The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Agenda

  • ‘Nigerians in Diaspora contributing to transformation agenda’

    Nigrians in the Diaspora are doing their best to raise the country’s profile in their various countries of residence, Mr. Festus Olatunde, the Chief Executive Officer, Greatway Foundation Scotland, has said.

    Olatunde made this clarification during the formal launching of the pre check-in luggage weighing systems, otherwise called “Best-Weigh” & “Best-Vend” Systems, commissioned at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Abuja recently.

    Speaking on the innovation, Olatunde said it is the airport is the first to have this machine in Africa. This is a unique transformation that will ease the passengers check in process.

    Echoing similar sentiments, the company’s Chairman, Chief Alex Adole explained that the company’s interest in pre check-in luggage weigh systems was informed by the absence of a standard, advanced and technologically driven system which would enable airline passengers from Nigeria and the entire Africa at large, the ease and comfort of checking the weight of their luggage before getting to the check-in point to determine if it conformed to the allowed carriage limit and either reducing or separating it- in the event that it is in excess. “We found that this could be done without having to abandon or send back items of one’s luggage. We saw the inconvenience and discomfort with which air travellers from Nigeria had to check their luggage weight at the check-in point after the wait on the queue, the instances of excess luggage, the haggling and exchange of unpleasant words between passengers and airline staff, the stress of having to leave the queue to repack their luggage and even possibly abandon, discard or send back items in their luggage. They still have to join the queue again and face the same process of weighing yet again until they are cleared for check-in.”

    GAOOUP’s desire, he stressed, “is to remove all of these and provide air passengers the comfort and luxury of ensuring their luggage is not in excess of the allowed carriage limit, repacking and rechecking their luggage if they are in excess; before they get to the check-in points.”

    Pressed further, Adole said: “With Weigh-Ahead, passengers are guided step by step through the easy to use system, allowing them to weigh their luggage and compare it to their flight’s luggage allowance. In less than 30 seconds the system will show the bag’s weight compared to the airline’s baggage allowance and if the bag is overweight, how much the passenger could expect to be charged at check-in. This gives passengers the opportunity to re-pack any excess luggage before they check-in, avoiding any unnecessary airline charges.

    “Our process overall reduces queuing time, speeds up the check-in process, eliminates the stress, cost and embarrassment associated with excess luggage and contributes to improved customer-service and modernising our airports.

    Today, we make bold to say that GAOOUP is Africa’s foremost in the provision of pre-check in luggage weighing systems.”

  • Okowa outlines his agenda for Delta

    Okowa outlines his agenda for Delta

    A governorship aspirant in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has declared that prosperity for all Deltans will be the focal point of his administration, if elected into office. Addressing reporters after the submission of his Nomination and Expression of Interest forms at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters, Abuja, Okowa explained that his desire to be the governor of the oil-rich state is fuelled by his passion to make it “the pacesetter in the Nigerian federation by building an enduring legacy of wealth and prosperity.”

    He promised to build a state where there will be “gainful employment opportunities, a flourishing agriculture and agribusiness sector, effective health and educational systems, and renewed urban infrastructure and security that would enhance continued economic growth and the prosperity of all Deltans.”

    With the campaign theme of “Prosperity for all Deltans,” Senator Okowa, who was accompanied to the PDP headquarters by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi and Capt. Pius Esenebe (rtd.), two former chairmen of Delta State PDP, outlined a five-point agenda with the acronym S.M.A.R.T, which translates to:

    Strategic wealth creation initiatives and provision of Jobs for all; Meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political/social stability; Agricultural reforms and industrialisation; relevant health and education policies; Transformed environment through massive urban renewal.

    Okowa, a former Commissioner and Secretary to the Government, asserted that his “wide ranging experience in the executive and legislative arms of government will be brought to play in the governance of Delta State and my relationship with the people.”

    According to him, deliberate effort will be made under the S.M.A.R.T programme”to generate employment and productive livelihood for the teeming youth population, which will go a long way in reducing undue conflict in social relations and community lives. “A key component of our wealth creation strategy is to encourage multi-national business and industrial activities to settle down and operate in the host communities; and aggressive promotion of Small and Medium Scale enterprises (SMEs), which form the fulcrum of driving economic growth in any society,” he said.

