Binder1

Crude theft: Oil workers give FG 60 days ultimatum

PDP won’t tolerate indiscipline again –Jonathan

Stakeholders move to forestall strikes CHIDI UGWU AND MESHACK IDEHEN Alison-Madueke

Vol. 3 N0. 658

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orkers in the oil and gas industry yesterday issued a 60-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to ensure adequate security for

...members move against Tukur, NWC

oil and gas installations, especially the pipelines, in the country.

The workers, under the aegis of the Petroleum and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Friday, July 5, 2013

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Constitution amendment:

Reps strip President, VP, govs of immunity ...scrap SIECs, rule out state creation

Insist on LG autonomy, deny caretaker chairmen funds

TORDUE SALEM ABUJ

Imoke

Appeal Court nullifies Obong of Calabar’s appointment

P.11

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he House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has stripped the president, vice-president, governor and deputy governor of immunity from criminal prosecution.

Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Amended) precludes the occupants of the offices from criminal prosecution.

Specifically, Section 308 subsection 1(a) states that: “No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Doctors advise Mandela’s family to turn off life support P.50

Egyptian Interim President, Adly Mansour (centre), speaking after his swearing in yesterday in Cairo.

World leaders divided over Egyptian President’s removal Five die of generator fumes in Akwa Ibom

P.4,49 P.11

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Your

UN, US, AU, Nigeria, others react

No help for OJB Jezreel from artistes P.19 Flavour

16 PAGES OF ARTS, REVIEWS, LIFESTYLE AND BUZZ TO START YOUR WEEKEND, BEGIN ON PAGE 19

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Crude theft: Oil workers give FG 60 days ultimatum CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, gave the ultimatum following the massive loss of investments, income and jobs, owing to crude oil theft.

The unions after their joint National Executive Council, NEC, meeting under the umbrella of NUPENGASSAN in Abuja yesterday said: “In view of the obvious looming danger to the survival of the oil and gas industry and by extension the nation’s economy

which has become so endemic, with high sense of responsibility and patriotism, we have resolved to issue the Federal Government of Nigeria, a 60-day ultimatum to effectively and holistically address and find a lasting solution to this massive crude oil theft debacle.”

The Presidents of PENGASSAN, Babatunde Ogun, and NUPENG, Igwe Achese, condemned the helplessness of the Federal Government in combating the menace.

Achese, who is the Chairman of NUPENGASSAN, noted that the theft

had reduced production of the multinational oil firms by over 60 per cent, leading to shortages, shut in, high cost of operation, threats to jobs and discouragement to investments.

He alleged that there was a high level collaboration among the security agencies, politicians and highlyplaced individuals in this racket.

Ogun, the alternate chairman of the joint body, also noted that the increase in the rate of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism could be a result of underfunding of the Nigerian Navy and other security

agencies saddled with the task of protecting and securing the vital national assets.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to provide adequate funding and equipment to the security agencies to protect the country’s waterways.

The PENGASSAN president stressed that the Federal Government was lacking in the provision of adequate security for oil and gas installations, leading to increase in the cost of production by the international oil companies, IOCs. He said: “Many multina-

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; Peoples Democratic Party Chairman in Rivers State, Chief Felix Obuah; acting Deputy National Chairman, Uche Chibundom and Secretary, Mr. Walter Opuene, during the meeting between the President and state exco and elders of the party in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Reps strip President, VP, govs of immunity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

office.”

But the House, at the presentation of the Constitution Review Committee’s report, said the occupants of the office do not deserve such privilege.

Deputy Speaker of the House and the committee chairman, Emeka Ihedioha, while presenting the report at the plenary yesterday stated that this decision was in sync with Nigerians.

He said: “Section 308 was amended in line with the results from the Peoples’ Public Sessions. The committee also removed the immunity from prosecution from criminal offences for persons occupying the position of president, vice-president, governor and deputy governor, and to stem impunity levels.”

In line with the report of the Senate on constitution review, the House

foreclosed creation of additional states and granted autonomy to local governments.

Ihedioha told the House that “The committee received requests for creation of states running into more than 35 states.

“None of the requests submitted to the committee complied with the procedure for creation of states outlined in section 8 of the constitution. Accordingly, the committee was unable to treat any of these requests.

“The committee, however, recognises that the existing provision in the constitution for the creation of new states is unclear and cumbersome. Accordingly, the committee has clarified the process to make it more coherent.”

The committee altered the contentious Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution “to

abrogate State Joint Local Government Accounts and empower each local government to maintain its own special account to be called “Local Government Council Allocation Account” into which shall be paid directly allocations made to the local government by the Federal Government from the Federation Account and from the government of the state.”

The committee also seeks to bar un-elected local government chairmen from getting funding from government’s purse.

It also allows for independent candidature in future elections.

While briefing the House, Ihedioha said: “The Constitution Alteration Bill, attached to this report is a reflection of members’ bills referred to the committee after the second reading and the results of the

Peoples’ Public Sessions on the Review of the Constitution.”

The highlights of the alterations contained in the bill are as follows: Section 7: Local government system: The committee accepted the recommendation of the Peoples’ Public Sessions which clearly underscored the need to create independence and autonomy for local government councils and give the councils their deserved role as catalysts for development at the grassroots level.

Accordingly, the committee created a fixed uniform term of four years for local government councils and prescribed denial of appropriation to councils that are not democratically elected.

The reforms proposed by the committee prescribed CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

tionals are divesting from the nation’s onshore assets due to insecurity, which increase their cost of production.

“Shell, Chevron, Addax and Petrobras are divesting and this endangers the jobs of our members in these companies.

“Aside from losing their crude and reducing their productions, the oil companies take care of the cost of repairs of pipelines ruptured by crude oil vandals and also take care of the costs of the environmental clean-up caused by these economic saboteurs. All these add up to their cost of production.”

Achese called on the government to fight the anomaly headlong in the next two months or the unions would be forced to withdraw its members from oil and gas installations.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the industry have adopted a 12-point resolution aimed at forestalling future strike actions by addressing the issues raised by unions in the petroleum industry.

Group General Manager, Community Relations, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Ali Baba Mohammed, in a statement noted that the resolutions were adopted in a meeting jointly conveyed by the Ministers of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.

NNPC Group Managing Director, Andrew Yakubu; Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Godwin Onwughalu, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. O. Iloh, also attended the meeting in Abuja.

Mohammed, in the 12point communiqué jointly endorsed by representatives of the stakeholders, said that far-reaching decisions were adopted on all the items highlighted by the unions.

On pipeline vandalism and oil theft, the forum said that government had set up a committee to x-ray the issues, stressing that PENGASSAN and NUPENG would be informed by relevant government agencies and other security institutions on the

progress being made.

The statement also noted that government was already dealing with the bad roads in the country, including applying resources from the SURE-P to rehabilitate the roads that were still posing challenges.

It was resolved that poor access road to the Port Harcourt Refinery would be captured in the ongoing reconstruction of the East-West road.

The statement added that the forum also agreed that the current rehabilitation of the railways be sustained to complement the road network.

It was resolved that the unions should submit the list of unfair labour practices to the 13-man committee headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The statement, however, stated that other transition issues be referred to the NNPC GMD‘s Committee as had been mandated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, for resolutions within two weeks.

On the alleged breaches of the guidelines on contract staffing and outsourcing in the oil and gas sector, the unions were advised to make available specific cases on such breaches to the 13-man committee and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

The stakeholders were, however, unanimous in their resolve that “unionisation is an inalienable right of workers as established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the standards of the International Labour Organisation.”

It noted that all issues of casualisation, contract staffing outsourcing, contract service and collective bargaining agreements should be referred to the 13-man committee headed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The forum also resolved issues of nomenclature/harmonisation, Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, pension as well as the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, petroleum CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Friday, July 5, 2013

Good Health US classifies obesity as disease! ... requires medical treatment SAM EFERARO

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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n a landmark decision, the American Medical Association (AMA) last week voted to officially classify obesity as a disease, a proclamation that could affect the care, diagnoses and treatment of more than 78 million adults and 12 million children, given that one third of Americans are obese.

Worldwide, until now, obesity is recognised as a consequence of lifestyle and a medical illness and often described escribed as a “condition “or “disorder”, but but the AMA classification now makes it a disease that requires medical treatment and prevention.

“Recognizing obesity as a disease will help change the way the medical dical community tackles this complex issue ue that affects approximately one in three Americans,” Americans,” AMA board member Dr. Patrice atrice Harris said in a statement, saying the association was working towards reducing reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, which are often fftten t linked to obesity.

“More widespread recognition niition of obesity as a disease could result in in greater investments by government and nd the private sector to develop and reimburse burse obesity treatments. Employers may be be required to cover obesity treatments for their their employees and may be less able to discriminate discriminate on the basis of body weight,” t,” the statet, ment further said.

Also, according to Dr. Kenneth neth Storch, director of the America’s Atlantic Atlantic Health’s metabolic program and an internist specializing in obesity and metabolism, doctors were prone to treat symptoms of obesity such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or sleep apnea rather than treating the underlying cause — obesity.

“This new designation could encourage doctors to take a more proactive role with medications or surgeries, as opposed to only recommending diet and exercise,” he said.

The other reason this could change the lives of millions of Americans, Storch said, is because the AMA’s new classification has the potential to put pressure on insurance companies to cover certain procedures and medications associated with obesity.

Obesity is measured using the Body Mass Index, which calculates a person’s height and weight to determine whether a person is underweight, average, o v e r -

weight or obese -- and there are three levels of obesity. The standards were set by the World Health Organization.

For a 5-foot-9 adult, the system considers 124 pounds or less as underweight; 125 to 168 pounds as healthy; 169 to 202 pounds as overweight; 203 to 236 pounds as Grade 1 obese; 237 to 270 pounds as Grade 2 obese; and above 270 pounds as Grade 3 obese.

Marlene Schwartz, the acting director of the Rudd Center for Obesity and Food Policy at Yale University, says that calling obesity a disease could allow for obese people who require medical interventions to get the help they need.

But she cautions that such a classification may lead to stereotypes and oversim-

plification.

“To the extent that this helps people get the resources they need and convinces insurance companies that funding prevention is better, I’m all for it,” she says.

“To the extent that it makes people feel badly about themselves and increases stigma, I’m more cautious.”

Obesity, she says, is incredibly complicated. The idea that those with a Body Mass Index over 30 - the official mark for obese - just need to put down the hamburger and pick up a skipping rope is reductive.

“The definition of obesity needs to take into account how complicated the issue of weight eating and physical activity is,” she say she sh ssays. sa ays. classification has been The new classificat projected to have a siz sizable impact on obesity legislation in Washington, the readiness of doctors to discuss doct obesity with overweight patients, overwe and increase pressu pressure on health insurance companies companie to cover prescriptions and procedures geared proc toward bringing patients back p down to healthier weights. w But designating obesity as a disease could make it easier m for policymakers to make policymake changes. This has happened before with public health.

For instance, instance experts cite smoking, which the U.S. w Surgeon-General first Surgeon-G declared as capable of causing d disease, before workplaces and then workplace public places plac began banning it. With the resulW tant taxes and an restrictions smoking rates rates, according to experts has plu plummeted from above 40 percent in the 1960s to 18 percent now.

Also speed laws law and requirements for vehicles to have seat belts and air bags have hav helped to reduce deaths worldwide.

Now, the AMA says some som policy measures are needed for obesity,

YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

Breastfeeding boosts ability to climb social ladder – study

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reastfeeding not only boosts children’s chances of climbing the social ladder, but it also reduces the chances of downwards mobility, suggests a large study published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. The findings are based on changes in the social class of two groups of individuals born in 1958 (17,419 people) and in 1970 (16,771 people).

The researchers asked each of the children’s mums, when their child was five or seven years old, whether they had breastfed him/ her.

They then compared people’s social class as children -- based on the social class of their father when they were 10 or 11 -- with their social class as adults, measured when they were 33 or 34.

Significantly fewer children were breastfed in 1970 than in 1958.

More than two-thirds (68%) of mothers breastfed their children in 1958, compared with just over one in three (36%) in 1970. Social mobility also changed over time, with those born in 1970 more likely to be upwardly mobile, and less likely to be downwardly mobile, than those born in 1958.

Antibiotic shows analgesic action following surgery

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single dose of the antibiotic ceftriaxone given for antimicrobial prophylaxis prior to surgery enhanced patient pain thresholds after the procedure, according to a study published in The Journal of Pain, the peer review publication of the American Pain Society.

Previous studies have shown that drugs with a mode of action to enhance glutamate clearance might be effective in

the treatment of chronic pain. In animals, repeated does of the antibiotic ceftriaxone have reduced both visceral and neuropathic pain. The drug induces activation of the GLT-1 gene. This is the first study to explore the analgesic activity of ceftriaxone in humans.

Researchers at University Sapienza in Rome analyzed whether a single dose of ceftriaxone given for antimicrobial prophylaxis prior to surgery

could enhance patient pain thresholds after surgery.

Results in the human subjects showed that those treated with saline and cefazolin showed no change in mechanical pain thresholds six to seven hours after surgery, but pain thresholds in patients given a single preoperative does of ceftriaxone increased significantly.

– Science Daily

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Photo News

Friday, July 5, 2013

L-R: Managing Director, ACCION Microfinance Bank, Mrs. Bunmi Lawson; winner of the KIa Picanto car star prize in the ACCION Brighta Save Promo, Mr. Eniola Fadipe and representatives of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mrs. Gloria Obuh, Hilda Turtoe and Mr. Mwakuche PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA Durugo, during the presentation ceremony in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Commissioner, Government and Consumer Affairs Division, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Abba Ibrahim; Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Amb. Nuhu Bajoga and Commissioner, Legal Licensing and Enforcement, NERC, Dr Steven Audzenge, during the inauguration of NERC office in Kaduna yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr Oscar Onyema; Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh; New President, Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Dr Abdu Ndanusa and Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi, at the investiture of Ndanusa as the 24th President of ICSAN in Abuja yesterday.

L-R: Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Sam Ortom, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Kola Jamodu; Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamusudeen Usman and the Executive Director, Corporate Communications and Government Relations of Dangote Group, Monsur Hamed, at the 41st Annual General Meeting of MAN in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

Egyptian President’s ouster an aberration -FG EMMANUEL ONANI AND AZA MSUE

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he Federal Government yesterday denounced Wednesday’s military intervention in Egypt, which led to the ouster of the first democratically-elected president, Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over the action of the military in deposing a democratically elected president.

The statement reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has received with grave concern, news of the overthrow by the Armed Forces, of the democratically elected President of Egypt, Mr. Mohammed Morsi and the suspension of the country’s constitution. This is a truncation of the aspirations of the Egyptian people to freely express themselves through the ballot box.

…it’s a lesson to unproductive leaders says ACF

“This unfortunate development is a gross violation of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which prohibits unconstitutional change of government. It constitutes a serious setback of the remarkable progress which Africa has

made in fostering the culture of democratic governance in the continent.

“Nigeria calls for the immediate restoration of the democratic order in Egypt and urges the Egyptian Armed Forces to allow the democratic culture

to thrive in the country.

Nigeria also calls on the Egyptian people to exercise utmost restraint in the peaceful pursuit of their legitimate grievances.”

But the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, said what happened in Egypt would

be a lesson for unproductive leaders.

This was contained in a short text message sent to National Mirror yesterday

by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr Anthony Sani.

Sani said: “I really can-

Insecurity: Military now involved in 28 states -NSA OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

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igeria’s security situation has worsened in recent times with the deployment of military personnel in 28 out of the 36 states of the federation to assist in restoring peace.

National Security Adviser NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who gave the indication yesterday at the ongoing National CivilMilitary Dialogue in Abuja, was however emphatic that the government was

winning the war on terrorism and other organised violent crimes.

According to him, the past decade has witnessed multiple forms of unrestfrom armed robbery, kidnapping, electoral, communal to ethno-religious violence.

He said the development has affected the level of professionalism of the military.

He said: “Our recent history has seen the military in joint activities with other para-military outfits currently in about

28 states.

“Currently, we are battling with insurgency and terrorism. This has raised the flag of security demands to levels higher than we have witnessed since the civil war. It has meant that the military are seeing more deployments in aid of civil authority than anticipated.

“While it is the function of the military to assist civilian authority to handle civil disobedience, it is assumed that such rules would be carried out only when the capacity of the

police is overwhelmed.

“Policing the domestic arena is not the duty of the military, whose training is directed against external enemies of the State.”

Dasuki also stated that the military is now involved in checking armed robbery and other crimes on interstate roads.

“From mere intervention to assisting the police quell domestic violence; the military is now fighting the scourge of insurgency and terrorism.

“Thus, the military

not tell you what influence the happenings in Egypt will have on Nigeria, but if the change has been inspired by the mass protests against the government, then it should be a lesson to those leaders who are unable to make a distinction between power and the claim often made on its behalf.”

presence in our society is becoming routine. While this affects the level of professionalism of the military, it also generates new dimensions of conflicts between the military and civilian populace,” said Dasuki.

Highlighting the timeliness of the National CivilMilitary Dialogue, Dasuki said participants must create new bridges of understanding between the military and civilians “in order to enable us provide adequate security for lives and property.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Friday, July 5, 2013

Reps strip President, VP, govs of immunity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

the mode of election of local government officials, their functions, tenure, qualifications for elections, and other related matters.

Under the amendment proposed, elections into local government councils will be managed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Section 8: New States and Boundary Adjustment: The committee reviewed the provisions of section 8 to emphasise the importance of elected local government councils by inserting alterations that will ensure that only elected local government officials can participate in the process for creation of new states.

It added that only registered voters in a local government area can participate in a referendum for the creation of a new state.

Section 9: In this section, the committee sought to clarify and remove ambiguities in language with respect to the alteration of the Constitution and also

dispense with the requirement for assent of the president to be obtained for the amendment of the constitution.

The committee concluded that the provisions for the alteration of the constitution by members of the National Assembly and the participation of the 36 State Houses of Assembly represented adequate participation of Nigerians and that assent of the President negated the principle contained therein.

Section 12: The committee altered the provisions relating to Nigeria’s international treaty obligations to provide for National Assembly’s ratification and enactment.

Section 25: The report stated that “In order to address the various conflicts and crises surrounding the question of who is an indigene or settler in the community, the committee has redefined citizenship to take away this divide, meaning that a person who has lived in a community for a specified period is en-

titled to the same rights and privileges as citizens of that community.

“The amendment under this chapter fully defines indigeneship in a way to eliminate the conflict that this has posed in the past.”

Section 42, it stated that: “The committee altered section 42 of the constitution to specifically prohibit discrimination against persons living with disability.”

Section 45A – D: The committee introduced a new section 45A – D to make “ enforceable certain socioeconomic rights as fundamental rights and incorporating them into Chapter IV, the justiciable part of the constitution, thus creating as justiciable, the right to education, right to favorable environment, right to free primary and maternal health care services and the right to basic housing.”

On Section 65, Ihedioha told the House that “The committee agreed to allow for independent candidacy in elections in Nigeria. This would, however, be subject to conditions stipulated un-

der the Electoral Act.” The committee, he said, also amended Section 66 “to give seriousness to the issue of electoral offence, the committee provides grounds for disqualification of a candidate from contesting elections where he has been found guilty of an offence. This is also applicable at the state level.

The committee, according to Ihedioha, also reworked the constitution, “In order to entrench the independence of the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the AuditorGeneral of the Federation, and insulate them from political control. It, therefore, put these offices on the first line change of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.”

Ihedioha also told the House that the committee also altered Section 80 and “strengthened the provisions of section 80 of the constitution to plug leakages from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Fed-

L-R: Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido; Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustafa Agwai; Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura; Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu and His Kaduna State counterpart, Ramalan Yero, during the Northern Governors Forum’s visit to Nasarawa State over the Ombatse killings, yesterday.

Crude theft: Oil workers give FG 60 days ultimatum CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tanker drivers and Federal Inland Revenue Service imbroglio -where FIRS agreed to pay the NARTO members all verified claims within 14-days from July 3, 2013.

Mohammed stated that Wogu, who presided over the meeting, said that subsequent stakeholders’ forum would be held jointly with the ministers of petroleum resources, and his colleague in the Labour and Productivity present.

The Labour Minister stated that though the Petroleum Minister was away on presidential assignment in Moscow, he had her approval to convene the forum.

Achese commended the GMD of NNPC for his fatherly role in ensuring industrial harmony in the sector.

“We want to specifically thank Engr. Yakubu for his role in ensuring an end to the strike and in convening this stake-

holders’ forum.

“Indeed if we continue in this direction, strike will be a forgotten issue in our industry,” he said.

Yakubu thanked the unions and other stakeholders for their understanding while assuring the public that the NNPC had enough petroleum products to stabilise the system after the 48 hours strike action by NUPENG. “I want to assure Nigerians once again that we

have enough volumes to go round. I can confirm that PPMC depots have commenced loading and we are doing everything possible to normalise the system,” he said.

Also present at the forum were NARTO National Deputy President, Chief Ayoola Sadiq, as well as the representative of the IOCs under the Oil Producers Trade Section , OPTS, an arm of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

eration and public funds of Nigeria to ensure that no expenditure is made by any organ of government without appropriation by the legislature.”

He explained that Sections 81 and 82 were altered by the committee, “to ensure timely passage of the budget, and discipline in expenditure.” The committee stipulated that budgets be submitted by the executive for approval no later than 90 days before the expiration of the fiscal year.

In Sections 84A – C, “the committee included a new section creating a new Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation and Accountant-General of the Federal Government to ensure that persons are appointed into these two separate offices for professional management of resources.

The committee also reworked Section 150 “to give effect to the results of the Peoples’ Public Session which voted to separate the Office of the Minister of Justice from that of the Attorney-General of the Federation.”

It, therefore, “made amendments to reflect this and insulating an independent Office of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation from partisanship and to be managed by a professional lawyer. This is also applicable at the state level”.

In Section 153, Ihedioha told the House that: “The committee felt that the issue of electoral offences is of such importance as to warrant the creation of an independent electoral offences commission to handle it.”

Ihedioha said the committee also altered Section 197 to abrogate State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs. According to him, “to protect the integrity of the electoral process at local government level and respond to the complaints of partisanship of State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs, accordingly, it deleted the existence of SIECs and vested the power to conduct local government councils across the federation in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.” He also said that the committee amended “Section 201 and 3rd Schedule, Part I to “create a role for

5

traditional rulers at the federal and state levels providing for representation of traditional rulers in the National Council of State and the creation of a State Council of Chiefs at the state level.”

He said Section 214 of the constitution was amended “to delete the word “Force” from the name of the Nigeria Police, providing for the name to now be “Nigerian Police” rather than “Nigeria Police Force.”

The committee also amended Section 241 “to address concerns over delay in the courts by limiting the use of interlocutory appeals to stay proceedings in court.”

He said: “The committee also altered section 315.

This section of the constitution as approved by the Peoples’ Public Session removes the powers of the President and governor of the state to modify existing laws.”

The committee altered the constitution to provide for the transfer of Railways, from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List to further boost devolution of powers. Health, Housing and Electricity were transferred to the concurrent list.

Ihedioha said that the committee carried out a “thorough job” in line with the mandate given to it by the assembly.

He urged the house to expedite action on the consideration and adoption of the report to quicken its passage.

“The house should expedite the process of alteration of the constitution requiring collaboration with the Senate and the State Houses of Assembly,” he said.

In his response, the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, said that the assembly would consider and adopt the report before proceeding on annual recess.

“We shall consult with the leadership and look at the possibility of considering the report before we go on vacation,” he said.

He said that copies of the amended constitution would be made available to members preparatory to the consideration of the report.

The speaker applauded the committee for its commitment to the amendment process.

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Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP won’t tolerate indiscipline again –Jonathan ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would no longer tolerate any act of indiscipline from its members.

Jonathan spoke when he received leaders and elders of the party from Rivers State, who were at the Presidential Villa to discuss issues relating to the crisis rocking the party in the state.

According to the President, Rivers State needs very strong leadership, focused leadership, committed leadership and maximum politi-

•Rivers party leaders pledge support for President, rap Amaechi cal unity and stability.

Jonathan noted that he had been working with people of Rivers State and maintained very robust relationship with them.

He said: “I have been working with people of Rivers State for quite some time before I got here. I have had a robust relationship with my brothers and sisters in Rivers State. They are very reliable people who I believe will not speak from both sides of their mouths.

“For us to have a stable democracy we have to have a strong political party. And

that is why we get worried when we noticed some of the indiscipline in some of the political parties. And the new PDP that we are all working together for no longer tolerates this indiscipline.

“All over the world parties are supposed to build on ideological differences.

May be close, if you look at the classical case of the Social Democratic Party, SDP and the National Republican Convention, NRC, that were created by the military, their ideology was a little to the right and a little to the left.

“That is the essence of politics. But in a situation where somebody is in a particular political party but his faith is in another political party, for those who are not holding political offices, yes you can be excused, but if you are holding an elective office you won’t be in that party and be working for another party. Otherwise, why are you there?”

After the meeting, which lasted for about two hours, the state PDP Chairman, Felix Amaechi Obuah, said the visit was to pledge the leaders’ loyalty to Jonathan’s ad-

ministration.

Obuah said members of the party in Rivers State were not happy that Governor Rotimi Amaechi was opposing the President, describing it as shameful.

He said: “We are pained and our heart bleeds today that the main champion of opposition in the country against Mr. President and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria is our own son, Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

“This is indeed shameful.

We do not know what has come over the young man. Is it that he wants to destabilise the PDP before his eventual movement to his new party, having been handed over the Action Congress of Nigeria/ All Progressives Congress (ACN/APC) structure in Rivers State?

“Unfortunately, he has repeatedly rebuffed every effort by us and well-meaning Nigerians to make him show

remorse and respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Mr. President, we sincerely apologise to you and the First Lady on this sad situation. We appeal that as the saying goes, ‘you do not visit the sin of the father on the son’ and implore Your Excellency, to remember us in prayers.

“To demonstrate that Rivers people are not with Governor Amaechi in this hostile attitude against Mr. President and our great party, we shall continue to support his suspension from the PDP by the National Working Committee until he retraces his steps from engaging in anti-party activities.”

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili, said the PDP leaders were at the State House to meet with the President, describing the meeting as cordial.

Reps insist on 2013 budget implementation TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

T Students of Lagos State Secondary schools at the World Tooth Brushing Challenge in Lagos, yesterday.

FJSC sacks judiciary workers for ‘leaking’ S’Court judgement ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

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he Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC, has dismissed five Supreme Court workers and an employee of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.

The affected people allegedly involved in the leakage of a judgement involving Senator Alphonsus Uba Igbeke and Lady Margery Okadigbo before it was delivered.

The support workers of the Supreme Court are Messrs

Russell Ndenu, Nathaniel Abraham, Olayinka Abiodun, Bada Kayode and Festus Ilurimi, while the employee of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal is Mr. Stephen Izonebi.

The act is considered a serious misconduct that runs contrary to Regulation 48 (1) (xi) of the FJSC Regulations 49 and 60 (1) (i).

It is also in violation of the Public Service Rule (PSR) Cap 3, Section 4 (030401) and (030416).

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Chief

Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Sunday Olorundahunsi, the six judiciary workers were exposed through internal as well as police investigation.

They were said to have conspired among themselves to leak out the judgement before it was delivered on May 31.

They were said to have also worked with two outsiders, including Senator Alphonsus Igbeke and Mr. Collins Okechukwu to effect the leakage.

Igbeke had put up a paid advert in a daily newspaper of May 30, alleging that the said

judgement had leaked, which forced his counsel in the matter, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), to write to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to dissociate himself from the publication as well as withdrawing his service to the senator.

Meanwhile, the FJSC has requested the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation to further investigate the motive behind the leakage and possibly take legal action against Igbeke and Okechukwu for allegedly masterminding the leakage.

ians in the country.

This, according to the lawmakers, is responsible for the incessant attacks on innocent citizens by hoodlums at the slightest provocation.

The senators made the call while debating a motion by Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed on the alleged plan by the Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’aziz

Abubakar Yari, to arm the state vigilance groups with rifles.

The motion followed the state of insecurity in Zamfara State where bandits have been invading communities to maim and kill.

The motion, which attracted wide spread comments from the senators, led to the resolve to ask President Goodluck Jonathan

to deploy more soldiers to Zamfara State and other states with similar security challenge.

The Senate, however, rejected the proposal requesting the President to prevail on Yari to rescind his decision to arm vigilance groups in the state with rifles, apparently because the allegation was largely unsubstantiated.

Insecurity: Deploy more soldiers in Zamfara, Senate tells FG GEORGE OJI ABUJA

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he Senate yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to send more troops to Zamfara State to combat insecurity in the state.

The upper chamber also expressed concern over the proliferation of arms and ammunition among civil-

he House of Representatives may not pass the fresh N72 billion 2013 Amendment Bill forwarded to the National Assembly last week

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed (PDP- Kwara), who gave the hint while briefing journalists yesterday, said amendment as proposed by the President, was alien to the 1999 Constitution.

He said: “Go and look at the constitution. Amendment has no place there.

But an amendment came, which reflected as if nothing has been done.

“But I want to say that the budget has been passed and duly signed. So any other thing should come in the form of supplementary.

The window of supplementary budget exists in lieu of amendment.”

According to the House spokesman, if the executive has problem with the budget, which is currently in force, it should forward a supplementary budget.

When asked if the House was planning to throw out the fresh amendment, Mo-

hammed said that would only be determined when the amendment was laid on the floor for consideration.

He, however, did not disclose whether the House would consider the budget before proceeding on its long vacation.

The House had last week rejected the 2013 amended budget sent to it in March

by Jonathan on the pretext that the proposal had nothing in it to “show that it is a document seeking to amend or repeal and re-enact the 2013 Appropriation Act”.

It therefore advised the President to forward a fresh amendment or supplementary bill.

In response, the President sent a fresh amendment asking the House to reinstate the N72 billion the National Assembly removed from the N4.9 trillion proposed in the 2013 budget.

The amount was deducted from different ministries and agencies by the lawmakers.

He asked the House to restore deductions from allocations to ministries of Works, Education, Transport and Health as well as Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 5, 2013

Police probe fake sms circulation OMEIZA AJAYI

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he Nigeria Police Force yesterday said it had begun investigating activities of a company circulating online and unsolicited text messages to members of the public.

The anonymous company, which reportedly posed as an agent of the Force, usually requests citizens to dial a short-code number so as to obtain information on general and specific security issues, among other things.

The police said the action is with a view to establishing the persons, institutions and other circumstances surrounding the spurious and suspicious messages.

In a statement yesterday, Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank

Mba, said one of the messages currently in circulation reads: “The Nigeria Police is aware of fake men, posing as real policemen! Avoid falling prey. Dial 7411 now to get ways in identifying real Policemen. Call charges N50 per minute”.

Mba said the company also encourages people to reach them in case of emergency/distress and also pass confidential information through them to the Nigeria Police.

He said: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state categorically that it has neither commissioned any person or group of persons to receive distress calls or information on its behalf nor has it outsourced such duties to any organization.

“The Force wishes the public to also note that most of the information being provided by this organization

about the Nigeria Police are false and totally misleading, with the capacity of undermining national security, the image of the Force and current efforts at combating crimes and criminality.

The activities of this group are also suspected to be part of calculated plans to fleece innocent Nigerians of their hard earned income through the exorbitant charge of N50.00 per minute.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to refrain from relating with this organization or responding to GSM messages and other online publications emanating from them regarding the Nigeria Police Force.

“Citizens in distress should call the local police phone numbers while anyone with credible information should provide same to a Senior Police Officer in the Police Station closest to him.

the parties would file in court as consent judgment.

He, therefore, asked for a short adjournment to enable the parties work on the proposal.

NIMASA’s lawyer, Mr. Mike Igbokwe (SAN), agreed that there was such agreement in the offing; he however added that it was NLNG’s shareholders that were in the process of agreeing on the terms to be presented to the court.

He conceded to the application for adjournment, but added that he would go on with his applications if the settlement efforts become unsuccessful.

Justice Idris then fixed July 5 for report of settlement.

It will be recalled that

NLNG recently urged the court to commit the authorities of the NIMASA and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, to prison for “having disobeyed or neglected to obey the order of the court made on the 18th day of June 2013.”

Justice Idris had, on June 18, 2013, granted an ex parte order restraining the defendants from charging, imposing, demanding or collecting the 3 per cent of gross freight earnings or any other sums further to section 15(a) of NIMASA Act 2007 on all of NLNG’s international inbound or outbound cargo ships owned, contracted or subcontracted by it.

This is the order NLNG alleged the defendants to have breached.

Levies: LNLG, NIMASA to settle out of court KAYODE KETEFE

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he Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has began moves to settle the lingering legal dispute between it and the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) out of court.

The two agencies have been at loggerhead over nonpayment of certain statutory levies and charges.

This was revealed before Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday by the NLNG lawyer, Wale Akoni (SAN).

Akoni told the court that NLNG was working on a proposed agreement which

Alleged N43m fraud: Court quashes suit against ex-Works Minister ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

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Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday quashed the suit involving conspiracy and laundering of N43 million against former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal and a former bank official, Adesanya Adewale.

Justice Adamu Bello held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuting them failed to establish the criminal allegations of conspiracy and money laundering.

Justice Bello, who not only acquitted and dis-

charged the ex-minister and his alleged accomplice, also lampooned the EFCC for shoddy investigation of the case.

Lawal, who spoke after the discharge, said he was unjustifiably denied bail over the matter by a former judge handling the case and detained for over 40 days.

He said he had nothing to say about the judgment except to add that vengeance belongs to God. Lawal was accused of misappropriating funds meant for the rehabilitation of the Guto-Bagana Bridge across River Benue, while Adewale, an ex-staff of a bank, was alleged to have assisted him to launder the

money.

But Lawal and Adewale had pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

Counsel to the EFCC, Wahab Shittu, had insisted that the accused used Adewale to launder the money.

He explained that the action contravened the Money Laundering Act 2004.

Shttu had submitted that the anti-graft body had charged the ex-minister and Adewale for illegally moving monies that were not traceable to any source.

He invited witnesses to testify that the deposits were made in three transactions of N3 million, N4 million and N8.9 million at different times.

News

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South West

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ekiti communities get Fayemi’s N300m grant ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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Former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo (left); National Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Bisi Akande (2nd left); Governor Kayode Fayemi (2nd right) and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, during the distribution of cheques to Towns’ Union/CDAs for Self-Help Projects, at Oye-Ekiti, yesterday.

kiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday assured that all communities in the state would benefit from the developmental projects and programmes of his administration.

Fayemi, who said that development had been seriously hampered in the state in past time owing to topbottom approach employed by previous administrations, said his government would continue to embrace bottom-up method to bring radical facelift to the state.

Bodija traders: FG must compensate victims’ families –Oyo Assembly KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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yo State House of Assembly yesterday directed the state executive to send a protest letter to the Federal Government over last week’s murder of traders from Bodija market.

At its sitting presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, the Assembly also demanded adequate compensation for families of the slain traders from the Federal Government.

The lawmakers unanimously passed a motion moved by Hon. Ibrahim Bolomope while contributing to issue of urgent public importance introduced by Hon. Olusegun Olaleye.

The lawmaker had drawn the attention of the Assembly to the incident and general insecurity pervading the coun-

try.

He said it was no longer safe for one to travel to other parts of the country because of the general insecurity.

Bolomope said the Federal Government Grains Reserve located at Kolapo Ishola area in Ibadan, could be made functional while traders dealing with grains could purchase the products from there instead of subjecting themselves to grave dangers.

Other lawmakers including Yisau Azeez, Adeshina Adeyemo and Waliu Adekunle (Atiba), who also spoke in the same vein, expressed fear over the general insecurity in the country.

“Our people cannot just be killed like chicken for engaging in lawful business. Nigeria belongs to all of us. We are not from America; we are not from Britain; we are Nigerians, we should be

free to go to any part of the country to transact legitimate business,” Adeyemo said.

When the speaker called for voice vote on the motion, all the lawmakers in attendance voted in its support.

The state government was consequently directed to write a protest letter to the Federal Government on the incident and also demand adequate compensation for families of the victims.

About 25 traders from Bodija market were last week murdered in Mongunu, a few kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, by people suspected to be members of Boko Haram.

Bodies of 10 of the victims were brought to Ibadan on Tuesday for burial.

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan North Federal Constitu-

Tooth brushing challenge: 300,000 pupils set new world record MURITALA AYINLA

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agos State yesterday broke the world record of tooth brushing challenge with the convergence of 300,000 pupils drawn from 600 public schools to brush their teeth simultaneously.

With this feat, the state has set a new record which surpassed that of India where 117,000 persons gathered for the contest to enter into the Guinness Book of Records.

As early as 10am, the pupils

had gathered to achieve the feat by brushing their teeth simultaneously for one minute at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and 326 other multiple locations across the state.

The Convener of the Tooth Brushing Challenge Project and founder of HEIT Solutions, Dr. Lawal Bakare, signalled on the pupils, who had each been given a tooth brush and toothpaste provided by Unilever Nigeria Limited, to commence brushing and called on them to stop at 2.16pm.

Speaking with journalists later, Bakare said the new re-

cord would be verified by officials of the Guinness Book of Records after the report from all the locations was collated.

He said certificate would be issued to the state as the official World Record holder after the verification.

The convener told the pupils that they were chosen for the project because they were still at a stage they could easily embrace new behaviour and attitude.

He said: “You are the essence of this challenge; we gathered here because we believe that you supposed to have better oral health...

ency, Hon. Abiodun Dada Awoleye, has sympathised with traders in Bodija market over the killing of some of their colleagues.

The lawmaker in a statement he issued in Ibadan, prayed God to give the victims’ families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

He said: “I received the news of the death of the traders with great shock.

Ten of the traders were from Ibadan with eight of them from Bodija market within my constituency, Ibadan North Federal Constituency while the remaining two are from other markets in the city.

“This incident is not only unfortunate but very sad to hear. The killing and other killings of innocent souls across the country are as a result of fallout of bad governance and lack of proper security measures in securing lives and property of citizens and residents of Nigeria.”

The governor made the pledge while distribution N300 million to 82 communities under the Grant-inAid-Scheme.

He said: “Allowing the communities to choose their projects and contractors to execute them without interference was a clear indication that we have lived up to expectation and that our word is our bond.”

The governor said the Grant-in-Aid Scheme was one of the numerous rural programmes his government would midwife to banish poverty in Ekiti State.

The event held in Oye-

Ekiti was attended by politicians across the state, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and former Ekiti State governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

Fayemi said he allowed the communities to embark on projects of their priorities and chose contractors that would execute them without government’s interference.

