A commercial bus driver making a U-turn on the road median at Ojota on Ikorodu Road, Lagos (left) and a BRT driver also crossing the median on the express lane at Ogudu. PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Vol. 4 N0. 979 Monday, November 10, 2014 N150

P.8

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>Aganga

...denies removal of 1.4 million persons in Lagos

P.7

2015: Jonathan formally declares tomorrow

P.2

Govt spends $4bn on oil, gas imports CBN

Naira gains 2.35per cent as CBN sells dollars

BUSINESSTHE SECTIONbn ts

P.A4, A5Free inside

Nigeria attracted $59bn investment in 3 years, says FG

FG approves consultancy for staff

OLUFEMI ADEOSUNABUJA

At least $59bn worth of local and for-eign direct in-vestments came into the different sectors of the

economy within the last three years, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has said.

He attributed the grow-ing quantum of invest-ments in the country

aimed at diversifying the economic base a way from oil to the slew of policies initiated by the ministry.

Speaking during the 4th Annual Seminar for Industry, Trade and In-

Over 60 killed as military moves to retake Mubi P.4

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Again, health workers begin strike on Wed

Weve not delisted any registered voter INEC

MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

The National Union of Allied Health Professional, NU-AHP, and the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, have threatened to resume its strike on Wednesday over other demands not ap-proved by the government.

The Federal Government has approved the position of consultancy for deserving

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LCCI blames low turnout at trade fair on Ebola

LAWLESSNESS ON THE HIGHWAY

Again, health workers begin strike on Wed

Weve not delisted any registered voter INEC

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: Assistant Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Luka Markus; Catholic Bishop of Bauchi Diocese, Dr. Malachy John-Goltok and Parish Priest, St. James Catholic Church Gombe, Rev. Fr. John Keane, during a mass and confirmation of 104 Catholics in Gombe, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

OBIORA IFOH, GBENGA OGUNBUFUNMI OMEIZAAJAYI AND FEMI OYEWESO

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that it has not del-isted any duly registered person from the register of voters.

While expressing the commitment to ensure that every properly regis-tered voter get his or her Permanent Voter Cards, PVC, for the 2015 general election, the commission

said nobody would be de-nied his or her PVC.

Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said it had become necessary to re-assure the voting public against the backdrop of temporary challenges that had been experienced in the third phase of the dis-tribution of PVCs in some states. Idowu added that the commission deferred the distribution of PVCs in four other states it had earlier listed for this third phase because the cards for those states have not been fully delivered by

printers.It is partly for the same

reason that the Commis-sion rescheduled the dis-tribution of PVCs in lim-ited areas of Lagos and Nasarawa states," he said, adding that the outstand-ing cards would, however, be certainly distributed in good time before the 2015 general election.

They are presently being produced and have been scheduled for distri-bution under the fourth phase of the exercise from Friday, November 28th to Sunday, November 30th, 2014.

Idowu said it is com-pletely false that INEC has removed the records of 1.4 million persons from the Register of Voters compiled in 2011 in Lagos State.

He said while it was true that at the end of the 2011 general registration exercise, the commission announced a figure of 6.1 million registrants in the state, when that data was subjected to the Auto-mated Fingerprints Iden-tification System (AFIS) software, 82,892 multiple registrations were elimi-nated.

The commission added that there was the techni-cal challenge of loss of data and incomplete data affecting about one mil-lion records mostly in 1,792 polling units that were identified and made public before the present exercise.

That was why/how the Post-Business Rule figure for Lagos State (on the basis of which PVCs were printed) came down to about 4.6 million regis-trants", Idowu stated.

He said a pre-acknowl-edged data loss and incom-plete data of some regis-trants is not a conspiracy issue as has been alleged.

It is a back-end tech-nical challenge that is far from sealing the fate of affected persons, and for which INEC has already put in place measures to ensure redress.

The Commission has made provision for eli-gible persons for whom PVCs could not been print-ed due to data loss or defec-tive data to come out from Wednesday, November 12th to Monday, November 17th, 2014 for their data to be recaptured during the CVR. In special consider-ation for the 1,792 polling units in Lagos State where the challenge of data loss is much pronounced, the CVR will take place at the polling unit level, as against the Registration Area (RA) level in other parts of the state.

The Register of Vot-ers is the most important bedrock of the credibility of any election. It is, there-fore, not in the best inter-est of the political process, or indeed the enlightened self-interest of the politi-cal elite, to needlessly im-pugn the integrity of the Register", he said.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, had raised the alarm over the three-day distribution of the PVCs in 12 states.

The exercise rounded off yesterday.

The party said that the process was intentionally programmed to fail in or-der to disenfranchise vot-ers in the states with the highest number of voters.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secre-tary, Alhaji Lai Moham-med, APC said the fact

that most of the 12 states in which the process had been largely botched in the past three days had the highest number of voters and were under the con-trol of the APC point to a clear collusion between INEC and the PDP.

It said most registered voters were unable to col-lect their PVCs because INEC engaged in a pro-grammed incompetence to swing the elections in favour of the PDP..

There is no doubt that this programmed incom-petence has emanated from just one source, the ICT unit of INEC, with the intent of sabotaging the PVC distribution process in key states, hence we are calling on INEC Chair-man, AttahiruJega, to in-stitute an internal inquiry into the botched exercise with a view to fishing out the fifth columnists who are behind the sabotage, meting out the necessary punishment to them.

If INEC is to organize a free, credible and trans-parent election next Feb-ruary, it must quickly re-turn to the drawing board to fashion out how to en-sure that all Nigerians who are eligible to vote are able to do so without hindrance, and also purge itself of the fifth colum-nists within its ranks who are bent on sabotaging the elections,'' APC said.

The party said it was curious that most of the affected states (Kaduna, Kano, Edo, Plateau, Ogun, Imo, Borno, Rivers, Lagos, Nasarawa, Katsina, Niger) were either opposition strongholds or harbour the highest huge number of voters.

''This is highly suspi-cious, against the back-ground of available infor-mation that the PDP-led Federal Government is working to disenfran-chise voters in opposition strongholds during the forthcoming polls,'' it said.

APC also slammed INEC for resorting to lame excuses for botching the exercise, saying Nigerians were not interested in who got the contract to produce the cards but in being able to exercise their franchise during the forthcoming elections.

But in Lagos, investiga-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net2 Monday, November 10, 2014News

health workers in the coun-try.

JOHESU Vice-President, Felix Faniran, said NUAHP leadership met with the Federal Government last Thursday where the group was formally given a circu-lar approving the consul-tancy.

He stated that with the circular, health workers had the right to become consul-tants in their various fields, like the medical doctor.

We held a meeting with the SGF on Thursday; the government only released one of the many circulars we told them to release. The one they released was the one in respect to consultan-cy status which we say they should correct which they have now corrected.

Other health care pro-

fessionals are recognised as consultants and that it is their professional bodies that have the right to dictate who should be a consultant or not and not the Medical and Dental Council of Ni-geria and that such people shall be qualified to receive specialist allowance. That is what we have got.

All other issues, particu-larly, that our salary which was supposed to be adjusted on January this year in the same line with our col-leagues - the NMA mem-bers, who have had their own adjusted and whose circulars have not only been issued, but they are already enjoying a new salary pack-age, our circular is yet to be released.

We are in the same sec-tor but they are enjoying new salary while we have not got the circular yet let

alone implementing it.Also, this is already No-

vember, budgets have been prepared in all institutions and ours have been pre-pared on old rate, so we can no longer wait.

Since the government does not have an answer to this and the arrears of CONHESS 10 skipping, they are just compiling the list whereas they have compiled this list long ago, it was sup-posed to be paid in 2013, they could not pay, we waited to 2014, they said it was not in budget for 2014 and that we have to wait till 2015, we are all tired of this rigmarol-ling.

The issue of retirement age, we dont need to argue on this one. There has been a government White Paper in 1981 that whatever is hap-pening in the universities should be the same condi-

tion of service in the Uni-versity Teaching Hospitals. So, since the university is already enjoying 65 to 70 years retirement, it should be made automatic to the University Teaching Hos-pitals, since they are sister institutions.

Despite our effort to con-vince them they refused and said they will wait till De-cember when one commit-tee will meet at state level. We are not working for the states. If the federal govern-ment has entered an agree-ment with us since May 2012, why cant they issue circular to that effect.

So, having disagreed on all other issues, the entire unions, all the other four unions that made of the JO-HESU have now decided to go on indefinite strike from Wednesday next week, he declared.

3Monday, November 10, 2014National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net4 Monday, November 10, 2014Photo News

LIVINUS MENEDIYOLA

Counter-offensive op-erations by security forces against the Boko Haram sect in Mubi recorded some successes with the routing of the in-surgents at the weekend, a source said yesterday.

