Femi Kuti: “I Am Not A Nigerian”

There are artistes who only got noticed because of a popular parent, but for Femi Kuti, whatever he has achieved today, he has worked hard for it. His father’s influence was key though, but Femi deserves everything he has in music today.

Father Talks About How Daughter Was Killed By Her Boyfriend

This is certainly not the best of times for the Bournes’ family which is currently mourning following the alleged killing of Olayinde Bournes’, by her boyfriend,last Thursday, in Aguda Ogba area of Lagos.
The deceased, a 22-year-old part time student of the Lagos State Polytechnic, was allegedly beaten to death by her boyfriend over an unknown reason.
Crime Guard gathered that the 200 level Business Administration student had gone to bid her boyfriend, Abuchi Cyril, 24, goodbye , as the latter was reportedly planning to travel to Malasia next day (Friday), unknown to her that would be her final sojourn on earth.
Although it could not be ascertained what transpired between the love birds behind closed doors but it was gathered that rather than being entertained in his parents’ apartment located on number 25 Shorimade Street, Aguda Ogba, Abuchi took Olayinde to a neighbours apartment, who at that time was away.
But apprehension, set in, after several calls on Olayinde’s phone by her father, met dead silence. Just as he reportedly stepped outside to see if his daughter was anywhere around, he met some persons in group discussing what was later discovered to be her daughter’s demise.
During a visit to the late Olayinde’s family’s house, her devastated father who offered to speak with Crime Guard said, “ I was at home around 11am that fateful day while my late daughter was outside the house with her mother, all dressed up. I later walked up to them and asked when she would be going to work. And she said she would first go to the bank to submit her account opening form which would enable her receive her monthly salary because she was just employed by Cadbury Plc. Satisfied with the answer, I went back inside to rest because I haven’t been feeling very well for some time.
“ I later learnt that she told her mother she would first go and see her boyfriend Abuchi, who called her earlier to come and see his travelling documents, as he was supposed to travel next day to Malaysia. That was the last we saw of her.
“At about 12:25pm, I dialled her number. It rang but there was no response. I called again around 12:30pm, it rang and still no response. Later, the phone was switched off. I and my wife became worried at that point because we could not say what was wrong with her.
At about 4pm, I decided to stroll round. But when I got outside, I noticed a crowd which turned towards my direction but noone spoke to me. Confused, I went inside and told my wife about what I observed.
Later I sent her to go and purchase some ingredients to prepare super. When she came back, she also told me the crowd stared at her also. Just as we were contemplating on what to do, our fears was confirmed as a young man among the crowd rushed inside and yelled ‘ it has happened o! When we demanded what the matter was, he broke the news of my daughter’s demise. At that instant, my world was shattered. He also told us the corpse was just brought to a nearby hospital. I rushed to the hospital with the hope that I would see her alive. But no, I only saw her remains.
Tell me, should I start preparing towards having another child at this age?”, he asked , trying hard not to betray his emotion.
What went wrong?
Abuchi as gathered, was arrested by policemen attached to Area ‘G’ Ogba, command, from where he was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department SCID, Yaba. In his statement to the Police, he reportedly said while he was with Olayinde, she suddenly screamed ‘my head’, before she slumped.
But findings by the police as gathered, revealed that the mattress in the room where Olayinde’s dead body was found was socked with blood. The mattress was reportedly turned upside down before the arrival of policemen. But during a search of the apartment ,blood , suspected to be from Olayinde, was discovered under the bed and later traced to the mattress turned upside down.
Another puzzle that needs to be unravelled was the report that a nurse was reportedly invited by Abuchi while he was with Olayinde. A resident who pleaded anonymity told Crime Guard that :“ We suspect there could be more to all this than meet the eyes. First, the corpse was inside the room three hours before it was taken to the hospital. Why did it take him that long to rush her to the hospital? Abuchi even called in a nurse while he was inside with Olayinde. The nurse we learnt, carried out some treatment on Olayinde. What went wrong that made him invite the nurse? She was even the one that accompanied Abuchi to the hospital where she works, with Olayinde’s body. It was when Olayinde was pronounced dead that she bolted, pretending she was going to get a taxi”, the resident said.
The nurse with an undisclosed identity was reportedly arrested by the Police and later released, an action the bereaved family queried. The deceased’s phone as gathered, was also discovered to be missing.
Police sources hinted that some finger marks were discovered on the deceased neck and her camisole stained with blood. But sources could however not state exactly what led to the death of Olayinde, until the autopsy result will be out.
A Christian wake was held at the deceased apartment, located on 17, Muibi street Aguda Ogba, Thursday, while her remains was interred Friday at Atan cemetery, Yaba.

See The List of Richest Footballers In The World

As you would expect, all the big names are there - Cristiano Ronaldo, Leo Messi, Yaya Toure. But there's a few surprises as well. Goalkeeper | Iker Casillas = €6m a year
Right-back | Philipp Lahm = €10m
Centre-back | Thiago Silva = €9.8m
Centre-back | John Terry = €9.5m
Left-back | Ashley Cole = €12.4m
Centre-midfield | David Silva = €13m
Centre-midfield | Yaya Toure = €13m
Centre-midfield | Franck Ribery = €10m
Right-wing | Cristiano Ronaldo = €10m
Left-wing | Lionel Messi = €15m
Centre-forward | Samuel Eto'o = €20m

Osaze tackles Moses, Mikel

Out of favour Super Eagles forward Osaze Peter Odemiwingie is looking to score for West Brom against troubled Chelsea who feature two Super Eagles Nations Cup heroes, John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses in a Premiership match at the Stamford Bridge.

When spouse becomes a ‘victim’ of office romance

Most times, many marriage relationship challenges are rooted in blessings that are not well managed. Promising careers, good pay, rapid promotion and better working conditions offer tempting opportunities for extra-marital affairs and such can become a threat to relationships and marriages.Office romance epidemic is one of the many pitfalls of relationships. When spouses find it difficult to draw a line between human affection and natural law of attraction, office romance springs up. If care is not taken, it gets out of hand and leads to negative consequences.
It is not surprising that proximity, travelling together, long hours at work, etc oil office romance. Many spouses spend much of their lives at work and end up sharing more time and intimacy with their co-workers than their mates.
Apart from the fact that this can ruin a very good relationship and turn you into a total stranger to your family, you get to be the talk of the office community. And no matter how you justify it, an office love affair can affect your productivity level.
If you are single but in a steady relationship headed for marriage, toying with an office fling could lead to a life of marital agony, especially if your office lover is aware of your relationship.
If you are married – whether you are happy in the marriage or not – you should never consider office romance as an option. You may think the grass is greener on the other side but trust me, grass is grass whether in the valley or on the mountain top.
Why must married spouses aim at dressing well to please someone at work? Why must you linger in the parking lot hoping that a particular co-worker will ask you out for lunch or take you shopping?
Before you justify yourself and act defensively, ask yourself, “Can I do this in front of my spouse?” “Can I show this text messages to my mate?’ ‘If I’m caught with this co-worker, will I have to lie about our involvement?” If you have to lie about it or not feel comfortable, then it is best avoided.
It is not unexpected for a worker to feel attracted to a colleague of the opposite sex and even harbour romantic or sexual thoughts about them. When this is inevitable and obvious, consider a transfer to a different department or branch or maybe you should outrightly change job or quit.
No job is more valuable than your marriage. It is easier for someone to think he or she is free from an office affair but watch out for these signs.
*You are friendlier with your colleague than your spouse; you day dream about your fellow employee often; you are not interested in being sexually intimate with your spouse; instead of enjoying passionate sex with your spouse, you give excuses.
*You spend less time with your spouse and give up everything just to be in the office. When confronted with the apparent closeness with a fellow employee, you easily say, “we are just friends.” You find yourself anticipating when you can talk to or be with your colleague again.
*You prefer to share deep intimate feelings and problems with your colleague rather than with your spouse under the pretext that he or she understands you better than anyone else.
*You find reasons to give him or her gifts; you are even comfortable talking with him or her for hours and even deep into the night.
*You tell yourself that the other person has a problem and you are the only one he or she trusts to be there for him or her.
*Your colleague seems to understand you better than your spouse does and you can’t wait to hear his or her opinion on crucial personal issues.
*Hiding under the excuse that your spouse is too judgmental, you keep your friendship to this fellow employee a secret from your spouse.
These signs are evidence that you are having an office affair. You may be courting disaster in your relationship or marriage.

