Friday, January 4, 2013

Fear grips SEC workers over Oteh Delayed allowances worry employees TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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alpable air of uncertainty pervaded the premises of the

Vol. 2 N0. 528

Securities and Exchange Commission’s headquarters in Abuja over the planned redeployment of the embattled Director- General, Ms. Arunma Oteh, to the Assets Man-

agement Company of Nigeria, AMCON. The workers were also worried over what some of them termed “lack of assurance over when our CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

...despite Presidency’s denial

Friday, January 4, 2013

7 security operatives, 5 terrorists killed in P.5 Borno

EFCC confiscates Sylva’s 48 houses ...properties scattered all over Abuja

OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

Crisis rocks Agbekoya, coordinator suspended

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P.12

Boxing Day tragedy:

Protest over Lagos demolition of N85m building P.8 Nollywood goes spiritual over untimely deaths

P.4

N150

Alleged N6bn scam:

Abubakar

L-R: Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye; Governor Babatunde Fashola: Commissioner of Police, Umar Abubakar Manko and Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, during the governor’s meeting with officials of enforcement agencies of the Road Traffic Law 2012 in Ikeja, yesterday.

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday seized 48 properties belonging to former Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva.

Sylva is facing trial at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for allegedly misappropriating N6.46bn public funds while he was the governor.

The interim forfeiture order, according to a statement by the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, was granted by Justice A. R. Mohammed on December 28, 2012.

Assets belonging to the former governor against CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Nigerians to pay N691bn to watch local TV stations

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FRIDAY

Your

Jonathan campaign posters still on Abuja streets

Komolafe

Flavour

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

...as transition from analogue to digital begins in 2015

E XC L U S

IVE P.5

13 Nigerian journalists killed in 2012 –NUJ

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Law

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lawyers expect improvement

Gomez

As the New Year begins expectations are high in many quarters for a better Nigeria.

The Judiciary is not left out in hoping for better days.

KAYODE KETEFE and KENNY ODUNUKAN take a look at the lawyers’ expectations for the New Year.

W

ith the Judiciary reeling from the deadweight of recurrent problems of slow pace of administration of justice; poor remuneration of the judiciary staff; lack of optimal cooperation from other institutions in the administration of justice like the Nigeria Police Force and Nigerian Prison Service, the alleged corruption of some judicial officers as evinced in judges giving questionable ex parte injunctions etc, there is little or no doubt that there are a lot of changes to be desired from the Judicial circles and the administration of justice in general as the New Year starts.

When all these are coupled with the singular scandal spawned by the open public spat between the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami and the retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Iyorgher Katsina-Alu, the reason why a lot of changes and review of systemic and operational principles of the Nigerian Judiciary and allied institutions are desirable would become obvious.

National Mirror sampled the opinions of a number of senior lawyers on the issue of their expectations for the New Year, against the background of problems, scandals and challenges facing the third arm of government.

The immediate past Chief Justice

Musdapher

of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, set the tone through his cogent recommendation for creation of a new watchdog institution.

The learned jurist advocated the creation of a separate judicial institution to be responsible for the investigation of allegations of misconduct, corruption and enforcement of judicial code of conduct for judicial officers in Nigeria.

He made this recommendation at the second anniversary lecture and book presentation of National Mirror newspaper which held in Lagos on December 20, 2012.

At the forum which attracted eminent lawyers, jurists and prominent politicians across the length and breadth of Nigeria, Justice Musdapher said: “The time has come for the creation of a separate institution responsible for investigating allegation of judicial misconduct, corruption, enforcing the code of conduct for judicial officers, discipline and removal.

“Please consider that thoroughly investigating petitions and allegations of impropriety against judicial officers, as well as contraventions of the Judicial Code of Conduct is too cumbersome for the National Judicial Council when viewed against the other responsibilities of the council.

“Besides, an independent institution with adequate statutory safeguards may be better positioned to deal with the issues of discipline and removal as opposed to an institution that is largely managed by those it is supposed to regulate.

“I strongly believe that the creation

Osipitan

THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE CREATION OF A SEPARATE INSTITUTION RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING ALLEGATION OF JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT of such an institution is the only way to properly focus on the problem of judicial corruption in Nigeria as it has been adopted in several common law jurisdictions.”

Also speaking with National Mirror in a separate interview, a Professor of law at the Department of Public Law, University of Lagos, Taiwo Osipitan, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said, “We wish the Judiciary a more better outing in the year 2013, we particularly expect that there will capacity building in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria. We expect that the quality of judges that will be appointed will be high. We hope that they will possess commendable intelligence that would enable them render their services, judicially, judiciously and without fear or favour.

“We hope that the judges will have in-depth knowledge of law and justice, the kind of people that will be appointed should also have full knowledge of law and Justice and must be somebody who have something to of-

fer in all aspects of law. “The person must be a judge that commands the respect of all and sundry, both at the Bench and the Bar. Ultimately, we expect there will be more quality judgements and quality judges.

“At the lower bench, well, they have been doing very well and we expect more of job well done in 2013.We expect a corrupt-free Judiciary, a more robust, independent and intelligent Judiciary. We also think more capacity building will take place and also, there will be upgrading in the Justice administration.”

In his own view, an octogenarian lawyer, Pa Tunji Gomez, who lamented that he was not happy with the Judiciary as the year ends on account of unpalatable issues like the Justices Isa Ayo Salami/Katsina-Alu saga, added that he would want a number of changes as he called for the modification of the de novo rule on the grounds that it might cause injustice on the aggrieved party.

Gomez said: “The de novo practice is an age-long practice meant to preserve justice in adjudication by ensuring that the same person who would pronounce judgement hears a case from beginning to the end. But I think it should be modified now to discourage a situation where it would cause injustice.

“For example, where the case is nearly completed, a party who brought a matter to court would have invested time, not to talk of costs. If the litigants have to start all over again, it would cause hardship. Thus, I would want the rule to be relaxed such that if the parties agree that a new judge should continue where the old judge leaves the matter, then, they should be allowed to continue with the matter.”

In his own perspective, a former National Publicity Secretary of the

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law

Friday, January 4, 2013

3

in justice administration

Ubani

NBA, Mr. Murtala Abdul-Rasheed, proposed that the powers of the Chief Justice of Nigeria should be reduced in order to check the possibility of abuse of power.

He said, “I support the proposal that the powers of the CJN should be whittled down, not necessarily because of the Justice Salami/Katsina Alu Saga, but because too much power is concentrated in the holder of the office. It is Jefferson that said, power corrupts, and absolute powers corrupt absolutely. Even as an honest person, if you have too many powers, there will be inclination to misuse it occasionally. So, it does not necessarily have to do with the integrity of the occupier of the office, a person of highest integrity can also misuse powers occasionally, because we are all human beings. So my recommendation that the powers of the CJN should be reduced is not limited to what happened in Salami/Katsina-Alu’s case.

“Take for instance, the CJN is the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the CJN is the Chairman of the National Judicial Council, The CJN is the Chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the CJN is the Chairman of the Governing Board of National Judicial Institute, The CJN is the Chairman of the Administration of Justice Commission, The CJN is also the Chairman of the Privileges Committee that confers silk on deserving legal practitioners.

“Take for example the appointment to Federal Judicial Institutions, the CJN sits as the Chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission that will advise the NJC on the suitability or otherwise of the applicants, the CJN also sits as the Chairman of the NJC to which the advice is forwarded!

If the process is litigated by an aggrieved party up to the Supreme

Falana

I WANT A SITUATION WHEREBY THERE WOULD BE MORE RESPECT NOT ONLY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE

BENCH, BUT ALSO FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE

BENCH ITSELF TO THE BAR Court, the CJN constitutes the panel that will hear and determine the matter. You can see that these powers are enormous, that is why some people who think this powers may be misused are clamouring for the reduction of the powers of the CJN. I think it will be appropriate if a retired CJN of high repute is made a chairman of the NJC.” Also expressing his views, the incumbent Chairman of the Ikeja branch of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Branch Mr. Onyekachi Ubani, said: “We expect more expeditious trial of cases from the Bench in 2013, a situation where it takes a month for cases to be assigned to a particular judge should be a thing of the past.

Judges should ensure speedy trial of cases. More sheriffs should also be appointed. The judiciary should ensure that there are timely services of processes, a system where a counsel has to pay unnecessary charges for court services should be done away with .

In 2013,we expect more efficient services in the judicial system.

“Also in the criminal justice system, we expect the investigating police officer (IPO) to be on ground on every court proceeding to ensure ac-

Taiwo

cused statements are presented as at when due and must always be there to help justice administration in court.

“We also expect the prison services to be more efficient by bringing accused persons to court as early as possible in order not delay trial and keep the court waiting unnecessarily.

“We also hope that something will be done to the land registration procedures which provide that the Governor must endorse certain processes and believe that the letter of administration will be restructured.”

Another notable lawyer and the Executive Director of of a non-governmental organisation in the areas of protection and promotion of women’s rights, Women Empowerment and Legal Aid initiative (WELA), Mrs. Funmi Falana, bemoaned the spate of scandals that had befallen the judiciary in recent times. Falana, who is the wife of Lagos-based popular lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), gave insight into what she expected for 2013 from the Judiciary stable.

She said, “In the 2013, we expect the judiciary to be stronger and better than the previous years. We expect that the new Chief Justice of Federation, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, will sanitise the judiciary and restore its dignity.

“The judiciary in the past has lost its glory, the conflicting judgement on the former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, is a typical example. Ibori was discharged and acquitted here in Nigeria, but was convicted for the same allegation in the United Kingdom. Justice Ayo Salami/Katsina-Alu saga is another pressing issue.”

The Chairman of the Lagos branch of the NBA, Lagos branch, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo, wants a number of issues to be addressed next year.

His words: “My expectation is to

see a new judiciary that is truly independent in every sense of it. They have started well in Bayelsa State where the Executive has handed over everything that has to with the Judiciary to the CJ of the State. I want a situation where the judiciary would dispense its duty without any sense of fear or favour.

Of course, I want a situation whereby there would be more respect not only for the members of the Bench, but also from the members of the Bench itself to the Bar. “I also want a situation where the composition of the NJC, especially the nominating power of members should be reviewed in line with what the NBA has decided.”

Another senior lawyer, Gbolagade Ajayi, said, “the Judiciary is maturing at such a tremendously speed, and as a lawyer, I can speak from within.

Nonetheless, the year 2013 will also be a challenging year due to the scheduled elections coming in 2015, and you should also remember that we now have staggered elections.

“I expect that our courts will be as strong as or stronger than before.

Justices should be firm in their decisions, judgement should be fair and the judges’ reasons should be obvious to people to assess in order to see whether or not they are transparent.

“The process for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution is already on and we expect that it will be successfully concluded. We expect that so many grey areas of the constitution will be addressed.

“The expected amendment should include the issue of immunity clause that we have been shying away from.

A day will come when that aspect of the law would be looked into and would be either watered down or totally taken away.”

PhotoNews

4

Friday January 4, 2013

L-R:Secretary, Area Council Services Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan; Minister of State for FCT, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide and Chairman FCT 2012 Amiral Hajj Team, Gen. Abdullahi Mamman (rtd), during the presentation of the Hajj report to the minister in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Customer Experience Group Manger, Diamond Bank, Mr. Odili Ogwu; Product Manager, Savings Xtra Account, Mr. David Otukpe; Internet Banking Officer, Ms. Frances Oraukwu and Manager, KPMG, Mr. Bright Anaekwe, during the Diamond Bank Plc Saving Xtra Promo in Lagos, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Newly elected Executive Committee Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, Most Rev. George Jonathan Dodo; Treasurer, Rev. Chris Annger and Vice Chairman, Most Rev. Josiah IdowuFearon, during the inauguration of CAN Secretariat in Kaduna, yesterday.

L-R: Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju; Vice Chairman, Lagos Cheshire Home, Mr. Dele Atitebi; Welfare Officer, Deacones Adeola Olarewanju and committee member, Mr. Kunle Afolabi, during a courtesy visit and donation of Indomie in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

Despite presidency's denial, Jonathan’s campaign posters still on Abuja streets President does not need to give order to stop it, says Abati

ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

T

he campaign posters of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 Presidential election that surfaced in Abuja at the dawn of the New Year still adorned the streets of the city.

This is despite claims by the Presidency that it has no hand in the pasting of the posters.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has also denied those responsible for pasting the posters.

As at yesterday evening, the all glossy posters bearing the photograph of Jonathan were yet to be removed as they were still conspicuous along ECOWAS Secretariat in Asokoro District, the PDP Secretariat in Wuse 5, the Central Business District and other strategic locations of the city, including Garki Area 2 and 10 Opposition parties, including the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples

Party, ANPP, and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, have condemned the campaign for Jonathan to run for another term.

Jonathan through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati while reacting to the development on Wednesday said that those behind the pasting of the posters were not his agents or acting on his directive, stressing that they were acting on their own.

The Presidential spokesman insisted yesterday that the President has nothing to do with the posters.

He said: “Those who are bent on distracting this government have brought out the posters. I repeat that President Jonathan know nothing about it.

The President of Nigeria has an office that is so important that he cannot behave in a cowardly manner. This is a man who is honest and has reputation of being honest.”

On whether security agencies are on the trail of

those behind the posters, Abati said that “security agencies have their jobs cut out for them. If they feel there is anything that is likely to disturb the polity; that is likely to affect the integrity of the state or they feel something has happened and they need information, that needs to be investigated, then of course they will do their job.

“They don’t even need to wait for presidential di-

rective. It is part of their normal duty to find out what is happening in the environment, particularly if what has happened is a matter of public interest.”

Speaking on why an order has not been issued for the posters to be removed, Abati noted that the President does not need to give any order.

“People whose job it is to ensure that nothing goes wrong within the Nigerian

state will do their job. They will make their own assessment; they will do their own investigations. If they feel that there is any threat whatsoever to public peace, to rule of law and order, they will make sure that that is not allowed.

“What I am telling you is that the President has not launched any campaign. What all of these show you is that the contestation for power in Nigeria is quite a complex one and people will go to

any length to push their own agenda “This is not coming from the President. When the President takes a position in terms of his own personal involvement or otherwise with regards to the 2015 elections, you can be sure he will come out to Nigerians and say this is where he stands on this matter the same way he did on previous occasions.

“But the President is not going to adopt this kind of tactics,” Abati said.

INEC wants special salary scale for workers ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has begun moves to ensure special salary scale for its workers.

INEC National Commissioner in charge of South West, Prof. Lai Olurode, said the development would motivate the workers and stem temptation to collude with politicians to perpetrate electoral malpractices.

“What the commission

is doing is a special assignment and we know that the workers are open to great temptations especially from politicians.

“The work is very risky and the commission’s workers who do their work as expected at times risk being killed,” Olurode told journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday.

According to him, the commission is working to make sure that the staff begin to enjoy special salary scale before the next general elections.

The INEC chief said:

“We have started engaging the relevant authorities to make sure that this is done. We hope that this would be granted before the 2015 election.”

Olurode assured that the commission would strive to provide the necessary enabling environment for its workers to bring out their optimal performance.

The commissioner said about one million persons applied for 1,500 jobs which the commission recently advertised.

But he assured of level

playing ground in the recruitment exercise, of which he said the commission had decided that children of INEC national commissioners would not be employed.

He said: “No matter how brilliant their children may be, they will not be employed in this recruitment. We are advocating against corruption and we want charity to start at home. But there would be other opportunities when their children who are qualified could be employed.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, January 4, 2013

5

Nigerians to pay N691bn to watch local TV stations KUNLE AZEEZ

N

igerians will pay an estimated N691bn to receive digital broadcast signals on their television sets when the nation transits from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting by 2015, National Mirror has gathered.

Each viewing home is expected to invest some mon-

ey in purchasing a Set-Top Box, STB, a device required to connect to their television sets in order to receive digital signals.

Experts in broadcasting sector have confirmed that an STB will cost $100 (about N15,700) and with 44 million viewing homes in the country, the amount to be expended is conservatively estimated at N691bn.

The Director-General,

National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, confirmed the number of viewing homes in the country to National Mirror.

Also, the cost of STB ownership was confirmed by experts from the Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association, SADIBA, who attended the Digital Dialogue Nigeria forum in Lagos recently.

Bolarinwa said: “Though it may be difficult to state categorically the number of television sets we have in Nigeria, I can confirm to you that recent surveys have indicated that Nigeria now has about 44 million television viewing homes and each of this household is expected to own an STB as a basic requirement for digital television transition.”

Apart from the digital sat-

L-R: Vice-President, First Eminent Associates, Mrs. Nike Edeaghe; guest speaker and award recipient Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and the Associates’ National Coordinator, Mr. Olumide Ojelade, during the Eminent International Gold Award and state of the nation lecture in Lagos, yesterday.

EFCC confiscates Sylva’s 48 houses CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

which a forfeiture order was obtained by the EFCC include a mansion at 3, River Niger Street; Plot 3192 Cadastral Zone AO, Maitama District, Abuja; nine units comprising six one- bedroom and 3 twobedroom apartments at 8, Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 2; Plot 262 Cadastral Zone AO2, Wuse, Abuja.

Others include two duplexes at 5, Oguta Street; Plot 906 Cadastral Zone Wuse 11; a duplex at Plot 1271, Nike Street, Cadastral Zone AO5, Maitama District, Abuja; a duplex at Phase 1 Unit No. 1 (Villa 1) Palm Springs Gold Estate, Cachez Turkey Projects Limited, Mpape, Abuja.

It also include 10 units of one-room apartments at 8, Mistrata Street; Plot 232, Cadastral Zone, Wuse 11, Abuja; 5 units duplexes at Plot 1070, Dakibiyu District, Cadastral Zone B10, Abuja; 16 units service apartments at Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Off IBB Way, Wuse 11, Abuja and 3 units of three- bedroom flats at 1,

Mubi Close, Plot 766, Cadastral Zone A01, Garki, Abuja.

Sylva was first arraigned on June 5, 2012.

The first three of the six count-charge against the former governor reads: “That you, Timpre Sylva, as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others now at large, sometime between October 2009 and February 2010, at various places in Nigeria, including Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, did conspire to commit a crime to wit: conversion of properties and resources amounting to N2bn belonging to Bayelsa State Government and derived from an illegal act, with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the said amount and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act), 2004 and punishable under Section 14(1) of the same Act. “That you, Timpre Sylva, as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others now at large, on or about January 22, 2010, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal

High Court, converted the sum of N380m, property of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Habibu Sani Maigidia, a bureau de change operator with account number 221433478108 in FinBank Plc, which sum you knew represented the proceeds of an illegal act with the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said illegal act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act. “That you, Timpre Sylva, as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others now at large, on or about February 5, 2010 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, converted the sum of N50m, property of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Enson Benmer Limited with account number 6152030001946 in First Bank, Plc, which sum you knew represented the proceeds of an illegal act with the aim

of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said illegal act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.” The suit is adjourned till January 10.

But Sylva has denied that the properties seized by the EFCC were owned by him.

The former governor, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Doifie Ola, described the EFCC claim on the seized properties as misleading.

“The houses in question do not belong to Sylva.

Sylva’s properties are intact and fully covered by the order validly issued by Justice M.M. Kolo of the Abuja High Court on December 27, 2012.

“Sylva had applied to the court for “an interim order of court for the service of the originating process on the respondent to serve as a stay of all actions in respect of the properties - Plot CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

ellite TV services being offered by MultiChoice, owners of Dstv and StarTimes, which is an arm of the Nigerian Television Authority, running on an entirely different digital platform from the NTA network, most broadcasting stations in Nigeria are still operating on analogue platform for their transmission.

This, it was learnt, would change by 2015, when Nigeria is expected to have joined other countries in the world in successfully transiting from the current analogue television system to digital broadcasting.

However, in spite of Nigeria’s plan to transit from analogue to digital broadcasting by June 17, 2015, experts have regretted that the Federal Government is yet to release the White Paper meant for the implementation of the digitalisation project.

Though National Mirror learnt that the Federal had on April 4, 2012 endorsed the White Paper recommendations on the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting in the country by a Presidential Advisory Committee, the final outcome of the document was yet to be made public.

A broadcasting engineer, Mr. Edward Amana, expressed surprise on the delay in releasing the White Paper for the transition.

“As I speak with you, we have not seen the White Paper that provides for the implementation framework for the digital transition and we think with this kind of forum and opinions expressed here, government would remember how important it is to have the White Paper on time in order to ensure that the 2015 deadline is met,” he said.

Amana said a policy-driven approach was needed by developing countries, including Nigeria, for the switch-over, stressing that it was important for the country to meet the 2015 deadline.

“If by 2015, Nigeria decides to keep to its analogue system, there may be signal interference from other neighbouring countries that have switched over and if this happens, no regulator, international or regional, will listen to us.

“If on the basis of our decision not to switch, we interfere with other countries’ broadcasting space, we would be sanctioned. So, the

best option is for us to switch over by 2015,” he said.

The engineer urged the government to provide incentives for companies that would be involved in local content production to drive the digital transition process, adding that capacity building on new engineering knowledge for digital broadcasting is critical.

He noted that the transition would also require the use of set-up boxes to receive digital contents which he said the government was working on to manufacture in Nigeria.

The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, had recently said that the Federal Government was considering local manufacturing of the STB at subsidised rates for Nigerian users.

“By manufacturing the STB in Nigeria, Nigeria will prevent capital flight that will happen if the huge amount of money expected to be spent by Nigerians is retained locally, though government is also looking at subsidising the cost to make it affordable by all,” she said.

Over the years, access to analogue television sets by household has increased in Nigeria.

According to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, less than half of the population (44.7 per cent) had access to a television set in 2011.

Of this percentage, about one-third of the population (13.3 per cent) actually owned the television.

The report entitled “NBS report on ICT access for 2011,” says distribution according to geographic region indicates that access to television is substantially higher in the urban area compared to the rural areas at 78.6 per cent and 35.7 per cent respectively.

Also, the pattern of ownership is higher at the urban (26.9 per cent) than rural areas (9.6 per cent).

Disaggregation by state shows that at 93 per cent, Lagos State recorded the highest number of persons with total access to TV, out of which slightly above 30 per cent claimed they actually own TV. This is followed by Anambra State with 83 per cent total access to TV. Other States with more than 75 per cent total access to TV are Osun, Ogun, Delta and Edo states.

News

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Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

7 security operatives, 5 terrorists killed in Borno INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

A

t least seven security operatives and five gunmen were killed in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State yesterday when some gunmen suspected to be terrorists ambushed troops deployed in the area.

In Adamawa State, four people were also killed yesterday when gunmen attacked and razed the Song Divisional Police Station and the local government secretariat.

Our correspondent gathered that the Marte incident took place about 2pm on Wednesday, when the gunmen ambushed troops from the 21 Armoured Brigade, taking them unawares.

The ensuing exchange of gunfire lasted for over an hour, according to a source who also said seven security personnel and five of the gunmen were killed during the encounter.

But the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Restore Order, through its spokesman, Lt-Col. Sagir, denied the killing of JTF operatives,

insisting that one soldier, a policeman and five of the gunmen were killed.

Sagir in a press statement made available to journalists in Maiduguri said: “This is to confirm that at about 2pm yesterday, January 2, 2013, gunmen attacked 21 Brigade troops’ location at Marte, Marte Local Government Area in the northern part of Borno State.”

He said during the encounter, one soldier, one police personnel and five gunmen were killed during an exchange of fire, adding that no civilian casualty was recorded.

Sagir added that the troops were able to recover two AK 47 rifles, one locallymade double barrelled gun, three magazines loaded with 35 rounds of assorted ammunition, one dane gun and four machetes.

A resident of Song, who did not want his name mentioned, said the attack took place in the early hours of yesterday.

This is the third time in eight days that gunmen have attacked police stations in the state.

“The police station and

part of the one-story secretariat building were burnt by the gunmen, who also attacked a security checkpoint on Song-Yola road,” the source said.

The state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Ibrahim, said that a policeman, a soldier, a civilian and his

grandchild were killed.

Ibrahim said the gunmen, who used automatic weapons and explosives, burnt the Song Divisional Police Station and the local government secretariat.

The Song attack came less than one week after similar attacks in Maiha, Hong and Fufore local gov-

ernment areas of the state.

In Maiha, two people were killed in the attack that affected the police station, prison, area court, local education authority, customs post and district head’s office.

In Hong, where police prevented the attackers from burning the Divisional Police Station, two people

Apongbon on Lagos Island, getting busy after the New Year holiday, yesterday.

sustained bullet injuries, including the newly-elected Hong Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Yerima, who was hit by a stray bullet.

Meanwhile, residents of Yola, the state capital, remained apprehensive over the developments and have been living in an atmosphere of fear.

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

Fear grips SEC workers over Oteh CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

2013 allowances would be paid”.

When our correspondent visited the SEC office yesterday at about 3:30pm, the atmosphere of operational conviviality that usually characterised the premises was absent, as a few of the workers were seen moving about in moody mien that suggested clearly that they were troubled.

One of them, who did not want his name mentioned, confided in our correspondent that most of the workers’ morale had been dampened following the lingering speculation that the director-general would be redeployed.

She explained that although her transfer would not affect normal operations in real terms, the speculations and failure of their boss to report for work since Wednesday were already affecting the workers adversely as the payment of some of their allowances would have started yesterday.

“We are very disturbed by the current situation as it is already affecting us

adversely. Ordinarily, we should by now be getting some of our allowances for the year as had been the case in the past, but as I speak with you now nobody is even sure of what is happening and this is affecting our morale.

“Since we are not part of the political feud between the executive and the legislature, we should not be the victims and we deserve our little entitlements so that we can take care of our children who are resuming schools.

“Nobody is speaking to us and we hope they will resolve their problem as soon as possible so that what is due to us is given as and when due.”

Another staff, a labour union official, blamed the executive for the delay in paying the allowances, insisting that “the President should implement the recommendations of the National Assembly over the DG’s case so that our budgetary allocation, which is now a subject of controversy would be resolved.”

A senior official, who also did not want his name

mentioned, however, said: “Making any comment could be misleading since the whole thing is too hazy to understand for now.”

It will be recalled that speculations over the likely line of action the Presidency would take over the Arunma Oteh-triggered face-off between the executive and the legislature had been rife over the past two weeks.

This followed the House of Representatives’ refusal to consider the SEC budget for the 2013 financial year unless the director-general is removed.

Oteh’s camp said that the legislators move was intended to punish her for her role in exposing a N44m bribery scandal involving members of the House Committee on the Capital Market during last year’s hearing that led to the exit and subsequent arraignment in court of erstwhile chairman, Hon Herman Hembe and his deputy, Azubuogu Ifeanyi.

While some newspapers had reported about her likely redeployment to the yet to be operational Sovereign

Wealth Fund, SWF, by the Presidency as a soft-landing strategy for the embattled SEC boss a few days ago, latest feelers suggested that her deployment might be to the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON in executive capacity.

The National Mirror’s report on Wednesday indicated that the Presidency might have finally agreed to send Oteh to AMCON as a way out of the lingering political logjam, which has continued to send wrong signals to the public about the inability of the two arms of government to amicably resolve a minor but potentially dangerous feud.

The House of Representatives, justifying its decision not to allocate a budget for the Commission, had insisted that unless the President agreed to its recommendations that Oteh should be removed, it would have nothing to do with the commission.

The Senate had also supported the House’s recommendation.

Clause 10 of the budget states that all revenues howsoever described, in-

cluding all fees received, fines, grants, budgetary provisions and all internally and externally generated revenue shall not be spent by the SEC for recurrent or capital purposes or for any other matter, nor liabilities thereon incurred except with prior appropriation and approval by the National Assembly.

However, analysts are divided over the removal or retention of Oteh as the SEC boss just as many of them were against the House of Representatives’ refusal to consider the commission’s appropriation proposal by trying to force the President to accede to their demand through such a tough legislative stance.

EFCC confiscates Sylva’s 48 houses CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

262, Cadastral Zone A02, Wuse 1, District, Abuja; Plot 3192, located within Cadastral zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja; Plot 232, Cadastral Zone A07,( 8, Mistrata Street, Wuse II, Abuja) - by the respondents, their agents, privies, representative or any other person deriving his/her authority from them; either by sealing off, confiscating, ejecting any person from the properties, trespassing into the properties or doing any other thing how ever so described relating to the said properties pending the

hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“This application was granted and hearing in the matter is fixed for January 4, 2013.

“Justice A.R. Mohammed never granted any temporary asset forfeiture order to the EFCC on December 21, 2012. Rather he directed EFCC to put Sylva on notice and the substantive matter is fixed for January 10, 2013. “ EFCC as a creation of the law cannot be seen to be acting lawlessly and with impunity,” the statement said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National News

Friday, January 4, 2013

7

ITF to establish 37 industrial skill centres, trains 37,000 youths

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he Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is to establish 37 Industrial Skill Training centres, to be located in the six geo political zones.

Prof. Longmas Wapmuk, the Director General of ITF, who disclosed this to NAN in Abuja, said the Fund had also concluded plans to train

37,000 youths in different skill acquisition.

He said the plan was part of efforts to address the shortage of skilled manpower in the country.

NAN reports that ITF was established to promote and encourage the acquisition of skills in industry and commerce.

This is with a view to generating a pool of in-

digenously trained manpower sufficient to meet the needs of the private and public sectors of the economy.

The director general who said the fund had already established three centres in Ikeja, Kano and Jos hinted that the agency in collaboration with ITEE, Singapore also established a model

skill training centre in Abuja.

According to Wapmuk, the agency is also floating a skilled manpower development programme initiated under a collaborative association with the Nigeria Employers’ consultative Association, NECA. The project, he said, is tagged: “Technical Skills

Development Project”.

He said the ITF is also developing job specification documents and at the moment, training 110 staff of the Dangote Cement Group in a long-term one year programme.

According to him, the agency is also coordinating and sponsoring a National Industrial

Skills Development Programme, NISDP, which has taken off in 10 states under its first phase.

The ITF, he said is also training 10,000 youth.

He said a total of 30,000 young Nigerians are expected to be trained in diverse Trade Areas of the economic sectors as identified by research efforts.

82 sub-standard hospitals shut in FCT OMEIZA AJAYI

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L-R: Officiating Priest, Rev. Fr. James Ijasan; wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; Diocesan Secretary, Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, Rev. Fr. Paul Adaja and Chief Missioner, Ansar-Ur-Deen Society of Nigeria, Ekiti State, Sheik Hadi Adebayo, at the New Year inter-religious thanksgiving service held in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday.

Why Nigerians won’t entrust ACN with leadership –PDP OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that Nigerians may not entrust leadership of the country to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) because of what it described as the latter’s politics of bitterness, insult and frustration.

PDP said ACN’s politics bitterness could cause engender hatred among Nigerians.

Reacting to a statement by ACN that PDP was preaching ethnic sentiments, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, condemned what he called hatred of President Goodluck Jonathan by ACN. He said for hating President Jonathan, Nigerians “cannot trust the ACN or any other party that associates

with it with leadership of the country.”

A statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Metuh reads: “How can a political party aspiring to the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria be so consumed with the preaching and sowing the seeds of bitterness and hatred in the minds of the people they want to lead.

“Nigerians are no fools, they are watching with keen interest the seeds of bitterness and hate that the ACN and other political parties are sowing among the populace.

“No right thinking Nigerian will cast his or her votes for such a party that propagates schisms and bitterness among us.

“What we need at this moment of nationhood is unity and brotherliness and not the politics of hated and bitterness.

“If PDP continues to concentrate in replying the ACN or any other party in their gospels of blackmail, abuse and hatred, it will distract us as a party in delivering

our goals of ensuring democracy dividends to electorates, as well as improving the standard of livings of the people, which is the purpose of PDP as a political party.”

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, has vowed to rid the nation’s capital of quack medical practitioners and unregistered hospitals, explaining that the FCT Administration shut 82 sub-standard medical outfits in the city last year.

Mohammed added that 12 quack health officials were apprehended and handed over to the police in areas such as Bwari, Jikwoyi, Garki, Federal Secretariat and the FCT Police Command.

The minister revealed this yesterday after reviewing the activities of the FCT Health & Human Services Secretariat in 2012.

He, however, explained that few of the affected hospitals had been re-opened after the

conditions for which they were shut were met and appropriate fines paid.

According to him, three of such cases had already been charged to Karu Magistrate’s Court for prosecution to serve as deterrent. While lamenting that the activities of medical quacks have been on the rise due to the ever-increasing influx of people into the Federal Capital Territory, he assured the government would tackle the situation.

The minister said the FCT Administration had empowered the Health & Human Services Secretariat to deal with such ugly situation through the activities of the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC).

He added that the government would not relent in fighting quackery in the Federal Capital Territory.

2012 Hajj: FCTA begins investigation of lapses OMEIZA AJAYI

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he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday said that it had begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the inability of about 320 intending pilgrims from the city to make it to Saudi Arabia over visa issues.

The FCTA said since the lapse was not the making of the intending pilgrims, it had granted approval for their transport allowance to still be paid to them in order to pacify them.

Minister of State in the FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, who spoke when she received the 2012 Hajj report in Abuja, said: “We are pained that out of the over 2,800 intending pilgrims for FCT, about 320 people couldn’t make it due to non-issuance of visa.

This is already being investigated in order to avoid a repeat of it.”

She promised that the 320 persons who couldn’t perform the Hajj in 2012 would be considered first for the 2013 Hajj operation.

Akinjide insisted there was need to repo-

sition the FCT Hajj commission to make it more efficient but lamented that the FCT still gets 2,800 slots for Hajj as against up to 6000 for other states.

Akinjide noted that the territory now has increasing population and as such there was need to review slot allotted it.

Speaking on incident that led to pregnant women making it to the holy land, Akinjide noted that medical screening should be compulsory for all intending pilgrims.

“I agree that most FCT pilgrims are men of tim-

ber and calibre but we must insist and our team must have courage of their conviction to carry out their assignment without fear or favour”, she stated.

Olajumoke Akinjide

News

8

Friday January 4, 2013

Boxing Day explosions: Lagos accused of demolishing N85m building As officials serve more notices

MURITALA AYINLA

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ne of the developers of the buildings engulfed by firecrackers’ explosions on Boxing Day in Jankara area of Lagos Island, Alhaja Basirat Ibrahim, yesterday accused the Lagos State government of demolishing her N85 million building and carting away goods valued at over N50 million.

The woman, who deals on generators, lamented that all her goods comprising of generators of varying sizes stored in her shop were parked into a lorry by government agents and taken to an unknown destination before her building was

pull down to pave way for bulldozers to work on the affected buildings.

She threatened to challenge what she called the illegal demolition of her building in court if nothing is done to compensate her. She said her building, located on Number 41 on the street, was not affected by the fire but was deliberately demolished by government.

Amid tears and anger she said: “While the fire was raging, my house was not touched by the fire but government ordered its demolition. The worst was that my goods, generators valued at N50 million were also taken away by government agents.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State government

through the state Building Control Agency (LABSCA) has served more demolition notices on more buildings; even as indication emerged that government may take over the explosion site.

Briefing journalists at the explosion site yesterday, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said that Governor Babatunde Fashola had ordered a full scale investigation into the explosions with a view to forestall future occurrence.

Osanyintolu, who said government is yet to decide on what to do with the site of the explosion, urged residents to be safety conscious wherever they are.

He added that the state

has directed the police and other security operatives to investigate and ascertain the real cause of the explosions and those behind the quantum destruction and loss of lives of innocent souls.

Osanyintolu’s words: “We advise Lagosians to be safety conscious especially in this season. On our part, we will continue to extend the tentacles of emergency preparedness, mitigation and response to every nook and cranny of the state.”

He also noted that LASEMA and other relevant agencies are working hard to avert unnecessary incident of building collapse and incessant fire incidents to prevent loss of lives and property in the state.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EFCC arrests bank manager over N1.5bn fraud OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former manager with the Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank), Mr. Olayinka Sanni, over an alleged N1.5 billion fraud.

Also arrested was the Personal Assistant to Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Oyebode Atoyebi.