    Okowa, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, promised that his administration will pursue a legislation that will support and promote universal health policy for all Deltans. The governorship hopeful noted that as a Senator he has been deeply involved in promoting necessary legislation to sustain and advance medical practice, institutions and personnel in the health sector and will continue in the same direction if elected governor.

    Elaborating on his industrialisation programme for the state, Okowa said he was determined to continue on the path of progress embarked on by the past and present administrations in the state. “Already, the state, under the outgoing administration,” he said, “has embarked upon certain large industrial activities such as the Warri Industrial Business Park, ICT Park, Free Economic Zones, and 10 small-scale industries under Public/Private Partnership scheme.

    “If completed by 2015, my administration shall accelerate the positive challenges, which these mega industrial activities will offer. If not fully completed, I shall see to it that these valuable economic activities are duly completed, and engage the private sector effectively to drive commerce and grow industries. The state under my leadership will work closely with relevant agencies of the Federal Government in commerce and industry.”

    He promised that “at least one city or urban settlement in each of the 10 federal constituencies will be designated for comprehensive renewal,”if elected as governor.

  • ‘My agenda for Oshodi/Isolo Constituency’

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Alhaji Lateef Raji has joined the House of Representatives race in Oshodi/Isolo Constituency, Lagos State.

    Raji, who made a formal declaration at a meeting of party  members in Oshodi, said he was motivated by the desire to serve the people.

    The aspirant is the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Information and Strategy.

    He recalled that, when he contested and won the primaries for the House of Representatives in 2011, he was asked to step down by the party leadership to step down to enable Hon.  Akinderu Fatai serve for second term.

    “As a loyal party member, I complied with the party’s directive and allowed Akinderu to go for a second term. To me, politics is not a do or die affair. It is God that gives position to people whenever He wishes.

    “Now that the position is vacant, I am seeking the party’s mandate to represent Oshodi   Constituency at the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly. I am sure you will give me the ticket again.  I know your needs. Oshodi is a popular town, not only in Lagos State, but throughout Nigeria. I will strive for the federal presence and the improvement of infrastructural facilities in our constituency and facilitate employment opportunities for the youths.

    “My loyalty to the party is not in doubt. It was in the course of my service to the party that I was manhandled in Ibeju-Lekki.  I met the leader of the gang that attacked me in Saudi Arabia and asked me to forgive him. I told him that it is Allah that forgives. I have put that incident behind me. I have nothing against Bode Oyedele and his group.

    “A person that should represent Oshodi should understand the problems of the people. I have been living in Oshodi in the past 36 years. I married my wife in Shogunle and had all my children here in Oshodi”, he said.

    Raji, who is the former Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), said, if elected into the National Assembly, he would fight for the payment of adequate compensation to the people of Ewu community, whose land was acquired by the Federal Government for the construction of the Murtala Muhamed Airport, Ikeja.

    Another aspirant, Mr Olukayode Tinubu, who wants to represent Oshodi in the House of Assembly, said he would ensure quality representation. He also promised to attract development projects and social amenities to the constituency.

  • My agenda for Abia, by governorship aspirant

    My agenda for Abia, by governorship aspirant

    Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, a Chartered Accountant, is a governorship aspirant in Abia State. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain  spoke with ADEBISI ONANUGA on partisan issues. 

    Why are you in politics, particularly the governorship race of Abia State?

    Like I told people, my coming into politics is beyond zoning, it’s beyond controversy, it’s beyond politics because there’s a reason why God is bringing me out at a time like this for the people of Abia State to rejoice. I want to be governor of Abia so that our people will feel the true dividends of democracy being evenly distributed. What I mean is that, if you do two kilometers of road in the South, you do same in the Central and in the North and make the people to experience just and equitable governance . I’ve told my people that this is the first time we would have a true governor, who is an Abia governor for the entire Abia people, home and abroad.