Skin Discoloration: Tonto Dikeh, Fans Panic

When she started out some years back, the entire lovers of Nigerian movies love her natural beauty, fair complexion, dexterity and artistic prowess, but today, Tonto Dikeh seems to have lost all due to her attitude towards people and her health.Recently, Tonto was said to have panicked over her skin discoloration which we learnt is gradually becoming an eye sore.
Even some of her fans who have noticed these green veins appearing on her bleached skin are expressing great fear if it would lead to skin cancer.
A close source told us that the mixed cream she uses has been the major discoloration of her skin. One of her close confidant told this office that the actress, whose green veins have become so obvious through her now thin-layered skin, may soon break down with a skin disease.
If you remember some months back, Tonto Dikeh confessed that she had stopped smoking, people in the know said, she still very much puff cigarettes smoke like chimney

Another Person Gunned Down At Lagos State University Another Person Gunned Down At Lagos State University March 02, 2013 | 0 Femi Kuti: “I Am Not A Nigerian” Femi Kuti: “I Am Not A Nigerian” March 02, 2013 | 0 Father Talks About How Daughter Was Killed By Her Boyfriend Father Talks About How Daughter Was Killed By Her Boyfriend March 02, 2013 | 0 Lagos woman gives birth to a tortoise after being pregnant for 10 months Lagos woman gives birth to a tortoise after being pregnant for 10 months March 02, 2013 | 0 Nollywood Actress Ayo Adesanya Says "It’s A Sin To Have Tatoos" Nollywood Actress Ayo Adesanya Says "It’s A Sin To Have Tatoos" March 02, 2013 | 0 Why Rising Artist Olaniyan Damilola aka Damino Damoche Was Killed Why Rising Artist Olaniyan Damilola aka Damino Damoche Was Killed March 01, 2013 | 0 Abeokuta Court Gives Man 2 Years For Stealing Mortar and Pestle Abeokuta Court Gives Man 2 Years For Stealing Mortar and Pestle March 01, 2013 | 0 Omotola Jalade - My Life Is Very Boring Omotola Jalade - My Life Is Very Boring March 01, 2013 | 0 Man Commits Suicide Over Inability To Satisfy His Wife In Bed Man Commits Suicide Over Inability To Satisfy His Wife In Bed March 01, 2013 | 0 Uche Jombo’s Husband In Nigeria For Damage Movie Premiere - Trailer Uche Jombo’s Husband In Nigeria For Damage Movie Premiere - Trailer March 01, 2013 | 0 Photos Of Nigerian Celebrities That Died In February 2013 Photos Of Nigerian Celebrities That Died In February 2013 March 01, 2013 | 0 Jungle Justice In Nigeria: 4 Armed Robbers Burnt Alive In Akwa Ibom Jungle Justice In Nigeria: 4 Armed Robbers Burnt Alive In Akwa Ibom March 01, 2013 | 0 Fast Rising Nigerian Musician Damino Damoche Shot Dead By Cultists In Front Of LASU Gate Fast Rising Nigerian Musician Damino Damoche Shot Dead By Cultists In Front Of LASU Gate February 28, 2013 | 0 Market Women Beat Three Female Undergraduates To Coma Over Stolen Pants Market Women Beat Three Female Undergraduates To Coma Over Stolen Pants February 27, 2013 | 0 President Barack Obama Honors A Nigerian Journalist, Mr. Edwin Nwachukwu President Barack Obama Honors A Nigerian Journalist, Mr. Edwin Nwachukwu February 27, 2013 | 0 I can’t flaunt my body, not to talk of sensitive parts - Nnenna

Yinka Olukunga, popularly known as Nnenna, rose to stardom through Wale Adenuga Production. The actress has made her mark for her role in the wave-making drama series, Superstory. In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, Nnenna speaks on her fashion preferences and why she can’t be caught dead wearing a tattoo. Excerpts:

10 Shocking Lies Nigerian Celebrities Have Told Their Fans

To these showbiz stars, speaking from both sides of their mouth is a thing of joy and pride.

66-Year-Old Nigerian Woman Caught With Over 1 Kg Of Cocaine In Her Wig

Another ‘banged up abroad’ story has taken place in Istanbul (Turkey) when a 66-year-old Nigerian woman was caught O in her wig. The police operation was recorded on cameras, and the moments were released in a footage…

The 66-year-old Jose O. of Nigeria was detected to be a drug courier by the police, and she was monitored before being caught in a hotel in Istanbul’s Laleli neighbourhood of Fatih district. An amount of 1 kg and 40 gram cocaine was found in her ‘wig’, and the police operation was recorded by a camera.

The old woman appeared in Istanbul Courthouse before she was arrested and sent to Bakirkoy Prison for Woman and Juveniles.

Nollywood Actress Ayo Adesanya Says "It’s A Sin To Have Tatoos"

She’s been around for a long time and she has acted several movies in both the Yoruba and English movies in Nollywood. Ayo Adesanya says like most stars she had a rough beginning.

Olamide And Tonto Dikeh in a Love zone (PICTURED)

The YBNL General Olamide spotted with the poko artiste Tonto dikeh ,
Are we going to expect a collabo from the two or they have just started dating…wow What a perfect match!!!

Ja Rule back in jail

Albany, New York - US authorities say platinum-selling rapper Ja Rule is in a New York City jail with a July release date.

Kim Kardashian, Kanye moving to Paris

Los Angeles - Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are reportedly moving to Paris.

The Power rapper - who performed an intimate gig in the French capital earlier this week - is so enamoured with the "creative vibe" of the city he is planning to move there for two months to work on his clothing range and new album, and his pregnant girlfriend is expected to join him.

Taylor Swift: I would do a ginger

Los Angeles - Taylor Swift is dating Ed Sheeran.

Taylor first romanced the British singer-songwriter last March but they broke things off to focus on their careers and now they have decided to give things another go.

Obi, APGA Invoke Ojukwu’s Spirit For Support

Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

Charles Onyekamuo

Like the Biblical king Saul in the inner sanctuary of the witch of Endor seeking solutions on how to reclaim a

APGA Crisis: Umeh Petitions Jega, Mukhtar

Victor Umeh

• Accuses Obi of causing factions within party
Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Syria Conflict: Assad Accuses UK of Bullying

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

BBC

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has accused the British government of bullying and naivety in its approach to the conflict in his country.

Florida Sinkhole: Search for Victim Called Off

House damaged by sinkhole in Seffner, Tampa

BBC

Rescue teams in Florida have called off their efforts to recover the body of a man swallowed by a huge sinkhole under his home.

Islamist Militant 'Killed in Mali'

 Islamist militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar

BBC

Islamist militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar has been killed by Chadian soldiers in Mali, Chad's armed forces say.