Elite anti-riot mobile policemen have joined the battle to flush out the insurgents, who took over Mubi about two weeks ago.

A resident, Mallam Bello Idi, who fled Mubi as a result of the military offensive to reclaim the town, said scores of in-surgents have been killed, while several others have surrendered.

According to him, sev-eral residents who re-mained in the town were prevented from leaving by the sect.

According to Bello, the real motive of the sect in denying the residents from fleeing was to use

tell whether the footage was staged for propagan-da purposes, especially scenes of residents cheer-ing the Islamist fighters.

The message appeared to be aimed at reinforcing Shekaus claim that he has created a caliphate within Nigeria.

In the 44-minute video, Boko Haram voices sup-port for other so-called ca-liphates, including the one proclaimed in Iraq and Syria by the Islamic State (IS) group.

Shekau, who is pictured in closeup shots with rare clarity, again dismisses government claims about ceasefire talks.

The video, which was delivered through the same channels as past messages, shows armed men lined along a well-paved road, with three pick-up trucks bristling with heavy weapons also visible.

Black, crested flags as-sociated with the Islamist

them as buffer against heavy bombardment, add-ing that several people have been caught in the crossfire.

I saw as much as over sixty bodies on my way out of the town. What I witnessed was horrific; anybody still left in Mubi is in serious danger. Many of the insurgents them-selves have been forced to retreat into the town from the outskirts as the military advance into the town, Bello said.

Some of the sect mem-bers, fleeing the offen-sive were alleged to have swooped on some villagers in Makira, on the outskirts of Mubi, setting ablaze the local church and killing two villagers.

The villagers, accord-ing to a local vigilante, overpowered and killed three of the insurgents. A combined team of mobile policemen and a detach-ment of soldiers stationed in Hong were said to have

group are also shown.Later, an armoured ve-

hicle rolls down the road lined with both fighters and individuals who ap-pear to be residents.

Boko Haram has re-leased series of videos showing similar military hardware, equipment it says was stolen from the Nigerian military.

No women or girls were seen on the street or any-where else in the footage.

Most of the message is taken up by a sermon from Shekau, delivered indoors but apparently played on a speaker to locals assem-bled outside.

We have indeed estab-lished an Islamic caliph-ate, he said, restating a claim he first made in Au-gust.

The images of the ser-mon include unusually clear closeups of the mili-tant leader.

Shekau has previously expressed solidarity with other jihadi groups and

quickly responded and re-pelled the attackers. In a related development, an-other top military officer was alleged to have been arrested by the military in Yola for sabotaging the current war against insur-gents.

The military officer was said to have been whisked away from the battle front to the barracks for further investigations, following the discovery of several billions of bank transac-tions linked to him.

He was also believed to be providing the sect with vital information about movement of arms and other tactical moves.

Meanwhile, a new Boko Haram video obtained yesterday shows sect members on an armoured vehicle parading down a road in an unidentified town they apparently con-trol and the groups leader Abubakar Shekau preach-ing to locals.

It was not possible to

leaders.In the latest video, he

seemed to associate ter-ritory under his control with a wider, global ca-liphate, but did not submit to the authority of any other jihadi leader.

To everyone living in Islamic Caliphate, we convey our greetings, he said, specifically mention-ing brethren in Afghani-stan, Pakistan, Azerbai-jan, Shishan (an Islamist term for Chechnya), Ye-men, Somalia and the Ca-liphate in Iraq and Syria.

A graphic shown later includes a picture of the IS groups leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as well as a portion of the message his group issued on July 1 proclaiming a caliphate in Iraq and Syria.

The Federal Govern-ment maintains that it is still negotiating with Boko Haram envoys in Chad and that a disputed Octo-ber 17 ceasefire declara-tion remains viable.

Over 60 killed as military moves to retake Mubi

L-R: Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu; Director-General, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa, and Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, at the Ministrys 4th Annual Workshop for Industry, Trade and Investment Correspondents and Editors, in Abuja.

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III and his wife, Ayaba Memunat, during the monarchs visit to Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo, after attending the opening ceremony of the Ibom International Stadium at the weekend.

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Dangote Group, Mr. Kunle Alake; Special Adviser to the GMD, Dangote Cement, Hajia Fatima Dangote; Special Adviser to the Group President, Engr. Joseph Makoju; GMD Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, and Special Adviser, Halima Dangote, during the unveiling of Dangote 32.5 and 3X Cement in Lagos at the weekend.

National News

L-R: Past President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI),Dr Ademola Ajayi; Honourary Life Vice President, Chief Segun Osunkeye; Deputy President, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Akande, and Vice President, Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, during the LCCI reception for National Honours Awardees members in Lagos, recently.

Scenes inside Boko Haram-controlled town shown in new video

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 5Monday, November 10, 2014 News

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vestment Correspondents and Business Editors, in Abuja at the weekend, the minister noted that the United Nations Con-ference on Trade and De-velopment had ranked Nigeria the number one destination for invest-ment for two consecutive years, with the country maintaining its top three position last year.

He said, If you look at pipeline investments that have come into the coun-try within the last three years, we have a mini-mum of $59bn coming into the different sectors of the economy over the next five to eight years. This does not include the investments that are com-ing into the power sector. If you look at the value chain, we have about $60bn investments going into the power sector.

Out of the $59bn that I talked about, about $12bn is going into integrated petrochemical plant. This means that if that pet-rochemical plant comes on stream as planned by 2018, there will be no need for the country to import refined petroleum prod-ucts, and that will be a big boost towards the eco-nomic diversification of the country.

He added, Also, a lot of investments are going into fertiliser and ethanol plants, agribusiness such as sugarcane to sugar, rice mills and cement, among others.

We have new invest-ments going into the au-tomobile sector due to the implementation of the Nigerian Automotive In-dustry Development Plan, which is a major compo-nent of the Nigeria Indus-trial Revolution Plan.

The minister pointed out that the increased investment focus on Ni-geria, as well as sound policies across all sectors of the Nigerian economy, had helped to create more employment and increase the capacity utilisation of key manufacturing sectors of the Nigerian economy.

He said, unlike in the past, when there was no comprehensive and coor-dinated industrial policy for the country, the Nige-ria Industrial Revolution Plan had been developed

as a major game changer.Aganga stated, Presi-

dent Goodluck Jona-than in February 2013, launched the Nigeria In-dustrial Revolution Plan as a major game-changer. This was based on the principle that no nation has successfully moved from being a poor to a rich nation without a robust industrial and services sector.

In 2011, we did not have a comprehensive automotive policy on the ground. Today, in the au-tomotive sector, over 22 companies have signed technical commitments to manufacturing or assem-bling cars in Nigeria.

He added that the man-ufacturing capacity utili-sation for the automotive sector had also increased by 40 per cent, while in-vestment in sugar cane had risen from $100m in 2011 to N3.2bn today.

In the cement sector, the minister said MITI, under President Jona-than, had made signifi-cant progress, with in-stalled capacity currently at 39.5million metric tonnes, up from 16.5mil-lion metric tonnes per an-num in 2011.

Aganga said, In 2011, the installed capacity in the cement sector was 16.5 million metric tonnes per annum. Today, it is 39.5 million metric tonnes. When we came in, there were about $9 billion in-vestment in the cement sector, but today, it is more than $15billion. In 2011, the direct and indi-rect jobs from the cement sector were less than 600. Today, the sector provides about 2.2 million direct and indirect jobs.

According to him, un-like in the past when there was heavy importation of cement, since 2013, the ad-ministration of President Goodluck Jonathan has not issued any import li-cence.

Our main focus for the cement sector, going forward, is to improve the standard of cement and to bring the price down. Ce-ment manufacturers must do it because we do not do price regulation. There was an announcement a few days ago that one of the cement manufactur-ers is bringing down the price of its 32.5 by 40 per

Weve not delisted any registered voter INEC

Nigeria attracted $59bn investment in 3 years, says FG

Ongoing work at Marine Beach in Epe, Lagos during Governor Fasholas inspection as part of his statewide projects inspection in Kosofe, Ikorodu and Epe axis at the weekend. INSET: Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle), Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (2nd right) and Managing Director, LOPEK, Mr. Kayode Oladeji (2nd left).

tion by our correspondent revealed that heaps of PVCs which amounted to millions of cards were yet to be collected by prospec-tive owners.

A visit to some of the polling units being used as distribution centres in Ikeja, Agege and Lagos Island saw people coming in trickles to collect their cards.

To compound the prob-lem, many of those who came to collect their cards were disappointed as most could not find their names on the lists pasted around the polling booths used for the exercise.

In Ogun State, the In-dependent National Elec-toral Commission, INEC, extended by a day the deadline for the distribu-tion of the PVC.

A statement signed by the state Resident Elec-toral Commission, REC, Sam Olumekun, copies of which were made avail-able to journalists yester-day in Abeokuta, the state capital, explained that the deadline for the distribu-tion of the PVC would now end today as against the earlier scheduled date of yesterday.

