Nigeria Content Online

The Central Bank
governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on Tuesday, stuck to his “unpleasant
truth” about the actual percentage of the national overhead cost
allocated to the National Assembly. Mr. Sanusi stood his ground when he
appeared before a selected committee of the House of Representatives,
led by the Minority Leader, Ali Ndume.

Although the
Tuesday session with the members was more civil, and devoid of the
altercations witnessed during the Senate’s session last week with the
CBN governor, both Mr. Sanusi and the House of Reps members bandied
three conflicting figures during session.

While the members
based their arguments on the figures in the 2010 budget to arrive at 9%
and 3%, the CBN governor insisted on the 25.4% based on figures from
the budget office, certified by the presidency.

“I remain convinced
that the figures I used based on the most authentic official source
that I have, are correct,” Mr. Sanusi who was armed with detailed
slides said.

Mr. Ndume, who led
the interrogating members, however, said they did not convene the
session to pass blame but to make clarifications.

Unpleasant truth

Mr. Sanusi insisted
that even though it is the unpleasant truth, the figures he used in his
computations were the actual, but not budgeted figures, and that he had
no reason to malign the lawmakers.

“The truth might be
unpleasant, but that should not be taken either as an insult or an
attack, and it should actually not lead to any kind of confrontation
between the CBN and any arm of government…

“But there are
times where we have to say things that people do not find pleasant,” he
said. He gave an instance a few months ago where the headline of a
story in a national newspaper quoted the CBN governor has saying
Nigeria is pursuing wrong economic policies.

“The president
called me. He said this is the headline in the papers, that you said
the federal government is pursuing the wrong economic policies and you
are the CBN governor. Were you misquoted or misrepresented?

“I said no, I said
it. I said that no matter what we do to our banking, if we do not fix
the power sector, Nigeria’s economic problems will still persist. And
the president said I agree with you.

“Anytime we talk
and people are not happy , they take it like an attempt to bring them
down, undermine them, or to attack democracy. What happens is that
other public officers who have this responsibility then decides that
for fear of being misrepresented or misinterpreted, he will not speak
up, and that is what will undermine the very structures we are putting
in place,” said Mr. Sanusi.

High recurrent expenditure

Although the two
parties disagreed on the overhead allocations to the National Assembly,
the members agreed with Mr. Sanusi that the nation might soon be
plunged into an overwhelming debt as it is spending much on recurrent
expenditure and giving less to capital expenditures that actually drive
the economy.

They agreed with the CBN governor that the nation has consistently spent less on capital projects, while borrowing more.

“We in the National Assembly, especially the House of
Representatives, have been saying the same thing you said since the
last two years,” Ayo Adeseun, chairman, house committee on
appropriation, said.

Despite
international calls for him to step down, Cote d’Ivoire’s controversial
President Laurent Gbagbo yesterday named a new cabinet, omitting from
the list his rival for the presidency, Alassane Ouattara.

Charles Koffi Diby,
who handled talks on $3 billion debt relief with the IMF and World
Bank, has been widely praised for managing the nation’s economy but he
is not in the cabinet either. There are speculations that Mr Ouattara,
who says he won a disputed November 28 poll, had persuaded one of the
few internationally known members of Mr Gbagbo’s team onto his side.

However, Mr Diby failed to turn up at the first meeting of the parallel cabinet on Monday.

Mr Ouattara has
been recognised as president by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S.
President Barack Obama and others, while Mr Gbagbo retains control of
the army and has dismissed calls to stand down as outside interference.

Mr Gbagbo gave the
finance and economy portfolio to Desire Dallo, former managing director
of San Pedro port, according to a list handed out at the first meeting
of the new cabinet.

Mr Gbagbo’s former
prime minister Guillaume Soro has already switched sides to Ouattara,
replaced by Gilbert Aka, a university boss and longtime Gbagbo ally
unknown to many Ivorians.

Ble Goude, leader of pro-Gbagbo militia, the Young Patriots, was named his youth and employment minister.

Vice President
Namadi Sambo has observed that for Nigeria to achieve her developmental
objectives as contained in the Vision 20:2020 blue print, she must
build her local engineering capacity.

Mr Sambo who
described this an engineering challenge, noted this at the State House,
Abuja, when a delegation from the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE),
led by its President, Olumuyiwa Ajibola visited him.

“It is our belief
that for any country to develop, we must develop and use our
engineering capacities, therefore, it has been our policy to ensure
that we address the deficiencies in the field of engineering,” he said.

