Thursday, February 28, 2013

NEITI to audit utilisation of 13% derivation funds CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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he Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Ini-

Okonjo-Iweala

Vol. 3 N0. 567

tiative, NEITI, has said its new fiscal allocation and statutory disbursement audit exercise covering 2007 to 2011 will examine the issues surrounding

the controversial 13 per cent oil derivation allocations to benefitting states.

NEITI Executive Secretary, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Attack: Emir of Kano, Bayero, sons return after 38 days in London P.12

Thursday, February 28, 2013

N150

2015: Jonathan free to contest, says Tukur Presidency summons Niger governor

Party leaders meet next week

FAREWELL: POPE RECOUNTS JOY, DIFFICULTIES OF PAPACY

OBIORA IFOH, SOLA ADEBAYO AND PRISCILLA DENNIS

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n what appears to be a veiled endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential race, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, has said that the President is free to re-contest for the highest CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

NBA backs CJN on judges’ sack ...says Nigeria lost N7trn to oil theft in five years P.2

Cardinals applaud during Pope Benedict XVI’s final general audience. Inset: Pope Benedict XVI after celebrating his last general audience at St. Peter’ Square, Vatican City, yesterday.

PHOTO: USA TODAY

NLC, NANS condemn Nasarawa varsity killings

Shocker!

WAEC cancels results, four years after ...affected undergraduates in dilemma

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Rufai

Army denies complicity Britain warns citizens against travel to North

P.12 P.6

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

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NBA backs CJN on judges’ sack EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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he Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has supported the action of the Chief Justice of Nigeria to cleanse the judiciary of corruption.

It also support the recent sacking of judges.

It will be recalled that Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos, was sacked by President Goodluck Jonathan based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, NJC. Similarly, Justice Thomas Naron of the Plateau State judiciary was asked by the NJC to proceed on suspension after being recommended for sack by the Plateau State governor.

Also, Chief Ajibola Aribisala (SAN) was suspended by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, LPPC, in a move aimed at sanitising the judiciary.

In a communiqué at the end of the association’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, stated that the bar would continue to give the needed support towards purging the judiciary of sleaze.

The communiqué reads

in part:”NEC endorses and commends the actions and steps taken by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, in respect of sanitising the judiciary and offers the unqualified support of the Nigerian Bar Association to the CJN in her drive to restore the glory of the Nigerian judiciary.”

The NBA also decried the underfunding of the judiciary and reiterated its position on granting financial autonomy for the third arm of govern-

ment.

It said: “NEC also condemned in its entirety the situation where the vote for the judiciary at the federal and state levels is progressively on the decline and non-release of what has been appropriated to the judiciary in most states and called on the two levels of government to reverse the situation.

“On the issue of local government reforms, NEC viewed the practice in some states where caretaker committees are set up to pilot

the affairs of local governments as a flagrant breach of the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and took the position that all the chairmen in the 774 local government areas should be democratically elected and given financial autonomy as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

The NBA also called for an immediate end to massive crude oil theft in the country saying that the Fed-

eral Government lost an estimated N14trn to crude oil theft between 2003 and 2005, based on its findings.

“In 2011 and 2012, Nigeria reportedly lost $7 billion and $9bn respectively to oil theft,” Wali said.

The discovery, he noted, came on the heels of a report submitted to the bar association’s NEC by an inhouse committee commissioned to investigate the serious case.

Consequent upon the discovery, the NBA referred the matter to its

committee on anti-corruption for full-scale investigation.

“The reports made available to NEC show that in the year 2000 alone over 200,000 to 300,000 barrels of crude oil were stolen per day and between 2003 and 2008 approximately N14trn worth of crude oil was stolen.

“In 2011 and 2012, Nigeria reportedly lost $7bn and $9bn respectively to oil theft. NEC condemns this vice and calls on the Federal Government to put an end to it,” he said.

President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd left), among Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS after the opening session of their 42nd Ordinary Summit in PHOTO: STATE HOUSE Yamoussoukro, Cote d’ Ivoire, yesterday.

2015: Jonathan free to contest, says Tukur CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

office if he desires.

Tukur spoke in Abuja amid reports that the Presidency was working to ensure that all the ruling party’s organs were coerced into supporting Jonathan’s re-election ambition.

Impeccable sources also told National Mirror yesterday that the Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, was summoned to the Presidential Villa on Tuesday over his recent utterances suggesting his opposition to President Jonathan’s re-election.

Aliyu, who is the chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, was engaged in a shouting match with the newly-elected Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, on Monday over the Presidency’s plot to oust Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF.

The Niger State governor recently dropped a bombshell during a phonein-programme on Liberty Radio, Kaduna, that President Jonathan signed a single-term agreement with the PDP governors in the build-up to the 2011 election.

National Mirror, however, learnt that the governor was in the Villa between 6p.m. and 8p.m. to see the President.

“Governor Aliyu was summoned to the Villa on Tuesday by President Jonathan. He met with the President after the signing of the 2013 budget,” a highly placed source told National Mirror.

It was also learnt that the Presidency was poised to get the governor “into supporting President Jonathan and retract some of his statements considered as unpalatable.”

The governor also cried out yesterday that the Pres-

idency was out to blackmail him.

Indications have also emerged that President Jonathan will be meeting with the major organs and PDP leaders next week, apparently in the ongoing efforts by the Presidency to have a firm grip of the decision making structures of the party ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

In an interview with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Tukur, while not denying that the creation of the PDP Governors’ Forum was meant to foster President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition, said that there was nothing wrong if Jonathan decides to recontest the Presidency in 2015.

He said: “Let me tell you, that is in order in politics. Jonathan is the President under our party and what is wrong if he decides to run? The others have the same op-

portunity to promote their candidate, if they have any.”

Tukur said that he saw the NGF as a very important body.

“Look at Nigeria, we have so many colourations: ethnic, religious.

Now if you need to have this kind of association, whereby people have to meet and discuss how Nigeria can sustain its role as a regional power? You cannot do that, unless the help comes from governors.

“So, NGF is very healthy because we have to be frank with ourselves. If we understand our differences then we can work together better. If they are working together to ensure peace and whatever is good, we all agree to that extent it is a very important forum.

“But the Governors’ Forum isn’t the platform

for electing candidates; we have our own system.”

On his submission of Aliyu that President Jonathan was behind the formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum with intention to supplant the NGF, Tukur said: “Well, it is an opinion. It doesn’t mean that all our governors agree with him.

He can say so but I have explained to you as the chairman of this party that they are all my governors, we may not share the same position on the formation of PDP Governors’ Forum, but I have explained to you our intention, as a party. We want our governors to come together.”

He, however, said that the party would soon conduct its National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting very soon.

“We are going to have our caucus, and then we shall have our NEC meet-

ing. It is part of the structures of our party and we follow due process in line with the structures in our party.

“That’s the only way we can continue to keep in touch with our members, from the lowest level to the highest. We are going to do that.”

He also challenged Buhari to show evidence that PDP was in a merger with the police, the judiciary and the INEC, saying: “I don’t think one needs to react to this kind of statement. I think the best thing to do is to ask for evidence, but if you cannot show evidence, there is no need to react.

I’m only reacting to things that are factual, not rumours, not antics.”

Meanwhile, National Mirror gathered yesterday showed that President Jonathan has scheduled a series of meetings with the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, February 28, 2013

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Photo News

Thursday, February 28, 2013

L-R: National Mirror Newspapers’ Advert Manager, Abuja, Mr. Gbenga Adeosun; Regional Manager, Abuja Bureau, Mr. David Adeagbo; Director-General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mrs. Joy Bob-Manuel and Acting, Abuja Bureau Chief, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, during a visit to the Council’s Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr. Elias Mbam; representative of the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Ogbonnaya Orji and the representative of the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Alfred Ohiani, at the NEITI workshop on fiscal allocation and statutory disbursements audit in Abuja, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; Ogun State Business Director of Globacom, Mr. Dare Oyewale; Onijaiye of Ijaiye, Oba Nofiu Adeyemi; Erelu Abiola Fernandez and Chairman, 2013 Lisabi Festival Committee, Chief Francis Sotunde, at the Lisabi Festival Glo SIM cards launch In Abeokuta, yesterday.

L-R: First Bank, University of Lagos Branch Manager, Mr. Jide Lafihan; Guest Speaker, Mr. Willie Jolley; Group Head, Retail Banking, First Bank, Mr. Tunde Owolabi and Head, Publications & Conferences, Mr. Oze Oze, during the bank’s Youth Excel series held in Lagos recently.

National News

Newswatch: ‘Ray Ekpu, Agbese, others got terminal benefits’ KAYODE KETEFE

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t was revealed before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday that all the former directors who claimed to be founding fathers of the Newswatch Communications Limited, publisher of Newswatch magazine, including the former CEO, Ray Ekpu, were duly paid their terminal benefits before they ceased to be directors in 2011.

The other former directors of the company, who also collected huge sums of money as terminal benefits from the new investor, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, before the control of the company passed to Ibrahim-led management in May 11, 2011, included Messrs Dan Agbese, Mohammed Yakubu, and Soji Akinrinmade.

This was revealed at the continued hearing of the substantive suit instituted by two persons claiming to be former directors of the company, Nuhu Wada Aruda and Prof. Jibril Aminu, against the company.

Aruda and Aminu, who

claimed to be representing minority shareholders of the company, had filed the petition accusing the new management team led by Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, OFR, of assuming control of the company “illegally” even though they admitted that there was a Share Purchase Agreement, which transferred the majority of the shareholding to Ibrahim.

The petitioners were, therefore, praying the court to quash the powers of the current management of the company elected by the majority of the shareholders.

In their petition No. FHC/L/CP/1367/2012 brought pursuant to sections 310 (a), (b) and (c) and 311 (1), (2) (a) and (b) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the applicants also prayed the court to, among others, set aside the Share Purchase Agreement on the basis of which Dr. Ibrahim assumed majority shareholding in the Newswatch Communications Ltd, Global Media Mirror Ltd and Dr. Ibrahim himself were joined as co-respondents in the suit.

The issue of settlement of the terminal benefits of the former directors was disclosed during the proceedings yesterday by the second witness for the petitioners, Mr. Ray Ekpu, who was the former CEO of the Newswatch Communications Ltd while being cross-examined by the respondents’ lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN).

Ekpu said: “I was paid the sum of N79. 5m by Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim on May 10, 2011, as my terminal benefits, but my total entitlements as terminal benefits should be N109m in addition to some fraction which I cannot remember now.

“Dan Agbese, Yakubu and Soji Akinrinade were also paid their terminal benefits.”

When asked under cross-examination how much his other colleagues were paid, Ekpu retorted: “I am not their accountant and cannot say how much they were paid, but they all complained that they were not paid in full. You can ask that from them yourself.”

Ayorinde then read out

the actual money paid to Agbese, Yakubu and Akinrinade as terminal benefits from the documents earlier filed and admitted as exhibits by the presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba According to the documents, Yakubu was paid N77. 7m, Agbese was also paid N77.7m while Akinriande was paid the sum of N60.5 million.

Ekpu did not dispute these figures although he insisted he and his other colleagues had not been paid in full in consonance with their expectations.

With these payments,

Ekpu added that all the said former directors agreed they would cease to be directors under the Share Purchase Agreement that transferred the NCL to the new management.

When asked by Ayorinde whether or not they remitted any fund to the estate of one of the original founders, late Dele Giwa, from all the money they collected from the new investor, Dr. Ibrahim, Ekpu answered in the negative.

He said: “We did not pay any money to the family of the late Dele Giwa, the

money we collected were our individual terminal benefits.”

Ekpu further disclosed that he has a total of 3.4 million shares in the company. When asked what was the percentage of these shares he owns in the total shares of the company, he said: “I don’t know what the percentage is. That is for the Company Secretary to know. I cannot say.”

The cross-examination of Ekpu could, however, not be completed yesterday as the court adjourned further hearing till March 18 and 19, 2013.

Legal Aid Council seeks 1,000 lawyers from SURE-P E MMANUEL O NANI ABUJA

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s part of measures to expand the scope of free legal services to the public, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON) has applied to the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SUREP) for 1,000 lawyers.

LACON Director-

General, Mrs. Joy Bob-Manuel, told National Mirror that the initiative was intended to boost the capacity of the Council towards service delivery.

There are currently 280 lawyers in LACON. Bob-Manuel, however, identified poor funding and logistics as major challenges confronting the Coun-

cil.

Interestingly, lawyers providing free legal services now have cause to smile, as the Council has concluded arrangements to provide them with little grants, perhaps in an effort to appreciate their commitment as well as encourage other private lawyers to key into its activities.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Thursday, February 28, 2013

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NEITI to audit utilisation of 13% derivation funds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

stated this yesterday in Abuja at the template workshop on fiscal allocation and statutory disbursement audit.

The derivation funds comprise 13 per cent of federally allocated revenue payable to the oil producing states.

The executive secretary, represented by the Director of Communications, Mr. Ogbonaya Orji, said the decision to conduct the audit became necessary following mutual suspicion and distrust existing among the federal, states and local governments over “who gets what and how.”

She said the workshop was organised to acquaint Federal Government agencies and other government entities expected to be covered by the audit on the templates designed for the exercise.

“The audit is expected to cover actual disbursements of funds accrued to the Federation Account from the oil and gas sector to beneficiaries such as federal, state, local governments and other relevant agencies as well as tracking actual application of these funds.

“The audit will also ex-

amine the issues surrounding 13 per cent derivation to benefiting states,” Ahmed said.

The NEITI boss explained that the general application of the audit exercise of the statutory allocation received and how they were disbursed and applied would be examined from records of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC; the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. She added that the exercise would also cover Federal Government’s share of derivation; administration and application of the excess crude oil account and the 13 per cent derivation allocation to states and local government councils and ecological funds disbursement and utilisation.

NEITI added that it had engaged the service of a reputable firm, SIAO, an indigenous professional audit and tax assurances firm through a transparent and competitive bidding process.

The Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Mr. Elias Mbam, noted that to promote good

governance and socio-economic development in the country, fiscal allocation and disbursement of the extractive industries revenue from the Federation Account to beneficiaries should not only be just and fair, but must be fully accounted for.

Mbam said the workshop was in line with the RMAFC ideals on total disclosure, accountability and

transparency in government business and urged stakeholders to use the knowledge gained from the workshop to promote accountability in fiscal allocations and disbursement.

He said: “It is a common knowledge in Nigeria that revenue from the extractive industry is a major contributor to the Federation Account.

“The sector contrib-

utes about 80 per cent of the revenue accruing to the Federation Account.

Accordingly, in order to promote good governance, unity and socio-economic development of our country, fiscal allocation and disbursement of the extractive industries revenue from the Federation Account to the beneficiaries should be just, fair, equitable and fully accounted for.

L-R: Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate; Minister of Labour, Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu; Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike and Minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

How to reduce poverty –Sultan

2015: Jonathan free to contest, says Tukur CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

National Working Committee, NWC; National Executive Committee, NEC, and various leadership caucuses of the ruling party next week.

It was gathered that the meetings were initiated by the President and his henchmen to further bring the various organs and structures of the party under the control of the Presidency ahead of the 2015 elections.

National Mirror learnt that the Presidency, which was basking in the euphoria of the success of the recent installation of a leader of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, and Akpabio as Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, was planning further steps to take other structures and organs of the party under its grip.

It was learnt that the Presidency left no stone unturned to ensure that Jonathan was in a posi-

tion to “decide who gets what and how at all levels in the party.”

Reliable sources in the Presidency told one of our correspondents that Jonathan planned to erase all shades of opposition within the party ahead of his re-election bid in 2015.

The current efforts of the Presidency, according to one of our sources, was meant to beat the NWC, NEC and other organs of the party into line to favour the re-election of Jonathan in 2015.

It was not clear how the Presidency planned to achieve its mission but findings showed that the relevant organs and structures might be coerced to support the future aspiration of Jonathan.

One of our sources said: “The President is meeting with the NWC, NEC, PDP caucus and leaders of the party in all strata by next week because the Presidency is consolidating on the gains of the recent installation

“I, therefore, wish to enjoin all the participants to be actively involved in all the deliberations of the workshop, it is my hope that the knowledge you will gain from this workshop would be used to promote transparency and accountability particularly in fiscal allocations and disbursements of the extractive industries revenue from the Federation Account.”

of the BoT chairman and that that of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

“The governors would soon come to the grip of the Presidency following the emergence of Akpabio as Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and we envisage that the NEC and NWC would soon join the queue behind President Jonathan for his re-election in 2015,” added the source, who did not want his name mentioned.

Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, confirmed that his boss was set to convene series of PDP’s leadership meetings next week.

Gulak, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, however, declined further details.

“I know the President is likely to meet with the leaders of the party for normal consultations and briefings. It is at the President’s discretion, I am not in the position to give details,” Gulak told National Mirror.

In another development, the Niger State Government has raised the alarm over the alleged plot to blackmail Aliyu over his comments on the 2015 presidential election.

The government alleged that some hawks in Abuja had concluded arrangements to print posters with Aliyu’s picture and a message: 2015: ‘Vote Babangida Aliyu for President,’ and in the process set him against the party that had placed an embargo on political campaigns.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Danladi Ndayebo, alleged in a statement made available to National Mirror that some media houses had been commissioned to write negative reports against Aliyu as part of a grand design to discredit him and the state government.

The statement reads in part: “Governor Aliyu is a law-abiding member of the PDP and is very much aware of the party’s di-

rective to members not to commence campaign for the 2015 presidential election.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Aliyu has not declared for the presidency. If anything, he is at the moment focused on delivering on the mandate given to him by the people of Niger State and would not be distracted.”

Ndayebo said God is the ultimate decider of who becomes what.

He also cautioned Nigerians to be wary of persons who might want to discredit others for selfish reasons.

The CPS said the governor remained committed to his present assignment and would not be distracted by any devious plot by mischief-makers.

Ndayebo reiterated Aliyu’s commitment to the ongoing efforts at re-engineering the state to achieve its vision of becoming one of the top three most developed state economies by 2020.

T

he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, yesterday called for inter-agency collaboration to reduce poverty and unemployment in the country.

Abubakar specifically advocated the synergy between the Bank of Agriculture, BOA, National Poverty Eradication Programme, NAPEP, and the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, to further combat poverty.

He made the appeal in Sokoto when the BOA Managing Director, Dr. Mohammed Santuraki, visited him.

“Not that I am calling for their scrapping or merger rather they should work hand-inglove as they have similar mandates.

“They should have an efficient inter-link among themselves. They all have the same aims of engaging more Nigerians meaningfully,” the Sultan said.

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National News

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria’s economy buoyant, Presidency replies ACN TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he Presidency has said that contrary to claims by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the country’s economy was not in danger of collapse.

It said that all globally recognised indices indicated that the economy was stable and on an upward beat.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said in a statement that the ACN claim was lacking in substance and ran con-

trary to the verdicts of reputable international rating agencies who had consistently upgraded the country’s economic ratings in the last one and a half years.

Okupe said contrary to the ACN claim that the cost of producing a barrel of oil “skyrocketed” to $35 in 2012 from $4 in 2002, the actual cost of production stood at approximately $17 per barrel.

He said: “The cost of oil production per barrel had never risen as high as the opposition claims.

Even at the height of restiveness in the Niger

Delta area and its consequential effect on the upstream oil sector, the per barrel cost of oil production in Nigeria never rose above $18.

“When compared with a sum of between $50 and $70 per barrel spent on production of shale oil by the United States of America, the cost of producing oil in Nigeria which is $17 per barrel as well as a prevailing sale price of over $100 per barrel does not support the alarming claim of the opposition.”

Okupe added that the second leg upon which the ACN based its

“wrong assertions” was similarly laden with deceptive undertones.

He said: “For a fact, there are incidents of crude oil theft which had existed for several decades before this administration came on board.

“However, the truth is that this is currently being tackled through proactive steps by the government. The opposition is most probably aware of the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan recently secured the cooperation of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and French President on measures to

prevent refineries in Europe from buying crude oil stolen from Nigeria.”

Also in a statement yesterday, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, restated the strong pedestal upon which the national economy stands.

She also said that the accumulated savings in the $1 billion Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, would not be distributed.

According to OkonjoIweala, the economy is moving in the right direction in view of the growth trend when viewed against a whole range of objective factors.

Despite her defence of the economy, OkonjoIweala, however, admitted that there was need to make the growth of the economy inclusive through job creation, particularly among the youth to curb unemployment.

The minister said in a statement that “poverty needs to decrease at a faster pace, as we do not want excessive inequality to be a feature of our economic growth,” adding that cost of governance “needs to be reduced, and the government is taking steps in this direction.

FG’ll involve local firms in combating insecurity –Moro OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

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Pensioners protesting non-payment of their pension in Lagos, yesterday.

Northern Nigeria not safe, Britain warns citizens PAUL ARHEWE

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ritain yesterday warned its citizens not to travel to northern Nigeria, following attacks blamed on terrorists and the abduction of foreigners.

The travel advice reads in part: “There is a high threat from terrorism. There is a threat of retaliatory attacks following the French intervention in Mali.

“Terrorist attacks could target government, security and educational institutions, and international organisations.

Attacks could also be indiscriminate in places frequented by foreigners like restaurants, bars,

markets, hotels, shopping centres and places of worship.

“There have been regular attacks on churches and mosques in northern Nigeria at times of worship. Further attacks could take place.

“You should be vigilant and take care at all times, particularly in areas where there are political or other large public gatherings.

“A number of attacks have taken place around religious and public holidays. You should be particularly vigilant during these periods.

You should avoid affected areas in the immediate aftermath of an attack.”

Gunmen killed a security guard and abducted a Briton, an Italian, a

Greek and four Lebanese workers after storming the compound of Lebanese construction firm, Setraco, in Bauchi State on February 16.

The incident reflected the increasing rate of abduction of foreigners in the North.

Britain upped its travel risk ratings yesterday, advising against “all travel to Borno State, Yobe State, and Bauchi State where there are frequent violent attacks.

The British Government also said that recent attacks had increasingly focused on public places, including bars and restaurants, resulting in a large number of injuries and deaths.

It advised against travel to Kano city and

Okene city “which see frequent high levels of violence.”

The statement from the UK Office also advised against “all but essential travel to Gombe State, Kano State, Kaduna State, Jigwa State, Katsina State and the Okene region of Kogi State where there has been an increase in violent attacks; Mubi Town in Adamawa State and the area north of Mubi Town that borders Borno State where there has been an increase in violent attacks.

“Also, Jos City where violent attacks and ongoing inter-communal tensions can lead to outbreaks of violence; and Kaduna city and Zaria city in Kaduna State where there has been frequent violence.”

he Federal Government has disclosed its resolve to partner with local firms for the procurement and installation of security gadgets.

The government said with the current wave of insecurity in some parts of the country, it had become imperative to collaborate with indigenous manufacturing companies.

The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, spoke at an exhibition organised by Mekahog Group, an indigenous engineering, defence and security outfit in Abuja.

Moro said the government would collaborate with Mekahog Group in its efforts to procure modern security and defence facilities to stem the current security challenges facing the country.

He said his presence at the security exhibition underscored the fact that the “Ministry of Interior wishes to explore all possibilities of acquiring the latest technology in all ramifications towards combating internal security challenges.”

Moro, who expressed excitement over the assemblage of the world class security and de-

fence facilities, assured the security outfit of government patronage.

Moro said he would direct the para-military outfits under his purview to have further discussions with the group on the possibilities of procuring some of the facilities.

Lead Consultant to the group, Mr. Emmanuel Ohakim and Mr Franklyn Ohakim who led other partners of the group, assured the Federal Government of the willingness of the firm to partner with all security agencies in the country in view of the global security challenges.

The high point of the exhibition was the tour of exhibition site, where the minister was shown some of the land defence systems on display which included spring buck MKIV, APC and Fox-Light Commercial Vehicle.

Moro

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SURE-P not a political programme –Sambo ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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ice-President Namadi Sambo, yesterday said that the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, is not a political programme but an empowerment programme aimed at rapidly improving the socio-economic status of Nigerians.

Sambo stated this on Tuesday during a meeting of the Community Services Women and Youth Employment, CSWYE, programme, with stakeholders from the 36 states of the federation that was held at the State House, Abuja.

The vice-president said the impact of the interventions of the SURE-P in the critical sectors of the economy had been tremendous both in the infrastructure and social safety-net programmes.

He noted that part of its infrastructure interventions was the ongoing rehabilitation of over 3, 700km of roads across the country, with some already being commissioned and others nearing completion.

The vice-president added that the intervention of the SURE-P in the railways had facilitated the re-com-

Sambo

missioning in December 2012, of the Lagos-Kano railway after over 35 years of disrepair.

According to him, the CSWYE was one of the critical components of the safety-net programme of SURE-P, adding that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration holds women and youths in high esteem.

“This programme is for the young men and women of Nigeria, it’s about empowerment; it is about building capacity and creating opportunities for gainful employment in our various communities to harness their energies and channel them into projects that will enrich their communities.

“We need each and everyone’s cooperation to ensure that this project succeeds - without your full cooperation, we cannot

achieve that,” he said.

Sambo said to strengthen the CSWYE for proper coordination, efficiency, transparency, accountability and effectiveness: “The CSWYE Federal Project Implementation Unit has now been moved to the Federal Ministry of Labour, which also supervises the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, to ensure better a coordination of the project since the NDE is the technical implementation organ of the programme.”

He, therefore, charged the stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.

Earlier, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, in his remark, enjoined all the stakeholders to put in their best to ensure the success of the programme, saying that the programme has the capacity to reduce drastically the unemployment rate in the country.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government set up the SURE-P programme in 2012 as a means of changing the socio-economic status of Nigeria through rapid interventions in critical sectors of the economy.

FG plans national strategy on road safety ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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orried by the rate of road crashes in the country and its effect on national growth and development, the Federal Government yesterday unfolded a fouryear plan to put in place a national strategy on road safety policy.

The government has therefore set up an interministerial committee on the evolution of the policy for 2012-2016 in order to enhance the management and control of road crashes across the country.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo yesterday, Minister of Informa-

News

Thursday, February 28, 2013

tion, Labaran Maku, said the ministerial committee would include the Ministries of Works, Transport and Health, Interior and the Corps Marshall of the Federal Roads Safety Commission, FRSC, Osita Chidoka, among others.

The inter-ministerial committee, which has six weeks to submit its report, is expected to study and fine-tune the new policy which would cover training for drivers, issues of licensing, funds for road safety, collaboration with state governments as well as enlightenment and reorientation of drivers and other road users.

According to Maku, council devoted time to the consideration of a draft strategy submitted by the Federal Roads Safety Commission, FRSC, which was

a response to the United Nations declaration of the present decade as a period to take action on road safety for all countries.

“The strategy was discussed extensively but before approval, more work needs to be done and more synergy needed to be there between FRSC and works ministry, even health and interior (fire service) need to be involved,” he added.

He stated that despite the fact that the current administration was committed to controlling roads crashes through the deployment of ICT, the government still need to enhance its achievements in the sector to meet the United Nations standard on roads safety and conform to the recommendations of a World Bank review of the sector.

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New bill targets prison decongestion GEORGE OJI ABUJA

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new bill, which passed second reading at the Senate yesterday, seeks to address the nagging issue of prison decongestion in the country.

The plank of the bill is to make it mandatory for the Comptroller-General of Prisons (as the chief custodian of the prison inmates) to send monthly returns of the entire inmates of the prison to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chief Judges of the relevant states for prompt review and release of those who are not supposed to be there.

This is against the current practice of yearly practice where the chief judicial officers merely visit prisons and are not under any compulsion to order the release of any inmate.

Entitled; “A Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Justice (release from custody) (special provisions) Act Cap C40, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004,” the bill is sponsored by Senator

Babajide Omoworare and 32 others.

The proposed statutory provision is not only intended to decongest the prisons considerably, but will also ensure official record-keeping, inject sanity, transparency and guaranty timely review of our crowded and frightening prison system.

Omoworare explained; “The beauty of the cumulative effect of the extant act

and the proposed amendment is that the Chief Justice of Nigeria and or the Chief Judges of the states do not have seamless or limitless latitude to release persons awaiting trial at her whims and caprices.”

He stated that the intended amendment is without prejudice to the proposed amendment to the Prison Act, which is a wholesale reform of the administration of prisons in Nigeria.

‘NECO needs N5bn for effective operation’ PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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he National Examination Council, NECO, yesterday said it will need at least N5 billion to enable the examination body adequately perform its statutory functions in conducting exams effectively for the Nigerian child.

The new Chairman of the governing board, Chief Paddy Njoku, who made the disclosure during a courtesy visit on the former military president, Gen. Ibrahim

Badamasi Babangida, at his residence in Minna, Niger State, yesterday, said the burden of funding the institution cannot be borne by the Federal Government alone, but would require the help of all stakeholders for it to function adequately.

According to him, presently, the 10-year-old NECO is confronted with the problem of conducting examination in the 774 local government areas of the country that requires so much money which its budgetary allocation alone cannot meet.

TENDER NOTICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON BEHALF OF DMO NIGERIAN TREASURY BILLS Notice is hereby given by the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of DMO that the Federal Government of Nigeria Treasury Bills of 91, 182 and 364-day tenors amounting to N32,970,708,000, N40,000,000,000 and N67,119,374,000 respectively would be issued by Dutch auction on Thursday, March 07, 2013.

All Money Market Dealers should submit bids through the CBN TEMENOS INTERNET BANKING between 9.00a.m and 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 06, 2013.

Each bid must be in multiple of N1,000 subject to a minimum of N10,000.

Authorized Money Market Dealers are allowed to submit multiple bids. A bid may be for authorized Money Market Dealers own account, Non Money Market Dealers or interested members of the public. The result of the auction would be announced by 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 06, 2013. The Bank reserves the right to reject any bid.

Allotment letters would be issued for successful bids on Thursday, January 10, 2013, while payment for successful bids should be made to your account with the Central Bank of Nigeria not later than 11.00 a.m. on Thursday, March 07, 2013.

The Bank reserves the right to vary the amount on offer in line with market realities prevailing as at the period of auction of the Nigerian Treasury bills.

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OFFICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ABUJA.

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South West

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

N1.3bn subsidy scam: Court strikes out marketers’ application KENNY ODUNUKAN

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n Ikeja High Court yesterday struck out an application by two oil marketers, Aro Bamidele and Abiodun Bankole, praying it to quash the N1.3 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them.

The Economic and Fi-

nancial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on October 5, 2012 arraigned the marketers and their company, A. B. S. Investment Company Limited, before Justice Lateefat Okunnu for allegedly obtaining N1.3 billion from the Federal Government for the purported importation of 30 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.

Okunnu held that the preliminary objection filed by the defendants’ counsel, Jimoh Lasisi (SAN), was premature and lacking in merit.

The judge struck out Lasisi’s argument that the charge preferred against the defendants was incompetent, adding that the EFCC had not obtained an approval from the Attor-

ney-General of Lagos State to prosecute them.

Okunnu further held that the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were empowered by law to prosecute criminal offences even without an authority from the state attorney-general.

She said: “Section 211 (1) of the constitution allows for circumstances in which

any other body other than the attorney-general can institute criminal proceedings against a person.

“The EFCC Act, which is an Act of the National Assembly, also empowers the anti-graft commission to prosecute criminal matters under a state law.”

The judge also held that the EFCC Act and the constitution were superior

to the administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2011.

She also dismissed Lasisi’s argument that the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), was not competent and empowered by law to prosecute the defendants.

Okunnu adjourned the matter to May 20 for commencement of trial.

I recalled 21 cartons of My Pikin –Witness K AYODE KETEFE

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (right) and Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria and leader of the Indian delegation, Mr. Mahesh Sachdev, during an investment and development meeting in Lagos, recently.

Oyo NURTW’ll assist police to combat crime –Chairman KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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he National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, has promised to partner with the police in the ongoing efforts to rid Oyo State of crimes.

The state Chairman of the union, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (a.k.a. Fele), gave the assurance yesterday at the inauguration of the executive council for Ibadan North East I Inter-State unit held at the popular Agodi Gate Motor Park, Ibadan.

Commending the state government for putting in

place the joint military/ police security patrol team code-named: “Operation Burst,” Oyerinde described the development as a right step in the right direction, saying that it had helped in checkmating criminal activities across the state.

He praised the government for “its high sense of crisis management,” which had seen the road transport workers union out of crisis that could have consumed it.

The NURTW chairman highlighted the ongoing transformation processes within the state chapter since his assumption of office, noting that it was a new

dawn of positive change.

Oyerinde then urged all NURTW members across the state to continue to be lawabiding and cooperate with the security operatives by shunning all criminal acts.

He said: “It is high time we mended the image of the NURTW and ensure good drivers and passengers’ relationship.

“Our relationship with the community must also be mutually cordial at all times.

“We do not need to rethink over past difficulties, but we should learn our lessons from such past mistakes.

Our past successes should also help us to correctly ap-

PDP ready to recapture South-West –Filani KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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he National ViceChairman, Caretaker Committee, SouthWest zone of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Ishola Filani, yesterday said the Yoruba nation would soon be brought back to the mainstream of the Nigerian politics.

Filani said this was to correct the imbalance the region was currently experiencing as the PDP was prepared to

recapture the South-West, starting from Osun and Ekiti states.

The national vice-chairman spoke at the Zonal Secretariat of the party at Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when he led 16 other members to address journalists on the state of affairs of the PDP in the South-West.

He said the caretaker committee, which was constituted by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, was given the task of resolving all the dif-

ferences among the members in the South-West so that the party could reclaim the zone in 2015.

According to him, the committee was a child of circumstance that evolved following the suspension of the Segun Oni-led executive in compliance with a court order.

Filani explained that the committee was not put in place to intimidate or witchhunt anybody but to proffer solution and bring sanity to the party.

proach coming challenges.”

The chairman added that any member found fomenting trouble should be picked up by the security operatives and made to face the music.

prosecution witness, Mr. Ezekiel Akerele, testifying in the case of the alleged killer teething mixture, “My Pikin,” yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that he recalled 21 cartons of the drug from his customers in 2008.

Akerele was testifying in the case instituted by the National Agency for Food, Drugs and Administration and Control, NAFDAC, against three Nigerians.

The witness, who is a pharmacist, disclosed that his decision to recall the drug was informed by a letter he got from the agency, notifying him of the dangerous properties of the drug.

Akerele, while being led in evidence by the agency’s lawyer, Mr. Aminu Alilu, told the court that he had

been a distributor of “My Pikin” teething mixture since 2008.

He said: “I engaged in the distribution of pharmaceutical products from Barewa company to other pharmacy stores.

“I make purchase of their products at least twice a month and on each transaction, I was issued a waybill and invoice to cover the transaction.”

Akerele added that his relationship with the manufacturer of “My Pikin” ended abruptly when he received a letter from NAFDAC, requiring his company to stop distribution of the teething mixture till further notice.

He said he got this letter on November 20, 2008, and that from that date he stopped purchasing the alleged killer teething mixture from Barewa Manufacturing Company.

