policeman. “I used to receive N15,000 every month. I am alright with the salary. I just felt like selling the gun so that I could have more money. My father is late and my mother is staying in Plateau State. We are four in our family while I am the second born.”

Bashir with the gun

sons were killed in the attack. According to him, two of the victims were policemen. The PPRO added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area led the police

to dislodge the robbers. He said: “Investigation into the robbery attack. We are already on the trail of the fleeing robbers and very soon we shall smash them.”

Tenant held for defrauding landlady Camillus Nnaji and Gbemisola Oyedepo

middle-aged man, Mr Olayiwola Giwa, is in police custody for allegedly defrauding his landlady, Mrs Hilda Ogbeifun, by subletting his rented apartment to another person and collecting rent. Ogbeifun, who spoke with our correspondent at Area ‘H’ Police Command, Ogudu Ojota, where she reported the case, said for over six years, her agent had rented the a flat at No. 5, Ajayi Ogedengbe Street, Obanikoro, Lagos, to Giwa. She said: “I got an agent who I gave the house to rent out, since I was outside the country. The agent gave it out to Giwa. He has been paying in arrears and even pleaded that he was being owed by those he worked for. “On a particular day, I decided to go to the house with my agent without informing him. On reaching the house, I

Ogbeifun

saw another family staying in the house. The agent did not give them the house. It was Giwa that gave them the house and even increased the rent to N650,000 without letting us know.” Ogbeifun added that Giwa had been collecting N650,000 while he was paying N550,000 to the agent. When contacted, Giwa said he had some financial challenges which explained why he had spent the money he collected from subletting the house.

News 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Cleaner gets promotion for returning N12m

Gunmen kill corporal, Benue PDP chieftains

Wole Shadare

or her honesty, Josephine Ugwu, who returned N12 million she found in one of the toilets at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, has been rewarded with a promotion. Ugwu, a cleaner, works with Patovilki Industrial Planners Limited, the industrial cleaning company handling cleaning services at MMIA. She has been promoted to the position of a supervisor with a monthly salary of N20,000. Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the company’s corporate headquarters, 1, Willy Ikolodo Close, Gbagada, the Managing Director, Mrs Rosemary Moji Ikolodo, said for Miss Ugwu to return N12 million she discovered while cleaning the toilet, brought to bear the good training she received from the company. She added that the gesture had done the company proud. Ikolodo said the company had no option than to reward her in its little way by promoting her and increas-

Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

Mrs. Ikolodo (fifth right), Miss. Ugwu, (fourth right) and other staff of the company at the event.

ing her salary to N20,000 monthly. The Patovilki boss said she would have done more but had to act in line with existing structure for those employed by the company for the airport job. She said: “Today we are celebrating good conduct which we are known for. One of us has done us proud in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. While on duty, she discovered a huge amount of money

(N12 million) left behind by a passenger in the airport toilet and she, in accordance with the training we give, returned the money to the security. “For this conduct, an act of honesty, the company has no option than to reward Miss Josephine Ugwu in our little way for doing us proud. “She is hereby promoted to the supervisor cadre on a monthly salary of N20,000 with immediate effect. We would have done more, but

we are working within the contract we have with our client. That is the salary we pay our supervisors in the airport.” In her response, Ugwu was full of praises for her employer for appreciating her conduct. She said the training and orientation she received from her family and at Patovilki Industrial Planners Limited had always helped her to exhibit good conduct every time.

Why I inserted drugs in my private part –Suspect Juliana Francis

desperate single mother said she inserted parcels of heroin into her private part and ingested others because she needed money to pay her house rent and pay her kid’s school fees. The 31-year-old lady, Onyinye Juliet Aladi, who was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight, said she took to drug trafficking to settle her bills. She said that some Pakistanis gave the drugs to her. The suspect added that she

The drugs

Aladi

established links with some Pakistani drug traffickers who sponsored her trip in collaboration with some local accomplices. She said: “I’m a single mother and I need money to take care of myself and child.

I used to sell clothes but the profit is inadequate to sustain my family. I would have earned half a million naira to pay for my rent and my child’s school fees if I had succeeded in bringing in the drugs. “They paid for my return ticket and hotel accommodation. While in my hotel room, a Pakistani woman came to give me the drug. She also instructed me to conceal it in my private part to avoid

arrest. Unfortunately, the NDLEA officers detected it.” The drugs concealed are 430 grammes. NDLEA Commander at the airport, Mr Hamza Umar, said the arrest was facilitated with the aid of scanning machines. He said: “During the inward screening of Emirate passengers, one Aladi Onyinye Juliet tested positive for narcotic ingestion. While under observation, the drug was subsequently expelled, field-tested and weighed.” The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said that the agency would continue to detect narcotics with the help of technological tools. He said: “The NDLEA is investing in capacity building and modern equipment in drug detection.”

Hole-in-the-heart baby needs N7m for surgery Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

14-month-old baby with a hole in his heart, Master Praise Omohimoria, requires about N7 million for corrective surgery abroad. His parents have appealed to good-spirited Nigerians, groups and organisations for funds to facilitate the surgery. His father, Mr Vincent Omohimoria, told journalists in Benin, Edo State yesterday that his son’s health condition was evaluated at the Paediatric Cardiology Unit

Metro Briefs

of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) by a Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, Professor Wilson Sadoh. According to him, Praise has been a patient at the UBTH, Ugbowo, since birth. Omohimoria said the evaluation carried out last week revealed a congenital heart disease or hole-in-the-heart. He said: “The hospital said that my son’s life is at risk and that he is likely to have heart failure because of the hole in his heart. The doctor also said the heart is failing very fast.”

Omohimoria added that the doctor also said Praise would need to be flown abroad for corrective heart surgery and that the estimates for the procedure would amount to about $10,000. That amount, according to him, does not include travelling expenses, airfares and accommodation. He also displayed a medical report of a repeat echo cardiogram at the UBTH, which was carried out on February 9. The report shows that a “10.3mm secundum type, Atrial Septal Defect shunting

Praise

from left to right, the right Atrium is markedly enlarged and fractional shunting 50.3 per cent.”

unmen have killed a police corporal and two civilians in Kwande and Vandeikya local government areas of Benue State. The civilian victims, it was learnt, were leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwande Local Government Area. They were said to be travelling to Adikpo, the headquarters of the local government when a vehicle overtook the bus conveying them. Gunmen in the other vehicle opened fire on the bus and killed the two party chieftains. It was gathered that two other passengers in the bus, who sustained varying degrees of injuries, were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the victims had been deposited at the Adikpo General Hospital.

Rotary donates library, books to school Shola Adefuwa

he Rotary Club Gbagada has inaugurated Oke-Ifako Primary School Library and sick bay at Ifako-Gbagada, Lagos State. The Rotary Club President, Rachael Akerele, said that the renovation of the library, with donation of text books to the pupils, were part of projects the club had been doing. Akerele said the foundation to sound education was to make education affordable and learning easy, especially for the pupils. This, she said, informed the decision of Rotary Club of Gbagada to donate learning materials. She said: “The aim of the project is to make the pupils imbibe the habit of making use of library and also to help in promotion of good health. The Rotary Club has done a lot of projects.

Notorious robber killed in Ekiti gun battle Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

notorious robber, who had been on the wanted list of the police for a long time, Gbenga Matthew, alias Orimeji (two heads), was shot dead yesterday by the police during a gun battle in AdoEkiti, Ekiti State. The encounter took place at AkodiEdemo, in Odo Ado Quarterw of the state capital. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Alberto Adeyemi, said the deceased had led some members of his gang to rob some residents of the area while the people made a distress call to the police. The PPRO added that men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) responded to the distress call and engaged the robbers in a gun battle. He said: “Early this morning (yesterday) the officer in charge of SARS got a tip that some robbers were robbing in Akodi Edemo Quarters, so he swung into action with his men and got to the area. They met about five robbers in operation.”

News

SOUTH-WEST

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ekiti to sue banks over loans to Fayemi’s govt Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Gover nment said yesterday that it has concluded plans to sue some banks for allegedly granting what it called questionable loans to the for mer administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi. The loans, according to Gover nor Ayo Fayose, were granted without due financial process adhered to. Fayose, who announced this while addressing monarchs in the state during a meeting yesterday, said, ‘’some banks granted loans to the immediate past administration in the state and we don’t know where the funds ended or entered.” Also, monarchs in the state who attended the meeting have ag reed to pray and work for the revival of the finances of the state, saying the parlous financial condition of the state was worrisome. At the meeting with traditional rulers in the state, Fayose said dialogue with the affected banks had failed

and that the controversial, untraceable loans were meant to defraud the state because they could not be traced. Fayose, who was reacting to a suggestion by one of the monarchs that the state could still approach banks for more loans, said the banks were not forthcoming and had refused to cooperate with the state on the matter.

“We are currently entering legal action against some banks because some of the loans they gave the state, we don’t know where they entered. They g ranted some loans without due process. The banks have been approached, but they are not willing to cooperate,” he said. Fayose had invited the monarchs to brief them on the poor financ-

Ibadan

embers of the National Association of Retired Primary School Teachers (NARPST), yesterday besieged the secretariat of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mokola Ibadan, to protest the alleged non-payment of their pension arrears running to about N23b. The retired teachers, led by its Secretary, Comrade Tunji Ogunmola, carried placards bearing various inscriptions such as: ‘Ajimobi stop cheating us’ , ‘Ajimobi, you were taught by teachers, why neglect teachers?’ , Retired teachers are dying in silence’, among others. They decried Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s excuse that the N5.8billion allegedly stolen by former staff of the pensions board in the state had

ation which, he said, had further worsened the liquidity problems faced by the state. On prayer, which the traditional rulers agreed was needed for the state “in this time if austerity,” they said they would pray for the state and also advised the state gover nment to “look inwards in the area of inter nally-generated revenue.”

Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi (left), receiving the new General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2nd Mechanised Division, MajorGeneral Salisu Nasiru Muazu, at the Governor’s Office, in Ibadan …yesterday

Oyo teachers demand N23bn pension arrears Sola Adeyemo

es of the state, which he said was caused by numerous loans and bonds taken by the immediate past administration in the state. “So, what we are doing now is to approach the courts to seek a legal redress,” he added. He said banks had tagged Ekiti insolvent and wouldn’t g rant the state loans until the outstanding debts were settled, a situ-

made it impossible for him to pay. According to them, the governor should deduct the alleged N5.8b from the accumulated N23b he was owing them, and pay their pension before the end of his tenure. The protest witnessed an awful twist as one of the retirees, Joseph Sunday Falade, slumped, but was quickly whisked away in a vehicle by some of his colleagues for medical attention. The angry pensioners described the refusal of the Ajimobi-led government as the worst enemy of pensioners,

stating that no government has ever deprived retirees of their benefits like government is doing now. Urging the government to look into their plights, the former teachers said they were passing through a lot of hardships after serving the state meritoriously, describing the situation as unfortunate. While calling on the state governor to stop playing with the lives of retired civil servants, the association urged the governor to saveguard the lives of the pensioners.

Senator chides Jonathan over Nigeria, Morocco row Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he Senator representing Osun West Senatorial district in the Senate, Senator Mudasiru Hussain, yesterday chided the President Goodluck Jonathan led Federal Government over the the diplomatic row between Nigeria and Morrocco, which has led to the recall of the Moroccan Ambassador to Nigeria. Hussain, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs , described the position of the government over the issue as insincere in a statement in Osogbo, stating, “ the diplomatic row between the two countries would not have degenerated to the level of recall of ambassador, had the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acting under the directive of the presidency, not lied to the world that the President Jonathan had a conversation with the Moroccan King, Mohammed VI.” Hussain, who is the Chairman, Buhari/Osinbajo campaign organization in Osun State, said further that “the Nigerian authority exposed itself as insincere to the Moroccan government, with the lies of the Nigerian government, describing it as unethical and irresponsible.

Presidential poll: APC has conceded defeat –Fayose Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has said the ego of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been deflated as it has tacitly conceded defeat few weeks to the March 28 presidential election. The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said that the sudden rejection of the candidate opposition’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, by the north, following its realization that the region would be shortchanged had

rattled the party. Fayose also disclosed that the issue of the health of the former General, had become worrisome to the North while not forgetting the case of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua, said the development had forced the APC to cancel its presidential rallies in Kaduna and Enugu as he (Buhari) was not yet to be physically and mentally fit to stand the rigour for any rally. The governor said that while Buhari was still recuperating in a London hospital, he had to come back home due to pressure mounted on him by certain leaders of his party, who wanted to douse the growing

apprehension by Nigerians over the state of his health. Fayose also noted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his supporters were already retracing their steps to the PDP and that the North had seen the deceit in the APC South-West leaders who had been pushing for the Buhari Presidency, even against the man’s interest. “We thank the APC for conceding defeat in the coming elections. At least, they, for the first time, appeared realistic. General Buhari’s insistence that he must be allowed to attend to his health was commendable.

Alao-Akala never slumped at Ibadan NEC meeting –Aide Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ollowing the claim in some sections of the media that the Labour Party governorship candidate in Oyo state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala slumped and was rushed

to a hospital on Wednesday, the Director of Public Affairs to the party, Oludare Ogunlana, yesterday dispelled the claim as one of the antics of the All Progressives Congress-led administration aimed at dampening the morale of the former governor

The report had revealed that Chief AlaoAkala collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday when the National Executive Council meeting of the LP was about to take place at the Premier Hotel, thus delaying it for some hours.

Alleging that the website (https://crownbam. wordpress.com/), which published the story was linked to the campaign structure of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the APC, Ogunlana, said that such wish for Chief AlaoAkala at this time was in

bad faith and was a reflection of the desperation in the incumbent government. He dismissed the insinuation that his boss was battling with an “undisclosed ailment”, saying, “Lies and deceits were the stock in trade of the APC.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

General elections

Endorsement

Hate campaign

Interview

Jega: Politicians threatening conduct of violence-free polls

Oba of Benin’s support for Jonathan not in doubt – Son

Saraki: I’ve no hand in ‘Dirty Love Triangle’ documentary

Afenifere’s endorsement won’t count for Jonathan – Adegbuyi

Politics

Things fall apart in Kwara PDP

The centre is no longer holding in the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the relationship between the party leadership and Senator Gbemi Saraki has gone sour. BIODUN OYELEYE reports

hen President Goodluck Jonathan came to Ilorin, Kwara State on March 3, 2014, Gbemisola Saraki, former two-term senator and first daughter of the popular Saraki family of Ilorin, was visible on the podium. She had joined others to condemn her brother, Senator Bukola Saraki, for dumping his friend and sitting at the table with the “progressives from the west” under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC). But when the president came back in February 2015, Gbemisola, popularly called GRS by her followers, was missing in the crowd. Not even a tiny flag bearing her insignia was among the load of campaign materials seen at the Metropolitan Square, venue of the presidential campaign. Yet Gbemi is supposed to be one of the key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. What could have gone wrong? Many have asked. Party leaders claimed she was away on a foreign trip to attend to family matters. Minister of National Planning, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, asked newsmen to dismiss the matter as Gbemi is still firmly in the party. “That Gbemi did not attend shouldn’t be an issue,” he said at a parley, adding: “Even though she didn’t communicate to the party to the best of my knowledge on why she

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

In the beginning....L-R: Alhaji Abdulrazak Alimi, Saraki, Shagaya and Belgore at the PDP ‘Unity Rally ‘ in Ilorin in 2014

didn’t attend, again as one family, we can stand even by her absence. As far as the party is concerned, she still remains a member of our great party.” Yet when the party launched its state-wide campaign at Bode-Saadu, Moro Local Government Area of the state some days later, GRS and her followers were again absent. This time around, it was not easy to dismiss the coincidence as party leaders acknowledged there was a growing disquiet between GRS and the PDP. Hatred for ‘Sarakites’ Close watchers of the romance between the PDP and Gbemi had predicted that sooner than later the relationship would face serious test of integrity. The first signal came the day the party held a rally ahead of the 2014 visit by Jonathan at the Lower Niger River Basin field, Ilorin. Apparently to score some points, several speakers at the event couldn’t succeed in separating between the Saraki name and their main foe, Bukola, who currently leads the Saraki political dynasty and has been friends with many of the speakers until party issues led him out of the PDP. GRS, it was gathered, was not well disposed to the “attacks” on her pedigree and she reportedly made her feelings known to party elders. Although, party leaders, thereafter began to speak well of her father at public events apparently to assuage her feelings, they have not succeeded in the task because the Bukola campaign structure is

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

PDP wishes to appeal to a former senator, Gbemisola Saraki, to shelve her rumoured bid to dump the PDP for another party

hinged significantly on the Saraki name and there is hardly a way to attack him without attacking the dynasty built by his father and of which GRS continues to be a beneficiary. As such, it was gathered, GRS always felt odd more so as she didn’t win the PDP gubernatorial ticket that would have given her a huge say in party affairs. Speaking on the development, one of her closest aides, Alhaji Toyin Olosasa, confirmed that indeed, all is not well between the two camps. Olosasa said there were concerns within Gbemi’s camp over what he termed “the hatred of PDP leaders in Kwara State for supporters of Saraki in their fold.” Olosasa, who is the secretary of the PDP in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state, explained the situation thus: “We, members of GRS group in the PDP are not well treated by the PDP leaders in the state. We are calling on our leader, Senator Gbemisola Saraki to see to our plight. It is a fact that PDP leaders do not want to see any Sarakite in PDP in Kwara. Shagaya, Belgore factors Another issue behind the apparent sour relationship between Gbemi and the PDP is the alleged bitter rivalry between her and Hajia Bola Shagaya, a woman with a deep pocket and friend to First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Given her connections, Shagaya apparently wants to exert authority over the affairs of the party, a situation GRS and several others

would not support. When President Jonathan wanted to pick a minister from the state, GRS was a ready name but Shagaya nominated another candidate who was eventually picked after serious protests and bickering. To worsen the situation, one of the most virulent opponents of the Saraki dynasty and a Shagaya ally, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), was picked to lead the presidential campaign in Kwara State. Although many party leaders complained about how the lawyer turned politician handled the matter, one of the major victims was GRS. Belgore allegedly sent her just a few materials and N50, 000 to mobilise her supporters. Her camp reportedly felt insulted by the move and hence stayed away from the event. Gbemi had through her Unity Group reportedly worked against Shagaya and Belgore and their group during the party’s congress that produced the current state executive of the PDP. The ‘Unity Group’ is made up of GRS, former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Bio Ibrahim, former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Congress Party of Nigeria (CPC), Alhaji AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, as well as one-time gubernatorial aspirant of the PDP, Alhaji Yahman Abdullahi. Other members of the group include former senatorial candidate of the ACPN, Chief Lola Ashiru, Senator Baba Suruq and Dr. Femi Ogunshola. This group had two aspirants: Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo and Chief Sunday Fagbemi, a stalwart of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and deputy governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in 2011. But before the election started, Fagbemi was made to step down. Oyedepo won and has remained chairman. Party chairman vs ex-senator Since the congress, however, it appears the coalition that brought Oyedepo on board had collapsed. The chairman had publicly promised to be a leader of ‘everybody’ and not a faction and in private was said to have complained that some moneybags within the party were seeking to hijack the structure from him, saying that was the major grouse leaders of the PDP were meant to have against the APC in the state. If the statements credited to the chairman were anything to go by, the relationship between him and GRS appears to have gone sour. Although CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP not afraid of card reader, says Sambo Muhammad Kabir KANO

ice-President Namadi Sambo has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not afraid of the use of card reader for the March 28 and April 11 general elections. He said what the ruling party wants is to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised. Sambo spoke in Kano yesterday when he met members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State chapter. “One thing I will tell you is that the PDP is not afraid of anything, not even the card reader. We are not afraid of the card reader. To be very honest, what we want is free and fair elections. “We don’t want anything to go wrong through the use of the card reader. In Ebonyi State, the INEC commissioner there said he is going to repeat the testing and in so many other states there have been problems with the card readers, to the ex-

tent that INEC themselves have introduced an incidence form. That is why we are saying, look let’s do this thing properly,” he said. The vice president further explained that since 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan has championed free, fair and credible elections. Sambo gave assurance that the PDP will win the general elections, saying “PDP is a party of Nigeria. PDP is Nigeria. You go to every local government, every ward, every polling unit, PDP has a system in place. “It has a chairman, secretary and at least 12 members of the executive. So, we are everywhere, and there is no party that is like PDP. PDP has remained as PDP since 1998 to date, we have never changed our colour or our name. We are the party for Nigeria and we are Nigerians.” He said the aim of the meeting was to inform journalists on the inroads the administration had made in transforming the socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians.

Jega: Politicians threatening conduct of violence-free polls

lIPAC raises concern over failure of card reader Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

hairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has lamented the antics of the candidates in the forthcoming general elections, noting that their actions are becoming a threat to the conduct of peaceful polls. Jega, who spoke yesterday after a meeting with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said candidates were overheating the polity. He charged the parties and their candidates to “live up to the spirit and letter of the peace accord” signed by presidential candidates and some state governors. “The attitude of candidates may affect whether

we will have peaceful elections,” he said. The INEC chairman, who said the eyes of the world were on Nigeria, decried the conflicts and violence that trailed campaigns, describing them as “unwholesome events that we should all work hard to address.” Jega also tasked parties to select credible party agents who will be stationed on polling units and advocated for proper training of the party agents “because they are central to transparency of the electoral process.” He said the rescheduling of the elections had afforded the commission the opportunity to adequately prepare for the polls. “We believe we are adequately prepared for the elections as we seize the six weeks extension

to make supplementary preparations which we believe will add value to the elections. “We believe that the period of extension has offered us an opportunity to further perfect the electoral process for the delivery of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections, to the satisfaction, yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians,” Jega added. Meanwhile, IPAC has advised the INEC to critically look into the concerns raised from last Saturday’s field test of the card readers in 12 states of the country especially the failure of the machines to detect fingerprints as well as the length of time spent to accredit a voter. IPAC, which is an umbrella body of registered political parties in the country, expressed its support to the commission in

the conduct of credible elections in the country. It, however, charged INEC to address all the complaints raised during the field test of card readers. “We will lent our voice to the observation made on the card readers which is to be a check on the PVCs and ensure credible elections. We advise strongly that all the observations made by the political parties should be looked into as solving the problems especially on fingerprints identification and time consumed in the process of accreditation. “All these issues are raised with the best intentions to give INEC all the support to conduct credible elections”, IPAC Chairman, Tanko Yunusa told the INEC Chairman.

Oba of Benin’s support for Jonathan not in doubt – Son Tunde Oyesina Abuja

ne of the sons of the Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa II, Prince Ada yesterday said there is no controversy on where the Oba stands in the forthcoming presidential elections. Prince Ada Erediauwa, who stated this in Abuja, added that the Oba need not to make public pronouncement on where he stands on the March 28 presidential election, stressing that no matter what was said of the Benin Palace, it remains an institution. The prince, who led four other princes to Chief Edwin Clark’s Abuja residence, said that the Oba “does not have to necessarily say anything to get his message across.” He explained that the Oba had made his stand known since September 2014 when President Goodluck Jonathan visited Edo State. He noted that his father, who was not known for much talking, made his mind known through the gift which he gave to the president. He further stated that the gift was very symbolic and till date Jonathan

remains the only political office seeker to have received such a gift as a red clothing materials (ododo). He explained that the ododo (red attire) is very symbolic in the Benin culture. He therefore urged President Jonathan not to bother himself on the issue. In his remarks, Clark noted that there should be no room for controversy between the palace and the president. Clark also denied the report that the slot of Edo State was given to Stella Oduah as minister. The Ijaw leader, who noted that he never supported her ministerial nomination at that time, said she came on board basically on the basis of the work and position she held at the 2011 presidential campaign team. He further explained that Oduah was nominated to represent Anambra State and not Edo as widely speculated. He added that the slot of Edo State was given to Mike Onolememe, the present Minister of Works. Clark, who noted that his people have something in common with the Benin, said the president will be consulting with the Oba regularly henceforth.

L-R: National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the party’s presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, at a Town Hall meeting with youths in Lagos …yesterday.

Mark: Nigeria ready for general elections Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

enate President, Senator David Mark yesterday assured the international community that Nigeria is prepared for a smooth, transparent and peaceful conduct of the March 28 and April 11 general elections. Mark stated this while playing host to the envoy of the Republic of Ireland in Nigeria, Ambassador Sean Hoy, who visited the National Assembly. The President of the Senate dismissed insinuations that the present administration was illprepared for the elections, stressing that the initial

postponement was necessitated by hitherto security challenges and shortcomings in the distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to eligible voters across Nigeria. According to Mark, the postponement of the polls had afforded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the opportunity to address the initial hiccups and wondered what could have been the outcome of the polls if elections were held on February 14, when over 23 million Nigeria were yet to get their PVCs. He said the postponement also became necessary for the security operatives to restore normalcy to the troubled

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

North-East before the elections. “For now, things have positively improved and Nigerians are happy that the coast is clear for the conduct of credible elections that would be acceptable and in conformity with international standard. “All stakeholders are pleased with the development and I am sure

the outcome of the polls would reflect the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians,” he said. Nigeria, Mark said, was conscious of its image in the international community and would not do anything to undermine its national interest and integrity in the comity of nations. He therefore implored the international community to show understanding and cooperation with Nigeria to actualise smooth and credible elections. In response, the Irish Ambassador said Nigeria occupied a strategic position in the global community, hence the keen interest in its affairs by several countries.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Saraki: I’ve no hand in ‘Dirty Love Triangle’ documentary Onwuka Nzeshi Abuja

ormer governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki has denied any involvement in a campaign documentary purportedly put together by some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to denigrate President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience, and Mrs Deziani AlisonMadueke, the Minister of Petroleum Resources. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Pres-

idential Campaign Organisation had alerted the nation of the plans by some opposition leaders to screen the documentary tagged “Dirty Love Triangle” with a view to portraying the trio in negative light in apparent retaliation for some documentaries aired on national television that tended to attack key opposition personalities. In a statement issued from his media office yesterday, Saraki stated that he was not aware of any love triangle between the president and the two women in ques-

PDP chieftain denies heading anti-APC taskforce Wale Elegbede

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, Soji Bello, has described the accusation made against him by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he heads a taskforce formed to molest APC members ahead of its planned road show in Ekiti as “a blatant lie and manifestation of the confusion that has hit the opposition.” APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had accused Bello of heading a special task force designed to attack and beat the supporters of the APC in the state with another team mandated to cause mayhem in the Hausadominated Sabo and Shasha areas of Akure, the state capital, ahead of the APC planned road show in Ekiti next week.

However, Bello said he is not aware of the existence of such taskforce which Mohammed claimed he heads. He said: “But for the state of confusion in the opposition, why should Lai Mohammed alleged a taskforce is being put up in Ondo to disrupt a programme they are having in Ekiti State? “Though I understand that they must find an excuse for their impending doom in the SouthWest, but how many of their supporters were attacked in Lagos before their one million man match flopped.” Declaring that the opposition party and its leaders are mere shadow chasers, Bello said: “The truth of the matter is that the opposition party is not existing in Ondo State in the first place, so they don’t have any supporter to chase around.

Professionals convene Town Hall meetings for Jonathan, Buhari Wale Elegbede

head of the general elections, the two leading presidential candidates, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been scheduled to participate in a town hall meeting with Nigerians to address critical electioneering issues. Addressing newsmen yesterday in Lagos, the convener of the Concerned Nigerian Professionals and Enterprises Forum (CPEF), Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, said the event is billed to hold on March 20 in Abuja. According to UgwuOju, town hall meetings

across the six geo-political zones will precede the grand finale in Abuja, stressing that the group’s intervention is crucial to redirect the electioneering to focus on the relevant issues. He said: “We are positive that the presidential candidates will be in attendance. There are no doubts about that because we have reached out to them. “As a way of realising our mission, we have planned seven townhall meetings in the six geopolitical zones and a national town-hall meeting in Abuja. The zonal town hall meetings will hold simultaneously on March 15 at various locations whilst the national town hall meeting will hold on March 19 and 20.

tion and therefore had not been, and cannot be involved in anyway with the process of commissioning such a documentary. He said that as a Senator of the Federal Republic, he had always centred all his political campaign messages on issues that affect the lives of Nigerians such as unemployment, mismanagement of public funds, and non-implementation of the budgetary provisions and cannot delve into the private lives of the president or his wife. “On the contrary, it is the PDP that has been attacking the private lives of our presidential candidate and personal affairs of our leaders in

the APC. We have maintained a certain respectable decorum in both the use of language and material in every campaign,” he said. According to the statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Bamikole Omisore, the attempt by the PDP to link Saraki with the documentary was an attempt to open an old case of a bank loan involving a company called Joy Petroleum and pave way to victimise him. “Senator Saraki is aware that the PDP has been going around Kwara State bribing and begging people to partake in a documentary against him to cause disaffection in the eyes

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

of the public having adjudged him a threat in the forthcoming general elections. So, it’s funny to now hear that the same party that’s organising such a documentary and from the beginning of this campaign have threaded on this dishonourable course using their own words should be accusing others of what they intend to do.

So, this so-called alarm on any documentary targeted at Jonathan, Dieziani is just diversionary tactics in preparation of what they intend to do,” he said. Saraki warned that he would seek legal redress against anyone who would want to rubbish his political career by doing a false documentary on him, adding that no single individual or group had the monopoly of launching offensive campaigns. He assured his supporters not to be deterred by the negative campaigns against the APC but to be prepared to make a difference at the March 28 and April 11 polls.

L-R: Wife of the Vice President, Amina Sambo; Niger State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Umar Nasko and Governor Babangida Aliyu, at the Presidential Women rally in Minna…yesterday

PDP launches door-to-door campaign Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it would embarked on door-to-door campaign to woo voters for President Goodluck Jonathan for the March 28 presidential election. The party also said its direct efforts at voter mobilisation would be supported by social media publicity, noting that it has obtained reliable data on every registered voter in Nigeria. This is even as the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation has blamed the under publicity of President Jonathan’s achievements on the leadership of the party. Deputy Director General of PDP Presidential

Campaign Organisation, Prof. Tunde Adeniran at a training programme for PDP state delegates in Abuja yesterday, said in some states, President Jonathan’s “achievements are under sold while in some it is not sold at all.” The training programme, which was organised by the Directorate of Contact and Mobilisation, PDP Campaign Organisation, was targeting 600,000 people who will carry the Transformation Agenda of President Jonathan to the grassroots. Adeniran, who declared the programme open, noted that because PDP refused to propagate the achievements of President Jonathan in the last four years, the party was facing a major problem. “Jonathan and his

achievements are under sold. If we continue to hide this or pretend or shy away from it, others will seize it and even counter it,” he warned. He challenged the delegates to publicise the achievements of the president in their states and ensure that he is reelected on March 28. Director, Contact and Mobilisation, Prof. Jerry Gana said the final phase of the presidential campaign was designed to focus on grassroots mobilisation and voter education at ward and polling unit levels. Gana disclosed that the train-the-trainers programme had an average of three delegates selected from each states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who will in turn hold training ses-

sion in their states on March 16 for ward-level mobilisers. “This intensive beehive campaign strategy is designed to saturate each ward and polling unit with positive messages about Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the PDP, and his running mate, Arc. Namadi Sambo. “In addition to this door-to-door and personto-person strategy, Operation Deliver Your Ward will be fully supported by several social media platforms designed to interact directly with every registered voter,” Gana stated. He added that the Operation Deliver Your Ward will focus on voter mobilisation, voter education, voter motivation and voter monitoring on election day.