The two suspects, according to a statement

by EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, were arrested recently in Lagos by a team of EFCC operatives.

Sanni, a chartered accountant and operator of SIDAW Ventures, a Bureau de Change, was alleged to have fraudulently transferred various sums of money from more than seven customers of the bank into the account of SIDAW Ventures owned and operated by him without the customers’ consent.

Giving the sordid details of the deal, the antigraft body said he transferred N65 million from the account of Babington Junior Seminary; N40million from P.W. Nigeria Limited’s account; N15million from Mikano International’s account; N20 million from Viju Industries Limited’s account; N306million from the account of

Falana & Falana Chambers and Fafun Nigeria Limited and N1.2 billion from Murhi International Limited into his SIDAW Ventures account without the consent of the account owners.

Besides, Sanni was said to have also collected the sum of $461, 200 from one Chukwurah Nkiru, who sold it to him for the equivalent of N76, 559,200 but was not paid.

The suspect is also alleged to be embroiled in a foreign exchange scam.

He was said to have used his SIDAW Ventures account to handle the sum of N104, 405, 000 where only N72, 229, 000 worth of foreign exchange was paid to the customer leaving a balance of N32, 185, 000 being hotly contested between his firm and the customer.

However, Ikuforiji’s personal assistant, Atoyebi was also accused of complicity and conspiracy with Sanni for allowing his passport-sized photograph and name to be used to open an account in SIDAW Ventures limited in the name of Akanmu Babatunde.

With this fictitious name, Sanni was said to have brokered many shady deals and duped many innocent people.

The two suspects, according to the commission, would soon be arraigned in court.

Three die, 12 injured in auto crash Official of Ogun Traffic Compliance Enforcement Agency arguing with occupants of a vehicle over a traffic offence at Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta, PHOTO: NAN yesterday.

13 Nigerian journalists killed in 2012

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he President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Mohammed Garba, yesterday said that 13 Nigerian journalists were killed last year.

Garba, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the journalists lost their lives covering assignments.

He said that the number was the highest recorded in the history of Nigeria since independence in 1960.

“We have an authentic

data that 13 journalists were killed nationwide last year, the highest in the history of the country since independence in 1960,” Garba stated.

The International Federation of Journalists had similarly announced that 121 journalists were killed worldwide in 2012.

Describing the situation as “unfortunate and sad,” Garba reiterated the need to intensify the provision of security and safety for journalists.

“Media organisations should endeavour to provide a good insurance pol-

icy that would cover the lives of journalists.

“Also all journalists covering strategic areas such as Government Houses should be insured by the government,” he said.

Garba condemned the abuse and harassment meted to media men in the course of their duties.

He urged security agents, politicians and the populace to respect journalists in the course of doing their duties.

Some of the journalists killed in 2012 include Enenche Akogwu of Chan-

nels Television, Zakariya Isa, Nigeria Television Authority, Abubakar Sadiq, Daily Trust and Kazeem Ibrahim, The Nation newspapers.

Abubakar

KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

N

o fewer than three persons died yesterday in an accident which occurred along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while 12 others were seriously injured.

About 15 persons were involved in the accident.

While three men died on the spot, 12 others were left with life-threatening injuries.

The crash, which occurred at Km 19, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number YB 65 MUS traveling from Osogbo to Lagos.

Speaking with journalists, an eyewitness said the

crash was as a result of over-speeding by the driver of the vehicle, stating that the commercial vehicle somersaulted several times before it finally crashed.

National Mirror learnt that most of the victims were returning to Lagos from Osogbo after the New Year celebration.

It was gathered that both the injured and dead victims were taken to Adeoyo Hospital and the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

The rescue team which includes police and FRSC officials recovered N360, 275 cash belonging to the victims while over 25 cell phones were also gathered from the scene of the accident.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday, January 4, 2013

Court remands 20-year-old man for murder ADEOLU ADEYEMO OSOGBO

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he presiding magistrate of an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court, Olusola Aluko, has ordered that a 20-year-old man, Adekola Adelugba, be remanded in prison custody for allegedly killing a 22-year-old man, Johnson Michael, on Christmas Eve during a carnival in Osogbo, the state capital.

The presiding magistrate ordered the accused person

to be remanded in Ilesha prison custody pending the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP’s) legal advice on the matter, saying that Adelugba was said to have committed the offence during a carnival organised by the youths of Ekotedo Street in Osogbo at about 1.00am that day.

According to the charge sheet read in court, the accused person, who was charged with two a countcharge of conspiracy and

murder, unlawfully killed Michael by hitting him with a plank on his fore head during an argument.

Police prosecutor, Mr. Meret Wilson, told the court that the accused person has committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 and 316 (2) of the criminal code, cap 34, vol.

II laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.

However, the plea of the accused person was not considered on the ground that

Lagos Judge, Wasilat Ayo, dies at 47 KENNY ODUNUKAN

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Lagos State High Court judge, Justice Abisoye Wasilat Ayo is dead. She was aged 47.

Justice Ayo, who until her death was a judge in the land division of the Lagos high court, died on Sunday, December 30, 2012.

A statement released from the office of the Chief Registrar of Lagos State, Mr. Ganiyu Safari, on behalf of the Lagos State judiciary reads

in part: “Lagos State judiciary regrets to announce the sudden demise of Hon. Justice (Mrs.) Wasilat Abisoye Easter Ayo.” “Hon. Justice Ayo passed on to eternal glory on Sunday, December 30, 2012 at the age of 47year” and until her death was a judge in the land division of the Lagos high court.”

“Funeral arrangements will be announced soon by the family. She is survived by her husband and children.”

A reliable source said that the late judge had been hospitalised for over six months

and was allegedly diagnosed of cancer.

She was said to have been flown abroad for treatment and subsequently brought back to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where she eventually passed on.

Justice Ayo was born on June 30,1965 to the family of Senator Sikiru Ayodeji Shitta-Bey and Alhalja (Chief) Raheenat Abiodun ShittaBey. She attended Yewande Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Lagos between 1969 to 1975, she was at Methodist Girls High School,

of their statutory responsibilities.

He assured that his administration would continue to exploit all available avenues for the socio-economic development of the state.

While emphasising the need for the appointees to keyin into the strategy document, the governor said government has been vigorously implementing the civil service transformation strategy in order to ensure more efficient service delivery.

Fayemi stressed that government would continue to support the workforce for optimal and productive performance; even as he added that the workers are already rightly positioned to drive the policies and programmes of government for the masses.

He urged the members of the commissions not to betray the trust reposed in them by the people, whom they are out to serve.

Speaking on behalf of the appointees, former gubernatorial aspirant of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2003, Chief Ranti Adebisi, who is the

chairman of the reconstituted local government service commission, thanked the government for the opportunity given them to serve; saying that the commissions would work for the development of the state.

Adebisi, who described the workers in the local government service as his ‘brothers and sisters,’ promised to run the commission in partnership with the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and keep the people abreast of government’s activities.

The House of Assembly Service Commission which is chaired by Chief George Ojo, has Hon. Bayo Akinola; Hon. Olaiya Kupolati; Hon. Foluso Ibirinde and Chief Samuel Abejide as members while the Local Government Service Commission is chaired by Chief Ranti Adebisi, with Chief Reuben Akomolafe; Princess Omotunde Adelabu; Mr. Babalola Olorunfemi (NULGE nominee); Mrs. Dupe Bakare; Hon. Kola Fakiyesi and Chief Jacob O. Adewumi, as members.

the offences committed were capital offences while the defense counsel, Mr. Abimbola Ige, was not allowed to make any submission by the court.

The presiding magistrate, Olusola Aluko, thereafter ordered the accused person to be remanded in Ilesha prison custody pending the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP’s) legal advice on the matter.

The case has been adjourned till January 24, 2013 for mention.

Yaba, Lagos from 1975 t0 1981, and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1982 t0 1983. She also attended the University of Lagos, Akoka, between 1983 and 1985 and subsequently attended the Nigeria Law School the subsequent year.

Late Justice Ayo was appointed judge of the high court of Lagos State, (commercial division) on May 24, 2001 and was subsequently transfer to the land division of the state high court, Igbosere where she served until her demise.

Why PDP lost power in South-West –Party chieftain OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

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chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Samuel Akintan, has attributed the loss of the party to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the South-West to “mismanagement of success.”

Akintan, an indigene of Idanre, made this known yesterday while hosting members of the Ondo State executive committee and leaders of the PDP in his Idanre country home.

His words: “In 2003, our five South-West states moved from the opposition to join the PDP government at the centre with the exception of Lagos State. And for the first time in the history of the zone, we had the first taste of power at the federal level.

But after only four years, we lost the same power and fell back to the opposition.”

According to Akintan, while PDP in Oyo, Osun,

Ogun and Ekiti States are already finding solutions to their problems, members of the party in Ondo State are still fighting themselves on the pages of newspapers.

He continued: “Our bitter experience in the just concluded governorship election here in the state seems not to have taught us any lesson. One can now understand why the Presidency that our party controls does not recognise us.

“The leaders of thought, which I have the honour to be its chairman in Lagos made a strong representation through the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan, in respect of the crisis in the state chapter of the party.”

The PDP stalwart lamented that the party could not get the necessary support and logistics for the October 20 governorship election in the state despite all efforts, including sending representatives to the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Fayemi charges new commissions on Politics transformation strategy

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kiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, yesterday inaugurated the chairmen and members of two newly reconstituted commissions, with a charge that they should key in into the state civil service transformation strategy aimed at delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

The two commissions are the House of Assembly Service Commission and the Local Government Service Commission, which had their chairmen and some of the members removed last year.

Inaugurating the commissions in Ado Ekiti, the governor said the reconstitution became imperative following the strategic role they play in the service delivery mechanism of government at the grass root and the legislative arm of government.

Fayemi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, added that the gesture was also important in re-shaping the leadership of the commissions for effective discharge

9

Issues and events that will shape 2013 Some of the major issues and events that will determine the situation in the new year are the emergence of a new chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT); registration and deregistration of political parties; merger of major opposition parties; Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) preparation for future elections, especially, the bid to forestall staggering elections; 2014 governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and State of Osun, and 2015 general governorship elections, insecurity and constitution review.

Politicians and pundits offer their predictions on these defining events.

Saturday Starter

Taking crackers out of Àreworks

The inhabitants of Lagos Island, famed for their dazzling Yuletide fireworks, shunned their signature displays during the last New Year celebrations. The reason was not far fetched: 12 buildings were razed by a raging fireworks-induced inferno on boxing day while 19 others, including a 30-year-old mosque, have been marked for demolition.

Could reality have done what the Police ban on firecrackers failed to achieve over the years?

Ms. Jaie set for good times DID You

HEAR? •Foluke Daramola’s Cobweb ready for cinema •Mighty Mouse seeks Africa’s progress •Goldie introduces new dance •Beat FM storms Ibadan •Chidinma rubs shoulders with Chris Brown and Rihanna •What really killed Bisi Komolafe?

Celebrity

No N o regre regrets ets closing down Jazzville –Muyiwa Majekodunmi

x SeTalk 15 things women do wrong in bed and how to Àx them

10

South West

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bunkering: 1.6m litres of crude oil intercepted in Ondo HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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bout 1.6 million litres of crude oil has been intercepted by a seaway security outfit operating in the creeks of Ondo State.

The five vessels laden with the product was intercepted at the boundary of Edo and Ondo states.

The oil thieves abandoned the vessels and fled following their interception by the security outfit.

They also left behind seven speed boats, 14 speed

boat engines and other instruments used for their illegal business.

Speaking on the development, the Spokesperson of the Security outfit, Gallery Security Service Limited, Ebi Bolos, told journalists at Agadagba Obon in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State that the speed boats were reportedly stolen by the fleeing oil thieves.

Bolos said: “Seven big boats arrested were filled with crude oil. We have seven speed boats too which we impounded. We have 14

stolen engines. We arrested them at the boundaries of Delta and Edo states.

“They were bringing them from neighbouring states. From there we apprehend them because we won’t allow them to come to Ondo State. We will hand them to the security agencies. Each of the big boats can contain at least 10 tankers with 33, 000 litre capacity each.

“If the government can support us, we will do more. Financially, we are not getting the necessary support from government.

If this continues the criminal activities will stop and the country will earn more from crude because the activities of the vandals will stop.

“With the help of a former militant leader, Chief Bibopiri Ajube, we were able to recover stolen engines from the suspected oil thieves. m which they used for bunkering business, to vandalise the pipes, collect the crude and take it to wherever they want to sell it.

“Most of the engines were stolen from our

neighbouring communities. They stole them in collaboration with some hoodlums in those communities. They normally run away whenever we discovered their hideouts but we use to recover their stolen items.”

Also speaking on the incident, the former militant leader, Chief Ajube, said: “Those who engage in illegal refineries are using the stolen engines to remove crude from the vandalised pipes.

“We have arrested a lot of them and handed them over to security operatives.

“We used to fight government in the past because there was no progress. We dropped the guns and government carried out amnesty. About 750 ijaws and 400 Ilajes are enjoying amnesty right now.

“Apart from this, we have 800 people that are outside the country. We want to support government to arrest these illegal activities.

“We want the NNPC to do more for our people.

The company is not assisting us. We are using our resources to fight this crime.”

Three aspirants recommended for Ede Poly rectorship position ADEOLU ADEYEMO

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s contest for the rectorship position of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, becomes a battle of the titans among the contestants, three of the nine shortlisted candidates by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Liaison Office for the post have been recommended to concerned authorities for consideration.

Sources at the Federal Ministry of Education, which revealed this to National Mirror yesterday, named the three candidates as Dr. Olukayode Adebile, Mr. Patrick Hussein and Dr. Comfort Ogunlade.

Investigations by the National Mirror revealed that of all the contenders, Dr. Adebile is a scholar of repute that can conveniently steer the ship of the institution with ease and without blemish.

A source, who did not want his name mentioned, described Adebile as a soft spoken person.

The source said: “Ade-

bile is very intelligent and he a detribalized Nigerian. Of all those eyeing the post, Dr Adebile has an edge because of his experience.”

It was, however, learnt that Hussein, a Master Degree holder, was shortlisted because he was romoured to have been favoured by the immediate past rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Joseph Oke. Hussein, the source said, may not get the post because it was alleged that the former rector did not enjoy cordial relationship with the polytechnic’s senior workers.

The third contender, Dr. Ogunlade, was said to be another brilliant person, but could not march Adegbile in terms of experience.

Minister of Education, Prof.

Rukkayat Rufa’i

L-R: Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Osun State, Superior Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Bishop of Methodist, Osogbo Diocese, Rt. Rev. John Bamgboye and First Vice Chairman, CAN, Rev. Kunle Adeyemo, during a visit to the governor in Osogbo, yesterday.

LUTH re-introduces In-Vitro Fertilisation clinic

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he Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) will re-introduce In-Vitro Fertilisation clinic in 2013 to assist women seeking conception.

Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Akin Osibogun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that the clinic would deliver quality healthcare services to citizens, especially in

the area of reproductive health.

It will also focus on difficulties in conception experienced by women. InVitro Fertilisation is the process of fertilising an egg with sperm in a laboratory dish and transferring the embryo into a woman.

Osibogun said: “We are restarting our In-Vitro Fertilisation programme.

Part of the equipment is

Group seeks intervention fund for ex-convicts ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he Federal Government has been urged to set up a special intervention fund to assist ex-convicts.

The Founder and Executive Director of Women Initiative for Development and Environmental Pro-

tection (WIDEP), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Prof Olufunke Egunjobi, said such would enable the ex-convicts live normal lives after having served their jail terms.

Egunjobi, who spoke during an empowerment workshop organised by the NGO to train female inmates in Ado-Ekiti Prisons

yesterday, lamented that the manner of operation in Nigerian jails had made rehabilitation of inmates difficult.

She canvassed holistic restructuring of the nation’s Prison Service to reposition it for provision of skills for convicts.

This, the former university teacher said, would as-

sist in reshaping the lives of ex-convicts and integrate them to society after their jail terms.

According to her, the inability to re-orientate convicts in Nigeria through skills acquisition as obtainable in advanced climes like United States and Britain had caused the geometric increase in crimes in

already on ground and the infrastructure is already on ground.

“We have completed the place, and we will restart work and providing that service shortly in this New Year.

“And, that is going to provide due support to families or couples who have been having challenges in having babies.

“In our hospital, we want to be able to provide

a holistic services delivering to those who are able to get pregnant on their own and then providing services for those who are having difficulties in getting pregnant.

“And, In-Vitro Fertilisation programme is going to help in that direction and we are starting it this New Year, within the next three months you will be hearing more about that programme.”

the country.

At the workshop, all the female inmates in Ado Ekiti Prisons were trained by experts in Adire making otherwise known as tie and dye, animal production, back-yard fish farming, snailery and trinket or hat making.

Egunjobi, who said WIDEP had spent over N3 million to empower prisoners and ex-convicts in the last few years, assured

the trainees that they would benefit from the gesture on completion of their terms.

She, however, advocated stiff penalty for actions targeted at ostracizing or stigmatizing ex-convicts to help the nation’s criminal justice system.

According to her, the NGO is focusing on the rural women in its operation, owing to the high level of poverty at the grassroots.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South East

Friday, January 4, 2013

ALGON protests Okorocha’s disrespect for court ruling CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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he Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, staged a peaceful protest against Governor Rocha Okorocha’s alleged threat to arrest elected council chairmen in the state.

The association also flayed the governor’s refusal to obey Court of Appeal judgment.

The elected chairmen and their councillors were sacked immediately Governor Okorocha assumed office in 2011, but the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri nullified the sacking.

Ever since the court verdict, the Okorocha has refused to have anything to do with the elected chairmen. The situation has, however, left all the 27 local government secretariats active.

Yesterday, the elected chairmen and their supporters took to the streets, protesting the

governor’s refusal to abide by the court verdict.

The protest, which started at about 10:am from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat at Okigwe Road, caused heavy traffic gridlock with the protesters carrying different placards which read: “Okorocha enemy of Constitution”, “Where is over N90 billion Imo LGA Fund”, “No SOLAD caretakers for Imo LGAs”, Okorocha has killed Imo LGA”.

However, the protest ended abruptly when a team of ar med policemen led by the Owerri Area Commander, Mr. Felix Kigia, confronted the protesters led by the ALGON Chair man, Chief Ruby Emele, at a point near the Gover nment House which was earlier condoned off by ster n looking policemen and soldiers.

The police said that they were instructed not to allow the protesters get to Okigwe Roundabout which is

a stone thrown to the Gover nment House, but a batch of the protesters led by the ALGON Secretary, Mr Enyinna Onuegbu, moved to rescue the ALGON chairman who was held hostage by the police on Wethedral Road.

The police, however, tactically withdrew to allow the ALGON chair man join the rest of the protesters.

Addressing jour nalists, the ALGON Secretary, Mr Onuegbu, said the chair men were protesting against the continued misappropria-

tion local gover nment funds totalling over N80 billion by the state government.

But Governor Okorocha’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Ebere Uzouokwa, said the government “is focus on the transformation of the state and as such will not join issues with the former PDP council chairmen whose tenure elongation was dismissed by the court.

They have no business in the local government areas as their two-year tenure expired in August last year.”

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Akunyili denies nursing Anambra governorship ambition C HARLES O KEKE AWKA

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ormer Minister of Information and Communications, Prof.

Dora Akunyili, has denied the rumour that she is planning to contest the Anambra State governorship election later in the year.

Addressing journalists in Awka, the state capital, Prof. Akunyili, who lost the Anambra Central Senatorial position to Dr. Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 2011 general elections, said that she may recontest the senatorial election in future.

She said: “When the

time comes, I will run for it and safeguard my votes.”

Describing the rumour of her governorship ambition as a “big distraction,” Prof. Akunyili said: “Must I run for every election, it is an unnecessary distraction.”

She warned those peddling the false story to desist from the act.

It will be recalled that the former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was defeated by Dr Ngige in the last general election. She contested on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform.

Enugu police arrest 99 kidnappers, 201 armed robbers last year DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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he Enugu State Police Command arrested no fewer than 503 suspects between March and December last year.

Among them were 99 kidnappers, 201 armed robbers, 37 cultists, 21 car snatchers, six NITEL&PHCN cable vandals, eight for unlawful possession firearms and others.

In a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Enugu, the

Abubakar

command spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Daura, as saying that the command rescued 14 kidnapped victims, adding that 79 armed robbery cases were reported.

Daura said the command recovered 87 arms and ammunition, 68 locally made pistols, 10 locally made double barrel short guns, one revolver pistol of six round, four AK47 riffles, three pump action gun, one brownie pistol and 150 cartridges.

He thanked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. M.D Abubakar, for his support to the command.

He also appreciated the efforts of sister security agencies, the media and relevant stakeholders for supporting efforts by the police to protect lives and property.

Wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Margaret Peter-Obi (left) and her daughter, Amaka, during the traditional marriage of the daughter of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha at Ogboko, Imo State, yesterday.

NUT urges robust welfare for members

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he Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Enugu State yesterday called for enhanced welfare for teachers for improved productivity.

The state’s chairman of the union, Mr Chumaife Nze, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

Nze noted that providing an environment conducive to teaching in the state would improve performances of

students in examinations and raise the standard of education.

He said: “2013 is a year of promises and there is a saying that the teaching condition of the teacher is the learning condition of the child; and for us to achieve more this year, government will focus attention on education and on teachers’ welfare, particularly their salaries as well as increase their take-home package and other allowances.

“The hallmark of de-

velopment centres on education; if such is done, we believe that there is going to be increased productivity in the education industry in the state.

“Our expectation is that government and the NUT will be friendlier and the government will be more concerned about the welfare of teachers in the state.”

Nze, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, appealed to the state gov-

ernment to look into the backlog of salaries and arrears of gratuity for workers and retirees.

“We believe that this year, government will look into the backlog of all arrears of workers and retirees and pay them off,” he said.

The chairman urged workers in the state to remain dedicated in the discharge of their duties and assured that the unions would continue to give them the needed support.

12

South South

Friday January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kidnappers of four Koreans grabbed N30m ransom –Bayelsa CP EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

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ayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kingsley Omire, yesterday revealed that the kidnappers of four Koreans and two Nigerians working with Hyndai Industries in Okpoama Island collected N30 million ransom from the firm.

Omire said the firm paid the ransom to the kidnappers without the consent of the police.

It will be recalled that the firm’s workers were kidnapped on December

17, 2012 in Bayelsa State.

The police chief named the four suspects linked with the abduction of the construction workers as Romeo Egbo, Goodnews Amabebe, Dito Ologbo and Digiteme Itua, alias Seko.

The kidnapped workers are Joon Suk, Jing Kim, Hi Kim, Doo Lee and Austin Giwa. They were released on December 21, 2012 in Azikoro creek in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Omire also said the leader of the kidnappers who abducted King Seiba, the Paramount Ruler of Okor-

dia clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area on August 25, had been arrested.

Omire said following a confessional statement

by Itua, who claimed that he had four AK 47 rifles and several rounds of ammunitions at Ogboinbiri community in South Ijaw Local Government, detectives left with Itua and Egbo for Ogboinbiri for the recovery of the arms.

Omiri spoke yesterday in Yenagoa, while parading the suspected kidnappers, stressing that Itua and Egbo escaped into swamp from the boat used

Activities resume at the Mile 3 market after the New Year holiday in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

by policemen during a gun battle with their accomplices at Ogbodobiri in Southern Local Government Area.

He said the suspects opened fire on the boat leading to the exchange of bullets between the policemen and the gunmen.

The police commissioner said: “On interrogation, three of the suspects voluntarily confessed to kidnapping the four Koreans and two Nigerians on December 17, 2013.

“They also disclosed to us that one Digiteme Itua, alias Seko, is the leader of

PHOTO: NAN

Pensioners demand Post Master-General’s sack SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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igeria Postal Service Pensioners in Edo State yesterday called for the immediate sack of the Post Master-General of the Federation, Alhaji Moro Baba, for allegedly withholding the accumulated funds meant to pay their gratuities for seven years.

The pensioners, who commenced a nationwide picketing in Benin with placards carrying various inscriptions such as: “Post-Master-General pay us our entitlement,” “We have lost over 100 souls nationwide,” “We have lost many souls due to untold hardship,” etc shut down the premises of the Edo Area Territory of the agency located on the Airport Road.

The aggrieved pensioners also threatened to continue with the action until

their demand was met.

According to the Edo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr. Clement Ojo, they had been appealing to the Federal Government and the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene in the matter before now without success.

Ojo said: “We are appealing to the National Assembly and the Federal Government to come to our aid and intervene. We don’t know what the Accountant-General and the Post Master-General have done with our money.

“The management of NIPOST refused to pay us all our benefits, shotpayments, gratuities and pension for about seven years now.”

He added that the NIPOST management refused to respect an agreement that was reached with the union to offset some of the outstanding emoluments before De-

cember 20, 2012 following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum earlier issued.

“December 20th came and is gone. They did not even care to pay us.

Now, our children can no longer go to school; no money to pay fees.

Many of our members have been driven out from their homes owing to unpaid rents. Many of them have also died from the trauma because there was no money to buy drugs while others are on admission at various hospitals,” Ojo said.

the kidnap gang. At about 12 midnight, operatives of this command left for Odioma for the arrest of Itua.

“Itua was arrested in his Odioma house in Brass at about 1.30am. One AK 47 rifle, 60 rounds of ammunition, a telescope and three magazines were recovered from his house.

Edo Agbekoya co-ordinator suspended over anti-union activities SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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he Federal Government’s transformation of the agricultural sector is under threat in Edo State following the crisis that has engulfed the Agbekoya Farmers Association, the national agrarian group that anchors the platform of the programme’s anticipated success.

Speaking yesterday in Benin, the Edo State chapter of Agbekoya suspended its co-ordinator, Pastor Abel Uwanosa Ologbosele, indefinitely for what it described as the anti-association activities.

In a statement signed by the leaders of the association in nine of the 18 local government areas of Edo State and made available to journalists, the Agbekoya alleged that the period Pastor Ologbosele served as its co-ordinator was characterised by misappropriation of funds and maladministration.

“Ologbosele ran the affairs of the association independent of other members of the executive,” the association added.

The Agbekoya said that the allegations warranted the dissolution of the association’s executive and the immediate removal of the co-ordinator.

Rivers ACN hails Ogoni’s quest for clean environment GODWIN OKONKWO PORT HARCOURT

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State has congratulated the Ogoni people on their 20 years of peaceful struggle for robust living condition.

The party promised to support the Ogoni people’s effort to achieve their desired clean environment.

The ACN spoke through a solidarity message its state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jerry Needam, sent to the Ogoni people on their 2013 edition of annual

Ogoni Day celebration holding today at Bori.

Needam urged the people to put the past behind them and look forward with hope for the development of their land.

He asked them to see their past challenges as a source of strength to unite and live peacefully together.

The ACN congratulated the Ogoni people for 20 years of peaceful struggle for the betterment of their land.

It will be recalled that the Ogoni people, since after the killing of environmentalist Ken-Saro

“Before he could get possession of his charms, operatives pounced on him and brought him here to Yenagoa.”

Omire said the second suspect fondly called Super linked with the kidnap of the Okordia king was still at large, assuring that the police would arrest him soon.

Wiwa and his eight kinsmen in 1993, have dedicated the 4th of January every year to mark Ogoni Day so as to remind themselves of their resolve to peacefully fight against the degradation of their environment.

Amaechi

The decision was taken to restore the confidence of farmers and the general public in the genuineness of the aims and objectives of Agbekoya Farmers Association Worldwide as an organisation with an impeccable reputation for agricultural transformation, which past leaders had built since 1938,” it said.

The association listed the allegations which made its National President, Chief Kamorudeen Okikiola Aremu, to approve Ologbosele’s suspension to include non-submission of registration fees that resulted in the indebtedness of Edo State chapter to the national body, registration of non-farmers, inability to account for members at the local council level caused by a strange direct registration of intending members by the state coordinator himself, misrepresentation of the interest of the association under the state and Federal Government support initiatives, diversion of the association’s funds, arbitrary collection of levies from members, misinformation of members on government policies and association programmes.

National Mirror gathered that a caretaker committee appointed last week to run the affairs of the association until the inauguration of a duly elected new state executive would be sworn-in today.

Effort to speak with Ologbosele was not successful as at the time of filing this report.

However, the statement announcing Ologbosele’s suspension was signed by the following council leaders: Mr. Ezekiel Osiowman of Egor, Anthony Okekuoyen of Oredo, S. A. Imuede of Etsako East, S. Degema of Orhionmwon, Esima Momodu of Owan East, Alfred Omagbemi of Ovia South East, Ebere-Chi Orji of Ikpoba Okha, Osemwegie Iyonawan of Uhunmwode and Monday Nana of Esan West.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Party de-registration: INEC acted in error – Rivers CNPP chair

15

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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enue State governor, Gabriel Suswam has come out once again to debunked media reports misquoting him during a speech he gave during a church service immediately after the death of the late governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa.

In a press statement yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the governor, Cletus Akwaya, the governor said that his attention has been drawn to media reports, commentaries and editorials on the security alarm he raised during a church service in Makurdi, on December 9, 2012, making special reference to the editorial of THISDAY Newspaper of January 2, titled:

“A Governor’s unguarded statements.”

To set the records straight, Suswam said that he actually attended a church service at NKST Church, in Makurdi, a day after the death of Yakowa and others in a helicopter crash where he spoke in Tiv language on the various risks that Nigerian leaders are constantly exposed to and made specific reference to Yakowa’s death and the fate of Taraba State governor, Danbaba Suntai, who has been hospitalised since October, following the injuries he sustained in a plane crash “to drive home the point that anything can

IBADAN

M

en of the Oyo State Police Command, yesterday, for more than three hours quizzed former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, over a petition written against him for allegedly working with the former chairman of the state National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a. Tokyo) to disrupt the peace of the state.

While the author of the said petition could not be ascertained, Folarin, who read political meanings to the whole drama, described it as “build up to the 2015 election in the state.”

Before the former Senate Leader answered the call of the state Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, his two houses located at Oluyole Estate and Iyaganku GRA respectively, were besieged as early as 6.00am by over 100 armed officers of the state police command.

Folarin, while speaking with journalists after his release, alleged foul play on the way and manner his

houses were searched by the officers who claimed they were with a search warrant to conduct thorough searches of his entire households.

He said he was on his way to Abeokuta to console with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the recent inferno at his Hilltop residence and later meet a lawyer in Lagos over his brother’s will when a call came that the police boss wanted to see him over a petition bothering on security.

Folarin, said that he was stunned that politicians could resort to blackmail just three days into 2013, when 2015 was still far away.

On his alleged romance with Tokyo, he said his relationship with him was just that of an Ibadan brother, stating that the last two occasions he saw Tokyo were during the burial of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s mother and the fidau of his late brother, Alhaji Suleman Emiola.

He said that his ordeal had political undertone, saying that the petition could have come from either the PDP or the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

happen to anybody any time, no matter how highly placed”, hence the need for prayers adding that the governor’s misrepresentation may have arose from the intention of reporters to cause mischief or wrong interpretation or both.

Akwaya also clarified that Suswam’s mention of Boko Haram threats to his life was just another example of the dangers and risks, leaders in the country are exposed to, adding that as the chief security officer of Benue State, Suswam is privy to intelligence reports from security agencies, saying that the relative peace enjoyed in the state was as a result of

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Politics

Adamawa PDP: Power play and for what?

14

I was misquoted on plane crash, Boko Haram’s threat, says Suswam

Oyo police quiz Folarin over alleged threat to peace KEMI OLAITAN

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

the “adept management of the security apparatus and information available to the governor. His statement on the threat to his live was based on intelligence reports at his disposal and was made in the context of the need for the people of God to remember him in prayers, and not to whip up any religious sentiments and win publicity or public sympathy as is being insinuated in the media.”

The statement further said: “Any unbiased follower of events in our country in the past few years would know that the Boko Haram militancy has targeted government security agencies as well as media establish-

ments, Muslim and Christian leaders and worship centres, hence its threats could only be ignored at anybody’s peril. Our experience in Benue State, specifically, informs us that no threats to the governor should be taken lightly as they have been targets of real life attacks by criminally-minded people. Since assumption of office in 2007, Governor Suswam has had several attempts on his life. On one occasion, some gunmen opened fire on his convoy around Gudi, along the Akwanga – Keffi road as he travelled to Abuja.

“Let it also be known that Governor Suswam

has no political capital to gain by raising alarm over threats to his life; neither is he in search of cheap popularity.”

Saying that Suswam’s track records as an achiever has earned him credibility and acceptability, Akwaya said that the governor does not need to and would never resort to “such hoax as threats to his life” to gain popularity.

He added that Suswam is not averse to dialogue with Boko Haram for peace to be achieved in the North or any other group from any other part of the country, saying that the governor has used his position as the vice chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum to work with other stakeholders behind the scene to address the security challenge confronting the nation.

Cross section of newly appointed Local Government Transition Committee chairmen taking oath of office during their swearing-in at the Michael Okpara auditorium in Umuahia, Abia State, yesterday.

NPA: Ignore opposition, Anenih tells Nigerians • Says PDP BoT chair not for media propaganda

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ormer Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, has urged concerned Nigerians to ignore the mischievous publications in the media about his recent appointment as chairman of the Board of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Anenih, in a statement signed by his Personal Assistant, Peter Abulu,

said that the same attitude should be shown towards similar media publications in respect of efforts by the leadership of the PDP to fill the vacant position of the chairman of its BoT. The one-page statement reads: “The attention of Chief Tony Anenih, the Iyasele of Esan land, has been drawn to several newspaper publications in the last few days about his recent appointment as

chairman of the board of the NPA and the effort by the leadership of the PDP to fill the vacant position of its BoT chairman.

“While Chief Anenih appreciates the concerns of some Nigerians about some mischievous publications on these issues, he believes silence is golden in times like this, and has requested concerned Nigerians not to join issues with the opposition

elements in their mischievous enterprise.

“The appointment of Chief Anenih as chairman of NPA board was the absolute discretion of Mr. President and the filling of the vacant position of the chairman of the BoT of the PDP is the absolute discretion of the party leadership and the BoT members. It should not be a matter for media propaganda.”

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Politics

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Adamawa PDP: Power play and for what?

The power play that is going on in Adamawa State ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is really becoming interesting, as it is not possible to predict which camp the anchor will berth between the group comprised of the party national headquarters, stakeholders and party leaders on one hand and that led by the state governor, Nigeria Governors Forum, and now the Presidency. OBIORA IFOH captures the power play and its implication.

I

t is no longer news that the Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in deep crisis, but what is probably the most intriguing aspect of it, is the fact that the combatants have failed to crystalise the real reasons why they are at war.

A week ago, the nation saw the crushing and humiliating defeat of the PDP faction loyal to Governor Murtala Nyako, as the PDP national chairman, Bamanga Turkur’s faction, went ahead to win convincingly in the ward congresses of the party, which went ahead despite the ban placed on it by the governor.

Governor Nyako had placed a ban on all political activities in the state following a meeting he had with security operatives after which he declared that the prevailing security situation in the state was not conducive for such activities.

The Presidency had also directed that the congresses be put on hold until a report from an ad-hoc committee unilaterally put in place by President Goodluck Jonathan, is turned in; a decision both the PDP national leaders as well as stakeholders and elders of the party in Adamawa State resisted. They claimed that the President lacked such power under the existing PDP constitution.

Jonathan had inaugurated an eight-man committee with Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Theodore Orji (Abia) as chairman and member, respectively. Other members of the committee include two unnamed members of the National Assembly, three unnamed members of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), while Abba Dabo, the Political Adviser to the Vice President will serve as the secretary.

Nyako had on his part invoked his powers as the chief security officer of the state to ensure that no other congress or political activity is held, particularly the local government and state congresses congress scheduled to hold on January 3 (yesterday) and 8 respectively.

