Friday, January 11, 2013 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

First Bank, UBA, others to lend NNPC $1.5bn AYO OLESIN

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

Alison-Madueke

Vol. 2 N0. 533

irst Bank, United Bank for Africa, UBA, and Ecobank Plc have been named as members of a 10bank consortium preparing to

extend a $1.5bn loan facility to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to pay off international fuel tradCONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

DAYS TO GO SWAN, NFF, others mourn Ayo Ositelu

Friday, January 11, 2013

P.53

N150

EFCC arrests Soludo over currency contract scam $15m Ibori bribe: Judge blasts agency, Delta over delay

P.12

AYO OLESIN AND OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arrested former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof. Charles Soludo, over an alleged bribe-for-contract scandal during his tenure in office. EFCC sources confirmed that Soludo was arrested in Abuja and was being interrogated at the commission’s office over alleged N750m polymer contract bribery. A reliable source at the anti-graft agency told our correspondent that Soludo arrived at the EFCC Abuja office about 2p.m. and was immediately taken to an interrogation room where he faced a team of operatives who grilled him for several hours to ascertain his level of involvement in the alCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Oyerinde’s murder:

Oshiomhole wants DIG, others sacked P.4

Scene of a multiple accident on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos, yesterday.

Nollywood kidnappings: P.19 Artistes’ raise fees Your

FRIDAY

Nkiru

Flavour

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

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Tension as Yero fires Yakowa’s aides, SSG P.49

Nigeria heading towards a failed state –Nwabueze, Adebanjo, others

Fire razes Bola Ige market in Ibadan

P.5

P.10

Media

Friday, January 11, 2013

A news stand

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Social media icons

2013: A year of enormous challenges to journalism The Nigerian media witnessed major setbacks in 2012, following spate of insecurity, murder of journalists, economic hardship and others. What are the expectations for 2013? Media experts have predicted that like 2012, there will be many ups and downs in the industry, as LEONARD OKACHIE reports: Insecurity of journalists

ccording to the International Federation of Journalists, the year 2012 was as one of the bloodiest for journalists worldwide. A total of 121 were killed, up from 107 in 2011. The President of IFJ Jim Boumelha said “The death toll for 2012 is another indictment of governments that pay lip service to protection of journalists but consistently failed to stop their murder.” He noted that it is no wonder these skyhigh numbers of murdered journalists have become a constant feature in the last decade during which the usual reaction from governments and the United Nations has been a few words of condemnation, a cursory inquiry and a shrug of indifference. The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Mohammed Garba, also said that 13 Nigerian journalists were killed in 2012, in the line of duty. He remarked that the figure was the highest in history of the country since Independence in 1960. In recent time, Nigerian journalists have been threatened, assaulted, brutalised, and killed while in the line of duty. Such incident occurred last year when security agents, radical Islamic sect otherwise known as Boko Haram and individuals lunched unwarranted attacks on journalists and media organisations. However, there are strong indications that the prevailing climate of insecurity in the country would continue unbated this year. More journalists will be attacked, while the Boko Haram sect will continue to launch an onslaught on the media. More worrisome is the culture of impunity and extrajudicial detention of Ni-

gerian journalists. The recent arrest and detention of the Editor Musa Muhammad Awwal and a reporter Aliyu Saleh of Hausa-language weekly newspaper Al-Mizan is a case in point. The journalists, who were arrested by soldiers on December 24, 2012, and subsequently released on New Year day, said they were not told their crime throughout their detention. Their release came after the defense lawyer, SadiqMarafa threatened to sue the government over illegal arrest and detention, if they were not let go within 24 hours.

FOI law The signing into law of the Freedom of Freedom (FoI) by President Goodluck Jonathan in May 2011, brought joy to the media, civil society and human rights groups. Many heralded it as a victory for democracy. But two year after, the excitement has been replaced by frustrations, as no progress has been made in terms of implementation. Analysts say that civil servants and public institutions have continued to use the existence of the Official Secrets Act and other such laws, to deny citizens the right to information despite Section 1 and other provisions of the FOI Act on the supremacy of the Act over other laws. They posit that the Official Secrets Act would have to be repealed or amended for the FOI Act to work effectively. The legislative arm of government had promised to do that but nothing has been done up till date. Last year, several sensitization and awareness campaigns were held on the FOI Acts for government agencies, media, society and grassroots organisations. Part of the recommendations was the calls on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)

to increase efforts in creating awareness and enlightenment among public institutions and within the civil service on superiority of the FOI Act over others laws, especially the Official Secrets Act. Efforts by some groups to test the law’s efficacy of law have so far failed. For instance,the Daily Trust requested the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to provide it with information on its recruitment policy. But the organisation reportedly wrote stating that it was not bound by the FoI act. Again, the fact that government officials are still paying lip service, coupled with the fact many people especially, journalists and civil society groups have not fully understood provisions of the Act, is indication that it would make little progress in 2013.

Traditional media What has been generating controversy in recent time is whether the traditional media as a platform for news and marketing will survive the emergence of New Media. Those working in the traditional media have panicked over possible job losses. However, protagonists of social media believe newspapers will soon die; but media experts have argued that that medium will continue to remain relevant in Nigeria. However, the economic crunch has continued to take a toll on Nigerian newspapers. The emergence of online platform has led to slide in advert revenue, circulation and increase in production cost. The prevailing economic situation has led to

closure of some media houses, while others are struggling to survive. For instance, such promising newspapers like The Moment, The Compass and others are barely visible on the newsstands, while many are finding it difficult to pay workers’ salaries and other bills. There are concerns that in 2013, the situation would even become dire in the traditional media as advert revenue and sales will continue to take a nosedive. The good news is that media owners will continue to advance their brands through online platforms, since they are interrelated. Many newspapers and magazines have begun to offer access to online editions. Recent report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), indicate that penetration of Personal Computer is low at 7 per 1,000. According to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), broadband penetration according is also at 7 per cent. The limited number of Smartphone among Nigeians constitutes impediments to marketers who want to take advantage of the digital space. In view of this, industry watchers have posited that the traditional media would still remain strong this year. Notwithstanding, more newspapers and magazine will come on board this year. For example, Newswatch Daily and sister publication, Newswatch Magazine will be among them. Digital media addiction The evolution of digital media has unarguably changed the face of information dissemination, as it has evolved incredibly quickly given that it started a few years ago. Nigeria is one of the top three digital brands in Sub-Saharan Africa; others are South Africa and Kenya. However, in Nige-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Friday, January 11, 2013

Chariman of BON, Abubakar Jijiwa

ria, mobile and social media are the driving forces of the next wave of digital change and fears are that they would reduce attention spans, while creating new problems in the way we work and live. According to Internet World Stats, the Internet usage in Nigeria with an estimated 170 million population in June 2012 stood at 48,366,179 while Facebook subscriber data as at Decemeber 31, 2012, was 6,630,200. Ranking as one of the most active social networkers in Africa, Nigerian online users actively maintain a Facebook profile, while social networking is rapidly emerging as favourite activity in terms of time spent. More Nigerians now spend time on their Blackberry, iphone, smartphones and tablets. So what will the potent combination of social and mobile bring in 2013? There are concerns that people now live their second life on these phones, whilst surrendering all privacy freely. In bars and restaurants, schools, churches and any social gathering, people keep staring at their phones. This is trend would continue in 2013. However, some people have argued that digital media is not an addiction, but a way of life. They contend that if rejected, one will be left behind as business, media, advertising, interaction depend on the digital age. Industry watchers, have projected that there will be intrusive new advertising formats on mobile and social websites, text and other push advertising, location-based special promotions linked to shopping in particular, and a growing number of sponsored messages. Telecommunication companies, banks and fast growing consumers goods companies have already cashed on this opportunity in the country. Last year, witnessed a lot of abuses on social networking sites. A case study was the murder of Cynthia Asokogu by her Facebook friends. All manner of negatives are involved in this because of the unlimited freedom it permits There are expectations of high-profile Twitter and Facebook prosecutions along with new social media education programmes in schools and workplaces. Nevertheless, experts noted that 2013 would see a lot of positives in Facebook. For instance, Howard Tullman, CEO of Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy and columnist for Inc.com, in his prediction for 2013 said: “We’ll increasingly see new kinds of virtual currencies and services--like Ticketmaster’s Facebook app that lets you see where your friends are sitting at an event.”

President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, Gbenga Adefaye.

THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT IN 2013, THE SITUATION WOULD EVEN BECOME DIRE IN THE TRADITIONAL MEDIA AS ADVERT REVENUE AND SALES WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE A NOSEDIVE

President of IFJ, Jim Boumelha

NUJ President, Mohammed Garba

Information Minister, Labaran Maku

President of NPAN, Nduka Obaigbena

The broadcast media One of the challenges confronting the broadcast media in Nigeria is digitization. The country failed to meet deadline on migration from analogue to digital broadcasting in 2012.Many radio and television stations still operate on analogue system. But now, that 2015 has been set in inline with ITU deadline, many stations are bracing to meet the requirement. According to broadcast experts, 2013 is going to see a lot of improvement, as broadcast stations will acquire the equipment or partner with others. For example, StarTimes, one of the country’s digital television providers, plans to invest more than N15 billion as part of expansion programme. According to the organisation, the money would be invested in the purchase and installation of equipment such as transmitters, masts, decoders as well as payment for business offices and overheads. At the 9th Biennial Conference of African Broadcasters (Africast 2012), in Abuja,

the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, had challenged stakeholders to improve on local content, saying that programmes’ contents should be tailored to reflect true African values.

International scene When the New York Times rolled out its Paywalls in March 2011, a perennial dispute waged. Anxious publishers said they could not afford to give away their content for free, while the bloggers claim Paywalls, tend to turn readers accustomed to a free and open Web off. A Paywall, is a system that prevents Internet users from accessing webpage content (most notably news content and scholarly publications) without a paid subscription. There are both “hard” and “soft” paywalls in use. “Hard” Paywalls allow minimal to no access to content without subscription, while “soft” Paywalls allow more flexibility in what users can view, without subscribing such as se-

lective free content and/or a limited number of articles per month. Newspapers have been implementing Paywalls on their websites, to increase their revenue which has been diminishing due to a decline in print subscriptions and advertising revenue. Two years after, many newspaper owners especially in America have embraced it, as it is not only valuable, it’s helped turn the paper’s subscription dollars, into a significant revenue-generating business. Paywalls are becoming increasingly prevalent at newspaper websites across the United States and other advanced countries. Eleven of America’s largestselling 20 newspapers are either charging for access or have announced plans to do so in 2013. Gannett, the largest US chain, expanded its Paywall to almost all of its 80 groups over the last 12 months. Other chains charging for content include Tribune and MediaNews while McClatchy and EW Scripps will do so this year. Last month, the Washington Post said it was exploring the idea of rolling one out in 2013. More than 35% of US newspaper readers are regularly discovering some restrictions in their online surfing, though most papers allow visitors to access several articles for free before hitting a wall. This so-called “metered model” is the most popular form of charging. In 2012, all of the major Canadian newspaper publishers also decided to throw in their lot with the Paywall crowd. Postmedia Network is planning to expand its digital subscription plans to its entire chain. Quebecor’s Sun Media division has already erected a wall. The Globe and Mail introduced a Paywall in late October. Soon after, the Toronto Star announced it would do the same early this year.

PhotoNews

Friday January 11, 2013

L-R: Art collector, Prince Yemisi Shyllon; Lagos-based lawyer, Festus Keyamo; Prof. Pat Utomi; Secretary, Joint Action Forum, Com. Abiodun Aremu and the exhibitor, Mr. Kunle Ogunfuyi, during a photography exhibition PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA tagged: “Flashback on Nigeria Protest: A Lagos Account” in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and the representative of Kano State Governor, Mallam Tajuddeen Gambo, during the official hand over of additional classroom, constructed by. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Kano State, yesterday in Abuja.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Chairman, Presidential Committee on National Health Summit, Dr. Kenneth Iregbu, President, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele and Deputy General Secretary, Dr Kefas Zawaya, during a press briefing on the PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA forthcoming 1st Nigerian Medical Association Summit in Abuja, yesterday.

Registrar, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ms. Tomi Olatunji (left) and Rector, Mr. Adebisi Adeniran, during the PHOTO: NAN matriculation at the institution in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday.

National News

Oyerinde’s murder: Oshiomhole wants DIG, others sacked ...calls for the scrapping of Police Ministry OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday called for the sack of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG “D” Department (Investigation), Peter Yisa Gana, for allegedly conspiring with some other police officers to shield the killers of his Private Secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde. He also advocated the scrapping of the Police Affairs Ministry on the grounds that it was politicising the force, stressing that with a functional Police Service Commission, the country did not need a ministry in charge of police affairs. This is even as President Goodluck Jonathan charged officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to exhibit the finest ideals of professionalism in the discharge of their duties. The president, therefore, directed the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to furnish him with details of assess-

ment of police conduct on a quarterly basis. Oshiomhole spoke in Abuja at the launch of a 17-page Code of Conduct for the Nigeria Police where President Jonathan was represented by VicePresident Namadi Sambo. The event was attended by service chiefs and the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, and about 10 state governors. “I believe that we do not need a Ministry of Police Affairs. I have nothing against the minister. Where you have a national police commission, then you do not need another ministry to oversee police affairs,” Oshiomhole said. On Oyerinde’s murder, the governor said he remained aggrieved over the alleged shoddy handling of the case by the police. He, however, praised the State Security Service, SSS, for arresting those he believed were the actual suspects. The governor said he would say the truth and lose his life or job in the

Jonathan tasks policemen on professionalism

process in honour of his deceased secretary and to get justice for his family. He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the matter. “IG, you know that I am aggrieved; I am aggrieved over the murder of my private secretary and the way in which it was trivialised. I am saying it, knowing that the VicePresident is here. “My secretary was murdered in cold blood and on the orders of Mr. President to fish out the killers, you dispatched a DIG to supervise that investigation; a DIG is a sufficiently senior officer in my estimation. They came to Benin and they did what the late Fela would have called police magic. “In the end, they went for a civil rights activist and charged him for the offence of murder,’’ Oshiomhole said. Fighting back tears, the governor alleged that the DIG conspired with other officers involved in the investigation to shield the

killers of Oyerinde, stating that they were no longer fit to adorn the police uniform or maintain their present ranks. “The DIG Force CID has a case to answer; it is either he is guilty of conspiracy to murder or is guilty of conspiracy to shield murderers or both in which case he cannot wear his police uniform, he must be dismissed. “The Deputy Commissioner of Police that he used, who claimed that they have done a thorough job, he has no business wearing police uniform because by my judgment, in his own narrative, he is a criminal,” he said. Oshiomhole noted that the police claimed in their report that the man who killed Oyerinde as well as the gun used to murder him were already in police custody at the time of the incident. “They wrote a report which is their own report that the man, who was involved in the murder, including the entry made by

a DPO in a police station, was already under police detention. “The weapon that was used for the murder was used for armed robbery earlier, recovered by the police and under police custody at the time my secretary was murdered. “So, the man who murdered my secretary was in police custody, the gun used was in police custody and this is the findings of the police,” he said derisively. Oshiomhole said the only conclusion that could be deduced was that “the police ordered the murder of my private secretary.” He added: “The officer went and this is in black and white, I ask you to read it that he has done a thorough job under a very skillful DIG in charge of Force CID and the sky is their limit. He even commended himself for a job well done. “And I ask the VicePresident to report to the President that if they do not find the killers of Olai-

tan, he cannot expect the people of Edo State and all those who know Olaitan, to have confidence in the security agencies. “I feel terrible that as a governor, I cannot get justice. If I cannot get justice, then an average Nigerian cannot expect justice and we cannot have justice if we cannot tell the truth. “As a governor, I cannot even get justice for my own private secretary. The SSS paraded those who killed Olaitan, and I believe that they are the ones who killed him but the DIG Force CID working in concert with another junior officer conspired to shield the actual murderers, parading an innocent civil rights activist, detained him for two months without trial even in clear disobedience of a court order. This country cannot be reduced to a banana republic,” Oshiomhole thundered. The governor lamented that one of the problems of the Nigeria-state, including the police and even in the civil service, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, January 11, 2013

‘Nigeria heading towards a failed state’ FELIX NWANERI

group of eminent Nigerians under the aegis of The Patriots yesterday charged President Goodluck Jonathan to adopt revolutionary actions to halt the country’s accelerated descent into a failed state. Addressing a press conference on the state of the nation in Lagos, the group, said the call became necessary following great unease and increasing loss of confidence by the citizens on the ability of the Federal Government to resolve the problems confronting the country.

Foremost constitutional lawyer and former Minister of Education, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, who read the group’s statement, also called on the President to “reconstruct his government immediately and appoint a competent, energetic, selfless, patriotic team, which will assist him in initiating the peaceful but far-reaching revolution involved.” The group noted that the unease among the people was heightened by the increasing demands for more states and local governments, “seen by many of the would-be rulers of the new entities as the quickest way to personal fortune and not necessarily for dedicated

public service to spread development and improve the standard of living and quality of life of the vast majority of our people.” Nwabueze, who also commented on the face-off between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Jonathan on how best to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency, said: “Security of lives and property is the foremost challenge for any government. “On the issue of Boko Haram, we do not believe that it is being tackled effectively by the Federal Government. There is need to do more though we are not in a position to say more about security because it is a sensitive matter.”

Members of the group present at the briefing were Olorogun Felix Ibru, Gen. Alani Akinriade, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Philip Asiodu, Chief Bola Kuforiji-Olubi, Mr. Chris Okoye, Chief Solomon Asemota, Senator Ben Obi, Mr. Michael Orabotor and Chief Ayo Adebanjo. The group listed the challenges facing the country to include: pervasive corruption; outrageous remuneration of political office holders; deteriorating security situation; proliferation of government agencies and government’s failure to deliver on improved infrastructure including power and transportation. Others are inability to

L-R: National Secretary, The Patriots, Mr. Michael Orabator; Chairman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze and Otunba Bola Kuforiji-Olubi, during the press conference on the state of the nation in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

EFCC arrests Soludo over currency contract scam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

leged contract scam. National Mirror also reliably gathered that some top management staff at the apex bank who served during Soludo’s tenure were currently being detained, including those from the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC. However, all efforts to get the identities of the detained suspects were unsuccessful as no one was ready to volunteer information. There was an indication that the ex-CBN governor might be held overnight as he was still being interrogated as at 7:30p.m. yesterday. “We have Soludo under our custody and it is part of an ongoing investigation over his involvement

in the award of contract and printing of polymer banknotes when he was the CBN governor,” a source said. Another source, however, said that Soludo along with others involved in the scandal might be arraigned in court as soon as investigations were concluded. About 8:30p.m. yesterday, Soludo’s relatives drove in a black Benz SUV with registration number TK 22 ABJ into the EFCC premises to see the embattled Economist. Soludo’s arrest was linked to allegations contained in a petition by an Abuja-based non-governmental organisation, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, HEDA, that huge bribes were paid to CBN officials

by an Australian firm, Securency International Pty Limited, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, to secure the contract to print polymer bank notes between 2006 and 2008. The polymer technology is used to print the N5, N10, N20 and N50 notes. National Mirror learnt that the EFCC had earlier quizzed senior officials of the NSPMC, CBN and Ministry of Finance over the matter. The scandal broke a day before the bank notes were launched on October 1, 2009 after two Australian newspapers; The Sydney Herald and The Age reported that the polymer note deal was fraudulent. The Age had reported that former workers at Securency had told the police

the firm produced millions of partly made naira notes without authorisation from the Nigerian authorities. The newspaper reported that the Australian Federal Police had subsequently investigated Securency over alleged bribery of foreign officials, including Nigerian and Vietnamese officials, to win contracts in these countries. According to the petitioners: “The polymer notes were said to be cheaper to print, convenient to use, stronger and durable as opposed to the paper notes but reports from various quarters have shown that the subsequent change of the N5, N10 and N50 to polymer notes had an ulterior undertone.” The Age reported that CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

deliver on improvements on educational facilities, failure to punish appropriately and promptly, the few persons found guilty of corruption as well as failure to embark on effective and widespread publicity of Vision 2020 and the Jonathan 2011–2015 Transformation Agenda to demonstrate the commitment and determination of the leadership to implement it. Insisting that time is running out for a peaceful, wellmanaged change, The Patriots said: “In order to avoid the horrors of descent into a very bloody and destructive anarchy, there is need for a revolutionary change of attitude amongst key elements of the national leadership and the emergence of a reawakened and revitalised responsive government. “It is the duty and historical challenge of President Goodluck Jonathan, as the democratically-elected President of the country in whom authority for government is vested, to initiate and lead the necessary revolutionary changes to enable the nation avoid the horrendous holocaust which threatens.” This, the group explained, “requires an immediate return to all the important criteria and conditions of good governance; and the initiation of the process for convening a national conference that will produce a peoples’ constitution, as the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is a product of the military.” According to The Patriots: “The initiation of the process for convening a national conference for producing a people’s constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose source of authority, as the supreme law of the land, is the people, acting in a national conference and a referendum, otherwise called a People’s Constitution. “The purpose of the conference is to enable the people of this country, as members of ethnic groups and as individuals, to deliberate and agree on how they are to live together in peace and unity, and to work out a programme for ensuring development and progress for the benefit of all Nigerians and for promoting nation-building

and integration of the various ethnic groups in the country in equality and freedom, and the continuing development of the Nigerian nation. “The Patriots believes that a national front comprising itself, Project Nigeria, Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Northern Elders’ Forum, Middle Belt Forum, Conference of Ethnic Nationalities of the Niger Delta, South-South Peoples Assembly and other civil society organisations, is necessary to facilitate the process of convening a national conference. “We (The Patriots) are at present actively engaged in efforts to create such front. When the effort is completed, a meeting of the front with Mr. President and leaders of the National Assembly will be organised, and a memorandum on the national conference submitted to them, accompanied by a draft bill on the subject, covering all aspects of it, particularly representation at the conference, election/selection of delegates, preparation of a draft constitution and its submission and adoption at a referendum.” The group also disclosed that it would approach certain persons who “command reverence and credibility as fathers of the nation” to join in appealing to the President and the leaders of the National Assembly to accede to the demand for convening the national conference. Nwabueze noted that “we are only postponing the evil day until we have a national conference. We must have it, if we don’t have it now, we will have it someday.” On good governance, the group said a president imbued with a revolutionary ardour for national transformation could in a matter of weeks begin to make the people notice a change in the purpose and pace of government. The aspects of good governance, which must be embraced, according to The Patriots, include total respect for the rule of law, efficient and prompt administration of justice, predictability, objectivity and consistency in government measures, zero tolerance for corruption and reduction of cost of elections among others.

News

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EFCC arrests Soludo over currency contract scam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

at least N750m was paid in bribes to some officials of the CBN between 2006 and 2008 to secure the contract, leading to the initial supply of about 1.9 billion pieces of polymer substrates on which bank notes were printed. Subsequently, several international investigations of the activities of the bank note company have led to the arrest, prosecution as well as the sack of several top management staff of the RBA and the subsidiary company, Securency Pty. HEDA in its petition accused anti-corruption agencies of doing nothing about the case. “Despite the international and national outcry and outrage that followed the exposure of these corrupt practices, security agencies and anti-corruption institutions in the country seem to have swept the matter under the carpet,” the group had said in the petition. It said that the anticorruption agencies had ignored several allegations, including those contained in a high level confidential

security memo sent to the Presidency through the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, by the Australian Federal Police Authority giving details of a series of multimillion-dollar payments by Securency into offshore bank accounts of the two British-based businessmen, Benoy Berry and Michael Harvey, for onward transfer to Nigerian government officials to secure the bank-note deal. Prominent names that featured in the secret memo include Soludo, senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and a former president. HEDA’s Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, said in a statement issued last August: “The petition reminded the anti-corruption institutions of a publication of Sydney Herald that on September 29, 2009, a day before the launching of the N5, N10 and N50 polymer notes, that Benoy Berry, one of the British businessmen sent a letter to Myles Curtis (then Managing Director of Securency International Pty Limited), alleging a breach of contract

and accusing the bank note company of bribing top officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria to secure contract for Securency. “He also accused Securency of breaching polymer-based mint planned to be established in Nigeria as part of principled objectives of transferring technology to developing nations.”

The CBN had already said it would discontinue printing the naira in polymer notes so as to take away the monopoly of printing the notes from Securency. CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr. Tunde Lemo, had said last year the apex bank was being forced to pay whatever amount the company charges to print notes.

According to him: “Securency is the only producer of polymer currency in the world and CBN has been resorting to single sorting for banknotes. This we think is not good for the country.” He also noted that although polymer currency lasts longer, the ink used in printing it fades away easily.

“The destruction of banknotes made of polymer has proved to be a challenge in Nigeria from an environmental perspective. Briquetting (destruction of unfit banknotes) of polymer is not always easy because it is made of polythene and emits substances that are not environmentally friendly,” he added.

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and United Nations Under Secretary-General, Madam Michelle Bachelet, who visited Presidential Villa Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

First Bank, UBA, others to lend NNPC $1.5bn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ers for petroleum products supplied in recent years. The loan deal is generating controversy with the National Assembly insisting that no such approval was given while labour unions have described it as fraudulent. Sources close to the transaction said the NNPC struck a deal led by Standard Chartered Bank at the end of last year to borrow $1.5bn from a combination of foreign and Nigerian banks over a period of five-and-a-half years at an interest rate fixed at 375 basis points above the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate, Libor. Reuters reported that the foreign banks providing funds include France’s BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered, Natixis, multilateral lender Afrexim Bank, Standard Bank Nigeria and Korea’s MMC, while the Nigerian banks include UBA, Ecobank, First Bank and Union Bank. NNPC had pledged 15,000 barrels per day of its oil production as collateral when the loan negotiations began

last year, the source said. The NNPC owes major commodity trading houses, including Glencore, Trafigura and Mercuria, around $3.5bn in unpaid fuel supply bills, a report last year commissioned by the Ministry of Petroleum stated. The deal, sources said, is to prevent Nigeria defaulting on the loans which is likely to affect the nation’s international credit ratings. Reuters noted that the NNPC had already earned $404m from that committed oil since talks began, and it would add those funds to the $1.5bn borrowed to pay its debt to oil traders. But the Senate and House of Representatives as well as organised labour have questioned the propriety of the deal. The lawmakers, who said they were unaware of the deal, said no such approval had been given though it emerged that President Goodluck Jonathan had endorsed it. Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs,

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, while responding to media inquiry on the issue on Tuesday, had insisted that the constitution did not allow any government agency to borrow any money without the authorisation of the National Assembly. He had said: “Under the law, no government agency can borrow money without the approval of the National Assembly. “We have to know that if that was done first, but then the question to ask under the circumstance is: what happened to the N161bn supplementary appropriation that was approved by the National Assembly for government to take care of the shortfall in the fuel subsidy budget. Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe, had also said there was no record to show that approval was given to the NNPC to borrow the money. In its reaction on Wednesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, accused the NNPC of perpetrating

a “fraudulent” dependence on fuel importation and looting of the treasury, saying the loan the national oil company said it needed to pay debts had further exposed the fraud in the management of fuel subsidy. The NLC, in a statement by its Deputy General Secretary, Chris Uyot, had said: “It (the loan) shows the kind of fraudulent way in which they manage this subsidy thing because if they required more money to handle importation, they should have gone into appropriation. The Trade Union Congress, TUC, had also urged the National Assembly to fast-track the process of passing the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, saying politicians preferred continued existence of the NNPC with its shortcomings. However, the NNPC spokesperson, Ms. Tumini Green, said the loan had not been obtained, although the process was being finalised. The NNPC spokesperson said: “The loan has not been obtained yet. It is still being worked out. This is a purely

business transaction and it is done in good faith. If you owe somebody, you have to look for how to pay. So, we are looking for money to pay our debts.” Green said the loan deal was a crucial measure to help the corporation stay in business, insisting that by taking that step, NNPC had not contravened any aspect of the law establishing it as a state-run oil company. She added: “Why would anybody not want us to pay off our debts, especially when it is done legitimately? I don’t think it is right.” Sections 6 (1)(c) and 8 (1)(2) of the NNPC Act states: “The corporation, in fulfilment of its duties, can enter into contracts or partnerships with any company, firm or person, which in the opinion of the corporation will facilitate the discharge of the said duties under this Act. “Subject to the other provisions of this section, the corporation may from time to time borrow by overdraft or otherwise howsoever such sums as it may require in the exercise of its functions

under this Act and the corporation shall not, without the approval of the National Council of Ministers, borrow any sum of money whereby the amount in aggregate outstanding on any loan or loans at any time exceeds such amount as is for the time being specified by the National Council of Ministers.” But former World Bank Vice-President, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, in a tweet on Wednesday, also condemned the loan deal, insisting that the process was not transparent and that the deal was unnecessary. Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education and one-time chair of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, condemned what she called “Counter-trade in 2013 to pay commodity traders opaque debt.” She warned that such financial recklessness and lack of transparency in the NNPC should not be allowed to continue. “This level of elite parasitism that has been the hallmark of our oil sector is fatal. It’s unsustainable.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, January 11, 2013

NASS will reconsider SEC’s 2013 budget –Inang GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI

he National Assembly is set to reconsider the 2013 budget appropriation for the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, alongside the budget of other Federal Government corporations. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Eta Inang, disclosed this yesterday while briefing Senate correspondents on the activities of the Upper Chamber last year as well as on resumption next week. The National Assembly passed the 2013 Appropriation Bill last December 20 with a clause that there should not be any implementation of the SEC budget except as would be approved. But Inang said concerning the budget of SEC that, “I had mentioned earlier that the President submitted to all of us and to the National Assembly along with the national budget, the budget of the statutory corporations. And this is one of the things we will give priority to as we resume. And budget of SEC and others are contained here. “What we said in that clause of the bill which

we have forwarded is that there should not be any implementation except as would be approved; just an emphasis.” Commenting on the state of the 2013 appropriation, which was passed by the National Assembly last year before the Christmas and New Year break, the lawmaker explained that like other bills, the Appropriation Bill was subjected a process of cleaning and cleansing. While denying knowledge of the exact position of the budget, Inang said:

“After a budget or any bill is passed, you take it for cleansing. You dot the Is and cross the Ts before forwarding it to the President. This is being done; very soon you will hear from all the parties.” The lawmaker also denied the allegation that the international oil companies are piling pressure to frustrate the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. He said: “You will see it in the notice paper when we publish it. A bill sees the light of the day when

it is listed on the floor of the Senate to be considered. “The contributions that are being made by senators are intended to heighten interest in the bill, enlighten the public more. “We also thank the media for their contributions. All these we will take account of when considering the bill for second reading in taking decisions on it.” Inang explained that as the Senate resumes next week, the Red Chamber

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola addressing residents of Oko-Baba after inspecting the impact of the fire disaster in the area, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

SARS attack: FCTA moves to build new military zones •Navy denies releasing Russian sailors under pressure

OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

he Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has promised to redesign a buffer for the Armed Forces, the Police and other security agencies. The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Bala Mohammed, made the announcement yesterday as part of measures to forestall future attack on the Federal Capital City like the one on the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. Mohammed who made the disclosure when he received the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba, in Abuja, said allocating such buffer districts to the military and other security agencies would help in checkmating the

would be pre-occupied with the PIB, report on the crashed Dana and allied aircraft, education bills, particularly the Minimum Standards for Establishment of Institutions Bill 2013, University of Lagos Act (amendment) Bill 2012, Public Procurement Act (amendment) Bill 2012, Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund Bill, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, appropriation bills, among others.

infiltration of the territory by terrorists and other violent gangs from that axis and thereby deter hoodlums from using the thick forest in such areas for their nefarious activities. According to him, there are over 2,000 hectares of land that are unplanned in Korouduma area of the city, which remains vulnerable and can easily be penetrated for such attacks. Mohammed expressed the readiness of his administration to continue to support the military and other security agencies to continue to protect the country’s capital as well as achieve their other statutory duties. He also announced the immediate setting up of a committee under the chairmanship of the Coordinator, Abuja Metropoli-

tan Management Council, AMMC, Mr. Reuben Okoya (an architect) to assist in resolving all infrastructural problems in the area being developed in the Asokoro District by the Nigerian Navy. Mohammed also urged the Navy and other military formations in the FCT to look inward in ameliorating some of their accommodation problems in Abuja. Earlier, Ezeoba solicited the support of the minister to get adequate accommodation for officers and men of the Navy in Abuja. In an interview with journalists shortly after the visit, the Naval chief denied insinuations that the 15 sailors the Navy arrested in October 2012 over suspicion of arms smuggling were released after pressure by Russia. Ezeoba insisted that

due process was followed in the release of the alleged arms smugglers from Russia. He said: “In every society, there are procedures and rules. We were not pressurised by the Russian government to release the suspected arms smugglers apprehended by the Nigerian Navy on our own waterways. Due process was taken into cognizance. “We have handed them over to the police because they have the powers to prosecute. But let it be clear that the Russians are entitled to bail. The police took them to court and they were officially granted bail. Nobody was pressurised into releasing the suspects. “The period for which they were held was to allow for proper investigation to establish the alleged crimes for which they were being held.”

Jonathan, PDP govs meet on good governance ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-controlled states at the Presidential Villa to review the performance of the party in the area of good governance and the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people. After the meeting, which lasted over two hours, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State told State House Correspondents that the meeting was a kind of a peer review mechanism where the PDP states come together to look not just at governance at the state level but also of the party itself at the national level. He said: “The President invited all the PDP governors to have a parley with him. I think this is the second of that type of meeting. We agreed we should meet every two months to look at issues as leaders of the country and particularly since the PDP is the ruling party. “We looked at things that can strengthen the party and also looked at what Nigerians want, while we are delivering dividends of democracy which other areas Nigerians are clamouring for improvement. And I think this is good for the governance of the country.”

Oyerinde’s murder: Oshiomhole wants DIG, others sacked CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

was the culture of impunity “where people do things wrongly and get away with it.” He said: “Now, in Edo State, I want to be specific, a policeman manned an illegal road block contrary to the orders of the IG, members of the public complained and the fact of the illegal block is established. “It was discovered that a soldier was recruited illegally by an ASP to man this illegal road block and extorting money. In my view that borders on armed robbery because the man carries arm, without the arm he cannot subdue the road user to part with his money. “If you take money with the aid of arms, you are an armed robber. Having arrested him, the Army proceeded to do what a responsible force should do,

dismissed the soldier. “IG, you will be shocked to know and this is not 10 years ago, but that your men in Benin decided to shield this officer and recently, I learnt that one of them was even promoted. “While the military dismissed the soldier, the police promoted their own. How can you have discipline in such an environment? I will plead that you order the dismissal of those policemen today. “When we begin to apply the stick and carrot appropriately, the message of discipline will be clear.” Unveiling the Code of Conduct, the President said the need to provide a guiding standard of behaviour for police officers informed his decision to approve the codes, adding that it would ensure that policemen discharge their duties more professionally.

News

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Advertising: Court dismisses NPAN’s suit against APCON K AYODE KETEFE

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday dismissed the suit filed by the umbrella body of the nation’s newspaper proprietors, the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) seeking to restrain the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) from implementing some of the provisions of the APCON code which it considers unconstitutional.

