Friday, December 28, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Fuel subsidy rises by 11 % to N1.71bn per day UDEME AKPAN

Alison-Madueke

he Federal Government’s fuel subsidy bill has increased by

Vol. 2 N0. 523

11 per cent to N1.71bn per day in the past one month following increasing rise in oil prices in the world market. The latest Petroleum

Bomb scare: Security tightens at Lagos Airport

Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, statistics showed that government’s subsidy, which stood at N42.96 per litre in CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

Oduah

...passengers groan P.8

Friday, December 28, 2012

N150

Fire guts Obasanjo’s Hilltop mansion FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

n afternoon fire yesterday gutted the office section of the multi-million naira mansion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Our correspondent gathered that the fire, which

Ihejirika

started at 4:30p.m., was caused by an electric surge from one of the personal offices of the former president and razed some valuable documents. For about 30 minutes, security agencies, including the rescue team and other personnel of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC; the police, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

5 Boko Haram members killed in Kaduna P.6

Boxing Day tragedy: Lagos begins demolition of affected buildings P.9 12 personalities who made P.19 headlines in 2012

FRIDAY

Your

It’s a minor accident, says ex-President

Achebe

Flavour

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

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Hilltop residence on fire in Abeokuta yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Jonathan’s re-election doubtful –Asari-Dokubo

...insists President has mismanaged goodwill of Nigerians

Edo faults US’ claim on security alert

P.5 P.12

Media

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2012: A compendium of L EONARD O KACHIE

hough it is believed to be the most vibrant in Africa, the Nigerian media was bedeviled with a litany of woes in 2012.The distressed economy severely affected the operations of both the print and electronic, as most publications struggled to stay afloat. The consequences were declining copy sales, adverts, readership, even as the condition of service in most media houses was nothing to write home about. However, the year saw the debut of newspapers like Entertainment Express, which came to the news stand on July 1, Historical Flashback, in May and others, but it also witnessed the death of Nigeria’s most hyped satellite TV station, NN24 (full name Networknews24).The station with head office at Oregun, Lagos, which debuted in 2012 and was promoted as Africa’s answer to CNN, went off air in July. Nonetheless, industry watchers are of the view that the social media had an exponential growth in the passing year, even when calls were made for regulation of its unlimited freedom to avert the looming dangers posed by it. But issues such as attack on media houses, assault and killing of journalists, FoI law implementation, and death of practitioners, among others fought grabbed the headlines, thereby making 2012 an annus horribilis for the media.

Attack on media Press Freedom was still at its ebb in the year under review, in spite of approval of the Freedom of Information law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. The year was characterised by cases of assault and killing of journalists by individuals, groups and even government officials. It also witnessed unfortunate and reprehensible attacks on freedom of speech, expression and thought. The media’s litany of woes began with the gruesome murder of Channels Television’s versatile reporter, Enenche Akogwu in January. Eneche, 31, was killed in Kano by the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram, while on line of duty. His demise came shortly after the gruesome murder of Nansok Sallah, 46, a news editor of government-owned

radio station, Highland FM in the restive central Nigerian city of Jos. The sect’s onslaught was extended to some media offices as Thisday offices in Abuja and Kaduna were bombed. Also affected by the attack of April 26 were The Sun and The Moment offices in Kaduna. The attack claimed lives and property worth millions of naira. For instance in August, within five days, two photojournalists- Benedict Uwalaka of Leadership Newspaper and Mr. Tunde Ogundeji of the were assaulted separately in Lagos. Earlier that month, editors of Sun Newspaper, and Compass Newspaper, Mr. Steve Nwosu and Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo repectively, were attacked by armed robbers. WhileUwalaka who was beaten to a pulp by staff of TOS Funerals while covering the release of corpses of those who perished in the ill fated Dana air crash at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) morgue, Ogundeji was attacked by thugs allegedly to be from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), for trying to take pictures of passengers on top of the coaches at Ikeja.

Social media On January 1, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan has shocked many Nigerians during his New Year broadcast removal subsidy on fuel. The announcement provoked violent protests across the country, organized by civil society organizations. As expected, the mainstream media played its traditional role, even as the social media website such as Twitter and Facebook , featured the issues at stake prominently. For instance, Facebook group pages were created to spur Nigerians in the Diaspora to rail against the subsidy removal. One called “Nationwide Anti-Fuel Subsidy Removal: Strategies & Protests “which was created on

January 2 2012 had over 20,000 members by January 9 and still growing. Student websites in universities and blogs reported the Occupy Nigeria Protests and student representatives were streaming live pictures of the protests. Twitter was extensively used as a connecting platform by protesters across the country and the world. While analysts believe that the use of social media which was prominent in 2012, has changed the practice of media by making information sharing easier, faster and quicker, they called for urgent regulation as many networking site have become security threats to persons and society. For instance, the gruesome murder of Miss Cynthia Okogwu by friends she met on Facebook intensified these calls.

FoI Act Since signing the Freedom of Information law by President Goodluck Jonathan in May last year, the media was filled with high expectations on its implementation in 2012. Civil society groups, the media and the human rights organisations were enthusiastic on the operations. The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in its response to the passage said:“the president has more than anyone else empowered the citizens to participate in the governance of their own affairs”. Unfortunately, frustrations and disappointment took over as it did not live up to expectation in the year under review. Critics said the ouster clauses to protect official secrets rendered the law ineffective, even as politicians and government officials pay lips service and hide facts. This however, made it impossible for any individual or group to make any successful request for any information in any government agency. For instance, the Daily Trust in testing the law had requested the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to provide it with information on its recruitment policy. The request was not honoured, as the corporation reportedly wrote that it was not bound by FoI law. Some other media organisations and civil society groups had faced similar challenges this year. The shortcomings in the Act were some of the impediments which analysts

Thisday office in Abuja bombed

PRESS FREEDOM WAS STILL AT ITS EBB IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, IN SPITE OF APPROVAL OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN IN 2011 have called on the relevant bodies to address, to make it more effective.

Deaths Death struck the industry in the most inhumane manner as it left trails of pains and sorrow behind. For example, National Mirror newspaper lost two editorial staff: Mr. Dafe Onojovwo, (Coordinator, Editorial Board, who died in June) and Gbenga Agbana (Deputy Business Editor in March). Also, the Vanguard Newspapers suffered similar misfortune with the deaths of its Entertainment Editor, of Mr. Ogbonna Amadi and photojournalist, Sylva Eleanya. Amadi lost the battle for life to a protracted Asthma in August, while Eleanya followed

suit in October, while returning from work. The Guardian also lost its Acting News Editor and Asst. Health Editor, Ben Ukwuoma on February 20, 2012, after a brief illness. It also struck in The Nation, snatching the co-ordinator of Campus Life Mrs. Ngozi Agbo,who passed on died in May as a result of complications from child birth. Like the print, the electronic media mourned Ms. Sele Eradiri , a popular broadcaster with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) who died on Tuesday, May 29, as Nigeria was celebrating Democracy Day. The 57 year old ace reporter who anchored a weekly popular programme ‘Newsline’ died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, December 28, 2012

woes for the media

Media

Tunde Ogundeji

Onojovwo

Uwalaka

Nwosu

Ogbonna Amadi

(LUTH). The industry also lost veteran broadcaster, Bode Alalade,a former General Manager NTA 7, Lagos,who had several decades in broadcasting, in October in his home at Ogudu GRA, Lagos,

aged 75 years. Also, the veteran broadcaster and television producer, Chief Segun Olusola, creator of the popular television series, Village Headmaster passed on in June 2012.

International scene

he year under review could also be described as a year of living dangerously for journalists across the world.The civil war in Syria, targeted shootings in Somalia and continued violence in Pakistan made 2012 a particularly dangerous year for journalists, with at least 67 killed worldwide in direct relation to their work, according to an organization that defends press freedom. The fatality numbers compiled through mid-December by the Committee to Protect Journalists represent a 42 percent increase over 2011. The committee says 2012 is on track to becoming one of the deadliest years for journalists since it began compiling records in 1992. Coupled with snapshot figures showing a record-high number of journalists imprisoned worldwide – 232 on Dec. 1 – this year has been a year of living dangerously for those who work to gather and disseminate news, said Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. “I would say this has been one of the worst years. There’ve been years when we’ve had higher numbers of journalists killed, but the combination of near-record fatalities and record journalists imprisoned -- put those together and you have to acknowledge that this is one of the worst years on record.” Syria was by far the deadliest country for journalists in 2012. According to committee statistics, 28 journalists were killed in the fighting or targeted for murder by government or opposition forces. Among them were Marie Colvin, an award-winning American correspondent who worked for The Sunday Times of London, and French freelance photographer Remi Ochlik, both of whom were killed in a rocket attack in the Baba Amr neighbourhood of the besieged city of Homs on Feb. 22.

Twelve journalists died this year in Somalia, where the militant Islamist group al-Shabaab has been waging a violent insurgency against the Mogadishu-based federal government. All were murdered, according to CPJ, which says not a single killer of a journalist has been prosecuted in Somalia over the past decade. Pakistan, the deadliest country for journalists in 2010 and 2011, dropped to third this year, but the number of fatalities held steady at seven, the committee reported. In Brazil, four journalists were killed -- the country’s highest annual toll in more than a decade. “In small cities, bloggers and writers for small newspapers and Web portals who are calling out corruption are being targeted,” Gabriel Elizondo, a correspondent for al-Jazeera in São Paulo, was quoted as saying by CPJ. “The profile is usually the same: It’s a small-town journalist, working for a small outlet, who gets gunned down.” The worst year on record for journalist killings was 2009, when 74 people died because of their work — nearly half of them slain in a massacre in Maguindanao province, Philippines, according to CPJ. Sadly too, the 80-year America’s most respected magazine, Newsweek stopped its print edition and decided to go digital. The magazine was affected by the challenges confronting print media world over in recent times. Similarly, the world’s longest comic The Dandy printed its last edition this month. It comic which featured characters such as Desperate Dan and Korky the Kat, was first published 75 years ago. But its circulation plummeted to about 8,000 copies a week in recent years, from a peak of two million in the 1950s.

PhotoNews

Friday December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

IMAGES OF THE YULETIDE

Leaders of Bauchi State Christian Association of Nigeria with the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (middle), during a courtesy visit to the Emir in Bauchi, yesterday.

Wife of Cross Rivers State Acting Governor, Mrs. Glory Efiok Cobham (left) and wife of the Speaker, Mrs. Eneyi Larry-Odey, during a visit to hospitals and motherless babies homes in the state, yesterday.

Demolition of buildings at the scene of the Boxing Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fire disaster that was caused by explosives at the PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI Jankara Market in Lagos Island, yesterday.

Business gradually picking up at Idumota in Lagos after the Christmas break, yesterday.

Fire still burning inside one of the buildings burnt in the Boxing Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fire disaster

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Fun seekers at the Lagos Bar Beach in Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday.

Fishing boats docked as some fishermen observe Christmas at Ibeno fishing settlement on the Atlantic coastline in Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.

Traffic situation at Favos junction, Bodija, Ibadan, as workers resume after the Christmas holiday, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, December 28, 2012

Jonathan’s re-election doubtful –Asari-Dokubo SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

he President of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujarhedeen Asari-Dokubo, yesterday said that the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan for the second term in 2015 hung in the balance. He said the President had abused and ruined the goodwill of Nigerians that would have placed him in good stead to seek a second mandate in 2015. The NDPVF leader lamented that Jonathan had lost the sympathy and support of well-meaning Nigerians. He was, however, quick

to add that hopes were not lost for Jonathan if he could mend fences with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and regain the confidence of Nigerians, who voted overwhelmingly for him in 2011. Asari-Dokubo also said that President Jonathan should urgently deliver on his electioneering promises to Nigerians. He said the performance of the President presently was less than satisfactory, a development he blamed on the presence of some selfseeking and selfish aides. Asari-Dokubo said that the Presidency lied about its relationship with Obasanjo, adding that the seat of power was dishon-

est and economical with the truth in its claim that the relationship between President Jonathan and Obasanjo was cordial. The former militant leader described the reaction of the Presidency to his widely publicised interview in which he asserted that President Jonathan enjoyed frosty relationship with Obasanjo as “baseless and dishonest.” Asari-Dokubo said the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who reacted to his interview on behalf of his boss, was “largely uninformed”, adding that Abati’s reaction was “ arrant nonsense and rubbish.”

He added that Abati was “childish.” “I don’t want to reply Abati, the famous author of crab theory, who was desperate to defend his boss just because he wants to justify his wages. What does Abati know? Am I struggling to be President in 2015? What is the correlation between why is the East/West Road not being constructed and the poor performance of the Presidency, including the inability of President Jonathan to curb corruption in his administration and the crab theory by Abati? “Abati is just childish; his arguments were baseless, just struggling and managing to salvage the

L-R: Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Echono Sonny; Deputy Director, Mr. Biodun Erinle and Assistant Director, Accounts, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Anebi Odeh, during a meeting on procurement planning in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Fire guts Obasanjo’s Hilltop mansion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the State Security Service, SSS, and relations and close friends of Obasanjo battled to contain the fire from spreading to other parts of the mansion. Two fire-fighting trucks of the Ogun State Fire Service marked OG 122 AO9 and OG 127 A09 came into the compound an hour after the fire had been put off by officers of the NSCDC. It was also gathered that the fire started barely 20 minutes after the former president left the mansion for his family house at ItaEko, in the Abeokuta metropolis. The development, however, forced the former president to return to the mansion to ascertain the

level of damage to the building and the welfare of his wife, Bola, who was said to be indoors during the incident. Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Dipo Odujinrin, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the fire had been extinguished, confirmed that valuable documents were lost. He, however, expressed appreciation to God that no life was lost to the inferno. Speaking with newsmen, the former president said it was part of his secretary’s office that was gutted by the fire. Obasanjo in his usual characteristic comic manner sang: “Ile Obasanjo

to jo, ewa lo bu kun. Eyin journalists e ma wi bee kiri ....”, meaning that “Obasanjo’s house that has been burnt will eventually become more beautiful, you journalists should start proclaiming this.” Obasanjo described the fire at his residence in Abeokuta as a “minor” incident. “It was a minor fire that affected my personal assistant’s office. It might have been some electrical problem. I am in high spirit. We thank God,’’ he told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on telephone. He said that officials of the NCDC and the Ogun State Fire Service had put out the fire. “I hope that we can

all see that it was not the whole building that was burnt by fire. It is just the office of my secretary and we thank God for everything.” The fire incident, however, attracted heavy presence of security operatives, including the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, and the state SSS Director, Joseph Okpu. Also, the Chief of Staff to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu; the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Olamilekan Adegbite; former Commissioner for Environment, Anthony Ojesina, were also part of the sympathisers that visited the scene of the incident.

dwindling fortunes and sagging image of the Presidency.” Asari-Dokubo said the Presidency lied when it claimed that there was no rift between Jonathan and Obasanjo, stating that, “everybody knows that there is a quarrel. Has Obasanjo not been openly criticising Jonathan? Has Obasanjo not said that he was not prepared to keep quiet if things are wrong? Do you need to be told that there is a rift when Obasanjo, who took his position as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as between life and death suddenly gave up the job just like that? “Was it not reported that Obasanjo has threatened that Jonathan would not be president in 2015 and that he (Obasanjo) vowed to continue to criticise him (Jonathan)?” Although Asari-Dokubo added that he was still ready to “help” Jonathan to clinch the highest political office in 2015, he regretted that the Presidency was not focused, adding that some political gladiators in the North could cash in on the pervasive deficiencies and inadequacies of Jonathan administration to return to power in 2015. His words: “I am ready and willing to help him in 2015 but there is something wrong with him (Jonathan), he has been hijacked by some people and he is not doing anything to remove them. Jonathan is not on course at all. Jonathan is destroying his presidency. “For instance, he got to power majorly by the support of the social media that is the vehicle in which he was brought to power but as I am talking to you today, he has lost all his Facebook fans. He (Jonathan) is going down every day.” He said Jonathan had failed to deliver on his mandate. “How can he (Jonathan) deliver when everybody around him are sabotaging him? The people around Jonathan are vicious but somebody like me will not keep quiet to allow Jonathan to lead us to avoidable bloodshed.” Asked if he was ready for a truce with the Presidency, Asari-Dokubo stated, “I am not ready to be called

by anybody because I went to him (Jonathan) many times to intimate him that his conduct would bring disgrace to us. I told him that my brother, you are not doing well. My conscience is very important to me, I cannot keep quiet at all, it makes me sick. “But I am and will continue to fight for him (Jonathan), for the Ijaw nation, the South/South and the deprived people, who stood by him (Jonathan). What Jonathan represents is greater than him. The Presidency does not need to reach out to me. Jonathan is not representing himself, Presidency is not the personal property of Jonathan; it is the property of those who died throughout the country to make him the president of Nigeria in 2011.” Specifically, he described the association of a former BoT Chairman of PDP, Chief Tony Anenih with Jonathan as “a liability to the Presidency.” He said it was unfortunate that Jonathan continued to associate with Anenih despite his “credibility baggage.” “For me as a person, I believe in the sayings that ‘show me your friend, I will tell you who you are.’ For Goodluck Jonathan to continue to associate with Tony Anennih despite series of allegations against him is unfortunate. “But there is a remedy for him (Jonathan) because he has two years more, ending on May 29, 2015, if he can make amends. Let him genuinely reconcile with Obasanjo, his benefactor, listen to and align with Nigerians, who elected him in 2011. Let him severe and cut off the people around him, who never wished Nigeria and Nigerians well and redeem the battered image of his administration by delivering on his electioneering promises to Nigerians. “Jonathan should be prepared to fight injustice and corruption in the remaining two years and remove the deadwoods in his government and move the nation forward. All hopes are not lost if he can make amends but his chances of re-election in 2015 are slim and narrow if the present trends of inactivity by his administration continue,” Asari-Dokubo warned.

News

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

5 Boko Haram members killed in Kaduna INUSA NDAHI AND AZA MSUE

ive members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect were yesterday killed by a combined team of the Army and other security agencies in Kaduna, while their bomb-making factory was also destroyed. Also, violence continued in Borno State yesterday as gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram sect members killed three persons; set ablaze the official residence of a council chairman, a palace, two primary schools and several houses in Bulabulin ward of Gubio area of the state. A prominent business mogul and seven others were also killed in the Borno attacks. The attacks were reportedly carried out in separate areas by different groups of young men, armed with assault rifles and other dangerous weapons. In the onslaught against the Islamic sect in Kaduna, two other members of the gang also sustained various degrees of injuries. Recovered from the suspects were five Mark 4 rifles, three pump action rifles, 20 rolls of detonating cords, 21 Nine-volt batteries, two remote switches, one testing metre, five assorted daggers and jackknives and other Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, materials.

Army Deputy Public Relations Officer, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col. Sani Usman confirmed in a statement made available to National Mirror that security agencies carried out a cordon-and-search operation at Rigasa in Kaduna North Local Government Area and discovered a bomb-making factory at a house located off Makarfi Road. The statement reads in part: “On approaching the factory, some suspected terrorists opened fire and also threw already primed IEDs at the troops. “The exchange of fire that ensued resulted in the death of five terrorists, while two that sustained various degrees of injuries are being treated. “In line with our resolve to deter terrorists, the building housing the factory was demolished.” He noted that the operation followed a tip-off, stressing that “the 1 Division Nigeria Army is committed in the fight against terrorism.” Usman, however, assured that the actions of the Army and 1 Division in particular were aimed at ensuring peace and securing lives and property of law-abiding citizens of the state, urging the public to always report suspicious movement to the concern authorities. In Borno, a businessman was killed yesterday night,

barely 24 hours after unknown gunmen killed two policemen and two civilians. The state Police Command identified the slain man as the Maiduguribased business tycoon, Alhaji Abubakar Girigiri Gashua. Spokesman of the command, DSP, Gideon Jibril, confirmed the incident to newsmen last night, saying it was not yet clear if Gashua was killed by insurgents as those behind the act were still unknown. According to DSP Jubril, efforts are being made to trail the fleeing assailants and urged residents to furnish security with useful information on the hide-

outs of suspected insurgents and other criminals. Two other persons sustained injuries during the attack. The gunmen, according to witnesses eyewitness, walked into the market at about 4p.m., and fired several shots into the air before proceeding to the shop of the deceased and shot him dead. The invaders had also reportedly fired several warning shots before fleeing the scene, while the market was deserted. Immediately after the incident, all roads leading to the area were cordoned by dozens of heavily armed soldiers. The Borno violence also

spread to Barawa and a village in Dikwa The victims, who died in the attacks, were residents of Barawa, a border town with Cameroon. An eyewitness, Saina Modu, said the attacks in Dikwa village resulted in the torching of six houses and the residence of a village head. No single life was however lost in the incident that took place in Dikwa. A Gubio resident and an eyewitness, Alhaji Mali Gubio, yesterday said: “The gunmen struck this town at about midnight with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, and petrol bombs and burnt down many public buildings, including our dis-

Queue at a filling station in Abuja yesterday.

trict head’s palace, the council lodge and official residence of our chairman before the gunmen went to burn two of our primary schools. “We were terrified and shocked by the sporadic gunshots and explosion that rocked this town for about two hours.” The children in Bulabulin ward, he added, could not sleep as several houses were also set ablaze by the suspected gunmen who later fled towards GubioDamasak road. He, however, claimed that the attacks on public buildings, including the palace of the district head and the official residence of the council chairman were politically motivated.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Fuel subsidy rises by 11 % to N1.71bn per day CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

November, had increased to N47.66 in December. Based on the estimated daily consumption of 36 million litres of petrol per day, the subsidy cost have risen from N1.54bn per day to N1.71bn per day within a month. The increase is partly attributed to the continued rise in the prices of several crude oil grades, including the nation’s Bonny Light, in the global market. Market watchers said the rise in crude oil prices culminated in high prices of petroleum products, especially petrol, as refiners had to incur higher cost in the process of procuring, refining and marketing of fuel. Available figures showed that the nation attracts a

greater part of the cost as bulk of its fuel is imported from the world market. The PPPRA puts the landing cost, including traders’ margin, lightering expenses, NPA charges, financing, jetty depot and storage charge at N129.17. The agency added that distribution margins, including retailers, transporters, dealers, bridging fund, marine transport average and administrative charge at N15.49, raising total cost to N144.66 per a litre. Consequently, at the regulated price of N97, the Federal Government subsidy on the product amounts to N47.66 per litre. However, the government subsidy may continue to be high next year as some global organisations, including the Organisation

of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, whose members rolled over the production ceiling of the cartel because of such expectation next year. This may pose additional burden on the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration that recently pleaded with legislators to approve an additional N161.6bn to fund the scheme in the 2012 budget framework. The approval was granted after the second reading of the bill for an Act to authorise the issue of appropriation of the request from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to provide for the supplementary payment of fuel subsidy. The legislators, who supported the bill mainly because of the need to reduce the sufferings of Nigerians

during the Yuletide, however, queried the authenticity of the report of the forensic audit purportedly carried out by the government. The Senate President, David Mark, called on the executive arm to either stamp out corruption in the oil industry or stop fuel subsidy. Mark said: “Nobody went out of track, there is no gainsaying the fact and it is not a secret anymore that there is too much corruption in the fuel subsidy regime in whatever system they adopt, and I think the nation must make a decision now on whether to continue or stop it. “If they can’t eliminate the corruption in the industry, then the alternative would be to stop the whole exercise of fuel sub-

sidy, and we must take the one that is easier, which will bring less pain to Nigerians.” The fuel subsidy regime has been a sore point for the Jonathan administration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Ministry of Finance advocating its cancellation on grounds that it was drain on the nation’s resources. With the supplementary appropriation, it is estimated that the 2012 subsidy bill will reach N1.05trn. President Jonathan has however assured that the subsidy will stay for now and adequate provisions made in the 2013 budget. An attempt to remove subsidy in January triggered a nationwide backlash and government had to resort to a 50 per cent cut

after a week of street protests. Subsequent probes of the fuel subsidy regime by the House of Representatives and a committee led by Group managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede revealed widespread corruption with illegal payments of N462bn discovered to have been made to companies that made claims for products not imported, under-imported or inflated the volumes imported. Some of the affected companies and their executives are already facing trial in court. The probes have resulted in the adoption of stricter terms for subsidy verification and payment by the Finance ministry.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National News

Friday, December 28, 2012

Immigration dismisses Reps’ report on recruitment OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

he Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismissed a report by the House of Representatives that it favoured a certain section of the country in its recruitment exercise. NIS said the report was baseless as it has not conducted any recruitment exercise. It said the alleged ministerial order cancelling the recruitment was premature as there was nothing to cancel in the first place.

NIS Controller-General, Mrs Rose Uzoma, said it was pointless to criticise or halt an exercise which has not begun, explaining that the Service only obtained a waiver for recruitment barely two weeks ago and it could not have immediately recruited nearly 5, 000 people within the period. The report had cited an unnamed member of the House of Representatives as accusing Mrs. Uzoma of favouring her South-East kinsmen in the recruitment. The unnamed lawmaker also claimed that

the House Committee on Interior found out that of over 25,000 Immigration officials, Uzoma’s husband’s state of origin, Imo, has the highest number with 1,190; Kano has 350; Lagos has 400; while Sokoto has the least with 200, a development which allegedly made the committee to ask her to stay action on the recruitment until she provides details on how she intends to share out the slots, but with priority to be given to the states that at present have low representation in the Service. The allegation forced

the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, to immediately suspend any of such recruitment in all the paramilitary services under the ministry. However, Mrs Uzoma, who toured the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport yesterday in Abuja for a discreet surveillance of immigration officers on duty, told journalists that she had no reason or power to increase the number of officers from Imo State where her husband hails from. According to her, the NIS is still studying the waiver granted it and yet to fully

come up with the modalities for any recruitment. She, however, said: “I want to put it on record that the Nigeria Immigration Service has not recruited anybody. The purported exercise was approved just about two weeks ago. “No single letter of appointment has been written to any Nigerian. So, it is really a fabrication to say that we have been busy recruiting people or recruiting people from a particular area of the country. “We are still working out the modalities and procedures. To start with, we

only got the approval to recruit just two weeks ago. So, how could we have been recruiting for months? It is really true that we have been making efforts to obtain approval to enable us hire more hands because we actually need these officers especially for our land border areas. We do not have enough staff to man the ports of entry. So, we have been asking government to approve for us and luckily, the Head of Service approved that we should even do replacement and recruitment this time around.

Ogun promises teachers robust motivation

Soldiers travelling by train from Zaria in Kaduna State to Lagos, yesterday.

Jonathan set to sign 2013 budget ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Goodluck Jonathan is to sign the 2013 budget latest December 31 with the passage of the document last Thursday by the National Assembly. The passage of the budget came two months after President Jonathan presented it to the National Assembly. The National Assembly passed N4.987 trillion as the 2013 budget with an increase of about N63 billion above the N4.924 trillion proposal presented by Jonathan on October 10. There had been a couple of meetings in the last few weeks between the leadership of the National Assembly and the President

as well as the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala over the budget. Since the advent of democracy in 1999, most budgets in the country were signed by past presidents some months into their implementation. For instance, the 2012 budget was not assented to by Jonathan until April 13, about four months when implementation of the budget should have started. The budget was passed by the National Assembly on March 15. Jonathan, in his 2013 budget proposal, pegged the price of crude oil to $75 per barrel, but the National Assembly jacked it up to $79 per barrel.

KUNLE A ZEEZ

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured subscribers of exciting moment in 2013 as more innovative services will be introduced in the nation’s telecoms sector. Giving the assurances during a media dinner organised by the NCC in Lagos recently, the NCC spokesman, Mr. Reuben. Muoka, said 2013 would witness the introduction of mobile number portability, a service that will offer more service choices for subscribers. “It was our desire to ensure that number portability is launched before the end of 2012, but as it appears, this is not possible this year again. However, NCC would ensure that this service is launched in the

PHOTO:NAN

he Ogun State Government has promised to motivate teachers posted to rural areas. Governor Ibikunle Amosun disclosed this at the first Award/Gala Night organised by the state Teaching Service Commission held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. Amosun, who was honoured with the “Best Teacher Friendly Award” at the event, said to demonstrate its commitment to workers, the government planned to pay them the 13th month salary. It will be recalled that during the 2012 World Teachers’ Day, the governor announced the ap-

proval of 50 per cent increment of rural allowance alongside other incentives for teachers in both primary and secondary schools. Speaking further at the event, Amosun said the government would continue to reward excellence to drive performance in all human endeavours, describing teachers as role models. “Teaching is the mother of all professions; teachers are role models, who have learnt the skills of impacting knowledge into other human beings. They are nation builders because no nation can develop economically and technologically without teachers,” Amosun said.

NCC assures telecoms subscribers of exciting moment next year

first quarter of 2013 and telecoms subscribers would find the service exciting,” Muoka said. He said the Interconnect Clearinghouse Limited, appointed by the NCC to ensure the upgrade of the telecoms networks on the mobile number portability platform, had been working on the operators’ interconnection and the billing systems. The spokesman added that NCC would continue to ensure better service for telecoms consumer. According to him, since beginning of 2012, NCC had demonstrated increased commitment to ensuring that operators comply with the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on Quality of

Service. “As you are aware, more than any other year in the history of telecoms in Nigeria, NCC had sanctioned the operators for failure to meet the quality of service benchmark set for them,” he said. Muoka, therefore, said that such sanction would continue to feature regularly as long as operators fail the KPIs set for them. He, however, advised the operators to invest more in network upgrade, describing it as the only way to escape the sledge hammer of the regulator for contravening industry requirements and minimum standards on quality of service expected from them. “We are, however, con-

scious of the myriad of other challenges facing the operators. That was why sometime in early 2012, we established an Industry Working Group to look into how some of these problems, such as fibre cuts, multiple taxations, arbitrary closure of telecoms infrastructure by some agencies of government can be addressed,” Muoka said. The spokesman said in replicating the success in the voice segment of the telecoms sector, NCC, collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology and other stakeholders, has begun working towards implementing strategies and roadmap for broadband implementation.

News

Friday December 28, 2012

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Bomb scare: Passengers groan as FG tightens security at Lagos Airport OLUSEGUN KOIKI

here was gridlock at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos yesterday as hundreds of air passengers travelling out of the state were stranded on the road. Security agencies like the police, anti-terrorism squad and the military barricaded two of the three lanes that lead to the airport with used tyres. Firming up security at the airport, it was gathered, might not be unconnected with fresh threat from the Boko Haram sect. It was learnt that a security report showed that the sect was planning to bomb the Lagos Airport. Vehicles entering the airport were frisked by the stern-looking security personnel while air passen-

gers had to trek in order not to miss their scheduled flights. Some of the passengers used wheelbarrows to ferry their luggage while others simply put their luggage on their heads to avoid missing their flights. The gridlock became chaotic as motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders, who once operated directly to the airport, were nowhere to be seen because of the restriction of their movement on Lagos roads by the state government. The traffic jam on the Lagos - Abeokuta Expressway started from Cement bus stop spread to Oba Akran Road in Ikeja. Motorists were held up in the traffic for over two hours for a journey of about five minutes’ drive. However, unlike in the past when the security of-

ficers checked vehicles entering the airport at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two, MMA2, the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, of MMA or the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, they were stationed close to the Local Airport Police Station. This new strategy reduced traffic at the terminals, but many people still had to rush to catch their flights out of the state. Apart from the security operatives on the road, men of the State Security Service, SSS, Immigration, Customs, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the in-house security of the Federal Air-

ports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, were stationed in strategic places within the airport to monitor those entering the airport. The situation was the same at MMA2 and GAT. The Police Commissioner in charge of the Airport Command, Mr. Olatunji Caul Crick, once told our correspondent that frisking of vehicles entering the airport became imperative due to security reports received by the command, which indicated a possible bomb attack at the airport. Caul Crick had described the exercise as a normal routine from the police, maintaining that the police would not leave anything to chance in en-

suring a seamless travel experience for airport users. He said the police had been ordered to carry out such checks whenever necessary. Some of the passengers, who spoke with our correspondent, expressed displeasure over the gridlock and challenged the government to device another means of frisking airport users. A passenger with Arik Air, Mr. Adekunle Oduwole, decried the exercise and called for an accelerated method to prevent the sordid situation in the future. He, however, agreed that the frisking of vehicles entering the airport was an effort to provide security at the airport.

Oduwole disclosed that before he decided to trek, he was held up for over one hour, adding that abandoned his vehicle with his driver in order not to miss his flight to Port Harcourt. He said: “In the world over, security is no longer physical or contact. But in this part of the world, we still rely in physical search, which is not good for our system and the environment.” Another person, who simply identified herself as Christiana, challenged the government to device another means of checking vehicles entering or exiting the airport without causing hardship to the passengers and genuine users of the airport.

Police arrest couple for Rotimi’s wife’s abduction KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

olice said in Ibadan yesterday they had arrested a Lagos-based couple for the December 10 abduction of Mrs Titilayo Rotimi, wife of a former military administrator, Gen. Oluwole Rotimi. The Oyo State Police Command said ongoing investigations led to the arrest of Mrs. Ruth Yemisi and Mr. Mathew Adubi Adekiya, now being detained at the anti-robbery section of the command in Iyaganku, Ibadan. Although Mrs. Rotimi had been released and flown overseas, it was learnt that Ruth lived with the victim until she got married to Adekiya in Lagos. It was also gathered that she was in Ibadan on Tuesday to sympathise with the Rotimis after hearing that her former guardian had been released after about two weeks. But on getting to Ibadan, she was arrested and taken to the anti-robbery section of the command while her husband was also arrested in Lagos and was taken to Ibadan. Confirming the arrest of the couple, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayodele Lanade, said they were being detained based on investigation, which was still ongoing. He said: “The suspects

are still being investigated. I have been to the Iyaganku division, and I have confirmed that they were being investigated. If after investigation, they are found not to be culpable, they will simply be released. “We had said it that irrespective of the fact that the abducted woman had been released, our investigations still continue. The police commissioner had said it that anyone found not connected with the crime would be released after interrogation.” Ten of Mrs. Rotimi’s employees were initially arrested, among them, a nursing woman, who was granted bail to allow her take care of her baby. The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, while speaking with journalists, said the arrested suspects would be released because there was no nexus connecting them to the abduction. Titilayo was abducted at her haulage firm at Alakia by gunmen, while she was about going to her Agodi GRA residence.

Abubakar

L-R: Deputy Director, Social Statistics Division, National Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Muritala Solomi; representative of Statistician General of the Federation, Mr. Louis Gambo and Director, Real Sector and Household Statistics Department, Mr. George Oparaku, at the National Youth Survey 2012 Training of Trainers’ Workshop in Abuja, yesterday.