    What is your platform?

    I’m a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I’m PDP man; I’ve always been in the PDP; I’m a party person; I believe in its ideology, but, I’m not a desperate politician.

    Why are you contesting in the PDP?

    This is because I’ve always been a member of the PDP. One thing you need to understand is that there are two sets of people in the party; we have politicians, who are partisan politicians, and we have politicians who are committed to the party, but they are at the background. It’s just like what you have in a partnership with a dormant partner, but he has his contributions to the partnership. So, from inception of the PDP I’ve been a member.

    What is the assurance that you will be a good governor, if given the opportunity?

    I have over 6,000 people under my employment; it’s all about managing people and resources effectively and efficiently. I’ve ran this place successfully from scratch to where we are today; from zero position to a balance sheet of several billions. So, you can understand what I am talking about. For me, it is about when God calls a man He also empowers him. There is not much difference between public governance an private business undertaking. They are almost the same as it is all about managing people and resources effectively and efficiently. Those who left private enterprises like Governor Obi of Anambra,  Chime of Enugu and Akpabio of Akwa Ibom have justified this assertion.

    What is your pedigree?

    In Abia today, we need a technocrat who can exhibit uncanny business sense and take Abia as a business entity and to bring out the best out of the state in consolidation and building up what the current governor is doing. So, everybody knows that the challenges of doing private business in Nigeria today are enormous, but by and large, we are successful. And  mark this, in my entire career, I’ve never been a failure. So, as long as it is God that is leading me, there’s a pact with Him and I see success ahead. Life itself is full of challenges; a man can decide to go  and take his bath and, in the process slumps in the bathroom and die. Yes, there are challenges both in private and public business, but the ability to navigate round the challenges is what makes the difference. I therefore, offer to make that difference as I have what it takes.

    Have you ever held any elective position before?

    As a student, I was the President of the Accountancy Students Association in Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu where I had my Higher National Diploma (HND) and I was the best; till tomorrow, I’m still the best person that had ever held the position. The records are there for all to see. I have held several elective positions in several organisations both in community, educational and religious bodies for several years and excelled in them all. Friends and associates can attest to this very fact.

    What is your agenda for Abia?

    While we were praying, the Lord told me that the theme for my manifesto shall be called Abia Rejoice and, based on the acronym, we would be able to drive the basic change that will cut across all strata of life that will make the people to rejoice. Every programme mapped out is to make the people rejoice. My manifesto, which we shall soon unfold when the time is legally right encompasses all aspects of governance that are people, directed and when implemented will turn Abia  into one of the most organised and economically viable states in Nigeria. I am sure you know that chronologically, Abia is the first state in Nigeria and the only God’s own state. So, it shall be in every material particular in my time.

    Many believe that Abia State has been backward ,in terms of development. Why?

    You’ve said it. Some are born administrators, some are born teachers or one vocation or the other. That is why I believe that this time around, Abia needs a technocrat and a visionary leader, a man who has the capacity to be able to generate all the deliverables in the state. I’ve told people in Abia State that, if I’m sworn in within one year and there is no significant progress,  I will resign and come back to my numerous businesses. For instance, you should understand that Aba is not only the biggest and the most effective commercial city for the Eastern Region; it was for the entire nation. That was the reason why every other leader has always referred to Aba as the Japan of Africa. And, if you look at Aba, the successes achieved by Governor Mbakwe came  from Aba because he was able to develop Aba and the people were therefore able to pay increased revenue to the old Imo’s treasury. What people have not understood  is that you need to develop that commercial city.

  • My agenda for Benue, by governorship aspirant

    My agenda for Benue, by governorship aspirant

     Former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly Hon. David Iorhemba is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant. He spoke with Uja Emmanuel on the succession battle in the Northcentral state.

    Why do you want to govern Benue State in 2015?

