Murtala and the leadership question

“Every great achievement is a dream before it becomes reality,” says former American Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. Kissinger was comment­ing on the miracle of Singapore, the tiny South Asian state that rose from poverty to prosperity.

A nation with no natural resources and a land mass of not more than 640sq km, has today become one of envy in the comity of nations. A nation that works for its people and the outside world, attracting thousands of tourists globally, who never stop marvelling at the dramatic turn-around in the fortunes of a people once hemmed in by more ambitious and prosperous neighbours like China and Indonesia, and derided as a place where no quality products or services could ever come from. A nation of fakes and the substan­dard.

But all that was yesterday. Today the new Singa­pore is the delight of visitors and the dream of every forward-looking nation. From engineering to the fi­nancial sector, jobs and entrepreneurial opportuni­ties, the country is a far cry from what it used to be.

The man who dreamt the big dream of achieve­ment; who turned his dream of a great nation to reality was Lee Kuan Yew. Undoubtedly its most charismat­ic leader to date, Lee Kuan Yew literally turned stone to bread; desert to savannah, and dust to gold. Singa­pore’s amazing rags-to-riches story, as widely known, is essentially the story of one man’s vision, and his bulldog tenacity to making things happen, leaving a worthy legacy for his people.

Lee Kuan Yew declares triumphantly, albeit boast­fully, in his expository narrative FROM THIRD WORLD TO FIRST: THE SINGAPORE STORY: “We have left behind our Third World problems of poverty.” Who would not be boastful in Lee’s shoes? From when he first assumed office as prime minister in 1959 to when he quit power, his country’s GDP rose from a paltry $400 dollars to $12, 200 in 1990, and has been on a steady rise since then.

There is also the story of Brazil’s labour lead­er-turned-politician Luiz Inacio da Silva, popularly known as Lula. Lula shot Brazil from ground zero to a pedestal of respectability where it is no longer looked down on by other nations. Brazil may not be in the First World or class of super advanced countries, but it is certainly not in the class of poverty-stricken Third World countries. Brazil’s technology, agricul­ture and youth empowerment makes it a nation on the upward rise.

Lula quit the stage in 2011 after serving a con­stitutional two terms, and leaving his imprints in the hearts of his people. He said he was fired to offer his best because he needed to prove that labour leaders could also make good administrators. “If I failed, it would be the workers’ class which would be failing; it would be the country’s poor who would be proving they did not have what it takes to rule,” he said, while reminiscing on his stewardship.

In the two instances above, what happened to the countries was its leadership edge. Focused and cre­ative leadership; leadership that made service to the people the fulcrum of its policies and actions. Lead­ership made all the difference. Leadership turned poverty to prosperity; hopelessness to hope; hope to reality.

Without the right leadership, Singapore and Brazil would not be where they are today; Ghana and South Africa would not be challenging us to the leadership position of Africa. The United States of America, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe would not be the attractive destination point for our army of youths in search of the better life.

In Nigeria, we should never get tired of talking about leadership. Leadership is the reason we are where we are as a nation, where nothing works, where basic amenities of life remain a pipedream, where youth and graduate unemployment has assumed an embarrassing dimension, where infrastructure decay stares us in the face. A nation helplessly and hope­lessly in the vise-grip of criminals and other outlaws. With the right leadership or rather, with the right people in leadership positions, we could be nearer to realising our full potentials, as a truly great nation.

Indeed, we were once on that path to greatness when we had Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the helm of affairs in the West; Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in the East and Sir Ahmadu Bello in the North. These men dreamt great dreams for their regions, and we saw the results. We saw the economic boom. We witnessed the renaissance in the West where free education was an article of faith. We saw how Bello educated a generation of northern elite. Now sadly, we see the decline in the bomb-crazy youths and almajiri. We see uneducated graduates with degrees that only an­nounce their illiteracy in all parts of the country, in­cluding Awo’s beloved Western region. From a gen­eration of brilliant, job-discriminating Nigerians, we have plummeted to a generation of unemployed and unemployable Nigerians.

The above thesis on Nigeria’s leadership ques­tion throws up the fact that we also once had a Mur­tala Ramat Mohammed, the six-month head of state, slain in a failed coup by obviously misguided ele­ments in the Nigerian Army. February 13 marked 40 years of his brutal killing. And as usual, seminars and remembrance events were held in many parts of the country, including the nation’s capital city of Abuja. Long and short speeches were made extolling the vir­tues of Murtala. He was called a focused, resolute, principled and visionary leader; others described him as a patriot and nationalist, who dreamt lofty dreams for his nation and was on the path to actualising them before he was cut down by angels of darkness. True, very true. But many of those who mouthed those flowery words about Murtala, also nicknamed The Hurricane, were obviously being hypocritical and playing to the gallery. Some only wanted to be politi­cally correct by aligning with the progressive creden­tials of the late General.

How many of those who stood on the dais extolling Mohammed’s virtue are truly patriotic? How many have the integrity and vision of the ex-head of state? How many of them would have the courage to will­ingly surrender personal property to the state based on mere allegations, even when the court was yet to decide, as Murtala did when an activist, Ohonbamu accused him of wrong doing?

How many of our today’s leaders would put the in­terest of our nation above personal and selfish consid­erations? When you think of the current Halliburton and Siemens scandals, involving top Nigerian lead­ers, you shudder at how debased leadership has sunk since and after Murtala’s time.

He was hurricane at home and abroad. He called the bluff of the United States, bellowing: “Africa has come of age, and no longer under the orbit of any country or super power.” That was when the super power countries tried to intimidate Nigeria against supporting the anti-apartheid struggle. Without Mur­tala’s visionary leadership, countries like Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, would still be under the bondage of colonial shackles.

He had zero-tolerance for corruption and whipped corrupt civil servants into line. Even though some ac­cuse him of destroying the civil service with his 1975 purge, no one can deny that the place needed urgent detoxification. The rot hasn’t stopped even now.

More than anything else, Murtala proved that it is not how long a leader stays in power, but how well he discharges his duties that matters. In six, quick months, he dazed us with the magic of purposeful leadership; he woke us up from our inertia and deep slumber. He taught us how to believe in ourselves as a nation. That remains his enduring legacy.

Buhari was right when he said Murtala was in a hurry to rouse the sleeping giant to its full majesty and glory. He gave a good account of himself in quite a remarkable short duration.

That’s why if I were President Buhari, I wouldn’t be bothered over a one-term or no second term tenure in the onerous task of cleaning the Augean stable. It is how well a job is done that ultimately matters, as Murtala’s eventful six months prove. But in so doing, he must not fail to connect with the people, explaining all the way, all the time to them the reason he’s taking some of the painful decisions and actions so far. He must seek to aggressively tackle the widespread pov­erty in the land today and arrest the frustrations, even as he cracks down on the plunderers and vampires of the public treasury. He can. He only needs to do it.

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Buhari’s anti-money laundering Bill

By Okechukwu Emeh, Jr & Shasudin Daura

AT the root of most economic and financial crimes are the proceeds, which are often laun­dered through lodging in financial and non-designated financial institutions or investment in legitimate business ventures. According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (In­ternational Student’s Edition), laundering in­volves moving money that has been obtained illegally into foreign bank accounts or legal businesses so that it is difficult for people to know where the money came from. The range of illicit activities whose proceeds can be laun­dered include corruption, sleaze, fraud, drug peddling, crude oil theft, currency counterfeit­ing, document forgery, unauthorized exploita­tion of mineral resources, human trafficking, the baby factory, armed robbery, kidnapping, smuggling and trade in endangered species, stolen arts and archeological artifacts. In most cases, money originating from such activities is very difficult to trace except by financial crime investigative experts.

There is no doubt that the campaign to constrain and control economic and financial crimes in Nigeria is gathering momentum un­der the present administration of President Mu­hammadu Buhari. In a way, this campaign has international correlation and can be observed at this critical period of globalization, global­ized economy and market reforms when com­mitment to sanitizing public sector and busi­ness environment is at the core of the drives to reverse the sluggish economies of many countries, especially those in the sub-Saharan Africa. In this regard, international financial in­stitutions (IFIs), specially the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with the United Nations (UN) and the Euro­pean Union (EU), have emphasized at various fora the paramount importance of combating economic and financial crimes. In particular, the IFIs have made signing of global transpar­ency and integrity compliant protocols like the one of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) an essential precondition for countries to receive their economic clean bill of health and financial advice or assistance. This is owing to the in­eluctable fact that such crimes are at odds with the post-Cold War efforts to steer developing countries towards economic rejuvenation and sustainable development. For example, in many peripheral economies in sub-Saharan Af­rica, including Nigeria, economic and financial crimes have, amongst others, led to economic growth without development and equity, mass deprivation and the attendant abject poverty, social discontent and crime and insecurity, de­stabilization of viable and credible process of transparency and accountability in both pub­lic and corporate governance, loss of capacity utilization, capital flight, lull in entrepreneurial ability, institutional decay, unfavourable exter­nal image and the resultant decline in foreign direct investments (FDIs) and visa problem.

In recent years, the emerging international regimes or conventions against economic and financial crimes include the institutional frame­works of FATF, and the Global EGMONT Group of Financial Intelligence units (FIUs). Instructively, FATF was set up with the prime objective of waging a worldwide campaign against economic and financial crimes, as well as illicit flow of money from trafficking in hard drugs and arms. So far, many countries have signed the protocol initiated by this Paris-based international body. One FATF – style regional body (FSRB) which Nigeria is a member is the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), a specialized institution of the Economic Com­munity of West African States (ECOWAS) based in Dakar, Senegal. In essence, GIABA is charged with facilitating the adoption and implementation of the Anti-Money Launder­ing (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terror­ism (CFT) rules in the sub-region, along with ensuring compliance with international AML/ FCT standards.

