y\ C$2 00•Ghana 300 Zimbabwe $’30 • France 13F • Kenya Sh20 • UK £2 00 • The Gambia D4 • Liberia L$200 Sh20 •UK£200TheGambiaD4Liberia Zimbabwe $’30•France 13F •Kenya C2 000 • Saudi Arabia SR10 00 • Germany DM3 50 • CFA Zone 1,500•USA C2 000•SaudiArabiaSR10 00•GermanyDM350CFAZone mmmm . $3 50•Italy1200C One more patient mny die from Malaria before you read this over. Worldwide, some 3 million people die yearly fiom malaria related complications, while 2.5 billion people in 90 countries aie at risk, but they need not be. Malaria and other common ailments are easily curable if essential diugs ate readily available. Yet from experience, where such drugs aie available, they aie almost unaffordable by most Nigerian families.

That is why at the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), we are working to ensure that essential drugs for ante natal care and curable ailments such as waterborne, parasitic, and childhood diseases among otheis, come within the reach of every Nigerian.

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Making Essential Drugs Available & Affordable PETROLEUM (SPECIAL) TRUST FUND .. Here to sen/e. Outline

FEBRUARY 2, 1998 ’S WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE VOL. 27 NO. 4

Nigeria: 13 Cover: 6 Water scarcity which hit Enugu recently has killed both social life and the economy of residents* Musa Bamaiyi, chairman Who Succeeds Diya? NDLEA reveals that corruption among drug agents has made the body Despite General Sani unqualified for gazetting. Abacha's seemingly un­ Political Update: 18 preparedness to appoint a First rate politicians abandon their interest new CGS to succeed in the presidency and scramble for Lieutenant-general Ola- positions in the Senate and House of Representatives* , dipo Diya, names of some chairman UNCP concludes that his likely successors are being party's victory at pools means people's touted acceptability of its programmes. Africa: 21

The military government in Sierra-Leone Summit: 33 contends with both diplomatic and military forces bent on reinstating the Home from the Range democratic government it toppled. World: 22

Peter Enahoro, reputable The United States and Britain are poised journalist and sole on using force to ensure Iraqi cooperate administrator of Daily with UN weapons inspection team Times speaks on Nigerian Business + Economy: 28 journalism and his recent All states in Nigeria aim improved life appointment for their citizens in their different 1998 budgets.

Business + Sports: 38 Economy: 26 Nigeria steps up preparations to host world in the next world youth soccer fiesta. Crash Of ’98 4. Letters Twenty-six Nigerian 5. Editorial Suite distressed banks are 17. Nigeria Briefs liquidated and their licences revoked but their 23. Global Notes depositors demand for 30. Business Briefs their deposits 32. In the News

Newswatch (ISSN 0189-8892) is published weekly by Newswatch Communications Limited, No. 3 Billings Way (off Secretariat Road), Oregun Industrial Estate, Oregun, P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Telephone: 4960950. Fax: 962887. Telex: 27874 NEWCOM NG. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part without permission, is forbidden. Printed in Nigeria by Academy Press Pic, Ilupeju. T LETTERS

■ Go, Military, Go ■ Meaning of Transition political parties is nothing but the normal storm in a beer glass that will soon die My plea to the members of our armed Your obituary of the still bom fourth away earlier than expected. They are all forces (Cover January 5) is tha t they should playing a game blindly without the rules stop disturbing our peace, causing and regulations, and from the onset they unnecessary distractions and tension and were aware of this. But may I remind you that they should spare us further military that transition is a word used for the trials and executions by going back to dead. RIP, fourth republic. Please let's their barracks and allow the civilians to begin the fifth republic. salvage our country. All these Nigerians Peter Agba Kalu, trooping to Abuja on solidarity visits and ■ Aba, all those holding rallies in different parts . of the country in condemnation of the alleged coup plotters, do they delight in Correction the execution of coup plotters, as was done in 1976,1986 and 1990? Do they want In Events of '97 (January 5), the another round of executions in 1998? Are honourable minister of science and they not aware that the technology, major-general Sam Momah, could not have occurred, that those was referred to as a lieutenant-general. Nigerians that lost their lives during the Please note that the honourable minister said civil war could not have died, that all was promoted to the rank of major- those Nigerians who were killed during general in 1996 and not lieutenant-general coups or executed for attempted coups republic was a confirmation, that the as you erroneously reported. since 1966, could not have died, if the transition programme is going on as /.E. Anyanwu, military did not in the first instance desired by the military and not the Ministry of Science and Technology, interfere in the governance of our country? politicians. (Cover, December 29). Abuja. Equally, the threat to pull out by other • Newswatch regrets the error. Typed reactions to the contents of Newswatch, should be addressed to Newswatch Letters, 3 Billings \Nay (Off Secretariat Road), Oreguh Industrial Estate, P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Nigeria. All letters must bear the correct names, addresses and signatures of the writers. Newswatch re senes the right to edit letters for clarity and brevity.

am I? Where am I going? \ is my purpose in Life?

Many ask, few ever find the answer. Tap into the ancient wisdom of the Rosicrucians. The Rosicrucian Order applies the same techniques used for centuries to bring peace, health and plentitude into the lives of its members. Through clearly written and illustrated weekly lessons sent to your home each month, you will learn 1 about the greatest philosophies of the past and through the unique, tried and tested methods of the Rosicrucians, learn to concentrate and meditate effectively. The teachings of the Order offfer you the opportunity to create a lasting and worthwhile personal philosophy of life. For further details out AMORC and how it can help you, write for a free copy of "The Mastery of Life" to Scribe NWP81' A M STATE HOUSING ESTATE PMB 1220, CALABAR, TJ OSICRUCIAN CRS . NIGERIA ^QRDER f 4 Newswatch, February 2, 1998 "W" T IS THE BUG. TAKE THAT BACK. IT p- ^ allegedly led by his own number two, Oladipo is the electronic gadget. Obviously, the | \ [I Diya, a lieutenant-general. It was, to use a wonders of science and technology do cliché, nipped in the bud, thanks to the tape JL wonders for mankind. None of us can -J J X m ! j ^ | - - jX^ recorder. The tape recorder finished Nixon live without them. NEPA and NITEL for EZZCfl ll Al VJ IXW but it saved Abacha. See? Whom the gods starters. No light, no phone and some of us love, the tape recorder saves. When the news broke, Nigerians whose us from our ancestors. This is a modem world middle name is scepticism, said, oh common, precisely because we have these little things what else is new? This: the little wonders of that make life less nasty, less brutish. We work easier with the science and technology. This time, the video camera, the same computer; we travel faster with the aeroplane; we cook faster with gadget that does wonders for CNN and NTA, was there to throw the the microwave oven; medical sciences deal with our illnesses. Radio doubts of the Doubting Thomases in their own face. Our traditional and television keep us informed and entertained. rulers were the finît in the line, as indeed, they should be, to view those But as it often happens in human progress, what makes life easier video tapes and listen to the audio clips. This disbelief as it was bound and better also makes life, well unpleasant. Nearly twenty-four years to happen, dissolved into incredulity, sizzled into umbrage and boiled ago, the late Richard Nixon leamt that elementary lesson. And he over into rage. You can understand why the Oba of Lagos, Adeyinka became the first American president in this century to be disgraced Oyekan condemned the coup plot in a language that sizzled with the out of power. Never mind Deep Throat and all that. What brought rage of a disappointed monarch. Since then, various groups of one of the world's most powerful men down to the dust was this little Nigerians, including, yes, journalists, have seen and heard the tapes. electronic aid employed in the White House to preserve for posterity, Each group, if the news media are to be believed, emerged from halls Nixon's days in power. It was the tape recorder kept by his secretary, shaking their heads in conviction and running their mouths in Rose Woods. When the tape squeaked, Nixon's bravado dissolved obligatory anger. and he was driven promptly out of power. Never has such a powerful So, what else is new? Conspiracy theories. We now hear that Diya man been laid by the heels by such a small thing. and co. did not plan a coup; that they were set up. See? The battle of fact Check out the camera. That is what makes CNN and of course, is not easily won - not even with the intrusive ubiquity of the camera and ensures 30 million viewers stay glued to the network news of our the tape recorder. But whatever, Diya is not likely to return to his number own beloved NTA five days a week. What happens is what they give two position in Aso Rock. V y you. Instantly. Correctly. Pictorially. Pictures do not lie. Believe the Who steps in? Joseph dictum, not me. Ode. associate editor. And now this. One month ago, Nigerians awoke to the news of takes up that question in Editor-In-Chief what might have been - a coup against the administration this week s issue.

The International Awa rd-winning Magazine Founders: DELE GIWA (1947—1986), RAY EKPU, DAN AGBESE, YAKUBU MOHAMMED

Newswatch Communications Limited Advertisement Executives: Omolara Onatemowo, Nogieru Ibie Owens, Adeyemi CEO: Ray Ekpu Adebarj, Nsikan Essien, Olayiwola Cole, Agnes Musa 1 Dep. CEO: Yakubu Mohammed Senior Special Projects Executive: Inemesit Ebu Special Projects Executives:Mande Samaila, Ngozi Ubanna i Newswatch Marketing Manager: Salufu Kanoba Editor-in-Chief: Dan Agbese Deputy Marketing Manager: Lionel Agbaji Dep. Editor-in-Chief: Soji Akinrinade Assistant Marketing Managers: Ikechukwu C. Dike, Mfon Ukutt Principal Marketing Supervisor: Nsidifiok Nsukaba Editor: Mike Akpan Senior Marketing Supervisor: Abdullahi Sanusi ! General Editor: Anietie Usen Marketing Supervisors: Sunday Adejoh (), Pius Aji, Adolphus Sidi, Okhai Associate Editors: Jossy Nkwocha, Joseph Ode, Sam Olukoya Oghiadomhe, Klkeneke Efo Assistant Editors: Mercy Ette, Wale Akin Aina Tobs Agbaegbu, Paul Akuh, Ibrahim Modibbo Principal Executive Assistant: Patrick Obuzor Senior Staff Writers: Janet Mba-Afolabi, Olu Ojewale.’Obong Akpaekong, Salif Executive Assistants: Joan Ogbadu, Alex Tobore, Ojubanire R. Abiodun, Abiodun Atojoko, Clarice Azuatalam Rasidal, Iboro Sunday Staff Writers: Tunde Asaju (Abuja), Yemi Adebowale, Nicholas Odeh, Legal Officer: Victor Batta Mudiaga Ofuoku, Dotun Oladipo, Stephen Ubanna, Emmanuel Ugwu Reporter-Researchers: Fola Adekeye, Raphael Adeyanju, Board of Directors: Guest Columnists: Ogoh Alubo, Eddie Iroh, Chuka Momah, Niyi Osundare Ime Umanah (Chairman), Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed, Group Photo Editor: Matthew Faji Soji Akinrinade (Executive Directors), Mike Adenuga Jnr.; Alex Akinyele, Deputy Photo Editor: Conrad Akwu Umaru Dahiru, Abdulaziz Ude Assistant Photo Editor: Gbolahan Ajayi Bembe Photographer: Taiwo Idowu Head Office: Senior Reader: Gbenga Ajayi No. 3 Billings Way (off Secretariat Road), Oregun Industrial Estate, Oregun, Readers: Ogiri Ochonu, Rachel Achor, Fatosa,Olukoya' P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel: 01-4960950, Fax: 4962887, Principal Artists: Kehinde Schulz, Taiwo Schulz Telex: 27874 Newcom NG. Computer Operators: Frank Mfon, Obashola Oshodi Lithographic Superintendent: Femi Akinlusi Regional Offices: Assistant Lithographic Supervisor: Musibau Olayiwola Newswatcn Communications Limited Lithographer: Bola Adebote ZZ.4 Abubakar Kigo Road by Ahmadu Bello Way,, Kaduna. Tel: (062) 213021 j Chief Librarian: Eyo Nsah 28 Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu. Tel: (042) 256971 Librarians: Onyekachi Nwofor, Lekwa Okude 63 Uselu-Lagos Road, Benin City. Tel: (052) 257419, Fax: (052) 248100 2 Araromi Street, Oke-Padre, . Administrative Manager: Clement Okitikpi 41 Ikot Ekpene Road. Uyo. Tel: (085) 201200, 201221 Senior Administrative Officer: Tom Igonor 7 Suzi Garden, Tafawa Balewa Street, Jos. Tel: (073) 56327 Administrative Officer: Mary Akpan Block 4, Flat 2 (J.S. Tarka Way). Area 3, Garki, Abuja. Tel: (09) 2341857. 2342069 Controller of Finance: Tony Awe 94 Mohammed Mustapha Way, Jimeta, Yola. Accountant: Jonathan Opeche 36 Nsukka Street. Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt. Tel: 084 - 334094. Assistant Accountant: Janet Bello Advertisement Manager: Aniekan Umanah Overseas Correspondence: Principal Advertisement Executive: Emmanuel Emeje (Kaduna) Nigerian Magazines Limited, P.O.Box 43, Feltham, Middlesex TW 13 4SU UK Senior Advertisement Executive: Magnus Aja Eze Tel: 0181 - 867 - 0799, 0956 - 965 - 819 E-Mail: Raydasoyak @ aol. Com.

