Wednesday, March 27, 2013

2015: Jonathan to retain Sambo as running mate AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR (POLITICS)

I

n the face of plot against Vice-President Namadi Sambo by some vested interests in

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan has foreclosed dropping him as running mate in the 2015 elections.

As such, those lobbying

Vol. 3 N0. 586

Reps want National Library named after Achebe

to replace Sambo as running mate to President Jonathan may be disappointed after all.

In the past weeks, Katsina State Governor Ibrahim

Senate holds special session in his honour today

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

N150

2010 Independence Day bombing:

Henry Okah jailed 24 yrs Tompolo, Asari-Dokubo hail judgement MEND kicks, says trial is a sham

SOLA ADEBAYO, PAUL ARHEWE, SAM OLUWALANA, EMMA GBEMUDU AND KENNY ODUNUKAN

A

South African court yesterday sentenced Henry Okah, former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Ni-

ger Delta, MEND, to 24 years in jail for masterminding deadly car bombings in Abuja and Warri in 2010.

On January 21, Okah was found guilty on 13-count charges of terrorism, including delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.

Prosecutors had called CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Bomb blasts:

NYSC redeploys 900 corps members in Kano P.55

Oil theft: FG to clamp down on private jetty operators P.31

Okah (left) and Judge Claasen while delivering the verdict in court yesterday.

Police arrest 92 suspects over Boko Haram threat in Lagos ...immigration deports 57 Nigeriens

144m Nigerians have oral health problems –Dentist

Affia

Ekiti women in prayer session for ailing deputy governor

P.2 P.19

Expatriate kidnapped in Lagos identified as Briton Olayinka

P.7,8

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News

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police arrest 92 suspects over Boko Haram threat in Lagos AYODELE OJO, FRANCIS SUBERU AND MURITALA AYINLA

I

n what appears to be a follow-up on the arrest of some suspected Boko Haram sect members in Lagos last Thursday, the State Police Command and the State Task Force on Environmental Offenses have arrested a total of 92 suspects from various parts of the state.

Among the suspects were 57 Nigeriens and 18 Malians, who according to the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, are illegal immigrants, living in Nigeria without required documents.

The 57 Nigeriens were yesterday deported to their home country by the NIS. Parading the suspects shortly before they were deported, the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State Command, Mr. Rasheed Odupeyin, said no weapon was found on any of the suspects but had to be repatriated for living in Nigeria illegally.

Rasheed said: “Some suspected illegal immigrants were brought here by the police and the Lagos State Government. They were about 92 people, made up of Nigeriens, Malians and few Nigerians. Some have left this morning to the border post, while the others are waiting for a

commercial bus that would be used to convey them out of the country. We are being careful so as not to break human rights laws.”

He confirmed that the suspects were arrested in a joint operations between the state Police Command and the Lagos State Task Force but added that he could not say whether the suspects had links with terrorist group or not.

The NIS boss said that after the 92 arrested suspects were thoroughly screened, 17 were found to be Nigerians, saying they would be returned to the police for further investigation to establish their culpability or otherwise.

“We normally look out for documents that permit a foreigner to remain in Nigeria. We discovered that most of them were not registered that is why we call them irregular immigrants. If they had gained access into the country and regularised their stay we would not have problem with them.

“Normally what they should have done is to obtain ECOWAS certificate or their passport then, we register them at the border. We get their addresses in case anything happens so we know where to pick them up,” the NIS boss said.

Rasheed also announced that the 18 Malians among the suspects may not be

repatriated immediately because of the ongoing war in Mali. He, however, said no Chadian was found among them.

According to him: “NIS will contact the United Nations Refugees Commission’s office in Lagos for necessary action about the status of the Malians. We are waiting for their advice on what to do with the Malians.”

He advised Nigerians not to shield illegal immigrants in their locality, saying to allow them is to endanger ones’ life and the lives of other people.

One of the suspects, a Nigerian, Ibrahim Moham-

med, claimed that most of them were from Takai in Kano State, insisting that they have no links with any terrorist group but were in Lagos to earn a living as labourers.

Another of the suspects, a Malian who simply identified himself as Amadu claimed he came to Nigeria from Mali through the border town of Kamba, in Kebbi State, claiming however that he had no criminal records.

He said though he was living in Nigeria illegally, he had been able to secure a job as a water vendor in Surulere.

Bulali Sangali, another

suspect from Segu in Mali said he came into Nigeria through Cotonou, Benin Republic.

He said: “They did not stop me on my way. They asked me for my passport which I gave them. I sell ice cream in Nigeria. I came into this country with my passport but when police caught me, I had no passport with me. I have explained to them that my passport is at home but they refused. I came to Nigeria in 2009 and in 2012, I left to see my family and returned early this year.”

The state government said it is embarking on intensive security surveil-

lance following the discovery of the hideout of suspected Boko Haram sect members in Ijora Badiya.

In a related development, Governor Babatunde Fashola held a ‘strategic’ meeting with top security chiefs in the state yesterday, including the Neighbourhood Watch officers at the Blue Roof, LTV8, Agidingbi.

Although journalists were barred from covering the meeting, a source who was privy to issues discussed told National Mirror that the thrust of the meeting bordered on the need for the state seCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and President, ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kadre Ouedraogo, at a meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

2010 Independence Day bombing: Henry Okah jailed 24 yrs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

for life sentence.

The conviction is related to two car bombings in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in which 12 people were killed and 36 injured on October 1, 2010 and an earlier attack in May in which one person was killed and others injured, when a car bomb went off near a political gathering in Warri, Delta State.

Okah was arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa, a day after the October 1 attacks following a complaint by the Federal Government.

Delivering his judgement yesterday in the High Court of Johannesburg, Judge Neels Claasen said: “The convict during the trial had never accepted any responsibility nor shown

any remorse in spite of the fact that overwhelming evidence linked him with MEND which claimed responsibilities for the bombings.

“It would therefore, be wrong for the court to turn a blind eye to the fact that the struggle in the Niger Delta which led to the events is a political one.

“Having found the accused guilty in the 13-count charge of acts of terrorism, it is now the duty of the court to sentence him, taking into account the position of the victim, the convict and the world community.”

Claaseen noted that the struggle of MEND “is politically motivated and as a result a maximum sentence for Okah will be inappropriate.”

Okah, who denied any leadership role in MEND, moved to South Africa after the Federal Government issued an amnesty for members of the group in 2009, lifting charges of gun-running and treason against him after his initial arrest and extradition from Angola in 2008.

The South African court had tried Okah under counter-terrorism laws that cover crimes committed outside the country.

“As far as this trial is concerned, it is more as if I faced a lynch mob,” he told Reuters a few weeks before being sentenced. “I don’t have control of anybody.

I can’t speak for whoever is going around the media making threats.”

MEND also reacted angrily to the sentence, call-

ing the trial a sham hatched and executed in a Kangaroo court.

According to Judge Claassen, Okah’s jail sentence includes 12 years in prison for each bombing and 10 years for threats made to the Federal Government of Nigeria after his October 2010 arrest. The 10 years will be served concurrently with the 24 years.

Claaseen said all the 13 count charges are related to three events: “The first event is the March 15, 2010 bomb attack, where two cars bombs occurred at the venue of a political gathering which was being attended by the Delta State governor in Warri, where one person died and several others were injured.

“The second event occurred on October 1, 2010,

in Abuja, where two cars bombs exploded killing eight people with several others injured.

“Third event is the threat to the Nigerian government. All these three events were targeted at embarrassing President Goodluck Jonathan,” Claaseen said.

He said these acts are very serious crimes, which must be punished in accordance with the terrorism law.

“The group’s agitation for improved environmental situation and provision of infrastructure in the area is aimed at attracting the Federal Government’s attention to the plight of the people in the area.

“Though a good cause, but it does not justify any act of violence and terrorism,” Claaseen said.

He said the court is not obliged to impose life imprisonment, which is the maximum sentence due to the political nature of the struggle, adding that the suspended sentence sought by the defence is inappropriate due to the nature of the crime.

“Having considered that the convict does not have any criminal record both in South Africa and in Nigeria before the struggle in the Niger Delta, I am of the considered view that his clean record both in South Africa and Nigeria should add to his sentence mitigation. Also the fact that his children will suffer emotionally for his absence if maximum sentence is giving is considered in mitigation of his sentence,” ClaasCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Midweek Interview I’ve no regrets serving Abacha’s govt –Diya Says ‘Jonathan exonerated me from unjust treatment’

Former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), who was implicated in the 1997 coup, was among those recently granted state pardon by the National Council of State. In an interview with National Mirror, Diya speaks on his travails and the pardon.

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, who was at the session, reports.

What is your take on the state pardon granted you and others by the Council of State?

I wish to express my profound gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan and the entire members of the Council of State, for their courage and magnanimity in granting me and my colleagues state pardon as pronounced after the last National Council of State meeting, held on Tuesday March 12, 2013.

My sincere appreciation goes to President Jonathan for his kindness and courage in finding it expedient to implement this power vested in him by Section 175 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. By this decision, President Jonathan has demonstrated that he is a leader with a high sense of fairness, equity and justice. I am equally thankful that he allowed God to use his good office to exonerate me finally from diabolic and unjust treatment meted to me on the account of my principled opposition to forces of tyranny in Nigeria.

This appreciation will never be complete, if mention is not made of the heroic role played by General Abdusalami Abubakar and his Military Executive Council who earlier gave us clemency. This clemency released us from our various places of detention. I was released from Potiskum prison.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the state pardon on all those involved in the 1997 coup saga. I want to assume that it is extended to all other people involved in the saga. It is no gainsaying that both officers and civilians sentenced on the incidence must benefit from this Federal Government benevolence, otherwise it will become a selective state pardon which will put to question the fate of others not so pardoned and are involved in the same saga.

There is controversy over the state pardon granted to you on account that you had earlier been pardoned by Abdulsalami Abubakar’s regime, who gave you clemency. What is the difference between clemency and state pardon?

Some people mix up the meaning of clemency and state pardon. What General Abubakar granted us was clemency, which was different from the state pardon President Jonathan granted to me and others on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The clemency was the authority vested in the Head of State to release us from our various places of detentions. I was released from the Potiskum Prison. If there were no clemency, the sentence would still have been on, which was execution.

There is difference between clemency and state pardon.

Clemency was authority to release us from detention and it was on the basis of the clemency granted to us that allow us to have the state pardon. The clemency allows us to be released from the prison while the state pardon allows us to receive all our full benefits. With the state pardon granted to me, I can now have access to all my benefits as a retired military officer.

Our ranks were not restored neither our entitlements after we were granted clemency. If what General Abubakar granted us was pardon, immediately we were released from prisons, all payments due to us would have followed

Diya

but that was not done. Even my personal security, the one for my family and my house would have been returned through pardon and not clemency.

I would like to appreciate the role of the Inspector General of Police, who has been providing me with police security wherever I go. It is not his duty to do that but he exercised that power through the permission of the President.

Do not forget that I am a former Chief of Defence Staff and that, by interpretation, is the highest you can attain professionally in the armed forces. If you become Chief of Defence Staff, you are like the Commander of the Armed Forces exercising your powers through the President.

Up till now, policemen are still guarding me and not soldiers; even the security meant for my house and my family as a former Chief of Defence Staff, had not been restored but now that a state pardon has been granted, I would not be surprised if a formal letter is written to me as a former Chief of Defence Staff and everything will take proper and official shape from the very date the letter stipulates.

Many people seem to be dissatisfied with General Sani Abacha-led regime. Do you have any regrets serving in that government?

Permit me to use the word of my friend, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, who said that he would have regretted if he did not serve in that government. I am also saying that the administration of General Sani Abacha assembled one of the best cabinets that had ever been assembled by any government in this country. Name any gentle and credible character that did not participate in the government? Are the likes of former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; Dr. Alex Ibru, Chief Olu Onagoruwa, and re-

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT MANY CIVILIANS WERE FRAMED INTO THE

1997 PHANTOM

COUP JUST BECAUSE OF ME.

HONESTLY, I HAD NEVER MET MANY OF THEM UNTIL WE GOT TO PRISON

spected and prominent people from the Northern part of the country and others not credible characters?

I can never see anybody that will say it was an error for him to serve in that cabinet. I do not see anything that was wicked and tyrannical in that government but we are all human beings. It got to a point that we looked at the situation in the country and we had to make some suggestions but unfortunately, our suggestions did not go well with some people and that was why, during my trial, I made that statement: “Where is so and so? Oh! This is a conspiracy and I am the target.” I said it openly and I knew what I went through that night after the speech. Anyway, that experience is now history but I am now referring to the Oputa Panel Report. Of course, the government did not publish the report but it was on the internet and everybody read it.

I want President Jonathan to implement the recommendations made in the report. I am saying this for the benefits of a lot of civilians, who went through torture during the period. The panel listened to everybody that was involved and made recommendations. I am pleading that the president should unveil and implement it. If I may draw a parallel between the Oputa Panel and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up in South Africa to look into several issues relating to what we went through, the South African government implemented the recommendations of the commission and this really did a lot to strengthen the relationship among the people of the country and made them to be peaceful. The South African government, on its own, did a lot to appease the people and this went a long way in stabilising the country and putting them on the path of development.

It is unfortunate that many civilians were framed into the 1997 phantom coup just because of me. Honestly, I had never met many of them until we got to prison. I never knew many of the junior officers; they may have known me being a senior officer but I never knew them. For instance, I never met with the late Colonel Akiode, who died in prison and yet, he was tried along with me for alleged coup. All these issues were dealt with in the Oputa Panel report. It was a panel set up with public funds and it sat for almost three months in Abuja, Lagos and several other places. Why should the report be kept unattended to?

Looking at what you went through during your trials and how you were saved from being executed, do you still hold any grudge against the people that implicated you in the coup?

As a Christian, I don’t. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us in the scriptures to forgive those who offended us so that our Father in heaven can also forgive us. I thank God that I am still alive and my families too, are alive. Honestly, I don’t hold anything against anybody because if I do, I will not have the free conscience to continue to thank God for saving my life. As a matter of fact, one of the victims of the phantom coup told me during our travails that one thing he was sure of was that I would not die. The person told me while we were in the detention that he was sure that I wasn’t going to be executed.

I am even told that one of those, who stood face to face with me during the ordeal, is now paralysed and anytime I pray, I always remember him and beg God to forgive him. I never pray for anybody to be in that situation.

Now that you have been granted state pardon, do you have any intention to venture into partisan politics?

Of course, no. I do not have any political ambition now.

I wouldn’t say I am not into politics because all Nigerians, who make observations about the situation of development in the country, are in a way involved in politics. If I say I am not in politics, then I wouldn’t have the right to make comments on any issue, but I do not intend to go into partisan politics at least for now.

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Photo News

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Managing Director, FBN Capital Ltd, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe; Chief Financial Officer, Seven Energy International, Mr. Bruce Burrows; Chairman, Mr. Phillip Ihenacho and Managing Director, Accugas, Mr. Stephen Tierney, at the signing of Accugas $225m refinancing and expansion facility agreement in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

L-R: Technical Consultant, Gemalto, Mr. Renan Arce Basteris; Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Remi Odunlami; Group Managing Director/CEO. Mr. Bisi Onasanya and Managing Director/CEO, E-Pay Plus Limited, Mr. Bayo Adeokun, at the media launch of FirstBank ‘Expressions on Cards’ in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Representative of Oba Otudeko, Foluke Oyeleye; Chairman, Ikeja Hotels Plc, Mr. Goodie Ibru and Company Secretary, Mr. Sunday Akinsanya, during the 39th AGM of the company in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Editor, Saturday Mirror, Ms. Gbemi Olujobi; Manager, External Relations, Nigeria NLG Ltd, Mrs. Gloria Ita-Ikpeme; Managing Director, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Mrs. Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku of NLNG and Editor, National Mirror newspapers, Mr. Seyi Fasugba, during a working visit of NLNG to National Mirror head office in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

National News

Boko Haram’s days are numbered –DHQ OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

T

he military yesterday in Abuja dismissed fears being expressed over the increase in the tempo of attacks by terrorists in the northern part of the country and the alleged threat in the Southwest, claiming the Boko Haram sect is fighting the last battle due to its imminent defeat.

The new Director, Defence Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade made this assertion in his maiden meeting with Defence correspondents, during which he also dismissed reports of the purported retirement of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral S. Ola Ibrahim.

There have been massive attacks by Boko Haram in Kano, Jos and Maiduguri recently, leading to insinuations that the sect is fully back with its endless killings and

bombings “What we are witnessing of recent from the Boko Haram, I personally see it as a kind of desperation. There is a saying that ‘the battle is hottest when it is about to end’. It shows that this is the last fight by the sect. From the way they have been working and the expectation from the headquarters, the fight against terrorism is coming to an end.

Whatever that is happening, the end to terrorism has come in Nigeria.

“Since its establishment, the JTF has identified and destroyed so many IED (Improvised Explosive Device) factories, recovered large quantity of arms, ammunitions and IED materials, arrested most of their leaders and followers. They have also been able to identify and repatriate illegal immigrants from Niger, Chad, and Mali among others.

“The efforts of the task force have to a very large

extent made Maiduguri and its environs untenable for the Boko Haram group. Some of the citizens who left Maiduguri at the heat of the Boko Haram activities are now gradually coming back.

“In the past few weeks, there was the destruction of Boko Haram identified camps at Sambisa and Damboa games reserves (These are the most forested part of Borno State), execution of Quick Impact Projects, distribution of exercise books to selected primary schools, distribution of grains, rice, millet, maize, sugar to selected communities, checking of influx of foreigners through the borders and provision of free medical services to the locals,” Olukolade said He also spoke on some other operations within and outside the country, that the military is engaged in, noting that all are recording great successes.

He said: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria, under the auspices of the DHQ is currently involved in some external and internal operations in response to contemporary global and internal security challenges.

“The internal security operations include, Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, Operation Restore Order, Operation Pulo Shield and the Multinational Joint Task Force.

“The external operations on the other hand includes, Nigerian military personnel who are deployed as United Nations’ Military Observers, UN Staff Officers or contingent troops in multinational military missions in Mali and Guinea Bissau.

“These operations includes, United Nations’ Mission in Liberia, United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur, African led International Support for

Mali (AFISMA) among others”., Olukolade also dismissed the purported retirement of the CDS, and urged the media to avoid sensational news and stories that could cause disaffection in the military.

He said: “The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim has not under any circumstances sought or asked for the permission of the President, Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces to voluntarily retire from active service as reported by those national dailies and online reporters.

“These media outfits, some of which are quoting an online news site or other anonymous sources did not bother to check for facts before embarking on this dangerous sensational report, which is capable of inciting insecurity in the country.

“This is most unfortunate; especially as it went on to paint a

scenario that portrays power struggle within the services, apparently with a view to undermining the cohesiveness of the leadership of the armed forces.

“Admiral Ibrahim remains committed to serving the nation to the best of his ability in his capacity as the Chief of Defence Staff of the most vibrant Armed Forces of the sub-Sahara Africa.

“For the avoidance of any doubts, it is hereby clarified that the CDS has not tendered any such notice neither is he ill as claimed in the spurious reports.

“For most of last week, the CDS was in the United Kingdom and this week in Cote D’ivoire all in a bid to enhance the output of the Nigerian military in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, and firming up military cooperation with his counterparts in other countries.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police arrest 92 suspects over Boko Haram threat in Lagos CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

curity apparatus to double their efforts to prevent the deadly sect from infiltrating Lagos.

Therefore, illegal aliens, abandoned buildings and vehicles would henceforth receive special attention, even as the government urged residents to be on the lookout for strange faces and developments in their domains.

The source also said that the governor promised to give all necessary support to the Neighbourhood Watch and the state security outfit to enable them carry out surveillance at the grassroots level.

At the meeting, attended by hundreds of representatives of various Community Development Association, CDAs, and Community Development Committees, CDCs, and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, how to flush out illegal aliens in the state was also discussed.

There were also indications that abandoned buildings may be taken over by government while abandoned vehicles may be impounded.

The governor had recently underscored the need for the involvement of every stakeholder in governance for the wellbeing of the society, urging residents to spread the gospel of vigilance in their neighbourhoods and report any strange movement of people or abandoned vehicles in their domain.

Meanwhile, the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has called for a thorough investigation into the allegation that the Bayelsa State Government owns the building suspected to be a terrorists’ hideout in Lagos.

The Ojora of Ijora, Oba Fatai Aromire, had said that the house where nine suspected terrorists, including a Chadian, were arrested in Ijora Badia in Lagos belongs to Bayelsa State.

The monarch made the allegation while receiving a delegation of Hausa community on Monday.

In a statement made available to National Mirror by the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere,

News

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the group said it is imperative that a thorough investigation is launched into the allegation.

Odumakin said: “The claim by the Ojora raises a red flag that cannot be ignored given the psychological warfare that has been waged against Yorubaland of possible terror attack for about a year now. What has largely been perceived as a threat is assuming near reality with the discovery of this terrorists’ hideout.

“We are compelled at this stage to call for a thorough investigation of this incident to ascertain the following: Who these suspects are and what links do they have with the Boko Haram? Why the Bayelsa State Government would maintain an abandoned property in Ijora Badia of all places in Lagos? The veracity of claims that the Bayelsa State Government has been approached several times by the community to demolish the house or give it to people who may use it without any response.”

According to him: “A satisfactory explanation to the posers would dispel the conspiracy theory that Boko Haram may have become a franchise under which fifth columnists may be operating to disrupt the peace of Yorubaland and instigate a national crisis with our land as a possible battle ground.

“We would not accept any shoddy handling of this case as has happened in too many of such incidents in recent past with suspects paraded and nothing is heard again.

“We also warn all agents of terror to stay away from the Yoruba nation in order not to invoke the wrath of our ancestors.

“Yoruba people are peace-loving and our land is a place where people from all nationalities from Nigeria are at home without any fear of molestation. Any group or individual who want to shatter the peace of the region can only meet their Waterloo.

“Finally, we call on our people to be vigilant at all times and report suspicious movements to the appropriate authority,” Afenifere said.

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Henry Okah jailed 24 yrs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

een said.

He said it is difficult to determine what the appropriate sentence should be.

“This is not an easy matter to deal with. The sentence of the convict to life imprisonment is not appropriate and to give him suspended sentence is equally not appropriate,” the judge said.

To strike a balance, “the convict is hereby sentenced to 12 years in prison for counts 1,3,5,7, 9 and 11 for the Warri bombings.

“The accused is sentenced to 12 years for counts 2,4,6,8 and 10 for the Abuja bombings.

“The accused is sentenced to 10 years for the threat to the government of Nigeria.

“However, the sentence for counts 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 13 will run concurrently. In all, the accused is hereby sentenced to 24 years in prison,” Claaseen said.

Judge Claassen had said the state had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and Okah’s failure to testify meant the evidence was uncontested.

The convict, who had

been living in South Africa, said the case against him was politically motivated.

The prosecutor of the case, Shaun Abrahams, had earlier said Okah faced a minimum sentence of life in prison. He had praised the verdict when he was convicted.

“This is clearly indicative that South Africa cannot be seen as a safe haven CONTINUED ON PAGE 53>>

L-R: Chairman, Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Special Adviser to the President on Research and Strategy, Barr. Oronto Douglas; Chairman, Technical Committee on Privatisation, Mr. Atedo Peterside and Chairman, Visafone, Mr. Jim Ovia, at the meeting of the Economic Management Team in Abuja yesterday.

2015: Jonathan to retain Sambo as running mate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Shema has been pushing to be named as a replacement for Sambo in the 2015 presidential election.

A source in the Presidency told National Mirror that Shema has enlisted the support of the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadhome, in pushing the agenda.

But President Jonathan, according to a source, has told his kitchen cabinet that he is not contemplating replacing Sambo as his deputy. “Mr. President is aware of the plot against his deputy ahead of the 2015 elections. He told some of us that he understands the game and that the arrowheads of the plot only want to scatter a united house.

“The President knows what he wants. People should stop day-dreaming.

Don’t forget that it is just an attempt to weaken the platform. This, I can tell you, won’t work,” an aide of the President told our correspondent.

National Mirror learnt that the vice president is unfazed about the plot.

“This is a game of politics.

We are aware of the plot but this won’t work because the President trusts Sambo and they are a winning team. I can tell you Vice-president Sambo is not bothered about the plot,” an aide of the vice president told National Mirror.

A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, familiar with the plot said it is a rehash of what happened before the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010.

“We are not strange to this plot. In the days of late Yar’Adua, a similar attempt was made to replace the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan with former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, who is serving a jail term in the United Kingdom for money laundering. So, the President had passed through the same path and would not succumb to any blackmail to drop Sambo,” the source who is a former member of the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, told National Mirror yesterday.

It was learnt that the

quest for the vice presidency informed Governor Shema’s interest in the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, and his involvement in the resolution of crisis in the South-West PDP. “His thinking is that these will boost his chances for the position,” a source said.

Shema is clinging to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s factor in his bid for the office. Already he is the brain behind the campaign that President Jonathan should compensate the Yar’Adua family with the vice presidency ticket and that replacing Sambo with him will further cement the Yar’Adua-Jonathan 2007 ticket.

But a source in the vice president’s camp said Shema is no longer in good terms with the Yar’Adua family.

“In the past, Governor Shema was member of the Yar’Adua inner camp but he doesn’t represent the group again; he is on his own. In the past two and half years, Shema has only met the mother of the late President

Yar’Adua once. Only recently, he sent an emissary to Yar’Adua’s mother asking if she was in need of anything.

But the woman said she was fine and needed nothing,” a source said.

The governor will also have to contend with a lot of obstacles in the course of what a source described as “blind ambition.” Most of the Northern governors are not in support of this move.

The only governor that may be opposed to Sambo’s return is Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Sambo and Kwankwaso have not been in good terms because of political differences.

A reliable source said: “In his state, Shema is becoming unpopular. The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, is growing in popularity than the PDP as a result of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s influence.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mohammed Dikko Inde and the Minister of Mines Development, Mr. Musa Sada, are not in good terms with him while his relationship with Emir of Katsina is impaired.”

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News

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria’s budgeting process won’t promote growth –NIM TOLA A KINMUTIMI ABUJA

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L-R: Director, Indirect Channels and Corporate Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ken Ogujiofor; Chairman, Etisalat Nigeria and President, King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA), Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie; Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and Chairman of the Board, Ecobank Nigeria, Chief Sonny F. Kuku, at the KCOBA Business Networking Lunch in Lagos, yesterday.

he Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, has picked holes in the processes being used by the government at all levels to prepare budgets.

It said with the modalities it would be difficult for the country to achieve improved performance of the budgets in terms of their impact on the well-being of Nigerians.

The President and Chairman of Council of the Institute, Dr. Michael

Reps want National Library named after Achebe •Senate holds special session in his honour today TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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he House of Representatives yesterday passed a motion urging the Federal Government to name the National Library building in Abuja after the late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe.

Before passing the motion sponsored by Hon. Charles Odedo (APGA, Anambra), Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal recalled that he was given a gift of ‘Arrow of God’, one of the books by Achebe when he topped his English Class in Form four during his Teachers’ Training College days.

This is as the Senate has resolved to hold a session in honour of Achebe today.

Considering the motion, Odedo said Achebe’s death

last Thursday in Boston, United States, marked a sad end to a bright epoch in Africa.

He said: “Achebe brought honour to Nigeria with his literary works that included his novel, ‘Things Fall Apart’.

“The novel which was written in 1958, over 50 years ago, has been translated into over 50 languages and has sold over 12 million copies worldwide.

“Achebe has authored over 20 novels and has won many awards and prizes including the Nigerian National Merit Award, NNMA, Man Booker International Prize 2007, Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize in 2010.

“He has also received honorary degrees from more than 30 universities around the world.

“In 1992 he became the

first living writer to be represented in the Everyman’s Library Collection. One of his books, ‘The trouble with Nigeria,’ identifies bad leadership and bad governance as the problem with Nigeria.”

The lawmaker called on the House to recognise “the fact that Prof. Chinua Achebe through his literary works had relentlessly fought against corruption, oppression, injustice and bad governance.

“A fight we are glad to continue in the 7th Assembly as outlined in our Legislative Agenda.”

Hon. Hassan Saleh (PDP, Benue) who seconded the motion, said: “Achebe’s contribution to the glory of Nigeria remains immeasurable and great.”

He added that the late au-

thor deserved to be appreciated by immortalising him.

The mover of the motion prayers to the House to observe a minute silence in Achebe’s honour; send a letter of condolence to his family; be represented during his burial ceremony and to urge the Federal Government to name the National Library headquarters under construction in Abuja after him were unanimously adopted.

After that, the motion was adopted by the House.

Also yesterday, the House passed a motion, urging the Federal Ministry of Works to construct a flyover and pedestrian bridge across the Benin - Lagos Expressway at Ore Junction.

The sponsor of the motion entitled: “Urgent Need to Construct a Flyover and Pedestrian Bridge Across the Benin - Lagos Road in the

Accident Flashpoint of Ore Junction, Ondo State,” Hon. Akintoye Albert (PDP, Ondo), regretted that the road “is notorious for heavy traffic and fatal accidents throughout the year, especially during weekends and festive periods”.

He regretted that “the series of accidents on the road has led to the loss of many lives and the destruction of properties worth several billions of naira”.

The decision by the Upper Chamber to hold the special session in Achebe’s honour followed a motion on Matters of Urgent National Importance raised on the floor of the Senate

by Sen. Chris Ngige, (ACN, Anambra).

Ngige, who said Achebe was “his constituent,” acknowledged that torrents of tribute had been pouring in since he died.

PMIs’ recapitalisation: CBN extends deadline to Dec 31 TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has extended the recapitalisation deadline for Primary Mortgage Institutions, PMIs, as part of efforts to give more time to the various companies to fully recapitalise.

The deadline was extended by eight months from April 30 to December 31, 2013.

In a circular to all directors and shareholders of primary mortgage banks entitled: “Extension of the deadline for compliance with the revised guide-

lines for primary mortgage banks,” the CBN said the step was taken to give all affected PMBs sufficient time to exercise any of the options for capital raising, business combination and downscaling highlighted in the earlier circular of December 14, 2012.

The decision to extend the deadline again, it was gathered, was informed by the fact that only about 25 companies have met the new capital requirement, barely one month to the expiration of the deadline.

The President of the Mortgage Banking Association, MBAN, Abimbola Olayinka, had said month

that only 25 PMIs out of over 70 firms might survive the April recapitalisation deadline set by the CBN for the mortgage sector.

He said that merger talks were going on in the sector as 45 PMIs were in danger of not meeting the deadline, adding that “a lot of companies are going into merger; it should be a done deal between March and April. We will probably have 25 banks from the 70 banks we have now”.

The circular signed by the CBN Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, Mr. Olufemi Fabamwo, reads in part: “Further to the CBN

Circulars Ref: FPR/DIR/ CIR/GEN/01/021 of 15th February, 2012 and OFI/ DIR/CIR/GEN/01/08 of 14th December, 2012 titled ‘Circular to Primary Mortgage Banks on the Revised Guidelines for Primary Mortgage Banks,’ this is to convey the decision of the management of the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the deadline for compliance with the Revised Guidelines for Primary Mortgage Banks, PMBs, from 30th April, 2013 to 31st December, 2013.

“All PMBs are once again strongly advised to conduct due diligence and seek professional advice in exercis-

ing any of the options and to conclude the processes before the new deadline in order to allow sufficient time for capital verification and necessary regulatory approvals.

“All directors, particularly the Managing Directors/ CEOs of all PMBs are again reminded that prior approval of the CBN is required before the disposal of assets of the bank, as they will be held jointly and severally liable for any asset stripping.”

CBN had earlier granted the mortgage firms a 12-month deadline from November 1, 2011, which would have terminated by December 12, 2012.

Olawale-Cole, said this at a dinner organised in his honour by the Abuja Zone on Monday night, specifically picked holes in the ‘top-bottom’ approach of budget preparation as against the more transparent and people-oriented ‘bottomtop’ system being used in other climes.

Olawale-Cole said members of the institute were not happy with the country’s budgeting approach.

According to him, rather than being designed based on the ‘bottom-top’ structure, what has been noticed over the years is that people at the top just arranged figures and pass it down.

He said: “Budget should come from the sectors and different ministries based on what they want to do and the need of the people and then packaged upstairs. From there they will now pick the ones they can do for that year and then seek approval from government.

“A situation where figures are just being put together for ministries and parastatals is not the best way to go.

“There is also need to look on how budget is implemented in Nigeria and that is the major problem we have. We have budget for capital and recurrent, but how much of that is being used?

“So we are concerned that we are putting more emphasis on recurrent expenditure as against capital. It is only through capital project that you can achieve growth.”

Olawale-Cole, whose focus was mainly on federal budget, urged those who prepare the yearly appropriation proposals to adopt a more systematic and effective way of implementing the budget.

He disclosed that the institute had made a presentation to the government on how to effectively manage its budget, adding that to achieve the desired sustainable growth of the economy; capital expenditure should take at least 60 or 70 per cent while recurrent should take 30 per cent.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

N107m scam: Court dismisses Ogbulafor’s no case submission EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High court yesterday held that former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, has a case to answer in his ongoing trial by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

ICPC is prosecuting Ogbulafor on a 17- count charge bordering on conspiracy and award of fictitious contracts to the tune of N107 million.

The offence was alleged to have been committed when Ogbulafor was the Minister of Special Duties.

The offence is contrary to and punishable by Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.

But Ogbulafor, through his counsel, Chief Joe-KyariGadzama (SAN), entered a “no case submission” before the court.

He said there was no credible or convincing evidence to link him with the charge.

Gadzama insisted that the prosecution was unable to meet the minimum standards required in law to compel an accused person to stand trial.

He told the court that the prosecution failed to meet two conditions necessary in criminal trial, one of which is that “the evidence in examination- in-chief was not discredited.”

He, however, urged the court to dismiss the charge against his client, saying: “In all the counts, none succeeded in proving the ingredients of conspiracy to allegedly award fictitious contracts to the tune of N107 million”.

But the prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), opposed

Ogbulafor’s prayer, urging the court to discountenance the “no case submission” and order the accused person to enter his defence.

Awomolo said the prosecution had succeeded in making a prima facie case against the accused, which ultimately provided a link to the charge against him and others.

Delivering ruling yesterday, the trial judge, Justice Lshaq Bello, held that since the first accused person’s name was repeatedly mentioned by the prosecution

witnesses in their respective testimonies, it was necessary for him (Ogbulafor) to offer some explanations in the pending criminal charge preferred against him.

Justice Bello said: “In the final analysis of the submissions of Chief Gadzama, counsel to the accused person and those of Chief Awomolo, I so hold that a prima facie case has been established against the accused and that he has some explanations to offer in defence of the criminal charges against him.”

Senate threatens to stop funding of varsities without enabling laws EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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he Senate has threatened to withhold appropriation to any federal university that operates without the necessary legal backing.

The threat was handed down during debate on a bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta state.

All the Senators, who contributed to the bill tagged: “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun and for Other Related

House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (right) with members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) during a visit to the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday.

Atuche, two Keystone Bank officials face fresh forgery charge KENNY ODUNUKAN

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ormer Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Francis Atuche, and two other employees of the bank were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja High Court on fresh charges of forgery.

They were alleged to have forged board resolutions of some companies.

Atuche alongside his codefendants were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo .

Charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday with Atuche were Joachim Nnosiri and Uguru Onyike, who are officials of Central Shared Services Centre of Keystone Bank Limited.

According to the ninecount charge, EFCC alleged that the defendants had, on

March 4, 2013 in Lagos, attempted to smuggle forged board resolutions of some companies into Keystone Bank.

EFCC claimed that the forged board resolutions were said to have emanated from Futureview Securities Limited, Tradjeck Limited and Extra Oil Limited.

The anti-graft commission also said the board resolutions were signed

by Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi, the Managing Director of three companies allegedly involved in the N27.5 billion fraud charge preferred against Atuche in another court presided by Justice Lateefa Okunnu.

EFCC said the purpose of the board resolutions was to request a N10.9 billion credit facility from the bank and that the resolutions were addressed to Keystone Bank.

According to EFCC, Nnosiri and Onyike, act-

ing on behalf of Atuche, attempted to smuggle the board resolutions into Keystone Bank headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.

EFCC alleged that the documents were forged by the defendants to weaken its case against Atuche in another criminal matter.

