TheNationFeb201526_P

52 THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015FOREIGN LENTISIS: Egypt explains Theme: Your best may not win the race bombing of Libya Text:”......Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for riched with• ‘Group must be eliminated’ we will not sit down till he come hither ( 1 Samuel 16:11) flavour. When God decides toT HE Egyptian From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja I GNORANCE of who God is and how He works facilitate desperation favour you, for government has de- ities closely, including in the world. It is this lack of knowledge that makes people get severely instance, He takes fended its airstrike where they had their competitive in the race of life, run down peers, peddle damaging ru- over the driver’s seat of your life, He takes you to the real destination ofaimed at ISIS- jihadists in ammunition and trainings. mours, damage campaign platforms of opponents, bomb offices of co- stupendous testimonies and not where you, in your limited humanLibya. It said the group competitors, abduct opponents ahead of election, harbour death wish for knowledge, want to go. When He takes over, He compels all the elements ofmust not be allowed to have The ambassador, who ad- other contestants and even go to the satanic extent of murder, forgetting that life to cooperate with you. His favour makes you a person of valour.root in the region. dressed reporters in Abuja, God has the final say (Psalm 62:11). noted that the only way to Gideon was a nobody, a timid and completely hopeless man but His favour Head of Egyptian Mission rid the continent of terror- Ahead of the 1979 Second Republic election among the five political parties changed his story. He saw himself as someone who was incompetent, ato Nigeria Ambassador ists was through coordinat- of Greater Nigerian People’s Party, National Party of Nigeria, Nigerian man from a poor family in Manasseh and the least in his father’s houseAshraf Salama called for co- ed efforts, and support of all People’s Party, People’s Redemption Party and the Unity Party of Nigeria, (Judges 6:15) but God’s favour conferred a mighty man of valour on him (ordinated efforts to ensure countries. the aspirants to political offices under the parties’ platforms traversed the Judges 6:12). His favour makes you the best for a great assignmentthat the group and its likes length and breadth of the country to canvass for votes. Their campaignswere eliminated. “We need to stop terror- were devoid of ambiguities, they were issues based, more engaging and What does His favour do? When God favours you, He separates you from ism and that is why we are focused than what the present political terrain has sliced into. your peers. He lifts your head up and above other people. When Joseph was The ambassador insisted calling for coordination, ei- in prison, God gave him “......... favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.that the attack in Libya was ther from the Arab league or The Unity Party of Nigeria’s Presidential flag bearer, Chief Obafemi And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisonersprecise and on target. He from African brothers. What Awolowo presented the most coherent plan of action during the election- that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.stressed that no civilian was is happening now is Egyp- eering campaign which was predicated on 5 cardinal points and was conse- The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand;killed in the coordinated air- tian involvement and the quently touted as the person that will very likely win that election. But, ahead because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it tostrike, which was carried need to secure the region, of that election, someone in corridors of power, who probably had knowledge prosper” (Gen. 39:21-23).out on ISIS stronghold. because it is not only us,” he of times and seasons, spoke prophetically before the election that, “The best added. candidate may not win”. That statement was a verbal bombshell that drew What lifted Joseph up in the prison was not his knowledge about prison ISIS beheaded 21 Egyptian the ire of all and sundry but when the election result was announced, the or people management, it was God’s favour. When His favour comes,Coptic Christians, an action While calling for the sup- words of that man was proven to be veracious. elevation becomes a settled matter.the Egyptian government port of well-meaning coun-described as ‘disgusting’. tries in the fight to eradicate While it is good to be as swift as an athlete, it is axiomatic that God Also, God’s favour will make you preferable for higher positions. Esther terrorism in the world, the determines the race of life; oftentimes, the person that breasts the tape is not was brought to Babylon as a prisoner but when the position of a Queen was He explained that the first ambassador warned that always the best athlete, and many times, it is the person God wants to use for vacant, she ‘applied’ and when the King sighted her, she obtained “..... favourexperience was when some “what happened in Libya a purpose that comes top. His ways are unknown and incomprehensible to in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon herEgyptians were killed and could happen to anybody”. man (Is. 55:8-9). When He decides to do whatever, none can hinder Him or head, and made her queen instead of Vashti” ( Esther 2:17). She wasdropped in the sea. ask Him why?