As a signatory to the protocols of FATF and the Global EGMONT Group of FIUs, Nige­ria took a bold step to establish the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2002. Since then, EFCC has made substantial progress in its unrelenting and determined ef­forts to curb economic and financial crimes, with many of the offenders being hunted down and jailed by the commission. Gladly enough, such efforts have resulted in Nigeria being del­isted by FATF from the risk of countries that are prone to financial crimes.

In view of the impelling necessity of strength­ening the campaign against money laundering, terrorist financing and other unlawful activities that could threaten and undermine our finan­cial system and national security, the National Assembly in 2014 proposed a bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC). The bill, which was separately initiated and thoroughly debated at both the Senate and the House of Representatives, re­viewed certain provisions of the EFCC Act, as well as amended the Money Laundering (Pro­hibition) Act, by transferring the operations of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) against money laundering currently domiciled in EFCC to the proposed NFIC. Un­fortunately, the lawmakers of the 7th National Assembly could not pass that all-important bill before leaving office last year.

However, another hope to tackle money laun­dering cases in Nigeria has been rekindled by President Buhari, who recently sent the “Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibi­tion) bill 2016” to the National Assembly for con­sideration. In analysis, the bill seeks to establish Bureau for Money Laundering Control (BMLC), which would be independent in the discharge of its functions and responsibilities. According to the “Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) bill 2016”, any perpetrator of the crime is defined as “a person who knows, ought reasonably to have known or suspects that property has a criminal origin, commits an offence, if he conceals, dis­guises, converts, transfers or removes the property from Nigeria. The bill prescribes stiff penalty for anybody found culpable of the offence and upon conviction shall be in imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years without the option of a fine. Under the “Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) bill 2016”, any bank that is found guilty of money laundering would be liable for the fine of not less than N25 million and a designated non-financial business and profession would get a fine of not less that N10 Million if found guilty of the offence. The proposed bill also stipulates three years imprisonment or above for anybody that fails to report persons involved in the illicit act.

It is self-evident that Buhari’s anti-money laun­dering bill is in tandem with the urgent necessity to establish a formidable financial intelligence body to combat money laundering, terrorist financing activities and other predicate offences in Nige­ria. Such a body — as required under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 (as amended), the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013 (as amended) or any other relevant law or regulation — would have mechanisms for sound policy and decision – making requiring adequate, quality and timely information analysis necessary for tracking and choking off the flow of proceeds from illicit activi­ties that could impact negatively on our economy and national security in a more deeply or rapidly way.

n Emeh and Daura write from Abuja.

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Dasuki: FG fails to defend N500m suit at ECOWAS court

• We’ll speak at the appropriate time –AGF’s aide

 

From Henry Chukwurah, Abuja

THE Federal Government has failed to put in a defence in the N500 million suit former National Security Adviser, Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), filed at the ECOWAS court in Abuja.

The Federal government did not file a reply to the origi­nating application, more than 30 days after it was served.

Instead, government, through the Office of the At­torney General of the Fed­eration (AGF), said it would respond to the issues raised by Dasuki “at the appropri­ate time.”

Dasuki had dragged gov­ernment before the sub-re­gional court in Abuja over his continued detention and alleged harassment despite orders by courts of compe­tent jurisdiction for his re­lease on bail.

In addition to urging the court to order his immediate release, the former NSA is demanding N500 million as, “compensatory damages” for alleged violation of his human rights as guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution, the African Charter on Hu­man and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and enforce­ment), Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal declara­tion of Human Rights.

Daily Sun investigation showed that Nigeria was expected to file a reply to Dasuki’s nine-point applica­tion within 30 days after the government was served.

Sources at the court con­firmed, however, that more than one week after the stip­ulated time which “techni­cally, expired on February 6, 2016,” government was yet to file its response to issues raised by Dasuki in the suit.

On the implication of the development, a legal prac­titioner, who declined to be named, told Daily Sun that Dasuki may demand that the ECOWAS court rules in his favour in the absence of a defence by the defendant.

When contacted, spokes­man for the Office of the At­torney General of the Fed­eration (AGF), Mr. Salisu Othman Isah, said: “Our po­sition is that we will respond at the appropriate time. We are still within time.”

Meanwhile, the matter has been fixed for March 16, 2016 for hearing.

In the suit with No ECW/ CCJ/APP/16 filed by his lawyer, Robert Emukpoe­ruo, Dasuki is urging the ECOWAS court to declare that his continued detention, in defiance of orders for his bail by courts of competent jurisdiction, and after fulfill­ing the bail conditions, was “unlawful, arbitrary and an egregious violation” of his human rights.

Also, he wants the court to hold that it was, “a most egregious violation of the treaty obligations” by Nige­ria under and by virtue of her being a signatory to listed legal instruments, to have unlawfully detained him af­ter he had been granted bail and met the conditions for his release.

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AIT: Bola Tinubu’s exculpation

By EBERE WABARA ewabara@yahoo.com 08055001948

THE National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (fodly called Jagaban), has deservedly been named “The Sun Man of the Year” (2015), which will be conferred on him this Saturday. A critical point that needs underscoring from the outset is the incontrovertibility of his indis­pensable instrumentality in the emergence and victorious trajectory of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recently, the Africa Independent Television (AIT) carried a spurious documentary on Asi­waju Tinubu entitled “The Lion of Bourdillon”, which tried to unmask the opulence of the for­mer governor of Lagos State. In the eyepopping and libelous film, the station viciously descended on the astute politician for amassing superfluous wealth suggestive of ill-gottenness.

Expectedly, the fictive documentary became a subject of litigation as Asiwaju Tinubu swiftly went to court to establish his innocence. Penul­timate Friday, both parties in the case agreed to an out-of-court settlement with remedial terms and conditions in favour of the Jagaban (of Ni­ger State).

The moment I saw the specious documentary, I knew it was an exaggeration to hellishness. There is no doubt that Asiwaju Tinubu is fabulously rich. He is indeed one of the few moneybags in the country. Nobody can controvert this, but to paint a malicious picture of illimitable and utopian wealth is taking politics or any other intention to absurdity.

If any credible station was going to do such an investigative documentary that must be ethical, balanced and objective, it perforce needs to get its facts right—the margin of error should be infini­tesimal. This is what professionalism is all about. After taking precautionary steps before showing the documentary, the station should be ready for litigation, if it arises, instead of asking for settle­ment, with a feeble justificatory line by Daar Com­munications PLC (owners of AIT) lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, that the World War 2 and the Nigerian Civil War, among others, were eventually resolved on the round table. This analogy is irrelevant in the current circumstance. The irrefutable point is that AIT goofed monumentally. Nobody should beat about the bush using historicality.

The point is that most media establishments have jettisoned ethics and professionalism due to asphyxiating financial exigencies and erosion of cherished values. In places where existential core principles are respected, this infraction by AIT would have led to viewership resentment alongside humungous sanctions by regulatory and supervisory agencies, which may not have been foreclosed.

It is possible that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have bankrolled the documentary to tarnish the exponential image of Asiwaju Tinubu and concomittantly diminish his reputation and blossoming influence on national politics with the massive and conquistadorial ascent of the APC. The likely documentary sponsors felt that Jagaban needed to be humbled. Otherwise, his unchecked flourish would culminate in the eventual change in the leadership of the country! The rest, as they say, is now history.

If the motive behind the bovine documen­tary was not political, what was the objective of the AIT? Did it intend to educate, inform or entertain the viewing public? Perhaps, it margin­ally achieved the third prop of these elements of communication. In pursuit of this, however, a re­sponsible medium is not supposed to calumniate or denigrate any person, especially an eminent and respected member of the society—an insti­tutional democracy icon by all considerations.

How would critical and interrogative viewers take the information from AIT henceforth in the light of “The Lion of Bourdillon” bungle? For me, it has caused an erosion of confidence that may take a long time to redeem. It even misled me recently into making hypercritical remarks about Asiwaju Tinubu in this medium. Like High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, I apologize for the unwarranted attack informed by the AIT dis­information!

The lesson from this development is that other media houses should be cautious when dealing with sensitive matters that have the potentiality of litigation especially when it has to do with em­inent members of the society. For those who do not know their rights or do not have the resources to pursue the same, it may not be an issue, but for the Tinubus of this world it is fraught with risk, as we have just experienced.

The exculpation of the Jagaban has pepped up his integrity despite shrouded voices against his superlative wealth and its multifarious sources. By virtue of the out-of-court settlement offer, it is confirmatory that, largely, Asiwaju Tinubu must have made his money through genu­ine means and ways. A further implication of the out-of-court settlement stuff is that all the pockets of gossip and rumours about question­able enrichment have been put to rest follow­ing this unchallengeable high court declaration. This judicial exoneration of the Jagaban is indeed a major boost to his political and private profiles. Before now, there had been all manner of whispers about his networth considering his moderate graph from financial liberation to con­founding explosion of immeasurable riches with his fingers in virtually all blue-chip pies.

On his bordeless and boundless philanthropy, between 1999 and 2007 when he was the gover­nor of Lagos State, there was hardly any national newspaper editor based in Lagos who did not get at least a plot of land in Lekki amid financial ac­coutrements personally—not officially—from this emerging Asiwaju of Yorubaland. The only exception among such editors was, perhaps, this writer for exclusive reasons that bordered on the paramountcy of my legendary oppositional jour­nalism! It is not surprising that Asiwaju Tinubu went ahead to acquire The Comet, a fledgling publication, which transformed to THE NATION, one of the country’s leading newspapers. TVC and Radio Continental also belong to him.

As the Jagaban receives “The Sun Man of the Year” shortly, I have the conviction that he will naturally intervene in the litigation involving his friend, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, this medium and THE NATION on one hand and the earlier one by Mr. Sam Omatseye on the same matter. It is contra­dictory for us to be in court amid bestowal (and receipt awards. Existentialism and spirituality revel in profuse forgiveness, irrespective of who is wrong. I equally look forward to the eventual reconciliation between Asiwaju Tinubu and Sena­tor Adeseye Ogunlewe, Mr. Femi Pedro, Chief Olabode George, and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, among others. Interminable political estrangement is antithetical to the Jagaban burgeoning, nation­alistic and universalistic leadership profiling. The first test of a truly great man is his humility, says John Ruskin.