FG winning war against insurgency –Presidency

he Presidency yesterday said that the government is on top of the security situation in the country, with more than 70 percent of the intended action of the Boko Haram sect being foiled by security agencies. It also promised Nigerians that remarkable progress would be made in the country in such areas as power supply, employment generation, agriculture and transportation. Speaking in Lagos yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said the Federal Government has what it take to secure the lives of Nigerians with the security agencies already making progress in curtailing the activities of the Boko Haram sect. “The Federal Government has curtailed the insurgency, it’s no longer escalating. There is containment with both the numbers and locations. Don’t forget that insurgency is not easy to contain

anywhere in the world, but the government has a responsibility to protect the people and it’s doing just that,” Okupe said. He also reiterated the commitment of the government to dialogue with the sect, but noted the dilemma being faced in that regard as the sect has remain faceless, even with the emergence of splinter groups, which has made that task of who to deal with more daunting. His words: “I believe that most Nigerians are interested in dialogue and that this ultimately would be the best way of resolving the issue, but dialogue would have to be constructive. You have to identify genuine people and when the proper stage is set for dialogue, the government would surely be interested.” Okupe also defended the appointment of Chief Anthony Anenih as the chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), noting that there was nothing wrong in the choice of the President. He said there was no

proven allegation against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, adding that even the accusation that he embezzled N300million as works minister is not true as the money was never released to the ministry. Okupe also spoke on the progress made by the Jonathan Presidency, noting that despite the impression created in some quarters, the year 2012 was not a year of gloom and doom but rather one of phenomenal achievements, where the administration recorded giant strides in its programmes and policies. “Our economy is getting better. At the end of the second quarter, the economy recorded an impressive growth of 6.28 per cent compared to 5.4 per cent forecast for sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria is the prime destination for investors in Africa and has attracted about $9billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in one year. There are also improvements in other macroeconomic indicators. Our foreign reserves now stand at $45.68bn - the highest it

has been in over two years,” he said. On power, Okupe said the administration has been able to achieve through the roadmap for the power sector articulated in late 2010, improved power supply to large parts of the country with power generation hitting an all-time high of 4,850 megawatts, the highest since Nigeria returned to civilian democracy in 1999. “The limitations imposed by inadequate transmission infrastructure are being tackled, while funding for the expansion of gas supply to power plants has been made available. We expect that this challenge would be fully overcome by the second quarter of 2013. “Today, large parts of an unprecedented number of cities and towns across the country are enjoying between 14 to 16 hours of uninterrupted power supply, except in some few areas where localised problems of power distribution network have created bottlenecks for smooth transmission.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday, December 28, 2012

Boxing Day tragedy: One more casualty recorded •As govt commences demolition of affected buildings FRANCIS SUBERU AND MURITALA AYINLA

ne of the 40 people who got injured in Wednesday’s fireworks’ explosions in Lagos Island, was reported dead yesterday at the general hospital where he was admitted following the injury he sustained in the explosion. Murphy, the victim, who operates a hotel in one of the buildings that were severely affected by the explosion, also resides in the building. He had lost his son minutes after the explosion while his, daughter, wife and himself, who sustained serious injuries, were rushed to the general hospital. The news of his death was broken at the scene of

the explosion on Ojo Giwa Street, Jankara Market, Lagos Island while officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) were demolishing the houses that were severely affected by the fire. But there were indications yesterday that the Lagos State House of Assembly would take drastic and far-reaching measures to curtail indiscriminate usage and importation of firecrackers into the state as the state lawmakers yesterday began moves to review the laws controlling its use and importation. National Mirror gathered from LASEMA officials that 10 houses have been marked for demolition. According to the General Manager of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi

Oke-Osanyintolu, 12 houses were razed but only 10 were severely damaged and they would be pulled down, adding that their demolition is necessary to prevent further danger in the environment. Residents, who are still bemoaning the unfortunate incident, expressed doubts that the fire was caused by fireworks, saying rather that they believe that the materials stored in the building could not have been fireworks, but potent explosive. One of the residents, who identified himself as Makinde said: “This area should have been a residential place but the landlords and developers preferred renting their property to people who are ready to pay millions as rent without

NDLEA raises alarm over plan to build illegal drug factories ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI WITH AGENCY REPORTS

he Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ahmadu Giade, yesterday called on the Federal Government to tighten security around the country to prevent a Colombian drug lords from establishing an illegal methamphetamine production line in the country. Giade’s call came following investigations that revealed efforts by the drug lord to set up three production factories in Lagos and Anambra States which eventually led to the arrest of a Colombian drug kingpin (name withheld) who specialises in the establishment of methamphetamine production. Describing the situation as worrisome, Giade said; “Our investigation had shown that the Colombian methamphetamine production expert, Gonzelo Osorio, aka Fabian Arcila and Baez Benitez Milan, was invited to establish three clandestine laboratories on a $38,000 weekly contract. “This is sad and worrisome. It is a clarion call on stakeholders to pay priority attention on this dangerous twist in our nation’s drug trade.” It was gathered that nar-

cotic investigators arrested seven members of the criminal gang recently who are helping in further investigation. The suspects according to The Eagle online news reports are Gonzelo Osorio, Gabriel Onyebuchi Obi, Anthony Ebi, Olisa Cyprian Onyebuchukwu, Mickey Ezeokoli, Solomon Ogbonna and Chidi Alexandra Efeagwazi. But the 12 vehicles said to belong to the suspected members of the cartel have been confiscated. NDLEA further revealed that four houses have also been traced to the criminal group by the agency. National Mirror gathered that; “The undercover operation that led to the crackdown on the criminal gang commenced in November 2011, when Osorio was contracted by a Nigerian drug syndicate to establish three methamphetamine production laboratories in different parts of the country.” According to Giade, the operation is one of the best coordinated in terms of duration, expertise and professionalism. The first clandestine laboratory Osorio established, accordingly, was situated at Majek area of Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, while another one was located in Nanka village

in Nnewi area of Anambra State. It was further revealed that the criminal gang was in the process of establishing the third laboratory when they were apprehended by NDLEA officers. Giade’s words: “Gonzelo Osorio left the country in December 2011 and returned on May 30, 2012 with a false identity as a citizen of Paraguay with the name Baez Benitez Milan on his travel documents. “He is regarded as the best methamphetamine production expert in the country and was hired on $38,000 weekly by the drug cartel.” While the operation was ongoing, a suspect was reportedly apprehended in Lagos State for using his residence for a solo production of methamphetamine. The reality of the threat, according to the agency, is that it is both a syndicate and a one man affair. Giade added: “The concerted efforts of stakeholders are required. The suspects involved in the criminal act are either ignorant of the lethal health consequences of their action or have simply been blinded by their selfish interests. Methamphetamine production endangers public health. More worrisome is the security implication due to the huge profit involved.”

knowing exactly what they want to sell there. “Anyone that has witnessed the explosions, the vibration of the so-called bangers, you would know they are not ordinary bangers. I am not saying they are bombs, but I am sure they are dynamites stored together with the bangers.” Shops in Ojo Giwa and Okoya Streets were firmly closed even as it was gathered that the shop owners are now on the run. It will be recalled that the Lagos State police command had on Wednesday through the Police Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braide, had vowed that the importers and sellers of the purported fireworks would be arrested and prosecuted as the ban on the use of fireworks during festive period have not been lifted. But, when Braide was

contacted on phone, she told our correspondent that no arrest had been made so far as the police are still concentrating on saving the lives of the people injured in the incident and securing the environment. Present at the scene to supervise the demolition of the buildings are officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Civil Defence Corps and policemen from Area ‘A’ Division of the Nigeria Police, led by the Commander, Imohimi Edgal. Meanwhile, rising after the plenary session yesterday, the state lawmakers directed its legal department to critically look at the laws regulating the fireworks in the country with a view to curb the indiscriminate use and storage of the product. Speaking on the Boxing Day tragedy yesterday, a member representing Lagos Island Constituency 2,

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Hakeem Masha, said the explosion issue called for a serious concern among policy makers in the state. Masha, who deliberated on the issue under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, noted that fire outbreak as a result of indiscriminate use and storage of fireworks, calling on the house to, as a matter of urgency, look into the law on the usage of fireworks. He bemoaned the rate at which people now use and store firecrackers indiscriminately without regulation, saying that was the cause of the Boxing Day tragedy that occurred on Wednesday. He said: “We use fireworks indiscriminately in this part of the world and the way we store them is also not proper. I want to suggest that henceforth, those that will be involved in the importation of fireworks to acquire a licence to that effect, so that when a thing like this happens, we will know who to hold responsible.”

South West

Friday December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fayemi not adequately funding Ekiti varsity –ASUU ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

he Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Ekiti State University, EKSU, chapter, has said that the institution might collapse because of inadequate funding by the state government.

ASUU said the present N210 million monthly subvention to the university, with N400 million monthly wage bill, was a far-cry from the needs of an institution with sights on world-class status. The EKSU ASUU Chairman, Dr. Adeleke Ayan, told journalists at a press confer-

ence in Ado-Ekiti yesterday that Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration had not increased the monthly subvention to the university from what it used to be before the government merged two other universities with the institution. Ayan, however, urged the governor to, as a matter of

urgency, increase the subvention to the institution for it to be able to meet its needs. He said: “On the day of inauguration, Governor Kayode Fayemi reviewed the school fees of all students, irrespective of their courses to N50,000; a statement that should have been

L-R: Chief Medical Director, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof. Femi Fadiora; Chief Ayo Opadotun; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; representative of Oyo State Governor/ Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin and Head of Oxygen Gas Production, Mr. Taye Oladunjoye, at the commissioning of Oxygen Gas Production Building and Equipment, at the teaching hospital in Osogbo, yesterday.

backed with additional funding for the university. This failure has plunged the university into a state of financial crisis.” The ASUU chairman said the governor was advised to merge the three universities in the state “at the instance of the hurriedly put together 2011 Education Summit,” on the grounds that the state was too poor to fund them. He said: “With what the governor is doing now, we make bold to say publicly that Governor Fayemi has done nothing for the university. Pathetically, from the visible climate, it seems that what the governor is saying is that Ekiti is too poor to maintain a university.” The union also threatened that it would resist any attempt by the state government to impose any outrageous tax on its members. This was as Ayan declared as unacceptable the plan by the government to deduct the personal income tax payable by ASUU members from the institution’s

Fayemi

monthly subvention. Ayan, who said implementation of any tax regime could only begin after the conclusion of negotiation, said other institutions across the country had not started implementation. However, the Information Commissioner, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, disagreed with ASUU on the funding of the institution. He said the government had built structures in the university, adding that the institution was better now in terms of standard and conducive environment. Afuye said the issue of tax was a matter of law which could not be abused by any government or circumvented by the payers.

LAGBUS acquires 40 new Aregbesola orders LAUTECH to offer free oxygen buses, adds more routes Inaugurates new school uniforms today MURITALA AYINLA

o meet the growing demand for its service, LAGBUS Asset Management Limited, operator LAGBUS buses, has acquired additional 40 buses and launched more new routes. LAGBUS Managing Director, Babatunde Disu, said the franchise buses would be operated by Transmodal Nigeria Limited, TNL, and Lagos Integrated Cooperative Society, LASITCOS. Speaking at the launch of 30 buses at Mile 2 Terminus in Lagos, Disu said the introduction of the buses to new routes was to serve the need of the commuters along the axis. He added that 10 buses were earlier acquired to ply CMS - Ajah route. Disu said 20 of the new buses, which would be operated by TNL, would ply Route 203 (Agbara –Okokomaiko – Mile 2), while 10 buses would operate on Route 105 (Abesan – Ikotun – Cele Express – Mile 2). He added that the move was to improve the capacity of the franchise. Disu noted that the

management of the LAGBUS was developing better ways of serving the Lagos residents to cushion the effect of traffic law on them. The MD added that more routes would soon be introduced with more buses to cater for the growing demand for LAGBUS services. He said: “The two services we are launching today are Transmodal and LASITCOS bus services. We will try as much as possible to get the services to more routes so that more people will benefit from our services. Areas where we have been operating we will improve on the service.” On efforts to curtail indiscriminate parking by the LAGBUS drivers, Disu said the management was He said: “We embark on regular monitoring of the buses and each time we see driver dropping passengers at unauthorised bus stop, we correct them and handed them over to their captains for disciplinary action.” Disu added that the management had launched 40 buses on three additional routes in two weeks.

WALE FOLARIN AND ADEOLU ADEYEMO

overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has ordered the management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, LAUTECH, to provide oxygen free of charge to all patients on emergency in hospital. He also said that oxygen must be made available in the hospital 24 hours. Aregbesola gave the order yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital at the inauguration of oxygen gas production building and equipment; endoscopy/ pharmacy/amenity building; and drug production facility at the hospital. The governor, who was at the launch with his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi, reiterated his administration’s commitment to providing quality healthcare delivery to the people. Aregbesola, who was conferred with the “Ambassador, Democrat and Excellence Award,” by the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, of LAUT-

ECH, pointed out that the projects were provided to enhance the operations of the hospital in its mission of saving lives and providing quality medical manpower training. The governor said the hospital was being gradually upgraded to prevent avoidable deaths as a result of sickness and diseases, which hospitals could have handled if the requisite infrastructure had been in place. He said: “Our goal is to greatly enhance the capacity of the hospital to train high quality medical manpower to the level that can be obtained anywhere and save lives, even from conditions that seem impossible. “I am sure that you must have known now that the Western world and their scientists are more concerned with diseases that are prevalent in their own societies. “We only benefit where there is confluence of interest. The onus is therefore on us to make breakthroughs in diseases that are common to our people. It goes without saying that it is you that we are counting on to do this.”

Aregbesola averred that the quality of the healthcare available to a people would determine the quantum of wealth they could produce. He said that was the reason why his government had made the provision of quality healthcare to the people a priority. The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Olufemi Fadiora, commended Osun and Oyo states for their commitment to the growth and development of the hospital. Fadiora, who observed that the challenge of equipping and running the hospital was huge, noted that if the institution was adequately equipped, the inconveniences and psychological torture of seeking treatment abroad would be reduced. Also, the NASU Chairman, Comrade S. O. Ibitoye, commended Aregbesola and Ajimobi for rescuing the hospital from total collapse arising from needless muscle-flexing over its ownership by the past administration in Oyo State. Ibitoye also gave Areg-

besola’s administration the thumbs-up for the amicable resolution of the impasse as well as the prompt payment of the institution’s staff salaries. Meanwhile, Aregbesola will today launch the much-expected Osun School Uniform, O’Uniform, at Ede. The inauguration, which takes place at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Ede, marks the beginning of the new uniform scheme in the state. In a statement issued by the Director of Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor is expected to launch the uniforms as part of the unprecedented move to turn around public education in the state. In 2012, the administration introduced the free school uniforms for all students in public primary and secondary schools across the state. The uniforms, which are in different designs for elementary, junior and high model schools, would be spread across all schools in the state. Besides, about 3,000 local tailors were engaged to sew the uniforms.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, December 28, 2012

Senator Anyanwu accuses Okorocha of harassment CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

he Senator representing Owerri Senatorial District, Chris Anyanwu, has accused Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha of harassing her. She alleged that Governor Rochas Okorocha ordered his security personnel to disarm her orderlies on the Owerri-Umuahia Expressway. The incident, according to her, happened on Tuesday. Both Okorocha’s convoy and Senator Anyanwu’s convoy allegedly clashed at Azaraegbelu in Owerri North Local Government when the governor was re-

•She committed security breach, says governor

turning from Ihitte-Uboma after an official assignment. In a statement yesterday signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, the state government said that the senator committed security breach against the governor. Uzoukwa said: “The senator’s vehicle suddenly rammed into the governor’s convoy close to the staff car cutting off the lead security vehicle after overtaking dangerously and in a very suspicious manner.” But Anyanwu, who spoke with journalists in her home in Owerri, the

Imo State capital, described the action of the governor’s security personnel as frightening and brutish, adding that she had been harassed, intimidated and threatened in the past at several occasions. Explaining what transpired between her convoy and the governor’s security personnel, Senator Anyanwu said: “At about 9.30am when I visited the governor at the Government House on Tuesday to exchange pleasantries with him, he asked me if I have adequate security and I said yes after which I left for Mbaise, my home town. “When we got to Azara

Egbelu, we heard siren coming behind us and when it grew louder, we parked to allow the convoy to pass, but surprisingly, the approaching convoy which comprised truck loads of armed and stern looking men double crossed us and pulled out two of my drivers and dragged them into the bush where they were mercilessly beaten and left with broken skull and bruises. “When I could not bear it any more, I rushed out of my car with bare feet and started shouting I am Senator Chris Anynawu, please don’t kill my driver, but one of the armed men charged at me and threatened to

shoot me for running into the governor’s convoy. “All these while, the governor was seated in his car with the glass whined down and I heard him shout at his security men to disarm my orderlies”. Anywanwu, who is also the Senate Committee Chairman on Navy, described the governor’s action as “a misplaced show of power.” She said: “The power of the governor is enormous and you don’t need to intimidate, harass or kill your people to assert your powers as a governor. “I am tired of all these abuses and harassment in this state. It is not only in Imo State that we have female legislators. If they could do this to me, what will happen to the ordinary

people, this has to stop”. However, the governor’s aide, Uzoukwa, described Anyanwu’s conduct as a security breach, saying her attitude is unbecoming of someone of her position. The state government said the Senator’s outburst could have resulted to heavy casualty if not for the discipline of the governor’s security men who displayed high sense of decency, professionalism and maturity. “Surprisingly, Senator Anyanwu, who no doubt, knew the convoy was that of the governor of Imo State alighted from her car and ordered her naval security personnel to open fire. “The senator further went berserk slapping both the governor’s aide camp and chief detail. She also rained abuses on the gover-

Town planners may sue Wada over appointment

L-R: Principal of Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, Prince Wole Akinyede, Principal of Christ’s Girls’ School, Mrs Idowu Ogunrinde; Ekiti State Commissioner for Education and President Christ’s School Alumni association, (1975-1980 set), Dr Eniola Ajayi and the association’s secretary, Very Rev. Olumuyiwa Awe, during the presentation of a Coaster bus to the school by the association in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.

he Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) may sue Governor Idris Wada for appointing a lawyer as the chairman of the state Town Planning and Development Board. NITP Chairman, Rufus Adeleye, told journalists in Lokoja, the state capital, that the appointment violated the Act of Parliament CAP N138 which stipulated that the person for the position of chairman should be a professional town planner

registered with the Town Planners Registration Council. He said: “We are kicking against the appointment of a lawyer as the chairman of the board the appointment is not in line with the law. “Nigeria urban and regional planning law part 1 (6) (a) (2) stipulates that the chairman shall have been in professional practice for a minimum of 15 years and shall have been registered with the town planners registration council”.

Ebonyi losses N50m to fraudsters annually –Commissioner Lease: Court grants N2m claim

he Ebonyi State Government loses about N50 million annually to fraudsters, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Ifeanyi Ike, has said. Ike spoke yesterday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki, the state capita. He attributed the loss to “the unwholesome activities of unscrupulous individuals at the state’s quarry sites”. The commissioner said: “In a given month, government loses N2 million to N5 million to fraudsters. If you approximate it for a year, the state has been losing about N50 million yearly. According to him, the state government has installed a N30 million weigh bridge to curb the fraud. “The government has been losing such huge sums

of revenue to some unscrupulous elements in the state because the bridge has not been functional. “The weigh bridge is to determine the number of trucks and tonnes of crushed stones that leave the quarry enterprise zone. “The problem is that most of this money is be-

ing siphoned by some unscrupulous individuals in the habit of stealing from the State Government,” he said. Ike said that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently apprehended a revenue collector at the Amofia Quarry for using forged receipts.

“The forged receipt has the inscription of Ebonyi State Government on it and was used to collect revenue for a private establishment. “The State Government will no longer tolerate a situation where top government functionaries use fake government receipts to defraud the state,” he said.

Kano urged to obey court order on drug market A ZA MSUE KADUNA

ights activist and counsel to the Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers, Mr. Festus Okoye, yesterday asked Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to abide by the court order which restrained him from ejecting drug sellers from the popular Kano Drug Market.

In a statement emailed to journalists in Kaduna, Okoye called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. M.D Abubakar, not to allow his men to be used against the court order. He also urged the governor not to engage in acts that would aggravate the already fragile security situation in the state by disobeying the court order. The counsel said: “We

call on the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Attorney-General of Kano State to properly advice Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso on the consequences of using self help to eject or close down the businesses of the patent and proprietary medicine dealers in the face of the subsistence of the restraining order by the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.”

against Algerian Embassy

EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama has ordered the Peoples Democratic Republic of Algerian Embassy to pay N2.4 million to a firm, Nairacheque Limited. Justice Jude Okeke delivered the verdict in a civil suit instituted by counsel to Nairacheque, Francis Mgboh, seeking to compel the Embassy and its deputy head of mission, Mohammed Reda Boulassel, to pay the amount as the profit owed the plaintiff on a leased property situated at N0. 3, Kabo Street, Garki 11, Abuja. Speaking through its counsel, Boniface Bassey, the embassy said: “we will appeal the judgement be-

cause we are not satisfied with it.” In its amended statement of claim, plaintiff (Nairacheque Limited) said: “Sometime in February 2009, the 1st defendant with his agent named Alhaji Hassan Abubakar approached its management for a commercial lease and use of its premises described as 3 bedroom serviced apartment situate at Flat 2, N0 3 Kabo Street, Garki 11, Abuja, for a period of 19 months. “That it was agreed between its management and the 1st defendant for commercial lease and use of its serviced premises for 19 months rent to cost the sum of N3, 958, 333 exclusive of legal fees, security and service charges payment of which are quarterly and vary monthly.

South South

Friday December 28, 2012

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Edo faults United States’ claim on security alert SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

do State government yesterday faulted the travel advisory allegedly issued by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the United States Department of State that listed Edo State as unsafe for visitors during this yuletide. In a government statement signed by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere and made available to journalists at the Government House in Benin City yesterday, the government said the state

remains the safest state in the South-South region. The government also queried the parameters used by the Bureau of Consular Affairs in reaching its conclusion even as it claimed that the travel advisory suggested that the United States was not in tune with events in Nigeria. The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a travel advisory issued by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the United States Department of State, which listed Edo State as unsafe for visitors during this holiday season. “We find it laughable that Edo State is on the

list, and this might suggest that the US Department of State is not in tune with events in Nigeria.” “While we are unclear on the parameters used by the Department of State, we however make bold to state, and this can be confirmed from the security agencies in the country, that Edo State is the safest in the South-South region of Nigeria and one of the safest in the country. “It beats the imagination of discerning minds that while some states which record violent crimes on a daily basis in the country are excluded from the list, Edo State

which has been commended by all, including the World Bank which, through its Country Director, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly said: “Edo state’s social indicators are above the national average” and which had earlier through her predecessor, Mr. Onno Ruhl said: “Edo State is one of the states in Nigeria where the willingness to change is the fastest in Nigeria”, is included in the offensive US list.” “Those who come to equity must do so with clean hands. If the US Department of State could include Edo in its advisory

list, then it should also issue a travel warning to citizens of the world to avoid Connecticut where 20 innocent elementary school students and six of their teachers were cut down in the confines of their classrooms just two weeks ago. “It would do good to also issue a travel advisory to people of the world on New Jersey which, according to the Cable News Network (CNN) “has already suffered 65 violent deaths in 2012” and on Philadelphia, where the “the year-to-date total of homicides is 322. Last year, 324 were killed.” “While we concede that the security of lives and property is an integral part of development, we make bold to state that no society is eternally perfect.” The statement concluded; “There is no gainsay-

Oshiomhole

ing the fact that the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has invested heavily on security more than any government before it and the gains of such investment are there for all to see. “The government of Edo State therefore rejects the travel warning issued by the US Department of State and wishes to assure Edo State sons and daughters and other visitors to the state of their safety during their stay.”

Delta restates commitment to welfare of physically-challenged AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

T Scene of a tanker explosion in Benin City, Edo State on Wednesday.

PHOTOS: SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

Another fuel tanker disaster averted in Rivers SAM OLUWALANA

fficials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday said it has successful mobilised men of the state fire service, the police and the army to avert another tanker disaster in Rivers State. The officials said this occurred when a fuel tanker loaded with PMS fell and spilled its content about 1.00am yesterday at the popular Igwuruta Round-About, where a similar disaster occurred in April this year in which many lives were lost. According to a release by the Zonal Information Officer of the agency, Roberts Ekemini, the promptness of the mobilised rescue workers, who arrived the scene immediately after receiving the distress call, saved the area from being engulfed in an un-

imaginable inferno that could have occurred at a time many of the residents were asleep. Ekemini, who was on ground to coordinate the rescue exercise, confirmed that despite the fact that no life was lost

in the incident, the rescue workers and security agents had a hectic time preventing residents from scooping from the fallen tanker, thereby preventing a similar situation that resulted in the loss of lives earlier

in the year. “Though no life was lost, the rescue workers and security agents had a hectic time preventing people from scooping fuel as many of them actually came with containers and kegs to get free petrol,” he said.

he Delta State government has restated its commitment to the welfare of physically challenged persons across the 25 local government areas of the state. State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, stated this yesterday during the presentation of gift items that include rice and cash to physically challenged persons in the spirit of the season in Asaba, the state capital. Uduaghan, who was represented by his Executive Assistant on the physically challenged, Ms. Omasan Buwa, said

‘Blackout in Bayelsa community’ll soon be over’ EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

he blackout experienced by Nembe community in Bayelsa State would soon be over following the provision of a 1000 KVA power generating set by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The installation process that would follow would lead to the restoration of light in the community. Chairman of Nembe City Development Foundation (NCDF), Chief Howells Young-Dede, who disclosed this yesterday in Yenagoa

at a press briefing, recalled that Nembe City Electricity Network was awarded by the state government to a local contractor, but the project was abandoned and no question was asked. Young-Dede regretted that Nembe women had protested against the chiefs on the non-implementation of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) by SPDC leading to the shutdown of the Nembe Creek Flow Station. “While we want to honestly identify with their feelings and share the pains of the protesting women, we want to state categorically

that there are visible plans by some few persons in the community, who do not want to hear anything good about the activities of the GMoU. Meanwhile, the motive of such people is to spread falsehood and propaganda to undermine the loyalty of the citizens against the leadership of the community to serve their selfish interests,” the chairman said. He further said that the present GMoU came on board in 2008, stressing that the 10 community trusts had to make proposal to tackle issues of abandoned projects in the area. Young-Dede said they

have executed over 100 people-oriented projects spanning the entire community trusts valued at several millions of nara in Nembe. The community leader expressed dismay that the royal stool of the paramount ruler of Nembe, King Edmund Dakoru, has being neglected by SPDC management, noting that the community may join issues with oil firm, if this action was not reviewed. According to him, SPDC has bluntly refused to convey the paramount ruler in their helicopter and build a befitting palace for him in Nembe.

the gesture was a practical demonstration of the state government’s love and passion for persons living with disabilities in the state. Uduaghan said that Rehabilitate, Interact, Skills and Empowerment (RISE) of the office of the Executive Assistance on the Physically Challenged was aimed at, not only taking the physically challenged persons off the streets, but also making them self-reliant, even as he enjoined those who were yet to avail themselves of the opportunity of undergoing various government skill acquisition training programmes to do so in order to better their lives. Responding on behalf of others, the President of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JNAPWD) Delta State chapter, Mr. Newyear Orodu, thanked the governor and Omasan Buwa, for their kind gesture.

Uduaghan

Friday, December 28, 2012

The rage of Kogi’s elders

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Politics

Olunloyo’s politics of defection

Nullification: Senator heads for Appeal Court

enator Gyang Pwajok (PDP- Plateau North) has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, against the December 20 nullification of his election by an Abuja Federal High Court. The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, while delivering judgement in a matter filed by the Congress for Progress Change (CPC) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had nullified the October 6 bye-elections and asked Pwajok to “stop parading” himself as senator. The CPC had approached the court to determine whether the first respondent, INEC, had the power to reject the names of its candidate for the byeelection. The CPC further asked

• Accuses judge of being a “Father Christmas”

the court to determine whether INEC had the power, under section 87 of the Electoral Act, to refuse to include the names of its candidates in the ballot papers of the elections. Ademola, in his judgement, said that only the court was constitutionally empowered to disqualify persons from contesting elective positions and therefore annulled the election, directing INEC to, within 90 days, resolve the problems and include the names of the CPC candidate before conducting a fresh bye-election. But Pwajok, in a notice of appeal filed by his counsel, Gabriel Odey, declared that the judge erred in law when he refused to consider some fundamental issues raised by INEC and the PDP in their preliminary objection to the matter.

Pwajok averred that after applying to be joined in the matter since he was directly affected by the issues, the court gave him the nod, but judgement was delivered soon after, without allowing his counsel to present his case. “While delivering the judgement, the learned trial judge did not consider

all the issues therein before dismissing same. “A court of law is bound to consider all issues validly raised in the appellants’ notice of preliminary objection; any breach of that will deny fair hearing and miscarriage of justice,” Pwajok stated. He further declared that the judge erred in set-

ting aside the bye-election where he was returned as winner since the plaintiff, the CPC, had no valid proof of any valid primary election where it arrived at any candidate. The senator also expressed surprise that the judge went ahead to nullify the election after declaring that he had no power to do

so and also admitting that only the elections tribunal had such powers. He accused the judge of being a “Father Christmas” in nullifying the election since the CPC did not seek such relief. The senator urged the court to set aside the judgement and also dismiss the plaintiff ’s original suit and all reliefs sought as they all lacked merit.

Group flays Jonathan for slow pace SINA FADARE

gainst the backdrop of President Goodluck Jonathan defence of his slow pace towards governance, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has condemned in strong terms such a style which has not bring any good tidings to Nigerians. CACOL chairman, Debo Adeniran, while reacting to the Christmas message of the President that his government appeared slow because it did not want to make mistakes, noted that the government lacks the ability and will-power to lead Nigeria to its promised land. “President Jonathan has shown that he does not possess the ability to move this nation forward. How many years does he need to achieve his transformation agenda?” he queried Adeniran explained that many years of Jonathan at the helm of affairs in the country has not impacted

positively on the lives of an average Nigerian, adding that “our president only learns what he wants to and retains what he wants to, if not, the nation would not have been in this mess.” He said that Jonathan’s case should teach every Nigerian a lesson not to vote any candidate without a manifesto into power, saying: “When he said he would not promise Nigerians anything, we never knew he was that clueless.”

L-R: Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima presenting the 2013 budget to the Speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, in Maiduguri yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

CNPP warns on emerging dictatorship FELIX NWANERI

he Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has raised fears over growing dictatorship under the

present administration, especially government agencies that are supposed to be manned by technocrats. CNPP, in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said its fears stem from

CPC pledges support to Yero

he Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Kaduna State yesterday pledged to support Governor Mukhtar Yero in the restoration of peace and unity in the state. A delegation of the party, comprising the senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Sani Saleh, its state chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Yaro and other members gave the pledge while on condolence visit to the governor in Kaduna. Saleh said the visit was

to commiserate with the family and people in the state over the “sudden and shocking” demise of the late governor. “As you assume office as the executive governor, we want to assure you that the CPC in Kaduna will give you the full cooperation to govern the state to the glory of God and benefit of the ordinary citizens in Kaduna,” he assured. Saleh said the quest for peaceful coexistence was not just the responsibility

of the government alone but that of every person in the state, saying “We assure you that we will join you to work for peaceful coexistence in Kaduna, because it is the only way we can guarantee development and prosperity for the state and the people.” Responding, Yero welcomed the party’s support, assuring that the government would continue to partner with all stakeholders to ensure development and unity among the people.

the way several government agencies disregard court orders. It said: “Selective implementation of court ruling is nothing new to Nigerians but government agencies under President Goodluck Jonathan have taken it to a new level. It is shameful that the Assets Management Corporation of Nigerian (AMCON) which relied on a court ruling to take over the property of Capital Oil and Gas could not immediately obey another court ruling that asked it to hands off the company. “Could AMCON and similar agencies be acting on instructions from the Presidency since the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Police has indicted the company’s managing director, Ifeanyi Ubah, ret-

roactively, weeks after arraigning him without evidence to prosecute?” The CNPP also said the decision of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, to demolish 500 houses built by a private developer despite a subsisting court order to the contrary is another indication of the disdain with which the incumbent executive holds the judiciary, especially when it wants to implement anti-people’s policies. “We have also observed that the executive arm has made it a routine to disregard the National Assembly the same way it disregards the judiciary, as evident in the decision to ignore those exposed by the lawmakers as fraudulent beneficiaries of the subsidy funds," it said.

Politics

Kogi State has been in the news of recent, as a group of elders are up in arms against Governor Idris Wada over sundry issues. KOLADE ADEKEYE ADEYEMI, a public affairs analyst, writes on the intrigues.

Friday, December 28, 2012

The rage of Kogi’s elders Party congress

ogi State is again confronted with the habitual vituperations of politicians masquerading in different guises with a common and too familiar mission of wanting to run the government down. Ordinarily, a petition so bereft of material particulars as the one written by some group of elders deserves no response. But viewed against the backdrop of the Goebellian theory that “lies told a thousand times could pass for the truth,” we are constrained to state the fact so as to save unsuspecting members of the public, the risk of believing our elders’ story as the truth. Whoever thinks Idris Ichalla Wada, governor of Kogi State was up to a good start as governor certainly does not reckon with the circumstance of his emergence. This is one man, who, like his predecessor, emerged against all odds to clinch the much coveted seat in Kogi State. In the build up to the first Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in January 2011, the aspirants were many, including all the petitioners except Chief John Odawn. But after the second primaries that saw the emergence of Wada and his eventual election, some of these people could not contend with the reality that the people of Kogi State has spoken emphatically by electing Wada. They did not hide their disapproval and thus right from day one, they proceeded with some other elements to make the state ungovernable for the Wada administration. The fact is our “elders” have been and still remain enraged. They have been on the pages of newspapers spitting fire. By their own account, they are loyal party men poised to teach Governor Wada some bitter lessons by voting for some opposition parties were it not for the intervention of Mr. President. This is party loyalty redefined! I had earlier posited that the rage of the Kogi elders can be explained. They were at all material times, save for Odawn, governorship aspirants of the PDP except for Senator Ohiare who ran on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). They courted the immediate past governor of the state, Ibrahim Idris, to be his anointed candidate to no avail. This can explain why these elders have penciled down the former governor as well as Wada for persecution. This is the genesis of Wada’s travail! I really do not envy Governor Wada as he has inherited political enemies from his predecessor. Opposition elements, who denied Idris peace of mind for nine years are back with vigour supported by aggrieved aspirants masquerading as party elders, all in an effort to bring the Wada government to its knees. Aside the names of the signatories to the petition, every other material detail in the publication under reference are a combination of lies, half truths and in some cases outright fiction. The Kogi Elders Forum known to all has its secretariat

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Wada

Onukaba-Ojo

in Lokoja and not in Abuja as claimed by the petitioners. Its chairman is General Salihu Ibrahim (rtd) while J.A.N Elukpo is its secretary. Little wonder the authentic Kogi Elders Forum have come out to refute the allegation of these impostors. It is idle to deny that expectations are high on the part of the electorate from government. Therefore, allegations of fraud against a governor must not be treated with levity. Ordinarily, the allegations against Wada and his predecessor, Idris, are weighty and deserve to be investigated by relevant anti-graft agencies. But what the petitioners need to know is that antigraft agencies do not operate on speculative or unsubstantiated facts. The petitioners must go beyond mere rhetoric to assist these agencies with credible evidence in proof of their allegations to secure the conviction of Wada and Idris, a situation they have always craved. The same forces that fought Idris for nine years are back against Wada with renewed vigour backed by opposition elements with a common interest of upstaging the status quo. They had instituted many suits before several courts using pseudo names and decoys as claimants in some cases, all seeking to terminate Wada’s occupation of Luggard House to no avail. At the last count there were eight of such cases, some of which went as far as the Supreme Court.

I say with considerable degree of certainty that our elders orchestrated the crisis in Kogi State House of Assembly by sounding false alarm that attracted the attention of all manners of interveners in a matter that was ordinarily an internal affair of the Assembly. And because they really do not want to see a peaceful Kogi, they are blind to the fact of the resolution of the Assembly crisis which obviously they were enjoying. Let us even take a closer look at their allegations this time around. Of the deluge of allegations against the governor, one that I find not quite amusing is the one bordering on compromising judges. I wish to call on the police to immediately invite the petitioners to furnish it with the particulars of these allegations as the alleged facts are capable of disparaging an otherwise sacred institution as the judiciary.

THE SAME FORCES THAT FOUGHT IDRIS FOR NINE YEARS ARE BACK AGAINST

WADA

WITH RENEWED

VIGOUR, BACKED BY OPPOSITION ELEMENTS WITH A COMMON INTEREST OF UPSTAGING THE STATUS QUO

Appointment of liaison officers While this seems like a constitutional aberration, it is a known fact that the appointment of liaison officers had the backing of the House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon Abdullahi Bello. From our understanding of the crisis in the House, one of the grounds for Bello’s impeachment was the alleged surreptitious passage of the enabling bill for the liaison officers. But since the former speaker was a saint in the eyes of our elders, he merits no blame but rather a call for his reinstatement.

Underdevelopment in Kogi Soon after the inauguration of this administration, Wada constituted a “thinktank” made up of eminent Kogites drawn from various fields to help put in place a blueprint for transformation. Part of the recommendations of this team was the completion of all ongoing projects in preference to initiating new ones. In all, there are over 38 projects scattered all over the state, the bulk of which are road projects. Others include, the five-star Confluence Beach Hotel Annex, the Secretariat Annex etc. The Wada government must have been paying the contractors and that is why work is still on-going on these projects. But does it matter to our elders if all these projects be abandoned?

