Friday, November 2, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Oil wells feud: Jonathan summons Amaechi, Kalabari elders

Election to cost $6bn ... most expensive in history

Kogi, Anambra, Enugu peace meeting holds Nov 29

resident Goodluck Jonathan may have summoned Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Kalabari monarchs to Abuja for a

ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

Vol. 2 N0. 483 • Mohammadu Buhari •Shettima Ali-Monguno •Bukar Abba Ibrahim

•Amb.Gaji Galtimari •Hajia Aisha Wakil •Alkali Wakil

•Abu Abdulazeez •Abu Abbas, •Sheikh Ibrahim Yusuf

•Sheikh Kontogora •Mamman Nur

SECT’S TEAM:

VENUE: Saudi Arabia

OMEIZA AJAYI AND INUSA NDAHI he leadership of Jama’atul Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, known as Boko Haram Islamic sect, has said that it

is now willing to dialogue with the government and end the insurgency that had resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives in northern Nigeria in the past three years The group, however, gave the Federal Government

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Govs’ Forum worried over aviation sector’s woes

N150

Boko Haram calls for truce ...wants to dialogue with Buhari, Monguno, others

FG welcomes offer, says it wants peace

L-R: Executive Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa; Managing Director, Poly Products Nigeria Plc, Mr. Nari Gwalani and Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA. Mr. Phillips Oduoza, during the bank’s customers’ forum in Lagos on Tuesday.

Abubakar

I got news of my victory in church

Chika Unigwe, winner, Nigeria Prize for Literature P.19

FRIDAY

Your

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P.7

Oduah

Five policemen bag 25 years each for armed robbery P.4

Presidential candidate arrested in pipeline protest

Friday, November 2, 2012

PROPOSED FG’S TEAM:

peace meeting over the contentious five oil wells with Bayelsa State. Amaechi, along with Kalabari monarchs and elders,

Flavour

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

IMF warns Nigeria on reckless spending CAC commences 24-hr company registration

Bakassi: Biya sends special delegation to Nigeria

P.2,39 P.5

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Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

IMF warns Nigeria on reckless spending TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he International Monetary Fund, IMF, yesterday cautioned Nigeria against reckless spending in view of the growing uncertainty in the global economic environment. IMF Senior Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Scott Rogers, gave the warning while presenting the World Economic Outlook in Abuja. He urged the Federal Government to take advantage of the current growth to strengthen her fiscal position by saving for the future through appropriate polices, “as there is no assurance of early global economic recovery.” Rogers said: “The global economic outlook remains uncertain. The global context has continued to witness slowing growth mostly marked in the advanced economies. “The US housing prices remain depressed and that nation’s week economy is impacting negatively on many other countries of the world because the US is an export destination of many countries of the world. The US economy is recovering but the recovery is still weak. “If the world economy remains weak, it will con-

tinue to affect countries of the world, especially those with strong ties with the US and the Euro area which could actually go into recession. According to him, “Export growth in Sub-Saharan Africa has remained weak due to the weakening economies of the advanced countries.” The IMF chief projected that the situation could be worse if by January, President Barack Obama failed to reach a deal with the Congress to raise the deficit ceiling. “That will mean raise in tax rates and cut in government expenditure across board which could further weaken the growth or even throw the economy into recession”, the IMF official said. Rogers noted that the Nigerian economy “stands the risk of being faced with lower crude oil prices due to weak global economy and that in view of this likely negative oil price trend, a high oil price benchmark for the 2013 budget as being proposed by the National Assembly could hurt the economy.” On the way out of the current challenges, Rogers said there was need for the nation to generate fiscal surplus while oil prices were high and use it to build the nation’s reserves,

rather than drawing down the Excess Crude Account to be spent. “Stop spending what is meant to be saved. Make the oil price rule effective,” he said. On the petroleum sector, the IMF chief said that about 80 per cent of petrol consumed in Benin Republic was being smuggled from Nigeria. He added that the smuggling, which had been on for over two decades, had continued to boom due to the high incentive of high profit on the sale of the commodity in that country and other neighbouring countries “because Nigeria’s petrol price is the low-

est in the region.” He attributed the noncompetitive pricing of petroleum products between the country and neighbouring countries in the West African sub-region to the fuel subsidy regime which Nigeria had been sustaining to her national disadvantage. The IMF boss said: “80 per cent of PMS consumed in Benin is from Nigeria. Nigeria’s oil price is the lowest in the region. This has been going on for many years and not a new phenomenon. It will continue. “As long as your prices are far below prices in other countries around you, you will always have prod-

ucts smuggling. Wouldn’t you like to have efficient refineries? Wouldn’t you like to see the queues go away and the funds spent on petroleum subsidy to be redeployed to other critical sectors? Wouldn’t you like to have better-funded educational sector? Wouldn’t you like a better health sector? Better transport system?” he asked. The nation’s external reserves rose to a 32 month high of $42.56bn this week due to tightening of leakages and a more prudent fiscal outlook but the Federal Government and states have had a running disagreement on how to

utilise increased earnings from strong oil prices in the past year. The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had proposed aggressive savings to prepare Nigeria for a possible downturn in the future, which had resulted in the creation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund but some state governors had insisted on sharing the funds to finance projects. There have also been concerns about Nigeria’ rising domestic debt which threatens become huge problem in the future while stifling access to credit by businesses.

L-R: Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers); Peter Obi (Anambra); Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Funmi Olayinka and Kogi State Governor Idris Wada at the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Boko Haram calls for truce, dialogue CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and Borno State conditions before the ceasefire could materialise. The spokesman of the group, Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez, who doubles as the second-in-command (Amir) to their leader, Imam Abubakar Shekarau, in a tele-conference with journalists in Maiduguri yesterday, listed the arrest and prosecution of the former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, as one of the peace terms. He also demanded that government compensates the group, rebuilds their places of worship destroyed during 2009 uprising, release all the arrested members and rehabilitate their wives and children who were displaced following the crises. Abdulazeez also listed some members of the

northern elite through which the proposed talks will be conducted. They include former Head of State and Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in the May 2011 poll, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; a former minister, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno; former Yobe State governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Ambassador Gaji Galtimari, Hajia Aisha Alkali Wakil and her husband, Alkali Wakil. He added that the dialogue must not take place in Nigeria but in Saudi Arabia “as the government of Nigeria is not sincere for dialogue due to its betrayal in the past.” Abu Abdulazeez also stressed that the group had mandated five members to mediate on behalf of the sect. They include himself (Abu

Mohammed Abdulazeez), Abu Abbas, Sheikh Ibrahim Yusuf, Sheikh Sani Kontogora and Mamman Nur. Abdulazeez, however, dissociated the group from the recent killings and destruction of properties in Maiduguri, stressing that the attacks were politically motivated by those seeking for power in the Borno Emirate Council or government. He also said that the burning of primary schools witnessed across the state was not masterminded by the sect and blamed aggrieved politicians who were denied contracts by the state government. The group has over the past few years engaed in a campaign of terror in northern Nigeria and has been responsible for scores of bombings and shootings targeted at security agents, churches, mosques, schools

and media houses. It was responsible for high profile attacks on the Nigerian Police Force headquarters and United Nations building in Abuja last year and bombings in military barracks in Abuja. Boko Haram has also been involved dozens of bombings of churches, mosques as well as assassinations and indiscriminate killings in Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna and other states. It had previously said it wanted to impose Islamic Shariah law in Nigeria and had asked President Goodluck Jonathan to convert to Islam. The Federal Government has welcomed the Boko Haram offer stressing that it was committed to promoting peace and the rule of law in Nigeria. The Special Adviser to the President, Media and Pub-

licity, Dr Reuben Abati, said yesterday in a statement that government was ready to listen to the grievances of the sect and see that justice was done there wrongs had been committed. Abati’s statement reads: “I have seen the story in which the Boko Haram is reportedly declaring a ceasefire and the opening of dialogue. I think it is important to restate the position of government in this matter. “The Federal Government is committed to peace and security for the benefit of all Nigerians. If what the proposed ceasefire is intended to achieve are the objectives of peace and security, then it is a welcome development. “Don’t forget that President Jonathan had made it clear that if the people behind Boko Haram are ready to come forward, and table

their grievances, then government will be willing to listen to those grievances. “There have been attempts before now, by concerned persons to reach out to the Boko Haram through back channels, in response to government’s call that all efforts should be made to resolve the problem. “I suspect that this latest development may be related to that. Definitely, government is determined to ensure peace, peace, and peace, and protect the rule of law, and at the same time, see that justice is done where wrongs have been committed.” Meanwhile, the police have faulted claims by international rights group, Amnesty International, in its 2012 report that security forces in the country are involved in the brutalisation CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Friday, Novermber 2, 2012

Good Health

Watching football is good for your health!

ant to stay in shape this week? Try watching a football match at least once a day! Believe it or not, the round leather game may have saved millions of people across the globe from untimely death and or ill health. One study actually found there was a reduction in numbers of emergency psychiatric admissions during and after World Cup finals. Now, experts say watching a game of football could help an individual escape the stresses and strains of life, thus promoting good health in the process. Football has also been identified as a form of entertainment people can resort to for comfort, social interaction, and a powerful weapon the body needs to resist diseases and life threatening conditions. In the conclusion of an extensive football research project involving more than 50 researchers from seven countries the team of researchers remarked: “Football is a pleasurable team sport that provides an all-round fitness and can be used as treatment for lifestyle-related diseases. Men worry less when playing football than when running. Women’s football creates we-stories and helps women stay active,” The researchers studied physiological, psychological and sociological aspects of recreational football and compared it with running. Led by Professors Peter Krustrup and Jens Bangsbo from the Department of Exercise and Sports Sciences, University of Copenhagen, the 3-year project covered several intervention studies involving both men, women and children, who were divided into football, running and control groups. The results from the studies were found to be so remarkable that the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports a special edition issue entitled “Football for Health” containing 14 scientific articles from the football project in April 2010. Says the study leader Prof. Krustrup: “Football is a very popular team sport that contains positive motivational and social factors that may facilitate compliance and contribute to the maintenance of a physically active lifestyle. The studies presented have demonstrated that football training for two-three hours per week causes significant cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal adaptations, independent on gender, age or lack of experience with football”. Indeed, a study reveals that watching football could be cathartic. It has been suggested that the atmosphere of a live football match is socially inclusive. Fans step into their team identity by wearing clothes and using language they would not usually use in their everyday lives. They can behave in ways that encourage ‘a cathartic release of tension’ through shouting, screaming, gesturing and chanting. Pent

NIGERIAN FOOTBALL FAN: Releasing tension?

up internalised feelings and intense emotion such as frustration annoyance or sadness can be vented in a socially acceptable way. Men can express and release internalised emotion that they don’t feel able to express in other ways. Experts also describe the promotion of strong relationship and bond through football as an excellent way of maintaining positive mental health. Football plays an important role in the formation and maintenance of social and familial relationships as over 90% of people who attend matches go with friends, family or colleagues. “Football might have an even more beneficial impact on mental health if more fans took to the field, as exercise is known to have a positive effect on our mental well-being.” The British Mental Health Foundation recommends. There’s however some words of caution from the experts: .Football only has a positive effect when it is kept in perspective. An over-reliance on or obsession with football can limit the development of other interests and have a negative impact on male/female relationships and may divert attention away from other family responsibilities. Also people with known heart conditions are advised to watch the game with some caution. For instance, there are studies showing that individuals who care about the outcome of a match are more likely to experience negative acute health consequences as a result of the stress associ-

ated with the experience of watching their team. Also, some experts believe that viewing a stressful soccer match more than doubles the risk of an acute cardiovascular event.”This disturbing conclusion was published in a study in 2008 based on data regarding 4,279 Bavarian medical emergency cases. The number, and character, of adverse cardiovascular events which occurred during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany were compared with those in a control period. Not only was there double the incidence of cardiac problems, but their time of onset starkly correlated with the beginning of the matches. “Our results show a strong and significant increase in the incidence of cardiovascular events (including the acute coronary syndrome and symptomatic cardiac arrhythmia), in a defined sample of the German population, in association with matches involving the German team during the FIFA World Cup held in Germany in 2006,” the researchers said. Although a similar study among the Italian population during three international football competitions: the World Cup 2002, the European Championship 2004 and the World Cup 2006 came up with a different result as the researchers found no significant cardiovascular effects among subjects, experts believe this aspect of the football game should not be totally ignored by passionate fans.

YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

Women whose first pregnancy was ectopic more at risk of future episodes

omen whose first pregnancy is ectopic are likely to have fewer children in the following 20-30 years than women whose first pregnancy ends in a delivery, miscarriage or abortion, according to results from a study of nearly 3,000 women in Denmark. In addition, these women have a fivefold increased risk of a subsequent ectopic pregnancy. The first study to look at long-term reproductive outcomes in women whose first pregnancy was ecto-

pic is published online today (Thursday) in Europe’s leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction [1]. Ectopic pregnancies are pregnancies where a fertilised egg implants somewhere other than the lining of the womb; often it’s in one of the Fallopian tubes. Approximately one per cent of pregnancies are ectopic, and they are never viable; often the eggs die, sometimes a drug called methotrexate is given so that the pregnancy tissue is

absorbed into the woman’s body, and sometimes surgery is needed. Although it is already known that a previous ectopic pregnancy can increase the risk of a subsequent one, most studies have been small and with short followup. “We found no controlled study assessing long-term reproductive prognosis in women whose first pregnancy is ectopic,” write the authors of the current study. The researchers collected data from four Danish registries covering the period

1977-2009. They found 2,917 women whose first pregnancy was ectopic between 1977-1982 and who, except for those who died or emigrated, were followed to the end of 2009 or for an average of 23 years. These women were matched with other women of the same age whose first pregnancy resulted in a delivery, miscarriage or abortion. They were also compared with a fourth group of women who had no recorded pregnancy in the year of matching.

PhotoNews

Friday, November 2, 2012

L-R: Medical Director of National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Dr. Sunday Adeoye; Director, Ministry of Health, Dr Bridget Okoegbule and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, during the launch and dissemination of the National Strategic Framework for elimination of obstetric fistula in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Deputy Programme Director for Africa, Amnesty International, Lucy Freeman (left), with the Secretary PHOTO: NAN General, Mr. Salil Shetty, addressing a news conference in Abuja, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi; Country Manager, South Africa Airways, Mrs. Thobi Duma and Group Chief Executive Officer, Standard Alliance Group, Olorogun Otegha Emerhor, at the 2012 Brunch Interactive session with stakeholders held in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Acting Director, Town Planning, FCDA, Mr. Hamzat Madaki; Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Council, Mr. Reuben Okoya and Chairman, Taskforce Committee on Real Estate Developers’ Association of Nigeria and Abuja Development Control, Mr. Azuka Biose, during an interactive forum between Real Estate Developers’ Association of PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA Nigeria and FCDA on ways to resolve demolition in FCT, held in Abuja, yesterday.

National News

Five policemen jailed 25 years each for armed robbery K AYODE KETEFE

n Ikeja High Court, presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole, yesterday sentenced four policemen and an accomplice to 25 years imprisonment each for robbery. The convicted persons are Bestman Dennar (52), Musa Mohammed (45), Peter Enidiok (53), Godwin Williams (44) and Emmanuel Ajogbor (48). The police had arraigned them on twocount charge of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery. The judge convicted them on each of the count and sentenced each of the five persons to 25 years imprisonment on each of the counts which amounts to 250 years in total. The judge, however, made the sentence to run concurrently with the implication that each convict would only spend 25 years behind the bar. Justice Oyewole also made the sentence to

start running from the date the convicts had been remanded in custody which is March 3, 2005. In his judgement, Justice Oyewole said: “I hold that sufficient facts exist beyond reasonable doubt upon which the court could infer conspiracy in the present circumstances and hold all the defendants guilty accordingly. “I, therefore, find each of the defendants guilty of conspiracy as charged in Count 1. “In conclusion, I hold in respect of Count 1 that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants are guilty of the offence of conspiracy to commit robbery contrary to Section 403 (A) of the Criminal Code. “I hereby convict each of them accordingly. “I further hold that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants are guilty of the offence of robbery simpliciter, contrary to Section 402 (1) of the Criminal Code and I

hereby convict them accordingly.” According to the prosecution, the convicts conspired to commit robbery on November 17, 2002 along Ijebu-Ode Expressway and Ikorodu, Lagos. The judge also de-

clared that he found that the fourth defendant, Williams, was although not physically at the crime scene, he was part of the planning, execution and disposal of the robbery proceeds. Degrading Williams,

Justice Oyewole said: “He had a common intention with the others who were physically present.” After listening to the defendants’ lawyers’ plea to temper justice with mercy, the judge said the fact that they

were policemen was an “aggravating factor” to impose the maximum penalty. He rejected the request that the sentence be mitigated as the defendants have been in prison for about 10 years.

Robust fuel supply likely as Warri Refinery resumes operations SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

opes of improved supply of petroleum products were re-kindled yesterday as the ailing Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) resumed operations. National Mirror learnt that WRPC resumed operations three months after it was shut down due to major faults at some of its strategic units. Flame rends the air from the plant yesterday, indicating that it was back on stream. This development excited the oil dealers at Warri Depot of the Pipelines and Products Marketing

Company (PPMC). The plant was shut in August following the collapse of major units, such as Fluid Catalystic Cracking (FCC), Reforming Unit (FC), Topping Unit (TU) and Power Plant (PP). It was gathered that some in-house engineers and contractors resuscitated the ailing plant. The efforts led to the restoration of the FCC unit, which is regarded as the heart of refining of operation. Findings by our correspondent revealed that the FCC came up on Tuesday, leading to production of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.

Further enquiries showed that other units came up in quick succession. The latest development raised the hopes of an end to fuel scarcity being experienced nationwide. The resumption of operation by WRPC is expected to mitigate the current acute shortage of petroleum products, especially in the areas serviced by the refinery plant. The new Managing Director of WRPC, Mr. Paul Obelley, could not be reached for comment yesterday. But reliable sources in the Public Affairs Department of the plant, who craved anonymity,

confirmed the report. The sources added that the plant had resumed production of petroleum products. The Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, Chief Akpos Edafevwotu, hailed the development, adding that it would assuage the sufferings of Nigerians, especially as Yelutide season was approaching. “We (oil dealers) are excited that WRPC is back on stream.It is a welcome development as it will help to deal with the prevailing shortage of petroleum products in the country,” Edafevwotu added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, November 2, 2012

Oil wells feud: Jonathan summons Amaechi, Kalabari elders CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

has alleged that there are plans to cede the oil wells to Bayelsa with the connivance of the Presidency. Sources close to the Presidency said the peace meeting might hold this weekend. Though the meeting is expected to calm the frail nerves of stakeholders, it was gathered that Jonathan was unhappy that his name was dragged into the issue. On Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement denied insinuations by the Kalabari National Forum and some monarchs that he was behind the border disputes. It described the allegations as irresponsible and most unfortunate, especially coming from people believed to be respectable in the society. The Presidency said it “considers these allegations irresponsible and most unfortunate, consid-

ering the status of the persons who reportedly championed the protest. “The statutory agencies being referred to by the protesters do not take orders from the President; they are independent bodies. Besides, there are laid down procedures for resolving inter-state boundary disputes.” In a related development, a reconciliatory meeting involving Kogi, Enugu and Anambra states has been fixed for November 29 and 30 in Lokoja, following the intervention of President Jonathan on the oil well dispute among the three states. Speaking with State House correspondents yesterday, Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, said the meeting, which would also be attended by officials of the National Boundary Commission and the boundary commissions of the three states, was to further discuss amicable settlement of the dispute. The governor said: “The

Federal Government has taken it as a serious matter. Mr. President conveyed a meeting of Kogi, Anambra and Enugu states and the matter is fully under control. “A lot of work has been done by the National Boundary Commission and Mr. President directed them to expedite the processes and a meeting has been scheduled to hold in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on November 29 and 30 precisely to address at the highest level of the National Boundary Commission and the boundary commissions of the three states to resolve the boundary issues and expedite action in concluding the matter.

“So areas of conflict have now been minimised. The three states are working in full conducive atmosphere and I am confident that the matter will be resolved,” Wada said. It will be recalled that President Jonathan inaugurated the first oil refinery being built by Orient Petroleum at Aguleri Otu in Anambra East Local Government Area and declared Anambra an oil producing state. But in a surprise move moments later, Wada said in a statement that Kogi would be a major stakeholder in the refinery, considering the fact that the oil wells that would supply crude to the refinery are in Odeke community in Ibaji

Local Government Area of the state. The governor is backed by a group called Ibaji Development Association, IDA, which says that the oil wells OPL 915 and 916 are located in Kogi and not in Anambra State as claimed by Orient Petroleum which is carrying out exploration in the area. In a message to President Jonathan, the IDA said: “The area where the current productive oil well is located is in Odeke community in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State and not in Anambra State. “Oil exploration activities, leading to the successful access to crude oil, were carried out in Kogi State

within Odeke, Echeno, Ehile, Anocha and Omabo communities by Orient Petroleum Plc. “Workers of this company actually rented houses in these communities as quarters for the final phase 1 of the testing of these wells,” the group said. The association called on the President to officially declare Kogi an oil producing state, saying: “Our nonresistant stance should not be misconstrued to mean cowardice, even in the face of glaring provocation from Anambra State whose communities are already head over heels fighting to corner the benefits of the oil wells that do not belong to them.”

Bakassi: Biya sends special delegation to Jonathan ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Paul Biya of Cameroun yesterday sent a special delegation to President Goodluck Jonathan over the ownership of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula. There have been reported cases of abuse of Nigerians living in the area since the International Court of Justice, ICJ, verdict, a situation which made the Federal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

and extra-judicial killing of suspects arrested in connection with activities of the Boko Haram sect. The police said that as a responsible law enforcement agency, they had begun “a comprehensive and critical study of the report with a view to establishing its veracity and relevance vis-àvis our contemporary security challenges and needs.” The police high command, however, said it would not hesitate to accept any honest and factual recommendations in the Amnesty’s report and initiate appropriate reforms where necessary. Deputy Force Public Re-

Government to consider appealing the judgement last month. But the government ruled out the option, saying that there were no new facts that could justify such appeal. The three-man delegation sent by Biya include the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmadu Ali, the Cameroonian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abbas Iya Ibrahima and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation, Jean Nguta.

L-R: Director, Centre for Infrastructure Policy Regulation and Advancement of the Pan-African University, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; Dean, Lagos Business School, Dr. Enase Okonedo and Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Mr. Mansur Ahmed, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CIPRA and ICRC in Lagos, yesterday.

Boko Haram calls for truce, dialogue

lations Officer, Frank Mba, said: “However, the force is deeply concerned over a key research methodology adopted by Amnesty International in compiling its report. “The fact that most of the sources of the content of the report are not named (and thus not open to confirmation or reconciliation) puts the authenticity, credibility and legitimacy of the report in question.” The Secretary-General, Amnesty International, Salil Shetty, had been quoted as saying: “One man explained to Amnesty International how his brother

was arrested by security forces. After several attempts to find him, he eventually saw his dead body at a police station. “There were (what looked like) cable marks on his body, bruises everywhere. The right side of his head was bruised. There was shock on his face. I can’t forget that. I haven’t made a complaint. I’m afraid. “The government of Nigeria must take effective action to protect the population against Boko Haram’s campaign of terror in northern and central Nigeria, but they must do so within the boundaries of the rule of law.

“Every injustice carried out in the name of security only fuels more terrorism, creating a vicious circle of murder and destruction”. The names of the witnesses were never mentioned and the police said the report could hardly be reliable. The report, titled “Nigeria: Trapped in the cycle of violence,” outlines the atrocities carried out by Boko Haram and the attendant human rights violations carried out by the security forces in response, including enforced disappearance, torture, extrajudicial executions, the torching of homes and detention without trial. “The cycle of attack

and counter-attack has been marked by unlawful violence on both sides, with devastating consequences for the human rights of those trapped in the middle,” Shetty added. Faulting the group’s research methodology, the police said they will “continue to do everything humanly possible to improve the capacity and efficiency of its service delivery, especially as it relates to the core responsibility of protecting lives and property. “In this regard, the force will at all times, reward excellent deeds by its men, while at the same time, holding accountable those

found wanting in the discharge of their statutory duties, bearing in mind that no organization, including Amnesty International, is perfect”, Mba stated. The report, which was released on Wednesday, also noted that “Nigerians now live in a climate of fear even as they are caught in the crossfire between government forces and the sect. “People are living in a climate of fear and insecurity, vulnerable to attack from Boko Haram and facing human rights violations at the hands of the very state security forces which should be protecting them,” Amnesty International said.

News

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ibori’s $15m bribe: I’m ready to face court –Clark

ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

ormer Minister of Information and foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday lashed out at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over its attempt to jail him for commenting on the $15 million bribe which former Delta State

Governor James Ibori allegedly offered the pioneer chairman of the commission to spare him from criminal trial. Clark said he would be glad to appear in court if summoned to expose the alleged dirty role played by the incumbent Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, in the bribery saga to the whole world, and demonstrate why he

is no longer fit to occupy his exalted position. He also took a swipe at the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), saying his decision to make oral application for his summon indicated that he had allowed himself to be used to stifle good conscience, freedom of speech and expression. Clark called on the Legal Practitioners Ethics’

and Privileges Committee, LPPC, to subject lawyers already conferred with the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, to periodic test on ethical conduct and other parameters. He spoke yesterday in Abuja while reacting to an application before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to summon him to explain reasons for com-

menting on the matter. Justice Gabriel Kolawole had earlier struck out the request on the grounds that Clark was not a party in the matter before him and that EFCC had not brought formal application seeking to join him in the case. But Clark said he was ready to appear in court if EFCC dared to summon him formally before

the court, saying it would be an interesting moment for Nigerians to know more about some dirty deals taking place under the leadership of the antigraft agency. He said: “We cannot keep quiet while Rome is burning. EFCC’s failed attempt against his person was a ploy to stifle good conscience, freedom of speech and expression.”

Fast track Social Housing Bill passage, FG urges NASS OMEIZA AJAYI AND JOEL AJAYI

L-R, Justice Bola Babalakin (rtd); his son, Dr. Wale Babalakin and Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the occasion, Justice Miriam Aloma Mukhtar, at the the 4th Annual Justice Bola Babalakin Public Lecture, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association, in Osogbo, yesterday.

EFCC arrests 12 suspected land racketeers OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested 12 suspected land racketeers operating around the Abuja Geographical Information Service, AGIS. The suspects were apprehended by a combination of the forces of a Special Task Force, comprising Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, and Counter-Terrorism/General Investigation, CTGI. The EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement in Abuja yesterday that the arrest followed intelligence reports on the operations of the suspected racketeers in Abuja which had led to the fleecing of unsuspecting Nigerians of their hard earned money. According to the EFCC,

four of the suspects were found with suspected fake land title documents and were being held for further explanation on their culpability or otherwise in a series of land scams which had been going on in the Federal Capital Territory. The Head of SCUML, Angela Nworgu, said the arrest would be a continuous exercise until shady land dealers were sent away from Abuja and its environs. She warned that all those who specialised in obtaining money under false pretence from unsuspecting Nigerians with a promise of offering nonexistent land, should desist from it as the EFCC was ready to cleanse the system of illegal land transactions. The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, had sometime in May condemned fraudulent dealings in land acquisition in

the FCT. Lamorde, who was speaking at the public presentation of a United Nations Development Programme, UNDP-sponsored report; “Systems Study on the Federal Capital Territory Land Administration and Documentary on Grassroots Involvement with Budget Process in Abuja,” had said: “For some of us in the law en-

forcement regime in this country, if there are areas that have become interesting to visit and where fraud is being perpetuated, it is land administration in the FCT. It is in the FCT that people brandish supposed originals of Certificate of Occupancy of plots of land and other people still come and contest it with the original certificate.”

he Federal Government yesterday appealed to the National Assembly to prioritise deliberations on the passage of the Social Housing Bill to help government’s efforts aimed at providing affordable housing for all Nigerians, particularly the rural dwellers. The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, made the appeal during the third Annual National Social Housing seminar in Abuja with the theme; “Social housing: The business opportunities beyond shelter.” She said the passage of the bill would fast track the execution of the social housing units, with initial target of about 5,000 affordable housing units. In addition to the houses, the minister disclosed that the project would create over 50,000 job opportunities as parts of its plan for rural and urban development. Pepple explained that the Federal Government’s primary responsibility was to support, facilitate, promote and drive the social hous-

ing programme that would raise the standard of living of ordinary Nigerian. She said: “Shelter has remained one of human basic needs since the inception of the human race. Globally, we are also faced with the challenge of providing social housing needs that are affordable to the common man.” Pepple, however, noted that the increasing number of people coming into the territory on a daily basis had put pressure not only on the housing facilities but also on other infrastructure and service delivery. She explained that about 89 contractors had been selected to handle the project through contractor financing, stressing that a new policy had been designed for all the estates built by supplying an external light either by generating the light from waste or using solar light for environment to be constantly neat. In a good will message, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Anthony Uzodinobi, said about 530 one-bedroom housing units had commenced.

JAMB introduces computer-based test for 2013 UTME IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

oint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, yesterday launched the Computer Based Test, CBT, for 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME. Launching the CBT in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, said the in-

troduction of CBT would help to eliminate all forms of examination malpractices up to 100 per cent. Rufa’i disclosed that the CBT would help to ensure prompt delivery of raw scores, eliminate all cases of incomplete result as well as reduce result blackout. She said: “It will be to the best interest of our students in the country because this is a system

whereby a student will press a button and see his or her score after examination and we are targeting transforming the education sector between now and 2015 and part of the effort is to look into the quality and access to education.” The minister disclosed that to cover all students given the limited infrastructure, the examination would now be con-

ducted for 17 days across the country. Rufa’i also said that the students had two options to choose from in case of those that might not be computer literate. The options include “Paper Pencil Test, PPT, and Dual (Computer & Paper) Based Test, DBT. With the new system in place, Nigeria would by 2015 switch fully to CBT, the minister disclosed.

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News

Friday, November 2, 2012

Alleged N4.5bn pension scam: Trial of suspects suffers setback ISE-OLUWA IGE

he trial of the former Director of Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Sani Teidi Shaibu and nine others accused of embezzling N4.56 billion belonging to pensioners was yesterday stalled. The trial high court judge, Justice Adamu Bello, adjourned the matter till next year following the absence of one of the principal accused persons, Mrs. Chidi Phina, in court. Phina was said to have taken ill after the assets of the accused persons were

confiscated on the order of the court and temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government. The accused is presently receiving medical attention at the National Hospital, Abuja even though the nature of her ailment was unknown. But her counsel brought a document from the hospital to establish the claim that Phina was ill. Prosecuting counsel, Emmanuel Egbuagwu, from Godwin Obla’s chambers did not oppose the application for adjournment, saying the trial would not proceed in the absence of any of the accused persons.

The judge had consequently fixed January 16, 2013 as return date, hoping that Mrs. Phina would have been fit to stand her trial. National Mirror reports that EFCC had earlier rearraigned Shaibu and nine others alongside 30 companies before the court on an amended 24-count charge over a N4.56 billion pension scam. This was after the EFCC sought leave of the court to withdraw the earlier charge and replace it with a new 24-count charge which included names of companies used to perpetrate the fraud; a request which was granted. The charge was, howev-

er, read to the accused and they all pleaded not guilty. Other accused persons apart from Shaibu and Phina are Aliyu Bello Garba, Abdullahi Tahir, Emmanuel Olanipekun, and Abdullahi Omeiza. Others are: Computer Plaza and Essential Gadget Ventures; Mobis Point Investment Ltd; Obista Enterprises; Shallow Well Ventures; Mof Investment Ltd; Zumba Resources; Pam Investment and Properties Ltd; Moshfad Enterprises; Newgate Projects Ltd; RedWings Energy Ltd; RedWing Procurement Services Ltd and Woodland Industries Nigeria Ltd.

Tension in Ekiti as govt agents sack regent from palace ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

ew hours after the Ekiti State government announced the appointment of Chief Mrs. Comfort Dayo Idowu as the regent of Ilasa-Ekiti in the Ekiti East Council area on Wednesday, state government agents launched an attack on the Nigerian Ambassador to Republic of Congo, Princess Jolaade Onipede. The state government had, on Wednesday, said it did not recognise Onipede, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and serving diplomat, who was installed regent of the community on Tuesday. Onipede told journalists on phone yesterday that the government agents, brandishing guns and other weapons, invad-

ed the palace, ransacked the place and removed eight crowns, other royal insignias, desecrated the palace and also beat up her police orderly. The envoy, who was installed regent on Tuesday after the demise of her father, the late Alasa of Ilasa-Ekiti, Oba Abel Ajibola, was ejected from the palace by the agents, who she said, ransacked the palace, even the Oloris’ rooms in a bid to install the government-appointed regent against the wish of the people. The embattled regent, who said it was the prerogative of the kingmakers and not the state government to appoint the regent, wondered why the government that ought to ensure security and protect lives and property was the one causing the breach of law and order.

Uneasy calm as ban on Okada operation takes effect in Delta SOLA ADEBAYO AND AMOUR UDEMUDE

U L-R: Chairman, Lagos State Law Reform Commission, Mr. Olasupo Shasore; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaiye; Registrar, Lagos State Judiciary, Mr. Ganiyu Safari and Executive Secretary, LAWRECOM, Mrs. Ade Adeyemo, during a law reform stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, recently.

Governors’ Forum worried over aviation sector’s woes OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

ollowing the unfortunate air mishap involving Taraba State Governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had said that there was a need to adopt a holistic approach to arrest the dwindling state of the country’s aviation sector. In a communiqué issued at the end of the forum’s meeting yesterday in Abuja, the governors resolved to engage stakeholders at the national level to address the challenges in that sector. The communiqué, which was read by the forum’s Chairman, Governor Rotimi Chibuike

Amaechi of Rivers State, said that; “Upon a comprehensive discussion on the present state of the aviation industry, members of the forum observed that there is a need for a holistic approach to arrest the dwindling state of the aviation sector.” The forum expressed concern over the aircraft accident involving Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba and some of his aides last Thursday and prayed for his speedy recovery. The governor, who piloted the aircraft, is presently receiving treatment in Germany while his aides are being treated at the National Hospital in Abuja. The forum also expressed regret over the

recent acts of violence in Borno and Kaduna States and mandated its security committee to find a lasting solution to the menace. It will be recalled that the forum at its meeting of October 18, among other committees, constituted a committee to organise a security conference. Members of the committee include; Governors of Benue (Chairman), Edo, Kaduna, Ekiti, Borno and Abia States. The forum commended the on-going efforts of members to eradicated polio from their states. It expressed its commitment to pursue integrated interventions to eradicate the polio scourge from the country by December 2013, instead of the initial 2015

deadline. The forum congratulated Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State over his victory at the just concluded state governorship election.

neasy calm reigned in major cities in Delta State yesterday as the law banning the operation of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada, took effect in the state. Most residents expressed displeasure over the development, particularly when adequate remedial measures had not been put in place to cushion the effect of the law. Findings by our correspondent revealed that motorcyclists disappeared from the roads and streets of the major cities of the state in the early hours of yesterday apparently in

compliance with the government directive. Policemen and officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) patrolled the streets of major cities ostensibly to ensure compliance with the law and maintain peace. However, skeletal protests by aggrieved operators were reported in some parts of the state, especially in Asaba, the state capital. Few recalcitrant operators were apprehended by the police in some parts of the state. State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who confirmed the arrest of some operators at a media briefing in Asaba, said they would be prosecuted for flouting the law.