This Day in African American History

February 28: On this day in 1784—First Black American Poet, Phillis Wheatley Dies!

A pioneering AfricanAmerican poet, Phillis Wheatley was born in Senegal around1753. At the age of 8, she was kidnapped and brought to Boston on a slave ship.

Upon her arrival, John Wheatley purchased the young girl as a servant for his wife, Susanna.

Under the family’s direction, Wheatley (who, as was the custom at the time, adopted her master’s last name) was taken under Susanna’s wing. While Wheatley suffered from poor health, her quick intelligence was hard to miss, and as a result, Susanna did not train her to be her servant.

Instead, Wheatley received lessons in theology,

English, Latin and Greek.

Ancient history was soon folded into the teachings, as were lessons in mythology and literature. Additionally, Wheatley, while still a slave, enjoyed limited restrictions on her life and became a part of the family. At a time when African Americans were discouraged and intimidated from learning how

to read and write, Wheatley’s life was an anomaly.

Wheatley wrote her first published poem at age 12. The work, a story about two men who nearly drown at sea, was printed in the Newport Mercury. Other published poems followed, with several also being published, further increasing Wheatley’s fame.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Thursday, February 28, 2013

PDP urges NJC to revisit cases handled by Archibong As forum calls for removal of Bamanga Tukur

FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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gun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday appealed to the National Judicial Commission, NJC, to revisit all the cases presided over by the retired judge of the Lagos High Court, Justice Charles Archibong, in the last few years.

With specific reference to the more than 35 court injunctions granted a faction of the party that has further polarised the the party in the state, the state PDP urged the NJC to, in the spirit of fairness and true justice, revisit pronouncements by the retired judge as it affects the party.

A statement issued and signed by the deposed Secretary of a faction of the party, Dapo Adeyemi, copies of which were made available to journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the party said carrying out such exercise by NJC would be a sure way of correcting “all anomalies in the rulings delivered by the controversial judge.”

The Ogun State PDP in the statement emphasised that compulsory retirement of Justice Archibong as well as the assertion of the NJC, clearly pointed to the degree by which the retired judge abused court processes, stressing that he was not in touch with the requirements of the law.

“We want to recommend that all the cases handled by Justice

Archibong in the last few years be revisited to correct all anomalies in the rulings delivered,” the statement said.

In a related development, the state PDP Youths Forum yesterday called for the immediate removal of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

The forum, under the auspices of Ogun PDP Youths Forum, OPYF, based its call for the removal of the national chairman on the compulsory retirement of Justice Charles Archibong, whose injunctions were relied upon to sack the Senator

Dipo Odujinrin-led State Executive Committee, SEC, of the party in the state.

The forum, which described the Tukur-led National Working Committee, NWC, as “grossly incompetent and incapable of giving the PDP the desired leadership,” said Tukur had further polarised the party in the state with his divisive tendencies.

A press statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday and signed by its leaders, Hon. Farouk Akintunde, (Ogun Central Senatorial District); Erelu Mojisola Salami, (Ogun

East Senatorial District) and Alhaji Musa Akinlolu (Ogun West Senatorial District); the forum said Tukur was “fanning the embers of discord within the PDP across the country, particularly in the South-West zone of the party.

“Since Justice Charles Archibong, the judge, who gave the controversial judgements purportedly relied on by the NWC to dissolve the South-West zonal executives, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Bode Mustapha, and the Senator Dipo Odujinrin-led Ogun State executives has been sacked by the

President, it is therefore expedient to sack the party chairman who relied on the same judgement for which Archibong was sacked to bring our party into legal embarrassment and international disrepute.”

The forum noted that four out of the six reasons which made NJC to recommend the compulsory retirement of Justice Archibong arose from petitions filed by the PDP, Hon. Bode Mustapha, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as well as other stakeholders who were directly affected by the judge’s controversial rulings.

L-R: Commander, 2 Division, Intelligence Group, Nigerian Army, Col. Ibrahim Salihu; Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi; GOC, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Jibrin and Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Brig.-Gen. M. Dan-Ali, during the GOC’s working visit to the governor in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

Ondo election: Oke opens his case before Tribunal HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, yesterday opened his case before the Justice Andovar Kaka Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure.

Testifying before the tribunal, one of the witnesses Julius Elusiyan, said that he was forced to signed the result sheet under pressure and said he voted after he was accredited by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. While being cross-examined by counsel to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Ifedayo Adedipe, he said he signed form EC8A after being pressurised to do so, but claimed that some of the voters that came to the unit where he worked as agents were not accredited, while some were fully accredited.

Also testifying before the panel, another witness, Kunle Joseph, said he voted on the day of the election without being accredited in Igbara Oke in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

Why I didn’t obey court order -DG NDLEA Oyo concessions 110km Ibadan Circular Road WALE IGBINTADE

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he Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr. Femi Ajayi, yesterday told a Lagos High Court that he was not served with a court order directing the agency to produce a suspected drug peddler, Rafiu Kofoworola (a.k.a Allele) in court.

Responding to a contempt proceeding filed before Justice Deborah Oluwayemi, by counsel to Kofoworola, the NDLEA boss, who apologised to the court, added that he was not aware that a warrant was issued to produce the suspect in court.

Tendering his apology, the director-general said; “On behalf of the NDLEA, I hereby apologise for the failure to pro-

duce Kofoworola, a drug suspect as ordered by the court. I was not aware of the order made by the court.

“I am only the administrative head of NDLEA while the chairman of the agency is the operative head. It is not our practice to undermine the power and integrity of the court.”

Justice Oluwayemi had on January 13, 2013 ordered the agency to produce Kofoworola in court following a fundamental human rights application brought by his defence counsel, Ola Akinsola from the chambers of Muiz Banire & Co. The applicant had informed the court that Kofoworola was arrested by the NDLEA and was detained for over seven months without being

charged to court.

He prayed the court to order that he (Kofoworola) should be produced in court by the agency.

Bur, shortly after the order was given by Justice Oluwayemi, NDLEA hurriedly arraigned Kofoworola before a Federal High Court and he was remanded in Ikoyi prisons.

Earlier in the proceeding, the defence counsel, Ola Akinsola, reminded the court that the business of the day was for NDLEA director-general to tell the court why he refused to obey a clear and unambiguous order given by the court to produce Kofoworola in court.

He submitted that the order given by the court was served on the agency by the sheriff of the court and yet the agency refused to obey.

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yo State government has approved the concessioning of the first phase of the 110 kilometre Ibadan Circular Road.

State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Taiwo Otegbeye, made the disclosure while briefing journalists alongside the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Engr. Kayode Adepoju, at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, yesterday.

He said the first phase of the project will be a four-lane dual carriage motorway spanning a length of 35km from the existing expressway.

It was concessioned to Hi-Tech Nigeria Limited and DSC Nigeria Limited under a build, operate and transfer, BOT, arrangement. The commissioner explained that the firms would operate the

road on completion for 30 years after which it would be handed over to the state government.

Otegbeye said work on the first phase of the project would commence as soon as the award letter was given, adding that the project was expected to be completed within 36 months.

He said the road would

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run through Ibadan, the state capital, pointing out that the first phase, about 80 kilometres, would start from Akilapa on LagosIbadan Expressway to Egbeda on Ibadan-Ife Expressway, while the second phase will commence from Egbeda and run through Akinyele to Iddo and back to Akilapa.

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South East

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Amansea tragedy: Senate panel holds secret session in Anambra CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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he five-man Senate Committee investigating the case of dead bodies dumped in Ezu River, Amansea in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State yesterday held a close-door session with the major stakeholders and representatives of Omambala communities affected by the disaster.

The hours-long session, which took place at the palace of the traditional ruler of Amansea, Igwe Kenneth Okonkwo, was attended by Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, Senator Chris Ngige, Mohammed Magoro, Senator Solomon Ewuga, Shaba Lafiaji and others.

Before the meeting

started, many senior government officials and members of Anambra State House of Assembly, including the State Director of State Security Service (SSS), Commissioners of Police, who came to welcome the Senate Committee members, were told to go out to enable those invited to relax and feel free while volunteering information to the committee.

Eventually, the hall was cleared and members of the committee sat for about three hours after which the Chairman, Senator Nwagu, spoke to journalists on why the meeting was conducted in secret.

Senator Nwagu said they opted for a closedoor session because they wanted to get to the root of the problem.

He said: “We have noth-

ing to hide; we represent the people of this country, we are here to talk with the people in camera because of the fear of the unknown and many people were afraid to talk to us in the open.”

After the session at

Amansea, the committee left for the headquarters of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) in Awkuzu where they held a fact-finding meeting with the police officers in charge of the detention facility.

This is the second visit members of the committee visited Anambra State as a result of the incident whose masterminds are unknown.

It will be recalled that the Senate investigating panel had, at

the end of its visit to the Ezu River, scene of the incident earlier this month, held an interactive inquiry at the Conference Room of the Government House in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Obi, Bianca condemn demolition of Ojukwu Centre CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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nambra State Governor Peter Obi and Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, condemned last week’s demolition of Ojukwu’s Memorial Library and Resource Centre.

The people behind the act are yet to be identified, but the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, described the perpetrators as “anti-Igbo elements.”

Inspecting the damaged Centre, Governor Obi, who was accompanied by former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili and other senior government officials, said he embarked on the inspection to have a firsthand assessment of the level of damage done to the multi billion naira edifice.

The Ojukwu Memorial Library and Resource Centre was built by Chief Uwazuruike in honour of the late Ikemba Nnewi, the late Chief Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.

Obi expressed shock when he was conducted round the damaged building.

He said: “I came to sympathise with the leader of MASSOB because this edifice is built in honour of our leader, the late Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.

“Anybody who decides to

erect anything in the memory of Ojukwu should be respected. I assure you the renovation work will commence immediately.”

Also speaking yesterday Bianca Ojukwu said: “I was shocked when Chief Uwazuruike broke the news to me at about midnight on Saturday after we attended a burial ceremony together in Anambra State. It is most sad and shocking”.

She described the demolition as a sheer act of wickedness, saying members of the public would have benefited greatly from the use of the library facilities.

“I am astonished that an Igbo man can be capable of such wickedness; to destroy something built in memory of a man the entire Igbo nation is so proud of,” she said.

Bianca said that the motives behind the dastardly act were still unclear and little could be done to those behind the destruction.

Speaking earlier, the visibly angry Chief Uwazuruike said that the incident was an act of sabotage, conceived and carried out by antiIgbo elements that were not happy with the prominence and honour accorded the late Ojukwu.

Uwazuruike, who declined from mentioning the names of those suspected to be behind the demolition, said: “We have an experienced engineer who is handling the project and I wonder why it should suddenly collapse.

L-R: Eze Cletus Ilomuanya; Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; Leader, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazurike; former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili and Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, during a visit to the demolished Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Library in Owerri, Imo State, yesterday.

Police arrest three for stealing 10-day-old baby DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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he Enugu State Police Command has arrested three suspects, including a woman for allegedly stealing a 10-day-old baby.

The baby, stolen at Garki

Awkunanaw axis of Enugu metropolis, belonged to one Chinenye Egwu in Oduma Aninri Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, who gave their names as Nwandi Chinenye, Friday Ude and sylvester Ozollo, are now helping the police in their

investigation.

In another development, a suspect, who gave his name as Kenneth Ugwu, was arrested for allegedly trading in fake currency note.

Ugwu is also helping the police in their investigation.

He was arrested following information received at Eha Alumona village where the suspect was found with 28 pieces of fake N1, 000 notes.

The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed both incidents, adding that investigation had begun on them.

We are repositioned for victory in 2015 –Abia PPA GEORGE OPARA ABIA

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he Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) says it has concluded plans to win the Abia State governorship election in 2015.

The party says it plans to provide the people with genuine democratic governance which it claims has eluded them since the “ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP took over leadership from the back door.”

PPA State Chairman, Prince Emeka Okafor, stated this while addressing stakeholders in Ohafia, Abia North Senatorial District.

Okafor said that Abia, which he described as a

great state, has lost much of its resources to bad leadership because of the selfishness of those at the helm of affairs.

He, however, promised that PPA would return the state to the path of development if voted into power in 2015.

The party chairman noted that Abia State, as number one in alphabetical order in the country, should have also been number one economically, but for the lies with which those in power have been running it.

Okafor said that it is for this reason that he and other stakeholders decided to answer the clarion call by the people to return state to the path of development.

He called on the party’s supporters to “go to the nooks and crannies of the state and tell the people that the party they have been yearning for is back to right the wrong done by the PDP.” Okafor said: “Tell them that the 2015 election will not be like what happened in the last general elections, but will be free and fair.

“Our leaders in the state are feeding fat when the led are languishing in abject poverty. The youths should come out to challenge misrule instead of allowing criminals and looters of public fund to be ruling them.”

The party in Ohafia, Chief Ndukwe Iko, said

that PPA has been re-positioned to field credible candidates for all elective offices.”

He advised stakeholders to take membership drive serious as a prelude to marching into the Government House in 2015.

“You should not be afraid, tell everyone that PPA is back. Orji Kalu may have left the party; it does not mean that his exit is the end of the party. His exit did not in any way affect our party.

I want to tell you that we are going to be greater this time around. Our present state chairman is reachable; you can see him any time you want.

We want to offer Abia residents selfless leadership, “Iko said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South-South

Thursday, February 28, 2013

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Oyerinde: No culprit yet in murder case –AGF TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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o culprit has been arraigned in court nine months after the gruesome murder of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, the Private Secretary of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, a panel of the House of Representatives was told yesterday by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The representative of the AGF at the public hearing, Mr. P.O.T Olatigbe, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice,

stated this while giving testimonies before the committee headed by Hon. Uzor Azubuike.

The committee was shocked that the ministry would concede incompetence by saying that it is yet to find Oyerinde’s killers, despite the fact that two groups of suspects were detained by the police over the killing.

One set of the suspects was arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) as those responsible for the murder, while the police paraded another group for same offence.

The public hearing was, however, attended

by Governor Oshiomhole who gave a lengthy narrative of the circumstances leading to the death of the aide, accusing the police of hiding the killers.

The Office of the Director of Prosecution of Edo State Ministry of Justice also gave insights into the crime, accusing the police of a well-ochestrated cover up.

The Office accused the police of refusing to follow the usual procedure of forwarding their report of investigation to it for technical advice, but

instead forwarded it to the AGF office in Abuja, where the issue has been pending.

When called upon by the committee to speak on the case, Olatigbe, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, who represented the AGF, stunned the gathering when he admitted that the Office of the AGF “is in a dilemma over the issue.”

According to him, the reports of both the police and DSS investigations had been received, but the office did not know which to act on because

both were convincing in their analyses.

Azubuike, chairman of the committee, could not hide his surprise at the confession of Olatigbe, while other members of the committee were thrown into laughter as the AGF representative made a blunder of the matter.

He, however, tried to rescue the situation by saying that the dilemma of AGF was a result of non-involvement in the investigation process by the police and the DSS. At this point, the Director General of DSS, Ekpeyong Ita, was asked to make his presentation, which he did.

Ita said that DSS

used details of the IMEI numbers of Oyerinde’s phones that were stolen by the assassins to track and arrest them.

He admitted that the IMEI were picked from mobile phone service providers to which Oyerinde subscribed while alive, and that it was discovered that the phones had been sold to unsuspecting members of the public.

With the origin of the phones properly traced, Ita said the robbers who killed Oyerinde were successfully tracked down and arrested.

The suspects, according to him, have been handed over to the police for prosecution.

No hiding place for criminals in Delta –CP AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

T L-R: Special Adviser to Cross Rivers State Governor on Budget Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Peter Otti; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Mike Aniah and Acting Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, during the signing of the 2013 appropriation bill in Calabar, yesterday.

Cross River acting governor signs 2013 budget

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cting Governor of Cross River State Mr. Efiok Cobham, has assented to the state’s 2013 budget.

He signed the budget yesterday in Calabar, the state capital.

The budget, which now stands at N152, 418,731,311.73k, against N151, 376, 66,780.78k earlier presented to the House of Assembly by Governor Liyel Imoke, shows a marginal increase to N1, 42,664,530.78k Speaking shortly after signing the appropriation bill yesterday, Mr. Cobham said: “When the governor presented the budget late last year to the honourable House of Assembly for members’ consideration, he tagged it “Budget of Delivery” and through to its name, we are committed to deliver on all

our projects before the end of our tenure.

“We are not unmindful of the challenges that we face as a result of the dwindling inflow from the federal coffers, but we are committed to weather this dwindling resources and one way we think we can do it is

by looking inward.”

The Acting governor promised to ensure that the state sustains its culture of transparency and accountability in public finance administration to shore up confidence from donor partners.

He also stressed

the need to reposition Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) for effective service delivery.

Cobham said: “We must work even harder and remain focus to realize the great potentials that are in our internally generated revenue.”

Mystery as deaths shock Delta community SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

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ear has gripped the people of Oviri-Okpe community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State following the mysterious death of three indigenes of the area.

It was gathered that the puzzle, which occurred on Sunday, led to the death of the three indigenes of the community in quick succession in a water well dug for commercial purpose.

Findings at the community by our correspondent yesterday showed that the deceased were digging the well before tragedy struck.

It was learnt that one of them, who had ventured into the well to ascertain the level of work, reportedly raised the alarm that he was being tormented by some forces.

Investigation further revealed that the second and third persons, who went down into the well to rescue their colleague,

experienced the same fate.

Their bodies were eventually salvaged from the scene.

They were thereafter certified dead at the government’s medical centre in Orerokpe, the headquarters of Okpe Local Government Ares.

Their bodies were buried on Monday near the scene of the incident as dictated by a local deity in the community.

Already, the incident has ignited apprehension in the community.

he Delta State Police Command says it is determined to wipe out criminal from the state.

The police command says it has declared war against kidnappers and armed robbers terrorising residents.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of a new police station at Igbodo in Ika North-East Local Government area of the state, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikechukwu

Aduba, appealed to members of the public to support efforts by the command to achieve the goal.

The Igbodo community initiated the plan to build the police station.

According to Aduba, each piece of information given to the police on the activities of suspected kidnappers and armed robbers in the state attracts N500, 000 to the informant.

Describing Delta as a flash point of criminal activities, the police chief assured residents of the protection of their lives and property.

Youths reject STF’s offer, call for adequate security JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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ouths from Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State yesterday rejected empowerment offers by the Special Task Force, STF, on Jos crisis, saying such could only be meaningful in an atmosphere of peace and security.

The youth from the three council areas of the state made their position known during a parley organised by the STF to discuss ways of empowering them to engage in productive ventures in their domain.

They challenged the STF on the internal security of the state to do everything

possible to secure their environment first before they can talk of how to empower youths of the area.

According to them, how do you empower somebody to operate in an unsecured environment, where everybody is afraid of going out for fear of the unknown.

Earlier, the Commander of the Special Task Force, Maj.-Gen. Henry Ayoola, has tasked youths of the state to look inward for self-examination and come out with possible solutions that will bring an end to the senseless killings in the state.

Maj.-Gen. Ayoola said the essence of the gathering is to discuss ways they can empower the youth to be more productive.

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North

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Emir of Kano, Bayero, two sons return after 38 days in London AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

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L-R: Emir of Azara, Adamawa State, Dr. Kabir Ibrahim; Bishop Sunday Onuoha and Governor Sule Lamido, during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Inter-Faith Action Association to the governor in Dutse, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Varsity killings: NANS declares Al-Makura persona non grata

•NLC condemns killing •Army refutes allegation GEORGE OJI, ABIODUN NEJO, OLUFEMI ADEOSUN AND IGBAWASE UKUMBA

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he National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has declared Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, a persona nongrata at all public functions until those behind the recent killings of students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, NSUK, are brought to book.

NANS made this declaration yesterday at the Government House, Lafia, while protesting the killings of its members by soldiers when students of NSUK, who were on a peaceful protest over non-availability of water and erratic power to the campus, were shot dead.

NANS National President, Yinka Gbadebo, represented by his vice, Comrade Ahmed Jibrin, equally declared the suspension of their cooperation with the Federal Government.

His words: “We hereby declare the suspension of our cooperation with the Federal Government and declared Governor Tanko Al-Makura persona non-grata at all public functions until those culpable in the killings are brought to book.”

The students’ body also wants those students illegally detained during the impasse released with immediate effect and those whose monies were collected

in the name of bail should be refunded, while the level of damage done to students, whose houses were invaded, be duly compensated.

Accordingly, the association also demanded that the slain students’ families should be compensated with scholarship for at least one person from each of the families while the brutalised and hospitalised students’ bills be taken care of by the state government.

Consequently, NANS told the state government to ensure that the university is re-opened within a week of its closure as it equally called for the immediate removal of the commandant of the Shittu Alao Barracks in Keffi.

NANS also threatened to take the Federal Government to the International Court of Justice, ICJ, if it failed to arrest and courtmartial the soldiers involved in Monday’s killing.

The students, who expressed shock over what they called “acts of barbarism and unwarranted killings,” demanded the establishment of a commission of enquiry to carry out “full investigation into the unlawful killings in Keffi.”

Gbadebo said at a press conference in Ado Ekiti, that the students had, since that fateful incident, declared Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-makura a “persona non grata” and would not hesitate to embarrass him at any public function.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday reacted to the killings, describing it as “shocking, unacceptable and reprehensible.”

In a statement signed by the NLC President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, the union lamented that the avoidable killings of young and defenseless people leave a sour taste in the mouth.

It said that while it was expected that everyone respects the tenets of democracy, the brutal and murderous tactics of the soldiers were a throw-back to the past when the culture of impunity reigned supreme.

But the Nigerian Army yesterday washed its hands off the death of the four students.

At a news conference in Abuja, the Director, Army Public Relations, BrigadierGeneral Ibrahim Attahiru, refuted the claims by the students of the institutions that four of their colleagues were killed by soldiers during the protest.

Attahiru said it took the combined efforts of the Army’s 177 Guards Battalion troops with other security operatives to disperse the protesting students.

Attahiru’s words: “On 25 February 2013, students of Nasarawa State University came out en masse and barricaded the Keffiyeh-Akwanga Expressway, which is part of the 177 Guards Battalion patrol routes.

“This road was blocked

with logs of woods and burning tyres, which hampered vehicular movement, leaving travelers stranded for hours and numerous vehicles damaged by the violent crowd.

“It was also reported that the irate crowd were looting travelers’ belongings and throwing stones, bottles and metal objects at the security operatives at the scene of the incident. However, it is believed that the protest was hijacked by some hoodlums and cult members who are students of the university.

“As a result, the violent crowd burnt down two vehicles at the police station located across the campus and seized a tanker loaded with fuel with the intention of burning down the whole station.

“The combined efforts of the 177 Guards Battalion troops with other security operatives prevented the hoodlums from this act.

“The violent action of the crowd led to three soldiers sustaining various degrees of injuries from the stones, bottles and metals thrown at them.

“It is important to note that the combined efforts of the troops in conjunction with other security agencies assisted in dispersing the crowd and removing all the blockades from the road to ease the movement of vehicles.

“Presently, law and order have been restored in the area and our own troops are closely monitoring the security situation.”

mir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero arrived the country yesterday night with two of his son, Nasiru and Sanusi after 38 days in London.

The Emir and his children were flown abroad for medical treatment, following the January 19 attack on his convoy that claimed seven lives, four of whom were his Palace Guards.

His private driver of several years was also killed in the attack.

The Emir arrived Kano at exactly 7p.m. aboard a Nigeria Air force jet with registration number 5N—FGU amidst tight security provided by the military and the police.

Dignitaries, including district heads, top government functionaries, members of the business community and officials of the Emirate Council were at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, to give him a rousing welcome.

The tight security, as well as the presence of an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, was meant to avoid a replay of the January 19 incident.

Virtually, the headquarters of the Bompai Police Station was transferred to the protocol wing of the airport, where the Emir was expected to have a brief stop-over.

But this was not to be as the royal father joined the motorcade that took off right from the side of the aircraft.

The state government was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Brig.

Gen. Bello Danbazau, while the state Commissioner of Police, Musa Daura, his Deputy Commissioner, Operations among other security Chiefs were on hand to access the security situation prior to the

arrival of the aircraft.

Praise-singers were also available to add colour to the brief ceremony, while movements in and out of the protocol area were restricted.

In his brief comment, Brig.

Gen. Danbazau said the government and people of the state were excited to see the Emir back home.

“The government and indeed Kano people were worried over the state of health of the Emir and this informed the visit to London by the Governor, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to assess his health condition after which he declared that the Emir was in stable condition and would be back home soon.

“So, we are all happy today as you can see the caliber of people around representing different segments of the society. We thank God for his safe arrival,” he said.

The Emir’s eldest son, Aminu expressed joy about the return of his father to his domain after a long time absence.

“It is not only the Emirate Council that is sharing in this joy. Everyone in Kano is happy that their father is back. I visited him severally while in London. In fact, the last visit was seven days ago; and that visit gave me hope because he was in a very stable condition.

I thank God that he is back home; and we appreciate the prayers and concern of the Kano people, friends and well wishers,” Aminu said.

It would be recalled that the Emir, on January 19, was attacked in his Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, by suspected terrorists who hit his convoy with explosives.

The Emir’s convoy was ambushed by gunmen on motor bikes. Two of his sons, Sanusi and Nasiru who were flown out with him sustained gunshots injuries during the attack.

‘Protect project sites against attack’ INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

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orno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has directed all the 27 Caretaker Council Chairmen in the state to provide security for all ongoing and completed projects in their domain.

This, he said, is to ensure adequate protection of government projects and supervisors/workers against attacks and vandalisation by terrorists and

criminals.

The governor said the council chairmen should liaise with security operatives, especially the police, civil defence corps and vigilance groups, to guide the projects.

Governor Shettima gave the directive yesterday when he visited the Pivot Irrigation site project in Konduga Local Government Area that is among the projects to be commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan, in the next two weeks.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Performance: Aregbesola’s two years surpass Oyinlola’s seven years –Adeoti

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Politics

PDP BoT chair: The coronation of Anenih

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I have no regrets over PDP BoT job –Gana PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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ormer Minister of Information, Prof.

Jerry Gana has said that he has no regrets over his recent assignment of re-organising the Board of Trustees (BoT)

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While condemning the criticism trailing the outcome of the BoT meeting, Gana said that he has no regret with the result as he handled his job well, considering the credibility and integrity he has built over

the years.

Shortly after a meeting with the Niger State governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu in Minna yesterday, Gana told journalists: “For 30 years, I have built credibility and integrity and I will not do anything that is not

right. The reorganisation of the PDP BoT was very important. I had a challenge to make sure that the Board is constituted in accordance with the constitution of the party and I thank God I did it courageously.

“Many people will not

do it the way I have done it because they will play politics with it and I don’t play politics. I do it right because I come from Niger State where they tell the truth and where we are very courageous.”

Puncturing reports that the attendance at the meeting where he presented his report was low, the former minister said: “The attendance was one of the full-

est since 2006. It was 100 per cent attended by PDP members.”

Gana disclosed that the only absentee at the meeting was the immediate past chairman of the BoT, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

He noted that the future of the PDP is now brighter with the coming of a BoT, headed by a “seasoned and courageous person” like Tony Anenih.

Dickson eulogises Shagari at 88 OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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L-R: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye-Tomori and the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Amina Sambo, during a visit to the Government House in Osogbo, yesterday.

PDP carpets Fashola over celebration of days in office OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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ntil the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, summons the courage to engage critics of his administration and stakeholders of the Lagos Project during his celebration of days in office, such celebration would remain “wasteful and propangadist.”

This was the position of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to institute a probe of the perennial celebration.

The PDP, while speaking through its state Publicity Secretary, Taofeek Gani, said that apart from the incessant celebration being likened to what it called “counting chicks before they are hatched,”

it has continued to remain an avenue for the governor to attack the leadership of the state PDP. Gani said: “In a show of defeatism and frustration, the governor has only used the last two celebration fora to attack the Lagos State PDP leadership for criticising his

government. This thus confirmed our stand that the Fashola government is not ‘fit and proper’ for this democratic dispensation and indeed Lagos State. It remains a fascist government.”

The party spokesman said notwithstanding the attack, PDP remains reso-

lute in its assessment of the Fashola administration as an underperformer, which had failed to deliver actual democracy dividends to Lagosians.

“We challenge Governor Fashola to a tour of the projects in the state and or live debate on governance in the state,” he said.

ayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, has described Nigeria’s Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, as a symbol of a democratic, united and an egalitarian Nigeria.

Dickson, who stated this in a congratulatory message to the elder statesman on his 88th birthday, expressed appreciation at the fatherly, patriotic and nationalistic dispositions of Shagari, adding that as a detribalised leader, he has consistently rendered selfless services to the nation, adding: “You are indeed a symbol of a democratic, united and egalitarian Nigeria in whom we are all well pleased.”

Noting with satisfaction Shagari’s humility, sincerity of purpose and transparent lifestyle as qualities

that have endeared him to all and sundry, Dickson commended the Second Republic president for his continued efforts at promoting inter-ethnic and religious harmony as well as national unity and understanding among various sections of the Nigerian society.

He added that Shagari’s life history, especially in the public service has remarkably touched and transformed millions of Nigerians and called on the younger generation of Nigerians to emulate him.

His words: “Your life history has remarkably touched and transformed millions of Nigerians in the course of your public service to the nation.”

Dickson prayed God to grant the elder statesman and nationalist excellent health and strength to continuously render purposeful counsel and support to nation building.

Jonathan has constitutional right to run in 2015 –Izon Ikemi TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

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head of the 2015 presidential election, Izon Ikemi, a group made up of Ijaw people has said that President Goodluck Jonathan has the constitutional right to run for a second term in office if he so desires.

Izon Ikemi leaders during their meeting in Lagos yesterday on the state of the nation, especially as it affects the strategic interest of the Ijaw nation and her

sister ethnic nationalities nationwide, unanimously agreed that President Jonathan qualifies to contest the presidency in 2015.

In a statement signed by its president, Tony Uranta, the group reiterates President Jonathan’s right to contest for a second term in office as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It urged the Federal Government to critically look into the claims of marginalisation by some ethnic nationalities and reaffirmed

support for calls for the creation of an additional state in the South East to correct the imbalance that current-

ly exists vis-à-vis the other geo-political zones.

The group also urged Jonathan to sack all those

in his cabinet and other government agencies, who are not serving the common good of Nigerians.

Insecurity: CPC chieftain calls for emergency number SINA FADARE

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rked by the high rate of crime in the country, a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Niyi Raheem, has called on the president to set up a national emergency telephone number comparable to the

999 of the United State of America (USA) Raheem, who contested for Agege Federal Constituency seat in Lagos State on CPC platform in the 2011 election, said this would go a long way to curb the poor security system in the country, adding that “such a number should be localised with access to emergency

and law enforcement agencies.”

He said that if this is done, “it would help in preempting crimes before committal as well as assisting in tracking down criminals.”

He noted that the spate of crimes and insecurity level in the country has assumed an alarming rate and defied solutions.

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP BoT chair: The coronation of Anenih Five years after his tenure as chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was cut short, Chief Tony Anenih on Tuesday morning was reelected through consensus. AYODELE OJO reports on the intrigues and the expectations from a man popularly referred to as ‘Mr. Fix It.’

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he tension that heralded the quest for successor to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who suddenly resigned his chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) on February 2, 2012 was unusual.

It had never happened in the history of the PDP (since its formation in 1998) that the selection of a BoT chairman would generate such huge tension and contention as did the last process that produced Anthony Akhakon Anenih.

The process, however, eventually ended in an anticlimax: the emergence of Anenih through consensus of the BoT membership at a meeting which held on Monday, February 25 at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

However, as expected, the Board did not quite easily arrive at the decision to unanimously concede the position to him, which he first occupied from 2004 to 2007 when he was outwitted by Obasanjo who suddenly took over on June 27 that year and resigned in February last year.

There were consultations. The party leadership, acting in concert with the Presidency, engaged other aspirants on the need to sink their aspirations.

The sole objective was to eliminate the choice of a chairman through the elective process. Reasons: successive chairmen had always emerged through consensus;.

There was the real fear that a departure from the tradition to embrace the elective process could fracture the internal harmony of the critical organ of the party.

The Professor Jerry Gana-led Committee on the streamlining of the membership of the Board had, in the guidelines for selecting a BoT chairman, underscored these two points in order of preference.

According to the committee, “Since the BoT is the moral guide and conscience of the party, it would be ideal and preferable for the Board to produce its chairman through a process of democratic dialogue and consensus. But if all efforts fail, the BoT elective process of casting votes may be adopted.”

The consensus option was what played out at the last meeting of the BoT, despite the desperate calculations by some elements to push for election and thereby expose the underbelly of the Board to a collateral damage by forces within and outside the party.

The forces had gone to the last January meeting with the agendum to railroad the Board into an election. But the strategists in the leadership of the party and the Presidency had perfected a counterplot to discourage election.

What was on their mind was consensus.

Indeed, because the atmosphere was tense and the succession process had become emotive, the Presidency and the party were much concerned about preserving the integrity of the Board and strengthening it to play its advisory role.

Consequently, they decided not to allow the Board to be fractious on account of outcomes of the election. Their contention was that it would not augur well for a group to go home with a feeling of victory and the other groups to go home with a feeling of defeat.

In order to make the Board members amenable to the wise counsel of adopting the consensus option, the party and the Presidency had moved to streamline the membership and put in place selection guidelines that every Dick, Tom and Harry would find difficult to scale.

The committee’s job ensured that some members who were no longer in position to attend the Board meetings were dropped from the list. It was on the basis of the pruned list of members that invitation letters were sent out to those that were qualified to attend the meeting.

Anenih

I WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF BOT FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND

SINCE THEN, I HAVE GROWN,

GATHERED EXPERIENCE, MADE MORE FRIENDS The guidelines, as learnt, were the jokers that knocked off all the aspirants save Anenih. Pieces of information gathered from the meeting indicated that the criterion that did the aspirants in was the one that said that a candidate for the position of Chairman of BoT must be consistent in his loyalty to the party, in terms of stability of sustained support and integrity of character, such that there is no record of having left the PDP for another party and returned to the PDP. The other, which was an added advantage was that the aspirant must be a founding father of the party.

Two of the aspirants – Don Etiebet from the SouthSouth and Shuaib Oyedokun from the South-West – were caught by the first criterion. Etiebet, who was a founding father of the PDP had left the party to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) where he became the party’s national chairman, after which he returned to the PDP. Oyedokun was Deputy National Chairman of the PDP and left the party thereafter to the Action Congress (AC) from where he returned to the party.

Both were said to have announced that they were stepping down for Anenih at the Monday’s meeting. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, had followed suit. Nnamani who needed the prompting of President Goodluck Jonathan to step down did after the president asked him to do so.

A committee comprising the National Chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, President Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Bode George and Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State was saddled with the responsibility of presenting a consensus candidate for ratification by the Board.

After their private meeting, Governor Shema, on behalf of the committee, announced the decision reached at the meeting: Anenih is the consensus candidate for the Chairman of the Board. The announcement was overwhelmingly and unanimously endorsed.