•We will appeal the ruling –NPAN The presiding judge, Justice Musa Kurya, dismissed the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff (NPAN) lacked jurisdiction to bring the suit. The judge further held that since the suit was brought by NPAN on behalf of its employees which the court adjudged to be under the statutory control of the NPAN, the suit should have been brought in representative capacity, after the approval of the court had been obtained.

The failure of NPAN to seek the permission of the court to bring the suit in representative capacity, noted the court, was fatal to the suit and that the suit ought to be to be dismissed. Justice Kurya said; “The plaintiff brought the suit in personal capacity rather than in representative capacity and the leave of the court was not sought to bring the suit in the representative capacity as required by law. “The respondent’s objec-

tion based on the lack of jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit therefore succeeds. “Accordingly, the case is hereby dismissed for lack of jurisdiction to entertain same.” Speaking to journalists after the ruling, the counsel for the plaintiff, Mr. AbdulKareem Labi-Lawal, from Tayo Oyetibo & Co, said the ruling would be contested on appeal. “We are going to the office straightaway to draft

the Notice of Appeal; this ruling by the learned judge will be tested on appeal. We are definitely going to contest it,” Labi-Lawal declared. Ina substantive suit filed on behalf of NPAN by its registered trustees, the association is seeking for three declarations and two orders of perpetual injunctions, essentially aimed at restraining APCON from giving effect to the provisions of Articles 21 and 137 (a) (b) (c) of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion,

which was made by the council. The said Article 21 of the Code requires that all advertisement except public notices, goodwill messages, obituaries and vacancies must be presented for vetting and approval by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) before publication while Article 137 (a) and (b) imposes a “minimum fine” of N200, 000 on any media house or agency which publishes advertisements without ASP’s “Certificate of Approval.”

Fashola petitioned over detention of reggae musician NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi; his counterparts from Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Niger State, Dr. Aliyu Babangida, at the Peoples Democratic Party governors’ meeting with the President in Abuja, yesterday.

HIV/AIDS cure: NAFDAC dissociates self from UNIBEN’s claim SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN AND MARCUS FATUNMOLE

he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dissociated itself from the claim by the Dean of School of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, on its purported breakthrough on cure for HIV/ AIDS. Director-General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, at a briefing in Abuja said: “We have invited you to quickly disclaim a new HIV and AIDS cure purportedly developed by Prof. Isaiah Ibeh. The agency wishes to state that this herbal drug which is claimed to have undergone a series of successful tests has never

been presented to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for evaluation of efficacy and safety. This bogus claim of efficacy without following the appropriate procedure for drug evaluation is capable of misleading the public, especially those that have HIV/AIDS infection, as there is no known official or scientifically proven cure for HIV/AIDS infection till date. “You may recall that Nigeria had been inundated with similar spurious claims in the past, when individuals announced cure for HIV/AIDs, Hepatitis and Diabetes which later turned out to be false after thorough investigations. “This is usually at the expense of innocent citi-

zens who have risked their lives, wasted their time and money in search of the elusive cure for their ailment. Nigerians deserve more than to be used as Guinea pigs no matter how noble the intention of the research,” Orhii said. Dr Orhii, however, expressed the desire to see Nigeria record breakthrough in cure of the disease, but he called for caution among people working on ways to taming the scourge. He said: “What benefit does our nation get when people from other countries come to Nigeria to see what we claim to be effective in curing the disease and discover that what we are presenting is not effective. It will be very embarrassing for our country,”

he said. The DG vowed to ensure punitive measures for whoever is culpable in the act to serve as deterrent to others of like mind. In a swift reacting, the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences of UNIBEN, Prof. Vincent Iyawe, reportedly told journalists in his office that the university had not endorsed the claims of Prof. Ibeh “because the institution was not carried along in the research. “The school would like to take credit for a breakthrough, but the school cannot align with the breakthrough because the college was not consulted, the university was not consulted, he did not carry anybody along”, Iyawe had reportedly told reporters.

agos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has been petitioned to intervene in the case of Sylvester Iyere, a reggae musician that is presently standing trial for blocking the duties of an orderly as well as conducting himself in a manner that was capable of disturbing public peace. Iyere was arrested on December 19, 2012 and initially held without charges by the Alausa Police Task Force. The petition alleged that after Mr. Sylvester Iyere proved to be unable to pay an illegal fee, he was charged to court on Monday, December 24, 2012, where he heard for first

time, the charges under which he was being held. Although, Iyere’s case which came up yesterday has been adjourned to January 17, the petition is asking the governor to specially investigate the several cases of abuse of legal procedure going on between the Alausa Police Task Force and Badagry Prison which appears unfavourable to people without the means to pay those fees. Part of the petition, made available to National Mirror reads: “As a result of all this, the bail document in respect of Mr. Sylvester Iyere was only perfected and signed by the Magistrate on the afternoon of January 3, 2013, a full 14 days after Mr. Iyere was first arrested!

Constitution review: Committee cancels poll on LG autonomy GEORGE OJI ABUJA

he Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution said it has cancelled the ongoing opinion poll on the autonomy of local government in the country. A statement by the Clerk of the Committee yesterday explained that the cancellation was necessitated by the need to preserve the integrity and credibility of the process as there are attempts by some unpatriotic elements to manipulate the ongoing SMS and online opinion poll on key issues in the present constitution amendment project. It said; “There is currently a text message circulating around the country

which claims that the Senate is presently voting on a bill aimed at carving out some large portions of land in certain parts of the country as grazing reserves for the Fulani.” It said the text invites Nigerians to send “NO” response to 20052 which is the same short code being used by the committee to poll the opinion of Nigerians on issues in the constitution review. The statement said; “The committee condemns this action in its entirety and calls on Nigerians to disregard such as it is a devious propaganda to manoeuvre the outcome of the efforts of the committee to ensure popular participation by Nigerians in the constitution amendment project.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday January 11, 2013

Why I sacked commissioners, special advisers –Fayemi ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

kiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, yesterday gave reasons why he sacked his commissioners and special advisers on Wednesday, saying it was to reenergise, refocus, and reposition governance to meet the yearnings of the people. Fayemi, who said he has been receiving strange messages from concerned people in the aftermath of the dissolution, said his quest to put in place a result-oriented cabinet that would connect the government to the people was the reason for the dissolution of the state executive council. The governor, who said this during the swearingin of eight new permanent secretaries in Ado Ekiti, allayed fears of some concerned citizens, saying the

dissolution was in a bid to take the state to higher heights through putting round pegs in round holes. Governor Fayemi had, during the weekly executive council meeting on Wednesday, dissolved his cabinet, thanking the commissioners and special advisers for their services to the state in the last two years. Using the allegory of a football team yesterday, Fayemi said: “In a football match, when you get to half time, it is the onerous responsibility of the coach and the team managers to review the team. “There are some players who are full strikers and who can score goals. But there are also strikers, who cannot score goals. “Others score brilliant goals, but lack the stamina to stay till the end of the match, while some cannot score goals, but they have

the stamina to play full time. There are those who are put in the wrong positions, so all these must be reviewed to be able to have a government that is connected to the people,” the governor said. He cautioned the new

he Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has condemned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the $1.5billion foreign loan purportedly sought by the corporation to settle unpaid fuel supply bills being owed some commodity trading houses. CACOL, in a statement by its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran,

Alison-Madueke

said the purported foreign loan by the NNPC is another avenue to fritter away the nation’s resources. The statement reads in part: “This foreign loan is another way to corner our common patrimony into private hands. What older loans are they settling? Does it mean the nation is still owing subsidy payments, whereas huge sums of money was appropriated for the same purpose last year and the masses were made to believe that the appropriated money would be enough to pay the fuel suppliers? “The NNPC has become a cesspit of corruption. It claimed it is owing some commodity trading houses including Glencore and Mercuria, about $3.5bn in unpaid fuel supply. Who

FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

he Ogun State police command yesterday arraigned a 52-year-old woman; Mrs. Kehinde Olubanke, before an Abeokuta Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isabo, for allegedly crushing a 28-year-old youth corps member to death. Olubanke was said to have committed the crime by driving and speeding dangerously in her Nissan Almera car, thereby causing the untimely death of the

consumed the fuel and when was it consumed? “It is high time an end came to the shenanigans of the NNPC. They lead the nation by the nose, sell our oil, deduct what they like from the proceeds, remit whatever amount they deem necessary into the national treasury, with no oversight from any quarters.” Adeniran, however, advocated that the Petroleum Industry Bill should be reworked and passed by the National Assembly, if the nation must be free from the grip of the cabals perpetuating corruption in our oil sector. He added that the shoddy way in which the NNPC operates is the major contributor to the sleaze that has become endemic in the corporation.

FG orders return of toxic wastes’ containers to UK

he Federal Government has ordered that the toxic wastes laden containers on board MV Marivia Monrovia be shipped back to the port of origin in the United Kingdom, the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr Ngeri Benebo, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday. NAN reports that a Liberian flagged container ship with gross tonnage of

23, 652, which berthed at the Tin-Can Island Port on Wednesday, was intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service and NESREA. Some containers in the ship were laden with used television sets, used computers, used CPUs, used DVDs, used microwaves, used pressing irons and used stereo sets. Benebo told NAN that sending the consignment back to the port of origin was in conformity with the provisions of Harmful Wastes Act, promulgated

tions, was over and that appointment would henceforth be merit and capacity-based. He advised civil servants in the state to work harder and be more dedicated to their duties. The new permanent secretaries are: Dr Tope

Adeyemo, Barrister Bamidele Agbede, Mr. Kola Ajumobi, Dr Olufolakemi Olomojobi, Mr. Olusesan Alabi, Engineer Abegunde Ebenezer, Mr. Owoseeni Mathew Adeyemi and Mrs. Olufunke Falodun.

Woman arraigned for crushing corps member to death

CACOL flays NNPC over reckless borrowing TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

permanent secretaries against partiality in the discharge of their duties and advised them to operate an open-door policy. Fayemi, who assured the workers that the era of godfathers helping workers to rise to higher posi-

after the Koko waste saga. “We are sending the ewastes back to the port of origin,” NAN quotes the director-general as saying. She said that the agency was going to work according to the Nigerian laws on the matter, adding that the agency would do exactly what the laws says. The director-general promised that the vessel owners would be heavily sanctioned in line with the laws of the land. “The captain wanted to deceive Nigerians.”

youth corps member identified as Egbe Ogbu, who was serving in the state. Ogbu was said to be among those that would be rounding off their compulsory National Youth Corps Service next month. Police Prosecuting Officer, Anabel Emmanuel, told the magistrate that the accused committed the offence on Tuesday, January 8, while driving within the Ogun State secretariat complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Emmanuel further charged that Olubanke, who drove the car with a learner’s permit, was not accompanied by a licensed driver as required by law. While opposing her bail application, the prosecutor argued that the ac-

cused should be charged for murder rather than manslaughter, stressing that the alleged offence was contrary to and punishable under Sections 325 and 18 Vol. 4 and 19 (12) (iii) Road Traffic Regulations Vol. 4 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006. The accused, Olubanke, who was not represented by any counsel, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge before Magistrate Matins Akinyemi. She claimed that the late corps member, Ogbu was gripped by the fun he was enjoying in the use of his blackberry phone while crossing the road. She further said that late Ogbu had completely forgotten himself that he strayed off the footpath and

suddenly landed in front of her moving car, thereby causing his death. “Ogbu was busy pinging on the road; I did not know when he got in front of my car. I have been driving for over eight months now and I have been very careful.” Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Akinyemi, who granted the accused bail, further held that the case was that of manslaughter as there was no motive behind it. The magistrate, who described the incident as “a very sad thing,” particularly for the family of the late Ogbu, thereafter, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N 200, 000 with two sureties in like sum. He also adjourned the matter till March 7, 2013 for further hearing.

South West

Friday January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Explosion: FG must relocate Tin Can Island fuel farm –Fashola Halts reconstruction of Oko-Baba plank market

MURITALA AYINLA

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has called on the Federal Government to relocate the fuel discharging facilities from the Tin Can Island Port. Fashola made the call following the explosion that rocked MRS Oil and Gas tank farm facilities on Wednesday. Briefing journalists when he paid an unscheduled visit to the scene of the incident to assess the extent of damage caused by the explosion, the governor said the people were merely sitting on a keg of gunpowder by allowing the facility to remain where it is. He described the incident as a wake-up call for

the government to be proactive, lamenting that the country lacks the wherewithal to contain fire incident involving oil installation facilities. Fashola said the country could only count itself lucky that the damage caused by the explosion was not monumental, noting that the tragedy was one too many. He said: “One can only begin to imagine what we would be dealing with here the day after but for pure luck. But we can’t continue to live on pure luck and I hope our luck is not running out really. “All of that is clearly responsibility that does not belong to our government, it belongs to the central government and I want to think that we can

do better than this amateurish standard. “This place was not designed for fuel discharge, we’ve converted it. All sorts of permits given by regulatory agencies, DPR, PPMC and all of those people, all of these were part of the private jetties when the Tin Can Island was built We just converted it because the old installations in Apapa became inadequate. There was

no plan for the future.” The governor urged the Federal Government to take advantage of the Oil and Gas Section at the Lekki Free Trade Zone. Fashola also yesterday stopped plans by the victims of the Oko-Baba fire accident to renovate and reconstruct their plank markets where over 50 structures were razed. It was learnt that the governor’s decision may not have been unconnect-

ed with the aged-long plans by the state government to relocate the plank market and move the inhabitants of Makoko residents away from the Lagoon Front. He said: “First, I am going to send the Ministry of the Environment to come here and clear all the drainage, clean the place up and nobody should build here without town planning approval. We won’t let you do it. “We need to sit down and

talk on how we want this place to be. We need separate saw mill business from residential area. Do we want to do everything here or get a place where we can saw our logs and bring the planks here to sell? “We are preparing a place with machines that can saw your logs. We are also constructing 3,000 housing units there for you to live in. There will be water, power supply among other things.”

Yuguda, Amosun, Aregbesola sympathise with Alaafin EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

overnors Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Rauf Aregebesola (Osun) yesterday commiserated with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III over the fire which razed part of the ancient palace of the Oyo Empire. In a statement in Bauchi, Yuguda regretted that the disaster came at a time when the traditional ruler and the entire people of Oyo were planning the 44th coronation anniversary of the monarch. The governor added that he was shocked and sad over the incident but thanked God that even though valuables were lost, no life was lost. He expressed the belief that God will replace the lost valuables. Also, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Ogun State governor described the incident as unfortunate and lamentable. He said: “The fire incident at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo is most unfortunate. Valuable properties, including cultural artefacts were destroyed. “I am one with my brother governor, Abiola Ajimobi and the people of Oyo State in lamenting this

tragedy. But we still have to thank God that nobody was injured and no life was lost in the inferno.” Amosun expressed the belief that from the ashes of the current palace, a monument would emerge. On his part, Aregbesola said he was astonished to see the extent of damage and destruction of the palace. Sympathising with the monarch, the governor said nobody could wish such accident to happen. He prayed that God, who knows why it happened, will provide immediate succour and will replace the loss in million folds.

L-R: Osun State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Gloria Oladoke; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Osun State chapter, Col. Alimi Samotu (rtd), at the launch of 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem at the Government House, Osogbo, yesterday.

Merger talks will produce better alternative to PDP –Shekarau KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

new political party will soon emerge from the ongoing merger talks between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.

Fire razes Bola IgeThemarket inferno, KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

ire yesterday destroyed property worth millions of naira at the popular Bola Ige International Market, Ibadan, Oyo State capital. The incident came less than a week after fire gutted Ifeleye Market in Ibadan North West council and a day after the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, went up in flames. It was learnt that the fire at the Bola International Market started around 1am and raged for about four hours before the men of the State Fire Service could contain it.

which started at the section where stoves and cookers are being sold, destroyed about 24 shops. During a visit to the market, traders were counting their losses. One of the traders, who refused to disclose her name, said she stocked her shops with goods on Monday. She said: “I am ruined. I just stocked the shop with money that I borrowed from the Cooperative.” Meanwhile, the state government has provided a new place for traders in Agbeni-Ogunpa-Amunugun-Agbaje market in the Olounsogo area of the state capital.

Former Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, yesterday gave the assurance while speaking with journalists at the Premier Hotel, venue of the South-West ANPP National Rebuild forum in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The ANPP presidential candidate in the April 2011 general elections explained that the new political party would come up with a new identity, new logo and new flag immediately after the merger talk. He said the merger talk was at 50 per cent conclusion stage as all the politi-

cal parties involved had agreed to fuse together for the progress of the country’s growing democracy. Shekarau said the merger talks were a response the yearnings by Nigerians for a better alternative to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He said: “We are moving ahead, we are making progress with the merger talk. We are ready to chart a new course that will be large enough to give us the alternative change in the country. “Nigerians are looking for us for a better alterna-

tive and we are ready to provide it.” The former governor added that Nigerians should any moment from now be expecting “positive result from the ongoing merger talk between the three political parties. This time around, we are determined to salvage our people. “‘Nigerians should be expecting positive result from our merger talk. We are determined. In the past, the country has never witnessed any serious merger talk. But this time around, we shall come out with positive result.”

Lawyer arraigned for murder in Ondo HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

lawyer, Busayo Oroyo, was yesterday arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure over the murder of a 25-year-old boy, Orioye Oyetakin. Oroyo was alleged to have conspired with others now at large to kill Oyetakin, who is the son of the Olikan of Etikan-

elect, Adeleke Oyetakin. Oroyo, according to the charge sheet brought against him, was alleged to have conspired with others on December 27, 2012 to commit felony to wit murder of Oyetakin in OdeEtikan, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state. The legal practitioner was also alleged to have invaded the home of one Ademola Ikudehinbu, attacked and inflicted injuries on him on the same day.

When the case came up for hearing before Chief Magistrate A. Akintoye, the prosecutor, Bamidele Okota, prayed the court for adjournment as there was need for investigation and the need to send the case file to the Ministry of Justice for advice. Okota urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the arrival of the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South East

Friday, January 11, 2013

Chime’s prolonged absence: Group seeks NASS’ intervention “Concerns are being expressed by some members of Chime’s cabinet about the magnitude of looting going on in the governor’s absence, while those who have no direct mandate from the people have reportedly hijacked governance in the state because the governor failed to honour the constitution by formally handing over to his deputy. Ezugwu said another demand of the group is that the Assembly should, as a matter of urgency, constitute a delegation comprising eminent Enugu State sons and daughters in the

mould of His Grace, Bishop Callistus Onaga, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Rev. Hyde Onuauluchi, Prof. Bath Nnaji, Igwe Paul Egbogu, Chief (Mrs.) Grace Obayi, Chief Nduka Eya, Secretary-General Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Dr. Louis Anya Chukwuma, among others, to visit the governor wherever he is and report back to the good people of Enugu State.” Meanwhile, the group has also petitioned the Enugu State Development Association, ESDA, asking that Governor Chime’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Chukwudi Achife, be cautioned on his use of words to insult patriotic citizens working in the interest of the state. In a petition SEG sent to ESDA, through the Secretary of ESDA, Chief Enechi Onyia (SAN), SEG faulted Achife’s description of them as attention seekers and asked that he be called to order. SEG in the petition signed by Chief Maxi Okwu and Willy Ezugwu, noted that Enugu State government, rather than recip-

rocate their good faith and democratic inquiry and address the issues raised, chose through the instrumentality of the chief press secretary to the governor, to raise a red-herring by imputing motives to their noble quest. “The language he employed was decidedly unparliamentary, if not uncouth. This communication was triggered by our patriotic fervor and deep concern about the situation in our dear state. “The said letter, which we now copy to you, speaks for itself. We urge you as fathers, to determine if we have in anyway been out of order or insolent in the tenor of the petition. “We are now appealing to you as fathers to wade into the imbroglio and help in the quest to save our dear state from unelected persons, temporarily holding our sovereignty and who, not knowing the way and manner the quest for Enugu State was waged, treat our common patrimony in a cavalier manner,” the group said.

President Goodluck Jonathan (5th from left) Vice-President Namadi Sambo (4th from left) and members of Ndi Igbo Lagos during their visit to the Presidential Villa Abuja, yesterday.

CHRIS NJOKU

N47bn scam: Tension in Imo over arrest of commissioner, AG

tor-general, who facilitated the negotiation between the kidnappers and the victim’s family in the N8 million ransom, was said to have been implicated by the text messages exchanged during the negotiations with the actress’ family. According to a source close to the Government House, the Chief of Staff to Governor Okorocha, Prince Eze Madumere, noticed some text messages that implicated Mr. Okosuns in the negotiation deal before he was ordered to be arrested. The source said that Okosuns, who is still in detention, was arrested following his activities with the kidnappers during the negotiation period, adding that; “He was communicating with them before the government decided to replace him with Ms. Slyvanus’ aide.” Although, Mr. Okosuns was not among the kidnappers paraded by the police on December 31, but the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Vitalis Onugu, confirmed the report.

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU AND DENNIS AGBO

he prolonged and unexplained absence of Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime, in the state has spurred a socio-political group, the Save Enugu Group (SEG) to address the situation. The group said it has perfected plans to put pressure on the National Assembly to take over the functions of the Enugu State House of Assembly, should it fail to invoke the necessary sections of the constitu-

tion to resolve the growing impasse engendered by the governor’s absence. SEG, in a statement signed by Willy Ezugwu, yesterday warned that it will not give up in its demand for a categorical disclosure of the whereabouts of the governor and gave the House and the executive arm a twoweek ultimatum to resolve the impasse the governor’s absence has generated. The group lamented and described as unfortunate, the manner members of the state executive council derided a letter it sent to the Acting Governor, Sunday Onye-

buchi, asking for the details of Chime’s health status. The group said that its plan to ‘Occupy Lion Building’ and compel the State House of Assembly to act, could leave the state lawmakers unable to perform their duties, hence the need for the National Assembly to step in. SEG also noted that the description by Chime’s Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, of the letter it sent to the acting governor as a non-issue, confirmed the fears that something is definitely fishy about the long absence of the governor. The group continued:

Okorocha’s aide held over Nkiru Sylvanus’ abduction

CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

here was tension yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital over the arrest of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor and the state Accountant-General Mr. George Eche. Their arrest came even as the state government accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being the brain behind the arrests. They were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja on Wednesday in connection with an alleged N47billion loan scam. National Mirror investigation revealed that some of the commissioners stylishly boycotted offices yesterday as it was rumoured that the commission was not done with the arrest of the government officials in-

volved in the scam. When our correspondent visited some offices at the state secretariat, it was discovered that some of the government officials were conspicuously absent while some contacted on phone would not pick their calls. But it was jubilation galore in the opposition quarters as they rejoiced over the arrest. The state Secretary of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Enyinna Onuegbu, urged the EFCC to spread its net and arrest every government official indicted in the ongoing investigation. But, in a swift reaction, the state government described the allegation against the officials as false, unfounded and another campaign of calumny designed to divert attention from the probe of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state.

In a press release signed by the Commissioner for Information, Chinedu Offor, the government said; “We make bold to state categorically that the government of Imo State under Owelle Rochas Okorocha, never obtained N47 billion loan nor misappropriated state funds as alleged. “Instead, the current government has paid up all loans collected by the past administration including the N6.4billion loan by former Governor Ikedi

Ohakim just two months to the 2011 election for which EFCC is yet to investigate. “We also wish to state that the government of Imo State will at any time throw its doors wide open for EFCC and other relevant anti-graft agencies as it has nothing whatsoever to hide. “We are deeply shocked that former Governor Ohakim, who only executed three uncompleted projects in the state is yet to be arrested by the EFCC,” the commissioner added.

OWERRI

he son of legendary musician, late Sunny Okosuns and Governor Rochas Okorocha’s aide, Jerry Okosuns, is now in police net in connection with the kidnapping of Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus. Mr. Jerry Okosuns, the Director-General of Youth and Students’ Affairs in Governor Okorocha’s cabinet is now being detained at the Imo State police command headquarters, Owerri, after being accused as the point man of the kidnappers. The Edo State born direc-

Ohanaeze Ndigbo goes to poll for 2015 GEORGE OPARA ABIA

he apex socio-cultural organisation of the Igbo, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Kano State branch, is poised to elect the national leaders of the organisation essentially to actualise the dream of the South-East geo-political zone and to enhance its touted self-redis-

covery in view of the 2015 general elections. In a press release made available to National Mirror and signed by its Kano State President, Chief Tobas Michael Idika, the group said delegates from all chapters of Ohanaeze Ndigbo world-wide would gather in Enugu for the proposed election. The release further said that 2015 Igbo Presidency

is non-negotiable. And that the Igbo nation would no longer be sidelined in every political dispensation. His words: “We believe that the time has come for us to reap the fruits of all the support we have been giving to our brothers from the north, south, and west who have been calling the shot at Aso Rock for over 50 years.

South South

Friday, January 11, 2013

Tribunal reserves judgement in Edo guber election petition SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

he Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin yesterday reserved judgement sine die (indefinitely) in the petition before it. The petition was brought by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the election, MajorGeneral Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), against Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. At the resumption of legal hostilities after the long adjournment forced by the Yuletide break, the Justice Mu’azu Pindingapled tribunal entertained the arguments of parties in the petition, who adopted their

written addresses. At the resumed hearing, both Oshiomhole and Airhiavbere formally closed their cases after adopting their respective written addresses. In their respective arguments, both urged the tribunal to dismiss the other’s case as it lacked merits and substance. Oshiomhole’s counsel, Mr. Adeniyi Akinola (SAN), argued that since the petitioner in his address abandoned his pleadings on the alleged corruption and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, the tribunal should dismiss his petition. He said Airhiavbere, even in the summary paragraph of his address, failed to mention the issues of electoral irregularities that he was later canvassing. On Airhiavbere’s relief

that the tribunal should declare him as the winner of the July 14, 2012 election, Akintola argued that the petitioner did not win even a single unit, ward or a council out of the 18 local government areas to enjoy such a relief. He said: “We urge the court to dismiss the petitioner’s petition as this is the worst frivolous petition in the history of this country as not even a single form EC8A (INEC result sheet) showed that he won in any unit, ward or local government. “He also failed to score a two-third of the total votes cast in the said election as required by law before the tribunal can even think of considering his relief.” ACN lead counsel, Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN) and the Independent National Electoral Commis-

sion, INEC, counsel, Mr. Robert Emukperuo, concurred with Akintola as both urged the court to dismiss Airhiavbere’s petition. On the other hand, Airhiavbere’s counsel, Mr. Efe Akpofure (SAN), argued that it was not true that the petitioner abandoned his pleadings. He urged the tribunal to uphold the petitioner’s reliefs and declare him winner since Oshimhole was unable to contradict the allegation of non-qualification as alleged in the petition and since Airhiavbere scored the next highest votes. However, after listening to the submissions of the counsel, Pindinga said: “The case is hereby closed and date for the judgment will be communicated in due course.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP members not in RSIEC, commission replies ACN GODWIN OKONKWO PORT HARCOURT

he Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, has denied the allegation by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, that members of the commission are card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The RSIEC Director of Public Affairs, Sam Woka, who made the denial in Port Harcourt yesterday, said no member of the commission was a member of any political party. Woka also assured of the readiness of the Augustine Ahiazu-led commission to conduct a free and fair poll in the Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni council and by-election in designated wards in parts of the state to hold between now and next month. In a statement issued on

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi

Wednesday, the state Publicity Secretary of ACN, Jerry Needam, expressed doubt about the capacity of RSIEC to conduct a free and fair election in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni council and by-election in other wards. The party based its apprehension on what it described as the faulty constitution of RSIEC whose members it said were cardcarrying members of PDP. But Woka challenged ACN to substantiate its claim.

Ibori’s $15m bribe: Judge berates EFCC, Delta over delay EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

ustice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday expressed concern over the delay in the suit to determine the owner of the $15 million alleged bribe money by former Delta Governor James Ibori. Ibori allegedly offered the money to compromise money-laundering investigation against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. But Kolawole observed that many months after the matter was mentioned, the court was yet to commence hearing of the substantive suit, as parties through their counsel, approach the court with different interlocutory applications. The judge, however, enjoined the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob (SAN) and counsel to Delta State government (claimant), who is the state Attorney-General, Chief Charles Ajuyah (SAN), to show more commitment to the hearing and determination of the main suit. This charge was not lost on respective counsel, as they pledged not to bring further applications before the court. Meanwhile, the court has

reserved ruling in a motion on notice filed by EFCC for extension of time. Moving the motion yesterday, Jacob told the court that the need for the motion became compelling in other to allow the Federal Government to file further counteraffidavit to fresh issues said to have been raised in the claimant’s affidavit in support of its application to claim the $15 million. Jacob’s application was brought pursuant to Order 48 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court. He argued that there was the urgent need for the court to grant the application, in the interest of fair hearing, as guaranteed under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Jacob explained that the prosecution needed extension of time “because of the work-load on counsel”. He said the reason, as contained in his eight-paragraphed affidavit, was “cogent and sufficient to grant the application”. Again, he submitted that his motion was intended to respond to a fresh issue raised in Delta State Government’s deposition to the effect that Ibori “had no source of income” prior to his emergence as governor in 1999.

Rivers State Head of Service, Mr. Samuel Longjohn and Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Semenatari, who represented the governor at the civil servants’ New Year thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Youths kill NSCDC officer, injure others in A’Ibom TONY ANICHEBE UYO

andemonium broke out yesterday in the peaceful Ikot Edet village in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following an alleged invasion of the community by youths from the neighbouring Ibie Nung Achat village. The invasion claimed the life of a security officer serving with the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Israel Willie Umoh. While Umoh, who was said to have returned from Rivers State yesterday lost his life, two other victims of

the surprise attack, Inyene Sunday Daniel and Abasiofiok Sunday Daniel (a physically-challenged person) were said to be lucky as they only sustained various degree of injuries from the weapon-wielding youths. However, Abasiofiok, whose right hand was cut off, is lying critically ill at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH. Though the remote cause of the invasion could not be ascertained at press time, it was gathered that the youth of Ibie Nung Achat had invaded the family compound of the deceased, when he summoned family mem-

bers for traditional rites of foundation-laying of his proposed house. A source, who narrowly escaped the attack, told our correspondent that the alleged mastermind of the attack had ordered his boys to fire some gunshots into the air to scare any intruder. The source added that in the ensuing melee Umoh was allegedly stabbed by the youth leader with his accomplices. Efforts by our correspondent to get reactions from the alleged murderer proved abortive as he was said to have escaped when he learnt that one of the victims had died at the UUTH,

where he was rushed to for medical attention. Ibie Nung Achat, the homestead of the alleged murderer and his gang, has been deserted as the villagers have taken refuge elsewhere for fear of being arrested by the police. Umoh left a wife, who is nursing their only new child, and his 120-year-old father, Chief Willie Umoh. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Etim Dickson, said he had been informed of the incident by the Divisional Police Officer, Etim Ekpo Division.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 11, 2013

Qualification: Supreme Court decides Oshiomhole’s fate

OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

he Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday resumed sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, consolidating petitions of the four of the political parties challenging the emergence of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the October 20, 2012 polls in the state. The parties who had their petitions consolidated were the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and Accord Party (AP). The tribunal also granted the application of the PDP and its governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, to inspect all the materials used during the election by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), which returned Mimiko winner with over 260,199 votes ahead of Oke, who polled 155,961 votes; and Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the ACN with 143, 512 votes. The ACN candidate, Akeredolu, filed a 190 paragraphed 403-page petition at the tribunal, demanding the nullification of the election. His argument is that Mimiko was not duly

Politics

2014: Fayemi’s endorsement stirs hornets’ nest

Ondo poll: Tribunal consolidates ACN, PDP, CPC, AP petitions

re-elected by a majority of lawful votes cast, saying the election was invalid “by reason of corrupt practices and or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.” Oke filed a 1,265-page petition before the panel and listed 145 witnesses. In the petition, the PDP flag bearer is asking the tribunal to declare the election null and void, having been vitiated by massive rigging, substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices. Oke also prayed the tribunal for an order nullifying the polls and directing INEC to conduct a fresh one. The PDP candidate argued that Mimiko was not duly elected or returned by the majority of lawful votes cast at the polls. He also sought a declaration that he scored the majority of lawful votes cast and also secured 25 per cent in more than 2/3 of the 18 local government areas in the state. The three-man panel chaired by Justice Aoadoaver Kaka’n, which had adjourned proceedings, last December, consolidated all

the petitions before it, in response to the prayers of the petitioners following a short meeting held by the counsel of both the petitioners and the respondents, where the decision to consolidate the petitions was taken. Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) speaking on behalf of the counsels, told the tribunal that his colleagues had agreed that the petitions be consolidated. Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Akin Olujimi (SAN), who led the ACN legal team, said the decision of the tribunal to consolidate the petition was supported by all the counsels of the various parties.

Olujimi, who was accompanied to the court by Akeredolu, said: “Consolidation is meant to bring all the cases together and that the procedure will shorten the time that will be spent on each of the cases. The law gives only 180 days to answer these petitions. “When you have to go on each petition, you will found that there is no way the tribunal can cope with the volume of cases that it has to treat. So, the order they have granted will make it easy for us to progress smoothly in the hearing of all the petitions and it is something that all counsels are please with.” The tribunal also struck

out the petition filed by the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples for Democratic Change (PDC), Mr. Oluwaremi Adetusin, following the withdrawal of the suit by the petitioner. Adetunsi had filed a petition against the outcome of the election, contesting the ownership of logo with the Labour Party (LP). PDC, which has similar logo to that of LP, claimed it had the right to the father-mother-and-child logo and that its supporters wrongly voted for the ruling party. The PDC candidate made a dramatic U-turn when he consulted another counsel to withdraw his case from the tribunal without in-

forming his lead counsel, Yinka Orokoto. Orokoto, who is also a member of the legal team of the PDP governorship candidate, had earlier withdrawn his appearance as the counsel to PDC through an oral application and he was granted unopposed. Justice Kaka’n, leading Justices H. S. Mohammend and Kadi Alkali struck out the case on the ground that the petitioner had earlier sent an application to withdraw the case, adding that the PDC candidate or any member of the party were not also in the court. Justice Kaka’n said: “Having read through the application of withdrawal of PDC and the absence of PDC candidate in the court, I hereby struck out the case.” The tribunal has adjourned till January 22.

SNG marks 1st anniversary of Occupy Nigeria protests OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

he Save Nigeria Group (SNG) is set to mark the first anniversary of the unprecedented popular revolt of Nigerians against the culture of corruption in the country with a roundtable dialogue on the state of the nation’s finances. The Occupy Nigeria protests grounded social, economic and political activities across the country for almost two weeks, in January 2012 following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. According to a statement signed by the spokesman of the SNG, Yinka

Odumakin, the roundtable dialogue billed to be a sober reflection on the financial crises the country is facing, is scheduled to hold on Monday January 14 in Lagos. Titled “Nigeria’s Fiscal and Monetary Crisis: The Way Out,” the dialogue will have panellists such as popular economist , Mr. Henry Boyo, renowned columnist and economist, Dr. Dele Sobowale, chairman of the Editorial Board of the Punch newspapers, Mr. Segun Adediran and representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The event will also feature memories of Occupy Nigeria with a photo exhibition.

Former governor of Oyo State and Accord Party leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, addressing new members of the party in OgoOluwa Local Government Area of the state yesterday.

