Friday, November 16, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Ex-CJNs warn against plea bargain N75.5bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns former minister T ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

Mukhtar

Vol. 2 N0. 493

wo former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Mohammad Uwais and Dahiru Musdapher yesterday cautioned

Boko Haram: US accuses FG of human rights violations

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the Federal Government against further use of plea bargain as a judicial tool of fighting corruption and reCONTINUED ON PAGE 3>>

Gunmen kill family of seven in Kaduna

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Jonathan

Friday, November 16, 2012

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Jonathan restates case for fuel subsidy removal …sets up committee on Ribadu report, others Nigerians’ll reject price hike –NLC FATAL ACCIDENT ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY

WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BUILDING REFINERIES IN NIGERIA, YET IT IS A BIG BUSINESS? IT IS BECAUSE OF THE POLICY OF SUBSIDY, AND THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO GET OUT OF IT

–Jonathan ROTIMI FADEYI AND TORDUE SALEM

One of the vehicles involved in the accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, yesterday. Story on page 3.

IBB, Ajimobi, Yakasai, Kaita, CPC pay tribute to Saraki China gets new leader

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PHOTO: MURTALA AYINLA

n what could be a signal of his intentions, President Goodluck

Certificate: Airhiavbere floors Oshiomhole at Appeal Court P.11

Jonathan has again justified the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, insisting that the policy would encourage private investment into CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Oshiomhole

Constitution review: Lagos demands special status ...as Mark advocates state creation, more power to LGs 73-yr-old Nigerian drug suspect dies in Brazilian hospital

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Friday, November 16, 2012

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Boko Haram: US accuses FG of human rights violations GEORGE OJI, INUSA NDAHI AND A ZA MSUE

he Federal Government has denied allegations by the United States that security operatives attacking members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect were engaging in human rights violations while enjoying Federal Government’s protection from prosecution. US Assistant Secretary

of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Mr. Michael Posner, had made the allegation when he visited the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, in his office in Abuja yesterday. Posner visited the minister in company of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Karen Hanrahan, also from the State Department of US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour and the US Ambassador to

Nigeria, Mr. Terrence McCully. A statement from the ministry said the US team was in Nigeria to hold discussions with the Federal Government and some members of the civil society organisations on human rights, the promotion of democracy and labour. Posner noted that his office had received reports on allegations of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention of suspected members of the sect by security forces.

64th convocation procession of the University of Ibadan in Ibadan, yesterday.

He added that reports of lack of prosecution of security and police officers involved in human rights violations in counter-terrorism activities had also been received. Posner also noted that the war could not be won by sheer force alone. Ashiru, however, recalled the recent visit of the Amnesty International, AI, during which he addressed the organisation’s concerns on Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategies and campaigns.

PHOTO: NAN

He debunked the allegation that the nation’s security forces had engaged in extra-judicial killings and arbitrary detention of suspects. The minister explained that the rules of engagement by security forces in their counter-insurgency campaigns had conformed to the best international practices and standards. Ashiru also recalled his advice to AI not to rely on third party sources in compiling its reports and conclusions, “as they seem to have done in the case of the report recently released on Nigeria.” He noted that the report was biased and had failed to meet the basic test of objectivity. According to the minister, this was why he had requested Amnesty International to open an office in Nigeria. It was also for the same reason that representatives of the international body were granted access to some detention centres, including their meetings with the Army High Command and Police authorities during their visit. Ashiru stated that Nigeria was satisfied with its level of engagement with the United States which has found expres-

sion in the Nigeria-US BiNational Commission that is very robust and a good working model as amply demonstrated at all levels of bilateral engagements with the US. He recalled that, at the political level, there had been various exchange of visits, including the recent visit of the Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton to Nigeria. The minister expressed the view that Nigeria is an open society, where NGOs and the media operate freely without let or hindrance by the Government. Meanwhile, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen yesterday killed seven members of the same family in Madauchi Zangon Kataf Local Government area of Southern Kaduna State. The state Governor, Patrick Yakowa, has condemned the attack. A resident told one of our correspondents that the incident happened between 11p.m. on Wednesday and 2a.m. on Thursday. The source said the attack was targeted at house of one Mr. Yakubu Kayit where the hoodlums set the house ablaze while the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Jonathan restates case for fuel subsidy removal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the nation’s refineries. The refineries have been notorious for poor performance, which has contributed to fuel scarcity being experiences nationwide. President Jonathan spoke in Abuja yesterday at a meeting with Course Participants of the 2012 Senior Executive Course 34 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, near Jos. He said that the deregulation of the petroleum sector would attract investors into building refineries that were private sector-driven while the four existing refineries which had been operating at 30 per cent capacity would work at full capacity. He said that Canada, for example, had 16 privatelyowned functional refineries. The President advised the NIPSS, a body that fashion out policies on better governance, to come up

with policies that would put the nation ahead in all sectors of the economy. “Why is it that people are not building refineries in Nigeria, yet it is a big business? It is because of the policy of subsidy and that is why we want to get out of it,” Jonathan said. The statement may be a signal that the administration is still bent on implementing the fuel subsidy removal, which sparked off of protests in January. The President stated that the country could witness a turnaround within 10 years with the commitment of government and strong political will once the right policies were put in place. “I believe that you do not need a lifetime to change a nation. Under 10 years, Nigeria can change and people will not even believe that this is Nigeria. “Immediately you come up with strong policies in key sectors of the economy and keep it for 10 years, the

change will be astronomical,” he said. The President said that there was need to review the funding of the NIPSS, which already had debt burden of N600m, stressing that government would consider timely release of funds to the institute. President Jonathan, however, assured that government would intervene as it would direct the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayatu Rufa’i, to ask the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETF, to make available to the institute N50m grant to offset part of the debt. On the tax arrears of about N105m already incurred by the institute, the President said he would not support a situation where the tax arrears would be written off, saying it was a criminal offence for any agency of government to deduct employees’ taxes without remitting same to authorities.

“It is a problem in this country, whether you are an agency of government, you must deduct tax if you fail to remit it, it is a criminal offence. We do not encourage departments of government to deduct tax and keep it. “The FIRS feels that they have done you a favour, but the vice president will want us to write it off, but I will not support that now because you must pay tax,” the President said. President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar, however, said: “Well Nigerians are watching and will certainly accept subsidy removal.” The NIPSS graduands called on the President to intensify efforts aimed at tackling the spate of insecurity in parts of the country. In the report titled, “Resource diversification for sustainable economic development in Nigeria,” they also identified unemploy-

ment as one of the greatest threats to security, saying that the situation had made unemployed youths and other disgruntled persons to attack the system, which they believed was responsible for their plight. They expressed serious concern over the airports in the country, saying they all lacked the capacity to check terrorism. The participants noted that the airports were not fully secured against terrorism as they had porous perimeter fences and were without closed circuit televisions for monitoring of the area to check insecurity. They also gave the maritime sector and the media hard knocks, saying that the maritime sector was over dependent on foreign carriers while accusing the media of not being objective in its reportage. The participants also expressed concern over the nation’s over-dependence on crude oil and natural

gas. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has directed its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Finance and States and Local Governments to look into allegations that proceeds from a new petroleum pricing regime by the executive arm of government were misappropriated. The Presidency had on January 1 this year announced the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products and summarily raised the prices of these products by about 80 per cent, attracting a national outcry that threatened the country’s leadership. The Presidency, reacting to the widespread protests, set up what it called a Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P. It also set up a presidential committee headed by former High Commissioner to the UnitCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Friday, November 16, 2012

Ex-CJNs warn against plea bargain CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

solving criminal cases. The warning came less than 48 hours after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was reported to have begun moves to terminate, via plea bargain, the ongoing criminal trial of Mahmud Tukur, the son to National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and three others facing a charge of N1.8bn fuel subsidy fraud. The two justices, though admitted that plea bargaining had its merits, insisted that it would be better to reform the nation’s criminal laws to accommodate the ju-

dicial tool with measures that would prevent its negative aspects and preserve its positive aspects legislated upon. The eminent jurists spoke at the Annual Alternative Dispute Resolution Summit organised by the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group, NCMG, and the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja on the theme: “Plea bargaining and criminal justice in Africa: A threat or promise.” Uwais spoke as the Chairman of NCMG while Musdapher delivered the keynote address at the event. Musdapher explained that Nigeria was not yet

ripe for plea bargain as the nation is presently mired in corruption. He insisted that the concept had a dubious origin. An expert in criminal law in Nigeria, Prof. Cyprian Okonkwo (SAN), supported Justice Musdapher, saying plea bargain had no roots in the nation’s statute. The EFCC has always pointed to the provisions of section 14(2) of the EFCC Act as the legal basis for its use of plea bargain to resolve criminal cases. Okonkwo, however, noted that the provision had nothing to do with plea bargain, adding that the provision must be revised.

But the former Chief Judge of Kogi State and Administrator of National Judicial Institute, NJI, Justice Umaru Eri and the EFCC rationalised the continued application of plea bargain in the administration of criminal justice system. He, however, advised that measures should be put in place to check abuse of the judicial tool. Justice Musdapher said: “Allow me to still reiterate my position on the concept of plea bargain. 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

One of the victims of Lagos tanker accident in hospital yesterday.

Scores feared dead in Lagos tanker accident MURITALA AYINLA

cores of people were feared dead in an accident involving a fuel tanker and five other vehicles on Lagos - Ibadan Expressway yesterday. The accident, which occurred at the Otedola Jubilee Estate, led to gridlock as the tanker spilt its 32,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, petrol, on the road. Those who were critically injured in the crash were rushed to the hospital. At press time, efforts were being made to recover the trapped victims in the badly damaged vehicles. For several hours vehicular movement on the ever-busy expressway was halted while the men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Lagos Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were making trying to res-

cue some of the victims. The gridlock caused by the accident extended to the Oworo axis, Third Mainland Bridge and other adjoining roads. Many sympathisers gathered at the scene of the accidents while others were assisting in the rescue efforts. Men of the Fire Service were ready with their water truck to prevent fire from the spillage, while LASEMA provided mobile halogen light to aid the recovery effort. Confirming the accident, the General Manager of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, warned motorists to take alternative routes to avert further disaster. Also speaking with our correspondent, the Director of Lagos Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, said recovery effort was still going on. Fadipe, who also said that a similar accident oc-

curred at Maryland area of the state yesterday, bemoaned the wave of tanker accidents in the metropolis. He said: “It was an accident involving fuel tanker and about five cars. The truck spilled fuel on the road but our men are in control to ensure the fuel doesn’t catch fire. The mechanics around the area have been told to stop their operation to avert fire resulting from the spillage.” A driver, who identified himself as Oludare, said: “The accident happened about 5pm. People ran away, when they discovered that it involved fuel tanker. They did that because they did not want to die while rescuing others. The truck had break failure.” Another motorist, who did not want his name in print said: “I got here some minutes before 6:00pm. The rescue team was busy retrieving trapped passengers. Many who did not die, sustained

various degrees of injury. The affected vehicles are a fuel tanker with Borno State registration number: Xb 116 NGL; red truck (KSF. 806 XC); Benz; Skoda car (FKJ 167 AX; Land Rover, (AH 723 SMK); truck (AA 123 HJA). According to the head of operations, FRSC, Lagos Sector Command, Mr. Irele Wuyi, said: “For now, we can confirm that two persons died but more may be commenting on the accident, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, said everything was under control as necessary implements needed to prevent any unnecessary loss of lives and property were immediately deployed for the rescue mission. He however, appealed to motorists on the need for them to always exercise caution on the road as well as ensure that their vehicles are in good condition and are roadworthy.

surreptitiously smuggled into our statutory laws with the creation of EFCC. “Though the concept of plea bargain may be noble to the Criminal Justice System of the Unites States and possibly some common law jurisdictions within Africa, it is pertinent to observe the case and circumstances within which plea bargain is applied in those jurisdictions. “In Nigeria, a proper understanding of the concept of plea bargain by prosecutors and law enforcement officers is seriously required to reduce the misconception that what is being plea bargained is the proceeds of crime rather than the crime itself with a view to having a lesser punishment for the offence committed. Thus, there is need to establish a legal framework that will be peculiar to our social norms, values and circumstances. “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. “This concept is not ripe for our criminal justice system in Africa, particularly Nigeria, because of the one thing that has plagued and ravaged this beautiful continent-corruption, the hydraheaded monster that has eaten so deep into the fabrics of our justice system, leaving us at its mercy.” In his submission, Uwais said: “The practice of plea bargain is not new in Nigeria. Hence, it will not be out of depth for me to make a point which may shape the discussion along the line of law and judicial reform. “The point is that in theory, and I believe this is safe, plea bargain is designed to maximise scarce judicial resources thereby enhancing the fair administration of justice. The debate should therefore, in my view, focus more on how best the judiciary can adapt to the use of plea bargain in a manner that does not compromise fair administration of justice.” Eri said: “To me, plea bar-

gaining is constitutional since in a plea bargaining, the defendant or accused is made to regurgitate as much as possible part or whole of the loot that constitutes the criminality. “After all, we are told that a criminal offence must be defined in a written law and the punishment thereto prescribed in the same law. Whatever discretion a judge exercises in sentencing does not in any way make plea bargaining unconstitutional.” The EFCC also stoutly defended the continuos usage of the judicial tool although with a caveat that a legal framework for its application be put in place to check against abuse. According to the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, “the discourse on the utilisation of plea bargaining as a mechanism for resolution of criminal cases has recently gained centre stage. I thank the NCMG for raising the bar of this conversation through this dialogue “Understandably, because the concept is relatively new and its dynamic yet to be fully explored, its use for the disposal of high profile criminal cases is bound to generate the type of controversy we now witness. This, nevertheless, is good for the development not only of our jurisprudence or the subject but also our social system,” he said. Lamorde who noted that it was applied in the cases of Federal Government against Emmanuel Nwude, Chief DSP Alamieyesiegha, Tafa Balogun, Lucky Igbinedion and Cecilia Ibru, said there was nothing illegal in the use of prosecutorial tool but admitted it could be abused. He said: “Apart from the provisions of the EFCC Act, the Criminal Procedure Act and the Criminal Procedure Code, Lagos State in 2007, by virtue of the administration of Criminal Justice Law has comprehensively embraced plea bargain as a disposition method of criminal matters. He however said that he agreed that “plea bargaining is a concept that is characterised by controversies in both common law and civil law jurisdictions including places like USA where it is popular and common. Nigeria is not left out in the controversy particularly as a result of its practices in a number of cases by EFCC.

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Friday, November 16, 2012

L-R: Chairman of Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Muftau Ajibola; Commissioner for Education, Mr. Segun Odubela; Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Head of Service, Modupe Adekunle, at the Best Teachers’ Award in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Founder, Victorious Saints of God Mission and President, Berea Bible College, Apostle Bisi Olaoye; Pastor Olanrewaju Adelaja and Provost, Berea Bible College, Evang. Kate Onwukwe, during a prayer session for granduands of the college in Lagos, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Festus Iyayi; Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action, ERA, Hon. Uche Onyeagucha; Mr. Nnimmo Bassey and President, Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, at the fifth annual National Environmental Consultation on “Corporate Accountability and the Environment” organised by ERA in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Former child singer and Programme Director, Tosin Jegede Foundation, Tosin Jegede; Executive Director, Nigerian Network of NGOs, Oyebisi Oluseyi; Chief Executive Officer, Gemstone Group, Fela Durotoye; Head, Business Market Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Bidemi Ladipo and Project Coordinator, Enterprise Development Centre, Nkem Dosekun, at the Global Entrepreneurship in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

Anger, regional politics on day two of PIB debate House raises special committee on bill

TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

empers flared yesterday as members of the House of Representatives’ debate continued on the provisions of Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. Besides PIB, the lawmakers also debated another bill joined to the PIB. The second bill seeks oil exploration and prospecting in the North.

The House Deputy Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP/Delta), who reintroduced the bill for debate, said the bill would promote accountability, transparency and openness in the country’s petroleum sector if it was passed the way it was presented by the executive. The bills entitled: “A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of a legal, fiscal and regulatory framework for the Petro-

leum Industry in Nigeria and for other related matters,” and “A Bill for an Act to establish the National New Frontier Agency for the purpose of exploration and production of oil and gas in the Frontier of Chad Basin, Dahomey Basin, Imo Basin, Benue Trough, Bauchi Basin and Sokoto Basin and for other matters connected therewith,” were read by Ogor. In his contribution, Ogor opposed the clause which

stipulates that 30 per cent of the shares of the proposed National Oil Company should be reserved for the stock market. He argued that such a clause was capable of resulting in few Nigerians appropriating the profits of the company. The House leader suggested that the company should be wholly owned by the Federal Government. Hon. Garba Datti Mohammed (CPC/Kaduna), Deputy Minority Whip of the House, observed that

the bill, if passed into law as it was, could divide the country. He added that the bill had contradictory provisions on regulation and deregulation of the industry. Datti proposed that the powers of the minister should be curbed in the Act. He said it was about time government stopped paying lip service to oil exploration in the North. The sponsor of the bill to explore oil in the North, Hon. Kaka Gujbawu(PDP/ Borno), gave statistics of

how many parts of the region had oil in commercial quantities and sought the intervention of the government in balancing resource exploration in the country. Others who contributed to the debate were Hon. Sam Tsokwa (PDP/Taraba), Abiodun Faleke (ACN/ Lagos), Forte Dike (APGA/ Anambra) and Karimi Sunday (PDP/Kogi). An ad hoc committee headed by Hon. Ishaku Bawa, the Chief Whip, was set up to conduct a public hearing on the bill.

N75.5bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Works Minister, Lawal, others

$300,000 tax: You can leave Ghana, Reps advise Nigerian traders

ISE-OLUWA IGE

TORDUE SALEM

ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, re-arraigned former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal, and nine others before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 44-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, conversion, and fraud to the tune of N75.7 billion.

Lawal and his co-accused, Dr. Adeogba Godwin Ademola, Digital Toll Company Limited; Swede Control Interlink Limited; Proman Vital Ventures Limited; Nairda Limited; Siraj Nigeria Limited and Wise Health Services Limited, who were first arraigned on May 11, 2011, however pleaded not guilty to the amended charge. The prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu, sought the leave of the court to commence trial as, according to him, the pros-

ecution was ready to move speedily with trial and indeed had a witness on hand to testify against the accused. Testifying in the matter yesterday, Mr. Chike Nwibe, a deputy superintendent of police with the EFCC and a member of the investigating team, disclosed how a contract to build what was known as Buto Bagana Bridge across River Benue from Nasarawa State to Kogi State became an avenue to swindle the state by the former minister and his accomplices.

ABUJA

he House of Representatives yesterday advised Nigerian traders in Ghana facing molestation in the hands of Ghanaian trade authorities in the last two years to quit if they found trade laws of that country insufferable. The government of Ghana had, about two years ago, imposed a minimum tax of $300,000 on

foreigners trading in major markets in the country, giving them the option to pay or leave the markets. The Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (ACN-Lagos), who gave the advice on behalf of the House, said though further diplomatic talks with Ghanaian authorities were desirable, the traders still had the option of leaving the country. She said: “We believe

that this can be amicably resolved, but we cannot continue begging to continue staying in Ghana. I understand your problems, but I think we have intervened enough to decide other ways. “I don’t support the idea that the traders should contemplate the option of leaving the major markets to remote areas. It is like you are trading in Wuse Market, then they come and tell you to relocate to Karshi. It will not help you.”

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Friday, November 16, 2012

Jonathan restates case for fuel subsidy removal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

ed Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, to implement the programme. The Presidency had promised that proceeds from the higher prices of petroleum products would go to roads, hospitals and schools construction and so on within six months, but 10 months after, the House claimed that the promise had not been kept and the disbursement of the proceeds not transparent. The motion to probe the SURE-P was sponsored by Hon. Haruna Manu Musa

(PDP-Kano). The House stated that it was “disturbed that the President on Monday, February 20, 2012, said that his administration would not be able to fully implement Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) because subsidy removal was not total.” The House added that it was “further disturbed that the Kolade Committee also on Sunday, February 26, 2012 declared that that it would only monitor the use of about 47 per cent of the total subsidy savings which was

the amount accruable to the Federal Government, leaving the balance of 53 per cent to be handled by the states and local governments.” But the House said it was “worried that over 10 months after the commencement of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme(SUREP), most states and local governments have not put systems and mechanisms in place to ensure that the amounts that accrued to them are judiciously administered.” The House stated that

“it was aware that about N105bn had accrued as Federal Government’s share from the proceeds of subsidy removal as at August 2012 and the SURE-P Committee released the sum of N17.8bn out of which N8.9bn was released to the infrastructure Bank of Nigeria for acquisition of buses for transporters, N5bn as intervention in the railway sector and N3.9bn on youth empowerment”. The House said it was “concerned that some of the railway projects like Abuja-Kaduna, Port-Har-

L-R: Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; Group Head, Ecobank Capital, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi and Partner, Deloitte, Mr. Alpha Barry, at the fourth Africa Public Private Partnership Conference in Abuja, yesterday.

court-Makurdi and the Jebba-Kano rail lines to which different sums had been said to be released by the SURE-P Committee as intervention have been in the Federal Government Budget since 2008”. In another development, President Jonathan has set up three committees to prepare draft White Papers on the reports of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, the National Refineries Special Task Force and the Governance and Controls Special Task Force. The Committees are to study the reports, review the issues raised, and prepare draft White Papers for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council within two weeks. The White Paper Committee on the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force Report will be chaired by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, with the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, Minister of State, FCT, Ms Jumoke Akinjide and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II: Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed as members. The White Paper Committee on the report of the Governance and Controls Special Task Force will be chaired by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development,

Ms. Ama Pepple. Other members of the committee are Minister of State, Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar and Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mallam Bukar Tijani. The White Paper Committee on the report of the National Refineries Special Task Force has Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Mohammed Sada as Chairman and Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Pate and Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyeson Wike as members. The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will provide secretariat for the Committees. The report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, had raised a lot of dust with some members of the committee claiming that the report was incomplete and should be dumped. Ribadu had also accused some committee members of trying to influence the report which raised issues of huge revenue losses for the Federal Government and underlined the need for wide-ranging reforms in the oil and gas industry.

Boko Haram: US accuses FG of human rights violations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

occupants were asleep. Only a little girl was said to have survived the attack. An eyewitness account, however, said that the gunmen shot sporadically into the air for over 30 minutes and that there were no security operatives around. The incident was said to have immediately sparked-off protest by the youths of the village who took to the streets in their hundreds. They were angered by the killings and the withdrawal of the military from the area before the attack. The youths, carrying leaves, marched through the town, saying that if the military deployed in the area could no longer protect them from attack-

ers, they should leave. One of the protesters, Bala Samaila, said: “The military had no business being here if they cannot protect us. They can go. We can protect ourselves.” National President of Bajju Youth Association, Gad Ezekiel, also confirmed that the attackers killed all the members of the same family, leaving behind a little girl. National Mirror gathered that security operatives have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. Gunmen had recently killed dozens of people in Kaduna State, including 20 people at Dogon Dawa community in Birnin Gwari Local Government

Area of Northern Kaduna. Yakowa, while sympathising with the family of the victims, said the incessant killings would never deter the administration’s quest of ensuring a secured and united Kaduna State. The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Reuben Buhari, in a condolence message, sued for peace and unity among residents. The statement reads in part: “The Executive Governor of Kaduna State is truly saddened by the gory incident of Wednesday in Madauchi, Zangon Kataf Local Government. “More saddening is the fact that this incident came in when more concerted effort by this

government, through the Peace and Reconciliation Committee is being made to entrench lasting and sustainable peace in Kaduna State. “I urge us all to take comfort and strength from the fact that this loss is shared by many who truly care for them and may that give us the courage to face our tomorrow with the hope that peace will find a permanent abode within our state soonest. “The state government, while totally condemning the killing as an act of barbarism, sympathises with the families of the departed; His Highness, the Agwam Bajju, Mallam Nuhu Bature; the Local Government Council and the entire people of the state.” The state Commission-

er of Police, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, could not immediately confirm the incident, saying: “I will talk to you later over the incident.” Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force, JTF, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday killed the leader and members of a terrorist group that killed Late General Mamman Shuwa three weeks ago. In a press statement made available to journalists in Maiduguri, the JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, stated that in a sustained follow up operation yesterday, a combined troops of the JTF, 333 Air Defence Regiment, the Department of SSS supported by helicopter conducted a major offensive operations against some suspected terrorists in

Nganaram, Bulabulin and Bayan Quarters of Maiduguri metropolis. Sagir said during the offensive operations, a Commander of the Boko Haram sect commanding North West and North East of Maiduguri, by name Ibn Saleh Ibrahim with some of his commanders and foot soldiers were killed. He added that the operation is still ongoing as at press time, pointing out that the Late Ibn Saleh was confirmed to be responsible for the recent killing of the Nigerian Civil War hero, General Shuwa on the orders of their leader, Abubakar Shekau. He said several arms and ammunition, and Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, were recovered during the encounter.

National News

Friday, November 16, 2012

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Airport school seeks Minister’s intervention in face-off with Bi-Courtney OLUSEGUN KOIKI

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Abia State Governor Theodore Orji and Anambra State Govenor Peter Obi, during a meeting between the President and South-East political office holders in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Johnson-Sirleaf, Boni Yayi, Kuffour to honour Obasanjo FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

wo prominent African leaders including the Presidents of Liberia, Hellen Johnson-Sirleaf and her counterpart from Benin Republic, Boni Yayi, are among African leaders billed to honour former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the “welcome home” party being packaged by the Ogun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The former President of Ghana, John Kuffuor, is also billed to attend the event as the guest speaker to deliver a speech on the topic; “Obasanjo in the eyes of history.”

State chairman of the PDP, Senator Dipo Odujirin, dropped this hint yesterday during a press conference held at the party’s secretariat at the IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta, the state capital to mark the 100 days in office of the state executive committee. Odujinrin said PDP in other South-West states have also indicated interest to be part of the event. National Mirror recalled that Chief Obasanjo voluntarily resigned his position as the Chairman, Board of Trustee of PDP in April this year and no party has been thrown in his honour to welcome him home since then. Speaking on why the

party is coming up seven months after his resignation, Odujinrin attributed this to the absence of a valid state executive of the party. He also said that the state chapter of the party has deemed it fit to celebrate the former president who is also an African leader of repute, to formally welcome him back to the state. Odujinrin said the party had, about two months ago, set up a committee to organise a befitting reception for the former president. Speaking on the reconciliatory effort of the party, particularly as it affects the position of the former governor of the state, Gbenga

Daniel, Odujinrin said in as much as the former governor remained the financier of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), he has not returned to Ogun PDP. He emphasised that the directives of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on all aggrieved members of the party has not changed. “We set up this party together and he won under the platform of the party as governor for eight years, but the former governor set up another party to contest against the PDP in the last general election and was throwing missiles from outside, did you say that person is still a member of this house?” Odujirin queried.

N47.1bn fraud: Akingbola’s trial may start afresh FRANCIS FAMOROTI

ith the November 5, elevation of Justice Habeeb Abiru, to the Court of Appeal, there is no clear signal on what becomes of the trial of the embattled former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank), Erastus Akingbola, pending at an Ikeja High Court. However, the position of the law is that once a trial judge has ceased to have jurisdiction over a matter by virtue of his retirement or has been elevated to the higher Bench, the case would be assigned to an-

other judge who will start the proceedings de novo (afresh). This principle has been established by the Supreme Court in the case of Ogbuanyiya v. Okudo in 1979 to the effect that once a judge is elevated to a higher Bench, he becomes functus officio, that is, he cannot adjudicate in a matter at the lower court again. Justice Abiru had earlier adjourned Akingbola’s case till yesterday prompting the defendant to show up in court. But the case could not go ahead as his case file is yet to be assigned to another judge. It was learnt that the other option which the

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has is the likely discharge of Akingbola and his co-defendant, Bayo Dada, both standing trial for the alleged theft of N47.1billion belonging to the bank. So far, sources hinted that the case file of the former boss of Intercontinental Bank is still in the custody of the registrar of Abiru’s former court pending further directives by the Chief Registrar. Some notable lawyers including Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) said that the implication of Abiru’s new assignment is that Akingbola’s case had been

technically resolved in his favour. Falana’s words: “In other words, Akingbola has been discharged a second time due to no fault of his.” Apparently referring to the defendant’s discharge in another case at the Federal High Court for what the trial judge, Justice Justice Clement Archbong, blamed on “lack of diligent prosecution’’, Falana said for now Abiru could no longer be ceased of the matter. At the last sitting of the court on October 22, 2012, Justice Abiru had ordered Akingbola to close his defence and to file his final address within 14 days of the sitting of the court.

he parents and teachers of Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, school have called on the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, to wade into the controversy between it and the management of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) over the alleged encroachment on its landed property by the terminal operator. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the parents of the students of the school also wanted Oduah to stop the ongoing construc-

tion of a conference hall by BASL, warning that the building serves as a deathtrap for the pupils of the school. Speaking on behalf of parents and teachers, the Chairman of Concerned Parents Teachers Association (CPTA), Mr. Akinbola Adekunle, said the future of the poor innocent children was being threatened by the encroachment. Adekunle said the land under dispute belonged to the school and was allocated for the development of the primary and secondary schools by the Federal Government since inception, but noted that the property has been hijacked by the company.

Two suspected armed robbers lynched in Imo CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

wo suspected armed robbers were yesterday lynched by an angry mob at ‘SPIBAT’ Road Amakaohia-Akwakuma in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State. The lynched robbers were said to specialise in breaking people’s houses and were alleged to have been caught with loaded shotgun and stolen items such as laptops, handsets and other valuables. Luck was said to have ran out on them when some people they have robbed in the past identified them. The mob immediately attacked them

with machetes and clubs, beating them to a state of coma. According to eyewitnesses, the mob tied them down with motorcycles tyres hung around their necks ready to be set ablaze, but were rescued by the police from the Anti-Robbery Squad of the state police command. However, the two robbery suspects died later at the police command as a result of the machete cuts dealt on them by the angry mob. According to the police, one of the suspects, Buchi from Akpodim in Mbaise Local Government Area of the state managed to describe to the police their hideout before he died.

Movie actor, Pete Eneh dies NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

he nation’s entertainment industry was yesterday thrown into mourning, as it lost a popular actor, Pete Eneh. Eneh died about 6.30pm at Parklane Hospital in Enugu. The late actor, renowned for playing the role of an elder in home videos, died from injuries he sustained sometime last year, but could not get appropriate treatment leading to a debilitating sore, that forced doctors to amputate the leg a few months ago. According to one of his close associates, who con-

firmed the story to National Mirror, but who did not want his name mentioned, the actor might have died from lack of care, compounded by the fact that he was diabetic. “It is a very sad development. He died as result of diabetic sore. After he sustained the injury, he could not get adequate treatment, which made the sore to worsen, leaving his bad leg amputated.”

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News

Friday, November 16, 2012

WAEC releases withheld MayJune results, cancels others TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

he West African Examination Council (WAEC) has released the results of candidates withheld in the last May/June Senior Secondary Schools Examination. About 101, 398 candidates, representing 9.40

per cent of the total 1, 695, 872, who sat for the examination in Nigeria had their results withheld at the time the general results were released in September. Speaking yesterday in Lagos after the 54th meeting of WAEC, National President of All Nigeria Confederation of Princi-

pals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Hajia Fatima Abdulrahman, said while some candidates had their results fully released, some results were cancelled. “Others were cancelled partially, according to the recommendations of the committee instituted to look into the matter,” she

said. Hajia Abdulrahman said those involved would get details from the WAEC’s website within the next one or two weeks. She added that appropriate sanctions had been recommended for officials found guilty of malpractices during the last examination.

Ex-Lagos AG asks court to try FAAN MD for contempt K AYODE KETEFE

former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), yesterday asked the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to try the Managing Director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uriesi, for contempt. Osinbajo made this prayer before Justice Ibrahim Buba in the matter of committal for contempt He also urged the court to dismiss an application by FAAN and Uresi, which is challenging its jurisdiction to hear a contempt case initiated against them by an aviation services firm, Maevis Limited. Osinbajo, who is the lawyer to Maevis, argued that the application challenging the jurisdiction of the court constituted an abuse of court process. He said the applicants had already brought a similar application which had

been heard and dismissed by the former trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako. Osinbajo, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the objection by FAAN and its MD, as well as proceed to hear the contempt proceedings. He had initiated committal proceedings as a consequence of a refusal of court order by the FAAN and its MD, Uriesi. It will be recalled that the former judge hearing the case, Justice Nyako, had on March 28, 2012 summonsed Uriesi and three other members of the management staff of the establishment sequel to forms 48 (contempt proceedings) filed against them over alleged disobedience of a court’s earlier order delivered on September 24, 2010. FAAN had however brought the application challenging the competence of the committal proceedings. It contended that conditions precedent for filing such committal proceedings had not been met.

73-year-old Nigerian drug suspect dies in Brazilian hospital 12,676.121kg of drugs seized by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) about to be set ablaze in Badagry, Lagos State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Alleged N100m scam: Court dismisses Boni Haruna’s request to quash charges BY ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday dismissed a request by former Adamawa State Governor, Boni Haruna, and three others to quash the 28 count charges preferred against them. They were being tried for the embezzlement of N100 million public fund. The quartet, who were re-arraigned on February 9, 2010, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 28-count charge of fraud and embezzlement of public fund while Haruna was the governor of Adamawa State between 1999 and 2007. The others are Mohammed Inuwa Bassi, a former Minority Leader in the Adamawa State House of Assembly; John Babani Elias, an aide of

the former governor and Al-Akim Investment Nigeria Limited. They were first arraigned in 2008. The former governor was alleged to have on or about the November13, 2002 in Yola, fraudulently uttered a Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Cheque no.0348501 dated 13/11/2002 in the sum of N 10,000,000.00 drawn on account number no 3613406139110 to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, operated by him in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi , with intent that the cheque may be acted as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 (2) (a) of Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap 410 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended by the Tribunals (certain consequential Amendments, etc) Decree no 62 of 1999 and punish-

able under Section 3 (2) of the same Act. Similarly, he was alleged to have on or about March 12, 2003, fraudulently uttered a Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, cheque no. 3049628 dated 12/3/2003 in the sum of N16,125,000.00 drawn on account number no, 361

3406139110 to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, operated by him, in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi with intent that the said cheque may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 (2) (a) of Miscellaneous offences Act.

TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

73-year old Nigerian woman, held for more than a year by Brazilian authorities on allegations of drug peddling, has died in a hospital in that country. Mrs. Hafsat Awosade, a grandmother, was reportedly held early last year by Brazillian security authorities with illicit drugs. She died last week. The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who announced

this at a press briefing yesterday, regretted that Mrs. Awosade died before she was found guilty of allegations of drug dealing. She said: “The very unfortunate thing is that this woman was yet to be found guilty of the charges levelled against her by the Brazilian authorities. “It is a sad story. She died of high-blood pressure. It is even more tragic that she had already pleaded that she should not die in Brazil, but unfortunately she has died in a foreign country”.

EFCC re-arraigns ex-Union Bank MD, others for alleged fraud K AYODE KETEFE

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned the former managing director of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Bartholomew Bassey Ebong and five others before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. They were re-arraigned before Justice Ofili Ajumogobia for alleged finan-

cial improprieties. The other persons rearraigned alongside Ebong are Henry Onyemen, Niyi Albert Opeodu, Peter Ololo, Samuel Ayininuola and Ololo’s company, Falcon Securities Limited. This is the third time the same set of accused persons would be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos, having been earlier arraigned before Justice Dan Abutu (now retired) and Justice Binta Nyako on similar charges.

At the proceedings yesterday, the accused were re-arraigned on a 20-count charge comprising the alleged offences of conspiracy, money laundering and reckless grant of loans to the detriment of the bank. All the accused persons pleaded “not guilty” to each of the counts in the charge. After hearing their lawyers, comprising Mr. Felix Fagboungbe SAN, N.P Oran among others, who prayed the court to grant

bail to the accused persons on the grounds that they were well-behaved and had earlier been granted bail by both Justice Dan Abutu and Binta nyako before who they were earlier arraigned. The prosecution, represented by Mr. Nkem Okolie, however opposed the bail on the grounds that some of them did not report to the EFCC at the initial stage and that they might jump bail if granted by the court.