The governor also promised that no community would be discriminated against in his determination to expand the scope of development in the state.

South-West monarchs’ ego behind Yoruba marginalisation –Akinruntan KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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he Olugbo of Ugboland in Ondo State, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, yesterday said ego among traditional rulers in Yorubaland was responsible for the marginalisation of the SouthWest.

Akinruntan, who is the leader of the Yoruba Traditional Rulers’ Conflict Resolution Committee, said this in Ibadan after the meeting of some traditional rulers in the South-West.

He said if the region would achieve any meaningful development, Yoruba monarchs must resolve their differences and work together.

The meeting was attended by about 20 traditional rulers in the region.

They included the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti, Oba Adegoke Olu Adeyemi, Owa of Ajero Kingdom, Oba Adebayo Adewole, Odede of Igbo Egurin, Oba Ola Kalejaye, Ajobu of Araromi, Aderemi Adelola,

Owa of Ogbagi-Akoko, Oba Victor Adetona, Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Abdulrauf Olawale Adedeji and Olokuku of Okuku, Oba Samuel Oyebode.

Others were Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kilani Adeyeye, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Ayotunde Olabomi and Odoka of Ogbaro, Oba Obafemi Ogbaro.

The Olugbo said the consent of the Alaafin of Oyo, Ooni of Ife, Alake of Egbaland, Awujale of Ijebuland and the Olubadan of Ibadanland was needed to settle the differences among the monarchs in the region.

He said his committee was inaugurated in 2010 and had achieved a lot since then, adding that the best thing was to resolve the differences so that the region would not continue to experience marginalisation in the scheme of things in the country.

The monarch regretted that the differences among Yoruba traditional leaders had cost sons and daughters of Yorubaland many opportunities, adding that effort to resolve the impasse was still on.

Lagos task force arrests 1,000 miscreants MURITALA AYINLA

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he Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offences Unit has arrested about 1,000 miscreants across the state in the last six months.

This was as the task force sounded the alarm on the use of public schools as hideouts for criminals.

According to the record made available to National Mirror, 246 miscreants who specialised in snatching hand-

bags were arrested in January.

The record shows that 851 of the miscreants are male, 62 are female while 70 are underage.

In February alone, 141 touts were arrested during raids at their hideouts while only 53 were apprehended in March.

About 303 miscreants were also captured at their dens in May while 45 are underage.

They were arrested at Oshodi, Ikorodu and other notorious joints in the state.

In June, 211 touts were ap-

pended by the task force at Oshodi and Oko Mola.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman of the task force, Bayo Sulaiman, blamed the growing rate of touts in the state on the influx of the people with no purpose into the state.

Sulaiman said out of the 166 touts arrested recently, 18 had been arrested and tried earlier by the task force.

He also expressed concern over the rate at which young people run away from home only to become urchins on the train tracks or under bridges.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday, July 5, 2013

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Ondo jailbreak: Five more fleeing inmates re-arrested HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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ive more inmates, who escaped last weekend from the Olokuta Medium Prison in Akure, have been rearrested.

The development brought the number of those re-arrested to 59.

It will be recalled that the inmates escaped when some gunmen forcibly invaded the prison and the prisoners free.

The Ondo State Police

Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wole Ogodo, told journalists yesterday in Akure, the state capital, that there was no increase in crime rate despite the escape of the prisoners.

Ogodo said security

personnel are working round the clock to ensure that the remaining fleeing prisoners are rearrested.

According to him, 59 of the fleeing 175 inmates had been re-arrested.

The police spokesman

said: “The attack on the prisons was carried out by some armed robbers mainly aimed at liberating some members of their gang who were in prisons custody. They had since escaped from outside the state.”

Ogodo, however, assured members of the public that the police would do everything possible to re-arrest the remaining fleeing inmates as those already caught had been returned to custody.

Ekiti 2014: PDP groups insist on credible primary Ekiti ASUU rejects tax deduction from subvention ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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arious groups of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Ekiti State yesterday insisted on free, fair and transparent primary for the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate in the 2014 election.

The groups made of present and past PDP local government chairmen, secretaries, treasurers and women, said any attempt to manipulate the emergence of the governorship candidate would be tantamount to “toying with the party’s fortune”.

The groups, emerging from a meeting in Ado-Eki-

ti, the state capital, said as stakeholders and statutory delegates, they would not subscribe to anything short of free and fair selection process, whether primary or consensus.

In a communiqué signed at the meeting by Prince Otitoju Taelolu (for chairmen), Mrs. Olayiwola Funmi (for women), Omodara Olaposi (for youths), Adeleye Tajudeen (for treasurers) and Femi Fafore, the groups said the party needed to do it right with a view to get back to the Government House.

The communiqué reads: “By the right placed on us by our party’s constitution as automatic/statutory delegates, there is no way a

party candidate can emerge without our input.

“We enjoin the leadership of this party to make this primary election or consensus an Ekiti affair. We should not allow sentiment to override public interest.”

Shedding more light, Chief Diran Adeleye, who spoke on behalf of the chairmen, said their preoccupation was for PDP to win Ekiti in the next governorship election.

Adeleye, who said the chairmen “are supporting the candidacy of Mr Ayo Fayose” for the position in the 2014 election, added: “All we want is a free, fair and transparent primary. We do not want any imposition”.

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he Ekiti State University (EKSU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has flayed the state government for deducting the controversial high tax imposed on its members from subvention to the institution.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, EKSU ASUU Chairman, Dr. Ayan Adeleke, criticised the state government for imposing tax on the members’ peculiarly allowance for research and publications in international journal.

He said: “We have decided to fight on until the government stops the malicious deductions from our salaries and all our demands for unpaid allowances are met”.

It will be recalled that the union, in view of the controversial tax deduction, ordered its members to stay at home effective from July 1, a day before the take-off of the national strike called by the national body of the union.

Adeleke said EKSU would soon go into extinction unless the government stops starving the institution of fund.

He said: “Deducting the tax from the subvention to the university is illegal.

It is rather disheartening

that the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is starving the university of fund with the level of academic attainment he had achieved in life.

“Tax is negotiable, even if it is an Act. Government cannot use tax to put people in trouble. As we speak now, some universities are still negotiating, so why should they rush to implement it here”.

Adeleke, however, urged the state government to drop its N210 million monthly subvention to the institution and take over its N380 million monthly wage bill so that the university could rely on its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for effective service delivery.

Ogun stops two men from parading selves as Baale FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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he Ogun State Government has ordered two men to stop parading themselves as the Baale of Adeagba, a community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state till further notice.

The order followed a protracted crisis between the duo of Mr. Femi Olatidoye and one Ganiu Ogunlalu over the stool of the Baale.

It was learnt that both Olatidoye and Ogunlalu were laying claims to being the Baale of the community, having received certificate of appointment issued to them by two different traditional rulers in Egbaland.

But at a meeting held at Obas’ Complex of the state

Secretarial, Oke Mosan in Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo, said that the directive became necessary to prevent breakdown of law and order as well as maintain the existing peace in the community.

Consequently, the state government directed the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosumu and the Olu Itori, Oba Fatai Akamo, to set up a threeman administrative committee to steer the affairs of the community pending the final determination of the rightful occupants of the stool.

The commissioner, who commended the readiness of the two monarchs to jointly end the crisis

through a peaceful resolution, attributed the cause of the conflict to attempts by some people to distort history and oral tradition.

Oladipo, however, said the government would not condone any act that is capable of destabilising the peaceful co-existence of the people as well as throwing the state into communal crisis.

He said Olatidoye and Ogunlalu had hidden some truths about their family lineage and gave misleading oral tradition separately before the two monarchs in order to achieve their selfish interests.

The commissioner said that allowing the two men to continue to parade themselves as Baales would constitute serious security risk to the community.

Ewherido’s death, a personal loss –Solomon

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he lawmaker representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, has described the death of one of his colleagues, Senator Pius Ewherido, as a personal loss.

Ewherido, who represented Delta Central Senatorial District, died last weekend at the National Hospital in Abuja.

Solomon said he was shocked because he witnessed the beginning of the crisis that eventually claimed Ewherido’s life.

He said he was with Ewherido at the National Hospital in Abuja, where he had his first operation before the plan to fly him abroad, but eventually gave up the ghost.

Solomon said: “I am still self-abnegating that

he possibly couldn’t have died. He gave no inkling he would not survive it. It didn’t seem to me that it was the end; that I possibly won’t see him again but his remains is troubling! I am, however, struggling to come to terms with my religious doctrine that God only gives and takes and I pray the Almighty God grants him eternal rest.

Remembering Abiola One of the best ways to immortalise Abiola is eradication of poverty. If they like, let them name everything in this country after him, but the best way to immortalise MKO Abiola is by eradicating poverty.

– Modupe Onitiri-Abiola

BBA

Why Olu Maintain is not on my album –LKT

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•Ethiopian lawyers to sue Betty for public sex •Hakeem dislikes Pokello •Is Feza a snake?

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One jailbreak too many Only last Sunday, 175 inmates of the Olokuta Prison, Akure, Ondo State were set free in a stunning jailbreak. It was the latest in an embarassingly long list of jailbreaks that have rocked the nation.

Are the walls of Nigerian prisons no longer strong enough to hold suspects and convicts? How impregnable, actually, are the country’s penitentiaries? These and other questions are answered by ex-convicts and warders only in Saturday Mirror tomorrow.

This column is x-rated

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South East

Friday, July 5, 2011

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APGA crisis: Appeal Court reserves judgement in Umeh’s suit DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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he Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu yesterday reserved judgement on the appeal filed by Chief Victor Umeh, challenging his removal as the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, by an Enugu High Court.

The three-man special panel of the appellate court reserved judgment in the matter shortly after the parties in the suit adopted their written addresses and made oral submissions.

Addressing the panel comprising Justice Paul Galinje (Chairman), Kwasami F.A. and Tom Yakubu, lead counsel to the appellant, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) and others, urged the appellate court to set aside the judgement of the lower court.

Olanipekun argued that the respondent, Jude Okuli, who filed the suit, had no locus to do so.

He explained that the respondent was expelled from APGA before he filed the suit in the lower court, adding that he did not go to the lower court to ask for reinstatement before the trial judge reinstated him.

Stressing that the lower court delivered a contradic-

tory judgement, Olanipekun said the fact that APGA was not joined as a party could be fatal to the case and had rendered the matter incompetent.

He said the trial judge made himself a plaintiff counsel by extending the case of the respondent (Okuli) and posing questions himself and answering in favour of the respondent.

Olanipekun noted that even when the judge found out that the parties in the matter sharply disagreed over affidavit evidence, he did not call for oral evidence as required by the court and went ahead to deliver judgement.

But lead counsel to the respondent, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said the case could not be defeated by reason of non joinder of APGA, for the main reason that the complaint was directed at Umeh personally, based on his arbitrary conduct.

Ikpeazu said it wasn’t really an APGA matter but a grouse between individuals within the party, just as he contended that the appellant did not make the issue of locus standi the main grouse in the appeal.

After hearing the submissions of the parties, the court reserved judgement on the case for a date to be communicated to the counsel.

Onah becomes second Catholic bishop of Nsukka DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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is Eminence, John Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, yesterday ordained and installed Rt. Rev. Monsignor Godfrey Igwebuike Onah as the second Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese in Enugu State.

Onaiyekan was assisted in the consecration by Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, the metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha and the Bishop Emeritus of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Francis Emmanuel Okobo.

Until his ordination, Onah was the Vice-Rector, Pontifical Urban University, Rome, Italy.

Dignitaries at the ordination included representative of President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, South-East governors, clergy, politicians and people from different walks of life.

Jonathan, who spoke through his Special Adviser

on Inter-party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, called for a collaborative effort to move the country forward, saying with good Christians, the country would know peace.

The President sought support for Onah, stressing the need for Nigerians to pray for peace in the country.

He said: “I pray that the Almighty God will grant you wisdom to lead His flock in the right direction. I also pray that your tenure will bring prosperity and peace to the diocese.”

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State urged the new bishop to employ his wealth of in developing the diocese.

Chime, who spoke through his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, said he believed that the bishop’s tenure would bring peace to the diocese.

The governor also expressed belief that Onah’s reign would deepen the partnership between the diocese and the state government.

L-R: Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha Province, Archbishop Maduka Okeke; Principal Consecrator, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; and Bishop Emeritus Nsukka Diocese, Most Revd. Francis Okobo, during the installation of the Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, yesterday.

Declare PDP winner of Oguta re-run, senator tells INEC GEORGE OJI ABUJA

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he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been told to declare the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, winner of last week’s rerun election in the Oguta state constituency of Imo State.

The senator representing Imo West Senatorial District of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, said this while fielding questions from journalists at the National Assembly yesterday.

INEC had earlier declared the election, which was conducted last Saturday, inconclusive because it was marred by wide scale violence.

The electoral umpire also condemned thuggery, intolerance and violence exhibited by politicians

•Danger signals ahead 2015 –ACN

during the poll.

This was as the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, said INEC’s failure to successfully conduct election in Oguta state constituency was a cause for concern.

But Uzodinma said PDP led in the results announced by INEC for the wards where elections held peacefully.

He said PDP polled 7,585 votes to APGA’s 7,241.

The lawmaker said at the start of the election, the conduct was orderly and peaceful except in Osemeto Ward which was taken over by “government thugs and hoodlums”.

Uzodinma alleged that mid-way into the election and apparently sensing impending defeat, the APGA-led state government unleashed thugs and hoo-

ligans on all the wards in Oguta Local Government.

He said the security agents rose to the challenge and were able to contain the thugs in many of the wards, while election continued in those wards.

The lawmaker added that following the sheer impudence of the thugs in Osemoto and Egbuoma/ Ekwe wards, election could not take place in all the booths in the wards because the electoral officers and ad-hoc workers fled and abandoned the booths.

He said: “To the chagrin of many observers, a few minutes after the show of shame in these wards, well known government officials stormed the INEC office in Oguta with results for the wards where election did not hold.”

INEC is already making

necessary arrangements to conduct election in the outstanding polling units.

The electoral umpire said it was concerned about adequate security to insulate the process against disruption or interference by thugs and politicians.

But in a statement, the Lagos State spokesman of the ACN, Joe Igbokwe, wondered how the electoral umpire could cope with a national election if it was unable to conclude a by-election for a House of Assembly seat in a day.

He said: “The present concocted stalemate over the outcome of the by-election in Oguta state constituency in Imo State demonstrates the dangers Nigeria faces in 2015 if the collated results of just a single state Assembly election are subjected to such drama as we are witnessing at present.”

11 arrested for cultism, robbery, fake currency distribution ALIUNA GODWIN EBONYI

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olice in Ebonyi State yesterday paraded 11 suspects arrested for robbery, cultism, printing and distribution of fake currency.

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Sylvester Igbo, said nine of the suspects were arrested when policemen invaded their hideout in an uncompleted building at Mile 50, Abakaliki, the state capital.

He said: “Men of 32 PMF, Abakaliki while on patrol along Haraka filling station arrested one Chidozie Elechi ‘m’ of Liberation Estate, Abakaliki who with his gang attempted to rob a member of the public.”

Igbo said during interrogation the suspects disclosed that they and the supposed victim were members of Aiyes (Axe Men) Confraternity.

He, however, said the victim had renounced his membership of the cult group.

The PPRO disclosed that

in the course of investigation, Elechi made useful statement which led to the arrest of fellow cult members - Sunday Nweze, 18 years, Chukwuka Chukwu (26), Onyibe Monday (25), Obinna Anyanwu (23), Alegu Amobi (20), Peter Toochukwu (25) and Omoha Ugochukwu (24).

He said: “One Eugene Ugochukwu Linus ‘m’ and others of Court Area, Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area was arrested while printing N1,000 notes. As he logged into www.nigeriacurrency. com which attracted the

computer operator one Roseline Emmanuel Anioma ‘f ’ who raised alarm before he was arrested.”

Items recovered from the suspects included CD software, memory cards, one locally made revolver pistol, and three.9mm live ammunition among others.

Igbo, however, reiterated the readiness of the police in the state to curb fraud and other-related crimes.

He also called on the public to always give the police useful information that would lead to the arrest of criminals in the state.

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South South

Friday, July 5, 2013

Five die of generator fumes in Akwa Ibom TONY ANICHEBE UYO

F

ive persons from Ibiakpan Ikot Obio-Ekere village in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State died mysteriously in their sleep on Wednesday.

Two others are on danger list in an undisclosed hospital.

The deceased were said to have died as a result of inhalation of generator fumes hired to generate electricity during the burial ceremony of a former Army officer, Mr. Anifiok Udokang.

It was gathered that the deceased came from Port Har-

court, Rivers State on Tuesday for the burial scheduled to hold a few days later.

They reportedly went to bed late Tuesday night, but were found dead in the early hours of the following day.

The deceased included the first son of the late soldier, Mr. Aniebiet Udokang, Edikan Jack, a relation, Uwem Udofia, a tenant who hailed from Ibiono Ibom.

A source told our correspondent in Uyo that the deceased and two others were sleeping in the sitting room of a newly completed fourbedroom apartment built by the late Aniebiet in preparation for his father’s burial

when the tragedy struck.

The source said Aniebiet, who brought his friends to help in preparation for the burial slated for today, went to bed after a tedious work, leaving the generator to run throughout the night.

It was gathered that neighbours were woken up by commotion in the house about 5am when one of them received a distress call to come and assist in conveying the deceased to the hospital.

“When I took them to Ikot Ekpene General Hospital, Aniebiet and another person were confirmed dead. I had to take them back home.

“While I was still on the

way, I was called to go and look for a car but I said there was no need for a car. I still went back to carry them home. I brought all of them to this place,” the source said.

A medical doctor at the Ikot Ekpene General Hospital identified as Dr. Unoh, who certified the victims dead, said autopsy needed to be carried out to ascertain the actual cause of their death.

Also, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Gwadabe, also confirmed the incident.

He, however, said investigation was still on to unravel the mystery behind the incident.

Stop Itsekiri, Ijaw violence, Kuku urges leaders

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he Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, has called on Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders to step in and stop violence in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State from degenerating further.

Kuku, who made the call in a statement issued in Abuja, condemned the reported killing of four Itsekiri indigenes following a clash between Itsekiri and Ijaw youths in the area.

He also urged security agencies to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Kuku said his office had

EMMA GBEMUDU

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Appeal Court nullifies Obong of Calabar’s appointment RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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he Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar yesterday confirmed a Calabar High Court ruling nullifying the selection of Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as Obong of Calabar.

The court also ordered another selection process to elect an Obong for the Efik kingdom.

In the ruling read by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal on behalf of his other two colleagues, Justice Uzor Ndukwe and Justice Onyekachi Okisi, the judges unanimously agreed that the selection process through which Otu became

the Obong of Calabar was not all inclusive and thus a new process should be instituted for all eligible persons to undergo.

The court also disqualified Chief Anthony Ani, who is the first respondent, from contesting since he was not a capped chief which is a prerequisite for qualification to contest the post of Obong.

Reacting to the judgement, counsel to Ani, Mr. Bassey Offiong, said the “court delivered judgement in part.

“So many issues were in contention including first, whether Etubom Anthony Ani was qualified to contest for the stool.

“The court ruled that since he was not capped, he was not qualified to contest for Obongship stool based on the constitution of Obong Council”.

Reacting to the ruling, Ani said he would study to judgement before taking a decision whether to appeal or not.

He said: “Well, I was not in court and my lawyer just briefed me. So far, I see the ruling as a 50-50 affair.

I will look at it, see how it affects me and may be appeal the judgement.

“However, one thing we are sure of for now is that there is no Obong of Calabar because the judgement today has nullified the en-

tire processes. For the Efik people now, there is no Obong.”

On his part, counsel to Otu, Mr. A. A. Archi, said the judgement was a vindication that capping was a fundamental requirement for a candidate to be eligible to be qualified to contest for selection, election or appointment to the Obong of Calabar throne.

He said: “The judgement also upheld our view that a learned trial judge, with all due respect, sought to perpetually alter the standing and recognised customs of the Efik which would have affected the lives and people of the community.”

been briefed on the development and had appealed to the security agencies to ensure the restoration of peace and the protection of indigenes of communities in the area.

The special adviser commended efforts to restore peace to the area by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and other well-meaning stakeholders, saying his office would work with the state government to properly address issues that led to the skirmish.

He said: “The Federal Government through the amnesty programme has worked very hard to ensure peace in the Niger Delta.”

Predicted flood: Shelve your leave, ACN tells ofDickson the N1 billion set aside for YENAGOA

L-R: Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, during a visit to the Benin monarch on his birthday anniversary, recently.

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he Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday asked Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State to shelve his planned annual leave billed to commence on July 21.

Dickson had written to the state House of Assembly to approve his request for a three-week annual leave.

But in a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Christopher Abarowei, the ACN argued that if such request was granted, it would make mockery of the preparation to tackle the predicted flood disaster in the state.

Abarowei cited the poor performance of the various emergency committees set up to tackle the last flood disaster in the state.

He said: “The absence of the governor at this critical moment will spell doom for the state and make nonsense

the proposed humanitarian and infrastructural efforts.”

Abarowei, however, posited that Dickson’s request to embark on annual leave was normal and legal, but he should consider pressing state matters.

He said: “There is the need for the governor to shelve the proposed annual leave and fully monitor the judicious use of approved N1 billion fund for flood control in the state.

“The ACN calls on the governor to shelve his proposed annual three weeks’ leave approved by the House to fully monitor and ensure the implementation and judicious use of the funds for the projects.”

“The party recalled the ugly incident of corrupt practices and diversion of relief materials meant for flood victims by some highlyplaced government and political appointees.”

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North

Friday, July 5, 2013

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Police arrest councillor, others for killing 17-year-old girl WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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he Kogi State Police Command has arrested a councillor and three others for allegedly beheading a 17-yearold girl for ritual at Ofoga in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hillary Opara,

who disclosed while parading a 13-man gang of suspects terrorising their various localities, said that the command is battle ready to rid the state of criminals.

Opara alleged that the suspects, Hon. Yahaya Isah, Suleiman Yunusa, Isaka John Yunusa, Alifa Maha, conspired to kill one Miss Ugbene Ogbadu

between Achigili and Ofoga village in Ofu Local Government Area.

He said one of the suspects, Suleiman Yunusa, went to Ogbadu’s house at night, woke her up and took her away without the knowledge of her parents on June 13, 2013.

According to the police boss, the decomposing Ogbadu’s headless body was

discovered between Achigili and Ofoga village on June 21, 2013.

Opara said when the police got wind of the incident , Suleiman Yunusa was arrested and subsequently confessed to have killed a lady with the assistance of two other suspects.

He said the police arrested Alifa Maha, Isiaka

Yunusa and the councillor representing Aloji Ward in Ejule, Hon. Yahaya Isah.

They are now helping the police to unravel the misery surrounding Ugbene’s death.

While answering questions from journalists yesterday, the councillor denied that he participated in the killing, adding that

he was framed by other suspects.

But Yunusa and Maha claimed that they were sent by the councillor to kill the girl as well as to bring her head to him.

Maha specifically said that councillor contracted the killing to them and that he had not paid them a dime since they carried out the killing.

Northern governors lift families of slain policemen with N100m IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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he Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) yesterday donated N100 million to families of policemen killed recently by some cult group members at Alakyo village in Nasarawa State.

NSGF Chairman, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State announced the donation at the Nasarawa State Government House in Lafia, adding that the gesture was to encourage youths to have faith in the government.

Aliyu said: “We were selected by the Northern States Governors Forum to condole with and encourage our colleague, Nasarawa State governor, over the kill-

ings of some security personnel that took place in his state recently.

“This is because whatever touches one governor is equally touching the rest of the governors in the Nigeria federation. “Nobody kills a security operative and go scot-free, hence we are glad at the proactive step being taken by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura by setting up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the unfortunate killings at Alakyo village.”

Stressing that governors were duty bound to protect the lives and property of the people, he commended Al-Makura for proscribing any association or organisation that breaches the public peace.

FG assures of timely completion of $874m Abuja-Kaduna rail track Vice-President Namadi Sambo (left) and Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, during the kick-off of laying of track of Abuja-Kaduna rail line in Abuja, yesterday.

Two policemen dismissed for selling firearms in Plateau JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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wo policemen serving in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State have been arrested for selling arms and ammunition to criminals.

They have also been arraigned and dismissed from the Force.

They are Constable Emmanuel Dakol and Cpl Joseph Dakup. Dakol, who hails from Qua’an Pan and Dakup, who comes from

Bokkos, were arrested for aiding and abetting criminals by supplying them with arms and ammunition.

Dakol, with service number 451757, served in the Police Force for six years, while Dakup, with service number 241908, served for 11 years.

The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, told journalists yesterday in Jos, the state capital, that the police had also recovered the body of the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) in Langtang

South, Mr. Talfa Wuyep, a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Olakpe said the death toll in the violence that occurred in Langtang South was 31, while 13 others were injured.

According to him, Wuyep had gunshot wounds and machete cuts when his body was found.

Olakpe said Wuyep was identified by the uniform he wore at the time of his death.

The commissioner said some high profile suspects

had been arrested, but the police could not disclose their names for security reasons.

According to him, the police also arrested 14 other suspected criminals and recovered 11 stolen vehicles from them.

Parading the suspects before journalists, Olakpe said five of them engaged in illegal manufacturing of gun and other weapons, while the remaining nine were their buyers.

Ahmed urges transparency in pension administration WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

K

wara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has called on pension administrators to institutionalise transparency in order to sustain

public confidence in them.

Ahmed spoke at the opening of the NorthCentral zonal office of the National Pension Commission in Ilorin, the state capital.

He said like most investment products, pension

schemes needed to retain the trust of the investing public in the integrity of the service in order to sustain patronage.

The governor said: “In doing this, we will not only ensure a positive public perception of the scheme,

but also attract more profitable investment in pension instruments.”

Ahmed said contributory pension scheme would be introduced in Kwara State as soon as the state House of Assembly passed the bill on the scheme.

CHIDI UGWU AND ROTIMI FADEYI

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he Federal Government has assured of the timely completion of the $874 million Abuja-Idu-Kaduna standard gauge railway track.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo gave the assurance yesterday at the kick-off of the construction of the rail line.

The project, which is being handled by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), is expected to facilitate movement of passengers and goods between Kaduna and Abuja.

Sambo reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to provide infrastructure for the country’s development.

He said: “The Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructural development in the country is total and unwavering. In that connection, several projects in

many other critical sectors like aviation, power, water, roads, oil and gas, health, youth development and education were also embarked upon. All these are geared towards improving the livelihood of Nigerians.”

Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, said the Abuja-IduKaduna rail modernisation project is the first segment of the Lagos-Kano standard gauge rail line being constructed while the double track Lagos-Ibadan segment would commence before the end of the year.

Umar described the kickoff as a significant milestone in the execution of the 25 years strategic rail vision for the country.

The minister said that having completed the rehabilitation of the existing 1,124km Lagos-Kano narrow gauge rail line, the Federal Government had intensified efforts to complete the 1,657km Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern corridor before the end of the year.

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

We’re repositioning Ondo Assembly Commission –Ogunmade

Oguta rerun: PDP, APGA in supremacy battle

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PDP convention threatened as members move against Tukur, NWC ...seek nullification of acting appointments out in article 29 (1) (b)-(1) of EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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he forthcoming national convention of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may have come under serious threat, as some aggrieved members of the party have approached a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High court, to stop same.

Specifically, Abba Yale, Alhaji Yahaya Sule and Bashir Maigudu through their counsel, Mr. Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), are praying the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other officers, from proceeding to convene or hold the scheduled convention.

The party held its National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting on June 20, where a decision was reached to hold a “special convention”, aimed at electing members to fill the

vacuum created by the resignation of many members of the party’s NWC. Initially slated for July 15, the date for the convention has since been moved forward, in recognition of the period of fast for Muslims in the country.

Apart from seeking to restrain Tukur and others working round the clock to ensure a successful national convention, the plaintiffs are also urging the honourable court to set aside or nullify all steps and processes that culminated in the appointment of all acting national officers of the party, whose nominations were ratified at the aforesaid NEC meeting.

Interestingly, Okutepa also indulged the court to restrain Tukur “from performing any functions or duties assigned to the National Working Committee, NWC, of the defendant following the resignation and removal of all members of the National Working Committee of the defendant set

APC ’ll address marginalisation of Ndigbo –Okorocha’s aide FELIX NWANERI

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he newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC, has been described as a party that will address the marginalisation of the South-East.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Lagos Affairs and South-West Liaison, Chinwe Asugha, stated this in Lagos when she paid a courtesy call on the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, Eze Hyacinth Ohazulike.

Asugha, who lamented that the South-East has been used and dumped by politicians in the past despite being major contributors to nation-building, called on Ndigbo to unite under the APC and take their rightful place in the country’s polity.

She said: “Ndigbo are

Text

major players in the nation’s economy but we are suffering despite that position.

Ndigbo therefore want a change. We cannot continue to be used and dumped. That is why we should embrace the APC, as it will offer us the opportunity to take our rightful position in Nigeria’s mainstream politics.”

Urging the people of the zone to close ranks and pursue a common goal, Asugha said: “There is the need for Ndigbo to speak with one voice and pursue common objectives in line with the vision of our late leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.”

She commended the Igbo leadership in Lagos for sharing in the aspiration of the Okorocha-led administration in Imo State, stressing the importance of a link between Ndigbo, living in the South-West and their kin at home.

the constitution...pending the hearing and determination of this case.”

The motion on notice marked M/9381/13 is predicated on three grounds. One of which is that, while the suit was pending, “Defendant act-

ing through its National Chairman and National Executive Committee purportedly made acting appointments to the National Working Committee.”

Against this backdrop, Okutepa submitted that the action of Tukur and the party’s NEC, were a

premeditated move to “undermine and disrespect the authority and power of the court,” even as he added that the decision sought to foist a fait accompli on the court and accused the PDP of resorting to “self-help” in its action.

In a related development, Justice Suleiman

Belgore, yesterday struck out the names of eighteen former members of the NWC, whose earlier election/affirmation, formed the subject-matter of litigation.

Justice Belgore’s decision followed an oral application moved in court by Okutepa.

L-R: Secretary to the Delta State Government, Ovuozorie Macaulay; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chairman, NYSC National Governing Board, Mr. Gordon Bozimo, during a visit of the NYSC Board to the governor in Asaba, yesterday.

US envoy visits Lagos PDP, promises improved tie OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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he U.S Consul General in the Lagos office, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, has urged the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State to intensify effort towards making a stronger impact in future elections.

Hawkins made the remarks on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the secretariat of the Lagos PDP where he was received by the state chairman, Hon. Tunji Shelle, and members of the State Working Committee.

During his interaction with the PDP leaders, he spoke on the need to make democracy work by developing new attitudes that can also help the democratic process in Nigeria.

The envoy also made enquiries about the challenges facing the party in Lagos

State as he also sought to know the alternative plans the party has for Lagosians if it eventually wins the governorship election in 2015.

His words: “I like to know what you are offering as democratic agenda in development. Democracy is thriving in Lagos and your party could win in future elections.”

Responding, Shelle

thanked Hawkins for the visit and explained the challenges of winning elections in the state to include primordial sentiments bothering on what the PDP represented to the people as against the ruling party which, he said, were based on false perceptions and deceit by the political elite to sustain themselves in power.

Noting that the situation has changed in recent times, following what he called the disenchantment of Lagosians with the antipeople policies of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Shele said that he was convinced that with a free and fair electoral process, the PDP was poised to win in the next round of elections in Lagos State.

Ife mayhem: Rep condemns PDP’s attack on ACN members OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

A

member of the House of Representatives, Rotimi Makinde, has condemned the attack unleashed on seven members of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State on Wednesday, by thugs suspected to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Makinde, who represents Ife federal constituency, urged the police to bring the culprits to book.

Makinde, in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, lamented the spate of violence from the PDP in recent times in Ife. He said: “The PDP is gradually positioning Ife and by extension, Osun State towards anarchy in order for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency. To the PDP,

this is the only option left for it to terminate the appreciable transformation of Rauf Aregbesola that we are witnessing.

“Wednesday’s attack on Ife East ACN chairman and six others is barbaric and condemnable. The elements involved in this act must be brought to book.

The peace and tranquility that we are enjoying in the state of Osun is what they are after and they would never succeed.”

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Politics

Hon. Idowu Ogunmade is the Chairman of the Ondo State House of Assembly Service Commission. In this interview with OJO OYEWAMIDE, the former Majority Leader of the Assembly spoke on issues concerning the commission, the state government and the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State. Excerpts:

Friday, July 5, 2013

We’re repositioning Ondo Assembly Commission –Ogunmade

tions. If government does for your people what they need like roads, schools, hospitals, markets etc., you don’t have any choice than to cooperate with the executive.

If there is a cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive, there must be a reason for that. People don’t just go to the floor of the House and start pointing accusing fingers at the executive if what your people need is given to them.

What are the functions of your commission?

The role of our commission here is to appoint, to promote and discipline any erring members of staff that is working in the House of Assembly.

Since your appointment as the chairman of the Assembly Commission, what have been the challenges?

There are lots of challenges. When we got here, members of the commission that we met were not applying the law that established the commission. None of our staff should be transferred from this place to any other commission or any other agency or any ministry. And no staff can be transferred to this commission. The commission is to manage its staff, to recruit, to promote and discipline.

So, when we got here, the laws were not applied by those who were in this commission. Immediately we got here, we wrote to the Establishment Department in the Governor’s Office and to ministries that they could not transfer any staff to this commission. We issued out forms to those that we met here because this government is not interested in retrenching staff. Those who are willing to stay and retire in the commission indicated their interest. Those transferred to this place were allowed to go back to their MDAs. In fact, we recorded 99.9 per cent of people that wanted to stay and retire in the commission. We asked them to write in their own handwriting their intention to stay with this commission because we don’t want a situation where somebody will just deny tomorrow that they wanted to stay, though we are not saying that anything will happen to them because this is still part of Ondo State.

We found out that the vacancies we had when we got here were those of higher levels. We now advertised for those who are still interested in transferring their service from other MDAs to fill up these vacant positions. This is what we did and this is what we’ve been doing because people keep on retiring everyday and we keep on filling all these vacancies. Presently, we are about releasing the list of the people that have signified their intention to transfer their service to this commission.

Another challenge is that this commission is new to many people in the state. Some people believe that it is the commission that manages the honourable members. They cannot differentiate between the functions of the honourable members and this commission.

Other challenge we have is the issue of recruiting people. Like I have said, people thought that there should be vacancies because it is a new commission. We could not ask those we met here to go away. The only thing we did was to retain them. That did not give us room to actually help. The vacancies that we have are in the higher level. I cannot recruit a fresh graduate to a position of level 12 or level 13 or 14 or 15. So, those are some of the challenges that we have.

How about the relationship between the Commission and the Assembly members?

The relationship has been very cordial. We are the ones managing the staff that work with them. The commission is to look for suitable staff that will work in the various departments that we have in the House of Assembly. You know, the honourable members cannot do the work alone without the civil servants. We manage the civil servants; we take care of their careers. We train and retrain them within and outside the country. There is no honourable member that can be efficient without having these career officers working with them. They are the people that will be secretaries to various committees. They are the ones that will be doing the work with the honourable members, day and night. So, there is a cordial relationship between the commission and the honourable members, bearing in mind that the chairman and members of the commission are former members of the House of the Assembly.

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Ogunmade

Since you became the chairman of the commission, what have you achieved?

Like I said, prior to our coming here, members of staff were not promoted. There was a controversy over who were the real staff of the commission before we came in.

When we came in, we made sure that the real staff of the commission were known. We did staff auditing and we know our staff. We know those who belong to us. Since we have been here, we have been doing the promotion as at when due, even earlier than what happens in other MDAs. The commission is autonomous to appoint, promote and discipline members of staff.

Since we have been here, there has been a good relationship between the commission and the House of Assembly members. When we got here, the ruling party was in minority. But in a very short time, it became majority. So, if there wasn’t any good relationship between the commission and the House of Assembly members, if there hasn’t been any good interaction, this thing would not be made possible.

The Legislature-Executive relationship in many states has not been that good. In the case of Ondo State, how would you describe the relationship between the two organs of government?

I think the relationship has been cordial and it has to be cordial. I always tell people that as a member of the House of Assembly, when you are campaigning and you are telling people to vote for you, what you tell people is that you will use your position in ensuring that roads in your constituency are tarred when you get there. There will be provision of water. There will be provision of electricity. These are the things you promise. There will be free education.

We will give you markets; we will give you hospitals. These are the things you promise.

When you get there and you see a government that is doing that in your community, what you need to do is to align with that executive. Some people believe that what you do here is to always have a brawl with the executive. No, it shouldn’t be like that. If your constituency is not benefiting from what the government is doing, you can ask questions.

If you know your people are not taking any benefit from the government at the time you are there, you can ask ques-

IF GOVERNMENT DOES FOR YOUR PEOPLE WHAT THEY

NEED LIKE ROADS, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, MARKETS ETC.,

YOU DON’T HAVE ANY CHOICE THAN TO COOPERATE WITH THE EXECUTIVE

What’s your assessment of the present government in the state?

We have to thank God that this state is better than when we came in 2009 and that is what every politician is after.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko has used his wisdom, his vision, his initiative to ensure that there is development in Ondo State. Nobody can say that the impact of this government has not been felt in every community in the state. I stand to be challenged that this government has touched every community, every local government area, that this government has done more than four projects in one particular local government since this government came into power. And this had not been happening before.

The governor has opened the eyes of the people of this state. People now feel that the goal of those coming into government is how to perform and satisfy the people. Those coming behind will have to learn from his performance.

All the projects are physical and real. They are not schools on the television or on pages of newspapers. It is not water running on radio and television, not hospitals on television. No, they are physical projects. They are what you see every day. I give Mimiko 100 per cent.

The belief of some people is that the governor will not perform in his second term. How would you react to this?

People saying this don’t know the man they are talking about. This man is a politician. He is not a person begged and brought from London to contest an election here. He has lived all his political life in this state. Do you think he will leave all these projects across the state uncompleted and want other people to come and rubbish him when he must have left? If he doesn’t perform in the second term, how is he going to have a successor that will start from where he stopped? He is not a man that will leave Ondo State for London after he leaves office. He will remain here. He will remain here and monitor what his successor will be doing. I know he will perform more than he did during his first term.

A couple of months back, the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal affirmed the re-election of Governor Mimiko. But the verdict is now being challenged at the Court of Appeal. Does your party still entertain fear?