Group defends Bode George over ex-convict toga OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

he Lagos Collectives yesterday decried a Lagos-based evening newspaper for tagging former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, an ex-convict. The group, in a statement signed by its chairman, Prof. Tejumade Akitoye-Rhodes said: “In an apparent fit of vindictive journalism, the

Lagos based newspaper needlessly castigated the PDP for including Chief George on a committee which is reconciling the list of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). It is obvious now that the newspaper is waging a cruel and mischievous war of vendetta against a decent man, a pious patriot who was railroaded into undeserved incarceration by the paymasters of the news organisation. Surely, all right- thinking Nigerians are not deceived by the

partisan induced judgement which sought to degrade the image of a good man.” The newspaper had, in its Wednesday publication referred to George as ex-convict, castigating the PDP for including George in a six-man committee tasked with the responsibility of restructuring membership of the board. Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the PDP has reiterated its unalloyed support and loyalty to the exemplary leader-

ship qualities of George, whose “undiluted service to our great party has earned him another onerous national assignment to position the party’s BoT.” The PDP said it took the stand to correct the erroneous impression created by the newspaper that the former PDP Deputy National Chairman was not worthy of further service to his party and fatherland, saying that the assignment was another feather to George’s cap.

Politics

Today, the Supreme Court will determine the appeal filed by Governor Adams Oshiomhole against the judgement of the Court of Appeal that ordered the retrial of the petition of Major General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) questioning the qualification of the governor. EMMANUEL ONANI writes on the legal battle.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Qualification: Supreme Court decides Oshiomhole’s fate

he Supreme Court will today determine whether or not the governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has questions to answer before the state’s election petition tribunal in respect of his basic qualification for election as governor. The apex court had adjourned for judgement after entertaining arguments from Oshiomhole’s legal team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) as well as counsel to his main challenger and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14, 2012 gubernatorial election, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN). Oshiomhole’s appeal at the apex court followed an earlier ruling by the Benin Division of the Court of Appeal, ordering the constitution of a new panel to determine whether the governor had the basic educational requirement(s) to contest for the exalted office of governor. Oshiomhole predicated his appeal on six grounds. To him, the judgement of the appellate court was based on sentiments and not law. Also, there was no specific pleading in the petition challenging the governor’s non-qualification to contest the Edo State governorship election. The governor contended that matter regarding his qualification to contest the election was a pre-election matter, which the tribunal had no jurisdiction to adjudicate upon. He also argued that the Court of Appeal breached his right to fair hearing when it held that the tribunal should have determined the petition against him on its merit. Hence, Oshiomhole is asking the Supreme Court to set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal and restore the judgement of the tribunal, which dismissed Airhiavbere’s petition. Airhiavbere is challenging Oshiomhole’s victory in the governorship election of Saturday, July 14, 2012 on two legal grounds: that the governor did not possess the requisite academic qualifications and that his landslide victory in the election was achieved through malpractices and irregularities. The PDP candidate is alleging that the July 14, 2012 election was characterised by manifest fraud, rigging, intimidation and manipulations. He further contended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not conduct the election in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, even as he maintained that his decision was with a view to deepening the course of democracy and the rule of law in the overall interest of the peo-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oshiomhole

Airhiavbere

ple of Edo State. Hearing of the petition commenced on Tuesday September 4, 2012. Respondents in the petition were: Oshiomhole, his party, the Action Congress Party of Nigeria (ACN) and the INEC. The main plank of the petition, which seems to be generating heat, is the petitioner’s allegation that Oshiomhole did not possess the basic educational qualification required for any contestant to the office of governor and so was not eligible to contest the gubernatorial poll. He added that the Modern School Certificate – instead of a First School Leaving Certificate, mentioned by the Electoral Act – which Oshiomhole presented before INEC was anything but original. However, the respondents, in a preliminary objection, argued that the Electoral Act did not explicitly prescribe qualification to be met by a candidate seeking to contest election as governor. They urged the tribunal to dismiss the entire petition as lacking in merit. Delivering his ruling on Oshiomhole’s preliminary objection on September 27, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleman Ambrusa, struck out some paragraphs of the pleadings that dealt with qualification, saying it was a preelection issue, which only the high court had the jurisdiction to entertain. Dissatisfied with the decision of the lower court, the PDP governorship candidate approached the Court of Appeal,

Benin Division to set aside same. In the lead judgement delivered on Thursday December 6, 2012, by the chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, the Appeal Court called on the acting President of the Court of Appeal to reconstitute the tribunal, for purposes of hearing the petition afresh. According to the appellate court, it was wrong for the tribunal to have declined jurisdiction, reasoning that, by the provision of Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), it possesses the jurisdiction to entertain the petition on its merit. The court dismissed Oshiomhole’s cross-appeal as a mere academic exercise. Justice Ogunwumiju held that there were “triable issues” in Airhiavbere’s petition, hence the compelling need for same to be heard in its merit. Also dissatisfied with the decision of the appellate court, Oshiomhole filed a notice of appeal before the Supreme Court, seeking to set aside the order. The governor, through his lead counsel, Olanipekun (SAN) is contending that Airhiavbere did not specifically plead the issue of his qualification at the lower court. Arguing the appeal on Monday, Olanipekun said there was no basis for the judgement of the Court of Appeal, more so that the petition was founded on alleged corrupt practice and non- compli-

THE MAIN PLANK OF THE PETITION... IS THE PETITIONER’S ALLEGATION THAT OSHIOMHOLE DID NOT POSSESS THE BASIC EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIRED FOR ANY CONTESTANT TO THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR AND SO WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO CONTEST THE GUBERNATORIAL POLL

ance with the Electoral Act, He said that the Court of Appeal was not a Father Christmas to have made a case for the Respondent which he did not make for himself. “By the judgement of the lower court, the appellant (Oshiomhole) is being asked to go and defend allegations which have not been made against him,” he stated. In his submission, the respondent’s counsel, Akpofure (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgement of the lower court. According to him, the tribunal did not say that there was no ground to sustain the allegation of non-qualification, asserting that the fact that non-qualification was not made a separate ground was not a basis to hold that there was no ground in the pleadings. To this end, he called on the justices to consider the petition wholesale. The stage for what has turned out to be a fierce legal battle between Oshiomhole and Airhiavbere was set shortly after INEC declared the former winner of the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the South-South state. The Returning Officer (RO) for the July 14, 2012 governorship contest in the state, Prof. Osayuki Oshodi declared Oshiomhole as duly elected, having scored the highest number of lawful votes cast, and having won in more than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of the 18 local government councils in the state. This was in fulfilment of the requirements as expressly set out in Section 179(2)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). In the results announced at the INEC’s state headquarters in Benin, Oshiomhole scored 477,478 votes to defeat his main rival and candidate of the PDP, Airhiavbere, who polled 144, 235 votes. It was also noteworthy that Oshiomhole won in all the 18 local government areas of the state. This declaration formed the basis of the petition before the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal, filed by the Edo PDP and its candidate, who felt strongly that the election may have fallen short of the requirements of the Electoral Act, 2010. Consequently, a petition to challenge the alleged irregularities and electoral malfeasance was effectuated at the registry of the tribunal, on Friday August 3, 2012. Curiously, however, the PDP, which was listed as 2nd applicant in the petition, made a volte-face, when it wrote to the tribunal to indicate its intention to withdraw from the tussle. The statement announcing the withdrawal of the PDP from the petition was made by its chairman, Chief Dan Orbih. With the withdrawal of the PDP from the petition, its candidate was left to stew in his own juice; the “omnibus” umbrella was lowered! Without doubt, palpable anxiety has gripped both contending camps, as they await the direction the pendulum swings today.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 11, 2013

Politics

ABIODUN NEJO writes on the ripples reverberating in Ekiti State over the endorsement of Governor Kayode Fayemi for a second term in office by members of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

he last 36 hours of the outgone year 2012 put to the lie the much-touted unity in the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ekiti State, as the party literally dance naked in the public, following an endorsement of the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi , for a second term in the governorship election which is still about 18 months away. Reactions to the endorsement are pointers to the elasticity of the unity of purpose among members of the party, which is now coming to the fore as preparations towards the 2014 governorship election began to take shape. Before now, leaders of the party in the state, including its chairman, Chief Jide Awe, minces no words at any forum to sound it loud and clear that there was no division within the party and that everybody – leaders and members – shared the same positive view on matters concerning the party and its future. There had always been strident denial of any seeming frosty relationship between the governor, Fayemi and the member representing Ado Ekiti Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, with the ACN leadership saying that such was merely a figment of the imagination of the authors and that the matters surrounding the 2011 National Assembly senatorial ticket had long been resolved within the party. Political observers in the state had all along said Bamidele was aggrieved over the manner the Ekiti Central senatorial ticket of the party, which he believed he won at the party primary and should have been candidate, was given to Babafemi Ojudu, who is now representing the zone in the Senate. He has since then, not been in good terms with Fayemi and some leaders of the party. What appeared first in the series of disclosures that all was not well within the party was the appearance of governorship campaign posters of the ACN lawmaker in major towns of the state on Sunday, December 30 last year. But more curious was the fact that the posters had the Labour Party (LP) logo – seemingly proving pundits, who had before then said that Bamidele would contest the 2014 governorship poll against Fayemi, albeit in another party, right. Bamidele, however, did not only disclaim the posters, he also traced the source to some elements within the ruling party, to which he belonged, describing it as “an attempt by those who are conspiring against my vision and destiny to preempt and harass me into surrendering on my principled stance on issues.” However, that Sunday, leaders of the party gathered at the residence of a former governor of the state and ACN chieftain, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, at Iyin Ekiti for an end-of-the-year gathering when the party leaders endorsed the governor for a second term in office. Among leaders of the ACN at the meet-

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2014: Fayemi’s endorsement stirs hornets’ nest “THE ENDORSEMENT WHICH I CALLED A DECLARATION CAME TO THE FORE BECAUSE THE PARTY IS PROUD

OF THE GOVERNOR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.

THE ACN IS NOT A LAWLESS PARTY AND WHOEVER HAS INTEREST CAN STILL MAKE HIS INTENTION KNOWN Fayemi

ing at Iyin Ekiti, which coincidentally is Bamidele’s home town, are the state ACN chairman, Awe; former Governor Adebayo, Senator Tony Adeniyi (Ekiti South Senatorial District); House of Representatives’ member, Ife Arowosoge; Speaker, House of Assembly, Adewale Omirin; and local government chairmen. The leaders, who seized the opportunity of the gathering to discuss the future of the party, took turns to speak glowingly about the achievements of Fayemi in office in the last 26 months and consequently adopted him as the party’s candidate for the 2014 governorship election. Adebayo, who had expressed his agreement with the endorsement of the generality of the party men and women who wanted Governor Fayemi for a second term, said that the present administration in the state had impacted positively on the lives of Ekiti people. He said: “The government of Fayemi has done a lot to move the state forward and his developmental strategies and strides are quite laudable. I also think he deserves a second term, just as our people are clamouring.” In his contribution, Omirin said Ekiti had witnessed a tremendous turnaround with the taste of good governance which Fayemi had given them, hence the need to allow him do a second term, so that he could consolidate on the various developmental efforts in the state. Also the Caretaker Chairman of AdoEkiti Local Government, Sunday Ibitoye, who spoke on behalf of the 16 council chairmen, said the unprecedented development at the urban and rural areas of the state and the social security scheme of the administration had endeared it to the people at the grassroots, aside the free education and free health programmes. Corroborating other speakers and stamping their position, the state ACN chairman said the party leaders’ testimonies and that of the average Ekiti man and woman were enough grounds to endorse Fayemi for a second term. Awe had said: “The people have spoken.

Bamidele

The leaders of our party have spoken, the people on the streets have spoken also in clear terms, and all they are saying is that the governor has performed and should be given a second term. I also endorse this position, because I can see the difference that the Fayemi administration has made in the state.” In his reaction, Fayemi had told journalists that: “One is definitely humbled by this expression of confidence and goodwill by our party men and women. We surely have a lot more to do, because we are just at the mid-term. We have a contract with the people, and God willing, we shall try to deliver on every single promise we made to the people during the electioneering period.” But in an apparent rejection of the adoption and passing vote of no confidence in the judgement of the party leaders, Bamidele had last week described the endorsement of Fayemi by a section of party members, as a mere expression of opinion. Bamidele argued that the endorsement

was not binding on members and incapable of preventing other interested party members from challenging the governor at the primary ahead of the 2014 gubernatorial poll in the state. In a statement by his media aide, Ahmed Salami, Bamidele explained that only endorsement from ACN national leaders could deprive other party members the right to contest against the governor at the primary. Although he agreed that the endorsement of Fayemi by a section of the party was common in politics, he however said: “But I want to say that other party members who are interested in the position can still show interest because such endorsement cannot rob other party members the rights to aspire for the same seat at the primary.” However, Awe, wasted no time in attempting to douse the tension created by the endorsement of the governor during a chat with journalists, when he seemingly agreed with Bamidele that adoption of the governor that took place at Iyin Ekiti was a “mere declaration of support for the governor in view of his achievements in office.” Awe had clarified that the adoption of the governor for a second term by leaders of the party did not prevent intending aspirants for the office in next year’s governorship election in the state from pursuing their intent. The state chairman, who advised the intending aspirants to refrain from brickbats over the endorsement, said that all leaders of the party were at Iyin Ekiti where the declaration of support was made, adding that the declaration needed affirmation of the national body before it could become binding. He said: “I believe anybody having any contrary opinion is on his own. If somebody is not satisfied and wants to come out to contest, he is free. The declaration was because the governor has done something that interests the party. But it is still going to be affirmed. The affirmation will be done when the party rolls out its calendar. And that will resolve the issue of candidacy. “The endorsement which I called a declaration came to the fore because the party is proud of the governor’s achievements. The ACN is not a lawless party and whoever has interest can still make his intention known, but this should receive the authority of the party’s leaders.” Awe, however, assured that the scorecard of the incumbent ACN administration in all sectors of the state and the programmes and policies that would be unveiled in the New Year for an unprecedented development of the state and its people were the campaign issues for the party, which he described as return ticket key to the Government House in 2014. With the 2014 governorship election in the state around the corner, the manner of resolution of this crisis and how the candidate of the ruling party emerges will determine the shape of things to happen in the party as it prepares for the polls.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Friday, January 11, 2013

A minister and his disingenuous initiative PIUS ADESANMI Continued from last Wednesday

his explains why my pen can be very violent whenever Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Sam Amadi or any of the few people with cerebral minds in government misbehave. As the Yoruba aptly put it, it is disappointing if you find yesterday’s leftover eba and rotten okro soup where you expect to find steaming pounded yam fresh from the mortar and egusi soup. Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture being one of the two or three positive needles in the monumentally corrupt and clueless haystack that is the Jonathan government, we must repeat the question: how have we ended up finding yesterday’s eba in his sakani (domain) when we expected fresh pounded yam? How on earth did Dr. Adesina sign on to this project? Why has such a cerebral technocrat joined the ranks of the resident comedians in the Jonathan cabinet? Yes, the cabinet has comedians. One wants to go to the moon – or is it Mars – by 2015. Another one says evils spirits are responsible for inefficient power generation. And now, this brilliant technocrat wants to spend N60 billion buying cell phones for farmers in rural Nigeria. The idea is actually not bad. I think the Minister has been inspired by similar cases elsewhere in Africa. The tragedy here is that the Minister is going to waste public funds on a project

that should be entirely private sector-driven. He should have used his good offices to approach a consortium of NGOs and development funders to buy the phones and work in partnership with cellular providers in Nigeria to ensure cheap access to airtime for the concerned farmers in a carefully determined framework. He could even run a pilot in all geopolitical zones to see how things work out. The second tragedy – and this is very important for Nigerians in the Diaspora as well as highly-trained Nigerians circulating in international organizations and global agencies – relates to disconnection and deracination. The story by now should be familiar to Nigerians. Every new government in Nigeria casts its net wide, plucking compatriots from the Diaspora; they pluck them from Bretton Woods Institutions; and they pluck them from international Foundations. Usually, they have excelled and made Nigeria proud in all these places. Then they get to Abuja and fail colossally. We get rotten eba from them instead of fresh pounded yam. The failure rate is so overwhelming that I can’t even immediately come up with success stories. They brought Aganga in from Goldman Sachs and I don’t know what to make of his service; they plucked Arunma Oteh from the African Development Bank and she has ended up a total disgrace; the jury is still out on Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. And now the Minister of Agriculture is running the risk of becoming a comedian. Perhaps,

THE TRAGEDY HERE IS THAT THE MINISTER IS GOING TO WASTE PUBLIC FUNDS ON A PROJECT THAT SHOULD BE ENTIRELY PRIVATE SECTOR-DRIVEN

there is something about the culture on the ground which these naïve returnees from the Diaspora or from international agencies and bodies misjudge in terms of their own modes of reinsertion into Nigerian society. I suspect, for instance, that Dr Adesina imagines that he is still shaping policy and initiatives for the Rockefeller Foundation or for NEPAD. Perhaps, he imagines he is still working on MDGs for Ban Ki-Moon. Somebody had better wake him up and tell him he is in Abuja. He will understand the folly of this cellphone project when he starts receiving letters from above regarding whose wife or whose concubine should get the contract for the importation of the phones. He will understand Nigeria when after allocation to the 36 states, the phones disappear on arrival in the state capitals. He will understand the nature of things when he discovers that virtually every civil servant in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has opened a cellphone sup-

plying shop or business and is already quietly telling potential customers that he is awaiting stocks and consignment. Dr. Adesina has ample examples of ministers embarking on woolly-headed projects to learn from. There is Dora Akunyili, who wasted millions on her moronic rebrand Nigeria project and castigated those of us wailing against it as noisy armchair critics. What did Nigeria ever gain from that project? Hundreds of millions of naira down the drain. Just like that. I once called for Dora Akunyili to be prosecuted for criminal wastage of funds. Perhaps, that would have dissuaded Dr. Adesina from buying cellphones for farmers with public funds. Why can’t he go to his people at Rockefeller and sell this idea to them? Why can’t he approach the oil subsidy cartel in Nigeria and see if they could cough up the funds for his project? Why not approach corporate institutions and see if they want to come on board and fund part of this thing as corporate social responsibility? Oh, I better not mention corporate social responsibility. Our unpredictable CBN governor may get to read this and rush a check of N60 billion to the Minister of Agriculture, claiming it is the corporate social responsibility of the CBN to provide the phones. Concluded Adesanmi is Canada-based scholar, writer and public affairs commentator

Edo’s raging tax war OSAGIE IDEMUDIA

IN PUSHING FOR THE

ENACTMENT OF THE

ecently, the Edo State House of Assembly passed an executive bill tagged “Land Use Charge Bill”. The bill, introduced on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader, Honourable Phillip Shuaibu, had a very rough ride through the House with some members vehemently opposed to it. The bill, which seeks to impose taxes on landed properties in Edo State, elicited serious opposition from the general public. The opposition was so strident that the Speaker of the House, Hon. Uyi Igbe, promised a public hearing on the bill. Surprisingly, the promised public hearing never held, but the bill was finally passed, and within 24 hours of its passage, Governor Adams Oshiomhole signed it into law with the promise to deal seriously with anybody that violates it. As a responsible indigene of the state contributing to the ongoing debate on the Land Use Charge Law, I make bold to say that there is nothing that is fundamentally wrong with it. The purpose of governments globally is to improve the standard of living of the people they govern through provision of basic infrastructural facilities and amenities, such as good roads and electricity; protection of lives and property, and of course, the guarantee of fundamental human rights.

NEW LAW, THE STATE GOVERNMENT PUT THE WRONG FOOT FORWARD To achieve these laudable goals, governments need money, a lot of money. This is why they go the extra mile to impose taxes on individuals and corporate citizens, in addition to the exploitation of the natural endowments of such polities. However, in pushing for the enactment of the new law, the state government put the wrong foot forward. Yes it is an indubitable fact that the task of introducing the bill, like any executive bill, fell on Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Phillip Shuaibu. However, on that fateful day and to the disappointment of the discerning people of Edo State, he performed the assignment so poorly that he left many of those who watched him on television that day wondering about his sense of judgment and blind and unconscionable partisanship. Shuaibu’s performance was even more embarrassing and unbecoming when protesters against the bill came calling at the House. Decked in the same apron

of “Edo Youth Congress” that some of the protesters were donning probably as a ploy to show esprit de corps and win their sympathy and understanding, Hon. Shuaibu gleefully told them that the new law had nothing to do with them because they were poor people! The new law, he added, was aimed at people like Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Benin Kingdom, who he asserted owns property “from street to street” in Benin City GRA. He repeated this insult several times in halting English in the course of his reckless, undiplomatic and tactless defence of the new law and his principal. This unmitigated insult to a great son of Edo State further angered the protesters, some of whom loudly said: “Shuaibu is a goat”, an insult to which he retorted that the Shuaibu they were abusing was already in his grave and that it was his son, Phillip that was standing before them. As the altercation progressed, Hon. Shuaibu told the protesters that they were unlimited! While it is true that tax policies formulated by different governments are generally aimed at taking from the rich to give to the poor as a way of creating an equitable society and sustaining peaceful coexistence of citizens across the socio-economic strata of society, it is also true that government must not target and humiliate a single individual in order to press home its point. Government has a bounden duty to demonstrate decorum, respect and impartiality to citizens,

who are wont to be wooed to give up their hard-earned money to assist the implementation and realization of its welfare programmes. Indeed, in his feeble, drab and uninspiring defence of the Land Use Charge Law, Hon. Shuaibu goofed, shot himself in the foot, made a mockery of his legislative standing and thoroughly embarrassed his colleagues in the House and the government of Edo State, which imitated the bill. The Comrade Governor has been seen to spiritedly counter all opposition to the new law, which the people describe as draconian, unparliamentary and anti-people. He has been holding town hall meetings with some selected party loyalists. Unfortunately, it appears the purpose of such meetings was to further denigrate the Esama of Benin Kingdom, who he has portrayed as his political enemy number one intent in denying him a second term. Nothing can be farther from the truth. To be concluded Idemudia is the Secretary, Edo Unity Club, Lagos 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.

Editorial

Friday, January 11, 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

Reviving rail transportation

fter lying virtually comatose for a prolonged period at huge public expense, what remains of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is gradually showing signs of recovery from the dead, with the haulage of 450,000 litres or 30 tankers of diesel from Lagos to Kaduna a couple of days ago. Earlier last year, the Corporation had acquired 20 pressurized tank wagons which cost N600 million, with the capacity to lift 900,000 litres of petroleum products, the equivalence of 27 road fuel tankers. In addition, a Lagos-Kano passenger mass transit scheme was revived, with the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, assuring that the Federal Government has awarded feasibility contracts for the reopening of other abandoned railway routes. The minister implored the FG to adequately fund the Corporation to sustain its current momentum and avoid a relapse. After about decades of railway transportation paralysis and decay, despite huge public funding, the NRC’s Managing Director, Adeseye Sijuade, said the recommencement of train services would provide employment opportunities, promote interstate trade, and reduce accidents on derelict public highways that have become

deathtraps. It is a welcome development that the FG is waking up from its deep slumber to invest in and revive rail transportation, crippled deliberately for about 20 years by a roadhaulage cartel in connivance with the nation’s largely unpatriotic bureaucracy. A former Sole Administrator of the NRC, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, had several years ago cried out that his life was under threat because he tried to resuscitate rail transportation in the country, the absence of which made trailer and truck firms to thrive. We dare warn that these anticompetition road haulage firms are still in business and must be vigorously resisted from thwarting the ongoing efforts to revive rail transportation. In order to guarantee free competitive spirit, however, the FG should go beyond the tokenism of breathing life into the sector by liberalizing the rail transport industry through appropriate policy guidelines and incentives to woo the private sector into rendering rail services. The NRC has failed woefully to justify its huge payroll bills with the required services. It lacks the business initiative needed to properly manage rail transportation and, therefore, cannot be trusted with huge public funds that are often drained by

IS IT NOT TRAGIC THAT FEDERAL LAWMAKERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A

CROSS-COUNTRY RAIL SYSTEM THAT WOULD CONNECT ALL THEIR CONSTITUENCIES the salaries and allowances of largely idle and indolent workers, instead of investment in wagons, coaches and engines to generate profits. Worse still, the NRC has been a dog in a manger over the years, hounding state governments and private investors interested in rail transportation with its obsolete and anti-investment monopoly law, which the National Assembly lamentably failed to repeal in 13 years of democratic rule. Is it not tragic that federal lawmakers do not understand the importance of a cross-country rail system that would connect all their constituencies and facilitate cheaper and easier movement of people, manufactured products and farm produce from less commercially viable points to more competi-

tive markets? The 57-year-old colonial law has been the barrier between state governments and private sector investment in the nation’s rail system. It has thus glued the fate of Nigerians and railway development to the inept NRC. A previous legislative effort to unbundle the NRC and delete the monopoly law was aborted by the NASS some years ago. The railway reform bill had proposed to strip the NRC of regulatory functions in an industry in which it is also an operator. In effect, therefore, we think minister Umar’s campaign for additional funding of the NRC is no solution to the rail rot. The NRC should be gingered to fend for itself by operating as a business outfit, seeking funding to buy wagons, coaches, and engines to provide services and make money to pay salaries, instead of waiting to be spoonfed. The NASS should wake up and perform the patriotic duty of repealing the colonial rail law that has destroyed the industry and deprived the hinterlands of quick and cheap access; as well as more profitable economic activities. The emphasis of the FG should be more on rail and waterways transportation development that benefits the majority of the people more; than air and road transportation.

ON THIS DAY January 11, 2003 Illinois governor, George Ryan, commuted the death sentences of 167 prisoners on the state’s’ death row based on the Jon Burge scandal. Jon Graham Burge (born December 20, 1947) is a convicted felon and former Chicago Police Department detective and commander who gained notoriety in the Unites States and beyond for allegedly torturing more than 200 criminal suspects between 1972 and 1991, in order to force confessions.

Letters to the Editor

January 11, 1998 The Sidi-Hamed massacre occurred in Algeria, with over 100 people killed. The Sidi-Hamed massacre took place on the night of January 11, 1998 (the last day of Ramadan), in the town of Sidi-Hamed (or SidiHammad), 30 kilometres south of Algiers. An estimated fifty gunmen poured in, attacking children and adults alike. They bombed a cafe where films were being watched and a mosque in nearby Haouche Sahraoui.

January 11, 1972 East Pakistan renamed itself Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. Straddling the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, it is part of the historic ethno-linguistic region of Bengal. The name Bangladesh stands for “Country of Bengal” in the official BenPresident Jonathan gali language. It faces the Bay of Bengal to its south, and is bordered by India on the north, west and east, as well as Burma (Myanmar) on the southeast.

Your

FRIDAY

Flavour

Friday, January 11, 2013

MOVIE PRODUCERS

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

ARE NOW AT THE

RECEIVING END ... SOME

A-LIST ACTORS

HAVE HAD TO RAISE

Abia State, which has enjoyed relative peace in terms of abductions. Enugu would have been okay, but most of the locations in Enugu have been used severally in films”, he said. Nkiru Sylvanus has maintained a very low profile since her release too. While she used to be upbeat in the metropolis in her chauffeur-driven Toyota SUV, the official vehicle availed by her position as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo State on Public Affairs, indications show that she may have learned one or two lessons from that ugly experience. **Friday Flavour** gathered that since her release, she has only made one public appearance, which was to grace the wedding ceremony of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s daughter, Uloma, last week. Even at the wedding

reception, Nkiru Syvanus maintained a reclusive stance, declining to talk about her ordeal with some journalists who gathered around her. “It was quite unlike her. Before now, the Nkiru I know would be everywhere at that wedding but she just remained calm. When journalists spotted her, some of them gathered around her so she could talk about it but she turned down the request”. Meanwhile, a new twist appeared two days ago over the kidnap saga. While the Commissioner of Police, Adisa Olanta had announced earlier that some suspects had been arrested in a town, Imerienwe, in connection with the kidnap of the actress, our reporter gathered that little has happened since then. “The suspects who are still in deten-

WEEKEND STARTERS

Fêting Jahman Anikulapo @50

he Strong Breed Session will be celebrating Jahman Anikulapo as he turns 50. The event will take place today at Bogobiri House by 7.00 p.m. The evening shall be

an intimate, informal gathering open to all and intended to honour a great Nigerian and a wonderful human being. A long list of special guests has been confirmed to attend.

MDSA open house finale

he Modern Day School of Arts, MDSA, which has been running an Open House all week long starting on Monday, Jan-

Poets celebrate January

Hangout with Charles Aniagolu, Emem Isong

he MTN Afrinolly Master Class series continues tomorrow with another ‘Hangout’ event featuring international broadcaster, producer and director, Charles Aniagolu as well as Nollywood direc-

uary 7, closes the event tomorrow at White Space, 58 Raymond Njoku Str, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi-Lagos. The Open House is to create awareness about upcoming workshops to be taught by

T Isong

Aniagolu

tor, screenwriter and producer, Emem Isong. The MTN Afrinolly Master Class aims to offer young and emerging film-

leading creative professionals and is also an opportunity to engage directly with the team, MDSA Board of advisors and trustees and other MDSA friends. Time is 3.00 p.m.

makers in Africa exceptional creative opportunities and experiences with leaders of the movie industry.

he January edition of ‘Chill ‘N’ Relax’, a performance poetry and spoken word open Mic event, holds on Sunday at at 16, Abeni Close, Asa Estate, Gbagada, Lagos. At this edition tagged

“January Freshness”, every attendee is free to display their poetic prowess with no inhibition and it promises to be fun with some of Lagos’ finest poets in attendance. Starting by 3.00 p.m., admission is free for all.

Remi Babalola speaks at Bogobiri

his Saturday, Remi Babalola shares his business and life experiences at the Bogobiri House, Ikoyi, Lagos, in this

month’s 90 Minutes Speaker Series. Babalola is the founder and Chairman of Alternative Capital Partners Limited (ACAP), an

advisory and portfolio management firm with focus on private equity and principal investments. Event beBabalola gins at 1.00 p.m.

Escape

Sylvanus

tion were paraded as those behind the abduction of Nkiru, but up till now there has been no prosecution. The police said they are still in the process of interrogation and blame the fact that Nkiru’s family were negotiating without their consent as a major setback in the quest to track down the hoodlums”. Two days ago, one of the victims locked up over the matter, Jerry Okosun, breathed the air of freedom after nearly two weeks in detention on suspicion that he may have some links with those who kidnapped the actress. In spite of the apathy of movie stars towards working there, the Rochas Okorocha-led government of Imo, according to the buzz, is working to correct the impression that Imo is no longer safe for movie business. The Governor has concluded plans to do good his threat to suspend the salary of any monarch whose kingdom gets associated with kidnapping cases. Okorocha has declared he would begin to hand down this sanction henceforth.

P. 31

Okorocha

OWERRI

Mirror Mongers

TO WORK IN

P. 32-33

THEIR FEES IN ORDER

P. 24-25

nce bitten twice shy. This best describes the attitude of movie actors who have had films to shoot in Owerri, Imo State capital in the past few days as they have raised ‘artiste fee’. And this is coming on the heels of the encounter of their colleague, Nkiru Sylvanus in the hands of her abductors three weeks ago. Friday Flavour reliably gathered that movie producers are now at the receiving end of the new development, where some A-list actors have had to raise their fees in order to work in Owerri. In some instances, the actors ask for ‘special security arrangements’. A production assistant, Mayor Orji divulged to the paper that some producers have had to move their location from Imo to neighbouring Abia, which has been calm in terms of abduction lately. “Some of the actors who negotiated before the ordeal are no longer comfortable with the arrangement, because it appears they are now targets. The impression is that the government will do anything to rescue a movie star kidnapped in the state because of their perceived relationship with the powers in the state. This has become a problem for the producers because some actors now ask for 50% extra in order to work here. If you ask them, they say it will cover the risk of being kidnapped. This has prompted some producers to either suspend their recording or take some scenes in their movies over to

Denrele’s Day

Nkiru Sylvanus’ kidnap: Nollywood stars raise fees to work in Imo

P. 34

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

Inside FCT

VOL. 3 No. 533

Artman In The House

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I contribute to society through entertainment –Laide Popular Yoruba genre actor and producer, Laide Bakare has just directed her first movie titled: Jejere which introduces neo-afro music star 9ice as an actor. 2013 kicks off as a busy year for the hands-on star who is also unveiling Simline International, her entertainment company that includes a movie making outfit as well as record label. This interview with Friday Flavour’s TERH AGBEDEH is a glimpse into the world of the achieving actor, filmmaker and entrepreneur. What is Jejere about? Jejere in this context means tumour. It’s symbolic and implies so many things. For instance, when a child eats too much, the Yoruba would say this child is ‘jejere’, anything that eats up something. The movie, Jejere has so many messages that we want to touch on and puts more light on some societal ills that can be corrected. For instance, we looked into the issue of why there is the emergence of Boko Haram in our society. What do they want? Why are they acting in the way they are? We want to use the movie to communicate with our leaders. This is one way I feel I can contribute to the development of the society through entertainment. If you see the movie, you’ll be able to learn from it and even Nigerian leaders can learn something from it. Basically, Jejere dwells on what is wrong in our society and how it can be corrected. It’s obvious that we have bad leadership. I’ve been to several countries and I can say that Nigeria is well-endowed; we have natural resources, a whole lot of things that will make us equal to the countries where things work. If I make a movie, I don’t focus on a particular message, I try to touch three or more aspects. Generally, it’s just about why there are societal problems and how they can be resolved. These leaders that you seek to ‘educate’ are they going to be at the event? It’s not about attendance, it’s about the movie being everywhere. Apart from premiering at the cinema, it will be released on DVD. I hope that with the level of publicity we are having, everybody will get to know about it. That is why the movie also talks about the role of the girl child and females in our society because there are still some communities that believe in and prefer the male child and have no regard for the females. The gender issue is very vital to our people; Jejere is to educate the Black continent to treat the female child well. For instance, I’m a female and I’m now the Director/CEO of Simline International. I’ve got a record label and we have state-of-the-art equipment in my company. I wrote and directed the story; I believe a director is a ‘tin god’ who recreates the earth and puts in characters and moves them around; they communicate and eventually pass the message you want to send out. What I did was to centralise my story on a particular community which talks about our culture, being African and Black, that we can be unique in our dressing and the way we do our things. As Africans, we can be proud of who we are. I believe that there are so many traditions and cultures here that are beautiful. You said you’d like to have the film everywhere. How do you hope to do that with the lack of distribution network in this country? When we get to the distribution bridge we will cross it. For now, it’s just about showing and exhibition. The impression one gets from what you said earlier

I’VE BEEN AN ACTRESS FOR A LONG TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS

crew, they did very well. After the official premiere, we’ll take the movie everywhere.

TIME FOR ME TO DO WHAT

I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO – MAKE MOVIES is that the movie movie was set in a village. It’s not sett in the village, it’s in a particular community y and we were on set all over the country. But that iss where wherre the story begins; from this community in n a Black Black nation with its own lifestyle and philosophy. hy. It reflects re eflects on the people of the community and once nce you u see them, you know who they are. It’s a test run off what I learnt from the New York Film Academy. I’ve my. I’v ve been an actress for a long time and I thought ht it was w time for me to do what I’ve always wanted d to do, do o, which is make movies.