South West

Friday, November 16, 2012

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NDLEA destroys N13.6bn drugs in Lagos OLUSEGUN KOIKI AND HAKEEM GBADAMOSI

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday destroyed drugs worth about N13.6 billion in Badagry, Lagos State. The drugs, hidden in woolen carpets, footballs, as well as other items, were destroyed by officials of the NDLEA. A statement signed by the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the Chairman of the agency, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, supervised the exercise. Ofoyeju said over 12.6 tonnes of illicit drugs were destroyed, adding that any society that fails to destroy drugs will end up being destroyed by drugs. The street value of the drugs he said was about N13.6bn. The total weight of the drugs, according to him, was 12, 676.121kg. The drugs included 12, 543.260kg of cannabis, 76.341kg of heroin, 43.770kg of cocaine, 3.600kg of methamphetamine and 9.15kg of amphetamine. “Any society that fails to destroy drugs will end up

‘Let’s bequeath worthy legacies for our children’

kiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, has reiterated the need for all to strive to live well to bequeath worthy legacies to the younger generations of Nigerians who are the future leaders. Speaking during a condolence visit to Barrister Morakinyo Ogele, whose mother, Madam Fehintola Ogele, passed on at the age of 120, the deputy governor said nothing could be more valuable than good names. According to her, the greatest legacy a parent could leave for his or her children is good name and an untainted character. She prayed for the repose of the soul of Madam Ogele, asking that the good Lord grants the family the fortitude to bear the loss. Ogele, who introduced members of the family to the deputy governor narrated how resourceful his departed mother was, adding that she led a life of service to the people of her community.

being destroyed by drugs. Cannabis like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine has serious consequences on health, economy and the security of the nation. We shall not take any decision that will ruin the future of our youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.” Ofoyeju also said medical or recreational reasons are not enough for Nigeria to legalise the use of cannabis, adding that as a nation, there are legitimate

ways to recreate. He listed sports, dancing, singing, wrestling, festivals and other legitimate socio-cultural activities as highly recreational. “Though drug barons tried to industrially conceal drugs, the authorities have successfully detected drugs in many items.” The agency assured that it will continue to counter the activities of drug syndicates until they quit the criminal act.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Command of the NDLEA yesterday said about N260 million of cannabis popularly known as Indian Hemp has been seized by the command in the last eight weeks. The command also said no fewer than 13 suspects who specialised in drug trafficking have been apprehended by the agency in the state. Disclosing this yesterday in Akure, NDLEA

Commander in the state, Walter Nicholas, said most of the seizures were made around Ipele forest in Owo Local Government Area of the state. Displaying the 18 tonnes of the illegal drugs, the NDLEA boss said the command has always in the past been avoiding making public the street value of the seized drugs in order not to induce people into the “nefarious trade.”

L-R: Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Samuel Adegboyega; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Deputy Governor, Otunba Alake Adeyemo, during a condolence visit by the traditional rulers in Oyo State to the governor over the death of former Governor Lam PHOTO: NAN Adesina in Ibadan, yesterday.

Seven injured in PDP, ACN clash over Fayose’s posters ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

o fewer than seven persons were injured yesterday in Ado Ekiti as supporters of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), clashed over the posters of former Governor Ayodele Fayose. Supporters of Fayose, who is eyeing the governorship seat in the 2014 election on the platform of the PDP in the state, were pasting his posters tagged; “Restoration 2014” in the town as he marked his 52nd birthday yesterday when the attack occurred. There were accusations and counter-accusations be-

Fayose

tween the two parties over the responsibility for the attacks in which machetes were freely used as the police in the state were making efforts to get to its roots. Already, no fewer than six members of the two parties were at the Okesa Police Division in the state capital making statements to the police yesterday, pending when the matter would be transferred to the state command headquarters of the police. While the Fayose group said the ACN members, who felt threatened by the posters attacked its members and left three persons injured, the ACN said the Fayose supporters descended on people who resisted the posters from being posted on the walls of their houses, leaving four of its members injured. The Director-General of the Fayose Campaign Organisation, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, who said the ruling ACN was becoming intolerant of the opposition said; “They cannot hound us out of this state. Ekiti State belongs to all

of us. If they are doing this when real politics has not started, what do you think they will do when it gets hotter? “They claim to be rights activists and angels of democracy, is this how they want to practice their own democracy? We are calling on peace-loving people of the state to appeal to them to allow peace to reign, we are not interested in bloodletting and they should al-

low peace to reign,” he said. But spokesman for the ACN in the state, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, denied that his party members attacked Fayose’s supporters. Oguntayo’s words: “In fact it was Fayose’s men who attacked one of the officials of the party at the state level, Mr. Gbenga Akinwumi. He was stabbed because he told the people not to paste posters on his father’s house.

2012 Hajj: 8, 900 pilgrims from Lagos zone return OLUSEGUN KOIKI

total of 8, 900 pilgrims from Lagos State who embarked on this year’s Hajj operations to the holy land, Saudi Arabia, yesterday returned to the country by Med-View Airline. At least, 505 pilgrims from Oyo, Ogun and Osun States returned to the Hajj and Cargo terminal of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The return of the pilgrims marked the end of the 2012 Hajj exercise. The Boeing 747 aircraft that returned the pilgrims touched down at the MMIA at exactly 2.30pm. Among the pilgrims were the Chairmen of the Oyo and Ogun States Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold and Alhaji Izak Yusuf, respectively and the outgoing Secretary of the Osun State Muslims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abdulkareem Ibrahim. Commenting on the exercise, the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board Chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold, commended the Federal Government for a hitch-free exercise despite the initial drawback at the commencement of the exercise, just as he implored the government to always adhere strictly to the rules and regulations guiding the annual exercise. He also commended Med-View Airline for a smooth operation throughout the exercise and also lauded the conduct of the pilgrims in the holy land.

Okada ban: LG chairmen call for more BRT buses The chairmen also said of Lagos State government MURITALA AYINLA

orried by the rising number of stranded passengers at various bus stops across Lagos State, the chairmen of the 20 local government areas and the 37 local council development areas, yesterday called on the state government to provide more Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses to commuters in the state. This, they said is to cushion the effect of the ban on commercial motorcycle operators on commuters.

the restriction of commercial motorcycle operators would not affect their councils’ Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Briefing journalists on their position on the new Lagos Traffic Law 2012, the Chairman of the Conference of Local Government Chairmen in the state, Mr. Hakeem Sulaiman, who made the disclosure, implored the state government to provide more buses to meet the growing needs of the commuters. His words: “The concern

for operators of commercial motorcycles and tricycles is unwavering and this was aptly demonstrated by the government’s offer to grant those who genuinely co-operate, access to loan to procure buses and taxis befitting the mega city status of Lagos. “We also wish to advise the state government to provide more BRT buses as the people have shown that it is a veritable means of transportation, judging by the number of people who queue at bus stops to make use of the buses.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday, November 16, 2012

Police assure Lagos, Ogun residents of crime-free Christmas celebration FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

he Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone II, Mr. Mamman Tsafe, yesterday assured that the zone had put adequate security measures in place towards ensuring that residents of Ogun and Lagos states celebrate a crime-free Christmas. Tsafe told journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, that he had been visiting all the police formations and commands in the zone to re-ascertain level of preparedness of his men. The AIG, who expressed satisfaction at the level of what he saw,

however, declined to comment on the strategies put in place to make residents sleep with their eyes closed, claiming that it would be suicidal to do so. He stressed that both Lagos and Ogun commands were ready to tackle bandits during and after the Christmas festivities. Tsafe said: “We are strategising to make sure that robbery cases in Lagos and Ogun are are reduced to barest minimum, if not totally eradicated. “You heard of the arrests we made in Lagos, the suspects are giving us very useful information. I want to assure the people that the Christmas will be so peaceful. “We have really positioned our men to achieve

our target, and we are parading black spots and other information are being gathered, let the residents be well assured of their safety.” Praising the Ogun State Government for assisting the zone with necessary logistics, he said: “What I met here will only require little improvement to solidify and consolidate our achievement in fighting crime; we must thank Ogun State for the assistance.” Tsafe explained that the challenges confronting the police were not insurmountable and that the zone would leave no stone unturned in addressing them. Against the backdrops of clamour for the inclusion of state police in

Abubakar

the constitution of the country, Tsafe said he personally supported the centralised police system as against the state or regional police. According to him, experience have shown that the country was not ripe for such decision as it may metamorphose to serious danger on the nation’s security system.

Fashola advises parents, caregivers on immunisation

agos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has urged parents and caregivers to ensure that their children and wards receive immunisation before they are one year old. The immunisation is to protect them the children against the deadly diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and measles. Fashola, who spoke in Lagos in a radio jingle on routine immunisation exercise, reiterated his administration’s commitment in ensuring that the state continues to remain polio free by making sure that every child below five years old receives two drops of oral polio vaccine

during national and state immunisation campaigns. He said: “Lagos remains a melting pot for all Nigerians and therefore, it continues to attract people from all over the country and from outside the country in the sub region. “We therefore cannot stop and assume that the job of getting all children immunised is done. New babies are being born and therefore immunisation must continue to ensure that all children between the ages of zero and five years are immunised”. The governor stressed that the most effective strategy of keeping the deadly childhood diseases out of Lagos remains effective routine immunization,

will protect the children against killer diseases, such as polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and measles to mention a few. Please join me in making Lagos polio-free, let us kick out polio now.”

Fashola

hence his appeal to parents and caregivers to ensure the immunisation of their children and wards. “I therefore appeal to all parents and caregivers to ensure that their children and wards receive all the immunisations before they are one year old. These immunisations

NBA tasks members on FOI Act KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has asked its members across the country to make effective use of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and demand accountability from government agencies and parastatals. This was contained in a communiqué issued by the NBA Section on Legal Practice at the end of its 6th annual conference held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, with the theme, “Raising the Bar: International Best Practices in Legal Practice”.

NBA, in the communiqué signed by the Chairman, Section on Legal Practice, Mr. Donald Denwigwe, specifically resolved to champion reform in the national polity just as it decried the refusal of some states to conduct local government elections. The association described the alleged refusal to conduct the local government election as a “demonstration of impunity that should be challenged.” NBA also called on public office holders to demonstrate a higher sense of responsibility, accountability and respect for the rule of law, urging its

members to be at the forefront of the fight against impunity nationwide. The communiqué, however, stressed the urgent need for the association “to keep faith with its National Executive Committee (NEC) decision to set up a viable Anti-Corruption Committee / Commission.” It supported the concept of plea bargaining which it described as “an effective case-management tool,” saying: “In spite of the reservations expressed in certain quarters, it should be utilised to ensure effective resolution of criminal matter in appropriate cases.”

Amosun to present 2013 budget on Tuesday

Govt moves to end Fulani-Yoruba feud

overnor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State will present the 2013 appropriation bill to the state House of Assembly on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 10 a.m. In a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said that stakeholders, including industrialists, traditional rulers, senior government officials and other important dignitaries have been invited to grace the event. The statement added that the invited guests are expected to be seated by 9:30am. Meanwhile, the prolonged hostility between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Ketu, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State and its environ will be resolved soon. Speaking at a meeting held in Abeokuta between the feuding groups and senior officials, Adeoluwa said the government was not happy about the ugly development and was determined to tackle it headlong, noting that all de-

velopmental efforts, particularly in the area would come to nullity if issues responsible for the crises were not resolved amicably. He said: “The current effort is inspired by a genuine desire to find a lasting peace to the problem. We must work together to engender peace. Let us all open our minds to the possibility of a lasting peace.” The SSG said that part of the measures to be put in place to forestall further break down of law and order was the introduction of “minimum entry requirements” which would spell out some preconditions for the herdsmen to enter the sleepy town. This, according to him, would become operational as soon as a committee made up of the Fulanis, indigenes and government representatives completes the task of fine-tuning necessary arrangements. Adeoluwa, however, asked the Fulani herdsmen to stay away from the town while the reconciliatory moves last.

South East

GEORGE OPARA ABIA

he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State has directed all party ward chairmen and secretaries in the area to reject any move by former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, to return to the party. Speaking in Bende town during a meeting of the party, the Local Government Chairman, Ihendu Eke, said the party is ready to readmit all its former mem-

Friday, November 16, 2012

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PDP blocks Kalu’s return to party bers that had left for another political party, but can only readmit those without questionable characters. Eke’s position followed the speculation making the rounds that the PDP wants to readmit the former governor from the national level contrary to the party’s constitution which, he said, stipulates that members could only come into the party through their political wards.

On this premise, the local government chairman directed all the ward chairmen and their secretaries to scrutinise anybody seeking to come into the party and get approval from the stakeholders and leaders before such person or persons would be readmitted into the party. Eke said there is the freedom of association; but stressed that “That any group has the right

to choose those it would want to associate with as it should not be an all comers affair. We do not want to readmit those who will come and give us the virus they left with, as we are virusfree now.” He recalled that it was such moves in the past that made the party at the council level to withdraw party registers from ward chairmen and that the registers are still at the party head-

quarters in Bende to avoid problems of wrongful admittance of unwanted politicians. His words: “We had earlier taken party registers from our ward chairmen because of such unwarranted rumours and up till now, after going through the register, we have not seen any such name as Orji Uzor Kalu, in any of our registers and we want it to remain like that.”

Eke also said that the party has received a protest letter from Igbere ward, the home town of the former governor that there have been moves by him to come back and that they are not part of such moves. He also said the party at Igbere came up with a resolution distancing itself from such moves, stressing that it was one of the reasons they had to call the meeting to address the issue.

Post-flood rebuilding process begins soon –Obi CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

nambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has promised that the rebuilding of flood ravaged areas in the state will commence soon. He said the work to be done, especially in resettling the victims after the flood has receded is enormous and beyond what the state government would do alone. Governor Obi said this yesterday while answering questions from journalists. He said the state was presently doing needs assessment in post-flood Anambra. “As I have always maintained the issue of displaced people and the setting up of camps, which were the first necessities, thrown up by the flood are not the major challenges. “Some of those at the camp cannot go home now because their houses, farms and property have been

washed away and destroyed by the flood. Resettling such people are among the major challenges we are going to face now,” Obi said. On how he was able to emerge as the best governor in the handling of the flood problem, he said it was because of savings his government made since he became governor. “I started saving for the rainy day under different headings such as for emergency, for salaries, for investment, among others. Thus, when the flood issue occurred, it was easy for us to cope,” the governor stressed.

ENUGU

he House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Environment and a member representing Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka federal constituency, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, has commended the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke, over the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), pending before the National Assembly. Addressing journalists yesterday during the inspection of active erosion sites in various communities across Anambra State,

Apo Six: FG’s witness’ absence again stalls trial EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

A Obi

Ekwunife commends Petroleum Minister on PIB DENNIS AGBO

L-R: Acting Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi; South-East Zonal Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Public Hearing on the Review of 1999 Constitution, Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Senator Ayogu Eze, during a courtesy call on the Acting Governor in Enugu, yesterday.

Ekwunife said the new petroleum industry bill would enhance productivity and also help curb corruption in the petroleum sector. According to the lawmaker, the series of criticisms and attacks on the minister by some Nigerians were unnecessary, adding that she has done what previous ministers in that sector could not do in the past and urged Nigerians to support her in her efforts at repositioning the petroleum ministry. “The PIB has been a perfect journey. The PIB came up in 2002 and could not see the light of the day.”

gain, the protracted trial of six police officers accused of killing five auto spare-parts dealers at Apo Mechanic Village and their female companion was stalled yesterday, owing to the absence in court of one of the prosecution witnesses. Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, adjourned the case till January 17 and 18 for the prosecution to call its final witnesses. The Federal Govern-

ment was expected to close its case yesterday, after calling its last set of witnesses between November 15 and 16. However, the decision to adjourn the case was on account of a brief conference between the judge and parties in the case, which has been dragging since 2005, when the extrajudicial murder occurred. Speaking with National Mirror shortly after the conference that held in the judge’s chambers, Prosecuting counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) said: “The case couldn’t proceed because two of

the witnesses who are police officers were around, but the third witness was absent. In order to have all witnesses present in court, the court adjourned till January 17 and 18. It will be recalled that the celebrated “Apo six” case has suffered several adjournments, most of which have been at the instance of the prosecution. For instance, the last adjournment on September 20 followed an oral application by Chief Uche. He had informed the court that hearing of the case will not be possible owing to the inability of

the prison authorities to convey the four accused persons held in Kuje Prisons, to court. The FG’s counsel blamed the development on the scarcity of fuel in Abuja. Tendering an apology, Uche said: “My Lord, we are very sorry, we apologise for this development. Despite the commitment of my Lord to ensure that this matter is concluded on time, we still have circumstances constraining us. We will fashion out a way of taking two days consecutively as we intend to conclude the case before the end of the year.”

Anambra warns parents against child labour CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

he Anambra State government yesterday cautioned parents to desist from using their children as bread winners. The government said it will soon resume the raiding of streets, parks and markets to apprehend children hawking goods and beg

for arms with their parents. This development was announced by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Azuka Agbata, in an interview with National Mirror. The commissioner said as part of the measures to curtail the trend of using kids as bread winners, the government has finalised plan to or-

ganise a seminar for parents and other key stakeholders on the issue at Otuocha, headquarters of Anambra East Local Government Area. She said the seminar, which will come up during the celebration of the International Rural Women and Family Day, has the theme; “Family Unity: Implication for Proper Child Up-Bringing.”

Speaking on the focus of the seminar, Agbata said the seminar in Otuocha, which is a pilot programme, will dwell on keeping children healthy. She said arrangement has been made and that her ministry has reached out to all the key ministries, like education and health that will play key roles during the seminar.

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South South

Friday, November 16, 2012

Benin monarch visits Oshiomhole, urges projects’ completion SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

he monarch of Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, yesterday visited the Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, at the Government House in Benin. The venerable monarch, who is rarely seen in the public, arrived at the Government House in the company of senior palace chiefs for a meeting with Governor Oshiomhole.

Oba Erediauwa said: “I came to congratulate you on your swearing-in. I watched it on the television and it was very impressive. You have done well. Keep the flag flying.” He urged the governor to continue with the good work he had been doing, saying: “My chiefs broke kola nut and said: ‘May God continue to enrich the treasury with the wherewithal to do what you are doing.’ Please, finish the projects you have started and thank you very much. My brothers, traditional

rulers, are waiting for you to continue work in their domains. You are a wonderful man.” In his response, Governor Oshiomhole thanked the monarch for his support and prayers, saying: “I am deeply indebted to your Majesty. Your Majesty has been a father to me and to all of us in Edo State. “My own biological father would not have done better for me than what you have done. I am determined to do more than what I did in the first term.

We have overcome our learning curve. Your Majesty, we would restore the beauty of this great city. This is the capital of this kingdom; this is the capital of Edo State. I am indebted to the Binis for accepting me as a son and a brother. By their votes, they spoke very loud and clear.” Oshiomhole listed the next phase of work in Benin city to include aggressive reclamation of the Benin Moat and completing the work on Benin Master Plan, within the next two years. Meanwhile, the gover-

nor yesterday administered oath on the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Julius Kayode Omoezoavbo Ihonvbere, asking him to contribute his wealth of experience to the development of the state. Oshiomhole said: “The challenge is to take Edo State back to its old glory. There is no doubt that you will add value to delivering service efficiently as an accomplished, seasoned academician and politician. “The vision of this administration is to reposition

the state and take it to the next level. What matters is for everybody, wherever we find ourselves, to give our all in the overall interest of the people. “We have demonstrated that we are one across the length and breadth of the state. Edo people are enterprising and courageous and we have a vision to refine the politics and return power to the people.” The governor, however, congratulated Prof. Ihonvbere on the appointment, which, according to him, was strictly based on merit.

Certificate: Airhiavbere floors Oshiomhole at Appeal Court SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) receiving the Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolopkolo, Oba Erediauwa, CFR when the monarch visited the governor to congratulate him on his re-election, yesterday.

Toxic dump raises tension in Bayelsa community EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

t seems tension is rising at Olugbobiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following a toxic waste allegedly dumped in the community’s river by an oil company. It was learnt that the toxic dump was conveyed from the rig of the firm near Koluama identified as Majesty. Olugbobiri community has, however, arrested a diver allegedly hired by the firm to dump the waste in its river.

Investigations by National Mirror revealed that the arrest of the diver generated tension between indigenes and security agents in the area. In an interview, Paramount Ruler and Chairman of the Olugbobiri community, Kesiye Obosi, confirmed

flood and also destroy means of livelihood.” An aide to the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area Chairman, Mr. Felix Ayah, said that the council had sent a petition to the state Ministry of the Environment to register its dismay on over the incident.

NDDC promises to execute concrete infrastructure SAM OLUWALANA

he Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will continue to prioritise concrete infrastructure to open up

Why Nigeria needs Ibaka seaport –Akpabio he completion of Ibaka Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State has been described as a solution to port congestion and employment generation for Nigerian youths. Governor Godswill Akpabio state this when Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Achimugu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Felak Concept

the incident, alleging that the oil company’s workers in Koluama territory conveyed toxic waste in the night and dumped it in the community’s river. Obosi said: “The impact of the waste dumped will be devastating on homes submerged by the recent

Limited, Abuja, leading a team of consultants handling the development of Ibaka seaport paid him a courtesy call at the Governor’s Office, Uyo. Akpabio said: “With the congestion of the Lagos seaport, there was the need for another seaport in the country and for the creation of employment for our youths.”

communities in the region for sustainable development. NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Christian Oboh, spoke during an inspection tour of the commission’s ongoing projects in Delta State. Represented by the Delta State Representative on the NDDC Board, Chief Solomon Ogba, Dr. Oboh noted that the huge socio-economic benefit that would accrue to the region on completion of various projects, including the linking of communities, will further stimulate economic activities. He said the Board was mindful of the peculiar

challenges the Niger Delta environment poses for the people, hence the commitment to complete on-going projects in the region. “The completion of ongoing reclamation and shore protection in Okerenkoko of Delta State designed to check ocean surge is a priority,” the Managing Director, who also visited the 16 kilometer Kurote-gbaranmatu Road with four bridges as well as Ugborode shore protection project, said. The Commission, Dr. Oboh said, would be prudent in the application of resources with a view to ensuring value for money.

he Court of Appeal yesterday delivered judgement in the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Edo State governorship election, Maj-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd). The court ordered the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to hear afresh the petition filed against the election of Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Chairman of the court, Justice Helen Ogunwunmiju, assisted by Justices S. Yakubu and Tom Awotoye, ordered the lower tribunal to begin afresh the hearing of Airhiavbere’s claims on alleged non-qualification of Oshiomhole to contest the election. The court also dismissed the cross-appeal by the governor, which sought to quash the remaining issues of alleged non-compliance of the election to the Electoral Act 2010. But Government House sources told National Mirror yesterday that Governor Oshiomhole may challenge the judgement at the Supreme Court. In the judgement, Justice Ogunwunmiju upheld that the tribunal erred in law to have disqualified itself from entertaining Airhiavbere’s relief bothering on Oshiomhole’s qualification for the governorship election, insisting that issues in the petition

could be tried. She said though the petitioner had the option of approaching either the regular court or the tribunal, Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution also vested in the tribunal the jurisdiction to entertain the relief. According to her, the Supreme Court had often frowned against the dismissal of election petitions on technical grounds that hardly allow parties to ventilate issues meritoriously. The Appeal Court said that the appellant pleadings were clear, direct and formed the basis of his case. The court, therefore, restored all the pleadings of the petition before urging the Acting President of the Court of Appeal to reconstitute a new election petition tribunal to hear the petition. In his reaction, Airhiavbere, amidst his jubilant supporters, described the judgement as courageous. Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, who was also in court, reaffirmed Oshiomhole’s academic qualification for the election. He said the governor’s next line of action would depend on the advice of his lawyers.

Airhiavbere

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Friday, November 16, 2012

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CONSTITUTION REVIEW

SINA FADARE AND MURITALA AYINLA

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Senate President, David Mark, yesterday stressed the need for the creation of state police, the devolution of power in the polity and a special status for Lagos in the ongoing constitution review exercise, saying that it will engineer an all round development across the 36 states

Fashola calls for special status for Lagos •As Mark backs state creation, state police of the federation. Fashola, who said that the state had held a public hearing “based on the guideline sent to us with the aggregate resolution on devolution of power, creation of more states, role of traditional rulers, local governments, the Land Use Act, the NYSC Act, the Code of Conduct Bureau,

fiscal federalism, immunity clause, mayoral status for Abuja and Lagos.” According to Fashola, the constitution is not an end in itself, but a means to an end and that end is the collective will and prosperity that is achievable in a federal structure which the country is seriously yearning for. The governor argued for

a situation where each state will develop at its own pace and according to its own resources and ability. Governor Fashola, who demanded for a special status for Lagos, noted that the state as a former federal capital, is the commercial nerve centre of the country with its attendant challenges that cannot be ignored.

L-R: Chairman, South-West Zone, Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ganiyu Solomon; Senate President and Special Guest of Honour, Senator David Mark; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during a zonal public hearing on the proposed review of the 1999 Constitution in Lagos, yesterday.

N’Assembly committed to state creation, but... –Ekweremadu DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

eputy Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has debunked the statement credited to him that the issue of state creation through the present constitution amendment should be laid to rest. He said what Nigerians need to understand is that the process of state creation is different from the conventional constitution amendment. He, however, enjoined every Nigerian to show some sense of patriotism and open-mindedness in the exercise and to keep their eyes on the future. In a related development, the vote against the establishment of state police in Nigeria suffered another setback yesterday as the South-East Traditional Rulers Council said it was an invitation to a bitter political era of the past. The monarchs, in a position paper presented by

•South-East monarchs reject state police its Chairman, Eze C. I. Ilomuanya, the royal fathers said Nigeria was not yet ripe for state police, urging the senate to ignore such calls. “State police will be abused if introduced now. Let’s allow our young democracy to advance further before we can think of creating state police. Our democracy is still young and can definitely not absorb the intricacies that will be

associated with the creation of state police”, they submitted. Both Ekweremadu and the monarchs spoke in Enugu during the South-East zonal public hearing on constitution review, Ekweremadu said because the agitation for state creation has become a dominate issue, it became imperative that the process of state creation be made

known to Nigerians. He also stated that the National Assembly is not pursing any special agenda in the matter, restating that whereas the National Assembly is committed to ensuring that every request is treated on its merit, people need to understand the provisions of section 8 (1) of the 1999 Constitution which spells out requirements and processes for the task.

Akpabio, Eduok disagree over state police TONY ANICHEBE UYO

kwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Nsikak Essien Eduok (rtd), disagreed yesterday over the call for the establishment of state police. While Akpabio said state police would bring about reduction in crime, Eduok said it would lead to anarchy and bloodbath. Both men spoke at the public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitu-

tion held at the Civil Service Auditorium in Uyo, the state capital. Akpabio also called on the people to support the introduction of zoning and power rotation in the constitution because, according to him, it would help protect the minority. He informed the people that his emergence as governor of Akwa Ibom State was as a result of a zoning arrangement in the state. Addressing participants at the hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution held in Uyo, the governor

urged on all to work towards a situation where the six geopolitical zones structure is embedded in the constitution while also calling for fiscal federalism and the introduction of state police, saying that it will drastically reduce crime. Eduok, who made his position on state police known while addressing delegates and stakeholders from the three senatorial districts of Akwa ibom State said any mistake to introduce state police would promote anarchy and blood bath in the system.

He said the urgent issue at hand that requires serious attention is the issue of security, adding that “without it, when we continue to live in fear, there is very little achievement that we can make. It is only in an atmosphere of peace and security that we can do businesses, that we can move, therefore I remain resolute and very clear in my mind that until each state is able to enforce its own laws, until then we may continue to be beset with those problems of national security and my advocacy of state police does not mean that they will exist without the federal component.” Meanwhile, Senator Mark, who agreed that there are many agitations in the mind of the people that require attention, but priority should be given to security, which in recent time has been a challenge to government and ability to bring governance quicker to the people. According to him the essence of the discussion that is on-going across all the six geo-political zones of the county, is to allow Nigerians at the grassroots to discuss and participate in the discussions and let them have a sense of belonging

in the process that will lead to the amendment of the constitution. ”We need to address the issues with all patriotism it deserve; we must jettison personal and parochial interests that will not benefit all at the end of the exercise. We urgently need a constitution that will guarantee security of lives and property wherever one is living in the country.” The senate president said the country needed “a document that we guide us and translate to reality, so that an average Nigerian will have a sense of belonging.” In its presentation, the Coalition of Yoruba Determination Group (GOSEG) said what the country needed was not an amendment to the constitution ,but a brand new constitution that will give a new lease of life to Nigerians who have been boxed into a corner due to a faulty constitution. The presentation that was made by the Chairman and Secretary of the group Messrs Dayo Ogunlana and Rasak Oloko-Oba respectively, said there is no amount of amendment that can be done to the existing constitution that can give the country the desired hope and fulfilment.

N’Central opposes state police, others GEORGE OJI MAKURDI

he six states of the North Central geopolitical zone of the country were yesterday united in their position on issues surrounding the retention of the immunity clause for the president and his vice as well as the governors, the rejection of state police and the devolution of powers from the centre, among other issues. The zone was also united on the issue of fiscal federalism, retention of the twoterm tenure for the president and the governors, separation of the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation from that of the government, as well as support for the creation of more states. The position of the states is contained in their various presentations at the commencement of a two-day zonal public hearing in Makurdi, organised by the Senate.

The states were, however, divide over issues bordering on the role of traditional rulers in the constitution, expulsion of National Youth Service Corp(NYSC), Land Use Act and the Code of Conduct from the constitution, local government autonomy, recognition of the six geopolitical zones in the constitution, among others. This was as state agitators took advantage of the public hearing to make cases before the lawmakers for the creation of states from their areas. Some of the groups that made presentation for new states included Prof. Jerry Gana, who spoke on behalf of the proposed Edu State seekers from Niger State, General A. B. J. Ikwue for Apa State from Benue State and the movement for Kainji State also from the present Niger State. Others demands are for Gboko State, Okura state, Igbomina State and Plateau South State.

Friday, November 16, 2012

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Politics

Anenih’s helping hand to geriatric patients

Borno not yet a failed state – Bwala

Olusola Abubakar Saraki, 1933 - 2012

He was a political icon, says IBB OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

ormer Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida has joined Nigerians to mourn the exit of the strongman of Kwara State politics, Olusola Saraki, who died in the early hours of Wednesday, saying that Nigeria has once again lost a rare political gem, a refined man who understood the tempers and mercies of politics and who gave more than a passing interest in nurturing it. Babangida, who spoke through his media assistant, Kassim Afegbua, said: “Saraki was a man that cultivated his politics in a very peculiar manner and espoused the practice of generosity and good neighbourliness to sustain his array of political followers. Easily called Oloye by his numerous followers back in his native Ilorin, Saraki was a politician that created his own panache throughout his entire political sojourn.” He noted that Saraki was close to him, adding that he “had the rare privilege of learning a few political notes from his rich reservoir of political knowledge.” Describing the former Senate Leader in the Second Republic as a politician with the mileage that

AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

olitical associates, friends and well wishers of the late political icon, Olusola Saraki have continued to pay glowing tributes to the departed pillar of Kwara politics, describing his death as a huge loss to the nation and one that would create a big vacuum in Kwara politics. Second Republic Presidential Adviser, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said the death of Saraki was a great loss, not only to his family and political associates, but to the people of Kwara and the nation in general. He said: “His demise signalled a painful end of an era as it will take a very long time for Nigeria to replace him. Saraki was able to master the loyalty of his people for decades and was able to use that position to forge a strong national unity. “By his death, Nigeria has

most politicians do not have, Babangida said that the late Wazirin Ilorin was kind, generous, Godfearing and enjoyed a popularity that was peculiar to him alone. His words: “He understood the dynamics of Nigeria politics and was able to sustain his political relevance through and through. Even though death is the final sting of man, it is hurting to lose such a political colossus at this time. “His death struck me with awe.

It is nostalgic especially, when I reflected on those good old days when we shared certain political philosophy together; the philosophy of one Nigeria, the philosophy of growth and development and the symbolic practice of being kind to fellow human being.” Babangida further said that Saraki’s philanthropy was infectious and down-to-earth, even as his love for the ordinary folks out there earned him a place in their million hearts.

CPC, LP commiserate with family OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

ollowing the demise of the patriarch of the Saraki family, Dr. Olusola Saraki, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Labour Party (LP) joined millions of mourners to extol his virtues as one who bestrode the political terrain of Kwara State like a colossus. The CPC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, said it joins the

family, political associates, Kwara State government and indeed all Nigerians to mourn the death of the great man. Also the National Secretary of the LP, Ahmed Paiko, said the party received the death of the elder Saraki with mixed feelings. He said that Saraki was undoubtedly a patriot; a bridge builder whose services, contributions, commitment and dedication to the course of humanity and his fatherland was unequalled. “He will ever remain an indelible mark. It is important to note that Dr. Saraki was a democrat who believed in civilian political order even in the face of military dictatorship. “Dr. Saraki’s legacy shows how human he was particularly to the rural poor and the needy who over six decades looked up to him. His generosity, humility, sense of direction and warm hospitality will equally be missed. During his lifetime, Oloye was the authentic father of the downtrodden, the cheated, the oppressed, the forgotten and abandoned. Above all he loved Nigeria.”

Atiku, Yuguda visit L-R: Representative of the Emir of Kano, The Ciroma of Kano, Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero; Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso and Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, during the condolence visit to the governor on the death of former Senate Leader, Chief Olusola Saraki in IIorin, yesterday.

Yakasai, Kaita, Dan Musa mourn lost one of its leaders who worked hard to sustain and strengthen democracy in the nation. He established bonds of friendship across ethnic and religious divide in Nigeria. He died as an embodiment of national unity.”

Second Republic Deputy Senate President, Abubakar Mamman Dan Musa described the late Saraki as a great man, whose contributions promoted stability and peace in the country, adding that he was a great politician who worked for his people and

enjoyed tremendous political goodwill from his people. Former civilian governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita said: “It is a sad development and a big loss to Nigeria. He was an outstanding person in Nigeria politics.”

Ajimobi, Oni euologise him OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

yo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has described the passing away of the Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki as a colossal loss, not only to the people of Kwara but also to the entire country. Ajimobi said that the people of Kwara State would sorely miss the political sagacity, organisational ability and administrative wizardry of the late Saraki which

had placed him above his peers in the political circle. His words: “Saraki was a shining example of humility and philanthropy, as he shared virtually everything he had with the needy, irrespective of where they came from. Even though he never held any political office since 1983 when he left the Senate, he had endeared himself to the hearts of Kwarans, thus becoming a rallying point in the politics of the state.” The National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Dem-

ocratic Party (PDP), Chief Segun Oni, described the late Saraki as an outstanding professional, grassroots man and leader. Oni said: “Baba was truly a political timber, a colossus of wide diameter and a wonderful political strategist. He was unarguably one of the most successful politicians in Africa, having controlled the politics of Kwara State for over 40 years. “Indeed, we have lost a great man who loved his people passionately and served them diligently.”

WOLKE ADEDEJI ILORIN

ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Isa Yuguda yesterday paid condolence visit to the family of the late Olusola Saraki, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. Describing Saraki as an uncommon politician, who was endowed with forgiving spirit, Atiku said: “With my 24-year relationship with Saraki in politics, I have never heard him say ‘I will pay you back for doing me bad’. I hope the legacies he left behind will be sustained by his family so as to benefit the rest of mankind and country in general.” Yuguda and former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje, described 47 years of Saraki in politics as remarkable and dotted with distinct principle of service and love of the people. Similarly, the Secretary General, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states, Rev. Cornelius Fawenu, described the death of the former Senate Leader as shocking.