Olumekun in the state-ment captioned: INEC/

OG/345/VOL.II" explained that the extension granted Ogun State was sequel to barrage of hitches en-countered by the commis-sion and the citizens dur-ing the first two days of the exercise which kicked started last Friday.

National Mirror re-called that the hitches encountered during the first and second days of the exercise had forced the state governor, Ibi-kunleAmosun to inter-face with the top echelon of the commission in the state where he openly ex-pressed his displeasure of the agonies which the people of the state were subjected to during the exercise.

Amosun during the meeting with the INECs South-West National Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olorode, demanded a two-day extension, fail-ure of which he threat-ened to officially take it up with Jega.

Olorode himself had told Amosun that the three days earlier sched-uled for the exercise were the commission's policy decision, stressing that granting any exten-sion was beyond him.

In what appeared as acknowledging the

home-made flaws howev-er, INEC announced yes-terday that it had grant-ed an extension of a day rather than two days de-manded by the state gov-ernor.

In Plateau State, some prospective voters ex-pressed concern about their inability to obtain the PVC.

A visit to some of the PVCs distribution cen-tres showed that many voters, who turned up to obtain the cards went home disappointed.

It was observed that while many could not find their names on the list at some centres, some polling units were not opened for the exercise.

Among polling units not opened at all for the exercise were Mountain Kiew, close to the Federal Secretariat, Hwolshe and Kwata area in Jos South Local Government Area.

At one of the polling units behind New Era Hotel in Hwolshe, out of the voters that were reg-istered, only four names appeared on the list.

The situation was also the same at polling units in Tudun-Wada, Kabong, Dadin-Kowa and Kabong.

A voter, Mrs.LaraiMai-kifi, who spoke to NAN

in Hotel Junction in Hwolshe, described the situation as frustrating.

Another voter, Mr Ibrahim Azi, said that he went to his polling unit at Obasanjo Model Pri-mary School, but did not find his name in the list.

However, MrTimoth-Golu, the Chief Whip, Plateau House of As-sembly, has asked INEC to tidy up their arrange-ment so as not to disen-franchise a large seg-ment of the population.

Golu asked INEC to ex-tend the deadline for the collection of the PVCs, explaining that the peri-od given for the exercise was short.

But Mr. Habu Zarma, the INEC Resident Com-missioner in Plateau, had earlier said that more than more than one million voters, out of 2.3 million voters, had yet to be captured in the state.

He said that fresh reg-istration exercise would take place in 527 polling units across 11 local gov-ernment areas.

Zarma said that many voters were not captured because of the challenges faced on printers, scan-ners and capturing finger prints of voters, among others.

cent from N1,700 per bag to N1,000. The 42.5 is com-ing down from around N1,800 to about N1, 150 per bag.

He added, There have

been complaints about what is happening in the sector. But Nigerians should not worry because we know what we are doing. We have a com-

petition policy, we have anti-trust law that we are looking at and we have a competition Bill that is going to the National As-sembly. We will make sure

that industrialists and in-vestors across the country continue to have the con-fidence that everyone will play on a level playing ground.

6 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netMonday, November 10, 2014News

DAVID AUDU

Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United King-dom, Dr Christopher Ko-lade, has berated those calling for the continued retention of immunity clause in the countrys constitution, describ-ing them as persons with criminal tendencies.

It is only a person who wants to get political ap-pointment and use it to siphon public funds, that

will ask for the retention of immunity clause in the constitution.

How else would you de-scribe such a person if his intention is not to steal, why would he be asking to be immune from crimi-nal prosecution? Leaders who want immunity has criminal tendencies, he declared.

Kolade who spoke at a youth empowerment forum in Lagos recently, tasked Nigerian youths to embrace transparency and integrity of character,

OLUFEMI ADEOSUNABUJA

The Federal Govern-ment has said that it has set machin-ery in motion to evolve 30 new export markets with-in Nigeria in the next five years, all capable of mak-ing Nigeria attained a 7.1 annual Gross Domestic Product growth and a fi-nancial base of up to $1.6 trillion.

The Executive Secre-tary, Nigerian Exports Promotion Council, NEPC, gave the hint in Abuja at the weekend during the 4th annual me-dia conference themed; Building Greater Nation through Sustained Trans-formation.

He said efforts current-ly being directed by NEPC would offer not less than 5 million jobs which he said would be directly and indirectly created in the value chain under OSOP.

The council, he further noted, had been making efforts to position the ex-port market as the growth opportunity of choice for private sector earnings and sustainable economic development.

Awolowo hailed the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jona-than which he noted, had ensured steady growth in non-oil export, which ac-cording to him, fetched the country a total sum of US$2.970 Billion in 2013, a 15.9 percent increase over US$2.561Bn in 2012.

He said NEPC had de-signed a game-changing approach towards attain-ing the new initiatives by the government against the backdrop that only 11 new non-oil products

were exported in 2013 to 11 countries, just as he lamented that the non-oil export potentials in Nige-ria have not been fully ex-ploited despite endowed natural resources on the solid minerals, agricul-ture among others.

He stressed the need for Nigeria to begin to look beyond its oil resources because the country was already experiencing lack of patronage from major oil consumers like the US, while the crude oil price has suddenly fallen by 25 percent.

The NEPC boss how-ever disclosed that NEPC had developed a one state one product initiative to-wards promoting the ex-port markets in Nigeria in which case each state would be encouraged to specialise in the produc-tion of an agricultural product on which it has comparative advantage over the others.

He said, The pro-gramme will adopt one product in each state and develop its value chain. It will also adopt key nation-al products such as cocoa, palm produce, cashew, cassava, ground nuts and others for priority value addition and develop-ment.

Its time for Nigeria to look beyond oil resources NEPC

FG, port operators lose N35bn to blockade of ports

Kolade berates calls for retention of immunity clause

L-R: Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; Mr. Jude Ighoteguonor and his wife, an athlete and former Miss Blessing Okagbare, after their wedding ceremony in Sapele, at the weekend.

The Federal Govern-ment and port op-erators have lost about N35bn in a week to blockade of the Apapa Port activities by customs agents, Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN, has said.

The spokesman for STOAN, Mr Bolaji Akino-la, said in a statement in Lagos on Sunday, that the blockade resulted from customs agents rejection of port charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the agents action be-gan on November 3, 2014, adding that the Apapa Port lost N1.4 billion daily since the blockade began.

Akinola said: Ship-ping lines, manufactur-ing companies, haulage firms, terminal operators,

Nigerian Ports Author-ity, importers, clearing agents and other agencies of government are collec-tively losing about N3.6 billion daily.

NAN reports that the Nigerian Shippers Coun-cil, NSC, had in October published an advertise-ment announcing the re-versal of storage charges at the ports.

The charges were re-verted to what obtained as at May 1, 2009.

NSC also directed an increase in the free stor-age period at the ports from three days to seven days.

The council equally directed shipping com-panies to reduce agency charges from N26,500 to N23,850 per TEU (20-foot container) and from

N48,000 to N40,000 per FEU (40-foot container).

It also directed ship-ping agencies to refund deposits for containers to importers and agents within 10 working days after return of empty con-tainers.

The charges were to be-gin in November.

However, shortly after publishing the directives, terminal operators under the aegis of STOAN, and shipping line agencies se-cured interim injunctions from the Federal High Court to stop the NSC from implementing the directives.

Justice Ibrahim Buba granted an ex parte mo-tion filed by STOAN.

He gave an injunction restraining the NSC and its agents from reversing

the charges pending the determination of a sub-stantive suit on the mat-ter.

Buba adjourned the matter till Monday, No-vember 10, 2014, for fur-ther hearing.

Shipping lines under the umbrella of the Asso-ciation of Shipping Line Agencies, ASLA, also se-cured a similar court in-junction.

Akinola said that the blockade of terminals at the nations premier port could `hurt the economy.

The association urged the Nigerian Ports Au-thority, NPA, the police and other concerned authorities to clear the blockade to allow those wishing to clear their car-goes to gain access into the ports, he said.

adding that only then can they contribute to build a nation which future gen-eration would be proud of.

He also urged the youths to support the transforma-tion agenda of the present government, saying it is an efforts aimed at devel-opment.

The transformation is not for the people in gov-ernment alone, but for all Nigerians. There is need for all to key into the pro-gramme and support ev-ery effort aimed at bring-ing development, he said.

He said the country is blessed with a youthful population; as such, they should devote their ef-fort and energies towards positive contributions that will bring good to the soci-ety, while urging them to strive to be people of in-tegrity and not to manifest lower tendencies.

With reference to Nige-rias position in the cor-ruption index, he said, no situation changes it-self; change has to come through a conscious ef-fort and that is where our

youths must have a criti-cal role to play, he said.