Protest rocks Abuja over SURE-P appointments OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

rotest yesterday rocked Abuja over the appointment of chairmen for Subsidy Reinvestment and Employment Programme (SURE-P) implementation committee in seven states. The affected states are Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Bauchi, Osun and Ondo. The protesters, numbering over 500 carried placards with various

inscriptions and accused the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, of complexities that resulted in alleged dropping of original appointees to head the committee in the affected states. Some of the inscriptions read, “SURE-P not for sale;” “SURE-P is for youths and women; Anyim leave us alone;” “Anyim is a sell out;” “Anyim reinstate Abia-Imo-Eb-

onyi-Enugu-Bauchi,OsunOndo;” “The good intention of Mr. President cannot be hijacked by an individual.” They marched from the headquarters of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) through the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to Lagos House area. Policemen took control during the demonstration to ensure it was not hijacked by hoodlums to foment trouble.

South West

Friday, November 2, 2012

Doctors decry rot at Ogun teaching hospital FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

octors at the Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Shagamu, Ogun State, yesterday called on Governor Ibikunle Amosun to intervene in the lingering crisis rocking the hospital. The doctors, under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (ARD), OOUTH chapter, specifically want the governor to order the withdrawal of the queries issued to each of them. They also want the backlog of their salary arrears paid to them. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Shagamu, President of ARD, OOUTH chapter, Peter Abikoye accused Amosun’s administration of non-chalance to the problems which, he claimed, had been confronting the hospital since the governor assumed office 17 months ago. The doctors lamented that in spite of several correspondences and meetings held between their leadership and officials of the state Ministry of Health where they complained of collapsed infrastructure and de-accreditation of some medical courses at the teach-

•Seek Amosun’s intervention

ing hospital, the governor has refused to address their demands. Part of the problems, which the doctors said they want the governor to address, includes payment of their 17 and 13 months’ salary arrears as well as the inauguration of the board of management and substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD). The doctors also lamented that caring for patients with the use of lantern and telephone or torch light at night was unbecoming of

a teaching hospital as they have had to carry out surgical operations in darkness when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) seizes light. Abikoye said many patients whose lives depend largely on electricity to power the live support oxygen at the hospital have died as a result of perpetual darkness. They also said that patients’ conditions had always been aggravated in the process of having to refer them to private hospitals

for simple laboratory diagnosis. Stressing that it would be a disservice to the state as well as their profession, the doctors, warned that failure to withdraw the queries earlier issued to them would aggravate the lingering crisis at the hospital. At the time of filling this report, all efforts to get the state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, as well as the Permanent Secretary, Tunde Olowonyo, to comment on the matter were unsuccessful as the two of them would not pick their calls.

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N10.9bn theft: FinBank directors didn’t pay for shares allotted them –Witness FRANCIS FAMOROTI

n Ikeja High Court heard yesterday that none of the embattled Directors of FinBank Plc standing trial for alleged theft of N10.9 billion paid for about two billions units of shares allotted them while in office. Testifying at the resumed hearing of the trial, a witness, Mr. Anafi Buba Mohammed, told Justice Lateefat Okunnu that the directors did not also obtain loans to purchase the shares.

L-R: Vice-Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, and wife of the Speaker, Mrs. Mayowa Ikuforiji; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Princess Teni Aofiyebi; Mrs. Margaret Ajaja; Chairperson, and First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola and her husband, Governor Babatunde Fashola, during the closing ceremony of the three-day 12th annual national conference of COWLSO in Lagos, yesterday.

Mohammed, a law enforcement officer in the Compliance and Enforcement Department of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), spoke under cross-examination by a defence counsel, Mr. O.A Ogunlesi. He gave the testimony at the trial of the former executive directors of FinBank Plc, who included Okey Nwosu and Dayo Famoroti. The other defendants were Danjuma Ocholi and Agnes Ebubedike. The witness had on Wednesday told the court that the duo and other directors of the bank manipulated and converted the bank’s shares through some companies floated by the then management. But yesterday, Mohammed was cross-examined by Ogunlesi, counsel to the third defendant, Ocholi and the fourth defendant, Mrs. Agnes Ebubedike, the 4th defendant. The witness, who was brought at the instance of the EFCC, told the court that the funds misappropriated by the directors for the purchase of shares were customers’ money. He said: “There was no board approval for the shares that were allotted to the directors.’’

Governors, service chiefs move Fashola, Aregbesola want discrimination against women stopped rassment and abuse of wom- conference to confront the search by the World Bank in to tackle piracy, sea robbery M A en in the country, saying the challenge so as to mitigate 2000 revealed that societies URITALA

MURITALA AYINLA

overnors are planning to meet with service chiefs on how to address incidence of piracy, sea robbery, poaching and other problems militating against fish production. Addressing journalists yesterday ahead of the maiden edition of the Lagos State Seafood Festival scheduled for November 10 at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, decried the increasing activities of pirates and sea robbers along the country’s territorial waters and high seas. He noted that their activities had necessitated the planned meeting between the coastal states’ governors and service chiefs.

Lawal, who was joined by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Yakubu Bashorun at the press conference, said governors of Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Lagos, Ondo and Rivers state among others “are to meet the service chiefs soonest on the security challenges on our waters”. Lawal said:”The governors along the country’s coastline are already working together to put an end to piracy, fish poaching and sea robbery. “Governor Babatunde Fashola had already met the naval strategists at the Western Naval Command on how to fight illegal activities on the state waters and beyond. “But it is not just an issue of Lagos State and Nigeria. It equally involves countries along the Gulf of Guinea. Asians come to our waters to fish illegally.

YINLA

overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and his Lagos State counterpart, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday advocated better treatment of women, saying unjustifiable discrimination and exploitation of women must be tackled to enable them play their leadership roles in the country. They specifically frowned at rising cases of sexual ha-

ugly development had taken the form of modern slavery which must be nipped in the bud. The governors spoke at the closing ceremony of the 12th National Women Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Reacting to the rising violence against women in Nigeria, Governor Fashola urged participants at the three-day

the risks that women face. He commended the organisation of for creating avenue for women to brainstorm on the challenges confronting them. The governor advised the participants to pursue their careers in the service of their community without fear of molestation and exploitation. Aregbesola attributed some of the problems bedevilling Nigeria on gender inequalities, saying that re-

with large, persistent gender inequalities pay the price of more poverty, malnutrition illness, and other deprivation. He, therefore, advocated more participation of women in the policy formation and implementation process, noting that the spectacular activities of COWLSO were unmistakable examples of what women could do if given the chance.

expressed confidence that the former President would, through his “wide network of contacts across the Commonwealth, ensure that the Trust generates the resources required to fund legacy projects in the name of Queen Elizabeth.” Wishing the former President success in his new endeavour, Jonathan

said he considered the appointment not only a personal honour to Obasanjo, but also to Nigeria as a country. Obasanjo and other Representatives of the Jubilee Trust are expected to provide information about the Trust to citizens and promote awareness of its work. The Diamond Jubilee is a unique moment in the histo-

ry of the Commonwealth to come together to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s remarkable 60-year contribution to the Commonwealth and member states. With the help of governments and citizens across the Commonwealth, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust is to help create a lasting tribute to the Queen.

Jonathan hails OBJ’s appointment as Queen’s representative ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his appointment as the Country Representative for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Trust. Jonathan, in a congratulatory letter to Obasanjo,

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South West

Friday, November 2, 2012

Rights’ group condemns agitation for more states OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he National Coordinator of the Rights’ Monitoring Group (RMG), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, has castigated those clamouring for the creation of more states in the country, saying it has a selfish undertone. Speaking with airport correspondents yesterday at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, Aduwo said most of the country’s 36 states are not viable and that the creation of more states would further plunge the country into poverty. He said without the monthly allocation given

to the states by the Federal Government, most of them could not stand on their own. He accused some the state governors of laziness as they could not device a mean of improving their states economically. He said rather than the Federal Government giving funds to the states on a monthly basis, there should be fiscal federalism in which each state caters for its development and gives some percentage of its revenues to the centre monthly. His words: “I think those clamouring for the creation of more states are doing it for selfish reasons. Most of the states today in Nigeria are not viable; a governor confided in me and said that more than 30 states borrow

every month to pay salaries. We have less than eight states including Lagos State that are working and selfdependent. “Every month, other states will come to Abuja and queue. I call it Almajiri economy, you just come and queue and collect money. This was not the way late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and late Nnamdi Azikiwe built their regions, we should have fiscal federalism that you produce and develop and you pay to the federal. That is the way it is being done in America, even in Ghana. “Go to Kebbi State, you will cry, you will wonder whether it was supposed to be a state. Most of the people advocating for the creation

Amosun assures of more dividends of governance FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

gun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has assured the people of the state that the policy thrust of his administration will be to continue to create an environment that is suitable for private sector participation in the economy of the state. The governor gave the assurance yesterday during a town hall meeting held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, to sensitise and accommodate the views of the stakeholders on the 2013 budget proposal for the state. Amosun, who said that the era whereby budgetary proposals do not impact positively on the lives

and development of the citizenry was over, also stressed that efforts would be concentrated at consolidating on the attendant gains of the 2012 budget. He noted that his administration has within the last 17 months, recorded substantive improvement in the areas of education, infrastructure, security and the social life of the people. “You will agree with me that since May 29, 2011, we have remained focused, committed, undaunted and sincere to the cause of bringing the impact of good governance to the citizenry. I wish to reiterate and assure our people that for our administration, we have just started.” The governor said his administration has

mapped out strategies and originated policies aimed at unleashing the untapped potentials of the state as part of efforts at ensuring sustainable development. While noting that elected officers are trustees of the people’s will, Governor Amosun declared that the state under him had departed from the “shrouded secrecy in which government hitherto operated as government is all about the people.” He said the 2013 budget will serve as an instrument for promoting growth and development of the state with proper linkage to all the stakeholders, whose relationship with his administration has greatly impacted on the overall development of the state.

Ekiti, Dutch firm sign MoU on cassava

kiti State government and the Dutch Agricultural Development and Trading Company (DADTCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a cassava processing plant in the state. Signing the MoU in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the partnership will see to the establishment of one of the biggest cassava processing plants in Nigeria, even as DADT-

CO is renowned for the best on and off farm cassava processing technologies in the world. The governor said several Amorphous Mobile Processing Units (AMPUs) and a central cassava processing factory will be established to process cassava into cake and high quality cassava flour for consumption within and outside the country. The MoU was signed at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office and was witnessed by the Royal

Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bert Ronhaar, the CEO, DADTCO, Mr. Peter Bolt and other senior officials of the company and members of the Ekiti State executive council. While asserting that the proposed factory would guarantee a better market for local cassava production in Ekiti State, Governor Fayemi said the partnership will establish 5, 000 hectares of buffer cassava farm and support out-grower farmers’ scheme across the state.

of more states, if they are sincere, they should even merge some of them and the so called local governments, we should scrap some of them because that is another waste. If we cannot scrap them, they should not collect allocations anymore.” The RMG coordinator said the local people do not feel the impact of the local governments in their domain and called for their scrapping by the Federal Government, adding that most state governments had usurped the functions of the local governments in their states. “How close are these local governments to the people? Let me tell you something, some four years ago, staff of Ikeja Local Government went on strike for a month and we conducted a one-month opinion poll for people living in Ikeja. The people didn’t know the im-

Stakeholders hail Lagos’ N64.3bn expenditure on education MURITALA AYINLA

embers of the Eko Boys’ High School Old Boys Association (EBHSOBA) yesterday commended the Lagos State government for increasing its expenditure on education in the state. The state had proposed to spend N64.343 billion, about 12.9 percent of the total N497.277 billion budget on education for the 2013 fiscal year. Speaking while receiving the report of the Centenary Committee for the centennial anniversary of the school, President of the association, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), lauded the state government for the geometrical increase in the number of secondary schools in the state. When compared to the fifties when he was a secondary school student in Lagos. Chief Sofola said “the administration of Governor Fashola has

Politics 2012: Battle for South-West hots up PDP should put its house in order and lead a worthwhile struggle against all the identifiable problems in the party. –Ebenezer Babatope, PDP chieftain. No one race or political contest is worth damaging our democracy. We would rather lose the race and gain democracy than win the race and lose democracy in the process. –Bisi Akande, national chairman ACN. Our leaders in ACN must show that they have learnt from that terrible experience and retrace their steps. –Kayode Soyinka, ACN chieftain in Ogun State.

done well for education in the state.” Also, he lauded the free education policy of the state and the distribution of free textbooks in key subjects, saying it represents the greatest opportunity for many indigent students to advance in life. Chairman of the committee, Navy Captain Rasheed Raji (rtd), said the activities lined up for the celebration include a press briefing, laying of the foundation of a new school block at the new site of the school at Abijo, Lekki; Jumat prayer, a visit to His Royal Majesty, Oba Abiodun Idowu Oniru of Iruland. Other programmes slated for the celebration include a prize-giving day, a public lecture entitled: “Private Participation in Education in Nigeria, Past, Present and Future, Lagos State as a case study, a novelty match, thanksgiving service and dinner/fund raising ceremony.

Celebrity From Ego O Omalicha ma to Safarie Why I changed my name

Saturday Starter

Blood on our highways Twenty dead on Abeokuta-Shagamu expressway, 18 on Shagamu-Ore expressway, 29 dead and 19 injured on Potiskum- Kano Road, another 16 on Okene- Benin road. The grim toll from literally avoidable road accidents goes on and on. When will the carnage cease?...What will stop the needless deaths?

Living Horror tales from Kaduna You have heard about the most recent bombing in Kaduna in which eight people died. But you have not heard the gut-wrenching anguish of the scared and scarred survivors. Saturday Mirror takes you all the way into what is left of their lives ...and into their nightmares

x SeTalk Sex with the kids around: What are the rules?

South East

Friday, November 2, 2012

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Biafra declaration: MASSOB abducts, releases BZM leaders DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

our members of the Biafra Zionist Movement, BZM, allegedly abducted by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, were freed yesterday. The MASSOB spokesman, Uchenna Madu, told our correspondent on phone that the four people, including the BZM leader, Benjamin Onwuka, had been released. BZM is a pro-Biafran group that announced its plan to re-declare the Re-

public of Biafra in Enugu on November 5. Onwuka and three others were allegedly abducted yesterday by members of the Ralph Uwazuruike-led MASSOB. BZM had earlier alleged threats from Uwazuruike since it announced the date to re-declare Biafra Republic. Madu, however, said that Uwazuruike ordered their release, saying he did not want trouble. The three other members of BZM allegedly abducted include the group’s National Chairman, Samuel Edeson, National Sec-

retary, Nweke O. Nweke, and Chukwuma Orienta, a member from Onitsha. Earlier when Uwazuruike did not pick his calls or respond to text message, Madu had confirmed that the BZM leaders were in their custody but explained that members of MASSOB in Enugu State only “summoned” them for questioning regarding their plan for November 5. He said: “Our men did not abduct the BZM leaders; rather we invited them to a meeting to find out why they want to re-

declare Biafra after it had been declared many years ago. “We want to reason with them about what they planned for Monday. We are in support of Biafra but what they (BZM) are doing amounts to making caricature of the Biafran struggle, which we must stop because the security operatives are disturbing our members, thinking that MASSOB is behind the move.” Madu denied allegations by BZM members that the Federal Government was

using Uwazuruike against their campaign for the actualisation of Biafra, saying there was no pact between the government and the MASSOB leader. He said: “We are only guarding Biafra jealously to avoid a situation whereby one man will wake up one morning to say I am declaring Biafra, which is unacceptable.” However, the BZM Director of Mobilisation, Cornelius Anyanwu, said that the suspected MASSOB abductors stormed the residences of their vic-

tims in the morning, forced them into their cars and took them to an unknown place. He said that one of the BZM leaders called on phone to alert others that they were being driven to Uwazuruike’s Okwe home in Imo State. He noted that the abduction of the group’s leaders was part of MASSOB’s plot to abort the planned re-declaration of Biafra on Monday, which, he said, had generated a lot of interest among Ndigbo both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Enugu Assembly passes motion for Adada State creation DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

nugu State House of Assembly yesterday passed a motion for the creation of Adada State from the present Enugu State. Moving the motion on the floor of the House, the Leader of the House, Hon. Udeh-Okoye, representing Agwu North consistency, said the House Motion 14/2012 was for the legislature to resolve to support and be committed towards the creation of Adada State. He noted that it was the desire of the people of old Nsukka Division, made up of seven local governments namely: Igbo-Etiti, Igbo-Eze North, Nsukka, Udenu, UzoUwani, Isi-Uzo and Igbo-Eze South to be given a state. Udeh-Okoye added that the agitation dated back to 1981 which, according to him, is the longest quest for state creation nationwide.

He disclosed that the request for the creation of Adada State was first forwarded to the National Assembly on March 2, 1983 through the late Senator Isiaiah Ani, who represented Nsukka Senatorial zone in the Senate from 1979 to 1983. Reeling out particulars of the proposed state, UdehOkoye disclosed that the name of the proposed state, Adada, was derived from a river in Uzo-Uwani Local Government. He said the capital of the proposed state would be Nsukka, which had been the main administrative headquarters of the area since 1921, hosting the pioneer university of Nigeria. According to him, the land mass of the proposed state is approximately 3293.74 sq km, while human population is approximately 2.17 million as per the 1991 population projected data from the National Population Commission, NPC.

Reps member promises N3bn dam in Anambra CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

he lawmaker representing Awka South and North constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwogbo, has promised to build a N3 billion dam at the Ezu River, Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State. He said the project, which would be part of his constituency projects, was designed to boost agricul-

ture and encourage farmers in the constituency. Nwogbo, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grad Alliance, APGA, made the promise during the accountability forum held in Awka with key stakeholders from the town. The deputy chairman of the House Committee on Justice said irrigation facilities from the dam would help the indigenes and boost the rehabilitation of some flood disaster victims in the area.

Abia State Governor Theodore Orji and his wife, Mercy, after receiving the Icon of democracy award in Enugu, recently.

Poor representation: CD seeks South-East legislators’ recall CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

he Campaign for Democracy, CD, South-East Region,

has lambasted the SouthEast legislators in the National Assembly for their poor representation especially in matters affecting the region.

Orji promises better, quality healthcare delivery

GEORGE OPARA ABIA

overnor Theodore Orji of Abia State has promised to stop at nothing in making the state the envy of all by providing excellent healthcare services and facilities. The governor said in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue, that his administration was building more health centres in addition to the existing 240 health facilities in the state. Orji said his target was to ensure that every community in the state would boast of more than one fully equipped health centres. He promised to take

healthcare services to the doorsteps of all Abia State citizens. The governor added that the establishment of two diagnostic centres in the state was in response to the constant overseas trips by the people for medical attention. According to him, Nigerians now need not to travel abroad as those centres are serving such purposes. Orji assured that the dialysis and eye centres being built by the government in Umuahia would soon be ready in addition to the children specialist hospital and doctors’ quarters at Amachara, Umuahia which were under construction.

In a statement, the Chairman, South-East Region, CD, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, described the South-East as the worst zone affected by infrastructural decay, bad roads and gully erosion in all most Trunk ‘A’ roads. He frowned at the lacklustre attitude of the lawmakers from the zone, adding that because of their poor representation in the hollow chambers they could not impress on the Federal Government to fix dilapidated roads within the zone. Uzor said CD was giving the lawmakers 30 days to cause action to be taken on the failed roads and the bridges. He said: “Without which a mass protest would be organised against them within the five states in the region.’’ Uzor also said CD would begin a protest for the constituencies to recall the lawmakers. He said: “We are calling for their recall; most

of them have preformed abysmally and the zone is no longer comfortable with their non-performing representation. “The gully erosion has sub-merged buildings, industries and threatened public installations, while the bad and death trap roads have affected business and industrial activities within the zone. “Many lives have been lost; while goods worth billions of naira destroyed in the course of failure or somersault of heavy-duty trucks conveying them. “The federal roads are O n i t s h a - Aw k a - E n u g u Road; Ihiala-Orlu-Mbano Road; Enugu-Port Harcourt and Owerri-AbaPort Harcourt.’’ Uzor also urged the legislators to pursue the case for the building of the Second Niger Bridge, saying that: “It is not enough for the approval for the feasibility study to be given.”

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South South

Friday, November 2, 2012

Gunmen kill two policemen in Bayelsa STORIES: EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

ome suspected gunmen yesterday ambushed and killed two policemen and injured another cop at Agbura village, near Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

The attack by the gunmen generated fears as residents of the rustic community scampered for safety. Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the gunmen, who drove a black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), ambushed the policemen on routine patrol

and opened fire on them. The policemen, whose identities were not disclosed, were said to be responding to a distress call when the gunmen attacked them. The bodies of the slain policemen - an Inspector and a Corporal - have been

deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa The injured cop is currently receiving treatment at same hospital. When contacted, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kingsley Omire, confirmed the

incident, saying that the slain policemen were responding to a distress call at Agbura when the gunmen killed them. Omire said the police, however, arrested two suspected armed robbers who are terrorizing some parts of the state.

Oil wells: Monarch tasks FG over boundary demarcation

he paramount ruler of Oluasiri in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, King Iyeritei Awululu, yesterday appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the boundary demarcation in the disputed oil wells in Soku. Soku is between Bayelsa and Rivers states. Awululu, who spoke yesterday in an interview with journalists in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said the appeal became imperative to avert possible bloodshed between the two states. The monarch denied a claim by the Kalabari National Forum that the Bayelsa State Government was planning to annex five oil rich communities in Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State. Awululu said the Soku Gas Plant currently in contention was in Oluasiri’s territory in Nembe Local Government and not in Kalabiri land as being claimed by the Rivers State people. He said: “Oluasiri is the 13th ward in Nembe Local Government Area and has boundary with Odual, Abua and AkukuToru. The Soku Gas Plant is at the centre of Oluasiri land. The place is far from Soku and it is a minimum of 22 minutes drive on the fastest speed boat.” According to him, the instrument that created the Nembe District Council in the then Eastern Region was in 1955/56, while the instrument that created Kalabari District was in 1960/61. The monarch said: “If you look at the instrument creating the Kalabari District Council in the then Eastern Region, you will not see ElemSangama in it, but you will see Oru Sangama.”

L-R: Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan; General Manager, Bronze FM, (F.R.C.N.) Benin-City, Mr. Pius Osennegie and Director General, Mr. Yusuf Nuhu, during a visit to the governor in Asaba, on Tuesday.

Kidnapped expatriate oil workers regain freedom

captivity. “Despite difficult conditions while in captivity, they all appeared to be in good health. No information will be given about the demands or the context of the release,” the statement stated. The firm added that the victims were undergoing medical checks in the country and would return home to reunite with their families in the next few days. The company said the JTF and other se-

curity agencies worked towards the freedom of the hostages. Lt-Col. Nwachukwu said soldiers were involved in securing the release of the seven expatriates. He said: “Of course, JTF operatives were involved by combing the nooks and crannies of the Niger Delta to ensure that the victims were released unhurt. But we will not comment on ransom or any operational details.”

even expatriate oil workers abducted by gunmen about three weeks ago along the Pennington River, near Ezetu, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, regained their freedom yesterday. The oil workers, six Russians and one Estonia, who are employees of a French firm, Bourbon International Oil Company, were kidnapped on October 15, 2012. Investigation by National Mirror revealed

that the company may have negotiated with the gunmen and parted with ransom to secure the freedom of the expatriates. Spokesman of the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF), Lt-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the release of the foreigners, but said no ransom was paid. In a statement issued yesterday, Bourbon International Oil Company said the victims were in good health despite the difficulties faced while in

Flood: ERA raises fear over food crisis

he Project Officer of Environmental Rights Action (ERA) in Bayelsa State, Mr. Alagoa Morris, yesterday expressed fear that Nigeria would experience food crisis because of the magnitude of the flood that destroyed acres of farmlands across the country. Morris decried the Federal Government’s position which allayed the fear of food crisis, saying many farmlands were submerged leading to the loss of crops, livestock and fisheries, stressing that the flood was catastrophic and unfortunate. Speaking with National Mirror yesterday in a tele-

phone interview, he said: “Many farms were completely submerged. The flood was catastrophic and unfortunate. For the period of this traumatic experience, livelihood was lost as people who solely depended on their fishing and farming will only try to go back to till the soil and either stock their ponds, poultries or back to fishing in the more polluted swamps, creeks and rivers. “The flood spread a lot of pollutants and toxic matters in the environments. That is why the water is stinking seri-

ously. “The flood victims, especially farmers will only return to sow and wait in hunger for several months before expecting to harvest their yields. “Considering the Ni-

gerian factor where corruption and politics characterizes everything, our political leaders will only say all is well and that they are taking care of the people, but nothing is done.”

NLNG launches post-graduate scholarship scheme CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

he Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has started an overseas post-graduate scholarship scheme aimed at supporting the emergence of indigenous experts. According to Sienne Allwell-Brown, General Manager, External Relations of the company, the programme, which will start next year, will support 10 students with scholarships to pursue post-graduate studies in Geosciences, Environmental Studies, Information Technology, Management Sciences, Engineering, Law and Medicine in the United Kingdom. Allwell-Brown, who spoke at the media event to launch the programme in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, added the organisation had decided to partner with the British Council in order to achieve its objective of fairness and independence. She said: “To achieve our purpose for post-graduate scholarship scheme and also ensure fairness and independence, we decided to leverage on the experience and expertise of a reputable education service provider by partnering with the British Council, an internationally recognised service provider in the area of scholarship management and partnership brokerage.” Allwell-Brown lamented that despite the huge attention and resources the education sector had received, with regard to quality of education, there was still a wide gap between Nigeria and the rest of the world. “And while other gaps exists, for example in job creation, integration of training with our needs, sustainable management of natural resources and especially empowerment of our youths; it is a fact that these other gaps cannot be eliminated without addressing education,” she said.

‘Akpabio’s deputy’s resignation unfortunate’ TONY ANICHEBE UYO

ormer Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State in Governor Godswill Akpabio’s first term, Mr. Patrick Akpan Ekpotu, has reacted to the resignation of his succes-

sor, Mr. Nsima Udo Ekere. Ekpotu described Ekere’s resignation as “unfortunate.” Ekere, 46, estate consultant and industrialist, resigned on October 31, 2012. Reacting to Ekere’s resignation, Ekpotu asked: “Why should he resign? I

thought he knew how well to be a deputy governor.” Asked what his relationship was with Ekere, Ekpotu said: “I had no business with such people. I knew all that he did to undermine me so that he would become a deputy governor.”

North

Friday, November 2, 2012

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Gunmen kill police corporal, seven others in Plateau JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

unmen on Wednesday night attacked Sopp village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State killing two people. National Mirror learnt that the killing occurred less than 24 hours after three other people, including a policeman were killed at Jwol village in the same local government area by yet to be identified gunmen. The three were said to be travelling in a vehicle

when gunmen attacked them while the driver of the car escaped. “It is true that a policeman was killed by the gunmen. A police corporal, two others were shot dead in Gol village when the vehicle in which they were travelling was attacked.” Spokesman for the Plateau State police command, Abu Emmanuel, told National Mirror yesterday in Jos. The name of the slain policeman was given as Istifanus Samaila. In the Sopp attack, villagers said the gunmen

stormed their domain around 9.00 pm and shot at their victims. “After shooting the two people, the gunmen battered one of the victims’ head, identified as a security man,” an eyewitness told National Mirror yesterday. Since the incident, villagers have continued to express concern over the safety of their lives calling on security agents to halt the trend. Also, two men coming from Ganawuri Market were found dead with bullet wounds close to their village at Jebu

near Sopp in Riyom Council Area. Also yesterday, the villagers reported another body of a woman found around the market. A member representing Riyom constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Dem, who confirmed the attacks to National Mirror, condemned the killings by the gunmen. He said; “Just yesterday night, we received a report that gunmen had killed two people in Sopp village. We are still shocked about the killing of three

Competition enhances combat readiness –Army Instructor

Chief Instructor at the Nigerian Army Education Corps, Col. Charles Bossman, has said that regular competition among officers and men of the Nigerian Army would enhance their combat readiness. Bossman said this on Wednesday while speaking with journalists on the coming Nigerian Army Education Corps’ inter-division map reading competition.

The chief instructor, who is in charge of publicity for the six-day competition between November 5 and 10, 2012 said it was part of military training for officers and men for combat readiness. He also said the competition that would hold in Ilorin and Idofian, would also enhance the ‘espritde-corps’ and promote team work among officers and men of the army.

Bossman said the map reading competition would involve officers and men of the Nigerian Army Education Corps from all divisions in the country and the headquarters. The colonel said about 70 officers and men are expected to take part in the competition. According to him, the six-day competition would cover such areas as how to navigate in the

night and use of compass to find directions. Bossman hinted that the state governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika, are expected at the opening. Also expected at the competition are 2 Division GOC, Maj. Gen. Abubakar and Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps, Maj. Gen. L. M. K. Banjiram.

other people, including a policeman the previous day when the information

came. All should rise up to stop these killings before it degenerates.”

LG poll: Benue govt accused of bias in selection of electoral body HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Benue State and second republic Minister for Communications, Chief Isaac Shaahu, has said that the November 24, local councils’ poll may not be free from manipulation from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Chief Shaahu, reacting to the declaration of the Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Philips Ahire, and his ability to conduct a free and credible election, doubted if assurances in that regard would come to fruition. The former minister, speaking in an interview with National Mirror yesterday in Makurdi, said the entire electoral body

consists of allegedly cardcarrying members of the ruling party and as such no free and fair election was expected from the officials. He decried a situation whereby the opposition parties would be anticipating a level playing ground, whereas the whole process from the onset has been compromised by the appointees who are stalwarts of the ruling party in the state. He called on opposition parties that have indicated desire to participate in the process to be vigilant so as to give the PDP a good fight during the poll slated for November 24 this month. The ACN chieftain also said members of the party should ensure that their votes counted, urging them to as well protect their votes and ensure no one steals their mandate during the exercise.

Terrorism: Police solicit support from Kano residents AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

he Kano State police command yesterday restated its appeal to members of the public to join hands with security agents in the state to restore peace. The police urged the citizenry to join hands with security operatives in the war against terrorism and other criminal activities. State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said the support and cooperation of the public will has-

ten the return of peace in the commercial city, pointing out that all the security agencies are asking from the civilian population in Kano is useful information that will assist them carry out their assignment of protecting their lives and property effectively. The police boss, who spoke with our correspondent in an interview, said useful information is vital if the ongoing war to rid the state of terrorists’ activities must succeed. “We in the security sec-

tion are not magicians; we need information to function properly, especially in this circumstance that is why we keep appealing to the people for support.” He noted that the challenges of securing the state are enormous, pointing out that prayers by the people have been helpful equally as seen in the relative peace the state is enjoying. “We are working hard to ensure the return of total peace in the state, and by our collective hard work, and special grace of God we shall succeed.”

PDP’ll sustain growth through fair play, says Kure PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

ormer Governor of Niger State, Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure, yesterday said that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country will maintain steady growth and win the confidence of the people through equity and fair play in its actions. The former governor said once justice and fair play are lacking in any

set up, there is likelihood that the trust the people have in such organisation could diminish to its detriment. He said this during an interactive meeting with PDP executive members from 1999 to 2007, drawn from the 25 council areas of the state in Minna, led by former state party Chairman, Alhaji Umar Farouk. Kure said when party members are not upright in their dealings; they cannot attract followers

into the party, while also urging leaders against comparing themselves to God through the needless use of power on the people. The former governor recalled how during his tenure as governor, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) won one seat out of the 25 local government areas and how some people insisted that the party must go to court and use its power to forcedly win the poll, but he refused.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Oyo First Lady in the eye of storm

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Politics

CPC-led govt is impoverishing Nasarawa citizens – Iliya

Lawmaker flays Ajimobi on constitution review panel KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he Minority Leader in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adekunle Rafiu, has accused the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, of usurping the responsibility of the state lawmakers on the review of the 1999 constitution. He said this yesterday in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, the state capital. Stating that rather than allow the state House of Assembly to handle the processes of the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution, Rafiu accused Ajimobi of constituting a panel without informing the House. He said: “We are only hearing it on radio that there is going to be a public hearing on constitutional review by the panel constituted by the executive

led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi. .It is known that the major responsibility of National Assembly and State House of Assembly is to make laws and if need arise to amend some parts as the case may be ‘’. ‘’But to my surprise and dismay, the panel on public hearing on constitution review in the state has no input from Oyo state House of Assembly, this single attitude from the executive in the state can be described as ‘’usurp of responsibility’’. I want to bring it to the notice of the general public that review of constitution or making of law is sole responsibility of National Assembly at the federal level while it is House of Assembly at the state level and not the executive,’’ he stated. Rafiu maintained that for the constitution review to be meaningful and in line with what Nigerians and the people of the state

are really yearning for, it ought to be carried out through due process. His words: “It is well known that for a long time during this present political dispensation that people from all sorts of human endeavour such as politics, judiciary, human rights group economy, health and others have been clamouring for the review of the 1999 constitution’’.

The Minority leader pointed out that there are other areas in the constitution that requires special attention particularly the issue of complete autonomy for local governments in the country considering the fact that ‘’a more strengthened local government system would certainly require more resources and total autonomy to discharge its responsibilities.

“To have effective and efficient local government administration, there is the need for local government reforms that will not abolish or decrease the powers and responsibilities of the local councils. The continued existence of local councils as enshrined in the 1979 constitution needs to be maintained’’, he added. Speaking on the failure of the Ajimobi-led admin-

istration to conduct local government election in the state, he said that ‘‘there is no provision for caretaker committee for local governments in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but if the case arises, it must be for a minimum period of time and it is more than a year now that we are operating caretaker committees for local councils in the state.”

CNPP faults Jonathan on cabinet reshuffle FELIX NWANERI

he Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has faulted Wednesday’s minor cabinet reshuffle by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it does not in any way reflect the expectations of Nigerians. The group was reacting to the explanation offered by the President’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati that the reshufflement which saw two ministers swap portfolios was “meant to strengthen the sectors, raise the level of performance and meet the expectations of Nigerians.” The reshuffle saw the Minister of State for Power, Darius Ishaku, swapping position with the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Hajia Zainab Kuchi. In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP said: “The minor

cabinet dislocation does not in any way strengthen any sector, raise any performance level or reflect the expectations of Nigerians.” The conference noted that what it has always rooted for, is a major cabinet reshuffle which will see the dropping of corrupt, ineffective and incompetent ministers and aides and their replacement with efficient and industrious Nigerians. The group further said that despite claims by government to sustain the anti-corruption fight, “graft is still endemic among government functionaries, examples being the case of the ministers of Niger Delta and Petroleum Resources, Elder Godsday Orubebe and Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, both alleged by the Anti-Corruption Network and the Ribadu-panel report on corruption in the oil industry, to be absolutely corrupt.”

L-R: Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Al-Makura, during the good governance tour of the state yesterday.

Mimiko tasked on inclusive government

Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State, Chief Chris Ojomo has called on Governor Olusegun Mimiko to reach out to other political parties by forming an inclusive government when sworn in next year. Ojomo, a former senatorial candidate of the PDP noted that a broad-based

government which spreads across political parties will assist the governor to solve the myriads of developmental problems facing the state. “At this period in the history of Ondo State, Governor Mimiko should be a team player, draw everybody together, irrespective of their political affiliations, so that they can work

with him in the interest of the state,” Ojomo said. He further said that Ondo is a large state with its peculiar developmental problems, noting that “a number of political leaders within various political affiliations can make meaningful contribution to the development of the state and they should not be ignored.” Another indigene of the

George returns from UK, assures on Lagos PDP OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

ormer National Vice Chairman (SouthWest) and Deputy National Chairan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George returned from the United Kingdom on Tuesday, aboard a British Airways Flight which land-

ed at exactly 6 pm. The arrival of the Lagos PDP leader, who had been away from the country for nearly three months, has now put a lie to the rumours making the rounds that he was bedridden. George was welcomed back to the country by a mammoth crowd of PDP members and supporters, which included the entire

members of the Lagos State PDP executive council. Speaking to the crowd of PDP members who thronged the airport to welcome him, George expressed delight and happiness at the sea of heads that came to welcome him home, expressing the belief that the PDP in Lagos State is getting its groove back.

state, Olusola Tokunbo, said the beyond jubilations and celebration of electoral victory, the governor should tackle infrastructural development across all the 18 local government in the state, and pay attention to amenities particularly in Arogbo and riverine areas of the state. Tokunbo also tasked the governor on youth development and women empowerment “to reduce unemployment and poverty level, pursue social welfare schemes for the aged, pursue rapid industrial development through public private partnership initiative, including the revival of state-owned moribund industries. Such industries, he said include the Cocoa Processing Industry and Ile Oluji, Oluwa Glass Okitipupa.