 

 

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Pressure on naira: The vultures are hovering

By Ogah Simeon

FAR from being alarmed at the threat that the global economic situation poses to the Nigerian economy, some group of unpatriotic people are impatiently waiting in the wings to cash in on the nation’s eco­nomic challenges. These are vultures that have smelled the potential for carrion and would not even wait for the animal to be fully dead before feasting. Like vultures waiting out for the final moments of a dying animal on boughs, they are waiting to see Nigeria’s situation worsen before diving in.

But unlike vultures, which are not in the habit of quickening the demise of the animal they want to devour, these saboteurs are doing all they can to quicken the death of Nigeria’s economy so that they can feast to their full.

Specifically, they have placed the managers of the Nigeria’s economy under unprecedented pres­sure to devalue the naira. Their chorus for devalu­ation has been without thoughts for the impact on the larger population that stand to be negatively af­fected by any such hasty move.

As they grow more impatient to reap windfall from their envisaged destruction of the national currency, desperation has set in. Newspaper publi­cations are inundated with pseudo analysts compet­ing to outdo each other as to who can be the most screeching strident in the call to reduce our cur­rency to tissue paper. Television programmes have a full cast of talking heads that market devaluation of the naira to appear like the best thing since the discovery of three minutes noodles – five minutes of listening to them and one realizes that while they may be physically present in a Nigerian studio they do not live in Nigeria. Same as their online and newspaper counterparts these minions for neocons are completely insulated from the reality on the streets.

The crooks who are clamouring for devaluation of the Naira have not for one heartbeat been sincere about their true intentions or at least the agenda of those they are fronting for. What they have never mentioned in their many treaties and television appearances is that they desperately want devaluation so that they can ship back the stolen funds stashed abroad to buy up Nigeria at half price.

Fortunately, it appears the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele is awake to this ploy which could in part explain the staunch refusal to bow in to the fraudulent demands for the currency to be rubbished just to please a clique of cutthroats. Instead of bowing in to the blackmail of these currency specu­lators, he has taken bold steps to shore up the Naira on other fronts.

Despite the low return on crude oil sales, which has been the driver of the pressure on the Naira, the CBN Governor has been able to sustain investors’ confidence contrary to the prophesy of charlatans that there will be divestments and panic withdrawal from Nigeria. Those who had tried to use the potential for divestment as a point in their argument for the devaluation usually, con­veniently, sidestep the fact that what we are witnessing has a fairly global spread and that other countries also have their currency under pressure while manufactur­ing has slowed down in others.

The other fact is that the pro-devaluation crowd are happy to hide from Nigerians is the role played in the past by institutional corruption, of which they are ben­eficiaries. The armsgate scandal might have exposed how public fund was shared like a local trader giving out alms to beggars, but the other lesson that is not im­pressed on our collective subconscious is that the much of the stolen funds – arms purchase and in other sector – are in dollars. So we had a recent past that was not only corrupt but whose officials also unabashedly dollarized our economy.

Furthermore, most of the dollars that should be in our foreign reserve is sitting pretty in the offshore ac­counts of the same people who are now campaigning for the crippling or even death of the Naira.

They are also dubious to admit that devaluation mostly works wonder if the economy is heavy on manufacturing and export. We are low on both, so where is the advantage of devaluation to us? It will take a while for our export and manufacturing, after prolonged neglect, to pick up. If we devalue before we have something to sell then we may not be able to afford the capital to kick-start manufacturing con­sidering that heavy machines must be necessarily imported.

Emefiele might have been appointed under the pre­vious administration; as an appointee of government he was obliged to obey the then Commander in Chief, but today he has to clean up the mess left in the wake of that administration. This is a task he has largely succeeded in achieving and has thus proving that the stance of the President a CBN Governor serves mat­ters. His pursuit of zero tolerance for corruption in so many areas is yielding result and they are in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s change agenda.

Of course, Emefiele’s stance, in joining the fight against corruption; in refusing to destroy the naira; and in reactivating statutory remittances, has conse­quences. He is now the subject of smear campaigns that aim to more than rubbish him. The goal, from what is available in the media space is to either force him to resign or have the President sack him. The log­ic backing such calls are as shallow as they are unten­able. Why should Emefiele resign on account that he acted on instructions of the former president even af­ter he has demonstrated what difference a purposeful leadership can make under the current government?

His detractors have even gone the extra length of asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Com­mission (EFCC) to arrest him on account that the Dasukigate scandal happened under his watch. There is no point wasting precious print space taking apart this line of reasoning – it is akin to asking a person’s account officer to be arrested because money was re­leased to the account holder when he demanded for it.

. Ogah is a public policy analyst based in Makurdi, Benue State.

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The protests over hike in electricity tariff

COMMERCIAL activities in many cities across the country were last Monday grounded following a wave of protests by Organised Labour over the hike in tariff by electricity distribution companies (DISCOS). With effect from February 1, electricity tariff was increased by over 45 percent. But leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Civil Society Organisations, stormed various offices of the power firms nationwide, demanding for immediate reversal of the hike.  For instance, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and some other cities, the protesters barricaded the offices of the firms, including the headquarters of the regulatory authority, the Nigerian Electricity Regula­tory Commission (NERC), which authorised the hike, chasing away workers on duty.

According to the President of NLC, Com­rade Ayuba Wabba, the tariff hike is “outra­geous and unacceptable” to Nigerian workers who are already hard-hit by the harsh eco­nomic conditions in the country. Labour said the current increase is the fifth in four years, and is therefore, one hike too many. It threat­ened that the demonstrations would resume if the decision is not rescinded.

We recall that the issue of hike in electric­ity tariff has remained a contentious one for many years now, especially since the unbun­dling of the former Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) a few years ago and its sale to power Distribution Companies (DISCOS) and Generation Companies (GENCOS). The latest hike which resulted in the protests across the country is sequel to the request of the DISCOS for NERC approval of increase in tariff payable by electricity consumers in the country.

The DISCOS in the different zones in the country had in their proposals suggested between 49.4 and 60 percent increase for residential and commercial consumers, re­spectively. NERC, which was then under the leadership of Dr. Sam Amadi, approved 45 and 60 percent, respectively, for residen­tial and commercial consumers. Various entreaties made by Organised Labour and other stakeholders for a downward review were not heeded, thereby culminating in last Monday’s protests. The controversial hike is also the subject of a court case that is yet to be resolved. The National Assembly has also waded into the matter. The legislators are still reviewing the positions of the stakehold­ers. Their position might be made public next week, according to the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gba­jabiamila.

We understand the dilemma of both the consumers and the power distribution firms. Electricity consumers in the country have for years not seen significant improvement in power supply. Worse still, the performance of the DISCOS has not been encouraging. The initial optimism that heralded their emer­gence about three years ago has waned, as the little improvement noticed at the inception of the present administration has not been sus­tained.

Therefore, based on the perceived generally unsatisfactory power supply across the coun­try, any increase in tariff is bound to generate protests. On the face of it, it seems to many consumers that the desire for more profit, rather than the quest to improve service de­livery, is at the heart of the current hike.

However, it should not be discountenanced that electricity generation and distribution are expensive. And, for improvement and quality service delivery, consumers would, naturally, have to pay more. This is neces­sary to improve the funding of the sector and ensure a better performance. Nigerians need the power sector to perform optimally since power is central to any meaningful so­cio-economic development.

It is sad that the new power company owners inherited obsolete equipment that are incapable of carrying the current heavy demands of residential and commercial us­ers. It has become necessary for all stake­holders – Labour, government, the DISCOS and GENCOS, to review the state and needs of the industry, and also consider the abil­ity of consumers to pay the new tariff, with a view to reaching a common ground on the problem. Our advice is that they hold a stakeholders summit where this matter can be discussed and amicably resolved. This matter should not be politicized or allowed to degenerate into a crisis. Public protests or demonstrations are not the best way to re­solve the issue.

Part of the way out is for the power distri­bution firms to, first and foremost, improve services to justify any hike. Better power supply could in due course encourage con­sumers to pay more.

In this regard, we need to remind NERC of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed earlier with the DISCOS, to the effect that before any tariff would be approved, they (DISCOS) should fulfill cer­tain conditions. One of such conditions is the availability of prepaid metres as spelt out in the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO2). The DISCOS have done little in this regard.

The window is still open for all concerned to reach a consensus on how to resolve this matter, perhaps once and for all. This is because the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005 empowers any party ag­grieved or dissatisfied by the decision of the regulatory authority in respect of tariff or any other issue, to appeal to it within a 60-day period, for further consultation. We urge both Labour and the power company owners to avail themselves of this window.

While this window remains open, the best solution will be a gradual increase in tariff so that consumers will not feel too much pain.

The importance of power supply cannot be over-emphasised. Its availability and stabil­ity will enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria, and encourage further investments.

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Oil price: Why OPEC won’t cut production – David-West

AMIDST declining price of crude in the global market, a former minister of Petro­leum Resources, Prof.Tam David-West, has declared that despite intense pressure, the oil cartel-Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will not cut down crude production quota.

OPEC is an association of oil-producing countries which was established in Baghdad Iraq,in 1961. It generates about 45 percent of the world’s total crude oil production, and more than 20 percent of the world’s natural gas production.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Sun, David-West said those calling for crude oil production cut by OPEC in order to shore up crude oil price, lack the understanding and dynamics of the work­ings of the oil industry.

He explained that activi­ties of non-OPEC member countries, which included: Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Nor­way and a host of others, will make the idea of oil produc­tion cut an impossible task because production statistics are shrouded in secrecy.

‘‘You cannot control what you don’t have information about. These countries, be­ing non-OPEC members are difficult to regulate. If they give you a particular volume of their daily production, go back and verify their claims; it can never be the same,’’ he said. The former oil minister argued that if OPEC decided to cut production by about 20percent among OPEC member countries, the same percentage, if not more, would find its way back into the oil market as a result of the massive production of non-OPEC members.