He is relying on the restraining order by a Yola High Court which came sequel to a motion filed by one Mustapha Njobi and two others against the PDP and 10 others before the acting Chief Judge, complaining that their rights have been trespassed upon by the refusal of the party’s caretaker committee to allow them participate in the December 27 ward congress.

Nyako

Tukur

THE DRAMATIS PERSONAE IN THE WHOLE CONFLAGRATION WHICH INCLUDE

NYAKO, TUKUR, ATIKU AND PRESIDENT JONATHAN ARE ALL IN THE COMBAT OVER THEIR AMBITION IN

2015

The plaintiff contended that they were unfairly excluded from participating in the congress in Gella ward, Mubi South Local Government, wondering why they were prevented from contesting in the congress after having purchased forms. They also alleged that delegates and ward officers in the ward congresses conducted were imposed on members of the party by the defendants. They said that if the subsequent congresses are allowed to take place, the same infringements would be repeated.

It would also be recalled that earlier, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone 3 Yola, Mr. Mohammed Tambari Yabo had asked the caretaker committee of the PDP led by Umar Damangu to suspend the ongoing congresses in the state based on security reasons, saying that available security reports at his disposal is unfavourable to any form of political gathering in the state. The Damangun- led committee was set up late last year by the PDP NWC to conduct fresh congresses in the state after the dissolution of Kaugama-led state executive committee.

Power tussle has been the bane of development in Adamawa, which prides itself as one state that has produced some national leaders in the recent political history of Nigeria. It would be recalled that prior to the last National Convention of the PDP in March 2012, the state produced over 15 chairmanship aspirants of which the incumbent chairman, Tukur, also from the state won the election. It is also a fact that

aside the formidable political pedigree of former Vice President Atiku Abubarkar, the state has also produced the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Nuhu Ribadu.

In spite of all these positives, the state had continued to be rocked with politics of self-entrenchment rather than the acceptable collectivism or progressivism that clearly defined positive democracy world over. At the head of the crisis is the succession intrigues. Unknown to the public, the very silent reason for the crisis in Adamawa is 2015; both at the state and at the centre.

National Mirror investigation clearly revealed that the dramatis personae in the whole conflagration which include Nyako, Tukur, Atiku and President Jonathan are all in the combat over their ambition in 2015, as who ever wins will certainly have an edge over who becomes what in the state in the next general elections. And to achieve the aims, laws are trampled upon, loyalty is misplaced, and logic is upturned for personal interest.

For instance, the only way Nyako could make his son or any other of his lackeys succed him in the Government House in 2015 is for him to enthrone a puppet state executive. He was very comfortable with the Kaugama-led exco, which he unilaterally installed without any legitimate congress. For Atiku, his lifelong ambition of becoming the president of Nigeria can see a glimpse of hope only if Nyako’s chain of authourity is broken. The governor stood firmly against the Turaki in the run off to the last PDP presidential primary, making sure that he mobilised other Northern governors against him. Should he or any of his followers remain in power, then it is goodbye to his ambition. This explains why the former vice president is teaming up with the rest of the stakeholders in Adamawa to fight the governor.

For President Jonathan, he was an unwilling accomplice and has now taken side with Nyako. It would be recalled that late in December, members of the Nigeria Governors Forum led by Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, had invaded the national headquarters of the PDP to pressure Tukur and the NWC to soft-pedal on their nonrecognition of the recently held council

election in Adamawa and to allow Nyako a free hand to pilot the affairs of the party in the state. The governors also stormed the villa in solidarity with their colleague to persuade President Jonathan to intervene in what appears to be an encroachment of Nyako’s powers by Tukur.

It was after the meeting with the NGF and the PDP NWC that President Jonathan directed that the congresses be put on hold, but the real reason behind the directive, National Mirror gathered, was because of the consequential effect of not supporting the governors in view of the 2015 presidential election which the President may have interest in.

National Mirror gathered that the committee was put together by the President without any input by either the PDP chairman or the party leaders from the state, who are opposed to the hijacking of the party apparatus by Nyako and the inauguration was secretly conducted shortly after the Tukur-led NWC had a meeting with the President the same day and their was no mention of the inauguration while the meeting lasted.

The Presidency, through the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Lamido and the party national secretariat had exchanged letters on the suitability or otherwise of the congresses with both camps clearly divided over the modus operandi. While the Presidency is towing the line of the governor, Tukur is relying on the powers of the party which gives him the overriding power over state excos.

He almost succeeded last Wednesday when Nyako pulled the last string using the court to stop other congresses lined up.

However, it would also be recalled that the acting chief judge, Justice Nathan Musa, who delivered the judgement, being his first since he was sworn in on December 31, 2012 was only acting a script which earned him the top post.

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Maryam Aloma Mukthar had earlier directed Nyako to swear in Justice Bathimawus Popo Lawi, being the most senior judge as the Chief Judge in the state and not Justice Musa, an order Nyako disregarded.

Besides holding firm the judiciary, Nyako is believed to have a grip on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has also restated it would not participate in any fresh congress of the PDP. The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Kassim Gana Gaidam, said the electoral umpire will not partake in any fresh congress or activities of the party until the crisis is resolved.

He said that INEC takes orders from its national headquarters not from a political party, more so, as the party in question is factionalised, so it’s difficult to trade with any group, let the headquarters decide.

The political conflagration in Adamawa is fast assuming a dangerous dimension if unchecked as virtually all the major players are key to the national politics ; PDP being the party in government at the centre.

It is also important to know how the often claim of party supremacy will play out here in checking the powers of the Presidency. Who calls the shot in matters of party politics: the party leadership or the Presidency?

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Friday, January 4, 2013

Meniabi Dagogo Jack is the chairman of the recently de-registered Fresh Democratic Party (FDP). He also chairs the South-South and Rivers State chapters of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP). He tells GODWIN OKONKWO in this interview that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred when it de-registered political parties among other salient issues. Excerpts:

PARTY DE-REGISTRATION

INEC acted in error – Rivers CNPP chair

Area, will your party take part in the election?

There are bye-elections and re-run elections which they have even violated the law guiding their conduct. There is a period of time allowed after a person dies to conduct byeelections. Those sections of the law have been violated and the time has exceeded the period allowed. It is an indication of the kind of irregularities that pervade the system.

Now, some political parties were de-registered like FDP and they are in court and you are not dialoguing with them, but you are saying that only registered political parties should attend your meeting. What happens, if the courts void INEC’s decision? It simply means that the parties have been deprived of their legitimate right to contest the election.

How would the planned alliance among the opposition parties affect Rivers State?

Once the national leadership of the opposition parties takes a decision on any matter, it runs down to the state level. Basically in principle, it would affect Rivers State, but somehow the opposition political parties here have not met to reappraise that decision. What we have to do is to sit down and re-appraise such decisions from the national level and particularly see how it suites us in Rivers State.

But right now, we have not done that. We would have done that but most recently, about 28 political parties were de-registered. So, we are in court and that has somehow disorganised us a bit. But our basic intention is to ensure that we fight for good governance and true democracy. I must say that the Federal Government has indeed disappointed us.

You can see the high level of insecurity here and there; you can as well see the high level of starvation, the high level of human right abuses here and there, high level of hunger and penury. So, it has indeed disappointed us. We didn’t think that we have to go through this. Although, the government has its own challenges too, but it’s one thing to be a nice person; it is another to have the political will to do the right things. President Goodluck Jonathan is a nice person, but does he possess the political will to drive issues forward?

On which side of the divide are you on de-registration of political parties by the electoral umpire?

In the first instance, about seven political parties were de-registered and now, 31 others have joined the rank.

There was an advertorial by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the reasons why each of these political parties was de-registered, but one major reason was that the political parties did not win a seat at either the state or national assemblies. Another reason was that these political parties had no visible offices and that their national executive councils (NEC) do not reflect federal character.

But let me also tell you very frankly that INEC has flouted the law guiding right to association as entrenched in section 40 of the constitution. It cannot de-register political parties, it has no right to de-register political parties.

Though the Electoral Act empowers INEC to de-register political parties which are not able to win some reasonable seats at election, the constitution of Nigeria, in section 40 talks about right to association and if there are conflicts of interest in these laws, what is obtainable in the constitution prevails.

Let’s look at Britain, she has about 419 political parties, South Africa has over 100, Ghana has over 100 as well.

There are numerous political parties in the United States of America (USA). And recall that we are practicing the American type of democracy. So, democracy in its fullness must not infringe on the rights of the people. Let me also mention that there are a lot of political parties in America which have not won elections, but they have not been deregistered. So, that is an error in the Electoral Act. In Canada, there is a political party which is an on-line political party, it doesn’t have any office. If you want to contact them you go on-line, that is the essence of democracy.

Sections 226 and 240 of the constitution talk about INEC submitting to the National Assembly the finances of all the political parties on yearly basis. You and I know too well that INEC has not done that to the National Assembly, does that call for the abrogation of the laws that set up INEC or the dissolution of INEC? It’s not done. So, you cannot come and tell me that because my party’s national executive does not have federal character spread as desired in section 223

15

Are you advising that RSIEC waits for the determination of the case against the de-registration of the parties?

Well, if you say that RSIEC should wait, you are also further elongating the already elongated time span. So, Nigeria is in total confusion. It is quite unfortunate that the people who came in and talked about due process and rule of law are the people that have violated rule of law in highest degree in Nigeria.

Jack

YOU DON’T GIVE US GUIDELINES ON HOW TO ASSOCIATE AMONG OURSELVES. IT IS THE PARTIES IN THE ASSOCIATION THAT DETERMINE HOW THEY WANT TO ASSOCIATE of the constitution or because my party did not win an election, you want to de-register it. It is not done. So, let INEC come out and tell us that we are no longer practicing the American type of democracy where you have several political parties that are registered, but has not won an election or in Canada where you have an on-line political party or Ghana where you have over 100 political parties, let them tell us that we are no longer practicing that type of democracy, but that we are rather practicing “Nigercracy,” that is democracy that is peculiar to Nigerian situation. INEC did what it did in great error. You cannot judge by the victory in the 2011 election because many of us saw how the election was conducted.

I am suspecting the government in power; I am suspecting INEC for pushing for a one party system. I want to associate; you don’t give us conditions for association. It is there in section 40; you don’t give us guidelines on how to associate among ourselves. It is the parties in the association that determine how they want to associate. We are in court because this is a violation of our rights to association and we are ready to battle it to the end.

A lot of people think that the formation of political parties is to win elections and gain power; no. political parties could have as one of their ideals, contribution to the improvement of democratic culture.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has announced plans for bye-elections in some wards and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government

What is your take on the on-going constitutional review especially as it concerns establishment of state police, local government autonomy and the immunity clause for the president and state governors?

I think I am in total support of local government autonomy. When the House of Representatives came to my constituency, I was among the people that went to deliver memoranda and one issue I mentioned there and very seriously too was that local government areas should be given full autonomy. They are the third tier of government and the section of the constitution that deals with local government talks about elected local government councils, but then you see governors setting up caretaker committees.

There are some states that have not conducted local government election for long. That is why I say that there is craziness in democracy in Nigeria. So, I think local government should be given proper autonomy, its full right as the third tier of government with its full financial autonomy, so that all these noise about joint state and local government accounts would come to an end. Their allocations should be sent directly to them the way it’s being sent to the states. They are the closest to the poorest of the poor.

What is your take on the clamour for state police?

The establishment of state police will be good. But at the level we are today, where there is high level of human rights abuse and with the kind of democracy we practice; state police cannot thrive in our environment. Sometimes some policies are good but the timing could be wrong. The timing for state police in the country is wrong.

Today, The Nigerian Governors’ Forum will talk about state police and the Northern Governors’ Forum will tell you that they don’t want state police. Like I said, state police is good, but then the despotic nature of most of our governors will not allow state police issue to work out well for true democracy, it will not at all in this present circumstance.

Should immunity for the president and governors be retained or removed? I think it should be removed and retained in only civil cases. The immunity clause should cover them on civil cases so that people will not distract them with civil matters, but on criminal matters, nobody should be above, the law they should be tried accordingly.

And if such immunities are removed, it will really help the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies to effectively combat corruption, especially among the executive arm of government.

Editorial

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Friday, January 4, 2013

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Cost of latest workers’ strike in Plateau State

T

he most recent industrial action in Plateau State has finally come to an end. Called off on Thursday December 27, 2012, the strike embarked upon by local government workers under the auspices of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and primary school teachers across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state lasted seven whole months!

When it commenced, it had the semblance of the kind of threats that characterize steps by organized labour in the country to compel government to yield to workers’ demands.

But when it turned a full-scale industrial action, supported by the entire workforce in the state in sympathy with NULGE and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), it probably dawned on the state government that it has been hit by a phenomenal social dislocation.

The state was grounded, but it was obvious that while the faceoff lasted, Plateau people were at the receiving end.

The industrial action, which became overly politicised, had polarized the state, with a group sympathetic to the plight of the striking workers aligning against the state government and defying all its punitive measures, including a ‘no work, no pay’ order. Another

group supported the government and used all kinds of parameters to justify its stand.

The ‘no work, no pay’ rule must have put the striking workers in financial discomfiture; and it is not clear whether or not the government will be magnanimous enough to relax the order and pay the workers the backlog of their salaries. Besides, economic activities suffered greatly in the course of the strike, with a drastic drop in business transactions and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The state’s huge tourism potential has equally been suffering for years as a result of endless security crisis. The social space was tensed up by domestic terrorism and ethnicreligious conflagrations.

The fact that the strike ended only four days to the end of 2012 buttressed the huge loss the state must have sustained in terms of revenue earnings, as well as in the performance of its statutory responsibilities as a government. In other words, for seven whole months, the Government of Plateau State shirked its responsibility to the people on whose behalf it purportedly contested elections to govern. Adversely affected was the health sector. Because of the closure of water plants which led to the scarcity of potable water, Plateau people

THOSE WHO BEAR THE BRUNT OF STRIKES IN THE END ARE THE WORKERS AND THEIR

DISTRESSED FAMILIES, NOT POLITICIANS OR EVEN LABOUR

LEADERS, MOST OF WHOM WINE AND DINE WITH ‘THE DEVIL’

resorted to less than hygienic alternative sources of drinking water, which cannot be trusted. A looming epidemic is, therefore, not impossible, particularly in the state capital, Jos, where fresh water is scarcely available even under normal circumstances. Added to the development is the problem of overstretched and yetto-be-evacuated ‘emergency’ and official dumpsites. All major streets in the state were reportedly littered with refuse because waste disposal workers were on ‘AWOL’ for the seven months the strike lasted!

Whereas the industrial action has come and gone, there seems to be the urgent need for the Governor Jonah Jang administration, and all other state gov-

ernments across the country, to learn from the avoidable, embarrassing and life-endangering industrial action. A crisis that can linger for more than seven months does not speak well of a democratic government that is supposed to be ‘of the people, by the people and for the people’. The lengthy strike clearly demonstrated how insensitive those in power can be to the plight of ordinary citizens in defense of entrenched interests.

On the other hand, workers and labour unions owe the nation the patriotic duty of looking befor leaping especially when it comes to embarking on industrial action. Having a sense of responsibility and being guided by the call of duty and service to the people, more than eyes fixated on wages, should be taken into serious consideration when strikes are contemplated.

This becomes especially important when it is realized that those who bear the brunt of strikes in the end are the workers and their distressed families, not politicians or even labour leaders, most of whom wine and dine with ‘the devil’.

The government and labour leaders, at all times, should consider the interests of the present and future generations, whose lives are being wasted as a consequence of frequent labour-government face-offs.

ON THIS DAY January 4, 2010 Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was officially opened. Burj Khalifa, known as Burj Dubai prior to its inauguration, is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the tallest man-made structure in the world, at 829.8 m (2,722 ft). Its construction began on September 21, 2004, with the exterior of the structure completed on October 1, 2009. The building is part of the new 2 km2 (490-acre) development called Downtown Dubai.

Letters to the Editor

January 4, 1990 Pakistan’s deadliest train accident occurred when an overloaded passenger train collided with an empty freight train, resulting in 307 deaths and 700 injuries.

The Sukkur rail disaster occurred in the village of Sangi, near Sukkur in the Sindh Province of Pakistan.

The train concerned was on a 500-mile overnight run from Multan to Karachi and was carrying many more passengers in its 16 carriages than its 1,408 seat capacity.

January 4, 1951 Korean War: Chinese and North Korean forces captured Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The Korean War (June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953) was a war between the Republic of Korea (South Korea), supported by the United Nations, and the Democratic People’s Republic President Jonathan of Korea (North Korea), supported by the People’s Republic of China. It was primarily the result of the political division of Korea at the end of World War II.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Friday, January 4, 2013

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NAMA and NATCA’s hoarse ABAN ALABA

G

iven the nightmarish presentation of the National Air Traffic Controllers (NATCA) on the state of Nigeria’s airspace, the unsuspecting credulous citizen would assume we were back to the traumatic era of air crashes.

NATCA, the umbrella organ of air traffic controllers (ATCs), wrote a petition titled “Continued worrisome state of communication facilities within the Nigerian airspace” wherein they averred that Nigeria’s airspace is unsafe because “radio communications on some routes have collapsed”.

The ATCs warned of impending cataclysms to the nation and mankind at large “if the situation was not arrested by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the body mandated by law to regulate air traffic in Nigeria”.

The NATCA spoke of “erratic working conditions of 124.1MHz radio frequencies of Kano East as reported by pilots flying the route” and added ominously “reported air incidents led the potential of resultant mid-air collisions (thus) making Nigeria a laughing stock among the global aviation community”.

Now on account of the reactions of independent observers and given the well-received accomplishments of the current NAMA administration led by Engr. Nnamdi Udoh, it is obvious that the joke should rather be on the traffic controllers, who haven’t learnt the abid-

ing lessons from their forbears at home and abroad.

A couple of years back the ATCs that came before today’s controllers hobbled from one media house to another thumbing down the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) project of NAMA. They claimed that the scheme was hasty and that although it was commendable for NAMA to deploy TRACON for air safety, it shouldn’t be too soon. They wanted TRACON operations “only after all necessary installations are implemented, including the intercom network, primary surveillance system and all other safetysensitive devices.”

NAMA went ahead with its plan and even dispatched over 100 ATCs to United States of America for training in the operation of TRACON. One of them returned and declared: “The new radar (TRACON) and training we’ve had can be described as the best thing to have happened to the aviation industry in the last decade.” The alarm raised by ATCs on TRACON thus proved groundless. Some analysts were later to say that the traffic controllers took the position they did in order to draw sympathy and ask for more wages.

They did get increased pay to rhyme with international standards. Now the ATCs are at it again, in the face of momentous achievements attained by Udoh-led NAMA. Their stand is raising questions about their motive, given the fact that the country’s airspace hasn’t had it so good. NAMA has embarked on

NAMA HAS EMBARKED ON

SEVERAL SAFETYCRITICAL PROJECTS ONE OF WHICH INCLUDES

TOTAL VHF

RADIO COVERAGE OF THE AIRSPACE

several safety-critical projects one of which includes Total VHF Radio Coverage of the airspace. It has been successfully implemented and the deliverables of the scheme provide very high frequency radio services for hyperactive Lagos and Kano Area Central Control Centres (ACC). Lately, the Lagos Area Control Centre has been marked for sectorisation to decongest the traffic on the route.

It was a scheme in the petition of the traffic controllers. But they exposed their ignorance by going to town with the claim that NAMA hadn’t done anything about it. According to NAMA MD “preparatory to the sectorisation were tests calls made on 120.9MHz to several aircraft and it is cheering news to say results have been perfect with no distortion in readability. The success recorded should put to rest the challenge of congestion in the airspace”.

We must bear in mind that Udoh has built-up 32 years of professional service and experience in the provision of air navigation services with bias in air safety management surveillance, calibration and logistics. He isn’t about to rubbish that reputation as the ATCs are suggesting. Nor are the highly qualified and competent professionals in his team.

So why are the ATCs raising the alarm when there’s no cause for it? The days ahead will reveal the motive. But it suffices to declare that when they did so in the past it ended in a blind alley. It amounted to a needless blackmail.

It reminds me of the tragedy that befell their colleagues in the United States during the Ronald Reagan administration in the 80s. They staged a strike to press for unnecessary demands from President Reagan. When only 10 per cent of them returned to work after the government had ordered them back, Reagan fired them all and described them as “peril to national safety.” The then US president recognised the critical role of air traffic controllers, but he also realized that it was a role that must be moderated by patriotism and a determination to contribute to air safety consciousness, and international business.

If there are genuine concerns about air safety, complaints can be internalised in NAMA without publicly celebrating them.

Alaba, a public policy analyst wrote from Ota, Ogun State

2013: Year of the water snake HANNATU MUSAWA Continued from last Wednesday

A

ccording to the Chinese calendar if, after the frenzy of 2012, the year of the dragon, we thought we were out of the woods, then we have another thinking coming. In Chinese myth, the year of the water snake is a year of obstacles and shakes-ups that traditionally brings many challenges and disasters. It is imagined that it will be a very slow year, but at the same time, there will be a lot of unexpected events in 2013. It’s a year when quick manoeuvres are going to be needed in order to avoid unexpected obstacles.

In general, a snake is a tricky creature, which moves in a manner where its body undulates making it difficult to tell which direction it is moving in. Apparently, that is what can be expected with any year that is represented by the water snake; it will seem to go in one direction, and then, very unexpectedly, it will veer in completely another direction. Legend has it that those who do best in the year of the water snake are the people that have a natural ability to move at the velocity of the snake and who are able to traverse tricky waters.

True to the Chinese calendar, judging from the events of 2012, reading from the body language of President Jonathan, it

AMID EXPOSÉS OF GRAND

EMBEZZLEMENT, SLEAZE AND

MISMANAGEMENT, THE

PRESIDENT AND HIS

CABINET SEEM TO CARE VERY LITTLE THAT THE NATION AROUND THEM IS CRUMBLING PIECE BY PIECE would be fair to say that Nigerians can expect a year filled with colourful commotion as far as politics goes. This is to be expected because for every active politician in Nigeria, in the run up to the dreaded 2015, 2013 may well symbolize a make or break year. All the backbiting and politicking we have witnessed since the last election will appear to be child’s play compared to the subterfuge we are about to witness as we move towards 2015.

And subterfuge it certainly will be, especially given the fact that the machinations and intrigues for the second, or is it third, coming of President Goodluck Jonathan has already started. Rather

than perform their official duty of which they were appointed into office, a number of the President’s band of merry men appear to be more interested in transferring national wealth to their private accounts and prancing about with indicted criminals and thieves. Amid exposés of grand embezzlement, sleaze and mismanagement, the President and his cabinet seem to care very little that the nation around them is crumbling piece by piece.

How about the opposition parties, what if anything, will they do to stem the behemoth of the ruling party as we approach 2015? Well, the opposition parties have only one option and that option is no other than the great merger we have been hearing about. For the first time since 1999, it looks like the opposition may finally be in a position to marshal a counter movement against the ruling party, even win in 2015. But that can only become a reality if in-house cleansing, strategy and perception are applied by each of the merging parties.

Individual members of the opposition must put their personal ambitions aside in the interest of the greater good of the country and merge as one whole entity.

Thereafter, they must put the issue of a zoning the presidency aside and consider adopting a consensus candidate based on achievements and popularity. They must deemphasize ethnicity this time around.

A candidate that comes from any part

of the country, a candidate that is ready, willing and able to transform this country to the level it deserves, should they be victorious.

So only time will tell if the predictions of the Chinese will produce any truth, but as long as it is not as incorrect as the great 2012 Mayan prophesy, then Nigerians had better brace themselves. As a people who thrive for development, Nigerians need to make a new resolve to take charge of their destiny as they did in the beginning of 2012. ‘Occupy Nigeria’ must always be on standby in readiness for the call of duty.

Whatever happens in this great land, we must look to our future with hope, notwithstanding the fact that according to the Chinese, the year of the snake will surely produce a ‘shake-up’… or shall I say ‘snake-up!’

Welcome to the Year of the Water Snake folks. Welcome to 2013!

Concluded Musawa, a lawyer, lecturer, columnist and human and women’s rights activist, lives in London 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.

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Nigerians’ expectations for 2013 W Let ACF tell us how to stop Boko Haram

T

he Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is at it again with its equivocation on the way out of the pervasive insurgency that has reduced the economies of most of the North to tatters. President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that this year, the challenge posed by Boko Haram, the militant Islamic sect, to national security would have been substantially contained. The position of the president is in synch with the expectations of majority of Nigerians, many of who are victims of the insurgency.

Two options are opened to the resolution of the quagmire: dialogue or force.

Because of the fact that the leaders of the sects are Nigerians and the impacts of the nefarious activities are borne by Nigerians, dialogue would have been the preferred option.

However, how to get this off the ground has been problematic with the power oligarchs from the North not volunteering any viable framework. It is easy to know why this is so: Boko Haram is their answer to riddle of the elusive presidency in 2011. So, it is Jonathan’s headache to find an answer to it. This is a myopic way of addressing a national scourge.

Nobody wants unnecessary shedding of blood in the country. Nigerians will be happy if the leadership of ACF develop the dialogue template, search for the third party mediators and convince Boko Haram to name its negotiation team to be led by the sect’s authentic leaders. President Jonathan will not only applaud this gesture, he would deploy resources to ensure its success.

Comrade Andrew Agbah, Warri, Delta State

e give God the glory for sparing our lives to witness the birth of another year. Nigeria has survived despite the multifaceted problems that buffeted her in 2012.

The survival of the nation in spite of the pervasive insurgency in the North is a clear indication that God has divined its existence and no human induced obstacles could pull it down.

However, it is depressing to note that Nigerians have been short changed by their leaders.

Only in few states do we have purposeful governance. In many of the rest states buccaneer ethics is the principle of governance. At the centre, President Goodluck Jonathan has not been inspiring.

He appears preoccupied with the razzmatazz of power while the real essence of power as an in-

strument of transformation and social change is ignored.

There is pervasive hunger in the land in spite of mass of arable land. God did not give us the land for nothing. Agriculture should receive prime attention as it was in the beginning. The Golden Era of Nigerian federation was the First Republic when leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello developed agriculture and used the monies made from it to transform their regions. What are the ministries of agriculture in the states and centre for if not to develop the roadmap for agricultural revolution in the country?

In his New Year message, President Jonathan established the nexus between efficient security provisioning and socioeconomic

development. He has promised to arrest Boko Haram insurgency.

We hope it is not one of his many empty promises. We ask what is to be done with the kidnap scourge. What is the curtailment plan? First the mole in the security agencies, especially the police force, must be exposed. They provide the logistic support for the kidnappers. Just as it is with armed robbery. A people that live with fear will only think and plan for short terms.

The promised power sector reform must come to fruition this year. No amount of national, corporate and individual planning would bring the needed transformation of the economy if the power supply deficit is not resolved. So, Nigerians tell their President, let there be light.

Even if the power issue is ad-

dressed and the parlous state of our roads and decadent railway system are unattended to, the journey to economic development and growth has not started. So, let the federal cabinet do something about this key sectors.

In the same vein, the issue of employment generation and people’s empowerment should be considered. We have seen YouWin, SURE-P and other intervention contraptions, but their impact is non-existent.

Nigerians ask for food, jobs, power roads, good and functional education and security. These are rights and not privileges. As our leaders gear up to meet these challenges, we pray for their success.

Godwin Aigbogun, City, Edo State

Benin

The Wada example

I

A woman selling banana at Apongbon, Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Mr. President, don’t submit to blackmail

O

ne of the lead stories in the yesterday edition of your newspaper is on the likelihood of President Goodluck Jonathan sacrificing the Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh to appease the egotists in the House of Representatives. My advice to the Nigerian leader is never to do so.

Surrendering to the cheap blackmail of the lower house of the National Assembly will not only weaken the Presidency, it will also traumatize the SEC DG, who commendably exposed the chicaneries behind the closets of NASS. The President must show strength now more than ever before. Nigerians know the truth of the face-off between the House and Oteh; the opposition

Letters to the Editor

against her has many faces, some of the issues are personal.

They should be allowed to win.

Should Mr. President bow to them, he has shown he is not the man to lead the nation. At this time of crises, the country needs a macho leader.

Ms. Oteh should resign where she to be seconded to As-

sets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON). She will go there with a load of controversy, her job security is not guaranteed because the same forces could induce problems there also and President Jonathan cannot be trusted to protect her.

Ms Evelyn Dickson, Abuja

Kudos to police on killers of Kano lawmakers

I

wish to commend the Kano State police command for speedily arresting the killers of two Kano State House of Assembly members, Danladi Isah Kademi and Abba Garko.

The arrest has led to the exposure of the alleged sponsor.

That for a mere fee of N100, 000 people could accept to waste two precious lives is heart rending. Why would the alleged

sponsor, Alhaji Sale Kura, contemplate such evil if not for envy? The police must spare nothing to get to the root of this evil and bring to book all concerned.

On a serious note, there is need to address the social conditions that would make people kill for peanuts.

Mohammed Garba, Kano

rejoice with the governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, for surviving the December 28, 2012 ghastly accident along the Anyigba-Lokoja expressway. The thing elating from the development is that he was treated in a Nigerian hospital by preference, shunning suggestions to fly him abroad for treatment.

By this patriotic gesture, Wada has restored confidence in our local health facilities. That he was discharged to recuperate at home after less than a week in the Abuja hospital proves that we have competent medical personnel on ground to meet any health challenge. What are lacking are equipment.

President Goodluck Jonathan should lead the crusade to turnaround the nation’s health institutions to make them world class. We have the resources to accomplish this, what is missing all along is the political will and this is because of the known proclivity by the privileged few in authorities to expropriate such allocations.

Once again, I rejoice with the government and people of Kogi State for escaping the misery and trauma that recently befell Kaduna. Perhaps, the unfortunate development would now draw attention to the problem of reckless driving by convoys of our very important personalities. Nigeria has a law on speed limit. This must be obeyed by everybody.

Cletus Bamaiyi, Kogi State

Idah,

Send your letters or mails to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mirrorlagos@yahoo.com and info@nationalmirroronline.net or 08056180209, 07033375481 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject letters or photographs. Psuedonyms may be used, but must be clearly marked as such.

Your

FRIDAY

Komolafe

PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO WORRY ABOUT

NOLLYWOOD’S WELL - BEING , WHICH IS NATURAL BECAUSE WE GIVE JOY TO

NIGERIANS

ary.

The fears of the industry in this regards are not unfounded indeed.

This January 2013, the industry is set to bury the remains of three popular members, who passed on in the past couple of weeks. The latest, Bisi Veronica Komolafe, (popular for her role in Eja Tutu) passed on January 1, 2013 and would be buried today. According to the announcement by her family, there would be a requiem mass for her today at the Catholic Church in Okepadi, Sal-

Eneh

vation Army Way, Ibadan, Oyo State to be followed by interment.

The other two, Pete Eneh and Enebeli Elebuwa are scheduled to be buried later this month after their deaths from diabetics and stroke, respectively.

Away from these unfortunate deaths, a number of actors in the industry are also down in health. Ifeanyi Dike, Emma

WEEKEND STARTERS Walking for charity Sonuga sings for culture

Shopping party tomorrow

C

N

i g e r i a n f a s h i o n brands, Elsie Vintage and Ariaba are hosting a shopping party to kick off the year tomorrow at Feo’s Exhibition, Karimu Kotun, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event promises to be interesting with lots of fashion items including

Elebuwa

clothes, accessories and footwear. Other brands scheduled to also be at the event include O’eclat, Nouva Couture and 24 Clothing. The shopping event is scheduled to hold between 12.00 noon and 6.00 p.m.

h a r ity Walk-AThon is an initiative to raise money for Freedom Foundation –an organisation with four arms which helps provide education and sponsors for underprivileged children.

The Walk-a-thon will take place tomorrow at the Dome,

Lekki, Lagos between 8.00a.m. and 3.00 p.m. Participants will be registered and T shirts for the event will be sold before the walk begins.

his Saturday, Titilope Sonuga will be at eclectically themed boutique hotel, Bogobiri House, Ikoyi, Lagos for the launch

of her debut album, Mother Tongue - a stirring piece of storytelling, a fusion of oral traditions and music that gets the listener deeply in-

volved. Titilope will be performing live and the event will see in attendance special guests.

Admission is free for the show which starts at 7.00 p.m.

Pro footballers host contest

for tomorrow and Sunday with AFPON president and Super Eagles international, Obinna Nsofor present at the event. Venue of the event is Eagle’s Club, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos.

Winner of the competition will win $2,000 and a PlayStation 3 Console while the 2nd and 3rd winners will win $1,000 and $500 respectively with PlayStation 3 consoles.

T

A

ssociation of P ro f e s s i o n a l Footballers of Nigeria, APFON, is organising a PlayStation FIFA 2013 competition

Mirror Mongers P. 34

Denrele’s Day

P

iqued by the growing cases of untimely deaths seemingly taking its toll on the nation’s motion picture industry, otherwise called Nollywood, stakeholders in the industry have been holding consultations with a view to finding a ‘spiritual solution’ to the problem. The Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, is leading the campaign and has convened a meeting, where it resolved that the industry needs to get closer to God as a way of combating untimely deaths.

Friday Flavour exclusively learnt from the national secretary of the AGN, Yakubu Abubakar, that a national fasting was declared in the industry yesterday (Thursday) in line with this new resolution. “We are having a meeting in Lagos this week in relation to this. Of course, we are worried, not only about the deaths but about the welfare of the industry in general. It is good to hand over the industry to God. As I am speaking with you, members of the AGN in all the states of the federation were directed to observe January 3, as a day of fasting. I just concluded mine. We need to get closer to God in the New Year to be able to overcome these trying moments.

In the past couple of weeks, we have been hit with one bad news after another and people are beginning to worry about our well-being, which is natural because we give joy to Nigerians and they should be concerned about our welfare. We will not fold our arms. We need to get up and face the enemy with God,” he said.

At the expanded forum, the Coalition of All Nollywood Guilds and Associations, CONGA is also looking in this direction as plans are on to convene a one-day national prayer retreat for all members of the motion-picture industry, which will possibly hold this Janu-

Edokpai, Peter Burno, and Prince James Uche, Ngozi Nwosu (popular for her role as Ije Kpoms in Living in Bondage and Peace in Fuji House of Commotion) is sick and seeking kidney transplant outside the country. The cost of treating the illness has, however, graciously been borne by donations from fans, colleagues, telecoms company MTN and the Lagos State government, whose cumulative efforts yielded about N6m so far.

A top Nollywood source said worry stems from the mysterious nature of the deaths and illnesses. “I know that people in our line of business usually get attention with every little thing, but the worry this time is from the mysterious nature of these deaths and afflictions. In the case of Bisi Komolafe, no one expected her death now; it came as a rude shock.

She had a promising career and the sad development came when people were crossing over to the New Year. The same thing happened in the case of Enebeli Elebuwa. He was recovering at the hospital in India. The pictures we saw before the sad news showed a man who would soon return but the next thing we heard was that he had died. Even Ngozi Nwosu is down now as well,” the source said.

Meanwhile, rumour mills are also adding to the anxiety in the industry. A few days ago, the grapevine was agog with claims that veteran actor Pete Edochie had passed on, which incidentally was a hoax, generated from the announcement that Pete Eneh’s burial had been scheduled for January 2013.

This would not be the first time the industry is seeking spiritual approach to its problems. Barely a year ago, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, at Yaba, Lagos, held a special prayer session for the industry which attracted a good number of Nigerian artistes.

P. 32-33

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

Escape

Nollywood goes spiritual as untimely deaths rock industry

P. 35

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

P. 22-23

Friday, January 4, 2013

Flavour

Critics

VOL. 3 No. 528

19

20

Artman In The House

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I admit the protagonist of Fine Boys is

Eghosa

Their twins Ethan and Nathan

Eghosa Imasuen still finds time to play lawn tennis though he is a medical doctor and writer of novels. In fact, only a few hours before this interview by Friday Flavour’s TERH AGBEDEH, he and his wife, Eniye were among those inducted into the lawn tennis section of the Benin Club. This is a glimpse into the world of Dr. Imasuen who lives in Benin City with his lovely family.

