PICTURES FROM THE NATIONAL HONOUR AWARD CEREMONY IN ABUJA

STEPHEN DAVIS: MODU SHERIFF SPONSORED BOKO HARAM MEMBERS TO HAJJ

The Australian negotiator turned whistleblower, Dr. Stephen Davis, has urged members of Nigeria’s Boko Haram to embrace peace, with the death of the man who had posed as Abubakar Shekau for more than a year. The real Shekau, he said was killed in June 2013.

In an interview with Vanguard Online, Davis also elaborated on the financial links between former governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno state and the Boko Haram militants. He said Sheriff sponsored many boys to Saudi Arabia, for the lesser Hajj, where they are ‘recruited and reorientated by Boko Haram and sent for training in Mali, and locally in Nigeria.

Nudged further to reveal more links, Davis said:
“Funds are provided to purchase weapons. This is sometimes transferred through the Central Bank of Nigeria to a person in Cairo who provides the weapons and also provides military uniforms.
At other times vehicles are purchased in Benin for example and driven into Nigeria where they are sold for cash. They do not mind taking a loss on the sale price as by this method they can obtain cash in Nigeria without a direct link to the sponsor.”

According to him, the recipient of the terror money in Egypt is a Kanuri man, whose identity is known by DSS.


Excerpts from the interview:

What sort of sponsorship has been mentioned by Boko Haram that they have received?

Former governor Sheriff was specifically mentioned many times. Specifically for example, Sheriff was mentioned as sponsoring trips of the boys to the Lesser Hajj. There, the boys are “reorientated”.
In effect they are recruited to Boko Haram. When they return to Nigeria the recruits are then taken off for further reorientation by which they mean teaching and for training. Some of the training took place in Mali by Tuareg leaders but now more training is conducted locally.

Could mere funding for Lesser Hajj by the assumed sponsors have manifested in the high level of sophistication that the sect has assumed today?

Funds are provided to purchase weapons. This is sometimes transferred through the Central Bank of Nigeria to a person in Cairo who provides the weapons and also provides military uniforms.
At other times vehicles are purchased in Benin for example and driven into Nigeria where they are sold for cash. They do not mind taking a loss on the sale price as by this method they can obtain cash in Nigeria without a direct link to the sponsor.


This person in Cairo, is he an Egyptian? Why are you not able to disclose his identity to the security agents for necessary action?

No, he is Nigerian. He is a Kanuri who has fought with Boko Haram and now associates with a network of jihadists. I have given all his details to the DG-SSS.

What sort of vehicles do they purchase?

VW Golf was mentioned as a favourite. They can sell these very easily in Nigeria. They do keep some to use for suicide bombing. Some time ago they told me one sponsor pledged six Hilux vehicles for the suicide bombers.

You have heard that a “fake” Shekau was killed last week in Kondunga. Do you believe what the military is claiming that the man killed was Shekau or possibly a “fake” Shekau?

I continue to believe that Shekau was killed on or about June 19, 2013 when we were deeply engaged in peace discussions. I have had so many senior commanders tell me that Shekau is dead. It was several weeks after that a Shekau video appeared on YouTube. When I viewed that video with JAS leaders they immediately said, “That boy. We have used him before.” They were totally dismissive of any claim that Shekau was still alive. They referred to the person in the video as the “fake Shekau”. Some months later one of the senior commanders told me the name of the fake Shekau was Abdul Mutallif. The commander who named him was the one who wrote the script that the fake Shekau reads from in the videos.
But I have heard they have used more than one fake Shekau. In July this year I was told the fake Shekau is Isa Damasaka. Earlier in June they referred to him as Bashir.
We had been in communication with him over the release of the Chibok girls. Isa Damasaka is one of the names the military has released when identifying the man killed at Kondunga last week. He has also been identified as Bashir Mohammed so I am confident this man is indeed the fake Shekau.
However, I do not know if Abdul Mutallif is another name he used or there is another fake Shekau named Abdul Mutallif who may still be alive. I have no doubt we will know soon so we await a new video by another fake Shekau.
The man who was captured at Kondunga last week was a great source of information about Boko Haram sponsors. He was captured alive. The military are too quick to execute captured Boko Haram leaders. This man could have revealed so much about Boko Haram and its sponsors that may have brought a quick end to the terrorism.

There are some reports that many Boko Haram fighters have surrendered in recent days. You want to say something on this?
This is an indication that Boko Haram commanders now understand that they have been fooled. They have followed a “fake” Shekau. Boko Haram fighters have died following a fake Shekau and fake teaching.
The political sponsors have led these boys to believe that they are purifying Islam, purging the country of corruption by slaughtering people. In fact the political sponsors of Boko Haram are corrupt politicians seeking power and more wealth. The sponsors epitomise all that the Boko Haram fighters are seeking to eliminate from Nigeria.

The man who was captured at Kondunga last week was a great source of information about Boko Haram sponsors. He was captured alive. The military are too quick to execute captured Boko Haram leaders. This man could have revealed so much about Boko Haram and its sponsors that may have brought a quick end to the terrorism.

So what is next for Boko Haram?
The death of the fake Shekau shows how the fighters have been duped and totally misled by the sponsors.
The fighters and commanders would be wise to take this opportunity to reach out to the government for a peace dialogue.
If they do not believe they can have a peace dialogue without being captured and executed the alternative message I have for the commanders is this: Your sponsors will use you and sacrifice you so they can gain power. Set the captive girls free and walk away from Boko Haram while you still have the opportunity.