In this instance, he said the motive behind the oil cut would have been defeated, because non-OPEC mem­ber countries and even some OPEC members would not agree to crude oil cut.

‘‘Is it a country like Iran that just got its sanction lifted after several years that will agree to oil produc­tion cut? They are eager to make up for lost years and will do everything to ensure that they push their oil to the international market at what­ever cost,’’ he noted.

David-West equally took a swipe at the managers of Nigeria’s oil sector, saying there was no need for panic over the slide in crude oil price. He maintained that, it has happened before and was not an entirtely new de­velopment.

Rather, he said manag­ers of the economy should come up with measures to benefit from low crude oil price, rather than lament and create a panicky situation for the country.

“When I was the oil min­ister in 1984, crude oil sold for $30 a barrel, just as it is selling for now. But, we were able to manage the economy even with that. We came up with policies to cushion the effect. At that time, Nigeria never import­ed a single litre of oil, rather we exported.

“Now that oil price is low is the best time for Nige­ria to increase its reserve and do more of exploration because it is cheaper now. When that is done, we can reap the benefits on the lon­ger term. But, to sit down and begin to lament about low oil price is a last ap­proach. I don’t subscribe to that,’’ he said.

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I was cut-and-sew tailor before I made it –Olubadan-designate

From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

OLUBADAN-designate, Chief Saliu Adetunji, has opened up on how he was a cut-and-sew tailor in Lagos before his journey to star­dom started in 1957.

Luck, he said, smiled on him when he met one Sam­uel Badejo, who introduced him to music promotion, and he founded three foremost music marketing companies: Omo Aje Sound Studio, Ad­etunji Label and Babalaje Records.

He was said to have, through the companies, promoted to limelight music artistes such as Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde (K1); Alhaji Sule Alao (Malaika), the late Dauda Akanmu (Epo Akara), Alhaji Tatalo Alamu and many more.

Adetunji, who is the Ba­logun of Ibadaland, dis­closed this at the weekend when he received members of Oluyole Social Elite to his Alusekere Compound, Popoyemoja, Ibadan resi­dence.

He mentioned Okusanya and the late Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Suleiman Omiyale, as people who mentored him in life, adding that without their contributions to his life, he would still be a cut-and-sew tailor at Ita Agarau in Oya Compound on Lagos Island.

“One of my mentors, who did something remarkable in my business life was late Okusanya. I was a cut-and-sew tailor when late Badejo introduced me to the music industry in 1957 where I rose to become a star.

“Another person who in­fluenced my life positively was Sule Omiyale, the late Balogun of Ibadanland. He was the one who prevailed upon me to apply for and become Mogaji of Adetunji family house. It took the late Sule Omiyale three years to convince me to become the Mogaji (compound head).

“And, if you don’t take the first step by becoming the Mogaji, how can you become the Jagun and begin to climb the step to the Olubadan? So, what they have done in my life remains unforgettable, even after their exit.”

He urged the elite in Ibadanland to properly mentor the youths for them to be what God wants them to be, adding that there is no one on earth who, at one time or the other, does not need other people’s critical intervention to make it in life and urged members of Oluyole Social Elite Club to show more love towards the underprivileged.

In a related development, Adetunji also urged members of the Federation of Ibadan Students’ Union (FIBSU) Alumni, who paid him a congratulatory visit, to avoid anti-social behaviour, adding that “good name is better than gold and silver.”

 

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Ekitigate: Hand over Aluko for prosecution, Fayose urges FG

From Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti

EKITI State Governor, Mr .Ayodele Fayose, has said the Federal Government should not shield Mr Tope Aluko from facing trial over his allegation that the June 21, 2014 governorship poll in the state was rigged in his favour and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi yesterday, said it was unbecoming of a government, which prides itself as clean, to use an agency of government to prevent somebody that has breached the law of the land from prosecution.

He demanded that the Federal Government should not use the Department of State Services (DSS) from preventing another arm of government, the judiciary, from trying Aluko for perjury.

Fayose said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government should, immediately, allow relevant agencies of government to try Aluko for perjury.

“To Aluko and his sponsors, he is a whistle-blower, One thing we are sure of is that the whistle will eventually explode on Aluko’s face as well as the faces of his sponsors. Aluko is the one who said he saw white and that the white has now turned black. Nigerians are demanding that he should be brought to the open to explain how what he said and maintained up to the Supreme Court level has changed.

“He testified under oath at the tribunal, Appeal Court and even the Supreme Court and he came out again to recant. A vital arm of government, the judiciary, issued a valid order for his arrest and prosecution and that was widely publicised.

Two weeks ago, Aluko told newsmen how the election was rigged in favour of Fayose, countering an earlier testimony before a panel that PDP won the election fair and square.

Last week, a Magistrate Court ordered the Commissioner of Police to arrest Aluko over alleged perjury.

Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye gave the order upon a motion of ex-parte number M A D / 1 0 c m / 2 0 1 6 , filed by the Ekiti State Government against Aluko and the state’s Commissioner of Police, pursuant to Section 117 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, law of Ekiti State 2012, Section 79 of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2014 and Section 23 (D) of the Magistrates’ Court Law 2014.

In the motion, which was filed and moved by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, an order of the court was sought to issue warrant of arrest against Aluko to be executed by the police commissioner for the purpose of committing him (Aluko) for trial for the offence of perjury.

Chief Magistrate Adegboye said the order was granted as a means for the first defendant (Aluko) to attend the court for defence.

A lawyer, Mr. Sunday Olowolafe, calling for the prosecution of Mr. Aluko for alleged perjury, premised the matter upon an application to the state attorney general.

Aluko has since filed a suit in court against the warrant.

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Arms probe: EFCC arrests ex-military intelligence chief, Gen. Wiwa

THE Economic and Fi­nancial Crimes Com­mission (EFCC), at the weekend, continued its clampdown on people who could give information on the vexed $2.1 billion arms deal probe, with the arrest of a former Director of Mili­tary Intelligence (DMI), Ma­jor General Wiwa, younger brother to the late Ken Saro Wiwa.

This is coming at a time when Citizens’ Initiative for Security Awareness (CISA), warned the media to desist from using sensational sto­ries on military officers.

Sources revealed that General Wiwa, the Deputy Commandant at the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi has been transferred to Abuja, where he’s being detained.

Daily Sun gathered that the detained soldier served in the office of the National Security Adviser when late General Patrick Azazi occu­pied the office. He remained in office during Col. Sambo Dasuki’s tenure from where he was appointed Direc­tor of Military Intelligence when Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika became the Chief of Army staff, a position he retained under the tenure of General Kenneth Minimah.

Sources at the EFCC re­vealed that the general was picked up for questioning over the involvement of the former Chief of Army Staff in arms purchase scandal.

In a related development CISA has cautioned the me­dia against sensational sto­ries.

In a signed statement by Aliyu Dogo, Head of Public­ity and Mobilisation yester­day, CISA said: “We frown at the unconscionable con­coction of stories and unre­lated pictures to tar certain officers in the media. Take for instance, the story mak­ing rounds that $1m dollars was found in drums or in soak- away belonging to a certain officer, yet, the soak-away has no sign of breakage nor were Nigerians shown the confiscated money.

“Just so to achieve the in­tention of demonising the of­ficers, the picture of drums containing dollars belong­ing to the late Colombian drug kingpin, Pablo Esco­bar, which was unearthed by a Colombian farmer in 2015 are being circulated today in Nigeria as belonging to a Nigerian military officer indicted for corruption. Ni­gerians were also told of the former military assistant to late Azazi and Dasuki, who is a serving Colonel whose house was allegedly broken and millions of dollars were allegedly found inside. This same officer is still in de­tention for more than two months yet, no charge has been preferred against him, while the so-called millions of dollars found in his house were not authenticated.

“A couple of days ago, Ni­gerians were treated with a report of public humiliation and arrest at the airport of a serving top Air Force of­ficer by police men in mufti in spite of the pleadings and protestations of fellow gen­erals that the senior officer is not running away but travelling abroad on offi­cial assignments. As a civil society group interested in galvanising public support for the Nigerian military and other security agen­cies in the country, CISA is gravely worried about the implication of orchestrating the circulation of unproven stories of alleged corrupt practices by military offi­cers.”

“CISA believes that me­dia trial of our top military officers, serving or retired, is an ill-wind that will blow nobody any good.

“CISA believes our mili­tary and security institu­tions and its officers must not be exposed to such pub­lic ridicule.

“We frown at the un­relenting profiling of the military as haven of corrup­tion and officers as corrupt fellows when, indeed, none of the allegations have been proven or any of the indicted officers convicted by the ju­dicial system.

“We should all support the government in its War Against Corruption without dehumanising and discred­iting individuals and insti­tutions through false and sensational reports that can dent our national pride and reputation.”

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Arthur Mbanefo chairs The Sun Awards Saturday

FORMER Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Na­tions, Sir Arthur Mbanefo, will on Saturday, February 20, 2016, chair The Sun Awards ceremony holding at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victo­ria Island, Lagos. The event starts at 3pm.

Confirming his acceptance to be chairman, Mbanefo, a renowned chartered accountant, said he was obliged to be part of the event ow­ing to the quality of personalities, who win The Sun Awards.

Mbanefo, who himself won The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award a few years ago, expressed his highest regards to the board and manage­ment of The Sun Publishing Lim­ited.

Mbanefo attended St. Patrick’s College, Calabar, and was trained as accountant in England. He was a senior partner, Akintola Williams and Company and Board Mem­ber, Nigerian Sock Exchange, La­gos, among others.

The Sun Awards 2015, which is the 13th edition, will celebrate outstanding Nigerians, who made marks in various spheres of human endeavours last year.