The Anenih chairmanship is consistent with the calculations of President Jonathan who needs an experienced, versatile and sagacious political strategist to help provide

clues and answers to knotty political questions and possible critical challenges ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

Jonathan is believed to be game as far as the 2015 presidential contest is concerned, regardless of the burgeoning opposition by politicians from some parts of the country. Besides the opposition from outside the PDP are the treachery against him and disloyalty to him by some individuals and their followers within the party.

The president did not need a diviner to know that in order to survive the plots against him, he would need a man who is completely loyal, experienced, charismatic and respected by critical stakeholders in the party, especially the state governors. These were the considerations that compelled the president to look in the direction of Anenih.

A source close to the development said: “The president believed and still believes that he can put his political life in the hands of Chief Anenih and go to sleep with his two eyes closed and the old man will not waver. Anenih has built a solid reputation as one who is trustworthy, loyal, dependable and compassionately committed to constituted authorities. Besides, he has sincerely behaved as a true father, first to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and now to President Jonathan.”

The feelers from political quarters within and outside the PDP indicated that with the emergence of Anenih as BoT chairman, the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC) and President Jonathan’s Federal Government would not be bereft of clear strategies and solutions to political problems that may rear their heads in the months ahead.

Anenih, with the support of the awesome presidential machine, is expected to lead the “battle” in the strongroom of ideas, tactics and strategies to crush the opposition in the 2015 presidential election that promises to be gritty. This is one of the political capitals of the Anenih coronation.

Speaking on Tuesday after he emerged as PDP BoT chairman, Anenih said he had a lot to contribute to the growth of the party. “I was the chairman of BoT for about two years and since then, I have grown, gathered experience, made more friends,” he said, adding: “I believe I still have more to contribute. The BoT is the conscience of the PDP and it is body of elders, men with integrity, honour and experience.”

On the schism in the party, the former Works Minister said: “As large as PDP is, one should not be surprised if there are frictions and disagreements. That is what BoT is for reconciliation, discipline, raising of funds. BoT is the conscience of the party, reconcile issues in state chapters. Where there are problems, we move in there.

With the situation in PDP and restructuring of BoT, good things will begin to happen to the party.”

On the merger of opposition parties, Anenih said the All Progressive Congress (APC) is not a threat to the PDP. “The merger called APC is not a threat to PDP. We never had a strong opposition, let’s see how strong APC will be and there will be many opposition.

“If you are building a house and you find out that the block you laid yesterday is weak then you go to the same block maker to buy two or three more weak blocks to add to the one that was very weak. They remain weak; it doesn’t matter whether you are buying more blocks of the same strength, sooner or later the building will collapse,” he said.

President Jonathan presided over the meeting which was attended by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Alex Ekwueme, Etiebet, Banabas Gemade, Kema Chikwe, Hassan Adamu and Dalhatu Tafida.

Others are Vincent Ogbulafor, Alabo Graham Douglas, Jim Nwobodo, Sam Sam Jaja, former Senate President Adophous Wabara, Governor Jonah Jang, Anenih, Alhaji Bunu Sheriff, Chief Olabode George and Abdullahi Adamu.

Also in attendance were Mohammed Bello Haliru, Ahmadu Ali, Major General David Jemibewon, Shuaibu Oyedokun, Ibrahim Mantu, Nnamani, Adamu Muazu and Danjuma Goje

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, February 28, 2013

OYO STATE OF NIGERIA

Welcome to

Oyo State On behalf of the government and people of Oyo State, I welcome delegates of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to our state for their 2013 convention holding from February 28 - March 1, 2013.

Your choice of Oyo State as the venue of your convention is an affirmation that the Fourth Estate of the Realm is keying into the Investment Destination agenda that our administration has for the state through our urban renewal and infrastructural development efforts.

As you visit our state, please feel free to tap into our well-known hospitality and see our efforts at bringing back the lost pace-setting glory of Oyo State.

Welcome, our brothers and sisters of the pen fraternity!

Sen. Abiola Ajimobi

Executive Governor of Oyo State

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Performance: Aregbesola’s two years surpass Oyinlola’s seven years –Adeoti subjects taken in external examinations like WAEC and NECO. It also contains all the necessary textbooks and 10 years past questions. This device would soon be distributed to about 375,000 students from SS1 to SS3 across the public schools in the state. So, the most unique programmes are the interventions in education and unemployment.

Moshood Adeoti is the Secretary to the Government of Osun State. In this interview with FELIX NWANERI, he speaks on the achievements of the two-year administration of Rauf Aregbesola, insisting that it cannot be compared with the seven years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state.

Excerpts: How has it been in the last two years of being in the Rauf Aregbesola-led government in Osun State?

I have found it extremely interesting in the sense that this is not my first encounter with Aregbesola. If you will recollect, I was the chairman of the party from the Alliance for Democracy between 2003 and 2006 when it transformed into Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). During this period, I knew the governor as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure then in Lagos State. As an indigene of Osun, we came together during the search for a credible person to fly the flag of our party in the state. My association with him revealed to me that he is a man of many parts. Aside from being a workaholic, he is a very transparent person. Before we retrieved our mandate from Olagunsoye Oyinlola, I did many things with him during which time I realised that Ogbeni is a dependable man, a person you can put your trust on.

My appointment as the Secretary to the State Government came as a surprise in the first place. I thought I would continue as the party chairman anyway. Since my appointment as the SSG, I made up my mind to put in everything that the administration requires to succeed.

Two years may not be enough a time to judge a government’s performance, but would you say Aregbesola’s administration has performed moderately well?

In all facets and departments of government, you cannot compare Aregbesola’s two years with the seven and half years of his predecessor. If you go to Osun State and visit any local government, you will see one project or the other going on. There are innovations he brought to governance when he came in. One of them is the monthly exercise tagged ‘Walk to Live’ whereby the governor walks about six kilometres with the people. This simply is a test of popularity and acceptance. If the generality of the people in a local government do not accept a leader, how can he walk in their midst?

Aregbesola is doing this every month.

That of this month would have come as well but was postponed until March 2nd because the governor travelled. Another innovative programme is the Agba Osun (Osun Elderly) where people above 65 are paid N10,000 monthly stipend and others have their medical bills defrayed. Besides, when he came on board, within the first 100 days in office, he employed 20,000 youths under the OYES Scheme. The pioneer set just passed out last month after two years

Adeoti

while another 20,000 have been employed and are undergoing training. Again, there is government’s intervention in agriculture such as in arable crops like cocoyam, cassava, plantain, fishery, honey and poultry. Above all, there is government’s intervention in education, to remove it from the abyss and take it to an enviable standard that other states are now emulating. The schools have been redesigned into elementary, middle and high schools. Government is also feeding the primary school pupils up to primary four. Ours is a government that is interested in the advancement of education in the state. Before this government, the state occupied the 28th position in the rank of WAEC. But with the efforts of the government in the last two years, the state is now in the 18th position. Government also distributes uniform free of charge to students in Osun. There are three categories of uniforms for the three divisions of elementary, middle and high schools.

On transportation, the indigenes of the state in Abuja benefitted for instance when government bought 120 cars for them in replacement of the rickety ones they were using. On road construction; massive projects are going on as I am speaking with you.

There are other ongoing constructions of roads like the 218 kilometre roads across the 30 local government areas. So, there is no way you can compare Aregbesola’s eventful two years with seven and half years of Oyinlola. Nobody needs to be told when he gets to Osun that the difference is clear.

Which of these programmes would you say stand the government out because previous administrations in the state can equally claim to have worked in the areas that you have just mentioned?

The first novel achievement is the engagement of 20,000 youths within 100 days of Aregbesola’s administration. This programme is now being copied by the Federal Government. The programme has also won the approval of the World Bank. The second one is our intervention in the education sector. At present, the governor is in the U.S to introduce a novel gadget called Opon Imo, an iPad-like device invented for students in the state. This device contained all the 17

What would you say is the factor responsible for these achievements?

Unequivocally, I can tell you that it is security. Adequate security engenders peace and in turn growth, development and progress. The level we are now is even elevated because Aregbesola has introduced a new dimension. I can tell you that we now have more than 150 security vehicles purchased for patrol by our Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) for the monitoring of the security situation in the state. Recently, government purchased a helicopter for SARS for security surveillance, so as to make the state a safe haven for the people. People can now sleep with their two eyes closed. The security situation now is far better than what operated during the years of Oyinlola’s government. Then, safety of lives and properties were not guaranteed. The situation has changed, as people can go about their normal activities without any let or hindrance. Kudos should go to Aregbesola for the enthronement of peace, security and stability in the state.

How true is the report of religious crisis in the state and what is is the government doing to stem the tide?

There is no religious crisis in the state. I have just told you about the peace being enjoyed in the state. If there is religious crisis, will there be this much-talked about peace?

The government of Aregbesola is relating with all the religious groups perfectly well.

Not only that, we also added the traditional religion, giving equal platform to all people of all faiths in the state. Since he came to power, he has made it a point of duty that at every function, all the three religions open and close the gathering with prayers. An inter-religious body called NAIREC, which comprises leaders of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim commu-

WHAT WE MET ON GROUND WAS NOTHING TO WRITE HOME

ABOUT. WE HAD MANY PROGRAMMES TO EXECUTE BUT THE

MONEY WASN’T THERE.

THAT WAS THE FIRST CHALLENGE... FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS, WE WERE SOURCING MONEY TO PAY

WORKERS’ SALARIES UNTIL WE REFINANCED THE LOAN

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

nity meets regularly where they discuss what is paramount to the peaceful co-existence of their adherents. So, disregard whatever you heard or read on the pages of newspapers. They are the handiwork of some disgruntled politicians and detractors of the government of Aregbesola. If you come to Osun, you will see how people of all faiths live harmoniously with one another. You will discover how perfectly the leaders of these religions and government relate. I can tell you categorically that there is no crisis of any form, not to talk of religious crisis, in Osun.

What do the people expect from the government in the last quarter of the tenure of Aregbesola?

A lot! Before the end of this year, some of the massive projects going on across the state will be completed. For instance, in Osogbo and Ilesha alone, we have over 60 kilometres of roads being constructed. This is besides the 10 kilometre road per local government in all council areas in the state.

By the end of this year all these roads must have been completed. By the end of third year, the state would witness a lot of development. We believe that these programmes and performances are what the people will use to judge whether we are entitled to another term in office. I promise you that the people haven’t seen anything yet. There are new things in the pipeline. Some of them, I cannot divulge now. We like to take our followers and detractors by surprise.

What are the challenges the administration has faced and the ones you have faced as the government’s scribe?

On getting to office, what we met on ground was nothing to write home about.

We had many programmes to execute but the money wasn’t there. That was the first challenge. Few months before we came to office, the last administration took a loan of N18.4 billion and government started paying interest the first day it drew the loan. That was the challenge we met. For the first three months, we were sourcing money to pay workers’ salaries until we refinanced the loan through the First Bank.

That was when we heaved a sigh of relief.

The second challenge was how to fix numerous party members up with the limited offices. The constitution of cabinet so as to get the best hand, which took few months before we got those we are now working with. At the end of the day, merit counted and the result of the achievements are what we are reeling out.

On a personal level, the challenge I had was that I was a party chairman for seven years; there was no local government I did not touch before the 2007 election. There is no local government I don’t know our true members. Everyone expect one thing or the other from us now. I pray God will provide the wherewithal to satisfy all of them. But I must add that just as our governor would always say; providing good governance that touches the lives of all is a direct and indirect compensation for all that worked for the realisation of this government. We are working hard to ensure we do not disappoint them.

Who is Aregbesola in your view?

Ogbeni is many things to many people. To me, he is an embodiment of knowledge, a workaholic, an actualiser, a man of God. To cap it, he is a role model to me personally and to numerous others within and outside the state.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Thursday, February 28, 2013

17

Between politics and statesmanship EXISTENTIAL HUMANISM

FRY

NDUBUISI fryndubuisi@nationalmirroronline.net (08023016709 SMS only)

T

he battle for 2015 has started in earnest .This is real, no matter how cynical anybody feels about it.

The opposition parties are forging ahead with a merger agenda. Their purpose is to wrestle power from President Goodluck Jonathan. Many Nigerians have hailed the move, though there is still public skepticism on the real intention and the sincerity of the merging parties.

There is disquiet, however, within the ruling PDP. The intrigue and the acrimony within the party have boiled over. It is no longer a secret that there are strong contenders for Jonathan’s position come 2015.

The signs are all over in spite attempts to the contrary. A new BOT chairman for the party has just emerged following the exit of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo .The reason for this is tied to the game plan for 2015.

Most profound is Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State’s recent salvo that President Jonathan entered into an agreement with the PDP governors that he would only serve for one term. He stated

T

he Nigerian judiciary has been constituted into a great anvil that is braving the acerbic hammer of severe criticisms. Recent developments which have contributed to dwindling public confidence in the sacred organ of justice included the saga of former CJN, Justice Iyorgher Katsina-Alu and the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Salami.

There are also the cases of James Ibori and Henry Okah with their “freed at home, jailed abroad” stigma. Then we have the recent case of John Abubakar Yusuf, a former assistant director in the Police Pension Office, who was convicted for stealing N32 billion pensions fund, sentenced to two year imprisonment, but with the option of N750, 000 fine. All these, among others, had fostered public disenchantment with the judiciary.

About one hour after the National Judicial Council (NJC) announced the removal of two judges - Justice Thomas D Naron and Justice Charles Archibong - last Thursday, a friend asked me if the development was a good or bad omen for the nation’s judiciary.

Upon reflection, I realised the question was not as easy as it first appeared.

Ordinarily, the issue of removal of judges should be a rare occurrence considering its delicate nature and far-reaching consequences. But this would only make sense if the system is healthy to start with. For example, in the last 100 years, only one judge has been found guilty of corruption and subsequently removed in the United Kingdom. In the last 250 years, only eight federal judges have been removed from office in the United States. On the other hand, in Nigeria,

that it was on the basis of this agreement that he and some of his colleagues supported his election in 2011. He added that given the PDP’s zoning arrangement, it was expected that the North would produce the president for the required number of years that the constitution allows, but for Providence.

The presidency denied out rightly the Niger State governor’s claim. The special adviser to the President on political matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak stated there was no time President Jonathan signed such an agreement, adding that Aliyu should go about his 2015 ambition and avoid making ‘frivolous allegations” against the president.

The race for 2015 portends no good for the polity. It is more worrying that the ruling party is deeply involved in overheating the polity.There might not be anything wrong in the opposition parties planning how to present a formidable force for the next presidential election, but for the ruling party to be boiling over it, when 2015 is still far away, is a sour taste in the mouth. I cannot see any monumental development strides to impact on the fortune of Nigerians since the party came into power 14 years ago.

Instead what confront us are enormous challenges - insecurity, unemployment, hunger, bad roads, hazardous healthcare system, and general decay of socioeconomic infrastructural facilities. With all these, does it make sense that high wire

IT IS NO LONGER A SECRET THAT THERE ARE STRONG CONTENDERS FOR

JONATHAN’S POSITION COME 2015 politicking should be in the front burner now? Is this not shadow chasing when Nigerians are roasting amidst pervasive misgovernance?

Let me say for the umpteenth time that it is a big shame and a waste of resources that we should be importing fuel several years after we discovered crude oil and gas in our soil. When will the ruling party redeem all the promises they have made to Nigerians? There have been talks of Nigeria being a failed state. It is not enough for the federal government to dismiss this when all the indices and signs are there.

We should learn from the experience of the more advanced democracies. President Barack Obama came into power when American economy was in fits. He threw himself into rescuing it like a good wrestler, and at the end of his first tenure there were visible signs that he was steadfast in fulfilling his promises to Americans .Within this period, his Democratic Party did not distract him with the issue

of second or no second term. He was left with the business of resuscitating the economy. And there was no serious discussion of politicking until about a year to the election. His emergence to run for second term was a mere formality for the Democrats. And Americans voted for him because they see elements of his seriousness and sincerity during his first term.

What do we have in Nigeria? It is vicious contestation for power. This is not because of any marketable programme, the issue is that everybody and every zone is just looking for opportunity for self aggrandizement. Believe it, nobody spares a thought for the deprived common man in the midst of plenty. The Nigerian electorate is always taken for granted for. The unease and the infighting that are already going on in the ruling party show the level of indiscipline that has been the lots of the party.

What an average Nigerian demands now is the dividends of democracy and not who runs for the presidency in2015.

Eligibility for this high office should be a function of performance scorecard and not the pandering to primordial sentiments.

The only valid and legitimate covenant for President Jonathan was the one he entered with Nigerians in April 2011, every other one is secondary.

Prof. Ndubuisi, an Attorney at Law, is of the Dept. of Philosophy, UNILAG.

On the recent removal of judges IN NIGERIA TODAY, WE HAVE JUDGES WHO ENGAGE IN JUDICIAL RASCALITY

BY GIVING BIZARRE EX PARTE INJUNCTIONS AND QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENTS…

SADLY TOO, WE HAVE JUDGES, THOUGH VERY FEW, WHO COLLECT BRIBES there has been nothing less than 25 judges indicted, compulsorily retired or removed outright from the bench in the last 20 years!

The list of such judges includes a former judge of the Lagos High Court, Justice Adebayo Manuwa; a former judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Chukwuemeka Nwaogwugwu; and a former Chief Judge of the Abia State High Court, Justice Kalu Amah. Others are former Justice Wilson Egbo-Egbo of Abuja High Court; and a former judge of the Enugu State High Court, Justice Stanley Nnaji.

Yet, in spite of the above comparatively high number of indicted judges, the NJC has attracted criticisms for its conservatism and lethargy. There has been a belief that the NJC has not particularly been active on

the issue of discipline of judicial officers.

The institution is seen to be overly cautious about taking punitive measures against judicial personnel in order not to give impression to the public that the judiciary is corrupt. People do wonder what the number KETEFE would have been if it has not been liberal.

Truly, removal of judges from the Bench usually gives rise to two basic questions, both relating to the reliability of the judicial kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only) system. First is the question of integrity. A system where judges are often removed may gage in judicial rascality by giving bizarre be perceived as been riddled with corrupex parte injunctions and questionable judgtion; on the other hand, frequently weeding ments; we have judges who are beholden to out bad eggs from the Bench may be seen some “higher authorities” in the form of also as a salutary cleansing to make the juditop member of the executive, political jugciary healthier. The second question relates gernauts or secret cult potentates. Sadly too, to the issue of politicisation – the removal we have judges, though very few, who collect or discipline of judges by the executive, in bribes. apparent invocation of the principles of To cleanse the system, NJC should checks and balances, often makes enlightovercome its proverbial inertia borne of ened people somewhat uncomfortable. reluctance to rock the boat. An objective Question may be asked whether or not the and rational approach would be to insist that removal is in the best interest of the najudicial integrity should not be compromised tion or whether it is political. for whatever reason.

Furthermore, discipline of judicial ofNJC itself needs restructuring, though ficers is a two-edged sword: Do it in the to make it more dynamic and efficient. The right way and for the right reason, and an composition of the body needs to be tinkered ethical institution in whom people could with to ensure that no one in the Council is repose confidence would evolve, but doing too powerful to influence its decisions. it the wrong way and you would end up having a cowed judicial personnel, who would Send your views by mail or sms to be too fearful to exercise unfettered discrePMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ tion. nationalmirroronline.netmirrorlagos@ Thus, the discipline of judges is a delicate yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to and serious affair. Nonetheless, continual edit and reject views or photographs. vigilance to ascertain purity of the system Pseudonyms may be used but must be should be non-negotiable. This is because clearly marked as such. in Nigeria today, we have judges who en-

KAYODE

Editorial

18

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

STEVE AYORINDE

MD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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DAILY EDITOR

BOLAJI TUNJI

SUNDAY EDITOR

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COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD

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SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

FRANK OBOH

HEAD, GRAPHICS

The $1.5bn loan and NNPC’s omnipotence claim

L

ast Monday at the public hearing of the House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Aids, Loans and Debt Management and Justice, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke, and the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s GMD, Andrew Yakubu, claimed that the $1.56 billion facility being pursued by the corporation was not a loan, but a “forward sales arrangement” meant to contend with its current major challenges such as oil theft, demurrage charges and persistent insecurity resulting from sabotage of its various critical facilities nationwide. This new position, ostensibly a smart move to mitigate sustained public opposition to the ‘loan’, has only further obfuscated the issue.

No matter how the facility is dressed, it does not vitiate the fact that the deal violates due process, which has been the bone of contention. It is important that the federal lawmakers bring down the NNPC from its Olympian Heights and submit itself to public scrutiny. The duplicity of the corporation’s claims has been further underscored by the position of the director-general of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Mr Abraham Nwankwo that “there are no records of loan application made by the NNPC.”

It should be recalled that the loan deal came to light when an international news agency leaked the corporation’s alleged surreptitious negotiation for a syndicated loan of $1.5bn ostensibly to pay off huge debts owed international oil traders to avoid a default that could have grave implications for Nigeria’s credit ratings.

What is intriguing about the development is that the push for the loan came at a time the National Assembly approved N161.6bn supplementary budget to the corporation last December, which was tied to subsidy payments. More worrisome is the revelation that the loan, with a payback period of five years and taken at an interest rate of 375 basis points above the London Interbank Offered Rate, will be collateralised with 15,000 barrels per day of Nigeria’s crude oil production.

Expectedly, the NASS, organised labour, civil society groups and discerning Nigerians have questioned the transactions that clearly run against the spirit of transparency and accountability. To them, in a corporation known for its opacity, this deal appears contrived to corner state resources. The fact that the entire fuel subsidy regime has facilitated huge scams involving NNPC officials, oil importers and some local banks, also gives vent to such apprehension.

THE UNFOLDING SCENARIO SHOWS THAT THERE IS NO CLEAR LINE AS TO WHAT BELONGS TO THE

NNPC AND

WHAT BELONGS TO THE

NIGERIAN

GOVERNMENT The corporation had initially tried to justify the deal on the grounds that it did not need to obtain legislative approval to secure loans or do a deal of this nature and relied on Sections 6 (1)(c) and 8 (1)(2) of the NNPC Act which states: “The corporation, in fulfilment of its duties can enter into contracts or partnerships with any company, firm or person, which in the opinion of the corporation will facilitate the discharge of the said duties under this Act”.

However, this only raises the question of which statute could confer a national oil company with the powers to pledge the nation’s crude oil as collateral for any loan. This whole episode underlines the lingering suspicion that the NNPC might virtually be insolvent as demonstrated by its persistent refusal to remit all oil proceeds to the Federation Account. Such

unremitted funds, as calculated by the latest Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative audit, amount to N1.3 trillion. It has also highlighted the need for complete reorganisation of the corporation to make it operate as a fully commercial entity.

The unfolding scenario shows that there is no clear line as to what belongs to the NNPC and what belongs to the Nigerian government, despite the fact that the corporation should ordinarily be a player in the oil and gas industry just like Shell, Mobil etc, but holding brief for the Federal Government. We hope the current assertiveness of NASS is necessary to rein in the corporation.

While it would be within the purview of the management of NNPC to take such steps and measures to ensure the well-being of the corporation, including the fulfilment of its obligations and maintenance of good business relations with its trading partners and contractors, the citizens of Nigerians, the owners of the NNPC, should not be short changed in any way.

We, therefore, urge the lawmakers to deploy all constitutional measures, including possible recourse to the law court for interpretation of the NNPC Act to resolve the impasse so that Nigerians can know where they stand.

ON THIS DAY February 28, 2010 The 2010 Winter Olympic Games’ closing ceremony is being heldattheB.C.Place,Vancouver,Canada.Alongwiththeopening ceremony, this is the first time that an Olympic closing ceremony has been held in an indoor venue. The B.C. Place, which can accommodate 55, 000 spectators, has also been hosting the nightly Victory Ceremonies presentations. The venue features state-of-the-art lighting, special effects technology facilities, etc.

February 28, 2008 The former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, returns to his country of birth after a long period of exile and is arrested on corruption charges. He had been overthrown on 19 September 2006 by a military junta known as the Council for National Security (CNS) in a bloodless coup while he was attending a UN meeting in New York City.

February 28, 1922 After 40 years of British rule, a colonial administration which began in 1882 when Great Britain seized control of Egypt’s government overconcernsforHisMajesty’seconomicinterests,includingtheSuez Canal, the British government Great Britain announces a unilateral declaration of Egypt’s independence. Impetus for the independence was made possible through the unrelenting calls by the members of powerfullocalnationalistmovementforindependenceforEgypt.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Education Today TASUED will be Nigeria’s model education varsity –VC

21

Shocker!

WAEC cancels results, four years after MOJEED ALABI

•Affected undergraduates’ fate unknown

I

n 2008, Sulaiman Ismail, now 23, was one of about 200 candidates that Ogudu Senior Grammar School, Ogudu, GRA, Ojota, Lagos, presented for the May/June Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

When the examination body released the results in September same year, the candidate, with examination number 4251410254 was one of the few who recorded average performance. Details of his results are as follows: English Language- C6; Mathematics- B2; Agricultural Science- B3; BiologyC5; Chemistry- C4; Physics- C4; Economics- D7; Geography-D7 while absent was recorded against Government.

In 2009, Ismail wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and scored 213.

He subsequently scored 80 per cent in the Post-UTME conducted by the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, his preferred university, where he was eventually admitted to study Computer Science.

He is not only four years into his studies, he is already preparing for his graduation when the unexpected happens. As part of the prerequisites for graduation, he appeared at relevant university’s departments for clearance. At the Examination and Records Department, he was asked to prove the authenticity of the SSCE result he earlier presented and upon which he was offered admission. Innocently, Ismail supplied the detailed information to verify the ownership and that was when he received the shocker of his life.

“We logged on to WAEC’s website and rather than displaying my grades against each subject that I registered, all I could see was “cancelled” against every subject except Government which I did not write and they put ABS, which means absent.

And it was like a dream to me at that point and even till now,” Ismail explained.

In his confused state, Ismail, a First Class material with current Cumulative Gradient Point (GPA) of 4.64, left Ilorin for Lagos on Thursday, February 14, and headed straight to his school to enquire about the situation.

“When I got to the school, I met the new principal, Mr. Benedict and his deputy, Mrs. Adeniran, who told me they were also shocked to receive the news from some of my mates with similar experience. When I probed further, I was only directed to the father of one of my mates, who they claimed had better information on the matter,” the

Ismail

Brenda

astonished student narrated further.

He went to meet his mate’s father, Mr. Owoyemi Moses, who told him that his son, Oluwatosin Owoyemi, was also affected by the development. But unlike Ismail, the boy was in 200-level at Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti when he discovered there was a problem with his WAEC result.

Oluwatosin wasn’t at home when National Mirror visited, but his father said the trouble started in April 2012 when his son was processing his course registration as a 200-level student and discovered that his results earlier released by WAEC had been cancelled.

“The boy was weeping when he told me and I could not believe my ears because he had checked same result on WAEC website and printed it four years earlier. We also got a statement of result from the school and the portion of a copy of the master sheet

Sanni

Nofisat

Saheed

THE BOY WAS WEEPING WHEN HE TOLD ME AND

I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EARS BECAUSE HE HAD CHECKED SAME RESULT ON WAEC

WEBSITE AND PRINTED IT FOUR YEARS EARLIER from WAEC that contains his details. So, how come almost four years after that he went online again to discover that, his results had been cancelled?

“I pacified him and asked him to return to Lagos so that we could find out what was amiss. When we got to the school, I was sur-

prised that they were not even aware of the development. We were only told that the students had been coming for their certificates and that they had written officially to WAEC to know why the certificates were yet to be released three years after exam,” Owoyemi narrated.

One of the school teachers, simply identified as Mr. Solanke, volunteered to follow Oluwatosin and his father to Ikorodu office of WAEC, which controls Ojodu area.

There, they met with the officer in charge, Mr. Olu Adekeye. A letter of complaint had earlier been sent to the office by the school.

“But surprisingly, the officer in charge told us he had no knowledge of any letter from the school concerning the matter and addressed to his office. At that point, he got to know that the letter was received by a subordinate, Mr. Okonkwo, but who never passed it to the relevant office for action,” Owoyemi alleged.

The matter later took the complainants to the Ikeja office of WAEC, from where the officer in charge of the office, simply identified as Mrs. Agwu wrote officially to the Nigeria’s head office of the council at Yaba for action.

While these were on, the school claimed it had informed the affected students that WAEC had responded to letter sent earlier and that the council complained of having problem in embossing on their certificates what they called blur photographs they provided during registration and that it would require replacements.

“We even submitted new passport photographs, which were also burnt on a compact disc by the school and submitted to WAEC through its Ikorodu area office,” CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

20

Education Today

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

T

o many of them, the service year was never a dull moment. They had fun, visited many interesting places, made new friends and learnt new things. They also enjoyed constant payment of their meagre allowance of N19, 800 every month. Many confessed it went a long way in meeting some of their financial needs.

The air of uncertainty was palpable as the corps members moved out of camp.

Majority simply don’t know what their next line of action would be.

‘I don’t know yet’, ‘I may have to start looking for job’, ‘I may likely attach myself to an established institution,’ ‘I am likely to be on my own doing private practice and at the same time looking for a paid job.’ These were some of their responses when National Mirror reporter asked some of them about the next step after their service.

The era of companies offering fresh graduates automatic employment has long gone in the country. This necessitated the Federal Government coming up with an idea last year to address the problem of graduate unemployment in the country by engaging the serving corps members in vocational skill acquisition programmes so that they will be self-reliant upon completion of service.

Through the scheme, the corps members are trained on various vocational trades, such as tailoring, hairdressing and related jobs and how to write business proposals that they can easily set up on their own even with a small amount of money.

Interestingly, the programme kickstarted with last set of corps members otherwise known as the ‘2012 Batch A’ that just passed out from service. But , majority of them are still confused about how they can utilise the training exercises and the knowledge they acquired back in school to create wealth.

One of them, Mrs. Joy Nkenna, a graduate of biological sciences from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and who did her primary assignment at Base College, Iyana-Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, said though, she was thinking along floating a company of her own, she was yet to decide on the exact nature of business to venture into.

She confirmed that they were exposed to various vocational jobs and also trained on how to develop and write business proposals but she discovered that it wasn’t as easy as they were made to believe. But pending the time Mrs. Nkenna will get a job and start contributing to the economic wellbeing of her family, her expectation is that her husband will continue to shoulder the responsibility of fending for her and their nursing baby.

Another disengaged corps member, who is also a nursing mother, Mrs. Taiwo Olayemi, a social studies graduate from the University of Ibadan, UI, said her dream job was teaching and she would, begin to send out application letters in earnest to both the public and private schools.

“Although I will prefer to work in a public school just because of the job security and better emolument the sector availed compared to the private schools, I won’t mind where the job comes from as of now,” she disclosed.

But in the interim, as a trained teacher, according to her, she may likely start organising evening lesson for children in her neighbourhood. “We were told during the skill acquisition programmes that we

LR: Mr. Jonathan Rekcot, Mr. Kunle Yusuf and Mr. Adebayo Ebofin during their passing out parade ceremony.

Employment now our major concern –Disengaged corps members The youth corps members, who served in Lagos State in the last one year and recently disengaged from service, were visibly happy at the ceremony marking their disengagement from the scheme. They saw the completion of the scheme as a great achievement in their life pursuits. In spite of this, they expressed fear and uncertainty over what the society has in store for them in the labour market. TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE spoke to some of them. shouldn’t stay idle when actually we could engage ourselves in one economic activity or another, and that is why I may likely start with evening lesson pending when I will get a paid job,” she stressed.

Similarly, Mr. Emmanuel Kwaji, a graduate of agriculture economics from University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), does not also have anything concrete to start doing immediately other than sending out application letters for job placement. Even at that, his major worry now is how to to sustain himself pending when he will get a job and settle down.

Kwaji noted that many graduates in the country oftentimes find things rough when they pass out of service newly. According to him, at this period, many uncles, sisters and other relatives, would stop giving them financial assistance.

“And you cannot blame them doing that because apart from the fact that they would have spent so much money on you while in school, they too will have needs that contend with their little income and seeing you as a graduate should be a big relief to them,” he added.

Mrs. Oluwaseyi Akintolu, who studied office technology and management at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos State shared this view. According to her, many fresh graduates are more financially stable while serving than after they are disengaged from service just because they are sure of getting a monthly allowance either small or big that will cover some of their expenses.

“But immediately after service, nobody looks towards their direction again much less getting regular amount of money at the end of every month and that is the sit-

WE WERE TOLD DURING THE SKILL ACQUISITION PROGRAMMES THAT

WE SHOULDN’T STAY IDLE WHEN ACTUALLY WE COULD ENGAGE OURSELVES IN ONE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OR ANOTHER uation with many fresh graduates in the country,” she noted.

Left for Mrs. Akintolu, it would have been a welcome development if the Federal Government should continue paying what she called ‘stipend’ as a social security to the disengaged corps members on monthly basis to keep body and soul together until they are economically engaged.

But it could be very painful according to her, if after spending so much money to acquire higher education, there was no job to venture into as a graduate.

“And honestly, as for me, I don’t know when my dream job will come. I only live on hope and that is why government should not just throw corps members into the labour market without concern about what happens to them,” she said.

Equally, Mr. Edofin Adebayo, a graduate of electrical/ electronic from the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, believes that government should

not just leave disengaged corps members alone but should continue to provide for them pending when they will be able to be on their own.

According to him, the vocation training programmes would be laudable only when people are able to meet up with the conditions for securing a loan to start up a business.

“How can they say you must have a collateral or a letter of guarantee from the state coordinator, who barely knows you before you can access a loan under the scheme. Where will a fresh unemployed graduate get collateral from? Besides, how much is also the loan, just N400, 000 maximum which attracts five per cent interest on payment. So, I will advice government to make the loan more accessible so as to avoid the scheme trailing the path of its usual jamboree style,” he counseled.

Edofin noted that while he would be looking for a paid job in a reputable organisation, he would also be doing some menial jobs as a trained electrician and electronics.

The views of Mr. Jonathan Rekcot, graduate of architectural science from Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria and Precious Emenalon, who studied law at UNN, are different. They told National Mirror that their plans were to seek attachment in established firms where they can practice.

Expectedly, the ex-corps members will not advocate for the scrapping of NYSC. They, however, want the Federal Government to provide an environment conducive for corps members who choose to establish small scale businesses after disengagement.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, February 28, 2013

21

TASUED will be Nigeria’s model education varsity –VC which was “Make your calls her”.

She was just looking at me and she told me she couldn’t read it.

I was baffled and I asked her how she managed to get to JSS 3. So, I had to first of all get her a private teacher, who came to teach her at home before she was registered in JSS I. So, the standard has really fallen and that is why we have many students whose interest is to cheat to pass exams.

Prof. Oluyemisi Obilade, Vice-Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. In this interview with FEMI OYEWESO, she speaks on her administration’s plans for the university and other sundry issues.

How do you see your appointment as the vice-chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) and what is your plan for the university?