The anti-graft commission said the offence contravened sections 361 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Atuche’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), told the court that his client filed an application for bail, adding that the prosecution and the court had been duly served.

Responding, EFCC counsel, Ben Ubi, said he was served copies of the application yesterday, arguing that the law provides a minimum of 24 hours to reply

on the bail’s application.

He urged the court to give the prosecution at least 24 hours to respond to Atuche’s bail application.

But Oyetibo said the first defendant had been granted bail in another similar substantive matter before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of Ikeja High Court.

He said the alleged crime the defendants were arraigned for was only an offshoot and subsidiary matter of a substantial matter before Justice Okunnu.

Oyetibo urged the court to allow the first defendant to go home pending hearing on argument of bail application.

Expatriate kidnapped in Lagos is British –Police

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he police say the expatriate kidnapped last Saturday in Lagos State is a British businessman.

The police spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, told The Associated Press yesterday that kidnappers likely followed the British businessman as he was leaving a nightclub at about 11 p.m.

Mba would not say if the kidnappers had demanded a ransom and did not give any other details.

A British government spokesman could not imme-

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diately be reached for comment.

The United Kingdom and the United States governments mentioned the kidnapping in separate security warnings issued Sunday, leaving out the victim’s nationality.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria, but most have occurred in its oilrich South-South.

Mba said police are investigating, saying: “Lagos does not have a reputation for kidnappings and we want to keep it that way.”

Matters 2012,” condemned the practice whereby federal universities were allowed to operate for many years without corresponding efforts made by relevant agencies to give them legal backing.

Specifically, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu wondered why the Petroleum University, which was established in 2007, is yet to get an enabling law.

In his remark shortly before committing the bill, which successfully passed second reading yesterday to the Committee on Education, Senate President David Mark said: “We just have a way of not getting things done properly.”

Accordingly, Mark pledged the readiness of the Senate to do “everything possible to ensure that whatever we do will have legal backing.”

Stressing the importance of funding universities and research-based institutes, Mark said: “The fact is that the Federal Government, having taken this bold and commendable step, should follow it up with enough funding, otherwise it will just be glorified university.

“Petroleum is very important to us. Also, the issue is that if we can combine the institute with the university, it will be good.”

In his lead debate on the general principles of the bill, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba enumerated the objective of establishing the university to include encouragement of the “advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinctions of race, creed, sex or political connection, the opportunity of acquiring a higher education in petroleum resources technology.”

Also yesterday, a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Commission (NEPAD), passed second reading on the floor of the Senate and was sent to the Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa for further legislative action.

The Senate, however, expressed reservations over the failure of NEPAD to achieve its primary objective of affecting the lives of ordinary Nigerians positively.

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South West

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashola gives tax defaulters 17-day ultimatum G

We’ve reduced Daniel’s debt to N26bn –Amosun FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

MURITALA AYINLA

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overnor Babatunde Fashola yesterday gave defaulters a 17day ultimatum to pay their taxes to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service or face the wrath of the law.

Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Conference for Professionals held at the Civic Centre, Fashola said all tax defaulters had up to April 12 to pay their taxes.

He said: “We would let them have their day in court because we would meet them in court and where the need be, we would apply sanctions on them, I will be uncompromising then. So this meeting is an appeal to conscience, good citizenship and commitment.

“But we would not stop at that, we have seen some whom we have taken to court, they have already started coming to pay and this meeting also announces that we would give a fur-

ther grace period because we have compiled the list of group of people who have defaulted.

“I want to use this meeting to give those people time to respond, so we would hold on until Friday, April 12, after that we would have to do our job.

“We feel that between now and April 12, those who want to be on the right side of the law will comply.”

According to the governor, statistics have shown that out of about eight mil-

lion taxable adults in the state, only 3,100,000 persons pay.

Fashola disclosed that 82 hotels had taken the government to court to evade paying consumption tax.

He, however, explained that the hotels would bear the burden of the tax, but those who access their facilities.

The governor disclosed that out of about 2,109 hotels in Lagos, only 634 had fully complied while 263 had partially complied.

overnor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State yesterday disclosed that his administration inherited a debt of N87 billion from his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Amosun disclosed this while inaugurating the new Chairman of the state Council of Obas, the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, at the Secretariat Complex, Oke-Mosan.

The governor told the monarchs that his administration had made substantial progress in the repayment of the debt, which now stood at N25.8 billion.

He said: “When we came in, we talked about the debt that we met. What they handed over to us when we came in shown N49.6 billion, that was as of March 31, 2011. Of course, we were not sworn in until May 29, 2011. Even the day they were going, they signed several cheques, but we didn’t even think about that.

“As we speak today, the Ogun State debt is N25.8 billion, it has reduced a lot.

This is our debt but I have not added all the pensions, the internal ones that we owe local governments, the pensioners that they owed because I have said, on my honour, I will not owe anybody and I have not owed anybody since we resumed.

“As we speak, so many people said they have been given government guarantee, that means that in the event of default, we have to pay, when we added all of those, it was N87 billion that we inherited.”

Also at the inauguration, traditional rulers in the three senatorial districts of the state yesterday applauded Amosun’s developmental programmes.

The monarchs, drawn from the four major ethnic tribes of Egba, Ijebu, Remo and Yewa blocs of the state, who converged on Abeokuta, the state capital for the inauguration, described Amosun as the founder of “New Jerusalem” in the state.

Ekiti women organise prayer session for ailing deputy governor

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L-R: Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and Olu of Yewa, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, at the Inauguration of the new Chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas in Abeokuta, yesterday.

CAC’s unity was Obadare’s last wish –Son •Says burial arrangements out soon HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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he desire of the founder of World Soul Winning Evangelistic Ministry, WOSEM, and the General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Worldwide, the late Prophet Timothy Obadare, to unite the CAC family will not be compromised.

The late evangelist’s son, Dr. Paul Obadare who is also a pastor, said this yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital while briefing journalists on the arrangements for the burial of his father.

Obadare said contrary to speculation that the prophet was the brain

behind the feud in the CAC family; he said one of his late father’s greatest desires was to reunite the CAC family before his death.

The pastor also said that his father died in his residence in Akure.

He said: “He was at his residence, in the hands of his last son, when he breathed last to glory.

“The WOSEM, the eagerness of God on all creation, will live on to the fulfilment of its mission by the grace of God. The ministry’s obligations to its parent church, CAC, will also not be compromised.

This is the desire of our dear father and it will be honoured.

“We use this medium to call for the unity of

CAC Worldwide in the tradition of our motto, ‘One Fold, One Shepherd.’ Let this medium start the movement of solidarity to the oneness of this great mission.

“Our father’s legacy and his vision live on and what he stands for will never die, the vision he imprinted in our hearts will not be compromised.”

Speaking on who will succeed his father, the young Obadare said the late evangelist’s biological and spiritual sons would come together to pray to God to lead the church aright on the selection of the new leader.

He, however, said the details of the burial arrangement would be an-

nounced soon.

Obadare said the late prophet was an international figure, adding that the family and the church were taking steps to give him a befitting burial.

He disclosed that a special memorial fund account had been opened at Skye Bank Plc for those who would want to donate towards the burial.

Obadare said the decision to open the account was informed by public demand to contribute to the burial.

He, however, thanked President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and all other dignitaries across the country and abroad for condoling with the family.

omen across Ekiti State, yesterday converged on Ado-Ekiti where a prayer session was held for the quick recovery of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, who is currently on sick leave.

The wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, convened the session, which was also attended by top female officials of the state and appointees, as well as wives of top government functionaries.

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, Most Rev Felix Ajakaye, led other ministers of God to intercede on behalf of the deputy governor and the state in general.

In his homily, Ajakaye admonished the people of the state to stop peddling rumours about the health status of the deputy governor, but to intensify prayers for God to bring her back to her feet soon.

Like true Christians, he urged the people not to despair, warning that negative utterances were capable of worsening the health condition of any sick person.

Like every mortal, he said that the deputy governor was indisposed and

only required proper medical attention, as she was currently receiving, and prayers from the people to recover quickly.

Ajakaye said: “Nobody is free from sickness and when people fall sick we should stop ascribing it to some supernatural forces or spiritual attack.

Emeritus Pope Benedict recently stepped down from papacy partly due to ill-health.

“Nobody has blamed his illness on any spiritual attack and we should not do that with the illness of our deputy governor.”

There is nothing new under the sun. We are bound to fall sick and get well because our body is not made of stones.

“We serve a living God and we should trust that God will heal her and she will return to her office soon. Every other thing we say or do about this matter is a distraction. Let us continue to pray and I know that God will answer our prayers.”

A female minister, Dr. Lola Daramola, later led the congregation in prayer session for the deputy governor and for peace to continue to reign in the state.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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Yoruba Convention tasks South-West govs on security KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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overnors of the six states in the SouthWest geo-political zone, have been urged to intensify their efforts at keeping at bay, the menace of religious intolerance and insecurity, to ensure that Yorubaland remain safe for both residents and others, who may be willing to invest in the part of the country.

This was part of the communiqué issued at the end of the first annual Yoruba

International Convention, YIC, held in Dubai, United Arabs Emirate, UAE, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday.

The communiqué was made available to journalists by Alhaji Fehintola Azeez, the media aide to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111.

Oba Adeyemi, who was the patron of the organisation presided over the gathering organised by theYoruba Global Coalition, UK and hosted by Yoruba Forum, UAE.

The communiqué noted that the convention featured the presentation of development programmes

by Yoruba intellectuals in the Diaspora and a group of foreign investors willing to invest in Yorubaland.

The communique reads in part: “The six state governors of Yorubaland are requested to facilitate immediate take-off of the projects proposed by the foreign investors so as to encourage other foreign investors who may want to choose Yorubaland as their

destination of investment.”

The convention while recalling that some foreign investors had indicated their desire to start an airline, urged the six governors to collectively approach the Federal Government for an aviation licence for the proposed airline named Oduduwa Airline.

While also calling for the initiation of economic cooperation between Yorubaland and UAE in general and Dubai in particular, so as to take advantage of the robust informal trade between

Nigeria and the region, the convention advocated the opening of Oduduwa Trade Missions in all the major advanced countries.

The convention felt such outlets would enable the forging of economic cooperation between such countries and Yorubaland, adding that; “The mission should be jointly promoted by all the six states of Yorubaland and supervised by the Central Association of Yorubas in such countries.

“Yoruba associations worldwide should set up

special economic development body in their respective countries of domicile to emulate their development approach and advise the six state governors from time to time,” the communiqué stated.

The Alaafin of Oyo while declaring the convention open, lauded the organisers of the programme, maintaining that; “The South-West is one of the safest zones in the country because we practice secularism and it is part of the reasons we have rapid growth and development.”

Ekiti varsity gets Institute for Peace, Security kiti State University, EKSU, Ado Ekiti, has set up an Institute for Peace and Security to prepare the nation’s leaders on issues bordering on peace, security and conflict resolution, among others.

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Oladipo Aina, said the institute, which would award masters and doctoral degrees, would take off next session.

Aina, who spoke while presenting documents on the establishment of the institute as passed by the university council to Governor Kayode Fayemi, disclosed that the governor was among the qualified lecturers of the institute.

The establishment of the governance institute in the university was among some of the programmes of the ongoing three-day conference of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice, SPSP, with the theme: “Defining and Rethinking Peace and Security Systems in Transitional Democracies,” being hosted by the university.

The vice-chancellor expressed confidence that Fayemi, who had his doctorate in War Studies, would bring his experience, knowledge and expertise to bear as he

impacts knowledge to students on the institute.

Governor Fayemi, who said there could not be peace and growth without justice and food security, said: “It is our duty and our responsibility to guarantee peace in our environment.

Any growth that does not produce direct job that will impact on the lives of the people is meaningless.”

The governor urged Nigerians to work towards peaceful coexistence among all groups as he said ensuring that Nigerians have access to food would go a long way in addressing people’s frustrations that had made them vulnerable to crime.

According to him, conflict and criminal activities would never cease in a society devoid of justice.

SPSP Board of Trustees Chairman, Prof. Isaac Albert, who lamented that the Nigerian situation was fast becoming problematic in view of the rising insecurity in the country, said the conference would explore ways “of moving from the state we are in to a better one.”

Albert said elections conducted in the country had not shown that “we are consolidating our democracy. Our society is that of endless transition. We want to take a critical look at our situation, he said.

gramme in all the local government areas in the state hence the need to distribute equipment needed for the cleaning of the local councils.

He pointed out that projects to be carried out within any local council will be conceived by the people of the community while the agency will provide labour to execute such projects, adding that some projects

within some communities have been identified, but that the programme will take off with the cleaning of the environment.

Omolafe also said a task force has been put in place to monitor the work being done by the beneficiaries, adding that coordinators have also been selected from all the local government areas to oversee the work.

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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L-R: Director-General, Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Prof. Olufemi Taiwo; Head, Department of Food Science Technology, Bowen University, Prof. Olusola Akingbala and Director-General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Dr. Gloria Elemo, at a NISER research PHOTO: NAN seminar series in Ibadan, yesterday.

Prison decongestion: Assembly endorses community sentencing under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the House, Hon. Suraju Ishola Adekunbi, applauded JDPM’s gesture, stressing that such punishment would not only bring sanity to the community, but would further enhance the administration of justice state in the state.

Leading other lawmakers to deliberate on the issues to be included in the bill, Hon. Adekunbi assured that the Assembly would give accelerated passage to the bill in order to give legal backing to the proposal.

The lawmakers, who lamented that prisons in Nigeria had become a punitive home rather

than reformation centers however, tasked JDPM to forward the bill to the House within the shortest possible time.

The House further charged JDPM to include retired judges, ex-lawmakers, as well as other religious leaders in its recommendations so as to enhance its implementation.

National Mirror, however, recalled that JDPM had, earlier in December 2012, also met with the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, who also promised to give necessary support to the proposal as an alternative to reducing prisons’ congestion.

ndication emerged yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, that the state government will incorporate community sentencing as alternative to imprisonment in the administration of justice across the state if the state House of Assembly finalises work on the a bill to give such sentencing a legal backing.

This was because the House of Assembly yesterday tasked the Justice Development and Peace Movement, JDPM, the initiator of the

bill to evolve an all-inclusive bill that will enable the state incorporate community sentencing in the administration of justice in the state.

At the meeting between the advocacy team of JDPM, led by Gbenga Gbesan and the state lawmakers held at the committee room of the Assembly complex yesterday, the lawmakers unanimously endorsed the JDPM’s proposal on community sentencing and charged the movement to also incorporate the nittygritty of social security system in the proposed bill.

The meeting, which held

HAKEEM GBADAMOSI

SURE-P not politically motivated –Chairman

FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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AKURE

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hairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, in Ondo State, Hon. Adedayo Omolafe, yesterday in Akure, the state capital, dismissed the insinuation that the programme is politically-motivated, say-

ing the programme was designed by the Federal Government to improve the socio-economic status of the nation’s citizens.

Omolafe stated this at the inauguration of the Community Service for Women and Youths Empowerment Scheme, CSWYE, which was put together by the agency

in all the local government councils in the state.

The chairman said a total of 3, 000 beneficiaries who have completed and submitted their recruitment forms had been absorbed by the state SURE-P into the CSWYE scheme with a pledge to employ about 2, 000 more before mid-year.

He said the beneficiaries were recruited through the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, in the state in order to avoid partiality and to ensure that the beneficiaries are selected on merit.

The SURE-P chairman said the programme will be kicking off with the environmental sanitation pro-

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South East

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

You can’t convene APGA convention, INEC tells Obi DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has denied Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, his request to be granted permission to convene the convention/congresses of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. Governor Obi had on

February 25, 2013, used an APGA letter-headed paper to issue a notice for conduct of fresh congresses\convention of the party to the chairman of INEC “as a senior governor elected on the party’s platform.”

But INEC in its reply to the request told Obi that the commission has considered his letter, the judgement of the Enugu High Court and

the constitution of the party and cannot grant him leave to convene any such meeting as he (Obi) lacks such power.

In its reply to Obi written by the Acting Secretary of the Commission, Mustapha Kuta, INEC said: “The commission notes that the power to convene a meeting of any organ of the All Progressives Grand Alliance is vested on

the chairman of that organ.

“The commission has not been referred to any provision of the constitution of the All Progressives Grand Alliance which empowers you to convene a meeting of any organ, including but not limited to National Executive Committee and the National Convention.

“The commission therefore cannot accede to your

request to convene any convention or congresses.”

Obi in his letter to INEC had claimed that the judgement of the Enugu High Court of February 8, had left the party decapitated and rudderless, adding that he was advised that the court of law did not grant a stay of declamatory judgement against Chief Victor Umeh’s appeal.

Obi argued that himself and his deputy, as bonafide ex-offico members of the party,s NEC, could convene the national convention but INEC in its reply told Obi that he was wrong.

Obi had fixed the congresses starting from the ward level on March 30, 2013 and the national convention on April 18, at Enugu which INEC declined.

UNTH resumes open heart surgery operations DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (centre) with traditional rulers at the 6th National Development Summit of Nigerian Traditional Rulers in Abuja, yesterday.

Abia govt accuses Orubebe of negligence GEORGE OPARA ABIA

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bia State government yesterday told the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, that his ministry has marginalised the state.

The government accused the ministry of not treating Abia as part of the Niger Delta states.

Deputy Governor Ananaba said this when Orubebe led a delegation of senior staff of his ministry, including the minister of state, to Abia State Government House, Umuahia.

•It is not true, says Minister

The minister, who was received by the deputy governor, was accused of marginalising the state in the areas of projects, youth training and employment.

The minister, however, denied the accusation, saying that Abia has not been neglected by the ministry.

Welcoming the minister, Ananaba said, “If not that the governor asked us to welcome you, we could have received you with placards, to ask you what you are coming to do. Are we part of Niger Delta region? Do you want us to join those complaining

about the East-West Road?

“Honourable minister, we have not seen you. You have talked about some projects, we have been hearing that.

You said you want to create a road map. Sir, we welcome you, but we are not happy.

“Look at the road you said you are building from Obehie to Azumini, it is in a mess.

Well, when we look at the road map, we will study it; I hope the governor will nominate those who will come for the conference. I don’t want to be there because I will tell you what you don’t want to hear.

At my age I will tell you if you

are my friend.

“Can you tell us how many of Abia youths you have employed; their files are in your office. You have not done anything on them.

But for Governor Orji, the kidnapping would have continued. It was caused by lack of job,” angry Ananaba said.

He also told Orubebe to watch his staff, saying that some of them feed him with falsehood.

“Honourable minister, watch your staff. They come to tell you stories that are not true. But for the stones they are throwing at you on EastWest Road, you would not have come out,” he said.

Climate change responsible for some disasters –NEMA DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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he Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi, has said that disaster occurrences and the number of people affected had risen significantly in recent years as a result of the impact of climate

change, communal conflicts, competition over land resources between farmers and pastoralists and the recent introduction of terrorism in Nigeria.

Sidi said the sad development has no doubt impacted negatively on our national development aside the attendant humanitarian implications.

He emphasised that nations that invest in disaster

prevention and mitigation measures reap the rich benefit of resilience and low mortality from disasters.

He further disclosed that less than 10 percent of the emergency management spending actually goes into the critical area of disaster risk reduction.

Sidi spoke at the SouthEast zonal workshop on the “Role of the Media and Infor-

mation Managers in Emergency and Disaster Management,” in Enugu.

He was represented by the South-East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Dr Bandele Onimode.

Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, at the event stated that Nigeria was never prepared to handle emergencies like in advanced countries.

pen heart surgery operations have resumed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu.

At least four patients that would have sought medical treatment abroad for open heart surgeries have been successfully operated upon at the teaching hospital.

The resumed operation that last took place 10 years ago at the old site of the hospital was facilitated by the management of the hospital in collaboration with a United States-based Non-Governmental Organisation, VOOM Foundation.

The open heart surgery was suspended following the hospital’s movement from its old site within the Enugu metropolis to its permanent site at Ituku-Ozala.

Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, who visited the hospital and wit-

nessed a live surgery at the hospital, congratulated the management of the UNTH for the resuscitation of the open heart surgery programme, noting that the programme is in line with the transformation programme of the present administration.

Chukwu said that President Goodluck Jonathan has insisted that given the intelligence of Nigerians, there is no reason why medical skills should not be available in Nigeria.

He stated that a situation where people are flown abroad for medical missions is not the best for Nigeria, adding that the President’s vision is already yielding positive results in the country.

The minister maintained that unlike in the past, where few hospitals are designated as centres of excellence, under his watch as the health minister, all federal teaching hospitals are designated as centres of excellence now.

Imo residents lament deplorable federal road CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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esidents of Umudibia Nekede autonomous community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday appealed to the Federal Government to deliver them from the hands of contractors handling the Ihiagwa-Nekede Federal Polytechnic Road.

Motorists plying the road have called on the Federal Government to look into the cause of the delay in completing the road project that has been abandoned since 2000 and now a source of nightmare to them.

The road project was last handled by a member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, in 2006. Since then it has been a subject of litigation between Chief Iwuanyanwu and Imo

State government.

Some of the residents who spoke said hoodlums were taking advantage of the collapsed portions of the road to rob people plying the road of their valuables.

According to them, violent crimes occurred on the road on daily basis.

Speaking to National Mirror, an indigene of the community, Nze Ferdinand Osuji, urged the Federal Government to wade into the matter since the road is the route to the Federal University Technology, Owerri, FUTO, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede and the Police Training College, three federal institutions in the area.

He blamed Chief Iwuanyanwu for being responsible for the plight of the people, adding that any further delay now that the rains are approaching will bring hardship for the people.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

11

Police beat up, arrest 30 protesting job seekers in Bayelsa EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

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L-R: Director-General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi; NEMA Executive Volunteer Corps, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Minister of the Environment, Mrs. Adiza Mailafia, during the National Consultative Workshop on 2013 Flood Prevention, PHOTO: NAN Mitigation, Preparedness and Response in Abuja, yesterday.

Cross River warring communities resolve conflict RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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he age-long land dispute which led to the wanton destruction of lives and property between the residents of Idum Mbube in Ogoja Local Government and Kachuan Irruan in Boki Local Government areas of Cross River State in 1983 and 1986 has been finally resolved.

A statement signed by a member of the state

House of Assembly, Hon. Jake Otu Enya, said the resolution was sequel to the initiative of opinion leaders in the warring communities to allow peace reign.

Enya said that the opinion leaders took the decision after recognising that no meaningful development could be recorded in the absence of peace.

The lawmaker, who is one of the initiators of the peace move, com-

mended the intermittent intervention by the state government as well as the two local government authorities to stop further bloodshed and destruction of property.

Enya commended the opinion leaders, traditional rulers, chairmen of the two communities and youth leaders for their sacrifice, patience and demonstration of love and commitment for the return of peace.

The lawmaker charged youths of both communities to uphold the sanctity of the peace accord, noting that the peaceful environment would usher in more meaningful development to the communities.

He called on the government and the state Surveyor General to immediately move into the area, survey the land and provide lasting physical beacons along agreed boundary lines.

Imoke lauds FG’s commitment to Niger Delta development

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overnor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has praised the Federal Government for its commitment to the development of Niger Delta region.

Imoke commended the Federal Government for initiating policies through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to develop the region.

Represented by his deputy, Mr. Effiok Cobhan, the governor spoke while receiving a delegation from the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs at the Government House in Calabar.

The delegation was led by the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, and his Minister of State, Mr. Darius Ishaku.

Elder Orubebe, however, told Imoke that the

delegation was visiting the nine governors of the Niger Delta states to solicit their support towards the success of the forthcoming Stakeholders’ Conference /maiden National Council on Niger Delta slated for April 21 to April 26, 2013.

Orubebe recalled that from 1958 when oil was discovered in Niger Delta, there had been various programmes and committees put in place to address the challenges confronting the region as a result of oil exploration activities and their attendant socio-economic and environmental issues.

He lamented that all the challenges defied solution because there had been no coordinated efforts towards addressing them.

The minister said the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs consequently partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other agencies to carefully develop an all-encompassing Action Plan to enable the ministry pull resources and coordinate efforts for speedy development of the region.

He said: “The idea is to set up a basket of funds for which stakeholders will contribute since it has become obvious that the Federal Government alone cannot fund the anticipated massive development of the region.”

Orubebe added that some of the ministry’s skill acquisition centres, including the one in Calabar, would be commis-

sioned in the next few months, as he presented a copy of the proposed Action Plan for the Niger Delta region development to Imoke.

The minister, however, said that President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the proposal to extend the East-West Road from Oron in Akwa Ibom State to Calabar in Cross Rivers State.

Imoke

here was tension yesterday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, as over 30 protesting unemployed graduates were beaten up and arrested by the police.

The protesting youths are still being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yenagoa.

No fewer than 100 jobless graduates had staged a peaceful protest in Yenagoa following what they described as the state government's insensitivity to create jobs for them.

The protesters said they had attempted to meet with some senior government officials to discuss their plight with them, but the effort failed.

The police pounced on the protesters under the aegis of Unemployed Graduates Forum of Bayelsa when they started regrouping at Yenizuegene in Yenagoa at about 8:15 a.m and arrested five of them.

Theprotesters,however,vowed not to vacate the location until the policereleasedtheircolleagues.

At about 10:13a.m, tension

rose as the police re-enforced with about 10 vans and stormed the area to arrest 30 others.

Clad in white T-shirts with inscriptions: “We need job,” and “Give us jobs,” the protesters said they would not be intimidated by the arrest of their colleagues.

The protesters’ spokesman, Mr. Anthony Joseph, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering, said they had notified the police about three weeks earlier on the protest and wondered why they were being hunted.

He said: "We are fighting a just course. Most of our graduates have been unemployed for between five and seven years .We have met the Commissioner for Science and Technology and other top government functionaries in the state on the need to create jobs for us, but all efforts proved abortive.

“Government should come to our plight. We are pleading with the government to create jobs for us. The police should also release our detained members.”

The police spokesman, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the arrest of the protesters, noting that they were being interrogated.

East-West Road ready in December 2014 –Orubebe TONY ANICHEBE UYO

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inister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has said that the EastWest Road, whose construction began in 2006, would be completed in December, 2014.

Orubebe stated this when he visited Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday at the Government House in Uyo, the state capital.

He said that the project, which was awarded for N229 billion in 2006, was delayed because the government could only pay N1.2 billion then.

The minister said though people clamoured for the completion of the project, they failed to realise that the Ministry of Niger Delta inherited the project in 2009 without any financial or action plan.

Orubebe said: “When we inherited the project, there was no financial or action plan. We discovered that the road has 42 bridges, 787 culverts and from 2010, we were able to complete 37 of the bridge and 752 of the culverts.

I can conveniently tell you that President Goodluck Jonathan

will commission the EastWest Road by December 2014.”

He told Governor Akpabio that the National Conference on Niger Delta would hold from April 21 to April 25, 2013 in Akwa Ibom State to discuss the challenges confronting the region.

The minister said: “We have Action Plan for the Niger Delta region development, we have sent it to the governors to make their input and most of the developments in the Niger Delta are not co-ordinated.

We have duplication of projects by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), local government councils and state governments within a given community.

“The Action Plan will give the people at local level and state the opportunity to decide what they want over a period of five and 10 years and everybody will understand what is to be expected within the given period. We realiased we need to involve the communities in development projects identification and execution to satisfy their yearnings”.

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North

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Two policemen, 28 others killed in fresh Plateau attack JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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wo policemen were among those killed by gunmen who attacked two communities of Da Jak and Attakar in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State in the early hours of yester-

day Some villagers, who escaped the onslaught, said over 28 persons were killed, while several houses and other property were set ablaze by the gunmen.

According to them, the two villages were overrun in a midnight attack by people suspected to be ter-

rorists.

Confirming the incident, the member representing Riyom Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Daniel Dem, told National Mirror on telephone that dozens of people were killed.

The lawmaker, who described the attack as sad,

said both villages had been under siege by suspected Fulani militia since last week Dem also accused the Special Task Force (STF) deployed to maintain law and order in the local government of complicity in the attack.

He said: “My people are

being killed every day and yet the Special Task Force is not doing anything about it. I am calling for the withdrawal of the STF officials since they are not capable of handling the crisis that has been rocking Plateau State for a long time.”

One of the slain police-

men identified as Corporal Jubrin was serving at the state police command headquarters in Jos before he was shot dead by the gunmen.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, said that Corporal Jubrin was shot on his way to the trouble area.

Court remands 14 for forging college’s admission letters PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Yero (left) and his deputy, Mr. Nuhu Bajoga, at the inaugural ceremony of the distribution of materials by SURE-P to beneficiaries in Kaduna, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Kanoattack:JTFintensifiessearchforterrorists,weapons •Senate cautions Kwankwaso against provocative remarks

AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST AND EMMANUEL ONANI

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ecent attacks in Yankaba and Dakata areas of Kano city by gunmen have prompted another round of intensified house to house search for suspected terrorists and weapons of mass destruction by the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the police.

National Mirror learnt that the security operatives stormed Dakata and Yankaba in the early hours of yesterday for the exercise during which they arrested some suspects.

Similar operations were carried out in Hotoro, Mariri and Zango, among other flash points in the city.

Several gun shots were heard in the neighborhood, according to a source, who revealed that one person was killed, but could not say whether he was hit by stray bullet or deliberately shot by gunmen When contacted over the incident, the police spokesman, Mr. Magaji Majiya, confirmed the death of one person, who

he identified as a commercial tricycle operator, adding that he was shot on the head by gunmen in Dakata area.

The gunmen, according to the police spokesman, also made away with the victim’s tricycle.

He said security agents had been combing the area in search of the fleeing gunmen.

It will be recalled that Dakata/Kawaji area has lately been under the siege of terrorists resulting in the loss of many lives and property worth several million of naira.

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday cautioned Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso against making remarks that could further worsen the nation’s security challenges.

Reacting to Kwankwaso’s comment in the wake of the Senate’s resolution condemning last week’s suicide bomb attack in Kano that left over 60 people dead with scores injured, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe, advised public

office holders to apply restraint in their choice of words in order not to jeopardise the nation’s peace.

Abaribe said: “We think that people in very high offices should use temperate language, especially now that the situation is tensed.”

The senator, however, described as a welcome development the decision by the Presidency to monitor implementation of constituency projects.

He told journalists that Presidency might have initiated the decision so as to enhance effective implementation of the projects.

Abaribe said: “We think that what is being done in the Presidency is probably to enhance efficiency. You are aware that the National Assembly constituency projects are done by ministries; if the Presidency feels that it wants to bring it under one umbrella, so be it.”

Minna Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded no fewer than 14 persons for allegedly forging and issuing letters of admission and certificates of the Niger State College of Education to unsuspecting students.

The suspects, who were arraigned on a four-count charge by the Niger State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. Mu’azu Shehu, for forgery, being in possession of forged documents and using as genuine a forged document contrary to sections 79, 364, 368 and 366 of the Penal Code, are to remain in the prison till May 13, 2013.

The accused persons are Danlami Abubakar, Hussaini Vatsa, Suleiman Ahmad, Umaru Salihu, Ibrahim Yusuf and Mohammed Bello Waziri.

Others are Zakaryah Ibrahim, Garba Gwalu, Ndaman Umar, Moham-

med Shabako, Umar Yabagi, Aminu Usman, Usman Musa and Hassan Mohammed.

One of the accused was discovered to be in possession of genuine scanned and reprinted fake admission letters of the school with names of their victims.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused persons jointly issued fake admission letters to students between December last year and January this year.

But the 14 suspects pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

The suspects’ counsel, Zakariyahu Bello, made oral application for their bail.

Delivering the ruling, Magistrate Bilqquis Gambo Yusuf said that the accused could be granted bail, but directed the defence counsel to make a formal request for the bail.

She, therefore, directed that they be remanded in prison till May 13, 2013 for further hearing.

Kano, others get 1.5 million vaccine doses to tackle measles MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he Federal Government has released 1.5 million doses of measles vaccines to some states in the North.

The states are Kano, Katsina and Sokoto, which got 500,000; 400,000 and 300,000 doses respectively. They were said to be worst hit by the disease.

This intervention was contained in a statement issued by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) yesterday in

Abuja.

NPHCDA Executive Director, Dr. Ado Muhammad, said that the agency had reserve of 300,000 doses of measles vaccines kept at the National Strategic Cold Store in Abuja.

The agency, Dr. Ado said, would also take delivery of additional 7.2 million doses in the next two weeks.

He explained that the additional vaccines would be delivered to worst-affected states during the forthcoming Polio Immunization Campaign in April.

NPHCDA said: “It is expected that Oral Polio

Vaccine (OPV) be given all eligible under-five children, while measles vaccines and Vitamin A be administered on children aged 6 – 59 months old at health facilities (fixed and temporary fixed posts) during the forthcoming polio immunization campaign next month.

“Meanwhile, antibiotics and rehydration fluids are being procured to support case management of children affected with measles in parts of the country.”

Dozens of children in the North have died of the disease in the past two

months, while scores others are being hospitalized.

While the Federal Government and the affected states have taken various steps to curtail further outbreaks of the disease and help the sick at the hospitals, plans to embark on a new immunization policy against the disease is being hindered by paucity of fund, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told National Mirror recently.

The minister said his ministry was advised to double the dose being given to children across the country.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday March 27, 2013

13

Politics

Of Boko Haram, amnesty and blood in the land

2015: Atiku squares up against Jonathan

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INEC explains refusal to register African Peoples Congress

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that it did not register the African Peoples Congress (APC) as a political party because it did not meet the conditions for registration.

The INEC Director of Public Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Umenger, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on yesterday in Abuja that the commission’s letter to APC was unambiguous on

the issue.

Umenger said that it was left for the party to prove the commission wrong.

He said: “INEC as a law obeying body, relates with stakeholders in the electoral process basically on what the law of the land says.

“Our relationship with the stakeholders is determined by the relevant sections of the law. We don’t go outside the law, INEC has premised the non-registra-

tion of APC on its inability to satisfy the requirements of section 222a of the 1999 constitution as amended.”

Umenger said that the commission also observed that there were some gaps in the form PA1 which was given to the political association.

“In our acknowledgement, 20 copies of the commission’s prescribed form PA1 were forwarded to the association for

completion and return to the commission with affidavit in support of the claims in the form.

“Also, we listed other requirements to include establishment of party headquarters in the FCT with proof of ownership, constitution and manifesto of the political association,” he said.

According to him, the requirements also includes evidence of payment of

registration fee, and the association’s logo.

Umenger said as far as the law was concerned, APC did not meet the conditions, therefore, the commission had rejected the application of the APC to be registered as a political party.

However, the director said that the party was at liberty to apply for regis-

Non-conduct of LG poll, a dent on Obi’s tenure –NGF OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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L-R: Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu presenting a gift to the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Afia, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Minna, yesterday.

Appeal Court orders retrial of suit on Ekiti SIEC composition ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he Appeal Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered the retrial of the suit on the composition of Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC).

The Appeal Court ruled yesterday that the matter should be tried afresh as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ought to produce the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the credentials of the SIEC members rather than the photocopies.

Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam faulted the judgement of the lower court and ordered a retrial in the appeal brought by the state government.

It would be recalled that the PDP had dragged the state government to court

over the composition of the electoral body, which it said comprised card-carrying members of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The lower court had on February 4 last year ruled in favour of the PDP, saying the SIEC as it was composed could not conduct credible election.

But Justice Onyemenam, in her judgment yesterday, said that the letter, which the PDP said it wrote to the House of Assembly to release the CTC of the credentials of the SIEC members, which it said the Assembly did not release, was not enough reason for them to present secondary evidence before the court.

Onyemenan said that the letter written to the Assembly stood as mere uncertified secondary evi-

dence, which lacked legal validity, having contravened section 19(C) of the Evidence Act. The judge said that she had expected the PDP to have subpoenaed the Clerk of the House of Assembly to present those CTC of the documents, and as such, ordered retrial of the case.

According to the judge, the lower court should not have relied on mere allegation to deliver judgement on the matter, when there was no sufficient evidence before it.

The Appeal Court, in two other separate judgments, upturned the verdicts of the lower court on the suits filed by former SIEC Chairman, Major General Kayode Oni and others and that of former Chairman of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commis-

sion, Mr. Bunmi Ogunleye.

Upturning the earlier verdicts of the lower court, the Appeal Court said members of the two commissions could not take any benefit from the present government since their appointments lacked statutory flavour.

tration under a new name.