Newswatch, February 2, 1998 5 COVER

Although General Sani Abacha appears not to be in a hurry to fill the position of chief of general staff left vacant by the fall of , a lieutenant-general, some names are already being touted as possible replacement

By Joseph Ode and Dotun Oladipo

HATEVER IS verdict by the Provisional Ruling Council, programme would be approaching its the outcome PRC. The special investigation board, terminus, when the appointment of a of investiga­ SIB, headed by major-general Chris CGS would be unnecessary. tions and Garuba, commandant, National War According to the\ sources, such a trial of sus­ College, currently probing the coup plot vacuum would create no problems as the pects in the has up to the end of this month to submit position of the CGS, though next to that coup plot uncovered lastits report. December, Going one by the experience of the of the head of state in hierarchy, is largely thing is almost certain:1995 Oladipo alleged Diya, coup, the trial and ceremonial. The only visible function of lieutenant-generalW and alleged leader of confirmation of sentences in the alleged the office—the supervision of the affairs the plot, will not regain the position of Diya coup will take several months. of state governments—Newswatch learnt chief of general staff, CGS, as the number . The 1995 coup plot was made public last week, is being performed by two citizen. The question being asked, in March, trial started in June, sentences , a major-general and therefore, is: who succeeds Diya? were passed July 14, and ratified by the principal staff officer to the CGS. The The likelihood is, nobody will. PRC in October. This time, sources functions were said to be assigned to Newswatch learnt that a new CGS will not estimate that the earliest time this process Onoja about a week after the coup plot be appointed until the end of the trial and will be concluded is between March and was made public. confirmation of the military tribunal's April, by which time the transition Another indication that government

6 Newswatch, February 2,1998 I ■ COVER

number two.man if only he decides to run for the presidency. In that case, he would need his next-in-command to hold the fort when he boards the campaign train. But even then, argued a source, the head of state can entrust state affairs to Lieutenant-general Jeremaiah Useni, the most senior officer and minister of the federal capital territory, who has been the de facto number three man in the government and Abacha's trusted friend. But other sources said there was pressure on Abacha to appoint a CGS to balance the power equation between the north and the south. Traditionally, (except under General ) when the number one citizen is from the north, his next in command comes from the south, and vice-versa. On this score, said sources last week, Abacha is considering two options. One: appoint a Yoruba man to demonstrate that there was no ethnic motive behind the arrest of Diya and other coup suspects most of whom are Yoruba. Two: appoint the most credible officer from among the senior military officers in the south who, incidentally, are minorities. Two names are being mentioned on the Yoruba side. They are Jubril Ayinla, a rear-admiral and Muftau Balogun, a major-general and chief of logistics,.COL, Defence Headquarters, DHQ. Very little is known about Balogun outside the military. Ayinla, former commandant of the National War College and member of PRC, was appointed minister of commerce and tourism in July 1996. He was deployed as minister of health last December. From the southern minorities, the name of Nsikak Eduok, air-vice marshal and chief of air staff, CAS, is said to top the list of possible successors to Diya. Eduok came into the national limelight in 1993 when his appointment as chief of air staff August 28, was annulled September 3. Following that unusual development, he wasposted to Makurdi as theair officer commanding tactical air command where he served until August 1995, when he was appointed minister of aviation. He Diya: Who succeeds him? became the chief of air staff a year later. A highly respected officer, Eduok is said to enjoy the confidence of the head of was not in a hurry to fill the position of assumed duties last week, would do so, state. Apart from his credentials, sources CGS is that the less-fancied position of Monday this week. The more important say, the air force is making a case for his chairman of the task force on position of CGS, argued a source would appointment on the ground that the air telecommunications and postal offences have been the first to be filled if force is the only arm of the military that occupied by lieutenant-colonel Olu government was eager to replace Diya. has never produced a number one or two Akinyode, one of the suspects, has been Sources reasoned last week that citizen in the 27 years the military has filled. His successor who was to have General Sani Abacha, would appoint a

Newswatch, February 2,1998 7 ■ COVER

ruled this country. the audio and video tapes of the coup State council of traditional rulers issued a Also being mentioned is Mike plot which the federal government has statement describing the coup as Akhigbe, rear-admiral and chief of naval played back to groups of select Nigerians "despicable." In a statement signed by staff. He is a former governor of Ondo and diplomats continue to dominate Okunade Sijuade, Ooni of Ife and and Lagos States. In the General Yakubu public discourse. Last week, the Osun chairman of the council, the traditional Gowon and General rulers said what they first heard and regimes, the navy took the number two eventually saw has not been cheering. slot. In order of seniority, the navy comes "Having been given the opportunity next to the army which has always to see the video clips," they said, "we produced the head of state. found what we saw exceedingly sobering. Other officers whose names also came Even then, we do not have reasons to up for mention as Diya's successor are differ markedly from the , major-general and former pronouncements of our other colleagues general officer commanding, GOC, 2 all over Nigeria who have had the Mechanised Division, now commander privilege of seeing the video clips." The Training and Command, traditional rulers, however, called for fair TRADOC, Minna, and trial for the suspects and urged the federal Edward Unimna, a major-general and governmentto temper justice with mercy. chairman Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund, Media chiefs who had watched and PTF, for the army and police. listened to the tapes have not been Godwin Ugbo, a colonel and acting forthcoming with information on their director, defence information, DDI, told contents. They attributed this to a Newsiwtch last week that he was yet to gentleman's agreement they had with hear anything on the appointment of a government officials that the content of CGS. He told defence correspondents on the tapes should not be published. Apart Wednesday that the emphasis was on from snippets of the information released SIB investigation in which about 60 on the tapes, only a weekly military personnel and civilians have so newsmagazine which was not far been interrogated. He declined to r 14 represented at the video show in A so disclose their identities, but said the Rock published some details of the tapes' investigators' report would be ready contents last week. before the end of the month — that is, this But Alex Akinyele, chairman of the week. A :Jh National Reconciliation Committee, While the nation waits for the report, Ayinla: A likely candidate NARECOM, said the very government that invited media executives to watch the tape could not have asked them not to talk about them. Said Akinyele at an interview with Punch last Wednesday: "... Your duty is to disseminate information and if your chiefs... fail to tell you what they heard and what they saw, they are not doing their constitutional job to you younger ones." Although most of those who watched or listened to the tapes are convinced that there was, indeed, a plot to overthrow Abacha, the confessional statements of the suspects are spinning new theories of a frame-up. For instance, Diya was said to have confessed before the head of state that "it was General B... (for major-general Ishaya Bamaiyi, chief of army staff, COAS ) who met me and said the army had decided to remove Abacha." But Abdukareem Adisa, a major- general and former minister of works and housing who is a key suspect, said that "it was chief (CGS) who called me and said the army had decided to remove Oytf, that all the GOCs had agreed, that even the., .had all agreed the thing would Eduok: Enjoys Abacha's confidence happen o, nothing can stop it."

8 Newswatch, February 2,1998 ■ COVER

disbelief to expression of disappointment, Diya and co. fell too cheaply if it was a frame-up. Accounts given by those who watched the tapes seem to point more towards the third possibility. Sources said Abacha was hinted of the coup plot by Bamaiyi ttnd Patrick Aziza, a major-general, who was then the commander of the Lagos Garrison Command, LGC, and now minister of communications. Diya was said to have contacted Bamaiyi on the coup issue and asked him to help enlist the support of the GOCs and the army divisions in the country. Bamaiyi was said to have immediately contacted Aziza on the plot and both men reportedly revealed the plot to Abacha who told them to play along. Abacha, according to some senior Saraki: Also watched coup video clips government officials, ordered the recording of every meeting of the coup The tapes were also said to have is one of those who subscribe to the second plotters by loyal soldiers who infiltrated revealed how political offices would have one — the frame-up theory. He said: their rank. been shared among the plotters had the "The coup plot is made up just like the Subsequent meetings to work out the coup succeeded. Diya was to be the head March 1995 plot that implicated our details of the coup plot were allegedly of state. He confirmed this while chairman, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Shehu attended by Bamaiyi and Aziza with responding to a question by Abacha as to Sani and Generals sophisticated audio recording machines. who would have been the head of state: and Shehu Yar'Adua." However, going Newswatch learnt that of all the meetings "May be myself as the most senior by the swing of public opinion from initial held to work outihe details, only one was officer. " Adisa, quoted as saying the coup was to be a Christmas bonanza for Nigerians, reportedly accepted to become the COAS, a position he said, he had longed to occupy. He said this would be the peak of his military career. These confessions and findings can mean one or, a combination of several possibilities, according to analysts. The first: That an offender whose life is on the line can tell any lie, implicate anybody or hang the blame for his offending action on somebody else just to save his neck. If that was the case, then Bamaiyi and the GOCs were the clear victims of Diya's "lies." The second possibility, analysts say, is that the idea of a coup plot could have been sold to Diya at the instance or with the support of the head of state, to test the CGS' loyalty to his boss and government. In that case, Diya failed the test. The third possibility could be that Bamaiyi and the GOCs got wind of the plot and acted like loyal officers by reporting it to the commander-in-chief. Or that they actually participated in the plot but changed their minds and turned loyal somewhere along the line. That leaves the other three possibilities. Joe Okei-Odumakin, general secretary, Campaign for Democracy, CD,

Newswatch, February 2,1998 ■ COVER

held in Diya's Lagos residence. The others the country. took place in the house of Adisa although Abacha attended none of tl it was not explicitly stated on the audio functions. Rather, he sent Abubakar i which of Adisa's houses served as the represent him in Enugu. This explair meeting venue. why Sule Ahman, a colonel and militai The coup was meant to be bloody. administrator of , said whe Top military officers and prominent he addressed a delegation that paid hii civilians were slated for execution, among a solidarity visit on the successful foilin them, the head of state, Useni, of the alleged coup that the alleged cou Abdulsalam Abubakar, chief of defence plotters had planned to use Enugu a staff, CDS, Yakubu Muazu, a colonel and their launching pad and that since "w commander of the brigade of guards; don't plan evil in this state any cou) , a colonel and planned here will never succeed." military administrator of ; In case all the proposed dates failed, ; , a lieutenant-colonel and decision was said to have been taken b] military administrator of the suspected coup plotters to strike oi and Hamza Al-Mustapha, a major and the night of Saturday December 20. Oh chief security officer, CSO, to the head of Fadipe, a major and CSO to Diya wai state. said to have advised on the procuremen Moshood Abiola, a prominent Onoja: Performs role similar to CGS' of chloroform with which they woulc

Abacha: Will he replace Diya? businessman and presumed winner of possible date. Abacha was to travel that induce Muazu and Al-Mustapha to sleep. the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential day to Lome, Togo, for a one-day summit Both men were to be invited by Diya to election, was said to be on the hit list. This of heads of state of the Economic his residence where they would be made was confirmed by Christopher Saki Jang, Community of West African States, unconscious before they moved on to chairman of Jos north local government, ECOWAS, of which he is the chairman. take Abacha. Useni said the intention after watching the video tapes. If this didn't work, another plan was was to bomb Aso Rock, the nation's seat The plotters allegedly toyed with to strike on a Friday when the head of of power. several dates for the execution. The first state would be observing the Jumat Sources told Newswatch that Adisa, in date was fixed for Monday, December 8, prayer. The last option was said to be the one of the video evidence, claimed that in Enugu, when Abacha was expected to annual dinner of the Nigerian Institute of he had made moves to ensure that the declare open the chief of army staff annual International Affairs, NILA, an annual head of state never attended the COAS training conference. December 17, was forum which the head of state uses to conference in Enugu. He was quoted as also said to have been picked as another articulate.the foreign policy direction of saying that he called Alao Arisekola, an

Newswatch, February 2,1998 10 ■ COVER

Akinyele: Blamed media executives for silence Ibadan-based businessman and a bossom "sobering and embarrassing." were on audio tapes included the friend of Abacha, to persuade the head of Other details said to have been elongation of the transition programme state not to attend the conference. worked out at the meetings and which by 18 months from the terminal date of Adisa was also said to have claimed October 1. that he made contacts with Arthur Eze, a The take-over speeches had also been prominent businessman and a leading written. The first was allegedly written campaigner for Abacha's presidency, in by Tajudeen Olanrewaju, a major-general Enugu to keep an eye "on the boys and a former minister of communications. (soldiers) in Enugu". Adisa, according to It was typed by a woman who Useni said one government official, claimed that had been arrested. Diya was said to have because he did not show any enthusiasm typed the speech into his computer. Diya about the coup plot, the CGS was not allegedly wrote a second one himself. comfortable with him. Usman, said there was a bloody shoot­ Adisa reportedly said in one of the out between the coup plotters and loyalist video clips that since the mistake had forces. Kayode Keshinro, a major and already been made, "Oga (the head of aid-de-camp, ADC, to Diya, has not been state) should use us to campaign for seen since. Ugbo said since Keshinro was reconciliation." He said he was pained not on the list of those arrested, he would when Abacha dissolved the cabinet and not be able to confirm his whereabouts. people taunted him saying an "Abacha Diya was said to have trembled when boy is gone." he meet Abacha after the coup plot was Bolu Adedipe, Elemo of Akure, a foiled. In the video clips, Diya was shown member of the council of wearing a short sleeve safari suit and Obas and chiefs, told Anthony leather slippers while Abacha wore a Onyearugbulem, a navy captain and caftan and cap during the encounter. Both military administrator of Ondo State, that men were seated on a one-seater settee in one of the video tapes he watched, close to each other. There was a tea set on Adisa even "shed tears, knelt down first a table beside them. Diya was fidgeting. on one knee, then on both knees and later His hands were clasped on his chest prostrated, begging a junior officer, a most of the time. He scratched his head major to bail him out of the problem. This occasionally and removed his slippers revelation confirms the statement of also occasionally only to put them on a AhmedUsman, military administra tor of few seconds later. Diya did not look , that the video tapes were Oyewumi: Convinced directly at Abacha even when Abacha ■ COVER

Diya reportedly said Thabo Mbel deputy president of South Africa, is h personal friend and would help expiai the situation to the other countries an lend his support. Olanrewaju reportedly said that Di) only co-opted him into the plot and th« he attended only two meetings. He sai there was no intention to "cut down" th head of state but that the coup was onl intended to be a change of guarc Olanrewaju reportedly said he wa relying on his "relationship with Oga" t get out of the problem. Fadipe reportedly said when Diy invited him, he gave the impression tha the entire a rmed forces wanted to remov the head of state. He allegedly admitte< he prescribed the use of chloroform 01 Muazu and Al-Mustapha but said the; did not set out to kill Abacha. Although Diya claimed that the arm] sold the coup idea to him, none of thos< interrogated on the tapes from Adisa tc Olanrewaju to Fadipe was recruited b] any officer other than Diya. Still, question! Sijuade: Video clip sobering linger. Some cannot understand how th< tapes were recorded by loyal officers foi asked him questions. At a point, Abacha governments - were involved in the coup as long a period as three months withoui reportedly told Diya: "Dipo, I'm talking plot. Olanrewaju was said to have asked detection. Others say computei to you, look at me." Diya how other countries especially the communication technology has When Abacha asked Diya why he developed democracies would react to a developed to an extent that voices, decided to plot the coup to unseat him, coup at this time in the history of Nigeria. especially on audio tapes can be Diya was said to have talked about the manipulated to get the desired output. "difficulties and problems" he had been Frank Odita, retired commissioner ol having with him since the regime came to police agrees that Nigeria is now power. Some of the problems were advanced technologically. "You can even unilateral decisions taken by the head of stay in your office and monitor what is state, the removal of Yoruba pro-June 12 going on in your house," he told Weekend ministers he (Diya) brought to join the Concord. government and the much touted Olusola Saraki, a chieftain of Congress presidential ambition of Abacha. for National Consensus, CNC, in Kwara In another video clip, Diya was said State and Oladunni Oyewumi, the Soun to have admitted that they committed a of Ogbomosholand, are convinced by mistake by plotting the coup. He said: what they watched and heard on the "The foolishness and the evil that made tapes. Oyewumi who is the royal father me go along (with the alleged plot) was to Daniel Akintonde, a colonel and one of the gap he (Abacha) created between him the principal coup suspects, said the and me. I've knelt down before hinrand evidence available on the audio and video begged him. But after I leave him, cassette was credible enough. He said the someone else can come and put more position taken by traditional rulers was pepper in this thing. I am not denying informed largely by the video evidence anything. Oga (the head of state) should of the interrogation. look at this as an inside matter and not If that is so, then the government may expose it to the world. He should look at need to show the tapes to the public to it as a father whose children have erred. clear the lingering doubts on the coup Call them, abuse them, castigate them." plot. But doing that will require making It was, perhaps, one of Diya's alleged the hard choice between concealing the pronouncements during the planning "shame" of the confessions from the stages of the coup which aroused public and giving credibility to the facts speculations that some foreign missions of the coup plot. in Nigeria - and by extension their home Ugbo: More suspects interrogated Reported by Tunde Asaju

higher institutions in the metropolis have also abandoned their academic work, roaming the streets, in search of any kihd of water. School children are more on the streets, with jerry-cans than in the In search classroom. Several neighbourhoods and public toilets are stinking tohigh heavens. Health authorities are scared stiff that the water crisis could lead to an outbreak of such diseases as diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery, among others. Newswatch investigations have identified two causes Of Water of the water crisis. The first cause is the serious problem at the Ajali Water works in Imezi-Owa, Ezeagu local government area of the state. The water scheme built more than a decade ago has broken down Acute water scarcity in Enugu has as a result of negligence by successive governments in the state. The water works paralysed economic and social activities is the source of drinking water for most parts of Enugu township. All the six in the coal city forcing residents to comb pumps in the water head have completely broken down. Fora long time, only one of the streets in search of the liquid the pumps was functional. Another source of vyater in the state capital, the Iva Valley Water Scheme, By Jossy Nkwocha built in 1924 by the colonial government has become obsolete. It now serves only UBUC WATER TAPS HAVE brownish water sourced from shallow a small part of the Government dried up in Enugu, capital wells or stagnant streams. Some others Reservation Area, GRA, as well as the of Enugu State. Residents of patronise tanker drivers who sell water Telecommunications quarters on Zik the Coal City are battling at exorbitant prices. Much of such water Avenue. Resident now troop to the acute water shortage and are sourced from unclean streams on the premises of the state water corporation several domestic, social and economic outskirt of Enugu. in the GRA to fetch water free of charge

activities in the city are already paralysed. Workers in the state capital now or to the P&T quarters to buy water from For about one month now, the distraught abandon their jobs in search of water for the occupants. Long lines of jerry cans residents of Enugu have made do with domestic use. Lecturers and students of waiting to be filled are a common sight at