Politics

Friday, November 2, 2012

KEMI OLAITAN writes on the recent rumoured arrest of Oyo State First Lady, Mrs Florence Ajimobi by London Police authorities for money laundering, which the state government says is the handiwork of members of the opposition political parties.

or political office holders in the country and their families, one thing most of them dread often is getting unfavourable publicity which can have far reaching implications on their respective political careers. It cannot but mean that uneasy then lies the head that wears the crown, and this was to be the lot of the wife of the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Florence, last Tuesday when the rumour of her purported arrest spread like a wild fire around the nooks and crannies of the country, no thanks to a publication by a Lagos-based evening newspaper and an online publication. Mrs. Ajimobi’s rumoured arrest was a major topic for discussion across Oyo State, especially in Ibadan, the state capital, with most residents raising doubt about the authenticity of the report, while others expressed mixed reactions over the source of the story. The online publication and the Lagos based evening newspaper in their stories, reported that Mrs. Ajimobi jumped into the net of London Police authorities for allegedly been in possession of foreign currencies (British pounds and United States dollars), totaling N500 million about two weeks ago with her husband, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, standing surety for her. The publications further reported that Mrs Ajimobi was arrested during her 52nd trip outside Nigeria in the last 17 months that her husband became the chief executive of the Pacesetter State. According to them, “the governor’s wife was held for a few days in London before she telephoned her husband who immediately flew out to the United Kingdom to save his wife and his administration from the embarrassment that the arrest could cause. The governor had to stand surety for his wife before she was temporarily released the weekend of her arrest.” They further reported: “To ensure that the news does not get to the public domain, Governor Ajimobi had to lie that he was travelling to Taiwan for “an emergency business trip”, and headed for London to stand surety for his wife. Met Police authorities accept the surety-ship of a sitting high profile government official in cases of money laundering without which Mrs Ajimobi would have been declared wanted and Interpol sent after her.” However, some hours after the story started flying in public domain, the mixed feelings about its authenticity became more heightened with the Oyo State government slamming a N1 billion libel suit on the newspaper and the on-line publication, respectively, for publishing a story which the evening tabloid captioned, “Anxiety over Florence Ajimobi’s alleged arrest in UK.” The Oyo State government, in a statement made available to journalists by the Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on

Ajimobi

Oyo First Lady in the eye of storm Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, while debunking the story, explained that the state government has the responsibility to ensure that the media does not become an instrument in the hands of blackmailers. It said: “We want to state unequivocally that this report is not only wicked, it is the figment of the imagination of the writers. Mrs. Ajimobi was never arrested for any offence whatsoever. Even though our investigations have shown that this is the work of some arrowheads of the opposition, it was done in such an amateurish way that beats the imagination of any responsible reader.” The government, while wasting little or no time in tracing the source of the story to the handiwork of opposition mischief making politicians in the state, who are hell bent in making use of all available means including the media to play their dirty politics, lamented that in as much as ‘’it had a lot of respect for the media, there was the need to drag the runners of these media to court to explain the details of their reports to the rest of the world.’’ The state government condemned ‘’dirty politicking by the opposition in the state who use the media for the propagation of their falsehood, and that the courts would be able to compel those behind this wicked lie to provide details of the veracity or otherwise of their claims on the governor’s wife.” While newspapers in the country had a field day the following day feasting on the denial of arrest of Mrs. Ajimobi as she spoke with some newsmen on telephone from London the Oyo State First Lady was to put a lie to her purported arrest by the London Metropolitan Police with her arrival aboard a Virgin Atlantic Airways on Wednesday. She told journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja that “I am here live as you can see; I have never had any encounter with the London Metro-

IT IS THE PRICE I HAVE TO PAY AS THE WIFE OF A POLITICIAN, IN

PARTICULAR IN OYO

STATE, WHERE THERE IS RECORD OF DIRTY POLITICS. I DO NOT

HAVE ANY BLEMISH IN MY WARDROBE, AND I AM NEVER GOING TO HAVE ANY politan Police and I know I will never have.’’ She added: “I only traveled last Sunday to London to accompany my child, who returned to secondary school. I have a 14year old daughter who has been in England since 2007 and every parent who has children over there knows the system; she is still in secondary school; and you have to go and pick them up from school; there are no exemptions that they are international students, you cannot say because my husband is a politician, because I am married to a politician, I should shelve my responsibility as a mother; I have to manage my home, take care of my children and play the role of a good mother, a responsible mother, a committed mother in addition to my responsibilities as wife of a politician.” She enjoined journalists to be careful in their reporting so as not to be used as tools to destroy people because of politics. She said: “It is just a rumour, but I think the time has come for us in Nigeria to stop playing dirty politics. We should be very objective when we are giving information, in particular, members of the press. “We should verify the information we

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are giving, and I just want to use this medium to say that the ultimate measure of any man or woman, is where you stand in times of conflict, challenges and controversy and not in times of comfort. I stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ; all other grounds are sinking sand. It is a phase which will pass over; this is because I am more than a conqueror. It is the price I have to pay as the wife of a politician, in particular in Oyo State, where there is record of dirty politics. I do not have any blemish in my wardrobe, and I am never going to have any.” While berating those behind her purported arrest and the need for them to turn a new leaf, Mrs. Ajimobi added: “For me, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. If they (the architects of the rumour) have the fear of God, they will stop being mischievous; they should think before they act; they should have the fear of God as well, in their mind, because at the end of the day, there is a judgment day, and all us will be accountable for our actions. “I don’t begrudge them, but I just know they have God to contend with, because if you want to destroy my image, the reputation I have kept and maintained for over 32 years, I have kept that name, and for anybody to come at this moment to tarnish that name, they will have God to contend with and I know that they will pay for it.’’ And not yet done in proving that she has no skeleton in her cupboard and will always do things that will bring glory to the Pacesetter State, Mrs. Ajimobi, while speaking with journalists during the distribution of gift items to patients of cancer related ailments around 4.30pm the same day at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, declared that the rumour of her purported arrest by the Metropolitan Police has toughened her and made her to understand human beings more. According to her, she was not surprised at the capacity of people to peddle such damaging rumour, as part of the renowned dirty politics of Oyo State. Her words: “The true test of any human being is ability to stand firm in times of crisis and controversy, it is just rumour, it was also alleged that I had travelled out of this country for 52 times; that sounds very ridiculous to me; it means I don’t even live in Nigeria. My international passport is there for the record, I can give my passport to you to photocopy and verify and return to me. “The rumour is not going to stop me; it has only made me to be stronger and be more careful. Indeed, I see it as a price I have to pay for being the wife of a politician. If people want to play dirty politics, let them continue. My prayer is that God will touch their heart so that together, we can take Oyo State to an enviable height.’’ But while the citizens of the state and indeed all Nigerians wait to see where the unfolding drama of the purported arrest of Mrs. Ajimobi will end, the question that will certainly agitate the minds of political observers especially the admirers of the present administration in Oyo State is what exactly are those the state’s first lady chose to tag “opposition playing dirty politics’’ in the state up to by peddling such a rumour against a woman, who is not a politician. For these opposition politicians, time will surely tell whether they are out to distract the husband, Governor Ajimobi; or score cheap political point or launch the woman into the murky waters of Oyo State politics that is characterised by the pull him or her down syndrome.

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Politics

Friday, November 2, 2012

CPC-led govt is impoverishing Nasarawa citizens – Iliya Chief Yunana Iliya is the Nasarawa State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with IGBAWASE UKUMBA, he speaks on Nasarawa at 16, challenges confronting the state in the recent times and other political issues. Excerpts: Nasarawa State is now 16 years old. How far will you assess the journey? What is called Nasarawa State today is part of Plateau State which then was Lower Plateau. The Lower Plateau was a region that was turned into abyss. It was a region that was relegated to the background as there was no government presence, leading to the people’s continued clamour for development which God eventually granted them on October 1, 1996. Two military governors ruled the state during the transition to civil rule. Senator Abdullahi Adamu was elected the first executive governor of the state and he ruled for eight years. He strived during his regime to lay a strong foundation with the hope that every other thing would be built on it. Aliyu Akwe Doma succeeded Adamu and continued from where he stopped. This ensured some catch up in the areas of education, infrastructure, and water provision. We are now owners of certain things hence we are not depending on any part of the country again. Nasarawa State was then growing, but today, the state has been thrown back to the abyss. What we have today is one step forward, hundred steps backward. The PDP is an opposition party in Nasarawa State, how prepared is it for the forthcoming local government election? Our party, the PDP, is a party to beat, even at the moment. Our party has been on ground since 1998 and we have built structures over the years, starting from the unit to the wards and from the wards to the local governments and to the state level. Today, despite the so called defeat of the party at the last governorship election in the state, we are still pulling crowds in the state and we are not undaunted. The Nasarawa PDP is not a push over. Despite the fact that there was a change of government in the state, what we have witnessed in the last two years is increased followership, more commitment and loyalty coming to our party. By the grace of God, we are putting all machineries in place to ensure that, as we always do, we win the election at the local government level. The party’s executive in the state has just rounded off a reconciliatory tour. We have also set up a committee to reconcile our members, who felt dissatisfied with the general elections of 2011 and the party’s congress in the state and the result have been commendable. Several agrieved members have returned to the PDP fold. The woes of Nasarawa State are today being blamed on the PDP which ruled the state for 12 years. How would you react to this? For any right thinking person to blame the present woes of the state on the PDP is absolutely outrageous. The economy of Nasarawa State was booming until a clique who called themselves ‘the government’ invaded and staged a palace coup. It came as an alternative regime to the PDP whose regime, brought happiness and affluence to everyone in the state, as we could see development everywhere then. But today, the sudden economic crisis is being blamed on the PDP, on what grounds are they blaming the party? The monthly subvention that the state now receives from federal allocation is higher than what it used to receive during the PDP regime. I want to tell you that within this year

are aware of the roads Akwe Doma constructed from Gitata - Karu; Toto - Umaisha; Nasarawa Eggon - Mada station, Gudi Junction - Rinze, what about Doma - Agbashi road? What do you think informed Al-Makura to use chattered helicopter to tour parts of the state? It is simply because Nasarawa State’s money is there for anybody to come and lavish. This is somebody who said he is going to rescue the people of Nasarawa State. Is that the change that was yearned for? So, why would they blame the woes inflicted by the CPC maladministration on the PDP? We are talking about empowerment of our people. The PDP came and saw the nature of our people and said they should go to school and they went to school and were later empowered only for somebody to come and sack the children from their jobs. Over 8,000 people were sacked in the civil service while another 7,000 have been pencilled down for sack in the state primary education system. Anybody who did not thank God for what He has done for him, will always be thrown into this kind of commotion, and that is what Nasarawa State is in for at the moment.

Iliya

alone, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)-ledgovernment has collected from the federation account what Aliyu Akwe didn’t collect in four years. So, what is the basis of comparison between the Akwe Doma administration and that of the CPC? Those blaming the PDP should have drawn a line to indicate where Adamu stopped; where Akwe Doma started. Today, people who have no experience, no technical knowhow, people who only know how to siphon the resources of people of Nasarawa State, people who only know how to steal money from the coffers of Nasarawa State are coming to say Akwe Doma did not do anything. If the five kilometres of road that is done in Lafia is called work, and if Lafia is the only place called Nasarawa State, then it is unfortunate that the people of Nasarawa State have a government in the CPC, because I want to believe that Lafia is one among the 13 local government areas we have in the state. Akwe Doma left a mark in Lafia town. He was the first person to construct township roads with streetlights in Lafia and he equally compensated those people whose houses were affected. The roads are there for everybody to see. Some are arguing that the streetlights are no longer functioning. I wonder if somebody who has electricity light in his house for five years with a single bulb will still be functioning. So, anything about functionality is service. It then means that all the streetlights we have in the town need service to function. You have not done the service and expect the lights that were commissioned five years ago to still be functioning today as it was. We

SALARIES ARE NOT EVEN PREPARED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCAL

GOVERNMENT AREAS, BUT IN THE OFFICE OF THE STATE

HEAD OF SERVICE AND THEN TAKEN TO THEM FOR PAYMENT

How would you compare the performances of the CPCled local government Transitional Management Committees with those set up during the PDP administration in the state? There is nothing to compare. The Transitional Management Committees (TMC) set up during the PDP administration to oversee the affairs of governance in the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State were project oriented managers. You could even see an administrator of a development area embarking on a project up to N80 million. Today, after payment of salaries, an administrator cannot award a N10,000 project to buy broom to sweep the surroundings of the secretariat. The TMCs are just there sitting down; salaries are not even prepared in their respective local government areas, but in the office of the state Head of Service and then taken to them for payment. Workers are been rendered redundant at the local council levels. They are even threatening to resign their appointments should they not be given their entitlements. There was this camouflage of N430 million that was shared to them. If you are receiving N2.8 billion every month as subvention from federal allocation for local government areas in the state and you are releasing N200,000 to them as salary; have you done them any favour? Where is the other balance? Since this government came on board, there is no project done elsewhere apart from the five-kilometre that is ongoing. What is your take on the present state of security in Nasarawa State? Security in Nasarawa State is not assured. The state government has not been able to provide for the people of Nasarawa State because barely would you spend a week or month without hearing of one crisis in Asakio, Agyaragu, Kwarra, Agbashi and Kadarko. There is crisis all over the state. That is the order of the day. It is not because the security operatives are not capable to quell the uprisings. The chief security officer of the state whose right it is to protect the lives and property of the people of the state is not ready to assist them. They cannot use their hands to provide security. It is expected that every government should put her ears to the ground to hear anything that has to do with security because that is the first responsibility of government. However, we have to thank God that it has not worsened like what obtains in other states and we are not praying that communal crisis should continue in Nasarawa State. I therefore call on the Nasarawa State government to provide enough funds to all the security agencies in the state to enable them carry out their assignments effectively.

Editorial

Friday, November 2, 2012

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

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FRANK OBOH

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Rush for medical treatment abroad

he recent report credited to the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) that over 5,000 Nigerians travel to India and other countries monthly for medical treatment, losing over $500 million annually in the process, with $260 million going to India, is quite revealing. “Available evidence shows that over 5,000 Nigerians visit India and other countries every month for medical tourism, with lots of these Nigerians faced with various risks and challenges, including misdiagnosis, legal and ethical issues, exposure to infectious diseases, as well as other complications, particularly post-surgical complications... It has been projected that this year, India will realize between $1 billion and $2 billion from a medical tourism market worth over $20 billion”, NMA president, Dr. Osahon Enabulele reportedly said. Indeed, the Nigeria High Commission in India, sometime last year, expressed concern on how Nigerians troop to India for medical services at the detriment of the health care system at home. Oyebola Kuku, the Nigerian High Commissioner in India, stated when he received the Abike Dabiri-Erewa-led House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, who visited him in New Delhi, that out of 25,000 Nigerians who got visa to visit India in 2011, 20,000 were there for medical care, with each spending at least $40,000 on the trip. Kuku said: “The mission’s recent experience shows

that some leading hospitals have realized that Nigerians coming to India have increased and have, therefore, become exploitative in their approach to medicare delivery. The Mission is aware that for every bill paid by Nigerian patients, 20 per cent commission has already been worked out to be paid to middlemen by the accepting hospitals”. The education sector is no exception; with reports saying over 71,000 Nigerian students studying in Ghana alone sustain that country’s education sector with an annual tuition payment of about $1 billion US dollars. In 2010, reliable records showed that Nigeria’s contribution to United Kingdom’s education sector was N246 billion; with the country still retaining about 17,585 Nigerian students in 2011. In response to the embarrassing rush for medical treatment in foreign lands, the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, was reported as saying in April this year that the Federal Government had plans to stop public servants from wasting public funds on such trips. Chukwu said any public officer who must embark on medical treatment abroad would have to bear the cost personally, except where medical personnel and equipment for the local treatment of the officer’s ailment were not available in the country. That, unfortunately, has been the much heard of the purported plan which ought to have been speedily implemented.

WE SUPPORT GIVING QUICK EFFECT TO THE PROPOSED BAN ON FOREIGN MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND CALL ON THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADOPT A SIMILAR POLICY We restate for the umpteenth time, however, that it is obvious to every close observer of the nation’s political leadership that the provision of essential public services – especially education and health care – will not be taken seriously by the present Nigerian ruling elite unless its members are statutorily barred from resorting to foreign alternatives; the reason being the pervasive lack of patriotism and statesmanship among the current selfish political class. Like the NMA rightly argued, years of systemic decay by the lack of political commitment, cancerous levels of corruption and mismanagement of collectively owned resources have not only crippled the health sector, but other sectors like education, social services, etc., including public infrastructure. The major culprits

of foreign medical treatment are political leaders, top bureaucrats and members of their families. Why have they lost confidence in the health care facilities they established? It’s because they are scarcely up-todate. We agree with the reasoning that until they are forced to stand in the same queue with ordinary Nigerians, whether in their search for quality medicare, education, etc., they would not cherish the crushing need to bring the nation’s health or educational facilities up to the standard of the ones they desperately crave for overseas at public expense. Nigeria has remained one of the few countries, worldwide, where past and present heads of state, governors, law makers, ministers, commissioners and top civil servants – together with their families – routinely troop abroad for all manner of medical care at tax payers’ expense. We support giving quick effect to the proposed ban on foreign medical treatment for public officials, and call on the state and local governments to adopt a similar policy in order to conserve public funds and compel the leadership to show interest in improving the nation’s health, educational and other facilities. Other problems plaguing medical care delivery in the country, such as gross abuse of prescription rights, poor regulatory and legal framework, poor financing of health care, etc., should likewise be addressed.

ON THIS DAY November 2, 2007 Between 50,000 and 100,000 people demonstrated against the Georgian government in Tbilisi. In 2007, a series of antigovernment protests took place across Georgia. The demonstrations peaked on November 2, 2007 when 50,000–100,000 rallied in downtown Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. The protests organized by the National Council, an ad-hoc coalition of ten opposition parties were against the allegedly corrupt government of President Mikheil Saakashvili.

November 2, 1984 Capital punishment: Velma Barfield became the first woman executed in the United States since 1962. Margie Velma Barfield (nee Margie Velma Bullard) (October 29, 1932 – November 2, 1984) was a serial killer convicted of six murders. She was the first woman in the US to be executed after the 1976 resumption of capital punishment and the first since 1962. She was also the first woman to be executed by lethal injection.

November 2, 1983 Former United States President, Ronald Reagan, signed a bill creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a US federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King’s birthday, January 15. The floating holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, though the act predated the establishment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by 15 years.

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Friday, November 2, 2012

Transparency and the freedom of Information J K RANDLE Continued from last week

hat is however likely to be striking is the fact that this warning is coming from the ICPC. An agency charged with containing the rampant spread of corruption, but which has appeared clueless on the nature of its job. Since its establishment, through the ICPC Act of 2000, the commission has achieved very little. In fact, Nigerians only started feeling theimpact of the war against corruption in 2004, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) came into existence. Then President Olusegun Obasanjo, having identified it as a major factor in the country‘s stunted development, had set up the two bodies to combat graft. Due largely to EFCC’s activities, Nigeria’s rating in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index improved remarkably. From the position of the second most corrupt country in 1999, it moved to 121st of the 180 surveyed by the global corruption watchdog in 2008. Sadly, all the gains have now been badly eroded; Nigeria has stumbled from one major corruption scandal to another. The situation has so deteriorated that it will be a miracle if she does not return to the very bottom in the next corruption perception index. Right now, the country occupies the 143rd position out of 183 countries. The issue that is currently grabbing

headlines is the U.S. $620,000 bribery scandal involving a four-term lawmaker and Chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Farouk Lawan. Lawan and the committee’s secretary, Boniface Emenalo, have been accused of collecting U.S. $620,000 bribe, in marked notes, to strike out names of two indicted companies said to have collected billions of naira as subsidies for fuel not imported into the country. The money is said to be a first installment of a U.S. $3 million bribe. This has dealt another big blow to the image of a country that is already reeling from corruption-induced poverty. While Transparency International describes corruption as “an obstacle to progress,” which “causes instability in financial markets and entrenches poverty,” the Nigerian government does not seem to appreciate the danger posed by graft. Curiously, the U.S.$620,000 scandal is a spin-off from the larger subsidy scam in which the country lost more than N2.58 trillion on a budgetary item initially meant to cost N240 billion. A probe conducted by Lawan‘s committee exposed the monumental corruption, where some persons who just registered companies, walked into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, the Central Bank of Nigeria or the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency and walked away with billions of Naira. All the superintending agencies came up with conflicting accounts of how much went into the subsidy administration. Nobody knew

THE NEED TO SET UP SPECIAL COURTS SHOULD BE GIVEN SPEEDY ATTENTION exactly the quantity of petrol that was consumed daily; yet people, who should know, were signing out government money in trillions to settle phantom subsidy claims. Sadly, while condoning the monumental corruption, the government went ahead to increase the price of petrol, leading to mass protests and loss of lives. Yet, none of those mentioned in connection with the scam is facing trial now. Preceding the fuel subsidy scandal was the uncovering of how billions of naira pension funds were being embezzled, even as pensioners were dying on the queues, waiting for money that was not forthcoming. So pervasive has corruption become that the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change and former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, described the Goodluck Jonathan administration as the most corrupt in the history of the country. Corruption has thrived over the years because the country’s leadership shields corrupt officials. When the Halliburton Willbros and Siemens multi-million dollar bribery scandals broke, the people involved were tried and punished in countries where the bribes originated. But the Nigerian recipients walked the streets free.

The case of a former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, who obtained a perpetual court injunction against his investigation, arrest and trial, is still fresh in the memory. One readily recalls that the first EFCC boss, NuhuRibadu’s problem started when he arrested the former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, said to be the chief financier of late President UmaruYar’Adua’s election. Ibori who was acquitted of all charges of corruption in Nigeria, is now serving a 13-year jail term in Britain for the same offences. A few days before she was replaced a former EFCC boss, Farida Waziri, accused Jonathan of lacking the political will to fight corruption. This is why the Human Rights Watch, lamented that there was no high profile corrupt person in any Nigerian prison despite the so-called war against corruption. Jonathan should start by immediately prosecuting those involved in the oil subsidy scam if the world is to believe he is serious on fighting corruption. The need to set up special courts should be given speedy attention. Same time, both the EFCC and ICPC, must show they do not exist merely for decorative purposes by successfully prosecuting their cases, rather than a situation where they present shoddy cases, leading to them being struck off by judges. Nigeria must show seriousness in prosecuting the anti-corruption war.” Concluded Bashorun J.K. Randle is CEO of JK Randle Professional Services, Lagos

Cross River battling bad roads and erosion DENIS UTANG

rom November 30, 2012, lovers of fun and excitement will converge on Calabar, Cross River State capital to savour the yearly carnival brings. The skies of will be lit with fireworks and other symbolic events associated with the opening ceremonies. The festival itself is growing and getting bigger, both in content, organization and implementation. As it grows, the expectations of state as well as participants will be that of high hopes. For instance, those participating for the first time would want to have proper feel of this flagship Christmas event, while those familiar will be looking forward to seeing or experiencing innovations and ideas that people hardly understand, but appreciated all the same. While would be participants are all eager to make a success of the event, the government, as explained by Commissioner for Information, Chief Akin Ricketts, would be having sleepless nights. This is not because of inadequate organizational and creative ability to translate ideas and dreams into reality but due to the deplorable federal roads linking Cross River and to other neighbouring states. It is pertinent to note that bad roads have direct negative impact on the frequency of commuting. The implication, according Ricketts, is that they impede people from travelling to and fro their destinations, even as the government is not

IT IS PERTINENT TO NOTE THAT BAD ROADS HAVE DIRECT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE FREQUENCY OF COMMUTING resting on its oars to ensure the roads are properly fixed before proper commencement of the festival. The reason, is that majority of the expected participants are Nigerians from all over the country States and abroad who will want to travel by road to the state. Based on previous surveys by tourism experts, those who usually travel by road to the festival constitute more than 80 percent and only 20 percent travel by air, while a very negligible few come by sea. Why many prefer road travel is largely economic. If one considers the cost of air travel, including hotel accommodation, especially for those who come with their families, it would make for more economic sense. And for this, the government has embarked on massive rehabilitation of federal roads in the state. Investigations show that, since 2005, the government has paid out a total of N14billion to four construction companies for rehabilitation of roads and bridges. Notable among the federal roads are Odukpani Junction – Itu road, Ikom – Obudu and Calabar – Ugep – Ikom – Ogoja, with

a distance of 300 kilometres. The other notable interventions are the construction of a 240 metre long Idundu bridge. In addition, it has embarked on the dualisation of the Calabar City Gate to Adiabo Junction and Calabar Airport – Ikot Ekpo by pass road, a dual carriage way with provision for flyover at Ikot Effanga. When completed, the road will greatly decongest traffic in the city centre and provide alternative route for people coming in and out of Calabar. The four contracting companies handling the rehabilitation and construction are Messrs Arab Contractors, CCECC, Bulletine Nigeria Ltd. Sermatech Nig. Ltd. Arab Contractors is handling the dualization of a 5 kilometre City gate Adiabo Junction road, while CCECC handling the construction of Idundu bridge and the rehabilitation of Ikom – Obudu road, which spans a distance of 116 kilometres. Before the intervention, the sordid state of federal roads in the state was in sharp contrast with the asphalted inter and intra city roads constructed by the present administration, including the more than 1,000 kilometers of rural roads, under the State’s Rural Development Agency (RUDA) and Cross River Rural Access and Mobility Project (CR-RAMP). With an average monthly allocation of a little over N3b, the state is expending much on the rehabilitation of federal roads; amidst natural disasters like flood and erosion that have ravaged many communities. Of the 20 erosion sites identified, the

government has been able to tackle only few due to paucity of funds. To say the least, tackling and controlling erosion menace in Cross River State, requires massive funds and intervention from relevant federal agencies. This is predicated upon the fact that the state’s funds from monthly federal allocation is like a drop in the ocean. While the battle to save the state from being submerged by gully erosion is on-going, the money used to rehabilitate some federal roads is still to be refunded. Whether Cross River State, which lost its littoral status, not too long ago, as a result of Nigeria’s ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon will survive the onslaught of natural disasters and paltry monthly allocation from the federal government, remains to be seen.For now, the members of the House Committee on federal roads, who recently visited the state on fact finding mission, may as well assist the state to recover what it has invested in the rehabilitation of roads, and possibly recommend for reconstruction of all federal roads in Cross River State. Mr. Denis Utang, a Journalist wrote from Calabar. Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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Friday, November 2, 2012

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PHCN should stop buck passing

I Save Ile-Oluji community

n spite of complaining through various media on the deplorable state of power to Ajao Road and its environs in Surulere, the Power Holding Com-

pany of Nigeria has not displayed a transparent intention to rectify this situation. All we get are unnecessary buck passing concerning a problematic 33KVA line

at Isolo which seems to have defied all “professional solutions”. We rarely have power supply beyond three hours daily and it is now that the hot wather has set

in. We are without light for days at a stretch from the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Isolo, Idi Araba. Callistus Oke, Isolo

he Ile-Oluji community was ranked amongst the best in Ondo-State,some decades ago,But suddenly, it has turned an eyesore .Incontestable statistics show that it is prone to epidemic and heavy flooding. There is no gainsaying that the water channels like gutters, streams, rivers, culverts in the nooks and crannies have been blocked by debris and other wastes. The radical change embarked by the past interim head of the local council, has been abandoned. A visit to the town’s market would convince anyone that the place has been overtaken by refuse heaps that now emit offensive stench and odour.

Stop this senseless carnage now

he Federal Government must immediately set up a committee to find lasting solutions to the pervasive acts of terrorism and attacks on Christian places of worship. These terror acts are more political than religious. If the government cannot provide security for Christians in the North, then they should start looking elsewhere for residence. The government should also improve on intelligence gathering and be proactive on situations like the recent bombings in Kaduna.

Don’t Corrupt the Police

Albinus Chiedu, Ikeja, Lagos

Abubakar, IGP

he stories of some officials diverting and even selling relief items donated by governments and public spirited agencies to flood victims is to say the least disheartening. The Federal should immediately investigate this inhuman act with a view to identifying and punishing those involved. Nigerians should learn to be their brothers’ keeper and not turn to wolves and shylocks against their fellow beings, especially in their times of distress. Anyone found to have in any way colluded in diverting the relief items should be severely dealt with. Tunde Idrisu, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Comrade Akingbola Temidayo, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State.

here is a widely held perception that a high number of police officers in Nigeria are corrupt. While this fact is not disputable, it is also important to note that the task of improving discipline in the force is a collective responsibility. There have been instances where police officers insisted on allowing the law to take its full course after an offender has been arrested. The suspect offers bribe but it is rejected. The suspect now goes about telling people that the agency is full of wicked and heartless persons, because they insisted on doing their job in a professional manner. If Nigerians want the police to be sanitized and operate as a standard force, there should be need for change of orientation. They should therefore stop offering them bribes and always insist that the law take its course, irrespective of who is involved.

Check the sharp practices at relief camps

KOGI FLOOD VICTIMS……A helping hand for nursing mothers, kids

PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

Osun deserves more disaster fund

n the past few weeks, millions of Nigerians in 25 states in the country have suffered from floods which destroyed their property and means of livelihood. While there is nothing to cheer in our response to emergency situation of such magnitude, the Federal Government has this time roused itself from its accustomed lethargy and brought succour to some of the affected areas. But even at that, I make bold to say that the federal Government has been unfair to Osun State,in view of the paltry amount given to it. Considering the huge amount the state committed to fighting flood from 2011 and this year, it should have been given more than it got. In a recent nationwide broad-

Letters to the Editor

cast, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the release of N17.6 billion as direct financial assistance to the affected states and federal agencies responsible for disaster management. The states were grouped into four categories. In the first group were Oyo, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra. The second were Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross River, Edo, Lagos and Imo. Kwara, Katsina, Gombe, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Abia and Rivers were in the third group, while Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Yobe, Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Borno and Federal Capital Territory made the fourth group. According to the President, N500 million was given to

each state in group one N400 million to group two; N300 million each for group three, and each in group four received N250 million. The classification was based on the level of damage wrought by the floods, as states in group one and two were regarded as worst hit, while those other two categories were considered as less affected. The seeming defect in this has to do with inclusion of Osun State in the last group. It is on record that prior to the present administration, many towns in the state were affected by floods. In the state capital for example, the government deployed materials and personnel in ensuring that the inhabitants were free from flood.

Gaius Chikere, Town, Lagos.

Festac

Blocked canals, rivulets, drainages, rivers, and streams were cleared for free flow of water. It was these efforts that saved the state from being affected by the latest flood calamity. Therefore, I think Osun has shown seriousness in the use of resources to check disaster and should have been considered for group one. The Federal Government has not demonstrated any sense of fairness to Osun. What it has done is to reward indolence and chastise industry. Encouraging states that are proactive to issues bordering on the wellbeing of citizens has its way of inspiring healthy relationship between the federating units. Sincerely, I believe Osun should have been given more than it got. Bidemi Adegbite, Osogbo, Osun State

Send your letters or mails to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mirrorlagos@yahoo.com and info@nationalmirroronline.net or, 07033375481, 08035640907 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject letters or photographs. Psuedonyms may be used, but must be clearly marked as such.

Your

FRIDAY

Flavour

Friday, November 2, 2012

Unigwe

THE PRIZE HONOURS THE BEST WORK IN FICTION PUBLISHED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS which was, until now, reserved for Nigerian writers living in the country, said further that she hopes to put back her winnings into Nigeria. ”I don’t know how yet. I am still reeling from the shock of winning,” she said. “I have been involved with women

like the ones in my book in different ways since the book was written and I hope to continue to do so. It is something I feel strongly about,” she said, responding to whether she would work to impact the lives of such people that her book is based on. The prize honours the best work in fiction published in the past five years and rotates among four literary genres and this year, the competition focuses on prose fiction. Unigwe has a Ph.D in literature from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Her debut novel, De Feniks (The Phoenix) was published in 2005 by Meulenhoff and Manteau (of

WEEKEND STARTERS AMAA screens winning movies in Lagos

Ayeni-Babaeko unveils Itan at Porsche Centre

ontemporary Nigerian photographer and artist, Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko, opens an exhibition tomorrow at the Porsche Centre, Victoria

ovie lovers will have a feel of the winning films at the 2012 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which held earlier in the year. The event, which started on Thursday, will end tomorrow at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

Island, Lagos beginning from 4.00pm. The exhibition, titled Itan will present a stunning collection of black and white photographs engaging African mythology. Itan is translated from Yoruba to mean, story or the process of telling stories.

Femi and D’afrikanaas Band perform at Lagos Fair

A AMAA CEO, Peace

s the annual Lagos International Trade Fair starts today, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, visitors will be entertained by Femi and D’afrikanaas Band

as part of Enilil Investments’ programme at the fair. Enilil, an international project management solutions provider will also host seminars and workshop in course of the fair.

Rotimi Babatunde to be honoured

otimi Babatunde, the 2012 Caine Prize winner will be honoured tomorrow, November 3, at the at Drapper’s Hall, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. The forum will not only cel-

ebrate him, but also provide an avenue for literary enthusiasts to widen discussions on their passion as writers with regards to Babatunde’s winning story, Bombay Republic. The main event of the day would be a symposium on the theme: Emerging Aesthetics in Nigerian Literature.

Denrele’s Day P. 32-33

Escape

hika Unigwe has emerged winner of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNGsponsored Nigerian Prize for Literature worth $100, 000, the second biggest literary prize in the world. The announcement was made by Professor Ayo Banjo, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the prize on Thursday at a world press conference held at the Ocean View Restaurant in Victoria Island, Lagos. Professor Banjo said the prize, instituted in 2004 to reward excellence in literature, received a record 214 entries this year and that Unigwe’s book “is a work of outstanding merit”. Chika won for her novel, On Black Sisters’ Street, one among the top three on the final shortlist, which also includes: Onaedo: The Blacksmith’s Daughter by Ngozi Achebe and Only a Canvass by Olusola Olugbesan. All three books address issues bothering on the plight of women. Professor Abiola Irele, Chair of Judges for the prize said, “Chika Unigwe’s novel is an outstanding work that dwells on the terrible trade of trafficking women for prostitution”. Friday Flavour reached the writer, a devout Catholic and she revealed she was in church when the news broke and is “incredibly humbled and deeply honoured” by the win. Asked if she were intimidated by the big names on the shortlist of 10, Unigwe said many of those on the initial shortlist are writers she admires for their craft and whose works she has read, “and, so getting through to the top three and then winning, was something I never expected”. Unigwe, who is based in Turnhout, Belgium and is the first foreign-based Nigerian writer to win the prize,

Amsterdam and Antwerp) and was shortlisted for the Vrouw en Kultuur debuutprijs for the Best First Novel by a Female Writer. She is also the author of two children’s books published by Macmillan, London. She has published short fiction in several anthologies, journals and magazines including Wasafiri (University of London), Moving Worlds (University of Leeds), Per Contra, Voices of the University of Wisconsin and Okike of the University of Nigeria. In 2003, she was shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing. In 2004, she won the BBC Short Story Competition and a Commonwealth Short Story Competition award. In the same year, her short story made the top 10 of the Million Writers Award for best online fiction. In 2005, she won the third prize in the Equiano Fiction Contest. Her second novel, Fata Morgana (On Black Sisters’ Street), was published in Dutch in 2008 and has since been released in English. Her first novel, published in Dutch in September 2005, is the first book of fiction, written by a Flemish author of African origin. In 2009, Unigwe’s novel On Black Sisters’ Street, about African prostitutes living and working in Belgium, was published in London by Jonathan Cape. Farafina published the Nigerian edition of her novels. According to the panel of judges, the following criteria were set for the entries: Quality of editing and production, Relevance to the Nigerian situation, Vivid presentation of character and plot, and Use of language. Chairman, Professor Abiola Irele; Professors Angela Miri, Sophia Ogwude, J.O.J. Nwachukwu-Agbada and Dr, Oyeniyi Okunoye, all members were in attendance at the press conference. Members of the advisory board were also present.