Politics

Friday, November 16, 2012

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Anenih’s helping hand to geriatric patients SUFUYAN OJEIFO

he University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, is not new to scoring “first”. Apart from maintaining the enviable record as the premier teaching hospital in Nigeria, having been established by an Act of Parliament in 1952, it has scored several other “firsts” and has, over the years, built a tradition and legacy of excellence in healthcare service delivery to its numerous patients and/or clients. Although, the hospital was, from the outset, primarily conceived to train healthcare professionals for Nigeria and the countries in the West African sub-region, it has, in addition to the training of the needed manpower and cutting-edge research, offered unparalleled clinical services to the nation and other nationals in the sub-region. Such has been the beautiful narrative of the 55-year-old institution. The story continues. The prospects of many other great accomplishments are bright. As they come, they should be celebrated at any rate. This is why the UCH, at this time, is being celebrated for blazing the trail in the establishment and commissioning of a Geriatric Centre, the first of its kind in Nigeria, for the treatment of persons aged 65 and above. It is something akin to the medicare (public health care for senior citizens) in the United States of America in the form of a health insurance programme under which medical care and hospital treatment for people over 65 is partly paid for by the government. But here, it is not about part payment for healthcare. It is about providing the necessary infrastructure and facilities for healthcare delivery. Indeed, given the peculiar mess that has characterized the nation’s socio-economic

JOSEPH MUTAH

n October 23, 2012, the National Good Governance Tour team was in Plateau State in continuation of the inspection of completed and ongoing projects across the country. The team, which was led by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, comprised the media and civil society organisations. Various state and federal government projects were inspected in the course of the assignment, which exposed the team to the efforts being made to develop the country, as well as the challenges in implementing the projects. For instance, the team inspected the reconstruction of Vom-Manchok Road in Plateau State, which was completed and handed over to the Federal Government in January, 2012. The 43.2 kilometre road, which was reconstructed at a cost of over N 3.9 billion, provides an alternate route from Jos to Kaduna. The road has since been opened to motorists who are taking advantage of it to transport goods and services with ease. However, this could not be said of the Panyam-Bokkos-Wamba road which was envisaged to provide the shortest route from Plateau State to Abuja through Wamba in Nasarawa State. Furthermore, this

Anenih

and political sectors, it is gratifying that a facility for the geriatric in Nigeria has been built at the UCH, Ibadan. The most difficult part of the problem has been solved with the building of the centre. The Federal Government plans to spend a princely N275 million for equipment and furnishing of the two operating theatres at the centre. This is a good development, which can incrementally be replicated in all the states of the federation. Other teaching and nonteaching hospitals can emulate the UCH paradigm by seeking out Nigerian philanthropists, especially the elderly, who are concerned about the healthcare of members of their generation, to endow such geriatric centres. If wealthy Nigerians, even if they are not old yet, but share in the philosophy of

providing good medical care for the elderly, key into the vision, the prognosis is that, in the next decade, there will be great improvement in the provision of healthcare to the teeming number of geriatric clients nationwide. To kick-start the ambitious project, the management of the UCH, Ibadan, checked the record of hospital attendance in the past 10 years and discovered an upsurge in the number of geriatric patients in the clinic register, admission records and among patients requiring various surgical procedures. According to the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Prof. Temitope Alonge, “These findings informed the choice of the construction of a Geriatric Centre (as part of our 2011 Capital Project) that will provide outpatient and in-patient services for our teeming number of geriatric clients.” To drive the project to the point of commissioning, the management had taken to the advice of the Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, during a recent visit to the hospital, to leverage on the Federal Government’s commitment to Public Private Partnership (PPP) in government institutions, including endowment of government projects by well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropists. The idea is to ultimately name such projects after the endowers. That was how the Geriatric Centre, which is being commissioned on Saturday, November 17, 2012, was christened: “Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre.” Alonge explained: “At the core management meeting of the hospital held in July 2012, management unanimously agreed on the choice of Chief Tony Anenih, CFR, (the Iyasele of Esanland) as the most suitable Nigerian to endow this centre, the very first of such in Nigeria.” Apart from the fact, obvious to the pub-

lic, that Anenih is 79 years old and, therefore, eminently positioned to empathise with his generation of the elderly, the management was moved to draw from the fountain of his charity works which University of Benin, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, among other institutions, had benefited from in the past. Besides, it takes two to tango. Anenih had responded to his choice by the UCH, Ibadan, with an acceptance to endow the centre and the acceptance, according to him, of the request of the management “is predicated on the conviction that the only life worth living is the life lived in the service to God and humanity.” He alluded to his charity work in the past, most of them in the academic environment, a few with religious inclinations, and declared that none of them “gives me as much joy as the Geriatric Centre because anyone can choose not to be religious or have formal education, but no one can choose not to grow old.” What the acceptance also means is that the influential politician has taken up the gauntlet to mobilise the much fund he can to assist the centre. And as he gives a hand, he is also relying on the support of his family and friends to ensure that the centre is put to use in record time. After Anenih’s endowment of the Geriatric Centre at the UCH, the question arises as to which teaching or non-teaching hospital will follow suit (to give a compassionate thought for the provisions of special healthcare services for the elderly) and who will be ready to give a helping hand in the way the Iyasele (prime minister) of Esanland has amply demonstrated at the UCH, Ibadan? Nigerians are keeping their fingers crossed. Ojeifo is an Abuja-based journalist.

Echoes from Good Governance Tour road will provide opportunity for farmers to transport their produce to the market, especially with the knowledge that Bokkos is a hub of potato farming. The contract was awarded to Stateco Nigeria Limited on April 25, 2007 with a completion date of April 24, 2009. The construction of the 50 kilometres road was awarded at a cost of over N5 billion. The sum of N1, 271,000, 221.64 was collected as advance payment by the contractor who also requested and secured the extension of the completion period twice. The new completion date was July 31, 2011. However, at the time the National Good Governance Tour Team visited the project, which was about 66 months when the contract was awarded, the project was at 37.11 per cent completion stage. In an attempt to mislead the team, the contractor did what could best be described as a window dressing in Bokkos and hurriedly deployed some equipment to site in Panyam. But Maku insisted on inspecting a sizeable portion of the road beyond Bokkos and to the consternation of the team, the contractor was not even on site while little or almost nothing was being done to deliver on the project. The Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, who accompanied

Maku

the team said: “When the contractor heard that we are coming here today, he chose to be away and the only thing we saw here was a crusher.” “This is not acceptable to us in the Federal Ministry of Works and I assure you, Honourable Minister in the next two weeks, I can face the press and tell them the decisive action that we have taken as a min-

istry,” Yuguda said. In keeping with the promise, Yuguda was at the Radio House, Abuja on November 9 to announce to the world the “decisive action” taken by the Federal Ministry of Works on the Panyam-Bokkos-Wamba Road, which many on the Tour Team described as non-performing contract. He said having explored all the clauses in the Contract Agreement, especially Clause 43, which was violated because “no significant progress was made to satisfy the engineer of the contractor’s ability to successfully realise the project,” the Federal Government had no option than to terminate the contract “in line with the objectives of the National Good Governance Tour and in accordance with Clause 63 of the Standard Conditions of Contract 1999.” The contractor has since been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while steps have been taken to recover the advance payment of N1.2 billion made to him. In the same vein, following the discovery of non-performance during the inspection of the rehabilitation of Agaie-Katcha-Baro Road in Niger State, the N1.6 billion contract awarded to Impresit Bakolori was revoked by the Federal Ministry of Works. The road project was awarded on De-

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Politics

Friday, November 16, 2012

Borno State Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Inuwa Bwala, in this interview with OBIORA IFOH, regrets that prominent leaders, including President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal have not visited Borno State since the insurgence started. Excerpts: Despite the security challenges, how has the state government been coping in terms of delivering dividends to the people of Borno State? We are conscious of the fact that over the years, certain things that need to be done for the state have not been done adequately. That is why our governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima on coming into office, mapped out five areas of priority on how we can develop the state. We have been collaborating with the Federal Government in trying to see how we can bring to an end the security situation we have been facing in Borno State. Part of the misfortunes we have been facing is the dwindling resources of the state as a result of the security challenges and insurgency. But as a government and since we don’t have the wherewithal to compel ceasefire, we have always insisted on dialogue and the Federal Government has seen the need to go into that. Government and our people have seen that we have no cause, as brothers and sisters, to take up arms against each other because at the end of the day, we are the ones to be affected. The greatest threat of this insecurity is that our future productive force is being wiped out because greater number of the people engaged in this thing and that are victims are very cember 3, 2009 with a completion of nine months while the sum of N242,122,836.97 was paid to the contractor as advance payment. However, with about 34 months on the project in addition to the extension period granted for the completion period coupled with the service of letter of warning and notice of termination of the contract, no significant progress was recorded when the team visited the project – a development that necessitated the termination of the contract. The action taken on the projects so far has reinforced the confidence of the people in the National Good Governance Tour that it is not out to whitewash but to cause positive action to be taken in order to ensure accountability, transparency and value for money being spent on projects execution. The Information Minister, Maku, reechoed that the tour is an assessment of work in progress because it is unlikely to expect that in two years, governors and the President will deliver on all their promises. Maku added that the tour is one of the steps to verify what is happening at the various project sites in order to report back to Nigerians the true position of things and not to engage in propaganda. This, he said, will go a long way to instil people’s confidence in the democratic system. Mutah is the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Information.

Borno not yet a failed state – Bwala young people. Having realised that the future productive force is being threatened, we have come up to aggressively pursue this path to dialogue. We have been talking to our elders, religious leaders, community leaders and traditional rulers to see how we can reach out to some of our people who feel aggrieved by certain past policies so that we can sit down and find a rendezvous for us to set on peace together once more. Given all that you have said, how come that Borno was described as a failed state by top personalities like General T. Y. Danjuma and some others? Unfortunately, some of the comments and views held about Borno State were over-exaggerated; they do not capture the real situation on ground. And some of these people who criticise Borno are people who have not and may never visit Borno State and may never understand what is going on there. We cannot pretend that we do not have a situation in Borno, but I have always said that Borno is not the worst case scenario in this matter. It may have lingered on but you will agree with me that when it happens in other places, in one fell sweep, the casualty far out-number what happens in Borno State over time. So, we will be missing the point if we isolate Borno as if the insurgency or the problem is the case of Borno State. Unless we regard it as a national problem capable of affecting any part of this country with every Nigerian capable of falling victim, we will be missing the point. Borno is after all, part and parcel of this country; a federating unit and so, we should not be treated as a pariah. Rather, we should be given a fair hearing; encouraged. We expect Nigerians to share in the plight of our people; to sympathise with us; to come to us and see what we are going through so that as Nigerians we can collectively proffer solutions to it. Our hearts bleed, when elder statesmen who we would want to respect, make remarks that cannot be substantiated scientifically. Globally, there are indices of failed state and there is none of such in Borno State. And so, as much as we do not want to join issues with people who say Borno has failed or is failing, we want to state that Borno is working and Borno is up and doing and we are going to come out of these crises better than when we had not gone into the crises. The Borno star will shine again. It is not for any reason that Borno is referred to as the Home of Peace. We can beat our chest anywhere and say that Borno people are very peaceful people but so many factors have culminated into the problems we are facing and part of the problems included the failure of leadership at all times including those who think that we are not doing enough. Can you quantify what the state has lost to this intractable crisis? I don’t have the figures but it will be uncharitable if I say the state has not lost much in terms of Naira and Kobo. Every economic activity has been reduced at least by half. Banks that had daily turnover of

Bwala

THAT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS IN BORNO DOES NOT TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT WE ARE A FEDERATING UNIT OF

NIGERIA AND

WE ARE ENTITLED TO ALL PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY ALL

NIGERIANS

minimum of N150 million are now netting about N50 million. Traders that used to sell goods of more than N10 million to N20 million per day now sell between N5 million and N7 million per day. Certain areas where businesses were thriving, out of fear, businesses have also been reduced in those areas. But we want the Federal Government to make special intervention in our case by providing us with special funds so that we can re-fix Borno State. We have great potential and we are ready to partner with the Federal Government but we are not also going to pretend we do not have challenges. But I want to tell you that Borno is not as terrible as people paint the picture outside. What advice do you have for some parents who have refused to allow their children to come to Borno State to participate in the National Youth Service Corps? We want to appeal to them that so far as I talk to you, there is no school in Borno, secondary or tertiary that has been attacked. You may recall that in the wake of this crisis, some institutions, including tertiary institutions were hurriedly closed down out of the fear that they were going to be attacked, but nothing has happened in these institutions till date. Even primary

schools that were attacked during the period, we were made to understand, were not attacked actually by these insurgents. That is why we continue to harp on the fact that there are three main components in Boko Haram. We have some of our brothers who have ideological disagreement with us based on certain past policies and as a result, they want to avenge themselves against certain individuals and institutions that brought about their agitation. That is the actual Boko Haram. But, greater number of these things is political. That is why the greater number of people being killed are from a particular political party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Recently, they killed somebody who decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ANPP. General Mohammed Shuwa was the chairman of the board of elders of the ANPP. All the people being killed are of the ANPP. There is no single person from the PDP that has been killed. Even if it were to be a coincidence, we have very serious inclination that this thing has political connotation. This is because Boko Haram has a modus operandi, one of which is that in the background of all their conferences is the display of Arabic inscriptions which is what they believe in and part of their principal demands have been for declaration of Sharia in some states or even across the federation, that was missing in the last offer for ceasefire. Boko Haram often address in Hausa, the two addresses were in English. At times, when you begin to read between lines, you find it difficult to understand which one is coming from these brothers or which one is coming from other sources. We call on such people to stop playing politics with this very serious issue that we have in Borno State, but to come up and give us useful suggestions on how we can resolve it. What do you think is responsible for the refusal of the President, his vice, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to visit Borno State? I want to be fair to the President and all other Federal Government officials for failing to come to Borno State but I will never justify their actions. Incidents of higher intensity have happened in other places and they were there and assisted them. That the problem persists in Borno does not take away the fact that we are a federating unit of Nigeria and we are entitled to all privileges enjoyed by all Nigerians. If we feel that a child is not behaving well, you don’t throw away the child and the bath water. We expect them to have shown concern, even for political reason, to have visited us. Our impression is that we are being given this step-child treatment because we are in opposition political party, otherwise, we expect the President to have come to Borno; we expect at least, the vice President to have come to Borno and show sympathy to the plight of our people or even the Senate President or the Speaker all of whom are Northerners. We feel sad that our President has not visited us but we are hoping that someday he will find reasons to come over. We don’t have to remind them of their obligations; that Borno needs their attention. But I am sure that if they come over, they will understand that we have justification for asking for special fund from the Federal Government for Borno State.

Editorial

Friday, November 16, 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

LANRE OYETADE

GENERAL 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

Ending the Rivers-Bayelsa oil wells dispute

he ongoing face-off between the Rivers and Bayelsa state governments over the ownership of five disputed oil wells in Soku and Elem-Sangama communities portends grave danger for the nation as a whole and the peaceful and cordial relationship that existed between the two states before now. Trouble started recently with allegations by the Rivers State Government and Kalabari leaders that oil wells in Kalabari Kingdom were surreptitiously ceded to Bayelsa State with the active connivance of President Goodluck Jonathan who hails from the state (Bayelsa). Traditional rulers, men, women and youths from Kalabari Kingdom under the umbrella of the Kalabari National Forum (KNF), led by former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, had penultimate Monday, protested the alleged secret moves. They also accused the president of aiding his native state to corner over N17 billion accruable to Rivers State from the 13 Percent oil derivation revenue. The KNF threatened to resist the alleged plot, even if it meant breaching the peace, if the oil wells in contention were not promptly returned to them.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Reuben Abati, speaking for Jonathan, however, denied the claims that his boss was taking sides in the dispute. Abati said the problem predated the Jonathan administration. The president had at the peak of the exchange of tirades between the two states, invited stakeholders and eminent persons from both Rivers and Bayelsa states to Abuja apparently in search of peaceful settlement of the matter which had eroded trust and confidence between the sister-states. However, early in the week, and with the resolution of the dispute yet to be finalized, the FG ordered seven states namely: Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, Imo, Edo, Abia and Ondo, to refund N17.5 billion which they had earlier received as part of their 13 Percent derivation revenue to Rivers State. The money was said to be accruals from 2007 in respect of the Nda and Okwori oil fields erroneously paid to the seven states; but which the Rivers State Government had successfully proved to be its own. It may, therefore, be stated that with the quick response of the FG to the agitation of Rivers State on the N17.5 billion payments

WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE NO

CLEAR-CUT BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE FEUDING COMMUNITIES made in error, the government has demonstrated that it is poised and charitably disposed to amicably resolving outstanding claims and counter-claims by Rivers and Bayelsa states of mutual attempts to snatch the five disputed oil wells. Consequently, as chief security officers of their respective states, the Rivers and Bayelsa state governors should shun all negative utterances and actions capable of further aggravating the situation and fanning the embers of ethnic hatred, intolerance, restiveness and possible fratricidal clashes. Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State had implored the parties pointedly in the eye of the storm, the Nembe and Kalabari communities, to remain calm while the dispute is being resolved. We urge Governor Rotimi Amechi of Rivers State to canvass similar restraint from his own end. Either way, the face-off is regrettable and would not serve the best inter-

ests of Rivers and Bayelsa people; or the nation if allowed to slip out of hand, especially now that the FG is grappling with the violent campaign of insurgents in the northern part of the country. In addition, the National Boundary Commission and the Office of the Surveyor- General of the Federation should quickly wade into the dispute and do the needful, by properly demarcating and delineating the common boundaries between the two states to the satisfaction of all parties, especially when oil wells are involved and considering the special premium virtually all state governments place on federal revenue earnings. For, we do not believe that there are no clear-cut boundaries between the feuding communities. It is instructive; however, that such demarcation or delineation cannot be achieved under a hostile atmosphere. Besides, we urge the FG to adopt a similar approach in halting the crises brewing between Anambra, Kogi and Enugu states following the announcement by an indigenous oil company; Orient Petroleum, that it would soon start exploring and refining crude oil in the Anambra Basin.

ON THIS DAY November 16, 1997 After nearly 18 years of incarceration, the People’s Republic of China released Wei Jingsheng, a pro-democracy dissident, from jail for medical reasons. Jingsheng (born May 20, 1950) is a Chinese human rights activist known for his involvement in the Chinese democracy movement. He is most prominent for having authored the essay, Fifth Modernization, which was posted on the “Democracy Wall” in Beijing in 1978.

November 16, 1989 A death squad composed of El Salvadoran army troops killed six Jesuit priests and two others at Jose Simeon Canas University; a private university with non-profit purposes in San Salvador, El Salvador, Central America run by the Society of Jesus. It was founded in September 1965 at the request of a group of Roman Catholic families who appealed to the Salvadoran government and to the Society of Jesus to create another university as an alternative to the University of El Salvador.

November 16, 1914 The Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of the United States was officially opened. The 12 FRBs form a major part of the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the US. The banks divided the nation into 12 Federal Reserve Districts (FRDs), the 12 banking districts created by the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. The FRBs are jointly responsible for implementing the monetary policy set by the Federal Open Market Committee.

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Views

Friday, November 16, 2012

Searching for solution to a mass killer A ZUKA ONWUKA

ast week, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, disclosed that the Boko Haram sect has killed 3,000 people in the last few years. That is a high figure by all means and the menace needs a prompt solution. But by the end of this year, it is estimated that 300,000 Nigerians will have died, not by Boko Haram, nor through community clashes, road accidents, plane crashes, or war, but by a vicious killer called malaria. That figure is the combined population of five countries: Seychelles, Andorra, Dominica, Liechtenstein and San Marino. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa; it is also the most hard-hit by malaria in the entire globe. Often referred to as ‘the disease of poverty,’ approximately 50 percent of all malaria cases occur in only five of the world’s countries. Nigeria has the unenviable distinction of placing first among all of them, making up 23 percent of all reported cases. Inflicting much pain and suffering, malaria not only destroys lives, but tears apart families and cripples the ability of countries to move forward. According to Nigeria’s National Malaria Control Programme, some 90 million of the country’s total population of 169 million are affected by malaria annually. Over 300,000 Nigerians perish resulting from the disease each year, a figure which

represents 10 percent of the yearly total deaths on the African continent. Malaria is a cruel disease that strikes people of all age brackets, and 30 percent of infant deaths in the country can be attributed to complications stemming from malarial infection. The disease also contributes to Nigeria’s ongoing economic crises, costing the country an average N160 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity hours. Passed on to humans through the bite of bacteria-carrying female mosquitoes, the disease generally brings with it a set of symptoms including chills, hay fever and profuse sweating. These uncomfortable, and often painful symptoms can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Potentially fatal complications such as jaundice, renal insufficiency, hepatic insufficiency and decreased cognitive ability can all ensue. Many victims slip into unconsciousness, never to wake up. As yet, no efficacious vaccine has been developed to combat malaria. In affected regions of the world, the only defence people have, is the near-impossible task of avoiding mosquito bites. For this specific reason, malaria relief efforts to date have centered on mosquito treated net donation programmes. Sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, has proven to be somewhat effective, preventing five to six out of every 1,000 children from being infected, according to independent non-profit organization, the Cochrane Collaboration. Aerosols and coils are

WITH OUR LIMITED MEANS OF DEFENCE

AGAINST THE DISEASE, MALARIA IS ONCE AGAIN ON THE RISE also known to be effective in combating the malaria scourge; they knock down as well as repel the insects, in the process helping to reduce the risk of mosquito bites. Locally developed repellants have also been ascertained to be effective in the fight against these noxious insects in most rural settlements. As good as these measures are, they have harmful and side effects to human health. There are serious risks associated with inhaling aerosols; some immediate side effects include sneezing, coughing, diarrhea, slurred speech, double vision and drowsiness. With our limited means of defence against the disease, malaria is once again on the rise. Recent research by Dr. Vincent Corbel and a team of French scientists, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, shows that malaria-carrying mosquitoes are developing a tolerance to the various insecticides employed against them. Corbel’s research also notes a shift in the insects’ feeding habits, circumventing the use of mosquito nets by concentrating their attacks outdoors.

The challenge is to eradicate mosquitoes completely. But since that is a long shot, the onus is on all stakeholders to find a more effective way of preventing mosquitoes from biting people, especially young children and pregnant women. If mosquitoes are prevented from biting, the chances of malarial attack will be reduced.Organizations as well as government agencies should take this as a challenge. In recent times, the Global Fund has saved more than 7.7 million lives by funding treatment and preventative care programmes across the planet. Leading humanitarian agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Roll-Back Malaria (RBM) and DFID have been committed to fighting malaria. These bodies work closely with national governments to build their capacity to prevent and treat the disease. They have also gone into initiatives that have pushed back the malaria scourge such as investment in the discovery and development of new antimalarial drugs and vaccines. In the light of the present realities, it is expected that iconic innovative companies will invest more in research and development in order to come up with safe and affordable products that will ensure that mosquitoes, which are the vector of the malaria parasites, are entirely stamped out. Onwuka can be reached at http:// augustconsulting.biz/

USA: Stop the war on terror K AMALU IGIRIGIRI

f all 648 global terrorist groups between 1968 and 2006, the present group targeted by the war on Terror, spear headed by USA is principally targeting Muslims. It is the most unjustified, the bloodiest and perhaps the longest lasting with little or no prospects for victory in sight for the war on terror. Fanaticism has come to be associated with these terror groups that are merely acting in self defence. The proponents of the war on terror have acted to defend or acquire in some cases economic empires, counter ideological groundings and in other cases acted to defend political preferences. Osama Bin Laden for example, was tutored in America. That country gave him and the Taliban support against the Soviets in Afghanistan, disregarding the Islamic philosophies they were propagating. Today, his philosophies and those of the Taliban have taken root and have become a way of life for Muslims in Afghanistan. Against 9/11, the US has instituted the War on Terror after the Soviets had been forced to leave Afghanistan. Countering the existence of the Soviets and their Communist philosophy was the major reason America backed Osama Bin Laden. The Taliban endangered world peace. The quantum of destruction and the projected distortion, of world order could surpass that of World War II, if belligerence on both sides is not halted. Muslims have been unduly stigmatized and disparaged, accused and

APPLYING THE MILITARY OPTION IN THE WAR AGAINST TERROR HAS BEEN SUFFICIENTLY PROVEN TO BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE presented in a bad light for a war they did not start. Admittedly, they have resorted to insurgency. More often than not, most insurgents are products of unwarranted attacks on their religion, communities or personalities. They are misunderstood, have been made to suffer several levels of undue deprivation. While exonerating the From the sad consequences of the war on terror, it must be said that some misguided elements within the Muslim Community have taken undue advantage of the bashings on Islamism to misinterpret the Holy Quran. Muslim retaliation to unwarranted provocation has established a basis for counter terrorism which has led to the deaths of more innocent Muslims and some targeted Christians. Today, cold war between Muslims and Christians is growing. The Holy Quran has been misquoted by fundamentalists, but certainly, not without a cause. Recently, angry protests took place throughout the Muslim World including Nigeria over the online anti-Islam film

produced in USA. Computer hackers took down at least one Christian website in the Persian Gulf replacing the homepage with the message that Islam means peace. “We Muslims want peace all over the world. Don’t think us weak. By creating this video, you have just insulted our Islam and “our beloved Prophet Muhammed and in consequence “broken the peace between you and us. Now, we are in your cyber space to destroy it. We will hit you, until you stop hitting us and want mercy for your deed”. The offensive video was produced by a Christian and was tolerated by the US obnoxious freedom of information policy with total disregard to the abusive and disrespect to whom may have been concerned. It must be remembered that Muslims who condemn violence in the name of their faith, but who also condemn the scorn and hate of anti-Islamist radicals, often find themselves in an awkward position.. While some protests abroad turned violent, protest against the cartoons were banned in France a tacit recognition and respect for its five million strong Muslim populations. In the US, President Obama extolled the virtues of the US and its support of free speech irrespective of how damaging to US interests. Free speech and freedom itself suggest that Muslims are medieval and rooted in tradition outside the fold of democracy and modernity. This directly contradicts the proceedings, the reasons and the outcome of the Arab awakening. But is racist framing, the only way

to understand the current war on terror directed against Muslims? As it is typical, both dominant and alternative media have failed to understand how to frame resistance and protests of Muslims. In describing it as an issue of free speech, the media has presented these protesters as “fanatics” making it an issue of solely religion and not about politics, power and a referendum on US and Western intervention in these countries. Apart from the ineffectiveness of the US strategy of war on terror initiated by former President Bush in 2001, the entire gamut of the activities, suggest that the exercise is an unwarranted waste of human lives. The US government must accept responsibilities for the upsurge in the number of suicide bombers and the increase in Muslim fundamentalism. Applying the military option in the war against terror has been sufficiently proven to be counterproductive, as it ignores flexibility which makes it impossible to address the different reasons for which the terror groups are fighting for. NATO and their allies must promote dialogue for the political integration of terrorist groups. Igirigiri, an ex-staff of FRCN wrote from 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.

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Friday, November 16, 2012

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Stopping violence against women

Give LGs autonomy

hose who think that the Local Government workers are people without designated jobs will have their assertion proved wrong with the recent imbroglio in Ekiti- State. Lives are gradually becoming miserable at the grassroots with the absence of primary health care workers, thus causing deaths in towns and villages. Expectant couples cannot hold their court marriages as scheduled, issuance of letters of identification for admission and for job purposes impaired and a host of other sundry activities. The current face-off between the Ekiti-State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees and the Kayode Fayemi administration shows that things are not well with the duo. While the former claimed that they have been unjustifiably sidelined in the recent N19, 300 minimum wages, the latter attached the non-implementation to the recent overhauling of the local government administrative system in the state. Everyone is aware that the financial implication of the new wage has been consolidated for in the monthly allocation being disbursed to the state government. The germane issue is the joint account being run by the state and local government. Most state governors no longer conduct elections to the office of local government chairman. They just appoint their loyalists who will dance to their whims to man the councils. Therefore, the National Assembly should speedily pass the LG autonomy bill by jettisoning all forms of lobbying from any quarters. This will in no small measure ameliorate the suffering of the masses at the grassroots. Wale Folayan, Okemesi-Ekiti

Shame of the judiciary

t is an irony that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Aloma Mukthar, should listen to act on baseless petitions to deny fellow female the position of Justice of the Court of Appeal, at this time that women are asking for equal percentage of appointment with men nationwide. I think there is something outside the excuses of the petition. We would want the CJN to tell Nigerians the cogent reasons for delisting Mrs. Jumbo –Ofo. So, it is now a crime for a career woman to get married outside her state? This development is tarnishing the spirited efforts of Dame Patience Jonathan to put women in power. Sam Okoronkwo, Ondo State

Akure,

ape, sexual insult and assault, brutalization and molestation, domestic violence on girls and women have in recent taken an upsurge in Nigeria, with victims feeling embarrassed to report such incidence to the right agencies for justice. However, kudos must be given to some individuals, civil society and media organisations that have continually been campaigning against violence on the female folks. Curbing and stopping violence against women requires the creation and passage of laws regarding such violence, adopting action plans and budgets to imple-

ment legislation, instituting prevention programmes and protection services for women survivors, and campaigning to raise awareness whilst, instilling sound moral and religious instructions in the girlchild towards a chaste and modest future. Achieving gender equality and women’s rights in Nigeria and the world at large, is crucial to establishing and sustaining developments as specifically addressed by three Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Gender inequality has a much greater impact than the explicit MDGs. Gender dynamics underpin all of the MDGs

and to make progress, we need specific gender-sensitive policies and action across the entire project. In promoting women’s livelihood, the 2012 DFID Gender Report in Nigeria, recommends that “Government policy should prioritise agriculture and rural development, because 54 million of Nigeria’s 80.2 million women live and work in rural areas where they constitute 60-70 percent of the rural work force”. It also advocates the formulation and implementation of laws that will assist the female gender in actualising her mandate. On education, the report advised the creation of incentives for all girls

STAFF LORRY? The transit-fate of casual workers in Nigeria.

Letters to the Editor

of Kano. Some time ago, he had called for the resignation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, for facilitating the release of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike. Recently, he kicked against additional state to South east and said all manner of things against Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu. The people of North, Kano and North West Zone had

Tayo Elegbede wrote from Lagos

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Kwankwaso should be called to order ov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is no doubt an Igbo phobist. He is always worried on anything that is for the good of people of Igboland and this pushes him to be making unfriendly and hateful utterances. During his first administration from 19992003, he chided the late comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration service, Lady Uzomaka Nwizu, that she took the position of an indigene

to complete primary and secondary education, whilst delivering free education to girls and better funding for the educational sector both at the state and national levels. This fight for gender equality can only be successful with you and I playing individual yet concerted roles towards successful women’s leadership.Together-we can make it happen! According to the Executive Director, UN Women, Michelle Bachelet, “Gender equality must become a lived reality”.

more number of Councils and states because the military government at that time pursued a sectional agenda and not a national one. One does not require a prophet to know that Igbos is the most populous ethnic nationality in Nigeria if genuine census is conducted. Kwankwaso should know that big land mass does not make human beings. And administration of a state or nation is meant

for human beings, also the large presence of Igbos in Kano cannot be denied. He should understand that the Igbos are a dynamic, sophisticated and a charismatic race and that his hateful and negative utterances against them will not stop their greatness, rise and steady progress. He should also note that the great Zik of Africa, Dr. Akanu Ibiam, Dr. Michael Okpara, Chief Dennis Osadebe, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe

The ‘Aregbe train’ phenomenon

e have all enjoyed the past Salah celebration and the usual merriment accompanying it. This time, it was also complemented by a long holiday. However, there was a new twist to this year’s Salah feast, which made an impression on me. From my place at Igbono, I had gone to Owode-Ede to visit an old friend. On getting to the OlaIya intersection, we ran into a heavy traffic. The question that dominated discussion was whether ‘Aregbe Train’ had arrived. Those with sufficient knowledge of its movement confirmed that the train had indeed arrived at the Old Garage Railway Station. At a point, I got down from the bus and headed towards the station. I discovered that the cause of the traffic was not the Aregbe Train as we were glibly led to believe. Rather, the traffic situation was occasioned by acts of lawlessness on the part of commercial bus drivers. But the traffic congestion did have something to do with the Aregbe Train. In fact, it was the presence of their large numbers that attracted commercial buses to the scene. The Aregbe Train did not only made Salah much fun, it had also Come next Salah, I might give a try because coming by bus was not cheaper. Lukman Adeyemi, Surulere, Lagos

and others were never intimidated. Sons and daughters of Igboland should watch Kwankwaso and respond accordingly anytime he makes unguarded utterances against the Jews of Africa. He is one of the problems and enemies of this white elephant project called Nigeria. He is against equal number of states and the six geopolitical zones engineered by respected Igbo elder statesman, Dr. Alex Ekwueme. Prophet Narius Collins Ofoneke,Abuja

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

Your

FRIDAY

Flavour

Friday, November 16, 2012

include an opening performance titled: ‘Child Abuse’, by the children’s dance drama academy- Footprints of David. Then, there is the official opening/seminar on the Festival Visual Art Exhibition with the theme: ‘The Art of Protest: Interrupted Lives’. Also to take place on day one is the Festival Colloquium from 12 noon to 3.00 p.m. This will feature readings, reviews and discussions around: Open Graveyard by Wale Osun; Out of the Shadows by Kayode Fayemi; Roses and Bullets by Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo; Witness to Justice by Matthew Kukah and There was a Country by Chinua Achebe. This will be followed by another panel discussion tagged: “My Life Has a Price” after the book of the same title newly released by Tina Okpara. The author is being introduced to the public at LABAF. There will also be a public forum on the joy of reading, the Festival Conversation, while the Jazz Night @ Freedom Park, a musical conversation by three bands – Imole Afrika, Dapo Dina and Excite Band, will close day one in a live concert. Day two, tomorrow, will open

DESCRIBED AS AFRICA’S BIGGEST BOOK AND ART

PICNIC ,

2012

LABAF

IS DEDICATED

BRUCE

ONOBRAKPEYA @80 with My Life Has a Price- Meet the Author event at 10.00 a.m. It will take the audience on Okpara’s fiveyear journey from Nigeria to hell in Paris. A Thousand Diasporas Now will follow, then Town Talk 1 with the theme: ‘Financial Literacy: The Facts & The Fiction’ and Town Talk 2 around A Thousand Diasporas Now part two. Later in the day, Nelson Literary Series will introduce two new books to the public at which time the Festival Martinee, Holy Night by Zainabu Jallo, will take place. It is produced by Crown Troupe of

WEEKEND STARTERS Lagbaja, Fareed Zakaria at Eko Hotel

Itan; Babaeko’s folklore opens

‘T

he faceless one’, Lagbaja will return from his base in New York to perform his unique brand of Afrobeat music at The Airtel Night of Influence, a high-octane networking platform provided by Airtel Telecoms. The event would hold at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Sunday, November 18 and will also feature a lecture

Zakaria

and interaction with CNN anchor, the Indian-American intellectual Dr. Fareed Zakaria. The night will be an exposition of African roots music, as well as jazz.

ontemporary Nigerian artist, Yetunde Aye n i - B a b a e ko opens her exhibition titled Itan (which means story in Yoruba language) tomorrow at the Porsche Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The collection of black and white photographs engages African mythology. This evening, however, AyeniBabaeko holds a pre-opening event tagged, “Meet the

NCF fêtes partners at dinner

T Babaeko

Praiz

Artist “ at the same venue by 5.00 p.m. Performing will be singer and artiste, Praiz.

he Nigerian Conservation Foundation, NCF, will tomorrow fête partners at its 2012 dinner and dance event scheduled for the Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos starting from 7.30 p.m. As Nigeria’s largest and most experienced independent environmental NGO for nature conservation and sustenance, the annual event brings partners together and expands the frontiers for collaboration.