His death was announced on Chadian state television but has not been confirmed by other sources, reports the BBC.

Lagos Polo: Tavia Trojan Win Oba of Lagos Cup

Lagos International Polo Tournament action

Santiago Cernades inspired Lagos Tavia Trojan to win the Oba of Lagos Cup by beating Kano Titans 10½ - 8 Saturday at the Lagos Polo International Tournament. Trojan which parades Ayo Olashoju, Mario

'Skyfall' Guns for Top Jameson Empire Awards

Daniel Craig

ET ONLINE

Daniel Craig's third outing as 007, Skyfall, has grown to become the most successful James Bond film ever and the biggest-ever U.K. box-office hit – and after winning two Academy Awards it now leads the pack for the 18th Jameson Empire Awards with six nominations.

IG Pledges Dope Free Police Games

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

Port Harcourt is already buzzing as 4,200 athletes and 500 officials converge for the 10th Biennial Police Games starting today and running till Saturday at three different sporting venues in the Garden City.

Deputy Force Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, confirmed yesterday that the Inspector-General of Police, M.D Abubakar, has warned that very severe disciplinary action will be meted against any athlete found doping during the games.

The DFPRO said that the Nigeria Police Force not only feels very strongly about doping by athletes, it also frowns seriously against all forms of cheating, as the chief law enforcement agency in the country. ‘’For these reasons,’’ he said, ‘’adequate arrangements are already in place to subject athletes to necessary tests, during the period of the games.’’

He advised athletes to keep away all illicit performance enhancement substances, as they stand the risk of dismissal from the force, if caught.

Mba revealed that the athletes will be competing in 28 events, three of which are non-scoring, at three different venues. These are the Liberation Stadium which will also host both the Opening and Closing ceremonies, the new Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and the Agbani Darego Sports Complex.

The 25 scoring events to be competed for at the games are athletics, football, badminton, boxing, chess, cycling, baseball, golf, handball, hockey, judo, karate, kick-boxing, swimming, scrabble, squash, table tennis, shooting, taekwondo, tennis, tug-of-war, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu kunfu; while the remaining three events which are non-scoring are rugby, polo and dart.

Nigeria Celebrates Eagles in Germany

 Super Eagles

A Nigerian Day to mark the victory of the Super Eagles at the African Nations Cup competition will be held during the International Tourism Expo, ITB Berlin. A statement issued by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation said Fuji Musician, Adewale Ayuba’s newly waxed record would be the flagship of music that would be played at the venue.

The day which will mark the official celebration of the Super Eagle’s victory will be attended by  the other participating African Nations  and friends of Nigeria. Ayuba released a new song recently in appreciation of the victorios  Super Eagles.

Destination Inspection: Stakeholders Warn Against Extension of Contract

Dikko

World Bank team who visited the ports and border stations last week to ascertain  the capacity of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to take-over Destination Inspection from the current service providers from June 1, this year, were stunned when stakeholders  threatened to shut the ports if the scheme is not handed over to the Customs Service, reports Francis Ugwoke

Four months to the end of the contract of Destination Inspection Agents (DIAs) at the ports and border stations, stakeholders in the shipping industry have warned against the extension of the contract, insisting that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has the capacity to carry out the scheme. The position of the stakeholders followed the visit during the week of World Bank team to the seaports, airports and border stations to assess the ability of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to take over the scheme. The World Bank team led by Mr. Ramesh Silver came to the country on the invitation of the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance. The visit of the World Bank team climaxed  with speculations that the federal government  intends to further extend the contract of the DIAs due to expire in June this year. The juicy contract is currently being carried out by SGS, Global Scan and Cotecna.  Leaders of customs agents and freight forwarding associations were bitter that  the government had  January this year extended the contract on the advice from  those they described as unscrupulous practitioners who were accused of having  been settled  to carry out a campaign of calumny against Customs on the issue.

World Bank Team, Freight Forwarders Disagree
At a closed door meeting between the World Bank team and leaders of  freight forwarding    associations, there was a sharp disagreement between the two groups. A source at the meeting which was held in the Conference Room of Apapa Customs Command  six days ago told THISDAY that while  some members of the World Bank team expressed doubt over the capacity of the Custom to  take over from the  DIAs in June, the leaders of the agents insisted that  the Customs can do so.  The delegation was shocked  when one of  the leaders of the agents pointed  accusing  fingers on one of the team members  of having a secret agenda  or  working for the DIAs  for  holding a strong  view  that the  Customs  does not have the capacity to carry out the  scheme.  Another leader of the agent was said to have  frightened  the world bank team  when he said that the officials  could  have been attacked  for holding the view that Customs does  not have the capacity for DI if other members of agents associations  attended the meeting.

Threat to Shut Ports by Customs Agents
During the meeting,  the President of  ANLCA, Prince Olayiwora Shittu was  said to have threatened  that  if the Federal Government does  not disengage the  DIAs  for the Customs Service to begin DI,  the  associations will  embark on industrial action that will lead to the closure of the ports and border stations. He was supported  by other association leaders, including the founder  and President of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and Mr Eugene Nweke respectively. This threat, our source at the meeting  said  shook the team, but  said that such threat cannot influence  what will  be the position of the World Bank  team  in their final report.

However, as expected, some notable freight forwarders who hold contrary view that Customs is not yet prepared for DI were not part of the meeting.  The freight forwarders were accused of working against the interest of Customs. Although, they were invited, they failed to show up. Soon after the extension of the contract, the President of the  National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Agents (NCMDCA), Mr Lucky Amiwero welcomed the decision,  arguing  that  the Customs did not prepare for the take-over. He told THISDAY last week  that Nigeria should learn from  Ghana’s  experience as far as DI is concerned.  He  had insisted  that  the issue of scanning equipment and necessary training should be addressed first, followed by a transition period during which the  Customs  can take over.

Former Chairman of  the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Iju Tony Nwabunike had in an interview shortly after  the extension of the contract  welcomed  the government decision. He argued  that it makes room for consistency. Sources said that the World Bank team may have    met with these agents  to have a balancing view. But the venue was not known.

Element of Sabotage
In a paper presented to the team, the Secretary General of NAGAFF, Mr Increase  Uche maintained that the determination  on the part of the Customs to take-over  DI was not in doubt. What is in doubt, he said, is the sincerity on the part of the service providers  to handover at the end of the six months extension period. “There is no doubt that there are clear signs of element of sabotage in the whole essence of transfer to the Customs. Customs is prepared to take the responsibility and they have the support  of the critical stakeholders  to do so”, he said. Uche called on the intervention of the President  at this critical stage, adding that except this was done, “corruption may take high toll  and public interest shall be jeopardized”. 

To prove that Customs was ready for the scheme,  Uche  said that the service providers have been able to  deploy 22 mobile and fixed scanning equipment, trained 6,788 customs officers, and provided an ICT network backbone to enable customs deliver e-customs  services to the trading public. He said that following these, Customs in a bid to take-over effectively had engaged experts on ICT  technology to develop an indigenous Pre-Arrival Assessment  Report (PAAR) with  capability to over-come the inefficiencies of the previous destination inspection system. Uche identified take-over action of the Customs as  a review of import  guidelines to reflect customs role in PAAR issuance,  transfer  of functional scanners and upgrade, integration of scanner service in  customs procedure and  request for an updated version of the valuation and classification database from service providers, among others.