In a related develop-ment, while giving a key note address at a sym-posium on politics, busi-ness and the 2015 general elections, organised by BrandIQ Magazine, in Lagos, Kolade, noted that Nigerian can only drive engagement through de-liberate participation in the political system.

He said true demo-

cratic participation en-tails the need for constant dialogue among citizens, adding that only through such open and frank talk, can we understand our-selves and find a way to stay together as a united country.

He therefore tasked stakeholders in the politi-cal process to endeavour to participate fully to re-alise the democracy of our dream.

Awolowo

ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

The Nigerian Commu-nications Commis-sion, NCC, is target-ing a 30 per cent increase in broadband internet pen-etration by 2018.

The increase from its current level of six per cent is expected to come from the planned historic auc-tion of the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum band taking place next month in Abuja.

According to the NCC,

the nations telecoms sector will benefit significantly with the auspicious auction in the area of further deep-ening broadband internet penetration in the country.

Technical details of the planned auction as contained in the recent-ly-released Information Memorandum, IM, by the regulator which defines the process for the licensing of paired spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band indicates that the auction of the spectrum will boost the drive by the

The ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

ABIODUN NEJOADO EKITI

The All Progres-sives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State yesterday said the petition written by the Peoples Democratic Par-ty, PDP, to the state Chief Judge, Ayodeji Daramo-la, over reassignment of the suit filed by a group to Justice Olusegun Ogu-nyemi amounted to at-tempt to hijack the judi-ciary.

Consequently, the op-position party urged the chief judge to be firm in his decision on the suit to ensure justice, not minding criticisms.

The APC State Pub-licity Secretary, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, told

journalists on phone in Ado-Ekiti yesterday that acceding to such request based on petition from the PDP would erode the sanctity and respect of the judiciary.

Olatunbosun, who said the judiciary re-mained the bastion of the common man, noted that it would spell dan-ger for the country for a party in a case to dictate who to handle the case.

The PDP, in the peti-tion signed by its State Chairman, Chief Idowu Faleye, last week had ac-cused Justice Ogunyemi of bias, saying justice could not be guaranteed in the matter under him, hence the request to as-sign the case to another judge.

ROTIMI FADEYIABUJA

Preparations are in top gear for the dec-laration of Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 Presidential elections slated for Eagle Square, Abuja tomorrow.

Arrangements for tight security are being made as the major roads leading to the Eagle Square are expected to be cordoned off.

The event, which would kick-off at 10a.m, would be witnessed by top hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Par-

ty, PDP leadership and members of the National Assembly as well as top government officials.

Jonathan had on Thursday, October 23 af-ter a meeting with PDP leaders at the Presiden-tial Villa, set up a 37-man Presidential declaration committee headed by for-mer Minister of Defence, Bello Haliru, to make ad-equate arrangement for tomorrows event.

A source close to the committee disclosed yes-terday that adequate se-curity had been made to ensure that the declara-tion was hitch-free.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said it has discovered 2.235kg of cocaine inside soles of female shoes im-ported from Brazil into the country.

The agency stated that the illicit drug was detected at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, inward screening of passengers on board an Etihad Airways flight.

An online media state-ment from the spokesman of the agency, Mr. Mitch-ell Ofoyeju stated that the suspect, a male who was

simply identified as Mama Solomon who checked-in the bags with the narcotic had been apprehended by its officials.

Commenting on the sei-zure, NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar stated that the suspect claimed to be a shoe merchant, however, during interrogation it was revealed that he only used the shoes to conceal the co-caine.

Umar emphasized that Mama Solomon had two bags containing female shoes and hand bags.

During interrogation, the suspect Mama Solomon, 27 years old said that he was given the bag by a friend in

Brazil to take to Nigeria.He allegedly confessed,

I live and work in Brazil. I was given the drug with a promise that I will be hand-somely rewarded if I suc-cessfully deliver the bag in Nigeria. They also assured me that somebody will help me in collecting the bags at the airport in Nigeria. Unfortunately, officers de-manded to search my bag and in the process, the co-caine was found in my bag.

The suspect hails from Enugu State.

Also commenting on the discovery, the Chief Ex-ecutive, NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the agency would continue to detect hidden drugs and prosecute

drug traffickers.The NDLEA boss also

urged members of the pub-lic not to relent their effort in reporting suspected drug dealers to the Agency.

This seizure will serve as a warning to drug cartels. Efforts shall be intensified to train and retrain officers on interdiction techniques and intelligence gathering in order to maintain our su-periority over drug traffick-ers. NDLEA shall continue to seize narcotic drugs and prosecute offenders Giade stated.

Ofoyeju stated that the suspect risks 15 years jail term if convicted on the charge of unlawful posses-sion of cocaine.

Ekiti APC accuses PDP of ploy to hijack judiciary

NDLEA uncovers cocaine in female shoes

NCC targets 36% broadband internet penetration by 2018

regulator to deepen broad-band internet penetration.

Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the process for the licens-ing of the 2.6 GHz spectrum is predicated on demands by operators for additional spectrum to enable the pro-vision of Advanced Wire-less Broadband services in line with international trends.

It is also in line with the mandate of the commis-sion as accentuated in the National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, approved by Pres-ident Goodluck Jonathan last year and the objectives

of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2013.

According to him, the auction is also in further-ance of the objectives of the Federal Government of Nigeria as set out in the Ni-gerian National ICT Policy 2012.

Based on the positive outcome of earlier con-sultations with necessary stakeholders and the direc-tion of the National Broad-band Plan, the commission has decided to undertake the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum auction to award spec-trum licenses to build and operate networks in this

spectrum band to provide Advanced Broadband Wire-less Services to subscribers in Nigeria, Ojobo said.

He said that to qualify to bid in the December auc-tion, applicants dont have to be Licensed Network Op-erators, LNOs, in Nigeria, adding that any successful bidder who does not have a Unified Access Service Li-cense, UASL, will be grant-ed one upon payment of the specified fee. The tenure for the UASL will be 10 years, subject to renewal.

He explained the spec-trum is offered by the commission on a technol-

ogy neutral basis, saying, however, that for roll-out of services, the commis-sion intends to follow the International Telecommu-nication Union, ITU, rec-ommendation setting aside spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for the provision of advanced wireless broad-band services.

He said further that the commission will offer 14 Lots of 2X5 megahertz FDD paired spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band ranging from 2500 2570 mega-hertz and 2620 to 2690 megahertz (totaling 2 X 70 megahertz) for auction.

2015: Tight security as Jonathan declares tomorrow

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 7National NewsMonday, November 10, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net8 Monday, November 10, 2014

President, Trade Pro-motion Board, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, yesterday attributed the low turnout of foreign exhibitors at the 2014 La-gos International Trade Fair to fear of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.

Olawale-Cole told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos that the organisation lost quite a large number of foreign exhibitors due to the fear.

Nigeria was certified free of EVD on October 20 by the World Health Or-ganisation, WHO.

Olawale-Cole said, It would have been a bigger fair if not for the Ebola scare.

Olawale-Cole said: By the time the country was certified free of Ebola by WHO, it was too late for most of this countries to come.

They (foreign exhibi-

tors) will need a lot of preparation which will require a month or even three months.

Thousands of people who would have come from China, Europe and even some African coun-tries, out of fear, decided to stay away.

He said that the harm was done as soon as the Liberian-American, Pat-rick Sawyer, imported the EVD into the country on

July 20.Olawale-Cole told NAN

that LCCI released infor-mation weekly to prospec-tive exhibitors about the Ebola-free status of the country.

Some of the exhibitors at the trade fair had sa-nitisers at the entrance of their stalls for usage by prospective customers, NAN said.

The fair will end on No-vember 16.

L-R: Former Oyo State Chief of Staff, Dr. Saka Balogun; Leader, House of Representative, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, and Chief Bayo Oyeweso, during Akande-Adeolas declaration of intent in the next election, in Ogbomoso at the weekend.

Kemi OlaitanIBADAN

A university teacher, Prof. Adeniyi Olatu-bosun, has warned the Federal Government not to see the raging insur-gency of Boko Haram in the North-East as a regional affair.

Olatubosun, who is a pro-fessor of Law at University of Ibadan, gave the warn-ing at the weekend while delivering his inaugural lecture titled, Tough on Crime but Soft on Justice.

The Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, said: Believing that Boko Haram terror will be lim-

ited to the northern part of the country is wishful thinking. We must not seem blind to the enormous cul-tural and global impact the teaching of the insurgents has had and is having on some Nigerian people.