“You are at the liberty to apply for registration as a political party but as far as APC is concerned the chapter is closed,” he said.

The protem Chairman of African People Congress (APC), Chief Onyinye Ikeagwuonu, had criticised INEC for not registering the party.

he inability of Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to conduct local government election since assumption of office in 2006 has put a dent on his achievements, says Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

NGF also said that Governor Obi needs to mount sustained pressure on the Federal Government to refurbish and resuscitate all federal roads in Anambra which are in deplorable condition as well as shore up the very low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state which it said is abysmally low.

In the State PEER review report on Anambra and Ekiti states published by the NGF, it said that Anambra State which last conducted local government election in 1998 under the military administration needs to urgently set the machinery in motion and conduct credible local gov-

ernment elections.

Addressing the media, the Director -General of the NGF, Ashishona Okauru, said that any governor that fails to conduct elections as stipulated by the constitution of the Federal Republic could be said to be working against the interest of democracy even as he advised Governors Obi and Kayode Fayemi to conduct local government elections in their respective states without further delay.

Parts of the recommendations of the steering committee state: “Anambra State needs to reform its budget by making it the overarching tool for its development. This will require making the budget comprehensive to capture all revenue from development partners (including the state’s counterpart contributions) as well as intergovernmental transfers (outside its share of Federal Account) such as CHS, UBEC and state’s counterpart contributions.

Uwoye: NANS gives National Assembly 72-hour ultimatum IJEOMA EZEIKE

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ational Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday blocked both vehicular and pedestrian movement in and out of the National Assembly Complex.

The students were protesting what they called gross injustice by the leadership of the House of Representatives against a former president of NANS, Comrade Tony Nwoye.

The chairman of NANS and ex-presidents Forum, Comrade Femi Osanibu, disclosed that the warning protest, was a prelude to the 72 hours ultimatum for National Assembly to respect the court judgement and swear in Nwoye as member of the House of Representatives representing Anambra East/ West Federal constituency.

NANS alleged that the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal has been illegally, unlawfully and unconsti-

tutional sustaining Mr. Chriscato Ameke in the House since July 17, 2012 when the court declared Nwoye winner of the seat.

Osanibu noted: “Despite the fact that Comrade Nwoye has been issued a certificate of return, and the Independent National and Electoral Commission (INEC) has withdrawn that of Ameke, the continued stay of Ameke is tantamount to gross misconduct, illegality, abuse of power and unconstitutional.”

14

Politics

FELIX NWANERI takes a look at alleged plans to alter the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) constitution to exclude other candidates including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar from contesting the party’s presidential primaries in 2015.

Wednesday March 27, 2013

2015: Atiku squares up against Jonathan

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battle royale akin to that of 2011 is in the offing over who picks the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 elections if the vow by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to resist attempts to foist President Goodluck Jonathan on the party as its sole candidate is anything to go by.

Atiku, who has declared his intention to have another shot at the PDP’s presidential ticket after his failed bid in 2011, told journalists after he paid a courtesy call on Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso recently that attempts to alter the PDP’s constitution to exclude candidates other than Jonathan from contesting the party’s presidential primaries in 2015 would be resisted.

The PDP constitution stipulates that there shall be a national convention to choose a presidential candidate of the party, but indications are that some chieftains of the party are working tirelessly to amend the PDP’s constitution to make Jonathan a sole candidate for the presidential poll in case he is willing to seek re-election.

The plot, which is hinged on the right of first refusal for the President, will lead to an affirmation of his candidature at the party’s national convention in line with similar practice in some presidential system of governments like the United States.

Jonathan has not openly declared his interest in running for a second term, opting to wait till 2014 before he announces his decision, but the PDP has already been divided into his pro and anti camps.

Elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had given a lead to the plot in his recent letter to the Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, when he insisted that there was nothing wrong with a Jonathan sole candidacy in 2015.

Aliyu is in the vanguard of a campaign to compel the President to respect an alleged pact he entered into with the PDP governors in 2011 to serve only a single term.

According to Clark, the practice in most presidential system of governments like the U.S, which Nigeria copied, is that “an incumbent president remains the sole candidate of a political party at the party’s convention, if he or she is willing to contest for a second term in office.”

He wondered whether the late President Umaru Yar’Adua would not have sought a second term in office in 2011, if he were to be alive.

His words: “To lend credence to the fact that a sitting president is entitled to a second term, the ambitious and unpatriotic governors and some Northern conservative politicians confirmed this constitutional provision by saying that it was the second term of the late President Yar’Adua that the North wanted to complete in 2011.

In other words, the late president was entitled to eight years in office but Jonathan is entitled to only a single term, contrary to the 1999 Constitution.”

Besides Clark’s campaign, the emer-

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Jonathan

gence of Chief Tony Anenih as the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) and Godswill Akpabio as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum as well as the takeover of the party’s structures in the South-West by elements opposed to former President Olusegun Obasanjo are said to be part of the design to get affirmation for Jonathan.

But, Atiku, who has vowed to shoot down any surreptitious move to amend the PDP constitution, said: “My position is that as far as the PDP constitution is concerned, any attempt to change the party’s rule to favour the President as a sole candidate in the event of his willingness to re-contest is unconstitutional.”

He added: “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives any interested Nigerian the right to contest for any position of his or her choice. It is also unconstitutional as far as the PDP constitution is concerned. Nobody should stop anybody from contesting for an election.

“The contest should be open to all who desire to pursue an ambition on the platform of the PDP. I don’t see any such amendment being successful because we are looking forward to a successful transition in 2015.”

The PDP has never adopted the right of first refusal in the contest for its presidential tickets since 1999, but political observers are of the view that the former vicepresident will have a lot to contend with, as the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC) is poised to secure the support of governors who control the delegates at the party’s national convention for the President’s second term project.

Jonathan’s easy ride at the PDP’s national convention in 2011, it would be recalled, was largely attributed to the overwhelming support of PDP governors then. Numbering 23, they defied opposition from some Northern political leaders who endorsed Atiku’s candidacy and insisted that a sitting president, who was not barred by the constitution should not be stopped from seeking the Presidency as long as he remained constitutionally qualified.

At the end, Jonathan won the primaries with a landslide. He polled 2,736 votes to de-

Atiku

ANY ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE PARTY’S RULE TO FAVOUR

THE PRESIDENT AS A SOLE CANDIDATE IN THE EVENT OF HIS WILLINGNESS

TO RE-CONTEST IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL feat Atiku, who polled 805 votes.

This incontestable influence, perhaps explains the rationale for the just concluded reconciliation tour undertaken by Tukur and members of his executive to all the six geo-political zones, as there is the fear that the President is unlikely to get such massive support in his re-election bid, given the supremacy battle that has polarised the ruling party.

While most party members had initially dismissed the apprehension, saying the squabble is a family issue that would soon be resolved the PDP way, the little or no success achieved by the Tukur-led delegation has further heightened the fear, as most stakeholders, especially the governors shunned the town hall meetings held to resolve knotty issues affecting the party.

To many political observers, the position of the governors is not unexpected.

Majority of them are serving out their second terms and it is likely that the Villa would be their next target. Governors Aliyu and Sule Lamido (Jigawa) are said to be interested in Jonathan’s job, while Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) has his eyes on the vice presidency.

While it is the constitutional right of Atiku and even the governors to aspire for the Presidency, advocates of the right of first refusal have explained that under the presidential system of government, the president, as the incumbent, should be given the option to avoid distractions.

They also pointed out that the option will save the PDP from implosion that usually

characterises its primaries as well counter the threat of opposition parties, uniting under the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Tukur and his lieutenants as well as Jonathan’s strategists are not unmindful of the strength the APC could muster and the likely apathy of its members after the primary elections, which could empower the “enemy camp.”

A former Commissioner of Information in Imo State, Chief Elvis Agukwe, who is the lead strategist of a group, Concerned PDP Democrats, which is also championing the Jonathan affirmation project, is of the view that the obvious danger and threat to the continued dominance of the PDP has made it imperative for the party to take a second look at the rules governing the conduct of its presidential and governorship primaries.

His words: “Right of first refusal is a survival strategy adopted by political parties all over the world to reduce bickering, animosity, blackmail, big money politics and bad blood within its rank. Party primaries are necessary to choose flag bearers for political parties before the main election. It is dubbed the election before election. Sometimes, the real choice of the people may not emerge in party primaries, especially when the delegates’ system of selection is involved and money plays a significant role in the choices that are made.

“At other times, the primaries become so acrimonious that cracks develop among party members, leading to disaffection and defection to other parties. Because of the obvious danger and threat to the continued dominance of PDP, it has become absolutely necessary for the party to take a second look at the rules governing the conduct of its presidential primaries and also governorship primaries. Those recurring errors are what should be avoided in the tortuous road of endorsing a candidate for future presidential elections in Nigeria.”

But as convincing as the argument of the Jonathan campaigners may sound, Atiku, among other presidential aspirants within the PDP, is unlikely to give up on his ambition. The former vice president mostly rely on the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), formed by the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua to realise his dream.

The PDM is said to have provided the platform upon which Obasanjo rode to power in 1999, as most of the leading members of the PDP at inception were members of the group.

Speaking at a recent meeting of members of the group in Abuja to hone strategies for the 2015 election, Atiku compared the PDM to the Tea Party in the U.S. and urged its members to return to their states to set up state, local government and ward chapters, with a view to recruiting all those with similar philosophy.

Noting that the PDM remained the “greatest and largest political movement in Africa,” he also stressed the need for its members to work within the PDP, which he said they formed its bedrock. According to him, PDM members must bring the movement’s ideology to bear on the ruling party.

How the group intends to achieve this Herculean task remains unclear, as all organs and the processes of power in the PDP are naturally skewed in favour of an incumbent to win the party’s presidential primary.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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Politics

Wednesday March 27, 2013

Of Boko Haram, amnesty and blood in the land Former Minister of Aviation, FEMI FANI-KAYODE, takes a critical look at the bloodletting in the country orchestrated by terrorist groups, advising President Goodluck Jonathan to have the courage to fight.

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ermit me to begin this contribution by quoting the insightful and powerful words of Hon. Dino Melaye who is undoubtedly one of the rising stars and stronger voices of the new and up and coming generation of political leaders in Nigeria. On March 19, 2013, just a day after the terrible bombings in Kano in which over 100 innocent Nigerians were killed, Melaye wrote the following words on his facebook wall: “The Kano bombing is barbaric, callous and wicked.

God save us in this country. The Federal Government and indeed President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has demonstrated incapacitation and ineptitude by their inability to contain this growing insecurity. According to our constitution, the fundamental objective of government is the provision of security and welfare for the people. Unfortunately, Jonathan has failed in both regards. Our President is overwhelmed. He should take the path of honour, take a bow and resign. There is too much blood in the land. There is blood in our roads, air, police stations, army barracks, churches, mosques, clubs, car parks and homes. There is blood every where.”

This is a courageous contribution from a young man who obviously has tremendous passion for our country and who is deeply troubled by all that is happening today. I only wish that there were more young men like Melaye in Nigeria. Can any serious-minded person disagree with his observations on this matter? Is Nigeria not in a state of undeclared war today? Is this not a season of complete anomie in which human life no longer has any value and where life itself has little meaning? Do we actually have a government in this country today? Are the murderers that killed the innocents in Kano on March 18 worthy of life let alone amnesty? Are they really human beings?

Can anybody, no matter how highly placed, respected or revered still talk about amnesty for Boko Haram now? What do such people suggest that we tell the families of the 100 that were slaughtered on March 18 and the 4,000 that were killed before them? How do we wipe away their tears and ensure that they are given the justice that they so desperately seek? Do we tell them that it was just one of those things and that they should consider the murder of their sons, daughters, wives, husbands, parents, grandparents, siblings, distant relatives and friends as part of their sacrifice and contribution to national development and service? Do we tell them that those that murdered their loved ones have now been granted amnesty for their efforts and that they have been forgiven by the state and reintegrated back into society? Is that justice? Is the very suggestion not utterly heartless and insensitive? No-one should ever sing the amnesty song again because too many innocent and defenceless people have been killed.

On Saturday, March 23, barely one week after the Kano slaughter was perpetuated, yet another barbarous attack took place. This time it was in Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State and at least 30 people were bombed, hacked and shot to death by Boko Haram.

In this matter, justice must be done and until it is the massacres and carnage will not stop.

Yet the sad tale does not stop at the loss of life. There is more. It is a sad testimony to our national malaise that in the very week that a refreshing and exceptionally compassionate and humble new Pope was elected to lead the 1.2 billion Catholics in the world today, we have been reliably informed by the Catholic Church in

Fani-Kayode

NIGERIA IS DYING. SHE IS BEING BLED TO DEATH BY BOKO HARAM, ANSARU AND AL QAEDA. WHO WILL DELIVER HER? WHO WILL SAVE HER? WHO WILL TAKE THE BULL

BY THE HORNS AND ‘FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT’? WE NEED A PRESIDENT THAT HAS THE STOMACH FOR THAT FIGHT. WE NEED A LEADER THAT HARBOURS NO FEAR Nigeria, through Rev. Father Ituah, that no less than 50 of the 52 Catholic churches in Maiduguri, Borno State have been burnt down by Boko Haram. How does one explain this madness? How would the Muslims of northern Nigeria have reacted if virtually every single mosque that had been built in one of the southern states had been burnt down by Christian militants?

Would they have shown the level of maturity and restraint that the Christian community have displayed in the face of these provocations and attacks on their places of worship? Would they have insisted on amnesty for those who killed their people and burnt down their mosques?

Why is it that Boko Haram and those in the Muslim community in northern Nigeria that secretly sympathise with them cannot learn a thing or two from the billions of Muslims in the world that live peacefully and happily side by side with other faiths including Christians, Jews and Hindus? Why can’t they learn from the Yoruba Muslims who are, generally speaking, exemplary and very liberal in their approach to adherents of other faiths? Are they not Muslims too? What is it about the Islamist that he feels the need to kill and shed blood in the name of God? Indonesia has the largest number of Muslims on this planet with 200 million practising Muslims in its borders. Yet Indonesia is a secular state with a sizeable and respected Christian minority population which runs into millions. India has the second largest concentration of Muslims in the world with a

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Muslim population of over 150 million. The Muslims of India are a minority because the country is predominantly Hindu yet the religious rights of every Indian is guarded jealously and protected by the constitution because India, just like Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan, Algeria, Syria, Lebanon, Senegal, Tunisia, the Palestinian West Bank and many other predominantly Muslim countries, is a secular state. Why can’t the Islamists of Boko Haram in northern Nigeria learn from these great countries and these great people who have proved to the world by their conduct what a civilised, humane and decent religion Islam really is?

Boko Haram insists on trying to give Islam a bad name and the challenge that they have thrown down to us is one that we must take up vigorously. Yet despite all the evil and ugliness that we see around us in Nigeria today we must not allow ourselves to loose sight of the light. St. Francis of Assisi whose name and memory has been resurrected by the new Pope Francis once said: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of one candle.” And he was right. The darkness of Boko Haram will not extinguish the light of Nigeria but it is time for us to bring a firm end to their carnage before it is too late and before all hell breaks loose.

Though bitter the truth is this – Nigeria will not know peace until the blood of every single one of the over 4000 innocent souls that have been cut short and slaughtered by Boko Haram, Ansaru and all the other Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamist terrorist groups that have plagued our land and bled our people in the last two years, is fully avenged. Until this is done that sea of innocent blood that has been shed will continue to cry out to God in heaven for vengeance and it will attract all manner of misfortune and curses on our beleaguered land.

My solution to the Boko Haram scourge is simple and clear. The President, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria must join hands together, rise up as one and seek them, their secret backers and their secret sponsors out. They must be unmasked, brought to justice, systematically eliminated and sent to hell where they belong. Enough is enough. Call it what you like – a crusade, a war against terror, a fight for justice and righteousness, a war against the kingdom of darkness, the final battle for the soul, liberation and independence of Nigeria or any other name that you choose.

Let us take our country back from these heartless men called Boko Haram that were sent to our shores by the devil himself to slaughter and torment our people and to paint our land red with the blood of our women and children.

Mr. President needs to wake up, smell the coffee, rise up to the occasion and do his job diligently by defending and protecting the lives and property of the Nigerian people effectively. He must have no sense of restraint and he must give no quarter in this war. Yet if for any reason he cannot muster the will to do so then I would have to agree with my brother Dino Melaye that it is time for him to do the honourable thing, to resign and to leave the job for someone else who has the guts, the strength of character, the sense of urgency and the courage to do what needs to be done.

Nigeria is dying. She is being bled to death by Boko Haram, Ansaru and Al Qaeda. Who will deliver her?

Who will save her? Who will take the bull by the horns and ‘fight the good fight’? We need a President that has the stomach for that fight. We need a leader that harbours no fear, that has the courage of the biblical Joshua, Jehu and David and that is ready to stand up and openly confront the greatest evil that our country has ever known. It is time for old men to hold their peace and for young men to rise up in rage and anger and defend their values, their families, their faith, their lifestyle and their nation. It is time to put on the mantle of gallant men and to recite the inspiring words of King Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt. It is time to invoke the spirit of the great Greek warrior, the noble Achilles . It is time to remember the words of Mark Anthony and to shout ‘’Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war’’.

It is time to save our beautiful nation Nigeria from the evil that stalks the land and from the enemy that resides within.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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Level playing ground for politicians PUBLIC DOMAIN

DELE

SETEOLU

deleseteolu@nationalmirroronline.net (08033137577 SMS only)

P

olitics and political struggle in liberal democracies are predicated on the assumption of a level of playing field. In other words, none of the political actors should have undue advantage over the others in the struggle for political power. The level playing field includes a credible electoral body, adequate and responsive electoral rules, and impartial judicial organ. There had been claims, however, on the absence of a level playing ground in the country and the seeming bias of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The controversies on the registration of the All Progressive Congress (APC) by the INEC has renewed the debate on the non-autonomous nature of the electoral body and the desperate attempt by the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to retain political power in the light of its perception as corrupt, unfocused and incompetent. Meanwhile, the political opposition in Nigeria had always worked assiduously to build a strong, viable party that would challenge the ruling party. We are seeing a reenact of such now in the current opposition’s struggle to cause an upset in 2015. Previous at-

O

n Monday, March18, 2013, suspected members of Boko Haram struck once again in Kano, killing over 70 innocent Nigerians who were billed to travel to the eastern part of the country.

For over two years now, the militant Islamic sect has been on a bombing spree, maiming, killing and destroying property. Initially, the targets of the group’s anger were government’s institutions and their agents, especially the security forces whom the group claimed killed its leader in 2009. But like wildfire in a harmattan season, the brigandage has spread from the North East to other parts of the North, including Abuja.

The Boko Haram challenge has become such a hard Sisyphean nut to crack by the government that the latter appears clueless on what to do to arrest the criminal activities of this group. It is obvious that this group is emboldened by the half-hearted approach of the government. Government appears in one breath to wield the big stick and in another breath to give off an impression of one that is disposed to negotiating with the group.

It is in this context that we can understand why the Boko Haram group appears to be having an upper hand in its declared war against the Nigerian state. It is instructive to state that Nigeria is a secular state which guarantees freedom of worship to the citizens. Everybody has the right to identify with whatever religious persuasions that captures his/her fancies.

Any religious group foisting its will on the other groups is therefore, courting trouble.

Nigeria has survived a 30 month civil war. Those who witnessed it will attest

tempt in the Second Republic at forging a strong coalition of progressives through the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) did not succeed to displace the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) due to personality struggle among its leaders and the subterfuge by the then Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), which acted in cohort with NPN. It is noteworthy that the PDP assumed power in 1999, which was the culmination of the General Abdulsalami Abubakar Political Transition programme. It dominates the structures of leadership at local, state and national level, and controls also the National Assembly. Critics, however, insist that the ruling party has mismanaged the economy, failed to deal with the security question, pursues endless power reform programme, failed to tackle material poverty of the populace, unemployment, social infrastructure deficit, increasing political corruption and politicisation of the judicial organ.

The main opposition parties thus agreed to form the APC to challenge the PDP in the 2015 general elections. The Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All People’s Grand Alliance (APGA) agreed to merge into a new political party to be referred to as the All Progressive Congress (APC). The INEC, however, stirred controversy when it announced that the acronym had been registered by a different political party.

The main opposition parties insist on the ownership of the acronym, alleging the covert plan of the PDP to scuttle an

THE COUNTRY’S POLITICS HAD BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY

PREBENDAL POLITICS, POLITICS OF THE BELLY AND PRIMITIVE ACCUMULATION OF POWER THAT HAD RESTRICTED THE POLITY TO A DEMOCRACY WITHOUT DEMOCRACY emerging and formidable opposition.

The INEC position on the APC raises fear that the PDP has sponsored fractions of the political elite to register the acronym. More so, the electoral body did not disclose early that it received a proposal to register the APC. Invariably, the absence of publicity for the APC by INEC increased the suspicion that it acted the script of the ruling party, PDP. The foregoing signals danger for the country’s fledgling democracy. The previous democratic experiments in the country had been characterized by political mistrust and normless struggle for political power. These anomalies led to the collapse of previous republics.

The country’s politics had been char-

acterized by prebendal politics, politics of the belly and primitive accumulation of power that had restricted the polity to a democracy without democratization.

Nigeria has the challenge to transcend democracy to democratization through major shifts in the structure of the socioeconomy and behavioural pattern of the political elite. The politics about the APC is not consistent with democratization.

Again, the APC controversy renews debate on the independence of INEC. The electoral body seems to lack autonomy and appears to exist in the ‘shadow’ of the ruling party. The civil society campaign on electoral reforms has often emphasized the independence of the electoral body as a basis for sustainable democracy.

The electorate must insist on substantial reforms of the electoral process to include appointment of the INEC chairman by the National Assembly and inclusion of civil society organizations in INEC as commissioners. We must remain perpetually vigilant to safeguard our nascent democracy. The real test to the country’s democracy lays the strength of political opposition. The de facto one party system would not deepen democracy in Nigeria.

Good to be back For some two months now or there about, this column was unceremoniously of the print. The major reason is a serious health challenge, which thanks to Almighty Allah I have come. I tender my heartfelt apologies to my readers.

By His grace, I am back and sound to serve you better.

Soaking our destiny in bloodbath THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE OF DIVERSE GROUPS WITHIN A PARTICULAR COUNTRY IS ONE OF THE PROCESSES OF CREATING A NATION to the fact that like any other war, it was brutal and nasty. General Yakubu Gowon, the then Nigerian leader had thought that the Biafran challenge was going to be curtailed through ‘a police action’, but it turned out to be a war that was fought for almost three years with its fatal consequences. A religious war is more devastating than a civil war. Countries that have experienced religious wars have sad tales to tell.

The activities and posturing of the Boko Haram sect show clearly that the group is mindless and ignorant of Nigeria. This is because, when 20 or 100 people of southern extraction are killed in the hail of its bullets, more northerners in the southern part of the country are exposed to harassment and death. Northerners are as mobile as their southern counterparts as they are seen in all the nooks and crannies of the South plying one trade or another. There are now many Sabon Garis in the South. In fact, even a village as remote as Igbo Ukwu has its own Sabon Gari now with many northerners milling around unhindered.

The free movement of people of diverse groups within a particular country is one

of the processes of creating a nation. And when a nation exists in the real sense of the word, the people become happier as inter ethnic and group solidarity is strengthened for the benefit of all.

Without mincing words, the sordid bestiality displayed last Monday amounts to the provocation of the Igbo as the motor park in question is heavily patronized by the Igbo who ply their goods and services to and fro the northern part of the country. By this latest mindless action, Boko Haram and its agents may be planning to dismember the country because if and when southerners retaliate in an equal measure to these senseless killings, the consequences may be far reaching. No group can develop its society without the influence and involvement of others. Any society that insists on an autarchy and especially the type being pursued by Boko Haram and its fringe elements is bound to atrophy.

Kano, the otherwise industrial behemoth of Northern Nigeria has been emptied of its industrial and commercial activities owing to among other reasons, the barbaric and antediluvian displays of groups like the Boko Haram. What the larger forces that propel these elements do not seem to understand is the irrevocable reality to the effect that after non-indigenes have been finished with, the internal pacification can then be swiftly and conclusively pursued.

Those who are asking the federal government to extend amnesty to the Boko Haramists miss the point a great deal. No doubt, we know that this is an era of amnesty-giving to all sorts of groups and individuals

Point Of Order er

CHIJIOKE

UWASOMBA

cjsomba@yahoo.co.uk (08037058775 SMS only)

who at various times and in various ways have injured our collective heritage.

Apparently, because of the current climate in which amnesty and its associated lingoes have taken a centre stage in our national life, some EMINENT Nigerians have cashed in on this to reduce the crimes of the Boko Haramists to non-issues that could be discussed on the table.

Government and well-meaning individuals must say NO to this. Any ideology that is nurtured and sustained on the altar of mayhem, brute force, self-immolation, hatred for others is inimical to progress and development.

Dr. Uwasomba, cjsomba@yahoo. co.uk, is of the Depart of English, Obafemi Awolowo, University, Ile- Ife Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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HEAD, GRAPHICS

Endless killings and amnesty plea for Boko Haram

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uspected terrorists recently hit a major luxury bus park in Sabon Gari, Kano, killing and maiming scores of passengers about to travel to Lagos and other destinations in the eastern and south-southern parts of the country, as well as an unspecified number of workers and traders, in a suicide bomb attack. Similar bloodletting which left many people dead and others severely injured also took place about the same period in three separate incidents in Borno State.

Of special significance was the fact that the Kano luxury bus bombing was targeted at a central bus station in the Sabon Gari area, where mainly nonMuslims and southerners are domiciled. The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, alluded to the tendentious nature of the attacks when he stated last week that the aim of the perpetrators of the mayhem was to spark a civil war among the country’s ethnic groups.

The additional killings came at a time when enormous pressure was on President Goodluck Jonathan to consider granting amnesty to members of the Boko

THE SECURITY AGENCIES NEED TO PLACE DUBIOUS POLITICIANS IN THE REGION UNDER CLOSER SURVEILLANCE AND SCRUTINY Haram violent Islamist sect. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, northern governors, a lot of eminent and outspoken northerners and groups in the region appear convinced that granting amnesty to the terrorist group will encourage its members to rest their campaign of violence and embrace dialogue for the resolution of whatever grouses that occasioned their cruel attacks on innocent citizens.

President Jonathan, while rejecting the idea of granting amnesty to the faceless insurgents when he visited Yobe and Borno states lately, never publicly ruled out the possibility. Chances are, therefore, that the FG may give serious thought to granting amnesty to the insurgents once they are properly identified. There-

fore, we view the Kano luxury bus attack as a blistering slap on the faces of northern leaders, particularly Sultan Abubakar III, who have staked their reputation and integrity to champion the cause of amnesty for the insurgents.

The callous bus bombing buttressed the ridiculous extent of contempt and disrespect the terrorist sect and its members habour for northern leaders and elders. Besides, the recent unprovoked attacks can lead to the amnesty option being kept in abeyance much longer than necessary.

Particularly regrettable is the ineptitude of the security agencies in Kano, which failed to provide security cover for such a strategic motor park as the one attacked in Sabo Gari. All vulnerable public places in states notorious for terrorist attacks ought to be specially protected by the security agencies, including motor parks for inter-state trips. Indeed, the oversight and nonprecautionary measures of the security agencies, which failed to cover the luxury park in their security maps, largely facilitated the unhindered access of

the bombers to the facility. It is unacceptable for security operatives to be snoring without thinking ahead. On display after the bombing in Kano were panic-stricken security operatives who waited until the horse bolted away before they hurriedly closed the stable door. The nation’s heavy spending on security in recent years should be justified. It is absurd to keep on experiencing avoidable deaths of innocent citizens that are not in a war zone.

Consequently, it bears reiteration the paramountcy of vigilance and proactive actions in tackling the security crisis the country is currently facing in the North. It is also obvious that some of the measures now in place to checkmate the sect are ineffective or not working at all, while many of the key suspects are probably enjoying kid’s gloves treatment. With the repeated linking of known politicians, including the one whose Kaduna home was found to be a bomb/ arms depot, the security agencies need to place dubious politicians in the region under closer surveillance and scrutiny.

ON THIS DAY March 27, 2009 Situ Gintung, an artificial lake in Indonesia, failed, with resultant floods killing at least 100 people. Situ Gintung was an artificial lake located near the town of Cirendeu in Tangerang District, Indonesia. It was formed by a dam up to 16 metres (52 ft) high which was built by Dutch colonial authorities in 1933. Residents near the dam had complained about leaks in the past and the dam actually breached in November 2008, but no damage was done.

March 27, 1998 \The Food and Drug Administration approved Viagra for use as a treatment for male impotence, the first pill to be approved for this condition in the United States. Sildenafil citrate, sold as Viagra, Revatio and under various other trade names, is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It was originally developed by British scientists and brought to the market by the US-based pharmaceutical company, Pfizer.

March 27, 1977 Tenerife airport disaster: Two Boeing 747 airliners collided on a foggy runway on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, killing 583 (all 248 on KLM and 335 on Pan Am). About 61 persons on the Pan Am flight survived. The incident was described as the worst aviation accident in history. After a bomb exploded at Gran Canaria Airport, many aircraft were diverted to Tenerife. Among them were KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736 – the two aircraft involved in the accident.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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Health & Wellbeing Endometriosis: I thought I was going to die –Ex-beauty queen Nike Osinowo

UNFPA pledges commitment to family planning in Nigeria

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144m Nigerians have oral health problems –Dentist TOBORE OVUORIE

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s Nigeria joined the world to mark the 2013 World Oral Health Day, a consultant dentist with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Dr. Olutola Eweka has revealed that no fewer than 144 million Nigerians are living with various oral health problems but are not aware of it.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with National Mirror, she stated that even with the high prevalence rate of people with oral health problems in the country, Nigerians do not reckon much with oral health as people only wait until they have pains before seeking medical intervention.

She said: “If you have to take a census of the whole of Nigeria, you’ll discover that almost everyone has one oral health problem or the other. The prevalence rate is very high in the country”.

The dentist listed periodontal disease, dental caries, and tooth loss as the most common oral health problems in the country. Periodontal disease is an inflammation around the tooth in which gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces called pockets that become infected.

In this type of oral infection, the body’s immune system fights the bacteria which cause plaque to spread and grow below the gum line. Unfortunately, the body’s natural response to infection starts to break the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. If not treated, the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. The teeth may eventually become loose and have to be removed.

Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or cavity on the other hand is caused by bacterial infection as a result of fermentation (production of acid) of the food debris accumulated on the tooth surface.

According to Eweka, bacteria are normally found in the mouth of every human being. These bacteria change foods especially sugar and starch into acids. Bacteria, acid, food pieces, and saliva combine in the mouth to form a sticky substance called plaque. Plaque sticks to the teeth. It is most common on the back molars, just above the gum line on all teeth, and at the edges of fillings.

Untreated, dental caries resorts in tooth decay which further destroy the inside of the tooth (pulp), and finally leads to tooth loss. According to Eweka, carbohydrates (sugars and starches) increase the risk of tooth decay. Sticky foods are more harmful than non-sticky foods because they remain on the teeth, while frequent snacking increases the time that acids are in contact with the surface of the tooth.

She however linked the problems to Nigerians’ feeding pattern saying meals eaten were a major contribution to poor oral health in the country.

“The meals and how people eat is a major contribution to the poor state of oral health in the country. For instance, it has been discovered that so many Nigerians eat sugary foods but this in actual fact is not good for our teeth as sugary particles are stored in the teeth, and get converted

Toothbrushing: One of the simplest habits to healthier living

to acid by the bacteria in our mouth which subsequently start eating deep into our teeth and gum. This explains how people come down with various teeth problems.

“Again, the time food is eaten also affects the teeth. For instance, after having breakfast, many people go ahead to eat all manner of junks before lunch, repeat the same junk eating cycle until they have

dinner. This is wrong.

“Besides the fact that sugary foods are not good for our teeth, eating junks between meals worsens the situation.

Rather than eating incoherently, whatsoever is to be eaten should be done at once- within the major meal, so that food CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

BABY WITH HOLE IN THE HEART

NGO seeks Senate’s intervention L ATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANIMASHAUN

A

Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Media Ethics Organisation, currently leading the campaign to save the life of a five month-old baby with a hole in the heart, Emmanuel Iyamah, has called on the Senate Committee on Health to step in and sponsor his overseas treatment.

Baby Iyamah was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect (VSD) often referred to as a hole in the heart and has been referred to India for surgery to correct the defect. A sum of N5 million is required for the operation.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Media Ethics Organisation, a Non Governmental Organisation that supports children with special needs whose parents are in no financial position to save them, urged the senate to intervene and help baby Iyamah to live by footing his medical bill.

“As an NGO, we have looked into the merit of Baby Emmanuel’s case and

Baby Iyamah

have resolved that we should not allow (him) to die. We therefore appeal to you to join our NGO in saving this soul and

be counted among those that God has used to save this baby.”

The NGO also appealed to members of the public to help in raising the required funds as fast as possible, saying baby Iyamah’s parents had expended all their life savings on his initial treatment until it was discovered that only a surgical intervention which could not be carried out in the country could save his life.

The five million Naira being raised would include travel expenses of Iyamah and his mother to India and also the cost of the surgery.

Iyamah’s parents who hailed from Delta state has a family income that cannot support the surgery of their baby. The father runs a block industry and mother, a teacher which is the reason why there is a general appeal to those who are willing to help the baby.

Willing Nigerians should make payments to Media Ethics Organisation, First Bank Account Number: 2011602055 or Patrick Iyamah on a UBA account number. The NGO also invites the public to call 08033254339 or 08033033398 for further enquiries.

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Health & Wellbeing

144m Nigerians have oral health problems –Dentist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 eaten during the major meal will wash whatsoever has been taken not too long ago and sugar would not be stored in the teeth and cause damages” she added.

She further disclosed that if unattended to, oral problems have severe consequences on individuals, the organizations they work for as well the nation’s economy.

“When a person has oral health issues, he cannot go to work and when he can’t go to work, he has lost man-hour and productivity for the day which will in turn affect the organisation he owns or works for.

“So, imagine if our president has a toothache, and it’s going on for days, definitely, it’s going to affect his output and productivity as the head of state and if this continues and we have so many people in the population carrying dental disease and cannot come to work to do what they should do, it’s going to affect the country at the end of the day because their productivity will be low since when they ought to be at work, they’ll probably be at home groaning or in the hospital when they should be more productive. So, at the end of the

day, it affects the whole nation”.

To prevent oral health problems, Eweka advised that: “don’t take sugary foods that will cause tooth decay and of course, the technique and the instrument that we use in taking care of our mouth- the tooth brush and toothpaste must not be overlooked. The toothpaste has to be a fluoride containing paste.

“When you use fluoride containing toothpaste, it prevents dental problems and helps in killing all the germs and bacteria in the mouth that causes gum disease. There are many other problems in the mouth but we know that if we can make an effort, to educate the public on what they need to do, what they need to eat, how they need to brush, then we can to a great extent prevent any dental problem” .

Worldwide, it is estimated in the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s latest score card on oral health published April last year that 90 percent of school children and nearly 100 percent of adults have dental problems globally.

According to the report, globally, about 30 percent of people aged 65-74 no longer have natural teeth, while oral disease in children and adults is higher among poor and disadvantaged population groups like Nigeria.

L-R: Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Mrs. Yewande Adeshina; Hon. Funmi Tejuosho; Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris and wife of Lagos State Governor and chairperson of the ceremony, Dame Abimbola Fashola, during Lagos West 1 Senatorial District meeting on maternal and child mortality reduction in Lagos recently.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

NAFDAC, NOA partner on war against fake drugs MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he National Agency for Drug and Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have resolved to engage attitudinal change campaigns to fight against drug counterfeiting and fakery in Nigeria.

The two institutions made the decision during a visit by the Director General of NOA, Mr Mike Omeri, to NAFDAC’s headquarters in Abuja, last weekend.

Appraising NAFDAC’s efforts in the fight against drug fakery and counterfeiting in the country over the past decade, Omeri said: “I have noted since I came in (as head of NOA) that NAFDAC is one if the agencies that has lessons to be learned from.

“You have done so well in taking the message to the whole of Nigeria. And, I know that from the field report I get, your men and the sensitization that you are

giving are taking the right places,” Omeri said.