Waste of  Public Fund
To the agents, the continued  engagement of the DIAs was simply a waste of public fund. They gave an indication that the agents may equally approach the court  for a restraining order in the interest of public fund, “because  we are not even sure of the interest of the world bank delegation may be protecting. We do hope that we should be told to avoid the speculations or insinuation of the critical stakeholders of their concern”.  This was the  position of all the leaders of the agents that attended the meeting  this week.  But reacting to the  issue of what interest  the world Bank  is pursuing, a neutral stakeholder said that  as far as he is concerned,  some of the gladiators  either in favour or against customs take-over of DI  all have interest s they are pursuing. “Those who want Customs to take over the DI have a point,  but  it is possible  that DI  under customs could be mismanaged  if the Service continues to romance  the customs agents”, he  said.

President of NAGAFF, Eugene Nweke told  the World Bank team that one problem against  Customs is the fact that past findings and recommendations to improve the workings of the organisations were ignored. Nweke may have implied that addressing  these problems was the only way to make customs be in a position to take up  serious challenges like destination inspection. He said that poor funding has resulted in dilapidated infrastructure, broken and obsolete equipment and optimum productivity. He  recommended, “ government  should accord the Customs appropriate recognition and importance  by adequately meeting its funding requirements. Funding  should be addressed to cover the present dilapidated infrastructure, dearth of working materials”, he said. He also  called on government o consider allowing Customs to retain at least  2% of its annual collected revenue  to enable  the service rise to  the present day challenges, including the  take-over of destination inspection.

Corporate Nigeria Opens Nigeria for Business at NY Hotel Marriot

New York Hotel Marriot Marquis

The New York Hotel Marriot Marquis is the venue of the world market roundtable being organised by the private sector and representatives of the Federal Government as preparations begin in earnest for the Corporate Nigeria Stakeholders and Investors Forum scheduled to hold in April, writes Olaolu Olusina

Eko Atlantic: The Making of a Future City

The Great Wall of Lagos surrounding Eko Atlantic should be a sight to behold

Embedded in the core of a project described by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka as “rising like Aphrodite from the foam of the Atlantic” is a functionality that does not only protect but also enhances the value of its environment, writes Demola Ojo

Telecoms: Stimulating Economic Activities in Other Sectors

Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Eugene Juwah             
    

In the midst of operational challenges, which reflect in a regime of unsatisfactory quality of services, the telecoms sector has continued to provide the needed stimulation for other sectors of the economy including finance, aviation, advertising and entertainment among others, reports Festus Akanbi

Insider-Loans, Rising Risk Appetite Raise Prospects of Higher NPLs in Banks

CBN Office Abuja

In 2012, most banks were able to operate within the threshold of the five percent limit for non-performing loans as stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). However, the spectre of legal tussles against delinquent borrowers including some directors of banks are raising the fear that banks’ Non-Performing Loans in 2013 may surpass the limit set by the CBN, reports Festus Akanbi

If feelers emanating from the banking industry are anything to rely on, then the full year financial reports of banks for the 2012 operation year may begin to emerge anytime from this month.

What this means is that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as the apex supervisory body in the banking industry should be in the custody of most of the results by now.

However, as other members of the banking community continue to speculate on the qualities of results to be churned out by the various operators for the period under review, there are fears that some of the banks are likely to run foul of the CBN’s directives on the level of non-performance loans in their kitty for the 2013.

Industry watchers had raised the alarm that banks are likely going to exceed the five percent limit on non-performing loans given the declining yields from fixed income securities; the fact that Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has foreclosed the possibility of further purchase of bad loans; and a regime of the competition-induced aggressive risk assets creation.

Legal Tussle with Delinquent Borrowers
Industry operators who raised the alarm pointed to series of court cases instituted by banks to recover loans granted to some delinquent customers as well as legal battles against some bank directors over insider-related facility. The ongoing legal duel between Access Bank Plc and Capital Oil and Gas is one of such moves against controversial debtors.
As at the July 2012, the total industry NPLs was as high as N339.88 billion, about 4.29 percent of total banking credit of N7.87 trillion. AMCON purchase of NPLs in the industry for last year was over N5trillion, out of which about N1.7 trillion was invested in bonds due for redemption at the end of this year.

CBN’s Pre-emptive Strike
In what could be described as a pre-emptive strike, the apex bank a fortnight ago warned banks against excessive concentration of credit risks in their asset portfolio to boost their capital adequacy profile.
Part of the factors that caused the recent crisis in the Nigerian banking industry were the systemic weaknesses, which allowed operators to concentrate on certain products, business lines and legal entities, the collective exposure of which negatively affected the banking system.

But the Central Bank’s Director of Banking Operations Tokunbo Martins, in a fresh circular to all banks and discount houses, underlined the importance of proper management of needs through the establishment of sound risk management processes in their operations.

Consequently, the apex bank said it had reviewed the risk weights assigned to some identified exposures, irrespective of its existing risk management control guidelines for banks and discount houses to check credit concentration risks.

According to the CBN, the risk weight assigned to direct lending to local governments, states, government ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs has been raised from 100 to 200 per cent, while investments in Federal Government bonds would continue to attract zero per cent risk weight.

The same weight is not for state government bonds, which is expected to continue to attract a risk weight of 20 per cent, particularly those that meet the eligibility criteria spelt out in the guidelines for granting liquidity status.

Where the exposure to any economic sector, defined by the International Standards Industrial Classification of Economic Sector as issued by the CBN, is above 20 per cent of the total credit facilities of the bank, the CBN said the risk weight of the entire portfolio would be 150 per cent.

Urging strict compliance to the directives, the CBN clarified that total exposure to a particular industry would cover-off balance sheet engagements in which the banks takes the credit risk, pointing out that all breaches of single obligor limits without prior approval by the CBN would be regarded as impairment to capital.

Similarly, the Central Bank said banks’ related entities in a holding company structure would include the financial holding company, FHC, and other subsidiaries within the group, for purposes of credit transactions, adding that such transactions would be treated as a loan liability.

But some analysts while commending the CBN over recent restrictive directives on banks’ operations urged it to beef up its manpower for the challenges and improve on its risk-based supervision.

“It is important for banks to understand that risk management and corporate governance are not a destination, it is a process. As soon as we understand anything that constitutes risks, we would take appropriate steps to make sure that we avoid those risks from crystallising,” Sanusi said in a response to a directive barring Holco banks from lending to subsidiaries.

Bismarck Rewane, chief executive officer, Financial Derivatives Company, in his monthly presentation at the Lagos Business School breakfast meeting said AMCON’s continued purchase of bank’s non-performing loans in 2012 helped improve banks’ balance sheets generally, with the result that most banks non-performing loans ratio was below five percent.

“This may imply that banks have to watch their risk creation more carefully, as there will be no AMCON to take the burden off their books. AMCON’s position also means that there is likely to be some banks NPLs going above the CBN recommended five percent limit by the end of 2013,” he said.

Speaking further, Rewane said, “As at third quarter, most banks could have almost covered their cost of operations just by investing in government securities. A bank, for example, earned 45.1 percent of interest income from treasury bills and government bonds, compared to 51.9 from loans and advances.”

Rewane said consequently margins of banks would be threatened by heightening competition “as yield in government securities, hitherto a safe and rewarding haven for the banks, continues to fall.”

Financial Intermediation
A leading financial analyst, and Head Research and Intelligence, BGL Plc, Mr. Olufemi Ademola, in his response to the anxiety expressed in certain quarters over the speculations on possible jump in banks’ NPL portfolio said “The role of banks is financial intermediation; i.e. deposit taking and loan creation. However, in recent times, Nigerian banks have reduced lending activities, which is considered detrimental to economic growth; hence the pressure on banks to increase lending.” According to him, the pressure is from two sources. First is the potential reduction in interest rate, explaining that the high demand for the securities would lead to lower yield on fixed income instruments.