Newswatch, February 2, 1998 13 ■ NIGERIA

the P&T quarters. A 50-litre jerry-can of water sells for between N80 and N100. There is also the Water Standpost at Artisan, constructed by the state water corporation. Tanker drivers go there to fetch water and sell to members of the public. But many people cannot afford the fee. A drum goes for N150.00, one thousand-litre containers are filled for N1,000.00. Newswatch investigation shows that two other Water Standposts at Iva Valley and 9th Mile have broken down and subsequently abandoned. Many residents of the city who spoke to Newswatch lamented that they now make use of unclean water fetched from brownish streams or broken water pipes. Those who live in the UNTH area fetch what goes for water from a big gutter Suie Ahman: Disappointed by contractors beside the teaching hospital. Water which comes out from a nearby rock flows the job are the problem. He said contract corporation on the argument that it (th through the gutter. for the rehabilitation of the Ajali Water corporation) was supposed to be sell In the Uwani area, there is another Works was awarded to UTC Engineering funding. According to the source, th big gutter on Robinson Street. People in by the federal ministry of water resources management then worked hard and gc the area go into the gutter to fetch water and the contractors have failed to perform. N10 million owed it by the ministry o from a broken pipe. Those who live in the The state government he said, has not defence. Out of that money, it used abou Onyeama Coal Mine area fetch muddy found it easy to get UTC to do the job. N2 million to settle salary arrears fo water from a shallow pit in Ngene Evu. "They believe that they are only three months. Ahman was annoyed. H In Trans.Ekulu housing estate, residents answerable to the federal ministry of arrested the five senior officials anc who cannot afford to buy water from water resources, but the military detained them. They were suspendec tanker drivers make use of water from administra tor is working hard to get them from office after they were released. another shallow pit located in a valley on to complete the job in two weeks," he Okochi told Newswatch that the Mike Torrey Avenue on the way to phase said. officials were suspended by Ahmar six complex. The pit is located by the side The government, Okochi said, is also because they disbursed the money of the estate's central sewage system. working with the Petroleum Trust Fund, without necessary authority. "In the civil Zik Okonkwo, a printer told PTF, to establish a water scheme at Oji service, there must be a warrant, an Ncwsivatch that they usually boil the River. According to him, an artesian well authority to spend government money. water before drinking it. Johnson Agbo, belt has been discovered in the area. The You don't just spend government money a final year student of the University of artesian well belt, he explained, is a zone like that. The administrator must sign the Nigeria, Enugu Campus, said he was with high water level. The scheme, if warrant which must be scrutinised by surprised that the Enugu State completed, he said, would give the accountant-general. That is the only government cannot provide potable uninterrupted water supply to many way to ensure accountability," he water for the residents. "What is the towns in Enugu State. The contract for explained. essence of government if a basic thing the project which is going to be funded Okochi could not say whether there is like good drinking water cannot be wholly by PTF is yet to be awarded. any arrangement to clear the six-month- provided for the masses?," he queried. Even if the technical problems are backlog of salary arrears with the The state government and the state sorted out, there is another problem that remaining money. He could also not say water corporation have been quite on has compounded the water crisis. The whether Ahman has found any edge about the problem. Sule Ahman, staff of the state water corporation are fraudulent practices in the disbursement colonel and military administrator of being owed salary for six months. Five of the money collected. But he told the state, is said to be very worried. He management staff of the corporation are Ncicszeatch that the matter had been visited the Ajali Water Works last week currently on suspension for "unilaterally" handed over to the police to investigate. and promised that water would flow paying .the staff three months salary At the GRA premises of the water again in two weeks. But hapless residents arrears. Those on suspension include B.N. corporation, most offices looked deserted. do not believe him . He had made a similar Ede, general manager; T.U. Onodugo, The workers are not motivated to work promiseon August 17, lastyear but water assistant water engineer; S.U. Okwor, anymore. "Most of our staff have gone in didn't flow. At that time, one of the water secretary to the corporation; C. Okegbe, search of what to eat. Can you stay pumps at the Water Head was still senior accountant, and oneChukwu, chief without salary for six months?," one of functional. commercial officer. the staff asked a Neivswatch reporter. "Our Regionald Okochi, chief press Ncwsivatch learnt that the state G.M. and four officers are now being secretary to the military administrator, military administrator, on assumption of punished for paying us part of the nine- told Newswatch, that contractors executing office, refused to give grants to ihe months salary arrears," he said.B

14 Newswatch, February 2, 1998 I ■ NIGERIA Bamaiyi’s Confession

Musa Bamaiyi, chairman and chief executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says the agency can’t be gazetted because of the high level of corruption and culpability of its staff.

By Tunde Asaju

chairman. Observers say, Bamaiyi's confession was an indictment of himself. They argue that his outburst was an admission that: as a serving military officer and head of the agency, he cannot enforce discipline in the agency. "It means that he has failed in his primary assignment," an analyst said. The chairman's scorecard shows that a lot still needs to be done if Nigeria's image as a drug-trafficking nation is to be redeemed. Though he claims to have made significant seizures, sacked hundreds of corrupt staff and prosecuted others, Bamaiyi still needs to do more to convince Nigerians that his strategy is succeeding in the drugs war. The number of traffickers is growing. Last year alone, the agency arrested 2,372 suspects out which 1,088 were convicted and 16 acquitted by the miscellaneous offences tribunals which tried them. The figure showed a marked increase of 99.8 percent over the previous year. Bamaiyi's statistics also showed that more and more Nigerians have gone into marijuana cultivation. Although 15,904.72 kilogrammes of marijuana were intercepted by the agency in 1997 — a decline of 14.6 percent — the quantity of ight years after its anything about it. His decision, he said, is weeds seized and burnt on farmlands establishment, the National informed by high level of corruption and had increased. Bamaiyi said 1.3 million Drug Law Enforcement culpability of his staff. Said he: "Until I kilogrammes of marijuana were Agency, NDLEA, is yet to be leave, there will be no gazetting. Because, destroyed in 870 farms all over the gazetted as a federal government agency. there is a standard and lam not going to country. The list of growing states have • ThisE means that eventhough the agency gazette armed robbers in NDLEA also increased. is fully operational, it is not recognised as uniform." He said it is the responsibility In the past, only Ondo and Edo States an established federal body. of zonal commanders to ensure that the were associated with large seizures of Consequently, hundreds of its workers, officers working under them exhibit the marijuana. But last year, the list included some of whom have been with the agency virtues of honesty and accountability. Delta, Ekiti, Osun and Ogun States. The since inception are not entitled to pension So far, Bamaiyi confessed, the zonal growers have also devised more or gratuity like other government commanders have not shown reasons to ingenious ways of planting the weed. workers. be taken seriously. They still arrest They now use government forest reserves, Musa Bamaiyi, a major-general and innocent citizens only to turnaround and hills and mountaintops as well as dense chief executive of the agency, is aware of ask such citizens to buy their freedom if forests as decoy. Bamaiyi said his efforts the problem but says he will not do they do not want to face the wrath of the at tracking down the farmers have only

\T«, T

been helped by cattle rearers, vigilante groups and forest officers The increase in the quantity of psychotropic substances is disturbing and calls for urgent attention. In Nigeria, drugs can be purchased behind the counter without a doctor's prescription. This fact also shocked Bamaiyi in his assessment. Said he: "One area of continued disturbance, however, is in the increasing seizure of psychotropic substances which shot up to 1,736.00 kilogrammes in 1997 from 1,203.78 kilogrammes level in 1996, an increase of 44 percent. Bamaiyi was also worried over the increase of teenagers in the drug trade. Majority of teenagers involved in the trade last year were about fifteen years while the oldest suspect arrested was 90 years old. The drug trade has also attracted more women. Ninety-one female suspects were nabbed as against 997 men during the same period. The NDLEA chairman said the Seized drugs quantity of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin in circulation has decreased. jeopardy. takes out N2 million from its account. H Apart from the shocking find, nine Many Nigerians were deported last said some accounts were frozen last yea Nigerians were arrested in neighbouring year by foreign countries after serving to enable the NDLEA scrutinise them. H< Niger Republic a s they were ma king plans their jail terms. Available statistics said inadequacies in the decree were bein^ to ship in 30.51 kilograms of cocaine, only showed that 98 Nigerians were deported looked into. 40 suspects were taken in for selling the from United States of America. That The agency has recruited more stafl substance in Nigeria in 1997. A total of number represented 66 percent of those to enable it expand the scope of its 10.49 kilograms of heroin were seized on deported. Italy sent back 10 and Ethiopia operations. Last year, 329 agents and 183 60 suspects. and Egypt repatriated eight Nigerians officers were recruited and sent to its More suspects were arrested for each. Hong Kong deported six Nigerians academy in Jos, for training. unlawful possession of illicit drugs in while Germany sent back four persons. He announced the allocation of the 1997. Out of the 1088 tried cases, 563 Brazil, South Korea and Switzerland sent barracks located on Shere Hills in Jos as convicts fall within that category. The two each while France, Spain, Russia, the permanent site for the NDLEA agency arrested 149 deportees and sent Norway, Malaysia, Portugal, Britain, Academy and English Regional Training them back to jail for dragging the image India and Ghana sent back one drug Centre. Bamaiyi said infrastructures of Nigeria through the mire. In line with courier each. would now be put in place at the site. He the provisions of Decree 33 of 1990 which The agency confiscated some cars called for assistance from the international makes itan offence for any Nigerian to be belonging to suspected couriers because community in this regard. convicted for drug offences abroad, they were unable to prove the source of Despite all the efforts, Nigeria Bamaiyi gave the rationale behind this their foreign exchange with which they remained decertified by the United States action which has pitched the agency bought the cars. It also improved on its government although Bamaiyi said its against human and legal rights advocates. patrol of the nation's borders with the non-political agencies have co-operated Said he: "we cannot tolerate a situation purchaseoflOO four-wheel drive vehicles with it and given it kudos for a job well whereby the activities of a few greedy, for land patrol, 54 patrol boats and some done. He commended the United Nations irresponsible individuals, searching for motorcycles. Said Bamaiyi: "All these we Drug Control Programme, UNDCP, for quick, easy and cheap wealth, should have effected to enhance our helping in the drugs war. Said he: "In the destroy the efforts of our forebears and contributions to strengthen the efforts of area of strengthening our hands in the the efforts being made by the present the global community and to enhance the counter-narcotics efforts, we shall always generation to create a better society." He success of the global programme of remain grateful to the UNDCP. Between said if Nigerians cannot improve on the action." In the area of money laundering, 1996 and 1997, three UNDCP evaluation legacy left for them, they should not be Bamaiyi said that banks had given his teams visited our headquarters in Lagos, seen to be damaging it. But lawyers argue agency good co-operation. Decree 3 of Nigeria, to assess the impact of their that to retry and jail anyone who had 1995 empowers the banks to inform the previous assistance to us and look at our already paid the price for an offence he agency when an individual withdraws present areas of need with a promise to committed abroad amounted to double over N500,000 or when a corporate body lend more helping hands."■