P. 26

TERH AGBEDEH

Mirror Mongers

- Chika Unigwe, winner, Nigeria Prize for Literature

P. 24-25

I got news of my victory in church

P. 34

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

Inside FCT

VOL. 2 No. 483

Artman In The House

Friday, November 2, 2012

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Tribute to the gods (boat regatta)

At a workshop in Sweden

Dialogue: Primary instrument...I

People are yearning for something new – Adeyemi From November 10 to 30, Kunle Adeyemi Ph.D, a painter, printmaker and graphic designer, will be exhibiting his works in a show titled: ‘Paintograph and Paintocast: A New Consciousness’ at Quintessence, Falomo Shopping Complex in Ikoyi area of Lagos. Adeyemi, who is the first Ph.D in studio research in the country and is eclectic in his presentations, welcomed Friday Flavour into his world where he spoke with Terh Agbedeh in this interview. Dr. Adeyemi

What is your show all about? I’ve been away from the system for a while. It’s just the knowledge and research in art; the art historians do their research about art and the practise, which is very new in this country. It’s the research in art, based on the framework of art and everything about it is within the art. It’s the same structure for Ph.D programme available for experiment and all that. But we found out that all the experiments you need to perform; everything you need to do in the course of study is within the studio. The title of the exhibition is ‘Paintograph and Paintocast: A New Consciousness’. The vocabulary is crafted from what I have done, which is a bit of graphics, painting, sculpture; how do I synergise and make it distinct? That is why I carved out that name, ‘paintograph and paintocast’, so, if you go to the dictionary you won’t get it there. What I have done is in the range of thought with Bruce Onobrakpeya because I worked with him for some time. I’m a painter, a printmaker and a graphic designer. In my studio experiment, I can reproduce these works and give them another form. It’s like in music; you must have heard this song, ‘Sisi Eko’ and the person that brought it to us is our contemporary but Bobby Benson has done it before. It didn’t come out of the blue; it rides on an existing structure. Basically, there is nothing new. So when you are able to move one or two things from there and you create a niche, then you will be noted for doing that. I’m able to say in these my works that I can sing the same song for you in Ikoyi and in the Mainland, depending on the environment where I find myself. Some people would like to keep their ideas to themselves, but as a teacher, I need to put the idea in these

works forward so that others can attempt and even help me in the discovery. A metal frame taken through the press or hand burnishing process – that is the process I use – then it goes back to paint, acrylic and other assembly to produce a paintograph painting. It goes round and round, so you can produce and produce, but are still yourself. That is one of the major contributions of this type of work. Another one is the vocabulary. People are yearning for something new. I’m not saying that they are tired of the old, but I think we need to move, to stamp our feet on the sands of time. In the previous five years now in Lagos, if you go to one exhibition, you have gone to all. You’ll see the same subject matter, the same paintings and so on. Sometimes it becomes boring and I have been thinking, how do we change this? So how are we going to take it forward? It’s by holding seminars, workshops and exhibitions like this one. When people see these works, they will be able to borrow a leaf from what I have done. In some of the works, you will see duets, for instance, one of my colleagues, Dr. Nelson Edewor, a sculpture. In this work, where he stopped, I took off from there. I think this will be a welcome development for the artist; we can now begin to look at our themes and work together. So, in some of these works, there are collaborations; apart from taking on ideas, materials from one aspect of art to another one; from painting to printmaking to sculpture. Equally, I made use of human resource, personnel. You are an academician and an artist, normally most people like you do not practise You will find out that by the time someone has a

bachelor’s degree, and goes for a master’s degree the first thing on his mind is academics. And he moves to another area, art education for instance, to do a Ph.D. Now, the Ph.D that you do for three or four years – some do it for as long as 10 or more years – you’ll just find out that because of the new higher status people will like to begin to function within the context of this new acquisition. Before you know it, the very vibrant studio artist begins to write papers and so the studio area in that person dies immediately and if he is not careful regret sets in. They regret it financially because at a point in your life after you have done paid employment, you will have to leave. And if you don’t tender your resignation, you’ll be told that you have to go. So, what becomes of you at the end of the day? After a couple of years, because of the vacuum you have left behind, you are no longer relevant. Because you have left art for some time, it’ll leave you for a long time. The collectors will not know you. That is where the competency must come in, artists need the competency. The studio suffers when the artist takes to text. You can combine the two but you need to be hardworking. This programme makes you qualified to do that. You seem to be attempting to collapse the line between art and craft; do you think you will have followership? When we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it. We have the renaissance period in the development of art in Europe and the whole thing went around; in literature, music, visual art and architecture. If we were still practising art the way it was before the renaissance, art would be as good as dead today. We can’t all sleep and put our heads in the same place all the time. At

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Artman In The House

Friday, November 2, 2012

Explaining a point about his work.

Wheel of fortune IV

FACT FILE Signs, symbols, motifs and form

•

Adeyemi hails from Ondo State, Nigeria.

•

He is the first person to obtain a Ph.D in studio research in the country

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A teacher at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, he first studied print technology, then general art before he went on to painting and printing. To crown it all up, he combined his experiences in the studio research Ph.D.

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Does the frames for his circular works, which itself is a work of art.

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Obtained a HND (Higher National Diploma) in painting (Yaba Tech) and an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in printmaking (UniBen).

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Works as a fine art lecturer in his alma-mater: Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

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Since 2008, Adeyemi has been to Sweden every year in what those close to him describe as a pilgimage. He travels as an instructor for printmaking workshop, and to exhibit his works.

Female form II

In the studio

I’VE BEEN MADE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE

NIGERIAN SYSTEM IS RIGHT NOW AND WE SHOULD CREATE SOME THINGS FOR DIFFERENT SET OF PEOPLE.

the time Olu Amuda came sculpture was basic but he came and produced metal sculpture. Thank God people accepted him and today metal is sinking in the subconscious and he is really doing some great things with that. As an artist it will be wrong for me to say that I’m starting a movement, it’s art historians and critics who will come out and say that something is evolving here. This is a combination of different genres and new; but isn’t there a danger in being a jack of all these forms and not being a master in any, and, of the collectors looking the other way because it’s a novelty? I know that there may be restraint, however, those who are very prospective will know that it’s better we get these works now. Those who are not, who want to wait and see what will come out of this, may actually lose out. But those who want something new will go for these works. I’m not the kind of artist that will go out there and beg the auction houses to display my work. I’ve never done it before and I’m not going to do it now. But you

have seen this and because it’s the bit you cover, and from your experience of what you call art this is something new. As an artist I have made a statement; as an artist, you have to come out with something new, something different. I’m not afraid of people saying no; it’s the best way for me to move forward. I’ll even do more; I want to be more eclectic than this. Dwelling on your paid job with YABATECH, how do you manage to make out time to do such a large body of work for this exhibition? My hours of sleep per day are only five and if I sleep for more than five hours then something is wrong with me. I don’t want to talk about illness. So, I have up to 17 hours for myself in a day; I’ll read, write and do my work. I’ve not been doing enough. But this series is so large I can do five or six shows consistently. While I was in Sweden for a fellowship, my other colleagues would go to sleep, I would be in the studio working. I want to maximise the time and opportunities that I have. Is it because of your background in print technology that you worked in a newspaper establishment in the past? No, but it was an added advantage while I was working there. How many of you were in the Ph.D class where you graduated? There were 12 of us and I was the first to finish. I didn’t quite like it that I happened to be the only one, but they continued to tell us that Ph.D, graduate pro-

grammes are not a group thing. When you finish, they’ll look at your papers, at what you’ve done, and you can go. I became a reference to others, some of my colleagues. The work, ‘Road to the oil rig’ covers the brochure for the exhibition, is it the first work you did? No, it’s not the first work. I just got attached to it because I feel that art is not just culture, it’s not only about painting someone who is dancing or masquerades; the artist must also use the message to correct some things in the society. That is one of the basic uses of art. Just like what Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-kuti sang about, most of his songs are evergreen till date. How deep should the pocket of an intending collector of these works be? I’ve been made to understand what the Nigerian system is right now and we should create some things for different set of people. We’ll still have works of N20, 000, N15,000 and even N12,000. There are also works worth N2 million and works of N1.5 million. There is hue and cry that nothing is being documented in Nigeria whether in art or other sectors. Are you documenting your works the way your teacher Bruce Onobrakpeya has done over the years? Before I came to this level, New Wine is the book I did since 2008 on my work, on the process, so, there is documentation. This one is undergoing serious documentation now. I’m actually working to let people know how they can do it, not to hide anything. You can stay in your own studio and read what I have done and put it in practice.

Critics

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Book

Tonic for principle-guided lifestyle

In this part of the world, many people live in an ambiance where everything has been blindfolded by cruelty, corruption and other debilitating environmental factors. However, the veteran financial journalist, Oludare Mayowa, has put up a series of teachings on principle-guided lifestyle in his book Living An Enduring Lifestyle, for many to take advantage of. OLAYIWOLA AWAKAN

uman existence and interactions are such a mysterious fixation which cannot be easily deciphered; the process of birth through survival to death, in this part of the world, is entangled in many principles, societal norms, cultural nuances, laws and rules. Many atimes, man struggles to find a way to survive in the midst of the complex society either by infringing on the right of others or doing things in a proper way. Motivation mostly has now become a prerequisite; it could be in personality emulation, reading of inspirational books, conscience pressure and attitude factor to mention a few. The bottom line is that man must live rightly and be guided by a series of principles for proper interaction; that is the message, which the veteran financial journalist, Oludare Mayowa, has put up in his book Living An Enduring Lifestyle. The 151-page book published by StepCraft Nigeria Limited, is a six-chapter motivational piece with a prologue and a Postscript. It is a manual for every man who desires to live a good and symbiotic life regardless of societal odds. The book begins with a Prologue, analysing a personal experience of the author, which in turn instigated the writing of the book. In simple and explicit diction with instances from practical experiences, national issues and few biblical analyses, Mayowa drives his points into the heart of the reader. Living Right: The Cost, The Benefits, is the title of the first chapter. The author presents a society where survival is dependent on ineptitude; a society where many people have decided that wrongdoings are the reasons for survival. A society where the unusual has been imbibed to become a norm. Alas, the author drops a guide to living in such a milieu by stipulating that “no matter how long a man continues on the path of evil and records some semblance of successes, there is always a pay back time”. In a direct comparism to our immediate society, one would observe in virtually all the spheres of our national existence that people tend to survival on wrong doings by neglecting the conscienceguided principles of survival. The book in question

THE BOOK IS NO DOUBT A COMPENDIUM FOR EVERYONE WHO SEEKS KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO LIVE RIGHTLY thereby reminds such people that there is a Law of Karma, waiting somewhere to take its pound of flesh! The second chapter with the heading, Stop Reacting, Start Responding, draws a vivid disparity between ‘reaction’ and ‘response’ to situations. The book addresses reaction as a register that draws negativity from situations, while response to issues “could save you a whole lot of future regret and bring out the best in you”. Mayowa exposes man to the principle of ‘Response’ to any situation, which has a more rewarding outcome than ‘Reaction’. Your response could be an indication of your acceptance of the challenges posed by the situation and circumstance and in the process help you demonstrate your determination to make a difference and bring a positive change to such situation. While in reacting, we tend to build up emotions and sentiments and in a momentary fury we overlook a lot of positive sides of the situation we are reacting to and instead, destroy the opportunity provided by the situation to make a difference in life, the book postulates. A few instances drawn from personal experiences, the bible and our national history are used to buttress the point. Further more, chapter three talks about Timeless Principles and Timeless Values. According to the book, principles are timeless pillars that form the base on which the whole of creation is resting upon. Principles are there whether you like it or not! The book identifies Law and Rules as time bound societal regulations, which may fail or be subjected to ratification at any point in time. Mayowa pinpoints that the failure of Law and Rules in our society remain a setback to societal growth and development today because even those who make the laws are usually the ones who break them with impunity. On the other hand, men of principles,

integrity and honour would never do anything that would violate what they stand for, no matter how tempting and self-serving it may be. The principles of borrowing and reaping, consistency, change, gratitude, integrity, resolution, alignment and balance, responsibility and the Rotary Principles of Truth, Fairness, Goodwill and Better Friendship are highlighted and further discussed in the chapter. Subsequently, chapter four addresses the Confidence of Who and Whose You Are. This portion of the book talks about self-esteem as a demonstration of inner values. In the book, being self-confident could be the most important virtue that anyone could possess to boost one’s ascendancy to greater life. The book debunks, to an extent, the Yoruba saying, ranti omo eni ti iwo nse (remember the child of whom you are) by stipulating that it does not have the hundred percent potency to lead one to greatness. A bad background may invariably affect the life pursuit of a child if he takes to the shoes of his fore bearers. Chapter four also discusses attitude, building up of confidence, the dearth of role models, thought as man’s biggest obstacle to self-actualisation and other principles. It goes further to motivate man to honour his world, guard his heart and filter his thought, and advise that he should not allow his situation to define who he is. Beyond our ability to be held accountable for

Auction

Screaming whispers from a Sahara of promise What comes to mind when the Sahara desert is mentioned is oftentimes desolate nothingness. But take the experience of Newton Jibunoh of the Fight Against Desert Encroachment, FADE and the sheer dexterity of Kelechi Amadi-Obi’s lens and what you have are treasured images in the auction, Whispers from the Sahara. TERH AGBEDEH

he names chosen for the pictures are as diverse as the terrain that bears witness to their creation. And if the names fail to do the magic each picture has the power of an enduring work of art to sway the collectors who fill the auction room at Didi Museum on August 29. Among the photographs, The Spirit Dance which reached out from its gold frame and took home the highest bid for the night of N700,

000, stands out. The Spirit Dance is not the only photograph at the auction to have tickled the fancy of the collectors who were no doubt in a hurry to see the next photograph considering how fast they called their bids. Except for two or so photographs reserved by the adept auctioneer out of the 15 displayed in the glossy brochure prepared for the event, most attracted a fierce bidding war. From all indications, Didi Museum, which only just reopened its doors, was as ready for the auction as the guests who came from far and wide knowing that their

purchase was for a good cause. Indeed, Newton Jibunoh’s enduring fight against the encroachment of the Sahara leading to his crossing the desert three times already is the reason everyone was there as each photograph purchased will help roll back the rampaging sands. Although the brochure for the event contains a foreword scripted by Jibunoh the urgency of the fight became even more poignant when during an intermission those in attendance got to see a compelling documentary by FADE. It tells of how Jibunoh started the

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Critics

Friday, November 2, 2012

Music our word, there is a need for us to control input to our mind because out of the input comes the output, the book advises. Building an Enduring Relationship is the focus of the penultimate chapter five. Mayowa explains in this chapter that relationship is beyond erotic feelings. In our society today, people often limit the issue of relationship to erotic feelings or what is generally known as romantic love; an affair between a man and a woman that could probably lead to marriage, or a casual sensual one. However, relationship goes beyond a mere act of having an affair between a male and a female, it is deeper in thought, action and in deed. The chapter goes further to identify family relationship, between parents and children; co-workers, superior and subordinate relationship; a pastor and congregation relationship, a country and citizen relationships and other existing relationships with purposeful reasons. However, Mayowa uses the chapter to explain the consequential reasons in connecting with people, which in turns has a potency to network one to a place of greatness, if favourably utilised. He also identifies the 21st century platforms of connecting with people; Facebook, Twitter and other social network means. Many people have had their successes enhanced through networking on the Internet. However, one should be careful because the social network platform had also led many to untimely death and misfortune. Whatever relationships we find ourselves, we should know that we can do something to either sustain or discourage such association, the book states. The last chapter is an opener on Money matters. The author explains The Place of Money in Our Lives through a practical enunciation of what money is and how it can make or mar individual successes. The chapter, which started by tossing an imagination of how the world would be without money, takes a vivid look at the positive and negative aspects of handling money. It makes the reader to know that those who make money their god will rather than find peace, happiness and love, end up in pain, frustration and endless sadness. There is a notion in the book that man should understand the nature of money and there after seek a legitimate means of making money rather that looking for fast means, which often sprouts from ritualism, bloodshed and leads to disaster in the long run. The book advises on investment, which is a means of sacrificing the present because of the future. Possible channels of investment are listed in the book. The book Living an Enduring Lifestyle is no doubt a compendium for everyone who seeks knowledge on how to live rightly and legitimately without infringing on the rights of others as well as achieving successes in his endeavours through a series of life changing principles.

IT TELLS OF HOW JIBUNOH STARTED THE FIGHT WITH HIS OWN RESOURCES fight with his own resources, the awareness he has so far created and how today 70 per cent of the funds deployed in the fight are contributed by donors. But what everyone will recall is how the Sahara is the only desert in the world that has not been tamed owing to lack of political will among the governments in the countries that play host to this unwanted behemoth of a guest. Jibunoh, an expert on the subject, explained that building a highway alone would bring the population to the Sahara that will help tame it. The documentary shows how this has been done in former deserts all over the world. There has never been more urgency to do this than now since the forest occupied between 45 and 50 percent of the land space in Africa south of

Entering a rejuvenated 9Quest Ebuka Chinweze’s trip to India has spawned not only a refreshing encounter with a huge fan base, but another chance at bringing Nigerians to dance hall beats. Will this catch on now that he has released his album under the stage name 9Quest? N GOZI E MEDOLIBE

ast your mind back to the late 80s and 90s when the likes of Shaba Ranks and Patra ruled the party scenes. It was all about the toast and the swanky beats that try to take one down to the rough streets of Kingston, Jamaica. Whether you liked it or not, those beats have many followers, even in the face of the growing threat the rhythm faces in the light of hip hop; not undermining the efforts of the likes of Shaggy and Sean Paul actually. One of those loyal followers happens to be Ebuka Chinweze, who goes by the name 9Quest. For him, it is obvious that he would be counting on his understanding of the psyche of his audience. This is typical of the reworked 11-track album, which has been released now. Listening to the works making it in the Nigerian music scene, it is obvious that the lyrics must be recognisable (with sing-along refrains) and the rhythm must be laced with danceable beats; that is what 9Quest has done with this album that is titled, Shake it Down Low. As the title of the album suggests, it is positioned as a club hit that will keep audiences on their toes. Why does 9Quest feel this is what he needs to sway Nigerian music lovers at this time? It is likely going to be found in an in-depth research he has done about the music industry and his experience in India where he is being trained on media enterprise at the Institute of Television and Film Studies in New Delhi. The album, which is a dancehall flavor, interestingly has infusions of hip-hop, street rap, afro beats and even the Indian rhythm. With the waves Nigerian beats are making in Indian clubs, where the popular ‘Naija flavour’, is making inroads it is likely that 9Quest is also targeting the Indian market. Perhaps this has informed why the music will be released in India, South Africa and Nigeria simultaneously. It also informed the array of producers the artiste worked with in actualising this dream. For the entire album, listeners will hear inputs from Sound Steve, who produced Shake It Down Low with mixing by Evo. Big Mouth, a South African producer, produced the track DJ My Dealer. The

the Sahara in the early1960s. Three years ago, UNEP, the United Nations agency on the environment said the forest cover was less than four percent. There is no doubt that the statistics are more dismal than ever before as can be gleaned from the states in the extreme north of the country. The photographs on auction were carefully selected from over 5,000 shots taken by the celebrated photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, who accompanied Jibunoh on his third expedition across the Sahara. The selected 15 had been exhibited for a month at Didi Museum before the auction that drew people like Tony Oyama, one of the highest bidders for the night. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was also in attendance, so was Bashorun J.k. Randle, Oba Adekunle Ojora and Udo Okonjo, the CEO of Fine & Country, the major sponsor of the event. The auction will no doubt be remembered for many reasons. One reason is the magic the magic the photographs exuded. Those who came will also recall the worthy cause that brought everyone at the event to-

9Quest and Glorial Doyle.

song, Choice, which has deep Indian flavour was done by a group of producers and sound engineers at the Bayana Tree Productions studio. Another beautiful aspect of the new album is the mixture of languages both local and international brought to play in the songs. Although 9Quest is from Anambra State where Igbo is spoken widely, his songs have infusions of many languages in Nigeria. Shake it Down Low, has Yoruba, Edo and some Northern dialects in it, which is a good appeal for the various ethnic linings in Nigeria. Songs like DJ My Dealer, not only has South African beats but also the language. While 9Quest has tried to have a collage of appealing attributes about his forthcoming album, one aspect he needs to work on is his voice. For someone who wants to leave memorable traits, he needs to have worked on his voice to leave the desired impact. But his attitude to this may be seen in the genre of music he is propagating-dancehall. He has so many examples to cite in consoling himself, which includes the Shaba Ranks and the Buju Bantons of this world. Bringing Shake it Down Low to the audience will however require an articulate visual interpretation, that will drive his message home. Working with Nollywood Network Services, a fledging production outfit will help in realising this. With the album out, Nigerians may be shaking it down low!

Majestic Nothingness

gether. There is also the ambience of the museum, one among the very first in the country, that invites subtly the guests for the night to keep coming back. And like Jibunoh and his love for the Sahara, this is one love affair that will endure and hopefully, for the end desire of turning back the Sahara.

Inside FCT

Friday, November 2, 2012

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Back in the days when okada was the vogue in the FCT

FCT’s battle against okada operators MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

s anguish and rage linger in Lagos State over the recently announced restriction of okada operators on certain routes by Governor Raji Fashola-led administration, compliance with the directive which was issued under the administration of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasri el-Rufai in 2005 is said to be over 90 per cent. Deputy Director, Operations, Directorate of Road Traffic Services popularly called VIO, Dr. Yusuf Jack, confirmed this to Inside FCT on Wednesday. According to him, “The people are recalcitrant. We still don’t know; it seems there are people that are sponsoring them by supplying them new motorcycles. It baffles us a lot. When we collect the motorcycles from them, we don’t give them back. But, to our surprise, the following day, we see them with new ones on the streets. We shall not rest on our oars in handling the situation. “However, we want to assure them that we have the capacity to contain their stubbornness. Currently, there is over 90 per cent compliance in the city. We shall not rest until we achieve complete compliance,” Jack vowed. While the ban is fresh in Lagos, it was introduced in Abuja in 2005; as it took effect in January 2006. The then Transport Secretary of the FCT, Mr Abiodun Odumbako-Wilson, had told reporters at a briefing that the decision would not affect satellite communities and that the plan was not intended to render the affected persons

unemployed. “We know that they are human beings with some of them having families. We have created employment opportunity in the new FCT mass transit scheme for those who may be interested,” he said. But one wonders today within the nooks and crannies of Abuja, the availability and functionality of the mass transit scheme. Even the Sure-P buses that came afterwards, many residents believe, are living far below expectation. Prior to the ban, the trade had been a hotbed for quick money among mainly the youth, as it was also readily available for transporting the people to their various offices. Till date in Abuja, one of the major challenges for residents remains transportation. Many residents believe government had not conceived enough transportation plans that would reduce the burden of movement of people into and out of the city centre, where major socio-economic activities take place. This failure, some opine, has not justified the ban on motorcycles. As it was claimed by Lagos state government, incidents of myriads of accidents involving motorcycle operators had led to countless deaths; many of which were unreported. Many limbs were amputated; families were bereaved of their loved ones, even as some hospitals were reportedly crowded with victims of motorcycles calamities. Currently, thousands of motorcycles have been seized by the Vehicle Inspection Officials (VIOs) in the city from persons who were assumed to have violated the ban. While the ban is effective in other parts of FCT, the

A woman with a baby strapped to her back on a motorcycle.

IT SEEMS THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPONSORING THEM BY SUPPLYING THEM NEW MOTORCYCLES.

Area One junction and Old Federal Secretariat remain most notorious parts where commercial cyclists still carry out their trade. The satellite communities are not affected by the prohibition. The operators in their hundreds flood communities such as Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Karimu, Nyanya, Bwari, Dutse-Alhaji and other villages in the city. “Should government say okada should not operate in the villages like the city, ev-

eryone will protest,” said Motunrayo Adeolu who spoke with our reporter at Kubwa. “It is the only dependable means of transportation we have here in the city. Even though you come back from work at 11pm, you will see them to convey you home. When you come out of your home in the morning, they will be available for you,” she added. The operators are registered under the local councils where they operate. “They are given identification numbers just like the motor cab operators in the city. The essence of this is to reduce incidence of criminality and to also curtail influx of inexperienced persons into the trade,” said one of the operators, Jimoh Rahmon, in a conversation with our reporter at Kuje. Besides, each village has an association of operators with elected leadership who ensures set rules are obeyed.

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Inside FCT

Friday, November 2, 2012

Abuja residents go on panic buying as food prices soar TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

purred by two major factors both of which clearly indicate that prices of food commodities may be on the upswing trend in the months ahead, many residents of the Federal Capital Territory have been straining their financial muscles to buy food items, particularly rice and beans, as a painful, but desirable option open to them in their efforts to reduce household expenditures as the Yuletide festivities are few days ahead. Two major events may have been partly linked to the increasingly rising costs of food items namely, the recent flood crisis which ravaged thousands of hectares of farmlands across the country with devastating impact on food barns and livestock and the 2013 budget’s proposed fiscal regime on rice which seeks to impose 100 per cent levy on imported rice effective from January 1, 2013. Investigations by Inside FCT over the past 10 days in some of the markets located in the satellite towns, as well as the big Wuse, Jabi, Area 1 and Asokoro markets within the metropolis indicated that residents are already experiencing the pains of the two inter-related developments with prices of rice, beans, vegetable oil, meat and cooking condiments rising in a way that may further compound the experiences of ordinary residents over high cost of staying in the FCT. Quite amusingly, just as the poor continues to watch helplessly as the prices of the food items soar astronomically, thereby waning further their hopes of feeding their families, wives of the wellto-do residents are making last minute rush to cut costs of consumables, especially foodstuffs and other commodities, as they scramble in the various markets to have enough stock of the essential staple foods that may take them through several months ahead. Inside FCT findings showed further that rather than a direct consequence of the recent floods and the yet-to-be-implemented fiscal regime on rice imports, the rising prices of commodities in the various markets have to do more with the typical Nigerian traders’ penchant for exploitation in any crisis situation as was witnessed in the flooding of farmlands in the country. A housewife and mother of three who lives in Garki area of the metropolis, Mrs. Roseline Anazodo, told our correspondent that she was already shopping seriously to get all the food items the family would need for the Christmas season in stock in order to avoid a situation where she may have to spend more than double the amount required to get them now by December. She explained: “I just came back from the market and it is unbelievable to note that the small cup of beans that I bought for N350 about two months ago now sells for N1,000. I can’t believe my ears when the seller told me the price. The same applies to other items like rice. Now a 50kg bag of polished rice which was N9,000 as at August is now selling between N12,000

Buying and selling activities in Abuja.

NOW A 50KG BAG OF POLISHED RICE WHICH WAS AS AT

N9,000

AUGUST IS NOW

SELLING BETWEEN

N12,000 AND N13,000 IN WUSE MARKET.

Yam market in Abuja

and N13,000 in Wuse Market. “So, what I am trying to do now is to find a way of raising enough money to have enough food that can take us for the next two to three months. It is almost certain that by December, a bag of rice may sell for N15,000 while beans may become even more expensive. I will try to avoid paying such high amounts and the best I can do is to buy now, even if it means suspending some expenses”, Anazodo said. Another woman and a resident of Kubwa, Mrs. Gloria Adeuti, said she would try to get the little she could for her family since she hadn’t enough money to stock all they may need for Christmas, adding that “it is very unfortunate that government is allowing the traders to exploit buyers because what we find now is that the high cost of food items cannot be as a result of the floods.

“It is part of the traders’ well-known antics to cheat people. If we were buying a cup of beans for N350 just a few months ago, what could have made the price to triple in just 60 days? “Even if we agree that the floods caused losses to farmers, what most of the traders are selling now are part of their old stocks. But like I said, it is in their attitude to reap where they did not plant. I think government should find a way of checkmating the traders’ excesses”, she added. However, a Wuse-based foodstuff trader, Abubakar Ahmed, refuted the allegations that traders were taking advantage of the ugly development to exploit consumers, saying that farmers were no longer having enough to sell at the farm gates, thereby pushing prices of the commodities higher than they used to be in the past.

Ahmed, who said he procures his stock from Bauchi, Kano and Benue States, explained that “it is now getting very difficult to buy from the farmers because of the floods. They don’t have enough to sell, so they are selling at very high prices. “For the rice, I am not selling at N12,000. I am still selling at less than that, but what I know is that fuel scarcity, which we have been witnessing in recent times, has also been increasing the cost of transportation of food commodities across the country. So, the fault is not our own, government should find a way of assisting farmers and traders. “For instance, the rice they say they want to produce now should have been allowed to be large enough before saying they want to increase import duty on rice. I think government should have done that when they know there is enough to eat. “How can you ban rice importation when the floods have swept away rice and beans plantations and also farmers’ stores? That is why the price will go up and this may cause serious problem since rice and beans are among the major foods Nigerians eat”, Ahmad predicted.

Mirror Mongers

Friday, November 2, 2012

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Reno Omokri on Twitter

Idris Wada (l) and the speaker

Extra-legislative sessions in Kogi

o one knows how long the legislative crisis rocking the Kogi State House of Assembly would last, but it has sure thrown up certain facts that were hidden about the legislators. Some of them have attributed their problems to some outside influences in anticipation of the seat of the governor which would be vacant in future. With this permutation, the general belief amongst the legislators is that some forces outside the chambers are deciding what transpires in the House of Assembly, An irony, considering that the legislators were voted to make laws for the

people of Kogi. But that is not as worrisome as the ‘gavel’ which the new faction of the House used for their legislation inside one dilapidated primary school. The whole scenario reminds one of the circumstances which led to the ouster of Peter Obi, Anambra State Governor in a hotel located in Asaba, Delta State. Perhaps the lawmakers in Kogi should also learn from the experiences of these living politicians. But most of all, ‘the gavel’ (I repeat, the gavel) must be elevated to its position as a symbol of office and not as a carpenter’s implement.

eno Omokri? His name sure rings a bell amongst the social media crowd. For those still wondering what he does, he is the man who is saddled with the job of advising the President, Goodluck Jonathan as regards the social media. Can you beat the job specification, which deals with portals like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, My Space, and the likes? The man has been doing his job ‘above average’, according to ratings by the social media crowd until recently when he handled the news of the plane crash involving Danbaba Suntai, the governor of Taraba State, who is current-

ly receiving treatment in Germany. Reno Omokri, according to those following him on Twitter was one of the very first people to break the news of the plane crash. But he also went a step further by honouring Danbaba Suntai with the ‘rest in peace’ message! Of course, he had acted on impulse and had used the same platform his principals see as being very critical of their activities. Reno Omokri’s demeanour, must have reminded a lot of people of Prof. Jerry Gana: If you are a presidential adviser on social media, presidentially and socially advise well!

Omokri

Gov. Obi

Awka Renaissance?

alpable fear is hanging in the air in Anambra State, following the arrest of kidnap kingpin, Olisa Ifedike, (his surname means a very strong thing in English) who is fondly called Ofe Akwu (Banga soup) in the Midwestern zone. The arrest has ushered in a new feeling that was similar to what happened in 2000 when most criminals fled the state for fear of being lynched by the Bakassi Boys. Already, the government has been on a spree, demolishing houses and projects acquired with proceeds from ransoms. The demolition is now going beyond kidnappers to even miracle workers in the name of men of God.

Taking the clock backwards

B Onolememem

ob Marley may have foreseen the situation at the Third Mainland Bridge while he was writing the lyrics of his hit reggae tune, Redemption Song, where he posited that he had no fear for atomic energy ‘because it cannot stop the time’. But someone in his wisdom tried to stop the time recently; and he is none other than the Minister of Works, Mike Oziegbe Onolememem, while trying to beat the deadline

for the completion of repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. As a matter of fact, the Minister had announced that the bridge would be completed on November 6, but in a swift move that smacks of taking back the hands of time, his Ministry announced that they would do so one week ahead of time. The move gladdened the hearts of Lagosians, who have had to cope with the obvious gridlock the repairs

occasioned in the metropolis in the past four months. But there are conflicting tunes indeed over the state of work done. Mirror Mongers gathered that there are still pot holes on the bridge as experienced by motorists who used the route shortly after the elaborate (according to people) ceremony to announce the completion. But in a swift move, the Ministry said the filling of those potholes would continue.

ONE-SECOND Q&A

BARACK OBAMA

While electoral victory at all costs, dominate the polity in Nigeria, United States’ President Barack Obama, relegated it to the background against the backdrop of the storm ravaging his country. He reacted to his election vis a vis the storm: Are you worried about the impact of the storm on the presidential election?

Obama

I’m not worried about the election right now. I’m worried about the impact on families and first responders, the economy and transport. The election will take care of itself next week. Right now, the number one priority is saving lives, making sure search and rescue teams are in place, and that people get all the food, water and shelter they need. Please listen to what your state and local officials are saying. When they tell you to evacuate; you need to evacuate. Don’t delay, don’t pause, don’t question. This is a serious storm that could potentially have fatal consequences.

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Dhul Hijjah 17, 1433AH Friday, November 2, 2012

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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

Welcome to Great Mosque of Aleppo

he Great Mosque of Aleppo or the Umayyad Mosque of Aleppo is the largest and one of the oldest mosques in the city of Aleppo, Syria. It is located in al-Jalloum district of the Ancient City of Aleppo near the entrance to Al-Madina Souq. It was built in the beginning of the 8th century. However, the current building of the Mamluk period dates back the 13th century, except the Seljuk minaret which stands since 1090. It is located in its Old City. Many historians claim that the mosque is home to the remains of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. The site of the Great Mosque once was the former Agora from the Hellenistic period, which later became the garden for the Cathedral of Saint Helena, during the Christian era rule of Syria. The mosque, begun about 715, was built on confiscated land that was the Cathedral cemetery.The construction of the earliest mosque on the site was commenced by the Ummayad caliph al-Walid I in 715 and was finished by his successor, Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik in 717. In the second half of the 11th century, the Mirdasids controlled Aleppo and built a single-domed fountain in the mosque’s courtyard. The detached 45-meter high minaret of the Great Mosque was restored by the Abul Hasan Muhammad of the Seljuks in 1090. The mosque was restored and expanded by the Zengid sultan Nur al-Din in 1169 after a great fire that had destroyed the earlier Ummayad structure; later, the Mamluks made further alterations. Carved Kufic inscriptions decorate the entire minaret along with alternate with bands of stylized ornaments in patterns and Muqarnas. In 1260, the entire mosque was razed by the Mongols. The courtyard and minaret of the mosque were renovated in 2003. Over the weekend of 13 October 2012, the mosque was seriously damaged during clashes between the armed groups of the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian Army forces. President Bashar al-Assad issued a presidential decree to form a committee to repair the mosque by the end of 2013.