    I am eminently qualified to govern the state on the platform of the PDP. For some reasons, I consider myself very versatile in the affairs of the state.   I  am conversant with the three arms of government. I worked in the Benue State judiciary for 21 years. I was a  clerk, registrar, court member, area court Judge and Chief Magistrate in Gboko before I resigned. I later went into private legal practice. I was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the Benue State governor on Legal Matters. Thereafter, I resigned, contested and won a by-election, following the death of Hon. Yogbo, who represented Guma Constituency. I re-contested in 2011 and won. I became the Speaker. With these experiences, I have been exposed  to the challenges of the state. I’m therefore, conversant with the rural setting of the state, based on my postings as a judiciary staff. I served at the Area Court, Agasha, Abinsi. I was the Court Registrar in Udei, Naka, Aliade, Makurdi, Area Court in Korinya, Ihugh, Lessel, Ikyado; Area Gourt Judge at Ammaafu, Acting Area Court Judge at Akpagher Mbatyav, Magistrate at Vandeikya and ant back to Gboko.

    With these experiences, I have discovered that the major problem of the state is rural development. Take a look at the case of Guma Local Government Area, Gbajumba is the only local government headquarters in Benue State that does not have a tarred road linking it with Makurdi. I will contribute my quota to the development of the state by providing roads. Rural farmers will be able to transport their produce to urban markets to improve their financial standing. When rural roads are opened, security challenges, education sector and others are addressed. Those of us living in border towns such as Guma, near Nasarawa State, are usually attacked by  mercenaries from Nasarawa State with the use of motor cycles. They come through bush paths to attack us. But, due to poor road network, it becomes difficult to fight back and, even when security operatives are alerted, they hardly make impact as a result of the bad terrain.

    Some of the schools set up by the SUBEB in 1976 have  no structure because contractors are unable to access the sites due to lack of roads. So, the provision of roads in rural communities can boost education and agriculture. Today, farmers don’t have value for their produce because they cannot take them to the market.Therefore, if elected in 2015, I will make sure we have a law to establish the Benue State Produce Marketing Board to regulate the sale and purchase farm produce and eliminate activities of middle men. Benue as an agrarian state used to witnessed food wastage and this is why the establishment of cottage industry is apt at this moment. I appreciate the efforts of the Benue state government, which established a tomato fruit juice at Annune. But, it is not functioning. Government should lease the company out to a competent people to manage and create employment. I will provide storage facility so that farmers will have value for their produce.

    Recently, the Tiv Traditional Council advised some aspirants to step down. What is your reaction?

    It does not deter some of us from pursuing our aspiration at all. We feel that the Tiv Area Traditional Council, coming in at this stage, was rather too early. Beside this, the process that led to the purported trimming was also not a proper one. This is because the Tor Tiv and other traditional rulers, who constituted that panel, are fathers to all of us and we feel that, after interacting with us, they should have allowed aspirants a little time to also interact with one another more so that we are aspiring to get nomination on a party platform. But, at the moment, the PDP has not released the guidelines. It may be that the chosen ones may even be caught out with the party guidelines. I feel strongly that the party guidelines will catch up with some of the aspirants  selected by the Tiv Area Traditional Council. So, on the whole, I’m forging ahead with my consultation. You can see that, in 2007, the Sankera leaders met in Katsina -Ala Local Government to pick their preferred aspirants.  Katsina -Ala elders chose Prof. Iorwuese Hagher. Ukum local government produced Prof. Mvendaga Jibo and Logo local government produced the late  Biishibi Ati. But, it happened that all the nominees from these three local governments did not make it at the primaries. Rather, Gabriel Suswam, who was not nominated at all, got the ticket and became the governor.   So, I feel that the trimming was not done in good faith and the forum of Minda PDP aspirants has contacted our chairman, Prof. David Ker to state our position on the matter.

    How do you intend to tackle the challenge of industrialisation?

    If elected, I intend to run industries through Public Private Partnership (PPP). Most of the farm produce are located in a particular area of the state. Yams are largely produced in Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas. Therefore, my government will invite a competent company to come and partner with the government. Government will provide land and put up structures while the intended company with expertise in citing a yam flower will come in and do the rest. We will move to Ushongo, Vandeikya and Konshisha local government areas where oranges abound and establish a factory there and even liaise with Chivita, one of the major fruit producers ,to come and operate it.