He stressed that the agency’s determination to propagate the campaign of ‘Do the Right Thing’ would help foster the nation’s fight against fake and counterfeit drugs. “I believe that it is a campaign that we both can do successfully working together, we can take the message to the far ends of our country.

“We look forward to close partnership, especially sensitizing border communities on the dangers of fake drugs among others.

Most of these drugs find their way through the border points. So, we need to work together with NAFDAC,” Omeri stated.

He emphasized that his agency came to the conclusion that if all Nigerians choose to do the right thing, sanity would be restored to the society. “If we do the right thing, we will not be talking about corruption; we won’t be talking about water drooping into people’s homes and so forth and so on, because we would have controlled them.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Health Beat Sam Eferaro

eferaro@yahoo.co.uk 08094082123 (sms only)

Tales from dental clinic

M

y first encounter with a dentist was quite memorable. I had this excruciating toothache that just wouldn’t respond to simple analgesics and for two days or so I couldn’t chew anything, no matter how soft. There was this particular molar that was really tired of chewing and was begging to be pulled out and I really felt it!

Eventually, I found my way to a private dental clinic somewhere in Ikeja, Lagos. I still remember the warm reception, the best anyone could get in a hospital, right from the registration desk, till I was ushered in to the dentist’s consulting room. The dentist, a lady, immeditely set to work. Question time over, she motioned me to the comfortable reclining dental chair and began probing. I felt the touch of her instrument on the “sick” tooth and yelled.

“Easy now,” she comforted me as she carefully probed further. That done, she sat down to write her findings and painstakingly explained her diagnosis to me.

First, she said the “sick tooth” had to go so I should prepare for an extraction.

Well, the other teeth were not exactly in top shape either. She told me my gum was infected and I needed some antibiotics to take care of that. There were holes (they call them “cavities”) that must be filled and some scaling to be done. Well, what do you expect? It was my first visit ever to a dentist.

She handed me a prescription for the immediate relief of the pain, fixed an appointment and gently ushered me back to the front desk. Then I got the bill. This is no exaggeration but it was far more than all the hospital bills I’ve got for that year put together. Well, I really don’t visit the hospital so frequently but then, this bill was something I never imagined. And that was the end of my romance with the dentist.

I took the drugs and the pain vanished. As if my molar knew it had carried the joke too far, it fell out on its own as I attempted to chew with it. Well, some years on, my dentist friend is still expecting me to keep the appointment.

I’m not alone. I know a friend who is still battling with a toothache and requires tooth extraction. Her previous experiences in two government hospitals were also memorable. In one of the hospitals, the carpenter, sorry dentist, in a bid to chisel out her tooth, forcefully broke it into two and she needed surgery to remove the second half left buried in the gum! That, in the second hospital, left her with a swollen jaw and splitting headache for days.

You can imagine her fear when she

THEN I GOT THE BILL. THIS IS NO EXAGGERATION BUT IT WAS FAR MORE THAN ALL THE HOSPITAL BILLS

I’VE

GOT FOR THAT YEAR PUT TOGETHER...

AND THAT WAS THE END OF MY ROMANCE WITH THE DENTIST developed toothache again. She vowed not to go to the government hospitals.

This time, she chose a private clinic in Alapere, a Lagos suburb, where she thought the extraction would be done without much pain and at an affordable cost. She was wrong. She needed well over N200,000 to extract and replace the three affected teeth!

I just can’t help remembering these tales from the dental clinics as we marked the World Oral Health Day last week. Once again, the dentists are angry. They say we have left our buccal cavity (or mouth, to say it simple) open for all kinds of oral diseases and we don’t even know the poor thing is ill!

They say we don’t know how to keep our mouth clean and germ-free. The dentists also accuse us of treating our mouth with so much levity and disdain while we unknowingly import different types of diseases and ailments to other parts of our body through it.

Just as they have advised in the past, the dentists tell us we need to cultivate the habit of seeing them at least twice a year. Not only that, we must learn how to brush our teeth.

Of course, they are the experts. We need to listen to them and do exactly as they have advised. Unfortunately, just as they do every year when we mark the world Oral Health Day, nobody has taken the pain to find out why Nigerians don’t ever consider visiting the dentist unless they are in pain. Want to know why? Just take a second look at the two experiences above. Simply put, many people in Nigeria find the dental clinics simply inaccessible. If the cost is not too high, the services, especially in the public institutions are appalling. And the dentists are just too few in number. I believe we need to address these important factors first before we castigate the people for their poor oral health. For me, I’m just not thinking of another visit yet.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Renowned beauty icon and a living testimony of Endometriosis, Chief Nike Osinowo narrates her experience to SEKINAH LAWAL in an attempt to create awareness for Endometriosis, a very common and painful medical condition among women. Excerpts: How will you describe Endometriosis and how has it been living with it?

Endometriosis is said to be a female health disorder that occurs when cells from the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other areas of the body. I decided to tell my story because I do not want others to go through the same pains and agony like mine as a result of Endometriosis. My experience started when I was just 13 years old. The pains and bleeding were so serious that I thought I was going to die and those around me, including the doctors, thought I was trying to get attention and that I was just dramatising as others do experience menstrual pain too. Living with Endometriosis is very challenging because it affects everything about your life; during examination, travelling, always in pains and always moving about with pain killers. I had to learn to live with pains. I have a library on managing pains. Unfortunately, my mother did not understand what I was going through, because she was completely ignorant of Endometriosis and everybody keeps telling me the pains are normal and will soon go away. This is simply because she has two daughters, myself and my younger sister, while I am always in pain, my sister would go through her menses without any stress.

Tell us about your efforts to solve the problem.

I ‘ve had so many surgeries and taken many drugs just for the pains to go away.

This is part of the reason why I decided to educate people so that others will not suffer the way I did. If diagnosed early, it will prevent other things. For instance if detected early, after the Laparoscopic surgery, the lady might be advised to try and get pregnant early even if there is no husband, she can go for a donor sperm. People should know that pain is not normal and mothers should take their girl child’s pain most especially around menstrual period, more seriously.

From your own knowledge, what are the causes of Endometriosis?

Even the doctors do not know what causes Endometriosis. It is just that the inside lining of the womb, the endometrium, sheds as a menstrual period in a normal cycle every 28 days. From day 1 to day 14, the lining is rebuilding itself ready for conception around day 15 when most women ovulate. The endometrium builds up in response to oestrogen and this tissue becomes nutrient rich. If, during menstruation, some of the blood drips into the abdomen via the fallopian tubes, the endometrial cells may begin invading healthy tissue, although the reasons why are little understood. This trapped blood in peritoneal fluid sets up inflammation.

Endometrial tissue is commonly found

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Endometriosis: I thought I was going to die –Ex-beauty queen Nike Osinowo certain days per month. So, for every woman going through any of these symptoms, their best bet is to seek for proper medical examination to be sure it is not Endometriosis. Endometriosis bleeding and pain can occur in any part of the body but one thing that is common is the fact that it usually occurs around the menstrual period.

Sometimes it hides and that is why it is not diagnosed early at times. Many people are not aware of Endometriosis, so we must create the needed awareness; people know a lot about HIV, Cancer and others but not Endometriosis. I ask so many questions why we have this ailment.

Does it have any effect on people’s sex life and relationship generally?

Sex for women with Endometriosis is very, very painful; hence, it will always create friction in relationships and marriages because women with Endometriosis will not look forward to sex because of the pains. You lash out at people when you are in pains, you tend to blame everybody around you and you will even query God. There will be pre-menstrual tension, the menses might be for ten days or more, there will be post-menses trauma and so, how many days are there for sex, which will be painful anyway?

Osinowo

growing on the womb, ovaries, oesophagus, anus, ligaments, bladder and bowel; cysts form on ovaries; and as the person is menstruating, other parts affected will be shedding too.

What are the other medical management of endometriosis?

The gold standard where diagnosis is concerned is laser laparoscopy. Pharmaceutical treatments include using the oral contraceptive pill to mimic pregnancy, Hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries may be carried out if the disease is severe, but usually the dead tissue is just lasered away at laparoscopy.

Dietary fibre increases excretion of excess oestrogens from the body. Avoiding the bad saturated animal fats and eating fresh fruits and vegetables is vital. I have also discovered that regular exercise helps me in being able to control my period.

How do we get treatment for it?

We need to create awareness, raise fund for research and I believe we will get there with informed knowledge. Awareness creates the thirst for knowledge and that is exactly what we need. When people have the required information, they would be able to seek for further knowledge and solutions.

Are there challenges regarding your decision to be the “Face of Endometriosis”?

There was a barrage of abuse when I opened up on my status of living with En-

SEX FOR WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS IS VERY, VERY PAINFUL; HENCE, IT WILL ALWAYS CREATE FRICTION IN RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGES dometriosis but somebody has to do this and it is a difficult thing in our culture here for women to come out openly and be discussing their menses, sex life and the likes. But I am determined to put every ‘shame’ aside and get this to public glare. I must say that I have extreme Endometriosis; some people’s own might be moderate while some will be mild. According to experts, we have had women being treated for TB, had their chest opened up because they were coughing blood while they suffer from Endometriosis.

What symptoms should people look out for?

Endometriosis is associated with severe dysmenorrhoea (painful periods), deep dysparunia (painful intercourse), chronic pelvic pain, ovulation pain, infertility and chronic fatigue. Also, research shows that as many as half of all menstruating women are affected by period pain; 10 per cent have severe pain, which limits activities for

What message do you want Nigerians to take away?

They didn’t just understand what was wrong with me then and some are like these “Oyinbos have come again, what is the big deal about menstrual pain?” Before, most Nigerians didn’t know I have Endometriosis. So, when I turned 40, I decided to speak out. I am revealing all these because I want others to know more about Endometriosis. I have all manners of books on how to cure pain. Despite the fact that I grew up in England, the diagnoses was quite late and the doctors kept telling my mother that she should just give me pain killers and it would go away but that was not to be.

Mothers with girls with traumatic menses should seek medical help on time. It is an unending battle, I could remember a doctor telling me to try and get pregnant and that the pains would stop but how do you get pregnant when sex is so painful. I am not the only person that will be the ‘Face of Endometriosis’, we all have to be involved.

Also, let us know that it is not a matter of rejecting it through faith but having the needed knowledge and being able to diagnose as early as possible. It has been discovered that even medical practitioners do not suspect Endometriosis when women complain of menstrual pains, infertility and bleeding in unusual places.

Unfortunately, many women are suffering from Endometriosis unknowingly because of cases of misdiagnoses. Hence, there is a dire need to be more enlightened about it. Mothers should endeavour to seek for medical attention on time if their girls keep complaining of stomach ache before or during menses as there is nothing normal in pains, it only indicates that something is wrong and they need to be sure it is not Endometriosis.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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UNFPA pledges commitment to family planning in Nigeria MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

T

he United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has pledged more commitments towards improving access to family planning in Nigeria.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja recently, the Country Representative of the agency, Victoria Akyeampong, said year 2013 was very strategic to the agency’s programmes in the country.

She promised UNFPA

would ensure that improved safe deliveries and help empower girls in different ways to help avoid unnecessary abortions in Nigeria. According to her, these would be done through sexuality education for the women to know their bodies. Akyeampong also promised to make family planning commodities available to everybody in Nigeria.

She emphasized that the commodities would be available for women to help achieve improved family

planning services among families in Nigeria.

“We are really pushing to make sure this go all the way to community levels.

That has been quite a challenge that we are endeavouring to make sure that every woman who wants to have access to family planning commodities have access to them.

“Not only one family planning commodity, at least three choices in every health facilities available to them. We are also look-

ing at how we can focus on the youths because the youths are very important, contributing over 50 percent of the nation’s population. We are not particularly focusing on providing them with family planning services, but giving them the necessary knowledge of their bodies; what it means to be an adolescent in terms of their health.

“This we are doing through schools. We are also trying to increase our relationship at the university

level to the university students. We are talking about preventable abortions; we are talking about using what we call ‘psycho beat’, which is the natural way of understanding how a female body functions; scaling it up to young people.

“We are also looking at continuing to support in the area of fistula. Fistula has been a main problem in this country. I believe this will improve our maternal health if we improve on raising awareness for the

younger mothers and their adolescents. We stand a better chance of reducing cases of fistula. We will continue raising awareness, specifically on how to prevent fistula from happening. We will continue to help fistula centres in the rehabilitation of fistula patients.

The UNFPA Country Representative also promised her agency’s resolve to look at sexual and genderbased violence, which she said was a major problem in the country.

WAHO partners Nigeria on antiretroviral drugs MARCUS FATUNMOLE AND JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

T L-R: Brand Operation Integration Manager, Procter&Gamble Nigeria, Titilola Adetunji; Consultant Dentist/ Lecturer, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr. Olutola Eweka; Celebrity Endorser, Dr Sid Esiri; and Brand Manager, P & G Nigeria, Ngozi Coker; during this year’s World Oral Health Day celebration organized

by Oral B at Chrisland School, Opebi in Lagos, recently.

Lagos moves to check maternal mortality at grassroots ...Japan donates equipment to 10 PHCs MURITALA AYINLA

T

he Lagos State Government yesterday said it would take the fight against maternal and child mortality to grassroots communities in the state. This is as the Japanese government had partnered with the state government in tackling the scourge by providing medical equipment such as delivery beds and ECG machines to 10 Primary Health Centres.

Hence, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said the state government would commence series of Town Hall Meeting on maternal and child mortality reduction on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the Oshodi Isolo Local Government Secretariat.

Briefing journalists in his office yesterday, Idris said the town hall meeting was to sensitise citizens es-

pecially pregnant women and nursing mothers on how to prevent child and maternal mortality.

Idris said the mapped out strategies by government would ensure that the scourge was reduced to the barest minimal, saying huge resources is committed to providing infrastructures to address the challenge of accessibility of health care facilities especially at the grassroots.

He said: “We have addressed the issue of infrastructure that is putting facilities in place especially at the primary healthcare level and at the secondary level we have our Maternal and Child Care Centres and also the renovation of Ayinke House.

“We are also addressing the issue of human resource, training and retraining of health personnel especially on those key competences that will help women deliver their babies and also to look after the

babies after delivery”.

To address the incidence of bleeding during pregnancy, which according to him, is one of the bane of high maternal mortality, the Idris said personnel are being trained on administering drugs.

He added the town hall meeting would hold at the three senatorial districts which will be divided into Lagos West One, Lagos West Two, Lagos East and Lagos Central with the flagship meeting at the Oshodi Isolo Local Government Secretariat.

He said the government has enlisted key personalities as ambassadors to lead the crusade against child mortality, championed by the Wife of the Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola.

He said the state government will engage community dwellers on preventive measures, saying that lack of information has also contributed to the high rate of maternal mortality.

he West African Health Organization, (WAHO) has reiterated its commitment to work with Nigeria to ensure production of local vaccines to combat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to help improve the quality of health system in the region.

Director General of West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) Dr. Placido Cardoso made this known at the weekend when he visited the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu in Abuja.

He noted that his visit to the Minister would increase capacity to meet WHO pre-qualification on

production of local vaccine to combat the scourge.

He said: “It is the plan of WAHO to help fight the HIV/AIDS as well as to build a capacity that will finance and assist quality health system in all the West Africa countries”.

He added that the meeting of Assembly of Health Ministers coming up soon in Cade Verde was expected to proffer solution to the challenges of WAHO, stressing it would enable member states to decide on reduction of high price of such drug and make it available for poorest people in the region.

Earlier in his remark, Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, had said, WAHO, which is ECOWAS’s version of WHO had made signifi-

cant impact in health care delivery in the region.

“We are now looking at how we can regulate our borders; how we maintain international health relations. Training is being done under WAHO. A lot of Nigerians have benefitted under WAHO. ECOWAS through WAHO sponsors the training for all the countries at all levels. In terms of health commodities in the health sector, they are producing. There are companies that are producing antiretroviral drugs in Nigeria and other West African countries, what WAHO wants to do is to see how we can encourage all of them so that when they begin to manufacture on a very large scale, the cost will surely go down.

Jonathan solicits private partnership in health sector ... commends Kanu Nwankwo over N5bn Cardiac Centre MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has praised Nigerian football legend, Nwankwo Kanu over his decision to establish a cardiac centre in Nigeria, saying it would promote the nation’s healthcare drive.

The President said this at the N5 billion dinner for Kanu Cardiac Hospital in Abuja at the weekend.

Represented by the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, Jonathan called on private investors within and outside Nigeria to support the government in investment in the nation’s health sector.

The President said, “Kanu’s effort is timely considering the rising cases of cardiovascular diseases that have claimed lives of unsus-

pecting individuals. The initiative could not have come at a better time than now when the Federal Government under the transformation agenda is more than ever determined to engage the private sector in the development of our economy in line with global trends.

“Let me use this opportunity to once again invite the private sector within and outside Nigeria to join in our efforts at taking our healthcare delivery to the next level. I assure you that government shall continue to provide private entrepreneurship, especially those bothering on social services such as health.”

Meanwhile, corporate bodies in Nigeria offered their support for the centre.

GMD/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti, gave a donation of N20m on

behalf of the bank with a personal donation of N500, 000. He promised possible support of vehicles for the Foundation.

Otti spoke on the reason the bank was interested in the project: “As a bank that gives back to society, we see it as part of our corporate social responsibility to support organizations that are touching the lives of people.

We should all in our own little ways support the less privileged. Being less privileged is no offence of their own.”

In his remark, Kanu called for concerted public support for the centre to give hope to children with various heart-related diseases.

Kanu, has survived a serious heart condition and subsequent surgeries at the height of his football career.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

Arts Lounge

Babalawos wanted me to take their pictures

NCMM signs performance bond with curators

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Chinua Achebe in the eyes of his kinsmen

In death, Achebe may have assumed the spectacle of a kaleidoscope: his virtues in life, depend on the angle one is looking from. Aside being a great writer, a social crusader and a lover of culture, his kinsmen in Ogidi, Anambar State obviously are seeing a lot more.

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

L

ast week’s death of Chinua Achebe is bringing out the several aspects of the literary icon that influenced many lives with his written words. For people in the profession of lieterature, he may have had his way with words, which made his narratives simple and comprehensible. To the critics of his last work, a memoir, There Was a Country, he was a man who should have left certain ugly elements of the history of the Nigeria Biafra civil war, which claimed the lives of millions of his Igbo relatives to rest perpetually. Perhaps the Federal Government of Nigeria, whom he had twice jolted by turning down the offers of national honours would see him as a man too deeply involved in his conviction to shift grounds.

But his kinsmen in Ogidi, having seen all these aspects of Achebe, know him as the man who loved his people and did his best to associate with them in spite of his achievements in life. The fact that he chose to remain outside until his death at 82, may send some signals that Achebe dreaded being in the midst of his kinsmen, but it was hardly so. According to Nnacho Okoye, the primary reason why Achebe chose to remain abroad at that age was lack of infrastructures to support his life on the wheel chair. “It may seem as if he had lost touch with what was going on, but the truth is that he was always around his kinsmen. One of the greatest challenges he had about coming home to settle amongst his kinsmen permanently was the fact that he was restricted to a wheel chair after that accident. In Nigeria, buildings are usually designed and built without taking into consideration people with such challenges.”

While there may be no imposing structure to immortalise him in the town, save from the library complex named after him situated close to the Local Government headquarters, one aspect of Achebe that has endeared him mostly to

his kinsmen is his honesty.

According to Sam Mendu, one of the most illustrious sons of Ogidi, who also holds the title ‘Onwa of Ogidi’, Achebe’s sense of uprightness would make one shudder at the quality of the pastors in some churches. “What he has left with us is the fact that someone should be truthful always; the fact that honesty is a virtue. I worked closely with him when he was the President General of the Ogidi Town Union, and he never failed to rub it in that it was the way to go in life. I was telling people the other day that this man was someone I would always encounter and wonder who should actually be a pastor. When you encounter him, he has the mien of a man of God. People say he turned down the honour of the Federal Government but when the entire Idemili (North and South) honoured three of them- Achebe, Cardinal Francis Arinze and Emeka Anyaoku, they gladly accepted. Ogidi will greatly miss him”.

For many men with his kind of intellectual background, meddling with Ozo titles may seem frivolous but not Achebe, who, like the characters he created in some of his works also took had flair for titles.

He actually was the ‘Ugo Bere N’Oji’ (the eagle on the Iroko tree), a factor that may have influenced the idea of referring to him as ‘Iroko’ in the literary world.

Another kinsman of Achebe’s Bob Manuel Udokwu, a Nollywood actor and special assistant to Governor Peter Obi on creative media, Achebe’s great achievements did not make him to lose sight of how to be his brother’s keeper.

In a world, where, fraudulent practices are making people wary of their kinsmen, it was never like that with Achebe, the day he contacted him for the rights of one of his books.

“I was always planning that I would go to see him in his house in New York, but somehow, it never worked out as a result of the schedule whenever I travel to the US. But the day I called him, to inform him that I wanted to obtain the rights of

Achebe

WHAT HE HAS LEFT WITH US IS THE FACT THAT SOMEONE SHOULD BE TRUTHFUL ALWAYS; THE FACT THAT HONESTY IS A VIRTUE one of his works, he was impressed and told me that his door was open anytime we are ready.”

Another Nollywood actor and producer, Obi Madubogwu, recollects Achebe’s words of wisdom as one of his greatest virtues. “If you read his works, you will know that Achebe represented the rtue spirit of Ogidi. When I was growing up, his book was probably one of the first to teach us how to read. For someone like me, it was like reminding me my past.

That was how I saw his works as a child.”

For Pete Edochie, renowned Nollywood actor Achebe’s modest lifestyle in the face of his outstanding success is a great lesson for him and others. “He was a luminous star, who achieved so much

and still remained modest”.

Achebe will remain iconic for foisting the culture of Igbo people on the world through his works, which has brought Ogidi town to limelight. The town whose population is put at 70,000 descended from one man, Ogidi, who was born in 1611 by Inwelle. He prospered greatly, marrying two wives-Duaja whose children were Akanano, Uru, Ezinkwo, Umu-Udo, and Ama-Okwu; and Amalanyia whose children were Ikenga, Nne Ogidi, Uruagu and Achalla Ogidi. After the migration of five of his children, the remaining four sons (Akanano, Uru, Ezinkwo and Ikenga) formed the present Ebo Ino (four quarters) of Ogidi).

Of the four sons who stayed back in Ogidi, Akanano had two wives. The first wife had Ire and Abo, while the second had Ezi-Ogidi and Umuru. Uru (born 1643) had eight children: Ntukwulu, Ajilija, Adazi, Umudoma, Uru Ezealo, Uro Oji, Umu Anugwo, and Ogwugwuagu. Ezinkwo had two sons: OgidiAni who had Ogidi-Anu Ukwu and Ogidi-Ani Etiti; and (b) Nkwelle Ogidi who had Ezinkwelle and Uru Owelle.

Ikenga, (where Achebe descended from) had two wives and gave birth to Obodo Okwe, Anugwo, Nari and Odida.

Arts Lounge

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

VOICES

What relevance is African art? (Part 1) MORGAN CHIMA NWANGUMA

T

he meaning and purpose of art can be traced back to man’s earliest quest for survival. Thus the meaning, function and purpose of art in those days were quite different from what we would know of it today. Then, art only played a functional role.

Early man learnt to fashion out tools, weapons and body coverings. Even the drawings done by the wizard artist were for magical purposes.

But as man developed further he even became superstitious, and thence emanated the ritualistic or religious purpose of art. But the most outstanding form of early-man’s art is the cave art: featuring drawings, paintings and etchings on the walls of caves. The purpose of these people for doing what they did have no doubt become different from what their legacies are for us today – hidden treasures of invaluable records. The artists were totally unbiased and true to their natural callings; responsive to their every social activities and events surrounding them. Art, be it as practised in the early times or as of today, would normally function in various ways.

A piece of art work could perform social, domestic, religious or aesthetic functions.

But the question is – does African art perform different functions from European art for example? Are their roles supposed to be delimitated or specifically targeted towards a particular purpose? I would think that early-man art, and traditional art – being its immediate successor, could play the same roles be it in Africa, Europe, the Far East, the Americas or Oceania, etc.

Because of man’s level of development at this time, encumbered by superstition, animism crept into art. And also due to the level of interaction and non-commercialisation of man’s early art forms, there was maintained a strong level of seeming conservatism and therefore marked differences, and demarcations arose. And so one would want to ask – what is the noise all about African art? This is to say, looking at the concept, from the perspective in which the term is popularly viewed even in today’s modern world. I submit that there is African art, and there is also traditional art of Africa. So, if we set apart traditional African art, do we still have what is popularly touted as African art?

The Egyptians practised an art form centuries ago, which is regarded as Egyptian art, so also did Byzantine, Meroe, and India, etc. These art forms were very relevant in those eras, even still today. But they were also contemporary then, while today they have become traditional arts, tradition, being practices handed down from generations to generations. And this is a universal concept that hinges basically on primordial rituals. In any socio-cultural setting today therefore, there are traditional practices: the folk artists, and the naïve painters practising side by side with the traditionalists, and pop groups alike. Yet they all have their roles to play in society. But while the exis-

THE LABEL ‘AFRICAN ART’ IS DELIBERATE, TO PIGEON-HOLE AND GLORIFY A MORIBUND STATE OF AFFAIR; A

MEDIOCRE PRACTISE IN ART tence of the college trained or modern African artist is being down played, and his role suppressed, his western counterpart is acclaimed as the modern artist. While the African ‘contemporary’ artist is sometimes derided for his sincere modernist posture, Pablo Picasso who by practise is a glorified African traditionalist, if not for his European background, at least going by his latter (cubism) period, has remained highly acclaimed. But his style is rather still considered as European. Picasso was not lampooned or derided for ‘imitating’ the Africans, which was alright.

The renaissance sprouted in Europe – Italy to be precise, but it was to sweep across the globe in whatever manner. The renaissance was really a universal phenomenon - a global rebirth. It was the genesis of modern art, including literature, music and architecture. So, why must Africans be refused the right to modernise in their artistic endeavours? The paintings and sculptures of Michelangelo were strictly realistic and naturalistic in outlook. The sculptures of Bernini and Rodin were actually powerful, skilful imitations of some of God’s perfect creations. And so I do not see what is strictly European or Western about that. Rather, I think that the label ‘African art’ is deliberate, to pigeon-hole and glorify a moribund state of affair; a mediocre practise in art, and therefore the continuous patronage of a form of primitive entertainment, and adulation.

Nwanguma is a Lagos-based artist and culture advocate.

Terracotta Nok art such as this at the Louvre Paris, appeared in Nigeria around 1000 BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LET’S

T AL K FAD with

Fidelis Duker

fidelisduker@yahoo.com; 08055662925(SMS ONLY)

Nigeria: Things still falling apart

I

t was a week of several occurrences in our nation Nigeria as we see the country we cherish drifting apart or coining it from the globally acclaimed 1958 classic book of the late Chinualumogu Albert Achebe titled: Things Fall Apart.

The week started with the terrorist attack of a passenger bus heading for Lagos at the popular New Road Park in Sabon Gari, Kano which claimed the lives of several Nigerians with conflicting reports on the casualty figures and those who were involved in the attack. The state government released a list of 25 names of individuals who lost their lives from a particular tribe in Nigeria, but for me the important argument is that some dissidents have murdered some Nigerians who the government through its security agencies have not been able to protect.

I have viewed the Kano experience with nostalgia because I happen to have lived my formative years in Kano as a student of the prestigious Federal Government College, Kano and I remembered vividly a couple of times when in company of my schoolmates, we used those buses in that park some 30 years ago on our way back home to Lagos during vacation. It’s so sad that terrorism in Nigeria, especially the northern part of the country, has become a norm where suicide bombers hold sway with impunity and our law enforcement agencies are unable to curtail this dangerous trend that is fast enveloping the entire country. Also within the week, a group suspected to be members of a militant Islamic sect were arrested with explosives and ammunition in Ijora area of Lagos. If you put all these together, you will realise that our beloved country Nigeria continues to ‘fall apart’.

Sadly, what we hear from the group called the Jamaa’tu Nasri Islam (JNI) is that the attack on the luxury buses is a ploy to plunge the north into chaos. The question to ask is whether the north is not already in chaos? Rather than the group coming out to condemn the action of the terrorist group who went out the next day to murder a female police DPO in the same Kano, they have now resorted to politicising the survival and future of the nation.

And also within the week, the leader of the Action Congress and frontline promoter of the new party APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was in Kano where he called for amnesty for the Boko Haram group. Amnesty in my understanding can only be of-

COURAGE FROM ACHEBE IS SOMETHING OUR GENERATION MUST EMULATE WHICH IS THE ABILITY TO SAY THE TRUTH NO MATTER WHOSE OX IS GORED fered to one who has offered to lay down the arms.

So, when I heard of the death of Chinua Achebe, it was with grief and disappointment that I received the news because this was a man who believed in the Nigerian story.

Most of us read his classical books from Things Fall Apart to Arrow of God, No Longer at Ease and Man of the People which inspired several generations of writers and I was privileged to have read most of his books including his last work, There was a Country which I consider his narrative style a masterpiece.

Sadly, Achebe’s desire to have a Nigeria devoid of terrorism, corruption, inept government, poor health and social amenities was the crux of his disappointment with the Nigerian government even after his unfortunate accident in 1990 on his way to his Ogidi town in Anambra State which paralysed and kept him on a wheelchair till death. He had continually refused to accept two national honours of Commander of the Federal Republic bestowed on him, citing the issues mentioned above as reasons why he will not receive the award. This act of courage from Achebe is something our generation must emulate which is the ability to say the truth no matter whose ox is gored.

No matter what people say about Achebe after his last literary work There was a Country that he was fanning an ethnic agenda, I will rather say he was only telling the story of the Biafra War from his own point of view and anybody with a contrary view is at liberty to write his or her version of the Biafra War. It was in this same book that he made this comment which I think our generation and those in power need to embrace and think through “There is a moral obligation, I think, not to ally oneself with power against the powerless”.

Sadly, the reverse is the case but Chinua Achebe will continue to live.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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ARTISTE UNCENSORED

Babalawos wanted me to take their pictures –Opara Researching the body of work titled: Emissaries of an Iconic Religion, now showing at the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, CCA, Lagos, till April 21, Photographer Adolphus Opara pondered many things. For one, is this religion good, it is not evil?

Is it evil and don’t talk about it, forget about it or just tell the story because people are supposed to know where they come from?

TERH AGBEDEH

T

he people who go to see the body of work in the Emissaries of an Iconic Religion series will be confronted with portraits that portray people, men and women, who know what they are about; people derided since Christianity and Islam came to this country. But there is no cowering in these pictures, there is no hiding in the shadows for these custodians of traditional African religion.

“I am from the eastern part of the country, Anambra State. Growing up, I probably went to the village once or twice because, ‘they are going to kill you, they have witchcraft’, I was told. We grew up with that fear of never wanting to go to the village. But I found myself drawn to know what this is all about, how it works. So, I started attending voodoo festivals; first in Benin and Nigeria around 2006,” Opara, whose background is in journalism, said at a press conference before the exhibition at CCA, Lagos.

That interest peaked in 2007 when Adolphus Opara spoke to a friend who

Opara

Photograph of Orisa Imole (deity of defence and judgement) Chief Aderemu Awogemi Akeke

comes from a long lineage of voodoo priests and accompanied him to their family house. “I spent five days with this family. I was not taking pictures; I just wanted to be in that space, understand

what they were doing. I stayed with them, talked with their mother and the children who were older than me. We went out, spent time together, ate with them. They were very open with me and I was not thinking negative or positive”, the photographer said.

He explained that in doing these, he unconsciously started getting interested in learning more about voodoo. At that point, the artiste in Opara wanted to do a body of work but didn’t know what shape it would take. “Most times, the way I work, I don’t have it all planned out”, he stated.

But in 2009, he met Walex and he could no longer hold back. “At the time I used to do a lot of travelling to mainly Osun State; I like going on road trips. For no reason, I just travel and shoot everywhere. In one of these trips, I met Walex a young guy like me, through a friend in Osogbo and we got talking. I didn’t even know he was

MIDWEEK JUMP Conversations with Lamidi Fakeye for launch today

visit and study his collection while researching into Nigerian visual culture.

T

he Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation, Quintessence and Revilo Company Ltd (publishers) will today launch the book, Conversations with Lamidi Fakeye by Dr. Ohioma Pogoson and Omooba Yemisi Shyllon at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos Island.

The book is on the renowned Nigerian master carver, the late Lamidi Fakeye.

Pogoson is a Senior Research Fellow (visual arts) at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, UI, where he teaches postgraduate courses in African art and tourism. He received a Ph.D in visual arts in 1990 from UI. Pogoson is also a fellow of the Akademie Schloss Solitude, Germany. He recently edited two major publications on Nigerian contemporary art, Soliloquy: Life’s Fragile Fic-

NANTAP celebrates Akpabio as WTD ambassador

tions (2011) and Photography in History, History in Photography: The Ikons of Dotun Okubanjo (2011). Pogoson is a recent recipient of the 2012/2013 University of Cambridge/Africa Collaborative Research Programme on Art and Museums in Africa.

Omooba Shyllon, a chartered engineer, marketer, stockbroker and a legal practitioner, is one of the largest collectors and sponsors of Nigerian art. He is reputed to own the most comprehensive collection of art in Nigeria.

He sponsors annually three to six international artistes, curators and art historians to

T

he National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTAP, will today, join all theatre practitioners across the world to mark the 2013 World Theatre Day with a celebration of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, as the World Theatre Day 2013 Ambassador for Nigeria.

Slated for Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the event is to be hosted by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke, and to be chaired by the Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma. This special day of theatre celebration have been observed for more than 20

years by NANTAP in Nigeria.

A statement signed by the National Director of Publicity, Ozioma Godwin Okoli, said the decision to use the national celebration to honour Governor Akpabio “is due to his highly revered remarkable achievements in the arts and entertainment sector of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria”. The statement explained that the selection was made at NANTAP’S National Convention held in Abeokuta, Ogun State in November 2012.

The WTD, formerly known as International Theatre Day, ITD, was declared in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute, ITI in Paris, France, under the auspices of UNESCO, the celebration has been centered on theatre arts and its relevance in positive global theatre development. It is a day specially set aside by UNESCO for theatre artistes all over the world to gather and celebrate together in their various localities.

a chief priest. I simply found talking to him very interesting”, he said.

Opara said that when Walex started talking to him, it sounded strange and scary but he forged ahead because he is a very inquisitive person and he always wants to know more. “I was very open to learning what he had to say. For a period of one year, I made several trips, not taking pictures yet; I would just go and hangout, then I found out that he was a ‘Babalawo’, a chief priest. We spent time in his house, I met his wife and children; I slept there at a couple of occasions and went inside his shrine”, Opara explained.

At that point, Opara said he was just having fun and was not thinking about doing a project; he kept going because it was interesting to mingle with Walex and his family.

One reason is that the chief priest was just like him in many things and if he were to take him from there and bring him to Lagos, he would be just like anyone in the city.

“No one would ever suspect that he was a ‘Babalawo’, as he’d be just like anybody walking down the street, you don’t know who they are, what they do”.

Opara did invite Walex to Lagos, where he met the artiste’s family. A year passed and within that period, Walex would invite Opara whenever there was an Ogun or Ifa festival. It was within that period that the photographer started thinking about the project. “Walex kept on introducing me to more of them as a photographer. Whenever he did that, they would ask me about my camera and wonder why I didn’t have it. It became for me an indication that they wanted me to take pictures of them. I didn’t feel like it at the time because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I always like thinking through what I want to do before I do it”, he said.

Indeed, the portraits present willing subjects adorned in what could be described as ‘Sunday best’ and in the paraphernalia of office.

“For me, this body of work is to say this is where we are coming from, let us not throw it away. Let us not forget about it, at least, know about it. Don’t say it belongs to my forefathers, no, our children should know about it”, Opara said.

The exhibition, part of which has shown at the Tate Museum in the United Kingdom, is sponsored by the British Council, London and curated by Jude Anogwih.

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

Didi Museum hosts Ezeudu’s comeback CHUKA NNABUIFE

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n Thursday, March 28, a feast of fresh colours, served in engaging canvases will kick off in Didi Museum, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The show tagged, The Old and the New Testaments will feature Bona Ezeudu, a wellknown studio master steep in the use of colour and representation of mood.

The veteran artist and founding member of the AKA Group of exhibiting artists (founded 1986), will display the latest collection of his art in the gallery till Sunday, April 7. The show will mark a return to regular solo-showing by Ezeudu who until almost three years ago was a regular exhibitor in several mainstream art houses.