It is the right of the opposition parties to challenge the verdict. But they are not going to achieve anything at the Appeal Court. Everybody that was in Ondo State on the day of the election knows that it was the most free and fair election ever conducted in the state. There were no reports of ballot box snatching; there were no reports of thugs invading polling booths that did not allow people to vote. There wasn’t any security report that there was crisis, unlike what happened in 2007.

Security operatives were on ground more than we had been experiencing in this state. The tribunal has ruled that the election was free and fair.

The opinion of some people is that the LP in Ondo State was built around Governor Mimiko. What do you think are the chances of the party to survive after the tenure of the governor?

The party will still wax stronger. No doubt about it that when we started, his personality assisted the party. Because of the various positions he has held before and his attitude to people, many joined the party. I want to say that people are still joining LP on daily basis. Why Labour Party will not die is because Mimiko has set the pace. The LP government has done enough unprecedented things that the people of the state cannot forget. So, the party will still wax stronger after the performing governor leaves office.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Friday, July 5, 2013

CHRIS NJOKU writes on the crisis trailing the June 29 rerun election in Oguta state constituency of Imo State.

A

week to the rerun election to the Imo State Assembly in Oguta last Saturday, Governor Rochas Okorocha’s convoy was attacked by political thugs to signal the nature of things to come in the local government area.

Thuggery and violence has characterised elections in Oguta since 2011 governorship election was declared inconclusive in the local government area. Last Saturday’s rerun election was the fourth time the people of Oguta had failed to have a successful free and fair election.

The governor was at Awa community to drum up support for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate, Walter Uzonwanne when the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Eugene Dibiagwu allegedly attacked him.

Both parties fighting for the soul of Oguta attach serious importance to the June 29 rerun election which was described as a supremacy battle.

Okorocha needs the victory to prove to the world and the hierarchy of the All Progressive Congress, APC, that he is in charge of voters in the state and that the so-called Abuja PDP politicians are out of relevance.

For PDP it was an election to return to reckoning and also take majority lead in the House which is currently under the firm control of the governor. The PDP is also using the election to show Nigerians that Oguta is still their stronghold.

This was why the presence of heavily armed security personnel of combined team of soldiers from the 34 Artillery Brigade led by the Commander, Madibbo Akali and stern looking Policemen led by the state Commissioner of Police, Katsina Musa Muhammed, could not stop the violence, sporadic shootings and ballot snatching at the last Saturday’s election.

In some of the communities, like Osemoto, Obidiagwa, Oguta and Izombe there were heavy shooting by armed thugs who invaded the voting centres, while four bus loads of armed militants were arrested by the Police.

However, the late arrival of voting materials and late accreditation in many of the wards in the local government area did not help matters. This aggravated the situation as voters believed that the delay was a ploy to rig the election. In some of the polling booths, election did not hold at all and where the election was held many irregularities such as falsification of results were noticed.

These irregularities made the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Imo State led by Prof. Selina Oko, to declare the election inconclusive. She said that no election was conducted in eight polling units in the LGA as INEC officials were prevented from performing their duty of ensuring that every eligible voter exercises his or her franchise and therefore forwarded her report on the election to INEC headquarters in Abuja.

It was based on the report submitted to Abuja that INEC issued a statement on Tuesday proffering reasons why the election was declared inconclusive.

According to the statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC national chairman, Kayode Idowu, the election witnessed incidents of violence and unruly

Okorocha

Ihedioha

Oguta rerun: PDP, APGA in supremacy battle conduct by partisans, necessitating the cancellation of the election in the eight (8) polling units which include, PU 001 in Ward 05 (Ndeloukwu/Umuowerre) – with 768 registered voters, PU 007 in Ward 03 (Izombe) – 939 voters, PU 009 in Ward 09 (Oru) – 708 voters, PU 010 (Ward 09) – 657 voters, PU 011 (Ward 09) – 407 voters, PU 012 (Ward 09) – 408 voters, PU 013 (Ward 09) – 667 voters and PU 003 in Ward 02 (Egwe/ Egbuoma) – 212 voters.

According to the commission, the total population of registered voters in the polling units affected was over 4,000; whereas the difference between the leading candidate and the next in the collated results was 2,011 votes.

“The procedure is that where the number of registered voters involved in a cancelled election exceeds the difference in the votes of the two leading candidates in collated results, the election will be declared inconclusive,” INEC said.

The Commission said it is worrisome that politicians and hooligans brazenly flouted the restriction order on movement during the election.

Reports showed that officials of the Imo State Government and some members of the National Assembly across party lines moved around freely despite the restriction order – some of them with security escorts. Worse, some of these politicians are not even from Oguta constituency where the election held.

But Governor Okorocha armed with his own election results, disagreed with INEC declaration, arguing that APGA candidate won the election and should be issued certificate of return.

Addressing newsmen at the Government House on the development, Okorocha said there was no basis for INEC’s declaration that the election was inconclusive since the document/report of the conduct of the election had already been signed by the local government returning officer, Dr. Cynthia Oguike appointed by INEC. He argued that from the results already collated and signed the APGA candidate, Uzonwanne, led with 9,595 votes against PDP Eugene Dibiagwu’s 7,584 votes and wondered why INEC would want to declare such election inconclusive because the result of eight polling booths are not there.

I HAVE PERSONALLY ENDURED HUMILIATIONS IN ORDER THAT PEACE MAY REIGN IN THE

STATE. I BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTION IS NOT WORTH THE BLOOD OF

ANY IMO INDIGENE BUT THE PDP WILL NOT

ALLOW PEACE TO REIGN The governor accused leaders of PDP of masterminding the problem that attended the election even as he said the rerun was the first real election in Oguta.

Okorocha warned that enough is enough.

“I have personally endured humiliations in order that peace may reign in the state. I believe that the election is not worth the blood of any Imo indigene but the PDP will not allow peace to reign,” the governor said.

However, the Imo PDP brandishing its own results, blamed Governor Okorocha for the crisis that engulfed the election, adding that the governor directed all his commissioners, traditional rulers and civil servants in the area to deliver the APGA candidate or lose their appointments.

The state chairman of the party, Eze Duruiheoma, SAN, who accused the governor of showcasing to the public a falsified INEC result disclosed further that the governor was about to cause another problem following his plans to use a customary court judge to swear in the APGA candidate.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and his Senate counterpart, Ike Ekweremadu, were accused of storming Oguta with their retinue of security personnel.

But the PDP explained that the two members were just there to monitor the election.

Disturbed by the development, President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the irregularities that marred the election, adding that

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the conduct of certain persons and groups involved in the election totally negated the spirit of one man, one vote which his administration is trying to foster in Nigeria.

The President Jonathan’s call for the punishment of the perpetrators did not go down well in opposition quarters.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, slammed the Presidency for seeking to usurp the role of INEC by describing the rerun election to the Imo House of Assembly in Oguta as inconclusive.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, ACN said it was up to INEC to determine whether the election was ‘inconclusive’ or marred by ‘violence and irregularities’, not the presidency.

“To the best of our knowledge, it is either the candidates or the parties involved in an election that can take a legal recourse over any perceived irregularities. It therefore baffles us that the presidency has rushed to declare the election inconclusive and marred by rigging, and to call for the prosecution of those involved, simply because its preferred candidate lost,” ACN said.

How it started The rerun poll was ordered after the sacking of Dibiagwu as legislator by the Court of Appeal, Owerri on April 20, 2013.

This was as a result of the April 26, 2011 State Assembly and governorship elections which were held in Oguta Local Government Area and declared inconclusive by INEC. Dissatisfied by this decision, the PDP candidate, Dibiagwu, filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Owerri challenging the powers of INEC to cancel an election and order for a rerun.

Delivering judgement in the suit, the Federal High Court, Owerri ruled that INEC was in order to have ordered for a rerun poll and dismissed the suit and affirmed that INEC acted on the powers granted it by Section 26 (4) of the Electoral Act. Dibiagwu, dissatisfied with the ruling of the High Court, filed an appeal. The Court of Appeal upheld his appeal and ruled that the election should be repeated in four out of 11 electoral wards in the Oguta Local Government Area.

INEC obeyed the court order and conducted a rerun election in the four wards and thereafter declared Dibiagwu validly elected.

Dissatisfied with the declaration of Dibiagwu as validly elected, Uzonwanne of APGA headed to the Election Tribunal and filed a petition challenging the result.

Delivering its judgement, the Tribunal nullified the election in the four wards and ordered for a rerun poll in the entire 11 wards.

Aggrieved by the ruling, both PDP and its candidate, Dibiagwu, filed separate appeals at the Court of Appeal, Owerri and on April 12, 2013, both appeals were consolidated.

In his judgement, the presiding Justice Ignatius Agube declared that Dibiagwu emerged winner of the election “through a faulty process” and nullified the election and ordered a rerun.

The judge also denounced the ignoble and disgraceful role played by INEC in reprobating and approbating an action that is capable of catalysing mayhem, anarchy and conflagration in Imo State.

Ever since the election was declared inconclusive, both INEC and other interested parties have tried to justify their actions. With the decision of INEC to conduct the election in the eight polling units where the election was cancelled, tension has heightened in the state.

16

Editorial

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR PUBLISHER

STEVE AYORINDE

MD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

YELE AKINROLABU

ED OPERATIONS

SEYI FASUGBA

DAILY EDITOR

BOLAJI TUNJI

SUNDAY EDITOR

GBEMI OLUJOBI

SATURDAY EDITOR

DOZIE OKEBALAMA

COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD

ADESOYE ADEKOYA

CONTROLLER, PRODUCTION

CALLISTUS OKE

EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

ISE-OLUWA IGE

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

KAYODE BALOGUN JNR

SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

FRANK OBOH

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Diaspora remittances and Nigerian economy N I , n spite of the seemingly inclement socio-economic and political situation in Nigeria, Nigerians in the Diaspora appear unwavering in their patriotism and commitment to the growth of the national economy with the quantum of their annual remittances to the country. The trend has been recognized by the World Bank which documented recently that Nigerians living abroad remitted $21 billion home last year to rank among citizens of the top five countries that remitted about $530 billion to their countries in 2012. Nigeria has a strong and growing Diaspora community, especially in the United States, Europe and Asia, many of whom are responsible for the remittance inflows.

The $21 billion remittance in 2012 is an impressive showing of 91 per cent increase over the $11bn that came from the same source last year.

According to the World Bank report, other top recipients of remittances among developing countries were India ($70 billion), China ($66 billion), the Philippines ($24 billion) and Mexico ($24 billion).

The bank also said remittances to developing countries were projected to grow by 7.9 per cent in 2013; 10.1 per cent in 2014, and 10.7 per cent

in 2015, to reach $534 billion by 2015. However, the $530 billion that was last year figure outstripped World Bank’s projection of $406 billion for the period. The development amplifies a study conducted by a Nigerian scholar, O. R Iheke of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, published by an international journal last year. Titled ‘The Effects of Remittances on the Nigerian Economy’, the study shows that remittance inflow to the country increased rapidly from early 2000 to 2009, which lends credence to the calculation that Nigerians abroad grew the country’s economy by a whopping $7 billion in 2008. Nigeria was ranked as the sixth highest destination of remittances from Diaspora citizens by the study.

Iheke had recommended that “remittance receiving countries should provide a friendly economic environment through sound macroeconomic policies, including stable exchange rates, basic physical infrastructure, improved market integration, reliable financial and other institutions, transparent legal system and good governance – in essence, conditions that can prime the economy for devel-

O MATTER HOW

COATED WHAT IS

REPATRIATED BACK HOME AS

DIASPORA

REMITTANCE REPRESENTS A PALTRY FRACTION OF THEIR EARNINGS opment and equip it adequately to benefit from this external stimulus.”

The predicament, however, is the readiness or the lack of it, of the Nigerian government and drivers of the economy to provide the prescribed enabling environment. Whereas governments at both state and federal levels make copious promises and set elaborate agenda, it is obvious that the pursuit of self-serving interests stands in the way of genuine and true national development. Sadly, therefore, while Nigeria is ranked highly in Diaspora remittances, the real impact of such overseas’ income is hardly felt in infrastructural provisioning nor is it very visible in other vital economic indices.

On the flip side of Diaspora remittances is the need to address the subsisting problem

of brain drain in the country.

The mere fact that the nation is earning handsomely, based on the figures declared, from overseas remittances must not detract from the reality that harsh, indeed grinding economic realities in the country are responsible for the unprecedented presence of Nigerians across the world. Indeed, there is scarcely any part of the world Nigerians have not dared in their search for succour and greener pastures. Still, several decades on, the hopeless conditions that make them vote with their legs are yet to be remedied.

Consequently, the harsh and frustrating economic realities that forced many Nigerians out of the country, with many others on the queue, should be addressed. No nation can claim fulfillment whose best brains contribute more to the growth of other nations as against their fatherland.

No matter how coated, what is repatriated back home as Diaspora remittance represents a paltry fraction of their earnings. Nigeria can do better if the country’s experts and professionals braving all odds abroad are encouraged, through appropriate reward and motivation, to return home and invest their knowledge in growing the nation.

ON THIS DAY July 5, 2012

July 5, 2009

July 5, 1975

The Shard in London was inaugurated as the tallest building in Europe, with a height of 310 metres (1,020 ft).

The Shard, formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 72-storey skyscraper in London. Its construction began in March 2009; it was topped out on March 30, 2012 and inaugurated on July 5, 2012. It opened to the public on February 1, 2013.

The Shard is the tallest building in the European Union.

The largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered, consisting of more than 1,500 items, was found near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, in Staffordshire, England. The term Anglo-Saxon is used by some historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled in the south and east of Britain in the early 5th century and the period from their creation of the English nation up to the Norman conquest.

Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win the Wimbledon singles title. Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. (July 10, 1943 – February 6, 1993) was an American World No. 1 professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam titles, ranking him among the best tennis players from the United States. Ashe, an African American, was the first black player ever selected to the United States Davis Cup team and theonlyblackmanevertowinthesinglestitleatWimbledon.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

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Views

Friday, July 5, 2013

17

The futility of religion MORGAN NWANGUMA

M

an invented religion in his quest to get to God. But I personally see religion as the expression of man’s fears and ignorance about God. Man has employed it to numerous uses. We have to be very careful to note that religion is not necessarily a particular faith, and in the same token, no particular faith can be classified as a religion per se. Rather a faith that is professed by any group of adherents can be regarded as a religious practice. And so, religion is not necessarily the way of God, but an attempt by man to reach God. Meanwhile, since ages past, religion has rather been misapplied as a tool of divide and rule, and there lies the futility of religion itself. It is absolutely in this light that Karl Marx stated that ‘religion is the opium of the masses’. I have come to understand and agree that he was absolutely correct, if you follow my drift. Over the centuries religion has served as an instrument in the hands of the ruling class. Even theologians and religionists alike have used it to cow and indeed emasculate the masses.

In mediaeval Europe, the Roman Inquest was an inquisition set up in Italy in 1542 to curb the rapidly growing number of Protestants. In this same exercise was the Inquisition that put Galileo on trial for making advanced and profound discoveries and pronouncements in science and learning that the then authorities saw as

heresies.

There was also the ‘Holy Inquisition of Spain’, which was initiated in 1478 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that guarded the prevailing orthodoxy of Catholicism in Spain, especially from the 15th to the 17th centuries AD. It empowered religious leaders in Christendom to scour the land, searching for any signs of deviation from the one true faith as it were. Thus in less than a decade, thousands of people had already perished. This was, and still is the pedestal upon which world religion has derisively attained and maintained a state of infamy by the enforcement of human doctrine, and the lack of understanding of the nature and mind of God, even from time immemorial.

It is only religion and not godliness that will say to you “go and kill and be rewarded’; it is religion and not God that will propel you to ‘pray’ for your ‘enemies’ to die, thereby turning a Christian place of worship into an occult coven. Religiosity, and by extension religionists, instigate discrimination, inordinate ambition, suspicion, and wanton bloodletting by terrorist acts like we see today. Anyone who upholds such brainwash convictions and misconceptions already sees other human beings as less human. Jesus Christ never preached religion and never founded any, he only showed the way (to life) and said follow me – to God. His message is: love God, and love one another. And this is all we need, which underscores the

RELIGION IS NOT NECESSARILY THE WAY OF

GOD, BUT AN ATTEMPT BY MAN TO REACH GOD futility of religion and which rather gives rise to multiplicity of God or gods, human doctrines, dogmas and not to mention, denominations.

In societies where hapless masses dwell in abject poverty and depravation, charlatans have arisen to leech on this vulnerable population for their selfish ends. And thus the dictum, ‘religion is the opium of the masses’ does strongly hold sway.

Karl Marx, the originator of that popular quote had experiences of all sorts that made him have a strange feeling and conviction about the futility of religion. He was sharply moved by the way the material and social conditions of the mass of the people he saw in most of Europe and of course elsewhere, and the sharp contrast with those of the business owners (the bourgeoisie) who lived in fantastic affluence, always lording it over the common people even in the midst of religious hegemony. His writings and arguments were influenced by the failure of the state to create harmony and a sense of belonging in the lives of the proletariat while they were saddled with religious obligations and in-

doctrinations, even in their suffering.

Frankly speaking, Karl Marx made that statement merely to comforts people. He believed that it is like an opiate (a drug which decreases pain), in that it satisfies and placates the public as a whole; it also tends to keep people from rebelling and overturning the current system. No wonder, Nigerians are ‘the happiest people on earth’. Marx was damn right. Yes, religion makes you either docile or you completely take leave of your brain. It can also make you to become an extremist who has been brainwashed to believing that God needs help, or that you can kill for no just cause and think you will be rewarded with several virgins in heaven when you die in the act of heinous violence.

Have you not heard how it took Mary Mitchell Slessor (1848-1915), who left the comfort of her prosperous background in Europe, and came to South East to rescue twins who were being slaughtered, from ‘religious’ people in Calabar? She was well accepted because of her strong personality and forthrightness. Her work, of course, later led to the final abolition of the killing of twins in that part of the world.

In conclusion, the hard reality is that there is a reason behind life, there is life after death, and there is a God who made and rules over the entire universe, and to whom we all have to do.

Nwanguma, an artist and social commentator, wrote from Lagos

As Jonathan gets PDP’s ‘vote of confidence’ MEDINAT UMAR

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ne of the highpoints of the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the passing of ‘vote of confidence’ on President Goodluck Jonathan by top party hierarchs. More interesting is the fact that the endorsement came at a time rumours of rift and conflict between the First Citizen and some of the governors rent the nation’s entire airwaves.

The reason(s) for the near consensual endorsement is not farfetched. President Jonathan has displayed rare leadership, altruism and statesmanship in the face of daunting security challenges the nation has faced in the past three years. An estimated 10,000 people have lost their lives and properties worth billions of naira destroyed as a result of the Boko Haram-induced insurgency in parts of the North. The deployment of terror tactics has equally destroyed economies of communities, individuals and states, leaving hunger, sorrows and fear in its wake.

The nonchalance of some northern leaders to the growing insecurity in the region has given way to one of concern as the problem was indeed getting out of hand. Indeed, the economies of the northern states were on the brink of collapse as business men and women and other productive citizens living in the region relocated in droves to safer havens down south. All this period and

REGIMES HAVE COME AND GONE WITH THE CORRECT PROGNOSIS THAT RESOLVING THE POWER PROBLEM WILL BE THE MAJOR STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY in the face of what clearly looked like a tacit conspiracy of silence by a section of some of the elders and politicians from the North, especially those in the opposition, the Federal Government continued to battle with the insurgents.

The major breakthrough came with a strategic two-prong approach cleverly adopted by the president. On the one hand was the offer of amnesty to Boko Haram insurgents, while on the other hand it was the forceful engagement of those insurgents man for man and weaponry for weaponry. It is no longer news that the Nigerian troops have routed the insurgents and relative peace is returning to the hitherto Boko Haram infested parts of the country. Confidence and trust is returning back to these terrorised communities. It is heart-warming to hear stories of ordinary folks, specifically youths now helping the security forces to identify some of the insurgents living amongst them.

As President Jonathan rightly told

his party men and women at the NEC meeting, the pockets of attacks reportedly carried out by Boko Haram recently were just symptomatic of a group on the run and in the throes of defeat and annihilation. The major victory that Jonathan and the security forces have won over the insurgents has left the opposition and naysayers who had criticised and doubted every action of this government dumbfounded.

Also contributing to the burnished image of President Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo, is the success recorded in fixing some of the fundamental problems that have held down the development of this nation. Regimes have come and gone with the correct prognosis that resolving the power problem will be the major step in the development of the country. They had also identified the inefficiency of PHCN, the nation’s public power provider and recommended its privatisation.

But no administration, including the all-powerful military regimes, has had the courage, political will and the patriotism to seize the bull by the horn. Jonathan and Sambo have successfully done that by conducting a transparent bidding of the power stations after PHCN was unbundled. Not only will the generation and distribution of electricity improve, the customers will now be dealing with more responsive and responsible private sector companies who know they face serious competition with others.

Shortly, electricity supply nationwide will tremendously improve. And we can

only reap the multiplier effects on the economy. Many medium scale industries, and artisans like barbers, hairdressers, welders, mechanics and other self-employed citizens can now engage in their trades more meaningfully. With their production cost profile better, their service charges will also definitely come down. Consequently, their turnover will receive a boost, and this will definitely bring prosperity to the land.

President Jonathan is also delivering better roads to Nigerians. Yes, it is possible to argue that what Jonathan has done is not in any way spectacular because monies have been budgeted to fix the roads, and so deploying those monies by the executive is nothing worth celebrating. But we do know that past governments budgeted huge sums for the roads, yet they remained largely highways to hell. The least we can do is to acknowledge the good performance of this government in making our roads safer for all the users. Yet it is important for Jonathan and his government to realise that they have not breasted the tape, as more is needed to be accomplished.

Hajiya Umar wrote from Abuja Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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Mail Mirror

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Applauding Osun’s health initiatives

W Why should Obama visit Nigeria?

T

he President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama has ended his African tour without visiting our dear Nigeria. You may not get the import of this unless you are aware that the three countries he visited in the continent are Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania.

Nigerians should not be surprised by such irreverence from the leader of the world’s only super power. We have a saying in Africa that says, “Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are”. A country with a stinking reputation of pervasive corruption and chilling insecurity will not be an attraction for a US president.

Had Obama come to Nigeria, he would only have been presented with a long list of requests. For those who pine for this snub, the consolation is that when we get things right, honours, invitations and support will come from all parts of the world.

ithout sounding like a propagandist organ primed with slush fund, I dare say that it feels good to be a citizen of the State of Osun, where evidently a visionary, purposeful government is fully on ground adding values to lives through structured and disciplined implementation of well-designed programmes. There is ample evidence that the present administration – judiciously superintended by Governor Rauf Aregbesola – places a high premium on the conditions of the environment and the health of the people.

The dutifully observed monthly and weekly sanitation exercises; the clearing of waterways, canals and drainages; the organised and improved waste-disposal system; the landscaping, beautification of major junctions and road medians; and the introduction of environmental health officers, are part of the deft moves being made

by Ogbeni’s administration to create health-friendly environments across the State of the Virtuous.

What inspires my applause of the State Government’s concern for promoting healthy living through sanitisation of the environment is the unmistakable impacts of the idea on socio-economic development. When people inhabit environments devoid of avoidable causes of illnesses and diseases, they are healthy and psychologically well-adjusted to bring about

improved productivity. Equally remarkable is the fact that the efforts at ensuring clean environment makes the empowerment of many hitherto idle hands feasible. Surely, only a rigorously introspective government like the present one in Osun can make this happen.

I recall that during the betterforgotten years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) here, the cities, towns, markets, and major roads in Osun were largely defaced and made eyesores by heaps of refuse and waste items carelessly disposed. It was so disturbing that even the masked afrobeat maestro, Lagbaja, made it a subject of his masterful rendition, lamenting actually that “dirty full everywhere, no be small/dirty full anyhow, no be small ooo/ … for Osogbo, the same thing ni …”. The profusely hazardous environment (the subsisting conditions of the places where people lived and worked) had negative impacts on the wellbeing of the people as mosquitoes and their vectors found comfy breeding habitats from where they freely lobbed the lethal missiles of malaria into human bodies.

No doubt, the capricious government of the time was out of tune with the modern method of waste disposal and management, even as it was abominably ignorant of the fact that environmental conditions can cause and worsen health challenges.

Those horrible realities defined

the interred years of the PDP-led government in Osun. Since Governor Aregbesola took office, remarkable changes have occurred in the areas of health and environmental cleanliness. The reprehensible habit of improper disposal of waste and unsightly scenes that were roundabouts on major roads across the State have yielded space for effective system of waste disposal and beautification projects that now give engaging aesthetics to parks, motorway medians and bus-stops. Through its O’Clean programme, the government has been able to convince and mobilise the people to always ensure that their environments are in sanitary condition.

Truth be told, the current health-friendly environment initiatives of the zealous Governor of Osun deserves not only applause but continuous support by the citizens of the State, clean environment advocates, and even the harshest traducers of the helmsman – if only for the sanitary environment in which they labour lucklessly to pooh-pooh the unprecedented changes birthed by Aregbesola. I counsel the government to not by any means take off or slacken its hands on the plough of health-friendly environment programmes and other socio-economic development efforts.

Idowu Adediran, Ipetumodu, Osun State

Imeh Akpan, Uyo, Akwa Ibom

The state of our football

T

he Nigerian Under-20 football team has followed the way of their senior counterparts when they crashed out of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup competition holding in Turkey. They were beaten by Uruguay, the same country that edged out the Super Eagles from the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

These are foreboding signs that all is not well with the nation’s football.

That we crashed out very early from the Confederations Cup is an indication that our South Africa’s victory this year in lifting the CAN cup and so emerging the best national team in Africa is not a true reflection of the state of football in Nigeria and Africa.

We only need to look at the crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Football Federation and thus the starting very late of the 2012/2013 League season to know where to locate the dwindling fortunes of our football. There is an urgent need for a surgery to remove the malignant ailment that is killing our football.

Andrew Ondo State

Osajere,

Akure,

The Police Barracks at Costain in Lagos.

PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

ASUP/ASUU strike actions

T

he Devil is at work again, and the target is our education sector. The sector has enjoyed relative peace in the last one year and we the students were happy for it. It is for this reason we ask the federal authorities to initiative the process that will bring to an end

Letters to the Editor

the strike actions by lecturers in the nation’s polytechnics and universities.

The Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayat Rufai has the responsibility to development the template for enduring peace and stability in the education sector. She must not wait

until things get out of hand before acting. The current strike actions are very embarrassing and do not portray the federal government as very serious with education.

Cletus Odion, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State

On Anambra 2014

E

lection period is usually very much anticipated and expectations high, this applies to both developed and developing nations. The reason is simple; people always crave change irrespective of the conditions they currently live in. For those living in desperate situations, the desire for change is also desperate. The later seem to apply to the present situation we live in, considering the high level of insecurity and mismanagement in the country.

Until we realize this we may not do the right thing at the right time. Although the country’s democracy is still very young, it is not an excuse to continue to allow clueless politicians run the government else we head towards an imminent end to the fragile peace we currently enjoy.

In a few months, another governorship election would be held in Anambra State, and up till this day we do not know all the candidates that are interested in the post. In more civilized countries, candidates would have shown interest and would have started campaigning. The electorate would have known the candidates and their manifestos. A date for an initial debate would have been fixed and the parties would have held their primaries or at least know all those that are interested.

Anambra Lineage Forum has noticed the posters of some candidates within the state. Posters of Senator Chris Ngige, ,Walter Uba Okeke, Hon. Uche Ekwenefi, Hon. Afam Ogene, Mr. Obi Obigbolu, Chief Mike Okoye, Chika Jerry, Dubem Obaze, current SSG of the state and Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah are the only ones seen for now. Unlike the others, posters of Ubah were also seen in Yenagoa and environs.

Out of curiosity, Anambra Lineage Forum (ALF) with the slogan ‘Massive ballot protection right’ is responsible for having Ubah’s posters in Bayelsa. ALF is not interested in whom or where the candidate is from, but why he/she has your support. Thereafter questions like: Are these candidates interested in contesting or are they being coaxed into it? Is their support based on hitherto knowledge of the personality and his/her capacity to deliver on commitments?

ALF is committed to ensuring that the right thing is done and that whoever emerges as the future governor is someone that can be trusted to deliver on his promises, and someone that is steadfast and would not compromise. We also want to stress that interested candidates should make themselves known and a debate should be organized and coordinated by a competent body in other to assess the level of exposure and experience each have. That way the electorates would be rest assured they are voting for the right person.

Chief Ndubuisis Elodimuo (Chairman), Chukwudi Okaigbo (Secretary), Anambra Lineage Forum (Bayelsa State Chapter), Yenagoa

Send your letters or or mails mailsto toPMB PMB10001, 10001,Ikoyi, Ikoyi,ororour ourEmail: Email:mirrorlagos@yahoo.com mirrorlagos@yahoo.com and info@nationalmirroronline.netor or 08056180209, 07033375481 and info@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275, 07033375481 (SMS (SMS only).Editor The Editor reserves thetoright edit and letters reject letters or photographs.

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FRIDAY

Flavour

Friday, July 5, 2013

Mba at the event

OJB

point. He, it was, who also made it known on his tweeter handle late last night that the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, had come up with the $100,000 needed for the operation.

He confirmed this to our correspondent by telephone, but added that the government will give the money to OBJ on Friday, that is, today.

“Money has been approved and it will get to him by Friday,” Nomoreloss said.

Asked about OJB’s health, Nomoreloss said he was at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, where he is undergoing dialysis courtesy of the Lagos State government said to have withheld its support upon hearing of the controversy over the number of entertainers said to have made donations.

When that came up Nomoreloss said he didn’t know how to respond to it. “A lot of things happen, and some people use the opportunity to do shows and pocket the money, which was why initially I refused to agree to doing a show to raise money for him,” he said.

Asked how much his committee has collected so far, Nomoreloss said there was N8 million in the committee’s care and that the Copyrights Society of Nigeria, COSON, which was also collecting money for OJB, sent in an amount.

“Up until now, apart from the N8 million we put out, there are other platforms that have been collecting money for the cause. I have not collated. COSON also came up with some money yesterday (Wednesday) so they kept to their side of the

WEEKEND STARTERS Back to the future of dance club night

T

oday at 7p.m. at Freedom Park, Lagos the Back to the future of dance club night will take place. It is coming on the heels of the success of the 10 cities project, focusing on electronic music in Lagos and some of the participating artists are now continuing the exploration of urban sounds of the megacity. It is a trip to the future on the wings of music.

Multi Kulti Arts exhibition ends today

T

he Multi Kulti Arts exhibition of new paintings by the artists: Lary Isimah, Michael

Kpodoh and Ayo Osinibi will close today. Opened since July 2 at Freedom Park, Lagos, there has also been screenings of art films and documentaries. Among the films screened are documentaries on Pina Bausch, Marina Abramovich, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso and Jean Michel Basquiat, among others.

The Kongi’s Harvest Gallery where the screenings and exhibition has been taking place will open at noon and close at 7 p.m.

The business of fashion seminar

W

ould-be fashion entrepreneurs, enthusiasts and industry stakeholders can attend tomorrow a weekend fashion seminar organised by Asakeoge UK (London College of Fashion) in Opebi area of Lagos.

The invited speakers have a combined experience of over 100 years in the industry. Such speakers include: Adebayo Adegbe (Modela), Lanre Da Silva, Moriam Musa (Morsi Pr), Funmi Ajila (President Fashion

Designers Association of Nigeria) and Ibikare Allwell (Head of Fashion, Jumia), among others. There will be two sessions, morning (10a.m. to 12p.m.) and afternoon (1p.m. to 3 p.m.)

The organisers said it is Aimed at bringing the new breed of fashion stakeholders together to discuss and deliberate on how to build a better brand, commercialise their creative works and other business related issues in the fashion industry.

Escape P. 34

Denrele’s Day

F

or an industry that has practitioners taking home millions of naira for a single appearance, it has become a very daunting task to raise money to save one of its own, who badly needs a kidney transplant.

When Babatunde Jezreel Okungbowa a.k.a. OJB Jezreel, whose birthday was yesterday, July 4, broke the news of his imminent kidney transplant and the amount he would be needing for it, $100, 000, it seemed like a no-brainer where the money would come from and how quickly, too. The veteran musician and producer, who said he has spent millions of naira managing his health over the years, cried out in the last, but one week, in June but until last night, hope to raise the money was dim. Countless entertainment people paid him a visit, but what resulted from it was controversy over who donated what and whether the $100, 000 itself was not too much for the operation. According to the reports last week, 2face was said to have given N1.5m, D’banj N7m, Whizkid N3m, Ini Edo N2m and Olamide N1m.

Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim, only last week, posted a message on her instagram page saying kidney transplant does not cost more than $50,000 and wondered why people raising funds for OJB were requesting for $100, 000. OJB was quoted to have responded by saying that he needed the money to continue to take care of himself after the transplant (like he has been doing singlehandedly in the last couple of years).

But while all the controversy and accusations rent the air, the man, Muyiwa Osinuga a.k.a Nomoreloss, who heads the Save OJB Committee that is helping create awareness and raise money for the transplant kept updating the public on how much money they had received at every

deal,” he said, but did not reveal how much even when our correspondent pressed him.

Nomoreloss explained that at the point when the committee had collected N2 million, the reports came that musician D’banj contributed N7 million and that other musicians also gave money. “They (Lagos State) just added it up and decided that OJB didn’t need any more support.

So, with all these claims coming out, they had to validate before supporting. Considering that there was the news circulating that it was a scam and so on. You know how it is with government, they need that proper verification. From then on they had gone ahead to discredit that it was a scam,” he said.

He said that is why they were giving him free treatment at LASUTH having done a test, which led them to send an ambulance to go get the musician from his house.

He said that because OJB was trying to be strong and was walking about, people didn’t know how bad it was.

“Even Lagos State didn’t believe it was that bad until they ran tests and said, oh my God! Then they sent an ambulance to come get him. He is at LASUTH and is receiving free treatment. I don’t think that he would be receiving that if they did not do due diligence and find out that he was ill.

Lagos State is the one giving him the free treatment,” Nomoreloss said.

He emphasised that the money from the Rivers State has not yet been collected. “They are going to come through on Friday (today),” he said.

“When early diagnosis was done, it was just a case of renal failure. Right now, my two kidneys are gone. We are running dialysis at the moment.

It started two years ago, but gradually depreciated,” OJB had said while making his condition public.

He had also said at that time that he had only about 10 weeks more to get the transplant done.

Inside FCT P. 24-25

• …As Rivers State give him birthday present

TERH AGBEDEH

P. 26

OJB Jezreel: Entertainers fail to perform

P. 32-33

16 PAGES OF ARTS, REVIEWS, LIFESTYLE AND BUZZ TO START YOUR WEEKEND

Mirror Mongers

VOL. 3 No. 658

19

20

Artman In The House

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Government should stop giving Respected for his versatility, John Okafor’s career has seen him traversing some major aspects of the movie-making chain before he found fame in acting. Fondly called, Mr. Ibu, he discusses his work and life in this interview with Friday Flavour’s NGOZI EMEDOLIBE. Excerpts: You must be busy at the moment with the resurgence of comic movies?

I have always been busy. In fact, sometimes I wish the hours of the day could be stretched so that my schedule would be accommodated within that time frame. If I am not shooting movies, I am doing shows in Nigeria or abroad. It has never been a dull moment.

I do not think it has anything to do with the resurgence of films in this line. The truth is that Nigerians want to laugh. If you go out, you will realise how much Nigerians need to laugh. If we should borrow from what doctors usually say about one needing to laugh to stay healthy and going by the economy, people need to laugh.

How did you discover the humour in you?

It does not take a lot to discover. It is something that lies within and the truth is that nobody forces it. The moment you have it, it will show. I grew up in an environment where everything was fun and I naturally picked that way of life. It is not something you jump into and begin to do, because it must flow from within you. One thing people do not know about me is that my grandfather was a funny man. In fact, Ibu was his name. He has remained a great source of inspiration and sometimes I do borrow his lines for my work today.

There are many versions to how you entered Nollywood. Did you really start as a production manager?

Mr. Ibu

I started as a production assistant. I am one of the few people who have gone through the rungs and you know when you start that way, it affords you the opportunity to begin from the scratch and understudy a lot of people. That is the beauty of being a creative person.

When they ask you to do something and you do it well, you could be tried in other fields someday and that is how it continues.

Why didn’t you remain a production manager, since Nollywood believes you are one of the best?

Is that what Nollywood believes? But I am also someone that likes to experiment. I always paint pictures in my mind and once my heart asks me to follow up, I go for it. That is my nature. Perhaps, I would have been great as a production manager, because Nollywood says so, but I think I like what I am doing. The reason is because I enjoy it. This is what I am naturally cut out for. People tend to say he behaves like a fool and laugh, but the truth is that I enjoy doing so.

Has it denied you anything?

Not really, instead it has added to me. I get some favour wherever I go because of this. There are people who see me and show love and affection in ways that make me marvel; and I thank God for making me a part of other people’s lives. You know as actors we are not only part of our lives but also part of other people’s lives. While Nigerians show some affection, I get double of that whenever I travel abroad.

It is rumoured that South Africans are crazy about you?

That is a confirmation of how big our industry is.

Nigeria used to be popular with 419, but now the trend is changing. Nollywood is bringing the country the rebranding the millions of dollars and naira so far spent could not achieve. That is why Nollywood personalities are easily recognisable in Europe and America today; that is the power of art and culture. As a matter of fact, I have done some projects in South Africa and they appreciated all the efforts.

So what works are you currently handling?

Works are lined up for me. But I have special interest in the movie I want to produce, which is taking me to America in July. It is called, Mr. Ibu in America. The script has been completed and it is collaboration between me and some Americans.

Okafor and wife

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Artman In The House

Friday, July 5, 2013

21

money to actors –Mr. Ibu Is this your first movie as a producer?

No. I have been producing since I became a producer; i.e. since I produced my first movie. Producing is another challenge entirely, which I also enjoy. Honestly, I make conscious efforts to make sure I produce at least one movie every year.

Are there years you produced more?

Of course, you know that aside producing my own film, I also produce for others. But I make sure I produce at least one from my own stable every year. I have not lost that dream.

Ideally must your movie dwell on comedy?

Yes, I am in the business of humour. For my own efforts, it must be comedy. For others, it would be what they want. So, you can also see me producing action movies or drama for others people.

Which would you like to be described as– a producer or actor?

I will leave that to people to decide, but I am a little bit of both. The two jobs are quite challenging. Acting makes you assume a new personality. Producing also requires a lot of time, because it tasks your ability to manage both men and resources. When people ask me which one is challenging, I tell them that getting the money and staking it on what you can’t predict the outcome is not a joke.