    How do intend to open up local government areas stem rural/urban drift?

    The government, in conjunction with the twenty three local government councils, will procure earth moving equipments so that each council will have it. Graders, pay loaders and  tippers will ease their work.  For example, if Vandeikya Local Government decides to construct a road from Chi Mbagbera to Adambge Mbayongu, the council will provide the diesel and the operators and the community will render essential services. I am going to decentralise the Ministry of Rural Development, which will be saddled with the role of supervising ongoing projects. This is because this ministry has been unable to supervise rural development in most, if not all the areas.

    Given the shortfall in the allocation to the state from the Federation Account, how would you jerk up the internally generated revenue? There is a lot of internal revenue that are untapped in the state. First, I will bring revenue consultants to take an inventory of houses in Benue State. We will provide a template. All the houses located on a particular street will be numbered and government will try to find out how one acquires the land, whether it was through traditional means or it was through agreement, through purchase, by allocation, whether one have the C of O or not. Therefore, a special account will be opened for owners to pay ground rent. Through this, government will generate revenue from it. Government will obtain a bank facility to maintain such streets while banks will be made to live up to its corporate social responsibility. The registration of motor cycles plate numbers will also give us money and many other sources like bill boards will be taped from. We will reorganise the Revenue Board for better performance.

    What is your concept of Makurdi  Master Plan?

    The original master plan of Makurdi, which is the state capital, is highly distorted. Beside, development has caught up with it. One of the ways to solve the problem is to open up streets.

  • Schools’ resumption tops agenda as Senators, Reps resume

    Schools’ resumption tops agenda as Senators, Reps resume

    The contention over resumption of primary and secondary schools from the long vacation next week because of the Ebola outbreak and the controversy over the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC)’s creation of 30,000 new polling units will top the agenda as the National Assembly returns after over two months recess.

    The two chambers are expected back in plenary tomorrow.

    Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs  Mohammed Zakari, confirmed tomorrow’s resumption. His deputy, Victor Ogene, said one of first assignments the House would be a briefing for the House Committee on Electoral Matters by INEC over the creation of 30,000 polling units. Leaders of the South have stated their opposition to the plan.

    According to Ogene,  who spoke from his Constituency in Anambra state, the House Committee on Electoral Matters would interface with aggrieved interest groups with the view to averting a crisis ahead of the general elections.

    “The Committee on Electoral Matters will also interface with various INEC and other stakeholders on electoral issues that came up including the by-elections held in some states.

    “It will create an opportunity for them to brief the House appropriately and for us to take informed decision on resumption.”

    He said in spite of the break, many of the House’s standing committees including Education and Health had interacted with stakeholders in order to resolve some national issues.

    According to him, the Committee on Education will meet with stakeholders including  Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu,  and Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu today, to discuss the resumption of schools.

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) among others are also expected at the meeting.

    In this final lap of the Seventh Assembly, the lawmakers are expected to put finishing touches to pending bills like Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB); Cybercrime Bill; Tobacco Bill; anti-Terrorism Bill and Asset forfeiture Bill, Constitution review, among others.

  • My agenda for Abia, by ex-deputy gov.

    My agenda for Abia, by ex-deputy gov.

    Former Abia State Deputy  Governor Eric Nwakanma has  joined the governorship race.

    He said that he is fit to rule because he has experience and integrity.

    Nwakanma described himself as the best candidate for the job, owing to his achievements in public and private sectors. Before he served as the deputy governor, he hwas a member of the House of Assembly.

    Now that he has joined the race, the number of aspirants has risen to five. They are Senator Nkechi Nwogu, Uche Ogar, Alex Otti, Senator Enyi Abaribe and Nwakanma.

    During his visit to the PDP secretariat in Umuahia, the state capital, the former deputy governor promised not to let the party down, if selected as its candidate.

    He said: “I have come to plead with you all to come together, to think of the good of Abia State. When a people trust a leader, they place their collective destiny in his hands. When you know that power belongs to the people, you lead them with humility and, to be a good leader, you must be a good follower.”