Architecture

Let’s return to God 30

Mosque of Aleppo

The Great Mosque is built around a vast courtyard that connects to different areas of the mosque, positioned behind the colonnaded arcade. The courtyard is well known for its black and white stone pavement that forms complex geometric

patterns. The courtyard holds the two ablutions fountains. The main prayer hall of the mosque holds the primary elements of the mosque: the shrine of Zechariah, a 15th century minbar, and an elaborately

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya

Be prepared for opposition

adhrat Khalifatul Masih recited verses Surah Al Buruj, verses 2 – 12 at the start of the sermon: Those who persecute the believing men and the believing women and then repent not, for them is surely the punishment of

First veiled Muslim Mayor for Bosnia 28

Hell, and for them is the punishment of burning. But those who believe and do good works, for them are Gardens through which streams flow. That is the great triumph.’ (Surah Al Buruj, verses 2 – 12)

carved mihrab. This large prayer hall originally had a basic straight rooftop with a central dome, but was replaced by the Mamluks with an intricate crossvaulted system with arches and a small dome over the arcades. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih explained that these verses speak of the teaching of Islam in every era, they speak of the second phase of Islam and the coming of the Promised Messiah, they also speak of enemies of the Promised Messiah and his community. These verses also prepare members of the community to be prepared for opposition and speak of long-lasting opposition. However, God would not remain silent at this opposition. A day will come when those who persecute believers will be punished and those who create fire for Ahmadi Muslims will burn in a greater fire. The Jama’at has been given the glad-tiding of triumph in this world and every believer is given the glad-tiding of Paradise. Thus is the summary of these verses. Reflecting on these verses while being

Scholar asks Nigerians to emulate Prophet Ibrahim 29

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Call to Worship

mra Babic has blazed a trail in Bosnia by becoming its first hijab-wearing mayor, and possibly the only one in Europe. In a report by AlArabiya with the Associated Press, Bosnia’s first veiled Mayor began her duties this week, after an election which saw her becoming the first hijab-clad Mayor in the country, and possibly in Europe. Amra Babic, who served as a regional Finance Minister before running for Mayor, will now run the Bosnian town of Visoko, in an electoral win she describes as a “victory of tolerance” amid government debates elsewhere in Europe over laws to ban the Muslim veil. “It’s a victory of tolerance,” Babic, a wartime widow told the Associated Press last week. “We have sent a message out

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Dhul Hijjah 17, 1433AH Friday, November 2, 2012

First veiled Muslim Mayor for Bosnia

from Visoko, a message of tolerance, democracy and equality.” “I am the East and I am the West,” she declared. “I am proud to be a Muslim and to be a European. I come from a country

After Eidl-Adha, what next?

ollowing the recent celebration of eidl-adha being the highest level of obedience and sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim, Muslims are expected to do other obligations that are to be carried out on a daily basis. This piece will therefore enumerate those obligations. First and foremost, we are expected to exhibit fear of Almighty Allah in all our private and public dealings. Chapter 59, verse 19 of the glorious Qu’ran states that “O ye who believe! Fear Allah; and let every soul look to what it sends forth for the morrow. And fear Allah/ verily Allah is Well-Aware of what you do”. This is a directive from Allah that muslims must do everything based on His fear. What differentiates a believer from a non-believer is Salat. After this celebration, Muslims must continue to be performing the five times daily prayers at the prescribed time. Chapter 2, verse 111 of Q’uran reads thus “And observe prayer and pay the zakat; and whatever good you send on before you for yourselves, you shall find it with Allah; surely, Allah sees all that you do”. Equally, Muslims must desist from associating patners with Allah because He is One and the Only. There must be absolute believe in the creator because He is both Alpha and Omega. He is in the know of what is happening on earth and in heaven. An indication that He is a jealous God is in Q’uran Chapter 4, verse 49. It reads thus: “ Surely, Allah will not forgive that any parther be associated with Him..................... And whoso associates partners with Allan has indeed devised a very great sin”. Also, chapter 5, verse 73 of the holy Qu’ran corroborates the earlier chapter quoted theein.

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It is expected of every Muslim to exhibit good behaviour at all the times knowing that majority accepted Islam through the virtues of the holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW) because of his behaviour. Any act which a Muslim will like to be seen while doing it is tagged as a good behaviour. Above all, after Sallah celebrations, Muslims should be truthful, sincere, keeps his promises, has a good attitude towards others, compassionate, tolerant, easy-going in his business dealings, cheerful, patient, avoid cursing and usage o foul language. Also, we must be modest, refrain from backbiting, avoid giving false statements, avoid suspicion, keep secrets, should not make fun of anyone, respect elders, relate with people of noble character, strive for people’s benefits, forbid what is evil, eloquent in his da`wah, straightforward and consistent in his adherence to the truth. In conclusion, Muslims must live as if they are spending their last second on earth. By so doing, they will strive to keep Allah’s commandment and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed (SAW). Sheikh Abdul Ganniyy Umar Arikunkewu is the Founder/National Chief Missioner of Jubatu Rohfatu Llahi Islamic Society Of Nigeria (JUBFAT)

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (foreground) with his Oloris at the Eid praying ground on Sallah day last Friday in Oyo town.

where religions and cultures live next to each other, all that together is my identity.” Her electoral pledge for the town are to fix the infrastructure, partly ruined by the Bosnian 1992-95 war; make Visoko attractive for investments, encourage youth to start small businesses and lower the unemployment rate which stands at more than 25 percent. “We are proud to have elected her,” Muris Karavdic, 38, a local small business owner told AP. “It doesn’t matter whether she covers her head or not. She is smart and knows finances.” The 43-year-old Economist was a Bank Auditor and served as the Regional Finance Minister before running for the mayoral post. Bosnia fell into civil war in 1992 that left 200,000 people dead and displaced millions as Serb forces launched ethnic cleansing cam-

paign against Bosnian Muslims. Bosnia, a small country on the Balkan Peninsula, is home to three ethnic “constituent peoples”: mainly Muslim-Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats. Out of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s nearly 4 million populations, some 40 percent are Muslims, 31 percent Orthodox Christians and 10 percent Catholics. Babic sees her victory as breaking multiple barriers, from bigotry against women in a traditionally male-dominated society to stigmatization of the hijab that sprang up under the communist regime. “Finally we have overcome our own prejudices,” she told AP. “The one about women in politics, then the one about hijabwearing women — and even the one about hijab-wearing women in politics.”

Female executives of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation presenting a cheque to one of the beneficiaries of Zakat and Sadaqat distribution organized by the Z&S foundation recently.

Be prepared for opposition CONTINUED FROM 27 mindful of the current state of affairs regarding our Jama’at, one’s belief in the truthfulness of the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is increased. One’s belief in God is also enhanced as to how centuries ago He foretold what was to come through this illustration. It assures that Islam would prosper through the ages albeit in specific areas and then gives the glad-tiding of a Promised One to come who would take the message of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) not to specific areas and specific people, as the Mujaddid (reformers) of past did, but would take it to the entire world and for this a community would be established in every country of the world, thus giving us the insight into the message of: ‘Say, ‘O mankind! truly I am a Messenger to you all from Allah…’ (7:159). All this makes the truthfulness of the community of the Promised Messiah (on whom be

peace) as clear as the day. Fortunate are we that by being a part of the community we are associated to that ‘Testifer’ (Shahid) who came to expound the truthfulness of the great ‘Witness’ (Mushood) to the world. God sent him to this world to prove the truthfulness and superiority of the beautiful teaching of the Holy Qur’an. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) carried this out as well as presented the lofty station and stature of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to the world. Prior to the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) books, people felt the need for a testifier and those who had sincere concern for Islam were restless. The advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was exactly on time. It was not that the need for someone was only felt at that time, even today people are looking for a reformer, a true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

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Friday, November 2, 2012

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Dhul Hijjah 17, 1433AH

Scholar asks Nigerians to emulate Prophet Ibrahim SEKINAH L AWAL

s Muslims the world over celebrated Eid-el-Kabir last Friday, Nigerian Muslims have been called upon to continue to work and

pray for the peace, unity and progress of the country. The Chief Imam of Dowomu Central Mosque, Dopemu-Lagos, Fadhilat Sheikh Sulaimon Alaga made the call on Sallah day during the Eid prayer marking the Sallah celebra-

tion. Alhaji Alaga also called for more prayers so that the lingering insecurity situation in the North-East part of the country and elsewhere would be a thing of the past. He enjoined Muslims to renew their faith in

submissions to Allah in line with the wisdom behind the sacrifices of Rams as part of the sallah rites and urged them to renew their faith in Allah with hope and prayers. The Sheikh also called on all Muslim homes and families to be

united in the cause of Allah as demonstrated by prophet Ibrahim and his family as they were resolute in obeying the command of Allah and shunning evil. According to him, the only way the country can enjoy meaningful develop-

ment, where government at all levels can work at turning the life of its people around was for peace and unity to reign among Nigerians and that it was the responsibility of Muslim faithful to pray for their country and leaders.

FG urged to sacrifice for masses LATEEFAH IBRAHIMANIMASHAUN

Chief Imam of Dowomu Central Mosque, Fadhilatul Sheikh Sulaimon Alaga (2nd right) delivering his sermon during the EidulAdha celebration recently.

Muslim woman appointed Norway’s culture minister

adia Tajik has become the first-ever Muslim cabinet member and youngest ever government minister in Norway. Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, has appointed a Muslim woman as part of his government during a Cabinet reshufle this week. Hadia Tajik, 29, from Pakistani descent, was appointed on Friday as Norway’s Minister of Culture. Hadia has become the first ever Muslim cabinet member and youngest ever government minister in the Scandinavian country. The newly appointed Minister of Culture has already publicised her programme for the upcoming months and highlighted that cultural diversity should become an undisputable part of Norway’s everyday life. In 2009, she was elected as MP for the Norwegian Labour Party that represented Oslo. Tajik had worked as journalist before she was made advisor to the Minister of Justice, Knut Storberget between 2008 and 1009. During her service under Storberget, the Ministry of Justice decided to allow police women to wear the hijab in the service, but the decision was quickly withdrawn after intense criticism from conservative parties and members of the government coalition.

Moslem faithful praying at the Arabic and Islamic Training Centre Mosque(Markaz) in Agege during the Eid el Kabir Lagos.

Rector, Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Muhammad Habibullah El-llory OON,(middle) slaughtering a ram on the praying ground in celebration of Eid-ElKabir in Lagos.

overnments at all levels have been called upon to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice in discharging its affairs so as to address the needs of Nigerian people. The Amir (President) of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, (MSSN) Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen, in his Eid-Kabir message, advised the political leadership of the country to always put the overall interest of Nigerians first, since it is their votes that brought them to power. While congratulating Nigerians on the occasion of this year’s Eid-l-Adha celebration, the MSSN leader urged them inculcate the spirit of sacrifice, patience, obedience and steadfastness as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim (AS). He said every necessary step must be taken by the political leadership of the country to make life more meaningful and worth living for Nigerians. Badrudeen argued that if government officials could sacrifice their ego and personal interests, the country will be a better place as he urged Nigerians

to continue to exercising patience in the face of numerous challenges facing the country. He advised them not to resort to do-or-die politics, noting that Almighty Allah has promised in the Holy Qur’an, that He is always with the patient. Notwithstanding the general hopelessness that is being experienced by Muslims and non-Muslims both as a result of the socioeconomic crisis that has been making life unbearable for may for long now, we nevertheless must continue to thank the Almighty Allah for sparing our lives to witness yet another eidl-Adha,’ he added. He also called for more prayers for the country, saying that ‘this period is one of the periods that almighty Allah has given assurance for the acceptance of prayers from His obedient servants. Eid-Adha Celebration: MSSN Lagos asks governments to make sacrifices for Nigerians. The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, has advised The MSSN said if government officials could sacrifice their ego and personal interests they would be able to address the needs of Nigerian people.

The Chief Imam of Oyo State, Alhaji Mashood Adebayo Ajokidero III slaughtering the ram to indicate permission for ram slaughtering after the Eid prayer.

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Dhul Hijjah 10, 1433AH Friday, November 2, 2012

Let’s return to God

appenings around the globe tend to show as if God is angry with us. The world is in a state of confusion. The rate of injustice by man against man is unprecedented. Human society is indeed in turmoil. There are wars within and among nations. The consequences of Flood disasters and ozone depletion are always becoming unmanageable. One of the most visible landmarks in the modern time is war all over the places. The world is at war as it now counts war as it counts money. These wars have been mischievously classified into minor and major. The latter according to the United Nations involves annual military conflict leaving about one thousand people dead on the battlefield. This definition tends to underplay the value of human life. In addition, the modern tactics of war may not necessarily leave the victims dead on the battlefield as they may even die inside their houses as we are having in Pakistan, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, etc. In the modern wars too, civilian are always the victims; whereas during the First World War, the casualties were said to be fewer than five percent while more than 75 percent is the

HE FAILS TO REMEMBER THE HEREAFTER. HE REMAINS ARROGANTLY

GODLESS AND FAITHLESS IN HIS CHALLENGE OF

GOD’S POWER

case in the present day wars. Another irony of the modern war is that the country that bombs another will still turn around to provide humanitarian aids. Africa alone had had about twenty so-called major wars since 1960. Liberia, Burundi, Sudan, Somalia, Angola, etc have all been war-ravaged. The causes of all these wars are near and remote, local and international, personal and national. The aftermath of these wars are crushing disasters. Women and children are not spared as they are consigned to misery. If the resources inputted in the production of ammunitions are sincerely channeled to fight hunger and diseases, would the world not be more secured? While physical wars ravage on, there is the emergence of modern slavery. The object of slavery is exploitation, cheap la-

bour, physical torture, domineering power and subjugation. In the modern times, although the slavery via colonialism was claimed to have ended, but it is unfortunate that it has fully re-emerged in a more dangerous garb. There is hardly a so-called independent country today that is free from the claws and talons of the old masters. Globalization is nothing but a control of global political economy. This enslavement is carried out through international finance, international information technology and media. The major machineries are World Bank, IMF, WTO, TNCs, UN, NATO, Internet and the like. Wikileaks saga surfaced with its incontrovertible truths left haunting the masterminds of canny oppression of the helpless, hungry, dying, impoverished masses. Natural disasters are taking turns. We saw how heavy rains unleashed a mega- mudslide in Bolivia’s capital that destroyed 400 homes. In Texas, fast-moving wildfires destroyed about sixty homes and burned more than 120,000 acres. A volcano spewed a 2km-high column of ash that led hundreds of people fleeing their homes and farms in central Philippines. Fire, speeding like whirlwind has raged its fury. Flood, moving high like moun-

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tains has unleashed havoc. Earthquake, erupting like tornado has ruined material and human resources; volcano ashes, smoldering like hell have destroyed, tsunami, rising like fury has stretched overland to capture and dislodge; landslides like hungry shark have opened up to swallow and sink unquantifiable resources. Cyclones, sounding like thunder emerged to carry moving objects, destroy and fling into faraway lands. In all these situations, man was helpless. Should man not then think? Beyond being natural, some of these disasters were consequent upon man’s sinfulness and the wrath of God. But man fails to learn his lesson. He fails to return to his Lord. He continues in his sinfulness. He fails to remember the hereafter. He remains arrogantly godless and faithless in his challenge of God’s power. It’s hope that the future will not be more calamitous! Dr. Zafaran is the Director, Vanguards Academy

Amir, Ahmadiyya Mulism Jamaát, Dr. Mashhud Aderenle-Fashola leading other members, during the Eid-el-Kabir prayer at Apata prayer ground, Ibadan. Oyo State.

Personal Assistant to the Amir, Utaz Aliu Akewugberu; State Quid, Khudamm-ul- Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Apata, Ibadan, Bro. Dikko Dauda; Circuit Missionary, Dhunoorain Ibn Bello; Amir, Dr. Mashhud Aderenle-Fashola; Circuit President, Alh. Mashood Baiyewu and Sadr. Khudamm-ul- Ahmadiyya, Bro. Abdul Qadir Abdul Rafiu.

L-R: Member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Bro Falilu Adelemo; Naib Amir, Special Duties, Alhaji Ahmeed Al-Hassan and Missionary in charge, Maulvi Abdulkhalique Nayyar, during the Eid-el-Kabir, prayer in Lagos. PHOTOS: BAYOOR EWUOSO

L-R: Former Medical Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Naseem Sanyaolu; Pa Nasir Olokodana; Lagos State Missionary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Muallim Qasim Oyekola and former Executive Director, Central bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Zafrullah Elias, at the Eid-el Kabir PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI prayer in Lagos.

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Arty News

Friday, November 2, 2012

Beautiful Nubia, Jimi Solanke for EniObanke Music Festival OYINKAN SOMORIN

niObanke, the multi-art production and marketing company is set with the 3rd edition of their annual music festival known as The EniObanke Music Festival (EMUfest). It is scheduled to take place from November 13 to 18 at the EniObanke Arts Centre, Ikeja GRA. The festival plans to celebrate, showcase and re-position authentic Nigerian and African music as a tool for societal reformation and economic growth. According to the organisers, side attractions expected at the event are the host, Beautiful Nubia, JImi Solanke, Orlando Julius Ekemode and Pa Chris Ajilo.

The festival is however slated for Lagos, Ile-Ife and Ibadan and will also provide a concentrated space for creative artistes in Nigeria to gain critical insight into their current operations, while revealing the new income streams for the modern musician. A breakdown of the programme shows that the festival will start on November 13, while on November 14, there is going to be a song writing workshop led by Beautiful Nubia. November 15 will be for the talent night show to unveil new artistes, followed by a celebrity soccer competition. The festival will end on November 18 with a grand concert at the EniObanke Arts Centre, where two prominent journalists would be honoured for their support to the music industry.

Igbo Film Festival opens in Lagos

he 2012 Igbo Film Festival will open today in Lagos, to raise awareness about the endangered future of Igbo language films in the country. The event is expected to last for three days at the Duban International Hotel, Ogba, Lagos. This year’s edition, the second in the series, is expected to dwell more on the need for Ndigbo to have a rethink about their language and culture and begin to follow them with pride wherever they are.

Beautiful Nubia performing

According to Harris Chuma, the brain behind the festival, the event is encompassing this time around because it wants to tackle some of the major problems facing Ndigbo, especially that of reviving the language which is almost going extinct. Using Nollywood as a re-launch pad for the language, he said that film producers of Igbo extraction and others will be educated on how to embrace content building in Igbo language once again. “Because movies go a long way in sensitising the people, the festival is fully designed to provoke the re-birth of Igbo films,” he explained. Chuma, who was recently a guest of the Igbo Community in New York, USA, revealed that many well-meaning Ndigbo are worried about the rate at which Ndigbo shy away from communicating in their language even as tribes celebrate theirs at home and abroad. “I visited our late leader, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu before his death and he thanked me about the crusade to revive the language. He told me that it was worthwhile and that we must speak and be proud of our language. Hence we are using this platform to rub it in,” he concluded. Igbo language films will be screened at the festival which will also produce the New Face of Ndigbo.

Haris Chuma (r)

Macmillan Literary Night holds Nov 8 TERH AGBEDEH

he 10th edition of the Macmillan Literary Night, which has been an annual staple since 1999, will take place on Thursday, November 8 at the Agip Recital Hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos at 6p.m. The theme for the event this year is: ‘Break It!...Stumbling Blocks to National Development’. Mrs. Francesca Y. Emanuel, who is the Vice Chairman of Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited and Chairman of the company’s Literary Events Committee said, while briefing the media at the company’s office on Tuesday, that as it is usual with the event, Macmillan has “identified certain issues which we feel are issues that must be addressed for the situation (in the country) to improve”. Mrs. Emanuel explained that such issues are corruption, impunity, anarchy, citizenship & ethnicism, religious bigotry, patronage & mediocrity, ignorance & poverty, helplessness & hopelessness and leadership. She said Macmillan has put together the thinking of diverse writers, including politicians, opinion shapers and ordinary Nigerians in order to point a

way to future possibilities. Actors Irhia Enakhimio, Joke Silva, Nobert Young, Tina Mba, and members of the Crown Troupe of Africa, will interpret the works, while poet and essayist, Odia Ofeimun, as has always been tradition, will be resource person and compere. Also, this milestone year of a decade since inception of the event, the company that prides itself as ‘Pacesetters in publishing’ has a surprise package for the night and only those who show up will experience it. Mrs. Emanuel, who was accompanied by Dr. Iyiola Adelekan (Managing Director) and veteran journalist, Mr. Ben Tomoloju (Member, Macmillan Literary Events Committee), further said the night is another manifestation of the total commitment of Macmillan to its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. Other members of the committee present included Dr. Promise Ogochukwu, Segun Adefila and Tope Babafemi, as well as members of Macmillan management. Dr. Adelakun said what the company was doing was in line with the goal of national development. He praised the tenacity of Mrs. Emanuel and employed the public to attend the event.

Ghetto P in Late Call Project

halil Hassan, also known as Ghetto P is strongly building grounds in the music industry as he plans to release his new album titled, The Late Call Project. The album, which consists of six singles, will be hitting its listeners like Mike Tyson’s punch. According to the artist, “my album is a straight hard core rap dedicated to the defunct Kill Beatz crew and apart from that, it is also to appease my loyal fans who have waited long enough for my anticipated rap album.” Ghetto P, who has been around for a while in the music industry, intends to makes his tracks distinct from any singles made in Nigeria, which is why he has refused to work with top producers or do any collaborations with any class artiste except Terry G, who collaborated in one of the tracks, Turning me on. Planning to dominate the last quarter of the year, Ghetto P’s m u s i c v i d e o for the track, Lyk

ah bike, produced by director Patrick Ellis, has been compared to Sean Paul’s hit track videos showing his superb deliveries of his dance hall tunes. Hopeful of being one of Africa’s most promising music ambassadors, Ghetto P wants to see hip-hop in Africa stand at par with the rest of the world. Other tracks in Ghetto P’s album include: Am gone, I am here now, Kilo foshi? I no send you and No teasing.

Ghetto P

Escape

Friday, November 2, 2012

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The Emir makes his grand entrance

The Durbar in all its glory

Historical tour through Katsina’s Sallah Durbar festival JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

Some warriors

Participants at the Durbar

he annual Sallah Durbar festivals in the Northern part of the country is perhaps one of the most spectacular events in which the culture and heritage of the Hausa-Fulani people are displayed, with the event said to date back several centuries. In pre-colonial days when the Emirate system was dominant administrative system of the Hausa-Fulani people, horses were usually used for warfare rather than the recreational purpose they mostly serve today. Each community was expected to contribute their quota of able-bodied men to serve as warriors for the defense of the Emirate, with the warriors invited once or twice annually to the palace for a Durbar or military parade on horsebacks for the emir and his chiefs. The parade usually showcased how prepared the warriors were for war, their horsemanship and loyalty to the emirate, with the parade serving as a form of confidence booster for the emir and his subjects in the event of a war. With the coming of Islam however, the Durbar was gradually modified to mostly festivals celebrated in honour of important political office holders especially a state Governor, with the event held second day of the two Muslim festivals of Ed-el-Fitr and Ed-el-Kabir. In Katsina, the festival was said to have been introduced by the first Fulani Emir of Katsina, Ummarun Dallaje, who reigned from 1807 to 1835 with the state having five durbars, two in Katsina and three in Daura emirates. The Hawan Sallah and Hawan Bariki are usually held on Sallah day and the day after respectively in Katsina, while Hawan Sallah, Hawan Daushe and Hawan Magajiya are held on a three-day stretch in Daura emirate. Held simultaneously in the two emirates, Hauwan Sallah begins with prayers

THE FESTIVAL COMMENCES WITH EACH GROUP RACING ACROSS THE SQUARE AT FULL GALLOP on the Ed ground, followed by processions of horsemen to the public square in front of the Emir’s palace, where each village group, district head, and every other traditional ruler at the local level, take their assigned places. Last to arrive is the Emir and his servants dressed in colourful attires where all of them also take their places in front of the palace to receive homage, or jafi, of their subjects. The festival commences with each group racing across the square at full gallop and brandishing their swords. They pass just few feet away from where the emir is seated along several other dignitaries, and then stop abruptly to salute him with raised swords. Final and most fierce of the riders are the emir’s household and regimented guards, who are called the Dogarai. The Emir then retires to the palace while fanfare continues with singing, dancing and other forms of celebration. The purpose of the Durbar according to Katsina emirate is “to express joy and happiness for the Sallah day and to entertain people on the cultural and historical heritage of the people of Katsina. “Besides this, it is regarded as a mark of homage and loyalty by the District Heads to the Emir. The durbar also serves to unite the people, bring them closer to Government, and give them opportunity to listen to policy statement firsthand.” On the second day, the Hauwan Bariki is held in Katsina while the Hauwan Daushe is

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Escape

Friday, November 2, 2012

Travel News

Rivers State rolls out 2012 CARNIRIV ... Festival to commemorate 100 years of statehood

held in Daura. The difference is that the state governor is usually paid homage to in Katsina while his representative in Daura stands in his stead during the event. The Katsina Emir passes through the main road leading from his palace to the Government House and then back to the palace through same routes, with a long procession of his subjects. First in the procession line is the Sarkin Tuta or custodian of the Emir’s flag, followed by Yan-Baka, the bow and arrow warriors, then Yan-Busa or the Emir’s trumpeters. Behind them are the Sarkin Takamar Sarki, followed by Dawakin Zage, which are the Emir’s special extra horses, the princes and Emir’s grandsons and finally the Emir, who is surrounded by his local warriors, Yan-Baka and Yan-Kwalkwali. However, everyone participating in the procession usually leaves the Government House earlier than the Emir, and assembles at the Emir’s palace to await his arrival. They will then pay the traditional homage before departing to their respective abodes. The Emir and the Governor delivered their annual Sallah speeches at Government House during the Hawan Bariki with the Emir, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman lamenting on a recent farmer-Fulani herdsmen clash in some parts of the state. Usman called on traditional leaders to work towards checking reoccurrence of the incident and that some of those involved in the incident had been arrested by the police. He called for more prayers that would lead to a peaceful and prosperous country, and for lasting solution to the security situation which had slowed economic activities in affected areas. Governor Ibrahim Shema, on his part, outlined some of his administration’s achievements with assurance that the state would continue to enjoy more of such in days and months to come. Shema also called on people to be security conscious and not to leave security matters in the hands of law enforcement agents alone, even as he revealed that electricity supply would soon improve as a wind-propelled power station would be commissioned in the coming weeks.

iver State Government has formally flagged off activities for this year’s edition of its internationally acclaimed cultural fiesta popularly referred to as CARNIRIV 2012, declaring that the Rotimi Amechi-administration is determined to turn the festival into a destination marketing tool to market the state to domestic and international tourists alike. Branded “CARNIRIV 2012 Port Harcourt 100 Edition”, the festival which holds from Saturday, December 8 to Saturday, December 15, is being celebrated in a special way this year as it coincides with the commemoration of the 100 years’ existence of the City of Port Harcourt. Addressing a world media conference at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt recently, where the programme of activities for the festival was announced, the state government unveiled an advancement plan for the CARNIRIV brand with the projection to make it one of the world’s biggest cultural fiestas by 2015. In his presentation, the Director-General, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), Dr. Sam Dede, stated that the growth potential for CARNIRIV was unlimited which is why the state government is projecting it to become a global brand with the largest support and attendance possible. ‘‘CARNIRIV will evolve into a recognisable global brand beyond the imminent demands of 2012 edition. Our projection is to make it a carnival brand of reckon and a recognisable global brand that would become the biggest cultural fiesta by 2015, in terms of impact, benefits and attendance,” he declared. Dede added that the envisioned future for CARNIRIV also included its financial autonomy, stating that the era of dependence on government subventions was over. In the light of this, he explained that this year’s carnival has been packaged to attract more corporate sponsors as well as deliver greater return on investment. The director-general further assured that the carnival would continue to impact the prosperity of the people. In his opening remark, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Nabs Imegbu, said the intention of the administration of Governor Rotimi Amaechi was not just to make CARNIRIV a platform to project the rich cultural value of the people of the state, but to make it become a major pillar for the socio-economic growth of the state. “The government of Rivers State, over the past five years, has been consistent in its efforts to make CARNIRIV a tool for cultural revival; I mean culture in the broad sense of it. That is, the articulation of the special values, customs and attitudes of the people into a whole sellable package. In Rivers State, we are a people founded on unique good values which we individually and collectively express in the way we live and interact with others’’, Imegbu said. The commissioner, who added that CARNIRIV is the second largest cultural event in Nigeria currently, revealed further that the government also desires to make CARNIRIV one of the most sought-after cultural fiestas in the world by tourists. To this end, he said the state government was doing all that was necessary to make the 2012 festivities like no other in terms of planning, content, logistics, security, attendance and participation among others. “A carnival is about big media, big mobilisation and big performance and we are improving on these at every yearly edition of CARNIRIV’’, he said while assuring prospective guests and tourists that the carnival would be an unforgettable experience. He informed that his ministry and the RSTDA are collaborating to actualise the policy of the state government on cultural revival by according CARNIRIV its pride of place as a focal policy thrust of the Amaechi administration. In a goodwill message, former Miss World and Face of Carniriv 2012, Agbani Darego, expressed delight to be the face of the brand. ‘‘It’s great to return home; to familiar soil and the loving people of Rivers State for an occasion that celebrates our rich heritage and buoyant culture in all its splendour’’, she stated. Darego in the message read on her behalf by Ibinabo Fi-

Gov. Amaechi

beresima, said she was excited at her new role while she looked forward to’’ connecting with my people and sharing this wonderful experience together’’. While empathising with victims of recent flooding in the country, Darego said she remained ‘‘positive and hopeful that we will pull through strong and it will surely get better. My heart indeed goes to the affected families and communities’’. On the activities lined up for the carnival, Dr. Dede stated that the carnival would be kick-started on December 8 with a stage performance titled “King Jaja”, which renders momentous account of the earliest migrations of the riverine peoples into the precipice of Western reckoning. Another activity is the “Old Port Harcourt Town Groove”, this is designed to enliven fond memories of the city. Other activities include “Kids Carnival” to demonstrate the importance attached to children participation in CARNIRIV, while “Carnival Praise Jam” is meant to uplift and inspire the added spiritual ambience for which Port Harcourt is renowned. Local and international groups including Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa are expected to feature during the praise jam. There will also be the unveiling of the Carnival Monument one of which is the CARNIRIV ’88 monument. The old carnival monument is the symbol of CARNIRIV, the oldest carnival in Nigeria established in 1988, has just been renovated into a befitting memorabilia. The second is the new CARNIRIV monument, a towering monument to mark the Port Harcourt 100 Edition of the Carnival. CARNIRIV 2012 Colloquium, a forum for intellectual discourse on issues that border on the state and nation, is another A-list event outlined for the carnival with the Nobel Laureate; Prof. Wole Soyinka expected to give the keynote address. Monday, December 8 is the grand official opening of CARNIRIV 2012 and it will commence with the opening of the Carnival Village by Governor Rotimi Amaechi. “This is an elaborate display of fireworks and it is meant to set the tone for a memorable opening ceremony with attendees enjoying all-round free access into the Carnival Village to view the artistic renditions of the different cultural climes of Rivers State’’, Dede said. Also to feature are “Dance of Fireflies” (DOFF), a nostalgic retrospection into the ancient ageless fireplace gatherings of indigenous African tribes and “Rhythm of the Tribes” in which the 23 local government areas will parade the best of their cultural heritage. “Hosh Jam”, a reminiscence of the old highlife style of the people, “International Aquatic Fiesta” as well as the “Black African Music Festival” (BAMFest), a celebration of the Black African heritage will also be on display, among several other events designed to make the festivities an unforgettable experience. The rest are “Reggae-360”, “International Heritage Parade”, “Garden City Freestyle Parade”. The weeklong CARNIRIV 2012 will be rounded off with a World Peace Concert amidst a rhapsody of spectacular fireworks.

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

denrele@nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, November 2, 2012

Naughty Notes

CLAPPERBOARD with

Eddie Ugbomah

08059100422 (SMS only)

Purifying from inside out

ow embarrassing is it for the state government that a Lagos BRT with no windshield wiper has been ferrying commuters in this season when the late rains can be quite torrential and stormy? Only three weeks ago, on a sunny morning, someone well known to me boarded a BRT bus at Fadeyi bus stop along Ikorodu Road heading to CMS on Lagos Island. As the city shuttle ascended Eko Bridge, the sky opened up, pouring down heavy rain. Putting his passengers in great jeorpardy, the blinded driver continued on his route as pellets of raindrops obscured his vision of the road and of the flimsy side grill, hemming vehicles in from the Lagoon below. My source swore passengers hastily formed an impromptu prayer band, imploring the Almighty’s Divine GPS guidance, while another male commuter offered himself as human wiper for the interior windshield.

She survived to tell the story; however. What if the tragic had occurred? Would the government had admitted (ir)responsibility and sanctioned itself to a jail term for manslaughter or breaking traffic laws? May I enquire from our law makers -state and federal- how they intend to apprehend a police van driver who’s not wearing his seat belt or the other policeman on (un)official night patrol who is chugging steadily on his green bottle of alcoholic Alomo bitters? Who enforces the law on the enforcer where chronic and bold-faced abuse of the law occurs? These are genuine questions Nigerians want answered. Since the president is reading the riot act on corruption clears throat and our state governor is enacting more laws than citizens can keep up with, perhaps their sincerity of purpose would be more transparent by a scapegoat-like demonstration of discipline through the rank and file of public service. Let there be no sacred cows! By the way, no offence meant to my relatives and family friends who are members of the public service and, or, of the police force.

The savvy bureaucrat ...and my justifiable social gaffe

oarding an aircraft out of Durban to Johannesburg last Thursday, I was booked on the same South Africa Airways flight with Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi. Unbeknown to me, a plethora of football stars were also my co-passengers on that flight -round leather game icons from across the globe who, 24 hours earlier, had been guests of CAF, the continent’s football governing body, at the final group draws for the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Anyway, my coach I knew and a few African faces I could identify from my sporadic days of football followership. Moreso, Keshi made a remarkable impression on me not only for his business-like comportment, but as well for his diplomatic method of handling a potentially tricky situation. While waiting on a queue at our departure gate to be checked in and boarded, Keshi had caused quite a stir among Nigerians on the queue and several walked up to the polygot football star to shake hands, share a picture moment or receive his autograph. Trust belligerent Nigerians who must gripe loudly at an international airport about how well other countries work and how badly ours does. One of such ‘poison spitters’ positioned himself very close to the coach (elbowing me, on whom

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Keshi (L) and ‘Denrele

Keshi had bequeathed the title of his manager, out of the way) and began to curse at Nigeria’s leadership for shortchanging the people. I can’t even re-write the strong words he used; it was disturbing. Keshi very quickly distanced himself from the man and shut him up with these words “Oga, there’s a time and place for everything, this is not the place for this kind of conversation and the people you are addressing will not hear you here”. Fortunately for the Nigeria football team manager, he was next for boarding and thus quickly disengaged himself from a situation which could cast aspersion on his employer and doubts on his loyalty. And likewise did many Nigerians on the line give the man a wide berth. Love and peace for the weekend.

www.edifosafilm.com

Stand up Nollywood

here are so many big actors who have refused to be part of Nollywood, Yorowood or Kanowood, Some of these big stars are Akin Lewis, Kunle Coker, Olu Jacobs, Justis Esiri, Ini Edo, Ego Okoye, Enem Isong, Ramson Noah, Joke Silver, Monalisa Chinda, Omotola Ekeinde, Bob Manuel and others. You can’t blame them because of the in-fighting and bickering amongst the actors. But when these stars that were made by this industry become richer than their producers and directors, they don’t care for the Guilds again. If these people are united, nobody can be as powerful as them. I know how governors, politicians and even the president used these stars to reach the public and win votes. Kanayo O. Kanayo, Segun Arinze and Emeka Ike fought for years to be or remain president of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) which they were not part of when it was formed by Lari Williams. Recently, actors all ran to act in TV soap Tinsel because of the cash but they don’t see the sell out or insulting part. I remember when Kunle Coker told me that he is better paid by the South African producers so he works for them. Some of our arrogant self-centered actors are on Tinsel because of the money but many of them have failed woefully in the film industry. They failed as writers, producers or directors, so they end up condemning Nollywood. If not for the marketers that risked their cash, who would be talking today about film productions? NTA created six channels plus over 36 local state stations, but they failed to commission programmes or buy programmes. To make matters worse, Nigerian televisions are hooked up on DSTV, which is a total shame because of digital broadcasting. If the national station can’t lead by example and commission soaps, tele-movies and talk shows, these abuse wouldn’t have happened and our hungry desperate unpatriotic actors won’t have sold their souls to MultiChoice, DSTV, African Magic and GoTV people. I know an actor running a family show on Lagos TV (LTV) who couldn’t afford to invite me because he said that he was not getting sponsorship to pay for inviting top guests for his show. So what he and his wife are doing is managing by shoestring production. A TV station at Ikeja was charging N3000 to register so that actors can appear in their soap; this is how low some TV stations can go to survive. When stars don’t care for the welfare and protection of their industry, anybody can cheat and abuse them and anything can happen. With all the big names I have mentioned, most of the Yoruba stars are not members of ANTP and their leaders have been in court for the past three years. Are Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, Pete Edochie, Mercy Johnson and Nkem Owoh card carrying members of the Guild? The answer is NO and I hope I am wrong.