Politics

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan woos Ijebus with state creation, confab report lDon't canvass votes for politicians, Awujale cautions monarchs This was shortly after the Awujale cautioned traditional rulers in Yorubaland against canvassing votes for political office seekers in the rescheduled general elections. The traditional ruler, who received Jonathan into his palace about 11:20a.m., said it was better for monarchs to create platform for candidates to interact with the electorate and present their programmes. "It is not possible for any Oba, not even in Ijebu but also in Yorubaland, to go out and say vote for this, vote for that; that person is looking for trouble. But give them the oppor-

PDP had been frantically courting some opposiAbeokuta tion parties, including the SDP which recently adopted Jonathan as its he plot by the presidential candidate. Peoples DemoBefore Jonathan's secratic Party cret meeting with Adese(PDP) to capture gun and the Awujale, the Ogun State in the generpresident had told the al elections crystallised eminent personalities yesterday as President that gathered for a meetGoodluck Jonathan ing that lasted over one promised to ensure crehour at the palace that he ation of Ijebu State and had come to formally inimplement the report of form Oba Adetona about the National Conference. his re-election bid. President Jonathan He said his adminisheld a private meeting tration had transformed with the state Deputy Nigeria positively, addGovernor, Prince Seing that he required a gun Adesegun, and the second term to consoliAwujale and Paramount date on the gains already Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba recorded. Sikiru Kayode Adetona. "Within the past four years, we have tried as a government; you know government cannot complete all projects within four years period. The education sector, we have tried across the country. The problem of Federal Government is that Nigeria is a very vast country and you may do much and some parts of the country may not even notice what you're doing. But we've done quite well," he added. Jonathan restated his commitment towards the creation of more states, saying the National Conference had already worked out the modalities for such. He also vowed to implement the recommendations of the confab to the letter, urging all Ijebu sons and daughters to support his re-election bid. The president, however, said he prayed the ruling PDP should have L-R: Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Ogene and Chairman, Ad hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Hon. Ishaka Bawa, addressing journalists on PIB in Abuja…yesterday. the control of both the Senate and House of PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI Representatives after the next elections in order to successfully implement the confab report. His words: "It is a responsibility between the C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3 her teeming supporters not to allow as they would not carry their ticket Executive and National the party denied it, in the last few the voices of division to overwhelm to the APC. Assembly. That is one of weeks, Oyedepo had been reported them. the reasons we are prayDefection, a rumour? to claim that GRS had snubbed inviing that at the end of tations to her from his office while a The dilemma: Labour Party or APC? But during a brief chat with the elections, the PDP team of elders set up to appease the From the look of things, GRS newsmen at the Ilorin International should have the control former senator was also not allowed is now in a dilemma over where Airport two weeks ago, Gbemisola of the two arms of the to meet her. He reportedly asked her to pitch her political tent. Sources described speculations about her National Assembly so to leave, if she so wished. close to her insist that her most political future as mere rumours. that we will be able to And apparently in response likely destination is the APC al“The problem with this elec- implement the report to to the damages and the apparent though some of her followers are tion is that it has been filled with the letter and we will not schism between her and the party’s said to be pushing for the Labour rumours and counter rumour and have issues in terms of leadership, the state secretary of Party due to fears over their future stories. We should make the elec- implementation. For us, the party, Alhaji Hassan Razaq is- in the APC which has already allo- tion issue-based and not rumours,” we are ready to implesued a statement asking Gbemisola cated all political spaces. A member she said when asked for comment ment that report." The president disnot to defect. of her caucus told New Telegraph on the alleged planned defection. It reads in part: “The Kwara that they are merely waiting for Asked what instruction has closed that the developState chapter of the PDP wishes to an assurance of ‘accommodation’ been passed to her followers many ment of four deep sea appeal to a former senator, Gbemi- from the APC before making the of whom came to welcome her at ports across the country sola Saraki, to shelve her rumoured move as they have been primed for the airport, she said: “My followers would dominate the fobid to dump the PDP for another it. However, it appears her major are seasoned politicians; we are sea- cus of his administraparty. Although we are relieved by constraint is the fact that some soned politicians. We understand tion in second term. Jonathan sought the the assurance that the rumour of of her key followers, such as Lola the system and we know what is imblessing of the royal fathe possible defection of Senator Ashiru and Yinusa Yahaya, have portant. I don’t need to advise them ther after which he was Saraki is false and unsubstantiated, already secured tickets in the PDP on what to do because they know decorated with a white nevertheless, we consider it expedi- and as such leaving the party will what to do and they shall do it when traditional attire and ent to implore Senator Saraki and leave them in the centre of nowhere the time comes.”

Kunle Olayeni

tunity to present their programme so that people can make up their minds on what to do. I think this is a very sound democratic principle and that is what I have decided to do, to give you the opportunity of meeting with the people," he told the president. The president's parley with the duo of Adesegun and Oba Adetona which held inside one of the monarch's chambers in the palace, also had the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, in attendance. The meeting lasted about 20 minutes. Though details of the secret talks were not made public, dependable

sources said it was to further promote Jonathan's re-election bid and harness various interests in the state towards its actualisation in the March 28 presidential election. The state deputy governor had fallen out with his principal, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, following his (Adesegun) defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Adesegun is hoping to retain his position having been picked as the running mate of SDP governorship candidate, Senator Akin Odunsi. New Telegraph gathered that ahead of the general elections, the

Things fall apart in Kwara PDP

presented with a calabash of kolanuts. The Olori Omoba of Ijebuland, Otunba Subomi Balogun, honoured the president with the symbolic presentation on behalf of the Awujale. In his remarks, Oba Adetona said he invited people from different social standing and political affiliations to come and listen to the president. The Awujale observed that it was inappropriate for traditional rulers to be canvassing votes for politicians. He said: "Everybody congregating here, they belong to different groups, they are PDP member, APC member, APGA, they belong to various interests, and when they come, they get to the gate, they shed their togas; they are going to the palace to meet their paramount ruler. "In all our churches, after prayer, they will pray for you, pray for the governor, pray for me and all their leaders both in the mosques and churches as it is so required both in the Bible and also in the Qur'an. Therefore, I thank you Your Excellency for having this opportunity to address our people to listen to you, to hear your programme, what you have in stock for them and we shall all pray to God for guidance. "I am sure over the years, there has been improvement but this election is full of tension. I don't know how it is so. Why has election never been like this? About 55 years, I have never seen any election that is full of tension and the one we are having now, my prayer is God should guide us and make sure that there's peace, harmony and tranquillity in the country." In attendance were Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson; former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Anambra State governor, Dr. Peter Obi; Director-General of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali; minister-designate, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and the senator representing Ogun East, Adegbenga Kaka. Also present were the immediate past deputy governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Salmot Badru, Senator Lekan Mustapha, Prince Buruji Kashamu, Hon. Dave Salako, and the Ogun PDP governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Isiaka.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

How prepared is Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for forthcoming elections in Ogun State? I am very confident given the rigorous campaign we have embarked on so far. We have visited 20 local governments and 236 wards across the length and breadth of Ogun State and the reception was great. The enthusiasm was infectious; change is in the air and I am absolutely confident that based on Governor Amosun’s performance in office, our people will reward him of a second term because their expectations have been largely met. We may not have done everything, touched all lives or covered all the areas but we have demonstrated our commitment to the welfare of the people of Ogun State and they have bought into our advocacy and hope for a better tomorrow. Therefore, if election were to be conducted today, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be visited by a shellacking; they would be massively defeated because people have seen the difference between the clueless government before us, the inept government at the centre and they are clamouring and yearning for a change. Among the three leading governorship candidates in Ogun, Prince Gboyega Isiaka of the PDP and Senator Akin Odunsi of Social Democratic Party (SDP) are from Ogun West Senatorial District, Amosun is from Ogun Central. Don’t’ you think the clamour for power shift to Yewa in Ogun West will affect the chances of the governor? It is not going to affect Governor Amosun. There is no doubt that ethnic, primordial and tribal consideration will come into play but people are beginning to see the bigger picture. A particular road called Ilara road, running across four local governments has been built for the people in Ogun West. Governor Amosun built it, not anybody from Yewa. Will people discountenance that and vote for somebody who has not been tested? That is not going to happen because our people are reasonable. If one of their own can do it for them, they would be happy. But somebody is in the saddle, he is occupying the Office of the Governor and he is delivering the dividends of democracy for them. So, they will not vote against him simply because one of their sons is contesting against him. What our people want is good governance regardless of who is going to provide it. So, zoning may have effect but it will not fundamentally alter the voting pattern of our people and where the victory will ultimately reside. I am confident of Amosun’s victory in the election base on what I have seen; people, not rented crowd, openly showing

Adegbuyi

Afenifere’s endorsement won’t count for Jonathan – Adegbuyi Bisi Adegbuyi is the Deputy Director-General of Governor Ibikunle Amosun Campaign Organisation in Ogun State. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by Afenifere leaders; Ogun politics, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the general elections. Excerpts: solidarity and love to the governor in all the nooks and crannies of the 236 wards in Ogun State. It is a massive effort and I am happy that I have been part of it. My view of governance has been enhanced and it has further thought me that, yes, we are doing very well but we still have a lot of work to do. What are APC’s chances in the presidential election since all major parties in South-West, apart from APC is working for President Goodluck Jonathan re-election? The battleground for this election is the South-West; Yoruba land where I come from. The mood of the people is for them to have a change. It is an unstoppable momentum and everywhere you go it is ‘Sai Buhari! Sai Baba!!’ This is the change we need. People want security and they believe Buhari is capable to give them security. People want the endemic corruption that has brought Nigeria to its kneel to be vigorously pursued and an effective war against corruption. And they believe given the antecedent and record of General Buhari, as somebody who has clearly demonstrated that he has zero tolerance for corruption, people want him as their next president. Don’t forget, we are going to have the presidential election first. Once we have the presidential election first and people vote overwhelmingly for Buhari as I believe they will, then the election for Governor Amosun that will come two weeks later, would be a walkover because the dominion effect of the victory of General Buhari would be unassailable. Our people w a n t

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

I respect our leaders, but we know who and who can win elections in their different constituencies

to be part of victory and when they know where the pendulum is swinging and the party that would clearly emerge victorious, they would vote for our party, and on that basis, Governor Amosun and all other APC governors and candidates would be major beneficiaries of the momentum of the dominion effect. Don’t you think the endorsement of President Jonathan by Afenifere leaders is a plus for the president? Mention the names of the Afenifere leaders who have endorsed Jonathan and tell me their political value. I respect our leaders but we know who and who can win elections in their different constituencies. Go and find out if our leaders who have endorsed Jonathan have capacity to influence voters within their communities. If the answer is no, then their endorsement would count for nothing because our people are beginning to see through them. Our people are beginning to see that new set of leaders should emerge. A Rauf Aregbesola in Osun, Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti, Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun and Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos State. These are emerging leaders in Yoruba land and wherever they ask Yoruba people to go, is where they would go. I agree that our leaders used to enjoy some popularity but time has changed and the earlier they accept the fact that they must handover to some of their political children, who have come of age and who are now leaders in their rights, the better for them. Are you saying Afenifere’s endorsement will not count in South-West during the elections? I believe if it is going to have any effect, it would be so minimal. Don’t forget that just as we have the old Afenifere that has endorsed Jonathan, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has endorsed General Buhari because he represent the change that we need now. Therefore, let us see how the circumstances will play out and how event will unfold. We don’t have to be in a hurry. I am absolutely confident that General Buhari would triumph in South-West and North-West. Politically and historically, no president of Nigeria has ever emerged without either the vote of the North-West or the South-West. Alhaji Shehu Shagari did not win the votes of the South-West; he won the North-West and emerged as president. President Obasanjo did not win the vote of SouthWest in 1999 but he won the vote of North-West and emerged as president. If you can’t win the votes of the South-West and you lose in the North-West, you are arithmetically out of the Nigerian presidency and that is the challenge

for President Jonathan. He knows that the electoral map is unfavourable and that is why they keep deploying every trick from their bags, ranging from certificate issues to passing a vote of no confidence on INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to precipitating or contriving the postponement of elections. But the time has come for a change and people are poised and ready to effect that change and nobody can stop it. Two options are open to President Jonathan. The first option is to tow the path of honour and hand over to the eventual winner of the election. The alternative option is to go the way of former Ivorian leader, Laurent Gbagbo, who as an incumbent President of Cote D’voire conducted election at a time he thought he could win, and eventually lost the contest and refused to hand over to the person who won, Alassane Ouattara. Gbagbo is presently in jail as we speak. You cannot stop the will of the people; if you do that, the consequences would be unpalatable. Therefore, one can only encourage President Jonathan to handover to the opposition if it wins. History will be very kind to him. Nigerians would also be very grateful to him and the international community would celebrate him, and he would be remembered for sustaining and deepening democracy in Nigeria. Do you think that the choice of a Yoruba man, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate will boast APC chances in the March 28 presidential election? I give kudos to our leaders for that political master stroke. Prof. Osinbajo is a profound knowledge of Law, federalism, integrity, and accountability. We are clamouring for our judiciary to be reformed and Osinbajo has successfully done that in Lagos when he was Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General. This means that if APC win elections, you can go to bed and sleep and believe that the success he recorded in Lagos would be replicated at the federal level. This is somebody who has always fought for the interest of the downtrodden in his personal capacity. So, you can imagine what he will do for the masses. Therefore, the Buhari-Osinbajo joint ticket is a win-win situation for Nigerian people. You have somebody who will protect the lives and properties of Nigerians. Somebody that will wage vigorous war against corruption; so that money that are supposed to be deployed for infrastructure, education, health and what have you today but are being diverted are spent for what they are meant for. The generality of our people will benefit from it. All these factors will weigh heavily in the minds of Nigerians and they will vote for our presidential candidate.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Nothing normal in northern nostalgia

Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

e need to tell ourselves the truth now more than ever before. Nobody should be afraid of death, it only comes once. For so long, we allowed a few individuals to dictate the tune, that is why we are where we are. I have said it severally, that the North should wait for 2019 to rule Nigeria again, that is , if they really want this country to remain as one united entity. Afterall, they were the ones who drummed one Nigeria into my infant eyes at the end of the Civil War. General Muhammadu Buhari is determined to rule Nigeria again. He is constitutionally entitled to his ambitions. He first came as a soldier, the Daura man wants to also do it the Obasanjo way. Honestly, I would very much like us to have Buhari as President in 2019. Like I keep telling some of my colleagues, the sins of Buhari will be forgiven because he has passed through the eye of a needle. My people say , it is not easy to change old habits, yes, they die hard. I declare today that GMB, after going through the Bola Tinubu transformation, after uniting with the Chief Obafemi Awolowo clan through Dolapo and Yemi Osinbajo, having worshipped with Pastor Enoch Adeboye in Alausa Lagos,and picking the Igbo name Okechukwu from Rochas Okorocha who also showed us he was a DNA expert when he discovered Buhari’s Igbo maternal links, this retired general from Daura has learnt enough to change his old habits. Those who want to crucify Ekiti governor Peter Ayodele Fayose will not get my backing. It is God that takes life, I quite agree. I do not see Buhari leaving us in the next twelve years. He is not as sickly as some stories paint him. I liken him to Prof. Umaru

Shehu,one time Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka. But we should all take Fayose’s message. The North should not allow individual ambitions to set this country ablaze. The year 2019, is not too far away, and I swear, Buhari will be there, still moving strong, like a mighty soldier. After President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerians will allow the North to take their full eight years. Some politicians are in a hurry to push Buhari forward. They think the man will be tired after four years. They forget he has Fulani genes. They are energetic, even if you think they look frail. Was Buhari healthier than now when he chased Chadian intruders almost to their bedroom in Ndjamena during the Shehu Shagari Presidency? I will say it , I do not bloody care. We should stop deceiving ourselves. Let us play politics like football. We must unite in truth and the truth shall set this nation free. Those who go about criticizing Dr. Jonathan today, are those that should be apologising to all of us for visiting mayhem on this beautiful country. There are great mathematicians from the North. Prof. Iya Abubakar is one of them. You see how Northerners handle calculations when they are converting Dollar to Naira. They are very smart. Maybe, that was why Prof. Chike Obi, the non pareil mathematician, named his son Mustapha , apparently ,to add the Hausa brain to his own blood. You can see the result today in AMCON, where the young man is sitting atop trillions and handling everything well. Northern Nigerians ruled this country for 20 consecutive years. Please I do not want to mention Chief Ernest Shonekan. From 1979 to 1999, the North ruled Nigeria.And on their own ,they remembered that the South had to taste the pie. They brought Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo survived intrigues and pulled through eight years. The right thing was for another person from the South- South or the South-East to do another eight years. So the South would have ruled from 1999 to 2015, to at least, balance the equation.

Next year, we would have been talking of the North ruling for another eight years.However, Obasanjo and his Northern friends took us for a ride. I do not know if Dr. Peter Odili is reading me. He made Port-Harcourt Chief Obasanjo’s adopted home. Only God knows if he still has OBJ’s photograph in his family album. After Papa deceived Peter, we saw a gentleman, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yaradua, who wanted to retire to his farm but was used to retire Odili. That was how we got a Northerner back to the podium. Those who brought him, knew what we did not know. Dr. Jonathan was not dreaming of Aso Villa, Obasanjo dragged him to Abuja. We did not beg him. We all know how this arrangement has affected the polity. And that is what we must fight now. The North must wait for Jonathan to go in 2019. Like Fayose said, “they will now have an Expressway to 2027.” We do not have to repeat our mistakes. We must not allow politicians to fool us. Buhari is not old. He is getting more wisdom from heaven and that is what we need from him as from 2019. Should he gate-crash to power in 2015 and the unthinkable happens, we would have our lawyer pastor stepping up. And you think Osinbajo will leave the Villa for the pulpit after seeing the Promised Land? I am sure Buhari will be with us for eight years, if we give him the opportunity in 2019. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was almost 80 when he contested Presidential Election in 1983. Baba Awo was four years younger. Yet their supporters were hopeful. GMB, in my view, has come to understand Nigeria more than he did as a soldier. He wept in 2011. His tears will turn to joy in 2019.God will use him to change Nigeria. He has seen it all, and we have seen him better than before. And I have to tell this former Head-of-State, that because he is ready to change old habits, this nation forgives. I saw him visit Shagari in Sokoto. Buhari was in Minna to see Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. He visited Obasanjo in Abeokuta. I expect him to go say hello to Dr. Alex Ekwueme in Enugu. His sins will definitely be forgiven, if he drops this 2015 ambition.

Araraume as the issue in Imo politics Bruno Chijioke

or close to 16 years, he has bestridden the Imo political arena like the colossus that he is. Even his enemies and political opponents agree that he could only be ignored to their peril. In spite of series of betrayals he had suffered in the hands of friends, brothers and even beneficiaries of his large heart, Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume has remained as constant as the Northern star. He has refused to be wished away. Like Abraham Lincoln, he has refused to give in, believing rightly that the society would be better off with his services which he has offered at no cost to the people of Imo State. As his numerous supporters demand the restoration of his mandate as the authentic governorship candidate of PDP in Imo, Araraume’s belief in God as the ultimate giver of power remains as strong as ever. When the three dominant political parties of PDP, APP and AD emerged in 1998, Chief Araraume dramatically emerged the Imo State Chairman of APP. All the top political heavy weights in Imo State, namely Chief Sam Mbakwe, Chief Arthur Nzeribe, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and others were in APP. In fact with this array of timber and caliber, PDP was set for the thrashing of its life. And just when it

looked like help was deserting the new breed who formed the nucleus of PDP, redemption came from an unlikely quarter: Araraume. The story has not been fully told of how PDP people knew that Araraume was going to be an invaluable asset to the party. But what is known is that Araraume changed and turned the fortunes of the party for the better. In fact, in the local government elections, PDP made an impressive showing to the chagrin of APP. But the real shock came in the governorship and National Assembly elections. Araraume who won the Senatorial ticket of PDP for Imo North (Okigwe zone) cruised to victory, ditto for Chief Evan Enwerem who similarly crossed over from APP to PDP. APP managed to win only the Orlu Senate seat which Nzeribe grabbed. The governorship was a different ball game. When results from 26 of the 27 local government areas of Imo State had been collated, APP’s governorship candidate, Engr Ezekiel Izuogu was on the lead. In fact the APP people had started celebrating. Then the result from Isiala Mbano, homestead of Araraume came and shattered the illusion. PDP won the governorship courtesy of Araraume. As the Senator representing Okigwe zone in the National Assembly, Araraume was not the noisy type. He was accused of being a semi-illiterate man who could not express himself in the hallowed red chamber. Not many knew

that he had a Masters degree. Leveraging on his national contacts, Araraume set to redress the criminal infrastructural neglect of Okigwe zone. Before then, the Umauhia-Umuduru-Orlu-Ihiala road which connected the people to the rest of the South East was impassable. It is to the credit of Araraume that that road and many others were fixed. Today, that road is the artery through which all vehicles moving to Lagos from the South East ply. Of course there were other projects Araraume caused to be executed not only in Okigwe zone but the larger Imo State such that when 2003 election came, it was a walk over for him. Another drama happened again. A certain young man named Emeka Nwajiuba became a real threat to PDP retaining the Imo governorship. Nwajiuba hailed from Okigwe zone same as Araraume and he was very popular. Again, PDP turned to Araraume to salvage the situation. Again through his persuasive skills and huge goodwill, Araraume rallied Okigwe people behind PDP and Governor Udenwa. He was able to convince them that it would be Okigwe’s turn in 2007 and therefore they should support Orlu zone again in 2003. The argument worked. Okigwe massively voted PDP in reverence to Araraume. By the time Araraume returned to the Senate in 2003, it was obvious to majority of Imo people that he had chalked up a lot of good will to propel him to Government House in 2007.

Unfortunately, that was when his enemies and political adversaries set to work. That was when the campaign of calumny set in. That was when beneficiaries of his political master stroke in 1999 and 2003 turned the knife against him. Consumed by petty jealousy and intimidated by the burgeoning political profile of Araraume, the traitors set to degrade and destroy all that the Senator had worked for in the last eight years. Instead of supporting Araraume for the 2007 governorship, they turned their backs on him. They set the state on fire with rumours that Araraume was a killer and would therefore harm the children of Imo. Yet, the man at the centre of the storm was unfazed, undeterred. He refused to lose focus. A devout Catholic with unshakeable faith in the power of God to vindicate the just, Araraume faced his campaign for the governorship in 2007. After all, his campaign organization known as DESTINY, gave him confidence that no human being will deny him his political destiny in the state. It was therefore not surprising that he won the PDP governorship primaries over and above the man supported by the then government in power. Party people preferred him because they knew he would retain the state for PDP. • Chijioke wrote in from Orlu, Imo State.

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Dangerous passengers on moving trains

he first railroad in Nigeria was constructed by the British colonial government in 1898. However, on October 3, 1912, the Lagos Government Railway and the Baro-Kano Railway were amalgamated, thus giving birth to a nationwide rail service under the name Government Department of Railways. These early attempts climaxed with the passing of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Act of 1955. Since then, people have used trains as alternative means of transport especially in densely populated cities like Lagos. But as the population increased, little or no attention was given to expansion and modernisation of this means of transport by subsequent governments until recently. This inattentiveness coupled with corruption and other government bureaucratic bottlenecks killed the NRC. As the harsh economic situation bites harder, more people now use trains as viable means of transport as they are not only safer but cheaper than road transport. This is evident by the number of people that use trains on a daily basis especially during the rush hours. While train ride is normally expected to be fun, it is hellish in Lagos. People are usually jam-packed in mov-

The incessant violation of the said NRC Act has assumed a worrisome dimension as these passengers now attack passers-by ing trains and commuters can be seen hanging dangerously on the doors while others perch precariously on top. Those who hang on the doors and perch on top of the trains are usually illegal passengers as findings by the NRC have shown that they do not buy tickets that ought to qualify them to enjoy the train ride. Whereas the NRC Act, Part 3, which regulates the conduct of persons in or upon a railway vehicle or railway premises, trains in motion etc. states that “a person shall not without reasonable excuse; (a) join or attempt to join or leave or attempt to leave’ a train at any place other than a railway station; or (b) join or attempt to join or leave or attempt to leave a railway vehicle while it is in motion; or (c) enter or attempt to enter or leave or attempt to leave a vehicle of a train other-

wise than through a doorway which adjoins a platform; or (d) open on any railway vehicle a door which is locked; or (e) lock on any railway vehicle a door which is unlocked; or (f) mount or attempt to mount or travel or attempt to travel on a locomotive or on the roof, step, foot-board or guard’s van on or in any part of a train other than a part appointed for the conveyance of passengers.” This disdainful behaviour has resulted in quite a number of deaths and injuries among recalcitrant commuters who shun all entreaties to discourage them from this dangerous and senseless act. The incessant violation of the said NRC Act has assumed a worrisome dimension as these passengers now attack passers-by, pelting them with stones, sticks and other dangerous weapons under the pretext that passers-by use the videos on their phones to record them while perching on moving trains. Last week at the Agege area of Lagos many passers-by were injured by these callous passengers who hurled stones at them. It was learnt that some of the hoodlums were eventually arrested and they are being prosecuted in court at the moment. This is a step in the right direction. It will be recalled that these illegal passengers on September

23, 2014, attacked two journalists causing the death of one of them. These hoodlums had jumped off the train around the Ikeja area, pounced on the journalists after accusing them of filming them while on top of a moving train. One of the journalists reportedly ran onto the path of a commercial vehicle and was hit by it. The unlucky journalist died on his way to a hospital in the area. Before then, these miscreants had attacked a photojournalist in a similar manner after accusing him of taking their pictures while on top of a train. The photojournalist was severely injured and his camera smashed. Although we acknowledge the fact that the NRC is creating awareness on radio on the need for people to stop this dangerous suicidal ride, the corporation should sustain this campaign and extend the same to other media platforms including the social media. As part of the measures to check this menace, it will not be a bad idea if the NRC erects some overhead barriers along the rail tracks as this will discourage those who sit on top of trains. Besides, the NRC Police Command should be well equipped to combat riotous passengers while those arrested should be diligently prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

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Politics

Demian Igbokwe

am not surprised at the booing and pelting of Governor TA Orji and Okezie campaign train in Aba and it’s environ. Aba did the first women riot recorded in the history of Africa and are known for standing up against oppression, even before Rosa Park. If it were before now, Ochendo would have been lynched by the public for negligence, impunity and abuse of public trust. But, Abians are also peace loving people and are just letting things go cause in less than two months, Governor Orji

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Otti on a rescue mission will be history and will only be remembered as the worst governor in the history of Eastern Nigeria. I have stated this earlier that I don’t have anything against Okezie Ikpeazu. He was in Aba ASEPA and did nothing. I am not expecting any manifesto from him and that is why in each of the place he has been given opportunity to sell himself, he fall short of words because he has no record to talk about. I mean what would one expect from him as a

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Otti

manifesto? Is it that as an ASEPA man, that he performed glaringly well in Aba? A government with

Okezie Ikpeazu as the head will mean another hellfire for Abia people. Abians will do everything

to resist this plot of rape of justice and collapse of our civilisation! Every time I read about Alex Otti’s thesis and campaign promises I smile...when I hear people sing “think Abia, think Otti,” it leads to one answer, “that Abians, forget so soon”. In as much as TA Orji lacks the moral justifications to bring a successor, Alex Otti lacks the moral capacity to ask Abians for their votes. For a man that has openly denied his origin and each time the ques-

tion comes up, he shoves it away, just because he want us to vote him, Abians should watch it! This is exactly what Michael Jackson called “DANGEROUS” in his Thriller album. Alex Otti is not the man! My definition for such a character is simple...”DESPERADO”. Alex Otti is a desperate man, I know why and I will tell you... Alex Otti is on a rescue mission to recover N76 billion Diamond Bank loaned to Abia State government while he was in charge of the affairs of Diamond Bank. Alex Otti and Gov. TA Orji were very good friends. Alex Otti was promised by TA Orji that he will be his successor as at the time of the loan. Alex Otti was aware that Governor TA Orji diverted 75 per cent of the loan in buying properties in Dubai, Seychelles Island and Abuja. Alex Otti is deeply instrumental in plunging Abia into our present day situation, and this I call the collapse of our civilisation! Alex Otti is not the messiah Abians are praying for, he is just using propaganda and deceit measures on Abians, knowing that Abia will go worse than he is meeting it. Workers salaries may not be paid for one year and he will milk Abia dry. Abia people should disregard all the “think Abia” slogan, it’s not real and can never happen under Alex Otti. He is unnecessarily proud and looks down on people. The humility he is portraying at the moment is because he needs our vote, once that is achieved, it will be a case of where a tiger needed something from a lesser animal, thereby pretending to be a pussy cat just to get his wants. Abia indeed is at a crossroads. Most of those we have running for the gubernatorial election in Abia State are known to have questionable characters. Abia people have suffered for the past eight years and it’s no more funny with us here. We must shine our eyes to select the right candidate to govern our dear state. We are just working towards making sure that come March 28th, we deliver President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election, then we turn to decide who will become our governor. Our energy is focused on GEJ for now. •Igbokwe is a public affairs analyst

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Culture

Arts

Tourism

Udodang, Ikyobo emerge winners in Back to the Root TV show

Ondo Tourism re-enacts Idanre Ana

CULTURE

Cartoonists in a world of their own

Ebere Ameh

o most Nigerians, cartoon is nothing more than the animated film that children watch, especially in Cartoon Network. To some literate ones, who see it in Newspapers, it is a funny drawing that elicits faint smiles and nothing more. Elsewhere, especially in developed countries, it is much more than that. It is an effective means of communication, a million dollar business, which is so reckoned with that it could bring a whole continent to a standstill. That was the case in France when a controversial cartoon by Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine led to the death of 12 people, including the cartoonists and the 3.7 million man march that attracted an array of world leaders. It all started with a cartoon. Sure, cartoons are movies made using animation instead of actors, especially those humorous films intended primarily for children. It is also a sequence of drawings in newspapers or magazines that tell a short story and always accompanied by a caption. But more than that, it is always satirically commenting on topical events or theme. It entertains and records social history. “Most Nigerians see cartoon as the caricature they see in newspapers. I’m sorry to say this but most editors and publishers, who are supposed to know better, see cartoon as fillers - what they use to fill an empty space. Very few of them appreciate cartoon as a tool to pass information, even sensitive ones. The publisher of Thisday was once a cartoonist, but if you look at the paper, there is no serious appreciation of cartoon in it. Vanguard is still rated as number one in the country because its publisher gave free reign to cartoon development in his paper,” the president of Cartoon Association of Nigeria (CART AN) Chukwuemeka Emenike, said, adding that Nigerians see cartoon

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

NMMA 2014 award winning cartoon by Emenike

as something they see in papers and laugh at it and after that nothing more. But the Vice President of CART AN, Aliu Eroje, went religious when he explained that cartoon is a spiritual gift. “Cartoon as a profession is a talent; it’s a skill, which people are born with, just like art. I see cartoon as a spiritual gift because the way you do cartoon is different from normal artwork. It is difficult to create a drawing that will inform, educate and make people laugh at the same time. It is more advanced because you need to think very deeply to be able to meet the three characters of a good cartoon - entertainment, information and education,” Eroje said. Cartoon in Nigeria could be traced to 1944, when Akinola Lasekan, a painter and commercial artist also known as ‘LASH,’ drew editorial cartoons for Nnamdi Azikiwe’s West African Pilot. He used his cartoons to attack the colonial government. He was Nigeria’s first cartoonist and set the tone of zeal and vibrancy which those after him have maintained. But LASH was just a painter and commercial artist. 71 years later, there is no professional cartoonist yet in Nigeria. It has remained a profession left for painters and artists. While in developed economies, universities offer courses on cartoon and there are whole institutes dedicated for the study of cartoons, no Nigerian

university offers even an elective course on cartoon. “I have a friend, a professor of cartoon at the Daejeon International Cartoon Institute, Seoul, North Korea, who said they have over 200 cartoon schools in Korea. However, in Nigeria, there is no university offering it, neither is there an educational proposal on how to develop cartoon. It is only mentioned in the course of doing Graphic Art in school,” Emenike said. Describing Nigerian cartoonists as ‘accidental cartoonists’, he explained that majority of them found themselves in cartoon because they have an innate skill, not because they are professionally trained to answer cartoonists, adding that “if the present crop of cartoonists are no longer in the profession, the profession will be more or less, dead”. This is the opinion shared by most cartoonists but they don’t have the wherewithal to salvage the situation. “Because we don’t have institutions offering cartoon, the number of cartoonists in Nigeria declines every day. While other disciplines, including Art is graduating students every year, it is not the same in cartoon, hence the dearth of cartoonists. As we speak, we are

not even up to 20 in a country of over 160 million people. “Cartoon is really not growing in Nigeria as it is in other countries. There they have institutions where they do animation. But what we do in Nigeria is the print cartoon, the type you see in newspapers because we don’t have institutions.” Eroje said. But for the Cartoon Editor of the National Mirror, Mr Leke Moses, the current level of national development, rather than lack of understanding or political will, is the reason for cartoon’s poor appreciation and development. “It is not that it is impossible to have institutions offer cartoon studies or whole institutions dedicated to it in Nigeria, but our country has not advanced to that level where cartoon is taken that serious. But in foreign countries it is different because of their level of advancement,” Moses said. Nigerian cartoonists boast of CART AN, which is an umbrella organisation of cartoonists in the country. Unfortunately, with very few members and the inability of the members to convene and discuss issues affecting them, the association has not been able to do much to help its members. CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Arts

Stanley Ihedigbo

iss Happiness Udodang and Mr. Luther Emmanuel Ikyobo, have emerged winners of the Heroes; Back to the Root Television reality show. The television reality TV show which set culture-based tasks for housemates drawn from all the states of Nigeria, including Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with the sole aim of encouraging ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to better understand one another, in a keen contest for the star price of a car and N2 million. And the ultimate winner will feature in film that would be shot with the finalists of the show, while others get N 1.5 million and N1 million respectively alongside roles in the film. They would also undertake many projects in line with the preservation of Nigeria’s culture during their tenure. The programme which was produced by Ms. Chinyere Ogbukagu, with a professional and experienced touch from a renowned Nollywood director and film producer, Mr. Ifeanyi Onyeabor, who was the technical director of the show. The competition, which was held in Niger State started with a nationwide auditions in the six geo-political zones, where applicants were first screened for eligibility. According to the producer of the show, Mrs. Chinyere Ogbukagu, the heroes’ reality TV was a show for everybody, including the young and the old, as it created a platform where 37 contestants in the house were able to learn to have one voice despite the differences in tribes and religions. She added that the contestants were able to learn that Nigeria culture is unique and that the different tribes in the country have their own attires; and they were also able to identify the attires of their house-mates. She appealed to individuals, corporate organisation, governments to support the programme, as the content is so rich and very important to the development of Nigeria tourism and culture, also to use the show to preached love and unity among the youth in the country. Onyeabor said the show was designed to promote Nigeria culture and tourism, and also unite the country. “That is why we majored in unity in diversity. People with different culture and different believe, different understanding, coming together to under-

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Udodang, Ikyobo emerge winners in Back to the Root TV show

The ultimate winner, Akwa Ibom State, Miss Happiness Udodang, her car and the first runner Benue State’s , Mr. Luter Emmanuel Ikyobo, at official presentation of gifts to the Heroes’ winners, in Lagos.

stand each other as one country and one people,” he explained. He commended the host government, Niger State, for the support and encouragement given to them and the contestants which made the event more interesting and exciting. According to Onyeabor, they are executing the show not because they have money but because of the importance of the event to Nigeria youth in promoting the country’s culture and values. He added that the audition for the 2015 edition edition of the show will start, and the audition would last for three months to enable the contestants to harness the tourism opportunity in the country. “Also to promote the country local languages, because this is a very important identity for any

youth in Nigeria. And somebody has to made the move to prevent Nigeria youth from losing their identity and local languages. He added that all the contestants that participated in the reality show benefited from each other , as they are able to speak two to three Nigeria languages . “It is Nigeria youth that would sell their traditions and culture to the world through wonderful programme like these. Our culture is our strength, and a man without a culture is like a tree without a root. We should understand that no matter how beautiful we are and how handsome we are , we should remembered where we are coming from”, he said. He added that other countries where people travelled to , the first

thing , they do is to learn their language which would able the person to relates to the people in that environment and even able the individual to gain employment opportunity in the country . He lamented that these days schools are not more taken local Nigerian languages seriously, which is not a good development looking at the important of those identity to the future of tomorrow who are youth of today. He further lamented that influential Nigerians are even taken their children marriage ceremonies to foreign land like Dubai, South Africa and other please to celebrate, adding that if such trend continued , it would do a lot of harm to the development of Nigeria values and culture.