We must therefore do all that is necessary now, with all our might, and wage war against a minion tyranny that has unleashed catalogue of heinous crime on the Nigerian people. The battle may take far lon-ger than we would wish; it will entail military, law en-forcement and diplomatic approaches. With foreign assistance, Nigeria should prepare for a long, tough

fight. This is because the

same ideology that drove Abdul Mutallab to attempt to detonate plastic explo-sives hidden in his under-wear while on board North-west Airlines Flight 253 en route from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, on Christmas day in 2009, must have inspired hundreds of youths that are getting radicalised in the country, though we continue to live in denial of this uncomfort-able truth.

He expressed worry that the conflict has spread from the North East to the North Central states including the Federal Capital Terri-

Don tasks FG on spread of Boko Haram

Trade fair: LCCI blames low turnout on Ebola scare

tory, Abuja, thus posing a fundamental domestic chal-lenge to the countrys secu-rity for nearly five years, with many innocent souls being killed randomly with-out ceasing.

To get out of the wood of this security challenge, the professor then urged the Federal Government to adopt the soft approach to countering the terrorism through de-radicalisation of prison system on one hand, and mobilising fam-ily, cultural, religious and national values through partnerships with faith-based organisations, com-munity-based organisa-tions, and NGOs.

South West

The Outdoor Advertis-ing Association of Nigeria, OAAN, has cautioned politicians and other individuals engaged in indiscriminate and il-legal installation of bill-boards for electioneering campaigns, saying such act would impact negatively on the environment as well as create new challenges for the industry.

Rather, the association advised that it is only those companies that are within its fold or that have been duly licensed to engage in the business of outdoor ad-vertising by the Advertis-ing Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, that could lawfully engage in the prac-tice.

For the avoidance of doubts, we state quite cate-gorically that it is only those companies that are within the fold of the Outdoor Ad-vertising Association of Nigeria licensed to engage in the business of outdoor advertising by APCON that can lawfully engage in the practice.

Making the plea at the end of its Extra-ordinary General meeting at Obasan-jo Legacy Resort in Abeoku-

ta, Ogun State, the associa-tions president, Mr. Charles Chijide, maintained that any group of individuals who engage in the practice in whatever form, for what-ever purposes and under any guise, would be commit-ting an act of illegality.

He said the advice be-came necessary in view of the adverse effect such act of gross illegality consti-tutes to the environment and the grave danger it por-tends for the society if not checked immediately.

Buttressing the point, he said: When non profes-sionals and quacks engage in any specialised area of human endeavour, the re-sult can only be chaotic, insisting that it was OAANs belief that the current ac-tivities of those engaging in illegal billboards instal-lation across the country could only result in serious negative consequences on the environment.

However, Chijide argued that if professionals are engaged, the environment will be better for it while the sponsors of such campaigns would spend less, and still have higher value for their money.

OAAN warns politicians against illegal billboard installations

Amid expressions of surprise in the market place, the management of Dangote Ce-ment Plc at the weekend as-sured that it would evolve a monitoring process that will ensure that profiteers do not hijack the new price cut so that it benefits end users of the commodity.

Speaking in Lagos while unveiling its new cement bags redesigned in line with the demand of the Stan-dard Organisation, SON, the Group Managing Director of the company, Mr Devakumar Edwin, explained that the new price regime was intro-duced in the best interest of Nigeria and her citizens who have all along been looking forward to it as manufactur-ers continued to increase their production capacities to meet and surpass national consumption need.

He said the price crash is in the companys quest to support the Federal Gov-ernments efforts to reduce the overwhelming housing deficit in the country and the hope that the development would go a long way into as-

Dangote pledges to monitor cement pricessisting in this regard.

Edwin noted that reduc-tion in price of building ma-terials, particularly cement, which is within the com-panys control, is one of the strategies of reducing hous-ing deficit.

The nations foremost cement manufacturer also unveiled its new product 32.5 cement grade as well as the new packaging as ordered by the SON for clear distinction among the various cement grades.

As part of our efforts to make cement affordable to the ordinary Nigerian, we announced a price slash on all our products, last Friday. The new prices, which are ex-clusive of Value Added Tax, VAT, represent about 40 per cent discount on the prevail-ing market price, currently hovering around N1,700. Con-sequently, a 50kg bag of 32.5 Grade Dangote Cement, now sells for N1,000, while 50kg of the 42.5 Grade goes for N1,150. It has always been our desire at Dangote Cement Plc to reduce the price of our prod-ucts to enable many more Nigerians to build their own houses, Edwin said.

CHANGE OF NAMEEFEFIONG: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Emmanuella Chizaram Ekpemandu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Emmanuella Efefiong Udo-Nya. All other documents remain valid. Sterling Bank of Nigeria, Wuse 11, Abuja and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAMEOWOEYE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Owoeye Sherifat Motunrayo, now wish to be called and addressed as Miss Dickson-Bankole Sherifat Motunrayo. All former documents remain valid. NSCDC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAMEONI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oni Oluwabunmi Adefunke, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Ademola-Atobaba Oluwabunmi Adefunke. All former documents remain valid. All authority concern and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAMEOLUWATOKE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwatoke Omowumi Aanu, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Adebayo Omowumi Aanu. All former documents remain valid. Hospital Management Board (HMB) and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAMEIJEOMA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyeukwu Ijeoma Mercy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Seidlitz Ijeoma Mercy. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAMEOFUANI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Irene Uche Ofuani, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Irene Uche Omoru. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAMEOCHIE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ochie Bibian Onyinye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ezeanya Bibian Onyinye. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAMEOBIDIKE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Obidike Ogechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ibekwuike Ogechukwu Ann. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAMEEPUNAM: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Epunam Onyinye Blessing, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olisah Onyinye Blessing. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAMEAIGBE: Formerly known and addressed as Aigbe Oghosasea P. now wish to be known and addressed as Aigbe Paula. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 9 South WestMonday, November 10, 2014

...alleges gov has scrapped due process

L-R: Chairman, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Mr. John Coumantaros; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Managing Director, Rom Oil Mills Ltd, Mr. Mousa Shahimi, during the inspection tour of Edible Oil Refinery and Margarine Plant in Ibadan at the weekend.

Nigeria unhealthy under PDP, says Abubakar

You inherited CCT from Fayemis govt, APC tells Fayose

Tambuwal, Ajimobi, Alaafi n, others to grace Ayoades book launch

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

Former Vice Presi-dent, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that the only way to sal-vage the country from the untold hardship occa-sioned by poor economy and leadership fostered on Nigerians by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is by voting the party out in 2015.

Abubakar said; Nigeria is not healthy. When you look at the economy and insecurity in the country, you will know that Nige-ria is not healthy. The only way that the country can salvaged, is to seize the op-portunity to bring about change by voting in the All Progressives Congress,

APC.The APC Presidential

aspirant also took a swipe on PDP for calling on the House of Representatives Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal to resign for de-fecting to the APC.

The former vice presi-dent spoke at the week-end at Ire Ekiti during the inauguration of a fully-equipped 32-bed hospital built by House of Repre-sentatives member, Hon Bimbo Daramola, for his constituents.

Abubakar, who de-scribed the Joan Taiwo Daramola Memorial Hos-pital, named after the lawmakers mother, as a masterpiece and a project with direct bearing on the peoples lives, donated five million for the purchase of

drugs so that the general hospital will start attend-ing to people now.

The former vice presi-dent said what Ekiti people needed, were projects and programmes that would uplift them by citing Dar-amolas gesture. He also de-scribed the stomach infra-structures of the present administration in the state as a misplaced priority.

He said: The people of this state does not need stomach infrastructure. Are you going to forgo education for stomach infrastructure? Are you going to forgo healthcare delivery for stomach infra-structure? Are you going to forgo infrastructures de-velopment for stomach in-frastructure? the former vice president asked.

At the event attended by House of Representatives Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; former Ekiti State Governors, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Segun Oni and Dr Kayode Fayemi, Daramola said the hospi-tal, which is to be managed by Anglican Church, is to attend to the healthcare needs of his people to en-sure they no longer travel to distant towns for medi-cal attention.

The lawmaker, who said the project was among his numerous efforts to give back to his constituents, also hinged his second term ambition on the need to do more, saying: I have chosen a different path in politics; that of service to the greater number of peo-ple over and above self.

FRANCIS SUBERU

An All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship as-pirant in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has unveiled his action plan for Lagos State and its resi-dents, even as he wooed the party leaders in the state, soliciting their support ahead of the party prima-ries slated for December 2.

The action plan was con-tained in a statement by the Lagos Deserves More Cam-paign Group, whereby Am-bode promised to run an in-clusive government, which

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has de-bunked Ekiti State Gov-ernor, Ayodele Fayoses claim that the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, pro-gramme is part of his stomach infrastructure programme aimed at re-ducing poverty in Ekiti State.

The APC also accused Fayose of throwing away due process in the award of contracts, saying that he has turned himself into a sole administra-tor.

In the past three weeks, Mr Fayose has awarded contracts worth N2 billion without passing through due pro-cess, the APC claimed.