MY STORY: ORITSEJAFOR SPEAKS ON THE $9.3MN SEIZED CASH

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN on Monday washed his hands off the controversies surrounding the smuggling of $9.3 million to South Africa allegedly for the purchase of arms. The funds was seized in South Africa on 5 September from two Nigerians and an Israeli who brought it into the country in a private jet owned by the CAN President.

While speaking at the meeting of the National Executive Council meeting of CAN at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on Monday, Oritsejafor admitted that though he owned the private jet which was used to convey the raw cash to South Africa, he has leased the aircraft to another company when it was involved in the cash smuggling incident.

Oritsejafor who promised that he will not do anything to tarnish Christianity said: “As you are all aware, the media has been awash in the past few days about an unfortunate incident involving the movement of funds from Nigeria to South Africa.


•Oritsejafor: states his story
The CAN President also used the occasion to affirm that he did not receive any aircraft from the President as it is being insinuated.

“In the unfortunate news reports, attempts have been made to link me directly with the transaction.

“So far I have refrained from making any direct public response pending the time that I would have brief the leaders if the church and explain my position on the issues to them.

“I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church.
‎
“At the risk of being seen to be defending myself, I wish to confirm to the distinguished leaders of the church that the Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft in question is mine.

“The aircraft was presented to me as a gift by members of our congregation and ministry partners worldwide at my 40th anniversary of my call into the ministry.

“May I be permitted to stress that the aircraft was not given to me by the President of Nigeria, neither was it a settlement for any political favour or patronage.

“With the benefit of hindsight, the President of the country was a guest in our church during the anniversary celebration when the jet was presented to me.

“The President of Nigeria has nothing to do with the gift of the aircraft. By the way I still wonder why all those saying this, still cannot come out to show proof so that the matter can be put to rest once and for all. Let me say that this might be an issue for the courts in the near future.

“Based on this, I leased the aircraft on August 2, 2014 to a company to run it. It was the leasee that entered into an agreement with the people who carried out the transfer of funds. Having leased the aircraft to the Green Coast Produce Company Limited, any transaction undertaken with the aircraft can no longer be attached to me.

“In as much as I am shocked and distressed by the incident, I wish to appeal to Christians in Nigeria to remember that a war has been waged against the Nigerian church.

“This war is being fought on many fronts and this unfortunate incident is another dimension in the assault against the church.

“It is clear that those who manipulated this conspiracy desire to create a schism in the church.

“The media hype and the deliberate distortion of information that followed it confirmed that forces that desperately desire to cause division and disunity in the church are at work. Even the devil knows that a house that is divided cannot stand.

“As Christians, we need unity in the church now more than ever. We are witnessing inhuman attacks by religious extremists against Christians in the northern part of the country, while christian infrastructure is being destroyed in hundreds.

“If we permit the enemy divide us, our chances of corporate survival shall be severely threatened.

“Distinguished leaders of the church, please permit me to state clearly before God and before all of you here present today, that I am not a party to the movement of $9.3m from Nigeria to South Africa to purchase arms and ammunition. I am not part of the deal. I know nothing about it,” said Oristejafor.
‎
While commending the Catholic Church for its support, Oritsejafor asked the heads of the different blocks that make up CAN to caution and control their subordinates and followers from making public statements that will further divide the church.

BI-COURTNEY FLOORS AMCON IN COURT

A Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out an order obtained ‎by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to take over the assets of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, managers of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 because of debts to creditors.
Bi-Courtney had asked the court to strike out the order, alleging that it was obtained fraudulently.
The order was obtained by AMCON counsel, Olisa Agbakoba.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Muhammed Buba struck out the ‎order on the ground that it was an abuse of  court processes. He declared it null and void.
Reacting to the judgment at a press conference in Lagos, ‎Bi-Courtney described it as victory to the rule of law.
The company said the ruling had strengthened its confidence in the rule of law.
“We are happy to report that consistent with our position all along, the court today decided that Mr. Olisa Agbakoba is not a receiver of MMA2 nor Bi-Courtney or any other company related to Bi-Courtney,” the company said in a statement read by its Chief Operations Officer, Adebisi Awoniyi.
“The court categorically confirmed that the order obtained by Mr. Olisa Agbakoba on behalf of AMCON constitutes a gross abuse of the process of court and was designed to ridicule the legal system,” she said.
The company said it is not indebted to AMCON or any other person.
“On the contrary it is AMCON and the Federal Government of Nigeria that owe Bi-Courtney N132 billion which has remained unpaid till date,” the company said.
Bi-Courtney said it will continue to provide “exceptional services to Nigerians as demonstrated by its airport terminal‎ which has been acclaimed by the best run in the country”.
As how much does Bi-Courtney owe the banks or other ‎creditors, Bi- Courtney Lawyer said “nothing”.
Bi-Courtney had collected loans from banks ‎to build the modern MMA2 and five star hotel at the airport but could not pay back as agreed in various agreements.
The bad loans were then transfered to AMCON as a way of bailing out the banks following the financial meltdown of 2008 – 2009.
Bi-Courtney was meant to pay back AMCON but began losing revenues following the Federal government’s failure to abide by the terms of the concession agreement.
In the agreement, all Nigerian airlines were meant to operate from MMA2, but Arik Air, Nigeria’s largest airline kicked against it and continued to operate from the old domestic terminal in Lagos.
Bi-Courtney Approached the courts to compel Arik to relocate to MMA2 ‎but despite several victories, Arik has refused to relocate and the Federal Government has been unable to intervene.
It is because of such failures that Bi-Courtney lawyer, Oshobi and the company’s Chief Executive officer, Christophe Penninck have continued to claim ‎that Bi-Courtney is not indebted to the government.
Bi-Courtney is owned by Barrister Wale Babalakin.