16 Newswatch, February 2, 1998 ■ NIGERIA BRIEFS

■ three soldiers for allegedly planting an robbers stormed Ayasan Street in explosive device at Oduduwa College, Ajugbugbe area of the city where they Ile-Ife. The suspects were apprehended killed a woman and her son and made by residents after the soldiers had away with property valued at thousands Rage of allegedly planted a black nylon of naira. containing an explosive device on the The hoodlums reportedly engaged Pensioners school's premises. a police patrol team in a gun battle. Two Sources said residents started trailing of the policemen were critically the soldiers from Sabo area of Ile-Ife to wounded in the exchange of fire. An eye By Raphael Adeyanju the school when they noticed their witness said the police could not shoot suspicious movement. One of the indiscriminately because of innocent HMED ADAMU NINGI, BAU- suspects was said to have gone to the people in the area. Besides, the area was chi State accountant-general, Ja- school premises where he suddenly dark because of power outage. st Monday got a raw deal from dropped the nylon bag. His two Jerome Odoata, the divisional police pensioners in the state. He was beaten accomplices waited for him at the school officer for "A" Division, said that his up by the irate pensioners who also gate. Butas soon as the suspect dropped men would not leave any stone unturned forced him to lead a protest march his bag, the watchful residents mobbed to put the situation in the area under barefooted from the state treasury to the him and his companions and started control. "My men are combing the area government house. interrogating them on their mission to with a view to dislodge the men of the The pensioners who were expecting the school. They were later handed over underworld from the area," he said. that their allowances would be paid, to the police in Ile-Ife for investigation. Policemen from the same "A" had assembled at the treasury in Sunday Aghedo, the state division had earlier engaged another response to a circular from the commissioner of police, said one of the group of armed bandits in a gun battle department of establishments and arrested soldiers was from Modakeke, the previous day. They killed one of the another was from Ode-Omu while the management services in the Presidency. armed robbers while two were arrested. But the circular dated January 7, 1998 third one came from Ijebu-Ode. The three The dead armed robber was said to be only spelt out guidelines on the suspects who were detained at the the ring leader of his group. implementation of the harmonisation of divisional police station, More, had passes on them. They claimed they were pensions. It directed all federal ■ borno pensioners who retired on or before on a visit to their mates in Ile-Ife. December 31, 1990 as well as state Aghedo said the Engineering pensioners who retired on or before Construction Regiment, ECR, of the December 31, 1997 to gather at the Nigerian Army in Ede had confirmed Managing treasury to enable the office determine the identity of the arrested soldiers. He those who will benefit from the scheme. added that the bomb disposal unit of the Fuel Scarcity After waiting for hours without police had been invited to screen the seeing the verification team, the explosive device allegedly planted by pensioners lost their patience, besieged the suspects. OTORISTS IN the office of the accountant-general and Francis Adedoyin, the Ogunsua of are again using fuel cards to dragged him out. The angry pensioners Modakeke, defended the suspects saying buy fuel. The state's fuel crisis pushed Ningi around, insisting that he the holidaying soldiers were on their management committee said lead them to the state administrator who way to Ilesha when they decided to stop government took the decision to prevent would tell them the true situation of by in Ile-Ife to see a friend. Adedoyin, chaos at filling stations following things. The pensioners were, however, while speaking further on the soldiers, persistent fuel scarcity in the state. prevented from meeting the one of who is an indigene of Modakeke, Throughout the week, only AP filling administrator by security personnel. The said their arrest was an attempt to incite station in Maiduguri had fuel. The secretary to the state government the government against his subjects. situation forced motorists to resort to addressed them and appealed for a buying fuel at the black markets where peaceful resolution of the problem. ■ delta a gallon of petrol was sold between N1201X) and N140.CX). Sadiq Abubakar, a squadron leader ■ OSUN and chairman of the fuel crisis committee, Return of said all motorists had been directed "henceforth to present their fuel cards at On their Trail Terror filling stations." He told the motorists that all fuel cards issued last year were valid except those issued in 1996 which HE CRISIS IN ILE-IFE AND RMED ROBBERS HAVE RESU- Modakeke, two warring comm­ had to be renewed. Abubakar said the med their reign of terror in the current fuel shortage was caused by non­ unities in , took a new oil city of Warri in . dimension last week with the arrest of lifting of fuel as expected from depots all Last Tuesday, more than 15 armed over the country.HI

Newswatch, February 2, 1998 17 POLITICAL UPDATE Clash of Titans

Top Nigerian politicians dump their presidential ambition in order to jostle for nominations to the Senate and House of Representatives

By Tobs Agbaegbu

he stage is set. the from the presidency to the senate by intimidating credentials in administrative race is gathering momen­ Olusola Saraki, leader of the Congress for experience, financial resources and tum. Ahead of party pri­ National Consensus, CNC. Last year, development of their immediate maries fixed for early Feb­ Saraki said if the head of state plans to communities. Aminu's supporters are ruary, top Nigerian poli­ contest for the presidency, his own banking on his contributions as the former ticians are jostling for nominations en ambition would take refuge in the Senate. vice-chancellor of the University of routeT the Senate and the House of As the race hots up, Saraki has turned Maiduguri, initiator of the nomadic Representatives. With former out the man to beat in his Kwara education policy, siting of a petroleum presidential aspirants and senators constituency. He led the CNC to win the depot in Yola as well as the establishment dominating the scene, the race looks like house of assembly election that was of the Federal University of Technology a veritable clash of the titans. conducted last December. As one of the in Yola to fetch him sufficient goodwill Heightened interest in the National most influential politicians in Kwara, and votes. Assembly seat, especially for the senate pundits say Saraki's seat to the Senate is Although a traditional title holder is believed to be caused by growing almost a foregone conclusion. with the influence of the monarch, Gambo uncertainty about the presidency Adamawa Central senatorial district may have so many hurdles to cross during following sustained speculations that the presents an interesting scenario. Here, his campaigns. Most peasant farmers may head of state, General Sani Abacha, has Jibril Aminu, a professor of medicine and not easily forget his tenure as the concluded plans to contest the election former minister of petroleum resources, agriculture minister. Similarly, two Eventhough it is not clear whether the will slug it out with Mohammed Gambo notable youths have indicated interest to prime minister will come from the Senate, Jimeta, retired inspector-general of police go to the House of Representatives from notable aspirants appear to prefer the and former minister of agriculture. The the state. They are Ismaila Jauro upper house as the first step to the prime two former ministers are endowed with Hamasani, a lawyer and Muhammed minister's slot. Ebenezer Ikeyina, a senator in the second republic, said political big wigs are in the race for national assembly because they are confident that what is in the draft constitution will be implemented. According to him, selection of a prime minister is expected to be made from the Senate while the deputy prime minister may come from the House of Representatives. From the national assembly too, vacancies are expected to be filled for senate president, leader of the senate, speaker of the House and chairmen of committees. "All these make membership of the Senate and House of Representatives highly attractive " said the senator who is now eyeing government house in Akwa, . The fear of confrontation with Abacha has accounted for diversion of interest Saraki, Iwuanyanwu: Senators-in-waiting

18 Newswatch, February 2,1998 ■ POLITICAL UPDATE

Umaru Jibrilla, an accountant and NCPN where he was the deputy national successful businessman whose rising leader. i n fl u en ce a mon g th e pea sa n ts ha ve m a d e For Edet James Am ana, engineer and him the reference point for many youths founding member of the UNCP, the in Adamawa. campaign for his nomination as senatorial In Lagos, Anthony Adefuye, candidate in Eket district of Akwa Ibom chairman of UNCP in the state is State is in full swing. Last week, the 59- reportedly relying on calls by Lagosians year-old politician stumped across the 12 and his party to go to the senate. With his local government areas that make up his influence, wealth and experience as a senatorial district accompanied by top one-time senator, Adefuye is likely to UNCP men and a crowd of supporters. In have only himself to beat in his Lagos each of the LG As, he met and spoke with central senatorial zone. Babs Akerele, a crowd of ward and local government Demola Seriki and Semiu Kikoyi are also chairmen and councillors as well as chiefs in the race to the Senate from Lagos. and leaders In each stop, he presented Bemabas Gemade and Paul Unongo, his credentials and plans for the oil-rich two former ministers will clash in Benue senatorial district. He said the district Amana: Campaign in full swing senatorial district. The former is a CNC which is the base of Mobil operations in chieftain while Unongo is a member of Nigeria and host to the multi-billion naira unanimously adopted. the NCPN. a 1 u m in i u m pla n t, d eserves a recog n i sa b le, Reports say Sam Mbakwe, Second The boiling point of Osun State politics respected and high calibre representation Republic governor of , is is the Ife-Ilesha senatorial district at the national assembly. interested in the race for the senate under Ebenezer Babatope, a former minister of "We in Eket senatorial district must CNC. Arthur Nzeribe, a DPN leader in transport, has about five other formidable send to the senate someone who is mature, the state, is also tipped to contest the aspirants to contend with. One of them is stable, dependable and has demonstrated Senate race. Alfred Aikulola, a party chieftain in the by action, hisloveand care for the people In Enugu State, Kert Nnamani, an UNCP. Our senator must be a towering industrialist, pulled party big wigs and In , Silas Bamidele Daniyan, personality who commands national and supporters together in Enugu two weeks a former minister of national planning, international respect and recognition. I ago to flag off his campaign. Gbazuagu wants nomination to the senate under am your son whom God has raised to the Nweke Gbazuagu, national-secretary, UNCP. Daniyan is, however, having the heights of social, economic and political and Sergeant A wuse, national organising problem of the party zoning the eminence. Your support for me is support secretary of UNCP made solidarity gubernatorial seat to his Kogi West f o r d ev el op m en t, g ro w t h a n d res to rationstatements at the occasion, tacitly endorsing his candidature. Nnamani is district. From 's north senatorial of the glory of our people and country." district, the voice of Solomon Abekhe .is Amana said. facing a stiff opposition from Jim being heard, under UNCP. The former He told his audience that his quest for Nwobodo, former sports minister, who staff of International Merchant Bank, is a senate seat is only a first step to a declared for the party recently. An indication of what may befall Nwobodo squared up with another party member, "higher national office." Amana's was given by Gbazuagu. "Those who Yisa Braimoh, who decamped from opponent is Martins Udo-Inyang, 40, a youth leader. Udo-Inyang is promising have been waiting for the opportunity to purposeful leadership and grassroots join our great party only when they are development for his people. Don Etiebet, sure that others have done the work, have little to hope from us," Gbazuagu former minister of petroleum resources is in the race for Ikot Ekpene senatorial said. district. He faces a formidable opponent, In Anambra, a group of UNCP Chris Ekpenyong, a former statelegislator members in the sta te have started erecting who is believed to have quite a structures to ensure victory for Clement tremendous grassroots support. If Ime Okonkwo,executivechairmanofClemco Umana, chairman of Ncwsimtch board Industries. Having persuaded him to joi n s the race as ex pec ted, the I ko t E k pen e abandon his gubernatorial ambitions senatorial district race promises to be which he earlier indicated interest, the dicey. group, under the leadership of Chrisantos Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, one of the Chukwuma, an environmentalist is now leaders of the UNCP, is halfway through. mopping up support for Okonkwo. Said He emerged the first aspirant to get his Chukwuma. "If you send somebody who party's endorsement unopposed. That lacks the necessary clout to the senate, was January 19, when he made his they will divert his attention with crumbs intentions public at a UNCP rally in of contracts and food, and he will come Owerri, E.C. Akwitti, a member of the back with only a pot-belly to show for his party, moved the motion to have him as tenure". Reported by Ibrahim Modibbo. Jibrilla: For House of Representative a consensus candidate. It was

Newswatch, February 2, 1998 19 POLITICAL UPDATE UNCP Airslide

Isa Mohammed\ national chairman of the Mohammed: UNCP will ensure stability

United Nigeria Congress Party, says the would make for stability, peace and unity, a prerequisite for economic development. party’s resounding victory at the polls He cited the examples of some Asian countries as well as Mexico to support was a reflection that Nigerians believe in this claim. He assured the losers that the party will remain committed to the ideals its programme of press freedom, freedom of speech and other liberties guaranteed by the constitution. He said the party will be By Tunde Asaju magnanimous in victory by working with every Nigerian irrespective of his political OR ISA MOHAMMED, resources where we have the mandate," belief, adding: "Our great party does not chairman of the United Nigeria decided to vote for its candidates. believe in the primitive politics of winner- Congress Party, UNCP, it was He gave s breakdown of the results of takes-all" time for chest-beating. With the last elections showing the UNCP On the gang-up by all the other four most political parties still smarting fromwinning a total of 640 assembly seats out political parties against UNCP, theF drubbing they received from the of the 967 so far declared by the National Mohammed said it will not work. Said party in the last two elections, Electoral Commission of Nigeria, he: "Gang-ups have never succeeded. Mohammed last week attributed the NECON. This, according to him, They are like marriages of convenience party's victory, which a party faithful represents over two thirds of the total which usually got broken without described as "airslide" to hard work. Said seats so far declared. It also gives the alimony. We will therefore not support Mohammed: "Our party has remained party a comfortable majority in 29 out of any gang-up not because of fear of losing first in victory only because of the the 36 states and a tie in one. On but because it is undemocratic and confidence Nigerians have reposed in geographical level, the party won in all because we believe that nobody should our programmes and the credibility and the six zones of the federation, the first rock the boat because this country promise of the leadership of the party at political party to achieve that feat. belongs to us all." Mohammed said the all levels to translate dreams and He said while the party's victory in UNCP was not rushing its members on possibilities into realities." the March 15, 1997 local government the issue of presidential candidates since Tracing the origin of the party before election was attributed to the support of there was still time to do so. He said that its registration, the chairman boasted that some ex-ministers in government, the since the transition itself is staggered, the United Nigeria Congress, UNC, and last victory came when the federal the pa rty ha s decided to adopt the policy the United Nigeria Party, UNP, which executive council was dissolved. He said of one day at a time. coalesced into the UNCP would have it was out of jealousy that the other The national chairman said looking done well if they had sought registration parties accused UNCP of using the police into the presidential slot would amount as distinctive and separate political for its victory. Said he: "This time, our to jumping the gun adding that the party parties. Hear him: "Against the backdrop opponents claimed we were aided by will not be swayed in its course by the of present realities, UNP and UNC could the police and the transition agencies. distraction of those crossing a bridge have stood as two different political They resorted to blackmail, some were before they have reached it. Said he. parties and each would have been more reported to have threatened to return "We believe that a lot of our opponents viable than any of the other four political their certificates of registration: what a want to distract our attention so that they parties now in existence." He said that defeat!" can destroy us. But we are more concerned Nigerians, having identified UNCP with Mohammed saw no wrong in a one- with fielding candidates for the national the virtues of probity, "transparency and party state adding that the last victory assembly so that we can solidly control accountability in managing party was a way that Nigerians could show the assembly before we start thinking of resources and of course government their preference for the only party which other things."®

20 Newswatch, February 2,1998 AFRICA

■ SIERRA LEONE affairs minister, delivered "personal notes" from Sani Abacha, Nigeria's head of state and chairman of ECOWAS to the heads of state of the countries he visited. During the three-day diplomatic shuttle which took Battle on him to Ghana, Togo, Guinea and Liberia, Ikimi told the sub-regional leaders that their support and cooperation was needed so that the Conakry peace plan for Sierra Leone could be implemented. The implementa tion rests much with ECOMOG Many Fronts whose force commander Timothy Shelpidi, a major-general has assumed duties. He replaces , a major-general, who was posted back to Nigeria. Koroma and his group are dithering The military government in Sierra Leone over the peace plan worked out by ECOWAS ministerial committee of five faces military and diplomatie pressures to and endorsed by all parties in the Sierra honour the agreement it signed with Leonean conflict. Under that peace plan, ( Kabbah was to regain his presidency on April 22, this year. At every turn, the junta ECOWAS leaders to reinstate on April has come up with an excuse to scuttle the implementation of the peace plan. 22, the government it overthrew Koroma's latestprecondition is thatFoday Sankoh, leader of the Revolutionary By Emmanuel Ugwu United Front, RUF, should be released. Sankoh is being held in Nigeria and his front is an ally of the military government he johnnykoroma- prosecute the war. The junta has been in Sierra Leone. led military government in benefiting from the diamonds which it ECOWAS' leaders have rejected Sierra Leone came under exports to Europe. In the country's past Sankoh's release as a precondition for intense military and conflicts, the parties involved had reinstating the ousted democratic diplomatic pressures last promoted their war efforts by controlling government in Sierra Leone. Last Monday, week. On January 17, the Kamajors, the the diamond town. Lansana Kouyate, exe­ localT militia, captured Tongofield, a The battle for Ton­ cutive secretary of the diamond town after a siege that lasted gofield is already sub-regional body, said two weeks. The loss of this stra tegic town causing humanitarian in Abuja that the leaders was a setback for the government beca use crisis. Relief agency of ECOWAS would not of its revenue-yielding potential. workers estimate that yield to the demand of But it was not an easy win for the between 8,000 and releasing the RUF lea­ victors. An estimated 1000 Kamajor 10,(X)0 residents have der because of the troops took Tongofield after a bloody fled the town streaming confusion it would battle with government troops defending out to Kenema, the create. He said even the town. John Milton, a colonel and army regional capital. They some members of the spokesman, acknowledged the loss of are said to be keeping a ruling junta were Tongofield. "The Kamajors finally distance of about 20 against the idea of overpowered our troops and drove them kilometres from the releasing Sankoh. out of town on Saturday (January 17)" he battle area. By last week According to him. "If we said, adding that skirmishes were still the exodus was still on release him now he going on in the outskirts. and the fleeing refugees Koroma: New terms for peace would be causing more Less than 24 hours later, the created a pitiful sight for eyewitnesses. "It problems and this will affect the peace government cameback with a claim that it was a sad sight to see long lines of men, initiatives." had recaptured the town. Ali Kamara, the women and children streaming into Another demand which the Koroma government spokesman, said government Kanema with only a few of their personal government is making is that Nigeria's troops rallied round to beat the Kamajors, belongings on their heads," one of the dominance of ECOMOG should be a claim that was yet to be confirmed by eyewitnesses said. ^ reversed. But Kouyate gave no indications either the militia hunters or independent On the diplomatic front, Nigeria that this demand would be met either. He sources. Tongofield is a prized jewel for embarked on shuttle visits to some West said it was beyond the regime in Sierra both the government and the Kamajors. African countries to shore up support for Leone to dictate the composition of Whoever controls the town, will earn the re-instatement of the government of ECOMOG since only the heads of state of millions of dollars from diamond to Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. Tom Ikimi, foreign member nations can decide on the issue.