Creating a scenario that will engender lending activities in banks, Ademola said, “Since a significant portion of banks’ profitability has been from securities trading, the disappearance of huge returns could affect the bank’s profitability; hence the banks would be forced to focus on financial intermediation. Secondly, government efforts at reforming the real sector may douse the general reluctance of banks to lending and thus jump-start interest in lending to the sectors.

“Increased lending would also lead to higher non-performing loans, possibly breaching the maximum regulatory NPL ratio of 5%.
“Already a number of the banks still have NPL ratio in excess of 5%. However they have achieved considerable success in bringing the ratio down from over 10% previously. Right now, the banks are not very disposed to lending due to the risky business environment. In addition, the stance of the CBN on risk management also added to the banks non-disposition to lending. However, rather than discourage lending totally, I think the stringent monetary policy of the CBN will lead banks to pass all credit requests through very rigorous process, which may delay loan approvals and reduce the number and amount of loan requests granted. With increased pressure for loan creation, the risk of growing NPL ratio exists but an effective and thorough risk management process, sector-focused and increased capacity building for expertise in selected sectors can help mitigate the risk of growing NPL.”

AMCON was established in 2010 to buy up the non-performing loans of the nation’s banking system and recapitalize eight fragile banks that almost collapsed but for the timely intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Reacting to the fear that AMCON’s decision to stop purchase of loan could lead to the growth of NPLs in banks, the BGL official said, “In my opinion, I think it is about time that AMCON stops acquiring bad loans from banks so as to prevent the moral hazard of banks selling all troubled assets to the corporation without even thinking of any remedial situation. The corporation should exist to resolve non-performing loan assets of banks only when the situation prevents the banks from functioning efficiently and effectively. The continuous purchase of assets from the banks would turn the corporation to a dump site of all bad assets and prevent the banks from strengthening their risk management processes.

“Although, the corporation has argued that the painful haircut to the assets of banks when they are sold to AMCON would prevent this problem, I think that despite the discounted valuation of the assets, the possibility of selling to the corporation quickly is less painful to the banks than having to work out remedial situation for obligors, which most times takes a long time and requires write offs and forbearance. Hence, in my opinion, the stoppage of purchase of bad assets by AMCON (for now), is a good idea.”

Banker’s Perspective
However, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, said it is too early for anybody to talk about the direction of banks’NPLs.

“Nobody has released its full year results for last year, so I think it is speculative to say that banks’ NPLs may breach the CBN directive, he said, stressing, however, that it is unprofessional for banks to continue to use the vehicle of AMCON for the management of their non-performing loans.

“Banks should devise a robust strategy to manage their risk assets by making sure that whatever risks they take do not affect their books,” he said.

The Wema Bank boss wants the banking public including shareholders to exercise patient and allow banks to get their results out instead of speculating on the size of their non-performing loans.

In his contribution, Rewane said the situation may not be as bad as being speculated. He believes virtually all the banks have adequate capitalisation and a regime of new supervisory environment.

He noted that banks were now risk averse given the fact that they are no longer supporting to projects enthusiastically.

President Mahama Charges Ghanaian Finance Minister to Compare Notes with Okonjo-Iweala

John Dramani Mahama

Ndubuisi Francis  in Abuja

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has admonished the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and

Aloma Mukhtar: Changing the Way the Judiciary Works

In the arena

The Chief Justice of Nigeria has taken a significant first step in the quest for the sanitisation of the judiciary, writes Vincent Obia

When on July 11 last year, during her screening at the senate, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, was asked what she would do about the terrible corruption in the judiciary, she had absolutely no difficulty acknowledging the problem and asking the country to wait and see what she would do.

“There is corruption in the judiciary, just like every aspect of the society.  The most important thing is to curb it and lead by example and ensure that others follow. One other thing I would do is to embark on internal cleansing of the entire system,” Mukhtar said.
The cleansing seemed to commence last month when the National Judicial Council, which she superintends, decided to sanction some erring judges.  

NJC on February 20 suspended Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos, and Justice Thomas Naron of the High Court of Justice, Plateau State and recommended their dismissal. The council also set up a committee to probe Justice Abubakar Talba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, who recently gave a ridiculously light sentence to a former director in the police pension office, Mr. John Yusufu, who was arraigned for involved in the embezzlement of nearly N32 billion from the Nigeria Police pension fund.

Yusufu was sentenced to two years imprisonment or an option of N750, 000 fine after pleading guilty to a three-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and begging the court for leniency. He said he had already forfeited over 30 properties to the federal government. But that was under a plea bargaining deal whose terms were not made public.

Archibong, whose compulsory retirement has since been approved by President Goodluck Jonathan, was sanctioned for dismissing charges of corrupt practices brought by EFCC against former chief executive officer of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, without taking his plea, refusing to release the certified true copy of his ruling to lawyers, and issuing a bench warrant on some officials of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party for contempt when the counsel who was directed by the court to serve them filed an affidavit that he had not been able to serve the contempt application.

Archibong was also indicted for making derogatory remarks about five Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Joseph Daudu. He had described the lawyers who represented EFCC in the Akinbola matter as grossly incompetent.

NJC recommended to Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang the compulsory retirement of Naron, who had headed the first Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that heard the petition filed by the then Action Congress of Nigeria candidate in the 2007 governorship election, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, against the declaration of Olagunsoye Oyinlola of PDP as winner of the election. The panel had upheld Oyinlola’s election, which was subsequently overturned.

Aregbesola had petitioned NJC, alleging excessive interaction between Naron and lawyers representing Oyinlola in the case.
Barely one week after recommending the retirement of the judges, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee suspended a Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Ajibola Aribisala, from using the elite title and all the privileges attached to it pending the outcome of an investigation. The suspension was announced in a statement by Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and secretary of the LPPC, Mr. Sunday Olorundahunsi, following a petition filed by Fidelity Bank Plc.

Members of the public are often nonplussed by the strange pronouncements of some judges. Most of those rulings make no sense to the ordinary citizens for whom the judiciary ought to be the last hope.

In the Yusufu case, for instance, it beat most Nigerians how a man found guilty of complicity in the stealing of over N30 billion of public funds could be given just two years imprisonment or an option of N750, 000. Though, many experts have blamed the law under which EFCC had chosen to bring the matter to the court of Talba.

The judiciary is society’s bulwark against instability and whenever it shirks this sacred responsibility, society is put on edge. It behoves the judicial authorities to always seek out its officers whose conducts could be sources of instability to the polity and keep them at arm’s length.

Still fresh on the minds of many Nigerians is the case of dismissed Justice Wilson Egbo-Egbo of the Abuja federal high court whose exparte order of July 15, 2003, directing then Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State to vacate office had led to series of upheavals that seriously threatened the country’s democracy. The controversial order had been made at the behest of erstwhile political godfather Chris Uba and other masterminds of the July 10 abduction of Ngige from Government House in Awka.

But there are other aspects of the justice system – where it is much more difficult to argue that the judges are to blame – that also require change. One is the undue delay of cases.

Just last month, the Supreme Court decided that former Senate President Adolphus Wabara should be tried for the so-called bribe-for-budget scandal that happened in 2005. If it took the judiciary nearly eight years to determine whether or not a person could face trial, it is doubtful if the substantive matter can be resolved in another 10 years. It is not clear where the blame for such bizarre delays lies. Some have blamed judges while others say the lawyers are to blame. But the judiciary cannot pass the buck.

The issue of plea bargaining is another area that needs review. The Yusufu case once again exposed the ills of the haphazard plea bargaining system that the country seems to operate at the moment. Mr. Emeka Ngige, SAN, has suggested the establishment of a template for plea bargaining.