What manners of people would file a petition in respect of party congresses even before they are held? Except our elders find the entire PDP echelon culpable in this respect, the governor can hardly be held responsible for these imaginary crimes. Truth is our elders have lost relevance in their homes. It is doubtful if any of them is capable of backing a councillorship candidate to success at the poll. Take Senator Ohiare, for instance, how does a former governorship candidate of the ACN and later deputy governorship candidate of the same party under very comical circumstances approximate to being a PDP elder? As for Odawn, his stewardship as PDP state chairman witnessed his very active participation in the installation of caretaker committees for local councils, the same crime he accuses Wada of committing today. Odawn is yet to come to terms with the fact that his preferred choice for governor, Jibril Isah Echocho, has lost out finally. I am surprised that Alex Kadiri can even accuse anyone of non-performance. What has he done for the state or even his immediate community with all the prominent positions he held in government? However, we can still credit him with the fact that as acting Minister of Water Resources he constructed a borehole in his compound in Odu and put the facility under lock thus, effectively preventing the villagers access to water from the borehole even in the face of acute shortage in the community. What an elder! The surprise inclusion in the pack is Dr. Adinoyi Onukaba-Ojo, whom we are not even sure which party he belongs to as he does not participate in any of the party’s affairs, contributes nothing to the party and does not come home to assist the party during elections but will always present himself as a gubernatorial aspirant, who always ends up with one vote at the primaries. What manner of elders are these who have neither as individuals nor as a group ever confronted the governor on any of these allegations nor offered advice to him? As a matter of fact, most of these petitioners, even if they approximate to elders, have interest of their own to serve having lost to Wada at the governorship primaries. Mr. President and the anti-graft agencies have been called upon to intervene in the happenings in Kogi. How the president is expected to do this, we have not been told. Is it for Mr. President to upturn the decisions of the courts in the several suits decided in the governor’s favour or disturb the amicable resolution of the Assembly crisis? The fact is prosecution by anti-graft agencies is not dependent on the number or volume of petitions or by the severity of a petitioner’s anger. Rather it is a product of the substance therein. To the extent that the petitioners have battled in vain for eight years to have Idris prosecuted for sundry crimes, they should be tired of this endless persecution. It makes no sense to deliberately distract a man with several lawsuits, petitions and carefully crafted crises both within and outside government and yet turn around to accuse him of incompetence. While it is up to the governor to agree or refuse to be so distracted, Kogites can however do with less of our elder’s rage.

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KEMI OLAITAN writes on how the defection of former governor of Oyo State, Omololu Olunloyo to the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) would impact on the politics of the Pacesetter State.

Politics

Friday, December 28, 2012

or the Oyo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the coming on to power of the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi since May 29, 2011 has signalled the beginning of a deluge of defection to its fold by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had been trooping to the party in droves. Early in the year, it was the kinsman of the former governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief Bayo Bankole, who led over 10,000 members of the PDP to the ACN. The defection, which took place at Ikoyi-Ile, the home town of Bankole, was accompanied with pomp and glamour with the presence of chieftains of the ACN that include the chairman, Senate Committee on Financial Institutions, Banking and Insurance, Ayo Adeseun and members of the state executive of the party. The former Commissioner for Finance served in Alao-Akala’s administration in the first 11 months during the impeachment saga of former governor, Rashidi Ladoja and later for the duration of the four-year term between 2007 and 2011. Bankole at the ceremony said he was “uprooting PDP from Oriire Local Government and the entire Ogbomoso land. I literally planted the party in Ogbomoso land as far back as 1998, way before AlaoAkala became a politician. As a matter of fact, I was an integral part of the formation of the PDP in 1998 alongside Richard Akinjide, Yekini Adeojo and the late Kolapo Ishola.” While many other members of the PDP have since then left the party to join the ACN, the most recent was that of the former governor of the old Oyo State, Omololu Olunloyo. At a ceremony presided over by Governor Ajimobi at the party secretariat in Ibadan South-West Local Government area of the state, Olunloyo, who was elected executive governor in 1983 under the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and served for three months before the Second Republic was sent packing, led several thousands of decampees, that included a former council chairman, Tajudeen Balogun to the ACN. Ajimobi, while commending the decampees for their decision to join the progressive camp, which he described as the friend of the masses, called on the ACN members to embrace the new members to move the party to greater heights. Balogun, who responded on behalf of the decampees, said they had all decided to join the progressive camp because of the giant strides of Governor Ajimobi towards the transformation and repositioning of the state. To many political analysts in the Pacesetter State, while the decampment of other politicians may not come to anybody as a surprise, that of Olunloyo will for a long time continue to reverberate. Olunloyo, speaking on his decampment,

Olunloyo’s politics of defection THE SYSTEM OF REWARD IN THE

PDP

IS DISHONEST AND

AWKWARD.

PEOPLE

LIKE ME WERE NOT GIVEN ANYTHING TO JUSTIFY BEING

MEMBERS.

REQUESTS

MADE FOR ASSISTANCE WERE TURNED DOWN.

THE LEADERS ARE SELFISH AND SELFCENTRED

berated the leadership of the PDP for not doing enough to accommodate leaders of the party like him. He said: “I don’t really belong. I am not a money monger and I am not comfortable with the way they are managing zoning in the PDP. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said the party lacked discipline, yes he is correct. He himself is among the undisciplined group, because he takes credit for anything done right and should also take the blame for the bad as well.” The former governor, while maintaining that the PDP at present cannot offer anything good to either the people of the state or the nation at large, explained that the leaders of the party in the South-West do not want to give way for the young ones as in other zones of the country. His words: “By and large, the PDP has a discredited career. It is run as a commercial company and not like a political party. It has a stupid organisation called the Board of Trustees (BoT), state leaders and national executives are selected by the president and governors. That is wrong. You can buy from their share and how much you pay depend on the number of your shares. There is a lot of nonsense going on there; corruption has reached its peak. There are wastages, the leaders and followers there lack decorum. Many illiterates are the ones holding important and sensitive positions. There is a lot of gerontocracy in the party, old people, who are supposed to be fathers are too many. It is not so in the North, South-South and South-East except in the South-West. The President is a young man unlike here; most of the leaders in the South-West are too old. They lack new ideas.” He added that there have been many members of the progressive who have left PDP for other parties without people raising any eyebrow, stating that “you are free to leave any group when or at any time you detected anomalies. More importantly, the system of reward in the PDP is dishonest and awkward. People like me were not given anything to justify being members. Requests made for assistance were turned down. The leaders are selfish and self-centred. It was a mistake to have stayed long with them.

Ajimobi

Olunloyo

The defunct NPN was not like that. To whom do I complain at my age and with my achievements and contributions to the party? We once made our requests known to the president, we were turned down. No, I am more than that.” Olunloyo said pressures are now on him to come back but said that he would not behave as a harlot, even as he urged Ajimobi to endeavour to listen to advice from people that will help his administration. He added further that he has every reason to join the ACN because “the progressives now in PDP are doing “jeun soke. I am free to leave them anytime, I don’t owe them anything, they were unfair to me, moreover, I also like the policy of regional integration being promoted by the ACN governors.” But while reacting to the defection of Olunloyo and others, the state chapter of the PDP described the decampees as a pack of hungry politicians, who could not stand the economic effect of being members of a political party in opposition at the state level. The party, speaking through the state Publicity Secretary, Lukman Agboluaje, said: “The PDP opines that politics of the stomach rather than that of ideas and

principles could have accounted for such defection.” He maintained that the dismal performance of the ACN in the state could not have attracted any person to it, saying: “The anti-people policies of the ACN government in the state are enough to send its members away and it is inexplicable that our members are now joining it.” “The anti-people policies are being demonstrated in its heartless demolition of shops and offices without providing alternatives, its mediocre and visionless economic policies such as needlessly seeking bonds that are bound to send future generations of the state into avoidable debt burden, its undemocratic phobia towards conducting local government election, its draconian graveyard repression of workers’ voices among several of its obnoxious acts could not have been accountable for any patriotic person’s association, talk less of defecting such party,” Agboluaje added. Alao-Akala has said that Olunloyo has no electoral value. Speaking with journalists at his Ogbomoso residence on Tuesday, Alao-Akala said: “Those defecting are political jobbers. Take a look at the pedigree of such people and you will be able to determine their substance. They are parasites. They just always want to hold on to something. Anybody who thinks those people matter is just making mistake. “Who is Olunloyo? Olunloyo is just somebody who does not have a pedigree. His problem is that he is consistently inconsistent. He is not a politician. What is his electoral value? He has no electoral value. If he has decamped, let him show us his followers. Who will follow him to ACN? Can he command any followership?” While general elections in the state are more than two years away, analysts are of the view that for politicians to move from a political party to another, it is to enhance the political fortune of such a political party as well as that of such individual. But it would be difficult to say what benefits the decampment of Olunloyo will bring to the ACN. According to a public commentator in the state, Funso Ogunmodede, while it is true that the former governor is a statesman in the state, his defection from the PDP to the ACN at this period of his life cannot bring anything significant to his new party. He explained that the politics of the state at present does not require whatever experience Olunloyo may have, stating that the Second Republic politics is quite different from the politics of today. His words: “It is quite unfortunate that Olunloyo could join the bandwagon of politicians that will be moving from one party to another one, more so coming at the twilight of his political career, while one cannot say he joined the ACN because of pot of porridge, one thing that is clear is that the fortune of his new party cannot be enhanced by his joining it.” It is however yet to be seen what value Olunloyo and his co-travellers would add to the ACN in the Pacesetter State, but certainly, his defection must have ruffled not a few feathers.

Editorial

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

STEVE AYORINDE

MD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

YELE AKINROLABU

ED OPERATIONS

SEYI FASUGBA

DAILY EDITOR

BOLAJI TUNJI

SUNDAY EDITOR

GBEMI OLUJOBI

SATURDAY EDITOR

DOZIE OKEBALAMA

COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD

ADESOYE ADEKOYA

CONTROLLER, PRODUCTION

CALLISTUS OKE

EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

ISE-OLUWA IGE

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

KAYODE BALOGUN JNR

SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

FRANK OBOH

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Addressing rising unclaimed dividends

ne of the most notorious features of the nation’s capital market has been the rising value of unclaimed dividends now put at roughly N52 billion at the end of the 2011 financial year. This development has become a sore point for both capital market regulators and various shareholders associations, given the fact that the main purpose of buying shares in a company is to reap dividends at the end of the year, as well as enjoy capital appreciation if the company is performing well. The experience, however, has been that small investors in highly capitalised stocks usually end up holding the short end of the stick, even in a good year as dividend warrants hardly get to them in time, that is if they get to them at all. The big investors, who are usually the first to get paid, scarcely suffer such fate. The reasons for the accumulation of unclaimed dividends are myriads, but some of the more obvious ones include ignorance on the part of shareholders; failure to leave forwarding addresses; shareholders dying intestate without information on their next-of-kin; multiple applications by shareholders during investments processes; inefficiency of the postal system and

deliberate plots to deny investors of benefits by registrars and companies that lack the liquidity to pay. Interestingly, the rules allow companies to keep unpaid dividends after 12 years. It is almost impossible to calculate the amount of money some quoted companies have dubiously made through this clause. Worried by this trend, and as part of measures to boost confidence in capital market operations, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed the establishment of an Unclaimed Dividends Intervention Fund (UDIF) to safeguard investors’ funds, especially those of millions of small investors. The Commission is also targeting a 50 percent reduction in unclaimed dividends before this year runs out. We welcome and support the UDIF idea and call on the Federal Government to expedite action on its establishment. This is against the backdrop that people can change postal addresses and even work locations for inevitable reasons. Besides, some mail sorters are largely illiterate and can be careless. There are also delays in posting the dividend warrants, among other sound reasons. The problem of unclaimed dividends is largely associated with surface

CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES DEMAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH THE

UDIF PLAN WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY mail delivery. However, some of the shareholders associations are opposing the UDIF on the grounds that the monies involved are private funds, which should not be managed by a government agency. As an alternative, they suggest that unclaimed dividends be retained by the quoted companies, but should not be capitalised. They want the unclaimed funds invested in interest bearing instruments in anticipation of eventual payout to the legitimate beneficiaries. It would seem, however, that the easy way out is for quoted companies, registrars and shareholders to adopt the electronic payment channels that have become increasingly available within the financial system. This would demand elaborate shareholders’ education or enlightenment. We do not see any reason why a shareholder who owns a bank

account should not also have a Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) account with a stockbroker to allow for the easy management of market transactions. Most stockbrokers and registrars have introduced the e-dividend facility that will allow dividends to be credited to the accounts of shareholders free-of-charge. Shareholders should be encouraged to take advantage of this platform, though we acknowledge the suspicion still trailing the introduction of the e-payment system. In addition, some banks have even expressed their willingness to allow dividend warrants to be paid into savings accounts, instead of just current accounts as has been the practice. This will reduce the volume of unclaimed dividends. The relevant authorities must realise that some dividends are so insignificant, especially since the crash of the capital market that people are not interested in claiming them, which may encourage companies to engage in sharp practices to benefit from such proceeds that are usually returned to fund operations. While it is true that dividends are private funds, we feel that current circumstances demand that the federal government should go ahead with the UDIF plan without further delay.

ON THIS DAY December 28, 2010 Arab Spring: Popular protests began in Algeria against the government. The 2010–2012 Algerian protests was a continuing series of protests taking place throughout Algeria, which started on December 28, 2010. They have been inspired by similar protests across the Middle East and North Africa. Causes cited by the protestors include unemployment, the lack of housing, food-price inflation, corruption, restrictions on freedom of speech and poor living conditions.

Letters to the Editor

December 28, 2000 United States’ retail giant, Montgomery Ward, announced it was going out of business after 128 years. The company was founded by Aaron Montgomery Ward in 1872. Ward had conceived of the idea of a dry goods mail-order business in Chicago, Illinois, after several years of working as a traveling salesman among rural customers. Montgomery Ward is the name of two historically distinct American retail enterprises namely, mail order and department store retailer.

December 28, 1973 The Endangered Species Act was passed in the United States. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a “consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conPresident Jonathan servation.” The Act is administered by two federal agencies, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Friday, December 28, 2012

Abia and Orji’s incessant affronts ODIMEGWU ONWMERE

ome persons have the ability to learn from experience while others do not have. The latter does not make human existence unique. It is not remarkable. Such makes the world to retrogress. And this is what has been playing out in Abia State. But Governor Theodore Orji and his bootlickers called aides would ever comment to the contrary thereby deceiving neophyte-observers of the political games they have been playing in that once “God’s Own State” now turned to “Goons’ Own State. A fortnight ago, one of the governor’s aides spoke in an interview of how the governor has ‘restored the dignity’ of the Abia person, but one cannot nominate a place where the ‘dignity’ is restored. It is evident that the government is using propaganda as its vital tool for governance, forgetting that no government has ever survived on propaganda. The Orji-led government of Abia State is living on such now, but definitely it has shown that it cannot survive on a platter of good governance devoid of the art of propaganda. The rude side of this propaganda, which the Orjis in the Abia State government have been hatching un-relentlessly, is their nasty disposition in churlishly denigrading the governor’s predecessor. I cannot understand what they are bent on achieving with such crass media brouhahas. It is therefore,

essential to note that the war the Orjis have waged against the immediate past governor of the state lacks substance, as the person in question wields political power that spans beyond and across the Orjis’ marooned political space. Governor Orji cannot be talking about having dignity when the welfare of the Abia people he was supposed to add value to is in shambles, making the future of the state to be bleak. This is annoying. The incumbent governor was a civil servant before he became governor. Imagine a man who was once a permanent secretary ruling Abia State like one who has not heard about the tenets of leadership before. He has further aided critics to question how he got to that position of a permanent secretary because his body language so far has proved that he was not competently qualified for the job. Dignity is not in name but in work. It is the good work that a person has done that compels people to see him as a man of dignity. This is not applicable to Orji. Both in name and indeed, he is a light featherweight. Ask the Orjis one project they have completed in Abia State, they list frivolities. They will mention Umuahia Master Plan, Aba Master Plan, and all other poppycock they have been exhibiting in the state and call it good governance. Governor Orji, a onetime permanent secretary, is supposed to make Abia State functional, but the obverse has been the case. And this is the bane of

ASK THE ORJIS ONE PROJECT THEY HAVE COMPLETED IN

ABIA

STATE… THEY WILL MENTION UMUAHIA MASTER PLAN, ABA MASTER PLAN, AND ALL OTHER POPPYCOCK THEY HAVE BEEN EXHIBITING IN THE STATE AND CALL IT GOOD GOVERNANCE Abia people. For example, where is the N1 billion grant for youth agriculture? The Orjis would use the flood that took over some towns and villages in Nigeria as an excuse whereas Abia State was not a witness, or how they have disbursed the ‘N1B’ to the youths who were certified by their various local governments and traditional rulers for farming. Hooey! What about the much hyped monorail project? As if that was not enough, they would tell whoever that cares to listen of how Orji pays out N2.5 billion to civil servants as salaries, and of how less than N1billion is left for them every month. They know how to draw pity to their government. This is an insult!

It is sad that Abia has fallen into the hands of kidnappers of good governance; where the governor’s wife has been building houses for people christened underprivileged people. One is poised to ask where she got the money from and what her occupation is. This is what the state has become, and the aides are competing for who issues out the longest press briefs on matters bothering the governor. The cheerless side of their charade is the incessant rudeness they show against the immediate past governor of the state. It is curious why any aide serving Governor Orji would not to know that he feels guilty of how he betrayed the finger that once fed him. What Abia people have gotten as governance is intimidation and unquantifiable taxations of the residents in a place like Aba. The sycophants do not realize that nothing lasts forever and that very soon the Orji-led government will be history. No doubt, Orji and his aides’ approach to things are uncivilized, makeshift and narrow-minded, with their disastrous government that has already crashed in the abyss. Those aides of Orji that are writing deconstructive garbage against the immediate past governor will write against their today’s paymaster tomorrow. What goes around comes around. Odimegwu Onwumere, poet_25@ yahoo.com, poet/author, is the coordinator, Concerned Non-Indigenes in Rivers State

Nigerian version of state police ALBINUS CHIEDU

he apparent failure of Nigeria’s federal security arrangements in recent times in meeting the challenges of national security has heightened the debate about the issue of state police, and the most appropriate police structure for the country. Existing examples of policing from other climes show that each federal state in practice adopts a police structure that is tailored to suit its situation and needs. There is no one-cap-fits-all system. There are many federations that operate state police, but several of them operate different systems. For instance, only three of the provinces in Spain have their own police forces. Others make do with the national police. Canada is a federation and only two of her provinces have their own provincial police forces. In its other provinces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is in charge. Italy has three national police forces, but only some of the 109 provinces have provincial police forces. Considering the fact that Nigeria is grossly under-policed at present, the best solidarity the Nigerian government can show to those who have lost relatives and friends to criminals, is to adopt a type of state police that could help achieve a more efficient and effec-

ITALY HAS THREE NATIONAL POLICE

FORCES, BUT ONLY SOME OF THE

109

PROVINCES HAVE PROVINCIAL POLICE FORCES tive policing of the entire country. In India, each state has its own police force headed by a commissioner of police. This is equivalent to each state in Nigeria having its own police force but headed by a commissioner from the Nigeria Police. The Indian police system could be adapted here in Nigeria, but it has to be modified and then applied in a way that the control of the nation’s entire police force still remains with the federal government. The objective is to enhance the security of the country. The Nigerian version of the state police could be experimented by simply changing the method of posting of police men and women across the country. Policing will be more effective and efficient if policemen and women are posted to their various states of origin, but with Commissioners of Police coming from states other than the ones

they manage. In other words, the Commissioner must be a non-indigene of that state. The Deputy Commissioners would also be non-indigenes. Under such system of posting, every police personnel would be compelled to become more responsible. Apart from being forced to get committed to his duties in order to record good performance before his bosses, the state Police Commissioner would be in a better position to gather more accurate information from his sub-ordinates, arm himself/herself with such information and feed his superiors with same, in the overall interest of the job. Such system of posting would drive the passion of the police officer, who now realizes that he/she is no longer just working for government, but also working for the security of his/her community. He understands that members of his community have his personal profile. So, he cannot afford to compromise security, shirk his responsibilities or under-perform. Otherwise, his job would be on the line. An officer, who happens to be posted to his hometown, knows the terrain too well and would be able to do a better intelligence job and conduct more result-oriented investigations. Posting police officers to their respective states and communities of origin would also help the force to sort out the bad eggs in the system. Those who know

the officers’ history in terms of character, could petition the Inspector-General of Police, through the state Police Commissioner, who can hardly shield from his superiors, such vital information on possible insiders’ threat to the security of the various communities. Posting policemen to their communities and states of origin will definitely ensure effective and efficient policing of the entire country. However, as the police authorities move to review approach to policing, it is necessary for government to address failure of governance at all levels, in terms of social services provisioning and social infrastructural development, job creation and employment opportunities, epileptic power supply and general under-development amidst rising oil revenues. Government must ensure that urgent measures are taken to address the challenges of governance in fundamental and sustainable ways as part of measures to reduce crime rate. Chiedu, CEO, Output Communications, wrote from Ikeja, Lagos Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Mail Mirror

Friday, December 28, 2012

One year of Osun’s ‘walk of life’ N ow in its one year, ‘Walk To Live’, the monthly physical exercise introduced by the State Government of Osun, is by all means a wellconceived idea that richly adds value to the health of the high and low citizens of our state, enlightening them on the importance of body exercise. As any medical expert can

Flamboyance and ministering the word of God

e see a lot of charity works on display during Easter and Christmas in Nigeria and they centre round men of God. For instance, as part of the empowerment programme of the Word of Life Bible Church, a church founded by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the media reported, six brand new cars, 15 tricycles, 100 grinding machines, generators, 200 grinding machines etc were doled out to some poor Nigerians. As commendable as the programme is, I dare say it is not far reaching enough. I also believe this could have been done without the hype that went with it. It is against the teaching of Christ to announce our charity works to the entire world. Our churches have always challenged the various governments in the area of people’s empowerment. Governments must wake up to their responsibilities to the people. Where they falter, the churches take the glory. Andrew Ekenide, City, Edo state.

attest to, people tend to live better and healthier when they are well informed about the little things they can do to improve their health. The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, understood this essential fact. In one of his many insightful utterances, he did posit that ‘medical men know too well that if many people (through education) were less free in their choice of the types of food they eat, of the beverage they drink, of the clothing they wear, and of the houses they live in, the health of the community would be more than 100 times improved’. Today in the State of Osun, the monthly ex-

ercise – in which the governor, his deputy, the members of the State Executive Council, newspaper editors, football stars, popular Nollywood stars, and many more important personages join the governor to walk many kilometres on foot, across streets – is now freely accepted by the people of the state. They now see it not as a government thing but as an initiative that is meant to truly improve the quality of their lives. This answers for the enthusiasm, passion and commitment the people display in any area of the state in which the exercise takes place. Not only are they full of joy for being part of a walk

aimed at improving their health, they are also overwhelmed with the bliss of seeing a governor and his team partake in a physical exercise with them. This alone speaks eloquently of how close the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is to the people at very local level. It is often a moving sight beholding the whole apparatus of the executive arm of government just out there in the midst of supposed ordinary people, who before now were only used to being harassed with ear-grating sirens of government vehicles moving dangerous at neckbraking speed, with their occupants shielded off by heavily tinted glasses.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The ‘Walk to Live’ programme further makes evident the security status of the state. Since its debut in the last one year, no single threat to security, or a case of breakdown of law and order has been recorded. It is so well organised and fully enjoined by the people that it begins and ends without hitches in all the places it has taken place. Again, the Omoluabi virtues that the people of Osun are known for are displayed at each edition of the programme. They conduct themselves orderly and show respect one for the other. The programme equally offers an opportunity for those who trade in edibles to rake in some money. In other words, beyond the health benefit of the programme, there are also economic

Perfidy of Gov. Yero

Anslem O. Dickson, Kaduna, Kaduna State

Olumide Adewale, Iwo, Osun State

Cheerless Christmas for transporters and commuters

Benin

y heart bled when I read in your yesterday edition of how the new governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and members of his cabinet shunned the special prayer session organized by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in honour of the late Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa. Even if the power calculus in the state has changed and the Muslims have taken back the political power they so missed when a Christian governor was in charge, dishonouring the dead the way the new governor did is a disservice to the spirit of the dead. It is also an indication of the extreme polarization of the religion dynamics of the state.

gains for traders. I have participated twice in the programme and it was sheer fun besides the health benefits I derived from it. This to me is one of the best programmes of the governor and I hope the State House of Assembly will make a law that will guarantee its continuity even if another administration comes to power after Ogbeni. Kudos to Governor Aregbesola for such great thinking.

Children of school age on their way to the farm

read with trepidation and anger the lead story in the yesterday edition of National Mirror on the havoc and horror created by fireworks stored in a building in the Janakara market, deep inside Lagos Island. It reminded me of a similar incident in Argentina during last year’s Christmas celebration when a pyrotechnic device exploded by a young man triggered off several explosions that injured at least 200 people. The young man lost his

Letters to the Editor

PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

Christmas and the limit of revelry life in the process. The Lagos fireworks mayhem, which was ignited by a ‘banger’ mistakenly thrown into the building, resulted in two deaths, 40 injured, 12 buildings destroyed and 15 vehicles burnt. This is not talking about the trauma and economic loss that followed the explosions. Characteristically, Lagos State government is

grandstanding, threatening to deal with the owners of the fireworks warehouse. The police will also do their own grandstanding. Yet what we know is that there is a law on the subject that is never enforced. There is also the moral issue on the enforcement of such law because governments are known to use fireworks during important public events.

All over the world, fireworks are used to celebrate Christmas and New Year. Given this fact, there is need for public enlightenment on the use and hazards of fireworks. Users should also be cautioned against the blatant manner of throwing ’bangers’ into crowded places. Charles James, Lagos Island, Lagos State

aily readers of newspapers and listeners to news in the electronic media will agree with me that there is something sinister about the management of the affairs of the nation called Nigeria. The level of privations is too high. Nigerians are denied almost all the good things of life. How can we explain the current scarcity of fuel? It has become a yearly ritual for fuel to ‘disappear’ from filling stations and fuel depots at Christmas period. Greed rules the hearts of filling station owners while lack of planning or sabotage or officialdom compounds the problem. President Goodluck Jonathan should go beyond propaganda and seize the initiative so as to give Nigerians a semblance of governance. Nigerians voted for him and it is from him they expect the final report of his stewardship on the day of reckoning, which is very close. He should know he is writing his own history. No account would be missing or buried when Nigerians present their own reports on the day of reckoning. Udo James Udo, Abuja

Send your letters or mails to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mirrorlagos@yahoo.com and info@nationalmirroronline.net or 08056180209, 07033375481 (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, December 28, 2012

ARTISTIC CURTAINS FELL ON SOME PERSONALITIES WHO AFFECTED US WITH THEIR PRESENCE ON EARTH In spite of this laudable effort, a measure of heartbreak emanated to both fans and well wishers. 2Face finally got married to Annie Macaulay, supposedly breaking the hearts of the other women (mistresses and female

L-R Seun Kuti, Dee Mabiaku and Banky W at the Occupy Nigeria protest

fans) in his life, while D’Banj also broke up with his friend and business partner, Don Jazzy in what heralded the most significant corporate breakup in the entertainment industry in recent times. Perhaps, this would be compensated

WEEKEND STARTERS Final bus stop for Nneka & Friends

he LoudNProud Live Series produced by NMO Management in association with Channel O is back again. Tomorrow, “Destination Naija: Nneka & Friends”, the

Exclusive UBA/Soul Lounge party

O Nneka

last show of the international tour by Nneka Egbuna, the award winning singer, will get a final bus stop at Ayo Bankole Centre, Surulere, Lagos.

VAN presents Films4Peace

n the spirit of the season, Video Art Network Lagos invites film enthusiasts to the annual film commission by PUMA Peace tagged Films4Peace. Curated by Mark Coetzee and holding this evening

between 7.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m., it features 21 of today’s most innovative artists visually interpreting the subject of peace. Venue is the Amphitheatre, Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

n Saturday at the The Palms Lekki by 7.00 p.m., holders of the UBA card can have access to the bank/ Soul Lounge’s exclusive Year End Party. It is UBA’s way of thanking customers who have stayed loyal to it through the year. Already,

Bez’ shiny concert

eo-Soul/R’n’B crooner, Bez, is set to hold the Super Sun Concert tomorrow at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotel and

such customers have been sent an access code into the event. If such guests attend with their UBA cards, they automatically get 10 percent off drinks. The ambience and opportunity to network and prepare for the coming year is an added advantage. Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Put together by by Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions and Flytime Promotions, artistes like Omawunmi, Tiwa Savage, Waje, Timi Dakolo and Praiz are set to perform at the concert which starts by 7.00 p.m.

he Thespian Family Theatre, a group of professional theatre art practitioners presents Ayo Jaiyesinmi’s Mad King of Ijudiya on stage, to spice up the weekend. The Theatre is an organ of Societal Positive Impact Initiative (SPIIN). The play, which will be showing at the Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan-Lagos tomorrow and on Sunday, will feature the likes of Joke Silva, Gloria Young, Se-

Mad King of Ijudiya hits the stage gun Arinze, Monalisa Chinda, Akin Lewis, Shafi Akinrimisi, Florence Uwaleke and Iyke Okechukwu. Ayo Jaiyesimi has come to make people fall in love again with the aesthetics of the theatre through her energetic and untiring input into creating a real world on stage for a better society.

P. 33-34-35

Critics P. 24

Escape

Ibinabo Fiberesima, National President Actors’ Guild of Nigeria

Davido

P. 23

The good, the bad, the controversial

Arty News

2012

by something seen as ‘an encroachment in music’, when Nollywood act, Tonto Dike, shifted the attention of her fans to the musical studio where she recorded compositions like It’s Ova, Get High and Crazically Fit. Her fans may still be wondering how to classify her: The actress who sings?..the singer who acts?..or none of the above? The year was favourable for Nigerian literature as well. Authors like Rotimi Babatunde and Chika Unigwe clinched Africa’s most-rewarding awards- Caine Prize for African Writing and the Nigeria Prize for Literature with works like Bombay’s Republic and On Black Sister’s Street respectively. The year also welcomed a new book from Chinua Achebe, There was a Country. The book however opened a vista for personalities, news websites, blogs, authors and politicians seeking relevance to latch onto in order to trend on the cyberspace as the keywords simply became: Awo and Achebe. Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, also made a huge return on the scene with his book, Harmattan Haze on an African Spring. Sadly, the artistic curtains also perpetually fell on some personalities who affected us with their presence on earth. Singer Whitney Houston’s death happened in the U.S. but the ripples found its ways to Nigeria opening a new debate on artistes and their dependence on narcotics. In the Nigeria movie industry, fans also lost Pete Eneh, Lekan Lekinson, Enebeli Elebuwa and James Iroha with tears flowing ceaselessly. But the culture scene would definitely need more than 2012 to get over the death of culture icon, Ambassador Segun Olusola, for the influence he had on activities and personalities that cut across the ethnic divides of Nigeria. A flip through Friday Flavour’s special review pages will cast our minds back to all the drama that characterised the year 2012!

P. 20-21-22

tivity in a e Cr

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE s 2012 gets set to end, there is no doubt that it has been eventful for the creative sector in Nigeria. While the sector saw lots of exciting works, personalities and ideologies in genres likes film, music, literature and visual arts, it also coped with controversies that made it a balanced 365day span. For once, a lot of Nigerian artistes from various backgrounds united to champion a message of liberation, synonymous with insinuations that art should be used to shape the society. The convergence of these artistic efforts, in mo re ways than one, contributed to the huge success recorded at perhaps the greatest mass protest ever experienced in Nigeria– the “Occupy Nigeria” protest against removal of the subsidy in petroleum products. Whether the efforts paid off in its entirety or not, it sent jitters down the spines of political leaders that power belongs to the people. Excitement was also up in the air for the film industry with lots of activities, although the industry lived up to its craft and plots of resolving dramatic conflicts with either ‘Jesus’ or ‘Juju’. Delegates, observers and journalists who gathered at the Baden Hotel in Benin to see the election of a new national president for the problem-riddled Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, were initially welcomed with prayers but eventually dispersed some hours later with voodoo, ending what would have been a peaceful election. The music arena had it so good, lavishly bringing to reckoning two acts, Wizkid and Davido, who proved that age is nothing but a number by cornering lots of juicy concerts, endorsements and awards. However, the big three -2Face, D’Banj and PSquare maintained their grip on the scene by offering many top-charting hits to music fans.

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

Artman in the House

VOL. 2 No. 523

Artman In The House

YEAR 2012 IN REVIEW

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

12 personalities who made ADENRELE NIYI

or positive, negative and regrettable reasons, the year 2012 had cast several of Nigeria’s best known names in the entertainment and creative arts sector as priority news items on pages and threads of publications, social media networks and online news sites. A portion of these personalities attracted multiple media mention and public following for their note-worthy creative zests, ground-breaking achievements, memorable lives and some others for their audacity at undertaking foolhardy creative ‘misadventures’. The list of personalities in itself is not exhaustive or comprehensive. However, the 12 underlisted names either inspired us with their extraordinary influence or kept us thoroughly engaged with shades of intrigues which dotted their individual lives like the gripping storyline of a miniseries. But, 2012 literarily took off on a depressing note for the worldwide entertainment scene.

Whitney takes a final bow Although Whitney Houston was neither of Nigerian heritage nor of direct influence to the local music scene, her tragic death on Saturday, February 11 on the eve of the 54th Grammy Awards, threw the entire world of music into mourning. Aged 48, the multi award winning singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist had been described by American music pundits as ‘The Voice’. Her glittering career which spanned 30 year was filled with chart topping albums, setting world records, commendable film roles and a troubled marriage to embattled African/American R’n’B singer Bobby Brown. Although coroners ruled Whitney’s drowning in her hotel room’s bathtub as ‘accidental’, her addiction to drugs and marijuana did play a decisive role in the final hours of her life. In Nigeria, Whitney fans and followers grieved for weeks and many urban radio stations dedicated the Sunday following her death to back-to-back play of some of her numerous hit singles. Likewise, newspaper pages, TV programmes and shows featured special content as tribute to the legendary American singer. In months after, Whitney and Bobby Brown’s only child, Bobby Christina has been soaking in her share of media attention.

2face and Annie

It’s splitsville for MoHits’ Music Quickly following up on this loss with equal shocking proportion was the unexpected split between Dapo ‘D’Banj’ Oyebanjo and Michael ‘Don Jazzy’ Collins. Collaborating as head honchos under the music label MoHits Music, these fiercely ambitious and talented entertainers together created scores of club banging songs re-inventing the Nigerian dynamics of contemporary Afro music in the new millennium. As producer and talent groomer, Don Jazzy’s beats which fused Western instruments with traditional African sounds to create the harmonious flow D’Banj sang over, helped music followers overlook D’Banj’s vocal shortcomings. However, not taking anything away from D’Banj’s natural flair for entertaining and charming showmanship, the synergy between both artistes not only won them numerous awards (international and local) and top ranks in the music industry, it also caught the attention of international Hip Hop star, entrepreneur and CEO of G.O.O.D Music, Kanye West. After an earlier critically acclaimed collaboration with African America Hip Hop star Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion, on the remix of Endowed, D’Banj and Don Jazzy seemed ready to conquer the international music scene. Yet, the flipside of both gentlemen signing on to G.O.O.D was the sensational breakup of the former label mates in March for failing to amicably agree on the new direction their international careers should chart.

Whitney

D’Banj: An African music force of reckon After ‘splitsville’, 33-year-old D’Banj’s last three studio efforts, “Oyato”, “Bachelor” and “Cashflow” struggled to measure up to the sort of popular acceptance his hits under MoHits received. However, his profile on the international scene kept growing in 2012. Oliver Twist, the last single produced by Don Jazzy, made it to the Top 10 list of the UK Music Charts climbing up to Number 2 on the R’n’B chart. Also in 2012, D’Banj won multiple international awards including: MTV Europe Music Awards Best African Act; MOBO award for Best African Act and two Channel O Music Video Awards for Most Gifted Video of the Year (Oliver Twist) and Most Gifted Male Video (Oliver Twist). Initially billed to hold this month but now postponed to a later date in 2013, D’Banj has received four nominations at The World Music Awards 2012 for; World’s Best Song (Oliver Twist), World’s Best Male Artiste, World’s Best

Wizkid

Video (Oliver Twist) and Best African Act. Earlier this month, global recording company Sony Music Entertainment announced signing D’Banj to its RCA Africa label. The breakthrough deal also includes a multi-album, worldwide exclusive contract with emerging Nigerian singer-songwriter Kayswitch and a strategic partnership with D’Banj’s Nigerian music label, DB Records. It caps what has been a remarkable year for the megastar.