In the statement by the State Publicity Sec-retary, Taiwo Olatunbo-sun, the party described Fayoses claim of owner-ship of the CCT as being dishonest.

The truth of the mat-ter is that the CCT, which is a joint programme of the state government and the MDGs was initi-

ated by the Kayode Fay-emi administration one year ago.

There were 2,250 beneficiaries in five lo-cal governments of Ise/Orun, Ikere, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ilejemeje and Ido/Osi cutting across 450 households of care-fully selected vulnerable women. Olatunbosun said the total money expended on the pro-gramme was N375 mil-lion out of which Ekiti State under Fayemi, con-tributed N187.5 million while the Federal Gov-ernment paid the other half.

He said the pro-gramme which is to achieve universal pri-mary education, gender equality and women em-powerment, was coordi-nated by the office of the Special Adviser to Gov-ernor Fayemi on MDGs. The first batch of 2,250 received N5,000 monthly for one year and a tele-phone set, with N100,000 after one year to start an agriculture related busi-ness.

Lagos 2015: Ambode unveils action plan, pledges continuity

The Speaker of the House of Represen-tatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Gov-ernor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayi-wola Adeyemi III, are among eminent personali-ties expected at the public presentation of a book in honour of an Emeritus Professor of Political Sci-ence, John A. A. Ayoade on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 in Ibadan.

Other dignitaries also expected at the occasion scheduled for the Confer-ence Room of the National Institute of Social and Eco-nomic Research, NISER, Ibadan, at 12 noon include the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fasho-la, his Ogun and Osun state counterparts, Senator Ibi-kunle Amosun and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Other traditional rulers expected to grace the book launch are the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal and the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola. The

he said every view and voice would be treated fairly irre-spective ethnic background, religious inclination and po-litical affiliation.

Ambode, who served as the Auditor-General for Local Government and Accountant-General in the state between 2001 and 2012, noted that his programmes of action would be people-focused if he emerged the party flag bearer and final-ly elected in February 2015.

He acknowledged the landmark achievement, which he said, had been re-corded by the Lagos State Government, especially in infrastructure develop-

ment and urban renewal since the return to demo-cratic rule in 1999.

He said the state govern-ment had done well in jus-tice, agriculture, tourism, road reconstruction, flood control, skill acquisition, security, education and oth-ers under the administra-tion of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that of his successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

The governorship hope-ful explained that his de-signed action plan is aimed at touching lives at different strata of Lagos metropolis and suburbs in line with the APC manifesto, which

he said, was designed to make Nigeria Africas hope and pool of human resourc-es.

Ambode said the focus of his action plan is to deepen a tradition of con-tinuity in government pro-grammes and projects, which he said the APC-led government in the state has been implementing since 1999.

He said the action plan centres on employment generation, food security, affordable health care, integrated transport net-work, affordable housing schemes and free basic edu-cation among others. Gov Ajimobi

book entitled ``The Legis-lature and Governance in Nigeria and edited by Dr. Emmanuel Olugbade Ojo, a Senior Lecturer in the De-partment of Political Sci-ence, University of Ilorin and Dr. J. Shola Omotola of the Redeemers University Ogun State, is a festschrift in honour of the emeritus professor who turns 72 on November 12, 2014.

A statement issued in Ibadan at the week-end by Dr. Ojo, who is currently the Special Adviser to the Governor of Oyo State on Political Matters, named Mr. Yinka Fabowale, the South-West Regional Editor of The Sun Newspapers, as the reviewer of the book.

National Mirror www.nationalmir-10 South East Monday, November 10, 2014

ALIUNA GODWINABAKALIKI

The Ebonyi State Government, at the weekend, said it has earmarked over 500mil-lion U.S dollars for the con-struction of international cargo airport in the state.

The Coordinating Com-missioner for Information and State Orientation, Dr Ifeanyi Ikeh, made this known while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, shortly after the State Ex-ecutive Council meeting held at the Exco- Cham-bers.

Ikeh said the airport is

sited at Nwezenyi amachi in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

The commissioner not-ed that the plan of the state government to embark on airport construction, was to enable it boost business transaction in the state especially the foreigners who will be coming to do businesses at the interna-tional market constructed by Governor Martin El-echis administration.

Ikeh noted the pre-paredness of the state gov-ernor to ensure that most of the projects embarked upon by him,such as the dualisation of a section of

Abakaliki-Enugu express way, starting from Ebonyi State University to PDP secretariat, Pipe produc-tion factory, Ufuru Akpa water scheme, Ocho- Udo city secretariat, interna-tional market among other projects started are com-pleted before leaving office in 2015.

According to him the council has studied the power point towards the construction of the cargo international airport. The international market is up coming. You cant be talking of international market without airport to boost businesses.

DENNIS AGBOENUGU

Imeobi, the highest de-cision making body of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, failed to endorse President Good-luck Jonathan for the 2015 general elections.

Present at the meeting were Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and one of those that spear-headed the endorsement of Jonathan by Ohnaeze in the last presidential election, Chief Emmanuel Iwuan-yanwu, a stalwart of the PDP, Senator Hope Uzodin-ma who had insisted in the meeting that Ohanaeze should not be completely left out of politics, former Ohanaeze President-Gen-eral, Dr Dozie Ikedife, First

Republic parliamentarian, Chief Mbazuruike Amechi, Chief Chekwas Okories, among others.

It was gathered that some PDP chieftains are seriously lobbing the lead-ership of Ohanaeze to en-dorse Jonathan for the 2015 elections.

Speaking at the meet-ing, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Igarawey, told mem-bers of Imeobi, including PDP politicians who attend-ed the meeting that he delib-erately included Ndigbo and 2015 presidential elec-tion to attract prominent people to the meeting.

He, however, said he had continued to insist in his previous speeches that no-body had been endorsed by Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the 2015 presidential elections.

Igarawey said they would continue to carry out consultations, noting that candidates of different po-litical parties have not even emerged, hence the need to continue consultations.

He, however, assured that when the time comes for endorsement of any candidate, they would con-sult and know the next line of action to take.

Ohanaeze has not en-dorsed anybody and that is the truth, we are still con-sulting. Candidates have not even emerged from any political party he stated.

On the insecurity chal-lenges facing the country, Igarawey said there was need to look into the plight of Igbos in the areas cap-tured in some parts of the north.

He expressed dismay

2015: Ohanaeze refuses to endorse Jonathan

that those in the captured areas who were willing to come home, were yet to get means of trans-portation to come home.

A former governorship candidate of the All Pro-gressives Congress, APC, Senator Chris Ngige, who also spoke at the meeting, advocated the insulation of Ohanaeze from partisan politics.

He recalled that Ohanaeze suffered in the past when a candidate it supported for the presiden-tial election failed and ad-vised Imeobi members not to make a similar mistake.

Ngige insisted that since the body has its own sons in the different politi-cal parties, there was need for the apex Igbo body to be insulated from partisan politics.

ALIUNA GODWINABAKALIKI

Former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, Senator Nguji Ngele, Dr. Mrs. Norah Aloh and ten others have emerged the elected national dele-gates for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Eb-onyi State chapter.

Also, no fewer than 513 ward delegates and the 13 national delegates emerged at the congresses conducted on November 1, and Novem-ber 8, 2014 congresses of the party in the state.

Others that made the na-tional delegates lists include Sunday Igwewa, Chief Tony Abel, Chief Chukwuma Igwe, Emmanuel Mbaechi-na , Bonny Ofoke, Prof. Ozo Nwke Ozo.

Acting state chairman of the party, Chief Joseph Onwe, who made this known in a press release signed and made available to National Mirror in Abaka-liki, explained that despite ploy by some elements to cause misgivings among

Ex-minister, senator emerge PDP national delegates in Ebonyi

Members of Council of Ozo Ndi Igbo Nigeria during a meeting on protection of Igbo culture in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Ebonyi earmarks $500m for cargo airport construction

party faithful, the exercise went peacefully because of the maturity and disposition of the people to democratic tenets.

Although, a section of the PDP in the state had ex-pressed reservations as to the conduct of the elections, the party chairman, Onwe, said that all the elected del-egates at the 3-man ad-hoc ward congresses and the na-tional delegates are men and women of integrity.

Onwe added that the par-ty has no doubt that the del-egates would represent the party creditably well, having occupied various positions of authority in the past.

He thanked the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party and the panels that conducted the exercise for their patience.

We highly commended the great patience shown by the panels sent to Eb-onyi State to conduct the congresses, particularly the chairman of the National Delegate Congress Commit-tee, Dr. Willy Ogbeide and the members, the document stated.

So, all we are putting in place is to ensure that there is a standard cargo airport for Ebonyi State. And so far, the design of the airport has been done, courtesy of the Ministry of Lands and Survey.