“It should have a standard that must be put down in writing and agreed with the accused person. It would be like in a civil matter where parties draft terms of settlement. When you draft terms of settlement, you can even include the amount payable as cost. All the judge would now do is to make it a judgement of the court and comply with all the terms,” Ngige says.

Under Mukhtar, the judiciary has taken some critical first steps to cleanse itself. But it is worth noting that the public still holds doubts that such moves are often directed against perceived enemies of the government or applied in cases where the government has little interest. Mukhtar needs to do more to erase such doubts.

Political Notes

Opposition and the Spoilsports

An Abuja high court on Thursday foiled a move by a faction of the Congress for Progressive Change to kick start an internal crisis that could have dealt a heavy blow to the party’s capacity to effectively belong to the proposed opposition merger, All Progressives Congress. The group led by Senator Rufai Hanga had sought to remove the CPC national chairman, Prince Tony Momoh. Their case was struck out.

CPC reacted swiftly to the court’s decision by expelling Hanga and three other members of his faction. It is okay for the party to weed out those whose conducts could spoil the current attempts to create a strong opposition party, which everyone agrees is for the good of the country’s democracy. But CPC and the other opposition parties must devise better means of resolving internal squabbles and try to avoid the extreme and often costly measure of expulsion. Such expulsions at a time like this might work against the opposition.

Jonathan: Construction of Lagos to Abidjan Expressway Begins 2014

President Goodluck  Jonathan

Muhammad Bello

The stretch of international roaad linking Nigeria’s economic hub, Lagos with Abidjan, the Ivorien capital would commence next year President Goodluck Jonathan intimated Saturday.

President Jonathan who disclosed this when he met with Cote d’Ivoire Investors Forum on the sideline of his state visit to that country, also explained that the funding of the project will be sourced from the private sector, development partners and banks, who will get return on their investment by levying tariffs and tolls on users.

According to him, the need to concentrate on the  construction of the road was necessary to facilitate trans-border movement of goods and persons and reduce the proliferation of local customs and Police who make it difficult for business men to transport their goods.

Stating that the 42nd ECOWAS Summit in Yammoussoukro, considerd the issue, he said: ``We have charged the Ivorian Minister of Infrastructure and the Nigerian Minister of Works to work with the ECOWAS Commission that within two weeks they must come up with a blueprint and preliminary information on the project that we will discuss in Addis Ababa in May when we go for AU meeting

``This is because we want a situation where the desk-work will be completed this year and by next year, we want physical construction.`

`We believe that when we have this express road the issue of movement interference by Customs and Police will be minimized because that will be an ECOWAS road.`
`The laws regulating the use of the road will not be the laws regulating that of the roads in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire or Ghana. It will be an international standard and everything will be done in such a way that movement of goods services and so on will not be interfered with by local security.

``It is a viable project that banks and business men within and outside the region will key into and which will generate enough money in short time.

He further added that ECOWAS member States are elated by the prospects of the project which would integrate the entire region.``Togo has 7 million, Benin Republic, 8 million, Cote d’Ivoire 25 million, Ghana 26 million and Nigeria about 167 million.
``When you add all these together it gives you about 236 million out of the projected 287 million of ECOWAS
``So, these five countries, by the time you can traverse from Nigeria to Cote d’Ivoire, then you will easily integrate the entire sub-region.  

``You will so integrate the system in such a way that you can key other countries along that is why we decided that we must work with our business men and men women to develop an express road from Lagos to Abidjan,’’ he said.
Observing that there were lots of untapped investment opportunities in the sub-region, saying they are yet to be properly harnessed due lack of technology and exportation of raw materials without adding values.

``When you export crude oil you export job opportunities because those who refine the crude oil and turn our gas to petrochemical create a lot of jobs.
``Like now we are suppose to be exporting finished products not crude oil and gas but we are still doing that.
``Cote d’Ivoire is just going to the oil industry, they should not make the mistakes the Nigeria made from the beginning they must think about exporting finished products not exporting crude oil.
Both countries respectively presented their economic potentials for the various business men in attendance to tap into.

Insecurity: Danjuma Raises Alarm Over Looming Anarchy

Lt.General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd)

John Shiklam

Former Minister of Defence, Lt.General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) , Saturday raised the alarm over what he described as the consequences of the current security situation in the country, warning that Nigerians must unite to safe the nation from imminent collapse.

Danjuma, who expressed fears over the looming anarchy in Nigeria, warned that unless the situation is urgently addressed, the looming anarchy would consume all. Danjuma was speaking at the special convocation ceremony and the inauguration of N50 billion Ahmadu Bello University( ABU) Zaria, Phase ll Development Fund held at the main campus of the university.
He noted that  the security challenges in the North occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgence  and other faceless organisations  were a  reminiscence of the “civil war.”

The warning came on a day the former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), said Nigeria  would continue to wallow in crises and retardation in development if education was not given the priority it deserved.

Babangida, who was chairman at the fundraiser, added that the security and developmental challenges confronting Nigeria today could be traceable to the declining fortunes of education sector, pointing out that “no long term solution to these challenges is feasible without redirecting more attention, energy and resources to the sector.”

According to him,  the security , peace and progress Nigerians aspire for would remain elusive  if the majority of citizenry remains locked in the traps of ignorance and poverty,  stressing that “ ignorance and poverty were two sides of the same coin, the same way that knowledge and progress are to another coin.

“The choice  before us, therefore, is  very stark; opt for peace, progress and happiness by contributing to the proper  education of the younger generations of Nigerians  or invite anarchy that would end up consuming us all.

“We must therefore  not only insist that our government at various levels wake up to the challenges in the education sector but we must also as individual find ways of making our own contributions for this great task,” Babangida said.
President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented at the occasion by  Vice president  Namadi Sambo  urged alumnus of the nation’s varsities to play a major role in the development of their alma-mater as it is the practiced in developed countries of the world.

The president identified the problem of access of Nigerian youths  into the nation’s universities as one of the problems confronting  his administration, pointing out that that was why the government decided to established more university in the country.

Danjuma, who confessed that he was yet to put any input in finding solution to the current security challenges in the land, said it was up to the Nigerian elite to close ranks in seeking for solution to the  sundry crises in the country.
“I regret to confess that I have not suggested solution to this problem. It is up to us the elite to get together and brainstorm to solve our problem. I take this opportunity therefore, to appeal to the nation for unity.

Strengthen Democracy or Risk Instability, Jonathan Warns Fellow African Leaders

President Goodluck Jonathan

Festus Akanbi with Agency Reports

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Saturday warned that African leaders must work harder to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in their countries or face the continuous threat of political instability with its attendant societal dislocations.

Jonathan spoke while addressing members of the Ivorian Parliament in Abidjan during his state visit to Cote d'Ivoire.

According to him, the present generation of African leaders must rise to the challenge of managing contests for political power in a manner that assures greater collective security and peaceful co-existence.

A press statement, received by PANA, quoted the president as also warning that leaders of emerging democracies in Africa must never succumb again to the lure of dictatorship as the surest way of bottling up grievances and dissent in their countries.

“We are ourselves daily confronted with the multiplicity of demands and expectations that are the hallmarks of multicultural societies. There are some, here and elsewhere, who might think that the straight jacket of a dictatorship is the surest way to bottle up these grievances and dismantle dissent.

“That is wrong. Nothing strengthens a society more than openness and a leadership courageous enough to understand the inherent positives that flow from these contending demands. As African leaders, we have to, calmly and dispassionately, harness these energies and utilise them to serve the best interest of our people.
“Indeed, it is self-evident that people who feel secure and free, governed by the rule of law and not by the whims of men, are less likely to go to war with each other, either within or across borders, than those who do not.