    Nwakanma described governance as a collective business, urging the party chieftains to support his bid because they can testify to his ability and record of public service.

    He promised to defend the interest of the state and implement people-oriented policies and programmes.

    The aspirant said that he had been prepared for the governorship by his experience as a legislator and deputy governor.

    Nwakanma, who is a former deputy speaker, also promised to ensure sustainable developemnt  and cdefend the legacies of the Orji Administration.

    He said he was prepared physically, spiritually and emotionally for the job.

    Responding, the Chairman of the party, Senator Emma Nwaka, said that the party will provide a level playing field for aspirants.

    He said whoever emerges as the candidate at the primaries will fly the flag of the PDP.

    Nwaka said the by-election in Aba South Constituency won by the party has rekindled the hope of the party for a brighter future.

    Urging the aspirants to brace up for the challenges of next year’s elections, he said those who may not get the ticket should be prepared to team up with the flag bearer.

  • ‘My agenda for stockbrokers’

    The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) would enhance  its capacity for training and professional development  to ensure the highest quality of human capital for the Nigerian and sub-Saharan African capital markets.

    Its new president, Mr. Albert Okumagba, who spoke at his investiture  on Monday,  outlined the main agenda of his administration to include creation of knowledgeable professionals that will help deepen the Nigerian financial markets.

    According to him, the CIS would enhance its professional training to provide the requisite professionals to trade on the four markets platform including the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NASD Plc, FMDQ Plc and the Nigerian Commodities Exchange as stipulated in the institute’s charter.

    He said the institute has set an ambitious, but achievable target of training 1,500 students in 2014 and one million students by the end of 2015.

    Okumagba added that the institute would work with other capital market stakeholders in the public and private sector to craft a Nigerian saving strategy that will embrace all platforms in the financial system.

    He also highlighted that his administration would work to move the CIS to its permanent  head office that would house its secretariat as well as create additional income streams.

    Okumagba noted that after 22 years of the institute value-adding existence, providing the needed human capital base for the capital market, it is unacceptable that the CIS operates its secretariat in rented premises.

    “As we work on changing our story, we will also undertake a comprehensive rebranding of the institute to take its rightful place in the financial market and the Nigerian economy. We will develop a new, differentiated identity in the minds of our different publics and distance ourselves from the negative connotations of the past. We will work to ensure that our members are proud of their association,” Okumagba promised.

     

  • Setting agenda for political advertising

    As the 2015 elections draw near, stakeholders in marketing communication are joining hands with relevant electoral groups to ensure that communication experts are engaged to handle their political advertising campaigns to align with best global practices. ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI reports.

    It was a meeting of eggheads in the advertising and public relations industry. With the thrust of the forum centered around ensuring that the quality of political advertising campaign materials conform with certain codes of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it was, therefore, not surprising that politicians also thronged the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua International Centre, Abuja, venue of the forum.

    The forum, an initiative of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), was aimed at enhancing a free and fair election in 2015.

    With the dirty practices that characterise  the nation’s politics, experts want communication professionals to handle electioneering campaigns’ project to build the right perception for the polity in line with best global practices.

    With self-regulation almost impossible among broadcasting and news organisations in the heat of electioneering campaigns, coupled with the desperation syndrome by parties, their candidates and political campaign communication managers, INEC, is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that a collaboration between AAAN, BON and NBC change the game.

    INEC said during the international seminar with the theme, Political advertising, perception building and voters education, that it has reviewed the regulations contained in its code of conduct governing political advertisements and campaigns  with a view to ensuring strict compliance by political parties and their candidates.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said: “All expertise should be put to good use for the purposes of organising clean and positive campaigns that will help them win elections, rather than the kind of uncivil campaigns that take place in our country. It is important that we regulate and sanitise our campaigns.”

    He said the electoral body has revised the regulations governing campaigns and already shared a draft of those guidelines to political parties. We hope to finalise it and very soon, we will put it into effect so that political parties will know clearly where to draw the lines and the sanctions that would apply if they do not act according to the rules and regulations.