Sometimes, you may have used the only parcel of land your father left you or your car and if it turns out bad, you are back to square one. The actor is just there; interpret the role and go to sleep. So it is not easy being a producer in this context, because when you produce, you follow the film up from the premieres to the release. With the activities of piracy, you would be praying to God that you recoup your money before one boy on the street gives you another version of the work you have been in the studio sweating to put together.

The issue of your kidnap was very well celebrated. How much did you pay to get out of the den?

Honestly, I did not pay anything. I did not give them one naira.

But I heard you were asked to pay N4m?

I will tell you what happened. When they attacked and seized me, blindfolded me and took me to the house, I was just calm wondering what was going on.

Of course, I thought it was because I am an actor. But when the main man came later, he shook his head on seeing me.

He felt he has caught a big fish?

Well, he looked at me and looked at his boys and told them that they have kidnapped the wrong person. He mandated them to treat me nicely and while in their ‘de-

Mr. Ibu autographing

FACT FILE •

John Okafor was born October 17, 1960

•

He hails from Nkanu, in Enugu State

•

Okafor studied Mass Communications at the Institute of Management Technology, IMT, Enugu.

•

He is credited producing and acting in over 250 films.

•

Mr. Ibu is a character he adopted into his comic roles

•

Okafor’s favourite automobile is Peugeot 607.

•

The football fan is fanatical about Rangers FC, Enugu and Barcelona FC

•

He relaxes by watching other actors’ movies with his kids

tention’, they enjoyed me because they were laughing. Despite the nature of their business, I would make a joke out of every situation and they would laugh. While there, they never maltreated me. They never ordered me around and when I was being released, they apologised to me.

At the time it happened, a lot of your colleagues suffered the same fate. Has it changed your perception of Enugu?

I still like Enugu. Enugu is still one of the best cities in this country despite what happened to me. In fact, when I want to cool off after so much stress, the city that comes to my mind is Enugu. The experience has not changed the way I feel about Enugu.

Are you worried about the fate of Igbo language films?

The awareness is coming back and I like the attention it is getting now. Personally, I produce movies in Igbo language, English language and also French. I will not blame the producers; I will urge Igbos to create an appetite for the films produced in their language. By so doing, the producers would have the urge to produce more. Whether you like it or not, that is the only way the beautiful Igbo heritage can be passed on to the generation coming up. I have also realised that when Igbo language films are produced, they are consumed mostly abroad, especially amongst parents who want their kids to be in touch with home. By and large, the production of Igbo language movies is improving now. People are responding positively to Igbo language films now. Many are in the works as I am talking to you. It can, however, get better. This can be done by some investors also coming out to support the cause.

Nollywood as an industry is looking better than what it was in the past? What do you think is responsible?

Preparing for a show in Houston

I think the industry is growing. While the sale of films in Nigeria may have reduced, other markets have been developed. If you go to some of these African countries, Nigerian films are widely sold there. I will agree that some of them, if not majority, are pirated but they have done one good thing for our country. That is why the government needs to stamp their feet about helping the industry.

What do you want the government to do?

First of all, I want government to stop giving money to Actors Guild of Nigeria. It annoys me when I hear that this government or that has given some amount to actors. Government should concentrate on providing infrastructures that would make the business of movie making thrive. With all the money they have collected, actors do not have a place where they can stay as office; that is why actors move from one hotel to another. When they want to hold auditions, they go to a hotel. That is the reason people think actors are not serious people because the people have a way of reasoning when they see someone in a hotel from morning till night.

Government should strive and provide some things like Artistes’ Village all around the country, where the business of art could be transacted. There could be cinemas and studios there, so that people in that locality can get all their production needs in one arena. This idea of moving from one hotel to another is causing pain for a lot of people.

How do you mean?

For instance I know an actress, a decent girl at that, who wanted to pursue acting but her father disinherited her because he went to a hotel where they were having an audition and saw his daughter there! The man was mad. He could not understand which career someone will be pursuing in a hotel that is not Hotel Management. That is why government from local government to state to federal should stop giving cash.

What would you tell fathers who react like this to their daughters?

I will not tell them anything, it is left for us to get our acts together. When a father hears that you are pursuing a movie career in a hotel, he would misconstrue you.

What will you tell many young men aspiring to be like Mr. Ibu? I will tell them not to aspire to be like Mr. Ibu or anybody. They should just try and be themselves. It is by being yourself that the original being in you comes out.

They should stay focused, believe in their dreams and pursue it without letting any distractions hinder them.

Can we talk about your family?

No, I want to leave them out of the media for now. For obvious reason, I want to leave them.

22

Critics

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Literary Arts On the morning of June 15, a remarkable event took place in the main hall of the Iseyin District Grammar School, IDGS Iseyin, Oyo State. The trio of writers at the May/June 2013 edition of Ebedi International Writers’ Residency had barely five days to stay in the ancient town. The event was not just to bid them farewell, but also to showcase the creativity they had imbued in the eager students.

TERH AGBEDEH

S

ince August 31, 2010, when the Ebedi International Writers’ Residency opened its doors to writers across Africa for a six-week residency in the serene ancient town of Iseyin, Oyo State, there has been a stampede to go there. The result is that many writers from countries such as Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Nigeria have been within the walls provided by the medical doctor, politician and awardwinning writer, Wale Okediran.

The former national president of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, has said he was inspired to begin the residency when his wife prodded him after a visit to his country home; so far, the writer foots the bill for keeping Ebedi Residency going.

“We started asking around for those who had one or two experiences in having attended residencies in the past... We brought them together to form the board; somebody like Alkasim Abdulkadir, Uche Umez”, Okediran said.

The board has since expanded just like the residency, which started with two Nigerian female writers now drawing applications and participation all over Africa from writers of both sexes. The last set of residents, whose six weeks ended on June 20, were the Ghanaian poet, Macdell Joshua Kofi Sackey (who is attending for the second time); Enugu-based Children’s Literature Writer, Chiaka Ukachukwu Obasi and Taofeek Ademola Olayiwola, a renowned Nigeria author who writes in English as well as Yoruba.

It was clear to everyone who attended the June 15 event that the time residents spent in Iseyin was not only fruitful for the students of Iseyin District Grammar School, IDGS and those of surrounding schools, but will remain memorable for the young aspiring writers. Not only were their academics improved upon, their social skills also got a fillip. In fact, the idea of the farewell gathering did not just come from the students, they also organised it.

They were in their elements reciting poetry, presenting a drama sketch, singing and dancing to the delight of their classmates and guests from in and outside Iseyin. Blessing Adewale recited a poem titled: Aiye Omuti. For Deborah Rowland it was the poem titled: Ma fi epe s’ere, then there was the drama presentation before the students took the stage to sing and dance.

But it was not just the students that benefited the residents, too had come, seen and completed many works as well as bask in the sights and sounds of the new environment. In the case of Olayiwola and Obasi, the stay afforded them the opportunity of a business deal, the latter will translate the former’s book, Clash of Wheels, into the Igbo language. The Ghanaian poet said he completed work on four books, Obasi and Olayiwola, finished work on a number of plays and short stories.

This must be what Professor Femi Osofisan had referred to in his speech at the opening ceremony for the residency about all human endeavour beginning from a spark.

“As history teaches us, the movements which eventually shake the human race, the actions which become so momentous that they re-map and redefine the destiny of a whole community, or a nation, or even of an

The books donated by Dr. Okediran

African writers find solace at Ebedi sanctuary WRITERS ARE TOO IMPORTANT TO A SOCIETY TO LEAVE WHAT WILL ENHANCE THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS TO INDIVIDUAL EFFORT individual life, all commence from the spark, at first so little, of one person’s dream. Then the dream grows and expands, and transforms into a consuming conflagration”, he had said.

It is for this coming conflagration and many other pleasant reasons that the residency has never been in want of writers. The only thing it lacks is sponsorship.

And for the laudable initiative that has not only kept Iseyin on the world map, but has also been productive for those who come from there, it is time for corporate Nigeria to come in, as it can no longer be left to one man. In this most of the residents that have passed through Ebedi speak in one voice. Sackey, Olayiwola and Obasi, who just left the house called on not just corporations but also government to come in and expand the scope of the residency.

Indeed, the Ebedi Residency is not a novel idea in the country as the late Bode Osanyin’s Writers’ Resort at Ijoko-Ota, popular at a time, closed with his passing, which makes it pertinent for corporate funding to come in quickly. Writers are too important to a society like Nigeria for the governments both at the national and state level to leave what will enhance their creative process to individual effort as it is the case in Iseyin.

The guest of honour at the reception, Prince Femi Olalere, commended Dr. Okediran for his support for literature in the country.

“Students in Iseyin are also benefiting from the knowledge of the writers who come from different parts of the country and the continent. We want to thank Dr. Okediran for this opportunity given to Iseyin school children,” Olalere said.

Okediran, who was not at the event, also donated 10 copies each of eight books required for study in the

current secondary school curriculum at the event.

Some students who had excelled in a quiz competition organised by the departing residents got copies, while the rest were to be shared to discerning students in the school.

Some of the residents that have been at Ebedi since inception of the initiative include: Abiodun Adebiyi and Lola Okusami (September/October 2010), Kenechukwu Obi and Charles Oluyori Ack (November/December 2010), Igoni Barrett and Emmanuel Ugokwe (January/February 2011), Spencer Okoroafor and Anaele Ihuoma (August/September 2011), Tosin Otitoju and Ladi Opaluwa (October/November 2011), Nehru Odey, Dul Johnson and the Ugandan, Doreen Baingana (January/February 2012). Others are: Richard Ali, Niyi Fasanmi and Awwal Sakiwa (June/July 2012); Temitayo Olofinlua and the Uganda, Barbara Oketta (March/April 2012); Others are Nigerian-Barbadian, naturalised South African, Yewande Omotoso, author of BomBoy (2011); Ayodele Olofintuade, author of Eno’s Story (Cassava Republic, 2010); Ugandan Public Health Specialist, Agiresaasi Apophia from Makerere, author of a children’s book, Victor (Macmillan Publishers)and Rukayat Olaleye, author of Yoruba novel, Abamo for the March/April 2013.

Writers who intend to be part of the fellowship need only to get online and apply. They need not pay any amount either for application or during the duration of the six weeks.

Okediran had worked in government and private hospitals for several years before he went into private practice in 1987 and active politics in 1999 when he was appointed chairman, Oyo State Hospitals Management Board. He later contested for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives, where he represented his constituency from 2003 to 2007.

Okediran’s interest in writing dates back to his secondary school days where he was a member of the school’s Literary and Debating Society.

He has written 10 books including: The Boys at the Border (Spectrum Books, 1991); The Rescue of Uncle Babs (Macmillian Plc, 1999); Dreams Die at Twilight (Malthouse Books, 2004) and Strange Encounters (HEBN Publishers, 2004).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Critics

Friday, July 5, 2013

23

Music

Book

History of Ndi-Ogbuu clan in print AGO AGOZINO

L

iterature has an uncanny way of unearthing the under-belly of society. Eze Emmanuel Chukwuemerie’s Ndi-Ogbuu, a people, their origin, their prospects is a new book just released recently but its issues are as old as generations. It dwells on how the NdiOgbuu clan, one of the popular clans in Abia State evolved since the generations. It digs into the veracity and history of the people in a no-hold bare way.

The author, graduate of Abia State University, Uturu, gives the reason to document history for future generations as why he embarked on the project. The writer also said he is proud of where he comes from and penned down the work for whoever wants to learn the history of his clan, how they evolve over the years and how the clan settled down where they are today. The 53-page book is loaded with very insightful information about the family tree of the NdiOgbuu clan. Neither a hardcover nor a tome, Chukwuemerie’s Ndi-Ogbuu, a people, their origin, their prospects not fantastically bond is sure to attract any reader who picks it up and pauses to read just a bit. The book has it way of drawing the eyes. The cover is also attractive given the images of a typical village compound and car parked in front of the house.

The book digs into the history of Ndi-Ogbu clan. Structured into nine major chapters, according to the author the clan is located in Umuogwugwu, a major component unite of Amaise, one of the autonomous communities that makes up present day Umuobiala village in Abia State, South East Nigeria.

The author traces Ogbuu to be the first son of the second wife of Akwaraja, a merchant who traversed the length and breadth of Arochukwu, Uzuakoli, Bende and nearby areas. Akwaraji dealt on items like matches, trade niddle and similar household items sometimes in the late 19th century. His first wife name was Ada Akangwo, from Obioha, in Amaise.

And she gave birth to four boys namely, Okpu, Nkakara (Nkemdirim), Ikwuagwu and Azubuko. Ogbuu’s second wife named Erimma had two sons namely, Onyezewe and Ogbuehi. These last two sons, the author reveals are the origins of six major families that make up the present day Ndi-Ogbuu clan.

The author also revealed that the Nkakara family later changed their name to Nkemdirim at the instance of one Solomon Iroanuwu, who attended Methodist College Uzuakoli, Hope Waddel Institute Calabar and Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

The author wrote it for whoever wants to understand

Ndi-Ogbuu clan. The book has 53-pages.

Because of the importance attached to the subject matter, Ndi-Ogbuu clan, the author, from the beginning shows that he had his people in mind as his primary audience. But indeed any other person who is interested in learning the history of the people, young or old, especially those born or bred in the Igbo diaspora can really benefit from the book.

The book has many moving poems at the beginning of each chapter which covers a variety of topics ranging from Ndi-Ogbuu geographical location, to numerical, modes of evolution among other issues. The author referred to important historical evidences which give the clan its place today. The motive was to establish a base for authentic history of the people. Shedding more light on the man Akwaraja, the writer reveals that he was an itinerant trader whose primary motive was to establish a success for his fledging business. This done, he began to express himself and it was the beginning of growth of his influence.

Chukwuemerie indeed traced his ancestry to that generation and what later led to the modern day Ndi-Ogbuu people in Abia State. The intention is for the author to show his linage and why their history is incontrovertible.

Today, the people of the clan have become an important town with many illustrious elites who makes the difference in Abia State. This is largely so because the people placed high premium on education over the years. Therefore, the clan produced men and women of high caliber in science, politics, business and arts.

Some other chapters of interest in the publication include, Ndi-Ogbuu: who they are, Eze family: a historical family chart, Nkemdirim family, Ikwuagwu family, Azubuko family, Onyezebe family, Ogbuehi family, Ndi Ogbuu, link with umuogwugwu and Ndi-Ogbuu, future prospects.

• Agozino is a journalist and reviewer.

Mbanefo and Kanitz in performance

Classical masters serenade Lagos The reverberations from the piano and cello concert by renowned pianist and lawyer, Louis Mbanefo and music composer and Cello maestro, Thomas Kanitz is still being felt nearly a month after the concert held at the MUSON Centre, Lagos. Both performers are recognised for their musical prowess and engaged the spellbound audience.

VANESSA OBIOHA

T

he concert guests were a mixed audience who had come to hear the beautiful sounds of classical music –composed by Beethoven, Schubert and Vivaldi, performed by two outstanding musicians –Mbanefo and Kanitz.

Besides the personalities for the night, the stage complemented the event as drapes of different colours were used to create a vibrant ambience and reflect the mood of the pieces played. Starting with Antonio Vivaldi’s Red Priest piece sonata No. 6 in B-flat major, Mbanefo flaunted his command of the black and white keys of the piano. Creating different colours of music in the four movement piece, Mbanefo set up a rhythmic tone with accompaniments beyond imagination.

Joining him on stage, the cello maestro Kanitz, displayed an unequivocal dexterity as both played one of the greatest composers Ludwig van Beethoven’s sonata for violoncello and piano, A-Major, Op. 69 piece. Starting off with the violoncello, Kanitz maintained a striking balance as he and Mbanefo went back and forth with the three movement piece in a melodic interplay. A bit melancholic, this symphony ostentatiously captured the innate strength of the instrumentalists.

They both returned on stage after a brief interval to play the contemporary Nigerian composer Pemi Oludare piece, ‘Irapada’.

This was followed

by Schubert’s impromptu for piano.

Schubert is famous for his impromptus which are eight in series. Playing Op. 90 and G major, Mbanefo again showed his astounding finesse on the piano.

For the next 20 minutes, Mbanefo and Kanitz entertained the audience with a powerful rendition of Schubert’s Sonata Arpeggione in A minor. This three movement piece is the only substantial composition for the Arpeggione which exists today. Enticing the audience with its crescendos and decrescendos, the players showed a fine, if not aggressive dialogue

of the piano and violoncello. This particular piece was composed during Schubert’s deteriorating health and was specifically designed for bowed strings guitar but there have been contemporary transcriptions with the cello and viola. Though grim in nature, Mbanefo and Kanitz added a scintillating touch to this piece with its breezy and romantic rhythm. Kanitz particularly exuded a ravishing glow with his fingers on the violoncello, breathing in the rhythm as he created resplendent beautiful sounds. Mbanefo on his part tried to maintain balance, meeting up with the demand of the violoncello as he struck the keys with vigour as if he was duelling with Kanitz. This brilliant piece earned them a standing ovation and an encore.

No wonder the cultured lawyer was surrounded by loved ones at the end of the show, shaking and back slapping him in admiration. An elderly guest shook his hand fondly and paid him a compliment on maintaining his stance on the piano.

Accompanied by his lovely wife Monica, the two made an enviable couple.

The reputable lawyer built his passion for the piano at an early age of six. He received his first piano lesson from a church organist in Onitsha and had remained faithful to the instrument ever since.

While studying Law at Queens College, Cambridge University, he attended music lessons and performed in various concerts at the University. He is also one of the founding members of the Musical Society of Nigeria, MUSON, and has served in various committees of the body. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St Saviours’ Schools Ikoyi and Ebutte Metta and also the Director of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria Kanitz is well kwwnown for his versatile musical background as an illustrious performer. The German player is notable for his vast knowledge as a composer, instructor and performer as well. He is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Muson Symphony Orchestra.

• Ms. Obioha is a Lagos-based writer and reviewer.

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Inside FCT

Friday, July 5, 2013

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Residents find hunger relief in groundnuts, corn JOEL AJAYI

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erhaps the failure of the Federal Government to implement the 2013 National Budget in the sixth month of the year is beginning to take a toll on the financial capabilities of Nigerians.

This has reflected in the feeding habits of most FCT residents who now find solace in boiled groundnuts and corns. Residents capitalised on the prevalent raining season that is characterised by a boom in agricultural harvest; some are now replacing their staple meals with boiled groundnuts and corn, among other ‘quick’ edibles. For them, it is an alternative to lunch or as a means of saving on three square meals.

Also, many Nigerians are struggling to survive the harsh economic conditions by engaging in various business ventures that could bring in some financial relief and daily food to their table. In Abuja and its environs, sales of boiled groundnuts and roasted/boiled corn is nearly everywhere by any petty trader who considers it a means of making money.

In the face of financial stress and helplessness, petty traders are utilising the comparative advantage of the groundnut/corn season as it is being fully tapped into at this period.

Some buyers and sellers who spoke to Inside FCT admitted that the growing trade has spread to the nooks and crannies of the Federal Capital City, FCC. Michael Udoh, a printer who operates from UTC in Area 10, Abuja said: “Because it is the raining season, the weather is cold

and the hot boiled groundnut and hot boiled corn help the body to warm up; that is why I choose to eat it. In fact, I take hot corn on a daily basis and afterwards, I think I am done for that day.

Another resident who finds comfort in corn is Dare Adeyemo, a staff of Virology Office at NNPC Towers, Central Area. Speaking with Inside FCT as he purchased roasted corn from a roadside seller, Adeyemo said: “It is not that I do not have money to buy normal food, but I discovered that everybody in my office eats ‘mouth organ’ that is why I am here with my friend to buy it. Sincerely speaking, I must tell you it is good, hot and sweet”, he added.

Judith David, one of the boiled corn sellers at Wuse Zone 3 Abuja, disclosed that the financial wisdom she is applying in the business. “I make sure that I save a little portion of money made every day from this business.

Everybody knows that the business is a seasonal ones lasting for few months. I believe that at the end of the boom, I will be able to use the money saved to establish myself in some other venture”.

She explained that: “With prices of foodstuff like rice, beans and even Garri on the rise, many residents cannot afford three square meals; that is why people are turning their attention to other sources of feeding to keep body and soul together.

“I must confess that it’s not a bad business to engage in; there is money in it. Depending on the supplier, you can buy three ears of corn on wholesale for N100, then boil it for sale and make a profit of 100 to 120 for every three pieces of corn sold”.

Plate of Fu

Roasted corn on display.

Ban on Araba: Driving school …as accidents soar on highways BEFORE YOU CAN TEACH PEOPLE HOW

TO DRIVE, YOU MUST GO THROUGH

FRSC

TRAINING AND BE LICENSED TO TRAIN

One of the cars used to train learner drivers in Abuja

MARCUS FATUNMOLE

F

or many residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, at the moment, driving schools are social altars on which they pay their offerings. This is sequel to the recent ban on commercial vehicles popularly called Araba by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA; forcing residents to find ways of moving within the city with their own cars.

As the newly-introduced high-capacity buses are remotely far from meeting

transportation needs, thousands of the city’s residents now seek solutions to accompanying challenges engendered by the ban. Hence, there is the need for residents who have just acquired new cars, including those who are planning to get theirs, to approach driving schools for training.

More cars are coming into the city daily as evident in long queues of vehicles on the roads. And the driving school business has since surged in number.

Residents throng driving training sites to acquire skills and other requisites needed for driving. Inside FCT investi-

gations showed that the number of employees hired by proprietors of driving schools has increased, while more cars for training have been acquired since the ban took effect.

But more accidents are occurring as a result of inexperience of new drivers on the city’s highways. According to Inside FCT’s observations, at least one out of every 15 vehicles in the city can be seen carrying ‘L’ on the number plate; the learner’s tag. Investigations by our reporter also showed that one out of every five accidents occurring on Airport Road involves a learner’s car.

A driving instructor at Master’s Driving School, Abuja, Mr. Simon Anhungwa, told our reporter that: “The business of driving school has been im-

proving all this while. We are not doing the business to make money only, we are also trying to ensure that standardisation of driving in Abuja and Nigeria at large is sustained. This year, the city and the country as a whole have recorded series of road accidents. When those of us who run driving schools observed this, we rose to ensure that everyone who holds the steering wheel on our roads is competent by coming to driving school and understanding how to drive”.

How much can somebody pay to start driving school in Abuja, Inside FCT asked? Anhungwa provided the answer, stating that trainings were programmed to meet learner’s interest.

“We have different programmes which include one week, two weeks, three weeks and one month. One week programme is for somebody who has been driving but not perfectly; such a person pays N8,000. Then the two weeks programme costs N15,000 and is for somebody who has an idea about driving but has not been driving perfectly.

We advice such person to come and do the two weeks driving programme so that he or she can drive well. Three

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Inside FCT

Friday, July 5, 2013

25

High rise buildings take over FCT metropolis CHIDI UGWU

PUTTING GIGANTIC STRUCTURES IN

T

ufu and Okro soup

he skyline of the Federal Capital Territory is fast changing, thanks to the increasing high rise structures sprouting within the metropolis.

Apart from adding to the sophistication of the city, these gigantic architectures would no doubt reshape the urban landscape of the FCT as well as influence the quality of life of the residents with their aesthetic and undulating panoramic view.

Our reporter had been studying the emerging architectural marvels and observed that skyscrapers are on the increase in the capital city. For instance, along Constitution Road alone, there are about three high rise buildings none of which is less than 12 floors.

This is apart from the new Reiz Hotel building and the SEC Towers and the magnificent Coscharis buildings along the same location which are equally tall. There are also Porters Tower, NNPC Towers, FRCN Studios and Administration Buildings, Hilton Hotel, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters building and Federal Ministry Secretariat Towers, among others.

Without doubt, the most prominent of all the tall buildings in the city are the iconic 37-storey World Trade Centre towers rising from the ashes of the former Bakassi market

PLACE WITHOUT ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE ARRANGEMENT WILL ONLY AMOUNT TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN FUTURE in Central Business Area.

Projected by the promoters to cost N156 billion, the development which will feature the towers is a multi-use complex, comprising luxury high rise office towers, luxury apartments, conference facilities, capital city shopping mall and entertainment facilities. The project is promoted by First Continental Properties Limited, a subsidiary of Churchgate Group and is being financed with private funds as well as backing from local and foreign finance institutions.

The site sits on 6,102 hectares of land along Constitution Avenue in the Central Business Area that is strategically positioned at the heart of the city of Abuja leading directly into the city from the Airport. It is adjacent to the main Railway Station as well as the Central Business Transport Terminal. A ring road is

business booms weeks driving programme is N20,000; while the month-long programme goes for N25,000”.

According to him, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Directorate for Road Traffic Services, DRTS, popularly called Vehicle Inspection Officials, VIOs, issue Driver’s Licence which he said was also paid for by the trainees after their trainings.

Adejo Joseph is one of the proprietors of Joy Driving School in the city. He told our reporter in an interview that operators of the driving schools are regularly being trained by FRSC officials to ensure quality standards. “Before you can teach people how to drive, you must go through FRSC training and be licensed to train.

You can’t just bring your car on the street and begin to train others”.

He noted that the driving schools issue Learner’s Permit to trainees which they use for six months before they obtain the National Driver’s Licence.

A resident of the city and a driving trainee, Ibiyemi Damola, told Inside FCT that she had just acquired her car. “It is good to acquire necessary training before driving. Some people do not know how to drive; they just look for somebody to teach them, maybe at home.

By the time they do that for about two months, they buy a learner’s tag and attached it on their cars. That is not a good way to engage in driving in a city like Abuja. The best thing is to go through the right process to avoid road disasters”, she advised.

Under construction: The Abuja World Trade Centre

also being constructed around the site giving it unrivalled access into centre of the city.

Historically, the World Trade Centre project site used to be known as Bakassi Market, an illegal market that was removed in 2003 by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA. The site was then handed over to the Abuja Investment Company Limited, AICL, to develop as a befitting world-class shopping mall.

Already, the project that has been divided into three phases commenced with Churchgate Construction Company Limited. leading the construction team as the main contractor.

Other consultants are Woods Bagot Ltd, (concept architect); Edifice Consultants PVT. Ltd. (executive architect); WSP Consultants (Structural Consultant and MEP Consultant), while Messrs Hancock Ogundiya & Partners are the Local MEP & C&S Consultant and Space Designers Limited (Local Architectural Consultant).

Giving an insight into the project, the Group Managing Director of Churchgate Group, Mr. Vinay Mahtani, revealed that the project would consist of luxury offices, serviced apartments, hotel and the 40,000 sq metres Capital City Mall. Other components are a leisure centre, cinema and convention facility. He disclosed that Churchgate Group was building the project expeditiously with the aim of completing the first phase this year. He pointed out that his group believed that Abuja, being the federal capital and a frontline city in Africa, had been in dire need of a landmark project such as that.

Mahtani hinted that the World Trade Centre initiatives in Abuja would rank among top developments around the globe both in terms of scale and quality. He also said that Churchgate already had a track record for developing quality high rise buildings and the Abuja World Trade Centre development would not be an exception.

“Already, the project has provided job opportunity for about 600 inhabitants of Abuja and the satellite towns with the figure expected to rise to 1500 as work progresses”, Mahtani added.

However, it is observed that much as residents of the FCT are excited about the emerging high rise buildings they are also wary that regulators of the real estate sub sector might be compromised with regards to standards which often lead to disasters of building collapse.

Makuochi Onwamaeze, an environmentalist told our reporter that government regulators have to ensure that the developing sky scrapers incorporate key environmental and sustainable green designs, adding that “the dearth of a maintenance culture in Nigerian is an aching issue that continues to replicate itself in numerous facets of our society”.

Onwuamaeze stressed that putting gigantic structures in place without adequate maintenance arrangement will only amount to environmental problems in future.

26

Mirror Mongers

Friday, July 5, 2013

Tonto Dike’s run in with NDLEA

F

rom the events of the past years, Nollywood knows very well that Ahmadu Giade, the executive chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, does not have time to play. The buzz is that when it comes to hard drugs, his fangs emerge and try to consume whoever is involved, be it a star or starlet. Some Nollywood greats like Taiwo Akinwande, Uche Odoputa and also Babatunde Omidiran (Baba Suwe) have, for one reason or the other (at some point), had a shave with the ‘ferocious fangs’ of Ahmadu Giade.

Perhaps, that was what Tonto Dike, a Nollywood actress, rea-

soned earlier in the week and quickly retraced her steps with her new tweets urging her Twitter followers to stay away from drugs as part of her message in this new month of July. For once, Tonto, who has always been described as ‘controversial’, decided to drop that toga to assume the good girl pose.

For her fans, this must be related to what happened during the weekend when she posted pictures allegedly glamorising the use of marijuana. Instantly, Ahmadu Giade’s men had gone to work to interpret the law for Tonto, which also led to the threat that she risked 15 years in Tonto Dike prison for that demeanour.

Facebook scammers hit Customs

G

Giade

This and That Governors’ Forum

N Tricycles

Commissioner in tricycle hire palava

T

he Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, has so much going for him now in the media. Aside being availed awards and honours, his activities now scroll on the major television networks in the country. Online, it is pretty the same situation as his small banners dot many online portals with the pay off, ‘Promise made, Promise fulfilled’.

But it appears this fulfilment is still partial for now based on the story emanating from the state’s Poverty Alleviation Programme, which availed tricycles for some of the indigenes.

MM gathered that at the moment, an ex-Commissioner for Housing, Okezie Orji, is currently pitched against a tricycle operator named

Gideon Ikonne.

The tricycle which was meant for the poor, incidentally ended up with the ex-commissioner, who in turn gave out the vehicle to Ikonne for a whooping N650,000 on hire purchase.

While people are wondering whether the ex-commissioner is supposed to benefit from poverty alleviation measures, others are of the view that the Poverty Alleviation Programme should be reviewed to at least fulfil the dreams of the needy too. This fact is compounded by the revelation that the vehicles were availed to the beneficiaries at very subsidised rates.

Meanwhile the ex- commissioner, who was dropped earlier this year, is still harassing the operator to come up with the balance of N450,000.

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GF is still intact!

This statement is becoming a refrain in the political circles, especially amongst governors.

Yet, every other day, one sees many reasons to believe that things have really fallen apart there. Last Sunday, the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi turned up in a church in Port Harcourt and started talking the politics of Nyesom Wike and Austin Opara, after he was prompted by the Bishop during what should have been a religious affair. But at the

end, he still reassured the congregation (or was it rally?) that NGF was intact and that he was the leader.

While this was raging, Governor Raji Fashola’s 50th birthday celebration last week brought to the fore yet another group within the NGF called the Progressive Governors’ Forum. This is on the heels of other fora like Northern Governors’ Forum, South East Governors’ Forum, South South Governors’ Forum and also the PDP Governors’ Forum.

NGF members

ONE-SECOND Q&A

etting willing victims to be duped must have become a Herculean task, which is why fraudsters in the country are also devising new ways of getting willing victims. At the moment the page that seems to be trending on the Internet (maybe unknown to the Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko), is the Facebook page opened for the Nigeria Customs Service by fraudsters, where they have on display seized cars which they hope to auction at rock bottom prices.

They cars are so cheap that a 2010 Camry on display on the Facebook page is for N600,000; while a 1999 model goes for N300,000. According to the page, people willing to take part in the auction should contact one Musa on: 08130882370. The increasing number of ‘likes’, the page is getting is also a sign that this new trick might just work on a lot of people. Which is why the Customs authorities need to do something fast.

Dikko

AYODEJI ‘WIZKID’ BALOGUN

Less than two weeks after music star, Wizkid crashed his Porsche Panamera worth N15million; it was replaced, sparking tales about his spending habit. The 23-year-old singing sensation reacts to the issue: Do you think it is alright to be splashing millions of naira on cars?

I

Wizkid

needed to get another one because after the accident, I didn’t have a car and I have to move around. I started taking cabs before I decided to buy this new car to move around. It is needed for work. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong in splashing millions on a car. If someone works hard and decides to spend on something that he thinks is good for him, why not? In fact, I don’t think there’s need to justify whether it is wrong or not. I work hard and I will enjoy my money.

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Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Sha’ban 26, 1434AH Friday, July 5, 2013

27

Call to Worship On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the Messenger of Allah, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

5 days to Ramadan:

NATIONAL MIRROR’S SPECIAL DAILY PACKAGE It’s ’ about b fi five d days to Ramadan! National Mirror is coming out with a Special Ramadan Package which will be a one-stop arena for everything Islamic as we begin the blessed month of Ramadan!

Special daily report, interviews, events reporting, governmental ramadan activities, corporate events, Islamic groups,

mosques and d iindividuals di id l can be part of this Special Ramadan Package.

How prepared are you to meet the Holy Month? Are you preparing to spend your God-given wealth to retain all the blessings the Month will bring? Islamic organisations and well-meaning individuals can be part of this by sponsor-

ing i Ramadan d messages for f the h Holy Month of Ramadan. Also, Islamic organizations, corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals can be part of this through corporate adverts, gifts and promotional items.

National Mirror is also introducing a Muslim Shoppers’ Guide, showcasing Islamic fashion, Halal foods, finance,

arts and d music, i inspirational i i i l and motivational CDs, books, events, conferences, Muslim social diaries, seminars, matrimonial, household items, medical/health materials etc.

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Be part of Mirror MusliMart National Mirror is introducing a Muslim Shoppers’ Guide showcasing Islamic fashion, halal foods, finance, arts and music, inspirational and motivational CDs, books, events, conferences, Muslim social diaries, seminars, matrimonial, household items, medical/ health materials etc.

For further information, contact +234-8055102994 or email: sakinah207@yahoo.com

Objectives of Jalsa Salana

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oday’s Friday sermon was a reEvery Friday minder about the objectives of Jalsa Salawith na as set out by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Reminding is necessary so that special focus during Jalsa days is maintained and the matters raised during the Jalsa are also followed afterwards. This is dependent on individual focus and concentration. These days, people are drawn to worldly matters and obligatory and optional worship and other tasks are somewhat disregarded. Many people write in after Jalsa of the immense change they feel within themselves and say that they felt as if they were in a different world for the three days of Jalsa and were influenced by the spiritual ambience of the three days. They request prayers that may this condition be enduring.

Indeed, Jalsa days have such an effect and people are influenced in accordance with their individual state of faith. Some forget the promises they made to God during Jalsa soon after, some forget after a few days and others after a few weeks. Many maintain the effect for a few months. These are facts which cannot be denied. There are a few on whom the effect of the pious ambience of Jalsa stays for years. However, as the majority forgets it in a short while, God has enjoined reminding.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Khalifatul

L-R: Representative of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Alhaji Shuaib Salis; Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Alhaji Abdullahi Akinbode at the pre-Ramadan lecture organized by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni recently.

Sultan to Muslims: Let us be united

P

resident-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, has stressed the need for Muslims to come together and champion the cause of Islam.

The Eminence gave the advice in Abuja recently while inaugurating two ad hoc committees of Finance/Assets and National Moon Sighting for the apex Islamic body. He noted that views cannot be the same on every particular is-

sue, but the views of majority should be respected as long as it is in line with the teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophet.

“The most controversial issue among Muslims was the issue of sighting of the moon ahead of Ramadan fast, which has always been done based on guidelines set aside by Allah.”

He appealed to the committees inaugurated to do their best and carry out the assignment with the fear of Allah and terms of reference given

to them saying that NSCIA was grossly in financial needs to undertake many of its projects and urged members to use their contacts and experience to mobilise funds for the Council.

Earlier, the NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede had listed the Terms of Reference of 13 members Finance and Assets committee to include review and evaluation of the Council assets, finances among others.

Best 3 hours in Ramadan

Ramadan revolution 28

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Ahmadiyya

Welcome the mother of all months!

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28

Call to Worship

A

t last, the much awaited noble guest, the fast of Ramadan would have commenced this time next week. It is a revolution that will affect every facet of human endeavour. It will boost economy; improve health and physical fitness, raised spiritual and moral consciousness. It is a moment to be alive as all Satans will be chained and shackled. Gates of paradise will be opened while those of hells will be locked.

Rewards for all good deeds will be increased from 10 to 70, 500 and even more. It is in this month only that a single night of decree is better than 1000 months.

This is a month when you will see the most passive Muslim turning to Allah (SWT) fasting and praying; the sinful Muslim who drinks alcohol will cast it aside and avoid it throughout the month; the one who fornicates will eschew it and be modest; the husband who neglects his wife will show her mercy; the wife who discards her husband will turn to him as an obedient wife; children who disobey their parents will be more obedient, the stingy buoyant ones will be extremely generous; the Muslim politicians will have little time for Islamic activities, etc.

This is a month when our mosques where one row is hardly filled up will be full to the

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Sha’ban 26, 1434AH Friday, July 5, 2013

Ramadan revolution RAMADAN IS AIMED AT

REVOLUTIONIZING YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

brim that some will even pray outside in the extensions; you will see circles of Quranic exegeses (Tafseers) going on in almost every mosque; you will hear the preaching of Islam on every Radio and Television stations; you will see every Muslim getting attached to his Qur’an, reading it day and night; you will see Muslims rising up at night observing Qiyaam layl (vigil); you will see brotherhood of Islam in action as Muslims gather at different fora to break fast or attend programmes; etc.

But of what value or essence is a revolution that is short-lived? If the rate of crime in Ramadan reduces, does it then mean some or most criminals are Muslims? If it is, is crime in tandem with the spirit of Muslim?

Without mincing word, an enlightened normal non-Muslim knows that Islam never supports crime. Thus, if you as a Muslim

Gaining more from Tahajjud in Ramadan

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ahajjud is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH), which Muslims must do .Ordering His Messenger to perform Tahajjud, Allah (SWT) says: (And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory.) (Al-Israa’ 17:79).

This order, although it was specifically directed to the Prophet, also refers to all Muslims, since the Prophet is a perfect example and guide for us in all matters.