(Job 9:12). apparently not the best for the race but God’s favour separated and lifted her He stressed that no coun- up. “We could not pin it on try can afford to stay aloof From our text, God asked Samuel to go to the house of Jesse the Beth-them as the bodies were when it comes to the issue lemite to anoint a King for Him that will replace the disobedient Saul. Jesse Among all the virgins in the world, only Mary was found worthy to carryfound in the sea”, he said. of terrorism; adding that ter- brought out his best candidates that were suitable in physique, warfare, the Saviour’s pregnancy. The angel told her, “.... Fear not, Mary: for thou rorism does not have intellect, age and composure but God disapproved of them and told Samuel hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, The ambassador admitted boundaries or religion. that “..... Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus ( Luke 1:30-31).that there were diverse I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh onviews on how to tackle the He also noted that the era, the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. ( 1 Samuel 16:7). Beloved in Christ, please be reminded that God has a plan and purposescourge in the region, say- where a country secures its Rather, God chose David, the seemingly useless and of course the youngest for us as a country. He chooses people He needs for specific purposes. Asing that some countries territory while terrorism of Jesse’s children as King. stakeholders in our national political dispensation as either aspirants orwanted political negation. prospers in neighbouring supporters, please avoid every form of desperation to win the forthcoming countries is over. When the Israelites cried unto God to deliver them from the hardship elections at all costs so that you don’t run into God’s anger. The country He added: “When they under Pharaoh that they had been subjected to for 430years, God chose Moses, belongs to God and not any person or political party. Allow God’s best mankilled our own people and “You have to have coordi- who had committed murder in Egypt and had been declared wanted by and/or woman to get there. Your best may not be His best!showed it that way, we nation with these countries, Pharaoh to be convicted of his murderous act, to return to Egypt and negotiatecannot just say ok, no he said”. the Israelites’ release from bondage ( Exodus 2:11-15; 3:7-10). Furthermore, As children of God waiting on Him in the place of prayers during this lent,problem.” against norm and logic, God chose to send Moses, a stammerer, to be the run away from satanic lure of being desperate for a higher position mindless deliverer and Chief Negotiator ( Exodus 4:10-12). of what it would cost. It is only His favour that puts flavour in human life. He explained that the God has the final say and not any man. Avoid backbiting, eye-service,Egyptian authority had King Solomon, in his wisdom expanded this further that “..... the race is destruction of your peers and evil wishing. Remember that every act of des-been monitoring their activ- not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor peration will end in shame, regret, sadness, weeping and untimely death. yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time During this time of lent, ask God to have mercy on you and pray for His and chance happeneth to them all” (Eccles. 9:11). favour. You can be assured that at His time, things will work for your elevation and celebration, in Jesus’ name. When God decides to favour a person, He suspends all human calcula- tions and expectations like tribal, family or educational background. In fact, Prayers: Almighty God, in your favour, give us your best to lead us to your when His favour comes, He overlooks human limitations and life is en- Promised land, in Jesus’ name.NEWSSenate slashes 2015 budget over dwindling oil price Turmoil in House Continued from page 2 N190/$1 for 2015 should be sources and N665 billion from “Every time this budget Continued from page 2 to raise.They demanded that the de- approved as proposed. external sources. comes, we are still repeating ful that Sections 88 and 80 Another round of confu-tails of SURE-P projects to be the same thing. The impres- give the House the powerexecuted should be attached The price of $52 per barrel Senator Ita Enang (Akwa sion I get from it is that those and authority to carry out its sion followed when Osagieto the annual budget estimates of crude oil as benchmark for Ibom Northeast) noted that who are responsible for pro- functions. was approached by Majori-for approval by the National 2015 budget be approved the Senate should be con- ducing the draft merely go ty Whip Ishaka Bawa.Assembly. against the $65 per barrel pro- cerned about the monies from there and reproduce what Amidst the confusion, jected. non oil sectors. they have been bringing up. Deputy Leader Leo Ogor Bawa was led away when The Senate said non-oil rev- raised his own point of or- it became clear that his inter-enue projection for 2015 bud- The Senate is of the view Enang said: “The Minister “I think they need to do a lit- der immediately, saying vention might degenerateget be increased from that the reduction in the pro- of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okon- tle more; they may not be able there was a case in court and into a brawl.N3,539,07 trillion to N4,024.11 vision of subsidy payment for jo-Iweala, who is a proponent to forecast accurately. brandished a piece of papertrillion; the total Capital Ex- PMS from N971.14 billion in of the Fiscal Responsibility to back his claim. Three Sergeant-at-Armspenditure should be increased 2014 to N200 billion in 2015 Act, is not seeing to the imple- There are a few things I were standing by to inter-from N633.53 billion to are not indication of plans to mentation of that Act. Solid think we must get right; the At this point, the Deputy vene.N700.78 billion. alter the government’s sub- mineral sector should by to- first thing is, let there be a cut Speaker