“We therefore risk the very institution we are trying to build if we exclude the people who voted us into power in the governance process. That is why we have to build strong institutions and allow the rule of law to take root. Democracy without strong institutions defeats its own objectives,” President Jonathan told the Ivorian MPs.

He also told them that political leaders in Africa must do more to alleviate and ultimately eradicate abject poverty from the continent as it dis-empowers people and retards growth and development.

“We must assiduously promote the welfare of all citizens and create the enabling environment in which they can fully realise their aspirations and potentials.  This would enable them, as stakeholders, to invest in the protection of peace and stability of our countries. And this is achievable,” President Jonathan said.

Noting that it is generally acknowledged that there are billions of dollars waiting to be unlocked by improved trade and economic relations amongst countries in the West Africa, the President also called for the loosening of the “bolts of bureaucracy” that currently stifle trade in the sub-region.

“My own countrymen and people form a sizeable proportion of the population of this wonderful city. They have brought their energy and skills to enrich the economy and culture of Abidjan and other towns and villages in this country. That is the African spirit at work. That is the way we should see ourselves. Borders divide us physically, but our spirits are one and indivisible.

“The borders we defend so resolutely nowadays are, after all, fairly recent creations. Useful as they may be, they must not be more important than the welfare of the sub-continent and its peoples,” he said

Gemade: NGF Becoming Another Tier of Government

Chief Barnabas Gemade

By Vincent Obia and Omololu Ogunmade

Amid the controversy over last Sunday’s emergence of a splinter group within the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Barnabas Gemade, has said that the split was necessary to clip the governor’s wings. Gemade justified the formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum, headed by Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, in an interview with THISDAY, and said NGF was becoming an uncontrollable fourth tier of government that posed a danger to the country’s democracy.

He said governors from the opposition parties should also be encouraged to form their own blocs to complement the national governors’ body.

Gemade, who is the senator for Benue North East senatorial district, said, “Having the governors’ forum as one body in a country is in fact more of what is capable of developing some anomalies because you are now more or less creating something like the fourth tier of government. If you don’t want separate fora, maybe you are attempting to create the fourth arm of government. The arms of government that we know are the executive, legislature and the judiciary.

“Now, when governors of all the states of the federation form one forum, take decisions on governmental issues, then you have to reckon with that fourth arm of government because they can beat you on any issue.

“So, the creation of PDP Governors’ Forum is an issue that ought to have happened long time ago for stability, just as the other parties ought also to have had their own governors’ forum, just to bring stability.

“But here, we allowed a national governors’ forum to develop and gradually and gradually became extremely powerful.”
Gemade told anecdotes about the existence of different bodies for state governors in the United States.

“If you go to the United States, you know that there is the Democratic Governors’ Forum. There is the Republican Governors’ Forum. As the national chairman of PDP, I attended both governors’ fora in the United States when I attended their conventions. One was in Los Angeles and the other in Philadelphia in Pennsylvania where the two conventions were held separately.

“It is not out of place for governors of different parties to have forums in which they will share ideas on issues.”

The former PDP chairman expressed delight at the formation of the opposition All Progressives Congress, whose promoters are currently trying to register as a political party. He prayed for the success of the group, saying a strong opposition would strengthen the democracy and make for more effective and responsible leadership in the country.

According to him, “When you have a strong ruling party and a strong opposition party, then everybody sits up and that is what is expected. My take on this issue is that the arrival of APC is very good for Nigeria because it will make the ruling party sit up, it will make the opposition to be responsive to their responsibilities.”

Gemade said, “My payer for APC is not to fall apart, but that they would be in unity so that we can have a strong opposition.”

NGF Chairmanship: Northern PDP Governors Dump Amaechi, Shema

Govenor Rotimi Amaechi

•Seek consensus candidate

By Chuks Okocha

Governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party from the northern states may have finally dumped the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, after several weeks of bickering over the headship of the forum when his tenure ends in May.

The northern states’ PDP governors also rejected the presidency’s choice for the NGF chairmanship, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, in favour of a neutral candidate ahead of the election in May to choose a new chairman.

This was as the chairman of the newly-formed PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio  of Akwa Ibom State, took heavy fire from his colleagues over his comments that he was on a mission to cleanse the “Judases and traitors” within the NGF.

Governors of the 36 states of the federation have been divided over the leadership of their forum following President Goodluck Jonathan’s indisposition to the continuation of Amaechi as the forum’s chairman. An attempt by the pro-Jonathan governors to remove Amaechi during a meeting of the forum on February 20 failed, as most of the governors sided with the Rivers State governor. But the problem assumed more complicated proportions four days later, when Akpabio emerged chairman of a new splinter group in the NGF, PDP Governors Forum. It was formed during a meeting between Jonathan and the PDP governors, held at the instance of the president at the State House, Abuja.

The formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum was an obvious measure to cut the ground from under Amaechi’s feet ahead of the NGF election, where most of the governors were thought to be readying to re-elect him.

THISDAY gathered that the northern governors’ decision to abandon both Amaechi and Shema was to avoid open confrontation with Jonathan, who already has a position on the choice of a new chairman for the forum.

At a meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, attended by Shema and the governors of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamako; Kebbi State, Usman Dakingari; Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako; Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda; Kogi State, Idris Wada; and the deputy governor of Gombe State, the northern governors resolved to present a candidate that would be acceptable to the larger body of governors.

The meeting took place at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, but the state governor, Gabriel Suswam, was not present. Suswam was said to have excused himself and left the meeting when the northern governors in attendance, who were all Muslims, except him, appeared to be preparing to hold their afternoon prayers and requested to conduct the prayers together at the venue.

It was learnt that as Suswam left his colleagues to enable them keep their religious obligation, the prayer session was turned to an impromptu political meeting where a decision was taken not to support Shema, who was also there.

The northern governors in attendance promptly conveyed their decision to Shema. According to a source, it was Darkingari who informed Shema of the position of the governors before he was asked to briefly excuse them. The source said the northern governors also took a decision not to support Amaechi.

A governor who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity said, “Basically, many people have read different meanings into why the governors did not elect a new chairman last Monday. The truth of the whole matter is that some of us, the northern governors, believe that because of the crisis and controversy so far, it is not in the interest of the forum to openly support the candidacy of Governor Ibrahim Shema or support the continued stay of Governor Amaechi as the chairman.

“Common sense tells us that both of them should go for a governor that is not biased to be elected to become the new chairman, if the forum is to continue to have its respect among the governors, particularly, the non-PDP governors.

“PDP has the highest number of governors and, therefore, it would be fair not to do anything that would suggest that the presidency has hijacked the forum.”

He said it was to preserve the dignity of the forum that the governors were seeking to present a consensus candidate, explaining that it was “first to calm the tension in the polity and, secondly, to allow the incumbent to complete his two years tenure as chairman.”

The governor also said that some of his colleagues were already reaching out to Amaechi to persuade him not to present himself for re-election, though he is entitled to re-election.

“What some of us are doing is to provide a situation of no victor no vanquished for both the presidency and Amaechi. The presidency is biased in supporting Shema against Amaechi, therefore, the best way out is to ensure that both of them are eased out through a consensus candidate that is acceptable to the forum.

“PDP has the highest number of governors and in the history of the forum, we have never subjected ourselves to election of our chairman so far and it is not in the interest of the governors to do so now. This is why some of us are canvassing for a consensus chairman,” the governor disclosed.
He also said Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State was reaching out to the other opposition governors to support the quest for a consensus candidate, while the same idea is being pushed among the South-west governors.