Those to be honoured are Asiwa­ju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the ruling All Progressives Con­gress (The Sun Man of the Year); Governor Willie Obiano of Anam­bra (Governor of the Year); Hajia Nana Shettima (Most Supportive First Lady); Dr. Uche Ogah, Presi­dent, Master Energy Oil & Gas Limited (Investor of the Year); Mr. Yemi Adeola, Group Managing Di­rector of Sterling Bank Plc. (Banker of the Year); Dr. Obiora Chukwuka

(Businessman of the Year); Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Director-General of the Nigerian Pension Commission (Public Service Award); Mr. Amaju Pinnick (Sport Person of the Year); and Mr. Harrison Okiri (Harrysongz) (Creative Person of the Year).

Others are Mrs. Josephine Ugwu (Nigerian Hero Award); Mrs. Omoni Oboli (Nollywood Person of the Year); Chief Vincent Obianodo, Chairman of Chisco Transport (Hospitality Man of the Year); Chief Eric Umeofia, Chairman, Erisco Foods Limited (Manufacturer of the Year); and Oba Fredrick Akinruntan (Industrialist of the Year).

Others who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Awards are, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar; General Ike Nwachukwu; Chief Mbazurike Amaechi; Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia; Chief Kessington Adebutu; and Justice Marian Aloma Muktar, former Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Winners of The Sun Awards 2015 were unveiled on November 15, 2015 after a two-day deliberation of the Board of Editors, chaired by Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie.

In a statement before the winners were announced, Osagie said the selection process was painstaking and rigorous, as the Board of Editors considered many Nigerians. He revealed that debate during the selection process was robust and frank without any sentiment, adding that the winners were selected on their merit.

“In the selection process, members of The Sun Board of Editors did put sentiment aside and looked at the nominees dispassionately before arriving at the winners. We debated for 48 hours and eventually arrived at the winners. It was so because we take the awards seriously. You must know that owing to the thoroughness in our selection process, our awards have never been faulted in the past,” Osagie said.

Many prominent Nigerians have won The Sun Awards in the past. They include, Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi, Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga.

Others are former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; former governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; ex-governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Others who have also won the awards are former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida; former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma, Chief Tony Anenih; Prof Joe Irukwu, Don Jazzy, Mrs. Ekaete Unoma Akpabio and Mrs. Doshima Suswam, among others.

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Abia North rerun: Abiriba, Umuhu-Ezechi communities endorse Kalu for Senate

From Okey Sampson, Bende

IN what appears to be a mass movement devoid of political inclination, the people of Abiriba, in Ohafia Local Government and their neighbours of Umuhu Eze­chi in Bende Local Govern­ment have endorsed former governor of the state and Progressive Peoples Alli­ance (PPA) candidate for the Abia North senator dis­trictrerun election, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

The election holds on March 5. The people gave their words to Kalu when the former governor went to the communities in continu­ation of his electioneering campaign, which has taken him to almost all the politi­cal wards of the five local governments which make up Abia North senatorial district.

At Abiriba, country home of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the March 5 rerun election, Chief David Ogba, the people, including the elderly came out in their numbers in a carnival-like atmosphere to give Kalu, who they described as their son, unflinching support and love.

Some of their leaders, who spoke were Chief (Mrs) Nne Kalu, a former perma­nent secretary; Eleanya If­endu (youth leader); Odim Okpan; Osondu Agbai and another woman leader, Dr (Mrs) Rose Udeagha . They all said that despite the fact that their son Ogba was contesting the election, they have faith in kalu because of what he did for them when he was governor.

“Kalu is one person that did not let us down when he was governor. He ac­ceded to our requests and it is therefore, inconsequential whether our son is contest­ing the election or not, we are going to give Kalu our votes, he will represent us at the Senate better”, said Kalu.

Equally, a well known community leader, Chief Nnamdi Iro Orji, who was said to be indisposed sent in a message at the rally through Sunday Ifeigbo where he urged the entire people of Abiriba not to make the mistake they made in the last election and vote for Kalu, stating that he (Kalu) was their son from a different community.

Dr. Udeagha revealed this of Kalu to the astonish­ment of the people; “Abia North should be very proud of Kalu, he is respected all over Nigeria and beyond. There is one thing people do not know about OUK; as far back 1985, he addressed the US Senate at a tender age of 25. If he could do that at that tender age, I don’t think that he would be found wanting at the Nigerian Senate”.

At Amaogudu, elders of the area who Kalu visited in their ancestral meeting place where he was given the community’s traditional rites of passage as a mark of acceptability and love, de­scribed the former governor as a member of the Udoji­aku Age Grade of the place, and subsequently endorsed him for the Senate.

The elders recalled that it was during his administra­tion that some of their sons were given positions of trust including Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa who was made vice chancellor of Abia State University and, later, commissioner.

A youth leader, Eleanya Ifendu said they jettisoned their son and endorsed Kalu because of his benevolence and what he did for their community when he was governor.

“I am a staunch mem­ber of APGA, but, as far as this Abia North senatorial district issue is concerned, we are no longer talking about party but somebody who will represent the area well. And, that our brother you talked about, he has no weight politically and there is no way you can compare him with OUK, we need somebody of Kalu’s clout in the Senate.

“Senate is not for all comers; Abia North needs a man with strong influence like Kalu who has seen it all in the Nigerian project, not a political neophyte or somebody that will to the Senate to carry bags for his fellow senator.”

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Fr. Mbaka’s transfer: Adoration members spit fire

From Chidi Nnadi, Enugu

MEMBERS of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), under the aegis of Concerned Adorers and Igbos in Diaspora (CAID), have warned that people should stop making fuss over the transfer of their spiritual director, Rev. Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka.

The members reacted to comments by Nigerians, most of them clerics in our sister publication, Sunday Sun en­titled: ‘Fr. Mbaka under fire,’ where they condemned the outburst of the fiery Catholic priest that he was going to suffer as he left his old parish to a new one.

Members said nobody was talking about some priests in the diocese who were unable to comply with the Bishop’s directive on the deadline to move them to new stations and wondered why everybody took on Fr. Mbaka, “with some calling on him to submit to his Bishop even when he had fully and joyfully complied with the directive within the specified time.”

Adoration members also pointed out that Fr. Mbaka’s statement that he was going to suffer which “elicited much attention by his critics as unnecessary.”

“The statement was just a few words that were given media hype by his critics out of the many things he said to the worshippers during the handover to his successor”.

They queried that, given the assets of the ministry, which Fr. Mbaka was forced to pack out from the GRA parish without any preparation on how they would be preserved, was it not obvious that he was going to suffer?

“Given the fact that thousands of people who flood his parish to wait for his prayers, healing and charity cannot be accommodated comfortably in two large conference rooms in the parish duplex at GRA and now with the trans­fer, he is going to reside in a cubicle being his share of the house at Our Lady of Rosary Parish which he will be occu­pying with two other priests, is this not enough suffering?

“Is it not excruciating, seeing not less than 80 salaried workers under Fr Mbaka’s employment at Christ the King Parish GRA, parish shedding tears of losing their job in this era of unemployment, on account of his transfer from the parish?” they further argued.

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PDP chair: No vacancy, Gulak declares

• Party picks new boss this week

From Taiwo Amodu & Water Ukaegbu, Abuja

AHEAD of the meetings of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) statutory organs this week, to install a substantive national chairman, Ahmed Gulak, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s adviser, has vowed to resist any move that could jeopardize his claim to the office.

Justice Hussein Buba of the Federal High Court in Abuja, following a suit instituted by Gulak had on December 15, 2015 asked the Acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus, to vacate the office within 14 days while also directing the North- East to produce a replacement for the former chairman and ex- Bauchi State governor, Adamu Mu’azu, who resigned last May.

But Gulak had since proclaimed himself the national chairman, claiming that the same judgment of Justice Buba which directed Secondus to vacate the office equally empowered him (Gulak) to assume the seat after 14 days.

Speaking with Daily Sun exclusively, Gulak insisted that any decision taken by the national caucus, Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) on the office of national chairman would be null and void as well as a contravention of the judgment of Justice Buba.

Gulak, the former presidential Adviser on Political Matters, noted that the 14 days window given to the North-East to produce a replacement for Mu’azu had since elapsed.

“The party must have leaders, new managers if we want to pick up the pieces and begin to rebuild the party towards 2019. But with what is happening, my fear is that there is mass exodus from the party, people are leaving because they are losing confidence in the managers of this party and they are urging me on to continue.

“If by the end of February or March, this issue isn’t resolved in accordance with the law and the judgment of the court, I am sorry, this party will become an empty shell.”

Gulak, who said none of the PDP governors in the North-East was backing him in his struggle to lead the main opposition party, further accused the Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwabbo and his Taraba state counterpart, Darius Ishaku of indifference to the breach of the party’s constitution by the Secondus-led National Working Committee (NWC).

“My fight and my struggle isn’t about my individual ambition. Where were the governors since May 2015 when they knew that the North-East has a slot to replace Mu’azu?

“Where were the governors when we went to plead with

NWC to allow north-east fill the vacancy? Where were the governors when I decided to take this fight to the court? “Where were the governors when I got judgment? I don’t want to join issues with any governor because they are elected officials, but they are abdicating from their duties as leaders. They ought to have called this meeting since! For eight months, this crisis wouldn’t have reached this stage.

“Where were they when Gulak took it upon himself, went to court to make sure that the North-east must have the slot? Where were they when Gulak got the judgment? Gulak, who is former Adamawa State governorship aspirant, also faulted the earlier stance of the PDP Governors’ Forum asking Secondus to vacate the office for the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo. “What is the law saying? What is the judgment saying? The judgment has already asked Secondus to leave office, so he cannot act as national chairman. “The governors also cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. You cannot cure illegality with illegality. They ought to know that but I am sure they were misadvised. The way forward is to allow Gulak serve out Muazu’s tenure and conduct a free, fair and credible congresses, leading up to the national convention, where a chairman will emerge through democratic process.”