    He expressed satisfaction that the seminar has shown that we can learn good practice from other countries and factor it into your own preparations. “It is very important that we sanitise the electoral process and political campaigns. They should be research-based, well informed and expertise should be brought to bear in the preparation and conduct of political campaigns.”

    Also, the National Chairman, All Pro-gressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, said political advertising remained a very important aspect of electioneering process.

    “I urge advertising practitioners to go to INEC and collect the code of conduct already signed by political parties. The code of conduct is in a position to regulate what advertising practitioners will do. If you know that what somebody is telling you to project for him is offending the law and the rules, you will drop such materials and it is very critical that advert practitioners partner with INEC because they are very important stakeholders in this process,” he affirmed.

    While advertisements influence decisions of the electorate in deciding whom to buy into, he stated that the absence of mechanism to regulate what political parties and their candidates are permitted to showcase to the electorate often lead them into making wrong choice.

    “Political parties have a code of conduct they have signed with INEC and keeping strictly to it. Political parties should refrain from messages that are offensive and in conflict with normal acceptable norms in the society. It is very important that as we prepare for the 2015 general elections, what the political parties and their candidates should be taking to the electorate will be very critical in deciding who the people will choose ahead of others in a particular contest. So, it is very good that at this time, political parties are enjoined to keep by the rules. Mudslinging and propaganda politics should be avoided.

    “You can’t decide to disparage people because they are your opponents. It is good that we have this seminar so that people will be told what to do. It is also very important that advertising practitioners would also be aware of all these things so that when people approach them to project certain messages to the Nigerian public, they will be properly guided. Billboards are raised containing certain messages, Newspaper advertorials are placed. All stakeholders are enjoined to vet and edit the content of materials coming to them from politicians before they go to print”.

    Meanwhile, the Political Director of the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign, Craig Smith, said to ensure best global practice, Nigerian politicians and their communication experts should ensure that in creating their campaign messages, they must start with research. He said research will reveal the popularity of the candidates, the need of the people, how to engage them, the best medium that will drive the campaign message to the right target so that electorate will make the right decision.

    Craig also said globally, political candidates and their parties use communication professionals in line with best global practice. He cited Clinton-Gore campaign as an example which followed principles of advertising campaigns process and delivered electoral victories and governance impact in the USA.

    However, Craig urged experts to desist from the use of attack communication strategy to attract voters’ sympathy; rather, politicians, he advised, should engage in activities such as community development projects that impact on the electorate, saying only this would attract their votes.

    Meanwhile, the outgoing President of AAAN, Mrs Bunmi Oke, said the association will ensure that government and politicians engage professionals in political advertising. She said the recognition of the association by the Federal Government is an icing on the cake. “The icing on the cake is that we got Federal Government recognition that we are invited to be a member of the national Confab. That tells me that in  this business we need to work as team with all stakeholders in the marketing communication.”

     

  • Jega’s delimitation agenda

    For some time now, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been in public show of its zeal to delineate constituencies in the country before the 2015 elections. Basking on provisions of the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Act which require that such exercise be conducted after 10 years or after a national census, Jega has told whoever cares to hear that he is irredeemably committed to the exercise.

    The commission is partnering relevant agencies and has already signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) the office of the Surveyor General of the Federation with two committees set up to give effect to the exercise. Through these MOU’s, INEC hopes to tap into the high satellite imagery resolution capacities of these agencies to cover the entire country. It has also sought assistance from the National Population Commission (NPC) among others.

    Given the foregoing, it is certain that INEC is not leaving anyone in any doubt that it is pursuing the delimitation agenda with vigour. According to its chairman Prof Attahiru Jega, the overall aim is to ensure that every federal constituency should be as nearly equal in size as possible. What this immediately throws up is the equalization theory of his predecessor and the fact that population is going to be the major factor for this exercise. His immediate past predecessor, Prof Maurice Iwu had proposed the equalization of the constituencies such that population differences above 300,000 between senatorial districts were considered very substantial and were to be adjusted. Similarly population differences of 150,000 in the case of federal districts were also to be adjusted. But the proposal was trailed by controversy with that administration unable to carry it out before Iwu left office.