Your comment on Facebook after the Nigeria Prize was announced this year was pregnant...

It’s the problem you get when you have judges who don’t read. The National Book Award, as part of the rules the competition has to ride on the prestige of the books it’s judging. They also have an idea where the judges can call in entries even after they have been collated, they can say, ‘ah, there is a book I read, should we approach the publishers and the writers, can they please submit to the prize?’ So the organisers write a letter to the writer or publisher, ‘this your book, was it an oversight that you didn’t enter it?’ it’s in the National Book Award and the Orange Prize.

It’s in most upstart prizes that need to bring up their prestige. The NLNG Prize does not have that. I mentioned this to a young writer and he said the judges are academics and are not reading contemporary literature. How are they going to call in books?

But the danger is that as a writer, how do you advocate for your own work without hubris? ‘I knew I wrote well oh!’ How do you do that without sounding proud and wrong?

With the buzz Fine Boys is getting it has got to be good. Although it was slow at the beginning but when it picks up it never stops.

Yes, it was slow at the beginning, it has three beginnings. I completed the first draft in 2007. I had already signed a contract for To Saint Patrick my first novel, which sold on the basis of the idea not on the quality of its writing. I never admit that but I will admit it here. It was an idea of an alternate history novel for Nigeria; what if Muritala (Mohammed) survived 1976? And what if two thirds of 19 didn’t stand? And Obafemi Awolowo actually won the 1979 elections, at least the runoffs? I had this idea that a five-party system could not admit that election was

LIKE THE

LAND USE DECREE,

PEOPLE STILL BUY LAND AND BACK DATE IT TO

1977 EVEN

THOUGH THEY WERE BORN IN

1974. WE PUT IMPOSSIBLE

LAWS IN PLACE LIKE THE NEW

TENANCY LAW IN EDO STATE won on a single ballot. That is madness, impossible.

So, that was the idea behind it, and it was the idea that sold the book. At times I look back at To Saint Patrick and wish I wrote it now. Not to take anything away from fans of To Saint Patrick, Fine Boys was the first story where I said, ‘Okay, let me start writing’. And as it’s the case with most first novels, I was tentative, so Fine Boys actually had three beginnings. The first with the father and son in the car, a second with the history of Nigeria from 1992 and a final when we were in the university. In a situation where Nigeria was more competently built editorial-wise, I’d have had an editor who would’ve said, ‘squash the first two beginnings and put those later in the book’. So, most new readers who come to the book are able to crush those slow beginnings by either being inquisitive enough to want to learn more or being people who understand how confused our generation was, those of us born in the late 60s and mid 70s, how confused they were, how unidentified they were. But for people who recognise this peripherally, it’s easy enough for them to abandon it.

The novel came out at a time when my publish-

ers were having, as all publishers are having now, massive financial issues so the book was ready early January 2011 and they now had to go with the e-version. It was a bit of a funny problem because it was a new template and they were trying to stream books. The publisher didn’t understand the problems with streaming books, you can’t stream print in a situation where your phones are not always online. That was what Hybuzz was trying to do and it happened in September 2011. The print edition could not come out until late 2012. Before then, the printers sent 20 advanced copies and that was when we said, it’s award season, let us make entries and we had only six copies for that. We entered for the Nigeria Prize; it was a choice between that and the Wole Soyinka Prize. We entered for the NLNG Prize, which has a longer longlist, a better chance to achieve recognition, and we didn’t make it. Personally for me, it was intense disappointment because I heard in August. I was out of the country on holiday with my family; there was anger, disappointment and suspicion because no matter how you deny or belittle yourself as a writer, being able to put yourself in the public space you are actually admitting that you have confidence in yourself. It was a bit of a coming down to earth for me. But since that time, I’ve gotten my confidence from the reaction of even people that I do not know who have read the book. And I’ve tended to say that the judges didn’t get what I was trying to say. They must have judged it based on the compartments of writing, forgetting that, to paraphrase an 18th century novelist, a novel is a long piece of prose with something wrong with it. He goes further to say that a perfect novel will be perfectly boring.

The part where Wilhelm dies is retold from the point

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Artman In The House

Friday, January 4, 2013

21

a shadow of me – Eghosa Imasuen Boys story?

There is a textbook answer I give to that question, which is always given with a smile. That is that fiction is fiction. But of course, there is the idea where you have a character who is a medical student, who entered university in the early 90s and I was a medical student and entered university in the early 90s.

But aside from that, it will be presumptuous of me to assume that much of the Ewaen character. The protagonist of Fine Boys has certain graces that I don’t have, I was not that good, not that opinionated, not that brave. So, you had the idea where the template for the character is a shadow of me. I admit that.

This is the first time I’m admitting it. But the stories beyond that were all made up, inspired by real life experiences, stories told by friends...

Eghosa & Eniye at Benin Club the night of their induction

So Wilhelm didn’t die?

Wilhelm was four people, one of whom died. The death scene is real. Somebody died but there was no Wilhelm.

His books

Eghosa and his family of view of the doctor who receives him...

You will see that it’s in italics. The narrator tells the story and now dreams the entire scene where he is now the doctor, in the position of the doctor who confirms his friend as dead. It is a scene that appears twice, first from the point of view of confused children who had lost a friend violently, who were in the hospital and were shocked that the Nigerian hospital system does not understand pain. Where doctors are afraid to treat victims of violence because of police report and all that and once you are dead, ‘go to a central hospital because we don’t accept dead bodies since the police will come and arrest us’.

But is that still the case today?

Yes, it’s like the Land Use Decree, people still buy land and back date it to 1977 even though they were born in 1974. We put impossible laws in place like the new Tenancy Law in Edo State.

I’m still a doctor, so I speak on both sides. You watch television where the minister or commissioner says, ‘all doctors will be prosecuted for not treating accident victims or people who are dying or shot’, meanwhile, on ground a policeman just came to the hospital yesterday, waved the gun around and threatened to shoot you ‘because you are treating armed robbers’. Meanwhile, you were treating an armed robbery victim. It’s like the whole bribery thing with the police saying that both the bribe taker and the giver are equal. The bribe taker is an extortionist, he is extorting the public and he cannot be equal to the bribe giver.

Sounds like the case of Farouk Lawal and Femi Otedola.

That was messed up and I’ve no opinion on that because I’ve been on the losing side of too many political arguments. I’m the naive underdog sympathiser and I’ve always been like that. I’m from two states, the old Bendel State, my dad is from Benin, my mother is Itsekiri. In the last elections, I supported the opposition on both sides, ACN in Edo State and DPP in

FACT FILE •

Dr. Eghosa Imasuen was born in Ibadan in 1976. He grew up in Warri, Delta State where he obtained his Junior Secondary certificate from the FGC Warri and his Senior Secondary Certificate from The Technical High School, Warri.

•

He studied medicine at the University of Benin, graduating in mid-2000.

•

He has written two novels, 2008’s To Saint Patrick and 2011’s Fine Boys, and has had his short fiction published in a couple of magazines.

•

He lives in Benin with his wife and twin sons.

Delta State. In Delta State I lost, so I’ve always been a lover of underdogs and the ability of people to rise above oppression. It is complicated for me reacting to stories about pain and anger. But when I was writing Fine Boys, those were the kind of things I tried to put inside it; the ability of children to survive the most difficult circumstances. And I tried to write it in the way we lived it, flat. There was no opinion, the narrator was playful, his voice careless, humorous and isolated, almost ignorant. So it was like the iceberg, that Ernest Hemingway thing where 90 percent of the story is what is not said. You have characters who are drinking, who are being careless, have the most banal discussions but are living in a dictatorship, living in families where their fathers are beating their mothers because IMF and its conditionalities have turned parents into villains in their own homes. You see an example in Purple Hibiscus (by Chimamanda Adichie), where 10 years earlier those same characters are in secondary school. You see those characters 10 years later when they are in the university doing the same things. That is how vicious the cycle is.

How close to real life, your life that is, is the Fine

You wrote a book like To Saint Patrick then went so far off to do Fine Boys.

The thing is that when I started writing, my sympathies, the idea of what you think your talent is, my personal proclivities lean towards science fiction, speculative fiction, alternate history, that kind of thing called genre fiction. And if I’m going to write again that is most likely where it’s going to be. I’m going to move back to the To Saint Patrick thing, science fiction, alternate history and all that.

Now, Fine Boys was a story I knew I had to tell. For a long time I had not bought Nigerian fiction, but in 2005 I travelled to Lagos, I had started writing then, I bought this magazine where they showed this lady with beads in her head. I went to Silverbird Galleria and bought Purple Hibiscus and Everything Good Will Come. I read both books and in Everything Good Will Come, I saw my aunts and my senior cousins, I saw shoulder pads, boys quarters with Bob Marley posters, blue and red bulbs that you could change with the flick of the switch. With Purple Hibiscus I saw me, my generation and I was like, ‘oh, our stories are being told’. I was already done with To Saint Patrick at that time and I said, ‘okay, how do I extend Purple Hibiscus? How do I extend the story of us to the point of view where I remember the tragedy culminating? How bad did the things hinted at in Everything Good Will Come, Purple Hibiscus get? How did this generation of people, the older ones and their younger siblings, live?’

That is me, as writers tend to do, analysing things postscript. It was never that well thought through.

I told myself I had a story to tell and I started it.

Fine Boys was supposed to be a much longer novel, I planned to make it a three-part novel, changing voices, points of view but the writing of the book took over and lent itself to the power of prose, I just let it go. I finished the first draft in 2007. It was about a 110,000 words in six months.

At that time you were already a medical doctor and you found the time to write all those words?

Yeah, I graduated in 1999/2000. Then I had finished my internship, my house job, my NYSC. I had worked in Lagos. I finished NYSC in 2001 December, went to Lagos and worked for two years and came back to Warri. I started writing in 2005 and finished To Saint Patrick in 2006 and started Fine Boys almost immediately. It was after I got a contract from Farafina to publish To Saint Patrick. I finished Fine Boys in six to eight months because I’m fast in pouring it out and tend to be slower with editing.

22

Critics

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Film/TV

Obi Emelonye at BEFTA

Invasion 1897

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

A

picture of what to expect from the movie industry in 2013 started taking root by the middle of 2012. This is judging from the films either being shot at locations or being edited in the studios.

The classy nature of premieres in 2012 is also a pointer that Nigerians should not expect anything less this year, as the industry is gradually edging out mediocre efforts in terms of film production.

Of course, the big names in film production in Nigeria will dominate the scene, owing specifically to their strategic thinking, which avails the watching public something enthralling. Film maker, Kunle Afolayan, has already set the ball rolling with his documentary, Isedale Yoruba, which took him round the South west region of Nigeria interviewing traditional rulers and filming exotic spots that would project aspects of the Yoruba culture. The project bankrolled by MNET is expected to garner rave reviews on Africa Magic, where it is currently screening.

Following in the same footsteps of promoting African culture is Obi Emelonye, who is currently recording a new Igbo language movie, onye ozi. Emelonye, after making a mark with films like Mirror Boy and Last Flight to Abuja, decided to shoot onye ozi to revitalise the dwindling interest to make movies in Igbo language amongst his kinsmen. The film, which has white and black cast, is currently being shot in England and has already sparked off the passion to make Igbo language movies in producers like Teco Benson, Dickson Iroegbu, Amayo Philips, Harris Chuma and Gab Onyi amongst others. Onye Ozi, will intrigue audiences as members of cast who are whites would be seen speaking Igbo language.

Another personality to watch out for this year is Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen. After the commercial success of his last film, Adesuwa, Imasuen went back to location for Invasion 1897, which is the story of the invasion of the Benin Kingdom which happened 200 years ago. The film location in Benin was an assemblage of about 1500 film professionals from three continents- Africa, Asia and Europe and the technical crew of Invasion 1897 is composed mainly of Indians.

The story marks the climax in the inordinate exploitation of Africa by the West. This sinister quest began with slavery and later devolved to the famed scramble for Africa where the continent was divided among European World powers. The film vividly illustrates the shameful conquest motivated by greed to annex the resources of the African people, which among other things led to the loss of many art works of African origin.

Drum beats of war would also present an entertaining spectacle for those who have followed the blossoming career of Chimamanda Adichie. Her views of the controversial Nigeria-Biafra war captured in Half of

Kunle Afolayan

Tarila movie

Personalities, works to watch in 2013 There is no doubt that the film and television industry in Nigeria would spring some thrills. Here is a glimpse of what the year should portend.

EFFORTS TO PLACE MOVIES ON MOBILE DEVICES WILL ALSO

2013 JUDGING FROM THE PLANS OF MTN AFRINOLLY

GET A BOOST IN

a Yellow Sun has been adapted into a big budget film, featuring Hollywood stars, Chinwetel Ejiofor who plays Odenigbo and Thandie Newton, playing the role of Olanna. The film which was shot in Calabar, also features Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu and Zack Orji.

The industry should also brace up for the latest work being undertaken by Ifeanyi Oyeabor, Dan Almajiri, which is making a lot of buzz as the costliest movie ever made in Nollywood. The new movie currently in production has movie stars from India, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. The flick is a pan-African production, addressing the menace of child-begging and ostensibly targeting Bollywood aside other markets.

Tarila Thompson is also set for 2013 with his movie which will be premiered in the first quarter. Thompson’s film, Up Creek without a Paddle is currently undergoing post-production process in South Africa, England and Bulgaria and was shot at several locations in the jungles and creeks of Bayelsa, Delta, Riv-

ers and Lagos states, as well as Berlin in Germany.

It features Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Van Vicker, Patience Ozokwor, Ernest Asuzu and Eddie Ugbomah.

The film parades over 1,000 indigenes of the NigerDelta region including ex-militants.

Most likely, efforts to place movies on mobile devices will also get a boost in 2013 judging from the plans of MTN Afrinolly, which has also launched a search for short film talents. The winners who would emerge from the competition in March 2013 would definitely be the first works and personalities that would enjoy such huge distribution outlet, considering that MTN already has 40 million subscribers.

Television will not be any different in fact. Internet accessibility and appetite for African movies abroad will obviously make Iroko TV, run by Jason Njoku, a bigger deal in 2013 as he offers West African films to world audiences through this outlet. Television audiences locally should however get ready for the regulars like Big Friday Show, Valleys and Hills, Who Wants to be a Millionaire game show, Face to Face, Maltina Dance All, MTN Project Fame, Big Brother, Gulder Ultimate Search and Nigerian Idols. New TV shows like Yaw N Myn by Steve Onu and The Real Me Reality TV show by Omotola would also attract audiences.

Award ceremonies like the African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, Nollywood Outstanding Personalities Awards, NOPA, Best of Nollywood Awards, The Audio Visual Awards, TAVA, and the Nigerian Entertainment Award will certainly thrill in the New Year as well.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Critics

Friday, January 4, 2013

23

Literature/ Visual Arts

Year of promise for literature, visual arts

If 2012 was a year of discovery for literature and visual arts, there is no doubt 2013 holds a lot of promise for the two in the country. The Nigerian writer and visual artist will more than ever before show his worth not just in the number of pages churned out and canvases coloured, but also in the needed recognition and patronage the world over.

TERH AGBEDEH

T

here Was a Country, Chinua Achebe’s book will definitely continue to generate controversy and the sales that come with it. And though the year did not start with protests, visual artists will not lack material. Already, the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos, which turned five late last year has scheduled an artist talk for early this year, while its three-venue exhibition across the Atlantic titled: The Progress of Love continues till January 27. The artist to be featured is filmmaker Adaora Nwandu, while there will be a Progress of Love grand finale show by performance artist Jelili Atiku.

Goethe-Institut, which celebrated 50 years in Nigeria with an elaborate Lagos Live Art Festival, has since opened it is doors to writers and artists. It’s going to be a good year. So good photographer, Kunle Ogunfuyi will on January 10, from 3.45 p.m. open the doors to the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, with the exhibition titled: Flashback on Nigeria Protest: A Lagos Account. Less Nigerians forget, this is perfect timing to remind them of what went down early last year. Dates for the Harmattan Workshop organised by the Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation, (BOF), have since been announced for March.

At the launch of her latest book, A Bit of Difference on December 29, 2012 Sefi Atta, novelist, short story writer and playwright, said she would definitely write another book. And as it’s normally the case with her, she has already started that book, which she intends to write one page every day in 2013. She did not say what the title of the book will be, but from the look of things, the new tome will be ready this year. But what is certain is that A Bit of Difference is one of the books that will rule 2013. The book, she said, brings the story of the oil boom generation up to date. It is set in Lagos of the early 2000s. The protagonist is a Nigerian expatriate in London who works for an international charity that supports NGOs in Africa. At the age of 39, she is single and childless. She comes to Lagos for work and meets a single man. She is an accountant and the daughter of a banker; he is a businessman and the son of a lawyer. They are ordinary characters in ordinary circumstances that Nigerian readers can relate to.

“I have written about extraordinary characters in extraordinary circumstances, but I am making a case for ordinary moments in my writings now,” Atta said. The early readers of A Bit of Difference are already singing the

Toni Kan

GIDIS, TONI KAN’S NOVEL IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF

2013

Sefi Atta at the reading

book’s praises.

Another book that is bound to get its share of praise this year is Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah, although expected to be out on May 14, it’s already generating the kind of buzz that will make it a bestseller. It is Adichie’s fourth book and the title comes from the word Nigerians use for those who have left the country for the United States of America and become “Americanised”. Adichie’s heroine, Ifemelu is surprised to find the term applied to her when she returns home after 15 years since she’s always felt ambivalent about America: the country not only separated her from her teenage love, Obinze, who had his visa denied, it also made her truly conscious of race for the first time. But upon her return, she and Obinze are reunited and must see how their very different expatriate pasts affect both their relationship and their lives in a newly independent Nigeria.

Then there is Love is Power or Something Like That from Igoni Barrett,

which is due in 180 days and contains 224 pages. Igoni is a Nigerian writer with Jamaican roots was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria in 1979 to a Nigerian mother and Jamaican father - poet, essayist and novelist, Lindsay Barrett. He attended the University of Ibadan to study agriculture, but left in his final year to pursue a writing career. He has had an enviable writing life ever since resulting in his winning a handful of writing awards and fellowships. Love is Power or Something Like That is his first novel but he has written a short story collection titled: From Caves of Rotten Teeth.

You Don’t Like the Sea is one short story collection by Aimua Edosomwan that cannot be ignored by the reading public whether in Nigeria or elsewhere.

It’s an introspective collection of urban contemporary stories of a grimly disillusioned society fast sliding into anarchy. Readers will come across ordinary men and monsters caught up in the thin line between the arbitrariness of the iron fisted despot ensconced in

his gilded palace and the decisiveness of the lynch mobs prowling the streets.

The stories are a mixture of anger, madness, massacre, empathy, philosophy and outstanding lyrical prose Edosomwan who has been described as the ‘red-eyed sage with the silver tongue’.

The book has stories like: Temptation to Forgive Jacob, The Big Loan, Roaches’ Demise, and You May Hang Me Now. Teju Cole, whose Open City is still selling and getting rave reviews including being listed among The New York Times’ 100 most influential books for 2011, on his last visit to the country said he was researching a novel on Lagos, a city on which his novella, Everyday is for the Thief is based. That book will likely see the light of day much later in the year.

Gidis, Toni Kan’s novel is perhaps one of the most anticipated books of 2013. The award winning poet, essayist and novelist has since read portions of the book, which backdrop is Lagos, at events in the country and abroad.

Those who have read Toni Kan’s first novel, Balad of Rage, his collection of poetry and short stories, cannot wait for Gidis, which is short for Lasgidis, another name for the mega city with many names.

The above are just a precursor of how exciting the year promises to be in literature and in visual arts, merely the icing on the cake.

24

Inside FCT

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2013: FCT residents want a prosperous year MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

G

iven comparative analysis of chain of events in the nation’s capital in the past few years, it is right to say that year 2013 came with a horde of fortune and glittering hope for residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and indeed all Nigerians.

The reasons for this assumption are not far-fetched. First, unlike the previous year where anxiety soared over the state of the nation’s security– especially in Abuja where a Madalla-based church was attacked on December 25, 2011, leaving tales of woes and fears of eventualities; there was relative peace all through 2012 in the nation’s capital. The just-concluded Yuletide celebration came amidst improved security, thus, signalling a safer atmosphere and possible triumph over terror in this New Year.

Second, the unprecedented passage of the Appropriation Bill by the National Assembly since the return of the nation to democracy indicated possible improved governance this year.

Third, the ongoing aggressive infrastructure lift in mainly the Municipal Area Council of the city is a testimony to making the city a model for its contemporaries on the continent and pride of the nation’s citizens.

Also, heavy presence of security personnel in Abuja often send a cautionary message to trouble-makers, criminals and terrorists, and gives residents a sense of safety. These are some of the features that distinguish the city whose ambience is ever enthralling.

Whereas, the last Yuletide may have been hitch-free celebration, the socio-economic situation in the land did not portray a good omen for larger part of the residents to believe in a more fulfilling 2013. John Adai, a resident of Abuja, told Inside FCT how the socio-economic situation in Abuja and indeed Nigeria, conditioned his family’s preparation for the 2012 Yuletide and New Year celebrations.

He said: “I am not happy with so many things in this country. Except for the fact that our age is increasing every year as citizens of this country, many of us become poorer as years roll by. I will continue to thank God for being alive, though.

But, it does not make anyone happy that after 365 days, one finds it hard to point to any meaningful achievement. Life is becoming harder by the day. Many who want to see their relatives at home don’t have the money to travel. Those who travel barely have anything to show people at home as products of their efforts in the city”.

Meanwhile, residents of Abuja want more in 2013. They want a city where more advanced technologies will be deployed to checkmate terror attacks. They desire a nation’s capital where accommodation will be affordable to the common man. Residents of Abuja want a beloved capital where transportation, which remains most challenging in the city today, will be prioritised by both the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)

Children having fun at Wonderland park in Abuja on Christmas day

and the Federal Government.

They want functional local councils where not only the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), will be seen as FCT but other five local area councils namely: Abaji, Kwali, Bwari, Gwagwalada and Kuje, will receive adequate attention from the FCTA in funding of infrastructure, mass housing, employment, security, health, education, provision of water to name a few; and given same opportunity as AMAC through development-driven policies implementation.

It is the desire of people living in Abuja and visitors alike to see a nation’s capital where sanitation is accorded political will. People will be happy to see a city where all forms of wastes are well managed as it is in other climes. It will be good if the FCTA can emulate the waste recycling model of Lagos State where hundreds of jobless people are gainfully employed through the state’s waste management initiative.

In 2013, economic waste arising from demolition of estates should be contained; war on demolition of illegal buildings is better fought at the start of such projects. Since most victims of demolition often find it difficult to win their litigation against government when their structures are pulled down, government can stop building projects at the preliminary stage.

It is safe to say that residents of Abuja want to be witnesses to free, fair and credible council poll this year. All votes must count even as electioneering campaigns are expected to be devoid of bitterness, name-calling, bickering and mud-slinging. The exercise must promote participatory democracy and be worthy of emulation by other states in Nigeria when concluded.

Water, health and education are major issues in the city which continue to beg for attention from government.

Many of the city’s satellite communities are currently without health facilities, while affordability and quality of services are also real issues that must be addressed. It is also evident that many children of school age roam the

IT IS THE DESIRE OF PEOPLE LIVING IN

ABUJA AND VISITORS ALIKE TO SEE A

NATION’S CAPITAL WHERE SANITATION IS ACCORDED POLITICAL WILL streets of Abuja hawking or begging.

Many communities in Abuja are in need of schools; government is expected to address these issues.

Besides, many residents in the city

complain of the Park and Pay policy of the FCTA. There must be adequate public enlightenment on the modus operandi of the initiative. Consistency is also required in this programme in 2013. Inside FCT discovered that there was change in handlers of the Central Area section of the Park and Pay programme late last year which led to some tussles between the public and the ticket vendors. This must be considered by the FCTA. These and many others are the expectations of residents of the city as the New Year’s journey begins. Many residents believe 2013 will unleash God’s blessings on Nigerians, provided the people and leaders tread on the right path.

Hotels, bars woo patrons with season thrills CHIDI UGWU

F

or many families in the FCT, the last Christmas season provided opportunity to spend time together and foster the much needed bond which is fast waning in our society as a result of changing social economic situations in the country.

Interestingly, while some spent the Christmas in their homes, others used the opportunity to savour the ambience of five-star hotels which enticed patronage with irresistible special Christmas promos giving as much as 50 per cent discount from the usual rate.

For instance, the NICON Luxury Abuja offered discounts on its different grades of room with buffet breakfast for one, while couple occupancy attracted additional fees for breakfast in an offer which started on December 18 and elapsed this Wednesday.

Inside FCT gathered that many fami-

lies grabbed this offer and other activities scheduled around the hotel’s facilities as many children were seen excitedly swimming at the hotel‘s pool with parents sitting by the pool side A source in NICON Luxury, Mr. Tony Odi, said the Christmas package was a success as it encouraged many families to visit the hotel at a time which is ordinarily not a very busy period for five star hotels in big cities in Africa because of the tendency of families to travel to their various villages.

“This is our way of giving back to society. We provided the offer as a platform to encourage guests to visit our facility and have a wonderful experience for the Yuletide season. People usually travel to villages during the holiday, but those ones who have decided to stay in Abuja were offered full and extraordinary enjoyment of our hospitality at a very cheap rate”, stated Tony.

Also, the Public Relations Manager of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Mr. Shola Ad-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Inside FCT

Friday, January 4, 2013

25

M ARCUS FATUNMOLE

C

lutched in the arms of thousands of security personnel, Abuja remained peaceful throughout the last Yuletide celebrations against growing fears over insecurity across Nigeria.

Though many Nigerians criticised the deployment of military personnel to carry out manual checks on vehicles on the city’s highways, the cadence of celebration in the city this year was compelling. Thus, given the professionalism and proactiveness of the nation’s security system this time, they deserve a pat on the back for ensuring a hitch-free celebration in the nation’s capital. With the strategic positioning of security operatives in Abuja last Christmas holidays, an overt but clear message was given: “If you don’t have lawful business to conduct anywhere in the town, stay off ”.

But to commuters and motorists, apart from religious rituals and blessings Christmas connotes, there was nothing to write home about during the period. Most fuel stations were under lock and key. Few that had petroleum products, especially Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS), sold it at exorbitant prices above the usual N97.00 pump price. Those who sold at the usual price were faced with very long queues; as panic buying was coupled with the acute shortage of PMS being witnessed across the country.

A civil servant and resident of the city, Abubakar Ahmed, spoke with our reporter on the lingering long queues at fuel stations: “We would not have got this much problem if our people had not engaged in panic-buying. Some have their tanks al-

eyemo announced a special promotional package for this year’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Aptly tagged, ‘Enjoy the holiday glow of Hilton’ the special festive package, Adeyemo said offers guests a choice of any room type or suite at a rate that is inclusive of buffet breakfast and all taxes.

According to him, the special holiday package started from 21st December 2012 to end on January 2, 2013.

“For families, children will love our Kids Zone where handicraft classes, painting classes, computer games and other indoor games will be offered daily. Treasure hunts and other competitive tournaments are on the cards for the children. The playground will delight the children with bouncy castle and other play equipments.

The swimming pool offers a perfect ambiance for family relaxation The fitness conscious guests will enjoy the ultra-modern 24-hour Hilton Fitness

by Precor Gym, daily aerobics classes, outdoor swimming pool, tennis and squash courts. There is basketball court for the energetic youth and adult guests.

The hotel’s Christmas activities started with an impressive ceremonial lighting of Christmas Tree on 6th December” he explained.

In their ambassadorial suite in Trans-

Long queue of vehicles at a fuel station opposite NNPC headquarters in Abuja.

Fuel scarcity mars Yuletide in Abuja most full and you still see them queuing with those that don’t have any.

This is part of the problem. I don’t know what is wrong with our people.

“The president had said the price of petrol would not be increased. The subsidy is part of the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly before the end of the year for the first time since our nation returned to democracy”, Ahmed noted.

The period was also a time for some young people, who vend the product on highways under the watchful eyes of officials of regula-

WE WOULD NOT

tory agencies and at high prices, to do brisk but lucrative business as usual. Popularly called “Black Marketers”, the vendors scout for buyers

on the streets; selling a 10-litre petrol for over N2,500.

During the holidays, major streets in Abuja were decked with Christmas ornaments. Streets such as Area One round-about, Berger Bridge, Wuse II, Maitama and major buildings in the city emitted a charming aura of festive splendour to commemorate the Yuletide. Amusement parks too were alive with fun. Wonderland, Maitama and Millennium parks with many others all lived to their billings with heavy security presence at their gates.

by friends, added that ‘the facility boasts well-appointed and comfortable rooms, cuisines lavish leisure and entertainment options that suit the season’.

He said he wanted to give his large family a Dubai experience after a whole year of hard work, and encouraged other families who can afford it to take out for such leisure describing the facility as a community which hosts different families.

Also speaking, Chinonye, the eldest in the family, described her experience

as wonderful, adding there was no better ways to celebrate Christmas, while the youngest, Vivian said she would like to be back in the hotel next Christmas.

“I am enjoying myself, I have swam in the swimming pool, we witnessed the special Christmas carol which was wonderful and the food here is so delicious, I will tell my daddy to bring us back next Christmas,” said little Vivian.

Earlier, the Transcorp spokesman, Mr. Adeyemo, said the special festive dinner menus which the Zuma Grill, the Oriental and Bukka restaurants started offering from 24th December 2012 will last till 1st January 2013, adding that the Capital Bar also delights the guests with daily live band entertainment while the Piano Lounge serves soothing piano music every evening including a special Christmas Carol rendition which took place on 24th December.

“There is no better place to usher in the New Year than the exotic Zuma Grill, venue of the popular New Year’s Eve Party”, he said.

Inside FCT investigations further revealed that other hotels and resorts including Protea, Sheraton, Oasis, Ajuji, and Rock View hotels among others offer one form of package or another for the yuletide season.

HAVE GOT THIS MUCH PROBLEM IF OUR PEOPLE HAD NOT

ENGAGED IN PANICBUYING

NICON Luxury Hotel

corp on Christmas day, the family of Chief Uche Valentine Ajuibe relieved their experience to Inside FCT. Ajuibe, who is the also the Chief Executive Officer of U-Val International, stated that he did not regret the money he spent in bringing his entire household to Transcorp, as the facility offers all the sweet ingredients of a Christmas holiday that lives in the mind much longer than the holidays.

Ajuibe, also known as ‘ Agwu Agwu’

26

People In The Mirror

Friday January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NM@2: A Publisher’s Nite to

…Film, music and other entertainment stars turn out for a convivial evening of celebration!

YINKA ADEPARUSI AND SEGUN IJABIKEN

Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim OFR, dancing to the music of Orlando Julius.

One of the landmark events of 2012 was the Publisher’s Nite organised by National Mirror in commemoration of the second anniversary of the publication which held on Friday, December 21.

The event came with excitement and razzmatazz, as celebrities, personalities from Nigeria and abroad thronged the exclusive NICON Luxury Hotel at Victoria Garden City, Lekki-Ajah Expressway, Lagos.

The grand event which was anchored by top comedians, Jedi and Tee A who kept the ceremony engaging with rib-cracking jokes, began with paparazzi work on the red carpet. Dignitaries flaunted their resplendent attires for the pool of photographers at the event to capture. With guests seated, then came the electrifying jazzy performance by the legendary Orlando Julius Ekemode and his band which includes wife, Latoya, who entertained the audience all night.

Apart from the stars on parade, another presentation came from the National Mirror choir who wowed the audience with sonorous Christmas carols and anniversary theme songs. The Thompson Tabi-led Black Image drama group also did a dramatic rendition with highlights on the quality and style of National Mirror and her fast growing readership base.

There was also the cutting of the anniversary cake by the Group Managing Director, Global Energy Group/publisher, National Mirror, Dr. Jimoh Ibra-

Shifi of Styl Plus (left) and TV producer, Sola Fajobi.

Nollywood star, Kunle Afolayan on stage with two of Orlando’s dancers.

L-R: Michelle Bello, Fidelis Duker and Temitope Duker.

Hip-Hop artiste, LKT performing.

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 22, 1434AH Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

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

T

he Saleh Mosque or Al Saleh Mosque is the largest and most modern mosque in Sana’a, Yemen. It lies in the southern outskirts of the city, south of the Al Sabeen Maternal Hospital. Inaugurated in November 2008 by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, it is named in his honor. The mosque, 27,300 square metres (294,000 sq ft) in size, has a central hall which is 13,596 square metres (146,350 sq ft) with an occupancy capacity of 44,000.[3] The building cost nearly US$60 million to construct, Security measures include police and bomb-sniffing dogs.

The site was used to build the Islamic college and the garden next to the mosque.

The mosque was constructed using different types of stone, including black basalt stones as well as limestone in red, white and black. The building is compared in its beauty and architectural elegance with the Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca. It was built in a fusion of “Yemeni architecture and Islamic styles”, with many Quranic verses inscribed on the walls. The layout is referred to as “Himyarite architecture”.

The building has wooden roofs and seven ornate domes. There are five domes in the main roof, the main dome measuring 27.4 metres (90 ft) in diameter with a height of 39.6 metres (130 ft) above the mosque’s roof. The other four domes measure 15.6 metres (51 ft) with height of 20.35 metres (66.8 ft) above the roof level of the mosque.

Windows fitted with stained glass are locally referred to as qamariyah. Of the fifteen wooden doors, ten are situated on the eastern and western sides, and five open south towards the Islamic college and ablution areas. The doors are 22.86 metres (75.0 ft) in height and include engraved copper patterns. Four of the six minarets are 160 metres (520 ft) in height.

The interior space is 24 metres (79 ft) from floor to ceiling. While the plush carpeting contains intricate patterns, huge chandeliers have colorful and flower-like patterns. The three-storied building which includes the Quran College, also contains libraries and over two dozen classrooms, enough space to accommodate 600 students. Three large rooms are specifically for women.[ The mosque has a modern central air conditioning and sound systems, as well as full security arrangements, including bomb-sniffing dogs. The building stays lit through the night.

Who are the people of Paradise?

28

Welcome to Al Saleh Mosque

Al Saleh Mosque

Peace: An Islamic Jihad T o the prince and the pauper, peace is equally prized and equally cherished. To this end, everyone within his own sphere of influence has something to offer, be it a prayer, a kind word or good deed, or indeed all three. The simple fact is that, the more we can do for the cause of peace, the more we stand to gain and in view of the state of the world today, few issues could be of greater importance or urgency. In this regard religion has much to offer, but Islam goes beyond mere offerings by requiring Muslims to engage in a holy struggle, or Jihad, for the sake of peace. This Jihad is very different from the Jihadist acts that confront us on our screens and in our newspapers, for this Jihad seeks no self-glory, power or grandeur; rather it is a jihad that is spiritual, submissive and sublime. It springs from the realisation of the insignificance of man before an Almighty Being, without whom no prog-

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya ress is possible. In this respect, the Holy Qur’an emphatically declares that: …Only that which Allah wills comes to pass. There is no power except in Allah…. (Ch.18:V.40) Such clear teachings bring into sharp focus the utter fragility of human endeavour in the absence of divine succour.

This is why the Holy Qur’an repeatedly draws attention to the remembrance of God, and at every turn and juncture, we are urged to draw sustenance from this blessed spring, for those who receive

Al-Muminaat holds ATF ... urges FG to tackle poverty 29

God’s blessings are; Those who remember Allah standing, sitting and lying on their sides… (3:192) If one can grasp the import of this principle only then can one begin his journey towards true peace, for peace that is not rooted in God is no peace at all. This is the true Islam that was revived in this era by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, who was the Reformer promised for this age, the Promised Messiah and the Imam Mahdi.