Meanwhile, former governor of defunct Gongola State, Amb. Wilberforce Juta, is gathering support for the PDP’s exalted position. Juta was backed by the top members including BoT executives during a meeting held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

A source said history, experience, transparency and integrity, among others, set the founding members of the party apart from the other candidates.

“Juta is the only candidate that has proper knowledge of the PDP as a member of the G- 34, former North –East Zonal Vice Chairman and a long – standing BoT membeship, having never left PDP for any reason what – so ever.”

Adamawa State chapter of PDP last week threw its weight behind Juta and distanced itself from Gulak.

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‘Boko Haram fighters trained in Somalia’

BOKO Haram Fighters have been trained in east­ern coast of Somalia before returning to Nigeria, Soma­lia’s president told a secu­rity conference in Munich, Germany yesterday, Reuters reported.

Somalia, plagued by political in-fighting, cor­ruption and attacks by al Shabaab insurgents, has recently made limited progress towards creat­ing a functioning political system, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said.

“Without a stable Soma­lia, the whole region of the Horn of Africa will remain unstable and by and large, the African continent. There are proofs and evidence that (for) some time Boko Ha­ram has been trained in So­malia and they went back to Nigeria,” he said.

“The terrorists are so linked together, they are as­sociated and so organised, (that) we the world we need to be so organised,” he said, speaking in English. It was not clear from his com­ments whether he believed al Shabaab was still training Boko Haram fighters, who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq.

Somalia’s al Shabaab, which has links to al Qa­eda and wants to overthrow the Somali government and impose a harsh version of Islamic law, claimed re­sponsibility for a blast this month that punched a hole in the fuselage of a plane.

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INEC drags Andy Uba, Stella Oduah, others to S’Court

 

• Seeks interpretation of political status

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Supreme Court to seek clarification on the political status of Senators Andy Uba, Stella Uduah and other lawmakers representing Anambra State for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as it recognised the list of Ejike Oguebego- led state executive committee of the party.

But Senators Annie Okonkwo, Chris Ubah, John Emeka and other PDP lawmakers on the list of the Oguebego executive that got the apex court’s judgment, have written INEC alleging that the commission made a biased presentation of facts in its motion for clarification.

A letter from the law firm of A.C. Ozioko and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on behalf of the lawmakers dated February 10, condemned the steps taken by the electoral body as well as the alleged biased manner in which the application for clarification was brought and couched.

While holding that there was no ambiguity in the apex court’s judgment, the Oguebego group said the decision to go back to the Supreme Court for clarification of its judgment could not have arisen from a neutral and unbiased arbiter.

The group also accused the electoral body of suppressing the facts of the case by deliberately removing some vital pages of the lead judgment of the Supreme Court including the attachments of the letter of Chief Chris Uche (SAN) to INEC dated January 29, 2016.

A panel of Supreme Court justices had in its judgment delivered on January 29 this year affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court which held that only the constitutionally-recognized state party leadership led by Oguebego could organize the party primaries.

In the judgment of the Federal High Court which was restored by the Supreme Court, the PDP, its agents, servants, privies were restrained from forwarding, sending or submitting to the second defendant (INEC) any delegates list or nominated candidates that may emerge from the congress conducted by the purported caretaker committee set up by the first defendant for the PDP, except those that emanate from the plaintiffs’ (Ejike Oguebego and Hon.Chucks Okoye) congresses and primaries.

Justice Elvis Chukwu, who delivered the judgment, further restrained INEC, its agents, servants, privies, assigns, officials whatsoever name they may be called from accepting or receiving any delegate from the congresses or primaries conducted by the caretaker committee set up by the first defendant for the state PDP, except those that emanate from the palintiffs.

Although the above judgment of the Federal High Court was subsequently set aside by the Court of Appeal, it was restored by the Supreme Court in its judgment of January 29, following a successful appeal by the Oguebego group.

In a motion on notice dated February 5, 2016 and filed by a consortium of lawyers headed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the electoral body set out six issues for clarification.

In urging the apex court to review its judgment in the interest of justice, INEC said it was confused on the step to follow.

The motion which was brought under Order 8 rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules. 1999, Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act, 2004 and Section 6(6) of the 1999 Constitution is attached with a 10-paragraph affidavit of urgency while the main motion has a deposed affidavit of 19 paragraphs, all deposed to by Ebuka Nwaeze, a lawyer in the law firm of Chief Awomolo.

No date has been fixed for hearing the motion..

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Senate sets March deadline for 2016 budget passage

SENATE Leader, Ali Ndume, disclosed yesterday that the N6.07 trillion 2016 budget will be passed in March.

In an interview with NAN, Ndume gave March as the deadline for the implementation of the 2015 budget, saying it was even the desire of the Senate to pass the 2016 budget before that time.

He refuted reports claiming that the Senate had suspended the budget passage indefinitely, adding February 25 “may not be feasible”.

He said it was the wish of the national as­sembly to pass the budget five weeks before the expiry of the period set for the implementation of the 2015 budget, but that was impossible due to some errors.

“We have not postponed it indefinitely; we are saying that with the developments that we are seeing as the time goes on, the 25th February deadline we gave ourselves may not be realistic,” he said.

His counterpart in the House of Representa­tives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged Nigerians not to blame President Muhammadu Buhari for the problems in the 2016 budget.

Gbajabiamila, who said this when he received leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in his office in Abuja at the weekend, said civil servants should be held liable for the crises.

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ONE TOWN, TWO KINGS

 

… Tension in Ikere-Ekiti as royal fight escalates

• I’m the only monarch in Ikere kingdom – Ogoga•Any attempt to obliterate my throne is a call for war – Olukere

From Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti

IKERE-EKITI is one of the most prominent towns in Ekiti State. Besides being the second largest town in the state, it is also a historically significant town in Ekitiland, part of which extends to Kwara and Ondo States.

But right now, all is not well in the ancient community that hosts the Orole and Olosunta Rocks, among other natural monuments. Last week’s public affirmation by the state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, that the newly installed Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu (Agirilala 11), is the paramount ruler of the town, has reopened old wounds. The pronouncement is causing ripples and generating tension, as a bitter battle is seemingly looming between the town’s two monarchs.

Last week, youths and elderly men and women in the town invaded the streets of Ikere-Ekiti in protest. They barricaded the Akure-Ado-Ekiti Road, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. They were protesting the alleged dismantling of a billboard of the Olukere by the state governor, Mr. Fayose. It took the efforts of security men for the protesters to be persuaded to leave the road.

The supremacy battle between the Ogoga and Olukere has been on for decades, with most governors trying not to be seen as overtly supporting either of the two. But the present government under Mr. Fayose has openly pitched his tent with Ogoga, insisting the king is the only ruler in Ikere Kingdom.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Dr. Olusola Kolapo Eleka, had, at the recent commissioning of the new multi-million naira Ogoga Palace, constructed by Oba Adu, declared that the Ogoga is the monarch recognised by the state government as the paramount ruler of Ikere Kingdom, adding that any other person remains Ogoga’s subject. Dr. Eleka, an indigene of the town, had declared: “Ikere has one monarch and the Ogoga is the head of the kingdom.” Then he told the Ogoga: “We recognise you as the only king in Ikere. We recognise you as the only paramount ruler in Ikere and there is no other king in Ikere. This government under the leadership of Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose will continue to recognise you as such.”The Ogoga, Oba Adu, while addressing Ikere indigenes on the occasion, also insisted he was the only monarch in Ikere. “The day, July 6, 2015, which ushered in my reign, will forever remain unforgettable but remarkable in the history of my life and that of Ikere community as a whole. Today, history is being made and repeated.“It was during the reign of my great, great grandfather, the great Oba Agirilala 1, that Ikere got an expansion, with many settlements coming for protection in Ikere. Some went back to their original settlements after the cessation of the inter-tribal wars that brought them here. Many more stayed behind as a result of the hospitality and good administration of Oba Agirilala 1.“Thus, today, we have the nine quarters (Owo Mesan) in Ikere from the original three (Uro, Odo-Oja and Oke’kere). Also, one of my progenitors in the early 20^th century rebuilt this palace. And so, today, we are sanctifying the new building constructed solely through the grace of God by another Agirilala 11.”While alluding to the tension in the town, as some indigenes regard the Olukere as the paramount ruler, Oba Adu said:“I must say that this new palace as well as other positive programmes emanating from us is aimed at complementing government’s effort. Therefore, any unwarranted distractions and noise making from any quarter is anti-government and anti-people. When a dog coughs repeatedly around the lion’s cave, its owners should know it is time to put it in its cage.“Traditional stools are meant for honest people. I will not allow the dignity of Ikere kingdom to be besmirched in my time. Royalty is from God; it is not picked on the street as it has roots and lineage. We are justified by history and our history cannot be re-written and manipulated,” he said.

But in a swift reaction, the Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, vehemently condemned Eleka and Ogoga’s assertions, saying that the development signalled a sinister and clandestine intention by the state government to obliterate the history of the Olukere stool.The monarch, who said there were threats to his life, said that the Governor Ayodele Fayose-led government had threatened to deal with him over the lingering supremacy battle with his rival, the Ogoga, on who is actually the owner of Ikere.While addressing some journalists at his palace in Ikere-Ekiti on the age-long kingship tussle in the kingdom, the Olukere accused the state government of bias, warning that any attempt to either derecognise him or make him a subordinate to the Ogoga would be vigorously resisted.

The enraged monarch, who flaunted the Ikere Intelligence Report of 1933, among several other documents, including those written from the local government and Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs to substantiate the authenticity of his throne, expressed worry and disappointment that Fayose, who was expected to mediate in the crisis, was allegedly plotting against him.

He said the provocative statement attributed to the deputy governor, Eleka, had really created an atmosphere of tension in the town, adding that he had been spending quality time to plead with his people to calm down and allow the court to adjudicate in the matter.