How did you get 9ice to act for the first time? I always knew that 9ice is a natural actor and probably because of the content we had in mind when we were writing g the story, I just said that particular character must understand w h a t c u l ture and trad i -

You’ve always e alway ys wanted to make films even while you were an acto actor? or? Yes, I wass producing movies but I wasn’t directing so I had d to leave the shores of Nigeria to learn directing directiing in America where I was for almost most a year studying. The Yoruba industry has a oruba movie m tradition helping one on of actors a another er with productions yet, you made ade a big b budget film costing millions g millio ons of naira. Why did id you do that? With h the Jejere story it’s a different diffe erent ballgame becau because use number one, ne, I’ve I’v ve never begged d any y actor to feature ture in i n my film for or free. free e. If I’m not ready ot read dy I don’t go int into to a project. project . For this movie I had a whole le lot of people in it.. You u can imagine magin ne that we cosc tumed d a whole w community and unity branded ed them, the em, with a particular ular style s tyle of dressing. I than thank k God that the movie recently recen ntly won Best Use of Costume Best of Nollywood me at the t Award, d, (BON) (BON N) and also Best Movie of the Year ear in another award. I won Best Actress ss thiss year at the Yoruba Heritage Award d in the th he United Kingdom. It truly shows that hard the d work k pays. I appreciate i h cast and d

Laide

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Artman In The House

Friday, January 11, 2013

During the interview

Striking a pose

Standing beside her Range Rover Sport w with c customised number plate.

tion is and how to appreciate and d let it be known first role and to people. We tried him for his fi rst film f have any rehe played a lead role as well. We don’t d grets. compared How challenging is directing comp pared with acting or producing? challenging Directing is extremely challe engin and at a wanted point, I asked myself if I really wa ante to continue because I was playing lead in the movie movi as well. We m shot the film in Lagos and Osogbo o and when we arrived at Osun State, I discovered discovere ed that th some locations were not ideal. So we ha had ad to go in search of alternatives. What this means is that tha at you yo were also doing continuity work? worrk? Yes, location manager man nage is more like it. I was location man manager, played the lead role, director, executive diirect It was director and producer. prod p really challenging challeng ging but because from the it has been planned plann p most especially beginning, mos I’m launching my now that I’ ’m la label record la abel as well, so I that know th hat iit takes more than b being an actor on was prepared, I set. I wa even had to cut my eve en ha hair and now I’m ha air a wearing dreads. wear w Apart from the A you do, you w work married with a are e ma child? child d? Yes,, but most of the time they y are in America. instance, For instan ce, while I was daughter was not shooting, my d daug around, so I had d all the time to part work. The work pa rt I got from my He father who was a workaholic. wo was a hotelier and d in construction and while growing g up I was always with him. Your father must have been un-

xxxxxx

FACT FILE

•

Laide Bakare grew up in Lagos where she attended primary and secondary school at Nigerian Model School in Surulere, Lagos State.

•

She studied Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan, UI, Oyo State and then to the University of Lagos, Akoka, UNILAG for a master’s degree in History and Strategic Studies. All this while, she was active as an actor and movie producer.

•

Last year she graduated from the New York Film Academy, USA, where she studied filmmaking.

•

Her first directorial effort Jejere will premiere in Lekki-Lagos this Sunday.

•

The premiere would be hosted by radio presenter, Yaw and film star, Funke Akindele. Performances will come from King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K-1), 9ice, Chuddy K and T-Code.

•

The award winning movie was shot for three weeks and features actors such as Fathia Balogun, Emeka Ike, Abolore Akande (9ice), Ireti Bakare, Akin Lewis and Laide Bakare among many others.

•

Jejere is filmed in Yoruba and subtitled in English.

•

9ice produced the bulk of the soundtrack for the movie.

derstanding to let you go into acting? I won’t say he introduced me to acting but I was discovered in his hotel. Filmmakers were his customers while I was in secondary school. Although we were not constant visitors to the hotel, on his birthday we were there to celebrate, I met all the actors and getting into the industry was not difficult. When I got in, I started producing my movies almost a year later. My father had cameras and other film equipments. Why have you tagged the premiere event ‘The Laide Bakare Experience’? It’s just about celebrating me, my achievements, what I’ve been into in the industry for some time

Jejere poster

now. I want people to come and celebrate with me especially now that I’m into things other than acting. A lot of people know Laide Bakare as an actor, but now, I’m a wife, an entrepreneur; so it’s an evening celebrating Laide Bakare. We’ll also be showing what we have to the world. I talked about my production company with state-of-the-art equipment. I made the movie with my equipment. So movie making is part of what we do at Simline International. T-Code, the first artiste on our label also shot his video with our equipment. These are the things we are unveiling on January 13. How did you meet T-Code? Last year or earlier, he came to me and gave me his demo CD to listen to. I hadn’t started my record label then. I listened to it and he kept calling me and letting me know what new song he has done. I know quite a number of musicians because my brother is a music video director, AK-1. And did you direct T-Code’s music video? No, but it was shot with our equipment. The one we did is called Azonto Fuji and we still have many others to shoot. The idea is to appreciate talent because at the end of the day, there are so many people that want to sound like the Americans or Europeans. That is photocopy but T-Code is original and African. T-Code has got the uniqueness of being an African with his Fuji melody and that is our original effort, what we can sell to the world. Is there a possibility that 9ice would cross over to your record label in the future? Nothing is impossible but for now, no. After Yoruba movies, is the next step directing movies in English language? Of course, we’ve a whole lot of scripts, about five on our table. Did you write all those scripts? Yes. Are you willing to source for scripts from other writers? I’ve not been doing that but nothing is impossible and if a very good story comes along, why not?

Critics

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Book

In search of more durable bench and rugged bar L OUIS O DION

like to begin by stimulating our imaginations with a little drama sketch. Imagine you are sitting in a theatre at this moment. Again, imagine a swash-buckling chief law officer of a kingdom strutting a dimly-lit stage, his hyperactivity sharply contrasting the Go-Slow disposition of the Commander-in-Chief in the cor ner. Meet the almighty Attor ney-General of the kingdom. But so notorious he soon becomes in defiling his very oath of office that a Yoruba-speaking fellow sitting next to you cannot resist the temptation to creatively shorten his sobriquet (Attorney-General) to ‘Atan ni Je’ (for the benefit of non-Yoruba, ‘Atan ni Je’ roughly means ‘he/she who deceives’). What record will this great Attor ney-General (or ‘Atan ni Je’ if you like) not break in infamy. He is a wizard, a magician who could stretch the tender gaiter of the law to the very breaking point for self-gain. Everyone knows that family silver is considered sacred. But again, Mr. ‘Atan ni Je’ cares less. For a few shekels of gold, he is not only quick at consenting to the rape of the nation by the buccaneer, but even faster in arranging a legal getaway for the supposed violator. Mr. ‘Atan ni Je’s’ strategy is simple: the buccaneer heads for the court to enforce a phantom pact. Then, there is a snag. Due process requires that others whose interests are tied to the said national asset, like the labour union, are also joined in the suit alongside the gover nment of the day, at least. This is where the prodigious ingenuity of Mr. ‘Atan ni Je’ finally peaks. Not to worry, the case is assigned decidedly to a lackey on the bench. Leveraging on the exclusive powers of his office, Mr. ‘Atan ni Je’ ensures that a weak defence is entered on behalf of his principal and the nation, to the advantage of the buccaneer. At the strike of the gavel against the kingdom thereafter, your Yoruba-speaking neighbour in

the gallery again rises to the occasion. Mr. ‘Atan ni Je’ gets yet another appellation, ‘Ako tile ta!’ (the prodigal child!)… To the blissfully ignorant, the foregoing narrative might be mistaken for extracts from a novel of magical realism written by Gabriel Marquez or our own Ben Okri. But among the more perceptive watchers of the Nigerian story, I am sure only a few will at this moment have difficulty in recalling the true identity of Mr. ‘Atan ni Je’ and co among the coven of traitors whose various acts of commission and omission indeed defined the nation’s sordid recent political history. Today, it is debatable if, all told, one could say the proverbial rain has stopped beating the nation’s judiciary. But one thing is beyond dispute: it is certainly not premature to start taking stock. It is against this historic backcloth that the book, For Law, For Country – a conversation with the bar and the bench, should be situated. The book speaks to the bankrupt system that enables the appointment of ‘Mr Atan ni Je’ in the first place along with his many conniving servitors on the bench and, of course, the unscrupulous ones in the bar ready to defend the indefensible. If the court is described as the last hope of the common man, then that space is not to be treated with levity. While politicians habitually lie and lawmakers seem to have perfected how to hide dollars bribe in their caps, should we also not be bothered about the exploits of the likes of ‘Mr. Atan ni Je’ in the third ar m of gover nment? For, if a choice is to be made between a bad law and a good judge, certainly the latter is more preferable. For, a society can endure a bad law, but no community can survive a bad judge for too long. If a law is bad, the nation ultimately looks to the good judge to interpret its crooked letter in a manner consistent with the spirit of justice. Theoretically, this book is a compilation of 70 interviews conducted by National Mirror Newspaper in the last two years with leading voices in both the bar and the bench. It is sub-divided into

four sections. Part One deals with the ‘strong and emerging voices’. Part Two is a parade of ‘lawyers in academia’. Part Three deals with ‘Senior Advocates of Nigeria’. While Part Four is reserved for ‘Judges and Justices’. In the 337-paged book, all the hard questions are asked and frank answers given. On the vexed issue of plea bargain now glamourised by thieving politicians, greedy bankers and lately, fuel-subsidy scammers, this is the opinion of Mr. Taiwo Obayemi Taiwo, the Chairman of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association: ‘(Plea bargain) is corruption in another for m… This is because, if you can plea bargain as a rich man, then, we should be able to give the common man the chance to plea bargain. I will agree with those who are criticising the procedure where you allowed a corrupt person to keep the bulk of what he has fraudulently taken out of public resources’. The book touches many other raw nerves. From executive hypocrisy that makes a sitting presi-

Theatre

Creating Xmas with African flavour Last December, the Eternal Youth Fellowship of The Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim at the Church headquarters in Ikotun, Lagos celebrated her 2012 Christmas Carol with a stage production titled: Black Bethlehem. It was a total theatre package demonstrating an African tale on the birth of Jesus. O LAYIWOLA AWAK AN

elebrations in form of dance, drama, music, poetry and other art-oriented forms always fill the atmosphere at every festive period. Last year’s Christmas season was no exception religious institutions, social gatherings, youth groups and other organisations went all out at commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. In a more creative and standard package for the commemoration of the birth of Christ, the youth

fellowship of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim marked her 2012 Xmas Carol programme at the Church headquarters in Lagos with a full length stage production titled Black Bethlehem written by Igbalajobi Femi and directed by Remi Akapo. The programme commenced with a song performance by the Eternal Youth Fellowship Choir who flooded the hall with their sonorous voices, beautiful costumes and an arrangement that kept the congregation at the edge of their seats. It was followed by a guest choir performance by the Pearl

Empyrean Chorale Coterie (PECC). PECC, an independent choral group existing in the heart of Lagos, did a well-coordinated music act with an inclusion of dramaturgy to flesh up the ministration. The long-awaited Black Bethlehem stage play was later unveiled. The production, which was an African adaptation of the story surrounding the birth of Christ, was set in Oyo kingdom. The play opened with a market scene where a nabbed thief was about to be punished; an old man rescued him from the hands of the mob, by questioning their state of holiness. The play takes an African look into the story of ‘Adam and Eve’ and how travails came into the world. It journeyed into the period of Abraham; the situations that surrounded the birth of Jesus Christ and many other catchy stories in the Bible, with captivating African setting. In between the play, there were dance and music performances at periods of birth and other scenario that warranted celebrations. The stage was well constructed with curtains and flats to create the desired effect. More so, there was a good lighting arrangement handled by Afon-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Critics

Friday, January 11, 2013

dent of the Appeal Court to be suspended hurriedly based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council only for the same approving authority to foot-drag when the same NJC made a resolution that that same suspension be vacated; to the perceived corruption on the bench that has bred a new generation of billionaire judges; to the creeping quackery in the legal profession as a whole. The beauty of it all is in the brutality of this self-appraisal by the players in the third estate of the realm themselves. Not only substance is being lost, even the sense of camaraderie that used to define the relationship among players in the justice administration is also being eroded today. Hear the confession of another lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa: “I would want a conference that can guide the relationship between the Bar and the Bench. What we are going through currently in the legal profession is quite alar ming. I am sorry to say it but the reality is that the attitude of judicial officers to lawyers has assumed an alar ming proportion in ter ms of the way lawyers are insulted, in ter ms of the way judges flare up at attempt to correct their perceived knowledge of law. In ter ms of the inability of judicial officers to manage their anger, in ter ms of the way they burst out in the presence of litigants and in ter ms of how judges descend into the arena of conflict. It has assumed alar ming proportion that if given the opportunity, there are judicial officers who could leave their seats and ‘come and box’”. Mr. Adegboruwa’s observation is put in bold relief when viewed against the recollections of a much older colleague at the bar, Chief Oladipo Jimilehim. Hear his own recall of the good old days: “Back then, you hardly appeared in court if you were not prepared. We had very good judges and one was proud of the legal profession. The attitudes of our colleagues were very cordial, there was professional ethics and there was decorum, unlike now that some lawyers are so desperate and disrespectful”. Put together, perhaps it is necessary at this juncture to clarify that the role of National Mirror here is not editorialising on the rot in this ar m of gover nment, but rather provide the platfor m for a potentially redemptive conversation. For this, National Mirror deserves kudos for effectively discharging its statutory duty as a public trust. As Arthur Miller, the late American playwright, once put it, ‘A good newspaper is a

IT WILL BE HIGHLY HYPOCRITICAL TO ASSUME THE NATION CAN HAVE A BAR OR BENCH OF ANGELS WHEN OTHER SECTORS ARE BOILING IN DEEP MORAL CRISIS nation speaking to itself ’. Philosophically, it will, however, be wrong to treat whatever ails the judiciary today in isolation of the afflictions of the larger society. It will be highly hypocritical indeed to assume that the nation can have a bar or bench of angels when other sectors of our national life are boiling in deep moral crisis. We are also faced with increasing dysfunctionality of the family institution; where the media knowingly peddle falsehood; where national honours seem reserved only for the crooked; where traditional rulers help in snatching ballot boxes on election day; where more and more factories are closing down and auctioning their warehouses to churches. To say nothing of super-rich pastors who now seem to prefer to deliver ser mons digitally from airbor ne supersonic jets to poor congregation stranded on the ground and in the throes of economic pestilence. So, a society truly deserves the court it gets. Notwithstanding this litany of woes, let it, however, be said that all hope is not yet lost. Overall, the story of the contemporary Nigerian judiciary is certainly not all about the chicanery of ‘Mr Atan ni Je’ and co. In the jurisprudential community today will still be found some conscientious judicial officers and lawyers fully committed to the pursuit of justice. We still have some good judges like Justice Olubunmi Oyewole who daily demonstrate uncommon courage and tireless energy in the application of the letter and the spirit of the law. It is to this breed of exemplars, therefore, that the judiciary can look to for its own salvation. To enrich the conversation National Mirror has inaugurated, perhaps one critical area the minds should also be averted is the sanctity of the ballot. Femi Falana, SAN, succinctly captures the primary motivation behind do-or-die politics: ‘… Politics in our country has become the cheapest and the fasted avenue to money-making. Hence, it

THE PLAY TAKES AN AFRICAN LOOK INTO THE STORY OF ‘ADAM AND EVE’ AND HOW TRAVAILS CAME INTO THE WORLD ja Muyideen, which added aesthetics to the production. The people at the occasion confessed that the production was the first of its kind in the history of Eternal Youth Fellowship. The EYF Choir also did Apala music to praise God. The youth fellowship members demonstrated a high level of professionalism in rendition, stage presence and charisma and other qualities needed for stage act. According to the National President of the Eternal Youth Fellowship, the theme Black Bethlehem for the 2012 carol service which was to bring an African flavour into the celebration of the birth of Christ. “We need to show to the world that Blacks can celebrate Christ to the fullest”, he said.

A scene from Black Bethlehem

is a game of violence’. So, the drift will be curtailed only when elected leaders choose to truly serve the people, thereby helping to deepen the architecture of democracy. Contemporary Edo narrative is a good example of the limitless possibilities of people power as the ultimate insurance of the ballot box. If there is one point on which there is a consensus among all the speakers in the book, it is the pressure from the political class over electoral disputes. It is observed that, no thanks to a few bag eggs, the election tribunal is being tur ned into a goldmine where it would seem the highest bidder is awarded victory. But the judiciary should not be held solely liable here. That is what you get when votes don’t count. So, today, the more prudent politician no longer dissipates much energy on campaigns or on Election Day for that matter. Rather, he/she warehouses his/ her resources for the real battle from the election tribunal all the way to the Appeal Court! Much as it is agreed that post-election disputations are part of the democratic process, especially in an environment where victors are hardly magnanimous in victory or the vanquished gallant in defeat. However, there would be less business for the few bag eggs at the election tribunal once we begin to have clean elections. The challenge of ensuring clean elections is beyond the judiciary. It lies with the political class as well as the civil society. On the whole, visually appealing as the book may appear, some production errors are spotted. For instance, a sizeable portion of the intro provided for the interview with Justice Samson Uwaifo which begins on page 324 is repeated between pages 325 and 326. Again, you will encounter some typographical errors from time to time. For instance, on page 8, seat is mis-spelt as ‘sit’ and further down the same page, media is also wrongly spelt as ‘medial’. But this sprinkle of lexical impurities notwithstanding, the book, For Law, For Country, remains a significant contribution to the national archive indeed. It not only clearly frames most of the questions haunting our judiciary today but also provides answers to some of them. It is highly recommended to all patriots who seek a rebirth for their country. Mr. Odion presented this review at National Mirror’s 2nd anniversary lecture/book presentation in Lagos recently.

Inside FCT

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Election fever grips capital city C HIDI U GWU

visitor to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja will probably first notice the glossy posters of politicians aspiring for the local council chairmanship and councillorship positions which adorn strategic places in the capital city. Recently, Inside FCT went round the city and can report that the war of posters which started mid November 2012, has continued unabated with areas like Wuse, Gwagwalada, Abaji, Kwali, Bwari and Kuje and Dutse currently awash with campaign posters of aspirants of various political parties. Some neighbouring states got their share of the poster jamboree as parts of Mararaba in Karu Local Government area of Nasarawa State and Suleja, in Niger State, were adorned with posters of aspirants. Bus stops, overhead bridges, waste bins, traffic warden posts, are easy targets for the poster pasting contractors who seem to be doing their jobs at night to avoid interrogation by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, (FCDA). For instance, the Sheraton bus stop is completely covered with posters of all sorts and colours. Tearing down old posters and pasting different colours of posters has left the usually beautiful bus stop looking disorganised and untidy. It appears these campaign contractors are in stiff competition among themselves as well as pastors, as they scramble to paste posters of the party’s aspirants on any available space, including bridge walls, road demarcations, sign boards and disused vehicles among other sites. Our reporter tracked some of the aspiring public office holders and found that even though their posters are scattered all over the place, some of them are yet to get their party ticket as the flag

J OEL A JAYI

he Christmas and New Year celebrations commemorated globally in the past few weeks, directly disrupted the daily hurly-burly in Abuja. The city literally became a closed-market during that period and many of its residents fled to the waiting arms of local communities, where festivities are believed to be best celebrated and enjoyed. As work fully began this week, returnee residents related to Inside FCT how they enjoyed the short but memorable Yuletide holiday in their villages. “In fact, the last Christmas and New Year celebrations were some of the most successful events in my village since I was born”, said Obina Ezo, a resident of Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. “I thank Almighty God for granting me journey mercies to and from my community in Delta state. It was a good experience because I travelled home to see my family and loved ones and we all had nice time together during the period”, he added. “Although there were a lot of challenges in the state such as inadequate power supply and bad roads, I can’t still compare the fun I had in the village with what I could have got if I were in Abuja. It was a great moment for me at home. Home will be home”, he said.

bearer for the council polls. At the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, headquarters in the Central Area, the Director of Special Duties, Abdullahi Yusuf confirmed to our reporter that election is slated for March 16, adding that candidates have besieged the office for tickets. One of the aspirants, who did not want his name mentioned for what he described as political reasons, said most of the posters are coming too early, adding that some of the people in the posters had defected to another party when they could not get their party’s nomination. Some of the posters made glowing promises of transforming the local council for better if elected but residents say those are campaign gimmicks they are already used to as several others have served without fulfilling such promises made. A resident, Mr. Okay Duru, described the array of posters as seasonal madness which is totally unacceptable urging the relevant authorities to move into action and control the development before beautiful sceneries that makes Abuja an adorable city are completely defaced. “The way and manner politicians are defacing the city is unacceptable, imagine how this bus stop is covered with posters. FCDA will not stop this people now but they will be quick to harass genuine traders displaying their wares along the road”, lamented Duru. Interestingly, on Wednesday, United Progressive Party, UPP, accused officials of Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, of arrest and detention of Ikenna Iheme, the party’s councillorship candidate in Abuja City Centre, for allegedly pasting the campaign poster within his ward. The party alleged that Mr. Iheme and the ward chairman, Mr. Ocho Chukwuka were man-handled by officials of the board who it accused of detaining the candidate so as to prevent him from submitting his Form CF001 and CF002 to INEC yesterday.

Posters deface a traffic warden’s shelter on an Abuja street.

POSTER PASTING CONTRACTORS SEEM TO BE DOING THEIR JOBS AT NIGHT TO AVOID INTERROGATION BY OFFICIALS OF THE

FCDA

Chairman of the party in Abuja, Chief Harry Udeh who spoke to our reporter stated that the party was not aware of any law that forbids campaign posters from being neatly placed in Abuja open area and disclosed that the party will consider legal action if the councillorship candidate was not released. In calling for the immediate release of Mr. Iheme, the party chieftain warned the board against further harassment, intimidation and arrest of its members in the territory. He said: “It is obvious that PDP aspirants filled Abuja with posters ahead of their party’s primaries long before INEC lifted ban on campaign on December 17, 2012. “PDP aspirants were not harassed, intimidated,

Residents return, relive holiday celebrations Another resident, Peace Nwachukwu, a food vendor and a resident of Utako area of Abuja, told our reporter she got more than she desired in the village. Her words: “We thank God for His grace towards us; we are alive today. So many things happened when I was travelling home. I saw a lot of accidents on the road due to bad state of the roads. “Also, fuel scarcity was another factor that led to a rise in transportation fares. But, I thank God I got to my village peacefully. Even though I had eaten the kind of food I ate in the village in Abuja, I got more satisfaction in the food I ate in the village than that of Abuja. I met some of my childhood friends and it was one of the best moments in my life. The discussions were as if they should never end. The few days I spent at home were like a year; I didn’t really feel like going back to Abuja. You know, remembering eating goat meat, bush

meat and all sorts of delicious local dishes would make one homesick”, Peace said. A holiday returnee, who simply identified himself as Victor Uche and resident in Deidei, one of the satellite towns in FCT, said: “I am happy with so many things in this country because I am still alive; I have to thank God for that. Narrating his experiences in his village at the Yuletide, Uche said: “Seeing those big orange trees in the village, fresh fruits such as pineapple, pawpaw and “banga” (palm fruit) are really good experiences. I saw my old grand-parents, visited relatives and friends. In summary, it was as if I went on an excursion”, Uche declared. A Wuse-based foodstuff trader, Abubakar Ahmed, told Inside FCT that he was grateful to Almighty Allah for keeping his family and himself. “Although the country is not smiling at the common man, basic amenities are not available, youth

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 11, 2013

Inside FCT

Abuja’s special glow during Xmas O MEIZA A JAYI

molested, arrested and detained. But within 24 hours of the flag-off of UPP campaign in AMAC, AEPB officials swung into detestable action and arrested our party members. We strongly believe that the board is acting a PDP script to oppress, suppress and strangulate opposition parties. UPP cannot be intimidated by reactionary forces that want to impede our democratic process”. “We call on INEC to provide a level playing field for all political parties contesting the FCT elections and urge security agencies to protect lives and property of Nigerians regardless of a citizen’s political or religious persuasion. This is the only way we can build a strong and virile democratic nation”, Udeh declared. Meanwhile, efforts by Inside FCT to get a reaction from the head of communication for the board, Joe Ukairo failed as his phone was switched-off the time call was put to it. The unique thing about Abuja council elections is that unlike other states where you have mainly people from a particular tribe contesting, the campaign posters seen so far carry different types of Nigerian names from Okechukwu to Usman Danladi to Temitope Ayeni, confirming that Abuja is truly the centre of unity of the country.

EVEN THOUGH I HAD EATEN THE KIND OF FOOD I ATE IN THE VILLAGE IN ABUJA, I GOT

he Christmas period often comes with an ambience that tends to overshadow most other festivals in Christendom, in part because it is a commemoration of the birth of Christ and also because it takes place towards the end of each year. However, one of the major rituals associated with the festival is the lighting of artificial trees underneath which boxes of gifts are kept with the names of loved ones inscribed on them. Christmas trees displayed publicly and illuminated with electric lights became popular in the early 20th Century. By the mid-20th Century, it became customary to display strings of electric lights, detached from the tree itself, as Christmas decorations along streets and buildings. By the late 20th century, the custom had also been adopted in non-Western countries, notably in Japan. In the United States, the annual tradition is said to date back to 1923 and is performed by the U.S. President. For the first time, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, on Saturday, December 22, 2012 came up with its own Christmas tree which was said to be the first National Christmas tree ever lit. The event, which began with a rendition of the National Anthem by ace soloist, Frank Turner, was witnessed by dignitaries including wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan who lit the tree at exactly 7.02 p.m. While the Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chapel, Venerable Obioma Owuzurumba took the only lesson at the event, Nigeria’s newest catholic cardinal, John Cardinal Onaiyekan gave a brief homily where he noted that Christmas meant different things to different people. “It means Christmas carols to some people; hampers to some people while it also means the traffic gridlock on the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene highway to some people. But Christmas is an event of faith; faith that has concrete physical manifestations”, he said. Before then, the audience had been taken through a rendition of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by a standby mass choir. Just as the audience asked for more, Frank Turner was on hand to again take them through a solo performance of “O’ Holy Night”. Sandwiched between Transcorp Hilton Hotel and the famous Millennium Park in the Maitama area of Abuja, the Nigerian National Christmas tree is a

AS WE LIGHT UP THIS CHRISTMAS TREE...WE CAN TRANSFORM OUR WEAPONS OF DESTRUCTION INTO

INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONBUILDING magnificent tree of about 21 metres. Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide told the audience that at night, the tree will glow with lights in Nigerian national colours of green, white and green, while in the daytime, residents and tourists alike will take delight in its “beautiful, varied and stylish decorations as they travel around the city to work or for leisure”. While she expressed optimism that tree would enrich “the Yuletide experience”, Akinjide defended the choice of the tree’s location by saying that; “The Unity Fountain was picked as the ideal location for the display of the National Christmas tree because of its centrality and easy access from all parts of the FCT. From this strategic position, we believe the glow from the lighting will be seen from miles around the FCT while imbuing the city with the Christmas and communal spirits”. Of interest was the declaration by Mrs. Jonathan to ensure that the lighting of the tree becomes an annual event. While she assured Nigerians that she would continue to be an advocate of better life especially for women and children, she also expressed hope that the values of peace and goodwill as exemplified by the tree will continue to attract the attention of all Nigerians. “The significance of this ceremony will best be appreciated when we take into account that the Christmas season is a season of peace, goodwill and hope. “As we light up this Christmas tree, it is a symbol that peace is possible. We will leave here this evening with a message across the nation that peace is possible. Indeed, we can transform our weapons of destruction into instruments of nation-building to make our nation great again”, said Mrs. Jonathan. As she lit the tree, the audience was again serenaded with Frank Turner’s rendition of “We wish you a merry Christmas”.

MORE SATISFACTION IN THE FOOD

I ATE IN THE VILLAGE

empowerment is left behind, improved standard of living is nowhere to be found, insecurity and many more are nothing to write home about, yet, I thank God for making me unite with my family peacefully and celebrating with them”, he said. Investigations by Inside FCT over the past seven days showed that socio-economic activities have not yet fully returned to the city, especially, for the private sector and small scale businesses. It is, however, clear from discussions with these people that residents of the city are happy to start the journey of a New Year which promises to be prosperous. After all, the festive period afforded them the relief from the usual stress which characterises city life, especially in Nigeria where the quest for survival is for the fittest.

L-R: Villa Chaplain Mr. Obioma Ozurunba; Minister of FCT, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide; Wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan and John Cardinal Onaiyekan watch as the 1st national Christmas tree lights up. Photo ROTIMI OSASONA

Arty News

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

StarTimes plans new N15bn investment • Generates 8,000 jobs • As subscription base rises to 1million OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

tarTimes, one of the digital television providers, has mapped out strategies to invest over N15billion in the sector in its expansion drive for the year 2013, the Chief Operation Officer of the company, Mr. Joshua Wang has said. Wang, who spoke with journalists last Monday in Abuja while unveiling the new products and services of the company for the New Year, also disclosed that the company’s subscription base had hit 1million. With the new investment plan, it is expected that the volume of investment would have hit N30billion before the end of the year, having already invested over 15billion within two years of operation in Nigeria. The COO said that the next phase of the company in its expansion drive is to cover additional 15 states before the end of the year, having already had its presence in 16 major states across the country. Speaking on the impact of the StarTimes investment in the country, the Director, NTA-Start Television Network Limited, Mr. Maxwell Loko, said that the new expansion plan would generate about 8,000 direct and indirect jobs. “Since the company began operation in Nigeria about two years ago, we have been able to provide unequal services to Nigerians. Our services are not only cheap, we have been able to demonstrate that Nigerians from all walks of life can have access to digital television. “At the present the company has over 700 Nigerians on its pay roll and it intends to generate additional 3000 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs through its new expansion strategies”, he said. Some of the company’s 2013 products, according to him, include the introduction of Startimes DVB-T2 decoder which would enable subscribers have access to over 70 channels, provision of door-to-door after sale service and a Startimes M50 mobile Television, which would only be opened to subscribers in Lagos and Abuja. Speaking on the features of one of the products, he said, Startimes DVB-T2 will gather over 70 channels of great sport, music, movies, new, kids and teens entertainment, documentary, religion and lots more with recent inclusion of new

channels for subscriber’s satisfaction such as WAP TV, EuroSport News, Africa Movie Channel, a music channel(AMC), business TV and Freshwave. Other exiting channels are: Nigezie, Kennis Music, Orisun, E-star and captivating channels like Vchannel, Liberty TV and Mettle TV. In order to serve the millions of soccer Nigerians, he explained that the company is in discussion with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, to secure the right to show the forthcoming AFCON 2013.

Artmosphere goes to Ibadan

reative Alliance, organisers of Literary Star Search contest, in association with WriteHouse Collective, a creative enterprise, culture and arts firm, will convene the January edition of Artmosphere, the quintessential music, poetry, performance and arts event in Nigeria in Ibadan, Oyo State. One of the highpoints of the event will be the announcement of the winner of the 2012 edition of the N1 million short story contest. The three short writers in the race for the prize are M.S.C. Okolo with Chasing Lizards; Bode Asiyanbi with The Woman without a Name and Bonaventure Chukwu with Mother. The monthly book, culture and lifestyle event is tagged, “Time Lines.” The event is scheduled for Saturday, January 19, at Ibridgehub, Nustreams Conference Centre, Alalubosa GRA Extension, Ibadan. Artmosphere’s Time Lines will play host to Funmi Aluko, prolific womanist poet and internationally acclaimed writer and Atilola Morounfolu, spoken word artiste, creative entrepreneur and author of Antonyms of a Mirage. The event will also feature Nwachukwu Egbunnike, editor, blogger and author of Dyed Thoughts and poet Rasaq Malik Gbolahan. There will also be music performances and free books for early comers. Creative Alliance, a firm with intent of promoting literature announced its writing competition mid last year through several art platforms and radio programmes in different parts of the country.

BF Show starts 2013 with pranks

n the New Year, the Big Friday Show, produced by MTVBase and supported by Globacom, is back with the best of entertainment. On episode 14 of the award-winning TV programme, The Big Friday Show season three, the BFS crew will bring to viewers across West Africa the “Best of Pranks” which is a recap of the funniest ‘Celebrity Pranks’ and ‘Prank Your Peoples of 2012’. Hosted by award –winning comedian Bright ‘Basketmouth’ Okpocha, the BFS crew has successfully pulled pranks on major celebrities in the Nigerian entertainment industry including Desmond Elliot, Iyanya, Burna Boy, Vector the Viper, Van Vicker and Flowsick among others. ‘Prank Your Peoples Segment’ of this week’s show will show friends and family in Ghana and Nigeria getting pranked by lucky Glo subscribers with the help of the BFS crew.

Basketmouth

Fela

March release date for Fela’s complete works A DENRELE N IYI

igerian icon and Afrobeat originator, Fela Anikulapo Kuti died a little over 15 years ago, but to this day, his legacy lives on across the globe with his still-relevant, forthright political views and music. The complete works of Fela, consisting of almost 50 albums, are now being re-packaged, with in-depth track commentaries written by Afrobeat historian, Chris May and prepared for a three-batch re-launch between March and September 2013. The re-release programme by Knitting Factory Records/ Kalakuta Sunrise will be spearheaded on March 4 by the release of The Best of the Black President 2, a two-CD collection with foreword written by Senegalese-American R&B/hip-hop artiste Akon. The 12 tracks (none under 10 minutes) include 1975’s Everything Scatter, probably one of the ultimate Afrobeat tracks, as well as an extended version of the classic Sorrow Tears and Blood, inspired by the South African apartheid regime’s crushing of the Soweto uprising in 1976. Fela recounts stories such as police having unsuccessfully attempted to charge Fela for possession of weed (Expensive Shit) and speaks out about the practise of skin-bleaching among Nigerian women (Yellow Fever). Fela’s final period of recording is covered too with 1992’s Underground System (Part 2), inspired by the Abami Eda’s friend, Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara and his assassination. A special deluxe edition of The Best of the Black President 2 also includes a DVD of Fela’s legendary 1984 Glastonbury concert. In his introduction Akon writes: “Despite everything they threw at him, Fela’s music and his message never lost their way. He was always real and he was always with the people. That’s why we love and miss him all the more”. The Best of the Black President 2 is to be distributed by PIAS.

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 29, 1434AH Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Call to Worship

On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the Messenger of All, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

he Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque, built on the bay in Tanjung Bungah,Penang, is the first mosque to be built in the sea in Malaysia (other floating mosques in Malaysia have so far been built in lakes). It was built to replace the old Tanjung Bungah Mosque. The Mosque was built at the cost of 15 million and covers an area of 1295 sq meters. It also has a towering minaret. The height of the minaret is equivalent to that of a seven-storey building. From there, the call to prayers, or azan, is announced at specific times of the day. To ensure no undue congestion along the narrow Tanjung Bungah main road, a big parking space was also provided for the mosque. It can accommodate up to 250 cars. The mosque itself has a capacity of 1500 worshippers. TheMasjid Terapung Tanjung Bungah is easily accessible from the Tanjung Bungah main road. It is located on the opposite side of the road from the Mar Vista Condominiums.

Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque

ZAKAT IS 2.5% OF YOUR TOTAL WEALTH KNOWN AS NISAB AFTER HAVING FULFILLED ALL OBLIGATIONS, PAY YOUR ZAKAT

Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque

‘Be grateful to Allah’ YINKA ADEPARUSI

uslim faithful and Nigerians in general have been enjoined to be grateful to their creator as we continue in the New Year. A prominent preacher, Fadilat Sheik Musa Yahyah Agboola, gave this advice during the annual Special Dua for Lagos State and Nigeria, organised by the Nasrul-Lahi-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Iganmu Coker Aguda branch. Citing the various events that shaped the year 2012, he said: “the only way to live through 2013 is to be happy that you saw the New Year. Why you must think about those things that you failed to do which is displeasing to your religion and your God. What way did I offend Allah

and what is His expectation of me? “Most times, when we say to ourselves, when did this year begin that it has ended already? The reason is because everything went smoothly for us. If we have encountered difficulties all through the year, 365 days would have seemed 365 years,” he said. He also advised the youths to be law abiding and shun every nuisance attitude that may destroy their future, while calling on the Federal Government to put in place structures that will support the development of youths in the country. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the branch, Alhaji Abd’Salam Oye implored the Fashola-led government in Lagos State not to relent in the transformation work in the state, while he called on all to keep praying for the governor to continue to get it right.

Believe in all Prophets 28

Blessed financial sacrifice, Waqf-e-Jadid New Year

ften our detractors can be heard saying in their speeches how the Qadianis or Mirzais or whatever they call us, sacrifice for their objectives whilst their own people did not pay attention. Such expressions of the Maulwis or other organisations are not limited to the sub-continent but can also be seen in Africa. When Jama’at grows our detractors also increase and they try to create discord in the Jama’at with the help of hypocrites. With the grace of God we will witness His help and succour as long as we continue to make our connection with Him stronger. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih said he is never concerned about how such and such project would reach completion. It is amazing how God puts it in the hearts of Ahmadis

Z&SF distributes Zakat to needy 29

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya to sacrifice excelling each other. Ameer sahib of Niger relates that they were coming back after collecting sacks of grain from a village when they passed through an Ahmadi village and saw some Khuddam waiting who stopped them. It was 10 O’ clock at night. The Khuddam CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

‘Justice is next to piety’ 29

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 29, 1434AH

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Emulate Prophet Muhammad’

A L-R: Barr. Adisa DairoTrimidhi; Alh Thabit Wale Sonaike; another executive of the Companion; Ustaz AbdulFatah AbdulMojeed and Barr. Musbaudeen Oyefeso during the monthly joint Usrah of the Companion at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikeja-Lagos.

n Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abdul – Rahman Lawal has advised Nigerian politicians, Muslims in leadership positions and the Ummah to emulate Prophet Muhammad (SAW), to be able to provide the right leadership. Lawal who is the Spiritual Head and National Coordinator, AS – SALAM Praying Centre, Nigeria gave the advice recently in

Building a lasting relationship

Cross section of dignitaries at the 18th national annual training forum of Al-Muminaat held in Vanguards Academy, Odosengolu-Ogun State recently.

Believe in all Prophets

slam as a way of life consists of faith and deeds. These are always mentioned together in the glorious Quran. This is an indication that faith without good deed is useless. Equally, good deed cannot be established without the right faith. In view of this, faith means right knowledge, right thought and right belief. Furthermore, every Muslim is expected to belief in certain things; either seen or unseen. A Muslim must believe that there is only one God who has no associate. He is the Creator of all things and everyone else is His creature. He existed when nothing existed and He shall continue to exist when all other things might have perished. He hates injustice, tyranny, falsehood, arrogance, cruelty, war and laziness. Also, Muslims must believe in the unity of God. God alone deserves to be worshipped. The best known expression of divine unity is contained in Chapter 112 of the glorious Quran which reads; “Say, God is one, God is He on Whom all depend. He has no child nor parents. And there is no one like Him.” The above chapter suggests that belief in the plurality of gods, that other things possess the perfect attributes of God, that God is either a father or a son and others must be totally rejected. Equally, Muslims must believe that there are Angels; they are servants of God. They worship Him day and night and obey His instructions without hesitation. There are many angels that are appointed by God to carry out different duties and to help mankind. The greatest and most famous among them is Jibril who carried God’s messages to the Prophets. God sent many Prophets. In fact, to every nation, God has sent a messenger in order to take them out of darkness to light. Glorious Quran makes us to know that each Prophet was opposed and maltreated by his

own people. Muslims must believe in all the Prophets without any discrimination. Islam requires Muslims to belief in all the revealed books. These books contain the messages of the Apostles of God at different times. Believing in the Prophets alone is not enough but in the messages which were revealed to them. The revealed books are Tawrah, Zabir, Injil and Quran. Everybody is going to die; but death is not the end of life; another kind of life will begin after death; this is the life Hereafter. On the Day of Judgement, every man will have to give an account of his deeds on earth. The Quran says that whoever believes in Allah and the last day and does good shall be rewarded by Allah ( chapter 2:62). The belief in the last day purifies the motives with which a deed is done. It makes a man work selflessly with the fear of God in his heart and as a guidance in all his actions towards attainment of better end. In conclusion, a man of faith is he who believes that what God has made lawful is good and what He has made unlawful is bad. This will encourage the spread of the light of faith, of knowledge and peace in the society. Sheikh Abdul Ganniyy Umar Arikunkewu is the Founder/National Chief Missioner of Jubatu Rohfatu Llahi Islamic Society of Nigeria (JUBFAT)

Oyo State. “Prophet Muhammad believed and practised what was right with passionate love and succeeded. Emulating him would have positive influence on Nigeria. Muslim leaders should fill their hearts with sincerity and Godliness as the Prophet’s character remains a model and perpetual legacy for humanity.”

he three major points that husband and wife must know to build their relationship include determination, belief in Almighty God, self control and forgiveness Husband and wife must have known at the back of their mind that the partner is his/her ‘Mr. or Mrs. Right’ according to Qur’an 4 verse 3. As a matured person, no one is expected to choose for them. Through this determination, there must be satisfaction within each other, at the same time they will know that they are the representatives of their family, community, state, country and entire world. One of the duties of a husband is to study his wife’s likes and dislikes. A good wife must study her husband to know his likes and dislikes as well. Things that can annoy him and can make him happy. For this, there will be understanding between both of them. A Yoruba proverb says “Obe ti Baale Ile kii je Iyaale Ile kii see.” Meaning “what

a man does not eat, a wife doesn’t cook it.” They must have strong trust in each other to wipe away any interruption that may come through people. They may not wear the same attire, same colour of shoes or same head wear. If time permits them to eat at the same time, they will eat but if not, it is not a sin. Determination is very important. Also, they must believe in the Almighty God because, He is their Creator. He is our ‘everything’. He is the one that can join us CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

FACES OF DIGNITARIES AT THE ANNUAL SPECIAL DUA FOR LAGOS STATE AND NIGERIA BY NASRUL-LAHI-FATIH SOCIETY (NASFAT), IGANMU COKER AGUDA BRANCH IN LAGOS RECENTLY

L-R: Alhaji Idris Amuda; Guest Lecturer, Fadilat Sheik Musa Yahyah Agboola and Branch Coordinator, Alhaji Muyideen Agboade.

L-R: Member, Council of Elders, NASFAT, Iganmu Coker Aguda branch, Alhaji Wahab Abdulahi; another member, Alhaji Tajudeen Giwa and Chairman, Alhaji Mustapha Kekere-Ekun.

L-R: Chairman, Organising Committee, NASFAT,Iganmu Coker Aguda branch, Alhaji Mufutau Bamigbade; Chairman, Alhaji Abd’Salam Oye; Secretary, Sis. Kafilat Badru-Lawal and Youth Secretary, Bro. Abideen Adewusi. PHOTOS: YINKA ADEPARUSI

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

STORIES BY: SEKINAH L AWAL

n Islamic organization, the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation(Z&SF) has distributed over N2 million worth of items and cash to some of the lessprivileged in the society. No fewer than thirty-nine beneficiaries benefited from the economic empowerment, education, welfare, Dawah and medical support gesture of the foundation. Speaking at the event held at the main hall of the Osun State Local Government Service Commission, Abeere, Osogbo, the Chairman of the foundation, Prince Sulayman Olagunju

Friday, January 11, 2013 Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 29, 1434AH

Call to Worship

Z&SF distributes Zakat to needy called for more foundation of this nature in order to enhance the collection and distribution of Zakat noting that the society would be better for it. Prince Olagunju said that there should be more enlightenment among the Muslims on the importance of Zakat, calling for the assistance of those who are rich among Muslims to assist the foundation financially in order to give it more opportunity to expand its scope and quality service delivery to indigent people. “While we are conscious

of the fact that there are many indigent and lessprivileged people whose number outweigh those waiting and hoping to be selected for Zakat collection, we are stunned by the low number of Zakat payers both in government and private sectors in a state where there are many faithful Muslims who are blessed by Allah to put a smile on the faces of their brothers and sisters in need.” He urged the beneficiaries to avail themselves of the privilege of being among the few selected applicants and judiciously utilize the

Zakat allotted to them.” You should discard the culture of diverting the Zakat given to you to another channel. This is a trust from Allah and from the Zakat payers. Let us be conscious that we are accountable to Allah and the Muslims for whatever actions we embark upon here in this world”, Olagunju stated. The President General League of Imam and Alfas, Southwest Zone including Edo and Delta States, Sheikh Mustafa Ajisafe maintained that Zakat purified the wealth of the rich so as to foster unity ,progress and oneness

among the Islamic faithful and as a way to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. Sheikh Ajisafe stressed that God mandated the rich to remove Zakat from their wealth annually as an important pillar of Islam. He said Zakat payment would foster peace and harmonious relation within the human race,urged those who are well to do in Islam to ensure that they pay their Zakat to the appropriate foundation. Delivering his lecture on the importance of Zakat, the Guest Speaker, Barrister Dhikrullahi Hassan said that Zakat is an instrument

to bring love and unity in the society at large. “Zakat would afford the underprivileged to get more opportunity and better their lot in the society. When there is love between haves and have-not, there will be less tension and friction in the society and we can be sure that the level of crime will be reduced.” One of the beneficiaries, Shakirat Abdul Rasaq appreciated the governing board of the foundation for coming to their aid economically, praying that the foundation will continue to grow from strength to strength in the name of Allah.

‘Justice is next to piety’

ustice in Islam has been described as an absolute right which is next to piety in Islam and free under the Sharia law. This was disclosed by Barr. Adisa DairoTrimidhi, during the monthly joint Usrah of the Companion which was held at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikeja-Lagos. According to him, justice is next to piety in Islam and it is a principle which we must uphold in our family life, business and other organizational settings we found ourselves. He identified three types of Judges; one knows the truth and deliberately sways from the path of truth. Such a person is said to be going to hell while the second judge is an ignorant judge who judges ignorantly and will also enters hellfire while the third one knows the truth and uphold the truth. Such a judge is described as an inhabitant of Paradise for being just. Speaking further on conflict between man-made laws and the laws of Allah; he said it is quite expensive to access justice with the make-up of the man-made judicial system. He reminded the audience of the fact that there is no prospect if our live is not established based on Allah’s guidance. “In Islam, justice is a moral virtue and a very important element of human personality. It is the right to justice that ensures the right to freedom. Prophets are sent to ensure justice on earth. Justice in Islam permeates all fields of human endeavours.” He quoted Quran 5:8; “O

you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.” Also, the glorious Quran says; Justice is the right of all regardless of social status; hence, we must be conscious of Allah and be just to our children. Barr. Hassan talked about the supremacy of the law, equality before the law which is not obtainable under manmade law as there is immunity for rulers, hence no equality, public officials are protected in the course of their official duty and cannot be charged to court. “This was not so during the life of the Prophet. The Prophet said even if Fatimah committed crime, she will be punished but in our case, such a thing cannot happen.” He mentioned Judicial Impartiality referring to Quran 5:105; “O you who believe! Take care of yourselves, [do righteous deeds, fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]. If you follow the right guidance and enjoin what is right (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden) no hurt can come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allah, then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do.”

Hence, there should not be partiality based on religion, tribe, relationship etc. “Judicial Independence is very crucial too. The judges are not independent because they are appointed by the executive and funded by them. Under the true Sharia system, Judges are given free hand and their judgement must be respected.” He recommended that selection of Judges must be from the best among us, those who are not obsessed by domestic worries, who cannot be intimidated, not selfish, strictly impartial, factual, straight forward and must be paid handsomely enough to keep him above temptation. “Under the Sharia Law, there is no need for looking for money to pay lawyers as there is no need for litigants, just witnesses. One of the fundamental errors of human laws is the fact that you can’t prosecute a case without spending huge cost on lawyers. Justice is very cheap and most of the time free under Sharia law.” He concluded that injustice will still prevail because justice is very expensive in manmade courts. Also speaking, the Amir of the Companion, Lagos District, Alhaji Thabit Wale Sonaiki and other contributors called for the establishment of the Sharia Court in Lagos as obtained in some parts of the country. They also urged Muslims to ensure they properly practise Islamic principles, Sunnah and ways of life as stipulated in the Quran and Hadeeth.

Osun State’s Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan who represented Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) presenting a sewing machine to one of the beneficiaries, Muritala Adedeji (m) during the Third Zakat Distribution Ceremony (ZDC) at the Local Government Service Commission Hall, Osogbo, capital of Osun State. With them is the Executive Director of Z&SF, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib (left).

President-General, League of Imams and Alfas in South West, Nigeria, Alhaji Mustapha Ajisafe presenting a cheque to AbdulWasiu Badmus. With them are Prince Olagunju and other members of the foundation.

L-R: Former Amir of the Muslim Congress, Ustaz AbdulGaniy Atitebi and Director of Vanguards Academy, Dr. Zafaran Adeniyi during the 10th year anniversary of the school recently.

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 29, 1434AH

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Naib Amirs, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaát, Nigeria, Special Duties, Alhaji Ahmed Al Hassan; Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Surajudeen Ishola and Amir Sahib, Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola, during the courtesy visit to Speaker in Abeokuta, Ogun State recently. L-R: General Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaát Nigeria, Alhaji Raji Dauda; National President (Sadr), Majlis Ansarullah, Alhaji Mikail Odukoya and Chairman, Jalsa Committee, Alhaji Mufalilu Bankole, during the 2012 Annual Conference of Jamaát at Jamia Ground, Owode Road, IIaro, Ogun State, recently.

Former Sadr. Lajna Imaillah, Nigeria, Hajiya Biliqees Abdul-Qadir (left) and incoming Sadr. Sister Basirat Dikko, during the handover ceremony in Lagos recently.

Building a lasting relationship CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 together, without Him, we might not be able marry each other. For these reasons, both of them must know God as number one before any other thing. Secondly, we must have the fear of God. Anyone that loves his or her God must fear Him. In the presence of your husband and his absence, you must remember that God is with you recording whatever you are doing or saying about your husband. So, you must always do good to him because God will reward you for it. The same thing with husbands too, any attitude towards your wife, you must always remember that God is with you. Do not change your attitude towards your husband or to your wife at home. Your duties must be going smoothly either to your wife or to your husband. Almighty God is the only one that can do us many favours and not your husband or wife. In our work, character, behavior, without the fear of God, the person is just deceiving himself/herself because God Almighty knows everything. Qur’an 9:24 The love of God should always be in our minds because He will never disappoint you when everything or everyone leaves you alone. So, I’m appealing to all that they should believe in God first and then have the fear of God. Let’s go to Qur’an 3 verse 134, according to these words of Allah, we learnt that He would have destroyed the world because of different sins we are committing but He said, He loves us and overlooks most of the wrong things and forgives people that are ready to repent from the wrong or bad attitude they are into. So, God Himself wants people to overlook wrongs and forgive one another. Before someone can become a good leader in a community, he must exercise patience and be able to forgive. At times, the elders will pretend as if they did not see what is going on. Hus-

bands and wives must overlook wrongs and forgive each other no matter what. As a leader, he must give himself rest of mind and overlook things, otherwise, they will call that leader a wicked and stubborn one. If you cannot overlook, you won’t know when you will report to the wrong person and before you know it they have scattered their family. That is, if we don’t create chance for the enemy, they can never penetrate our marriage. A good wife must overlook wrongs, endeavour to forgive. Not every woman you see with your husband, you will like to know; “who is she to your husband? “ When it comes to that level, what you need to do is to remember first determination that he is your husband and nothing can separate both of you. If things are going wrong between two of you, you will pray to God and believe in Him, as a merciful God, He will answer your prayers and everything will be settled. All the homes that are peaceful and settled will not separate by the grace of God and ones boiling will be settled by the grace of God. Amen. I give glory to Almighty God for the grace given unto me to write for this month. Greetings to our advisers: Faditat Shekh Abdul Mojeed Olatunde Akapo, Chief Imam Ijeshatedo Central Mosque, Sheikh Jamiu Zubaer Ajao, Chief Imam, Ike Oluwa, Sanya Central Mosque, Alh. Jamiu Raheem, Chairman, Ayatullahi Umaht Islamiyat Society of Nigeria, Hajia Fathimota Thanni, Amira General, Ayatullahi Umaht Islamiyat Society of Nigeria. To the entire members of Ayatullahi Umaht Islamiyat Society of Nigeria. For counseling, contact; Sheikh Abdul Ganiyu Adebayo Igiganga, National Missioner of Ayatullahi Umaht Islamiyat Society of Nigeria

L-R: Chairman, Yewa South Local Government Area, Alhaji Safiu Odebiyi; Oniganokoto, Oba Mukaila Salako; Onijale Ketu, Oba Bashiru Bisiriu and Obaladi of Afon, Oba Buseri Adetona, Orimadegun 111, during the conference. PHOTOS: BAYOOR EWUOSO

Fatimah Productions presents ‘Omo ni idunu mi’

atimah Music Productions will on Sunday 13th of January, 2013, present an album titled; “Omo ni idunu mi” done by Hajia Fatimah Opeyemi at the Field Potty, Iyana Agbala

Akoko, Bioku Village, Ibadan-Oyo State. Some of the Special guests expected at the launchinginclude Alhaji SWemiu Alfa Jeleel, Alfa Sulaiman, Alfa Opepo among others.

Blessed financial sacrifice, Waqf-e-Jadid New Year CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 told them that they had been waiting all evening because the local sadr Lajna had instructed them. The Lajna had collected chanda by working on their own and had collected their own grain to give as chanda. A missionary sahib from Burkina Faso relates that the sadr of a village is a farming person who says that before he became an Ahmadi his harvest was not as much as it is now. He attributes this to chanda giving and says that such is the blessing of chanda that whereas previously he gave one sacksful this year he gave seven sacks. An Ahmadi from Tanzania writes that he used to pay nominal amount of chanda. After being advised by missionary sahib he started paying correctly. He experienced God’s grace. He now pays regularly and continues to increase it. He says that earlier he had no property, now he has a sunflower oil factory and has also built his home and is funding myself for a PhD. He is also a Moosi now. An Ahmadi from Kerala in India who is a Moosi keeps a separate

box for each chanda. In the presence of the chanda inspector he opened one of these boxes and noticing a shortfall asked his wife to pay the balance. In addition he paid an extra 165,000 Rupees. With the grace of God thus far his Waqfe Jadid contribution has been 780,000 Rupees. As traditional, the announcement of the new Waqfe Jadid year was made in the Friday sermon today. With the grace of God in its 55th year the contributions to the scheme stood at £5,010,000.00; an increase of £317,000.00 from the year before. Positions regarding of collection of Waqfe Jadid of different Jama’t’s were also announced. Hudhur also made an appeal for prayers. The situation for Ahmadis in Libya is very critical these days. There is no proper government in the country. Each region is under the influence of certain organisations or tribal people. The police has captured our Ahmadis on the say so of religious leaders and organisations and in places it is said they are being tortured.

Place your adverts on these pages for optimal reach

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Mongers

Friday, January 11, 2013

Abduction lessons from Gombe, Ogwashiuku

Laughing off bankruptcy rumours

Sylvanus

Rescue mission issues

erhaps when one is the senior special adviser to a governor on public affairs, it becomes imperative to plot a rescue mission on governance. That exactly was what Nollywood actress Nkiru Sylvanus was doing prior to her abduction in Owerri, alongside a movie director, Obi Okolie. Now that the actress has been released, many people are wondering what has become of the project, as sources at the location hint that the Rescue Mission documentary which is profiling Rochas Okorocha’s achievements as governor of Imo State in the past one year, has stopped filming. Before the ugly incident which befell Nkiru, her growing political influence at the Government House was making a lot of Imo indigenes uncomfortable. Her ordeal has not only hampered the Rescue Mission production, but key Nollywood actors on set in other locations in Imo State are stealing glances on both sides over their safety.

he last may not have been heard of some Nigerian politicians being traumatised as a result of their actions in government. The story of Kamnene Okonjo, the aged mother of the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iewala, who accused the ‘oil cabal’ of master-minding her mother’s abduction (to force her to rescind government’s decision against them) shares a lot in common with what happened in Gombe State, where a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Jalo Ganja, was also abducted towards the end of last year by gun men who seized him and pushed him into a waiting car. Though Ganja was released five days later, the reason behind his kidnap has remained an issue to ponder by the aides of the Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo. While Ganja is believed to be one of the closest

ONE-SECOND Q&A

Dankwanbo

politicians to the governor, MM learnt that his abduction came a day after his committee in the House (he heads the House Committee on Appropriation) passed the 2013 budget to the governor, who is also his brother-in-law (Dankwambo’s wife is Ganja’s younger sister) to sign into law. Are certain policies running after some political office holders?

Enter mobile farming era

ust as Nigerians are pouring encomiums on the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adeshina for eliminating the corruption that has riddled the distribution of fertilisers over years, which had consistently put the rural farmers at the receiving end, something contrary seems to be happening at the moment over his mobile farming policy. Although the minister has clarified that government intended to give out 10 million handsets to farmers, he has avoided saying how much would be gulped by the exercise or who would get the contract to supply the handsets. While this is raging, some insiders are saying that the policy was borrowed from Kenya, where farmers are usually y contacted directly on issues con-

cerning weather forecasts, sale of their produce, fertilisers and availability of pesticides directly on their phones. Critics are however swelling by the day, wondering how many of the farmers would be able to read the alerts the ministry intends to be sending to them. Aside this, they are also wondering why the ministry did not set up a multilingual national centre where the farmers could call toll free to obtain any information they may require about government policies. Someone called it ‘positioning the cart to drag the horse’.

tardom sure has a price. And that is what Austin Okocha, ex-Super Eagles captain is presently facing as stories keep wafting that the footballer whom European sports commentators often described as ‘being too good on the soccer pitch, that he was named twice…Jay Jay’, may have hit his toes on hard times. The stories making the round may certainly be connected with his decision to sell his Club 10 to music producer, Don Jazzy, akin to how Mike Tyson sold one of his houses to 50 Cent. This aside, another story has also hit town that Jay Jay has put one of his houses located at Akute, up for sale. So, is Jay Jay really broke? MM, gathered that he is overtly laughing at the insinuations that hard times have caught up with him at the moment. While he is said to have built each of his siblings a good home during his active days in soccer, Okocha’s pals say he owns many other choice properties in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. But his body language seems to be fuelling the speculations indeed. While he is yet to officially open up on what is going on with his finances, he had only in January 2012, made moves to return to soccer in India in a move that would have fetched him N97milion. The fact that many of his colleagues are broke has not helped matters too.

Okocha

ASARI DOKUBO

Asari Dokubo, an ex-militant who championed a pro-Goodluck Jonathan cause has lately become critical of the president. He sheds light on his new position. In specific terms, what are your expectations from President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration?

Dokubo

We expect nothing from him other than what belongs to us. He cannot give us anything because he is a part of us. Whatever he is, we gave to him. Not the other way round. What we are saying is that ‘you are the one we have prepared for the battle, where are the bounties?’ Why did we lose our lives? Why were the Ibo youth corps members, Yoruba youth corps members, Itsekiri youth corps members and Urhobo youth corps members who stood their ground in the North burnt alive? What did they sacrifice their lives for? Jonathan did not become President the way Yar’Adua and Obasanjo became president. He became president with the blood of the people because the “Born to Rule” people said that he would never win. He, therefore, cannot tell us we have no right to the benefits of what we fought and died for. Jonathan should not play with our emotions.

Escape

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Entrance to the Elmina Castle

Pepper seller at Makola market

Accra says Akwaaba

There is a warm welcome to Accra, Ghana’s friendly capital says KATE NIVISION

Labadi beach

National-Theatre

here’s an air of confidence about Accra which shows itself in the way visitors are welcomed, whether they are businessmen, returning relatives or first-time tourists eager to see what this new and interesting destination has to offer. In 1957, when Ghana became the first African country to gain independence, Accra was the focus for the celebrations. Today, it remains the seat of government and Ghana’s largest town, while the whole Accra Metropolitan Area (AMA) is going from strength to strength as its major financial, commercial, manufacturing and transport hub. Most countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea have their capitals on the coast

with a dual role as the chief port. Accra follows this historical pattern and its palm-fringed coastal views with brightly painted fishing boats drawn up on goldenbrown sands are among its most attractive features. But increasing trade soon outgrew the old port’s capacity, so modern facilities and a well-planned Newtown were built at Tema, 25 km to the northeast. Now even Tema is part of the evergrowing AMA. Accra Central, as defined by the area within the Ring Road and bounded by the Gulf of Guinea, is where many of the city’s cultural and historic attractions are found. It was on this stretch of coast that various European powers vying for control of the slave trade left their enduring mark. Fort James, Fort Ussher and The Castle (not to be confused with Elmina Castle which is a 90-minute drive south-west along the coast road) are all worth a look. However, a look is all you will get at The Castle, also known as Osu Castle or Fort Christiansborg. Originally constructed by Denmark, it has changed hands and been rebuilt several times, and is now a major government office with accommodation facilities for visiting dignitaries such as Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama, so photography, even of the outside, is restricted. More accessible are Fort James and its 17th century lighthouse at Jamestown, and Fort Ussher, both are overlooking the extensive curve of Labadi Beach. From the top of the lighthouse there are goods views of the crowded fishermen’s beach and hectic fish market, easily reached from the parking area with its photogenic palace of a local king. Jamestown is one of the oldest parts of Accra so it’s a good idea to take on a local guide for help with photos of the market and fishing boats. In the shadow of the lighthouse are some

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Escape

Friday, January 11, 2013

Travel News

OUTSIDE THE CENTRE AND THE UP-MARKET HOUSING AREAS, IT SOMETIMES FEELS AS IF EVERY STREET AND ALLEY IN

ACCRA IS

ONE BIG, OPEN MARKET

Dr. Nkrumah’s statue in front of his mausoleum at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

xxxxxx

FACT FILE

•

Population of Ghana is about 24 million

•

The official language English but other widely-spoke local languages are Ga, Dagomba, Akan and Ewe.

•

Currency is Cedi

•

Ghana enjoys a tropical equatorial climate characterised by seasonal rains and an annual mean temperature of about 28C (82.4F).

•

From luxurious hotels to rustic places, Ghana’s wonderful selection of excellent accommodations suit needs, tastes and budget. Many restaurants serve plenty of local traditional foods as well as European, French, Middle Eastern and Chinese cuisines.

•

Both international and local flights are through Kotoka International Airport, Accra. There are abundant taxis and cars for hire as well as ‘mammy wagons’ (converted pickup trucks) and ‘trotros’ (minibuses)

•

Travellers require a current medical vaccination certification for yellow fever.

•

Football is the most popular sport in Ghana and Black Stars is one of the highly rated national football teams in Africa.

children’s shelters and a school where visitors are welcomed and entertained on the beach by the children themselves and kindly volunteers. Not far away along Labadi Road are the welcome shade of Holy Trinity Cathedral and some good hotels, including the Riviera Beach Club. Jamestown seems a world away from the modern administrative centre of Accra where there have been enormous improvements to the main roads and public buildings. In fact it is only a short walk along the very British-sounding high street to a spacious inner urban area of fine

19th century and modern architecture, genuine works of art represent the hopes and lifestyles of Accra’s citizens, as well as their robust sense of humour. For a good communicator, should it be a talking drum or a cell phone with ‘leave voice message’ inscribed on the inside? Would that banana, the cocoa pod or the almost-finished glowing red pepper be for one of the city’s majestic ‘market queens’ or someone who just loves his food? Or drink – in which case a green star beer bottle or Coca Cola design might be appropriate. Trainers, football boots or a referee’s whistle reflect the love of all things soccer-connected in a town where the atmosphere in the crowded streets can be as full-on as in the Accra National Stadium itself when the Hearts of Oak home team or the Black Stars national team area playing. Every August\September, the Teshie district hosts the boisterous Homowo Festival to mark the rainy season. At its heart is historic Fort Augusta, built by Denmark in 1787 and then occupied by the British until independence. Also located here is the prestigious Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, (KAIPTC), a confirmation in itself of Ghana’s growing role in regional and world affairs. Outside the centre and the up-market housing areas, it sometimes feels as if every street and alley in Accra is one big, open market. There is an amazing ethnic mix, and the scene is a paint box of colours. Armies of well-wrapped ladies, topped by elaborate turbaned headscarves, straw hats or baskets of produce and sometimes all three, swap gossip over mounds of everything the countryside has to offer– knobbly yams and cassava flour, bananas and plantains, tomatoes, peppers and pineapples. White essential ingredients for a local feast; rice, pulses, greens, groundnuts, spices, dried fish and smoked meat of unidentified kinds. The central Makola market is big enough to require a guide and the sheer range of craftwork, ethnic jewellery and cloth is stunning. If time is limited, anyone interested in top of the range local craftwork should try the Artist Alliance Gallery, an elegant, airy three-storey villa overlooking the sea on La Beach road. Multicoloured, ceremonial Kente cloth (another of Ghana’s iconic products), trade beads, authentic fetish carvings, original modern paintings and of course the cream of those amazing coffins are on display and for sale export. Those with more time will undoubtedly find their way to the excellent National Museum or an exuberant traditional evening at the Chinese-built National Theatre. Weekend breaks to the more out of town beaches such as La Pleasure and Ada are a firm favourite with residents and visitors alike. Surfing, water sports and game fishing are taking off and there is usually a fisherman around offering a tour of Old Accra and its beaches in his best flag-bedecked canoe, and maybe a taste of his catch. U.S.-based Kate Nivision writes regularly on travel for newspapers, literature and magazines.

NTDC begins biometric registration of hotels’ staff ...as Nigeria partners Venezuela on cultural festival IJEOMA EZEIKE AND GOODNESS ADAOYICHE ABUJA

egarding the move by the Federal Government to redeem the image of Nigeria in the diaspora, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, (NTDC), has commenced the biometric registration of all hotel staff in Abuja with a view to ensure that tourists get world standard treatment from the hotels and to easily track illegal goings-on by staff of hotels. Announcing this on Wednesday in Abuja, Director General of NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe said that the step being taken by the Corporation would be the first of its kind in West Africa. He added that it would help redeem the country’s image in the diaspora, stressing that a lot of hoteliers had engaged in some fraudulent activities which ended up denting the image of the nation abroad. However, Runsewe called on the management of hotels to partner NTDC in order to actualise the task, which he said would also help hotels monitor the activities of their staff. He explained that the biometric data registration would help track persons with questionable characters and reduce insecurity in the nation. He stated that biometrics data compilation would aid NTDC in updating the activities of some erring hoteliers on the corporation’s portals. He, thereby, urged tourists and hotel users to visit the portals to know registered hotels in Nigeria. He urged hotel guests to forward names of hoteliers with questionable characters to the Corporation so that the information could be uploaded on the Corporation’s portal. Also speaking, the Chairman of Orbit Technologies and Investment Ltd, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu said that this step taken by NTDC would be a milestone in the history of hospitality business in Nigeria. Ochefu added that if this was actualised, the security challenges in the country would be reduced. The pilot stage of the activity commenced by 8.00 a.m. in Abuja yesterday and it would be extended to other states of the Federation. Meanwhile, plans have been

Runsewe

concluded for Nigeria to feature at this year’s African Cultural Festival holding in Caracas, Venezuela. This was disclosed by the Venezuelan Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb Enngre Arrundell who was represented by his Councillor, Mr. Antonio Garcia while on a recent visit to NTDC in Abuja. The Venezuela envoy disclosed that the festival, which started in 2005, is held annually to showcase Africa’s rich cultural heritage and this year’s edition will feature countries like South Africa, Guinea, The Gambia, Senegal and Nigeria amongst others. The event scheduled for July 22 to 27, will witness the participation of a dozen African artistic and cultural groups like the Benin National Ballet Company and Gnaoua musicians from Morocco, as well as a number of Venezuelan groups and artists. There will also be an economic seminar and cultural displays by troupes from Nigeria amongst others. The representative of the ambassador suggested that Nigeria should attend with a 16-man delegation promising that the Venezuelan government will sponsor 10 while the NTDC will sponsor the remaining six. Responding, Runsewe who accepted the envoy’s initiative noted that the event will strengthen ties between African countries and the South America Country. The Nigeria tourism boss expressed delight in participating at the fiesta saying, “we will seize the opportunity to showcase our tourism strength”. Runsewe also used the platform to introduce a product called “The Sun Holidays”, a concept which, he said, will allow foreigners savour by way of sunbathing, the abundant sunshine in Nigeria.