Emeka Smith, Yaw, Seyi Law, Buzopat others for Comedy Infusion Ebere Ameh

omedy Infusion brings lovers of rib-cracking jokes in one roof to celebrate children with down syndrome. This years editions the fourth in the series will hold on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at RockView Hotel Banquet Hall, 23 Road, Festac Town Lagos by 3pm. The show which many have embraced is to create awareness about the fight for children with down syndrome and it will parade notable names in the Nigerian comedy industry, comprising Emeka Smith, a partner in the project, others are Yaw, Elenu, Seyi Law, Gandoki, Senator, Akpororo, Shakara, Acapella among many others. Amb. Chibuzo Patrick (aka Buzopat), the Public Relation Consultant to the Foundation, said the project was founded in 2011 as part of entertainment “and also to create avenue for Nigerians to be knowledgeable about down syndrome and to also stop the discrimination against children. The

foundation decided to create an unusual avenue with Emeka Smith where good spirited Nigerians can come together to put smiles on the faces of the children while at the same time un wind and laugh in a relaxed atmosphere.” Apart from comedy guests will have opportunity of knowing more about down syndrome children, “they will know why it is a chromosome problem, and how to tackle it, the parent and the care givers will learn the level of passion and humility needed,”she said, adding “It is a different way of using ticket to raise fund to help children with multiple holes in heart billed for correction heart surgery. It is an advocacy event because for just a ticket, you will touch life and still go a long way to help them,” she said. She continued, “Comedy Infusion title came from a well thought out search that will be suitable to create maximum awareness for the children with down syndrome - bridging the gap between celebrities and the children,

this innovation makes the kids tremendously happy,” she said. Buzopat is excited that what started like a joke at Incubator, Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria lsland, Lagos where the first edition was held is waxing stronger. “We give glory to God for what it has become,” she observed. “We always have comedians of the Federal Republic who come to show solidarity, because if it is for money we cannot pay them, but because they saw our passion and efforts to help tell the world that these children are teachable, lovable and correctable, that all they needed is early intervention on the part of parents, caregivers and to know the Foundation in 43 Adegoke Street Surulere, Lagos where their ward can be and grow well.” Buzopat reveals that the children will also perform during the show. “Some of them are gifted in one way or the other. Guests will also see that from the children and realize that they are endowed divinely, they are trainable and bendable children, unlike some no-

tion people have about them.” She commended Emeka Smith for being a partner of the show, noting that every show is always better than the last. “Emeka Smith is a very passionate man, I remember when I was still with Julius Berger as their PRO, helping down syndrome foundation in my little way, anytime Yaw who is always available to this foundation is going to be delayed in coming over to help out, he will send Emeka Smith who patiently does all that is required. His heart bleeds for the children same as mine. We could sit and talk endlessly about them and what we can do to let the world know that such children needs care and love, to avoid them being locked up in the room, store, family backyard, or even killed by those who think and feel that they have brought them shame and disgrace that is why we came up with this noble course and since 2011 till date, its forward ever backward never for us on this platform of touching lives and giving back to society.”

Arts 23

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Sunday Ojeme

he recent addiction to the internet coupled with the influx and craze for smartphones have done the African continent a lot of good especially as regards information dissemination and real-time capture. Beyond the mainstream news on politics and business, information on entertainment also has an overbearing influence on African youths and to some extent adults. While the youths are grappling for information that borders on their orientation, the adults too are also looking forward to hear from political leaders and successful business icons on how they are building the future of their countries for the upcoming leaders. In this regard, more channels of information have become very vital, and to be abreast with time, creative minds are shrinking the sphere and actually making the world a global village. The need to complement the momentum and get top personalities across to interested listeners with ease and at no cost has given birth to a weekly internet radio show, My Africa, a brand new radio show with new episode released every Sunday and exclusively available as a podcast where you can download and listen to any time. Founded by Babo Investments – a Nigerian based investment company, the project, which has been on for sometime, is a brainchild of Hanna Einarsson, Steve Naude and Jonathan Strom – a team who are passionate about Africa and who want to give an outlet to some of the incredible stories from across the continent. Among other things, the team interviews leading Africans, giving listeners the opportunity to hear directly from politicians, artists, musicians, business leaders and many others. My Africa delivers exclusive and quality contents right to any of your devices, letting you hear the incredible stories behind these famous names. My Africa is hosted by Andre Blaze Henshaw – a Nigerian media entrepreneur with almost two decades of highvisibility experience spread out over print, radio, TV and online media. His greatest passion has remained; the human experience, especially the relationship between past action and experience, and the present/future. On the first ever interview on My Africa, Jude Abaga aka M.I, talked about his rise to fame, his career highlights, some music industry controversies and his previous jobs – and also rervealing what he did when he was studying to earn tuition fees. Another personality is a true Nollywood legend – Jeta Amata, who spoke about his incredible career, from some

My Africa radio show debuts as podcast with engaging episodes

The team, Steve Naude, Hanna Einarsson, and Jonathan Strom

of his earliest movies (and why they didn’t quite work!) to his recent projects. He also talks about his family life, including opening up publicly for the first time on his marriage with ex-wife Mbong.

Other top artists that have graced the podcast are female guitarist and Mr. Jailer songstress, Asa, who talked about her early musical memories, her first experiences of Nigeria and what she wants

to do after music, pop star and one of Nigerian’s top entertainer, Innocent Idibia aka 2face, and Audu Maikori – the founder of Chocolate City, one of the biggest entertainment companies in Africa.

De Beautiful Beginning School holds culture day Tony Okuyeme

he role of culture in socioeconomic development of a society, and indeed, a nation, cannot be over-emphasized. Exposing children to the appreciation of the beauty in the diversity of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage is no doubt imperative. It is against this background that De Beautiful Beginning School (DBBS), Magodo organizes cultural day in the school. This has been a commitment over the years by the School’s Director,

Mrs. OlubukolaOgunleye to ensure that DBB Spupils are also taught the values of caring, giving and appreciating all. According to her, the school will be celebrating diverse cultures as it holds her International day tomorrow Saturday, March 14th, 2015. “It is an event for the whole school with lots of exciting activities and performances showcasing the nation’s diverse cultures: clothing, dance, music, Language, cuisine and more. “At DBB, we will create a ‘Small World; each class representing a country. Parents and guests will vis-

it different countries of their choice with a visa. The event which also include music performances by the children, culture display, beauty queens, and special performance from Theatre Centrik. “The day will start off with a colourful parade, after which the programmeproper kicks off at the school premises; 11, OluwoleAkinosho Street, Magodo. The event is aimed at celebrating different countries, traditions and cultures across the world, this in turn will teach the children to respect and embrace diverse cultures. We look forward to a wonderful adventure.”

Cartoonists in a world of their own CO NTINUED FRO M PAG E 21

“The association has been in existence for over 15 years but before then, we had similar associations. The problem really is coming together to have a meeting. When we started CART AN, we were able to sustain the growth for over 18 – 20 years and I must tell you that we are still on ground. “We have made proposals to French embassy and some other organizations that could help to grow cartoon in Nigeria. We have held exhibitions, seminars and conferences on cartoon where foreign cartoonists from the UK, US and other countries come to educate us more on cartoon.

“Our major problem is fund. We have not been able to meet the government. We are hoping to see the government to see how cartoon can be incorporated into the curriculum of higher institutions,” Eroje explained. Due to the challenges faced by the profession leading to lack of prospect, many of the practitioners have left the profession to other more profitable endeavours. While the only two female cartoonists have long left, others have joined the movie industry, where they have become directors in Nollywood. “The economic problem of Nigeria is the main reason for the challenge we are facing. Everybody is struggling on his or her own, so it is not easy for us

to come together every time. The poor remuneration is also another issue. In order to ensure their own survival the attention of many is divided between cartooning and other forms of art expression. And because most of us are originally artists, some do art to survive. So we have the association but for the past years, we have not been together to discuss any issue affecting us. That is why I said our country has not advanced to that level where the government can even support us,” Moses explained. Talking on what can be done to salvage the situation and make the profession attractive to upcoming generations; Emenike reiterated that the

inclusion of cartoon in the curriculum of institutions of higher learning in Nigeria would go a long way. “The Federal Ministry of Education should do more to include cartooning in the academic curriculum of universities. We have people like professor Dele Jegede, who is in the US now. He can facilitate it. There are also a host of others, through whom the profession can be developed. “There was a step towards that, as far back as 1992, when we made attempt to see the government but the bureaucratic bottleneck of government, especially when the people in power are not interested in what you are talking about did not allow it.”

Tourism

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ondo Tourism re-enacts Idanre Ana Stories by Andrew Iro Okungbowa

s part of its total tourism experience bouquet, Ondo Tourism has added to its rich portfolio, a re-enactment of Idanre Ana (Idanre of yesterday), a play back of the 17th – 18th century way of life of the people of Idanre. It is a creative and artistic live presentation of the African way of life for the benefits of tourists visiting the old settlement of Idanre town located atop of the Idanre hills. This live and realistic presentation, which would be performed by trained and professional actors would among others present child naming ceremony, traditional festivals, initiations and age grade ceremonies, burial rites, wedding ceremonies, dispute resolutions, youth restiveness and oba – in – council sessions. With this, Ondo State government has scored another first in its tourism strides as there is no location or destination anywhere in Africa where people would be treated to such spectacular initiative, which goes beyond the total theatre for which Africa is famed as this is a true re-enactment of the way of life of the people before the advent of colonialism and enthronement of western culture, which has seen to the near extinct of Africans’ once cherished and time honoured culture and tradition. Beside attracting tourists to the community, one of its major aim, according to the Ondo State tourism authority, is to

expose the over 750 million people of African descent in the Diaspora to their root as none of them has ever in their life time seen an authentic African way of life. Also, researchers, sociologists, anthropologists, historians and educationists are to gain from this initiative thus making Ondo State and Idanre town the new home for Africa renaissance. The live presentation for now holds on weekends (Fridays – Sundays) but as its gains momentum it would be a daily affairs, holding between 9am and 6pm for everyone visiting to experience. According to the Ondo State tourism authority this new move will once again draw the world attention to the beauty of African culture, the need to preserve it and align it with modern civilisation. Speaking during one of the live presentations of this amazing and appealing dramatisation, which received wide acceptance and commendation from tourists in attendance, the Special Adviser on Tourism to Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, described the entire package as a huge leap in the preservation of African culture and enriching of tourists’ experience to the state. ‘‘Ondo State government feels that if we have preserved our culture over the years by now it will have been refined just in the same manner that China, Japan and South Korea have preserved their culture and have now metamorphosed into 21st century culture being promoted globally,’’ he says, adding that we are hoping to

Aerial view of Idanre old settlement

use Idanre Ana as a stepping stone to once again enthrone African culture.’’ According to him: ‘‘This re-enactment of Africa’s culture live will bespoke because the actors will be oblivious of the tourists as they go about their presentations. They are entirely in a different realm or world from the world represented by the tourists.’’ He adds that it is almost like one is inside a movie. What makes this live presentation real and authentic is the fact that it is taking place atop the hills where the traditional and ancient settlement L-R: Regional Manager, Africa, InterContinental Hotel, Karl Hala with the Provost of Wavecrest College of Hospitality, Rosana Forsuela during the signing ceremony

InterContinental Hotels Group partners Wavecrest College of Hospitality

nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced a partnership with Wavecrest College Hospitality, Lagos in pursuit of excellent training as it launches the first of IHG Academy programme in Nigeria, thereby making the list of the over 600 IHG Academy programmes in the world. The IHG Academy is a global network of educational and community organisations allied with local IHGbranded hotels or corporate offices to provide hospitality skills development and improved employment opportunities to the community and to drive economic growth. Through training and mentoring, the IHG Academy has assisted over 10,000 people globally in becoming skilled hospitality workers and achieving their professional goals. At the signing ceremony to cement the new partnership, the Regional

General Manager Africa, InterContinental Hotel, Karl Hala, said: “We’re delighted with our partnership with Wavecrest College of Hospitality and the opportunity to roll out this programme in Nigeria.” Hala further stated that, “our programmes gives participants the invaluable experience of working in a hotel and allows them learn first-hand what lies at the center of great hotels guests love and the skills that are needed to deliver the high levels of service we provide for all of our guests.” While on her part, the Provost of Wavecrest College of Hospitality, Rosana Forsuelo, said, “this is the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between Intercontinental Hotel and Wavecrest College to enhance the training and development needs of both students and faculty at Wavecrest.”

has been preserved ranging from the buildings, the king’s palace, court, market square, school and other material elements, which not only enhance the presentations but add colour and flavours to the live theatrics. And for the people of the community who have fully embraced the new initiative, it is another way of exposing their community to the world and to boost their economy with nearly all of the artistes, ranging from the baby actor to the aged residents of the community. The creative industry

is also benefiting with all the costumes, make ups and stage props and all other materials created by the people. It will be recalled that as part of making Idanre a truly tourist destination, Idanre Hills Resort was recently built around the hills while the over 600 steps leading to the top of the hills and the five resting points have been refurbished. This is in addition to the MARE Festival and other attractions that have been created round the hills and community to attract huge following from across the world.

Tourism innovation and business conference to hold in Akure on April 22

three day tourism innovation and business conference is schedule to hold in Akure, Ondo State capital between April 22 and 24. Tourism Innovation and Business Conference is an impact-focused event organised by Vision and Focus International, International Federation of IT and Travel and Tourism and International Creative Tourism Associates to serve as a connective platform for innovative concept developers and investors in travel, leisure and tourism. The event is expected to showcase among others project prototypes and concepts for investments while states across the country with sporting facilities and growing tourism infrastructure are also to send their representatives to learn how they can attract international goodwill for global events. It will also demonstrate the impact of ICT in travel and tourism industry, providing tested and proven IT solutions for the sector. Major industry leaders in information and communications technology will make keynote presentations, hold executive workshops and product demonstrations to drive home the functions and solutions ICT has brought to the travel

and tourism sector. Participants will be taken through specific areas such as emarketing analytics, contextual information systems for tourism destinations, technology assimilation, cultural heritage digital cataloguing, recommender systems, tourism distribution strategies, travel meta search, big data and cloud computing. Opportunities are available for supporting new start-ups and SMEs in tourism sub-sectors. The event features amazing opportunities for strategic business alliances, idea sharing, financing opportunities and numerous investment options for some mind-blowing tourism concepts. More than 300 delegates and 2000 expo visitors are expected at this game changing event. With the presence of local and international media representatives, tourism destinations in attendance are given opportunities and prominence as emerging tourist-friendly destination with good value for investors. Participants are expected from State Tourism boards, Hotel brands, Travel agencies, Tour operators, Destination managers, Travel technology providers, Tourism project financiers, Venue and Convention Bureaus, Investors and policy makers.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Award

2015 AMVCA: Kunle Afolayan, Rita Dominic, others are winners

Music

Singer Simphiwe Dana launches fan-driven Campaign of Healing

Entertainment All set for Jazz Festival

Seyi Shay’s scanty attire with Jonathan, and the buzz

Davis

Gain

Stories by Sony Neme

pril 30 to May 2 has been set aside for this year’s Lagos International Jazz Festival. This edition has a step up as it is incorporating both the Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) and International Jazz Day. The much awaited dates for the annual Jazz tourism and entertainment extravaganza was unveiled to New Telegraph, Monday by the Spokesperson, Inspiro productions and festival director, Ayoola Sadare, organizers of Nigeria’s premier

sony neme

Editor, entertainment sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

Jazz festival. Sadare said that, “After two highly successful past editions, now on its third edition, the festival modeled after the world famous, Cape Town International Jazz Festival, is designed to offer visitors and residents in Lagos world class entertainment. He further explained that, “This year the festival is going a step higher by incorporating both the Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) and International Jazz Day to its program. The month of April annually is Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), and a number of programs to promote Jazz both as an historical and contemporary art form are held worldwide with concerts, lectures, workshops and exhibitions.” He also said, ”The JAM culminates with the International Jazz Day on APRIL 30 which was officially designated in November 2011 by UNESCO highlight Jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. International Jazz Day brings together

The International Jazz Day on April 30, officially designated in November 2011 by UNESCO to highlight Jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe

communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and Jazz enthusiasts worldwide, to celebrate and learn about Jazz and its roots, future and impact. It is used as a platform to raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding; and reinforce international cooperation and communication.” Each year, on April 30, this international art form is recognized for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity, eradicating discrimination, promoting freedom of expression, fostering gender equality, and reinforcing the role of youth for social change. In December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly formally welcomed the decision by the UNESCO General Conference to proclaim April 30 as International Jazz Day. The United Nations and UNESCO now both recognize InternaCONTINUED ON PAGE 28

he skimpy attire won by singer, Seyi Shay when she entertained President Goodluck Jonathan penultimate week, has continued to generate interesting comments. The artiste was one of the artistes that performed at the ‘Meet The President’ youth event, on March 1, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos. Though the muggy singer belted out some of her top hits for President GEJ and the 5,000 young Nigerians in attendance, before she met and took photographs with the president; but Seyi, known for her sexy outfits, rocked a short strapless outfit with a chunky gold necklace with tousled blonde hair. That got the buzz that is trending as some fans described her in unprintable words, others just wondered why would she dress s*xy to meet a president? Responses online includes: Miss. llenty who wrote; ‘Love Seyi Shey, but doesn’t she have any dress sense? For Mandy Toree: ‘Only God knows the kind of self-control GEJ was showing. It’s just wrong’, while Josiane sees it as a complete miss and screamed! ‘What the hell was she thinking?’ Bernadette Nwaozor Abara summed it up thus: ‘Dis is very rude to visit the president.’ Others, including celebrities CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Gloria Ibru

loria Ibru is taking no Prisoners with her hit single SUGA MAMA! She displayed this on Tuesday, while on Entertainment Weekly, Unilag Fm103. She was on points with the Fantastic 4,as she talks about her career and what to expect from the album! Time was 8-9pm.

Entertainment

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stories by Sony Neme

t has been a steady rise for Somi, acclaimed East African vocalist and songwriter as her latest efforts, ‘The Lagos Music Salon’ makes Sony Music Entertanment Africa, has listed her among their nine best for week delivery.. She had a year ago, moved to Lagos, in search of new inspiration. The result: a new album she calls The Lagos Music Salon that was released in June 2013 and features a guest appearance by superstar Angelique Kidjo. Working alongside the totally blind yet absolutely brilliant Nigerian producer Cobhams Asuquo and the multitalented American composer Keith Witty, Somi has written a body of new work that draws from Lagos’ boastful cosmopolitanism, urgent inspiration, and giant spirit - straddling the worlds of African jazz, soul, and pop with a newfound ease and a superb voice. She had in interview with http://www.huffingtonpost.com revealed that, “Ever since the album’s release, I’ve been given so many wonderful opportunities to share my music with both new audiences and long-time supporters. I’m so very grateful for all of that, but not sure that I would say that my life has ‘changed’ per se; only that I’ve been able to reach more and do more through my creative practice. That is vintage Somi whose Ginger Me Slowly she composed with Ré Olunuga; and published by Lullabies of the Sun; Symphonica 7 Others that made up this week’s Sony Music delivery are Jordin Sparks’ Double Tap Ft 2 Chainzm Dej Loaf ’s We Be On It, and Treasure Davis with Simple Ft Kid Ink. Included also are Empire Cast ft. Jussie Smollett in Good Enough, Leon Bridges’ Coming Home, and P Reign’s DnF Ft Drake and

Somi’s Lagos Music Salon joins Jordin Sparks, seven others in Sony Music Week 10 delivery

Somi

Treasure

Future, as well as Lyfe Jennings’ Pretty Is; Nervo’s It Feels, A Sony’s source further revealed that, Jordin Sparks, a former American Idol winner and Tattoo, No Air and Battlefield hit maker is back and in a brand new direction that serves as an introduction to a more mature Jordin that has grown into herself and is ready to step out and show the world that she continues to be a force to be reckoned with. Dej Loaf, on his part, releases her brand new single We Be On It,

Somi has written a body of new work that draws from Lagos’ boastful cosmopolitanism...

which is fresh off her number one Urban record peak just a couple short weeks ago. Dej’s profile has never been higher: the single is still Top 10 at Urban radio, Dej was announced as VEVO’s first Discovr artist Treasure Davis, the Los Angeles native had kicked off her career by landing background singing gigs for artists such as Keyshia Cole, Kelly Price, Keri Hilson and Nicki Minaj, and ultimately earning songwriting credits for singles with Chris Brown and the Pussy-

cat Dolls. Empire Cast ft. Jussie Smollett excites Columbia Records, 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX), who are pleased to announce the release of the Original Soundtrack from Season 1 of Empire. The release is the first in a series of soundtracks that will feature original music from critically acclaimed drama EMPIRE, and will showcase cast members Leon is a 25 year-old musician from Fort Worth, TX that beautifully mixes classic soul and R&B to create something completely fresh. Leon caught the attention of the public and industry after a notable Texas blog called Gorilla vs. Bear premiered two songs on October 15, 2014. The songs quickly went viral amassing over a million combined plays as well as plays on numerous US radio stations and UK’s BBC Radio 1. Hailing from Toronto, Canada, P Reign, is no stranger to the hip hop community as he has worked with the likes of Drake, A$AP Rocky, Waka Flocka Flame, French Montana, among many others. He’s released 2 mixtapes to date (The Canadian Dream & When It Reigns It Pours) Lyfe Jennings, the Platinumselling R&B singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist is now a part of the Red Associated Labels family! Lyfe first captivated listeners with his 2004 debut album, Lyfe 268-192 which included this hit ‘Must Be Nice’ and has since released several critically acclaimed works (The Phonex released in 2006, Lyfe Change in 2008, I Still Believe in 2010, and Lucid in 2013).

Okoroji consoles family of PMAN secretary

At last, Leo’nel’s Uju video ready

he late General Secretary of the Performing Musicians’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Okuoimose Emmanuel Okuoimose, has been described as the crankshaft that powered the establishment of PMAN in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. New Telegraph broke the news of the late PMAN scribe in January. Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, who made the disclosure in his tribute during his condolence visit to the family of his late secretary, said it is a feat that presented the association with great respect both within and outside the country, just as he described Okuoimose, as a dogged fighter for the rights of musicians across Nigeria. Chief Okoroji who spoke to members of the Okuoimose family at their First East Circular Road residence in Benin City, said that he was in Benin City to commiserate with the family and to honour an exceptional Nigerian. Chief Okoroji who said emphatically that there will never be another Okuoimose

Okoroji

E. Okuoimose, asked musicians, wherever they may be, to head for Benin – City on April 16 to give their fallen hero a burial worthy of such a great man. According to the former President of PMAN, the late Okuoimose who served under him while he was President was a unique kind of person – passionate, intelligent, hardworking, committed and totally dedicated to the progress of the Nigerian music indus-

try. In the words of Okoroji, His words: Okuoimose E. Okuoimose belonged to that disappearing group of Nigerians who did not care at all about personal wealth or privilege but rather the wellbeing of the people they serve and the progress of the cause they believe in. Okuoimose who was at home in every local government in Nigeria, was a very proud son of the Benin Kingdom and a committed nationalist” Welcoming the COSON Chairman to Benin-City, Adesuwa Okuoimose, sister to the late PMAN General Secretary, said ‘On behalf of our family, We want to thank Chief Tony Okoroji for the great honour he has done our family to come all the way from Lagos to spend time with us at this difficult period. Many years after he worked with our brother, he has not forgotten the bond that existed. That goes to confirm that he is not one to abandon you in your time of need. Our brother was neither a governor nor a minister but Chief Okoroji has honoured us like he was a Head of State. We are indeed grateful”

ast rising hip hop artiste, Leonard Orji popularly called Leo’nel has shot the video of his sophomore single titled Uju. Produced by Dope Mates Music, Uju was shot on locations in Lagos by budding cinematographer, KK and the video featured Nollywood veteran actor Zack Orji (who incidentally is the artiste’s dad), rapper Falz Tha Bahdguy, and fast-rising model Valerie. According to a release by his media managers, MIM, Lagos, “Uju, produced by Leo’nel for his Dope Mates Music, is a feel-good blend of new sounds and contemporary high-life. It addresses a love interest and it is also quite danceable.” It further stated that, “Leo’nel first came on the scene in 2012, with his debut single Rockstar and its exemplary video which he shot while studying in the UK before graduating and moving back to Nigeria. After the successful completion of his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Bradford UK. Leonel had previously done two hit singles Baby Joor, Rockstar’ and Dancia - a fluid party song, with heavy percus-

Leo’nel

sion beat. The song further confirms the young, handsome son of Orji as a singer. It is a sharp departure from the usual Nigerian party/club songs. “My experience playing music in the UK came to bear on Dancia. I decided to take from a mixed recipe of Nigeria with 20 per cent UK flavour and the result is a perfect meal for party buffs,” Leo’nel said. All the songs, including Baby Joor and Rockstar, will be part of the full album set for release later in the year. The University of Bradford, United Kingdom’s Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies/Television graduate said: “Dancia is a teaser we used to whet the appetite of Nigerians and it’s strictly for the clubs and party spots.

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

CinemaWatch

(Radio/TV/Events Guide)

MAR. 13 — MAR. 20 Highlights

DStv Ignore DStv hate calls, says Hamilton

2015 AMVCA: Kunle Afolayan, Rita Dominic, others are winners R Stories by Sony Neme

t was fun-filled as winners of the 2015 Africamagic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) emerged in a pleasant atmosphere. The third annual AMVCAs held in association with MultiChoice Africa and Amstel Malta, at the EKO Expo Centre in Lagos, on Saturday, saw 33 winners clutching home their gold statuettes in 30 categories, during a live broadcast hosted by IK Osakioduwa and Vimbai Mutinhiri, The night’s biggest winner was undoubtedly the Nigerian psychological thriller October 1, which scooped nine awards including Best Movie and Best Director for Kunle Afolayan and Best Actress (Drama) award for Kehinde Bankole. Other notable winners included Nollywood romantic drama, The Meeting with five awards including Best Movie (Comedy) awards for Rita Dominic and Mildred Okwu, Best Actress (Comedy) for Rita Dominic and a Best Actor (Comedy) award for Femi Jacobs. Outstanding achievements in African film and TV recognised with awards presented to CJ Obasi as the TrailBlazer of the Year - with a luxurious diamond studded watch, courtesy Chris Aire, while the late renowned filmmaker, Amaka Igwe got a posthumous honour with the Industry Merit award, just as the coveted New Era award went to Ayo Makun for exceptional talent. The ceremony which was tabulated and verified by auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo, as promised, were confirmed telecast live to 50 African countries watching on DStv and GOtv on all Africa Magic channels. For MultiChoice Africa, CEO Nico Meyer: “It’s been an honour for us at MultiChoice Africa to be part of this event that celebrates the best in African film and television. The amount of talent and exciting productions we’ve witnessed tonight keeps inspiring and motivating us to continue to deliver quality programming to our DStv and GOtv subscribers on the Africa Magic channels. MultiChoice will continue to invest in promoting local film and television while collaborating and supporting television and film producers to further build this vibrant and exciting industry. A big thank you to our subscribers who continue to show their dedication and participation in these awards.” The star-studded ceremony also included Africa’s finest, clad in stylish gowns and suits to rival any fashion ramp. Some of the Africa’s

l October 1 scooped nine, The Meeting five awards respectively

Kunle Afolayan

Dominic

Ukeje

Category

Title

Winner

Best Movie (Drama)

A Place in the Stars

Steve Gukas

Best Television Series

Shuga

Georgia Arnold

Best Indigenous Language – Swahili

Veve

Sarika Hemi Lakhani

Best Indigenous Language – Yoruba

Iya Alalake

Faithia Balogun

Best Indigenous Language - Hausa

Bincike

Hafizu Bello & Abubakar Bashir

Best Indigenous Language - Igbo

Onye Ozi (The Messenger)

Obi Emelonye

Best Director

October 1

Kunle Afolayan

Best New Media Online Video

Hard Times

Imoh Umoren

Best Writer (Drama)

October 1

Tunde Babalola

Best Writer (Comedy)

The Meeting

Tunde Babalola

Best Cinematographer

Verdict

Stanlee Ohikhuare

Best Short Film

Oblivious

Ekene Mekwunye

Best Art Director

October 1

Pat Nebo

Best Costume Designer

October 1

Deola Sagoe & Obijie Oru

Best Documentary

The Gift of the Nile

Yvonne Bassey

Best Make-up Artist

October 1

Sacred Lola Maja

Best Lighting Designer

October 1

Lanre Omofaiye

Best Video Editor

Reflections

Victoria Akujobi

Best Sound Editor

October 1

Kulanen Ikyo

Best Actor (Comedy)

The Meeting

Femi Jacobs

Best Actor (Drama)

Confusion Na Wa

OC Ukeje

Best Supporting Actor (Drama)

Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Blossom Chukwujekwu

Best Supporting Actress (Drama)

The Meeting

Linda Ejiofor

film and television stars who took to the red carpet amidst the flashing lights and interview ready camera crews included Genevieve Nnaji, Uti Nwachukwu, Linda Ejiofor amongst others We reliably gathered from organisers that, “The choice of the night’s winners fell to respected judges drawn from the African film and Television industry. The winners of the closely contested categories included The Meeting for Best Movie (Comedy), A Place in the Stars for Best Movie (Drama), Femi Jacobs for Best Actor in a Comedy (Movie/TV Series), a Best Actor in a Drama (Movie/TV Series) award for OC Ukeje in Confusion Na Wa ,while Rita Dominic walked away with the Best Actress in a Comedy (Movie/TV Series). Kehinde Bankole scooped the Best Actress in a Drama (Movie/TV Series) award while Blossom Chukwujekwu walked away with the Best Supporting Actor (Movie/TV Series) and Linda Ejiofor won the Best Supporting Actress (Movie/ TV Series) award. During the event, viewers were wowed by performances by Osas Ighodaro, the Mavins Crew, Tuface Idibia and Lola Rae, Diamond Platinumz, and P-Square who closed off the event with an electrifying performance at about 9.55pm. . M-Net West Africa Regional Director Wangi MbaUzoukwu paid tribute to both the winners and the nominees saying; “Each year we have hosted this event, it has become more evident that Africa has truly carved its own mark and identity in the global film and TV industry. Tonight’s event recognized all the talented individuals who continue to grow this industry. We’re very honoured that we could reward them for their exceptional work.

espected Human relations, and media consultant expert, Kunle HHamilton has come down hard against a hate call that is trending against DStv Mr. Hamilton in a broadcast titled, ‘Who really hates DSTV?’, urged members of the public to ignore such calls as it totally unnecessary. Hamilton’s text runs thus: “Someone initiated a call for all Nigerians to boycott DStv services unless its tariffs are lowered. Please ignore the call. It is unreasonable. Nobody is forced to buy DStv. It is a luxury not a necessity. Again it has done more to improve TV services in Nigeria than Boradcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, Nigeria television Authority, NTA and others”. He also said that, “Nollywood would not be the boom it is today without DStv’s Africa Magic. If anyone needs to redefine DStv’s operations, let BON do it like Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC should redefine Telecoms charges and services. Because of DStv/Multichoice, Nigerians now know the difference between good, poor and bad television content.” For another concerned consumer, who wouldn’t want his name mentioned, “ Enough of the de- marketing.It has now become obvious that the drive to boycott DStv is powered by competiting pay TV operators and fuelled by ignorance. Have you tried to regulate the rising air fares? How about the cost of toothpaste or the rising cost of bread ?” He further questioned, “How do you sponsor a drive to pay less than cost price for a premium product? Do you buy a product at premium cost and redistribute at no cost? You talk about monopoly.