“We hope that between now and May when the election to choose the chairman of the forum would hold, a consensus governor from the north would have emerged as the chairman. Already, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum is from the South-south state of Akwa Ibom and it would not be fair to have the chairman of the forum coming also from the same zone.

“The appointment of Akpabio as chairman of the PDP governors is a tactical coup against Amaechi because two of them are from the same zone,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the remarks by Akpabio describing his mission as one to weed “Judases from the governors’ forum” are causing disaffection among the PDP governors. One of them, who pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY that the comments by Akpabio were counterproductive.

He said, “We have been receiving telephone calls among ourselves. We are asking, who are the Judases that Akpabio is talking of. If is true that he said that, then it is a careless talk and in the next meeting of the PDP governors, it will be part of the agenda. Some of these talks tend to overheat the polity and, therefore, cannot be tolerated.”

THISDAY AWARDS... When Teachers Got Their Rewards on Earth

Pa Dotun Oyewole; former President of the United States, Mr Bill Clinton; and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosu

From the 18th THISDAY Awards in Abeokuta, Ogun State,   Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports the instructive tales about teachers, even as former American President Bill Clinton recalls his own favourite tutors…

As the helicopter conveying former American President Mr. Bill Clinton roared across the skies of Obafemi/Owode Local Government in Ogun State, scores of school children waved excitedly at the huge mechanical bird powering above them.

Obasanjo: Leadership, Bane of Nigeria’s Devt

Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo declared  Saturday that said that there are no good leaders in the country, saying leadership in any country is very important in government.

Killers of 15 year old Nigerian boy, Junior Nkwelle, found guilty of manslaughter

The 14 year old girl who ordered the stabbing of 15 year old Nigerian boy, Junior Nkwelle, for being ‘disrespectful’ was found guilty of manslaughter yesterday March 1, 2013. 

NDLEA nabs drug peddlers in Kaduna

Kaduna - The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday said it had arrested major drug peddlers and seized 692.341 kg of cannabis sativa in Kaduna.

The State Commandant of NDLEA, Mohammed Jibrin stated this when he led other members of the agency on a courtesy visit to Gov. Mukhtar Yero in Kaduna.

Kano govt. set to harness economic potentials of gum arabic

Kano - The Kano state government is working towards increasing the cultivation of gum arabic to harness its economic potentials, an official said on Saturday in Kano.

Co-ordinator of Kano State Afforestation Project (KNAP), Alhaji Shu’aibu Musa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that over 20 hectares of gum arabic trees had been planted towards this end.

PDP mourns The Guardian's political editor

Abuja - The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its condolence to the family of Assistant Political Editor of the Guardian Newspapers, Mr John Abba-Ogbodo, who died in an auto crash on Thursday.

PDP lauds court's ruling on Jonathan`s eligibility to re-contest

Abuja - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lauded the ruling of an Abuja High Court on President Goodluck Jonathan`s eligibility to re-contest the presidency in 2015, describing it as a landmark.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metuh, made the commendation in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, the ruling is also a victory to the nation’s democracy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had ruled that Jonathan, as a Nigerian, has the constitutional right to seek re-election in 2015 on PDP's platform.

It held that Jonathan was in his first term, which commenced on May 29, 2011 and was therefore, free to seek a second term in the 2015 if he so desires.

Metuh maintained that the court’s ruling had freed the nation from "the shackles of intimidation and harassment’’ by some desperate politicians.

According to him, the judiciary has reaffirmed the freedom and right of every Nigerian to seek for any elective office under the constitution.

"It has laid to rest the unnecessary debate on whether or not the president is constitutionally eligible to seek re-election in 2015.

"The import of this judgment is that it is now left for the PDP as party and Nigerians to decide through legitimate processes whether or not to return Jonathan in 2015 if he indicates interest,’’ Metuh said.

He said further that following the ruling it was now left for the president, the PDP and the electorate to decide.

Metuh decried the attitude of some people who were bent on stopping others from exercising their rights.

He urged Nigerians to continue to be law abiding and to "resist all attempts by desperate politicians to truncate the system through the distortion of the facts of the law’’.

He reassured Nigerians that the PDP as a party would continue to ensure the welfare of all citizens in line with Federal Government`s transformation agenda.

Man Arraigned For N2.8m Fraud

The police in Lagos on Friday arraigned a 32-year-old unemployed man, Ugochukwu Ugoamadi, who allegedly attempted to defraud the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of N2. 8 million.

Ugoamadi, who lives at 19, Ibadan St., Palmgrove, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and fraud before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court.
He allegedly presented the cheque, purportedly issued by one Ogodo Darcy, at a branch of the bank in Awka on Feb. 1.
The prosecutor, SP Effiong Asuquo of the Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, told the court that Ugoamadi conspired with others at large to commit the fraud.

PHOTOS: Michelle Obama, Halle Berry & Adele's Child-Look-Alikes At The Oscar

The kiddies representation of their favourite celebrities at the Oscars, and Golden Globe Awards.

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Facebook Friends Kidnap Kogi Varsity Student

Seven months after a post-graduate student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Miss Cynthia Osokogu was killed by friends she met on social media, Facebook, an undergraduate of Kogi State University, Lokoja, Kogi State, Oludoyi Bamidele Samuel, has been abducted by a kidnap syndicated, facilitated by a friend he also met on Facebook.

Samuel was, however, lucky, as he is alive to tell the story of how his supposed friend, identified as Michael (surname unknown) by the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, lured him from Enugu to Warri, DeltaState. A kidnap gang facilitated by Michael, currently at large, held him hostage for three days before Police officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, stormed their hideout at Uzor Street, Agbarho, and seized three of the suspects.
They demanded N5 million ransom from Samuel’s mother to effect his release and were relocating him to another location when the police pounced on them. Commissioner Aduba gave the names of the suspects cooling off in police cell as Anibor Oghenekparabo, Onoriode Omamowho and Kelvin Orotoma.
Cynthia was killed in a hotel in Festac, Lagos, which she was lured to in July 2012, by her Facebook friends, but the intent of Samuel’s abductors was to extort money from his parents. Mr. Aduba, who confirmed that Samuel has reunited with his Enugu-based parents said, “He was invited by a friend, identified as Michael, who he met on Facebook for a birthday party in Warri.
They have not met face to face before this incident, but have been chatting on the internet. He must have found out his background through his interaction with him on the social media.” “So, they plotted how to abduct him and make money. Samuel, the only son of his parents, who his kidnappers believe are well to do, left his parents in Enugu without telling them where he was going to and entered a vehicle to Warri.
“He (Samuel was discussing with Michael on phone and called him on when he got to Warri, but his so-called friend had ulterior motive. He had arranged with others to kidnap him and Samuel was whisked to a house at Uzor Street, Agbarho, where he was held hostage for three days,” Aduba asserted.
Samuel was dumbfounded by the entire affair, as he was kept incommunicado in a compound that had other residents. His break came when some persons, who suspected the movement of the suspected kidnappers, got in touch with the police. The suspects also decoded that their secret had been uncovered and arranged to move the victim, but the police struck at the nick of time.
Commissioner Aduba was, however, disturbed that people could leave their homes to visit so-called friends they met on Facebook without proper security check. “I do not understand this; I am warning young men and women to stop this behavior. How can you leave your home to go a birthday party by somebody you do not know, all because both of you met on Facebook, this is ridiculous.
“People should help the police by being security conscious. Can you imagine, he left Enugu without telling his parents and the suspected kidnappers were using his phone to call his parents, asking for ransom,” he said.