His peaceful renaissance of Islam has been carried forward through his Khulafa, or spiritual successors. Over the past century, they have urged their community to play a positive role in uniting mankind for the sake of peace. On countless occasions they have counselled the world to hearken to call of God and to abide by man’s obligations to God and His creation. One such forum for this call to peace has been the UK National CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

‘Women have a great role to play in nation building’ 29

28

Call to Worship

O

Man! What has seduced you from your most Beneficent Lord (Q82:6) Man is not an accidental creature and thus the purpose of his existence cannot be otherwise. His existence follows a guided process of creation. He was nonexistent before his creation. Perhaps, he could have existed through other means, which the magnificent Creator might have chosen but that of the process of creation gives man an origin.

Man was a thing, a creature or a substance forgotten, unheard of and unknown in his state of clay before the breathing of spirit into him and a despised fluid that nobody knows anything about except Allah. A lot of time passed over him while he was undergoing development in the womb.

Then, there came a time when with Allah’s permission, an angel had to mix the sperm and the ovum together to form zygote. The invisible forces in charge closely monitored the subsequent mitosis, for that is a delicate and complex stage in life of man.

At an appointed time, the angel assigned to the womb is instructed to write the destiny of man-his provision, life span, fortune or misfortune.

By his origin, man is expected to be humble. Why does he now think he is something? The name man is honorific. Going by his arrogant life style, we should call him by the original substance from which

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 22, 1434AH

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

It is not accidental

BY HIS ORIGIN, MAN IS EXPECTED TO BE

HUMBLE.

WHY DOES

HE NOW THINK HE IS SOMETHING?

he is made. Let us now call him sperm or ovum and see how he will feel. Is the time so long that man should forget his origin as to even be disobedient to his Creator?

The One who creates man considers it as one of His handiworks. There is no committee of Creators. It is only one unique Creator. Man is created from substances of different natures and textures - wet mud, dry clay, sperm drop, and quintessence of clay, sounding clay like pottery, congealed blood and mingled sperm. Perhaps, one may infer that these different substances from which man is created account for his different dispositions, feelings emotions and reactions. There are times he is calm, composed and normal, while at another time he is noisy, disorganized and abnormal.

It is inherent in man that he is always in

Who are the people of Paradise?

a hurry and impatient. These two are generally noticeable in the dealings of men.

Where they are not brought under control, man becomes destructive and dangerous.

Man today has become an open adversary or disputer of the signs, directives and Messengers of his Creator. In his ignorance and arrogance, he forgets his lowly origin and starts to tread the path of rebellion against the divine and natural orders.

Man is not created from the laboratory as to have a standardized pattern of behavior with others. The variation among men is to keep life going. The inhumanity of man to man today is very alarming.

One man is in prison languishing under fetters for crimes he has either committed or not. Another man is in the hospital because his health has failed him. There is another man in the office enjoying coolness of the air-conditioner. Another man is in the market transacting lawful or unlawful business. There is another man at home sleeping on his cosy bed. Another man is in his farm tilling the earth. Another man is travelling; the other is on his way to school.

Everywhere you go, you will come across a man involving in one endeav-

our or the other. Man can be strange and funny. You may not be able to predict his character at times. He can befriend you today but fight you tomorrow. He thinks a lot. His Creator alone knows all that he thinks. No man can say everything about a man. A man is a man. One who creates him alone has all rights over him. His being able to involve in several activities is because he has been created.

There was actually a period of time in his pre-existence when he was unknown.

Allah, at a point, announced His decision to appoint man as a vicegerent on earth.

He went further to saddle him with a trust, which the heavens, the earth and the mountains could not undertake due to fear of not being able to discharge it accordingly. What then has become of man that he is negligent of his origin and oblivious of his Creator?

Dr. Zafaran is the Director, Vanguards Academy

FACES OF DIGNITARIES AT THE 18TH NATIONAL AL-MU’MINAAT TRAINING FORUM (ATF) HELD IN VANGUARDS ACADEMY LAST WEEKEND

A

lmighty Allah has made provision for two different abode for mankind in the hereafter; they are Aljanat (paradise) and Janamat (hell). For the purpose of this write up, emphasis shall be based on Aljanat.

Based on the description in the holy Quran, Paradise is big enough to accommodate as many people as possible and it is reserved for the rightheous. It is the place where good people will go after death, or the state they are believed to attain after death. In fact, it is a place, situation, or condition in which somebody finds perfect happiness and living there wil be forever. It is a place that is being aimed by every right thinking individuals. All the needs of the occupants are to be catered for with ease.

There is nobody on earth who can vow that he or she will be an occupant of this paradise. But who are those that will enter paradise in the hereafter? Chapter 3, verses 133 – 137 of the glorious Quran explain this very clearly of which the categories are enumenerated below.

Those who ask for forgiveness once they sinned with a vow not to go back to that particular sin again will be inhabitants of Paradise. The lesson here is that Muslims should learn how to seek forgiveness promptly and avoid going back to sin after we might have asked for forgiveness. It may be a sin against Allah or fellow human beings.

Also, those who spend their lawful earnings in the course of Allah will find solace in Paradise. It is expected of Muslims to spend part of what Allah has given them for the propagation of Islam.

They should not wait until they have more than enough rather they should spend out of the little given to them.

They will be compensated in this world accordingly and rewarded with Paradise in the hereafter.

Equally, those who control their temper when they are annoyed or offended will be inmates of Paradise. Furthermore, this category of people are those who overlook somebody’s else wrong doings. This category falls into those that are always doing good to their fellow human beings i.e they reward both good and bad conducts with good ones always.

Those who allow the teachings of the holy Quran and sayings of prophet Mohammed (SAW) to guide their ways of living will surely be rewarded with Paradise after their sojourn on earth. By extention, those who are not selfish or self-centered are sure inhabitant of the paradise.

In conclusion, there shall be no fear nor sorrow for the above-categorised people on the day of judgement provided they observe the five times daily prayers at the appointed time, although, Allah is the most forgiving. Who knows those that will enter Paradise? Muslims are hereby encouraged to strive towards making heaven because both paradise and hell are real.

Sheikh Abdul Gannyy Umar Arikunkewu is the Founder/National Chief Missioner of Jubulatu Rohfatu Llahi Islamic Society of Nigeria (JUBAT)

L-R: A guest; National Amirah of Al-Muminaat, Hajia Munirah Thalith and Dr. Bilkis Atobatele.

Chairman of the occasion (middle) and other dignitaries.

Dignitaries at the event.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

STORIES: SEKINAH L AWAL

A

ll levels of government have been urged to tackle poverty which is widespread making people to disobey their Creator.

This call was made by the duo of the National Amirah of Al-Mu ‘Minaat (The Believing Women) organisation, Haji Munirah Ibrahim-Thalith and Dr. Bilikis Atobatele at the 18th national Al-Mu’minaat

Al-Muminaat holds ATF ...urges FG to tackle poverty

Training Forum (ATF) formal opening held on 17th Saffar, 1434ah (30th December, 2012) at Vanguards Academy, Km 4, Ijebu Ode/ Epe Road, Odosengolu, Ogun State.

“The current state of world affairs calls for a deeper reflection. We need a reflection that will take us

back to the roots of global and national problems. We also need a determination to apply the rules of Islam to human affairs and global problems. These rules have at one time or the other being applied with amazing outcome and impact.”

Thalith reminded delegates at the conference

L-R: Alhaji Akin Laguda; Dr. Laguda and Engr. Idris Lediju at the 3rd annual lecture of Glorious Islamic Centre.

‘Women have a great role to play in nation building’

A

clarion call has gone to women to wake up to their responsibilities as nation builders by taking good care of the home front.

This call was made by the duo of the National Amirah of Al-Mu ‘Minaat (The Believing Women) organisation, Haji Munirah Ibrahim-Thalith and Dr. Bilikis Atobatele at the 18th national Al-Mu’minaat Training Forum (ATF) formal opening held on 17th Saffar, 1434ah (30th December, 2012) at Vanguards Academy, Km 4, Ijebu Ode/Epe Road, Odosengolu, Ogun State.

Dr. Atobatele advised women to think twice about any job that will affect their home and proper children upbringing. “Women have a great role to play in nation building simply because the family forms a nucleus upon which any nation is built. Therefore, if every family is not adequately taken care of, the products of such families will eventually make up the society and the country will be a reflection of what the families are. So, as women, we must wake up to our responsibilities as home builders by en-

Call to Worship

Friday, January 4, 2013 Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 22, 1434AH

suring that our children are thoroughly-bred and nurtured for tomorrow.”

In her welcome address, Hajia Thalith said that the theme of this year’s ATF is Islam: The Enduring Remedy and so chosen to provide a reliable and credible alternative for those who have engaged themselves in long, tortuous and futile search for solutions to global problems.

“Islam is a reality, natural, comprehensive and practical. Fresh and current today, even tomorrow, as it was the day it was ever revealed. It is a religion of the spirit and the flesh just as it is a religion of politic and economy.

Nothing, no matter how minute, is overlooked. Allah, the owner of the universe, is the Creator and the Author. He knows best than any other being. Therefore it is only He, who can produce the manual for the running of the universe.”

“However, humanity today is in the state of loss and anarchy occasioned by his deviation and arrogation of power that does not belong to him. His invented economic policy and social justice have landed the

global economy in recession; therefore promoting poverty at the expense of posterity. It is also widening the gap between the rich and poor. Politics of mercy and service to humanity is already banished from the surface of the earth. Today, it is politics of might and murder as well as deprivation,” Thalith explained.

Dr. Atobatele called delegates attention to what Allah says in Quran 30:41 that; “Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].”

She enjoined all to stop the menace of child abuse, promote child’s right, emporwer youths and women, provide social amenities and ensure zero tolerance to corruption, bribery, interest-taking, embezzlement, nudity, among other vices.

The ATF is the annual fiveday training programme for Muslim women, espousing on critical issues for a deeper understanding of Islam and its teaching.

that Umar bn AbdulAzeez in his golden era, banished poverty through the institution of Zakat and other Islamic principles of economy. “The Prophet and the four rightly guided Caliphs promoted egalitarian society using the Book of Allah. During the eras of the Prophet and the Caliphs, crimes were difficult to be committed not because of police and soldiers but through purification of souls and good governance.

The law of Allah was the foundation of state policy and programmes.”

She therefore called on the National Assembly to borrow from the Quran and the golden history of Islamic rule to fashion a new constitution for Nigeria. “I implore the honourable members and distinguished Senators to produce a constitution that has zero tolerance for corruption and maladministration. It must be a constitution that guarantees religious rights of Muslims in the schools, workplaces and the larger society. The various public hearings held so far must be made to bear on the constitution. The yearnings and aspirations of Nigerian masses must be fully reflected.”

Since corruption remains the greatest enemy of Nigerians, lawmakers at all levels; local, state and national, were asked to intensify efforts on their oversight function. “This oversight function must ensure that concrete dividends of democracy are commensurate with our huge annual budgets. It is painful that Nigerians still suffer in spite of our huge mineral resources and the increasing price of our crude oil at international markets.”

She also called on President Goodluck Jonathan

to quickly move against the looming threat of food scarcity in the country as the recent flood across the country has made the signs of scarcity more evident saying that it will be unfortunate for this country and administration of Jonathan if the danger is not averted. “Nigerians have suffered enough and they must not be made to go through the pains of hunger again.”

According to Hajia Thalith, the continued scarcity of petroleum and the increasing price of kerosene are now enormous national disgrace. “To say the least, it has clearly showed that Nigeria government is not responsive and responsible at all. Or how can we explain this ugly situation in a country that is the sixth largest producer of crude oil? The federal government must address this perennial problem and save the masses from untold hardship. Again, the government must never toy with removal of oil subsidy.

Any attempt at this may provoke revolution that is already in the making.”

“Furthermore, the issue of security must be given adequate attention. President Jonathan must begin to march his words with actions. We are tired of promises and empty assertions that the current national insecurity would be a thing of the past. As far as we are concerned, we are not yet convinced that this insecurity will go in a hurry. We only pray it is not part of our normal life.”

She also commended President Mursi of Egypt for his exemplary leadership. “The current Egyptian President has demonstrated that he is a true leader with the fear of God and ever

29

willing to bequeath an enduring constitution for his country, serving his people with strength and faith and protecting their lives at all cost. His public admittance of error and responsibility is a classical example for Nigeria leaders in particular and other African countries in general. We support you and shall continue to pray for your success. We implore you to discharge your constitutional roles to redeem your country from pestilence of the old eras.

And may Allah give you the wisdom to governor well and achieve much.”

“I cannot but commend the continuous resilience of Palestinian people. The recent elevation of the status of Palestine in the United Nation has further demonstrated that the day of victory for the oppressed people is near. We never have any doubt in our mind that Palestinian people will soon claim their rightful place in the world map. It is just a matter of time. And Allah’s time is the best. I beseech Allah to shower His blessing on the People of Palestine and descend His Malaika to fight on their behalf.”

The Amirah urged all Muslim women to wake up to their responsibilities as members of AlMuminaat and equally discharge their parental roles as mothers. “We must see to the education of our children as a primary responsibility. We must not to leave everything in the hands of teachers and school environments. Sending our children to school is not enough. We must monitor and guide them.

We must give them a balanced education to acquire correct knowledge and ideology and we must constantly reiterate the importance of knowledge to them,” she concluded.

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

Engr. Idris Lediju presenting the first position gift to Alamu Shehu of the Muslim Association of Nigeria Secondary School, Lagos at the 3rd annual lecture of Glorious Islamic Centre recently.

30

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Safar 22, 1434AH

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Health, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe; Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Barrister Yusuf Olaniyonu, Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hajia Ronke Raji; Dr. Olubunmi Oye and Dr. Tunde Olowonyo at the end of the year media parley recenlty.

Chairman, MOLADORT Group of companies, Chief Olusegun Akinkunmi (standing) attending to some of the dignitaries at the Christmas party organized by the Akinkunmis in Gbagada-Lagos recently.

Cross section of participants at the 18th national Al-Mu’minaat Training Forum (ATF) formal opening held at Vanguards Academy, Odosengolu, Ogun State last Sunday.

Cross section of students during the Quranic recitation at the 10th year anniversary of Vanguards Academy recently.

Peace: An Islamic Jihad CONTINUED FROM 27 Peace Symposium, which has been held at the Baitul Futuh Mosque since 2004.

The symposium seeks to enlighten people about the real teachings of Islam and build understanding and respect between all people. Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), the worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community delivered the first keynote address at the symposium in 2004, in which he stressed that for the cause of peace one should: “Never stop struggling unless we establish peace in the world.” His Holiness has certainly held true to this and the symposium has grown from its humble beginnings to become a major national event for all faith communities, which is now attended by people from all sections of society. In his speeches at the symposium, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) has repeatedly drawn the world’s attention to the principles of peace espoused by all faiths, but especially in Islam. In national and international affairs, for example, he has explained that: “…the foundation of justice will be laid in this world only when the lowest individual of the society, realises that he has to win the pleasure of his Creator and has to follow His commandments; and such individuals collectively try to create peace on a broad basis.” (2007) This truly reflects the power and obligations of citizens in the affairs of the state – if the electorate is sincere in its belief and actions then this will infuse the whole system of governance with a moral imperative that also implores the leadership to act with honour and justice. He

presented a stern warning of failure to embark on such reform by noting that: “We must not let our future generation sink into that pit of darkness from which our ancestors brought us out to where we are today. It will be a height of selfishness if for the sake of our false pride or for a temporary gain; we forget the future of our future generations.” (2007) Whilst the theme of his speeches have touched on different aspects of peace, they have also reflected a growing anxiety that the increasing unrest and conflicts around the world, coupled with the relentless economic crises, is pushing mankind to the brink of disaster. The most worrying aspect is that rather than turning to God the superpowers (in particular) are choosing to play God and that is a sure path to self-destruction. In the speech by Holiness at this year’s symposium, he provided perhaps the starkest warning yet that by denying others their rights, by rejecting the principles of absolute justice and by refusing to accept and follow God’s teachings; mankind faces an impending catastrophe on a global scale. He said that: “We must remember that when human efforts fail, then God Almighty issues His Decree to determine the fate of mankind. Before Gods Decree sets into motion and compels people towards Him and towards fulfilling the rights of mankind, it would be far better if the people of the world should themselves come to pay attention to these crucial matters...In today’s world, one terrifying manifestation of Gods Decree could be in the shape of another World War.

L-R: Alhaji Alli Oluwafuyi; the Companion’s Lagos District Amir, Alhaji Wale Sonaike and Chairman of the occasion, Justice Wale Abiru reading his opening remarks at the formal opening of the 10th Dawn Holiday Programme (DHP) held at the Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry recently.

Our leaders must learn from recent happenings –MURIC

A

s year 2012 rolls to an end, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has taken a retrospective look at events in Nigeria within the year with particular reference to the relationship between the leaders and the citizenry as well as the provision of infrastructure capable of improving the standard of living.

According to a press release signed by Director of MURIC, Prof. Is-haq Akintola, MURIC said that the oil subsidy controversy has continued unabated, fuel scarcity is a common feature in most Nigerian cities with long queues at fuel stations while palliatives offered by the Federal Government in the wake of the oil subsidy saga have vanished into thin air.

“Yet Nigeria’s woes can be traced to the glaring lacuna between the leaders and the lead. There is total breakdown of communication between banquet-loving Aso Rock and the rest of the country.

The leaders ignore the bad roads because they can afford to shuttle in helicopters.

The Nigerian president has ten aircrafts in his fleet whereas the American presi-

dent has only two. Yet the Nigerian president wants more presidential jets.”

He said the losses suffered by the aviation sector within the year are symptomatic of the sheer neglect characteristic of the Nigerian leadership. “The fact that the deficiencies in all these sectors have started affecting the leaders themselves must be enough lessons for these leaders who have hitherto refused to listen. Perhaps those governors who are rumoured to be recuperating in hospitals abroad (Suntai in Germany, Imoke in the United States and Chime in India) would return home to turn the health sector around in their states.

Perhaps the late governor Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser, General Aziza (rtd), would have used the roads if the Niger Delta had been developed.”

MURIC thus charged President Jonathan to learn from the lessons of 2012 and focus the paraphernalia of governance on security, roads, education and health because he or his close relations may need these neglected infrastructures one day.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

People In The Mirror

Friday January 4, 2013

remember

him OFR, witnessed by top executives of Global Fleet, editors at National Mirror and friends of the group. Later, it was time to dig it on the dance floor; the publisher dancing to the music of Orlando Julius set the tone for others to follow. In the spirit of the season, the publisher also announced a N2m lifeline to support Orlando Julius and his band.

For lovers of contemporary Nigerian music, popular hip-hop act, LKT who came into reckoning for his lines on Olu Maintain’s monster hit track Yahoozee, gave a rousing performance of his rave single, Alaye. Film director and actor, Kunle Afolayan showed he could be an all-round entertainer when he also performed a medley accompanied

by Orlando Julius.

Other guests at the event included former Minister of National Planning, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi OFR; foremost female drummer, Ara; film producer and enthusiast Fidelis Duker; Shifi of Styl Plus and TV Producer, Sola Fajobi, among many others.

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National Mirror choir performing.

L-R: Jedi and Tee A

Sola Fajobi and comedian, Rems

Artiste, Ara

Black Image during their presentation.

PHOTOS: ADEMOLA AKINLABI/YINKA ADEPARUSI

32

Escape

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

First primary school in Northern Nigeria

Spices at the local market

Lugard’s bust (Museum of Colonial History)

Lokoja: The beauty of Nigeria’s history PELU AWOFESO The road widely travelled

A

fter a light and leisurely breakfast of bread, egg, noodles and tea, my friends and I leave calm and laidback Okene for vibrant and historic Lokoja, speeding past roadside sellers displaying dozens of bottles of honey. The honeys, blackened by God-knows-what, look so inviting that I make a mental note to buy one bottle or two on the return journey in a week’s time. Typical of most Nigerian highways, the road to Lokoja—roughly an hour’s drive—is appalling for a long stretch but it levels up just after the junction that leads into Kabba to the left.

The last time I travelled from Lagos to Lokoja, my very first trip to the town the British first settled in Nigeria (Jan 1, 1900), the journey lasted 11 boring, tiring hours in a Peugeot station wagon. For one, the vehicle filled up late in the day, leaving the motor park after midday; and so the car travelled through Lagos, Ibadan, Ife, Ondo and Akure in the scorching heat of those cities. Afterwards, the evening shade and breeze set in and the remaining kilometres of the trip was spent under the dim glow of the half-moon and a sprinkling of stars.

Somehow, I felt I needed that tortuous ride to reconfigure my senses to the rigours of overland travel in Nigeria. “It usually shouldn’t take more than eight hours”, Tope Joel, a resident of Lokoja for many years and a lecturer at the Kogi State Polytechnic, said when he picked me up at about midnight at ABC, a major bus station.

The trip is a lot more comfortable and leisurely this time around, because my friends and I are travelling in a private vehicle. At the outset, we had planned for an overnight stay in Okene so that when we leave in the morning, we are not only well rested but also very alert and ready for the tour that awaits us in Lokoja.

Lawrence, a mutual friend, meets us on Murtala Mohammed Road (by WAEC) and we all drive down to his

Museum of Colonial History

home in the Phase 2 area. We spend the next two hours there getting to know the man and hearing him share his insights of the city—over servings of red wine. Lokoja, it must be said, carries the burden and the beauty of Nigeria’s history.

A trip to the past And while we wait, Lawrence makes a couple of calls to his friends and colleagues to tell them we are around and so we should be meeting them shortly. Minutes later we drive to the Local government premises (Murtala Mohammed Way), where we’re introduced to Alhaji Nasidi, a newspaper publisher and an authority of sorts on local history; the Chief of Staff to the Local Government chairman; and the Local Government Information Officer.

Nasidi offers to lead the tour which begins from the famed European cemetery, a short distance from the Local Government offices. At first sighting the cemetery, about the size of two football pitches, is unimpressive: it’s unkempt and smelly and overgrown with weeds.

Wilted leaves from the shade-trees cover a good portion of the ground. Its waist-high fence is crumbling in many parts and we scale over the front fence to be able to see the graves at close range. Buried on these grounds are men and women, though foreigners, who shaped the course of Nigerian history from as far back a century ago. Some of the headstones are dated as far back as the 1800s.

“In the past, some of the grand and great-grandchildren of these people used to come here every year”, Nasidi says, clearly unimpressed with the cemetery’s sorry state. “They used to pay for the place to be kept tidy till their next visit”.

From the look of things the surviving relatives, it seem, have lost interest in that arrangement and decided to cease funding it. Both the state and local governments, it appears, feel no such responsibility for this vital slice of local history. We come out the same way we came—scaling the fence—leaving the stench and

Lugard’s Baobab tree

Iron of Liberty monument

eyesore behind.

‘Iron of Liberty’ After that, we all get in the car and ride to the first primary school to be built in Northern Nigeria; like the cemetery, it’s in a bad shape and none of us feel any need to linger in the premises (Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion) for too long. On our way out, we stop by the “Iron of Liberty” monument, said to be where former slaves in Lokoja were brought to be set free. Right there is an artwork of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the former slave-turned-priest who helped to translate the Bible into Yoruba language, while he was

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Escape

Friday, January 4, 2013

33

Travel News

IF TRULY THIS IS A LUGARDERA RELIC, THEN SOMEONE AT THE NCMM IS OVERLOOKING A VITAL PIECE OF NIGERIA’S PAST tained historical landmark in all of Lokoja. But other than preserving the memories of long dead soldiers, the Cenotaph holds no special attraction.

“You know that the governor has to come here every year (Jan 15) to lay wreath. So they always give out the contract for renovating it”, Nasidi explains.

Finding Lugard

Lugard’s bathtub

European Cemetary

stationed at Badagry in present-day Lagos State.

“The most painful thing is that since Kogi State was created more than 20 years ago, it has never had a governor who appreciates tourism enough to capitalise on all the gems of history we have here”, sighs the Chief of Staff, “that’s why all these monuments are run down the way they are”.

Afterwards we head to the Cenotaph (IBB Way) built in honour of fallen heroes of the two World Wars. Instinctively, I begin to count the names engraved on one side of the white structure: 380 names in all, including 24 European officers. Here is about the best main-

From there we drive to the National Museum of Colonial History, which is not open to visitors being a Sunday. But I get to see the exterior of the plank building which houses the photographic collection detailing a bit of the history of Lokoja and is said to have been built sometime between 1900-04 by Sir Frederick Lugard, the first Governor-General of the Northern Protectorate (1900-1914), and later the Governor-General of Nigeria (1914-1919).

The building, says the in-house guide when we return the next morning, served as Senior Officers’ quarters in the Lugard era. A similar structure is just a few metres adjacent it.

“That was Lugard’s office”, the guide adds. The wooden building is also in bad shape; from a distance it appears to be sinking. And more than a century after it was built, the best use the community has found for it is as a beer parlour, a hub for the town’s residents looking to have a relaxed evening.

Well, we are in ‘Rome’ so we opt to do as the ‘Romans’ do. Over bottles of beer on the upper floor, Nasidi walks me to a back room to show me a bath tub supposedly used by Lugard in his time. Bathed in the early morning sunlight, it is covered in burnt charcoal and looks like someone has tried to set it alight. If truly this is a Lugard-era relic, then someone at the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) is overlooking a vital piece of Nigeria’s past.

Nasidi hints that the local authorities are not aware that the bathtub exists. He later shows me downstairs, where he says Lugard used to park his car; the spot where the generator used to be, his staff quarters and the little door/stairway he enters his office through.

We all get into the cars and we drive up Mount Patti to see the Baobab tree which Lugard is said to have planted when he first settled there in 1900 or thereabout. We see the abandoned bungalow, scribbled all over with indecipherable markings. We end the tour inside the Grace TV and FM station, where we enjoy a brief facility tour, retreating into town to end the day chatting away over drinks and barbeque fish.

A fish feast on a moonlit night Lokoja, because of its location along the paths of Rivers Niger and Benue, is awash with fish. “We have a high appetite for fish in this area”, Lawrence says.

“The one other thing I think we enjoy so much is the outdoors at dusk”.

We are seated with a few other residents in the expansive premises of an outdoor bar on Lugard Way. In no time, a young Hausa grill master places a 5kg fish (known locally as Kurungu) on the table; it’s covered all over with pepper-sauce, cabbage, onions, potatoes and slices of lime. Even under the dim lighting provided by the nearby bulbs and the moonlight, I need no one to tell me that this is going to be a great bite.

“There you are, go right ahead”, Lawrence says, a smirk on his face. We all rinse our hands and begin to pick the fish apart.

Pelu Awofeso is a travel journalist and travelbook author based in Lagos

Igue Fest ends with colourful pageant ...as Oba Erediauwa prays for Nigeria at Aruosa SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN EDO

T

he 2012 edition of the annual Igue Festival, the foremost festival of the Benin Traditional Kingdom of Edo State, climaxed last weekend with a first-ever beauty pageant held at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre on Airport Road, Benin City.

The Monarch of Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa is expected before the end of the week to present the prizes of the keenly contested competition that was won by a 24 year-old graduate of Pharmacology, Miss Samantha Aipoh, out of the bevy of beautiful girls that participated.

For her effort, Ms. Aipoh went home with the cash reward of N1.5million along with a Tata Indigo SW GLX car.

Miss Ebohon Owen and Mary Obazee emerged first and second runner-up respectively in the competition that featured fashion parade in English and traditional wears as well as a test of Intelligence Quotient (IQ).

Meanwhile the traditional thanksgiving drew to an end during the week after the Oba, Erediauwa, had finished praying for the continued peace, order, progress and development of the land and people of Benin Kingdom, Edo State, Nigeria and the entire human race at the Aruosa Cathedral located on Apkakpava Road in Benin City.

Accompanied by many high palace chiefs, the occasion, led by the Ohen (Priest) of Aruosa Cathedral, Chief Harrison Okao witnessed the outpouring of blessings in a manner that has rarely been seen before now.

In a related development, the Benin ruler bestowed the Kingdom’s awards on some deserving living and late citizens within and outside the kingdom for outstanding performance in various fields of endeavour.

Those honoured in the 2012 edition of the Oba Erediauwa Award for Excellence include: Prof. Osato Giwa-Osagie, Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos; Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin; Chief Osayuki Obaseki, a sports administrator and former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League; Mr. Soni Irabor, a media practitioner; Chief Joseph Alufa Igbinovia, a renowned sculptor that carved the Idia mask of FESTAC 77; Justice Efe Ikponmwosa, a respected jurist; Sir David Osunde, a philanthropist; and winner of the 2012 Nigeria’s Got Talent show, eight year-old Miss Amarachi Uyanne.

Oba of Benin at the Igue Fest

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

Friday, January 4, 2013

2013 will be engaging

CLAPPERBOARD with

denrele@nationalmirroronline.net Twitter: @mizniyi

H

appy New Year wonderful readers! What an amazing time to be alive; a new season and the air is saturated with outpourings of love, exuberant felicitations and good deeds. Although, I want to believe these sorts of jolly sentiments ought to be enduring components of our daily existence and not exclusive to the Yuletide season only.

The Christmas season into New Year is the one period you can be guaranteed nearly everyone is wearing a gay demeanour (by the way, I don’t mean a homosexual clothing line), within and without. The only exceptions are the abjectly depressed, physically ill or psychologically imbalanced members of society. For this reason and more, the more altruistically-minded go on a philanthropic spree sharing with the less fortuned their worldly goods and possessions.

Similarly, seasonal observation has shown that Lagos state, where I reside presently, is usually at her lowest energy ebb in the week between Christmas and New Year. The traditionally pulsating city literarily slips into a coma for 10 -14 days receiving only vital nourishment to sustain her heartbeat- the human factor which gives Lagos her distinguishing verve and buoyancy dissipates to a wisp of activity. Many of the coastal city’s adoptive inhabitants have travelled out of state to commemorate the season in their respective home towns. This is the sole time when driving is fun and traversing Lagos is pleasureable rather than hellish- but by Monday, a mere three days away, the tempo would peak and Lagos returns to her sweltering and crowded old self.

Anyway, in the spirit of magnanimity while personally spreading cheer to others, I was also on the receiving end of gifts which

Eddie Ugbomah

LAST YULETIDE, TWO GIFTS STOOD OUT IN THE MULTITUDE OF BLESSINGS WHICH CAME MY WAY met some deprivation in my life. It simply makes me understand that in some way, no one is completely self-sufficient. It doesn’t matter how much you have sitting in your bank account or the luxury you lap up every day of your life, there is always a gift that overwhelms you either by the thoughtfulness or timeliness of the giving.

Last Yuletide, two gifts stood out in the multitude of blessings which came my way. The first of the remarkable gifts is a two-piece set of fluffy bath sheets, my Christmas perk from a P.R organisation with whom I have professional dealings.

It was different and refreshing- an unconventional gift away from hampers, turkey, rice etc- and the fact that I always wanted a set of towels exactly like this caught my heart.

Speaking of heart, the other remarkable gift came on Christmas day from someone who fascinates me and the abiding nature of the gift has extended into the New Year.

However, the nature goes beyond what I can disclose on the pages of a newspaper but not anything provocative enough to curl ears.

The one thing I can say- it is a truly unconventional start to 2013 and I sincerely believe this should be a pleasantly engaging year. Believe it too!

Love and peace for the weekend.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

www.edifosafilm.com

It is a happy 20 busy 13

L

ast year was very hectic and everything became a rush towards December.

I was working on my autobiography, the script of my movie, Black Blood, celebrating one of my daughter’s graduation, the marriage of two of my other daughters, consulting on the Nigerian film Up Creek without a Paddle which was shot in Lagos, Yenagoa Sagbama, SouthAfrica. The film has a budget of N140m raised privately without the NEXIM Bank and Bank of Industry. So, I have been busy 20 hours a day for the past six months.

My aim now is that if Up Creek, succeeds which I can guarantee, it will be easy to finance Black Blood. These two films will make Nigerian film makers sit up and investors will be bold and proud to invest in Nigerian movies. Our young producers just pick-up a White man’s novel, shoot some nonsense and say they have made a film. Last year, we had about seven worthless films which could have been made into two money-spinning hits, create jobs and get the right people to invest.

The script of Black Blood took 26 years (yes, 26 years) and was written at first as a story, then script before it got to screenplay. It was supervised by two reputable Hollywood and British writers. If we, the stakeholders come together, stop these selfish bickering, bury our greed and power drunkenness, we can make the world respect our movies again. Movie makers should try to shun government support because it is causing the splits in the Industry.

Stakeholders ought to be thinking of how to improve and survive without waiting for government handouts. I don’t know why many of the Nollywood players can’t emulate people like Paul Obazele, Zik Zulu Okafor and owners of ONTV, WAPTV and BISITV. These are men who are going places today. Young producers like Desmond Elliot, Emem Isong, Monalisa Chinda, Ini Edo and Rita Dominic are actors who have made millions from Nollywood but because of arrogance and greed they refused to beg or pay for assistants. They are now producers, directors, stars and authors and this is destroying the Industry. If only these names mentioned can swallow their pride, team up and get experienced producers and writers, they need not make more than two major films per year. With Desmond, Ini Edo, Omotola Jalade, Kate Henshaw and Monalisa flaunting the millions they have made in and outside Nollywood, they don’t need to borrow a farthing to produce a film.

What they are producing now is pure shameless rubbish that can never stand any foreign film.

Now, I can proudly say that I am in two movies that will make it around the world’s cinema circuit. The first to come out next month is **Up Creek without a Paddle**, then the classic **Black Blood** will follow. I am ashamed of these people who are young yet are not dynamic or ready to improve on the World’s biggest Industry. What these flash-in-a-pan stars do is to flaunt the latest cars, buy properties and forget what made them –Nollywood- is dying.

WHAT THESE FLASHIN-A-PAN STARS DO IS TO FLAUNT THE

LATEST CARS, BUY PROPERTIES AND FORGET

NOLLYWOOD IS DYING.

As I said, I have a busy 2013 that will all result in big name for Nigerian entertainment.

With our plan to enter world class festivals and even the Oscar, yawa go gas and the world will bow. If an old man like me is still struggling to make movies and create name for this ungrateful nation, then the youths are supposed to take the challenge. Sadly, all they do is to envy, criticise me out of stupidity. I laugh at this country because I am a known Nigerian who has been invited to lecture in six universities, asked to represent Africa in Syracrus and New York International Film and Video Festivals. This went on from 1989 to 2009 when I became tired and frightened about long flights and air turbulences –my age was not on the long side.

Here in Nigeria, organisers of the AMAA, BOBTV, Abuja Film Festival, ZUMA Film Festival, among others, don’t invite me out of sheer envy and hatred. Nigerian universities are no better; they want you to be a visiting lecturer for free. Some give me ‘insulting’ cash they call honorarium and these schools glamorised as universities don’t have tools or equipments to use. They end up giving their students B.A (Begin Again) and the graduates are unemployable because they were taught nothing. These same half-baked students come out and claim to be producers, directors, etc., doing damage to the entertainment Industry.

I ask this question again, who cares? is it we, the ordinary citizen or government. I thank God that I am healthy and active with my senses at 72, so don’t lose hope. I wanted to quit and leave the industry for lazy, greedy people who want to make money by praise singing government and lobbying for invitation cards. Nowadays, I think twice before accepting any invitation because my road from Badagry to Mile 2 is pure hell and people are tolerating the car crashes and deaths every day. Until we copy the people’s revolution, our government will never learn. Sadly, Lagos State makes billions of naira daily from different types of taxes. This is just the way our governors rule Nigeria. When Ibori was having his trial, the Delta State government sent him $15m to fight for his case. The same governor would soon finish his term and start running from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

These are the kinds of situations we can put in Nigerian films, but who is bold and unbiased enough to shoot such exposé? I hope things will improve this year before we end up in People’s Revolution.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Mongers

Friday, January 4, 2013

35

Lot of Ogwashi-uku youths at Yuletide

C

The Okonjos

Prayer warriors on board

W

hen one gets stung by the bee, the mere sight of a housefly sends shivers down someone’s spines. That is the best way to describe what happened at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja shortly after the news of the helicopter crash that took the lives of former Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa, the former National Security Adviser, Andrew Azazi and their

more confused about what the actual meaning of the word, ‘cabal’ is. The faceless? The untouchables?