said since tempers sisting policy on subsidy on day generate revenue for the across board, the executive, had calmed, his ruling The Deputy Speaker then The Senate also said the petroleum products but based country, given the appropria- the judiciary and the legisla- would stand. took over proceeding, say-government should strength- on the projected lower crude tion for the sector over the ture and we are prepared to ing: “After a second round ofen and consolidate its fiscal oil price in the international years. lead in this. If there are misgivings democratic exercise, tem-strategy to narrow the gap be- market. about it, the leadership has pers should be down now.tween projected and actual “Part of our responsibility is “The areas of leakages we a way of dealing with it, Ihe- This is not peculiar to ourrevenue for 2015-2017, curtail- It added that the kerosene to ensure passage of the Petro- must emphasise on them; the dioha said. parliament alone, but it ising oil theft and diversifying subsidy provision in the leum Industry Bill. revenue generation and col- important we move forward.the economy to increase tax MTEF and FSP, which was as lection; we must make sure Attempts by the Minority I’ve ruled and if there is anybases. a result of the recent investi- “ The PIB is one of the areas that we tighten our belts. Whip, Samson Osagie, to follow up, the leadership gation by the Senate Commit- that should stabilise the econ- raise his own point of order knows how to go about it.” It said that the policy re- tee on Finance of the alleged omy for investors to put more “What has impressed me in was refused by the Deputy He then called the next busi-stricting government-owned unremitted $49.8 billion, is a money. Now the investors are the entire discussion and the Speaker who asked him to ness of the day.enterprises expenditure to a welcome development. going to Angola because they debate is the fact that this has approach the Chair.maximum of 75 per cent of said the oil climate in Nigeria been non-partisan; everybody Gbajabiamila, Osagie andtheir gross revenue and auto- It said that kerosene subsi- is not certain. has been very fair.” Osagie refused to ap- some APC members steppedmatically converts 25per cent dy in the previous years was proach the chair, insisting out of the chamber to ad-of such revenue to govern- not appropriated by the Na- “By 4th of June, the life of that he had a point of order dress the media.ment revenue is commend- tional Assembly but now in- this Assembly will end. If weable and should be pursued cluded in the MTEF/FSP. do not pass the bill, we are re- Jonathan, ex-presidents greet Shagari at 90with vigour. sponsible for the instability of The increase of non-oil rev- the non-oil sector. Continued from page 2 ly for the development of Nige- Wali said: ‘’ Shagari served Ni- The Senate directed the enue from the proposed Shagari after the 1979 elections, ria geria with an utmost sense of in-committees of the National N3,539.07 trillion to N4,024.11 “No country trades on its described the Turakin Sakkwato tegrity and he showcased theAssembly to oversee the ker- trillion is meant to shore up own currency. We have con- as “a doyen of all us who have House of Representatives values of hard work and moralosene subsidy provision to en- revenue shortfalls resulting sciously devalued the ex- had the opportunity by an act of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal also rejuvenation.sure its full implementation, from the recommendation of change rate from 160 to 190 God to be at the helm of affairs visited Shagari.availability and accessibility. a lower benchmark. and it is official currency traf- of Nigeria. ‘’ We will cherish these values ficking.” Tambuwal, who is the All Pro- for Nigeria to move forward as The senate warned that if The Senate resolved that in ‘’ Shagari has seen it all, the gressives Congress (APC) gov- a united, peaceful and prosper-policing kerosene subsidy is order not to crowd out the pri- Summarising the debate, good, the bad and the not-so ernorship in Sokoto State, said ous nation.difficult, “then we should do vate sector from domestic Senate President David Mark good and I have learnt a lot from former President Shagari re-away with kerosene subsidy”. credit market, N665 billion of said: “What this clearly shows him. mained a reliable symbol of Ni- ‘’ Integrity is the cornerstone the N882.12 billion, borrow- is that we all have to tighten geria’s democracy. of good leadership” Other salient resolutions of ing for 2015 will be sourced our belts across the entire sec- ‘’ When we are in power wethe Senate include that crude externally at a lower interest tors of this government. have a lot of people who call He said: “Turakin Sakkwato is Former Governor Attahiruoil production of rate. themselves friends, but when a true democrat and he symbol- Bafarawa said the former presi-2,278.2mbpd, 2,327.1mbpd “We have for many years we are out of power is when we ises democracy in Nigeria. dent ‘’ is a committed, patientand 2,406.7mbpd for 2015, It said that the 2015 new relied on oil as the main know our true friends,’’ he add- and patriotic leader.’’2016 and 2017 be approved. borrowing should be pegged source of our revenue and I ed. ‘’ He is an epitome of humili- at N88.12 billion with N217.12 know that budget after bud- ty, piety, patience, patriotism, One of t Shagari’s sons and a That the exchange rate of billion coming from domestic get, we say we will diversify Shagari commended Obasan- honesty, kindness and hu- member of the House of Repre- the economy. jo for the gesture, saying it is a maneness,’’ he added. sentatives Alhaji Aminu Shagari very good morale booster for expressed happiness with the him to continue to work selfless- The Peoples Democratic Par- outpouring of encomiums on his ty (PDP) governorship candi- dad. date in Sokoto Senator Abdallah