Denrele’s Day P. 32-33

Escape

L-R Member, CORA governing Board, Mr. Deji Toye and Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) in session at a previous festival

P. 26

he Book Trek of the Lagos Art and Book Festival, LABAF, which was supposed to hold at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, took place at Quintessence Gallery, Falomo, Ikoyi on Tuesday afternoon. The Trek, which featured two books, Roses and Bullets by Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo and Witness to Justice by Matthew Kukah precedes the 14-year-old festival organised by the Committee for Relevant Art, CORA. The theme for this edition, beginning today and closing on Sunday, November 18, is ‘Narratives of Conflict’. Toyin Akinosho, Secretary General of CORA, said at the Tuesday event, that Kukah will be present at the opening ceremony of LABAF billed for 10.00 a.m. today. Only a day before, the Publisher’s Forum event with the theme: ‘Financing the Book Trade’ took place at Goethe-Institut, City Hall, Lagos. “The theme of the festival came out earlier this year...the idea was that the storyteller, as Chinua Achebe says, must understand what went before. So, our storytellers; how do they narrate our conflicts? How do they grapple with it?” Akinosho said, adding that the books were chosen for their quality and eloquence in discussing conflicts. Described as Africa’s biggest book and art picnic, LABAF 2012, dedicated to Bruce Onobrakpeya at 80, will have comedian, Ali Baba share his encounter with the book with children at the festival. The children will also take part in the Green Festival segment where they will have workshops, reading exercises, games and on day three, demonstrate what they have learned. The opening ceremony and the rest of the events for LABAF take place at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos. Other events today

Africa and directed by Segun Adefila. Wired Literature will take place to determine the significance of the emergence of e-books and e-reading devices to the actual act of reading. Afterwards, the five books, published in 2012, which also topped the poll of books that should be featured in LABAF this year will be unveiled. Early evening of the same day, Renegade Theatre will perform Anatomy of a Woman, written and directed by Wole Oguntokun and produced by the theatre group, while the Festival Concert@Freedom Park will close day two with Sound Sultan, Yinka Davies, Koffi, Daddy Showkey, Princess and Yaw. There will be the Ariwo Oja album launch, which showcases the musical works of Segun Adefila and The Crown Troupe of Africa and celebrates great art patrons/artists who have clocked landmark birthdays in 2012, led by Bruce Onabrakpeya. Sunday will be another day of fun and activity at LABAF beginning at noon with “My Story, Our Country” with reviews and discussions of Segun Adeniyi’s Power, Politics & Death; Oluremi Obasanjo’s Bitter-Sweet: My Life with Obasanjo and Akin Mabogunje’s A Measure of Grace; focusing on how memoirs by citizens go about telling the story of a nation. Oba Gbenga Sonuga will present his book, An Introduction to Cultural Activism and a Stampede with the theme: ‘The music in the book, the book in the music’ will follow to discuss the relationship between literature and music, drawing loosely from the musical legacies of two legends as contained in the following books: Fela: This Bitch of a Life by Carlos Moore and Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley by Timothy White. 100,000 poets for change, a smashing poetry jam session will close the festival. It will feature some of the finest poets and musicians across the country.

Mirror Mongers

TERH AGBEDEH

P. 24-25

LABAF: Africa’s book, art picnic begins in Lagos

P. 34

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

Inside FCT

VOL. 2 No. 493

Artman In The House

Friday, November 16, 2012

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My bone art is beyond visual beauty –Abia Akwa Ibom State-born Godwin Archie Abia takes delight in putting discarded animal bones to use in his art form, which is why he calls himself a recycler. In this interview with Friday Flavour’s NGOZI EMEDOLIBE, he shares his inspiration, passion and hopes for visual arts. Excerpts: What inspired this choice of art works revolving around recycling wastes, especially bones? It is the portion of the Bible, which says that ‘I will speak to dry bones and they will rise again’. In the Bible, dry bones actually rose. As a Christian, I have looked at the Bible critically and observed that God uses the discarded things to make statements. My entry into visual arts is a divine intervention. Going to source bones which people threw away and bring them alive through a visual form is a divine mandate. Making designs from bones means you would be comfortable with sculpture? Actually, when I have works that have to do with sculpture, I get other artists. I set up this studio in 1995 and we have lots of artists who have their specialties. Infact, there is nothing in terms of arts you will not find here. We work as friends and colleagues. So how would you classify your art? I will call my aspect of visual art, the graven art. In graven art, I incorporate other materials, colours, saw dust, sand, and sometimes iron to appeal to the art world. Basically, I recycle waste; my interest is in what people have discarded– bones sawdust, paper. In my house, there are things my wife would want to throw away, but I would quickly grab them and keep for use in my studio. Even when I am moving on the road, I pick things that are discarded. That is why I hardly drive my car, because I want to be inspired by the things I see. Sometimes, I go to Mushin to buy cut-off that the printers have discarded and use them in my studio. Initially, bone collage was an art form, but by the grace of God, I have been able to elevate it to graven art. My art is a platform to make a statement that people should look beyond the visual beauty; all my works carry messages. As a child growing up, who would say inspired you to take up arts? Everything is by divine intervention; I lost my mother and father at the age of six. When one becomes an orphan at that age, it becomes pertinent that one would grow up here and there. I grew up with uncles, aunts, and other relatives. So I did not have anyone who shaped my life in this regard but I know I used to draw as a child. God knows everyone’s end from the beginning. So, for people without parents, just look up to God; not any man. When did you know you would be an artist? After I finished secondary school, I came down to La-

Gift

IN MY HOUSE, THERE ARE THINGS MY WIFE WOULD WANT TO THROW AWAY BUT

I WOULD

QUICKLY GRAB THEM AND KEEP FOR USE IN MY STUDIO gos from my home town, in Akwa Ibom State. I was jobless, thinking of what to do. But one day, God revealed that this is what I should do. How did He reveal it? In the dream; I had attended a church and while the pastor was preaching, he asked everyone who was unemployed to come out for prayers. But I refused, despite that I needed a job desperately. I am shy person because I stammerer. But when the service was over, the pastor walked up to me and told me that I refused to come out. That was the first part. The next part was where I saw an old friend and classmate of mine on the way and he asked what I was doing. I told him nothing and he said he would take me somewhere. We ended up in one rich man’s house where the floor was covered with paintings. I told my friend that the man must be rich to use paintings on the floor, but he said it was just a Persian rug. While we were arguing, the man came out and confirmed they were actually paintings. He rolled up one of them and handed over to me. At that point, I woke up! What was the first work you created from bones? It was fantastic. Honestly, I will not remember the first work because in those days, I was more into spiritual works; at that point, I had got born again. But at the moment, I use my works to make a statement. What were the initial challenges in this form of art? Well, I discovered at that point that when I go to exhibit my works, people would get excited and the next question would be ‘which school are you coming from?’ It now dawned on me that people were stressing the school more than the art. So, I decided to enrol in a university. To study art? No, I opted for History and International Relations. Has that rubbed off positively on your career? Definitely. Now, I have a clear and broader perspec-

Abia

tive of issues of the world and tackle them effectively. It enhanced my knowledge of the world. Tell us about some of your profound works and what inspired them? I have Esther, inspired by the story of Esther in the Bible. We all know the role Esther played in the Bible, but the message is that any young woman who can live like Esther would achieve greatness in this age, making the world a better place in the process. I have another work called No Cross; No Crown; it was done on paper, but you would not know. It captures human beings, poor and rich, enjoying their lives. But the basic things in life are embracing challenges in order to wear the crown. Sometimes, the road may not be smooth. I have another work, an old one I did when I went to marry my wife in Bakana. It was inspired by what I saw and made use of bone. I have another one called Hard Work, which is a mixed media work combining bone and mats. It is one of the works commissioned by a company recently (out of the 20 works we produced, they selected 16). Hard Work shows a family that is known traditionally for mat-making. The idea is to encourage people to look inwards instead of looking for white-collar jobs. There is another one, Peace which is a classic elevation of bone to what I call graven art. It is a mixture of colours, bones and saw dust. It shows two birds sitting together. The message is that if birds, which have no emotions can stay together, what about Nigerians? The birds are looking in different directions, a reflection on the different tribes; but it does not mean we cannot stay together. Before you set out to cut the bones into the desired shapes, do you have a mental picture of where you are going? Yes. What I do is to sketch everything on paper first and begin to put the bones where they are supposed to be. That gives me an idea of what shape of bone should

No cross; No crown

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Friday, November 16, 2012

Artman In The House

L-R: Abia; son, Praise and wife, Ibinabo

Abia inside his gallery

FACT FILE •

Godwin Archie Abia hails from Eket, Akwa Ibom

•

He is the Chief Executive Officer of Win Arc Gallery, Ikeja

•

His clients include: Dangote Group, Ojo Maduekwe, Bode George, Gabriel Igbinedion, Emir of Katsina and Donald Duke, amongst others.

•

Abia attended the Lagos State University

•

He is married to Ibinabo and they have two children, Praise and Mabel

be where. I used that to cut the bones into the desired shapes. The process of bone collage is so tedious. Do you sometimes show the works of other artists in this gallery? Of course, I do. The works that are cast and the sculptures belong to other people. No man is an island in art; you need to rub off on one another always. You said earlier you’ve been playing down the bone aspect of your work. Why so? As a result of lack of power; electricity is key to the art of using bones. At a point, I bought generators, but most times, you also have to cope with the menace of fuel scarcity. But I have continued to evolve. Right now, I use cardboard as a medium or platform to make my statement. How do you get your works out there, considering you hardly take part in exhibitions? Over the years, I have built a solid friendship with the Nigerian press. They have been wonderful to me. I have four booklets of bound books containing articles that have been done on me and my works over the years.

Peace

At work

I cannot thank them enough, because from time to time, they come in and look at what I have. But aside this, some notable individuals and companies who have come to like my works do referrals which bring clients. Some of my works adorn some great spaces in the country and beyond. Is your wife an art enthusiast? I will say yes and no. There are works she sees and admires and others she would not just like. She is not deep in art, and does not flow on my wavelength in terms of art. But all the same, she gives me all the encouragement I need. God uses her to complement me.

Section of win arc

Are your kids picking traits of arts already? My first son is. He does more of drawing than calculating. But their mother is always on him, sending him on assignments and interfering with his drawing. It is obvious that my wife is one of those who do not have art in their blood. Perhaps, that is why God brought me into her life. God must have brought us together to tell her that there is a gift for everyone. I do not see myself influencing my children’s choice of career. Whatever the person likes, let him or her study, we are all on assignment on earth. How do you think government can help the visual artists? Government should help to open up art spaces with enabling laws to support and encourage the growth of arts. Government should encourage multi-nationals who support arts. Government should come up with a policy of art embellishment in all our foreign embassies. Your advice to young artistes? My advice to them is simple: they should be focused and be determined. They should not mind the initial challenges because those are part of what makes a journey.

The cross

Holy Book

Critics

Exhibition TERH AGBEDEH

clectic is perhaps the most perfect word with which to describe the works of Kunle Adeyemi, the first Ph.D Nigeria has produced in studio art research, in this new exhibition at Quintessence, which will close on November 30. Perhaps for the first time in the history of art in Nigeria, some of the works are duets. In one of the works for instance, a sculptor, Dr. Nelson Edewor, collaborates with Adeyemi to produce what can best be termed a masterpiece. Adeyemi is not only experimental; his research produces innovative results giving rise to the question why Nigerian artists have shied from working together in this way in the past. In this regard what Dr. Osa Egonwa of the Delta State University has to say in the foreword to the exhibition brochure is apposite: “The collection of works assembled in this final Ph.D thesis exhibition opens up collaborative possibilities amongst visual arts, science and technological discipline hitherto thought to be impossible”. Maybe because of the artist’s background in printing, some of the works come across like a mingling of art and craft. That too has not been done before, as a matter of fact, practitioners in visual art tend to class themselves above those who do craft. That will no doubt change if artists learn a thing or two from this teacher who has decided not to hoard the vast knowledge he has garnered from his research. Such innovation is found in works like ‘Treasures of the Niger Delta’ and ‘Road to the Oil Rig’ both rendered in the paintograph assemblage on board medium. Apart from taking on ideas and materials from one aspect of art to another one; from painting to printmaking to sculpture, the artist also makes use of human resource and personnel. One other innovation that visitors to the exhibition and art collectors will not miss is the coinage of a new vocabulary for this showcase. Adeyemi said he crafted the vocabulary from what he has done, which is a bit of graphics, painting, sculpture; how he has created synergies and made the works unique. Connoisseurs of visual art – and even those new to the field – will see in the works the influence of the ‘master’, Bruce Onobrakpeya, which Adeyemi credits as one of his most endearing teachers. So enamoured is he with Onobrakpeya that long before this exhibition, Adeyemi, like his mentor, had started a documentation of all the works that he

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Adeyemi’s journey to a new consciousness When the exhibition, titled: ‘Paintograph and Paintocast: A New Consciousness’, by Dr. Kunle Adeyemi opened on November 10 at Quintessence Gallery, Falomo-Ikoyi, Lagos, many students of the artist and his contemporaries were there. Most of them came to see the novelty that the diverse works of the printer, teacher and artist represent.

CONNOISSEURS OF VISUAL ART WILL SEE IN THE WORKS THE

INFLUENCE OF THE ‘MASTER’,

BRUCE ONOBRAKPEYA

has ever done as an artist. This is a welcome development considering that there has been a dearth of this very practice among Nigerian artists hence the many quarrels over who started what movement or art technique. Only now have intellectuals started to lay emphasis on documentation if not for anything than to leave a legacy behind. If this is a movement that Dr. Adeyemi has started, then sometime in the future there will be no mistake as the documents will speak up. The innovation does not end there as the artist goes as far as experimenting with the tree bark as well as with other unconventional materials in some of the works with very heartening results. This journey down a less-travelled road taken by the artist is reminiscent of the renaissance period in the development of art in Europe which triggered a new way of doing things in literature, music and architecture, among other forms of human endeavour. The old ways have got to give way for the new and Adeyemi is not afraid to spearhead. But as the artist points out in his statement, his experiments were not all rosy since he encountered both the successful and the not so successful combinations of disparate elements that eventually sum the forms found in this exhibition. He explained that sometimes, their technical and me-

thodical combination yielded no positive result. However, he confessed that the exploration process led to a number of local discoveries and thereby broadened his visual vocabulary and possibilities in creating many of these new forms of artworks. “The methods, materials and technical processes used in this study have the potential to advance the limit of the present boundary of visual art practise in Nigeria,” Adeyemi said. Also prominent on display are the female forms for which the artist is famous. Like the other works on display the same work could be rendered in pen, ink and water colour or as paintograph assemblage on board. A work like Unity in Strength appears in both media. There are also works rendered in serigraphy, deep etching, ivorex and paintograph on canvas. Indeed, when the Dean of Student Affairs, who is also the acting Deputy Rector (Administration) of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mr. Omobayo Raheem, declared the exhibition open those present could not wait to get a glimpse of the works. Among those in the crowd were artist and art historian, Dr. Kunle Fulani and artist and teacher, Mr. Mike Omoighe. The works include: Dialogue: Primary Instrument in Democracy, Possessions of the Elders Revisited, The City Gate and Evolution of Money, among many others. A lot of the works too are in series; there is the “Democracy” as well as the “Female Form” series, for instance. There is indeed something for everyone in this exhibition not just in the diversity of the works but also in the pocketfriendly pricing as well.

Issues

Who is afraid of Nkiru Sylvanus? JONATHAN IWU

ecently, the crying baby of Nollywood and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo State, Ms. Nkeiruka Sylvanus has been embattled. The sultry actress who was catapulted to stardom in her epic movie A Cry for Help now seems to be in need of that help she sought for a long time ago. Known and appreciated for her emotional outbursts with tears rolling down her beautiful cheeks, making her look defenceless and vulnerable Nkiru appears to be have fallen prey to real life tormentors this time around. Her special talent evident in the effortless interpretation of her roles has brought along with it friends and foes alike, but the public servant has had a way of always evading scandals and controversies. Try hard as she may, these twin evils that haunt successful movie stars continue to stalk her like a shadow. Her first baptism of mischievous gossip sought to question her academic attainments but she was able to shake them off convincingly and conclusively to the chagrin of her foes and the admiration of her fans. Then she got enmeshed in a romantic rumpus with

one Asha, a musician who was later found to be using her name to further his musical career by posing in a friendly photograph with her and making claims of a relationship. Following Nkiru’s shrill protests, further investigations led to an apology to her by the medium that published the malicious story. In a similar vein, another tabloid cast similar aspersions on her with an aide of the vice president but the junk editors were also made to swallow their sleaze with due apologies to the thespian. Nkiru herself has made enough efforts to explain her relationship with her boss whom she refers to as a father figure but in our own peculiar way of prejudiced denunciation nobody seems to be paying her any attention. Instead, romantic tales keep flying around her and Rochas Okorocha, all in a bid to make her a recluse. Now another tabloid, in its recent edition, concocted a story suggesting that the actress had parted ways with her boss and has accordingly being relieved of her appointment supposedly due to persistence of the Imo State First Lady, still purporting the existence of a romantic relationship. The magazine went further to cast aspersions on her intellectual capacity apparently in a manner as to render her insignificant and out of

reckoning among her peers. As if that was not enough, a blogger, Linda Ikeji, went ahead with the same sponsored story without ascribing any source to it. The defamers of innocent character who seem to take an insatiable delight in mudslinging and name smearing have targeted Nkiru with sadistic zeal. Obviously, being human, it was wise for her to rise to the occasion to effectively defend her name and set the records straight. But it was not surprising that her friends were quick to decipher the malicious objective of such stories which were mere tall tales crafted by those crouching in the shadows of Nkiru’s trail blazing successes in career and reputation that had illuminated the movie and entertainment arena. On her Facebook page and to some of her friends in other social media networks, Nkiru Sylvanus wrote thus: “I am aware that one fake, jobless blogger (names withheld) has been peddling news about me saying I lost my appointment with Imo State Government. For the records, I was the Lagos Liaison Officer, Senior Special Assistant on Lagos Affairs which I handed over to Lisa Asugha and I am now Senior Special Assistant Public Affairs and this happened five months ago when

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Critics

Friday, November 16, 2012

Music

Cindarella called Kryztal

Kryztal sounds familiar alright. But her lyrics will leave you wondering whether her voice is a virtue or vice. NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

Dialogue: Primary Instrument in Democracy I

FOR THOSE WHO WANT MY DOWNFALL, SORRY, I AM THE WRONG PERSON BECAUSE

I STAND TALL

AND STRONG there was a cabinet reshuffle. To my fans, who still love and believe in me, God will always be faithful. For those who want my downfall, sorry, I am the wrong person because I stand tall and strong”. Evidently, those who were after her were not aware of this development and when her absence from Lagos was noticed they jumped to their jaundiced conclusion that she must have been relieved of her appointment. They failed to observe the elementary rule of journalism which is to hear from the appropriate authority on the authenticity of the story. They choose to go to press with a story that suited their thinking and perceptions, typical of charlatans in the trade. As her fans who believe in the shining stature of the celebrity, we are confident that she has all it takes to serve the good people of Imo State and

much more. We salute the courage of Governor Okorocha for playing down indigeneship sentiments while building the Ndigbo nation through the effective utilisation of responsive and responsible people in his government. This gives rise to the cross-fertilisation of ideas. Sylvanus is not the only non-Imolite in his administration, the celebrated soccer star Kanu Nwankwo is also one of them. We are convinced that a leader should look out for competence, loyalty and intellectual capacity to help him run his government and drift away from parochial sentiments that seem to divide us instead of uniting us. States like Lagos and Kaduna have demonstrated such commendable initiatives. Sylvanus is the cat with nine lives, one that has exonerated herself from the plots and machinations of her adversaries. We urge you to continue to keep the flag flying. As a detribalised Nigerian with the appeal and charm of Cinderella, the machinations of your adversaries should not deter, rather they should spur you to greatness. Those who are afraid of you shall continue to be behind you while you make your expected leap unto the future with showers of blessings and amazing successes. Iwu writes in from No. 30 Panama Street, Maitama- Abuja.

lthough Kryztal is new in the music market, her voice may not be if you live in Nigeria and have been watching TV and listening to radio. This is because she has either voiced or consulted (vocally speaking) for a number of commercials. It is a long list of blue-chip clientele: Visafone, Globacom Mobile, Lagos Sports Festival 2012, Star Quest and several other radio shows. But when you have heard something over and over again, it may have two opposite effects: either a feeling of nostalgia or that of boredom. This may be Kryztal’s greatest dilemma. But the audience has the final say. For this budding musical artiste named Chinenye Aharanwa, a new dawn is here as she tries her voice through three genres of music- dance hall, techno and R’n’B. Starting out on a journey like this may seem like doing the last things first, because extending one’s tentacles beyond a genre of music is like an exclusive preserve of the established musical acts. But whatever informed this of Kryztal is a testimony to her sense of confidence. Short of confidence, another thing that could cause this is ‘experimenting with the music audience’ is Kryztal maybe experimenting to know the genre of music to eventually pay attention to depending on how songs she has in this collection are received by listeners. The first, Cindarella (not Cinderella), reminds you of a girl who believes she can find love because of her beauty. Cindarella, captures the vocal ability of Krystal, which may have influenced her choice of stage name (Kryztal as in ‘crystal clear voice’). It suits the club scene and though not a lyrical masterpiece, sees Kyrztal swinging from English to Yoruba to Pidgin and still finding rhyme at some points. One would, however, wonder the extent of originality put into this song when you begin to hear lines like ‘Go down low…je ka jo’. That line is indeed common and has been used by several other artistes. It however does not take anything away from Kryztal; i may just be part of imbibing the traits of one’s musical heroes. Talking about musical heroes, one can easily discern that one musical hero Krystzal has is late Michael Jackson. Listening to Cindarella, you would hear the singer trying to signpost squeaks much like the late Pop King used to do. Will this register? It is all part of the game of experimenting. The second song, Waka Waka, obviously holds more promise for this Industrial Chemist turned singer. It is a dance hall piece with flashes of roots-rock reggae. It sounds original and sets Kryztal apart. However, like Cindarella, Waka Waka also has lyrics that revolve around the same theme: searching for love. Its refrain…one place to another… has the potentials to catch on amongst Nigerians who like indulging in lines that make a mockery of others. Another proof that this artiste is experimenting is the fact that she moved on to try the songs under different versions: the instrumental and acapella. Of course, the proof that Waka Waka is good is shown by what the different versions of the song sounds like. For this, great commendation needs to go to the producer (he is called Groovy) for his efforts. Kryztal will be coming out with a full album in due course, but from this little experiment, her debut album might be a success if more songs are dedicated to dance hall genre than techno. If she brings this alongside her ‘Kryztal clear voice’, the skies will be the beginning.

Inside FCT

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Night markets • Incurs the wrath of environmental taskforce TORDUE SALEM

T One of the typical commuter buses awailable in Abuja

One chance on the increase in FCT ...as Yuletide season nears ROTIMI FADEYI

he watchword for most commuters in Abuja at the moment is caution as the incidents of one chance is on the increase in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, particularly now that the year is rolling to an end. Though one chance is a common occurrence in the city, the rate at which it now occurs has become a source of concern for many commuters. In a typical encounter, unsuspecting passengers are robbed of their money and other valuables and later pushed out of the vehicle. It is a situation where any commuter can be cajoled into boarding a commercial vehicle with just one space available. While on the way, the other people in the vehicle, who pretended to be genuine passengers but are operating as a robbery gang, will swing into action and rob the last passenger picked at the bus stop. Many people have been victims of one chance and out of fear, some are reluctant to talk instead, thank God their lives were spared. Others who made reports to the police have not been able to get help because of the problem of tracking down perpetrators of the crime, since they disappear into thin air as soon as they dispossess their victims of their money. A victim of who preferred anonymity, told Inside FCT that he was robbed recently when he boarded a commercial vehicle from NICON junction bus stop to Kubwa, one of the satellite towns in the territory. “I boarded the unpainted Nissan vehicle at NICON junction with four people already inside including the driver, so there was only one space left. Since I had been at the bus stop for some time because it was difficult to get a vehicle going to Kubwa, I quickly jumped into the available space. “But on the way, the man sitting near me started pressing his body against mine and before I know what was happening, the other people in the vehi-

COMMUTERS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS BEFORE BOARDING ANY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE AND RAISE AN ALARM WHEN THEY NOTICE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS cle said I should surrender my money. It was at this point that I discovered that I was in the net of this one chance people; I was robbed of over N5,000 on that day”, he said. Another female victim, Gloria Udeh said that she was going to Nyanyan/Maraba when she was robbed of some amount of money after she closed from her office at Asokoro “From experience with the perpetrators of one chance, it is like they operate during rush hours and mostly inside vehicles that are going to satellite areas. “They know that most people live in the outskirts and work in the city centre and it is always a rush especially in the mornings when people are going to work and in the evenings when people are returning home. So, they take advantage of the period to rob innocent passengers”, Udeh said. “With the security situation in the country, the rate of one chance in the city is now on the increase, particularly when the year is going to an end and people are looking forward to Christmas and the New Year”, she added. Udeh advised security agencies to do more to protect lives and property by increasing surveillance in the city and outskirts of the city as well as other strategic areas to curb the incidences of one chance. “I will also advise commuters to be cautious before boarding any commercial vehicle and raise an alarm when they notice anything suspicious”, he said.

he art of nocturnal buying and selling has taken over the streets of FCT and it is a big issue in the capital now. It has always been there, but the volume has increased in recent times. Night markets popularly known as kasuwan dare in Hausa are roadside markets which operate in the evenings especially in the northern part of Nigeria. Kasuwan dare is generally for leisurely strolling, shopping and eating. The sellers take advantage of the walkways to display their wares – on the floor amid deafening shouts, songs and dramatic displays by the sellers who struggle to outdo each other in a bid to get the attention/patronage of passers-by who may be convinced to buy of their goods. A night trader around the Wuse Area of the FCT, Mallam Kaoje Tukura, said; “This is the season for the markets”. Mr. Chika Abanobi, a cosmetics trader at Area 2, Garki Shopping Centre says the “the trend will continue because of the way things are becoming in Abuja”. He continues: “It is very expensive to rent a shop in Abuja; so, many petty traders wait till evening to bring out their wares or items for sale. And usually many buyers prefer night shopping, because the items sold in makeshift markets at night are normally cheaper”. These makeshift markets are growing in the capital city by the minute, like wild mushrooms on trees. Inside FCT gathered that Lugbe Area of Abuja alone has 11 prominent night markets that glitter and fill up as dusk gains eminence. Trading activities are visible in Lugbe, Ako Estate, Kuje and several other areas on the Umar Musa Yar’Adua Road (Airport Road). Other night markets are Kubwa market, the Kadobiko market in Gwarinpa and the one at Berger Junction around the Wuse Area.

An aspect of night trading in Abuja.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, November 16, 2012

Inside FCT

overtake Abuja SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT TO DO THE JOB OF ARRESTING THESE ILLEGAL TRADERS BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO DO YOUR DUTY On Adetokunbo Ademola Boulevard in Garki 2, a notorious night market is located on Lagos Street, where wares of all sorts are sold till late in the night even on Sundays. Nyanyan and Karu areas of the FCT also boast of very “bubbling” makeshift markets that are revving up for the Christmas season. They trade in nearly everything from gifts items to kitchen utensils and stationery. But a child fruit hawker, while speaking to our reporter, tried to rationalise the growth in night trading saying; “Oga, the problem is that task force people always harass us on the road. Also, we don’t have shops from where to sell our market”. Another hawker, names withheld, explains: “These security men that harass us in the night don’t even have the authority to do so. But since they feel that we are doing the wrong thing, they take full advantage of that”. However, contrary to what the hawkers believe, a taskforce to curb makeshift trading in the FCT (whether in the daytime or at night) has been set up by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB). Men of the taskforce, whose oversight function cover the metropolis and its environs, have proven to be a nightmare to these night businesses. “They are merciless”, a trader told Inside FCT. According to him, “they don’t take excuses and when they catch you, they would take all your items away or destroy them before even listening to you”. A member of the taskforce who pleaded anonymity, revealled to our reporter that, “sometimes it is difficult to do the job of arresting these illegal traders but you just have to do your duty”. He admitted that, “to be fair, it is difficult for every trader to own a shop in a legitimate area in Abuja”, but added that, “the city has to be cleaned up to meet international standards”.

Fuel queue in Abuja

Abuja succumbs to petrol sabotage EMMANUEL ONANI

buja, FCT, is today dressed in the garb of a city in visible afflictions, whose tragic stage is only a telling microcosm of the internal contradictions that now characterise the nation-state. Nothing can be further from the truth. For months and without a shred of hope in the horizon, Abuja has been seething in the rage of scarcity of petrol, also known as premium motor spirit (PMS), with a consequent negative effect on the socio-economic activities of the city and residents. The situation is fast becoming the norm rather than the exception. Today, there are just a negligible number of fuel stations that sell petrol to end- users aside from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega station, located at Central Area. Again, the few stations that dispense petroleum products to consumers such as Total, Oando, Azman, etc, do not dispense regularly. Conoil, sitting opposite NNPC Towers, seems to be the only station that sells petrol every day. Unfortunately, it takes a minimum of two hours –depending on the time one queues– to get served. This harrowing experience is further exacerbated by activities of touts who permit motorists coming from Wuse market axis to “invade” the queue, once they are tipped with N500 or N1000, as the case may be. This chaos, most often than not, happens in the full glare of security personnel, who, though not particularly happy with the stark reality, seem to be helpless under the circumstance. While scarcity bites harder, “black marketers” smile to the bank daily, as their brisk business booms to the ‘shame of a nation’, where some people now do the ridiculous in order to get the miraculous. Around NNPC Towers, which houses the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, as well as Force Headquarters, black market thrives with daring alacrity. Regrettably, though, it is believed that independent marketers are diverting products meant for Abuja to states where they sell a litre for between N129 and N130, thereby frustrating determined efforts by the Federal Government to transform the economy, through its Trans-

THE SITUATION IN

ABUJA

IS A CLASSIC CASE OF

SABOTAGE...FUEL IS TAKEN TO NEIGHBOURING STATES WHERE THEY SELL A LITRE FOR

N130

AND ABOVE formation Agenda. These marketers prefer selling products where people are more concerned with availability than price, to doing business in Abuja at a fixed pump-price of N97. This, perhaps, raises the imperative of total removal of subsidy wherein marketers bring in petrol (emphasis on pms for obvious reason) and the public chooses which filling station to patronise. Of course, the NNPC is expected to play in the field of a deregulated petroleum regime. When Inside FCT sampled opinions of some motorists on the fuel scarcity conundrum, there was a consensus that product availability at a little above the official pump price of N97 was a better deal. A motorist, who gave his name as Emeka Oti noted: “If there is availability of fuel in Abuja, we are ready to buy at any price, so that our business will continue to run without a stop. After all, it is better to drive into a filling station, get fuel “sharp-sharp” and do many trips than stay in a queue almost all day, sometimes without buying. That, to me, is like “penny wise, pound foolish”. Also speaking on the perceived diversion of products meant for Abuja’s consumption, a security operative, who craved anonymity stated thus: “Honestly, the situation in Abuja is a classic case of sabotage; it is true that fuel is taken to neighbouring states where they sell a litre for N130 and above and this should not be allowed to continue”. When asked if the regulatory agencies cannot, in collaboration with security agencies, stop the diversion, he said: “My brother, these marketers you see are so entrenched that it will take some time for government to conquer them”, he address.

Mirror Mongers

Friday, November 16, 2012

Attack dogs, lions and viruses

Executive black market

as it not the Presidential Spokesperson on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, who told people that he did not mind being called President Goodluck Jonathan’s attack lion…one step ahead of the ‘attack dog’ they used to call anyone who has a penchant for defending the President. But Reno Omokri, the Special Adviser on New Media would have to coin his own ‘alias’ in order not to annoy Doyin Okupe. Since Reno operates on the cyberspace, maybe he would be content with the term ‘attack virus’ for going after whoever has a bad word for the President on the Internet. Before now, He was using his skills to carry out surveys about where electricity is improving or getting worse, but lately, he attacks like a ‘virus’ on the social media, especially Twitter. Lately, it was the turn of Nasir el Rufai, former Minister of FCT, when Reno almost called him a liar for insinuating that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has a Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) branch. Before now, he had erroneously wished Governor of Taraba, Dambaba Suntai ‘peaceful rest’ on Twitter when he heard news of his plane crash. Yes, viruses do attack wrongly at times.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Njubigbo

Abubakar

Nollywood’s bald head syndrome

ome things happen that make one wonder where the growth really lies in the Nigerian movie industry. This is because we are still hearing details we ought to have forgotten, especially as regards portrayal of characters in movies. Those who are conversant with the movie, Landscape will definitely remember the actress called Alex Lopex and how she earned N150,000 in 2000 for going bald in the movie, Echoes. She got that (fantastic?) fee then for the role of a widow in the movie. However, 12 years later, while the industry should have outgrown such

practices, actresses are still walking crude pathways to play their roles in an era when resin masks cost less than N3000. Of course, the ‘smooth-head syndrome’ has become an issue in the past three weeks since Nollywood acts like Nuela Njubigbo and Halima Abubakar have gone ‘clean-shaven’. Fans and foes ran into Halima some days ago during the Best of Nollywood Awards ceremony at TBS Auditorium, Lagos, sighed, wondering if there was no other way to portray a cancer patient without asking an actress to lose her hair. One day, someone will cut off a limb to play the role of an amputee…

here are black markets and there are ‘executive black markets’. Black markets are the type you see at Alade Market in Lagos, or in front of the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, where middle men come to sell things like foreign exchange and gold. But the increasing fuel scarcity in the country has led to an ‘executive black market’, especially in Abuja. While the commodity is still scarce, fuelled by the speculation that January may herald complete deregulation of the petroleum sector, those who are running away from the long queues that are dotting the city now prefer to go to the NNPC headquarters. According to the buzz, some petrol stations around the vicinity have engaged the services of the army of unemployed Nigerian graduates who can be spotted with jerry cans of petrol. What makes this ‘executive’ can be found in the location of the black market and, perhaps, their list of clientele, who are top government officials.

Wither code of ethics and police?

Omokri

ONE-SECOND Q&A

he buzz is in police circles already. Everywhere you go, one simple topic dominates the discussion for police personnel and that is the Code of Ethics launch slated for next week in Abuja by the Nigeria Police authorities. According to information, top echelon of the Nigeria Police will be doing that before the President and members of the National Assembly, to kick start a new orientation for the highly-criticised Police Force, which had in the past done so by attempting to change their

uniform. But the development has been eliciting some comments by the side considering what could be done to have a more efficient Police in the country. Recent misdemeanours of the members of the police have not helped matters. Having grown triggerhappy, the Police in Lagos have shot and killed an okada rider at Ilupeju; killed a newly-married man standing by the road side at Gbagada and shot another banker who sent a distress call to them following an armed robbery attack at his residence.

Black market operator hawking fuel in Abuja.

IBIKUNLE AMOSUN

The frosty relationship between Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel is noticeable on several fronts including defraying the backlog of salaries owed Daniel’s aides. He had this to say about the backlog issue: Why is the severance allowance for political office holders who served in the last administration not yet paid?

Gov. Amosun

I am yet to pay it. If those who are still working now are still being owed a backlog of 11 months unpaid salaries, why would you, that caused the whole mess, be asking for severance pay? I will pay, but it is not a priority. This is why when I hear those who were owed 19 months and I have reduced it to two or three months saying they want to go on strike because of the backlog, I wonder what is wrong with them. If I haven’t paid the backlog of those still working, how do I now pay those who have left? I will pay, no doubt, because all those working with me too are entitled to it and they will collect it at the end of this administration. But I can’t make that my priority. No, I won’t.