This is coming stronger following the abduction of the Queen Mother of Ogwashiuku, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, the mother of the co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

While the minister was in Abuja telling newsmen that those behind her mother’s abduction were the ‘fuel subsidy cabal’ in the oil industry, the youths in the sleepy Ogwashiuku town were busy being hounded by security men who have

ertain situations always leave Nigerians with big English words that not only become part of the country’s history but also defy apt definition.

For instance, when the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election was annulled, the expression on every lip was ‘political impasse’. In January 2012, when many cities in the country were protesting the increase in the price of petroleum products, what filled the air was ‘fuel subsidy cabal’.

But many months after that ugly incident, Nigerians are getting

aides in Bayelsa State.

Passengers who were getting set to board the plane coming to Lagos shortly after the news, all broke loose in prayers, ‘binding and casting’ all satanic influences that are responsible for plane crashes.

MM scooped that for once ‘Muslims and Christians’ united in prayers against a common enemy: Forces responsible for plane crashes.

At a certain newly-operation-

al airline, it was the same experience when the flight captain, ‘inconsiderate of the situation on the ground’, took his passenger on a hair-raising journey according to some passengers, who were frozen with fear over the way he landed. According to one passenger, “I thank God for safe arrival from Lagos to Abuja aboard ----- airline. The pilot appeared too reckless with his landing methodology. He made all passengers to be fearstricken. Honestly, I have not experienced this type of recklessness”.

H

onourable Lawan Farouk, the man fondly called ‘Honourable Integrity’, seems to be getting his groove back after the allegations of bribery levelled against him by oil mogul, Femi Otedola. Although the matter is still in court and the Police authority is still ‘looking for evidence to back up their prosecution’, the honourable is gradually bouncing back to reckoning.

Before the House vacated for the holiday, he was part of an ad hoc committee constituted

Feelers from Wudil, Kano

W

More of Lawan Farouk by the House to probe some misgivings in the transportation sector. Although, Lawan was not heard talking most of the time, MM gathered that his presence on that probe committee evoked memories of the incident in June which saw the House of Representatives suspending him as a member of the committee probing fuel subsidy fraud. Does his re-emergence on another panel signify a clean bill of health from his colleagues in the House?

ONE-SECOND Q&A

refused to leave the town many days after the Queen Mother was rescued. The buzz is that so many of them have had to desert the town following the incessant harassment from security men, who are working on the theory that every kidnap case must have one ‘insider’. The town which used to be a beehive of activities during Yuletide season was a shade of its self as everyone maintained a low profile. Of course, this has left one question on the lips of people: since the ‘cabal’ is responsible, why intimidate the indigenes?

udil, a serene town in Kano State is obviously more important to the Nigeria Police Force than to indigenes of the state. And the reason is because that is the location of the Nigeria Police Academy which has become a degree-awarding institution following its upgrade by the National Universities Commission, (NUC).

The school which was supposed to take off in September, is however, still battling with the collation of the entrance examination results four months behind schedule. While lots of scammers have descended on this loophole online to defraud some of the candidates who sat for the examination, the latest buzz is that the final result is being delayed because of the poor performance of the candidates in the examination. MM learnt that the cut-off mark for the various departments have

been lowered twice to make way for many of the students, yet, there are still problems getting enough successful candidates.

Incidentally, this is coming on the heels of the announcement a few days ago by the Police Service Commission that School Certificate holders and Third Class degrees have been outlawed for recruitment into the Force.

Abubakar

ABASS AKANDE ‘OBESERE’

There has always been a bit of controversy swirling around the true status of the relationship between Fuji music stars Wasiu Ayinde alias K-1 de Ultimate and Abass Akande alias Obesere. Obesere gives explicit reasons Why don’t you see eye-to-eye with K1?

Obesere

After the death of Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, K1 started parading himself as the new king of Fuji. He can’t be the new King when General Kollington Ayinla is still alive. That is rude! Ayinla has been playing music long before all of us that makes him our father. Even after Ayinla’s death, K1 will still not have the right to call himself the leader of fuji musicians. He has never been a king over me; he is the Lord of his own music. He is rude to even the elderly ones and that is why someone like me will never agree with him on anything. I am the type of person who will always voice out when I am not cool with something. Even K1 himself knows I don’t take ‘sh-t’ from anyone. He tries to sing about me and say good things about me whenever we are together in public; all to let people think all is well between us and to curry my good side. But we both know that is all camouflage.

Friday January 4, 2013

36

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mirror Drive OLUSEGUN KOIKI

V

ehicle importation may have dropped in Nigeria in 2012 by seven per cent due to the bad economy, but the global auto industry saw some improvements in 2012 and debut of new cars, which fascinated auto shoppers.

The booming auto industry is expected to continue in 2013 with car enthusiasts eagerly waiting for auto makers to come out with their latest brands in the New Year.

This week’s edition of Mirror Drivepresents cars that will shape the auto industry in 2013. Importantly though, cars with less fuel consumption and style are sure to dominate 2013.

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Right now, the Veloster lacks the performance credibility to back up its killer looks. But that will change once this 201hp version hits the streets. The 45 per cent boost in horsepower has most folks taking a second look at the Veloster and hoping this Turbo is a signal that Hyundai is getting as serious about performance as it has been about quality and design over the last few years.

So far, though, signs remain cloudy, the 1.6-litre motor with dual exhaust notwithstanding. Word is the Veloster Turbo gets the same suspension, which is disappointing. The Veloster is fun but stiffkneed and less refined when compared to better-bred sporty cars like VW’s GTI— or the Subaru BRZ, which is only somewhat costlier than what auto players are expecting to see from the Veloster Turbo.

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

2013 Dodge Dart R/T Most of the new front-wheel-drive Dart models go on sale in the first quarter of 2013. Like its less muscular brethren, the R/T rides on a Fiat chassis borrowed from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, with a fully independent suspension. We expect that suspension to be a little lower and stiffer in the R/T. The car will get the most horsepower of the lot, with a 184-hp 2.4-liter four under the hood.

At this point, it is unclear if the R/T will come with only a six-speed manual or with a dual-clutch automatic as well.

However, the R/T, like the Sonic RS, is going to face stiff competition from slightly pricier models, including the Ford Focus ST, the expected Fiesta ST, and the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ.

2013 SRT Viper

Chevy Corvette C7

also saddled with unpredictable handling and frequent maintenance headaches.

Haunted by those ghosts of Vipers past, Chrysler engineers started over.

They lowered the car’s weight by about 140 pounds and made its chassis 50 per cent stiffer. The Tremec-supplied sixspeed manual is said to have far lower clutch effort, while bringing tighter ratios and more precise feel. The suspension is entirely new, again with the aim of more predictable handling.

And there is a multi-setting stabilitycontrol system with a full-off mode for the track. That could be great, but only if the car does not actually need the electronic assist to handle like a supercar.

That will be key. This Viper is designed to challenge cars that can reach nine tenths of their potential without technological guardrails. The SRT needs to get in that ballpark to be a real winner.

With a 640-hp V-10 and a body made of magnesium, aluminium and carbon fibre, stakeholders are expecting greatness from Chrysler’s supercar. There is already a Corvette ZR1 in its price range that can eat Ferraris and the C7 will only up the ante. Plus there is a certain new Mustang that is far cheaper and should be mighty impressive too.

And even if the Viper is faster than the Ford or Chevy in a straight line, it must improve its handling over the outgoing model. While SRT folks are claiming a 2013 Subaru WRX scorching 0-to-60 time of 3.5 seconds and Recently, the blogosphere has been a 206-mph top speed for the new car, the alive with chatter that the next-gen last Viper was time-warp-fast too—and Subaru WRX will get the FA motor de-

2014 Jaguar F-Type Roadster

veloped for the Subaru BRZ and this is one instance when there is logic behind the rumour. The FA engine can sit a lot lower in the car because it is more compact. A lower engine has many advantages, chief among them the ability to shove the mass farther rearward in the car for better balance. Better still, Subaru engineered the FA for higher compression from the start, so it should tolerate the amount of forced induction required to take it from 200 hp in the BRZ to the expected benchmark of 265 hp.

The 2013 Subaru WRX will catch the fancy of auto drivers, which is lighter and more nimble as a result.

2014 Jaguar F-Type Roadster Jaguar’s C-X16 concept from 2011 makes its production debut as the new F-Type with a supercharged 3.0-litre V-6 that should make 380 hp. Expect at least one turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder derived from the Range Rover Evoque, but that power plant probably would not be sold worldwide. Both engines will be mated to eight-speed automatics with start–stop technology.

An aluminium body will keep weight down, but price up. Expect this Jag to compete with the Porsche Boxster as well as with the Audi TT-RS. The platform may also underpin a forthcoming XF sedan replacement.

Chevy Corvette C7 Auto shoppers know more about the next Vette than they did just a few months ago. Gone are thoughts of a split rear window, a turbocharged V-6, or a mid-engine design. It now appears that the C7 will debut at the coming North American auto show in Detroit, U.S.A. with a 5.5-litre V-8 that still uses pushrods. However, thanks to direct injection and higher compression, it is reasonable to expect the new Corvette to put out 440 hp, so it could match or best the outgoing 6.0-litre. The car will be visually arresting for certain. Inspiration will come at least in part from the present Camaro.

One sure bet—GM will finally, give its Ferrari slayer an interior that is gorgeous and with seats that hold the driver comfortably on track day.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2013 Dodge Dart RT

2014 Porsche Macan Porsche loyalists might cry foul over this latest VW Group tie-up with Porsche; the 2014 Porsche Macan is expected to debut in mid 2013.

Stakeholders actually have high

Mirror Drive

Friday January 4, 2013

2013 Subaru WRX

37

2013 SRT Viper

hopes for the Audi Q5–based Macan because the Q5 could be much more capable than it is, but while they do not foresee Audi bringing in an R-edition Q5, they can believe Porsche would go there.

At first, players in the industry expect

Porsche to go for improved handling, the way it built the Cayenne to be a more capable high-speed machine than the VW Touareg. AWD will be a given, as will two Audi-derived engines, the 237hp 2.0-litre turbo four and the 288-hp V-6.

Rumours suggest that a manual gearbox could be possible, but stakeholders are assuring on a seven-speed auto, though there is still hope it could come in a dual-clutch arrangement.

ŠKODA Octavia in a class of its own

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he new ŠKODA Octavia sets standards in the compact segment. The Octavia’s third generation more than ever confirms the car’s unique position in its vehicle segment, impressing with an unrivalled space offering, new design, high functionality, innovative safety and comfort systems, low fuel consumption, wide range of Simply Clever‘ solutions and a ŠKODAtypical price-value ratio.

“The Octavia is the heart of the ŠKODA brand”, says ŠKODA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Winfried Vahland. “It embodies the good ŠKODA genes in the best sense of the word: lots of room, quality, precise workmanship, modern, mature technology, timeless design, high functionality and the best price-value ratio.

The Octavia in its overall package has always been about offering that little bit extra. This is down to the generous space offering, but also the fusion of an elegant saloon shape with the practical advantages of car New Skoda Octavia with a large hatch, a fusion that is unique in this segment.

The new generation confirms this uniqueness. “The new Octavia shows us resolutely continuing down a ŠKODA-typical road. It is a car with middle-class qualities at a compact-car price. It is an ideal car for demanding, confident customers expecting a modern Octavia with all its good values. It is our best”, says, ŠKODA board member for technical development, Frank Welsch.

Unrivalled space offering, optimum functionality Octavia sets benchmarks in its class in terms of its space offering. “The new Octavia offers space such as is otherwise found only in higher classes”, says Welsch.

No other car in the compact segment offers more interior length (1,782 mm), more knee room (73 mm) and more headroom at the back (980 mm).

Also best in class is the boot volume at 590 litres. Other interior dimensions have also increased significantly compared to the Octavia’s second generation: front head room: + 8 mm, front elbow width: + 39 mm, rear elbow width: + 26 mm.

New refinement: a distinctive, clear and timeless design The new Octavia is not just roomy and functional, it looks good, too. ŠKODA design chief, Jozef Kaba and his team revised the car from head to toe, creating enthusiasm at first sight. Never before has an Octavia appeared as dynamic and at the same time, as timelessly elegant, as distinctive, refined and assured on the road as this bestseller’s third generation. “Each line and gap breathes love

IN DEVELOPING THE NEW OCTAVIA, AN IMPORTANT GOAL WAS TO MAKE THE CAR EVEN SAFER of precision and detail. The new Octavia is an unmistakable face in the automobile crowd”, says Welsch.

Compared to its predecessor, the Octavia has grown significantly in length and width. The new model is 90 mm longer and 45 mm wider than the second-generation Octavia. At the same time, the wheelbase has grown by 108 mm, mainly benefiting the interior and space on the rear seats.

The front of the car is assured and confident thanks to an emphasis on horizontal lines and a new location for the ŠKODA logo. The side aspect of the Octavia has become markedly more dynamic when compared to its predecessor.

This is down to the long wheelbase as well as to the shortened front overhang and a C pillar pulled far backwards. The high, sharp tornado line provides the car with optical stretch and distinctively highlights its coupé-like silhouette. A special new characteristic is an upswept dynamic window line in the rear doors, the socalled “fin” - a small, but effective design idea providing the car with a forceful appearance and direction.

Its rear aspect is also about precision, classiness and perfect proportions. Everything is in the right place,

well-positioned and tidy. ŠKODA’s typical lighting graphic with its distinctive C-shaped lighting contour is executed in uncompromising brilliance.

Tidiness, elegance and especially lots of space are what the new Octavia’s interior is about. ŠKODA designers have completely redone the car’s insides.

Safety at the highest level In developing the new Octavia, an important goal was to make the car even safer. Accordingly, ŠKODA engineers developed a host of cutting-edge safety systems for the new Octavia including Front Assistant/ emergency braking function (from May 2013), Lane Assistant, which keeps the Octavia on track, multicollision-braking/automatic brake actuation in an accident, Crew Protect Assistant/securing of the vehicle in an accident situation, Driver Activity Assistant (fatigue detection) or an active front hatch for pedestrian protection. These systems help avoid accidents or mitigate their consequences for occupants and other road users.

In addition, a precise chassis, a long wheelbase and a rigid and light body structure combine to ensure an extremely stable handling in ŠKODA’s most recent offspring. In the event of an accident, a comprehensive package of passive safety elements provides optimum protection for driver and occupants. In the area of passive safety, up to nine airbags, finely interacting with three-point safety belts, shield occupants from injury.

Knee airbags (standard in EU countries) and rear side airbags are available for the first time in an Octavia.

Cocktail

38

x

Friday, January 4, 2013

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (76)

What is going on right now? That is the question.

And what can you do Right Now to make Now better?

Make each Now better and the future will take care of itself, while the past will not matter.

–Neale Donald Walsch * * * MY NOTE: Focusing on past mistakes can paralyse destiny. Worrying about the future can provoke unnecessary mental anguish and oppression. The best thing to do is to be dutifully engaged this moment. And then keep pressing forward in spite of the ever present obstacles. Expecting to live without obstacles is illusive but we amass victories with the right attitudes.

TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Drunk dad forgets baby with liquor store clerk

P

olice in Florida said a drunk man who allegedly asked a liquor store clerk to watch his 11-month-old baby is facing child neglect charges.

Daytona Beach police said Kenneth Rowe, 26, asked the clerk at Sharks

Liquor Store to watch his 11-month-old infant Sunday night and left without the baby, WFTV, Jacksonville, Fla., reported

Wednesday.

The clerk said the baby seemed hungry and bore a rash on the side of his face.

Police said the baby

French prisoners use table leg to flee 14th century jail

T

hree prisoners used a table leg to pierce a hole in the roof of their cell in a 14th century French penitentiary and escape in the early hours of New Year’s Day, a regional prosecutor said on Wednesday.

The three climbed onto the roof of the Colmar prison in eastern France and from there entered an adjoining courthouse, where they fled

through a side door.

The escape highlighted overcrowding and the advanced state of disrepair of an institution originally built in 1316 as a convent, according to prosecutor Bernard Lebeau.

“It appears that the ceilings in the cells are made of a crumbly material that was attacked with a makeshift tool made of objects from the cell itself, notably a table leg,”

he told journalists in Colmar.

The prisoners, aged 19 to 24, had been jailed on charges of assault and vandalism.

Two were detained awaiting trial while the third was serving a two-year term.

Poor conditions at the Colmar prison were flagged last week in an independent report commissioned by a lawyer, who said he would sue to make local authorities repair the facility.

Jailed US Marine facing 15 years in Mexican prison. Photo: Fox News

was turned over to the Department of Children and Families and the father is facing child neglect charges.

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

39

Business & Finance The capital market is not driven by euphoria, but by fundamentals of different sectors of the economy represented on the Exchange Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh

Nigerians remain one of the most optimistic groups of consumers among those surveyed by MasterCard on the continent, with an Index score of 91.4 points Country Manager, West Africa MasterCard Worldwide, Omokehinde Ojomuyide

Real estate, livestock, fishing contribution to GDP rises TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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tained in 2011 with about N1.2 billion at current basic prices contributions to the GDP at the end of Q3 2012, representing about N90.2 million above its total contributions in the corresponding period of 2011.

Similarly, livestock activities which contributed about N611 million at current basic prices to the

GDP growth value as at the end of the review period also showed improved performance by about N65.1 million while fishing with a total productive value of about N312.6 million at current basis prices also surpassed its 2011 GDP contributions by about N35.2 million at the end of Q3, 2012 According to the last

GDP growth rate report by the NBS, the nation’s Real Gross Domestic Product growth rate when measured on aggregate basis grew by 6.48 per cent in 3rd quarter of the current year as against the 7.37 per cent recorded in the corresponding period quarter of 2011 just as efforts by government to keep inflation rate at

single digit still remained futile as the Composite Price Index for October rose to 11.7 compared with the 11.3 per cent rate in the preceding month.

The nominal GDP for the 3rd quarter of 2012 was estimated at N10,967,272.89 million as against N9,856,176.33 million during the corresponding quarter of 2011.

espite the massive flooding of major farmlands in many parts of the country, particularly in livestock and fish-producing geo-political zones in the country, contributions of the two agricultural activities and the real estate’s will surpass their 2011 contributions in 2012 if available statistical data on their performances as at Q3 2012 are used as basis of assessment.

Although the final report of the total GDP growth rate for the year is still being finalised by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the real estate, livestock and fishing activities recorded improved cumulative performance when compared with those of other sectors, most of which recorded slower growth rate in the review period.

For instance, real estate sector reflected L-R: Lead Consultant, Qualitex Consulting and Associate, Mr. Tunji Timothy; General Manager, Prima Corporation Limited, Mr. growth over the level at- Rajiv Khanna. and Managing Director, Jotna International, Mr. Narendra Somani. at the celebration of the ISO Certification for Prima Corporation Llimited in Lagos yesterday.

Expert condemns FG’s $500m aircraft procurement loan OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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he planned acquisition of 30 aircraft for domestic airlines by the Federal Government through a $500million loan secured from China by the

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

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

Federal Government has been condemned by an aviation expert.

The President, Aviation Round Table (ART), Capt.

Dele Ore described the move as ridiculous and unnecessary, predicting that it would be an exercise in futility.

Speaking to our correspondent in Lagos, Ore, noted that it was not in the Act setting up the Federal

Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to negotiate aircraft for the domestic operators and described such move as usurpation of the functions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

He also queried the rationale behind the acquisition of the 30 aircraft for the operators and warned against creation of bad debts to the next genera-

Starcomms $210m capital injection awaits regulatory approvals

40

tion and wanted to know the conditions attached to the loan.

He said, “What functions are assigned to FAAN by its establishment Act? It is definitely ultra-vires the powers of FAAN to acquire aircraft for any airline or for any purpose. Furthermore, where do we place the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in all these? It is trite law and

usual practice that NCAA has responsibility over the supervision, air worthiness and importation inspection of any aircraft meant for Nigeria.

“Because we are once again creating more bad debts for the nation to the detriment of our grandchildren, the public will want to know the processes and conditions attached to this loan.

Matters arising from Destination Inspection Contract extension

42

FLIGHT SCHEDULE Arik Air

Lag-Abj:07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 13.05, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50,18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun).

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

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

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

234.6271

USD

155.84

CHF

159.2642

SDR

235.0535

CFA

0.2924

GBP

244.1701

EURO

191.3715

OIL / GAS FUTURES ICE BRENT

$123.39

-0.78

NYMEX

$108.45

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OPEC BASKET

$122.86

+1.16

40

Business News

Friday, January 3, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Starcomms $210m capital injection awaits regulatory approvals KUNLE A ZEEZ

F

ollowing the overwhelming endorsement of the proposed $210 million investment into Starcomms Plc

by Capcom Limited, the final bridge the ailing Code Division Multiple Access operator needs to cross is to get approval from the regulatory authorities.

The regulatory authorities include the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). About 99.83 per cent of Starcomms Plc’s existing shareholders had, at a December 28, 2012 Court-Ordered Meeting held in Abuja, voted in favour of the Capcom-proposed investment aimed at turning around the fortune of the ailing company.

In a statement made available to National Mirror yesterday, Starcomms management said the shareholders who were present and voted at the meeting represented 57.05 per cent of the total shareholder base of the new Starcomms.

“As further indication of shareholder support for the transaction, the company received the support of 100 per cent of its shareholders present and voting at the Annual General Meeting, also held in Abuja on the 28th of Decem-

ber 2012 on the various Special Resolutions authorising the Private Placement of 662.55 million new Starcomms shares to Capcom Limited and related matters. “Starcomms therefore has received the necessary shareholder support for all matters relating to the proposed $210 million investment by Capcom into the company.”

It stated that the shareholder approvals at the Court-Ordered Meeting now require the High Court’s ratification and the transaction thereafter remains subject to a number of conditions precedent as outlined in the Scheme Document including but not limited to final regulatory approval from the NCC, NSE and SEC. Commenting on the outcome of the Abuja meeting, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Starcomms Plc, Mr. Olusola Oladokun said, “We are delighted that our shareholders have supported the Board’ s recommendation to approve the investment by Capcom and are extremely pleased that, subject to a number of conditions precedent relating to the overall transaction, Starcomms can look to the future with hope.” He said the capital injection combined with the injection of new spectrum and the Code Division Muiltiple Access (CDMA), assets of Multilinks provides a sound base for continued operations as well

A car park on Marina, Lagos, as work and business resumed fully yesterday.

as enabling investment in new technology that will position Starcomms for the future in a very exciting space in the market.

In the same vein, the Chief Executive Officer designate for the new Starcomms, Mr. Ademola Eleso, added that the overwhelming approval from shareholders was a strong endorsement of Capcom proposed business model for Starcomms. He said: “We believe that the combination of Starcomms’ and Multilinks’ existing infrastructure and customer base with access to 20MHz of spec-

SEC may shelve nationwide dematerialisation awareness campaigns –Official

T

he Chairman of Securities and Exchange (SEC) Committee on Dematerialisation, Mr Emeka Madubuike, , says the commission may shelve the nationwide dematerialisation awareness campaigns scheduled to start on Jan. 31.

Madubuike told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that the postponement was due to the zero allocation to SEC in 2013 federal budget by the National Assembly.

Dematerialisation is the process of replacing paper share certificates with electronic records at the Central Securities Clearing System.

He said that the campaign

would not be feasible because SEC needed funds to carry out the elaborate campaigns. Madubuike, who is also the President Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), said that the zero allocation would affect other initiatives to revamp the capital market in 2013.

According to him, SEC cannot approve the committee’s report for the Jan. 31, 2013 date because of the House of the Representatives’ stance that the commission’s director-general must be removed. Madubuike, however, called for quick resolution of the impasse by the Presidency in the interest of the capital market and the

total economy. NAN recalled that the House of Representatives directed the withholding of SEC’s allocation in the 2013 Appropriation Bill it passed on December 20.

This followed the lower legislative chamber’s decision not to have anything to do with SEC until Ms Arunma Oteh is removed as the director-general. The commission had proposed to spend about N93 million to execute the dematerialisation policy. Oteh had said at the 2nd Annual Capital Market Committee Retreat in Warri, Delta, in December, that some shareholders were resisting dematerialisation policy due to lack of knowledge of its benefits.

Ex-NLC boss makes case for pensioners

A

former NLC chairman in Kwara State, Mr Emmanuel Aiyeoribe, has appealed to the Federal Government to pay attention to the plight of pensioners in the country. Aiyeoribe, who was reacting to the recent nationwide picketing of NIPOST offices, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that government must give priority to the welfare of pensioners in the three tiers of

government.. ``It is regrettable and worrisome that our senior citizens are treated as if they did not contribute to the economy of the country while in active service. `` For the pensioners to picket all NIPOST offices nationwide shows that they had been pushed to the wall,’’ he said. ``The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency in 2013 find a permanent solution

to the plight of pensioners at the federal, state and local government levels.’’ ``Pensioners of the three tiers of government face the same plight as evident in the demonstrations witnessed in states and local government areas of the country,’’ he said.

He appealed to government to give priority to workers’ welfare this year, saying this would boost productivity.

trum and the latest 4G Long Term Evolution, LTE, technology positions the company perfectly to be at the forefront of Nigeria’s data revolution. “We look forward to rolling out the business model and to a bright future for Starcomms’ customers and shareholders.”

LTE is the new generation mobile technology network, all Internet Protocol wirelessenabled, sometimes referred to as 4G. LTE supports higher data rates to enable delivery of advanced broadband capabilities, enhancement of existing services and new, data-heavy

multimedia services, including high quality video, enabling a seven fold increase in the number of simultaneous users on the network.

There is now clear momentum behind the global deployment of LTE which is seen as the coming world mobile phone standard, with 35 commercial LTE networks launched in 21 countries by October 2011, including Verizon in the United States and DoCoMo in Japan. The number of LTE networks is forecast to have risen to, in excess of 100 by the end of 2012.

Skye Bank, Servair partner on best air travel experience UDO ONYEKA

S

kye Bank Plc is bankrolling a major new initiative to boost air travellers’ in-flight experience as the financier of the strategic airline catering and logistics alliance between Servair, a foreign firm and Global Trade Investment Limited, a Nigerian company.

Servair, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air France, brings world class management and technical expertise while Global Trade brings deep knowledge of the Nigerian market to create a customer service hub aimed at redefining in-flight experience.

Skye Bank brings the finance to make the partnership a success.

The Servair-Global Trade partnership will lead to an initial production capacity of 4,000 to 5,000 meal trays per day which will increase as market dictates. The hub of their operations is the Muritala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, which is strategically positioned for this development with approximately 6.7 million passengers passing through it every year.

Skye Bank is at the centre of

the new initiative to make Nigeria the largest operational base of Servair in Africa. The bank is financing the 5000 meals per day in-flight catering facility with a 900m2 temperature controlled warehouse to cater for airlines under an Export Free Trade Processing Zone arrangement at the international wing of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

Besides in-flight food services, the Servair-Global Trade partnership also engages in handling of equipment and logistics consisting of the loading and unloading of aircraft, management and storage of airline products, provision of airport assistance from runway to the terminal, cleaning of the cabin, and preparation of clean and comfortable aircraft.

The new project is another indication of Skye Bank’s commitments to projects and investments aimed at ensuring safety and comfort of air travellers.

It should be recalled that Skye Bank Plc also provided finance for a new domestic airline, First Nation, which parades in its fleet modern aircraft in line with the requirements of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, January 3, 2013

Ministry awaits presidential endorsement for formation of national carrier OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T

he Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has said that the ministry is set to give to the nation a befitting national carrier in 2013, but will still have to take approval from the presidency for this to become a reality.

Oduah assured that the ministry was ready to reel out the conditions for any interested organisations or airlines, but could not be specific on the actual date it would come on stream.

Speaking through her Special Assistant, Media, Mr. Joe Obi in a telephone interview with National Mirror, said that the process of choosing a national carrier for the country involves lots of stages, which would be in the

public domain once the approval is received from the presidency.

He said, “We are expecting a new national carrier by 2013.

National carrier would come on stream this year, but when is what I can’t say because the process involves a lot of stages.

For us at the ministry level, we have done all the ground work needed, but we are still awaiting the final approval from the presidency. Once that comes out, we will set the ball rolling. We can’t come out with the conditions now because the final authority to go ahead will come from the presidency.

“It is when the approval comes that we can now unveil those conditions and criteria for the organsiaitons or airlines that are interested. So, let’s tarry a while and wait for the presi-

dential endorsement. Once we have that, we will do something and everything would be in the public domain so that no one would be left in doubt about the composition of the person or airline that will form the national carrier.”

The Minister of Aviation had re-awakened the national carrier debate in a forum in Abuja when she said the country deserves a national carrier like other countries.

Apart from reestablishing a national carrier for Nigeria, Oduah also said there was a need to develop a proper framework for it to succeed. Such issues like legal framework, ownership structure and funding she explained are very critical and needed to be sorted out before embarking on the project.

41

Winners emerge in Sterling Bank/ MoneyGram promo UDO ONYEKA

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everal winners have emerged in the Sterling Bank MoneyGram Gear up for school promo draw to reward customers of the bank for their patronage using the bank’s channels to transfer and receive funds abroad.

According to a statement from the bank, the winners were selected during a national raffle draw in Lagos. Among the lucky gift recipients were Olalekan Alominle (Marina branch); Adenike Daniel (Iwo Road branch); Femi Adams (Ogba branch); Wole Oweye (Idimu branch); and Charles Ude (Alaba 1branch).

Others are Tele Adedoyin (Oke Ado branch) and Idowu Kolawole (Demurin branch).

Gift items won included net-

note books and backpacks. While presenting the gifts to the winners, the Group Head, e-Channels, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abdul-Fattah Amoo, said the draw collaborates the bank’s brand philosophy of the ‘One customer’ and that it is always “ a great pleasure for the bank”, to celebrate its customers and appreciate their patronage at all times.

He stressed that the “National raffle draw was administered in a very transparent manner”. Mr. Amoo urged the customers to patronize the services and product offerings of the bank in order to continuously enjoy the excellent services associated with the lender. “As you continue to receive funds from your loved ones abroad, we would like you to avail yourselves of the numerous competitive products and services, which Sterling Bank offers.

Ecobank opens affiliate in Equatorial Guinea JOHNSON OKANLAWON

E

L-R: Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Barrister Chris Nkwocha; Regional Manager, AfricaMagic/MNet, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu; Managing Director, Biola Alabi and Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, during the AfricaMagic Stakeholders Forum in Lagos yesterday.

Nigeria releases improved cassava varieties to boost productivity STANLEY IHEDIGBO

N

igeria has released two improved cassava varieties in an effort to maintain its lead as the world’s largest producer of the root crop, improve incomes of farmers and make them smile.

The varieties were developed through a collaborative effort between the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Nigerian Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike.

In a statement IITA said the two varieties are originally recognized as IITA developed genotypes: IITA-TMS-I982132 and IITA-TMS-I011206. But with the official release, they are to be known as UMUCASS 42 and UMUCASS 43 respectively.

“Both varieties performed well in different cassava production regions of Nigeria with high yield, high dry matter and good disease resistance. The

roots of these varieties are yellow and contain moderate levels of pro-Vitamin A,” says Dr Peter Kulakow, IITA Cassava Breeder.

Potential maximum yield of the two varieties is between 49 and 53 tons per hectare, according to pre-varietal release trials that were conducted between 2008 and 2010. Local varieties produce less than 10 tons per hectare.

The varieties are also resistant to major pests and diseases that affect cassava in the country including cassava mosaic disease, cassava bacterial blight, cassava anthracnose, cassava mealy bug and cassava green mite.”

Dr Chiedozie Egesi, NRCRI Cassava Breeder, who presented the varieties before the Nigeria Varietal Release committee—the body in charge of officially releasing varieties—said the varieties have the following distinct qualities: good for high quality cassava flour—a sought after trait by researchers for the cassava transformation agenda in Nigeria, high dry matter which

is positively related to starch and crucial for cassava value chain development and high leaf retention which is positively related to drought tolerance and is crucial for cassava production in the drier regions and in mitigating the impact of climate chan ge.

Over the years, cassava has transformed from being a “poor man’s” crop to now a cash crop and an industrial crop, as cassava is being processed to products such as starch, flour, glucose and ethanol. This transition has placed demand on cassava.

Researchers say developing new improved varieties is one way that will boost the steady supply of cassava roots to this ever increasing demand.

According to Dr Egesi, continuous breeding of such improved new varieties will help in stabilizing production, processing and marketing of cassava products.

“The impact of these efforts will be felt in areas such as rural employment and a virile cassava industrial sector,” he added

cobank Transnational Incorporated has announced the opening of its Equatorial Guinea affiliate.

The bank was issued a license to operate as a credit institution in Equatorial Guinea and became the 33rd affiliate of the group in Africa.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Thierry Tanoh said that the group is pleased that the authorities of Equatorial Guinea have issued Ecobank with a license to operate as the fifth bank in the country and to support the development of the economy with access to financing.

According to him, “The addition of the branch completes our presence in all the member states of the Monetary and Economic Community of Central Africa and highlights our leadership in the African banking sector and demonstrates our long term commitment to the African continent.”

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the group, Mrs. Evelyne Tall, said, “We are particularly enthusiastic about Ecobank’s access to the Equato-Guinea market and the opportunity to offer to our existing and potential clients our innovative and reliable products and services.

“Additionally our presence in Equatorial Guinea would give them access to Ecobank’s footprint across Africa.”

Expert charges on exploiting potential of informal sector

A

real estate consultant, Mr Chudi Ubosi, on Thursday said that mortgagees were not exploiting potentials of over 55 million Nigerians in the informal sector to the advantage of the industry. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that over 55 million Nigerians that were operating in the informal sector did not know much about the mortgage industry.

Ubosi, the Managing Director of Ubosi and Eleh Real Estate Surveyors and Valuers, said that operators in the nation’s mortgage business still needed to do more publicity about their activities. He said that the mortgage banks could expand their financial strengths by designing products tailored to meet the yearnings of Nigerians in the informal sector.

``The informal sector constitutes a huge potential for mortgage lending. ``The industry needs to target the market men and women, the mechanics, tailors, hairdressers and other artisans through their various cooperative societies. ``Mortgagees also need to design a functional model of communicating with members of the informal sector to harness their potential,” he said.

According to him, huge revenue will be generated from optimal exploitation of the informal sector for the housing sub-sector. Ubosi also said that shortage of funding was affecting the growth of the mortgage industry. He said that mortgage banks needed to collaborate with microfinance banks to harness the “financial pipeline” that the informal sector had to offer both financial institutions.

42

Maritime

Friday, January 4, 2013

Matters arising from Destination Inspection Contract extension The decision by the Federal Government to extend the Destination Inspection Contract, which expired on December 31, 2012 to June 30, 2013, has elicited diverse reactions from industry practitioners. FRANCIS EZEM examines some of the issues.

T

he extension of the Destination Inspection contract entered in January 2006 between the Federal Government and the four service providers comprising Webb Fontaine, SGS, Cotecna Destination Inspection Nigeria Limited and Global Scan was received by stakeholders with mixed feelings, depending on the side of the divide one operates from.

The government had reintroduced the DI scheme in 2006, which follows the suspension of the Pre-Shipment Inspection regime under which all imports into the country were inspected at port of origin.

The PSI then was fraught with several inadequacies, which led to delays in cargo delivery and attendant fraudulent activities by both importers and officials of some government agencies. This was also a major reason for the government to return to the DI scheme.

Under the DI scheme, the government contracted Cotecna, which was allocated Lot 1, which covers Apapa Ports, Ashaye Terminal of Tin Can Island Ports, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos as well as Banki and Jibia borders.

SGS and Global Scan were allocated parts of TCIP, Seme and Idiroko Borders while Webb Fountain provides the software for the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUD + +), the platform for the scheme.

The scope was a seven- year Build, Own Operate and Transfer Contract in which these service providers would inspect all imports at ports of destination in addition to the provision of Computerised Risk Management System as well as scanning services for all imported goods into the country.