WHEN STARS DON’T CARE FOR THE WELFARE AND PROTECTION OF THEIR INDUSTRY ANYBODY CAN CHEAT THEM These anomalies will soon be curbed by the new President-elect Ibinabo Fiberesima because the Actors Guild is in a total mess. Afolabi Adesanya said he gave N1.9m to Nollywood in six years and his body guard Brian confirmed it. For the past six years, Afolabi has been wasting ₤18,000 (eighteen thousand euros) to pay for the empty kiosk he hires every May in Cannes, France; that is N2.5m yearly. He will then take two members -one from the Senate and one from the House of Rep. Anytime we protest to the Minister of Information who was a colleagues of Afolabi in the press when he was a reporter, he will ignore us. Imagine the situation where a bill is lying in the ministry since 2006 and none of the past ministers including Akunyili, Odey, Nweke and Maku have done anything for the movie Industry. See the horror a fool has cost the world with his Jew-influenced film that has cost the lives of innocent people. This is not the type of film I will encourage and I thank God that no Muslim in the East, West or South South will destroy anything because one fool shot a Jewish-instigated film. Film makers in Nigeria must stand up and fight for the right to survive if the supervising parasatals do their job properly. As for now, the entire stakeholders have suffered six years of abuse from Afolabi Adesanya who has refused to go after completing his two terms at the Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC). I am raising cash for my films by creating an equity, selling my bungalows and my living has to be curtailed because I have no job, no earning so I am sacrificing my old property to raise cash and shoot a film that will be exported for years or I might end-up as a tenant in this my old age. Nigerian artistes must wake-up and aim for the sky and stop stooping and getting insulted. I want to use this rare opportunity to praise the competitors in MTN Project Fame and the judges but the judges should not be too hard on these kids. My only disappointment is that I hate the exploitation of sponsors in this country. They are everywhere cheating and pretending to be helpful. More grease to the elbow of sponsors of reality talent shows; I hope the editor will tolerate this small unpaid adverts. Nollywood! wake-up and fight for your survival!

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

People In The Mirror

Friday, November 2, 2012

Celebrating artistry the Hennessey way Many artistes and stakeholders in the entertainment industry were serenaded by convivial ambience as this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hennessey Artistry held recently as shown by these images.

Olisa Adibua

Darey, Zaina and Mo eazy.

elDee

Ms Jaie and Yvonne

M.I and Yvonne

Govt College, Ibadan old boys meet Dele Momodu

Banky W

Dj Sose

Tunde Ednut

L-R: The Principal, Govt College Ibadan, Pastor Simeon Olusola Oladele, with the senior official of the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Mr Kola Ajagbe representing the Hon. Commisioner.

L-R: Seasoned marketing guru, Chief Bola Akingbade, with public relations and media relations guru, Mr. Aramide Tola Noibi.

Old boys of the Government College, Ibadan converged on the school hall recently for the 2012 annual reunion luncheon of the association. Here are some of the faces at the event.

L-R: Delta State Chief Judge Rt. Hon Justice ZaiLaye-Dawo Abiodun Smith with a colleague, Engr. Ayo Kumolu Johnson

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive

2012 Hyundai i-oniq:

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

hen Hyundai Motor Company unveiled its latest technology, i-onig at the 2012 Geneva Motor earlier in the year, it got the auto stakeholders and professionals glued to its concept, which is a rare feature in the global auto world. The Hyundai i-oniq is an electric sports hatchback with a range-extending petrol engine. Intended to convey the latest thinking from Hyundai’s designers and engineers, the i-oniq evolves the company’s fluidic sculpture form language and represents bold ‘New Possibilities’ with its futuristic power train. Though, the latest technology is still new on Nigerian roads, with a few millions of naira, a car enthusiast can have the latest hybrid in his garage. Hyundai stylists chose dynamic proportions to create i-oniq’s aesthetic and functional body shape. Its design combines gentle feature lines and muscular surface treatment, conveying both premium and sporty qualities evident in both the exterior and interior of the car. Further design elements, such as the ‘penthouse roof ’ and LED headlights, emphasise the efficiency and advanced technology encased within Hyundai i-oniq concept. At 4.4 metres long, Hyundai i-oniq concept has space for four occupants in its driver-oriented cabin. Hightech equipment in the driver interface and controls reflects contemporary and future premium consum-

HYUNDAI STYLISTS CHOSE DYNAMIC PROPORTIONS TO

CREATE I-ONIQ’S AESTHETIC AND FUNCTIONAL BODY SHAPE er electronics technology. Passengers benefit from a lounge-style space designed to optimise comfort, featuring sculpted surfaces inspired by musical instruments to create a positive contrast with the sports-focused driver area. The Hyundai i-oniq concept has an innovative power train that demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to clean technology. A 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder pet-

roll engine lithium i iis mated, d via i a generator, to a li hi iion electric motor, which produces 109 ps. In electric-only mode, i-oniq has a range of 120 km, while with assistance from the petrol engine it can travel up to 700 km, producing just 45 g/km of CO2 in the process.

Exterior The i-oniq concept car, designed and developed at Hyundai’s European R&D centre in Germany, is an evolution of the company’s signature design language, fluidic sculpture. Hyundai designers chose dynamic proportions to create i-oniq’s aesthetic and functional body shape. Its design combines gentle feature lines and muscular surface treatment, conveying premium and athletic qualities evident in both the exterior and interior of the car. The Chief Designer at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre, Thomas Bürkle, said, “Two arched curves are the key theme behind i-oniq, creating a strong and playful contrast between sharp character lines and soft but muscular features. The profile lines of the front fender run from front to back, emphasising i-oniq’s coupé appearance, while offering maximum visibility to occupants.” Further design elements, such as the ‘penthouse roof ’ and LED headlights, emphasise the advanced technology encased within i-oniq. The roof is a unique design solution that ensures great space for rear passengers and contributes to the overall dynamic appearance. The car’s doors

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

open up to the side: innovative, weight-optimised door and seat kinematics make entering the car’s front and rear seats a simple manoeuvre. The headlights emphasise the advanced technology of i-oniq. A uniquely-shaped polished aluminium frame houses the day-time running light and forms a unique signature light element.

Futuristic interior Fittingly for a sporty hatchback, the cabin layout is driver-oriented, with the dashboard and centre-console geometry based around the driver. The user-interface components reflect contemporary and future consumer electronics technology such as movement control mounted on the steering wheel, floating instrument cluster with multi-layered projection, and a large background display for navigation, entertainment and other information. The rear cabin area has been designed as a ‘cozy lounge area’ to ensure maximum occupant comfort, creating a positive contrast to the sportsorientated front area. Use of luxurious interior materials, as well as futuristic interface components, further expresses the evolution of fluidic sculpture within the car. Electric vehicle with extended range powertrain. The i-oniq is powered by an innovative 1,0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine generating a maximum of 45 kW (61 ps). This unit is mated to an 80 kW (109 ps) lithium-ion electric motor which is powered by a 55 kW generator, via a single ratio gearbox. In electric-only mode, i-oniq can travel 120 km (74 miles) and up to 700 km (435 miles) with the assistance on the petrol engine, emitting only 45 g/km of CO2 emissions. The concept can reach a top speed of 145 km/h.

Specifications Engine: 1,0-litre, 3-cylinder gasoline engine (45 kW) Motor: 80 kW Power output: 80 kW (109 ps) Wheelbase: 2.650 mm Overall length: 4.432 mm Overall width: 1.916 mm Overall height: 1.400 mm Tyres: Dunlop CO2: 45 g/km Steering wheel: Touch sensor with motion-control system

Mirror Drive

Friday, November 2, 2012

Kia Motors joins 100 best global brands OLUSEGUN KOIKI

ia Motors Corporation has entered the exclusive list of the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands,’ according to the 2012 study released recently by Interbrand, the world’s largest brand consultancy

agency. Kia’s remarkable increase in brand value is now estimated at $4.1bn, which sets the automaker at 87th place on the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’ list. This is a 50 per cent increase from last year’s estimated brand value and far exceeds the average automotive brand value growth rate of 11 per cent. An online statement signed by the auto company’s media consultant in Nigeria stated that the 2012 edition of Interbrand’s annual ‘Best Global Brands’ study was executed through a comprehensive brand performance analysis using best practice research methodology by expert analysts. The statement stated that the study measures a corporation’s financial performance in terms of the raw financial return to investors; role that a brand plays in the actual purchase decision; and brand strength, which is the ability of a brand to secure the delivery of expected future earnings. The strong increase in Kia’s brand value closely mirrors the company’s recent surge in global sales, which have posted three consecutive double-digit year-or-year gains to cement Kia’s position as the world’s fastest growing major automotive brand. Over this three years period; 2008-2011, Kia’s annual global sales have grown by 81 per cent to nearly 2.5 million units. Commenting on the latest development, the Chief Commercial Officer, Dana Motors Limited, Mr. Sandeep Malhotra said, entering the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’ by

the auto company validates its commitment to continuously provide exciting and inspiring brand experiences to its clients. “And it’s amazing to see what we can accomplish by staying true to who we are – a young and dynamic challenger that goes beyond expectations,” he said. Malhortra added that in addition to the major advances the auto company has made on the product front, the company has also been executing numerous large-scale marketing initiatives that have helped raise awareness of the brand, including its sponsorship agreements with the world’s premier sporting events like the FIFA World Cup, Australian Open and National Basketball Association amongst others. The Marketing Manager for Kia Nigeria, Mr. Kayode Adejumo, said, “We are excited to be in the Top 100 globally and this leadership position is also evident in Nigeria as well. Our brands are award-winners both locally and internationally and we are honoured and inspired to do even more for our customers.”

Honda introduces car designed just for women

he auto industry has traditionally been male-dominated, but Honda has rolled out a new model it claims to have specifically designed with women in mind. The new Honda Fit She’s is a pretty-in-pink version of the maker’s familiar subcompact that offers a few niceties the maker believes will specifically appeal to distaff buyers, such as a windshield designed to block skin-wrinkling ultraviolet rays. But, will women actually care? While the new Honda subcompact may be the only car currently on the road specifically targeting women there’s a good reason. Previous feminine offerings, such as the old Dodge LaFemme, met with little more than indifference and, in some cases, outright hostility.

Priced at $17,500, the Honda Fit She’s is currently available only in the Japanese market and it’s unclear whether the maker will roll it out in other parts of the world including Nigeria, which is noted for high Honda products patronage. Like those vehicles handed out as prizes by Mary Kay Cosmetics, the dominant shade is pink, starting with the exterior paint and including the interior pink stitching and tuttifrutti-hued chrome bezels. If that doesn’t get the message across, Honda uses a pretty little heart to replace the apostrophe in “She’s.” To Honda’s credit, the maker also has plans to offer the special model in an alternate hue that might best be called “eyeliner brown.” The Fit She’s also delivers some other fea-

tures women might appreciate. That includes the special UV-blocking window glass. Recent studies have underscored concerns that extended exposure to the sun while driving can be nearly as bad for the skin as spending too much time on the beach. The Honda Fit She’s also features a “Plasmacluster” climate control system the maker claims can improve skin quality. The decision to offer the car in the Japanese market is not all that much of a surprise considering the country’s more traditional sex-defined roles. As much as half of all Japanese women stay out of the workforce and still more tend to shift to homemakers after getting married. But, even for those women who do join the workforce, there is more of a divide in tastes than one might find in Western countries.

MAINTENANCE TIPS

How to clean dashboard, console of your vehicle

he dashboard and console are two of the most-seen parts of your vehicle, so it makes sense that you would want to keep them clean. Many people don’t know the correct way to clean their dashboard and console-they just wipe them with a paper towel. But there are specific ways of cleaning and protecting your dashboard and console so that they will stay in good condition and look great all the way down the road.

Dashboard Wet a towel with warm water and wipe down your dashboard to prepare it for cleaning. Now spray your dashboard with a liquid car cleaner, which can be

found at any major automotive store. Use a soft cloth to work the cleaner into the dashboard. Continue over the whole dashboard. Let the area dry before moving on to the next step. Then, spray a vinyl protectant spray on a clean cloth, and wipe down the dashboard. Continue spraying and wiping until you have covered the whole dashboard. Spraying the cloth allows you to clean your dashboard

without getting any spray on your windshield or other areas. Allow the protectant spray to sit for five to eight minutes. Now use a microfiber towel to wipe the dashboard. The towel will remove any leftover dust and particles and give the dashboard a smooth finish.

Console To clean the console, you will need a toothbrush and an allpurpose cleaning spray. Lightly spray the area of the console you would like to clean first. Take the toothbrush and scrub the areas that a washcloth cannot reach. Continue spraying those areas and scrubbing with the toothbrush until you have removed as

much dirt as you can. After cleaning with the toothbrush, take a small damp cloth and wipe the console with the cloth. Use paper towels to remove any dust or particles that you have picked up with the cloth. Continue wiping the console until you have wiped up all the remaining dirt and grime. When cleaning areas with the towel, be sure to spray the towel and not the console, so you don’t use too much spray (which can get everywhere). Wipe the console with the towel until it comes up clean. Allow the area to air dry. You may spray the console with a vinyl protectant spray to keep the finish on the material. Be sure that the vehicle is completely dry before spraying.

Cocktail

Friday, November 2, 2012

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (35)

“The first price life offers is always the cheapest.” –Richard Gaylord Briley * * * Make Hay While The Sun Shines! It is easier and cheaper to be a student at a young age than to be a high school student at old age. It is cheapest to treat a disease at the starting stage than at a later advanced stage. It is cheaper and wiser to work hard at a young age than at old age. The message I am trying to pass across is this: do things when they are most cheapest and wisest to do. Do not wait to do tomorrow what can be done easier and cheaper today. Control that weight now! Watch your diet now! Start saving money now! Start that school now! Start that business now! Reconcile now! Handle that problem now! PROCRASTINATION IS COSTLY AND DEADLY!!! TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Police nab alleged nude shoplifter P olice in Washington state said a nude woman took a coat from a Big Lots store, but dropped it while she was fleeing. Lacey police said the unidentified woman, believed to be in her early 30s, took off her clothes before entering the store Tuesday and took a coat from the store that she dropped while fleeing from employees, The (Tacoma, Wash.) News Tribune reported

Wednesday. Sgt. Adam Seig said the woman was completely nude and run-

ning in and out of traffic in the parking lot when she was arrested on suspicion of inde-

cent exposure just after 3 p.m. Seig said the woman seemed disoriented.

S d uproots Sandy t C Connecticut ti t ttree, 200-year-old human remains uncovered

Connecticut town got an unexpected history lesson after fierce winds from monster storm Sandy toppled a 103-year-old oak tree and exposed skeletal remains below it, officials said on Wednesday. The remains likely belonged to a victim of yellow fever or smallpox who might have been buried on the New Haven town green between 1799 and 1821, police spokes-

man David Hartman said. Headstones for those buried below the green were moved to a local cemetery in 1821, but the bodies of potentially thousands of residents were never relocated, he said. This week’s storm brought 40 to 70 mile per hour winds to New Haven, knocking out power, downing trees and causing some flooding to properties, Hartman said. Sandy’s force overturned

a well-known oak that was planted on the town green in 1909 in honor of the 100th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth. A passerby looking at the fallen oak on Tuesday spotted human bones in its roots and alerted authorities, Hartman said. News of the discovery drew a crowd to the green, where people offered historical information and wild theories about the origins of the skeleton, he said.

A man with a funny flower costume Fish eyes.

PHOTO: CREATIVENERDS.CO.UK

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance The government should do away with imposing revenue targets on the service but ensure that all it blocks, revenue leakages by insisting that all collectible revenues are collected using modern Information Technology tools

When you look at the investors coming to Nigeria, they are after two main things, one of which is the return on investment. There is no place in the world where you have the kind of return on investment you have in Nigeria

Comptroller-General, Nigerian Custom Service, Abdullahi Dikko

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga

CAC commences 24-hour company registration MESHACK IDEHEN

by the commission is another milestone towards government’s overall objective of simplifying the way to do business in the country. The minister said that in addition to wealth, opporturnity and job creation, the introduction of the service by the CAC will turn the commission

into a world class agency that is saddled with the responsibility of sustainably growing the nation’s economy, through seamless, efficient and effective business registration process. Tracing previous delays and hiccups in companies and business registration to lack of

adequate technology that could drive the process, the minister said the start to finish registration service would encompass all key performance indicators in order to make utmost success of the service to the benefits of customers. He also immediately directing the CAC to

set up a customer complaints centre that will attend to the need of customers should potential business and companies fail to get the 24 hours registration and certification service. Aganga said that the commission must respond to all business enquiries within the stipulated time.

he Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment has said economic activity in the country will increase tremendously based on steps so far taken by the ministry to ease the challenges associated with the registration of companies and businesses that are interested in operating in Nigeria. According to the ministry, the Federal Government’s commitment to the 24 hours registration and certification of intending businesses has already taken off and come to stay in the country. Speaking in Lagos on Thursday during the official launch and commissioning of the Corporate Affairs Commission “ Start to Finish 24 hours Registration Service”, the Minister of Trade L-R: Registrar, Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, Mr. Sunday Adeyemi; Naand Investment, Mr. tional treasurer, Mrs. Ijeoma Enekwa; Vice President, Mr. Sunday Korode and President, Mr. Abiola Popoola, during the 13th Olusegun Aganga, said induction ceremony of the institute in Lagos, yesterday. the launch of the service

NIBSS boss canvasses shared identification in banks UDO ONYEKA

he Managing Director of Nigeria Inter –Bank Settlement System Plc, Mr. Adebisi Shonubi, has said that Nigerian banks are daily

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

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

facing difficulties in working with existing identity management systems. Speaking at the Nigeria electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF), meeting in Lagos, Shonubi said it has become necessary to address the issue of identification as banks have been defrauded by customers who present false identification. He said that the rising

spate of fraudulent activities across the banking industry and increasing e- payment awareness, especially with the cashless Nigeria project call for a robust, shared electronic data base containing up to date bio data, biometrics and financial information of all banking industry customers. “There is the need for a platform that will specifi-

Active telecoms subscriber base hits 107.3m

cally provide banking information on customers, and will not be entangled in bureaucracies and will also be capable of providing cross bank information for the purpose of customer identification and management” According to him such platform would reduce KYC costs, and also be helpful as a means of identification of third parties

in financial transactions, “adding that it will help for a proper Identity management for the Credit Bureau and also help with the growth of retail business and loan schemes”. He explained that considering the importance of proper identification especially with the cashless project that relevant authorities are putting heads together on the issue.

Towards a sustainable port charge regime

FLIGHT SCHEDULE Air Nigeria

International (Lagos - London) Los- LGW (VK293): Tue, Thurs, Fri & Sat 11.55pm LGW-Los (VK292): Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun 10.50am

Arik Air Los-Abj: 07:15, 09:15, 10:20, 15:20, 16:20, 16:50, 18:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Abj-Los: 07:15, 09:40, 10:20, 12:15, 15:15, 16:15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat); 12:15, 15:15, 16:15 (Sun) Los-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) Abj-Ben: 08:00, 12:10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08:55, 12:10 (Sun) Ben-Abj: 09:55, 13:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10:50, 13:30 (Sun)

Aero Contractors Los-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) Los-Ben: 07:45, 11:00, 15:30, (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 15:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Ben-Los: 09:15, 12:30, 17:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat/Sun) 17:00 (Sat), 14:00 (Sun) EXCHANGE RATES WAUA

234.6271

USD

155.84

CHF

159.2642

SDR

235.0535

CFA

0.2924

GBP

244.1701

EURO

191.3715

OIL / GAS FUTURES

ICE BRENT

$123.39

-0.78

NYMEX

$108.45

-0.11

OPEC BASKET

$122.86

+1.16

NATURAL GAS

$2.83

-0.03

Business News

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Active telecoms subscriber base hits 107.3m KUNLE A ZEEZ

umber of active telephone subscriptions on all mobile networks in Nigeria has further increased to 107.3 million, according to a latest subscriber data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission this week. According to the subscriber data, which is the latest in the industry, total active subscriptions on telecoms networks, about 2.1 million telephone lines were added on the networks in September 2012. The additional subscriptions, which represents a 2 per cent increase in subscriber base for the month pushed total active telephone lines in the country to reach 107.3 million, up from 105.2 million recorded at the end of August, 2012. Further analysis of the data also showed that though active telephone subscriptions now stand at 107.3 million, actual total connected telephone lines in the country 145.4 million. Meanwhile of the 145.4 million connected lines, over 38 million are redundant, as they are either lost by their users or deliberatively not used in preference of one SIM line for another. Further analysis of the data showed that, in August, 2012, Nigeria recorded additional 1.8 million new telephone subscriptions, as total subscriptions in the country increased from 103.4 million active telephone lines in July,

2012 to over 105.2 million at the end of August, 2012. However, growth in subscriber base from January, 2012 till September, 2012 has been contributed mostly by the Global System for Mobile Communications companies, while the Code Division Multiple Access operators continue to witness decline in subscriber base. According to the NCC data, while active mobile subscriptions on GSM networks increased from 91 million in January to 103.6 million at the end of September, 2012; subscriptions on CDMA networks such as Starcomms, Visafone, MultiLinks and Zoom Mobile fell from 4.4 million to 3.2 million during the same period. The NCC latest data also revealed that active GSM subscriptions, standing at 91 million in January, 2012, increased to 92 million in February and 94.5 million at the end of March. The GSM subscriptions continued its upward growth, reaching 96.6 million in April and in May, 2012; the figured grew to 97.5 million active subscriptions. In June, July and August, and September, the combined active GSM subscriber base increased to 98.3 million; 99.4 million; 101.4 million and 103.6 million respectively. In contrast, active CDMA subscriptions fell from 4.4 million in January, 2012 to abysmal 3.2 million at the end of September, 2012. On the fixed lines, the figure which stood at 688,333 million dropped to 474,345 at the end of September, 2012.

L- R: Managing Director, 141 Worldwide, Mrs. Bunmi Oke; Public Relations Manager, DUFIL Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju and Senior Business Executive, BD Consult, Miss. Tayo Azeez, during the presentation of the Brand of the year Award to Indomie at the 2012 Marketing World Magazine awards in Lagos, recently.

Edo tax agency seals First Bank Plc SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

housands of customers of First Bank Plc in Edo State were disappointed yesterday as they failed to assess their fund in Benin City following the sealing of branches of the bank by the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) over tax default. Although neither the tax

Niger state to build 90 units of cottage industries at N1.4bn PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

iger state government has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with a construction firm to build a total of 90 units of small scale cottage industries at the Industrial Lay out in Minna at the cost of N 1.4 billion. The state commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Cooperatives, Alhaji Yakubu DanSallau during the post exco briefing in Minna, said out of the total figure of N 1.4 billion, the state

government would contribute the sum of N 281 million at the completion of the project. The agreement between the state government and Nochez Company, according to the commissioner, would be based on the Build and Sale concept on completion interested members of the public would buy each of the cottage industryat completion at the cost of N 12.5 million, instead of N 15.6 million due to the input of the state government. He explained that the clutter cottage industries, will be completed within one year and the

firm is expected to provide water, light and road at the area. Dan-Sallau stated that building such clutter of cottage industries in the state will not only assist the state government in boosting its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), but will create employment opportunities for its teeming unemployed youths in the state to be gainfully employed. The commissioner further added that the idea of setting up the cottage industries in the same area to sell similar products will go a long way in bring down the cost of their products to people

board nor the bank could be reached to know what was being owed and for how long, National Mirror investigations however revealed that virtually all the branches of the bank in the state capital could not conduct any business for the day. Customers of the bank at Ugbowo, Uselu Shell, Ring Road, Akpakpava, Ikpoba Slope, Ikpoba Hill and Agbor Road were not to make payments or withdrawals as the branches were all sealed by the state tax agency. A notice posted on the gate of one of the branches, which were also pasted in some of the other branches read: “Distained by the order of Board of Internal Revenue, Edo State, for failure to pay tax.” While workers of the bank, who were obviously as disturbed as the thousands of customers that thronged the branches, gathered in small groups discussing the economic impacts of the forced closure, neither of them nor their management members was ready to comment on the issue. Many of the customers who could not conduct any business vented their anger on workers who were seen around just as

others banged on the gates of the bank, raining abuses and threats on the bank’s management for evading paying tax, a legal and criminal issue. Those that were worst affected were those who came to make counter payment or related transfer as customers making withdrawals resorted to the use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at the various branches, which in turn resulted to a very long queue. A female customer and mother who has no ATM card, and who to journalists in one of the branches was left lamenting the disappointment of not being able to make her planned withdrawal said, “This is very, very irresponsible and disappointing of the bank management. Why will First Bank Plc, of all the banks in Nigeria, fail to pay the tax they deduct from staff salary? It is embarrassing, disgraceful, disappointing and against national interest. How do they expect the state government to complete most of the projects they are working on and most of which are also to the benefits of the bank and its workers?

in the industry that gave consent to the awards. Consequently, Obadiah Aluwong, Sandra Njoku, Raheem Okanlawon, Luke Nwalor, Femi Omo-Amosun and Lagos State Government Ministry of Transport won the Mori Baba Award for Best Postman, Toyin Olufade Award for Most Initiative Marketer, Kayode Opeifa Award for Best Dispatch Rider of the Year, Obiora Okeke Awards for Operational Excellence Awards,

Bishop Adebiyi Integrity Award and Best Supportive Government respectively. Meanwhile, Oladapo, who doubles as the Secretary General of the Association of Nigeria Courier Operators (ANCO), of the umbrella body of indigenous courier firms in the country, has identified the mentality of Nigerians to patronise foreign firms as another major challenge besetting the industry.

‘Courier industry can contribute N8bn to economy annually’ KUNLE A ZEEZ

ndigenous players in the Nigeria’s courier sector can contribute more than N8bn to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and provide huge employment opportunity for unemployed Nigerian youths. This was disclosed by Chief Executive Officer, Bowill Errands Limited, one of the indigenous courier companies, Siyanbola

Oladapo, who said that if the courier sector is well harnessed and allowed to operate free of any restrictions, it would boost Nigeria’s economic outlook. Speaking on the sideline of a recent award organised by his company to reward excellence in the industry, Oladapo, lamented that, over the years, the industry has been dominated by multinational operators, a development that had stunted the growth of the sector. On the

reasons why Bowill decided to give awards to some outstanding persons in the industry, he said it was an attempt to encourage people to do more, adding that the awards category was named after distinguished personalities in the society. According to him, the Postmaster General of the Federation, Mori Baba, Bishop Adebiyi, Toyin Olufade, Isaac Olorungbagbe, Kayode Opeifa, Obiora Okeke and Larry Chinekezie were icons

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, November 2, 2012

FG woos investors in broadband connectivity KUNLE A ZEEZ

ice President Namadi Sambo has said that the Federal Government would put in place measures that would encourage investment in broadband connectivity. He also stated that efforts have been made to create a safe environment that will guarantee greater interest of investors in the country, adding that the moves are parts of the reforms in the power sector aimed enhancing investment in broadband connectivity in the country. Speaking at the investment forum hosted by the International Telecommunications Union in Dubai, UAE, Sambo bemoaned dearth of investment in broadband connectivity, saying it makes access to the Internet impossible for the generality of Nigerians. The Vice President said already, measures have been put in place to cushion investments challenges and create a safe environment not only for investors in telecommunications but also other areas of the economy. Sambo noted that although the country has experienced a monumental

growth in voice telephony there is a missing link in broadband as the cost for its acquisition is still very much on the high side. He said:”Mr. President would have liked to have been here to illustrate the level of importance that we attach to this sector. This is a sector that cannot be discussed exclusively; therefore I would like to share with you some of the added values that are being planned for national growth. Harping on the impact of power reform on investment on broadband connectivity,the VP said that Nigeria had made remarkable improvement on power generation to woo investors. “One of the major issues is the aspect of power supply. I would like to share with you that at the outset of this administration in 2010, Nigeria was generating 2,000MW of electricity. Today, we are generating 4,300MW. We are building 10 new Turbine power plants which are all at an advanced stage of completion and when completed, these 10 plants will add 5,000MW to the national grid”, he said. While commending the NCC, he tasked them on improved regulation

of the sector, saying “we have also reached an advanced stage in the construction of a large hydro power plant known as the Mambilla Power Plant which will add 3,050MW. “Also, we will soon start the construction of the Zungeru hydro-power plant that will add an additional 700MW. Furthermore, we are exploring alternative energy sources. He said Nigeria has signed an agreement with Siemens that will produce 450MW of solar power in the first year of the project’s commencement. “All of these actions are in line with our firm belief that we will achieve our objective of providing adequate power supply to our people and for those who invest in Nigeria. We are also improving in the area of education. “This year, nine new universities are being established in Nigeria. We are partnering with State governments to improve on both primary and secondary education while pursuing science education deliberately. “I will therefore use this opportunity to call upon you to come to Nigeria and invest in our telecoms sector’’, he said. 2013

CBN upgrades Wetland Microfinance Bank to State MFB TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Central Bank of Nigeria has given approval to Wetland Microfinance Bank to operate as a State MFB in Delta State. In its letter to the Managing Director of the MFB dated October 4 this year signed by M.A Adegbite for Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, sourced by National Mirror yesterday, the apex bank stated that the approval was conveyed to the microfinance institution in approval of its request to upgrade from a unit MFB to State MFB. The letter reads: “We refer to your letter dated 29th of February, 2012 on the above subject and hereby covey CBN management’s approval of your upgrade from a unit Microfinance Bank to a State Microfinance Bank. “A new certificate for State Microfinance Bank shall be issued to you in due course”, it concluded. According to the Managing Director of the Wetland Mi-

Budget: Amosun harps on participatory democracy

gun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said that the participation of the electorate in decision-making process is a major ingredient of democracy, even as he regretted the magnitude of problems inherited from the last administration. He noted that the symbiotic relationship between the government and citizens had greatly impacted on the overall development of Ogun State. The governor spoke yesterday in Abeokuta during the 2013 Budget Town Hall Meeting at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. “Our utmost and sincere belief is that governance should be a participatory process. The people should have a say on issues that concern them,” he said. Amosun explained that the policy thrust for 2013 was to

consolidate on the foundation laid in 2012 by aggressively promoting sustainable growth in the area of basic amenities, creating an economic environment suitable for private sector participation, providing adequate security and re-positioning the economy of the state with the purpose of making it competitive. “The era of budget having no bearing on the lives of the citizenry is gone, hence the decision to constantly engage the public on how best to serve them,” he declared. The state helmsman assured residents that all government procurements would henceforth be made within the state “in order to further empower our people, especially the market women.” While reacting to questions, the governor warned school heads

against illegal fees, reiterating the commitment of his administration to free and qualitative education. He however said government would not pay for extracurricular activities like excursion to airports, companies, etc, for which pupils were made to pay a token as PTA fees. On the dilapidated federal roads across the state, he said government would continue to do palliatives on those roads and appeal to the federal authorities to repair or reconstruct them. “We have awarded contracts for some of our own major roads in the three senatorial districts in the state and they will be of Ogun Standard when completed. The Ibara-Totoro Road has offered us a good example of The Ogun Standard,” he said.

crofinance Bank, Mrs. Justina Kpedi, the microfinance bank already has nine branches in nine Local Government areas of Delta State and that the Bank with a present shareholders fund of over one billion naira will by 2014 become a National MFB when its target to expand to other states nationwide would have been met. The licensing of the microfinance institution is in line with the apex bank’s guidelines on MFBs which categorize MFB into Unit, State and National. The Board of Directors (BOD) of the Bank at its 402nd Meeting held on 29th April, 2011 considered and approved the revised Microfinance Policy, Regulatory and Supervisory Framework for Nigeria. The Microfinance Policy, Supervisory and Regulatory Framework for Nigeria was first launched in December 2005. Five years after the launch, some issues have emerged in the course of its implementation necessitating a review of the policy framework.

Panasonic unveils new product lines ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

L-R: Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, Alh Sanni Sidi; Legal Adviser,, Tanko Ashang and Secretary General, Nigeria Red Cross Society, Hamman Diram, during the signing of MOU between National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigeria Red Cross Society in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

anaserv Nigeria Limited, authorized service agents for Panasonic consumer electronics products in Nigeria in conjunction with Panasonic Corporation, Japan unveiled latest product lines of 2012 models to the admiration of consumers at the 2012 annual Panasonic dealer’s convention held in Lagos recently. Some of the latest products line up of 2012 models that were introduced to Nigerian market include air conditioners, flat screen televisions, home theatre and music systems, digital still cameras and camcorders, home appliances

and kitchen appliances. Over the years, Panasonic Corporation has maintained a firm grip on air conditioning technology, leading the way with landmark product innovations that impact living. The 2012 model ECONAVI dual sensor and SUPER ALLERU BUSTER FILTER with ECONAVI mono sensor air conditioners are completely inspired by nature, with great emphasis on energy conservation and optimal performance. ECONAVI dual and mono sensor air conditioner utilizes human sensor and control program technologies to detect where energy is normally wasted and self- adjusts cooling power to reduce energy waste.

NAICOM appoints interim board for Goldlink Insurance OMOBOLA TOLU-KUSIMO

ollowing a recent discovery of anomalies and misstatements in the 2011 audited financial statements of Goldlink Insurance Plc, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has appointed new board members to oversee the affairs of the company. This was disclosed in a recent statement made available to journalist by the commission spokesman, Mr. Lucky Fiakpa `in Lagos. It was however noted that the development does not any way affect the capacity of the company to provide dependable insurance services. The statement read, “A sevenman interim board of directors

has been constituted to oversee the affairs of Goldlink Insurance Plc with effect from November 1, 2012. “The constitution of the interim board is sequel to the recent resignation of members of the board of directors of the company following anomalies and misstatements discovered in the audited financial statements of the company for the year ended December 31, 2011.” The commission further stated that the interim board has been, among others, charged with the responsibility of carrying out full investigation of the financial reports and corporate governance failures observed in the course of reviewing the company’s financial statement for the year ending December 31, 2011.