What I cannot say for now, is whether the contract will be awarded before we leave office or not, but Im sure of the plan to construct the airport for the people of the state. Remember that government is a continu-ous process, if we do not award it now, the next government will do, he stated.

OLUFEMI ADEOSUNABUJA

The Federal Govern-ments quest to make made- in -Nig eria products meet acceptable international standards has received a major boost with the certification of two labo-ratories of the Standard Or-ganisation of Nigeria, SON, by the American Associa-tion for Laboratory Accredi-tation, AALA.

The laboratories are accredited in accordance with the recognised Inter-national Standard ISO/IEC 17025:2005 general require-ment for competence of test-ing and calibration

Some of the products which will now undergo lo-cal testing in the laborato-ries before export include maize, beans, soya beans, rice, cassava, yam among others

The certification also ac-commodates fresh fish, fro-zen fish and can foods

Speaking while unveil-ing the certificate in Abuja at the weekend, the Minis-ter of Industry, Trade and

Investment Dr Olusegun Aganga, noted that the ap-proval would enable the laboratories carry out prop-er testing on some product categories.

The accreditation dem-onstrate technical compe-tence for a defined scope and the operation of a labo-ratory quality management system in the country, said Aganga.

According to him, any product that is certified in the two laboratories would be acceptable and will not be subjected to any further testing anywhere across the world.

Apart from that, Aganga stated that with the certi-fication, some of the Nige-rians products that were hitherto rejected by some countries for doubtful stan-dards would now be accept-able.

On the significance of the certification on the efforts of government to promote export, he said, We are all making history here. Its the first time two of our labora-tory will be accredited in Ni-geria simultaneously.

SONs laboratories certifi ed for products testingItll boost export, says Aganga

Gbadamosi

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 11Monday, November 10, 2014

South South

THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHENWARRI

The 15km Eleme/Onne junction sec-tion of the ongoing East-West Road in Rivers State is expected to cost the Federal Government about N43 billion, even as 20 months completion dead-line has been earmarked for the project.

This is as the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has revealed that about 80 per cent of the East-West Road project has been completed by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Steve Oru, stated these over the

weekend during a tour of projects in the region, say-ing a fresh contract when awarded would involve re-construction of the Eleme Junction to Onne Junction stretch of the East-West Road.

Oru explained that the new section identified as Point 00 was not originally part of the project as the road was in a good state when other areas were be-ing awarded.

The Eleme Junction - Onne Junction stretch of the East-West Road is one of the most feared portions of the road due to its terrible state and also following the incidences of high profile criminality there.

According to Oru, the sum budgeted is due to the terrible terrain.

The minister, who also inspected the Otuoke Skills Acquisition Centre project in Ogbia council area, Garri Processing Plants in Otuse-ga, Ogbia council area and Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma council area, all in Bayelsa, identified Reynolds Con-struction Company, RCC, as the favourite contractor to undertake the proposed project.

Oru said: We are expect-ing the federal government to award a new contract very soon, which will lead to the reconstruction and con-struction of what is Point 00; Eleme - Onne Junction,

L-R: Son of the late Deaconess Agnes Ukeseh and Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Ima Niboro; his wife, Jumoke; other children of the deceased, Bishop Columba Niboro, Mrs. Sarah Ajiboye and Grace Owraigbo, during the thanksgiving service for their mother at Emevor in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State n Saturday. PHOTO: NAN

Reprieve may have come the way of the sacked permanent secretary in Edo State Hos-pitals Management Board, Dr Ofure Eboreime and the Chief Medical Director of Central Hospital, Benin City, Dr Edith Kayode-Iyas-ere, as House Speaker, Uyi Igbe, has pleaded for their recall.

The two were relieved of their appointments last week by Governor Adams Oshiomhole for their al-leged role in engaging ca-sual workers in Central Hospital.

Igbe, who led the Majori-ty Leader of the state House of Assembly, Philip Shaibu, Hons Elizabeth Ativie and Folly Ogedengbe to the Gov-ernors office to plead for

the sacked doctors, begged Oshiomhole to be merciful.

He said: We are here, the leadership of EDHA, to see you concerning Dr. Ofure Eboreime, the Per-manent Secretary, Hospital Management Board and Dr. Edith Iyasere, Chief Medi-cal Director, HMB.

The House Standing Committee on Health at one time went to the hospital and did oversight functions there and we found that Dr Eboreime is somebody that is very competent.

We are here to appeal to you sir to on compassion-ate grounds to tamper jus-tice with mercy and recall these two persons, Dr. O. Eboreime and Mrs. Edith Iyasere.

Ogedegbe, who repre-

sents Owan East, said: Even then as NLC Presi-dent, we know your stand on casualisation, you fought against casualisation of workers and I can imagine how embarrassed you were when you got to know that there were casual workers in the state service where you have long given direc-tives that it should not be.

So on behalf of my own constituency, Owan East and the good people there, I want to appeal to you to please tamper justice with mercy and forgive Dr. Ofure Ebeoreime and his col-league, Mrs. Edith Iyasere, the Chief Medical Direc-tor, and recall them back to work.

Responding, Governor Oshiomhole said, As a

Edo Speaker begs Oshiomhole to recall Perm-Sec, CMD

East/West road: Port Harcourt section to gulp N43bn

parliament that is representative of the people, one that has its ears to the ground and one that is committed to the elec-torate, I know that when we take decisions, we do receive pressure. But let me tell you why I took that decision.

I am very privileged to be here and I myself am an employee and all my life, what I have done for a liv-ing is to defend workers.

When we talk of work-ers, not just junior workers but we make a representa-tion for the big and for the small and for the anony-mous, I do not take any joy. In fact, it is always a sad moment for me when I take a decision to relieve any-body of his or her job.

The remains of elder statesman, Chief Tayo Akpata, CON will be committed to mother earth on Novem-ber 21 in Benin City, Edo State.

The late Ima of Benin passed away in his Ikoyi home on October 13.

According to a press statement issued by the family over the weekend, the funeral arrangements would commence on Friday November 14 with a Memo-rial Dinner and concert at 5pm to celebrate Chief Ak-patas raison detre (his life and times). The screening of a documentary film ti-tled, A sage goes home will also hold the same evening at the Landmark Village in Oniru, Victoria Island, La-gos.

On Thursday November 20, a commendation service would hold at Ikoyi Baptist Church at 8am; thereafter the body would leave for Be-nin City.

Next day, the funeral ser-vice would commence at the Central Baptist Church, Kings Square, Benin City. A reception follows immedi-ately at Edo Hotel in G.R.A, Benin City.

The late Chief Akpata was an alumnus of Edo College, Benin City and University of Hull, United

Ex-PTF scribe, Akpata, for burial Nov 21

NBA exco holds maiden assembly

a distance of 15 kilometres. As you can see for your-selves, the section is very bad; theres a total collapse of what was very good when they awarded section three to RCC; so it was not part of the contract for section three of the East-West Road.

Because of heavy axel loading over the years, the road is now lower than its shoulders and the construc-tion is going to mean a total rebuilding of this section of the road and the people responsible for the handling of this section from the in-ception of the East-West Road have been RCC. They would most likely be award-ed the contract from Eleme Junction to Onne Junction.

Gbadamosi said the agenda for the meeting would include state of the nation, reports from branches and the constitu-tion of the NEC and other committees.

He noted that the meet-ing would take off imme-diately after the 8th NBA -Section On Legal Practice, SLP, conference at the same venue, which the NBA pres-ident, Augustine Alegeh SAN, has said has not been stopped by any court order contrary.

Kingdom.He would be remem-

bered as a versatile student activist in the 1950s. His for-ay in politics started as the Vice-President of the West African Students Union, WASU. He was active and dedicated to the clamour for Nigerias independence. He was a founding member of the Nigerian Youth Con-gress.

He served as Deputy Reg-istrar of the University of Ibadan, wherein he initi-ated and organised the Ni-gerian University Games Association, NUGA, Games and the West African Inter-University Games.

A one-time Commission-er for Education in old Ben-del State, he piloted the Uni-versity Mid-West Institute of Technology to the full status of a university and was later re-designated the University of Benin in 1972.

Akpata was the first chairman, Nigeria Youths Service Corps, Mid-West-ern State. He was also a one-time chairman, Nige-rian Ports Authority; Direc-tor of NNPC and chairman, Pipeline and Products Mar-keting Company, PPMC, a subsidiary of NNPC. He was also a Trustee and Ex-ecutive Secretary of the Defunct Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF.

The first meeting of the National Ex-ecutive Committee, NEC, meeting of the Ni-gerian Bar Association, NBA, for 2014-2016 admin-istration will take place from Wednesday Novem-ber 12 at the Le Meridian Ibom Hotel and Golf Re-sort, Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement by its Na-tional Publicity Secretary of NBA, Gbolahan Gbada-mosi, the association said the meeting would be at-tended only by the Statu-tory NEC members. These are the National Officers, former Presidents, for-mer General Secretaries, Branch Chairmen, Branch Secretaries, NEC Represen-tatives and NEC Observers who must have indicated their interests to the NBA Secretariat through their branch chairmen prior to the meeting.