…National Theatre Board Chairman congratulates AMVCA winners

n a related development, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Theatre and National Troupe of Nigeria Chief Ishaya Markus has congratulated all nominees and winners of the just held AMVCA. Chief Ishaya particularly congratulates Mr. Steve Gukas from Plateau State, whose well-helmed movie ‘A Place in the Stars’ was adjudged the best drama movie of AMVCA 2015. Chief Markus also saluted popular actor and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan who turned out the star of AMVCA with his critically acclaimed movie ‘October 1’. Chief Markus hopes that the achievement the filmmakers recorded will encourage Nigerian youths to pursue a career in the Nigerian film and entertainment industry.

Entertainment

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Singer Simphiwe Dana launches fan-driven Campaign of Healing

Simphiwe Dana

Stories by Sony Neme

ward-winning songstress Simphiwe Dana has this past week embarked on a ‘Campaign of Healing’ for herself and her fans to commemorate the release of the third single Killjoy off her critically-acclaimed latest album Firebrand. As preparation for the music video for ‘Killjoy’, Dana saw it fit to include her fans in the exciting creative exercise behind the creation of this music video, and is doing this by calling her fans and followers to share their ultimate #Killjoy experiences, which will result in the most

profound stories or funniest anecdotes being selected for inclusion in the music video creative. Dana explains that, “The song Killjoy is about heartbreak; the depression that comes with it and what happens after you have blamed yourself for the inadequacies of your lover. The song is also about the pain that comes with the realisation that it is not your fault and that you now have to walk away”. The first phase of the campaign was launched concurrently on Facebook ad Twitter, where Dana herself shared her own personal story of having been through what she now terms a ‘relationtrick’. Additional to the #Killjoy

campaign, Dana is also in the process of planning a tour around South Africa, as well as putting final touches to an upcoming celebration of her 10 years in the music industry, details of which will be announced in due course. Fans of her music prowess are also in for a treat as the broadcast of her latest live performance is featured on SkyroomLive on SABC 1, tomorrow. “The campaign seeks to create a safe space for those who have dealt with severe heartbreak. It is a campaign to show solidarity and start the process of healing. Oftentimes we feel all alone in our experiences, and we start to see fault in ourselves…that maybe we are not good enough for love, until we realise many others have been where we are and made it out” adds Dana. Through the tone and manner of the discussions, Dana has with the participants of the #Killjoy campaign, a dominant theme that comes across is that of being able to laugh about one’s #Killjoy experiences, and breaking the power-hold that heartbreak often has on those who experience it. “It has been great therapy, telling your story is like throwing off a huge boulder that has been weighing you down, it also destroys the power the experience has over you, and helps you see your experience through other people’s eyes’ says Dana. Simphiwe Dana who is typically media-shy and protective over her private life, also used this exercise to share her own personal story. Her words:, “Sharing my personal story was also very therapeutic, it was like I had put a painful episode in my life inside a bubble and blew it away!”

Music Machine is now ‘Nigerian Music Annual’

ith preparations in top gear for the promised explosive seven days events of the COSON Week 2015, which will hold from November 1 to 7, 2015, plans are also at a significant stage to declare the COSON Week. The form announcement of the show stopper is expected to come with the launch of the Nigerian Music Annual, a full gloss compendium of events, personalities, institutions, brands and information with exciting highlights of the steaming Nigerian music industry, as the Nigerian Music Annual. According to Chief Tony Okoroji, the Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON the Nigerian Music Annual will be like nothing before it. In the words of the celebrated former president of PMAN: ‘It will be world class and a collectors’ item. Every article will be written by a master

as the Nigerian Music Annual provides facts, figures, records, information and entertainment not available anywhere else.” He also said the annual will be the authoritative reference material on the bubbling Nigerian music industry. According to Chief Okoroji, a widely read newspaper columnist, social commentator and author of the renowned book, Copyright & the New Millionaires, the Nigerian Music Annual will be extravagantly colourful. ‘ His wordsL:”We learnt a lot from our publication of what we called the ‘Nigerian Music Machine’ in 2013. Even when it is many months to press time, we were already working at full speed, because of the incredible amount of information, facts and statistics that the Nigerian Music Annual must contain. It will not be the kind of publication that you finish reading and throw away. No! All of us will

keep our copies of the Nigerian Music Annual not just because it will be very pleasing to the eyes, but because we will keep consulting the Nigerian Music Annual for information many months afterwards.” Also speaking on the November show with special focus on the annual journal in reference, Ms. Bernice Eriemeghe, the COSON Head of Finance and Administration said, ‘I am an accountant by profession and fully understand the value of money. I cannot imagine any corporate or brand manager who would not wish to have his organization, products or brand promoted in this cutting edge publication. It will be of great value for money and I invite the telecoms and their many facilitators, beverage producers, banks, and other brand wishing to make a real impact to advertise in the Nigerian Music Annual. You will not get it better anywhere.”

Showbits

Listed below are issues from the entertainment industry that is trending • Jesus changed my reason for singing: Sinach. • 50 Cents 2 yr old son, Sire got paid 700,000 dollars for a Modeling Gig. • Davido impregnates older lover Sophie Momodu. • DJ Spinalls has released his 2nd single Oluwa. • Karrueche dumps Chris Brown after receiving baby news unexpectedly. • Chris Brown has fathered a nine month old daughter with Nia. • Mercy Johnson avoid Lagos traffic by riding GEJs train. • Rapper M.I Abaga enjoys a vacation in SA. • Evas new video War Coming, released. • Davido spotted chilling with P. Diddy at Miami

Ashionye

nightclub. • Wizkid says his email account has been hacked. • Ashionye and her hubby expecting their second child. • Nelson Jumbo nails love and crime in new movie Luke of Lies. • Tiwa Savage and Baby Billz rock the stage in Uganda. • Angry Uche Jombo defends Genevieve. • Jennifer Lopez opens up on cheats in her life. • My songs are based on different inspirations: Rymez.

2015 Jazz celebration

Sadare (right) with hi-life and jazz maestro, Pa Olaiya CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

tional Jazz Day on their official calendars. He further said they still keeping names of performing artistes, venue and programs of the 2015 edition of the festival close to their chest, as they will be unveiled at a worlsd press conference soon.. On the objective of the festival, Sadare said,”Our long term goal is to establish Lagos as a vibrant Jazz Tourism destination alongside cities like

Cape Town, Montreal, Montreux, New Orleans, London and Tokyo among others, and each year the festival holds we get the fulfillment that we are hopefully on course. The Lagos international Jazz festival is a landmark event that is positioned to be respected and appreciated on Nigeria’s arts and culture calendar. event that attracts Jazz and contemporary music lovers to the city and help deepen the tourism realities of Lagos State in particular, and Nigeria in general.”

‘Seyi Shay’s scanty attire with Jonathan’

Seyi Shey and President Jonathan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

and notable figures such as comedian Wale Gates; social analyst, Omojuwa, took to their social media accounts to express their feelings over her choice of

outfit. However, the singer, in a recent media chat explained that she had two outfits for the event and the outfit that caused the stir was what she wore to perform.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Labour

21% Nigerian women in senior management roles – Report

Agric Bell apple: Nigeria’s hidden non-oil export

Business What's news

Oilfield asset: Canadian investor moves to recover N90bn

153m lack mobile broadband access in Nigeria – Investigation

A Canadian investor who ran into a slippery ground after a legitimate oil deal in Nigeria, is crying wolf in a bid to recover his money estimated at over N90 billion ($453 million).

p.30

Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Oyetola Oduyemi (left), with Vice Chairman, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Lagos State branch, Bola Kolawole, at the presentation of gifts to the Nigerian Red Cross Society, as part of the Etisalat Re-Gift Programme, in Lagos.

GAP

More investment needed to bridge broadband penetration gap

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

ndia automobile company, Bajaj Auto, is at a crossroads over its 455,000 motorcycles export to Nigeria in 2015 as the weak naira cripple sales. The company had blamed Nigeria, Egypt and Sri Lanka

for its negative export growth in January and February, 2015. Managing Director, India automobile company, Mr. Rajiv Bajaj, said that the firm had budgeted about 455,000 motorcycles for Nigeria in 2015, but the weak naira and election had affected sales negatively. The naira has lost some 22

INFLATION RATE January 2015...........................8.2% December 2014.........................8% November 2014........................7.9%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

Bayo Akomolafe

Finance Editor

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst. Production Editor

espite the current ranking of Nigeria as number two on the Broadband Affordability index, 153 million Nigerians lack access to mobile broad-

band, New Telegraph investigation has revealed. The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4Ai), had, in its 2015 Broadband Affordability Index, said that Nigeria currently comes second in the ranking of developing economies, scor-

Poor auto sales: India blames Nigeria, others

Abdulwahab Isa Kunle Azeez

Kunle Azeez

per cent of its value year-todate, following the 50 per cent crash of the prices of crude in the international market, which has reduced Nigeria’s foreign exchange inflows and, by extension, her revenue. Oil sector contributes about CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

ing higher than other African developing economies such as Kenya, Morocco and Uganda. Nigeria was also adjudged to have scored higher even than some emerging economies, including Mexico, South Africa, Thailand and Tunisia, according to the A4Ai report. However, investigation by this newspaper, during the week, showed that only 17 million Nigerians, representing 10 per cent of the estimated 170 million population, as documented by the National Population Commission (NPC), have access to the internet. In effect, about 83 per cent of the population, representing 153 million Nigerians, can be said to have access to mobile broadband. As at 2014, mobile broadband penetration in the country stood at around six per cent, but various initiatives put in place by government have led to increase in broadband penetration in the country. It was also learnt that the Ministry of Communication Technology’s “Smart States” initiative, which sees states committing to reduce the cost of broadband access by reducing taxation and simplifying regulation, is another step towards deepening broadband penetration in the country. “Nigeria’s mobile broadband penetration rate stands at just 10 per cent, despite the fact that close to 40 per cent of Nigerians use the Internet, and government has put in place policies to increase this penetration level to 30 per cent by 2018,” Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, had said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Mar.6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N226 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N343 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N250

l Foreign Reserves – $30.873bn as at 4/03/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Mar. 6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N198 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N320 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N231

Business | News

ELECTIONEERING

The Canadian asset was seen as an easy way for the ruling party to raise money quickly Sunday Ojeme

Canadian investor who ran into a slippery ground after a legitimate oil deal in Nigeria, is crying wolf in a bid to recover his money estimated at over N90 billion ($453 million). According to report released in South Africa, Mr. Stephen Shefsky, who has engaged the services of a reputable lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, to pursue his case, decided to forge ahead with a $453 million oil deal in the Niger Delta with the belief that he had done everything right.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oilfield asset: Canadian investor moves to recover N90bn With two decades of experience in emerging markets, including Brazil and Russia, he had carefully prepared every step of his Nigerian acquisition. He found experienced local partners, studied his target asset, did his due diligence with the help of the Canadian government and made 46 trips to Nigeria over a four-year period. Today, however, Shefsky is embroiled in a dispute that could see him lose his Nigerian deal. Despite winning a competitive bid and paying the full $453 million into an escrow account, he and his Nigerian partners have seen their new asset subjected to a takeover by Nigeria National

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). “I feel absolutely sick about it,” says Shefsky, president and chief executive of James Bay Resources Ltd., the Toronto-based company that spearheaded the Nigerian oil acquisition and owns 45 per cent of the company that won the bid. “I went in with my eyes open and I thought we were doing the right thing. Somewhere in the system, something happened.” Amsterdam, who has acted for wealthy politicians in Russia, Thailand, Nigeria, Zambia and elsewhere, including the dissident Russian oil tycoon, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, said that there is the pos-

sible role of corruption in the Nigerian case, along with another factor-the March 28 presidential election that now preoccupies every Nigerian politician, including the oil minister who holds ultimate authority over the state oil company. “The timing of all of this behaviour, right before an election, is very suspicious,” Amsterdam said in an interview in Johannesburg. According to the details of the deal, competing against several other bidders, Shefsky and his Nigerian partner won the bid in June 2014 to acquire the lucrative oilfield asset from the Nigerian subsidiaries of Shell, Total and Agip,

which together owned 45 per cent of the oilfield. But in October, as he was preparing to hire Shell’s former employees at the site, the NNPC suddenly announced that it was using its preemptive rights to take over the asset – even though those rights should have expired 30 days after the bidding ended. The letter from the NNPC, dated October 27, did not give any reason for the decision. It simply ordered Shell and the other two companies to “assign” and “transfer” their interest to the corporation. Shefsky said that he was mystified by the decision, since about 20 similar divestment deals had gone ahead without pre-

emption. He suspects that there are more than just business factors at play. “I believe it involves politics,” he said in an interview. The report described Nigerian elections as often revolving around huge sums of money, which greases the wheels of the election machinery for the leading parties and some insiders believe that the Canadian asset was seen as an easy way for the ruling party to raise money quickly. To recover the investment, Shefsky and his Nigerian partners have gone to court to block the takeover of their asset. Last Friday, they obtained an interim injunction in a court in Lagos.

India blames Nigeria, others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

L –R: Senior Production Officer, Nasco Household Range, Mr. Adetolu Steve; Second placed winner, Mr. Joshua Olayinka Ndaman; Marketing/PR Consultant, Mallam Haroun Audu and and Acting Chief Marketing Officer, Nasco Marketing Department, Nasir Khan, during the presentation of winners of the Nasco Facebook #hashtag competition in Lagos

153m lack mobile broadband access CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

According to the minister, “to increase the ability of mobile operators to serve more Nigerians, plans were recently announced to auction spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band.” However, industry experts have estimated that Nigeria would need about N1.7 trillion investments over a period of five years to ensure that the country attains its 30 per cent broadband target. Principal Partner of KPMG, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, who serves as consultants to the soon-tobe-licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos), said: “Nigeria has done very well in the strides to implementing NGBN, but the journey has just begun, because an estimated $2 billion (N340 billion) in funding/investment will be required yearly over the next

five years to bridge the broadband infrastructure gap.” New Telegraph learnt that this represents an investment of about $10 billion (N1.7 trillion) in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry to achieve robust mobile broadband penetration. President of Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr Lanre Ajayi, while saying that broadband presents huge opportunity for accelerating Nigerian economy enthused that the country remains one of the most attractive investment destinations globally. It was gathered that as part of the measures being taken to encourage broadband investment, government would provide incentives such as tax holidays of between five and

seven years as well as financial incentives of between 15 to 30 per cent of the operators’ capital expenditure (CAPEX). Also speaking with New Telegraph on the development, an industry analyst, Mr Akin Akinbo, said: “Though Nigeria is ranked second in terms of Broadband Affordability Index among developing economies, what this suggest to me is that development economies need to buckle up strategies to increase their broadband, which is the next frontier for growth.” He added: “As far as I am concerned, the 10 per cent mobile broadband penetration Nigeria current has is still considered very low. We need to connect more Nigerians to broadband and replicate the successes in the voice segment this data era as well.”

14 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), approximately 70 per cent of government revenues and around 90 per cent of exports. Consequently, the naira, which traded N168 per dollar in November, has suffered two bouts of devaluations, which has driven the dollar exchange rate to N197 at the interbank market and N220 at the parallel market. Baraj explained that the naira was at about N204 to the dollar, adding the company had adjusted its prices. He also noted that the distributors’ margins and retail price had already been adjusted up. The company lamented that its exports to the countries had declined by 20 per cent to 1,12,909 units from 1,42,009 units in the corresponding year-ago period. Rajiv, in an interview with CNBC-TV18, said that the weak currency factor had affected the company sales in Nigeria. He explained: “The story of February really is the story of issue with exports and that can be brought down to three of our major markets; one is Nigeria, second is Sri Lanka and the third is Egypt. If you look at exports as a whole, up until the previous month, exports were growing at 22 per cent year-on-year (YoY). “In February, there is a negative growth of 20 per cent. It is very odd to have such a dramatic change from plus 22 per cent to minus 22 per cent.

In Nigeria and Sri Lanka, it has been more of what I call an acute situation. In Nigeria, it was brought about by the disruption in the election time table. There has been disruption in all aspects of the business whether it is the imports, the assembly or the distribution. However, we are already coming back.” The managing director stressed that in February, the company clocked retail of almost 35,000 motorcycles and almost 4,000 three wheelers in Nigeria. Rajiv added that there was a gap of 30,000 motorcycles in Sri Lanka, in the same period. He noted that Egypt was more of a chronic issue as oppose to the acute issue in Nigeria and Sri Lanka. According to him, Egypt had no money to buy motorcycles and three wheelers which is not new to February. “There have been months when our export to Egypt has been zero, there are months when it has been 15,000 motorcycles. So, Egypt, I don’t see changing in a hurry, but Nigeria and Sri Lanka will normalise from this month. “So, we had budgeted for about 455,000 motorcycles to Nigeria this year and at the end of March, we would be achieving that number. So, we are on plan. If you look at our overall volumes also beyond Nigeria, exports at 1.7 million at the end of February are 16 per cent higher than the 1.45 million approximately last year.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Labour

Confusion as civil servants feud over deductions p.32 GAP Almost a third of businesses have no female in their top leadership teams Sunday Ojeme

21% Nigerian women in senior management roles – Report

new report released by an assurance, tax and advisory firm, Grant Thornton, has revealed that 21 per cent of Nigerian women currently occupy various top management positions in the country. According to the report, India has the third lowest population of women in leadership roles, even less than countries like Nigeria and Indonesia. It further revealed that the proportion of senior management roles held by women in India stood at just 15 per cent, followed by Germany at 14 per cent and Japan at eight per cent. The proportion of senior management roles held by women is the highest in Russia where 40 per cent of top brass are female executives. Russia sits atop the global league table with 40 per cent of senior roles occupied by women. It is joined in the top 10 by six other economies from Eastern Europe, including Georgia (38%) and Poland (37%). Japan (8%) still sits bottom of the table as it has done every year since 2004. Germany (14%) and India (15%) sit second and third respectively. Interestingly, Nigeria has 21 per cent of women in leadership roles and Indonesia has 20 per cent of women in senior management positions. The firm said, “We have been tracking gender diversity in business leadership over the past decade but there has been very little change in the headline figures. Today, just 22 per cent of senior roles are held by women, compared with 19 per cent in 2004. Almost a third of businesses have no women in their senior leadership teams, although this has fallen by six percentage over the past three years. Currently in Nigeria, apart from women holding positions at the top level of government as ministers and heads of agencies, a few of them have also risen in their careers to hold sway at top management level in private businesses. In the banking and insurance sectors, women have risen to become the chief executive officers in some of the firms where they have successfully discharged their duties. At the moment, Mrs. Yetunde Ilori holds sway as the managing director and chief executive officer in one of the most successful insurance companies in the country, Mansard Insurance Plc. The same goes for Great Nigerian Insurance, where Mrs. Cecilia Onipitan sits atop the management. In the banking sector, Stabic

Okonjo-Iweala

Ilori

Opeke

Faith

Seriki

David-Borha

IBTC has Sola David-Borha as the chief executive officer while Mainstreet Bank Limited had Mrs. Faith Tuedor Matthews. Other prominent Nigerian women, who have become celebrated success in their careers, are the founder, Main Street Technologies and Chief Executive Officer, Main One, Mrs. Funke Opeke, and Founder and Group Managing Director, Omatek Technologies, Mrs. Florence Seriki. At the level of government, women have also been appointed to top management positions either as ministers or heads of agencies. The constitution of the current administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has seen women taking leadership roles more than the stipulated 35 per cent affirmative action. Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been Finance Minister since the inception of this administration, the same goes for Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, who occupies the nation’s biggest ministry in terms of revenue earnings, Ministry of Petroleum. Ministry of Communication

In banking and insurance sectors, women have risen to become the chief executive officers

and Technology has Mrs. Omobola Johnson while Water Resource is occupied by Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe. Some others are also junior ministers while some sensitive agencies also have women as their heads. At the state level, the political parties are currying the votes of the women and balancing administrative equation by making women deputy governors, heads of service, commissioners and heads of agencies. Grant Thornton Advisory Director, Pallavi Bakhru, said, “Japan and India may be at very different stages of their development but they share certain cultural features, such as strong hierarchy and patriarchal societies, which prevent women from reaching the upper echelons of the business world,” The report further said India fares poorly in terms of number of women in leadership roles like CEO/Managing Director from among 35 economies. Armenia ranks lowest. The proportion of senior roles held by women in Asia Pacific has dropped to 20 per cent, be-

low both the global average (22 per cent). Much more fluctuation is evident in emerging nations, with China dropping to 25 per cent, down from an average of 32 per cent across the past decade, Thailand to 27 per cent (from 37 per cent), Malaysia to 22 per cent (from 27 per cent) and Indonesia to 20 per cent (from 31 per cent). “Emerging Asia Pacific economies have historically benefited from cheap childcare infrastructure in the form of relatives living nearby, allowing women to go out to work. However mass urbanisation is starting to erode these support structures as well as raising aspirations and increasing job opportunities for women, meaning many choose to have children later in life, if at all,” Bakhru said. The findings of the report pose challenges not just for businesses but for governments, society and women too, Bakhru said, adding that governments can support this by facilitating shared parental leave but also building the infrastructure to allow women to thrive in the workforce.

Business | Labour

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Confusion as civil servants feud over deductions CAMPAIGN States governors have been accused of funding political parties’ campaigns with public funds Stories by Sunday Ojeme

arly in the week, three states were in the news over industrial disputes between the workers and government. This came barely two months after health and judiciary workers in the country grounded the two sectors for months over government’s failure to redeem the agreement reached by both parties. The protesting civil servants, who are prepared to grind the states to a halt if their demands are not met, are all clamouring to be paid the

deductions made by the governors from their packages for a minimum of five months. In the last few months, rumours have been flying around that some state governors were using part of the allocations from the Federal Government and internally generated revenue to fund their parties campaign programmes. In Ogun State, the civil servants embarked on a three-day warning strike on the orders of Joint Negotiation Council that the Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle, said caught the state government unawares. While Osun State workers are also protesting non-payment of five months salaries, Ebonyi State workers, amidst their governor’s political impasse, are also in dispute over issues bordering on finances. According to the Ogun State chairman of JNC, Modiu Bello, the warning strike became necessary because the state

government failed to honour the agreement reached with the leadership of the union in February. The government had reached an agreement with Labour to pay the four months deduction owed. He pointed out that the state government reneged on the agreement and went on air to announce that it had paid February salary to give the impression the administration was not owing any salary. The report hinted that the state civil servants were being owed five-month unpaid cooperative deductions and 29 months of unpaid pension deductions. Bello said the state government had defaulted in paying its own counterpart funding of the pension deductions and had not remitted the fund to the pension managers. The Head of Service, however, agreed that the state government was facing challenges paying the deductions because of the sharp fall in the alloca-

L-R: Oral Care Consultant, Mrs. Oge MacJohnson; Profession Manager, East/West Africa, Cheslin Twigg; Marketing Director, Colgate Palmolive Nigeria, Mrs. Hannah Oyebanjo and Brand Manager, Mr. Gbadesola Adenrele, at the media launch of Maximum Cavity Protection + Sugar Acid Neutraliser (MCP+SAN) toothpaste in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Construction workers’ pay dispute resolved in Dubai

uthorities in Dubai on Tuesday said a pay dispute between hundreds of construction workers and their employer has been resolved after a rare strike that reignited concerns over labor conditions in the Persian Gulf. Wall Street Journal reports that the strike, which was dispersed by Dubai police within an hour on Tuesday morning, was one of the most public demonstrations in recent years by workers in the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf states, which ban both workers’ unions and protesting in public areas. Hundreds of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers ripped down corrugated iron fences at a major real-estate development

and spilled into the street during rush hour near the Dubai Mall, a popular tourist spot in the heart of the city. The actual site where the laborers were working is being developed by Emaar Properties and will be a three-tower complex near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, according to the developer’s website. In response to the strike, Emaar said its construction contractors follow international “industry best practices” and local government regulations. A spokesman for the construction contractor for the development, Arabian Construction Company, couldn’t be reached for comment. Several construction

laborers at the scene said they had been paid less this month and the quality of their meals provided by the contractor had deteriorated. They said their overall pay packet had been cut from 1,400 U.A.E. dirhams ($381) a month to 1,050 dirhams after their overtime rate was cut, despite working the same number of hours. A senior on-site manager, who asked not to be named, said 30% of the 4,000 workers on the site had their overtime rate cut as they weren’t meeting their work targets. Arabian Construction Company’s Tamim Jabbour, the project director, declined to comment, when asked about the nature of the dispute.

tions accruing to the state. She said that the state government was looking for means of raising funds to settle the deductions, adding that the deductions would be paid before the week runs out. In the case of Ebonyi, the workers took the last option of strike to press home their demand for payment of September 2011 salaries withheld by the government and the implementation of 2011 minimum wage. The Chairman of JNC in the state, Ikechukwu Nwafor, said the union had earlier intimated the state government about the strike by giving it a 21-day ultimatum after which it embarked on another threeday warning strike. Nwafor said: “Following Ebonyi State Government’s unwillingness to meet with the demands of the organised labour with respect to implementation of the submitted report of the committee that revisited the table of the Ebonyi State Civil/Public Salary Structure and September 2011 withheld salaries, the organised labour in Ebonyi State hereby declares an indefinite strike effective from Tuesday, March 10, 2015.” He stated that the strike was ‘irrevocable and irreversible’ unless their demands were met, adding that the union met with the government to pay the outstanding salaries and implement the new minimum wage as approved by the Federal Government. “Accordingly, all civil/public service workers in Ebonyi State employment, local government employees and teachers are di-

rected to proceed on an indefinite strike until government meets up with our demands. “Consequently, workers are mandated to stay in their homes and await further directives from the leadership of organised labour in Ebonyi,” he stated. In Osun, the workers under the aegis of Trade Union Congress (TUC) marched through the state capital, Osogbo, demanding payment of salary arrears and other deductions allegedly made by the government without further delay to stem untold hardship they were going through. Chairman, Senior Staff Association in Osun State, Comrade Olatunji Akinyemi, pointed out that the workers were going through hard times due to irregular payment of salary. He lamented that one of the workers died about two weeks ago because he could not afford to buy just an inhaler, a situation he described as pathetic. Chief of Staff (CoS) to the state governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, however, said that the governor had signed the remaining months of the salary arrears owed the entire workers in the state, stressing that the claim by the workers that government owed them five-month salary arrears was not true. He said, “As at now, we have paid up to the month of January this year and on or before the end of the week, the remaining salaries would definitely be paid to the workers without any delay, so we don’t just sit down here doing nothing as we know and appreciate their plight.”

China factory workers strike over housing benefits H

undreds of workers went on strike this week at a Chinese shoe factory that supplies global apparel brands such as Prada, Nike and Adidas, the latest in a spate of labor unrest sparked by disputes over employment benefits. Wall Street Journal torkers at Dongguan Stella Footwear Co., located in the city of Dongguan in China’s southern Guangdong province, walked off their jobs on Monday and Tuesday to protest a decision by factory management to deny housingbenefit payments to certain groups of employees, workers and labor activists said. Stella Footwear—owned by Hong Kong-listed shoe manufacturer Stella International Holdings Ltd. - recently told workers that it would pay housing benefits only to employees who bought or rented apartments in Dongguan, according to Liu Zaiyuan, a 44-year-old worker at Stella Footwear for eight years. The move angered workers who didn’t qualify, she said. “We want a proper explanation from the factory as to why they are doing this,” Ms. Liu said. “For years, they haven’t been properly paying into our

social-insurance and housingbenefit funds, and we want them to give us what is rightfully ours.” A spokeswoman for Stella International Holdings said a strike “involving a few hundred workers” took place at the factory. She disputed claims by workers and activists that as many as 5,000 people took part. “Discussions are still ongoing, but as of this morning, almost all workers have returned to work,” the spokeswoman said. She didn’t give further details about the strike, including the workers’ allegations. City officials handling the dispute weren’t available to comment, according the local labor bureau. According to an employee at Dongguan Housing Provident Fund Management Center, a municipal agency that manages workers’ housing benefits, companies in the city are obliged to pay into the fund regardless of where their workers live. ‘For years, they haven’t been properly paying into our socialinsurance and housing-benefit funds, and we want them to give us what is rightfully ours.’

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

USAID, Osun Poly partner on agric capacity building p.34

Agric

NIOMR launches catfish canning p.34

Bell apple: Nigeria’s hidden non-oil export As the country intensify efforts to boost revenues from the nonoil sector with greater emphasis on agricultural produces, one indigenous apple stands out, Bell Apple. However, the apple is relatively unknown despite its high commercial value. DELE ALAO writes

ne of the commonest fruits in the country today is the imported apple. All over the country, imported apples from neighboring West African countries are found. It is perhaps the only fruit being mostly hawked. But, another type of apple is here. It is called Bell apple. Interestingly, it can be grown locally, thereby, helping to conserve huge foreign exchange being expended on the popular imported apple. Bell apple, also known as wax apple or love apple, findings showed, could be grown in any type of soil, except sandy soil. Hence, the plant will do well in the backyard or environment. Though the apple tree grows in virtually every part of Nigeria, it is more prevalent in the South, especially the South South states - Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Balyesa and Edo. The pretty bell shaped fruit is also grown and cultivated in the tropical regions of South East Asia to the Pacific and Carribean. Bell apple is still new in Nigeria, but can give robust financial proceeds to whoever

ventures into its farming. It was learnt that Bell apple takes three years from the time it was planted for it to bear fruits. It can beer over a thousand fruits per harvest at its peak. The fruit does not taste like an apple actually. The texture is like a mixture of Asian pear and watermelon with less density. It is tangy and slightly sweet. According to experts, Bell apple, apart from eating it fresh as raw fruit, can be processed into fruit juice, jam and jelly. Experts are said to be looking at the possibility of producing wine from it. Allaying fears of huge cost of investment for would-be investors in the fruit, a researcher and founder, Bell Apple Wealth Ventures, Akinyemi Oluwagbenga, said: “Starting bell apples seedling farming will costs you as little as N20,000 to start on a relatively small scale, thereby planting 100 seeds of the fruit. In this while, you will spend N10,000 getting the seeds at N100 per seed, while the remaining N10,000 goes for construction of your container and other miscellaneous expenses. You can start with lesser seeds, but it is better you start with 100 seeds to maximise your profit. You do not really have any other expenses until it grows to seedling level and ready for sales. “Your major cost of running the bell apple seedling business is the cost of purchasing the seeds and containers, among other petty things, such as watering can. Bell apple seedlings are ready for sale after 10 weeks of planting and can be sold for N750 per seedling. Hence, you are sure of making 650 per cent profit from your investment on the business. The more bell apple seeds you plant, the more money you can make within the space of 10 weeks,” he added. It takes at least three years for

Kwara gov urges banks on lending to agric K wara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called on the banking institutions to make it a policy to give soft loans to registered farmers’ agricultural and co-operative societies to boost agricultural production in the state. The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, at the annual dinner and awards ceremony of Ilorin chapter of Bankers’ committee, held recently in Ilorin, the state capital, noted that the state was an agrarian society where small and large scale farming were practiced. “Due to inaccessibility to loan facility, most of the

farmers cannot procure basic equipment and inputs needed for modern farming. We will continue to provide the conducive and enabling environment for the progress of the private sector in general and banking sub-sector in particular. Kwara State is one of the very few states that have managed its resources so well. It has delivered on its mandate to the people, even in spite of her number on the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenue ladder. This is apparently not unconnected with the support received from all banking institutions in the state,” he said.

the seed to grow to a tree and begin to produce fruits. Each tree produces over 1,000 fruits per harvest and there is a minimum of two harvests in a year. And once anybody tastes the fruit, they ask for more. Bell apples combine both a sweet and sour taste and people simply love it. Akinyemi reiterated that the business of growing Bell apple seedlings requires little time while it give so much proceeds. “I must say that the market is just growing in the country,

while demand for it is so high. This gives better opportunities to whoever ventures into it now,” he added. The researcher, who noted that there was a need for millions of the plant seedling in the country, said that there was a ready-made market for bell apple seedlings. “The business of growing bell apple seedlings requires little time while it gives so much proceeds and I must say that the market is just growing in the country, while demand for it is

so high. This gives better opportunities to whomever ventures into it now for domestic consumption and export,” he said. “From my research, which spans five years, Bell apple is a good produce for the country to generate huge foreign currency. I have received calls from UK on the apple. I only wish the Federal Government and other states, especially where it can be grown, will plug into the idea in an attempt to further increase revenues from non-oil exports,” Akinyemi added.