Via PM News

BETWEEN FAYOSE AND JOSHUA BY ADEWALE MAJA-PEARCE

In the wake of the Ekiti gubernatorial election last July, I was among those who chastised Fayemi for putting physical over stomach infrastructure, as in the case of the expired Thai rice. He was too aloof, an intellectual who didn’t sit down by the roadside and drink pami with the people. I even accused him of lacking ‘common sense’, which I now regret. You can’t be both a democrat and a thug. You can’t, for instance, concede power gracefully, which was what Fayemi did because ‘I am a democrat and the will of the people is the basis of democracy’, and at the same time burn down the opposition party’s headquarters even before assuming power, which was what Fayose did, but only after slapping a high court Judge, such is mindset of the man of the people.

I remember a photograph of Fayose in his post-election press conference with Fayemi. He wore a pair of dark jeans and a red T-shirt with short white sleeves and the legend TOKYO in bold white lettering across his chest. But it was the round, white-rimmed sunglasses which sealed the thuggish impression, more so given that the event was being held indoors. Fayemi, by contrast, who sat across from him on the sofa, was dressed more demurely in the same dark jeans but with a plain white short-sleeve shirt and what seemed like a smile of mild bemusement while his would-be successor addressed the assembled journalists, a mike in his right hand showing off a white wristband, which completed the ensemble.

Fayose, of course, was already widely known for his thuggish behaviour during his first incarnation between 2003 and 2006. ‘Where is Bode Olowoporoku, I want to kill him, I have immunity,’ he once thundered as he led his merry men to attack the then senator of the federal republic, who had been tipped off by well-wishers and miraculously escaped. Not so fortunate were four students at the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti who took part in a peaceful demonstration to protest the imposition of a provost and paid with their lives; another was so severely beaten that his leg had to be amputated.

The fact that Fayose was selected to contest at all says much about the equally thuggish nature of PDP itself, which has since declined to comment on his latest outrages, even objecting to Fayemi’s call for the man to be prosecuted outside the state in order to ensure transparency given the complicity of the security forces who stood by during the invasion of the hallowed chamber. One recalls the occasion in 2004 when, piqued by the ‘loss’ of Anambra State, suspected PDP thugs burnt down government offices and two studios of the state-run radio station while the police also stood idly by, causing Chinua Achebe, the celebrated novelist, to reject a national honour on the grounds that the then president, Obasanjo, had turned his state into a ‘lawless fiefdom’. Ironically, it was Obasanjo who was later to call Fayose a ‘bastard’ but his political son had learnt well enough. They have since been reconciled, bastards, like thieves, being without honour.

So the consensus is that Ekiti is also about to be turned into a lawless fiefdom with the full connivance of the presidency. With Ondo now under PDP and Osun recently – and miraculously - spared the same, all eyes are now on Lagos, Ogun and Oyo. It is an open secret that PDP would love to ‘capture’ the troublesome south-west, as they once briefly did under Obasanjo, with Lagos as the jewel in the crown. Whether this ultimately matters is a moot point. As I have argued in previous blogs, one is hard-pressed to see any difference between the ruling party and the so-called ‘opposition’. Impunity is the name of the game, whatever the supposed political colouration of the party concerned, as witness both Jonathan and Fashola rushing to congratulate Pastor Joshua for breaching the building regulations which Fashola had himself earlier vowed to curb: ‘It is our job to ensure that no life is lost where the circumstances are avoidable, therefore, when people do not die of old age, illnesses that sciences can’t treat, rather they died because people cut corners...'

Indeed, the collapse of the building in the extensive compound that is the Synagogue Church of All Nations might usefully be taken as a metaphor for the collapsed state of Nigeria itself. Moreover, as with the victory of Fayose, who was, after all, voted in by the people who already knew of his antecedents but were willing, it seems, to exchange their birthright for bags of expired rice, so it appears that Prophet Joshua’s followers still continue to flock to his house of miracles despite the evidence of his culpability in what can only be described as murder, as I saw for myself when I drove past the place last Sunday. It may very well be that the self-declared man of God can make the blind see and the lame walk, as many insist, but this is as nothing compared to the greater miracle that is their continued belief in one who so casually dismissed the tragedy caused by his own negligence - even as he proved himself unable to raise the dead.

Between Fayose and Joshua, what hope for Nigeria? Both seem to have grasped the gullible, miracle-seeking nature of the Nigerian people who simply refuse to believe in the evidence of their own eyes and thereby collude in their bondage. Democracy is doubtless a good thing, and may even be the solution to our myriad problems, but it is not an imminent possibility so many years after the soldiers returned to the barracks. It might be galling to admit it, but the politicians and pastors who prey on us have understood us well enough.