Newswatch, February 2, 1998 WORLD IRAQ Arm-Twisting Iraq

The United States and Britain threaten to use force to ensure lr$q’s cooperation with United Nations weapons inspection team

By Raphael Adeyanju

ension remained trained for a possible high in the Gulf region confrontation with the United throughout Inst week States which had threatened to following objections of resort to military force if Iraq Britain and the United failed to comply with the UN States to Iraq's decision to ënd co­ resolutions. operationT with the United Nations Bill Richardson, American weapons inspection team. Iraq is insisting ambassador to the UN, had said that UN sanctions against it must be lifted there was no way the sanctions before it can co-operate with the UN could be lifted unless weapons inspectors. inspectors were allowed to go Iraq, marked the seventh anniversary where they wished. The UN of the outbreak of the 1991 Gulf war weapons inspectors have always January 17, and declared "great Jihad" found it difficult getting the on sanctions imposed on the country in cooperation of Iraq. 1991 for invading Kuwait. It said it would Consequently, theUN was forced ensure that the sanctions were lifted to withdraw the inspection team through the jihad. last week over Iraq's refusal to Faha Yasin Ramadan, Iraqi vice- allow the members visit sites of president, said the seven-year-old sanc­ weapons of mass destruction. tions had caused a lot of untold hardship, This development made the widespread starvation and death in Iraq. U n i ted S ta tes to t h r ea ten m i 1 i ta ry "We have entered the eighth year of action against Iraq if it refused to sanctions, with patience and cooperation comply with the UN resolution. which Iraq has shown during the past Britain, in its support for United Hussein: Warns against force seven years. But there is nothing to Sta tes posi tion, ordered one of i ts indicate that the sanctions will be lifted most powerful warships, " HMS military force in response to Iraq's latest by a decision of the UN Securi ty Council", Invincible," into the Gulf region Robin act of defiance. he said. Cook, British foreign secretary, said: "I Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president, Ramadan accused the United States hope it will be seen in Baghdad as a clear in his anniversary speech warned the of being the advocate of sanctions. He signal of our resolve that no option is United States against carrying out its said the United States "the guardian of ruled out by the world community in our threat of using military force to resolve the security council and its committees, determination to stop Saddam Hussein the row. The warning was later followed had been unrelenting in its aggressive from obtaining weapons of mass with a threat to implement the position to extend the sanctions and destruction, such as chemical or biological recommendation by the Iraqi parliament expose the Iraqi people to death, weapons." which gave the UN weapons inspectors a starvation and illness." But China, another member of the May deadline to conclude their Aspartof its preparation for thejihad, Security Council preferred a diplomatic investigation and leave Iraq. Baghdad has commenced the recruitment solution to the issue. Qian Qichen, Hussein's threat was dismissed as a of able-bodied men and women into the Chinese foreign minister, last Monday, "buster" by the British government. "I army. Ramadan said that one million stressed the need to use diplomacy to think we are likely to hear a lot of noise, Iraqis, would be given weapons and resolve the latest crisis when he met Cook. but hopefully a diplomatic solution will training as members of a volunteer force He, howevef/, did not criticise moves by be found," George Robertson, the British from February 1. The volunteers are to be Britain and the United States to use defence secretary, told reporters ■

22 Newswatch, February 2, 1998 4? him as governor the soldiers to shoot of Arkansa. at those spear-head - Clinton said he ing the demon­ could still not stration. The National Yasser Ara­ recollect having Meanwhile, the Union for Total fat, the Pales­ met Jones. Clin­ government promi­ Independence of tinian leader, ton was also sed to review all Angola, UNITA, a plans to visit an made to answer prices and ordered former rebel move­ Israeli museum GLOBAL NOTES questions milling companies ment has formally in memory of I to reverse the in­ during the handed over a the six million interrogation creases in prices of diamond mine to Jewskilledinthe that lasted over six staple maize, which the Angolan gov­ Nazi holocaust, hours on the d eposi- the demonstrators ernment. According Ahmed Tibi, the tions of four women had cashed in to adviser, said the to Mister Disa, the who said the presi­ generally voice their official invitation general manager of dent made sexual opposition and from Yad Mordechai the state-owned president, has advances to them as discontent with the Museum came after Angolan Diamond stressed the role of well. government. the US Holocaust Corporation, the education in the The session whi­ mine would inc­ Memorial Museum Ramallah, scuttled a planned country's develop­ ch was captured on rease foreign ex­ visitduring Arafat's ment particularly in video tapes for Palestine change earnings of Washington trip. the areas of econo­ possible use in the the government, Advisers of Benja­ mic and social actual trial, set to Two members of revert its deficit as min Netanyahu, development. begin May 27, has the Hamas Militia well as create more Israeli prime minis­ He pointed out been described as group have been jobs for the people. ter, have criticised that since develop­ "politically embar­ sentenced to 15years the idea, saying it ment was not an rassing" because it jail term with hard ontpamasse; was a ploy to curry over-night affair, it featured Jones say­ labour for preparing requires time, effort ing that she was able France Western support. the bombs used in and clear vision to to identify "distin­ destroying Mahane achieve. guishing charac­ After marching Yehuda market and Chiluba said the teristics" of Clin­ the Ben-Yehuda all day, about 30 younger generation ton's private ana­ jobless militants pedestrian mall in would neither be tomy. ' Jerusalem last year. stormed a famous Blake Clay, a four- able to play its role Twenty-five people Paristan restaurant year-old boy who is responsibly nor Harare, died during the blast where they deman­ allergic to 95 percent contribute fully to and hundreds were ded and got free of foods, cannot get a Zimbabwe the country's deve­ injured. dinner. They spent cure for his severe lopment without The Zimbab­ But a Palestinian the night in another allegies. education. luxury hotel. Clay, whose ail­ wean government human rights group The militants ment has mystified last weekdrafted the has denounced the Washington, trial and sentences as who are part of the medical experts, also army to join the "a serious violation three million jobless suffers from epilepsy, USA police in quelling a of human rights" people in the coun­ asthma, eczema, and violent unrest over and urged that the try, have been cam­ his limited dietary Bill Clinton, the rising food prices. military court be paigning for higher taste has caused prob­ United States presi­ Thabita Doben- abolished. unemployment lems to his growth dent, last week gwa, the home The two men benefits since De­ and bones. maintained his not- affairs minister, said were tried for "acqui­ cember, a move guilty plea in a case the involvement of of sexual harass­ soldiers became ring and preparing which has aggrava­ explosives and har­ ted the pressure on ment brought necessary because m against him by Paula police could not ming the Palestinian the socialist-led Frederick Chi- people's higher government. Jones, who claimed contain the distur­ luba, the Zambian to have worked with bance. He ordered national interest".H J Newswatch, February 2, 1998 23 BUSINESS + ECONOMY Crash of ’98

Twenty-six Nigerian banks officially went under last week. What happened?

By Salif Atojoko

CORES OF DEPOSITORS of state, General Sani Abacha had besieged the premises of the announced government's decision to 26 liquidated banks, last liquidate the distressed banks in his 1998 week with the hope of budget speech. salvaging their deposits. At Top on thelist of the liquidated banks the head office of Allied Bank, Lagos, are Allied Bank, Amicable Bank, irate customers threatened to remove Cooperative and Commerce Bank, movable property of the bank but armed Commercial Trust Bank and Commerce policemen prevented and dispersed Bank (see table for list). The revocation them. order was published in the federal Similar scenes were replicated at the government gazette No. 4, volume 85 of head offices of the other liquidated banks. January 16,1998 titled "Banks and other The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had Financial Institutions Decree 1991, sent police to the 320 branches of the Revocation of Banking Licences." liquidated banks across the country to Ogwuma said the banks were Abacha: Gave CBN the go-ahead safeguard their assets. Before the identity liquidated because their poor financial of the banks were revealed last Monday conditions had eroded their capital base NDIC might not have the financial by the CBN, the Nigeria Deposit and they were unable to meet their capacity to adequately handle the Insurance Corporation, NDIC, had sent obligations to depositors. He said the liquidation of the 26 distressed banks. its staff to all the banks to effect their various actions taken by regulatory Experts point to the last liquidation liquidation. authorities to halt the deterioration, effected by the NDIC between 1994 and Paul Ogwuma, governor of CBN, including calls on share-holders to 1995 which is yet to be concluded. announced the revocation of the licences recapitalise theirbanks failed . The banks, Five banks, Alpha Merchant Bank, of the banks effective Friday, January 16. he said had failed beyond resuscitation. Republic Bank, United Commercial Bank, The liquidation was approved by the Collectively, the 26 banks are owing Financial Merchant Bank, FMB, and finance minister, Anthony Ani. The head depositors N16.33 billion. But depositors Kapital Merchant Bank were liquidated will be able to recover only N5.993 billion in 1994. They had an aggregate risk asset insured with NDIC. This means that of N6.14 billion as at December 31,1995. N10.3 billion depositors’ money is All the depositors with N50,000 and less trapped in the distressed banks and who applied to NDIC have been paid. cannot be recovered until NDIC The uninsured depositors of Financial dispossess off their assets. Merchant Bank and Kapital Merchant The laws setting up NDIC mandate it Bank were paid a dividend of 32 kobo to pay each depositor a maximum of and 30 kobo per naira, respectively, in N50,0()0 from the deposit insurance of a 1996. NDIC also declared and paid bank. The liquidation will be handled dividends at 10 kobo, 26 kobo,and 33 solely by NDIC. Initially, Ani said the kobo per naira to uninsured depositors NDIC was to engage private consultants of the remaining three banks in 1996. but that would cost about N120 million. The payments were made from funds Ani settled on NDIC, CBN and some realised mainly from sales of the assets of accounting firms so as to reduce the cost the liquidated banks. But not all of liquidating the banks. uninsured depositors have benefited. Ani: Liquidation will be immediate Therè are fears, however, that the About N2.1 billion is still required to

24 Newswatch, February 2, 1998 FINANCIAL INDICES OF THE LIQUIDATED BANKS AS AT 31ST MARCH. 1997

S/NO. BANKS CAPITAL (N MILLION) ASSETS (N MILLION) DETCHT5(NMLUON)

UQuronY CBN OTHER CRWR L&A FIXED OTHERS CREDITORS ADJUSTED RECAP TOTAL TOTAL INSURED RATIO BALANCE BRANCH STAFF (%) ASSETS (NMILUON) NPL TOTAL (%) (NMILUON) l 1. Allied (1,787) (171) 3,990 2,362 2,730 414 278 2,301 2,555 1,788 (22) (536) 91 67 1,368

2. Amicable (154) (39) 217 300 321 87 181 476 43 27 (880) (409) 15 9 140

3. Commerce (3,351) (169) 3,510 1,707 2,183 230 940 2,216 1,626 259 (78) (1,355) 92 18 385

4. Commercial Trust (1,647) (254) 1,699 512 569 56 235 756 227 41 (349) (756) 203 13 279

5. Cooperative & Commer (2,358) (140) 2,506 1,906 2,202 411 681 2,339 1,711 825 (37) (609) 12 30 738

6. Crédité (427) (408) 423 409 409 68 41 115 148 35 (133) (192) 52 5 55

7. Highland (133) (174) 209 99 99 37 40 114 69 28 (147) (116) 6 4 45

8. Lobi (386) (48) 428 456 482 47 434 793 148 47 (127) (272) 12 14 171

9. Mercantile (220) (234) 2,290 1,465 1,499 89 66 1,027 741 518 (132) (810) 516 86 431

10. Pan African (632) (62) 714 1,188 1,199 66 76 1,093 540 309 (29) (166) 16 25 32

11. North-Soutk (807) (185) 842 476 575 93 74 504 339 240 (189) (650) 47 16 160

12. Pinnacle Commercial (693) (52) 799 1,319 1,411 173 67 1,487 606 424 (98) (733) 88 6 196

13. Progress (1,715) (186) 1,789 1,594 1,641 327 113 1,187 967 678 (92) (L051) 104 42 467

14. Abacus Merchant (870) (147) 917 254 399 23 422 569 205 14 (90) (222) 921 1 42 15. ABC Merchant (308) (79) 339 309 676 52 105 663 194 30 24 (81) 11 3 41

16. Century Merchant (802) (302) 1,281 699 704 46 13 285 664 14 (25) (161) 11 3 50

17 Continental Merchant -- *-»“------

18 Crown Merchant (154) (197) 181 30 39 25 39 84 120 11 21 0 32 4 105

19. Great Merchant (319) (475) 325 354 354 19 13 217 122 5 (11) (21) 42 2 48

20. Group Merchant (463) (106) 499 486 487 31 205 458 243 5 (15) (42) 163' 2 30

21. ICON Ltd (Merchant Bankers) ------

22. Merchant Bank of Africa (457) (55) 573 1,732 1,808 215 313 1,387 480 23 (92) (542) 649 5 87

23. Nig. Merchant Bank ------• ------

24. Prime Merchant Bank (386) (3,006) 386 762 770 16 8 17 102 6 (8) (13) 131 2 25

25. Royal Merchant Bank 58 13 0 294 405 35 53 88 175 13 36 0 11 4 63

26. Victory Merchant Bank (326) (795) 358 264 264 19 16 134 64 3 (173) (122) 91 3 41

Total (18,453) (7,297) 24,275 18,986 21,226 2,579 4,281 18,310 12,089 5,343 (2,646) (8,859) 3,316 364 4,999