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015 53CITYBEATS CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827One dead in NURTW clash•Remains of properties destroyed at Oshodi...yesterday PHOTOS:RAHMANSANUSI •Police vehicles stationed at Oshodi...yesterday•LASTMA: motorists robbedT HE police yesterday confirmed one per- son dead in a skir-mish between factions of aroad union in Lagos. •Passengers waiting for buses at Oshodi...yesterday The clash stalled traffic •A long queue along Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway...yesterday were burnt, 10 vandalised. LASTMA, she said, alsoon the Oshodi-Apapa Ex- One person was gunned positioned some of its menpressway. Union probes mayhem down; five cutlasses and in strategic locations to en- four expended cartridges sure that traffic did not But sources said no few- L AGOS State Council of National Un- \"We have been witnessing peace in Lagos were recovered. stand still.er than six persons died. ion of Road Transport Workers State council of our union since my adminis- (NURTW) Chairman Alhaji Taju- tration came in. We have restored peace in “Normalcy has been re- “There were reports of Twenty-seven vehicles, deen Agbede has promised to unravel the all our parks, so we shall try and find out the stored as adequate security theft including snatching ofincluding commercial cause of the clashes in Oshodi. cause of the present problem in Oshodi with has been put in place to cameras from the peoplebuses, and properties worth a view to finding lasting solution to it. I en- avert any further breach of who stood by taking pic-millions of naira were de- He spoke while inaugurating a five-man join all our members in the state, especially the peace. Nine persons tures of the fracas; thestroyed. committee to find out the immediate and in Oshodi and its environs to give peace a have been arrested and al- hoodlums also seized op- remote causes of yesterday’s fracas between chance,\" he said. ready undergoing interro- portunity of the heavy The factional National factional members of the union. gation while further oper- traffic snarl to robUnion of Road Transport He praised the state government and the ations to put a permanent motorists of their bags,Workers (NURTW) mem- Agbede said the union would not fold its police for their efforts in restoring peace to stop to the activities of the cash, jewellery and otherbers’ clash began on Tues- arms and allow some disgruntled elements Oshodi hoodlums are ongoing.” valuable properties,” sheday night and continued to destroy the state. stated.yesterday at Oshodi. A senior official of the La- By Tajudeen Adebanjo and Robbery Squad (SARS). He said: “The hoodlums, gos State Traffic Manage- “As I was about leaving They fought with all sorts Sulaiman Salawudeen Police spokesman Ken- who are rival members of ment Authority (LASTMA) office, I saw a large numberof weapons. the NURTW, engaged in a told The Nation that some of men of the Rapid Re- It was learnt that no fewer neth Nwosu, a deputy su- fight of supremacy over LASTMA officials were vic- sponse Squad (RRS) moving The police cordoned off than 30 people had been ar- perintendent (DSP), said it control of parks. In the proc- tims of the clash. towards our office. Informa-the link road from Oshodi rested by the Special Anti- was a contest for power ess, about eight vehicles tion reaching us had it thatto Ilupeju, leading to heavy between NURTW factions. “Some of our officials some of the hoodlums loy-traffic on the Oshodi-Apa- could not go through the al to an opposition partypa Expressway. under bridge near Mosafe- want to set fire to the newly jo Market; they had to go acquired BRT buses by the Motorists coming from and turn at Gbagada,” she state government,” she said.Lagos Island through said.Gbagada and Ikorodu viaAnthony were caught in thetraffic. There were conflictingaccounts of the clash. An ac-count said it started after thepolice attached to theMosafejo Police Stationarrested one person forsmoking Indian hemp. Anothor said it was asupremacy battle betweentwo NURTW factions for thecontrol of parks.S EVEN suspected By Precious Igbonwelundu Navy parades seven arrested stowaways stowaways who claimed to be under 25 boarded a merchant years, said they got access •The suspects...yesterday PHOTOS: PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDUvessel at the Apapa seaport into the vessel through the said the suspects boardedwith the hope of making it help of canoe paddlers the ship while it was dis- Lome, Togo. It was while in Immigration Service for The suspects gave theirto Holland were yesterday whom they paid tokens. charging petroleum prod- Togo she discovered some investigation and prosecu- names as Joe Mcgee, 22, andparaded and handed over uct at the port in order to strange people onboard and tion.” Ibrahim Sola (22) both cous-to the Nigerian Immigra- They claimed most of follow it to Nertherlands. established communication ins from Liberia; Imo Statetion Service (NIS) by the their friends have made it with NNS Ikot -Abasi, who He reiterated the Navy’s born Chike Obi, 17; JohnNavy. to Europe (Spain) through He said: “On completion effected the arrest of seven commitment to containg all Okiya and Kwekwu the same process and were of its operations, MT ELEC- stowaways . forms of illegality at sea, Asamua, Ghanians; Papa Among the victims are living comfortably having TRA BARI with IMO just as he appealed to young Omomobi and Maxwellthree Nigerians, two Libe- obtained their permits. number 941682 left for “The suspects are being people to desist from trav- Madu.rians and two Ghanians, handed over