Femi’s 3rd time Grammy miss Femi Kuti, first son of Afrobeat music creator, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, celebrated his 50th birthday in June during when he granted National Mirror an exclusive interview and spoke extensively about how breaking away from his legendary father in the ‘90s gave his fledging career the wings it needed to fly. Fly it did with Femi releasing 10 studio albums, three live CDs, collaborating with international artistes and winning the Best Artist at Songlines

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Friday, December 28, 2012

YEAR 2012 IN REVIEW Artman In The House

headlines in 2012 and ex federal ministers, state governors, traditional rulers, thespians and well wishers.

Unapologetic Chinua Achebe “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised” - Chinua Achebe Booker Prize winner Professor Chinua Achebe holds his responsibility as a writer very seriously. His controversy-stirring memoir, There Was a Country, A Personal History of Biafra, is the 82-year-old writer’s candid recount of personal experiences pre, during and post Nigeria/Biafra War. With the book’s damning revelations and flaying of main characters in the Nigerian Civil War which cost the Igbo people about two million lives, Achebe stirred the proverbial hornets’ nests and inflamed verbal ethnic skirmishes. Till date, the dust is yet to settle and Achebe’s name remains a headline grabber any day. (see Critics pages 33, 34 for more details).

Tonto Dike: The girl we love to hate

Achebe

When the going was good: Don Jazzy and D’Banj

Tonto’s back tattoo

Dbanj (L) and Kanye West

Culture too losses an icon

Femi Kuti

Magazine’s annual World Music Awards in 2011, the first Nigerian artiste to do so. In 2012, he grabbed headlines at the 54th Grammy Awards for his latest album “Africa for Africa” which was nominated in the World Music Category. Unfortunately, the three-time Grammy nominee (and the other locally-based Nigerian after Juju music master, King Sunny Ade, to be in Grammy contention) lost the highly coveted award to Tinariwen, a band of Tuareg-Berber musicians from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali. Later in the year, Femi who shies away from random public appearances stirred public debate for missing his headlining performance at the 2012 Hip Hop World Awards (The Headies) in Lagos where he was to be inducted into the Headies Hall of Fame. In October, however, Femi snagged a multi-million naira deal as judge on The Nigerian Idol, a reality TV show sponsored by telecoms company Etisalat.

Fondly called ‘Baba Culture’ by thousands who were inspired by the egalitarian values Ambassador Olusegun Olusola’s life modelled, his demise on Thursday, June 21 set off a chain of heartfelt reactions from top government functionaries, corporate entities, private institutions, groups, persons and children. Aged 77, the culture aficionado and former Nigerian ambassador to Ethiopia, who hailed from Iperu Remo in Ogun State, imparted his footprints on many aspects of the Nigerian society. Until his death, he held the traditional title of Jibulu of Iperu Remo and was a passionate advocate for the continuity of cultures and traditions of people in all nations. An avid collector of art works, he was widely saluted for his deep love and support for the arts sector. Chief Olusola was the proprietor of the Ajibulu Moniya Gallery, a thriving art house in Lagos. However, his most distinguishing work as an artist was for being the creator and producer of the popular television programme ‘The Village Headmaster’, the longest running programme on the Nigerian television. Aside from creating The Village Headmaster in the early 80s, Olusola was also a consummate broadcaster, a humanitarian and above all, one of the most outstanding art patrons in the country. He was also known to have mentored a lot of younger artistes, moulding their lives in their chosen pursuits. Owing to his passion for charity, he sat on the board of many charitable organisations in the country, using his vast contacts to attract patronage. During his burial rite which spanned seven days of cultural fiesta, guest attendance included children from the different charities he supported as well as serving

Although in no way possessing anything close to the intellectual prowess or refined mannerisms of Chinua Achebe, Tonto Dike does share a similar character trait with the prize winning author–her devil-may-care attitude to taking on challenges in the face of strong resistance. Throughout the year, Tonto Dike, 27, has been enmeshed in social media wars with fans, foes, followers, bloggers and just about anybody who dared question her artistry or lack of it. Tonto’s love for body art is not news; but this year, she went off on a tangent getting a magnificent tattoo etched into her back. When pictures of her ‘new image’ surfaced on popular online blogs and social networks, she was very nearly torn to shreds by criticism. The Nollywood actor, who is yet to break into the high cinematic art genre, tried her voice at music bravely releasing three singles, ‘It’s Ova’, ‘Get High’ and lastly, “Crazically Fit”, an up tempo, auto-tuned collaboration with Terry G. Short of giving her credit for effort, Tonto is having a difficult time convincing music aficionados that she is musically interesting. For the hard knocks she received, Tonto literarily swore and cussed at all her critics even mocking emerging music force, Burna Boy, after his fall off the stage during Burna’s performance at The Headies 2012. This very attitude of inappropriate language and intolerance is her biggest undoing with social media users. The only piece of flattering press coverage Dike probably received this year was for winning Best Actor of the Year at the 2012 The Future Award- a honour film experts have put down to the dearth of credible young talents in Nollywood.

2face chooses a bride Contemporary African music icon 2face Idibia had been the butt of ribald jokes in the media and among stand up comics for his escalating proliferation of little Idibias. The super talented artiste, in spite of his misfires with women, never gets it wrong in his remarkable music career, earning multiple awards and recognitions across the continent and overseas. In 2012, however, at the age of 37, 2face made a decent woman out of Annie Macaulay, long time girlfriend and mother of one of his six children. He proposed to the movie starlet on Valentine’s Day at a public event and the enamoured couple later held a private/understated marriage putting paid to speculations if 2face would go through with the wedding. The other mothers of 2face’s children appear reasonable about the arrangement as the newlyweds bask in the glow of their renewed love. Recently, Mr. and Mrs Idibia paid millions of naira for two prized properties located in CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Artman In The House

YEAR 2012 IN REVIEW

Friday, December 28, 2012

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12 personalities who made headlines in 2012 CONTINUED FROM 21 highbrow Lekki, Lagos.

Wizkid nets 2012 BET award 19-year-old Wizkid is defendably the most consistent young entertainer in 2012 with his name frequently surfacing in the media and public conversations. The joint winner of 2012 BET’s Best International Act award (co winner with Ghana’s Sakordie), is signed on to the Banky W-led Empire Mates Entertainment, E.M.E. This year, he also entered a record distribution deal with Senegalese-American singer Akon’s Convict Music. The young talent and his definitive ragga influenced Afro-pop music also picked up some rated local awards too namely: The Headies awards for Artiste of the Year and Hip Hop Revelation of the Year. For the later part of 2012, Wiz alongside E.M.E label mates went on a Europe and America performing tour which covered 13 major cities around the continents. Featuring on major collaborations with local artistes and crowned the year with his outstanding performance at the E.M.E “Baddest Concert” and a collaboration with American superstar Chris Brown, during the latter’s show in Nigeria last weekend.

Psquare with Rozay (middle) in the Onyinye video

Simony film location picture

army of visitors to her site drawing traffic with her gossip about international and local celebrities, witty and sometimes self-deprecating commentaries, illustrative text, altruistic tendencies and fundamentally user-friendly blog design. Linda Ikeji Blog followers and fans, known as ‘LIBers’, are spread in far flung places like USA, Canada, Jamaica and London. This year, the entrepreneur’s brand recognition has opened doors for appearances as guest speaker at leadership conferences, seminars and a U.S sponsored tour of America. She also received numerous leadership awards nominations and commendations and picked up the 2012 Nigerian Blog of the Year Award.

Five months and counting, Alhaji Gawat is still missing Radio Broadcaster and NTA programme presenter, Alhaji Rasaq Aremu Gawat, who has gone missing since July 10 (presumed kidnapped) is yet to be found. Alhaji Gawat runs a programme on NTA 10 E dide E ji Sari especially during the Ramadan period with a segment of the programme consisting of a quiz session where callers are rewarded with cash and handsome gifts. He is a very popular figure among the Moslems who benefit immensely during the Holy month. According to reports, Gawat’s car was found abandoned on Carter Bridge, Lagos the morning he went missing. Till date, speculations are rife about his fate but no other concrete news have emerged.

For a quick round up, the below deserve passing mention for their defining impact in 2012.

Ghana’s Azonto influences Nigeria Azonto, the phenomenal dance which originated from neighbouring Ghana, but was a part of the West African nation’s contemporary dance steps by late 2011, entered Nigeria in 2012 with a bang! It not only quickly swept aside popular dances like “itige” and “alanta”, but thanks to Sakordie’s wide-spreading “Azonto” single and the accompanying video which went ‘Gangnam Style’-viral in West Africa, Azonto became the unofficial dance for 2012. It has inspired songs from Wizkid, young rapper Olamide and the high energy performance duo, PSquare, who rechristened their variation, “Alingo”. Whatever name it goes by, Azonto– en-

Ikeji

compassing the shuffle, hand jabs and waist gyrations, has travelled the far corners of dance floors around Nigeria.

All hail the blog queen Linda Ikeji of lindaikeji.blogspot.com, is the undisputed queen of Nigeria’s blogosphere. The ex-model’s phenomenal rise as a blogger in 2012 is a result of passion and work which started six years ago. The first time an advert was ever placed on her blog was in 2011; now, advertisers battle to endorse her page. The 32-year-old painstakingly built an

Peter and Paul Okoye are the twin brothers better known as the dynamic duo who make up the singing and dancing powerhouse PSquare. They dropped an incredible hit remix of their single “Onyinye” featuring African American Hip Hop phenomena Rick ‘Rozay” Ross. What made the remix more scintillating was the video, a high quality production which showed the trappings of wealth and glamour the boys flaunt. The Afro R’n’B talents made news again for the premature demise of their mother, Mrs. Josephine Okoye on July 11. She had passed away at an Indian hospital where she was receiving medical care for a debilitating illness. During this trying timez for PSquare and their family members, the outpouring of sympathy and love for the Okoyes overwhelmed social media networks. In the romance circuit, Peter and his

longtime girlfriend, Lola Omotayo are reported to be expecting their second child. They have a four year old son, Cameron. The news is that Paul is engaged to his sweetheart identified as Anita. What could probably signify a resounding year for the brothers were the sold out concerts they held in Ghana (it is reported a 40,000-man strong crowd attended the Accra show) and Uganda. Multi-talented broadcaster and thespian James Iroha died on February 28 at 69, a broken man after battling with a prolonged illness, which rendered him partially blind. In the early 70s, James Iroha conceptualised and created the Masquerade, a situational comedy series which initially started running on national radio before being snapped up by Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, network service and taking the audio-visual format which was beamed to the homes of millions of Nigerians. Running for almost two decades, Masquerade was a runaway hit, stealing the devotion and followership of Nigerians; each episode mirrored the incongruities of our national life in often slapstick comic-drama and in the process teaching moral lessons. Characters like Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo alias 4.30; Chief Jegede Shokoya, Clarus and Gringory were among cult personalities the sitcom spawned. It is for his sterling performance as Gringory, the clumsy and naive house servant, rather than as creator of Masquerade, that James Iroha gained more fame. Coming on the heels of the dastardly murder of four University of Port Harcourt undergraduates by a lynch mob in ALUU, a Rivers State Community, Nollywood’s poor taste in choosing film themes came to fore with the proposed production of a movie which bears close affinity to tragic incident. According to information, clips from the yet-to-be-titled film’s location which found its way online shows the casting director may have already missed an accurate representation of the youthful victims with his or her ‘oldish’ choice of characters to play the roles of Ugonna Ibuzor, Tekena Elkanah, Llyod Michael and Chidiaka Biringa However, if a historic and true-life story is to be told in the best of cinematic interpretation that would be considerate of the loss of the grieving families and not jeopardise police investigation, film buffs are not convinced Simony Productions is the most competent film house to handle it. In 2011, Simony Productions’ BlackBerry Babes 1 and the 2012 release of part 2, in no wise threw up imaginative directions for film making. It cut the picture of a purely commercial venture latching on to the trending usage of BlackBerry SmartPhones. In his defence, Sylvester Obadiege, CEO of Simony Films, has denied that the film he is currently shooting depicts the gruesome killing of the four students. Posterity would prove him right or wrong.

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Friday, December 28, 2012

YEAR 2012 IN REVIEW

Rihanna

Bieber

M.I, Burna Boy, others thrill guests in 4 cities

World Music Awards postponed due to visa issues, U.S tragedy he World Music Awards was postponed last Thursday, December 20 due to “logistical and multiple visa issue”, organisers said, two days before the event was scheduled to be held in Miami, Florida, USA. Event producers, John Martinotti and Marcol International, said in a statement that the December 22 awards ceremony was also being delayed in the wake of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, USA on December 14. “We are sorry for any inconvenience but this decision had to be made due to logistical and multiple visa issues and in view of this week’s national mourning. Fans have been a great support to the artists and have voted online in huge numbers,” the producers said in a statement. “Several of our international performing acts have been unable to get work permits so we are asking for your comprehension at this difficult moment and promise to give you all a great world class show” The winners in categories ranging from world’s best song, world’s best artists and entertainer of the year, are picked by fans who vote online. The statement said that votes will continue to be collected until a new date is set for the show. This year’s nominees include Nigerian megastar D’Banj, American superstars Usher, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Chris Brown. Past winners include Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson. D’Banj is billed to perform his award winning hit “Oliver Twist” at the ceremony.

Arty News

TERH AGBEDEH

or two weekends this month, M.I, Chidinma, Burna Boy and Waconzy thrilled guests across four cities at the launch of the fruit flavoured SNAPP, especially produced for the sophisticated, trendy lady of the 21st century. Guinness Nigeria Plc had earlier launched the drink in Lagos before taking it to eight venues in Benin, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Calabar. In Port Harcourt M.I’s performance met with an encore as he raised the roof. Chidinma enchanted the crowd in Abuja as she performed ‘Kedike’, leaving no doubt the ‘Jankoliko’ crooner enjoyed herself while she engaged the delighted guests. In Calabar, it was time to shout ‘Iwori wo’ with hip hop artiste Waconzy who personified his stride to the top. Singing with his partner, Chimanga, Waconzy was a delight to watch, so was Burna Boy in Benin. Aside the live performances, guests also danced to music from the vast disc jockey experience of DJ Neptune,

Burna Boy performing

DJ Sose and DJ Nana, who simply got the crowd thrilled. According to the Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Mr. Austin Ufomba, SNAPP has come to stay as an alcoholic beverage for today’s woman. “SNAPP has been introduced into the ready-to-drink category in response to the increasing demand for an alcoholic drink that appeals to women who want to show their individuality and unique style when out socialising with friends”, he said. His counterpart who heads Innovation, Mr. Sola Oke, said Guinness is aware that women are rapidly gaining economic power and becoming more independent. “Women everywhere are increasingly celebrating their successes in their various fields of endeavor, be it family or at work. In recognition of this, it is only fitting that we provide an equally contemporary and exciting ready-to-drink brand that suits every taste and occasion - this was the driving force behind the introduction of SNAPP into the Nigerian drinks market”, he said.

2Face returns to touring schools LINUS KINGDOM

uperstar African singer 2Face Idibia is scheduled to return to the school circuits in 2013. After a six-year hiatus, 2Face returns to performing in the nation’s higher institutions. The New Year will see the star artiste embark on a scheduled campus tour and he will be visiting various tertiary institutions in Nigeria for the first time in over six years. This announcement was made at the

recently held Playas’ Ball event which held in Lagos on Sunday, December 9. The end of year party, produced by Hypertek Entertainment in conjunction with NM En.Core, was engineered to provide 2Face with a platform to show gratitude and appreciation to everyone who played a part in making the year 2012 successful for the artiste. A 2Face Campus Connect competition has been designed in order to make school selection for the tour seems less of a task as well as to involve beneficiaries. Students are to visit www.2faceonline.

com to vote their schools as one of the six schools to be visited in this first window of touring. The schools with the highest votes will automatically be selected as the first port of call. As one of the most accomplished artiste of his generation, 2Face put out his first recording “Body & Soul” as a member of the trio Plantashun Boiz in 1999. 13 years later, the artiste has emerged a stronger brand winning several awards for past releases. This year, he added another album titled “Away and Beyond” to his catalogue.

Banky W, Olamide, Van Vicker light up BFS Xmas special

t sure is the season to be jolly! In the holiday spirit, MTV Base presents two studio guests on today’s special episode of The Big Friday Show; Empire Mates Entertainment, E.M.E. CEO Banky W and rapper, Olamide. The BFS crew will shake things up a bit in this special edition by having two upcoming artists Ruby and Kmos who have been given this week’s studio task to carry out. In tonight’s Celeb Surprise segment, a lucky Glo subscriber Ifeoma Anene will surprise her friend Chi Chi with comedian and Big Friday Show host; Basketmouth right on the

set. This week’s Celeb Prank is on Nollywood/Ghollywood star Van Vicker, while Dr. Love is also there to give his advice on relationship issues. Catch up on your favourite superstars on The Big Friday’s Vlog segment with Stephanie as she lets you in on all the juicy details in the world of entertainment. The other segments in the show includes the Ask/Reply segment where Glo subscribers text in questions to know more about the studio guests and the weekly Glo presents Big Friday Show Countdown all for a jolly holiday.

L-R: Olamide, Basketmouth and Banky W.

Escape

YEAR 2012 IN REVIEW

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Odugbemi

Crown Troupe of Africa performing

Nigeria at the 2012 Olympics

Keziah Jones on stage at Goethe Lagos Live Art Festival

2012 festivals with the most impact

TERH AGBEDEH

t does not matter what part of the country they come from, Nigerians just love to feast and celebrate, which is why in 2012 the party found its way to hundreds of festivals that dot the nooks of the country. Even the weeklong fuel subsidy removal protests lasted that long many said because of the carnival-like feel to it that had musicians like Femi Kuti performing for free. There was a lull after the protests with people counting the cost but before long the iRepresent International Documentary Film Festival, iREP hit the road screening films at two places of art, Terra Kulture and Freedom Park. Femi Odugbemi’s And the Chain Was Not…, a documentary about the second venue, a colonial prison now theme park, was among the many documentaries screened at the festival. It screened on the opening day and presented the uneasy past as performed by Crown Troupe’s Segun Adefila, which gave life to the struggle of the many former prisoners in the former colonial prison. Adefila’s movements were dictated by sounds from the ‘shekere’, ‘omele’, ‘bata’ and ‘gangan’. Crown Troupe, which turned 16 in 2012, was to feature at many of the festivals, particularly those held in Lagos and also have a carnival-like celebration in three cities. The Black Heritage Festival in Lagos State this year was supposed to be ‘low key’ owing to the elections but the weeklong event came loaded with a carnival, a pageant and a regatta among other must-see activities. Held in April, it was a big party giving tourists and Lagos residents alike the opportunity to have great fun. The Lagos carnival particularly thrilled to no end with the mega city standing still to celebrate. Also in April was the Nwonyo International Fishing Festival. Weeks before the festival took place in Ibi, Taraba State on April 20, it was reported that there had been a stampede to book the available hotel rooms in the town. Guests had come from many parts of the world to witness the spectacle. On the eve of the opening there was no hotel room left for those who had not booked ahead. Hotels were not the only businesses that benefited from the influx of guests to Ibi as food vendors, craftsmen that make souvenirs and sundry business operators are still smiling from the largesse the tourists left behind. Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, was present

SOME OF THE BIGGEST PARTIES STARTED TO TAKE SHAPE DURING THE NEW YAM FESTIVAL SEASON THAT BEGINS AROUND

AUGUST EACH

YEAR WHEN YAM TUBERS ARE HARVESTED to address the people at the closing event. He said the state government would do all it can so that the festival will become an international tourist attraction and an incomeearner for the people and government. But some of the biggest parties started to take shape during the new yam festival season that begins around August each year when yam tubers are harvested. Perhaps the biggest this year was the Iriji Mbaise, which started on August 15. The yam tuber is a very important food crop all over Nigeria and is particularly regarded as the head of farm crops in the south east of the country where annual festivals and celebrations are dedicated to it. As a matter of fact, a few people in that part of the country will eat the new yam without first taking part in an elaborate new yam festival even if they have sojourned away from home. That is why the people of Mbaise community in Imo State went all out to mark this year’s New Yam Festival, Iriji Mbaise 2012, at the Central School, Itu in Ezinihitte Local Government of Area with the support of telecom giant, MTN Nigeria. On August 24 it was the turn of tourists from around the globe to pour into Osogbo, Osun State to mark this year’s Osun Osogbo festival in honour of the goddess Osun. It was a once in a year opportunity to see and savour a slice of Africa’s spectacular tradition. The crowd that came from far and near did not want to lose out and what fun they had. In October, the Garden City Literary Festival, GCLF, organised by the Rainbow Book Club run out of Port Harcourt, Rivers State by Mrs. Koko Kalango, took place with women writers at the centre of proceedings. Incidentally, the book club, in conjunction with the state government, got Port Harcourt named UNESCO World Book Capital

for 2014. Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, had said while speaking at the event that the country is at war, but that did not stop the party that characterised the festival. It was in this 10th month also that the MUSON Jazz Festival took place, with concerts and drama presentations. Artistes like Dapo Dina, Mike Bere, Agboola Sadare, Ayodele, Sax Tee, Imole Afrika, Adesuwa and Victor Adamofe and Muson Artistic Director, Thomas Kanitz, accompanied by the resident pianist and acting director of MUSON School of Music, Dr. Babatunde Sosan performed. The 14th edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival, LABAF, followed, beginning on November 16 at the Freedom Park with Bishop Matthew Kukah in attendance. Regarded by many as Africa’s Biggest Culture Picnic, LABAF featured discussions around books but every day for the three days that the event took place ended in a partlike atmosphere. LABAF featured over 10 book events, three music concerts, two theatre shows, 11 workshops for children and a visual art exhibition. The annual colourful Abuja Carnival hosted the nation’s 36 states in November for four days. Aimed at showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Nigeria and for promoting the country as a safe, warm and hospitable tourism destination, this year’s edition held from November 24 to 27 hosted in Abuja, was tagged “Carnival of Peace and Harmony”. It featured parades through the city streets, display of cultural heritage via dance troupes, drummers, masquerades’ display, food fair, children’s fair and float parades closing with a regatta and a live music festival at Eagles Square. Then there was the Goethe at 50 Lagos Live Art Festival. The German cultural organisation that clocked 50 this year celebrated the event with the Lagos Live Art Festival perhaps one of the biggest cultural events Lagos has seen in years. The event brought so many artists from Germany, Nigeria, and other African countries and they were celebrated with a huge crowd for not just one day but for four fun-filled days full of dance, theatre performances, music, photography exhibitions, and many more. To cap the festivities up for the year was the 18th National Sports Festival, NSF in Lagos. It was indeed a spectacle to behold, perhaps next only to the display of the London Olympics that held earlier in the year making such gatherings in the country avenues to take the Nigerian celebration mode to another level.

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 15, 1434AH Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Call to Worship

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

Behold the new Ilorin Central Mosque

he new ultra-modern Juma’at Central Mosque of the ancient city of Ilorin, the Kwara state capital is a centre to behold. The 20, 000 capacity mosque no doubt, has added to the list of tourists’ attraction centres in the country. The planning work started in 2007 when Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu Gambari, CFR, the 11th Emir of Ilorin, with great assistance from Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Waziri of Ilorin, and the then Executive Governor of Kwara State, set up a technical committee, headed by Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar, on the rehabilitation and enhancement of the mosque.

Added facilities include: • 3 modern ablution centers with toilets facilities, each able to hold 100 worshipers at a time. • A well equipped multi-purpose hall. • An Islamic library with modern facilities. • A car park. • Modern lighting equipment, airconditioners and long-range speakers for Salat calls, among others And just like the two holy mosques in Makkah and Medinah, the six gates leading to the Ilorin Juma’at central mosque have been named after the prominent leaders of the town highly revered for their unmatched exploits in the field of Islamic studies. Beside its tourism potentials, as well as a place of worship, the new mosque has also brought about the cleanliness of the hitherto dirty Oja-Oba environment. The vicinity has been cordoned off with the mosque’s security officials maintaining a 24-hour surveillance of the area. An environmental firm of international repute has also been engaged to ensure the cleanliness of the mosque and its environs at all times. The mosque was commissioned recently by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, while former President Shehu Shagari chaired the occasion. The commissioning ceremony took place at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin and president of Ilorin Juma’at Central Mosque, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, while the Sultan of Sokoto and Sarkin Musulumi, Alh. Sa’ad Abubakar III led other Muslims across the globe to the ancient city of Ilorin for the programme.

‘Embrace peace, tolerate others’ 30

The new Ilorin Central Mosque

Many misconceptions were removed Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya

n this day and age, it is only the Ahmadiyya Muslim community that has the honour of taking the true message of Islam to the world. We should be most grateful that we experience this privilege as we endeavour to take the mission of the Promised Messiah(as)

forward. The address by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih to the European Parliament in Brussels was extremely well received. A press conference was also held at this occasion which received wide coverage. The UK Jama’at had played a good role

We are making efforts to restore lost morals –Zafaran 28

in organising the European Parliament event although the main organisers were some European parliamentarians. Many misconceptions about Islam were removed through the event. During Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih’s trip to Germany, an event was held in Hamburg to mark extension of an existing Jama’at building whereby minarets were added to it. Many local dignitaries came to this event. The other event was the inauguration of the new building of Jamia in Germany. This too was wellattended. Two mosques were also inaugurated. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih highlighted the impressions of some of the guests at the European Parliament address. A Bishop who had come from Switzerland said that the words of the address were CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Stakeholders commend Vanguard Academy as it celebrates a decade of excellence 27

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 15, 1434AH

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Our Creator recognises diversity GOD HAS CREATED US FROM A SINGLE MAN AND

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f we believe that social life is an innate trait of all human beings, then we should accept that we have to live with others who are different from in their faith, beliefs, ideas, attitudes and religious principles. God has stipulated that He created all people alike. As human beings, we can easily change attitudes, religion, and in many ways. The major point of this article is what methods, principles and strategies have been offered by Islam to its followers to enable them live with other human beings, who do not share their thoughts and ideology, in peace. It so sad when one reads about certain group of people maiming and killing others under the guise of Islam. Some of the most important strategies which Islam has offered for peaceful coexistence have been specified in Quran and Sunna. Despite the fact that previous and present administrations will share part

WOMAN of the blame for not providing job opportunities as devil finds work for idle hands which would have been prevented if for instance we are refining our oil here in Nigeria with many job opportunities arising from such initiative and there is constant power supply to aid manufacturing and other technical jobs. It will do such a group a lot of good to recognise diversity of religions and perceptions, respecting others’ beliefs, existence of ethnic and trans-religious attitudes, not considering oneself as totally right, respecting the rights of other people, fair treatment of others, refraining from insult and slander. Any phenomenon can be viewed from right and wrong angles and as an objective reality. When it comes to peaceful coexistence, diversity of religions and perceptions is an objective reality. Many verses of Quran have treated this issue in a realistic manner. There are verses which recognize other religions and ask their followers to

Be doer of good to others

act according to their own faiths and religious backgrounds. Even those who do not accept Islam have been recognized by God who has noted that they would be held responsible for what they do. Quran has stipulated that all humans were a single ummah and God has created them from a single man and a single woman and has divided them into various groups to know one another. If God had wanted to create people with the same faith, he would have done that, but He had not done it on purpose. The glorious Quran has reiterated the fact that there is no coercion in religion. If the almighty Creator of all creations had wanted, He could have made all of us Muslims, let there be peace in our land. Allah has ordered Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that his sole duty is to promulgate the message of God and not force people into accepting Islam. Nobody can tarnish the image of Islam as we will all be responsible for our conduct and acts. Many verses of the glorious Quran provide good grounds for peaceful religious, political and social interaction for all. From Islamic viewpoint, minorities that live in a society are by no means aliens

Dialogue has not only been an important principle of Islam, but Quran has also stipulated that it should be conducted in the best possible manner and based on good argument. God has mentioned frequent cases of dialogue between his messengers and their opponents in Quran43 and has advised Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to engage in dialogue with pagans. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) started his movement with dialogue and argument. Imam Ali (AS) attached great importance to dialogue with enemies as a strategic method to solve problems. Any dialogue should be based on common points and progress within the same framework. In case of deadlock, the next alternative is still negotiation, as thinking and speech are the most important features which differentiate humans from other creatures not unreasonable action of bombing and killing. Islam is characterized by justice at all times and toward everybody. Both the glorious Quran and Prophet Mohammed ordered Muslims to be just and on that every true Muslims must stand. May almighty Allah make it easy for us to follow His true path till the Day of Reckoning, Amin.

slam is a religious of peace; it means peace and it enjoins peaceful coexistence among different creatures. It teaches mankind to be in peace with the Creator and to be in peace with one another. To make peace with God, one has to give absolute submission to His will, recognise His oneness, obey His commands and worship Him as the only one deserves to be worshipped. To make peace with man, one has to do good and behave well always; and do unto others as one would want them to do unto him. In view of the above, anyone who believes in Islam and practises its teachings is a Muslim. The Qu’ran confirms this when it says “Whoever submits himself entirely to God and he is the doer of good to others is a Muslim; he shall have his reward from his Lord: there shall be no fear for such nor shall they be grieved”. This is chapter 2, verse 112 of the holy Qu’ran. This verse, like many others in the holy book, shows that belief alone is not enough to make one a Muslim; it has to be accompanied with good deeds. Likewise, bearing Muslim names does not necessarily make one a Muslim nor does a non-Muslim name make one a non-Muslim. What makes one a good Muslim is the way one behaves i.e what one worships, what one says and what one does to others. To carry out the injunctions of Islam on peaceful living, the Muslims greet one another with the greeting of “peace”, that is, each assures the other that he means to be in peace with him always. When a Muslim meets another, the usual greeting is “As-salam Alaykum” meaning may peace be upon you. When a good Muslim utters these words, he should sincerely mean what he says, and, in fact, he should let his heart agree with his tongue in saying them. The name of the religion is Islam. Some people, especially those that are enemies of Islam make the mistake of calling the religion Mohammedanism. This is very

wrong because Islam is not named or called after its founder or prophet. The Qu’ran tells us that the name of Islam has been given to it by God Himself. Islam as a religion existed long before the arrival of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) who happened to be the last of the prophets. It must be noted that all the prophets of humanity right from Adam to Isa preached Islam based on the circumstances during their life time. Islam is an all-inclusive religion which contains within itself all the teachings of the religions that came before it. One of its striking charasteristics is that it requires its followers to believe not only in Prophet Mohammed (SAW) but also in all the other prophets that came before him as messengers of one and same God. Chapter 3, verse 83 of the holy Qu’ran reads “ Islam is a way of life, it provides for peace all over the world because it makes no difference between race and colour; rather it encourages universal brotherhood and peaceful co-existence of all races and ranks. Both white and black Muslims consider one another as brothers and sisters irrespective of their race and country of origin. In conclusion, if the blessed model of the Holy prophet (SAW) was followed by Muslims, the enemies would have been automatically and permanently silenced. Sheikh Abdul Gannyy Umar Arikunkewu is the Founder/National Chief Missioner of Jubulatu Rohfatu Llahi Islamic Society of Nigeria (JUBAT)

L-R: Hon. Babatunde Adejare and the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Olamilekan Adeola (aka Yayi) at the Christmas party organised by Hon. Adejare in Lagos on Tuesday.

L-R: Alhaji Ishaq Musa, Dr. Saheed Timehin and Alhaji Ishaq Ambali at the 3rd annual lecture of Glorious Islamic Centre held recently in Ikeja, Lagos.

L-R: National Amir of The Companion, Alhaji Ahmed Tunde Popoola, (FCA); Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG) and representative of the State Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, presenting Merit Award to Alhaja Egbeyemi at the formal opening of the 10th Dawn Holiday Programme (DHP) held at the Lagos State Model College, Kankon Badagry on Tuesday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SEKINAH LAWAL

takeholders from all walks of life have been pouring encomium on management and staff of Vanguard Academy, OdosengoluOgun State as the school celebrate ten years of excellence. According to Mr. A.A. Osipitan, WAEC Supervisor for Further Mathematics, on the 27/5/2008 said that Vanguard Academy’s environment is neat and conducive for learning. “The students supervised actually exhibited a high level of discipline. The exam was peacefully conducted without any prob-

Friday, December 28, 2012 Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 15, 1434AH

Call to Worship

Stakeholders commend Vanguard Academy as it celebrates a decade of excellence lem. The tone at the school is good. No wonder parents are anxious to send their children to Vanguard Academy. “ Another WAEC Supervisor, Rev. Akin A. Adekunle remarked; “Vanguards Academy is a conducive environment for learning. The students have a good moral standard that can stand the test of time anywhere around the globe. Members of staff here are well cultured and disciplined. A courteous and efficient citadel of learning! Always keep the standard

high. God bless Nigeria and God bless the school.” In less than six years of existence, the school secured approval from Ogun State Ministry of Education. It also got registration approval by National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC). “We have been having outstanding performance by JS3 and SS3 students in their certificate examinations, high student proficiency in Qur’an recitation, memorization and Arabic reading. The school served as a

L-R: Engr. Idris Lediju presenting the first position gift of Ipad to Nurudeen Lawal of English Department, Obafemi Awolowo University at the 3rd annual lecture of Glorious Islamic Centre held recently in Lagos.

trial test centre for WASCE. Consistency in zero tolerance for examination malpractice is a key issue to us,” explained Dr. Adeniyi Zafaran, the Director of Administration. Dr. Zafaran said that in no distant time, the graduate of the school will return to teach, manage the system and further re-engineer preparing the youths for the future. “The graduates will further their studies to professorial level and become academic stalwarts. The school will become an enviable reference point and be internationally recognized for sound educational delivery and manpower building. Our products will competently compete with others in the labour market and be choice of all.” As part of the school’s frantic effort towards realising its objective on speaking Arabic as well as yearning of parents, there is a compulsory daily evening Arabic school. It operates based on a comprehensive syllabus. Seasoned Arabic tutors are employed to teach the different Arabic subjects. These teach-

ers are all resident in the school to facilitate the learning as they only converse with the students in Arabic in the school, hostel and Mosque. The lingua franca for Friday is Arabic and every student is encouraged to converse in it. From time-to-time, students make short Arabic talk after Subh prayer. A special Arabic programme is also organised during the holidays. He made it known that the students also attend memorisation of Qur’an class every morning before the school assembly and there is a syllabus guiding what every student must memorise before graduating from the school. “There are regular Qur’an competitions among students. As part of training, students lead themselves in daily tahajjud prayers where they are expected to revise what they have memorised. Accredited students are also appointed as Imams for the weekends.” It was also made known that every blessed day in Vanguards Academy starts with devotional worship. This is followed by memori-

zation of the Qur’an which is coordinated by specialists in that area. Special arrangement is made for those who cannot read the Qur’an from time to time until they become proficient. Students are given monthly evaluation chart, which is monitored by the Counsellor for students’ spiritual development. Vanguards Academy is really making efforts to restore the lost morals in the society. Preventive measures are put in place to curb criminal tendencies among students as students are all grouped and assigned to teachers who see to their academic and moral development from time to time. There are regular admonition by members of staff and students. Students interact and relate with one another as brothers and sisters. The moral training given to students is evident in their politeness, neatness, humility, contentment, respect for elders and personal discipline. Evaluation forms are also given out to students at the end of every term to assess all aspects of the school.

GIC holds annual lecture ... Opens Skill Acquisition Centre

he Glorious Islamic Centre (GIC) recently organised its 3rd annual lecture and official opening of the GIC Skills Acquisition Centre at its Plot 460, Adeniji Jones Avenue, Ikeja-Lagos. Also, winners of the GIC Essay competition were given their prizes. 400 Level undergraduate English Language student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nurudeen Lawal, went home with an Ipad for coming first at the tertiary institution level of the Essay Competion, while Alamu Shehu of Muslim Association of Nigeria Secondary School, Lagos, got a laptop for coming first at the secondary school level and Adediran Aminat of the Winds Private School, Iwo-Osun State got the prize for the primary school category. Speaking to newsmen,

Nurudeen Lawal commended GIC for the laudable endeavour and promised to concentrate more on writing. “Am so happy because this is coming from an Islamic Centre, it is quite encouraging and I will urge my fellow students to engage more in worthwhile efforts like this instead of wasting their time.” In his welcome address, GIC’s President, Engr. Akin Laguda said the newly opened GIC Skills Centre will offer two major courses for a start, namely; Catering and Fashion Design which will run for three days every week from 11.00am-3.00pm. “Each course will run for one year while additional courses will be introduced in due course.” In his lecture on life fulfillment, Dr. Saheed Timehin enjoined Muslims to be

true vicegerent of Allah on earth by being forgiving, merciful, charitable and emulating other attributes of Allah. “Fulfillment is in being in good book of your Creator and making otherd happy. When you put smiles on people’s face always.” He said true success does not lie in riches as craving for material possession is a continuos process hence the need to improve our relationship with Allah. According to him, nothing shows our piety except our aversion to forbidden things. Also, Muslims were advised to be pleased with whatever Allah has given them and they will be the wealthiest, love for others what they will love for themselves, be good to neighbours and not laugh too much but keep a smiling face.

L-R: Deputy National Amir of The Companion, Barr. Musibau Oyefeso receiving the Merit Award from Alhaji Waliyu Onibon and the Companion’s Lagos District Amir, Alhaji Wale Sonaike at the formal opening of the 10th Dawn Holiday Programme (DHP) in Lagos State Model College, Kankon Badagry on Tuesday.

IHR commends Katsina for 2012 Hajj JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

atsina State Government has been commended and awarded the best state status for the successful handling of the 2012 Hajj exercise. The award was given to the state by the Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR group. Speaking on the issue, IHR’s national coordinator, Ibrahim Moh’d said the state passed outstand-

ingly in most of the parameters used to arrive at the award. Moh’d said hajj officials from the state were accessible to pilgrims at the holy land while accommodation for pilgrims was one of the best. He said pilgrims enjoyed availability of medical facility and personnel at the holy land while the state had good crowd control management at the airport and during the pilgrimage. He however

advised state hajj officials to ensure they wear uniforms while at the holy land to enable for easy identification. Moh’d also called for the establishment of a national hajj institute that would train hajj officials against subsequent exercises. Earlier, the group had paid visit to the state’s deputy governor, Garba Faskari where he assured them that recommendations raised would be implemented.

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 15, 1434AH

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We are making efforts to restore Dr Zafaran Adeniyi, an author of several soul-inspiring books and the Director of Administration, Vanguard Academy, Ogun State, in this exclusive interview with National Mirror, speaks on various issues relating to morals, academic excellence and national development. What will you describe as total education? Our dream of yesterday, that of having total and qualitative education culminated in the establishment of Vanguards Academy a decade ago. It has thus far graduated 198 students. To take it to the peak of our expectations, the stakeholders should fully give it all that it requires in terms of personnel and infrastructures. It remains the most effective platform to achieve our aspirations of guiding humanity to their Creator and moulding leaders who are service-oriented. As an idea, due to the dearth of standard Muslim Schools with a blend of the so-called secular system and the pristine Islamic education, the visionary men of AlBuraq Foundation had for long thought of establishing a full boarding secondary school before it eventually culminated into a reality on Rajab 21, 1423 A.H. (Saturday 28, September, 2002) with a population of 33 students, 17 males and 16 females. It is the vision of the founders that the boys and girls have separate schools but presently operating a co-educational system. How can we develop creative thinking among our youths? It is a great task really but something that can be achieved with great determination. The school has made landmark achievements in continuous provision of qualitative education in and outside the classrooms and has churned out students with impeccable moral standard. We must commend many individuals, parents and groups that contributed to the success of the school in the last decade and they must not relent in supporting the school’s projects. We will not relent in achieving the target goals too. Vanguard Academy has lived up to its name but more still needed to be done to meet the goals of the founding fathers. It is a thing of joy that we are already producing and encouraging prolific future writers. Recently, we launched two literary books by our students: Echoes on my mind by Fasuyi Arafat and The Priceless Jewel by Princess Bushra Olagunju. The two books are testimonies of originality and creativity that Vanguards implants in its students. What do you have to say regarding exam malpractices among students? Indeed, Vanguards has made a landmark in absolute zero tolerance for all forms of examination malpractices. There is the need to make students and parents alike realize that hard work pays and that adequate preparations prevent poor performance. More importantly, the need to act with the fear of almighty Allah in all circumstances, has been part of us. It is a culture in Islam, hence, there is no room for exam malpractices. And that is why our graduates have been enviable ambassadors; winning awards in their various fields. Miss Bushra Olagunju, a former student of Osun State University, came first in the first ever essay competition of the university. She got the award the year she finished her secondary education and got admission to the university. Another student of this great academy, Abdullah Arogundade, then a 100 level student of University of Ibadan (UI), was one of the best 10 at the National Essay competition by Intercontinental Bank Plc to mark Nigeria 50th anniversary. Our consistency in zero tolerance for examination malpractice has been confirmed by comments of WAEC Supervisors. The school also won awards for participating in American Mathematics competition in 2011 and 2012. Vanguard Academy was the representative of Ogun State at the 2008 National NTA Science Exhibition in Abuja. All these are

just a few of the achievements of the school since incepp tion. And the school is poised to wax x stronger, providing conducive atmosphere with aesthetic structures, adequate facilities and God-fearing personnel. Sir, what do the founders set out to achieve? chieve? The vision is simply to be a leading ng institution where comprehensive education is given forr self-actualization of potential and visionary leadership in all spheres of life. And the mission is to excel in the provision of comprehensive and qualitative education for academic excellence, intellectual supremacy, strength and d morality, based on fear of Allah (SWT) in a conducive environment under competent and God-fearing personnel. l. It is part of our aims and objectives es to provide students with the opportunity for qualitative, ve, quantitative and comprehensive education, impart comprehensive mprehensive Islamic knowledge, values and culture towards ds achieving academic excellence and justifying the essence ce of creation. We also want to promote the philosophy of Nigerian igerian education as embedded in the national policy on education. ducation. What actually prompted this idea? The wise men of Al-Buraq Foundation dation conceived the idea of a model private vate secondary school with full boarding ng complements. The choice of name,, Vanguards Academy, without any doubt, was by providence. This is so as the name subsumes all other names any school may bear. It was a clear vision from inception that the school – staff and students – should be Vanguards in all realms. The motto: “Education for life” in the same vein encapsulates all other mottos as it envisions a non-stop learning. The anthem of the school is an epitome of all that keeps life going and developing. What other great achievements so far? Of course, this academy also serves as a centre for discovery of special talents required in building a virile Muslim Ummah (community) in particular and the Nigerian nation in n general. We raise a generation of students ents who will be creative in thinking, respectt views and feelings of others, morally upright, physically hysically fit and respect the dignity of labour. We provide the students the opportunity ortunity to learn and speak classical Arabic language. The e school can boast of many publications in the last ten years rs of its existence. There are many beneficial clubs and societies in the school like the Literary and debating, JETS, Akeko Ede Yoruba, Arabic Speakers Association, Young Farmers, MSSN and The Young Muslims Association with the old Students (VAOSA) already formed and annual retreat already in place for bringing them together. We have held three of such gatherings so far. Presently, four of our old students have officially gradu-

BEYOND PAYING THE FEES PROMPTLY, PARENTS MUST, HOWEVER, REALISE THAT THEY HAVE GREAT ROLES TO PLAY. THEY SHOULD ASSIST TO RETAIN WHAT STUDENTS HAVE LEARNT ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM THE SCHOOL

ated from the Universities (Yusuf Alimi, Nusaybah Dhikrullah, Tawfiqah Abdusalam, Bushrah Olagunju, A/Fatai A/Warith). One had NCE and also in her 300 level already at the University of Lagos, i.e. Ruqayyah Dawud. In less than six years of existence, the school secured approval from Ogun State Ministry of Education. It also got registration approval by National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC). Any advantage from Arabic proficiency? High student proficiency in Qur’an recitation, memorisation and Arabic reading is of great and unquantifiable benefits to all and sundry both in this world and the hereafter. Apart from our good track record in academic performance, total upbringing of the students educationally, spiritually, economically and socially has been a big plus. What are you doing to widen the exposure and horizon of both the students and teachers alike? We have been having various excursions to notable industries and memorable places within and outside the state. We ensure that our students participate in various

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Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 15, 1434AH Friday, December 28, 2012

Call to Worship

lost morals –Zafaran organized competitions like essay writing, Cowbell Mathematics Competition among others while our staff participate in state’s organised workshops and professional seminars. The Vanguard Academy has been winning awards for participating in local, state, national and international competitions. We also represented Ogun State at the 2008 National NTA Science Exhibition in Abuja. Moreover, the annual publication of Vanguards Magazine has been motivating students to write thereby sharpening their writing skills. There are many other unpublished works by the students. Our graduates have been winning awards in their various fields; like Bushra Olagunju (a graduate of Osun State University; First in Essay Competition on the topic: Electoral Reforms in Nigeria: A Panacea for Democratic Government and Good Governance, 2009), Abdullah Arogundade (an undergraduate student of University of Ibadan; one of the best ten at National Essay competition by Intercontinental Bank Plc to mark Nigeria 50th Anniversary on the topic: A Nation at 50: The Past, The Future, 2010/11). Our first set of students graduated from University of Lagos and more are graduating this year (2012). The school won all first prizes (four stages) in NTAetv Mathematics competition (Work it Out). Vanguards Academy commenced operation in Isiwo, a sprawling town in Ogun State, Nigeria. Isiwo is a town to behold with its undulating topography and aesthetic landscape. It is located in the eastern part of Ogun State and is a home to some of the prominent citizens of the state. The population of the town is barely over 10,000 people with each family closely linked to one a n o t h e r. This basic feature explains the relative peace and security that the town enjoys among o t h e r communities which has been of great benefits to the school.

How will you assuage the fears of parents who are still wary of sending their parents to boarding school? In this school, parents are rest assured that the children are in safe hands. Staffs were made to understand that the students are golden eggs requiring all attention. More importantly, we based our dealings firmly on the fear of almighty Allah believing that He knows everything and He is the best of judges. What are some of the challenges the academy is facing? Generally at inception, the life in Isiwo was full of ups and downs. The challenges at Isiwo were many. The prominent among them was power outage, for more than four months consecutively there might be no electricity supply; hence the 12kv power generating set worked between 7:00 pm -12:00 am and 4.00 am.6.30 am. Another problem was shortage of water; the borehole did not produce enough water due to the topography of the town, so water is fetched from wells in the community for washing and bathing purposes. There were many times students went to stream to fetch water. It was really a typical taste of village life. The sun sets after 2,166 days of stay at Isiwo to rise in another village called Odosengolu where Allah destines that the first permanent site is located. What is the relationship like between the parents and school? In a decade of existence, the school, through its management and members of staff has enjoyed cordial and mutual relationship with the parents. The school sees the parents as a major stakeholder as they provide the major

THE MORAL TRAINING GIVEN TO STUDENTS IS EVIDENT IN

THEIR POLITENESS, NEATNESS, HUMILITY, CONTENTMENT, RESPECT FOR ELDERS revenue through payment of fees to run the school. There exists a Parent-Teacher Association where all issues pertaining to the students are discussed. The PTA is vibrant and currently building the ICT centre. A Parent Forum is occasionally organised to treat specific issues pertaining to parenting, children development, etc. Parents of new students are also met between two to three weeks after resumption of their children. There are also meetings with parents of students at the terminal classes (JSS and SSS) to join hands in preparing them for better results. On special occasions, some are specially invited on issues having to do with their wards. We maintain open door policy. Parents are also expected to come to school on Open Days to check the academic progress of their children. What is your advice to parents? Beyond paying the fees promptly, parents must however realise that they have great roles to play. They should assist to retain what students have learnt especially when they graduate from the school. They should also support the school in areas of capital project. This, they should see as a transcendental investment. Even the universities, apart from getting subvention from government and its IGR, still have philanthropists who donate and build some structures for them. Ours cannot be an exception. How will you describe the relationship between the school and the community? The school has been playing expected community roles like road repairs, helping hands when there is problem with the lighting, medical caravan, visitations, etc. It also felicitates with them on festive occasions. And part of the activities for the school’s 10th year anniversary was the commissioning of boreholes for the benefit of the entire community. What is it like moving Vanguards to Odosengolu? Before that day, the Management Board of the school had sleepless nights. They met severally with the SMC (school Management Committee) as well as the staff to draw timetable of action and movement. The challenge of staff accommodation and transportation was very critical. This was because of the nature of the location of the school. There was no direct public vehicle to the school. A staff will have to either get an okada or board a bus from Isiwo to a place called Yemoji or even Ijebu-ode and then board another bus going to Epe. The inconveniences and time wasting involved is better imagined than experience. So, at this critical point, the school was helpless to satisfy the initial challenge of getting a staff bus to alleviate the plight of the staff. Thus, arrangement was made with a bus in the village at cost to be conveying the staff from Isiwo to Vanguards. The resumption time was adjusted to 8am to ease staff arrival. Not very long on resumption at the new site, the school bought a bus to convey the staff toand-fro. On the challenge of accommodation, ahead time, a committee was set up to explore the neiboughring villages for befitting accommodation. The effort showed there were no such houses as most were built for a typical village setting; the so-called face-me-face-you and mostly without real toilet, drinkable water and kithen. Most of the staff still remained at Isiwo since the staff bus was regular. All others who reside outside Ijebu Ode and Epe still face the challenge of transportation and water. That is why the dream of the school to have staff quarters is not negotiable. At present it only has quarters which accommodate the three staff. The Hostel Handlers,

security men, the Arabic teacher and few staff reside in the school too. The school as part of its maintenance and prompt execution of its projects, has a resident Engineer. Another challenge the staff faced was that of which school their children will attend. Isiwo was like a family house for all, children school is nearby. Now the parents have moved to Odosengolu; the initial arrangement was that the children continued with their former school. A committee was put in place to work out all the intricacies of establishing a staff school. The effort culminated into its establishment in August 2011. What does the academic programme looks like in Vanguard Academy? This is a core aspect of the school. The formal class setting for teaching holds between 8: 30 am and 2:30 pm daily. Other related activities are daily preps for self-study and assignments, pre and post examination seminars to prepare students for examination and review their performance, result projection and analysis to make them improve in their performance, scholars’ awards to promote and sustain good performance. Remedial programme is also put in place to assist the weak students. We have termly evaluation to review coverage of the scheme of work and cross fertilise ideas. Staff seminar covering all aspects of teaching, learning and public relations holds every term based on identified area of need. We also hold weekly counseling where all students are grouped to meet their tutors for guidance on academics (checking of notes, handwriting, study habits, etc) and morals. Each year, we admit students into Junior Secondary School One (JSS I). Such students must have attained age 10 and also completed their terminal classes. Application forms are sold to students intending to study here between December and March. All applicants undertake entrance examination that is conducted between April and May every year. Students are tested in English, Mathematics, Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning, Religion and General Papers. Any applicant who scores 50% and above is invited for an oral interview to help assess the composure of the applicants, his/her communication skill and appreciation of current affairs and religious background. The scores of the interview and that of the entrance examination are therefore the basis for admission. Shumuliyyah and Rabaniyyah are weekly comprehensive programme designed to broaden the horizons of our students and staff about general knowledge. Its outlines include current affairs, watching of educative TV programmes and documentaries, study of biography of important Muslims and non-Muslim personalities in relevant areas of study, training for public speaking and creative writing, discussion groups, brainstorming, quiz and memorization of quotes. Many parents are always sceptical about the effeciency of some teachers, what’s your stake on this? Since the management of Vanguards Academy is guided by standard, the teachers handling the school subjects are professionally trained. A greater percentage of them have master degrees in various. We employ qualified and experienced teachers with minimum of first degree in their relevant disciplines. Our teachers are purposeful, dedicated and committed to the training, academic excellence and welfare of the students. To sustain these rare qualities, staff training and development are paramount on the minds of the management. Hence, regular seminar and workshops (internal and external) are organized to enhance delivery power and human relations. Also, the importance of guidance and counselling in a school of international standard like Vanguards Academy has not been relegated, so, a trained and experienced Counsellor, who heads the school’s guidance and counselling department, is always available to help the students. Where is that edge compared to others? As part of frantic effort towards realising the objective CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 15, 1434AH Friday, December 28, 2012

Embrace peace, tolerate others –Fashola

he 61st Annual Conference of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat (Jalsa Salana 2012) was held at the Jamia Ahmadiyya, Ilaro-Owode road, on the 21st to 23rd, December, 2012 with a call on Muslims to embrace peace and tolerate others . According to Alhaji Qasim Akinreti of the Media and protocol Unit, the conference resolved that Nigerians and world leaders as well as individuals should extol the virtues of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) in the areas of mercies to mankind, kindness to enemies, tolerance to opposing views. “Religious organisations should come together to fashion out a code of conduct for political office holders in their quest to provide good leadership and enthrone accountability in the Nigerian society. Religious leaders should preach tolerance and desist from encouraging hate and disunity among their followers in the true spirit of “love for all hatred for none “. Also, men were urged to take good care of their wives and children in order to safeguard the sanctity of family values. The event was attended by over 33,480 delegates across Nigeria, and 148 visitors from Cameroon, Chad , Benin , Niger Republic, UK and US. Several lectures that were delivered bordered on two issues extorting the Virtues of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) vis-à-vis, - his mercies to all mankind, kindness to his enemies, tolerance to opposing views to Islam – the religion he has brought to salvage mankind and lead them to their creator.

ii. Disabusing the misconception of the detractors of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat who peddle the malicious allegation against the Jamaat that they do not recognize the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). In controverting this erroneous belief, several lectures were delivered showing instances which present the Holy Founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat – Hazrat Mirza Ghullam Ahmad (as) asserting that he would be nothing without the guidance of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). The Dignitaries present at the occasion affirmed the love, tolerance and humility of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat the world over, and particularly important is the admonition of the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly that we must proclaim the virtues of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) not only in rhetoric but also in our conducts and deeds. According to him, if Islam is peace and the Prophet did not fail to demonstrate this to the Muslims, then it becomes imperative for Muslims to embrace peace and tolerate adherents of other faiths. In his well-researched lecture on Islam and Sustainable Development, the Amir of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria, Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola, admonished Nigerian leaders to shun corruption and make probity their guiding principle; rely less on the petroleum and promote agriculture and make education free at all levels. At the conference, 5 females graduated with honours from Hafizul Quran schools (female section) for memorizing the whole

Quran within 2 years. They were given certificates and prizes with a promise of scholarship to the university as well as a request to travel to London for the annual conference in 2013. “In conclusion, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is a true follower of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and any contrary opinion to this is a fallacy. Our belief in Hazrat Mirza Ghullam Ahmad (as) as the Mahdi and Promised Messiah does not place him above the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) as the servant cannot claim superiority over his master.” The governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun represented by the Deputy Chief of staff, Salis Shuaib called on religious organisations to preach peace and tolerance among their adherents as well as be in the vanguard of assisting and collaborating with government in the socio economic emancipation of the people. He acknowledged the tremendous role of the jammat in the provision of education and health facilities across Nigeria. The royal father of the day, the Olu of Ilaro, Oba kehinde Olugbenle Gbadewole urged religious groups to inculcate moral values in the youths .He appealed to the Jamaat to establish a university in Ilaro going by the antecedent of the Islamic group in vanguard of secular as well as religious education in Nigeria. He said as pioneer in education and health services, the Ahmadiyya should endeavour to establish a university in Ilaro.

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Many misconceptions were removed CONTINUED FROM 25 mesmerising. While they were enunciated softly, the words carried power and majesty. He said he had not seen a courageous man like Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih. A Muslim member of Belgian parliament said that the address was something to be proud of for all the Muslims and added that the Khalifa had caused exaltation to them. As regards impressions about the event in Hamburg which took place the following day, an integration officer said that the Khalifa had explained the teachings of Islam very well and by listening to him he had come to know about the real teachings of Islam. A Council member from the Hamburg area said that the way Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih expressed his words affected hearts in particular. He said the concept of Islam as presented was new for him. Others said that their fears had been allayed after finding out the peaceful teaching of Islam. Comments received at the inauguration of the Jamia building said that the address of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih was not a speech but was the voice of his heart and that in spite of being religious his outlook was practical. Another comment was that the speech was most dignified and its life-infusing words were not limited to morals and had left a deep impression on the listeners.

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L-R: Representative of the Ogun State Governor, Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Salis Shuab; Speaker, Ogun State House Assembly, Hon. (Prince) Surajudeen Ishola and Amir Sahib, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaát, Nigeria, Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola, during the 2012 Annual Conference of Jamaát at Jamia Ground, Owode Road, IIaro, Ogun State, recently.

L-R: Missionary-in-Charge, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaát Nigeria, Maulvi Abdul Khalique Nayyar; former first military governor, Ogun State, General Seidu Balogun (rtd) and guest lecturer, Dr. Zaid Olurotimi Timehin, at the conference

L-R: Naib Amirs, Special Duties, Alhaji Ahmed Al Hassan; North, Dr. Yekeen Habeeb; East, Dr. Abdul Ganiyyi Enahoro and Representative of Yewa South Local Government Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Leader in Charge of C&S Movement Church (AYO NI O) Surulere District, IIaro Branch, Prophet G. A. Dada, at the Conference.

L-R: Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. (Prince) Surajudeen Ishola; Commissioner for Information, Ogun State, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu; and Olu of IIaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle Gbadewole, during the 2012 Annual Conference of Jamaát at Jamia Ground, Owode Road, IIaro, Ogun State, recently. PHOTOS: BAYOOR EWUOSO

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Book Review

Friday, December 28, 2012

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 15, 1434AH

This is the abridged English translation of the work: Al-Bidayah wan Nihayah, focusing classic wor exclusively exclusiv on the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This volume contains a detail account of the life and times of the Messenger of Allah taken from a number of historical and traditional sources. The book rreports the events of his blessed life, his battles, military campaigns, the h delegations that met him, and sheds light de upon the unique exemplary qualities, upo virtues and signs of his prophethood that virtu make him a guide and role-model for all of humanity until the end of time. huma A1-Bidayah wan Nihayah (The A1-B Beginning and The End) by the renowned Beginn Abu Al-Fida ‘Imad ad-Deen lsma’eel scholar A ‘Umar ibn Katheer, is considered one of bin ‘Uma the most authoritative sources on Islamic history. It is a must-read for all.

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Call to Worship

EKSUMA holds Reunion Get-Together

kiti State University Muslim Alumni (EKSUMA) will converge for the ‘2012 Family Get-Together and Reunion Lecture at the Waterfront, Unilag Guest House, Lagos on Sunday, December 30, 2012 starting from 10am. A press statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the association, Mallam Ismail Owoseni described the annual reunion party as one of the many programmes the association had put together to keep Muslim graduates of the institution together, to be able to contribute to the growth of the school and build upright Islamic homes. The statement, which quoted the President of the Ekiti State University Muslim Alumni, Brother Idris Ogunjobi, tasked members of the association at home and in the Diaspora not to relent in their efforts to be good ambassadors of the University and contribute their

quota to the progress of EKSU and the Muslim Ummah. It said; “As ambassadors of EKSU, we must always put in our best to sustain the good name of the school and live lives worthy of emulation as Muslims. With this year’s re-union, we will provide opportunities for members to interact, share experiences and establish relationship that will enable us benefit from one another and contribute to the growth of our school and Islam,” The president, who commended members of the association for their financial contribution towards various activities being embarked upon by the association, especially its support for the construction of a new Central Mosque on the Ekiti State University Campus in Ado Ekiti. He however urged those, who have not been living up to expectations to begin contributing to the association.

We are making efforts to restore lost morals –Zafaran CONTINUED FROM 29 of the school on speaking Arabic as well as yearning of parents, there is a compulsory daily evening Arabic school. It operates based on a comprehensive syllabus. Seasoned Arabic tutors are employed to teach the different Arabic subjects. These teachers are all resident in the school to facilitate the learning as they only converse with the students in Arabic in the school, hostel and Mosque. The lingua franca for Friday is Arabic and every student is encouraged to converse in it. From time-to-time, students make short Arabic talk after Subh prayer. A special Arabic programme is also organised during the holidays. The students also attend memorisation of Qur’an class every morning before the school assembly and there is a syllabus guiding what every student must memorise before graduating from the school. There are regular Qur’an competitions among students. As part of training, students lead themselves in daily tahajjud prayers where they are expected to revise what they have memorised. Accredited students are also appointed as Imams for the weekends. Every blessed day in Vanguards Academy starts with devotional worship. This is followed by memorization of the Qur’an which is coordinated by specialists in that area. Special arrangement is made for those who cannot read the Qur’an from time to time until they become proficient. Students are given monthly evaluation chart, which is monitored by the Counsellor for students’ spiritual development. Vanguards Academy is really making efforts to restore the lost morals in the society. Preventive measures are put in place to curb criminal tendencies among students. Students are all grouped and assigned to teachers who see to their academic and moral development from time to time. There are regular admonition by members of staff and students. Students interact and relate with one another as brothers and sisters. The moral training given to students is evident in their politeness, neatness, humility, contentment, respect for elders and personal discipline. Evaluation forms are also given out to students at the end of every term to assess all aspects of the school.

In the area of physical fitness and sports? As part of overall development and sound health that will aid learning, the school organises physical exercises for students. The students embark on jogging and endurance trek on scheduled periods. The school also has facilities for indoor and outdoor sporting activities. It encourages all students to participate in one event or the other. It is the belief of the school management that healthy dieting alone cannot produce a strong person. It must be supported with sporting activities that relax the nerves and muscles and promote peace and harmony among the students. In the conduct of sporting activities, the school maintains and complies with Islamic etiquettes. In essence, competitions are gender specific. Among the sports that are encouraged in the school are table tennis, football etc. Interested students and with consent from parents join karate training under a seasoned specialist. What about medical care and security? Our medical and health related services are comprehensive. These include intensive medical care, individual counselling and group work, health education, nutritional support and extensive outreach around issues pertinent to the well-being of students. Primary care givers care for all illnesses or injuries, wellness programmes and immunization. There are also regular seminar on different health matters. Health Education programme presents a wide range of health education and skill building programme. Medical and counselling services are offered without additional charge to students who have paid health service fee that is mandatory on all students. Both the school management and the school authority do not tolerate any act of indiscipline and immorality. Thus, the safety and well-being of our students, teaching and non-teaching staff is our top priority. Vanguards Academy and its environment are reasonably safe and relatively crime free. Different sections in the school help to keep the campus safe and secure, but a truly free campus can be attained only by the students and staff. We are located in a se-

rene terrain. It is also an environment that prides itself in integrity, academic pursuit and a merciful climate that is evergreen. Students are encouraged to have a full feel of the environment and its natural settings. However, students are advised to take cautions at all times. Apart from government security agents patrolling the community from time to time, the school employs its own security officers that keep vigil over the school and its surrounding 24/7. Security officers are responsible for a range of safety services that include responding to accidents, medical or fire emergencies and request for assistance, investigating and preparing incidental reports (including report of crime activities). The officers undergo regular

in house training and heavy emphasis is placed on human relations and sensitivity training. Any other attractions? The School exploits its natural environment by encouraging students to participate in planting cereals or vegetables. Compulsorily, students offering Agricultural Science have demonstration farms. There are teachers who take the students on the subject and guide them in the practical. The school currently plants maize, potatoes, groundnut, melon, cassava, yam and vegetables. It is a sight to behold at harvest time, students relish the fruit of their labour. The academy also has a poultry, fish pond and rabbitry.

L-R: Alhaji AbdulKareem Kadri of MTN; Vanguards Academy’s Principal, Mr Luqman Alatishe; Vanguards Academy Director of Administration, Dr Zafaran Adeniyi; Chief Executive Officer Safamaq Nig Ltd, Arch. Mutiu Adeboye; a community leader; Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, Mr Razak Daddah cutting the tape to commission the boreholes donated to the community by the school.

From left: Proprietor An-Najat International School, Sheikh AbdulFatai Thanni; Mufty (Grand Sheikh) Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’i and ViceChairman, Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, Rafiu Baruwa 10th year anniversary of Vanguards Academy recently.

Friday, December 28, 2012

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Friday, December 28, 2012

YEAR 2012 IN REVIEW

Critics

Flashback from Nollywood, reality TV NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

012 held lots of promises for the Nigerian movie industry otherwise called Nollywood. But it started on a rather controversial note following the polarisation of the industry as a result of a soiree funded by Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser to the President on Documentation and Research. The ripples of that event, which held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, remarkably opened the year for members of the motion picture industry with accusing fingers being pointed at different quarters. The bone of contention incidentally was how a group of industry practitioners brought the presidential aide to explain the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme, a project that was to pave the way for the increase in the price of petroleum products. The Association of Nollywood Core Producers, ANCOP, had swiftly announced in a press conference that it would not be part of the support being rallied amongst Nollywood artistes. It had called on its members to mobilise and align with the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, to be part of the mass protests that would ultimately be known as Occupy Nigeria. While the effect of the mass protests was settling down, the movie industry was hit with sad news when one of its most important actors, Richard Mofe Damijo was involved in a car crash in Warri, Delta State. Richard, fondly called RMD, who is also the Delta State Commissioner for Culture was fortunately left with minor bruises, which kept him in the hospital for a few days. His accident would, however, pave way for the story about the well-being of New Masquerade actor, James Iroha, aka Gringory. The story which went viral online also showed a photo of the actor battling with blindness, stressing the need for insurance policies for artistes to buffer the effect of their inactive years. A few weeks after the disclosure, the industry would wake up to the news of his demise in Abia State where he had been

RMD

Lancelot

nursing his ailment. But the grief of Gringory’s death seemed to have been enlivened with the news of Babatunde Omidiran, aka Baba Suwe, who got a N25m compensation for being unlawfully detained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. Omidiran had sued the agency for keeping him in detention under the suspicion that he was laden with narcotics, while on his way to France for an engagement. The news of Omidiran’s legal victory was hailed by the industry members, who were getting averse to the fact that artistes were often hounded on mere suspicion. Shortly after, succour which seemed to be on the way of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, engrossed in controversy over the leadership of the guild, got wiped off as their election ended in fiasco in Benin, Edo State. The truncated election, which fielded Emeka Rollas, Ibinabo Fiberisima and Steve Eboh became one of the biggest setbacks for the industry in 2012. Held at Baden Hotel in Benin City, it was marred by voodoo and violence and subsequently led to the resignation of Segun Arinze, then National President

of the guild. But, members of the Board of Trustees of the guild had swiftly waded into the crisis, by appointing Emma Oguguo as an interim National President pending another credible election that would usher in Ibinabo Fiberisima as the current National President of the guild. In spite of this, the industry got a boost by recording three major landmarks that would redefine their operations in future. While the movie industry had been worried over the inability of members to access the $200m lifeline given by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian Export Import Bank, NEXIM, announced that the fund was in its custody under a scheme called Nigerian Creative Arts and Entertainment Facility Loan. The industry also met at least thrice in the year to brainstorm on how to set up a collective management organisation, CMO, to help administer the copyrights of audio-visual works coming out of Nigeria. The move initiated by the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, and the Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC, was seen as positive development to harness another income stream for the pro-

Film, TV

ducers. Another landmark achievement in the industry was the announcement of a mobile application, Afrinolly that would ensure digital distribution of Nollywood films. Afrinolly, developed by a Nigerian scientist, Chike Maduegbuna of FansConnectOnline was in response to a software development competition sponsored by Google. Of course, the year witnessed a drop in the output of home videos from Nigeria, but inadvertently paved the way for some great movies with far-reaching success stories. Aside Adesuwa, Lancelot Imasuen’s movie which attracted some awards, the industry also saw movies like Phone Swap, Law 58 and Last Flight to Abuja directed by Kunle Afolayan, Dickson Iroegbu and Obi Emelonye respectively. The year also set in motion other great works like Invasion 1897 and Onye Ozi by Lancelot Imasuen and Obi Emelonye respectively. The reality TV scene was also effervescent in 2012, making not only stars but also millionaires. The Gulder Ultimate Search 2012 was clinched by Pascal Ojezele, while Ayo Ayoola got N2.5m and an SUV for emerging the tops in MTN Project Fame. Earlier, Mercy Chinwo had emerged tops in Nigerian Idols Season 2, getting an SUV, a recording contract and a cash reward of $100,000. Big Brother Africa, one of the biggest reality TV shows on the continent was however eventful as it thrust to the continental glare, Nigerian musician, Goldie, whose activities in the house with a Kenyan, Prezzo, has continued to garner headlines, many months after the show ended. The ephemeral nature of life also replayed in the industry with the death of some actors. Aside James Iroha who had died earlier in the year, the industry lost personalities like David Ihezie, Lekan Lekinson, Pete Eneh and Enebeli Elebuwa, who passed on in an Indian hospital after a profound battle with stroke. The year also witnessed the abduction of Nkiru Sylvanus, an actress who was kidnapped and released in Owerri, Imo State capital after she had reportedly paid a ransom of N8m.

Literature

There was a Country and other book events TERH AGBEDEH

hat controversy sells books and controversial books sell even more copies is a global fact that applies even in Nigeria considering the stampede to get Chinua Achebe’s new book long before it came out in September in the country. Everywhere one went in search of There was a Country, which is a memoir set against the backdrop of the Nigerian Civil War, it was out of stock so much so that even many of the Nigerian in-

tellectuals who intended to comment on it went to press based on hearsay. The buzz was such that before long, Nigerians, said to be living at a time when the reading culture has died or is dying, were seen clutching the tome all over the place. To own the book even became a sort of status symbol. There is no gainsaying that There was a Country is one book that has shaped literature in Nigeria in 2012 as it did not only start a controversy, it led people like Poet and Essayist, Odia Ofeimun to not only make his own comment on the war but to also write

a book on the matter. His own book, titled: When Does a Civil War Come to an End, was eventually released only this week. Earlier in the year when Ofeimun turned 62, he scripted another dance drama titled: Itoya: A dance for Africa. It was at this gathering at the MUSON Centre in Lagos that he presented the preview edition of Lagos Review of Books and Society. Then came Wole Soyinka’s new book, Harmattan Haze on an African Spring, where the Nobel Laureate seeks to understand how the continent’s history is entwined with that of

others, while exploring Africa’s truest assets. The book, published by Bookcraft, was official released on December 18. But before There was a Country, or any of the other books were released, the book Troubled Dusk, a historical novel on the Nigerian-Biafra war by the 84-year-old famous writer of Eze Goes to School Mr. Onuora Nzekwu, was launched at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), National Theatre in Lagos in February. It was at the same CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Critics

YEAR 2012 IN REVIEW

Friday, December 28, 2012

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Visual Arts

Quietly eventful year for practitioners TERH AGBEDEH

It was a very busy year for visual art in Nigeria with artists in all the genres staging exhibitions from the very first day of the year in spite of the fuel subsidy removal protests. There were also workshops, trainings, squabbles and celebrations like never before. This review attempts to capture as many of these events as possible. Atiku occupies Nigeria… While the ‘Occupy Nigeria’ protests were on in January, sculptor and performance artist, Jelili Atiku, had a performance titled: ‘Nigerian Fetish’ in his Ejigbo local community. On Friday, January 13, he enacted the performance “as a theatrical dimension to debate on the fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria.”

14th Harmattan Workshop The challenge at this year’s Harmattan Workshop, from February 27 to March 12 at Agbarha Otor, Delta State, was depicting people, from an artistic impression context. Managed by the Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation, BOF annually, participating artists were not compelled to work under any rigid thematic guide, although the workshop this year explored people as theme. “From the art perspective, we are looking at how an artist, for example, does a portrait of people we never met; notable characters from mythology, folklore, etc. So, we are looking at exploring this challenge,” said the founder, Bruce Onobrakpeya.

LASRAB opens doors Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, LASRAB declared open in Febru-

Literature CONTINUED FROM 33 the same time that the body of the late Biafran warlord, Odumegwu Ojukwu, was being taken round the country but the hall was full with people who received the book very well. The book was later to make the shortlist of 10 in the Nigeria Prize for Literature by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited. It did not pick up the prize worth $100,000 however. The book to emerge winner in the completion was **On Black Sister’s Street** by the Belgium-based Nigerian writer, Chika Unigwe. Bring Back the Book, the initiative by President Goodluck Jonathan to

ary by Governor Babatunde Fashola at Magodo G.R.A., Lagos, is “to recover the past so that Lagosians, and, indeed, Nigerians can learn from their past and have a better future”. Fashola, while speaking at the event before he declared the building open, lamented the record keeping habits in these climes, but said that with the establishment of LASRAB, that trend must be reversed. He urged teachers and the Ministry of Education in Lagos State to make it a point of duty to bring school children to the edifice on excursion, particularly during the long vacation so that they can get familiarised with the glorious past that make up Lagos.

Nok Terracotta squabble After a three-year controversy museum authority, local archaeologists, German partners reach truce and resolution over the excavation of Nok Terracotta sculptures in some parts of Kaduna State. The controversy resurfaced when a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Archaeology, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and President of Archaeological Association of Nigeria (AAN), Dr. Zacharys Anger Gundu alleged that there were large-scale illegal excavations being carried out by German experts. Gundu had also named the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM as having a hand in the matter. The Director-General of NCMM, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman denied the commission’s involvement in any “unauthorised excavation”, while clarifying that the NCMM, since 2005, has been in partnership with Institute for African Archaeology and Archaeo-botany of the Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Mbanefo’s ‘Ambivalence’ For over 30 years, Emmah Mbanefo has been busy producing works of art that typically capture the trends and nuances of his environment and his numerous works were paraded for art lovers,

David Dale

patrons (including His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha) and critics in a historic solo exhibition titled: ‘Ambivalence’, at the Nimbus Art Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos in April. It featured not only paintings and sculptures but also etchings and installations produced by the artist who has largely worked at the background on the basis of commissions.

Ife as bastion of civilisation The touring exhibition of Ife artefacts berthed in Lagos in Maya with the theme: ‘Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria’, it was proof that Ife did have a David Dale

civilisation before the colonialists came along. The exhibition took off in 2010 when it opened at Foundacion Botin in Santander and Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Madrid, Spain. Consisting of works on loan from NCMM, it was also shown as Kingdom of Ife: Sculptures From West Africa at the British Museum, UK., and moved to Houston, Richmond and Indianapolis, U.S.A. between last year and early this year.

Dale celebrated Mixed media master, David Dale, a

There was a Country and other book events get Nigerians reading again, after a long lull managed to stage one edition in Yenagoa, Beyelsa State capital. ‘Bombay’s Republic’, Rotimi Babatunde’s short story won the Caine Prize in African Writing but before that became public knowledge, Teju Cole won PEN/Hemingway award for his critically acclaimed book, **Open City**. The Nigeria International Book Fair took place in May at the Multipurpose Hall, University of Lagos, draw-

ing a good number of men and women of letters. Macmillan Publishers did not only hold the very first edition of its Youth Cultural Day, it also had a fun filled landmark 10th edition of the Macmillan Literary Night event. Both events took place at different dates at the Muson Centre, Lagos. But perhaps one of the biggest news to come out of Nigeria for literature in 2012 was Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital being named the UNES-

Atiku during the portrayal

stroke attack survivor, got a well deserved soiree courtesy of the Yusuf Grillo Pavilion featuring an exhibition of Dale’s works at the pavilion’s annex, South West, Ikoyi, Lagos on Sunday, July 8. Founder, Yusuf Grillo Pavilion, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, had said the soiree will be a first-of-its-kind, featuring the artist’s recently created works, and expected to attract a coterie of artists, collectors, critics and enthusiasts. That was what took place and more. It was Dale’s solo outing since his 2007 show titled: ‘Update’, held at Quintessence, Falomo, Lagos.

This Lagos….A Canvas from Olotu at Independence Nigeria marked its 52nd anniversary of nationhood and Oyerinde Olotu, notable for paintings that portray realism, held his fifth solo exhibition. Started on Monday October 1, it ran until October 8, at the Nike Art Gallery, Ikate, Lekki, Lagos. With the theme: ‘This Lagos… .A Canvas’, the works spanned several decades, essentially documenting the history of Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the country. Olotu’s associates also showed their works capturing the essence of life in Lagos.

CO World Book Capital City 2014. It was an elated Mrs Koko Kalango, who runs Rainbow Book Club that told the press the work that needs to be undertaken before 2014. The theme for the World Book City year is ‘Books: Window to a World of Possibilities’ with a series of programmes planned to run from April 23, 2014 to April 22, 2015. The wide range of proposed activities would involve people from different spheres of life as well as different age groups but with an emphasis on the youth. Working with the Garden City Literary Festival and the Garden City Book Fair, the programme will have special readings with children, monthly readings.

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Friday, December 28, 2012

YEAR 2012 IN REVIEW

Critics

Awards, concerts, shows

Glam, glitz and showmanship in 2012 NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

2 Olotu at work

Jubilee Festival for Bruce Onobrakpeya at 80

Sunmi Smart-Cole’s belated 70th birthday celebration

Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya’s art exhibition titled Ore Idjubili (Jubilee Festival), which showed at Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos, highlighted periods in the career of a Nigerian artist, showcasing depth of retrospection and the difficulty of fitting the artist into a particular generation. Organised as part of several activities marking Onobrakpeya’s 80th birthday, the exhibition, which is the print maker’s first solo since 1992, covers 50 years of his work. The exhibition looked at the following periods: Mythical Realism, 1957-1962; Sunshine, 1962-1967; The Mask and Cross, 1967-1978; Symbols of Royalty, 1978-1984; Sahelian Masquerades, 1984-1988; The Mask, 1990-1995; Social Unrest, 1995-1999; Installation (1995 till date).

Consummate Photographer got a belated 70th birthday celebration in the form of the launch of his latest book, Sunmi’s Lens - A Medium Between Man and Nature in June at Harbour Point Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. His photographic works (spanning 36 years) were exhibited after the launch. Smart-Cole turned 70 on September 25 last year.

Enwonwu emerged SNA President From being Chairman, Society of Nigerian Artists, SNA, Lagos State chapter, Oliver Enwonwu was elected president of the SNA at the Recreation Centre, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on August 25. Chuka Nnabuife became General Secretary, Mrs. Victoria Ukut, Vice President (East); Alhaji Mahmud Muhammed V.P. (North); Mr. Eze Obizue, VP, (Middle-belt); Financial Secretary, Comrade Igbe David; Treasurer, Yemi Oladipo; Assistant Secretary, Tochukwu Okide; Publicity Secretary, Nwachukwu Onuorah. Ex-officio: Uwa Usen, Dr Best Ochigbo and Dr. Harry Bazumu.

Didi Museum returns with Whispers from the Sahara The return of Didi Museum was a big event drawing the cream de la cream of the art community in Lagos and the whole country. Nigerian’s first private museum, which has been in existence for over 30 years was reopened with an exhibition by Kelechi Amadi-obi with the theme: ‘Whispers from the Sahara’. The pictures taken during the last Newton Jibunoh Desert Warriors Expedition across the Sahara by road from Lagos to London were eventually auctioned at the edifice.

Adeyemi’s Journey to a new consciousness The exploratory art exhibition titled: ‘Paintograph and Paintocast: A new Consciousness’ by Dr. Kunle Adeyemi opened at Quintessence Gallery, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos featuring diverse works by the lecturer, who is the first Ph.D in Nigeria in the field of studio art research.

The Progress of Love and five years at CCA Lagos Centre for Contemporary Art, CCA, Lagos Celebrated its fifth anniversary and continued The Progress of Love exhibition in three venues across the Atlantic. The anniversary celebration held in three days, December 7 to 9 but the exhibition had started in October and is to end in January of 2013. Bisi Silva, who is the curator-in-chief at CCA, Lagos, is delighted to have come this far.

012 equally gave a good account of itself in terms of award and concert events. One of the continent’s biggest movie events, the African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA for the second time did not hold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, a state considered home for the award event. It held in Lagos, and threw up the reality that Nigeria is in serious contention with South Africa and Ghana for a place as regards movie making. While Nigeria got the Best Actress in a leading Role (Rita Dominic with her performance in (Shattered), Ghanaian actor, Majid Michel won the Best Actor in a leading Role (Somewhere in Africa). But South Africa clinched the awards from the major categories: The movie How 2 Steal 2 Million clinched Best Film, Best Director (Charlie Vundla) and Best Supporting Actress (Thery Pheto). South Africa also won with State of Violence, for the Best Film in African Language. The event as usual attracted some American artistes like Morris Chestnut, Lynn Whitfield, Rockmond Dunbar and Jimmy Jean Louis. The year also witnessed award ceremonies like The Audio Visual Awards, TAVA, which saw Teju Baby Face carting home many awards. The Nigerian Movies Awards, NMA, had its debut outing in the year as well, in what saw Mahmood AliBalogun emerging tops. Another award ceremony that made 2012 tick is The Headies. The musicians who went home with plaques during the award includes: Davido, Inyaya, Wizkid, Vector, D’Banj, P-Square, Sound Sultan, Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, TY-Mix and Jude Okoye. Another highpoint of the event was the initiative to host veterans of the music industry like Onyeka Onwenu, Orlando Julius, Salawa Abeni, Stella Monye, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Shina Peters, Mike Okri and Daddy Showkey. The Headies however started four hours behind schedule and made news following

Odutola listed as Forbes’ 2012 best young artists Forbes’ 30 under 30, a list of selected creative young people around the world for 2012, which was released in December had 27-year-old Nigerian-born portraitist Toyin Odutola. Odutola, who grew up in Alabama, U.S.A. where she got her BA from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, creates portraits using marker and ballpoint pen, and rendering mostly silhouette forms, giving her work a unique identity. She recently completed an MFA in painting and drawing at the California College of the Arts, San Francisco and has had several solo exhibitions.

EME label mates

the debacle involving Burna Boy, who fell off the stage while performing. Another award event that serenaded the scene during the year was the Nollywood Outstanding Personalities Awards, NOPA, which saw personalities like Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu of Exxon Mobil and Roberts Orya of NEXIM Bank being recognised for their contributions to the growth of the Nigerian movie industry. The Best of Nollywood Awards, BON, also held during the year at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. The event was hosted by actor, Nonso Diobi and ex-beauty queen, Sylvia Nduka, with artistes like Desmond Elliot, Gbenga Adeyinka, Uti Nwachukwu, Alex Ekubo, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Halima Abubakar, Laide Bakare, Segun Arinze, Doris Simeon, Susan Peters, Sola Fajobi, Emem Isong in attendance. 2012 would also be reckoned with as a year with a harvest of concerts which saw Bobby Brown and members of New Edition coming to Nigeria a few weeks after his ex-wife and singer, Whitney Houston passed on. Smooth FM in its third edition of Love Music…Love Life concert also featured George Benson, notable Grammy award winning American musician. Umoja, the South African troupe was also in Nigeria for a swell time for their numerous fans at a performance bankrolled by First Bank. The EME’s “The Baddest Concert” also took place at the Ocean View Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos with performances by Banky W, Wizkid, Skales, Niyola and Shaydee. Hosted by Basketmouth, the much anticipated event was attended by a lot of fans including celebrities and socialites such as Genevieve Nnaji, Wande Coal, Ice Prince, Davido, Waje, Matse, Toke Makinwa, Don Jazzy, Sound Sultan, Olu Maintain, Lynxxx, Ebuka Obi- Uchendu, Tiwa Savage and Samklef. The Koko Concert and Rhythm Unplugged also made their mark in course of the year as well. 2012 will however not be complete without the Oleku Concert, one of the biggest in the year, which united two veteran artistes, Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey on stage. The show was so huge that it also spawned live telecasts on national TV. However it would also spawn a controversy when the origin of the concept became a subject of debate. Azuka Jebose, had accused the promoters of stealing an idea he originated.

Friday December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive OLUSEGUN KOIKI

uto stakeholders, manufacturers and shoppers looked towards 2012 with enthusiasm. In fact, many car manufacturers devised means to outsmart one another with the introduction of stylish and fascinating vehicles into the market. Some also tried to improve on existing brands already in the market. However, out of the newly introduced brands in 2012, some controlled the auto industry not just in Nigeria, but the global market. Among such cars is 2013 Ford Focus ST, which, after almost 18 months of waiting by auto shoppers, debuted in January 2012 in the USA and other automobile countries.

Focus ST The Focus ST has a six-speed manual with the same EcoBoost (turbocharged) 2.0-litre as the much larger Edge and Explorer and this car is in the same league with hot hatches like the MazdaSpeed3 and beyond the output of the VW GTI. Ford also produced a tauter suspension and meatier tyres as well as bigger brakes that went with the horsepower

Toyota Prius C In March, Toyota Prius C took the world by storm at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Toyota debutted an entire line of Prius models, including the intriguing Prius C Concept. They still stress that this is a concept, but a small, sporty hybrid hatchback was surely on its way and it eventually came in March this year. Toyota is smart enough to retain these design cues, especially as this is meant to be a “fun to drive” hybrid with taut handling.

Chevy

Volkswagen Golf R Volkswagen had been one of the few brands in the Europe and America that has not decided to Buick-ize its styling and sponge down its ride. And, indeed, the Golf R was anything but vanilla. With the Golf R’s AWD, 280 hp and a real six-speed gearbox, Volkswagen at last brought a genuine WRX fighter to auto shoppers. Volkswagen is even committing two body styles to the contest, pitting this car against the Mini Paceman (only a three-door). Fuel economy is to be 20 per cent better than the old R32. The Golf R has new brake rotors, plus more aggressive stability-control settings with “track setting” or the equivalent. It debuted with two and four-door body styles, both of which got R-body-style cosmetics and sport exhaust.

Cadillac ATS

60 runs in the low 4-second range, but it also benefits from revised front and rear dampers as well as antiroll bars. Finally, Camaro ZL1 is starting to fulfil its potential to offer supercar driving at a price Chevy Camaro ZL1 that more than the one per cent can afThe best reason to herald the arrival ford. of this ZL1 is not the Cadillac CTS-V-derived supercharged V-8 with 580 hp (up Mini Paceman from 556 hp in the Caddy), nor is it the top The Paceman is a two-door concept speed of around 180 mph. It is that Chevy coupe that debuted in 2012 and instantly engineers finally listened to auto profes- became a toast of auto shoppers. Mini sionals who howled about how great the worked hard with this model, which is Camaro could be. essentially the forthcoming Countryman Not only does the new ZL1 get a ri- minus two doors. The Paceman came diculous amount of muscle good for 0 to with real horsepower and ride consider-

Corvete C7

ably lower than the Countryman and is more all-road capable than the Countryman.

Dodge Dart That the world is excited about a compact sedan by Dodge tells you just how much the market has shifted since the distress in the auto world, especially in the US, was overcome by the government. With the new Dart, we are not talking about some mediocre Dodge Calibre, but rather a strong competitor to an already superb small-car segment that includes the Chevy Sonic and Cruze, Ford Fiesta and Focus, Hyundai Accent and

Veloster. While Ford can claim Euro influences on its small cars, the Dart became the only “American” small car with an Italian soul. It rides on an Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform with a rigid, high-strength steel body and the standard equipment makes the Dart sound enjoyable already. It came with standard four-wheel discs, MacPherson front struts and a multilink independent rear, all of which made the 184-hp R/T model the way to go, as that car got the stiffest suspension. For juice and better fuel economy, many auto shoppers went for the 1.4-litre, SOHC turbocharged MultiAir from

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive

Friday December 28, 2012

with the CTS, which is a heavy platform, many auto stakeholders waited for Cadillac to come out with its ATS fashion and when it eventually debuted in July 2012, many were not disappointed as it attracted all the necessary attention with its MSRP, which is still a ways off and a very similar pricing to the 3 series, perhaps minus the expensive markups.

Ford Fiesta ST The Fiesta ST had an altered body for improved cooling in 2012, but was available only as a three-door hatch with better suspension tuning, Recaro racing seats, some unique trim, 17-inch wheels, speed-rated performance tyres and dual exhaust. Ford reportedly experimented with cramming the 2.0-litre engine from the Focus ST into this car. Unfortunately, that didn’t come to the showroom, partly because Ford worked hard to differentiate its two hot hatches. The automaker launched them recently with a directly injected, turbocharged 1.6-litre four.

Minipaceman

MANY CAR MANUFACTURERS DEVISED VARIOUS

Corvette C7

MEANS TO OUTSMART ONE ANOTHER WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF STYLISH AND FASCINATING VEHICLES the forthcoming Fiat Abarth 500.

Cadillac ATS To say that Cadillac chased the BMW 3 series with this car is an immense understatement. The ATS’s footprint is such a spot-on copy of the BMW that the Caddy proverbially stepped right into the BMW’s shoes. Even the EPA interior space is close, which is no ac-

Mitsubishi

cident at all. With the all-new ATS, Cadillac didn’t want to fit somewhere between Bimmer’s 3 and 5 series, which is what happened to the CTS, as well as Infiniti G sedans and more than one Acura. Nor did Caddy wanted to make the great mistake Lexus did with its IS—copying the BMW look, but falling down on the job of making a real driver’s car. Cadillac was determined to beat

the BMW 3 series in every part of the game. The ATS is a lighter car, at 3400 pounds, with more engine options that pack more punch. The Caddy’s 2.0-litre four delivers 270 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, topping the 240 hp and 260 lb-ft you had get from the new 2.0-litre four in the 2012 328i. The ATS also offers a V-6 good for 320 hp, besting the BMW 335i by 20 hp. Given what Cadillac has achieved

The current ‘Vette has looked the same for nearly 13 years. Though it is still an amazing car, delivering Ferrari-like performance for one-fifth the price, it is dated in many respects. Lots were expected from the all-new C7 Corvette, then, with cool exterior cues like a split rear window and a vastly upgraded interior that is well above the coach-class quarters of the present car. But handling, which has always been the car’s strongest suit, remains largely unaltered. Horsepower targets in the 400-450 range would be a safe bet, even as GM aims to lower displacement to shave weight and nudge up the fuel economy. There was even a forced induction of some kind, and it is perfectly reasonable with the direct fuel injection for the newest crown jewel of the Chevy badge.

Car device of 2012: Blind Spot Detection M any new devices for cars were introduced in 2012 by different vehicle manufacturing companies to bolster their acceptance and performance by the driving public, but one of such devices, which received applauds worldwide is the Blind Spot Detection introduced by virtually all car manufacturers. This new device was introduced to further improve safety on the highways. The blind spot detection system is similar to the lane change assist system and consists of two radar units. Most cars and trucks have a “blind spot,” which is an area behind and next to the car that can’t be seen in the mirrors. Thousands of accidents occur each year when drivers change lanes and collide with vehicles that are in their blind spot; many of those accidents can potentially be prevented with new blind-spot detection technology, which is alternately known as lane-change assist. Cameras and radar sensors are used to monitor the space behind and alongside the moving car and if they detect another car within your blind spot, a small warning light on your rear-view mirror will illuminate, alerting you to the presence of the other car. The devices are invisibly mounted in the corners of the rear bumper. One sensor operates as system master; the second unit is configured as slave. By using a private data link, the data of both radars are combined in a sensor data fusion tracking algorithm.

However, the field of view covers the blind zones to a much better extent. The Radars are pointed well to the side of the car and detect any moving vehicle beside or beside/behind the Radar car. An area containing five lanes (two left neighbours, driving and two right neighbour lanes) are scanned. The range to the rear is shorter com-

Illustration of how Blind Spot device works.

pared to lane change assist systems. But the blind spot detection system has lower cost and is easier to install. It was optimised for slow speed urban driving as well as for driving on freeways. Having been extensively tested in congested cities, the system stands for excellent performance and very low false alarm rate. Detection algorithms, tracking, object-to-lane mapping and the warning algorithm (illuminating warning LEDs) are performed by the system, extra customer code can be integrated. No extra control unit is required. The innovative and cost efficient master-slave system design performs all functions, interfaces all controls and indicators and communicates with the vehicle data bus. Featuring the latest system-on-chip design, smart micro sensors use a world leading 24GHz SiGe BICMOS RF chip for highest performance and lowest cost and brilliant antenna technology.

Cocktail

Friday, December 28, 2012

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (72)

“A failure is a man who has blundered but is not capable of cashing in on the experience.” –Elbert Hubbard * * * No one can say he or she has not failed before. As a matter of fact no one can talk or walk without failing! We all walk and talk today because we did not allow our failings to stop us. How beautiful it will be if we can extend this mindset to all areas of our lives as we grow into adulthood. To me, fail fast, fail often and fail forward is the secret of super achievers. Whether we like it or not, we will fail in one area or the other as we move through life. But we can cash on our experience and turn each of our failure to success ultimately. TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Soda shop rebuked for stocking candy cigarettes

wners of an oldschool soda shop in St. Paul, Minnesota, are being warned to kick the habit and stop stocking novelty candy cigarettes. City inspectors threatened a misdemeanour citation and $500 fine if Lynden’s soda fountain

is caught selling the fake smokes again. The Star Tribune reported Wednesday that the offering violated an ordinance barring the sale of candy smokes and cartoon character lighters. A city spokesman says

the warning came after inspectors received and looked into a complaint about the presence of the tobacco-themed products. The ordinance was enacted to discourage youngsters from picking up a real

smoking habit. Shop owner Tobi Lynden says the white candy sticks with the red tips were her best-selling candy item but she pulled them to avoid running afoul of the ordinance.

Driver takes photograph with feet out the window

young Australian man photographed driving on Christmas Eve with his feet out the window came forward Wednesday, police in Melbourne said. A spokeswoman said no charges had been brought because the incident is still under investigation, The Age reported. But Bernie Rankin, an inspector who talked to reporters before the driver came forward, said the incident is no laughing matter.

“This stupidity just astounds us,” Rankin said. “This young man, his behaviour without any further examination, is conduct endangering life. That’s a very serious charge.” The driver who spotted and photographed the feet out the window gave the snapshots to News Limited, parent company of the Herald Sun of Melbourne. He was driving a Volkswagen Golf with P-plates,

which indicate a new driver. A photograph shows bare feet pushed out the window. It was taken by a man who would only give his first name, Stewart, who said the other car was exceeding the speed limit. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Stewart said. “I thought: If his right foot’s outside the window, how is he accelerating? Then I saw both feet out of the window and I thought -- bloody hell.”

Co-owner of Lynden’s Soda Fountain, Tobi Lynden, posing for a photo alongside candy cigarettes. PHOTO: AP

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

The oil deposits, when fully explored and exploited, will certainly boost the socio economic status of the people of the state, as well as the nation’s economy

Comptroller-General, Nigerian Custom Service, Abdullahi Dikko

Executive Governor, Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko

Senate tasks Executive on budgetary defination of capital projects BLESSING OKWORI ABUJA

mittee on Finance counterpart, Senator Ahmed M. Makarfi, and the Committtees’ clerks, pointed out that not capturing ongoing or uncompleted projects in yearly budgets on sustainable basis would wasteful to the economy. The Committees noted: “Conceptualization of the budget by the Executive is still a big issue

that we must confront as the representatives of the people. There should be a verifiable template for budgeting especially on capital projects. If the painful sight of abandoned projects in Nigeria will be a thing of the past, then on-going project must be properly defined”. “The Executive should be more thorough in

compiling the budget. We notice that some critical areas are still under funded. For instance, the public complaints commission is still funded as if it were a mere one officer secretariat even when 36 commissioners of this parastatal of the National Assembly with offices in the 36 states of the federation have been inaugurated by the presi-

dent of the senate, while the Auditor-General who serves as the check to all government accounts within and outside the country is left with meagre amount that can barely sustain his office. “However, we still must continue to make efforts towards a realistic and workable budget for Nigeria”, the Committees advised.

he Senate has urged the Executive to ensure proper definition of capital projects during budgeting, saying there should be a variable template for such in yearly budgets. This was one of the recommendations of the Senate Joint Committees on Appropriation and Finance in their joint report submitted to the upper legislative chamber on the 2013 Appropriation Bill before it was passed. This even as the Committees also urged the Executive arm of government to also adopt a more thorough approach in the compilation of the budget as a strategic step towards improving the capital budget’s performance on yearly basis. The report, which was jointly signed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on AppropriaL-R: Event Manager, Mrs. Phil Okoroafor; Managing Director/CEO. Compumetrics Solutions Limited, Dr. Evans Woherem and tions, Senator Ahmad Chairman of Digital Africa, Mr. Muntari Zubairu, at the formal announcement of First Bank of Nigeria Plc as the Official Banker Maccido, and his Com- of Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition 2013 in Abuja recently.

Cash policy penetration still below expectation UDO ONYEKA

ccording to a survey by the Financial Derivatives Company, a financial research firm,

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cash policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has performed below expectations. The FDC in its December survey said that 90 per cent of transactions in 2012 were cash based, while only 7 per cent and 3 per cent were by credit card purchase and cheques respectively, even as the take-off

of cashless policy in other states have been delayed. Corroborating the FDC survey National Mirror investigation reveals that shoppers during the yuletide abandoned PoS terminals and made their purchases in cash even when the machines were available at the

Over 1.1m farmers have benefitted from GES scheme – Adesina

stores. Also it was observed that the many of the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) were down during the festive period resulting in long queues in the ones that were working. The report however said that most leading economic indicators recorded positive move-

ment in 2012. “CBN maintained a tight monetary policy throughout the year, inspite of declining inflation till October , annualised growth rate of 9 per cent as at October 2012 was recorded. The survey also noted that credit to private sector grew by 16.96 per cent to N15.13trn in October over December 2011 figure of N12.93trn.

Challenges of curbing criminality in Nigeria’s maritime domain

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

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

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

234.6271

USD

155.84

CHF

159.2642

SDR

235.0535

CFA

0.2924

GBP

244.1701

EURO

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OIL / GAS FUTURES ICE BRENT

$123.39

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NYMEX

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OPEC BASKET

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+1.16

Business News

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Over 1.1m farmers benefitted from GES scheme –Adesina TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has disclosed that over one million farmers across the country have received their farm inputs of governmentsubsidized fertilisers and free seedlings as at the end of the first week of this month even as he described the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) as the saving grace for the Nigerian agriculture sector. Making these disclosures at the end of the year review of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja, Adesina, specifically pointed out that “but for the GES, Nigeria would have seriously felt the impact of the flood disaster that occurred in some parts of the country” A breakdown of the beneficiary farmers and the inputs supplied indicated that as at December 6, 2012, about 1,585,980 farmers showed up at operational redemption sites in the 35 States and FCT for the 2012 GES season out of which 1,113,685 farmers have received their farm inputs. These figures exclude 2,639 farmers reached under the cotton seed multiplication programme and 27,834 farmers reached under the cotton seeds distribution pro-

gramme. Over 873 agro-dealers are participating actively in the GES scheme.. According to figures provided by the Ministry, out of the five million transactions processed through the GES technology in terms of languages, 45 per cent was in Hausa, 25 per cent in English, 17 per cent in Yoruba , 12 per cent in pidgin English, and zero per cent in Igbo as the Igbo speaking people chose to transact in English Language. On a regional basis, 197, 656 benefitted from the GES in North Central, 234, 821in North East, 560,932 in North West, 49,484 in South East, 95,302 in South South and 30,014 in South West. The South West farmers had started the planting season before the GES Scheme was launched. Adesina said with a strong determination to break away from the rot of the past and the ineffective, inefficient and corruption-ridden distribution of fertilisers and other government subsidised inputs to farmers, the present administration mandated the ministry to come up with a mechanism that will be farmersfriendly and get fertilisers and other inputs directly to the real farmers. He explained that the GES, was therefore initiated principally to deliver government subsidized farm inputs directly to farmers using their GSM telephone sets and that the scheme formally

L-R: Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju; residents of Holy Family Home for the Elderly, Mr. Christopher Orwihi; Mrs. Juliana Obi, Welfare Officer- in-Charge, Sister Anthonia Adebowale; and Cyril Akukwe, during the donation of indomie to the home in Lagos, yesterday.

kicked off on May 9, 2012 in Ekiti State. “With GES, government withdrew from direct fertilizer purchase and distribution, and introduced an alternative, transparent and efficient system of distribution built on the voucher system. Under the scheme, registered farmers receive e-wallet vouchers with which they redeem fertiliser and seeds from agrodealers.

Expert identify infrastructure deficit as obstacle to FDI STANLEY IHEDIGBO

former Vice President of Bank of America, Mrs. Remi Duyile, has highlighted infrastructure decifit as obstacle to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country. Speaking at an event organised by the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Lagos Business School, in conjunction with Junior Chamber International, in Lagos, Duyile, who is currently the Senior Special Assistant to Ondo State governor on International Relations and Diaspora Affairs, said there is need for various state govern-

ments to overhaul its basic infrastructure. She said the inadequacy of existing facilities like the roads, railways, power supply, portable water, sanitation and others are serious hindrance to foreign direct investment in the country. She said further that there is need to put in place necessary basic infrastructure in order to encourage the Nigerians in Diaspora who want to come back home and contribute to the development of their country after many years of so journey in foreign land. She said, “the goals –setting and targets driven work ethics and culture of the private sector

are not necessarily shared by the public services which traditionally thrive on bureaucracy. “To achieve effective engagement and integration of Diasporans in the development of the home front therefore, the Diaspora ambassador needs to identify his/her target public and devise strategies to mange each of them, without being perceived as a virus to the status quo”. Sharing her experiences in coming home to serve the Ondo state government, Duyile, said that the best thing to happen to her was to have been invited the governor to serve her home state.

Expect exciting moments in 2013, NCC assures subscribers KUNLE A ZEEZ

he Nigerian Communications Commission has assured telecoms subscribers in the country of exciting moments in 2013 as more innovative services will be introduced in the nation’s telecoms sector. Giving the assurances during a media dinner organised by the NCC in Lagos recently, the commission’s Spokesperson, Mr. Reuben. Muoka, said

2013 would mark witness the introduction of mobile number portability, a service that will offer more service choices for subscribers. “It was our desire to ensure that number portability is launches before the end of 2012 but as it appears, this is not possible this year again. However, NCC would ensure that this service is launched in the first quarter of 2013 and telecoms subscribers would find the service exciting,” he said.

He said the Interconnect Clearinghouse Limited, appointed by the NCC to ensure upgrade of the telecoms networks on the mobile number portability platform, has been working on the operators’ interconnection and the billing systems. He also explained that one other area that NCC would continue to work on towards ensuring better experience for telecoms consumer is in the area of quality of service.

“Before the scheme, only 11 per cent of fertilisers purchased and distributed by government got to genuine farmers. Government fertilisers found its way to the markets and foreign countries, while Nigerian farmers wallowed in abject poverty”, the minister said. He debunked claims in some quarters that rural farmers due to level of their

illiteracy would not be able to effectively use mobile phones as communication tools to enhance their operations, adding that “it is not true, to say our people in the rural areas cannot use mobile phones to redeem seeds and fertilisers. The same people use the phones to ask their relatives in the cities to send money to them. They recharge credits on their phones”.

FAAN appeals to inbound passengers on bad conveyor belts OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday appealed to inbound passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos who have experienced some difficulties at the baggage reclaim area to exercise patience with it as it is working assiduously to ensure comfort for travelling public during the yuletide season. Speaking to National Mirror on phone yesterday, the General Manager, Public Affairs, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati who confirmed that the conveyor belts had been having some challenges in the past few days, attributed the challenges to the ongoing remodeling exercise at the airport. He assured that on completion of the exercise, passengers would have seamless travelling experience within the airport. He said, “Yes, there was a breakdown recently and we have rectified it. We have equally told the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company of Nigeria (NAHCo) Plc to move people to the D-Wing

incase of a breakdown. Machines will always be machines and they can breakdown at anytime, but whenever this happens, we try to rectify it immediately.” Passengers arriving the country had gone through some harrowing experiences at the arrival hall of the terminal sometime last week when they could not reclaim their checked-in luggage at the baggage reclaim area due to faulty conveyor belts. A source close to FAAN confided in our correspondent that the conveyor belts at both the D and E wings had broken down, which made it impossible for them to reclaim their luggage on arrival. There are two conveyor belts each at the D and E wings of the airport while the E- Extension Wing, close to the diplomatic car park was last week installed and put to use with a short conveyor belt, which has since been under test run by FAAN. Information gathered by our correspondent indicated that as at Wednesday, only one out of two were working at the D and E wings, which regularly caused delay at peak period at the airport.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Increasing cases of piracy, sea robbery, illegal bunkering and unauthorised mid-stream discharge, among several other criminalities, constitute a major source of concern to maritime administrations in the Gulf of Guinea, including that of Nigeria. FRANCIS EZEM examines some of the issues.

Maritime

Friday, December 28, 2012

Challenges of curbing criminality in Nigeria’s maritime domain

ecent reports by the Malaysiabased global maritime watchdog, International Maritime Bureau (IMB), said that 56 piracy cases were recorded on Nigeria’s territorial waters off the Gulf of Guinea in 2010, 119 in 2011 even as no fewer than 69 cases have been carried out successfully by these pirates as at the fourth quarter of 2012. It was owing to the worsening dimension of these attacks that President of the Nigerian Trawlers Association, Mr. Joseph Overo, raised the alarm over the menace of these sea robbers, saying the industrial fishing sub-sector in Nigeria lost in excess of N119 billion in the last eight years in fishing revenue alone, This development, which had many liners declare Nigeria a high risk area with the attendant hike of insurance premiums on Nigerian-bound cargo, had also compelled most American and European countries, including the United States of America and Britain to issue security alerts to their nationals intending to travel to Nigeria. Recent statistics released by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria’s apex maritime regulatory agency also shows that the country lost over N445 million between February 2010 to February 2011 due to the activities of sea robbers. Experts have however, traced this worsening dimension of several forms of illegality in Nigeria’s waters to the commencement of Federal Government’s amnesty programme in 2009, when some Niger-Delta militants dropped their arms to embraced the programme, under which the government granted them amnesty and they in turn pledged to turn a new leaf by doing away with crime. But the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has also observed that there has been a radical decline in piracy and sea robbery activities from 119 in 2011 to 69 in the first week of December 2012 is an indication that the various measures put in place by the government to fight the menace is already yielding results. President Goodluck Jonathan had directed the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA to intensify the anti-piracy war towards the Republic of Benin. This follows the breakthrough made by the alliance by the two organisations in which they had to sign a Memorandum of Understanding. Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi had while speaking to news men recently, insisted that what is obtained in the Nigerian waters is sea robbery not piracy in the true sense of the word.

Pirates on rampage

He said: “What has come to be known as Nigeria piracy is the hijacking of ships by hoodlums who attack their targets, mainly tanker vessels with force, divert the vessel to a hidden place in the sea, siphon her products into their waiting vessel and then let off the hijacked vessel”. According to him, these criminals have extended their nefarious activities to the waters of Benin, Togo and far away Liberia, arguing that they started operating in the Niger-Delta area, Lagos and Cameroun waters. This development had made the Gulf of Guinea, particularly Nigeria notorious among the comity of maritime nations of the world as very dangerous for navigation. It was in the light of this that the IMB rated Nigeria as second most dangerous in the world, after the failed state of Somalia. However, the decision of the United Nations and African Union to join forces to combat this menace in Somalia has to a large extent, restored order in parts of that country. This new turn of events for the better is further confirmed by recent reports by the IMB, which indicates that the menace has drastically reduced in the Gulf of Aden in 2012, while the situation in the Gulf of Guiana had remained the same until the end of third quarter of 2012. Experts have also blamed this on the rascal behaviour of most oil exploration companies, including deliberate failure to clean up oil spills, dumping pollutants in Nigeria’s territorial waters, including ballast waters went on unchallenged in the Nigeria maritime domain. Experts believe that there have not been any concerted efforts on the part of NIMASA to adequately police the Nigerian waters in line with the nation’s extant laws as well as the International Maritime Organisation’s Conventions, Treaties and protocols,

THE AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT TAXES LOST TO THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OFF-SHORE

NIGERIA IS IN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY most of which have been ratified and domesticated. Maritime experts have, therefore, blamed the unchecked incursion of ships of all shapes and sizes, rust buckets without any identifiable legitimate business in Nigeria and have continuously violated the provisions of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, 2003 currently under review. These unidentifiable ships and crafts have flagrantly engaged in acts of illegalities, comprising of illegal midstream discharge from mother vessels, bunkering, and dumping of harmful substances and ballast water into the Nigerian maritime domain especially in the face helpless situation the apex maritime regulatory agency had then found itself. But the new management of the agency had in the last two years since it came on board showed a convincing commitment towards changing the status quo. Chairman of Sea and Cargo Logistics Limited, Mr. Raphael Christopher, had while speaking in Lagos recently alleged that many foreign ships on Nigeria’s territorial waters do illegal businesses such as polluting the nation’s marine environment with wastes from ships and other pollutants, thereby seriously depleting fish stocks. Christopher, urged the Minister of Transport, Mr. Idris Umar to evolve a policy framework that would enhance

effective management of ship -generated wastes. Senior Special Adviser to the president on Maritime services had said recently that the Federal Government loses several hundreds of millions of dollars to these illegalities on the nation’s “The amount of government taxes lost to the illegal activities off-shore Nigeria is in hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Also the high cost of good in the market is a direct consequence of the insurance surcharge on Nigeria- bound cargo, according to economic experts; which translate to high cost of goods to final consumer”, he argued. In addition to this, maritime experts consider the activities of the pirates on the Gulf of Guinea as the biggest threat to Federal Government’s desire of attracting Foreign Direct Investment into the Nigerian economy. The NIMASA-boss, Akpobolokemi, who alluded to this fact, said this also informed the decision of his management declare a total war against piracy and all illegalities in Nigeria’s territorial waters. As part of strategy to tackle the menace, has put in place 12 regulatory frameworks to ensure that the Nigerian territorial water is safe for navigation in line with the International Maritime Organisation Saftey of Lives At Sea (SOLAS) Convention and International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution (MARPOL). Akpobolokemi said: “These regulations will give the agency the needed powers to protect the nation’s waters in accordance with the international standard”. The regulations include sewage, garbage dumps, ships registration as well as regulation on dangerous/obnoxious wastes, amongst others. Asked whether the additional responsibility would not be too much for the agency, knowing that it had difficulties in enforcing both the NIMASA Act as well as the Cabotage Act, Akpobolokemi had said that the major problem before now was the absence of operational platforms (patrol boats) for effective policing which the contract with Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL), has solved. He explained that in the past, the absence of platforms made it difficult to monitor and punish offenders, a situation which exposed the nation’s waterway to all forms of pollution. It was also gathered that NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy are currently working towards strengthening the MoU on maritime safety. It is expected that this alliance would curb piracy and other illegalities on Nigeria’s waters and also remove her from the IMB classification as a war zone even when the country is enjoying peace and tranquility.

Maritime

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Absence of terminal, high diesel cost mar industrial fishing STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

he Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association, umbrella body for all indigenously owned industrial fishing companies operating in the country said apart from the menace of piracy and sea robbery, the absence of dedicated fishing terminals and high cost of diesel over the years have hampered the growth and development of the industry. The association had raised the alarm over the loss of a whopping N118.5billion in the last eight years due to the increasing menace of pirates and sea robbers on Nigeria’s territorial waters. President of the association, Mr. Joseph Overo, who spoke in an interview, disclosed that the growth and development of the sub-sector was being hampered by the failure of government to provide the operators with a dedicated fishing terminal with the necessary facilities like what it obtained overseas. According to him, during the privatisation of the seaports, the association made representations to the government which also granted the approval for the use of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Phase II, but regretted that that was the last they heard about the approval. “I think the Bureau of Public Enterprises granted the approval in principle as was directed by President Olusegun Obasanjo, but at the end of the exercise, nothing of such was done and so we are still waiting almost nine years after”, he lamented. “The consequences of this is that each fishing company provides its own facilities like cold room and other storage facilities

with the attendant high cost, which should have left them with more money to invest in other aspects of the operations”, he said He also disclosed that the operators are made to pay for the make-shift they use currently to the Nigerian Ports Authority, which has little or no facilities that could enhance effective operations. Apart from the absence of a dedicated terminal, he noted that the operators were being driven out of business by the increasing cost of diesel, which currently sells at N165-N170 per litre. He noted that what is obtained in some countries is that government subsidises the sale of diesel to enable them buy at a reduced rate in order to remain afloat, saying that if particularly funded, the sub-sector has the potential to create millions of jobs for Nigerian youths. The president had disclosed that the sub-sector lost a whopping N118.5billion direct financial loss, which covers the period between 2003 and 2011. It was also gathered that apart from this huge financial loss due to these attacks, the area of operation of the members has been reduced by over 70 percent as places like the Escravous, Forcados, River Ramos, River Dodo, Pennigton and Brass, among several others have been declared no-go areas because of piracy insurgency. Figures released by the association show that in concrete financial terms, members lost a total of N5billion in 2003, N6billion in 2004, N7.5billion in 2005 and N12billion in 2006. Other details show that in 2007, members lost N13 billion, N15 billion in 2008 and N17bil-

Container handling operation at APMT, Apapa, Lagos

lion in 2009 even as N20billion and N23billion were lost in 2010 and 2011, respectively, bringing to a total of N118.5billion. The president, who also gave a graphic details of how the industry has fared in the last eight years, said in 2004, there were about 44 industrial fishing companies, which also represented the membership strength of the association but regretted that this has reduced to only four operational firms, as the others have closed shop because they could no longer cope. According to him, during the review period, there were over 250 fishing trawlers, which also represented the entire fleet of the association then, but which has reduced to a little above 100, arising from the piracy and robbery attacks on their trawlers, a development that has apart from massive loss of jobs, has also led to death of crew, captains, sailors and other equipment. In terms of human casuality,

the association lost a total of 44 crew members in 2003, 121 in 2004, 374 in 2005 and 627 in 2006. Others include the death of 1, 177 crew and other members of staff in 2007, 1,045 in 2008 while 1, 265 and 1,430 deaths were recorded in 2010 and 2011 respectively arising from uncontrolled piracy attacks on Nigerian waters. The Malaysian-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the global piracy watchdog had for three consecutive years (2009, 2010 and 2011) rated Nigeria’s waters second highest after Somalia in terms of sea robbery and piracy attacks. This development, which had many of liners declare Nigeria a high risk area with the attendant hike of insurance premiums on Nigerian-bound cargo, had also compelled most American and European countries including the United States of America and Britain to issue security alerts to their nationals intending to travel to Nigeria.

1,500 cadets under training to save Nigeria’s maritime industry from collapse

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has said that the real reason for sending about 1, 550 Nigerian cadet-trainees for training abroad was to save the shipping industry from imminent collapse. The agency had, penultimate week organised a send forth for 1,000 of these cadet trainees, who constitute the first batch and who are to undertake courses in Marine Engineering, Nautical Sciences and Naval Architecture are being funded by NIMASA under its National Seafarers’ Development Programme. The NSDP is a strategic intervention designed to address the short and medium term manpower requirements of the Nigeria’s maritime industry by creating a large pool of indigenous seafarers by 2014. This, apart from creating a

niche for Nigeria as a leading supplier of seafarers in Africa with a view to meeting the shortage in the local market and also contribute to global manpower needs of the international shipping industry. The cadet trainees are billed to travel to India, Philippines and some other countries for training on seafaring. Director General of the agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, who spoke in an interview shortly after the event, noted that the programme was in line with the desire of the maritime administration to build the required capacity needed to sustain the industry. According to him, the NSDP which is in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, had become necessary to ensure replacement of the stock of seafarers, none of who is

IMB confirms Iceberg 1 crew freed from pirates

less than 50 years. “Nigeria cannot be a true shipping nation in the absence of indigenous tonnage and seafarers. The depletion of the seafarers pool in Nigeria has become worrisome and so NIMASA needed to capacity else the industry will collapse”, the DG insisted. The NSDP, according to him, has three windows the first being the one that involved the state governments, which are expected to fund 40 percent of the cost of their citizens’ training and the second being the one involving the high net worth individuals, both of which did not yield the expected results. “The third is the current window under which the 1,550 cadets are being sponsored abroad, which is wholly financed by NIMASA and this is just the first phase, others would follow shortly”, he said.

While justifying the project, especially considering the huge sums of money involved, which run into billions of naira the DG said: “If we do not spend money on our people, what would we do for them? This presents a good opportunity for children of the poor to benefit from such schemes”. The NIMASA-boss, who charged the cadets to be good ambassadors of the country, noted that the cadets are under full sponsorship of the agency since many state governments in the country are yet to embrace the NSDP counterpart funding scheme. He had disclosed that the exercise was in line with the election campaign promises of the president, especially on creation of jobs for the youths as a way of checking their restiveness in several parts of the country.

urther to earlier reports regarding the release of crew from the captured ICEBERG I, the International Maritime Bureau confirmed initial reports on the operation by Puntland Maritime Police Force to free the crew who had been held hostage. The ship itself though, said the IMB, was reported to have been grounded at some point in the years since capture and is now believed to be a total loss. Recent photos show the ship close to shore and in a rusting state. Speculations had been mounting about the crew’s fate since the vessel’s hijacking by Somalia pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The ship was taken hostage along with its multinational crew of 24 in March 2009. The crew had been subjected to illness, ill-use and pyschological trauma in the months and years with little sign of help from any quarters. Some sources said the shipowner had went out of business. Now it is confirmed that 22 crew members out of the original 24 were found at the time of their release, which indicates that earlier reports which said two crew had died have been proven correct although it is still unclear regarding the identities and causes of death. One of the crew was reported as the third officer of ICEBERG 1, who is said to have leapt overboard in despair in October 2010. Unconfirmed reports say her chief engineer was killed by the pirates. However, UAEbased online newspaper, The National says one crewman died of malnutrition whilst another is ‘missing’. The actions of the Puntland Maritime Police force were commended by the IMB. No harm came to any of the crew during the operation and the men are now receiving food and, where required, medical attention. Although the levels of piracy and ship capture have dropped recently, the IMB warned that danger still persists and that there are still ships and crew who are in a similar position to that of ICEBERG 1 “Whilst this is a successful rescue operation, our thoughts are with the remaining 139 hostages still held by pirates, 28 of whom have been there for just under two years”, said an IMB spokesman. There have been 75 incidents reported to the IMB off Somalia this year of which 14 vessels were hijacked. The IMB called for vessels to remain alert as they transit through these waters as the threat has not diminished.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, December 28, 2012

Insight

Thursday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jakande Estates’ residents cry: Relocate The low-cost housing estates built by the Lagos State Government in the 1980s have become nightmares to their occupants. DAYO AYEYEMI, who toured the estates, reports that lack of maintenance and failed infrastructure have eroded the foundation of many of the buildings that are awaiting demolition.

Marked buildings for demolition

The collapsed building at Jakande Estate, Isolo

he Government of Alhaji Lateef Jakande in Lagos State initiated the low-cost housing scheme in 1980 to cater for housing needs of the populace especially workers in the state. As a result, many people grabbed the opportunity to become home owners at a take away price of N3, 000 with a repayment plan of 15 years, not knowing the houses would become a source of headache to them many years after. Many people, having considered the opportunities of living in government estates with basic amenities like water and electricity supplies, good road network and title documents, did not hesitate as they mopped up funds and subscribed to the houses. Popularly known as Jakande Estates, the housing schemes are scattered in several locations across Lagos, namely: Isolo, Ipaja, Amuwo Odofin, Iba, Lekki, and Ojokoro with a block containing six three-bedroom flats. Those who lost out in the lucky drip of becoming home owners after the first phase in 1980 were happy when in 2001, the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) beckoned on them to subscribe to its new low-cost housing in the same Isolo, Lagos. When National Mirror toured some of the estates in Lagos, residents narrated tales of weak structures, failed infrastructure and lack of maintenance culture by the government, while lamenting their fate, especially after the recent building collapse at the Isolo estate that claimed lives. For many of the residents, it was a bleak Christmas during the last yuletide celebrations as their hearts were in their hands because of the state government’s threat to pull down many of the buildings that are showing signs of weakness. On November 21 at Jakande Estate, Isolo, Lagos, one of the buildings collapsed, killing two sisters, while their mother is yet to recover from the injury sustained in the collapsed building. The 68-year-old widow, Adebisi Coker, lost her two daughters in the collapsed building. One of the survivors, Mr. Lekan Daramola, popularly known as Alhaji within the vicinity, is yet to be accommodated as his wife and three kids are taking refuge in a makeshift shop in the estate. He said, “Some of these houses are death traps going by their weakness. I thank God for sparing my life though I lost every valuable and as you can see, I don’t

INCIDENCE OF COLLAPSED BUILDINGS IS NO LONGER NEWS IN LAGOS AS MORE THAN 30

HIGH STRUCTURES HAVE FAILED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WITH ASSOCIATED LOSS OF LIVES have anywhere to go. I needed N380, 000 to secure a threebedroom flat nearby. The way our three-storey building collapsed like a pack of cards is still surprising me. Where can one live again if a house built by government just crumbled like that?” Incidence of collapsed buildings is no longer news in Lagos as more than 30 high structures have failed in the last four years with associated loss of lives despite government’s plan to sanitise the housing sector. The recent collapse at the Jakande Estate, Isolo revealed years of abandonment of public buildings, with offices and police barracks in dilapidated conditions. Already, 14 out of 15 buildings housing 84 flats at the Jakande Estate, Isolo have been marked for demolition having shown signs of distress, while others are undertaking integrity test to know their fitness for human habitation. About 90 per cent of the buildings in Zone M34 of the estate have been marked for demolition at the last count by National Mirror but residents are yet to relocate. It was gathered that following the incident, occupants in similar weak structures were given a 48-hour notice to quit. The letter of notice sent to them by the Enforcement Department, Oshodi/Isolo Zonal Office of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, read, “A distressed structure dangerous for human habitation.” Ten blocks of six flats marked for demolition have been sealed by the agency. The failure of structures in Isolo Estate has sent panic to other Jakande Estates’ residents in Lagos as many of them can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed for fear of their buildings collapsing. Some who cannot live with the fear are seeking alternative accommodations. “Government sold death traps instead of houses to

Daramola

us,” Mr. Bolaji Akigbote, one of the affected residents at Isolo said. He explained that though the structures looked beautiful when LSDPC sold the apartments to them in 2001 at the cost of N1.2 million, but the houses began to show signs of weaknesses few years later. He expressed displeasure with the LSDPC for selling bad products to residents in the first instance, saying the corporation should do everything possible to provide new accommodation for them, saying they cannot wait and see their investments go down the drain. Another resident, a widow, Mrs Sara Onabode, called on concerned Nigerians to come to her aid, saying the challenge was too much for her. A resident in the estate, Mr. Atanda Daniel, said another disaster was in the offing if government failed to relocate residents of buildings marked for demolition, saying the buildings were in precarious state and could cave in at any time. According to him, the residents are still waiting for LSDPC to relocate them to other locations or give them money to rent accommodations. President of Residents’ Association, Jakande’s Low Cost Housing Estate, Isolo, Alhaji Abdukareem Banji, said buildings already marked for demolition in the estate were built 11 years ago, adding that the affected residents have no place to live except government relocates them. He disclosed that he and other members of the association had a meeting with the Managing Director of LSDPC, Mr. Abiodun Oki, recently to look for the way forward since it has become apparent that the company

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insight

Thursday, December 28, 2012

us, these houses are death traps GOVERNMENT SOLD DEATH TRAPS INSTEAD OF HOUSES TO US

Another set of distressed buildings

sold bad products to the owners. “The buildings were built 11 years ago and 14 out of 15 houses have already failed integrity test and already marked for demolition,” Banji emphasised. According to him, 99 per cent of the buildings are bad and their marshy topography requires special foundation like raft, which was not taken into consideration by the builders of the houses. “All the houses are death traps. Alhaji Jakande, during his regime deliberately left the swamp because of poor soil condition,” he added. Residents want the LSDPC to furnish them with names of architects that designed the buildings, the building contractors and supervising engineers with a view to bringing to account, but Oke and his LSDPC will have none of that. “LSDPC said it is not ready for that now; saying its concern is how to relocate the residents,” said Banji. Spokesperson of the LSDPC, Mr. Sola Martins, told our correspondent that the whole issue of relocating affected residents was being handled by the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Like Isolo, like Ipaja. The Jakande Estate, Ipaja has 1,000 blocks of six units of flats each, housing about 60, 000 people. All the buildings are now wearing the look of neglect and abandonment as its infrastructure have packed up without remedy from government. The estate, which came with tarred roads, pipe borne water, street lights and sewage system has lost its glamour due to long years of neglect by the government and its degenerate environment is a testament. Speaking on the condition of the estate, one of the

Dilapidated road at Jakande Estate, Abesan, Ipaja, Lagos.

residents, who identified himself simply as Ikenwa, said it was divided into sectors and that each sector comprised 10 block of flats. But due to lack of water supply in the estate, each sector has an arrangement for water supply through the borehole residents jointly dug. “To get water from the sector borehole, each flat has to contribute N10, 000 yearly, while N100.00 is being contributed monthly for its maintenance. It is a community initiative since government has left us on our own. “We even have some sectors without water, what they do is that individuals will dig borehole and they will buy water. Also, just like the general society, electricity supply is erratic in the estate. “Also, contrary to the original plan of the estate, three flats now dig their own septic tank for waste discharge. The general sewage system for the estate was never completed. The project was abandoned by successive governments,” he said. The Jakande Estate in Lekki has already become an eyesore because of the derelict nature of the buildings. Many of them look unkept and are showing bold signs of distress due to lack of maintenance by government and the residents Former chairmanof the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Kunle Awobodu, told National Mirror that fear of uncertainty jolted his association to jointly embark on survey of the existing buildings with the LSDPC at Isolo Estate, adding that they were confronted by difficult situation in M20 zone.

“Occupants of the remaining similar buildings, including families of army officers that perished in the Ejigbo plane crash have suffered from transient insomnia. The physiological anticipation of sudden collapse of the standing but probable defective buildings deprive them sound sleep. “Yet most of them are retirees, having no resources to relocate, the hapless residents passionately sought for the assistance of the visitors to save them from the dilemma,” Awobodu said. Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, confirmed that some buildings in the estates were built on low bearing wall and that there was no good drainage, a major reason pool water continually attack the structure, thereby weakening it. He also said that there was no maintenance guide put in place to ensure the buildings’ regular upgrade since the residents moved in. He, however, said that the MD of LSDPC, Oke, told him that 15 months before the recent collapse at Isolo, the affected residents were warned and given notices to vacate the buildings but they refused. Asked if the government was not embarrassed that buildings collapsed in its estate, Ayinde explained that some of the houses were built years ago when attention was not being paid to construction, adding that government is now concerned about quality housing delivery. On modality for demolishing identified distressed buildings, the commissioner disclosed that the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency, and managing directors of the LSDPC and Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) have been collaborating on the best way to carry out the auditing exercise in the Jakande estates. “Some of the accidents are avoidable if we listen to warnings and appreciate value of lives more than we do now,” he said. On relocation plan for residents of distressed buildings in Lagos, Ayinde explained that because of backlog of infrastructure and huge housing deficit in the state, government might not be able to accommodate all. For example, he said in Lagos Island, government wanted to pull down distressed structures but because of where to relocate the residents, government had to prioritise the exercise. “The desire is always there but those buildings have residents and there is no accommodation to put them if their buildings are pulled down. So there is need to priotise. Which house is most vulnerable and if we identify 100 houses, which are the first five that are most vulnerable, then we look for transit camp to put the residents. It is a continuous thing. “We have a scheme known as Lagos HOMS now. The state is trying to look for space and any space the government finds, it will take and build Lagos HOMs there. Government is building a block with 50 units so that we can begin to have space to move people,” the commissioner added. National Mirror learnt that in the past six years, Lagos had carried out integrity tests on some high buildings above five floors on Lagos Island after the six top floors of the 19- storey building belonging to Bank of Industry collapsed in 2006. During the exercise, 115 high rise buildings out of 145 audited were found to have failed the integrity test. Owners of such buildings were advised by the Lagos State Government to demolish the houses by themselves. Only few responded, while few were demolished by government. Many of such buildings, which experts described as awaiting disasters, are still standing on the Central Business District (CBD) waiting for disaster.

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, December 28, 2012

20 firms, three individuals cheated investors in 2012, says NSE JOHNSON OKANLAWON

o improve investors’ confidence in the Nigerian capital market, the Nigerian Stock Exchange has exposed 20 dealing member firms and three individuals who engaged in unauthorised sales of investors’ shares in 2012. In a notice posted at its website, the Exchange said that the aim of the NSE is to reduce contravention of market rules to its barest minimum while doing all within its means to restore confidence. The notice assured that investors can now

make more informed decisions about where to invest by viewing names of dealing member firms that have been found liable for contravening market rules. According to the notice, out of the 20 cases, 11 of them were unresolved, while nine were resolved. The unresolved cases are Manivest Asset Management Limited, IT IS Securities Limited, Lion Stockbrokers Limited, Securities Solutions Limited, Omas Investment and Trust Limited, 10 Gosord Securities Limited and WT Securities Limited. Others are Maven As-

set management Limited, De-Canon Investment Limited, Adamawa Securities Limited and Lighthouse Asset management Limited. The resolved cases are Dominion Trust Limited, Marriot Securities Limited, Mountain Investments and Securities Limited, Royal Crest Securities Limited, Bytofel Trust and Securities Limited and Nova Finance and Securities Limited. Others are GMT Securities and Assets Management Limited, Prime Wealth Capital Limited and First Alstate Securities Limited. The individuals’ bro-

Equities turn green on NSE after Christmas JOHNSON OKANLAWON

rading in equities closed on bullish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, after two days of bearish trends. Specifically, the AllShare Index gained 1.43 per cent to close at 27,737.69 points, in contrast to the decline of 0.20 per cent recorded on Monday to close at 27,346.66 points. Market capitalisation appreciated by N124.9bn to close at N8.86trn, as against the drop of

N17.7bn recorded on Monday to close at N8.73trn. Five sectoral indices closed positive, as the NSE 30-Index rose by 1.14 per cent to close at 1,317.60 points, while the Oil and Gas Index fell by 0.33 per cent to close at 152.58 points. The Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 0.27 per cent to close at 829.86 points, while the Insurance Index gained 1.47 per cent to close at 116.28 points. The Banking Index increased by 0.42 per cent to close at 328.26 points. Fidson Healthcare Plc

led the gainers’ table with eight kobo or eight per cent to close at N1.08 per share, followed by Okomu Oil Plc with N1.90 or five per cent to close at N39.90 per share. Dangote Cement Plc gained N6.10 or five per cent to close at N128.10 per share, while Eterna Oil Plc appreciated by nine kobo or 4.97 per cent to close at N1.90 per share. NASCON Plc gained 35 kobo or 4.90 per cent to close at N7.49 per share. On the flip side, Forte Oil Plc dropped 40 kobo or 4.92 per cent to close at N7.73 per share, while

US budget worries weigh on European shares

resh concerns that the United States may fail to reach a deal to avoid growthsapping fiscal measures weighed on European shares yesterday, pushing a key index down from its highs. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index provisionally closed broadly flat at 1,137.30 points, although the euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index edged up by 0.4 percent to 2,658.30 points. Traders remained focused on progress by US politicians to avoid a fiscal cliff - a combination of government spending cuts and tax rises due to take effect early next year which could hit the US economy.

FTSEurofirst 300 fell from an intraday high of 1,141.79 points after the US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned that the country could go over the edge of the cliff, although most traders still felt an agreement would eventually be struck. “Clients are a little bit nervous. We may get a further pullback going forward but the general outlook is still positive. The general expectation is that when push comes to shove, they’ll reach an agreement,” said Giles Watts, head of dealing at City Index. With only a few days left before devastating tax hikes and spending cuts go into effect, Senate Ma-

jority Leader Harry Reid said about the fiscal cliff, “It looks like where we’re headed.” Reid criticized Republicans for refusing to go along with any tax increases as part of a compromise solution with Democrats to avoid the fiscal cliff, which economists warn will knock the economy into recession. President Barack Obama was flying back to Washington from a Christmas holiday to push for more talks, while the top Republican in Congress planned to speak with House lawmakers to avoid the year-end deadline. Still, gaps remained between the two sides. The benchmark S&P 500 index is on track for

kers blacklisted for misconduct are Mr. Kingsley Nnaji, Mr. Joel Okafor and Mr. Okafor George Nchedo, who is currently on investigation. Speaking with National Mirror, The Executive Director Market Operations of the NSE, Mr. Adeolu Bajomo said that the current management of the Exchange has revitalised market surveillance and investigation panel to make decision and expose any firm or individual that engages in market infraction. He added that the Exchange can’t wait to expose any hg profile cases of market infraction. International Breweries Plc lost 15 kobo or 0.94 per cent to close at N15.75 per share. Trans Express Plc shed 14 kobo or 4.79 per cent to close at N2.78 per share, while Stanbic IBTC Plc dipped by seven kobo or 0.64 per cent to close at N10.93 per share. Ashaka Cement Plc declined by six kobo or 0.33 per cent to close at N17.92 per share. Transaction volume in equities rose by 105 per cent, as a total of 238.13 million shares valued at N1.98bn were exchanged in 2,645 deals, compared to 116.08 million shares worth N1.26bn traded in 2,006 deals on Monday. its fourth straight decline and is down two per cent as negotiations over the budget crisis stalled. A four-day decline would mark the longest losing streak for the index in three months. The Conference Board, an industry group, said its index of consumer attitudes in December fell to 65.1 as the budget crisis took the steam out of a growing sense of optimism about the economy. The gauge fell more than expected from a downwardly revised 71.5 in November. Initial claims for unemployment benefits dropped 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 350,000 last week and the fourweek moving average fell to the lowest since March 2008.

Source: NSE NIBOR QUOTES 24 DECEMBER & 27 DECEMBER 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

2 4 -De c -1 2

2 7 -De c -1 2

Source: FMDA

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

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

FIDSON

1.00

1.08

0.08

8.00

OKOMUOIL

38.00

39.90

1.90

5.00

DANGCEM

122.00

128.10

6.10

5.00

ETERNA

1.81

1.90

0.09

4.97

NASCON

7.14

7.49

0.35

4.90

NPFMCRFBK

1.08

1.13

0.05

4.63

TRANSCORP

0.95

0.99

0.04

4.21

CONTINSURE

0.74

0.77

0.03

4.05

SKYEBANK

4.09

4.24

0.15

3.67

RTBRISCOE

1.39

1.44

0.05

3.60

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

8.13

7.73

0.40

-4.92

INTBREW

15.90

15.75

0.15

-0.94

TRANSEXPR

2.92

2.78

0.14

-4.79

STANBIC

11.00

10.93

0.07

-0.64

ASHAKACEM

17.98

17.92

0.06

-0.33

FBNH

15.74

15.70

0.04

-0.25

FCMB

3.34

3.30

0.04

-1.20

GUARANTY

22.25

22.22

0.03

-0.13

CUSTODYINS

1.28

1.25

0.03

-2.34

JAPAULOIL

0.58

0.56

0.02

-3.45

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Days

21,838.51

12.70

27-Dec-12

182-Days

57,729.22

15.31

27-Dec-12

66 -Days

32,227.06

14.20

20-Dec-12

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

70Days

60,717.10

14.00

27-Dec-12

84-Days

82,453.54

14.00

27-Dec-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$300m

N/A

$300m

19-Dec-12

$200m

N/A

$200m

17-Dec-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Space for Sale

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Putin signals intension to sign U.S. adoption ban

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

he doctors treating former South African leader Nelson Mandela believe he should remain in Johannesburg for now to be close to medical facilities that can provide care to the 94-year-old, the government said yesterday. Mandela left a hospital Wednesday evening after nearly three weeks of treatment there, and was brought to his home in the Johannesburg neighbourhood of Houghton. The antiapartheid icon, also known by his clan name, Madiba, has spent more time in recent years in the rural village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province, where he grew up. Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, said he hopes “it won’t be too long before he’s with us back in Qunu, where he belongs,” but acknowledged that the doctors’ assessment is critical to any decision to travel. “It can be a strenuous trip,” the grandson said in an interview with eNCA, a South African television news channel. “We will await the feedback from the doctors as to when he will be fit and ready to come back home.” Mandela was admitted Dec. 8 to a hospital in the South African capital of Pretoria, 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Johannesburg. The ex-president was treated for a lung infection and also had a procedure to remove gallstones. “Where Madiba goes, in which

“A strong economy is the source of energy for Japan. Without regaining a strong economy, there is no future for Japan” – Japan’s new Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe

Mandela leaves hospital, gets medical care at home period, in which times, is a matter that is entirely dependent on his own wishes. Whatever he wishes, we will do,” presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj told eNCA. “But right now, the doctors have considered it necessary and good that he should be in Houghton so that he’s close to all the facilities where we can give him high care,” Maharaj said. Maharaj noted that Mandela had been in good spirits while

receiving President Jacob Zuma and other visitors while he was hospitalized. “Madiba was doing well, but as you know, when you’re recovering there are ups and downs, slight ups and downs, and the doctors are looking for a steady progress and that began to be registered over the last few days,” the spokesman said. Mandela is revered around the world as a symbol of sacrifice and reconciliation, his leg-

acy forged in the fight against apartheid, the system of white minority rule that imprisoned him for 27 years. The Nobel laureate served one five-year term as president after South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. Maharaj said Mandela is able to see his family “more easily” now that he is at home, but he appealed to the public to respect the former president’s privacy “to allow the best possible conditions for his full recovery.”

Morsi

President Jacob Zuma made critical remarks about pet care that touch on sensitive race relations in South Africa, which was dominated by whites until apartheid was dismantled almost two decades ago, The Star newspaper reported yesterday. It was reported that the South Africa’s president says a dog should not be man’s best friend. The newspaper cited Zuma as saying in a speech Wednesday that the idea of having a pet is part of “white culture” and that people should focus on family welfare. The president’s office sought to clarify his remarks, saying he was encouraging “the previously oppressed African majority” to uphold its own culture.

South Sudan accuses Sudan of air attack, five killed

Journalists gathering outside the home of Mandela after he was discharged from hospital on Wednesday.

PHOTO: AP

Egypt’s prosecutor orders probe against opposition

gypt’s chief prosecutor ordered yesterday an investigation into the leaders of the country’s opposition after a lawyer accused them of incitement to overthrow the regime of newly elected Islamist President

WORLD BULLETIN South Africa president criticised for comment on pet

Mohammed Morsi, a prosecution official said. The order, issued by an appointee of Morsi, is likely to aggravate political tensions that have erupted into street violence, most recently surrounding the newly passed but divisive constitution. The accusation, filed last month, alleged that Mohammed ElBaradei, a Nobel Prize laureate and former head of the U.N. nuclear agency, along with Amr Moussa, a former foreign minister, and Hamdeen Sabahi, a former presidential candidate, campaigned to seek Morsi’s overthrow. The probe does not necessarily mean charges will be levelled but it is unusual for state prosecutors to investigate such broad charges against high profile figures. The official spoke on condition of an-

onymity in line with government policies. Yara Khallaf, a spokeswoman for Moussa, said there were no official charges or summoning for investigation, declining to comment on the accusation. Emad Abu Ghazi, the secretary general of the opposition party ElBaradei heads, said he had no details about the investigation but that the accusations and probe were “an indication of a tendency toward a police state and the attempt to eliminate political opponents.” Abu Ghazi said the former regime of Mubarak dealt in the same way with the opposition. There was no immediate comment from ElBaradei or Sabahi. The accusation came during a political crisis over a series of presidential decrees that granted

Morsi, Egypt’s first elected president, and the committee drafting the disputed constitution immunity from judicial oversight. The opposition called on Morsi to rescind his decrees and accused him of amassing too much power in his hands. It also asked for the draft constitution to be withdrawn. The opposition organized a number of massive rallies in protest, including one outside Morsi’s palace in which protesters chanted “Leave.” It was a common refrain during the protests against former President Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted in a popular uprising last year. The rally turned violent when supporters of Morsi, who perceived the protest as a threat to his legitimacy, attacked their opponents.

South Sudan says Sudan has launched attacks inside its territory, killing at least five people. Military spokesman Col. Philip Aguer said Thursday that the attacks came on Christmas Day, killing three women and two children. Aguer said Antonov warplanes bombed the village of Werguet, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, while ground forces working with “militiamen” attacked nearby Kiir Adem. Aguer said the areas are part of South Sudan. The areas are near the Kiir River, the southern boundary of a 14-mile strip of territory claimed by both countries. Sudan and South Sudan reached an oil and border security deal in August that called for the area to be demilitarized until its final status could be determined.

Central African Republic’s president in US-France appeal The Central African Republic’s President Francois Bozize has appealed to the US and France to help block a rebel advance on the capital, Bangui. He apologised for Wednesday’s attack on the French embassy by protesters who accused France of abandoning them. French President Francois Hollande has already said France will not intervene in its former colony. The UN is evacuating its nonessential staff from the country, while the US has urged its nationals to leave. There is a mood of deep anxiety in Bangui, and residents are “petrified as to what could happen”, the UN envoy in the CAR, Margaret Vogta, said.

World News

WORLD BULLETIN Syrian envoy calls for political change to end conflict The international envoy seeking a solution to Syria’s 21-month-old conflict said on yesterday political change was needed to end the violence which has killed 44,000 people, and called for a transitional government to rule until elections. Speaking in Damascus at the end of a five-day trip during which he met President Bashar al-Assad, Lakhdar Brahimi did not spell out detailed proposals but said that only substantial change would meet the demands of ordinary Syrians. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov added to the envoy’s call for a peaceful solution when he told a senior Syrian diplomat that only a “broad inter-Syria dialogue and political process” could end the crisis. Brahimi’s push for a transitional government suggested he was trying to build on an international agreement in Geneva six months ago which said a provisional body - which might include members of Assad’s government as well as the opposition - should lead the country into a new election.

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Putin signals intension to sign U.S. adoption ban

resident Vladimir Putin signalled yesterday he would sign a bill barring Americans from adopting Russian children into law and sought to forestall criticism of the move by promising measures to better care for his country’s orphans. In televised comments, Putin tried to appeal to people’s patriotism by suggesting that strong and responsible countries should take care of their own and lent his support to a bill that has further strained U.S.-Russia rela-

tions. “There are probably many places in the world where living standards are higher than ours. So what, are we going to send all our children there? Maybe we should move there ourselves?” he said, with sarcasm. Parliament gave its final approval on Wednesday to the bill, which would also introduce other measures in retaliation for new U.S. legislation which is designed to punish Russians accused of human rights violations.

For it to become law Putin needs to sign it. “So far I see no reason not to sign it, although I have to review the final text and weigh everything,” Putin said at a meeting of senior federal and regional officials that was shown live on the state’s 24-hour news channel. “I intend to sign not only the law ... but also a presidential decree that will modify the support mechanisms for orphaned children ... especially those who are in a difficult situation, by

Iran sacks sole female minister Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sacked Health Minister Marziyeh Vahid Dastjerdi, the sole woman in his cabinet, state television reports. Ms Dastjerdi was also the first woman minister in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic. While no reason has been given, the dismissal is being linked to her call for drug price rises to fight shortages caused by international sanctions. Mr Ahmadinejad rejected her comments, saying her budget needs had been met. Analysts say international sanctions have done significant damage to the Islamic republic’s economy and led to a steep currency plunge. Although they do not directly target medicines, they limit their importation because of restrictions on financial transactions. Prior to her dismissal, Ms Dastjerdi said that because of the rise in the foreign exchange rate, there would be an inevitable increase in the price of medicine.

Former Argentine economy minister sentenced A former Argentine economy minister has been sentenced to four years in prison for corruption. Felisa Miceli was forced to quit in 2007 when a bag of money holding $32,000 was found in her office toilet. The unanimous ruling said Miceli was guilty of the “aggravated cover up” on an illegal financial manoeuvre and obstruction of justice for getting rid of a police report on the money bag. A local court also ruled Thursday that Miceli will be barred from holding any public office position for eight years. Miceli served under President Cristina Fernandez’s husband and predecessor, former President Nestor Kirchner.

Putin speaking during a news conference in Moscow, Russia, yesterday.

PHOTO: AP

that I mean in poor health,” Putin said. Critics of the bill say the Russian authorities are playing political games with the lives of children. Children in Russia’s crowded and troubled orphanage system - particularly those with serious illnesses or disabilities - will have less of a chance of finding homes, and of even surviving, if it becomes law, child rights advocates say. They point to people like Jessica Long, who was given up shortly after birth by her parents in Siberia but was raised by adoptive parents in the United States and became a Paralympic swimming champion. However, the Russian authorities point to the deaths of 19 Russian-born children adopted by American parents in the past decade, and lawmakers named the bill after a boy who died of heat stroke in Virginia after his adoptive father left him locked in a car for hours. Putin reiterated Russian complaints that U.S. courts have been too lenient on parents in such cases, saying Russia has inadequate access to Russian-born children in the United States despite a bilateral agreement that entered into force on November 1.

India rape victim in Singapore, PM pledges action

ndian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged yesterday to take action to protect the nation’s women while the young victim of a gang rape on a New

Delhi bus was flown to Singapore for treatment of severe internal injuries. The Dec. 16 rape and brutal beating of the 23-year-old student

Kashmiri Sikh students protesting against the brutal gang-rape of a woman on a bus last week in New Delhi, yesterday. PHOTO: AP

triggered widespread protests, including a march on Thursday, demanding a government crackdown on the daily harassment Indian women face, ranging from groping to severe violence. Some protesters have called for the death penalty or castration for rapists, who under current laws face a maximum punishment of life in prison. Rape victims rarely press charges because of social stigma and fear they will be accused of inviting the attack. Many women say they structure their lives around protecting themselves and their daughters from attack. Singh’s government set up two committees in response to the protests. One, looking into speed-

Netanyahu concerned over new Israeli right-wing leader

he charismatic new leader of Israel’s Jewish religious right is siphoning a large chunk of votes from the prime minister’s party, according to polls ahead of January 22 elections, and if the trend continues, the high-tech millionaire and former commando could emerge as a powerful voice opposing Palestinian statehood. Though Naftali Bennett, the 40-year-old son of American immigrants, is a classic religious hard-liner, comfortable in the settlements he champions, he has

been able to draw on his military and entrepreneurial background to widen his appeal to secular circles as well. His sprawling, modern home in Raanana, an upscale suburb of Tel Aviv, is far from the barren hilltops of the West Bank settlers who form the backbone of his support. Polls show his Jewish Home party becoming the third-largest in the upcoming parliament, behind Netanyahu’s Likud-Yisrael Beitenu bloc and the centrist Labour. As Bennett’s party gains ground, it has been steadily eat-

ing into Netanyahu’s still-formidable lead. Several of Netanyahu’s recent moves, including a surge in settlement construction announcements, have been attributed to the “Bennett factor.” Philosophically, Bennett and his party would fit easily into a hardline government of the type Netanyahu is expected to put together, though the political newcomer and the Israeli leader — his former boss and political mentor — have a history of bad blood that deepened over this past week.

ing up sexual assault trials, has already received 6,100 email suggestions. The second will examine what lapses might have contributed to the rape — which took place on a moving bus that passed through police checkpoints — and suggest measures to improve women’s safety. “Let me state categorically that the issue of safety and security of women is of the highest concern to our government,” Singh said at a development meeting. He urged officials in India’s states to pay special attention to the problem. “There can be no meaningful development without the active participation of half the population, and this participation simply cannot take place if their security and safety is not assured,” he said. The rape victim arrived in Singapore on an air ambulance Thursday and was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Mount Elizabeth hospital, renowned for multi-organ transplant facilities. Yesterday night she remained in “extremely critical condition” as a team of specialists worked to stabilize her, Dr. Kelvin Loh, the hospital’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. Before arriving in Singapore, she had already undergone three abdominal surgeries and suffered cardiac arrest, he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Friday, December 28, 2012

Aliyu flays ministries’ failure to submit audit reports PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

iger State Governor Babangida Aliyu has alleged that about 16 ministries, parastastals and departments failed to submit their records for auditing in the last eight years. The parastastals are the Agricultural Development Project (ADP), IBB Specialize Hospital, Tornadoes Football Club, State Housing Cooperation, Arts Council and Radio Niger. Others include Tourism Cooperation, Hospital Management Board, Scholarship Board, Pilgrims Welfare Commission, Rural Electircity Board (REB), Secondary Education Board and Science Technical Schools Board. Governor Aliyu, however, announced plan to embark on re-invigoration of his administration for robust service delivery. To this effect, he directed all commissioners, permanent secretaries and

heads of parastatals and departments to submit comprehensive reports on the projects they have executed since 2007. He directed them to submit the reports, giving details of the financial cost of each project and stating the ones completed and those that are still on-

going. The governor, who spoke while signing the 2013 N84 billion Appropriation Bill in Minna, the state capital, said he would no longer be patient with any commissioner, head of parastatal and department that failed to conform with the policy

thrust of his administration. Explaining that with the two years left for the expiration of his tenure, he could not afford to disappoint the people in fulfilling his pre-election campaign promises to them. The governor also

stressed the need to fight what he described as “institutionalised corruption” in the state, alleging that about 16 ministries, parastastals and departments failed to submit their documents for auditing in the last eight years. Governor Aliyu said: “Not submitting their records for auditing is corruption; corruption is not only when money is stolen, but act such as this can be described as institutionalised corruption.”

L-R: Chief of the Fulani community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, Alhaji Mohammadu Adamu; Commander of Special Task Force, Maj.-Gen. Henry Ayoola and Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, during their visit to Bagad village, which was attacked on December 24, 2012. PHOTO: NAN

Kaduna Assembly confirms Bajoga deputy governor amid tight security A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he Kaduna State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, as deputy to Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero amid tight security. Ambassador Bajoga’s confirmation followed the nomination letter sent by Governor Yero to the House, requesting for his confirmation as deputy governor to fill the vacant position af-

ter having gone through security screening and found fit for the post. National Mirror noted that security team guarded the entrance of the House of Assembly to prevent breakdown of law and order or protest by aggrieved groups. A few policemen were also seen at Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat gate along Waff Road to monitor activities of those who planned to protest against the confirmation Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga as the deputy governor, but the group later

did not show up. It will be recalled that various groups, including Coalition of Concerned Southern Kaduna Professionals and Coalition of Southern Kaduna Youth, among others have kicked against Ambassador Bajoga’s nomination, saying it was a plot to silent them ahead of 2015 general elections. But during its emergency session, the House of Assembly, which presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mato Dogara, unanimously affirmed Bajoga as the new deputy governor

and wished him success. The deputy governor’s appointment was to fulfill constitutional requirement following the death of former Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa. Yakowa died in a navy helicopter alongside former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Andrew Azazi, and others while returning from Bayelsa State. Ambassador Bajoga was born on July 4, 1949 in Kwoi, present Jaba Local Government in the Southern part of Kaduna State.

Rent tribunal evicts Police College Commandant A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he Kaduna State Rent Tribunal has ordered the former Commandant of Police College in Kaduna, Mr. Sanusi Rufai, to vacate a house he forcefully occupied outside the college premises. The house, located at No.

2, Shooting Range Road, Kabala Doki, Government Residential Area (GRA), Kaduna, belongs to one Alhaji Shehu Imam, the plaintiff. Counsel to the plaintiff, Barau Abdullahi, had sometimes in September dragged the defendant to the tribunal, while he (defendant) was still in charge of the police college. The plaintiff told the tri-

bunal that the defendant illegally erected shops in front of the house and, therefore, prayed the tribunal to order him to remove the structures. Delivering his judgement, the tribunal’s Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Kwasau, said that since the defendant failed to turn up or send representative after being served notice of the court, it amounted to admission of the allegations

leveled against him. Kwasau, with two other members of the tribunal, Mustapha Ahmed and Lawal Ahmed, ruled: “We order that the defendant shall vacate the property at No. 2, Shooting Range Road, Kabala, Doki G.R.A, Kaduna, on or before December 20, 2012 or he shall be ejected by the police or any law enforcement

Bajoga, an accountant, joined Ashaka Cement Plc in 1980as the first Internal Audit Manager. He was appointed Area Manager for Bauchi, Jos and Kano in 1981 and served in that capacity until 1988. Bajoga was appointed Ambassador extra-ordinary and plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Poland and concurrently accredited to the Czech Republic by the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Bajoga was elected the Kaduna State Chairman of PDP in 2012.

agency.” The defendant has, however, been deployed to the Police College in Yobe State, but he is still in possession of the house. However, counsel to the plaintiff had written to the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, requesting for security personnel to execute the tribunal’s order.

Shettima presents N184.31bn 2013 appropriation bill INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has presented a budget proposal of N184.31 billion to the state House of Assembly for the year 2013. Presenting the proposal tagged: “Budget of Collective Renaissance” yesterday at the Assembly in Maiduguri, Governor Shettima disclosed that the budgetary proposal increased by N52.17 billion or 40 per cent over last year’s estimates. He said of the total budgetary proposal, N132.12 billion was allocated to capital expenditure, while recurrent expenditure would gulp N52.17 billion. Speaking on how the budget will be financed, Shettima said: “This budget proposal is expected to be financed from a statutory allocation of N108.8 billion and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N30.12 billion, while our capital receipts for the year is estimated at N132.14 billion.” In a breakdown of sectorial allocations, the Works and Transport sector took the lion’s share of N36.31 billion or 21 per cent of the total budgetary allocations while the education sector, including Higher Education will gulp N35.27 billion or 20 per cent of budget proposal. Other sectors that have higher budget proposals include the Health with N14.43 billion, Government House (N9.68 billion), Agriculture and Natural Resource (N9.39 billion), Housing and Rural Electrification (N6.44 billion) and Environment (N6.5 billion) with the state House of Assembly being allocated N4.39 billion for its recurrent and capital expenditures. Shettima, in his concluding remarks on the budget presentation amid tears before the legislators, said: “This state has been taken backwards by the challenges that we face and this make the task of recovery very crucial even as we combine recovery with speedy growth as we go forward. “The challenges are enormous and the demands of the people are numerous, deserving and realistic, but the resources are scarce. “We intend to channel our resources towards rebuilding Borno brick by brick with every patriotic citizen on board.

Community Mirror

Friday, December 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monarch calls Security chiefs urge peace in communities for completion of road JAMES IBRAHIM JOS

HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

he Olugbo of Ugbo-Ilaje, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, has called for the speedy completion of the 34-kilometer Igbokoda-Ayetoro Road in Ondo State. The monarch, who made this call at his Ode-Ugbo Palace, said ththat when completed, the road would open up the hitherto inaccessible communities up to to Olokola on the border with Ogun State. He also noted that the multi-billion naira Adagbakuja New Town project would create a new settlement for the mainly fishing Ilaje community. According to him, the Adagbakuja project had gulped N7 billion and a twokilometre square area adjacent to OdeUgbo and Ugbo-Nla, the two settlements considered as ancestral homes and spiritual headquarters of the Ugbo-Ilaje respectively, were reclaimed from the lagoon. The traditional ruler said, “Government needs to complete the Adagbakuja project by delivering not less than 300 houses for our people. On completion, the area would become a modern human settlement and commercial centre of the area. “Already the government is constructing a big regional market and many other big projects will soon spring up. The Federal Government should expedite action on the Ugbo-Iwoye road, to connect more communities with the new town.”

ecurity chiefs in Plateau have called on communities in Riyom Local Government Area to work together for return of peace to the area. They made the call when they visited Bagad village of Bachit District in Riyom Local Government Area, where a woman was recently killed in communal attack, even as another was injured by unknown persons who also set 10 thatched houses on fire. The Commander of the Special Task

Force in Plateau, Maj. Gen. Henry Ayoola, who led other security chiefs, said peace would only return if when the Berom and Fulani forgive each other. Ayoola, said they were in Bagad to condole with the people and share in their grief, adding that perpetrators of the crimes would be brought to book. “We are here to let you know we are concerned on what happened and to share in your griefs. We will do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators,” he said. Ayoola said the security agencies would protect all law abiding citizens ir-

A collapsed section of the overhead bridge on Iyana-Ipaja road, Lagos.

respective of tribe and faith. “We are only enemies of those who made themselves enemies of peace and we will hunt them until they change their ways,’’ he said. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe, threatened to arrest community leaders in which attacks occurred persistently. He said, “I would hold the chiefs responsible. They are leaders of the people and should have proper knowledge of happenings in their communities.” He said that no religion preached violence or encouraged killing and warned that law enforcement agents would deal with anyone, who killed in the name of religion,even as he advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate evil. Commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Bature Sodangi, advised community leaders to constantly admonish their people on the need for peace. He wondered why people living together for centuries, would suddenly become enemies and urged them to resolve their differences. The State Director of State Security Service, Mr Christian Ojobo, said that peace would continue to elude the people until they decide to change the situation. He advocated inter-cultural marriages between the Berom and Fulani as a way of building trust and love between them. The District Head of Bachit, Chief Gyang Dalyop, and Malam Mohammadu Adamu, the Fulani community leader, as well as Mr Dalyop Dantong, father of late Sen. Gyang Dantong,were among those that received the security chiefs.

Transition

Mukhtar Ibrahim

IG Muktari Ibrahim who hailed from Kano Municipal Council Area of Kano State, was born on 5 April, 1957 and died after a brief illness at the University Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State on December 22, 2012. Until his death, Ibrahim oversaw the administrative and operational activities of the Force in Cross Rivers, Rivers, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom States. Muktari Ibrahim enlisted into the Force as a Cadet Inspector of Police on the 30th July, 1979 and had his initial training at one of the premier police training institutions in Nigeria- Police College, Ikeja, Lagos. He holds a degree in Computer Science and had attended several professional

Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye

courses both at home and abroad. He was at the Police Staff College, Jos for Advanced Detective Course (ADC), Intermediate Command Course (ICC) and Senior Command Course (SCC). He was also at the Police Academy Cairo, Egypt for a special anti-smuggling training amongst others. A versatile and well travelled officer; he was formerly the AIG in charge of Zone 10 Sokoto covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States. He was also a former Commissioner of Police in-charge of Anambra, Kwara and Kebbi States. A consummate police officer and a caring family man, he will be remembered by his colleagues and friends within and outside the Force as a fine and patriotic officer who gave his best to the service of his fatherland. While commiserating with the immediate family and the entire officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, the InspectorGeneral of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar, CFR, NPM, mni, prayed that the Almighty Allah grants him eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss. Late AIG Ibrahim will be buried today at his Kano hometown according to Islamic rites.

he former Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye was born in Odo-Owa Ekiti, Ekiti State on December 25, 1929 and died on December 14, 2012. He had his primary school education at Ijero-Ekiti between 1937 and 1944. He took to teaching after his primary education, and acted as an ‘agent’ at St. Paul’s Church, Ara-Yero, during the period. He decided to attend Melville Hall, in Kudeti, Ibadan, in 1949, to become a priest. He was further educated in England at King’s College London (BD), and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He was ordained a deacon at the end of 1953 at the Cathedral Church of Lagos, by the first Archbishop of West Africa, Leslie Vining. He was a curate at St. Peter’s Church, in Ake, Abeokuta, since 1954; latter was a chaplain to Archbishop Vining and afterwards to Archbishop Howells. This enabled him to move to Wycliff Hall, in Oxford, England, to continue his studies. He was involved in some parish ministries at St. George in Leeds and was a curate at St. Mary’s Church in Plaistow. Returning to Nigeria, Rev. Adetiloye was a teacher at the Immanuel College of Theology in Ibadan, for four years and three

months. On 10 August 1966, he became vicar and provost at the Cathedral Church of St. James, in Ibadan. On August 1970, he was elected and nominated bishop of the Diocese of Ekiti, latter being transferred to the Diocese of Lagos, of which he was bishop from 1985 to 1999. He was enthroned as the second Primate of the Church of Nigeria on 26 December 1986, the following day to his 57th birthday, at the Cathedral Church of Lagos, by his predecessor, Archbishop Timothy O. Olufosoye.

Friday, December 28, 2012

‘Osaz’ sounds Eagles quit notice

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

I’m not happy with Osaze’s Twitter comments on his exclusion from the list, especially on the person of the coach, Stephen Keshi. It’s the least conduct expected from a player of his calibre – FORMER SUPER EAGLES CAPTAIN, HENRY NWOSU

Chukwumerije endorses open NSF YEMI OLUS

Shola Ameobi (right) wheels away in celebration after netting Newcastle’s lone goal against QPR last weekend. Eagles are set to miss this scene as his club threatens to hold him back for Premiership games

Keshi raises Ameobi alarm

igeria coach Stephen Keshi has admitted problems in Shola Ameobi’s release for the AFCON as the Newcastle striker’s contract keeps him out. “I spoke with Shola Ameobi last night (Tuesday) and he said his coach did not speak with him even before going to the press,” Keshi specially told MTNFootball.com “But apparently, there is a clause he signed in his contract two years ago that he would not dump the team for the Nations

Cup. And that is what his coach is holding on to right now. “But Shola has said he would speak with the coach after their game today (Wednesday) against Manchester United and get back to me. “I must confess that with this latest revelation from Shola we are in a tight corner mores that the club is uncertain of the future of Demba Ba.” Nigeria have vowed to fight for the release of Ameobi by invoking the FIFA clause that stipulates a

club must release a player at least 14 days before a major competition. In November, Ameobi, who opted to change his international allegiance to his native country after he represented England at age-group levels, made an encouraging debut for Nigeria in a friendly against Venezuela in Miami. The manager of England-based Danny Shittu has also been quoted in the media as saying the Millwall centre back will skip next month’s continental tournament in South Africa.

eijing Olympics bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumwerije has thrown his weight behind the decision of the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi to make the next edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) an open event. The taekwondo practitioner who won gold in the 2000 NSF in Edo State said throwing the festival open will enhance competition amongst the athletes. He said, “Iron sharpens iron and if only kids and inexperienced people fight each other, they are not going to improve. I think that what the minister has done is fantastic and creative. I am hundred percent in support of it. They should open it. That will improve the quality of the contest. People coming to watch

Mikel expects tough games for the Blues IKENWA NNABUOGOR

fter serving a three - game ban, Nigeria international John Obi Mikel returned to the Chelsea line - up on Boxing Day against Norwich in the 19th round of matches in the English

Kwambe vows to make AFCON team

unshine Stars right back Solomon Kwambe has expressed confidence he will be on the final 23-man squad to AFCON. Kwambe confidently declared in interview with MTNFootball.com, that he would against all odds make Coach Stephen Keshi’s 23-man team to 2013 South African Nations Cup. The Sunshine Stars defender shone brightly in his first competitive game for Eagles against Venezuela in Miami last month, saying it was a dream come true for him. Kwambe would eventually ride on the back of his impressive debut to make the provisional 32-man list as they departed to Faro, Portugal,

yesterday. He vowed he would stop at nothing in making the final 23man list. “It was like a dream, I couldn’t believe it. I was over the moon. I was excited and again it was a dream come true for me. And now I hope to keep doing well in the team. “The game against Venezuelat was not my first game for the Eagles. I debuted against Niger Republic in a friendly in August, but you know that game was not shown on television, like the Venezuela game. “It was a good debut all the same. I thank the coaches for giving me chance in the Eagles. They also gave

me the courage to believe in myself which brought out the best in me. “The first half of the game (vs Venezuela) was not good for us, but after coach Stephen Keshi and others spoke to us, the story changed in the second half. “I have the chance to make the team like every player that has been invited. All I need to do is to show the coaches the reason why I should be picked ahead of others. “ I have been preparing myself for the task because I know it won’t be easy, but I believe I will make the team to Nations Cup with hard work, dedication and determination.

the events will get value for their money. The whole of Nigeria is here to watch this event. I don’t want to watch two people who have just started fighting taekwondo; it is not interesting. “I want to hear ‘Isah Adam, two–time Olympian or Jamilu Mohammed, AllAfrica Games champion against an up-and–coming star. Everyone will sit up in anticipation of that fight and will wonder if the African champion is going to kill the new athlete. You will be surprised at the number of upsets that will occur. If the new athlete wins, his level of confidence will increase and if he loses, he will take comfort in the fact that he may be able to beat him next time.” The 28-year old canvassed for states to be more concerned about getting the best from the athletes rather than focusing solely on winning medals at all costs.

Mikel

Premier League. The European champions will also face Everton in another away tie after the Blues’ 1-0 win at Carrow Road ontheir next two games. And Mikel has admitted that the away games will be difficult. ‘’These are very tough away fixtures, Norwich have been doing really well lately, even though they lost at West Brom. It’s going to be difficult so we need to be up for it if we want to win it. ‘’At the same time, we don’t need anybody to tell us about how hard it is to play at Everton, it’s always a difficult place to go for anybody. On their day they can beat any team at Goodison Park, and they’re in good form too. They will both be tough, but if we do well we can get something out of them if we are on our game,’’ says Mikel to the official website chelseafc.com Mikel, who has been named in Nigeria’s preliminary African Cup of Nations roster, must arrive the Super Eagles camp in Faro, Portugal latest January 4th.

Sport

Friday, December 28, 2012

Rooney sidelined for three weeks

anchester United striker Wayne Rooney will be sidelined for between two and three weeks after sustaining knee ligament damage in training. The England forward was missing from the line up for the Red Devils’ 4-3 victory over Newcastle Wednesday. After his poor performance against Swansea on Sunday, Ferguson would have loved the hitman to come out swinging against Newcastle, but could not select him due to injury. “After his performance on Sunday I think he would have been brilliant today. You don’t have two performances like he did on Sunday. Unfortunately we couldn’t risk him”, Ferguson said. He continued: “It was a volley towards the end of training. He injured a ligament at the back of his knee and could be out for two to three weeks.” Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez stepped up to the mark in Rooney’s absence, both scoring as United managed to grab three points from a topsy-turvy game. Rooney will miss Premier League matches against West Brom and Wigan, in addition to the FA Cup third round tie at West Ham on January 5. He also faces a race against time to face Liverpool at Old TrafRooney ford on January 13.

ir Alex Ferguson has escaped any punishment from the FA for his conduct towards officials during his team’s win over Newcastle on Wednesday. However, action over Roberto Mancini and Harry Redknapp is under consideration after they were highly critical of refereeing performances following their defeats. The Manchester United manager confronted referee Mike Dean at half time, then expressed his anger at fourth official Neil Swarbrick, before arguing with assistant Jake Collin after the visitor’s second goal was allowed to stand despite initially being ruled out for offside. But Dean did not include any mention of the incidents in his match report and as such, English football’s governing body consider the matter closed. It is understood that while Ferguson appeared extremely heated once Jonny Evans’ own goal had been given, with Papiss Cisse stood in an offside position, he did not abuse or use insulting language towards the officials. In fact, Dean and Ferguson held a ‘reasonable and rational’ conversation about the goal and the game’s laws, even if the United boss disagreed with its interpretation. Dean did not send Ferguson to the stands during the game, an indication that nothing against the rules had taken place. However, Manchester City boss Mancini could yet be handed a ban for his comments aimed at referee Kevin Friend. The Italian

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mancini maintains title belief

anchester City manager Roberto Mancini said he is maintaining his confidence in his champion side to defend their Premier League crown. The English champions, who secured the league title in dramatic fashion last season, have struggled over the festive period this term, needing a late goal to beat Reading before falling to a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland on Boxing Day - a result which saw them slip seven points behind Manchester United. The Red Devils also scored late on to secure victory over Newcastle on Wednesday, extending their lead at the top of the table, but things could be even worse for City had Sir Alex Ferguson’s men not drawn with Swansea beforehand. However, the Italian indicated he was still calm despite the large gap, acknowledging that their rivals have the upper hand but insisting that his players will have ‘no problem’ in catching up. “United are better than us but it can change,” he told reporters. “They are on the top but we have

the time to recover. Seven points are no problem.” Critics have suggested that Joe Hart should have saved Adam Johnson’s low shot that handed the Black Cats victory on Wednesday, as the effort slipped under his grasp. But the 48-year-old manager defended his goalkeeper, who declared he was not to blame, and instead praised the former City attacker for his creativity. “Johnson was really clever because we all thought he was going to cross. Instead, he shot. He did very well. I do not think Joe Hart was at fault”, he explained.

Mancini

Fergie escapes FA’s hammer Referee cost us a point –Cisse was angered by a challenge on Pablo Zabaleta in the build-up to Sunderland’s winning goal went unpunished. Mancini said after the 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light: “The referee, he ate too much for Christmas. I do not know how he could miss this. He was not in good form.” FA rules do not allow managers to question the integrity of officials and Mancini’s suggestion that Friend over-indulged falls into this category. Ironically, Ferguson was banned for two-games after branding Alan Wiley ‘unfit’ following a game in 2010.

PR striker Djibril Cisse says the team are frustrated that West Brom’s second goal was allowed to stand in their 2-1 Boxing Day win at Loftus Road. But the Frenchman, who pulled a goal back for the R’s in the second half, says there is still belief that the Premier League’s bottom side can repeat their feat of last season and beat the drop. “We have to keep fighting, that is all we can do. We did it

Arshavin heading to Reading

Fergie

Benitez hails Chelsea

helsea interim manager Rafael Benitez acknowledged Wednesday’s 1-0 win at Norwich was just as important as its weekend thrashing of Aston Villa. The Blues needed a special firsthalf strike from Juan Mata to beat a determined Canaries team, just three days after they had ham-

Benitez

last year, so why not this year again?”said Cisse. Controversy erupted early in the second half at Loftus Road on Wednesday when QPR goalkeeper Rob Green fumbled the ball into his own net while apparently being fouled by West Brom’s Marc-Antoine Fortune. Cisse said: “I’ve seen the video again and again and it was clearly a foul for their second goal. He (Fortune) didn’t attempt to play the ball.

mered Villa 8-0 at Stamford Bridge. Although the Boxing Day victory over Norwich will not have drawn as many plaudits as the demolition job on Sunday, Benitez was equally as delighted by Chelsea’s display. “I think it is important to see the team working hard and defending well. We have another clean sheet after Villa, where we were playing really offensive football. We could manage and we could control against a good team. “They were well organised and pushed and were quite dangerous on the counter-attack, but we were doing our job in defence and that is something we have improved and can keep on improving. This kind of game - 1-0 - a free-kick, corner or counter-attack can make a difference so until the end they were pushing so we did well” he said.

rsenal outcast Andrey Arshavin is close to sealing a January move to relegation-threatened Reading. The Gunners signed him for £15million in 2009 but he has held talks over a switch to the Madejski Stadium, where billionaire Russian owner Anton Zingarevich wants the 31-yearold, a superstar in their homeland, to bolster his struggling squad. Arsenal are listening to offers for Arshavin, out of contract at the end of the season, as they try to shift his £85,000-a-week contract off the wage bill. Arsenal, who are willing to take a hefty loss on the forward, could offload him for as little as £2m. Sources close to Arshavin insist he is taking the offer seriously, given his frustration at Arsenal and the chance to link up with compatriot Zingarevich. Reading have made an infor-

mal offer for Arshavin, who has been told he can leave if he can find the right deal for him and Arsenal straight away. His old club Zenit St Petersburg are keen, as are Fulham. Marouane Chamakh, on £60,000 a week, is the other big earner Arsenal will try to offload in January. West Ham and Norwich are keen.

Arshavin

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Friday, December 28, 2012

Wi Window on Nigerian players abroad

with IKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Nworuh targets 10 goals

‘Osaz’ sounds Eagles’ quit notice A W est Brom forward Peter Odemwingie has hinted that he won’t play for the Super Eagles again after he was omitted from the list of players invited to a training camp in Portugal ahead of the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, according to Birmingham Mail. The British press reports that the relationship between Odemwingie and coach Stephen Keshi has been far from cordial. The former Lokomotiv Moscow striker was visibly angered by his substitution against Rwanda in an African Cup of Nations qualifying fixture last February, ‘’It is clear now that my days with the Super Eagles are over. I played a very good ten years from 2002 to 2012. It was getting there but maybe it’s happened earlier than I thought. I expected it because we have had a few issues before,” Odemwingie told Birmingham Mail. ‘’It’s a long story. It all started when I came back to play against Liverpool. In midweek we had an international friendly for Nigeria against Kenya. It was an empty stadium and the match didn’t mean anything to us. Liverpool was a big game for us and that game gave me what I needed to be the player of the month,’’ He added: ‘’I was warned that they were going to find a reason to push me away. All week I was begging them and saying ‘please, I need to go and play against Liverpool, it’s an important month for us and we’re fighting against relegation’. ‘’He refused to understand that and the game was played in an 80,000-seater stadium and 2,000 people watched the game. It didn’t

C Horsens of Denmark forward Jude Nworuh says he hopes to score at least 10-golas in his first season with the Yellows. The former Midtylland star switched to exEagle Abdul Sule’s former club in the summer, signing a three-year contract. Nworuh netted once in 11 appearances for his new side just before the break and now wishes to add more goals to his haul to hit his personal 10-goal target when action resumes in 2013. “As a striker your job is to score

Alabi eyes Eagles chance

Osaze Odemwingie

mean anything to us. ‘’The question was there about whether I wanted to retire or not. I still love my country and care about the football but I already wasn’t feeling the way I would have liked to feel.’’

Peter Odemwingie’s wife, Sarah, is expected to give birth to the couple’s first child on January 11th. The former Lokomotiv Moscow ace played in four consecutive African Cup of Nations finals beginning from 2004 - 2010.

Shittu delighted at Eagles’ return

illwall central defender Danny Shittu is delighted to return to the Super Eagles squad two years out there in the cooler, he close associate has told National Mirror. Shittu was named in the 32-man provisional list released by Eagles coach Stephen Keshi ahead of the final build up in Faro, Portugal for the Nations Cup finals holding in South Africa next year. Shittu last played for his country at the 2010 World Cup which co-incidentally held in South Africa. He was overlooked by sacked coach Samson Siasia who led the team to miss out on the Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012 Nations Cup ticket but rode on

goals and that’s what I always want to do for my team,” he says. “So far I have scored three goals even though sometimes I am not played in the striking role; as the coach sometimes uses me in the midfield. “My aim is to score at least seven more goals so I will have 10 goals; it can be more but that is the minimum target I have set for myself.” In the first term of the League, Horsens are seventh and are also in the Semi final of the Danish FA Cup.

the back of his sterling performances for promotion-chasing Millwall to earn a well deserved recall. Shittu’s recall may have well plugged some loopholes in the central defence area where the likes of home-based duo of Azubike Egwuekwe and Godfrey Oboabana have struggled to stamp their authority since Keshi handed them rare chance. “Shittu is very happy to have handed another opportunity to return to the team after the disappointments of being left out completely by Siasia,” the close associate added. “He’s very committed to the cause and says he will do his best

to justify his late inclusion in the team. Shittu will continue his usual all-action style at the rear if he gets selected.” Meanwhile, there’s an air of uncertainty surrounding the release to feature in the Nations Cup for the former QPR star as the management of the London club has threatened to hold him back at the New Den. NFF have also risen to the challenge and are prepared to report the club to FIFA. The former Bolton star who has so far belted 28 caps for his country is expected to join the team in Faro next week and could play in the friendly against Catalonia and Cape Verde.

C Omonnia of Cyprus central defence Rasheed Alabi has told National Mirror he’s got all it takes to cement a place in the Eagles defence. The former Gateway star who signed off in style with a goal last weekend as the Cypriot league went on Christmas break, believes that he has come of age to represent his country. Alabi admits that he’s overlooked by the national team selectors because he plays in Cyprus, but beleives his exploits in the Champions League and Europa Cup should have caught the eye of coach Stephen Keshi and his assistants. “I may be playing in Cyprus but that does not matter because I have been consistent since I arrived in the country six years ago,” he said. “Not where a plays plies his trade matters, it’s the quality of the player that should be taken into consideration. “Cyprus boost of quality players from Brazil, Argentina, England, Holland, Serbia and all over the world and you can see the result with the exploits of APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League.

Rash Alabi

“I’m very happy in Cyprus and Ommonia, which is the biggest club in the land because I’m very satisfied with what i’m getting. “I have been linked with top clubs in Holland, France and Germany but for personal reasons the transfer didn’t happen. It’s not yet time to leave, when the time is right, I will. “We were almost getting Manchester City out of the then UEFA Cup but was edged out narrowly. I will never forget the goal I scored against them. “We beat ADO Den Haag 6-0 at home in the Europa Cup some time ago and the club wanted me to by means but they couldn’t come up with the cash and I had to stay back. “I still believe I’ve got a lot to offer my country and I can’t wait to grab the chance. I also have a record in Cyprus as one of the few defenders to have played every single minute in two seasons consecutively and scored 13 goals.” Alabi was one of the players that started the 2005 World Cup U-20 campaign, having played in the qualifying round against Burkina Faso in Ibadan. He chose to pursue a professional career in

WORLD RECORD

Most prolific murder partnership Vol. 02 No. 523

Friday, December 28, 2012

N150

Plea bargain or licence to steal?

espite the groundswell of criticisms trailing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) recourse to a jaundiced version of plea bargain as a tool for the disposition of high profile corruption cases, the Commission seems bent on sticking to the ‘short-cut’ to criminal justice that enables graft suspects part with some of their loot in exchange for freedom, without any punishment. The report last weekend that two oil marketers, Aro Bamidele and Abiodun Bankole, were having talks with the EFCC over the N1.3 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them suggested that much. The Commission had alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained N1.3 billion from the Federal Government for the purported importation of 30 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). They had pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted a N100 million bail each, with three sureties in like sum. The EFCC had similarly moved recently

FRIDAYS WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) to terminate, through plea bargain, too, the ongoing trial of Mahmud Tukur, the son of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and three others facing a charge of N1.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud. Ordinarily, plea bargain is supposed to be a criminal justice process that enables a defendant and prosecutor mutually agree on the settlement of a criminal case, subject to court approval. When successfully brokered, it results in a plea agreement between the prosecutor and the defendant; the defendant agrees to plead guilty without going through trial, while the prosecutor agrees to dismiss some of the charges or recommend favourable prison sentence against him or her (defendant) to the court. More importantly, perhaps, ‘when a court accepts a plea agreement, the guilty plea stands as a conviction, and the defendant cannot be retried on the same offence’. Plea bargaining, according to critics, softens the deterrent effect of punishment because it gives criminal defendants the power to bargain for lesser punishments. Besides, experienced criminals are said to be more likely to receive favourable plea bargains because they are familiar with the criminal justice system. In other words, plea bargaining subverts the proposition that a criminal should receive a punishment suited to the crime committed. At a two-day capacity-building workshop for judicial reporters in Abuja in

obert Lewandowski will double his earnings as a Manchester United player after moving a step nearer landing his dream move to Old Trafford. He is set to accept an offer of £20.5million in wages to join the Barclays

THE NIGERIAN STYLE OF PLEA BARGAIN ENCOURAGES STEALING WITH

WOLFISH IMPUNITY, SINCE ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS FOR THE THIEF TO SURRENDER AN INSIGNIFICANT PORTION OF WHAT WAS STOLEN WHEN CAUGHT March this year, Justice Dahiru Musdapher (rtd), who was then the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), had stated that plea bargain was introduced to provide a soft landing for high-profile criminals who loot the nation’s treasury, and thus constituted an obstacle to the country’s fight against corruption. Shortly after, Musdapher, firmly supported by another former CJN, Mohammad Uwais, at the Annual Alternative Dispute Resolution Summit organized not too long ago by the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG), and the National Judicial Institute (NJI), in Abuja

reiterated the inherent danger in plea bargain as being practiced in the country. “I still stand on my buckles to state that the concept is not only dubious but was never part of the history of our legal system, at least, until it was surreptitiously smuggled into our statutory laws with the creation of the EFCC… The essence of the concept of plea bargain is the recovery of stolen funds and, therefore, not subject to negotiation. What is subject to negotiation should be the prosecution and punishment for embezzlement… Even where the whole money stolen is returned by the offender, he has committed the offence of theft or abuse of office for which he must still be tried and punished”, the former CJN (Musdapher) said. Incidentally, the EFCC hardly bothers about punishment for crooks who heartlessly loot public treasury once they surrender portions of their loot. Not surprisingly, most defenders of plea bargaining are the operators of the system – prosecutors like the EFCC, affected criminals and their lawyers and, perhaps, some complicit judges. For this group, plea bargaining is wonderful for the criminal justice system considering the poor funding of the judiciary, inadequate courts and judicial officers, etc. But in a nation where treasury looting at all levels of government has become the rule rather than the exception, where billions or trillions of naira vanish in subsidy and pension frauds, it is obvious that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration’s purported fight against corruption is headed to nowhere with EFCC’s ‘go-inpeace’ version of plea bargain, which seeks to recover a little of what was stolen, while the criminals goes home, scot free to enjoy the main loot. Rather than serve as deterrent to looting and embezzlement, the Nigerian style of plea bargaining encourages stealing with wolfish impunity, since all that is required is for the thief to surrender an insignificant portion of what was stolen when caught. The earlier this charade is reversed, the better for the nation.

Sport Extra

The sisters Delfina and María de Jesús Gonzáles, of Mexico, abducted girls to work in brothels and are known to have murdered at least 90 of their victims. The sisters were sentenced to 40 years imprisonment in 1964.

Lewandowski set to sign five-year United deal Premier League side in the summer. Borussia Dortmund have settled on an £18million fee for the Polish striker, who has long been pursued by Sir Alex Ferguson.

According to German newspaper Bild, the 24-year-old will sign a fiveyear contract at Old Trafford worth around £4.1m annually. The striker’s contract

with the club expires at the end of next season and though he is widely acknowledged as Dortmund’s most potent attacking weapon, he lags behind teammates Marco Reus and Ma-

rio Goetze on the pay scale. Fellow-forward Reus and attacking midfielder Goetze, both rake in £3.28m a year, while Lewandowski is on an annual salary of just over £2m.

Robert Lewandowski

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