Oba Obasoyin, who was crowned in 2014, alleged that the fact that the present government had vehemently failed to respond to three memos he had written to it, advocating that the staff of office be presented to him, further gave credence to his claim that the government was taking sides.He said further: “A couple of weeks ago, Governor Fayose called me to his office and warned me against giving the Ogoga any problem, and that he would fight me with all the paraphernalia of office if I should take any action against my rival.

“The Attorney General, Barrister Owoseeni Ajayi, Chief of Staff, Dipo Anisulowo, Commissioner for Works, Kayode Oso, Fayose’s Chief Security Officer and one of his sisters were present at the meeting.

“I want to say that the Ogoga, whom Governor Fayose was parading as his recognised king, came to this town in 1836 from Akure. This is on record. About six Olukeres had been installed before he came. Why should the landlord now become a tenant? The Ogoga was my errand boy and nobody can rewrite this in history.

“Governor Fayose must learn from the Ife-Modakeke communal crisis. They should not do anything that would promote war in this land. If the government of Ekiti has any problem with the federal government, it shouldn’t use Ikere as a testing ground.

“Though I assumed office in 2014, the last voucher showing payment of salary to the Olukere dated back to 1989 and it was on government’s website that there were two kings in Ikere Ekiti.”

A couple of days later, the Olukere called another press briefing in Ado-Ekiti and told reporters that Governor Fayose had taken the war to his doorsteps. He alleged that the governor led a team of security officials to supervise the destruction of a huge billboard displaying his (Olukere’s) portrait in the heart of the town. He begged President Muhammadu Buhari to save him from Fayose.

His words: “My life now is at stake. If someone could personally supervise the destruction of my billboard, what would he do if he sees me face-to-face?”But in his response, Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Idowu Adelusi said: “The allegations made by the Olukere against the governor makes no sense at all. That this administration gave recognition to the Ogoga, Fayose was simply following the law, particularly on the Ikere issue. None of  the past administrations gave recognition to the Olukere to rule over Ikereland. Does the Olukere expect Governor Fayose to do otherwise and cause a crisis in the ancient town?

“The Olukere was only ventilating his anger when he alleged that the governor destroyed or sent people to destroy his posters. The allegation is unfounded. The Olukere does not have the instrument of office as Oba. It is an open secret that the Olukere is being sponsored by the APC.”

And in a recent broadcast during which Governor Fayose addressed the people of the state, he also stated: “On Ikere Ekiti, I did not author the Morgan Commission Report. It was that commission that established families that can be Oba.

“It is not my business who becomes king anywhere, but the laid down rules must be followed. No one can buy me to illegality. “In Ikere Ekiti, according to the Morgan Report, Ogoga is the only recognised Oba. I have given the staff of office to Ogoga and whoever that has any issue should approach the court.

“I am aware of the existence of Olukere in Ikere Ekiti, but I am not aware of any Olukere that was given the staff of office as an Oba.”

Chiefs loyal to either of the two contending Obas have also thrown their weight behind their choices. Some of the chiefs loyal to the Ogoga told the reporter that there was no other monarch in Ikere- Ekiti besides the Ogoga. Reacting to the Olukere’s claims, the chiefs, in a statement signed by the Sao of Ikere, Chief J.K.M Omotosho, said: “There is only one monarch in Ikere-Ekiti – Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, the Ogoga of Ikere, the paramount ruler and prescribed authority in Ikere kingdom.

“All chiefs in Ikere owe their allegiance to the Ogoga of Ikere without exception. Our loyalty to the Ogoga is total.” Reacting to the claim by the Olukere that he was already in the town before the arrival of the Ogoga in Ikere, and that as the aborigine, the government was wrong to have declared that there’s only one monarch in Ikere, the Ogoga chiefs asserted: “The Olukere lineage has no history or pedigree in Ikere monarchical heritage since the foundation of the world. No government or constituted authority has accorded the Olukere lineage such respect or recognition as pertains to a king in the history of Yoruba race. The Olukere as a priest from time past till now, has no single chief. He does not confer any title on anyone and no single Ikere chief responds to him. The state government’s pronouncement that Ogoga is the only monarch as far as issue of Obaship is concerned in Ikere is in tandem with the tradition of the town.”

The chiefs said the reaction of Oba Obasoyin to the pronouncement of the Ekiti State government through the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, who is an indigene of the town, was out of place. According to them, “the respect of past holders of that priesthood position enjoyed is derived from the spirituality that Ikere attaches to Olosunta and the approval of the Ogoga, the prescribing authority.”

The chiefs warned the Olukere on his utterances and actions. “Such action as arrogating to himself a non-existent obaship title without the approval of the state executive council is contrary to our law,” they claim.

They also charged the general public to ignore what they said was a call for war by the Olukere, saying the law enforcement agents and the government should do the needful in order “to sustain the peace we currently enjoy in Ikere.” But in their reactions, two other prominent Ikere chiefs, the Eselemo of Ikere, Chief Adeyemi Afolayan Fajilade and the Sapetu of Ikere, High Chief Michael Adu Shittu, went into history to defend the Olukere. The Eselemo, who is also the Atuwase 11, from Odo-Oja quarters, (also Olukere’s quarters) in Ikere-Ekiti told the reporter:

“The pronouncement was from the Deputy Governor, Olusola Kolapo Eleka. Dr. Eleka is an indigene of Ikere. He was biased. It is a fact that it is only Ogoga today that is being recognised by the government, but that is not to say that Ogoga is the only Oba in Ikere. So, Dr. Eleka was biased with that statement and he was partisan. He took sides because he belongs to the Iro axis where Ogoga comes from, and that is why he made such a statement.

“I am competent to tell the story of Ikereanywhere and at any level, and the true picture of Ikere is that we are a communal federation. This federation is founded by Odo-Oja town which is the central part of Ikere, Oke-Ikere town, which is towards the north of Ikere, towards Ado-Ekiti, and Iro quarters, towards Igbara-Odo, which is the west of Ikere. Traditionally, we are nine units from three main towns. That is what we call ‘Owo Mesan Ikere,’ the nine units of Ikere. Apart from the three main towns, we have some other satellite towns. Odo-Oja has Iluomoba, Oke-Ikere has Are and Afao communities, while Iro axis has Agbado and Oyopeju. So, we all came together to form a communal federation where Olukere is the father and paramount ruler of the communal federation.

“Olukere became the head of the federation because he is a direct son of Oduduwa. His name was Olojede Olurode from Ile-Ife, and he brought his crown from Ile-Ife. The rest of us, the Eselemo, were direct sons of the Oba of Benin. This has been the situation of things for over 1000 years now.

“The Ogoga came to Ikere and met the sixth reigning Olukere on the throne and he was asked by the Olukere to head the Iro axis because he was a prince, the younger brother to the Deji of Akure. That has been his dynasty. The Ogoga has no records in Ife nor does he have any records in Benin where they claim to have come from.

“Now, as a federation, we contributed two delegates from each quarter, whom we call Iwarafa mefa. Also, we contributed two Elegbe warriors from each of the three main towns. Even among the women, we also contributed two delegates from each of the three quarters to form the central government with Olukere. These representatives hold meetings with Olukere.

“This continued until around early 18th century when there was a meeting of paramount rulers in Otun. What happened was that during the colonial rule, there was a time the Colonial Governor called a meeting with the paramount rulers. By that time, the Olukere was too old and he sent the Ogoga Agirilala 1 to represent him before the White men. The governor then sent two of his colonial officers to come to the Olukere to confirm whether the Ogoga was the true representative of the Olukere, and the Olukere confirmed it. We might call it ignorance or whatever, but due to the old age of the then Olukere, he did that. Since then, the subsequent governors have been recognising the Ogoga.

“But annually, there is a day that the Ogoga takes permission from Olukere. That day is what we call Ijero. On such days, the Ogoga would kneel down before the Olukere and the Olukere would bless him and give him the authority to lead for the next one year.

“Unfortunately, the Ogoga has since then been trying to subdue the Olukere and the town. But you know the name of this town is Ikere, and this Oba’s title is Olukere. In Yorubaland, Olu means the owner, that is a king or queen. So, if somebody is bearing Olu of Ikere and another says he is Ogoga, which one is more corresponding, according to the history and tradition of the Yoruba race? And you can see that recently, the Olukere went to pay homage to his father, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. “If you get to Ile-Ife, the seat of Olukere is the third to that of the Ooni of Ife. So, what they are doing is trying to change history, and that is impossible. That today, the government of Ekiti State does not recognise Olukere as the paramount ruler of Ikere kingdom doesn’t erase the history of Ikere. The Olukere has been our father. “Recently, they said he was a priest, but that is a lie. They also claimed that it was Aladeselu who founded Ikere. That is also not true. The Eselemo gave Aladeselu and his 10 children land to live in Ikere. If they have been the owners, they would have been the ones giving us land. But myself and Olukere are the ones giving everyone land to settle. “The situation of things with all these distortions of history is that now, there is disarray in Ikere. The ruling class doesn’t want others to thrive. For about 25 years now, the Olukere is not being paid his dues. It is now only one community out of the three that is forcing itself on the entire people. What we are begging the government to do now is to give everybody recognition so that there would be peace in the land.”

Also, defending the Olukere, the Sapetu of Ikere kingdom, High Chief Shittu, affirmed: “I am the second-n-command to the Olukere, the number one traditional chief in the whole of Ikere-Ekiti. My reaction is that the issue of law is on one side, while customs and tradition is also on another. As far as the law in Ekiti State is concerned, we have Obas that are recognised by the government. There are also some Obas who are yet to be recognised by the government, like it happened in Ikole, Omuo-Ekiti and Igbemo-Ekiti of recent.

“From history, Ikere has been a meeting point of many settlers, just like Ibadan. At a point in history, Olukere himself must have met some people in Ikere-Ekiti, but he later became the Olu of Ikere Kingdom. And in Yoruba land, when you say Olu, that means he is the king.