Bell apples

INNOVATIVE Firm sets up hatcheries for tilapia, others Stories by Dele Alao

n what could be described as a major feat, Triton Acqua Limited has harvested 40 tons of locally produced catfish in its farm in Iwo, Osun State. Triton is one of the country’s major importers of different species of fishes, until the company embarked on backward integration as a result of the Federal Government’s review of the fish policy. The company has already started local production of fish in other countries like Ghana and Egypt due to the structure and policies of governments in those countries. Triton has 240 grow-out cages and 48 nursery cages with a capacity of 2, 400 metric tons of Tilapia and complete infrastructure like hatchery, ice plant, processing shed and cold store in Ghana. At the inaugural harvest, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Raju Samtani, said that although the company

Triton harvests 40 tons local catfish

was targeting about 800 tons at initial stage of its production, it has successfully produced 40 tons as its first harvest. In other to meet its target production capacity, the managing director said that the company has acquired about 72 acres of land for fish and poultry farming in the state and other smaller ones in Lagos. He added that the company has ventured into hatchery to produce about two million fingerlings annually, which would later be expanded to about four million, while plans are underway to produce about 60,000 tons of fish feeds. Samtani, who hailed the ongoing Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), said that his company was influenced by the fish review policy to invest about $60 million in local fish and poultry farming. The managing director, who noted that the company was trying to reduce its fish importation and feed its customers with the locally produced fishes, said that discussions are on-

going with other states on the establishment of fish farms. It would be recalled that the company’s Project Director, Mr. Yashpal Jain, said that the $60 million investment would be channeled towards the expansion of its production capacity of 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of fish within the projected five to six years period, as well as the diversion of its cold-room facilities for local aqua-production in line with the reviewed quota guidelines. The objective of the investment, according to the project Director, is geared towards driving national fish independence, as well as turning Nigeria into an exporting country. “As one of the biggest fish importing companies, the review (fish policy) served as an encouragement to the company to diversify into local production as had been part of its original intention upon establishment in the country, as it had done in its other countries of existence due to their governmental structure and policies,” he said.

Business | Agric

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

USAID, Osun Poly partner on capacity building EMPOWERMENT 106 acres of land acquired for the take-off of the programme Stories by Dele Alao

nited States Agency for International Development (USAID), Winrock International and Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to commence training, teaching and research programmes in the institution with the establishment of Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering. A statement by Media Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Tope Abiola, said that all machineries had been put in place by the institution to commence full academic programmes in Agricultural Science and Engineering. He said that USAID and Winrock International have expressed full interest to partner with the institution through its

“Farmer to Farmer Project,” a global programme of USAID through, which agricultural education is given to the world. Professor of Agriculture, Soil and Botanical Science, William James Zimmerman, from the United States of America, is on a visit to the institution to interact with the management of the polytechnic, the Iree community and Osun State government on the modalities of the programme. Abiola said that about 106 acres of land had been acquired by the polytechnic for the takeoff of the programme. During the visit of authorities of the institution and the USAID officials to the state government, Governor Rauf Aregbesola expressed his satisfaction over the development and promised to support the project with necessary wherewithal. The governor, who spoke through his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, gave assurance that the USAID officials would support the programme fully. The governor charged the management of the institution to provide all necessary logis-

tics that would aid success of the programme. He described efforts of the institution to partner with Winrock International and USAID as a sterling opportunity, which would boost the credentials of the institution nationally and internationally. The representative of the USAID thanked both the government and the institution’s management for their contributions to knowledge and readiness to commence the programme. The MOU signed by USAID, Winrock International and Osun State Polytechnic would facilitate collaboration among the organisations and the institution with the ultimate goal of achieving the set objective of establishing a world standard Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, which would be a model for training of Agricultural Science and Engineering in the country. The programme would utilise elements of USAD’s human and institutional capacity development approach to improve the performance of the polytechnic on the programme.

BoA gives Bauchi farmers N1.5bn loan

bout 8,494 farmers in Bauchi State have received loans totalling N1.5 billion from the Bank of Agriculture (BoA). A breakdown of the figure showed that over N1 billion was disbursed as micro loans to 7,952 clients, N16.68 million short-term loans to nine clients and N1.81 million medium-term loans to 86 clients. According to the Head of Loans Department in the bank, Malam Aliyu Maman, N250 million was also disbursed under the bank’s on-lending programme to Bauchi State Co-operative Financing Agency and N49 million to 446 other clients, in collaboration with third parties. Maman said that the loans were disbursed through the bank’s outlets in Bauchi, Dass, Azare, Jama’are and Shira local government areas, to enhance the development of

NIOMR launches catfish canning Stanley Ihedigbo

Rice field

Firm acquires 20,000 hectares of land for rice farming

lephant Group Africa has acquired 20,000 hectares of land to improve on its rice cultivation initiative. Managing director of the group, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, who said this in Lagos, estimated rice consumption in Nigeria to have increased from five to six tonnes. He said that the group would continue to intensify its production initiative in line with government’s agricultural transformation programme and urged the sector to make use of financial facilities put in

place by government to boost agriculture in the country. Owoeye, who noted that the firm was incorporated as commodity trader and later embraced a backward integration programme, said that the firm now has large farms as encouraged by the Federal Government’s agriculture policies. He said: “This is the first time that government resolved not to influence contract for fertilizer procurement. Now, fertilizer gets to the farmers with redemption centres here

and there. A lot of school leavers who would have become miscreants are now actively involved in agricultural activities.” Also, an executive director of the Group, Akin Ogunbiyi, called on government to review the Land Use Act so as to lessen difficulties encountered in acquiring land for agricultural purposes. He also reiterated the need for the Bank of Agriculture to relax some of its policies so that many farmers can have access to the facilities quicker.

agriculture in the state and the country at large. Maman, who noted that the bank has developed new programmes tagged Youth Agribusiness Revolution in Nigeria (YARN) to cater for vulnerable youths, and Grow and Earn More (GEM) for women, said that under the programmes, a maximum of N1 million could be accessed per individual or group without providing any collateral. According to him, all that would be required from the beneficiaries are two reliable guarantors. Maman said: “One million naira is a quantum of loan that requires collateral, but these are special loans designed specifically for vulnerable youths and women who may not be able to provide any collateral. Therefore, states and local governments can harness the YARN and GEM windows to empower vulnerable youths and women farmers.

s part of effort to key into Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) has unveiled its latest innovation of catfish canning. Canning is described by the institute as a concept that represented a paradigm shift in fish production. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the formation of innovation platform for stakeholders in catfish farming and canning, organised by the institute in collaboration with Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in Lagos, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMOR , Dr. Gbola Akande, said that the innovation was for different aquaculture value chains to effectively engage all shareholders to develop the aquaculture industry to create job. Besides, he said the innovation was create wealth through value addition as well as increase fish production in the country. According to the NIOMR boss, utilisation of low value small and medium sized catfish will increase the production of catfish in Nigeria. “Canning of this medium size catfish as value addition is currently ongoing as a means of increasing their utilisation for human consumption, investment opportunities and product diversification, quality standardisation in the local and foreign market

and foreign exchange earnings through export of the canned catfish,” he said. Akande noted that the catfish canning project was funded with a $100,000 grant from FARA, Ghana. He commended the organisation for its support on the project. The Director General noted that in other to ensure understanding of the concept, some measures of capacity building might be required, which was what the innovation platforms was meant to achieve. He added that the objective of innovation platform for the different aquaculture value chains was to facilitate dialogue between the main local players in the value chain, such as the farmers, input suppliers, traders, transporters, processors, wholesalers, retailers and even the regulators as well as research and development. “Innovation platform identify bottlenecks and opportunities in production, marketing and the policy environment. The process is galvanised through discussions on market requirements, which include quantity, quality and the timing of sales, followed by an analysis of existing production strategies. “The platform then identifies and implements technologies to improve production to fulfill market demand. In a parallel and similar process, the marketing system is analysed and improvements to benefit all role players are tabled and tested within the local context,” Akande said.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Auto Beat

Stallion woos mega customers with Nissan shop, eyes Infiniti

Paul Ogbuokiri

tallion NMN, authorised Nissan sales company has inaugurated another multi-billion naira 3S (sales, spares and service) facility in highbrow Victoria Island – Lagos to provide one-stop shopping convenience to customers. The new facility which is coming barely two years since the Nissan franchise was re-launched in Nigeria between Nissan Motor Company and renowned West African business conglomerate - Stallion Group, would allow customers to see a more complete line-up of Nissan vehicles. The third in the series after the Gbagada – Lagos and Abuja showrooms, the Stallion NMN Victoria Island facility would not only help discerning patrons evaluate Nissan models but ensure a faster and efficient service for their existing vehicles. Managing Director Stallion NMN Mr. Parvir Singh who made these viewpoints in his keynote address at the media inauguration of the outlet said: “The construction of this new Nissan facility is in line with our business expansion plan to provide a higher level of customer satisfaction through integrated facility and enhanced hospitality.” Singh who pledged that the company would introduce Infiniti in its Nissan stable before the end of the year, said that the showroom Victoria Island project was part of the company’s core strategies of delivering world-class customer experience and asserting Nissan’s increasing potential in Nigeria’s automobile market. Describing Nigerian market as sig-

The Stallion Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

nificant to Nissan’s cardinal objective to meet global corporate identity for quality service and customer satisfaction, Mr. Singh said “Nissan’s global objective has conveyed the responsibility of repositioning and enhancing Nissan’s influence in Nigeria on Stallion NMN.” According to him, the Stallion NMN futuristic Victoria Island outlet is yet another reflection of Nissan’s spirit and style and a commitment to excellent brand image and reinvigoration of customers’ confidence in Nissan products and services. Mr. Singh further said that at the end of the Nissan’ 2014 financial year, it had claimed 10 per cent share of the Nigerian auto market, adding that the V/I facility will create an improved atmosphere for quality experience and enhanced customers’ interactive relationship with the Nissan brand. He said the facility which the first of its kind in Nigeria is an initiative of Stallion Group, adding that it strictly follows adaptable Nissan module for current corporate identity and standards used across

Nissan dealership network worldwide. Modern and spacious, the showroom is built to standard with generous theatrelike display arena and a cantilever exhibition platform on the second floor capable of holding up to 10 vehicles at a time with a quick service facility, canteen, offices and conference room. Also incorporating Nissan’s latest Retail Visual Identity, customers can view their cars from the comfort of the customer lounge and enjoy facilities such as coffee bar, wide-screen TV and Wifi service. An essentially worthy Nissan identity, the entire showroom offers ample vehicle display area with an entrance portal fitted with automatic doors on the ground floor and an imposing Nissan badge behind the reception desk that guardedly welcomes the customer. The vehicle delivery arena provides convenient atmosphere for business interface while the upper floor section overlooking the customer lounge, ground floor vehicle display area accommodates sales offices and meeting rooms.

Speaking, the Head, Sales and Marketing at Stallion NMN, Mr. Amit Sharma; said Nissan genuine parts counter will ensure reliable all-time availability for genuine parts and the service centre will offer periodic maintenance services and all mechanical repair jobs. “Customers would similarly admire the stylishly adorned lightings with down lights that draw emphasis on displayed vehicles with a must see night view that sets the showroom alive with striking illumination elements in the front façade,” he said. There is also ambience and spacious climate-controlled reception area with comfortable customer lounge and amenities that makes this showroom one of its kinds. Mr. Sharma said the essence of these features is to enhance customers’ experience and uphold Nissan corporate identity while making ownership of any Nissan vehicle an enjoyable experience. He said Stallion NMN recognises the importance of excellence both in the quality of our cars and in after sales service.

Coscharis motors wins Rolls-Royce award Ford listed among world’s Most Ethical Companies

t was a glorious day for the leading auto dealers, Coscharis Motors at the recently held Rolls-Royce Motor Cars 2015 Regional Dealer Conference in Dubai where the Company was awarded the Best Performing New Dealer in the Middle East Region in 2014. The award was presented to the Coscharis team led by its Group Managing Director, Josiah Samuel, at the Gala dinner during the Conference at the prestigious Park Hyatt Hotel, Dubai by Mr. Brett Soso, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Regional Director for Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and South America, for the outstanding performance of the dealership during the 2014 business year. The award, according to the Regional Director is in recognition of Coscharis Motors for the outstanding sales record and maintenance of the global standard of positioning the luxury brand of Rolls-

Royce in the Nigerian market within the short time of having the exclusive franchise of the brand. Commenting on the award, Samuel, who received the award on behalf of the company, dedicated the award to the company’s ever loyal customers for their patronage and acceptance of the brand with a promise to continually create more value in the automobile industry in Nigeria. “There can’t be another best way to start a new business year in 2015 than with this recognition on a globally respected luxury brand like Rolls-Royce that is timeless and iconic. This award will definitely gear us up as a team to further delight our esteemed customers and the new prospects to equally come and share in the seamless luxury experience a Rolls-Royce car delivers at all times,” he said.

ord Motor Company was named on Monday to Ethisphere Institute’s 2015 list of World’s Most Ethical Companies®. The honour comes at a time in which the way a company conducts its business is viewed as every bit as important as the products and services it provides, new research shows. “This award celebrates doing business the right way, and making the right choices every day,” said Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “Ethics and corporate citizenship are important factors that affect a company’s reputation and success, and we are proud Ford is the only automaker to have received this honor for six consecutive years.” The World’s Most Ethical Company assessment is based on a framework developed by the Ethisphere Institute to assess an organisation’s performance in an objective, consistent and standardised

manner. The honour is given based on top ratings in five categories - ethics and compliance; corporate citizenship and responsibility; culture of ethics, governance and leadership; innovation; and reputation. “The World’s Most Ethical Companies embrace the correlation between ethical business practice and improved company performance,” said Timothy Erblich, Ethisphere chief executive officer. “Earning this recognition involves the collective action of a global work force from the top down. We congratulate everyone at Ford for this extraordinary achievement.” The honour correlates with research showing a reputation for ethics and trust plays a role in consumers’ purchase decisions. Last year, according to the 2015 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient, 53 per cent of the U.S. public learned more about a company before doing business with the organisation.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and the Imo State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha (left) with the state’s PDP chairman, Mr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, during Ihedioha’s interaction and campaign with the members of Imo State Abattoir Association.

Photo | News

L-R: Head, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Michel Arrion, Director-General, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Dupe Atoki and Director, Quality Assurance and Development, Emmanuel Amlai, at an interactive meeting between the European Union and Consumer Protection Council on the importance of consumers in the economic growth in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Representative of the Plateau State governor, Prof. Comfort Piwuna (right), presenting mosquito net to one of the beneficiaries, at the inauguration of long lasting insecticidal net replacement campaign in Jos. President, Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN), Prof. Victor Chude (left), conferring the society’s award of fellows on Mr. David Sasseiville, at its annual conference in Omu-Aran, Kwara State.

L-R: National Co-coordinator, Nigerian Professional Coalition, Mr. Lanre Odu-Onikosi; Moderator, Abuja National Discourse, Mr. Lanre Olusola and compere, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, during the Abuja National Discourse at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

L-R: Wife of the Anglican Bishop of Awka, Mrs. Martha Ibezim; wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano and Director, Mary Sumner Vocational Institute, Lady Ngozi Ezomika, during the graduation of 63 trainees at Mary Sumner Vocational Institute, Paul’s University in Awka.

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Senator Helen Esuene; National Secretary, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo; National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Salam and Deputy National Chairman, South, Mr. Callistus Okafor, at the party’s National Executive Council meeting in Ibadan. PHOTO-NAN

L-R: Head of Mobilisation, Buhari/ Osinbajo Support Group, Mr. Eweseye Akintunde; National Coordinator, Mr. Tola Adekunle; Head of External Relations, Miss Omowonuola Okunnu and Head of Medical, Dr. Wale Oyebanji, at a press conference in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Islam UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

QUESTION KEEPING FRIENDSHIP WITH MALE SCHORLAR QUESTION Can I keep friendship after conversion to Islam with a man who preached the faith to me? ANSWER

I highly appreciate the sincere feelings you have towards Islam and also your decent emotions towards the man, who is helping you in your reversion to Islam. I presume you don’t think that dating or having an affair is the only way to keep in touch with him! You are allowed in Islam to have a relation of Islamic fraternity in the public sphere – minding Islamic manners – and you can also exchange ideas and social discussion over the mail or the phone. This is not haram (prohibited), as long as it does not involve any indecent talk. Muslims are first of all, brothers and sisters in faith.

E X H O RTAT I O N

22 Jumada Al-Awwal 1436 AH

Your Lord has enjoined you to worship none but Him, and to show kindness to your parents. If either or both of them attain old age in your dwelling, show them no sign of impatience, nor rebuke them; but speak to them kind words. (Qur’an 17:23-24)

Nigerian muslims support EU, UK, ‘protect religious slaughter’ campaign l Wants Lagos government to emulate UK on Muslim rights’ protection E-PROTEST E-petition on campaign reaches 134,389 signatures Adeola Yusuf

uslims in Nigeria have thrown their weight behind the campaign against the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom’s (UK) plan to ban the observation of religious dictates for the slaughter-

ing of live stocks and poultry. Some of the participants who signed an e-petition entitled: ‘Protect religious slaughter in the UK and EU,’ shared their views on the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) platform. They advised the Lagos state governnor, Babatunde Fashola, to learn from the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who had swiftly expressed the intention to dump the plan when the e-petition reached 134,389 signatures. One of the Nigerian partici-

pants who appended his signature on the e-petition, shared a letter sent to him by the UK government. “Dear Abdulrasheed Olorunsogo Akorede, The e-petition ‘Protect religious slaughter in the UK and EU’ signed by you recently reached 134,389 signatures and a response has been made to it,” his letter on the MURIC platform read. It continued: “As this e-petition has received more than 10,000 signatures, the relevant government department has

If you do have some kind of affection towards the man, ask why you would not consider getting married. If he is already married, then you should keep the relation to the very minimum formal level. Otherwise, we would neither be discussing dating here, nor fraternity. Actually, we would be discussing cheating on his wife! So, if you cannot get married - for any reason - then you should restrict yourself to the general kind of relationship, which you can have with any person, in your public life. The issue is not dating or free mixing dear Bethany. It is the issue of framing a relationship so that it abides by the Islamic rules of social interaction. This is meant to enable Muslims to avoid the development of emotions or a relationship, which would end up violating the boundaries of what is halal (permitted) and approaching the boundaries of haram. Then, things might get out of control. So, it is the definition of friendship that we are trying to clarify here. And that’s why I prefer using the word fraternity. It implies an equal relationship, in the public space, not a private affair, which takes you to attitudes and practices that are not Islamic. Islam is not about denying people the right to love, but it is about asking the question: and what is next? Feelings are a matter of heart that one cannot always control, but actions should be set on the path of God, and this is part of Islam as submission to Allah’s guidance. If you have more in your heart, than circumstances would allow, then keep patient. Pray to Allah to allow you, in the future, to have a legitimate relationship that would end up in marriage. If this can never happen, for one reason or another, then try to shift to the accessible, general Islamic standards of manners. Then, you should know that maybe your destiny is not to marry him. Sister, be sure that piety will bring you happiness and inner peace, even if your heart suffers for a while. I have felt love myself and was blessed by sharing life with the man I loved, through the bond of marriage. So, I know how it feels! Still, I insisted not to go beyond the Islamic boundaries. Then, we agreed that if we cannot get married, we would keep the relation of Islamic fraternity, and remain forever on the path of Allah as caring brother and sister. Allah almighty knows best.

L-R: Chairman, Zakat/Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) Board of Directors, Prince Sulayman; beneficiary of a deep freezer and stabilizer, Lady Funke Adesina; Olagunju Arogunmosa of Ede Land, representing HRH, The Timi of Ede Land, Alhaji Chief Badmus Wasiu and Executive Director, ZSF Imam Shuaib Abdullahi, during the Distribution of Zakat and Sadaqat at Ede Town, Osun State

Adeola Yusuf

he federal government has unveiled plans to implement Takaful insurance guidelines. The Takaful is an interestfree Islamic insurance practice whereby members contribute money into a pooling system in order to guarantee provision for one another in the event of loss or damage. Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda said at the inauguration of an advisory council for the implementation of the Takaful insurance product that this was a part of ongoing reforms in the insurance sector of the economy. Corroborating Yuguda’s view, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel said the inauguration was another step toward the implementation of Takaful guidelines. He named Professor Dawud Noibi as chairman of the ad-

provided the following response: The government encourages the highest standards of welfare at slaughter and would prefer to see all animals stunned before they are slaughtered for food. “However, we also respect the rights of the Jewish and Muslim communities to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs. “The Prime Minister has confirmed that there would be no ban on religious slaughter in the UK. Council Regulation 1099/2009, on the protection of animals at time of killing, and the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 permit slaughter without stunning to be carried out in accordance with religious rites. “Within both regulations there are strict requirements on where, how and who can slaughter animals in accordance with religious rites.” These requirements are, according to the UK government’s response, “monitored and enforced by Official Veterinarians (OV) of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to ensure that animals are spared unnecessary suffering, distress or pain during the slaughter process. “This e-petition remains open to signatures and will be considered for debate by the Backbench Business Committee should it pass the 100 000 signature threshold,” he added in the letter.

FG mulls implementation of Islamic insurance guidelines

l Names Noibi chairman Takaful Implementation Advisory Council

visory council. Noibi who accepted the responsibility maintained that the council would do all within its powers to effectively discharge its mandate. “I want to thank you for the confidence reposed in us to serve in this area of insurance and we promise to deliver on our mandate. “We consider this occasion as a call to duty and we will do everything possible to fulfill this task for the benefit of the nation and to generations yet unborn,” Noibi said. Takaful is particularly different from the conventional insurance practice as it has an investment window which allows profit to be shared be-

tween operators and participants. According to the minister, the inauguration of the board came at a time when the insurance industry in the country is geared towards moving the economy to a greater height. This, he said, was the result of the National Insurance Commission’s resolve to key into the National Financial Inclusion Strategy launched by the federal government in 2012. “The development of the operational guidelines for the regulation of Takaful insurance business in Nigeria by NAICOM heralds an important financial inclusion platform.

“Your role as advisory council for the regulator is to serve as an additional layer for addressing issues that may arise from Takaful operators regarding Shariah compliance in Takaful undertakings. “In this era of risk management and risk based approach to financial service regulations you will appreciate that Shariah non-compliance is identified as the top in ranking of risks in Islamic finance,” the minister said. He called on members of the advisory council to deploy their wealth of experience in the discharge of their responsibilities as much is expected of them by the industry.

Feminique NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Wemi-Jones: Women are better banking customers than men

Ope Wemi-Jones is the Group Head, Inclusive Banking at Access Bank Plc and the driver of the popular ‘W’ Initiative of the bank. At the recent International Women’s Day celebration organized by the US Consulate, Lagos, Access Bank Plc and Ideas Builders Initiative at the bank’s Head Office, she told EBERE AMEH that the ‘W’ Initiative is designed to meet the financial and lifestyle needs of women

lobally, women who make up 40 per cent of the world’s workforce, disproportionately face financial access barriers that prevent them from participating in the economy and improving their lives. With over 82 million women in a Nigeria, and many still struggling with unmet financial needs and little or no access to credit facilities, they continue to experience a barrier to their growth and development. Lack of financial education and a highly patriarchal society also limit women from gaining access to and benefitting from financial services. These were what Access Bank had in mind when it launched her ‘W’ Initiative, the in 2006. It was later re-launched and is now manned by a Chartered Accountant and top notch Banker, Ope Wemi-Jones. “We describe ‘W’ Initiative as the home to everything Access Bank has to offer women. ‘W’ is not a product but it is our approach to banking women, whether you are a young professional just starting out, you are a woman at the stage of raising your family or you are a woman in business. We put the initiative together with bundles of banking products and services that both meet your financial and lifestyle needs. “Part of the privileges for women and their families under the initiative includes access to a comprehensive range of loan product and credit facilities; access to ‘W’ community with helpful advice on family and finance matters, home and family articles and details of special offers; access to a wide range of great discount, special offers and freebies on health, beauty and fitness. “Others include early savers club for children, access to maternal health support, family protection as well as access to seminars on family planning and parenting. The initiative would also support SMEs owned by women,” she added. Ope, as she is fondly called, has brought in her wealth of experience and expertise to bear in ‘W’, transforming Access Bank to the go-to bank for women both within Nigeria and beyond. “I have close to two decades work experience in the Nigeria Financial Services

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

Wemi-Jones

Industry and a full decade in a Service Management function. I have excellent knowledge of the Nigerian Service Industry and best practice with tested and proven strategies that deliver exceptional service experience to customers and returns on investment to organizations. Delivering exceptional Customer Service is my passion and my goal is to spread a positive customer service spirit with every interaction I have. “If I see a woman who has a family, I understand her needs. I know what I can do to help her. I know how I can add value to her life. I know how I can take her from where she is to the next level that she desires to be. Rresearch has shown that women have far lower default ratio than men on loans repayment. What we strive to achieve with ‘W’ every time you have an encounter with us is to inspire you, get you connected and get you empowered.” After the event, which had over 300 great women in attendance, Ope explained further to Feminique the different ways women can benefit from this widely talked about ‘W’ Initia-

tive. “The first thing is to establish a banking relationship with Access Bank. We have the Maternal Health Service Support, which is basically to help finance medical procedures for the women. So whether you want to have in-vitro fertilization, natal services whether locally or abroad, or would like to do other specialized procedures that a woman require, we have a loan scheme to support that. If you have your salary account domiciled with you or that of someone close to you, you can access these loans and still enjoy our discounted interest rate. If you are a woman in business who also needs access to loan, as long as you meet some of our criteria, which we have made flexible to be able to accommodate women, you can access finance for some of your projects and business ideas. On the other hand, if you are an employee in an organization, you also have access to loans by virtue of having your salary account domiciled with access bank. There are lots of things that women need to know. And

I think I should also use this opportunity to tell women not to just conclude that banks cannot help you. Come forward, ask questions, where we can’t give you exactly what you are asking for, we tell you what you can do, because the whole essence of the W Initiative is to inspire, to connect and to empower women, not just in Nigeria but all around the world.” She also talked about the ‘W’ online social community for women, saying that it is for all women, whether you bank with Access or not. “When you are not banking with us, you can still benefit from our online community we call the w community.com. It is an online platform that gives you access to other women all over the world. Through the community, you can get inspired, you can get connected and you can get empowered too. We have a variety of resources that touches on every aspect of women’s life that you can benefit from. Good thing is that it doesn’t cost you anything as registration on the community is free,” Ope explained. Keying into the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, which is ‘Make It Happen,’ ‘W’ Initiative started a round table discussion on empowering women with technology. It is a common knowledge that though more can be achieved with technology, many women are still at a loss on what technology is and can do for them. “What we want to do is to start the discussion with a select number of women who we believe are influencers; who have a lot of other women that look up to them. And the next thing we’d have to do is to have a series of capacity building programmes on empowering women with technology. And what that means is that you stop being the woman who uses the social media only for posting wedding pictures, you can now do more things, leveraging on technology. With that, we’ll help you grow your business and your career by helping you to optimise the opportunity that comes with technology. The world is talking digitalization and the woman needs to know how to do all that.” Ope, who is an alumna of Yaba College of Technology and Lagos Business School insists that W. Initiative offers women exclusive access to a wide range of lifestyleoriented value added benefits and privileges, catering for all forms of vital empowerment that women clamour.

Feminique

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

12 ways to tell if your guy is good in bed without sleeping with him I had been planning to write on this topic for some time as a reply to the requests I get from ladies. Here is one of the recent ones. Dear sir, ‘I am a widower. I am 50+ but still enjoy sex very much. I have many admirers and I am financially ok. I don’t want to be jumping from one bed to the other. I want a good companion, but definitely not a sugar boy, because I am not a sugar mummy. Sir, how do I know that a man is good sexually in bed and can satisfy me before I go to bed with him?’ Now for the answers. There are so many ways, but I will briefly mention about 12 of them in this and the next write up. The Listener. This is so important, that you can ignore it at your own peril. It will be a catastrophe. A good listener really cares about you in and out of bed. He wants to be your sounding board. The shoulder you can always cry on. He is your friend and your lover. Lean on him and you will not regret it. Unfortunately, only about 40% of men are good listeners. A lot of us will pre-

tend to be listening. Whereas all our mind is busy on how fast we can get your pants off and trick you into bed. So you must be careful to get the real listener not the fake. The Kiss And Tell. Run away as fast as possible from these ones. How do you know them? They will always tell you all about their past relationships. How good they were to the girls in and out of bed. Also, they are always the ones sacking the ladies. Never the other way round. Some of them even go as far as mentioning the poor girls names. You know what, they are just liars and empty barrels. I’ve come across so many of them. All of them are useless in bed, believe me. And they will kiss and tell about you too. Posture. The posture is important. Slouching, or generally poor posture is a bad sign. He will be lazy and ineffective in bed. Size. General body size, not down below O! That is another controversial topic entirely. I mean whether he is fat or not. No matter what they tell us, fat men are very, very poor and bad lov-

ers. The first is the fat. The missionary position is a no go area unless you are equally fat. Second is the time. Most fat men have problems of either premature ejaculation, or erectile dysfunction or even both. Laughter. A good lover must be able to laugh at himself. If he does this well, then it means he will not be too full of himself in bed. He would not be selfish or have a big ego to massage. Smells sweet. I am not even talking about the man with a mouth and/ or body odour. Of course you don’t need me to tell you to pick race from men with such odour. It is a sign of dirtiness. So they are most likely to be dirty down below too. I am talking about the guy who knows how to groom himself. The right type of perfume, after shave, soap etc. You know what I mean. They are more sensitive, appreciate good things and take their time to make you happy in bed. Not the pimp or gigolo type. Those ones try to cover up for their bedmatics short comings by being loud. See ya next week.

Fadeyi

Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi is a Western trained medical practitioner and one of the very few certified Sexologists in Nigeria. He is also a marriage counsellor and would be bringing his immense knowledge and experience to bear in writing this column. Make it a date with him every Friday for that expert advice on sex and relationship. He can be reached on drtaiwofadeyi@gmail. com or 08033148899 (sms only).