Figures for Continental Merchant Bank, ICON Limited Merchant Bankers) and Nigerian Merchant Bank were not available. ■ BUSINESS + ECONOMY

settle outstanding liabilities. relations manager of CBN said, the Ijebu-ode, , last year that 143 This time, the total of depositors' approach was to complementotherefforts cases of indebtedness to the five banks money trapped in the 26 liquidated banks being made by the authorities to refloat earlier liquidated were filed at the is about N10.3 billion. Ani said that the the banks. CBN was able to secure tribunals. total insurance funds available to the investors for some of the distressed banks Ebhodaghe said that 24 judgments NDIC is N10 billion. "So, I must say that under its management. African were given in cases involving debts owed the NDIC is in a position to pay the Continental Bank, ACB, New Nigerian to the liquidated banks. On the whole, liabilities. If you look at the provisions of Bank, NNB,and National Bank of Nigeria, N2.133 billion was recovered from the decree, where they cannot handle it, NBN, all secured interested investors debtors of distressed and liquidated government will come in and take all the through the CBN. For NBN, CBN banks as at last year. necessary measures." recommended Stanmark Holdings led In the 1997 budget the government Financial experts, hold government by Christopher Kolade. Ani said the three announced a minimum capital base of responsible for the incidence of distress distressed banks were advertised for sale N500 million for commercial and in the banking industry. The old feeling in 1996. Bids were received and merchant banks. It fixed an initial March that government itself sowed the seed of considered. "Government has not 31, 1997 deadline for banks to comply distress reverberated last week. Experts with the directive or face liquidation. The blamed government for withdrawing its 42 distressed banks required N45.172 funds from the vaults of all but the big billion for recapitalisation. The deadline four banks in 1989. They said although was later extended to December 31,1997. the NDIC wa s esta bli shed tha t sa me yea r, Still 26 did not meet the deadline. it did not go into full operation until 1991 Ani said at an African Development when the seed of distress had already Bank, ADB, meeting in Abidjan, Cote been sown. d'Voire, May 1997, that 26 banks were The deregulation of the economy did heading for liquidation. "There were 29 not help matters as the number of banks banks involved, but I have cleared three in Nigeria rose from 30 to more than 100 of them because they were wrongly between 1980 and 1990. This heightened debited by the CBN, so, only 26 are to be competition among banks leading to high liquidated, I am just waiting for the interest rates in order to grab deposits. approval by the head of state," he said Banks began to offer loans w i thout ta king Some of the 42 distressed banks precaution over the viability of projects escaped the liquida tor's axe. Crystal Bank and making adequate provisions for which is now operating successfully collaterals. under new investors and a new name, The banking system managed to Standard Trust Bank Limited, is one of survive until the distress virus set-in in them. Nigerian Intercontinental the wake of 1993 political crisis Merchant Bank acquired Equity Bank, precipitated by the annulment of the June while HillCrest Merchant Bank, Gulf 12 presidential election. By the end of Bank, Broad Bank and Merchant Bank of 1995,60 banks representing 50 percent of Ebhodaghe: To supervise liquidation Commerce were recapitalised and commercial and merchant banks in the restructured. country had been declared distressed. finished the results and when this is done, Other banks that recapitalised By 1993, the CBN became worried buyers will be notified," he said. through successful mergers were Gamji enough to dissolve the boards of six Moves by government to merge its Bank which was taken over by Guaranty distressed banks, and later acquired them three distressed banks; Continental Trust Bank and Citi Trust Bank by Union at a nominal cost of N1 each. The boards Merchant, Nigerian Merchant Bank and Bank Pic. and managements of the banks were each ICON Limited (merchant bankers) into The organised private sector, an replaced with a five-member interim Atlantic Bank did not materialise. umbrella body for the Nigerian Chamber management board with the mandate to The government, in a bid to halt the of Commerce, Industry, Mines and work out a turn-around plan for the widespread distress in the banking Agriculture, NACCIMA, the Manu­ banks. In September 1995, CBN industry promulgated the Failed Banks facturers’ Association of Nigeria, MAN, announced the take-over of 17 bank’s due (Recovery of Debts) and Financial and the Nigerian Employers' to what it called "their deteriorating Malpractices in Banks Decree 18 in 1994. Consultative Assembly, NECA, financial conditions." Their boards were With the decree, debts otherwise welcomed the liquidation and described dissolved and replaced with interim classified as either not collectable or lost it as being capable of "separating the Boards. were recovered from recalcitrant debtors wheat from the chaff." Mergers and take-overs were who had refused to honour their Chilo Offiah, managing director of considered and encouraged by CBN in obligations to banks. FBN Merchant Bankers, said that the 1996 as an option in tackling distress in John Ebhodaghe, managing director N50,000 maximum amount to be paid to the banking industry. CBN started of NDIC said ata training programme on each depositor as contained in the NDIC consultation with the big banks in 1996 to financial crime control organised by the decree was not enough and should be take over and manage some of the office of the special adviser to the head of increased by the federal government. distressed banks. Tony Ede, public state on drugs and financial crimes in Reported by Joseph Ode and Tunde Asaju

Newswatch, February 2, 1998 27 ■ BUSINESS + ECONOMY WIÊIÊÊ^ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊI^^^ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊKM For Life more Abundant

State governments' budgets for this year emphasise the need to ensure better living standard for the people

By Nick Odeh

HE 1998 BUDGET ESTIMA- even development of the state and stem the country show that sectoral allocations tes show that, virtually, all the rural urban drift. The budget provided were mostly determined by what a state states will have more money for N2.5 billion as recurrent expenditure considers its priority needs. In Bayelsa to spend. Most state adminis­ while N3.1 billion is for capital projects. State, for example, out of theNl .66billion trators attributed the appreciation to the , a colonel and military capital vote, electricity was allocated performance of their internal revenue administrator of the state said: "Only N303.7 million. generation and prudent management of projects which have attained completion Omoniyi Olubolade, a navy captain the resources in the 1997 fiscal year. level of 70 per cent would be given and administrator of the state, justified Lagos State government announced attention as well as articulated priority the allocation: "We recognise that a budget of N16.833 billion for the 1998 projects which touch the citizenry." constant power supply is vital to our financial year. It maintains its lead in The newly created states also made development, yet Bayelsa is the only states' budgetary estimates, dwarfing their marks. Gombe announced a budget state not connected to the national grid. even, the combined budgets of Kano, of N2.6 billion. The budget is N914 "He promised to intensify efforts to link N8.154 billion, and Oyo, N7.8 billion, million more than last year's maiden the state to the national grid. His "budget which placed second and third budget of N1.6 billion. It is made up of of reality" will gulp N2.8 billion. respectively. N1.3 billion, and N1.2 billion for capital In Oyo State, the focus is on the Mohammed Buba Marwa, a colonel and recurrent expenditures respectively. agricultural sub-sector. The sector got and Lagos State administrator, said this John Orji, a group captain and N182.994 million in line with year's budget would consolidate on the administrator of the state, said this year's government's policy to boost food achievements of 1997. Said he: budget was aimed at "sustaining the production. In Lagos State, the transport "Government would continue its policy determined take-off efforts, and sector took the largest sectoral allocation of prudent management of resources and establishing and consolidating sound of N1.5 billion. The amount will be the implementation of priority economic and social infrastructure of the expended on road rehabilitation and programmes projects aimed at improving infant state." construction. the living condition of the good people of Also, in Ekiti, another infant state, In its "budget of fulfilment", the Lagos State." Tagged "budget of the government of Mohammed Inua Adamawa government allocated consolidation and fulfilment," the 1998 Bawa, a colonel, would "concentrate education sector the highest share of budget earmarked the sum of N10.343 more on developmental projects in an N498.942 million of the state's total billion for recurrent expenditure while effort to reach out and satisfy, to a large budget of N2.63 billion. For Bomo, the N6.490 billion is for capital projects. extent, the collective yearnings, hopes story is the same. Austine Aniebo, in In Oyo State, the budget was also and aspirations that informed the presenting his "budget of infrastructural meant to consolidate the gains of the 1997 struggle for and the eventual creation of regeneration," gave education the policy. , a colonel and ." Government would highest allocation of N505.266 million military administrator of the state, said "consolidate on the gains of 1997 and for recurrent and capital expenditure, N5.221 billion out of a total budget of build on the foundation already laid." while tertiary institutions and agency N7.779 billion was for capital expenditure The state government announced a for mass literacy were allocated N153.3 while N2.557 billion was earmarked for budget of N2.015 billion for this financial million and N21.4 million, respectively. recurrent expenditure. year. The budget is made up of N1.05 Interestingly, the thrust of all the budget The "budget of billion and N960.8 million for capital estimates is ensuring better living actualisation and integrated rural and recurrent expenditure, respectively. conditions for the citizenry. development," is designed to achieve Highlights of state budgets across Reported by Janet Mba-Afolabi

28 Newswatch, February 2, 1998 ■ BUSINESS + ECONOMY

Budget Estimate Expenditure Profile Revenue Generation

States 1998 1997 Recurrent Capital Internal Statutory Allocation Abia 2.31bn 2.1bn 1.7bn 527.4m 351m 1.749bn Adamawa 2.63bn 1.9bn 1.63bn 1.004bn - Bauchi 3.278bn 2.2bn 1.078bn 2.2bn - Bayelsa 2.8bn 1.65bn 1.16bn 1.66bn 278.4m 2.1bn Benue 3.824bn 2.728bn 3.376bn 448.222m - Ekiti 2.015bn 1.63bn 960.8m 1.05bn - Borno 3.207bn 2.672bn 2.284bn 923.11m - C/River 3.092bn 2.27bn 1.639bn 1.453bn - Gombe 2.6bn 1.6bn 1.3bn 1.2bn - Katsina 4.516bn 2.97bn 1.827bn 2.689bn - 2.3bn Kogi 2.9bn 2.2bn 1.4bn 1.5bn - Kwara 2.583bn 2.1bn 1.445bn 1.138bn - Lagos 16.833bn 12.88bn 10,343bn 6.490bn 14.750bn 1.919bn Nassarawa 2.05bn 1.8bn 1.341bn l.lbn - Niger 3.198bn 2.1bn 1.648bn 1.549bn - Ogun 4.2bn 2.8bn 2.66bn 1.54bn - Osun 3.57bn 2.8bn 2.014bn 1.563bn 665.309m 1.68bn Oyo 7.8bn 5.06bn 2.557bn 5.221bn - Plateau 3.257bn 2.3bn 1.784bn 1.473bn - Taraba 1.9bn 1.85bn 1.072bn 894.302m 230.55m Yobe 2.403bn 1.856bn 1.057bn 1.346bn 100m 2.064bn Delta 5.414bn 4.504bn 2.999bn 2.414bn 2.105bn 2.163bn Edo 4.19bn 3.16bn 2.626bn 1.563bn 960.7m 2.759bn Imo 2.533bn 2.25bn 1.6bn 931.5m - Zamfara 2.5bn 1.7bn 1.29bn 1.17bn 235m 2bn FCT Abuja 6.35bn 5.6bn 2.363bn 1.307bn 651.436m 3.02bn Akwa Ibom 3.42bn 2.83bn 2.34bn 1.08bn 1.06bn 1.104bn Jigawa 2.9bn 2.8bn • 1.3bn l,7bn 181.146m 2.396bn Kano 8.154bn 5.6bn 4.457bn 3.697bn 1.241bn 4.484bn Sokoto 2.351bn 818m 1.34bn 1.009bn - _ ^OvOOoVjaNCji^OJEOH^OvOOON^ONGn^ooKJi-^O...... \ Ondo 2.713bn 2.5bn 1.502bn 102.962m BUSINESS BRIEFS

For Love of Drinkers Spotlight On Top By Nick Odeh and Stephen Ubanna Government Parastatals Nigerian Breweries Pic, brewers of Guider and Star lager beer, as well as Legend Extra Stout, last week reduced the Agencies/Companies price of these and its other products. The company said it was passing to consumers "the full benefits" of the abolition of excise duties by the federal government as announced in the 1998 budget. Newswatch, Nigeria's foremost News­ A carton of Star Beer (large) will now sell for N383.87as magazine is packaging a special pullout on against N468.00. Star (small) will sell for N493.57 instead of top Government parastatals, agencies and N616.18. Guider goes for N420.04 a carton down from N517.46, Legend Extra stout will now be sold at N521.17 companies who distinguished themselves and N630.43, for large and small, down from N649.50 and in the discharge of their responsibilities in N797.06 respectively. Maltina and Amstel Malta will now 1997. sell for N488.08 and N541.71 as against N519.29 and N610.60. Retail prices were also reduced. The following are the , „ , „ ...... „ ,,rr7T^rrr.„^. The special approved prices: Star (large) N35.00; Star (small) N25.00; pullout shall

Guider, N40.00; Legend Extra Stout (large) N60.00; Legend * presentbreezy o CD “V 5 Extra Stout (small) N35.00 and Maltina and Amstel Malta Criteria:mmu will now be sold at N23.00 and N25.00 respectively. features on top agencies of government. It More Ships, Good Biz — Efficiency shall also arti­

Activities at the Lagos port complex, Apapa which seriously culate the declined in 19%, improved tremendously last year. More — Profitability breadth and vessels loaded and discharged at the port. Statistics from depth of their the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, shows that 822 vessels including petroleum product tankers with 3.13 million net —_ ViabilityViability achievements registered tonnage berthed attheportlastyear. In 1996,617 y in the previous ships with 3 million net registered tonnage called at the . . years, as well port. — Accountability their hopes Ngozi Duru, the Lagos port complex manager services as promised that the volume of activities at the port this year and aspira- would surpass that of 1997. He said the phasing out of pre­ — Relevance to the tions for 1998. shipment inspection agencies from the system would Limited translate into more patronage of Nigerian ports this year. "We expect a boom in our ports this year with the removal Nation’sNation’s develop­ develop- space,s fre of Import Duty Reports, IDR, on goods coming from Asia, avail abl e . Britain and African countries," he said. , . Interested mental needs States and Now, Executive Express Federal org- — Uniqueness anisations, ABC Transport has introduced a new service in its new should fleet of Volvo buses, known as Executive Express. The new ------■ contact: service is designed "to give customers the best of land travels," Francis Nnaji, ABC Transport chairman, said in Lagos last week. Advert/Special Projects Manager The new executive buses are fully air conditioned and Newswatch Communications Limited, have conference facilities that can sit four passengers. The buses also have fridges and toilets. 3, Billings Way Oregun, Ikeja The new service is the latest after "sleeper service," Tel: 01 4528673, 01 4962887-Lagos which it introduced in 1997. H 092341857-Abuja

30 Newswatch, February 2, 1998 Dear Clients, * REVISION OF ADVERTISEMENT RATES

As you are aware, in spite of the ever increasing cost of printing and production materials, we have held down our advertisement rates for about three years. However, present realities in the industry have compelled us to slightly revise our rate with effect from February 1, 1998. As usual, we seek your understanding and cooperation while we pledge improved and reliable services. We wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous 1998. Below are the advertisement rates:

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1. 1998. ALL ADVERTISEMENT BOOKINGS MUST BE PREPAID FOR.