Abu Ad-Darda’ quoted the Prophet (PBUH) as saying: “Whoever goes to his bed with the intention of getting up and praying during the night, but, being overcome by sleep, fails to do that, he will have recorded for him what he has intended, and his sleep will be reckoned as a charity (an act of mercy) for him from his Lord.” (An-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah) `A’ishah said: “When the Prophet prayed during the late-night, he would begin his Prayers with two quick rak`ahs.” (Muslim). Also, Abu Hurairah quoted the Prophet as saying: “May Al-

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lah bless the man who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up his wife and who, if she refuses to get up, sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah bless the woman who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up her husband and who, if he refuses, sprinkles water on his face.” (Ahmad) Tahajjud may be performed in the early part of the night, the middle part of the night, or the latter part of the night, but after the obligatory `Isha’ Prayer (night Prayer). But it is best to delay this Prayer to the last third portion of the night. Abu Hurairah (RA) quoted the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) as saying: “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?’” (AlBukhari) Sheikh Abdul Ganniyy Umar Arikunkewu is the Founder/National Chief Missioner of Jubatu Rohfatu Llahi Islamic Society Of Nigeria (JUBFAT)

Cross section of parents and other stakeholders during the Parents Retreat, one of the programmes organised to mark the 25th anniversary of Al-Hikmat Schools in Lagos recently.

can overcome your criminal propensity for a whole month in Ramadan, it means you can as well be crime-free outside Ramadan.

Allah (SWT) knows our nature as humans, that is why He stipulates this fasting period as a clinic to treat our human, spiritual and moral ailments. A drug addict is usually isolated for rehabilitation so is Ramadan meant to rehabilitate you.

Of what value is it if Muslims will unite in Ramadan and show mercy on one another but do otherwise outside Ramadan? It is really antithetical to the spirit and letter of Ramadan to have been redirected to what is virtuous and cast it into oblivion afterwards.

It is thus clear that Muslims are seriously ignorant of the quintessence of fasting. It is aimed at revolutionizing your entire life. It is for you to become an angel on earth, doing good and promoting it. He is not a Muslim, he who cheats his fellow man, he is not a Muslim, he who fornicates, he is not a Muslim, he who embezzles, he is not a Muslim, he who does not observe his five daily prayers, he is not a Muslim, he who keeps malice, he is not a Muslim, he who fails to pay his full Zakat, he is not a Muslim, he who drinks alcohol, he is not a Muslim, he who deals in cocaine, he is not a Muslim, he who kills his fellow man, etc.

The character of Islam holds at all time.

It only reaches the climax during Ramadan.

There is no room for you to act other than be-

ing a Muslim at all time. But today, we are at the crossroad as Muslims, individually and collectively. Our orientation as Muslims is weak and faulty. The society and our working environments are acrimonious to Islam. The few Muslims who claim to be scholars or opportune to be public figures are inept. They are apologetic and ready to sacrifice Islam and even the whole Muslims for personal frolics.

Till when shall we continue in this squalor? There is need for a revolution; a revolution that will not spill blood but change our thinking to act as ambassadors of Allah (SWT); a revolution that will inculcate personal discipline and sense of responsibility in us; a revolution that will restore peace in all facets of human existence; a revolution that will commit the rich to help the poor; that will dedicate the leader to show mercy on the led. That is need for a revolution that has genuine human feeling. This revolution is no other than that of Ramadan. Let us all usher it in with sincerity and act by its lessons at all time. Marhaban yaa Ramaadan.

Dr. Zafaran is the Director, Vanguards Academy

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Our normal and rare grace (2)

Reflections until Al Fajr

How was your last Ramadan? Do you know if this would be your last Ramadan?

The lessons of Ramadhan were lost on many who observed the last one because not too soon after, they were lost in the revelry around them.

Interestingly, such people did not take lessons from those who started Ramadan but did not last the month. We lost them as they answered their last call. Do not be among the lost souls who lost the spirit of Ramadan not too soon af-

ter the fast lasted. Free yourself for this month of fasting and blessings and let its lessons last in you everlastingly that you may attain lasting peace and piety.

came across a verse in Al-Furqaan Bayan recently. O you who have transgressed against your souls, despair not of the mercy of your Lord. He forgives all sins. He is oft giving, most merciful. But there is a misfortune for many. They miss out on the grace of forgiveness because they lack the will or resolve to cut off from their odious past. When they procrastinate on Taubah, thinking there is more time, or giving up hope on the possibility of salvation, they sink further in sinfulness, never benefitting from the grace of forgiveness promised by the One Most High.

And the third factor in the second categorization. This is connected with a certain time of the day, a time when impression is most keen, a time of stillness good for reflection, auspicious for seeking the grace and bounties of our Lord, for seeking guidance and protection, for seeking forgiveness and compassion, for multipli-

cation and advancement. What a time are the silent hours of the night until Fajr, the Dawn. But in the way we spend our day, we eat into the quietude of the night and are therefore robbed of its grace. We exhaust ourselves in the pursuits of day so much that we metaphorically die, resuscitated only by His grace the following morning, hardly having time to commune with Him except when we are in troubled waters or when in dire needs.

What I am saying is he is hardly a failure who deploys his health, intellect and time to positively beneficial use, deepens his faith in Allah, seeks forgiveness from Allah for his shortcomings and spends part of his nightly hours until Fajr in reflection, in prayers, in study, in dedication and gratitude, and in planning to make the new day a better one than the last. Find out from all men who are truly at peace with themselves and their Lord and none is likely to contradict these words.

I

with

Ustadh Abdulwaarith

Some poetry line, something on grace and a glimpse of Imam Al-Ghazali culled from Ihya Ulumddin

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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he first hour of the day is after Fajr prayer.

Anas (RA), narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits down and remembers Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rak’ahs, his reward is like the reward of Hajj and Umrah.

2- The last hour of the

Call to Worship

Friday, July 5, 2013 Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Sha’ban 26, 1434AH

Best 3 hours in Ramadan

day, before Maghrib.

This hour is often missed by the faster due to preparation of the Iftar (break-fast) but this should not be the case for the Muslim who is eager to attain the greatest amount of rewards; as these brief moments before Maghrib are most precious and valu-

able, they are of the very best times for supplicating to Allah and asking Him because it is a time of answering, as in the hadeeth about the three people whose supplication Allah will always answer: The supplication of the fasting, the supplication of the oppressed

and the supplication of the traveler.

3- The time of Suhoor.

Suhoor is the time before fajr; Allah says: And those who seek forgiveness at the time before fajr (Ashaar). So be vigilant, my fasting brothers and sisters, about this valuable

time, and fill it with du’aa and seeking forgiveness until the azhaan of Fajr.

We should strive to take advantage of these spiritual moments to strengthen our connection to Allah the most high in the coming glorious month.

Allah (SWT) encourages us to spend these precious

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hours in remembrance of Him: “And glorify the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting, and during some of the hours of the night, and at the ends of the day, that you may become pleased with the reward which Allah shall give you.

(Ta-Ha:130). And [during a part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration [i.e.prayer]. (Qaf: 40).

NMDC 2013 holds in Ibadan HAUWA L AWAL

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Conference of Local Governments and Local Council Development Area, Lagos (Conference 57) Chairman, Hon. Akeem Sulaiman presenting key of a 18-seater bus to the Director of Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre for persons living with disabilities, Owutu, Ikorodu and another 18-seater bus to the founder of Heart of Gold Hospice, Surulere, to mark 50th birthday of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. With them are Chairmen, Agege and Oshodi-Isolo Local Governments, Hon. Jubril AbdulKareem and Bolaji Muse-Ariyoh; Conference 57 Secretary-General, Hon. Hakeem Bamgbola (second right).

Emergency Rule: Rights group indicts military –MURIC HAUWA LAWAL

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he Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Nigerian government to take stringent action against a report published by the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) indicting the Nigerian military on their activities at the ongoing emergency operation in some northern states.

In a press release signed by

MURIC’s Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, it was made known that the report accused the Joint Task Force of rape, torture, summary killings, arbitrary detention amounting to internment, outrages against the dignity of civilians and other horrible crimes. “It is becoming clear that some elements in the Nigerian military are exploiting the emergency situation to commit crimes against humanity. Therefore, MURIC

urged government to prevent further carnage and stem the attendant humanitarian disaster which has already sent thousands fleeing into neighboring countries. “Protection of law abiding and taxpaying citizens from the claws of the military should be the primary aim of a responsible and democratic government and to make sure that any soldier that cannot behave in a civilized manner under a civilian government should

7-year-old wins 2013 Quranic competition AISHA TITILAYO

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even-year old AbdulQuadr Opemipo of Madrasatul Huswatul Hasanah, recently emerged the overall winner (junior category) of the AbdulQuadri Olohuntoki Central Mosque’s 3rd annual Quranic recitation competition.

Opemipo scored 88.5 points to beat JSS 2 Abdulrahmon Opeyemi Hamzat and Basic 5 Abdulrahman Bishi to 2nd and 3rd positions, having scored 87.5 points each.

At the event held at the Centre for Management Development (CMD) Shangisha-

Lagos, the Guest Lecturer, Dr. Yakubu Adamu, emphasized the importance of Quranic knowledge. Drawing his lecture from Quran Chapter 35 verse 28, he disclosed that seeking Islamic knowledge

is obligatory because without knowledge ,we are completely lost. The Chief Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Abass Adesina lamented funding as the major challenge.

The organizers have in-

not be given the privilege of wearing the uniform.”

It also called for proper investigation to be carried out immediately on the activities of the Nigerian military both before and during the emergency rule by the United Nations observers as a major humanitarian disaster is unfolding in the north eastern part of Nigeria while indicted personnel should answer to the International Court of Justice. troduced software that now ask questions to minimize human errors, adding that the number of participating schools from 40 to 70.

he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar is to lead prominent Muslims and Islamic organisations to a two-day meeting in Ibadan-Oyo State to discuss the unity of Muslim community in Nigeria.

In a statement issued by Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, Chairman, Organising Committee, the meeting was facilitated by the Nigerian Muslims and Democracy Conference (NMDC). the meeting would hold at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan from today till Sunday, July 7, 2013. According to the release, the key objective of the meeting was to facilitate

the coming together of all Muslims in Nigeria in order to make life more meaningful for them and to make the country a peaceful place to live.

The Ibadan gathering is sequel to an inaugural conference of NMDC held in April 2012 in Abuja. The Deputy President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao will be in attendance while Prof. Tijani El-Miskin, NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General will also deliver a keynote address.

Over 500 delegates across Islamic groups in Nigeria and some prominent Muslim leaders are expected to be at the meeting.

Allahu Gaalibun prays for Nigeria

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n Islamic organisation, Allahu Gallibun, recently gathered some prominent Nigerians to pray for Nigeria.

The prayer session was part of its activities to mark the organisation’s 13th year anniversary held recently at Abalti Barracks, Ojuelegba, Lagos.

The organisation, led by its Founder, Alhaji AbdulGanniy Salaudeen Kassan, prayed for the peace of the nation. Alhaji Abdul-Ganniy said the prayer session was organised to seek peace for the nation, especially this time when Boko Haram is terrorising the nation.

He noted that members

of the deadly terrorist sect are not Muslims “as Allah forbade killing of innocent souls.”

“These people are not Muslims and are not propagating Islam as they claim.

The Holy Quran condemns their activities; they are being sponsored by some elements who do not want peace for our dear country,’’ he said.

Personalities who graced the occasion include the wife of Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Alhaja Ronke Solomon; wife of Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Alhaja Muyibat Oyefusi and Dr. Olawale Raheemson from the University of Lagos who was the guest speaker.

Scholars urged to seek for more knowledge JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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slamic leaders and preachers in Katsina State have been urged to seek more knowledge in order to ensure effectiveness in their individual assignments.

A traditional ruler and district head of Mani, Umar Isah made the call

during a meeting with Islamic leaders and preachers from the council area.

Isah said the Islamic religion could only be taught or practised accordingly if one has the knowledge. He said with Islamic knowledge, one would be able to effectively teach others and help them become knowledgeable to impart same to others.

L-R: President, University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA), Alhaji Lere Alimi; Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG, Prof.

Rahaman Bello, Dr. Muiz Banire and Justice Wale Abiru at the pre-Ramadan lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni recently.

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Call to Worship

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Sha’ban 26, 1434AH Friday, July 5, 2013

Welcome the mother of all months!

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lhamdulillah! The mother of all months is here1! With only a few days to Ramadan, it is very important for us to be truly ready!

Allah (SWT) says; “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong).

And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and (He desires) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:185) Let us give thanks to Almighty Allah for providing us with good health and thirstquenching fruits all year round. And we should always pray for increased Iman, Taqwa and Rizq. As usual, prices of all food commodities including fruits will be on the increase but Allah will continue to provide for His own.

Just like I said two weeks ago, we cannot forget our children, who are always on the lookout for this special month! They must be

carried along in all acts of ibadah. Let us teach them the value of du`aa’ (supplication) all times of the year, but especially in the month of Ramadan as we have been promised that; “the gates of heaven are open.”

We can ask them what goodness from this life and the next they would like to pray for?

Then get them to compile a list and commit to asking Allah to answer their du`aa each day before they break their fast and any other time. They must be taught that their du`aa’ is the ultimate tool in this life and that Almighty Allah says; “When my servants Ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed Close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calleth on Me. (Al-Baqarah 2:186) Ramadan is a time for us to focus on selfevaluation and spiritual purification; it also teaches us that achieving the ultimate goal of fasting requires sincerity, honesty, patience and above all the capability for self-criticism.

Unlike Solat, Zakat and Hajj, fasting is between us and our Creator. Only Allah and the person who is fasting know whether he or she is fasting or not. I could remember when we were still very young and unmindful of the implications, we will quietly eat or drink something and no one will notice. My grandma of blessed memory, was in the habit of encouraging us by giving those of us who can complete our fast while we were in primary school, a lot of goodies. For instance, each of us will be entitled to things like a tin milk

and canned sardine or geisha to fry our eggs, things were so good then.

However, we know better now and even our growing kids; that the fasting person has made this commitment for the sake of God and we want to guard the purity of our fast for the sake of Allah. So, it’s all about sincerity and helps us learn to live by the principles of our faith regardless of whether others know or do not know. This is the very purpose and essence of piety.

We should not forget to take advantage of the times that Allah has put His barakah (blessing) in. Our noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us that there is barakah in the

early hours of the morning. By spending the hour before fajr in prayer, recitation of Qur’an, and in the remembrance of Allah, we will get the spiritual nourishment our body requires for that day. Additionally, having Suhoor (predawn meal) gives us barakah. The Prophet said; “Have Suhoor, for in Suhoor there is barakah.” (Al-Bukhari). We must wake up every morning before fajr, pray at least two rak`aat, make some du’as’ (supplication), read our Qur’an and eat something nourishing even if it is just an apple.

May Allah make it easy for us and make Ramadan a blessed month for all of us, Amin.

Ramadan Kareem to all our teeming readers!

L-R: Alhaja Tola Ashiru, a guest, Alhaja Risikat Akiode, Alhaja Serifah Andu and Alhaja Amina Muhammed at the pre-Ramadan lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni recently.

Cross section of participants at the League of Muslim Schools’ Proprietors, summit in Lagos recently.

Objectives of Jalsa Salana CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 L-R: Incoming General Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji Abbas Iromini; Amir, Dr. Mashhud Aderenle Fashola; outgoing General Secretary, Alhaji Dauda Raji; Missionary-in-Charge, Maulvi Abdul Khalique Nayyar and Naib Amir, Special Duties, Alhaji Ahmed Alhassan, during the handing-over ceremony in Lagos at the weekend.

L-R: Member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Utaz Aliu Akewugberu; Lagos State Missionary, Qasim Oyekola; Finance Secretary, Alhaji Dauda Shokunbi and Central Missionary, Oke Ogun Circuit, Maulvi Abdul Rasheed Sanni

L-R: Ishayat Secretary, Alhaji Quasim Akinreti; Secretary for Matrimony, Bashirudeen Oyetunji; member, Abdul Ganiyyu Babalola; National Secretary Tarbiyya, Alhaji Abdul Ganiyyi Ahmad and Central Missionary, Kwara State, Maulvi Abdul Lateef llori, at the ceremony.

Initiation of Jalsa Salana is a great favour of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) on us. It gives us a chance of collective reformation and an opportunity to attain spiritual nourishment as well as an opportunity to perform our obligations and responsibilities.

Today’s sermon was based on the objective of Jalsa Salana in light of the pronouncements of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that hearts should be drawn to the Hereafter and fear of God should be inculcated. People should become models of Zohd (complete devotion), Taqwa, compassion, temperance, gentleness and mutual love. Humility and truthfulness should be instilled and keenness generated for religious ventures. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said these few words of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in fact give a true Ahmadi the modus operandi to lead his life. If we were to only reflect on the word ‘Zohd’ it carries within itself such a great counsel that abiding by its roots out every evil.

It stops wrong emotions from developing and as a result the doors of all wrongful desires simply close. Indeed, one cannot completely cut oneself off from the world, however, it is the wrongful and unwarranted desires of the world which one should avoid and safeguard

from. Conversely, it is of course ungratefulness of God not to avail of His many bounties of the world.

Hadith relates that once the Companions said that they would continually fast, will not marry and not go near women. In response the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) told them that he fasted, offered Salat, slept, did household tasks and had married women and whoever did contrary to what he did was not from among him. He said he feared God more than the Companions and kept his wishes in accordance to the will of God. True Zohd connotes that only worldly desires are not in one’s view and one avails of worldly things in moderation. However, if one is drawn to all the razzmatazz the Western world has to offer, then coming to Jalsa Salana is pointless and it is also pointless to come into the Bai’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Zohd instils recognition of the true spirit of Taqwa. Indeed, Taqwa means that one is mindful not to do something that would incur God’s displeasure just as one is careful not to displease a dear one or a friend. This happens when love of God is greater than all other loves and this in turn is possible when one has a personal connection with God and has spiritual knowledge of Him.

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Arty News

Friday, July 5, 2013

WS79 comes with Memoirs for our Future TERH AGBEDEH

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very year since 2010, The Open Door Series Project WS has celebrated Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on his birthday, July 13. This year, which is the 79th birthday of the Nobel Laureate and activist, it will not be different. Tagged WS79 it is premised on the theme: ‘Memoirs for our Future’.

“We’ll be having the Senior Secondary schools essay competition, play productions, cultural presentations –all designed to herald the 2014 edition that would mark Soyinka’s 80th birthday celebration”, said a statement signed by Teju Wasee Kareem for the organisers.

Explaining that the main goal of the Open Door Series is to combat fear, violence and its contingent reactions through the use of education, arts and culture, the statement said a grand programme designed with novel artistic and educational items have been planned for the 2014 edition.

For instance, it will start with

the youths (secondary school level) “because we believe that they can still be positively influenced and moulded into the leaders of tomorrow that we desire them to be”.

For this year, the organisers said they have narrowed the components of the project to: essay competition, children’s cultural presentation/advocacy summit, tours, flag off WS80 essay competition and presentation of Memoirs for our Future, among other surprises.

Memoirs for our Future, this year’s theme, is also a book with foreword written by the Nobel Laureate himself.

The organisers, who are still seeking sponsorship, already have the support of the state governments of Ogun and Ondo.

“It is important to note that we are not marking the day because it’s a birthday but we intend to mark the day because it symbolises for us all a continuation of the life of an inspirational man who has fought and is still fighting for the dignity of man, the rights of the individual and the unity and security of his Country; our country”, the statement said.

BGIA unveils global event for 2013

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lack Girls Ignite Africa! Inc., an international charity organidation based in Canada and registered in the United States of America with presence in many countries worldwide has released the official dates for “Igniting Your Passion”, their annual global event.

The four-day event opens in Dubai, UAE, with “Igniting your Passion Seminar and Gala Awards Nite” on October 15; followed by “Igniting your Passion Press Conference and Pre-event Cocktail” on October 18 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Also to hold in Lagos are: ““Igniting your Passion Walk/Match and Fundraising Concert” on October 19 and “Igniting your Passion Crystal Ball and Gala Awards Nite” on October 20.

BGIA’s CEO and founder, Abby Osoba, wholeheartedly believes

that the four-day event will be life changing for every partaker. “I’m charging everyone to rise and join us as we embark on the journey to ignite your passion”, she says in a statement released online.

Black Girls Ignite Africa! Inc. originated as a non-profit in 2011 and is dedicated to honouring exceptional girls and women around Africa who stand as inspirational and positive role models to the world. Their mission is to empower, encourage, celebrate positive, life-changing activity and healthy development through helping girls and women foster their dreams of a better tomorrow without comprising their integrity and self-worth today. Their vision is to empower girls and women to dare to fulfil their dreams.

Orlando Julius in concert at Prince of Anthony Hotel TERH AGBEDEH

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M.I’s task challenges Glo X Factor singers

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he biggest worry of contestants remaining in the Boot Camp of Glo X Factor is how to crack the task set by one of the judges and rapper, Jude Abaga, popularly known as MI. They must scale the task to make it to the next stage.

After scaling the tasks set by two of the judges, Onyeka Onwenu and Reggie Rockstone, the lucky contestants are battling to impress the third judge, rapper MI, who gave them the unenviable job of singing one of the five songs he said he despised the most.

“There are five songs I absolutely hate.

I despise the songs and I don’t want to hear them in my life”, he told the contestants.

“Your task is to learn one of those songs and come and try not to irritate me. I will bury my head on my table. If I look up, it means you have got my attention, if I don’t, it means you have failed the task”, he concluded.

As the contestants left the stage to begin the assignment, they wondered aloud, “how do we sing a song which MI despises in a way that he will like the song?”

Earlier, Onyeka had asked them to sing one of five selected love songs to impress her, Rockstone gave the contestants only one hour to learn to sing and dance and come back to the stage to perform ‘song and dance’ at the same time. For those who impressed the two judges, they now face a bigger challenge of scaling the hurdle put in their way by MI. Viewers will know who cracked MI’s puzzle in the next broadcast of the show over this weekend.

eteran musician Orlando Julius will perform at the Prince of Anthony Hotel, Anthony Village, Lagos, this evening starting by 7.00 p.m. The concert is to celebrate the over five decades of Orlando Julius’ journey in music and icons of highlife, jazz, contemporary Afropop music and music aficionados who recognise and love excellent music are expected to attend the concert. Latoya, the musician’s wife and such notable artistes as Yinka Davies, among others, will also take part in the show.

Both a pioneer and innovator, Dr. Orlando Julius Ekemode has been vital to the creation, growth, and popularisation of Afro-pop. He has also had great influence on American soul and the parallel roots of modern Afrobeat and jazz. His hit track, ‘Back to the Roots’, which he did with the American singer Lamont Dozier and his group remains evergreen.

Starting in the 1960s, Orlando Julius fused traditional African sounds and rhythms with those of American pop, soul and R&B. In his early life as a musician in Nigeria, he played with such popular highlife musicians as Eddie Okonta, the American Jazz great Louis Armstrong, V.S. Akinbosun and I.K. Dairo, among others.

He later formed the Modern Aces then moved to the United States of America, where he worked with top musical acts such as the Crusaders, Hugh Masekela, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Chaka Khan and Rufus, Gil Scot Herron, the Ojays, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Staple Singers, Curtis Mayfield and others.

The Afro highlife legend will use the opportunity to pay tribute to a departed highlife icon, Fatai Rolling Dollar.

The music of the singer cum saxophonist, like fine wine, has continued to be a favourite of fans worldwide. The event will be a night of excitement as people of class and style are sure to savour the melodious good music of the ageless Orlando Julius.

Miss Global Nigeria Final Screening ADEBIMPE OLATUJA

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he final screening of the 2013 Miss Global Nigeria beauty pageant will hold on Wednesday, July 10 at the rave hangout, Pub 1 situated in Ikeja, Lagos at 10.00 a.m.

According to a statement by the Pageant Manager, Faith Irabor, the choice of Pub 1 as the final screening venue for this year’s event is to leverage on the A-list venue in showcasing one of Nigeria’s best beauty contests.

A bevy of beautiful girls who have passed through the first round of screen-

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ing online will storm the venue from across the country to be part of the concluding hurdle. After this, successful contestants will be accommodated for one-week camping in a 5-star hotel, culminating in the grand finale that will produce the eventual winner in Lagos.

Interested girls willing to be part of the 2013 event can still pay the sum of N5000 in any Zenith Bank across the nation in favour of Miss Global Nigeria account No.: 1012298052 on or before the screening date or make the payment at the venue.

The grand finale of the prestigious pageantry project holds at the upscale

Xovar Lounge by Bespoke Events Centre, Lekki on Sunday, July 28 and guests will be treated to sumptuous meal, fingers foods from Laredo and Saheeto, as well as assortment of quality Italian wine courtesy of WineHouse Villa Alero.

Amongst celebrities pencilled down for the screening panel are Tese Onokala of Needlekraft Couture; actress Mercy Aigbe Gentry; ChannelO presenter host, Denrele Edun; choreographer of Dance Etal fame, Dare Ekunno and others. Contestants should check the website, www.missglobalnigeria. com for further details.

Orlando Julius

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Escape

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

China is not what you think (Part 1) A serial visitor to China, Mazi J. C Nwankwo is so enamoured with the historic country he put down his experience in this piece contributed to Escape.

Mr. Nwankwo also took time to speak with Nigerian nationals who have had memorable times in China and one of such travel stories by Patience Ngozi Diagi, a business woman living in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is reproduced today. The concluding part follows next week.

MAZI J. C NWANKWO

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n the early 90’s when I was exposed to the international market, China was not on my shopping list until as a railway man during the Abacha regime, I made a trip to China and my conception and perception about China took a reverse turn.

That was my very first experience of China with its ‘chop sticks’, people, culture, technology, tradition, hospitality, history and monuments. Personally, I find two cities, Beijing and Hong-Kong, exciting and I particularly love mixing with the local people. The first Chinese man I met made me want to always visit China. He was un-assuming, full of smiles, caring, full of information, inquisitive to understand my needs, culture and language. He was patient and ready to mortgage his time to make you comfortable.

Before my entry into China through Beijing, stories abounded about inferior products and technologists, unknown history and political structure. But my visit was an eye opener. Chinese orientation has roots and foundation in their culture and I am astonished by how they protect what they believe in and propagate it.

Of course, you have not been to China if you have not climbed the Great Walls and scribbled your name and country on the magnificent, incomprehensible, manually constructed infrastructure that says China commands physically fit men who can relentlessly (out of necessity) put in place such a historic security out-fit.

Being a railway man, I have a soft spot for the railway system in China –the trains, their speed, comfort, timeliness, well organised time-table and particularly the train attendants in their ‘tailormade’ highly-admired uniforms and radiant smiles. I am particularly impressed about Chinese transport system be it by air, road, rail or sea. When I first rode on the high speed train from Beijing to Tianjin, I thought it was a fluke. But alas, it was as real as the rising sun shines!

I am also fascinated about the environment (but not during winter period) and how the country spends time and

A dragon dance celebrates the temple at Foshan, China

EACH TIME I VISIT CHINA, I NOTICE SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT A SLUM IN

–

CHINA

TODAY TURNS TO A SKYSCRAPER NEXT YEAR resources to keep the environment beautiful with flowers and decorations. Each time I visit China, I notice substantial development –a slum in China today turns to a skyscraper next year. There is no Chinese city that I visit in a given year and re-visit in the New Year to find the area the same. China will bring down old structures and put up magnificent infrastructure as a way of modernising the environment. Any significant infrastructure that China wants put up– from conception to execution– commands originality, technologically sound concepts and speedy execution.

My experience of Chinese restaurants in Nigeria was not particularly noteworthy, but I’m a diner who can recognise a good menu when I find one. In China, I experienced a 27-course meal of exciting originality particularly in the presentation.

China is a tourist destination of varied tourist menu with a collection of loaded historic sites. For those who have not been to China and grade Chinese products as inferior, I recommend you to take a trip to China and reassess your valuation.

Statue of Confucius at Confucian Temple in Shanghai, China.

Patience Ngozi Diagi’s China story

I

went to China first time in 2007 and the experience was amazing!

The people have very strong family ties! I saw people who were hard working, industrialised and yet held on to their culture/tradition; they believe in family bond.

In China, I saw families comprising father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, children, brothers and sisters come out together to have lunch and mainly dinner at the close of the day’s business. One can feel the love in their heart from their laughter as they eat and talk/discuss on top of their voices.

I visited a number of restaurants, during my stay in China and one thing stood out at all classes of restaurants –the native Chinese touch.

Guests are usually welcomed warmly at the entrance by a pretty and young

Chinese lady and offered hot Chinese tea before ordered meals arrive.

Chinese hospitality cannot be over emphasised; they will always entertain a good customer after a good business deal. I was personally treated to a wonderful dinner by the two companies I first did business with in China.

Chinese ingenuity and capability is unparalleled. Everything and anything is possible to produce in China.

A Chinese manufacturer is never intimated by any sample of product brought from any part of the world to be manufactured or reproduced. “It is possible” or “I can make” is what you get as response. The next question the Chinese company representative will probably ask is “How many do you need?”; “What quantity do you want?”

Honestly, China has made life affordable for an average African.

Scene at Osun-Osogbo Festival, SW Nigeria

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Escape

Friday, July 5, 2013

33

Travel News

FG moves to rehabilitate 100 heritage sites JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

M Nwankwo’s twin daughters, Jane (L) and Juliette beside the high speed train from Beijing to Shanghai.

“The Terracotta Army”; a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China in Shaanxi, China.

FACT FILE •

Covering a land area of 9,600,000 square kilometres, China is the third largest of the world, inferior to Russia and Canada.

—which stress obedience and deference to elders and responsibility to community— are a dominant part of the Chinese culture.

•

More than 50 ethnic groups reside in the country of 1.34 billion people

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The Chinese word for rice is fan, which also means meal and it is a staple of their diet.

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There are seven main dialects of Chinese — Mandarin (official language of mainland China), Cantonese, Hakka, Wu, Min, Xiang and Gan. The written language is symbol-based.

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Eastern-style martial arts were also developed in China and it is the birthplace of kung fu.

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The largest Chinese festival — also called the Spring Festival — marks the beginning of the lunar New Year. It falls between midJanuary and mid-February. The holiday is marked with fireworks and parades dancers dressed as dragons.

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Chinese people are reputed for their strict adherence to timing and appointments.

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China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, has been awarded the contract to undertake rehabilitation of the Nigerian Railway Corporation tracks and supply locomotives and wagons to rejuvenate the ailing Nigerian railway system.

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The first dynasty of Chinese history started from the Xia Dynasty (2070BC-1600BC) and the last one was the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).

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A great amount of cultural relics such as the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors left by ancestors have become the treasures of the nation and the wonder of the world.

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Due to its modern ‘Reform and Opening-Up Policy’, China has become stronger and stronger in economy, science and technology

•

The teachings of Confucius

A Chinese restaurant

PHOTO: PHILIP LANGE-SHUTTERSTOCK

inister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has said efforts to rehabilitate not less than 100 of the nation’s heritage sites are in top gear, even as a nine-member National Heritage Council and Endowment for Arts was inaugurated in Abuja recently.

According to the minister, the council comprises of people with wide wealth of experience to encourage activities in the creative industry and provide sustainable platforms for job creation and talent enhancement.

Council members are: Mr. Igho Sanomi (Chairman), Mrs. Folorunso Alakija (Vice Chairman), Sir Emeka Offor, Alhaji Abdusamad Rabiu, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Okundaye, Dr. Emmanuel Nsan and Arc. Mrs Fifi Ejindu.

Speaking last Sunday at the inauguration, the minister noted that the council would work tirelessly to preserve, nurture, propagate and develop Nigeria’s heritage sites for a period of three years.

“For long, we have romanticised about a country where our heritage would be preserved, nurtured, propagated and employed as a vehicle of development. But I am happy that today, we are setting out on a collective journey to realising that goal.

“Our decision to set up the National Heritage Council and Endowment for Arts is in line with the provision of Nigeria’s cultural policy. It is also in recognition of the importance of our nation’s heritage to the individual, community and national transformation. We hold our heritage in very high esteem and we are determined to promote its values and potentials for the good of our people and the development of the country”.

Speaking further Edem

Duke said the ministry would not relent on its efforts to protect and conserve the places and objects of national significance and ensure the registration of such heritages.

“Currently, Nigeria is one of the few countries around the world where UNESCO has sites already designated as world heritage sites. We have also identified additional heritage sites across the country.

These are unique and uncommon assets that we intended to preserve and promote”.

“I am therefore delighted to informed that we have been able to get high net worth and every distinguished Nigerians to serve on the council. And we shall be drawing from their wide wealth of experience and expertise and network to rehabilitate and promote our heritage sites.

In his response, Egho Sanomi said the Council would do its best ensure Nigeria takes her rightful place in the global discourse on heritage and arts.

Winelands of South Africa in Lagos

S

outh African wine producers will showcase over 336 wines from different regions in the Cape Winelands in Lagos this July to coincide with the Nelson Mandela Day celebrations around the globe.

The event, Wines of South Africa 2nd Grand Tasting will be held in Victoria Island, Lagos, on July 19; Nelson Mandela’s birthday.

Wines will be presented in a walk around tasting, targeting trade such as importers, distributors and portfolio managers working in the food and beverage/hospitality industry as well as consumers in the Nigerian market.

Guests will be treated to a taste of Cape Diamond Wines, Remhoogte Wine Estate, Tokara, Napier, Riebeek Cellars, Asara, Laricmal, The Township Winery, Robinson & Sinclair, Food & Wine Factory, MAN Vintners, Kanu Wines and Vinglo Wines.

Others include Bizoe Wines, Sijnn Wines, De Trafford, DGB Wines, Grande Provence Wines, Overhex Wines International, Ses’fikile Wines, Waterford Estate Wines, Pernod Ricard Wines, Uni Wines, Diemersdal Wines, Oldenburg Wines, Lathitha Wines, Cape Dreams Wines and Raka Wines.

The wine routes of South Africa trace not only the history and development of the country’s 350-year-old wine-making tradition, but South Africa’s maturation into a full-bodied, flavourful democracy. The Cape winelands, and beyond, offer a multitude of wine routes to explore along with brandy routes, wine biodiversity routes and the world’s longest wine route.

The wine routes of South Africa fall largely within the Western Cape Province where the bulk of the country’s wine production takes place. Wine lovers can also explore as far

South African wines

afield as the Northern Cape, the south eastern Orange Free State and even the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, in their quest to discover South African wines. Unofficially, South Africa’s northernmost vineyards are in Bronkhorstspruit, east of Pretoria in Gauteng.

The majority of wine routes in South Africa fall under the auspices of the Wine of Origin Scheme, an origin control system instituted in 1973 to safeguard the diversity and uniqueness of South African wine. The system is similar to France’s Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, but since South African wine regions are not well known outside the country, wine tourism routes have been created to make navigating South Africa’s diverse winelands easy, fun, and rewarding.

Currently, there are 17 ‘official’ wine routes registered with the South African Wine Routes Forum, SAWRF. A wine route constitutes a geographical wine-growing region and consists of members who belong to an organisation (wine route, trust and/or association) that aims to promote the region and represent producers and various industry bodies.

Each of South Africa’s wine routes exhibits its own personality and though they are designed to showcase the region’s best wines and wine-making traditions, there is nothing stopping wine buffs from creating their own Chardonnay trail or touring the winelands based on their love of art, history, or extreme sports.

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Denrele’s Day Adenrele Niyi Denrele’s Day is a collection of witty & sincere articles inspired sin by b a zany imagination

denrele@nationalmirroronline.net Follow on Twitter@MizNiyi

O

ne of the greatest weaknesses of an opinionist is the inability to be unbiased and balanced in his or her passion-driven conjectures –which is not too much of a surprise since facts are sacred and opinions are commonplace.

Ask the road side mechanic or the street hawker what his or her thought is about a topical issue and it would be a rarity to receive an answer like: “Abeg, no vex o, I no sabi wetin the matta be so I no go fit talk my own” (I’m sorry, but I don’t have information about this subject so I can’t give an opinion). Rather people just feel compelled as a matter of pretension to deep-thinking to offer their twokobo (and really, some opinions come that cheap) views on subjects they have no clue about or are analysing from the prism of the opinionist’s world-view.

A few days back, I read on a popular Nigerian blog that a certain Pentecostal pastor had made spiritual assertions (it wasn’t stated whether during a church sermon, in an audio or a visual recording) that oral sex, lesbianism, prostitution, adultery, fornication, bestiality and incest were potential ‘human glory robbers’ (my paraphrase).

“Homosexualism, lesbianism, beslialism (sic) and incest will disfigure your glory. God hates them. Prostitution, adultery and fornication will grieve a glorious destiny. May I equally add that men and women sucking their private parts are damaging their glories. Demonic partners have done a lot of havoc through this act. Honestly, it is simply unhygienic and dirty”.

While I hold personal spiritual opinions (like I said, everyone has something to say about anything) vis-a-vis the statement quoted above and credited to the 21st century minister of the Gospel, it was the blogger’s comment which basically poohpoohed the minister’s tirade that caught my attention. The blogger’s view is that if oral sex is condemned with those adjectives used in the minister’s sermon (?), then ‘unhygienic’ and ‘dirty’ is it for her.

A couple of entries later on the same blog, the blogger went on to draw attention to Rowland Jide Macaulay, a U.Kbased, but locally detested openly-gay Pentecostal pastor (not the previously mentioned pastor o) of Nigerian origin.

While categorically stating that sexual orientation wasn’t exactly a big issue, the blog made reference to born-again (?) pastors of the same sex marrying each other openly and queried the wisdom of a Man of God who knows ‘God and the scripture, someone who should lead people to the right path in life; is it okay to be shacking up with other men, and doing it openly?’

I don’t have qualms with how anyone chooses to get their sexual kicks or heighten under-the-sheets experiences.

But surely, there are general rules about what is considered personal sexual preference and what is downright perverse.

The problem is with each sophisticated development of the sexual appetite, people just come up with more innovations in how they express their desires. Which is why I encourage dynamism in thought processes –there really is no hard and

Friday, July 5, 2013

Selective discrimination fast rule to life. It is like fashion; what is trend today may altogether become fashion faux pas tomorrow if you get too comfortable with the style.

Now, both blog entries I mentioned got me thinking on two levels. One, a while earlier, she had opened another ‘man of God’ up to the crossfire of her followers who sent in comments for or against oral sex and few of the commentators virulently gave unflattering blanket ‘opinions’ of preachers.

I thought; how convenient it is to shun the tenets and teachings of Christianity when it expects compliance from us.

On the other hand, it is easy for us to lay ‘heavy yokes’ of human expectation upon our ‘men-of-God’ who we acknowledge only by lip-service and then put them in the court of public opinion the moment they fall short of our expectations. Pray, tell, would it have been more acceptable for the pastor to be living secretly in sin with his male partner and not be open about it? There is really no room for selective discrimination or hiding prejudice under the cloak of so-longas-homosexuals-don’t-disturb-me-I-cantolerate-them. What happens the day a lesbian decides to make an aggressive pass at you –the latent prejudice will come to fore, that’s the likely outcome.