Ego: Diary of a single mom Ebere Ameh

his is the most impactful International Women’s Day I have ever celebrated. And guess what? You won’t believe I went with Bunmi, doctor Okonji’s wife. Though I made up my mind not to go close to her family, or advise her to save her home, she has called a number of times and visited twice. Being very talkative and outgoing by nature, she confessed how she just has a soft spot for me. It is ironic that as I run from people because of my single status, they come to me because of what I’m yet to understand. Look at my Landlord. The other day, he showered so much praises on me that I had to look over my shoulder to know if he was really addressing me or somebody else. And a host of others have been like that too. Well, I call it the glory of God upon my life. But seriously, I think the problem with single mothers and divorcees, most times, is not really the society but their own mind-set. That was one message that reverberated during the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration. The need for women, no matter their status to be confident and the fact that one can’t progress beyond ones self-esteem was one message that just stuck. “I have been limiting myself by my thought pattern. I have always thought that nobody will take me serious because I’m not married, even when I have been proven wrong a couple of times. All that has got to change, today,” I told myself at the conference. Anyway, Bunmi came to see how Tobi was doing and we got talking. She got interested in the IWD celebration and asked if she could accompany me. With no child to look after and a husband that closes late in the evening; “why not”? I said, “If

I’m so proud of myself

your hubby approves of it.” “Hubby ke, do I know what he is doing in right now. As long as we come back today, I don’t need his permission,” she said matter-of-factly. Reluctantly, we registered online but it turned out to be a fabulous opportunity for both of us to connect and gist. With Bunmi, you can be sure that there is no dull moment. She helped with lead questions that helped me express my mind lovingly to her. “Do I look fat?” She asked on our way back. I hope she is not expecting a response to that because she

doesn’t look fat, she is indeed obese, but how do I tell her? “My husband told me that he doesn’t mind if I grew fat, but I think, I’m too fat now,” she added. “Actually, some men find it difficult to tell their wives how they feel about their sizes, especially when they know the verbal attack and bedroom sanctions that may follow. Though I expect Doctor to know better the implications of obesity, his hands may be tied,” I said trying to pick my words carefully to avoid hurting her. “No, he is not talking because he is going out with all those nurses that throw themselves

at him. Let me meet him at home today, I don’t blame him.” “No! Bunmi, I didn’t say you are too fat. One thing you should know is that you are a very beautiful woman. Many women struggle with fat here and there but they don’t tear their family apart with their mouth because of that. I think you have more things to think about than the extra weight we all grapple with at one time or the other,” I admonished reminding her of the mind-set and poor self-esteem they say is the bane of many women. “Bunmi my dear, life has thought me that many people think from the stand point of their circumstances. But when we start thinking from our vision, everything becomes a possibility. Promise me you will be as loving to your husband today as you have never been in recent times. I will introduce you to my gym one of these days. Let’s start from there in our journey towards self-knowledge and development,” I said as I dropped her off in her house. She remained sitting and gazed at me for a while. Just as I was about to ask if I had said something wrong, she stretched out her hands and hugged me tightly, muttering in an emotion laden voice “I will. I bless the day I met you. Nobody has ever encouraged me the way you did today,” she came down and walked slowly into her house. “I think I spoke well. Kudos to me,” I said proudly as I drove home, contemplating my new found desire in counselling couples, many of whom tear down their marriages with silly and avoidable mistakes.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Crime

Activist reveals how police killed three men Juliana Francis

“I

’m a sweeper. I used my earnings as a sweeper to train my son. I trained him until he became an adult. He got married and was 32 when police shot and killed him. He was killed when he reached the age he was supposed to be taking care of me. Today, police are saying they don’t know the sergeant that killed my son. Why are they lying? Everyone knows Sergeant Skoda!” Those were the poignant words of Mrs. Iyabo Ganzalo before she broke down and wept like her heart was breaking. Iyabo’s son was among three young men killed on the Lagos Island last year. Indeed, he was the last to be killed in that dark year. Others are Suleiman Badmus and Rasheed Oludegun. Iyabo’s son, Adeniyi Asubiaro was shot to death by a trigger-happy cop, while he was relaxing in front of his home after a power outage. Mr. Badmus was chased by policemen from where he was watching a football match, until he fell into the lagoon and drowned. Mr. Oludegun was shot and killed in a naming ceremony. Oludegun’s wife, who was on admission in a hospital, promptly died when she heard about the death of her husband. Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), a non-governmental organisation, which had been monitoring activities of the police, while speaking on police brutality and abuses in Nigeria that occured in 2014, said police impunity has not changed, even with the changes in the Nigeria Police Force leadership. The National Coordinator of NOPRIN, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma said: “When Mohammed Abubakar was the Inspector General of Police, he used to acknowledge receiving petitions written to the police authority on police impunities and abuses. But the present IGP, Suleiman Abba

Iyabo

had not showed any sign that he saw or received any of our petitions. And we’ve written several!” He said that police authority and police oversight agencies, particularly, Police Service Commission (PSC), have failed woefully in their statutory duties of ensuring that complaints were properly and effectively investigated so that perpetrators would be brought to book and victims get redress and compensation.” Nwanguma further noted: “We have,

therefore, remained committed to our undertaking to consistently and systematically monitor, document, verify and publicise cases that come to our attention. Bringing cases to public knowledge and stimulates public debate on them, which help to put authorities under pressure to fulfil their obligations, under local and international human rights law, to ensure effective investigation of all cases of police brutality, torture, extra judicial killing and enforced disappearance, cor-

CRIME QUOTE

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

“We wish to state that there is no evidence that the IS operates in Nigeria and the latest attempt by Boko Haram to identify with the group is an act of desperation. Director General of National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri.

ruption or attempt to compromise investigation of complaints.” Iyabo’s son, Asubiaro, an Information Technologist, was shot dead by a Police Inspector attached to the Lion Building Police Division. The policeman was said to be chasing after some youths at a birthday party. Residents in the area said that the killer cop is Mr. Hakeem Sodiq, nicknamed sergeant Skoda’. A human right activist, Prince Mukaila Apata Akinsemoyin, who is also a former policeman, said residents on the Island were sick and tired of the reckless shooting and killing of people by policemen. “The police have killed three people just within a year, in the same area. The police authority said they don’t know any Hakeem, but it’s a lie! Everybody knows him. I’m sorry to say, but that policeman is notorious! I don’t know if he had been promoted, but I know that he is still working at the Lion Building, ‘Area A Police Command.’ I even know him myself,” he said. Asubiaro’s wife, Idayat, was eight months pregnant at the time her husband died. Iyabo now sells groceries at King’s College Hostel and presently taking care of Asubiaro’s widow and baby. Iyabo said: “Hakeem Sodiq opened fire while chasing some youths having a birthday party. He killed my son! My son was not an armed robber. He was working and the police took his life. It’s not good for the police to be shooting recklessly in area where people live. They always end up killing people. They would then turn around to lie that the deceased was an armed robber. All I want now is justice.” Akinsemoyin, who has been cataloguing police killings in the area, explained that prior to Asubiaro’s death, police officers attached to the same Lion Building invaded the venue of a naming ceremony, opened fire for no reason and killed Oludegun. Before the shooting, the policemen were said to have invaded the ceremony, claiming they sighted someone smoking Indian hemp on the street. They tried to disrupt the ceremony but the celebrant, Mr. Lean, gave them N5000 which they accepted. He also gave them food and drink, after which they left. Akinsemoyin said: “Few minutes later, the same patrol team came back to the venue and started shooting sporadically into the crowd. Oludegun was shot and died on the spot. One Saheed Dosunmu was also hit by a bullet on his left arm. The policeC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 2

Crime

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

men escaped. When the angry crowd saw another police patrol team coming, they attacked the policemen and burnt their vehicle.When the news of Oludegun’s death reached his wife who was on admission at the General Hospital, she died immediately. The policeman who killed Oludegun is nicknamed ‘Up Chelsea.” Recalling how Badmus died, Akinsemoyin said that on July 19, 2014, some youths were watching television at a viewing centre, when a policeman, nicknamed Ballo, stormed the area with his team and opened fire. Everyone scampered off, fearful of stray bullets, but unsure why the policemen were shooting. Badmus was one of those that ran for his life. Policemen chased after him until he fell into the lagoon. He drowned. His corpse was fished out three days later by fishermen. His family members identified his corpse. “The matter was reported at Ebute Ero Police Station, but the Divisional Police Officer, is trying to cover up. The cop who led the team that chased the boy into the lagoon is attached to Ebute Ero Police Station. He is still working there even after his dastardly action,” said Akinsemoyin. The activist is angry that these cases are being handled with levity by police authorities, while so many others had been swept under the carpet. Noting another case of police impunity, Nwanguma said that one Chinagorom Ihejiagwa, a 31-year-old businessman, was arrested last year , and till date, is still being held by operatives of SARS, Awkuzu, Anambra State. Nwanguma said that NOPRIN received information sometime in June 2014, that Chinagorom and his wife, Ifeyinwa Ihejiagwa, then, a nursing mother of a month old baby, were arrested and detained on May 29, 2014 by some operatives of SARS, Awkuzu, Anambra State. They were arrested by some police officers, one of whom was identified simply as ‘Pele.’ Chinagorom was taken away without being informed of his offence. Chinagorom’s wife was detained overnight and released the next day and she reported that she was ‘physically and emotionally molested,’ adding that one of the officers slapped her. But Chinagorom has, since the past 10 months, remained in the custody of the SARS without charge. “His family members and counsel were not allowed access to him despite several efforts. His younger brother reported being told by the O/C SARS, Mr. James Nwafor that ‘we will kill him because he is a confessed kidnapper’. His family believes that he had been tortured to make ‘confessions’, as is the common practice in SARS.” NOPRIN was further informed that prior to Chinagorom’s arrest, ‘Pele’ called him many times, accusing him of having bought a stolen vehicle and demanded that he should bring his ‘own share’. Chinagorom denied the allegation of buying any stolen vehicle and said he had nothing to give to ‘Pele’. It was after several futile efforts by ‘Pele’ to extract from Chinagorom his ‘share’ of what he believed to be the proceeds of crime that he masterminded his arrest and detention, labelling him a ‘kidnapper’. Nwanguma said: “The O/C SARS, CSP James Nwafor, has continued to disregard court orders that the police should either release him on bail or

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Police impunity increasing’

The late Asubiaro

Nwanguma

produce him before a court for trial to determine his guilt or innocence in accordance with due process. An Anambra State High Court, on June 30, 2014 ordered the police to grant him bail or produce him before the Court within seven days. In its judgement of November 27, 2014, on the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Action filed on behalf of the victim, the same court ordered the Anambra State Commissioner of Police and, in particular, the O/C SARS, Awkuzu, Anambra State to release Chinagorom on bail or bring him before the Court. “The Court declared illegal and unconstitutional, the continued detention of the victim. However, the O/C SARS says the court orders have no meaning, since, as he claims, a nonexistent Anambra State law permits the police to act above the law.” Nwanguma said that on June 12, 2014, NOPRIN wrote to the former IGP Abubakar, concerning this case and numerous other disturbing complaints of gross abuse of hu-

The late Bello

Abba

man rights, misuse of police powers, breach of legally established procedures for arrests and detention and flagrant disobedience to Court Orders by police officers at SARS, Awkuzu Anambra State under the supervision of CSP Nwafor James (O.C. SARS). “NOPRIN received no reply and did not know of any action taken in response to that petition,” said Nwanguma. “NOPRIN had again, written to the current IGP on the same subject, calling on him to take urgent and decisive actions to check the excesses of CSP James Nwafor and bring an end to the brutality, gross misconduct, corrupt activities and impunity at SARS Awkuzu.” He said that the indefinite detention, incommunicado, of Chinagorom in disobedience to a Court Order and a Court Judgement illustrated the impunity in Awkzu SARS. He added: “We hereby call on the IGP to make a statement concerning the continued detention of Chinagorom in utter and flagrant contempt of

a court judgement. We renew our call on the IGP to order an investigation into the activities of CSP James Nwafor (O/C SARS) and check the impunity at SARS.” He held that abuse and misconduct remain widespread as could be seen from the distribution of cases across different states of Nigeria. Another tragic and saddening police killing was that of Femi Bello, an undergraduate. Bello died in police custody at Mararaba Police Division, Nasarawa State. He had just completed his 300 level examinations, being a student in the Department of Economics, Kaduna State University. He was 31 years old. The account of the circumstances leading to his arrest and eventual death, as narrated by his mother and younger brother, Biodun and corroborated by the family lawyer, Nanpon Wuypo, is that Femi left his school in Kaduna and travelled to Abuja on December 4, 2014, to execute a contract to produce some printed materials which he does to pay his school fees. Femi’s father died four months earlier. On arrival, he first went to his family house at Bwari Area Council of Abuja around 2pm so see his mother, but she was not around and he told his siblings that he was going to see a friend of his who lives at Mararaba Area of Karu LGA of Nassarawa State. Family members were worried when Femi did not come back later that day. The following day, when they received information about Femi’s arrest and detention at Mararaba Police Station, the family stormed the station, but were told that Femi had died. Nwanguma said: “The family is sad that the police murdered their innocent son in cold-blood, but even more troubled that the police have also maligned him in death by branding him an ‘armed robber’. They are determined to prove their son’s innocence and to redeem the family’s dented name. The family demands the prosecution of the perpetrators of this act.”

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Analysts predict 8.4% February inflation PRESSURE Food prices, naira devaluation, to fuel inflation Tony Chukwunyem

nalysts at the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) of Access Bank Plc, have forecast 0.2 percent increase in the inflation rate from 8.2 percent in January to 8.4 per cent in February. In a note published ahead of the expected release of the latest inflation figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the analysts hinged their prediction on an increase in food prices, the devaluation of the naira and increased liquidity in the banking system as a result of election spending. According to the EIU,“ The food sub-index is likely to

drive inflation higher on the back of continued unrest in the North-Eastern part of the country; despite recent successes made by the military to clamp down on the terrorist group – Boko Haram. Food prices may react upward to reduced supplies from the North. Imported inflation is on the increase arising from naira devaluation. Liquidity condition largely supported by election spending continues to drive prices upwards.” The analysts further predicted that the expected rise in the inflation rate will lead to a decline in real rates of return in the money and fixed income market as well as continued drop in the value of the naira. “We may continue to see moves by investors to convert naira denominated investments to dollars, further dampening the value of the local currency. Also, there may be heightened interest to save in dollars as investors try to get around the higher inflation.

NNPC renews pipeline guard contracts for ex-militants, others Adeola Yusuf

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has renewed contracts for firms owned by some ex-militants and members of the host communities. Although the management of the corporation confirmed the contracts renewal in a late night statement on Wednesday, New Telegraph gathered that the deals were renewed for another four years. “The contracts will last till 2019,” a source at the corporation told this newspaper by phone. Meanwhile, the NNPC said that its management had announced the renewal and extension of the pipeline protection contract to some of its host communities. The corporation said that these contracts were renewed “in a bid to effectively combat the growing scourge of pipeline sabotage that has impacted negatively on its operations.” Explaining the rationale behind the renewal of the contract, which was first awarded in 2011, the Corporation stated that there has been a noticeable increase in the spate of attacks on crude oil, products, and gas pipelines since the expiration of the first community-based contract in 2012, leading to frequent production shut-ins and deferrals of gas supply to power plants. “The pipeline protection contract is part of our community engagement programme across our host communities aimed at getting community

members to help in the task of protecting the pipelines around their communities. “It would be recalled that while the earlier pipeline protection contract to the communities, which lasted from 2011 to 2012 subsisted, breaches to our pipelines were minimal, which conducted to the rise in production. The recent rise in the frequency and intensity of willful attacks on our pipelines dictates that we step up our community engagement programme to help stem the tide of the pipeline vandalism scourge. “In the current programme, we have not only renewed the contracts for the three initial community-based companies involved in the 2011 contract, we have extended the programme to five other community-based companies in other states where we have a high concentration of pipelines stretching from the Niger Delta to the Ondo, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States. “The contracts do not in any way obviate or undermine the responsibility of the police and other security agencies to protect the pipelines. “They are actually designed to complement the work of the security agencies by raising the alarm and drawing the attention of security agencies to any suspicious movements around the pipelines right of way,” the Corporation stated. It called on the media and other members of the public to desist from reading political meanings to the Corporation’s operations.

This will further raise demand for FX,” the analysts stated. However, according to the EIU analysts, despite the likely rise in inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is unlikely to respond by increasing the benchmark interest rate, the Monetary Policy Rate

(MPR). “This position is drawn from the fact that the nation’s economy is on a fragile path – given the upcoming elections and fall in oil prices. Further increase in MPR may stifle credit to the real sectors of the economy and retard growth. The CBN is

rivate equity firm Emerging Capital Partners has announced the appointment of Seyi Owodunni as Managing Director of its Nigeria office. Owodunni according to a statement, will be based in Lagos and work with the local team to source and secure investment opportunities, the company said. He joins from Kingdom Africa Management where he

was partner and spearheaded the group’s expansion in West Africa, including the opening of its office in Lagos. Owodunni has been the chief financial officer of Starcomms Plc, a telecommunications operator in Nigeria. He has also worked at Kayode Owodunni & Co (Chartered Accountants), Lucent Technologies Inc and KPMG.

FG raises N91bn in bonds, yields rise

he Federal Government raised N91 billion at a bond auction held yesterday with yields rising by more than one percentage point across all tenors, according to a statement by the Debt Management Office (DMO). The debt office said a total of N20 billion worth of the 5-year bond was sold at 16.49 percent, up 95 basis points from 15.54 percent from the previous sale on February 11.

Lender to reward loyal customers

Seyi Owodunni is Emerging Capital Partners’ MD

expected to continue to mop up excess liquidity in the system using the Open Market Operations (OMO),” they explained.

The 10-year paper was sold at 16.84 percent compared with 15.75 percent previously, raising a total of N40 billion, while N31 billion worth of the 20-year debt note was sold at a yield of 19.99 percent, up from 15.85 percent previously. Dealers said the sale attracted low demand from investors. Total subscriptions stood at N119.14 billion compared with N123.6 billion at the last auction.

cobank Nigeria’s “Giant Prize Give Away Promo” is aimed at rewarding its loyal customers, the lender has said in a statement. Head of Advantage Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs. Dammy Oruwari, said this at the grand draw of the lender’s promo in Lagos. She said the campaign showed that the bank has a lot of loyal customers. As she put it, “Ecobank is a pan-African bank. We are present in 36 countries in Africa. We have a lot of products to service customers’ needs. This promo is more like one of the things we do. We like to reward our loyal customers. “It is a continuous thing, it is not what we do one-off and so I will implore everyone here today to spread the good news. It is real and you can see that what we are doing at Ecobank is genuine.” According to a statement from Ecobank, lottery regulators from National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lagos State Lottery Board and Consumer Protection Council at the event also lauded the transparency of the draws.

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$31,065,248,068

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/3/2015 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

Business | Financial Market News

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

12-Mar-15

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 34.00 600.00 459.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 223.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,932.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,421.61

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.12 1.43 2.13 2.38 2.47 3.22 4.30 4.62 4.92 6.88 9.01 13.72 14.20 14.69 15.36 19.35

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

14.30 16.18 16.31 16.26 16.26 16.19 16.12 16.10 16.12 16.25 16.66 14.13 13.85 13.55 15.01 16.86

12.99 16.06 16.22 16.18 16.18 16.05 16.02 15.98 16.03 16.18 16.58 14.09 13.79 13.49 14.94 16.79

98.81 96.10 97.84 87.72 86.39 86.59 99.55 71.12 98.03 100.50 88.75 105.12 91.62 68.12 70.22 73.23

98.96 96.25 97.99 87.87 86.54 86.89 99.85 71.42 98.33 100.80 89.05 105.42 91.92 68.42 70.52 73.53

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.20 1.06 1.74 2.10 2.32

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 2.85

17.69 19.23 18.21 17.27 19.11

96.52 98.24 96.74 97.06 90.37

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

308.28

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.47

4.44

20.41

96.59

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.31

3.23

18.86

98.33

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.83

4.46

21.17

94.82

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

20.20

96.54

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.10

1.00

17.27

87.58

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.37

1.00

17.39

95.77

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.81

1.79

18.02

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

1.98

1.80

18.06

93.78

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.99

1.00

17.26

94.92

91.37

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.18

1.00

17.26

95.28

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.18

4.78

21.04

88.65

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.37

1.00

17.26

96.77

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.61 4.70 2.92

1.00 1.00 1.00

17.25 17.10 17.22

96.61 91.75 94.68

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.22

1.00

17.19

94.37

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.71

1.00

17.19

86.85

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.81

1.00

17.20

92.06

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.47

1.44

17.60

92.54

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.50

1.00

17.16

94.71

97.19

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

460.61 422.53

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.44

1.00

16.90

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.49

1.00

17.02

97.67

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.58

2.63

18.82

97.49

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.55

1.00

17.16

94.52

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.62

1.34

17.52

95.50

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.55

1.00

17.26

91.48

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.57

1.88

18.05

100.63

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.58

1.00

17.17

98.50

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

2.00

1.00

17.27

101.15 98.01

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

2.00

1.00

17.27

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.53

1.00

17.16

91.88

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.85

2.29

18.52

96.00

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.18

6.11

22.37

93.13

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.80

2.16

18.39

94.99

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.68

2.76

18.94

87.40

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.55

1.00

17.71

73.77

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.55

1.00

17.71

79.77

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

132.23

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

122.27

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.92

1.00

17.22

84.37

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

17.11

81.17

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 20.64

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.76

6.54

99.95

100.99

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

6.06

5.73

97.20

98.19

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.97

6.81

96.28

97.27

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,467.14

Corporate Eurobonds B/Fitch; B-/S&P

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

130.63

44.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

7.83

6.01

99.63

101.65

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

13.33

88.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

14.23

13.03

81.83

84.50

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

8.85

8.28

91.28

92.93

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

38.97

43.63

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

9.23

90.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

15.39

14.83

80.04

81.51

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

14.09

77.95

B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

28.42 14.48 13.62

28.42 13.98 13.62

40.00 79.00 76.00

40.00 80.75 76.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

11.40

10.89

87.50

89.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,610.30

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15

Bid Discount (%) 10.68 11.14 13.25 13.42 14.53 14.29 14.96 13.64

Offer Discount (%) 10.43 10.89 13.00 13.17 14.28 14.04 14.71 13.39

Bid Yield (%) 10.70 11.19 13.35 13.56 14.73 14.52 15.27 13.93

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 16.2917 16.2572 17.4773 18.5030

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

14.71

O/N Tenor Call 1M

15.00

REPO

Rate (%) 15.00 16.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

199.09 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

199.19 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

8.50 10.00 12.1493

200.00 591.57 223.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,932.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,421.61

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

14.69 15.36 19.35

13.55 15.01 16.86

13.49 14.94 16.79

68.12 70.22 73.23

68.42 70.52 73.53

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

Agency Bonds

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH FMBN 13, 2015 ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

Business | Financial Market News

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.20 1.06 1.74 2.10 2.32

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 2.85

17.69 19.23 18.21 17.27 19.11

96.52 98.24 96.74 97.06 90.37

Stock market gains N35bn on Jonathan’s visit TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

308.28

Sub-National Bonds

A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.47

4.44

20.41

96.59

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.31

3.23

18.86

98.33

4.46

21.17

94.82

3.48

20.20

96.54

1.00

17.27

87.58

1.00

17.39

95.77

1.79

18.02

91.37

1.80

18.06

93.78

1.00

17.26

94.92

1.00

17.26

95.28

4.78

21.04

1.00

17.26

96.77

1.00 1.00 1.00

17.25 17.10 17.22

96.61 91.75 94.68

1.00

17.19

94.37

1.00

17.19

86.85

1.00

17.20

92.06

1.44

17.60

92.54

1.00

17.16

94.71

BULLISH

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

*BAYELSA Equities come alive as EDO *DELTA President Goodluck ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI Jonathan visits the bourse ‡ /Agusto *NIGER ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

BBB-/Agusto;by A-/GCR *OSUN Stories Chris Ugwu

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

LAGOS he bulls staged a A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI comeback yesterday ‡ /Agusto *EKITI A-/GCR *NASARAWA at the Nigerian Stock TOTAL OUTSTANDING ExchangeVALUE (NSE) after TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION the market had remained on Corporate Bonds for two consecuthe red zone ‡ /Agusto *UPDC tive days. BBB-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS The NSE ASI rose by 0. 40 BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO per cent on a day President A-/Agusto FSDH Goodluck Jonathan visited A/GCR UBA the Exchange and sounded the BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING Nil *DANA closing gong. Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

#{r}

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 Market analysts believe the 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 visit will much-needed 10.00 add LAGOSthe 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 tonic that would shore up inEDO 31-DEC-2017 vestor14.00 confidence and encour14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 age other companies 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 to list on 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 the local bourse. 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 Consequently, the All-Share 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 Index15.50 appreciated by 104.63 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 basis points or 0.34 per cent to 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 close at 30,973.80 index points 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 as against 30.869.17 recorded 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 the previous day Similarly, 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 market capitalisation of equities firmed up by N35 billion or 0.34 per cent to close higher at N10.335 trillion from N10.300 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 trillion. 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 Meanwhile, a turnover of 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 333.4 13.00 million shares worth 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 N4.3 billion in 4,252 deals was 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 recorded in LEASING the day’s trading. 18.00 C&I 30-NOV-2017 DANA 9-APR-2018 TheMPR+7.00 banking sub sector of

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# #{r}

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

Nil

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

irst Bank Holding Plc said and in continuation of its TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION it had rewarded over 5000 reward initiative for its cusSupranational Bond customers with gifts worth tomers, the bank yesterday 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P over N500 million IFC since the rewarded more customers in 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB bank commenced its savings the grand finale. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE The monthly and quarterly bonanza promo in 2008. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION The Group Head, Lagos raffle of the savings bonanza Mainland, First Bank, Mrs. have produced several Description winRating/Agency Issuer Olufunke Smith, said this ners in the past months that FGN Eurobonds yesterday at the grand finale include 300 winners of 32-inch JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P of the six savings promotional LED Televisions,6.75300 winners BB-/Fitch; of Samsung Galaxy tab, 3, 300 campaign tagged ‘First Bank FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P winners of home theatre sysSavings Bonanza. BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P She said the objective of tems, 300 winners of N50,000 TOTAL OUTSTANDING the promo was toVALUE reward the cash prize each and six winTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION bank’s customers for their loy- ners of brand new Hyundai Elalty, create opportunities for antra and Toyota corolla cars. Corporate Eurobonds new refresh The Head, Consumer 11.50 FEB 01, Bank2016 B/Fitch; ones B-/S&P and also to AFREN PLC I 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P brands. GTBANK PLC I the bank’s ing Products, Mrs. Adebimpe 7.25the JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK She noted that through thePLC Ihekuna, said that bonanza 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC promo, the bank had created was a platform designed for 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC promoting savings culture landlords in Lekki,AFREN car PLC own10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch II 6.25 APR 22, 2019 enB+/Fitch; BB-/S&P other choice ZENITH gifts. BANK PLC amongst Nigerians and ers, among 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; BANK PLC couraging the youths AsB/S&P part of drive toDIAMOND promote as well 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC savings culture in the youths as the unbanked to embrace 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III and the segments services system. 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&Punbanked ACCESS BANK PLC II the financial B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

17.02

97.67

2.63

18.82

97.49

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.55

1.00

17.16

94.52

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.62

1.34

17.52

95.50

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.55

1.00

17.26

91.48

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.57

1.88

18.05

100.63

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.58

1.00

17.17

98.50

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

0.58

97.19

1.00

18.00 2.54 09-Sep-18 2.00 1.00 17.27 101.15 investors pulling off nited Capital Plc (for-0.70 to go through an account of- foreign 09-Sep-11 16.00 09-Sep-18 2.00 1.00 17.27 98.01 merly UBA Capital ficer in the option of a clientfunds during crises situation, 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 22-Sep-18 3.53 1.00 17.16 91.88 18-Oct-13 Plc) has15.75 1.85 2.29 created18.52 96.00 afposted 4.5 per2.40 company18-Oct-18 funds lodgment.” we this easy and 17-Feb-12 18.00 0.36 17-Feb-19 2.18 6.11 22.37 93.13 cent increase in net earnings INVESTNOW.NG also fordable platform. 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 2.80 2.16 18.39 94.99 a live price5.68feed for the financial 14-Nov-20 2.76“The INVESTNOW.NG 18.94 87.40 14-Nov-13 15.25year ended2.05 provides 30-Sep-14 11.93 0.10 (intra-day) 30-Sep-24 9.55 1.00 17.71 73.77 platform combines world December 31, 2014. for listed stocks, 30-Sep-14 13.25 1.00 17.71 79.77 technology with a roIn a filing with the Nige-15.44 enabling30-Sep-24 investors to9.55 make class 132.23 rian Stock Exchange (NSE), informed decisions based on bust client data protection 122.27 the latest data. and security framework in the group’s profit after tax grew to N1.846 billion from Speaking at the launch order to give our clients a 11-Feb-13 10.20 11-Feb-18 1.00 17.22 84.37 experience when platform 2.92 at the seamless N1.763 billion in the same pe-12.00 of the new 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 01-Feb-21 4.75 1.00 17.11 81.17 riod of last year, indicating a Nigerian Stock Exchange processing transactions. Our 24.95 growth of 4.5 per cent. (NSE) recently, the company’s clients will have access to 20.64 Gross earnings rose to Group Chief Executive Offi- research materials to make Outstanding Value N4.676 billion, compared cer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni, informed investment deciIssue Date Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price ($mm) with N4.573 billion last year, said that since United Capital sions.” Prices & Yields indicating a growth of 2.2 per was founded, its mission had “The company’s clients 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 6.76 6.54 99.95 100.99 cent. been to 28-Jan-21 develop the capital will now be able to manage In a bid to help promote500.00 markets in Nigeria in order to their portfolios on mo12-Jul-13 5.13 12-Jul-18 6.06 5.73 97.20 online98.19 and facilitate investment in give the investing public the bile devices, tablets, laptops 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 6.97 6.81 96.28 97.27 the country, the company had confidence to invest actively. and desktop computers. 24/7 1,500.00 “We have 53 per cent of connectivity to the portfolio last year unveiled an online 1,467.14 trading platform. foreign investors’ participa- is complemented by access The platform, tagged IN- tion against 47 per cent by to United Capital’s Online VESTNOW.NG, there was need Customer Support via44.00 online 01-Feb-11 11.50 according 450.00 retail and 01-Feb-16 130.63 to 130.63 44.00 19-May-11 7.50 6.01 99.63 to United Capital, “is the500.00 improve19-May-16 that segment7.83 of the chat functionality , so101.65 inves25-Jul-12 25-Jul-17 13.33low13.33 can talk 88.00directly88.00 country’s first7.25 online trad-350.00 market. Nigeria has the tors to the 09-May-13 6.88 02-May-18 14.23 13.03 81.83 84.50 est in terms of domestic par- customer ing platform with real time300.00 service team who 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 8.85 8.28 91.28 92.93 and we are still investment account funding300.00 ticipation will regular 43.63 enqui08-Apr-12 10.25 08-Apr-19 38.97 far 38.97 manage 43.63 22-Apr-14 6.25 will enable 500.00 less than 22-Apr-19 9.23 9.23 90.00 Zimbabwe, Kenya, functionality that ries, whilst90.00 more technical 21-May-14 21-May-19 others.15.39 14.83 81.51 to issues will80.04 be forwarded investors fund8.75 their invest-200.00 Ghana among 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 14.09 14.09 77.95 77.95 account officers for swift ment accounts directly and “To increase domestic par09-Dec-13 6.63 360.00 09-Dec-20 28.42 28.42 40.00 40.00 instantly, without the need400.00 ticipation and guard against resolution,” she said. 80.75 24-Jun-14 9.25 24-Jun-21 14.48 13.98 79.00 09-Sep-11

First Bank rewards customers with N500m F BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

CEO,1.00 NSE, Oscar Onyema 16.90

88.65

United Capital’s profit rises by 5%

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

A/Agusto; A/GCR

4.86 30-Jun-16 0.83 day’s trading showed that 5.73 30-Jun-16 0.83 Cutix Plc topped the gainers’ 57.00 19-Apr-17 2.10 25.73 with 8.5730-Jun-17 1.37 table per cent to close 25.00 31-Dec-17 2.81 at 34.14 N1.52 per share, while UPL 30-Sep-18 1.98 04-Oct-18 1.99 Plc9.00 followed with 5.23 per cent 09-Dec-18 2.18 to 13.73 close at N4.63 per share. 10.20 12-Dec-18 2.18 FBNH 4.94 per cent 27.00 Plc gained 14-Feb-19 2.37 02-Oct-19 to 16.23 close at N8.93 per share. 2.61 80.00 4.70 On the flip22-Nov-19 side, Dangote 26.62 12-Dec-19 2.92 11.10 Plc led the 10-Oct-20 3.22 Sugar losers’ chart 87.50 27-Nov-20 5.71 with a drop of31-Dec-20 five per cent5.81to 5.00 close per share, while 4.55 at N6.46 31-Dec-20 3.47 4.56 Union Dicon 06-Jan-21 Plc dropped3.50 by 460.61 4.96 per cent to close at N12.46 422.53 per share. Skye Bank Plc declined by 4.64 per cent to close 2.50 17-Aug-15 0.44 at 18.75 N2.26 per share. 09-Dec-15 0.49

30-Jun-11 the financial services14.00 sector 30-Jun-09 15.50 was the most active (measured 19-Apr-10 10.00 30-Jun-10 volume); 13.75with by turnover 30-Dec-10 14.00 111.3 million shares14.00 worth 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 14.00 N1.4 billion exchanged by in09-Dec-11 14.50 vestors in 1,667 deals. 12-Dec-13 14.00 Volume in the sub-sector 14-Feb-12 15.50 02-Oct-12 was largely driven by15.50 activi22-Nov-12 14.50 ties in the shares of UBA 12-Dec-12 14.75 Plc 10-Oct-13 14.75 and GTB Plc. 13.50 Also, 27-Nov-13 other financial servic31-Dec-13 15.00 es, boosted by activities in the 31-Dec-13 14.50 06-Jan-14 15.00 shares of FBNH Plc, followed with a turnover of 81.02 million shares valued at N428.04 million in 966 deals. 17-Aug-10 10.00 Further analysis 12.00 of the 09-Dec-10

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

13.62

76.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

11.40

10.89

87.50

89.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

12-Mar-15

3,610.30

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute Money Market **Treasury Bills FIXINGS Foreign Exchange (Spot professional,DTM financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, theBidInformation is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE”Tenor basis and mayRate not(%) be accurate or up to date. We do & notForwards) guarantee Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Yield (%) NIBOR the accuracy,7timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. 19-Mar-15 10.68 10.43 10.70

14 26-Mar-15 11.14 21 2-Apr-15 13.25 28 9-Apr-15 13.42 16-Apr-15 14.53 FGN Bonds 35 42 23-Apr-15 14.29 49 30-Apr-15 14.96 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 56 7-May-15 13.64 63 14-May-15 14.46 70 21-May-15 14.63 4.00 23-APR-2015 84 4-Jun-15 14.74 13.05 16-AUG-2016 91 11-Jun-15 14.65 15.10 27-APR-2017 105 25-Jun-15 14.32 9.85 27-JUL-2017 112 2-Jul-15 14.47 126 16-Jul-15 14.78 9.35 31-AUG-2017 133 23-Jul-15 14.65 10.70 30-MAY-2018 140 30-Jul-15 14.00 16.00 29-JUN-2019 147 6-Aug-15 14.48 7.00 23-OCT-2019 154 13-Aug-15 15.01 NA NA 168 27-Aug-15 11.80 15.54 13-FEB-2020 175 3-Sep-15 14.66 16.39 27-JAN-2022 182 10-Sep-15 14.83 14.20 14-MAR-2024 266 3-Dec-15 12.94 15.00 28-NOV-2028 280 17-Dec-15 12.98 12.49 22-MAY-2029 301 7-Jan-16 13.90 315 21-Jan-16 14.19 8.50 20-NOV-2029 329 4-Feb-16 14.30 10.00 23-JUL-2030 343 18-Feb-16 14.33 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 357 3-Mar-16 15.18 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

10.89 13.00 13.17 14.28 14.04 14.71 Issue 13.39Date 14.21 14.38 23-Apr-10 14.49 16-Aug-13 14.40 27-Apr-12 14.07 27-Jul-07 14.22 14.53 31-Aug-07 14.40 30-May-08 13.75 29-Jun-12 14.23 23-Oct-09 14.76 11.55 13-Feb-15 14.41 27-Jan-12 14.58 14-Mar-14 12.69 28-Nov-08 12.73 22-May-09 13.65 13.94 20-Nov-09 14.05 23-Jul-10 14.08 18-Jul-14 14.93