© Adewale Maja-Pearce


Adewale Maja-Pearce is the author of several books, including Loyalties 
and Other Stories, In My Father's Country, How many miles to Babylon?, A 
Mask Dancing, Who's Afraid of Wole Soyinka?, From Khaki to Agbada, 
Remembering Ken Saro-Wiwa and Other Essays, A Peculiar Tragedy, and 
Counting the Cost, as well as the 1998 and 1999 annual reports on human 
rights violations in Nigeria. He also edited The Heinemann Book of African 
Poetry in English, Wole Soyinka: An Appraisal, Christopher Okigbo: 
Collected Poems, The New Gong Book of New Nigerian Short Stories,
and Dream Chasers. The House My Father Built, a memoir, will be
published later this year.

MEET THE WOMAN SET TO BE BRAZIL'S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT

Barack Obama made history in the USA by becoming the first African American president in 2009. Down south in Brazil, a 56 year old woman, twice married, holds prospects of becoming the first black president of the country, where blacks are still discriminated against.

Brazilian presidential candidate Marina Silva only learned to read at 16 and endured a tough childhood as a rubber tapper in the Amazon before considering whether to become a Catholic nun.

Instead, she became involved in politics, as a green campaigner, a senator and then a minister.

Next month, the 56-year-old environmentalist hopes to become Brazil’s first black and evangelical president.

Socialist Party candidate Silva, neck-and-neck in the polls with incumbent and former Workers Party ally Dilma Rousseff, appears fragile with her small frame and hair always neatly in a bun.

But she is proving a feisty campaigner as she prepares for a first-round battle on October 5 and likely runoff three weeks later.

“We are going to elect Brazil’s first black president,” Silva told a recent rally in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Sao Paulo state, a fiefdom of charismatic former union leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who served two terms as president from 2003-2010 before anointing Rousseff his successor.

Silva, who served as environment minister under Lula for five years before quitting over policy disagreements, took up the baton for the Socialists only after the August 13 plane-crash death of presidential candidate Eduardo Campos, for whom she had been a running mate.

Born on February 8, 1958 in the poor Amazonian state of Acre bordering Peru, Silva was one of 11 siblings. She worked from the age of ten as a rubber tapper, and only learned to read at 16.

“There are two factors with Marina Silva,” said Andre Cesar, with the political consulting firm Prospectiva.

“There’s the emotional side, after the death of Campos, and the rational side, garnering votes from those in the sizable undecided camp as well as evangelicals.”


More than a decade ago, Silva converted to evangelism, joining the Assembly of God neo-Pentecostal church which counts 12.5 million members.

“You have to know that if Marina wins, Brazil will not backslide. Marina is open, cultured and a strong supporter of the lay state,” despite conservative positions on issues such as abortion and gay marriage, said campaign representative Mauricio Rands.

Silva does oppose abortion, as do a majority of Brazilians, but says she would hold a referendum on the issue and respect the result.

A mother of four, the twice-married Silva remains opposed to liberalization of drug laws as well as stem cell research and gay marriage.

Silva is bent on becoming Brazil’s first black president in a country where a narrow majority of the 200 million population is black or of mixed race.

Some observers have nicknamed her “Lula in a skirt,” comparing her rise to prominence with that of the two-term former president — who is backing Rousseff in the election.

Battling hepatitis in her teens, Marina left her home village. She eventually entered a convent but then discovered Liberation Theology — the belief that faith should be used to help the poor by encouraging their participation in political life.

That moved her to become active in union business and green campaigning as she joined the struggle of “seringueiros” (rubber tappers) fighting Amazonian deforestation.

Along the way, she obtained a university diploma in history.

She was elected to office as a PT-affiliated Rio Branco council member, then in 1994 at the age of 36, became the youngest senator in Brazilian history.

After Lula took power in 2003, he made Silva environment minister and she set about reducing deforestation in Amazonia.

But in 2009, she quit the party, seeing strong economic growth as based on the destruction of natural resources.

Switching to the Green ticket for the 2010 election, she placed third with a 20 percent vote share as Rousseff, whom she now looks to oust, succeeded Lula.

AGAIN, OBASANJO GOES BACK TO SCHOOL

Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, is set to go back to school for a higher degree in Christian Theology. Obasanjo will on today, formally enrol as a graduate student at the headquarters of the National Open University of Nigeria in Lagos.
Having obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in 2009, Obasanjo will now be working towards a doctorate degree, beginning first with a Masters degree, an associate of the former president disclosed.
When contacted Monday night, Obasanjo confirmed he was returning to school.
He said it was important for him to make some commitments towards achieving his aspirations in life.
“I’m going back to school because I have to have something to aspire to in every endeavour of life,” Obasanjo said. “I always aspire to something new in my farm. I do that in my international activities. I do it in my writing. I do it in the improvement of my academic work which helps to sharpen my brain and strengthen my 

faith.”
When asked how he was going to cope combining his studies with his tight international engagements, Obasanjo said he would take advantage of the flexibility of the National Open University’s system.
“Fortunately, the Open University is flexible enough and I will definitely be able to cope. I was able to cope when I did the Post Graduate. I was also busy during the period,” he said.
The National Open University was initially established in 1983 but was suspended by the then military government in 1984. Obasanjo resuscitated it in 2001.
In November 2006, a few months to the end of his eight-year tenure, the then president enrolled for a post graduate diploma in Christian Theology at the university.
He graduated in January 2009.
At the graduation ceremony, the then Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olagbemiro Jegede, described Obasanjo as a hardworking student.
”As a student, Obasanjo vigorously pursued his studies on full time basis…He is a shinning example of how seriously a student should take his learning. Like everybody, he sat for all the examinations using anonymous matriculation numbers, and by our internal quality control and security-proof control measures, his papers were marked by different tutors located in some of our study centres including Damaturu, Minna and Yenagoa,” Mr. Jegede said.