“In the Intelligence Report put down by the white men on Ikere kingdom, they said about 1815, which was exactly 200 years last year, the Ogoga was appointed as an Ajele, meaning the envoy of the English District Officer. If the Ogoga was actually an Oba, he wouldn’t have been appointed as an Ajele in that year. At that time, when Olukere was number one, Sapetu was number two. At a time also, the Olukere delegated some administrative duties to Ogoga and that was why the White men began to recognise the Ogoga ever since then. So, what is happening here is akin to what has happened in Ikare- Akoko in Ondo State between the Olukare and Owa-Ale. The Owa-Ale was there before the Olukare.

“Right now, the issue is not even who is the number one. Now, the Ogoga is recognised by government as number one, but what the Olukere is asking is that he should be recognised by the government as the Olukere of Ikere kingdom.

“My advice for the government of Ekiti State is that it should recognise the Olukere as well. He is the one at the centre of the town. The number one person or paramount ruler of any town all over the world is always at the centre of the town. Olukere’s palace is located at the centre of Ikere, which is called Odo-Oja. I am from Oke-Ikere, the Ogoga is from Iro quarters, in the outskirts of Ikere. Ogoga is the only Oba in the whole of Yorubaland whose palace is in the outskirts of the town, not at the centre. So, what the government should do is to replicate what it has done in Ikole-Ekiti, Omuo-Ekiti and Igbemo-Ekiti and recognise the Olukere, as they have done to Ogoga. That will bring peace and unity to Ikere-Ekiti.”

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Over 1,500 militants to surrender arms to FG

By Aidoghie Paulinus

FOLLOWING the intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, over 1500 Niger Delta militants have expressed their desire to embrace amnesty and surrender arms to the federal government.

Commanders from Arepo, Ikorodu, Abule, Fatorla, Ibafo, Magboro, Epe, Itokin, Ilepete, Okenekene, Agric, Gbokoda camps, Camp 5 and environs, in a statement made available to Daily Sun, expressed their desire to surrender arms and embrace the amnesty program as long as the Federal Government is sincere.

The groups hinged their decision on the peaceful approach of Kachikwu, even as they declared that all Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) facilities and its subsidiaries must work for Nigeria’s progress and economic efficiency in the face of dwindling oil prices.

The statement signed by General OC Babaeere and General America Tekeiminikpoba on behalf of other commanders, said: “We write to express our desire to surrender our arms and embrace the amnesty program as long as the federal government is sincere.

“With the timely intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, we the Commanders from Arepo Camp, Ikorodu Camp, Abule Camp, Fatorla Camp, Camp 5, Ibafo Camp, Magboro Camp, Epe Camp, Itokin Camp, Ilepete Camp, Okenekene Camp, Agric Camp, Gbokoda Camp and their environs, have made up our minds to accept amnesty because of the peaceful approach of the Minister of State for Petroleum.”

 

 

 

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Forex: Hard times await medical tourists, students

… As Bankers Committee tightens noose on invisible transactions

By Adewale Sanyaolu

THE foreign exchange crisis rocking Nigeria’s economy entered another phase last week when the Bankers Committee rose from its meeting in Abuja, Thursday, with a resolution to shut supply windows to medical tourists and students studying outside Nigeria.

The committee made up of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and chief executives of 23 Deposit Money Banks had at that meeting agreed that rather than continue to finance Invisible items where students and medical tourist fall, and which accounted for about 15 per cent of total forex allocation last year, it would now be routed to support the real sector. This means that Nigerians wishing to go overseas for medical treatment as well as those hoping to study overseas will now have to go to the parallel market to source foreign currency at N325 to a dollar.

But while the latest policy could actually save Nigeria more in foreign exchange, there is strong apprehension in several quarters that the country would suffer huge human and material losses, owing to its deficient infrastructure in the two key sectors.

For instance, in the face of poor medical facilities in the country, the implication is that death toll from diseases that cannot be treated local would rise astronomically in the days ahead.

In the education sector, the low quality of graduates of Nigeria tertiary institutions which often forced employers of labour to go head-hunting for Nigerian students trained abroad would now worsen. But with this new Bankers Committee policy, only fewer Nigerians with the resources to buy foreign currency at N325 to the dollar can continue to enjoy such privileges.

Speaking at the end of the Bankers Committee meeting, in Abuja, last week, the Director, Banking Supervision of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs Tokumbo Martins, stated that banks have resolved that most of the foreign exchange demands would now be given to develop the real sector.

Martins said that although the decision will be painful, it was a sacrifice Nigerians will have to go through, in the short term, to have a long term development of Nigeria and the economy.

“You know it is something that affects all of us and I think that the watchword is belt-tightening. It is the pain we may need to go through today, short term, so that there will be long term development in the country whether it is infrastructure or manufacturing. So, the question is how we can prevent or reduce the crowding out of the real sector where there is increase in demand on the invisible. It is something that CBN is looking at and is something the Bankers Committee is looking at. If you think about it, the pressure on forex now —from school fees abroad is significant. At what point should we begin to look inwards? The pressure on medicals is significant. At what point should we begin to look inwards? As Nigerians, we also need to be patriotic in terms of our sentiments. We need to think about what do and have to sacrifice today for the long term benefit of our country and the economy?” she asked

Also, in his remarks, the Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr Herbert Nwigwe, explained that the banks have decided to channel such forex to the real sector because those demands tend to crowd out demands to import raw materials and to support industries.

He said, “the problem with that is the fact that it tends to crowd out the critical foreign exchange that should be used in the real sector to import raw materials, to support industries, to encourage employment. So, there is a question around how far we are going to allow this to continue. Shouldn’t we redirect these redirect these resources towards the real sector as we should?”

Also, quoting data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to support his assertion at a seminar on devaluation last week in Lagos, Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who was the keynote speaker at the event, blamed the current foreign exchange (forex) restriction on demand and supply imbalance.

“I understand that our total receipts from forex inflow is less than $1 billion- about $700 million-and outflow stands at $4billion per month. So if you earn less than $1billion and your outflow remains at about $4billion, obviously, in the next one year, our foreign reserves will be zero.

The CBN, had in a circular, released on June, 23, 2015, prohibited about 41 items from accessing forex through the official window, a development the nation’s manufacturers insist was in bad faith.

But the apex bank had hinged its policy decision on efforts at conserving foreign reserves as well as facilitating the resuscitation of domestic industries to improve employment generation.

Placing a ban or restriction on an area where the government has been unable to prove that it has adequate facilities to provide quality services to Nigerians is contestable, former Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Apapa Branch, Mr. Joseph Aluya,told Daily Sun at the weekend.

‘‘If the restrictions are in areas where the country is self sufficiency, then one would agree with the position of the CBN. But if they are in areas where the country is lagging behind, then such pronouncements could be counterproductive.

The development is affecting a lot of people. It is not an isolated case. Among 100 people, you find more than 20 having kids overseas. This also applies to people who need medical attention overseas. Would it be fair to deny sick Nigerians the privilege of good medicare and allow them to die in defense of the Naira? For me, it is a dicey situation,’ ’he maintained.

Aluya insisted that in a situation where a particular need is lacking in-country, the citizens or businesses operating in such environment, would have no choice than to go outside the country to source for such needs.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institution and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Senator Binta Masi, lamented over the capital flight of $2 billion spent annually on education abroad.

Masi, who frowned at Nigerians travelling to other African countries to get educated, said Nigeria was getting it right on the initiative of the research and education network.

Similarly, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), estimates that Nigerians spend about $500 million annually, on medical tourism while about 5,000 patients travel to India monthly for treatment in a rising phenomenon called medical tourism.

Medical tourism’ is originally a term used to qualify a patient’s movement from highly developed nations to other areas of the world to get medical treatment, usually at a lower cost.

More recently, however, the term is being generally used to mean every form of travel from one country to another in search of medical help, which can also simply be called ‘medical travel’. It also includes traveling to countries where treatments for particular conditions are better understood.

According to a former President of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, the association had been encouraging public office holders to patronise Nigerian hospitals and doctors rather than going overseas for minor ailments that could be handled locally.

“In fact, things have gone so bad in the country that Nigerians travel abroad to conduct medical check-up on simple matters such as blood pressure,” he said.

According to the NMA, Nigeria has the resources and manpower to tackle most ailments ravaging citizens within the country, but regretted that government officials who are expected to patronise health facilities at home are now the ones flying out to India, USA and Europe for medical attention, thereby putting more pressure on the country’s reserves.

It says the country is suffering in the midst of plenty and needs laws to address issues of medical tourism. A medical board that would screen public office holders to ascertain their eligibility for medical treatment abroad is necessary particularly where public funds are involved.

The association lamented the staggering amount of money Nigeria is losing to foreign countries (especially India) on medical tourism.

According to reports, U.S and Great Britain before now accounted for greater number of Nigerians seeking foreign healthcare but Indian has now outperformed these countries in recent years. It is estimated that 95 per cent of Nigerians traveling abroad for medical treatment go to India.

The NMA said India rakes in well over N40 billion, which is about 50 per cent of annual medical tourism bill. (Over 5000 Nigerians travel to India, with each of them spending between $20,000 and $40,000 on the average a year.) India was also projected to have raked in a whopping $2 billion from global medical tourism valued at $20billion a year.

In a recent interview, former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, lamented the loss of several billions of naira in foreign exchange to health tourism as well as thousands of jobs amid growing restiveness among millions of unemployed youths in the country.

“We lose billions of dollars every year to medical trips abroad. We have also lost a lot of people, not because we don’t have the expertise in the country,’’ he had said.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said it was high time the CBN came up with a forex policy that would address the crisis confronting the nation.

In an economic note released on Thursday, Rewane said, “Nigerians are perplexed at the endless slide of their currency, now trading at N325/$, the lowest point ever.

“This is happening even when the oil price is up at $31pb. The debate as to whether to devalue the naira is not the real issue. The discourse should be whether we need an exchange rate policy or not. The absence of a policy is a recipe for economic anarchy and a race to the bottom.”

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