to the Nigeria elling abroad illegally.who all said they were tired The stowaways whoof suffering and would still showed no sign of remorsedo the same if they had op- or regret, said their livesportunity. were already frustrated in Africa despite the fact that The suspects were discov- they are ‘talented’, addingered in Togo waters (high that they browsed the Inter-sea), onboard MT ELEC- net and discovered the ves-TRA BARI, after they drew sel will arrive Spain/Ner-the captain’s attention of therlands in eight or ninetheir presence, thinking days after departure.they had gone past the Gulfof Guinea region and the Briefing reporters beforeship would not turn back. the suspects were handed over to the NIS by the Com- Unfortunately for them, mander Beecroft, Commo-the ship reversed and they dore Daniel Ikoli, the Flagwere arrested by Naval Officer Commandingpersonnel attached to the (FOC), Western NavalNigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Command (WNC), RearBeecroft off Lagos waters. Admiral Jonathan Ango The suspects who

54 THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015 SPORT EXTRANFF: Amuneke won't be firedNIGERIAFootballFedera- mended the Eaglets for qualify- • Amuneke tion (NFF) have an- ing for the FIFA U-17 World Cup nounced the job of coach in Chile in November.Emmanuel Amuneke is safe de-spite the Eaglets crashing out in “Certainly, every Nigerianthe semifinal of the CAF U-17 yearned for the Eaglets to win theChampionship. African championship trophy in Niger after the boys reached the “The technical crew remains semifinals. They lost by a loneintact and the NFF will give sup- goal but we cannot accuse theport to them to plug the neces- players of lack of effort,” saidsary holes in the team, so that we NFF president Amaju Pinnick.can have a squad capable of do-ing the nation proud in Chile,” “The present NFF administra-according to an official press tion has continued to harp on thestatement. fact that it is not only concerned with winning trophies. We want Despite crashing out to South to win trophies but more thanAfrica in the semifinals on that, we want to build a sustain-Wednesday, the NFF com- able football culture.”Gabros are NNL championsGABROS are the over- through penalties after it was second goal to seal the victory. all champions of the 1-1 after regulation time, It was his second goal at the Nigeria National while 3SC beat Kwara NNL Super 4.League (NNL) after they beat United 1-0.3SC 2-0 in the final of the Gabros were reduced to 10playoffs on Wednesday at the Onyekachi Nwaiwu had his men in the 89th minute, whenIlorin Stadium. shot at goal deflected into 3SC Thompson Emmanuel was red net by defender Izu Joseph in carded for a second booking. To reach the final, Gabros the eighth minute.beat Wikki Tourists 4-3 Giwa FC won the NNL Michael Ohaimu scored the championship last year.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEMonaco stun Arsenal at the Emirates• Monaco's Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov (right) Some neat link-up play be-celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA tween Sanchez and SantiChampions League round of 16 first leg football match Cazorla found Hector Bellerinagainst Arsenal last night wide right but the youngster's low cross was whipped over theA S Monaco hold the ad- the bar. bar by Olivier Giroud. vantage ahead of the Joao Moutinho mustered second leg after they re- Kondogbia then gave the visi-corded a surprise 3-1 win over Monaco's first shot of the game tors the lead when his long-rangeArsenal at the Emirates in their on the 20-minute mark, but the effort deflected off PerChampions League last-16 tie. Portugal international's tame ef- Mertesacker to leave David fort drifted harmlessly wide as Ospina rooted. Goals from Geoffrey both sides struggled to createKondogbia, Dimitar Berbatov anything clear-cut. The French side doubled theirand Yannick Ferreira Carrasco advantage less than 10 minuteshave put the Ligue 1 side in a A promising attack for the into the second half when acommanding position ahead of Ligue 1 side broke down when quick counter left them twothe second leg in France, despite Moutinho's slack pass was un- against one at the back, and itAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain's able to find Dimitar Berbatov was Berbatov who stayed com-curled effort. inside the area before Alexis posed to rifle home. Sanchez clipped a shot over the In a fairly timid opening half, top after good work from Mesut Sanchez's struck an effort fromDanny Welbeck had an early Ozil. outside the box, but Giroud waschance for the Gunners when unable to convert after Danijelhe was sent scampering Moutinho was then able to Subasic had palmed the ball in-through on goal, but the En- find some room inside the area vitingly into the Frenchman'sgland international was off bal- but his acrobatic effort flew well path just before the hour mark.ance as he scooped an effort over over the bar after he connected with a fizzed delivery. Anthony Martial perhaps should have made it 3-0 when he latched onto Moutinho's flick, but Ospina did well to close the angle quickly. Arsenal had a great chance to reduce the deficit when Theo Walcott escape the attention of Elderson, but Welbeck could only fire the ball at his teammate with the goal at his mercy on 64 minutes. Monaco were content to soak up pressure and hit the Gunners on the counter and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco was guilty of wasting a chance when he went through on goal and fired a tame effort with Bernardo Silva in a better position. The French side were made to pay for their profligacy when Oxlade-Chamberlaincurledinan effort from outside the box as the clock ticked into stoppage time. However, Ferreira Carrasco made amends three minutes into added on time to give the visitors a major advantage ahead of the second leg. RESULTS UEFA Champions League Arsenal 1 - 3 Monaco Leverkusen 1 - 0 Atletico England - Championship N’gham F. 2 - 1 B’nemouth