The contract also covered the training of Customs officers to take over the scheme at the end of the contract.

These fears and anxiety were also informed by the silence on the part of the government especially in the last six months as to whether the December 31 date would be sacrosanct.

These fears and anxiety, which permeated the length and breadth of the maritime industry was further heightened by the fact that the visibly worried stakeholders could not take government’s silence as acceptance or other wise.

When the government therefore broke its long silence on December 31, less than 24 hours before the official takeover of the scheme by Customs, which management had been sensitising the trading public on its preparedness, the news sent cold jitters down the spine of the management.

Therefore to the top management of the service and its loyalists especially, the news came as a rude shock and for the service providers, it was a prayer answered while most stakeholders, who had doubted the ability of the service to takeover saw it a most welcome development as the announcement assuaged their fears of possible crisis should the scheme should be handed over the service at this time, given their perceived high level of un-preparedness.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mallam Danladi Kifasi in a memo dated December 31, 2012 released the bombshell.The memo with reference number F10361/S.56/VA/491 and addressed to the service providers reads in parts: “I wish

Mobile scanner installed at Apapa Port as part of DI contract.

A SERVICE, WHICH ONLY EMPHASIS IS ON REVENUE GENERATION BECAUSE IT GETS A LARGE CHUNK OF THE MONEY COLLECTED AS COST OF RUNNING THE

ORGANISATION, WHILE ISSUES OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND TRADE FACILITATION ARE RELEGATED TO THE

BACKGROUND WOULD SURELY BUNGLE THE DI SCHEME to inform you that the President has approved the extension of the agreement dated January 1, 2006, between your company and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the provision, installation, operation and management of x-ray scanning equipment and software for inspection of goods. The agreement which is to expire on December 31, 2012, has been extended for a period of six months with effect from January 1, 2013.”

It was further gathered that there might be slight alterations in the allocation of the various lots to the service providers.

As would be expected, stakeholders expressed mixed reaction on the new development, also depending on the side of the divide or perspective he or she views the action..

National President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, while commenting on the extension declared that it was welcome development and a right step in the right direction.

According to him, it is not about sentiment; it is about the interest of the Nigerian nation, noting that the service has not shown any serious ability to take over the scheme.

“I tell you, recent comments and pronouncements and pronouncements by the management of customs do not show that the service is prepared to takeover the scheme and it will be dangerous for the government to have gambled”, he insisted.

But president of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr. Eugune Nweke, who expressed reservations over the decision of the government, noted that it does not show that it is serious about its claims to build indigenous capacity.

Meanwhile, a source at the Federal Min-

istry of Finance says government meant well for the economy in extending the contract.

The source hinted that the extension was in the overall interest of the Nigerian economy and not on the basis of form of patronage.

According to him, government is concerned about the well being of the nation’s economy, arguing that the extension was meant to enable the Nigeria Customs Service perfect its operation that would facilitate a hitch-free takeover of the scheme at the expiration of the contract.

“The government has been inundated with complaints and reports over seeming inability of the service to takeover the scheme and no responsible government would sweep such reports and complaints under the carpet because the consequences of ignoring such warning, which came early enough would be grave for the economy”, he argued.

“In granting the extension, government also liaised with critical stakeholders to ensure that such extension would serve the best interest of the Nigerian nation”, he further argued.

It was also gathered that in addition to extending the contract, government would also put measures in place to facilitate a hitch-free takeover by Customs.

Investigations also showed that part of reason for the extension was the decision of the sservice to practically abandon the transition programme of the scheme as specified in the contract agreement between the four service providers and the Federal Government to forestall possible hitches.

But to many other stakeholders, the extension was bound to happen.

First pointer to government’s doubt as to the ability of the service to take over the

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scheme and successively manage it was sometime in 2010, when chairman, House committee on Customs, Prince Abiodun Adesida said the committee might be left with no choice than to summon the management of the service to assess its level of preparedness to take over the scheme.

The chairman, who spoke shortly after a visit to the fixed scanner installed by Cotecna said: “Considering the poor maintenance culture in our country Nigeria, Customs would have to appear before the house to convince us that it can take over from the service providers at the end of the contract period, which is fast approaching”, But the management of the service quickly blocked the moves in order not to expose the inadequacies of the service.

The CG had in defiance of all professional advice, gone ahead to cajole stakeholders to support his bid to takeover the scheme no matter how poorly prepared.

For instance, in anticipation of non extension of the contract, the CG went ahead to introduce Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) to replace the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) issued by the service providers under the scheme.

RAAR is an advisory report generated by the service providers under the DI contract, which advises the service on the level of risk associated with a given consignment since it is the duty of the service providers under the contract to carryout Computerised Risk Management System. But stakeholders faulted these moves.

Amiwero, who had commended the government for the extension, also cited recent moves by the service to arrogate the powers to grant import waivers to itself under the Customs and Excise Management Act now under amendment, noted that the power to strip the service providers of that function lies with the Minister of Finance.

According to him, Section 36 of the CEMA gives the minister, who is also chairman of Board of Customs to make such pronouncement and other related policy pronouncements not the service itself.

He noted that if the principle of checks and balances would have been thrown to the winds if the service were allowed to issue the risk report and also examines the goods when imports when they arrive.

Another stakeholder, who pleaded anonymity while commenting on the development, had noted that the way the current management is going about seeking too many powers at the detriment of the president and the supervising minister might bungle the DI scheme if handed over to it in the future.

“A service, which only emphasis is on revenue generation because it gets a large chunk of the money collected as cost of running the organisation, while issues of national security and trade facilitation are relegated to the background would surely bungle the DI scheme”, the stakeholder said.

A member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, who spoke at a sensitisation forum organised by the service had particularly advised the management to harmonise its operations with those of the banks, terminal operators and shipping companies in order to minimise the delays associated with cargo delivery.

In view of all these shortcomings, it is therefore expected that the service would make the best use of this extension to ensure that the scheme does not crash when it takes over from July 1.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Maritime

Friday, January 4, 2013

Piracy: We have to pay high insurance premium on vessels STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

T

he Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association, umbrella body for all indigenously owned industrial fishing companies has said that Insurance companies operating in Nigeria have declared the fishing trawlers high risk areas owing to the increasing cases of maritime piracy and sea robbery.

The Malaysian-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the global piracy watchdog had for three consecutive years (2009, 2010 and 2011) rated Nigeria’s waters second highest after Somalia in terms of sea robbery and piracy attacks.

In reaction to this rating, most shipping companies and seafarers had declared Nigeria a war-zone, which attracts high freight charges while the seafarers ask for higher pay each time they ply the Nigerian waters in view of the increasing incidences of piracy, which increases their risk of being kidnapped or killed.

This development, which had many most liners declare Nigeria a high risk area with the attendant hike on insurance premiums on Nigerian-bound cargo, had also compelled most American and European countries including the United States of America and Britain to issue security alerts to their nationals intending to travel to Nigeria.

National President of the association, Mr. Joseph Overo, who spoke in an exclusive interview in Lagos, disclosed that owing to the declaration of the trawlers as high risk insurable items, the insurance companies charge high premiums on

the fishing vessels, which also heightens the operators’ woes.

According to him, the initial attitude of these companies towards insuring the fishing vessels was that of apathy but they later imposed high premiums and so members have the choice of running their vessels insured at cut-throat premiums or not insuring them at all.

“They are in business to make money and the issue of increasing sea robbery is very real and so if you can pay their high premiums, why not?”, the president wondered.

The association had recently raised the alarm over the loss whopping N118.5billion by members in the last eight years due to the increasing menace of pirates and sea robbers on Nigeria’s territorial waters.

This loss, it was gathered was in terms of direct financial loss covers the period between 2003 and 2011.

Figures released by the association show that in concrete financial terms, members lost a total of N5billion in 2003, N6billion in 2004, N7.5billion in 2005 and N12billion in 2006.

Other details show that in 2007, members lost N13 billion, N15 billion in 2008 and N17billion in 2009 even as N20billion and N23billion were lost in 2010 and 2011, respectively, bringing to a total of N118.5billion In addition to this huge financial loss due to these attacks, the area of operation of the members has been reduced by over 70 percent as places like the Escravous, Forcados, River Ramos, River Dodo, Pennigton and Brass, among several others have been declared no-go areas because of piracy insurgency.

The president, who also gave a graphic details of how the industry has fared in the last eight years, had said in 2004, there were about 44 industrial fishing companies, which also represented the membership strength of the association but regretted that this has presently reduced to only four operational firms, as the others have closed shop because they could no longer cope.

According to him, during the review period, there were over 250 fishing trawlers, which also represented the entire fleet of the association then but which has reduced to a little above 100, arising from the piracy and robbery attacks on their trawlers, a development that has apart from massive loss of jobs, has also led to death of crew, captains, sailors and other equipment.

Other statistics also show that the association lost a total of 44 crew members in 2003, 121 in 2004, 374 in 2005 and 627 in 2006.

Others include the death of 1,

177 crew and other members of staff in 2007, 1,045 in 2008 while 1, 265 and 1,430 deaths were recorded in 2010 and 2011 respectively arising from uncontrolled piracy attacks on Nigerian waters.

The NITOA-boss noted that the existing members have invested in excess f N40bn in offshore and seaborne assets and currently provides direct employment of up to 5, 250 and another 300, 000 indirect jobs for Nigerians.

“The sector is a key player in Nigeria’s quest for economic diversification and boosting nonoil exports. Encouraged by government policy, the sector has made renewed investments in creating infrastructure for the procession of shrimps and fish t meet the highest international standards and created a niche market for made in Nigeria products in top Europe, United States of America and Japan”, Overo said.

Fishing troller

OBJ, World Bank vice president to grace NIMAREX 2013

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo; Africa Region Vice President of World Bank, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Minister of Transport, Mallam Idris Umar and former Head of State Abdulsalam Abubakar; have confirmed their attendance at the 2013 edition of the annual Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX).

NIMAREX is an annual event hosted jointly by the Federal Ministry of Transport in conjunction with the various parastatals parastatals and agencies under it as well as stakeholders designed to showcase Nigeria’s maritime potential to the world.

Executive secretary of NIMAREX, Mr. Bolaji Akinola, who made this disclosure, said that a NIMAREX 2013 planning committee comprising government officials drawn from various agencies and major stakeholders has been inaugurated.

According to him, the commit-

tee is headed by Chief Chijioke Collins while Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi is the vice chairman.

He also said that the theme of this year’s event, which holds in March is: ‘Nigeria’s Maritime: Invest Now’.

It was gathered that the event, which has been divided into two distinct parts namely the exhibition and conference sessions with both running simultaneously would be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan. .“The conference session will run concurrently with the exhibition and we have highly distinguished speakers lined up to discuss various issues during the conference”, the secretary said.

Details of the programme show that there are three conference sessions in all with former President Obasanjo, retired General Abubakar and Governor Emmanuel Uduagham of Delta State are expected to chair these sessions while the transport min-

ister, retired Admiral Alison Maduekwe and Senator Zainab Kure will serve as co-chairmen of the conference sessions.

He said the theme of the even was carefully selected to reflect the aspirations of the Federal Government for accelerated growth of the nation’s maritime industry.

“We have talked a lot about the opportunities in the past, now we are moving a step further to help discerning investors actualise those opportunities and that is why this time around we are focusing the conference sub-themes on trade, financing and regulations”, he said.

Government agencies in the industry such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Maritime Academy of Nigeria.

Oron and the Nigerian Navy are all part of the programme.

Other co-organisers of the expo which is spearheaded by the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria are the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Federal College of Fisheries, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping and the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners among several others.

It would be recalled that the first two editions of the event tagged NIMAREX 2011 and NIMAREX 2012 were declared open by representatives of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Heads of State; retired General Yakubu Gowon and Chief Ernest Shonekan and representative of the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, Mr. Koji Sekimizu, were also in attendance at the event.

43

Warning sign of mounting woes at China shipyards

E

verybody knows the shipbuilding industry in Asia is going through hard times, but just how bad appears to have even taken some of the experts by surprise.

Analysts who cover China Rongsheng Heavy Industries had been expecting the company to report a 584 million yuan ($93.76 million) net profit for 2012, according to a poll conducted by Thomson Reuters. Instead, China Rongsheng shocked many when it announced Monday that it expects to incur a net loss for 2012, citing falling orders and prices for new vessels as reasons.

During Thursday’s session, the first trading opportunity since the profit warning, the shares were knocked 7.4percent lower, though they sat unchanged Friday morning in Hong Kong.

For the most part, the woes facing Rongsheng — China’s biggest private shipbuilder — had been well flagged. In the first half of 2012, global ship orders totaled 20.91 million tons worth of new vessels, a drop of 59% from the same period a year earlier.

Some analysts were even careful to point out that Rongsheng was especially at risk, as its single largest customer for very large ore carriers — Brazilian iron-ore producer Vale VALE -0.29% — was likely to ask for delays in its ship orders currently pending.

A 400,000-ton iron ore carrier owned by Vale stirred up controversy last year when it docked at the mainland Chinese port of Dalian. China’s Ministry of Transport banned these huge bulk vessels and oil tankers from docking at its ports in February 2011 after lobbying by Chinese shipping companies worried about the deflationary effects on bulk-shipping rates.

“The shipping companies were worried about low freight rates in the future if Vale continued to transport minerals to China on its own,” Citic Securities said in note in February.

Vale has pending orders for 15 of these massive ore carriers with Rongsheng, according to Citic.

Delivery of the ships could be pushed back over a period extending through to 2016, according to Citic, which warned at the time of writing in February that the delays would pose “significant” earnings risk to Rongsheng.

Meanwhile, Citi Research, which initiated coverage of Rongsheng in a Dec. 10 report, warned investors to avoid the

44

Friday, January 4, 2013

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Capital Market

Friday, January 4, 2013

45

Equities slid 0.2% on profit taking JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he benchmark index of equities dropped on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as some investors took profits from the gains recorded the previous days.

Specifically, the AllShare Index shed 0.21per cent to close at 28,441.39 points, in contrast to the increase of 1.50 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 28,501.21 points.

Market capitalisation depreciated by N19.1bn to close at N9.09trn, as against the rise of N135bn

recorded the preceding day to close at N9.10trn.

Four NSE’s sectoral indices closed positive, as the NSE 30-Index lost 0.12 per cent to close at 1,355.64 points, while the Oil and Gas Index rose by 0.23 per cent to close at 153.57 points.

The Consumer Goods Index gained 0.73 per cent, while the Insurance Index increased by 0.82 per cent to close at 122.05 points.

The Banking Index appreciated by 1.79 per cent to close at 356.89 points, while the Lotus Islamic Index lost 1.08 per cent to close at 1,751.38 points.

First City Monument Bank Plc led the gain-

ers’ table with 40 kobo or 9.76 per cent to close at N4.50 per share, followed

by AIICO Insurance Plc with four kobo or 6.45 per cent to close at 66 kobo per share.

Skye Bank Plc appreciated by 27 kobo or 5.71 per cent to close at N5.00 per share, while Fidson Healthcare Plc gained six kobo or 5.56 per cent to close at N1.14 per share.

Fidelity Bank Plc increased by 13 kobo or 5.53 per cent to close at N2.48 per share.

On the flip side, Diamond Bank Plc shed 30 kobo or 5.56 per cent to close at N5.10 per share, while John Holt Plc

dropped by 16 kobo or 4.95 per cent to close at N3.07 per share.

Cutix Plc depreciated by seven kobo or 4.58 per cent to close at N1.46 per share, while Wapco Plc dipped by N2.50 or 4.35 per cent to close at N55.00 per share. FBNH Plc declined by 72 kobo or 4.21 per cent to close at N16.38 per share.

Transaction volume in equities rose by 64.5 per cent, as a total of 289.43 million shares worth N2.56bn were exchanged in 4,510 deals, compared to 175.98 million shares valued at N1.88bn traded in 2,801 deals the preceding day.

Europe stock indexes end mixed, Swiss stocks catch up

A

leading panEuropean share index ended higher yesterday, helped by better-than-expected United States jobs data and strong gains from a Swiss market returning from a national holiday.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares provisionally

ended 0.4 per cent higher at 1,162.24 points.

While Switzerland’s SMI benchmark surged 2.9 per cent, and UK’s FTSE 100 added 0.3 per cent, most other regional indexes pulled back slightly after a US budget deal had fuelled strong gains in the previous session.

That bout of profittaking was capped after data showed US privatesector employers added 215,000 jobs in December, well above economists’ expectations, a day before all-important payrolls figures for December, but it failed to spark a sustained broadmarket rally.

“It basically means two scenarios for tomorrow: a strong figure and indexes hit new highs, or a sluggish figure which would trigger a pull-back. A lot of investors are looking for a reason to book profits at this point,” Saxo Banque senior sales trader Alexandre Baradez said.

Global shares dip after rally, dollar jumps

W

orld stocks dipped yesterday, as traders took profits after equities hit an 18-month high in the previous session, while the United States dollar climbed to a three-week high against a basket of currencies on concerns about more budget wrangling in Washington.

Data suggesting some momentum in the US economy as the year ended showed private-sector employers stepped up hiring in December, limiting losses in stocks and further supporting the greenback.

“The report now sets the stage as we expect a strong non-farm payroll reading on Friday,” said Andrew Wilkinson, Chief Economic Strategist at Miller Tabak and Company in New York.

President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans face two more months of

tough talks on spending cuts and an increase in the nation’s debt limit as the hard-fought deal to avert the fiscal cliff of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts covered only taxes and delayed decisions on expenditures until March 1.

The MSCI world equity index US dipped from an 18-month high before edging higher at 347.21. European stocks .FTEY3 were up 0.4 per cent.

The Dow Jones industrial average finance/ markets/index slipped 2.23 points, or 0.02 per cent, at 13,410.32 points.

The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index was up 1.67 points, or 0.11 per cent, at 1,464.09 points.

The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 5.01 points, or 0.16 per cent, at 3,117.28 points.

The dollar was up 0.4 per cent against a basket of major currencies at a three-week high of 80.13, although it slipped 0.5 per cent

against the yen to 86.88.

“We really just kicked the can down the line and we’re set up for another fight on the hill in the next month and a half or so,” said John Doyle, currency strategist at Tempus Consulting in Washington. “That put a damper on overall risk appetite.”

The euro, which had touched an 8-1/2 month high against the dollar on Wednesday, was down 0.6 per cent at $1.3108.

The benchmark 10year US Treasury note was down 6/32, the yield at 1.8565 per cent.

The dollar’s strength and rising oil supplies pushed crude prices lower, with Brent down 0.5 per cent to under $112 a barrel. US crude futures were down 0.2 per cent at $92.96.

Analysts expect oil prices to drop in 2013 as supply outweighs demand, especially after US crude production hit a 19-year high

in 2012 and Russia pumped more oil to remain ahead of Saudi Arabia in production.

Gold futures followed commodities lower and were down about 0.6 per cent at $1,678.40 an ounce.

Thursday’s retreat across riskier asset markets might have been sharper but for data showing activity in China’s services sector and at US factories expanded in December, brightening the outlook for global growth.

China’s official purchasing managers’ index for the non-manufacturing sector rose to a four-month high in December, adding to signs of a revival in the world’s second-largest economy.

Investors will now turn their attention to Friday’s December US employment report.

It is expected to show modest job growth of around 150,000, compared with 146,000 in November.

Source: NSE NIBOR QUOTES 02 JANUARY 2013 & 03 JANUARY 2013 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00

2 -J a n -1 3

2 -J a n -1 3

Source: FMDA

Market indicators All-Share Index 28,441.39 points Market capitalisation 9.09trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

FCMB

4.10

4.50

0.40

9.76

AIICO

0.62

0.66

0.04

6.45

SKYEBANK

4.73

5.00

0.27

5.71

FIDSON

1.08

1.14

0.06

5.56

FIDELITYBK

2.35

2.48

0.13

5.53

MAYBAKER

1.60

1.68

0.08

5.00

OKOMUOIL

42.50

44.62

2.12

4.99

CCNN

5.35

5.61

0.26

4.86

IKEJAHOTEL

0.83

0.87

0.04

4.82

ETERNA

2.08

2.18

0.10

4.81

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

DIAMONDBNK

5.40

5.10

0.30

-5.56

JOHNHOLT

3.23

3.07

0.16

-4.95

CUTIX

1.53

1.46

0.07

-4.58

WAPCO

57.50

55.00

2.50

-4.35

FBNH

17.10

16.38

0.72

-4.21

DANGCEM

128.10

125.00

3.10

-2.42

NASCON

8.38

8.20

0.18

-2.15

TRANSCORP

1.05

1.03

0.02

-1.90

BAGCO

2.40

2.36

0.04

-1.67

PZ

28.00

27.56

0.44

-1.57

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

21,838.51

12.70

6-Sep-12

182-Day

50,000.00

15.49

5-Sep-12

-

-

-

-

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

84 Days

55,352.37

14.05

3-Jan-13

87-Day

91,310.00

14.05

3-Jan-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$300m

N/A

$300m

19-Dec-12

$200m

N/A

$200m

17-Dec-12

46

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 4, 2013

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Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

Community Mirror “The judiciary is critical to the development of the state, being the alloy that strengthens the relationship between all segments of government.”

NASARAWA STATE GOVERNOR, UMARU AL-MAKURA

Lagos fire: Victims decry sale of rods by officials MURITALA AYINLA

O

wners of buildings affected in the recent firecrackers explosion on Lagos Island, have accused state government officials of selling iron rods from rubbles of demolished structures.

They bemoaned what they called ‘inhuman treatment’ of their members by the government, accusing it selling their properties without consulting them, even as some trucks were seen remain iron rods from scene of the demolished buildings.

According to a developer, Mr. Musa Kayode, more than five trucks loaded with iron rods from the rubbles were driving to unknown destinations.

“If government could demolish our buildings, how come it is also carting away the rods?

Where are they taking them to and who are the buyers? Why won’t they allow the property owners take the iron rods from the rubbles?” he queried.

Another resident, said government should have allowed owners of the demolished buildings to use them for reconstruction.

Chief Executive Officer of Musbat Construction Limited, Mrs. Bola Ibrahim, said she was about collecting rents from tenants for 35 years to recoup the N85m spent in building the structure, even as she had barely collected rent for 2 years when the explosion occurred, leading to destruction of the entire building including goods stored inside.

Meanwhile the General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that clearing of the area would be concluded in less than two weeks after which fumigation will take place.

He explained that buildings found to be distressed will be demolished, while those with adjustment would be recommended for appropriate and necessary action.

He said: “LASEMA is working to arrest incessant fire in-

cidents in Lagos State. The government will soon come up with post disaster assessment on the explosion, even as enumeration of people displaced by the explosions had begun.

“Our work is to make the area safe and calm, agencies like the Lagos State Environ-

mental Protection Agency (LASEPA), has carried out environmental impact assessment of the explosion, while the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), have been mandated to clear the debris

and other waste items from the site.

Oke-Osanyintolu, added that government might render financial assistance to those affected by the explosions to cushion impact of the disaster on them, but noted that it was not a form of compensation.

Mother, children burnt in tanker Inferno FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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hree persons including a mother and her two children, have been burnt to death in a fire incident at Ibatefin quarters of Idiroko town in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, as a total of 16 houses and shops were also razed in the blaze, Community Mirror, gathered that the fire occurred when a petrol tanker fell on the Ago Sasa road, spilling its contents which later caught fire destroying houses in the community.

An eye witness account said that the family members were already asleep when the fires engulfed the entire area.

The source further explained that the tanker was travelling to a nearby filling station to discharge its contents when it fell and caught fire.

“It was a serious accident; we were already in bed when it happened. A tanker was moving into a nearby filling station

when it fell and caught fire.

“It was so bad because it happened at night when most people were already asleep. A family of three was wiped out as 15 others were seriously injured in the inferno,” he said.

The Unit Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Irunoje David Abiodun, said the fire was as a result of unwholesome activities of some persons in the border area, who engaged in smuggling petroleum products into Nigerian.

Abiodun, further said that a fuel laden truck with registration number, Lagos AAA 36 XA, lost control and rammed into two other tankers before going up in flames.

“I think there was a spark from the tanker and then it caught fire, the two children and their mother were burnt beyond recognition”.

Abiodun said corpses of the victims had been deposited at Idiroko General Hospital, while those in critical conditions were still receiving treatment.

A truck loading iron rods at scene of the recent fire disaster in Lagos.

PHOTO: MURITALA AYINLA

NURTW faction members remanded in prison OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

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n Akure High Court has remanded eight members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ondo State chapter, in prison custody over their roles in the recent violent clash in Akure, the state capital.

A faction of the union had at-

tempted to topple the leadership led by Obayoriade Olajutele (a.k.a Die the matter).

However, the attempt failed, as Chairman of the Sunshine Park, known as “Alakure” and other branch members fought a gun battle that lasted for several hours.

Alakure, later sought the help of military personnel from Owena Barracks, Akure,

who dislodged the hoodlums.

Eight of the NURTW members were arrested and taken to the barrack, even as they were later handed over to the police and arraigned before the court.

Meanwhile, the state secretariat of the NURTW has remained under lock and key as none of the officials were around to comment on the incident.

LG boss begins road rehabilitation in Otukpo HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

C

hairman of Otukpo Local Government Council in Benue State, Mr Innocent Onuh, has started fulfilling his campaign promises with the rehabilitation of Otukpo roads to give the town a face lift.

Otukpo which is one of the leading towns in the Benue South West Senatorial District has over the years been neglected in the provision of modern infrastructure by previous administrations.

Inspecting the ongoing road reconstruction, the chairman appealed to people in the area,

particularly commuters, to cooperate with construction workers to ensure quality job,even as rehabilitation works was seen on the Och’Idoma Road, as well Ojira Road, while others earmarked for rehabilitation are Harrison Adoga, Obaganya, Major Ukwenya, Edikwu and Aikwucheyi Alama roads.

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Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Space for Sale

Friday, January 4, 2013

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49

World News

Obama uses autopen to sign fiscal cliff into law

“The future of the Falkland Islands should bee determined by the Falkland Islanders themselves the people who live there””

50

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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acing an insurgency by a new rebel coalition, the president of Central African Republic consolidated military power under his control yesterday after dismissing his own son as acting defence minister along with his army chief of staff.

President Francois Bozize said in a decree read on state radio late Wednesday that he was taking over the position held by his son, Jean Francis Bozize as neighbouring countries sent troops to help.

Hundreds of soldiers from Chad, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Cameroon have been in arriving this week in this desperately poor, landlocked country where rebels have seized 10 towns in a month’s time.

Rebel spokesman Col. Djouma Narkoyo reiterated yesterday that they were holding their position at the transportation hub of Sibut pending negotiations in Gabon. They have apparently made no further advance toward the capital since taking the town on Dec. 29.

“Our position today is that we respect the decision of the Economic Community of Central African States,” he said by satellite phone. “That’s why we are staying in Sibut and are not advancing.”

Residents in the capital of Bangui said Bozize’s decision to fire his own son was not surprising given the recent military losses. But some noted Bozize may be

– British Prime Minister, David Cameronn

CAR President sacks son as defence chief making his moves too late.

“It’s coming too late because the security of our country is already in the hands of rebels,” said Jean Nestor Kongbu as he watched fishermen cast their nets in the Obangui River that separates Central African Republic from Congo. ... They say they won’t advance, but the government could provoke the rebels or the rebels could provoke the government. They need to negotiate for the Central African people.”

The United Nations called for talks between the government

and rebels and the Security Council scheduled closed consultations on the Central African Republic on Thursday afternoon.

The rebels have indicated they will participate in upcoming talks in Gabon but are also insisting that Bozize go. The president says he will not leave before finishing his term in 2016.

Bozize himself took power in 2003 following a rebellion with the help of Chadian forces. He later went on to win elections in 2005 and 2011, though the opposition and international observ-

ers have called the votes deeply flawed.

The rebels behind the latest challenge to Bozize’s rule are made up of four separate groups all known by their French acronyms — UFDR, CPJP, FDPC and CPSK. They are collectively known as Seleka, which means alliance in the local Sango language, but have previously fought one another. In September 2011, fighting between the CPJP and the UFDR left at least 50 people dead in the town of Bria and more than 700 homes destroyed.

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McKeever

Libyan policemen in civilian clothing protest against the kidnapping of the Head of Criminal Investigation Department, Abdel Salam al-Mahdawi, outside the Tibesti hotel in Benghazi, on January 3, 2013. Police officers in civilian clothes have been protesting against the kidnapping Gunmen have kidnapped the acting head of the criminal investigation department in Libya’s second city, Benghazi, officials have said.

Abdelsalam al-Mahdawi was abducted at traffic lights on his way to work. It is not known who was behind the attack.

Interior Minister Ashour Shwayel promised to find the officer and the perpetrators, news agency AFP reported.

Libyan authorities have been struggling to provide security since the Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011.

Sudan, South Sudan leaders to meet today

Supporters of Central African Republic President Francois Bozize demonstrate at the airport in Bangui

Lightning kills Irish climber on Mount Kilimanjaro n Irish mountaineer and charity fundraiser has died while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Ian McKeever, who was 42 and

WORLD BULLETIN Gunmen kidnap top Libyan investigator

from Lough Dan in Wicklow, was leading a group of climbers when they were struck by lightning.

Mr. McKeever was a leading member of the Kilimanjaro Achievers Team, a group of veteran climbers which led groups to the top of the mountain.

In 2007, the adventurer had scaled Mount Everest.

He is also the former holder of the record for completing the seven highest peaks in the world in the fastest time - 32 days fewer than the previous record.

In 2009, he was part of a team that attempted to row the South Atlantic Ocean in under 30 days, but the boat lost its rudder and they were forced to postpone the attempt.

More recently he had been

attempting, along with African climbing guide friend Samuel Kinsonga, to break the record for the fastest ascent of Kilimanjaro, as part of their anti-racism Black and White Makes Sense Campaign.

Mr. McKeever was the author of two books - Give Me Shelter and Give Me Heroes - and was working on a third book Give Me 28 Days.

On his Facebook page on Wednesday night, a statement said: “It is with deep regret, that we, Ian’s family, fiancee Anna and friends, advise of his sudden death on Kilimanjaro, today, doing what he loved best.”

Mr. McKeever had been posting messages on the site during the ascent of the mountain.

His last post, on Tuesday, said: “Shira 2, 4,000m. Torrential rain all day. Spirits remain good even if drying clothes is proving impossible! We pray for dryer weather tomorrow - the big day.

It’s the Lava Tower.”

It is understood none of the other climbers suffered serious injuries. In a message of condolence, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny said: “I was very saddened to hear of the death of renowned adventurer Ian McKeever.

“I had come to know him over recent years and I admired him not only for his own achievements and charity work but also for his work with young people in challenging them to achieve their full potential.

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the presidents of Sudan and South Sudan, two countries which were at the brink of all-out war last year, are to meet today in Ethiopia’s capital.

Spokesman Dina Mufti said yesterday that Ethiopia is optimistic the meeting will advance stalled peace deals.

Sudan President Omar alBashir and South Sudan President Salva Kiir signed deals in September to restart the south’s oil industry. South Sudan’s oil flows through Sudan’s pipelines, bringing in revenue for both countries. The south shut down its oil industry last year after accusing Sudan of stealing its oil.

Disagreements on the implementation of the September deal persist.

Ethiopian police arrest Qaida terror cell Ethiopia’s spy agency says that security forces have arrested 15 people alleged to be members of a terror cell linked with al-Qaida.

The spy agency says military training manuals, videos and weapons were seized from the suspects. The agency announced the arrests late Wednesday.

Authorities said the suspects were trained by al-Shabaab militants in neighbouring Somalia and Kenya. They alleged the group was planning to launch attacks based in Ethiopia’s Somali and Harara regions.

On Tuesday the country’s federal high court convicted 10 people on similar terror charges.

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World News

Friday, January 4, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gunman kills three women in Swiss village

WORLD BULLETIN Indian gang rape suspects charged The men accused in the rape and death of an Indian woman were charged with murder, rape and kidnapping in a Delhi court yesterday, a police official said.

Deputy Police Commissioner Suman Nalwa said police submitted charges against five suspects in court in Saket, a southern district of Delhi where the attack occurred, CNN reported.

Nalwa said authorities were waiting for results from a bone marrow test before deciding whether to charge a sixth suspect, believed to be a minor, as a juvenile or an adult. The test was conducted to determine the suspect’s exact age.

The Dec. 16 attack on the 23-year-old woman, who died from her injuries Saturday, has prompted debate over the way the country handles sexual assaults and the treatment of women in Indian society.

The men are accused of assaulting the woman and her male companion on a private bus.

Opposition questions Chavez’s health Opposition leaders in Venezuela are demanding to know whether President Hugo Chavez, who is suffering from cancer, will be sworn in January 10.

Los Angeles Times said the demand comes during rising uncertainty about whether Chavez is healthy enough to remain in office.

Opposition leader Ramon Guillermo Aveledo said that if Chavez is too ill to return from Cuba, where he underwent surgery last month, the government should call an election within 30 days.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro told a TV interviewer in Cuba Tuesday that Chavez remained in “delicate” condition and was suffering from a respiratory infection.

Maduro did not say whether Chavez will return to be sworn in for a fourth term, and Chavez has never said what type of cancer he has.

The Los Angeles Times said that Chavez supporters have proposed postponing the swearing-in to give Chavez more time to recover.

Pilot dies after crash in California US Federal authorities said they are investigating a helicopter crash that killed a female pilot doing frost control work on crops near Delano, Calif.

The Bakersfield Californian said the helicopter was doing work on citrus groves before it dove into a grape vineyard outside Delano.

A police spokesman said the crash site was found at 9:50 a.m.

Wednesday. The helicopter had been missing for more than three hours.

The spokesman said the search was hampered by low visibility and fog.

An official from the Federal Aviation Administration in Fresno is heading the investigation.

An FAA spokesman said the helicopter was returning to the airport when it disappeared.

The Bakersfield Californian reported San Joaquin Helicopters owns the helicopter.

A

Obama talking about the negotiations with Capitol Hill on the fiscal cliff

Obama uses autopen to sign fiscal cliff into law

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resident Barack Obama signed the bill to avert the so-called fiscal cliff, but he didn’t do it in person: An autopen was utilized to sign the dotted line. Via the White House pool report on location for the president’s vacation in Hawaii: “The fiscal cliff bill was received late Wednesday when POTUS was already here. A copy was delivered to POTUS. He reviewed the copy and directed the legislation to be signed by auto pen.”

The president has utilized the mass signature facsimile machine before, but not without drawing criticism. In 2011, President Obama used an autopen to sign the Patriot Act in the summer of that year—a method the White House and others say is completely legal.

But House Republicans got together and called on the president to sign the act again in person.

They and others questioned the constitutionality of the autopen.

A senior White House official said the bill was received late

Wednesday afternoon and immediately processed. A copy was delivered to Obama for review and he “directed the bill be signed by autopen.”

The bill, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, makes permanent lower tax rates passed during President George W. Bush’s administration on income up to $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for families; permanently indexes the Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount to the Consumer Price Index; extends emergency unemployment benefits for one year; continues existing Medicare payment rates for physician services through Dec. 31; extends farm bill policies and programs through Sept. 30, and delays automatic, across-theboard federal spending cuts for two months.

Individuals earning more than $400,000 and families with income of more than $450,000 will see their federal tax rates rise to 39.6 percent, the rate in effect when President Clinton was in office.

PHOTO: REUTERS

The bill passed the Senate, 89-8, early New Year’s Day and was approved by the House Tuesday night on a 257-167 vote after discussions were raised about whether to try to amend the bill to include more spending cuts.

Soon after the House vote, Obama left Washington for Hawaii to rejoin his family vacation.

Economic experts had warned the combination of tax hikes and federal spending reductions that were to go in effect Tuesday likely would have driven the country back into recession if Congress didn’t act. The two-year payroll tax holiday wasn’t included in the bill, meaning pay stubs will include a 2 percent hike in Social Security taxes on income up to about $113,000, Politico said.