Allow me to bring my argument even closer home. In my family is this young, bubbly and outspoken female relative whose feisty personality frequently throws her into conflicts with her otherwise unostentatious and timorous mother. By reason of the intimacy shared between me and this family, I’ve often had to play the role of peace-broker in their many mother-daughter frays –and almost all the time, discretion and understanding of our cultural values guides me to rule in favour of the mother.

They’ve had quarrels over everything from the kind of clothes her daughter opts for (the mum is into our native designs); hair styles (mum would rather native designs like ‘didi’ and ‘shuku’ to hair weaves); how her daughter relates with friends, to which neighbour the daughter greets or does not greet. Believe me, it goes on and on.

Then one ‘blessed day’ (as we say in local parlance), I saw her mother in a state of partial undress and observed she was adorned around the derriere and upper arm area with local tattoo symbols... the tattoos looked well-worn for years but decoratively done all the same. Upon my enquiry, she bashfully revealed they were done as part of her beauty enhancement in youthful days. That was the opening to go at her for giving her children flak for considering getting a tattoo... let’s be truthful, what is the difference both body arts?

We pass over the opportunity of global cultural relevance and significance because practices from yore-days are never sustained nor passed on to coming generations. When the Whiteman now comes with a re-packaged variation of what may have been ours initially and sell to our children who lap it up, we shout ‘neocolonisation’ and ‘western-influence’!

Maybe what we should be doing is to be more reflective and thorough with our thoughts before we speak; my opinion strictly.

Love and peace for the weekend!

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CLAPPERBOARD with

Eddie Ugbomah www.edifosafilm.com

The Movie Maker Hall of Fame

I

n some civilised countries not in our black Africa, history is very important and it helps the citizens. In Nigeria there is no decent Hall of Fame, only the Arts Council or National Gallery has portraits of our oppressors.

At the National Gallery and National Museum they have some coloured portraits of only our ex-leaders or some irrelevant politicians. I remember when Wole Soyinka’s portrait was moved out of the Gallery because he criticised late General Abacha. The Sports Hall of Fame doesn’t have the portrait of Emmanuel Ifeajuna, the coup plotter, but he was the first African to win a Commonwealth high jump medal for Nigeria, so he must be in the Sports Hall of Fame.

With the effort of the former Managing Director and his other directors to stop the establishment of a Movie Makers Hall of Fame, I was able to register the Hall of Fame with C.A.C. invited Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi as Patrons and Senator Chukwumerije, Tony Momoh and Senator Ben Obi as Fellows. We have Peter Igho, Brenda Shehu, Sadiq Balewa, Femi Lasode and Jimi Odumosu as Board of Trustees, yet the Film Corporation, the Censors Board and the Ministries of Information, Tourism and Culture have all refused to recognise or support this Hall. I set up the Hall of Fame with over 134 portraits costing over N10 million to paint, mount, rent and accommodate.

Nigerians have this selfish idea, if there is a place we don’t get free lunch or political genius, we don’t want to know.

On July 12, with the support from National Theater and Censors Board, we are having the last induction of new members. Some of those to be remembered are Ashley Nwosu, Pet Eneh, Mrs. Omidina (Baba Suwe’s wife), Efere Ozako, Justus Esiri, Enebeli Enebuwa, Sam Loco, James Iroha (Gringory), J.T. West and Christy Essien. They will all be inducted posthumously and their portraits mounted at the exhibition to be held on July 12.

The living we are honouring are Olu Jacobs, Levinus Nnochiri, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Ishola Akinwunmi, Tunde Kelani, Iya Osha, Kabiru Yusuf, Bukky Wright, Aunty Bukky Ajayi, Bimbo Akintola, Fidelis Duker, Chico Ejiro, Zik Zulu Okafor, Ibinabo Fibiresima, Ajala Jalingo, Oga Bello, Iya Awero, Jim Lawson, Kanayo .O. Kanayo and Kenneth Okonkwo. This is the only Hall of its type in Africa founded by Eddie Ugbomah and those that were inducted in 2006 and 2007 don’t even care or even ask about the Hall.

The reason is that we in Nigeria hate history and that is why we keep on repeating the same mistake since 1960 to date.

With the small support and encouragement, I have established a Movie Makers Hall of Fame. Nigerian must be told the story of movies before today’s Nollywood.

IF THERE WAS BIG BUDGET VOTED FOR THIS

HALL OF FAME,

EVERYBODY WOULD BE INTERESTED Some people think they can rubbish history, butpeople like me won’t allow it. The Minister of Finance and the Minster of Tourism and Culture must not forget the great impact of the pioneers, not these emergency opportunists who want to only collect cash and do nothing.

For this celebration, induction and exhibition, it ought to have been supported

by Information, but we delivered two letters by hand costing us N250,000 for flight, hotels etc., Laraban and his office never tried to acknowledge these letters.

I have sat with the Minister of Tourism and Culture to discuss this event, I hope he too won’t fail to come and support the event later. The event was supposed to be held in Abuja last September with Mrs. Roseline Odeh giving us her Grotto Gallery. It is unfortunate that someone is trying to salvage part of Nigerian history for posterity and the same Nigerians are frustrating all his efforts.

Our biggest problem in Nigeria is politics, tribalism and corruption. If there was big budget voted for this Hall of Fame, everybody would be interested.

The public has always kept the film industry alive and you are all invited to this one-day show at the National Theatre that salvages our history. It is nice to hear that Governor Akpabio has released N50m to Nollywood; that’s good news, but how will the ‘vultures’ share this money? Another N300 million will be given to Nollywood from the N3 billion intervention fund given by the President. They say the N300m is for capacity building and I hope these men and women teaching in their parlor will not come out to collect the money.

The Minister of Finance and the Minister of Culture should please make sure that they have an unbiased consultants and professionals to guide them. There are so many people claiming to have schools, colleges and academies, yet they are not worth much. I am waiting for the loan that would be given to producers and I hope it won’t be peanuts.

The kids can scramble for that money to shoot their stories that can’t go beyond Nigeria for acceptance; I want to shoot a globally accepted movie. To show our appreciation and support for Mr. President, he would be inducted into the Movie Makers Hall Of Fame as Grand Patron, to be supported by Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi. All lovers, friends and associates are expected at the National Theater on the day.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 5, 2013

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Friday July 5, 2013

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive

Toyota FJ Cruiser: True off-roader

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

WITH AGENCY REPORT

T

he Toyota FJ Cruiser is the most capable of all Toyotas when the pavement gives way to gravel, sand and rocks. That is saying something, given the capabilities of the 4Runner, Land Cruiser and Tacoma. All of these Toyotas are among the best in their respective classes for travel over rugged terrain.

The FJ Cruiser seats five. The front doors are front-hinged and rear-hinged rear side doors provide access to the back seat. Main access to the cargo area is through a door hinged on the driver’s side of the vehicle instead of a typical roofhinged hatch-style closure. Having the hinge on the driver’s seat makes curbside loading and unloading easier.

The rugged, minimalist interior is easy to clean. Rugged fabric is designed to resist dirt and water. An off-road package further enhances the FJ’s capabilities with BFGoodrich Rugged Trail tyres, trail-tuned Bilstein shock absorbers, and a rear differential lock that works in conjunction with Toyota’s A-TRAC off-road traction control system. With this setup, the FJ Cruiser can hang with the Jeep Wrangler crowd.

Toyota’s 4.0-litre V6 engine makes 260 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque.

It has dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), which means variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust.

The FJ Cruiser is superb in rugged terrain, yet comfortable on the road. Its V6 engine delivers more than ample power and torque for any foreseeable situation.

Fuel economy for the 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser is an EPA-estimated 17/21 mpg City/Highway for a 4WD automatic, 15/19 mpg for a 4WD with 6-speed manual gearbox, and 17/22 mpg for a 2WD automatic.

The full-time 4x4 with the manual transmission offers the best capability in rugged terrain.

Changes for 2013 are minimal: Power outside mirrors with marker lights are standard on all 2013 FJ Cruisers, and a sharp orange hue called Magma has been added to the paint palette. The 2013 FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Special Edition comes in Cement Gray.

Line up The 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser comes in one model with a choice of three drivetrains: rear-wheel drive with 5-speed automatic, part-time four-wheel drive with the automatic or full-time four-wheel drive with 6-speed manual.

Standard equipment includes air conditioning; tilt steering; power windows and door locks; power mirrors with marker lights; eight-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat; six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/ WMA audio with SiriusXM, auxiliary jack, USB port with iPod connectivity, plus hands-free phone and music streaming via Bluetooth; steering-wheel-mounted audio and Bluetooth controls; an engine immobiliser; and P265/70R17 tires on 17-inch steel wheels. Upholstery is water-resistant fabric and flooring is a rubber-like mat.

A convenience package adds keyless entry, cruise control, auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated backup camera, privacy glass, rear wiper, and spare tire cover. An upgrade package adds 17-inch aluminium wheels, locking rear differential, JBL 10 speaker audio plus subwoofer, Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) on 4WD models, 120V power outlet, floating ball type multi-information display, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls and rear parking assist sonar.

Stand-alone FJ options include 17-inch alloy wheels, the rear differential lock and running boards. Customers can also choose from a catalogue of dealer-installed accessories, including auxiliary driving lights, rock rails, roof rack, brush guard, taillight guards, sport exhaust system, receiver hitch and harness, wind deflector with off-

THE FJ IS TOYOTA’S MOST CAPABLE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING WHERE RE YOU WANT TO GO road lights, a cargo mat and all-weather or carpeted floor mats.

Safety features include Toyota’s STAR Safety System that combines Vehicle Skid Control to help the truck go where the driver steers, even on a slippery surface; traction control to reduce wheel slip and thus enhance traction; and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. Side-curtain and front-seat side-impact airbags are standard, along with dual-stage airbags up front.

Origin The Toyota FJ Cruiser, designed in Southern California, is the rebirth of the original Toyota FJ 40. The design evokes the heritage of the FJ40 and other early Land Cruisers without being retro. This is no simple cloning of a nearly half-

century old design.

Instead, what Toyota wanted to do was to project how the original Jeep-like FJ would have evolved had it remained in production all these years. The engineering and manufacturing of the Toyota FJ Cruiser are done in Japan.

Exterior Exterior styling cues from the original FJ brought forward on the FJ Cruiser include a narrow slot of a second grille built into the front lip of the hood, the trio of windshield wipers at the base of an upright windshield, the round headlights and the metallic-coloured enclosure that frames them and the main grille, the white roof, the wraparound rear windows and the spare tire mounted on the back of the vehicle.

The Cruiser shares much of its under structure with the Toyota 4Runner fourdoor SUV and Tacoma pickup truck, but you had never guess that to look at the FJ with its wide, turtle-shell body design.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive

Friday July 5, 2013

37

Stallion Motors bags awards Hyundai delivers 1st 15

L

eading automobile automobiles es marketing Nigeria, company in Nigeria a, Stallion Mowith tors was recently awarded aw the ‘Most Improved Auto o Company of the Year 2012’ for its performance and perrfo turn around exercise in 2012.

2001 Also, one of its man many ny franchises, Hyundai Accent was also v voted the ‘Entry Level Car of the Year’ at a the 2013 Nigeria Auto Awards, which h ttook place in Lagos.

A statement stateme en by its mein Ladia consultant con ns stated that the gos ssta award, which aw wa was presented wa w at its eighth a edition, was ed e hosted by ho h Beach House B Ventures.

V Re c e iv i n g the the award on behalf b half of the company company, Managing aging Director, Stallion t r, Motors, Mr. Parvir arvir Singh, vowed that vowed the the auto company pany will continue ttin ue to elevate the th he status of automobile au uto omobile marketing g in i Nigeria to reassure customers cu usst mers of the dealersh dealership hip commitment and bring ng forth new experience erience and new ne sense ense of value Accordiing to the sstatement, ement, the th panel off adjudicators o djudicators ssaid the award wass viewed against ainst Stalllion’s ’s recovery

strategies that have borne remarkable results as well as its continued success and dealership expansion across the country.

The statement added that Stallion outperformed some of its rivals like Mercedes Benz, Dana Motors and Kia Dealership in profitability, shareholder value, scale, net worth, turnover, and customer satisfaction to win the coveted plaque.

A subsidiary of the Stallion Group of Companies, Stallion Motors was incorporated about 40 years ago and has grown steadily from its modest start in West Africa into a fledging multi-business conglomerate, representing 10 automobile brands with a manufacturing facility in Lagos where AshokLeyland buses are assembled.

Only recently, Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria (Stallion NMN) a new division of Stallion Motors was named Nissan national sales company and brand custodian of Nissan vehicles in Nigeria. The company has also continued to elevate the status of its showrooms and after sales facilities to international standard with recourse to the respective principals’ ‘DNA.’

hydrogen-powered ix35 fuel cell

H

yundai Motor Company has delivered the first of its assembly line-produced ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles to the City of Copenhagen in Denmark.

The company said they were handed over by Hyundai Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor’s European sales subsidiary, during the opening ceremony of Denmark’s first hydrogen refuelling station.

An online statement signed by the Marketing Manager, Hyundai Nigeria, Mr. Santosh Nair stated that the 15 ix35 Fuel Cell units are the first hydrogenpowered vehicles manufactured on a production line to be introduced in Europe.

Nair insisted that Hyundai Motor is committed to hydrogen as the fuel of the future for Europe. Delivering assemblyline produced ix35 Fuel Cell is evidence that it has a realistic solution to the region’s

sustainable mobility needs.

The ix35 Fuel Cell produces no harmful tailpipe emissions –only water vapour– and so its use will help the city of Copenhagen achieve its aim of becoming carbon-neutral by 2025. Since 2011, Hyundai has deployed prototypes of its third-generation ix35 Fuel Cell in a wide range of initiatives to raise awareness of hydrogen’s benefits as an automotive fuel, to support the drive for establishing a pan-European refuelling infrastructure and to demonstrate the cars’ real-world practicality to public and private organisations.

For example, EU policy-makers have access to ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles – via the EU Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) in Brussels – showing the market-readiness of Hyundai Motor’s technology. And, earlier this year, senior representatives from 100 European businesses learned about and tested the ix35 Fuel Cell at a Hyundai Motor event in Berlin.

T h e s t a t e m e n t s added, “Hyundai Motor has been a world leader in the development of hydro gen fuel cell technology ever since research into its first fuel cell began in 1998. The company’s proprietary fuel cell technology is developed at its Eco Technology Research Institute in Korea. Hyundai intends to build 1.000 ix35 Fuel Cell cars by 2015 at its Ulsan factory, also in Korea”.

MAINTENANCE TIPS

C

leaning the inside of a car is something that easily can get overlooked because people are mostly worried about how their car looks on the outside or they just want to save some money when going to their local car wash.

You can save the cost of a professional detailing by getting out the vacuum cleaner and a few household products. Here are a few tips on how to detail your car’s interior.

First, remove the floor mats from the car. Shake them to remove any debris sticking to them. Then, using the hose attachment of a shop vacuum, vacuum all seat cushions, paying special attention to the crevices where cushions meet. Be sure to vacuum the bottom and back of the seats. Check beneath seats for coins and trash before vacuuming.

How to clean a car’s interior Vacuum the floor of the car, including the area beneath the seats, still using the hose attachment. Also, vacuum the floor mats. When finished, give the

mats a final shake to remove any remaining debris, then return them to the car.

If any fabric seat cushions or car-

pets are stained, use a damp towel to apply a small amount of carpet shampoo to the stain. Work the carpet shampoo into a light lather.

Sponge away the shampoo with a damp sponge and allow to air dry.

Don’t use carpet shampoo on leather.

Besides, clean all the windows using a window cleaner and newspaper or paper towels.

Vacuum or wipe debris from the dashboard and doors. Spray a small amount of car-interior or vinyl protectant on a towel or rag. With the moistened rag, gently wipe the dashboard, door handles and all vinyl parts. Finally, allow to air dry.

Warnings Do not clean leather seats with carpet shampoo. It is too harsh and will take the colour out of leather. Use a cleaner specially designed for leather car seats, available at an auto-parts store.

Cocktail

38

x

Friday, July 5, 2013

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (174) “Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believed that something inside them was superior to circumstance.”

–Bruce Barton * * * Believe In Yourself You have to believe that at any point in life, you are bigger and better than what you think you are. You have to see yourself as unlimited.

You have to engage in ceaseless positive self talk that you are stronger than your circumstances whatever they may be.

This is how to win daily battles. This is how to tap the riches of life. You see, the world is ruled from within. If you bluntly refuse to stop believing in yourself, you will use circumstances to create a rosy future for yourself. You will win today!

TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

Oddities

Woman startled by boa constrictor at her home

R

everend Irene Monroe started what she thought would be a relaxing Sunday morning with a cup of coffee that she wanted to enjoy on her porch but instead she came face to face with a 4-foot-long boa constrictor. While the Cambridge, Massachusetts resident was making her way outside, she noticed that the sliding door would not open.

“I realize that, oh, I can’t, I can’t pull the screen door all the way back…not thinking much of it at the time. Thinking it probably is off the track,” Rev. Monroe explained to WFXT

Fox 25. But it wasn’t a simple hardware issue. Monroe told WHDH 7 News what she saw wedged in the track of her sliding door, “Lo and behold here is this boa constrictor greeting me with a hiss… At that moment I’m going oh my God this is something like a Steven King moment.”

The red-tail boa constrictor is estimated to be around 4 years old and reports vary indicating it is anywhere from 3 to 5 feet long.

Rev. Monroe was terrified,

“When it poked its head up, and it wiggled up, I lost my righteous mind. I gave out a blood curdling scream and woke up everybody.”

She ran out of her house and called the police. Monroe said six officers from the Cambridge P.D. arrived but only four entered the house because they were also apprehensive of the snake. Eventually the police removed the snake and took it to a Petco in the city. Edwin White, a companion animal manager

Police offi fficer picking up new baby foils robbery

A

n off-duty police officer at a Chicago hospital to take home his newborn son paused to foil a robbery in the building’s cafeteria.

Chris LeCompte, 33, an offduty Evergreen Park police officer, said he went down to Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s cafeteria while his

wife and newborn prepared to go home from the facility about 1:30 p.m. Monday when he saw two men “wrestling” on the ground, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

LeCompte said he attempted to break up the fight and one of the men attacked him.

“He tried to scratch on me and punch me,” LeCompte said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The new father said he was able to hold the man until security officers arrived.

Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Lisa Gordon said the man captured by LeCompte was trying to get away after snatching a $600 iPhone from a pregnant woman in a wheelchair.

The boa constrictor seen hiding behind Reverend Monroe’s door.

at Petco said, “We’re gonna send it to a vet, get our foundation to take care of it. Hopefully the news coverage will find the original owners. If not, we’ll find owners for it.”

The reverend hopes the owners are found and learn a lesson in responsible pet ownership, and she still maintains a sense of humour about the situation joking, “I’ve been rattled all day. I told everyone I’m suffering from PTSD: post traumatic snake disorder.”

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

39

Business & Finance Telecoms regulators need to allocate frequency spectrum on a zonal basis to fast-track internet service availability in the nooks and crannies of the country for businesses, and individuals

-CHAIRMAN, ADVERTISING PRACTITIONER COUNCIL OF NIGERIA, MR. LOLU AKINWUMI

-President, Nigeria Internet Group, Mr. Bayo Banjo

OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

T

he Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN has canvassed the review of National Housing Fund, NHF Act to address current challenges of housing provision in Nigeria.

Chairman, board of the apex mortgage bank, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi revealed this during a chat with Journalists in Abuja.

He explained that the parameters that were used at the time the Act was enacted had changed in line with the dynamics of the Nigerian economy.

According to him, the 2.5 per cent contribution mandated by the Act must be reviewed if it must achieve the desired objective of providing of housing to the people. ”The parameters used at the time of setting up the institution have changed because of the dynamic nature of the Nigerian economy. For example, we say you have to contribute 2.5 per cent of salary earned. If you earn N3, 000 per month, how much was the minimum wage at that time compared with the N18,000 that we have today?”, he had explained.

“The 2.5 per cent of N18, 000 today amounts to N450.How many years will you contribute N450 for you to buy a house of N10 million? That is to say that yes, at that time the amount was sufficient but when you look at the situation today, it is not anymore.

Therefore there is a need to reverse or amend the act to take care

Dearth of professionalism and gradual onslaught by foreign agencies are some of the key challenges facing indigenous players in the Nigeria’s advertising industry

FMBN advocates NHF Act review of the current issues”, he further stated.

Apart from the fact that the stipulated percentage is too meagre, the FMBN- boss also argued that other stakeholders mandated by the Act to make contribution also defaulted.

He said, “The amount which is being paid is not only limited to the workers but also to the commercial banks in this country.

The Act stipulates that commercial banks and insurance companies are supposed to make investment into the NHF. It was gathered that the two stakeholders are not doing that even as the Central Bank of Nigeria, which is supposed to enforce the contributions has also failed

to do so.

On the ongoing recapitalisation of the Primary Mortgage Institutions, he noted that it was a step in the right direction, stressing that it would not only be good for the creation of strong institutions, it would also strengthen their commitment to projects execution.

“The N2.5billion ceiling for the regional PMIs and N5bn for national is a good deal. I think the stronger you are, the greater the risk you are able to undertake, so the recapitalisation is a necessary step for a strong institution. The ability to be able to lend would be strengthened and their commitment to projects and programmes would be enhanced.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Danladi Kefasi; Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala and Director General, Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, during a joint press briefing on Nigeria’s position on Euro Bond in Abuja on Wednesday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Okonjo-Iweala lauds EU on PAYE remittances TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday commended the European Union (EU) for remittance of Pay-As-YouEarn PAYE of its local staff since

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“It is the continuation of the consolidation we had in the banking sector. We can all see the difference between 89 banks which we had before and the state of the banks at the post-consolidation era. There are minimum ratios acceptable internationally. I believe the PMIs are ready to do that.

“The various options before them include mergers, buy out of some by the others and of course those that are not able to meet the criteria of the CBN will just have to fold up and that is why we are talking of working together with the CBN, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC to ensure that depositors in those banks are not short-changed,” he explained.

2012.

She made the commendation in Abuja at the sensitisation workshop for local staff of embassies on PAYE, Withholding Tax (WHT), Value Added Tax (VAT) on contracts, and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).

Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kefas Danladi, said the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)’ efforts to grow the nation’s revenue base remain a step in the right direc-

tion, most especially, in the face of the dwindling oil income. She said, “Everybody wants development, but nobody wants to pay tax that fuels development. The importance of taxation cannot be over emphasised, especially in the wake of dwindling income from oil revenue.

“Any efforts by the FIRS to grow the revenue base of the country are welcome and everybody must contribute his or her share, especially, when somebody

IFRS: NAICOM sanctions 48 insurance firms

40

is earning taxable income.”

“You cannot escape tax and claim to be a responsible citizen of that country. Once you pay tax, you can now have the benefits that come with payment of taxes. Tax payment is the backbone of any country,’’ Okonjo-Iweala added.

The minister urged the revenue agency to ensure administrative mechanisms for easy access to TIN that would in turn fast-track clearance of goods at the nation’s sea-ports as well as issuance of Tax Clearance Certificates (TCC) to deserving taxpayers.

‘Reduction of multiple port charges, panacea to cargo diversion’

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40

Business News

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil communities insist on direct payment of 13% derivation TOLA AKINMUTIMI UMUAHIA

O

il producing communities in Rivers State have lent their voices to the ongoing clamour for direct payment of 13 per cent derivation to the communities.

To press home their demand, the communities have written a letter to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), seeking specifically the setting up of a National Derivation Committee.

In the letter signed by 14 leaders of the communities, they are proposing the setting up of state management committee for the funds so that the fund is received by the National Derivation Committee and disbursed to the states.

The letter reads in part: “The National Derivation Committee will not award contracts but will supervise and monitor the use of the 13 per cent derivation fund on constant basis in all the state management committees. The state management committees will execute the project and ser-

L-R: Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Peter Orubebe, Legal Adviser to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Ijima Okoro, MD/CEO, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu and acting Company Secretary, Bank of Industry, Emmanuel Onoji at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Niger Delta and BOI on establishment of fish industrial parks in all the Niger Delta states in Abuja recently.

vices for the oil and gas producaing committees.

“The chairman and members of the National Derivation Committee shall be appointed by Mr. President on the advise of,the leaders of the oil and gas producing communities of Nigeria including a member of RMAFC while each state will select the chairman and members of the

state management committee.”

The group stated that the communities have mechanisms for sanctioning any erring or defaulting member of any of the committee and assured that there would be enough checks and balances in the administrative committee system.

In addition, they explained that administrative committee

NIA sets up committee on minimum rates MESHACK IDEHEN

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n a move to establish uniform standard in the pricing of risks in the insurance industry, the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), said it has set up a rating committee to work out minimum rates in respect of certain risks in the market.

The committee is headed by the Managing Director, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Mr. Wale Onaolapo, who is also a member of the council of the association.

The committee is to determine the minimum rates in

respect of group life, motor, industrial all risk, money and fidelity guarantee for banks.

Director General of NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas, said in a statement that the decision was in line with the decision reached at the CEOs retreat, adding that the rating committee has been set up to also recommend sanctions for non compliance with the minimum rates. He stated that the committee is hopeful of recording success with the assignment due to the tough regulatory enforcement in the industry which might force practitioners to adhere to the recommendations the commit-

tee might likely come out with.

Before now, NIA advocated the enforcement of minimum rates in the market because of inability of insurance companies to charge economic rates in business underwriting, a situation which weakened the financial capability of insurance entities to meet obligations to stakeholders in the market.

According to the NIA, the consequences of soft market regime included cash flow problems, difficulty and delays in claims settlements, loss of investible fund, low investment, inadequate returns on investment and insolvency.

Experts urge policymakers to look beyond increase yields DAYO AYEYEMI

A

new report by Journal Science, has admonished that in order to ensure sustainable food supplies for the world’s growing population, policymakers should look beyond food production.

The report urges a rethink of the popular policy goal which aims at producing more food per unit area in ways that exert less pressure on the environment.

While sustaining food supply is important, according to the authors, the policy goal ignored other radical changes that are also required to tackle waste, improve governance and resilience, and reduce the resource-intensity of con-

sumption.

Co-author of the paper, Dr Camilla Toulmin, who is the Director of the International Institute for Environment and Development said, “Sustainable intensification, as policymakers currently understand it, does not guarantee food security “We need a new and more sophisticated definition; one that is clearer about what sustainable intensification can and cannot achieve, about how and where it should be implemented, and about how it will interact with other important areas of food policy,” he said.

The authors identified five areas of policymaking that national or international efforts to pursue sustainable intensification will affect: biodiversity and land-use; animal

welfare; human nutrition; rural economies; and sustainable development.

Toulmin said, “To feed the world’s growing population, we must do more than simply produce more food per unit area in ways that exert less pressure on the environment.

“We must also ensure that food is diverse and rich in micronutrients, and that we make the right choices when allocating land for farm production or biodiversity.”

“We must ensure that sustainable intensification contributes to other important goals for rural development, such as climate-resilient livelihoods for poor farmers, and we must revitalise agricultural extension services and use modern communications tools ensure that these farmers can participate.”

system had been used in the past by the Federal Government to implement derivation fund to oil and gas producing communities, adding that by then the 1.5 per cent derivation was never paid through any state government account but was utilised through the administrative committee system.

“This is our renewed position

on the direct payment of 13 per cent derivation fund to oil and gas producing communities . This is the best option which will ensure greater sense of belonging and patriotism in the oil and gas producing communities for greater participation in the protection of the oil facilities and flow stations that bring the 13 per cent derivation fund”, the group added.

Signatories to the letter include Chief Opaks Harry, Chief Betterlands Daves, Chief Asimebo Fiyasiri, Chief Agiobu Fubara, Chief Seneri Asein, Chief Diepiriye Briggs, Chief Okriye Quege, Chief Odiari Amachree and Chief Opune Macs.

Others are, Hon. Osaka Dickabbi, Mr. Couplings Alasia, Mr. Fubara Amas, Mrs. Nimi Idoniboye and Mrs. Moudlyn Jaja.

It would be recalled that the oil communities have over the past year been agitating for the direct payment of the 13 per cent derivation fund directly to the oil producing communities as part of their efforts to achieve socioeconomic development of their domains and environmental sustainability.

Operators must comply with safety regulations, says DG NCAA SEGUN KOIKI

T

he newly appointed Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Mr. Folayele Akinkuotu, said there is no going back on safety of operations among the indigenous airlines in the country.

He warned that any airline operator that does not comply with the safety procedures as set by the regulatory body would be dealt with accordingly.

Speaking at an interactive meeting with airline and general aviation operators yesterday at the NCAA Training Centre at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Akinkuotu also announced the establishment of a new directorate in the agency; Directorate of General Aviation, noting that, that aspect of aviation has been on the increase over the years.

The new directorate, he said would cater for helicopter operations, executive general travels and private and chartered jets in the country.

Akinkuotu observed that pilots and engineers are critical partners in the development of aviation not just in the country, but in the globe, urging them to comply with all the safety procedures as recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, and domesticated

by NCAA. He said, “It is key to have pilots and engineers in the sector because of issues, which have to do with com-

pliance. We need to come together to contribute to safer operations and we all need to sustained interest in the sector. We need a change in the sector if we are to continue to enjoy sanity in the sector.”

He also lauded his predecessor in office, Dr. Harold Demuren who he said played his part to take the industry to higher level during his time and vowed that the new management would continue from where he stopped.

On the new directorate, Akinkuotu, noted that the general aviation sub-sector needed to be nurtured, encouraged and properly regulated as a result of its accelerated growth in the country, saying that the creation of the new directorate was part of the change brought into the system by the new management.

He said, “We are making progress in the country with more flights on the domestic and general aviation. There is a creation of rule to play by all and I hope all concerned operators will comply with the new regulations.

“I’ve come to work for the progress of the industry, but we all have our roles to play. If all the operators follow the rules, I believe we will all have peace. However, it is those who know the rules that break the rules.

Also, the Director of General Aviation Department, Capt. Dele Sasegbon, observed that there are several challenges in the general aviation sub-sector and said NCAA would continue to ensure total safety in the sub-sector.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, July 5, 2013

Why we exempted telecos from mobile money payments –CBN TOLA AKINMUTIMI AND UDO ONYEKA UMUAHIA

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that its decision to exempt telecommunication companies from playing leading roles in mobile money payments in the country is because such roles are not one of their core business responsibilities in the economy.

In addition, the apex bank also listed its lack of statutory power to control the telecommunication companies as another factor that has prevented it from involving them in the mobile payment agenda in line with what is obtained in other climes.

CBN also assured that efforts were being intensified to register agent banks to provide the needed services required to leverage the gains of the payment system in the country Disclosing this in Umuahia, Abia State at the 18th Seminar for

financial Journalists and Business Editors, the apex bank’s Director, Banking and Payment Systems, Mr. Titus Fatokun, noted that currently there seems to be no synergy between the telcos and mobile payment operators, a development, he said the bank and other stakeholders were working to reverse.

Fatokun, whose paper entitled: ‘Viable Agent Banking and Mobile Payment System in Nigeria’ was delivered at the forum by a senior official of the Department, Mr. Chai Gang, said since the apex bank was not in a position to control the telecommunications companies, it would be illogical to give them leading roles in the mobile payment system, at least for now.

The banking expert, who also listed some of the challenges militating against the rapid penetration of mobile payments into all parts of the economy, particularly the grassroots, however explained that the CBN and other stakeholders were putting appropriate structures and systems in place to en-

sure that mobile payment becomes the preferred choice of transactions in the years ahead.

He explained: “Public power is important for the devices we used to transact these payments, power is like the foundation for everything and so what CBN and stakeholders are looking at in implementing agent banking is providing alternative sources of power, for example the POS devices. In some instances, you might see POS devices that have more than one battery installed in it”.

“That is one of the standards that we are developing to address the problem of power outages. Another challenge is poor telecommunication connectivity and it is evident in some of our mobile devices. On the transactions we do, we might need some time out and this also affects financial transactions. We have put in place processes for dispute resolution. Another challenge is lack of synergy between mobile payment operators and telecommunication companies””, he noted further.

L-R: Director, KCMB Micro Finance Bank, Mr. Alex Okoh; Commissioner for Finance and Chairman Board of KCMB Micro Finance Bank, Alhaji Demola Banu; Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Abayomi Ajayi and a Director of the bank, Mr. Seyi Oyawoye, during the presentation of cheque of Kwara State’s dividends to the governor in Ilorin, yesterday.

IFRS: NAICOM sanctions 48 insurance firms MESHACK IDEHEN

T

he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), said it has sanctioned 46 insurance companies and two reinsurance firms for failing to meet the June 30, 2013 deadline for the submission of their 2012 financial reports to the commission.

The companies, according to NAICOM, were made to pay a daily fine of N5, 000 for all the days they breached the regulation, saying only three out of the 49 insurance and two reinsurance companies under its supervision were able to meet the deadline set for the submission and approval of 2012 financial report for operators.

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications at NAICOM, Mr. Salami Rasaaq, in a statement entitled, “Submission Status of 2012 Financial Statements of Insur-

ance Companies as at July 1, 2012”, said only three companies met the deadline.

He mentioned Mansard Insurance Plc, Wapic Insurance Plc and ADIC Insurance Company Limited as companies that were able to meet the deadline.

He said the commission allows companies under its supervision six months from the preceding year to submit and get their financial reports for the previous year approved even as stakeholders had made a strong case for this to be reviewed down to three months.

Rasaaq said any company that fails to meet the deadline pays N5,000 fines for each day it remains in breach of the rule, explaining that stakeholders have asked the commission to raise this amount of the fine significantly to ensure that operators comply.

On the level of compliance with the submission rule this year, he

said three other companies, Continental Reinsurance Plc, Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc and FBN Life Assurance Limited had their reports returned with queries.

Their responses were still being awaited at the commission as at Monday.

According to him, three other companies, Oasis Insurance Plc, Aiico Insurance Plc and Consolidated Hallmark Assurance Plc (CHI) that submitted and had their financial reports returned with queries have since responded to the queries.

“The commission is reviewing their responses,” he said.

He also confirmed that nine other companies managed to submit their 2012 financial reports to the commission as at July 1, 2013, saying that the commission was still reviewing their submission as this is still within the four days allowed for the review.

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FG has achieved objectives of privatisation –Minister UDEME AKPAN

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he Federal Government has substantially accomplished the objectives of its privatisation programme which was targeted at selling commercial enterprises to private investors.

The Minister of National Planning Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman made the observation in Gboko, Benue State when the Policy and Monitoring Committee of the National Council on Privatization (NCP) visited Benue Cement Company (BCC) Plc in continuation of its Post Privatization Monitoring tour of privatized enterprises yesterday.

Confirming the development in a statement yesterday, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE quoted Usman as stating that

there were indications that the programme was successful.

The Minister informed the company that the purpose of the monitoring tour of privatized enterprises was to ascertain how government policies were affecting the performances of privatized enterprises in respect of the implementation of their Post Acquisition Plans, PAP. Responding on behalf of the management of the company, the Group Managing Director, Cement, for Dangote Group, Dr. Joseph Makunjo told the Committee that from the time of take over as core investors in 2004, the plant was upgraded from the initial installed capacity of 0.9 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) to 3 million MTPA with an ongoing plan to further expand to 4 million MTPA.

Interswitch signs partnership with UnionPay KUNLE A ZEEZ

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he Switching and Processing subsidiary of Interswitch Transnational, a leading pan-African integrated payments company with operations in Nigeria and a growing presence in West and East Africa, has completed an acceptance and acquiring third party payment processing integration with UnionPay International.

With the partnership, UnionPay cardholders from all over the world can now use their cards at more than 70,000 merchants to make payments and withdraw cash from more than 11,000 ATMs across Interswitch partner banks in Nigeria, Uganda and very soon in Gambia.

The agreement marks the start of a strategic partnership between Interswitch and UnionPay and opens an electronic payments corridor linking Nigeria and China.

Speaking on the alliance, Man-

aging Director, Interswitch Switching and Processing, Mr. Akeem Lawal, said, “We are delighted to welcome UnionPay cards to the Interswitch network. The agreement is an important step for Interswitch and brings us one step closer to offering our service to cardholders from all of the major card brands.”

Also, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Interswitch Transnational, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, explained that the agreement would open a new vista electronic payments between Nigeria and China.

“UnionPay cardholders now have more convenient access to their money through the Interswitch network when they visit Nigeria. In addition Nigerian banks will benefit from increased transactions from UnionPay cardholders using their ATMs and POS infrastructure while merchants will benefit from increased sales from a larger pool of cardholders,” he said.

Vertex introduces new digital radio portfolio in Nigeria KUNLE A ZEEZ

V

ertex Standard, a radio communications company, says it will continue its commitment to developing land mobile radios (LMR) that are precisionengineered for more value with the introduction of its new eVerge digital two-way radio series in Nigeria.

The new eVerge digital radio portfolio includes the EVX-530 series portable radios; EVX-5300/5400 series mobile radios and EVX-R70 repeater for a complete digital system.

The new radios are designed to work with existing analogue radios for easy conversion from analogue to digital for added convenience.

According to the company, eVerge radios are ideally suited for commercial and industrial customers who currently use basic LMR for voice communications and could benefit from better au-

dio quality, better coverage and more privacy without incurring higher equipment costs.

Speaking on new product portfolio, Distribution Director for Vertex Standard LMR, Inc for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Paul De Carte, said, the devices have been built to be highly compatible for customers who needed greater flexibility and maximum value.

“The name eVerge is comprised of two principles: evolve to change and emerge to be known. It is important that radio users understand that not all digital radios are the same, and not all brands of digital radios will talk to each other in digital mode. “eVerge digital radios help customers evolve to better communication and do digital right the first time- getting the right radio with the right protocol and right performance – all at a better cost to connect without compromisem,” Carte said.

42

Maritime

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Reduction of multiple port charges, panacea to cargo diversion’ Nigeria by the size of her population accounts for the consumption of over 70 percent of the total imports into West Africa. Statistics show that less than 20 percent of these imports come in through her seaports, which implies huge loss of revenue to the economy. Experts have blamed this ugly trend on the imposition of myriads of charges by the government on importers, reports FRANCIS EZEM.

W

hen the government of Republic of Benin some years ago decided to build a modern port facility around the country’s border with Nigeria, the target was imported goods destined for the Nigerian market.

The government of the country knew quite well that several factors are working against the Nigerian ports, which range from cumbersome process of goods delivery, congestion and imposition of port charges on imported goods, among several others. This strategic project by the Republic of Benin has actually achieved its policy objective of facilitating the diversion of Nigerian bound cargo, since most of the goods consumed in Nigeria including used vehicles are now routed through the Seme Border, which is Nigeria’s link with the Republic of Benin with the attendant revenue loss to the Nigerian Government.