11.19 13.35 13.56 14.73 14.52 15.27 Coupon 13.93 (%) 14.82 15.05 4.00 15.26 13.05 15.21 15.10 14.93 9.85 15.14 15.58 9.35 15.48 10.70 14.80 16.00 15.37 7.00 16.03 12.48 15.54 15.77 16.39 16.02 14.20 14.29 15.00 14.42 12.49 15.70 16.16 8.50 16.41 10.00 16.56 12.1493 17.83

Bonds

# Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issuer

FMBN <3

***LCRM 3<5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

>5 Market

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 535.00

Rate (%) 16.2917 16.2572 17.4773 18.5030

23-Apr-15

Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 14.0633 27-Apr-17 14.4183 27-Jul-17 14.8129 14.8628 31-Aug-17 15.8102 30-May-18 16.5479

351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 34.00 13-Feb-20 NIFEX 600.00 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N) 459.68 14-Mar-24 BID($/N) 199.0500 75.00 28-Nov-28 OFFER ($/N) 199.1500 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 223.50 18-Jul-34

14.71

O/N

15.00

REPO

Tenor Call TTM 1M (Yrs) 3M 6M 0.12

Bid16.00 Yield (%)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Maturity Date

NITTY

Tenor 581.39 1M 476.80 2M 20.00 3M 6M 100.00 9M 300.00 12M

OBB

Rate (%) 15.00

17.00 18.00 14.30

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M Yield Offer 3M (%) 6M 1Y 12.99

1.43 16.18 16.06 2.13 16.31 16.22 2.38 16.26 16.18 :Benchmarks * :Amortising 2.47Bond 16.26 16.18 µ :Convertible 3.22Bond 16.19 16.05 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 4.30 16.12 16.02 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.62 Mortgage Bank16.10 15.98 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria IFC: International 4.92 Finance Corporation 16.12 16.03 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables 6.88 16.25 Management 16.18 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 9.01 16.66 16.58 O/N: Overnight 13.72 14.13Company 14.09 UPDC: UAC Property Development 14.20Africa Portland Cement 13.85 Company13.79 WAPCO:West 14.69 13.55 13.49 15.36 15.01 14.94 19.35 16.86 16.79 NOTE:

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

199.09 199.19 201.81 201.93 202.13 Price 202.28 202.87 203.37 204.24 205.31 Bid Price Offer 205.60 207.21Price 206.28 213.47 220.29 226.27 98.81 98.96

96.10 96.25 97.84 97.99 87.87 NA :Not 87.72 Applicable # :Floating Rate Bond 86.39 86.54 ***: Deferred 86.59coupon bonds 86.89 99.55 99.85 ‡ : Bond rating under review 71.42 †: Bond 71.12 rating expired N/A :Not98.03 Available 98.33 {r} :Issuer in receivership100.80 100.50 88.75 89.05 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 105.12 105.42 UBA: United Bank for Africa 91.62 91.92 68.12 68.42 70.22 70.52 73.23 73.53

4,932.13 4,421.61

Description

Agency Bonds Modified Duration Buckets

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 1,374.93 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 1,010.92 0.00/16.50 LCRM 579.05 III 06-JUL-2017 2,964.89

Issue Date

Weighting by 24-May-12 Outstanding Vol

815.07

03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 42.92 20-Apr-12 32.27 06-Jul-12 24.82

3,284.23

100.00

1,409.48 1,059.68

Weighting by Mkt 0.00 Value

17.25 0.00/16.00 46.37 0.00/16.50 34.10 0.00/16.50 19.53 100.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

24.56 Bucket Weighting

2.70 112.22 0.43 116.70 0.32 66.49 0.25

322.681.00

% Exposure_ 24-May-15 Mod_Duration

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 21.44 19-Apr-17 36.77 06-Jul-17 41.79 100.00

0.20 Implied Yield

1.06 1.74 16.20 2.10 16.43 2.32 15.50 15.99

# Risk Premium (%)

Implied 2.63 Portfolio Price

2.27 2.00 100.6965 1.00 100.6191 2.85 71.6073 93.4523

Valuation Yield (%)

17.69 INDEX

19.23 18.21 1,128.20 17.27 1,003.99 19.11 1,006.44 -

Indicative Price YTD Return 96.52 (%)

98.24 96.74 1.8369 97.06 0.8478 90.37 0.0566

1,056.00

0.0777

308.28

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.47

4.44

20.41

96.59

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.31

3.23

18.86

98.33

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.83

4.46

21.17

94.82

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

20.20

96.54

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.10

1.00

17.27

87.58

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.37

1.00

17.39

95.77

Daily Summary as of 12/03/2015 Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014

Business | Capital Market

Daily Summary as of 12/03/2015

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH Daily Summary (Equities)

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at March 12, 2015

Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 19 6 25

Current Price 30.50 29.24

Quantity Traded 123,037 49,883 172,920

Value Traded 3,751,121.30 1,385,749.74 5,136,871.04

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 2.10

Quantity Traded 30,610 30,610

Value Traded 65,277.70 65,277.70

203,530

5,202,148.74

Quantity Traded 15,922 100 17,871,670 111,050 17,998,742

Value Traded 20,137.06 422.00 52,951,077.76 4,012,968.24 56,984,605.06

17,998,742

56,984,605.06

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary S Cas O of A 12/03/2015 NIG. PLC. Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014 CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals

32 Symbol AGLEVENT SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 5 1 209 33 248

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.24 4.44 2.97 36.73

248

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Page

Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals Current Price 3 0.64 3

Quantity Traded 80,000 80,000

Value Traded 51,200.00 51,200.00

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals Current Price 13 44.00 13

Quantity Traded 68,206 68,206

Value Traded 2,982,902.20 2,982,902.20

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals Current Price 19 9.35 19

Quantity Traded 104,800 104,800

Value Traded 1,018,125.50 1,018,125.50

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals Current Price 1 10.00 1

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 1,000.00 1,000.00

253,106

4,053,227.70

No. of Deals Current Price 22 4.78 51 126.61 8 18.01 149 140.00 230

Quantity Traded 524,082 105,153 22,092 4,786,639 5,437,966

Value Traded 2,500,786.26 13,326,395.96 402,374.72 670,108,738.23 686,338,295.17

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 153.00

Quantity Traded 26,526 Page 26,526

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON

No. of Deals 24 48 59 32 1 42 1 1 208

Current Price 3.46 6.46 34.01 2.65 0.50 6.59 18.05 12.46

Quantity Traded 212,817 1,255,498 712,932 493,145 500 1,157,867 325 400,000 4,233,084

Value Traded 736,817.09 8,189,315.21 24,402,626.62 1,306,301.24 250.00 7,672,255.59 5,577.00 4,984,000.00 47,297,142.75

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 16 36 52

Current Price 41.28 820.00

Quantity Traded 32,997 22,865 55,862

Value Traded 1,294,142.70 18,425,074.56 19,719,217.26

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded

Daily Summary as of 12/03/2015ESTATE Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014 CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. BREW. PLC. EQTY ActivityNIGERIAN Summary on Board Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Daily Summary of 12/03/2015 Food as Products--Diversified Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC.

NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables TotalsEQTY Activity Summary on Board Personal/Household CONSUMER GOODS Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Products ©Totals Published byPersonal/Household The Nigerian Stock Exchange

36 Symbol CHAMPION

Daily Summary (Equities) GUINNESS INTBREW NB

VITAFOAM

Symbol PZ Symbol UNILEVER

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 12/03/2015 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014 SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY Banking Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Carriers, Brokers Brokers and and Services Services Insurance

AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC Published by The Nigerian StockENERGY ExchangeINSURANCE © INTERNATIONAL COMPANY PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

3.60

539,815 539,815

No. of Deals Current Price 31 Current 27.00 No. of Deals Price 46 34.05 77

Quantity Traded Quantity218,332 Traded

Value Traded 5,888,907.00 Value Traded

605 Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 112 DIAMONDBNK 63 ETI 21 FIDELITYBK 100 GUARANTY 314 SKYEBANK 88 STERLNBANK 50 UBA 417 Daily Summary (Equities) UBN 33 WEMABANK 9 ZENITHBANK 460 1,667 Symbol Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST GNI HMARKINS INTENEGINS MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS SOVRENINS STACO STDINSURE WAPIC

362,294 Page 580,626

10,873,879 Current Price 6.30 4.26 18.99 1.56 25.00 2.26 2.44 4.16 10.50 0.93 21.00

Quantity Traded 4,260,469 1,691,477 341,117 8,969,542 27,901,935 8,735,266 4,556,788 28,045,981 165,825 213,792 26,458,017 111,340,209

No. of of Deals Deals No. 38 6 1 1 1 12 23 2 25 1 1 1 1 45 158

Current Price Price Current 0.90 0.86 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.52 3.00 0.50 0.64 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51

Quantity Traded Traded Quantity 7,795,685 9,420 4,000 500 2,500 Page 479,349 723,679 510 1,909,665 8,000 60,000 965 1,500 4,256,119 15,251,892

Quantity Traded 300 23,461 23,761

Value Traded 1,626.00 23,126.36 24,752.36

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH

No. of Deals 70 15 564

Current Price 3.28 3.90 8.93

Quantity Traded 3,467,178 4,908,256 35,554,810

Value Traded 11,392,548.84 19,139,708.85 306,918,343.36 5

207,644,748

1,887,984,577.89

No. of Deals 1 3 12 16 5 37

Current Price 2.15 3.00 40.00 1.74 0.67

Quantity Traded 5,000 7,460 43,870 259,770 14,220 330,320

Value Traded 10,250.00 22,509.00 1,759,348.00 445,738.90 9,591.80 2,247,437.70

330,320

2,247,437.70

Quantity Traded 233,337 233,337

Value Traded 116,668.50 116,668.50

233,337

116,668.50

37 Symbol

No. of Deals 4 4

COURTVILLE Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 0.50

4 Current Price 18.79 8.48 38.20 11.80 154.00 0.50 3.63 89.00

Quantity Traded Page 128,314 114,789 63,639 15,040 75,104 4,000 10,000 97,314 508,200

6Value Traded of 11 2,330,517.04 936,243.40 2,310,017.87 172,703.85 11,572,685.10 2,000.00 38,100.00 8,746,202.21 26,108,469.47

Electronic and Electrical Products

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 1.52

Quantity Traded 180,318 180,318

Value Traded 274,684.72 274,684.72

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol BETAGLAS VANLEER

No. of Deals 2 1 (Equities) 3

Current Price 25.00 12.08

Quantity Traded 288,413 5,000 293,413

Value Traded 7,210,225.00 57,500.00 7,267,725.00

981,931

33,650,879.19

Quantity Traded Traded Quantity 500 500

Value Value Traded Traded

MULTIVERSE PLC Mining Services Totals

Daily Summary

106 Symbol Symbol

No. No. of of Deals Deals

MULTIVERSE

1 1

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals © Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Daily Summary as of 12/03/2015 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014 CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on BoardProducts EQTY Distributors Totals Petroleum and Petroleum OILExploration AND GAS and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Exploration and Production Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Current Current Price Price

0.50

250.00 250.00

Page 500

of 250.00 11

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 21,100 21,100

Value Traded 10,550.00 10,550.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 165 165

Current Price 14.50

Quantity Traded 86,922,386 86,922,386

Value Traded 1,550,670,037.28 1,550,670,037.28

No. of Deals 18 15 39 5 (Equities) 1 9 87

Current Price 34.00 2.70 192.86 150.20 50.54 144.50

Quantity Traded 47,199 195,686 36,714 5,357 500 2,309 287,765

Value Traded 1,564,966.18 506,343.02 6,880,948.44 813,278.74 24,010.00 325,732.56 10,115,278.94

No. of Deals 11 No. of Deals

Current Price Current430.00 Price

Quantity Traded 4,540 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 1,860,022.00 Value Traded

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL Daily Summary MRS TOTAL Symbol SEPLAT Symbol

4,540

1,860,022.00

Page 87,235,791

266

8 of 11 1,562,655,888.22

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 0.75

Quantity Traded 53,195 53,195

Value Traded 39,927.18 39,927.18

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 3.94

Quantity Traded 111,585 111,585

Value Traded 438,629.50 438,629.50

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals 10 1 11

Current Price 4.35 10.00

Quantity Traded 18,610 100 18,710

Value Traded 78,150.70 1,045.00 79,195.70

Symbol ACADEMY

No. of Deals 1 4 33 38

Current Price 1.06 1.15 4.63

Quantity Traded 10 141,236 6,010,694 6,151,940

Value Traded 10.60 166,522.50 26,760,207.60 26,926,740.70

Symbol ABCTRANS Symbol

No. of Deals 6 No. of Deals

Current Price 0.51 Current Price

Quantity Traded Quantity327,000 Traded

Value Traded 166,770.00 Value Traded

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 13 25 38

Current Price 1.81 4.96

Quantity Traded 205,500 716,755 922,255

Value Traded 354,550.00 3,557,570.98 3,912,120.98

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 2.98

Quantity Traded 96,400 96,400

Value Traded 287,287.55 287,287.55

115

7,681,085

31,850,671.61

4,251

333,436,969

4,362,417,336.84

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 90.00 90.00

100

90.00

ASeM Board Totals

100

90.00

Equity Activity Totals

4,252

333,437,069

4,362,417,426.84

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Daily Summary as of 12/03/2015 TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014 Hotels/Lodging Totals Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals EQTY Activity Summary on Board Road Transportation SERVICES ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Road Transportation Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary (Equities) LEARNAFRCA UPL

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

2,106,739.51 255.00 1,232,468.80 4,000.00 30,000.00 482.50 750.00 2,172,660.76 12,825,687.15

Value Traded 37,093,153.90 1,761,198.00 19,880,108.82 31,856,859.15 428,041,920.92

No. of Deals 14 13 8 6 28 1 1 18 89

NATURAL NATURAL RESOURCES RESOURCES Mining Mining Services Services

Value Traded Traded Value 7,021,768.92 8,343.60 2,000.00 250.00 1,250.00 4 of 11 244,718.06

Current Price 5.42 0.98

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Activity Summary onTotals Board EQTY

Value Traded 26,900,243.45 7,169,286.11 6,260,473.45 13,801,433.59 693,909,133.69 19,827,736.84 10,943,669.47 117,385,317.56 1,689,262.86 198,612.92 549,007,047.52 1,447,092,217.46

Quantity Traded 14,526,631 3,522,396 747,905 18,301,710 81,028,886

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM IPWA PORTPAINT WAPCO

CUTIX Daily Summary as ofPLC. 12/03/2015 Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014

777,670,982.23

No. of Deals 1 9 10

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC IPWA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Current Price 2.59 0.50 26.00 1.72

2,801

Activity Summary on Board EQTY ICT Totals

12,438,595.38 318,327,502.38 of 11

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK

Page

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Value Traded 4,052,091.38 of 11 4,052,091.38

Value Traded 1,936,733.29 1,936,733.29

27 27

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals Daily Summary as of 12/03/2015 Totals Printed HEALTHCARE 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014

Micro-Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

No. of Deals 109 14 19 175 966

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Symbol FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Daily Summary (Equities)

327,000 Page

166,770.00 of 11

Activity Summary on Board ASeM Daily Summary as of 12/03/2015 FINANCIAL SERVICES Printed 12/03/2015 15:05:14.014 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services OMOLUABI SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Symbol OMOSAVBNK

No. of Deals 1 1

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 0.92

Activity Summary on Board ASeM

Page

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 1 3

Current Price 9.80 2,231.00 14.21

Quantity Traded 1 20 1 22

Value Traded 9.80 44,620.00 14.21 44,644.01

ETF Board Totals

44,644.01

ETP Activity Totals

44,644.01

Page

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Elechi stops lawmakers’ salaries, entitlements Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

s the political impasse between the Ebonyi State Legislature and the Executive continues over impeachment notice served by members of the state House of Assembly on Governor Martin Elechi two weeks ago, there were strong indications yesterday that the governor may have embargoed the salaries and entitlements of the lawmakers in a bid to cow them. New Telegraph gathered from an impeccable source in the House of Assembly that the lawmakers have expressed their determination to

pursue the impeachment of the governor to a logical conclusion, vowing not to back down despite the conspiracies embarked upon by the executive to deter them from carrying out their constitutional responsibility. “The lawmakers are not deterred by the attitude of the governor, who have denied them their salaries for quite some time. The Governor is now exhibiting a divide and rule tactics to sideline the lawmakers from benefiting from his administration. “At this point, the Governor has been sending people to plead with the lawmakers so that he will not be impeached; as it stands, there is no going

back” Speaking with New Telegraph, the zonal Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) Mr. Ali Odefa, called on Governor Elechi, to respond to the allegations levelled against him and stop playing to the gallery. According to him, the

silence of the governor on the matter was an admission of guilt to the crimes levelled against him even as he noted that silence in the case of the Governor meant admittance. The source further revealed that the press conference held by the House member, representing

Ezza North West constituency, Hon. Enyi Enyi in Enugu on Tuesday, was part of measures by the state government to deceive the general public that the impeachment plot against the Governor had been aborted. “Hon. Enyi C. Enyi just needed money; we know

him very well. Let him name the seven lawmakers with him if he is not deceiving himself and the general public. This is part of Governor Elechi’s gimmicks to evade the hammer of the House. The House is on course and soon the truth will come to limelight”.

Imo debunks plan to borrow N6bn Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

he Imo State Government has dismissed the claim that it was planning to secure an estimated N6 billion through the approval of the State House of Assembly. Dismissing the purported loan, the state government described as unfortunate, the claim which it said was the machination of the opposition, circulating the claim that the borrowing was ostensibly to finance the state governor’s reelection campaign.” A statement signed by Sam Onwuemeodo, media aide to Governor Rochas Okorocha, noted that the claim was tragic and a disservice to good conscience. Onwuemeodo, who

stated that the news of the purported broken by a local weekly media publication could either ascertained the institution being approached for the loan nor say whether the Assembly has got received any correspondence on the said loan. “We regret that the report was part of the falsehood being circulated by those too desperate to come back to power in the state after squandering the people’s goodwill for 12 years. Unfortunately, they found willing accomplices for the falsehood in the local newspaper. Evidently, such outlandish claim can only be a product of extreme hallucination.” Onwuemeodo urged the media to resist further temptation in helping the opponents of the government in circulating their lies against the Imo State Government.

Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Ms. Ijeoma Aso; Executive Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Dan Okeke, Principal Girls Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State, Lady Winnie Ibezim, with students of secondary schools in Anambra State, during a financial literacy training programme for students, an initiative of the CBN in Awka, Anambra State … yesterday

PVC: Abia PPA chairman accuses INEC, others of complicity Norman Obinna

he chairman of Abia State Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) Prince Emeka Okafor, has raised the alarm over what he described as a grand conspiracy between some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff and local government transitional Chairmen to deny majority of Abia voters the right to collect their permanent

voter cards. He raised the alarm in Umuahia the Abia State capital after the inauguration of the PPA’s Udensi for Governor Campaign Organization. He advised the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner of Abia State to withdraw all the Permanent Voters Cards, (PVC’s) being distributed through the transition chairmen and their chancellors in Abia state saying they have turned it to personal business.

ESUT holds 16th graduation, Enugu Assembly moves to stop water concession contract awards 11,458 degrees Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

nugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) is set to conduct its 16th convocation, during which 11,458 students of the institution would be conferred with First Degrees, Post Graduate Diplomas, Masters and PHD Degree certificates at a ceremony scheduled for April. Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Cyprian Onyeji, who stated this during a briefing on the event, stated that the graduating students have fulfilled all the require-

ments for graduation as they were found worthy both in leaning and in character. Giving more details of the programme, he disclosed that 10,920 awardees would receive First Degrees, 109 Post Graduate Certificates while 15 persons would be awarded PHD Degrees certificates of the institution. The don also explained that of the 10,920 First Degrees, only two graduated with First Class, 1,257 graduated with Second Class Upper while 7,426 graduated with Second Class Lower Certificates, adding that 48 graduands had unclassified degrees.

Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

he Enugu State Government yesterday dismissed the claim that it entered into agreement with a private firm for the supply of water to the Enugu metropolis, as the state Commissioner for Water Resources Dr. Michael Nwachukwu said the claim on the purported project was a complete falsehood and misleading, aimed at setting the government against the State House of Assembly. Reacting to the purported project, the State House of Assembly, during its plenary yesterday, said it has

barred the Commissioner, Dr. Michael Nwachukwu and the Managing Director of the Water Corporation, Mr. Chibuzor Aka, an engineer, from going on with the concession agreement billed to take effect from today pending the conclusion of its ongoing investigation into the matter. Also yesterday, the legislators passed a motion barring the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. C. Okolo and the executive Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) from awarding any new contract, pending the conclusion of their investigations.

“What they are trying to do is that if you do not belong to their party which is the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) they will not give you your PVC. They are withholding them with the motive of buying other parties supporters over and on the voting day they will give out some stipends for them to vote for PDP,” he said. He also said that contrary to reports in the newspapers and electronic media that about

one million registered voters have collected their PVC’s in Abia State, over 250,000 PVC’s were yet to be taken by their owners in Aba north/south local government area alone, with Umuahia having almost the same figures yet to be collected. He said INEC should withdraw those cards and use the appropriate channel to make sure that the cards get to the rightful owners to ensure that nobody is deliberately denied the chance of voting.

MASSOB chief seeks Jega’s sack Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

he Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB), has called on president Goodluck Jonathan to remove the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, from office over allegations of religious sentiments and incompetence levelled against him. At a news conference yesterday in Abakaliki, the Zonal leader of MASSOB, Ebonyi South zone, Mr. John Nwifuru, condemned the continued stay of the INEC Chair-

man in office, stressing that his attempt to increase the polling units in the North was a clear indication that he was pursuing a northern agenda in the forthcoming general elections. He stressed the need for INEC to scrap the use of the card reader machine for the elections has become imperative, adding that it would be disastrous for the nation if the device failed to perform optimally as many voters would be disenfranchised during the election. He further advised the Federal Government to appoint another chairman who is more national in his approach.

News

SOUTH-SOUTH

Oshiomhole to corps members: Don’t help politicians rig elections Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

do State governor, Adams Oshiomhole has cautioned youth corps members who will work as ad-hoc staff in the 2015 general elections to shun politicians’ advances to rig the elections. Oshiomhole gave the warning at the opening of the NYSC Annual Management Conference held on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital. He said: “This is easily the toughest election Nigeria will have in the last 16 years and NYSC is providing the bulk of the presiding officers and polling unit officers at critical levels in the electioneering system. I want to appeal to corps members that they must refuse to be compromised by very desperate politicians. “We have a political class who, if they have the opportunity, will even bribe God that they go to heaven even if they are actually candidates of hell and the corps members will require God’s help to resist these desperate politicians for the votes to count and I think the corps members must

find sufficient encouragement to identify that the issues at stake is not the future of those seeking power, but the future of those who are not seeking power, particularly the younger ones.”

According to Oshiomhole, “What is at stake is their future, their place on this continent and on this planet. Every day that is mismanaged is opportunity lost, therefore, regardless of the intentions

Yenagoa

esidents of the coastal settlements of Ogboinbiri and neigbouring communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government have condemned the frequent pollution of Ogboinbiri River in the area. The residents, who depend on the river for drinking and domestic use, said the operations of Shell and Agip have made their dominant source of fresh

been playing this role and there is no evidence in the past that they have been a problem. Even where elections were allegedly rigged or actually rigged, from the proceedings in court, the rigging wasn’t done most of the time by corps members, therefore the corps members have been playing their roles as true Nigerians, who believe in the unity of our country,” the governor said.

Candidates writing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at Christ Embassy Church centre, Agudama community in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State…yesterday

Bayelsa coastal communities lament pollution by Shell, Agip Chris Ejim

of those seeking power, the corps members must understand that their own future cannot be measured with N5,000, N10,000 or N20,000. “The good news is that the corps members have

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

water unsafe for drinking and domestic use. According to the communities, an ongoing oil leak from Seibou Deep Facility operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has been discharging crude into Ogboinbiri River for over a month. Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) of KemeEbiama community, Chief Columbus John-Bull, said oil exploration had caused untold hardship to the communities residing along the

creeks in the area. “We are hosting the operations of two oil firms that both pollute our only source of water and this is regrettable. “Whenever a spill occurs, it affects the river right from the Ogboinbiri axis to our own river and makes the water undrinkable. “It is usually so devastating that our people could no longer go to the river for their bath or for drinking water; the river is our main source of drinking water and other domestic use.”

of the Amnesty Implementation Committee, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, to honour an agreement reached with the Federal Government on their inclusion in the amnesty programme. Counsel to the 18 exmilitant youths, KorKor Sariki, while addressing the court presided over by Justice I. E. Ekwo, described the appearance of the counsel to the

second defendant, the Federal Government, as surprising, due to their absence since the case was filed. Sariki told the court that in spite of the readiness of the court to start the hearing into the suit, counsel to the Federal Government, B. U. Uko, has served them with a preliminary objection, which must be duly addressed.

UNICAL graduates nine first class students in 10 years Clement James Calabar

he University of Calabar (UNICAL) will tomorrow graduate about 7, 811 students of the institution, among whom, were nine First Class students. Their graduation, the authorities described as a feat after 10 years. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. James Epoke, made this known yesterday while briefing newsmen in Calabar on the activities marking the 40th anniversary of the institution, as well as the convocation ceremony slated for tomorrow. He said out of the 7, 811 students graduating, 6,871 students will go home with degrees while 120 will be awarded Doctorate Degrees. Similarly, 391 students will bag Master’s Degree while 429 students will get Post-Graduate Diploma. The Vice-Chancellor said the university has made giant strides in the education sector, growing from three faculties in 1975 to the present 11 faculties.

Group backs Clark, wants imposed candidates disqualified Dominic Adewole ASABA

pressure group, under the auspices of the Anioma Conscience Initiative (ACI) in Delta State, yesterday moved for the disqualification of candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state that were imposed in the wake of the party’s primary elections. Also, the group said

those arrogating victory to themselves and seeking redress in court over inconclusive primaries of the party should be sanctioned. The ACI particularly pleaded with the leaders of the party to kindly look into the prevailing cases of imposition of candidates in Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency, which they claimed stood against the masses’ democratic will. In a three-page state-

ment made available to New Telegraph and signed by the Secretary of the group, Mrs. Chinasa Ugoh, the group said such imposition and unlawful substitution has started haunting the political fortune of the party in the state. The group said such action has resulted in the forgery of two separate election results being paraded by two candidates for the constituency seat in Aniocha South Local Government.

Bayelsa communities protest diversion $16bn compensation Court fixes May 13 for hearing in ex-militants’ suit of undreds of indigenes across states of Bayelsa, communities, armed with

Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, has fixed May 13, 2013 for hearing into the objection raised by the Federal Government against the suit filed by 18 ex-militant youths from Bayelsa and Delta States. They were seeking an order compelling the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman

of oil producing communities from the six states of the Niger Delta yesterday disrupted vehicular movements along the East-West Road axis of Bayelsa State in protest against alleged diversion of $16 billion compensation paid by the oil multinational, Exxon Mobil for the 1998 oil spill incident in the region. The aggrieved communities, numbering 87, cut

Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Cross Rivers and Ondo, said though the agitations for the payment of the compensation to impacted communities of the region took over 15 years in dialogues and meetings, the compensation paid was allegedly diverted by the representatives of their principal attorney, the Octopus Clan Nigeria Limited. Hundreds of angry indigenes of the affected

placards with inscriptions such as “Chief Jephathah stop using our money to sponsors political parties,” “Exxon Mobil: All we need is our money since 1998,” “Exxon Mobil: Refuse our money and face war” and “Barrister D. W. Wakuku: You are not a good lawyer,” prevented many travellers to Port Harcourt, Rivers State and other South-East part of the country to be stranded for hours.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

News 49

NORTH

Poll shift scared investors from Nigeria, says report Biodun Oyeleye

he postponement of the 2015 general elections from February 14 to March 28 and April 11 has scared many investors away from the country and has forced them to put key investment decisions in the country on hold. The multiplier effect of the shift has also become evident in the drop

in the value of the naira, according to the annual RiskMap Report published by Control Risks, a global business consultancy. RiskMap, according to a statement from the African Press Organisation (APO), “highlights the most significant underlying trends in global risk and security and provides a detailed view from the

markets that will matter most in 2015.” Highlights of the report include the diversification of the economy, which remains crucial to the improvement and the sustainability of West Africa’s economic growth. Also, political turbulence is heightened as the shift in election timetable threatens to dent investors’ confidence

in the economy even as it also deepens political divisions between the country’s regions. The report also said whoever wins the presidential election will have to contend with managing a likely cash-flow crisis in government as the drop in oil revenue continues to test the country’s economy and show to what extent its

non-oil sectors have become truly strong for the economy. The APO quotes Tom Griffin, Managing Director West Africa, Control Risks while introducing RiskMap 2015, to have said: “2015 so far has demonstrated the political constraints to Africa’s economic growth story. “Across Africa, governments have faced

difficulties in tackling key issues such as the excessive reliance on commodities such as oil, bottlenecks in the economy, security challenges from criminal and militant groups and the need to improve governance. “In many places, private-sector growth frequently occurs despite government rather than because of it.”

‘Plateau people’ll shed tears after Jang leaves office’ Musa Pam Jos

he Chairman of Pankshin Local Government in Plateau State, Hon. Samuel Goar, yesterday said the people of the state would shed tears at the exit of Governor Jonah Jang on May 29, 2015. The council boss spoke in Pankshin, when the wife of the Plateau State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Mrs. Bridget Pwajok, addressed a rally made up of women in the council. Goar said the various developmental projects carried out by Jang would remain indelible in the state as they are equal to none. “I am assuring you here today that no sooner will Jang leaves office that Plateau people will shed tears for losing such a qualitative and pragmatic leader, because he has done a lot for the state that many will wish him to come back after his tenure as governor expires.”

Woman lawmaker canvasses votes for Jonathan Musa Pam Jos

member representing Barkin Ladi Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Youth and Sports, Hon. (Mrs.) Kaneng Gyang Fulani, yesterday advised Plateau State women to come out and vote en-masse for President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 presidential election. According to her, the transformation agenda of President Jonathan and the active involvement of women in his administration is enough reason for women in the country to support the President to do more for the country.

L-R: Bauchi State Head of Sub-Office, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Mr. Cesar Tshilombo; Chairman, Bauchi State Emergency Operation team, Alhaji Muhammed Bello and Principal Emergency Coordinator, UNHCR, Geneva, Mr. Felipe Camargo, at the commission’s workshop for protection and assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in Bauchi…yesterday PHOTO-NAN

No more jobs for youths in Be security conscious, Kwara warns residents authorities. in view of the security Biodun Oyeleye Nigeria, says FG Speaking yesterday in implication of such inIlorin Dan Atori MINNA

he Federal Government yesterday called on Nigerian youths to be independent, saying there are no more jobs in the country for them. Speaking at a presidential women rally at the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium, Minna, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Hajiya Asma’u Asabe Ahmed, said the Federal Government does not have jobs. According to her, “Nigerian youths must make themselves relevant, because the Federal Government and the private sectors have no jobs to offer. “There are no enough jobs at the federal level, no jobs in Nigeria. It is only agriculture that can provide jobs. “Women stand to benefit from the new agricultural scheme that will be set up by

the government. Niger State is among the states that will produce 4, 000 women for the agricultural pilot scheme for women, which will commence by April this year. Speaking at the occasion, Niger State governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, called on Nigerian women and youths in the country to come out and vote for PDP candidates at all levels. He said: “We don’t want people who are too old to rule us, we don’t want people who are too weak, come out en masse to vote Goodluck Jonathan for president and Umar Nasko for governor. “We will not go violent; I know the opposition will want to provoke you, because they want to by all means take power from the PDP. Ensure peace in the forthcoming elections. God knows who will be the next president and the next governor.”

he Kwara State government yesterday warned residents of the state to be security conscious even as it expressed concern over a recent influx of ‘strangers’ into some communities on the northern fringe of the state. Also, traditional rulers in the state were put on notice against allowing settlers in their domains without security clearance from appropriate

Ilorin, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade, said the new move followed a detailed discussion of the situation at a meeting of the state’s Security Council. A committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kisra, has also been set up to work out modalities and put structures in place for managing the possible influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into the state

flux as well as the potential pressure on social and physical infrastructure in the state. He said: “We have information about people coming from Maiduguri and elsewhere to settle in the state and in one instance, we have about 160 people, who settled in one area and the government had to call the traditional ruler of the area to let them know the implication of allowing people without verifying their background.”

‘We didn’t procure ruling against council chairmen’ Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

he Kogi State government on Wednesday refuted allegations that it procured last year’s court judgement that sacked 21 elected local government chairmen in the state. A national daily (not New Telegraph) on Wednesday accused the state governor, Idris

Wada, of procuring a judgment presided over by Justice Alaba Ajileye that led to the dissolution the 21 local government chairmen. But the state government through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mallam Sadiq Abubakar Ainoko, insisted that the governor has a constitutional power to sack any erring

chairman without necessarily buying any judgement against the sacked council chairmen, whose tenure were allegedly characterised by widespread corruption. The commissioner, who addressed a press conference in Lokoja to dismiss the publication, said if the publication was true, the state government would not have appealed the judgement.