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Muharram 3, 1434AH Friday, November 16, 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 ICCP’s Mosque in Arizona

he Islamic Community Center of Phoenix (ICCP)’s Mosque is open for daily Salat (Prayer) and serves about 600 attendants for Juma’a (Friday congregational) worship. The Mosque also sponsors weekend study circles (Halaqah) on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The center’s mission and vision include to gain the pleasure of Allah by serving the best interest of Islam and Muslims in the greater Phoenix area in particular and all Muslims in general, so as to enable them to practice Islam as a complete way of life by helping the Muslim community of the Phoenix metropolitan area carry out Islamic programs and projects in accordance with the guidelines of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah, assist Muslims in organizing themselves for the entire spectrum of Islamic activities including, but not limited to social, cultural, religious, and educational activities, strengthen fraternal bonds and brotherly relations among Muslims, mobilize and coordinate human and material resources in Muslim communities, promote friendly relations and understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. It also endeavors to make Islamic teachings known to Muslims and non-Muslims, as in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah, promote cooperation with other Muslim organizations on state, regional, national, and international levels, in accordance with the guidelines of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. The ICCP moved into its present mosque (a former church) in 1997. Started by Muslim residents of the north valley twenty-five years ago, the congregation has moved several times to keep pace with the steady growth of the community. Dependent entirely on the donations of its members, the ICCP has managed to purchase land adjoining the present mosque and complete the first phase of a new, permanent structure at the location. The new mosque is designed to accommodate over 800 worshippers for Juma’a (Friday congregational) prayers. The Islamic Community Center of Phoenix has been incorporated in 1982 as a notfor-profit religious organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Hijrah: Muslim groups demand for holiday on the first day of Islamic year 29

Arizona Mosque

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya

True love for the Holy Prophet (2)

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

hile a law for freedom of speech exists,neither in any country nor in the UN Charter do we find a law that states that no person will be allowed the freedom to hurt the religious sentiments of others or insult the holy personages of other religions. This is not written in the law anywhere and

What you must know about Hijrah 28

it is because of this that the peace of the world is being destroyed. This causes the lava of hatred to erupt and the gulf between countries and religions to increasingly widen.While a law for freedom of speech has been made giving an individual freedom, which is fine, there should not be a law permitting playing with others sentiments.This is exactly why the

UN is failing. It considers the formation of this futile law a huge accomplishment. However, look at God’s law. The law of God the Exalted states that do not even mock the idols of other people lest they in retaliation do the same to your All-Powerful God in ignorance by using disparaging words, which would make your hearts grieve, increase enmity, and lead to clashes, quarrels and disorder to break out in the country. Therefore, this is the beautiful teaching imparted by the God of Islam, the God of this world and the God of this universe. That God has given us this teaching Whosent His Beloved One, the Holy Prophetsa, with the perfect law and teaching for the reformation of mankind and to establish love and compassion. He conferredupon himthe title of Rahmatul-Lil-Aalameen(Mercy for all Mankind) and thus sent the Prophet Muhammadsa as the Mercy for all peoples. Hence the educated people of the world, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Here comes Hijrah 1434 28

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Muharram 3, 1434AH Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Here comes Hijrah 1434

s the world at peace today? Are there people who are steep in idolatry? Are there Muslims who commit Shirk (polytheism)? Are there people who engage in fornication or adultery? Are there wars in the world? Are there aristocrats who lead to the detriment of the populace? Does nudity still exist today? Do people still drink liquor or use hard drugs? Are women still oppressed or relegated? Are people ignorant about the true path to divinity? Does gambling still exist today? Do we see people who abort babies in the name of unwanted pregnancies? Are Muslims able to practise the true Islam everywhere in the world? Do the Muslims have plans for all their affairs? Do they have visionary leadership? Are they able to mobilize the people to work for Allah (SWT)? Are there those who can sacrifice their resources to promote the global peace for humanity? Are the Muslims living under subjugation or leadership? Have they built their cosmopolitan Islamic state where everybody, be it a Muslim or not, is granted rights and peaceful-coexistence? Do they have standard masaajid (mosques) where the pristine teachings of Islam are propagated? Are the Muslims united in their countries, organizations, ideas and hearts? Answers to those questions show where the ummah lies. If it is more of negative than positive, then it is a clear cause for our woes and cries in the world! By design, Allah (SWT) appoints us not only as the best um-

SEKINAH L AWAL

he Islamic Calendar is based purely on lunar cycles. It is usually abbreviated A.H. in western languages from the latinized _Anno Hegirae_. Muharram 1, A.H. corresponds to July 16, 622 C.E. The Hijrah, which chronicles the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Makkah to Madinah in September 622 C.E., is the central historical event of early Islam. It led to the foundation of the first Muslim city-state, a turning point in Islamic and world history. Hijrah calendar has a much deeper religious and historical significance. It is based on movement of the moon, and has 354 days, 11 days less than the solar calendars. It is divided into 12 equal months, each one containing either 29 or 30 days (no month with 28 or 31 days exists in this calendar). The names of these 12 months are as follows: 1) Muharram (2) Safar (3) Rabi` al-Awal (4) Rabi` al-Thaany (5) Jumaada al-Awal (6) Jumaada al-Thaani (7) Rajab (8) Sha`baan (9) Ramadhaan (10) Shawwal (11) Dhil-Qi`dah (12) Dhil-Hijjah Working with the hijri calendar, makes us familiar and friendly with the heavenly sky and its beauty, with the wisdom of the continuous movements of celestial bodies, and with the magnanimity of its amazing creation. Allah says; Indeed in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation

HIJRAH WHICH SIMPLY MEANS MIGRATION SIGNIFIES THAT EVERY MAN MUST MIGRATE

AWAY FROM HIS GREEDY, GODLESS AND BASAL SELF mah but as the one that is balanced in everything and commands virtue and forbid vice. The story of Hijrah should therefore be seen as a reminder of the missionary and the environmental imperative of the message of Islam. It was a great occurrence which marked the turning point in the establishment of a homeland for Islam so as to be able to spread its pristine message. Far from being a celebration or another festival, it is an appraisal of the state of the Ummah from the hamlet through the cities to the countryside; from within the household through the mosques to the workplaces, from individuals to the congregation to the humanity. The historical context of Hijrah is that of the two blocs in the world from time immemorial. It is that of truth and falsehood, of virtue and vice, of the oppressed and oppressor, of ignorance and enlightenment, of spirituality and materialism, of modesty and immorality, etc. The state of the world today in all ramifications is a clear picture of injustice of man against man and the

universe. Everywhere you go; oppression of varying magnitudes is evidently manifest. The poor is despondently dying while the rich is luxuriously prodigal. All human ideas and theories are failing to salvage humanity from abysmal ditch of insecurity. Every blessed day witnesses a new brand of problem facing humanity. The world of man today appears to be worse than when it had world wars. Hijrah which simply means migration signifies that every man must migrate away from his greedy, godless and basal self. The heart of man is the root of the crises in the world. Those who want to rule the world by force, go to all lengths to destroy a whole nation because of selfish interest, those who want to assume power go to any length to kill and torture, those who want to enrich themselves exploit and explore all crook means, those who want to enjoy life do it with disregard to all moral bounds. To return to peace, to secure our future, to get pious leaders, to have stable homes, we must all migrate away from all that can inflict pain on any fellow man. Every man must enjoy peace irrespective of his creed, religion or tribe. It is the message of Hijrah that the struggle for change will ever continue in human society. Some people must sacrifice their pleasures to guide humanity and restore peace. This they will do by being paragons of God consciousness, purity, knowledge, honesty and contentment.

They can be in minority but their consistency in doing the right thing and putting their trust in God will give them victory. This may take some time but they should be patient and ever hopeful. They should not relent in preaching the true message of God to the world. Hijrah is a stage in the march to an Islamic enclave where cosmopolitanism is established, where ideal leadership is enjoyed, where true obedience from followership is natural. Muslims who claim to be working for Islam should learn from this model of the Prophetic Hijrah. He lived by his exemplary character to win hearts and fought his enemies when that became a natural necessity. But today, Muslims are just too lazy and negligent to live by the teachings of Islam not to talk of preaching it. They make Islam a parttime affair and expect every member of the society to revert to Islam. It is clear from the Hijrah of the Prophet (SAW) that we must communicate the ideas of Islam using the best approach and media. We must strategically work with patience and plan all our programmes and activities. Dr. Zafaran is the Director, Vanguards Academy

What you must know about Hijrah of night and day, there are signs for those who possess intellects (190). Surah Al i-Imran (3) Have they not then observed the sky above them, how We have built it and adorned it, and that there are no cracks in it? (6) Surah Qaf (50) Suratul Taobah 36. Verily, the number of months (in a year) with Allah has been twelve in the Book of Allah. It was so ordained by Him the day when He created the heavens and the earth… Some of the important dates in the Islamic Hijrah year include: 1 Muharram (Islamic new year); 27 Rajab (Isra & Miraj); 1 Ramadhaan (first day of fasting); Last 10 days of Ramadhaan which include Laylatu al-Qadar; 1 Shawwal (ìyd al-FiTr); 8-10 Dhil-Hijjah (the Hajj to Makkah); and 10 Dhil-Hijjah (Èid al-’adha). It is considered a divine command to use a Hijra calendar with 12 lunar months as evident from the following verses of the Holy Quràn; They ask thee about the New Moons, Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men and for Pilgrimage. (Q 2:189) The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; Of them four are sacred…” Since the Islamic calendar is purely lunar, as opposed to solar or luni-solar, the Muslim Hijrah year is shorter than the gregorian calendar by about 11 days, and months in the Islamic Hijrah year

are not related to seasons. This means that important Muslim festivals, which always fall in the same Hijrah month, may occur in different seasons. For example, the Hajj and Ramdhan can take place in the rainy as well as dry season. It is only over a 33 year cycle that lunar months take a complete turn and fall during the same season.

However, determining the visibility of the crescent is not as definitive or conclusive; rather it is dependent upon several factors, mostly weather and optical in nature. This makes it difficult to produce (in advance) Islamic calendars that are reliable (in the sense that they are consistent with actual crescent visibility).

L-R: Acting Head of Nursing, Island Maternity Hospital, Mrs. Abiola Akeredolu, MD, Dr. Donald Imosemi, the National Women Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade and the Chief Matron, Mrs. Aderemi Scale during the presentation of gifts to the first baby of 1434 Hijrah year and the hospital yesterday.

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Friday, November 16, 2012

Hijrah: Muslim groups demand for holiday on the first day of Islamic year STORIES: SEKINAH L AWAL

ome Islamic groups on Wednesday demanded for a holiday on the first day of Islamic year, 1st of Muharram, just like the 1st of January is being declared as public holiday. The groups, in separate Hijrah 1434 A.H messages, said such declaration was in accordance with the rule of law, fairness and justice to Muslims in the country. The groups were Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA), Movement for Islamic Culture Awareness (MICA) and Muslim

Consultative Forum (MCF). Others were the National Council of Muslim Youths Organisations (NACOMYO), Federation of Muslim Women in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and Al-Habibiyah Islamic Society. MMPN, in its statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun said such declaration would enable Muslims to celebrate and reflect on the historical importance of Hijrah. MMPN stated that the Hijrah public holiday was equivalent to similar public holiday given on every January 1, by the Federal Government while the Muslims would appreciate more, a holiday to mark her own

new year. UNIFEMGA in its message signed by Prof. Abdulwahab Egbewole, its National President said ``we equally seize this opportunity to call on the government at the various levels to give recognition to the Hijrah calendar and use it side by side with the Gregorian’’. Egbewole said such recognition would go a long way to portray the government as impartial and unbiased against Islam and Muslims. The Association congratulated Muslims and nonMuslims alike for witnessing another new Islamic year, urging them to reflect on their deeds and activities during the past year.

In its message, the Abuja Coordinator of MICA, Malam Abdulbasit Bakare said the declaration and recognition of Hijrah was long overdue and called for its immediate implementation. MICA called on the apex Islamic body, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to enter into dialogue with the Federal Government and let it know the implication of non-declaration of holiday for Muslims on its new year. Corroborating, MCF in its statement signed by its coordinator, Malam Idris Usman urged the Federal Government to give recognition to Muslim New Year in the interest of peace, fairness and unity.

NACOMYO calls for rededication

s another Islamic year 1434AH begins, National Council of Muslim Youth Organization (NACOMYO) has enjoined adherents of Islam to rededicate themselves to the cause of building an egalitarian society just as they must join hands with other Nigerians in moving the nation forward. In a press release signed by its National President, Alhaji kamal’ddin Akintunde to herald the new lunar calendar, NACOMYO reminded Nigerians that the task of making Nigeria a virile nation is a collective responsibility and therefore called on both government and the governed to painstakingly play their role for the progress and development of the country. On constitutional amendment, NACOMYO noted that the on-going exercise should guarantee welfare and security as hallmark of governance. NACOMYO also supported the creation of more states to bring transformation and development to the nooks and crannies of the country. On subsidy probe, it urged government to avoid politicization of the committee’s recommendations as doing so makes mockery of our desire to

eradicate corruption. “We pleaded with the Boko Haram group to

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Muharram 3, 1434AH

stop violence as a demonstration of its good intention and not be adamant

on its conditions, as a compromise option is the best approach.

L-R:Parents of the first Hijrah baby at the Lagos Island Maternity, Mr. and Mrs. Kehinde and Ganiyat Salaudeen, MD of the hospital, Dr. Donald Imosemi and some executive members of the women wing of NASFAT during the presentation of gifts to the baby by the women wing of yesterday.

Cross section of NASFAT’s women executives at the presentation of gifts to the first baby of 1434 Hijrah year.

WISHING OUR ESTEEMED READERS HAPPY NEW ISLAMIC YEAR

NASFAT honours first Hijrah Baby

omen group of Nasrul-lahi-lFatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), yesterday 1st of Muharram, honoured the first Hijrah baby of 1434 by donating gifts to the first baby born to the family of Ganiyat and Kehinde Salaudeen at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. According to the mother, the baby boy was born around 9.05am yesterday and weighed 3.2kg at birth. According to in the National Women Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade, the donation was done in commemoration of and to celebrate the new Islamic year (Hijrah). She enjoined the mother to train the child and others in line with true Islamic teachings. “The essence of Hijrah is about migration from all sins and evils like bombings, killings, terrorism and move closer to Allah by obeying His noble Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).” Also, the second baby given birth to by Mrs. Uche Omosekeji and other babies in the wards were given various gift items. Alhaja Arogundade reminded all that we cannot claim to be true Muslims if our neighbours are not properly taken care of and shown love

and care irrespective of their faiths as exemplified by the Prophet. The baby of the new Hijrah year got items like baby bed, shawl, dresses, flask, diapers, towel and shoes among others. In the same vein, the group donated some medical consumables and equipments like Sphygmomanometers, bedscreen, bedspreads, cord clamps, child resuscitation equipments among others. In his response, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Donald Imosemi commended NASFAT’s women wing for their kind gesture and urged them to be ambassadors of safe motherhood by enlightening other women on the need to register for ante-natal clinic early where there are skilled workers to do needed emergency obstetrics treatments like the flagship PHCs and general hospitals around them. “We deem it fit to visit hospitals to show our care and feelings to the babies and their mothers. Any baby born on this day is our baby. We will try as much as possible, to monitor the child and give him necessary support.” Also, various writing materials were distributed to pupils of some primary schools the same day.

MURIC tasks Nigerians on insecurity

he Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has charged members of the public to play their own role in the security question as security cannot be left in the hands of the police alone. The group therefore urged citizens to complement the job of the police by providing information and organizing themselves for community police network. This call was made by the Director of MURIC, Prof. Is-haq Akintola, in a press release made available to National Mirror. It stated that any government worth its salt should ensure safety of lives and properties. “It is only af-

ter this is done that the citizens can have the confidence to pursue their legitimate duties and contribute their quota to the building of the economy. “We note with pleasure that there are gallant officers and heroes among our policemen and call on the Federal Government to properly equip the police to enable them to function effectively. There is also the need to boost police numerical strength in view of the revelation that the total number of policemen in the country is just a little over 300,000. This number is grossly inadequate to effectively protect a rising population of about 167 million.”

Call to Worship CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

politicians and those in power should ponder, that by not firmly dealing with these few despicablepeople,are they tooa party to this disorder? The people of the world at large also should think; that by playing with the religious sentiments of others and byagreeing with these few revoltingcreatures, are they also playing a part in destroying world peace? We, who are Ahmadi Muslims, do not leave any stone unturned to serve humanity. In the US, there was a need to give blood and so, last year, Ahmadis helped to collect12,000 bottles of blood and they are currently carrying out a similar blood drive this year. I said to them that Ahmadi Muslims are donatingour blood to give life, whilst you make our hearts bleed through such despicable acts and by agreeing with those who committed them. Thus, this is the response of an Ahmadi— a true Muslim.On the other side this is the response of a certain segment who think that they are establishing justice. They allege that Muslims are acting wrongly. It is correct that some of the Muslim reactions are wrong; damage and destruction, setting things on fire, killing of the innocent, leaving diplomats unprotected or killing or murdering diplomats are all entirely incorrect. However, derision and insult of the innocent prophets of God is also a huge sin. Following suit, recently a French magazine has published offensive caricatures which are even worse than the previous ones. These worldly people consider the world to be everything not realising that this world alone is the source of their destruction. Here I would like to state that the Mus-

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Muharram 3, 1434AH Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

True love for the Holy Prophet (2) PLAYING WITH THE

RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS OF OTHERS OR TO TRY TO DISHONOUR THE PROPHETS OF

GOD IS A

MAJOR CRIME lim governments rule over muchof the world. Allah the Almighty has given natural resources to many Muslim countries. Muslim countries are also a part of the United Nations. They read and believe in the Holy Qur’an, which provides the perfect and complete code of conduct for every aspect of life. Why then have the Muslim governments not made an effort to impart to the world the beautiful teachings of the Holy Qur’an at every level? Why do they not present to the world that according to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an, playing with the religious sentiments of others or to try to dishonour the prophets of God is a major crime and major sin? Why do they not act in this manner?It is necessary for world peace that this is made a part of the UN peace charter so that no member country would allow any of its citizens to play with the religious sentiments of others,so thatworld peace is not allowed to be destroyed in the name of freedom of speech. Sadly however, all of this has been happening for so long. The Muslim countries have never made a combined and concerted ef-

fort to inform the world about the honour of the Holy Prophetsa and all the other prophets and they have never had this acknowledged at an international level.Although like other charters of the United Nations, this will similarly not be implemented, aswhich peace charter of the UN is being properly implemented at present? At the very least however, something would go on record. The OIC (Organisation of Islamic Countries) is established but it has never made rigorous efforts to try and establish the honour and dignity of Muslims in the world. Instead, the Muslim leaders are busy pursuing their vested interests. They are not concerned about the splendour of the faith. If our Muslim leaders had made robust efforts then the public would not react inappropriately, as is currently occurring in Pakistan and in other countries, for they would be satisfied in the knowledge that their leaders, who have been appointed for this task,wouldstrive to fulfil the right of upholding the honour of the Holy Prophetsa and to uphold the honour of all the prophets, they would rise up on the world forum in a way that the world would have to accept that they are right. There are a large number of Muslims living in the West and in every part of the world. Muslims are the second greatest power of the world in terms of population and religion. Were they to abide by the commandments of Allah the Almighty they could become the greatest

force in every sense. In such an instance, the anti-Islamic forces would never even dare contemplating or perpetrating such heart-rending acts. Apart from the Muslim countries, a large number of Muslims live in every country of the world. In Europe, the number of Turks alone runs into millions. In fact, there are millions of them, living in every European country. Similarly, other Muslim ethnic groups have comefrom Asia to the UK, to the US, to Canada and to every part of Europe. If they all decided that they would vote for those politicians who not only expressed religious tolerance verbally, but also demonstrated it practically,and who condemned people who perpetrated such vulgarities and made such films, then even from among these worldly governments,a segmentwould rise up to denounce this indecency. Thus, if Muslims understood their importance, they could bring about a revolution in the world.They could facilitate laws pertaining to respecting religious sentiments within countries. However, it is unfortunate that they are unmindful of this. The AhmadiyyaMuslim Community is focused on this,yet Muslims are busy opposing it, and are instead strengthening the hand of the detractors. May Allah the Almighty grant sense and wisdom to Muslim leaders, politicians and religious scholars so that they may strengthen themselves, recognise their importance and give heed to Islamic teachings. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

L-R: Members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Bro Tirimizi Emiola; Amir, Dr. Moshhud Fashola Adenrele and Circuit President Apata Jama’at in Ibadan, Oyo State, Alh. Mashood Baiyewu, during the Majlis Ansarullah National Ijtema (Convention) at Jamia Ahmadiyya Ground, Ilaro, Ogun State recently.

Sadr. (National Head), Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria, Alhaji Mikal Odukoya (right) and Ogun State’s member, House of Assembly, Hon Aina Nurudeen Akinpelu.

L-R: General Secretary, Mr. Raji Dauda; Admin Secretary, Uncle T Ola Shoboyede; Principal Jamia School, Maulana Zikirullah Ayuba and Naib Amir, Special Duties, Alhaji Ahmed Alhassan.

L-R: Bro. Abdul Semiu Morenikeji; Alhaji Mikal Odukoya and Maulana Zikirullah Ayuba, during the presentation of gifts to members at the Convention. PHOTOS: BAYOOR EWUOSO

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Arty News

Friday, November 16, 2012

True Movie 1 launches on DStv

COSON plans unparalled show in 2013

To unveils Music Foundation

Stv will this month launch True Movies 1, as a welcome addition to its already impressive array of movie channels. This unique film channel is dedicated to delivering a powerful mix of remarkable true stories based on real people and actual events, 24 hours a day. With performances from a wide range of A-list Hollywood stars from Meryl Streep and Glenn Close to Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie, True Movies 1 features a diverse and emotional blend of award winning content from family relationship dramas, teen pregnancies and missing children to corruption, murder and miscarriages of justice. Launching on DStv Channel 138, True Movies 1 will draw from its extensive catalogue of true movies and true-to-life dramas to bring viewers a gripping schedule of weekly premieres, morning movies and themed days. Upcoming highlights include: Tear Jerker Day - a poignant selection of emotional movies including First Do No Harm, the powerful true story of a mother’s fight for her epileptic son’s right to treatment and the heart-wrenching Trail of Tears about two women from different backgrounds, united in shared pain after their husbands kidnap their children. Other highlights include True Crime Day – a collection of movies based on shocking real life crimes. Speaking about the new entrant channel, MultiChoice Africa’s CEO, Nico Meyer says: “We are pleased to be launching True Movies 1. We are certain that the launch of the channel will provide subscribers with expanded viewing options and bring them greater entertainment variety”.

A DEBIMPE OLATUJA

J.Martins

2face

2face, Timi, J.Martins give hope to flood victims ADEBIMPE OLATUJA

face Idibia, Timi Dakolo and J.Martins, three of Nigerian’s music’s talented singers, took their common bond a step further on Thursday, November 8, when they joined voices to raise hope for victims of severe flood which plagued the country recently. The event was a fund raising dinner put together by the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation and presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja. Rendering the thought provoking lyrics of his soul lifting song, Great Nation, to the guests, Timi Dakolo evoked a sense of patriotism in every one present. 2face held the

guests spellbound with a performance of his timeless hit See Me So, which emphasises the need for us to be our brothers’ keeper and see ourselves as one big family. Also, J. Martins’ performance of his classic song, Cool Temper, was not only appropriate, but also timely and encouraging. The trio are also artistes under the management of Now Muzik - Nigeria’s foremost talent management company. The fund raising event, anchored by one of the co-chairmen of the committee, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was graced by captains of industry, top bureaucrats and high-profile advocates. Over N11billion was raised in cash and promissory donations for the flood victims and the President appealed to Nigerians and the international community to donate generously.

D’Banj, others for Tymeout with Tee-A concert TERH AGBEDEH

ulti-award winning Afro-pop star, D’Banj, will lead dozens of Nigerian hit-makers like Ice Prince, Sammy Okposo and Daddy Showkey to the December 1 Tymeout with Tee-A concert that will feature comedy, dance and chitchat. The red carpet event, produced by Tee-A’s First Class Incorporated, holds on Saturday, December 1 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Executive producer of the event, TeeA, announced that D’Banj, a criticallyacclaimed live performer and entertainer, will make his debut on Tymeout With TeeA at the concert. “He’s excited to be on the show and we’re very excited too. We’ve done a lot of D’Banj skits and our fans have been asking for

him. So I’m very glad he’s joining us for this spectacular show”, Tee-A said. D’Banj will be joined by other big names drawn from different genres, including rap star, Ice Prince; the popular ghetto star, Daddy Showkey; beloved gospel star, Sammie Okposo and ladies’ man, Lynxxx. “We’re putting the best together to make sure guests enjoy a fantastic concert experience”, the comedian added. “It’s our special way of thanking our fans for a good year –giving them an avenue to dance and laugh, while witnessing a historic live recording of our award-winning show”. Apart from the music stars; D’banj, Okposo, Lynxxx, Daddy Showkey, Ice Prince and others on parade, the event will also feature Tymeout With Tee-A regulars Madam Princess and MC Abbey, as well as host Tee-A in his multiple characters. More performers will be announced later.

D’Banj

gainst the year 2013, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), has set preparations in full gear towards the massive launch of a new music foundation by the organisation. COSON Music Foundation will provide a positive growth environment for the Nigeria creative sector. Apart from providing funds/insurances schemes to assist indigent musicians or musicians in distress, the foundation will intervene in the battle against piracy and build a music school for music education and to train young musicians. According to COSON chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, the foundation would be launched on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 as a “major highlight of the COSON Week 2013, a seven-day package of unrivalled spectacle from May 19 to May 25 when the first COSON Song Awards is unveiled in Lagos”. Speaking further, Okoroji, erstwhile President of the Performing Musicians’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), stated that every promotional and managerial asset is being assembled to make sure that the COSON Week 2013 is without equal. The music professional gave a personal guarantee that the planned event would be talked about for years to come: “Anyone who knows me knows that I do not say things that do not happen. With our pedigree... we will deliver unmatched value”.

Escape

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cameroun: A Hiker’s paradise Cameroun, the country in Central Africa at the bend of the continent, surprises with a great variety of landscape. The mountains of the drier north offer spectacular hiking opportunities, as reports RETO KUSTER.

requently called ‘Afrique en miniature’ (miniature Africa), Cameroun is one of Africa’s most diverse countries and it almost has a bit of everything Africa is known for. In the South you’ll find tropical rainforest and nice beaches in the coastal region. In the extreme northern part, there are deserts where the country meets Lake Tschad. And in between, you will find farmland and mountains -including Mt. Cameroun, with 4.095 meters, the highest mountain in Western Africa. The sights in northern Cameroon are almost surreal, as if a film crew had forgotten to remove their strange stage. One of such sights is the panorama of the stunning scenery of the Mandara Mountains which I had set out to explore on a hiking expedition. Like big fingers, the ancient volcano chimneys seem to grow towards the sky. The bizarre, up to 100 metres high volcano chimneys are remnants of a geologically active period, when northern Cameron was dotted with fire-spitting volcanoes. Meanwhile wind and rain eroded the smoother material, exposing the volcano chimneys which are built out of much stronger material. Rhumsiki, on 1,100 meters above sea level, is the base from where to explore the Mandara Mountains on foot. Upon my arrival in Rhumsiki, I was greeted by the local youth in French, English, Spanish and even German. The boys tried to impress me for business reasons- they knew I would choose one of them as my hiking guide. I checked in at a guest house where visitors sleep in traditionally-styled huts. In the kitchen, several stickers on the wall showed that hiking groups from Spain Germany, France and elsewhere had been staying there. “A few years ago, the hiking business was much better. These days, only few people still come, mainly during the dry season, but it is getting better again”, explained Victor, the owner. Rhumsiki has a stunning location, with the pic de Rhumsiki, a particularly high volcano chimney easily visible. What I saw was much better than any picture I had seen before. “All the photos you see in guidebooks and brochures about Rhumsiki were taken during the dry season, when everything is hot and dusty”, explained guide Pascal, the 18-year-old cousin of Victor. “The dry season is the dead season”. The rains between June and September give the vegetation a touch of splendid greenery, the air is clear, the sky blue and everywhere we went, local millet beer was being prepared, cattle brought to the fresh grass and celebrations held. Guidebooks recommend a visit to northern Cameroun only in the dry season. Roads are far in between in the Mandara mountains of northern Cameroun. That doesn’t mean there are no ways of communication: Villages in

FACT FILE •

With a surface of 475.439 square-kilometers Cameroon (capital Yaounde) is almost as big as Germany, Austria and Switzerland together.

•

It has only about 16 million inhabitants belonging to a lot of different ethnic groups.

•

The major languages are French and English but a multitude of more than 200 ethnic languages are spoken by the native population.

•

Nigeria and Cameroon share portions of the Mandara Mountains (Monts Mandara) a volcanic range extending about 200km (about 125 mi) along the northern part of the Cameroon-Nigeria border. It is claimed that there is no immigration post or demarcation line showing the border between Cameroon and Nigeria.

•

The Far North Province is one of Cameroon’s most culturally diverse. Over 50 different ethnic groups populate the area, including the Shuwa Arabs, Fulani and Kapsiki. The Fulani language, Fulfulde, is a common lingua franca.

•

The Fulani (Fulbe) make up a large portion of the Far North’s population.

•

Central African CFA Franc (CFA) is the currency used in Cameroon

Rural life in Rhumsiki village on the Mandara Mountain Photo Alberto Piub

the region are connected through a net of trails, a valuable infrastructure for the adventurous hiker. After two hours of hiking over rolling hills which the local Kapsiki people call hossere, always the volcanic needles in sight, I suddenly found myself in a small village of a few grass-thatched huts, barely visible among the giant rocks. Sare is the term used for such villages, based on extended families. In the nearby fields, crops enjoyed the short rains. Millet is the region’s staple food. Yet, only half of the production is being used as food: Camerounians are renowned beer drinker and local Millet beer is the most important thing in the Mandara Mountains. Before even finishing greetings, we were offered the lady’s own millet beer. Millet beer might not exactly look as appetising as the commercial beer in the bottles, but the taste is great and, due to the storage in big pottery tanks, the drink is surprisingly cool, a real refreshment in an area where electricity and refrigerators are wishful thinking. The weekly markets in the province extremeNord are among Cameroun’s most colourful. Once

Kapsiki Peak, Rhumsiki

a week, a piece of barren, hot land transforms into a lively, seemingly chaotic, but in fact, well-organised place where people from far away meet, make business and exchange the latest gossip. An elderly

Travel News

Ijakadi Offa Festival gains national status IJEOMA E ZEIKE , ABUJA

jakadi Offa Festival, native to the Offa people of Kwara State, has being included in the list of national festivals currently promoted by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). Director-General of the NTDC, Otunba Oluse-

gun Runsewe, while receiving a delegation from the Offa Descendants Union led by its President, Alhaji Hamzat Adedeji at the tourism village in Abuja recently, said the federal government decided to endorse the festival because of its consistency, rich cultural content and the seriousness of its organisers. Runsewe stressed that the festival will now enjoy

the complementary support of the corporation to ensure the supply of several promotional materials and secure sponsorship from major multinational companies. Speaking further, the NTDC boss promised maximum publicity for the festival by inviting top government officials to the event and hosting the festival on the NTDC portal as a way of exposing it to

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Escape

Friday, November 16, 2012

Good Taste

Lunch marvel at Durban’s Harbour

a dining dini ning ing experience exp xper eriie er ienc ience nce e

ADENRELE NIYI

bello

CAMEROUNIANS ARE RENOWNED BEER DRINKER AND LOCAL

MILLET BEER IS THE

MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE

MANDARA MOUNTAINS

man caught my attention, offering a young python for sale in Koza’s market. Most goods offered, however, are more on the practical side; beans in a variety of colours, people, animals and goods kept me busy for a good while until the sky became darker. A heavy downpour made the trails very slippery and hiking back became difficult. The locals were laughing and I was reminded that this was the rainy season and that visitors should better come during the dry period. Reto Kuster is a travel writer and photographer

international interests, amongst other things. On his part, the Offa Descendants Union President, Alhaji Hamzat Adedeji, thanked the NTDC DG for a warm reception. In his words, “we sincerely acknowledge the good work you are doing at NTDC”. He explained that the essence of the festival is to promote entertainment, physical fitness and a spirit of healthy rivalry and valour amongst men hence the name, Ijakadi L’oro Offa” (which translates to wrestling). The 2012 edition of the festival holds in December from Wednesday 26th to Sunday 30th.

hat do you get when you mash together a lulling harbour view, a gastronomic à la carte menu and the fine service of an Italian restaurant manager..? The result is Allen Gardiner, a floating restaurant with nifty service, detailed attention to food presentation and charming décor. The thought of having lunch on a floating restaurant on a cold, rainy afternoon did not exactly get my palate salivating in anticipation. However, a recent week-long work/holiday trip to Durban and Johannesburg, both in South Africa, turned out to be revelatory in attractions, sights and culinary wonders. My host, South African Tourism, which is becoming adept at packaging the most amazing travel experience for in-bound tourists, took a risk by including a dinning boat cruise at a time when Durban’s weather was randomly oscillating between showers and sun. But it paid off because Allen Gardiner Harbour cruise restaurant did have delights to offer on board and the city’s bedazzling shoreline to show off. At the bustling Wilson Wharf, Durban Harbour, my lunch companions and I boarded the 63-feet wooden vessel —first built in 1942 and rebuilt in 2011 ahead of her 70th birthday this year. We were received by her ebullient Italian head waiter who immediately infected us with his optimism, despite the gloomy weather. Ushered into the elegant dinning salon which already had table placements for 13 diners (I learnt the vessel can accommodate a 45-man group and a maximum of 20 around the dinning table ), the cutlery, glassware and white napkins sparkled on the broad table. The enclosed salon is bordered by glass windows on starboard (right) and port (left) sides which open onto the surrounding deck also giving diners fabulous views of ocean activities and landmarks while cruising. The delicious three course à la carte meal —starter, entrée and dessert, came in quick and timed successions to the table, ladened with alcoholic beverages, sparkling water, oven-fresh buns and two enamel bowls each filled with piping hot soft-boiled potatoes and farm-fresh diced carrots. In the spirit of conviviality which Allen Gardiner’s boat accentuated among us, we shared dishes, sampling one another’s food and echo-

Tantalising spread as head waiter (standing) attends to the table

Salmon and potatoes

ing gastronomic appreciation between mouthfuls and swallows. For my starter, I ordered a creamy butternut soup primarily to heat up my tropical climate-conditioned body. Alas, I jettisoned the soup midway after tasting a forkful of the next diner’s starter, the divinely delicious Salmon and Potatoes. The cold dish was cooked to near perfection — thinly sliced circular potatoes and shreds of pink Salmon stacked in layers over one another to form a squat cylindrical shape. That arrangement was completed by creamy mint dressing for topping and colourful garnishing of a single tomato and cucumber slice. Every forkful carried a generous portion of savoury salmon, potato and minty dressing melting in the palate into a mouth watering blend of texture, taste and aroma! Inspite of a tantalising entree -Lamb Shank rubbed with origanum, garlic and rosemary and the heavenly chocolate cake for dessert, the culinary experience salmon and potatoes turned out to be earned it the best portion of the entirely sumptuous dinning time. Although Allen Gardiner Harbour Cruise Restaurant is designed to provide a different and exciting fine-dinning experience on the calm waters of Durban Harbour, a few tips if observed will heighten the total adventure. One of which is making reservations and placing meal orders ahead minimises delay between boarding, cooking time and plates of freshly-prepared food being served. Also, finish off the meal (if you choose the fine dinning menu) by eating desserts served out on the decks and enjoy the overwhelming beauty of Durban’s harbour-scape from the sedate ocean.

Denrele’s Day

Adenrele Niyi Denrele’s Day is a collection of witty & sincere articles inspired by a zany imagination denrele@nationalmirroronline.net Twitter: @mizniyi

The rape of innocence

ince the advent of camera technology on varying price ranges of mobile phones, SmartPhones and hand held digital devices, the rise of amateur photography and film making hit the roof. With the new dawn of photographic and cinematic technology compressed into digital devices, abuse, misuse and the idiotic documentation of wrongdoing and criminality by smug offenders has sped up the process of identification and arrest. Video documentation came to significant play in identifying central characters in the heartbreaking killing of four university undergraduates by a crazed mob in ALUU. Personally, I’m grieved by the latest photographic evidence of criminal depravity -that of a little girl, between three and five years, photographed looking square into the camera with an engorged p*nis in her mouth! Although the picture quality is grainy and many features at the background are indistinct, the adorable child, in all her wild-eyed-innocence, is clearly recognisable. The seated owner of the phallus is conveniently concealed from our view but his upper legs clad in blue jeans and his left hand cradling the girl’s head in place are visible (a white strap of a watch, perhaps, is also noticeable on his left wrist). Few hours after I received a link to the disgusting picture from my friend Latasha, via

Don’t try this at home!

ihanna, the Barbados-born, American pop star recently released Diamonds, a track off Unapologetic, her ready-todebut seventh studio album in seven years! Diamonds is a beautifully composed song fusing Soft Rock, House and Electronic music influences. Critically, I would think Diamonds is more of a producer’s song than an artiste’s song. Rihanna lends her amazing lilting vocals to the track produced by Benny Blanco and Stargate, a feat accomplishable by other great female vocalists in that hemisphere. What the recipient of six Grammy Awards and seven Billboard Music Awards has in her favour is a brilliant team of music creators working fastidiously to make her one of the greatest female singers the world has yet to know. The lyrics for Diamonds is written by an American song writer named Sia. However, the music arrangement and scoring is, for me, what makes the track a chart burster. Diamonds has rocketed to No. 4 on the Hot 100, Rihanna’s 23rd Top 10 hit on the chart. The song debuted four weeks ago with No. 1 postings at iTunes in 27 countries and Top 5 iTunes in 55 countries. Wow! When we’re talking of superstars in human computing terms, Rihanna is huge and her fans base, teeming! Her widespread popularity doesn’t end on

Friday, November 16, 2012

Naughty Notes BBM (BlackBerry Messenger), another girlfriend in Namibia sent the link as well. But these links aren’t being sent to distress or cause us to mouth words of condemnation. Yes, we are aghast by the ‘rape’ of yet another trusting child —whose innate purity has been shattered in this initiation into a sexual world she is not anatomically, psychologically, spiritually and emotionally prepared for. Ultimately, the viral photograph is travelling the cyberspace in a deliberate bid to fish out the low-life-scum-of-the-earth who turns his amorous desire on an underaged. As many people as come across it, we sincerely hope someone’s sense of observation of details will stir their memory and identify the guy behind this dastardly act. I’m desperate to see this pervert identified publicly, brought to justice, locked up and the key thrown away so he can’t prey on little girls anymore. On the other hand, would it be seen as cold-hearted to imagine him being apprehended and his offending ‘organ’ knotted at the crotched with a strong twine, left that way for the period of time it dies slowly from lack of blood flow and finally falls off like a piece of withered and useless protuberance!? Since the Most High has declared Himself the God of vengeance, I kill that imagination and simply put this out to deviants who find sexual pleasure going after little ones, whether male or female: And whosoever shall scandalise one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea. Douay-Rheims Bible (Mark 9:42). A word is enough for the wise. the entertainment stage; Forbes named Rihanna the world’s No. 1 social media star with over 2.9 billion views on YouTube/VEVO, the most ever for any female artiste, over 62.5 million Facebook fans and over 26.5 million Twitter followers. Rihanna is a trend-setter, influencing young people in her fashion and lifestyle choices. Oftentimes, her disturbing social behaviour is a source of concern to those who aren’t too overtaken with idolising the superstar. The video for Diamonds, a series of vignettes —short evocative scenes — includes a scene where Rihanna rolls up what appears to be small-cut diamonds in brown, rectangular paper, licks the edge to seal and lights her ‘diamond joint’ up. Medical sciences teach that diamonds shed tiny particles articles which, if introduced into to the blood stream, am, act like knivess lacerating blood d vessels and causing ng lifethreatening g internal injuries. s. What am m I inferring? Don’t ’t believe everything you see in music videos. ideos. Diamonds are e really for adornmentt not smoking. Love and peace for Album art for Unapologetic the weekend!