Mr. Sambo further
noted that the development level of a country is measured by the number
of engineers the country can boast of, so the administration had made
it a cardinal principal to engage local engineering firms in all areas
of infrastructural development.

“I am pleased to inform you that some of our major projects are being undertaken by some of your members,

like the East-West Coastal road and many similar projects spread across the country”, he said.

The vice president
used the occasion to further assure his visitors of government’s
willingness to always partner with the Society to achieve the
developmental goals of Nigeria.

He therefore
challenged them to be part of the decision making process, saying “we
must sacrifice for our country, and the more engineers we have
participating in politics and taking political decisions the better it
will be for this country.”

Earlier, the
leader of the delegation, Mr. Ajibola, while commending, the vice
president for his professionalism used the occasion to solicit
government’s support and encouragement to patronize Nigerian engineers
in its infrastructural development programmes, noting that Nigerian
engineers have the capacity to meet the challenge.

In her remark, the
President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO),
Maria Prieto Jesus Laffarguer, urged the government to promote the
engineering profession in order to help eradicate poverty, address
demographic imbalance and climate change situations.

In attendance were, Musa Sada, Minister of Mines and Steel
Development, Nuhu Somo Wya, Minister of State Power, Adel Al kharafi,
president elect WFEO and Barnabas Gemade. Others were Emeka Ezeh,
Director-General Bureau for public Procurement (BPP), M. B. Shehu,
Deputy President, NSE, Ife Akintunde, Jide Adeniji, Ibrahim Khaleel
Inuwa, Mustapha Bulam, Kashim Al, Felix Atume, Joana Olu Maduka,
Abdiodun Akinwande and Emmauel Awuapila.

Former military
ruler, Ibrahim Babangida’s campaign organization has denied media
reports that it had jettisoned the consensus arrangement reached
between him and some northern candidates and would run in the 2011
elections.

Campaign
spokesperson, Kazeem Afegbua, said in a statement that a front page
news report published by a daily on December 5 was false. “Members of
the IBB 2011 presidential campaign organization are already being
accommodated in the Amalgamated Atiku Campaign Organization to give the
necessary support to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming People’s
Democratic Party primaries,” he stated. “Journalists need to be very
thorough and profound in their news reportage. They must at all times
crosscheck their facts and figures in order not to mislead members of
the public who rely on their news item for one purpose or the other.”

The organisation maintained that Mr Babangida was not contemplating
leaving the consensus agreement because its rationale was still very
much in place. “Nobody should assume the role of an unauthorized
spokesman for the erstwhile Campaign Organisation of General IBB,”
stated Mr Afegbua. “Should there be need to give any further directive,
we will use the appropriate organs to do so.”

The All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP) may pick its presidential candidate for the 2011
general elections on Friday January 14, 2011 , this was learnt in Abuja
yesterday.

The presidential
primaries will hold a day to the January 15 deadline set by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for parties to hold
their primaries. Among those seeking the ticket of the party to vie for
the nation’s highest office are the governor of Kano State, Ibrahim
Shekarau, presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican
Convention (NRC), Bashir Tofa, who is also from Kano; Harry Akande,a
businessman from Oyo State; and Dauda Birma, a former minister from
Adamawa State.

Also, the National
Assembly candidates may emerge on Saturday January 8 , 2010 while
Tuesday January 11, has been fixed for the primary election of the
governorship and state houses of assembly candidates.

The dates of the
primaries are, however, subject to ratification by the National
Executive Committee (NEC), which meets today in Abuja. The National
Working Committee (NWC)pick the dates at its meeting in Abuja last
Monday. It was presided over by the national chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu.

Although, the
details of the decisions taken at the meeting, which lasted hoursare
still sketchy, it was gathered that the NWC members agreed not to
attend the formal declaration of any candidate for any of the elective
position.

Our source said the
decision was taken to forestall suspicion that they are rooting for any
particular candidate. It,however, resolved to back and campaign for all
candidates that will emerge after the primaries in accordance with the
party’s constitution.

It was further
gathered that the working committee decided that the party will keep
its doors open to other parties who may enter into alliance to brighten
its electoral chances. This is also in view of the fact that some
aspirants who have popularity in some parts of the country may decide
to defect to the ANPP.

The party
spokesman, Emma Eneukwu confirmed yesterday that the NEC will meet
today to ratify the decisions of the NWC. However, he said the dates
for the governorship and the other primary election are not too clear
for now.

“Yes, I think the
presidential primaries will hold on January 14, but I can not readily
say when the others are holding until after the NEC meeting tomorrow,”
Mr Eneukwu said.

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Inumidun Akande, on
Monday, declared that it is the exclusive responsibilities of the state
judiciary to review existing laws relating to probate administration
and family matters, and warned the executive not to usurp functions of
the judiciary.

Mrs Akande stated this in her address delivered at a
summit on ‘Administration of Probate’, with the theme ‘A Critical
Appraisal of Probate Administration In Lagos State’, held at the Lagos
City Hall. Probate administration deals with the application of the
right to deal with deceased person’s estate. The chief judge urged the
executive arm of government to respect the doctrine of separation of
powers. She said that by virtue of relevant provisions of the 1999
Constitution and existing high court law, the administration of probate
and related matters are under the supervision of the chief judge of the
state, and added that to deviate from this established practice would
amount to a breach of the constitution and relevant laws, as well as
breach of concept of separation of powers as contained in the 1999
Constitution.

Abiding by power separation

“Without any fear of contradiction, the
administration of probate and matters connected therewith are exclusive
preserve of the judiciary in Nigeria,” she said. “The chief judge,
being the head of the judiciary, is empowered to make rules of court
and other matters by virtue of section 59 of the administration of
Estate Law Cap A3 Vol. 1 Laws of Lagos State, 2003. It would amount to
abuse of power by the executive organ or legislature to bring under its
administration the Probate Registry which is a division of the high
court in the state judiciary. To do this will be a deliberate
infraction of the constitution.”

Mrs Akande stated that despite obvious challenges, the probate
division of the high court has lived up to expectations by rendering
quality services and generating revenues for the state government. She
said that a total number of 193 probate grants and 4, 937 letters of
administration were issued by the probate division within a period of
2007 to 2010, adding that over N1 billion was also generated within
same period.</

Norwegian energy producer Statoil said it will appeal a Nigerian court
ruling in its case against a local consultant who says he has not been paid.

The court ruled in favour of former Statoil
consultant John Abebe, who seeks 1.5 percent net profit interest from Statoil’s
stake in the 240,000 barrels per day Agbami field.

“There was a ruling in his favour. We are going to appeal,”
Statoil spokesman Baard Glad Pedersen said.

NEXT reported on Tuesday that Mr Abebe hopes to win between $1 billion and
$2 billion. Statoil would not immediately comment on the potential loss, saying
it believed it had a “strong legal case”.

Mr Abebe, the brother-in-law of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who served
from 1999 to 2007, helped Statoil secure licenses for Nigerian oilfields
between 1991 and 1999 and was on the board of Statoil’s local unit.

Statoil has said it made “no oral or written agreement” with Mr Abebe
that he should receive the payment and maintains that it has paid him for his
services.

The President, Goodluck Jonathan
yesterday urged the Joint Military Task Force, JTF, in the Niger-Delta,
which is currently operating in Ayakoromor community in Burutu Local
Government of Delta State to ensure that civilian are protected.

He also expressed his heartfelt
sympathy to the families of all those who are currently displaced as a
result of the JTF operation.The directive is coming on the heels of
widespread criticism of the JTF’s raid of camps suspected to be
harbouring John Togo, a runaway militant leader in the region, which
has led to some deaths and displacement of hundreds.

One of those already opposed to the
operation is former Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly
and the secretary of Uduaghan Campaign Organisation, Funkekeme Solomon
who has condemned the alleged killings by the JTF, stating that it is
unacceptable in a democratic setting.

Speaking on behalf of the president,
media aide, Ima Niboro, in a chat with pressmen at the statehouse, said
the president has commended the efforts of JTF so far, especially “in
fishing out criminal elements from the region” and advised “that the
defenseless civilian population be protected, while the operation
lasts”.

According to him “the army also has a responsibility to protect the
harmless civil populace”.While appealing for calm from all parties
affected by the military operation, the spokesman stated that the
government is prepared to immediately reduce the sufferings of
identified innocent civilians and all those in need of one assistance
or another.</

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Timi
Alaibe has joined the governorship race in Bayelsa on the platform of
Peoples Democratic Party. Associates and friends of Mr. Alaibe from the
state were reported to have contributed money to purchase the
nomination form for him, claiming that the former NDDC chief had been
reluctant to contest the election. A group,Grassroots Initiative for
Peace and Social Orientation (GIPSO), has also issued a statement
saying Mr. Alaibe’s decision is the best thing to happen to the state.
Executive Director of GIPSO, Akinaka Richard, told newsmen in Yenagoa
on Sunday that the people of Bayelsa should have the choice to choose
their leaders. He said it is now left for the people to choose someone
that will stop the stagnation of the last four years. According to him,
“We are overjoyed by the news. If the people of Bayelsa want
change,they must effect the change. ‘‘If the people of Bayelsa are
dissatisfied with the situation in the state, the time for change has
started. We are very much delighted that Alaibe has decided to run.”
Mr. Alaibe contested the same position with former state governor,
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in 2003 and also attempted it in 2007 but later
backed out.

Ivory Coast’s
presidential claimant, Alassane Ouattara, offered government posts on
Monday to members of his rival Laurent Gbagbo’s cabinet, if Gbagbo
stepped down.

It was the latest
manoeuvre in a power struggle that has enveloped the West African state
since an election that yielded two winners – Ouattara with
international backing, and Gbagbo, with the support of the nation’s top
legal body and military.

The November 28
poll was meant to reunite the former regional economic star after a
2002-03 civil war, but analysts warned the dispute could now pit the
army against pro-Ouattara rebels, who told Reuters they would defend
themselves from any attack.

“If Laurent Gbagbo
agrees to leave power quietly, the ministers from his party would be
welcome in the government we plan to lead,” Guillaume Soro, Ivory
Coast’s premier, who has pledged to serve Ouattara, told France’s
Europe 1 radio.

The political
deadlock gripped the world’s top cocoa grower after the Constitutional
Council – run by a Gbagbo ally – scrapped hundreds of thousands of
votes from Ouattara strongholds, reversing provisional results from the
election commission that had given Ouattara victory.

U.S. president,
Barack Obama, has sided with Ouattara, leading calls from the United
Nations, France, the European Union, the African Union, and West
African bloc ECOWAS that Gbagbo accept the election commission outcome.
ECOWAS leaders are due to hold an emergency summit on Ivory Coast on
Tuesday.

Gbagbo has scorned
the international rejection as an affront to Ivorian sovereignty, and
has threatened to expel the U.N. Ivory Coast envoy for interference in
internal affairs.

Citing a
“breakdown of governance”, the World Bank and the African Development
Bank said they would reassess aid, adding pressure on Gbagbo.

Ouattara has
already named Gbagbo’s former finance minister, Charles Koffi Dibby, to
his cabinet, a move which would strip Gbagbo of an official praised for
his handling of debt talks. Dibby was not available to confirm he had
switched sides.

Financial impact

The World Bank has
tied the cancellation of $3 billion of external debt, estimated at
$12.5 billion, to smooth elections. But Gbagbo’s hand on the economy is
strengthened by revenues from cocoa, oil, and other commodities.

Benchmark ICE cocoa futures traded at a four-month high of $3,028 a tonne on Monday.

Several cocoa
exporters suspended activities in the wake of election violence that
has caused at least 15 deaths. But a regular industry estimate on
Monday put port arrivals at around 427,000 tonnes in the season to
December 5, only a few thousand tonnes less than at the same point last
year.

Despite the
political stand-off, Ivory Coast reopened international borders on
Monday that had been sealed during a tense wait for the results, and
traffic in the business district of the economic capital, Abidjan, was
nearly back to normal.

“The international
community has got to play a straight game, otherwise it will be a mess
in this country. Ouattara’s forming his government, Gbagbo’s forming
his – where will it end?” said civil servant, Maurice Fallet.

Army backing

The army chief of
staff has sworn allegiance to Gbagbo and troops appear to be on his
side for now. Ouattara has the support of the New Forces rebels
occupying the north.

“We’ve put our troops on alert,” New Forces spokesman, Seydou Ouattara, told Reuters.

“If we are
attacked, we will defend our zones and we will take the rest of the
Ivorian territory,” he said, adding he hoped diplomacy would help the
country avoid a “bloodbath”.

Mediation talks
led by former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, and the two rivals
appeared to make no breakthrough on Sunday. It was unclear whether more
talks would take place.

Gbagbo has
controlled the country for a decade but now faces isolation and
international sanctions. Diplomats said Russia, whose Lukoil is
exploring for oil there, has blocked efforts in the U.N. Security
Council for a clear endorsement of Ouattara.

The crisis in
Ivory Coast, once West Africa’s brightest economic star, has forced up
the risk premium on the country’s $2.3 billion Eurobond. It is
currently yielding 11.67 percent, from below 10 percent before the
election.