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015 55SPORT EXTRAEagles job not Keshi'sbirthright — ChukwuF ORMER Super Eagles’ tract. the football house to deal coach, Christian Chukwu said the NFF with rather they’re just try- Chukwu, has stated ing to make something out should be firm and forthcom- of nothing.that the team’s head coach is ing on the Eagles job andnot a birthright or the preserve stop the hide and seek game “If truly they want Keshiof former handler, Stephen with the former Nigerian they should go ahead andKeshi. strongman. hand him a new contractThe out-of-contract Eagles’ and if they don’t want himcoach on Wednesday lost “NFF should stop using they should forthwith tellhis bid for the Burkina Faso Keshi as excuse for their in- Keshi we don’t want you. Ifhot job as the decision on Super Eagles they offer Keshi a new con-2013 AFCON runners-up coaching job. tract all good and fine, atpreferred the German, least, the side will have fo-Gernot Rohr for the Stal- “It’s wrong for the NFF to cus and the job at hand canlions. be waiting on Burkina Faso get off the ground immedi-The Amaju Pinnick-led Ni- to name a coach before de- ately,” said the formergeria Football Federation ciding whether or not to Harambee Stars’ coach to(NFF) executive board had hand Keshi a new contract. supersport.com.not been firm on whether ornot to offer the former Mali “Super Eagles job is not an Eagles failed to qualify forand Togo coach a new con- exclusive or permanent the justconcluded Africa work place for Stephen Cup of Nations tournamentRegistration Keshi or any other coach. in Equatorial Guinea. “I don’t think Keshi is re- ally too heavy a burden for forGreenspringscamp beginsREGISTRATION for the season four of the annual Greensprings/KanuFootball Camp has commencedacross the country. According to the organisers,students who will like to be partof the one-week camping cannow register online onwww.greenspringskanufootballcamp.org. The Director of Education,Greensprings School, HarryMcFaul, said this year’s campwould be unique as over 500participants and 80 coaches areexpected to be part of the one-week exercise holding at theLekki Campus of Greensprings. “What makes this year’sevent unique is that there will bemore time allocated to coachingand training of coaches so thateven more people will ultimatelybenefit from the camp in thelonger term. The camp will belarger offering more opportuni-ties to potential football starsfrom all over Nigeria. We havehad enquiries from farther afieldthan ever before with large num-bers of sponsored places offeredto boys and girls who have po-tential - but maybe not the finan-cial means to attend. In further-ance of Greensprings' corporatesocial responsibility, there will bean outreach programme inAbesan Community, Lagoswhere Kanu Nwankwo willlead all the foreign coaches andtheir Nigerian counterparts in aone-day football clinic for resi-dents in the area,” McFaul said. He added that the coacheswould be drawn from Englandand Netherlands including Ni-gerians coaches.

w w w. t h e n a t i o n o n l i n e n g . n e t TODAY IN THE NATION ‘The electorate have the responsibility of electing who they want as president and one million post-Na- tional Conference summit of the kind called byTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 10, NO. 3137 Mimiko cannot change this fact’ LAWAL OGIENAGBON COMMENT & DEBATESIXTEEN years after the forced DAPO FAFOWORA hooded and armed men, as well as direct and withdrawal of the Nigerian military indirect intervention by military agents of the from power and the return to civilian FROM THE PDP, almost led to the defeat of Governordemocratic rule in the country, the nation is SUMMIT Aregbesola of the APC. There is also someliving in the shadows of the military again. evidence that in his ‘do or die’ presidentialUnder his watch, President Jonathan’s weak [email protected] elections of 2003, President Obasanjo, who isand blundering PDP federal government is now shouting himself hoarse from the roof topsdragging the Nigerian military willy-nilly Nigerian military is being against the PDP strategy of winning the electionsinto partisan politics again. The presidential dragged into politics again by hook or crook, made use of the securityelection which should have been held on agencies to subvert the electoral process byFebruary 14, two weeks ago, was postponed ‘If he had wanted the against the raging insurgency in the North East. offering them massive bribes to ensure theat the behest of the Nigerian Military High How come it cannot secure the elections with electoral victory of the PDP in the South WestCommand, barely a week before the due elections held on the original the remaining troops? In any case, the primary states in which the AD held sway. Only Lagosdates. The APC had run a strong and dates he, as Commander-in- responsibility for maintaining law and order at successfully resisted Obasanjo’s massiveconvincing electoral campaign and was Chief of the Armed Forces, all times internally rests with the Police, and not electoral fraud in those elections.heading towards victory if the elections were should simply have issued the Army. Throughout this entire crisis,held on February14. President Jonathan the necessary orders for the President Jonathan has kept mute about the Now, as we should by now have learnt fromresorted to the military to delay the elections Armed Forces to provide the source of the military demarche on the electoral our post independence