QQLQim FULL PAGE (ROP) - N79,200.00 INSIDE BACK COVER N102,000.00 INSIDE FRONT COVER N105,600.00 OUTSIDE BACK COVER N122,500.00 CENTRESPREAD N192,000.00 BOTTOM STRIP N47,500.00

BLACK AND WHITE FULL PAGE (ROP) - N524SOO.OO 2/3 PAGE - N42,000.00 1/2 PAGE - N30.000.00 1/4 PAGE - N18,000.00

CENTRESPREAD N96,000.00 Executive Classified AD: 2.7 X 5.6 Inches - N4,750.00 2.7X 4.3 Inches - N3.125.00

SUPPLEMENT RATES

COLOUR ' BLACK / WHITE •H 0* PROJECT SUPPORT ADVERT/PUBLIC NOTICE N102,000.00 N57,600.00 COLOUR FLASH ON COVER N50.000.00 N/A

• Charges for Art works. Colour separation will be supplied on request. • All registered advertising agencies are entitled to the approved agency commission.

All Enquiries should be forwarded to the Advertisement Manager IN THE NEWS

Umaru Ali Shinkafi, lawyer and Emory and Harvard respectively, both By Raphael Adeyanju politician 61, January 19. He waseducated in the United States of America, USA. He has written several books and papers and taught jurisprudence before his Birthdays appointment as special adviser to the head of state in 1996 Peter Enahoro, journalist, author and Launch

His Master’s Will, a book written by Mobolade Omonijo, former Editor Policy Magazine, January 27. His Master's Will is the biography of Sunday Mbang, the president of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria. Shinkafi Died at University of Lagos and Nigerian Law School, Lagos. Shinkafi joined the Nigeria Peter Gowon, a retired soldier and Police Force in 1959. He served as federal brother to General Yakubu Gowon, commissioner for internal affairs between former head of state, 72, January 9. 1975 and 1978. He was later appointed Enahoro Gowon, who died in Germany, was the Oyo State police commissioner. bom near Pankshin, Plateau State. He publisher, 63, January 21. He was Shinkafi was director-general of the attended St. Bartholomew's Primary educated atGovemmentCollege, Ughelli. defunct Nigerian security organisation. School, Wusasa, Zaria. He later joined He was a presidential aspirant in the Enahoro started work as an assistant the then West African Frontier Force, aborted Third Republic. publicity officer with the Federal which later transformed into the Queen's Information Service. He later served as Own Nigerian Regiment. sub-editor, and Editor-in-chief of Daily Gowon fought in the World War II in Times. He was also the Editor of Africa Appointed South Asia. He was a leader of an anti­ Now magazine, based in London. He is personnel bomb direction unit. He retired currently the sole administrator of Daily Auwalu Hamisu Yadudu, special adviser from public service in 1966 and went into Times. Enahoro is a former chairman of private business. the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission. Ebenezer Babatope, lawyer and Elected politician, 55, January 26. He was educated at University of Lagos and University of Buckingham, England. Babatunde Oshinlaja, a lawyer, as Babatope was minister of transport and chairman of the Obafemi Awolowo aviation until February, 1995. University OAU, lle-Ife, Alumni Association, Lagos branch. Also elected Eleazor Chukwuemeka Anyaoku, to run the association in the next two diplomat, administrator, 65, January 18. years Deji Elumoye, assistantnews editor He was educated at University of Ibadan, Punch newspaper, as publicity secretary, Institute of Public Administration, Sanya Awosan, 1st vice-chairman and London and the Cavillam Institute, Ahmed Adepoju, 2nd vice-chairman France. Anyaoku joined the Nigerian alongside 11 others. Foreign Service in 1962. He was a member, Nigeria's permanent mission to Yadudu the United Nations. He later served as Arrested assistant director, Commonwealth to General Sani Abacha, head of state, as Jami Ibrahim, managing director, secretariat, assistant secretary-general, Professor of Law by Bayero University Nigeria Airways, January 19. Ibrahim Commonwealth and minister of external Kano, BUK. The appointment was was arrested last Monday, after a press affairs. Anyaoku is currently the backdated to 1986. Yadudu had, before briefing during which he spoke on wide secretary-general of the Commonwealth. now, been adjunct professor of law and ranging issues affecting the airline. No visiting scholar at the Universities of reason was given for his arrest.

32 Newswatch, February 2,1998 SUMMIT House from The Range 30 years after he left the Daily Times, Peter Enahoro returns as sole administrator. In this second instalment of his interview with A/ewswatch editors, he speaks on his appointment, state of Nigerian journalism

Newswatch: You are now sole administrator of Daily Times. she was concerned. So, that midnight I got another call: "Peter, What specifically was your brief? I heard you are hesitating, well, I know it's difficult. I know Enahoro: This one is so recent that in as much as 1 don't want to everything but when you were here you are always saying this appear cagey, I think I will be forgiven to give the picture than and that about the press. Daily Times was not what it was and supplying the details. As I understand it, when we produced now you are being asked to come and do it. That was one the first issue of Africa Nmt\ in London, it created an impact and consideration. it was highly praised. I didn't know there was trouble in Daily Another was when Buhari took power, I am very going to be Times. Then I got a call from Lagos and the honest. When Buhari seized power I criticised caller said, "I am asked to congratulate you the take over. In fact the Guardian newspaper and you are doing a good job in Europe and ridiculed me at the time. They said I had been keep it up. Didn't I tell you, I didn't know why eating the crumbs from the NPN table. What you left Nigeria, you are highly regarded, I was saying was that politicians should be don't place yourself in exile again and so on." given the chance to make mistakes and correct Four days later, I was actually at dining mistakes. Sol didn't welcome the coup. Well, table with the closest friends. We were plotting that effectively put me out of Nigeria and I the second edition when the phone rang. I was most shocked to hear that the western picked the phone and the caller said, "Didn't I state TV said I was wanted. I saw another say you have made an impact, I am being orchestrated attempt to embarrass me. I said asked to ask you to come to Nigeria, we have I will come, maybe I would have a chance to to see you." explain without seeming to antagonise the administration, because I did not want to put Newswatch: Who was this mysterious caller? myself out again. Enahoro: The caller? A friend. A friend. He I came in on a Friday, I was so keen that said," you had been asked to come". I didn't want people to know I was around. So, I registered at the Sheraton Hotels under Newswatch: What was your reaction? Politicians should an assumed name just to keep myself secret. Enahoro: You can imagine my reaction. After On Monday, I went to Abuja, I stayed with four years of saying enough, enough with be given the chance my friend. I did not stay in a hotel. On Nigeria. I came back, settled down, and made to make mistakes Wednesday night, I saw the C-in-C, I was a long time plan, already, I had bought my car told the Daily Times needed a surgical and settled down. They started parading me and correct them operation. As far as I was concerned, I was around. So we sat down to analyse the given the mandate, sole administrator, full implication. My collaborators and I agreed powers to reform the place. In my mind I that I can make a trip to Nigeria and in a gentle way explain that gave myself the fine end-space—within this time I should be I can accomplish a lot with what I have resumed in England. It able to accomplish what I want to do and then I can return to my was decided that I should come. Telling my wife was most normal life. I stayed through Thursday, relaxing, having accepted difficult because I know how total our departure was as far as the offer. On Friday, I left the country. Significantly, not once in

Newswatch, February 2, 1998 33 By Raphael Adeyanju Umaru All Shmkafi, lawyer and Emory and Harvard respectively, both politician 61 January 19. He was educated in the United States of America, USA. He has written several books and papers and taught jurisprudence before his Birthdays appointment as special adviser to the head of state in 1996 Peter Enahoro, journalist, author and Launch

His Master's Will, a book written by Mobolade Omonijo, former Editor Policy Magazine, January 27. His Master's Will is the biography of Sunday Mbang, the president of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria. Shinkafi Died at University of Lagos and Nigerian Law School, Lagos. Shinkafi joined the Nigeria Peter Gowon, a retired soldier and Police Force in 1959. He served as federal brother to General Yakubu Gowon, commissioner for internal affairs between former head of state, 72, January 9. 1975 and 1978. He was later appointed Gowon, who died in Germany, was Enahoro the Oyo State police commissioner. born near Pankshin, Plateau State. He publisher, 63, January 21. He was Shinkafi was director-general of the attended St. Bartholomew's Primary defunct Nigerian security organisation. educa ted at Government College, Ughelli. School, Wusasa, Zaria. He later joined He was a presidential aspirant in the Enahoro started work as an assistant the then West African Frontier Force, publicity officer with the Federal aborted Third Republic. which later transformed into the Queen's Information Service. He later served as Own Nigerian Regiment. sub-editor, and Editor-in-chief of Daily Gowon fought in the World War II in Times. He was also the Editor of Africa Appointed South Asia. He was a leader of an anti­ Now magazine, based in London. He is personnel bomb direction unit. He retired currently the sole administrator of Daily AuwaluHamisu Yadudu, special adviser from public service in 1966 and went into Times. Enahoro is a former chairman of private business. the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission. Ebenezer Babatope, lawyer and Elected politician, 55, January 26. He was educated at University of Lagos and University of Buckingham, England. Babatunde Oshinlaja, a lawyer, as Babatope was minister of transport and chairman of the Obafemi Awolowo aviation until February, 1995. University OAU, lle-Ife, Alumni Association, Lagos branch. Also elected Eleazor Chukwuemeka Anyaoku, to run the association in the next two diplomat, administrator, 65, January 18. years DejiElumoye,assistantnews editor He was educated at University of Ibadan, Punch newspaper, as publicity secretary, Institute of Public Administration, Sanya Awosan, 1st vice-chairman and London and the Cavillam Institute, Ahmed Adepoju, 2nd vice-chairman France. Anyaoku joined the Nigerian alongside 11 others. Foreign Service in 1962. He was a member, Nigeria's permanent mission to Yadudu the United Nations. He later served as Arrested assistant director, Commonwealth to General Sani Abacha, head of state, as Jami Ibrahim, managing director, secretariat, assistant secretary-general, Professor of Law by Bayero University Nigeria Airways, January 19. Ibrahim Commonwealth and minister of external Kano, BUK. The appointment was was arrested last Monday, after a press affairs. Anyaoku is currently the backdated to 1986. Yadudu had, before briefing during which he spoke on wide secretary-general of the Commonwealth. now, been adjunct professor of law and ranging issues affecting the airline. No visiting scholar at the Universities of reason was given for his arrest. N> OJ Newswatch, February 2,1998 ■ SUMMIT

the one week did I either meet the minister of information nor Newswatch: How are you coping with that situation? his name came up. At no time was I told that my mandate Enahoro: Somebody told me when I took over Daily Times, he included subservience, obedience or reporting you call it. You said two things: "Daily Times is a graveyard of reputation". He name it to the minister because honestly that would have said, "be very careful", he said, "the Daily Times is a mini changed the job for me. I was told the place needed a surgical Nigeria. You will find that it is not easy". Well, I hope the first operation. I was told to go there and do it. I was told an does not come to be true, although the threat is certainly there. announcement would be made. What subsequently happened, The second and as far as I am concerned is true. There is no why the announcement was not made; it is a bit too early yet, organisation in the newspaper industry in Nigeria that has this but apparently many people got to know that I am here, that I problem. It is a reflection of what our country is and because of have been appointed and so, and protest were made by those the structure of ownership you have to take congisance of this who protested. They said they should make an input to the fact. So it's not just a place where you simply say this is the best person to be appointed. As a matter of fact, the principal person candidate to be that. You have to balance it against other had said he spent 10 days, trying to stop my appointment. considerations. You look for the best to balance it. When it was unstoppable, a connivance was made, sole It is not just about the Yoruba and the Ibo. It may be it's administrators are appointed by the presidency, no sole narrowed to that because they are the dominant groups, but administrators have been appointed by a ministry. So it was there are certain things that I accept. The Daily Times is situated organised that for the first time that the sole administrator's in Yoruba land, therefore one has to accept that the majority of letter of appointment was written by a ministry and I got a call the staffers because of the geographical location willbe Yorubas. in London that "this man who was holding the job has let me It would have been a different matter if the Daily Times was in down. I have fired him. I want you to come and take it over." Maiduguri. That was ten days after I returned. I was so embarrassed. "I Unfortunately, people live on this and they capitalise on it. want you to come and take it over. The C-in-C has given When we are thinking of making somebody something on approval to your appointment. You should come to Lagos, merit, there are people going around campaigning that we have come and get your letter." Because I didn't want to start saying not put one of them in a position of authority. I am learning to friend, I knew this. So I started stammering. I said "this is a big be not just a publisher but a politician. Something I have never surprise." He said "no, no, I am sure you can do the job." I said been but the Daily Times is compelling me to learn this lesson "all right. But before I come, could you send me the letter? I am that you cannot do it on merit alone because of the fact that it is a responsible man with a family and cannot just hop on a plane a nationally owned institution. Not just Ibo and Yoruba but that I am going to take over the administration of Daily Times across the board but unfortunately, it's a reflection of our without a letter". He said, "okay what is your fax number? I will country. If you are made minister tomorrow, people will see fax you the lette"r. I started waiting for the letter. It never came. you first in terms of your ethnicity or in terms of your personality. One day, a friend phoned and said, "what is happening? You The good fortune, if it's good fortune at all, rather the luck I are supposed to be here. Questions have been asked if you have have is that I come from a small ethnic group, so nobody can arrived in the country. And I don't want you to inadvertently accuse me. If I start putting people in various position. I will give the impression that you are bluffing." empty my home town. Because of that nobody quarrels with me. But unfortunately, the people who make angry accusations Newswatch: How did you find the place about 30 years after? are those who are cynical enough to capitalise on this and who Enahoro: No comparison. You know over the years Daily Times are the rumour mongers or the campaigners away from Lagos. became heavily bureaucratised. When Alhaji Jose left, in They sneak in and say look at us, none of us is here and they commercial terms, he drew a line. The Daily Times today can come to you and give you advice. "Sir, you know what you are boast of its assets even though it has cash-flow problem. It has doing is wonderful: what you are doing is wonderful, but you assets, thanks to Alhaji Jose. After Alhaji Jose, people brought in see, you have been away for so long. I always know disaster is showed their various talents. Somebody brought in what he coming. Whenever people come tome and start saying that you considers his great talent at establishing a bureaucracy structured have been outside Nigeria so long, you don't know the country, along the civil service line. We are now trying to dismantle such I know where they are heading. It is unfortunate. structures. I spent the last year, trying to dismantle that. Other people came, they saw wealth, they thought how do we manage Newswatch: Why did you have to redesign and repackage the this wealth? But they didn't think how to create more, or how Daily Times? to preserve it or how to manage it properly. Other people came Enahoro: Yes I felt so, I felt that first of all in Nigeria, all our in and saw wealthand said this is for the taking. Sol came in and newspapers tend to be tabloid. You see something even with found out that all these potpourri of things, the chickens were those that claim to be the most superior, sometimes, also in home to roost. It was really in a mess. And certain habits and content, there are certain stories serious papers do not carry on patterns are developed along the lines that have become a way their front page, but in Nigeria anything goes. of life that are difficult for the people to shed. So trying to get So I felt that we need an establishment newspaper in Nigeria them to shed those behavioural patterns had been very difficult and I think the day of the broadsheet is not gone, but we are not to the extent that one knows that one has offended a number of getting enough advert to give it that bulk more. If you look at the people in the course of this. It is a struggle. Post Express it looks very big because of its broadsheet. If you fold it into two, you will see that it's more but if you leave it as Newswatch: Daily Times serve as political newspaper, a bridge you buy it, it looks less. So I decided that I want to make a between the Ibo and the Yoruba, and as their leader.... change, I don't want to be like everybody else and the change Enahoro: (Cuts in) How I wish I am. that came to my mind is the continental look. People criticise me, and say that different headlines, this and that, I don't think