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CLAPPERBOARD with

Eddie Ugbomah www.edifosafilm.com

Nollywood is finished unless...

n Indian staff of M-NET suggested the name Nollywood and this rubbish have come to stay. The sad aspect is that we just refuse to create our own programmes. Nigeria Got Talents, Nigerian Idol, Ultimate Search, Maltina Dance Hall, MTN Project Fame etc, are either stolen or copied reality shows. When, for God’s sake, are we going to come up with our own ideas? The laziness of some of us has made us master copycats. I prophesised over 10 years ago of the coming of DSTV, which has grown into MultiChoice and African Magic and now spreading into GOTV. The shameful thing is that Nigeria has DomSat (Satellite), yet Nigeria Television Authority (NTA which has six channels) and other private TV stations say they are not digital so they hook up to DSTV in a country we call giant of Africa. NTA doesn’t have programmes because of bureaucracy and these men are quick to condemn any idea or proposal you offer them. TV stations expect producers to source money, produce programmes and buy airtime at a high rate. When you give them a pilot, they take years to get back to you with answers. These attitudes of laziness and envy have made DSTV, a South African company, take over all the electronic stations and we are watching. Our home video industry has suffered too. They started by offering $2,500 per film but ended up paying $1,000 and it has dropped to $300 now. What a shame! Nobody is buying Nigerian films but to show how tribalism will always kill Nigerians, the Yorubas and Hausas ran to HITV to create their tribal channel. When that station went broke, they ran to DSTV/GOTV. Just imagine the Indian imitation films that come out from the north. Their imitation films can’t sell outside that enclave because of technical inferiority and bad presentation of storyline. Some of their producers use camcorders to shoot; the quality, locations and music are cheap. I wish they would improve. As for the Yoruwood and Nollywood, my big question is when are we going to identify our common enemy– African Magic; our baby, the film industry has been ruined. There were days when film like War Front, Osofia, Ijere and Glamour Girls sold over half a million copies at N300 per VHS tape. Now, the new DVD or DVC copies sell for N100 each and productions have dropped such that producers, directors, actors, cinematographers, distributors and marketers are totally broke. Many of

FINANCIERS AND MARKETERS SOLD THEIR FILMS AND WATCHED OUR FILM INDUSTRY, WHICH WAS BUILT FROM NOTHING, DIE

them are now roaming around doing nothing; some are pastors and some have gone into cheap soap operas. African Magic is now a 24/7 TV station, they show documentary, events, talk shows and films. They started by introducing the new directors’ competition, from that they jump into Doctors’ Quarters and sneaked in African Magic; now it is GOTV. Last week, they went to the video market in Onitsha and Lagos looking for films. When the owners told them about the price they paid, these people were offering $5,000 for new films. They have refused to sponsor any production; they want finished products. What they do is buy own programmes (the Nigerian ones are 80% of their shows), show it all over 35 countries, making millions of dollars. The financiers and marketers are crying but they are the ones who sold their films and watched our film industry, which was built from nothing, die. Unless Nigerian stakeholders come together to stop this abuse, we will not get anywhere. I have endured the abuse and the programme they rejected has been on two major TV stations. I also have a new TV show called Talk Music which will soon be on two major TV stations. Last week, I was invited to a buka (a local eatery) in Surulere, Lagos with some producers. It was hard for my host to pay the N4,350 bill we spent; just imagine the drop of Nollywood, Yorubawood and Kanowood. If we don’t see the damage, I am sorry for the future of this industry. The bottom line is that we must not be taken for fools. New Metro came here and promised to invest money in Nollywood and sell Nollywood films; they tried to do this and failed. Then, African Magic took over; today, we are the losers. I know they will have me in their bad books because I have been against them from the very day Emeka Mba brought them to Nigeria. I know this idea might sound stupid, but this is the only way we can revive the film industry in Nigeria.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

People In The Mirror

Friday, November 16, 2012

Phone Swap screens at BFI, London Phone Swap, the romantic-comedy film produced by Golden Effects Production and directed by award-winning Kunle Afolayan has been travelling the globe, screening to cinema audiences and at festivals. On Saturday, November 10, OHBOX, New Nigeria Cinema and Film Africa brought the film to British Film Institute (BFI), 21 Stephen Street, London, Greater London W1T 1LN for its U.K. industry screening. Among guests were Kunle Afolayan, lead actor Wale Ojo, Tunde Kelani, Mike Abiola and Golda John. L-R: Anouk Batard; film director, Lancelot Imasuen and film producer, Emem Isong.

Nollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best turn out for BONAwards

Kunle Afolayan (L) and Tonisha Afro-Blondie

Tunde Kelani (L) and CEO Ben TV London, Alistair Soyode

Actor, Benjamin Joseph and comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka.

Patrick Campbell (L) and Fatima Jabbe

The 5th edition of the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON Awards) took place on Sunday, November 11 at the Tafawa Balewa Square Auditorium, Lagos Island, Lagos. Hosted by Nollywood star actress, Mercy Aigbe, some of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loved entertainers and celebrities were in attendance at the glamourous annual event which rewards excellence in the film industry.

L-R: Veteran British actress Golda John and CEO, African Film Awards, Mike Abiola

L-R: Mr. Mike Dada; Mr. Biodun Kupoluyi and Mr. Loye Hamzat.

Foluke Daramola

Tchidi Chikere

CEO OHTV, Akin Salami at the screening

L-R: Kunle Afolayan, DJ Abass and Wale Ojo. PHOTOS: MICHAEL TUBES FOR DJAMEDIA

Uti Nwachukwu

Mercy Ahigbe

Daniel Oramali (L) and Valere Odetoyinbo

L-R: Onyeka Ilechie, Yeka Onka and Ifeanyi Kalu.

Uche Anyamele

PHOTOS: OLUFEMI AJASA

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive

Toyota Prado: STORIES: OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Toyota Prado comes with a range of car features and clever design elements that equip it for many conceivable off-road situations while ensuring that it is a completely practical and comfortable car about town. It is an immensely powerful car, whether you elect for the 4.0L Dual VVT-i V6 engine or the 3.0L Turbo Diesel engine and yet, advanced technologies and clever innovations make the Prado more fuel efficient than ever. The Prado is available as a 5-door (the GX, the GXL, the VX and the Kakadu) and as a 3-door (the SX and the ZR), in either five-seater or, for grades with 5-door, seven-seater configurations. Each model offers masses of space for driver, passengers and luggage with highly flexible seating configuration enabling you to create extra cargo space when you need it. The Prado generates awesome amounts of torque so it can tow practically anything anywhere and help get you out of tough off-road situations. The Prado comes with world-class safety features including seven SRS airbags, AB-i (Active Braking with intelligence), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) among others. The car features a raft of 4WD innovations including Hill-start Assist (automatic models only) and CRAWL Control (Kakadu and ZR off-road pack only) to give you more control in off road situations. Which means you can go pretty well anywhere you like. Yet it offers all mod cons, fantastic audio and virtually every kind of

PRADOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PERFORMANCE IS AWESOME, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK GOING ON UNDER THE

BONNET...SURPRISINGLY QUIET AND ECONOMICAL TOO driver and passenger comfort you can think of. So as well as taking the off-road in its stride, the Prado is a practical and extremely comfortable on-roader too. The Toyota Prado three-door is based on the popular Prado wagon and is available in two trim levels, the SX and ZR. It features a wheelbase, which is 335mm shorter than the five-door models (2790mm for the GX compared with 2455mm of the SX), and is 445mm shorter overall (4485mm versus 4930mm). It also showcases a slightly narrower track by 20mm (1605mm to 1585mm). To kick off, the entry-level SX comes with a higherspec trim and more equipment than the equivalent GX five-door. Standard features include fog lights, roof rails, telescopic steering, premium steering wheel and gear knob, dual-zone climate control, steering wheelmounted multimedia controls, alarm and a rear cargo blind, all of which the GX five-door misses out on. Under the bonnet, the miniature Prado gets the same 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine as its bigger brothers, producing 127kW and 410Nm. It shares Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full-time four-wheel drive system, which provides high and lowrange modes, and is supported by limited-slip cross axle differentials front and rear, as well ASA lockable

Torsen-type centre diff. The base-model SX is packed full of standard features, including a reversing camera and reverse parking sensors, MP3/USB compatible stereo, second start (which puts the transmission into second gear, helping the car get out of extremely slippery conditions, like snow and ice), Idle Up (which raises the engine revs for generating greater electrical charge from the alternator), 17-inch alloy wheels and vast protective plating underneath the car. Safety-wise, it comes with ABS, Electronic Brake Assist, Active Traction Control, Vehicle Stability Control, seven airbags, active headlights and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (ANCAP has not actually rated the three-door Prado but the five-door model has been given five stars). On specification and equipment alone, the SX is a better deal than the GX. Taking the brunt of the shortened wheelbase is reduced interior practicality. In the back, the rear seats in the Prado SX will accommodate three adults in a fairly similar fashion as the five-door. There is decent legroom as well as headroom, but the rear seat passengers will be subjected to a bouncy ride. It is entering the vehicle and heading for the rear seats when problems arise, as the front seats do not fold forward enough to allow adequate access. This, paired with the fact that the front doors on the three-door are no longer than those found on the five-door, means climbing in and out can become very irritating, especially climbing up to the high ride height. The luggage space is also compromised thanks to the short-wheelbase design. Additionally, the rear door is very large and very heavy to open due to the full-sized

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive

Friday, November 16, 2012

spare wheel mounted on the outside. If the vehicle is parked on a hill or there is a slight wind, the driver would not want to be the object caught in a pincer movement – literally – when the door begins to swing shut. To counter this there is a lockable strut, which will hold the door in the fully open position, but the driver must remember to engage it to function. With the rear seats in the upright position, there is enough room for a decent tent and some luggage in the back, but obviously nowhere near as much room as in the bigger five-door brother. The floor of the rear compartment is flat with little wasted space. Once the rear seats are folded away, there is ample room. The seats even flip right up to offer a completely flat loading surface that is actually quite large. Also in the luggage area, the driver will find a conventional three-prong 220-volt power outlet, which can be used to power various low-current devices using conventional 240-volt alternating current. This is made possible by the onboard static inverter that converts 12V DC to 220V AC, the motorist will be able to power up things like fluoro lights, electronic devices and recharging c camera and laptop batteries. terie

Mercedes announces SLS Black series

ess weight and more power are the order of the day for the 621bhp Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series. If a car shopper lies awake at night worrying that the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is just a bit too soft, slow and heavy, then help is at hand, for there is now a hardcore Black Series version of the car. Like the standard SLS, the Black Series is built by AMG, Mercedes’ in-house tuning division, only this time it has taken inspiration from the SLS GT3 race car. As a result, the power of the 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 has increased from 563bhp to 621bhp and the rev limit lifted from 7,200- to 8,000rpm. AMG has also fitted a fuel-filled strut to brace the engine on the car’s body to improve stability during fast direction changes. Thanks to its performance upgrades, the SLS AMG Black Series can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.6sec. There is a whole host of weight-saving measures to reduce the overall mass by 70kg, including switching from a steel to a titanium exhaust, a liberal application of carbon-fibre parts (including the bonnet and the torque tube that runs between the engine and gearbox), lighter wheels and ceramic composite brakes and even the replacement of the standard battery with a lighter lithium-ion one. The seven-speed twinclutch gear-

box sits 10mm lower in the car to improve the centre to gravity and has faster shift times, while the mechanical limited-slip differential makes way for an electronically controlled one. The race-tuned suspension features adjustable damping (hard or even harder), as well as coil-over springs that can be adjusted depending on which circuit (or supermarket) you’re heading to. All of this is backed up with a styling makeover influenced by the GT3 racer, including wider wings, a carbon-fibre-reinforced front splitter and a diffuser at the rear. For the full racetrack refugee look, you can specify the “AMG Aerodynamics package”, which includes a giant rear wing, also made of carbon-fibre. Inside the car has bucket seats and plenty of racy Alcantara trim, while the satnav screen has been removed to save weight. Prices are yet to be announced for the SLS AMG Black Series, but suffice it to say that it is unlikely to be appearing alongside the C-class on company car schemes when it goes on sale in 2013.

Car performance The V6 petrol driven T Prado boasts a 6-cylinPra der Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelliTi gence (VVT-i) engine ge that th pumps out 202kW of o power and 381Nm of o torque. Yet, while the car’s performance t is awesome, for all the hard work going on under the bonnet, it’s surprisingly quiet and economical too. to

Car design While the Prado looks seriously impressive on the outside, the interior design of the car is world class, too. Smart Entry and Smart Start, a feature across the range, allows the vehicle to be locked or unlocked without even removing the key from your pocket. Thanks to built-in antennae and touch sensors, if your keys are in your pocket or bag, the car knows when you’re close and unlocks itself when you touch the door handle. The same principle is used for Smart Start - if they keys are in your pocket or bag, you simply push the brake and the start button to start the engine. The many benefits of owning a Prado include leading-edge 4WD technology, proven reliability and the drive of your life.

MAINTENANCE TIPS Continued from last edition

ecause of the proximity of the water pump to the timing belt in most cars, and because so much of the labour required for the two replacement jobs is duplicative, mechanics may suggest that water pumps be replaced at the same time that timing belts are replaced. And while the job is not inexpensive, it is much less costly than waiting for the timing belt to break. At the very least, correct timing has an impact on fuel economy, engine performance and emissions. Those, in themselves, are good reasons to make

Hyundai rates Nigerian auto economy high

he General Manager, Hyundai Construction Equipment, Mr. Daniele Sarnelli has described Nigeria’s auto industry as a very important market to Hyundai Motor Company. Sarnelli stated this when a team from the auto company visited Nigeria last week on business prospects to the country. Sarnelli said that although, the auto giant has presence in many African countries, but Nigeria is a very important market for the company, saying that it would like to increase its business in the country. Sarnelli said that training and re-

training of technical personnel and low fuel consumption of their products stand them out among other competitors in the market, adding that their trucks are versatile and strong. On the local front, Sarnelli, revealed that Mikano has been able to take Hyundai products to the next level in Nigeria in the past one year that it started business. “Prior to that time, you hardly could see Hyundai products in the country, but today these products have continued to increase by the day,” he said. The increasing market penetration, he pointed out is not unconnected with the availability of Mikano mobile workshops to meet clients in their premises

When and how to change timing belts sure proper maintenance is performed. Aside from that, however, timing belt replacement, while not a frequent job, is just as important as regular oil changes, air filter replacement and other essential tasks to the lifespan of an automobile. And neglecting to do the job because of its difficulty, inconvenience or cost can add up to even more difficulty, inconvenience or cost down the road. There are many variables in determining how much it will cost to change a timing belt, based mainly on the type of car and cost of

labour, if one chooses to have the work done at a service centre. The cost of timing belt replacement can range from N2,000 to N5,000 depending on the type of car. The job takes an estimated two to six hours, again depending on the type of car being worked on and who is doing the work. In order to help assess whether timing belts need to be replaced, mechanics may ask questions similar to these: Was the car purchased new? If it was, the owner will generally know if the timing belt has been

as well as trained local technicians to fix the products. Also, the After Sales and Service Department, Korea, Hyundai Heavy Industries Company, Jung Jin Woo, said that the company already has a partnership with Mikano International, which is also authorised dealer for Hyundai products in Nigeria and commended Mikano company for its efforts in expanding the presence of the company in Nigeria. “Our partners are trying to understand us the more. We are opening a new centre in Lagos and it is a huge investment in Nigeria and the most advanced”, he said.

replaced. Was the car purchased used? If so, the owner may or may not know if the belt has been replaced Does the vehicle have 60,000 miles or more? Has the timing belt ever been replaced? If the mileage indicates it is time to replace the belt and the job has not yet been done, the mechanic may recommend doing so. Do-it-yourself timing belt replacement For those with the patience, tools and mechanical aptitude, replacement of a timing belt can be done outside of a mechanic workshop. The first step is spending time studying the entire process in a repair manual or make and model-specific website before beginning the job.

Cocktail

Friday, November 16, 2012

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (44)

“I picked up one person - maybe if I didn’t pick up that one person I wouldn’t have picked up 42,000.” –Mother Teresa * * * MY THOUGHTS A journey of a thousand miles, they say, begins with one step. Little beginnings are powerful if you will just keep at it and keep at it. Start something no matter how small is the story of most rich people today. When we wait for big things to happen before we will make a move towards fulfilling our destiny, we will wait for ever. What will you do if it is impossible to fail? What will you be doing if you have only 3 months to live? These are pointers to your purpose in life. Get busy! TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

162-year-old restaurant closes in Michigan

he owner of Michigan’s oldest continuously operating restaurant says the business has shut its doors after 162 years. Tim Wilkins, operator of the White Horse Inn in Metamora, sent out an email Tuesday night announcing the restaurant

is closing down due to the state of the building, which was a stagecoach shop before it was a restaurant, the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday. Wilkins said the building “is in need of immediate major repairs to insure the safety of our staff and guests.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Man picks up wrong child after school

man picking up a friend’s daughter after school in New Jersey was arrested after picking up the wrong girl -- but he says he won’t make that mistake again. Art Deaner was supposed to pick up 6-year-old Courtney Fetters Tuesday in Gloucester City, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. When he arrived at the appointed place, he saw 9-year-old Courtney Durr -- who coincidentally was also waiting for a family friend to pick her up. He told her he was looking for Courtney, she said she was Courtney, and he told her to get in the car, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, reported. “I got off the bus and he pulled up and he asked if there was a Courtney,” Courtney Durr said. “I said, ‘Yeah.’ My crossing guard let me go and I went with him.” Deaner hadn’t seen Courtney Fetters in weeks and mistook Courtney Durr for his friend’s child, and Courtney Durr knew

a friend of her mom’s was picking her up, so she went with Deaner, the report said. The woman who was supposed to pick up Courtney Durr called the girl’s mom when she arrived to pick the girl up and couldn’t find her. Deaner says he got an

idea there was a problem when he started talking to Courtney Durr about a trip to Maine he knew Courtney Fetters had taken, and the girl in his car said she had never been in Maine. “I had to turn around and take her back,” he said. “I got the wrong

A squirrel taking a shot from a camera. Photo: creativenerds.co.uk

Courtney.” As he was returning to drop her off where he picked her up, Deaner was pulled over by police and arrested. The crossing guard had not recognized Deaner’s car when Courtney Durr got in it and took down the license number, giving it to police.

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance The authority would no longer tolerate any form of accident or incident from any airline of the operating carrier, safety is everybody’s business Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Harold Demuren

Rational investors will find it difficult to invest in a company they do not have adequate information about

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema

Nigeria tops Africa’s FDI inflows with $8.9bn JOHNSON OKANLAWON

investor confidence, Aganga noted that the creation of the Trade and Investment ministry by President Goodluck Jonathan had impacted on the country’s economic growth through its strategic trade and investment policies and programmes. Commending FBN Capital for organising the conference, the minister said the nation had the potential to sustain its drive towards emerg-

ing as one of the world’s leading economies given the continuous cooperation of all stakeholders. He said the government would step up activities geared towards promoting investment opportunities in power, food, education and transportation sectors, adding that the administration would also move to stimulate significant investment in the oil and gas downstream sector. The Managing Direc-

tor of FBN Capital, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe said this initiative of the conference was a necessary follow-up to the maiden edition last year. The maiden edition of the investor conference focused on Nigeria’s aspiration journey to becoming a recognised emerging market. “We aim to move the conversation on to considering the enabling factors and practical actionable initiatives that

can be taken to boost Nigerian growth. Some of these micro economic areas are capital market, agriculture/agroallied, real estate, power and oil and gas,” he said. Also, the Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc, Mallam Bello Maccido said the conference could not have come at a better time in light of the Federal government’s transformation and reformation programmes.

iding on the strength of ongoing reforms, Nigeria has become the leading investment destination in Africa after recording a foreign direct investment of $8.9bn in 2011, Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga said at the FBN Capital Conference which kicked off yesterday in Lagos. The $8.9bn represents 16 per cent of Africa’s total FDI of $55bn in 2011. Aganga, who was represented by the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the government was committed to consolidating on the gains so far recorded by strengthening the onestop investment centre of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission. He said, “Our target is to achieve a 48-hr response for all investment linked enquiries. Attributing the FDI L-R: Chief Finance Officer, Lift Above Poverty Allevation, Micro Finance Bank, Mr. Kamakhya Singh; Chief Executive Officer, Mr.Godwin Ehigiamusoe; Country Manager, International Financial Corporation, Mr.Solomon Quaynor and Cluster Head, growth to the growing Financial Market, Mr. Olayemi Idris-Animashaun, during the signing of $5million Agreement in Lagos on Wednesday.

CBN to rollout framework for agent banks UDO ONYEKA

s part of effort by the financial regulatory institutions in the country to achieve success in their overall ob-

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jective of promoting financial inclusion for all Nigerians, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said it will put in place a framework for the take off of agent banks in the country. Speaking yesterday in his opening remarks during the 2012 Workshop for Business Editors and Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria

(FICAN), in Dutse, Jigawa State, the Managing of the Deposit of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Umaru Ibrahim, said agent banks would be retail outlets contracted by a financial institution or a mobile network operator that would process clients transactions. Ibrahim, who listed the establishement of the

NCAA explains why Dana Air is yet to pay $70,000 compensation

agent banks as one of the complimentary measures to the CBN and the NDIC objective of improving the financial inclusion drive, given the relative low level of penetration of financial services in the country, said money deposit banks operating in the country, have also agreed to drop charges on the use of automated teller machines

(ATMs), by customers agreeing to transfer such charges to the bank, which the customer has account. On the decision to discontinue charges on ATM transactions, he said banks took the decision at the Bankers’ Committee meeting on Tuesday to henceforth bear the cost of ATM transactions rather than charge the banking publc.

Yuletide: Need for congestion-free seaports

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

Arik Air Los-Abj: 07:15, 09:15, 10:20, 15:20, 16:20, 16:50, 18:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Abj-Los: 07:15, 09:40, 10:20, 12:15, 15:15, 16:15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat); 12:15, 15:15, 16:15 (Sun) Los-PH: 07:15, 11:40, 14:00, 16:10, 17:15, (Mon-Fri) 07:30, 11:40, 15:50 (Sat) 11:50, 3:50, 17:05 (Sun) Abj-PH: 07:15, 11:20, 15:30 (Mon-Fri) 07:15, 16:00 (Sat) 13:10, 16:00, (Sun) PH-Abj: 08:45, 12:50, 17:00 (Mon-Fri) 08:45, 17:30 (Sat) 14:40, 17:30 (Sun) Abj-Ben: 08:00, 12:10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08:55, 12:10 (Sun) Ben-Abj: 09:55, 13:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10:50, 13:30 (Sun)

Aero Contractors Los-Abj: 06:50, 13:30, 16:30, 19:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 16:45 (Sat). Abj-Los: 07:30, 13:00, 19:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat) 10:30, 14:30, 19:30 (Sun) 18.30 (Sat) Los-Ben: 07:45, 11:00, 15:30, (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 15:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Ben-Los: 09:15, 12:30, 17:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat/Sun) 17:00 (Sat), 14:00 (Sun)

EXCHANGE RATES WAUA

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235.0535

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0.2924

GBP

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191.3715

OIL / GAS FUTURES ICE BRENT

$123.39

-0.78

NYMEX

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OPEC BASKET

$122.86

+1.16

NATURAL GAS

$2.83

-0.03

Business News

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Crash: Why Dana Air is yet to pay $70,000 compensation OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren yesterday revealed why the management of Dana Air is yet to pay the mandatory balance of $70, 000 to the families of the air accident at IjuIshaga area of Lagos on June 3, 2012. Demuren also disclosed that not all the families of the crash had received the initial payment of $30,000 as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He revealed that 80 families have so far received the mandatory $30,000 while the others are yet to do so due to some internal problems in their families and insisted that infants must be given the same amount given to adult victims in the crash. Speaking to some of the bereaved families at the NCAA headquarters in Lagos, Demuren explained that the remaining balance of $70, 000 is being insured abroad, saying that for any family to get the remaining amount, such would submit a letter of administration from the probate registry, which is expected to emanate from the Lagos State Government. He however informed that the Lagos State Government had been supportive in this aspect, but are that the agency would ensure that the letters are fast tracked to ensure prompt pay-

ment of the money to the rightful families. He emphasized that the insurance companies of the airline had assured severally that the money was intact, but could only be paid when the letter is presented by the families. He informed that since the unfortunate crash, which claimed the lives of 153 passengers and crew members onboard and another 10 people on ground, the regulatory agency had met thrice with the victims’ families and seven times with the lawyers of the airline on how the remaining funds could be paid without much delay. He said, “When we start having problems about the claims we cannot live the families of the victims or the victims alone , this is a family assistant programme of what can we do to assist them so that they can get the smallest thing that is available under the law. There are some families that had received the 30,000 dollars first tranche of compensation, but nobody had gotten the 70,000 dollars, which is the second tranche because this is being reinsured abroad. “And now to get that one, it would require a letter of administration from the probate registry, which would have to come from the Lagos State Government and governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has been very gracious, very supporting in this case. We want to see how we can fast track the issuance of the letters of administration for

L-R: Coordinator, Ethiopia Steering Committee, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Mr Iyasu Yimer; Acting, Executive Secretary, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji and Chairman, Mr. Ledum Mitee, during the Ethiopian’s visit to NEITI in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Agric minister calls for AMCON funding for agriculture MESHACK IDEHEN

he Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has called on the Asset Management Company (AMCON), to finance the agricultural sector through long term bonds. Furthermore, the minister said with the Agricultural Transformation in Nigeria that opportunities for banks and other stakeholders in economic diversification abounds, and that stakeholders should consider raising long term bonds to finance the agricultural sector. A statement made available to National Mirror on Thursday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Dr, Kayode Oyel-

BP to get record US criminal fine over Deepwater oil spill

ritish Petroleum is set to receive a record fine of between $3billion and $5bn (£1.9bn-£3.2bn) to settle criminal charges related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, the BBC has said. It will be the biggest criminal penalty in US history, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation. The settlement with the Department of Justice involves BP pleading guilty to criminal charges. It is thought that up to four BP staff may be arrested, ac-

cording to the BBC. Details of the settlement are expected to be confirmed by the Washington-based Department of Justice later. Earlier, BP said it was in “advanced discussions” with US agencies about settling criminal and other claims. BP said that any deal would not include a range of other claims including individual and federal claims for damages under the Clean Water Act, and state claims for economic loss. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster killed 11 workers and

released millions of barrels of crude into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days. The settlement is much bigger than the previous corporate criminal penalty assessed by the Department of Justice, the $1.2billion fine imposed on drug maker Pfizer in 2009. The oil giant has been selling assets worth billions of pounds to raise money to settle all claims. The company is expected to make a final payment of $860million into the $20billion Gulf of Mexico compensation fund by the end of the year.

eye, said longer term funding for the agriculture sector will go a long towards sustained economic growth. According to the minister, “AMCON has over N3trn in funds, while the pension funds also have billions of naira looking for sound investments. The rising domestic debt is certainly of concern. However, this should not be used to argue against agriculture bonds. Many countries in the world are using the so-called green bonds to power their agriculture, including China and India. “As we modernise agriculture and raise profitability in the sector through well-coordinated agricultural value chains, AMCON and pension funds can buy agricultural bonds to further diversify their portfolios and provide access to lower interest and long term financing for the sector. Development finance institutions can also finance long term bonds for agriculture”. The minister also advocated a combined effort of Nigerian banks towards agricultural financing in order to boost government efforts in the sector, allayed the fears of the financial houses. “I want to assure the financial community that despite the floods, Nigeria will not experience a famine or food crisis. We have put in place a robust flood recovery food production plan, which will produce at least an additional 1.4 million tonnes of

FAAN issues ultimatum to remove abandoned aircraft at airports OLUSEGUN KOIKI

or the umpteenth time, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), yesterday issued another one month ultimatum to the owners of abandoned aircraft parked at various airports in the country to remove them or risked been confiscated. The General Manager, Cor-

porate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said that the latest ultimatum was necessary in order to rid the airports of unused aircraft. Dati explained that the authority was constrained to embark on the exercise because owners of the abandoned aircraft have deliberately refused to remove them despite all efforts made FAAN to make them do so, adding that the management had several meet-

ings with them all to no avail. Dati in a statement signed stated that the presence of the abandoned aircraft within the airports negates the spirit of the current aviation master plan of the Federal Government. He stated, “This exercise has become necessary because these aircraft constitute a serious safety hazard on the airside, apart from being an eyesore at these airports, as some of these aircraft have

been abandoned for upwards of 10 years. “The authority is constrained to embark on this removal exercise because owners of these abandoned aircraft have deliberately refused to remove them despite all efforts made by the Authority to make them do so, including meetings with the owners and publication of paid notices in various newspapers in the past five years.”

rice to compensate for losses we have suffered, and an additional 500,000 tonnes of maize in the dry season,” The minister explained in the statement, that N198.173 billion has been disbursed by about 19 participating banks out of the total of N200billion that is available from the debt financing raised by the Debt Management Office as at July 2012. According to him, the ministry has come a long way on the agricultural transformation agenda, saying also that the time for accelerated effort to consolidate the gains in the sector is now. “The Agricultural Transformation agenda cannot succeed without adequate financing. We must create innovative financial instruments to address the needs of the agricultural sector, considering the different needs along the agricultural value chains. We must urgently build the capacity of the banks to lend to agriculture. “Banks should set up full and well-staffed agricultural lending departments. The Nigerian Bank of Agriculture needs to be restructured and then recapitalised to accelerate lending to agriculture at single-digit interest rates. While government is doing its best to make available low interest funds for banks to access, banks should ensure that they pass on these funds at low and affordable interest rates to the agricultural sector”, the minister added. He noted that some of the owners of these abandoned aircraft had taken FAAN to court over this issue and got court injunctions that made it difficult for the authority to carry out its exercise before now, stressing that some of these cases had now been concluded hence the commencement of the removal exercise. Dati in the statement called on the owners of abandoned aircraft to remove them from all the airports within the stipulated period.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, November 16, 2012

SGBN gets regional licence, re-opens soon TOLA AKINMUTIMI DUTSE

epositors of Societe General Bank of Nigeria, would soon have cause to smile as the regulatory authorities have issued a new licence to the bank to re-open operations as a regional bank. This is even as the monetary authorities are already revisiting the issues surrounding the withdrawal of the licence of Savannah Bank with a view to restoring its operational licence based on its owners’ desire to recapitalise the bank and ensure that its depositors smile again. Dropping this hint yesterday at the 2012 Workshop for Business Editors and Financial Correspondents in Dutse, Jigawa State, the Director, Insurance and Surveillance Department,

Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Zachaeus Anate, said SGBN would commence operations under a new business name: Heritage Banking Incorporation Limited. To ensure the take-off of the bank’s operations, Anate disclosed the CBN would soon undergo a second round of deposit verification exercise with a view to determining the final modalities that will guide the commencement of its business operations The NDIC chief assured the regulatory authorities were committed to make sure that all depositors that have access to their funds. Anate said: “The bank has been issued a regional banking licence but what is important is that CBN will soon conduct a second round of depositors’ ver-

ification exercise on the bank. In the Bankers Committee’s meeting last Tuesday, the new Managing Director of that bank was in attendance. Through the second depositors’ verification exercise, all depositors’ funds would be properly accounted for and they will have access to their deposits. “So, there are a lot of things NDIC is doing in terms of supervision and resolution that we just don’t come out to talk about in the public. But I want to assure you that no depositor in any of those banks would lose their money” he said. On Savannah Bank, the deposit insurance expert said preparations are going on to get the bank on its feet because the owners have been making frantic efforts to ensure that they return to business.

LCCI laments poor implementation of cash-lite policy STANLEY IHEDIGBO

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed worry over the poor implementation of cashless policy in the country. Speaking at the cashless policy conference in Lagos yesterday, the LCCI President, Mr. Goodie Ibru, blamed the poor implementation of the cashless policy on unstable infrastructure, societal resistance and lack of technological infrastructure. According to him, the CBN need to create more awareness and monitor compliance on the cash-lite policy. He urged the CBN to push for more stringent laws and enforcement against financial

crimes as well as intensify awareness campaign for the actualization of the new cashless policy to work in Nigeria. Ibru called on the CBN to ensure that government initiate policy that would reduce the import duty and other charges for importing machines, as incentives to speed up the spread of the Point of Sales facilities in the country. He added that the CBN should put in place banks technicians to be trained on how to manage/ repair the ATM machines that should be stations at different locations for easy accessibility. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Deputy Governor Operations, Mr. Tunde Lemo, said that the POS machines in use for the takeoff programmes have increased from 5,000 to over 200,000 to date.

NDE commences 2012 last quarter trainees for skills acquisition MESHACK IDEHEN

L-R: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Plc, Mr. Joe Hudson; representative of the Managing Director, Ebony ‘D’ Great Enterprises, Ikorodu, Miss Funmi Oshibowale and a block maker/distributor in Ajah area of Lagos, Alhaji Abass Opaniran, during a media parley at the just concluded 2012 Lagos International Trade Fair, in Lagos, recently.

US seeks clarification on Nigeria’s ECA, public finances TOLA AKINMUTIMI

he United States of America (USA) yesterday sought clarification from the Federal Government on public finance, particularly the Excess Crude Account (ECA) management as part of its efforts aimed at understanding better the nation’s public finance system. A statement issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) disclosed that the clarification was sought by Mr. Douglas P. Climan of the American Embassy when he visited the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Jonah Otunla, in Abuja. The diplomat was said to have informed the AGF that he came to the Treasury House to understand the Budgeting and the operation of Federation Account and that he

would also like to know how ECA withdrawals are made, and how the unspent balance of capital is managed. After listening to the AGF, the diplomat was said to have expressed optimism that 2013 budget will be passed before 2012 fiscal year After making clarification on the issues raised by the envoy, the AGF disclosed further that 45,000 ghost workers had been detected so far 108 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) following the adoption of the Integrated Fiscal Management System (GIFMIS) in the public sector at the federal level of the public sector. Otunla said: “Since the inception and adoption of GIFMIS, about 45,000 ghost workers have been detected. It has helped in manpower planning and budgeting; how many people are on the

payroll of government and the cost implication”. On the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), improvement in Cash Management System through Treasury Single Account (TSA), and other non-financial Reforms, the AGF said these measures have greatly improved the nation’s financial management system and accountability which began with seven MDAs as pilot project. “GFMIS which commenced on April 2nd, 2012 is an IT based system for budget management and accounting, that has been implemented to improve public expenditure management process and enhance greater accountability and transparency across Ministries and Agencies”, he added.

he National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has said a total number of 11,725 unskilled and unemployed youths have been recruited nationwide for training in vocational and technical skills under the agency’s Vocational Skills Development Programme for the 4th quarter of the year 2012. In a statement on Thursday by the NDE’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Edmund Onwuliri, said more than 925 of the persons recruited will receive skills training in the Advanced National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (A-NOAS), while 10,800 others will be trained under the Basic National Open

Apprenticeship Scheme (BNOAS). He said in the statement that the NDE Scheme will commences with training in BNOAS where unskilled and unemployed youths are recruited, and are posted to either accredited NDE Master craftsmen and women in the informal sector or to NDE skills training centres across the country. According to him, the purpose of adopting such training model by the directorate is for the purpose of the skills acquisition in trades such as computer operations and maintenance, GSM handsets repairs, welding, interior decoration, fashion designing, hair dressing, electrical installation, plumbing to have maximum effect, and also to fully prepare the youths for self-employment.