Let me start by saying that my appointment as the Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education is by what I can call a divine arrangement to fulfil divine destiny. University of education is not a strange environment to me. I am a professional teacher. Apart from home, school environment has been my constituency all along. I have never done any other job than teaching. I trained as a teacher by choice and not by default. I didn’t become a teacher because I didn’t have any other option. When I gained admission into the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), there were other universities that offered me admission to study law, but I chose to be a teacher and I have not had any cause to regret the decision.

Teaching is a noble profession and I am excited to be in this university.

It is the first university of education in the country and it will serve as a model and pacesetter.

If you are in a conventional university, there are certain level of competitiveness between faculties, courses and programmes that may make it difficult for you to introduce certain things. But if you are in a university of education that is committed to training trainers, then, it is like you have a clean slate to put into practice all the theoretical things you have learnt.

On my administration’s plans for TASUED, We want to make the school globally competitive where our products and members of staff will be able to fit in anywhere in the world. We may not have all the necessary facilities to ourselves, but we have the human capacity and as Nigerians, we have a lot of knowledge and drive to excel such that when we compete with our colleagues elsewhere around the world, we will excel. So, we want to move this school to a level where we will build the capacity of our staff through exchange programmes, conferences, seminars, workshops and post graduate training in such a way that they will interact freely with people from across the globe and will put the name of this university on the global agenda. We are also thinking of improving and opening up linkages to other relevant institutions. We would like our students to exchange visits, have short interactions so that they would have a global perspective of what total holistic education is all about. We are not breeding local champions in TASUED but global champions. People should be able

to come to TASUED from all over the world to study.

I visited the University of Legion in Ghana sometime ago as an external examiner, during the summer vacation, you see many people from all over the world coming there to study. We also want people from all over the world to come to TASUED to study. We want to get to the level that if you want to know about anything going on in the education world, you should come to TASUED. We want to create a brand. We want a total package such that TASUED will become a one-stop-shop in teachers’ education. We want to also encourage our lecturers on publications just as to boost their ratings with their colleagues around the world. Another thing is that we want to raise our internally generated revenue (IGR) to a level where it would support our dreams and aspirations.

There is this allegation that the school has deviated from its original mandate of producing teachers.

Does it mean that TASUED will be running courses like mass communication, engineering and so on?

I think it depends on the way we package our programmes. As a university of education, we have the responsibility of training people, who will train others at every area of education and need, but it must be related to the process of knowledge production and dissemination.

Training of teachers is not only for secondary schools. I trained as an adult educator. I am a professor of adult education and women studies. The beauty of knowledge is the application of that knowledge. Therefore, when I go to antenatal or child welfare clinics to educate people on issues of gender- based violence, I am teaching but not at nursery, primary or secondary schools. So, if we limit teachers’ education to that, it becomes a pedestrian way of looking at the field of education.

It’s a very wide field and therefore when nurses go to community health centres to educate patients, we should be able to equip them with the necessary educational skills to be able to do that effectively.

Not everybody can teach. You might have the content knowledge but you might not have the capacity to pass the message across. That is why some people will go to school and will not remember what they are taught, but they will not be able to forget what another teacher taught them. If we do not equip those who train at various levels with the necessary teaching skills and method-

Obilade

WE WANT TO GET TO THE LEVEL THAT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING GOING ON IN THE EDUCATION WORLD, YOU SHOULD COME TO ologies, we are going to be having half knowledge.

Let me give you an example.

There were certain courses that we are making a total package to defend because we must also be able to defend what we offer. If you claim that this medicine is “Gbogbonise” (all purpose), you must be able to convince people that the medicine can actually cure all sorts of ailments. That is my philosophy.

Even at that, we must be able to defend our existence, objectives, mode of operation and our scope as a university of education. That is the first thing to defend. We can from there defend the various programmes that we are bringing in.

So, we are going to be defending first, the institution and what we stand for before defending the programme.

Let me give an example. If we talk about transport management, there are institutions, units that offer diploma and certificate courses.

Cargo transport managements, but most of the training is done by quacks. People who are not qualified to teach and so we have garbage in and out.

It is because those who offer the services are not the right people that could not deliver effectively.

That is the problem we have as a people and that is what this university is setting out to address, that wherever the business of teaching and learning is going on, we should come in to fill the gap. Wherever people stand before people to teach, we should be able to come in to fill the gap. It will get to a level in this country where people who want to

TASUED

teach at any level will be required to come to university of education for knowledge. That is my position on the agitations whether we are deviating or not.

What can your opinion on the standard of education in the country?

I will say the standard of education has fallen. I say this because my first degree is in English/History education. During our days, the standard was very high. But today, the kind of grammar you hear graduates speak can give you migraine. People just murder the language and funny enough, it is our official means of communication. Some graduates cannot construct a simple correct sentence in English language, which is the medium of instruction for other disciplines or subjects.

So, if you can’t express yourself very well in simple English, how do you want to convince me that you understand what is going on in the environment? Again, you find many school certificate holders who cannot write in English.

For example, there is a young girl who stayed with me before. She was supposed to go to JSS 3 in the village when she came to me. As we were going to register her in a new school, something told me to ask her to write her name and that of her former school. She stared at me for some minutes and when she eventually wrote her name, her hand writing looked like that of a primary 1 student who is learning how to write alphabets.

Then I stopped the car and asked her to read what was written on a particular signpost,

Now, how do we break this circle?

You know, I am a professor of adult education. When we fail to address the issue that over 70 per cent of Nigerians are illiterates, we’ll continue to produce illiterates.

There are some people who do not know how to read and write; they do not see the benefit of education; we have not made conscious efforts to get them to open up into the wider space of the world through basic literacy and they are the parents of many of these children. So, when these children come back from school, (that is if they do go to school at all), their parents don’t see any reason they should check their lesson notes or ask them what they do in school.

So first of all, the Federal Government will need to address the issue of adult illiteracy so that parents will also understand the value of education. Then we need to also provide the infrastructural supports. Some of the schools that are in rural areas lack basic infrastructure. Sometime ago, I undertook some studies in Nasarawa State and I discovered many students were holding lessons under the trees. Many do not have teachers. Where they have they are not competent. How do you then expect these children to be fit into the 21st Century?

So, we will be deceiving ourselves to say that the standard has not fallen. NECO and WAEC results have proven that the standard has fallen and that these are not the only proof. When we interact with secondary school students, we knew the level we were at that age and we know the level that they are now. So, the standard has fallen. So, government should do something and the private sector should also do theirs. On the part of government, I know they are addressing the issue. Many state governments, including Ogun, are now coming up with idea of model schools, where all the necessary infrastructure and teachers will be available. Students will also take pride being there.

What is the admission like in TASUED? I will like to commend those who gain admission. We had about 9,000 students who applied to TASUED during the last admission, but we only admitted just about 3, 000 of them. Still not all of them matriculated and the reason was because they did not meet up with the postUTME’s screening.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘How School-on-air enhances students’ performance’ KEMI OLAITAN, IBADAN

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or an average senior secondary school student in the country, the fear of ‘the Almighty’ West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations is the beginning of wisdom, no thanks to the fact that it is only success in it that will serve as passport to higher institutions.

It is then understandable that students at the final level in secondary school will not hesitate to seek legitimate avenues to cross this hurdle and move forward in their educational pursuits.

It was to help students achieve this that led an educational institute, Educational Advancement Centre (EAC), in Ibadan, Oyo State, to recently launch a programme, “School-on-air”, to stem the failure of students at the level of senior secondary school examinations. The proprietor of the centre, Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, while speaking during the launching, lamented about the danger that failure for students at that level portends for the future for the country and revealed that over one million students in the country recorded failure in secondary school certificate examinations annually.

According to him, the problem with the nation’s educational sector is not only about infrastructures but also required the need for quality teachers, explaining that, the School-on-air, would serve as an intervention as it was out to provide quality instructions to deprived students.

His words, “ We are out solely to come to the aid of the students, indeed the vision of the centre in introducing the School-on-air is a better country which is propelled by competent individuals, this is because it is our view that these students will make positive impact if helped or negative impact if ignored. We designed ‘school on mobile’ but saw the need for a system that will involve a teacher figure and the school-on-air is an attempt to intervene by providing quality instruction for deprived students.”

“What a school or student need to do is to buy the dish through which they would be

Some students of Starlite College, Ibadan, Oyo State, during the School-on-air class session

getting the teaching on preferred subjects three hours daily. We will be broadcasting via free to air satellite and mobile phones, we are using Calvary Network International on Amos Ku Satellite at 17 degrees east , “.

Since the launching of the programme, not only students but schools have been taken advantage of it most importantly when final year students in public and private secondary schools across the country will soon write their WAEC and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations. And among the schools is Satellite College located along Sango/Eleyele Road in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital with the principal, Mr. Taiwo Adewuyi, explaining that the school could not but tap into the programme because it wants the best for its students such that they would be able to hold their own among their peers.

According to him, since the school installed the dish in his office, the final year students have turned the office to a kind of Mecca at their leisure time with their notes and biros getting taught on different subjects as complement to what they were

taught in class. He added that in less than a month that the school had been part of the programme, he had observed a lot of improvement in the academic output of the students such that the management of the school was confident of the students recording 100 per cent success in the coming examinations.

He said: “When the school authority first learns about the ‘School-on-air’ programme, we have doubt that it is one of those in the past that rather than help the students were just making money for the initiators. But after buying into it through the interest shown by our proprietress, it is our belief that is a wonderful programme that must be supported by those who meant well for the students to pass their examinations.

“The enthusiasm shown by the final year students that have been coming to my office virtually every working day to get taught on the subjects of their choice such as English language, mathematics, biology, physics, agricultural science, accounting and economics, has pointed to positive changes towards learning on the part of

the students.”

The principal, who said the sky was the beginning for any studious student to pass the final year examinations by combining the programme with what is learnt in class, maintained that visual has a way of attracting the attention of the young ones.

The coordinator of the programme in the school, Mr. Oluwaseyi Amoo, said having the programme was like having a square peg in a square hole given the time of its commencement when both the schools and students and their parents were looking towards the students passing out of school in flying colours.

He explained that since the students were already used to various devices in today’s world of technology, applying Schoolon-air to teach the students was nothing but the best.

“We have discovered that the method is full of information that will come handy for students. On our part, we always ensured that students come to the principal’s office to be part of it and it has been a fulfilled affair all the way,” he further exlplained.

For Funmilayo Abayomi, a final year student, who has been taken advantage of the programme in the school, the schoolon-air programme is the best that could have happened to the final year students as it afford them to learn things that are not taught in the normal classroom.

Speaking in the same vein, Tosin Adelowo, who has watched the teaching of such subjects as physics, English, economics, among others on the programme, said it was a form of revision for the students and allows for the teachers to flow easily with them, noting that he does not hesitate to bring questions that he has after watching to the teachers in the class.

The 15 year-old boy, however, called for an improvement on the programme, stating that the teachers teaching on the programme should be lively while presenting the various subjects and ensure that the normal classroom environment should be displayed so that the students will not see themselves missing anything.

Academy partners bank to grow economy MOJEED ALABI

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he National President, National Institute of Marketing, Dr. Lugard Aimiuwu, has blamed the nation’s political system for the woes currently being suffered by Nigerians.

He stated this at the opening session of this year’s edition of Academy of Management national conference organised in conjuction with the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in Lagos.

Aimiuwu, a keynote speaker and whose paper dwelt on the wealth enveloping Nigeria as a nation, said the past glories had perished with the men of the past as the younger generations have become too conscious of material gains than “what to do to be wealthy..”

However, this year’s conference was aimed at appraising the business opportunities in the country, management skills required to build a sustainable business and how entrepreneurial schemes could be better handled to offer maximum benefits. And it was hosted by

the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, with the theme: “Managing the Nigerian business environment. “ In his address, the academy’s National President, Prof. Ogwo Ogwo, said the importance of management skills to business development and nation building informed the choice of theme and the choice of the speakers.

The former chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos tasked the management scholars to redefine the nation’s business initiatives by proposing salient ideas that could transform the sector.

“All we need in this country are brilliant management skills that could turn around our misfortunes to fortunes because we are so blessed by God that even if one should plant his finger it will germinate. I am sure that is the task this conference has come to perform and we do not doubt the capability of the scholars that are gathered here.

The representative of the FCMB, who is the Yaba branch manager, Mr. Wole Oyeleke, said the bank decided to partner

L-R: The Manager, Yaba branch of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, Mr. Wole Oyeleke; the President of The Academy of Management, Nigeria, Professor Ogwo E. Ogwo, and the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Rahman Bello, at the conference.

the academy having found it worthy of being able to make meaningful impact on national economy. This integrity, he said was a product of several years of hard work by both the academy’s members

and its leadership.

The institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahman Bello, pledged the university’s support for the academy towards achieving its targeted objectives.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, February 28, 2013

23

‘Ageing education should be part of school curriculum’ MOJEED ALABI

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lecturer and director of the Centre for General Studies, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof.

Oluwayemisi ObashoroJohn, has advocated inclusion in the syllabuses of secondary and higher schools, the study of ageing education, sustainable living and programmes on environmental education.

Oluwayemisi, who delivered the university’s 250th inaugural lecture, recently, said the need for such programmes had become more important considering the educational inputs required to actualise the Nigeria’s transformation agenda.

The director argued that: “No meaningful education system for change and development can ever be complete without adult education.” She anchored her position on the fact that as long as everyone dreams to grow old, there are certain basic knowledge on the man-

agement of old people in, how to live with them and healthy ways of preparing for the old age, that should be taught in schools.

She suggested that curriculum formulators on ageing education should carry along medical practitioners to offer their inputs on geriatric aspect of medicine, that is, the management of older people, to make the syllabus comprehensive and impactful.

Meanwhile, the university’s retirees have been advised to pick up teaching in the basic schools on the campus as part of efforts to share their experiences with the younger generation. “It will also make them to be healthy because idleness weakens people including aged ones.”

Speaking at the forum, the university’s ViceChancellor, Prof. Rahman Bello, commended the efforts of the scholar and promised that the faculty would always be carried along whenever the institution plans to introduce new subjects.

UBE: FG urges communities to cooperate with contractors IJEOMA EZEIK ABUJA

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inister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has called on host communities of Federal Government’s basic education projects to cooperate with contractors and consultants for speedy completion of the projects.

Addressing community leaders at the site of the Special Girl-Child Model School Itigidi, Cross River State recently during a scheduled inspection visit, Wike said peace was a necessary requirement for the execution of projects anywhere in the world.

The minister, who spoke against the delay in the execution of the project in the school due to security challenge, urged community leaders to fashion out strategies to address security issues that affect project execution in their areas.

Wike particularly ap-

pealed to the Itigidi community leaders not to allow a recurrence of the communal conflict that earlier slowed down the take off of the project in the area.

“I am appreciative of the fact that the initial security challenge that hindered the take off of the Itigidi project has been addressed and the contractors are executing the project in line with specification. As a result of the delay in project take off, we expect that the contractor will hand over the project in June this year”, Wike stressed.

In his remark, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Prof. Offiong Offiong, commended the Federal Government for its commitment to girl-child education in the state and elsewhere in the country.

He assured the minister that the community would provide the enabling environment for the completion of the project.

L-R: Former commissioner with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, Alhaji Musbau Oyefeso; member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ramota Akinola-Hassan; Chairman, Agege Local Government, Hon. Jubreel AbdulKareem; doctorate degree awardee and Secretary of the Lagos State Government, Dr. Idiat Adebule; her husband, Alhaji Saheed Adebule and Chairman, Mosan-Okunola LCDA, Hon. Abiodun Mafe, during the decoration of Mrs. Adebule at the Lagos State University, Ojo, recently.

Education not complete without sport – Wellspring principal MOJEED ALABI

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he Principal of Wellspring College, Ogba, Lagos, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Oloriade, has canvassed for comprehensive teaching and practice of sporting events in the nation’s schools as part of the process towards building complete students.

She stated this recently during the institution’s seventh annual interhouse sports competition which held at the sport centre of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

The event, which recorded massive turnout of participants from various secondary schools in Lagos and beyond, including the CMS Grammar School, Bariga; UNILAG’s International School, among others, was offered a great

opportunity to the students who displayed their skills during the different games showcased at the event.

Oloriade, in her speech decried the gradual abandonment of sports in basic schools probably as a result of the dearth of facilities or available land space, noted that the recent triumph of the coun-

try’s senior soccer team, the Super Eagles, at the just concluded Africa Nation’s Cup in South Africa, and the encomiums and monetary gifts showered on the team should encourage parents and school owners to emphasise the importance of sports.

“Apart from the material value, it is undeni-

able that the best form of education for a child is one that not only develops his cognitive and emotional domains but also tends to his psychomotor domain.

The three ensure a thoroughly bred youth, who is not only knowledgeable, and disciplined; but also healthy; a youth who will, in the future be able to steer the course of a coun-

L-R: Red House Captain, Wellspring College, Omole Phase II, Lagos, Agha Chukwuma; Green House Captain, Opeodu Ayodele and Yellow House Captain, Kelechi Ekeanyanwu receiving their trophies from the Head of Finance, Management Science Centre, owner of the college; Mrs. Ewere Akwukwuegbu during the inter-house sport competition recently.

Amosun craves for private sector collaboration in education TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said his government was ready to collaborate with the private sector, associations and individuals in developing the education sector in the state.

Amosun stated this in a goodwill message at the inauguration of some projects to commemorate the 48th founder’s day anniversary of Remo Division-

al High School, Sagamu, in Sagamu Local Government area of the state.

The governor, represented at the forum by the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Segun Odubela, said the measure was aimed at creating an environment conducive for meaningful teaching and learning in schools.

While commending the efforts of some companies, including Lafarge WAPCO Plc and the old students’ associations of

some schools in uplifting the educational standard of various schools and Remo Divisional High School in particular, Amosun called on other companies and associations to emulate this kind gesture by contributing their quota to the educational development of the state.

In his own contribution, the commissioner said the state government would not renege in its efforts to move the education sector to an enviable position.

He said the government had since inception embarked on massive rehabilitation of school structures, including classrooms and laboratories so as to make teaching and learning friendlier to teachers and students.

He noted that the state government would also not condone any act of untoward behaviours such as exam malpractice, drug abuse and sexual perversion from both the students and schools’ workers across the state.

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Education Today

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

WAEC cancels results four years after

L-R: Dean, School of Vocational and Technical Education and representative of the Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto/Ijanikin, Lagos, Mr. Olawole Adesina; guest speaker, Mrs. Bolanle Malomo and the guest of honour, Mr. Nathaniel Adebowale, at the college’s library seminar organised for students, recently.

Lagos set to boost students’ performance in maths L ATEEFAH I BRAHIM A NIMASHAUN

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agos State Government has assured secondary school students and their parents that mass failure of students in mathematics in the state would soon become a thing of the past.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who gave the assurance recently at the state’s school debate draw to kick- off this year’s inter secondary schools debate competition held at Ojodu Grammar School, Ikeja, said the state was concerned about improving the performance of students in mathematics, particularly in the examinations conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO).

A total of 64 out of 350 schools that applied for the debate completion will feature in this year’s edition of the

OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

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university lecturer, Prof. Olukoya Ogen, has blamed security challenges in Nigeria on high level of poverty and underdevelopment ravaging the country.

Prof. Ogen made this known in a lead paper he presented during the ceremony marking the Inau-

programme.

The commissioner said part of government’s efforts to improve the study of mathematics in the state was by partnering relevant stakeholders in tackling the problem.

While she urged the stakeholders whom he identified to include parents, teachers, students and philanthropy organisations and individuals to join hands with the government, Mrs. Olayinka said the government had seen failure of students in mathematics as an important issue that needed to be tackled constructively.

“We have started talking to mathematics associations and teachers who are marking WAEC and related exams to bail us out by educating our teachers handling the subject for them to improve in their teachings,” she stressed.

Speaking on the forthcoming debate, the commissioner said the essence was to groom the students to be able to work hard and speak confidently in the pub-

lic, among other reasons.

She however, decried a school of thought blaming students’ failure on parents, saying many students don’t even want to learn hence the major reason for their poor performance in their studies.

“No doubt, teachers have a role to play in any child’s life. They are there to tutor students on various subjects as professionals, while home should serve as a backup for other things such as moral values and culture, among other virtues,” she added.

Speaking earlier, Chief Executive Officer of Gradient Hill, Mr. Ivor Ekpe said the company had for the past four years been collaborating with the state government to bring back the schools debates.

“The competition is getting better by the day. It is structured in stages where participants would go on elimination series till they get to the final which will take place in June,” he said.

CONTINUED FROM 19 Oluwatosin told National Mirror on phone, adding: “That was done January last year.”

Some of the affected students did not limit the struggle to the WAEC office. In May 2012 for instance, Mr. Owoyemi took the matter before the state’s Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, when he waited endlessly to see the positive action from both WAEC and the school.

Since then, many other affected students have been coming to the school to lodge similar complaint. One of them, who is the senior prefect of his set and now a 500- level mechanical engineering student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Adesanya Zacheous Taiwo, is also unsettled as his fate remains hanging in the balance.

Taiwo is due to graduate this year but if the matter is not resolved, the entire five years as an undergraduate may become a waste. The same fate may befall Akinola Nofisat Bukola, a final year student of the Department of Computer Science, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, who is also stunned and has joined forces with her mates to seek remedy.

Now, considering the money and time he had expended on the matter and with no headway in sight, Owoyemi, on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, approached his lawyer, Mr. J.O. Oladeji of Leke Oladeji and Company, who wrote the exam body’s registrar in a letter he titled: 2008 May/June Senior Secondary Certificate of Owoyemi Tosin Examination No- 4251410/230.

In the said letter, the solicitor requested to be furnished with reasons why his client’s result was cancelled within a 14-day ultimatum. “But till date, we have received no response from WAEC and the only option left for us now is to take our case before the public and possibly to court.”

To approach the matter from different perspectives, Mr. Owoyemi visited the Yaba office of WAEC just last week, where he met with the body’s Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Yusuff Ari. Ari advised that a fresh letter of complaint should be written and addressed to the registrar of the council.

A copy of the letter made available to National Mirror and entitled: ‘Appeal for reconsideration of result’, 19 sought the understanding of WAEC to review the situation and feed the candidates with relevant information on the issue.

However, some of the affected students, who gathered at the secondary school compound last Saturday, including Sanni Muhammed, another final year student in a college in Saudi Arabia, and Ali Saheed, resolved at storming the ministry of education latest next week to demand for its urgent and proactive intervention.

When National Mirror approached WAEC, Mr. Ari said the exam body later found out that a case of “serious” malpractice was reported against the school, and that WAEC decided to cancel the results after proper investigations were carried out.

“Their case is very complex and unusual. But the public should know that WAEC is a very meticulous institution that does not joke with the life of its candidates.

When the school wrote to know the cause of the development, the council replied by informing the school that the affected students were involved in examination malpractice. That is the information at my disposal. And I should add that WAEC has every right to cancel any result at any stage it discovers any irregularity,” Ari told National Mirror.

However, the questions being asked by the candidates are that: ‘At what stage did WAEC get know of the malpractice allegation? What is the particular offence committed? Who are the particular individuals found guilty of the crime? What are the evidences against them? Was there no need for fair hearing before the “damning” verdict?

According to Ismail, as far as he was concerned, there was no case of examination malpractice against him during the exam and that if he had not committed any crime, why should he be punished?

Until WAEC responds to these probing questions, the students’ fate will remain unknown and the situation may create more problems not only for the students but also the country at large.

It is understandable that some other students of the set were in higher institutions of learning in South Africa, Europe and Asia pursuing one course or another.

But will the current situation not subject WAEC’s integrity to question among the comity of nations?

WAEC boss, Eguridu

Insecurity fuels poverty, underdevelopment in Nigeria –Don guration of the 5th annual national conference of the School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASC), Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, recently.

He x-rayed the various causes of insecurity in Nigeria and concluded that its negative consequence on the country has

brought underdevelopment and poverty.

The university don stressed the need for the adoption of a historical approach and the creation of favourable atmosphere that would give opportunities to the generality of the people to earn a decent living in order to address

the problem.

He called for the decentralisation of government in Nigeria, noting that the over centralisation of its system had affected the country development thus promoting inefficiency.

Prof. Ogen urged the government to urgently address the security chal-

lenges in the country, stating that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of insecurity.

The provost of the college, Prof. Adeyemi Idowu, was conferred with the award of exemplary leadership in tertiary education administration

by SASC during the programme and he was happy about the honour.

He harped on the need to sustainable partnership and co-operation among all stakeholders in the institution, adding that this was necessary in order to fast track development and lay a solid foundation for more progressive attainments in the institution.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

25

Thursday, February 28, 2013

MOJEED ALABI

T

he newly sworn in leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and a student-based non-governmental organisation, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), have called for the immediate sack of the Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Shamsudeen Amali, over the brutal killings of four students of the institution on Monday.

NANS’ leadership, in a chat with National Mirror said the secretariat of the association had since been temporarily relocated to the university as a mark of solidarity and to work towards bringing to book those behind the murder.

According to the union president, Yinka Gbadebo, the peaceful protest to demand for improved welfare condition on the campus did not warrant any form of attack, and that NANS would pursue the unjust killings without hesitation and compromise.

National Mirror recalls that four students of the university, including Aminu Usma Osuko, 400 level student of Geography and Emmanuel Nyam Buba, 300 level student of the Department of Physics, were gunned down

Students’ killing: NANS, NGO demand VC’s sack • Declare Nasarawa Gov persona non grata on campuses by armed soldiers invited by the university authority to quell the protest.

“In strong terms, the NANS leadership wishes to register its total displeasure over this unfortunate attack and condemn the killings of unarmed protesting students of NSUK. With heavy hearts, we commiserate with the entire students of the university and the families of both the late and the injured victims of the regime of oppression in our country,” NANS said.

Similarly, ERC has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the incident including the university’s VC and the state’s governor, Alh. Tanko Almakura.

The governor has also been publicly de-

clared persona non grata on campuses nationwide by the students’ umbrella body.

“No official explanation or excuse can erase the guilt of the army as this is a brutal murder of unarmed protesters demanding improved and decent welfare conditions. We place the responsibility on the university management who invited soldiers to quell a legitimate protest and the state government whose neo-liberal capitalist policy of education underfunding

is the root cause of this killing,” ERC stated.

The two bodies have therefore demanded for the Immediate and unconditional release of the 17 arrested students; setting up of a democratic panel of inquiry composed of elected representatives of staff unions, the trade unions in the state, students’ union, and civil societies to investigate the immediate and remote circumstances surrounding the killing, identify members of management responsible for the invitation of soldiers, recommend punishment as well as recommendations to forestall future occurrence; and immediately grant the demands of students for adequate water supply and improved welfare condition which led to the protest in the first place.

FCE will keep investing on its workers –Provost MOJEED ALABI

T

he Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Technical, Akoka, Lagos, Dr. Sijibomi Olusanya, has said his administration would continue to invest in staff training and development as a measure to ensure efficiency and service delivery.

He stated this recently during the opening ceremony of a three-day staff capacity training and workshop exercise organised by the college administration to grant its workers the opportunity to be in tune with the latest techniques and working tools.

The training exercise, which focused on themes such as leadership and accountability, auditing and financial management, effective office management, among others, was targeted at all the staff of the college.

The staff in return appreciated the college management for their on-the-job training and pledged their commitment to the growth and development of the nation’s pioneer technical education college.

Lagos SSG bags doctorate degree

T

he Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Dr. Oluranti Idiat Adebule, was among the 22 graduands, who bagged doctoral degrees at the 18th convocation ceremony of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. She bagged the award of doctor of philosophy (PhD) in Curriculum Studies in the university’s Faculty of Education.

The visibly elated Adebule recalled her somber and passionate journey towards the fulfilment of her dream and used the occasion to thank Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola for his support and encouragement; for giving her the opportunity to serve the people of Lagos State in her position as the state’s SSG. She assured that her latest academic conquest would be used to bring dynamism to her political office and governance in Lagos State.

Students of the University of Ibadan at the campaign rally recently.

S

o many factors had combined to make this year’s students’ union election of the University of Ibadan more interesting than those before it and that was the recent controversy that greeted the ban on cooking in the hostels by the university management.

The Prof. Isaac Adewole-led administration had decided to sanitise the campus and reduce considerably its expenses on electricity usage, bulk of which he claimed came from the use of electric cooking stoves otherwise known as hot plates in the university community.

The students, who blamed the situation on the country’s poor power generation and distribution, said they could not be made the scapegoat of a failed system, accusing the outgoing students’ union leader, Mr. Edosa Raymond, of compromising with the school authority on the matter.

The tension generated over the development was yet to be reduced when the school authority lifted ban on students’ union election campaign. Many students saw this development as a reason to sack the outgoing leaders and vote for a new set of leaders that they believe would serve their interest.

The major contenders among them were: Enoch Oladehin, Babatunde

PHOTO: LINUS KINGDOM

UI students elect new leaders The last few weeks have been very busy for students of University of Ibadan as they went to poll to elect new leaders. Hammed Hamzat (300 Level Educational Management, UI) and Dhikru Akinola (400 Level, Political Science, ObafemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife) capture the intrigues that characterised the exercise.

Badmus,Gbemi Osadua, the trio contested for the post of the president while Seun Akinbiyi, Glory Aiyegbeni and Victor Odesola aspired to be vice-president.

Supporters of each of the candidates had tried to curry the favour of electorates through many platforms, including the social media where candidates were attacked and ridiculed with impunity. There were also room-to-room campaigns and candidates also took their campaigns to mosques, churches and social and ethnic groups on the campus.

The election was eventually held last Saturday and this saw Babatunde Badmus from Theater Arts Department emerged as the president-elect securing a total of 1, 812 votes.

The chairman of the electoral commission, Mrs. Stella Soola also announced that

Badmus’ major contender, Gbemi scored 1, 315 while Enoch had 958 votes.

The president-elect was said to have won in five hostels, namely: Zik, Awo, Bello, Kuti and Mellanby halls while Gbemi won in three: Idia, Alexandra Brown and Tedder halls. The third presidential aspirant won in the remaining three halls of residence: Abdulsalam, Independence and Balewa.

Other winners as announced by the electoral commission are; Seun Akinbiyivice-president; Ayokanmi AkinbulumaSecretary General; Ugo Nwaokike- Public Relations Officer; Akindele OpeyemiSports Secretary; Olaoluwa AdaramoduTreasurer; Tobiloba Ogunbanjo- House Secretary; and George Adeboye as Assistant General Secretary.

The new leaders will soon be sworn-in on March 12.

26

“S

SS impounds drums of bomb making chemicals” Is it the bomb that is making the chemicals? No confusion: bomb-making chemicals.

“Robbers lay seige to ATM patrons in Agege” Spell-check: siege.

“Oke-Ayo residents commend firm over (for/on) road rehabilitation” “Torres hat trick (sic) sends QPR packing” A rewrite: Torres’ hat-trick…

“Such unguarded utterances from a supposed political leader are irresponsible and an affront against (to) constituted authority.”

“The electoral heist that happened in the West must not be allowed to re-occur (sic)….” Modern English: recur (not reoccur).

“Man, 22, charged for (with) attempted suicide” “At (On) different occasions you hear the agencies saying….” “…Maevis from the very beginning chose to collect FAAN’s revenue (which is government revenue) in a platform account operated by themselves to which FAAN had neither access nor control.” Agenda: on a platform account.

“Muamba relieves (relives) horrifying experience” “The ballot process is meant

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Old English: reoccur; New School: recur to ensure that strikes enjoy the votes of majority of members are embarked upon.” This way: a/the majority of members.

“The National Examination Council (NECO) is currently enmeshed in internal crisis….” Tell me, what is the function of ‘currently’ here—in the presence of ‘is’? And this: an internal crisis or internal crises.

Still on a similar error: “Though Nigeria currently has three major optic fibres….”

“Adamawa gov’s wife flags off cancer screening exercise” There is nothing like ‘flag off’ in Standard English and this: cancerscreening exercise.

“The case of who pays the piper dictating (calling) the tune has always been dominant in international politics.”

“I congratulate Dr. Jose Antonio Ocampo for (on/upon) being a worthy participant and for his decision to withdraw his candidacy….”

“He is still in (on) the board of many companies.”

“NAC boosts auto technicians’ efficiency with staff loans for modern equipments.”

‘Equipment’ is non-count.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE

‘FLAG OFF’ IN STANDARD ENGLISH

“Demuren said that all the regulations will (would) be binding on both international and local airlines….”

“The damages and loss of lives to NATO and Yugoslavia were unnecessary.” ‘Damage’, in this context, is uncountable.

“An agenda similar to that of Murtala/Obasanjo regime was hurriedly packaged to cleanse the civil service in order to enhance performance and inculcate discipline into (in) our national life.”

“Nigeria and the international community has (have) just celebrated this year’s….”

“Secondly, it’s (its) legal duty to advise on the….”

“They have not yet established the full processes of their interaction in the chamber too, and the formality of procedures are now still (is still) being developed.”

“I wish the Action Congress of Nigeria and Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu should feel the pause (pulse) of the people….”

“I want to believe that the Nigerian electorate is (are)....”

“Part of this quality sense (not quantity) concerns the debate on how best to eat a dish, with cutleries or with the ten fingers.” ‘Cutlery’ is uncountable.

“There has (have) been transition programmes before, so what is different with this one.”

“David Mark assured recently in Abuja that the constitution would be ready for promulgation very soon.” Who did he assure?

“I am a product of a system which allowed a poor farmer-cumfisherman’s son to go through the very best schools.…” ‘Best’ has reached the end-point of intensification and cannot be inflected (by adding ‘very’). It is an absolute (superlative) word.

“During the heydays of Christian missionary activities in the southern parts of Nigeria, communities were actively involved in building schools.” Thoughts on education: ‘heyday’ is uncountable.

“Robbery: Policeman killed by

vigilante group” This way: vigilance group.

“The gallantry effort exhibited by the driver of.…” Get it right: either gallantry or gallant effort.

“Nigeria’s soccer house set to take the bull by the horn and change the face of the game.” Sport Today: take the bull by the horns “The wretched has (have) no voice.” “...the victim is a specie (species) from among the wretched of the earth.”

“We could do nothing against such formidable odds giving (given) the worthless tools at our disposal.”

“Within few months of his administration, the crime rate in the state ostensibly reduced to the barest minimum.” What is the function of ‘ostensibly’ here?

“The congestion on our roads are (is) very unhealthy for the….” “…armed robbers attacked a Lagos bound (a hyphen) luxurious (luxury) bus at the same spot killing some passengers and made (making) away with several millions of naira belong (belonging) to the travellers who were mostly traders.”

Minister commends Rivers State over project execution IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

T

he Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has declared that the investment of the Federal Government in the education sector was already yielding positive results across the states of the federation.

Speaking during the inauguration of the nationwide inspection of on-going projects in Rivers State, Wike noted that he was impressed at the percentage completion of projects visited and the standard of engineering works at the sites.