Maritime

hen the Federal Government opted to privatise Nigeria’s seaports under the landlord port model, one of the primary reasons was to bring about reduced cost of doing business at the ports. Government’s argument was that the coming on stream of private terminal operators will bring about efficiency and competition, which in the long term will force prices of service down, since the new system will bring about competition as against the former monopoly under the Nigerian Ports Authority. More than six years after the completion of the programme, this objective has largely proved elusive. To the contrary, port users have now been left at the mercy of the terminal operators and shipping companies, who hike their charges at will in defiance to the port concession agreement, which has some laid down rules for such increases. The port reform agreement stipulates that any request for increase in charges must be tabled before the authority, which must be debated at a stakeholders’ forum to justify such increase. It is estimated that though 80 percent of consignments imported into the West African Sub-region end up in Nigeria, given her huge market, less than 20 percent of such consignments come through her seaports due to such unsubstantiated charges. This no doubt portends loss of huge sums of money that would have accrued to the government as revenue. For instance, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, umbrella body for all private terminal operators in Nigeria’s eight seaports on October 1, 2012 arbitrarily introduced a 20 percent hike in their rent charges without informing NPA or the port users. It was gathered that this current 20 percent hike is the second time the terminal operators are increasing their charges since January this year. The association had while justifying the hike claimed that storage charges in Nigeria have become so low and so it becomes cheaper and more attractive for importers and their agents to store their imported consignments at the various terminals instead of moving them to warehouses, which worsens the high dwell time of cargo at the ports. According to the association, the upward review was based on proven cases of abandonment of consignments at the ports for unnecessarily long periods of time sometimes running into five weeks and thereby making nonsense of government’s resolve to cut down on the dwell time of containers to seven days and the attainment of 48hour cargo clearance. ‘The low storage charges at the ports encourage the use of port facilities as warehouses by importers and their agents’, the association claimed. “It was far cheaper to store goods at the port than it is in any warehouse in Nigeria so it has become necessary to reverse that trend because the ports are transit areas. The review of storage charges is not a money-making idea but a genuine attempt on our part

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Towards a sustainable port charge regime The incessant and arbitrary increases in charges by shipping companies and terminal operators at Nigeria’s seaports have continued to constitute a major source of concern to port users. This is against the backdrop of increasing diversion of Nigeria-bound cargo to neighbouring African seaports, where port charges are believed to be stable and low. FRANCIS EZEM reports.

Umar

Haastrup

IT WAS FAR CHEAPER TO STORE GOODS AT THE PORT THAN IT IS IN ANY WAREHOUSE IN

NIGERIA SO IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO

REVERSE THAT TREND BECAUSE THE PORTS ARE TRANSIT AREAS to drive down cargo dwell time at the port and ultimately reduce the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports”, STOAN further argued. In reaction, clearing agents under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents threatened to shut all the nation’s seaports, insisting that the hike was arbitrary and therefore unacceptable. The association therefore gave the terminal operators a 72-hour deadline to revert to the pre-October 1, 2012 charges of risk a total closure of the nation’s eight seaports. It however took the intervention of the managing director of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi to dissuade the agents from making good their threat. The managing director had in a recent meeting between the leadership of STOAN on the one part and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders and ANLCA on the other part ordered the setting up of a committee to look at the issues.

This is not the first time of such committee, as former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman in 2010 set of a similar committee over such arbitrary increases headed by Otunba Kunle Folarin. The Joint Action Committee of Freight Forwarders (JACOFF), which is a coalition of the major freight forwarding association comprising of ANLCA) and NAGAFF had issued a 48hour ultimatum, which prompted the minister’s intervention. The Minister had earlier ordered the Nigerian Shippers Council to reverse some arbitrary charges imposed on port users numbering over 39, some of which are COT charges, Tally Clerk, container cleaning and security charges, among several others. The Folarin committee in its report had established that there was no devaluation of the naira as confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeriam which was the basis for the hike while the port charges in Cotonou and Ghana

had been stable in the last six years even though the rate of hyper inflation in the two countries was far higher than that of Nigeria. Following these observations, the committee had recommended that all charges for handling of containers and general cargo from ship side to delivery should be consolidated. It was also recommended that in order to forestall duplication, all terminal handling charges should be administered only where delivery takes place while transfer charges should be borne by parties that requested for the transfer. In spite of these recommendations, the government early last year approved a 20 percent increase for the terminal operators. Experts believe that part of the issues is the absence of a regulator to monitor the activities if these private operators, who only language is profit maximisation. Foremost maritime lawyer, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, who spoke with news men recently on the need for the maritime industry to key into President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation charter had observed that realisation of the objectives of the port reforms has remained elusive. According to him, due to the absence of any form of regulation due to the failure of the Bureau of Private Enterprise to put in place both the legal and regulatory framework in place to facilitate monitoring and enforcement of the terms and conditions of the contract, the concessionaires have resorted to doing what they liked. Executive Secretary/Chief Executive officer of Shipper Council, Captain Adamu Biu, who spoke in a recent exclusive interview, noted that currently no government agency regulates the activities of the terminal operators and shipping companies. The NSC-boss had argued that the obsolete nature of the council’s enabling act, which does not give the council powers to discipline any erring operator whether foreign of indigenous has helped to compound the issues and makes the council a toothless bulldog. Maritime experts are however of the consensus that as long as the National Assembly fails to pass the Port and Habour Bill, which has been with it for six years now, which is to create a regulator, the terminal operators and shipping companies will continue to exploit port users. This will in turn continue to fuel cargo diversion and Nigeria will continue to lose revenue.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Maritime

Friday, November 2, 2012

We have implemented 30% of 2012 budget, NPA admits STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

L-R: Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigeria Ports Authority, Mr. David Omonibeke; Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi and Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Olumide Oduntan, at a oneday strategic session on Budget implementation held in Lagos on Wednesday.

ter growth in traffic throughput in response to growth in economic activities’, the managing director observed. He noted that as part of measures to make the seaports perform optimally, the Federal Government undertook a reform based on a landlord model, which placed the responsibility of providing port infrastructure and vessel support services such as pilotage and towage on the authority. Accordingly the concession agreement entered into with the private sector operators set clear targets on the level of infrastructure and operational assets that NPA must provide towards discharging those responsibilities. ‘The level of our operational performance and revenue, which is dictated by the standard of infrastructure, are inextricably linked to our ability to procure and maintain our infrastructure and assets thereby

making it absolutely necessary to be efficient in our procurement processes’ Abdullahi declared: ’Among the various reforms undertaken by the Federal Government is the enactment of the Public Procurement Act 2007, aimed at bringing efficiency and value for money. It also established processes, approval thresholds and due process requirement for public sector procurement of goods, works and services’ He however regretted that this over the years has not translated to good capital budget performance, a development that has necessitated the adoption of a new and sustainable strategy in order to derive all the benefits of the process. The NPA-boss also hinted that there was need to realign the authority’s internal process to conform to the requirements of the Public Procurement Act in order to achieve the targets of the authority, especially in

respect of its capital budgets. He therefore charged participants at the strategic session to establish modalities for early identification of projects for implementation, ascertain the processes and preliminary studies, evaluation and costing of projects in advance of presentation for inclusion in the budget. He also made a case for sequencing and allocating priorities for the projects, establishments of the approval levels and consider applicable due process requirements in respect of each proposal to ensure adequate time allocation for all stages of the procurement process. Others include ensuring timely commencement of the procurement process to optimize the use of time limited for the project procurement in order to enhance budget performance as well as adopting human capacity development programmes that would engender achievement of goals.

We need sophisticated weapons to fight pirates, NIMASA tells Navy

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has said it requires sophisticated arms and ammunition like automatic grenade launchers, machine guns and AK 47 rifles in order to be able to combat the increasing menace of sea pirates, robbers and other forms of criminalities that now characterise Nigeria’s maritime domain. The International Maritime Bureau, global security watchdog had for two consecutive years (2010 and 2011) rated Nigeria the world’s second highest in terms of piracy attacks after Somalia, a development that made many foreign countries including United States and Britain to issue security travelling to their nationals coming to the country. As part of measures to combat this worsening menace, NIMASA had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Navy under which operatives of the Navy carry arms on board se-

Firm honours former Transport Minister, Imoke, others

early two months to the end of the 4th quarter of the 2012 fiscal year, the Nigerian Ports Authority has admitted that it has implemented less than 25 percent of its appropriation for the year, an indication that critical projects that boost the growth of the industry were not executed. The National Assembly, especially the lower chamber, the House of Representatives had two moths ago threatened to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged poor implementation of the budget but Minister of Finance and coordinator of Nigeria’s economy stood in defence of the president, insisting the budget had been adequately implemented. Managing Director of the authority, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, who addressed top management of the authority at a one-day strategic session on project implementation, held in Lagos, admitted that about two months to the end of the year, less than 30 percent of the capital budget has been implemented, a development he said was unfortunate. He expressed worries, especially given the fact that the revenue of the authority under the post-concession dispensation is derived from its core areas of responsibility, which include the provision of infrastructure and vessel support service. ‘The viability of the port is more than ever linked to the level of its infrastructure, which are needed to to enhance its capacity to sustain and fos-

curity platforms provided by the agency for the patrol of the nation’s territorial waters. Director General of the agency, who played host to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Joseph Ezeoba during a recent courtesy visit, said there was urgent need to reinvigorate the partnership already existing between the two agencies in order to properly patrol the nation’s maritime domain. According to him, head of the Maritime Guard Command, which is an offshoot of the MoU has hinted that it requires automatic grenade launchers, machine guns, AK 47 automatic rifles, among several other arms and ammunition to match the growing sophistication of the pirates and sea robbers. But some operators have however expressed fears that if this request is granted, Nigeria might be running foul of some conventions of the International Maritime Organisation, es-

pecially those that forbid militarisation of maritime security among member states, which Nigeria is signatory to. ‘We need rapid response capability and so we plead that the Navy provides us with patrol boats to be manned and controlled by naval officers in addition to these arms and ammunitions while NIMASA provides logistics like bunkering’, he noted. The NIMASA boss, who also noted that the agency will intensify patrol from the Lagos axis of the nation’s waters, argued that the navy was critical to the achievement of the core mandate of the maritime regulatory agency, especially providing maritime safety and security. ‘On a continuous basis, we are under pressure from the government especially from the Federal Ministry of Finance to shore up our revenue collections and we cannot af-

ford to tell the government stories and so we need these basic tools to ensure we collect all the revenue due to the government, which is not possible without platforms, among others’, the DG argued. He however dismissed calls for the establishment of a Coast Guard like the United States of America as part of measures to checkmate increasing criminal activities on the nation’s waters, saying that Nigeria does not need such duplication of functions and waste of meagre public funds. Akpobolokemi argued that instead of duplication of functions and waste of public funds that the creation of such organisation portends, efforts should be made to strengthen the extant relationship between the agency and the navy. According to him, both the agency and Navy have an existing MoU, which gave rise to the formation of the Maritime Guard Command.

onetime Minister of Transport and National Women Leader of People’s Democratic Party Mrs. Kema Chikwe; Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, wife of the Cross River State, Governor and Secretary General, Abuja MOU, Mrs. Mfon Usoro were among the women recently inducted into the MMS plus’ Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame. Also honoured were President, Women International Shipping and Trading Association, Mrs. Jean Chiazor-Anishere, Deputy Director, Public Relations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Hajia Lami Tumaka, former acting managing director, National Inland Waterways Authority, Mrs. Chinwa Ezenwa and Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, among others. The event, which was to mark the second anniversary of MMS Plus’ Weekly Newspaper, was organised by Kings Communications Limited in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Minister of Transport, Mllam Idris Umar who was chief guest of honour, had while speaking at the event, assured that both the Federal Government and his ministry were willing to support the cause of women in their chosen fields of endeavour to enhance their contributions to nation building. The minister, who was represented by Mrs. Mary Akpan, Deputy Director, Maritime Services, however urged the inductees whom he said have excelled in the maritime, finance, oil and gas industries to be steadfast in their chosen careers and further appealed to corporate bodies, government and other stakeholders to join hands to support the women folk. According to him, the role of women in leadership has led to the allocation of more seats to women in President Jonathan’s cabinet than any other in the history of Nigeria. “Though the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is fully behind this laudable project, I want to use this opportunity to commend the publisher of MMS plus’ weekly, and the staff of Kings Communications Ltd., for their steadfastness and dedication in making sure that the newspaper is published and circulated free,” he added. Guest speaker, Mrs. Imoke, who was also an inductee, who spoke on the topic: Galvanising and Positioning Women for Leadership in the Society: A Perspective of a First Lady, she advocated the independence of the female folk for them to achieve fulfillment and self-reliance so as to fast track national development, adding that one educated woman is more than 70 men.

Global Business

Friday, November 2, 2012

Sandy slamming New Jersey’s already struggling housing market

ody Buck rebuilt his home in Sayreville, New Jersey, after Hurricane Irene knocked it down last year. Yesterday, Buck showed New Jersey Governor Chris Christie how superstorm Sandy destroyed the house again. “I think, governor, we need to level the whole neighborhood, give everybody a check and get out of here,” Buck said, according to a pool report by journalists covering Christie’s tour of the hurricane-racked state. Sandy’s brutal arrival October 29 was the latest blow to homeowners in New Jersey, where foreclosures continued to rise and real estate prices to fall after most of the U.S. housing market began to recover last year. The Atlantic storm claimed eight lives in New Jersey and drove 6,329 people to shelters. About 2.05 million residences and businesses, more than half of those in the state, were still without power at 2 p.m., according to the U.S. Energy Department. “New Jersey was a laggard before the storm even came along and the storm won’t help,” Sam Khater, deputy chief economist for CoreLogic

Christie

Inc., a real-estate information service, said from his office in Tysons Corner, Virginia. New Jersey ranked second behind Florida in September among states with the highest inventories of homes facing foreclosure, CoreLogic reported yesterday. In the Garden State, 7.3 percent of homes with a mortgage were seriously delinquent or facing repossession, compared with 3.3 percent nationally. The New Jersey inventory was up 0.9 percentage points from a year earlier, the second-highest increase behind Maryland, while the U.S. rate dropped

0.2 percentage point, according to CoreLogic. In the 12 months through August, home prices fell 1.4 percent in New Jersey while across the U.S. they rose 4.6 percent, Irvine, California-based CoreLogic reported October 2. New Jersey law, which requires judicial review of all foreclosures, has delayed a recovery by prolonging the time it takes lenders to repossess homes, Khater said. Arizona and California, where foreclosures soared four years ago when people were unable to repay subprime loans, have worked through much of their backlog, he said.

The effects of the U.S. recession, more than lax lending standards, prompted New Jersey’s surge of delinquent mortgages, he said. The state’s unemployment rate was 9.8 percent in September, a 0.4 percentage point rise from a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only Nevada, Rhode Island and California had higher jobless rates. Nationally it was 7.8 percent in September, down from 9 percent a year earlier and a threeyear low. Jersey Shore An estimated 75,300 homes valued at $22.6 billion along the New Jersey coast were in Sandy’s path, according to an Oct. 29 CoreLogic report. That included more than 20,000 properties worth $4.8 billion in the Atlantic City area, where Sandy destroyed part of the boardwalk and amusement rides. The 127 miles of beaches known as the Jersey Shore are the backbone of a tourism industry that, at $38 billion, is New Jersey’s third largest. Last year, 67.8 million people visited, according to the Travel and Tourism Division in Trenton.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SNB’s $380 billion pile awes Jordan

Jordan

wiss central bank President Thomas Jordan is wondering how to invest his currency reserves as euros pile up at the bank at a record pace. “The SNB has the same problem as lots of wealth managers,” said Ursina Kubli, an economist at Bank Sarasin in Zurich. “Safe assets have become very expensive. So for the time being, they prefer cash over investing.” With Europe’s debt crisis hurting returns on the least risky bonds, the Swiss National Bank is keeping reserves in cash after its policy to cap the franc swelled currency holdings by 50 percent in the four months through June to a record 365 billion francs ($380 billion). Money held at central banks, the International Monetary Fund and the Bank for International Settlements accounted for 72

percent of the gain. The SNB has been piling up euro holdings to defend the franc ceiling of 1.20 versus the single currency introduced in September 2011. While the central bank previously mainly invested foreign currencies in government bonds of AAA-rated nations, the surge in cash reserves suggests policy makers are finding it more difficult to find the right investments. The SNB’s foreign-exchange holdings amounted to about 60 percent of Swiss gross domestic product at the end of the second quarter. Euros accounted for 60 percent of currency reserves, up from 51 percent three months earlier, reflecting the ongoing battle to keep a lid on the franc. The currency surged about 17 percent to a record against the euro in the six months before the ceiling was introduced.

Hungary tests investors with rate cut as recession deepens

ungary’s deepening recession prompted the central bank to unexpectedly lower the European Union’s highest benchmark interest rate as policy makers test investors’ tolerance for lower borrowing costs, said economists from London to Budapest. The Magyar Nemzeti Bank cut the two-week deposit rate to 6.75 from 7 percent percent Tuesday, the first decrease since April 2010. It will probably ease policy further this year as concerns about the lack of economic growth outweigh accelerating inflation, economists at Morgan Stanley, Danske Bank, Equilor Zrt., and Capital Economics Ltd. said. Policy makers have been divided on when to start cutting rates, with some

Hungary President Schmitt quits

arguing that the start of bailout talks opens the way to lower rates to spur growth after the economy sank into its second recession in four years. The nonexecutive members of the

Monetary Council probably overcame objections about the inflation outlook and the pending bailout talks, said Pasquale Diana, an economist at Morgan Stanley (MS) in London.

“We think that the four external members have chosen to use the leeway offered by the better risk environment, and it is conceivable that the same members may vote to cut as long as they feel it is warranted by the risk backdrop, regardless of whether an IMF deal is struck or not,” Diana wrote in an e-mail. The forint weakened 0.7 percent to 282.98 per euro yesterday. in Budapest, after sliding the most in more than a month yesterday. The currency has gained 11.8 percent this year, the second-best performance among more than 20 emerging-market currencies tracked by Bloomberg, as investors speculated that Hungary will obtain an IMF bailout.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Friday, November 2, 2012

Dangote Cement revenue hits N208bn in Q3 Index rises 0.7% in bullish trading

JOHNSON OKANLAWON

angote Cement Plc has declared sales revenue figure of N208.3bn for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of 19.8 per cent when compared to N172.8bn recorded in the same period of 2011. The company’s profit after tax stood at N106.5bn in the review period, from N92.2bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2011, while gross profit stood at N130bn in the third quarter, from N106.5bn in the 2011 nine months. Further analysis

showed that net assets increased to N379.8bn, from N298.8bn in the 2011 nine months, while total liabilities rose to N269.7bn, from N242.9bn in the same priod of 2011. Meanwhile, trading in equities closed on bullish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, as investors’ appetite on stocks halted two days bearish trends. The All-Share Index rose by 0.65 per cent to close at 26,602.53 points, in contrast to the decline of 1.15 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 26,430.92 points. Market capitalisation appreciated by N54.7bn

to close at N8.47trn, as against the decrease of N98.2bn recorded the preceding day to close at N8.42trn. UAC Property Plc led the gainers’ table with 90 kobo or 7.63 per cent to close at N12.70 per share, followed by Nigerian Breweries Plc with N6.80 or 5.61 per cent to close at N128.00 per share. Berger Paints Plc gained 40 kobo or 4.99 per cent to close at N8.41 per share, while GlaxosmithKline Pharmacuetical Plc appreciated by N1.99 or 4.99 per cent to close at N41.89 per share. Portland Paints Plc rose by 4.87 per cent to close at N4.09 per share.

On the flip side, Red Star Express Plc lost 25 kobo or 7.94 per cent to close at N2.90 per share, while Cap Plc dropped N1.59 or 4.97 per cent to close at N30.43 per share. John Holt Plc declined by 26 kobo or 4.89 per cent to close at N5.06 per share, while Pharmadeko Plc depreciated by 14 kobo or 4.88 per cent to close at N2.73 per share. Livestock Plc dipped by eight kobo or 4.85 per cent to close at N1.57 per share. Transaction volume in equities rose by 46.4 per cent, as a total of 409.19 million shares valued at N2.78bn were exchanged in 4,704 deals, compared to 279.42 million shares worth N2.27bn recorded in 4,663 deals the preceding day.

Source: NSE NIBOR QUOTES 31 OCTOBER & 1 NOVEMBER 2012 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

3 1 -Oc t-1 2

Source: FMDA

Market indicators All-Share Index 7,342,308 points Market capitalisation 23,066.74 trillion

UACN posts N3.9bn profit in nine months JOHNSON OKANLAWON

AC of Nigeria Plc has announced a profit after tax of N3.9bn for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of 27 per cent when compared to N3.1bn recorded in the same period of 2011. The company with operationsin in foods, beverages, dairies, restaurants, paints, logistics, real estate and automobiles earning per share in the review period stood at N1.32, compared to 80 kobo in the 2011 third quarter. The company’s group

revenue rose by nine per cent to N47.5bn in the nine months, from N43.5bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2011. Analysis of the group results showed that UAC Food Limited recorded N1.51bn profit before tax in 2012, from N1.05bn in the 2011 nine months, while the turnover stood at N10.7bn, from N9.40bn in 2011 nine motnhs. United Property Development Company recorded profit before tax of N869m, up by 5.1 per cent when compared to N827m recorded in the corresponding period of 2011. Grand Cereal Lim-

ited profit before tax rose by 25 per cent to N2.23bn, from N2.05bn in 2011 nine months, while its turnover increased to N19.3bn, from N15.4bn. Cap Plc recorded profit before tax of N1.29bn, up from N934m in September 2011, while its turnover stood at N3.82bn, from N3.02bn in the third quarter of 2011. MDS Logistics Plc recorded N659m profit before tax, up by 16 per cent, from N568m rrecorded in September 2011, while UAC Restruants Limited profit before tax stood at N348m, down from N742m recorded in the

Shell’s Q4 output loss to flooding may rise

oyal Dutch Shell said yesterday its Nigerian output has been cut by about 20,000 barrels per day for the fourth quarter due to flooding and this could increase, worsening the company’s production losses in Africa’s top exporter. Nigeria has experienced its worst flooding in five decades this year, with the River Niger bursting its banks in September. The flooding has reduced supplies from Nigeria by more than a fifth by some

estimates, helping to support global prices. Speaking on a conference call to discuss Shell’s third-quarter earnings, Shell Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry said the company was working to resume output that had been affected by the floods in Niger Delta. “The impact in the fourth quarter looks at least 20,000 barrels per day compared to the third quarter,” he said. “We are not yet back up and running, so that impact could increase.We’re do-

ing everything we can to bring operations back as reliably and safely as we can.” The earnings season this week has underlined the challenges faced by Shell and rivals like BP Plc in boosting output. Shell said on Thursday Nigerian losses led in part to a fall in its third-quarter global liquids production of five per cent. Other companies such as Total of France had to reduce output in Nigeria because of the floods, which Nigerian govern-

2011 nine months. Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director, Mr Larry Ettah said, “I am pleased to announce strong performance for the third quarter of the year, despite what remains a challenging operating environment. “We have recorded improvements in margins in the quarter and a reduction in operating costs from last quarter’s results at group level. Our ongoing execution of a strategy that targets volume expansion and organisation restructuring is being validated.”

ment officials estimated at one point cut at least a fifth, or 500,000 bpd, of the country’s output. In addition to the drop in output caused by flooding, Shell’s Nigerian venture on October 19 declared force majeure on exports of Bonny and Forcados crudes, citing damage to pipelines caused by oil theft. On September 30, Shell said its Nigerian unit closed the Bonny pipeline which sends crude to the Bonny terminal and stopped 150,000 bpd of production after oil thieves caused a fire.

1 -No v -1 2

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

UAC-PROP

11.80

12.70

0.90

% CHANGE 7.63

121.20

128.00

6.80

5.61

BERGER

8.01

8.41

0.40

4.99

GLAXOSMITH

39.90

41.89

1.99

4.99

PORTPAINT

3.90

4.09

0.19

4.87

NEM

0.50

0.52

0.02

4.00

DIAMONDBNK

4.07

4.22

0.15

3.69

WEMABANK

0.57

0.59

0.02

3.51

MANSARD

1.78

1.84

0.06

3.37

AIICO

0.61

0.63

0.02

3.28

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

REDSTAREX

3.15

CLOSING 2.90

0.25

-7.94

CAP

32.02

30.43

1.59

-4.97

JOHNHOLT

5.32

5.06

0.26

-4.89

PHARMDEKO

2.87

2.73

0.14

-4.88

LIVESTOCK

1.65

1.57

0.08

-4.85

JULI

2.76

2.63

0.13

-4.71

UNITYBNK

0.64

0.61

0.03

-4.69

STUDPRESS

2.78

2.65

0.13

-4.68

HONYFLOUR

2.17

2.07

0.10

-4.61

ETERNA

2.19

2.09

0.10

-4.57

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

58-Day

16,631.94

14.20

1-Nov-12

59-Day

10,000

14.00

1-Nov-12

66 -Day

32,227.06

14.20

8-Nov-12

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91Days

32,057.31

14.50

8-Nov-12

118-Day

50,000.00

13.87

8-Nov-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$50m

N/A

$50m

31-Oct-12

$100m

N/A

$43m

29-oct-12

Capital Market

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as atNovember 1, 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, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Mgbidi women raise funds for less privileged

“What we need is a 21st century policing where things are done professionally and rightly.”

INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE, MR. MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR

Flood victims convert mortuary to classroom NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

oordinators and supervisors of the flood victims at the Umueri General Hospital relief camp in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State have converted the large hospital mortuary hall into a classroom block where victims’ children are now schooling. Presently, there are 183 pupils at the mortuary hall at nursery, primary and secondary school levels. The camp supervisor, Hon. Austin Arioba disclosed this when a delegation of the national executive council of the Young Women Christian Association of Nigeria (YWCA), visited the camp with relief materials worth several thousands of naira. Arioba, who also disclosed that two persons have so far lost their lives in the camp, while the sick are being given free medical treatment at the hospital, as directed by the state government, said when they discovered there were on corpses deposited at the mortuary hall, they decided to convert the large hall into classrooms for effective teaching and learning of the flood victims, while the small hall was reserved for corpses. He commended the YWCA delegation for thinking it worthwhile to join the numerous donors of relief and food items to the flood victims, since the advent of the disaster, adding that the most consoling aspect of it all was that the floods have dried up in many homes, while the victims are now waiting for the state government to officially declare the camp closed so they can go back to their respective ancestral homes. He stated that the 2,986 victims currently taking refuge at the camp are made up of people from eight communities of Anambra West Local Government Area, including Umueze-Anam, Iyiora-Anam, Mmiata-Anam, UmudoraAnam, Oramaetiti-Anam, Umuikwu-Anam, neighboring Igala community and youth corps members serving in some schools and the Anambra West

Local Government Secretariat, Nzam. Earlier, leader of the YWCA delegation and National Vice President of the Association, Lady Chikwue Ochiagha had explained that they were touched by what they read in the national dailies and heard on electronic media about the plight of the flood victims and decided to task themselves to raise a total of N500,000 with which to visit the flood victims in all parts of the country. Flanked by members of Anambra State Executive

Council, including Lady Amaka Anyaegbunam, the state secretary/chairperson of Ogidi branch of the association; Lady Nkoli Chukwura, member, state executive council/ chairperson, Obosi branch and Barrister Joy Ikebaku from Obosi branch, Lady Ochiagha urged the victims to take their present predicament in good faith. She charged the coordinators and supervisors of the camps to be more transparent and have fear of God in the distribution of the relief materials, adding

that most importantly; efforts must be made to ensure that the Federal Government intervention funds for the victims get to them, without being tampered with. The YWCA delegation had earlier visited Bishop Crowther Memorial Primary School, Onitsha where many flood victims were camped and donated some relief materials, urging the Federal Government to be pro-active in check-mating the re-occurrence of the flood disaster in future.

A street trader relaxing with her children on Broad street, Lagos.

She emphasiased that if this disaster took the Federal Government unawares, they should now initiate a dialogue with their Camerouonian counterparts to ensure that the flood is not channeled to Nigeria when next their dam cracks or over-flows its bank. Receiving the relief materials, coordinator of the victims at the Bishop Crowther camp, Onitsha, Udora Elias, disclosed that out of over 2,500 victims in the camp, about 1,000 have returned home because their own houses have dried up.

PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Methodist Prelate, Makinde calls for National Conference LEONARD OKACHIE

he Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Makinde has called for a National Conference as a solution to the incessant security threat and other challenges confronting the country presently. Makinde also urged the Boko Haram sect and other ethnic agitators to sheathe their swords and embrace peace as bedrock for national development. The cleric made these remarks at the 3rd Edition of Annual Festival of Hymns and Songs of the

Diocese of Lagos West held at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Opebi Circuit, Ikeja, Lagos. He advocated for a concrete love and understanding, beginning from every family setting, which eventually, would reflect passionately on the society and subsequently transform the nation. At the event, tagged “Rejoice In The Lord And Make Joy In The God Of Our Salvation”, the Prelate harped on the need for Nigerians, especially, the religious faithful, to heartily embrace the tenets of their beliefs to the letter in their respective disciplines. He, therefore, urged the church

and Islamic leaders to be front burners against vices that might tend to distance others from serving God, accordingly. Makinde, however described songs and other lyrics as the bridge for continued God’s love to mankind, which he posited must be fully utilised to make God happy and cemented to the relationship between both, at all times. In their respective submissions at the event, the Chairman of the Event Planning Committee, Sir Abidoye Ayooola; the Host Bishop, Rt. Revd Isaac Ayobami Olawuyi and the Lay President of the Diocese, Sir Godwin Adewu-

mi, jointly applauded the essence of the exercise as a vital tool, to amplify God’s appreciation to mankind. They congratulated the Methodists nationwide, on the successful celebrations of the 170 years anniversary of the church and its 50 years of autonomy; even as they charged Christians not to relent on their efforts to make the nation a better place. The distinguished audience was treated to resourceful gospel renditions by the ace gospel artiste, Evang. Tope Alabi, accompanied by her husband, Mr. Bolaji Alabi.

TRANSITION

Allison Attah

ife of the Former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Allison Attah, died in a Lagos hospital at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday, October 29, 2012 after a brief illness. She was aged 72. Mrs. Attah, a mother of two, was a graduate of Leeds University, UK, where she qualified as a Librarian. While serving as the first lady of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Attah, who had passion for child care, was the chairperson, Child Development Trust, CDT, a nongovernmental organisation that sought to change the lives of under-privileged rural children in Akwa Ibom through the provision of free health care services. Nneyin, as she was popularly called among women and children in Akwa Ibom, was of Bahamas nationality. Friends and relatives described her as a down-toearth woman who did not allow the euphoria attached to the first lady office get into his head. Family sources said her burial arrangement would soon be made public. She is survived by her husband and two children.

Community Mirror

Mgbidi women raise funds for less privileged LEONARD OKACHIE

omen’s wing of Mgbidi Peoples Assembly, Lagos branch have raised funds to assist the less privileged in their midst to enable them start up small scale businesses. The event which was part of the 2012 women’s summit and empowerment programme brought together prominent sons and daughters of Mgbidi amongst whom were the Deputy Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Donatus Ozoemena; former Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, Champion Newspapers Ltd, Mr. Ugo Onuoha; Pastor and Mrs. Emeka Ngubo.

The premises of Hope Bay College, Old Ojo Road, venue of the event was set agog as the women showcased their dancing skills to the cheering guests, proving they were very much in tune with their culture. Earlier in her speech, the Chairperson of MPA, Women’s Wing, Lagos, Mrs. Marbel Anuebunwa, said the occasion was not only to celebrate 2012 MPA women summit, but also to see the extent they could go in touching lives of the less privileged in their midst.

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dr. Marie Itiowe and daughter, Glory

ife of the General Overseer, The Old Path Revival Commission (TOPREC), Dr. Marie Itiowe is dead. She died in an auto crash on Monday, September 24, 2012 at the age of 56. The accident also claimed the life of her daughter, Glory Itiowe and two others on board her Toyota Sequia Jeep. Dr Marie, who was born in Lagos to Togolese parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Deliha in 1956, was instrumental to the conversion of her parents from idolatry and occultism to Christianity. She got married to Pastor Alfred Owoyemi Itiowe who hails from Effurun in Delta State in 1982, and they are blessed with children. She joined in her husband’s missionary work at the Deeper Life Church until 1995 when they cofounded TOPREC, according to God’s directive. Dr. Marie graduated from the University du Benin, after which she proceeded for her Master’s Degree in French Literature from the University of Jos, Nigeria. She also obtained a Doctorate Degree in Theology as part of her excellence in ministry. Marie was a teacher, a preacher, an exhorter, a trainer and a counselor whose devout Christian life impacted everyone she came across with. Having the desire to own a school from childhood, she established Good Hope Stars School, a popular school in Enugu. Her passion for soul winning, as well as budding desire to touch the less privileged made her to initiate “Operation HAPPY” (Health Awareness Programme Packaged for You), even as she is involved in village outreach programmes. Marie’s daughter, Glory Oreoluwani Itiowe, on the other hand, was a graduate of Sociology and Anthropology from Enugu State University. She also possessed a Diploma in Law from the University of Jos. She died in the same accident at the age of 26.

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

“Anti-Semitism will be chased out everywhere ... in particular on social networks where anonymity is granted to hatred” – French President, Francois Hollande

Hurricane Sandy’s death toll hits 87 ...as long queue for fuel appears PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

escuers searched flooded streets and swamped houses for survivors, drivers lined up for hours to get scarce gasoline and millions remained without power yesterday as New York City and nearby coastal towns struggled to recover from one of the biggest storms ever to hit the United States. New Yorkers heard the rumble of subway trains for the first time in four days as limited service resumed, but the lower half of Manhattan still lacked power and surrounding areas including Staten Island, the New Jersey shore and the city of Hoboken remained crippled from a record storm surge and flooding. At least 87 people died in the “superstorm” that ravaged the north-eastern United States on Monday night. Officials said the number could climb as rescuers searched house-to-house through coastal towns. The hunt for gasoline added to a climate of uncertainty as the death toll and price tag of the storm rose. “I’m so stressed out,” said Jessica Bajno, 29, a school teacher from Elmont, Long Island, who was waiting in line for gas. “I’ve been driving around to nearby towns all morning, and being careful about not running out of

gas in the process. Everything is closed. I’m feeling anxious.” More deaths were recorded overnight in the New York City borough of Staten Island, where authorities recovered 17 bodies after the storm lifted whole houses off their foundations. Among the dead were two boys, aged 4 and 2, who were swept from their mother’s arms by the floodwaters, police said. In all, 38 people died in New York City, officials said. The financial cost of the storm also promised to be staggering. Disaster modelling company Eqecat estimates Sandy caused up to

$20 billion in insured losses and $50 billion in economic losses, double its previous forecast. At the high end of the range, Sandy would rank as the fourthcostliest catastrophe ever in the United States, according to the Insurance Information Institute, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the September 11 attacks of 2001, and Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In hard-hit New Jersey, where oceanside towns saw entire neighbourhoods swallowed by seawater and the Atlantic City boardwalk was destroyed, the death toll doubled to 12. Floodwaters finally receded from the streets of Hoboken, just across the Hudson River from

High Commission of India is showcasing 17 Indian businesses that will participate under INDIA PAVILION at the Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) being held at the Tafawa Balewa square during November 2-11, 2012. Indian Pavilion spanning 150 square meters is the largest ever participation by Indian businesses at LITF. The products on display at the INDIA PAVILION include fashion garments, costume/imitation/ artificial jewellery, handicrafts, wood carving, stainless steel items, kalamkari hand paintings, cotton silk Sarees, handloom jute products, home furnishings, cotton wall-hanging, posters, banners, kitchenware, photography goods, footwear, oxygen/nitrogen plants, packing polythene etc.