Since the mid 1980s and along with his colleagues in the membership of AKA Group such as Nsikak Essien, El Anatsui, Obiora Udechukwu, Tayo Adenaike, Chike Aniakor, Obiora Anidi, Chris Afuba, Tony Umunna, Ifedioramma Dike, Chike Ebebe, Sam Uchendu the late Bonaventure Okafor and others, Ezeudu reigned in the visual arts scene. However, the shock of the abduction and killing of his only son (an undergraduate) reined the Bona Gallery owner in. But the man disclosed his own formular for getting over the saga.; he is working on a new body of works for a future exhibition

Ezeudu

in memory of his son.

Following the harrowing experience, Ezeudu’s return to exhibition hall is read as a bounce-back in some quarters; given the quality of the works espied by pundits. Featuring 42 selected paintings and drawings, the The Old and the New Testaments is a collection of works produced within the past 35 years of his professional practice. Among the 57-yearold’s works are: Drummer at Birds Eye View, First Outing, Migrants, Blue and Red Dialogue and Mother-Grand Mother on a Palm Sunday.

Ezeudu is not only a painter, he is well known for his metal sculpture, almost all the metal works adorning the 82nd Division Army Barracks, Enugu among other prominent public spaces in Enugu and environs, are his commission.

Ezeudu graduated from IMT, Enugu with distinction in Painting and the best result of his set in 1980. He is a member of Organising Committee of Life in My City Art Festival and a member of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), among other associations.

The Old and The New Testaments will be opened by His Majesty, Igwe Nnameka Achebe CFR, MNI, Obi of Onitsha (Abgogidi), while Prince Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon will chair the occasion hosted by Chief and Mrs. Newton Jibunoh, Founder of Didi Museum and the environmental campaign organisation, FADE (Fight Against Desert Encroachment).

Prof. Wole Soyinka (Festival Consultant) inspecting the ongoing works at the Vision of a Child (VOTC) painting competition 2013 of Lagos Black Heritage Festival, while Mr. Theo Lawson (Freedom Park Consultant) looks on.

Comedian Jedi to begin show TERH AGBEDEH

C

omedian Jedi is set for the maiden edition of his annual comedy show tagged: Jedi Live on Stage in One Man Stand, a show the initiator says is unique and different from every other comedy show.

Jedi explained that the show is designed with the aim of showing the other side of his creativity as a comedian and an all-round entertainer, while using it as a platform to thank loyal fans, patrons and supporters.

Slated for Good Friday, March 29, the show comes up at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos and it will feature performances by Bovi, Igos, Omo Baba No.1, Princess, Bash, Xplicit Dancers, while DJ Vinnie will be on the wheels

of steel. Produced by Bunmi Davies and directed by DJ Tee, the show is from the stable of Afrotainment Productions, which is behind Stand up Nigeria.

Jedi, otherwise known as WellFed Comedian of the Republic was born over three decades ago. He studied microbiology at the Lagos State University, LASU, but had the ‘gene’ of entertainment in his blood until 1999/2000 when he discovered another part of being a comedian. He was given the opportunity to serve as master of ceremony at a university concert and it turned out to be a huge success.

Jedi has evolved over the years not just as comedian and an MC through his dedication and passion to the things of God. He was the first Nigerian to perform on stage at the Carlin Acad-

emy in the United Kingdom.

He also has a heart for mentoring up-and-coming comedians, thus he organised a professional seminar for those who have decided to take up a career in the entertainment industry. The seminar featured speakers like Fela Durotoye, Akinyemi Akinwuntan and Ali Baba, among others.

Jedi

NCMM signs performance bond with curators IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

T

he Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah last Wednesday signed a performance bond with curators from the states federation for the year 2013.

The signing was part of activities scheduled into the one-day retreat organised by NCMM for management staff and curators.

At the retreat held in Nassarawa State, Mallam Abdallah said that the signing focuses on his administration’s desire to fulfil its mandate and be held accountable for that to ensure that the institution remains relevant within the sector.

In his words: “The objective of signing the performance bond is to ensure that we function as an institution that aids

and support the transformation agenda of Mr. President. All programmes are time-bound, they are measurable, achievable and possible to actualise our dreams. We are very sure that all the programmes we have set to achieve are achievable”.

Abdallah hinted that the aim of the management retreat was to discuss issues that would help to bring museums closer to the people for patronage as centres of education. “We hope by the end of the year, we would have raised the level of awareness and increased the number of people coming into our museums and other exhibitions organised by the culture sector.

We are also working to ensure that each museum develops programmes relating to conservation, outreach and documentation of heritage sites and programmes that will address special exhibition,

especially historic ones and other contemporary issues”, he added.

Mallam Aliyu Abudul, Curator NCMM, Makama Kano, also told Arts Lounge that the exercise was a strategic management retreat meant to project programmes and plans for the year 2013.

“We have succeeded in signing a bond with the DG based on activities we articulated.

We have looked at our various programmes, assessed what we intend to do and realistic plans we intend to carry out in 2013.

“All those presenting unrealistic projects have been advised to adjust their plans to something that is achievable and measurable within the time frame. We all need to develop our projects within statutory allocation given to us such that whatever we plan is within the spending limit we have”, Abudul said.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Our leadership of Group F makes me fancy a fine run all the way to the World Cup finals

Amanfor delighted at El-Kanemi strike

30

- MALAWI MIDFIELDER, JOSEPH KAMWENDO

Eagles to train in Germany for Harambee ...Keshi rejoins family

S

Sunday Mba (r), dispossesing a Malian player of the ball in the semi-final match of the 2013 AFCON.

We paid Rangers N3.5m for Mba – Wolves

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arri Wolves have claimed they paid N3.5million (more than $21,000) into a private account of a Rangers FC top official in respect of the transfer of AFCON star, Sunday Mba. Warri Wolves Media Officer, Moses Etu, said on a radio programme in Enugu on Monday that his club actually paid the sum of N3.5m to Rangers when the player moved to Wolves two seasons ago.

Etu said the payment was made to the private account of the general manager of Rangers, Paul Chibuzor, who instructed them to make such payment.

“We have all the documents regarding all our dealings with Rangers with regards to Sunday Mba. We got a provisional clearance from Rangers on Sunday Mba when he joined us and we paid the sum of N3.5m to Rangers through the private account of the GM of the club, Paul Chibuzor, who instructed us to make such payment,” the club official said.

“It is laughable that after selling a player to us they still come to lay claim to him just because he performed well at the Nations Cup and clubs are

after him with mouth-watering offers.

“We are resolute in our claim that Mba is our player and we are ready to give Rangers the 30% sell-on clause attached to his release whenever we sell him to a foreign club.”

However, Rangers media officer Foster Chime has shot down the Wolves claim.

“It is stale news. In Abuja, the GM tendered documents and bank tellers with regard to payments made by Wolves.

At no time was any money paid in respect of Sunday Mba, but for Togolese defender, Busari Akinsola, and it was never paid to the GM’s personal account. The GM has even started legal proceedings against Moses Etu for defamation,” said Chime.

Meanwhile, Wolves battled host Rangers to a standstill on Monday in Enugu to finish a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Week 3 tie goalless.

Why I didn’t dance naked – Enyeama

S

uper Eagles’ goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has explained why he broke his vow to dance naked after Nigeria won the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, in February.

Enyeama confirmed that he broke his promise to dance in his underpants following the Super Eagles’ lifting the AFCON trophy a third time in South Africa.

In an exclusive chat with supersport.com’s Emeka Onwuka in Faro, Portugal, in January, Enyeama said, “It will be a dream come true and I am certain I will strip to my

shorts. Yes, let everyone hear it that I will strip to my shorts if we are champions.”

The goalkeeper has now declared that he had no intention of keeping such a promise.

“No, I did not keep the promise because I am not obliged to keep it. Not all the promises that the Federal Government has made have been fulfilled. People also make promises and they don’t keep them,” Enyeama told supersport.com.

“It is one of those failed promises…I have my reasons I failed to fulfill it,” he added.

uper Eagles will train in Germany ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup return leg clash with the Harambee Stars in Nairobi, Kenya in June.

While in Germany, the Eagles will play two warm-up games against Mexico and Jamaica.

Nigeria is away to Kenya on June 5 in a crunch World Cup qualifier after the Harambee Stars snatched a draw in Calabar last weekend. Nigeria also faces host Namibia a week later in continuation of the qualifying series.

According to MTNFootball. com, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has now concluded plans for the African champions to set up a training camp in Germany ahead of a hectic month of June, when they are also to feature at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Spokesman of the Eagles, Ben Alaiya, said the team would regroup at the adidas camp site in Germany in the middle of May to prepare for two crucial World Cup qualifiers and the friendlies against Mexico

and Jamaica.

“We are leaving no stone unturned (ahead of World Cup qualifiers) and so we will return to camp in the middle of May at adidas camp site in Germany. It is from there we will go to play Kenya and Namibia.

We have two friendly matches lined up for that period against Mexico and Jamaica,” Alaiya disclosed.

Eagles must win their next two World Cup qualifiers away to Kenya and Namibia to stay in contention for a place in the final round of the qualifying tournament for Brazil 2014 after they laboured to a 1-1 draw with Kenya at home.

They remain top of Group F on five points from three matches, but Malawi are also on five points, while Nambia have three points. Kenya remain bottom of the standings on two points.

Meanwhile, Coach Stephen Keshi has travelled to USA to be with his family.

“Big Boss has left for the US to see his family. It has been a while he left them. He needs to rest a bit and see his family,” Alaiya said.

W/Cup: Qatar 2022 LOC insists on airconditioners EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

T

he Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, otherwise called ‘Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee’ has reiterated its resolve to build covered stadia with cooling system during the summer tournament.

In a statement sent to our correspondent, the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee expressed surprise that some football stakeholders are doubting their commitment to host the World Cup. The statement reads in part, “We committed considerable resources during the bidding process to prove that the cooling technology (which will cool open-air stadiums, training grounds and outdoor fan areas) works. The technology is already in use since 2008 at Al Sadd Stadium. During the bid we demonstrated that this technology could be powered by renewable energy.

“Our bid was based on the sole intent of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the summer. FIFA’s technical inspectors attended a Qatari League match at Al Sadd Stadium and experienced the cooling systems. The inspection team also visited the prototype stadium that we built at considerable cost to demonstrate that cooling could be implemented with renewable energy.

“We are offering solutions to keep players and fans cool and comfortable - and developing those solutions to ensure that they are environmentally sustainable.”

The LOC pledged to forge ahead with implementing and developing the technology, with a view to leaving a legacy for Qatar and countries with similar climate.

“It will enable sport to be played 12 months of the year. The application of this technology is not limited to stadiums or sports venues.

It can be applied in public spaces, so outdoor life can be enjoyed all year round, regardless of climate.”

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Sport

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

UCL: Champions Planet set for ‘exciting pairings’ AFOLABI GAMBARI

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Muntari with captain’s band

W/Cup qualifiers: Muntari hails home fans

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hana midfielder, Sulley Muntari, has paid glowing tribute to the Kumasi fans for their massive support during Sunday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The AC Milan ace captained the Black Stars who romped to a 4-0 win at the crowded Baba Yara Stadium, the fans coming out in their numbers despite the heartbreak at the Africa Cup of Nations where the Stars finished a disappointing fourth.

Muntari , who lasted 57 minutes on the pitch when the team was already up by 2-0 through

first half goals, believes the presence of the fans had a positive impact on their performance at the weekend.

“It was a great atmosphere for the win, so we’re really happy,” Muntari told MTNFootball.com yesterday.

“It’s been amazing. They’re always good to us and we’re really happy. Sometimes it gets hard and without them it gets very difficult. So we’re really happy to have great fans like them.”

Muntari is the most experienced of the current Black Stars set-up.

…Leroy quits Congo job

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R Congo coach, Claude Leroy, has resigned from his post following the Leopards draw against Libya last Sunday in Kinshasa, during the third round of World Cup 2014 qualifiers.

Leroy left the Stade des Martyrs under police protection when faced with a vindictive crowd of fans, before informing the president of the Football Federation, Constant Omari, on Monday of his decision to resign, according to reports yesterday.

After already having threatened to jump ship the day before

Leroy

kick-off of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations over a question of bonuses, the French technician seems to have made a final decision to end his term at the head of the Leopards this time.

Leroy had also endured discontent of some players who accused him of favouring players from home side TP Mazembe at the expense of other clubs in the country.

The Leopards are currently lying third in their Group I halfway through the qualifiers and have less than three months to get a new coach.

he chances of an El-Clasico final at Wembley on May 25 between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League remains a reality after the recent quarter final draw in Lyon, Switzerland.

The Spanish giants were kept apart in the draw for the quarterfinals matches just as the two surviving German clubs, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, also enjoyed similar opportunity when the next round of matches resume on April 2.

Despite the absence of national rivalries this term, football fans at the Heineken Champions Planet in Lagos will still be thrilled by Paris Saint-Germain FC striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovi , who would renew acquaintances with his former club Barcelona, while resurgent Juventus will tackle Bayern Munich and Spanish new comer, Malaga, will host Borussia Dortmund as Madrid will await Turkish giant Galatasaray at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Interestingly, UEFA has deviated from the previous seasons by shelving the semi final al draw till April 12.

But the anticipated excitement at the Planet seems boundless.

“I will look forward to o an ElClasico final should Barca rca and Madrid progress beyond nd the quarter finals as it will be a memorable outing at Wemmbley,” a fan said yesterday y while reacting to the recent draw.

“Given the manner Barcelona dispatched AC Milan to reach the last-eight, it will be difficult for PSG to move beyond this stage, especially as they will miss Ibrahimovic in the first leg due to UEFA match-ban,” another consumer reacted.

Other fans, however, reckoned that increased unpredictability of the games would create a more competitive atmosphere at the Heineken Champions Planet as chances of winning premium quality gifts items from the innovative games in the house could prove tight.

“My team, Arsenal, has been eliminated from the competition but I still follow the competition passionately because of the StarPlayer game during live matches,” another fan remarked, Meanwhile, the Planet sponsor has lined up celebrities, captains of industry and football legends to entertain consumers from the quarter finals till the final. Former Nigeria internationals Christian Chukwu, Austin Okocha, Austin Eguavoen, Mutiu Adepoju are among others who have visited the Planet where fans interacted with them on ways to move the sport forward.

Mourinho nears Chelsea return

R

eal Madrid Coach, h, Jose Mourinho, has agreed personal terms with ith Chelsea, according to reports yesterday terday.

Sources said a three-year -year contract was agreed between Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich ramovich and Mourinho after weeks off talks but it is yet to be signed.

“Chelsea have decided d that Jose is the man they want now,” a source close to Abramovich revealed.

“Roman has run out of options and bringing Jose back is the he only move that will get the fans back onside.

Chelsea now want this to o happen and it will.”

Mourinho, who is set to leave Real Madrid after three years rs in charge, said at the weekend thatt he could return to where he had coached oached previous, a hint many have accepted ccepted as his resolve to return to London ndon where he had a successful reign before efore he fell out with the Russian.

Lione Messi will be a big attraction in the Ch Lionel League quarter finals starting next week Leag

I battled depress –Cabaye

N

e w castle United player, Yohan Capla baye, has revealed battled depresthat he b earlier this season sion earl grueling debut after a g campaign in English campaig football.

The former Lille star, who joined Newcastle in tthe summer of had a sparkling 2011 and h ending with his apyear endin pearance ffor France at

Cabaye

Euro 2012, admitt having a winter br first time in his car toll on his body, le pression.

“I was reassured books of Jonny Wi Rafael Nadal, who about the same t talked about post depression and the a break,” Cabaye sa “Now that episo have much more f daily training sessio how lucky I am.”

hampions

sion

ed that not reak for the reer took its eading to de-

d reading the ilkinson and both talked thing. They competition need to have aid. ode is over, I fun going to ons. I realise

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tit bits...

Hiddink Guus Hiddink is waiting in the wings for a call from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Reports yesterday said Mourinho and Abramovich have reached a provisional agreement for the Portuguese to take over from interim Rafa Benitez this summer on a three-year contract.

There are still significant stumbling blocks before any deal can be signed though, with Anzhi Makhachkala’s Dutch veteran coach Hiddink lined up as a potential fall-back option if the Mourinho move goes wrong.

Benzema

Spain defender, Sergio Ramos, has defended Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.

Benzema has been branded as “useless” by former France coach Raymond Domenech.

“Questioning a player like Benzema is insane,” Ramos said.

“Everyone is free to express his opinions. But when Benzema is happy, few can reach his level,” Ramos declared.

Vela

Real Sociedad striker, Carlos Vela, has played down talk of a return to Arsenal.

The Mexico international has been linked with his former club, which has a £4 million buy-back option.

“Arsenal are a great team that gave me the opportunity to come to Europe but I did not have the opportunities that I thought I should have,” Vela said yesterday, adding, “I want to play in Europe and possibly with Real Madrid.”

Bendtner

Arsenal striker, Nicklas Bendtner, won’t play again for Juventus coach Antonio Conte.

The Dane, who is on-loan at Juve to the end of the season, is recovering from thigh surgery.

According to reports, Conte won’t consider Bendtner for selection when he’s fit after the former Italy international was left disappointed with the striker’s drinkdriving arrest in Denmark.

Maldini

Former Italy coach Cesare Maldini has praised incumbent coach Cesare Prandelli who steadying the national team.

“Prandelli is the right man to take this side far,” the ex-AC Milan chief declared.

“He knows how to convey serenity and confidence, explains things well and he avoids controversy while he also has youngsters like Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy to choose from.”

Sport

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

29

How Nigeria 2009 shaped my career–Gotze Young, creative, versatile and blessed with outstanding technique, 20-year-old Mario Gotze has typified his country’s heavy investment in youth development over the past two decades. The Borussia Dortmund forward, who has grown tremendously ever since and is currently capped 21 times for Germany, spoke to FIFA.com Do you have a favourite position?

Playing centrally in attacking midfield, the No. 10 position, is where I’m best. That’s where I’ve played most for Dortmund recently.

I can also play on both wings as well as up front. There isn’t really that big a difference, I feel comfortable in every position.

Are you happy to play upfront in a system without a recognised striker?

Absolutely, yes. There are even several advantages to playing like that against a deep-lying opponent.

We change positions frequently and that creates confusion. We’re not as easily marked. High balls are difficult for me to deal with, but that’s something I’m willing to overlook for the moment.

What effect did the Dortmund’s youth academy have on your style?

I played in several positions in the youth teams. That was a conscious decision Dortmund made and it’s serving me well today.

How do you assess your current campaign so far?

I’d just recovered from a pelvic injury, I didn’t play in the German Cup final and I wasn’t fit at the EURO. It was a difficult six months for me so I decided to focus solely on the new season. The most important thing is to be healthy, fit and in peak condition. Those are my priorities.

Now, things seem to have worked out for you…

I made lots of plans after my injury and I wanted to come back stronger than before. Apart from the German Cup, we’ve done ok as a team so far. On a personal level I’d like to do more-score more goals, get more assists and play more often.

Do you think that Dortmund have been too harshly criticised this season?

I don’t think we could actually have played any better in the Champions League. In the Bundesliga we’re well on course to qualify for the Champions League again.

The fact we’re so far off top spot in second place, 20 points behind Bayern is annoying, but I have to admit that Bayern have been very good this season while we’ve dropped too many points.

Is that a topic of conversation between Bayern and Dortmund players within the national team?

There is some banter but it’s all light-hearted. The national team comes first when we’re all together.

Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi (middle) presenting the 2013 NNPC/Shell Cup trophy to captain of the Purple Krown College, Enugu, Onyeka Echenzona, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Sunday

What really drives Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League?

Seeing as we didn’t exactly set the world alight in Europe in the last couple of seasons, we were all determined to show we could compete and progress this time, especially in the group we had with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax. That was our goal and that’s what motivated us.

Do you agree that Germany are favourites to win Brazil 2014?

The tournament is still a year away, which is why it’s a good idea for us to just take each game as it comes. We need to qualify for the finals first. However, we know we’re a good team and we have big ambitions.

To what extent did your experience at FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 help you improve?

It was the first time we saw ourselves on television and the first time we had contact with the media. It was my first chance to play against teams like Argentina and Brazil, who I’d only ever seen on television before. I think that’s very important at such a young age.

How do you look ahead to Brazil 2014 World Cup? It’s what you dream of as a player. It’s a huge tournament and the fact that it’s taking place in such a football-crazy country as Brazil makes all the more attractive.

Gotze

(L-R) Chairman, Lagos Island Club, Ademola Dada, Osun State Deputy Governor, Titi Laoye -Tomori, club’s Sports Secretary, Akin Awodeyi, past chairman, Chief Olu Falomo at the presentation of a plaque to Laoye-Tomori during an event in Lagos last weekend

Fashola approves 174 sports M URITALA AYINLA

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agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has approved provision for about 174 sporting events across the state’s 37 sports associations in 2013.

The state’s Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development, Mr. Waheed Oshodi, and his counterpart in Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba, made this known at a media interactive session in Lagos on Monday.

Oshodi said the events were focused on exposure and development of the state’s athletes who participate at last year’s National Sports Festival.

The commissioner commended what he called the impressive outing of the state’s athletes at the festival, adding that planned events were designed to further improve the athletes’ performance.

Oshodi further said that the job offer and scholarship was an addition to monetary rewards given to the

athletes, saying the beneficiaries to fill the necessary forms within two weeks.

“There is still lot of work to do but we are glad for all the successes we have achieved so far,” the commissioner said.

National Mirror learnt that about 600 athletes who represented the Lagos State would be offered job opportunities based on their qualification.

“The sum of N80million was disbursed to all the athletes and gold medalists received N250, 000 while silver and bronze medalists got N150, 000 and N100, 000 respectively,” Oshodi said.

Fashola

30

Sport

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Nigeria Premier Nig League

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cricket

with

IIKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Irabor points the way forward for NPFL

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Amanfor Chime (left)

Amanfor delighted at El-Kanemi strike

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nyimba’s midfielder Chime Amanfor says he’s delighted scoring in their 2-0 victory over El Kanemi in Aba last weekend. The Aba home boy netted the winning goal, his first of the season as the multiple league champions claimed their second victory in the three-week old NPFL league season.

The former Enyimba youth teamer collected a pass from their central defender, went past on rushing El Kanemi goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net to send Enyimba faithful into wild celebration. Amanfor said he was overwhelmed by the fans’ jubilation the greeted the goal which also spilled over to the end of the game with the fans carrying over shoulder high.

“It was a great scene before our home fans and being an Aba boy, it was really amazing how the fans treated me,” Amanfor recalls.

“I felt I had scored a World Cup title winning goal because the fans were just all over me. It was a great feeling for me because it will only inspire me to score more goals.

“It’s just the kind of feeling I would wish for every game but that will be possible with hard work, God’s blessing and good luck.”

Amanfor insists he’s not setting any target for himself, maintaining that he will take every game as it comes. He promised to be at his best ahead of the first encounter with newly-promoted Nembe City as they will visit them on Thursday.

“I don’t want to start setting a goal target for myself because that will put a pressure on me.

But I think the second goal will come as soon as possible.”

Fixtures Today El-Kanemi

vs

Wikki Tourists

Kwara Utd

vs

Sunshine Stars

Kano Pillars

vs

Bayelsa Utd

Dolphins

vs

3SC Thursday

Enyimba

vs

Nasarawa Utd

Nembe City

vs

Enyimba

Warri Wolves

vs

Heartland

Kaduna Utd

vs

Sharks

Gombe Utd

vs

ABS

Lobi Stars

vs

Akwa Utd

Week 1 results Rangers

1-0

Enyimba

Heartland

1-2

Nembe City

Nasarawa

0-0

El Kanemi Warriors

Wikki

0-1

Kano Pillars

Sharks

2-1

Wolves

Sunshine

1-0

Kaduna Utd

3SC

2-0

Gombe

ABS

0-0

Kwara Utd

Bayelsa

1-0

Lobi

Akwa Utd

1-0

Dolphin

he League Management Committee (LMC) chairman, Hon. Nduka Irabor, has declared his board’s readiness to seek solutions to the many problems besetting the Nigerian league.

In a communiqué signed by the veteran journalist on Monday and made available to National Mirror, Irabor laid down his objectives aimed at bringing the once interesting local league back to the state it was in the past years.

The communiqué read in parts – “1.

The LMC is aimed at consolidating and providing an update of the workings of the League Management Committee for the benefit of all football stakeholders.

2. On the 27th of December, 2012, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) in exercise of its statutory powers set up the League Management Committee, to ‘rescue’ professional league football.

3. At its inauguration by Alhaji Aminu Maigari, President of the NFA, the Committee was charged with the following terms of reference:- organise the 2012/2013 league season review all contractual obligations of the Nigeria Premier League, including TV and sponsorship rights, review existing rules and guidelines for the election into Nigeria Premier League Board.

4. Develop new standards for players contracts and welfare, develop strategy and facilitate the reform of the league towards achieving profitability; and any other relevant matters the Committee may deem necessary.

5. This committee of eminent Nigerians volunteered for this assignment, motivated by nothing more than patriotism and a desire to revive a moribund local football league mired in litigation, insolvency and administered in a manner that was opaque and inefficient.

Irabor also promised to look into the legal entanglements of the League that has threatened to snuff life out of the local league over the last few years with a view to settling the warring camps and bringing absolute peace.

To put an end to the legal battle, Irabor suggested in the communiqué that the interest of all stakeholders, especially the teeming millions of football lovers in Nigeria, would be best served by mapping out a new direction in the structure and management of the local premier football league.

He continued, “There could be no other way forward especially after a Federal High Court had adjudged in January 2012 that the Nigeria Football League Ltd, the body hitherto set up to run and manage the local league was an illegal body.”

He provided an insight into the new league reforms which he promised amongst other pressing issues, to decide on players’ contracts and the clubs’ responsibilities and obligations towards the players.

He pointed out, “Incorporating a new management structure is only the start,

rather than the end of the necessary reforms for the local league. The football clubs will also need individual reforms to restructure as legal, corporate entities able to meet mutually agreed upon terms for their management and operations as members of the NPFL. “We have already set out to work. The LMC has commenced the processes of restructure by putting in place machineries to deliver its mandate. We are preparing for instance a new league rules framework which includes new rules for the qualification and licensing of clubs within the league to bring our local clubs in line with international standards.

“The new rules will guarantee that clubs meet their obligations to players etc by ensuring that they have solid financial bases, setting aside 5% of the income of the LMC solely dedicated for a youth development programme which will ensure that all clubs have feeder clubs of players not older than 18 years of age and of not more than 30 trainees.

“These feeder clubs will help identify talents and provide a pool of future talents for the game. New standards of training of players, coaches, referees, medical personnel, match security agents etc will be enforced, amongst other things.

“We are also in the process of developing a corporate governance model for the LMC, the clubs and the league.

“We are presently re-working and negotiating the Title Sponsorship Agreement as well as the Broadcast Rights Agreement to bring them in line with more commercial and favourable terms for the league and also in compliance with the laws of the land such as the Nigerian Broadcasting Code etc.

“Club licensing rules are being introduced and prepared; and in order to protect our sponsors so as to guaranty the financing of the league, we are preparing Compliance Agreements with the clubs. It is very possible to conduct business in a fair and transparent manner. “

Irabor

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Business & Finance Inadequate funds major challenge to local content in oil industry Technical Director, Chrome Group, Adebanji Babarinde

Investment decisions should be taking only when investors know much about the companies they are buying into. It is important MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL ASSETS LIMITED, ARIYO OLUSEKUN

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Oil theft: FG to clamp down on private jetty operators FRANCIS EZEM

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trong indications emerged that the Federal Government might soon come hard on some private jetty operators over the increasing oil theft, through which the country has lost several millions of dollars in revenue.

The government had sometime in 2011 granted private jetty operators numbering over 75 spread across Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt Onne and Calabar etc approval to receive and handle deep sea going vessels, which many stakeholders then expressed fears that it might be abused.

However, following the seeming uncontrolled theft of petroleum products both refined and unrefined, the government had set up the Stevedoring and Jetty Review Committee to take a critical look at the operations and activities of these private jetty operators as well as those of stevedoring contractors that operate in

the maritime industry.

Minister of Transport, Mallam Idris Umar, who spoke in Abuja while receiving the report of the committee, assured that President Goodluck Jonathan was committed to tackling the myriads of challenges confronting the maritime industry occasioned by crude oil theft and other crimes in Nigeria’s maritime zone.

“Federal Government

is aware of the enormous potential and leakages inherent in maritime operations especially around jetty operations and therefore set up the committee to look into ways of guaranteeing security and smooth, organised labour workforce at the private jetties to enhance efficiency”, the minister said.

While expressing optimism that the recommen-

dations of the committee will go a long way in addressing most of the security issues identified in the maritime domain, the minister assured that the government is more than ever determined to check any economic sabotage associated with the operations of the private jetties as well as those private stevedores.

Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Musa Na-

A

viation unions yesterday picket Aero Airlines over its refusal to re-absorb the sacked workers as a result of industrial action em-

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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

L-R: Newly elected President of Chartered Institute of Personel Management, Mr. Victor Famuyibo; out-going president, Mr. Abiola Popoola, and Chairman, CIPM Electoral Committee, Dr. Oladimeji Alo, after the election of the Institute at the 44th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, yesterday.

Unions picket Aero Airlines, demand workers recall OLUSEGUN KOIKI

gogo, while submitting the report, stated that as daunting as the job was, the members of the committee put in their best to ensure that the committee met with the terms of reference.

Nagogo, who doubles as Director of Maritime Services, Federal Ministry of Transport, also said the committee could not reach all the jetties identified due to security reasons as well as fund constraints but expressed optimism that the strict implementation of recommendations of the committee would address most of the problems.

barked upon by the staff in the last two weeks.

The yesterday’s action was spareheaded by the Air Transport Senior Staff Services of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

Unlike the previous action, the unions blocked the

entrance of the airline and prevented those not sacked by the airline from gaining entrance into the premises.

The National Industrial Court (NIC), had last Thursday ordered the airline management to re-absorb the over 400 sacked workers and maintain the status quo, but the airline refused to re-absorb the workers, which led to the picketing of the airline by the unions.

The unions numbering about a hundred in number demonstrated in front of the office of the airline with various inscriptions like, ‘Aero management should respect court ruling,’ ‘we won’t allowed ourselves to be treated like slaves,’ and ‘Aero should sack Mr. Fagbemi’ among many other inscriptions.

National Mirror learnt that the industry unions and the management of

the airline yesterday held a closed door meeting with the Ministry of Labour and Productivity ober the issue.

One of the union leaders at the meeting, but who does not want his name in print confided in our correspondent that the unions insisted on the re-engagement of the sacked workers and the sack of the Director of the Human Resources, Mrs. Tope Fagbemi while the airline refused to shift grounds.

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

NIM faults budgeting process, proposes 70% capital allocation

World Bank to spend N785 billion on projects in Nigeria

Cooking gas price on the rise again

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Business Finance

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG committed to growing local industries -Aganga STANLEY IHEDIGBO

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he Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the growth and development of local industries by placing emphasis on local patronage as the key enabler of growth in the Nigerian manufacturing sector.

This, according to a statement, signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the minister on Corporate Communications, Mrs. Yemi

Kolapo, is contrary to the interpretation given to the minister’s absence at the Senate hearing on local patronage on Monday.

The statement said, in actual fact, Aganga had, since his assumption of duty as the minister in charge of the ministry, pursued policies and programmes directed specifically at growing the economy through industrialisation and backward integration with passionate support for local industries.

It said, “The Local Patronage Bill, when passed into law, will go a

long way to protect Nigerian manufacturers, boost capacity utilisation of local industries, increase the productivity and export of Made-in-Nigeria goods, create jobs , generate wealth and save foreign exchange for the country.

“It is in this regard that the passage of the Local Patronage Bill, which has passed the second reading at the Senate, becomes very important to the ministry, considering the efforts by the ministry to create enough market for local industries to thrive. The ministry’s low quality representation

at the hearing, as observed by the Senate, was due to a communication gap in the ministry, which is highly regretted.

To fast-track the re-orientation of Nigerians towards the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products and also showcase the potential of Nigeria’s local industries, the ministry, through one of its parastatals, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, is already working with the private sector to implement its grass-roots based One-LGA-OneProduct initiative [OLOP].

This is to serve as a complementary bottom-up multi-stakeholders development and investment platform for the creation of jobs and generation of wealth in the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria, in addition to galvanising and harnessing the potential of the informal sector of the economy.

Aganga said, “Local patronage is, in fact, one of the enablers of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan, which the ministry recently kicked off.

The lack of patronage of products produced locally is one of the reasons for the low capacity utilisation and contribution to Gross Domestic Product.”

NIM faults budgeting process, proposes 70% capital allocation TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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L-R: Marketing Coordinator, Jobberman, Mr. Seun Oremade; Director, Industrial Training Fund, Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association, Mrs. Helen Jerimigbe and Registrar, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Mr. Sikiru Sheu, during the Information Technology Job and Career fair in Lagos, yesterday.

FG urges Coca-Cola to partner investors in cassava plants TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he Federal Government has advised Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited to explore the opportunities availed by the growing investments in the cassava value-chain agenda by partnering some of the investors in cassava sweetener and citrus plants to optimize its operations and by extension, help in the current efforts aimed at achieving import substitution for agricultural and manufacturing inputs in the country.

Giving the advice yesterday when a high-powered delegation of the global soft drinks manufacturing giant led by the President for East, Central and West African region, Mr. Kelvin Balogun, visited his office, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, explained that with the growing global investors’ interest in the nation’s cassava potentials, there was need for the company to complement its current efforts to source its operational inputs locally by joining hands with some investors that are already finalizing plans to build sweeter plants in the country.

Adesina, who put Nigeria’s yearly import bill on sweeteners at about $1bn billion with about 150,000 metric tons consumption yearly, said two companies, namely US-based Cargill Company and largest manufacturers of starch globally and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, had indicated interests to establish their plants in Kwara and Kogi States as a strategic option of processing starch and sweeteners for both local and international markets.

The minister said it was no longer desirable for the domestic economy to continue to meet its sweetener and sugar demand through imports, especially given the fact Nigeria remains the second largest producer of citrus in the world and the largest cassava producer with 40 million metric tonne production capacity yearly.

He explained: “We have two major projects, one in Kwara and one in Kogi State, in a place called Agbadu where we are working with Cargill. Cargill as you know is the largest manufacturer of starch in the world and we are working with them on a 15,000 hectares facilities that will have nucleus farm and small holder farmers and

medium scale farmers and that with facility they will invest in the installation of 75,000 metric tons starch plant.

“In addition to that, they are looking into 50,000 metric tons of sweetener plant so they can make that transformation from starch into sweetener and of course Coca-Cola will become one of the big off-takers of the sweeteners from them. We are also working with the Flour Mills of Nigeria, as you know, and they are also investing in starch plant and the sweetener plant”, Adesina said.

The minister encouraged “Coca-Cola to co-invest in partnership with the Flour Mills of Nigeria and Cargill in this establishment of starch plant or the sweetener plant so that we can guarantee the supply of sweeteners to your plant.

“You are biggest users of sweeteners in Nigeria.

If you do that I want to assure you that the government will give maximum support to every effort geared directly to import substitution because when we do that, it creates job at home, it stabilizes the market for our farmers and it will enhance our rural areas”, Adesina said.

he Nigerian Institute of Management has picked holes in the processes being used by the various tiers of government to prepare yearly budgets, saying with the modalities it would be difficult for the country to achieve improved performance of the budgets in terms of their impact on the well-being of ordinary Nigerians.

The President and Chairman of Council of the Institute, Dr. Micheal Olawale-Cole, who gave this verdict during the Dinner organised in his honour by the Abuja Zone on Monday night, specifically picked holes in the ‘top-bottom’ approach of budget preparation as against the more transparent and people-oriented ‘bottom-top’ system being used in most other climes globally.

Olawale-Cole said that as an

Institute, the members were not happy with the way budgeting approach, pointing out that rather than being designed based on the ‘bottom-top’ structure, what has been noticed over the years is that people at the top just arranged figures and pass it down for them below.

He explained: “Budget should come from the sectors and different ministries based on what they want to do and the need of the people and then packaged upstairs from there they will now pick the ones they can do for that year and then seek approval from government.