Statistics show that though more than 75 percent of imported cargo end up in Nigeria, less than 25 percent of this volume come through her seaports while the rest are diverted through sister seaports. The Federal Government has no doubt loss huge revenue to this worsening diversion of cargo.

It is a fact that Nigeria operates one of the highest port tariff structure in the West and Central African sub-region, most of which are imposed by the government and its various agencies. This fact was alluded to by the immediate past managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Omar Suleiman, when he admitted that the cost of shipping in Nigeria is 10 times higher than any other port within the West African sub-region. A major causative factor in this ugly trend is the imposition of multiplicity of charges, fees and other levies by the government itself and its various agencies, some operating at the seaports on imported goods.

For instance, apart from the statutory charges like the Import Duty, Fees, Common External Tariff Levy and the Value Added Tax, which are paid into the Federation Account of the government, importers are also made to pay a myriads of charges under different sub-heads, classified as non-federation account charges.

They include the seven percent Port Levy, 0.5 percent Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), which is also paid in other jurisdictions within the community, one percent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme, which is the Free On Board value of imports, from which the service providers under the Destination Inspection Scheme are paid and the Rice levy.

Others include, the Cigarette Levy, National Automotive Council Levy, Port Development Levy, Sugar Levy, Port Surcharge and other sundry charges paid to the government before the imported consignment would be allowed to leave the port.

In addition to these, government agencies that take part in cargo inspection such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, among others impose one form of levy or the other.

These unjustifiable charges have made the nation’s sea-

Abdullahi Dikko-CG Customs

WHATEVER THE GOVERNMENT GENERATES THROUGH THE

CIGARETTE LEVY, NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COUNCIL LEVY, PORT DEVELOPMENT LEVY, SUGAR LEVY, PORT SURCHARGE ETC, IT LOSES MORE AS A RESULT OF CARGO DIVERSION ports uncompetitive with their peers in the sub-region.

President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr. Eugene Nweke, who spoke on the development, decried the thriving diversion of Nigerian –bound cargoes to neighbouring African country.

“Whatever the government generates through the Cigarette Levy, National Automotive Council Levy, Port Development Levy, Sugar Levy, Port Surcharge etc, it loses more as a result of cargo diversion”, Nweke insisted.

He particularly picked holes in the administration of VAT on imported goods, describing it as double taxation. He had argued that the government should pick a particular point at which VAT must be paid on imported goods, preferably through the banks on arrival of the consignment and not through the Nigeria Customs Service.

He regretted that most of these imported goods are subjected to another round of VAT collection at the final sales point, which he said is double taxation.

“The government should determine at what point an importer or freight forwarder should pay VAT on a consignment so that he goes ahead and pays and obtains an official receipt, which he would use for the entire clearing process for the consignment”, he had argued.

President of Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (CMDLCA), Mr. Lucky Amiwero, who also commented on the development, called for urgent measures to address certain problems associated with Nigeria’s seaports such as multiple and excessive charges, bureaucracy and cumbersome clearing processes.

He warned that Nigeria might loose substantial volume of West African cargo traffic, which she currently controls, a development that will portend danger for her economy.

“The Nigerian Government is aware that Ghana and

Nweke

Cote’d Ivoire are building millennium port facilities that would berth mega ships of over 10, 000 TEUs of cargo capacity. In the nearest future, Nigerian importers may have to use smaller ships to take their cargo from these two seaports if measures were not taken to address these inadequacies now”, he warned.

According to him, importers and clearing agents have over the years cried out to no avail and many of them have resigned to fate while many others have decided to bring in their consignments through neighbouring African seaports.

He also argued that the cumulative effect of this multiple charges is that they are aggregated and added to the cost of importing the consignment, which is ultimately borne by the final consumer as higher prices and the attendant inflationary trends that come with it.

Recent statistics released by the Monetary Policy Committee shows that the inflation rate stood at 12.9 percent, a figure some market watchers believe is far higher than that.

It was probably against this background that stakeholders faulted recent assertion by the Minister of Transport, Malam Idris Umar, that the government is more than ever committed to the achievement of a hub port of destination for the sub-region.

The minister had argued that the reform of the seaports has recorded huge success in the last few years especially in terms of improved efficiency and increased volume of cargo into the country as well as reducing cargo dwell time at the ports.

The minister noted that the nation will achieve the hub port status for the West and Central Africa if this tempo of modernisation is sustained.

But stakeholders insist that though there has been a remarkable growth in the volume of cargo as well as efficiency occasioned by the port reform programme, the volume would have been higher if the worsening cargo diversion was checked.

They had argued that more than seven years after the completion of the port reform programme, government still collects Port Development Levy even when the responsibility of developing the ports has been transferred to the private concessionaires, who have taken over the duty of cargo handling from NPA. Obviously, Nigeria would definitely be better off if the port tariff structure is friendlier. This will imply that for every good imported into Nigeria, the Federal Government would earn revenue and by so doing, Nigeria’s projection of becoming a port of destination for the West and Central African sub-region would be realised soon.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

S

trong indications emerged that the inability of Nigeria maritime security authorities to curtail the increasing illegalities on Nigeria’s waters like piracy, illegal bunkering and oil theft may be partly due to the nature of the vessels used for these exercises, which are not mostly registered.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi had repeatedly promised to checkmate the activities of these economic saboteurs, to which Nigeria loses huge sums of money on daily basis.

Managing director of Lagos Channel Management Limited, Mr. Danny Fucks, who spoke during the monthly roundtable organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria in Lagos, disclosed that the company has established a Marine Operational Centre, which is an Information Technology hub.

LCM is a 60-40 percent Joint Venture Company with the Nigerian Ports Authority, which is charged with the responsibility of carrying out capital and maintenance dredging on the Lagos channels, was formed in 2005 following the completion of the port reform programme that stripped it of its

Maritime

Friday, July 5, 2013

Most vessels used for oil theft are unregistered, says LCM

A tanker vessel arrested by the Nigerian Army for alleged oil theft recently.

cargo handling functions and gave same to private terminal operators.

The managing director, who was represented at the event by the head of human resources, Prince Oyekan Ifalade, disclosed that with the aid of its Marine Operational Centre, the company is able to monitors all vessels operating within some distances both within the Nigerian waters and beyond.

According to him, with this

technology, the company is able to capture of most ships operating with a reasonable distance, but regretted that it has not been able to track down vessels used for piracy, illegal bunkering and crude oil theft because most of them are not registered.

“You know that the decision of the owners not to register them is obvious because they know the type of illegal business they want

We are set to concession Onitsha River Port -NIWA

T

he National Inland Waterways Authority has said it is concluding plans to commence the process of privatising the Onitsha River rehabilitated at the cost of N4.7 billion.

The port project, which was also rehabilitated in 1982 under President Shehu Shagari, was last year also commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan with funfair after which it was placed under lock and key.

The repair work done on the abandoned port nvolved a comprehensive rehabilitation of transit shed/warehouse of 110 x 55 metres with a storage capacity of 10,000 Twenty feet Equivalent Units, construction of new port operations building, nine units of senior staff quarters, 11 units of junior staff quarters, fuel tank farm and other roads works, among others.

Newly appointed managing director of NIWA, Hajia Innah Ciroma, who spoke in Lagos, noted that the authority was on a new scheme that would bring in private port operators to run the port professionally and efficiently.

According to him, following the commissioning of the project, it was realised that the best way to optimise the use of the port was to invite private persons or firms to takeover the day-day running of the port for efficiency.

She however dispelled rumours that the port had been under lock

and key after its rehabilitation and commissioning by the president, indicating to the contrary that the port had been used for the movement of building materials within the inland region.

“The Onitsha River Port is being used sparingly now for the movement of building materials.

We are working on the concessioning of the port but if it does not work, we must look at how to make it workable so that it will be used to reduce the pressure on the roads”, she said.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Hajia Zainab Kure, had said in a recent interview that the committee was worried that the port had remained under lock and key nearly one year after its commissioning ceremony.

According to her, apart from media report, the committee has been inundated with complaints by some stakeholders over the state of the port after several billions of public funds were spent on.

She had also disclosed that it was based on the reports and such complaints that the committee decided to write NIWA, insisting that the committee would visit the port preparatory to commencing a probe of the project.

Kure had also disclosed that that part of reasons for the nonutilisation of the port was due to

the inability of NIWA, government’s agency in charge of inland waters and river ports to secure willing private investors to run the port on a Public –Private Sector Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Senator Kure, who also observed that the upper legislative chamber was not opposed to the PPP arrangement, however faulted the process, arguing that that is tantamount to placing the cart before the house.

“But we have told NIWA that certain things should have been put in place before now like determining whether the port would operate on the basis of a PPP arrangement even before the award of the contract”, she insisted.

“You cannot award the contract for a project, execute it and ask Mr. President to commission it and afterwards, you put it under lock and key and tell the world that you are looking for private people to operate it under a PPP”, she had further.

President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr. Eugene Nweke, had less than two weeks after the commissioning of the ports raised fears as to the workability of the project, saying the association’s secretariat had been awash with enquiries from importers and exporters, who are potential users of the facility.

to use them for and so as long as they are not registered, you cannot track them on the MOC systems and would probably not know what they are doing”, he said.

He noted that with the aid of the MOC system, its operatives, who operate 24 hours are able to establish that some vessels are operating there but will not be able to give details as to their names, operations and destination because the MOC does not have their data.

On maritime pollution control, he also disclosed that by the na-

43

ture of its contract with NPA, it is charged with the responsibility of monitoring and not enforcement and so what it does on sighting any ship polluting the waters it to alert NPA for prompt action.

He also disclosed that it has dredged most of the ports in Lagos to between 13 and 13.5 metres depth from their former seven and nine metre- depth when the company took over in 2005, which enhanced the berthing of larger vessels and making the channels safer for navigation.

“When we took over in 2005 the highest depth along the buoy wass between seven and nine metres but now what we have is a minimum of 13.5 metres. In some areas, the channel is deeper than that, except around the quay wall, which is very a sensitive area to dredge. We are very careful when dredging around the quay wall because if you exceed the limit, the wall can collapse. This makes it less than 13 metres, for instance around APM Terminals”, he asserted.

The LCM-boss also said, “By November last year, 2012, we have removed over 27 shipwrecks and currently working on two other wrecks that we identified as those that pose risk to the channel. The statutory duty to remove wrecks is with the NIMASA but base on agreement between NPA and the agency, we are meant to remove wrecks on our contracted channels as recommended by the NPA.” He said that LCM has 14 dredgers and vessels used for removing wrecks including special dredgers that can do the quay walls.

Operators kick over EU’s anti-sulphur directive

T

he European Union’s Sulphur Directive represents the biggest challenge for the short-sea shipping sector in the coming years.

New rules on sulphur emissions to be introduced in 2015 will reduce ship’s competitiveness against the truck transportation and so industry and governments must act quickly.

The Short-sea Promotion Centre of Norway which recently held a mini-conference entitled “Sulphur Directive in 2015 and Norwegian short sea shipping” was attended by delegates from nearly all ship owners operating liner services to Norway.

The main focus of the event was how participants can meet the challenges of the Sulfur Directive and turn it to their advantage.

The EU Sulphur Directive represents the biggest challenge for short sea shipping in the coming years. Here are the solutions!

Hans Kristian Haram, Shortsea Promotion Centre Norway, opened the conference. He pre-

sented that the fuel costs of ships that are currently running on heavy fuel oil is expected to increase by 50percent in 2015.

This represents an additional cost of EUR 70-100 per container for transport to Norway. It constitutes 8-10 % of the shipping lines transport cost. This will result in a significant loss of market share for sea transport in relation to truck. See “Loss of market share due to SECA 2015” Tor Christian Sletner, Norwegian Shipowners Association, gave an overview of the new rules. It now seems clear that the rules will be introduced and that there will be no delays. EU has approved the rules, which are IMO requirements. This means that all vessels in the SECA (Sulphur Emission Control Area) in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea must have a sulfur emissions equivalent to a sulfur content of fuel of 0.1 percent or less of 1 January 2015. Ship owners are urged to take action.

However, actors participating in the NOx Fund may receive support for conversion to LNG.

44

Agri Business

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigerian farmers made N156bn last year, says minister

T

he Nigerian Government received additional $3.7 billion in terms of gross benefits to the economy, following a 45 per cent increase in domestic food supply last year.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, made the remarks when he addressed African Union Heads of State and Government at the High Level Meeting to end Hunger in Africa in Addis Ababa.

The AU, FAO and the Lula Institute jointly convened the meeting with the theme, “Unified approach to end hunger in Africa by 2025”, within the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) framework.

Adesina said farmers across Nigeria made a net income benefit of $1.1 billion from the additional nine million metric tonnes of food produced within the 2012 farming season.

He said the development followed the government launch of an Agricultural Transformation Agenda in 2011 targeted at producing additional 20 million metric tonnes of food at the end of 2015 farming season.

“Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda of making an additional 20 million tonnes of food for our domestic food supply is built on the CAADP process.

“This has added a total of 3.7 billion dollars in terms of gross economic benefits to the domestic economy. Farmers gained net income benefits of 1.1 billion dollars.``

NIGERIA’S

AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA OF MAKING AN ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION TONNES OF FOOD FOR OUR DOMESTIC FOOD SUPPLY IS BUILT ON THE

CAADP PROCESS.

Adesina

Adesinathe list of countries that received the recognition of FAO for outstanding achievement in reducing the number of people suffering from chronic hunger and for making notable progress in guaranteeing food security for our citizens.

The FAO statistics showed that the number of Nigerians suffering from hunger reduced from 19.31 million from 1990 to 1992 to 13.38 million from 2010 to 2012.

“The prevalence of undernourish-

ment declined from 19.3 per cent between 1990 and 1991 to 8.5 per cent between 2010 and 2012.

“This is below the set MDG1 target of 9.7 per cent we are pleased to have achieved the MDG 1 target on hunger, three years ahead of schedule.

“While we are proud of this achievement, we continue to accelerate investments in agriculture to raise food production to address food insecurity.”

Adesina said the number of hungry people in Africa estimated at 245 mil-

Shippers’ Council slams Customs over bad quality of cocoa beans RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

M

embers of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), have accused the Nigerian Customs Service of contributing to the reduction in the good quality of cocoa beans meant for export.

At a meeting recently held in Calabar, where they met with the Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, James Aniyom, the Deputy Director and Zonal Coordinator for SouthSouth, Maurice Effanga said men of the Nigerian Customs Service have been in the habit of unnecessarily making it difficult to do clearance of the products at the Calabar sea port which goes a long way to bring about an increase in the moisture content they by harming the quality and of the cocoa beans.

Cocoa merchants, therefore, appealed to the Customs to ensure early clearance of the product so that it can get to its final destinations in good

state.

Effanga, however, maintained that their mission is to collaborate with the state in bringing more exporters and importers, including the north east cargoes to Calabar Port.

He disclosed that the essence of the establishment of the Council is to provide a forum to protect the interest of Nigerian Shippers and advise the Federal Government on sundry matters relating to its operations, carry out researches on problems encountered as they affect the Shippers’ Council and fight against illicit trade.

Also speaking, Mr. Michael Ogodo, Managing Director International Transactions Limited, disclosed that the shipping of cocoa from Calabar has been suspended, pointing out that some indigenes do not want the exportation to work. He also observed that vessels often come into the Calabar port almost empty because of lack of cargo for them to carry to and from the port.

Earlier, Commissioner for Agricul-

ture and Natural Resources lamented that the fight for Cocoa to be shipped from Calabar has not been easy especially where there are only few players and the high cost of shipment from the port.

On the importance of activating the Calabar port, cocoa dealers were implored to ship their goods from the port

lion “is not acceptable, politically, economically or socially. Hunger should be eliminated on the continent.”

The high level meeting was attended by 15 AU Heads of State and Government including Nigeria’s former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and John Kufuor of Ghana.

The AU Chairman, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, had during the opening of the session renewed member states commitment on ending hunger on the continent within the targeted period of 2025.

Participants drawn from CSOs, Experts in Agriculture, Government officials, private sector and women organisations resolved to take definite steps to address the hunger and poverty situation faced by more than 245 million Africans.

in order to meet a benchmark of 50,000 tons of cocoa, adding that anything short of that would not attract vessels to the port. He pleaded with the rest of the cocoa merchants to work together in order to benefit from the concession given by the Nigerian Ports Authority.

The Area Officer for Calabar Zone, Mr. A. J. Sarumi stressed the need for an increase in support in order to get other players to make the port work.

Institute to produce drought, salt-tolerant rice

T

he National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, said on Wednesday that it would soon produce drought, salt-tolerant and nitrogen efficiency rice variety.

Seeds Officer at NCRI, Dr Maji Alhassan, made this known during a visit to the institute on Wednesday.

Alhassan said that this variety of rice would yield bountifully without additional inputs such as fertiliser, adding that countries like Ghana had already commercialised it.

According to him, the institute has developed 62 varieties of rice with more

to come.

Also speaking, Dr Mark Ukwungwu, the Acting Executive Director of the institute, identified a major challenge to to rice yield as `gall midge’ an insect that infects rice, leaving farmers with low or no yield at all.

He said that the institute had developed a variety of rice that was `gall midge’ tolerant in order to reduce farm loss.

The Acting Executive Director, however, explained that inadequate funding and poor infrastructure constituted major challenges to the activities of the institute.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Friday, July 5, 2013

45

Equities regain vigour, index gains 1.6% DAMILOLA AJAYI

T

he benchmark index of equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange turned northward yesterday, as some investors took position on stocks with good earnings.

Specifically, the All Share Index rose by 1.55 per cent to close at 36,509.64 points, as against the decline of 0.26 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 35,949.01 points.

Market capitalisation

appreciated by N18bn to close at N11.6trn, in contrast to the drop of N3bn recorded the preceding day to close at N11.4trn.

Lotus Islamic index led sectorial indices with 3.03 per cent to close at 2,531.59 points, followed by the Banking index with 1.96 per cent to close at 409.35 points.

The Consumer Goods index increased by 1.75 per cent to close at 1,031.43 points, while the NSE 30-index gained 1.60 per cent to close at 1,722.76 points.

The Insurance index

was up by 0.41 per cent, but the Oil and Gas index declined by 0.18 per cent to close at 175.80 points.

Champion Breweries Plc led the gainers’ table with 64 kobo or 9.95 per cent to close at N7.07 per share, followed by Portland Paints Plc with 54 kobo or 9.93 per cent to close at N5.98 per share.

Evans Medicals Plc rose by 30 kobo or 9.71 per cent to close at N3.39 per share, while DN Meyer Plc appreciated by 13 kobo or 9.70 per cent to close at N1.47 per share.

UBA Capital Plc added

10 kobo or 9.09 per cent to close at N1.20 per share.

On the flip side, Eterna Oil Plc dropped 37 kobo or 9.87 per cent to close at N3.38 per share, while Fidson Healthcare Plc dipped by 22 kobo or 9.69 per cent to close at N2.05 per share.

Prestige Insurance Plc fell by six kobo or 9.68 per cent to close at 56 kobo per share, while WAPIC Insuarnce Plc lost eight kobo or 8.99 per cent to close at 81 kobo per share. IPWA Plc declined by five kobo or 7.35 per cent to close at 63 kobo per share.

Source: NSE

SEC includes Conoil, Nestle, others on margin list JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission has recommended Conoil stocks and 19 others quoted companies for investors who wish to engage in margin lending activities.

Margin lending allows an investor to buy shares or managed funds with as little as 20 to 50 per cent deposit, depending on the funds and shares intend to hold within the loan.

Other companies in the list include Nigerian Breweries, Cadbury Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria, Julius Berger Nigeria, UACN Property Development Company, Okomu Oil Palm, PZ Cussons Ni-

geria, Unilever Nigeria, Flour Mills of Nigeria and Ashaka Cement.

International Breweries, Lafarge WAPCO Nigeria, National Salt Company of Nigeria, Nestle Nigeria, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, Honeywell Flour Mills and Dangote Cement were also among the list.

SEC recently released the list of quoted companies which shares could be used in margin lending and transactions, with a caution that only investors and persons with adequate knowledge of margin lending should engage in it.

It would be recalled that the unprecedented stock market decline in 2008 was fuelled by excessive speculative activities and un-

supervised use of margin loans to fund investment in listed equities among other factors.

According to the commission, the margin list was part of its efforts to forestall the untoward events that contributed to the previous market decline.

It noted that the regulation of margin lending will ensure that the market is founded on the principles of risk-based supervision.

“The list is made up of securities that have the highest trading profile in the market. Banks are excluded from the list at this time but this may change over time,” SEC said in a statement.

It noted that the SEC guidelines provide rules for

Oando shareholders to receive N5.1bn dividend JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu has said that the company’s shareholders will receive a dividend of N5.1bn for the year ended December 31, 2012.

A statement from the company yesterday said the dividends, which translate into 75 kobo per share, reflects a yield of 5.7 per cent and would be paid out of the N10.9bn profit after tax of the company.

The company reported N10.9bn profit after tax in 2012, from N1.8bn in 2011, an increase of 526 per cent, while turnover stood at N675.5bn, up by 18 per cent

from N573.2 bn in 2011.

According to the result, profit before tax rose by 35 per cent, from N13bn in 2011 to N17.5bn.

“We are pleased to report our twelve months performance for 2012, in which we have taken positive steps in the implementation of our strategic focus to build our diversified higher margin business segment,” Tinubu said Explaining the performance of the divisions of the group, he said the upstream division was listed Oando Energy Resources on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada and the company increased production capacity through successful drilling campaigns on OML 125, the Ebendo Field (OML

56) and the Qua Iboe Field (OML13).

“We also paid a 25 per cent deposit of $435m for the acquisition of ConocoPhilips Nigerian business, which will add 43 kobo to our daily production and substantially increase our 2P reserves and best estimate contingent resources to 235mmboe and 237mmboe respectively.

The OES completed a number of successful drilling campaigns on our various drilling rigs, whilst our 4th rig, is currently undergoing refurbishment and expected to be deployed in the second half of 2013,” he added.

He stressed that the midstream division witnessed a 35 per cent growth in

the administration of margin activity from the shared perspective of regulators and operators.

“As the apex regulator of the capital market, the SEC is committed to building a world class market, notably one that is inclusive, innovative and effective, but is also perceived as fair, transparent and built on integrity,” the commission added.

The statement said that rule 22 of the guidelines addresses eligibility criteria for the margin list which include 12 month trading history, three months trading volume, 10 day trading volume, a minimum price of 75 kobo and the exclusion of Initial Public Offer, IPOs) from being funded through margin loans. gas supply, mainly from the newly commissioned 128Km EHGC pipeline in the South East of the country. “ We look forward to the completion of our other midstream projects; our second power plant the Alausa Independent Power Plant, our maiden compressed natural gas project as well as our third pipeline franchise and the Central Horizon Gas pipeline in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,” he said.

Regarding the downstream division, Tinubu stated that the company remained committed to increasing its efficiencies and is in the final stages of construction of a midstream jetty in Lagos that will berth larger vessels and substantially reduce demurrage and lightering costs.

Source: FMDA

Market indicators All-Share Index 36,509.64 points Market capitalisation 694.10 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

CHAMPION

6.43

7.07

0.64

% CHANGE 9.95

PORTPAINT

5.44

5.98

0.54

9.93

EVANSMED

3.09

3.39

0.30

9.71

DNMEYER

1.34

1.47

0.13

9.70

UBCAP

1.10

1.20

0.10

9.09

ROYALEX

0.55

0.60

0.05

9.09

RTBRISCOE

1.54

1.67

0.13

8.44

CORNERST

0.50

0.54

0.04

8.00

WAPCO

84.00

89.60

5.60

6.67

CONTINSURE

1.22

1.30

0.08

6.56

LOSERS COMPANY ETERNA

OPENING

CLOSING

3.75

3.38

CHANGE

% CHANGE

0.37

-9.87

FIDSON

2.27

2.05

0.22

-9.69

PRESTIGE

0.62

0.56

0.06

-9.68

WAPIC

0.89

0.81

0.08

-8.99

IPWA

0.68

0.63

0.05

-7.35

AFRIPRUD

1.81

1.73

0.08

-4.42

ABCTRANS

1.16

1.13

0.03

-2.59

JBERGER

66.49

65.00

1.49

-2.24

AIRSERVICE

4.60

4.50

0.10

-2.17

UNITYBNK

0.62

0.61

0.01

-1.61

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

34,999.90

12.88

24-Jan-13

121-Day

60,000.00

14.94

24-Jan-13

-

-

-

-

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91 Days

31,838.51

11.6240

26-Jun-13

182 Days

21,538.34

12.7500

26-Jun-13

364 Days

81,190.88

13.2190

26-Jun-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$500m

N/A

$500m

3-Jul-13

$300m

N/A

$300m

1-Jul-13

46

Tribute

I

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ADENIYI MAGNUS ELUMARO DECEMBER 29,1970 – JUNE 24, 2013

t was an outpouring of tributes yesterday at the service of songs for the late Prince Adeniyi Magnus Elumaro as family, friends and well wishers gathered to pay final respect.

The ceremony, which held at the International Church

of Christ, Alausa, Ikeja had Evang. Chris Ogbonna extolling the sterling qualities of the late Elumaro, even as he admonished the congregation to always be ready at all times.

His wife, Mrs. Queen Elumaro, in her tributes, said:

A symphatiser, Mr. Yeni Senbanjo signing the condolence register

“Niyi, My greatest earthly love, words fail me at this time but write I must. I love you so much and I still do. My Prince, you were so unique, you had such a pure heart, always unbiased, in all the years we had together, I never knew you to say anything unwholesome about anyone...”

L-R: Sister in Law, Mrs. Chioma Nwogu; son, Sola Elumaro; deceased wife, Queen and daughter Seni at the Service of Songs held in his honour in Lagos yesterday.

Children, Sayo (left) and Seyi

L-R: Members of the family, Mr. Adesanmi Elumaro; Mr. Adewale Elumaro and Former Minister, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba.

L-R: Managing Director, JSP Communication, Dr. Phil Osagie; Managing Director/Editor-in Chief, National Mirror, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and Mrs. Mope Abudu.

Managing Director, Newswatch Newspapers, Mr. Moses Jolayemi (left) and Editor Sunday Mirror, Mr. Bolaji Tunji.

L-R: Mr. Ndu Eke; Evangelist Chris Ogbonnanya and Evangelist Shadrach Obasa.

L-R: Friends, Mr. Iyiola Tunji; Mr. Toyin Ojomalade and Mr. Boye Oyelami.

PHOTOS: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Friday, July 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

Community Mirror Aliyu berates rights groups for supporting man with 86 wives

48 RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

A

n herbalist, Ndem Asuquo renown for being a specialist in preparing killer charms for his clients, recently cheated death as he was seriously battered in Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State by angry youths.

Eye witness account had it that the voodoo man was manhandled by youths of the area while allegedly preparing a fetish concoction to kill the youth leader of the town, purportedly for one of his clients, identified as Bassey Nyong who

“No doubt, the Army is doing well in the fight against terrorism, though we have lost a couple of men, we will make sure we flush out insurgents from our country. ”

CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF, LT-GEN. AZUIBIKE IHEJIRIKA

Herbalist beaten to pulp over suspected killer charms was forced out of office by the youths.

Bassey who lost the fight to retain the youth’s leadership seat of the town, enlisted the services of the herbalist, renowned for preparing killer charms.

The herbalist was allegedly caught in the act as he sneaked into the incumbent youth leader’s compound at about mid-day, when the

people had gone to work, carrying a powdery substance and spraying it around, even as he was seen making incantations in low tone.

When those trailing him asked him what his mission in the compound was, he claimed he was there to say hello to the youth leader. However, when he was asked to explain what the powdery substance in his possession was

meant for, he could not offer any explanation.

As the youths pounced on him, Bassey who had followed the crowd into the compound fled into a nearby bush. The herbalist afterward confessed, explaining the circumstances surrounding his mission in the youth leader’s house.

He was later handed over to the police.

Some members of the host communities protesting over non-funding of community development projects, lack of employment and empowerment initiatives in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on wednesday.

PHOTO: NAN

Flood: Governor relocates clan in Cross Rivers RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

G

overnor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke has approved the relocation of a flood prone Eja community to a safer location called New Eja in Obubra Local Government Area.

The Director General, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Vincent Aquah announced this during a meeting with leaders of the community in his office yesterday.

Aquah also disclosed that building materials such as zinc, wood, cement, sand, gravel, rods and nails would soon be distributed to the beneficiaries.

The Director-General said that the governor’s gesture was borne out of his magnanimity to the

community who suffered devastating flooding in 2012 in which the entire village located along the coastline of the state was completely overwhelmed.

He recalled that over 70 houses were destroyed displacing about 210 families of 1,874 persons.

Aquah further pointed out that based on the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) predictions of higher rainfall pattern this year, the community remained highly vulnerable to devastating flood which could put the lives of the people at risk as well as property including houses and farms that could run into millions of naira.

The SEMA boss assured that collaboration with other stakeholders especially the leaders of the community including youths and women would be on a very

high note to guarantee the success of the relocation programme.

He use the opportunity to advice all communities along the fringe of rivers and water channels to be wary of flood this year.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Rt. Hon Fabian Okpa who was also at the meeting described Senator Imoke as a patriotic and committed chief servant of the people who at all times was on the pulse of the less privileged.

He advised leaders of Eja community and the entire Obubra to give government the needed support to actualize the relocation programme.

Responding, the village head of Eja, Chief Livinus Ekpe showered encomium on the governor, for his generosity and sensitivity to the plight of his people pointing

out that with the governor’s pragmatism the hitherto disillusioned people are renewed with hope.

The traditional ruler promised that the community would continue to collaborate with the government to bring to fruition the lofty programme.

Youths urged to shun violence

… As obi donates N100m to manufacturers CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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pecial Assistant to Anambra State Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Hon. Nduka Alor has urged youths in the state to embrace positive political culture and shun all forms of violence.

Addressing hundreds of youths participating in the state’s Youth Empowerment Programmes in Awka, Nduka advised the youths not to indulge in any form of brigandage or violence during the upcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

He implored youths of Anambra to give support to Obi’s government, which he said has transformed the State extensively through the use of Anambra Integrated Development Strategy, ANIDS. Nduka’s advice comes after Governor Peter Obi presented a cheque of N100 million to manufacturers whose factories at Habour Industrial Layout, Onitsha were adversely affected by last year’s flood.

Obi presented the cheque to the affected industrialists during the governor’s quarterly meeting with Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States Chapter.

Speaking during the ceremony, Obi noted that manufacturers are engine room of any economy, saying they are the major employers of labour.

According to him, the N100million support was to assist them cushion the effect of the havoc wrecked by flood on their industries.

Nigerians asked to empower physically impaired MARTHA NWACHUKWU

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igerians, especially those in authority, have been charged to desist from showing just pity on the physically impaired, but rather create a conducive environment that will enable them succeed in life.

Founder of Olusoye Compensatory Centre; Barrister Danlami Basharu who was joined by other notable Nigerians including Mrs. Aderonke Koya, said this in a ceremony held at Wesley School for the

Blind, Surulere, Lagos in honour of late Mrs. Helen Oluwasolafunmi Caulcrick.

Barrister Danlami noted that since there is ability in disability, NGOs, corporate bodies, government agencies and individuals should help bridge the gap between the rich, the needy and the physically challenged.

Equally, Mrs. Helen’s daughter, a notable philanthropist, Oluwabusola George pleaded for continued support for the physically impaired; adding that helping the poor is a task pleasing to God.

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Friday, July 5, 2013

Politicians responsible for insecurity –Osibajo

Aliyu berates rights groups for supporting man with 86 wives PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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iger state Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has berated human rights activists and some civil society groups for rising up in defence of Mallam Mohammed Masaba, an Islamic cleric with 86 wives.

He also slammed some politicians in the state for marrying beyond the stipulated number of wives in line with religious injunction.

Aliyu, who stated this in Minna argued that it was not right for the organizations to justify what the society views as morally wrong and as an illegal attitude.

He insisted that the 87-yearold scholar has vowed to continue luring more women into marriage until he dies and rather than defending the army of women living at the cleric’s country home in Bida, Niger State, the rights groups rose up in support of the octogenarian.

The governor said: “We can

deceive ourselves, but we cannot deceive God. And even, investigations have showed that some top public officers have gone out of the religious provisions to marry between five and seven wives.”

He decried the harmful practices against the girl child that is still obtainable in parts of the state and demanded for the implementation of the law to stop the perpetrators of the practices.

Aliyu then asked the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs to make available to him the report of the committee constituted to investigate the case of a man in Gwada town, Shiroro Local Government Area for allegedly bathing his wife with acid, some months ago during an argument in order to prosecute him.

He said, “Women should be given the opportunity to grow in Nigeria and therefore, anything that will impede on the development of the girl-child must not be allowed, but removed.”

Politicians responsible for insecurity – Professor Osibajo

Senator Pius Ewherido

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ormer Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prof. Yemi Osibajo has said politicians are fueling insecurity by failing to fulfill the promises made to electorate during campaigns.

Osibajo said this while launching a book titled: “It’s a Journey (Our walk with God)’’, written by Pastor Bemigho Omayuku.

According to him, the nonfulfillment of promises by the political class was responsible to some youths losing hope in their future, leading some of them to arms taking and insurgents.

Osibajo noted that the youths had been separated from governance for too long; stressing that failure by those in authority to provide for the poor and engage the youths meaningfully will increase insecurity.

“Boko Haram is a measure of hopelessness by the youths. We have enough in

Transition

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2013.

Until his death, he was the senator, representing Delta Central of Delta State in the National Assembly.

He attended Notre Dame College, Ozoro and Urhobo College, Effurun, Delta State. He went on to the University of Ife where he studied Philosophy.

After his National Youth Service, Ewherido became a businessman in Warri after which he studied Law at the University of Benin, and was called to the Bar. Ewherido joined the United Nigerian Congress Party (UNCP) during the Nigerian Third Republic; but after the transition to democracy was truncated by Sani Abacha’s government, he left politics and returned to business.

In 1998 he joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and in April 1999 he was elected to represent the Ughelli South constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.

Ewherido was reelected in April 2003, and was Deputy Speaker of the Assembly from May 2003 until May 2007. In the 2006 PDP primaries he was a contender to be candidate for Governor of Delta State in the April 2007 election, but was unsuccessful in the primaries.

Ewherido left the PDP in order to compete for the Delta Central Senatorial seat on the DPP platform. In the DPP primary he was elected candidate by a narrow margin, winning 125 votes to his opponent’s 108 and in the April 2011 election

FRANCIS SUBERU

Francis Suberu Former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prof. Yemi Osibajo has said politicians are fueling insecurity by failing to fulfill the promises made to electorate during campaigns.

Osibajo said this while launching a book titled: “It’s a Journey (Our walk with God)’’, written by Pastor Bemigho Omayuku.

According to him, the nonfulfillment of promises by the political class was responsible to some youths losing hope in their future, leading some of them to arms taking and insurgents.

Osibajo noted that the youths had been separated from governance for too long; stressing that failure by those in authority to provide for the poor and engage the youths meaningfully will increase insecurity.

“Boko Haram is a measure of hopelessness by the youths. We have enough in Nigeria to take care of everybody. Those in Boko Haram had lost hope, because those in government did not fulfil their promises.

enator Akpor Pius Ewherido was born in Ughelli, Delta State on May 4, 1963 and died on Sunday June 30,

he won 102,313 votes, ahead of Amori Ighoyota of the PDP who gained 85,365 votes.

He is survived by wife and children.

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hompson Oliha was a Nigerian professional football midfielder who played for clubs in Africa and Europe during an injury-shortened career.

He was born on October 4, 1968 and died on June 30, 2013 due to complications from malaria. Until his death, he was the assistant coach for the Kwara Football Academy.

It was gathered that Oliha was on the bench a day before his death when Kwara Football Academy (KFA) boys played a team from Mali.

He played for Bendel Insurance between 1985 and 1987, Iwuanyanwu Nationale between 1988 and 1991, Africa Sports between 1992 and 1993, Maccabi Ironi Ashdod F.C. between 1993 and 1994) as well as Antalyaspor between 1994 and 1995.

As a player, he was known for his powerful shots and abilities in the air. Oliha retired at the age of 27, as a result of a serious knee injury.

Oliha made a total of 31 appearances for the full Nigeria national football team, scoring two goals. He made his international

Adegboyega Raheem

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Nigeria to take care of everybody. Those in Boko Haram had lost hope, because those in government did not fulfil their promises.

“When there is no hope, the heart sink and wrong decision will be taken. It is important to have hope. Everyone expect hope. Your hope should depend on God. It is the Holy Spirit in a man that can give hope to him.

“I have hope that all will be well with Nigeria. The reason why we look up to 2015 election is because we have hope.

God is in charge of Nigeria, everybody should trust Him to make things better,’’ he said.

The Commissioner for Budget and Planning in Lagos State, Mr Ben Akabueze, while presenting the book urged those in authority to know that the positions they occupied were just journey to work for mankind.

Akabueze urged the political class to walk with God, while they should make rightful decision that will promote their image in the future.

Thompson Oliha debut in 1990, in a game against Senegal and made his last appearance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, as a late substitute against Italy.

Oliha also played at the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship.

He is survived by wife and children.

lhaji Shakirudeen Adegboyega Raheem, aged 60, is dead. He died on Friday, June 28 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and was buried on Saturday, June 29 at the Abari Cemetery, Epetedo, Lagos Island, according to Islamic rites.

The Third Day Prayer was held on Monday, July 1, 2013 at the AgoIjaiye Compound, Badagry.

The Seventh Day Prayer and final burial ceremony for Alhaji Raheem will be held Friday, July 5, 2013 at the Eko Club, Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos, where reception follows thereafter.

A 40th Day Fidau Prayer will be held Saturday, August 10, at Lane 4, House 5, Rupkowu Market Junction, by Mgbuchi Pipeline, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He is survived by wife, Victoria Raheem and children: Mubeen, Kabir, Ramlat and Shina Raheem; and grand children: Kikelomo, Kolade and Konyinsola.

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World News

Ecuador seeks UK’s help on embassy bug

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“The damage created by the Snowden case, if confirmed, is above all a wound for the United States, not just for us Europeans, and I think as a friendly country we have the duty to say so” –Italian Foreign Minister, Emma Bonino

World leaders divided over Morsi’s ouster Mansour sworn in as Egyptian interim leader AU likely to suspend Egypt

PAUL ARHEWE,

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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orld leaders yesterday treaded with caution and were divided in their views concerning the ouster of Egyptian democratically elected President, Mohamed Morsi, by the country’s armed forces.