Denrele’s Day Adenrele Niyi Denrele’s Day is a collection of witty & sincere articles inspired by a zany imagination

denrele@nationalmirroronline.net Twitter: @mizniyi

ith heavy eyes I write this column; to be precise one -the slightly puffy lower lid of my right eye. Not from excessive crying or a well-delivered punch to the face. I can’t figure out what triggered off this throbbing swelling of my under lid, but it constitutes a bit of cosmetic nuisance and distraction. Above all, thanks to God, the swelling isn’t hindering clear vision, so my pen continues to ink on paper in this special birthday tribute to a mentor, friend and go-to-guy, Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo at 50. In exactly five days, this quintessential art journalist will wake to a dawn marking his fiftieth year on earth. I believe if he were to reflect on time spent thus far and the graciousness of the Life Giver to preserve his essence and maintain his relevance, Jahman’s heart would burst with solemn thankfulness. For such is my perception of him since our first encounter in 2008 or thereabouts. That I happened on the Arts and Culture beat at a time when a colossus like Jahman Anikulapo is still practising active journalism is, in itself, a privilege (I already rued missing out on breathing the same art-space with media greats like Benson Idonije and Ben Tomoloju). When or where our paths crossed I can’t figure out try as I have -maybe because it wasn’t a monumental first time; Jahman is not given to showmanship of any sort. Don’t get me wrong; the genial adire-donning culture advocate definitely makes an impression –however, he doesn’t overwhelm you with his intellectual vastness or flaunt his proprietorial licence over the local arts and culture realm to which his contributions endure and will outlast him. In his true element, Jahman epitomises comfortable-in-my-own-skin simplicity; from his Safari-jacket-dark-colour styling, to his measured voice cadence (even when excited) to his grace at reaching out more than half way to interface with younger art journalists such as myself. Jahman is a facilitator, a culture advocate, linchpin and a man who would tirelessly and selflessly pursue the greater good; sometimes at the expense of self. Practically everyone is on first name basis with Jahman- protégés, peers, associates, elders. I’d like to think, however, that I am probably one of the few in this art community who added the ‘uncle’ appellation to the media icon’s name. It is

L-R: Adenrele, Jahman and Yeni Anikulapo Kuti, (Fela’s daughter).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 11, 2013

The Jahman CLAPPERBOARD I know@50 with

borne out of my affectionate respect for this man who gave impetus to the upward trajectory of my career at my budding stage on the arts and culture beat. Delightfully, I realised that this attitude is in character –Jahman is a generous spirit who has no qualms scooting over for similar minds to hop on board a progressive train. As the long-standing Editor of the Sunday Guardian, Jahman has nurtured and mentored a score of other well-respected journalists (at various fledgling stages of their careers) beginning from his earlier spell as Arts Editor of the same newspaper. Today, one of such people he influenced is my current boss who himself has had profound impact on the arts in Nigeria and my career in this industry. I also find Jahman intriguing– I suppose an artist whose fount of creativity wells from the depths of his or her original essence ought to retain a certain mystique. But now that he is approaching ‘senior citizen’ status (laughing out loud!), I gave vent to my nagging urge to demystify Jahman a little and so I probed him about the Anikulapo name he bears. For the name carries great weight in inferred meaning and by association to iconic Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the legendary Afrobeat maestro. Any relation to the artistically and culturally renowned Kuti family was the query? Always willing to dole out handy information, Jahman shared a riveting tale about his first personal encounter with Fela who is a relative on the maternal side. “I meet Fela many years ago while I was working as Set Manager on Lekki Sunsplash Concert in Lagos. He was billed to perform and arrived the venue ahead of his show. While we on the beach together, we got talking and Fela told me his mother is from the Anikulapo clan which is where he took the name from in rebellion to ‘Ransome’ his former name”, Jahman recounted. “Which kain Anikulapo be your own sef, I wan ask you?”, Fela brusquely probed. Jahman told him a bit of family history and Fela replied “so your father be that rascal?”. At that instant, the long lost relatives, offshoots of the legendary Anikulapo warrior of Temidire community in Abeokuta, Ogun State, found each other. And in similar compelling themes, Jahman’s personal and professional life has been shaped for the best part of 50 years. Like an Iroko tree, sprouting from an innocuous tiny seed and surviving thundering storms, blistering sun and the threat of tree fellers; he has grown to a towering height, trunk broad and sturdy with content, roots spread wide and plunging deep under soil to nourish tender tendrils while branches provide foliage for smaller trees growing nearby. As you take a final breather from the dedication and responsibility of editing the Sunday Guardian, I pray the next phase of your life would be the best yet! Happy birthday Uncle Jahman. I troway 50 salutes oga mi! Love and peace for the weekend.

Eddie Ugbomah www.edifosafilm.com

Nigeria: Wrong people, right places

aheed Olagunju–a former sports commentator with Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, who joined Bank of Industry, BOI, as a Corporate Affairs Officer and has now become General Manager, is putting his leg in his mouth by dabbling with movie production and distribution. On New Year day, January 1, this joker and a former cinema manager, Kene of Odion Cinema in London, were insulting hardworking Nollywood boys. Kene was telling his Dorchester Hotel guests that there was millions of dollars in Nigeria begging to be accessed and they should ignore stakeholders in Nigeria. This man ran home to screen films after he saw the success of two Nigerian films; Mirror of Beauty and Mission to Nowhere, both produced by Mr. Adrian Gbinigie. With his big talk and flashing proposals, this man and his White lady friend can access the cash to build cinemas and produce a rubbish film. I ask this question whose film will he be screening while abusing us the producers? BOI and NEXIM Bank say they want Nigerian films for export. There are 150 million Nigerians we have not conquered even if it is just to get one million viewers at N1000 gate fee and we are expecting our poorly financed films to compete globally. I can guarantee BOI and NEXIM that they will throw our money into the basket on films like Dr Bello, Half of a Yellow Sun and these other people they fund. I want to warn them that they need experienced producers with track records who will invest the funds on box office hits. How can Dr Bello or Half of a Yellow Sun ever compare with stories like Aba Women Riot, Black Blood and Niger Delta which are box office hits? It is only in this gullible Nigeria that some of these misplaced people mislead us and when the harm has been done, we start with the usual enquiries and probes. Five Nigerian films made N600m last year and how much did the owners make from the gross? After paying VAT, tax and other deductions, they will be lucky if they earn N250m. This is an industry privately supported with so much pain and the government and cinema owners are creaming from where they did not sow. The only way to solve this is a special rebate; exemption should be given to film makers to encourage investment, more cinema loans to be given to cinema owners who will join hands and commission movies that can pay back loans in six months. With only 10 top box office films made and screened in 50 cinemas, we can easily earn N20bn in Nigeria and over $1bn abroad. If we are 150 million Nigerians, we should be aiming at 5 million viewers at an average of N1000 for gate fees making

IT IS ONLY IN

NIGERIA THAT SOME MISPLACED PEOPLE MISLEAD US each film earning N500m. This is possible; there should be control on production and people should be encouraged to go to cinemas. Film production is big business, no country will allow foreigners to come and take over their market except half-baked film businessmen misleading foreigners to come and get money from BOI. Eddie Murphy and John Singleton were disciplined by the Jews. These two Hollywood men made box office but there were no cinemas to screen them, so they were forced to beg big distributors to hurdle their films. Ms Oputu was telling film makers to go to Lagos Business School– to do what? I have made 13 celluloid films without Lagos Business School. Ms Oputu was just saying what she hardly knows anything about. When I left the University, film college and other media institutes, the owners and founders of all the Business Schools in Nigeria were still wearing baby napkins. Ms Oputu and Waheed Olagunju have misinformed and misfired with their total ignorance of the movie Industry. I request them to challenge the producers with film records, give them loans with the conditions of six months payments. All these sentimental rubbish films NEXIM and BOI have sponsored will only discourage them from getting involved in giving loans to other filmmakers. I am sure there are better ways and reasonable conditions where the funds can be given to well-established movie makers whose films have made big sales; people like Kingsley Ogoro, Teco Benson, Kenneth Nnebue, Amaka Igwe, Kunle Afolayan and Tunde Kelani. As for celluloid, I can say I am the only living icon that can make world class contemporary Nigerian films like Black President, The Mask, Oil Doom and Oyenusi; these are unbeatable classics. I am sure I can produce three world class films from my achievements, not these novel films the kids are shooting and nobody takes them serious. I pray that all my agitations will not be in vain. I single-handedly changed the face of music and film in this country but most of today’s children don’t know my input and contribution. It is one of the main reasons I set up the Movie Makers and Music Icons’ Galleries. It will be disposed after the March exhibition. I pray that movie makers wake up now and hear my cry about our mistakes and how we are not being taken seriously.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

People In The Mirror

Friday January 11, 2013

J9C’s inaugural lecture attracts professionals A new episode of life dawned on Nigeria’s polity on Wednesday, January 9 during the January 9 Collective, J9C’s, 1st anniversary commemoration and inaugural lecture held at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. Titled “Nigeria: The country, its future”, the lecture was delivered by savvy professional and politician, Mr. Jimi Agbaje. The event was graced by high personalities, achievers from different sectors of society who gathered to discuss the way forward for the country.

Mr. Jimi Agbaje delivering the lecture at the event.

Hon. Akeem Muniru and Yinka Odumakin

L-R: Tonye Falouge; President Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alh. Yerima Shettima and Managing Director, One Complete Solution, Mr. Olumide Adeyemi.

Mr. Jide Benson (L) and Pastor Dotun Ojelabi.

L-R: Ayo Animashaun; KJV and Comedian, Tee-A.

L-R:Deputy President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Com. Mohammed Abubakar; Treasurer, Joint Action Forum, Com. Ade Adewunmi and Mr. Tunji Disu.

L-R: Managing Director, Fina Trust MicroFinance Bank, Mr. Deji Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu (left) and Lagos State Popoola; Joy Okhifo and Chief Executive Officer, David and Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa at the event. Destiny, Niran Adedokun.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Sodium Brand Solution, Mr. Abisoye Fagade; Managing Director, Kiss Events, Howie T and Managing Director, Emporium, Mr. Jire Anifalade.

Guest speaker, Mr. Jimi Agbaje (L) and Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, National Mirror Newspaper, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, at the lecture.

L-R: Corporate Affairs Manager, West Africa, Cadbury Nigeria, Mr. Kufure Ekanem; Managing Director, Export Limited, Mr. Foluso Olateju-Leigh and Managing Director, Gee Cee Events, Opeyemi Tella.

L-R: Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Morounranti Alebiosu; Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, National Mirror newspapers, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and Mr. Olajide Adeniran.

Seun Abegunde (L) and talented vocalist, Kween. PHOTOS: OLUFEMI AJASA

Friday January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive

2013 Bugatti Veyron: A special key is required to “unlock” the Veyron’s top speed of 250+ mph. The car is then lowered to just he Bugatti Veyron is by every mea- 3.5 inches from the ground. A hydrausure the world’s most extreme pro- lic spoiler extends at speed and it can duction road car. It is the quickest also serve as an air brake. The Veyron to 60, has the highest top speed and can weighs a hulking 4,160 lbs, but even its harshest critics admit its handling is absolutely dominate a track. The original Veyron claimed 1,001 surprisingly sharp. The designer of horsepower, which in itself was a ma- the McLaren F1, Gordon Murray was jor technical achievement. Its engine, very sceptical of the Veyron during boasting 16 cylinders, was essentially its development, but after driving the formed by joining two V8 engines at finished car, he conceded it is a “huge the crank. The W16 powerplant dis- achievement”. Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson also places 8.0-litres and features 10 radiators for everything from the engine publicly stated the Veyron was ridicucooling systems to the air conditioner. lous and would never be built, only to The standard Bugatti Veyron 16.4 call it “best car ever made” after he Coupe is a cool $1.3m (N208m) and could drove it. He famously characterised reach a top speed of 253 mph -a speed it it as “utterly, stunningly, mind blowcan maintain for 12 minutes before all ingly, jaw droppingly brilliant”. Bugatti has ceased production of the fuel is gone. Power is transmitted to the pavement via four-wheel-drive and the original coupe version of the Veya seven-speed dual-clutch automated ron, but continues to churn out limited edition open-air Veyron models. manual transmission. The car could hit 60 mph in just 2.5 The latest such example, the Veyron seconds, 100 mph in 5.5 seconds and 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, boasts an 150 mph in 9.8 seconds. Getting to 200 enormous 1,200 horsepower and 1,106 mph took 18.3 seconds and 250 mph lb-ft of torque. Bugatti managed to bump the Vitesse to 1,200 horsepower takes 42.3 seconds.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

VEYRON 16.4 COUPE COULD REACH A TOP SPEED OF

253 MPH

-A SPEED IT CAN MAINTAIN FOR 12

MINUTES BEFORE ALL THE FUEL IS GONE by fitting the convertible with four enlarged turbochargers and intercoolers. Due to the car’s open roof, additional chassis supports had to be added to the Vitesse to handle the added power, so the car’s top speed will likely fall just short of the Super Sport’s 267 mph top end. The Veyron has a full carbon fibre body, new suspension, wheels and tyres to handle its 410km/h top speed. There is improved airflow to the engine by way of a larger grille, extra inlets down low and subtle air vents above the headlights to cool the front discs. Performance is nothing short of explosive. When a driver punches the right pedal, you can feel your chest

compress as you are pushed into the seat. Then, click it back a few gears at 3000rpm, where max torque is achieved and from 200km/h to 300km/h it effectively gives the same punch as a Porsche 911 turbo from zero. To put it into perspective, its 8-litre, quad-turbo, 16-cylinder engine pushes the Vitesse to a top speed of 375km/h with the roof off. Leave the lid on and that gap blows out to 48km/h in favour of the one with leather seats, headlights and a seven-speed DSG auto. Following the success of the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, Bugatti did not have to wait long before it received the first enquiries about an open top version of the grand sport that could also deliver 882 KW (1,200hp). “We were instantly electrified by the idea of transforming the power of the super sport to the grand sport, which previously delivered a maximum 1,001hp, and thus taking the roadster to a new level”, says the President of Bugatti Automobiles, Wolfgang Durheimer. He continues, “Our team has managed to transfer the world’s most powerful car engine to the open-top sports

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive

Friday January 11, 2013

car while taking all vehicle dynamics and into d aerodynamic d i parameters t i t consideration”. The new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse boasts a remarkable maximum torque of 1,500Nm (at 3, 0005, 000rpm) from the 7.9-litre capacity to its W16 engine. The maximum output (1,200hp) is reached at 6.400rpm. These figures allow the car to reach 100 km/h (62mph) from standing in unbelievable 2.6 seconds. The top speed of 410kmh (255mph) makes the four –wheel drive Grand Sport Vitesse the fastest production road star ever. The maximum speed is reached on close tracks with special safety precautions. In normal handling, the Grand Sport Vitesse is electronically limited to 375km/h (233mph). For now, the Veyron remains the king of cars anywhere in the world and for Nigerians with pockets for pleasures, this is the ideal time to key into the world of the fastest car on earth.

he revamped Porsche Boxster and Boxster S are now available in Nigeria. After a global reveal in Geneva last March, Porsche Centre Nigeria, is introducing the comprehensively changed open-top-two-seater into the Nigerian market. Both variants of the Porsche Boxtser have a new lightweight body and a completely re-designed chassis. Considerably lower weight, longer wheelbase, a wider track and larger wheels significantly enhance the mid-engine sports cars’ driving dynamics undermining its position as the best in its class. Superior performance is backed by up to 15 per cent more fuel efficiency. Depending on model, they get by with significantly less than eight litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. Fundamentally changed styling with shorter overhangs, a significantly forward-shifted screen, flatter silhouette and expressive edges all provide the Boxster with a fresh, a contemporary look. The new roadster’s posture is decidedly more muscular and striking. Passengers are enclosed by a completely redesigned, fully electric hood, which now dispenses with a convertible top compartment lid. The interior gives occupants more

Renewed Boxsters arrive Porsche centre

space and reflects the new Porsche outline with a raked centre console, which originated with the Carrera GT. The Brand Manager of Porsche Centre Nigeria, Michael Wagner, said, “The vehicle’s mid-engine concept is the basis for the vehicle’s outstanding agility. Driving dynamics were enhanced by a balanced weight distribution of 46 (front) to 54 per cent (rear) and the once lowered centre of gravity. The 60 millimetres longer wheelbase ensures greater stability at very high speeds while the wider track on both axles enhances driving stability and agility in bends. It’s pure fun to drive whether you are in the city, on a highway or driving on the windy mountain roads. The new Boxster ticks all the boxes for what a sports car should be; lighter, more fuel efficient, faster and more agile, everything that Porsche intelligent performance stands for”. The Managing Director of Porsche Middle East and Africa, George Wills said of the brand, “Without any doubt,

the new generation Boxster represents a quantum lead in Porsche’s development of mid-engine vehicles. It combines a breath-taking design with a great day-to-day usability. This new roadster stands for pure driving pleasure through the principles of Porsche intelligent performance”. Both the Boxster and Boxtser S models are powered by flat-six boxer engines with direct petrol injection, enhanced by electrical system recuperation, thermal management, auto start/stop function as well as electro-mechanical power steering. The base model’s new power unit delivers 265hp from a 2.7 litre displacement – ten horsepower more than its large displacement predecessor. Technically, it is now based on the 3.4 litre engine of the Boxster S, which now has an output 315hp; five hp more than before. Both models feature a manual six-speed gearbox as standard, with the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplunsgetriebe (PDK) available option.

Ssangyong posts 6.3% growth in 2012

ed by a strong growth in the domestic market in South Korea, Mahindra & Mahindra owned Ssangyong Motor Company posted a growth of 6.3 per cent in 2012 with sales of 1,20,717 units. Ssangyong posted highest growth of 23 per cent in 2012, amongst the domestic car makers in South Korea, with sales of 47,700 units driven by strong volumes of Korando C and Korando Sports. The company’s exports for 2012 stood flattish at 73,017 units with almost 40 per cent (32,328 units) of it coming from the Russian market alone. This is the first time the company has recorded annual exports of over 30,000 to a single country. In a statement issued by the company last week, the Chief Executive Officer, Ssangyong Motor Co., Lee Yoo-il, “It is a very meaningful accomplishment that the company achieved the highest growth among the domestic and imported automakers despite a sluggish global economy”, adding, “We will further increase our global sales through differentiated marketing strategy and reinforced export product line up, continuously”. In the month of December 2012, Ssangyong sold 11,871 (5,365 domestic and 6,506 units of exports) vehicles, posting an increase of 37 per cent for the December. It was a fourth consecutive month for Ssangyong wherein crossed sales of 10,000 units in a month.

Porsche Boxster S

MAINTENANCE TIPS

How to check accessory belts

any cars have accessory belts that drive the alternator, the power-steering pump, the air conditioning compressor, the water pump in many cases and other parts of a modern vehicle (newer cars have a serpentine multi-accessory drive belt). Most car users take the checking of their car belts with levity, which in most cases cause avoidable disappointment when it is in motion. It is always advisable that car users should endeavour to check their vehicles especially the belts every morning before leaving home to be sure of their safety conditions. Most times, vehicle users find it extremely difficult to get to the acces-

sory belts easily for checks, when this occurs you can have it checked when you have the vehicle serviced or if the belt gets noisy or any of the equipment it drives begins to malfunction. It is not easy to figure out whether a belt is at the right tension just by looking at it, and often it is obscured by a shield or cowling. If the belt is loose, you will hear squeaky noises when you accelerate sharply. With the hood up, the gearshift in Park or Neutral, and the parking brake on; have a friend accelerate the engine while you listen. Be sure to keep your hair and clothing away from the belt. To be concluded next week

Cocktail

Friday, January 11, 2013

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (79)

If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. –Tao Te Ching *** MY NOTE: Nothing is permanent in life and every condition is subject to change. Those who know this wisdom are always humble and hopeful. Trying to hold on to things at all costs is like trying to hold on to the wind. The statement that says let go and let God is a powerful wisdom to live by. TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

Church gives $12,000 to members

Chicago church distributed $12,000 to congregation members with instructions to use the funds to help their community. The Rev. Jackson Crum ended his sermon about the city’s struggles with crime and other problems Sunday at the Park Community Church by passing out envelopes containing amounts of cash between $2 and $102, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday. Crum instructed

church members to put the cash toward improving their community. “Isn’t that why we’re here as a church?” Crum said. “Aren’t we here to be engaged with our city?” Crum said the cash came from Park’s general fund, despite the church owing more than $5.7 million on its mortgage. “Typically, a church says, ‘Help us, tithe,’” Crum said. “How often does a church pass it back out and say, ‘You do it. You invest.’”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Man allegedly made 400 fake 911 calls

New York man angry about the invasion of noisy young people in his Brooklyn neighbourhood has made more than 400 fake 911 calls in two years, police say. Louis Segna, 51, was arrested Thursday on charges that include reckless endangerment and making false reports, the New York Post reported. Police added a weapons charge when they found he owned a gravity knife -- with a blade contained in its handle. Segna’s Williamsburg neighbourhood was once known for its large Hasidic Jewish community but young hipsters driven from Manhattan by high rents, have made moved in. Police said they have received more than 400 calls in the past two years reporting shots fired and other disturbances -- including a report of an explosion in a subway station -- only to find everything quiet when officers arrived. Police knew Segna by name from noise

complaints, and from his frequent appearances at community meetings. An officer said he recognized Segna’s voice in two phony 911 calls Thursday and

An odd and bizarre fountain

investigators said they have determined 403 false calls were made from Segna’s cellphone. Police said they have thought of Segna -- who is 6 feet tall and weighs

300 pounds -- as a “gentle giant” but he also has a record of arrests, one for menacing and one almost 20 years ago for possession of homemade explosives.

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance “The Rebrand Nigeria Project failed because government did not back the project up with enough funding which was why it could not achieve its set objective”

Chairman, Advertising Practitioners Councils of Nigeria (APCON), Mr. Lolu Akinwumi

“To maximise maximum security in the cyber space, Nigerians both individual and corporate as well as government need to embrace Nigeria’s Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), .ng which is our identity on the web” -

Chief Operating Officer, Nigerian Internet Registration Association, Mr. Ope Odusan

Group asks EFCC to account for Cecilia Ibru’s N191bn seized assets OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

group under the auspices of AntiCorruption Network yesterday asked the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to account for the N191bn worth of assets forfeited by the former Managing Director, Oceanic Bank(now Ecobank), Mrs. Cecilia Ibru. The former MD had last year forfeited over N191bn in cash and assets to the Federal Government after pleading guilty to mismanaging shareholders funds under a plea bargaining deal. She was charged for several financial offences including money laundering, wire fraud and abuse of office amongst others, after she was sacked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the wake of the last global melt down. However, almost four months that the deal was struck and the properties purportedly seized, Ant-

Corruption Network said that its investigation carried out both within and outside the country revealed the convicted former MD still retain ownership of the assets either directly or indirectly. Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the 2013 anti-corruption crusade press briefing, the Executive Secretary of the group, Hon. Dino Melaye called on the Special Fraud Unit of the Police and the EFCC to tell Nige-

rians the whereabouts of all the properties, cash, shares and businesses recovered from the embattled former MD. He said, “Nigerians home and abroad were aware of the fraudulent case of Mrs. Cecilia Ibru and her eventual conviction in the court of law. She ran aground the Oceanic Bank Plc and put billions of naira of shareholders fund in jeopardy. You are also aware that plea-bargain

was introduced to this case and consequently, she was convicted disproportionately to the degree of crime she committed. “She has since been freed. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claimed that they have recovered all the properties so fraudulently acquired with the shareholders fund and the Aircraft and monies. If actually these monies and aircrafts were recov-

ered, they are supposed to be deposited with the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC) and AMCON for onward transfer to the shareholders of the Oceanic Bank. Our investigation and physical visits to some of the properties in the United States and United Kingdom reveal that some of the properties claimed to have been forfeited are still in her custody directly or indirectly.”

WITH AGENCY REPORT

igerian Treasury bill yields fell to the lowest in 15 months at an auction yesterday as bids were more than double the amount on sale amid speculation that inflation and interest

ADVERT HOTLINES: For advert bookings and information, please contact the following:

LAGOS: 01-8446073, 08094331171, 08023133084, 08034019884 ABUJA: 08033020395, 08036321014

Lag-Abj:07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 13.05, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50,18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun). Abj-Lag: 07:15, 09.40,10.20, 12.15, 15.15, 16.15,17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun); 12.15, 15.15, 16.15 (Sun)Lag-PH: 07:15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.10, 17.15 (Mon-Fri) 07.30, 11.40, 15.50 (Sat) 11.50, 3.50, 17.05 Sun) Abj-PH: 07.15, 11.20, 15.30 (Mon-Fri) 07.15, 16.00 (Sat) 13.10, 16.00 Sun) PH-Abj: 08.45, 12.50, 17.00 (Mon-Fri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) AbvBeni:08.00, 12.10 (Mon-Fri/ Sat)08.56, 12.10(Sun)

Aero Contractors

L-R: Director, Monitoring and Research Division, Un-Habitat in Kenya, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka; former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro and Director General, Nigerian Institute of Social Economic Research (NISER), Prof. Olufemi Taiwo, at the NISER series seminar in Ibadan recently.

Nigerian T-bill yields fall to 15-month low UDO ONYEKA

Arik Air

rates will retreat this year. The Central Bank of Nigeria sold N30.153 billion ($193 million) of 91-day bills at a yield of 11.55 percent, it said in an e-mailed statement, the lowest since the Sep. 29, 2011 sale. The regulator also sold 50.403 billion naira of 182-day bills at an 11.60 percent yield and 85.845 billion naira of 364-day notes at a yield of 11.79 percent. Bids to-

taling 360.2 billion naira, more than double the N166.4 billion on sale. Nigeria’s inflation rate rose for a second month in November to 12.3 percent from 11.7 percent, as the worst floods in decades cut farming output, the National Bureau of Statistics said December 17. The impact of the floods will probably boost inflation before price pressures begin easing early

NIPOST reforms to drive financial services inclusion

this year, central bank Governor Lamido Sanusi said on November 20, after leaving the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 12 percent. The auction results “are driven by expectations of lower inflation and interest rates,” Alan Cameron, analyst at London-based CSL Stockbroker Ltd., said today in an e-mailed response to questions. There is also an “intensifying search for

yield globally, which has driven foreign investors towards emerging and frontier markets including Nigeria,” he said. Nigeria also sold N26.7 billion of 91-day securities at a yield of 11.55 percent, 25 billion naira of 182-day debt at 11.60 percent and N41 billion of 364-day bills at an 11.79 percent yield to non-competitive bidders, central bank said.

‘Nigeria’s industrial fishing sector worth over N40bn’ 42

Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) LagBenin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat)

IRS Lagos-Abuja 7.30 8.30 7.45 8.45 09.30 10.30 10.30 11.30 12.30 13.30 14.30 15.30 16.30 17.30 Lagos-Kano 08.00 09.15 10.30 11.45 14.30 15.40 18.15 19.30 Los-Maid&Yola (Mon-Thur) 09.30 11.30 Fri- Sun 10.30 12.30 Kano-Lagos 07.30 08.45 14.00 15.15 17.30 18.45 Kano-Abj 10.45 11.30 Abj-Lagos 09.00 10.30 11.00 12.00 12.00 13.00

Business News

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NIPOST reforms to drive financial services inclusion KUNLE A ZEEZ

he Federal Government said it is reforming the Nigeria Postal Service; (NIPOST), to ensure it complements the target of the government to ensure that about 80 per cent of adult Nigerians have access to financial services by 2020. The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said one of the measures being taken by the Federal Government through the ministry was an ongoing effort to reform NIPOST to spearhead financial inclusion in the country. “We are reforming the NIPOST to transform it into a financial and digital inclusion tool that will reduce the proportion of adult Nigerians excluded from financial services from 46.3 per cent as at 2010 to 20 per cent by 2020,” she said. Speaking in a document made available to National Mirror, the minister said as part of measure to achieve the target, the ministry was working to develop about 3,000 postal outlets of NIPOST located across the

country to transform the outlets into becoming venues for financial and economic inclusion. Speaking on the implications of this, Omobola noted that by achieving the target, Nigeria would have succeeded in increasing access to financial services to about 80 per cent of adult population in the country. Another area where government aimed to drive financial inclusion is through mobile money initiative, whose transactions has been recording steady growth since the issuance of about 16 operating licences to companies willing to play in the mobile money space in the country. “Total value of Mobile Money transactions currently stands at N228 million and is expected to increase to N151 billion by 2015, while total volume of non-store shopping increased from N62 billion in 2011 to N77.5 billion in 2012. This figure will increase to N658 billion by 2015,” Johnson said. She explained that mobile money, which is being supported by telecommunications infrastructures would play significant role in driving financial

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mrs. Derin Awosika; Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi; Ministers of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe; Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman and Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke, at a meeting of the Presidential Action Committee on Power in Abuja recently. PHOTO: NAN

service inclusion in Nigeria. Johnson, however, spoke on the activities of her ministry which, she said, were now focused on increasing the contribution of the ICT industry to Gross Domestic Product; and connecting Nigeria by facilitating the provision of a ubiquitous and cost effective national ICT infrastructure.

CEO canvasses relaxed rules on airline certification OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been called upon to base its issuance of Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to intending operators on the airline’s type of operations for effective purposes. This is just as the Federal Government has been called upon to stop the issuance of multiple designations to foreign carriers flying into the country. These positions were canvassed yesterday by the Managing Director of Capital Airlines, Capt. Amos Akpan in an interview with National Mirror in Lagos. Akpan insisted that the process of certifying operators by NCAA should be discriminated

upon by the regulatory body to create rooms for more airlines to come into the sector, stressing that the requirements for operators must be separated based on their type of operations. He said, “The process of certifying operators to issue them AOC must try to discriminate or separate applicants need of infrastructure suitable to the airlines operations. They become a burden after the exercise. The statutes of NCAA requires certain offices to be established and occupied whether relevant or not to the airlines type of operations. This is the reason we have very few airlines with AOC because you must meet same requirements irrespective of your type of operation. “A small operator who does not

wish to operate all routes, but be a scheduled passenger and cargo carrier hires a director of flight operations, hires a chief pilot, hires safety pilots, hires operations manager, and hires flight dispatchers, just like Aero or Arik? An AOC applicant can tick his choice of type of operations while filling the application. But at inspection and certification of facilities he must have all required offices and infrastructure or the certifying inspector marks x, which means failure. The common denominator to every flight operation is safety.” On the multiple designations to foreign carriers, Akpan described such as un-developmental to the indigenous airline operators.

SEC zero allocation, a threat to capital market –Registrars

he Institute of Capital Market Registrars says the impasse between the National Assembly and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will affect capital market development. Dr David Ogogo, the Chief Executive of the institute, made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday. Ogogo said that the non-allocation of funds to SEC in the 2013 budget would affect the implementation of various re-

ports of the capital market committees. He said that the impasse, if not resolved immediately, would thwart all efforts and initiatives by operators to stabilise the capital market. Ogogo said that the various reports of the committees submitted at the just concluded annual capital market retreat in Warri, Delta, would be fruitless if SEC failed to get budgetary allocations. According to him, the capital market ought to have stabilised in the third quarter of last year if the various reports

and initiatives were funded and implemented. Ogogo, who is also a member of Dematerialisation Committee, said that the Jan. 31 date for the launching of dematerialisation policy was no longer feasible due to the impasse. He said that all the materials needed for the campaign would have been ready by now, but it was foiled by the stance of the National Assembly. He, however, called for urgent resolution of the impasse in the interest of the capital market and the economy.

Other areas of focus for the ministry in 2013, according to the minister, were software development, ICT entrepreneurship and innovation and the development of a strong and vibrant ICT industry. She also said the ministry would strive, through good policies, to ensure that there barriers to quality of telecoms ser-

vices both from voice and data segments are addressed; while engendering local content and skills development to create jobs and sustain the industry as well as ensuring cost reduction on telecoms services rollout and consumption, transparency in governance and citizen engagement to promote efficiency in governance.

Institute develops tools to boost human resource skills MESHACK IDEHEN

he Institute of Professional Recruitment Consultants (IPRC), have said it has developed various human resource solutions in the areas of competency mapping, behavioural event interviewing formats and compensation plan in order to improve the image of recruitment services in Nigeria According to IPRC, discussing an employee performance fully without first making sure that the staff is competent to perform may not yield the desired results, adding it was because of that that the IPRC developed competency maps for middle, senior and top level management for positions in the oil and gas, banking and insurance, communication, consulting firms, training and the public sector, marketing and sales, construction and the hospitality sector. Speaking with journalists on Thursday, Director General of the institute, Mr. Kola Samuel, said the competency maps will encourage Nigerian companies to start operating competency-based human resources management system. According to him, the behavioural event interview which is a structured interview that is used to collect information about

past behaviour is an interview technique based on the premise that the best predictor of future behaviour is the past behaviour, saying also that the institute has also developed well-structured BEI questionnaire for all job positions in the oil and gas sector, banking, communications, marketing, sales, manufacturing and public sector. Samuel said further that IPRC Nigeria has also developed job analysis for different positions in the oil and gas sector, banking, the hospitality industry, marketing and consulting, which contains job specifications and job description and job grading tables showing grade description, job grade, and designations under the grade.” He explained that while job grading deals with determination of the relative importance or ranking of jobs in an establishment and for wage setting purposes, that the point plan breaks the job into components and evaluates each of these job elements against specially constructed scales. Other human resource tools developed by the institute, according to the DG, are sample employee handbook, sample flexible benefit plan, sample form for compensation and benefits survey, sample interview form, sample job analysis questionnaire and sample KRA forms.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, January 11, 2013

FAAN issues last warning to owners of abandoned aircraft at airports OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday issued final warning to owners of abandoned aircraft scattered all over airports to remove them or risk confiscation. The agency gave out this warning at the inauguration of a task force on abandoned aircraft on Wednesday in Lagos. At present, there are at least 65 aircraft abandoned in eight airports in the country by different airline owners. Before now, FAAN had issued several threats to owners of the airplanes, but without expected result. The Chairman of the task force, who also doubles as the Director of Airport Operations, FAAN, Capt. Henry Omeogu as-

sured that this warning would be the last from the agency. Omeogu threatened that failure to abide by this appeal will necessitate a drastic action by the authority to clear the airports of these encumbrances. An online statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati stated that this task force has become necessary because the abandoned aircraft constitute a serious safety hazard on the airside, apart from being an eyesore at these airports. Dati stated that some of these aircraft have been abandoned for upwards of 10 years at various airports in the country. At the inaugural meeting, the task force called on owners of such abandoned aircraft to evacuate them immediately because of the danger posed by such. The task force noted that

some owners have responded to earlier appeals by the authority and are already making arrangement to evacuate them while others simply ignored the former threats from the agency. It would be re-called that several appeals had been made in the past to remove this abandoned aircraft by FAAN, including meetings with the owners and publication of paid notices in various newspapers in the past five years. Dati emphasised that some of the owners of these abandoned aircraft had taken FAAN to court over this issue and got court injunctions that made it difficult for the authority to carry out this exercise before now. The statements read in part, “Some of these cases have now been concluded hence, the commencement of the disposal exercise, for the abandoned aircraft which cases have been.

Cross section of winners of the Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo in Warri recently.

E-payment: Interswitch backs CBN’s OTP policy implementation KUNLE A ZEEZ

n compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy on the mandatory tokens for some web payments in Nigeria, Interswitch, an integrated payment and transaction processing company, has introduced Safetoken service to promote the implementation of the policy. Safetoken triggers One-TimePasswords (OTP) when customers are performing payment transactions on the internet using their cards. The system generates 6-8 digits OTP whenever a transaction occurs via the Interswitch Web Payment Platform, Webpay that meet some criteria set by the issuer of the card.

Speaking on the initiative, Director, Payment Solutions & Value Added Services, Interswitch, Mr. Charles Ifedi, said that the OTP was an additional level of authentication for customers when using their cards over the internet. He said OTP provides added security for the cardholder and protects customers against unauthorized usage of their cards on the internet. Explaining how the service works, Ifedi, explained that “When a customer attempts to perform a web transaction above a set limit, say N3, 000 for airtime recharge, the customer is prompted for a One-TimePassword. “SMS containing OTP is sent to the customer’s pre-registered phone number. This number is

pre-registered with the bank. The Safetoken platform supports the use of hardware tokens, software tokens, grid cards and OTP delivered via SMS or email.” However, according to him, to use the Safetoken service, a cardholder must have undergone a pre-registration process, which can be done at quickteller official website, Automated Teller Machines and bank branches. He pointed out that UBA has implemented the Safetoken SMS and email OTP solution for its customers. “Other banks that are currently implementing the hardware and SMS OTP solution for their customers to improve security of web payments include Access Bank, GTBank, First Bank, FCMB and Zenith Bank,” he said.