The minister pointed out that the projects when handed over to the various state governments by next month were expected to boost the quality of education across the country.

He said: “I am happy to see that the projects at Girl-child School, Aluu; Community Secondary School, Rumueipirikom and the libraries in Federal Government College, Port Harcourt and the Federal Govern-

ment Girls College, Abuluma are all nearing completion”.

He commended the management of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), for ensuring that funds were released on time to facilitate the execution of the various projects, which he said were vital to the improvement of education at the basic level.

Wike noted that the libraries in the Federal Unity Colleges were initiated to support the President’s Bring Back the Book initiative and encourage reading among Nigerian children in schools.

He urged contractors and consultants to continue to uphold the highest standard in the execution of the projects, pointing out that the Federal Government would not hesitate to sanction them if they deviated.

Also speaking, permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala stated that the construction of girlchild schools in selected states would increase access to education for the girl-child.

Participants at a training worksshop for staff of Federal College of Education, Technical, Akoka Lagos, recently.

We want to make OUI more conducive –Adedoyin AYO ESAN

O

duduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State, has said the ongoing massive buildings construction on campus was to accommodate more faculties and enhance welfare of students and the staff.

The founder of the university who is also the Maye of IleIfe, Dr. Ramos Adedoyin made

this known to National Mirror recently, adding that “We are making elaborate plan to make life more comfortable for our students and staff and to provide qualitative and conducive atmosphere for learning” The founder said the management was working to make the institution meet the standard of private institutions in the world.

“My frequent visit to ad-

vanced countries was to study their master plans in order to improve our schools system” he added.

Adedoyin, who is also the director of The Polytechnic, Ile-Ife, Osun State, praised the Federal Government for allowing private participation in education in the country.

He, however, advised the students to shun hooliganism, cultism and other vices that may trucate their future.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

DStv League: NBBF sets dunk off dates

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

Sport

Celebrations are over and we have begun to think about the World Cup qualifier next month - Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi

30

Police Games: Medal winners for WPFG

Ahead Confed Cup: Brazil seizes 200,000 fake balls

thletes who excel at the forthcoming Police Games in Port Harcourt will be groomed to represent the Nigeria Police Force at the 2013 Biennial World Police and Fire Games (WPFG).

This is contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by CSP Frank Mba, the Deputy Force Public Relations officer.

The statement said that athletes from 70 countries are expected to compete in 66 sporting events at the WPFG, a biennial athletic fiesta, billed for August 1 to August 10 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The events include athletics, volleyball, basketball, football, tennis and martial arts like judo, wrestling and taekwondo.

It said the Nigeria Police contingent would feature in 28 of the events.

The statement noted that police athletes were not strangers to international sporting events because some of them had represented the country in the Commonwealth Games, the All Africa Games and Olympics in the past.

It assured police athletes who had not enjoyed such international exposure before to look forward to the 2013 edition of the Games in Belfast.

Meanwhile, the statement said the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, had approved the invitation to police athletic teams from five West African countries to participate in the Port Harcourt games.

They are Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Senegal and Gambia.

The statement said the police authorities in Ghana and the Republic of Benin had confirmed that they would participate in the games while response from the other three countries is being awaited.

It said that the invitation was not only aimed at strengthening personal and professional relationship among police outfits in the sub-region but “to positively impact on transnational crime fighting synergy among them.”

T

A

Brazil 2013: Eagles will surprise Spain – Aiyegbeni Yakubu Aiyegbeni

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

F

ormer Super Eagles’ striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has expressed hope that Nigeria will excel at the FIFA Confederations Cup Tournament in June in Brazil.

Nigeria is in the same group with Spain, Uruguay and Tahiti.

Speaking with FIFA. com on Nigeria’s chances at the upcoming tournament, Aiyegbeni said the Super Eagles’ victory at the South Africa 2013 AFCON has given the team a fillip to face other continental champions.

“The team travel to Brazil on the back of the Cup of Nations success so they are inspired to put in good showings on the world stage. I am confident our side can live up to the expectations. And above all, we will qualify for the next World Cup,” Aiyegbeni said.

Reviewing Eagles’ success in South Africa, the 30-yearold Guangzhou R&F striker said the 2013 AFCON “was an

exciting campaign for Nigeria.”

“We had a young team but they put in brilliant performances. The coach has done a good job in moulding the team into a strong unit. It is an achievement which has made all the Nigerian people happy.”

According to the former Middlesbrough and Blackburn marksman, the victory provides Coach Stephen Keshi’s charges with not only a morale-boost but also challenges heading into the eightnation global showpiece, where they are grouped alongside European and World champions, Spain, Tahiti and South American champions, Uruguay.

“The team is expected to continue their good form in Brazil in June. But after our triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations, we will become a target for rivals, who will be motivated to defeat us. And these are the continental champions of the world so the pressure is greater, but it is good for our youngsters to gain in-

ternational experience,” Aiyegbeni added.

Still on South Africa 2013, the burly striker reflected, “African football has made consistent progress over these years, so there were no easy games throughout the campaign. Every rival we played against are strong and our team defied all the odds to win the African title.”

He also had kind words for Super Eagles’ latest strikers, Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses.

“Emenike is a very good striker. He performed very well. Although I have never played alongside him, I think he is a very talented player.

Moses is equally impressive, and the striking partnership formed by these two players should be one of the best during the tournament (Brazil 2014).”

“Sunday Mba has the potential to play in Europe. By playing with a top European side, a player can have better chances of playing top level matches like in the African Cup of Nations.”

wo hundred thousand counterfeit soccer balls originating from China have been seized at the Brazilian port of Santos, the South American country’s tax authorities said in a statement.

The balls included imitations of the Jabulani model, the ball used at the 2010 World Cup, and the Cafusa, which will be used at the Confederations Cup in Brazil in June.

Brazil’s Inland Revenue Service said the balls were apprehended at the port as part of “Operation Protected Frontiers” and would be destroyed.

No arrests were reported. Piracy of official merchandise is common in Brazil, which will host the 2014 World Cup, with dozens of street vendors selling fake replica shirts and other products near stadia on match days.

The public often complain of the high price of official merchandise, however.

The latest replica shirts of Brazilian club teams cost around 200 reais ($102), a large chunk of the country’s minimum monthly wage of 670.95 reais.

Street vendors will not be allowed in or near World Cup stadia on match days where Brazil has agreed to enforce rules allowing only official FIFA-approved merchandise to be sold.

NVBF distributes kits to states JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

T

he Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), in collaboration with its international body, FIVB, has distributed a total of 1,800 volleyball balls and 180 nets to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speaking while distributing the materials, comprising 50 balls and five nets to each of the states and the FCT in Abuja, the President of the NVBF, Engr. Habu Gumel, said the gesture was part of elaborate strategy to popularise the game of volleyball and take it to every nook and cranny of the country.

The NVBF boss urged the states and FCT volleyball bodies to use the items in such a way that people will begin to appreciate the game.

He warned that the items should not be dumped in the state offices but should be distributed to secondary schools, adding that with this, new talent will be discovered to represent the country at local and international levels.

28

Sport

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ronaldo hails Madrid’s feat R

Mwaruwari joins Chippa

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ormer Blackburn striker, Benjani Mwaruwari, has officially signed for Chippa United just days after arriving in the Mother City.

It was announced on Monday that the former Portsmouth striker was training at Ajax Cape Town’s headquarters of Ikamva, raising speculation that he may join the books of the Urban Warriors.

Ajax Cape Town’s PRO Shooz Mekuto confirmed that the Chilli Boyz have made a swoop for Benjani in order to help Chippa avoid relegation.

Upon enquiring about the player, Shooz revealed: “The player you are looking for has now signed for Chippa. He is not training with us.”

This is the second player Ajax has let slip through its ranks to make the move across the city, with James Okwuosa having moved to Philippi after spending the preseason with Ajax.

In October 2012 SuperSport United had announced that the 34-year-old had agreed a one-year deal with the Pretoria outfit, only for arrangement to fall through.

M

eal Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, yesterday hailed his team’s continuing good form against Barcelona at the Nou Camp after Madrid stormed into the Copa del Rey final on Tuesday.

Ronaldo’s brace set his side on its way to a 3-1 win, the third season in succession it has tasted victory on the turf of its major rival.

It earned Madrid a 4-2 aggregate success in the tie after Raphael Varane headed the third before Jordi Alba’s meaningless late consolation.

“It was a very good game, we played very well,” Ronaldo said.

“From the first minute to the last we were very focused, with a great attitude. We played better than Barcelona, scoring three goals in the Nou Camp is extremely difficult.

“Lately whenever we

play here we do very well. We play better here than at home.

“We must continue with this confidence.

Most of the players like to play here and things are going well for us.”

Hostilities are renewed on Saturday at the Bernabeu in the Primera Division, in which thirdplaced Real is 16 points adrift of Barcelona.

“Beating Barcelona is always a source of great motivation,” Ronaldo said.

“La Liga is less important because we are a lot of points behind, we need to look more at the cup and the Champions League, but certainly we will go there to do our best.”

Ronaldo, who has scored on all six of his visits to the Nou Camp over the last two seasons, further said: “It’s nice, I’ll be in the history books of Spanish football.”

S

underland O’Shea, has to discover form as it attemp egation fears.

Sunderland h games without a urday’s 2-1 defea and is now sitti ous position, fiv the drop-zone.

O’Shea is fru team’s failure to of results and th chester United p players must be both ends of the “Consistency we have to get ba consistent abou sistent at the mi something we h the Ireland inte yesterday.

“We are mor of doing it and

Ronaldo

Bergkamp gets Gunners status

Manager absolves Sterling

A

rsenal will place a statue of legendary Dennis Bergkamp outside its ground this summer to immortalize another one of the club’s greatest players.

The former Holland forward will see his statue place alongside those of Thierry Henry, Tony Adams and Herbert Chapman that were erected in December 2011.

Bergkamp became fans’ favourite at the Gunners during his brilliant 11 years in the north London side. After being signed by Bruce Rioch from Inter Milan for £7.5million in 1995, he helped guide Arsenal to unprecedented success in an era when trophies were swept up.

The forward helped Arsenal to three Premier League crowns including the unbeaten invincible side of 2004, as well as four FA Cup triumphs.

He was named Player of the Year by

L Bergkamp

both the PFA and Football Writers’ Association in 1998.

“We currently have statues outside Emirates Stadium commemorating three legends in Arsenal’s history–Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry and we’re delighted that they have been extremely popular with visitors to the stadium,” an Arsenal spokesman said yesterday.

Eastlanders set to lose Cavani

anchester City has been dealt a major blow in its chase for Edinson Cavani after Real Madrid stepped up its attempts to land the Napoli forward.

The Uruguay striker is Roberto Mancini’s number one target with the Italian desperate for more firepow-

Relegat scares O

er since losing Mario Balotelli to AC Milan.

Mancini is set for a busy summer in the transfer market but Madrid has now emerged as serious contender to land Cavani at the end of the season.

Reports yesterday revealed that Bernabeu executives have opened talks

with Cavani’s advisors over a money-spinning swoop.

The Real delegation is said to have made abundantly clear its intentions to land the player.

The news provides a major obstacle in City’s attempts to sign Cavani, who has a £52million release clause written into his con-

tract, although Napoli insists he will not be allowed to leave without a club meeting that release clause.

City has begun negotiations with Cavani’s representatives in a bid to strike an early deal while Paris Saint-Germain is also monitoring Cavani ahead of the summer transfer window.

Walcot

iverpool Manager, Brendan Rodgers, says fatigue is to blame for teenage winger Raheem Sterling losing his zeal.

Sterling, 18, established himself in Rodgers’ team after making his Premier League debut for the Reds in August.

He earned his first England cap in November before signing a new five-year contract at Anfield, but has only started two top-flight games in 2013.

“That zip has gone and it’s down to fatigue,” Rodgers said.

The former Queens Park Rangers trainee, who moved to the Merseyside club in February 2010 aged 15, had not started a senior match for the Reds before this season.

But he forced his way into Rodgers’ first-team plans and responded with a series of impressive displays.

Bale land mega wo

Sterling

ormer Totte Waddle, ha winger Gar soon be worth as m lion.

The Welshman of the most prolif career so far, havin in 31 appearance challenge for Cha qualification.

Waddle, who m ances for the nor over a four-year

A

rsenal Walcott club’s n result in a splur heading towar Stadium.

The north Lo ing an eighth ca a trophy after out of the FA C earlier this m Bayern Munich their Champion But speakin weekend’s cruc mier League sh

F

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

tion O’Shea

Tit bits...

Ferguson

defender, John s urged the club some consistent pts to ease its rel-

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re than capable getting the con-

O’Shea

fidence back in terms of winning games and going ahead in games. If we can do that soon then I am sure we will be fine.

We have to do it sooner rather than later though.

“The next thing you know there’s eight or nine games left and we think ‘here you go’ relegation is not too far away. The sooner you get the wins on the board the better.”

ondon club is facampaign without it was knocked Cup by Blackburn month, and trails h in the last 16 of ns League tie. ng ahead of this cial Barclays Prehowdown at rival

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made 150 appearrth London club period, believes

Sir Alex Ferguson was spotted in the Nou Camp on a scouting mission ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Ferguson’s Manchester United side earned a creditable 1-1 draw in Madrid in the first leg of the last 16 heavyweight bout.

To prepare for next Tuesday’s showdown at Old Trafford, the United manager took his assistant Mike Phelan to watch Real face off against bitter rivals Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi final second leg.

McClean

Sunderland has banned winger James McClean from Twitter after another sectarian row on the social networking site.

The move to delete his account is understood to have been made on club advice, and after a brief but frank meeting with manager Martin O’Neill on Monday.

It comes after the Republic of Ireland star professed his love for song The Broad Black Brimmer by The Wolfe Tones prior to Sunderland’s game against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

Ferdinand

tt in trophy countdown

winger, Theo t, reckons the next trophy will rge of silverware rds the Emirates

Sport

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Tottenham, Walcott is confident Arsenal can return to its glory days.

“Once the team wins the first trophy, you will start to see us coming back to where we should be,” Walcott said yesterday, “When your team is playing well it makes your job easier and when you are winning games it is fantastic to be a part of it. However, it is when things aren’t going too well that you need to stand out and get your team back involved,” he added.

the 23-year-old’s value has rocketed as a result.

“A year playing like this in the Champions League, and he will be in the £70 million bracket. Big clubs will offer big money,” Waddle projected yesterday.

“But maybe it’s time for him to give Tottenham a bit back. The club is growing, with talented players and a good manager. With one or two acquisitions Spurs can challenge for the title next year.”

Bale’s recent run of form has seen him compared to Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, but Waddle believes it is too soon to mention the two players in the same breath.

Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, believes anyone who compares Tottenham’s Gareth Bale to Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo or Barcelona magician Lionel Messi ‘doesn’t know football’.

The Manchester United defender tweeted to his four million followers that Bale needs to keep scoring at his current rate for three or four years for there even to be a debate.

“People mentioning Bale in the same breath as Cristiano + Messi really don’t know football! Bale been 1 of best 2 in PL this year but.... ‘He is not on CR7 + Messi’s level yet...he carries on doing what he is doing for 2/3yrs then there can be a debate,” Ferdinand wrote

Simpson

Newcastle United defender, Danny Simpson, has insisted he will give his all for the club ahead of his departure in summer.

The 26-year-old rejected the Magpies’ most recent contract offer and is set to leave St James’ Park on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Scholes While Sir Alex Ferguson was scouting Real Madrid’s match against Barcelona, Paul Scholes made the trip to the slightly less fashionable Goodison Park to see Everton face his beloved Oldham.

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Osaze has lost track–Taribo

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ormer Nigeria international, Taribo West, yesterday said that the beleaguered West Brom striker, Osaze Odemwingie, has lost track and should pull himself together.

Former Inter Milan and Auxerre defender Taribo, who is now a pastor, said he took exception to a recent comment by Osaze that exstars like Taribo ought to be better treated by the authorities.

“I think he has lost track and needs to get himself together. If he is fighting for ex-players, then that is not how to go about it. He should come home and fight those who are not helping the footballers,” West told MTNFootball.com.

“It was embarrassing to read such comments about me in the newspapers. The last time he probably saw me was in 2008, so he knows nothing about me.

“I am doing well. I am not broke and never will be till Christ comes. In Christ, I have everything, so I am not lacking.”

Osaze has, however, admitted he ought to have listened to West.

“The shot up from T.West

Taribo West

is a brotherly one. He’s a top man and I got a lot of respect for him. He meant the battle is not yours,” Odemwingie tweeted.

“Pastor Taribo, I repent for not giving the other cheek. Our Prince said something in September. I tried to hold it but cracked in December.”

The West Brom striker also tasked West to advise fellow ex-international Victor Ikpeba not to meddle in team selection.

“Please advise him as an ex-player not to say who is and not needed in Eagles.

His advice failed as we all saw how good Mikel was in the AFCON,” Osaze said.

SCSA seeks improved Africa Games YEMI OLUS

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he Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) has resolved to collaborate with other international sporting bodies in a bid to enhance the organization of the All-Africa Games.

This decision was reached at the meeting of the Ministers in charge of Sports in Zones 2 and 3 of the SCSA, which is made up of member States of the West African Sub-Region, held on Tuesday in Abuja.

While deliberating on issues of common interest affecting sports in the Sub-Region, the communiqué released at the end of the meeting stated: “The SCSA has resolved that in order to reinforce collaboration with International Sporting Organisations, there should be a synergy between the SCSA and other Africa Sports Movement in the organization of the All Africa Games.”

Armando Guebuza

Rather than being resolved, it was also decided that the body would be restructured to give it new, meaningful and resultoriented roles while the SCSA Secretariat should be maintained.

While congratulating the sub-region for producing seven out of the eight quarterfinalists at

the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and also for winning all available medals and trophies at the Tournament, it was agreed that a fresh election should be conducted to elect a new Secretary General.

The next meeting of the continental body will be hosted by Senegal.

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SLAMMING AND E-mail: folashayoezekiel@yahoo.com Phone: 08027536696

Islanders’ coach dreams continental challenge

Blazers’ Matthews prays, plays with pain

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rail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews sees only one option left after trying all the treatments he can on his sore left leg.

“Pray,” he says in all seriousness.

Matthews hurt his leg and ankle, along with his left elbow, just before the All-Star break. But he’s playing --and praying -- through the pain, hoping to help push Portland into the playoffs.

The Trail Blazers (26-30) are four games back of Houston for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. The Lakers are 2 1/2 games out of eighth.

The Blazers need their affable shooting guard down the stretch.

He is averaging 15 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 35 minutes per game. His importance to the team was evident Sunday night when he made a clutch 3-pointer with just under a minute left in Portland’s 92-86 victory over the Celtics.

“God bless him,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s done it all year. He’s made some great shots.”

Matthews finished with 24 points, including five 3-pointers, but often winced in pain. His limp grew more pronounced as the game went on.

“Ankle, elbow, I’m not even close to 80 percent,” Matthews said.

“But I’m out there fighting and my teammates are bringing me along.

They’re supporting me.”

According to the Blazers, Matthews has made six of seven 3-point attempts in the final minute of games when the score is within three points. On Jan. 10, he hit another memorable 3 with 26.9 seconds to go in a 92-90 victory over the Miami Heat.

DUNKING

With SAYO OGUNDEJI

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oach of the Islanders Basketball club of Lagos, Emmanuel Okolo, has stated that his intention is not to qualify his team for the Final 8 but to pick one of the continental tickets available.

Islanders made it to the final 8 last season but the likes of Kano Pillars, Royal Hoopers, and Dodan Warriors proved too hot to handle for the Lagos based team as they couldn’t make it to the final of the competition which held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

But Emmanuel is of the opinion that his side has benefited immensely in terms of experience from their impressive run both during the regular season and the Final 8, saying the addition of few experienced players would give his team an edge over other teams in the division.

Emmanuel said, “We had a wonderful outing during the season but as a promising side, we are looking on how to build on Premier League action in a match between Customs and Police Baton during the 2011/2012 season. that performance by making it to the summit of this year’s Final 8 and pick one of the continental tickets available.

“The new league season is about to dunk off and we have been able to add few tested players into our ranks which I strongly believe will help us in our title push and hopefully we should be able to deliver at the end he 2012/ 2013 season gramme designed to improve should be given priorities of the season.” ahead of other matters if of the Nigeria DStv the standard of the game.

The Dstv Premier League the league must develop to Premier Basketball League which was billed to for Men is now scheduled to the level at which everybody dunk-off last weekend has dunk off March while the Ze- wants it.

He said, “There is no probbeen postponed to the first nith Bank Women’s League lem about the delay in the week in March due to techni- will start on March 23.

However, the Zenith League commencement of the league cal hitches, according to the president of the Nigeria Bas- will welcome four new teams in as many issues that are afketball Federation, Tijjani bringing the total league fecting the stakeholders in teams to 14 while in the Dstv the game are taken care of.

Umar.

“Our preparation is in top The NBBF president says League, a conference finals all grey areas in the contract involving the best four teams gear and we are ready to hit signing for another four years in each of the Atlantic and the court any time they want sponsorship by the league Savannah Conferences will us to play but we must do the title sponsor, Multichoice Ni- precede the final-4 playoffs as right thing at the right time geria, owners of DStv/ Super- against the final-8 for the na- so that we can all be proud of the game in the country at the tional championship.

Sport are being worked out.

Also endorsed at the AGM end of the day”, Erinfolami The Nigeria Basketball added.

Federation 2012 Annual Gen- was the upward review of eral Meeting and 2013 Stake- transfer fees in all the leagues.

Emmanuel holders Forum took place in A pre-jump-ball press briefthe auditorium of the Nation- ing and cheque presentaal Institute for Sports, Nation- tion for the Zenith Women’s al Stadium, City Gate, Abuja League is expected to hold at agos State Wheelchair basket- by Hon. Ochei, Speaker of Delta State from 21-24 January, 2013 and the national stadium, Lagos ball team last weekend pro- House of Assembly attracted nine issues relating to refresher on Thursday 28th February, vided a five-star performance states of the thirty-six states in Nicourses and examination for 2013. to dethrone former champion Delta geria and three teams from Ghana, Meanwhile, First Deepwa- State by 40-29 points to lift the second Togo and Republic of Benin.

Technical Officials and Referees were conducted by Gha- ter Basketball of Lagos coach, edition of Hon. Victor Ochei InternaThe success of the second edinaian FIBA Africa Referee Lateef Erinfolami, says the tional Wheelchair Championship at tion of the Hon. Ochei Wheelchair Instructor Daniel Ado-Poku league stands to benefit if all the sports hall of the National Sta- championship prompted governor in preparation for the new the programmes highlighted dium, Sururlere, Lagos. of Lagos State governor Babatunde by the federation are properly league season.

Team-Lagos led by France-based Fashola who was represented at More than 120 Coaches, executed. swingman Lukman Ibrahim won the finals by the Commissioner for The former international three of the four quarters while it Sports that the state will singleReferees, Technical Commissioners, Statisticians, Table who guided his team to win drew level with Delta State in one of handedly sponsor the national U-23 Officials, Team Owners and the women league last year the quarters (09-04, 13-11, 09-09 and 09- team to the 2013 Africa ChampionOfficials, Media and Observ- believes issues relating to 05) to emerge champion. ship coming up in South Africa ers participated in the pro- players and officials welfare The 2013 championship sponsored later in the year.

DStv League: NBBF sets dunk off dates

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Lagos wins Ochei Wheelchair tourney

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Matthews

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Business & Finance Cash doesn’t flow in the same volume in every state of the federation. What we would do is to look at those other market clusters where large volumes are transacted and add them to Lagos.

CBN Deputy Governor Operations, Mr. Tunde Lemo

Nigeria loses N8trn to illegal gold mining, exportation OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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igeria has lost about N8trillion as a result of illegal mining and exportation of unprocessed gold to the neigbouring countries in the last two years, the Federal Government said yesterday.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Linus Awute, who made this disclosure in an interview on the sidelines of the Nigerian-Brazil Investment forum in Abuja. However explained that the present administration had mapped out strategies to address the problem.

He said, “What the country loses to illegal mining is tremendous, but the truth is that the amount of gold that left this country because of the illegal mining activities is more than $50billion in the last two years.

“The amount of unprocessed gold that has left this country through the neighbouring countries like Ghana in particular and being processes in Ashanti gold mine is enormous.”

He noted that government had embarked on formalising the operations of the illegal miners so that the accruable royalty can

come to the government.

“The solution to informal mining or illegal mining is to get them formalised and that is what we are doing right now.

“We have over 600 groups that formed themselves into cooperative societies.

“The most exciting thing is that there is tremendous increase in the percentage of accruable royalty to the government through the regularisation of their (miners) activities,’’ he said.

Awute had earlier in his presentation at the forum said that a road map for the development of the mining sector had been produced by the ministry aimed at setting out vital programmes phased into short, medium and long terms.

The permanent secretary said that the government had put in place a new policy that led to the restructuring of the ministry to enhance performance and regulate the sector adequately.

He noted that the policy led to

Nigeria’s economic fundamentals are getting stronger every day CHAIRMAN OF THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PRIVATISATION, ATEDO PETERSIDE

the establishment of four new technical departments namely, Mining Cadastre Office, Mines Inspectorate Department, Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Department, and the Mines Environmental Compliance Department.

Apart from that, he added that government also granted permission to exporters of mineral products to retain part of their foreign exchange earnings in a domicilary account for the purpose of acquiring spare parts and other mining inputs.

According to Awute, government in its bid to reposition the steel sector had imposed 10 per cent tariff on imported iron and steel to create opportunity for local players in the sector.

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L-R: Head, Business to Business Division, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Ayodele Adegboye; Managing Director, Samsung West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim and Director, Greensprings School, Mrs. Olayiwola Koiki, during the official launching of the Samsung Smart Classroom Solution, at the Greensprings School in Lekki area of Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

Naira weakens as importers demand more dollars aira fell the most in almost five months, as importers demanded dollars to settle oil bills and foreign-exchange obligations.

Nigeria’s currency retreated 0.4 per cent to N158.25 per dollar, the biggest decline on a closing basis

Arik Air

since October 5, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The country’s relies on imports to cover 70 per cent of its own fuel needs because of inadequate refining capacity. Fuel imports are a source of pressure on the naira, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The weakening of the naira is due to increased dollar outflows to cover oil import bills and other foreign-exchange obligations,” Kunle Ezun, analyst at Ecobank

Transnational Incorporation said.

Traders are also increasing dollar demand before next month’s Easter celebrations, Tunde Ladipo, Chief Executive Officer of Value chain Investment Limited said.

The CBN sold $200 million at a foreign- currency auction yesterday to stabilise the naira, compared with $150million at the previous sale on February 25.

The regulator held the bench-

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

mark interest rate at a record high 12 per cent for an eighth straight time on January 21. The nation’s inflation rate fell to nine per cent in January from 12 per cent in December; the statistics bureau said February 18.

The yield on the country’s 16.39 per cent domestic bonds due January 2022 rose six basis points to 10.55 per cent, according to Tuesday’s data compiled on the Financial Markets Dealers Association website.

Demolished N3bn estate: Subscribers seek Jonathan’s intervention

Drumming support for indigenous IT firms

Social media as next big thing

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

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Demolished N3bn estate: Subscribers seek Jonathan’s intervention OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

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undreds of subscribers to the 500 units of housing estate demolished by the agents of the Federal Capital Territory Administration have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene to prevent their investment in the housing project from going down the drain.

They said it was unfortunate that a President who promised citizens at the wake of his electioneering campaign, “fresh air”, could be silent at the grave injustice done to a people who

genuinely desired a roof over their heads.

The group, in a statement signed by the spokesman, Mr. Festus Adebayo, described as “callous and inhuman,” a situation where hundreds of ordinary Nigerians would be punished to satisfy the interest of a few at the National Assembly.

They said, “Six months after our estate was demolished and our hope of owning a house at the Federal Capital Territory, was dashed, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has not made any statement either as consolatory or words of prom-

ise to us.

“We believe that demolishing 500 houses is equivalent to demolishing a community or a village. We have taken our case to God and the international community, United Nation Habitat, world human right bodies. We are equally hoping that one day God will touch the heart of Senator Smart Adeyemi and Co. for whom our houses were demolished, for them to acquire same.

“All over the world the main responsibility of government is to protect lives and properties.

The case of demolishing 500 housing units of houses already completed for occupation, is the

worst in the history of our country, not even the worst military government had done this.”

In demolishing the housing estate, they claimed that FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed, violated due process because he wanted to satisfy the interest of a few privileged few at the National Assembly.

The statement reads in part, “These houses were pulled down on Saturday and Sunday which are not working days.

Why the hurry! Beside, where Minanuel Estate was situated, there were other estates, why was the Minanuel Estate the target? Why did the FCT Minister

not drag the developer to court, if really he had committed any offence in the course of developing the estate? Why did the FCT Minister boycott the advice of FCT Urban & Regional Tribunal?

“Why can a good government demolish 500 houses on completion on the ground that it does not have building approval?

Where were they when the houses were going from foundation to lintel? What effort did the FCTA make in sighting and confirming the documents of Minanuel Estate? Can the FCTA be an accuser and still be the judge in its case?

Etisalat improves messaging service for 139 million subscribers KUNLE A ZEEZ

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L-R: Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama (SAN) and Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc Mr. Seni Adetu, during a courtesy visit to the State House as part of proceedings during the commissioning of the Guinness Water of Life Project in Oza Nogogo community, Delta State, recently.

CPC, SON take sub-standard products war to ports TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), yesterday said it would soon move to Nigerian ports with a view to studying the import-export systems, particularly at the Nigeria Customs Service posts, in order to confront the menace of unbridled importation of sub-standard products into the country.

This is even as the commission called on the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), to set manufacturing standards for foreign companies who intend to produce goods in the country which will make it a punishable offence for any of the firms to compromise on the quality or standards set for manufacturing of such products in their own countries.

The Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, who made these disclosures yesterday when he received in audience a delegation of the SON, led by the Director General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, noted that it had become more imperative

for all stakeholders to work together to fight all forms of corruption in the society.

He specifically listed the vices that have to do with violation of business ethics, in view of its socio-economic costs to Nigeria.

Nta, who reflected on the negative impact of sub-standard products on the domestic market where unbridled importation of pharmaceutical and other health-related items have continued to cause premature death, diseases and losses, said the commission’s motive for going to the ports was in furtherance of its new drive to fight corruption through preventive approach.

He said the system study in the ports, quarantine posts, immigration and other entry points into the domestic market will help to determine how substandard products are coming in and find ways of preventing them as part of a collaborative agenda of re-evaluating the value of the lives of millions of Nigerians and ensure that selfish interests of fake-products manufacturers and sellers are curbed.

The Chairman said: “What

we cannot export to other countries, we keep in our shops wide open. The concern you are raising today has actually come to us.

“Incidentally, I was in Calabar last week to attend the graduation ceremony of 69 Corruption Risk Assessors that have been trained for the first time in this part of the world. I think we are the first country in the world to come up with such programme in collaboration with the UNDP. Other countries have requested to have the template.

“They have been given certification by the UNDP and they have been trained in looking at risk in all areas. And the very first assignment they are going to carry out is a system study of selected Nigerian ports”, Ekpo said.

He explained that SON is one of those agencies the Commission will work with to see that any abuses in the import regime is identified and tackled, adding that, “you can’t take any fruit into Israel or other countries as I speak to you, yet everything can come into my country. This ugly trend cannot be allowed to continue”

he over 139 million telecoms subscribers on Etisalat Group in its MiddleEast, Africa and Asia regions of operations will enjoy low-cost access to social media and email via USSD messaging service.

This follows an agreement between the Etisalat Group, the leading operator in the Middle-East, Africa and Asia, and Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobile financial and value added solutions, which was signed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday.

The messaging platform will provide access to email, social

networking and messaging services, to basic mobile devices and feature phones at affordable prices.

This follows an agreement between the Etisalat Group, the leading operator in the Middle-East, Africa and Asia, and Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobile financial and value added solutions, which was signed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The Group-level partnership agreement was signed at Etisalat’s stand in Hall 2 2B110

by Etisalat Group’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Rainer Rathgeber and Ambar Sur, Global Market Unit Head for Mahindra Comviva.

Fidelity Bank to finance Africa’s largest can factory UDO ONYEKA

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idelity Bank Plc, has said that it is financing the multi-million naira aluminum can project in Aba, South East Nigeria. The factory which will be ready in a couple of month’s time will take off with an initial production capacity of 1.2 billion cans per annum. This clearly surpasses the Agbara Can Manufacturing Factory that took off with an initial production capacity of 600 million cans per year, thus making the new plant the largest aluminum can factory in Africa.

Managing Director and Chief Executive, Fidelity Bank Plc, Reginald Ihejiahi who made the disclosure explained that the financing options adopted by the bank were largely driven by its commitment and faith in the development of the Nigerian economy. “We are a bank operating in an emerging market and we believe that the industrial sector remains the heart of banking in

such markets.”

Ihejiahi, whose bank also financed the Agbara Can Manufacturing factory that was constructed by GZ Industries further explained that as an institution in business purely for commercial reasons, the bank is mandated to report to its shareholders. This implies that the bank should have steady streams of income at the end of the year, and therefore, should carefully select the projects it would sponsor at any given time as part of its commitment to the development of the economy. He added that Fidelity Bank was achieving this by putting together capital, business advisory and personnel to drive the process.

“When we opened Agbara Can manufacturing factory constructed by GZ Industries and which was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, it started with 600million cans per annum, but the second phase of its development took its production to 900million cans and later to 1.2billion.

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Crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism over soon, says Navy chief MESHACK IDEHEN

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tealing of Nigeria’s crude in the oil producing states and the vandilisation of petroleum pipelines criss crossing the country with the aim of siphoning petroleum products will soon become a thing of the past.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral John Dele Ezeoba, stated this in Uyo when visiting service chiefs of the navy and army leadership was hosted to a gala nite organised by the Akwa Ibom State government.

The Naval chief said the operational modalities that have been put in place by the navy and sister security agencies will provide long lasting and sustainable solution to grappling with the challenge.

He said petroleum pipeline vandals and stealers of crude oil will soon be totally out of business, adding whatever initiatives developed by the criminals that the force have the capacity to effectively deal with the problem.

According to him, revenues from oil and gas will only continue to rise, because with the criminals put out of business, production capacity will be increased, while funds used for repairing pipelines and doing damage control will be channeled to other areas of development.

Ezeoba explained that with the Forward Operating Base of the Nigeria Navy at Ikot Abasi functioning through the support received from the state government, that criminal theft of crude oil and similar acts, particularly in the Gulf

of Guinea will be arrested.

Describing the stealing and selling of the nation’s maritime related assets including oil and gas as inimical to the immediate and long term development of the country, the navy chief also called for the support of all stakeholders in order to stem the tide.

On his part, the President of Global Peace Movement International,Dr Mike Uyi,said it was not only the economy of Nigeria that is being affected by the activities of criminals that are domiciled in the nation,s oil and gas sector.