Obama also signed the Defence bill, which authorizes Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations for Pentagon programs and military construction, Energy Department national security programs, and Transportation Department maritime security programs.

Pakistani militant leader killed in drone attack

S

enior Pakistani militant leader Mullah Nazir has been killed by a US drone strike, security officials say.

He died with at least five fighters when two missiles struck his vehicle in the north-west tribal district of South Waziristan, they said.

He was the leader of one of four major militant factions in Pakistan, accused of sending fighters to back the Afghan Taliban and fight foreign troops there.

Mullah Nazir is one of the most high-profile insurgents killed by drones. He had survived a suicide bomb attack blamed on rival militants in November.

Wednesday night’s drone strike targeted him as he and his fighters prepared to swap to a new vehicle after his pick-up developed a

fault, reports said.

It took place in Angoor Adda, near South Waziristan’s main town of Wana, close to the Afghan border.

Reports say Mullah Nazir’s deputy, Ratta Khan, was also killed in the attack.

Mullah Nazir headed one of the three major Taliban groups in the Waziristan region that have had peaceful relations with the Pakistani military - the other two being the Haqqani network and the group led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur. As such, his death is likely to upset the crucial strategic balance in the region which the Pakistani forces have worked hard to maintain.

These forces actually boosted Mullah Nazir as a leader in the Wana region in 2007 when they

helped him evict ethnic Uzbek fighters and also overcome an intra-tribal power struggle.

But for the Americans, he is a prized catch. Ever since he assumed control of the Taliban

Nazir

gunman killed three women and wounded two men in the Swiss village of Daillon, opening fire from his apartment then pursuing the attack in the street, Swiss officials said.

The 33-year-old gunman, who has not been named, threatened police when they tried to arrest him and was shot in the chest before being arrested and taken to hospital, police in the Swiss canton of Valais said on Thursday. No police officers were wounded.

The shooting is likely to stir a fresh debate about Switzerland’s fire arms laws that allow its male citizens to retain guns after their mandatory military service.

The Daillon gunman was a local resident who had been in psychiatric care in 2005 and was unemployed and living on welfare benefits, police said. His only previous conviction was for marijuana use.

The village is close to the town of Sion, the capital of the canton - or region - of Valais, known for its world-class ski resorts such as Verbier.

The women who died, aged 32, 54 and 79, were all shot at least twice, in the head and chest. The youngest was married to one of the injured men and they had young children together, regional public prosecutor Catherine Seppey told a news conference.

The injured men were aged 33 and 63.

Police said the gunman used at least two firearms - an old Swiss army carbine and a rifle capable of firing lead shot - even though his weapons had been seized and destroyed in 2005, and he was not currently listed as having any guns. movement in Wana, he has focused on the war in Afghanistan, training and sending fighters to engage Western troops there, particularly in the south east.

In 2009-10, he facilitated the deployment of a large number of the so-called “Punjabi” Taliban of Pakistani origin inside Afghan territory, apparently to beef up the Taliban’s strike ability in the wake of the looming drawdown of Western troops.

Local residents were quoted as saying that they heard on mosque loudspeakers announcements that Mullah Nazir was dead. Funeral prayers were said for him later on Thursday.

Mullah Nazir’s group is one of several militant factions operating in Pakistan’s restive north-west - in recent years there have been divisions among these groups.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Friday, January 4, 2013

Budget row: Belgore flays Ahmed’s anti-people policies

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ction Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 governorship election in Kwara State, Mohammed Dele Belgore, yesterday hit back at the state government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following what the ACN chieftain said was a deliberate misrepresentation of his New Year message to the people of the state.

“Mr. Belgore is against retrenchment of or untimely payment of all entitlements due to workers. What he meant in specific terms is that Kwara fund is being used to run a patronage system that does not benefit the masses.

“That this patronage system takes precedence over the provision of basic infrastructure/amenities is what should alarm all Kwarans,” Belgore’s media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, said in a statement yesterday.”

Belgore had in the message flayed the government for floating a 2013 budget in which recurrent expenditure, estimated at about N51billion far outweighs the capital expenditure pegged at just N42.6billion.

Both the government and the PDP characterised Bel-

gore’s comment to mean a call for mass retrenchment of workers. The Kwara State chapter of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) supported with Belgore, berating the PDP for twisting the message rather than call the attention of its government to the retrogressive budget estimate.

Ajakaye said in a statement that the senior advocate abhors engaging people in gutter language, adding that Kwarans get to know

of the much-vaunted giant strides of the PDP government only on the pages of newspapers and on television screens.

The statement added: “Urbane and an advocate of issue-based politics, Belgore would not engage the PDP in gutter language, as has become the habit of its spokesman, in the name of politics. Also, the issue is out about the so-called achievements of the PDP government which our people see

only on TV screens and on the pages of newspapers.

However, for the purpose of setting the record straight, we wish to state the following: “Followers of Kwara politics know our stand on what has become a culture of late payment of workers’ salary and shabby treatment of the work force.

“Instead, it is the state government that is retrenching workers in a wicked and dubious way

by orchestrating the sack of local government workers without giving any official confirmation. It is the height of deceit, especially after Governor Ahmed swore no such thing would happen.

“That the state government is about the worst culprit of ghost worker syndrome as it has no verifiable official data on its workforce, deliberately creating avenue for corrupt PDP officials to rip off the state.

“Nothing exposes this than the fact that several months after it ran a sham verification of workers, the exercise remains inconclusive.”

Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko (2nd left) cutting the tape to inaugurate the Zabira Shopping Plaza in Sokoto metropolis on Wednesday.

PHOTO: NAN

Released Gombe lawmaker relocates to Govt House DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

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n abducted member of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Jalo Ganga, who was kidnapped in the early hours of last Sunday, has returned four days after and has relocated to the Government House, Gombe.

Confirming his return to journalists, his junior brother, who was mandated to speak on behalf of the fam-

ily, Abdulkadir Mohammed Yelwa, said Ganga personally returned on a commercial motorbike around 10.30pm on Wednesday and immediately moved to the state government house, where he was staying as at the time of filing this report.

He said no ransom was demanded or paid by the family to anyone and that no communication was made with any kidnaper. “Honourable just came on a commercial motorcycle alone around

10.30pm,” added Yelwa.

State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Fwaje Atajiri, who also confirmed the return of Ahmed Ganga, declined comments but said they were still investigating the case.

However, the circumstances resulting in the abduction of the lawmaker and his return seems cloudy as many speculations and questions surrounding his disappearance and reappearance are still begging for answers.

Gombe to review all fines, fees in 2013 DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

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etermined to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and complement its statutory allocation from the federation Account, the Gombe State government is to review all its fines and fees during the 2013 fiscal year.

State Commissioner for Finance, Mallam Hassan Muhammadu, who gave this indication during a briefing on the 2013 budget breakdown yesterday, said government has also put all necessary machinery for the improvement of the state internally generated revenue in motion.

The commissioner explained further that in try-

ing to stimulate the economy, the state government has embarked on some projects and programmes such as the construction of a mega motor park, international conference centre and the petroleum tanker’s bay to generate more revenue and create employment.

He said the areas targeted by the 2013 budget which

The Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon. Inuwa Garba, who could not be reached through his cell phones, was however quoted early yesterday morning by a foreign radio service, the Hausa service of Voice of America (VOA), saying that Ganga actually returned home to his family.

According to the speaker, no ransom was demanded or paid to either the House of Assembly or the abducted member’s family.

However, allegations of secrecy regarding Ahmed Ganga’s kidnap continued yesterday.

It will be recalled that a media report (not National Mirror) made public on Monday said the kidnapped member had been released.

The police, however, denied the report, describing it as false, callous and mischievous and made to undermine police investigation and thereby misleading the public.

is tagged; ‘Budget of Determination,’ was education, youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, health, agriculture, environment and potable drinking water, works and infrastructure and then creating an enabling environment for foreign and domestic investors to come and invest in the state.

According to him, the state is expecting N50, 145, 405, 914.00 billion from six

sources which include; N5, 645, 405, 914.00 billion from internally generated revenue; N37, 500, 000, 000.00 billion from statutory allocation and N1, 500, 000, 000.00 billion from excess crude oil.

Others he said were; N500, 000, 000.00 million from excess rate gain; N4, 000, 000, 000.00 billion from other revenues and N1, 000, 000, 000.00 billion from NNPC refund.

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‘Reckless driving behind New Year’s road accident’ JAMES DANJUMA

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eckless driving and lack of consideration for other road users have been identified as the reasons behind many road accidents in the country.

The same were also said to be the reasons behind the road accident that led to the death of two people on New Year day in Katsina metropolis.

Several eye witnesses said the new year accident would have been averted if only the victims were considerate enough to allow for orderliness and respect other road users.

One of the witnesses and a resident of the area where the accident occurred, Mallam Aminu, 42, said it was an accident that was not supposed to have happened in the first place.

Aminu said he and other eye witnesses were surprised that such a serious accident could occur in the heart of the state metropolis and not somewhere else.

On New Year day, the driver of a Volkswagen Gulf car lost control and crushed a motorcyclist on the ever-busy IBB Way in the metropolis.

The incident led to the death of two persons, including a woman who was in the car.

Confirming the incident, Sector Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Habu Dauda, said the woman and the passenger of the motorcycle had died in the accident.

Dauda said the incident occurred when the driver of the vehicle crushed the motorcyclist at the Dan Dagoro Quarters, resulting in the death of the two people.

According to him, on impact, the passenger of the motorcycle hit an electrical pole and broke his neck after the driver crushed them.

He said the woman was trapped in the car and that rescuers had to break the wreckage to bring her out from the car.

He, however, said that though they were able to pull her out of the car, the woman did not make it as she died eventually.

The incident took place same day a ghastly motor accident in which seven people lost their lives occurred while 13 others sustained varying degree of injuries in Malumfashi council area of the state.

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Transition

Friday January 4, 2013

Taiwo Koffie Sagoe

Olabisi Komolafe

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oruba actress, Veronica Olabisi Komolafe popularly known as Bisi Komolafe died on December 31, 2012. Investigations revealed that she died from pregnancy related complications at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital.

Bisi who took to acting eight years ago shot into prominence with her roles in two Yoruba movies entitled Igboro Ti Daru and Eja Tutu and was a nominee of the 2009 and 2011 BON Awards. Her first movie

was entitled Latorunwa. In all, she was able to produce four movies.

The late actress was the second child of a family of five. She grew up in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State where she attended St. Louis Grammar School, Mokola before moving to the Lagos State University where she studied Business Administration.

Bisi Komolafe got engaged to her Canadian based lover a few months back and had planned to get married this year.

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She is survived by her father, grandmother and siblings and will be buried today at Okepadi, Salvation Army way, Ibadan.

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ell-known and highly respected lawyer, Mr. Taiwo Koffie Sagoe, 85, is dead.

He passed on in his home in Yaba, Lagos, on Wednesday, December 19th, 2012.

Mr. Sagoe, who was affectionately called “The Perfect Gentleman”, was born in Lagos on June 24th, 1927, to Mr. Samuel Quesi Sagoe and his wife, Sally, nee Aboyade-Cole.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife, ‘Dupe Sagoe, nee Thomas; his children Ekua and Wale Abudu, Kofi and Toyin Sagoe, Araba and Tunde Morakinyo and, eight grandchildren.

Anthony William Grieg

Bolanle Adedipe

he death has been announced of High Chief, Elemo of Akure, Bolanle Adedipe at the age of 75 years.

Until his death on December 31, 2012, at his Elemo palace, Ilemo, he was the quarter head of Ilemo compound in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

He was an accomplished lawyer, who ran a successful private practice in Lagos before he was elected into the House of Representative for

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ngland Test cricket captain turned commentator Anthony William Grieg William popularly known as Tony Greig was born on October 6, 1946 and died in Sydney, New South Wales, on December 29, 2012, aged 66, from cardiac arrest due to an apparent heart attack.

Born in South Africa, Greig qualified to play for the English national team by virtue of his Scottish parentage.

He was a tall 6 feet 6 inches or 1.98 metres. Greig was cap-

Akure Federal Constituency during the Second Republic.

He was later installed as Elemo of Akure Kingdom which made him a kingmaker and member of Deji-in-Council.

The late Adedipe played very prominent role in the installation of Oba Adebiyi Adesida in 2010 after the deposition of Oluwadare Adesina Adepoju by the Mimiko administration.

He is survived by his widow, children and relations.

tain of England from 1975 to 1977, and also captained Sussex. His younger brother, Ian, also played Test cricket, while several other members of his extended family played at firstclass level.

Greig is thought by some former players and pundits to have been one of England’s leading international all-rounders. He helped Kerry Packer start World Series Cricket by signing up many of his English colleagues as well as West Indian and Pakistani cricketers, a move which cost him the England captaincy.

North

FG donates additional relief materials to flood victims JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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he Federal Government yesterday donated additional relief materials to flood victims in Plateau State.

Items donated include; 3, 000 bags of rice; 3, 000

bags of garri, 3, 000 cartons of instant noodles, 6, 000 sachets of salt; 2, 000 bottles of palm oil; 1, 500 sachets of sugar and 1, 500 buckets of sanitary packs.

Others include: 2, 000 pieces of blankets; 1, 250 brocade material for men as well as 1, 250 pieces of Anka-

ra material for women.

Deputy Governor of the Central Bank in charge of Operations, Dr Tunde Lemo, led a team of the Presidential Committee on Relief and Rehabilitation to deliver the materials in Jos, the state capital.

At an interactive session with journalists at the Rayfied Government House, the CBN deputy governor said the relief materials were meant to further cushion the effects on those affected by the flood which ravaged over seven local government

areas of the state last year.

He said the Federal Government was determined to ensure that the flood victims were assisted to enable them adjust to normal life, adding that his committee which he said was divided into two, has so far visited

Pensioners groan over nonpayment of N500m arrears

Niger MDGs to drill 60 electric-powered boreholes

HENRY IYORKASE

PRISCILLA DENNIS

MAKURDI

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ore than 10, 000 retired civil servants in Benue State are currently groaning over the nonpayment of their entitlements, six months after they were disengaged from the service.

This was made known yesterday in Makurdi, when one of the retirees, Mr. John Anum, disclosed to National Mirror that the retirees were disengaged from active service by the state government in June, 2012 and that since then, their entitlements have not been paid.

Anum, who said he was

the chief clerk at Buruku Local Government before he was retired, said he had put in 25 years before his retirement.

Efforts to get the reaction of the state Chairman of the Nigerian Pension Board, Comrade John Unande, on the development were futile as several visits to clarify the claims were unsuccessful as he was not on seat.

But a staff of the local government pension board confided in our correspondent that the available funds are inadequate to offset the backlog of arrears, adding that the monthly allocation that comes to the board stands at N30 million, which he

said was inadequate to meet the expectations of the over 5,000 retirees whose cases are still pending.

He further lamented the plight of the retirees and also revealed that except something urgent is done by the state government to release funds to pay the retirees who are currently over 5,000 in the state, there was nothing the board could do.

He, however, sympathised with the retirees for what they are going through, saying it is highly regrettable but reminded that there is nothing anybody can do if the money is not released by the state government.

MINNA

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he Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Niger State said under the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS), a total of 60 electric-powered boreholes will be sunk among 70 comminutes in the state.

State Director-General of the MDGs, Dr. Joshua Bawa, who made the disclosure in Minna, said though, the 60 boreholes were carried over from last year’s projects, it is to be executed this year.

According to him, this year, the state MDGs will spend N1.013 billion in providing basic amenities to rural communities spread

across the 25 local government areas of the state with both the state and Federal Government contributing 50 per cent each.

The projects approved for execution are in the areas of water and sanitation and the health sector spreading across 70 communities as mandated by the Millennium Development Goals provision.

Under the CGS, he said a total of five water booster pumping stations will be rehabilitated at Bosso Road, IBB tank booster, Hill Top; INEC booster station, Top Medical booster station and also on the Dutsen Kura booster station.

Bawa said the health projects include the ex-

about 24 states with relief materials.

He commended the Plateau State government for the efforts it has so far made to assist the victims, adding that the Federal Government will work together with the state subsequently.

Aliyu

pansion of the rural hospital at New Bwari and Muregi and the rehabilitation work on the School of Nursing, Bida and the School of Health Technology, Tungan Magajiya.

The director general further stated that a pediatric unit will be constructed and equipped at Umaru Ndayako General Hospital, Bida as well as a comprehensive health centre at NYSC orientation camp at Piako.

Friday, January 4, 2013

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Sport

Hard work is the only ingredient to the new lease of life that we are enjoying at the club at the moment

Sodje fires up Eagles

– ARSENAL WINGER, THEO WALLCOT

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AYC: Flying Eagles enter camp Sunday

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igeria’s U- 20 men’s team, Flying Eagles, will begin preparations for the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) in Abuja on Sunday.

Media Officer of the team, Samm Audu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that the camp would open with 20 players.

“The team’s Head Coach, John Obuh, has called up 20 players, the core of the team that defeated South Africa 4-2 on aggregate in October, to qualify for the AYC,” Audu said.

The 2013 AYC will kick-off in Algeria on March 16, with the Flying Eagles as the defending champions. Nigeria has been drawn in Group B alongside Gabon, Mali and DR Congo.

Audu said the team’s secretary, Aliyu Auwal, had already forwarded a list of the players to report to the Serob Legacy Ho-

Draw will boost Eagles for AFCON – Dike

‘B’Faso, Zambia spied on Eagles in Catalonia’

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Super Eagles’ players and some officials, posing with the Catalan Cup after drawing 1-1 with Catalonia on Wednesday, in Barcelona, Spain.

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oal scorer Bright Dike has said a 1-1 draw with star-studded Catalonia on Wednesday will lift the Super Eagles leading to the AFCON. Portland Timbers of USA star, Dike, scored the equaliser for Nigeria in the 55th minute to ensure Nigeria took something out of the friendly after they slumped 5-0 to the same team five years ago.

“This game should build confidence and belief in the team.

It was a tough match, they possess the ball very well. We made some mistakes but that is what all of these games are for to correct those mistakes,” a thrilled Dike told MTNFootball.com.

Dike dedicated his first goal for Nigeria to Almighty God. “I dedicate the goal to God who made it possible for me to score after I got a great pass from Onazi.

The goal gave me an amazing feeling,” said the forward, who made his Eagles’ debut in November

against Venezuela.

“I feel great to score the allimportant goal but it is not only me that scored the goal it was a collective effort and I thank my teammates.”

After the game the glittering trophy for the commemorative encounter was handed over to the

Nigerian match captain, Chigozie Agbim, amidst a carnival like atmosphere.

“Nigeria won the trophy because they were the away team and the goal they scored here counts double,” explained Hugo Alvares, one of the organisers of the encounter.

Rangers ready for Super 4, CCL, says Chime

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he management of Enugu Rangers International FC says the team is ready for the Super Four Tournament scheduled to kick-off on January 9 in Kano.

The Public Relations Officer of the team, Foster Chime, said yesterday that the players and officials had been camping since the yuletide in preparation for the competition.

According to him the players and officials cut short their Christmas and New Year break to

tel, Wuse, Abuja camp to those called up.

They are: goalkeepers Samuel Okani, Jonah Usman and Jacob Abobo, defenders Ikechukwu Okorie, Chizoba Amaefule, Shehu Abdullahi, Kenneth Omeruo, Aliyu Mohammed and Abubakar Hassan.

Midfielders are: Moses Orkuma, Abduljaleel Ajagun, Ovboka Agboyi, Uche Agbo and Chidi Osuchukwu, while the strikers include Alhaji Gero, Yahaya Adamu, Bright Ejike, Umar Aminu, Harrison Egbune and Sikiru Alimi.

Audu explained that the Abuja camp would be the commencement of the team’s final phase preparations.

“Other forms of preparations will follow later, but the team is also scheduled to set up a training base in Tunisia. This will be at least three weeks to the championship in Algeria,” he added.

get back to the camp.

“This is to show that we are serious and ready for both the Super Four and the CAF Champions League,” he said.

Chime said the team also played some friendly matches in preparation for the competitions as well as the premier league, scheduled to open in February.

“As I am talking to you now, everybody is in camp, including the Executive Secretary, Paul Chibuzor and the Chief Coach, Okey Emodi.”

roup opponents of Nige- receiving from his teammates in the national team and said he was ria in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) begin- overjoyed to have scored a first ning in South Africa on January goal for his fatherland.

The MLS star said, “Onazi was 19, Burkina Faso and Zambia, sent spies to watch the Catalo- running so fast with the ball and nia Selected versus Super Eagles I was within reach, he decided to friendly match played in Barce- give me a good pass and I was too happy to finish it up. That is what lona on Wednesday.

According to Coach Stephen we call team work and the coach Keshi’s Assistant, Gydounou has been telling us to always play Valere, the spies were pleasantly with ourselves and it showed in surprised at the quality on dis- this game.”

The bulky striker further play.

The Togolese said the new said that he would be too defaces in the Nigerian line-up were lighted to be part of the final 23 players that will be selected for a surprise to many.

“Some of the coaches and the Nations Cup and promised to journalists who came to spy on do his best at the championship the team had to approach me, say- for Nigeria. ing ‘where are the big names’ that we are taking to the Nations Cup and I told them that they were seeing them right there on the pitch,” Gydounou said.

Keshi’s assistant since his years at the helm of Togo and Mali national teams, Gydounou says Nigeria is on the way to causing surprises at the South Africa 2013 tournament and calls for total backing of the Eagles from all and sundry. Nigeria will next take on Cape Verde Island next week in another warm up game in Portugal.

Meanwhile goal hero, Bright Dike, has attributed the goal he L-R: Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, NFF scored against Catalonia to the President, Aminu Maiagaru and Barr. wonderful support he has been Chris Green with the trophy.

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Friday, January 4, 2013

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C’wealth Games: Ekpo wants early plans YEMI OLUS

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ational weightlifter, Felix Ekpo, has appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to ensure that athletes commence training for the 2014 Commonwealth Games to avoid a repeat of the disastrous outing Nigeria experienced at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Ekpo, who competes in the 77kg class, failed to pick a medal at the London Games as he finished eighth in his category, although he blamed the Nigeria’s shoddy preparation for the games as the reason for the woeful outing.

“The way 2013 turns out depends on the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) and the NSC,” Ekpo said.

“I do not think that we have many international competitions

Falcao nears Madrid switch

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eal Madrid emerged yesterday as new favourite in Spain to sign in-form Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao.

Reports suggested that Atletico President Enrique Cerezo confided in friends that an agreement between Falcao and Madrid “had been in place for some time”, a development that would rattle Chelsea billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.

According to the reports, the conversation occurred during Atletico’s clash with Celta Vigo, when Cerezo told one of the invited guests that Falcao “had something signed with Real Madrid sometime ago”.

Atletico Chairman, Miguel Angel Gil Marin, had also added to the speculation recently, when he was overheard saying, “Falcao has the right to decide his own future as he is very comfortable at home, in the city and the team.”

this year apart from the World Championships holding in Poland from October 16 to 23.

“I got some information that we may commence preparation for the Commonwealth Games before the middle of the year so I would want to appeal to the bodies responsible to come together to make this year different from 2012. The country will definitely perform better if we prepare well so it is up to them.”

The 2007 All-Africa Games gold medalist’s target is to win the Commonwealth gold medal in record breaking fashion and he revealed that he is set to commence training.

“Personally I will commence my preparations at the end of this month. It has always been my dream to win gold at the Commonwealth Games so I don’t think it is too early to train towards it.”

Tit Bits

Ronaldo

Real Madrid defender, Pepe, is confident that the beleaguered Cristiano Ronaldo will stay.

Ronaldo is stalling on signing a new deal, which has alerted the interest of Manchester United, Manchester City and PSG. “Cristiano is happy at Real Madrid and focused on helping the team. I’m sure he’ll extend his contract,” Pepe told journalists yesterday.

Henry

Arsenal hat-trick hero, Theo Walcott, has credited club legend Thierry Henry for his new lease of form in recent time.

Walcott has benefitted from practising alongside Arsenal legend Henry, who is currently training with Arsenal and is expected to sign a short-term loan deal from the New York Red Bulls next month.

“I’ve learned a lot from Thierry and just to have him around in training is great. Hopefully, his loan contract can be sorted out soon.”

Cudicini

Out-of-favour Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, Carlo Cudicini, has left to sign with MLS champions LA Galaxy.

The 39-year-old Italian has ended a 20-year career in Europe with the likes of AC Milan, Lazio, Chelsea and Spurs to suit up for the backto-back North American champs which has delighted head coach Bruce Arena.

“We are delighted to be able to add Carlo to our roster and we believe will be a great addition to our team and our defensive unit,” Arena said yesterday.

Guardiola

Former Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, expects Pep Guardiola to return to the dugout this year.

“I think Pep will return as coach next year. He has a great personality, very clear ideas and he is very intelligent,” Laporta, who is still close to Guardiola, said yesterday.

“He is the best coach in the world and all the big clubs would love to have him on board,” Laporta added.

Daniel Sturridge

Maldini

Gerrard tasks Sturridge on Reds

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iverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, has asked new signing Daniel Sturridge to make the most of his move from Chelsea.

Sturridge is likely to get more of a chance under Brendan Rodgers than he had at his previous employer but Gerrard said, at some point,

the player had to realise his situation and turn potential into regular goals.

“Daniel has the quality. I know he’s got it and I’ve seen it,” the England captain said.

“I think he’s at the age now when he needs to settle down, get a settled club and show consis-

tently what qualities he’s got.

“The stage is set for him as there will be no excuses for non-performance and he is sure to be playing with good players at a great club.

“He’s at an age now where he should be performing week in week out.”

Felix Ekpo

AC Milan legend, Paolo Maldini, has revealed he turned down several attempts by the Rossoneri for him to return.

Maldini hit out at Milan’s management structure, claiming vice-president Adriano Galliani is now behind the times.

“I’d like to destroy this myth that I am ‘one of the family’ at Milan. They don’t particularly want me there and everything we created together that has fallen apart,” the former Milan captain said yesterday.

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Sport

Friday, January 4, 2013

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Wi Window on Nigerian players abroad

with IKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Sodje fires up Eagles

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ngland-based central defender Sam Sodje has thrown his weight behind Super Eagles as they step up their build-up campaign ahead of the 2013 South Africa Nations Cup starting later this month.

The former Reading star who is currently training after regaining fitness following the operation he underwent last December, said he was looking forward to a good outing for his mates when the hostilities begin.

Eagles are expected to arrive Nelspruit venue on January 16 ahead of their Group C opener against Burkina Faso on January 21. Sodje believes his mates have prepared well enough to start their campaign on a good note.

“I’m particularly happy with the performance of the team and I expect them to put up a great show in South Africa,” Sodje began.

“I was impressed with the spirited show they exhibited against Catalonia on Wednesday night and I’m confident they will carry over the top form in South Africa.

“I’m not with the team but the spirit is with the team because I’m still very much part of the team and I want them to succeed.

“I have been through series of injury worries and I’m happy to be back to fitness and with just a matter of time, I will be back with the Eagles team again.

“I have played with almost all the players and I know their capabilities and nothing short of solid performance will be accepted from this team.

“I must commend Coach Stephen Keshi and his assistants

H

S

uper Eagles’ goal hero, Bright Dike, has attributed the goal he scored against Catalonia to the wonderful support he has been receiving from his team mates in the national team.

The bulky American-born striker said he was overjoyed to have scored a first goal for his fatherland.

“Onazi was running so fast with the ball and I was within reach, he decided to give me a good pass,” he said. “ I was too happy to finish it up, that is what we call team work and the coach has been telling us to always play with ourselves and it showed in this game, the bulky striker declared.

“He further said he would be too delighted to be part of the final 23 players that will be selected for the Nations Cup in South Africa.

He promised to do his best at the championship for the Eagles, if selected.

Dike

Okoduwa eyes more goals

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Sam Sodje

because they have done well enough to build a good team within a short time.

“Keshi has also brought a whole new thing into the team, giving the local league players chance to show what they can and the result is quite impres-

sive.”

Fit again Sodje has got a lot of openings in and outside of England and will sort out his next destination in few days. He’s currently a free agent after his contract ran out at Notts County in the summer.

Eliakwu, Ikande on trials at Hapoel Haifa

apoel Haifa has invited two Nigerian players Harmony Ikande and Isah Eliakwu - for tests with the intention of offering them contracts if they impress coach Nir Klinger at the end of trials.

Reputable Israeli paper, Sports Walla has hinted that Hapoel Haifa is not pleased with the foreigners on its payroll and great efforts are being made to replace some of those players in the winter transfer market.

Eliakwu and former Flying Eagles midfielder Harmony Ikande will undergo trials for

Eagles’ debut goal delights Dike

about a week. The former has already started training with the squad.

Russian Premier League club Anzhi is Eliakwu’s last team. He failed to establish himself in the squad mainly due to the arrival of Cameroun super-star Samuel Eto’o.

On the other hand, Ikande is now a free agent following his release by Beitar Jerusalem last April.

Eliakwu, for one, was a special talent when he, alongside Obafemi Martins burst the headlines with breathjtaking performances for the Inter

Milan youth team, but all that seemed to evaporate as the Kogi State-born continued to fail to re-enact his killer performances in his academy days as a senior player. He played the better part of his career in Italy mostly hardly ever hitting the headlines in the lower leagues in Italy.

Ikande began his career with the juniors at AC Milan but has equally failed to establish himself at senior level. He has tried his luck in Hungary. Should he grab a deal at Hapoel Haifa, it would be his second Israeli club in two years.

nosis of Cyprus striker Emmanuel Okoduwa tells National Mirror he’s banking on his first goal for his Cypriot club to get on the score sheet in regular fashion. The erstwhile prolific striker, who only returned to competitive football after injury-induced two year absence, registered his first league goal in competitive game in three years last December in a 1-1 draw against champions AEL Limassol.

Okoduwa, who had earlier scored twice and assisted once in their Cup games, grabbed the much needed equaliser just before the blast of final whistle.

Okoduwa said he was delighted in getting back in scoring ways and his goal came in a great fashion against the defending champions.

“I was glad because it was an equaliser and against the defending champions, so my joy knew no bounds because of the importance of the goal,” Okoduwa said.

Emmanuel Okoduwa (centre)

“We got a target to stay afloat in the league because right now, we are not particularly doing too well. But the equaliser and the result provided us a glimmer of hope and better things to come.

“I would want to put everything in the hands of God as regards getting more goals following the opening of my goal account because He has been there for me.

“I’m confident this will open more doors for me. I have been through bad times due to injury and I’m happy to be back.

“I hope to get back to the business I know too well. I’m happy that I have begun playing again after years being in the sidelines.”

Okoduwa became a major hit when he emerged joint top scorer in the Ukrainian Premier League with 15 goals for Arsenal Kiev in the 2005/06 season, sparking off interests from top spending Shaktar Donestk and Dynamo Kiev.

WORLD RECORD

Most searched-for celebrity wedding Vol. 03 No. 528

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Friday, January 4, 2013

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Bone of rail transport rising again

he haze that accompanied Christmas and New Year festivities probably contributed to the relatively poor public attention accorded the event.

Yet the commencement by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Friday December 21, 2012, of mass transit operation on the Lagos-Kano rail route, was epoch making. Good food and drink can be epicurean. But digesting them becomes chaotic with the near fatal public road and transport systems on ground in the country. The Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, who commissioned the trains, rode with Kano-bound passengers, and the train got to its destination safely, according to reports. The transport fare was just N1,500. The NRC was also said to have commenced the haulage of petroleum products from Lagos to the northern part of the country, with more than 30 tankers of diesel lifted from Ebutte-Metta (Lagos) to Kaduna. The Corporation had

FRIDAYS WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) much earlier, reportedly acquired 20 pressurised tank wagons having the capacity to lift 900,000 litres of petroleum products, the equivalent of 27 road-tanker-loads of such products, at the cost of about N600 million. That was the experience in the 1960s and 1970s, even up to early 1980s, before train service gradually became part of the nation’s lost heritage.

Before the new hope raised by the ongoing railway rehabilitation projects, one writer had captured the decrepit state of the Kaura Namoda railway station in Zamfara State this way: “…the famous Kaura Namoda railway station, formerly revered for its high locomotive and human traffic, (is) now sitting like a ghost town. Only the three tracks look clean and their ballast stone walls shiny, as though commissioned newly and anticipating the arrival of the station’s first train. Aside these lines, everything else looks grotesque… Two large stores – one made of corrugated sheets and the other of bricks – occupy an extensive platform, with nothing to show than their abject state of decay. The second one has its roofs and gates completely blown, bearing ageold junk, with only a once-prosperous item, a rusted safe, devotedly geared to a corner and locked. The strong building and other standing structures… have apparently… been deliberately or inadvertently allowed to waste”. The large staff

ustralia took the honours on day one of the third and final Test yesterday against Sri Lanka in Sydney, dismissing the tourists for 294.

Half-centuries from Mahela Jayawardene (72) and Lahiru Thirimanne (91) guided Sri Lanka into a solid posi-

THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT RELENT IN TRULY REVAMPING THE RAILWAY BECAUSE OF ITS STRATEGIC ROLE IN THE

COUNTRY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT quarters, containing dozens of houses, lay desolate and completely deserted, while at the stations ticket point and control room, only some mailbags, mutilated levers and a locked safe survived to prove that some form of organized human activity once thrived there. That indeed, has been the fate of virtually all the railway stations in the country, which very uncaring, indigenous Nigerian leaders inherited from the colonial era.

At the peak of rail transportation in the country, railway stations bustled with economic activities (especially retailing and catering services that helped to reduce the level of unemployment and sustained many homes). They opened up the hinterland and buoyed the economies of rural

communities that were located on the rail route. Farmers were encouraged to aim beyond subsistence yields, since through the rail, they can easily and cheaply transport their excess harvests to far-flung markets where they sell and make more profits. Cultural interaction and fusion were also made easier, et cetera.

Indeed, from Europe, which has an integrated network covering virtually the whole continent, to India, China, South Korea and Japan, millions use trains as their regular means of transportation. Railways are known to contribute to social vibrancy and economic competitiveness because of their ability to transport a large number of commuters to city centers and inner suburbs at modest costs. Hong Kong since recognized the rail as ‘the backbone of its public transit system’, while China’s big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou made rail transit lines the framework, and bus lines the main body to their metropolitan transportation systems. On the other hand, some of the universally acclaimed advantages of transporting cargo by rail include reliability and consistency, efficiency and stability, high degree of safety (except when sabotaged), reduction in road congestion as well as shielding the road network from wear and tear, savings in travel time, and clearance of valuable storage and operational areas in the ports, among others.

The Federal Government should not relent in truly revamping the railway because of its strategic role in the country’s economic development. With the huge prospects the revived Lagos-Kano rail route holds, the government should make haste to resolve the conflict between the Amaeze community, in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State and the contractor handling the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt-Makurdi rail line, which reportedly led to the suspension of the job.

Besides, efforts should be made by the National Assembly to review the NRC monopoly law to enable corporate organisations, states or group of states willing to invest in rail projects to do so with ease.

Sport Extra

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Marc Mezvinsky (both USA) on 31 July 2010 at Astor Courts in Rhinebeck, NY, USA, was the most searched for celebrity wedding on the internet.

Cricket: Aussies bowl Sri Lanka in Sydney Test tion before they lost their last five wickets for 44 runs.

Jackson Bird (4-41) was the chief destroyer while the returning Mitchell Starc (371) also impressed as Australia’s bowlers eventually justi-

fied skipper Michael Clarke’s decision to field first.

Jayawardene and Thirimanne put on 62 runs for the third wicket before an inspired bowling change saw Starc strike with the first ball

of his new spell, Clarke taking a simple slip catch to remove the former.

A sensational diving catch from David Warner off Lyon removed Clarke while Starc got rid of both Angelo

Mathews (15) and Dinesh Chandimal (24).

Dhammika Prasad (two), Rangana Herath (five) and Suranga Lakmal (five) went in quick succession once Australia took the new ball.

Jackson Bird

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