Removal of ATM withdrawal fees to aid cashless policy –Diamond Bank JOHNSON OKANLAWON

iamond Bank Plc has described the decision of other commercial banks in Nigeria to remove the N100 Automated Teller Machines withdrawal fee as a welcome development. A statement from the bank yesterday said the removal would further strengthen the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless policy initiative. The statement quoted the Head, Corporate Communications of the bank, Mrs. Ayona Aguele-Trimnell, as saying that the bank has lifted charges on the ATMs five months ago.

She said, “Till date, the bank’s customers have continued to freely use their Diamond debit cards on any other bank’s ATMs hence, saving the N100 they would have paid for each transaction. “At Diamond, we pride ourselves with continually evolving ways of exceeding customer expectationand the decision to suspend theATM withdrawal charge on transactions carried out on other bank’s ATMs as far back as July this year is a clear demonstration of this.” Aguele-Trimnell noted that the adoption of this initiative by other Nigerian banks will usher in a season of better customer service in the industry.

Maritime

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Recent revelation by the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria that some importers and their agents have resorted to use of the seaports as storage facilities should ordinarily constitute a cause for concern for all stakeholders. This is against the background that it has become an annual ritual for Nigeria’s seaports to experience congestion given the increased volume of imported goods. FRANCIS EZEM examines how this can be averted.

o say that Nigeria is an import-dependent nation is to state the obvious. This implies that the country relies on imported goods for the sustenance of its about 150-million population, which implies that she imports virtually everything. This partly accounts for why the volume of imports in the country always increases towards the last quarter of the year, when most people prepare for the Yuletide and end of the year celebrations, which leads to increased economic activities. For instance, available statistics show that cargo volumes handled at the various ports, which stood at 46.2 million metric tonnes in 2006 has grown to over 83.5 million metric tonnes at the close of business in 2011 while vessel traffic which stood at 788, 638 metric tonnes has increased to 1.5 million metric tonnes in the previous year. Also, recent statistics for the first half of 2012 show that the laden container throughput stood at 438, 049 Twenty Equivalent Units as against 380, 114 recorded in the comparative period of 2011, representing a 15.2 percent growth rate. Also vehicle traffic in the period under review stood at 129,389 units, as against 95,676 units imported in the first half of 2011, which represents a 35.2 percent increase while the total gross tonnage of the ocean going vessels stood at 60.3 million metric tonnes, which shows a two percent growth rate In the face of the increasing cargo throughput at the seaports, recent alarm by Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), umbrella body for all private terminal operators in Nigeria’s eight seaports that importers and their agents have resorted to the use of members terminals, which should be transhipment centres as storage facilities is an indication that another round of congestion is imminent. These private concessionaires numbering about 26 spread all over the seaports in Nigeria had effected a 20 percent increase in rent charges, which took effect from October 1, 2012, in order to discourage this habit, a development most importers and freight forwarders vehemently opposed, threatening to shut the ports if not reversed. Chairman of the association, Mrs. Vicky Hastruup, who spoke at a recent meeting organised by Nigeria Port Authority to resolve the crisis generated by the increase, had assured that the terminal operators would stop at nothing in ensuring efficiency at the various terminals in line with the government’s objectives of the port concession. According to her, the upward review was based on proven cases of abandonment of consignments at the ports for unnecessarily long periods of time sometimes running into five weeks and thereby making nonsense of government’s resolve to cut down on the dwell time of containers to seven days and the attainment of 48-hour cargo clearance. The STOAN boss, who doubles as executive vice chairman of ENL Consortium had insisted that low storage charges at the ports encourage the use of port facilities as warehouses by importers and their agents. “It was far cheaper to store goods at the port than it is in any warehouse in Nigeria so it has become necessary to reverse that trend because the ports are transit areas. The review of storage charges is not a money-making idea but a genuine attempt on our part to drive down cargo dwell time at the port and ultimately reduce the cost

Haastrup

Nweke

Yuletide: Need for congestion-free seaports NIGERIA HAS BECOME AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE SHIPPING WORLD ON ACCOUNT OF THE WAY WE CONDUCT

BUSINESS, PARTICULARLY AT THE SEAPORTS of doing business at Nigerian ports”, she argued further. In reaction to this hike, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents threatened to shut all the nation’s seaports, describing it as arbitrary and therefore unacceptable. The decision of the association to issue the deadline follows reports by the Tin Can Island chapter of the association, Mr. Kayode Farinto during a meeting of the national executive committee, chairmen and secretaries of all the chapters in the western zone of the association. The association, therefore, gave the STOAN members a 72-hour deadline to revert to the pre-October 1, 2012 charges or risk a total closure of the nation’s eight seaports. A major high point of the reconciliatory meeting was the setting up of a committee comprising representatives of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders led by its President, Mr. Eugene Nweke and ANLCA; the two major freight forwarding associations, and those of STOAN, among several others. Executive Director of NPA in charge of Marine and Operations, Mr. David Omonibeke, had while speaking at the meeting, pledged that the authority would ensure that the committee looks into the recent increase on storage charges by terminal operators in order to meet up with international best practices. The committee, which was given two weeks to turn in its report, is expected to examine the issues that gave rise to the increase in storage charges and the various arguments against the increase by clearing agents and make recommendations to NPA. Beyond the setting up of the committee lies the more germane issue of keeping the nation’s seaports free from congestion, especially this time of the year, when it is expected that there would be upsurge in the volume of goods imported into the country as has been the case in the previous years. It was probably in realisation of the importance of keeping the seaports free from congestion, which also helps to increase the capacity of the ports and therefore enhance efficiency that the Federal Government last year put in place a Presidential Committee on Port Reform headed by special adviser to the president on moni-

toring and compliance, Professor Sylvester Monye. Other members of the committee include senior Special Adviser to the President on Maritime Services, Mr. Leke Oyewole, Assistant Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service in charge of headquarters, Mr. Musa Tahir and President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, among several others. The committee had evacuated no fewer than 5,000 abandoned consignments by various government ministries and agencies, which have been identified as part of the root cause of perennial congestion experienced at the ports. Monye, who led some members of his team to address maritime reporters, had said the group has identified over 2000 of the marked containers. According to him, the team was saddened with the realisation that such traffic gridlocks largely occasioned by the abandoned boxes had led to a prohibitive rise in costs of doing business at the ports with its attendant woes on the nation’s economy and its integrity amongst the comity of nations. “Nigeria has become an embarrassment to the shipping world on account of the way we conduct business particularly at the seaports. This informs the setting up of this committee with a presidential mandate to monitor the progress and processes of the Port Reforms,” he had said. The 19-man committee with members drawn from Ministries of Finance, Transport, Trade and Investment, as well as the maritime agencies and private concerns was inaugurated November last year with a broad-based mandate to monitor the Presidential directives on port reforms, by identifying the key issues affecting the Nigerian ports, the causes of persisting bottlenecks despite previous efforts and ensure a competitive environment, among others. Experts believe that more than ever before, Nigeria’s seaports need to be as competitive as possible, especially given the challenges posed by some neighbouring African countries like the Republic of Benin, Ghana and Ivory Coast, which are currently developing state of the art seaport facilities. They had argued that though more than 75 percent of goods imported into the West African region end up in the Nigerian market, less than 20 percent of that come through her seaports due to some of these inadequacies associated with the seaports, like congestion and the attendant delay in the clearing of the goods. This, they argued had led to loss of revenue on the part of the government, which has made it incumbent in all port stakeholders to work together towards a congestion-free seaports, especially as the Yuletide season approaches.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Maritime

Friday, November 16, 2012

‘Nigeria’s seaports’ capacity over-stretched STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

reenview Development Nigeria Limited, a member of the Dangote Group and operators of Terminal E of the Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa under the port concession programme has said that the capacity of Nigeria’s seaports are over stretched by over 128 percent of their installed capacity. Managing Director of the company, Mallam Abba Bukar, who played host to the management team of the Nigerian Ports Authority led by the Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi during a tour of the Western Ports, said that the facilities Nigeria’s eight major seaports are over stretched. According to him the installed capacity of all the ports is to handle between 40-45 million metric tonnes of cargo per annum, saying that the ports have since over short these fig-

ures, which has seriously put a strain on the facilities. He disclosed that from an installed capacity of between 40-45 million million metric tonnes of various types of cargo, the actual volume handled at these ports has since exceeded 100million metric tonnes, which represents about 127.3 percent growth, a development that put pressure on the existing facilities. He also disclosed that the most unfortunate part f this development is that over 70 percent of this 100 million metric tonnes are handled by the Western Ports comprising of Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, both in Lagos. While giving a brief history of the terminal, he said that GDNL is the Special Purpose Vehicle of Dangote Industries Limited for the concession, management and operation of Terminal E of the Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa for a lease period of 25 years. According to him, Terminal

E was officially handed over to the company in April 2006 while terminal operations started in August of the same year. Terminal E is part of the third wharf extension and occupies an area of 19.05 hectres of land with 510 million quay length comprising of berths 19, 19A and 20 and advertised draft of 10.5metres, with two existing factories the sugar and flour factories. On the achievements of the terminal, the GDNL-boss thanked the management of NPA for the dredging of berth 20 and also expressed the hope that berth 19 would soon be dredged to accommodate larger vessels and reduce cost of shipment. It was also gathered that the terminal has recorded an all time high cargo throughput of 1.9 million metric tonnes of cargo at the close of business in December, 2011, while it has a stock of cargo handling equip-

L-R: Executive Director, Finance and Administration of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Olumide Oduntan; Managing Director, NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi and Managing Director, Greenview Development Nigeria Limited, Mallam Abba Bukar, during a visit of NPA management to Greenview on Wednesday.

ment adequate to handle ships and cargo at the terminal. Records also show that as part of measures to expand the existing infrastructure at the terminal, the management of the company is proposing the construction of berth 21, for which the berth design and subsoil test have been done as well as receiving approval to commence work from the Ministry of Environment while the technical design has already been sent to NPA to facilitate commencement of work. GDNL has a storage facility of 160, 000 metric tonnes of warehouses, 68, 000 metric tonnes of silos, 25, 000 metric tonnes of tank farm and open stacking areas in excess of three hectres. The NPA managing director, while responding, said that the GDNL-boss, who was a one-time port manager of the Container Terminal, Apapa was a colleague and should therefore be supported in order to succeed in his assignment. He told his host that the decision of the new management which came on board about three months ago to delay the familiarisation visit was to give the new executive directors, most of who were appointed from outside the port system to get used to the system so that they could grasp the full import of such visit. He also noted that he was impressed by the performance of the terminal, which he attributed to the expertise of the managing director to handle the terminal, being a professional and also the fact that the Dangote Group is a well established and one of the biggest firms in the continent.

Why Nigeria’s non-oil exports are uncompetitive

takeholders in Nigeria’s nonoil export industry have said that the near collapse of infrastructure and the consequent high cost of logistics and multiple taxes imposed by various levels of government as well as the low level of availability of Information Technology are major challenges impeding the growth of the industry. Programme Director and Chief Executive Officer of Multimix Academy, Dr. Obiora Madu, made the observation while speaking at a one-day training workshop organised by the academy in conjunction with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council captioned: “The making of an Exporter” and Export Mentorship Programme held in Lagos. According to him, most of the nation’s non-oil exports are more expensive than others in the international market due to high cost of production arising

from the high logistic cost occasioned by the decay of infrastructure in the country. Madu also noted that the inability of these exporters to manage the logistic cost has not helped matters, a development that have made them uncompetitive and therefore impede the growth of the industry. In addition to these challenges, he also observed that poor packaging of the exports and inadequate incentives in the country have all contributed the low growth of the industry, which many believe could sustain Nigeria’s economy if the potential are properly harnessed. “I can tell you export incentives in the country are inadequate and I hope the NEPC would do something about this. The Export Expansion Grant, which is the only incentive that readily comes to mind has been shaking since two years now”,

he noted. While taking participants at the workshop through the rudiments of the various means of payments and risk associated with each, warned them to disregard any export proposal to them that looks too good to be real and also warned that they must engage the service of a legal practitioner before they enter into such contracts as well a choosing means of payment. On writing offer letters, he charged the participants to ensure that such letters are as explicit as possible containing such detailed information as the nature of the product, its shelf life, non-negotiable price, quantity per shipment or season, quality, packaging, the validity and reference of companies the exporter had done business with in the past. Managing Director of Apany Global Resources Limited, Mr. Sampson Enwere, one of the

mentors while speaking at the event, decried the worsening cases of imposition of multiple taxes on the exporters, which jack up their cost of production and make them uncompetitive in the international market arena. Enwere, who is a specialist in Sesame seed production said: “If you are taking a consignment of sesame seed from Maiduguri to Lagos for instance, you will be stopped a every local government area where you would be required to pay one form of tax or the other” He argued that there was urgent need for all the three tiers of government to harmonise the various taxes so that they would be paid at a particular point instead of duplicating them, which some of the tax officials have turned into instrument of extortion from unsuspecting members of the public, especially those that move goods by

We are committed to human capital development –Minister

he Minister of Transport, Mallam Idris Umar has restated the determination of the present administration to address the human capacity deficiencies in the maritime industry. The minister gave the assurance when he paid a working visit to the abandoned training school of the Nigerian Ports Authority in Apapa, Lagos recently. While expressing disappointment that such a well equipped training school could be left unattended to even when the nation is experiencing a dearth of skilled sea men, he further said that the ministry under his watch is committed to completing all abandoned projects littered all over the country. According to him, the NPA training school which has provided a training ground for many seafarers and maritime workers will not be an exception. It was however gathered that the ministry is contemplating revamping the abandoned training school with a view to making it functional under a Public Private Partnership. The minister, who had also visited the Badagry site of the proposed Maritime Academy, had expressed displeasure over the culture of abandoning of infrastructure, stating that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been mandated by President Goodluck Jonathan to evaluate abandoned projects with a view to breathing life into them. “Because of President Jonathan’s desire to see an improvement in maritime activities, he set up a committee to look into ways of further raising the bar in the maritime industry, the committee has submitted its report”, he noted. “Very soon, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency will forward the recommended beneficiaries of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) to the ministry for approval”, he further assured. The minister had noted that with the expected upsurge in activities in the industry coupled with the current shortage of seafarers in the country, there is a need to put facilities in place to address the obvious shortfall in human resources to complement the efforts of Maritime Academy of Nigeria , Oron.

Global Business

Insider trading: Stakeholders urge capital market regulators to expose culprits JOHNSON OKANLAWON

o restore investors’ confidence on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, stakeholders have enjoined the regulators to expose any operator that involve in insider trading. Speaking at an investors’ conference organised by FBN Capital in Lagos yesterday, they noted that the only way retail investors could return to the capital market is for the regulators to expose the culprist as it was done in the banking sector. The Head, Investment

Supervision Department of Pencom, Mr. Ehimeme Ohioma, said it is inevitable to say that there is no insider trading in the stocks of the quoted companies, but the management of the Exchange has not come out to name any, as the Central Bank of Nigeria announced the Banks’ directors that mismanaged the public fund. He said, “In the developed countries, the regulators do expose and prosecute culprits that involved in insider trading. This serves as a lesson to the dealing members of the Exchange and however improves investors’ confidence. But

this has never happened since the new management took over the affairs of the Exchange.” On the Pension Fund, the Managing Director of ARM Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Funsho Doherty, said that Pension Fund Administrator is the largest institutional investor in Nigeria now. He urged the Exchange to ptotect investors’ assets and to ensure that pension assets earn adequate returns. Doherty said, “Pension fund is about $2.9trn with the average growth rate of 25 per cent in the last few years. It’s in-

ASI rises 0.04% as bulls sustain hold JOHNSON OKANLAWON

rading in equities continued on bullish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors took position on stocks. The All-Share Index rose by 0.04 per cent to close at 26,356.63 points, compared to the increase of 0.21 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 26,346.70 points. Market capitalisation appreciated by N3.16bn to close at N8.39trn, lower that the rise of N17.9bn recorded the preceding day to close at N8.39trn.

Five sectoral indices closed negative, as the NSE 30-Index dropped 0.03 per cent to close at 1,241.40 points, but the Consumer Goods Index closed gained 0.45 per cent to close at 2,245.26 points. The Banking Index dipped by 0.44 per cent to close at 417.05 points, while the Insurance Index shed 0.23 per cent to close at 132.68 points. The Oil and Gas Index lost 0.04 per cent to close at 154.48 points, while the Lotus Islamic Index depreciated by 0.66 per cent to close at 1,622.09 points. Unity Bank Plc led the

gainers’ table with three kobo or 5.88 per cent to close at 54 kobo per share, followed by Portland Paints Plc with 18 kobo or 4.93 per cent to close at N3.83 per share. Fidelity Bank Plc gained 10 kobo or 4.76 per cent to close at N2.20 per share, while Mansard Plc appreciated by eight kobo or 4.68 per cent to close at N1.79 per share. Honeywell Flour Mills Plc rose by nine kobo or 4.17 per cent to close at N2.25 per share. On the flip side, Custodian Insurance Plc lost 13 kobo or 9.35 per cent to close at N1.26 per share,

Shares sink on fiscal cliff, Europe recession

lobal stocks fell for a seventh day on Thursday after data showed the euro zone entered a recession in the third quarter and on fear of the United States fiscal cliff, while oil prices gained on growing concerns about violence in the Gaza Strip. Brent crude oil prices rose toward $111 a barrel as fighting in the Gaza Strip sparked worries of an escalation in fighting that could ultimately disrupt oil supplies from the Middle East. Hamas fired dozens of rockets into southern Israel, killing three, and Israel launched numerous air strikes across the Gaza Strip as the military showdown lurched closer to all-

out war. Benchmark Brent crude rose $1.08 to $110.69 a barrel. “I have a hard time seeing (prices) falling back much at the moment, at least while tension is still high,” said Filip Petersson, an analyst at SEB in Stockholm. “We would probably need to hear some kind of statements that indicate the Israelis are stepping down, but I think that’s unlikely to happen at the moment.” The yen tumbled to its lowest level against the US dollar since late April after the leader of Japan’s main opposition party called for a move toward negative interest rates, sapping the currency’s appeal despite

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, November 16, 2012

its safe-haven status. Against the yen, the dollar was up 1.02 per cent at 81.06. U.S. stocks fell in choppy trading, with the S&P 500 down for a third day after Wal-Mart Stores Incorporation, the world’s biggest retailer, reported disappointing quarterly sales and on concerns about the fiscal cliff and Europe’s debt crisis. Stocks have struggled to hold on to small gains in recent days as investors fret the economy could slip into recession if no budget deal is reached to avoid the fiscal cliff some $600bn in spending cuts and tax hikes that take effect in January. The S&P 500 is off about

evitable to consider investment in the capital market. But to protect investors’ confidence, we are going to ensure that that Pension Commission nominates an independent and skilful person to serve on the board of quoted companies to preotect the pension fund .” In his reaction, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said, “I am dying to bring anybody that engage in insider trading to book. We need a whistle blower and we have created surveillance department to look for culprits. So, it takes not only the regulators, but also everybody to make it happen.”

while Berger Paints Plc shed 44 kobo or 4.97 per cent to close at N8.41 per share. Guinness Nigeria Plc dropped N13.15 or 4.96 per cent to close at N251.85 per share, while Eterna Oil Plc declined by nine kobo or 4.89 per cent to close at N1.75 per share. University Press Limited depreciated by 22 kobo or 4.79 per cent to close at N4.37 per share. Transaction volume in equities dropped 38.2 per cent, as a total of 244.21 million shares valued at N2.02bn were exchanged in 4,175 deals, compared to 394.92 million shares worth N2.39bn traded in 4,175 deals the preceding day.

2 percent for the week so far. The Dow Jones industrial average finance/markets/index? symbol was down 59.67 points, or 0.47 per cent, at 12,511.28. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was down 6.45 points, or 0.48 per cent, at 1,349.04. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 17.41 points, or 0.61 per cent, at 2,829.40. Shares of Wal-Mart fell 3.7 per cent to $68.68 after the retailer reported quarterly sales rose 3.4 per cent, below analysts’ expectations, as it cited weakness in China and Japan, as well as in the United States. Disappointing economic data also weighed on stocks and U.S. oil prices, which fell 60 cents to $85.72 a barrel.

Source: NSE NIBOR QUOTES 14 NOVEMBER & 15 NOVEMBER 2012 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00

1 4 -No v -1 2

1 5 -No v -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

UAC-PROP

11.80

12.70

0.90

% CHANGE 7.63

121.20

128.00

6.80

5.61

BERGER

8.01

8.41

0.40

4.99

GLAXOSMITH

39.90

41.89

1.99

4.99

PORTPAINT

3.90

4.09

0.19

4.87

NEM

0.50

0.52

0.02

4.00

DIAMONDBNK

4.07

4.22

0.15

3.69

WEMABANK

0.57

0.59

0.02

3.51

MANSARD

1.78

1.84

0.06

3.37

AIICO

0.61

0.63

0.02

3.28

CHANGE

% CHANGE -7.94

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

REDSTAREX

3.15

2.90

0.25

CAP

32.02

30.43

1.59

-4.97

JOHNHOLT

5.32

5.06

0.26

-4.89

PHARMDEKO

2.87

2.73

0.14

-4.88

LIVESTOCK

1.65

1.57

0.08

-4.85

JULI

2.76

2.63

0.13

-4.71

UNITYBNK

0.64

0.61

0.03

-4.69

STUDPRESS

2.78

2.65

0.13

-4.68

HONYFLOUR

2.17

2.07

0.10

-4.61

ETERNA

2.19

2.09

0.10

-4.57

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

58-Day

16,631.94

14.20

15-Nov-12

59-Day

10,000

14.00

15-Nov-12

66 -Day

32,227.06

14.20

15-Nov-12

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91Days

32,057.31

14.50

15-Nov-12

118-Day

50,000.00

13.87

15-Nov-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$50m

N/A

$50m

15-Nov-12

$100m

N/A

$43m

14-Nov-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, November 16, 2012

Capital Market

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at November 15, 2012 1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

1st Tier Securities No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror “The Igbo, if they must get their political rhythm right, should first get their house in order.” FORMER EBONYI STATE GOVERNOR; DR. SAM EGWU

AFOLABI GAMBARI

ommuters at the popular 7 and 8 Bus Stop along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport have raised an alarm over incessant attacks the them by suspected hoodlums operating in the area. Community Mirror gathered that the hoodlums usually use the prevailing darkness in the area to attack unsuspect-

Hoodlums take over MMIA road ing commuters at night. It was learnt that many had fallen victims of the hoodlum’s nefarious activities. Investigations revealed that intermittent attacks on commuters in the area had gone unabated for several months, even as the authorities at the Oshodi Local Government Council de-

nied any knowledge. According to a commuter in the area, Mr. Jibola Morountolu, the hoodlums, whose leader is simply identified as “Patako”, have made commuters on the road suffer untold hardship, urging that drastic action be taken against them. He said: “I am aware of the

denial by the local council authorities; but, I think something drastic must be done about it, lest the situation degenerates. We should not wait until it starts giving Nigeria a bad image as the road is a gateway to the country. “The fact that the spot is always dark at night has con-

tributed to the problem and I think the council authorities could be accused of complicity, as they fail to electrify the road.” He stressed that the Lagos State Government must urgently illuminate the area to ensure the security of lives and property.

Family calls for justice over father’s death FRANCIS SUBERU

urviving members of Osikha family have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to ensure that those who killed their matriarch, Habeebu Osikha and the eldest son of the family, Jonathan Osikha, are brought to book. Ezomu Osikha, who spoke to Community Mirror on behalf of the family in Lagos recently, said Habeebu and Jonathan died in an attack on Birom and Barkin Ladi village, Jos, Plateau State by some armed groups suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. She said the village had constantly been under the siege of some armed bandits because residents in the community are mostly Christians. According to her, when the bandits invaded the village early last month, over 10 people were killed, even as they razed down many houses, including their family house. She said some of their neighbours and family members are still missing, as many residents deserted the troubled village. It was gathered that despite the presence of security agents in the village, residents still dread going back to the village. According to a source, “the reason for intermittent attacks on the village is because we are mostly Christians. Osikha family got converted to Christianity recently and the plan was to get rid of the family and other Christians in the village.” The family called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Plateau State Government and various security agencies in the country to. as matter of urgency, come to the rescue of the villagers.

Australian High Commissioner, Mr. Ian Mcconville (right), dancing with pupils of Orozo Primary/Secondary School, at the inauguration of aid project in the institution at Abuja.

Free tertiary education takes off in Imo CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

ver 500,000 school children and undergraduates from the state owned university and polytechnic gathered at Hero’s Square, Owerri, the imo State capital to witness the formal launch over N1.7 billion free tertiary education programme by Gov Owelle Rochas Okorocha. While launching the programme tagged ‘Investment for the Future’, Gov. Okorocha disclosed that over 19,000 students of Imo origin schooling in Imo State University, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo and School of Health Science Technology, Amaigbo, Nwangele LGA will

benefit from the scheme. While students of IMSU would get N100,000 each for 2012/2013 academic session, students of Imo State Polytechnic and College of Health Technology will receive N80,000 and N60,000 respectively. The governor, who had earlier declared free education in primary and secondary schools in the state, however presented cheques to some beneficiaries to demonstrate the beginning of the programme. Governor Okorocha explained that it was his vision and utmost desire to make education free for all towards creating opportunities for the children of the poor to access

qualitative education which, he lamented, had before now been an exclusive privilege for the rich. He further disclosed that arrangements are being concluded to absorb students of Imo origin in other tertiary institutions in the country during the second phase of the programme. Gov. Okorocha posited that free education at all levels in the state is a preparation for a better future that will guarantee the eradication of ignorance, poverty and injustice. While lamenting the huge gratuities owed to retirees by the past administrations, Okorocha said his administration deliberately resolved to begin the payment of those

that retired as junior staff to cushion their plight; even as he announced the release of N1 billion for the payment of gratuity to beneficiaries whose amount is below N500, 000. Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Adaobi Obasi said Governor Okorocha’s passion for education is being taken to higher heights via the achievement of what many had described as impossibility in the education sector. She added that the revolution in the education sector, as pioneered by the governor, is not restricted to free education, as 305 model schools are being constructed in all INEC wards of the state.

Friday, November 16, 2012

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Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

War looms over Gaza as death toll rises

“The Israelis must realize that this aggression we don’t accept and it can only lead to instability in the region and hurt security in the region” – Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi

EU group endorses training mission for Mali PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

oreign and defence ministers from five EU states have backed a proposed European mission to train Malian forces struggling against Islamist fighters. The five countries - Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and France issued a joint statement in Paris endorsing the plan for the wartorn African state. An African military intervention is being planned to retake the north of Mali from the Islamists. The African Union backed a plan to send 3,300 troops to help the government. The proposal for the intervention is due to go before the UN Security Council for approval before the end of the year. Islamist groups and Tuareg rebels took control of the north after Mali’s president was overthrown in March. The Islamists, who have links

to al-Qaeda, subsequently fell out with the Tuareg groups and consolidated their power in all the major northern towns, introducing strict Islamic law. The UN has warned that the Islamist militias are imposing a harsh version of Islamic law on the areas they control and that forced marriage, forced prostitution and rape are becoming widespread. Three of the states meeting in Paris - Germany, France and Poland - formed a loose grouping called the Weimar Triangle in 1991 to foster relations.

At their talks on Thursday, they endorsed a decision of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council on 15 October which says the EU is “determined to support Mali in restoring the rule of law and re-establishing a fully sovereign democratic government”. On that occasion, the council asked for work to begin on planning a possible EU military operation that would focus on reorganising and training the Malian defence forces. The operation should take “account of the conditions necessary for the success of any such mis-

sion, which include the full support of the Malian authorities and the definition of an exit strategy”, the council said. On Thursday, the Weimar group also called for continuing efforts “for a political solution to the Malian crisis”. Ahead of Thursday’s talks, there was speculation that the Weimar group would also discuss the conflict in Syria. However, there was no mention of the crisis in the joint statement. The five countries called for the EU to further pool its defence resources.

South African police have arrested a 25-year-old man suspected of attempting to smuggle 220 diamonds out of the country in his digestive tract through Johannesburg’s main airport. The Lebanese national bound for Dubai had swallowed $2.25 million worth of polished diamonds before he was stopped before a security checkpoint at Africa’s biggest airport and then relieved of his concealed cargo, police said. “We used laxatives to remove the diamonds,” police spokesman Paul Ramaloko said yesterday. The man will appear in court on Thursday. In March, police arrested another Lebanese national who was attempting to smuggle $1.69 million worth of diamonds out of South Africa.

Violent protests over bus fees hit Mozambique

Egypt urges US to stop Israel’s Gaza offensive

gypt asked the United States to push Israel to stop its offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, warning that the violence could “escalate out of control,” the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton late the night before, asking for “immediate U.S. intervention to stop the Israeli aggression,” the ministry said in a statement. The call came after Egypt recalled its ambassador to Israel to protest the offensive. Israel barraged the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and shelling Wednesday and killed the Hamas military chief in a targeted strike, launching a campaign aimed at stopping rocket attacks from Islamic militants. The assault killed 10 other Palestinians, including two children and seven militants. On Thursday, militant rockets fired into Israel killed three Israelis, raising the likelihood of a further escalation. Amr told Clinton that if Israel’s offensive does not stop, “matters will escalate out of control” and asked the U.S. “to use what contacts it has with Israel.”

WORLD BULLETIN South Africa arrests man with belly full of diamonds

German Defence Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, second left, and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, centre, attending the talks PHOTO: AP

Obasanjo, Kuffuor to lead ECOWAS election observers to Ghana, Sierra Leone

igeria’s former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo will lead a 250-member ECOWAS Election Observer Mission to Ghana’s general elections scheduled for 7th December 2012 within the context of the region’s instrument for provision of sup-

Kuffuor

port to Member States holding elections. The ECOWAS team, comprising representatives of various segments of the West African society, will be in the country for nine days to observe the conduct of the Presidential, legislative and local elections, expected to contribute to the deepening of democratic culture in the country. Also, a 150-member ECOWAS Observer Mission led by Ghana’s former President John Agyekum Kuffuor will observe Sierra Leone’s general elections set for 17th November 2012. The observers, drawn from various segments of the society in the region, will be in the country for nine days for the Presidential, legislative and local elections. An ECOWAS assessment mission was in Ghana last October

to review preparations for the elections during which the mission members met with various stakeholders, including representatives of political parties, civil society organizations and the national electoral commission, to discuss their perspectives on the preparations for the elections. Through these missions, the region seeks to promote a culture of transparent and credible elections, consistent with best practices for the enhancement of regional peace and stability. An ECOWAS assessment team for Sierra Leone was in the country in September and held discussions with various stakeholders including representatives of political parties, civil society organizations and the national electoral commission, on the preparations for the polls.

Thousands of Mozambicans walked home from work yesterday, after youths violently protested bus fare hikes by burning tires and attacking bus drivers, forcing buses off the streets. The violence began Thursday morning as the youths erected roadblocks around the main roads leading to the capital Maputo and its neighbouring city Matola. The protesters, including children, threw stones at drivers and burned debris in the road after most workers had arrived at their jobs. Some protester shouted: “We have no money to pay for transport!” The protesters focused their anger on the municipal bus company and other privately owned minibuses. Authorities recently announced that longer bus routes in the region would be increased from 7.5 meticais (25 U.S. cents) to 9 meticais (30 U.S. cents). Shorter routes also saw price increases. Many employers let workers go home early yesterday because of the chaos, as most bus drivers didn’t drive their routes in the afternoon out of fear of being attacked. While calm filled the streets, riot police remained on the road, trying to remove some of the barricades erected by protesters. Armoured police vehicles patrolled neighbourhoods, filled with heavily armed officers. Police arrested 12 protesters, said Arnaldo Chefo, a spokesman for Maputo’s police command. He said there had been no injuries in the disturbances. “We appeal to the people to be calm and vigilant to trace those who are involved in the disturbances,” Jose Damiao, a spokesman for the governing Frelimo party, told state radio.

World News

WORLD BULLETIN Obama rebukes Republicans over Benghazi attack President Barack Obama told Republican senators that if they had a problem with the handling of the Benghazi attack in Libya, “go after me’’. Obama also told the senators to go after him that rather than pick on his ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice. Obama’s comments, in a combative tone, came after two senior Republican senators said they would block any attempts by the president to put Rice into a Cabinet position that would require Senate confirmation. Republicans have criticised Rice for going on a round of Sunday talk shows five days after the September 11 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi. He said that preliminary information suggested it was the result of protests over an anti-Muslim film rather than a premeditated strike. The White House has said repeatedly the comments were based on the best information Rice had at the time.

France suggests arming Syrian rebels France’s foreign minister raised the prospect yesterday of sending “defensive weapons” to Syrian rebels, saying his country will ask the European Union to consider lifting its arms embargo on the Middle East nation. The civil war in Syria, which began as an uprising against President Bashar Assad’s regime, has killed more than 36,000 Syrians since March 2011, according to anti-Assad activists. The fighting and floods of refugees seeking safety have also spilled over into several of Syria’s neighbors, including Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the EU’s arms embargo is preventing Syrian rebels from fully defending themselves. “We must not militarize the conflict ... but it’s obviously unacceptable that there are liberated zones and they’re bombed” by Assad’s regime, Fabius said.

Ireland to clarify abortion rules after woman’s death Ireland’s government yesterday pledged to clarify its abortion laws after a woman, who was denied a termination, died from septicaemia in an Irish hospital. Thousands held a candlelit vigil outside parliament on Wednesday after news broke of the death of Savita Halappanavar, an Indian Hindu, following a miscarriage 17 weeks into her pregnancy. Activists in Ireland, an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country which has some of the world’s most restrictive laws on abortion, say a lack of legal clarity about when termination’s are justified may have contributed to her death. “I was deeply disturbed yesterday by what Savita’s husband said. I don’t think as a country we should allow a situation where women’s rights are put at risk in this way,” Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore told parliament.