electoral experience,to avoid his defeat. But delaying the elections necessary security logistics for commission. President Jonathan is trying to hide encouraging the Armed Forces to intervene infor six weeks will not buy President the elections to be held on the behind a finger, but no one is deceived that the the electoral process is fraught with graveJonathan the time he needs to win. It will original dates proposed. voice is Esau’s and the hand Jacob’s. He has put dangers and severe consequences. It is a wantonnot alter his appalling record in office. And the Military High Commission in an invidious subversion of democracy and the electoralthis Gestapo method is unacceptable. ’Commission were ready for the elections and embarrassing situation by prompting its process. From 1962 to 1965 when the AG intervention in the electoral process, a move that government of the former Western region was But the effort to delay the elections actually and did not consider a change in dates is plainly unconstitutional and improper. If he plunged into a constitutional crisis, the Balewabegan at his Chatham House lecture in London necessary, or even desirable, for whatever had wanted the elections held on the original federal coalition government had used the armedwhen the National Security Adviser, retired reason. In fact, he claimed then that his dates he, as Commander-in- Chief of the Armed forces to suppress the civil rebellion against theColonel Sambo Dansuki, a scion of the Sokoto Commission was better prepared to hold the Forces, should simply have issued the necessary unpopular Akintola/Fani-Kayode NNDPcaliphate, told his bemused British audience elections on the due dates than in 2011. To orders for the Armed Forces to provide the government in the region. Relying on the Army,that the date for the elections, set a year ago, get around this procedural difficulty and necessary security logistics for the elections to both Akintola and Fani-Kayode bragged that,might have to be changed because of the delay secure a delay in the date of the elections, be held on the original dates proposed. In any whether or not the electorate voted for them,in the distribution and collection of the voters’ President Jonathan got his Army High case, the security role of the armed forces in the they would be declared the winner of thecards (PVC). There was no reference by him Command to send a letter to INEC that the elections is limited both by law and the election. They were so declared, but strong andthen to any security concerns. As at that date, Nigerian military could not, on security Constitution. A recent judgment in the swift public reaction against the bizarre resultstwo or three weeks before the elections, over grounds, guarantee the dates proposed, and Appellate Court has ruled emphatically that declared led to the January, 1966, military coup60 per cent of the voters’ cards had in fact been that in the intervening period, it was the Armed Forces cannot, under whatever d’etat in which Akintola lost his life. Fani-collected, with the certainty that more cards intensifying its attack on Boko Haram. The guise, be deployed for the purpose of Kayode was brought to Lagos by the coupwould be collected in the intervening period. real reason for the change of dates is that advancing, or promoting, the electoral fortunes planners and was to have been eliminated, butThe idea that all potential voters will collect President Jonathan needed more time to of one party or the other. What this means in was spared by then Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon,their voters’ cards is not practical, given the intensify his faltering campaign. As former plain terms is that the armed forces cannot who personally secured his release. Gowon ledexisting voters’ apathy over the elections. In president Obasanjo had warned the nation, legally be deployed to intimidate, harass, or a battalion of troops loyal to the federalfact, less than half of those who are eligible to winning the elections had become a ‘do or victimize the supporters of one political party, government. In fact, as revealed by then Lt.vote in Nigeria have usually exercised that die’ affair for the president and his PDP. But or the other, and that in discharging its limited Col. Hilary Njoku in his book ’A Tragedy withoutright. It is highly unlikely that more than 70 getting the military to veto the dates of the role during elections, it should be professional, heroes’ on the January, 1966, coup, there wereper cent of those registered to vote will elections is not in the national interest. It and politically neutral in the electoral process. two coups being planned; one by the Brigadiers,actually collect their cards. has created a bad precedent that the military and the other by the Majors. The Balewa federal can easily use in future. We now have incontrovertible evidence in the government had grown so weak, so badly That such a critical proposal regarding a ‘Sagir case’ of the role played by some agents of divided, so chaotic, and so feckless that it couldchange in dates for the elections should have Nigeria has an Army of nearly 200,000 men, the Armed Forces in the Ekiti state elections in no longer survive without the support of anbeen made by Col. Dansuki who, in his capacity out of which it has deployed less than a division which Governor Fayemi of the APC was Army that had, itself, become so badly divided,as National Security Adviser, should have fraudulently denied victory through the partisan and professionally rudderless. Innothing to do with the electoral process, is subversive manipulation of the electoral process the ensuing civil war six million Nigerians,disturbing and improper. That this suggestion by military and civilian agents