Via PREMIUM TIMES

TINUBU CALLS FOR REVOLUTION

A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says there is a need for the country to undergo a “common sense” revolution in the country.
Tinubu, who is a national leader of the All Progressives Congress said the many years of misrule by successive Peoples Democratic Party presidents had continued to sink the country further into crisis.
The former governor said this in a statement titled ‘A Return to Decency,’ on Monday.
He described the 16 years of PDP rule at the federal level as a period of steady decline into disaster.
He said, “The longer they rule, the less benefit the people derive. Nigeria now needs a ‘common sense revolution,’ a revolution that calls forth a return to decency, probity, transparency of process and fairness in outcome.
“This is done not by subterfuge, divide and rule and turning Nigeria in a field of discord or a street of broken institutions. It is accomplished by honouring the principles of democratic good governance and economic justice. It is done by persuading the people they are better off as one instead of better off tearing at one another’s throats.
“Nigerians should be prepared for change. We must rescue Nigeria from those set to cause it irreparable harm. The change I talk about is the only route to our deliverance from 16 years of the PDP locusts. Nigeria is ours to keep and its democracy is ours to save.”
He advised that this year’s Independence Day should be a time of sober reflection because other countries that received independence at the same time as Nigeria had since surpassed the country.
He described the Nigeria of today as the nightmare of its founding fathers. Tinubu further berated the PDP-led Federal Government of using religion to divide Nigerians.
He said, “We commemorate this Independence Day because the nation has survived despite its many challenges. We dare not celebrate because the nation has not flourished as it should. Fifty four years our national trek began with hope and promise, peace and unity.
“Today, the nation staggers beneath the weight of trouble multiplied by hardship. Peace and unity seem to have yielded the moment to violence and discord. We exist as a political unit on a map but we do not prosper as brothers and sisters in one nation, under one flag and pursuant to one accord.”
“Never has an elected government in Nigeria employed religion as a tool to divide the people, setting Nigerian brother against brother in a manner that allows this administration to function at the basest level of governance while seeking to establish a political domination that seeks no greater purpose than its self-perpetuation.”
He described attempts to stigmatise and physically intimidate the APC and the militarisation of elections as features of a perverse democracy.
He described President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda as an avenue to siphon funds through a dubious blueprint.
“They do not have a national blueprint or vision. They do have a blueprint and vision for excessive self-enrichment. Their equation is simple: You work, they feast. You toil, they grow fat. You seek a decent wage; they pilfer the collective treasury to enjoy a king’s ransom,” he said.
He said rather than promote religious tolerance and harmonious living, Jonathan’s government believes its electoral chances are enhanced by promoting ethnicism, internal divisions and religious suspicion but “successful nations are not built this way, have we not learned the lesson that we paid the high price of civil war to learn.”

NIGERIA RANKED 37TH IN GOOD GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA

Despite so called transformation agenda, Nigeria's Jonathan fails to impress Mo Ibrahim Leadership and country rating


Egypt and Libya plunged in an annual ranking of good governance in Africa released Monday whose publishers also warned the raging Ebola epidemic will have a political fallout for the already fragile countries affected.

The biggest riser in the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, released in London, was Ivory Coast, which garnered 7.8 points more to be ranked 40th out of 52 African countries.

Despite Nigeria’s claim of executing a transformation agenda, the country only earned 0.6 points more than last year’s score. It is ranked 37th, with Cameroon, Liberia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Djibouti, Comoros doing much better.

Mo Ibrahim, the Sudan-born telecoms tycoon who founded the index, said overall governance had improved on the continent over the past five years, though all the leading countries have seen reverses in some fields.

Mauritius remains at the top of the 52 countries ranked, while Somalia stays far adrift at the bottom of the table.

The index ranks countries according to 95 indicators grouped under four categories: safety and the rule of law, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity and human development.

Egypt and Libya, two countries shaken by Arab Spring revolutions, have fallen the furthest in the rankings, while Tunisia, which started the wave of uprisings, has remained relatively stable.

Egypt has shown the biggest deterioration in overall governance over the past five years, dropping eight points to 51.1 out of 100. It is consequently down 14 places in the African rankings to 26th.

Neighbouring Libya dropped 7.4 points to 42.1, and 16 places in the rankings to 43rd.

Other big fallers were Guinea-Bissau, the Central African Republic and Mali.

– Ivory Coast on the up –

The biggest gain in the index over the last five years has been Ivory Coast, up 7.8 points to 44.3, and rising six places in the index to 40th.

“They have commendable leadership and a clear vision as to where they want to take the country,” Abdoulie Janneh, one of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation board members, told AFP.

“It is regaining its place as the economic leader in francophone west Africa.”

The other big risers were Guinea, Niger, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

The top five countries in the 2014 index remained the same: Mauritius (81.7), Cape Verde (76.6), Botswana (76.2), South Africa (73.3) and the Seychelles (73.2).

But even the leaders showed some reversals too, with South Africa losing ground in safety and the rule of law, and participation and human rights.

The bottom five in the 2014 overall rankings were Guinea-Bissau (33.2), Chad (32.3), Eritrea (29.8), the Central African Republic (24.8) and Somalia (8.6).

– Ebola fear factor ‘colossal’ –

Sierra Leone (25th), Liberia (31st) and Guinea (42nd), all gripped by west Africa’s Ebola crisis, were ill-equipped to handle the epidemic, Ibrahim said, while there are fears it will drag them lower in the rankings.

“It’s no coincidence that the three countries most affected are fragile, coming out of conflicts with limited ability to deliver efficient health care,” he said.

“Countries with more resilient systems, like Senegal and Nigeria, have managed to contain it.”

Janneh said the effects of the outbreak would likely be reflected in future indices.

“It is causing severe economic hardship, affecting agriculture, schools and tourism. The fear factor is just colossal,” he said.

Overall across Africa, the index showed a 0.9-point improvement in governance over the last five years.

Economic improvements drove up African governance levels from 2004 to 2008, but in the last five years have flatlined.

“With everybody talking about the ‘economic miracle’ in Africa, we need to watch out here,” Ibrahim said.

Progress in the participation and human rights category is what is now the main driver of overall African governance improvements, with Tunisia, Libya, Ivory Coast, Niger and Guinea showing the biggest rises.

Previously the index has been announced alongside the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership — the world’s biggest individual prize.

Given to retiring good leaders, no suitable candidates have been found in four of the last five years.

The award overshadowed the more meaty data charting Africa’s progress, so this year the two were being unveiled separately although no date has yet been set for the leadership prize announcement.

JONATHAN NAMES NIGERIA'S NATIONAL FLAG DESIGNER, AKINKUNMI, SPECIAL AIDE FOR LIFE

It was a double honour for Michael Akinkunmi, the designer of the Nigerian flag, as President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday conferred on him the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR, and appointed him his special assistant for life.
Mr. Akinkunmi, 78, a retired civil servant, was among the 313 Nigerians honoured with national awards by Mr. Jonathan at the International Conference centre, Abuja.
Also honoured were a presidential steward, a traffic warden and a taxi driver, Imeh Usuah, the 66-year-old who returned N18million forgotten in his car to the rightful owner. They were each given a house in Abuja.
While 25 of the awardees received the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, CFR, 60 others were conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON.
A total of 54 awardees received the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OFR, award, and 63 were decorated as Officers of the Order of the Niger, OON.
The Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, and the Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, awards went out to 53 and 56 recipients, respectively.
Two of the awardees each received the First and Second Class of the Federal Republic Medal.
Unlike in previous years, none of the awardees got the highest honours of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, and the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON.
The award ceremony was held under tight security.

10 NIGERIAN PILGRIMS DIE IN MECCA - HAJJ COMMISSION

Ten Nigerians in Saudi Arabia to perform the Islamic hajj rites have been confirmed dead, the Coordinator of the National Hajj Commission in Mecca, Aliyu Tanko, said on Monday.
Mr. Tanko said at least 50,000 Nigerian pilgrims have so far arrived Mecca with virtually all them having performed the Umrah rites.
In a telephone chat in Mecca on Monday, Mr. Tanko said that the commission’s three clinics in Mecca and those set up by the various state pilgrims boards provide effective medical services to Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca.
He urged pilgrims to always seek medical advice before embarking on pilgrimage and warned them against exposing themselves to the harsh weather in the Holy Land.
Ebola checkpoints
In a related development, two lounges were provided at Jeddah airport to check African pilgrims for Ebola, with King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) having the two lounges to receive pilgrims coming from Nigeria and some other African countries as a preventive measure against the Ebola virus.
“So far 118,000 pilgrims have arrived by air from Nigeria. There was not a single suspected case of the deadly virus among anyone of them,” said Abdul Ghani Al-Malki, the supervisor of Haj affairs at the terminal.
He said that aircrafts coming from Nigeria are thoroughly checked to prevent the deadly virus.
According to him, an integrated plan was implemented at the airport to prevent the spread of Ebola. ‘’Emergency doctors and consultants in infectious diseases are participating in the execution of the plan in addition to qualified teams who are capable of checking the virus,’’ Mr. Al-Malki said.
He said pilgrims arriving from all parts of the world are being checked against contagious diseases. “We are particularly checking pilgrims coming from countries with reported cases of Ebola including Nigeria, Kenya and Congo,” he said.
The Saudi Kingdom has prevented entry of pilgrims from the Ebola-infected countries in West Africa namely Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. While any suspected case will be transported immediately to King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah for quarantining and treatment.
Our correspondent observed that special forms were distributed among all airline companies containing questions for the pilgrims to answer.
“The pilgrims are asked about their whereabouts for the last 21 days which is the incubation period of the virus,” Abdur Razaq Halliru Gozaki, a Nigerian Port Health official now performing pilgrimage said. 

THE UNTOLD STORY OF HOW LEKAN ABASS WIDOW, FOLAKE DIED 10 DAYS AFTER HIS DEATH

-The Tragic Story of How She Slipped Into Coma, and Never Recovered
-Couple To Be Buried This Week


Exactly ten days after the death of Otunba Lekan Abass, the Ibadan based socialite and businessman, his wife, Folake has also died. Her death occurred on Friday, 26 September, 2014. She was in her early 40's. Since the news of her death broke out, the entire Ibadan community has been enveloped in palpable sorrow.

It will be recalled that Abass had died after suffering a heart attack on Tuesday, 16 September 2014. The circumstances that led to his suffering an heart attack and eventual death is equally tragic. It was gathered that Folake was scheduled to undergone a fibroid surgery at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital, UCH. Sources

disclosed that shortly before the surgery, the doctors found out that Folake had Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood clot). The blood clot had spiraled down to her heart, and the implication of this was that, the surgery could not be performed on her. Invariably, she was reported to have been given some drugs. Unfortunately, the drugs had an adverse effect on her, as they broke the clot into pieces, thus causing her to slip into coma. 
Sources disclosed to The ELITES that Folake was in Coma for over two weeks, and she was on life support machine at the hospital. Her condition was reported to taken its toll on her husband, Lekan as he became worried and wearied with the thoughts that Folake might not come out of her comatose state. 

When the doctors observed that the chances of Folake coming of out of Coma were very slim, they were reported to have informed her family members of the next line of action to take. This announcement was said to have prompted Folake's sister to go into a state of panic. It was in this panic state that she reportedly called Lekan and informed him of the development. 

The ELITES gathered that Abass was hanging out with some friends at Davies Hotel, Old Bodija, when he received the call from Folake's sister, summoning him to the hospital. Gripped with panic, Abass jumped into his car and headed for the hospital. Three of his friends were said to have joined him as well. It was while the group was midway to the hospital that one of Abass' friends, Nekan noticed the abnormal way he was heaving and breathing. Before the other passengers could caution Abass, they noticed that his legs had gone stiff. This resulted in the car, swerving from one end of the road to the other. The car suddenly stopped when it crashed into the wall of a building, housing the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG church. 

Sadly though, Lekan Abass died before he could be taken to the hospital. Those who saw his body before it was wheeled into the mortuary, claimed that the magnitude of the stroke must have been a massive one. 

The tragic death of Lekan and Folake Abass has left many people numb with shock and sorrow. Governor Ajimobi, who just returned from an official trip abroad, has become inconsolable ever since the tragic incident occurred. 

A very successful businessman, with vested interest in property and real estate, Abass was the closest person to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State. A filial bond existed between the two men, and so tight was the bond, that most people in the state, regarded Abass as the defacto deputy-governor of the state. Abass had Ajimobi's ears on every issue. Most top government officials were known to have solicited for his assistance whenever they needed favor from the governor. The ELITES gathered that Abass was one of the few people who stood by Ajimobi, in some of his most trying moments. Also, it is a known fact that it was Abass that facilitated the allocation of contracts to many notable Big Boys, both in Ibadan and Lagos. Notable among some of his close friends are Reuben Famuyibo, Gbenga Obembe, Lekan Oshifeso, Goddy Mekweye (Vivid Imagination), Andre Olajide, Bashy Kuti, Noah Oyenehin, Tayo Alakiu and many others. 

Described as very sociable and stylish, Abass was a favorite among many ladies. His first marriage, which produced a boy Juwon, crashed in 2007. Just last July, Juwon had made his father proud when he emerged as the best graduating student from Babcock University, from where he bagged a degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering. 

Sources disclosed that Lekan's decision to get married again was fueled by Governor Ajimobi. It was gathered that Ajimobi had pressured him to take that decision because he wanted him to have a settled life. So, in January 2013, Abass had got married, for the second time, to Folake, a senior manager at Guarantee Trust Bank, GT Bank. The wedding ceremony, which took place in Lagos, had King Sunny Ade on the bandstand, and it was graced by Governor Ajimobi, his wife, Florence and many prominent dignitaries.
Ironically too, Folake who was in her early 40's, was once married. The marriage, which didn't produce a child, ended when her husband died in a car crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway some years back. 
The ELITES gathered that the couple would be buried this week. While Lekan will be buried on Thursday, 2 October, his wife will be buried the following day, Friday, 3 October. Sources disclosed that Folake's parents have respected that she be buried in accordance faith, which she practiced during her lifetime.  
Lekan Abass is survived by an aged mother and a son, Juwon. Folake is survived by her parents and siblings. 

BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSWOMAN, BOLA SHAGAYA BUYS PRIVATE JET...TO CELEBRATE 55TH BIRTHDAY

 -Becomes The 4th Nigerian Woman To Own A Private Jet

Come October 10, Hajia Bola Muinat Shagaya will clock 55. Although, no definite plan has been unfolded, the Ilorin, Kwara State billionaire plans to treat herself and members of her family to a modest celebration. It is gathered that the very humble billionaire might opt for a quiet celebration in London or visit Saudi Arabia to pray. Meanwhile, the thrust of the gist here is that Shagaya has joined the league of private jet owners. A few days ago, she took delivery of a Gulf Stream aircraft. With this new acquisition, Shagaya has become the fourth Nigerian woman to own a private jet. The other three women are Folorunso Alakija, Deziani Alison-M,adueke and Stella Ada Oduah.

A lady of sartorial style and elegance, the hallmark of Shagaya’s personality remains her penchant for modesty and humble disposition. Shagaya is regarded as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest women, and she is highly connected within the Nigerian corporate and social establishment. She is regarded as the closest friend of Dame Patience Jonathan, the Nigerian First Lady. Their friendship dated back to the period when the late Stella Obasanjo was Nigeria’s First Lady. Dame Patience, whose husband was then the deputy-governor of Bayelsa State, established a bond with Shagaya during this period.

 The hallmark of her personality remains her penchant for modesty and humble disposition. The two women have remained as best friends ever since then.

TFC BOSS, YINKA ADEDAYO AND HUSBAND REMEMBER LATE SON, OLUBUNMI

Kunle and Yinka Adedayo with daughter-in-law and grandchildren

The Headquarters of one of Nigeria’s biggest fast food joints, TFC (Tastee Fried Chicken) has been renamed Bunmi’s Place, in honour of Olubunmi Adedayo, the only child of the owners, Kunle and Olayinka Adedayo. Olubunmi, who passed away on September 24th 2013  in South Africa, was an Executive Director at TFC.

The unveiling of Bunmi’s Place took place on September 25th at the company’s corporate HQ in Oyin Jolayemi, Victoria a Island. The event also featured the introduction of a Bunma Bread into the Tastee Food Chain products. 

Below are pictures from the event

Source: Ovation International

TRIBUTE TO AN INSURANCE COLOSSUS, REMI OLOWUDE BY GBOYEGA OKEGBENRO

Today, almost 36 hours after the sad , irreversible demise of one of the most influential persons in my life story, I found the strength, to mourn the passing on, of a great son of Africa, the Insurance and entrepreneurship colossus, Mr. Andrew Oluremi Olowude
Uncle Remi, as most of his younger colleagues, friends and aburos worldwide called him, just can't be described in words. He was of many parts; faces; and bends to hundreds of his younger friends and associates including my humble self.
My path crossed Uncle Remi's early in 1992 after I decided on a short break from journalism which had been my mainstay for the preceding 10 years. Within days of joining IGI as the founding Manager in charge of Corporate Affairs and his Personal Assistant; my life and Uncle Remi's became so intricately conjoined.
We worked very closely together for upwards of 15 hours every day and I, deep in my heart, was the greater beneficiary in spite of the tasking schedule; as those remained the most indelible post- graduation and Enterpreneurship-Mentorship years of my life!
He was a boss beyond comparison.....studious, focused, tireless, laborious, passionate and extremely creative. His middle name was unmistakably Work, Work and more Work. Like we always joked behind him, my Oga wore his wrist watch as mere jewellery; not some tool of timing start or end of work hours !
Working with Uncle Remi was an incredible internship in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Team Building and an uncanny unbundling of your hitherto undiscovered inner strengths and abilities. 
He took himself and his businesses so seriously ....and infected all around him with the twin virtues of hardwork and infinite possibilities. 
We learnt and learnt and learnt so much from this boss, friend, brother and man of many parts. His family became our family and vice versa. He infected all with his ever-positive personal aura; can do spirit; awesome bravura and, an overdose of never-say-never mentality in work and personal motivation.
I left IGI after just two years with Uncle Remi; but it is a testimony of Uncle Remi's personal convivial spirit that we had remained even much stronger in each other's lives and families. Such was uncle Remi's candour; sense of brotherhood, commitment and open heart.
Without doubt, Egbon will be deeply missed by his innumerable aburos and IGI alumni scattered all over the globe and accross all sectors of the economy.
Sleep on my dear Egbon, Oga and motivator. You have sure left great footprints on the sands of time, especially on our nation's Insurance industry which was your passion. Our prayer is that God in His infinite mercies shall uphold and strengthen our beloved IGI and other institutions you tirelessly built and nurtured so passionately even as your health waned and waned.
Like Christ, you taught us to love and love our neighbour and be our brother's keeper.
Uncle Remi, to live in the hearts of those who love you is not to die. So, in our hearts you live 

MY SON, DAVID OYEDEPO IS A ROLLS ROYCE BISHOP- PASTOR ENOCH ADEBOYE

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, delivered the sermon during the thanksgiving service of Bishop David Oyedepo's 60th birthday celebration. Pastor Adeboye commissioned Oyedepo into Ministry in 1981, and he has become a permanent fixture in his life ever since then. The two great patriarchs of faith, share a father-son relationship. Pastor Adeboye makes some profound remarks during the sermon. 

There are cars and there are cars, but the Rolls Royce is in a class of its own. In the same vein, there are bishops and there are bishops. But Bishop David Oyedepo is a Rolls Royce bishop.

I am excited because he is my son. I can go anywhere and say that he is my son. I always say, humorously, that it is only in Christianity that you see a pastor who is a father to a bishop.

I don’t normally attend birthday celebrations. I always decline such request because the celebrants will not want to hear some of what you want to say. But for me, this particular birthday celebration is different. So, I am going to address my son. I want to tell him that today is a day of stock taking, when you prepare for the task ahead of you.

I have always known Bishop Oyedepo to be a very diligent man. He is a very hardworking man. There have been occasions when we have had to advise each other to take it easy with the pace at which we work. What you see here in Canaanland today, is the work of God plus diligence.

Bishop David Oyedepo is a man of influence. You may not like him, you may not like his message, but you cannot ignore him. Some people say they don’t like to listen to message on prosperity. But I always ask them if it is message on poverty they want to listen to?

My son, Bishop David Oyedepo came into a jungle few years ago, and he has turned it into a mega city within a few years. I am very proud of you my son. 

However, I want to tell you my son, that the day you become a champion, real work has just begun. This is because other people will be contending for your crown. So, it is difficult to remain a champion. The higher you go, the more careful you need to become. The bigger you are the more the opponents become. When people shower you with praise, take it like a chewing gum, swallow the sweetness and then split it out.

Don’t dwell on it for too long. Remember, the man who jumps from a high place does not suffer as much pain as the man who is pushed. Be prepared for the day ahead. Stay connected to the Lord of host. In the name of Jesus, every year, you will be going higher. But do not relax. Until you have crossed the finishing line, the race is not over and the crowning is not over.

Happy birthday my son!