34 Newswatch, February 2, 1998 ■ SUMMIT

so, I think if you have a weakness which you are trying to do it again. AladeOdunewu in his interview this week gave me correct, is the quality of printing if we have a sharper print a new hope, maybe we should not speak in general terms about which we are working on, if we stand out and if you could put the Nigerian press, because we have extremes. Like our society some other designs which we will do, once we are sure of the perhaps, well if you talk of the Nigerian society in Lagos, quality of printing if we do it now it may look blurred but it has actually what you are talking about is the urban Nigerian enabled us to pack Daily Times qualitatively speaking with as society. It's totally different from the rural Nigerian society. equal numbers of stories with any of our rivals, can claim You don't have that fusion yet. There are two extremes. So that without being boring because when I have been asked in my is what I think of the Nigerian press. office at the Daily Times, not everybody agrees with me. They At the top ends, we have a genuine effort for quality. I think say why can't you be in this way? some of our daily newspapers are striving at it. Maybe at the You find just massive times on two pages, I don't read them. end you see only one. Maybe because I am here. You know we I struggle, I look for paragraphs to give me meanings. Well, with ha ve wishful thinking published as factsand so on. So it is a very the Daily Times, what we give you is a fast moving paper that place that we occupy in that place. Then you have the shocking gives you what you want to know. In our feature pages, if you gutter level which is an imported idea but it's like a woman who have time, I challenge any of our readers to say I read Daily has decided that debauchery is an acceptable way of life. So she Times from frontpage to back page that is too much. If you don't sees a call girl in finery driving a sports car and says I am going have time, you read the head line, it tells you what the story is to be a Nigerian version of that. Then she comes out as a dirty, all about and that is it. You can move to something else, by the unwashed, untidy, smelling harlot. But she says that there are time you finish reading the Daily Times you know what the Daily call girls in Europe, I am a call girl too. You are not, you are a Times has said that day. You don't have to go gutter smell of a prostitute, and that is what to all the details. I must say that is not the same we have at the other end. These are people for all our rivals so.... who really should be drowned, quartered and fathered and left in Balewa Square like in Newswatch: Is it why you have to put in a the middle ages and far them. They make no headline, kicker and rider? efforts to check what they call facts and they Enahoro: Yes, because it tells you everything are da maging the reputa tion of our profession, without being boring. they are a disgrace to our profession and they call themselves journalists. Newswatch: It offends the eyes somehow. Everything you can think of that is Enahoro: I think the eyes are getting used to disgraceful, they have done. They are it. People said it makes it look untidy. If you extortionists, they are blackmailers and they pick up a lot of continental newspaper, it are called the press men. Unfortunately when looks like that, it is just that we are not used to people then talk of the Nigerian press, they it, and it takes time. But I forget. I think I think of you, they think of This day and they should be allowed to say this before December bind us together. last year all our national newspapers, the So I think if I was asked "what do you tendency was to pick sharp headlines you Some journalists think of the Nigerian journalism?", I will say know sometimes one story on the front page, no, no, let's decide which end of the profession big bold, but look at our papers now, many of make no efforts to you are talking about. People who have them are now having two, three, four, five never left Lagos will speak authoritatively stories on the front page. The idea is catching check what they about Abuja. They have met some gossip on. Take the Vanguard, take the Guardian, go call facts persons and if Nigerians are good at one and look at their past copies and you will see thing, sometime, it is telling you what they that we are not alone anymore in .... think you want to hear, embellishing it and they go to press and publish it. I have had Newswatch: How have the readers been accepting this? knowledge of certain thing reported which were just fiction and Enahoro: Frankly, everything is going on. The problem that we completely made up but damaging and you wonder,what can have is the quality of the printing. you do. I wouldn't support this idea of locking up people. Isay no. Introduce a restraint by way of a compulsory insurance Newswatch: Are you selling now more than you used to do? which all publications must take; revise the law of libel and Enahoro: The records are there, when I came, I didn't know slander if you like, so that there is an avenue of accelerated either and I did not want to make a guess so I asked that every hearing through the court not through setting up a special morning I be given comparative figures. We were clearly and court. It is possible to rewrite the law. In the French system, consistently behind everybody. The Guardian has the chunk of there was a time when I was involved in the ownership of an the whole thing. Consistently now, we are next to the Guardian airline in the Gambia, we had an agreement with Royal Jordan We have not reached where we want to be, but when we repair Airline in the Gambia, we had disagreement with them. It was our machine and when we have a cleaner print it will be a then I discovered that you can go through the normal court different story. proceeding. You can go to a company law court where they accelerate hearing. The only thing is that you agree that Newswatch: What is the state of Nigerian journalism today? whatever the judgment, you abide by it, there is not going to be Are you happy with it? an appeal. Enahoro: I have shot my big mouth so often, and I can as well I think we can revise our law to make it that libel cases

Newswatch, February 2,1998 35 ■ SUMMIT

should be quickly heard because I don't want to take a man to elsewhere do. Why? court now and five years later the matter is still not resolved, Enahoro: I think it is a search for relevance. I have thought and everybody has forgotten about it. thought about it. There is no large market in Nigeria at the It should be done in the heat of the moment and if he is found moment for a proliferation of weekly magazines, since they liable, there should be an insurance to cover the libel. In attempt to report the same thing. So the future to me is England, you do it voluntarily. It is not the law but voluntary. régionalisation. Everybody wants to be national, instead of All of us who publish there, we have insurance to cover libel. So reporting indepth the event of the former eastern Nigeria, in a if you libel me your insurance company would pay once it has location in Port Harcourt and being a local magazine and only gone through the court system. In Nigeria what I am saying is a few copies reach Lagos. Everybody wants to be where they that if we can do it you will see a lot of these things would stop think the actions is. So the competition is very fierce. People are because, if you libel me and I win the case and the insurance looking for relevance and they have chosen the path of hyperbole, company pays me this year, next year your premium will go up of trying to titillate excitement as their answer. That is in the and if the day comes that you cannot afford your premium, it weekly market which is very tight. They all come out about the will be like not having money to cover your third party in a car. same time once a week and they are churning out for us what It becomes a criminal case. You are not prosecuted forwhatyou happened during the week. said. You are prosecuted for not being able to take an insurance. Nigerians are very good at copying people. If you start You become an illegal publisher. manufacturing that pen today and Nigerians see that you are We will make mistake as we do now. We would still have selling a full half dozen in Lagos, the next time they say, "Na pen libel cases because we are not perfect. We are human. A they rtwvc noil'". Not only that they want to produce a pen. They reporter reports something, he makes a mistake, the man goes want to produce exactly what you are producing because they to court. You lose your case, we understand.that. But what think that is what will sell. So you start a magazine. Newswatch makes me mad are the deliberate concoctions. My immediate blazes a trail. Newswatch is the answer, they enter the market younger brother asked one fellow: 'Do you know Peter?' He they find they are competing, how do we outdo these people? said yes. But do you honestly think this is the whole thing? He They start this exaggeration. They don't have it in the daily said yes, your brother is an experienced journalist. If it's not papers because there is a bit more or less competitiveness in the correct, he knows what to do. He should rely. First of all, weare newspaper for some reason which I cannot explain. Maybe not at the same end of the market. So I have a mixed feelings because, they have been there a longer time. There is no that cut about Nigerian journalism. throat competition between us. Maybe there is also more room, I don't know. We are trying to make the Daily Times an Newswatch: But sometimes one wonders, the fault of the establishment newspaper. It has its implication. It means there journalist is the fault of our society because a lot of highly placed are certain things we will not publish. I think the Vanguard is leaders are full of praises for that kind of journalism and feel shaping up to represent a certain spectrum in our political that whatever is wrong is with the publishing environment. society. I think the Guardian believes it has come to a monopoly Enahoro: I think you are right, of course, in a way. I don't think in certain positions and then you have This Day and Post Express I will put it as giving them what they want because maybe what which are yet to stabilise their own positions. The competition they want is even more salacious and we are guessing that is not os cut throat as the magazines, so I put blame on imitations doesn't mean we should publish it. My observation is this: In and competitions. Nigeria when you talk of corruption. For instance, how many people really, honestly, truthfully are morally outraged by Newswatch: There appears to be a certain tradition here where corruption? You will find that what many people a re quarrelling columnists, after a certain period, fade into the limbo. You have about is that it appears you have the monopoly of the opportunity stopped writing. So have Allah-De, Sa, Amuka and others. But to be corrupt. So when they are shouting that Peter Enahoro is the case elsewhere, as in Britain, is that journalists still keep their corrupt, what they are really saying is that this man is columns into the autumn of their lives. What's responsible for monopolising the whole thing. Put them in my place tomorrow, this? and they will try to avail themselves. There is a certain cynicism Enahoro: Well I think in my case, I still write when I am angry that has entered our psyche. They like to pull people down. enough. I still write when lam sufficiently provoked. But I Nobody likes a successful Nigerian. We are always looking for think the thing is that we area young country and opportunities that weak spot to hit him. Maybe we are taking our frustration open up and people go into diversion, we have said in Europe, out on them. It is for psychologists to say. So when you write people continue to write, but if you look at the columnists, not something about Peter Enahoro, people pretend to sympathise all of them are publishers. There, journalists remain journalists. with Peter Enahoro's plight. “Haba Peter, what have you done ■ When you graduate like Sad Sam to become a publisher what to these people?" Deep down what they are saying is, 'silly* you write is no longer column. It becomes a statement of policy bastard. They have got him now. Arrogant twit. They have every time. When Sad Sam was writing, he could write and pulled him down.' That is what they are really saying. So there ^ ^offend. Thatisjust a columnist. Now if he writes it is the whole is something wrong with our psyche. There is something of the Vanguard that is writing; the whole implication of the wrong somewhere. Maybe the years and years of frustration whole institution that he is trying to establish is now read into have now built up to this. what he has written. So really it is not right to just make a broad comparison. Two, there is no money in it. In England there is Newswatch: In Europe and America, it is essentially the money in it. Alade Odunewu quite rightly said again in this tabloids that scream. The magazines have maturity in their interview I am talking about. He observed that when he went approach, they are sane, sober and all that. But here it seems to to England, Cassandra who wrote in the Mirror his real name is be the other way round. The magazines do what the tabloids BillO'connor, that he wrote his column daily

36 T Newswatch, February 2, 1998 ■ SUMMIT

As Peter Pan in the Daily Titues, I wrote three times a week, to him and said we have never met. I said "I don't like one bit he wrote everyday. He earned more than the editor of the the way you spoke to us. We have just come back from Mirror. independence travail. Black or white, I am not going to accept you as a kind of suzerainty, patronising me and talking to me Newswatch: You said you only write when you are angry. like that", and it became a heated argument in the verandah. This brings to mind, the thing you wrote on Walter Carrington. There are very nice black Americans. But I am talking in What was actually...... a broad sense. They see us as either we have failed them or Enahoro: Carrington was taking liberties with our problems they have to help us along. I am far more confident of myself here. Carrington was an envoy. He was not the only envoy in than most black Americans in their own country. Because I this country. I don't think that it is befitting that an envoy know where I come from and I know where I can return to. should descend to the level that he did. There are avenues of They are stuck there in that society. So when Carrington came making protests. There are also diplomatic ways. I just felt as and made a bee line for Abeokuta where he had a big party a Nigerian offended by his superior attitude and maybe also thrown for him, right or wrong by a man who is in disagreement a tinge of irritation in what I know to be black America attitude with the government to which you have been assigned, as first of Africans. You can call it prejudice. But it is a prejudice that week public outing that is undiplomatic, and acceptable to me. reaches deep. Several years ago, 1962 to be exact, I was one of It's rather like in their own term, the US ambassador arrives in four people chosen by Nigerian government to go and represent Britain and the first place he goes to is to meet the IRA. They Nigeria in Dakar, when talks began about starting an African won't accept it. The way Carrington's excuse was, he is an old news agency. We arrived and we had our meetings. Of course friend. And then he chose every July 4, to make statements the French, we discovered that AFP had prepared a brief for which are patronising and some cases insulting. One of our them and as far as we are concerned we were just going to turn former ambassadors who is not political is an old school mate AFP to Pan African news agency. It created a lot of discussion, of mine, he was so angry with him once at a July 4, to which he rejection and so on. It was a very heated discussion, then we had invited him. He said to him "has diplomacy now come to were given a banquet and there was one black American who a stage where an ambassador is telling the host government later turned out a CIA agent in fact, he was mentioned in a how to run its own affairs? You see, we Nigerians, maybe book, called The Spook. He then stood up uninvited, unasked, because we are angry with our government, we are not happy and started talking and said we black Americans know we can with the way things are, we are looking for allies. help in a very patronising way. Everybody said who is this To Be Continued man? How did he come to this hall? When we left, I went up

Ÿ ...... ' ^ SPECIAL FOCUS ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS

What are the qualities of these schools? What standards of education are they imparting on our youths? Even more, who are the persons imparting this knowledge? Look out for answers in our special focus on Private Educational Centres/Schools in Nigeria Part 2. / Interested Schools /Institutions should contact:

The Advertisement Manager Newswatch Communications Limited 3, Billings Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: 01-4960950, Tel/Fax: 4962887 09-2341857 (Abuja) 062-213021 (Kaduna)

Newswatch, February 2, 1998 37