US President Barack Obama said he was “deeply concerned” by the events, and called for a swift return to civilian rule.

“I now call on the Egyptian military to move quickly and responsibly to return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible through an inclusive and transparent process, and to avoid any arbitrary arrests of President Morsi and his supporters,” he said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said a “democratic transition” must take place soon.

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon noted the “legitimate concerns” of protesters, but said military inference was always “of concern”.

“Many Egyptians in their protests have voiced deep frustrations and legitimate concerns. …

At the same time, military interference in the affairs of any state is of concern, ” he said.

German Foreign Minister

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arely less than 24 hours after the military overthrew and put President Morsi under house arrest, a top judge of the country’s Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmud Mansour, was yesterday sworn in as interim leader.

Mansour said fresh elections were “the only way” forward, but gave no indication of when they would be held.

He vowed to “preserve the system of the republic, and respect the constitution and law, and guard the people’s interests”.

He said he would safeguard “the spirit of the revolution” which removed Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011, and would “put an end to the idea of worshipping the leader”.

He held out an olive branch to the Muslim Brotherhood, saying they were “part of these people and are invited to participate in building the nation.”

Elections would be held based on “the genuine people’s will, not a fraudulent one,” he said. “This is the

Egypt’s chief justice Adly Mansour (centre) is applauded by chiefs of the constitutional court after he is sworn in as the nation’s interim president, yesterday.

PHOTO: AP

Guido Westerwelle described the ousting as “a serious setback for democracy” and called on all sides to refrain from “violence and arbitrariness”.

The Nigerian Government in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the military intervention.

A statement from the Ministry reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has received with grave concern, news of the overthrow by the Armed Forces, of the democratically elected President of Egypt, Mr. Mohammed Morsi and the suspension of the country’s constitution. This is a truncation

of the aspirations of the Egyptian people to freely express themselves through the ballot box.

“This unfortunate development is a gross violation of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which prohibits unconstitutional change of government.

It constitutes a serious setback of the remarkable progress which Africa has made in fostering the culture of democratic governance in the continent.

“Nigeria calls for the immediate restoration of the democratic order in Egypt and urges the Egyptian Armed Forces to allow the democratic culture to thrive in the

country. Nigeria also calls on the Egyptian people to exercise utmost restraint in the peaceful pursuit of their legitimate grievances.”

Also, countries in the Middle East region have reacted cautiously to the events. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates welcomed the change in leadership, while Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag cautioned that it was “not a result of the will of the people”.

Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad welcomed events unreservedly, calling the ousting of Morsi the “fall of so-called political Islam”.

...Interim leader, Mahmud Mansour sworn-in

only way for a brighter future, a freer future, a more democratic one”.

Mansour also praised the military as “the conscience of the nation and the guarantor of its security and safety”.

As he took his oath, military jets flew over the capital trailing the colours of the national flag.

The upheaval comes after days of mass rallies against Morsi and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement he comes from.

Protesters accused them of pursuing an Islamist agenda and of failing to tackle Egypt’s economic problems.

The health ministry says at least 10 people were killed and scores injured in clashes at rival protests across the country overnight. Some 50 people have died since the latest unrest began on Sunday.

Gehad el-Haddad, a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, told the BBC that Morsi had been put

under house arrest and the “entire presidential team” was in detention.

Haddad’s father, senior Morsi aide Essam el-Haddad, and Saad alKatatni, head of the Brotherhood’s political wing, are among those being held, as well as supreme leader, Mr. Badie.

Unnamed officials have said Mohammed Badie, supreme leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, has been arrested in Marsa Matrouh, a Mediterranean coastal city to the west of Cairo.

He is the latest high-profile detainee from the Brotherhood.

Cairo’s Tahrir Square was calm yesterday morning, though crowds were expected to gather later in the day.

The African Union is likely to suspend Egypt from all its activities after the country’s military suspended the constitution and overthrew Morsi, a senior AU source said yesterday.

The source, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that mem-

bers of the AU’s peace and security council would meet on Friday and were likely to implement the AU’s usual response to any interruption of constitutional rule by a member state.

“The belief is that the doctrine will be applied, which is suspension for any country where an unconstitutional change has taken place,” he said.

In the March, the AU also suspended the Central African Republic after rebels overthrew the government there.

Ramtane Lamamra, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Council, told Reuters in the Ethiopian capital where the AU is based that the council would discuss Egypt’s situation at the Friday meeting.

Arrest warrants have reportedly been issued for some 300 other members of the Muslim Brotherhood, including Mr Badie’s deputy, Khairat al-Shater.

WORLD BULLETIN 71 killed, 300 wounded in Somalia clash –WHO

At least 71 people have been killed and more than 300 wounded in ongoing fighting between rival militias in the Somali city of Kismayo, the World Health Organization said yesterday.

The clashes in the southern port city have displaced many and “continues to have a profound impact on civilians and humanitarian aid work” in the region, the United Nations health agency said.

Many of the victims suffered fractures, head and chest injuries.

Nearly 40 patients had to be operated on, according to WHO. Kismayo is currently the scene of intense, sporadic battles as rival militias fight for control of the strategic city. Somalia’s central government accuses Kenyan troops stationed in Kismayo of backing one militia against others and wants the African Union —under whose auspices the Kenyans are deployed — to send a neutral force there.

Somalia’s government has filed a complaint with the African Union in which it charges that the conduct of Kenyan troops in Kismayo is undermining military efforts against the Islamic militants of al-Shabab.

Kenyans urged to spend British pay wisely

As some 5,200 Kenyans wait to get paid by Britain for colonial-era acts of torture, herdsmen from Kenya’s Samburu and Maasai tribes who once benefited from similar payments have some advice: Don’t squander the money like we did.

Some of the herdsmen embraced polygamy, others bought new cars they did not know how to drive. Eleven years later, the Kenyan tribesmen compensated by Britain —as the victims of explosives left behind by British soldiers in training— say they regret their failure to spend the cash responsibly.

“I cannot calculate the amount of money I spent on alcohol,” said Kipise Lourolkeek, 53, a Maasai elder who as a young herdsman in the 1970s was injured by an exploding object that he picked up in the plains.

Top Zimbabwean court refuses to shift election date

Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court rejected a series of government appeals yesterday to delay a July 31 general election in order to allow more time for reform of the security forces and state media.

Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku declined to give reasons for the court’s unanimous rejection of the requests, lodged after the regional South African Development Community (SADC) said a delay was needed to lay the ground for a credible vote.

“For the avoidance of doubt, elections should proceed on the 31st of July in terms of the proclamation by the President of Zimbabwe in compliance with the order of this court,” Chidyausiku said.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Doctors advise Mandela’s family to turn off life support He is sometimes uncomfortable, but seldom in pain –Wife D Patino showing a picture of the bug planted in Ecuadorian embassy in London.

PHOTO: BBC

Ecuador seeks UK’s help on embassy bug

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cuador has asked the UK to help an investigation over alleged spying at its embassy in London where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is living, the BBC has reported.

Ecuador named a British company it claimed planted a listening device in their ambassador’s office but this was denied.

Assange has been staying at the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden.

He is wanted there for questioning over allegations by two women of sexual offences - which he denies.

Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told a news conference in Quito the bug was found last month when Ecuadorean technicians reviewed the embas-

sy’s wiring.

The purpose of the bug, which was hidden inside an electrical socket, was to listen to the conversations of Ambassador Ana Alban in her office, Patino said.

Assange lives and works in a different room in the embassy.

Patino said: “We have reason to believe that the bugging was carried out by The Surveillance Group Limited, one of the largest private investigation and covert surveillance companies in the United Kingdom.”

The system worked with a Sim card and could be activated by a call from any mobile or fixed-line phone, he added.

The Surveillance Group, which is based in Worcester said Mr Patino’s allegation was “wholly untrue”.

octors advised Former South Africa leader Nelson Mandela’s family that his life support should be turned off because he was in a ‘permanent vegetative state’, court documents reveal.

The revelation from members of the former president’s family came as part of a family dispute over the graves of three of his children.

Court documents from June 26 said: ‘He is in a permanent vegetative state and is assisted in breathing by a life support machine.

‘The Mandela family have been advised by the medical practitioners that his life support machine should be switched off.

‘Rather than prolonging his suffering, the Mandela family is exploring this option as a very real probability.’

Meanwhile, Mandela’s wife said her husband is sometimes uncomfortable but seldom in pain while being treated in the hospital.

Graca Machel spoke about the former president’s condition at a fundraising drive for a children’s hospital that will be named after the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader.

“Whatever is the outcome of his stay in hospital, that will remain the second time where he offered his nation an opportunity to be united under the banner of our flag, under the banner of our constitution,” she said.

Women of the ANC women league singing and holding posters in support of Nelson Mandela at the entrance of the Mediclinic Heart Hospital, yesterday.

PHOTO: AP

Mandela, who was hospitalised on June 8, remains in critical but stable condition, according to a statement Thursday by President Jacob Zuma’s office.

Zuma visited Mandela yesterday, said the statement.

The remains of the 94-year-old’s three deceased children were reburied at their original resting site

following a court order to return them after Mandla moved the bodies.

It comes as the bitter feud between Mandela’s family descended into soap opera farce today when his grandson and heir Mandla accused relatives of adultery and milking the fame of the revered anti-apartheid leader.

Classified Space for sale

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Friday, July 5, 2013

EFCC arrests Bauchi scholarship board officials over fraud EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

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auchi State Head of Service, Mr. Abdun Dallah Gin, has said that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had arrested officials of the state scholarship board for alleged financial misappropriation.

Gin stated this while briefing journalists on the achievements of Governor Isa Yuguda’s administration

from 2007 till date.

He said that the arrest was in line with the state government’s determination to fight corruption.

Gin said the government had established anti-corruption units in all ministries and agencies to curb corruption among civil servants.

He said: “As I speak with you now, you are free to contact the office of the EFCC for further clarification on those under their custody for fund diversion and the govern-

ment is committed to ensure sanity in the civil service.”

According to the Head of Service, the government is presently employing workers in critical areas like health and education, among others, adding that the state had placed embargo on recruitment until its financial situation improves.

He stress that unspecified number of civil servants had under-gone in-service training as a determination to enhance productivity, compe-

tency and professionalism.

Gin, however, added that over 13,626 indigenes were recruited into the police, military and other para-military agencies which cost the government N57 million to cushion the effect of the training.

He also said that the government had spent N600 million on the payment of the backlog of gratuity and other benefits of retirees.

The Head of Service then asked workers to reciprocate the government’s gesture.

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Insecurity: Kwara plans special task force WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

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he Kwara State Government is planning a special security task force that will comprise of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Police and the State Security Service (SSS) as part of the measures to tackle criminal activities in the state.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who disclosed this yesterday in a media chat tagged: “The Governor Explains,” said that the decision was to demonstrate his administration’s zero tolerance to criminal acts.

Ahmed said in addition to putting finishing touches to the take-off of the task force, he would provide a fleet of additional 20 patrol vans and other gadgets to the police to complement those they already had, aside regular financial and logistics support.

Speaking on communal clashes and disputes on land in some parts of the state, Ahmed said he would hate to be a governor that would

allow lawlessness under any guise to be perpetrated by anybody, no matter how highly placed.

According to him, there are laid down avenues to settle scores which could be either directly to the court of law or reporting to the police as against taking laws into ones hands saying: “Any breach of the law is criminal and will be treated as such in full dose by the government.”

Speaking on last week’s remand in the prison custody of two tradition rulers over bloody clashes in their communities because of chieftaincy titles, the governor said so long as people take to using cutlass, guns and knives to settle whatever scores, he would not hesitate to decisively deal with the situations as they come.

Ahmed also flayed mismanagement of funds by the managements of some institutions in the state.

The fund mismanagement has led irregular payment of the salaries of the institutions’ workers.

Nasarawa’s peace can’t be taken for granted –Committee been responsible for creatIGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA Army medical corps personnel sensitising prison officials during their outreach at Dukpa community in Gwagwalada as part of the 2013 Army Day celebration in Abuja, on Wednesday.

PHOTO:NAN

Three students expelled for cultism in Benue HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

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hree students of College of Education in Oju, Benue State, have been expelled for engaging in cultism.

The students - George Agbo, Amina Ada Garba and Akatu John - were caught by the school authorities for being in possession of firearms and other weapons.

They were subsequently apprehended and handed

•Cement-laden truck kills teacher over to security agents for investigation and prosecution.

According to a source, the weapons included a revolver with 10 rounds of live ammunition, cutlass, an axe, a dagger and wraps of Indian hemp which the suspects concealed in their bags.

National Mirror learnt that the school authorities had intensified efforts to rid the college of cultism as the

institution is in recent time known for unrest and other nefarious activities which are believed to heighten by the consumption of hard drugs among the students.

A teacher with St Francis’ Primary School in Otukpo, Margaret Okwori, was yesterday killed by a cementladen truck.

The vehicle, marked: DUT 86 XA, was said to be on its way from Gboko to the

South-East.

Irate youths, especially commercial seized the truck in a bid to lynch the driver and set the vehicle ablaze, but the timely intervention of law enforcement agents put the situation under control.

While confirming the incident, the Police Divisional Officer (DPO), Mr. Francis Obingwa, said Okwori’s body had been deposited at the Otukpo General Hospital’s mortuary.

Gombe to restructure investment company for effectiveness DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

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he Gombe State Government has initiated a robust measure to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and make its Investment and Property Development Company earn more profit.

The state has, therefore, set up a restructuring mechanism to enable the two organisations generate more funds to complement its

monthly allocation from the Federal Government.

The Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad, stated this yesterday in Gombe city after a prolonged state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.

Muhammad told journalists the council deliberated extensively on ways of revamping the nearly moribund organisations.

According to him, not

much has been realised in terms to revenue that could sustain the state from the two organisations since the creation of the state as over 90 per cent of its revenue comes from allocation from the Federal Government.

To this regard, the commissioner said the that government had signed a memorandum of understanding with Access Bank with the aim of improving the revenue base of the state as well as restructure the operations

of the Investment and Property Development Company in phases.

He, however, regretted that the investment company, which was supposed to be profitable and provide revenue, was over dependent on the government, saying: “Properties in the company have contributed less than one per cent to the government. The government’s action is going to be decisive as we want the company to make a mark.”

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he Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution on Security Challenges in the North yesterday said the prevailing peace existing in Nasarawa State cannot be taken for granted.

Chairman of the committee and Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, stated this when the committee visited Governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura at the Government House in Lafia, the state capital.

Turaki said: “Nasarawa has been a very peaceful state and has not been recorded any act of terrorism or matters connected therewith, but regrettably, there had been a very unfortunate incident connected to the Ombatse issue and we believe it will be captured in such a manner that will prevent future occurrence and not only in the peaceful state which we are, but other parts of the country.”

He, however, commended Al-Makura’s administration and other stakeholders for taken extra measures to address some of those underlined causes that have

ing security challenges in the state.

The chairman also commended the governor for providing equal opportunities for all residents of the state without regards to their political and religious creeds.

Turaki said: “The issue of insecurity is the problem of everybody in this country. Some people say there is insecurity in the North, but if there is insecurity in the North then it is not the only problem of the North or northerners, but it is the problem of every Nigerian.

“It was as a result of this that President Goodluck Jonathan said that the government could no longer tolerate this unfortunate state of affairs in the country.”

Responding, Governor Al-Makura said the due to the nature of the state, the most desirable intervention would be to provide basic infrastructure that are capital-intensive which he described as the springboard and the foundation for any development.

He said: “When I came on board two years ago, I concentrated my attention on providing basic infrastructure.”

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-REAL MADRID’S COACH, CARLO ANCELOTTI

FIFA ranking: Eagles slump to 35th

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igeria’s Super Eagles have lost four places to drop to fifth best country in Africa in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Ranking for the month of July released yesterday.

Losing four places also meant that Nigeria have now dropped to 35th in the world with the likes of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Algeria leading the ranking in the continent.

Super Eagles’ coach, Keshi

Eagles’ slump in this month’s ranking came in the wake of their poor showings in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil where they failed to advance to the semi-finals after losing to Spain and Uruguay in the group game.

The leading African country in the July ranking, Cote d’Ivoire, retained their 13th place in the world by virtue of their superlative performance in the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifiers, topping their group and advancing to the final round play-offs with a game remaining.

Coming next to Cote d’Ivoire is Ghana, ranking 2nd in Afri-

ca and 24th in the world despite losing three places in the latest ranking. Mali, losing five places, are ranked third best in Africa and 28th in the world.

The July edition of the FIFA/CocaCola World Ranking has been heavily influenced by the FIFA Confederations Cup. Brazil’s stunning victory over Spain, coupled with their perfect return of five victories from five matches, as well as a win against France in a friendly shortly before the tournament itself – see the Selecao (9th, up 13) secure a return to the top ten.

Spain, however, have held on to their lead and continue to top the ranking ahead of Germany and now Colombia (3rd, up 4), who are not only in their best-ever position thanks to some impressive performances in the World Cup qualifiers but also the highest South American team in the top ten.

Keshi relaunches winning streak tomorrow

U

ntil his team’s defeats to Uruguay and Spain at the 22013 20 013 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil last month, Coach Stephen Keshi had not lost a competitive game since taking the saddle as Super Eagles’ Coach in November 2011.

The 52-year-old started with a goalless draw against Botswana in an international friendly at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on November 12, 2011 and three days later, set his boys on rampage to defeat 2012 Africa Cup of Nations-bound Zambia Z mbia 2-0 at the Za Ahmadu Bello Stadium in another friendly.

The Zambians eventually won that AFCON staged in Equatorial

Sport

I have worked with Zinedine Zidane elsewhere before and I think we will do it again this time

Keshi needs my goals –Utaka

IKENWA NNABUOGOR

53

Guinea and Gabon.

Keshi returns to the lush turf of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium tomorrow to guide his much-loved home-based lads against their counterparts from Cote d’Ivoire.

It is on record that back then, when majority of Nigerians had no faith in the home-based professionals Keshi gave them a levelplaying turf in the senior team and gave them a sense of belonging.

They were right there in his camp and calculations from the beginning, with quality playing time in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches and several friendlies, and five of them eventually making the final cut for the Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.

One of those, a certain Sunday Mba, emerged the hero of the spectacular quarter-final win over Cote d’Ivoire in Rustenburg and scored the lone goal over Burkina Faso in Jonnesburg that handed Nigeria the coveted trophy for the first time in 19 years.

The home lads’ gutsy performances encouraged performa Keshi to take 14 of them to t the training camp in Gertrain many mid-May , ahead of mi the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia and the FIFA Nam Confederations Cup, with Confedera eight of them making the t cut for the th Confederations Cup showpiece in Brazil. show Come Com tomorrow, the boys have the opportunity to further furthe justify Keshi’s confidence confidenc in them as they seek to shoot past the Ivorish ans and get g Nigeria into the CHAN for the first time.

And with Nigeria havw ing won all major football tournaments staged by tourname South Africa since the end Afr of the 2010 201 FIFA World Cup finals, there the are many who believe that th once the Eagles get past Cote d’Ivoire, they C would go all the way at the 3rd CHAN finals in South Africa in January 2014.

His unbeaten streak having been torn by Urube guay and Spain in Brazil, Keshi aims aim to start another winning streak at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium toBe morrow.

NNL warns against attacks on refs YEMI OLUS

T

he Nigeria National League (NNL) has warned against attacks or harassment of match officials and has called on clubs to prevail on their supporters or face the wrath of the law.

The warning was issued in a communiqué signed by the Chairman, Communiqué Drafting Committee, Hon. Kunle Somane, at the end of a board meeting of the NNL held on Wednesday in Abuja.

Also contained in the

communiqué a copy of which was sent National Mirror yesterday, is the decision to postpone some games in order to attend to pressing matters regarding the league.

It reads, “The board condemns in strong terms the rising wave of hooliganism in the league and attendant assault of match officials and warn clubs to control their supporters. Erring clubs will be punished according to the rules and regulations of the league.

“The board has postponed Weeks 29 and 30 games to allow NFF Disciplinary Committee to dispense with the outstanding cases and to enable some outstanding games to be replayed as ordered by the Committee.”

2012/2013 NIGERIA NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS AS AT WEEK 27 DIVISION A Teams

PT

PL

WN DR LS

GF GA

Giwa FC

49

26

14

7

5

26

9

DSS FC

40

24

13

1

10

32

30

FC Taraba

39

24

13

-

11

31

25

Plateau Utd

39

25

12

3

10

25

21

Sokoto Utd

37

25

11

4

10

20

18

TEAP FC

37

26

10

7

9

23

26

Mighty Jets FC

36

25

11

3

11

25

21

JUTH FC

36

25

11

3

11

20

16

Spotlight FC

35

25

11

2

12

26

24

Jigawa G Stars

35

26

11

2

12

20

26

Ranchers FC

34

24

11

1

12

21

24

Niger Tornadoes

33

25

10

3

12

25

28

Kogi Utd

31

25

10

1

14

24

33

Adamawa Utd

30

24

8

6

10

17

23

FC Abuja

25

24

6

7

11

21

27

DIVISION B Teams

PT

PL

WN DR LS

GF GA

Remo Stars

40

23

13

1

9

27

20

Abia Warriors

38

23

12

2

9

29

21

Crown FC

38

23

12

2

9

25

18

Gabros Utd

37

23

11

4

8

30

23

MFM

37

24

11

4

9

25

23

Unicem Rovers

36

24

11

3

10

19

21

Gateway FC

34

23

11

1

11

23

19

Bendel Ins.

33

23

10

3

10

22

24

C.O.D Utd

31

24

10

1

13

21

23

Prime FC

31

23

10

1

12

25

28

Akwa Starlet FC

31

23

9

4

10

21

24

Abia Comets

30

24

9

3

12

25

30

Rising Stars

30

24

8

6

10

22

26

Fountain FC

26

23

7

5

12

23

36

54

Sport

Friday, July 5 , 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ameobi now available for Nigeria

N

ewcastle United’s attacker, Shola Ameobi, is ready to make a return to the Super Eagles, after a contractual clause that barred him from featuring in the last Africa Cup of Nations has been expunged.

Ameobi missed out on the 2013 AFCON despite being included in Coach Stephen Keshi’s provisional squad for the tournament after it was revealed that a clause in his club’s contract would prevent him from competing at the tournament.

A release made available to supersport.com yesterday by the media department of the Super Eagles revealed that Ameobi is now free to play for Nigeria as the said “clause

Handballers at a recent championship

Handball: FCT teams get Togo invitation

JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

F

ederal Capital Territory (FCT) handball teams Safety Shooters and Civil Defence Riders will participate in a Four-Nation Handball Invitational Tournament scheduled for Togo in September.

Both teams who emerged winner and runner-up at the end of a week-

long handball competition organised by Centre for Youth and Children Excellence in Sport (CYCES) in collaboration with FCT Handball Federation were handed an automatic invitation, in addition to Edo Dynamos of Benin who came third.

Coordinator of CYCES, Mr. Bala Mohammed, told National Mirror that the centre would not relent in its effort towards making handball

players realise their potential.

“After participating in local competitions like this, they will be mature enough to play at international level,” Mohammed, who is also Coach of the Federal Road Safety Corps handball team, said.

“Organisers of the Togo tournament saw talents here and resolved to invite our teams to the four-nation event,” he added.

FIFA docks Togo 3 points

F

IFA yesterday confirmed that the Togolese Football Federation (TFF) has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminary competition match for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Togo and Cameroun played on June 9, 2013.

The sanction relates to the Togolese player, Jacques Alexys Romao, failing to

has been removed.”

“Ameobi said the clause has been removed and he will be ready to play for the Super Eagles anytime he is called upon,” the release read.

Ameobi

serve the automatic onematch suspension imposed on him following two cautions received in two different matches (art. 17 par. 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code).

The match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Cameroun, with the TFF also receiving a fine of CHF 6,000 after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee considered the TFF liable for having breached art. 55 par.

1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and art. 8 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Regulations.

Onitsha hosts LSFA unfolds Oba Cup plans ….Suspends Cameroun FA tennis tourney Y O DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

A

five-day open Tennis Championship will commence at the Onitsha Sports Club in Anambra State on July 12.

South East Zonal Representative of the National Tennis Federation (NTF), Chief Tobechi Ezezie, said the championship was aimed at reviving the sport in the region, adding that the event would be open to all states in the zone and others in the South-South.

“The winner of the male category draw of 32 would get N100, 000 while the female category draw of 16 winner will get N80, 000,” Ezezie said.

“We expect about 50 tennis players to participate. Each state is expected to register their three best male players and two best female players for the main draw while other players will be drawn in the qualifying stages which will commence on July 10.”

Meanwhile, Coordinator in Charge of South East Zone 3 of National Sports Commission, Mr. Stanley Okebugwu, has commended the sponsor for his initiative.

“We are assuring of a well-organised competition,” Okebugwu said.

EMI

LUS

L

agos State Football Association (LSFA) has concluded plans for the Oba Cup football tournament.

About 160 teams will compete in the tournament sponsored by Skye Bank Plc scheduled to begin on July 22 in the five Divisional Football Associations from where 16 teams would qualify for the state level.

Chairman of the Technical Committee of the state FA, Dotun Coker, said registration for the tournament had commenced and would close on the July 19.

Chairman of the football association, Seyi Akinwunmi, also disclosed that N2million had been earmarked as the total prize money in addition to individual awards.

Meanwhile the association has commenced preparation for the National Sports Commission- organized National Youth Games holding in September in Abuja.

The NYG will see Lagos presenting two teams for Boys and Girls with the zonal elimination holding in Ibadan where the state will compete for the two tickets available in both categories with host Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states from August 14 to 18.

Buenos Aires to host Youth Games

T

he 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games will be hosted by the city of Buenos Aires in 2018, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge announced yesterday following a vote by the IOC members at an Extraordinary IOC Session in Lausanne.

Buenos Aires was elected ahead of Glasgow and Medellín. Prior to the vote, the Candidate Cities each had 15 minutes to give a presentation to the Session, followed by questions.

Evaluation Commission Chair Claudia Bokel addressed the Session on

behalf of the Commission.

“We had three excellent candidates from which to choose a host city today, each with the capability of staging memorable Youth Olympic Games in 2018. I would like to congratulate Buenos Aires and their bid team for their dedication to and enthusiasm for the Youth Olympic Games project,” Rogge said.

T

he FIFA Emergency Committee decided yesterday, July 4 2013, to provisionally suspend the Camerounian Football Association (FECAFOOT) with immediate effect, on account of government interference.

Articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes oblige member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties.

It said that a normalisation committee would be set up as provided under article 7 par. 2 of the FIFA Statutes to revise the FECAFOOT statutes and to organise elections for new office bear-

Milo B’ball results Semi-finals (Girls) Bayelsa

16-14

Oyo

Benue

37-16

Zamfara

FIFA president, Blatter

ers by March 31, 2014, at the same time as managing the daily business.

The FIFA administration, in cooperation with CAF, will identify and nominate the members of the normalisation committee.

The normalisation committee will act as an electoral body, whose decisions will be final and binding. Its members will not be eligible for any of the open positions.

But the suspension will be lifted once the country authorities allow the new normalisation committee to enter the FECAFOOT headquarters and to carry out its activities unhindered.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Friday, July 5, 2013

55

Win Window on Nigerian p players abroad

with IIKENWA KENWA NNA NNABUOGOR NA N ABU ABU BUOG O OR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com ikenwa.nnab bbuuooggor@g or@g or @gm maail.com

Keshi needs my goals –Utaka Utaka

Utaka, you banged in four goals in a game last weekend, how did you do this?

It wasn’t my making, but God’s! He has always been there for me and I can’t thank Him enough for the wonderful feat he helped me achieve. It was my first quadruple in a competitive game, having scored same in a friendly game at OB Odense in Denmark. I’m used to scoring hat tricks and braces but this particular one was a gift from God. All the goals were special and significant but I have a soft spot for the fourth which was typical of me. I had the keeper at my mercy on one on one and rounded him stylishly to put the ball in the empty net.

What did the goals and ultimately the victory mean to you and your club considering that you hadn’t won in eight games prior to the 4-3 thriller at Hangzhou?

It was unarguably the most important victory for our club this season because we had failed to win games in the previous eight games like you rightly pointed out. It was also a difficult game and Hangzhou were just too tough. A week earlier, they beat Beijing Houan, one of the biggest clubs in the land, making our task a tough one.

It was also the first game under new coach Bosnian Simo Kruni and he couldn’t have asked for a better way to start his tenure. The three points were just precious and booster to our confidence. We have to build on that to continue to improve our performance this season. Personally, those four goals are just close to my heart, I will cherish them for the rest of my career because they were my first in a competitive game.

The game was away from home and

Dalian Aerbin of China striker, Peter Utaka entered his club’s history books by netting all four goals in their famous 4-3 away win in the Chinese Super League last weekend, to steer his side to a rare victory. The estranged Eagles’ striker tells National Mirror that Keshi should cash on his impressive goal return to end Eagles’ scoring woes. back home in Dalian, the Chinese media reported that the fans wouldn’t let you walk freely. How was it like?

You can recall I scored 20 goals last season on their promotion to the top flight and the whole city of Dalian stood still for me. Never in the history of the club has any player hit such double figures and since then the fans believed I was God sent. So, when we returned to Dalian after the famous 4-3 away win, I knew what I would face and I was prepared for it. It was true that the fans didn’t give me a breathing space but I had to manage the situation well. They love me so much and I always try to reciprocate by signing autographs and greeting them with smiles. The partying on the day of the victory was something else and it continued the day after we arrived. I could understand how they felt because we hadn’t won in previous eight games.

The double brace upped your goal account to seven, still a far cry from the top scorer, Elkeson’s 17, do you still nurse the ambition of finishing top scorer?

I’ve always been a top scorer considering my achievements in Belgium and Denmark before I arrived in China. But I can’t tell if I will emerge top scorer at the end of the season. But football is so funny that anything can happen. I got the ability to score but I will leave everything in the hands of God, if He says I will emerge top scor-

er, no one can stop me.

You have remained consistent since you began your professional career and yet the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has overlooked you despite the misfiring from his strikers in recent time. Do you think you can end the Eagles’ recent scoring problems?

Like you mentioned earlier, I have shown great consistency at goal scoring since I arrived in Europe in 2003 and I think I have really done well enough to deserve a return to the Super Eagles. I gave a good account of myself when Samson Siasia was in charge, scoring four goals in 10 appearances. I’m not that kind of player that plays in the pages of newspapers; I show what I can do on the pitch. I may be playing in China but I can tell you that most China-based players are key players in their national teams, so, I think I should be given a chance as well.

But in all modesty, I think I deserve a chance with the Eagles again.

But are you disappointed that you’re not in the current Eagles team?

It’s not a question of being disappointed but the coaches’ choices.

I take everything as they come if God says, I will get my chance again, and no one will stop me. I have done well enough to be considered for a chance.

Enyeama demands €.75m from Maccabi

V

incent Enyeama would return for a second spell with Maccabi Tel Aviv if they meet his financial demand and personal terms, reports a local website in Israel.

The website reports that the former Enyimba goalkeeper has agreed to ink a three-year contract should they part with 750 000 euros per season.

The Nigeria international was one of the shining lights of the Yellows last season as they won the Israeli championship. The leadership of the club is exploring ways to re - sign him. Even for a goalkeeper, age is not on Vincent Enyema’s side; hence he is eyeing a final big pay day.

On the other hand, Maccabi Tel Aviv are willing to pay him 550,000 euros per season after all deductions have been made.

Should the leadership at Maccabi Tel Aviv agree to make the offer, there’s likelihood, according to the website, that it will cause disharmony in the dressing room.

Enyeama, who is now vacationing in Nigeria after playing at the Confederations Cup, is weighing up the offer from Maccabi Tel Aviv.

He’s expected to play a key role in the wedding of his elder brother, former Enyimba defender Aniekan, in Uyo this weekend.

Turkish, Spanish clubs step up Eneramo chase

T

he race to land the former Esperance of Tunisia striker Michael Eneramo continues to hot up as a host of Turkish and Spanish clubs gun for his signature. Eneramo’s contract at Sivaspor expired this summer and no fewer than six clubs are waiting to pounce on the former Lobi Stars’ hit man.

Reports indicated last week that Turkish top side Trabzonspor were leading the race to land the big striker but Eneramo told National Mirror that they had not reached an agreement. Eneramo says the offers are still pouring in but he’s still weighing his options.

“I can’t say I will sign for a club now but we’re still discussing with the interested clubs,” Eneramo declared.

“My options are still open though but I think in few weeks things will take shape. I will have to sign for the club that meets my personal terms.”

Eneramo netted 26 goals in 79 appearances for Sivaspor in his two and half year spell.

Eneramo

WORLD RECORD

Most contaminated lake (radioactivity)

Vol. 03 No. 658

Friday, July 5, 2013

N150

Lake Karachay in the Chelyabinsk province of Russia has accumulated 120 million curies of radioactivity and absorbed nearly 100 times more strontium 90 and caesium 137 than was released at Chernobyl.

Poisoned chalice and the unpredictable end

A

lesson taught by killing a ‘stubborn fly’ the teacher wanted reformed is a lesson delivered and grasped by no one. Gone with the winds is the wasted teaching. For, nothing can be taught or learned by the dead, nor can any valuable information be extracted from cold corpses.

If wishes were horses, therefore, one would have preferred the ongoing brave approach adopted by the ‘Civilian JTF’ of smoking out suspected Boko Haram members from their hideouts, wherever such sacrilegious places may be located and handing them over to the authorities for proper grilling and possible prosecution, than totally eliminating them with the force of arms which the military currently enforcing State of Emergency in the three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa would probably prefer. My admiration for the Civilian JTF option stems from the palpable indication that sooner than may be expected, captured Boko Haram in-

NO SWEAT, GOV, ILLEGAL CHECKPOINTS TO THE RESCUE!

FRIDAY WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) surgents would spill the beans and Nigerians will know the true identities of the big shots behind the strife in parts of the North. All it will take is capturing the right Boko Haram big fish.

So far, the anti-terrorist Civilian JTF – (Volunteer Vigilance Youths Group, VVYG) which comprises of youths from Maiduguri and other major towns in the troubled state, have been very supportive to the official Joint Military Task Force (JTF). Armed with just sticks, knives and machetes; and a steel resolve to free their abodes from Boko Haram intruders, reports said they defied the sect’s reprisal threats and recently arrested 31 members of the group from various locations in Maiduguri, as well as destroyed their training camps at the Sambisa Games Reserves Forests (SGRF); and Kirenoa, a border community with Chad. The insurgents they rounded up were said to be responsible for the recent attack on the Ansarudeen Secondary School and some fishermen and traders at Alau Dam, in which 22 people, including nine students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) exam on Baga Road were killed.

Reports last Wednesday also said the youths who have picked up over 100 members of the Islamist sect laid siege on the Maiduguri residence of the Chairman of the ruling All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) in Borno State, Alhaji Mala Othman, said to be on the run. But Othman denied the charge the following day from the relatively safe

N

THAT POLITICIANS FASHIONED THE POISONED CHALICE NOW TROUBLING THE NATION AS BOKO

HARAM

havens of Abuja, but his denial enraged the youths the more and they set ablaze his Maiduguri New GRA home ablaze last Monday.

Perhaps more pathetic was the story related

by The Nation’s Columnist, Dele Agekameh, in his Wednesday June 26 piece - ‘A father’s uncommon sacrifice’, of how an anonymous, 60-year-old Borno State man of the Kanuri tribe handed over his son to members of the JTF for justice to take its course. The Kanuri businessman from Hausari Ward, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was said to have alleged that his son was a member of Boko Haram and had participated in the killing of several people in Maiduguri. What messages are there in the Civilian JTF defiance for the Boko Haram; and the distressing decision of a father to hand over his biological son to the JTF for soiling his hands with innocent blood? One of the foremost deductions would be that the downtrodden in the strife-torn parts of the North, particularly Borno State, are weary of Boko Haram violence and are probably compelled to remain in the axis of

Sport Extra

w igeria’s Blessing Okagbare yesterday exhibited her readiness for the forthcoming IAAF World Championships as she made a life time best leap of 6.98m to win the IAAF Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Okagbare beat reigning Olympic and world champion, Brittney Reese, who had a jump

MY IMPRESSION REMAINS

death because they have no alternative solution to the crisis. For such people, the emergency declaration could be a God-sent path out of the quagmire.

Yet, whether or not the determination of the Civilian JTF and the sacrifices of fathers who hand over their prodigal children on the membership list of the Boko Haram to the authorities will succeed in freeing the violenceinfested parts of the North from insurgence remains the multi-million-dollar question.

State of emergency in the affected areas will not last forever. And whenever it ends, if the seeds of political thuggery, brigandage and discord sowed by politicians in the area are not either neutralized or uprooted, it might be a matter of time before the axis is up in flames again. You can say God forbid.

But as the Federal Government weighs all options – the amnesty carrot, military coercion, et al; perhaps more attention should be devoted to getting to the honest root of the link between prominent politicians from the North East, especially Borno State, and insurgents in the Boko Haram strongholds. In my November 2, 2012 piece, titled ‘Puzzling politicians’ link with Boko Haram’ I did point out that even if it’s by mere coincidence, it is puzzling that two serving senators from Borno State, Ali Ndume and Ahmed Khalifa Zanna, as well as a former governor of the state, Ali Modu Sheriff, among others, have been smeared with the allegation of having links with the Boko Haram. The list got a bit longer recently with the Civilian JTF claim against the Borno State ANPP Chairman; as well as the alleged arrest of the tailor of the incumbent governor, Kashim Shettima. My impression remains that politicians fashioned the poisoned chalice now troubling the nation as Boko Haram, strictly for selfish political reasons. Complicated as the ungodly yield has become, it is their duty to pacify members of the sect, even if it involves paying reparations. Finding a lasting solution to Boko Haram demands that those who nurtured it must climb down from the hilltop the same way they ascended it.

Okagbare stuns Reese in Lausanne

of 6.96m, to the second position while Shara Proctor of Great Britain placed third (6.92m).

The American remains the world leader in the event with 7.25m which she achieved in May in Doha, Qatar where Okagbare was denied a national and

African record, following an excessive tail wind on her leap of 7.14m.

Last month, Okagbare beat 100m Olympic champion, ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and world champion, Carmeliter Jeter, in the 200m in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, London 2012 semi finalist, Regina George could only salvage a seventh-place finish (52.32secs) in the women’s 400m race which was won by Francena Mccorory in 50.36secs.

Okagbare is the best Nigerian hope in the women’s 100m.

Musa Okgbare

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