FG urged to release pension fund for housing development DAYO AYEYEMI

onsidering the absence of long-term fund for housing development, the Federal Government has been urged to release the Pension Fund to boost housing development in the country. Speaking with National Mirror on Thursday, a Lagos based estate surveyor and valuer, Mr Stephen Jagun, stated that it was obvious that the fund accruing from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria is insufficient for housing development; therefore, alternative fund such as the pension fund which is long-term in nature should be released for the sector. He said, “Also pension fund should be released for housing development because the National Housing Fund is not enough, so

there is need for people to have access to cheap fund.” According to the figures, the total pension fund as at June, 2012 stood N2.73tn, which was invested in 11 major assets. Jagun also enjoined government to show deliberate policy ensuring that the amendment of the Land Use Act is carried out, noting that as things are now, land buyers are at the receiving end. He also wants government to encourage private residential ownership. Speaking on the necessary steps to move the housing sector forward, President, Nigeria Institute of Building, NIOB, Mr Chucks Omeife, stated that the recent housing policy has enumerated the steps that should be taken to address the numerous challenges facing the sector.

World Bank VP for Africa visits Nigeria

he World Bank Vice President for Africa, Mr Makhtar Diop, will on Sunday January 13, visit Nigeria as part of his official trip after resumption of duty in May 2012. This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the bank’s Communication Director, Mr. Dele Oladokun. The visit will last for two days. NAN recalls that Diop took over from Mrs Oby Ezekwesili after the expiration of her tenure in the bank in May 2012. “During his stay, he will hold discussions with key government officials, development donors, civil so-

ciety organisations and youth leaders,” it said. The statement said that Diop would visit President Goodluck Jonathan before his departure to Washington DC on Tuesday. According to the statement, the visit will enable him to understand Nigeria’s development opportunities and challenges. It said that it would also help him to understand how the country was playing a major leadership role in the West Africa. The statement said that Diop would also visit some of the World Bank financed development projects in the country.

Kangimi reservoir loses 28 % storage capacity, says researcher

he Kangimi water reservoir in Kaduna State has lost 28 per cent of its storage capacity, a researcher on reservoir sedimentation, Dr Waheed Alayande, said. Alayande, a researcher at the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. He said that the reservoir was central to water supply to Kaduna city, especially during the dry season. “Kangimi is supplying 48 million gallons per day for Kaduna and it will supply that till the next rainy season; so you can see that it is very important to water supply in the town. “We carried out the sedimentation study last year because the dam was built in 1978, and since that time, there has not been any study on the state of the reservoir and the volume it is holding now.

“At that time, it was designed to supply 48 million gallons every day to Kaduna; but after our study, we found out that it had lost 28 per cent of that capacity and by 2028, the reservoir may be struggling to meet the demand on it.” Alayande said that the institute had presented the report to the Kaduna State Government for necessary action. He said the institute would soon conduct a sedimentation study on Bakolori, Goronyo and Oyan Reservoirs to prevent flooding. The benefitting dams are located in Katisna, Sokoto and Ogun States, respectively. The researcher said the institute would also conduct downstream impact assessment and develop operational codes for the three reservoirs. “We have completed all the preliminary studies and investigations; we are just awaiting funds to start the study. We did this (Kangimi reservoir study) at the level of the institute.

Maritime

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Nigeria’s industrial fishing sector worth over N40bn’

N13 billion, N15 billion in 2008 and N17billion in 2009 even as N20billion and N23billion were lost in 2010 and 2011, respectively, bringing to a total of N118.5billion between 2003 and 2011. Within the review period, there were over 250 fishing trawlers, which also represented the entire fleet of the association then, but which has reduced to a little above 100, arising from the piracy and robbery attacks on their trawlers, this apart from leading to massive loss of jobs, has also led to death of crew, captains, sailors and other equipment. In terms of human causality, the association lost a total of 44 crew members in 2003, 121 in 2004, 374 in 2005 and 627 in 2006. Other deaths recorded include those of 1, 177 crew and other members of staff in 2007, 1,045 in 2008 while 1, 265 and 1,430 deaths were recorded in 2010 and 2011 respectively due to uncontrolled piracy attacks on Nigerian waters.

From over 40 industrial fishing firms with a trawler fleet of over 350, 10 years ago, Nigeria now has about four surviving firms due to a combination of worsening piracy attacks and poor economic condition. President of Nigeria Trawler Owners’ Association, Mr. Joseph Overo, who decried the dwindling fortunes of the industry in this interview with FRANCIS EZEM, says the industry is still worth over N40bn. What is the capacity of Nigeria’s industrial fishing industry? Can government conveniently ban fish importation? We can only reduce the volume of fish imports but not outright ban because the local industry might not cope with the huge demand of about 160 million population. But government can also help by increasing the indigenous fleet by bringing in more trawlers and then put in place conducive operating environment and then reduce the quantity we import. This is also dependent on the sea robbery attacks because they are not in the international waters so we call it sea robbery. So, if the incidence could be reduced, then we can say yes, government can reduce the quantity of imports. But we cannot ban because the demand is quite high. How much does Nigeria lose by importing fish or how much can the country save by reducing importation? Nigeria can conserve 50 percent of her foreign exchange if the government will improve on local catch and reduce imports because about 850, 000 metric tonnes per annum local demand is quite high. Nigeria spends about N997 billion on the importation of 700, 000 metric tonnes of fish annually. So you can see that the demand is high and there is no way we can stop importation completely but it can be reduced and we produce more but the environment is so hostile. As I speak to you, we are only four fishing companies remaining; our fleet has come down to 119 vessels from over 350 vessels about 10 years ago with scores of jobs lost. What are the major challenges facing the industry? The first is increasing sea robbery; this has reduced our area of fishing by over 70 percent because a large expanse of the sea has been declared a no-go-area and so we cannot fish there because they are being policed by the sea robbers, who claim to be the owners of the sea. From the Bayelsa axis to Calabar down to River State, we cannot go there, so all the remaining fishing vessels converge on that small area. Secondly, in the cost of operation, the high pump price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) is another major challenge. The consumption rate is quite high; a vessel going to sea takes between 58-70 metric tonnes of diesel per voyage. A voyage is between 45-50 days. Another problem is the issue of high cost of spare parts because we buy at commercial rate unlike what is obtained in some countries abroad where government subsidise some of these things.We also do not have a dedicated fishing harbour or terminal. So each firm has its own small place, we all have our small workshops with the attendant cost of maintaining them. Same is for storage facilities as each firm operates its own cold room and with the power supply problem, each firm runs its generator. But in Europe and other developed parts of the world where they have fishing terminal, these facilities are provided there and what you do is just to pay rent.

Overo

WE ARE ONLY FOUR FISHING

COMPANIES REMAINING; OUR FLEET HAS COME DOWN TO 119 VESSELS

FROM OVER 350 VESSELS ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WITH SCORES OF JOBS LOST Why was a fishing terminal not created during the ports concession programme? During the privatisation of the ports, we made representations to the Federal Government that they should give us Kirikiri phase one and two as a fishing terminal, even though it was granted on paper, it was not implemented, it is just there on papers that they are fishing terminals, there was no implementation, there were not developed and as we speak, Nigerian Ports Authority charges us for the space we use now, so we pay rent to NPA. You said earlier that only four fishing firms are currently operating in Nigeria? Yes they are just four. How many were you before now? We were over 20 companies. How much does the industry lose in concrete terms due to these challenges? We are loosing a lot. The fish are no more there to catch; cost of running the business is so high. But one important issue to note is that we do not have control over the cost of our products. One cannot say because he spent N30, 000 to produce one kilo of fish for instance and will therefore sell at N35, 000 because we must not sell above the prevailing market price other wise, we will be out of business. That is why many firms have closed shop. In those days, a bag of fish that use to sell for N5, 000 now sells for over N15, 000. Let me also give you some of the figures of the financial loss recorded by the industry. Members lost a total of N5billion in 2003, N6billion in 2004, N7.5billion in 2005 and N12billion in 2006. In 2007, members lost

If the government addresses these challenges, what do you think is the worth of Nigeria’s industrial fishing sector? It is worth more than N40billion. These four surviving firms have invested well over N40billion. Members have invested in excess of N40billion in offshore and seaborne assets and currently provide direct employment of up to 5, 250 and another 300, 000 indirect jobs for Nigerians. The sector is a key player in Nigeria’s quest for economic diversification and boosting non-oil exports. Encouraged by government policy, the sector has made renewed investments in creating infrastructure for the procession of shrimps and fish to meet the highest international standards and created a niche market for made in Nigeria products in Europe, United States of America and Japan. In terms of value addition, the industry is fully agroallied and utilises natural marine resources. The products handled by the industry is highly perishable, if not consumed with in two to three hours of harvesting, it begins to undergo denaturing. However due to our value addition manufacturing process, it is converted to 24-month shelf life using international best manufacturing practices. In all these challenges, how does the insurance industry come to you aid? Insurance can only pay some claims. They pay your claims when you have an attack or accident or something like that. They pay claims. There was this belief before now that insurance firms categorise fishing trawlers as high risk and so impose high premium? The premium is high because of the high risk. So if you decide to pay why not because they are in business, they will insure your vessel. The risk is there, there is no doubt about that. if you cannot afford to pay, the alternative is for you to shut down operations. You can imagine a company that has 40-45 fishing vessels; you cannot afford to shut down just like that because you have already invested money. What in your opinion should the government do to better the lot of the industry? The government can deal with piracy and sea robbery. It has all it takes to do that. It can also provide funds through the creation of Agricultural Fund for the industry where operators can access cheaper funds as it is done for some other agricultural products. Government can also provide subsidy like in European countries where they provide subsidy for the fishing industry. Government can also allocate AGO to the fishing companies because they were doing it before now but suddenly stopped.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Maritime

Friday, January 11, 2013

Conflicting South-North interest stalls Port & Harbour Bill passage Sifax pledges STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

trong indications have emerged that expectations that the National Assembly may soon pass the Ports and Harbour Bill might continue to be elusive, as Federal Government fails to address some issues relating to balancing of NorthSouth interest in the concession of the nation’s seaport assets. The Bureau of Public Enterprised in conjunction with the Nigerian Ports Authority had since 2006 concluded the port reform programme, which stripped NPA of its cargo handling functions and gave same to private terminal operators, which was part of measures to make the ports more efficient and therefore reduce cost of operation. The bill, which has been at the House of Representatives for over seven year was designed to

give a legal backing to the port concession programme and also create a commercial regulator for the post-concession industry. An authoritative industry source, who spoke in an interview, disclosed that the bill may never be passed into law until the government resolves all the issues that have to do with catering for the interest of the Northern part of the country in the concession of the port assets. According to him, the government might also not be willing to push for the passage of the bill, since some of the concessionaires, who have 10-year concession period have spent over seven years remaining about three years or less for the concession to elapse, which government might be reluctant to renew. The source noted that some elements of northern extrac-

tion believe that that segment of the country was schemed out of the port concession programme, which they believe was made to tilt in favour of the south. “Some powerful northerners believe that allowing the passage of the bill would be like trying to give legitimacy to a programme that excluded a part of the country, which runs foul of the Federal Character policy”, the source argued. The source also noted that there was a serious push under the regime of late President Umar Yar’Adua for the nullification of the port concession programme, which some Northern elements could not achieve before the sudden demise of the president. It was gathered that due to the conflicting interest of not only the Northern part of the country but also of some segments of the South, there have been several

amendments and introduction of certain clauses to the original draft in order to pacify the various sections, which has also caused a lot of disconnects from the original intent of the proposed legislation. Meanwhile, Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who spoke in a previous interview on the delay, had reminded maritime stakeholders that the House initiated the bill; precisely himself and Chief Emeka Ihedioha, a one time chairman of the committee and incumbent deputy speaker of the House. According to him, everything about the passage of the bill went on fine until it got to the public hearing stage when stakeholders adopted a position that would conflict with other fiscal laws of the country. He said: “If such a position was taken, NPA would have to depend on annual appropriation, which would starve it of funds, which would not be good enough for the system considering the kind functions performed by the authority”. The chairman had assured that the House would want to reconcile the new legislation with other existing laws in order not to cause any conflict after the passage of the bill. A major fallout of the delay in the passage of the bill is a feeling of insecurity of their investment on the part of some concessionaires since the bill was partly designed to legalise the deal. In line with this feeling of insecurity and uncertainty had made some of them introduce some illegal exorbitant charges, which the clearing agents promptly resisted.

Containers stockpiled at one of the private terminals in Apapa.

Competition would drive maritime activities in 2013 –Expert

s stakeholders gear up for activities in Nigeria’s maritime industry, an expert has said that only competitive terminal operators would be able to remain relevant in the scheme of things in the industry in 2013 and years to come. President of Nigeria Institute of Freight Forwarding, Dr. Zeb Ikokide, who spoke in an interview, noted that Nigeria’s port industry is moving towards specialisation citing instances of APMT Apapa Terminal, which handles only container traffic, Apapa Bulk Terminal, a subsidiary of Flower Mills Plc, which undertakes only bulk cargo, among several others. According to him, under the regime of specialisation, any concessionaire that is not competitive both in terms of efficient delivery of cargo and pricing of services rendered would have itself to blame. “We are entering into a re-

gime whereby from the port of loading, an importer would decide which of the terminals whether bulk or containerised cargo to go depending on the level of efficiency and satisfaction he gets from the services of any given terminal and if the importers do not reckon with any terminal, that means the concessionaire is in trouble”, he argued. He noted that the ensuing competition would improve service delivery and also force down price, a development that would augur well for the Nigerian port system, as it would enable the businessmen to plan. On the unsuccessful attempt by the Federal Government to eject some government agencies like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, he noted that the modus operandi

of the agencies have been modified and so government did not fail. He argued that most of them have actually been removed from day-day cargo clearing process, as they now reside outside the port environment and are invited to participate in cargo examination when the need arises, which he insisted is better than what used to be. Ikokide argued that the only challenge was for government to sustain that tempo so that the agencies do not revert to their former method of operation, which significantly contributed to delay in cargo delivery. He also charged the government to intensify its monitoring efforts to ensure that successes that have been achieved are not rubbished again, citing the case of the clearing of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, recently cleared of trucks parked indiscriminately. The NIFF-boss noted that

most of the trucks have since returned to the roads because the government relaxed it close monitoring programme, a development that has brought the huge traffic back with the attendant negative effects on cargo delivery process at the ports. On the alleged imposition of arbitrary charges by some concessionaires, he noted that what happen in such cases was that the terminal operator would charge for additional services rendered to the port service users. Some clearing agents have been complaining about imposition of arbitrary and illegal port charges, especially for services not rendered. For instance, some terminal operators have imposed transfer charges on clearing agents even when such transfers were done against their will, as it would cost them additional money and time to take delivery of the consignments from such terminals.

speedy cargo clearance

orts & Cargo Handling Services Limited, a division of the Sifax Group has said the company is committed to speedy and efficiency delivery of cargo at the terminal. Executive Vice Chairman of the group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, who made the pledge in Lagos, told the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko during a recent visit that the company was poised for an effective service delivery to all its customers at the port. Afolabi, who received the visiting Customs-boss in company of his management team, undertook a tour of the facilities at the terminal, showing him the array of newly acquired state of the art equipment at the terminal. He noted that since the company took over the facility, which is terminal ‘C’ of the Tin-Can Island Ports Complex six years ago, it has taken concrete steps to develop to international standards. According to him, these equipment include the recently acquired brand new 10 units of Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes, six units of shore cranes among several others. The CG, who also in company of some of his lieutenants, including the CAC of Tin Can command of the service,Comptroller Tunji Aremu, was full of praises the management for the level of investment and the transformation of the terminal to a respectable port. He promised that business in the Nigerian ports will be done in line with international best practices. He also pledged that service would do all it could to ensure smooth delivery of cargoes.

Afolabi

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 11, 2013

Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund reaffirmed safe for investment JOHNSON OKANLAWON

or the second year in a row, Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund which is managed by Stanbic IBTC Asset Management has been rated a safe investment vehicle with minimal exposure to downside risk. This is an indication of the safety of funds it manages on behalf of its clients. Agusto and Co, who rated the risk associated with investing in the Fund, assigned Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund ‘Aa(f)’, same as they did last year. “Based on our review of the Fund’s portfolio holdings over the past 12 months, and our meeting with principal officers of

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, the Agusto & Co rating committee has affirmed the fund risk rating of ‘Aa(f)’ assigned to Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund (the Fund),” the rating agency said. According to the agency, the rating is valid until November 2013, and the fund has minimal to low exposure to downside risk (impairment to the net asset value) in the medium term. Amongst the factors considered in giving the fund this positive rating are the relatively conservative exposure to credit, interest rate and liquidity risks, a robust investment guideline and a diversified investor base. Others are no currency exposure, a highly experi-

enced and capable management team and a dynamic investment process, which the rating agency described as well established with a strong track record. The Chief Executive Officer of the asset management company, Mr. Olumide Oyetan said the positive rating is an affirmation of the company’s well established and highly regarded track record in consistently ensuring that investors’ funds are protected and also earn competitive returns. He said, “To have been rated very highly in two consecutive years is a reflection of the extent we go to ensure that investors’ funds keep earning attractive returns while the principal is not exposed to

unnecessary risks.” The Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha said, “The rating highlights Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc’s long term strategic objective of being the leading financial solutions provider in all the market segments in which it operates through its various subsidiaries. “Stanbic IBTC’s vision of being an end-to-end financial solutions provider is being borne out with the leading role of its subsidiaries in different segments of the market. We will continue to offer our customers and potential customers solutions designed to move them forward, whether at the individual or corporate level.”

Source: NSE NIBOR QUOTES 09 JANUARY 2013 & 10 JANUARY 2013 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00

09-Jan-13

Source: FMDA

Market indicators All-Share Index 28,695.59 points Market capitalisation 9,171trn

Wall Street ‘Fear index’ plummets to a 5½-year low

all Street’s “fear index” has tumbled to a fresh 5½-year low as investors turn increasingly positive on the outlook for global stock markets. The Vix index tracks investor expectations of market volatility revealed in the pricing of options that protect against violent moves on the S&P 500. As money managers typically seek protection against sharp share de-

clines, the Vix is considered a gauge of how fearful investors are. Despite the limp economic recovery and political gridlock in the US, and the simmering European debt crisis, the Vix has continually been ground lower over the past year, and touched 13.2 points on Wednesday, the lowest since June 2007. Fund managers and strategists said the low

Vix reflects the fact that central banks are seen as backstopping financial markets, lessening demand for downside protection. Signs of a tentative rotation by investors out of bonds and back into equities has further bolstered optimism. “It is a reflection of this global recovery broadening out, starting to stabilise,” said Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist at Wells Capital Man-

agement. “Market players are starting to become de-sensitized to Armageddon, end-of-the-world stories.” The Vix is not the only measure of implied volatility that currently indicates a pacific outlook. Europe’s Vstoxx stock market turbulence gauge and the CVix index, which reflects the expected choppiness of global currencies, are both near the lowest since mid-2007.

Consumer watchdog tightens mortgage rules on banks

he government’s consumer finance watchdog said on Thursday it will force banks to use new criteria to determine whether a borrower can repay a home loan, in an effort to avert the kind of loose lending that helped push the economy into recession. Banks will have to verify a potential borrower’s income, the amount of debt they have, and their employment. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said its new guidelines would also protect borrowers from irresponsible mortgage lending by providing some legal shields for lenders who issue safer, lower-priced loan products. The industry, which has shelled out billons over the past year to set-

tle lawsuits that it falsified loan documents and pushed borrowers toward mortgages they couldn’t afford, will likely lean toward the protections offered by making such “qualified mortgages.” “When consumers sit down at the closing table, they shouldn’t be set up to fail with mortgages they can’t afford,” Richard Cordray, the bureau’s director, said in a statement. With the sweeping changes, financial regulators are aiming to reform the housing finance market and give a jolt to lending, which has been sluggish since the credit crisis and the enactment of reforms that limit bank activity. Lenders and consumer groups have anxiously awaited the new rules, which are among the most controversial the

government watchdog is required to issue by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law. Each had feared a narrow definition of a “qualified mortgage”, saying such an approach could limit the types of home loans offered. Mortgage bankers said they were largely satisfied with the rules and noted the significance of the legal protections that come with offering “qualified mortgages”. “This approach should allow lenders to offer sustainable mortgage credit to a great number of qualified borrowers without having to risk unreasonable and overly punitive litigation and penalties,” Debra Still, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, said in statement. Some consumer groups

questioned whether the rules shield lenders too much from lawsuits but generally applauded the guidelines. The Center for Responsible Lending President Mike Calhoun called them a “reasonable approach to mortgage lending, for the most part.” “Applying these fair, understandable standards to the mortgage market will foster a more competitive and robust housing industry,” he said. Dodd-Frank directed regulators to designate a category of “qualified mortgages” that would automatically be considered compliant with the ability-to-repay requirement. The rule was first set in motion by the Federal Reserve and then handed off to the consumer bureau in July 2011.

10-Jan-13

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

CONOIL

20.50

21.52

1.02

% CHANGE 4.98

BOCGAS

6.25

6.56

0.31

4.96

8.93

9.37

0.44

4.93

RTBRISCOE

1.53

1.60

0.07

4.58

FIDSON

1.11

1.15

0.04

3.60

ETERNA

2.62

2.70

0.08

3.05

AIICO

0.68

0.70

0.02

2.94

STANBIC

11.21

11.50

0.29

2.59

FIDELITYBK

2.74

2.81

0.07

2.55

MANSARD

1.87

1.91

0.04

2.14

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

UAC-PROP

13.74

12.41

1.33

-9.68

STERLNBANK

2.13

1.97

0.16

-7.51

ZENITHBANK

21.00

19.70

1.30

-6.19

ASHAKACEM

20.69

19.61

1.08

-5.22

ETRANZACT

3.84

3.65

0.19

-4.95

NAHCO

6.30

5.99

0.31

-4.92

JAPAULOIL

0.61

0.58

0.03

-4.92

IKEJAHOTEL

1.02

0.97

0.05

-4.90

PORTPAINT

4.29

4.08

0.21

-4.90

HONYFLOUR

2.30

2.19

0.11

-4.78

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Days

30,159.21

13.00

10-Jan-13

182-Day

57,729.22

15.31

10-Jan-13

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

83-Days

65,750.00

14.05

10-Jan-13

317-Days

16,384.86

15.55

10-Jan-13

315-Days

41,864.32

15.55

10-Jan-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$150m

N/A

$150m

7-Jan-13

$300m

N/A

$300m

19-Dec-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Friday, January 11, 2013

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at January 10, 2012 1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

1st Tier Securities No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror “As a government, we are going to support the Kabiyesi and the Kabiyesi as you know, has been at the forefront of support for the present administration.” OYO STATE GOVERNOR, ABIOLA AJIMOBI

Police rescue robbers from auto crash OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

he Police in Ore Divisional Area of Ondo State have rescued a gang of suspected armed robbers who were involved in a fatal motor accident.

Chiefs stopped from parading as Baale

Sources said a police patrol team arrived at the scene of the accident even as they rescued the injured, unaware they were going for robbery mission. The police were said to have moved the injured and dead to the hospital and after searching the vehicle, found caches of

arms, which included two AK47 assault rifles and two magazines with 30 rounds of ammunitions each. The officers were said to have gone back to the hospital to arrest the injured suspects, only to discover they had fled while abandoning their dead

colleague. Luck, however, ran out on one of them when he returned to the accident scene to recover their arms and was immediately arrested. Also arrested and detained was father of the dead suspect, who showed up to claim the corpse.

The arrested suspects and exhibits are currently being detained at the Special Anti –Robbery Squad on Oda road, Akure, the state capital. A senior police officer at the state police command confirmed the incident, saying they will soon arrest the others”.

FEMI OYEWESO

ABEOKUTA

he Ogun State Government has ordered two chiefs, Aliu Adesiyan Malomo and Alhaji Abdulraman Alani Darafunjo,to desist from parading themselves as Baale of Idi – Emi community in Abeokuta North Government Area of the state till further notice. The government further urged all concerned in the Baaleship crisis to maintain peace, law and order, stressing that such is crucial to socio-economic development of the area and state at large. The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo, who stated this, said the move was necessary to resolve the lingering chieftaincy crisis in the community. After listening to the various allegations against the traditional ruler of Imala, the Omola of Imala, Oba Adegboyega Olabode at the peace meeting, the commissioner emphasised that the state government desired peaceful co-existence in order to engender development in the area. The authority of the monarch, Oba Olabode at imposing a baale on the Idi – Emi community and its environs had been questioned, thereby necessitating the quarrel between Chief Malomo and Alhaji Darafunjo. But the quick intervention of the commissioner helped doused the tension and ushered sanity in the community. Having reached a consensus, Honourable Oladipo directed that a seven man ruling committee be submitted to his office to take over the running of the community, pending when the government would find lasting solution to the crisis.

A young girl trying to salvage what remains of a shop after fire razed the Pako Sawmill Market at Ebute Metta, Lagos.

Lagos blames CDAs for neglect of projects MURITALA AYINLA

he Lagos State Government has blamed Communities Development Associations, CDAs, over poor maintenance of government projects in their domains. The government bemoaned the CDAs for failing to live up to their responsibility, adding that most public facilities have been left to rot. Speaking while presenting generators to five rural communities in the state, the Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi who made the disclosure, appealed to community leaders to ensure that infrastructural amenities are preserved. He said: “The present administration does not commission projects but hands them over to commu-

nities. The essence is for you to take ownership but we are not getting value for them from the CDAs. We have various water projects in the state that have minor fault and only cost N2, 000, N3, 000, to repair, yet the CDAs are doing nothing about them. We have transformers to be installed in some communities and this will take some days. What we see is that they are vandalized before they are installed. I want to appeal to chairmen that, we have a problem; the role of the CDA is being abrogated. We tend to believe that everything has to be done by government”, he said. Ojelabi, stated that government had several micro water schemes across the state, while it spends N108 million annually to maintain them due to neglect by CDAs, saying the money could have been used to provide 18 Type ‘A’ water projects.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

NIPOST pensioners protest arrears payment CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

ore than 70 pensioners have stormed the premises of Nigeria Post Office (NIPOST) Owerri, the Imo State capital, to protest the non-payment of their pension arrears which had accumulated for 63 months. Speaking during the protest at Ama JK on Douglas Road, the State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NIPOST), Comrade G.O.C. Ekeocha, said they were protesting the non-payment of their gratuity, pensions, harmonization of pension salaries and monetization “Some of us retired in 1996 and up till now, NIPOST has not

paid us, even as the management is yet to make any statement on the issue”, Ekeocha said. He lamented that some of the union members have died due to lack of care, resulting from lack of money. “As of now, we still have the corpse of our member in the mortuary. If there was money, he would have treated himself and even survived. The last Christmas was very cold for most of us, as we could not celebrate with others due to lack of money”. Ekeocha, vowed that “the members will continue to picket the premises of NIPOST until the national body intervenes and our entitlements paid to us”.

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Friday, January 4, 2013

Fear grips commissioners as Yero sacks SSG, others AZA MSUE KADUNA

alpable fear has gripped commissioners and other top government officials in Kaduna State following the sack yesterday by Governor Mukhtar Yero of his late predecessor’s Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Lawal Samaila Abdullahi; the Principal Private Secretary, PPS, Yohanna Alamagani and the Chief of Staff, Aboki Galadima. The governor, however, appointed Ishaq Hamza Dan’Mahawayi as the new SSG; Yahaya Aminu Abdulahi as the Chief of Staff while Abdulahi Ahmed Maiyaki is the new Director-General, Media and Publicity. Aliyu Samalia is the new Principal Private Secretary

•New appointees take over while the new Special Adviser on Politics is Madami Garba Madami. Yesterday’s appointment was the first since Yero became governor last year following the death of his former boss, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, in a Navy helicopter crash. The appointment also jitters among the other political appointees appointed by the late governor as no one is sure of his fate in the new dispensation. A statement signed by the Commissioner of Information and Home Affairs, Saidu Adamu, yesterday said; “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has approved the appointment of

the following: Ishaq Hamza Dan’ Mahawayi as secretary to the Kaduna state government; Chief of Staff, Yahaya Aminu Abdulahi; DirectorGeneral Media and Publicity, Abdulahi Ahmed Maiyaki; Principal Private Secretary, Aliyu Samalia and Special Adviser Political, Madami Garba Madami, while Nathaniel K. Hayab, remain the Head of Service. “All appointments are with effect from 10th January, 2013.” National Mirror had earlier reported that Yero would drop some political appointees of the late governor and replace them with more reliable hands. National Mirror also gathered that most com-

‘Call for resource control may tear Nigeria apart’ AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

lder statesman and former Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party Elders Committee, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, yesterday identified the controversy over resource control as one major factor that may promote the disintegration of the country. The former presidential candidate on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), also pressed for the abolition of zoning arrangement, describing it as anti-democratic and an action, capable of returning the country to regional politics. Tofa, who spoke in an exclusive interview with

National Mirror, said if the agitation for the control of the country’s resources by a section of the country is not checked, the issue may lead to the destruction of the country. He said whatever is in Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians, pointing out that if the reverse should be the case; “then what is the point calling ourselves Nigerians.” In his words: “This is our country, but some people believe that the resources from the country belong to them alone, so what am I doing here, the implication is that others are not Nigerians. “So, the moment we continue with this resource control controversy, the more we create problems

for this nation. “Besides, go to the SouthSouth, what have they done with the huge money accruing to the state from the federation account, nothing to show for it, they simply end

missioners in the state and other political appointees have started preparing their handover notes as the sack hammer may soon fall on them. A reliable source said that some commissioners had been mobilising traditional rulers and close allies of the governor to persuade him to save their jobs. “It is unbelievable, some political appointees who failed to print a single poster for late governor’s burial placed congratulatory advertorials in some newspapers for Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero’s wife birthday to appease her and launch themselves in the new government. Some have contacted their traditional rulers to meet Governor Yero over their job.” up in private pockets, while the masses continue to wallow in abject poverty, living in slums. “The people’s money is stolen by their leaders, through fraudulent contract awards and other questionable means.”

Court strikes out Shema vs Inuwa suit JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

high court of justice sitting in Katsina State yesterday struck out the case filed by Governor Ibrahim Shema against former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr Mustapha Inuwa. Justice Abdullahi Yusuf struck out the case at the resumed hearing because the plaintiff and his counsel were not present in court. The justice also based his decision on the fact that no reason was given for the absence of both the plaintiff and his counsel. Shema had weeks back, instituted legal action against Inuwa, who is a Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, chieftain, for alleged defamation of character. In a writ of summons with reference number KTH/70/2012 and dated October 8, 2012, the governor through his legal counsel had accused Inuwa of making defamatory statement on his person and claimed

N1 billion in damages. He also sought for Inuwa’s prosecution for alleged false and malicious publication of defamatory words of and concerning him and his office which was broadcast by the BBC Hausa Service on July 26, 2012. Shema also claimed N1billion in damages for the libel and 10 per cent interest on judgment sum from the date of judgment until the case was liquidated. He also sought for an injunction restraining the defendant, his servant or agent or otherwise from further publishing or causing to be published the said words defamatory of the plaintiff. Meanwhile, some CPC supporters in the state have continued to express happiness over the decision of the court. Some of them, who spoke on the issue, said the court was the last resort of the common man and opposition parties that have been relegated by the ruling party in the state and elsewhere.

Protests trail attack on Jang’s village JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

undreds of women and youths yesterday took to the streets to protest Tuesday’s attack by gunmen in Du village of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State which left two people dead. The protesters were angry with members of the Special Task Force (STF) whom they accused of failing to protect the villagers but went ahead to arrest nine of their youths allegedly in possession of illegal weapons. The women, who all wore black attires, stormed the major streets of Du vil-

lage which is also the country home of the state governor, Jonah David Jang, protesting and calling on the security operatives to release the nine youths who were arrested by men of the STF. The development yesterday disrupted vehicular movement around the village as those coming into the village hurriedly went back or took alternative roads. National Mirror recalled that the STF had on Wednesday paraded nine suspects from Du village where the spokesman of the STF, Captain Salisu Mustapha, said the suspects were arrested for possessing illegal arms.

L-R: Plateau State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Prof. Comfort Piwana; Commissioner for Finance, Davou Mang and Chairman of the Plateau Board of Internal Revenue Service, Mrs. Rauta Jat, at the stakeholders’ Sensitisation Workshop on Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) in Jos, yesterday.

Benue raises alarm over Boko Haram •Calls for anti-terrorism unit TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

he Benue State government yesterday called on the Federal Government to assist the state in its effort to quash a suspected plot by terrorists to attack the state. The state government has also advised the Federal Government to set up an anti-terrorism outfit in the state to avoid any attacks on the citizens.

State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Conrad Wergba, who spoke on behalf of the government, said the recent arrest of a suspected terrorist in Gboko town confirmed that the presence of Boko Haram in Benue was real and not faked as alleged by some sections of the media. According to Wergba, the state government needed the assistance of

the Federal Government to effectively fight the menace of terrorists as it was beyond its capacity and therefore called for collaboration from the Federal Government and other stakeholders. In his words; “The proactive effort to preempt this unimaginable descent into the abyss of preventable disaster transcends the capacity of the Benue State government. “We definitely need the collaboration of all stakeholders to properly address

this onslaught. We call on the Federal Government to set up a modern antiterrorism outfit in the state and adequately fund it to properly tackle this security challenge.” Wergba said the agrarian state was critical to the unity of Nigeria considering its centrality in the geography of the country and its role as a binding force between the north and south, making it a target of attack by Boko haram elements “is to deliberately ignite a conflagration beyond imaginable proportions.”

South West

Friday January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kaduna: 1,999 women die during child birth annually –NURHI

t least, 1,999 women die in Kaduna State annually following complications arising from maternal mortality. The Project Director, Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, NURHI, Dr. Moji Odeku, made the

disclosure yesterday while presenting achievements of the body at a meeting with stakeholders in Zaria, Kaduna State. Odeku, who spoke through Kaduna State Team Leader, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir-Abdullahi,

said the figure was obtained from a survey carried out on women dying from complications in 2011 and 2012. She attributed the huge loss of life to early-age and late-age birth, lack of child spacing, and lack of access to health care facil-

ities among others. The project director, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, said the main objective of health initiative was to create awareness among Nigerians on ways to reduce maternal mortality.

She said: “Our objective is to meet the unmet needs of the urban poor. It is sad to note that in Nigeria, one in every 13 women is likely to die of maternal mortality. “Nigeria is second to India in terms of prevalence of the menace in the world. What do we do to make pregnancy safe in Nigeria? “It is not enough to know the number of people dying but to understand the causes with a view to providing solution.” In his speech, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Turaki Kalik, lauded the efforts of NURHI for engaging religious leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in what he described as

a “vital campaign.” The commissioner, who spoke through the Director, Primary Healthcare, Dr. Ado Zakari, said the choice of Zaria Zone was a step in the right direction, considering the fact that nobody was talking about the problem in the zone. The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, represented by Salanken Zazzau, Dr. Bello Abdulkadir, called for an intensive awareness campaign using languages understood to educate rural communities. Thanking the body for the choice of his domain, the Emir called on people to support and cooperate with NURHI to enable it achieve its set goals and objectives for the good of the nation.