News

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FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Obanikoro: Group lambasts APC Euro MPs call for international senators for staging walk-out probe into Nemtsov murder

civil society group, Move On Nigeria, has described as immature the walkout staged by the APC senators during the screening confirmation of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro before the Senate. The group said that in so doing, the Senators attempted to hoodwink the general public on their abhorrence for supposedly scandal tainted individual from serving the nation whereas APC as a political party has transparency problem. In a release issued in Abuja and signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Mr Clem Agu-

iyi , the group said “APC as a party fields a candidate for the presidency of Nigeria who has a long history of acting unilaterally without recourse to due process, fair hearing or rule of law. This candidate it was, who jailed people without any charge, detained innocent citizen after the court had pronounced them not guilty on two occasions (Chief Michael Ajasin), or murdered them through executive retroactive action (Bartholomew Owoh et al).” According to the group, “the APC Presidential candidate had been fraudulently presented to Nigerians as a repentant

person, who has supposedly been converted to and currently embrace Democratic ethos. He also for the first time admitted responsibilities to the actions and inactions of his administration. This, indeed, is a first step to granting closure to the above named individuals and others to whom he had grievously wronged. However, the hypocrisy in this position becomes self-evident when the repentant sinner dictates the terms of his pardon, which includes that he must rule Nigeria again as some sort of messiah. His pardon also precludes his victims from expecting any remorse, restitution or apology.”

he European Parliament yesterday called for an independent international investigation into the murder of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov. Lawmakers voted in favour of a motion saying that Russia under President Vladimir Putin had created an atmosphere which was “fertile ground” for such crimes. Nemtsov, 55, a former deputy prime minister who became an outspoken Putin critic, was shot four times in the back as he walked along a bridge near the Krem-

lin on February 27. The motion “requests an independent international investigation into the murder” and suggested that the OSCE, Council of Europe and UN could play a role. The MEPs called it the “most significant political murder in recent Russian history” and said Kremlin propaganda is turning Russia into a “state of repression, hate speech and fear”. The EU parliament further criticised Russia for refusing to allow European figures, including a senior MEP, into the country to at-

tend Nemtsov’s funeral. Russian authorities have rounded up five suspects for the murder but a Kremlin rights advisor said Wednesday that a key suspect likely confessed under torture. The killing was the highest-profile murder of an opposition leader during Putin’s 15 years in charge. Friends of Nemtsov said he had been working on a report containing what he described as proof of secret Russian military involvement in the bloody uprising by pro-Moscow militias in eastern Ukraine.

Senate clears Etok, Committee of N3bn bribery scandal Chukwu David Abuja

he Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has cleared Senator Aloysius Etok and other members of the Joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service, States and Local Governments of the allegation that they demanded for a bribe of N3 billion to play along with officials of the Pension Funds involved in the Pension scam in 2013.

Chairman of the disbanded Presidential Pension Reform Task Team, AbdulRasheed Maina, had in 2013, alleged that the Senator Etok-led investigative Committee on the management of pension funds demanded N3 billion bribe from him. Consequently, the Senate mandated its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate into the serious allegation, which attracted public outrage and criticism, as it was published in the Leader-

ship Newspaper. Etok and other members of the Committee denied the allegation, thereby prompting the Senate to mandate the Senator Pius Akinyelure-led Ethics Committee to probe into the matter in order to rescue the battered image of the apex Chamber.  In addition to exonerating the lawmakers from the allegation, the Committee also noted that the Leadership Newspaper failed to prove its allegation against the Senators beyond any reasonable doubt.

LASU to graduate 6,885 students, as ex-UNILORN VC delivers convocation lecture Kayode Olanrewaju

ome 6,885 graduates of the Lagos state University (LASU), Ojo, who have been certified worthy in learning and character, will receive their scrolls for the award of first degrees, diplomas and postgraduate certificates at the 20th convocation of the university. Addressing journalists yesterday at the Senate

Chamber of the university to flag off the week-long ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oladapo Obafunwa, said the award of First Degrees and Diplomas will hold on March 18, while on Thursday March 19, it will be for the award of Higher Degrees at the Ojo main campus of the state university. Part of the activities lined up for the ceremony include a Jumat Service today Friday March 13 at

the university Mosque; Special church service on Sunday March 15, at the university Chapel of Light. It will be the turn of Coconut Breaking Festival on Monday March 16 at the Badagry gate of the university, while on that same day there will be a Command Performance, entitled: “Eni’ Ayan (The Chosen) by the Department of Theatre Arts and Music.

Lagos, private sector to boost water supply  Appolonia Adeyemi

agos Water Corporation (LWC) has said its new partnership with the private sector is geared towards making portable water available for the Lagos population.  Engr. Shayo Holloway, the managing director of LWC, said the corporation is partnering with the private sector

through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to build more water infrastructure to address current water demand in the state. While debunking rumours making the rounds to the effect that the LWC is privatising its assets, he said, “the Corporation and Lagos State Government have no plan to divest or sell off the State’s water assets.”

On the contrary, he noted that the PPP law of 2004 only seeks to ‘partner’ with the private sector for accelerated development of water infrastructure in the state.” Holloway added that this is not privatisation where assets are sold off to the private sector. According to him, PPP is a veritable strategy for accelerated infrastructure development, using private capital.

Russian opposition supporters marching in central Moscow earlier this month, with a portrait of Kremlin critic, Boris Nemtsov who was murdered last month.

Somalia’s Shebab attack central town

omalia’s Al-Qaedaaffiliated Shebab militants yesterday attacked a fortified area in the central town of Baidoa, home to a key regional government headquarters, United Nations compound and airport, security officials said. Officials said five gunmen opened fire at the gate of the highsecurity zone but were held off by Ethiopian and Somali government troops. A source said an Ethiopian soldier was killed, while three of the attackers blew themselves up, another was

shot dead and the fifth was shot and wounded, ending the attack. “They are Shebab disguised in Somali military uniforms. That’s how they managed to enter,” a Somali police official in Baidoa, Mohamed Dahir, told AFP by telephone. In a statement, the militants confirmed they carried out the attack and insisted it was a “success” with the objective being to “disrupt a security meeting” between local authorities and Ethiopian troops, who are part of the African Union’s AMISOM force fighting

the Islamists. A United Nations source confirmed the attack, but said the compound where aid agencies are located did not appear to be the target of the militants. “These are desperate attempts by Al-Shebab to seek relevance, following the massive defeats they continue to suffer from the Somali National Army working together with AMISOM troops,” the African Union representative to Somalia, Maman Sidikou, also said in a statement, vowing to “pursue them further until they are completely eliminated”.

Turkey detains suspect for aiding UK girls to join IS

foreign intelligence operative suspected of helping three British schoolgirls join the Islamic State group in Syria has been detained, Turkey’s foreign minister said yesterday. Mevlut Cavusoglu said the suspect acted even though he or she worked for the intelligence agency of a country that is part of the US-led coalition fighting IS. Cavusoglu didn’t identify the country, but

said it wasn’t the US or a European Union member. Cavusoglu, who was interviewed on A Haber television, said he had shared the information with his British counterpart. “Do you know who the person who helped the girls turned out to be?” Cavusoglu said. “Someone who works for the intelligence service of a country that is part of the coalition.” He didn’t provide further

details on the suspect’s detention. A Turkish government official told The Associated Press that the suspect has been detained for more than a week. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of rules that bar officials from speaking to journalists without prior authorization. Britain’s Foreign Office had no immediate comment on the news. A Turkish police spokesman said he had no information on the topic.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Basketball

Afrobasket: D’Tigers target victory in Ouagadougou

Sport

International Sport

Sport News

Ibrahimovic: Chelsea players acted like ‘babies’

Gambo undergoes surgery to remove bullets

Did you know? That the Qatari city of Lusail, host of the final match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, does not yet exist.

MANU NOT WORRIED ABOUT SCOUTS •Keen on AYC trophy with F’Eagles •Awoniyi, three others doubtful for Cote d’Ivoire clash

Emmanuel Tobi

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

AYC Result South Africa 1-2 Mali

lying Eagles coach Manu Garba has exclusively informed New Telegraph that he is not worried about the influx of scouts and agents keen on getting the attention of his players. The Flying Eagles defeated hard-fighting Congo 4-1 on Wednesday at the ongoing African Youth Championship in Dakar, Senegal, to book their passage to the semifinals as well as the 2015 FIFA World Cup finals in New Zealand. Despite playing a man short, the Flying Eagles proved too strong for the Congolese, and the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup winning coach maintained that the team was poised to win the ongoing tournament in Senegal. “My team is focused on winning the tournament and the pres-

ence of scouts and agents can’t unsettle my players. We have made the players to understand that they have to play for the team and not to impress anybody. “Besides that, we don’t interfere but only advise them on their professional career like we did after the U-17 World Cup,” he said. Meanwhile, four members of the Flying Eagles, including the team’s leading scorer, Taiwo Awoniyi, are receiving treatment for various injuries following Wednesday’s encounter against Congo. Awoniyi is nursing a right knee complaint, while Ifeanyi Ifeanyi suffered a head injury which required three stitches. Bernard Bulbwa is nursing a shoulder injury, while Ifeanyi Matthew has a thigh problem. In a related development, the Flying Eagles have three players among the leading scorers at the championship. The team has so far scored seven goals in two matches with striker Awoniyi scoring three of those goals to make him the tournament’s leading scorer. Midfielder Matthew has two goals, as well as two assists, while captain Musa Muhammed also has two goals after scoring twice from the penalty spot on Wednesday against Congo. Congo striker Silvere Gavoula Mboussy, who is based in Morocco, and Senegal’s Ibrahima Wadji have also scored twice.

Sport

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s consistent contradictions

igeria’s sports can only be described in one statement: an epitome of consistent contradictions. But, if you want to squeeze comedy out of the absurd, you could describe it as a theatre of “quintessential inconsistencies.” These positions were informed by the various policy summersaults that have dogged the nation’s sporting family all these years. In a long while, there has not been any single policy initiated and followed through by the incoming administration. The golden moments of Bayo Lawal, Anthony Ikhazobor and Emeka Omeruah of blessed memory lay credence to this fact. This explains the near lack of progress since their exit until the recent emergence of Blessing Okagbare – the track and field queen. It has been a policy, whereby every incoming regime starts from the scratch, as the outgoing regime clears everything in the coffers, and where anything that is left, is found poisoned. Can one explain a scenario whereby a programme considered to be of national interest is abandoned shortly after launch, either that the minister is removed or the principal officer driving the vision is redeployed? The underlying reason for

these irritable acts is simply based on the fact that since the initiator is no longer on seat to see his vision through, they assume that he may have made his money out of the project, hence the new comer has no choice but to either scrap the project or start all over again from the scratch. In other words, programmes are “sacrificed” as a result of individual greed not on lack of viability or non-viability. The immediate past Chairman of the NSC, Patrick Ekeji, whose tenure has one or two issues that need clarification began a policy that anchored its operation on “catching them young.” It is unfortunate that the programme, which gave impetus to the creation of Grassroots Sports Development Department, appears jettisoned, simply because he is no longer at the helm of affairs. The programme, which was commissioned by the President, Goodluck Jonathan, with pomp and ceremony three years ago, is now a shadow of itself. I understand that there is no budgetary provision anymore to sustain it. The programme which ought to be the fulcrum upon which the youth sports revolution is anchored has now been shattered and nobody is raising an eyebrow. The millions of young, able-bodied men

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and women who ought to be engaged are now left to deploy their skills in the wrong direction. The majority of them now serve as thugs and hired-killers by politicians. The most painful of all is that both the current sports Minister and Director General of the NSC appear lost on what to do to reignite the fire in the development of our sports. There has been no new initiative from these political appointees on what to do or how to better the lots of our sports or ultimately add value to it since they assumed duties. All we hear is constant fight over who gets what. One begins to wonder if the budget allocations of the ministry that accommodated most of these programmes we witnessed in time past no long exist. I must acknowledge the fact that allowing two politicians to rule over our sports has been too dangerous to contemplate. The pains is that

JOE BOOSTER

our sports will suffer, as they have to service their constituents and other dependants that daily flock there for attention. It is a pity that they have ignored their assignment completely to play politics. This is one major area, our sportsloving president must look into when he possibly returns for a second term because the action of these appointees have balkanised our sports thereby creating room for lobbyists to hold sway at the expense of professionals. No wonder an ordinary issue like the election into the board of the NFF, which ought to be handled without hassles, became a herculean task, simply because some unprofessional officials were compromised in the process. All the nations that have made it in sports imbibed continuity as a strategy. During the regime of the former Director of Sports Development, Dr Amos Adamu, various studies were carried out by the

NSC, in places like Australia, China, Canada and the USA, just to ensure consistency of programmes for our sports men and women. All the nations that made it big in sports never did so by accident or by quick fix approaches. The seriousness shown to some of these critical things underlines the kind of results these nations have been getting. “You cannot plant yam and reap cashew.” A critical look at the various issues initiated before by successive regimes in the sports ministry that would have transformed our sports for good, will leave you distraught. The findings of these various panels instituted to look into the ills of our sports have all gathered dust in the vaults of the National Sports Commission. Their attendant recommendations considered to be earth-shaking have all been brazenly ignored to the detriment of our collective national aspiration, simply because the initiators who they think had benefitted from these programmes are out of the saddle. No wonder the inconsistencies that have become our lot. This approach to sports must stop as it has not benefitted us in any way. A man who does not know where the rain started to beat him would never know where it stops to beat him.

Afrobasket: D’Tigers target victory in Ouagadougou Elegbeleye lauds Ifeanyi Ibeh

ead coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, Sani Ahmed, has expressed confidence in his side’s chances of qualifying for both the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the Afrobasket, and the All Africa Games at the expense of Burkina Faso. Nigeria’s, D’Tigers, will today (Friday) fly out to the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, for the first leg tie of their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and All Africa Games qualifier against Burkina Faso. The game comes up on Monday and the 18-man contingent will be led out by the president of the Nigeria Basketball Fed-

eration, Tijjani Umar. And Ahmed, who is also the Head Coach of reigning Dstv Premier League champions, Kano Pillars, has stated that the team will not disappoint Nigerians. “We respect our opponents but they are not capable of stopping us from qualifying for both the Afrobasket and the All Africa Games as we are looking forward to challenging for the Afrobasket title and also defending our All Africa Games gold medal won four years ago in Mozambique,” said Ahmed. “The players are ready to prove that they are worthy ambassadors of Nigerian basketball and are mentally, physically and psychological prepared for the qualifiers.”

Flying Eagles, Brume, others

D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji celebrating with a teammate

Eagles move to 41st in FIFA rankings Ifeanyi Ibeh

N Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama

igeria climbed one spot in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday and are now ranked 41st in the world. The Super Eagles however stayed rooted in seventh spot on the continental rankings as Algeria maintained its position as Africa’s highest ranked team, followed by reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal and Cape Verde. Guinea, Congo DR and Cam-

eroon make up the top 10 on the African continent while Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Congo, Gabon, South Africa, Egypt, Zambia, Rwanda, Burkina Faso and Uganda occupy the 11th to 20th spots respectively. World champions, Germany, are still the number one team in the world ahead of Argentina and Colombia, while the biggest climbers are Barbados (131st) and Bermuda (169th), both of whom rose 11 places. The next FIFA rankings will be released on April 9.

he Director General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has commended the Flying Eagles for picking a ticket to the U- 20 World Cup after beating Congo 4-1 in their second Group A match in Senegal on Wednesday. “I sincerely thank the team and their coaches led by Manu Garba for doing the nation proud by winning the FIFA U- 20 World Cup ticket having beaten Congo 4-1 on Wednesday to achieve this feat. The National Sports Commission will honour them like we have been doing to other victorious team if they win this competition,” Elegbeleye assured. He also praised the country’s junior athletics team that emerged overall winners at the just concluded 2015 African Junior Athletics Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nigeria placed first having won 12 gold, eight silver and seven bronze medals at the Championship. “The National Sports Commission is very happy with the performance of our junior athletics team that emerged overall winners of the just concluded African Junior Athletics Championship in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. They have actually defended out position as Africa’s number one and we will continue to motivate them to continue to bring more glory to our fatherland.”

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

Lagos Open: Oshonaike, Effiom crash out of doubles Âjibade Olusesan

xperinced duo, Funke Oshonaike and Effom Janet, have crashed out of the women’s doubles event of the ongoing international Table Tennis Federation World Tour after losing to less illustrious pair, Rashidat Ogundele and Esther Oribamishe in the round of 16 on Thursday. Ogundele and Oribamishe produced as excellent performance to edge out their oppnents 3-1. But another experinced pair, Cecelia Otu and Edem Offiong did not falter in Their own game as they beat Ayinla Alimot and Ojomu Ajoke 3-1 to progress into the next round. Similarly, Ojo Onaolapo and Oyeniyan Boboye defeated the duo of Adeyinka Ahmed and Omotara Ayo 3-1 and set up a tantalising quaterfinal clash with the duo of Aruna Quadri and Kazeem Makanjuola.

Ibrahimovic: Chelsea players acted like ‘babies’

helsea’s players acted like “babies” during the incident that led to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s red card on Wednesday, the Paris St-Germain striker says. The Swede was sent off for a tackle on Oscar after 31 minutes but PSG survived the last hour of normal time and extra time to knock Chelsea out of the

Champions League last 16 on away goals. “When I got the red card all the Chelsea players come around,” he said. “It felt like I had a lot of babies around me.” “I don’t know if I have to get angry or start to laugh. For me when I saw the red card I was like ‘the guy doesn’t know what he’s doing’,” the PSG forward added.

Ibrahimovic, 33, also suggested Oscar feigned injury in the challenge: “I don’t know if he was acting afterwards. Doesn’t matter. We won the game, we went through and let’s see what happens.” The game at Stamford Bridge finished 2-2 on Wednesday and 3-3 on aggregate with PSG going through to the quarterfinals on away goals.

Ibrahimovic heads into a challenge with Chelsea midfielder Oscar (left) in the first-half which saw him sent off

Egbayelo Cup debuts in Apapa

Egbeyelo

ll is set as the Mike Egbayelo U-20 Football Championship begins today at the Apapa Local Government. According to the event’s sponsor, Mike Egbayelo, the tournament is open to youths who are members

of the All Progressives Congress in Apapa Local Government. He said that six teams from five wards in the LGA including a selected side will fight for honours in the maiden edition of the tournament. He said the winning team will go home with N100,000 while the first and second runners up will receive N70,000 and N50,000 respectively. Egbayelo who is aspiring to become the next chairman of the local government said: “We are sponsoring this tournament to contribute our quota to the development of sports in Apapa LGA. “We want to produce the next super-stars and we hope we can get the support of our people to do more. We are going to sustain this noble idea so that we can take our local government to the next level in football.”

Happy Days sports day holds Friday T he sports day of Happy Days’ Creche and Preschool will hold on Friday, March 13, at the AstroTurf facility in Ikoyi, Lagos with sponsorship support from Travel Paddy and Golden Tulip Hotels. This year’s event is the thrid in the school’s history, and according to the school’s director, Adekemi Badmos, the sports competition has been designed to stimulate the students’

Zidane on card to replace Ancelotti eal Madrid are reportedly ready to take a gamble by handing former star Zinedine Zidane the opportunity to replace Carlo Ancelotti as manager of the club. President Florentino Perez is said to be unhappy with the current situation at the Bernabeu, which has seen the Spanish giants relinquish control of top spot in La Liga and come within a whisker of dropping out of the Champions League in midweek. The barren run of current form is in stark contrast to the turn of the year when Ancelotti, the man who won the muchcoveted 10th European crown for Los Blancos last season, guided his side to an unprecedented 22game winning run.

FIFA expel Zimbabwe from 2018 World Cup IFA has announced that Zimbabwe have been expelled from qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia due to a pay dispute. The football federation of the national side have been punished after failing to pay Coach Jose Claudinei Georgini. A statement from the world governing body read: “The expulsion comes as a result of the non-payment of an outstanding debt by ZIFA (the Zimbabwe Football Federation) to the coach Jose Claudinei Georgini following a decision passed on August 15, 2012 by the FIFA Players’ Status Committee.”

Zidane

psycho-motor skills. “One of the things we would be achieving with the event is being able to inculcate the spirit of sportsmanship in the children. We will also help pass down the value of reward system for every effort invested in a cause while their psychomotor skill is being developed” Badmos Said. Apart from the fabulous prizes that the students won at the last edition of

the school’s sports day, two parents and two teachers also won return tickets to Dubai. And this year’s edition will be no different as parents and teachers stand to win tto overseas destinations courtesy of Travel Paddy Ltd. Students from the Lord’s Seed Children School, Creative Academy School and Tender Cradle School will also grace the occasion as guests.

Gambo undergoes surgery to remove bullets

ano Pillars star striker Gambo Mohammed has undergone surgery to remove bullets lodged in his body after his club’s bus was attacked last week by robbers. Gambo is the only player who suffered gunshot wounds during the incident who is still in hospital a week after the attack. Eneji Otekpa amd Murtala Adamu, who were also injured in the

attack, were discharged on Wednesday from the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano. The club’s media officer, Idris Malikawa, reportedly told AfricanFootball.com that Otekpa and Murtala Adamu have been discharged from the hospital leaving only Gambo behind. “Two more players have been discharged from the hospital. They are Eneji Otekpa and Murtala Adamu. Only

Gambo Mohammed remains in the hospital now, but he is getting better,” said Malikawa Reuben Ogbonnaya and Ubong Ekpai were discharged earlier. Pillars will start playing again on Saturday when they welcome Bayelsa United in a league, while their CAF Champions League clash against Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco has been moved to next weekend.

Club owners deny holding AGM T here are doubts over the claim by the League Management Company that its Annual General Meeting took place in Abuja last week whereby an unsigned communiqué was issued. Members of the Club Owners have denied the concocted meeting saying what they had was a meeting of the 20 Premier League club managers in Abuja where the LMC came to address and brief them on preparations for the 2014/2015 league season. Members of the club managers who spoke with journalists denied ever

having an AGM, wondering the rationale behind such insinuations. “We did not have an AGM of the LMC,” one of the conveners of the club managers’ forum who preferred anonymity said. “What we had was a meeting of the managers but the LMC came and presented a paper where they listed how much they need to run the league this season.” Another club owner said ; “There is a procedure for convening an AGM. The club managers paid for their own

accommodation, transportation and allowances totaling N630,000. Let the LMC tell the world if they paid for our accommodation and others. “The LMC has spent three years running the league without holding AGM. How come the first one lasted for just one hour without accounting for how all the monies for the league for the past two years were spent? We are not illiterates who can’t differentiate between AGM and ordinary meeting of the club managers. Let the LMC tell Nigerians another lies.”

Sport

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Sam Sodje

Former Super Eagles defender Your best food: Pasta and Carbonara Best Drink: Sprite Favourite colour: Blue Best city visited: Abu Dhabi Best club supported: Warri Wolves Best car: Range Rover Best designer: Hermes Best perfume: Creed Best music: NigeriaN music Best actor: Nkem Owoh Best actress: Yvonne Jegede Best boot: Puma Best jersey no: 4 Home town: Kokori State: Delta Best match: France v Nigeria friendly Worst match: English championship playoffs (Playing for West Brom against Derby County at Wembley)

senegal 2015 AYC

We’re not yet the best in Senegal – Manu Stories by Ifeanyi Ibeh

lying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, has stated that any talks about his team being the best side at the ongoing African U-20 Championship in Senegal are premature, insisting that any such talks should wait until the conclusion of the tournament. The Flying Eagles on Wednesday became the first African team to qualify for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand following their impressive 4-1 win against Congo in Dakar. They next face Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday and are sure of finishing top of Group A regardless of the outcome of the encounter

billed for the Caroline Faye Stadium, in Mbour. But having won their opening two games of the tournament, and racking up an impressive seven goals in the process, while only conceding two goals, many, most notably former French international, Oliver Darcourt, who is in Senegal as an analyst for Eurosport, regard the Flying Eagles as the best team at the tournament. Manu has however stated that his wards will only be regarded as the best when they win a seventh continental title at the end of the tournament’s final match on March 22. “We have done very well so far but we can only be the best team of the competition

when we win it,” he said. “We have some very good sides like Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, so we cannot afford

Ambassador backs Flying Eagles for title

to be complacent. He added: “The target now is to take the trophy back to Nigeria.”

Manu

Congo coach looks to the future

ongo coach, Paolo Berrettini, has congratulated the Flying Eagles over Wednesday’s victory, even though he believes his vanquished players have a bright future ahead of them. The Congolese lost 4-1 to the Flying Eagles, who prosecuted two-thirds of the en-

counter with 10 men after goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo was red carded after fouling a goal-bound Congolese attacker outside his penalty area. “This is a young team and we will keep working because we have a bright future ahead of us,” said the Italian at Wednes-

day post-match conference. “I only took charge of this team recently and so did not have enough time to prepare them for this competition. “But all the same, congratulations to Nigeria, who did a great job against us,” added Berrettini.

The Congolese drew their opening game against Cote d’Ivoire before Wednesday’s loss to Nigeria but can still progress to the championship’s semi-finals along with Group A winners Nigeria if they defeat Senegal, and Cote d’Ivoire fails to beat the Flying Eagles.

igeria’s ambassador to Senegal, Katyen Jackden, has predicted that the Flying Eagles will emerge champions of the CAF African U-20 Championship after progressing to the semi-finals of the tournament, following Wednesday’s 4-1 win against Congo. The win also qualified Manu Garba’s side for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand and an elated Jackden believes the Flying Eagles, from what she has seen of them in Senegal, are good enough to win a seventh continental title. “We are proud of your performance so far in this tournament and we are very certain Nigeria will win the cup here in Senegal,” thenff.com quoted Ambassador Jackden as saying when she visited the Flying Eagles at their hotel base on Wednesday night. “The quality of your performance has been very high and I am not just saying this because I am the Nigerian ambassador but because, even though I’m not a football expert, that was what they were all saying at the stadium. “Your technique is perfect and you play computerised football. So, I know you will not go back to Nigeria without the cup.” She added: “I have watched your two games (in Dakar) so far and will also be in Mbour for your game against Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday.”

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YDP and 2015 elections

igeria is preparing for a fresh round of elections, one in a series since independence on October 1, 1960. In the last 55 years, Nigeria has gone through parliamentary, military and presidential systems of government, with varying degrees of effect on the polity and people. Through these periods, there have been elections at different levels. These elections have produced different leaders that made varying degrees of impact on the nation. It is on record that of all the nation’s leaders, whether civilian or military, only Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Maj-Gen. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe AguiyiIronsi, Gen. Murtala Muhammed, MajGen. Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Sani Abacha did not conduct any kind of elections. Aguiyi-Ironsi was too preoccupied with containing the contending forces that followed the Chukwuma Nzeogwu coup of January 15, 1966 that he had no time to think of conducting elections. He was subsequently killed in a military coup on May 29, 1966. Gowon, who headed the military junta that overthrew Ironsi, kept promising to hold elections until his nine-year rule was brought to an end in a coup on July 19, 1975. The emerging junta headed by Murtala Muhammed stayed in office for only six months before he was brutally cut down in the Dimka coup. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who came in immediately, was able to organise national elections in 1979. President Shehu Shagari was only able to organise elections in 1983 that brought in leaders that lasted for just three months before they were replaced by the Buhari junta on December 31, 1983. Buhari’s regime lasted only 20 months before it was replaced by yet another military regime headed by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in August 1985. Babangida organised legislative, governorship and local government elections before his Maradonic style was brought to an end in 1993. Shonekan’s Interim National Government lasted for only 83 days before it was shoved aside by Abacha. The darkgoggled one sacked all democratic structures and held the nation in a vice grip for five years before he died mysteriously. His National Electoral Commission held zero-party local elections in March 1996 and later registered five political parties. The succeeding military government of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar spent 10 months and organised the elections that ushered in the Fourth Republic. In the last 16 years, national elections have been organised in 2003, 2007 and 2011. We are heading into the fourth period of national elections, which are expected to hold on March 28 (presidential and National Assembly) and April 11 (governorship and state houses of assembly). The tension has been so high and politicians have been all over the place, making promises as usual. However, one worrisome trend has been sinister attempts by some forces to frustrate the elections. The biggest threat came from a brazen attempt by a new group, Young Democratic Party, to stop the rescheduled polls from holding. Bristling with pride at having obtained a court order for their registration by the

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Independent National Electoral Commission, YDP held a press conference last week in Abuja, where its officials declared that Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered that the platform be registered and that it should be put on the ballot. This caused a fresh round of confusion in the country, necessitating all kinds of interpretations to be given to the development. The general claim was that President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party were behind the YDP and were trying to use the new platform to scuttle the entire elections. Infact, the general fear was that the rescheduled elections would not hold because INEC would not be able to print new ballot papers before the new dates. The party’s officials enjoyed the game

The biggest threat came from a brazen attempt by a new group, Young Democratic Party, to stop the rescheduled polls from holding

they were playing while it lasted, not minding the unnecessary tension they were causing the country. Thankfully, the court yesterday denied ordering INEC to place YDP on the ballot. Infact, the judge said his court was embarrassed by the YDP’s claims that he ordered INEC to shift the elections in order to accommodate it on the ballot. I’m also happy that the judge has ordered the YDP’s lead counsel, Kelvin Nwofo (SAN), to produce all the party’s officials who made the claim at the press conference at the next adjourned hearing on March 23. The twist in the tale came when INEC gave notice that it was applying for a stay of execution of the judgment on the grounds that it had filed a notice of appeal dated March 9, 2015 against the March 4 verdict before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal. But this amounted to standing nothing on nothing, as the time-tested legal maxim says. The learned judge also said: “As far as the court is concerned no such orders were made. In fact, even the plaintiff, the Young Democratic Party, did not seek such reliefs from the court. It is therefore very unfortunate that that the court is portrayed in a very negative perspective. “One would have expected the person concerned to approach the court and obtain the certified true copy of the judgment to see the orders made by the court. “In the light of the embarrassing situation, I hereby direct the learned senior counsel to the plaintiff to investigate this ugly development and bring the persons or possible persons who held the press conference to court on the next adjourned date to show the court where the said order was made, failing which the court will not hesitate to cite any person who misrepresented its record and judgment for contempt.” A report says that according to the enrolled order of the judgment, the court, only ordered INEC to issue a certificate of registration to the party. This was based on the fact that the judge held that YDP was deemed registered as a political party by virtue of the failure of INEC to communicate its decision not to register the then political association as a political party within 30 days of receiving its (the plaintiff ’s) application as stipulated in section 78 (4) of the Electoral Act. Infact, a report said a copy of the court’s judgment obtained on Wednesday showed that the plaintiff – the YDP – did not ask for inclusion in the polls in its amended originating summons dated December 2, 2014. Now, why would a group of youths want to throw their fatherland into avoid-

able confusion, agony and pain? I know that President Jonathan and Buhari have made a song and dance of their desire to give the youths their desired pride of place if elected. However, if these are the kind of youths desirous of leading this country, then we are in serious trouble! If I may ask, why would youths lend themselves to a sinister plot to undermine the democratic process? It is laudable that they were able to form a political platform with youths as the cornerstone of their association. But for them to have plotted to hold the nation to ransom and to scuttle the elections calls into question the ability of Nigerians under 40 to lead this nation. Recall that it was the Youths Earnestly Ask For Abacha led by Daniel Kanu that started the song for the dark-goggled one to become a life president. Lest we forget, much of the misrule Nigeria suffered in the past was as a result of the youthful exuberance and relative inexperience of past leaders, who were in their prime while in power. Consider someone like Gowon, who became head of state at 32, while still a bachelor. Gowon was reputed to have said that Nigeria’s problem at a time was not how to make money but how to spend it. Recall that the coups and counter-coups that marked the nation’s history were organised by young officers. The nation could have avoided much of the tragedies in its history if it had had the fortune of being led by experienced people. Now, I know there are those who would challenge me on this. I’m not perfect and so correct me if I’m wrong: It will amount to toying with trouble for Nigeria to attempt to elect a president below 40 in the future. Yes, we have had governors and legislators who were under 40 and who performed very well. But ruling a nation of 170 million people with different aspirations and inclinations requires real maturity and good sense. It may be tempting to cite other nations which have been ruled by young presidents. But place this side by side with the fact that such nations had benefitted from the experience of older past leaders. In the March 8, 2015 edition of Sunday Telegraph, some young Nigerians under 40 were cited as emerging influential media personalities. These are young men and women who have made good success in their chosen careers in the media industry in Nigeria. However, politics is a different ball game in Nigeria. So many things are involved, chief of which are experience, maturity, courage and tenacity. How many Nigerian youths can hold their own against the entrenched interests in politics and business in Nigeria? How many of them can withstand pressure to hold the nation to ransom the way YDP’s officials tried to do? How many of them have a keen sense of history and grip on the peculiar circumstances that this great nation has gone through? When you go through some comments by youths on social media, you cannot but worry for the future of our nation. The YDP example is surely not the way to go if Nigerian youths must make a difference in future.

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.