Iraqi court hands Sunni VP 2nd death sentence

Men inspecting damage to a beach club destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in Sea Bright, New Jersey

22 killed in Saudi fuel truck blast t least 22 people were killed when a fuel truck crashed into a flyover in the Saudi capital, Riyadh yesterday, triggering an explosion that brought down an industrial building and torched nearby ve-

Manhattan, leaving behind a stinky mess of submerged basements and displaced cars littering the sidewalks. “The water was rushing in. It was like a river coming,” said Benedicte Lenoble, a photo researcher from Hoboken. “Now it’s a mess everywhere. There’s no power. The stores aren’t open. Recovery? I don’t know.” In neighbouring Jersey City, drivers negotiated intersections without traffic lights. Shops were shuttered and lines formed outside pharmacies while people piled sodden mattresses and furniture along the streets. The city imposed a curfew and banned driving from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

WORLD BULLETIN Indian Commission showcases 17 businesses at Lagos Fair

hicles, officials and state media said. Health Ministry spokesman, Saad al-Qahtani said 135 people were injured in the disaster. He told state television they were mostly men and included some

Smoke rising after an explosion which severely damaged an industrial building in eastern Riyadh yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS

foreigners. The Civil Defence Department said a gas tanker had hit a bridge in eastern Riyadh, causing a gas leak and an explosion in a nearby heavy machinery and vehicles warehouse, according to the state news agency, SPA. “The truck driver was surprised by a road accident on its route, causing it to crash into one of the pillars of the bridge,” spokesman Captain Mohamed Hubail Hammadi said. Although the incident took place near the headquarters of the Saudi Arabian National Guard and the Prince Nayef Arab College for Security Sciences, officials speaking on state television said it was an accident. The civil defence chief, Saed

PHOTO: REUTERS

al-Tweijri, said the fire had been brought under control. He blamed the tanker driver for the accident. The warehouse, several storeys high, was levelled by the blast, which also caused severe damage to other neighbouring buildings. Rubble, twisted metal and shattered glass littered a wide stretch of the surrounding area. “I was inside the building when the blast came. Then boom, the building collapsed. Furniture, chairs and cabinets blasted into the room I was in,” said survivor Kushnoo Akhtar, a 55-year-old Pakistani worker, who was covered in dirt and bleeding from multiple cuts on his face and hands. “My brother is still inside under the rubble. There are lots of people in there.”

An Iraqi court yesterday unexpectedly convicted the country’s fugitive Sunni vice president on charges of instigating bodyguards to assassinate a senior government official and sentenced him to death. The verdict was the second death sentence for Tariq al-Hashemi in less than two months, and is likely to stoke further resentment among Iraq’s minority Sunni Muslims against the Shiite-led government. The sentence is unlikely to be carried out any time soon because al-Hashemi has exiled himself in neighbouring Turkey. He fled Iraq in December 2011 after the government accused him of playing a role in numerous attacks.

Israel confirms killing Arafat’s deputy in 1988 Lifting a nearly 25-year veil of secrecy, Israel acknowledged yesterday that it killed the deputy of Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat in a 1988 seaborne raid in Tunisia. Two of those involved in the operation now hold high political office - Defense Minister, Ehud Barak and Vice Premier Moshe Yaalon. At the time, Barak was deputy military chief, and Yaalon was head of the Sayeret Matkal unit. Their precise roles in the operation were not divulged, and both men’s offices declined comment. Israel has long been suspected of assassinating Khalil al-Wazir, who was better known by his nom de guerre Abu Jihad. But only now has the country’s military censor cleared the Yediot Ahronot daily to publish the information, including an interview with the commando who killed him, at least 12 years after the newspaper obtained the information.

World News

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

US election to cost $6bn, most expensive in history W ith the funding trend of campaigns of the Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney, the 2012 U.S. presidential election’s estimated expenditure is in excess of $6 billion This is considered to be the most expensive in the history of U.S. election. A report released yesterday by the Center for Responsive Politics, CRP, said the figure was arrived at from the new analysis of Federal Election Commission data. CRP is US’s premier research group tracking money in the nation’s politics and its effect on elections and public policy. The most significant difference compared with earlier cycles is the unprecedented money being raised and spent by outside - and ostensibly independent organisations, which we are expected to spend more than $970 million. “In the new campaign finance landscape postCitizens United, we’re seeing historic spending levels spurred by outside groups dominated by a small number of individuals and organisations making exceptional contributions,” said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics. Krumholz said that not only is the total cost of the election record breaking, but the rate at which spending has increased -- and continues to increase -- in the closing weeks of the election is as well.

“In particular, outside groups are spending furiously. Spending by these groups, for and against the two main presidential candidates, has grown from $19 million per week in early September to $33 million per week in early October to $70 million during the week beginning October 21.” The CRP’s report noted that the presidential election alone accounts for $2.6 billion, which is actually a decrease from 2008 when, all told, nearly $2.8 billion was directed at the presidential race. The report added that: “In 2012, presidential candidates along with major party committees are expected to spend about $2 billion. Outside organisations that report spending to the Federal Election Commission are predicted to spend more than $528 million to influence the presidential race. Spending by the party convention host committees and public funding for the conventions totalled $142 million. “Spending in congressional races is projected to increase slightly in 2012. House and Senate candidates combined will spend about $1.82 billion, up from $1.81 in 2010. House campaign spending alone will total nearly $1.1 billion, a slight increase of 3 percent more over 2010. In the Senate, spending by candidates will approach $743 million, which is down about 7 percent compared to 2010.” President Obama’s campaign kept much of its fundraising in-house, churning

Biden eyes 2016 presidency

ven with a tight race between the Democrat and Republican for the November 6 presidential election, Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday gave Americans a surprise. He hinted of a possible 2016 presidential bid. While speaking with a voter during a campaign stop at a Sarasota, Florida restaurant, Biden said: “Look, I’m not trying to talk you into voting for me, I just wanted to say hi to you. “And after it is all over, when your insurance rates go down, then you will vote for me in 2016. I’ll talk to you later.

“I’ll tell ya what, you may be a Republican but I love ya.” Biden, who spent 36 years in the Senate had once hinted about his quest for the presidency. He left the door of the 2016 presidency opened last year. His wife, Jill, earlier fuelled rumour about Biden’s presidential ambition when in summer she said she wasn’t sure if this would be the last campaign of the vice president. “I’m not sure whether this is his last campaign. Joe would make a great president,” she said. By then, the Democrat vice president will be 73 years.

REPORTING to collect millions of small donations at least $214.3 million. The campaign also heavily tapped networks of wealthy and powerful supporters, known as bundlers, who combined to raise at least $180.1 million. The Romney campaign

never reached historic levels of fundraising but was aligned with powerful outside spending groups. While the campaign raised just $389 million (only a relatively small fraction, $70.8 million, raised from small donors), Romney’s campaign

was undoubtedly buoyed by the support of Restore Our Future, which raised $131.6 million. It has spent one out of every five super PAC dollars this cycle. “In reaction, candidates feel pressure to raise more funds,” said Bob Biersack, senior fellow at the Center for Responsive Politics. “Everybody reacts to this new environment by getting as much money as they can.” According to the CRP’s report, one important difference in fundraising for the two presidential campaigns has been the emphasis on small donors by the Obama campaign. Every presiden-

tial campaign focuses on maximum contributions from individuals, now commonly raised through jointfundraising organisations receiving up to $75,800 from each individual, often delivered by bundlers seeking to demonstrate the extent of their support for a particular candidate. Less common is the ability of the Obama campaign to raise about 30% of his contributions in amounts less than $200 per person - more than $214 million through October 17 and three times the amount raised by Romney in similar amounts.

President Barack Obama smiling as supporters cheer at Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, Wis., yesterday, during a quick campaign stop before heading to Las Vegas. PHOTO: AP

Green Party presidential candidate arrested in pipeline protest

he presidential candidate of the Green Party in the November 6 poll, Dr. Jill Stein, was arrested in Texas on Wednesday. A local official said that the 62-year-old and physician presidential hopeful was arrested for criminal trespass while attempting to bring food and other supplies to protesters opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline.. Ty Oaks, a corrections officer at the Wood County jail, said Stein, 62, was released after she promised to return to appear in court on the trespass charge. Oaks did not know when Stein’s court date would be. Before her arrest on Wednesday, the presidential candidate has stated that “everyone needs to step up resistance to climate-killing emissions,” and that she was willing to be arrested “in order to show solidarity

with this blockade.” In a statement on her website, Stein said: “I’m here to connect the dots between super storm Sandy and the record heat, drought, and fire we’ve seen this year – and this Tar Sands pipeline, which will make all of these problems much worse. And I’m here

to connect the dots between climate devastation and pipeline politicians – both Obama and Romney – who are competing, as we saw in the debates, for the role of Puppet In Chief for the fossil fuel industry. Both deserve that title. Obama’s record of “drill baby drill” has gone beyond the harm

done by George Bush. Mitt Romney promises more of the same.” There was no confirmation of Stein’s arrest from her campaign organisation. The story of the arrest was only posted on her website. Green Party is an environment-oriented left-leaning party.

Donate $5 to my campaign, Obama appeals to donors

our days to the election, President Barack Obama yesterday made passionate appeal to donors to support his campaign with $5. In a statement by the President’s campaign organisation sent to our correspondent, Obama said: “We got outraised pretty badly in the first half of this past month by Mitt Romney and the Republicans, giving them a $45 million edge on us. “We don’t know what

kind of impact it will have in the final days of a tight race, but we still have time to fight back and make sure it will not be a decisive factor in this election. “Please, don’t wait any longer -- I need you to make a donation of $5 or more to close the gap and finish strong. “I know I’ve asked a lot of you. Today will be one of the last chances we get to affect the outcome of this race, and I’m counting on your response.

“No matter how this ends, on Election Night I’ll get up on stage and thank everyone for all the time and effort and hard-earned dollars you’ve put into this. “But I also want to be able to tell our country that our hard work paid off, and that we will continue moving forward for four more years. “That will only happen if you get on board and chip in what you can. Please donate $5 or more today.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Friday, November 2, 2012

Kaduna bombing: I’m not under pressure to resign – Yakowa OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

aduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa said yesterday that he was not under any pressure to quit power, adding that nothing would make him resign as governor of the state. Yakowa spoke at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Secretariat

while fielding questions from journalists on the series of bomb blasts and killings in the state. Addressing journalists after visiting the PDP National chairman and members of the National Working Committee, NWC, Yakowa said there was no part of the world without security challenges. He said: “Let me say to you outright that I will

not resign; there is absolutely no reason for me to resign. We are on top of the security challenges we are facing in Kaduna State. We are working closely with the Federal Government and the security agencies. “These sporadic incidents... there is no part of the world where you don’t have security challenges, let us be very frank with

ourselves. For somebody to look at me to say would you resign, I will not, there is absolutely no reason for that. We are on top of the situation.” On why he visited the party’s National Secretariat, Yakowa said: “This is the headquarters of our great party, PDP. One must always come here to consult with the leadership, to interact with the leader-

ship of the party as a loyal party leader. As a leader of the party in my state, I make sure the rules and regulations of the party are properly understood and implemented. You can only do that if you regularly come to the party headquarters and interact with the leadership. I can say to you that I have benefitted tremendously from this visit that I made today and

I will come more often.” His Sokoto State counterpart, Aliyu Magartakada Wamakko, who also visited the PDP National Secretariat to see the leadership of the party, said the governors were not at war with the party leadership. He said: “All the governors are fully behind the party, working with the party so that the party gets what it wants.”

Jonathan lacks courage to fight corrupt govs –Shehu Sani A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he President of the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, CRCN, Mallam Shehu Sani, yesterday said the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan had no political will and moral authority to wage war against corrupt governors. Sani, who accused Jonathan of shielding corrupt governors, said there was no possibility of war against corruption under the present government. In an e-mail statement, Sani said the government had inherited a culture of resistance to probity, transparency and accountability, adding that since the advent of democracy in 1999, no government had actually fought corruption. The CRCN president called on Jonathan to sanitise his administration by removing corrupt practices among government officials. Sani described the Federal Government’s vote of confidence in the governors’ performance as unfortunate. He said: “The fight

against corruption is a facade... It is a government allergic to fiscal responsibility. It is a caravan of corruption. The government of President Goodluck Jonathan cannot and will never fight corrupt state governors. It does not have the liver, the heart, the kidney and the honour to fight corruption. Jonathan’s government is venality and a sleazy enterprise. “This government cannot come to equity because its hands are smeared and stained. President Jonathan’s government is a government of the Etetes by the Diezanis for the Tompolos. President Jonathan’s government is a besotted government that profoundly rewards corruption. “How can a government that lavished juicy contracts on former militants, recklessly shares money to former militants and scandalously auctions our national assets to a gang of few parasitic bourgeoisies and institutionally incapable of implementing its budget have the moral authority to fight corruption?”

L-R:Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam; Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar and Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wammako, during PHOTO: NAN the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Katsina, Zamfara frustrating telecoms services –Airtel

ne of the leading telecommunications services providers in the country, Airtel Nigeria, has accused the governments of Katsina and Zamfara states of frustrating efforts to provide quality services in the North. The company said subscribers in both states might not be able to get the best of telecommunication services because the activities of the states and local governments were hindering expansion of services in the states. Airtel Nigeria’s Direc-

FG owes Kwara N12bn, says commissioner WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

he Federal Government owes Kwara State Government N12 billion for projects the state executed on behalf of the former. The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Prince Tunji Moronfoye, disclosed this at a forum organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, tagged:

“The Parliament,” to feature government’s performance in the state. Moronfoye, who was highlighting the constraints of the government vis-à-vis availability of funds, said unlike other privileged states, Kwara State was not on the list of those with high profile allocations from the Federation Account. According to him, while states like Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, etc can boast of

enough federal allocations to conveniently meet all their needs, Kwara falls within the category of those who are not that lucky. He, however, said with the lean resources, the administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed touched the lives of the people. The commissioner, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to offset the huge debt to Kwara State to enable the state executes developmental projects.

tor of Regulatory Affairs and Special Projects, Mr. Osondu Nwokoro, raised the allegation yesterday while addressing a press conference in Lagos on the environmental challenges of the telecoms industry with impact on quality of service. He said: “Fibre optic cable deployment is being held up in some states, particularly Zamfara and Katsina, over Right of Way payments already made to the Federal Government.” Nwokoro was at the conference with the Chief Technical Officer,

Airtel, Mr. Awadhesh Kalia, and the Director of Corporate Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, Mr. Emeka Oparah. “Ongoing threats and harassment by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, of government include site shutdowns and denial of access aimed at extracting multiple and illegitimate taxes and levies,” Nwokoro added. He also disclosed that there were challenges in various communities. Many local chieftains, ac-

cording to him, see telecommunication sites as sources of income and forcefully demand various payments, in the process preventing access to the sites for routine maintenance. This practice, according to Nwokoro, hurts the communities even more as their communities then suffers loss of services in an era where such services have become critical for family relations and general connectedness. In the case of the North, he said telecoms services were suffering in seven states due to the terrorist activities.

Al-Makura claiming credit for Doma’s projects –PDP IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has warned the Good Governance Team on tour of Nasarawa State to double check projects which Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura might claim to have executed. The state Chairman of the party, Chief Yunana Iliya, gave the warning in a statement issued yesterday in La-

fia, the state capital. Iliya described AlMakura as a person who derives pleasure in building castles in the air and reaping where he did not sow. The chairman said the governor claimed credit for some projects executed by the last administration. He said: “It is a known fact that the new state House of Assembly complex claimed by AlMakura was 100 per cent

executed by the last administration under the leadership of former Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma, while the new Lafia modern market was constructed and completed by the last administration and awaiting commissioning before the last general elections. The Karu international (market), which he equally claimed, was also built by the PDP administration of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the then governor of the state.”

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, November 2, 2012

Igboananike, AIK agree on transfer

Levante’s striker, Obafemi Martins.

in the first week of December to begin full preparation for the Nations Cup,” he said. The Eagles are also scheduled to train in Faro, Portugal, before they

Sport

–SUPER EAGLES DEFENDER AZUBUIKE EGWUEKWE

I’m Serena’s biggest cheerleader –Venus YEMI OLUS

uper Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi has disclosed that the international friendly against Venezuela would determine his final squad to the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup finals. Eagles are billed to engage the South American country in Miami, USA on November 14 with a blend of homebased and foreign-based players. Keshi called up 24 local-based players on Tuesday ahead of the friendly. Eleven pros will later be called up for the trip and they will be joining the selected number of home-based players making up a final 18-man team, from their respective European base, three days before the November 14 date. Keshi informed that the friendly game will be used to have a look at some players are yet to play under him before. “The Venezuela game is the last test game for me. It’s now time to focus on the team and concentrate with the players I have already seen,” he said. “I am looking forward to adding three, four players to the present squad I already have and I am hoping that this friendly would help me see some of these players.” Rennes’ defender Onyekachi Apam, China-based striker, Peter Utaka as well as Levante striker Obafemi Martins would be some of the players Keshi now plans to run the rule on. The Eagles coach also disclosed that another training camp for players from the domestic league will open in the first week of December. “I am looking at having the player rest for two weeks after the Venezuela game after which we will enter camp

There is no discrimination between us. We are just like one big family. There is no difference among the homebased and foreign-based players at all in camp

Keshi to name Nations Cup squad after Venezuela friendly IKENWA NNABUOGOR

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

he has been relegated to the background of her sister’s highflying career but tennis star, Venus Williams, says she is Serena’s biggest supporter on and off the court. The 32-year-old multiple grand slam title holder made this revelation while having a pep talk with young girls who were drawn from about nine schools in Lagos at the “Kick Like a Girl” programme organised by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S Consulate General in Lagos yesterday. The duo have played against each other in 23 professional matches since 1998, with Serena winning 13 of them as well as eight Grand Slam singles finals. Venus was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease which has limited her participation in the game but maintains that she copes well with her sister’s success: “I’m always cheering her so hard. I am her greatest cheerleader as well as the rest of the family. For instance we thought Serena was going to win the French Open but she head to South Africa by January 4 to lost in the first round I finalise their preparations for the Na- was watching the game in tions Cup. They are in Group C along with Zambia, Burkina and Ethiopia.

my room because I didn’t think I needed to be at the match as I thought she would win. I was so upset that I smashed my phone against the wall. I probably took it harder than she did”, she said. On her own part, Serena who is currently ranked third in the world and has won seven titles in 2012 including two Grand Slams and the women’s singles at the London 2012 Olympic Games says she is motivated by Venus’s determination to succeed despite her condition. She said, “We can let people know through our ups and downs and our story that you must never give up no matter how far down you are. Take Venus for example, she’s dealing with a disease that makes her tired and she doesn’t have energy like a lot of people yet she’s just determined and it is an inspiration for me.” The sisters will play against one another in an exhibition match at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in Onikan today to round off their Nigerian Tour. AWC: Results DR Congo 0-6 E’Guinea Cameroun 4-1 CIV Ethiopia 0-3 Nigeria

Eko 2012: Ondo athletes yet to resume camp YEMI OLUS

ith less than a month to the commencement of the 18th National Sports Festival being hosted by Lagos State, it has been revealed that members of the Ondo State contingent are yet to be called to camp in preparation for the biannual competition. In a chat with National Mirror, the Ondo State commissioner for Youth and Sports, Yekini Olanipekun, said though the athletes had resumed training, no date had been decided on when

they will be camped. He said, “I can’t give the specific number of athletes that will represent the state at the festival because we are still preparing but we are coming to sweep the medals. The athletes are not in camp but they are working hard. We are taking part in most events.” Reacting to the resignation of Sunshine Stars handler, Gbenga Ogunbote a few days ago, Olanipekun said the coach was not forced to resign following the failure of the team to make it to the final of the CAF Champions League after being knocked out of the competition by Egyptian side, Al-Ahly

in the semis: “The coach resigned voluntarily without any intimidation and harassment and it is normal for someone to resign. Maybe he has gotten a better offer somewhere but I appreciated his efforts. However we are proud of the team because what we have achieved has never happened in the history of the South West. “We were the only team that represented Nigeria at the CAF Champions League so we have to appreciate our players and technical team. I’m sure that next season we will come back with the cup to Nigeria”, he said.

Serena and Venus (middle)with students of the Government Senior College, Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday

Sport

Friday, November 2, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

N1.5m for grabs in Adeboye tourney IFEANYI EDUZOR

W Manchester United’s striker, Robin van Persie, squeezing in the goal against West Brom during a league game in the English Premiership.

Wenger asks Arsenal supporters to go easy on van Persie

rsene Wenger has called on Arsenal’s away support to respect Robin van Persie at Manchester United on Saturday. This weekend’s game marks the first meeting between United’s £24m striker and the club he captained until his summer

departure. And Wenger hopes there will be no repeat of the anti-Van Persie songs heard intermittently at Arsenal’s previous away games this season. He said: “I hope it is a respectful reception because he has played for us for eight years, he

has done very well for us. You want him to be respected. “We campaign against discrimination, it was still the case last week so why should it not be the case this week? I don’t know what the fans will do, I think he will get the reception I hope for.”

Officials treat Chelsea harshly –Di Matteo

helsea manager Roberto Di Matteo says he thinks that his club is being unjustly targeted by referees, as the controversy between the club and officials only grows. With the European champions already having lodged an official complaint against referee Mark Clattenburg over “inappropriate language” at a Chelsea player during Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, Di Matteo also feels there has been a notably lack of consistency in games involving his team, in contrast to other clubs. On Sunday, all the controversy was preceded by Clattenburg sending off two of the Italian’s players. It was the second time in just over a year that has happened to Chelsea, with two of

their players also dismissed in the equally controversial 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers on October 23, 2011, which resulted in the John Terry case. “It’s incredible we got two players sent off in one game,” Di Matteo said. “At QPR, one was correct and one was probably not correct. And on Sunday, one was harsh and probably correct and the second one was 100% not correct, so it’s incredible that always it’s Chelsea Football Club. So maybe that’s something to think about, you know. “We just want to be treated fairly by everybody. Nobody is talking about the handball in the second half (in Wednesday’s 5-4 Capital One Cup win over Manchester United) when we should have had a penalty.

Allardyce worries about EPL future

est Ham manager Sam Allardyce has said he is “worried about where the game is going” as external issues such as the Mark Clattenburg affair continue to deflect attention from the actual football. The official Chelsea complaint against the referee follows over a year of controversy in the Premier League, which has included incidents like the Luis Suarez and John Terry affairs and the subsequent dramas over handshakes and t-shirts.

While Allardyce did refer to the complaint as “strange” he eschewed the approach of some of his contemporaries, such as Leeds manager Neil Warnock, and declined to directly comment on it. He did, however, express his concerns about the general direction of the game. He said, “It’s very difficult to comment because you don’t know the full extent of what’s been said. That’s a very difficult thing for me to comment on. I just think that the situation is very difficult for

everybody to sort out and then the police are involved as well. “It really worries me about where we’re going in the game if every incident is going to end up in police hands. It’s very sad for the game of football in general. Over the last how many years as a manager, I’ve never heard a referee give a bad comment to a player in my time so I found it a very strange thing that has been reported but, if it has, only the authorities can decide whether it has or it hasn’t happened.”

the youth through sports. The competition will serve off on January 17, 2013 with regional and state qualifiers, while the finals will come up in March. According to him, participants are expected to register for the tournament online on a special code of 33121 through any of the mobile telephone networks and a designated website that will be created to give equal opportunities for Nigerians to be part of the highest tennis prize money in the country.

inners of the male and female categories of the maiden edition of Pastor Enoch Adeboye National U-20 Open Table Tennis Championship will go home with N1.5million prize and with opportunity of travelling to participate in international tennis circuits. Organisers say the runners up will pocket N800, 000 with the semi-finalists going home with N 250, 000 just as winners in the six zones of the country will win N25, 000 each. Disclosing this to the media during an interactive session, the Provincial Pastor, Lagos Province 3 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Austin Ukaigwe ,who also doubles as the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) noted that the tournament was part of the efforts of the General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye, to empower Pastor Adeboye

Eko 2012: Lagos gets nod today

he Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos said yesterday that it would make its observations on facilities for the festival known today. MOC Secretary-General, Alhaji Abba Yola, disclosed this to newsmen moments after the committee, in conjunction with the festival’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) completed an inspection tour of facilities for the two-week fiesta. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the festival, tagged ‘Eko 2012’ is scheduled to hold from November 27 to December 9. Chigozie Agbim rejoins Rangers Nigeria international goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim has

rejoined Rangers from Warri Wolves ahead of the new season. Fellow Nigeria international Sunday Mba will also dump Wolves for the Enugu club. Both players and some of the players from the past season were at the team’s training on Thursday to sign the dotted lines to feature for the coal city side in the coming season. “I am here to finish a job I started some seasons back. I pray God to give us the needed luck to deliver the goods,” Agbim told MTNFootball.com “It feels good to be back home and I hope to do my best to help the team achieve something next season. With what I have seen here, I don’t see any team standing in the way of Rangers to lift trophies next season,” added Mba.

Samsung Cup: Supersand Eagles in s/finals

he Beach Soccer National Team, otherwise known as Supersand Eagles, stormed into the semi-finals of the on-going Samsung Intercontinental Cup Invitational Tournament yesterday with a 6-5 defeat of Japan. The COPA Lagos kings, who reached the quarter finals at last year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy had on Wednesday prevailed

7-6 over Switzerland to brighten their chances of a place in the last four, having lost 3-6 to Brazil in their opening game last Tuesday. Yesterday, veteran Bartholomew Ibenegbu scored four goals to steer the African runners up past the Japanese in Dubai. The other two goals came from Abu Azeez. But even after the victory. In the other game, Brazil defeated Switzerland 4-3.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Friday, November 2, 2012

Wi Window on Nigerian players abroad

with IKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Igboananike, AIK agree on transfer

gerian attacker Kennedy Igboananike has expressed a desire to leave Djurgården in the winter transfer market, according to Swedish soccer newspaper Expressen. Igboananike’s relationship with Djurgården has not been cordial since the league started and as result limited his first team chances. The club which had been on loggerheads with the young Nigerian striker failed to sanction a move to Premier League rival AIK and Hammarby in the summer market. The Nigerian, according to the report from Sweden, has reached an agreement in prin-

ciple to join AIK next season, and formalities will be concluded at the end of the 2012 campaign in November. Igboananike, 23, has seen his first team chances limited at the Stockholm based club, and was forced to train with the Under 19 team earlier in the season. He has only managed to appear five times in the league with just four games left, leaving the Nigerian with no option than to look elsewhere. Igboananike was the club’s top scorer before the bubble burst. He was snapped up from Vasalunds IF in the third tier of Swedish football, where his impressive goal haul caught the eye of Djurgarden’s officials.

Nwankwo hails debut goal Kennedy Igboananike

Obaje set to return for Leopards B lack Leopards of South Africa striker Joshua Obaje is set to return to action for Black Leopards and could be turning out for the struggling PSL side soon. The former Heartland star had been out due to injury which he sustained in a training session. Obaje was on the treatment table for the knee injury and has been on therapy as he eyes a return to action soon. Obaje missed action for a month due to injury as Black Leopards continue to improve from their struggling form last season that almost sent them back to the lower rungs. The injury meant Obaje was not part

of the team that was beaten by defending champions Orlando Pirates in the knock out stages of the Telkom Cup. Leopards announced the arrival of new coach Ian Palmer, who replaced Zimbabwean Sunday Chidzambwa, who has been appointed Director of Football early in the week. Obaje maintains that the change in the coaching ranks will not affect his chances of grabbing a shirt when he returns from injury. “I’m not bothered about who was appointed the coach, but what matters to me is the opportunity to play,” Obaje said. “I have played under several coaches both at home and abroad

and I have always proved I can play. So, the arrival of the new coach will not scare them. “I have been out on the sidelines due to injury and I can’t wait to get back on the pitch again. It’s really been frustrating not been part of the game out there. “But my recovery rate is quite encouraging and very soon, I will be back again. The support I get from the management and my mates is good and I’m very appreciative.” Obaje arrived in South Africa after attempts to join Ajax Amsterdam and Lillestrom in Norway failed to click. He expresses his wish to take his game to Europe sooner or later.

Eagles will shine at Nations Cup –Emenike

partak Moscow power striker Emmanuel Emenike says he’s looking forward to a bright outing for the Super Eagles

Emmanuel Emenike

at South Africa 2013 Nations Cup next January. Eagles walloped Liberia 8-3 in goals aggregate to berth in South Africa. Emenike, who only returned from the slight injury he picked in the Liberia game, is optimistic Eagles will have a very good outing in the Nations Cup. The former Karabukspor of Turkey star did not however, stick out his neck that Eagles will win the title but maintains they got a very good team that will put up a competent outing in South Africa. Emenike, who will be looking up to his Nations Cup outing for his country, promises he will be at his best in South Africa, assur-

oluspor of Turjey striker Kingsley Nwankwo has hailed his first goal for his club, saying it will further open tyhe door for more. The former Enugu Rangers hit man, who arrived at the Turkish first division side this summer, opened his goal account last Monday, netting the second goal in their 3-2 away victory at Kayseri Erciyesspor. He replaced his compatriot Akeem Agbetu in the 57th minute and struck with just three minutes left on the clock to even scores before they grabbed the winner on the dot of 90 minutes. Nwankwo had suffered injury worries at the beginning of the season that limited his chances to just four games going into the last game. He had waited patiently to grab his chance and told National Mirror he would not stop at noth-

ing that will transform his superb club goal scoring form to the national team. “We got a strong team which will build on the perfect spirit in the team to go on to greater heights,” Emenike said. “Personally, I can’t wait to be at my best in the Nations Cup which incidentally will be held in same country I cut my football teeth. “It will be a great return to familiar terrain and since all eyes will be on me to prove myself, I will only try to be at my best. “I have a lot to do for my country and with God on my own side and on that of the whole team, we will make Nigerians happy.” Kingsley Nwankwo

ing to hit the target in the last game. He would go on to score and promised to build on that to hit more target. Boluspor entertain Adanaspor this Sunday and Nwankwo says he will not mind another bite on the cherry. “I was very happy when I finally broke my duck last weekend and I told myself that it was the beginning of more goals to come,” Nwankwo told National Mirror “I’m really looking forward to the visit of Adanaspor and I’m very optimistic that I will hit the target again. “I pray that I will score again to build on my confidence this season. Boluspor are a great club and I want to achieve things here. “My target is lead the attack of Super Eagles in near future and the dream will be realised if I continue to score goals and do well generally.”

WORLD RECORD

Fastest robot to solve a Rubik’s Cube

Vol. 02 No. 483

Friday, November 2, 2012

N150

For the first time in history, a robot can now solve a Rubik’s Cube faster than a human. On 11 November 2011, CubeStormer II - commissioned by ARM Holdings and built by Mike Dobson and David Gilday (all UK) from four LEGO Mindstorms NXT kits and a Samsung Galaxy S2 mobile phone – completed a scrambled 3x3 cube in 5.270 seconds at the offices of Wired magazine in London, UK.

Puzzling politicians’ link with Boko Haram

ven if it’s by mere coincidence, one cannot but ponderously examine why two serving senators from Borno State, Ali Ndume and Ahmed Khalifa Zanna, have been fingered by the nation’s security agencies as having links with the Boko Haram; especially when the nation is still at the crossroads on how to surmount the sect’s campaign of violence. Ndume was arrested about a year ago (November 2011) following the confession of a Boko Haram member, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (a.k.a Usman Al-Zawahiri), then in custody of the Directorate of State Security Services (DSSS), that ‘a certain serving Senator’, an ex-governor and some politicians in the North were sponsors of the violent Islamic sect. The former governor of the state, Ali Modu Sheriff and Nigeria’s former Ambassa-

FRIDAYS WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) dor to Sao Tome and Principe, the late Saidu Pindar, were also implicated by the Konduga confession. Konduga, according to reports, claimed the late Pindar was the sect’s major pillar, and that he promised the group the sum of N10 million, out of which he was on his way to deliver N5 million when he had motor accident and died last year. Ndume, as was alleged in the confession, filled the vacuum left by Pindar. Ndume who was arraigned in court last December on a four-court charge of having links with the group denied the charges and claimed that his transactions with the sect were lawfully aimed at resolving the security challenges. He said he constantly briefed Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Director-General of the DSSS, Mr. Ita Ekpeyong on the development. Senator Zanna who was invited by the DSSS recently ran into trouble when security operatives arrested a suspected Boko Haram Commander, Shuaib Mohammed Bama, allegedly from his house. The senator accepted that the suspect was his nephew, but denied having any link with the sect. Bama, Zanna said, was arrested from a house owned by former governor Sheriff, whom he defeated to emerge the senator for the Borno Central Senatorial District. Indeed, latest reports say the senator has dragged the relevant authorities to court and is asking for N5 billion as damages for alleged defamation of character

APPEARS INSIGHTFUL ENOUGH TO WARRANT A DEEPER SEARCH FOR THE ORIGIN, GOALS,

MAJOR GRIEVANCES AND POSSIBLE LASTING SOLUTION TO THE

SECT’S HOSTILITIES (linking him with the Boko Haram sect). The other major name is Sheriff. He has been severally accused of being the brain behind the Boko Haram group while serving as governor, especially from 2003 until about 2009. Yusuf, the slain leader of the Boko Haram and others were said to have been arrested and killed in 2009 when Sheriff was serving his second term. Also accused of ordering the elimination of the victims, the ex-governor was said to have apologized to the sect when he left office. But Sheriff had also denied the allegations. One report, however, had drawn attention to what it termed a contradiction in the former governor’s statements when Sheriff allegedly said: “The so-called leader of Boko Haram was arrested and executed in Abuja before I even thought of

Sport Extra

w frican Champions League defending champion and this year’s finalists, Esperance of Tunisia will be without star player, Youssef Msakni, for the first leg of the Champions League final against Al Ahly on Saturday.

THE COINCIDENCE

becoming the governor of Borno State”. Konduga who implicated Ndume and the late Ambassador Pindar claimed in addition that he was a member of ‘ECOMOG’, an armed political outfit purportedly sponsored by Sheriff to advance his political interests in Borno State. The relationship between the sect and the exgovernor was said to have been at its best when Sheriff appointed one of their leaders, Fuji Foi, as a commissioner under his administration. But the friendship fizzled out when Foi was sacked and later got killed under circumstances the sect felt were state-sponsored. As stated earlier, the link between the aforementioned key political figures in Borno State with the Boko Haram sect could be by accident. Yet the coincidence appears insightful enough to warrant a deeper search for the origin, goals, major grievances and possible lasting solution to the sect’s hostilities. The solution might not just come from reliance on military might, threats or baseless appeals. As was widely alleged at a time, militancy in the Niger Delta festered in the region between 1999 and 2009 especially because some politicians armed and used militants for selfish political gains and dumped them in the cold without proper rehabilitation. The trend has been the pastime of the nation’s crude and heartless political actors. It does not follow that other factors like historical political alienation, neglect, environmental degradation, etc., can be discountenanced in the Niger Delta restiveness. It is, therefore, possible that Borno State politicians sowed the seed of discord called Boko Haram strictly for self-serving political reasons, though now complicated by religious bitterness perhaps occasioned by developments not bargained for. It seems necessary refocusing the search for a lasting solution to the sect’s insurgence through a sharper interrogation of the roles of Borno politicians in the endless violence. Placing some of them on security watch is alright, but should be seen as a starting point.

ACL final: Esperance loses Msakni The 21-year-old forward underwent surgery on Thursday after suffering from appendicitis and will not be part of the squad that travels to Egypt. His absence is a huge

blow to the Tunisian side, who are aiming to retain the title they won last year. Msakni has scored four goals in the competition this season. Esperance are already

resigned to losing the inspirational player after the showpiece final because he has agreed to join Lekhwiya in Qata r in January next year. And they would have

been desperate for the Tunisia international to be part of their shot at successfully defending the trophy before he heads for the exit. Tunisian international Msakni is among the nominees for African Player of the Year.

Youssef Msakni

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