Japan builds, donates 77 classroom buildings to Kano Secretary to Borno State Government, Amb. Baba Ahmed Jida (2nd left, front row) with other government officials and representatives of Indian firms after the signing of a memorandum of understanding on agriculture and education at the Government House in Maiduguri, yesterday. PHOTO: INUSA NDAHI

Kogi Assembly raises budget by N1.7bn OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

he Kogi State House of Assembly has increased the 2012 Appropriation Bill to N132.6 billion as against N130.9 billion earlier proposed by Governor Idris Wada. The Assembly said it took the decision to enhance adequate funds for youth empowerment and energy supply of the state as envisaged by the governor. The Chairman, House

Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Haruna Idoko representing Idah (state constituency), made the disclosure while briefing journalists after the bill was passed yesterday. He explained that the number of youths roaming the streets had become a great source of concern to the entire people of the state. The lawmaker noted that the early passage of the bill was to allow the executive carry out the con-

stitutional responsibility of catering for the welfare of the people and ensuring that all the sub-heads, ministries, departments and agencies “holistically and realistically” attend to the budget appraisals. Idoko added that all the Assembly members would be on guard during their oversight function to ensure that the budget became a reality, maintaining that it was the only way to ensure that the electorate felt the impact of the government.

The lawmaker, however, maintained that non-monitoring of projects, non-release of funds to ministries, lack of office accommodation and serviceable vehicles were identified as challenges facing proper performance of ministries and parasatals. He also called for a conducive working environment, relevant committees to keep up monitoring projects, prompt release of funds and training and retraining of staff to boost productivity.

Shettima swears in new attorney-general, advisers INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

orno State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday sworn in Mr. Kaka Shehu Lawan, a lawyer, as the state new attorney-general and commissioner for justice. This followed the assassination of the former Attorney-General and

Shettima

Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Zannah Mallam Gana, last year. Lawan has been acting as the attorney-general after Gana’s assassination. Shettima, who also sworn in three new special advisers, said the commissioner’s appointment was done in accordance with Section 195 of the 1999 Constitution which gave him the power to make such appointment subject to the approval of the state House of Assembly. He said the appointment was based on merit and professionalism. The governor added that the state was in a difficult situation and as such, needed efficient people who could work in line with the aspiration of his

administration to better the lives of the people. Shettima urged the appointees to be dedicated to their duties. The oath of office and that of allegiance were administered on the ap-

pointees by the state Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Zanna. Responding on behalf of the appointees, Lawan thanked Shettima for finding them worthy of the appointment.

IJEOMA EZEIKE AND GOODNESS ADAOYICHE

apan yesterday handed over to the Federal Government 77 buildings for 33 basic education schools built in Kano State. The 77 buildings, which contain 317 classrooms, were donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, to cement the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The N2.31 billion project is expected to help alleviate the problem of classroom congestion in all the 22 local government areas of the state. Presenting the keys to the buildings in Abuja, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, said his country had been making effort to provide access to primary education for all school age children.

Police arrest five vendors during raid in Maiduguri INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

olice in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday raided parts of the metropolis and arrested five newspaper vendors. The places raided include areas around Bolori roundabout opposite the official residence of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdullahi Yuguda. Those arrested and

detained are Babagana Modu, Aliyu Uba, Musa Mushe, Sadiq Bukar and their Chairman, Musa Ali. It was learnt that the police commissioner had on several occasions warned the vendors, who allegedly harbour criminals snatching vehicles and committing other crimes, to vacate the area. However, in an interview with journalists, the Chairman of the state

chapter of Yerwa Newspaper Distributors/Vendors Association, Mallam Bunu Umara, described the arrest of his members as unlawful and a breach of their rights. He said: “If youths who have no jobs to rely on and resorted to selling newspapers in order to survive the economic hardship are arrested on the streets for no just cause, then there is no justification whatsoever for that.

He said: “The history of Japan proves that unfettered access to basic education is one of the foundations for nation building of Japan. “Investing in people is crucial for economic development of a country and the emancipation of each individual.” In his acceptance speech, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, said JICA had demonstrated more than a passing commitment to the development of education in the country. He said: “The challenge of providing sustainable qualitative education to every Nigeria is quite enormous and requires the concerted efforts and commitment of all stakeholders to overcome. “It is for this reason that the Federal Government welcomes any positive intervention from our international development partners, which is directed at improving education in Nigeria.” In his speech, Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, said the kind gesture from the people of Japan had complemented his administration’s determination to improve the situation in all the primary schools and other educational institutions. Niger, Plateau and Kaduna states have benefited from such interventions from the Japanese government.

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

“By the end of the 21st Century, Europe will account for only 4% of the global population. We have to stand together.” – Gunther Krichbaum, member of German ruling CDU party

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

he Central African Republic’s government and the Seleka rebels are holding peace talks in Gabon, but both sides appear to be refusing to back down from the conflict. The rebels have called on President Francois Bozize to step down and be charged in an international criminal court for alleged war crimes, including “detentions and false imprisonment, kidnappings, disappearances, assassinations and summary executions”. “We’re asking for the head of state to go, because he’s not been up to his function, and we’re asking for transition. We need a transitional government, a transitional assembly,” Crepin Mboli Gumba, a member of the opposition party, told Al Jazeera. The statements came a day after Bozize accused the rebels of being foreign-backed “mercenary terrorists”. The three-way talks between the Central African government, rebels and the political opposition are being brokered by regional bloc the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in Libreville, the Gabonese capital. The talks were to focus on renegotiating peace agreements signed by Bangui between 2007 and 2011 which rebels say have been violated. “I am asking everyone to show restraint and, in this context, we will suggest at the start of the

CAR rebels want Bozize to step down amid peace talks talks that a ceasefire agreement be signed,” said Basile Ikouebe, the foreign minister of Congo, which is mediating the talks. Seleka, an umbrella group of several rebel factions, launched an offensive in the north on December 10 and have since seized control over many cities and towns in the country’s north. Bozize has relied on foreign military help to fend off a series of smaller insurgencies. Regional powers, chief among them Chad, have sent in hundreds of troops to

bolster his army this time. The rebels moved southward towards Bangui, the capital, but stopped around 160km from the capital after regional powers sent troops to bolster the government’s army. Nine opposition parties attending the talks also demanded the president step down, accusing him of rigging election victories in 2005 and 2011 and isolating the country. “The resignation of the President Bozize and the establish-

ment of a political transition is a sine qua non condition to end the crisis,” the parties said in the joint statement seen by the Reuters news agency. They also demanded the suspension of the constitution and the appointment of a transitional government and national assembly for not more than three years, pending elections. Bozize has asked to be allowed to complete his mandate, which ends in 2016, and has promised not to seek another term.

Mali’s Islamist rebels seized control of the central city of Konna yesterday, encroaching further on government-held territory, said the rebels’ spokesman. Konna, a city of 50,000 people 700 kilometres (435 miles) northeast of the capital Bamako, fell from the government to the rebels, Sanda Abu Mohammed, spokesman of the Ansar Dine rebels, told The Associated Press on the phone from Timbuktu. The fall of Konna marks a significant push by the rebels to Mali’s center. A Mali army spokesman refused to comment on the loss of Konna but a soldier, who refused to give his name because he was not authorized to speak, said the army had retreated from Konna to the town of Sevare.

Three Kurdish women activists shot dead in Paris

L-R: Deputy Secretary-General of the Economic Community of Central African States, Guy-Pierre Garcia, speaking with Seleka rebel alliance leader, Michel Djotodia, and Christophe Gazau Betty, a former CAR ambassador-turned rebel leader, during a peace talk session in Libreville, Gabon, yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Twin bomb blasts kill 32, injure 100 in Pakistan

omb blasts in two Pakistani cities killed 32 people and injured more than 100, police and hospital officials said. A bomb in Quetta, the capital of the eastern province of Balochistan, killed 11 people and in-

WORLD BULLETIN Mali’s Islamist rebels take another city

jured more than 40, police officer Zubair Mehmood said. A local militant group claimed responsibility. Another 21 were killed and more than 60 injured in a bombing where people had gathered to hear a religious leader speak in

A police official gesturing at the scene of a bomb explosion in Quetta, yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Mingora, the largest city in the north-western province of Swat, police and officials at the Saidu Sharif hospital said. “The death toll may rise as some of the injured are in critical condition and we are receiving more and more injured people,” said Dr. Niaz Mohammad. Police initially said the Swat blast was caused by an exploding gas cylinder but later police chief Akhtar Hayat said it was a bomb. It has been more than two years since a militant attack has claimed that many lives in Swat. The mountainous region, formerly a tourist destination, has been administered by the Pakistani army since their 2009 offensive drove out Taliban militants who had taken control. But the Taliban retain their ability to mount attacks in Swat

and shot schoolgirl campaigner Malala Yousufzai in Mingora last October. The bomb in a market in Quetta targeted a police patrol and mostly killed sellers of vegetable and second-hand clothes, officer Mehmood said. Three police officers nearby were injured and a child was among the dead, he said. The United Baloch Army claimed responsibility for the blast. The group is one of several who are fighting for independence for Balochistan, an arid and impoverished region with substantial gas, copper and gold reserves. It constitutes just under half of Pakistan’s territory and is home to about 8 million of the country’s population of 180 million.

Three Kurdish women activists including a co-founder of the militant nationalist PKK - have been found dead with gunshot wounds in a Kurdish information centre in Paris. The bodies of Sakine Cansiz and two others were found yesterday. France and Turkey both condemned the killings. The motive for the shootings is unclear. Some 40,000 people have died in the 25year conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK. However, Turkey has recently begun talks with the jailed PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, with the aim of persuading the group to disarm. It is the first time that such a senior member of the PKK has been killed in Europe. There has been a tacit agreement between the PKK and the Turkish government that no such high-profile attacks would be carried out against either senior PKK members or senior members of the government.

10 die in Kenya’s retaliatory tribal attack Officials in Kenya say 10 people have been killed in a retaliatory tribal attack. Kenya’s Red Cross said five children were among those killed in the 7 a.m. attack near the Tana River yesterday. Witnesses said more than 100 people launched the attack, and that many were armed with guns, spears and bows and arrows. Thursday’s attack appears to be in retaliation for an attack on Wednesday in the Tana River area, in eastern Kenya, in which at least seven people were killed. Authorities say there is deeprooted hatred between the Pokomo and Orma communities, who have been fighting for years. Police say they are investigating politicians, businessmen and powerbrokers for instigating the violence.

Transition

Friday, January 11, 2013

Elekia Ayisat Giwa

other of the slain editor of the Newswatch Magazine, Dele Giwa, Madam Elekia Ayisat Giwa, died on Tuesday morning in Ikorodu area of Lagos State after a brief illness. She was aged 87 years. Born on July 7, 1927 in Ugbekpe-Ekperi village in Auchi, Edo State, the late Ayisat trained as a tailor and got married to Dele’s father, the late Pa Giwa, to whom she bore six children. Dele Giwa was her first child. After her marriage, she moved to IleIfe in Osun State where she bore all her six children; but upon the death of her husband in 1977, she relocated to Ugbekpe-Ekperi, her home village and lived there until Dele was murdered. According to Madam Giwa’s last

child, Mrs. Ronke Abibat Giwa Aboaba, she was devastated when news of Dele’s death was broken to her in 1986. The shock was so terrible – Abibat - had to take the old woman with her: “My mother was a great woman, loving, caring and had a large heart for everyone. Abibat said the greatest wish of Madam Giwa was to know the killers of her son, Dele Giwa. She said: “Our mother’s greatest wish was to know the killers of her son, Dele Giwa, before she died. She also wished to see that Dele’s killers were brought to book. But before she eventually gave up the ghost, she prayed fervently for Nigeria and said that she has forgiven whoever had a hand in the death of her son.”

Charles Durning

merican actor, Charles E d w a r d Durning was born on February 28, 1923 and died of unknown causes at his home in Manhattan, New York on December 24, 2012 at the age of 89. As an actor, Durning appeared in over 200 movies, several television shows and plays. His memorable roles included the Oscar-winning The Sting (1973) and crime drama Dog Day Afternoon (1975), along with the comedies Tootsie, To Be or Not to Be and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the last two of which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He also won a Tony award for his portrayal of Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1990. Durning was born in Highland Falls, New York. He was the fourth of ten children. His four brothers James (1915– 2000), Clifford (1916–1994), Frances (born 1919) and Gerald Durning (born 1926) survived to adulthood, but his five sisters lost their lives to scarlet fever and smallpox as children. His mother, Louise (née Leonard; 1894–1982), was a laundress at West Point, and his father, James Durning (1883 – c. 1939) was an Irish immigrant who gained U.S. citizenship by joining

the army. His mother was also of Irish descent. Durning was raised Catholic and was, at one time, considering becoming a priest. He received his first taste of acting as an usher at a burlesque theater in Buffalo, New York, where he took the place of one of the comedians who showed up too drunk to perform. He recalled years later that he was hooked as soon as he heard the audience laughing. Durning served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Drafted at age 21, he was first assigned as a rifleman with the 398th Infantry Regiment, and later served overseas with the 3rd Army Support troops and the 386th Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion. He participated in the Normandy Invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944 and was among the first troops to land at Omaha Beach. Durning was wounded by a German “S” Mine on June 15, 1944 at La Mare des Mares, Normandy. He was transported to the 24th Evacuation Hospital and by June 17 he was in England at the 217th General Hospital. He was severely wounded by shrapnel in the left and right thighs, the right hand, the frontal head region, and the anterior left chest wall.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ayo Ositelu

ports journalist, widely known as The Arena, Deacon Ayo Ositelu was born on April 3, 1943 and died on January 9, 2013 at the age of 69 after a brief illness. The Arena was the title of his popular newspaper column. Ositelu’s last major public outing was during the November 2, 2012 exhibition match between the Williams’ sisters at the Lagos Tennis Club. Ositelu went into politics in 2002, emerging as the pioneer Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State from 2003 to 2008. Deacon Ositelu was one of the most recognisable sports personalities in Nigeria as he served in various capacities in both print and electronic media. He was the former Group Sports Editor of The Punch Newspapers between 1982 and 1984. He later became the Edi-

tor, Sunday Punch (1984-87). Chairman of Lagos State Lawn Tennis Association (1992-1999); member, Nigeria Lawn Tennis Association (1984-89); founding consultant (Publicity) sub-committee of LSSEF with Mr. Bode Emmanuel as Main LSSEF FUND Chairman. Ositelu was also the National Sports Merit Award recipient in 2003 for Outstanding Sports Journalism (Print Media) after earning nomination as a member of the Federal Government Delegation to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Since 1981 till his death, he was the author of the evergreen sports column entitled ‘THE ARENA’ in The Punch, the National Concord and The Guardian newspapers. He was also an international sport broadcaster, analyst both on television and radio.

Abisoye Ayo

ate Justice Wasilat Abisoye Ayo was born to Senator Sikiru Ayodeji Shitta-Bey and Alhaja Raheenat Abiodun Shitta-Bey on June 30, 1965 in Lagos and died on December 30, 2012, at the age of 47 years. Justice Wasilat was married to Gabriel Olabode Ayo, a businessman and consultant in December 1990, a marriage that was blessed with two daughters. She was appointed a judge of the High Court of Lagos State, Commercial Division, on May 24, 2001 but was later moved to Lands Division of the Lagos State High Court where she remained until her death. She attended Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba, Lagos, between 1975 and 1981 for her secondary education before proceeding to the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria for her tertiary education between 1981 and 1983 and later the University of Lagos, Akoka, between 1983 and 1985, where she bagged a degree in law. Prior to joining the Lagos State Judiciary, Justice Ayo was an Associate

Attorney, S.A. Shitta-Bey. & Company Limited between October 1986 and February 1997. She was also the Head of Loan Work-Out/ Recovery & Recovery & Credit Administration Department of the Commercial Trust Bank Nigeria Limited in Lagos between February 1995 and February 1997. After a meritorious service in the bank, Justice Ayo proceeded to the United States of America where she worked with many companies including Funder, Mego Mortgage Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia between June 1997 and January 1998. She was also the Residential and Commercial Real Estate Processor, Pre/Post Closer/Closer, Suntrust Mortgage Inc. (Subsidiary of Suntrust Banks, Inc.), Atlanta Georgia USA between February 1998 and May 1999. She was a member of the International Bar Association and Ikoyi Club. She is survived by her husband, Obabode Ayo and two daughters.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Livorno, Dinamo Minsk chase Obodo

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Our preparation for the AFCON isn’t the best and our team isn’t the best either. That’s my conclusion

– FORMER NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL, JONATHAN AKPOBORIE

Nigerian players undergo AFCON medicals IKENWA NNABUOGOR

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday put the 23 Super Eagles that made the Nations Cup 2013 list to medical checks at the team’s Faro, Portugal camp. The medicals included scans, chest x-rays, blood tests and general health tests for the players carried out by the medical team headed by Dr. Ibrahim Gyaran, assisted by physiotherapist, Adewale Oladejo. National Mirror gathered that the players got a clean bill of health after the exercise. Coach Stephen Keshi described the exercise as routine and good for the players and the team, although most of the players had undergone same tests in their

various clubs. Meanwhile, the team doctors have eased the injury worries of goalkeeper Austin Ejide after the Israel-based keeper was taken out of the friendly game with Cape Verde on Wednesday. “I have been told that I can resume action on the pitch on Friday (today) and indeed I’m feeling very free now,” Ejide assured. Keshi has also assured Nigerians of the team’s performance at the Nations Cup finals, saying the goalless encounter with Cape Verde should not be a yard stick for the team’s progress. “There were errors and mistakes here and there in the game but the boys did very well and we must remain confident that they will deliver in South Africa,” the coach said.

SWAN, NFF, others mourn Ositelu YEMI OLUS

T Nigerian midfielder, Obiora Nwankwo, (in front) thwarting a Cape Verdian opponent during the friendly in Portugal on Wednesday

Eagles fell short against C’Verde –Onigbinde

AFOLABI GAMBARI

ormer Super Eagles’ Head Coach Adegboye Onigbinde has said that the Super Eagles’ performance against Cape Verde tells a bad story about African football. Onigbinde, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, said the match which ended scoreless suggested a lot of work to do by the team’s technical crew. “I did not see any exciting moment throughout the game and I really felt sorry about it,” Onigbinde said. Suggesting that the Nigerian

team has had weak preparation for the Nations Cup 2013 that kicks off in South Africa on January 19, Onigbinde recalled that the Eagles’ friendly with Catalonia on January 2 was a fluke. “It was not enough to assess the squad as all those stars paraded in the opponent’s side had another match for their club the following day,” the veteran coach reasoned. “So, they did not come out and play with full zeal which we saw on the pitch.” Onigbinde, however, said he would expect Nigeria to win the cup in South Africa as a befitting new year gift.

“As a patriotic Nigerian, I am waiting for them to come back with the trophy. But I know it does not come with magic nor by talk, but by hard work, and that depends on what the coaches do with the team,” he added. Reacting to the 23-man final list released by Stephen Keshi on Wednesday night, Onigbinde said the Eagles’ coach had the exclusive right for his choices. “Keshi is the only one that knows the system he wants the players to play and I am sure he made his selection on that premise,” the former CAF and FIFA instructor submitted.

he Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have expressed grief at the death of veteran sports journalist and writer, Deacon Ayo Oshitelu, who passed on Wednesday night at the age of 69. SWAN Chairman (Lagos Chapter), Fred Edoreh, praised Oshitelu’s consistency in covering tennis despite veering off into politics after a long stint in sports. “The news was shocking as he was a senior colleague and a flagship tennis writer who charted a course for us to follow,” Edoreh said. “He remained consistent and kept on following and writing tennis over the years and the surprising thing was that even

Late Ayo Ositelu

while in politics, he never stopped writing on the sport. He was a great man and will be sorely missed,” the SWAN boss added. Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Chief Emeka Inyama said, “The NFF has received the news with shock as Deacon Oshitelu was one of the best sports journalists and commentators that this country has ever produced and was a marvel in his area who did his job with painstaking attention to details. “But we are consoled by the undisputed fact that he left his giant footprints in the sands of time, not only in tennis reporting, but in the entire sports arena.” Former NFA Technical Director, Dr. Kasimawo Laloko, also expressed regrets at the administrator’s demise. “He was a big journalist of our time who kept faith with trends in sports development,” Laloko recalled. Former Super Falcons coach, Paul Hamilton, described the late Oshitelu as a rare gem. “He was God-fearing and used his position to promote sports in Nigeria,” Hamilton said. Nicknamed Arena, late Ositelu worked with some leading national dailies, including The Punch (where he edited Sunday Punch) and The Guardian where he was a member of the editorial board. He was also a former chairman of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State.

Sport

Friday, January 11, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cape Verde: Blue Sharks seek more preys EVEREST ONYEWUCHI SPORTS EDITOR

he Republic of Cape Verde Islands is made up of a cluster of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570kms off the coast of West Africa. It is a former Portuguese colony that earned Independence in 1975. Organised football kicked off in the archipelagian state in 1982 following the creation of its football federation – Federacao Caboverdiana de Futebol (FCF) – and its subsequent affiliation to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) respectively. Since its nationhood, Cape Verde has never participated in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but its senior men’s national team, Blue Sharks, announced their arrival for the 29th edition beginning in South Africa on January 19 in grand style, claiming the scalp of a giant on their flight to Johannesburg. In the first round of qualifiers, Cape Verde thrashed another African island nation, Madagascar 7-1 over two legs, with the first leg match played in Antananarivo ending 4-0 in favour of the visiting Sharks, who also won the return leg decided in Praia 3-1. Coach Lucio Antunes and his Sharks preyed on the Indomitable Lions in the second and final round of qualifiers, beating the four-time African champions 2-0 at home and went to Yaounde to cause the biggest upset of the decade

peak to the people who know Ryan Mendes da Graca’s game best, and they will tell you he has an awful lot going for him. “He’s a kid with some fantastic attributes, especially his pace and acceleration,” said Cedric Daury, his former coach at Le Havre. “Speed, power and technique: those are his strong points,” chipped in Francois Rodrigues, the man who brought him from his native Cape Verde Islands to Normandy. “I needed someone quick, who could give us depth, take defenders on and run at people with the ball, and he has all those qualities,” was the opinion of Rudi Garcia, his new coach at Lille, summing up the rich promise of the nippy 22-yearold forward. Given those attributes, it is no surprise that the youngster from the island of Fogo is enjoying a dramatic rise to prominence. In the space of three short years Mendes established himself as one of the classiest acts in France’s Ligue 2, his performances with Le Havre attracting the attention of the biggest teams in the land. Last year came his big break as he stepped up to the French first division and the UEFA Champions League with Lille, an exciting development that he discussed in an interview with FIFA. com. “Everything’s come about very quickly,” he said. “I started the year playing at places like Istres in front of a few hundred fans and ended it at Valencia’s Estadio Mestalla with several thousand

File copy of the line-up of the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde

when they lost 2-1 to effectively denied Cameroun the ticket and ensured that the Lions will not roar back-to-back in the AFCON. Blue Sharks are seeking more preys in South Africa, beginning with their opening match against the Bafana Bafana inside the Soccer City Stadium in Jo-

hannesburg on January 19th before taking on the Atlas Lions of Morocco and the Palancas Negras of Angola. Wednesday’s goalless draw they played with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a warm-up match at the Algarve Stadium in Faro, Portugal, is a further boost to their confidence to battle the best foot-

balling nations in the continent. The match was, however, not a full assessment of the capabilities of Ryan Mendes, the Lille of France forward, upon whose shoulders rest the hope of the half a million populace of Cape Verde to deliver the goals in South Africa.

We’re not under pressure – Mendes watching. It was a big change I can tell you, but it was just the thing I’ve been working so hard for. It’s a dream to be where I am right now.” Despite taking the fast track to the top, things have not always been easy for Mendes. The son of a painter, he scratched out a living with a brush in his hand before his footballing skills earned him a passage to Europe. “I was spotted when I was 18 in a tournament in the suburbs of Le Havre,” he said, taking up the story. “Quite a few clubs came in for me, Benfica among them, but it was Le Havre who won me over with their offer of a five-year contract. “My first few months in Europe were very difficult: the climate, the language and even the football were different. I’ve had a lot of help though, I’ve really stuck at it and I don’t have any regrets about anything. I’m where I want to be.” His move to Lille last summer was the fulfillment of a dream, and though he has struggled with injuries and his club is out of the Champions League and lieing a lowly eighth in Ligue 1, Mendes is smiling through it all. After scoring Lille’s final goal of 2012 and his second in the league in 12 appearances, Mendes has plenty to look forward to in the near future, starting with the upcoming CAF Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, where he will form part of the 23-man squad as Cape Verde Islands make their first ever ap-

pearance in the competition. Discussing that momentous occasion, he said, “Qualifying for the competition was a big event for my nation. I have

Mendes

never seen the country in such a state of excitement as it was after the game in Yaounde (where Cape Verde clinched qualification against Cameroun last October).” Despite the ecstasy triggered by that win, there is no question of the young Mendes getting ahead of himself before the big event, “We’re going with no pressure on our shoulders and we’re just happy to be there. We’ve already pulled off a shock by knocking out Cameroun, and we’re going to put everything we can into it and show the fans exactly what Cape Verde are capable of.” “Our group is a tough one,” he continued. “Angola, Morocco and South Africa are all big teams in Africa, and Bafana Bafana will be at home too. But you never can tell how things are going to work out. “That goes for the qualifiers for the World Cup in Brazil too. We lost our opening two games, but there’s no way we’re giving up. We’re still going to go for it because things can happen very fast in football.” FACTFILE: Population: 500, 585 Association: Federacao Caboverdiana de Futebol (FCF), created in 1982, affiliated to FIFA in 1986 and to CAF in 2000. Team: Blue Sharks Colours: Blue/white jersey, blue/red socks FIFA ranking: 69

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Friday, January 11, 2013

Wi Window on Nigerian players abroad

with IKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Eagles’ Nations Cup squad: Dike unfazed by omission

ortland Timberwolves striker Bright Dike says he has taken in good faith his exclusion from the Super Eagles squad for the 2013 Nations Cup finals. The stocky front man’s name was conspicuously missing from the 23-man squad released Wednesday night by Coach Stephen Keshi. The team will depart Faro, Portugal without Dike on January 16 for their Nations Cup Group C firat game against Burkina Faso in Nelspruit on January 19. Dike’s omission from the squad came as pleasant surprise tro millions of soccer fans across the country who expected the US-based striker to make the team. Dike caught the eye In only his second appearance for

the Nigeria selection last week against the Catalonia National Team, when the 25- year- old netted his first international goal. ‘’I’m very disappointed not to make the squad. Thanks for the opportunity and the new memories. A great experience that will make me a better player,’’ he said on his Twitter handle. Seven strikers - Ahmed Musa, Sunday Mba, Ejike Uzoenyi, Emmanuel Emenike, Ikechukwu Uche, Victor Moses and Brown Ideye - were picked ahead of Bright Dike. Speculation had been rife that Dynamo Kiev attacker Brown Ideye would be overlooked by coach Stephen Keshi in favour of Bright Dike.

Chris Obodo

Livorno, Dinamo Minsk chase Obodo

talian Serie B side Livorno is on the trail of the Nigeria international Christian Obodo, according to the local media in Italy. The Italian club, currently, one of the candidates for promotion to the Serie A, is lining up a possible move for the former Super Eagles midfielder as they eye a return to the Italian top flight next season. Following Obodo’s release by Lecce just before the start of the current season, he is now a free agent. His search for a club might come to an end in the

next few weeks. Livorno are not the only club interested in landing the former youth international, FC Dinamo Minsk, the most successful club in Belarus, are also interested in the former Plateau United ace. FC Dinamo Minsk are one of the biggest clubs in the land and have enough financial muscle to acquire enough players abroad. Obodo is one of the foreign players they have extended their dragnet to. The big snag in the Minsk interest is whether the Warri-

born star will agree to take his game to less illustrious Belarus having played his entire career so far in Italy. Obodo arrived in Italy in 2001, signing for Perugia. The 28 - year - old central midfielder has also played in Fiorentina, Torino, Udinese and Lecce. Having signed a five-year contract at Udinese in 2005, he also spent some part of the contract on loan at Torino and Lecce. He also attracted interests from clubs in the Middle East as well as a club in Georgia.

Oshaniwa confirms Celtic interest

igeria left back Juwon Oshaniwa has confirmed that there has been contact between officials of Scotland powerhouse Glasgow Celtic and MS Ashdod, Israel on a winter move. ‘There are still ongoing talks on the move for me to go to Scotland, once they are done, then everybody will have a clearer picture. ‘’It is God that has the final say, but they are already talking with my club president. It was because of my preparation with

the Eagles that did not allow me go to Scotland to do some of the things that I am required to do, but by God’s grace everything will work out well,’’ Oshaniwa told Brila FM. Celtic manager Neil Lennon had earlier signified his interest in bringing the former Sharks left back to Celtic Park and should both parties reach an agreement, the Ashdod star could be heading to Scotland to join Efe Ambrose. Oshaniwa only joined the foreign legion last summer when

he signed a contract with his Israeli club shortly after he played the 2013 National Cup final round, first leg qualifier game against Liberia in Monrovia in September. He would go on to establish himself in the first team of the title-chasing Israeli side, playing 14 games thus far before hitting the Faro, Portugal camp ahead of the Nations Cup finals in South Africa. The 22 - year - old star has contractual obligations with MS Ashdod until the summer of 2016.

Bright Dike (in front)

1860 Munich lead chase for Ogbu

ud-Heverlee Leuven attacker Derick Ogbu is reportedly the subject of interest from clubs in Germany, Turkey and Spain. The former Enugu Rangers youth - teamer recently extended his contract with his Belgium club for an additional season which keeps him in the Flemish Region until the summer of 2014. Top German soccer website Merkur-online.de reports the hierarchy at Bundesliga 2 club 1860 Munich has made contact with Ogbu and his entourage. And if discussions are fruitful, the 22 year - old forward would arrive The Lions on loan until the end of the 2012 - 2013 season. 1860 Munich will face competition from Real Valladolid and Bursaspor for the talented Ogbu, who is being touted as a striker for the future. Ogbu, who is spending his second season with the modest Belgian side since arriving from

Qatar, was courted by a horde of clubs following his impressive goal harvest last season but the Enugu-born star chose to remain with the club. He was on the verge of signing for PSV Eindhoven after impressing the management on a trial but work permit issue put paid to the dream move. He would sign for Leuven just before the summer transfer window ended and began his Euro career on a good note. He finished club’s top scorer with 10 goals in 23 appearances.

Derick Ogbu

WORLD RECORD

Largest harmonica ensemble

Vol. 03 No. 533

Friday, January 11, 2013

The largest harmonica ensemble involved 6,131 participants for an event organised by the Tom Lee Music Company Limited in Happy Valley Recreation Ground, Hong Kong, on 13 November 2009.

N150

Delta State’s pension bazaar for Ibori

ational absurdities and official impunity of the types even the blind may see have been strutting like a scarecrow across the nation. They are ‘wired into the DNA of Nigeria’s political culture’, as one writer friend once observed. Just last year, reports had it that the Presidency was on the move to strip any Nigerian bearing national honours, but ended up as a convict or being indicted for any criminal act, of such recognition. Indeed, it was claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan had given directives to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, to compile such names for necessary action. Even if the initiative was an attention seeking gimmick or mere grandstanding, especially when nothing more has been heard about the development again, the

FRIDAYS WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) fact that the report coincided with demands by three main opposition political parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), that the Jonathan administration should justify its commitment to fighting corruption by withdrawing honours conferred on convicted citizens, was an hilarious indication that the Federal Government recognized how immoral and dishonourable it is to allow common criminals to be parading themselves with such dignified national medals. For the same reason, perhaps, the House of Representatives passed a resolution on July 19, 2012, requesting that President Jonathan should withdraw the national honours bestowed on former bank MDs tried or convicted for their dubious roles that led to the crashing of many banks in 2009. For the Government of Delta State, however, criminals should not only be decorated with garlands of honour, they deserve generous pay from public coffers. This the Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan-led government demonstrated last December when it paid N50 million into the account of a former governor of the state, James Ibori, as pension entitlements and other benefits. More absurd, perhaps, has been the government’s attempt to defend

MAY BE WRONG WITH PAYING PENSION TO

IBORI’S DEPUTY,

EVERYTHING IS WRONG WITH EXTENDING SAME TO THE FORMER GOVERNOR the embarrassing payment to the former governor, who is currently serving a jail term in the United Kingdom for massive treasury looting during his tenure as governor (1999 – 2007). Chike Ogeah, the state’s information commissioner said the tenure of Ibori as governor of the state was not annulled by any court of law; and that there was no ‘iota of illegality’ in the payments made to both Ibori and his deputy. Worth pondering about, however, is what message the Uduaghan government had in mind. Is it that it is morally and legally permissible for a man who heartlessly looted state funds for personal aggrandizement and was caught and jailed to be rewarded handsomely; or that because the nation’s mockery of a judiciary woefully

Sport Extra

w eteran all-rounder, Elton Chigumbura, has been dropped from the provisional 34-man Zimbabwe cricket squad to tour the West Indies in February and March due to poor form. The gifted left-handed batsman made a return to

WHILE NOTHING

failed to bring Ibori to book, he ceases to be recognized as an ex-convict after completing his prison term because he was jailed in a foreign land? It is tragic, the way Delta State highlighted the fraud and double standard which the country’s leadership and criminal justice system are reputed for, in a country where ex-convicts are barred from holding any public office. A public officer found guilty of any criminal offence and sentenced to prison deserves dismissal and loss of all entitlements. That has been the position of the law. But the world is ridiculously being told by Delta State’s leadership that Ibori’s case is different. How else can a country be turned to a laughing stock, if a man that deserves prosecution and punishment in the country even after serving out his jail term in London, is being compensated with millions of naira “for the furnishing of his house and pension’ by the same government whose treasury he viciously looted while in office. Even if Uduaghan is Ibori’s cousin, as claimed; and he owes the former governor a debt of gratitude for bringing him to power, courtesy demands that the governor duly respects the integrity of the state and the sensibilities of Delta people in settling his ‘brother’. The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), among many other critics, was right when it said it was “preposterous on the part of the present crop of people in power in Delta State to have included Ibori in the pension payments”. Indeed, such a move will further encourage corruption among political office holders. And while nothing may be wrong with paying pension to Ibori’s deputy, everything is wrong with extending same to the former governor. The people of Delta State should be united in condemning Uduaghan and demanding a stop to the undeserving and disheartening bazaar.

Cricket: Chigumbura out of West Indies trip domestic cricket late last year after quitting the game after last year’s Cricket World Cup in protest over late and non-payment of match fees. Zimbabwe will play the

West Indies in three OneDay International matches, two Twenty20 Internationals and two Test matches during the tour which runs from February 20 to March 20 and the matches will be played in

Grenada, Antigua, Barbados and Dominica. The tour is expected to be head coach Alan Butcher’s final assignment with the national side before the Englishman’s contract expires.

It will also be the national team’s first full tour in over a year following the disastrous tour of New Zealand last year, where the hosts completed a clean-sweep across all three formats of the game.

Elton Chigumbura

Printed and Published by Global Media Mirror Ltd: Head Office: Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street, Lagos Tel: 07027107407, Abuja Office: NICON Insurance House, Second Floor, Central Business District Area, Abuja Tel: 08070428249, Advert hotline: 01-8446073, Email: mail@nationalmirroronline.net. Editor: SEYI FASUGBA. All correspondence to PMB 10001, Marina, Lagos. Printed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Ondo State. ISSN 0794-232X.