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

War looms over Gaza as death toll rises • Israeli leader threatens wider operation

Hamas rocket killed three Israelis north of the Gaza Strip yesterday, drawing the first blood from Israel as the Palestinian death toll rose to 15 in a military showdown lurching closer to all-out war and an invasion of the enclave. On the second day of an assault Israel said might last many days and culminate in a ground attack, its warplanes bombed targets in and around Gaza city, where tall buildings trembled. Plumes of smoke and dust furled into a sky laced with the vapour trails of outgoing rockets. The sudden conflict, launched by Israel with the killing of Hamas’s military chief, pours oil on the fire of a Middle East already ablaze with two years of revolution and an out-of-control civil war in Syria. Palestinian allies, led by Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, denounced the Israeli offensive. After watching powerlessly from the sidelines of the Arab Spring, Israel has been thrust to the centre of a volatile new world in which Islamist Hamas believes that Mursi and his newly dominant Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt will be its protectors. The Palestinian Islamist group claimed it had fired a one-tonne, Iranian-made Fajr 5 rocket at Tel

Aviv in what would be a major escalation, but there was no reported impact in the Israeli metropolis 50 km (30 miles) north of the enclave. “The Israelis must realize that this aggression is unacceptable and would only lead to instability in the region and would negatively and greatly impact the security of the region,” Mursi said, although there was no immediate sign of robust action by Egypt, Israel’s most powerful Arab neighbour. Meanwhile, Israel’s prime minister says the army is prepared for a “significant widening” of its op-

eration in the Gaza Strip. Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Thursday that Israel has “made it clear” it won’t tolerate continued rocket fire on its civilians. He says he hopes Hamas has received the message. But if not, he says Israel will take whatever action is necessary to protect its people. Israel launched the operation on Wednesday, killing Hamas’ military chief and attacking dozens of rocket-launching sites. Officials have said Israel is prepared to broaden the offensive with a ground invasion of Gaza if

Palestinians evacuating a wounded man after an Israeli air strike took place near his car in the northern Gaza Strip, yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Xi takes over as China’s new leader

ong-anointed successor Xi Jinping assumed the leadership of China yesterday as the ruling Communist Party confronts slower economic growth, a public clamour to end corruption and demands for change that threatens its hold on power. The country’s political elite named Xi to the top party post and unexpectedly put him in charge of the military too, after a weeklong party congress and months of divisive bargaining. The appointments give him broad authority, but not the luxury of time. After decades of

juggernaut growth, China sits on the cusp of global pre-eminence as the second largest economy and newest power, but it also has urgent domestic troubles that could frustrate its rise. Problems that have long festered — from the sputtering economy to friction with the U.S. and territorial spats with Japan and other neighbours — have worsened in recent months as the leadership focused on the power transfer. Impatience has grown among entrepreneurs, others in the new middle class and migrant workers — all wired by social media and conditioned

by two decades of rising living standards to expect better government, if not democracy. All along, police have continued to harass and jail a lengthening list of political foes, dissidents, civil rights lawyers and labour activists. A 14-year-old Tibetan set himself on fire in western China on Thursday, in the latest of more than 70 self-immolations Tibetans have staged over the past 20 months in desperate protests against Chinese rule. In his first address to the nation, Xi, a 59-year-old son of a revolutionary hero, acknowledged the lengthy agenda for what

Gifts to minorities help Obama win – Romney

efeated Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has blamed his election loss on “gifts” President Barack Obama gave minorities. Mr Obama gave “a lot of stuff ” to African Amer-

icans, Hispanics and young voters - groups key to his victory, Mr Romney told donors on Wednesday. Mr Romney’s comments were his first since his election concession speech. He lost the 6 November

election by a wider margin than many expected, failing to win key swing states. Mr Obama secured re-election with 332 electoral votes to Mr Romney’s 206, with battlegrounds including Ohio, Virginia and Florida all falling to the president. Mr Romney’s remarks come as Republican state governors gather in Las Vegas,

Nevada, to discuss the party’s route forward. “The Obama campaign was following the old playbook of giving a lot of stuff to groups that they hoped they would get to vote for them... specifically the African American community, the Hispanic community and young people,” Mr Romney is reported to have said.

necessary. The new conflict will be the biggest test yet of Mursi’s commitment to Egypt’s 1979 peace treaty with Israel, which the West views as the bedrock of Middle East peace. The Muslim Brotherhood, which brought Mursi to power in an election after the downfall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak, has called for a ‘Day of Rage’ in Arab capitals on Friday. The Brotherhood is seen as the spiritual mentors of Hamas. The offensive began on Wednesday when a precision Israeli airstrike assassinated Hamas military mastermind Ahmed AlJaabari, and Israel shelled the enclave from land, air and sea. The 15 killed in Gaza included Jaabari and six Hamas fighters plus eight civilians, among them a pregnant woman with twins, an 11-month old boy and three infants, according to the enclave’s health ministry. Medics reported at least 130 wounded. At Jaabari’s funeral on Thursday, supporters fired guns in the air celebrating news of the Israeli deaths, to chants for Jaabari of “You have won.” His corpse was borne through the streets wrapped in a bloodied white sheet. But senior Hamas figures were not in evidence, wary of Israel’s warning that they are now in its crosshairs.

Xi Jinping

should be the first of two fiveyear terms in office. He promised to deliver better social services while making sure China stands tall in the world and the party continues to rule. “Our responsibility now is to rally and lead the entire party and the people of all ethnic groups in China in taking over the historic baton and in making continued efforts to achieve the great renewal of the Chinese nation,” a confident Xi said in nationally televised remarks in the Great Hall of the People. He later said “we are not complacent, and we will never rest on our laurels” in confronting challenges — corruption chief among them.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Friday, November 16, 2012

Violence in Benue ahead of LG poll

Gunmen kill three Igbo traders in Maiduguri

HENRY IYORKASE

MAKURDI

head of the November 24 local government election in Benue State, crisis appears to have taken the centre stage as a pub behind the home of a former lawmaker, Hon. Nanev Uhondo ,was yesterday set ablaze by some suspected hoodlums in Makurdi. Speaking to National Mirror on the incident yesterday, Hon. Uhondo, a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), alleged that members of his party were being tormented by youths suspected to be supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said: “For the sake of emphasis, we are being molested and attacked by youths suspected to be members of the PDP. As I speak to you, the round hut, which you see (few meters from his house) there, belongs to one Eli Azubu, a member of ACN. Her offence is that she plays political campaign songs which did not go down well with the PDP supporters. Uhondo added that suspected PDP supporters had resulted to unleashing terror on members of the opposition ACN so as to scare them from participating in the forthcoming local government election. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Eziela, confirmed the destruction of Amaco’s Hotel by suspected hoodlums in Gboko early in the week and the burning down of the pub in Makurdi. He promised that the police would bring the perpetrators to justice.

INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

unmen yesterday invaded Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, and killed three Igbo traders. According to an eyewitness and resident of Bulabulin ward of Maiduguri, Chindo Ibrahim, the gunmen stormed the traders’

shops in a tricycle, chanting “God is great” and started firing gunshots into the air to scare people away. Ibrahim said: “We were just opening our shops for the day when we started hearing gunshots from the Ahmadu Bello Way and people started running for safety. Some of us ran into our shops and

market stalls, while others fled into their houses. “But I saw three dead bodies lying in front of three different shops.” National Mirror learnt that the Bulabulin ward, facing the popular Maiduguri Monday Market (MMMK) was immediately condoned off by the Joint Task Force (JTF) men to prevent further at-

KATSINA

orkers at the Dana Steel Rolling Company in Katsina State yesterday staged a peaceful protest over what they called discrimination by the management. The workers, under local chapter of the Steel and Engineering Union of Nigeria, alleged that the

guri yesterday morning. He said the attacks were on some shops in area, where three people were killed. The suspects, according to him, were members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, who had been targeting innocent citizens, policemen and other security personnel in the recent time.

Fire guts Katsina LG secretariat JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

Some students of the University of Jos protesting over increase in school fees in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Robbery: Police advises Kano to relocate bureau de change AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

he police have advised the Kano State Government to relocate the Bureau-De -change in Fagge where suspected armed men carted away about N70 million on Tuesday. Addressing journalists yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said Fagge was not ideal place for such business, adding that the area is residential which

makes security of the place difficult. He said: “It is difficult to adequately secure the area because business in the place is conducted in private homes.” About N70 million was carted away on Tuesday when some suspected armed robbers stormed Fagge. One person was also killed in the attack. The attack was recorded barely 24 hours after gunmen struck in Kawu area of Kano city and killed a young barber, as

well as injured two other persons. The police commissioner recalled yesterday that prior to the attack on the bureau de change, security in the environment was robust, until leaders of the Fagge Bureau De Change Association wrote to the police authorities, demanding the withdrawal of the security personnel guarding the place on the grounds that their presence constituted an impediment to their business.

Steel workers protest alleged discrimination in Katsina JAMES DANJUMA

tacks and killings. Ahmadu Bello Way and the Shehuri North road were also closed by JTF, leaving only the Shehu Laminu Way for motorists and pedestrians yesterday. Confirming the killings, the police spokesman, Gideon Jibrin, said there were attacks in Bulabulin ward of Maidu-

•Accuse management of maltreatment

management gave preferential treatment to its Indian workers through robust welfare packages to the detriment of their Nigerian counterparts. Addressing journalists during the protest, the unions’ chairman and its secretary, Peter Obi and Ahmeh Egbunu, said there were initial agreements on working condi-

tions for Nigerian workers which management refused to abide with. They accused the management of maltreating Nigerian workers, describing the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Rajibir Singh, as a difficult person to please. But the company’s spokesperson, Abdulsalam Kabir, said the de-

mand of the workers was a minor issue that the management planned to address before the close of business yesterday. Kabir said the management sacked some of the workers for some reasons and that the organisation has the right to fire anyone not working in line with its rules and regulations.

ire has razed the Katsina Local Government Area secretariat, located in the heart of Katsina State capital. The fire, which began at about 8pm yesterday, was said to have started from the secretariat’s conference hall before spreading to adjoining offices. The inferno consumed files, tables, electronics and other office equipment worth millions of naira. When our correspondent visited the secretariat, several youths were pulling out refrigerators,

television sets and other equipment from offices that had been partially burnt. A fire service vehicle, which managed to enter the premises of the secretariat, tried fruitlessly to put out the fire. The vehicle had to rush back to town to get more water, which gave the fire time to spread to other parts of the building. The Caretaker Chairman of the council area, Hamisu Gambo, who assisted in moving out equipment from some of the offices, described the incident as unfortunate. Gambo said efforts were being made to put out the fire.

Kogi flays ‘Elders’ Forum’ over comment on Wada ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

he Kogi State Government yesterday said the membership of Governor Idris Wada as a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was long determined by the court. The government called on the people of the state to ignore the Kogi Elders’ Forum over their recent comment about the governor’s alleged fraudulent conduct. It will be recalled that the Elders’ Forum on Wednesday petitioned the Federal Government over what it described as the systematic looting of the state by Wada. The group comprises of the former members of National Assembly, governorship aspirants and other politicians. But the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yabagi Gbologi, who was reacting to the comment by the forum at a press

conference held in Lokoja, the state capital, said: “The falsehood being perpetrated by the self-styled politicians describing the present administration in Kogi State as a total failure as well as fraudulent in nature was a show of ignorance and inability to obey the rule of law as expressed in the judgment that put to rest the allegation of the governor’s nonmembership of the PDP. “The state government had wanted to ignore the careless statement credited to some Abuja politicians, but decided to response so as not to allow the strange allegations of corruption and ineptitude to discourage the

Wada

TRANSITION

Lam Adesina

ormer governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina was born on January 20, 1939 and died on Sunday November 11, 2012, after a brief illness. Alhaji Adesina, who died at St. Nicholas Hospital on Lagos Island, was said to have died of diabetes. He had since been buried at his Felele, Ibadan residence according to Islamic rites. Lam attended Loyola College, Ibadan and then studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1961–1963. Later, he attended the University of Ibadan in 1971. As

Friday, November 16, 2012

an educator, he worked in private educational institutions before entering politics. He came into the country’s political scene when he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic and became the governor of Oyo State on May 29, 1999 under the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD). The late Lam Adesina was a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) – the antimilitary dictatorship group that fought at home and abroad against the then General Sani Abacha’s regime to restore democratic rule. With the return of democratic rule in Nigeria in 1999, Lam Adesina became the governor of Oyo State and served for a term of four years; since he lost his re-election bid to Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in 2003. After leaving office, he continued to be active in party politics. As a staunch member of the ACN; he was instrumental to Abiola Ajimobi’s successful bid to be elected into the Senate for Oyo South in 2003, but they later fell apart, as Ajimobi moved to All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). However, in October 2009, both Lam and Ajimobi became leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, paving way for their reconciliation. Ajimobi described the late Adesina as a dedicated patriot, foremost defender of democracy, human rights and a political war-horse who always stood on the side of truth.

Azuh Chimezie Aloysius

he remains of the patriarch of the Azuh family, Ichie Azuh Chimezie Aloysius (Onowu Ezeoma), will be interred in his compound in Umudiokpara, Azia, Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, on Wednesday, December 12, 2012. Ichie Azuh Chimezie Aloysius died on Saturday, November 3, 2012, at the age of 67. In a statement signed by the deceased’s first son, Azuh Arinze, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, YES International! magazine, the burial obsequies will begin with a wake keep, on Friday, December 7, at the Niteshift Coliseum, 34, Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos at 4.p.m. This will be followed by a courtesy visit to the Igwe’s Palace in Azia on Wednesday, December 12; after which, a lying-in-state, requiem mass and interment will take place. It will be followed by reception and entertainment of guests. Ichie Ezeoma, Onowu of Eti-Osa, Lagos and Onyeokwereomume of Azia, Ihiala was a devout Christian and revered community leader. He is survived by his wife, Agbara Ichie Anna Azuh, seven children and eleven grand children. Among them: Azuh Arinze (Publisher/Editor-inChief, YES International! magazine), Mrs. Anderline Nwankwo, Rev. Fr. Chijioke Azuawusiefe (SJ), Azuh

Hope Harriman

Amatus (Editor, Entertainment and Sunday Express Newspapers), Amaka, Augustus and Augusta.

hief Harriman was a real estate guru and frontline politician. He was the Sobaloju of Ife and the first Chair of the Ugborodo Community Trust and Principal Partner/Chairman, Harriman and Company. He was born in Warri in 1933 and died after a brief illness on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 in Springfield, Maryland, United States of America. He was aged 79. Late Harriman attended Government College, Ibadan, North Western Polytechnic, London, Christ College, and University of Cambridge. He was a chartered surveyor, a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors by profession, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers as well as Nigerian Institution of Management. He was the pioneer president of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyor and Valuers (1969-1975) and

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Olusola Saraki

ormer Senate Leader, Dr. Olusola Saraki died on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 in Lagos after a long fight with cancer. He was aged 79. Late Olusola Saraki was born on May 17, 1933 at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. His mother was from Iseyin in Oyo State while his father was from Ilorin. His paternal ancestors were Fulanis who came from Mali about 150 to 200 years earlier. Olusola Sakari was educated at Eko Boys High School. He attended the University of London and St George’s Hospital Medical School, London. He worked as a medical officer at the General Hospital, Lagos and later at the Creek Hospital, Lagos. Olusola Sakari first entered politics when he ran in the 1964 parliamentary election for Ilorin as an independent candidate, but was defeated in the election. After, he returned to his medical practice in Lagos, but staged an ultimate comeback to politics in 1977 when he was elected as a member of the Constituent Assembly that produced the 1979 constitution. In 1979, he was elected a Senator of the Second Republic and rose to become the Senate Leader. He was re-elected in 1983 into the Senate on the platform of National Party of Nigeria (NPN). In 1998, Olusola Saraki became a National Leader and member of the Board of Trustees of the All People’s Party (APP), contributing to APP’s success in Kwara and Kogi States. He also assisted Mohammed Alabi Lawal in becoming the Governor of Kwara State in 1999. At the peak of his political career, Saraki dictated who got what, when, how and where in the political space of Kwara State. He supported his son, Bukola Saraki as candidate for April 2003 governor ship election in Kwara state. He also sponsored his daughter, Gbemisola Saraki to the Senate for Kwara State Central. In 1979, he played a vital and significant role in installing the first civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Adamu Atta. Their romance did not last and in order to prove his political supremacy, he pitched his tent with the opposition to send Attah out of the government house. Saraki, in 1992, singlehandedly nominated Alhaji Shaaba Lafiaji as the governor of Kwara State, before the system was truncated in 1993 by the military. Dr. Olusola Saraki had since been buried according to Islamic rites.

the first Chapter President, International Real Estate Federation. Harriman was a board member of numerous companies, including NDCC, NBTC, Evans Medical Plc. He joined the board of Evans Medical Plc, December 2003. He was also one of the leading authorities in practice and development of Estate Management profession in Nigeria and beyond. His death took many by surprise, being always physically strong despite his age. Late Harriman was described as a detribalised man who crisscrossed the ethnic divide in the country to the benefit of all. According to newspaper reports, former Commissioner for Information in Delta State, Mr. Bolatsi Dudu, described Harriman as a good, fearless, very humorous man.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Chima hands Norwegian club league title

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

It’s deluding to think that the Super Eagles havee evolved as a competitive team. I think it’s a hastyy thoughtt

-- FORMER NFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, KASIMAWO LALOKO O

How Nigeria, Venezuela played

Obafemi Martins (right) and other Super Eagles’ players listening to Coach Stephen Keshi in training in Miami, Florida, before Wednesday’s friendly match with Venezuela. Eagles won 3-1

Victorious Eagles return from Miami today •Keshi stays back •AFCON camp opens Dec. 17 EVEREST ONYEWUCHI AND IKENWA NNABUOGOR

he victorious Super Eagles, who on Wednesday night in Miami, Florida, United States of America defeated the senior national team of Venezuela 3-1 in an international friendly match, will return to Nigeria today. Media Officer of the Eagles, Ben Alaiya, informed National Mirror yesterday that the homebased players in the team and the officials would arrive Lagos this evening aboard Delta Airlines aircraft. The foreign-based players have returned to their bases. He, however, said that Coach Stephen Keshi is staying back because” he is presently holidaying with his family in the United States and returns to the country in the second week of December.” Meanwhile, December 17 has tentatively been chosen as the day Eagles’ camp towards the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa in January will open

in Abuja. Keshi said after the game with Venezuela in Miami that the camp would open with home-based professionals, while their foreign-based compatriots are expected to join up with the rest of the squad in Faro, Portugal between

January 3 and 4th. “We need to work together for at least two weeks and after that we should have a strong squad that can challenge any team in the world. That is why we want everybody in camp by January 4th at the latest.”

uper Eagles owed their second victory over the South Americans at the Marlins Park in Miami, Florida, to an improved second half performance after Venezuela created better chances in the first half. The top performer for the Eagles was goalkeeper and skipper, Austin Ejide, who pulled off several top class saves especially in the first half. Eagles took the lead in the 48th minute when Dynamo Kiev striker, Brown Ideye, side-footed a low cross from the right by debutant Solomon Kwambe after some good work by Nosa Igiebor. Igiebor doubled the Eagles’ lead five minutes later when he thundered home a 40-yard effort beyond Venezuela’s goalkeeper, Daniel Hernandez. The South Americans thought they had pulled a goal back in the 55th minute through Salomon Rondon after he was set up by

Envoys laud Keshi, pledge support

igeria’s Consul General in New York, Ambassador Jeffrey Temilabe, was overjoyed by the Super Eagles’ victory over Venezuela on Wednesday night in Miami, Florida, United States.

Martins must sit up –Keshi AFOLABI GAMBARI

uper Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, has said that returning striker Obafemi Martins will have to improve on his work rate if the Levante forward must earn a seat in the Nigerian train to the AFCON 2013 finals in South Africa. Keshi, who expressed dismay at Martins’ performance in Wednesday night’s friendly with Venezuela in Miami, Florida USA, said he had expected the petit player to be a driving force in the Eagles’ attack but he had fallen short. “We knew exactly what we expected from him and he knew it as

well,” Keshi said, adding, “Time is not on our side at this time and we must race to South Africa with a clear focus on our objective to excel.” He, however, praised Martins’ effort at motivating the younger and less-experienced players in the team during the match where Nigeria soared to a 3-1 victory, even as he declined comment on whether he would hand the erstwhile Eagles’ top marksman another chance soon. Assessing himself, Martins said that he wanted to score on the night but the goals simply did not come. “But I will be back and better when we return to camp. I know what I

can do and I’m sure the coach will give me the opportunity to prove myself.”

Keshi

influential skipper, Juan Arango, but it was eventually disallowed for a deliberate hand ball by the Rubin Kazan striker. However, La Vinotinto reduced the deficit in the 70th minute courtesy of substitute Frank Feltscher after he was released by Arango. Venezuela went forward for an equaliser and so allowed Eagles to catch them on the counter when substitute Shola Ameobi, making his long-awaited Nigerian debut, held up the play inside the opponents’ goal area before he found hard working Ogenyi Onazi to make hay for Nigeria’s third goal in stoppage time. It was a fitting finish for the energetic Lazio youngster in only his second game for Nigeria. In the first 15 minutes Venezuela pressed for the opening goal to the delight of the predominantly Latin American fans at the stadium. They even had a goal by skipper Arango disallowed for offside.

Addressing the team after the match in company with the Nigerian Ambassador to Argentina, Ambassador Chive Ignatius Kaave, the envoy said the Eagles have started bringing back memories of when the team was a dominant force in African football, when they won the Nations Cup in 1994 and the gold medal at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games. He assured the Eagles that he would put in words at the highest level of governance for the team to be well supported ahead of the Nations Cup in South Africa next year. On his part, Kaave, who was a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, thanked the team and particularly Coach Stephen Keshi for returning the country to its glory days in football. “This team must be supported at all times because I see a trophy coming soon to Nigeria through the hard work that has been put in here.”

Sport

Friday, November 16, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ex-Dolphins’ star dies IKENWA NNABUOGOR

nother tragedy hit Nigerian football late on Tuesday following the death of former Dolphins of Port Harcourt central defender, Obinna Nnodim. The lanky ex-player and football agent died at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri from complications arising from malaria, according to a family source, two months after he got married to his wife. “He only complained of fever and we rushed to a private hospital, only for him to die on Eko 2012 LOC Secretary General, Kweku Tandoh (2nd right); Chairman, Marketing and Sponsorship Sub-committee, Tuesday,” his wife told National Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas (3rd left); Mr. Ademola Sodiq (l); Biodun Ogidan (2nd left) and Managing Director, Xmedia, Mirror yesterday amidst sobs. Mr. Tunde Lawrenson, during the unveiling of the Miss Eko 2012 Beauty Pageant in Lagos yesterday “I wouldn’t know if it was actually fever that killed him but I have lost a part of my life.

I’m still in shock and short of words. “Please, if you don’t mind, I would love to have some rest; we’re still holding a family meeting for his burial arrangement.” Nnodim, a product of the legendary Arugo FC of the Federation Cup fame, was a member of the Julius Berger team that was beaten finalist of the last Cup Winners Cup competition in 2003. He would form a formidable force in the defence for the all-conquering Dolphins side that won the double in 2004 and reached the final of 2005 Confederation Cup. A nagging knee injury forced his early retirement upon which he relocated to Bangkok, Thailand where he worked as players’ agent.

Eko 2012: LOC engages Tennis: Dala Hardcourt serves off 1,000 volunteers AFOLABI GAMBARI

he Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 18th National Sports Festival has said it will engage about 1, 000 volunteers for the festival, even as the rehearsals for the opening and closing ceremony will commence tomorrow. Secretary General, Kweku Tandoh, who made this disclosure in Lagos yesterday, said the volunteers would be drawn from various professional fields and would assist in various areas. “The volunteers will not be doing the work of the sub-

Ex-Lion, Abega, passes on

ormer Cameroun international, Theophile Abega, has died of a heart attack in Yaounde at the age of 58, state broadcaster CRTV announced yesterday. The former Canon Yaounde and Toulouse midfielder retired from professional football in 1987 to begin a career in politics, going on to become the Mayor of Yaounde, which he remained until his death. Abega captained the Indomitable Lions to their first Africa Cup of Nations victory in 1984 and was also a member of the squad that participated in the 1982 World Cup. He was selected by CAF in 2006 as one of the 200 best African footballers of the last 50 years.

committees as they will only be rendering additional assistance throughout the festival,” Tandoh explained. “We have planned three-day training for the selected volunteers aimed at updating their knowledge on what the exer-

cise entailed. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, has promised that all the facilities for the sports fiesta would be ready before the festival begins on November 27.

…Kogi targets 7 gold

he Kogi State Director of Sports, Mr. Joel Abu, has said that the state is preparing to win about seven gold medals at the 18th National Sports Festival despite the disruption of training after the recent flooding. Abu said that the state would

exceed its performance at the 17th edition of the games held last year in Port Harcourt where the state did not win any gold medal. “We are in high spirits in all our camps and we will do our best to excel at the Eko 2012,” the DOS said.

Hodgson foresees good times

ngland Manager, Roy Hodgson, has predicted a successful 2013 for England despite signing off this year with a 4-2 defeat in Sweden. A visiting side featuring three debutants from the startand three more from the benchran into an inspired Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose four goals featured a last labelled “a master work” by the England manager. But Hodgson, who lost a game in 90 minutes for the first time since his appointment, took plenty of encouragement from a friendly game his side were winning 2-1 before a series of second-half changes. “It’s disappointing to lose, especially after 2012 when we haven’t really lost that many, but if we’re going to lose a

game it’s probably better to do that with the team we had,” Hodgson said yesterday. “Me and my coaching staff learned an awful lot about a lot of players and they were very positive.

YEMI OLUS

he 26th edition of the Dala Hard Court Tennis Open will begin with the preliminary rounds today in Kano. The tournament is only the third event to have taken place this year after the Central Bank of Nigeria Open Championship and the Lagos Governor’s Cup which took place last month. Vice President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Yemi Owoseni, the organisers have not yet revealed the prize money that will be won by players in the event scheduled to end on November 24. “We will only know the actual number of players participating when the main draw starts on Monday,” Owoseni revealed. “But the response has been encouraging even though we anticipated a low turnout because of the prevailing security situation in the country.” Men’s singles winner at the last edition, Sunday Emmanuel,

Sani Ndanusa

carted home N1m cash prize while the runner-up Abdulmumini Babalola got N500, 000 as women’s singles champion Fatima Abinu won N500, 000 after defeating Chidimma Abah. Port Harcourt Open is due before end of next month but Secretary of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Mboran Ikhana, told National Mirror yesterday that the federation had agreed terms with the event sponsor.

CY Cup: Mourinho, Jogo await s/final foes

Roy Hodgson

he teams that will confront the duo of Jogo and Mourinho in the semi finals of the maiden CY Unity Cup are expected to emerge this weekend when Oluwa is Involved and Concord 2 meet in the quarter final on Saturday. Soccer Stars and Source will also meet on Sunday in the last quarter final at the Ogundele Primary School playing ground, Oshodi.

In the first two quarter finals decided last weekend, Jogo beat Ultimate 4-3 on penalties after normal play stood at 2-2 while Mourinho literally mauled Alhaji 5-1. Meanwhile, sponsor of the competition, Ukpai Cyprian, has reiterated his resolve to make the competition an annual event. “It will be my contribution to youth development in the area,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Friday, November 16, 2012

Wi Window on Nigerian players abroad

with IKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

My goal, a divine call from God –Onazi

Chima hands Norwegian club league title

igerian striker, Danny Chima Chukwu, netted the lone goal that handed his Norwegian club, FK Molde, the league title last Sunday with just a game remaining. Molde, managed by former Manchester United legend, Ole Gunner Solksjaer, beat Honefoss 1-0, to retain the league title they won last year. Molde won the title with 59 points with the secondplaced club Strømsgodset trailing at 55 points, hence, making the last league game count for nothing. Chima came off the bench to nick the winner in the 59th minute and that proved to be enough for the Molde side that could be losing their young manager, who is set to join the Manchester United coaching ranks. The Kano-born star, who has scored seven goals going into the last league game, told National Mirror that he was full of joy claiming his second successive league title in Norway. “Yeah, we did it again, FK Molde on point,” he screamed on his face- Danny Chukwu book page. “This is the second time we’re stood still yesterday as we won the winning the league title and I league title before our home fans. “We partied all through the couldn’t have asked for a happier night and the atmosphere still remoment. I thank God for it. mains charged. It’s a great honour “The whole of the city of Molde

azio midfielder Eddy Onazi has described his goal against Venezuela on Wednesday night as ordained from God. The former Golden Eaglet had predicted he would score few days to the Miami encounter and true to his wish, he netted the third goal in the thrilling 3-1 victory over Venezuela in the international friendly. Onazi sealed the victory in the added time when his low drive off a pass from Newcastle striker, Shola Ameobi, sailed into the net to the amazement of turbo-charged South Americans in the tension-soaked game in the Miami heat. Coach Stephen Keshi named the youngster in the starting line up on his second game for his country but the Jos-born star, who lasted 90 minutes on the pitch, responded by keeping things moving in the midfield and sealing his

impressive performance with a goal, his first for his country. “Something told me I would score in the game but I kept praying to God to make it happen for me and I was very happy when the goal came,” Onazi told National Mirror. “So, I dedicate the goal to God, my team mates, family and friends. I’m happy things turned out like this. “I must thank the coaches for keeping faith in me and I’m happy I didn’t disappoint them. This goal and victory will open more doors for me. “I’m looking forward to grabbing more games for my country and I know if I continue doing well, I will get more games and possibly more games.” The youngster only made his debut last month in the second leg of the final round of the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia in Calabar on October 13.

to be league title champion again.” Chima joins his compatriot, Emmanuel Ekpo, who joined this season from MLS side Columbus Crew in winning the title.

Ejide hails Eagles’ victory

uper Eagles’ goalkeeper and captain in the Venezuela friendly in Miami, USA, Austin Ejide, has praised the team’s general performance and victory over the South Americans, describing it as morale-boosting ahead of the Nations Cup finals in South Africa next January. The Hapoel Ber Sheva of Israel keeper posted a Man-of-the-man outing in the friendly, standing between the South Americans and

Austin Ejide

goals in the exciting encounter. Ejide, wore the captain’s band for the first time in the absence of Joseph Yobo and stand-in captain Vincent Enyeama. Time and time again the big keeper stopped the Venezuelans especially in the first half as they continued to threaten the Eagles defence. He was unanimously named the Man of the match in the encounter. “Yes, I had a very solid performance but I’m seeing it as a collective game and so all the praises and big reviews should go to the team,” Ejide told National Mirror. “I want to thank the team generally, the coaches and the millions of Nigerians who stayed awake to watch the game. “The victory is a very good morale-booster ahead of the Nations Cup finals coming up in South Africa next year. “I was glad to be named the man-of the-man but to be honest with you, I feel deeply honoured but I would want to commend my mates for it because we played as a team”.

“It was a great game, a competent test for the team ahead of the Nations Cup in South Africa because Venezuela put up a stiff challenge. “I’m glad that we won because we will always build on that to improve in our subsequent games before the Nations Cup finals.”

Eddy y Onazi

AIK Nigerian new boy shuns Swedish press

IK Stockholm new signing Kennedy Igboananike has exclusively told National Mirror that he would only talk to the Swedish press in January following his switch to the 11-time Swedish champions. The 23-year-old striker penned a three-year contract with the club yesterday, thus ending his bitter-sweet romance with Djurgarden. The Lagos-born star had been at daggers drawn with Djurgarden since the start of the season following his wish to join AIK, Djuragarden’s city rivals. Igboananike spent the better part of the season at Djurgarden’s reserves and only managed just 10

games for the senior team as the season ended two weeks ago. Igboananike had told National Mirror that Djurgarden were not keen in trading him to their arch rivals and threatened to frustrate his move. However, he would get his wish by signing a three-year contract. Igboananike, who was the top scorer in the Swedish fourth division a few years ago, said he promised his new employers that he would not talk to the Swedish press who fed on the stories of his feud with his former employers. “There’s nothing much to say other than I have signed for AIK,” Igboananike said.

“I have been told by my new club not to talk to the press over my move for now until January when I will be free to talk to the press. “The Swedish press have chased me everywhere since I completed the signing yesterday but I declined to talk to me, sticking to my guns till January.” Igboananike returned no goal in the closed season for Djurgarden, a far cry from his superb goal scoring self in the past two seasons when he emerged the club’s leading scorer. He’s now exploited to fire in the goals for AIK when the season starts next March.

WORLD RECORD

Most extensive scarification

Vol. 02 No. 493

Friday, November 16, 2012

N150

Women of the both the Tiv and Nuba peoples of Nigeria in West Africa endure extreme scarification rituals in order to undergo a rite of passage, as in the case of the Nua, or to accentuate their beauty. The scars are made using a knife or more traditionally stone or shards of glass or coconut shell and the deep wounds rubbed with toxic plant juices to create swollen welts or “keloids”.

Constitution review and the ‘national question’ T he nationwide public hearings organized by the National Assembly on the review of the 1999 Constitution has been a huge success in exposing the expectations, fears, agitations, frustrations and grievances (otherwise christened as ‘the national question’) of the various parts of the country that constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Without singling out the peculiar demands or positions taken by any particular federating unit, state or geopolitical zone, the major issues raised at the public hearings so far included the creation of additional states, restructuring of the federation (along the lines of true federalism, fiscal autonomy of states and resource control), power rotation, especially rotational presidency, single tenure for the president and governors, support for or opposition against state police, a new revenue allocation formula, indigene and

FRIDAYS WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) non-indigene palaver, removal of the immunity clause that shields some political office holders (including crooks and money launderers) from prosecution, independence of local government councils and the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), just to list a few. It is, perhaps, pertinent to inform the reader that this writer is not a believer that the NASS will be bold enough to effect the far reaching changes needed to make the 1999 Constitution acceptable to all ethnic nationalities and the Nigerian people, especially ‘ordinary Nigerians’. To buttress this position was the report credited on Wednesday to the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, Ike Ekweremadu, that new states would not be created because of the rigorous processes involved. This might shock die-hard agitators for new states. But greater disappointments cannot be ruled out because the NASS may also not have the scruple to tackle such sensitive issues as restructuring the federation, fiscal autonomy for states and resource control, indigene-settler status or even a new revenue allocation formula, among others. In other words, sedulous as the NASS appears in the stressful job of amending the constitution which it saddled itself with, the outcome may not eventually translate to the production of a document which all the federating units will respect as a sacred basis for peaceful coexistence. Consequently, I do not believe that the ‘self-preserving’ amendment of the constitution by the extremely self-

A NEW REVENUE ALLOCATION FORMULA AND RESOURCE CONTROL MAY END UP YIELDING MORE MONEY TO BE STOLEN BY FEW PEOPLE IN POWER ish and inconsiderate ruling class presently in power will scratch any of the problems weighing the country down. This writer verily subscribes to the largely honest and dispassionate thesis that relentless and festering ethnic nationalism or consciousness, including religious extremism and violence, whether in the form of Boko Haram (the latest on stage), Niger Delta militants, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Bakassi Boys, are the direct products of the desperate search for solutions to the problems of mass poverty, unemployment, hunger, diseases, crimes and insecurity afflicting the nation’s active population. It is for the same reason that many ethnic units, sometimes going through the back-door of militancy or religious violence, nurse the belief that finding solution to the above problems or improving their living

Sport Extra

w arcelona midfielder, Andres Iniesta, says Spain won’t lack motivation in their quest to defend the World Cup in 2014. Spain made it three major tournament wins in a row at Euro 2012 and Iniesta is already getting

THE AGITATION FOR

conditions would be easier and faster if their destinies are in their hands. When former President Olusegun Obasanjo warned, for instance, that “as long as we do not pay attention to solving the problem of unemployment, we are all sitting on a keg of gun powder”, he was making reference to the problems. When opposition figures like former military leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Pastor Tunde Bakare, Dr. Junaid Muhammed, including President Goodluck Jonathan, drew attention to possible revolution in the land, they premised their statements on the stark realities represented by the same problems, though compounded by the additional burdens of pervasive corruption at all levels of government, as well as the nation’s fraudulent, money-driven and non-inclusive electoral process. Besides, the said problems do not discriminate between northerners or southerners. And perhaps, more importantly, they are problems created by the nation’s unpatriotic ruling class. Most of them are still around and will go to a feverish length to protect their comfort zones - the massive wealth and luxuries they presently enjoy - at the expense of ordinary Nigerians. Among them, too, are the people agitating for new states, resource control, new revenue formula, etc. It all appears laughable, a terrible mockery indeed! With such leaders still in charge, it is doubtful that the creation of new states in any part of the country will translate to improvement in the lives of common people; just like the agitation for new revenue allocation formula and resource control may end up yielding more funds to be stolen by few people in power, their cronies, family and friends. Only a widely representative Sovereign National Conference (SNC) that takes cognizance of the widespread poverty, deprivation and destitution that often trigger violence and restiveness in the country; and the dishonest and selfish attitude of political leaders to the problems, can sincerely fashion a constitution that can save the nation from its self-imposed woes; certainly not the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

Iniesta tips Spain to win Brazil 2014 excited about the challenge of trying to win the World Cup on Brazilian soil in two years’ time. “The secret of sustained success is that there is always some-

thing new. In Poland and Ukraine it was doing what nobody had done before. “Now there is the chance to win the World Cup in Brazil and it is a

massive extra in terms of motivation. “Maybe after winning two Euros and a World Cup you would think there would be nothing else to strive for; then

this comes along.” Iniesta, who is reputed as the force behind the series of successes garnered by Barcelona in recent years, is tipped to win the FIFA World Player award for 2012 after scooping the European award.

Andres Iniesta

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