    Ironically, when the Jega-led INEC visited the NPC to seek certified data on the various enumeration areas, he was pointedly told by its then chairman, Festus Odimegwu that there are no certified data for the various enumeration areas. Odimegwu had then said that politicians bought enumeration areas in the same fashion they buy voters’ cards during elections to gain advantage. He also disclosed that it was on account of the unreliability of the 2006 census that the commission decided not to publish it.

    Jega seemed to have come to terms with this encumbrance when he said in a recent communiqué that “even though the aspects of the 2006 census have been countered, it remains the most credible source of data to carry out the exercise”. He had also in the same communiqué which he personally signed, stated that the delimitation was meant to engender equality in electoral constituencies and not to create additional sets at the national level.

    INEC is within its powers to seek the delimitation of constituencies. This is more so as it is in keeping with its powers as conferred by extant laws. Thus, it is not so much the issue of its right as the wisdom and timeliness in embarking on the exercise now.

    First and as rightly admitted by Jega, there is no credible census for the country; that of 2006 inclusive. The 2006 census has been challenged at the census tribunal by sections of the country on account of the manipulation of its figures. Lagos state was so dissatisfied with the outcome that it had to conduct its own version of the census which came out with 18million people as against nine million allotted to it by the 2006 census. There are also other parts of the country where the figures credited to them are at variance with established demographic traits. The South-east is among them. As a matter of fact, an independent preliminary satellite imaging around the Imo area was said to have produced results that would render the outcome of previous censuses a huge joke. Just recently, the figures posted for the 20 local government areas of Lagos State were overturned by the tribunal as they bore no semblance with the actual population on the ground. The point being raised here is very clear. And it is that it will amount to double jeopardy if INEC goes ahead to rely on these flawed census figures to alter the boundaries of the constituencies or set up new ones.

    It is about seven years since the last census was conducted. After seven years, significant demographic changes would have occurred such that the 2006 census can no longer be reasonably relied upon. The situation is not helped by the imperfections of that census and our rising population growth rate.

    When you add observed distortions in that census to the changes that would have occurred in population dynamics over this time frame, its reliability for the exercise is further whittled down.

    For another, the NPC has also been on top gear to give the nation a credible census in 2016. That date is just barely three years away. Does it really make any sense embarking on the delimitation exercise on the eve of a census that is being looked upon to redress glaring inequities of the past? And what is the value in expending taxpayers’ money in the project when it will not fundamentally address observed disparities and can conveniently cue in after the 2016 census?

    Matters were not helped by Jega when he said his commission does not intend to create new constituencies but to adjust existing ones. The purport of this is that even where the commission discovers that additional constituencies needed to be created to redress observed imbalances, nothing of sort will happen. This is as curious as it is confounding. It might be interesting to hear from him why he cannot abort the exercise if he is not prepared to undertake the rigour the creation of additional constituencies entails.

    Even before he volunteers information on this, suffice it to say that those reasons that make the creation of new constituencies inappropriate now are the same reasons why the delineation in the manner Jega proposes it has to wait. My guess is that Jega wants to run away from envisaged controversy which the creation of additional constituencies will engender especially now people have been sensitized on the inadequacies of our previous headcounts. He sees the balancing of the population among constituencies as less contentious. That could also be. But it comes with its problems.

    Again, we are at the threshold of another national conference to redress the imperfections of our federal order. Some of the issues that will feature in that conference include the conduct of a credible census, state and local government creation as well as the unit of representation within the federal arrangement. The way these issues are handled is bound to have very serious impact on the structure and size of our current constituencies.

    Since INEC is not prepared to go the whole length in this exercise, it makes little sense approaching it very grudgingly. There is nothing practically urgent in the exercise that it cannot wait after a credible headcount in 2016. The commission should discard the idea of constituency delimitation and concentrate its energies on the challenges posed by the 2015 elections. Delimitation should wait until we have a credible basis for it. Only then will its outcome meet the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of this country.