Uyi said the psyche and image of all Nigerian including those in the Diaspora was also being affected, stressing government must improve efforts aimed at securing the nation,s economic assets.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Unity Bank commences rural banking A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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he Executive Director, North West Region, Unity Bank Plc, Alhaji Ismaila Galadanchi, has said that despite insecurity in the North, the bank would commence rural banking to curtail security challenges.

Galadanchi also said the bank had injected not less than N15bn in agricultural sector adding that efforts to provide the necessary services to customers would remain its top priority.

Briefing journalists at the ongoing 34th Kaduna International Trade Fair, Galadanchi stressed that if the bank did not participate in the fair, it would have failed in

Sterling Bank launches new customer friendly product

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n line with the bank’s objective of making its services available to everyone in the country irrespective of socioeconomic status and in conformity with the new Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations set out by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Sterling Bank has announced its Kia Kia Account for all to enjoy.

Kia Kia Account according to a statement from the bank, gives people in the low income bracket such as artisans and other unbanked people in the country easy and instant access to top class banking services as offered by Sterling Bank.

The account is distinguished by the immense ease and convenience associated with its opening process as it can be opened L-R: Second winner of N1590,000 (equivalent of $10, 000) Mrs. Olubunmi Ajayi and General Manager, DStv, on the spot even without the cusMr. Mayo Okunola, at the prize presentation in the ongoing “DStv Rewards” scheme in Lagos yesterday. tomer being physically present at the branch with little or no

Galaxy Backbone committed to FG’ e-government drive – CEO KUNLE A ZEEZ

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alaxy Backbone Plc, the integrated information communication technology company for federal government, its ministries and agencies, has reiterated its determination to support the Federal Government in bridging the gap between government and the citizens of Nigeria, through e-government.

Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, made the pledge at the opening of the Social Media Week held at the e-Learning Centre, Lagos.

He informed the audience that its 1-Gov.net platform facilitates improved engagement between the federal government, its agencies and the people of

the country.

Speaking on the role of the Federal Government in the digital age, Ilukwe, who was represented in the panel discussion

by Head of Marketing, Galaxy Backbone, Amara Nwankpa, informed that 1-Gov.net has about 4,000 nodes that provide connectivity to over 350 government’s ministries, departments and agencies.

“A key objective of 1-Gov.net is to facilitate efficient and effective service delivery to the citizens of the country. From prompt processing of travelers at the Immigrations’ desk or issuance of drivers’ licenses, to prompt payment of workers’ salaries, to efficient conduct of the Federal Executive Council deliberations, Galaxy Backbone is enhancing e-government and

good governance in Nigeria,” Illukwe said He said Galaxy Backbone was also supporting the Petroleum Equalisation Fund to track the movement of petroleum products from the various depots in the country, facilitating accountability in ensuring the uniform pricing of these products across the nation.

He stated that, current initiatives on the 1-Gov.net platform most relevant to the social media discussions were the Government Contact Center (GCC) and the National Single Window Portal (SWP), which will provide electronic channels for citizens and other stakeholders to access information and services being provided by the various ministries, departments and agencies.”

its duty as a financial house that needed to encourage investors to set up genuine business in the country.

He however stressed that with the the looming insecurity, particularly in the urban areas, the bank was making frantic effort to expand its rural base in order to curtail security challenges to some extent.

Galadanchi further said the bank presence was to support genuine entrepreneurs at the fair saying that Nigeria is still safe for both international and local investors.

Galadanchi however said it has facilitated the spread of mechanised farming in theNorthern part of Nigeria through loans.

KYC documentation required.

The KYC requirement for the lower end of the population has always been a challenge as experienced with opening an account. The account affords the customers the opportunity to open an account without hassles, which implies that prospective customers can complete their savings account opening process and start running the account instantly by filling a simple form onsite at branches or online.

Customers can open a Sterling Kia Kia Account with zero balance and there is no minimum balance requirement on the account once it starts to operate.

As with most savings accounts, only the account holder can make withdrawals on the account; but deposits by third parties are allowed.

2013 Cartier Women’s Initiative Award celebrates excellence STANLEY IHEDIGBO

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uxury goods giant Cartier in partnership with Women’s Forum said it is seeking exceptional entrepreneurs for 2013 Cartier Women’ Initiative Award.

According to the statement, the Women’s Initiative Award is a business plan competition aimed at supporting creative, financially sustainable and responsible women-led companies, in all countries and industries.

The entrepreneurs are invited to submit a short business plan using the online application form and the projects must be between one and three years old.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards are looking for committed female entrepreneurs heading initiatives with the potential to grow significantly in the years to come.

The award was created in 2006 by Cartier in partnership with the Women’s Forum, INSEAD business school and McKinsey & Co. The award will be given this year to six laureates in the following categories: AsiaPacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, North America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Also the six Laureates nominated for the awards will receive one year of coaching, $20, 000 in funding, media visibility and networking opportunities.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Info Tech

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Drumming support for indigenous IT firms Patronage of locally-assembled computer brands by government, businesses and individuals in Nigeria has been identified as a critical path towards creating a knowledge-based economy and promoting local content in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology industry.

KUNLE AZEEZ reports.

Seriki

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ne segment of the Information and Communication Technology sector that has suffered stunted growth has been the indigenous computer manufacturing sub-sector.

The development has been blamed partly on the insensitivity of government to support the players in the hardware manufacturing sector such as Omatek, Zinox and a host of other computer manufacturers in the country in the area of favourable policy formulation.

Specifically, stakeholders have, over the years, pointed accusing finger at the government for not coming up with favourable policies that give indigenous players preferential treatment compared with their foreign brands.

Owners of foreign brands of computers imported into the country are believed to have enjoyed good operating condition in their respective countries and are therefore, well positioned to sell at relatively competitive prices.

Industry analysts have argued that Nigerian computer firms have always found it hard to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts due to high cost of production incurred occasioned by general poor state of infrastructure in the country, the unfriendly monetary policy where interest rate is at double-digit rate, among others.

Also, the uncontrollable penchant for Nigerians to run after foreign brands of computer such HP, Dell, IBM, Acer and so on, neglecting the locally-developed brands based on the perception that indigenous PC brands are inferior to foreign ones, is another challenge to the patronage of Nigerian brands of computers.

However, stakeholders, both from private and public sectors, who paid official visits to the newly –built ultra-modern factory of Omatek Computers located at Ikeja area of Lagos in the past two weeks, have called on government, private entities and individuals to patronise locally-manufactured computers, saying this move holds the key to transforming Nigeria from being a consumer of IT status to being a producer and exporter of ICT products.

Lamenting the state of indigenous operators recently, the Minister of Com-

Ekeh

Johnson

WE NEED TO PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH AS A COUNTRY. IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BE TALKING OF LOCAL CONTENTS AND LOCAL PATRONAGE, WITHOUT PATRONISING THE PRODUCTS ITSELF munication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said the poor patronage and utilisation of locally-assembled computers is a threat to the nation’s economy and national security.

She reckoned that as at mid-2011, only about 5, 000 computers had been produced in Nigeria by all the local computer firms combined, Johnson stressed the need for Nigeria to change the trend, assuring that the government would also look into the issue of tax waiver for the players in the subsector to boost their competitiveness.

Speaking during his visit to the Omatek factory, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, underscored the essential role patronage of indigenous computer brands can play in engendering economic development in Nigeria.

Angaye said he was impressed with the state-of-the-art facility put in place by Omatek, saying that NITDA would partner will Omatek in areas deemed appropriate to support its continual growth.

He noted that while an existing directive by the government, asking the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to patronage locally-assembled computers, was yet to be followed to the letter, NITDA will not rest on its oars to ensure that there is total compliance to such as progressive directive.

“From our own end, as the ICT policy formulation and implementation of the Federal Government, we would see how we can use some of the technologies being developed by Omatek, particularly the Omatek PCs and its solar power products, the newest in its products, to run most of our ICTrelated projects across the country,” he said.

He said NITDA will not stop at patronising Omatek; it will go a step further to fa-

cilitate necessary collaborations between Omatek and countries within the sub-Sahara, stressing that the products being produced by Omatek are “of high quality and uniquely competitive with other foreign brands.”

Angaye pointed out that the only challenge facing indigenous players is poor patronage from the Nigerian computer users, stressing that Nigeria needed to adopt model adopted by countries such as India, South Korea, United States, China and others, where patronage of their locally-assembled IT products are being consumed by them to prepare them for exports.

According to him, “If you go to countries such as Malaysia, which I have visited; the South Korea, China and others, companies leading ICT development there were once smaller companies but got their country’s patronage before graduating to export stage.

So, we need to change our perception towards Made-in-Nigeria products.”

In the same vein, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, during his visit to Omatek factory on Monday, said the Federal Government will work with the nation’s leading indigenous computer manufacturer, Omatek and other local computer firms to make available made-in-Nigeria computers to educational institutions across the country.

The partnership, the minister, said was in line with the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan and the Local Patronage Initiative of the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

“We will be able to achieve the muchneeded linkage between our abundant natural resources and the application of appropriate technology and production processes through the application of ICT in our Schools and Industries. We are, therefore, designing a strategy for a workable part-

nership between government, Omatek and the banks to make available your Made-inNigeria computers to all our schools and colleges.”

While acknowledging the giant strides so far made by Omatek, especially in pioneering local production of computers and other solar lighting equipment, the minister assured local manufacturers of the Federal Government’s support and commitment towards providing an enabling environment for their businesses to flourish.

“I am delighted that this ongoing success story is being championed by a woman of high entrepreneurial repute in the person of Engr. (Mrs.) Florence Seriki. Partnering with government to actualise the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan is indeed a noble initiative.”

In the opinion of the Group managing Director of Teledom International Limited, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, patronage of local computers should be championed by the government.

He said: “We need to practice what we preach as a government. It is not enough for the government to be talking of local contents and local patronage, without patronising the products itself. We should focus on local content- specific tenders when it comes to public procurement of ICT products by the government and its various agencies.”

In her comments, the Managing Director of Omatek, Mrs. Florence Seriki, highlighted poor patronage and difficulty in accessing fund at single-digit interest rate as challenges facing local computer manufacturers in the country.

She, however, disclosed the determination of the company to churn out latest technological innovations that are eco-friendly and are of quality standards with foreign computer brands.

Recently, the Chairman of Zinox, Mr. Leo tan Ekeh, had noted that what the indigenous computer firms needed from the government was not a bailout, “but good policies that encourage government to create digital activities, leading to the patronage of locally-assembled computers.”

Meanwhile, speaking on the new solar technology being manufactured by Omatek, Seriki said the products were low-cost, adding that Omatek Engineering Services Limited, a subsidiary of Omatek Ventures Plc, has introduced an alternative power solution into the market.

According to her, “These products would be most useful for homes and offices in cushioning the effect of power outages frequently experienced in the country and the products can help reduce energy consumption by 85 per cent.

“We have solar hybrid alternative power solutions with the use of LED bulbs together with street lights and alternative power solution using Solar and LED technology.

Our solutions combine the benefits of the solar system and those of the LED technology to proffer solutions that reduce energy consumption considerably while saving costs by 60-85 per cent whilst providing 24hour lighting solution.

“The use of our solar/LED solution can result in significant operational and maintenance cost savings for schools, public offices, hospitals, hotels, street lighting implementation, rural electrification and rural water system,” she said.

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NCC intensifies efforts to bridge digital divide KUNLE A ZEEZ

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he Nigerian Communication Commission has deepened efforts at bridging the digital divide in Nigeria by extending its Digital Awareness Programme (DAP) to many educational institutions across the country.

Speaking during the commissioning of DAP at Erijiyan Government High School in Ekiti State, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said more than 222 higher institutions across the nation have so far benefitted from DAP while another programme called Wireless Cloud has yet another beneficiary 93 higher institutions of learning.

Juwah, who was represented by an Executive Commissioner of the NCC, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, said DAP was part of the major objectives of the commission to achieve universal access for ICT. “Having conquered the voice

telephony, the area of data has become our major focus at the NCC. DAP, and the related programmes, are some of the ways that the Commission has strived to key the Nigerian youth into accelerated universal access.

By making Internet services available to the younger generation, we are helping to build the bridge to connect this generation to the next,” he said.

Juwah said the components of DAP include an air-conditioned computer lab in a property renovated by the Commission, and equipped with 20 desktop computers, branded computer tables and chairs, a server, a VSAT connection with a one year Internet bandwidth supply, and a 16.5KVA Generator.

According to him, DAP and related programmes in schools by the commission are designed to equip the students, and the lecturers, with the resources to improve on their various skills and endeavours using the latest technologies.

“With the availability of these resources, teachers and lecturers have the opportunity to research and equip themselves for their jobs,” he said.

DAP and another version of the scheme tagged: Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions, ADAPTI, is a programme of the NCC, were it equips secondary and tertiary institutions across the country with ICT facilities to improve their ICT skills and access to the Internet by providing computers and other infrastructures as well as establishing a link to the Internet to the respective institutions.

The House of Representatives has commended the NCC on the implementation speed of the Digital Awareness Programmes, and the Emergency Communications Centre projects across the country, hailing both as major citizen empowerment programmes whose impact will be felt across the nation and beyond.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tech Box BlackBerry Z10:

Latest Blackberry device enters Nigeria

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he new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone, powered

by BlackBerry 10, designed in black and white, is currently being leveraged for GSM operators including Etisalat, Glo, Airtel and MTN Nigeria, to offer various services to their existing and new subscribers.

The devices is also going to be available at authorized retail outlets from distributors such as EMS and Brightstar with effect from next week, a statement from Blackberry said during the week.

The new all-touch BlackBerry Z10 is the first smartphone to launch with the redesigned, re-engineered, and re-invented BlackBerry 10 platfor m, giving customers a powerful and unique new mobile computing experience.

The BlackBerry Z10 smartphone is the fastest and most advanced BlackBerry smartphone yet, and offers a smarter experience that continuously adapts to a customer’s needs. It features a 1.5 GHz dual core processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and an expandable memory card slot that sup-

ports up to 64GB of additional storage.

The smartphone also includes the latest enhancements in high density pixel and screen technology to display clear, sharp, and incredibly vivid images. It features a micro HDMI out port for presentations, and advanced sensors such NFC (near field communications) to support mobile payments and the exchange of information with a tap of the smartphone.

Nokia showcases high-end innovations at MWC

N L-R: General Manager, Home Appliance Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Hyunwoo Jung; Marketing Manager, Mobile Communications, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mrs. Bukola Arabome; Product Manager, Mobile Communications, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. JS Yoo, at the raffle draw for the LG Mobile Christmas Bonanza in Lagos recently.

BCX rolls out cloud technology in Nigeria KUNLE A ZEEZ

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usiness Connexion (BCX), Africa’s leading provider of data centre and cloud computing services, has introduced its cloud-based technology to reduce operating cost for the Nigerian businesses.

Through its investment in Lagos-based efficient and secure cloud computing infrastructures, BCX said it would offer reduced operating costs, increased flexibility and rapid provisioning times for both businesses and the government.

BCX is working in close cooperation with approved local resellers to develop regular release of applications, which are high on the priority list of the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises.

BCX’z first data centre, based in Ikeja, Lagos will initially offer IT infrastructures-as-a Service, Message-as-a-Service, SharePoint-as-aService and Lync-as-a-Service. The company also offers private cloud to enterprises and government.

Speaking at the official launch of the cloud-based services recently, Chief Executive Officer, Business Connexion, Mr. Benjamin Mophatlane, said the rationale behind using a locally-based data centre facility is to ensure customer data is kept in-country, bandwidth cost is kept to a minimum, application s are not impacted by network latency and a Nigerianbased service for Nigerians.

He said the company’s plan was to ensure that it provides Nigerian businesses, irrespective of their sizes; with secure, dependable could services.

“We are really excited to launch these offerings in Nigeria, because it is the realisation of our continued growth and development strategy for Africa.

“Nigeria’s economy has shown robust growth over the past decade and we have noted that key drivers of growth lie squarely in the telecommunications, construction, tourism, manufacturing, mining, agriculture and wholesale and retail trade, all areas in which our business provides ICT solutions,” he said.

He noted that BCX has partnered with two companies, Parallels and Rackspace, both worldwide leaders in hosting and cloud service enablement.

According to him, Parallels has delivered applications to more than 12 million SMEs worldwide, suing cloud services developed to simplify and quickly deliver applications to the SMEs.

okia announced plans to extend high-end innovations to more people in more markets at the 2013 edition of Mobile World Congress, which began in Bareclona on Monday.

Four new devices bring innovation to new price points, while Nokia’s HERE location suite becomes available for non-Nokia phones in the Windows Phone ecosystem.

Nokia also announced new developer partnerships that use Nokia expertise in imaging, location and entertainment to deliver exclusive application experiences.

Finally, Nokia and Microsoft are combining their strength in the enterprise sector to bring more business customers to Windows Phone.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia, Mr. Stephen Elop, said, the momentum behind Nokia was gathering pace. He said the launches today reflect our commitment to broadening our devices and services portfolio to meet the demands of people and businesses around the globe.

“By offering better experiences at a more affordable price we are reinventing the battle for affordable mobile devices, and Nokia has to the building blocks to win.”

The devices showcased at the conference include the Nokia Lumia 720 and Nokia Lumia 520, which expand Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 portfolio; and Nokia 105 and the Nokia 301, which add aspirataional Lumia experiences to mobile phones The Nokia Lumia 720 delivers a high end camera performance at a mid-range price point. A large f/1.9 aperture and exclusive Carl Zeiss optics are designed to deliver bright, clear pictures day and night, while the HD-quality, wideangle front-facing camera makes taking pictures with friends and video calling more enjoyable.

The sleek and stylish smartphone comes with the latest highend Nokia Lumia experiences, including Nokia Music, the HERE location suite, and the option to add wireless charging with a snapon wireless charging cover.

The Nokia Lumia 720 comes in five colors, with an estimated starting price of EUR 249 before taxes and subsidies. Rollout is planned to start in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore in Q1 2013, before continuing into broader markets in Q2, including China as well as key markets in Europe, Asia, Africa and India.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, February 28, 2013

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hile advertising and public relations are gradually getting their budget sliced as a result of fast-changing marketing operating environment in Nigeria, consumer taste and experience in favour of consumer engagement, marketing directors of leading companies appear to have favoured leveraging on social media, smart phones, mobile internet and cashless system, online shopping, fashion and music as new platform to engage consumers and perhaps enhance return on investment.

According to experts at Wikipedia, consumer engagement marketing, sometimes called, “experiential marketing,” “event marketing”, “live marketing” or “participation marketing,” is a marketing strategy that directly engages consumers and invites and encourages consumers to participate in the evolution of a brand. The strategy, rather than look at consumers as passive receivers of messages, engagement marketers believe that consumers should be actively involved in the production and co-creation of marketing programmes, developing a relationship with the brand.

Meanwhile, at the just concluded colloquium on ‘Engaging the Nigerian Consumer: The next big thing’, organised by Proximity Communications, a below-the-line agency, in conjunction with Lagos Business School, scores of Nigeria’s leading marketing directors have undermine the need to directly keep consumers interact with brand through these interective media.

The Director of Brands and Communication, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enitan Denloye, said the opportunities offered by social media, smart phones, mobile internet and cashless system, online shopping, fashion, music and, food and drinks as new ways of building affinity with consumers cannot be underestimated.

As Etisalat Nigeria brand builder, Denloye said using the social media “customers would become more discerning and they would be spoilt for choice and when this happens, they would buy less of a particular product adding that it would means that market place, especially the supply side will continue to grow exponentially as more international players will grow local presence.”

He explained further that social media will facilitate consumer recommendations and customer experience will become even more important. Under this situation, he said organisations needed innovative thinking to differentiate and attract customers. While buttressing with a quotes by Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, the need for brand managers to innovative in brand building, he said, “You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they will want something new.”

Also, the Marketing Director of Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Austin Ufomba, said despite that Nigerian economy is projected to remain strong with a statistical report of 120 million young populations of under 30 years, high urbanisation and growing middle class, organisations still need to “find the consumers, engage in experiential and conversational marketing with Real–Time Marketing via Digital platforms.”

He said such move by marketing managers and brand custodians demands clear in-

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Brands & Marketing

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Social media as next big thing In a world where brands are constantly fighting for attention, scores of Nigerian leading marketing executives have affirmed the importance of engaging consumers through social media as the next big thing in brand success, but does the audience measurement offered via the platform increase return on investment? ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI searches for answers.

THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY SOCIAL MEDIA, SMART PHONES, MOBILE INTERNET AND CASHLESS SYSTEM, ONLINE SHOPPING, FASHION, MUSIC, FOOD AND DRINKS AS NEW WAYS OF BUILDING AFFINITY WITH CONSUMERS CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED sight and vision, stepping into new boundaries, develop transformation ideas and execute strategies brilliantly.

While many brand managers crave for innovative ways to engage consumers with their brands through social media and other experiential marketing, the Commercial Director, Promasidor, Mr. Kachi Onubogu, described consumer as a complex entity.

“The next generation will not be defined by what defined last generation,” he said adding that for brands to engage the consumer and gain his loyalty, the brand must understand the nature of the consumer and his feelings and emotions which include feelings of being loved, appreciated, protected, understand and meeting his needs.

The Chief Executive Officer of Proximity Communication, Mr. Rotimi Olaniyan, however, said consumer engagement is about falling in love with the brand. According to him, consumers who love the brand buy the brand and those who buy the brand regularly maximize the life time value of the consumer base. The value of a consumer base or the brand’s equity has a direct positive correlation to the value of the firm.

But while the Nigerian marketing top echelon agrees that engaging the consumers via the social media is the next big thing, a new report issued in January by Nielsen and Vizu, a research company owned by Nielsen, shows that brands think they might be turning a corner, specifically when it comes to paying for their use of social media. The report examined the opinions about social media marketing among more than 500 digital media professionals — including brand marketers, media agencies and advertisers — from September to October 2012.

The study found that 89 percent of advertisers continued to use free social media products. Three quarters of the companies surveyed said they were also spending more for social media content, which could include paying bloggers to write posts about a product or using third-party technology to push videos on to the Web in the hope that they become viral.

Seventy percent of the advertisers surveyed said they dedicated up to 10 percent of their budget to paid social media advertising, while 13 percent dedicated more than 21 percent of their budget. Those

numbers are expected to increase in 2013.

The results come as companies like Twitter and Facebook are making more diverse advertising options available to brands. Last year, Twitter reportedly announced a number of advertising and media initiatives, including a survey product that enables marketers to ask Twitter users a handful of multiple-choice questions.

Facebook began testing a new advertising mechanism using a technology called realtime bidding, which allows advertisers to place bids on ad space at specific times.

“Advertisers are starting to look at social media as an integrated part of their advertising strategy,” said the senior vice president of product leadership for advertising effectiveness at Nielsen, Jeff Smith.

Still, companies retained some skepticism about social media strategy as consumer engagement platform, the survey showed. While companies may expect to spend more to market their brands, they also want to be able to quantify the results of their campaigns. A third of the advertisers surveyed said they were unsure about the effectiveness of social media. The same percentage said they were unsure how to measure the return on their investment.

According to the report review in The New York Times’ by Tanzina Vega, the majority of advertisers surveyed, 42 percent, said they wanted to measure their online campaigns using the same tools they use for offline campaigns, like sales generated and gross ratings points, while adding more measurement tools specific to digital campaigns, including “likes” and clickthroughs.

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APCON releases ad vetting procedure STORIES: ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

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he Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has warned that all advertisement materials should be duly signed by a registered member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

In a recent release to National Mirror, APCON said the warning is the agency move to ensure stricter professionalism within the Advertising industry and practice.

According to the agency, it has become necessary to consider the current operating rules and environment with the view to ensuring that Advertising,

like other recognized professions is well regulated to protect the integrity of the practice and ensure that current regulations were reviewed in line with local interest and global standards.

“Therefore in pursuance of reforming the advertising practice in Nigeria, it has become imperative to amend the vetting and approval procedures of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP),” the release stated.

APCON said further that “the Regulatory, Monitoring and Enforcement Directorate, a body under the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) in the process of receiving and processing applications, would like to advise that all materials should be duly signed by a registered member

of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).”

The agency asked registered practitioners are expected to sign APCON vetting forms while the letter of authority attached to the application should also be signed by a registered practitioner or endorsed by the agency vetting the ad materials for advertisers.

APCON, however, warned practitioners further that any practitioner signing or endorsing the application forms should be up to date with payment of their practice fees adding that the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) would not entertain any application forms not in compliance with the obligations from the 1st of May 2013.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Airtel unveils Blackberry Z10

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irtel Nigeria has become the first operator in the country to launch the long awaited latest Blackberry Z10 smart phone that has enhanced features designed to work in long time evolution.

According to a release made available to National Mirror, Airtel unveiled the BBZ10 phone at the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938 at a dinner for the outgoing Chairman, Mr. Richard Giwa-Osagie, on Sunday, February 24, 2013.

Dignitaries from various fields witnessed the Blackberry Z10 unveil by Airtel. They included Dr Aderemi Desalu, Commissioner for Sports, who represented Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, as well as key officers of Ikoyi Club 1938.

The Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Olu Akanmu, said the unveil was in

line with Airtel Nigeria’s drive for innovation and driving positive changes in Nigerian Telecoms industry.

He said, “The launch of Blackberry Z10 on the Airtel Network is significant as customers would take advantage of its largest 3.75G network and the most robust data network in the country”.

He further stated that the new Blackberry Z10 is positioned as a premium handheld device with the capacity to hold the interest of high networth individuals, fashionable youths, and selfactualized individuals in all spheres of life.

Airtel presented a gift of the Blackberry Z10 to the outgoing chairman while a guest, Mr Segun Adebayo also won a BBZ10 in a raffle draw held at the event. Other guests took home various other prizes.

Indomie rewards sub-distributors with trade promo

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L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Group, Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, and Chief Regional Officer-Africa, Etisalat Group, Essa Al Haddad, at the Etisalat Capital Markets Day event held at the Jumeriah Hotel, Abu Dhabi recently.

AAAN, MIPAN presidents to speak at Cannes Lions 2013

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he Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), president and COO 141 Worldwide, Mrs. Bunmi Oke and the MIPAN president and Managing Director MediaReach OMD, Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya are among the industry icons expected to speak on “Grooming the Next Generation of Industry Leaders” at the occasion of the forthcoming Cannes Lions 2013 Nigeria Dinner. They will both The organisers of the event and representatives of Cannes Lions in Nigeria, CHINI Produc-

tions have also announced the jury members for 2013 national Young Lions Media Competition.

The jury will be led by the Chief Operating Officer of Media Integra, Mr Jayne Okoronkwo as president while Dozie Okafor of PHD, Eki Adzufeh of MindShare, Etim Ekanem of Universal McCann and Omomeda Ashofor of Capital Media are members.

The jury, according to a release, is expected to deploy their wealth of knowledge towards selecting the team of choice to represent Nigeria in the Young Lions Media Competition during the Cannes Lions Inter-

national Festival of Creativity.

“It is noteworthy that one of the jury members Dozie Okafor was in the very first team to represent Nigeria in that category of competition in 2009. The Young Lions Media Competition challenges the brightest professional minds to demonstrate their strategic thinking and innovative approaches to solving an important marketing challenge to drive critical business success. It is open to teams of two young professionals of up to 28 years working as strategists, media planners or media buyers,” the Cannes representation said.

Guinness provides Delta community potable water

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uinness Nigeria Plc has recorded another milestone in its quest to enrich the lives of citizens within its host communities as it once again launched a Water of Life Project in Oza Nogogo Community in Agbor, Delta State.

The project is one in a series of similar projects previously launched in rural areas across the nation.

During the commissioning of the project, the Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria

Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu said, “We have been operating in Nigeria for over 40 years and as much as we run the business to deliver profit to our shareholders, we strongly believe that it is also our responsibility to give back to the communities that have opened their arms to us in friendship and allowed us to do business”.

Adetu spoke about the Water of Life Project as one of the ways through which Guinness Nigeria Plc seeks to give back

to the society noting that water is an essential element in our daily lives and its importance cannot be overstated. He said that according to a United Nation’s survey done across developing countries, about 1.6million people worldwide are negatively affected due to a lack of hygienic water supply.

He thanked the traditional leaders of the community and the state government for their support in making the project a reality.

n demonstration of its appreciation of the loyalty of sub-distributors across the country, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie instant noodles has commenced its trade promo rewarding several trade partners with over 250 prizes worth several millions of naira.

The Trade Promo would be held in 12 key cities across the country including; Port Harcourt, Aba, Onitsha, Enugu, Warri, Uyo, Calabar, Owerri, Abuja, Minna, Ibadan and Benin. The First draw would be held on the 27th of February, 2013 in Uyo and Warri followed by Onitsha, Enugu and Calabar on Thursday, February 28 while draws in Aba, Port-Harcourt and Owerri will hold on the 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.

Speaking on the initiative, the

Public Relations and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, declared that the Sub-Distributors Trade Promo is the noodles giants little way of showing appreciation to its partners who have continuously stood by the company over the years and have contributed immensely to its success.

Ashiwaju noted that the subdistributors have not only demonstrated their commitment to the achievement of the company’s objectives but have also supported its vision of becoming the number one noodles brand in the country. “It is therefore deserving of them to be rewarded and encouraged for offering the invaluable support they have given the business over the past years”, Ashiwaju added

LG upset competition with XBoom CM9730

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G Electronics, Nigeria’s leading brand in consumer electronics has launched into the Nigerian market the LG XBOOM CM 9730 music machine for home entertainment.

The home appliance device is an all-new music machine which is innovatively fitted with hi-tech console for sizzling DJ skills making it the first of its kind in the Nigeria electronics market.

The Digital Marketing Manager, Home Entertainment Division, LG Electronics, Mr. J S Lee said LG in its quest to deliver the best of products and services to meet the needs

of customers has decided to introduce the LG XBOOM CM 9730, a music machine innovatively fitted with hi-tech console for sizzling DJ skills making it the first of its kind in Nigeria.

Also, the Managing Director of Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr Mohamed Fouani, disclosed that: ‘Putting you our customers in mind, LG Electronics, has decided to introduce one of the latest products from the stable of LG Electronics, Home Entertainment division, LG X BOOM CM 9730, into the Nigerian electronics market for your maximum enjoyment’.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Consumer’s council votes Coca-Cola best in Product Excellence STORIES: ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

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everage giant, Coca-Cola Nigeria, beat 112 other imported and locally manufactured non-alcoholic beverages in Nigeria, to grab the Product Excellence Award at the Nigerian Consumer Awards (NiCA), held recently in Abuja.

NiCA is an initiative of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), which serves to recognise and encourage organisations whose products and services have enhanced consumer welfare.

Meanwhile, the Product Excellence Awards upholds Coca-Cola as the non-alcoholic beverage brand with the highest standards of product quality and safety in Nigeria.

The award is driven entirely

by consumer votes and is verified through a team of stakeholders including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC); Nigerian Media; Organised Private Sector; Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS).

The Director General of the CPC, Mrs Ify Umenyi, said the initiative would spur organisations to perform better and subsequently lead to healthy rivalry among market players. “The award recognises and honours corporate bodies that have offered products and services adjudged by the consuming public as embodying the highest standards,” she said.

Also speaking at the award presentation, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun

Aganga, urged all brand custodians, service providers and manufacturers operating in the country to ensure excellent products and service delivery for Nigerian consumers. Aganga, who was represented at the ceremony by the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom, said: “Consumers are very savvy, and with the institution of these awards, it is a statement that the wool can no longer be pulled over the eyes of consumers.”

Receiving the awards on behalf of Coca-Cola Nigeria, the Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Mr Peter Muriuki, said: “This award is recognition by stakeholders that our efforts designed to ensure quality assurance and product excellence are observed and appreciated.

L-R: Emirates Senior Divisional Vice President, Cargo, Mr. Ram Menen, (left), receiving the Global Cargo Airline of the Year award given to the airline, by The STAT Trade Times, from the Global Head of Cargo, IATA, Mr. Des Vertannes, recently.

Noah’s Ark wins creative industry award

N

igeria’s fastest growing and leading new generation creative Advertising Agency,Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, has once again added another laurel to its credentials by emerging the winner of the 2012 Creative Industries Awards organized by the Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (CEAN) in collaboration with the British Council.

Noah’s Ark Communication Limited edged other three shortlisted creative firms which includes; Prima Garnet, Design Union, and Theo Lawson to emerge winner of the Creative Services category of the 2012 Creative Industries Award.

Speaking at the award event which was held recently at the British Council office, Lagos, the Secretary General of the

Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (CEAN), Mrs. Oluwayemisi Mafe disclosed that the Creative Industries Award was instituted by the association in partnership with the British Council to reward Initiative, Talent, Creativity and Entrepreneurship.

Mafe noted that shortlisting for the different categories for the 2012 Creative Industries Award was a very tall order as the creative industry witness tremendous growth with many entrepreneurs making impact in the different fields of the creative industry.

Receiving the award, the Managing Director, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Mr. Lanre Adisa described that award as another very significant milestone in the history of the Agency, He added that the award will

further spur the Agency to better performance in terms of its creative output and value to the brands in its custody.

Adisa thanked the Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (CEAN) for the honours bestowed on the Agency. He also commended the various strides of the association to develop the creative industries by encouraging entrepreneurship through its activities in partnership with the British Council.

Other winners of the awards include; Ayo Makun (AY) for comedy category, Book Craft (Publishing category ) Banky W’s EME records (Music Category), Kelechi Amadi Obi ( Visual Art Category ),Film House (Film category), Mai Atafo (Fashion), Jumia.com.ng (New Media), DJ Sose (Performing Arts).

43

ad VA NT AG E icon

Denloye

E

nitan Denloye, Director, Brands and Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, is a brand strategist with power to turn a fourthrated brand to big threat to leading brands.

It was, however, not surprising when Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Steven Evans of Etisalat Nigeria and the board of the telecoms giant appointed him as Etisalat’’s Brands and Communication Director on March 1, 2011, to drive the Etisalat brand into competition with market leaders in the telecom sector and to also articulate the strategic direction and implementation of the Etisalat brand in Nigeria.

With an MBA from the prestigious Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Illinois, U.S.A, Denloye has garnered extensive experience at home and abroad

in Sales, Brand Management, Marketing Communications and Management Consultancy, having worked at Procter & Gamble, the Coca-Cola Company, McKinsey & Co, and British American Tobacco (BAT), South Africa.

This, perhaps made Evans said that as a major player in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, Etisalat is delighted to have Denloye bring his wealth of experience on-board the Etisalat team even as it pursues its resolve to provide excellent services to its ever-growing subscribers. “ “It is a delight to have Enitan on-board and we are confident that his wealth of experience will greatly impart on our brand promise of providing excellent service delivery to our customers.”

DHL Express increases service point in Sub-Saharan Africa to 1,000

D

HL Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, has expanded its network of DHL Service Points in Sub-Saharan Africa from the initial 300 to over 1000.

According to the courier giant, the move is an aggressive expansion into the market which is aimed at strengthening further the company’s leading position in Africa and to offer local consumers and small businesses an efficient, convenient way of shipping overseas.

The logistics and express company, which is present in 52 Sub-Saharan Africa markets, has been looking to improve access for cash and account customers, creating enhanced accessibility for customers and increasing connec-

tivity between African markets and the over 220 countries that DHL currently serves worldwide.

“In our recent 2012 Global Connectedness Index, which measures the state of globalization around the world, SubSaharan Africa remained the globe’s least connected continent,” comments Charles Brewer, Managing Director for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa. “However, it did average the largest increase from 2010 to 2011 and boasted the top five ‘gainers’ - Mozambique, Togo, Ghana, Guinea and Zambia.

This tells us that there is still major opportunity to improve connectivity across the continent, and access to logistics services and international markets are both key to this improvement.”

44

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, February 28, 2013

UPDC REIT targets N30.3bn net assets in 2013 JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he Managing Director of UACN Property Development Company Plc, Mr Hakeem Ogunniran has said that the Real Estate Investment Trust’s net assets will hit N30.26bn in the current financial year.

Ogundiran, who presented “Facts behind the figures” of raising N30bn by way of Initial Public Offer at the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, forecast that REITS’s investment in properties will hit N23.4bn in 2013.

According to him, with a housing deficit of about 15 million units, dearth of shopping malls and trading centres, the real estate sec-

tor offers great potentials for investors.

Currently, he said, the sector is accounting for less than 2.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, as the International Finance Corporation recently put the estimated size of the housing deficit in the country to about $600bn.

He said, “As a key player in the sector, one question that is often posed to us is why the growth rate of the sector is uneviably low, given the robust opportunities.

“We take the view that the sector faces a myriad of legal constrains which often inhibit and it may indeed discourage investment in the sector.”

He pointed out that land titling is perhaps the great-

est problem faced by the players in the sector, saying that it is hardly believable that the current legal framework does not guarantee title to land at any time in the transaction chain.

The Chairman of the UPDC, Mr. Larry Ettah, said the offer was timely and expressed confidence that the REIT would be fully embraced by both local and foreign investors.

He said funds raised from the IPO would be used to consolidate on the company’s activities and unlock more value-generating business for the company in the next few years.

Ettah said, “We believe that this is the right time to come into the market; of course, things have

been looking up in the market and it is wise for us to come in at this time.

The company is looking at some huge projects at this time, and we will use these funds to actualise the projects.

“We have projects in Abuja, Lagos, and all these are existing assets. Of course, investors know that UPDC is a company that has been around for a long time; so, we are confident that they will subscribe to the offer.

“Also, it is important to note that this offer presents an opportunity for investors, who are looking to diversify their portfolio from the normal bonds and equities on the NSE; so, we are sure of high level of patronage.”

Capital Oil posts 98.2m loss, as equities turn green JOHNSON OKANLAWON

C

apital Oil Plc has declared a profit after tax of N98.16m for the financial year ended December 31, 2011, a decline of 69.8 per cent when compared to N324.8m recorded in the same period of 2010.

The company’s turnover rose by 794 per cent, from N135.5m in 2010 to N1.29bn in 2011, while gross profit stood at N24.2m, from N9.28m recorded in 2010.

Further analysis of the result showed that operating profit fell by 88.8 per cent, from N308.5m in 2010 to N34.5m in 2011,

while tax increased to N58.7m in 2011, from N13.3m in 2010.

The company’s balance sheet showed a working capital of N199.2m in 2011, from N172.9m in 2010, while net assets stood at N1.78bn in 2011, from N1.88bn in 2010.

Meanwhile, trading in equities closed on bullish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as some investors took position on stocks with good corporate actions.

The All Share Index rose by 0.37 per cent to close at 33,736.82 points, as against the decline of 0.58 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 33,613.87 points.

Market capitalisation appreciated by N4bn to close at N10.79trn, in contrast to the drop of N6bn recorded the preceding day to close at N10.76trn.

Unity Bank Plc led the gainers’ table with seven kobo or 10 per cent to close at 77 kobo per share, followed by Wema Bank Plc with nine kobo or 10 per cent to close at 99 kobo per share.

Presco Plc increased

by N2.21 or 9.99 per cent to close at N24.34 per share, while DN Meyer Plc gained 24 kobo or 9.92 per cent to close at N2.66 per share. Sterling Bank Plc added 23 kobo or 9.79 per cent to close at N2.58 per share.

On the flip side, Prestige Insurance Plc dropped seven kobo or 9.72 per cent to close at 65 kobo per share, while UAC-Properties Plc dropped N1.12 or 7.41 per cent to close at N14.00 per share.

Wapic Insurance Plc depreciated by seven kobo or 4.96 per cent to close at N1.34 per share, while RT Briscoe Plc dipped by 11 kobo or 4.72 per cent to close at N2.22 per share.

Continental Reinsurance Plc declined by five kobo or 4.63 per cent to close at N1.03 per share.

A total of 563.9 million shares valued at N5.99bn were exchanged in 5,679 deals.

Europe steadies after Italy clears auction test

E

uropean bonds, shares and the euro all rose yesterday, after solid demand at an auction of Italian government debt helped calm fears that political stalemate in Rome could reignite the bloc’s debt crisis.

United States stock futures also pointed to a positive open on Wall Street as it looks to build on Tuesday’s gains following the Federal Reserve’s reassurance over its support measures.

Though paying more than half a point more interest than before its election, Italy sold all 6.5 billion euros of the 5- and 10-year bonds it offered investors

two days after the vote offered no party a majority and renewed concern over its finances. It could have chosen to sell less.

Investors fear the strength of the vote for anti-austerity parties could weaken efforts to reform public finances and labour laws and damage the euro zone’s efforts to resolve its three-year old debt crisis.

Italian bonds and those of other euro zone countries suffering concern over their creditworthiness were helped by the sale. Safe haven German bonds fell before recouping losses, while the euro climbed back above $1.31

as it recovered from Tuesday’s seven-week low.

“A very strong auction on all accounts, both when you look at the demand side and the pricing side.

The Tesoro filled the maximum amount, with 4 billion allocated in the new 10-year, which is very strong.” said Michael Leister, a senior bond strategist at Commerzbank in London.

Italy and Spain’s need to change the shape of their economies, get growth going and debt down, have been at the heart of the euro zone’s troubles for over a year, but the fears have eased substantially since the ECB said it would do whatever

Source: NSE

Source: Afrinvest

Market indicators All-Share Index 10,786.4 points Market capitalisation 33.7 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

UNITYBNK

0.70

0.77

0.07

10.00

WEMABANK

0.90

0.99

0.09

10.00

PRESCO

22.13

24.34

2.21

9.99

DNMEYER

2.42

2.66

0.24

9.92

STERLNBANK

2.35

2.58

0.23

9.79

AIICO

0.92

1.01

0.09

9.78

PZ

38.00

40.40

2.40

6.32

HONYFLOUR

3.00

3.15

0.15

5.00

OKOMUOIL

51.00

53.55

2.55

5.00

NASCON

9.04

9.49

0.45

4.98

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

PRESTIGE

0.72

CLOSING 0.65

0.07

-9.72

UAC-PROP

15.12

14.00

1.12

-7.41

WAPIC

1.41

1.34

0.07

-4.96

RTBRISCOE

2.33

2.22

0.11

-4.72

CONTINSURE

1.08

1.03

0.05

-4.63

LIVESTOCK

2.50

2.40

0.10

-4.00

CUSTODYINS

2.00

1.92

0.08

-4.00

NIGERINS

0.54

0.52

0.02

-3.70

FTNCOCOA

0.56

0.54

0.02

-3.57

AFRIPRUD

2.00

1.94

0.06

-3.00

Primary Market Auction was necessary to prevent a breakup of the euro.

Italian 10-year yields fell seven basis points to 4.83 per cent in the secondary market, the Bund future was 27 basis points up on the day at 145.09 after the sale.

After a choppy morning Europe’s stock markets and MSCI’s global share index settled higher ahead of the Wall Street open.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 finance/ markets/index was up 0.2 percent as 0.4 per cent gains in Milan’s FTSE MIB and Madrid’s IBEX helped it recover some of Tuesday’s sharp falls.

TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Days

30,647.81

12.40

21-Feb-13

182 Days

20,000.00

15.30

21-Feb-13

364 -Days

85,000.00

15.55

21-Feb-13

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

98-Days

145,675.77

13.56

21-Feb-13

37-Days

36,301.00

12.65

21-Feb-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$200m

N/A

$200m

27-Feb-13

$150m

N/A

$150m

25-Feb-13

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Young & Next Generation

45

Amazing world of music siblings LEONARD OKACHIE

N

igeria has seen children display their amazing musical talents in recent time. Right from the likes of child star, Tosin Jegede in the 80s to the child prodigy Benedicta Iyere- Okogie (alias Benita Okogie) in the 90s, Nigerian children have not ceased to stun the world with their musical talents. Lately, four adorable and innovative siblings have hit the music scene with their brand of gospel music.

The music sensations, Precious Ogbuagu, 12, Benjamin Ogbuagu, 10, Goodness Ogbuagu, 8, and Favour Ogbuagu, 4,with the group name “Precious Kingdom Kids” already have two albums to their credit.

The debut album with video entitled Love is the Greatest which was produced in 2011, comprises songs in English, Igbo and Yoruba. Some of them include, “When you

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

How do planes stay in the air?

L

ots of things that go up into the air can't stay there, such as a ball you toss to your friend, because gravity pulls the object back down. Airplanes, however, are different: They’re built in a special way that allows them to stay up so they don't come back down to the ground until they’re ready to land!

When it comes to flight, four different forces try to pull an airplane in opposite directions. A plane is able to fly when its upward and forward pulls are able to be stronger than its downward and backward pulls!

The forward pull of a plane comes from its engine, which gives it power to move.

In order to fly, one thing a plane must do is have more forward push from its engine than the backward push it receives from the air in front of it. (It’s sort of like how you might have to push hard with lots of energy to walk forwards into wind pushing against you.)

The other important part of the equation in how airplanes fly is, of course, being able to lift upwards into the air! The upward lift of a plane is created thanks to the special curved shape of a plane’s wings. The way air flows over and under the curved wing is what allows a plane to lift up, up, up! Planes are able to stay in the air because they have more upwards lift than the natural downward pull of gravity! – FLIGHT! Whyzz.com

"We want to be famous all round the world" are cautioned, Nne Oma, Olorun Eleburuike, Let us come together” among others.

“We chose the title Love is the Greatest because all the quarrels against religion, tribe; whether you are Housa, Igbo or Yoruba; whether you are a Christian, Muslim or traditionalist, there is one thing that is common; that is love,” said Precious who is the lead singer.

Following the success of the first one, the quartet released another album God is Good in 2012. The seventrack album, according to them, is in appreciation of God’s goodness to them and their family. “God is so good because He takes care of me, my family and he provided for us” says Goodness who has two singles, God is so Good and Jesus I thank you.

Goodness quickly pointed that her dream is to become a teacher because she loves teaching, but chose to sing gospel music because she has the talent and “I want to sing for God.”She says she is deeply inspired by her Basic Four class teacher at New Height Nursery/Primary School, Mowe, Mrs. Ogidan. She also says she would use her musical talent for evangelism in school, both as a pupil and as a teacher that she hopes to become.

“For long, we used to watch other artistes and we now say we too have the talent, why can’t we start singing so that we will be famous like Michael Jackson and others? We want to be famous all round the world,” Benjamin the only boy in the group simply puts.

He says he decided to sing with his sisters because they are one family and love doing things together, but this is after they have discovered that they have talent in singing. “We first discovered the talent in my elder sister, Precious. She was the one that started the idea and we started practising. Since then, many people have known us and have always commended us at different places including shows that we have attended.” he added.

Benjamin’s dream is to become a medical doctor as well as a pastor, adding “I want to specialise in

L-R: Favour, Goodness, Benjamin and Precious.

FOR LONG, WE USED TO WATCH OTHER ARTISTES AND WE NOW SAY WE TOO

HAVE THE TALENT, WHY CAN’T WE

START SINGING? the heart because most heart diseases are difficult to cure and because there are not many specialists, millions of people die.”This is why Benjamin, who is in JSS1 at Apostolic Church Grammar School, Ketu, Lagos says he has given priority to his studies.

“Music is my hobby. In our first album I sang and rapped, but in our second album I have a single. I love singing and I know that good music heals, good music can change the world positively”, Benjamin waxed philosophical.

Amazingly, 4-year old Favour who is the youngest in the group, is determined to give the world something different in the music scene. And when asked about her role model in the industry, she quickly said: “I want to be myself.”However, she stressed that she would like to be a pharmacist like her father, that she loves singing and dancing because singing is good.

Their mother, Mrs. Ebere Ogbuagu, who is their executive producer, said she discovered the talents earlier in the children and has

since been doing all she could to push them to limelight. Of course, she said they got the musical inspiration from her because she sings too.

“I love singing. I’m exceptional in the choir and people have always told me that I’m good, but I did not have the opportunity to release my own album.

I can sit down and write any song and give it any tone that I like. So, Precious took from me and started writing songs as well. I wrote most of the songs, especially in the first album because the children didn’t know much then, but in the second album they did it by themselves,”Mrs. Ogbuagu remarked.

Mrs. Ogbuagu, who is a motivational speaker and author of a book, entitled You too can be successful explained that God has really been good to them as they have been invited to perform at programmes by LTV, NTA and various other groups.

But some of the challenges the group is facing, just like most Nigerian musicians, is getting distributors and promoters. For this reason, she disclosed that she encouraged the children to be giving out copies to people whenever they went out and, surprisingly, people were giving them money in return as well as calling them to tell them that they like their music.

“I always go out with them and I don’t allow it to affect their education,” She maintained.

46

Media

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigerian Guild of Editors elects new exco ...as convention holds in Ibadan

LEONARD OKACHIE

T

oday, about 300 editors under the umbrella body of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), are expected to converge on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to elect another set of executive that will direct the affairs of the Guild for the next two years.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors is a non-governmental, non-partisan, nonprofit making organization, for the highest strata of working journalists who have attained the exalted position of editors in the journalism profession.

The biennial convention, which is taking place at the Premier Hotel, is holding from February 28 to March 2.

It is expected that a new executive, led by a new president will emerge tomorrow, to preside over the affairs of the professional body.

The new president will take over from Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, whose tenure as the Guild’s President elapsed in January, after he had served for four years. Adefaye, who is now the Editorin-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers,

was elected during the Guild’s 2008 convention in Lagos. He was privileged to have served the Guild for two terms as he was re-elected at the 2011 convention, which held on January 15 at Airport Hotel, Lagos.

Other members of the executive at the last convention include: Hajia Aishatu Sule, deputy president; Mallam Ahmed Shekarau, vice president (North), Mrs. Funke Egbemode, vice president, West; Victor Agosiobu, vice president (East); Isaac Ighure, general sectretary; Steve Ayorinde, assistant general secretary; Abdulhamid Majia, (treasurer) and Sam Egbala, social and publicity secretary and Standing Committe members.

Interestingly, as the editors meet today, all eyes will be on two gladiators who are contesting for the presidency of the Guild. They are Mr. Femi Adeshina, the Executive Director, Publications, and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Sun newspapers and Malam Tukur Abdulrahman, the Managing Director/Editor -in- Chief of the New Nigerian newspapers.

However, former managing direc-

tor of Daily Times and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba will be the special guest of honour at today’s event.The veteran journalist, who has given invaluable support to the Guild, will deliver the keynote address on “The future of journalism in Nigeria: Evolving models in the age of the Internet”.

According to a statement by the General Secretary of the Guild, Mr. Isaac Ighure, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, is expected to address the editors, while the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, will declare the convention open after delivering his welcome address.

In an effort to ensure a hitch-free election, the Guild has appointed a veteran journalist, Mohammed Haruna as the chairman of the eight-man electoral committee, while another eminent Nigerian journalist and author, Mr. Ray Ekpu , has been appointed as chairman of the convention.

New members of the Guild will be inducted tomorrow evening at the gala night /dinner and delegates are expected to depart on Saturday.

Adefaye

...Haruna, Akinfeleye, Shehu, Idowu, others on the electoral committee

L-R: General Secretary, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Isaac Ighure; Member, Standing Committee, Mrs. Mary Atolagbe; former President, Malam Garba Shehu; member of the committee, Mr. Richard Akinnola; Vice President, Mrs. Funke Egbemode; Chairman of the committee, Malam Mohammed Haruna; Deputy President, Mrs. Aishat Sule; Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye; immediate past Secretary-General, Barr. John Ndukauba; Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Publications, Mr. Lanre Idowu and Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, National Mirror, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, at the inauguration of the electoral committee for the Nigerian Guild of Editors Convention in Ibadan, in Lagos.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

D

etermined to achieve a successful election, the Guild of Editors has appointed top-notch journalists and men and women of proven integrity as members of the eight-man Electoral Committee for the 2013 convention.

The committee, which was inaugurated last Thursday at the Guild secre-

tariat, Lagos is headed by veteran journalist, Mallam Mohammed Haruna.

Other members of the electoral committee include Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, Garba Shehu, Richard Akinola, John Ndukauba, Emma Agu, Augusta Maduegbunam and Lanre Idowu.

Deputy President of the Guild, Ha-

jiya Aisha Sule, while inaugurating the committee said they are confident that the committee would perform well because of the calibre of people that are involved.

She said: “Honourable committee members, we know your reputation, we know your antecedents, we are familiar

with your achievements in your chosen professions. It was this knowledge that informed your selection to midwife the elections. We have no doubt that in executing your assignment, you will bring to the fore the experience that you have acquired over the years as reporters, editors, managing editors, lawyers and academics.

“However, you are all aware that conducting elections in this country has never been like attending a tea party as contestants oftentimes regard what ought to be regarded as a pleasurable exercise a do-or-die affair. It should not be so.

That is why it is expected that, in conducting the elections, you will come up with the necessary guidelines to guide the candidates seeking to be elected into the various offices. You should be firm, fair and just in your decisions.

She charged the committee to endeavour to place the interest of the Guild above primordial, religious and regional considerations, adding that the Guild is a cohesive body, composed of thorough-bred professional journalists who by sheer dint of hard work, have risen to their enviable positions as editors.

Sule assured the committee members of the Guild’s unstinting support in all ramifications to ensure that they succeed in their assignment.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, February 28, 2013

47

...My scorecard –Gbenga Adefaye

I

mmediate past president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye has expressed gratitude to the members of the Guild for their support in his four years of stewardship.

Adefaye said he is obliged to some of his teammates whose support and cooperation made the difference for him and the Guild. They include Tukur Abdulrahman, Ogbang Akwaji, Abiodun Rauf, Abdulrauf Abdulrahman, John Ndukauba, Abdulhamid Majia, Sam Egbala, Steve Ayorinde, Isah Mustapha, Fred Fabor, late Mike Eke, Hon. Victor Ogene, Kelmi Lazarus, Aisha Sule, Victor Agusiobo, Ahmed Shekarau, Funke Egbemode, Isaac Igbure, Chooks Okoh, Alli Hakeem, Hajia Sani, Femi Adesina, Mary Atolagbe Ibiyinka and his immediate predecessor, Haliru Dantiye.

Giving account of his stewardship ahead of today’s convention, Adefaye said that he and his team have tried their best to run an inclusive NGE that would rekindle the interest of the elders, Fellows and role models more in the affairs of the Guild.

On building capacity through trainings, he noted that he and his team successfully re-focussed the editors on national issues through their flagship All Nigerian Editors Conference ( ANEC) in Kaduna (2009) with the theme :VISION 202020 Economic Growth and the Nigerian Editor; Port Harcourt (2010) with the theme: Oil and Gas, PostAmnesty and the Nigerian Editor; Benin (2011) with the theme :Deepening Our Democracy, the Role of the Editor and Uyo (2012): National Security and the Role of the Editor. The proceedings according to him have been compiled into a book.

The two-time president said thus: “Yes, we invited the likes of Prof Akin Mabogunje and Issa Aremu to our statutory standing committee meet-

ings and did very few session with partner agencies like UNDP and DFID. But,we thought that a structured training regime for journalists and editors that would outlast sitting executives of the Guild should be institutionalized. That was why we approached Dr. Christopher Kolade, the Pro Chancellor of the Lagos Business School/ Pan African University and his Vice Chancellor Prof Juan Elegido for a collaborative engagement with the Guild in the areas of capacity building.

“The result of our various meetings was the establishment of the Centre for Leadership in Journalism (CLEJ) at the School of Media and Communication of the Pan African University, Lagos to train journalists and editors and fill gaps in leadership for the business, ethics and profession of journalism . The Centre has since taken off. We just tied our umbilical cord with the centre and claimed ownership with a seed fund from the donation to us by Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau state during our last ANEC in Uyo. “We have on the Advisory Board Mr. Frank Aigbogun, Fellow of the Guild and its former General Secretary who is also the Publisher of BusinessDay as chair, Mallam Mohammed Haruna and the outgoing President are members with others from the Pan African University while one of us Mr. Richard Ikiebe is the Director. We will need to continue to seek funds for the Centre so that our members can take sabbaticals there, do some fellowships, write books and improve both the professional and the business side of journalism in Nigeria. Perhaps the think tank for the media business in here!”

Part of the achievement of his administration, Adefaye insists is the building of a virtual office through www.nigeriangiildofeditors.com. He pointed the hosting fees for the next three years have

been paid for the website that should have been the Guild’s interactive platform and an income generating one but regretted that the outgoing executive and the Secretariat were unable to optimize the site for profit because of known skill gaps.

Adefaye, who is the Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers recalled that the outgoing executive and Standing Committee also reviewed all outstanding reports on a review of the Guild’s constitution and has under the leadership of Dr. Tonnie Iredia, produced copies of the current Constitution.

What the outgoing president considers as the greatest achievement of his administration the fierce defense of press freedom and expansion of the frontiers of free speech, which in his view is the number one mandate of the Guild.

“Not only did we fight to kill the Nigerian Press and Journalism Council bill which would have caged the press as a parastatal of the state; through a very innovative approach of lobbying, the Guild took the lead (and must take the credit) in getting the sixth National Assembly to pass the Freedom of Information bill which President Goodluck Jonathan has signed into law,” he emphasised.

Adefaye who has been commended by most of his colleagues for his meritorious services, maintained that he is very proud to be a member of the Guild.He therefore advised: “Dear colleagues, the stakes are higher today for the NGE like never before. We have the right societal recognition. We are not seen as hawking our integrity for a mess of pottage. We have to maintain this ranking. We must know what gifts not to accept. Yet we must fund our projects, which should not be too difficult if we put the Guild first in our actions and shun corruption and lowly conduct.”

...Meet the contenders

A

s the editors set to elect a new president for the Guild, expectations are high for the two senior journalists who are contestants.

The battle is between Mr. Femi Adesina, the Executive Director, Publications, and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Sun newspapers and Malam Tukur Abdulrahman, the Managing Director/Editor -in- Chief of the New Nigerian newspapers.

Mr. Adesina is an active member of the Guild and was elected into the Standing Committee of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in 2008, in which capacity he serves till date.

He began his journalism career in 1986 after graduating and became an editor 14 years after.

He became the Executive Director, Publications, and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Sun, after he had edited Daily Sun for five years.

Adesina was named Editor of the Year in 2007 by the Nigerian Media Merit Award, while the newspaper was named the Newspaper of the Year.The newspaper was named as the Best Designed Newspaper the following year by Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME).

He was part of the team that founded The Sun in 2003 and was the founding editor. This was after he became editor of National Concord in year 2000.But due to the demise of the paper in 2001; he joined the Nigerian Tribune as a visiting member of the Editorial Board.

Having served for four years in the two terms of Gbenga Adefaye’s executive, Mr. Adesina says he has what it takes to lead the Guild well and lead it in a way that all members will be proud of the association.

“I am contesting again because I received an overture in September 2011 from some of our Northern members in the guild who came to my hotel room in Benin when we held our annual conference in that city, and told me that they believed I had the potential to move the guild forward after Gbenga Adefaye’s tenure must have run out. I told them then, when they asked me to contest that, would they be able to sell it to the North? And they promised they would. It took me a while to make up my mind, but based on their assurance that night which they kept re-affirming over the next one year, I then decided to contest,”

he submitted.

Abdulrahman is equally an active member of the Guild who was Deputy President of the Guild in 2008 and became a fellow of the Guild in 2011.

He joined the Guild in 2000 and was elected its Vice President North in 2005.He was appointed the Managing Director of New Nigerian Newspapers Limited (NNN) in March 2010, after he became the Editor of the New Nigerian (daily) in 2006.

He was also a member of the Editorial Board of the NNN. Abdulrahman joined the company in 1983 as a proof reader and later became a reporter. He was posted to Abuja in 1995 and became the State House correspondent of the paper in 1997.

Following his excellent performance as a correspondent, he was appointed the Editor of Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo, a Hausa publication of the NNN in January, 2000.

Having been an active member of the Guild for 13 years, Malam Abdulrahman reportedly said he is qualified to pilot the affairs of the association.

He said : “I am running for the post of the president of the Guild because I am eminently

Adesina

Abdulrahman

qualified to do so. The constitution of the Guild provides that any member, who had served as a member of the standing committee for at least one term, is eligible to contest the post of the president. As an active member of the Guild for 13 years, I have been in the standing committee for two terms; first I served as the Vice President (North) from 2005 to 2008. I was elected Deputy President in 2008 and served for one term.

"I was the first Deputy to the outgoing President and together we have started a number of programmes which I intend to continue. Capacity building, for instance, is the main thrust of Gbenga Adefaye's regime and we intend to continue with

it. A journalist, like a teacher, imparts knowledge to people and therefore needs to be very knowledgeable in order to discharge his functions effectively, hence the need for training and retraining all the time.”

Past presidents of the Guild Lateef Jakande Alade Odunewu Mohammed Ibrahim Onyema Ugochukwu Wada Maida Biodun Oduwole Shehu Garba Remi Oyo Baba Dantiye Gbenga Adefaye ???

48

North

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Gombe REC seeks power to deregister parties

•Fixes March 23 for Assembly by-election DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

G

ombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Prof. Istifanus Dafwang, has asked for powers to allow state offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, deregister any party which did not make impact at the state level.

Dafwang sought the powers because many of the political parties only exist on paper in the state with no structures to register their presence as it would make the commission’s work easier.

He made the demand yesterday while releasing the

timetable for the by-election in Kwami-East constituency for the state House of Assembly fixed for March 23 at a stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe.

Pleading for powers to deregister parties, the REC said: “Any political party that fails to produce candidates for next month’s Kwami East by-election, as small as the constituency is, should be de-listed in the state because they are not relevant in the state.

“They can operate at the national level, but they should be de-listed or deregistered from Gombe State to reduce cost because you can’t exist at the national level and do not exist

here.”

Dafwang disclosed that the election involved only six wards with 98 polling units, adding that INEC was not charging contestants any money for nomination.

That, according to him, makes it an election where every party in the state should demonstrate its presence.

He said: “I think I will ask Abuja to give us the power to de-list or de-register such political parties in the state to reduce cost and to allow us go with the serious ones instead of mixed multitude.”

Dafwang reiterated INEC’s determination to

ensure a level playground for all parties and assured that all votes would count.

The REC, however, asked political parties to play their part to arrive at a common goal.

He, therefore, encouraged all political parties to ensure they field popular candidates chosen through well-conducted primaries as that would reduce the cost of campaigns and brighten their chances.

Dafwang also advised all parties to pick only uncompromising agents because some agents usually end up as sell-outs and in the end, people would blame INEC. On personnel, the REC said they would engage the services of Youth Corps members but with strict monitoring in order not to have a repeat of the Dukku/ Nafada Federal Constituency by-election incident where corps members were caught stuffing ballot boxes.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Yero signs N179bn budget into law A ZA MSUE KADUNA

K

aduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero yesterday signed the N179 billion budget for 2013 fiscal year, with a promise to fully implement it.

A breakdown of the budget shows that N104,500,681,645 is earmarked for capital expenditure.

The governor’s Director-General, Media and Publicity, Ahmed Maiyaki, said in a statement that the budget signed by Yero was N179,053,904,185.

The statement added that the 2013 budget was in line with the commitment of the Yero administration to reduce the cost of governance by cutting down on recurrent expenditure, while

concentrating on capital development.

Yero said the budget reflected his administration’s determination to rapidly transform Kaduna State through provision of critical infrastructure that would raise the people’s standard of living.

Signing the budget, Yero urged the people of Kaduna State to continue to cooperate with his government by shunning acts of violence in order to create the enabling environment for peace and sustainable growth.

Meanwhile, a group known as the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Southern Kaduna chapter, has commended Yero for his visit on Tuesday to Aduwan village, scene of the Saturday’s killings by gunmen.

Plateau: Tertiary institutions’ workers’ strike needless –Commissioner JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

P

L-R: Vice-Chancellor, Kwara State University, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah; Prof. Ronnie Coffman of Cornell University, USA; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; Country Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dana Mansuri and Economic Growth Office Director, Sharon Pauling, during a courtesy visit by Cornell University and USAID team to the Government House in Ilorin, on Tuesday.

Kogi appoints new Attah Igala O YEWALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

G

overnor Idris Wada of Kogi State has approved the appointment of Prince Idakwo Michael Ameoboni as the new Attah Igala.

The appointment followed the completion of due legal process for the emergence of a successor to the stool of Attah Igala.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi, said in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja yesterday that the appointment followed the laid down procedure ac-

cording to the Igala Native Law and Customs on the selection and appointment of a successor to the throne of Attah Igala.

According to the statement, the appointment takes immediate effect.

The Igala Traditional Council had unanimously selected Ameoboni as the successor to the late Attah Igala, Alhaji Aliyu Obaje, who passed on last year.

This followed the careful selection by the traditional kingmakers from the four existing ruling house.

Ameoboni is a retired Air Force officer and Deputy Director in the FCDA, Abuja.

Group condemns extra-judicial killings in Ebiraland OYEWALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

T

he Ebira Youth Congress, EYC, has condemned the extra-judicial killings going on in the central senatorial district of Kogi State.

In a statement signed by its President General, Gomina Kadir, and Deputy Secretary General, Azimazi Sheidu, the group decried the recent murder of a 30-yearold Grace Abata Ejeogu in Okene Local Government Area.

EYC said it was particularly disturbing that the said killing was allegedly masterminded by a group of masked military men on peace mission in Ebiraland.

It called on the Federal Government to properly

investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice to serve as deterrent to others.

The group advised the military detachment in Ebiraland to restrict itself to hacking down only those breaching the peace process in the area.

“EYC still has the strongest belief in the deployment of military detachment in the land as the most effective solution to our security challenges,” the statement said.

The group, however, admonished the military men to be extra careful while dealing with the situation, adding that it would prevent those not happy with their presence from taking undue advantage of any act of omission to resume their criminal activities.

lateau State Government has described as unnecessary, the two-week-old strike embarked upon by workers of the stateowned tertiary institutions.

The workers, under the aegis of Joint Unions of Plateau Tertiary Institutions, JUPTI, are demanding the reversal of government policy to merge the state university in Bokkos with the College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies in Kurgwi and the payment of their salary arrears, among other issues.

Reacting to the industrial action yesterday, the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Nanle Dashe, frowned at the workers’ penchant for strike even when the situation did not warrant such.

Dashe told National Mirror in Jos that the strike was uncalled for because government had not closed its doors on the issues raised.

He said: “Yes, there could be what they think are delays in terms of their mindset on how soon they feel those issues would be resolved but the truth is that government at any point has never stopped looking into those issues with a

view to resolving them.

“I know that since they gave their first letter of notice, government has met with them and immediately revived relevant structures to discuss with them on every issue contained in their demands like the Standing Committee on Labour issues.

“Yes, resolutions may not have been reached based on different perspectives on the issues in question but the important thing is that government has not closed its doors for further discussions.”

“You can see why the strike is uncalled for.

“Looking at what is happening in United States of America where each state runs its affairs according to its capability based on the resources available to it, I think there is the need for workers in Plateau State to understand this and as such make their demands within the limit the state can carry.”

Gov. Jonah Jang

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

World News

Pope’s send-off: Benedict recalls joy of papacy, difficulties

“If the world does not agree to support a peaceful solution through dialogue (for Syrian war) ... then I see no light at the end of the tunnel”

50

PAUL ARHEWE,

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

F

rance’s defence minister has confirmed that French forces are engaged in heavy fighting in northern Mali, as suicide car bombing killed six government allies in the city of Kidal.

The bomber carried out the attack on Tuesday evening at a checkpoint at an entrance to Kidal, Ag Alghabas Intalla, a leader of the Islamic Movement of Azawad, or MIA, said by phone from Kidal.

He said he counted six dead and others wounded. The MIA group is fighting with the Malian army and French troops against armed rebels.

Responsibility for the suicide attack has not been claimed, but it is suspected to be the work of fighters of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, or MUJAO. “The suicide attack targeted the checkpoint on the eastern side of Kidal which is manned by the MNLA (National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad),” a French military official told AFP news agency in Gao, the main city in the north.

A hospital source told AFP there were seven dead including the bomber, with another 11 wounded.

Several other officials confirmed the blast was an attack following an initial report that it may have been a controlled explosion of ammunition seized from the rebels.

With no let-up in violence, Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s de-

A

t least 35 people have been killed in a bus crash near Mwingi town in eastern Kenya, a traffic officer has said.

Most of the passengers worked in the capital, Nairobi, and were returning to their homes to vote in Monday’s election, a survivor told the BBC. Farah Aden Ali, who sustained

Scene of the bus crash in Kenya.

–IRAQI PRIME MINISTER, NOURI AL-MALIKI

French troops in violent combat with Malian insurgents fence minister, announced that French troops were involved in “very violent fighting” in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains of northeastern Mali.

Le Drian said that it was too early to talk about a quick French pullout from Mali, despite the growing cost of the intervention.

The French intervention in Mali has cost more than $133m since it started on January 11, he said on France’s RTL radio.

“We are now at the heart of the conflict,” in protracted fighting against rebels in the Ifoghas mountains, Le Drian said.

While some expected the 4,000-strong French force to pull

out next month, Le Drian said he could not talk about a quick withdrawal while the mountain fighting goes on.

Soldiers from Chad and a few other African countries have joined the French-led operation to help Mali’s weak military push back the al-Qaeda-linked groups who had imposed harsh rule on northern Mali and started moving southward towards the capital, Bamako, last month.

In the first weeks of the campaign, French and Malian forces easily took back cities in northern Mali. But the fighting is rougher now that it has reached more remote terrain in the moun-

tains of the southern Sahara.

A clash in the area killed 23 soldiers from neighbouring Chad last week, according to French President Francois Hollande, who expressed condolences to his Chadian counterpart.

Against this backdrop, a senior UN humanitarian affairs official said in New York on Tuesday that as security improves in Mali, the world must seize the moment to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid.

John Ging, who just visited Mali, said the country’s northern region is stabilising but needs help reopening schools, markets and health clinics.

WORLD BULLETIN

ECOWAS ministers approve plan to transform AFISMA

Ministers of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council have endorsed the proposed transformation of the African-led International Mission in Mali (AFISMA) into a UN peacekeeping operation and recommended that ECOWAS collaborate with the African Union (AU) to support the Malian government’s request in this regard.

At the end of an extraordinary session of the Council in Abidjan, the ministers also recommended that regional leaders urge the ECOWAS Commission and the AU to address a “formal request to the UN to take steps towards the transition of AFISMA to a UN peacekeeping operation as soon as conditions permit and under the appropriate mandate.”

They enjoined ECOWAS Commission to work with the AU to ensure that the “immediate and urgent needs of the African-led International Mission in Mali (AFISMA) are met without delay.

Three die in Swiss workplace shooting

Malian soldiers looking on as weapons, munitions, and other paraphernalia seized from radical Islamist rebels are displayed at the French army base in Gao, Mali, recently.

PHOTO: AP

Bus crash in Kenya kills 35 minor injuries, said the bus overturned after the driver lost control.

Many of Kenya’s roads are in a bad state, and buses are poorly maintained, correspondents say.

Traffic officer Samuel Kimaru said at least 35 passengers died and another 50 were wounded in the overnight accident.

“The death toll may increase because there were serious injuries following the accident. Those who were injured are undergoing treatment in hospital,” he is quoted as saying by Kenya’s Standard newspaper.

Mr Aden Ali told the BBC Somali Service that rescue teams arrived only about four hours after the crash, causing many people trapped in the wreckage to die.

The bus was over-crowded with many passengers - who were going to the towns of Mandera and Garissa - standing, he said.

“The bus had problems with the gear from when it left Nairobi,” Mr Aden Ali added.

He said he was asleep, but woke up shortly before the accident.

“The driver lost control. He

tried to bring it back under control, but it rolled over and turned on its side,” Mr Aden Ali said.

Traffic on Kenya’s roads is usually high before an election, as city workers travel to their rural homes, where they are registered to vote.

Kenya will hold parliamentary and presidential elections on Monday.

The presidential poll is expected to be a close contest between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and one of his deputies, Uhuru Kenyatta, who is due to stand trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) later this year for allegedly orchestrating violence after the disputed 2007 election.

President Mwai Kibaki, who beat Mr Odinga in the 2007 election, is stepping down after two terms.

A longtime employee opened fire at a wood-processing company in central Switzerland yesterday, leaving three people dead, including the assailant, in the country’s second multiple-fatality shooting in two months, police said.

Seven other people were wounded, six of them seriously, in the shooting at the premises of the company Kronospan, in the small town of Menznau, Lucerne criminal police chief Daniel Bussmann told reporters.

The incident occurred as the Swiss parliament prepares to consider tightening some aspects of the country’s famously lax gun legislation.

The assailant, a 42-year-old Swiss male, arrived at the premises shortly after 9 a.m., drew a pistol and started firing. Police spokesman Kurt Graf said the shootings took place in the building’s canteen area.

Iraq resumes flights to Kuwait after 22-year halt

An Iraqi plane has landed in Kuwait for the first time since Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of the tiny emirate.

Iraq’s Transportation Ministry spokesman says yesterday’s flight will open “important horizons for cooperation based on brotherhood” with Kuwait.

Karim al-Nouri also says demand will determine the number of flights in the future.

Government ministers from both Kuwait and Iraq were on hand for the ceremonial landing at the international airport in Kuwait City.

Kuwait’s parliament in January approved a deal under which Baghdad will pay $500 million in compensation to Kuwait’s national carrier for damages caused during the Iraqi occupation.

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World News

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Pope’s send-off: Benedict recalls joy of papacy, difficulties

P

ope Benedict XVI basked in an emotional send-off yesterday from a massive crowd at his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square, recalling moments of “joy and light” during his papacy but also times of difficulty when “it seemed like the Lord was sleeping,” the Associated Press has reported.

An estimated 150,000 people, many toting banners saying “Grazie!” (“Thank you!”), jammed the piazza to bid Benedict farewell and hear his final speech as pontiff. In this appointment — which he has kept each week for eight years to teach the world about the Catholic faith — Benedict gave deep thanks to his flock for respecting his decision to retire.

Benedict clearly enjoyed the crowds, taking a long victory lap around the square in an open-sided car and stopping to kiss and bless half a dozen children handed to him by his secretary. A total of 70 cardinals, some tearful, sat in solemn attendance.

But Benedict made a quick exit, foregoing the typical meetand-greet session that follows the audience; the Vatican has said there were simply too many people who would have wanted to say goodbye.

Given the historic moment, Benedict also changed course and didn’t produce his typical professorial yesterday catechism lesson. Rather, he made his final public appearance in St. Peter’s a personal one, explaining once again why he was becoming the first pope in 600 years to resign and urging the faithful to pray for his successor.

“To love the church means also to have the courage to take difficult, painful decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself,” Benedict said to thundering applause.

He noted that a pope has no privacy: “He belongs always and forever to everyone, to the whole church.” But the pope promised that in retirement he would not be returning to private life — instead taking on a new experience of service to the church through prayer.

He recalled that when he was elected pope on April 19, 2005, he questioned if God truly wanted it. “It’s a great burden that you’ve placed on my shoulders,” he recalled telling God. During his eight years as pope, Benedict said, “I have had moments of joy and light, but also moments that haven’t been easy ... moments of turbulent seas and rough winds, as has occurred in the history of the church when it seemed like the Lord was sleeping.”

But he said he never felt alone, that God always guided him, and he thanked his cardinals and colleagues for their support and for

Pope Benedict XVI waving to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, yesterday.

Pope Benedict XVI greeting pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, yesterday.

PHOTOS: AP

Pope Benedict XVI greeting pilgrims in St. Peter’s A Vatican Swiss guard standing in front of St. Square at the Vatican, yesterday.

PHOTOS: AP Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, yesterday.

“understanding and respecting this important decision.”

Under a bright sun and blue skies, the square was overflowing with pilgrims and curiosityseekers. Those who couldn’t get in picked spots along the main boulevard leading to the square to watch the event on giant TV screens. Some 50,000 tickets were requested for Benedict’s final master class. In the end, the Vatican estimated that 150,000 people flocked to the farewell.

“It’s difficult — the emotion is so big,” said Jan Marie, a 53-yearold Roman in his first years as a seminarian. “We came to support the pope’s decision.”

With chants of “Benedetto!” erupting often, the mood was far more buoyant than during the pope’s final Sunday blessing. It recalled the jubilant turnouts that often accompanied him at World Youth Days and events

involving his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. Benedict has said he decided to retire after realizing that, at 85, he simply didn’t have the “strength of mind or body” to carry on.

“I have taken this step with the full understanding of the seriousness and also novelty of the decision, but with a profound serenity in my soul,” Benedict told the crowd Wednesday.

Benedict will meet Thursday morning with cardinals for a final time, then fly by helicopter to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.

There, at 8 p.m., the doors of the palazzo will close and the Swiss Guards in attendance will go off duty, their service protecting the head of the Catholic Church over — for now.

Many of the cardinals who

Extracts of valedictory speech “The Lord gave us days of sun and of light breeze, days in which the fishing was good.

There were also moments when there were stormy waters and headwinds, as was the case in the whole history of the Church, as if God was sleeping.

But I always knew that God was in that boat and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, is not ours, but is his and he will not let it sink.”

“This was and is a certainty and nothing can obscure it. And that is why today my heart is filled with gratitude to God ... I would like everyone to feel the joy of being Christian.”

In these last few months, I have felt my strength diminish and I have asked God with insistency in my prayers to illuminate me with his light and make me take

Faithful gathering to attend Pope Benedict XVI’s last general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, yesterday.

will choose Benedict’s successor were in St. Peter’s Square for his final audience. Those included retired Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, the object of a grass-roots campaign in the U.S. to persuade him to recuse himself for having covered up for sexually abusive priests. Mahony has said he will be among the 115 cardinals voting on who the next pope should be.

Also in attendance Wednesday were cardinals over 80, who can’t participate in the conclave but will participate in meetings next week to discuss the problems facing the church and the qualities needed in a new pope.

“I am joining the entire church in praying that the cardinal electors will have the help of the Holy Spirit,” said Spanish Cardinal Julian Herranz, 82.

Herranz has been authorized by the pope to brief voting-age

the best decision.”

“I took this step in full awareness of its gravity and novelty but with profound serenity of spirit. Loving the Church also means having the courage to make difficult, painful choices, always keeping the good of the Church in mind and not ourselves.

The pope is never alone; I feel that now once again in such a powerful way that it touches my heart. The pope belongs to everyone and many people feel very close to him.

“It is true that I receive letters from the grandees of this world – from heads of state, from religious leaders, from representatives of the world of culture. But I also receive many letters from ordinary people who write simply from their hearts and make me feel their affection, which stems from being together with Jesus Christ in the Church.

cardinals on his investigation into the leaks of papal documents that exposed corruption in the Vatican administration.

Vatican officials say cardinals will begin meeting Monday to decide when to set the date for the conclave.

But the rank-and-file faithful in the crowd Wednesday weren’t so concerned with the future; they wanted to savour the final moments with the pope they have known for years.

“I came to thank him for the testimony that he has given the church,” said Maria Cristina Chiarini, a 52-year-old homemaker who travelled by train from Lugo in central Italy with some 60 members of her parish. “There’s nostalgia, human nostalgia, but also comfort, because as a Christian we have hope. The Lord won’t leave us without a guide.”

These people write to me like brothers or sisters or sons or daughters, with a very affectionate sense of family. This is where we can put a finger on what the Church is – not an organisation, not an association for religious or humanitarian ends, but a living body.

“Whoever assumes the Petrine ministry no longer has any privacy. He belongs forever and totally to everyone, to the whole Church ... My decision to renounce the active practice of my ministry does not change this. I am not returning to a private life – a life of trips, meetings, receptions and conferences. I am not abandoning the cross but I am remaining in a new way next to the Crucified Lord.

I no longer have the power of the office of the government of the Church but I will remain in service of prayer within, as it were, the enclosure of St Peter’s.

I will continue to accompany the Church with prayer and reflection.”

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

51

Community Mirror “Imagine the future of the entire continent if Nigeria or South Africa fails. So, you are a country of potential.”

Jobless graduates protest in Yenagoa

UNITED STATES FORMER PRESIDENT, BILL CLINTON

52

3 kidnap suspects arrested DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

S

L-R: Chinese businessman, Zhang and sister, Wenya talking to reporters

The suspects, Ifeanyi and Roland

Police parade suspects for attempted murder of Chinese FRANCIS SUBERU

T

he Lagos State Police Command yesterday paraded two suspects arrested in connection with attempting murder, stealing and duping of a Chinese businessman of N2.5 million.

According to the police, the suspects, Ifeanyi Ndubuisi and Roland Okorie, with an unidentified lady allegedly poisoned their victim, Zhang Bofan, a 61-year-old Chinese businessman who had imported mobile phone accessories into Nigeria.

The incident occurred on January 23, 2013, one day before Zhang was to travel back to China.

It was gathered the businessman took ill immediately after eating noodles, prepared and served by the lady (third suspect), who is now helping the police in their investigations.

The Chinese who was staying at Kelvinson International Hotel, Ojo, Badagry Expressway, Lagos, was said to have lost consciousness and was rushed to a private hospital where he is still receiving treatment.

Despite his poor state of

health, the suspects who are Mr. Zhang’s business associates went to his warehouse at Agric, on Badagry Expressway and carted away phone accessories and handkerchiefs.

In the process of their nefarious act, they were accosted by Zhang’s cousin, Wenya Umeh, who then raised an alarm and alerted the police.

Police investigations revealed, that the suspects allegedly planned to flee with the goods, even as it was also alleged that they stole N2.5million from Zhang.

While parading the suspects at the Police Command Headquarters, Adekunle Fajuyi Way, GRA, Ikeja, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko said, nemesis caught up with the two suspects, while planning to move the stolen goods to another location.

The victim, who arrived in Nigeria five months ago, added that: “I am 61 years old and since I was born, I have never fallen ill. It was after I ate the ‘noodles’ a lady served me in the hotel that I immediately fell sick.

I was billed to travel back to China on January 25, 2013 for a business trip and import mobile

phones and other accessories but, the illness affected me and I am yet to travel till now. You can see I emancipated a lot,” he spoke through his cousin, Wenya.

However, the suspects denied all police allegations, describing them as spurious and malicious.

They said they were business partners with a company which Mr. Zhang is representing in Nigeria, and the items in question were sent to them by the organisation, even as they claimed they were meant to take direct custody of the goods.

According to Roland; “It is cheap blackmail because we are dealing directly with the company that sent the goods. We called them when Mr. Zhang took ill and they instructed that we take custody of the items threatening that if they went missing, we would be held responsible.

I don’t know anything of any missing money. They should ask Wenya and her husband since they are the ones trying to blackmail us.

When Zhang took ill, we took him to a hospital and the doctor said he had low sugar. No one mentioned anything of poison.

We are surprise they are saying all these because we are into

legitimate business with Mr. Zhang’s company and we sought its permission before entering the warehouse to take custody of the goods.

Ifeanyi, who corroborated Roland’s assertions said: “When Wenya came to the warehouse, she never talked to us before making spurious allegations that we came to steal the goods.

When she came, she started shouting that we are thieves, and that we wanted to kill her brother.”

However, Umaru manko said the suspects would be charged to court immediately after investigations are completed.

In a related development, two other suspects, Wilson Udoma and Oluwasegun Ikusika, were paraded for pipeline vandalism.

They were arrested at Festac, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State with 120 kegs filled with siphoned petroleum product; allegedly from a vandalised pipeline.

The suspects said they were sent by somebody they identified as Apase, who usually hires their boats for N20, 000 per trip.

They described Apase as a popular Odua People’s Congress, OPC, member in Festac Area.

ecurity operatives at the Anti kidnapping unit of Enugu State Police Command have apprehended three notorious armed robbery and kidnapping suspects believed to be terrorising people in the Nsukka zone.

The suspects who gave their names as Onyema Ugwueze, Ejike Oduh and Sunday Simon Paul, were arrested at a relaxation park on old GRA, Enugu.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ebere Amaraizu, said the suspects were apprehended where they were allegedly found with N70, 000 fake notes.

The arrest was said to be based on information received during a raid by the operatives.

Amaraizu, further disclosed that interrogation of suspects revealed that Ejike Oduh belongs to a gang known as “Dragon Lord” even as his real name is Amos Anene Ezema,who was involved in the killing of one Corporal Sunday Elisha at Nsukka, and also the murder of a juju priest known as “Ojenamuo” at Enugu-Ezike. He also participated in the alleged kidnap of a Rev. Father among other crimes committed in the zone within the period.

Investigations are said to have commenced, as the suspects are now helping the police.

Group hosts Gov Fayemi

T

he Igbimo URE Ekiti, IUE, a non-political body of Ekiti State indigenes, will host the state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to a motivational dinner at Harbour Point, 4 Wilmot Point Close, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos today by 6:00pm.

Through the event, the group is attracting, a great number of associates, friends and well wishers’ influence to connect more deeply and variously, with Ekiti State Government and citizens, with a view to improving the economy and social wellbeing of the state.

According to a statement by Mr Aramide Tola Noibi, such friends, associates and well wishers, expected from all sectors of the economy, will team up with the Igbimo URE Ekiti, to x-ray Governor Kayode Fayemi’s score card and highlight areas of critical needs, even while recognising his sterling achievements to date.

52

Community Mirror

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jobless graduates protest in Yenagoa EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

M

ore than 20,000 aggrieved graduates of tertiary institutions have staged protests in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State for alleged government’s failure to provide them gainful employment.

The group, acting under the aegis of Bayelsa Unemployed Graduates Forum BUGF, has, therefore, given the govern-

ment a month ultimatum to create jobs to stimulate employment generation in the state.

The group’s state coordinator, Binaebi Oyeghe, said the recruitment of jobless persons should be a continuous process, even as he denounced the employment embargo placed by the state government, describing it as retrogressive.

He said:”We are convinced the government will not want this show of civil dis-

obedience with its attendant consequences. So, we expect it to be proactive and do the right thing immediately.

We don’t want to become graduate robbers, vandals, kidnappers, sea pirates or another set of militants, which we are sure are more grievous problems with greater social, political and economic implications. “ The penalty for kidnapping in the state is death.

Does the government want to

hang all of us before it feels our pain? We call on all unemployed youths to embrace the struggle for their rights and say no to this blatant act of oppression. It is a struggle to reclaim our human dignity and social identity in the universal brotherhood of mankind,” he said.

Oyeghe, lamented that unemployed persons are experiencing economic, emotional and psychological anguish.

“We are not fortunate to

live in a society that has a welfare system, where unemployed persons receive benefits from government.

By this silence, passive irresponsibility and lack of commitment in the implementation of policies and programmes geared towards job creation and stimulation of employment generation, government is wantonly perpetrating an ignominious social crime against humanity,” he explained.

Youths to benefit from skills programme A ZA MSUE KADUNA

A

Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Barrister Tunji Bello 3rd from (left); Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Honorable Babatunde Adepitan; Commissioner for Budget and Planning Mr. Ben Akabueze and Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Seye Oladejo during an inspection tour of Ladipo Market in Lagos yesterday.

LASTMA, KAI embark on community service MURITALA AYINLA

A

s part of re-training aimed at changing attitude towards residents and motorists, officers of the Lagos State Management Traffic Authority, LASTMA, and Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, have embarked on cooking and dish washing, for victims of the recent Oko-Baba fire at the Agbowa Relief Camp.

The officers embarked on community service, even

as the state government announced that it has trained 1,800 KAI officers on emotion management and non-aggressive enforcement strategies.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Transport Education, Dr. Mariam Masha, who made the disclosure, said residents are already feeling the impact of the officers’ training.

“We now have a new set of LASTMA and KAI with new orientation on how to serve the public. Public perception of the officers has changed for

good. We have trained 1,800 officers and another batch of 200 will begin training soon to bring the total trained at 2,000.

Our vision is to have officers who understand their roles as public servants, and who will treat fellow citizens with respect and dignity. Certainly, we are gradually getting there”, she said.

Meanwhile, the officers which comprised males and females also swept the relief camp, just as they washed dishes and cooked for Inter-

nally Displaced Persons, IDP, at the camp.

Commending the programmes, the Chairman, Lagos House Committee on Special Duties, Hon. Ipoola Omisoore, praised Dr. Masha, saying Lagosians are already attesting to the attitudinal change in the officers.

Omisoore said: “Lagos lawmakers and other residents are already seeing the changes in LASTMA and KAI. The officers now believe in serving the people rather being served by taxpayers”.

Police promise to apprehend boy’s killer ADEOLU ADEYEMO OSOGBO

T

he Osun State Police Command said it is on the trail of the 15-yearold Moyinoluwa Abioye, who alleged killed one Timileyin Oguntoye, 12 with a Dane gun in Akiriboto Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Folasade

Odoro, who disclosed this in Osogbo, said the perpetrator fled scene of the incident immediately after the crime.

Odoro, stressed that the whereabout of the alleged killer is still unknown, even as she said that the suspect would soon be apprehended and brought to justice.

According to her, “The police command is working to get to the root of the matter

and at the same time arrest the killer now at large, to ascertain the circumstance leading to death of the boy”.

The PPRO who said though Abioye, was alleged to be playing with a loaded dane gun before it went off, advised parents to keep their children away from dangerous objects that could put them in problem, as she appealed to the inhabitants where the incident

took place to give the police all necessary information that could lead to arrest of the killer.

Odoro, said the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife and assured the bereaved family that all wrongs on the matter would be righted.

total of 16,000 youths in the 19 northern states will benefit from the pilot skills acquisition initiated by a non- governmental organisation, Arewa Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, ATEI. Speaking while inaugurating the scheme pilot coordinators, the National President of Arewa Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, Alhaji Mohammed Danjumma, said the scheme is to rekindle hope and wake the region up from its slumber.

He said, presently the challenges of poverty, ignorance and unemployment facing the north need prompt action that would arrest the ugly menace.

He said “The Arewa Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, has drawn up a plan of action called Arewa Youth Empowerment Programme, with the purpose of employing an asset based strategy to improve on human capital, leadership and entrepreneurship, to enhance a new northern Nigeria devoid of massive poverty”.

It will however facilitate a change in attitude and ideological perceptions and enhance citizens’ participation in governance in the region.

The group however said, the schemes would focus on agriculture, Information technology and other unskilled labour that would employ more than 10 million youths,even as he urged the people to rise against underdevelopment of the region.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Thursday, February 28, 2013

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54

Insight

Thursday, February 28, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Emergency response: LASAMBUS faces challenges Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) was established about 12 years ago with ambulance points located strategically within the metropolis. But TOBORE OVUORIE reports that it appears all is not well as problems of logistics and availability of ambulances threaten the service even as street traders and urchins have occupied some of the points.

Jibowu: Now mistaken for a bus-stop

Costain ambulance point: Perpectually empty since January 2013.

“H

elp! Help! Help! Don’t let him die!” That was the passers-by’s plea as the young man laid in the pool of his own blood in an accident which occurred on January 25 this year at the AnthonyOshodi Expressway in Lagos.

A commercial bus had just hit the victim while crossing the busy expressway and the bus zoomed off. The young man who could barely speak gasped for breath as a crowd gathered with no one to render any assistance to save his life.

National Mirror’s reporter and a few other commuters dashed to the other side of the road to call an ambulance at the nearby Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) point. Alas, the LASAMBUS point was empty, with no ambulance on standby, they returned to the scene of the accident. The young man whose identity remained unknown was now in a critical state. Shortly he twitched, gasped for what was to be his last breath and gave up. Maybe he would have survived if help had been available to get him to the hospital for emergency medical attention.

That was precisely the intention of the Lagos State Government when in 2001 it established LASAMBUS in a bid to tackle emergency medical cases arising from road, industrial and other forms of accidents, as well as medical emergencies following the increasing urbanisation and industrialisation of the state. Working alongside the Lagos State Emergency Medical Service (LASEMS) as a pre-hospital care service, both services are designed to run on a 24/7 basis in order to facilitate significant improvement in the response time and quality of care with attendant improvement in morbidity and mortal-

ity rates occasioned by medical emergencies.

The project has saved many lives since its inception. Statistics from the state ministry of health reveals that the ambulances rendered critical services to no fewer than 11,449 victims of road traffic accidents, medical emergencies, collapsed buildings, gunshot injuries, industrial accidents and several other cases requiring hospital and medical attention in 2009 alone.

Investigation by National Mirror however revealed that this critical service is being threatened as many of the ambulances are no longer in their bases located strategically across the metropolis following allegation by drivers and health workers attached to the programme of neglect by LASAMBUS/ LASEMS management. Several visits to emergency points at Anthony, Jibowu, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Tollgate, Gbagada, Abule-Egba, Bolade, Mile 2 and Costain revealed that the ambulances no longer park there as assigned. Many of them were seen at the LASAMBUS headquarters at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja.

For instance, since this year the point on the 3rd Mainland Bridge had always been deserted until January 17 when an ambulance for the first time turned up by 1.28pm. This was after this reporter had spent several hours as usual watching out for it. This point turned out to be better than the one located under the bridge at Costain. It had always been empty until in the afternoon of January 26th. Costain is however better than the point at the old tollgate at Ojota because the latter had been empty since the beginning of the

year until 2.51pm, January 24 when an ambulance pulled in for the first time but disappeared shortly after.

The story is different at the point located in Jibowu. Ever since this reporter had been monitoring that point and commissioned other people trading and working around the environment to do same, an ambulance had never been sighted there. Even those who work and live in the area do not know that the point is for an ambulance.

National Mirror’s findings showed that people think the point is either a bus terminus for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or a bus-stop which is yet to start functioning.

Some of the drivers and nurses who spoke to our reporter however alleged administrative hiccups and poor staff welfare as major reasons why the service is not running the way it ought to.

It was also gathered that the ambulances are no longer supplied fuel like before; thus, the drivers choose to remain at base one – LASUTH, rather than the points, until there’s an emergency.

“We have to manage the fuel so coming here every day may not be possible” a driver told National Mirror on the condition of anonymity.

He continued, “There are so many things happening inside Lagos State Emergency Medical Service (LASEMS), and LASAMBUS which I can’t tell you, but everything boils down to poor administration and it is so sad that it is Lagosians who will suffer. I can’t act outside instructions so journalists should tell people to call 112 or 767 anytime there is an emergency and the ambulance at the closest base will turn up.”

Further findings by National Mirror indeed revealed complaints of neglect

Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris

by the ambulance crew, especially the nurses, as a major why reason the service is dying. According to one of the nurses, the points are inhabitable and situated in unsafe locations, thus, putting the workers at risk if they must remain at the points on a daily basis.

“If you were the one, can you stay in a place like this (the point),” a health worker who pleaded that the point should not be named to protect her identity asked our reporter.

“I want to believe you must have also noticed that the points are located in very risky locations. For instance, whenever I am at the one at the Tollgate or Third Mainland Bridge, I am always fearful until we leave there. Do you know that a vehicle that lost control

THE AMBULANCES RENDERED CRITICAL SERVICES TO NO FEWER THAN 11,449 VICTIMS OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, COLLAPSED BUILDINGS, GUNSHOT INJURIES, INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND SEVERAL OTHER CASES REQUIRING HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL ATTENTION IN

2009 ALONE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insight

Thursday, February 28, 2013

55

of logistics, as health workers lament

Tollgate Point.

LASUTH Base 1: Shed-like-office where no fewer than 10 emergency workers stay while on night shift daily.

THE AMBULANCES ARE NO LONGER SUPPLIED FUEL LIKE BEFORE; THUS, THE

DRIVERS CHOOSE TO

Mile 2: Turning into an abode for area boys

had almost ran into us before? This is because most of the points are located in the middle of the road and you know how Lagos motorists, especially commercial bus drivers, are.

“Besides, there are no facilities there, such as table and chair, so we simply sit or lie down in the ambulance praying for when we would roll out.”

Our reporter shared the health workers’ experience when at the Third Mainland Bridge point she needed to ease herself. One of the workers simply smiled and directed her to a corner where she could be shielded by the ambulance.

“I hope you are just urinating. There’s no facility for you to do the big one,” she added with a mischievous grin.

“When we are pressed, even if it is to urinate, we have to start moving around people’s homes,” a nurse at another point, said..

“If you are lucky to be posted to a place like Jibowu, at least there are houses around. Now imagine us being pressed on Third Mainland Bridge? If you were in our shoes what would be your decision after going through this repeatedly?” she said.

National Mirror investigation also showed that the ambulance crew operated without any form of security especially at night. Asked how they coped when-

ever there’s a call at night, a nurse on the Island said, “Since I was transferred from the ward to LASAMBUS, no security officer has ever accompanied us when we are going on emergency call in the night.

You see, this is how it happens: we receive a call that there’s emergency somewhere, just the driver and most of the time two nurses, who are often females, rollout to the location in the dead of the night.

We don’t know if the call is genuine or a group of ritualists, rapists or other evil people that are waiting for us where we are going. It is God that has been watching over us; this ought not to be” The staff on night shift, sleep on the bare floor in a small office space in LASUTH. They have no place to have their baths, while both male and female workers share just a toilet. Also most of the nurses with LASEMS/LASAMBUS are more of contract staff as their employment status is not defined. Most of the nurses were actually posted from the wards of various hospitals in the state.

While in the hospital wards, they belonged to the Health Service Commission (HSC), but immediately they were re-assigned, their status changes. The nurses are supposed to have been accredited by the Hospital Services, which is the principal body in charge of LASAMBUS. Rather, the hospital service placed

REMAIN AT BASE ONE

- LASUTH, RATHER THAN THE POINTS, UNTIL THERE’S AN EMERGENCY the nurses on six months probation though they had been confirmed by HSC. It is now over two years and the hospital services neither pays them call duty allowances and have not confirmed their appointments. At the moment, these workers do not know where they belong because they are neither in HSC nor Hospital Services, thus, are not being treated as emergency staff.

Coordinator of LASEMS, Dr. Oke Osanyintolu, however denied all the workers’ allegations when contacted.

“Those people are lying. That cannot be true! In short, you are lying, if not, tell me the names of the people who told you all those lies,” he said.

Addressing each of the issues raised by the workers, Osanyintolu said the reason for the empty points was because there had been more emergencies in recent times.

“The numbers of emergencies have increased so they can’t be stationed there.

For instance, we now have more emergencies in Iju-Ishaga than ever before,” he disclosed.

He however said workers on night duty do not sleep on the floor and go on emergency calls accompanied by security operatives.

“It’s not true that we don’t have security personnel accompanying them. In short, in the morning, they accompany them, in the afternoon they accompany them and even in the night. Whosoever told you that is lying. I repeat, give me their names if they actually told you such.

“Which officer is complaining? Our workers are not neglected, they are well cared for. It’s not true, we have where they sleep. We have where they eat and even shower. Maybe the people you spoke with are fake, if not, let them identify themselves. For instance, I am a proud LASEMS and LASAMBUS employee, so I don’t see how they will be working with LASAMBUS and would not want their identity revealed.

“We work with sophisticated equipment and we are trained. Besides, there’s room for capacity building and we even pay them health hazard allowance” he stated.

But the workers insisted that the coordinator was being economical with the truth.

“Dr. Osanyintolu is not saying the obvious and he knows it. Please, don’t disclose our identities to them lest they will do to us what they did to over 700 doctors last year (they were sacked). It is not true and he least expected that the press would get to know about the rot in the system,”a nurse said.

WORLD RECORD

Most women breast feeding (multiple venue) Vol. 03 No. 567

Thursday, February 28, 2013

N150

The most women breastfeeding simultaneously at multiple venues was 15,128 at 295 sites across the Philippines on 2 May 2007.

Redefining Nigeria’s corporate vision

Let’s not pretend that things will change if we keep doing the same things- Albert Einstein.

W

hat is necessary to move Nigeria forward from the bottom league spot in the world’s development index has never been in dispute. They include quality and transparent leadership with purpose, as well as well defined vision, backed by strong institutions. Unfortunately, that is precisely what has been lacking since independence in 1960. Rev Chris Okotie said that much in his illuminating article in National Mirror titled, “A flock without shepherd”.

Analysing the cause of the present stagnation, he wrote inter alia: “Strong leadership is necessary, especially at the formative stage of a nation. To a large extent, it helps shape the character of a na-

T

he Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ FCT Council, has given the Nigeria Football Federation 24 hours within which to rescind its decision banning two journalists from participating in the federation’s activities.

Ezeocha Nze of The Guardian and Romanus Ugwu of The

Guest Columnist

Taiwo Gidado

tion, together with its intrinsic values and cultures. Ultimately, every nation defines its own vision, value system and frame of reference. We are yet to do that.

“Our nation has no discernible mission to which every citizen is committed.

In the absence of this, our youths are being choked by alien cultures with the underlining decadence and immorality. We are like a flock without shepherd. To compound our problems we do not have strong institutions.

“That is why there’s no continuity in government, every new regime tends to discredit the key polices of the preceding administration. And so, policy inconsistencies have become a permanent feature of our governments.”

Well said. Let’s take the issues one after the other. At the dawn of independence strong and purposeful leadership eluded the nation. We missed a golden opportunity to define our vision and mission as a new nation. In the absence of that, every region was on its own. Political competition for the control of the federal government by regional parties and politicians overshadowed the imperative for a collective national vision and mission.

Consequently, governments at the centre resorted to term-development plans and makeshift visions. These have not worked as expected. Only recently, our Vision20:2020 ambition was deemed unrealistic; government had thought that by the year 2020 Nigeria would be one of the world’s top 20 developed economies. That honour now goes to Saudi Arabia, by the admission of federal government officials.

WITHOUT A CLEAR VISION, WE’D BE LIKE A SHIP THAT HAS

NO RUDDER.

THE

COUNTRY WOULD CONTINUE THE DRIFT TO NOWHERE The United States recently announced that all things being equal, it expects our great country to be one of the world’s leading economies by the year 2030. One only hopes that this projection does not go the way of the previous ones.

Like Albert Einstein said, we can never hope that things will change if we don’t change the way things are done. The famous author of the “Theory of Relativity” should know better. Now that we are preparing to celebrate our centenary as a nation in January, 2014, this is the time to evolve a plan to reposition Nigeria. That can only be done if we articulate a realistic and dynamic vision for the country and then pursue it with all seriousness.

It is common place to see corporate bodies post a brief sentence on the wall of their office reception that clearly and succinctly defines both their mission where they are headed and their vision, how they intended to get there. Some even attach a motto to these statements. Nigeria’s motto for instance was “Unity and Faith”. Later under military rule, it was changed to

“Unity, Faith, Peace and Progress”. But we are yet to define our corporate vision. No wonder, we keep groping since 1960.

It is not too late to set a new, comprehensive, long-term agenda for our beloved nation. From all the observed tendencies in the polity, we want to remain one and indivisible. The 30-month civil war that was fought to keep Nigeria one proved that beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore, being one Nigeria is not negotiable. That should form part of our vision. To remain a strong, leading productive nation, given our natural leadership endowments, like being the largest black population in the world, is also part of our vision.

Without a clear vision, we’d be like a ship that has no rudder. The country would continue the drift to nowhere. Future generations of Nigerians will not forgive us if we fail to put this great nation on the right footing. One hundred years is a long time in the life of any nation. We have had to shift our development goals on many occasions because of lack of focus.

All our peer nations have left us behind as the pastor-politician pointed out in one of his syndicated articles: “A century after we became one country, we are yet to find the right formula to manage our vast human and natural resources in a way that ensures even development across the country and equitable distribution of wealth to our people. That is one great challenge we must look at as we begin to celebrate the centenary, it is not about voting huge sum to build monuments.”

Perhaps, now is the time for the convocation of a national conference to resolve all of our internal contradictions. One of the key issues to be addressed by the conference should be a relevant mission statement and a vision for our beloved country.

As we clock 100, we need to know how to move forward into our next millennium as a tandem nation.

Gidado, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos

Sport Extra

NFF gets 24-hour ultimatum over journalists’ ban Sun Newspapers were reportedly barred by the NFF from covering its activities for reasons which were still shrouded in secrecy as at the time of this report.

The NUJ in a statement signed by its Council Chairman, Chuks Ehir-

im, described the alleged ban by the NFF as a demonstration of the hangover of military dictatorship that has become the bane of football development in the country.

“Fourteen years after military rule, the NFF is yet to come to terms

with democratic norms of freedom of speech and rule of law,” the statement said, warning that the union would not allow journalists to be subjected to the whims and caprices of few individuals and or agencies.

NFF boss, Maigari

Printed and Published by Global Media Mirror Ltd: Head Office: Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street, Lagos Tel: 07027107407, Abuja Office: NICON Insurance House, Second Floor, Central Business District Area, Abuja Tel: 08070428249, Advert hotline: 01-8446073, Email: mail@nationalmirroronline.net. Editor: SEYI FASUGBA. All correspondence to PMB 10001, Marina, Lagos.