“A situation where figures are just being put together for ministries and parastatal is not the best way to go. “There is also need to look on how budget is implemented in Nigeria and that’s the major problem we have. We have budget for capital and recurrent but how much of that is being used.

Investment, key to Africa’s socio-economic development - Experts STANLEY IHEDIGBO

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wo of the continent’s foremost philanthropists and business leaders, Mr. Tony Elumelu and Mr. Jonathan Oppenheimer are collaborating to develop in-depth case studies to show how African companies investing in Africa could propel the continent to greater economic prosperity.

According to statement made available to National Mirror, Oppenheimer’s South African-based Brenthurst Foundation and The Tony Elumelu Foundation, which is based in Nigeria, believe the case studies will guide policy makers and business leaders toward a better understanding of the profound changes underway in Africa’s business environment.

Reflecting on the significance of the collaboration and case studies, Elumelu noted, “Africans must explore ways to move beyond regional differences to build

Africa together from within. It is high time that Africans at all levels become the primary beneficiaries of the continent’s growth.”

Oppenheimer added, “We believe that Africa’s ability to engage in Intra-African business will be one of the key determinants of its future social and economic development.”

According to them, there is frustration that Africans are not reaping the rewards of the current global investor confidence in the continent and developing home-grown investments, focused on value-adding industries. They stated that the case studies will help throw light on opportunities, challenges and solutions to grow the phenomenon.

“Ultimately, the case study series should create debate and provide some direction on how governments and entrepreneurs can open the way for more trade and investment by Africans into Africa,” they added .

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Finance

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

World Bank to spend N785bn on projects in Nigeria UDO ONYEKA

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he World Bank, unfolded plans to spend $5 billion (about N785 billion) on 27 projects across the country in the next five years.

Also, the African Development Bank (AFDB) sealed a pact to provide two sovereignguaranteed multi –tranche lines of credit of $500 million to Bank of Industry(BOI) and of $200 million to Nigerian Export –Import Bank (NEXIM), to support export –oriented Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) modernization and expansion.

The Country Director of the World Bank, Ms Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly, dropped the hint of the $5 billion deal at a one day Job Shadow Workshop, organised by a Non –Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Lagos Nigeria.

“On the average, we are providing money in the range of 1.3

billion dollars to 1.5 billion dollars in a year and what we have now is a stock of project”, she said.

She explained that 60 percent of the total amount would be sent on sustainable development projects, including infrastructure, construction and rehabilitation, energy, water and agriculture.

According to her, human capital development, which was the second area of intervention, would take about 40 percent of the amount.

This, she said, would significantly impact on primary healthcare and basically help to improve the situation in the sector, especially polio eradication.

“But what is interesting to know is that government has adopted a significant programme called” Saving one million lives.

“The Country Director gave the assurances that the bank would continue to help in strengthening government institutions and private sector development.

“We also have three regional projects in the area of air transport , Niger River Basin in Niger State and the West Africa Agriculture Productivity Project, aimed at improving productivity in the agricultural sector and using the best techniques”, she said.

On youth empowerment, she said that the bank had budgeted $300 million for Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) scheme in Nigeria.

“We are preparing YESSO to support the provision of immediate work opportunities and skill development for unemployed youths and woman from poor households,” she stressed.

Earlier, Mrs. Franca Thomas, the National Programme Coordinator of the NOG, said that the workshop was to introduce students in secondary schools to career opportunities in public and private sectors of the economy.

Nigerian companies break entrepreneurial records LEONARD OKACHIE

F

ifty Nigerian companies have broken AllWorld records, with each company growing at an average 100 per cent year revenue of $9million, USD, and as a group have created 6, 600 jobs. They are also expected to create thousand more jobs in the next few years if they continue to grow.

The companies broke the records in relation to 15 other country rankings throughout the Middle East, Turkey and South Asia in terms of growth, the size of the companies and diversity of industries.

Nigeria also had the most number of women entrepreneurs of any AllWorld list at 16 per cent, and 11th ranked UConnect Telecom Services Ltd topped the list of the fastest

A

Oil industry reviews geological maps CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

F

ollowing the peer-review process which the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), has subjected itself to, experts in the academia, oil and gas industry are now reviewing some of its maps.

According to the Director General, Prof Siyan Malomo, who made the disclosure yesterday during the launching of the agency service charter (SERVICOM) in Abuja, the review process is for NGSA to enhance quality service delivery.

He however noted that the agency will soon publish some of the reviewed maps.

Malomo explained that even when NGSA had not launched the service charter, it was always in compliance with the

tenets of quality service delivery, adding that the needs of the customers were the utmost consideration of the agency.

He said: “The Agency upholds highly among its core values efficient administration and welfare. The agency is demand-driven, so the needs of our customers are given utmost consideration. Meeting the needs of our customers in the provision of quality and credible information requires the use of cutting-edge technology and highly-skilled staff.

“In view of these, the agency ensures that members of staff are exposed to trainings locally and outside the shores of Nigeria. We collaborate with stakeholders from the mining sector, academia and government parastatals offering similar services.

“We subject our work to a peer-review process to en-

hance quality services. Right now one of such is in progress where our colleagues from the academia and the oil industry are reviewing maps that will soon be published. We also organize stakeholders’ forum on annual basis which is well attended by stakeholders.”

Speaking, the SERVICOM National Coordinator, Mr. Sylbriks Obriki urged the members of staff to appreciate the vision and mission of the NGSA. He asked them to understand the services they were employed to render, stressing that government offices are not for them to occupy but places to render quality service.

According to him, if public servants comply with their terms of engagement, corrupt practices will reduce in Nigeria.

growing women entrepreneurs and as well taking the prize as the largest employer of the Nigeria50, with the growth of 549 Per cent and 1, 353 employees.

This was disclosed at the inaugural Nigeria50 Awards, at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, to honour 50 of Nigeria’s most innovative and fastest growing (non-listed) companies.

The event was hosted by Tony Elumelu Foundation and USbased AllWorld Network, which ranks dynamic fast-growing private companies globally.

It was attended by an audience of 350 entrepreneurs and business and government leaders including Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu and the world renowned Harvard Business School Professor and Chairman of AllWorld Network, Michael Porter.

Smartphone escalates with Sony Mobile’s entry KUNLE AZEEZ

L-R: Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Thabo Mabe; National President, Nigerian Dental Association Dr. Olurotimi Olojede; Brand Building Director, Mr. David Okeme; and Category Manager, Oral Care, Ms. Vivian Ihaza; both of Unilever Nigeria, at the launch of Close Up Fire-freeze in Lagos recently.

33

new competition in the high-end smartphone segment will get tougher with the entry of Sony Mobile Communications’ new Android smartphone into the Nigeria mobile devices market.

With the launch of its much-waited smartphone, Xperia Z, in Lagos yesterday by top officials from Sony Mobile, the phone manufacturer said Nigeria now remain “Our focus market because of the potential the country has and we are ready to boost our market share.”

This means Sony Mobile will have to compete with other brands such as Nokia, Samsung and even Tecno phones which already have sizable market share from low-end and high-end devices segment.

Speaking on the Sony’s new flagship Android smartphone, Marketing Manager Africa, at Sony Mobile, Mr. Younes Cherkaoui, said the new Xperia 7 boast of a range of unparalelled features, including a 5” Full High Definition 1080p Reality Display, Snapdragone S4 Pro quad-core processor, the Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 and a 13 megapixel fast-capture camera.

Dangote group steals show at Enugu International STANLEY IHEDIGBO

D

angote Group’s pavilion was the center of attraction at the just concluded Enugu International Trade fair, where subsidiaries from the stable of the organization showcased their unique products to the delight of visitors.

In a statement by the company, Dangote was the most diversified exhibitor at the fair with subsidiaries like Dangote Cement, Dangote Flour, Dangote Sugar, National Salt Company of Nigeria (NASCON), Dangote Pasta, Dangote Noodles, Dansa Foods and Agrosacks, displaying arrays of products.

“The Group’s exploits at the Enugu Trade Fair came on the heels of the recent Kaduna International Trade fair, where it won many awards in different categories which the company described as testimonies of its commitment to offering value added

services to Nigerians through the production of quality goods.”

The statement said subsidiaries of Dangote group made good showings as part of strategies to expand market share, reach more customers and consolidate their leadership in their respective sector.

“In participating at the Enugu International Trade fair, subsidiaries from the group have put in place market strategies to extend their reach to more customers and offer them opportunities to have a feel of the improved quality of the products from the Dangote stable.

“Some of the products displayed at the fair include Danvita, Alkama (wheat meal), confectionary flour, noodles, sugar, salt, tomato paste, various ranges of fruit juice products and bottled water from Dansa Foods.

Visitors to the group pavilion at the fair had the opportunity of buying products of these companies at reduced prices.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Energy Week

udemea@rocketmail.com 07031546994

Cooking gas price on the rise again ... as supply infrastructure deficit becomes more pronounced Cooking gas is undoubtedly the cleanest fuel for domestic cooking. But UDEME AKPAN reports that many consumers have taken other energy sources, including firewood as the government’s failure to invest in gas infrastructure takes its toll.

Cooking gas

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ith 187 trillion standard cubic feet of gas reserves, close watchers of the Nigeria oil and gas industry expected the nation to be self sufficient in gas utilisation.

They also expected prices of the various brands of natural gas to be affordable, especially because of proximity to sources of production.

But it is not so. A greater percentage of the nation’s gas is flared at the detriment of the environment. A recent visit to some parts of Niger Delta, including Ido in Akwa Ibom State revealed that massive flaring still goes on in the region. The reasons are not farfetched.

From Akwa Ibom to Bayelsa, from Rivers to Delta and from Edo to Ondo states,

A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF THE NATION’S GAS IS

FLARED AT THE DETRIMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

A RECENT VISIT TO SOME PARTS OF NIGER DELTA, INCLUDING IDO IN AKWA IBOM STATE REVEALED THAT MASSIVE FLARING STILL GOES ON IN THE REGION.

THE REASONS ARE NOT FARFETCHED

many oil firms prefer to flare associated gas which is associated with crude oil production as a result of the high cost of harnessing it for positive applications.

This has impacted negatively on the environment. For instance, continuous flaring has destroyed the roofs of virtually all

houses in Iko and other parts of the region where severe flaring goes on. Rain water is polluted, thus making it harmful to residents who stand the risk of suffering from various heart related ailments.

Incidentally, the development has attracted global attention. A United States

Senator, Dr. Cale Case, who has concluded an extensive research on the subject documented in his paper scheduled for presentation in Lagos next month that: “An incredible amount of natural gas is wasted in Nigeria. The nation has the second highest level of natural gas waste through flaring in the world, second only to Russia in the amount of resource lost. Multiple and good reasons exist for this high level of flaring, but it boils down to two things. First, natural gas is frequently a joint byproduct of oil production so that when oil is produced, it includes so-called ‘wet’ gas. Second, there may be insufficient infrastructure to bring gas to market for use.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

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Energy Week

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cooking gas price on the rise again

Olorunisola

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 Case, who has worked in many countries, including Nigeria, to improve the provision of electric and natural gas infrastructure and other services stated that depending on the circumstance, natural gas flaring can be reduced in three ways. These include increase local application where a local market and proper infrastructure exists; export to distant markets where transport infrastructure abound and re-injection to enhance longterm reservoir economics.

He, however, observed that some progress has been made in long distance transport of gas. Case noted that: “The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG), a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has been in operation for more than two decades and provides LNG to an increasingly competitive European gas market. The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPCo), now connects the nations of Benin, Togo and Ghana with the producing regions of Nigeria. Gas is delivered for various uses, but approximately eighty-five per cent of the gas is for power generation and the rest is for industrial applications.

He also stated that: “The WAGPCo project is a major success story that provides a blueprint for future projects. Unfortunately, major components of the system are temporarily shut down due the pirate attack on a vessel that led to the snagging of the pipeline with an anchor. Clearly, the pipeline network can be expanded.

Principals will be willing to do so when it is profitable, providing a key to reduce gas flaring in the nation.”

While efforts seemed to have been made to boost the production and export of other brands of gas, investigations showed that not much was done to boost the production and utilisation of

Yakubu

liquefied petroleum gas, LPG for domestic cooking. Consequently, the nation sometimes witnessed shortage and high prices which compelled many potential consumers to take to close substitutes, including firewood.

A major consumer who preferred not to be named stated that: “I used to buy the 12.5 kg when the price was about N2, 000 per cylinder. I have since stop buying because the price is presently in excess of N3, 000. I do not think I will buy it in a short term as firewood seems to be cheaper than cooking gas.”

This dependence on other substitutes, especially firewood has impacted negatively on the society. Investigations in the outskirts of Lagos including Ikorodu showed that huge vegetations have been destroyed as consumers cut trees and process them into firewood, thus leaving bare lands that are ravaged by erosion.

This and other factors make the previously natural environments unsuitable for many occupations, including building and farming. While these and other hazards hold sway, the firewood dealers who make brisk businesses smiled to the banks through regular supplies of the product to Lagos and other markets.

A retailer of firewood in Ketu, Alhaja Kemi Salami who put the price of one small bundle of firewood at N200 confessed that the business is profitable.

She said demand has increased as many consumers take to the use of the product due to high prices of substitutes, especially kerosene and cooking gas.

Lagos is not the only place that is badly affected. The trend can be witnessed in other States, especially Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Oyo, Osun and Niger. A recent survey showed that most of these and other locations have been exposed to erosion, flooding and other hazards that threaten sustainable development.

Inyang

Alison Madueke

POOR FAMILIES SPEND MORE BUYING FIREWOOD THAN THE RICH SPEND BUYING ELECTRICITY

OR COOKING GAS.

SO

THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED Expectedly, these have attracted the curiosity of some local and global institutions. For instance, the World Bank stated that about 112 million Nigerians depend on firewood for cooking at the risk of asthma, bronchitis, child pneumonia, and lung cancer through fumes emission. It stated that over 95,000 Nigerians die yearly as a result of complications caused by the inhalation of smoke from biofuels. It maintained that widespread use of unwholesome fuels also has serious environmental implications on the society.

The Director of International Center for Energy Environment and Development, Mr. Ewah Eleri is said to have stated that: “Smoke from the kitchen or the use of inefficient cooking methods, especially firewood, is not only a source of ill health, but is costing families far much more than they can afford. “Poor families spend more buying firewood than the rich spend buying electricity or cooking gas. These are the issues that need to be addressed. Nigeria is already losing a lot of its forest. Three percent of the natural forest is lost every year due to deforestation.

The Chief Executive Officer of a nongovernmental organisations Access to Clean Cooking Energy Systems and Solutions Africa, Mr. Jerome Okolo is also

said to have stated that: “Kerosene is actually aviation fuel and the only way we get it to burn is by soaking a rag in it. So that is what a kerosene stove is, a mechanism that allows you to soak a rag into kerosene and burn those rags. That is why when you come into a place where kerosene is being used, the kitchen is always black, because you have a lot of soot, a lot of unburned fuel and that is what is poisoning our people.”

The Duke Energy Distinguished Professor, Professor Hilary Inyang who decried increased destruction of the environment not only in Nigeria but also other African nations called for restraints. He said it is important that those who carry out different socio-economic activities in the society should do so in consonance with global best practices. Inyang stated that this becomes instructive as the present generation needs to use and preserve the environment for future generations of Nigerians.

The National President of the Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, OGSPAN, Mr. Colman Obasi who noted massive destruction of environment in many parts of the nation tasked the government to introduce measures, capable of assisting to stabilize the prices of cooking gas in order to make it affordable to consumers. Obasi also tasked the government to introduce sanctions against people that indulge in firewood business so as to discourage destruction of trees.

Obasi called for the mounting of campaign against the destruction of the nation’s vegetation so as to preserve the environment for future use.

However, the spokesman of NIPCO, Mr. Lawal Taofeek stated that the future of LPG is bright as many private investors have invested in the business.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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Nigeria to export 69 crude cargoes in May UDEME AKPAN

WITH AGENCY REPORT

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igeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, will boost crude exports to 69 cargoes in May, according to a partial loading program.

Bloomberg that confirmed the development stated that the plan will witness the export of 15 crude oil grades to the global market.

The agency stated that: “The nation will ship 11 consignments of Qua Iboe, nine of Forcados, eight each of Bonny Light and Agbami, five each of Akpo, Bonga and Brass River, four of Erha, three each of Amenam, Escravos and Yoho, two lots of Abo, and one each of EA Blend, Okono and Pennington, the plans showed.

It stated that this compares with the 66 shipments due to be exported next month, a revised schedule showed. Three Bonny Light cargoes, two lots of Brass River and one Okono consignment have been deferred from April to load in May. The agency stated that: “Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) lifted a twoweek force majeure on Bonny Light exports on March 19. The country has been hit by rising oil theft and the Nembe Creek Trunkline will close in April to clear points along the link that are vulnerable to thieves, according to Shell.

It stated that the May programs for Antan, Okwori and Usan weren’t available. They totaled eight cargoes in April.

Meanwhile, North Sea Forties crude fell to the lowest in 11 months as Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) sold.

BP Plc failed to sell Russian Urals and Algerian Saharan Blend.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, will boost crude exports to 71 cargoes in May, according to a partial loading program obtained by Bloomberg News that includes 16 grades.

Shell sold Forties for loading on

Oil storage vessel

$1.97 in the previous session.

However, Russia plans to ship 1.95 million barrels a day of Urals from two export terminals on the Baltic Sea in April, according to a preliminary loading programme.

Iraq plans to increase exports of its Kirkuk crude in April from the Turkish port of Ceyhan to 19 cargoes, nine more than this month.

Shipments will total 10.81 million barrels, or 360,333 barrels a day, the plan showed. That compares with 289,677 barrels planned for March.

Benchmark Nigerian Qua Iboe blend fell by 1 cent to $3.19 a barrel more than Dated Brent, Bloomberg data show.

That’s the lowest since Feb. 28.

Nigeria will ship 11 consignments of Qua Iboe, nine of Forcados, eight each of Bonny Light and Agbami, five each of Akpo, Bonga and Brass River, four of Erha, three each of Amenam, Escravos and Yoho, two lots of Abo and Okwori, and one each of EA Blend, Okono and Pennington, the plans showed.

April 13 to April 15 to Morgan Stanley at 75 cents a barrel less than Dated Brent, according to a Bloomberg survey.

Brent for May settlement traded at $107.71 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London at the close of the window, compared with $107.39 in the previous session.

The June contract was at $107.33, a discount of 38 cents to May. BP failed to sell Urals at $2.15 a barrel less than Dated Brent on a delivered basis to Rotterdam, the Platts survey showed. Shell also offered the grade unsuccessfully at $2.10 less than the benchmark. Those compare with a Feb. 25 trade at minus $2.75.

BP offered either 600,000 barrels or 1 million barrels of Saharan Blend at 80 cents more than Dated Brent to be loaded on April 4 to April 8 from Algeria, according to the survey.

The Urals discount to Dated Brent in the Mediterranean narrowed by 32 cents to 99 cents a barrel, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That’s the smallest differential since Feb. 15. In northwest Europe, the discount was at $1.89 a barrel, compared with minus

Source: Oilprice.com

NCDMB acquires land for pipe mill project in Bayelsa

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he Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board on Wednesday, 20th March, formally acquired 10.2 hectares of land in Polaku community, outskirts of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State for the construction of the proposed Pipe mill.

The site has a shore line for the construction of a jetty and is nearby the Shell Gbaran Gas Plant and the National Integrated Power Plant being developed by the Federal Government in Gbaran.

The land acquisition marked the commencement of the project as the

Board will immediately begin preparation of the site ahead of the detailed investment.

Speaking during the symbolic cheque presentation for the land to the Ezewaribo Family and transfer of deed to NCDMB at the Board’s Headquarters in Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary, Engr. Ernest Nwapa thanked the community for being supportive of the project.

He noted that the establishment of the pipe mill was one of the mid-term targets set for the industry by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and would help define the success of the Ni-

gerian Content Act. Nwapa who was represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, NCDMB, Mr. Akintunde Adelana explained that the project’s construction as well as operations would drive development in the oil and gas industry and provide thousands of training and employment opportunities for members of the community and other Nigerians.

“The pipe mill project will be a major economic activity. It is one of the key industries that has been lacking in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and your community is lucky that it will be established in your vicinity,” he added.

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

95.58

+0.77

+0.81%

08:26:50

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

108.26

+0.13

+0.12%

08:26:24

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

61,280.00

+180.00

+0.39%

08:28:44

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

3.87

+0.02

+0.23%

08:26:11

Source: Bloomberg

In his response, the leader of the Ezewaribo Family, Chief Martins Aweibo thanked the Board for attracting the pipemill project to the community and expressed hope that it will help transform the fortunes of the populace.

“We want the project to take off immediately because it will benefit my family, Bayelsa State and Nigeria in general,” he stated.

Aweibo also assured the Board and the proposed investors that members of the community were peaceful and would not present any problems to the project.

Officials of the Board confirmed that the formal groundbreaking ceremony of the project will be held soon as all hands were on deck to kick start the project.

When established, the pipe mill will help meet the annual industry line pipe demand estimated at over 800,000 tons per annum, arising from the projected demands from Gas Master Plan, replacement of aged pipes and development of new fields.

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Energy Week

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

PIB: NEITI urges NASS to consider stakeholders’ inputs CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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igerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has urged the National Assembly to take advantage of its memorandum submitted on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), saying the document would provide crucial facts, information and data required for proper consideration of the bill.

The PIB has passed the first, second readings and has progressed to the committee stage at the Senate, while the House of Representatives has also set up a special ad-hoc committee to facilitate legislative proceedings on the bill.

According to NEITI, the memorandum is a result of deliberations at national stakeholders forum in Lagos in September 2012 which provided opportunity for companies, investors, legislators, government, CSOs and general public to discuss the content of the Bill.

In a statement made available to National Mirror, the Director of communications, Mr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, noted that stakeholders worked with NEITI to examine, discuss, review and situate the contents of the bill on the scale of transparency, accountability, and good corporate governance.

He said: “It is the hope of NEITI that its submission will provide crucial facts, information and data required by the National Assembly to make best decisions on the Bill as outlined in our recommendations. NEITI is set, ready and willing to defend its positions with

Be impartial to Jonathan’s transformation agenda –Uranta

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Mitee

IT IS THE HOPE OF NEITI THAT ITS SUBMISSION WILL PROVIDE CRUCIAL FACTS, INFORMATION AND DATA REQUIRED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO MAKE BEST DECISIONS ON THE BILL AS OUTLINED IN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS a formal presentation during the public hearing on the PIB” According to him, the memo also covered other issues such as metering system, contract management as well as an indebt analysis of the fiscal provisions in the draft legislation, adding it also

drew attention to international comparisons and best practices.

It maintained that NEITI hopes for a PIB that reflects the principles and spirit of openness, fair play, healthy competition, efficiency, professionalism and prudent resources management.

Sada seeks regional collaboration in mining industry CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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n a bid to develop the minerals and metals sector, the Federal Government has called on African countries to collaborate towards having a Common Mining Regime in the African continent.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Mohammed Sada made the call when he received in audience, the Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to Nigeria, Dr. Tagelsir Mahgoub Ali in his office.

According to Sada, there was the need to develop a common mining regime in ensuring value addition to the mineral resources exploited in Africa in order to forestall the problem of flight of mineral resources outside the continent.

“One of the best ways to move forward is to cooperate, join forces among ourselves to add value to the minerals and be shielded from being shortchanged to ensure common exploration regime,” he said.

Sada enumerated various reforms ranging from legal and institutional frameworks that had been put in place to develop the Nigeria’s minerals and metals sector.

The minister said part of the reforms in Nigeria’s minerals and metals sector gave birth to the Nigerian Institute

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sada

of Mining and Geosciences, Jos, Plateau state that offers mining courses in Mining Project Development, Mining Engineering and Minerals Exploration, among others.

He said the focus of the government was to make the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences, Jos, a centre of excellence in human capacity development, noting that, the institute was already proffering solutions to some of the problems facing the minerals and

metals sector.

He reaffirmed the existing relationship between Sudan and Nigeria, adding that, other neighboring countries should embrace similar mining reforms in order to move the minerals and the metals sector forward in the African continent.

Earlier, Ambassador Ali said the purpose of the visit was to seek for more collaboration with the Nigerian government especially in the area of mining for African renaissance.

He lauded the existing relationship between Nigeria and Sudan.

He expressed the readiness of the Sudanese government to collaborate with the Nigerian government in different areas of the economy.

He noted that Nigeria and Sudan has a warm relationship with about 8 million Nigerians in Sudan.

Ali also noted that Sudan with its huge potentials in mining had a trade volume of $3.6 billion retail from gold in the year 2012 with about 20 mining companies exploiting gold resource.

According to the Ambassador, other mineral resources in Sudan include Copper, Uranium and others.

He also extended a hand of fellowship to prospective investors from Nigeria for business investment in other areas of the Sudanese economy.

he Secretary-General, United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), Comrade Tony Uranta has called for an unbiased disposition toward assessing President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation stride.

He stated this shortly after an independent assessment of Niger Delta Development Commission’s fast tracked hostel alleged to have been abandoned at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.

“The Transformation Agenda of Mr. President is on track. We must report to Nigerians honestly about the giant strides of Dr. Jonathan so far in governance.

“We have done an on the spot check in the university hostel and from what we have seen, work is progressing appreciably. It is most uncharitable for anyone to say that this project has been abandoned”, Uranta said.

Uranta who faulted some aspect of the Presidential Monitoring Committee on NDDC report, emphasised that though some projects have been seemingly abandoned, plans were on to reactivate them.

The member, Federal Government’s Technical Committee on Niger Delta commended the NDDC Board and management for placing on the front burner the re-activation of abandoned project sites in line with President Jonathan’s directive.

The RSUST Hostel project manager, Engineer Ebi George told the Niger Delta group that going by the work schedule and progress so far, he was confident that the hostel would be completed in May. “We are now mounting the door frames and fitting the glass windows. Generally, we are working on the internal fittings which will be completed in a few weeks time”.

Also, NDDC has inaugurated 20 projects in Cross River State. The projects, acknowledged by leaders of beneficiary communities as having improved the living conditions of the people include roads, classroom blocks, electrification and solarpowered water supply.

Inaugurating the projects, NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Christian Oboh, represented by Cross River State Representative on the Board of the Commission, Dominic Edem, said the Commission was determined to complete its projects.

Oboh said gone were the days when children learn under trees and trek long distance to fetch water from the streams, disclosing that “NDDC will bridge the gap by ensuring that the people have adequate classrooms to learn and potable water to drink”.

Head of Akim Akim Qua clan in Odukpani Local Government Area, Chief Francis Omin, thanked the commission for bringing projects to the community.

“We thank the NDDC for their intervention. The light will attract investors and open the way for economic activities”.

The Chairman of Abi Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Elemi thanked the commission for finding his community worthy of the projects, and pledged maximum utilisation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

39

FG instructs NERC to start importation of meters UDEME AKPAN

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he roll out of electricity meters is set to receive a major boost as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory commission (NERC), gives the go ahead to distribution companies to commence implementation of an alternative funding scheme that will see to the rapid deployment of electricity meters.

This is coming at the heels of a presentation made yesterday by Dr. Sam Amadi – Chairman/CEO of NERC, to the Presidential Action Committee on Power (PACP).

The PACP has agreed with the recommendations made by NERC, and has asked for the immediate implementation of this scheme known as “Credit Advance Payment for Meter Installation – CAPMI”.

The scheme was designed as an alternative for customers who are willing to advance money to their distribution companies for speedy installation of prepayment meters. One of the top priorities of the Commission is ensuring that the huge number of unmetered customers is reduced as rapidly as possible, and within the shortest possible time. By doing so, the menace of “crazy billing” and other commercial losses will be greatly curtailed.

In June 2012, NERC had announced that customers were no longer required to pay

for electricity meters because the new tariff, at the time, had incorporated the cost of the meter in the fixed charge component of the bill. This unfortunately, has not worked as well as the Commission had expected, and nine months after the announcement, an unacceptable number of Nigerians still remain without meters. This prompted NERC to act quickly in coming up with customer centered alternatives.

CAPMI is an optional scheme that has been designed to allow willing customers advance money to their distribution company in exchange for the installation of meters. Once meters have been installed under this new scheme, customers are then refunded for the cost of the meter by way of monthly reductions on the fixed charge element of their electricity bills over time.

NERC has developed processes that ensure that the advance payments will be secure, and made in a transparent manner to dedicated bank accounts in selected banks.

The Commission has also developed guidelines for the procurement and installation of the meters by accredited vendors and installers. Local manufacturers of meters will be given priority over importers, all of whom will be subject to strict guidelines and standards set by the Commission.

NERC is mindful of the fact that there are customers who have in the past made payments for meters to their electricity

Amadi

companies and will ensure that customers who made these payments from January 1, 2011 are supplied within a stipulated period.

This scheme is optional and will not be imposed on customers. Only those who are willing to advance money for meters may partake in the scheme. The distribution

Samsung Heavy, Nigeria LNG in talks over four tankers

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amsung Heavy Industries Co., the world’s second-largest shipyard, is in talks to supply Nigeria LNG Limited with four ships as leading exporter of liquefied natural gas seeks to expand its deliveries abroad.

A Lagos-based spokeswoman Gloria Ita-Ikpeme informed Bloomberg that Nigeria LNG was still working on the proposed deal.

A spokesman for Samsung Heavy said negotiations were making progress toward an agreement.

Nigeria LNG operates the Bonny Island plant with six production units able to produce 21.7 million metric tons of the gas a year, or about 8 percent of the world total, according to data from the International Group of LNG Importers.

The company has long-term contracts with buyers in Europe and is seeking to boost shipments eastward to meet growing demand from Asia.

Plans to boost the tanker fleet of Nigeria LNG’s shipping unit, Bonny Gas Transport Ltd., include an order with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. for two ships.

The expansion follows a $1 billion loan brokered by BNP Paribas SA, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Africa Finance Corp.

Nigeria LNG exported 333 cargoes in 2012, the most since sales began in 1999, according to its website. State-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. is the biggest shareholder with 49 percent. Units of Shell, Total SA and Eni SpA hold 26 percent, 15 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Nigeria LNG Limited stated that the Nigeria LNG project is considered one of the most important economic projects being carried out in Nigeria. The project is a vital part

of the Federal Government’s diversification programme and has already generated significant revenues and foreign exchange for the nation.

It maintained that overall; the major subcontractors employed about 18,000 Nigerians in technical jobs in the base project.

These jobs attracted about 500 expatriates who played mainly supervisory roles during the base project.

The firm stated that: “These Nigerians, with enhanced skills of their trades will be entering the Nigerian industry. This is one of the veritable routes of technology acquisition through the project into the Nigerian economy.

The Third Train expansion project employed about 7000 personnel at its peak.

It also stated that the greatest impact of the project has been on the host communities of Bonny Island particularly

LNG vessel

in the areas of housing, catering and transportation.

The company stated that: “In addition, a number of service industries were attracted to the Island notable among which were catering, Joint Venture Companies in the area of equipment and spare parts manufacturing.

The considerable financial transaction could be witnessed by the number of banks that were attracted to the Island.

It also maintained that: “One of the banks hit a record of four corporate and 30 individual customers within the first two weeks of its operations despite the requirement of N20,000 (USD200) minimum deposits for current accounts and 10,000 (USD 100) minimum deposits for savings accounts. This was, then, a feat unmatched anywhere within the country.”

companies are to implement this scheme until the core investors take over, expectedly by the third quarter of 2013.

In the meantime, CAPMI is to be subjected to a rigorous consultation process, commencing with a meeting with the core investors of the privatized electricity distribution companies.

PHCN tackles blackout UDEME AKPAN

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he nation’s power generation, transmission and supply have recorded improvement, thus enabling consumers of electricity to heave a sigh of relief.

Electricity supply was crippled nationwide following a major system collapse last week. The system collapse caused consumers to experienced darkness in virtually all parts of the nation.

Investigations however showed that the both generation, transmission and distribution companies have recorded improvements in their operations which culminated in improved supplies to consumers.

A source close to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, responsible for evacuating generated electric power from Generating Companies and wheeling it to Distribution Companies said the situation would likely continue to improve in the coming days.

He said: “We expect the situation to improve because every institution was committed to making positive impact.

The official said the blackout was a function of grid system disturbance.

The engineers were moved in to address, thus culminated to improved supply we are experiencing.

Investigations showed that power generation which dropped significant was gradually being recovered, even though consumers were yet to feel the impact.

A reliable source in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), who confirmed the slow recovery said: “Electricity generation has gone up to over 4,000 megawatts.

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Energy Week

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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Afren records growth in Ebok, Okoro fields UDEME AKPAN

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major operator in the nation’s petroleum industry, Afren has recorded growth in its operations at its Ebok and Okoro fields as a result of increase in output and oil prices.

Net working interest production in 2012 increased to 43,059 bpd (including OML 26), representing a year-on-year increase of 123. During the period, turnover increased by 151per cent to $1,499 million (2011: $597 million) with profits after tax increasing by 62per cent to $203 million.

The firm stated in its latest report that cash flow from operations during the period increased by 177per cent to $935million (2011: $338 million), equivalent to $60 per flowing barrel, a level that we believe is sustainable given the pipeline of existing production and appraisal opportunities within our portfolio.

“2012 was a year of excellent exploration success with three significant discoveries announced at the Okoro Field Extension and Ebok North Fault Block, both offshore Nigeria, and at the Ain Sifni PSC, Kurdistan region of Iraq, representing an E&A success ratio of 88per cent.

It stated that: “Our discoveries in Nigeria have added 39 mmbbls of net working interest 2P reserves, representing a reserves replacement ratio of 265 per cent, an increase in net reserves to 210 mmboe.

By leveraging our fast track development skills and utilising existing infrastructure, we have commenced early production from both the Okoro Field Extension and Ebok North Fault Block, both within ten months of discovery.”

The firm stated that in addition, on March 25, 2013 and subject to shareholders approval, Afren is seeking to consolidate its holding in First Hydrocarbon Nigeria (FHN) following the exercise by a third party of a put option, which will give Afren a 54.8per cent beneficial interest in FHN. It maintained that post accounting

Okoro fields

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE SIGNED A $300 MILLION SENIOR SECURED

EBOK FACILITY, AT LIBOR PLUS 4-4.8PER CENT, WITH NO SCHEDULED REPAYMENTS UNTIL

JANUARY 2015 (POST PERIOD END) consolidation; pro-forma net 2P reserves of the Group are expected to be approximately 270 mmboe. A separate announcement has been released today.

Afren stated that: “To date, our 2013 multi-well E&A campaign has delivered successful results on the Okwok apprais-

al in Nigeria and the Simrit exploration wells on the Ain Sifni PSC in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Both results are expected to further grow our reserves and resources base in 2013.

It stated that drilling on the Simrit-3 well, exploring the eastern extent of the large scale Simrit anticline is continuing and that the well is currently operating at 11,483 ft having drilled and logged hydrocarbon bearing intervals in multiple reservoirs. A multi-zone testing programme is being prepared when drilling operations conclude.

Afren stated that: “At Simrit-2, having achieved a flow rate of 13,584 bopd on test from the Triassic Kurra Chine Formation in 2012, the Partners on the Ain Sifni PSC completed three additional DSTs in the Mus, Adiayah and Butmah formations yielding incremental flow rates of 5,368 bopd of 21o API. The Partners have now successfully tested six

out of 12 zones which in aggregate have yielded flow rates of 18,952 bopd. The remaining testing operations will focus on Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous reservoirs.”

It maintained that in addition, following the successful completion of the three well appraisal campaigns across three separate fault blocks at Okwok, the Partners have encountered total net oil pay of 256 ft in the ‘D’ series reservoirs.

Afren stated that at this stage, management estimates gross recoverable reserves of 52 mmbbls (subject to FDP approval). Over the remainder of the year we have further wells planned across the Ebok/Okwok/OML 115 area to derisk further upside potential that we believe can be rapidly commercialised and developed over the short to medium term.

The firm stated that: “Net debt, excluding finance leases, as at 31 December 2012 was $488 million (31 December 2011: $548 million) with cash at bank of $525 million (31 December 2011: $292 million). 2012 full year capital expenditure was $523 million; forecast 2013 capital expenditure is approximately $620 million.

It maintained that: “We are delighted to have signed a $300 million senior secured Ebok facility, at Libor plus 4-4.8per cent, with no scheduled repayments until January 2015 (post period end). The facility has been arranged and fully underwritten by BNP Paribas, Citi and Natixis and replaces the existing Ebok RBL facility.”

Afren also stated that: “With an exciting work programme in 2013 encompassing both established and new basins, we expect to further consolidate our leading position in Nigeria, further demonstrate the quality of our asset base in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and open up new oil and gas basins in East Africa. With numerous opportunities for growth, 2013 promises to be another year of achievement for Afren and we are well placed to continue to deliver superior returns for our shareholders.”

NNPC GED heads African Refiners Association

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he African Refiners Association, ARA has elected Engineer Anthony Ogbuigwe, the Group Executive Director, Refining and Petro-chemicals of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC as its new President. Engr. Ogbuigwe who until June, 2012 was the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, PHRC, Alesa -Eleme, replaces Angola’s Mrs. Anabella Fonseca, Vice President of state owned Sonangol.

Engr. Ogbuigwe emerged President at the end of the African Refiners Association 8th annual conference in Cape Town, South Africa held March 18 to 22.

The ARA event is roundly regarded as the most important meeting place for the African downstream petroleum industry.

In his acceptance speech the new ARA President stated four broad objectives: Improving the efficiency and reliability of operation of African Refineries, fostering the production, marketing and

distribution of high quality petroleum products to drive the anticipated and ongoing high growth of African economies, to work with the African Union and regional Groups like ECOWAS, SADEC and COMESA to ensure that the AFRI 1 to 5 specifications are adopted and enforced in Africa to protect the health and wellbeing of the continent, it’s people and the environment as well as to grow ARA as a strong Association for sharing of best practices in HSE, reliability centered maintenance, competence and technological development.

He is happy with the fact that members were in full agreement that it is vital to encourage governments and regional associations to assist in establishing common fuel specifications. This, it is believed, should be done within economic zones and common fiscal structures along regional supply chains.

“This will encourage free trade between neighbouring countries, avoid smuggling

and adulteration, and help create the regional cross-border optimisation that is necessary for an efficient low cost product supply,” he said.

A self- driven professional with considerable experience in management of large scale process plants and Engineering Procurement and Construction projects, Engr.

Ogbuigwe has had an extensive career in the Oil Industry spanning over 35 years commencing from the premier Nigerian Petroleum Refining Company Limited, Alesa- Eleme in 1976. He joined the NNPC in 1977 and was assigned to the Warri Refinery Project. He was on the team that commissioned and started up the Refinery in 1978. After the Refinery had attained steady and profitable operation, he was transferred to the Kaduna Refinery Project and sent to Japan on attachment to Refineries there.

Upon return in 1980, he was part of the team that commissioned and started up the

Kaduna Refinery. It is on record that Engr.

Ogbuigwe was responsible for the startup of the KRPC famous Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit that maximizes production of premium motor spirit otherwise called petrol.

In October 1981, Tony proceeded to Glasgow for an M.Sc. course in Plant & Process design on a study leave. Upon his return, he was re-assigned to the Projects & Engineering Division at the NNPC Corporate headquarters.

He was part of the Owner’s Project Management Team that subsequently engineered, constructed and commissioned the New Port Harcourt Refinery. Final start-up and profitable operation was achieved in 1989. After a fire that damaged sections of the Old PH Refinery early that year, he was again assigned to the Team that rehabilitated and modernized that Refinery and restored it back to operation in 1991.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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42

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Inadequate funding, major challenge for Indigenous oil and gas companies still occupy an insignificant position in the operations of the nation’s oil and gas industry despite efforts to increase local content. In this interview with UDEME AKPAN, the Technical Director, Chrome Group, Mr. Adebanji Babarinde speaks on many topical issues, including local content in the industry.

What is the level of indigenous participation in the petroleum industry?

Comparatively, the multinationals still dominate the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry involving exploration and production and refining, distribution and marketing respectively. The main reason is that it was the multinationals that started oil operations in the nation. Massive investments were made over the years since 1956 when the first oil find was made at Oloibiri in the present Bayelsa State. These investments were made possible following the allocation of oil blocks and favourable Federal Government policies as well as incentives targeted at boosting reserves and production capacity.

What is the nation’s present production capacity and future target?

The nation’s present oil production capacity is put at 2.5 million barrels per day. There was a time the nation even produced up to 2.7 million barrels per day, including condensates. But there are plans to hit 4o million barrels per day by 2020.

Where do you place indigenous firms?

The indigenous firms are doing their best. Many firms have been encouraged to go into business. Giant strides have been made in many sectors, including upstream and downstream. There are also many firms that are getting involved in the provision of specialized services to major operators.

What is the position of your company within the oil and gas industry?

Kaztec Engineering Limited is an indigenous operator established in 2005 to carryout business in the nation’s oil and gas industry. Specifically, the firm is involved in the fabrication of drilling and production platforms, as well as other specialized structures. The company provides turnkey onshore and offshore fabrication and installation services.

Its core capabilities include engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning of offshore and onshore oil and gas facilities for the oil and gas industry in West Africa. Kaztec values cultural individuality, a work ethic bound by quality, employee safety, and a strong focus on its clientele. Kaztec’s corporate headquarters is in Abuja, Nigeria. The company is a subsidiary of the Chrome Group, one of nation’s leading indigenous conglomerates with interest in oil and gas exploration and production, oil and gas servicing, engineering, insurance, logistics and power industries.

What are the major policies of your organisation?

The policy of Kaztec Engineering Limited is to meet the customer as well as statutory and regulatory authority requirements and expectations through the development and maintenance of Safety and Quality Management System in consonance with global standards. This management system shall be the means through which the company’s mission, policies and quality objectives will be achieved. It is our policy to provide safe and environmentally

Babarinde

THE INDIGENOUS FIRMS ARE DOING THEIR BEST. MANY FIRMS HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO GO INTO BUSINESS.

GIANT

STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE IN MANY SECTORS, INCLUDING UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM friendly services at all times. The objectives of the policy are to prevent death or injury to personnel, damage to facilities, fabrication yards and property as well as guard against environmental pollution. We are committed to providing the necessary training and resources for meeting its objectives, and continuously improving the safety record of the company to meet local and international safety standards. The employees are expected to demonstrate self-discipline, safety consciousness, and take steps to prevent injury to themselves and others. We acknowledge that personnel are our biggest assets and therefore place emphasis on their welfare and safety. We will continue to implement this policy at all levels of the organisation. The company believes in maintaining a safe, hazard free working environment.

The consumption of drugs and alcohol on any marine vessel, offshore installation or work site operated/ owned by the Company is strictly prohibited.

In what ways are you committed to local content, especially in terms of shareholding and management?

Kaztec is 100 percent Nigerian owned. The management is also fully Nigerian. In terms of Staff expertise, less than 20 percent expatriate staff are engaged in the offshore installation jobs. It may interest you to note that all our onshore installations are handled entirely

by Nigerians.

Which project do you consider as the most challenging in terms of conception and execution?

Some completed projects were challenging. But I think Addax TB: 1921 contract is the most challenging in terms of coverage and variety. This is a multi-year contract, covering the installation of numerous subsea facilities including pipelines, risers, spool pieces and other seabed equipment. It involves the installation of platforms, structures and topside facilities and the hookup of above water facilities in many locations offshore the nation. There will be many campaigns during the life of this contract, which is expected to last at least three years. It is also challenging as it involves five separate and different offshore construction spreads, and many ancillary support vessels to complete the work, in a variety of water depths.

Can you comment on your offshore and onshore operations?

In the offshore, Kaztec is equipped to provide turnkey onshore and offshore fabrication and installation services. Fabrication and installation of walk way bridges, wellhead jackets, decks, topsides and modules. We are equipped to carry out construction, steel fabrication and erection of new mobile offshore drill-

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Executive Discourse

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

43

local content implementation in oil industry’ regular managerial, technical and specific training.

ing unit and shipbuilding. We carry out piping fabrication and installation. We handle structural works, including steel modules and painting. The firm is involved in turnkey repairs to spud-can, mud-mats, shock foundations, and jack-up rigs using semi-submersibles and cofferdams techniques and corrosion protection services. We carry out turnkey projects for revamp of plant piping and structural works, including pre- engineering surveys, preparation of Isometric and bill of materials, transportation, prefabrication of spools and supports and structures at site, storage of equipment and materials, erection, hook up and commissioning.

Does these illustrate that the nation has made progress in its local content policy implementation?

I think we are making tremendous progress. Many indigenous firms have made giant strides in the onshore (land), offshore (water) and even the deep offshore. There are also many indigenous operators that have supported the operations of the majors through quality engineering products and services. Take our firm as an example, our plans for 2013 and going forward, we want to do what we have been doing better.

We are putting up a fabrication yard at the Snake Island in Lagos and with that facility we should be able to fabricate jackets, topsides, and develop a lot of talents in the process all within Nigeria. Some of the ongoing projects include field development for Addax, which involves installation of subsea pipes, topsides, decks, risers platforms and commissioning of facilities. Some may be replacement of pipes, which involves removing old pipes and putting new ones there. The field development is to contribute towards production of more crude oil by Addax.

Let me say that it would not have been possible for us to accomplish these and other strides without the Local Content Act. The Act is the best thing that has happened to the nation, particularly in the area of indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry. The Act has indeed enabled many indigenous operations to make bold steps as well as build their capacities.

We are rest assured that once we have these assets, we have the law backing us up to get jobs from the international oil companies (IOCs) and that is helping. We have been engaged in the Addax job for three years. If not for the Local Content Act, this job could have gone to foreigners. We couldn’t have had the courage to put our money in these expensive assets.

What importance do you attach to research and development?

The firm attaches much importance to research and development. Kaztec Engineering Limited has already launched a Research and Development Division in order to meet the ever-growing demands of the oil and gas industry. The Division is headed by Dr. Njideka Kelley. She is the founder of New Generation Consulting Resources and Solutions Ltd. Kaztec’s Research and Development Division has the mandate to explore new methods for manufacturing and maintaining pipelines both locally and internationally. The company sponsor research into the use of specific materials and technologies for solving leak problems in pipelines.

Can you comment on the quality of indigenous personnel in the industry?

The nation is blessed with indigenous competent personnel that can compete with their foreign counterparts. Stakeholder in the industry, especially employers have a lot to do in order to continuously improve on the quality of our human capital. They should engage them in training as well as provide adequate welfare for them. If they fail to do so, the personnel would likely move to other organisations with better welfare packages. This partly explains why we subject our workforce to regular development through

How do you cope with communal and other challenges in the Niger Delta?

It is true that much of our operations take place in the Niger Delta. We do not have any major issues because we have in place some policies and processes to regulate our operations, especially in the area of community relations. In order words, we have adopted our communities as indispensable partner. This has brought us more closely to the communities, thus enabling them in most cases to perceive us as good corporate citizens. We have a Community Relations Policy that is targeted at engaging them on a continuous basis. The firm also has a Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, which are aimed at improving or providing infrastructure, engagement of community members into the workforce, direct financial payments to key community projects or groups.

THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT STARE US IN THE FACE.

I THINK ONE OF THE

MAJOR CONSTRAINTS IS LACK OF FUNDS.

UNLIKE THEIR FOREIGN COUNTERPARTS, INDIGENOUS COMPANIES DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO

RELATIVELY CHEAP FUNDS TO BOOST OPERATIONS

What other problems do indigenous operators encounter in the industry?

There are some issues that stare us in the face. I think one of the major constraints is lack of funds.

Unlike their foreign counterparts, indigenous companies do not have access to relatively cheap funds to boost operations. It could have been easy for local firms to make more strides if they have access to more funds. It should be noted that despite this and other constraints Kaztec has been able to sustain operations through the adoption and implementation of some creative measures.

Any recent awards?

We have won some awards. These include the plaque and Certificate of Recognition which Addax Petroleum Development (Nigeria) Limited, a subsidiary of the Sinopec Group presented to us.

Addax is one of the largest oil and gas producers in China, the biggest oil refiner in Asia and the third largest worldwide honored referred to us as “a perfor mance focused company with potential for increased quality service delivery”.

Kaztec was awarded the Nigerian Content Development Award 2012 recognition for Outstanding Perfor mance and Delivery, at the 1st Addax Executive Development Seminar held on February 6, 2013, at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The award aims at recognising business executives who can leverage off the opportunities created by the Nigerian oil and gas industry Content Development Act, the Addax Executive Seminar also aims at increasing awareness and stimulating the Nigerian Content. Extolling the virtues of Kaztec, the General Manager, Supply Chain, Addax Petroleum Development (Nigeria) Limited, Mr. Valentine Agwu, said that under the Addax Alliance Contracting policy, they sought to align the commercial interests of Addax and Kaztec to avoid win-lose scenarios; accept a collective responsibility for risk, performance and risk-reward outcomes (gain-sharing/ pain-sharing), and form integrated teams to develop and implement strategies for the success of projects, among others. Kaztec was also awarded the “Best Oil Service Company of the Year”, by the National Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC) in 2012.

Do you have any advise to other stakeholders, especially the Federal Government?

Making giant strides in the industry demands increased involvement of many parties, particularly all levels of government, investors, communities, contractors and financiers. These and others must work as a team to enable the nation meet set targets in many areas, especially local content development and capacity building of indigenous operators.

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Global Business

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rders for United States durable goods climbed more than forecast in February, propelled by automobiles and a rebound in commercial aircraft.

Bookings for goods meant to last at least three years rose 5.7 percent, the most since September, after a 3.8 percent drop the prior month, a Commerce Department report showed yesterday in Washington. The median forecast of 80 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 3.9 percent advance.

Figures on capital goods pointed to a pickup in business spending this quarter.

Gains in auto and home purchases may keep benefiting manufacturers from 3M Co. (MMM) to United Technologies Corp.

(UTX), leading to increases in output that are giving the economy a lift. Additionally, business investment in new equipment is picking up as companies look past the budget negotiations in Washington and focus on expanding capacity as demand improves.

“The capital-spending picture is improving,” said Michael Carey, chief economist for North America at Credit Agricole CIB in New York, who projected a 6 percent gain in orders. “The broader economy is

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Orders for U.S durable goods rise more than forecast

Obama

continuing to move forward. The second half looks like it’s going to be stronger, and businesses are poised for that.”

Stock-index futures held earlier gains after the report. The contract on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index maturing in June rose 0.2 percent to 1,549.6 at 8:51 a.m. in New York.

Japan’s fiscal impasse threatens stimulus to spur growth

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apan’s political gridlock threatens to curtail the government’s ability to apply fiscal stimulus as a rebound falters in the world’s third-largest economy.

Opposition parties in the upper house of parliament stymied legislation approved in the lower house August 28 that enables the issuance of 38.3 trillion yen ($490 billion) of deficit- financing bonds, seeking to force Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda into an early election. The government could hit a spending ceiling as soon as October, according to the Finance Ministry.

The freeze may suspend outlays from this year’s budget for the first time, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and limits Noda from proceeding with the supplementary spending package he mooted in July. With economists increasingly seeing an economic contraction this quarter, the deadlock adds to risks facing global expansion that include a so-called fiscal cliff of spending cuts and tax increases in the U.S. at year-end.

“The impasse on deficit-covering bonds may delay the compilation of a stimulus package and would be a drag for the economy,” said Taro Saito, Tokyo-based director of economic research at NLI Research Institute and a past winner of a Japan Center for Economic Research award for accuracy in forecasting. “This is not as severe as the U.S. fiscal cliff but could be said to be Japan’s fiscal slope.”

Japanese stocks headed for a fourth day of declines, the longest losing streak in more than a month, on pessimism about the global expansion. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average was down 0.4 percent Monday in Tokyo. The yen was at 78.37 per dollar, about 4 percent from its postwar high, underscoring the threat to exporters of a strong currency.

Besides exchange-rate appreciation, Japan’s manufacturers are facing diminishing demand abroad, hurt by the European crisis, China’s slowdown and stunted

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Estimates for durable goods in the Bloomberg survey ranged from a drop of 0.1 percent to a 6.5 percent gain.

The data were boosted by a 95.3 percent surge in bookings for commercial aircraft, according to the Commerce Department’s report. Boeing Co., the Chicago-based aerospace company, said it received orders for

RBA sees rate cuts working as currency helps stabilise economy

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Yoshihiko Noda

American growth. A government report yesterday showed capital spending rose 6.6 percent in the second quarter from a year before, less than the 7.8 percent median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey.

This report spurred economists to cut forecasts for Japan’s second-quarter gross domestic product, initially reported at an annualised 1.4 percent gain. Officials may pare that calculation to 0.9 percent on September 10, according to the median of seven projections in a Bloomberg survey.

179 aircraft in February, up from two in January.

Demand for autos also contributed to the gains as bookings climbed 3.8 percent last month, the most since July. Cars and light trucks sold at a 15.3 million annual rate in February after a 15.2 million pace the prior month, Ward’s Automotive Group data showed.

Excluding demand for transportation equipment, which is often volatile, orders decreased 0.5 percent in February, the first decline in six months. January’s gain was revised up to 2.9 percent from a prior estimate of 2.3 percent.

February ex-transportation bookings were projected to rise 0.6 percent, according to the Bloomberg survey median.

Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a proxy for future business investment in items like computers, engines and communications gear, decreased 2.7 percent after jumping 6.7 percent the previous month. The surge in January was the biggest since March 2010.

he Reserve Bank of Australia said the economy is responding to low interest rates and Deputy Governor Philip Lowe indicated a higher currency and savings levels allowed for lower borrowing costs even as mining boomed.

The impact of the policy easing “still had further to run,” the RBA said in minutes today of the March 5 meeting where it kept its key rate at 3 percent. “While further reductions may be required, on the information currently to hand it was appropriate to hold rates steady.”

Australia’s dollar averaged $1.0380 in the past two years, more than 30 cents above the level of the prior two decades, spurred by near-zero rates in the U.S. and Japan, and the crisis in the European Union. Lowe said yesterday the EU’s decision to force Cypriot savers into a bailout was a “step back” for the region and could increase instability in the financial system.

“The fact that this approach of haircutting depositors has been sanctioned could lead the public to think it could happen again,” Lowe said in response to audience questions following a speech in Sydney. “It could make the system more

susceptible to bank runs and that’s something that the authorities in Europe will have to watch very, very carefully.”

The RBA’s No. 2 official said in his speech earlier that the Australian currency’s strength and a savings ratio that soared after the financial crisis -- it was 10.1 percent last quarter, from minus 0.1 percent in the first three months of 2006 -- is helping stabilise the economy.

Lowe

UK inflation quickens to fastest in nine months

U

nited Kingdom inflation accelerated to the fastest pace in nine months in February and factorygate prices increased twice as much as forecast as energy costs surged.

Consumer prices rose 2.8 percent from a year earlier, compared with 2.7 percent in January, the Office for National Statistics said in London today.

That matched the median of 35 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. Producer prices increased 0.8 percent in February from the previous month, the most since April 2011.

Higher energy bills and a weaker pound have fueled price pressures in recent months. That’s adding to the

squeeze on consumers as they brace for another austerity budget by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne tomorrow. With price gains above the Bank of England’s 2 percent target, Osborne may also flag changes to the central bank’s mandate to give policy makers more flexibility to stimulate growth.

“The economy is going nowhere fast and the BOE has said it will essentially look through above-target inflation,” said Rob Wood, an economist at Berenberg Bank in London. “Whether of its own volition, or because the chancellor tweaks its inflation remit in the budget, we continue to expect the BOE to add more monetary stimulus this year.”

The pound erased its decline against the dollar after the data were published.

It was trading at $1.5117 as of 10:11 a.m. in London, up 0.1 percent from yesterday.

Housing, water, electricity and gas added 0.11 percentage point to annual inflation in February -- the biggest upward impact. That reflects increases in utility bills, the statistics office said.

This report also showed that retailprice inflation, a measure used in wage negotiations, cooled to 3.2 percent in February from 3.3 percent in January.

The retail-price index excluding mortgage-interest payments was at 3.2 percent.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global Business

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

45

Sarris muffles calls for Cyprus’s exit from Euro area

F

inance Minister Michael Sarris sought to muffle calls for Cyprus to weigh a precedent-setting exit from the euro to ease the economic pain inflicted by the country’s 10 billion-euro ($13 billion) bailout.

The option of eventually pulling out of the currency was floated yesterday by a Nobel prize winner now advising the government, Christopher Pissarides, and Nicholas Papadopoulos, head of the parliament’s finance committee.

“It would be catastrophic to even talk or entertain the idea and much less exit the euro zone,” Sarris said in a Bloomberg Television interview with Ryan Chilcote in Nicosia today. “Our place is in Europe, our place is in the euro zone and we will do whatever it takes to stay there.”

Restrictions on money transfers probably won’t be loosened for weeks as the island digests the impact of the European decision to close the secondlargest Cypriot bank and impose losses on uninsured depositors, he said.

Sarris

Cypriot banks have been closed except for limited cash- machine withdrawals since an initial, later revised, rescue accord was reached on March 16.

S. Korea expands at slowest pace since global downturn

Geun Hye

S

outh Korea’s economy expanded last quarter at the slowest pace since the global recession, underscoring the case for stimulus by the new government and concern that a weaker yen will curb exports.

Gross domestic product rose 1.5 percent from a year ago, unchanged from Janu-

ary’s initial estimate, the Bank of Korea said today in Seoul. GDP grew 0.3 percent from the third quarter, the second-lowest rate since 2009, which compares with the original figure of 0.4 percent expansion.

Slower growth in Asia’s fourth-largest economy strengthens the rationale for a supplementary budget that President Park Geun Hye may announce this week.

It may also add pressure for an interestrate cut as early as April, after Finance Minister Hyun Oh Seok said March 23 that the yen, down 18 percent against the won in the past six months, is “flashing a red light” for South Korean exports.

“A rate cut in April or within the second quarter would make sense not only because of today’s downward revision, but also because an interest-rate cut then will maximize the effect of stimulus coming soon,” said Sun Yoo, a Seoul-based economist at Woori Investment & Securities Co. The yen has fallen against all 16 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg in the past six months. The won rose 0.1 percent against the dollar as of 11:51 a.m., poised for a second straight gain. The Kospi

Spanish unemployment to swell as public jobs vanish

J

erez de La Frontera, a Spanish town of 214,000 in southern Andalusia, is negotiating with unions to fire 13 percent of the 2,000 government workers who absorb 80 percent of its budget. “It’s not easy because these are people and families,” said deputy mayor Antonio Saldana.

With a quarter of Spain’s workforce already jobless, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s efforts to retain investor confidence by shaving more than twothirds off the nation’s budget deficit by 2014 will worsen the highest unemployment rate in the European Union. Tenyear yields at 6.86 percent mean “we can’t finance ourselves,” Rajoy said on September 1.

“There’s going to be less hiring and

more firing for the spending cuts to be made,” said Ricardo Santos, an economist at BNP Paribas SA in London who sees unemployment climbing to 27 percent next year from 24.6 percent currently. “The more unemployment persists, the more difficult it’ll be for the government to meet budget goals and implement reforms.”

Television stations, airports, hospitals, schools, fire brigades and social services from Spain’s southernmost tip to the Balearic islands in the east are reducing headcount as Rajoy tasks regions and municipalities with shouldering 60 percent of the cuts needed to reduce the budget shortfall to 2.8 percent of gross domestic product in the next two years.

The government yesterday extended the bank holiday until Thursday, to get the island’s financial plumbing ready.

Controls on capital movements to

prevent money from draining out of the banking system -- allowed in exceptional circumstances under European Union law -- will remain for “a matter of weeks,” Sarris said.

Viable Assets Sarris said restrictions may be “less stringent” on banks other than Bank of Cyprus Plc, the largest bank, which will take over viable assets left over from the shutdown of Cyprus Popular Bank Pcl (CPB), the second-largest.

“We are having deliberations together with bankers and our partners to see what is the right balance between controls that will not cripple the economy, that will allow the economy to function,” Sarris said.

Cyprus’s 18 billion-euro economy is the third smallest in the 17-nation euro area. Before the bailout, which was coupled with an austerity package, the European Commission predicted a contraction of 3.5 percent in 2013. Economists said afterward that the damage will be greater.

Kuroda wants to achieve BOJ’s 2% price target in two years

H

aruhiko Kuroda said he wants 2 percent inflation in two years and pledged to buy more government bonds, underscoring the new Bank of Japan (8301) chief ’s efforts to accelerate an end to falling prices.

“Achieving the 2 percent inflation target in two years is something that I have in my mind,” Kuroda said yesterday in Parliament. He said the BOJ may scrap a rule limiting the scale of asset buying and consider purchasing more bonds with longer maturities.

The comments spurred investors’ expectations for more monetary easing, with the yen weakening and benchmark bond yields falling to a near 10-year low. Analysts at banks from JPMorgan Chase & Co. to Barclays Plc expect the BOJ to add stimulus as soon as the next policy meeting on April 3-4.

The Japanese currency was 0.2 percent weaker at 94.31 per dollar as of 11:18 a.m. in Tokyo, extending its nearly nine percent fall since the start of the year. The Nikkei 225 (NKY) Stock Average was 0.2 percent lower, while the yield on Japan’s 10- year government bond touched 0.525 percent, the least since June 2003.

Kikuo Iwata, one of two new BOJ deputy governors, told reporters last week that the central bank should commit to achieving the target for consumer-price increases within two years. He has suggested that the BOJ leadership should be prepared to resign if they fail to meet that goal.

Kuroda, who took up his post last week, today reiterated his pledge to do “whatever it takes” to end more than a decade of deflation in Japan, saying that expectations for rising prices would be positive for the world’s third-largest economy.

“It’s a strong pledge from a well-intended man, but I’m not convinced it’s going to work,” Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale University and former non-executive

chairman for Morgan Stanley in Asia, said in a Bloomberg Television interview earlier today. “It’s going to take a lot more to bring Japan out of its long slump than just another effort at quantitative easing.”

The BOJ currently buys bonds, as well as exchange-traded funds and other risk assets, through a fund targeted to reach 76 trillion yen ($805 billion) by the end of this year.

The BOJ has pledged to keep the value of its bond holdings, excluding the assetpurchase fund, below the amount of cash in circulation.

Consumer-price gains “will never reach 2 percent,” Eisuke Sakakibara, Kuroda’s direct predecessor as Japanese vice finance minister in charge of currency policy in the 1990s, said in a Bloomberg Television interview this month. “This deflation is structural. It’s a result of the integration of the Japanese economy with the rest of east Asia and it has taken place

Kuroda

46

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

ASI sheds 0.11% on profit taking DAMILOLA AJAYI

T

he benchmark index of equities continued on a bearish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors took profit from the gains recorded last week.

Specifically, the All Share index dropped by 0.11 per cent to close at 33,429.46 points, compared to the decrease of 0.12 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 33,467.78 points.

Market capitalisation depreciated by N1bn to

close at N10.6trn, lower than the depreciation of N2bn recorded the preceding day to close at N10. 7trn.

The Consumer Goods index led the sectorial indices with 1.63 per cent to close at 975.75 points, followed by the Lotus Islamic index with 1.12 per cent to close at 2198.59 points.

The Oil and Gas index rose by 0.16 per cent to close at 195.31 points, while the Banking Index appreciated by 0.06 per cent to close at 407.34 points.

The NSE 30-index increased by 0.01 per cent to close at 1,595.21 points, while the Insurance index

shed 0.19 per cent to close at 155.30 points.

RT Briscoe Plc led the gainers’ table with 16 kobo or 7.66 per cent to close at N2.25 per share, followed

by Nestle Nigeria Plc with N56.00 or 6.51 per cent to close at N916.00 per share.

Wema Bank rose by ten kobo or 6.45 per cent to close at N1.65 per share, while International Breweries Plc declined by N1.29 or 6.40 per cent to close at N21.45 per share. Fidson Heathcare Plc appreciated by nine kobo or 5.70 per cent to close at N1.67.

On the flip side, Cement Company of Northern Ni-

geria Plc lost N1.21 or ten per cent to close at N10.89 per share, while Lafarge Wapco Plc fell by N3.99 or 5.39 per cent to close at N70.00 per share.

Paint Manufacturing Company Plc dipped by eight kobo or 5.00 per cent to close at N1.52 per share, while Africa Prudential Plc declined by nine kobo or 4.89 per cent to close at N1.75 per share. UBA Capital Plc depreciated by six kobo or 4.44 per cent to close at N1.29 per share.

A total of 368 million shares valued at N3.75bn were exchanged in 5,208 deals.

Source: NSE

Source: Afrinvest

NSE launches Issuer’s Portal for online information submission DAMILOLA AJAYI

T

he Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday introduced the first ever Issuers’ Portal in the Nigerian capital market known as X-Issuer to enhance market activities.

Speaking during the launching in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, explained that Issuers Portal is one of a number of new regulatory initiatives of the Exchange that will allow online information submission for enhanced interaction between the Exchange and listed companies.

He said that the por-

tal will offer unique benefits of data capture, form submission validation and other ancillary services such as submission notification mechanisms and tracking of submitted information.

According to him, the portal is a key regulatory initiative for secure and electronic delivery of issuer information in a structured and continuous manner.

He said the Exchange introduced the system to eliminate the delay associated with submission of information in hard copy format and allows fulfilling their disclosure obligations accurately and in a timely manner.

“The portal will enhance transparency, accountability and permit analysts and other capital market professionals to have greater visibility into the activities of issuers,” Oscar said.

The Head, Listings Regulation of the NSE, Mrs. Josephine Igbinosun, stressed that X-Issuer is a secure on-line portal through which issuers will submit financial and other information to the NSE and the market from the comfort of their offices.

She noted that the portal will not only encourage transparency and accountability but will expedite the discharge of issuers ‘postlistings obligations re-

lating to structured and continuous disclosures.

Igbinosun, added that X-Issuer will eliminate leakage of price sensitive information because of the minimal time between submission by the issuer and release to the market.

She said, “The XIssuer will facilitate comparison of data by international and local investors and analysts, giving issuers’ greater visibility in the market.

“The mandatory electronic submission will put in place better coordination that will ensure information from companies is released to the market accurately and in a timely manner.”

ForexTime launches Zulutrade platform JOHNSON OKANLAWON

F

orexTime Limited has launched ZuluTrade, a platform that provides all traders with the ability to follow and mirror the activities of professional and talented traders globally.

A statement from the company yesterday explained that under the new partnership, traders can benefit from the superior execution, support and services of ForexTime, while converting the strategies of leading signal providers into live trades.

According to the state-

ment, the platform provides real-time trading 24 hours a day and the choice of trading automatically or manually.

The statement quoted the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Ms Olga Rybalkina, as saying that the new collaboration between ForexTime and ZuluTrade takes the headache out of trading for clients as they no longer have to study or monitor the market constantly.

She said, “This service is particularly valuable for traders who may not have a lot of time, those who are looking to explore new

trading strategies or those who are simply inexperienced.

“The concept of ZuluTrade is to offer an open environment where traders globally can connect and share their knowledge. There are 70,000 talented currency traders in 192 countries worldwide whose trades can be mirrored for free, and the ZuluTrade platform is fully transparent with individual trading histories available to view and assess.”

She stressed that each trader can also adjust activities to suit their desired level of risk, while ZuluTrade also

provides experts with the opportunity to gain commissions when traders mirror their activities.

“Traders wanting to mirror theactivities of someone with more experience have an abundance of different trading strategies to choose from and complete freedom in which trades they mirror.

“ForexTime traders also have the benefit of being able to intervene in each deal so that they don’t necessarily have to invest in the maximum drawdown of the trade they are mirroring, “she added.

Market indicators All-Share Index 33,429.5 points Market capitalisation 10.69 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

RTBRISCOE

2.09

2.25

0.16

NESTLE

860.00

916.00

56.00

WEMABANK

1.55

1.65

0.10

INTBREW

20.16

21.45

1.29

FIDSON

1.58

1.67

0.09

OKOMUOIL

64.04

67.24

3.20

CADBURY

33.21

34.85

1.64

IKEJAHOTEL

0.82

0.86

0.04

MCNICHOLS

1.05

1.10

0.05

LIVESTOCK

2.32

2.43

0.11

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

CCNN

12.10

10.89

WAPCO

73.99

70.00

1.21 3.99

PAINTCOM

1.60

1.52

0.08

AFRIPRUD

1.84

1.75

0.09

UBCAP

1.35

1.29

0.06

UPL

4.72

4.52

0.20

IPWA

0.77

0.74

0.03

UNITYBNK

0.79

0.76

0.03

AIRSERVICE

5.50

5.30

0.20

NNFM

24.60

23.80

0.80

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Days

32,549.40

15.05

28-Mar-13

335-Days

92,093.70

14.50

28-Mar-13

90 -Days

57,860.87

12.25

28-Mar-13

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Days

31,838.51

11.70

28-Mar-13

182-Days

49,081.14

13.00

28-Mar-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$300m

N/A

$276m

25-Mar-13

$280m

N/A

$280m

20-Mar-13

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

47

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at March 26, 2013 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Cocktail

48

x

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (117) If wishes were horses, even beggars will ride.

–Anonymous * * * No Something For Nothing There is no something without something. Something must give before something can come. The law of sowing and reaping is eternal.

Many people become victims of fraudulent people because they want something of great value for nothing.

Life is difficult. But once we accept this fact and have the intention to go at life with all it takes, things may even start looking easy in our eyes.

Whatever tangible or intangible elements that we want to see in our lives, we must accept the fact that prices must be paid for them. This mentality will help us to face our responsibilities with candour and delight to bring forth positive results ultimately.

TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

Man drinks 52 bottles of whiskey

T

he caretaker of a Pennsylvania mansion is accused of drinking 52 bottles of whiskey appraised at a total $102,400.

Patricia Hill, who purchased the Scottdale mansion in 2012, said caretaker John Saunders, 62, helped her remove and dust off nine cases of Old Farm Pure Rye Whiskey that were apparently concealed in the walls of the home by industrialist J.P. Brennan, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Monday.

“My guess is that Mr.

Brennan ordered 10 cases ... pre-Prohibition,” Hill said.

“I was told by his family that family members used to greet him at the door each day with a shot of whiskey.”

Hill said she discovered after Saunders moved out that he had apparently drank 52 of the 108 bottles of the whiskey, which was bottled in 1912 at the West Overton Distilling Co. She said the missing booze was appraised at a total $102,400

by New York auction house Bonhams.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

More people have access to cellphones than toilets

A

new United Nations study has found that more people around the world have access to a cellphone than to a working toilet.

The study’s numbers claim that of the world’s estimated 7 billion people, 6 billion have access to mobile phones. However, only 4.5 billion have access to a toilet.

At a press conference announcing the report, U.N. Deputy SecretaryGeneral Jan Eliasson announced the organization is launching an effort to halve the number of those without access by the end of 2015.

“Let’s face it—this is a problem that people do not like to talk about.

But it goes to the heart of ensuring good health, a clean environment and fundamental human dignity for billions of people,” Eliasson said at the press conference.

In August 2012, the Bill Gates Foundation began its own effort to “reinvent the toilet” as a way

to help curb the number of people around the world without access to sanitary waste disposal.

Interestingly, the report states that India alone is responsible for 60 percent of the world’s population that does not

A toilet and a cellphone (inset).

use a toilet, an estimated 626 million individuals.

Yet, at the same time, there are an estimated 1 billion cellphones in India.

Conversely, in the world’s most highly populated country, China,

PHOTO: AP

only 14 million people do not have access to a toilet. However, there are also fewer cellphones in China, 986 million, according to the Daily Mail.

Driving the point home, more than 750,000 people die each year from diarrhea and one of its primary causes is from unsanitary conditions created in communities without access to toilets.

And there are other benefits of installing more modern sanitation options that don’t immediately come to mind.

“This can also improve the safety of women and girls, who are often targeted when they are alone outdoors,” said Martin Mogwanja, deputy executive director of the U.N. Children’s Fund. “And providing safe and private toilets may also help girls to stay in school, which we know can increase their future earnings and help break the cycle of poverty.”

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

Community Mirror Awujale installed chairman council of Obas FRANCIS SUBERU WITH AGENCY REPORT

A

n herbalist, Abdumumini Aliyu, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for assaulting a commercial motorcyclist, Mr Mohammed Tukur.

Magistrate Oluwadamlola Olainipekun sentenced Aliyu, 42, to two years imprisonment on the one-count charge of assault,as he saidthe sentence would commence from March 14, 2013 when the convict was

“These killers roaming around saying that they hate western education are uneducated but they think they are educated.”

PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA

50

Herbalist jailed for assault remanded in prison.

The convict, who resides at 7, Ayanbode Street, Anthony Village, Lagos, was charged on a two-count charge of unlawful assault and stealing.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Donjor Perezi, had told the court that the convict committed the offences on March 12, 2013 at Harbour Work Junction, Maryland, Lagos.

Perezi said the convict, who claimed to be an herbalist, met the complainant at Anthony

Bus-Stop, Lagos and asked him to convey him to the Ikeja Military Cantonment.

“But the complainant said he was unwilling to ride on the expressway being a “prohibited route” for commercial cyclists as stated in the Lagos State Traffic Law. But the herbalist, who also claimed to be a soldier, pleaded with the complainant and he obliged to drop him off at Harbour Junction.

“When the complainant got to Harbour Junction and asked

the accused to alight, he started struggling with him with the purpose of seizing the motorcycle key. When the complainant refused to hand over the key, the accused removed a metal from his pocket and hit Tukur’s head and shoulder, causing him bodily harm,” he said.

Perezi told the court that the complainant was rescued by passersby.

He said that the convict intended to steal Tukur’s motorcycle with registration number

LSD-312 QA, valued at N110, 000, even as the offences contravened sections 171 and 285 of the Criminal Code, Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Aliyu pleaded guilty to unlawful assault and not guilty to stealing.

In her judgment, Olanipekun held that the prosecutor failed to prove the charge of stealing against the convict since what transpired was an argument at a bus-stop.

She said: “I have some doubts whether the weapon used in hitting the commercial cyclist on March 12 came under the definition of an offensive.

Tanker drivers end industrial action TONY ANICHEBE UYO

T

Illegal immigrants being paraded by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Lagos, yesterday.

Beggars, hawkers arrested in Anambra Hoodlums kidnap pupils from school CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

T

he Anambra State Government has renewed its fight against child trafficking and street begging and even as officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development moved round the major streets in Awka , the state capital to arrest those engaged in such trades.

While the ministry officials were going round, some of the beggars and destitutes were seen running away. Community Mirror, learnt that the operation which would be a regular one designed to rid the state of beggars and miscreants and would be extended to communities in Njikoka and other places

in the capital territory.

Speaking on the exercise, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Agbata, said it is aimed at enhancing the general environment and security, stating that indigenes will be rehabilitated at Nteje, while non indigenes will be sent to their states of origin.

Agbata, also said that government would assist in the rehabilitation of the sick ones among them by sending them to hospitals for medical treatment,as they will returned to their ancestral homes to be catered for by their relatives.

She condemned the way healthy people take to loitering the streets and constituting themselves into nuisance.

TONY ANICHEBE UYO

P

andemonium recently broke in Eket,Akwa Ibom State, when six armed hoodlums allegedly kidnapped five pupils of St. Gregory Primary School.

Eye witnesses said the hoodlums drove in a car into the school compound while shooting indiscriminately into the air.

The source said that four of them later stormed into one of the classrooms, as they abducted five pupils aged seven and nine years, and forced them into the car while driving off.

Community Mirror reports that identity of the kidnapped children could not be immediately known, as school has been deserted by the teachers and pupils.

Meanwhile, reports said the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, for Eket was out of town when the incident happened,even as one officer confirmed the kidnappings.

Reacting to the incident, a native of Idung Offiong Village, Mr. Umoh David said kidnappings of children has become rampant in Eket, saying that recently, armed robbers broke into a house while attempting to kidnap some children.

he one week industrial action embarked by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, in Akwa Ibom State has been called off.

This follows a resolution by the body to lift the suspension order which forced its withdrawal of petroleum services in the state.

According to a statement in Uyo and signed by the chairman of Akwa Ibom State Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee, PPMC, Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok, the PTD has announced the immediate decision to suspend the industrial action,even as it said this followed the quick intervention of the state government in resolving the week-long industrial crisis.

The statement commended Governor Godswill Akpabio for wading into the issue in the interest of the people.

The union therefore pledged to ensure adequate supply of petroleum products to the state with a view to guaranteeing continuous availability and alleviate the sufferings being experienced by the people.

Meanwhile, the PPMC boss has thanked all stakeholders for resolving the crisis, even as he assured the public of his commitment to ensure consumer protection by insisting that only premium quality products are brought into the state.

He therefore lauded the security agencies, which partnered with PPMC within the period at ensuring that the the withdrawal of services was resolved within an appreciable time-line.

50

Community Mirror

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Awujale installed chairman council of Obas FRANCIS SUBERU WITH AGENCY REPORTS

G

overnor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has appointed the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as the new Chairman of the state Council of Obas.

Adetona, who succeeded the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, would hold the office for one year.

The law provides for annual appointment and inauguration of the chairman of the council in order of rotation among the four traditional councils in the state, namely: Egba, Ijebu, Remo and Yelwa.

At the inauguration,Amosun said the body served as a veritable platform through which the traditional rulers could provide advice and support for the government.

He added that the event was part of the re-engineering process embarked by his administration to re-position all institutions of governance for a more effective discharge of their duties and responsibilities.

He said his administration had commenced a review of all laws with a view to re-aligning their relevant provisions to meet modern day governance.

“Our commitment to improve the living standard of the people at the grassroots demands a

commensurate amendments to legislations that will enlarge the council, re-classify some chieftaincies to the status desirable for the discharge of their responsibilities,” he said.

Amosun urged the new chairman to ensure rapid resolutions of pending chieftaincy and other related issues among the monarchs.

He pledged government continued commitment to the welfare of the traditional rulers.

“We will encourage your active participation in national fora and summits that will build your capacities to contribute meaningfully to the progress of the state in particular and Nigeria in general.

We have already sponsored eight traditional rulers to represent the Ogun Council of Obas at the 6th National Development Summit of Traditional Rulers holding in Abuja from March 26 to March 27,’’ the governor said.

Earlier, Mr Muyiwa Oladapo, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, noted the existing cordial relationship between the government and the monarchs in the state.

He noted that the monarchs had continued to facilitate resolution of conflicts and crisis, particularly relating to appointments of Baales in their respective domains.

“The mediation role facili-

tated by our Obas is a veritable Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism that has reduced incidents of lingering court cases which are avoidable,” Oladapo said.

Oladipo commended the monarchs for their roles in the mass mobilisation of their subjects, particularly in the area of polio eradication and other health- related programmes.

Responding, Adetona commended the governor for his respect for traditional institutions and values.

Adetona pledged continued support of the monarchs for government policies and cooperation for the rebuilding agenda of Amosun’s administration.

Group hails Osun governor OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

T

he Akure chapter of the Ijesa Youth Development Association, IYDA, has commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State for his various achievements in office.

It lauded Aregbesola for laying a good and solid foundation in all aspects of the state economy.

IYDA said there is no local government area where the administration has not made positive impact, citing construction of roads, renovation and building of schools, provision of school uniforms in all the local government areas.

It further said the administration has promoted religious beliefs in the state, adding that it was one of the factors that has promoted peace.

In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Boluwaji Faseyi, the group praised Aregbesola for emulating the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige, as it urged the people to support him.

Cattle on display at the Agricultural Fair of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to mark the silver jubilee celebration.

Ogoja, Boki resolve boundary disputes OKAY OSUJI

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he age - long land dispute between the people of Idum Mbube in Ogoja Local Government Area and Kachuan Irruan in Boki Local Government Area has finally been resolved.

A statement by a member of the Cross River State House of Assembly and member of the joint committee, Rt. Hon. Jacob Otu Enyia said the resolution was sequel to the initiative of opinion leaders in the communities who constituted themselves into a peace and reconciliation committee to find lasting solution.

Rt. Hon. Enyia commended the intervention of state government as well as the two local governments for helping to stop further bloodshed and destruction of property.

According to him, the prevailing peace was based on physical demarcation and tracing as well as acceptance of the boundary lines by the two communities.

He expressed appreciation to opinion leaders, traditional rulers, chairmen of the two Committees, youth Lleaders, parish priests of the Catholic Churches at Idum, Mbube and Katchuan Irruan and the Bishop of Ogoja Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. John Ayah for their sacrifice, patience and demonstration of love and com-

mitment.

Rt. Hon. Enyia charged youths of the two communities to uphold the sanctity of the peace accord, noting that it would usher in more meaningful development.

He called on the government and the surveyor - General to immediately move into the area, and provide lasting physical beacons along agreed boundary lines.

Also, the peace and reconciliation joint committee constituted an eight -man standing committee charged with the responsibility to oversee the activities of the two communities and regulate excavation and evacuation of sand to check abuse.

PHOTO: NAN

Motorcyclist arraigned for alleged impersonation

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32-year-old commercial motorcycle operator, Kunle Olaniran, who allegedly impersonated a policeman, has been arraigned before an Ojokoro Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, who resides at 2/4 Agbado Road, Ijaye, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of misconduct and impersonation.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Clara Olagbaiye, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 22, at Toyin Bus Stop, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos. ``Olaniran had been parading himself as a policeman be-

fore the policemen acted on a tip-off to accost him, and ask for his motorcycle papers. ``The accused then brought out a police force identity card, claiming he was also a policeman but not on duty,” she said.

Olagbaiye said the accused was later taken to the police station where he confessed to having bought the uniform and identity card because of his love for the police force.

The offence, according her, contravenes Sections 77 and 318 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

Magistrate A.O. Layinka granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Wednesday March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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World News

Italian FM resigns over India marines row

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PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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Rwandan-born warlord known as “The Terminator” insisted yesterday he is innocent of charges including murder, rape, pillaging and using child soldiers in eastern Congo at his first appearance before the International Criminal Court.

Bosco Ntaganda had been one of the court’s longest-sought fugitives until he unexpectedly became the first suspect to voluntarily turn himself in by seeking refuge last week at the U.S. Embassy in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. He was flown to the Netherlands on Friday.

Ntaganda allegedly led rebels who terrorized eastern Congo in brutal tribal fighting from 2002-2003.

Looking nervous, Ntaganda wore a dark suit and tie in court and listened to a simultaneous translation of the proceedings through a headset.

“I was informed of these crimes, but I plead not guilty,” the 39-year-old Ntaganda said after a court official read out the charges against him.

Judge Ekatarina Trendafilova then cut him off, saying he did not have to enter a plea at the hearing.

The judge said a hearing at which the court will assess the strength of prosecutors’ evidence in the case will begin Sept. 23. Af-

“While the US prefers to resolve the Iran issue diplomatically, all options are on the table if diplomacy falls short” –UNITED STATES PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA

Rwandan warlord pleads not guilty of Congo crimes

Ntaganda, right, is flanked by a security guard during his first appearance before judges of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands,yesterday.

PHOTO: AP

ter that hearing, judges will decide whether the case should go to trial.

Ntaganda’s lawyer, Hassane Bel Lakhdar, said he would apply for Ntaganda to be released pending his trial.

He also complained that staff at the court’s detention unit had not given him enough time to speak to Ntaganda.

“My client surrendered to the court voluntarily,” he said. “The charges against him right now

are very significant, very serious and we must be given the possibility to meet and discuss directly (the charges) with our client.”

Ntaganda’s ruthlessness in battle earned him the nickname “The Terminator.” Prosecutors say he was the chief of operations of the Union of Congolese Patriots and its armed wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo, which waged a brutal military campaign to establish political

and military domination for the Hema tribe over the resource-rich Ituri region of eastern Congo, allegedly killing some 800 people in a few months.

His indictment says rebels surrounded and shelled villages before going house-to-house to slaughter survivors with guns, machetes, spears and knives. The fighters allegedly raped women and abducted them to turn into sex slaves during the attacks.

Rebel leader dissolves Central African Republic’s constitution

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rebel leader whose fighters seized the capital of Central African Republic over the weekend has taken to the airwaves to make his first declaration, announcing he has dissolved the country’s constitution and will stay in power for three years, according to excerpts from the broadcast carried on French radio.

Michel Djotodia, one of the

Djotodia

leaders of the Seleka rebel coalition, said late Monday that he plans to stay in power until 2016, the length of time left in the term of the president he and his soldiers overthrew.

Ousted President Francois Bozize fled the presidential palace over the weekend, resurfacing Monday in the neighbouring nation of Cameroon, where the government issued a statement saying he had sought “temporary exile” on their soil.

The Seleka rebel leader justified his coup d’etat, saying Bozize had veered into dictatorship during his 10 years in power.

“Through us, it was the entire population of Central African Republic that rose up as a single man against the president,” Djotodia said, according to Radio France Internationale.

“To this effect, we have decided to guide the destiny of the people of the Central African

Republic during this transitional period of three years, in keeping with the spirit of the accords signed in Libreville in January 11, 2013 ... As a result, I have decided that it is, therefore, necessary to dissolve the constitution of Dec. 27, 2004, as well as the parliament and the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, French forces protecting Bangui’s main airport opened fire on three cars that were speeding toward a security checkpoint, said the French Defence Ministry.

The cars, carrying Indian and Chadian citizens, continued despite warning shots. Two Indian citizens were killed, and the wounded Indian and Chadian passengers were taken for medical care, the defence minister said in the statement Monday.

France is investigating into the shooting, the statement said.

Pillaging, meanwhile, continued in the capital, Bangui, days

after the Seleka rebels took the city. The rebels’ advance started last week when they pushed past Damara, a town 75 kilometres (47 miles) to the northeast, which had marked the line of control drawn by regional forces in January, following an accord signed in Libreville, the capital of neighbouring Gabon.

The rebels broke that accord last week, claiming that Bozize’s government had failed to make good on a series of promises, including sending back the South African troops guarding the capital. The South African troops came under an onslaught of fire from the Seleka rebels, who shot and killed 13 South African soldiers over the weekend, in their fight to take the capital.

Seleka is a loose coalition of fighters, many of whom fought in previous rebellions. They joined forces last fall, beginning their advance toward the capital in December.

WORLD BULLETIN

Zambia’s exPresident Banda pleads not guilty

Zambia’s former President Rupiah Banda has pleaded not guilty to a charge of abuse of power during his time in office.

The charges relate to an oil deal signed with a Nigerian company, which prosecutors say was meant to benefit Mr Banda and his family.

“No my Lord, I deny the charge,” Mr Banda told the court, AFP reports.

The ex-president says the charges are part of a political witch-hunt against him and his allies.

After three years in power, he lost the 2011 election to Michael Sata.

He was arrested and questioned for nearly three hours before being freed on bail on Monday.

Earlier this month the 76-yearold was stripped of presidential immunity.

Prosecutors say Mr Banda instructed his son Henry to stash away the proceeds from the oil deal, which were to be used for the benefit of his family.

US warns citizens of possible unrest in Kenya The U.S. Embassy in Kenya has warned its citizens of possible unrest this weekend when the Supreme Court is due to rule on a legal challenge to the outcome of the presidential election by losing candidate Raila Odinga.

Odinga alleged “rampant illegality” in the first-round victory this month of rival Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya’s founding president, who has said the voting was free and fair.

The case is another test of Kenyan democracy five years after a disputed vote ignited tribal violence.

Americans form a large part of the expatriate community in a country that is a hub for trade, multinational firms and the regional headquarters for U.N. agencies and other humanitarian organizations.

Egypt’s president warns against foreign meddling

Egypt’s Islamist president has warned he will deal “firmly” and “decisively” with any foreign attempt to meddle in the affairs of his country, mired in turmoil for most of the two years since Hosni Mubarak’s ouster.

Mohammed Morsi says Egypt does not interfere in other countries’ domestic affairs and expects to be treated similarly.

He told an Arab league summit Tuesday in Qatar that “We don’t accept anyone sticking his finger inside Egypt.” But he didn’t elaborate.

Egypt is embroiled in a tug of war pitting Morsi and his Islamist allies against a mostly secular and liberal opposition.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

for international terrorists,” Abrahams was quoted by a news agency.

He praised South African law enforcement for working well with foreign law enforcement “to make sure justice is done in Africa.”

Some of the witnesses called by the prosecution include Niger Delta Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe, Mr. Sele Victor Ben, a brother of ex-Niger Delta militant leader known as Boyloaf and State Security Service, SSS, officers.

Reacting to the judgement, MEND said Okar’s sentencing would not in any way distract it from its set course, which is full justice and emancipation for the Niger Delta and its people.

In a statement issued by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, yesterday, the group said it is “disappointed but not surprised that the South African judiciary has allowed itself to be compromised by the highly corrupt

World News

Wednesday March 27, 2013

Henry Okah jailed 24 yrs Nigerian government.”

“The governments of South Africa and Nigeria should realise that this planned sentencing of Henry Okah would not in any way, shape or form, change our struggle, as we will remain dedicated to our cause until we achieve full justice and emancipation for the Niger Delta and its people,” it said.

However, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujarhedeen AsariDokubo and a prominent ex-militant commander, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, said that Okah deserved his fate, adding that the judgement was “too lenient” in view of the gravity of the offences committed by the convict.

Asari-Dokubo, in a telephone interview with our correspondent yesterday, said the verdict was a

“blessing and a befitting climax to the Niger Delta struggle.”

He stated: “The conviction of Okah is one of the greatest things that have happened to our struggle because it has clearly separated the wheat from the chaff. The judgement has vindicated some of us, who have been saying that he (Okah) is a merchant of death and that he is a businessman, who is just interested in making blood money.

“But it is shameful and embarrassing that some people, who do not know Henry Okah too well, left their homes for South Africa, without asking questions from people, who have dealt with him in the past, to plead for clemency.

“Nobody can use our struggle for criminality and go scot free because it is a spiritual struggle. The content of our struggle is

spiritual because it is God we rely on to fight for our rights and it is the same God that has given him the judgement.

“Okah deserved this judgement but it is lenient because he killed so many innocent people with bombs.”

Tompolo, who spoke through his Media Assistant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, said Okah did not deserve pity because of his criminal antecedents, adding that those who committed lighter crimes were unlucky to earn lighter sentences.

Tompolo cited the example of Mr. Edmund Ebuware, who was given a life imprisonment by a Federal High Court, Abuja in January, 2013, for being privy to the October 1, 2012 terror bombing in the Federal Capital Territory.

“However, the latest fate of Henry Okah is very unfortunate. I only hope that

he would learn a lesson from it and live a normal life if he is lucky to come out alive after 24 years,” Tompolo added.

The Bayelsa State chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, however condemned the 24-year jail term.

Describing Okah’s sentence as a conspiracy between the Nigerian and South African governments, state Chairman of CLO, Chief Nengi James, told National Mirror in an interview in Yenagoa that he was grateful that the freedom fighter did not bag a life sentence.

James argued that those who conspired to jail Okah, would also conspire to grant him amnesty, stressing that the former militant leader had been residing in South Africa over the years

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without involving himself in criminality.

In his comments, Project Officer, Environmental Rights Action, ERA, in Bayelsa State, Alagoa Morris, said Okah’s sentencing was in order though he hoped he would get out of jail.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs however expressed misgiving that Okah was brought to justice in South Africa when the crimes for which he was convicted were committed in Nigeria.

He said: “Why should a South African court decide the fate of an alleged Nigerian criminal? Why should another court outside of Nigeria sit on a crime alleged to have been committed in our land? Why should we give them the advantage to rule over our matter?”

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North

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Shape up, SUBEB warns Nasarawa teachers IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang (right) congratulating the newly sworn in Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Emmanuel Kayi, in Jos, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Godfathers have hijacked Yero’s govt –ACN A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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aduna State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday said Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero’s administration’s 100 days in office had no direction.

ACN noted that political godfathers had taken over government since Yero took over following the death of his predecessor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.

The party said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mohammed Soba,

entitled: “100 Days in Office – the Dilemma of the Yero Administration,” that for the governor to move Kaduna State forward, he must free it from the grip of godfathers.

The statement added that the administration came with a lot of goodwill and sympathy because of the circumstances surrounding Yakowa’s death, stressing that in the last 100 days, Yero had not done enough to convince the people that his government was a continuation of Yakowa’s administration.

ACN noted that the Yero

administration had not recorded any meaningful progress in its 100 days in office because of the absence of a clearly defined direction and poor information management mechanism that had kept the people of Kaduna State in suspense.

The statement reads in part: “The Yero administration must, as a matter of urgency, free itself from the firm grip of political godfathers that have a known history of non-performance and penchant for illegal accumulation of wealth and set out a comprehensive road-map for the attainment

of peace, unity and development in Kaduna State as conceptualised by the late Patrick Yakowa.

“As the administration of Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero marks its 100 days in office, the Kaduna State Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) wishes to say that Yero’s administration has not recorded any meaningful progress in its 100 days in office largely due to the absence of a clearly defined direction and poor information management mechanism which keeps the people of Kaduna State in suspense.”

No going back on quality healthcare delivery –Kwara gov

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malaria drugs worth N47 million and Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits worth over N11.3 million.

He added that about two million long-lasting insecticidal nets had been distributed to households as part of efforts to strengthen the anti-malaria campaign in the state.

The governor assured the people that when the five general hospitals in

Ilorin, Share, Offa, Kaiama and Omu-Aran, currently undergoing remodelling and three new general hospitals billed for local government areas without secondary health institutions were completed, the capacity of the state healthcare delivery system to cope with malaria and other lifethreatening diseases and ailments would be strengthened.

wara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has reiterated the determination of his administration to ensure quality healthcare in the state.

Ahmed said this yesterday while distributing 13 new ambulances to 13 specialist and general hospitals across the state as part of efforts to boost healthcare delivery.

The governor also distributed hospital equipment and Roll Back Malaria drugs to 43 primary health centres across the state.

He said the ambulances and drugs were purchased in fulfilment of his administration’s commitment to strengthening of healthcare delivery.

Ahmed recalled that the government in 2011 purchased and distributed anti-

JAMES ABRAHAM

Jang swears in head of service, 15 perm secs

JOS

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overnor Jonah Jang of Plateau State yesterday sworn in Mr. Ezekiel Dalyop as the new Head of Service and 15 permanent secretaries with a charge to render selfless service to the people for the development of the state.

He said: “You should not see your appointments into these positions as an opportunity to dig from a gold-

mine but one to write your names in gold.”

At the ceremony which took place at the Government House in Jos, Jang told the new appointees that state civil service was being challenged by a disturbing trend including corruption, apathy, indiscipline, poor policy focus, and strategic direction, which, he said, had led to poor image of the public

service.

The governor therefore challenged the top civil servants to begin a “soulsearching mission” in their new responsibilities which would in turn lead to the restoration of faith of the people in the service.

Jang added that his administration was doing everything possible to reorganise the civil service including revising various

instruments of operations such as Civil Service Rules, Scheme of Service, Financial Regulations and Store Rules to attain discipline and effectiveness in service delivery.

The governor disclosed that his administration was planning to establish an institute that would train the civil servants and update them on latest trend in public service.

he Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Mallam Abdulkarim Mohammad Abdullahi, has advised teachers in the state to allow quality to be the hallmark of their service.

Abdullahi, however, said those who refused to comply would be flushed out of the system, regardless of their connections.

The executive chairman said this yesterday in Lafia, the state capital, at the Teachers Professional Development Training Workshop for basic education teachers and administrators in the state.

He said: “We don’t care where you come from. We have no obligation to your relationship to traditional rulers, chief imams, pastors. What we want is your relationship with God and service delivery. I assured

you that the irregularities of the past have been removed from this system.

“Once Governor Tanko Al-Makura declares his intention to contest as a governor in the state, he came up with the slogan of ‘positive change’ for the sake of Nasarawa State.

“This is part of the wind of change and you are agents of the change. It is against this backdrop that Al-Makura has told us to design a new template that will give us a new sense of direction.”

Also, the Director of Quality Assurance, SUBEB, Mallam Isah Salihu, warned that the board would blacklist any trainee who refused to utilise the knowledge acquired in any workshop by sanctioning such school or teacher in subsequent workshops.

He said: “Therefore, let us not sabotage the laudable efforts of Al-Makura in restructuring the falling education standard in the state.”

Attah Igala promises end to hunger in Kogi WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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he new Attah Igala, His Eminence, Idakwo Ame-Oboni, has reiterated his desire to eradicate hunger in Igala kingdom, Kogi State, and Nigeria in general.

Ame-Oboni, who made the promise when he led some of his subjects to the farm site for aggressive farming as a pointer to the realisation of his pledge, noted that to achieve the set objective, everybody must embark on large-scale farming.

Attah Igala, who has a 150-hectare of farm land at Ojuwo-Ocha in Ofu Local Government and a 200-hectare farm at Oforachi in Igalamela Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State, said that on his ascension to the throne of Attah, he prayed for the extermination of hunger from Igala Kingdom, Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole.

The monarch said his leadership was proactive by matching words with action, and embarking on advocacy as part of a mufti-faceted strategy to ensure the success of his campaign.

Ame-Oboni urged all Igala sons and daughters to take up arms against hunger by

embarking on farming and expanding the existing ones.

He said: “With the help of God, during my reign, food will be in abundance in the kingdom, in the state and in the entire nation.”

The Attah said government alone could not meet all the demands of the people at a given time since there were scarce resources.

He said that with abundant arable land in the country, everybody should endeavour to embark on farming to complement the efforts of the government.

Speaking at the farm, the Special Adviser to the governor on Agriculture, Prof.

Abubakar Akpa, said the advocacy and timely assurance from the royal father on food sustenance was a welcome development.

He said that the Kogi State Government had taken the bold challenge of industrial breakthrough by ensuring that agriculture was the vehicle to achieve the dream.

Kogi State Gov. Idris Wada

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Bomb blasts: NYSC redeploys 900 corps members AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

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rightened by the security challenges in Kano State, particularly the bomb attack on the Central Motor Park in Kano metropolis that claimed several lives, 900 of the 2, 413 Batch ‘A’ National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members have been redeployed.

This was despite the intervention of the scheme’s state Coordinator, Alhaji Bashir Yakasai, persuading them to remain for their mandatory one year

service.

This development was confirmed by the coordinator on the occasion marking the end of the three weeks orientation for corps members.

He recalled that the corps members had earlier agreed to stay for their national assignment, but were overwhelmed by fear after last Monday’s bomb attack inside the New Road Motor Park in which a number of people were killed.

However, the coordinator said that soon after the bomb blasts, many corps

members indicated their interest to be redeployed and their request was granted.

“Despite the directorgeneral’s intervention, the corps members insisted on their redeployment, and we have no choice but to grant them their request.”

He, however, pleaded with those willing to remain in the state to avail themselves of the opportunity provided for them by the state, so as to achieve the desired goals.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Gan-

duje, who represented the state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on the occasion urged the corps members not to be scared as the state government has made arrangements for their safety.

Kwankwaso, however, urged them to respect the norms and culture of the respective communities of their posting.

The governor directed all organisations, where the corps members would be posted, to absorb them for the service year and give them all necessary support.

Apostolic President to mark 80th birthday

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he National President of The Apostolic Church of Nigeria, TACN, Pastor Gabriel Olutola, will mark his 80th birthday on April 6, with a thanksgiving service in Lagos.

The service will hold at the TACN National Temple, along Oworonsoki Expressway, Olorunda, Ketu, Lagos, to be followed by a reception at the same venue.

A statement by the planning committee said Pastor Olutola, also the LAWNA Territorial Chairman, will dedicate/hand over The Apostolic Church Mission House, Oke-Ibode, on April 1.

ABUJA

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CBN alerts public on fake Internet postings TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday alerted the public on various postings on the Internet purported to have

been made by the Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, saying that such postings on facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms are fake.

The apex bank’s Director, Corporate Communications,

Ugochukwu A. Okoroafor, in a statement said the CBN Governor had neither a facebook nor a Twitter account and that any such account purported to belong to the Governor is fake.

He explained further that

in the last six months, there have been deliberate efforts by unknown elements to use the internet, with its social media extensions, to tarnish and malign the image and reputation of the CBN Governor.

Five alleged pipeline vandals arraigned KAYODE KETEFE

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he Federal Government yesterday charged five men before a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, for alleged vandalisation of a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The accused persons namely; Ganiyu Ishola, Omopariola Ishola, Kayode Ajose, Solomon Olamide and Adebayo Dare, were arraigned on a five-count

charge before Justice Ibrahim Buba.

The offences contained in the charge included conspiracy, vandalism, stealing, unlawful possession and unlawful sale of petroleum products.

The alleged offences are said to contravene sections 3, 7 (b), and 17 (a) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

All the five accused pleaded “not guilty” to all the counts after the charge was read to them.

According to the prosecution represented by Mr. I. Omosun, the accused were arrested on January 16, 2013 at about 7.00pm in Ikorodu, Lagos, where they were all resident.

They had all allegedly participated in illegal vandalisation and siphoning of petroleum products.

The prosecution also stated that the police who had earlier been tipped off pounced on the accused and found stolen petroleum products in their possession.

Lawyer to the accused

persons, Mr. Tijani Ishola, applied to the court for a short adjournment to enable him file and serve a bail application on behalf of his clients.

He contended that he had only been served with the charge 24 hours before the arraignment yesterday and that he needed time to study it before he could file his bail application.

The presiding judge, Justice Buba granted the application and adjourned the case to March 27, 2013, for hearing.

On April 2 and 3, he will be visiting the motherless baby’s home and widows at Oke Ibode, as well as the Ikoyi Prisons.

On April 4, Olutola’s biography and the OladeleOlanrewaju Foundation will be launched.

On April 5, a lecture, to be delivered by former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be delivered at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Victoria Island by 11.00 am.

He will speak on the topic: “Bridging the gap between our spiritual life and our secular behaviour: A tool for good governance.”

FG rallies states, LGs for flood mitigation OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

Batch ‘A’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members at the closing ceremony of their Orientation Course at Wailo, in Ganjuwa Local Governmrent Area, Bauchi State, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

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he Federal Government yesterday said it has mapped out strategies that would lead to the mobilisation of stakeholders across the three tiers of government, including communities, to mitigate and respond promptly to any incidence of flooding this year.

The decision followed the Nigerian Metrological Agency’s prediction of anticipated heavy rainfall which may lead to flooding in some states located on flood plain areas. Based on the 2013 rainfall prediction, some North-West states such as Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and almost all the South-South states have been designated as flood-prone arrears.

Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Mohammad Sani-Sidi, who disclosed at a consultative forum on mitigation, prevention and preparedness for 2013, said the move became necessary if the country must reduce the human and material waste that followed the 2012 flood incidence.

He said the issue of flooding as well as other nature-induced emergencies that occurred in the recent past had put to test the country’s resilience and posed serious challenges to emergency managers.

Also speaking at the two-day event, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, noted that there was an urgent need for

the concerted effort of all stakeholders to ensure that this year’s flooding would not once again, caught the country napping.

Uduaghan, who urged all state governors to mark out areas to be affected by this year’s flooding, said they should be on the driving seat of efforts at addressing the scourge.

He also recalled the level of devastation caused by flooding in his state in the past year.

His words: “In Delta State, 14 of the 25 local governments were almost entirely submerged during last year’s flooding. We established 22 rehabilitation camps to cater for all the internally displaced persons.

“We sheltered, fed, clothed and provided other basic needs of life, including education for the children; all through the period the flooding lasted and at the end, gave each adult and children in the camps token allowances to transport themselves back to their towns and villages.”

The highlight of the event was the presentation of an award to the governor for strengthening disaster management in the state.

Sani-Sidi

WORLD RECORD

Oldest nuclear chain reaction Vol. 03 No. 586

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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N150

On 2 June 1972, a French scientist analysing uranium ore samples in Gabon discovered tiny anomilies in the ratio of isotopes. This variation from the norm led to the discovery of the Okla natural fossil reactors.

A season of anomie

ven when 2015 is still two years away, the political frenzy is already going into overdrive. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which holds power at the centre is gearing up for “war” on all forces arrayed against it. If the recent speech by its national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is anything to go by, then the country should brace itself for massive and bruising clashes of the titans. As in all wars, the combatants are expected to roll out their big guns if they are intent on crushing their opponents. For any side to be victorious it should not only be lethally equipped, the rank and file must be brimming with high morale and zeal to fight to the very end.

But from the look of things, all is not well within the PDP. While it has mountain of arms and ammunition, the troops lack the prowess and determination to rout

Okay Osuji (okayosuji@nationalmirroronline.net) 08034729256 (sms only)

even the most primitive army equipped with only bows and arrows. Never in its 14 years history has the party been so fractious and weighed down by internal insurrection. The reason is not farfetched. Its membership is a mishmash of ultra conservatives and semi feudal money bags, whose only interest in politics is to become president of Nigeria. It is such individual ambition that has thrown spanner into the works of the party and left it factionalised along warring baronies.

As at the last count, no fewer than 10 governors were known to be nursing the ambition to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan for the party’s presidential ticket in 2015. It is in the bid to stymie such challenge that it inaugurated the PDP Governors’ Forum to neutralise any influence of fifth columnists within the fold. But would that be enough to stop the very ambitious among them? This remains doubtful, given the fact that many egos have already been bruised in recent weeks. It would therefore, not be surprising that in the days ahead, the presidency would employ every crude tactics to hound the recalcitrant ones into a corner where they will either surrender or be kept on permanent leash. Such tactics are gradually becoming an accepted state policy.

In the coming months, the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) will be stepped up to hunt down those engaging in money

IN THE QUEST FOR ELECTORAL VICTORY, IT WOULD BE FOOLHARDY

FOR THE PDP TO BE A NEUTRAL BYSTANDER WHEN ITS VERY SURVIVAL IS AT STAKE laundering and other economic malfeasances. Definitely, every Nigerian knows that many of the state governors are neck deep in this sordid business, while the running of their states takes distant second in matters of statecraft. If the swirling information is to be believed, dossiers on some of them are already on the president’s desk and only waiting for opportune time to use them as weapon of last resort. But since governors enjoy immunity from prosecution, the tactics to be employed might include the president’s attack dogs going after their personal assistants and loyalists in the states and anywhere in the country to confront them with evidences of complicity and threats of prosecution to boot.

Faced with such Scylla and Charybdis situation, those governors will now think twice before venturing out to declare their ambition. Such Gestapo tactics is not new in the country, but because President Jonathan is becoming a

proficient and precocious student in this dark craft of witch hunting, he is ready to use it for political survival. Past presidents employed such mailed fist tactics to frame opponents who posed obstacles to their re-elections. Moreover, these ambitious governors are also grandmasters at making life difficult for those challenging them in their respective states. So, it is not for nothing that Chief Tony Anenih was brought back from semi retirement to come and work his magic of winning “landslide victories”. As it now stands, the only party that can defeat President Jonathan at the poll is the PDP. This may sound curious, yet it is true given the present political reality. How? The fight for who owns the acronym ‘APC’ is now raging and those steeped in the banal ways of our politics will readily attest that it would become nastier as the days draw near. Why? In the quest for electoral victory, it would be foolhardy for the PDP to be a neutral bystander when its very survival is at stake. The presidency and other party chieftains will be the happier, if those now clamouring for proprietary rights of the yet to be registered party destroy themselves in all ways possible. The fact that three pretenders are claiming invention of the product serves well the strategy of the PDP. All things being equal, it is not unusual that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has started outlining the enormous conditions to be met by any group desiring to be registered as a political party.

Despite all noises and tons of ink expended in talking about the new party, it is still in the realms of imagination. For now, the PDP will not only be praying hard for more confusion in the registration conundrum, it would readily lend itself as tool for aborting any such project. Much as Nigerians are enamoured to seeing a new party, they will not welcome those that will perpetuate the status quo. For now, we are yet to see parties capable of breaking the present curse.

Sport Extra

A

chastened Sebastian Vettel yesterday apologised to Mark Webber after defying team orders and overtaking his team-mate for victory of the Malaysian GP on Sunday despite being instructed to hold position behind the Aussie follow-

F1: Vettel makes rule-breaking plea ing the final round of pitstops.

“I should have behaved yesterday and I have accepted I made a big mistake,” Vettel told reporters.

“It’s not a victory I am

proud of as it should have been Mark’s. I didn’t mean to ignore the strategy and I think it’s not an easy situation for me.

“It’s probably difficult to explain everything but the

pass was deliberate, obviously I wanted to pass him.

I made a mistake, simply.”

Webber, however, refused to confirm he accepted Vettel’s apology.

“I was completely reas-

sured twice that we were not going to abuse the cars on each other,” he said.

AYC 2013 s/finals results Egypt

2-0

Nigeria

Ghana

4-2

Mali

Sebastian Vettel

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