North National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net12 Monday, November 10, 2014

UNIMAID graduate robbed, shot dead by soldier

Mission schools: Ex-deputy gov demands pact with govt

I am in the race to complete Suntais projects Umar

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; National Vice Chairman North-West, All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Inua Abdulkadir and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, during the APC North-West Zonal Executive Committee Meeting in Kaduna on Saturday.

INUSA NDAHIMAIDUGURI

An officer of the Nigerian soldier serving in Mai-duguri, Borno State, has allegedly shot dead a graduate of physics from University of Maiduguri and made away with his car after asking the dis-eased to give him free a ride, sources said.

Our correspondent learnt that the incident occurred on Wednesday, when the soldier asked the deceased to give him a free ride, but later shot him dead before they could get to where he said he was go-ing and went away with the deceased car.

Speaking to journalists in Maiduguri, the father of the deceased, Alhaji Konto Sulum said the incident occurred on Wednesday at about 6:00pm when the sol-dier asked his son Moham-med Sulum to give him a lift so that he can get to his duty post on time, but before get-ting to his destination, the soldier pull out his gun, and shot him dead and made away with the diseased car.

The soldier who thought

Amidst controversy over the return of mission schools to their original owners in Kwara State, a former deputy governor in the state, Chief Joel Ogundeji, says government must en-ter into an agreement with proprietors on the roles to be played by partnering stakeholders.

Ogundeji spoke in Ilorin on the sidelines of a forum to mark the 70th anniver-sary of Igbaja Teachers College/ECWA Secondary School, Igbaja.

The elder statesman, who noted that the deplor-able condition of infra-structure in the school, informed the launching of a N100 million develop-ment fund, said govern-ment must continue to play a role in the running of such mission schools.

I am sure, even if the schools are returned to the proprietors; there will be an agreement between the government and the pro-prietors.

The government will

Boko Haram: Emir of Gwoza urges Jonathan to help reclaim domain Sulum was dead, dragged his body out of the car and

zoomed off. My son crawled to the roadside near Asita Hotel, in Bolori where a good Samaritan called the attention of the Civilian JTF and they tried by rush-ing him to the hospital, but he gave up the ghost before getting to the hospital, the Father lamented.

He said; Before my son died he informed the Civil-ian JTF that he was shot by a soldier who ran away with his car. The next day, his friend saw the soldier and his friend at Oando fil-ing station Baga road with the car, where they alerted Civilian JTF and they ar-rested them, he stated.

According to him, his 22 year old son has just graduated from the Phys-ics Department, Univer-sity of Maiduguri, waiting for his National Youth Ser-vice Corps, NYSC, call-up letter.

Confirming the in-cident, a source from the Army who does not want his name in print, said both the culprit and friends have been arrested and will soon be prosecut-ed by military authorities.

play its own role; even in those days when things were good, it was govern-ment that would pay teach-ers and do some other things.

But now it appears that what the government was doing in the past had diminished greatly, he said.

Ogundeji, a former stu-dent of Igbaja Teachers College, however, gave an assurance that proprietors of mission schools would continue to work hard to restore the lost glory of such institutions.

The Chairman of the anniversary committee, Mr Olaitan Makanjuola, said the development fund would be used for the rec-lamation of the schools deteriorating and dilapi-dating infrastructure and facilities.

He also said a book, A Worthy Heritage-The Story of SIM Igbaja Teach-ers College, would be launched as part of activi-ties marking the anniver-sary.

has been in charge of the af-fairs of the state; even as the governor recuperates.

He said that on assump-tion in office, he took inven-tory of all the projects initi-ated by his boss and ensured that contractors were mo-bilised to enhance speedy completion.

He also praised the Na-tional Chairman of the par-ty, Alhaji Adamu Muazu for sustaining what he called internal democracy in the PDP; adding that Muazu has given all party members irrespective of geo-political zones a sense of belonging within his short spell in of-fice.

He therefore called on party members to support the leader of the party, Pres-ident Goodluck Jonathans Transformation Agenda, which according to him could trigger the develop-

ment Nigerians have been yearning for.

On sectarian violence, Umar called on the citizenry to eschew violence, saying no meaningful development could be accomplished in an atmosphere of mayhem and upheaval.

The PDP governorship aspirant in Taraba state was among other aspirants who thronged the party secre-tariat at the weekend to beat the partys deadline for sub-mission of form.

It would be recalled that PDP had earlier fixed Satur-day November 8 as final date for the return of forms for aspirants eyeing the partys governorship and National Assembly ticket.

But in dramatic turn of events, the party backed out; following a review of its timetable for the prima-ries and extended return of

INUSA NDAHIMAIDUGURI

The Emir of Gwoza in Borno State, Al-haji Mohammed Idrissa Timta, yesterday, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to redeem his pledge on the recapture of his chiefdom that has been under Boko Haram occupa-tion for over three months.

The Presidential pledge, according to him, was made three weeks after he re-gained his freedom from insurgents captivity in the Mandara Mountains, bor-dering Cameroon, 201 kilo-

metres, Southeast of Mai-duguri, the state capital.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday, in Maiduguri; the monarch disclosed that Boko Haram leader, Abuba-kar Shekau declared the captured town as the head-quarters of his Islamic Ca-liphate on August 12, 2014 and renamed it The centre of Wisdom.

His words: After I re-gained my freedom from the Boko Haram by escap-ing at dawn, I was taken to the Presidential Villa, Abu-ja, for safety and in the com-pany of the governor on a Saturday afternoon. My

people are passing through difficulties of what to eat and resettled. I called on the president to fulfill the prom-ise he made to us during that crucial meeting with him at the Villa.

Im also appealing to the Federal Government to come to the aid of our peo-ple. As I am talking to you, many of them are trapped in Cameroon and many others are taking refuge in various places here in Nige-ria. Some are in Mubi, Uba, Yola and here in Maiduguri, the state capital, where two of my colleague monarchs from Bama and Dikwa had

fled and taking refuge also in an undisclosed location in Yerwa.

Timta noted: We ap-preciate the efforts of both the federal and state gov-ernments; but a lot need to be done so that our people could return to their de-stroyed houses and commu-nities.

He therefore; called on his people to thank God for being alive in the vari-ous camps; and to continue praying for peace to return not only Borno State; but other affected states in the North East sub-region of the country.

OBIORA IFOHABUJA

Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, has said that he joined the race for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial ticket in Taraba State for next year general election, so as to consolidate on the modest achievement he re-corded in office and to com-plete projects inherited from his boss, Danbaba Suntai.

The acting governor, made the disclosure when he returned his expression of interest and nomination form to Wadata House, the PDP secretariat in Abuja, at the weekend.

Umar, who took over from Suntai in an acting capacity following a plane crash on September 25, 2012 that involved the governor, Umar

governorship/ National As-sembly and presidential as-pirants forms to November 14 and 15 respectively.

Meanwhile other PDP aspirants who have also shown interest in the party governorship ticket in the state are; David Sabo, for-mer Minister of State for Niger Delta, Darius Ishaku, former Nigeria envoy to Trinidad and Tobago, Am-bassador Musa John Jen among others.

Having two clueless dominant parties leaves much to be desired Senator Ikeyina

How would you assess President Goodluck Jonathans administration?

Let me start by acknowledging the fact that the Jona-than administration has made some modest progress in the area of infrastructural development, a whole lot needs to be done in this area. Again, the appalling security situation predated his administration. So; I will be less hard on him.

Having said that, it is incontrovertible that there is so much poverty in the land, so much that many of our youths, who constitute over 60 per cent of our population, are un-employed. As the saying goes, an idle mind is the devils workshop. Perhaps more worrisome is the level of corrup-tion which stinks to high heavens. It is no longer a secret that the dream of most young men going into politics is to amass wealth. We need a basic re-orientation of our values. How come we celebrate wealth so much in a country where over 70 per cent live below the poverty line? A lot needs to be done in creating employment for the youths especially, in agriculture, by promoting the establishment of cottage in-dustries on a massive scale. In addition, the power situation in the country remains blight on our national development efforts, as nothing can be achieved without adequate power supply. There is a lot more to be done.

There is the threat of hell being let loose, should Jonathan contest or fails to win, considering all these, do you see peaceful election in 2015?

Jonathan has every right to contest the presidential elec-tion because it is his right as an individual, if he has met all the requirements for eligibility. We have not had a free and fair election in the recent past and it is not a problem that is peculiar to Nigeria. It is part of the leadership malaise con-fronting us as a nation