of the PDP in the most of them civilians, died.was made abroad, and not in Nigeria, was elections. In the Osun state elections, the use ofominous. It was meant to appease the This tragic scenario is being replayed nowinternational community, and not Nigerians to with the faltering PDP federal governmentwhom the government owed an explanation for leaning increasingly on the Nigerian Armedthe proposal to change the dates of the elections Forces to apply its dirty electoral tricks toto suit President Jonathan, the PDP presidential maintain its hold on power. This is subversivecandidate. The proposal met with strong of the electoral process and Nigeria’s fledglingopposition both in Nigeria and abroad. The democracy. President Jonathan has said thereAmerican Secretary of State, John Kerry, had will be no further shifts in the dates of thebeen dispatched to Abuja to advice the federal elections. He must be held to his publicgovernment against any change in dates. Such a assurances and stop dragging the Armed Forcesdelicate matter involving the suggestion for a illegally into the electoral process.change of date could not have been madewithout the imprimatur and authority of • For comments, send SMS to 08054503031President Jonathan and his ruling PDP. Dasukimerely flew the kite and it was overwhelmingly HARDBALL •Hardball is not the opinionrejected at home and abroad of the columnist featured above The proposal for a change of date on O PEYEMI Bamidele’s warning to Ekiti Bamidele and the Ekiti burdenalleged grounds of security concerns was Governor, Ayo Fayose, which The Na-turned down by the National Council of tion of February 25 headlined ary school, yet is a legal titan today, toasted at to be the third. Ekiti schizophrenia, he strictlyStates at its Abuja meeting, at which Jega, “Bamidele to Fayose: stop disgracing Ekiti home and abroad. Where, in such a progres- could not help. If Judas, one of the original 12the chairman of the Electoral Commission people”, hinted at a crushing, though sion, did a Fayose spring from — and, even apostles, betrayed Jesus the Christ, then ev-(INEC), also announced that he and his compartmentalised burden: ecstatically “elected” (never mind the rum- ery civilisation breeds its own Judas. Woe bling doubts from the Ekitigate audio rigging betide them, though, that make such Judases RIPPLES 1. Ekiti schizophrenia ala Fayose: Ekiti, pre- tapes), even after a disastrous first term, that come to the fore! Fayemi Fountain of Knowledge and Fayemi- produced a vast abattoir of political opponents RIGGING IS NOT ONLY WHEN BALLOT era Land of Honour and Virtue, is unarguably and a state that reeked of heavy sleaze? Pristine Vs modern Ekiti is neither here nor BOXES ARE SNATCHED–EX–Governor a land of scholarship, legendary land of pro- there. Modernity comes with some painful fessors, and proud PhD holders. Scholarship 3. Ekiti and progressives hubris: Twice, trade-off. The wailings against England’s In- Yes RIGGING starts when SOLDIERS are comes with rigour, which commands honest progressives have blundered out of power in dustrial Revolution birthed the corpus of po- used to INTIMIDATE OPPONENTS! hard work, which confers sound character, Ekiti and twice, Fayose, Bamidele’s new bur- etry called the Romantics, with names like which comes, ala carte, with refinement and den, has proved their nemesis. Governor Niyi Wordsworth, Coleridge and Keats sparkling honour. Indeed, sound learning is never com- Adebayo (1999-2003) was plagued by a crisis across the literary generations. plete without sound character. So, Bamidele’s of expectation, which heralded Fayose’s first self-confessed bewilderment in Fayose: how coming. Governor Kayode Fayemi (2010-2014) But for Bamidele, progressives hubris, the could a land be so blest with honourable people boasted superlative performance, judging third segment of the burden is real — and yet endure a daily blast of knavery from from his predecessors’ records, but ironically Hardball dare says, befitting. Bamidele’s com- Fayose’s supposedly high gubernatorial office? bred visceral hatred, within and outside his plaint over Fayose is noble. But Bamidele Indeed, where did Fayose come from? party, that again paved the way for Fayose’s himself was an active part of the ignoble pro- second coming. A principal and ultra-active cess that delivered Fayose’s second coming. 2. Pristine Vs Contemporary Ekiti: The po- actor in this APC shake-down, that shot Ekiti Still, if the present Bamidele lamentation is etry of Prof. Niyi Osundare, “farmer-born, into avoidable disaster, was Bamidele him- purgatory, then it is welcome. peasant-bred”, offers a proud vista of the pris- self. tine Ekiti, hilly, rugged and honest people, But Kayode Fayemi should join Bamidele unfazed by their humble locale, endowed with So, which of these three segments of the Ekiti in that purgatory, prelude to reclaiming Ekiti Spartan will to push towards modernity. That burden crushes Bamidele the most, as he la- from Fayose’s Stone Age savagery. Ekiti, the is the personal story of Osundare, a farmer’s ments the wanton disgrace Fayose heaps on pristine conscience of the Yoruba nation, must son, now perched on the crest of global liter- the Ekiti, as wayward boy governor? regain its noble soul — whichever party gains ary endeavours. It even rings truer of an Afe ascendancy there. Otherwise, Bamidele and Babalola, who never attended formal second- If Bamidele were to be true to himself, it has Fayemi risk a harsh verdict of history! Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 08034505516.Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mila 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: [email protected] ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO