Fresh division as Britain, world leaders bid Thatcher farewell By Bola Olajuwon (with agency reports) RITAIN’S first female Prime B Minister, the late Margaret Thatcher, remained a polarising figure even at her funeral yesterday .
Well-wishers and opponents of her policies while in government exhibited their divergent positions as her coffin passed through the streets of London before a memorial service filled with pomp. According to Agence Presse France (AFP), Queen Elizabeth
II led the British establishment and representatives of 170 countries in bidding farewell at St Paul’s Cathedral to the Iron Lady, who had a profound impact on her country and helped end the Cold War. Agency reports indicated that
tens of thousands of members of the public turned out to watch Thatcher’s coffin travel from parliament to St Paul’s, many breaking into spontaneous applause and throwing flowers. But several hundred protesters in a sign of the bitterness
her legacy still provokes at home, turned their backs, booing and chanting “Maggie, Maggie Maggie! Dead, dead, dead!” Thatcher, who was in office from 1979 to 1990, had suffered from dementia and was rarely seen in public for the final
years of her life. She died from a stroke aged 87 nine days ago. Her death prompted tributes from around the world for the role she played in bringing down the Iron CurCONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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Concerns over red meat link to cancer, heart disease Suya, Isi-ewu, Nkwobi, Kilishi implicated By Chukwuma Muanya OST Nigerians eagerly M look forward to having another meal of local meat delicacies such as suya, isi-ewu, nkwobi, kilishi, shaki and ‘roundabout.’ The consumption and marketing of these red meat-based meals have become big business in most restaurants across country. But scientists have raised a fresh alert that eating even small quantities of processed meat such as suya, kilishi,
MORE ON PAGE 33 nkwobi, isi ewu, bacon, sausages or salami can significantly increase the risk of dying early from cancer and heart disease. However, another source says red meat is good but should be cooked with spices, in moderation, not roasted or fried as in suya, isi-ewu, nkwobi, kilishi. According to the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) and the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), red meat is a valuable source of iron, zinc and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (left) and Margaret Thatcher’s son, Mark Thatcher (right), leading mourners during the ceremonial funeral for Margaret Thatcher at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London… yesterday. PHOTO: AFP/POOL/PAUL EDWARDS
Jonathan raises amnesty panel on Boko Haram crisis From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja
• Akinyemi, Makarfi, Sani, Alkali, others on committee
FRESH round of efforts to A effectively resolve the Boko Haram crisis kicked off yester-
the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in keeping with his pledge to the United Nations (UN) and other countries to stem the tide of the worrisome spread of small arms and light weapons, and their use in creating instability in Nigeria and other developing countries. While briefing State House
day as the Federal Government set up a 26-member committee on amnesty. This came barely 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan met with the nation’s service chiefs to consider the details of the report submitted to him by the committee earlier set up to consider the merit or otherwise of granting amnesty to Boko Haram. The President also constituted a 17-member committee on
correspondents yesterday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati, said the decision to name the panel headed by the Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) was informed by the President’s determination to ensure the issue of insecurity was finally resolved in a just and constructive manner.
Other prominent members of the Boko Haram amnesty committee include a former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi; former Governor of Kaduna State and Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi; Shehu Sani, a Kaduna-based civil rights activist; and former Chairman, Senate Committee on the Fed-
eral Capital Territory Capital (FCT), Abubakar Danso Sodangi. There are also the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda; a retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed; Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Col. Musa Shehu (rtd); Sheik Ahmed Lemu; a onetime Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Mohammed Nur Alkali; Dr.
NNPC explains drop in crude oil production, loss of N191 billion revenue - Page 4
ACN wants Jonathan’s visit to Lagos rescheduled over convention - Page 4
Datti Ahmed; and Sheik Abubakar Tureta. Also on the committee are Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim; Hajia Naja’ átu Mohammed; Malam Adamu S. Ladan; Dr. Joseph Golwa; AVM A. I. Shehu; Mr. R.I. Nkedirim; DIG P.I. Leha; Malam Salihu Abubakar; Alhaji Abubakar Sani Lugga; Ibrahim Tahir; Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo; Group Captain Bilal Bulama and a representative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). Abati’s statement read in part: “Following the consideration yesterday (Wednesday) by the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
2 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Vitamin D, which is vital for health, especially in pregnant women and infants. They are unanimous that red meat can be part of a balanced diet. “But people who eat a lot of
Concerns over red meat link to cancer, heart disease red and processed meat should consider cutting down as regularly eating a lot could increase risk of bowel cancer.”
To an associate professor of medicine and consultant in endocrinology, diabetology and metabolism division at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Fasanmade Olufemi, red meat refers to beef, mutton, lamb, pork and venison while white meat refers to chicken, fish and seafoods. According to Fasanmade, red meat contains most of the essential amino acids for growth and development. “It thus protects against malnutrition in children and growing adults. In pregnant women too, the red meat serves as a good source of protein to help blood formation, bone formation, prevent anaemia in pregnancy and helps in fetal development,” he
said. But according to the endocrinologist, on the other hand, red meat, which is rich in cholesterol, can predispose to high cholesterol levels if consumed in large quantities. He warned that the entrails of red meat like liver, kidney, brain, intestines are even worse in this regard as they contain more fat than the fleshy parts of red meat. According to Fasanmade, red meat consumption also leads to gout and kidney stone formation if done in large amounts. He said burning of red meat was also associated with production of carcinogens like nitrosamine, which has been implicated in cancer development.
The diabetologist advised: “So if you are to consume red meat as an adult, take small quantities, avoid the entrails and delicacies of red meat and go for the lean cuts. The isi-ewus, oriri na nkwobis, shaki and ‘roundabout’, which are Nigerian delicacies, should be eaten sparingly. Fish, particularly scaly fish, is a better alternative and seafoods, except prawns, have relatively lower amounts of harmful fats.” To the Executive Director, Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) and the Vice-President (Elect), World Heart Federation (WHF), Geneva, Dr. Kingsley K. Akinroye, the consumption of red meat has long been associated with risk of heart health
due to increase of saturated fats and cholesterol. Akinroye said the latest study identified other ingredients present in red meat that may contribute to heart disease; apart from the red meat salt’s content, influence of genetic risk factors or the cooking procedure that may all account for the increased risk of heart disease. “This is a potentially innovative research which needs to be replicated by other research scientists in developed and developing countries; and to determine how the resultant knowledge may be translated into action to benefit the population,” he said.
Nestle Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Samuel Adenekan (left); Director, Social Mobilisation, Ogun Universal Basic Education Board, Omotunde Egunjobi; Executive Director, Centre for Health Education, Population and Nutrition (CHEPON), Prof. Tola Atinwo and his wife, Bisi, during Nestle’s foods’ healthy hydration workshop for teachers in Abeokuta… yesterday.
Britain, world leaders bid Thatcher farewell CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
tain, but sparked renewed debate at home over her legacy. Some 700 soldiers, sailors and airmen in full ceremonial uniform yesterday lined the route as the coffin was carried first by hearse and then by horsedrawn gun carriage, as a military band played funeral marches. Some 4,000 police officers were deployed along the procession, amid heightened security following the bombings at the Boston Marathon and fears of disruption by left-wing groups. At the cathedral, Queen Elizabeth II led the mourners in a rare tribute from the monarch, who had not attended a prime ministerial funeral since Winston Churchill died in 1965. Prime Minister David Cameron, leader of Thatcher’s Conservative party, led a cast of three former premiers – John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown – and politicians from across the political divide. Global figures, including
Thatcher’s fellow Cold War warrior, Henry Kissinger – the former United States Secretary of State, and show business stars, Joan Collins and Shirley Bassey, joined the former prime minister’s family in paying their respects. In his address, Bishop of London, Richard Chartres said Thatcher was a polarising figure but insisted there was no place for politics at her funeral. “After the storm of a life led in the heat of political controversy, there is a great calm,” he told the 2,300 assembled guests, all clad in black. “The storm of conflicting opinions centre on the Mrs. Thatcher who became a symbolic figure – even an – ism. Today the remains of the real Margaret Hilda Thatcher are here at her funeral service.” Thatcher’s coffin had arrived at St Paul’s following an hourlong procession from Parliament, during which parliament’s famous Big Ben bell was silenced. It was draped in the Union Jack flag and dressed with flowers
and a card reading “Beloved Mother — Always in Our Hearts”, a message from her twin children, 59-year-old Mark and Carol Thatcher. The pavements along the route were packed by well-wishers, many of whom had risen at dawn to travel to London. “I wanted to pay my respects to the best prime minister since Churchill,” said Gloria Martin, a property developer in her 60s with an array of “I Love Maggie” badges pinned to her chest. “She was strong, she was resolute, and she put her country first above any idea of popularity.” The crowd included veterans of the Falklands war, viewed by many of her admirers as Thatcher’s finest hour and which played a central theme of the ceremony. Servicemen from units that fought in the 1982 conflict with Argentina carried Thatcher’s coffin into St Paul’s while two brothers who served in the war walked behind. Argentina was pointedly not represented among the
mourners at the service, who included the prime ministers of Canada, Israel, Italy, Poland and Kuwait. But the pomp – paid for with millions of pounds of public money – has sparked criticism from those who argue that Thatcher was too polarising a figure to merit such a statesponsored send-off. Some in the crowd turned their backs as the funeral cortege went by to protest against the damage wrought by her radical free-market economic reforms, which created mass unemployment in Britain’s industrial heartlands. “We’re spending £10 million (11.7 million euros, $15.3 million) on it and that’s disgraceful and unacceptable at a time of austerity,” said 22-year-old student Casper Winslow, who held a placard reading “Rest of us in poverty.” The government has yet to disclose the cost of the funeral but insists it will be less than the reported £10 million. Cameron insisted it was right to give Thatcher a proper
President raises 26-member panel on Boko Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 National Security Council (NSC) of the report of the technical committee it set up to review fresh modalities for addressing security challenges in the North, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the constitution of a presidential committee to constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable frame-work for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the country. “The committee’s terms of reference will include developing a frame-work for the
granting of amnesty; setting up of a frame-work through which disarmament could take place within a 60-day time-frame; the development of a comprehensive victims’ support programme, and the development of mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies that will help to prevent future occurrences.” He added: “President Jonathan has also approved the constitution of a Federal Government committee on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in keeping with his pledge that Nigeria will work with the
United Nations and other countries to stem the worrisome proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and their use in creating insecurity and instability in Nigeria and other developing nations.” The committee on small arms and light weapons has Ambassador Emmanuel Imohe as Chairman. Other members are Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi; Ambassador T.D. Hart; Ambassador Ghali Umar; Ambassador B.G. Wakil; Mr. Opelusi Olureti; representatives of the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Defence; National Se-
curity Adviser (NSA); Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA); State Security Service (SSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA); Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); and the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The Director of International Organisations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the secretary to the committee. Both committees will be formally inaugurated by President Jonathan at 10.00 a.m. on April 24, 2013 at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
3
News South-West PDP stalwarts hail reconciliation moves
Buhari pledges better Nigeria if elected president
From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan ORMER Minister for Agriculture, Chief Bamidele Dada, and former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, have hailed the setting up of peace and reconciliation committees by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee in the South-West. The Caretaker Committee had on Tuesday raised a fiveman peace and reconciliation committees for each of the states in the region, with an assurance from the interim chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, that total reconciliation was achievable within party in the region. Dada and Folarin, at different sessions with newsmen, expressed optimism that the committees would restore peace in the party. Folarin, who lauded the Filani-led interim zonal working committee for the initiative, however, tasked the committees to be diligent, thorough and preach forgiveness to all aggrieved.
From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief
F
Head of State and FtheORMER the Presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (second left), Chief Paulina Akpeki, Commissioner for Housing (first left) and the coordinators DESERP vocational training centre standing behind the participants during the governor’s visit to the centre in Warri, yesterday.
Gunmen kill one, injure ex-dep gov’s son in Borno From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh, Ayoyinka Olagoke (Uyo), Lawrence Njoku (Enugu),Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) and John Okeke (Abuja) UNMEN suspected to be Boko Haram members on Tuesday and yesterday struck in Maiduguri, Borno State capital killing a resident of the metropolis and shooting the son of the state former Deputy Governor, Shehu Abubakar. Meanwhile, the Christian Elders Forum of Northern States (NOSCEF) has opposed plans to grant amnesty to the Boko Haram sect, adding that the group had caused more harm than good in the North Amid the going insecurity in the country, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has cautioned those proposing a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) as a way of checking the ugly trend, to better think twice, saying that such proposal may lead to dismembering the country. In a related development, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has vowed to make the Force a committed and competent one in the handling of internal security challenges in the country. He stated this while declaring open a training workshop for Police Public Relations Officers PPROs at Uyo, Akwa Ibom
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State. Moreover, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the South East zone yesterday rose from its meeting in Enugu with a call on governors of the five states of the zone to find ways to address the deteriorating security in the zone. They said that there was increasing spate of kidnapping, armed robberies and other crimes and criminalities in the zone. According to an eyewitness, the victim, Abubakar, went to
• Christian group opposes amnesty for Boko Haram, ACF backs dialogue a shop to buy provisions, when three gunmen shot him on the leg and snatched his vehicle. He source said: “We were sitting near a shop when four gunmen in a tricycle ambushed Abubakar and shot him, before snatching his vehicle. Soldiers later took to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for treatment. An hour after the incident, the suspects crashed the vehicle on a tree and two died on the spot, while the other two
were arrested by JTF and taken for interrogation at Giwa Barracks. Confirming the incident yesterday in Maiduguri, the JTF spokesman, Lt. Col Sagir Musa, said that one person was feared killed in the attack. Speaking in Abuja yesterday at her national conference, the Chairman of NOSCEF, Mathew Owojaiye said that the security arms of government had failed in their duties to check the sect’s menace. Owojaiye stressed that their
predicament in the North had multi-faceted following the sect’s atrocities, adding that the amnesty was wrong headed. Besides, the ACF leaders who hosted the Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Fay in Kaduna yesterday, said that in spite of the Boko Haram sect’s rejection of planned amnesty, they still believed that dialogue was the only tool government must employ to resolve the insurgency in the North.
20 bid for Afam, Kaduna power distribution firms By Roseline Okere ALE of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company and the Afam Power Plant, which was put on hold last year received 20 bids, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) said yesterday. Meanwhile, the General Overseer of the Four-Square Gospel Church and the visitor of the faith based institution, Macpherson University, Felix Meduoye has requested the Minister of Power, Prof. Chine-
S
du Nebo, to intervene and save the new school from near total darkness. BPE said in a statement, that as at the deadline of Tuesday, April 16, 2013 for the submission of bids by prospective investors for the Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Distribution Companies, 20 prospective investors responded. According to the BPE, a breakdown showed that nine bids were received for Afam Power Plc and 11 for Kaduna Distribution Company.
He said that the BPE had earlier set January 31, 2013 for the submission of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective bidders for the two companies and received 19 applications for Kaduna Disco and 29 applications for Afam Generation Company. It added: “Consequently, the Bureau, on February 4, 2013, sent Requests for Proposals (RFP) to the 48 prospective bidders”, it said. The BPE disclosed that it has
set up a committee to evaluate the process and come out with report. The Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc were among the 17 Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies that were earlier advertised for sale in December 2010 along with the 15 others that went through a full competitive tender process which culminated in the submission of technical and financial proposals in July 2012.
chairman in Njikoka Council, Chief Charles Nwazojie against Okwu and his other newly installed executives at the wards, councils and state levels. Justice M.T Salihu granted the order in pursuant to the Motion Exparte brought before it on April 15, 2013 by Ugo Ugwunnadi, counsel to the applicants, after reading the statement, the reliefs sought, the grounds upon which the application was brought.
But Okwu in a quick reaction told journalists that he was surprised that the court could give such an order without those sued being aware of it. He vowed that the order “will not stand.” The court according to the details also considered “a 44 paragraph affidavit verifying the facts as well as a 12 paragraph affidavit of extreme urgency both deposed to by the applicant on record and filed at this Court Registry, Awka.”
Court retrains Okwu-led APGA from holding office From Chuks Collins (Awka) and Ezeocha Nzeh (Abuja) with agency report in the recent congress and
• Member rejects inclusion in party’s NEC
HE last may not have been heard in the crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as a Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State and presided over by Justice M.T. Salihu yesterday restrained the newly elected factional national chairman of the party, Chief Maxi Okwu and all other officers so elected along with him
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convention they organised, from parading or holding themselves as such. Meanwhile, an elected member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Habib Gajo has rejected his inclusion into the Okwu-led NEC at the party’s April 8 national convention at Awka. Also, following the court order, the Okwu led-faction of
the APGA has postponed its town hall meeting scheduled for Enugu tomorrow. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Okwu stated that the meeting had been temporarily postponed pending the determination of the suit. The suit was brought by the duly elected wards, local governments and state executive officers of the party led by its
Change (CPC) in 2011 polls, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has said if given the mandate to rule in 2015, he would uphold the trust in transforming the nation. Reflecting on the past, Buhari reiterated that the 2003, 2007 and 2011 polls lacked fairness and people’s votes were not allowed to count, a situation he said was responsible for the lack of meaningful development in the country. Buhari, who is the chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the CPC spoke yesterday at the CPC contact and mobilisation committee for the North west zone, stressing that the ruling party had almost led adrift. He therefore stressed the need for urgent action that would put the country back on track in order “to return her back to its lost glory”. He therefore urged the electorate to ensure that their votes are counted in the elections ahead and should engage in grass root mobilisation to ensure that credible people were voted into leadership positions.
Reps move to end Benue, Taraba boundary dispute From Terhemba Daka, Abuja HE House of Representatives T yesterday called for an end to the boundary dispute between Benue and Taraba states which has claimed several lives, with many others declared missing in recent times. Consequently, the Committee on Special Duties of the House has been mandated to interface with the National Boundaries Commission with a view to fashioning out ways of resolving the lingering dispute. The resolution came following a motion introduced under matters of urgent public importance by Col. Benjamin Aboho (rtd) who noted that the dispute had, at different times, resulted in armed conflicts between the people of Moon Community of Kwande Local Council of Benue State and the Kashimbila Community of Takum Local Council of Taraba State. According to the lawmaker, the recent clash in the affected area led to abduction of people and alleged invasion by soldiers of Imande-Debam Market in Moon. He blamed the development on inability of the National Boundaries Commission to carry out a proper demarcation of the affected area over time, in spite of several concerted attempts. “As long as this problem remains unresolved, the people on both sides will continue to suffer in the hands of security agencies, thus creating continuous conflict situations,” the lawmaker stated, adding that inhabitants of the affected area were predominantly farmers who rely on food production for livelihood and who may abandon their farming activities this season for fear of invasion and possible abduction, thus creating famine this year.”
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
4 NEWS
NNPC explains drop in crude oil production
ACN wants Jonathan’s visit to Lagos rescheduled over convention • Presidency says allegations baseless By Felix Kuyeand Abiodun Fanoro CTION Congress of NigeA ria (ACN) yesterday expressed worry over the planned visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Lagos today which coincides with the holding of the party’s national convention in the city, urging the President to either reschedule the trip or use a mode of intra-city transportation that will not cause closure of roads. But in a swift reaction, the Presidency expressed disappointment over what it called attempt to dictate the President’s itinerary, and described as baseless the alleged plot to frustrate the ACN’s merger plan with other political parties and disrupt its convention. It indicated that Lagos is not the destination of the President who will only be transiting through the city to Ibafo in Ogun State. In a letter to Governor Babatunde Fashola urging him to advise the President to consider the concerns raised, ACN said: “We write to convey our concerns to Your Excellency on the implication of the planned visit to Lagos on Thursday, April 18, 2013 of President Goodluck Jonathan. “As you are very much aware, the national convention of our party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), will hold on the same day at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos. Adequate notice of the convention has been given through the media and other channels. “We are concerned that based on precedence, the visit of the President may lead to the closure of key arterial roads in the city, which could prevent thousands of our supporters coming to Lagos from all parts of the federation from making it to the venue of the convention. “This may lead to frustration and provocation on the part of these supporters, who would have travelled hundreds of kilometres from their destinations. “In particular, the timing of the President’s visit and the attendant disruption of traffic in Lagos may be seen as a continuation of perceived attempts by the PDP-led Federal Government to frustrate the merger of our party with other progressive parties, which is a key item on the agenda of our National Convention on Thursday. “The implication of what
will be perceived as a calculated attempt to disrupt the convention and, by extension the merger, combined with the frustration that many of our supporters who have travelled far distances will feel for not being able to easily access the venue of the convention, may lead to a breach of the peace, the consequences of which no one will be able to fathom. “We are therefore appealing to Your Excellency to use your good offices to advise the President to either reschedule his visit or use a mode of intra-city transportation, like helicopter, that will not engender closure of roads on a very busy day in the city. “We are very sure that even the President will not want to subject his compatriots to avoidable suffering just because of a visit that can either be rescheduled or carried out in an unobtrusive manner on a gridlockprone day.” In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, wrote: “We find it hard to believe that any patriotic and rightthinking Nigerian would have written the kind of publicly circulated letter reportedly sent to Governor Babatunde Fashola by the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in which he attempts to dictate President Jonathan’s itinerary, mode of transportation within Lagos, and motive, and even suggests that the President’s visit could have been designed to frustrate a planned ACN convention and merger with some other political parties. “The allegation is not only baseless, but another in the series of ‘wolf crying’ that has become the sole strategy and pre-occupation of the ACN. It is clearly a deliberate, further attempt to undermine, ridicule and debase the office of the President of the Federal Republic. “A courteous and simple discussion of the phantom potential conflict of programmes with appropriate officials of the Presidency would have sufficed to inform the ACN and its officials that President Jonathan is only transiting through Lagos tomorrow on his way to the commissioning of the WEMPCO Cold Roll Steel Plant in Ibafo, Ogun State.”
• N191 billion lost By Sulaimon Salau HE Nigerian National PetroleT um Corporation (NNPC) has announced a drop in crude oil
President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Bayo Oyero (left); Ikolaba Olubadan, Oloye Lekan Alabi; Guest Lecturer, Prof. Adekunle Adeniran and Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, High Chief Omowale Kuye, during a lecture entitled The Imperative of Education and Further Education for Career Effectiveness in honour of the 99th birthday of Olubadan of Ibadanland in Ibadan… yesterday. PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM
Lagos Assembly holds session for Oluwole Awolowo By Wole Oyebade AGOS State House of AssemLlatebly yesterday honoured the Oluwole Awolowo, a former member of the House. At a lying-in-state and special valedictory session held at the Chamber, the lawmakers paid glowing tributes to the deceased and in remembrance of legacies of his father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Presiding over the special session, the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said the House altered its rules of proceedings to hold the special valedictory service for the young Awolowo who was a “prince of Yorubaland and son of the late sage.” The House had before yesterday held valedictory services only for former speakers and serving members that passed on in service. Ikuforiji said the death of Awolowo availed them the opportunity to also pay tribute to his late father, the “fore-runner and icon of we Progressives.” He said: “Most members here in this House today are either too young or not yet ready for politics as at the exit of the sage. It therefore gives us the rear opportunity to honour the elder Awolowo, when his
son passed on.” In his eulogy, the Speaker said though death is a sad reminder of the end of all men, it is also a celebration of good life lived by both Awolowos. Oluwole Awolowo (1942-2013) was a member of the House in the First and Second republics, representing Apapa Constituency under the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Majority Leader of the House, Ajibayo Adeyeye, said Oluwole was a parliamentarian with passion for the people and healthy environment. Though he never met him in his lifetime, Adeyeye cited one of Awolowo’s contributions in the House, where he raised concern on illegal parking of trailers and trading in Apapa on December 3, 1979. “He was indeed a man that cared about the environment.” Chairman of the Committee on Education, Wahab AlawiyeKing, lauded the Awolowos’ exploit in the newspaper business and their ability to keep Tribune Newspapers afloat till date. The newspaper was established prior to Independence. The lawmaker representing
Ifako-Ijaye I, Oludayo Fafunmi, added that the history of the deceased should be a model of unity among the Yoruba. Fafunmi noted that Oluwole Awolowo was born a progressive, partied with the conservatives from early age, “but is today among the progressives.” “He had always remain one and the same with us despite party differences and this symbolises the sacrosanct of unity of the Yoruba nation. We all must emulate this legacy,” Fafunmi said. Other members who also spoke eulogised the sage’s legacy of free education “that has made all of us.” The special session also had in attendance the former Governor of Lagos, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his wife; former Deputy Governor, Abiodun Ogunleye; former Speaker of the House, Jokotola Pelumi; and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftains led by Alhaji Lai Mohammed. Others are Senator Anthony Adefuye, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Chief G.O.K. Ajayi as well as members of the family and friends of the Awolowos.
production in the first quarter of 2013. In a statement signed by the Acting Group General Manager (Public Affairs Division) of the corporation, Tumini Green, NNPC attributed the drop to incessant crude oil theft and vandalism of major pipelines within the Niger Delta. According to the statement, daily crude oil production during the period fluctuated between 2.1 and 2.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) against the projected estimate of 2.48mbpd. “Expectedly, this fall between actual production and forecast in first quarter of 2013 has resulted in a drop in crude oil revenue of about $1.23 billion (N$191 billion) that should have accrued to the Federation Account,” Green explained. She noted that the NNPC/SPDC JV recently declared a force majeure on Bonny Crude due to incessant crude oil theft, which was said to have resulted in the shutting in of 150,000 bpd. “Investigations showed that 53 break-points were discovered along the 97 kilometres Nembe Creek Trunkline. Repair work is expected to last about six weeks. This will further reduce our April and May monthly average to about 2.2mbpd and further decrease crude oil revenue by about $554.0 million (equivalent to N83billion) that should have accrued to the Federation Account,” Green said. She, however, assured that the maintenance work would have minimal effect on gas supply to domestic market. “We shall continue to work with relevant government agencies both at the federal and state levels to end this incessant crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. We have the potential to meet the national target of 2.48mbpd if this menace is eliminated,” she said, adding that crude theft and pipeline vandalism have continued to degrade the environment, increase operational costs, impact negatively on the image of the country and of course, reduce revenue accruable to the nation.
Nigeria’s democracy on course, says Jonathan From Mohammed Abubakar and Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja
• Swears in new FCSC commissioners
RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan has said despite the prevailing challenges,
el incompetency and uneven representation of states in the federal civil service. Addressing the SecretaryGeneral of the Community of Democracies, Ambassador Maria Leissner, and the diplomatic community accredited to Nigeria as well as other dignitaries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President admitted that political parties in Nigeria are enamoured with capturing political power by all means, but said “we are working hard to ensure that generations yet unborn can enjoy better life. We are ensuring that government agencies and political parties obey court orders.” The President, who spoke through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, enthused that for democracy, Nigeria is in the verge of “getting things right.” In February 2015, Nigeria would assume the presidency of the Community of Democracies. Currently, Nigeria is preparing to take its seat at the Troika of the Community of Democracies.
democracy in Nigeria is on course. He made the declaration yesterday at the start of a twoday workshop by the secretariat of the Community of Democracies holding in Abuja. Also yesterday in Abuja, the President swore in newlyconfirmed four members of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), with a lamentation on the fast-degenerating quality of civil service, resulting in high-lev-
The community meets every two years at the ministerial level. In attendance yesterday were the Senate President, David Mark; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Prof. Joy Ogwu; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Mathew Hassan Kukah; ministers as well as the chairpersons of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on foreign affairs. The theme of the national workshop, Strengthening Democratic Traditions and Institutions, was chosen, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, because Nigeria holds in high esteem the Warsaw Declaration which states that the “will of the people shall and should be the basis of the authority of government.” Represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi who convened the conference, Ashiru added that today, “Nigeria takes pride in associating itself with the community of
democracies, which is aimed at promoting democratic rules as well as strengthening democratic norms and institutions across the globe.” The guest speaker and renowned global democracy activist, Leissner, lauded Nigeria’s leadership role in the restoration mission in Mali but urged for a consolidation of democracy at home. Mark, who spoke through the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Saleh (rtd), said recent events in the country calls for a time for “soul-searching as a united Nigeria.” According to him, “we have to overlook religious and geographic sentiments for a bigger picture-one strong and united Nigeria.” At the swearing in of FCSC commissioners, Jonathan tasked the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to wake up to its responsibility by ensuring that the sagging influence of civil service is re-invigorated by ensuring that progression, especially in the federal civil service, is backed up with competence and knowledge.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
Military denies friction with supervising ministry From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE Military has denied any form of misunderstanding with her parent Ministry, following media reports of a purported comment made by the permanent secretary in relation to the acquisition of operational equipment. In a statement issued yesterday by the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. A.C. Olukolade, the comments made by the Permanent Secretary, Aliyu Ismaila, were “grossly and unfairly quoted out of context to create an impression of bitter friction between the leadership of the Armed Forces and the Ministry.” The report carried in some newspapers and on-line media on Tuesday indicates that there is a serious disaffection between the Ministry of Defence and the Military. The DDI said: “The familiarisation visit was not a platform for resistance, protest or antagonism by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and services to the ministry as portrayed by those reports. It was rather a promotion of cordial relationship that has existed between DHQ and MOD.”
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Court orders striking Osun workers to resume From Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo N Osogbo High Court yesterday ordered the striking workers of the four government-owned tertiary institutions in Osun State to resume academic activities with immediate effect. Justice Oyejide Falola, while giving an order of interlocutory injunction, directed the rectors and provosts of the institutions to resume academic activities pending the determination of the originating summons. Falola held that he came to the conclusion upon reading the application and affidavit of Abdul Rahman and that of the plaintiffs who moved the application in court. The respondents’ counsel had moved for an order of interlocutory injunction directing the rectors and provosts of the institutions jointly and severally to open their various institutions for academic activities pending the determination of the originating summons.
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Judge’s absence stalls trial of Atuche, others By Bertram Nwannekanma and Yetunde Ayobami-Ojo HE trial of former ManagT ing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Mr. Francis Atuche and two others charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of stealing the sum of N25.7 billion belonging to the bank yesterday could not go as planned because of the trial judge’s absence. The two others charged with Atuche over the alleged infractions are his wife, Elizabeth and the former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Mr. Ugo Anyanwu. The trial judge, Lateefa Okunnu, has adjourned to enable the defence to file a no-case submission against the prosecution’s case. However, argument on the no-case submission was stalled as a result of the judge’s absence.
News 5
Ajimobi sacks Ladoja’s nominees from cabinet From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan HE cold war between GovT ernor Abiola Ajimobi and leader of Accord Party (AP) in the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, deepened yesterday as the governor disengaged AP nominees from his government. The governor, in a letter to Ladoja, recounted how the erstwhile chief executive had breached the tenets of
agreement reached by both parties, as well as his incessant vituperations on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-led government. In the letter, Ajimobi traced the history of his alliance with the former governor and how, in the last few months, Ladoja had consistently broken the tenets of the accord by casting aspersion on a government in which he vicariously partici-
pated, through the participation of his nominees and proxies, which included his younger brother. “Immediately after the 2011 election, because of the peculiar configuration of the electoral balance, it was obvious that, for the good of our state and its development, I needed to extend my handshake across other frontiers. “You will recall also that
Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State (right) being decorated by Chairman of the state Police Community Relations Committee, Alhaji Haruna Jada, as grand patron of the committee in Birini Kebbi…on Tuesday
after the elections, I met with you to ask for an alliance between your political party, Accord Party and my government. The basis of the relationship being demanded was for you to support me and contribute, as well as participate, positively in the governance of the state, considering the devastation and degradation that had been visited on the state over the years. “You will also recall that, at my meeting with you, you agreed with me that, for a total restoration of the state, there was the need for well-meaning citizens of Oyo State to eliminate the politics of brickbats, mudslinging and the proverbial Pull Him-Down-Syndrome, which had become the byword for politicking in our state. This politics invariably misinforms the citizenry through subterfuge and has, over the years, contributed in stalling the development of the state. “At that meeting, you agreed with me that there was the need to rescue the state from those vices of the political arena that had driven it backwards,” the letter read in part.
National Health Bill suffers setback in Senate By Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos) and Emeka Anuforo (Abuja) EDICAL practitioners, M under the aegis of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), have urged members of the Senate to resolve quickly their disagreements to ensure speedy passage of the National Health Bill (NHB). The NHB suffered a major setback at the Senate with members unable to agree on the primary source of financing the National Primary Health Care Development Fund, a fund meant to ensure the provision of basic health services to all eligible Nigerians, particularly those not currently covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Senate President David Mark stood down the bill and later approved that it be passed to
the Senate Committee on Health for further legislative work. The Bill, which had attracted various views from stakeholders since it was resubmitted to the Legislature, seeks to provide a framework for the development and management of a health system within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The NMA, which alerted The Guardian on the development, in a statement yesterday, said it is especially disappointing since the 6th National Assembly had previously passed a similar Bill with similar provisions without generating much controversy. They, however, urged that the disagreement be speedily and amicably resolved by the National Assembly so
that the National Health Bill can be brought back on track in order to put a stop to the several avoidable deaths of children, women, the elderly and other Nigerians as a result of inequitable access to healthcare services. The Bill, as passed by the 6th National Assembly, was sent back to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan after much protests by other professional health bodies and religious organisations who are against some provisions of the Bill. NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said: “The NMA received with sadness the news of the temporary setback suffered on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, by the National Health Bill during its consideration by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Rival APC cautions INEC against registering merging parties’ name From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja HE controversy over the T acronym, APC, continued midweek when the African People’s Congress (APC) cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against registering any other party in its name. The association’s National Legal Adviser, Nnadi Kingsley, said in a statement yesterday that the insistence by the merging parties to use the acronym “APC” was a ploy to cause serious political instability in the country before the next election. He said the preparation for convention ahead of the merger by the three parties particularly, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), was a landmine for INEC. Titled: “Action Congress for INEC”, the statement reads: “The attention of the leadership of the African People’s Congress (APC) has been drawn to the legal implications of recent publications in the media on the sched-
uled conventions of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and other merging political parties to formalise their merger and adopt our acronym APC. “We want to use this medium to remind the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the merger group and other concerned groups, that our application to register as a political party is still subsisting legally as provided in Section 79 of the Electoral Act, which enables us to seek judicial review of the non-registration of our association within 30 days of the date of the receipt of the letter from INEC. “This option, our association has exercised by instituting a case against INEC in the Federal High Court Abuja with suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/224/2013 led by a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Awa Kalu (SAN), and a team of other senior lawyers to upturn this malicious, unconstitutional and reckless decision by INEC against
our association. “This implies that our suit is before a court of competent jurisdiction. Consequently, INEC has no right to register any association, group or political party with our name, logo, symbol, acronym, among others, until our matter is finally disposed of by the court, which the Electoral Act recognises as the final stage in party registration.” It continued: “The association, African People’s Congress (APC) has noticed the defiant insistence of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and other merging partners to adopt our acronym as their merger acronym and has gone ahead to slate conventions to finalise this illegality. We, therefore, call upon INEC to beware of this landmine planted by the undemocratic elements in the merger group, which is propelled by the inordinate ambitions of their leaders, as their action is capable of undermining our democratic setting.”
“While we note that debates are characteristic of the Legislature, we however, believe that the disagreements over the constitutionality of the minimum of two per cent allocation to the National Primary Healthcare Development Fund from the Consolidated Fund of the Federation, as expressed in Clause 11 of the proposed Bill, should not be allowed to further deny Nigerians, majority of whom are poor, equitable access to healthcare services especially in rural communities.”
Governor Ajimobi said that in spite of the initial opposition by his party’s echelon, which had reasoned that Ladoja’s ambition to govern the state again would destroy the alliance; he stuck to the agreement with Ladoja, believing that as a sportsman, the former governor would respect the spirit and letter of the alliance. “Regrettably, recent developments, in terms of the conduct of your people and the campaign of calumny which is recorded frequently in the newspapers, unsubstantiated allegations, as well as unwarranted vitriolic attacks against my person and the government under my leadership, have made me come to the conclusion that these recent campaigns against me are incompatible with the spirit of our alliance,” the governor said. Ajimobi argued that being a beneficiary of the alliance, it was inconsistent with reality for the former governor to consistently run his administration down. “There is nowhere in the world where an alliance that benefits a participating partner is repaid by destructive maneuvers and corrosive innuendoes aimed at bringing down the house as this,” he said. “It is in view of the foregoing that I am using this medium to inform you of my decision to disengage your nominees from the government… I feel constrained to take this painful but inevitable decision, in view of our personal relationship,” Ajimobi said. Affected by this sack were two commissioners, two special advisers, some chairmen and members of boards, caretaker chairman of a local council and others who were nominees of the former governor.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
6 | NEWS
Edo chairmanship candidate released, tasks IG on illegal detention
Ex-minister condemns hasty campaigns ahead 2015
From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City
From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta
FTER seven days in police A custody, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chair-
With the huge amount of money the government has borrowed to finance roads projects, my concern is that it would run the state into bankruptcy.
manship candidate of Etsako central local council, Emmanuel Momoh, who was arrested over the political clash in Fugar, was yesterday released. Speaking to journalists shortly after his release by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 5 in Benin City, he called on the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, to monitor the high level of illegal detentions in various Nigerian cells, stating that some detainees have spent over six months in detention without trial contrary to the police chief’s promise when he assumed office. Meanwhile, the police said it was ready to provide adequate security for weekend’s election. Edo State Commissioner of Police, Folusho Adebanjo, told The Guardian yesterday that he was expecting policemen from neighbouring states, but refused to disclose the number of men to be deployed. “But we have cautioned our men, we are prepared for the election. All our men will be deployed for the exercise to ensure that it is successful,” he said. “I have also cautioned politicians that anybody caught causing trouble would be dealt with.”
Oxbridge Club holds business luncheon today BUSINESS luncheon organA ised by the Oxford and Cambridge Club of Nigeria will hold today at Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos. It is the first of its kind for the club that comprises alumni members of both universities, who are of Nigerian origin. The luncheon, which seeks to advance discussions on business, economic, political and social issues affecting contemporary Nigerian society, will feature a spring lecture on the economy. Entitled, Growth and Development in Nigeria: Medium Term Prospects, the lecture will be delivered by renowned technocrat and former Federal Minister of Petroleum, Chief Philip Asiodu. President Paul Kigame of Rwanda delivered the 2012 spring lecture during his two-day official working visit to Nigeria. According to a statement from the alumni’s secretariat, participants at the business luncheon will cut across various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
NSTEAD of campaigning for Iwhich the 2015 general elections, are two years away, po-
ing tendencies of the executive had negative impacts on the legislature and the judiciary, and also impacted negatively on other independent agencies of government as well as non-state actors like the civil societies and the media. “Nigeria is yet to condition herself to the practice of rule of law as a guiding principle in the art of governance,” he said. Yet, there is still the possibility of light at the end of the tunnel, indeed long tunnel, because the democratic institutions in the current phase of democratisation are gradually being reawakened on the question of accountability, constitutionalism and the rule of law.”
litical office holders should concentrate on how to stabilise the country’s democracy. Those were the words of advise from the former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola, who tasked politicians yesterday in Abeokuta to play “mature.” Speaking during an interaction with journalists, he insisted that human beings are the index of any development hence those in power should concern themselves with how to improve the lives of the ordinary people. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart advised political leaders to always accept criticism in good faith, just as he commended the government of Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State for its efforts in infrastructure development. He advised that the government should also pay attention to other sectors, especially health and education, stating: “With the huge amount of money the government has borrowed to finance roads projects, my concern is that it would run the state into bankruptcy.” Ishola urged Amosun to invest instead in ventures that would bring returns to enable it offset any loan it takes just as he challenged the state’s legislators to live up to their constitutional responsibilities. And though he admitted approach by some political parties’ leaders, including that of Labour Party, he refuted claims that he had initiated moves to defect to any of
He thereby directed the deputy leader to report back to the House within three weeks. The contentious BOFIA Bill was passed by the 6th House but did not receive the President’s assent. It was thereafter committed to the Committee of the Whole 7th House after first reading. Meanwhile, all members agreed with him on the choice of a small but effective committee to handle the consideration. The members include Leo Ogor (chairman), Betty Apiafi (sponsor), Sam Tsokwa, Ali Ahmed, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, Jones Onyereri,
Haruna Adamu, Abubakar Momoh, Frank Enekorowa and Rafequat Onabamiro. During the consideration of the bill yesterday, clauses 2, 3 and 4 were passed. Clause 1, which deals with functions, powers and duties of the Central Bank of Nigeria, had earlier been considered before the House went on Easter break. Clause 2 deals with banking business, while clause 3 is on investment and release of a prescribed Minimum Share Capital. Clause 4 deals with power to revoke or vary Conditions of Licence.
Togolese Prime Minister, H.E.Kwesi Ahoomey-Zunu (third right) and Togo’s Minister for Culture, Me KFA Sessenou (fourth left) in group with ECOWAS Peace Ambassador 2012, Nigeria’s Miss Zirra Banu (fourth right); Miss ECOWAS, Togo-Staphanie Nenonene (second right), Miss ECOWAS Ghana-Keisha Ferguson – (fifth right); Global MD,702 Productions, Ms Inimfon-Etuk (first left) during courtesy visit in Togo as part of the Peace Ambassadors official regional tour recently.
Yar’Adua misguided by attorney-general on rule of law, says Tambuwal From Abba Anwar, Kano ROM the Speaker of the FAminu House of Representatives, Waziri Tambuwal, has come a damning verdict yesterday that the former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) during the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration misguided the President over non-compliance with the rule of law, which is a fundamental pillar of democracy. According to him, “despite Yar’Adua’s early track record of supporting the cause of rule of law in Nigeria, his administration was unfortunately misguided and appeared running counter to the precepts of the principle owing, for instance, to the conduct and utterances of his
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.” He cited the case of the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, as a destructive reference point to that effect. Tambuwal spoke yesterday at the 30th Annual Memorial Anniversary lecture of Malam Aminu Kano, organised by the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Bayero University, Kano, at Mambayya House, Kano, where he was guest speaker. The theme of the lecture being, Rule of Law: Fundamental Condition for Good Governance and Sustainable Democracy, he noted that, “disrespect of the rule of law in Nigeria has opened up an-
other debate on the legitimacy of the public officers at the national, state and even local governments in the federation.” These, in his opinion, made civilian administration worse than military regime in terms of flagrant disregard to the rule of law. He said that since the return of democracy in 1999, the integrity and accountability of the country’s judicial system has been under serious challenge and scrutiny because of some pronouncements made were seen as externally influenced, undermining the independence of the judiciary. Further buttressing the absence of rule of law in the activities of the executive, Tambuwal said the overbear-
Reps not against amendment to BOFIA Act, says Ihedioha From Adamu Abuh, Abuja
Refers bill to ad-hoc committee
EPUTY Speaker of the D House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, has faulted
He was apparently referring to speculations that the lower chamber may not be disposed to quick passage of the bill due to pressure from operatives of the banks and some regulatory bodies in the banking sector. Though clauses 2, 3 and 4 of the bill got the nod of the House in the end, the deputy speaker put a stop to the debate on the bill after referring it to a 10-member ad-hoc committee, led by the Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor,
the notion in certain quarters that the House leadership was preparing to stall the amendment of the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA). Ihedioha, who presided over the deliberations, said that neither the leadership nor members of the House were nurturing the motive to undermine the passage of the bill.
to fine-tune the amendment being sought and re-present it for another round of consideration. Ihedioha justified the decision, saying that the constitution of the ad-hoc panel was aimed at ensuring its speedy consideration. According to him, there were contentious issues raised by members as the bill was being deliberated upon and the only way to achieve the desired result was to commit it to an ad-hoc committee for scrutiny.
Tukur defends replacement of Rivers’ PDP executive From Mohammed Abubakar (Abuja) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) S the festering relationship between the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, and his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national platform worsens, the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has stoutly defended Tuesday’s swearing-in of the Felix Amaechi-Obua-led state executive committee, saying the action was not targeted at crippling an individual within the party.
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State ALGON alleges plot to remove Amaechi Tukur, while interacting with bureau chiefs of media organisations in Abuja yesterday, made it clear that he would support his son to contest as the next governor of Adamawa State since no law forbade him from contesting for any leadership position in the country. His position follows the criticism that trailed the removal of the Chief Godpower Umejuru Ake-led executive board by a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Is’haq
Bello on Monday, and the swearing-in of the Felix Amaechi-Obua-led committee on Tuesday at the party’s headquarters in Abuja. The former was believed to be backed by Governor Amaechi. Tukur insisted that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had no hand in the removal of the previous executive from office, saying that what the NWC did was to comply with a court ruling, which has been its philos-
ophy, to return the party to the principle of rule of law. However, council chairmen in Rivers State have alleged that the crisis rocking the state PDP was precursory to a ploy to create chaos, declare a state of emergency and remove Amaechi from office. The chairmen, under the aegis of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), have vowed never to accept or work with the newly sworn-in state executive committee of the party led by the former chairman of
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni council, Felix Obuah. The Rivers ALGON Chairman, Chimbiko Akarolo, told journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday that after thorough deliberation and critical analysis of the sack of the Godspower Ake-led executive and its subsequent replacement by the Obuah-led team, the chairmen concluded that there was a calculated plan by a faction of the party to cause breakdown of law and order in the state. According to a statement he read, “the clinical implemen-
tation of the above plot did commence with the several failed attempts to remove governor of Rivers State as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum contrary to the will and aspirations as expressly indicated by a majority of members of the forum.” Meanwhile, Tukur also reacted to insinuations that he was positioning his son, Awwal, as the next governor of Adamawa State. He said his son had been in politics before he became national chairman of the party, and was even a member of the House of Representatives.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
News 7
Nnamani gets court’s nod for foreign medical trip
Abia House denies ordering arrest of Uzor Kalu, appropriates N27.97b for councils
From Abosede Musari (Abuja) and Joseph Onyekwere (Lagos) USTICE Mohammed Yinusa JLagos, of the Federal High Court, yesterday granted for-
From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE Abia State House of AsT sembly has debunked claims in some quarters that
it ordered the arrest of the former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, over his alleged statement that the legislators complained to him about not getting their dues. Deputy Speaker of the House, Allwell Asiforo Okere, while briefing journalists yesterday at the Assembly complex, dissociated members from that statement and declared that they never made such complaint to Kalu. He added: “We are getting our dues, we did not complain of such to him, we did not also order his arrest but simply dissociated from the allegation.” Meanwhile, he revealed that in the past few weeks, the House appropriated a total of N27.97 billion for the 17 local councils in the state for their 2013 capital and recurrent expenditures. Okere, who is chairman of the House Committee on Information, said the House tied costs to the approved appropriation to ensure full compliance and implementation. Among other things, he added that within this period, the House amended the State Business Premises Law providing for harmonisation of chargeable fees to bring them in line with the current economic realities.
Newly appointed Commissioners of the Federal Civil Service Commission: Hope Ikiriko (Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta) (left); Prof. Diyo Sheidu (Kogi and Kwara); Dr. Ngozi Agatha (Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu) and Emmanuel Chimeze (Imo/Abia) taking their oath of office at the State House, Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA
INEC explains presence at separate PDP primaries for Adamawa by-election From Emmanuel Ande, Yola HE Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained its role at last weekend’s Nassarawo/Binyeri Assembly byelection in Adamawa State, where it supervised two separate primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a development that is now
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Delta Speaker tasks Anioma on coordination ahead 2015 • Ijaw group wants equal political office, denies violence in council From Hendrix Oliomogbe (Asaba) and Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City) GAINST the backdrop of agitations for power shift to Delta-North Senatorial District in 2015, Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, has canvassed the need for a focused demand for a governor of Anioma descent. Ochei spoke in Asaba on Tuesday during a visit by the leadership of an ethno-political group, Anioma Agenda, noting that the demand for governorship of the state by the people of Anioma was their inalienable right. In a related development, an Ijaw group in Delta State, Egbema Voice, reiterated its demand for equitable allocation of political offices between the Ijaw and their Itsekiri neighbour in WarriNorth Council, claiming that they had been marginalised in terms of political office for the past 22 years the council was created. However, the group allayed the fears that the Ijaw were spoiling for bloodshed and violent confrontation to protest their marginalisation, as recently contained in an on-line publication. According to Ochei, the need for balancing the governorship slot is based on the conventional tripod arrangement in which the Central and South Senatorial zones have produced governors, and will bring about equity and fairness. He advised the numerous ethnic groups
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mer governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. Delivering his ruling on the application to travel abroad for medical care, the judge said that Nnamani was free to travel to the United States on health ground. He sais: “It is, therefore, my considered opinion that the first accused/applicant has fulfilled the requirement and the conditions provided under the bail bond by seeking leave of court before embarking on the medical treatment in the United
to uphold unity in diversity, which can engender sociopolitical and economic advancement of the state. Meanwhile, Chairman of Anioma Agenda, Mr. Alex Onwuadiamu, explained that the visit was to seek the Speaker’s support in ensuring that candidates of North Senatorial District readily subsume their personal ambitions in the overall interest of the Anioma Nation in its quest to govern the state in 2015. A statement issued in Benin City by Wilfred Elebiri, Steve Ayebo, Chuks Worwei, Bodewei Ojobor and Ugha Kurumah said the Ijaw were aware of complaints of marginalisation in the council where Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan hails from, though it was already receiving attention from the Federal Character Commission and the governor, slowly. While dissociating itself from the call for violence, the group, however, said those calling for violence might have done that because of the slow pace of results from their agitation, which they conveyed to the governor, the President and the Federal Character Commission. They demanded that appointments from the council into the state cabinet, as presently constituted, be on equal proportion between the Ijaw and Itsekiri, and that the next chairman of Warri-North Council should be an Ijaw, and rotated henceforth.
• Commission up to mischief, says faction the subject of controversy in the party. Fielding questions from selected journalists in Yola yesterday, INEC’s Resident Commissioner, Kassim G. Gaidam, said the action was to ensure peace in the state, noting that it was not the commission’s constitutional responsibility to decide for the party who bears its flag. “I received a letter from the national secretariat of the PDP, signed by the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Acting National Secretary, Onwe S. Onwe, on April 10, 2013, but the letter did not specify the venue or the state chairman recognised by the national secretariat of PDP,” he said. “So, as a neutral body, we have to supervise the primaries of both factions and send our report. It is now left for the national secretariat of the party to decide the name to submit to INEC.” According to him, Section 31 (1) of the amended Electoral Act empowers all political parties to submit to INEC candidates of their choice, as well as directs the commission not to reject any candidate submitted by any registered political party, since nomination of candi-
dates was the sole responsibility of political parties. Gaidam maintained that since the letter did not give the office address of the chairman of the party in the state or name of the PDP boss, INEC had to cover both primaries and leave the party’s national secretariat to decide which primary was acceptable to it. However, secretary of the Mijinyawa Kugama-led faction, Mr. Philneas P. Elisha, accused INEC of double standard in handling the PDP affairs in the state, wondering how the commission, which had been communicating with them through letters based on the party’s address with INEC, now claimed not to know the address. Quoting from the PDP Constitution 2012 as amended, he said the Joel Madaki-led primary election was conducted with the 1999 PDP Constitution, which he noted violated the party’s elections guidelines, adding that it was not only null and void, but also an exercise with no legal backing. Elisha further argued that there was only one PDP chairman in the state since the National Working Committee (NWC), headed by the Na-
tional Vice Chairman, Sam Jaja, had reinstated the Kugama-led executive and there was no document or another decision countering the action of the NWC. Meanwhile, The Guardian learnt that the Kugama-led executive has concluded arrangements for a legal battle with the Madaki-led executive committee over the election.
States of America.” According to the court, denying the request of the former governor, as contained in his application, would amount to altering the bail conditions earlier granted him in 2007. The judge added: “To insist on or to compel the applicant to provide reasons or justification will amount to altering the order of the court granting bail to the accused/applicant.” However, he ordered that Nnamani must appear in court at the next adjourned date (May 28), and must also submit his passport and file a notice of return to Nigeria. Nnamani was in August 2007 arraigned alongside others for alleged money laundering involving about N4.5 billion. The court had previously permitted him to travel abroad on health ground for four times. He and others were re-arraigned before Justice Yinusa on 105 counts of money laundering and economic crimes. The accused were alleged to have committed the offences between 1999 and 2007 while Nnamani was governor of Enugu State. Others standing trial with him are his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms allegedly linked to them. The firms are: Rainbownet Nigeria Ltd, Hillgate Nigeria Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.
Jurist blames Nigeria’s woes on bad leadership From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado-Ekiti RETIRED Justice of the A Supreme Court of Nigeria, George Oguntade, yesterday bemoaned the socio-political and security crises in the country and tasked leaders to provide practical and sincere solutions to them to avert impending disaster. Oguntade, who said the crises were already making many Nigerians hopeless, attributed the problems to bad leadership. Speaking in AdoEkiti, Ekiti State capital, during a lecture to flag off the burial ceremony of the late Chief Afolabi Obayemi, he noted that the crises have gone to the extent that many Nigeri-
ans were already rethinking their citizenship of the country. According to him, the “Nigerian situation has reached a point that many Nigerians are thinking of taking up the citizenship of another country. Except all these problems bordering on social and economic problems are resolved, things may not augur well for the future of this country”. Meanwhile, in his lecture, entitled: A True Nigerian, Ekiti State University’s Principal Assistant Registrar, Mr. Jadesola Babatola, said it has been difficult for Nigeria to develop like India and South Africa due to its excessively pluralistic nature.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
AfricanNews ‘Mali’s defeated Islamists are reorganising at home, abroad’ ALI’S Islamists are beginM ning to regroup at home and abroad after they were ousted from their major northern strongholds by a French-led military intervention as well as defeated in their mountain hideouts, a report claimed yesterday. Quoting military sources, the report by Agence France Presse (AFP) indicated that dozens of the insurgents fled Mali over the mountains of northern Niger and Chad, passing into southern Libya and western Sudan, where they are reorganising while others are recuperating in Algeria. “Some Islamists left the Malian territory to seek refuge elsewhere,” an African serviceman told AFP. The source added that members of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), one of three Islamist militias which occupied northern Mali last year, had gone into the Algerian camps of the Polisario Front, a rebel movement demanding the end of Moroccan control in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. The French and African soldiers have inflicted heavy losses since launching a military operation on January 11 to
Recently, when the highest UN authorities expressed their concern and called for urgent settlement of the Western Sahara problem, it is because of the risk of terrorists turning the refugee camps into a new home for jihadists. block the advance of Al Qaedalinked insurgents on the capital, Bamako, with Paris claiming to have killed 400 rebels. “Recently, when the highest UN authorities expressed their concern and called for urgent settlement of the Western Sahara problem, it is because of the risk of terrorists turning the refugee camps into a new home for jihadists”, the African soldier said. United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said in a report to the Security Council in early April that governments in the region had “raised serious concerns about the risk that the fighting in Mali could have an impact in neighbouring countries and in helping to radicalise the refugee camps of the Western Sahara” which he described as “a ticking time bomb”. Ousmane Maiga of the “Youth Coordination Association” in Gao, Mali’s largest northern city, said small groups of Islamists had head-
ed not just into Algeria but also into Mali’s neighbours – Niger and Mauritania. “Now, the fear is that we will see them coming back into northern Mali to take up arms again,” he said. But not all members of MUJAO and the two other main armed Islamist groups in Mali, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Ansar Dine (Defenders of the Faith), have fled abroad. “The enemy is still on the ground,” said a member of the general staff of the Malian army, pointing to suicide bombings in the cities of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal as well as the lengthy engagement of Islamist fighters by French and Chadian troops in the northeastern Ifoghas mountains. Many of the militants have abandoned their weapons to enable them to move more easily, but have an efficient supply chain which could resupply them at a moment’s notice, a Malian colonel told AFP.
ECOWAS Peace Ambassador 2012, Miss Zirra Banu of Nigeria, flanked by the President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Mr. Bashir Ifo (left) and Vice-President, Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, during her courtesy visit to the bank’s management in Togo as part of her regional tour.
Peace envoy tasks decision-makers on peace, unity in West Africa HE Peace Ambassador for T Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2012, Miss Zirra Banu from Nigeria, has urged decisionmakers across the sub-region to promote values that encourage peace and unity. Banu made the call recently
U.S. Army moves to redeploy troops as Morocco cancels war games HE United States (U.S.) T Army has indicated its readiness to redeploy troops from Morocco after Rabat cancelled yearly war games in the kingdom amid sharp disagreement over plans for a United Nations (UN) mission in Western Sahara. The “African Lion 2013” joint military exercises, which began last week and would have run to April 27, were to involve 1,400 personnel from U.S. Africa Command (Africom) as well as 900 mem-
bers of the Moroccan armed forces. Their cancellation came as U.S.-backed plans on broadening the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the disputed Western Sahara region to probe human rights abuses emerged – an initiative categorically rejected by Morocco. “We’re readying those troops for redeployment to where they came from sooner than we had planned for,” Africom spokesman, Chuck Prichard,
told Agence France Presse (AFP). “The exercises have been deferred at the request of the Kingdom of Morocco,” and no new date had been set for them to resume. “As far as the reasons why, the Moroccan officials made those decisions. I’d have to refer you to them,” he added. On Tuesday evening, the Moroccan government spokesman declined to comment on reports the military exercises had been cancelled.
But he called plans to alter the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, officially known as MINURSO, an attack on Morocco’s sovereignty that would have “harmful consequences” for regional stability. The war games, which were to take place throughout Morocco, and were geared to building “military partner-nation capacity,” involved amphibious and peacekeeping operations, aerial refuelling
during a courtesy visit to the President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Mr. Bashir Mamman Ifo, at the bank’s headquarters in Lome, Togo. The peace ambassador was accompanied by top management officials of 702 Productions, organisers of the ECOWAS Peace Pageant, among them the managing director, Maxine Menson; Mr. Chris Donkor, the group general manager and Inimfon Etuk, general manager-Nigeria. Also accompanying her were the Miss ECOWAS Ghana, Keisha Ferguson and the Miss ECOWAS Togo, Stéphanie Nenonene. The delegation was received by the bank’s President, the Vice President, Dr. George Agyekum Donkor and other top members of management of EBID. However, Banu expressed delight at the bank’s warm re-
ception and reaffirmed her commitment to deepening the peace advocacy across various frontiers. Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the President of EBID, commended the various initiatives from the ECOWAS Commission, such as the peace pageant, towards establishing and preserving peace, which is required to foster a wealthy and prosperous West Africa and the wellbeing of the people. The visit was within the framework of the routine regional tour scheduled for the ECOWAS peace ambassador to visit officials and institutions involved in development, peace building and poverty control within the region. The ECOWAS Peace Pageant is an initiative of 702 Productions Limited with the endorsement and support of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria.
Karim Wade: Senegalese ex-leader’s son in the web of graft HIS is not the best of time T for Karim Wade – the son of former Senegal leader, Abdoulaye Wade – as he awaits the decision of the country’s top anti-corruption operatives on whether he is to be charged following his arrest by detectives investigating his vast fortune valued at more than $1 billion. The junior Wade, who held a number of cabinet posts during his father’s presidency, was, as at yesterday being held in a Dakar police station in the latest twist in an ongoing legal battle with the current regime over alleged illicit gains from his time in office. Karim is alleged to have acquired a number of foreign companies, including Dubai Port World, which runs the port container terminal in Senegal’s capital Dakar, Moroccan bank BCME and airport ground support com-
pany AHS, through corruption. Senegal’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor, Alioune Ndao, told a media conference in Dakar the investigation into Wade’s financial affairs was “four-fifths complete” and judges would decide whether he was to be prosecuted. Meanwhile, officials from Senegal’s anti-corruption court have briefly set out the case against the former minister, a huge operation involving the movement of money through front organisations in tax havens across the world. “This is real financial engineering that has been exposed, with front-men and complex structures. We discovered key sectors of the economy held by offshore companies based in Panama, the British Virgin Islands and Luxembourg,” said prosecu-
tor Antoine Diome. He said investigators had uncovered offshore companies “whose specialty is to charge for services that exist only in the imagination of their authors, with millions of euros or dollars at stake”. In addition, they discovered transfers between banks “from one tax haven to another, involving very well-known Senegalese people”, Diome said. “The strategy was always to rely on friends and relatives or the employees of friends and relatives.” Local press said Wade was detained along with a number of alleged “accomplices”, including his former communications adviser, a businessman, a manager of an airport ground support company and an accountant. The 44-year-old’s arrest on Monday evening sparked clashes between security
Karim is alleged to have acquired a number of foreign companies, including Dubai Port World, which runs the port container terminal in Senegal’s capital Dakar, Moroccan bank BCME and airport ground support company AHS, through corruption forces and around 50 of his supporters who were dispersed with tear gas outside the police station. It came just hours after his legal team had filed a dossier of more than 2,000 pages in response to an order from the anti-corruption court to explain the provenance of assets allegedly worth over $1.4 billion (1.07 billion euros). Wade, who was not present at the court, denied corruption and said his vast fortune is entirely legitimate. His lawyers have accused the prosecution of “inventing” the facts in the graft case and attributing proper-
ty to Wade, which has clearly been registered in the name of the state. Ndao told the media conference he had ordered the arrest because, having studied the dossier carefully for two hours, he was “not convinced of the relevance” of Wade’s evidence. Wade’s lawyers had suggested that Ndao would not have had time to assess “nearly 3,000 items of evidence” before making a decision to have Wade arrested and therefore must have been planning his detention regardless of what the dossier showed.
Wade
Ndao told reporters however that the file was just 42 pages long, “the rest being related documents”. The former ruling Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) accuses the regime of Macky Sall, who defeated Wade’s father in presidential elections last year, of conducting a “witch-hunt” against the PDS hierarchy since it came to power.
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WorldReport Confusion over arrest of suspect in Boston bombings NITED States (U.S.) inves- Secret service intercepts suspicious letter addressed to Obama U tigators reportedly identified and arrested a suspect responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings, a source who was briefed on the investigation told the Cable News Network (CNN) yesterday. But in another report later, the U.S. Justice Department denied that such suspect was in custody. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also said no one was arrested yet in connection with the deadly bomb attacks at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, denying earlier media reports.
“Despite reports to the contrary, there has not been an arrest in the Marathon attack,” the Boston police department said on its Twitter account. The FBI also said there had been “no arrests made,” urging the media to “exercise caution.” A news report by the television network earlier claimed that the breakthrough on the arrest of a suspect came from analysis of video from a department store near the site of the second explosion. It was also reported that a video from a Boston televi-
sion station also contributed to the progress, according to the source, who declined to be more specific but called it a significant development. Also yesterday, United States (U.S.) Secret Service operatives disclosed that White House mail handlers identified a “suspicious substance” in a letter sent to President Barack Obama the same day one suspected of containing the poison ricin was found in a Senate mailroom. Moreso, U.S. Capitol Police also yesterday evacuated part of Senate building in
Washington DC due to a suspicious package. Earlier, a federal law enforcement source with firsthand knowledge of the investigation into the Boston blasts told CNN that a lid to a pressure cooker thought to have been used in the bombings had been found on a roof of a building near the scene. While such clues may move the investigation forward, they did not reveal whether the attack was an act of domestic or foreign terrorism. “If your experience and your expertise is Middle East
Jihadists fire rockets at Israeli resort on A letter addressed to Prisoners’ Day militants yesterthe president contain- JIHADIST day fired two rockets from ing a suspicious sub- Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula at southern Israeli resort stance was received at the city of Eilat in an attack that the remote White deliberately coincided with Prisoners’ Day. House mail screening Palestinian It was the first rocket attack on the Red Sea resort facility. in eight months, striking terrorism, it has the hallmarks of al Qaeda or a Middle East group,” former FBI Assistant Director Tom Fuentes said. Fuentes said he had investigated both types of terrorism –from Iraq to the United States – and concluded that the Boston attack had ele-
inside the city but causing no casualties, police said. The army said the rockets were fired from Sinai, but there was no confirmation from Cairo, where a senior military official said troops were still investigating the incident. The rockets slammed into the city just hours before Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza began gathering for a series of rallies in solidarity with the 4,713 prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Casualties mount in Iran-Pakistan’s quake HE casualty count from T an earthquake that struck near Pakistan’s border with Iran yesterday stood at 35 dead and more than 150 injured. The quake, measured at a 7.8 magnitude by the U.S. Geological Survey, struck on Tuesday in Balochistan province, destroying more than 150 mud houses. Doctors and food were being rushed to the area yesterday, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said. Helicopters were also picking up injured people and dropping food to affected areas. To exacerbate the matter, two aftershocks rocked the area yesterday morning, according to Shafiq Ahmed of Pakistan’s meteorological department. One was a 6.0magnitude and the other was a 5.3-magnitude, Ahmed said. On the Iranian side, the quake injured about a dozen people, authorities said Tuesday.
The Bearer Party made up of personnel from the three branches of the military carry the coffin of British former prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, during her ceremonial funeral in St Paul’s Cathedral in central London … yesterday. PHOTO: AFP
Bashar al-Assad warns western countries over Al Qaeda YRIA’S President Bashar alAssad has warned Western nations that they would pay a heavy price at home for their alleged support of Islamists in his country’s conflict, insisting that defeat of his regime was not an option. Assad, whose regime has been battling rebels trying to oust him since March 2011, told Al-Ikhbariya state television that the West is playing with fire, according to excerpts released by his office. “The West has paid heavily for funding Al-Qaeda in its early stages. Today, it is doing the same in Syria, Libya and other places, and will pay a heavy price in the heart of Europe and the United States,” Assad said.
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The West has paid heavily for funding Al-Qaeda in its early stages. Today, it is doing the same in Syria, Libya and other places, and will pay a heavy price in the heart of Europe and the United States. Last week, the jihadist rebel group Al-Nusra Front pledged allegiance to AlQaeda’s chief, Ayman alZawahiri, who earlier had urged Syrian rebels to establish an Islamic state in the country. The embattled Syrian president also warned that a defeat of his government would spell the demise of Syria, and vowed that he will not “surrender.” “There is no option but victory, otherwise it will be the
end of Syria and I don’t think that the Syrian people will accept such an option,” he said. “The truth is there is a war and I repeat: no to surrender, no to submission,” Assad said in the interview expected to be aired yesterday in full at 9:30 p.m. (1630 GMT). The interview – part of which was posted on the presidency’s Facebook page – has been timed to coincide with Syria’s Independence Day, which marks the 1946 end of
French rule. Assad sounds a nationalistic note, and slams Western and Arab countries who support the rebels. He took to task neighbour, Jordan, accusing it of allowing rebels free movement across its borders. “I cannot believe that hundreds (of rebels) are entering Syria with their weapons while Jordan is capable of arresting any single person with a light arm for going to resist in Palestine,” Assad said. Jordan is hosting thousands of Syrian refugees, opening its border to those fleeing the conflict, but Damascus also accused it of harbouring rebels and allowing them free movement over the border,
as well as arms shipments. Assad has repeatedly blamed “enemies” and conspirators for the deadly unrest rocking Syria, where the UN said more than 70,000 people have been killed in violence over the past two years. Ahead of the interview, state television showed footage from the French Mandate era (1920-1946), drawing parallels between “the heroes of independence” and the Syrian army today. “The commemoration of the departure of the last French soldiers is a glowing page in the history of Syria, and the heroes of our brave army are today waging battle against terrorism,” it said.
‘I don’t believe N’Korea has nuclear missile’ NITED States (U.S.) U President Barack Obama has said he did believe North Korea could yet fit a nuclear warhead on a missile, casting strong doubt on an alarming assessment disclosed last week by the Pentagon’s intelligence arm. Obama, however, warned the young North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that weeks of threats against the United States and South Korea had only served to isolate the regime further. Asked in an NBC News interview whether North Korea could put a nuclear weapon on a ballistic missile, Obama said: “Based on our current intelligence assessments, we do not think that they have that capacity.”
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
Politics Merger, best option available to ACN, says Afolabi As the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) holds a special convention today in Lagos today, to ratify its planned merger with some opposition political parties, there are concerns among its members in the zone that the party may be leaving certainty for uncertainty. But Mr. Ayo Afolabi, ACN Southwest zone Director of Publicity, told Abiodun Fanoro the party’s fusing into the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not undermine its strength and successes in the region.
• PDP will meet its waterloo in Ekiti, Osun polls
ILL the ACN remain the same in W the Southwest when it eventually merged with other parties? The ACN is not a Yoruba party, it is a national party; and as a result of this, we are interested in ruling every part of Nigeria. In line with this mission to rule every other parts of Nigeria as well as the country at the centre, we are bound to engage in legitimate and lawful strategies such as this merger, to enable us achieve this mission driven by the ambition to establish good governance at the centre. We have a terrible situation where a rudderless and ruthless government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been ruling Nigeria for about 14 years with nothing remarkable, except hardship to the people, to show for it. We have looked around several times; there is nothing substantial that we can point to as their contribution to the improvement of the welfare of the people. Rather, Nigerians have become poorer while the fate and future of the country become more uncertain by the day. Nigerians no longer have security as they had in 1999; everything they had in 1999 has nosedived. It behooves the ACN to rise up to the clarion call and the cry by Nigerians to save them and save the country from the heartless rule of the PDP. In order not to fail in this national assignment of saving Nigerians and redeeming the country, the ACN has gone for the best option available, which is the merger by progressive forces. Are you not indirectly opening your flank to the PDP in the Southwest? That is not correct. As a people-based political party, we must always listen to the voice of the people. The voice of the average Nigerian is that the opposition should come together with a view to putting an end to the disastrous rule of the PDP; a misrule that has made an average Nigerian poorer, devalued and hopeless. For us to be able to remove this most corrupt institution in the history of Nigeria, the opposition must synergise. Nigerians know whom they are dealing with; they know that the PDP is full of tricks; it has an inexhaustible capacity for devilish tricks to escape and fraudulently return itself to power. You can see what the PDP is doing to make sure that it cowardly sponsors fake parties with the same acronym with the APC, to sabotage this demolishing force for the Nigerian people. We are not leaving certainty for uncertainty, as you claimed. The ACN today is very much in control of the Southwest in terms of the followers. That followership is highly educated about the moves the ACN is making with a view to joining other political parties to take Nigeria off the morass that the PDP has created for it. I am very certain that in the Southwest, nobody wants the PDP.
Fashola
Oshiomhole
Fayemi
Aregbesola
Amosun
Ajimobi
Even members of the PDP want the party to rule in the zone because they have seen the difference between when their party was in power in the region and when the ACN is in power. Apart from this, members of the PDP in the region are saddened like other Nigerians by the misrule of the party at the centre. The ACN governors are working very hard to remove the traces of hardship the PDP visited on the people when it ruled the region. So, we are not in any way opening up our flanks; we are solidly on ground in the Southwest and we would use that as a pivot to reach other parts, for the entire country to partake in the goodies that we have in the ACN and by extension the APC.
However, your opponents say your governors in the region are not performing… I doubt much if anybody, who has eyes to see, ears to hear and mouth to speak would condemn any of our governors. Take, for instance, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) in Lagos, who is putting in so much effort that Lagosians may live well, eat well, sleep well; live in a healthy and secured environment. He is a man who people say is doing the impossible. Today, Lagos is an entirely different city, comparable to any city in the developed world. Go to Ogun State and see the wonders Governor Ibikunle Amosun is performing in less than two years in office. Where people never thought there could be bridge, bridges are there today. Go to Ekiti and see what Governor Kayode Fayemi is doing with the little resources accruing to the state, which his predecessor said was too small to work with. Osun and Oyo States today are wearing completely new looks due to the urban renewal programmes of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Senator Abiola Ajimobi, respectively. Aregbesola has removed the veil that divided the governed and the governor; he is today seen in the life of everybody in the state through his numerous people-based projects. Aregbesola is engaging in a revolution. In Ibadan, go and see the Ajimobi wonders. Go to Oke-Ado and Mokola; go to Iwo road and see fly-over bridges and the urban renewal project working. In Edo, it is not even the ACN members that are celebrating the
unequaled achievement of Governor Aliu Adams Oshiomhole; PDP members and chieftains are the ones proclaiming it. And you can’t blame them for telling the truth because truth has no other name. ‘Photo no dey lie.’ Go and see where there were no roads before; Oshiomhole has built roads there; where the roads were impassable, he has rehabilitated them. In the area of education, Is the APC designing strategies on how to prey on the house of Southwest PDP, which appears in disarray? We don’t have to prey on the Southwest PDP, which is already in disarray, to have them in our fold. The PDP house is in tumor; it is a house that is divided against itself. The PDP is like a pack of cards; it would sooner than later collapse. It is a matter of time — the PDP that we see today, we shall see it no more. The APC’s drive is to get members from the PDP; would that not amount to ideological suicide? We have a situation where the APC would have its constitution, and its manifestoes. These are the two guiding documents that would guide or regulate those who would come into the party. If that is the situation, it stands to reason that the APC has nothing to fear about who and who are joining the party. Some of the PDP governors that are speculated to be planning to join the APC would do so individually. They are capable of reading the manifestoes and the constitution of the party. That is what tells anybody the ideology the party is pursuing. If they are in the conservative camp and they discovered they are in the
Afolabi
wrong camp and want to move into the right camp, we would welcome them. What this means is that they are ready to change their orientation and imbibe a new one. Would this not confirm critics’ claim that the APC is being driven by desperation and not the desire to salvage the polity? I don’t know what they mean by desperation. However, it is a case where somebody, who is losing, would want to advance excuses for his failure. The people behind this allegation are those who were at a loss at the emergence of the APC. The ACN has a crucial challenge this year in the Southwest where governorship polls would hold in Osun and Ekiti States. How prepared is your party for the show down? It is not a show down; even as at today (yesterday) that we are having this interview, we are ready for the polls in the two states. I have just reeled out the achievements of our governors in the Southwest. These two governors, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State are much more popular today than when they assumed office. Yet, these two governors you claimed are popular keep having problems with their workers. So, who will cast the votes for the party in their states? I don’t know what you mean: that the governors are embroiled in controversies? What is governance? Governance is managing controversies. That is exactly what you have seen. Don’t forget that before these progressive governors came into office, people, who had and still have no regard for law and order, ruled our people. People used their whims and caprices to govern, allocate money, rather than the law; people who were heavily corrupt and were ready to corrupt anybody and the system. So, people have become used to not being directed in the proper way. The culture of impunity had been the order of the day; corporate governance was not there before these governors came into office. Now that they are in place, you would have some protest, especially from those who were benefiting from the corrupt old order. They don’t want the status quo changed; so, they would stop at nothing to surreptiously engineer protest in many forms. That is why all these governors have one problem or the other with an arm of the civil service. You would recall that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when he took over as governor of Lagos State, had the same problem with the civil service until things got stabilised. The best and most efficient civil service in the country today is that of Lagos State. Now, the same transformation is going on in other ACN states; that is the reason for what you called controversies. You are talking of controversies; yes. For the overall good of everybody, a leader must be ready to engage in controversies. You have lost the Ondo State governorship election, and your jinx is being broken. Won’t the same result repeat itself in Ekiti and Osun states? We were not defeated in Ondo State; we lost an election to rigging in the state. When you lost an election to rigging, you don’t have remorse. At the election petitions tribunal, it was revealed that about 162,000 strange names were illegally injected into the voter register used for the election. If 162,000 votes are put in anybody’s ballot in any election, what result would you get?
POLITICS
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
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Eminent persons state why young people should participate in government By Tunde Akinola HE imperative need for the youths T to participate in the political process and socio-economic development of Nigeria was stressed at this year’s Nigeria Symposium for Young and Emerging Leaders. Young people from different parts of the country gathered at the Ikogosi Warm Springs and Resort, IkogosiEkiti, for the second edition of a twoday symposium organised by The Future Project in partnership with EnoughisEnough Nigeria (EiE). Coming under the theme: “Project 2015: The Character of Our Involvement,” the youths bemoaned their non-inclusion in the country’s decision-making processes. They decried the present representation of the country’s public office holders, noting the youths had been marginalised in the arrangement. According to them, the founding fathers of the country like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and others, had the opportunity to contribute to governance while they were young. Issues deliberated upon ranged from the examination of why young people should be involved in governance; the idea of forming a political party for the youths, as suggested by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the issue of hijacking political power through a revolution, as suggested by some elements. This strategy was informed by the roles youths played during the Arab Spring and sundry protests all over the world. Most of the young people at the symposium agreed that the numerical strength of Nigerian youths was potent enough to float a political party but they doubted if they could all have their interests and ideologies aligned on a single platform. Meanwhile, it was agreed that the impact of the younger generation on the development on any society could never be over emphasised, but the socio-economic reality, which had led to the collapse of culture, was a factor that diminished the extent to which young people could contribute to the development of Nigeria. Firstly, having underscored the decadence in the academic sector, the youths claimed successive administrations “deliberately” did not prepare a proper structure for their mental development. They stressed that the rot in the education sector was a calculated attempt aimed at marginalising the next generation, thus limiting their influence, having established the importance of qualitative education in the making of leaders. Similarly, the moral decadence was noted as a factor that posed a major distraction to young people, thereby whittling down their impact. However, some youths are believed to mortgage the chances of others by subjecting themselves to inordinate offers of politicians. For instance, some youth movements established to champion the cause of young Nigerians had been hijacked by politicians and this has reduced their struggle and cry for marginalisation to nothing. According to one of the panelists and Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), Gbenga Sesan, “even if the government ignores you, do not ignore yourself as a young person,” noting that, “some people have turned being a youth a career, thereby making it a means of livelihood.” Sesan called on young people to add value to themselves so that politicians do not buy them cheaply, insisting that although money is a value, its influence needed to be reduced. Mr. Bukola Ogunyemi, Editor of an online newspaper, Ynaija, noted that it is important for young people to be involved in politics either at participant or nonparticipant level because
Prof. Pat Utomi (right), Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Chike Ogeah (Delta State Commissioner of Information, who represented Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan). PHOTO: TUNDE AKINOLA
it affects every sector of their lives. According to him: “We need a revolution in Nigeria but not that of blood. We need a revolution of the mind of ordinary Nigerians from the adulation of money. “We cannot continue this way; we need to go back to our roots and develop the ethics that make great a nation. We need to redefine values and also redefine who successful people are, not by celebrating criminality and neglecting hard-working people.” To the Editor of African Liberty, Japheth Omojuwa, the youths should participate in politics because the incidentals of politics affect them more than any demography. “They are the armed robbers, sex workers, unemployed and even the poorest group,” he said. “So they have to participate to determine what happens to their generation. Sometimes, it is not about participating in partisan politics but getting involved as active citizens.” On a youth political party, he said that would be an impossible task, wondering how they could get up to 68 million young people to agree if the numeric strength is the basis for the suggestion. “The issue of youth political party is not reasonable because everything is not about youth; the society is made up of everybody. If we cannot get others involved in what we are doing or get ourselves involved in what others are doing or impose ourselves on what they are doing, there is no point starting it at all,” he said. According to a recipient of CNN Multichoice African Journalist Award, Tolu Ogunlesi, it is only plain mathematics that considering the number of young people in Nigeria, it would make sense if they were allowed to participate in government. “I do not believe in revolution as some have said. On the contrary, I believe in evolution. I believe things can change but it might not be as noisy or dramatic as revolution but it is the more sustainable means of change. It may be slow but it is consistent,” he said. He said the youths should join political parties and make their impacts felt by influencing them. “Youths cannot form a political party because they cannot be young forever,” he said. The founder of Sleeves-Up Nigeria, Kola Oyeneyin, said if one looked at the history of Nigeria, one would see what young people had been used for, ranging from being voters, elec-
tion watchers, and political thugs and so on. “The reason Nigeria is where it is today is there have not been active participation of young people who happen to be the majority of the people living in Nigeria,” he said. He advocated a peaceful revolution adopted by the late America activist, Dr. Martin Luther King, who was responsible for organising the largest and the most peaceful protest in human history. Denrele Edun, a Channel O presenter, said he had no interest in active participation in partisan politics but he desired to see a change in the country. To him, he had decided to impact his generation positively in his chosen field of endeavour because he did not believe that one could make a change through politics only. Professor of Political Economy and founder of Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), Dr. Pat Utomi, said there is a nexus between the youth and development of any country. He noted that most societies that have modernised depended on the contributions from their youths. Utomi, who is director of Lagos Business School, an arm of the Pan African University, Lagos, charged Nigerian youths to persist in their agitation and work hard in all they do, stressing that every progress in any human endeavour is a product of struggle. A columnist and academic, Dr. Okey Okechukwu, said that corruption had distorted the values of the country’s young people, underlining that for over 20 years, “the office of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had not be occupied by a current student but graduates,” and wondered, whose interest they represented. On revolution, he said it was possible but might be difficult to implement because young Nigerians do not have the values to carry out the movement. Okechukwu said young persons should equip themselves with knowledge because there is no limit to the heights knowledgeable people can attain. According to Ajayi Olowu, who represented the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, there is need for young people to register and become card-carrying members of political parties, “not only at the youth wing but in the main wing of the party.” Olowu noted this is important to discourage the delegate system, which
has caused a lot of injustice in the polity. He said if the youths joined parties and involve themselves in active politics, the emerging process of any candidate to elective post would be made transparent enough. The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated that the participation of the youths in the restructuring of the country is important because they are the most powerful agents of change in any society. She described the youths as “engines of economic transformation,” citing their involvement in the development of the Asian Tigers. Although she advocated the participation of the youths in development, she also noted they must not necessarily be engaged in politics or be in government. Okonjo-Iweala urged Nigerians to be cautious of what they say or write about their country because these formed the perspective with which the international environment viewed them as a people. She said: “Being a change agent is never easy in any situation, and it can be very lonely. You may get victimised for trying to do the right thing, or for expressing a differing but just opinion. It also involves a lot of personal sacrifices, especially for those who participate in government.” The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who hosted the event, emphasised the need for youths to participate in partisan politics in order to impact positively on the country’s political and economic processes. He said everybody might not have the chance to make a difference through elective posts but enjoined young people to contribute their quotas wherever they find themselves. “You do not have to be in politics to be a leader,” he said. “You can be a leader in your church, community, place of work or any capacity with which you function. My advice for you is to be the change agent at an individual level.” Similarly, Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, agreed that young people needed to be involved in government but they have to first prepare themselves if they desired the responsibility of participatory politics. Amaechi, who excited the youths with his speech, said it was not enough to start a process of change without concluding or achieving it, observing that the kind of approach
adopted by the youths might not achieve anything tangible because they were not ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. Citing the January 2012 ‘Occupy Nigeria’ protest, as an example, he stressed that the youths were not ready to die for what they believed in. According to him, the moment the Federal Government stationed soldiers at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park at Ojota in Lagos, “everything agitation mellowed down.” To him, Nigerian youths are not ready for a revolution, as they have always anticipated. “Most of the interventions are merely calling for reform instead of revolution. Only a revolution can bring about a total change; a revolution without bloodshed is no revolution but reform,” he said. Amaechi said the youths needed to re-orientate themselves on how to go about their struggle because he did not see any sign of seriousness in their calls for a change. “When we were youths in the university, we used to belong to different youth movements to champion the cause of the Nigerian youths and the oppressed, which we did all through the continent,” he said. “We were resolute and determined because we knew what we wanted and we were ready to lay our lives for what we believed in. As student leaders, we never met any president, governor or politician. “It is funny these days how youth leaders have made the Aso Rock their offices. How do you expect the bourgeois oppressing you to aid the revolution the will liberate the people? I do not think this is the way to go about it.” To the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, who represented Governor Emanuel Uduaghan, the country should not subscribe to a revolution because he has the conviction that the country can change without violence. Executive Director, The Future Project, Chude Jideonwo said urged youths to welcome a collective and sustained effort to build a country that we can be proud of. After all had been said and done at this year’s edition of the symposium for the young and emerging leaders, the question that kept popping up was: Whether this would be one of the numerous talks by the youths and leaders to bring about another proactive dimension or yet another conversation that will not yield any result? The question is left for the youths to address.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
TheMetroSection Orgy of election violence in Edo • Two die as ACN, PDP supporters clash over next Saturday’s local council elections
Burnt car and home of the Local Council ACN chairman The late Oboarewe The late Imoedemhe pick-up truck were razed down, parts dle this investigation very professionally, From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City we need to get the guys who were inHAVE just completed my National of the living room of the LGA Chair- volved in this murder and they must be Youth Service Corps (NYSC). I was with man of the ACN and his car were burnt brought to justice. No man has a right to my Dad when some people came to the including his electronics and motor take the life of another except confirmed house and he asked who they were and cycle. The irate mob were said to have also by a court of competent jurisdiction, so I one of them said ‘shoot that man’ and vandalized several other vehicles and condemn these murders, which were after shooting him, they gave him several completely unnecessary. Council elecmachete cuts. I was with him in the hos- buildings in the town, which has pro- tion is like a family meeting trying to sepital and I know the pains he passed duced former Chief of General Staff, lect who should lead the family. Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd) and curthrough before he passed on…” Everybody knows the other person, there This was the tale of Justina Imoedemhe, rent Chief of Staff to President Good- is no reason to canvass election with bulluck Jonathan, Mike Ogiadome. first daughter of Joachim Imoedemhe, 46, However, the chairmanship candi- lets and there is no justifiable provocaone of the two persons killed in Fugar, tion to lead to anyone carrying gun to go headquarters of Etsako Central Local date of the ACN from the council, Em- and kill another person. I assure you I Council when supporters of Action Con- manuel Momoh, was arrested and have come to convey to you my personal gress of Nigeria (ACN) and the rival Peo- whisked to Abuja for yet to be ex- pains, my personal sense of loss and to ples Democratic Party (PDP) went wild as plained reasons by the police. ask you to take heart as difficult as it is,” Last Thursday’s crisis occurred less they campaigned for this Saturday’s local he lamented. government council elections. than 24 hours after the state Commis“Fugar is one, Etsako central is one, One supporter of the PDP simply identi- sioner of Police, Folusho Adebanjo everybody knows the other’s grandfafied as Abraham, was alleged to have warned that the police would not tol- ther. Election is about the good of the rammed his vehicle into the campaign erate any form of violence before and people, it is not about war, it is not about train of the ACN, which led to some per- during the election in a stakeholders blood, we have already told our people, meeting with political parties and the sons sustaining serious injuries. go and make your case and let the people Apparently irked by the incident, sus- Edo State Independent Electoral Com- decide and you don’t make the case by pected supporters of the ACN were said to mission (EDSIEC). Condemnation and criticisms have carrying guns. It does not matter have stormed the residence of the said whether you are ACN, you are PDP, you Abraham where they were said to have been trailing the incident, which has are CPC, go and persuade the people and cast a negative meaning to Saturday’s pounced on his 76- year -old father, convince the people to support you on Ivherewe Oboarewe, who was said to have council election. Governor Adams Oshiomhole later the basis of who you are and your party, been shot dead. . it is supposed to be a beautiful thing seeAngered by the development, suspected visited the community and all the vic- ing two people debating who will be a supporters of the PDP were said to have tims where he condemned the inci- better chairman, it is not who carries the descended on unsuspecting supporters of dent and called on the police to ensure longest guns, or who can kill more peothe ACN, vandalized properties worth mil- that the culprits were arrested and ple so what has happened is extremely lions of naira and, at the end of the fracas, prosecuted. He said he would not hes- sad,” he added. Omoedemhe was killed, the councillor- itate to sign the death sentence of the Akhigbe in a statement on Sunday, deship candidate of the ACN, Ambrose perpetrators if convicted. “I will encourage the police to han- scribed the killing as a taboo “because an Imhoaperamhe’s father’s house and his
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by Chiejine Onochie, a former aide in the palace, that he was owed salaries Onochie, who worked in the palace, was recently arrested in connection with the kidnap of 82-year-old Prof. Kamene Okonjo, mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Onochie had claimed that he was owed salaries, which
made him to conspire to kidnap Prof. Kamene Okonjo. Reacting to the allegation on behalf of the Obi of OgwashiUku, the spokesman of the Obi, Mr. Law Okolobi in a statement entitled: The Truth Shall Prevail, noted that the suspect lied in his claims to the police about his status in the palace and some other issues. While giving kudos to officers and men of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for the progress made so far in in-
vestigating the high-profile kidnapping, the palace noted that it had the responsibility to correct “some of the self-serving lies which the main suspect told the media when he and his accomplices were recently paraded by the police.” According to Okolobi: “The main suspect’s claim that he worked in the palace for five years and was never paid was not true. “The truth is that this criminal was dismissed from the palace
HE Lagos State chapter of T the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the
Another burnt car Avianwu clan person cannot shed the blood of a fellow Avianwu”, and expressed dismay on what he described as the “show of power by incessantly arresting opposition candidates and taking them to Abuja instead of Benin City.” He said the action amounts to abuse of power “and that is why people no longer respect the police in Edo state”. Akhigbe warned the police not to allow itself to be used by desperate politicians. But the police yesterday denied being used. The Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, warned politicians to keep thugs and all forms of acrimony out of party politics as they go for the April 20 local government elections in the state. He said the ugly incident in Fugar would not be allowed to happen again. He explained that all the police area commanders and Divisional Police stations under the command have been on the alert, as the operatives would not tolerate any attempt by individuals or group to disrupt the forthcoming elections in the state. “Nobody should encourage any thuggery here; it will not be allowed, we will not take it.” The police boss added that police officers from neighbouring states would be drafted to Edo state for the conduct of the local government area polls. He further disclosed that four suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the bloody clash in Fugar.
for stealing. The fact that he went on to become a kidnapper speaks volumes about his character.” “These lies are obviously designed to put a positive gloss on the serious crimes they committed by abducting and brutalizing an 82-year-old woman for five days. “For instance, the suspect claimed that Mrs. Okonjo was fed generously while she was in captivity. This is pure falsehood. She was given nothing to
eat throughout the period and only survived by the special grace of God. Were it not for the prayers of Nigerians and the quick medical attention she received after she was freed, the story could have ended tragically”, the statement reads. The statement also added that kidnapping was no ordinary criminal act and that the aged victim of the kidnap was only spared by God during the ordeal that could easily have led to her death.
No clue yet on abducted council boss, Bamigbetan, say police
By Odita Sunday HERE are no clues yet regarding the whereabouts and state of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area boss, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, who was kidnapped by an armed gang on Tuesday. Lagos State Police boss, Mr. Umar Manko reliably told The Guardian that they were still monitoring developments on the council boss, who is still being held captive by his abductors. According to Manko: “We are still monitoring events and we are working on it. That is all I can say for now.” A source at the Intelligence Department of the Command told The Guardian that they would soon get the perpetrators. According to the source, who preferred to remain anonymous: “What I can guarantee you is that we
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would get those kidnappers and we will invite you when we are ready to parade them. We are working on them.” Bamigbetan was on Tuesday night abducted by gunmen along Ori-oke Egbe Bridge, in Ejigbo area of Lagos. As at yesterday, the victim was still in the stronghold of his abductors. The Lagos State Police Command had since recovered his vehicle where it ran into a mud. Information made available to The Guardian revealed that Bamigbetan and his driver, Abiodun Olayiwola, were the only occupants of his black Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with customized number plate ‘Lagos KOK’, when the incident occurred. He was reportedly on his way home from an official function at about 11.00p.m. when he was abducted. The Guardian reliably gathered that immediately the
Lagos PDP faults Eko Atlantic Project By Seye Olumide
Palace denies suspected Okonjo-Iweala’s mother’s kidnapper’s claims HE Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, in T Delta State, Prof. Chukwuma Okonjo, has denied the claim
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gunmen intercepted the chairman’s vehicle, his driver made frantic efforts to escape by putting the vehicle in reverse. The effort was abortive as the vehicle reportedly hit a pole, while trying to avoid potholes on the road, thereby, trapping the vehicle. Olayiwola, was said to have managed to escape, but his boss could not, as the gunmen reportedly released series of bullets into the air, threatening to shoot him dead if he attempted to escape. The Guardian also gathered that the abductors called a member of the family yesterday, demanding for a $1million ransom. Lagos State Police Command Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Damasus Ozoani, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said the command was making efforts to ensure he was rescued.
review of the Eko Atlantic Project by the state government, observing that the indiscriminate sand filling of the Lagos Ocean for the project is responsible for the perennial flooding in the state. In a statement on Sunday, the spokesman of the party, Taofeek Gani said rather than the government seeking for another N27 billion loan that could be diverted for other meaningful purposes to control flood, the government should review the project. He also urged the government to desist from creating unnecessary panic by announcing that some residents in some parts of the state must vacate their homes, as there will be unavoidable flooding in the state this year. Governor Babatunde Fashola, on April 10, 2013 announced that the state would need N27 billion to fight ocean surge in the next three years while the Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello also made it known that some residents in some parts of the state must get ready to relocate to avoid the devastating flood. “The fact that Fashola is sourcing for another N27 billion, this year alone, to fight the expected flooding has now vindicated our position that unless the Eko Atlantic project is halted, Lagos will experience perennial ocean surge and relocation is also capital intensive. The state must provide alternative housing for residents it intends to relocate.” PDP insisted that the governor should be held accountable for any further loss of lives and property due to any flooding in the state.
Akinmboni, 94, for burial UNERAL rites for Madam Fboni, Comfort Olufunke Akinmwho died at the age of 94, begin today, with a Christian wake at her residence, No. 52, Fasehun Road, Sabo, Ondo at 5.00p.m. She will be buried tomorrow after a funeral service at Cathedral Church of St. Stephen, Oke Aluko, Ondo at 10.00am. Akinmboni, a retired midwife and devout Christian, is survived by many children and grandchildren among whom are Mr. Ebenezer Kunle Akinmboni, a retired Immigration Officer, Mrs. Ajoke Ademulegun, Mr. Johnson Kolawole Akinmboni and Mrs. Grace Oseyemi Akin.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
Photonews
The remains of the Publisher, Tribune Newspapers, Chief Oluwole Awolowo, during the lying-in-state at the Lobby of the Lagos State House of Assembly...yesterday PHOTO: NAN
General Secretary, Indian Cultural Association, Chief Sanjay Jain (middle) presenting a cheque to Chief Superintendent of Police for Police Community Relationship Committee (PCRC), Mr. Gbolahan Olugbemi. Left is Mr. Rotimi Williams of Ilupeju PCRC
Doctor had cocaine in his house, says NDLEA witness By Joseph Onyekwere KIN Ayodele, a National A Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) witness, in the trial of a couple accused of dealing in illicit drug on yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that the substance recovered from the premises of the couple proved to be cocaine. The accused, Dennis Konyeasor, a veterinary doctor, is standing trial together with his wife, Chidi Konyeasor on a four-count charge of dealing in a restricted narcotic - cocaine. Ayodele, an exhibit keeper with the NDLEA, was testifying as first prosecution witness at the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday. Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs. Tessy Asuquo, Ayodele told the court that after the substance was recovered from the premises of the accused, it was taken
to the NDLEA laboratory for test. He said a forensic analysis was carried out on the substance to ascertain its true nature, adding that the laboratory result showed the substance to be cocaine. He said, upon this confirmation, he then took it for safe keeping to the exhibit room. The court subsequently admitted the substance as an exhibit. Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned the case to April 19 for further hearing. The accused were arraigned on November 9, 2012 on counts of conspiracy, possession, illegal trade and distribution of the restricted narcotic. Both pleaded not guilty to the charge. Justice Idris then granted them bail in the sum of N5 million each with one
surety each in like sum. The prosecutor had told the court that the accused, resident at Plot 729, Atere Omole, Street, Ikeja, were arrested by officials of the NDLEA in October 2012, following a tip-off. She alleged that the accused had sometime in July 2007, in Lagos, conspired with one Victor Keyamo, an ex-convict, to deal in about 3.3 kilogrammes of cocaine. She said that the accused had also used their premises at Ikeja, as an avenue and hideout, for the storage and distribution of cocaine. The alleged offence, she said, contravened Section 14 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap M13 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Section 19 provides that a person who unlawfully deals in cocaine is liable to a term of imprisonment not less than 15 years and not exceeding 25 years.
Integrated Supply Chain Director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc. Mr. Nasir Malik (left); Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Emil Moskofiah; Environmental and Safety Manager, Mr. Olatoye Folaranmi and the Company’s Sales Director, Mr. Paul Udochi at the Cadbury Nigeria Safety week, held at Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos…
Chaplains attribute cultism, violence and drug abuse to moral decadence From Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh Uyo HAPLAINS Fellowship of Nigeria (CFN), Akwa Ibom State chapter has attributed decay in morals in the society and public schools to the increasing rate of cultism; violence and drug abuse other social vices. The National Director of Logistics and Planning of CFN, Dr. Aniedi Ubom at Methodist Church of Nigeria, Itiam Etoi, Uyo during an induction and award ceremony on some individuals who have distinguished themselves in service to humanity in the state. According to him, the award has become necessary as such would spur up others to do well despite the level of insecurity and moral decadence in the country, which has resulted to restiveness
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across the nation. Ubom congratulated the three beneficiaries namely: Bishop Emmanuel Udofia of Methodist Church Nigeria, Elder Nse Ekefre, Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Finance and his wife, Obonganwan Helen Nse Ekefre, a one-time Deputy Head of Council, who bagged the awards of Star Patrons and Silver Patron respectively. He, therefore, advised them to see the awards as a call to service and humbly accept the task of chaplaincy as that of the good Samaritan. While calling on every Christian to join in the giant work of the ministry as lay upon their heart by the lord, Rev Ubom expressed confidence that any individual’s heartfelt effort will go to a
very great extent in affecting the lives of others. Responding, one of the awardees Mrs. Ekefre, who was inducted as a Fellow of the Council and appointed Second Assistant Grand Commander with an award of a Silver Patron of the CFN expressed concern over moral decay in public schools in the state and pledged to use the honour and privileges not only to fight the course of the down-trodden, but also cleans the school system of this regrettable menace. Star Patrons, Nse Ekefre and Emmanuel Udofia in the respective remarks pledged to consider the awards as motivating factors in their continued services to humanity and expressed appreciation to the organization for finding them fit for such honours.
National Technology Officer, Microsoft, Tinka Oni (left); Service Manager, Nokia EDX, Balogun Olumide, Head, Marketing, Main One, Jumoke Akande and Developer and Platform Evangelism Lead, Shina Oyetosho during a press conference on Imagine Cup Comptetition organised by Microsoft in Lagos PHOTO: PAUL OLOKO
Group canvasses ways to reduce conflicts By Adeniyi Adunola and Aderonke Alabi NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, Conflict Control and Resolution (CCR) said lack of understanding and conflict control and resolution are behind major crises bedeviling different segments of the society. Speaking at a seminar entitled “Peace and Security In our nation-The way forward” held at Ojo military Cantonment Lagos at the weekend, the President of the organization Mrs. Rose Umenduka canvassed for a greater effort at mutual understanding, and greater use of techniques of collaboration, competing, avoiding, harmo-
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nizing and compromising to effectively deal with conflict and ensure peace and security in the society. She lamented the many crisis points in the nation, among them Boko Haram insurgency, violent communal disputes in Cross River and Ebonyi states, Anambra and Kogi states as well as within families even as she urged all hands to be on deck to check the trend. She said since “conflict is inevitable wherever there is human interaction, it therefore, becomes necessary for everyone to embrace a measure that would reduce or manage conflict so that the negative
and divisive consequences do not get out of hand.” She told newly-commissioned CCR officers to be ambassadors of peace and work to reduce conflict in the society Also speaking, the Secretary of CCR, Major John Audu urged the Federal Government to enter into dialogue and negotiations with aggrieved groups in the country with view to ending conflict and restore peace and harmony. He also urged all Nigerians to support security agencies with intelligence gathering and useful information, which could help nip conflict in the bud before it degenerates into crisis.
Special Educationist, Kim Goldsmith (left), Director, The Learning Place Centre (TLPC), Bola Adewole, Founder, Aaction Autism, Christopher Flint, Director, Aaction Autism, Katie Hence and Proprietress, Patrick Speech & Language Centre, Mrs. Dotun Akande during the introduction of structural teaching by Chicago-based Aaction Autism at a seminar held by TLPC in Lagos PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO
14 | THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
TheGuardian Conscience Nurtured by Truth
FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011)
Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816
Editorial Babies for sale? EW-born babies for sale? Nothing can be more illustrative of the moral N decay into which Nigeria has sunk and the low value some of the citizens now place on life! As available accounts reveal, a syndicate usually lures helpless pregnant teenagers eager to deliver their perhaps unwanted babies under cover, under the pretext of helping them, only to sell the new-born babies to ritualists and childless couples. In this market, a child reportedly goes for between N350,000 and N500,000 depending on the sex of the child. Elsewhere, specifically in Abia State, the practice of auctioning babies by parents, on account of poverty or one form of deprivation or the other, is reportedly now the norm. This is totally unacceptable and condemnable. It is a contravention of international and national legal instruments of people and children’s rights. The UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its attendant Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, which was passed in 2000 at Palermo, Italy; the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989, which mandates state parties to take all appropriate national, bilateral and multilateral measures to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children for any purpose or in any form; the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights; the Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003, whose enforcement is to be carried out by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP); and the Child’s Rights Act, 2003, are notable institutional, regional and international frameworks against the violation of children’s rights. It is also a negation of all known principles of decency and sanctity of human life. This ugly development shows that there are no ‘moral boundaries’ that cannot be violated, if any such boundaries still exist in the amoral enclave into which an average African family is being transformed as a result of poor leadership and poor individual choices. As condemnable as this is, it is not a reflection of the deepening crisis and contradictions of the Nigerian state, especially given its grossly apparent declining capacity, if not total failure, to measure up to its responsibilities in all ramifications. When the level of state robbery by its officials and the absurdity of their extravagant life style vis-à-vis the squalor of the majority are considered, the desperation of those who sell their children may not be justified, but that desperation advertises its depth and breadth as encompassing criminality and soullesness. This should tug at the heart-strings of members of the occupation brigade otherwise called leaders. The police should not rest on their oars. They must ensure adequate investigation and prosecution of perpetrators. They must also beam their searchlight beyond these cases. There should be no hiding place for anyone who thinks so little of human life.
The scourge of tuberculosis ONCERN over the rising scourge of tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria was recently C brought to the fore at an event commemorating this year’s World TB Week in Lagos. Experts traced the upsurge of the disease to inadequate and ineffective compliance to treatment. Many sufferers are also uninformed, which complicates the matter. According to Akudo Anyanwu-Ikemba of Friends of the Global Fund Africa, although Nigeria had effective TB treatment system, the disease has become a public health issue in the country and in sub-Saharan Africa. Drug adulteration, patients’ preference for alternative or spiritual treatment and inaccessibility to treatment are some of the factors hampering the fight against the disease. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria moved from the fourth to 10th position among 22 high-burden countries with TB in the world. Although Nigeria recorded some improvement, a lot still needs to be done to remove the country from the unenviable group. For instance, while the 2011 TB mortality rate for Nigeria was put at 17 per 100,000, the prevalence rate was put at 171 per 100,000 people. These figures are still quite high and need to be drastically reduced. The situation is aggravated by the worsening poverty, economic and social hardships that predispose a vast majority of Nigerians to the infection. TB is a common infectious disease that typically attacks the lungs and other parts of the body. It is caused by mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is spread from people with active TB infection through coughing, sneezing and other body fluids transmitted through the air, especially in congested places and unventilated living environment. This is a wake-up call on government to appreciate the situation and devise more proactive ways of checking the spread of the disease. Public enlightenment and easy accessibility to free medication should be stepped up and people must keep their environment clean. Incidentally, treatment for TB has been made free through the Global Fund, an international financing institution that fights AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Nigeria should take advantage of the Fund in the fight against TB.
LETTERS
Curbing flood disasters “We cannot stop natural hazards, but we can and must make people and their livelihoods less vulnerable to them” – Bill Clinton. IR: Over the last 10 years, approximately 240 million people each year were affected by natural disasters. The disasters caused immeasurable damage to lives, property and livelihoods. The slow but relentless impact of climate change is affecting us now and will be felt for many years to come. Those living in the poorest countries and communities undoubtedly suffer the most and are least able to cope and recover from the tragedies. In most cases, women suffer more than men and make greater sacrifices for the survival of their families. With the advance of climate change, certain types of weather related disasters are likely to occur more frequently and more intensely than in the past. Flood is one of the disas-
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ters that is affecting some parts of the world. There must be mitigation efforts and preparedness as there have been forecasts by meteorologists that the rains will be more in some parts of the country. It is often said that prevention is better than cure. Therefore, the relevant authorities should be well prepared as we enter the rainy season. Flood warning system, trained volunteers, provision of safe refuges centres (with water, toilets, light, etc), provision of boats and trained crew, emergency evacuation drills, teaching children to swim, construction of safe escape routes, safe storage of valuable assets, including documents and seeds, provision of purification tablets for clean water, dredging of river beds, repair and maintenance of river embankments, etc, should be stepped up.
Mitigation activities should also include protecting water sources, improved house designs, flood diversion channels and dykes, tree planting, especially on slopes and embankments, floating vegetable gardens, etc. Finally, some people that were affected by flood disasters in parts of the country have not been well catered for. It was reported that fire burnt some relief materials meant for victims of floods while other victims in Kogi State were being given stipends of N3,000 each, in spite of the huge amount that was donated by governments and other well-meaning Nigerians. The officers of the National Emergency Management Agency must be sincere and more proactive in distributing the relieve materials to the victims of the flood disaster. •John Ajiboye Osogbo, Osun State.
U.S. Supreme Court on gay marriage IR: The whole issue of Sly same-sex marriage is realabout the normalization of homosexuality rather than marriage. Sexuality has an intrinsic meaning and direction, which is not homosexual. The meaning and direction of sexuality is to bring about the union of man and woman, and in this way give humanity posterity, children, future. This is the
determination internal to the essence of sexuality. Everything else is against sexuality’s intrinsic meaning and direction. This is a point we need to hold firm, even if it is not pleasing to our age. Homosexuality is not innate. Behaviours are changeable. There are serious medical and psychiatric illnesses, and risks, of the homosexual lifestyle. Paediatricians, mental health professionals,
physicians, nurses, school counsellors, parents, politicians and the media have a clear legal and moral responsibility to inform the public of this and that homosexuality is ultimately not an acceptable lifestyle. Let us hope the U.S. Supreme Court will recognize the obvious and act swiftly to condemn same-sex marriage. • Paul Kokoski, Ontario, Canada.
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Business ICSAN, experts decry alleged corruption in judiciary Page 25 NAPE hinges 40,000 barrels crude oil target on marginal fields development By Roseline Okere IGErIAN Association of P e t r o l e u m Explorationists (NAPE) has told the need for the Federal Government to provide incentives to marginal field investors in order boost crude oil production in the country. According to the association, full development of marginal fields would assist the government to achieve the target of 40,000 barrels of oil target. Speaking with The Guardian yesterday at the sideline of NAPE’s April technical meeting in Lagos, Vice President of the association, Mr. Lere Olopade, identified paucity of fund as major constraint to the development of marginal fields in the country. He said that with much encouragement from the government, those field, which are being classified as abandoned, could be taken over by indigenous investors. Olopade noted: “I don’t CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
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Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mrs. Evelyn Oputu (left); Executive Director, Business Development, BoI, Waheed Olagunju, and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu during the Leadership Conference and Award in Abuja. PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO
Cummins invests N37.9b in captive power plants By Roseline Okere UMMINS Incorporated C has invested $240 million (N37.9 billion) in Joint Ventures operation to provide captive power to industries to design, construct, operate as well as maintain gas-fuelled power plants in the country. Speaking with journalists at the ribbon Cutting at Cummins Energy Solutions Nigeria, in Lagos recently, President, Cummins Power Generator, Tony Satterthwaite, disclosed that the company has also entered into partnership with a UK-based power plant company, Gentec, to provide
With over a million hours of operating experience with Cummins Gas Gensets in Nigeria, we are confident that we have the right product and the right capability to meet the needs of Nigerian Industry. cost effective power solution. According to him, the company’s energy solutions business have been very successful in Nigeria, having operated joint venture agreement with three companies to provide cost effective power solution in Nigeria. He added that most of the installations in the country have been provided on a turnkey basis where
Cummins Energy Solutions undertakes the complete end-to-end responsibility for design and construction of the power plant. “Cummins ensures that it takes on the full responsibility of providing after market services. As of today we provide after sales support to 98 per cent of our installed fleet in Nigeria with a strong team of expatriate and Nigerian
qualified technicians. We have over 400 workers that assist the company to provide quality energy solution to industries”, he added. He noted that the company’s power installations cover a cross section of Nigerian industry from plastics, steel, chemical industries, breweries, glass and soap manufacturers and food processing. In addition, we have operating experience in diverse industries and applications, as we have executed projects for the best of Nigerian industries. Speaking on the partnership between Cummins and CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
LCCI harps on balanced approach to taxation By Chijioke Nelson HE Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, has warned on the downside risks of using tax consultants in enhancing tax administration, as well as focus on investment tax rather than
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consumption tax. Yusuf, who spoke to The Guardian recently, said taxation is the main stay of government revenue worldwide, but noted that the activities of tax consultants and dependence on investment taxes, if not controlled could lead to negatives results. He said: “Use of tax consult-
ants is not bad in itself. It allows for the harnessing of private sector expertise to enhance tax administration. But it has its own downside risk. “The fact that remuneration of consultants is dependent on revenue generated could predispose the consultants to impose excessive burden on
the tax payer and professionalism could also be compromised. There is also the worry about ethics on the part of some of the consultants leading to extortion of taxpayers. “A tax system would be counterproductive if it focuses on investments as against conCONTINUED ON PAGE 16
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Association seeks development of marginal fields CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 think there are abandoned oil well in the country. The fact that some oil wells are no longer economically viable to multinational oil companies does not mean that they cannot be bought over by marginal fields investors. The government needs to create an enabling environment, provide incentives to attract investors. It is quite expensive to operate a marginal field in the country. So, incentives from government would assist investors. This will also help the government to meet the target of 40,000 barrels crude oil production”. Speaking on “ R e v o l u t i o n a r y Technologies in Geological and Geophisical Research: The TEMS approach”, the guest speaker, Oladimeji Muibi, stated that advances in geological and geophysical research has made it possible to develop technologies to assist exploration and production companies improve their hydrocarbon recovery. He noted that one of such development was the integration of Transient Electromagnetic Sounding (TEMS), gravitational, geomagnetic methods, and seismic data, along with topographical, geological and geophysical tools. Muibi said that the revolutionary technique has been deployed around the world to accurately predict depth, resource deposit and recommended drilling location. “There are case studies of 17 examples of successful projects from onshore, swamp to forest areas in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tatarstan, United States of America, India and Russia”, he said. He therefore, adviced petroleum explorationists to utilize the new technology in the country, which he said, would compliment seismic technology in crude oil exploration.
Chief Executive Officer, Oando Marketing Plc, Abayomi Awobokun (left); Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Iyabo Obasa at the introduction of OMP’s range of gas offerings to the Deputy Governor in Lagos.
NANTS seeks sustained consultations over Ghana, Nigeria trade row By Chijioke Nelson HE National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has advocated a policy of sustained diplomatic consultations over the controversial Ghanaian Investment Promotion Act 47, to bridge understanding between the two countries. NANTS, in a statement, said that though the level of understanding at present is quite commendable, both countries needed to revisit the ECOWAS protocols, which they are signatory to. Recently, Nigerian traders in Ghana were locked out of their business premises, courtesy of enforcement of the Act, which seeks foreigners doing business in the country to have an operating
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capital of $300,000, employ about 10 Ghanaians and operate only in designated markets across the country. The law and its enforcement have remained a subject of several bickering between the two countries, especially among traders from both countries operating under the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and the Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG), a member of NANTS. Although many Nigerians have advocated retaliation on the part of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has continued to explore diplomatic and political solution to the lingering political tension. The traders body, in the
statement, signed by its President, Ken Ukoha, read in part: “Given that the two countries have for long remained brothers and neighbours, and that both are the strongest economies in the West African region, the cost of unending economic tensions would rather shrink the economic potentials of the region’s intratrade volumes and perhaps escalate to other countries within the bloc. “For this reason, we therefore call on both countries to continue in their consultations and work towards finding a lasting solution to the quagmire. Noting that Ghana has frowned at the halting of her products into the Nigerian market through prohibition policy, “We specifically call on the
Nigerian government to seek ways of reviewing the prohibition list particularly to tally with the provisions of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), which both countries are signatories. “Nigeria cannot afford to be applying a simultaneous approbation and reprobation of policies while the economy and economic operators bear the brunt with political integrity remaining at stake. “On the part of Ghana, we note that the law in question is an Act of Parliament. Therefore, whether rightly or wrongly conceived and enacted, the most compromising and final solution would also fall in the hands of the Ghanaian parliament whose sacrosanct power it is to amend such law in the
spirit and letter of the ECOWAS Protocols on Free Movement, the Rights of Residence and the Rights of Establishment. “The protocols have eventually resulted into a common passport that bears ECOWAS inscription, and as a matter of fact, has led to the abolition of visa regimes, and therefore allow citizens of other member states to work and undertake commercial and industrial activities within their territories. “We therefore, call on the ECOWAS Commission to awake to her responsibility of enforcing her laws and perhaps building in strong sanction mechanisms at ensuring that these laws such as the free movement protocols are not only respected in breach by member States.”
LCCI wants development of consumption tax CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 sumption. Tax on consumption is generally more equitable. Tax on industrial inputs for instance, would have a negative effect on economic growth and the capacity to create jobs. “This is why inputs for production and other economic activities such as construc-
tion and ICT should be tax free, or attract minimal tax. An economy that is desirous of creating wealth would minimize tax burden on production and other forms of investment. It is through investments that jobs are created. A strong case could therefore be made for low tax regime for raw materials, agricultural inputs,
machineries, iron and steel and building materials.” He noted that a good tax strategy could be very beneficial to the economy and create opportunities for the unemployed, as “the fundamental philosophy of taxation is to take from citizens according to their abilities, and give back to citizens according to their needs.”
Firm raises stake in power sector CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 Gentec, Director, Power Generation, Africa, Satis Jayaram, explained that the joint venture with Gentec, was to built turnkey and Independent Power Producer (IPP) plants powered by class leading Cummins gas generators in Asia, Europe and Africa. “With over a million hours of operating experience with Cummins Gas Gensets in Nigeria, we are confident that we have the right product and the right capability to meet the needs of Nigerian Industry”, he said. He added that gas power
delivers significant operational savings in these difficult economic times. “Cummins is set to capitalize on Nigeria’s growing network of natural gas distribution and this fuel source will facilitate the construction of distributed power plants to meet a wide spectrum of industrial and IPP customers in Nigeria. We will also introduce smaller gas powered solutions from 40Kva to 1MW to enter into the SME segment”, he added. Jayaram added that the new venture further illustrates Cummins’ commitment to Nigeria and this business will be an important vehicle to
contribute towards reducing Nigeria’s critical power deficit. He noted that the venture would harness the strengths of Cummins’ global expertise and its industry leading efficient gas technologies with Gentec’s proven power plant project implementation expertise in emerging markets. “This strategic investment is testimony of Cummins’ vision and strategy to accelerate our presence and investments in Africa”. He emphasised the need for the Federal Government to provide enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.
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NAEE lists obstacles to petroleum, energy policy implementation By Roseline Okere HE Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) has identified endemic corruption, bad politics, over-dependence on oil, and dearth of research as obstacles to policy implementation in the country. The association also said that for the country to be an industrialized country by 2030, it need to generate minimum of 2,000mw yearly to become one of the industrialized country in the world. Speaking at a media briefing to announce the association 2013 international conference coming up from April 21 to 22 in Lagos, President of NAEE, Adeola Adenikinju, said that government policies on the country’s oil, gas and electricity sector have not reflected in the development of the economy. Adenikinju, who is also professor of economics at the Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, insisted that special interests in the government have consistently ensured that government’s policies for different sector of the economy come to futility. According to him, Nigeria lack political will to ensure effective policy implementation in the country’s petroleum and electricity sector. He explained: “Before the government came up with the policy on fuel subsidy,
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there should have been confidence building on the people. We also need sufficient evidence and data to back up our policies. There is dearth of data in the country. We don’t have evidence to guild energy policy reform in Nigeria. Transparency, accountability and accurate reporting are very important in policy implementation”. Speaking on the T2013 Sixth NAEE/IAEE International Conference, he said that the programme would examine these and other related energy resource policy and economics issues. He said: “The Conference seeks to provide an avenue for robust discussion on how to establish stable, diversified macroeconomic framework that can sustain national development in the long run; share knowledge and experiences on what have worked and did not work in other parts of the world; identify supporting institution; promote transparency and governance issues in resource ownership and manage environmental fallout from resource exploitation and what should be the rights and obligations of federating units in optimal management of energy resources. There will be plenary session, roundtable discussion and concurrent sessions during the two-day workshop. He listed the following at the sub-theme for the confer-
ence. Theoretical and Empirical issues in energy resource ownership and management; Institutions and mechanisms for efficient management of energy resources; International
experiences and case studies; Economic Energy Modeling; Energy Technology and Energy Infrastructure; Renewable Energy issues and Energy Financing.
Others he noted, are Energy Fiscal Regimes; Energy Access, Poverty and Gender; Local Content and Human capital development; Energy Management , Regulatory and Policy Issues; Issues in
Exploration and production; Climate and greenhouse effects; Energy Markets and Energy Reforms; Energy Demand and Supply Issues and Regional and International Energy Issues.
Chairman Board of Director, LTC Group, Tunde Dabiri left, Group Managing Director, LTC, Charles Abraham, Chief Executive, Vigeo Shipping Line, Gbolade Osibodu and Chef de Group Eco Bank Capital, Rotimi Oyekanmi during the 25th anniversary of Lawson Thomas and Colleagues Group (LTC) in Lagos.PHOTO. OSENI YUSUF
Diamond Bank takes customers to China fair IAMOND Bank Plc said it is D sponsoring five customers to the China Canton Fair, a move aimed at boosting their international business experience. The China Canton Fair is a biannual trade fair that started in 1957 and has since been held every April and October for a two week period, attracting businessmen from around the globe. Speaking at a pre-departure dinner the Bank hosted for the customers in Lagos, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti, said the financial institution is very
appreciative of these customers, adding that “as a bank, we try as much as possible to recognize our customers particularly when they have been loyal and when they have told our story.” “Because our best stories are told by our customers, we have had customers who have enjoyed our services and referred other customers. It is more rewarding than when we go out and market to people. “We are really appreciative of all of you and in recognition of what you have done we wish to dine with you before you leave.”
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Minister outlines expansion plan for Lagos-Ibadan expressway, 2nd Niger Bridge HE Minister of Works, Mr. T Mike Onolememen, has given details of the expan-
Project Manager, Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA), Adedayo Adetukasi (left); Winner, NMMA British American Tobacco Company of Nigeria (BATN) Industry Reporter and Correspondent at Nations Newspapers, Mr. Ololade Olatunji and Sustainability Manager, BAT, West Africa Area, Olanrewaju Dairo at the prize presentation in Lagos, on Tuesday.
EDF grants $78m lifeline to six states in Nigeria HE European Development T Fund (EDF) has granted $78 million to develop water and sanitation projects, as well as to strengthen governance in six states of Nigeria. The World Bank task team in charge of state and local government projects led by Ikechukwu Nweje, made this known in Awka on Wednesday at a meeting of the bank and the European Union (EU). The states are Anambra, Cross River, Kano, Jigawa, Osun and Yobe. Nweje explained that the implementation of the programme in the states was a collaboration between the two foreign donors. He said that the meeting was to assess the preparedness of the state and local govern-
ments for the implementation of the reform in July. “We have to work with the state and local government officials to build institutions, capacity and procurement system. “We will ensure that funds given to the local government areas for the purpose of implementation, are judiciously spent,’’ the team leader said. Nweje said that the partnership between the bank and the EU was to ensure that the reform was effectively carried out, pointing out that commitment by the state government was very vital to its success. Responding, Gov. Peter Obi pledged the commitment of the state in ensuring the success of the programme.
He noted that building of human and institutional infrastructure was critical to the success of every programme. “If we manage public finance well in the building of institution, we will go a long way in our development drive. “We have managed donor funds very well in Anambra,
therefore, we are prepared for implementation of the reform,’’ he stressed. In a speech, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof. Stella Okunna, gave the assurance that the government would do all that was required for the commencement of the project in the state in July.
sion plans scheduled for the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge. The minister provided the insight while receiving the management team of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in his office. Onolememen, who was represented by the Minister of State in the ministry, Mr Bashir Yuguda said the major projects to be enhanced were the LagosIbadan Expressway and the proposed additional 39km road linking the Second Niger Bridge. “Projects such as the LagosIbadan Expressway would be increased to a four-lane carriageway with the construction of a flyover, while the 2nd Niger Bridge is coming with an additional 39km dual carriageway along the Onitsha-Enugu axis. “There are many other projects but for now the ministry is prioritising these two key projects,” the minister said. He said there was a need to speed up the project, adding that the project needed to be completed before the end of the present administration. The minister called for more collaboration with
organisations in development projects across the country. The Managing Director of the agency, Uche Orji, said there was a need for collaboration between NSIA and the ministry on road infrastructure development, adding that the collaboration was to enhance speedy completion of road projects. Orji said the agency’s aim was to help reduce road fatalities to the minimum and to enhance free movement of goods to boost socio -economic activities. According to him, infrastructure development in any country was a sure way of improving the economy. He said the NSIA was working in line with the Goodluck Jonathan administration Transformation Agenda as it related to the road sector. A joint team of the ministry and NSIA was later set up to enhance the partnership for infrastructure development. For the successful delivery of the proposed partnership, Onolememen, nominated Director, Highways (Roads), Mrs Ngozi Nworinka and Director, Highways (Bridges), Mr Anaette Effiong. Also two representatives of the NSIA, Mrs. Tope Akinyemi and Mr Chris Akpan, were
Kofi Annan , others to launch Africa Progress Report N Friday 10 May 2013, the Africa Progress Panel O (APP) will release its annual Africa Progress Report Equity in Extractives at the 2013 World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa. The Africa Progress Report
will urge African policy makers to make better use of their natural resources to lift millions of people out of poverty. The report will contain a comprehensive policy agenda on how Africa’s mineral wealth can better benefit current and future gener-
ations. The following Panel members and members of the secretariat will be available for interview about the Report in the run up to and after the launch: Kofi Annan, Chair, Africa Progress Panel, and former UN Secretary-
General; Caroline KendeRobb, Executive Director, Africa Progress Panel; Strive Masiyiwa, Member, Africa Progress Panel, and Founder, Econet Wireless; Linah Mohohlo, Member, Africa Progress Panel, and Governor, Bank of Botswana.
AFAN gingers farmers to produce Jatropha in commercial quantity From John Akubo, Dutse HE former Managing Director Nigeria Minting and printing company and out going chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria ( AFAN) Jigawa State Chapter Alhaji Suleman S. Baffa has sensitized farmers in the country on the need to participate actively in Jatropha farming. Baffa who drew the atten-
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tion of his colleagues to the numerous economic importance of Jatropha shortly after the election of the new Executives of AFAN Jigawa state branch indicated that the importance of Jatropha has gone beyond fencing in the farm as its traditional value to its use as bio diesel and its dust extracts as natural fertiliser He bemoaned the nonchalant
attitude of some farmers in the country who have failed to derive maximum benefit from the economic importance of the plant. Baffa pointed out that the Federal government has designed a strategy targeting 2015 when all the filling stations in the country would be mandated to have 20% of gentroper fuel in their stations. He urged farmers to be proac-
tive by participating actively to produce more of the plants because by 2015 jatropha will be as valuable as groundnut in the old days. The election produced Habibu Isa Yandutse emerged as Chairman, Adamu Mai goro Haruna Deputy Chairman, Auwalu Garba Secretary, Hajiya Talle Adah Women leader and Nasiru Muhammad Sparo as Youth
Afreximbank ready for 20th anniversary celebrations in Addis Ababa By Bola Olajuwon HE President of African T Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Jean-Louis Ekra, announced in Cairo, Egypt yesterday that the financial institution will hold a series of activities in Addis Ababa from 19 to 23 June to mark the 20th anniversary of its establishment. Ekra, at a ceremony at the Afreximbank headquarters to kick off the 20th anniversary celebrations and to launch a specially designed logo and slogan, said that the anniversary was being organised to tie in with the 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU), which is also taking place this year. In a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday, the bank said because Afreximbank’s yearly general meeting for 2013 would take place in Addis Ababa in June, the Ethiopian capital was the optimal location to celebrate its anniversary.
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Stakeholders alert of injurious gas products in circulation By Sulaimon Salau ONSUMERS and dealers in C Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG), otherwise known as cooking gas are presently worried over the influx of off-speculation products allegedly imported into the country. The dangerous gas products,
which were confirmed to contain high level of propane is prone, to explosion at a slight heat up by nature. The Guardian investigations revealed that some of the major players in the sector are in the act of such illegal importation, while the smugglers
have worsened the case, in other to make excessive profit. Operators said any gas pressure above 15 bar is dangerous and could bust at any moment, going by the existing standard of cylinders in-country. The head of Engineering, Strategic Energy, Babalola
Obilana, told The Guardian in Lagos recently that excessive propane would be dangerous for Nigerian gas, because the facilities may not be designed to handle such high pressure. This, he said, may result to burst pipes, exploded cylinders, damages and possibly
death. he added: “If we are dealing with pure butane, the likelihood of eventualities will be lower. The best thing for Nigeria is for us to use the maximum or 80 per cent butane and 20 per cent propane.” According to him, “From the allegations that have been made, the alleged product is not compatible for our environment. Most of the gas that are produced by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), and released to the Nigerian market is almost 95 per cent butane and the other components are made up of butane and others, suitable for our environment with respective temperatures. “The reason why we are all embracing butane is that our temperature is usually high, and butane would make the product to stay at lower pressure, so it is easier for storage and handling, as against the situation for propane. “Propane is also a petroleum gas, but it is most suitable for cold climates, where they achieve 0 degree temperature (winter). But at higher temperatures, propane achieves about 250 PSI which some of our facilities are not detailed to handle. “I have seen analysis where products imported are sometimes up to 50 per cent butane and 50 per cent propane, with
higher contents of unsaturated gases, which are more reactive than saturated gases. We have found out that the unsuitable gases are higher than what is recommended internationally, and we should condemn it. “Why should we allow these companies import unsuitable products into the country, due to excessive profit? Our refineries have capacities to process up to 95 per cent butane and this quantity. Wherever possible, the products should be of highest quality for our environment. Also, the equipment should be of highest possible standards to be able to handle our products,” he said. Another expert in the industry, the Chairman, LPG Representatives Association, Mr. Odo Gbolahon, said he had recorded cases in Abuja, where certain leakages were reported due to high propane content in the gas. he said: “Not all the imported gas are bad, the pressure of the gas is worrisome. In Nigeria, we have about 34 degree centigrade for normal weather, but propane is meant for countries that experience highly cold temperature. The more the sun heats up a cylinder, the higher the pressure inside. So, the product with high propane will have high pressure level, and if heated by sun gravity, it can cause serous problems.”
Udemba Group sponsors Canada-Nigeria investment forum By Florence Utor hE Udemba Group (TUG), a Nigerian holding Company, has announced the sponsors of Canada-Nigeria investment conference taking place in Toronto from May 2 to 4, 2013. The conference, which has the theme : Canada-Nigeria synergy Vision 20:2020, is in line with vision 20:2020 Economic Transformation Agenda of the government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Udemba Group, Uzo Udemba, said, “we congratulate the
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Canada Council on Africa for this partnership that creates a unique opportunity to bring together participants from the public and private sectors, including government officials of the two countries.” “Considering the existing activities of TUG and the vision of Trend Media City, we are excited to count TUG among our new members and thankful for the decision to support the Canada-Nigeria Investment Conference”, said The President and Chief Executive Officer, Lucien Bradet, the Canada Coucil on Africa.
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WAAPP to develop roadmap for seeds development in Nigeria From Joke Falaju, Abuja He West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) has indicated plans to assist Nigeria develop an enduring road map for the local production of foundation and certified seeds for use by the Nigerian farmers. The agency said it plans to collaborate with Private Seed Companies to achieve the noble objectives in the seed sub sector. Speaking at an interactive meeting held to enable Private Seed Producers meet on one on one basis with the visiting World Bank Implementation Support Mission in Abuja on Thursday, the Lead Agricultural economist and Regional WAAPP Task Team Leader, Dr. Abdoulaye Toure disclosed that WAAP-Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council (NASP), would be setting up a task force to come up with an action plan on massive production of varieties breeder foundation and certified seeds for the country. Toure observed that in face of the current deficit in the supply of breeder foundation and certified agricultural seeds to the country, it has become necessary to strategize for a Seed Road Map for the country by adopting a transformative change approach. This he said could be achieved through creating a network of vibrant and enterprising seed breeders, mainly of the private sector, who can effectively work in collaboration with WAAPP and the Agricultural Seed Council in Nigeria. He observed with concern
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the appalling gap between agricultural production capacities in the West African sub region which he said was rather too low, and the astronomical rise in population which has in turn led to unprecedented consumption in the region over the years. Introducing the purpose of the World Bank Mission’s supervision visit to the Private Seed Producers earlier, the
National Project Coordinator WAAPP Nigeria, Prof. Damian Okey Chikwendu disclosed that as part of its activities, WAAPP is seriously considering patronizing the private sector for a productive relationship that could result in massive production of hybrid quality seed. The WAAPP project he noted is presently looking at ways of ensuring rapid multiplica-
tion of crucial foundation and certified seed of hybrid rice, maize, sorghum, and massive production of cassava stems and yam setts. The totality of these efforts he added is to garner support for the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the present administration. Chikwendu eulogized the efforts of the Research
Institutes in this direction sighting instances of various innovative technologies of the Institutes and colleges of Agriculture, prominent among which is the tissue culture innovation which he said could lead to rapid seed multiplication if given the right atmosphere to thrive. He however, decried the inability of the Institutes to live fully up to expectation
due to some unrestrained bureaucratic practices and the current protracted strikes. WAAPP, he added would do everything possible to create the right atmosphere for the seed producers to function. The private sector he continued is reputed for having the right business positioning and to have less encumbrances.
Chairman, Cummins Cogeneration Limited, Deepak Khilnani (left); President, Cummins Global Power Generation, Tony Satterthwaite; Director, Power Generation, Africa, Satish Jayaram; and Chief Internal Auditor, Robert Herdman, at the ribbon cutting event of the business support office of Cummins, in Nigeria’s energy sector, in Lagos.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
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Appointments Institute, experts decry alleged corruption in judiciary By Tosin Fodeke XPERTS and members of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators Nigeria (ICSAN), recently decried alleged decline in the dispensation of justice by the judiciary. They stressed that alleged corruption amongst judges is seriously affecting the dispensation of justice and the increasing denials of the people’s access to justice. Speaking at a business meeting organised by ICSAN Lagos chapter, Head, Department of Business Law, University of Ilorin, Prof. Mohammed Olarongbe Akanbi, empha-
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sized that alleged corruption thrives in the Nigerian judiciary because of the structure of the courts coupled with a rather high degree of legal discretion and procedural complexities. He said: “In a locally conducted study for the Lagos State Judiciary, it was found as follows: 99 per cent of the lawyers interviewed agreed there is corruption in the Lagos State Judiciary. It also showed that 66 per cent of the lawyers with six to 10 years experience at the Bar and 80 per cent of those with 11to 15 years believed that the prevalence of corruption in the Judi-
ciary is very high. Akanbi, while speaking on the topic, “Economic impact of judicial independence, accountability and transparency in Nigeria”, noted that corruption is a well-nurtured cankerworm that has eaten so deep into the fabric of the Nigerian nation. He added: “Where the judiciary is characterised by systemic official corruption and the arbitrary use of judicial discretion and/or captured by political and economic forces to further purely group interests, the justice sector will suffer serious malfeasance, inefficiency, and above all consider-
ations, it will atrophy. “According to Transparency International: Bribe Payers Index 2008, Business Executives gave the judiciary a score of 3.2 on a scale of five, where one means ‘not at all corrupt’ and five means ‘extremely corrupt’. A score of 3.2 out of five obviously indicates high level of corruption within the judiciary. In another study, the judiciary is perceived to be among the most corrupt institutions in Nigeria. For instance, the report recorded that citizens gave the judiciary a score of 3.7 on a five-point scale (one ‘not at all corrupt’ & five ‘extremely corrupt’). In
Council member, Gabriel Adenigba with President and Chairman of Council of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Teslim Busari , Special Guest of Honour and former Attorney-General /Minister of Justice, Bayo Ojo ,SAN, and Registrar /Chief Executive Officer, ICSAN, Dele Togunde , during ICSAN’s 12th Induction ceremony in Lagos.
Ten years after, Nigeria Airways workers yet to get entitlements By Wole Shadare EN years after Nigeria Airways was liquidated, workers of the defunct airline Nigeria based in Lome, Togo, Cotonou, Doualla, Cameroon and Libreville have appealed to the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, to assist them get their severance benefits. In a petition to the Minister, dated April 15, 2013, entitled, “The cry of a suffering and helpless orphan. What is our fate ten years after the liquidation of Nigeria Airways”, the retirees, Afandomi Raymond (Cotonou) with staff number WC.S.7483, Vivou Honore, WC.J.19179, Mensah Tetey (Lome) with staff number WC.S.6244, Agbewornu R.T, WC.S.6245, Ndoke Hannah (Doualla) WC.S.4333; Bareng John WC.S.6118, Emejulu Phina (Libreville) WC.S.7002 and Maor Eno WC.S.6201 noted the pains and the abject poverty they are going through. Spokesman for the Minister, Joe Obi said the Minister would look at the issue, just as he stated that his boss was yet to receive their letter. The airline was liquidated in October 2003 and in March 2008, the Nigerian based workers were paid the totality of their entitlements, adding that the West Coast staff mentioned above were all present in Lagos in 2008 during this massive payments meant for
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all workers of the carrier. According to them, “Unfortunately, we were completely neglected as we were told payments were only for the Nigerian workers. The excuse we were given by the paying staff from Abuja was that the west coast staff were erroneously not captured in the system”. “They told us that we would
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be paid with the supplementary list coming up before the end of 2008. No one could imagine this could take another five to six years”. The retirees disclosed that they had considered distance to follow up the approval of the supplementary list by the National Assembly and the Presidency.
They lauded the efforts of the their High Commissioners and Embassies in Abuja that led to the final approval by President Goodluck Jonathan October last year. “We were filled with joy that, the year 2012 was ending with God’s mercies on us and year 2013 was to be a year of hopes, to bring joy and abundant blessings. But our hopes are almost dashing into the mud from what we are experiencing on the delay to release the supplementary list for payments”, the added. The aggrieved workers stated that they do not want to believe that the situation at hand and the circumstances surrounding the approved supplementary list that payments are still to be effected is a total disregard and lack of respect to the power and personalities for their High Commissioners and Embassies who in Abuja represent the interests of the staff affected. They noted that it was against this backdrop that they are on their knees begging the Minister to temper justice with mercy and release the approved supplementary list already four months old on the President’s table for payment. To them, this would highly reduce the untold hardship and adject poverty ,”we the west coast staff and our families are swimming in”.
the same 2011, the United States (U.S.) Department of State conducted a study on judicial corruption in Nigeria owing to lack of accountability and found out that citizens faced long delay and frequent requests for bribes from judicial officials to obtain favourable rulings or expedite cases. These are very worrisome findings by these respected anti-corruption bodies both local and international. While Transparency International in its 2010/2011 report observed that the judiciary is the least corrupt behind the Police, Power Holding Company of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Custom Services, the germane question is not the degree of corruption but whether the judiciary should be on such an inglorious and ignoble list at all. Time was when a lawyer could predict the likely outcome of a case because of the facts, the law and the brilliance of the lawyers that handled the case. Today, things have changed and nobody can
be sure. Nowadays, politicians would text the outcome of the judgment to their party men before the judgment is delivered and prepare for their supporters ahead of time for celebration. Also Senior Vice President and General Counsel, FCMB, Paper Discussant, Mrs. Olajumoke Bakare, in her review of the comments of the guest speaker, regretted the standards of judicial practice and called for the review of remunerations for judges based on location and other criteria. She stated: “Judges are first lawyers and so the problem should be tackled at the root. I also don’t think it is right for judges to still be using long hand to write cases. By now, cases should be available online or on softcopy.” Earlier Chairman of ICSAN Lagos Chapter, Mr. Adeyinka Hassan, stated that the discussion to choose the topic of transparency and accountability is part of its support for the national body’s campaign for good governance across board.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
Govt assures on implementation of community service scheme • NDE redeploys director From Collins Olayinka, Abuja HE Ministry of Labour and Productivity has assured of full implementation of community service scheme that was handed over to the ministry by the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, has assured Nigerians of his ministry’s readiness to implement in full the objectives and target of the Community Service Scheme of Sure-P, which was recently handed over to the Ministry of Labour and Productivity by the Federal Ministry of Finance. Speaking during the handing over, the Permanent Secretary who was represented at the occasion by the Director Human Resources Management in the Ministry, Mr. James Ogwuche, stated that, “the ministry will guarantee successful implementation of the scheme by ensuring that set targets are met”. Speaking further, Ogwuche appreciated Mr. Papka, the Project Director of Women and Youth Empowerment Project (CSWYE) in the Ministry of Finance for effective management of the scheme in the Ministry of Finance. The Community Service Scheme (CSS), an arm of CSWYE of Sure-P, is aimed at providing temporary job opportunities for the teem-
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ing unemployed youths, women and the vulnerable in the society with a target of 5,000 people per state including the Federal Capital Territory per year. In his remarks the Project Director, Mr. Papka, recalled that the CSWYE project was initiated at the Ministry of Labour while elaboration of concept, project design and implementation was done at the Federal Ministry of Finance. He added that the project was initiated under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) to ensure that the unemployed youths, the vulnerable and women benefit from the accrued proceeds of the partial withdrawal of fuel subsidy. Papka revealed that the scheme has already engaged 120,000 people out of the 185,000 people targeted for the year 2013, adding that it is noteworthy that all transactions are done directly with the beneficiaries, while supervisors are only expected to ensure that beneficiaries work for the stipulated hours to earn their pay. In a separate development, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has redeployed senior management members. The posting sees the movement of Mr. Kunle Obayan who was director of Small Scale Enterprises (SSE) department to Rural Promotion department, while Ada Shuaibu, moved
to Special Public Works from FCT where he was state coordinator. Other are Mrs. Victoria Awosemo, who is now director of Small Scale Enterprises, moved from Vocational Skills Development; L.K. Aliyu swapped Finance and Supplies for Vocational Skills
Development; Director of Human Resources, Umar Kadira, was in Rural Employment Promotion department; Inspectorate is headed by Mrs. H. Achigbu who was Board secretary; Ismaila Umar, who is now the director of Finance and Supplies, was the zonal director North-West Zone;
M. Isichie moved from South-South Zone to Planning Research and Statistics and A.A. Ibrahim is now director, North-Central Zone while State Coordinator Bauchi, J. Kirfi is the new North-East Zonal director. Mr. J. Aye is the director of Inspectorate moved from
North-West Zone; Mr. B.O. Onuoha who was a deputy director is now director of South-East zone; A.G. Abubakar moved from North-East Zone to SouthSouth Zone; while Mr. Ola Martins who was Head of department, South West is now in charge of South West as zonal director.
Deputy Director, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Large Taxpayers’ Office (Oil & Gas Services) Lagos, Cyriacus Ekechi (left); Managing Consultant, Pedabo Nigeria, Albert Folorunsho; Director, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Abuja, Ajayi Bamidele and Managing Partner, Pedabo Nigeria, Ajibade Fashina, at the transfer pricing breakfast seminar organised by Pedabo in Lagos.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
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‘Nigeria needs employment policy’ Lawrence C. Fejokwu a publisher, corporate and political communications consultant wants the Federal Government to make employment policy a priority to confront the various societal ills bedevilling the country. In this interview with TUNDE AKINOLA, Fejokwu who is currently an entrepreneurship development project coordinator, USA/Africa Team, spoke on the attempt to bring about a sustainable solution to the issue. Excerpts: at the current state LwhyofOOKING the nation can you tell us we are where we are considering the country’s endowment? Every Nigerian all over the world is worried and anxious about events in the country. That Nigeria is rated as one of the few countries in the world with the highest potentials of growth, prosperity and stability, is not in doubt, beyond the providential characteristic of being the largest black nation in the world endowed with both human and natural resources. But today, Nigeria is known for being notorious, failed expectations, failed leadership and most importantly, tremendous anxiety about the future, especially, the forthcoming election in 2015. We are where we are today because we have failed to obey the laws of God. To whom much is given much is expected. We got our independence on a platter of gold, even after the independence, the foundation of the country was solidly built by those patriotic and energetic founding fathers who struggled and negotiated very hard with the British imperial masters to get us independence on a platter of gold. Unfortunately, the democratic process was aborted by the military coup of 1966. That was the primary reason the country collapsed, and has been recurring for the past 52 years. The first coup made reference to the excesses of the corrupt politicians who were taking 10 per cent as bribe. If that caused the coup of 1966 among other factors, what happened over the years from 1966 to 2013? Instability, greed, visionless leadership and most importantly, lack of patriotism. In 1933, the United States (U.S.) was in terrible depression which fell out of the global / German depression. But then, God gave America leaders who transformed the country and the greatness of America was laid in the foundations of the leadership, on to the war of 1939 to 1945 in which America soared to become the greatest country in the world and that has been sustained since then. In Nigeria, we had a civil war, which was as a result of factors like greed, politics, ethnicity, but by the grace of God we survived the war. It was a wonderful opportunity we had in the 1970s to recreate a new Nigeria, which within 10 to 15 years could have been a model in the world but we did not recognise the resources of the other side, Biafra. The Biafran ingenious scientists developed war machines that sustained them in fighting Nigeria during the war. After the second world war in 1945, the great world powers rallied round to discuss how Adolf Hitler almost conquered the world. They did not throw away the factor of Hitler and his rebels. Rather, his ingenious scientists were collected, rehabilitated in America where they were made to contribute to the development of the country. The American
society accommodates numerous nationalities and has been able to manage human resources to build the greatest country in the world. What I am saying is that as a rational and patriotic nation we should be looking inwards at all times, but there are some factors tearing Nigeria apart; factors like hatred, greed and envy. These are all against the laws of God, and as long as we are jealous, envious and greedy, we will go nowhere. This was why we failed to rehabilitate the ingenious Biafran scientists in the 1970s. We are also where we are today because of the interventions of the military in the democratic processes but thank God democracy returned in 1999. In the last five decades, Nigeria never had an employment policy. That people from all parts of the world run to America for greener pasture is due to the social security phenomenon, which also is existent in the United Kingdom (UK). The fact is we have failed to look at the people we are supposed to govern, the humanism in governance has died. Leaders come and do not see the people they are governing as having a stake in government. In this country there is such a terrible divide between the government and the governed to the extent that everybody has turned a beggar. This has led to loss of confidence and proliferation of groups under whatever name you call it. All these social groups emerging now to fight their rights because there is no policy to cater for them, all these years that Nigeria had so much money and resources. For example, in the 1960s, with the little money we had, most of our founding fathers created opportunities for the people to thrive. Western Nigeria was famous for free education, Eastern Nigeria was known for agricultural revolution, oil palms, while the Mid-Western Nigeria was famous for rubber and the Northern parts had the cotton, groundnuts and multi resources. At that time, Nigerian leaders should have been able to factor in policies that would ameliorate the pains of the people, even though there were not too many critical problems within the first five years after independence. But now with all the billions of dollars we have had in the past many years, we now have youths who have no hope, in their millions. We have estimated more than 60 million Nigerian youth who are unemployed. This is a timebomb the country is sitting on if nothing is done about this situation. The World Bank survey in 2011 pointed that people between the age 15 and 24 are 100 million and close to 50 or 60 million are unemployed and unemployable graduates due to faulty educational system. If our graduates travel to the U.S. they will have to be screened to determine their true status before they can fit into the system. These are the tragedies
Fejokwu Nigerians are experiencing as a result of lack of humanistic policies to impact positively on the lives of the people. The population of unemployed youth has continued to rise, but standard in the university education has continued to drop; it is a free-for-all fight for the elusive money. Patriotism and the spirit of service have died. These are the reasons Nigeria has not been able to move forward. But then, would you say we have failed in all respects? No. God has been absolutely wonderful in protecting this country because no country has been so fortunate to experience economic boom after a civil war. Immediately after the war Nigeria had an oil boom, that was a spiritual blessing for the country to start afresh. That was when we had the “Three Rs” reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation, but failed to address the critical issues. This also led to series of military coups. Even the democracy of 1979, was it genuine? No. it was marred by rigging and electoral malpractices, which led to another coup in 1983, and unfortunately the country continues to decay. All these now led to our youth devoid of positive values, vision and the determination to excel. Those who could not withstand the frustration had to leave the country and today we have hundreds of thousands of people in different countries all over the world doing everything to survive. Are you surprised Nigeria is known as a fraudulent nation? All these vices are linked to the country because the system does not empower people to succeed. Nigeria has never had a leader who wants to focus on the people by creating employment or the aged having free medical aid. The youth and the aged are the two important groups of the nation, but unfortunately they are the most marginalised in the country. We kept on derailing until we got to this chaotic state where cultism, prostitution, corruption, excessive greed and demonic acquisition of wealth became the order of the day. That is why we have the highest unemployment rate in the history of this country. That is why I am concerned. Despite numerous years of independence, what are the factors militating against our evolution in a developed country? Nigeria as a nation has been blessed, blessed in the sense that God has given us human
and natural resources. Throughout the world, Nigerians excel in virtually every discipline they venture into, but one critical reason Nigeria has not become a major player in the world is simply because successive governments have not implemented policies that would empower the citizens. In America, immediately after the war, they discovered that people must be empowered for socio-economic and political prosperity, and this became part of their culture. America had established a social security system so that no citizen should ever die of hunger. America encourages self-employment. No country in the world has and can ever
provide everybody a job. Psychologically, those who work for themselves are the happiest because it is much easier to become a millionaire as a self-employed, that if you are working for an organization. All the successful men in the world worked for themselves. If God gives you an idea and you work on it very well with resources, you will explode. The same critical element in Nigeria is the lack of humanitarian approach to governance. In those years, I did not know anybody in 1977 before I got a meritorious scholarship to study for my Ph.D. in the USA. When I was a Lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. In whatever situation one
finds himself, he should find a way to contribute to the upliftment of the country. This brings us to the question, what are we doing and what can we do to get out of this situation? America created an environment to be able to work and thrive as self-employed. You cannot be waiting for job and then go into okada riding or the ladies go into prostitution. Create policies and empower people. The policy America created was liberalisation. Small Business Administration (SBA) is ubiquitous. American retired patriots formed themselves into clubs SCORE – (Service Corps of Retired Executives), made up of retired executives who support the citizens in self employment. American government appropriates billions of dollars to support the SBAs for loans and grants. If you have been appropriately trained in your calling SBA can support you with funding. Mark Zukerberg, who owns Facebook apparently after the discovery must have applied for grant or soft loan. How many Nigerians can work into a microfinance bank for loans? The whole process has been politicised. For instance, why was there a boom in the Nollywood? Frustration led these talented youth to go to Onitsha traders to fund the industry at the time. The opportunity has produced an army of highly intelligent actors and actresses. They now have endorsement and a lot of billons had been pumped in to the industry. If they had no one to support them or put into practice whatever they have CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
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Need for a national employment policy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 learnt they would have all been like dropouts. I am happy that the President of the country in the last few weeks recognised this fact by making a substantial grant to support that industry. But such support should not be ad-hocish. Grants should be provided for every talented youth. There should be Federal Government funded mini banks with criteria and regulations so that everybody with ideas can walk into the bank after he had been trained. Not only the government loans, people should give grants, the success of America today is because of the kindness of the rich citizens who give in their billions without caring who is the beneficiary, white or black. In this country, there is so much money in so few hands. The Bank of Industry is one of the few banks that funds Small Medium Enterprises (SME). Only one bank in this country, while all the banks in this country are supposed to be funding SMEs. I do not know how many Nigerians can ever access entrepreneurship loans. So the government has a stake, based on the constitution to empower the people to create enabling environment, without doing that, the problems we have today will continue to multiply. Everybody wants to go into politics, that is why politics seems to be the biggest business in the land. Some people even borrow money to campaign for elective posts. We need universities, yes, but where are they going to work? Where will
these thousands and millions of graduates being turned out work? How many industries are coming up? Some of the industries we have are relocating to Ghana. How many new ones are coming up? For instance, America is successful because entrepreneurship is the economic force that makes America the most powerful country in the world. It does not mean that only the giant industries have contributed to America’s growth. In fact, 70 per cent of US economy is driven by SMEs. They may be called small businesses because of their founders but they have mega billions. In Nigeria, in spite of our disadvantages, the SMEs have created positive growth in stabilising the economy. Look at the telecommunications revolution, would you imagine what would happen if that were to be replicated in other sectors? When it comes to road infrastructures, car manufacturing; why can’t we manufacture cars? Why can’t we manufacture small cars? Must we go to Brazil to get Marc O’polo? Whereas we have engineers who could have been able to develop if the government had intervened to encourage them as SBEs, as the Asian Tiger nations. In what ways do you think these issues can be addressed? The answer is simple, Entrepreneurship. Everybody should be challenged to contribute to the growth of Nigeria. If you are a true Nigerian, you are called upon to work for a national rebirth. A national rebirth to me means an innovative approach to socioeconomic
development. A complete value transformation. The love for money has been overemphasised. Money cannot become everything, no way. It has become an idol, but what we want to see in this country is to encourage everybody who is created by God in his own image to do what he can do and that is the issue of entrepreneurship. I went to America, to study why America has become the most successful country in the world after my academic degrees and I did a lot of research and networking. I took my time to identify some of the big players, talked with them, worked with them and discovered that there was no secret in prosperity in business. Everybody has something to offer, but nobody can be helped unless the government creates environment of stability and structure based on the critical need of the people. The government of Nigeria is trying to do something about employment generation. Is the government getting it right? We are working with a number of USA agencies. From the beginning Nigerian youth must receive new orientation. We call it the “Three Ms”. The American model is based on knowledge. It is a knowledge-based society where everybody is learning, empowering and adding values to themselves. So we are trying to use the American model of entrepreneurship as a vehicle to mobilise our unemployed youths and graduates, to motivate them, by mobilisation, because everybody is gifted, in arts, engineering or science. The sec-
ond level is motivation. Everybody needs to be supported. The most important in the model is talent maximisation. This is to ensure that whatever talent you are gifted, you are supported to function and excel. But a deliberate and sustained attempt to show the way. In Nigeria we don’t have industrial parks, thank God in the last 10 years, because of democracy, people are coming from different parts of the world to support. We are working with Entrepreneurship agencies in America. One of these agencies is famous as a Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence in Education. Entrepreneurship programmes are for empowerment of our university system. When the university educators are properly trained with the 21st century scientific model in teaching entrepreneurship, it becomes easy to produce students who will definitely become entrepreneurial in thinking and this is why we have been able to con-
tract with an institution in America, and for the first time an African country will benefit from the entrepreneurship training of this world famous institution, Babson Institution for Entrepreneurship Education. We are hosting Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators this August in the United States for Nigerian Leaders – Academic, Economic and Political. This is one of the several programmes we are offering to the Nigerian universities and Institutions What yardstick would you use to choose the schools that will benefit from these programmes? We have begun to sensitise some universities to appreciate the USA Entrepreneurship Education and to identify sponsors that will support University Educators. The BABSON programme SEE –(Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators) has benefited more than 650 institutions worldwide from
57 countries and 2,500 alumni. Economic leaders and government must support our University Educators to acquire first class training in teaching entrepreneurship. The most important segment in the tripod is the political leaders. They will help in creating the downstream employment policies. What this means is that in every constituency in this country, we shall design programmes to select from every senatorial, federal and state constituencies unemployed youth / as NYSC graduates for screening. We have two categories, DUTY – (Determined Unemployed Talented Youth) and DATE (Disciplined Aspiring Talented Entrepreneurs). These two groups will be screened and be made to go through several re-orientation workshops with modules and be recruited into categories of trainees, artisans, trainee affiliates, work study NYSC participants, co-investor associates, trainee consultants, trainee managers.
Procurement retreat for chief executives of Federal parastatals PROCUREMENT Retreat A for Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) holds between today Thursday, April 18 2013 and Sunday, April 28, 2013 at The Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, Lagos. The retreat follows the Fourth Procurement Retreat for Federal Permanent Secretaries in Lagos, early January, 2013
during which the deficiencies in the 2012 Budget implementation were addressed and the participants prepared for effective implementation of the 2013 Budget. In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary, Segun Imohiosen said: “Part of the resolutions reached at the retreat was that the Bureau should organise similar Procurement Retreat for Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals since they are
also Accounting Officers of their respective agencies to aid in addressing the inadequacies in 2012 budget implementation as identified by these parastatals and improve on the implementation of the 2013 budget. The event will further highlight the Bureau’s effort in promoting Transparency, Accountability, Efficiency and Fairness in public sector procurement and the Transformation Agenda of the current administration.
THe GUArDiAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
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scrap dealers’ union gets certificate of registration From Collins Olayinka, Abuja He population of labour T unions in the country has been swelled by the addition of the National Association of scrap and Waste Dealers employers of Nigeria (NAsWDeN). The new association, though has been in existence in the country for about 10 years now, it has not been granted official recognition until last week when the registrar of Trade Unions, Mrs. Nwanyeize Mbogu, presented a certificate of registration to the new union in Abuja.
receiving the certificate, the National President of the new union, John egaji Obeh, thanked the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chukwuemeka Wogu, for his untiring efforts at ensuring industrial peace reigns within the workplace. He explained that the union has been pursuing the registration for about four years before it was finally granted. He added: “We had to bring ourselves together before the issuance of this certificate came to be. Our aim is to bring the entire scrap dealers in Nigeria together under a uni-
fied umbrella so we can confront our common challenges with a united voice and strength.” Obeh stressed that the focus of the union in the next one year is to have branches in all the 36 states of the federation including Abuja. He insisted that scrap dealers are important in the economic activities and decried the popular notion of people that deal only in rubbish and nonsensical activities that add nothing to the economy. His words: “Today when you talk about scraps, people will focus their mind on waste
product, but what this union was able to do is to gather this scraps for recycling purpose. Before now, Nigeria had just two major steel rolling mills but today i can tell you that through the effort of the union we have about 22 steel rolling mills. The union members supply these rolling mills raw material they are using for recycling purposes as well as full production of iron rod. More workers are needed in order to serve the 22 rolling mills and in that regard we are proud to say that we have indeed contributed substantially to the
growth of the economy. We have about 161 registered agents attached to all steel rolling mills and each of these agents have about 100 workers under them. We are contributing meaningfully to job and wealth creation in this country.” Also speaking at the occasion, the Deputy President of the union, Patrick Njoku, said obtaining the certificate would empower the union to legitimately engage government on issues that affect the wellbeing of its members. He added: “We are going to
engage government especially on how government can realize the potential that are inherent in the steel sector. it is our duty now to be able to articulate some of this position in manners that it will be meaningful to government to act and see how this sector can contribute more to the economy of Nigeria.” He also hinted that dealing in waste and scrap materials poses a lot of danger to the union’s members and that efforts would be made to proffer solutions to dangers that dealers are exposed to.
Govt committed to Niger Delta’s development says Orubebe From Abosede Musari, Abuja iNisTer of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe on Tuesday said the new ‘Action Plan’ being prepared for the Niger delta would further boost development in the region. Besides, he said government commitment to the development of the region informed the decision to formulate the new action plan. Orubebe, who was speaking at a press conference held to announce the forthcoming Niger Delta stakeholders conference in Uyo, Akwa ibom state, explained that the plan would harmonize all existing development policy for the region. While asking for the support of all stakeholder on the Niger Delta project, the minister noted that a coordinated effort is needed to achieve the development the people of the region desire. “The Niger Delta Action Plan which we are going to present at this stakeholders conference and the National
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Managing Director, West Africa, Software Application Products(SAP), Richard Edet(left) Executive Secretary, NEITI, Zainab Ahmed and Director Economic Planning, FCTA, Isa Muhammed representing the FCT Minister at the SAP Government Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Seminar in Abuja
Council meeting provides us the means to commence the intensive development effort in the region”. “We have seen the relative peace and stability in the region and the subsequent return of economic and social normalcy following the implementation of the amnesty programme. This peaceful state provides us the window of opportunity to intensify development intervention measures in the region’, he said. According to the minister, the aim of the Action Plan is to consolidate and sustain current security condition in the region by addressing its development challenges in a way that is coherent and coordinated. “Now is the time to harness all available resources and expertise to intensify development effort in the region and to commence more effective and comprehensive implementation of an integrated development programme in response to the challenges in the region”.
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ScienceGuardian Scientists uncover two new possible human ancestors • Dinosaur embryos were restless, speedy growers Compiled by Chukwuma Muanya with agency reports CIENTISTS have uncovered Sdates two new possible candifor human ancestors with the discovery of a surprising mix of apelike and humanlike features from head to toe, which supports a controversial contention that a two-million-year-old member of the human evolutionary family gave rise to the genus Homo; and one of the most controversial proposed members of the human evolutionary family, considered an ancient ape. An international team of researchers led by Anthropologist Lee Berger of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and his colleagues reports in six papers published April 12 in Science how they assigned two partial skeletons and other fossils found in a South African cave in 2008 to a species they named Australopithecus sediba. Among the group’s new findings: A. sediba’s teeth suggest that this hominid evolved into a Homo species but had no links to earlier East African hominids often regarded as Homo ancestors. Those hominids include 3.2million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis, best known for Lucy’s partial skeleton. A. sediba’s relatively long arms were suited to hanging out in trees, consistent with its narrow, apelike upper rib cage. But these hominids also had narrow, humanlike lower rib cages and lower backs that were longer and more flexible than those of people today. A. sediba probably walked awkwardly with its feet rolling inward and slightly pigeontoed. Also, an analysis of a newly reconstructed skull base finds reported on April 11 at the American Association of Physical Anthropologists annual meeting by William Kimbel of Arizona State University in Tempe noted that by 4.4 million years ago, Ardipithecus ramidus already possessed a relatively short, broad skull base with a forward-placed opening for the
Fossils of two individuals (juvenile male on left, adult female on right) of Australopithecus sediba. From Berger, et al “Australopithecus sediba: A New Species of Homo-Like Australopith from South Africa” Science, April 9, 2010. spinal cord, an arrangement of Ardi’s build related to tree encased the partial skeleton Ethiopia. exclusive to ancient hominids climbing, such as grasping in By examining 79 skull bases and people today. William feet and an elongated lower Kimbel of Arizona State hip bone, have raised suspi- of chimps, gorillas, modern and ancient University in Tempe reported cions that she and her kind humans on April 11 at the American come from apes that evolved a hominids, Kimbel’s group relationships Association of Physical rudimentary ability to walk identified Anthropologists annual meet- upright without being among anatomical landing. hominids. However, Ardi’s dis- marks that distinguish apes Although features of the coverers argue that she’s a from people and hominids. skull’s floor evolved substan- hominid whose species split The researchers estimated the tially in Homo species leading time between slow, awkward total length of A. ramidus’ to modern humans, Kimbel walking and shuffling along skull bottom and found that said, those changes appeared tree branches while grabbing it fell within a range characin piecemeal fashion starting upper branches for support. teristic of hominids, not apes. As in more recent members at least a couple of million The new skull reconstrucyears earlier in hominids such tion, which fits that view, of the Australopithecus as Ardipithecus. relied on a partial A. ramidus genus, such as the 3.2-millionA. ramidus is best known by skull base reported in 1994, year partial skeleton nickthe partial skeleton of an adult long before Ardi’s remains named Lucy, Ardipithecus female, dubbed Ardi, were painstakingly removed ramidus displays a relatively described in a set of papers for analysis from rock that had short, humanlike skull base, Kimbel said. published in 2009. Elements
Engineers soak up toxins, venom with nanosponges NGINEERS at the E University of California, San Diego, United States, have invented a “nanosponge” capable of safely removing a broad class of dangerous toxins from the bloodstream including toxins produced by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) a bacterium responsible for several difficult-totreat infections in humans, Escherichia coli, poisonous snakes and bees.
These nanosponges, which thus far have been studied in mice, can neutralise “pore-forming toxins,” which destroy cells by poking holes in their cell membranes. Unlike other antitoxin platforms that need to be custom synthesized for individual toxin type, the nanosponges can absorb different pore-forming toxins regardless of their molecular structures. In a study against alphahaemolysin toxin from
MRSA, pre-inoculation with nanosponges enabled 89 percent of mice to survive lethal doses. Administering nanosponges after the lethal dose led to 44 per cent survival. The team, led by nanoengineers at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, published the findings in Nature Nanotechnology April 14. “This is a new way to remove toxins from the
bloodstream,” said Liangfang Zhang, a nanoengineering professor at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and the senior author on the study. “Instead of creating specific treatments for individual toxins, we are developing a platform that can neutralize toxins caused by a wide range of pathogens, including MRSA and other antibiotic resistant bacteria,” said Zhang.
A STRO NOM Y With J. K. Obatala
The visual comets of 2013 (5) N a University of time it takes to make one Irelease, Massachusetts press revolution around its parElizabeth Luciano ent body—or to return to said the team found a larger ratio of deuterium (heavy hydrogen) to ordinary hydrogen in cyanide molecules which HaleBopp’s icy nucleus jetted out, than in the compounds of interstellar clouds. “This research,” she reports, “provides evidence that cometary ice is created within interstellar clouds that have not yet collapsed [to become proto-stars]; the ice is then incorporated into the comet during its formation”. Wherever they may have formed, comets now reside mainly in two regions—both on the outer fringes of the solar system. One is the Kuiper Belt (occasionally the “Edgeworth-Kuiper” Belt), which, many astronomers suspect, is really their original home. The Kuiper Belt is a disclike formation of objects, revolving around the Sun, roughly in the same plane as the planets. Generally, Kuiper Belt objects or KBOs (also transneptunian objects or TNOs) orbit within 40 degrees below or above this plane (called the ecliptic). The KBO region, notes NASA’s Solar System Exploration website, “extends from about 30 to 55 AU and is probably populated with hundreds of thousands of icy bodies larger than 100 km (62 miles) across and an estimated trillion or more comets”. (Remember: An “AU” is about 149 million km.) In order to understand the behavior of comets, especially their periodicity, one should be aware that bodies revolving in this region are very much at the mercy of the gas giants—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The gravitational field of Neptune, in particular, severely affects the stability of KBOs. Perhaps I should explain the “periodicity” of comets, before I discuss the Kuiper Belt and the Ort Cloud. What I’m trying to do, is accommodate both those who simply want to know the particulars of the comets that may attain naked-eye visible this year, and classroom teachers who may need more detail. Actually, as I have advised on previous occasions, sky-watching is a lot more gratifying emotionally and stimulating intellectually, if you have some idea of what it is that you are looking at—beyond its appearance and behavior.. Towards that end, an object’s “period” is the
an earth-bound observer’s field of view for a second time. Comet Halley (the first comet to have its orbit calculated), for example, appears in the sky one every 76 years. Halley (named for Isaac Newton’s contemporary, Edmund Halley) is a “short period” comet, because it does not take more than 200 years. Bodies in this group are further divided into “Jupiter family” comets, whose periods are less than 20 years and “Halley types,” with return times of between 20 and 200 years. Some comets have return times of thousands, even millions, of years. Others appear in the inner solar system only once—never to return. The former were previously termed “long period” comets and the latter “non-periodic”. But the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Centre has effectively discarded these classifications. Comets with periods longer than 200 years are, for all intents and purposes, now considered non-periodic. The terms “long period” and “non-periodic” are thus used interchangeably. The three comets on which this series of columns hang, are nonperiodic, with return times amounting to many thousands of years. Why is this so? Why does a comet such as Halley return once in a human life span, while Hale-Bopp will take 2000 years or more and others are one-time visitors? Basically, the giant bullies of the outer solar system, with their powerful and far-reaching gravitational fields are to blame. Neptune is not the biggest of the bullies. But, as far as the fate of Kuiper Belt objects are concerned, it is certainly the “baddest”! Astronomers have divided the Kuiper Belt into the “cold disc” and the “scattered disc”. The former, they explain, consists of objects with circular orbits, lying within the ecliptic. These bodies have a 3:2 resonance with Neptune, orbiting the Sun twice for every three revolutions of the giant outer planet. The scattered disc is a refuge, so to speak, of Neptune’s “victims”— comets that have been assaulted gravitationally and harassed out of their primordial of abode in the cold disc. They now orbit higher than 40 degrees above or below the ecliptic, cowering between Neptune and the inner edge of the cold disc. • To be continued.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
Why the NHIS coverage is still low, by Chukwu Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has given reasons why the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has not being able to function optimally even as he disclosed plans by the Federal Government to make the scheme mandatory and to cover more diseases like cancer, and cater for prisoners and people with disabilities. Chukwu in a chat with health editors and reporters in Lagos recently said the Federal Government also plans to improve cancer treatment among other things. CHUKWUMA MUANYA and WOLE OYEBADE were there. Excerpts. IGHT years down the line, E most Nigerians are yet to benefit from the NHIS. What benefit does the current NHIS have for common Nigerians and how soon will it achieve universal coverage? We must understand what the NHIS is all about and why it is still seriously handicapped in the country. Our NHIS is still voluntary. The extant law establishing it says so, which means people have to go there by choice. Currently, there is a bill before the National Assembly (NASS) which is trying to repeal and re-enact. One of the major things to be achieved in the bill is to make it mandatory for all employers of labour. Even if that is done, we will still be short of universal coverage until we have made it mandatory. In countries like Britain, by paying tax you are entitled to it. Countries like United States (U.S.) and Nigeria are having problem with health insurance because their schemes are so much on the voluntary side. The U.S. president is trying to change that and he is having very serious political issues with it because those that are gaining from the voluntary method will not want anything to change.
So, our decision too is to make it mandatory. To do so, there are many things that are imperative without us preempting what may happen at the Universal Coverage Summit. There are some things that could be possible: one is that there may have to be some constitutional amendment because right now, health is not even mentioned in any of the legislative list. It is presumed that health is on the concurrent, based on our tradition and conventions since we have started to have constitution in this country. Which means that states can actually have their own insurance scheme. I think a state like Lagos and the FCT have developed something as an alternative to NHIS. But it will become more difficult in terms of coordination. We are now asking for Health Insurance to be placed under Exclusive legislative list. If it were so, this bill that is before the National Assembly to repeal the extant law and reenact a new one, probably would be saying now that all Nigerians must enjoy health insurance because NASS will have all the constitutional authority to make a law. Right now, constitutionally, they
Chukwu
cannot do an all-encompassing law because the state also has the powers to make their own law. These are things that may come out from the summit on universal health coverage when it holds. So, basically, the problem is that it is voluntary. Even looking at the public sector, we are yet to get it right because it is still difficult to convince even the workers to make their contributions. Till now, workers at the Federal level are not even contributing because whenever it is mentioned, the union, in protest
would threaten strike. So, it amazes me when people in Nigeria just attack the government that they are not enjoying the scheme. Right now, the law of the country says employer should pay 10 per cent of the basic salary, while the employees pay five per cent. What we have been using to pay the health insurance for the federal worker is just the 10 per cent that the government has been paying. The workers have refused to allow anybody take their five per cent. So, the public that is complaining, are
they really ready for the insurance scheme? I think anyone that has the right to ask me questions on health insurance should be the enrollee. Others will not have what the lawyers would call locus standi in this matter, because they are not contributors. There are very few contributors. That is the main weakness of the health insurance scheme and we are trying to correct that. By whatever system – taxation or contributory – it should be mandatory. That is the way some countries have achieved 100 per cent universal coverage. Again, we are very religious people in this country. Some people have told me that to begin to save money for future illness is like wishing for it. They reject it and do all manner of things, yet the same people send their children to medical schools to become doctor, pharmacists among others. I don’t know who they are expecting to fall ill and become patients of their trained children. That is the hypocrisy in the system. It is believed that the solution to universal health insurance coverage is the Community Health Insurance Scheme. How far has the Federal Government gone in exploring this option? One product that is very good is the Community-Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS). The President started by flagging it off in Kogi State and you will see us do more in other states. We understand what it is doing at the community level and we are championing it. The NHIS is providing the technical support for them. Many communities are buying into it and it is work-
ing. Though there are teething problems, but if you do not start, how will you improve on it? After the President did the flag-off, I personally wrote letters to governors asking them to work with their people in selected communities and have us establish the scheme in their state. For now, what we are doing to encourage communities to come on board is that the FG now undertakes part of it. If you enroll into the N150 per month scheme, even if you don’t enroll your wife, she will be taken care of by the FG when she is pregnant. Your children, maximum of four and under the age of five will also be taken care of by the FG. This is one significant thing that President Goodluck Jonathan has achieved through the Ministry of Health. Cancer has in recent times become a big issue in the country. Many Nigerians are coming down with the ailment but cannot afford the very high cost for treatment. What is the government doing to help? I am very happy to announce to you that as at today, there are six comprehensive cancer screening centres; they all have mammogram machine for cancer detection, machine for follow up of initial cancer screening; ultra sound scan for both breast and cervical cancer, electro-cervical machine (for immediate intervention in case of cervical cancer), prostate cancer screening machine as well. These are in fulfillment of what we promised two years ago. These centres are located in hospitals like the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta in Lagos; FMC Keffi; FMC Continued on Page 34
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NaturalHealth Western diet may increase premature death risk ATA from a new study of British adults suggests that adherence to a “Western-style” diet (fried and sweet food, processed and red meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products) reduces a person’s likelihood of achieving older ages in good health and with higher functionality. Study results appear in the May issue of The American Journal of Medicine. Lead investigator, Dr. Tasnime Akbaraly, Montpellier, France, said: “The impact of diet on specific age-related diseases has been studied extensively, but few investigations have adopted a more holistic approach to determine the association of diet with overall health at older ages,” says “We examined whether diet, assessed in midlife, using dietary patterns and adherence to the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), is associated with aging phenotypes, identified after a mean 16-year follow-up.” The AHEI is a validated index of diet quality, originally designed to provide dietary guidelines with the specific intention to combat major chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Investigators analysed findings from the British Whitehall II cohort study, which suggest that following the AHEI can double the odds of reversing metabolic syndrome, a condition known to be a strong predictor of heart disease and mortality. The research team sought to identify dietary factors that can not only prevent premature death,
D
but also promote ideal aging. Researchers followed 3,775 men and 1,575 women from 1985-2009 with a mean age of 51 years from the Whitehall II study. Using a combination of hospital data, results of screenings conducted every five years, and registry data, investigators identified mortality and chronic diseases among participants. The outcomes at follow-up stage, classified into five categories were: 1. Ideal aging, defined as free of chronic conditions and high performance in physical, mental, and cognitive functioning tests - 4.0 percent 2. Nonfatal cardiovascular event - 12.7 per cent 3. Cardiovascular death - 2.8 per cent 4. Noncardiovascular death — 7.3 per cent 5. Normal aging - 73.2 per cent The study determined that participants with low adherence to the AHEI increased their risk of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death. Those who followed a “Western-type diet” consisting of fried and sweet food, processed food and red meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products lowered their chances for ideal aging. “We showed that following specific dietary recommendations such as the one provided by the AHEI may be useful in reducing the risk of unhealthy aging, while avoidance of the ‘Western-type foods’ might actually improve the possibility of achieving older ages free of chronic diseases and remaining highly functional,” Akbaraly noted.
No evidence supplements help prevent cognitive decline in elderly REVIEW of published A research has found no evidence that drugs, herbal products or vitamin supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults. The review, conducted at St. Michael’s Hospital, found some evidence that mental exercises, such as computerised memory training programs, might help. “This review provides some evidence to help clinicians and their patients address what strategies might prevent cognitive decline,” said Dr. Raza Naqvi, a University of Toronto resident and lead author of the review published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The issue is of particular importance given that mild cognitive impairment affects 10 to 25 per cent of people over age 70. Mild cognitive impairment is characterised by reduced memory, judgment, and decision-making skills compared to someone of a similar age, but not enough to interfere with daily activities. The yearly rate of decline into dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, is about 10 per cent. Given that rate and the aging population, it’s estimated the number of Canadians with dementia will double to more than one million in the next 25 years. They found no strong evi-
dence for pharmacologic treatments such as cholinesterase inhibitors that were developed to improve the effectiveness of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that assists memory, thought and judgment. Nor was there strong evidence that herbal supplements such as gingko improved cognitive functions or vitamins and fatty acids such as vitamin B6 or omega-3 fatty acids. Some studies on estrogen actually indicated an increase in cognitive decline and dementia. Evidence on the value of physical exercise, such as strengthtraining, was weak. The strongest evidence was for the value of mental exercises such as computerised training programs or intensive oneon-one personal cognitive training in memory, reasoning, or speed of processing. Naqvi said future studies should address the impact of cognitive training on the prevention of cognitive decline. “We encourage researchers to consider easily accessible tools such as crossword puzzles and sudoko that have not been rigorously studied,” he said. “The studies in this review that assessed cognitive exercises used exercises that were both labour- and resource-intensive, and thus may not be applicable to most of our patients.”
Debate over health effects of red meat rages • Caution on Suya, Isi Ewu, Nkwobi, Kilishi consumption
Red meat...small quantities of processed meat such as suya, kilishi, nkwobi, isi ewu, bacon, sausages or salami can significantly increase the risk of dying early from cancer and heart disease.
Recent reports have raised fresh concerns over the health effects of red meat. Earlier studies had linked intake of red meat to cancer and other degenerative conditions such as heart disease. But scientists are divided. Another school of thought says red meat is good but should be taken, cooked with spices, in moderation not roasted or fried as in suya, isi ewu, nkwobi, kilishi. CHUKWUMA MUANYA examines the scenario. OES eating red meat D increase the risk of cancer and heart disease? Several studies have demonstrated how small quantities of processed meat such as suya, kilishi, nkwobi, isi ewu, bacon, sausages or salami can significantly increase the risk of dying early from cancer and heart disease. Scientists have also found that people who eat a diet high in red meat were likely to be generally unhealthier because they were more likely to smoke, be overweight and not exercise. The researchers recommend that people should cut their red meat consumption to prevent almost one in 10 early deaths in men and one in 13 in women. They found that red meat often contains high amounts of saturated fat, while bacon and salami contain large amounts of salt and replacing red meat with poultry, fish or vegetables, whole grains and other healthy foods cut the risk of dying by up to one fifth. Indeed, the link between red meat and poor heart health has traditionally been blamed on cholesterol, but new evidence suggests this is not the whole story. United States researchers, last week, found that carnitine, a nutrient found in red meat, is converted into a metabolite that promotes cardiovascular disease by gut bacteria. This may mean that the popular prac-
tice of taking carnitine supplements to build muscle is unwise. According to the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) and the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), red meat is a valuable source of iron, zinc and vitamin D, which is vital for health, especially in pregnant women and infants. They are unanimous that red meat can be part of a balanced diet. “But people who eat a lot of red and processed meat should consider cutting down as regularly eating a lot could increase your risk of bowel cancer.” A consultant pharmacist at Malix Pharmacy Onitsha, Adaeze Omaliko, said red meat is the victim of stereotypes that have been exaggerated to the point where it is today somewhat stigmatised as a food that is linked to cancer and higher fat and caloric content. She explained: “While the cancer issue depends on what studies you look at and the higher caloric content is not that much over white meat, red meat does have benefits that white meat simply lacks. For example, the nutrients zinc, iron, thiamine and riboflavin (in addition to vitamins B12 and B6) appear in much greater abundance in red meat. “Moreover, red meat is a great source of muscle-building protein as well as being
the best source of the antioxidant called alpha lipoic acid. Still, red meat has been the subject of a lot of studies that connect it to health problems beyond cancer, like cardiovascular disease and even arthritis and hypertension.” To an associate professor of medicine and consultant in endocrinology, diabetology and metabolism division at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Fasanmade Olufemi, red meat refers to beef, mutton, lamb, pork and venison while white meat refers to chicken, fish, seafood. Fasanmade said red meat contains most of the essential amino acids for growth and development. “It thus protects against malnutrition in children and growing adults. In pregnant women too the red meat serves as a good source of protein to help blood formation, bone formation, prevent anaemia in pregnancy and help in fetal development,” he said. The endocrinologist, however, said, on the other hand, red meat which is rich in cholesterol can predispose to high cholesterol levels if consumed in large quantities. He said the entrails of red meat like liver, kidney, brain, intestines are even worse in this regard containing more fat than the fleshy parts of red meat. Fasanmade said red meat
consumption also leads to gout and kidney stone formation if done in large amounts. He said burning of red meat is also associated with production of carcinogens like nitrosamine, which has been implicated in cancer development. The diabetologist advised: “So if you are to consume red meat as an adult take small quantities, avoid the entrails and delicacies of red meat and go for the lean cuts. The isi ewus, oriri na nkwobis, shaki and roundabout, which are Nigerian delicacies should be eaten sparingly. Fish particularly scaly fish is a better alternative and seafood except prawns have relatively lower amounts of harmful fats.” Executive Director, Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) and the Vice-President (Elect), World Heart Federation (WHF), Geneva, Dr. Kingsley K. Akinroye, said the consumption of red meat has long been associated with risk of heart health due to increase of saturated fats and cholesterol. Akinroye said the latest study identifies other ingredients present in red meat that may contribute to heart disease; apart from the red meat salt’s content, influence of genetic risk factors or the cooking procedure that may all account for the increase risk of heart disease.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
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How to make IVF ‘affordable’ in Nigeria, by Ajayi • Links rising male factor infertility to ‘feminised’ environment Dr. Abayomi Ajayi is the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nordica Fertility Clinics. With two centres in Lagos, one in Asaba and another in Abuja, Nordica is one of the foremost In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)/Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)/Test Tube Baby clinics in Nigeria. Ajayi, a consultant gynaecologist and Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in this interview with The Guardian CHUKWUMA MUANYA during the 10th Anniversary celebration of Nordica Fertility Clinics recently in Lagos disclosed practical steps to making IVF affordable in Nigeria, why there is rising male factor infertility in the country and how the clinic was able to ‘produce’ over a thousand babies to hitherto ‘infertile’ couples within ten years. Excerpts: HAT are you really celeW brating? Yeah we are celebrating our 10th year anniversary. Today, actually April 14th exactly 10 years ago we opened our doors to customers or to clients in Nordica. And within the last 10 years God has been grateful to us and we able to have many children, hundreds of children, over a thousand now that we have been able to have through this technology of IVF. That is why looking back we said come on it is a milestone that we need to celebrate and for us as we look back also plan for the next 10 years. Within these 10 years, you have opened so many new centres including the latest one at Abuja. Does this mean that there is increasing rate of infertility in Nigeria? It is a difficult one for me to say because you know in Nigeria we don’t keep figures but what it looks like is that
the incidence is increasing. That could be due to maybe the awareness is increasing, many people are coming to accept that infertility can be treated and that can make reporting to also increase and the fact that there is hardly any week that you open the newspapers and you will not see any story on assisted conception. So the awareness is also increasing. So like any other country in the world the awareness is increasing and therefore the number of people that are coming up for treatment is increasing. But since we do not have statistics it is difficult to say the incidence is increasing. But from other places where they have statistics it’s obvious that infertility especially male factor infertility is on the rise. So it will not be an exception in Nigeria. Why male factor? There are so many things contributing to male factor
Ajayi infertility now, the environment is definitely one of them. The environment is becoming so more estrogenised (feminised) and this probably accounts for the lower sperm counts and 20 per cent decrease in testosterone over the last 30 years. It was demonstrated in Denmark that the sperm count in the last 50 years have been dropping. So that we can infer that male factor infertility is on the rise and there are so many factors, one cannot say it is one single thing. There are so many factors that have been
incriminated. Like in Nigeria what and what have been implicated? Well in Nigeria our health consciousness is very low because there is so many things that can lower male fertility, even the drugs that people take, even the kind of work that they do can contribute to all these. That is one of the reasons why you see Nordica trying to increase the awareness of infertility to say okay look there are things that can be prevented but we know that a large chunk of things are unpreventable. But the ones
that can be prevented then it is better that we prevent them. So who and who can come to Nordica and at what stage should people seek for help? Well what we say is that infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse if the woman is below 35. If the woman is above 35 then it is six months and should look for help. But now the thing is that some people still leave IVF as the last resort which is not actually making the success rate to be fantastic because the older a woman is the worst the result from treatment. Just like how fertility does naturally that fertility decreases with age, the same thing the result of fertility treatment also decreases with age. Therefore that is one of the things we are saying that people even if they are 20 years, there is no other method of treatment apart from IVF. So when such people are sported, when the doctors detect them. That is why we are saying if you try for one year and it is not happening then you see a doctor specifically a gynaecologist. We are not saying see a fertility centre straight off but see a gynaecologist who can act as a gatekeeper see the ones that need to go to fertility specialist and the ones he can handle. So that is what we are saying to people. Another key issue is that of cost. IVF is not affordable at least to an average Nigerian. Besides what your Foundation is doing to offer free IVF treatment to few Nigerians, what efforts are you making round
the clock to make it affordable? If I tell you that I am doing anything to make it affordable then I am lying because it is beyond me. The only thing I can do is just this small thing give a few people free treatment. The cost of IVF is beyond my determination because we have to buy the things that we need, the consumables that we need, which are imported. It is as ridiculous as even up to the water that we use in laboratory to clean the things we use there, we have to bring them in. So the gloves we bring from Germany because it has to be powder free. So it is a lot of things that go into IVF. Unlike other parts of the world, you cannot accept for example that electricity goes off and we know what the power situation is in Nigeria. So a lot of cost goes into IVF. So for cost to go down a lot of things need to happen that is why I said it is beyond me. If you want cost to go down, power has to be constant, government has to make it duty free or lower the import duty for the medical equipment, loan facilities have to be available. So it is not a one-man thing. It is either we come together as a body and say fine how can we bring all these equipment in and then we bring it together or government comes and say come on we realize that you guys are doing a good job now we are exempting you from doing this when you are bringing this in. I do not agree that IVF is not affordable, because what I say is that if you can buy a Tokunbo car in Nigeria you can do IVF depending on where you are going.
Minister explains efforts to boost NHIS coverage Continued from Page 32 Gusso; Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki; University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and also in BurminKebbi. In addition, the Federal Government has procured eight mammography machine and they been distributed to some of our centres in the country like Owo, Abeokuta among others.
Several studies have in recent times associated the high contraceptive uptake to rising cases of breast cancer. Where does these leave women that needs to do family planning? Actually, some of the commodities used in contraception are risk factor for breast cancer. They have their side effects, just like anything else in life. But, that is why we insist that for Family planning, (which has so many methods including the natural methods) you should see the appropriate physician like the gynaecologist. The gynaecologist would take your whole history, ask you questions, examine you and in discussing with you, he will be able to advice you on the best method of contraception. So, it has to be an informed choice. It is not right for people to just listen to their peers or neighbours or even their relatives and just decide for themselves. It is good to consult those that have been properly trained so that the best method of contraception will be made available to individuals to choose. That is the best thing for Nigerians to do. Though the prevalence rate of cancer might be high in some places as noted but screening and awareness is also high, thanks to the efforts of the government, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and media. Nigerians are getting increasing aware of cancer. Apart from the fact that all our hospitals should now be able to handle issues of cancer, effort is also geared at establishing some special centres for mass screening. The federal ministry of health
recently launched the new Yellow Fever card. What are you doing to ensure that it was not abused as was the case for the old type? What the National Council on Health approved and we are implementing is that from October 1, 2013 the old card, that were printed by different governments and ministries, even the private sector will cease to be valid. The only yellow card is the one we flagged of recently, which has about six security features. That is the only card. It is the decision of the National Council on Health that only the FMoH will now be printing yellow card. But the distribution will be done by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency. The reason is that it is the agency that distributes the Yellow Fever vaccines. So, for each of the vaccines that they distribute, they also have one card. We have six months within which if you have a valid Yellow Card that is old, you can change it to the new valid card. From October 1, people in other countries will not respect your old card. Payment of the card is just N1000, it should not be more. How far with the National Health Bill? It seems that the people that are seeking the progress of the health sector are the same people that are causing delay in the health bill. The issue of professional rivalry is global, but when it becomes so rife over irrelevant things; things that are purely for selfish reason, then it calls for concern. And that is where the media can come in and write on the actual truth of the matter. Some of the things that peo-
ple are fighting for; basically, they want more powers and occasionally bother on welfare packages including salaries. So, all of us should join hands to restrain people and fight them over things that ordinarily they should not be bothered about. Health workers should first and foremost ensure that they deliver on the assigned duty and see that the patient is actually at the centre. We are handling it with NASS to ensure that the generality of Nigerians are not shortchanged because of a few people. Health workers are seeking better wages with threat to go on strike. Are there plans to increase salaries of health workers? We are a poor country because we are not growing the gains, though we have the potential to be rich. That is not to say that we cannot be more efficient with the way we handle our national resources. I believe we can still do better at all levels to become more efficient with how we spend public funds. If we become more efficient, then that is a lot of savings for our people and the country. Look at the health budget, people would call the minister and say ‘congratulations, the NASS has approved N282 billion for your sector’. But I would tell them that a huge per cent of it is for salary. What is left for capital is very meagre. The budget is actually to pay ourselves. Now, you are asking me to increase salary. Unless, I get increase in budget, I’m not ready to support anyone on increment. Do we give the whole 100 per cent on salary?
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Indian specialist hospital Read crashes medical fees for patients Offers free consultancy from April 15th RIMUS International P Super Specialty Hospital, an Indian specialist hospital in Nigeria, has announced downward review of all its medical charges to 30 per cent, including offer of free consultancy from April 15 to 27, 2013. The hospital management said the decision to crash its fees is part of its corporate social responsibility to open its services and state of- the art equipments to Nigerian patients, majority of whom could not afford to go abroad. It is estimated that the country loses N48 billion to N64 billion in foreign exchange annually because of Nigerian patients who
travel abroad for treatment. The Hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Alh Umaru Jibia, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja said, “ it would provide free consultation for the following department- joint replacement, spine problem, internal medicine and diabetes, urology and kidney transplant, dialysis, neurology, plastic and cosmetic surgery, gynaecology among others. “We have discounted our Magnetic Resonance Imaging (M.R.I), Computed Tomography (C.T) scan charges by 50 per cent and radiology, lab investigations and drugs at special discount to pass on strong
message to masses. “The management has also allocated two million Naira as reserved fund which will be utilized for treatment for the poor and needy during this health Camp,” he added. The Hospital had conducted free Camps at Wuse, Garki, Deidei and Gudu markets for the traders and public in conjunction with Health and Human Service Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) and also distributed free drugs to flood victims with social service Organization; and so far over 7000 patients have benefited from free consultation and other services in 2012.
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Sub-Saharan Health Solutions Nigeria, Imperial College London train medical practitioners on childcare By Tony Nwanne S part of efforts to tackle the current scourge of malnutrition in children, reduce child mortality and assist in strengthening paediatric and child healthcare manpower in Nigeria, the department of paediatrics and the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) unit of the Imperial College London, have began a training course in Lagos on paediatric and child health allergy (asthma), infectious diseases, nutrition and emergency paediatrics. The International team of medical practitioners has called for increased effort geared towards enhancing and improving on childcare manpower base in the country through training and retraining of primary healthcare providers and paediatricians. The international team made up of medical experts from Sub Saharan Health Solutions Nigeria in partnership with the paediatricians from the Imperial College, London, at a three-day international conference held in Lagos on Monday trained participants on innovative healthcare solutions by enhancing the quality of paediatric healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Managing Director of Sub Saharan Health Solutions Nigeria, Dr. Dayo Ajayi-Obe, and a consultant paediatrician at Hammersmith Hospital, London said that it has become imperative to enhance child healthcare manpower provision in Nigeria, by exposing mostly
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Director of Public Health and Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Dr Bridget Okoeguale (right); Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Director of Hospital Services FMoH, Dr Patience Osinubi at a media parley recently in Lagos
Pitan lauds PPP initiative in Lagos health sector As TOS Funerals opens new facility By Wole Oyebade Commissioner for FLekeORMER Health in Lagos State, Dr Pitan has commended the State government for supporting the private sector in its Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. Describing the gesture as a good omen for effective service delivery, Pitan said the enhanced partnership in Lagos has become a model worth emulating in the country. Pitan who spoke at the opening of the TOS Funerals headquarters and 10 years remembrance service of late Abidemi Ogunsola recently in Lagos, noted that the state government had in the last one decade supported the private sector to contribute to service delivery, one of which is the mortuary services managed by the TOS Funerals Limited in partnership with the state government. TOS Funerals, under the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement currently operates mortuary services at the Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), and Mainland. The 15 years concession is currently at its 10th year. Opening the new 18-chamber private facility at Alausa, Pitan said he felt fulfilled that the private sector had been enable by the Lagos State government to come this far. Then as the health commissioner, Pitan was one of those that pioneered the PPP initiative in several sectors in Lagos some 10 years ago. Now, he said: “It gives one the feeling of nostalgia, given the background where we started from. It started just as a bid about 10 years ago, now the quality of services can only go to the next level. “It also shows other governments – states and federal – that if the private sector is enabled with the right environment, then it would be a win-win situation for the gov-
ernment, private sector and the people. The more of such partnership in all sectors, the merrier it gets and our people can only be the winner,” he said. Pitan noted that the modern facility had taken mortuary services in this clime to international standard. He congratulated the owners, particularly for their courage to move forward given the challenges that abound. He was confident that with this facility, Lagos has yet again shown the way forward to the rest of Nigeria in terms of “how things should be done and how far we can go working together.” On what becomes of the PPP
facilities at expiration of initial contract, Pitan said most PPP, for continuity, usually have clauses that accommodate special consideration for the handlers. He explained: “If the private sector is daring enough to collaborate with the state government, using private fund and had been adjudged excellent in performance, what should happen at the end of the concession period is to have the ‘clause of first refusal’ for management services. “That is, owner can now transfer to government as agreed, but let management continue to be by that private sector. Because they must have gathered enough experi-
ence that new management cannot bring. They are in the best position to be given the benefit of first refusal in terms of management contract. And if they refused, then outsiders can be considered.” Managing Director, TOS Funerals, Taiwo Ogunsola said the private facility, in memory of her late husband (Abidemi Ogunsola), is of international standard and complementary to existing PPP agreement with the state government. Ogunsola, a member of Funeral Directors United Kingdom, noted that cost of services was subsidized in the public facilities and would not be different in the private
Lawmakers fault delay in Lagos cardiac, renal centre project LAWMA advocates medical waste bill By Wole Oyebade EMBERS of the Lagos State M House of Assembly have expressed displeasure at the
slow pace of work ongoing at the Cardiac and Renal Centre in Gbagada. The state-of-the-art specialist hospital is still uncompleted several months after scheduled duration. The lawmakers, on inspection of projects in the state on Tuesday, expressed satisfaction at the world-class facility in waiting, but faulted the delay in its commissioning “while kidney and heart patients in the state are dying on their way to India.” Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ola Oresanya, has urged the State Assembly to make a law that would compel all hospitals within the state to properly dispose medical wastes. Oresanya said the move was imperative to further safeguard the health of the public. Deputy Speaker of the House
and leader of the inspection team, Kolawole Taiwo was indeed proud of the cardiac project, saying “I feel proud to be a Lagosian” sighting installed equipment at the facility. “I have for so long heard of what you have here and it is my first time of seeing things for myself. I am indeed impressed. “But we are at the same time sad that the project is still uncompleted for our use. There is news of people going to India on daily basis seeking services that we can render here. These are the people that should enjoy this centre, so we are not happy that the Ministry of Health has not yet commissioned it,” Taiwo said. The lawmaker representing Ajeromi-Ifelodun I added that though the House was aware of current 90 per cent project completion, but was anxious to see it add to healthcare delivery in Lagos. Continuing, he said: “We have spent a huge sum of tax payers money and has often generated debates in the House. All
that matters right now is to see it through.” The cardiac centre, constructed at the cost of about N7 billion, is an 80-bed facility and has 24 dialysis stations, 15-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with special laminar flow for extra sterility. It is an investment meant to build local capacity and repatriate the nation’s human resources in the medical sector from abroad. Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris who led the inspection team in company of his Permanent Secretary, Dr Femi Olugbile, and officials of Deux construction firm, said the delay was as a result of slight adjustment in the project to accommodate a children section. Idris had told reporters in January last year that the centre was 80 per cent complete. The commissioner, however, said the lawmakers’ concern at the slow pace was understandable, adding that the Ministry of Health was as anxious as the lawmakers to see it commence operation.
primary health care doctors and paediatric trainees to maintain high quality child healthcare education in a bid to impact on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which is particularly directed at reducing infant and child mortality rate in the country. The conference had in attendance over 100 doctors from across Nigeria, which entails, medical officers, general practitioners and paediatric doctors. According to Ajayi-Obe, “the training programme generally serves as an opportunity to expose paediatrics and child health, to further strengthening child healthcare manpower provision in these Nigeria. “For over the last thirty years now, the infant mortality rate and child has not changed at all and it is high time our doctors stand to seek a lasting solution to it. Efficiencies of the doctors depends on facilities available for them because so many aspect of improving mortality rate in children has not been duly touched by the major stakeholders in the country.” She added: “Malnutrition has been the major bane of paediatrics in Nigeria, talking about pneumonia, diarrhea, among others which are the same sets of diseases that has continued to kill children. So there is the need to continually create more awareness for mothers to know how to feed their children at infancy and to properly breastfeed them, taking them for medical checkups on a regular basis, without any form of selfmedication.”
Ogun, US-based NGO organise free medical, surgical services GUN State Government O has reiterated its commitment to ensure that its health system become revolutionized to enhance provision of qualitative healthcare delivery. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, stated this while declaring open a three-day free medical and surgical mission organized by the State Hospitals Management Board in collaboration with a United States-based Non Governmental Organization (NGO), ‘Mercy Said No’ at the State Hospital, Isara-Remo. Soyinka said that the mission was brought to Isara in fulfillment of the State government to take healthcare delivery to all nooks and crannies of the State. Soyinka urged the people to take advantage of the free medical and surgical treatment of the Senator Ibikunle led-government in order to cure their respective ailments encouraging them to patronize the Isara State Hospital and advised them not to wait till an illness becomes life threatening before seeking medical attention. Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Olaolu Lawson, the Commissioner highlighted that “hundreds of health
workers consisting of medical and non-medical were recently recruited to ensure that hands are on deck while familiarization and orientation workshop was held for them. While assuring that government would continue to create unfettered access to efficient healthcare delivery service, he enjoined the public to embrace the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme by contributing a token as premium in order to enable them access qualitative service. Earlier in her address, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health Administration, Mrs. Foluke Bello, observed that the free treatment is another approach of the present government to bring dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the people. In her remark, the Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Oyin Sodipe charged the people of IsaraRemo and its environs to mobilize other members of their community to benefit from the free treatment. Also speaking, a representative of the NGO, Mrs. Olamide Lawson, lauded the government for its mission to rebuild the State saying that it was one of the reasons her group decided to partner with the State.
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66% of Nigerians have malaria, survey finds From Emeka Anuforo LMOST seven in 10 Nigerians (70 per cent) have had malaria at least once in the past year, according to a HIV/AIDS and Malaria Snap poll conducted in the week of April 8th 2013 by NOI Polls. The survey was conducted on April 8th to 10th 2013, according to the researchers, involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. The NOI Polls Limited is an opinion polling and research organisation, established by the current Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economy of Nigeria Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, The comany was set up in collaboration with the Gallup Organization, to be used as a representation of Nigerian public opinion. The NOI Polls is named after its creator, Ngozi OkonjoIweala (NOI). It is Nigeria’s leading opinion polling and research organisation. The NOI survey noted: “1,014 randomly selected phoneowning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise - within a range of plus or minus 3%. NOI Polls Limited is Nigeria’s leading opinion polling and research organization, which works in technical partnership with the Gallup Organization (USA), to conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria.” Of the number, according to the latest result, 13 per cent treat the ailment with the use of local herbs such as Agbo, Dogonyaro (Neem tree leaves). The report noted: “Also, the majority of respondents (90 per cent) agree that Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a critical health challenge in Nigeria; while suggesting better media and sensitization programs to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS amongst the populace. This poll is third in the NOI Polls MDG (Millennium Development
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Goals) series. Previous topics covered under this series have focused on Rape (Gender equality) and Water & Sanitation (Environment & resources). On how the Poll came about the results, the release said: “Respondents to the poll were asked a total of six questions. The first question sought to establish the frequency of Malaria infection over the past year. Respondents were asked: In the past 12 months, how many times have you had malaria? From the results, the majority of respondents (66 per cent: 26 per cent + 19 per cent + 10 per cent + five per cent + six per cent) said they have been infected with Malaria at least once over the past one year while 34 per cent of respondents said they have not had malaria in the last 12 month. “The next question was asked to gauge the level of stigmatization towards people living with HIV/AIDS. Respondents were asked: Personally, would you become friends or remain friends with someone living with HIV/AIDS? The majority of respondents (85 per cent) responded affirmatively indi-
cating that they would become friends or remain friends with someone living with HIV/AIDS; while 15 per cent of the respondents responded negatively. “Furthermore, when analyzed in more detail, the results show that more females than males are likely to become or remain friends with someone living with HIV/AIDS. The Northeast has the highest proportion of respondents that responded negatively indicating they would not become friends or remain friends with someone living with HIV/AIDS.” It went on: “Finally, respondents were asked the following: Which of the following do you think will help greatly to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria? Respondents were encouraged to mention as many options that could help reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS. The majority overall (51 per cent) said that better sensitization and media programs to increase awareness would help reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS; followed by 41 per cent who mentioned better implementation of government health programs by
providing free/cheaper/good drugs. Other suggestions to the reduce incidence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria include more HIV testing centers (24 per cent), prevention of mother to child transmission (15 per cent) and provision of employment for the youth (two per cent). “In conclusion, almost seven in 10 Nigerians (66 per cent) have had malaria at least once during the past 1 year and mainly treat it by going to the hospital to see a doctor; although a significant proportion simply visit the pharmacy to buy medicine or treat the ailment with local herbs. Also, results show that most Nigerians are aware of the ways in which the main methods in which people generally contact HIV/AIDS. However, a minority still have misconceptions such as the fact that it is transmitted by mosquito bites or deep kissing. Furthermore, the level of stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS seems to be reducing since most Nigerians claim they are willing to become friends or remain friends with people infected with HIV/AIDS.
Govt committed to improving specialist hospitals, says Chukwu From John Okeke, Abuja HE Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu has reiterated the federal government readiness in upgrading health facilities in all special hospitals in Nigeria. Speaking in Abuja at the weekend during a one-day lecture organized by Surgical Aid Foundation (SAF) in conjunction with Kelina Hospital, for their 2013 Surgical outreach titled “Use of Laser in Surgery”, the Minister stressed that the present administration has committed huge resources to the training of more specialists in private sector. He said:”This administration has committed its resources to the training of more specialists and health man power and aggressively engaged the private sector
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and Nigeria health experts in Diaspora to play a strong role in health delivery system by establishing privately owned hospitals and upgrading the world class software and high earned diagnosis centers in Nigeria.” Chukwu also revealed that government has offered to help health sector to have a models of public –private health partnership, adding that federal special hospitals and diagnosis centers are already offering options for them to upgrade their equipment on installed wards. He therefore called for more training and full exploitation of the incentive on offers by serious investors to further strengthen and build on the already established ones. SAF is a registered Non-
Governmental Organization whose main objective is to assist patients within and outside Nigeria who are in need of endoscopic (high-tech) surgeries but are unable to afford them due to financial constraints. SAF understands that endoscopic (minimal access) surgeries could be expensive and beyond the means of an average income earner. SAF also realizes that another opportunity to live could be given to someone who may have lost their life as a result of inaccessibility or exorbitance of such surgeries. To this effect, SAF works with hospitals within and outside the country that satisfy its stringent standards to provide Hi-technology surgeries to persons in need of them.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris (right); Deputy Speaker, State House of Assembly, Kolawole Taiwo; Majority Leader, Dr Ajibayo Adeyeye, House member, Ipoola Omisore and his colleague, Wahab Alawiye-King at the inspection of the Cardiac and Renal Centre project in Gbagada, PHOTO: WOLE OYEBADE recently
Can a Fever Cure Cancer? young boy had leukemia A and had had treatment by chemotherapy until the onchologist concluded that the boy had not responded to treatment, as the condition grew worse. His parents finally gave up and decided to wait for their son to die. While waiting they thought it would be a good idea to take him to places like Disney Land and spend the rest of his days having a good time with him. On the eve of their departure they decided to have a final check up with his doctor. Just before they left home for the airport, they received a telephone call from the doctor who refused to tell them on phone the reason why he wanted them to come to the hospital. On getting to the hospital, the doctor said to them plainly that their son no longer had leukemia; the leukemia had gone into remission due to the fever that he had. Stories and testimonies like this one have been heard many times over nowadays but the concept of inducing fever to cure cancer has been on for centuries. The well-known Greek physician, Pamenides, hundreds of years before Archimedies said, “Give me the power to induce fever and I will cure any disease.” An Egyptian priest/physician, Imhotep, was said to infect tumours before surgically removing them. In the 13th century, an Italian saint had his malignant tumour in the leg miraculously healed when it burst and became infected. These discoveries of the healing power of fever on cancer did not end with the ancients only. In the late 20th century, Dr William Coley a surgeon in New York, discovered how a patient who had become resistant to chemotherapy, miraculously got healed when after surgery his tumour became severely infected with streptococcus pyogenes. He developed high fever and from then on the tumour began to reduce in size. The tumour eventually disappeared. Dr William Coley continued to treat his patients by inducing fever in them until he developed his own concoction, which became known as Coley’s Toxins or Mixed Bacterial Vaccines. He had quite a bit of success until he died in 1936. Just before his death the American Medical Association said of his work, “The use of MBV as a prophylactic in conjunction with conservative or radical surgery and inoperable cases may be quite justified.” Today, with the advent of antibiotics, chemotherapy and radiotherapy the concept of deliberately inducing fever with pathogens has become a thing of the past and even though the practice is still on, artificial
fever is induced with machines. Known as HYPERTHEMIA or THERMAL THERAPY, this involves exposing cancer cells and tumours to high temperatures which may either destroy or damage the cancer cells. The heat does minimal damage to the surrounding normal cells of the body. Mechanism of Action of Hyperthermia: Normal cells of the body have the ability to dissipate heat and thermodynamically regulate the temperature. On the other hand, the tumour is a more compact vascular and disorganized structure that cannot dissipate heat easily. Heat is therefore retained within the tumour or the cancer cell leading to apoptosis (cell death). Maintaining intense heat in the tumour for sometime denatures and destroys the cellular proteins causing the tumour to shrink. Not only that,the cancer cells and tumour being subjected to heat become more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs, supplements and radiotherapy. As a result of the effect of heat on the blood vessels, there is increased flow of blood to normal cells and the tumour as a result of which more nutrients, drugs and oxygen are delivered to the tumour. These will either kill the cells directly or slow down the growth of the tumour. Mild hyperthermia, which is equivalent to the temperature of fever do cause immunological reaction against the tumour cells. Hyperthermia is not usually used alone but as a complimentary form of treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and in both cases dosage can be reduced and still be effective against cancer. Types of hyperthermia include local hyperthermia, which is targeted towards a small area or directly at the tumour itself. The second type of hyperthermia is called regional hyperthermia and this is meant to heat up a larger part of the body, usually an organ. Whole body hyperthermia is for the heating up of the whole body especially when dealing with metastasis. Uses and effectiveness: Thermal therapy have been found to be useful in the treatment of such cancers like leukemia, sarcoma, lung, breast, prostate, cervical, colon cancers. This form of treatment has been found to be more effective when used with other forms of cancer treatment. In alternative treatment of cancer hyperthermia in increasingly being used with other protocols in the management of cancer in the United States of America and Germany. We hope that one day very soon, it will also be used in Nigeria.
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Education How Nigerian varsities can attain world class status, by dons
By Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi and Muyiwa Adeyemi N impressive number of eminent A academics gathered at the Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado Ekiti last week, to deliberate on “Improved Learning Methods in the Higher Education System,” over three days. Among them were: former Nigeria’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Emeritus Prof. Michael Omolewa; former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe; former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Prof. Joel Babalola; President of the History of Education Society, Prof. Alice Jekayinfa; Provost, Adeyemi College of Education, Prof. Adeyemi Idowu and many others. In a paper titled: “Academics and the Development of a World Class Institution of Learning: Building a Successful Future,” Omolewa likened the race to become a world class university to a football or Olympic competition, in which countries compete. According to him, while some countries do not bother to contest since they knew they could never win, those that do invest resources in the competition, and also encourage their representatives.
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Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti And just as the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) sets the rules for international football competitions, he stated, the Times Higher Education also pioneered the identification of the criteria for universities to attain world class status, and had begun the process of collecting data on scholarly values, sharing the emerging information in its publication of World University Rankings. The World Bank, UNESCO, two other organisation in China and the United States (U.S), he observed, have since joined in identifying world class universities. According to the emeritus professor, some of the standards used include: international reputation for research and teaching, which embodies training of graduates, research output and technology transfer; the ability of an institution to – attract brilliant students and produce the best graduates; attract and retain the best staff, a high proportion of foreign students at both the undergraduate at postgraduate levels and the ability to produce ground-breaking research output recognised by peers. He agreed that there have been, in recent time, and even in Nigeria, growing criticisms of the criteria and the world ranking exercises by some, who
consider them inappropriate. “It has been argued, “ he averred, “that the indicators have been invented mainly by the West and developed according to the assumptions and personal preferences and values of what should constitute world class standards. While conceding that some of the assumptions may have been influenced by the experience of the West, it is important to remember that modern university is a product of the West, and there are some universal assumptions about what should constitute a good university.” Omolewa regretted that most African universities have had considerable difficulty in meeting the demands required for world class status. He explained: “For example, most of the universities have not distinguished themselves in the area of research. The institutions are either too young to bring about ground breaking publications or major research findings that would attract the attention of the world. Furthermore, even the older universities fail to commit adequate funds to research or demonstrate a commitment to active university research activities. “The next set of criteria, which is the number of citations for academic papers generated by each staff member, citation of publications, even
poses a greater challenge. This is because most of the journals and books in Africa are published locally and are hardly recognised by the outside world. The works are thus neither read nor cited. Thus African universities score so low at the criteria of citations of faculty. “The next aspect of determinant of university excellence exposes the weakness of most African universities as the mirror of the society which they serve. The element of the attraction of diverse staff and students is negated by the poor salary and conditions of service for the staff and the discouraging reports of insecurity, political instability, kidnapping, violence and other practices that tend to keep top quality staff and students away from most of the African universities. Thus, in the race for the competition for staff and students, the recruitment of top quality staff and the selection of the most talented students, most African universities are unable to excel. “The academic staff is further limited by the large population of students which leads to an increase in staff-student ratio, with the teacher inundated by heavy workload involving marking scripts and counselling students. Africa, therefore, is a breeding ground for those described as stressed academics, teaching in usually more than
one university, carrying heavy workload, combining many roles as politician, priest and business person at the same time to have some additional money with which to lead a decent life. “Added to the tribulation of the teacher and the student is the inadequate teaching and learning environment, with the inadequate number of classrooms, dilapidated buildings in many of the older universities, the overcrowding of lecture rooms and the ill-equipped laboratory and library. “When we come to the criteria of the quality of the alumni, many of the African universities have been able to use the status, contribution and influence of their Alumni as evidence of the reputation and academic quality of their university.” Proffering solutions, Omolewa was of the view that since Africa seems to have lost out in the research and infrastructural base, the region should concentrate on strengthening the academics, as an effective instrument for producing world class students. While he agreed that the world was moving away from the word, which makes the teacher less significant in the overall acquisition of knowledge, he insisted that the teacher still has a dominant role to play. CONTINUED ON PAGE 52
More private schools uphold indigenous languages By Mary Ogar ORE private schools have rejected the alleM gation that they are relegating Nigeria’s indigenous languages to the background, in favour of the foreign ones, especially the English and French languages. But some Lagos based private schools are also united over what they termed ‘inappropriate and harsh” regime of taxes imposed on them by the state government, with an appeal for a downward review. According to the Executive Director of St. Bernadette Educational Services, Mr. Bernadette Doregos, the inculcation of the country’s indigenous in children should start from home. “If my
parents are Igbo, but if they don’t speak the language to me at home, it will be difficult for the school to teach me. The initial effort must, therefore, begin with the parents at home. Doregos said the teaching of indigenous languages is being taken seriously in his school. “We have the cultural day, when we ask our students to express themselves in indigenous languages. We also teach different aspects of our culture. Mr. Addullateef Kelani is the Chairman of Mafzat Group of Schools. “Without indigenous languages, we’re gone,” he declared. “In our school, we take the bull by the horn by ensuring that our students speak Yoruba language. We also teach Arabic and French languages. We marry the three together. Just recently, we held
our Yoruba Day, an annual event, during which our students speak Yoruba language throughout the day. And let me tell you: if you teach pupils in Yoruba, it permeates more into their system than when you teach them in a foreign language.” Kelani also insisted that the children should not be blamed for not speaking indigenous languages fluently. “We say that our own native language is vernacular and we tell the children not to speak in vernacular. But go and check the meaning of vernacular. It is a foreign language! So, how is it that Yoruba is called vernacular in Yorubaland, and English is not in our country? We beat the students for speaking Yourba in school; we penalize them at home, we penalize them on the streets and at the end
of the day, they will come up with foreign culture. In the same vein, the Principal of Global International College, Mrs. Adebisi Layiwola agreed that “anybody that does not appreciate his or her culture will soon lose his or her identity.” She said: “It is important to help students appreciate their culture, their language. Come to think of it, there is a decline, particularly among the elite; some people feel it is kind of beneath them to have their children converse in their local languages. This is not right because if these children, the 16-year old today, the 12-year old today will have to rear his or her children in the next 20 years, when such an CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
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Layiwola
Dorego
Kelani
More private schools uphold indigenous languages CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 individual does not even understand the language and culture, how will that person be able to teach his or her own children? So we are going to end up bringing up Nigerians, who are really not Nigerian, but Nigerian only by name: They can’t speak their language, they don’t know their culture.” The school managers also described the notion in certain quarters that private schools are reaping “immense profits,” as untrue. On the contrary, they stated, private schools are facing enormous challenges. Doregos said: “Our challenges are very, very complex. We don’t have any funding other than what comes in
from the students. So, you are a school, you educate students and some of them end up owing you hundreds of thousand of naira and when you put it together, it runs into millions, which you have to write off. Another challenge is our annual dues. Some of the levies they ask us to pay, how do they even justify them? They just impose these levies on us, no considerations. They do claim that they consult us. They organize different fora, we would attend, state our positions, but at the end of the day, it amounts to nothing. Mostly, you are on your own.” Kelani said: “The government of today see private schools as money making ventures, and as partners in
progress. The Lagos state government sees us as a business centre, where they can go and also collect their own money. The proprietor pays heavy taxes. We have double taxation. The local government will tax you. There is the Land Use tax and they charge us at commercial rate; LAWMA will come, and they charge us at commercial rate. When you calculate all these and compare it with what you are generating, it is a lot of challenge. Government of the day takes a lot from us than what we are actually realizing, and they have to stop looking at schools purely as a business venture instead of a partners in the progress of education.” On whether banks offer support, Doregos said: “The banks come to your event; all
the accounting officers and they tell you to come and open an account with them, but their charges are too high. For instance, you want to buy school buses and they will ask for about 25 percent interest. It is not that it is going to bring something to the school, because the running cost is there, you pay the drivers, you have to service the bus, you have to fuel it and you have to pay for the permit. “The government should help private schools by providing funds that we can easily access as private education providers. The banks can provide educational loans. They should identify schools and look at how they can help. They should be able to give loans to schools at a single
digit interest rate, because if you take a loan at 25 percent interest rate, that will not take you anywhere, and that is why schools don’t go to the banks for loans.” Kelani agreed: “The banks see us as a purely business concern,” he averred. “Yes, I agree that a private school is a business concern, but it is a social business, it is a social responsibility. The banking industry should have a policy that gives loans to schools at a special rate. Then the charges on COT are ridiculous. The rate on loan facilities is too high and most schools cannot afford it. There is no way we can make a corresponding profit to service a loan with the current interest rates. “Then the Islamic banking that is being argued in some
quarters should be encouraged, so that schools can gain from it, because the issue of interest will not be there. If Islamic banking is allowed to flourish, many people will gain from it. It is not meant for Muslims alone. It has no interest and every other person will be able to benefit from there, so this issue of excessive interest will not be there because it is based on an equilibrium profit sharing. “Islamic banks would take your good and bad loans and they grow with you; not the one that is based on a blindfolded compound interest.” Efforts to get comments from both the Lagos State Ministry of Education and the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) on the multiple taxes’ allegation proved
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Grace school wins Chinese language competition, students to visit China By Mary Ogar oR emerging winners at FChinese the just concluded bridge competition,
Cross section of students of Grace High Schools Gbagada, Lagos performing at the second Chinese bridge competition organized by the Chinese Confucius Institute, in Lagos recently.
Scholastic Hall hosts mathematics’ competition By Mary Ogar S the Scholastic Hall A school hosts pupils to its annual Inter-School Mathematics Quiz in Lagos, the school’s overseer, Mrs. Pamela Umebuani has charged primary schools to explore creative ways of teaching mathematics, such as critical thinking. According to her, since technology appears to have made children lazier in studying the subject, an innovative way of teaching it effectively is now desirable. She advised teachers to use materials that the children “can see” to teach the subject, because “education must be relevant and ought to make sense.” Her words: “Mathematics is no longer in the air. The children must be
able to work out and see the solutions for themselves. That way, they can better understand what they are being taught.” She continued: “our children must use critical thinking. If not, we run the risk of raising a generation of children that would want things the easy way. Education should be holistic and should include morals and values. If not, education would be boring and non-productive.” She also advised schools to enlighten parents on various aspects of the curriculum, rather than for them (parents) to hire lesson teachers, especially when they are already paying huge school fees. on the influence of social media, the overseer warned parents to keep the television
Favour House dominates Wellspring’s Inter-house sports competition By Mary Ogar ITH Favour House dominating the 7th annual Inter-House sports competition, organized by Wellspring College, Lagos recently, the principal of the school, Mrs. oluwayemisi oloriade, has charged schools to make sport facilities, that would develop children in the psychomotor domain available. Addressing guests at the competition, held at the University of Lagos sports complex, she warned that over concentration on the cognitive and affective domains would only produce an academically sound child. But a combination of the cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills, she submitted, would ensure a thoroughly bred youth, “who will not only be knowledgeable and disciplined, but who will, in the future, be able to steer the course of the country as a great leader. She said: “To build a total child, schools must set a day apart, in which children leave their everyday academic life of the classroom for a while, to attend to the demands of their physical wellbeing.” oloriade, who also condemned the gradual abandonment of sports in basic schools as a result of the
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dearth of facilities and available land space, said the recent feat by the Super Eagles, at the just concluded Africa Nation’s Cup in South Africa, including the accolades and monetary gifts showered on the team, should encourage parents and school owners and government to promote sports at all levels. She said: “The school inter house sports competition makes a good and responsible leader; a team player who listens to the yearning of his people and respect their feelings. For, it was with team spirit that democracy was born by the Greeks and nurtured by the Americans.” The Sports Committee Chairman, Mr. Afolabi olufemi said: “government should put in place, sanctions for schools that fail to make space available for sporting activities. We can only nurture talents when opportunities are given to these young children to display their talents.” Favour House clinched the first position with 15 gold, 12 silver and 6 bronze medals. Goodness House came second with 14 gold, 12 silver and 8 bronze medals while the third position went to Praise house with 8 gold medals, 9 silver medals, 16 bronze medals.
and computers out of the bedroom, just as she called for proper monitoring of computers and phones. However, in an age when most students have a phobia for Mathematics, Emmanuel Eneduanya, a Primary 4 pupil from Scholastic Hall, proudly
announced mathematics as his favourite subject. “I am motivated to learn mathematics, because my Dad told me if I don’t know mathematics, I can’t know any other thing,” he affirmed. “I want to be an Engineer when I grow up, so learning mathematics is fun.”
organized by the Chinese Confucius Institute in Lagos, four junior school students of Grace High School, Gbagada, have won all expense paid trip to China, to be underwritten by the Chinese embassy. In fact, masters olusanya Kenneth, Ayomide Tunwase and Minanengijeo Benedicte were considered because of their enthusiasm for Chinese language and culture, while olamide odutola was taken because he emerged the best student in Chinese language. Aspects of the contest included: general knowledge and quiz, verbal communication, music and cultural dance. over 12 twelve schools took part in the contest. Speaking on the achievement, the Administrator of Grace School, Mrs. Tokunbo Edun said the development was a fulfillment of the school’s goal at providing complete and qualitative education, to develop grounded scholars that would contribute immensely to the society. She said: “It is our desire
that our students should be able to communicate in Nigerian languages, English, French and now Chinese. We are the first Nigerian school to introduce the Chinese language into our curriculum and the purpose was not only to make our students multi lingual, but also to take advantage of the immense investments the Chinese government is making in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.” The Principal of the school, Mr. Roland Cilliers, noted that the school took part and came first in both the junior and senior levels of the competition last year, which was the maiden edition. According to him, Grace School pioneered the inclusion of Chinese language into the curriculum before other schools followed suit. He said: “We have observed that many students are benefiting from learning the Chinese language and culture. It brings a global awareness in children, from primary to the high school. It is not only benefiting to the children, but also their families, making them understand a different culture, the food, the impact China has in the world and Nigeria.”
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NUC holds workshop on NUSMAP o acquaint universities with T the benefits and features of the Nigerian University System Management Portal (NUSMAP) portal, the National Universities Commission (NUC), in collaboration with Gucci Chis Nigeria Limited, recently organised series of workshops for directors of academic planning and ICT among others from the country’s universities. The workshop was held at the University of Lagos for institutions in the Southwest. The Federal University of Technology, Minna and the NUC headquarters served as venue for northern institutions, while those in the east converged on the University of Calabar and the University of Benin. Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius okojie who declared the two-day workshop open in Lagos last week for 20 universities, described NUSMAP as an online application, designed to enable Nigerian universities process, share and communicate data with the NUC, the public and other government agencies for proper planning and management. okojie, who was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of the host university, Prof. Ade Bello, said the new system has the capacity to capture the activities of all the directorates of the commission, such as programme accreditation, aca-
demic standards, university system annual review meeting (USARM), Research and Innovation, Finance and Budget, among others. The facilitator and Executive Consultant at Gucci Chis, Mr. Paul Adingwupu, said his company was working with the NUC to move all the processes of Nigerian universities from paper work to paperless. His words: “The communication between NUC and the universities will now be done online, instead of paper work. In this process, you will find out that in the next one to three years, our universities that you think are not doing well or do not have anything, you will see on the internet that they have a lot and that will help us to bring the universities to be ranked among the first 1,000 in the world.” To forestall any form of deception by any university, Adingwupu said the Geographic Information System (GIS) section of the portal was meant to capture the photographs of the facilities of the universities. He stated: “If you say you have a lecture theatre that can sit 500 students, you must take the photograph, upload it; put things in pictorial form so that once prospective students visit the website, they can see the facilities and if a school tries to present the same facility for different faculties, it will be discovered.
How Nigerian varsities can attain world class status, by dons CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 “This means,” he explained, “that the teacher must seek to master the subject, excel in the methods of communicating the contents of instruction to the learner, stimulate, inspire and challenge the learner to learn and continue to learn, and encourage the learner to develop a critical spirit, asking questions and questioning assumptions.” Participants at the workshop were of the opinion that for Nigerian universities to be ranked among the best in the world, they should embark on innovative and problem-solving research and embrace new technologies, targeted at shaping the learning process within and outside the classroom environment. Besides, they insisted that academics must be insulated from undue political pressure and its attendant manipulations, “to enable them effectively and dispassionately play their roles towards the achievement of “world class” institutions of higher learning,” as against the present poor Webometric rankings. In a communiqué issued at the end of the workshop, the participants also called on governments at all levels to provide facilities and support for research in public and private tertiary institutions. Specifically, they implored the Federal Government to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s (TETFUND) law, to enable private higher institutions benefit from its funds for research and development purposes. They blamed the falling standard in higher education on the “dearth of learning and teaching resources” and urged the government to address the problems. The workshop urged governments to prioritize promotion and protection of teachers, students and the higher insti-
tutions of learning, which it described as a very important aspect of governance. A communiqué also declared: “For higher education to be qualitative, adequate attention should be paid to the secondary school curriculum, teaching and learning methods.” The participants urged higher institutions to continue to develop and adopt improved learning methods for effective academic delivery, which should include internship, experiential, service learning and studying abroad. They charged universities and other higher institutions not to be localised, but “should be embraced as a universal concept featuring multiculturalism and focused on global academic standards.” The communique also advocated the promotion of reading culture, in addition to an adequate reward system for excellence and leadership training, within the context of international best practices. It underscored the need to mentor the next generation of scholars, to ensure sustainability of scholarship. The workshop also advocated the encouragement of specialization, with a view to promoting professionalism in the country’s higher institutions of learning. More emphasis, the participants submitted, should be placed on learning outcomes, continuous feedback from students, peer review and the development of programs to improve teaching skills. They advised that research findings and recommendations in conferences and workshops should be utilised by policy makers, staff and students of higher institutions of learning, to address “the myriad of socio-economic and political challenges confronting us through collective responsibilities joint problemsolving initiatives.”
Pupils of Fyben School, Lagos, underscoring the importance of agriculture in the country, during their week of activities, which featurd a seminar, talent show, spelling bee competition and fashion parade.
Rivers inaugurates education assurance agency HE Rivers State T Government has inaugurated the Education Quality Assurance Agency. It will be responsible for inspection, monitoring and evaluation of schools in the State. The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii, who inaugurated the agency in Port Harcourt, tasked the outfit to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of all schools in the state. According to him, the agency is one of the institution established by the state government to ensure that its education sector objectives are achieved. His words: “After the structures have been built, the most important thing is to monitor the content, what goes on in the schools.” Feyii, who said the Agency has a huge responsibility to ensure
that Rivers’ people derive full benefits of the state government’s investment in the education sector, also warned that should the agency fail in its responsibility, the expected benefits may not become a reality. Members of the agency’s board include: Prof otonti Nduka (Chairman); Prof A.k. okorosaye orubite (Executive Director), Dr Aminia Fiberesima (representing State Universal Basic Education Board), Mrs. Margaret Benebo Briggs (Senior Secondary School Board), Loveday Amietamunopiri (Association of Primary Schools Head Teachers of Nigeria), Moses Adiela ( Nigeria Union of Teachers, Wigwe Samuel (Rivers State Ministry of Education) and Moses Barawi an ICT Expert. In the meantime, the
Commissioner for Education the schools.” Rivers State Dame Alice She tasked the Head Teachers Lawrence-Nemi has asked the and Principals to cooperate agency to ensure strict inspec- with the agency, to ensure that tion, monitoring and evalua- standards are maintained in tion of schools in the State. schools. The Commissioner spoke In his response, Nduka when members of the agency promised that honesty and paid her a courtesy visit, in integrity would be the her office in Port Harcourt. agency’s watch-word. Nduka She said: “We want to use this noted that the agency would opportunity to ask you to ensure the implementation of ensure that the vision of the the National Policy on state government in the edu- Education, with a view to cation sector is well manifest- maintaining quality assured as you commence your ance in all Early Childhood activities. The Ministry is Care Development and quite aware of the challenges Educational Centres, primary associated with this task, but and secondary schools in the we believe you will never let State. us down”. “The bottom line is, however, “Effective monitoring and ensuring the implementation evaluation are what we want of the National Policy on to see in our schools. The State Education with a view to mainGovernment is not just build- taining Quality Assurance in ing schools alone, but she all early childhood care develwants to ensure that high opment and Educational censtandards are maintained in tres,” he stated.
BSN graduates recommend massive investment in education By Ujunwa Atueyi oR the 2012 graduates of FNetherlands Business School (BSN) Nigeria, what Nigeria requires to tackle its recurring human and economic development challenges, is massive investment in education. But a rightful investment in education, they suggested, should also be accompanied with analytical leaders, who can evaluate, get to the root of developmental challenges and address them, using the required tools. At the institution’s alumni dinner, held recently in Lagos, one of the graduands and Executive Director of IQ Systems Solutions Limited, Mr. Victor Ajufoh-obi, said the experiences garnered at BSN convinced him realize that Nigeria’s problems were solvable, if only the leaders could be much more analytical in their dealings. He said: “Nigeria is blessed
with a lot of resources. I’m not talking about the oil in the ground. I am talking about the resources that are deposited in people’s mind. To me that is our greatest resources, and as a country we have not been able to harness this. In India, their greatest challenge became their greatest opportunity. They have a population of about 1.3billion and for any economy to be able to cater for 1.3 billion people is a challenge and at the same time is an opportunity. Today, India is
the greatest export of human resources in any part of the world.” Mrs. Queen Audifferen, said the BSN programme “allows self evaluation and the approach to learning is uniquely different. The institution applies theory and focuses on the application of that theory.” Meanwhile the Chairman of BSN, Nigeria, Mr. Ayodele Aderinwale, in his remarks, hinged the success story of the school on its new approach to learning. “The teaching
method is based on Action Learning. Managers work on their business problems; not on endless theoretical issues, but on implementation. Action Learning is learning by doing and you see it working out immediately. That is why we only accept people who are employed.” He charged the 34 graduates to “go out there, influence the society and even Africa, with your wealth of knowledge and shun all forms of compromise so that the Nigerian system will work.”
olusanya advocates govt, oPS collaboration on education ITH and Kin Educational K Schools’ Chief Learning officer, Mr. Kaoli olusanya, has urged governments at all levels, to collaborate with the organized Private Sector (oPS) to fund education more adequately. Speaking at the Factor Magazine’s 10th anniversary lecture, delivered by the
Governor of osun State, ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at the Ikorodu Town Hall, Lagos recently, olusanya also underscored the need for vigorous capacity building for teachers, “to equip them with professional skills required in the 21st Century education.” He was, however, of the view that declaring a national state
of emergency in the country’s education sector “may not be too much a remedy to address the decadence and rust in the sector.” He also insisted that pretending to address the various problems with the regular budgetary provision “may be like postponing the evil day that is almost manifesting in the nation today.”
SMI holds school improvement summit By Ujunwa Atueyi HE Standard Mandate T International (SMI) recently held a three-day summit to chart a new course for the continuous improvement of schools. The summit’s facilitator, Mr Nelson Ayodele noted that for any school to stand the test of time, it must continually
improve its academic curriculum, upgrade its infrastructure and learning facilities, train teachers, give attention to staff welfar and explore other avenues that are of international standard. Besides, he underscored the need for school operators to continually seek knowledge, to aid them in planning properly. Presenting a keynote address
themed: “Exploring Kaizen: The Japanese Culture of Continuous and Never Ending Improvement,” Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo challenged participants and managers of schools in the country, to build an institution where the culture of kaizen or continuous improvement will be the norm. A culture of continuous
improvement, she explained, “is one in which individuals are growing, learning and contributing to the overall goal of their organizations, work environments, communities and families. All have the potential to foster continual improvement through ongoing communication, information sharing, assessments and rewards.”
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‘Motive behind Mike Okonkwo national essay competition’ Founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo recently spoke with journalists including GBENGA SALAU, on the vision behind his foundation’s national essay competition. Excerpts: By Mary Ogar HAT informed the setting up of the Mike W Okonkwo National Essay Competition? The whole essence is to make our young people think outside the box. That is why topical issues are considered for the yearly theme. Ordinarily, they would not know anything about the topic. But these secondary school students are thinking beyond their scope of learning. The topic picked is done in such a way that young people in the future will be able to address issues concerning our nation, because you never can tell which of them God will institute strategically in a government agency. So, apart from serving as a tool to encourage reading and writing, the competition has also given the students the opportunity to make contributions on issues significant to the socio-economic development of our nation. Entries for the 10th edition of the annual essay competition will end next month. Is the purpose for organising the essay competition being achieved? Definitely, when you look back and some of the testimonies we have received. There is a young man that won in one of the editions and as a result, he received a scholarship from Oxford. He disclosed that when he wanted to put in for the essay, people told him to forget it, that the entry notice announced was put in the paper for the fun of it. He said he told them he does not have anything to lose; if it works, fine, and if not, it is still okay. But to his surprise, he came out successful and not only that, we offered him scholarship to acquire university education and thereafter, he went to do his masters. These are some of the testimonies. There are some of these students who got a second or third position in an edition, but reapplied the following year because they were pushing to get the first position. So I think we are getting results. The theme for this year is on security. What informed it? We want the children to think on it. Insecurity is a major issue in the country. If there is insecurity, everybody will run away. Who wants to invest in a place where there is no security? Have you noticed any gap? There are obvious improvements for me because when you read some of the essays, you would assume that some of the essays were written for them. But we follow it to the lowest common denominator. Our chief examiner, which is one of the professors in the University of Lagos, after the first stage of selection, we bring those selected to write on another topic to know whether somebody wrote the first one for them. And we have been surprised to see that it is the same way they wrote the first entries. Are you looking at spreading the essay competition outside of Nigeria, since the church has branches outside the country? Yes, but we would start with West Africa, then we can now move to other countries. But even in West Africa, it would be English-speaking countries first. What machinery have you put in place to ensure that the standard of the competition does not drop?
Okonkwo It can only be better. One of the things I do in life is to do things by competition. I will not go into something if the whole essence is to be one of the numbers. I would rather not get into it. What I cannot do, I cannot do. I am not God. And I have told myself that truth. I can only play the role God has given to me. So it can never go down, it has to be better. Either we take it to another level in a more excellent way or we scrap it. Do you keep track of the past winners? We have a data on them and one of the things we do is that during the yearly event, we call those who are within reach to be at the programme, so that they can be a testimony to what has happened over the years. Are there policies or programmes put in place to make the project outlive you? Yes, we already registered an initiative called Mike Okonkwo Educational Youth Initiative. Apart from the essay competition, scholarship, lectures, we also have football competitions and a football team. The essence is to see how we can bring out the young people because whether you like it or not, young people have a lot of power at their disposal, except they do not know it. They they can either use to destroy or build a nation. This country, for instance, has a good percentage of people who are below the age of 30. So, there is a lot of power there. If not managed positively, they can damage the country. This is one of the things we want them to see, that in spite of our different challenges, opportunities abound and that they can achieve their goals rather than channeling their energy on negative things. From the students’ performances, would you say the standard of education has dropped? On a general note, the standard of education has fallen, given what happens in the UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination), WASSCE (West African Senior School Certificate Examination). It is very ridiculous. A nation where the educational system has fallen is headed for trouble because we are look-
ing at a long-term project, not an immediate project. What it means is that, in the next few years, we would have a bunch of illiterate people. And the fact is that there are a few brilliant ones. The general phenomenon is that people are no longer interested in reading. Lecturers are also not helping because a lecturer, either because of the prevalent harsh economic situation, will tell students to bring money or he fails him or for a female student, wanting to sleep with her. Why do you want to give a certificate to somebody who did not go to school? Or why will you want to give a mark for somebody who did not merit it? For me, I believe that and I quite agree that the standard of education has fallen and thank God for the private universities that are being set up, all over the country. I think the private universities are helping to bridge the gap. But for government institutions, I really cannot vouch for them. Hw can we bridge the gap between the poor and rich, in terms of access to quality education? The only way government can assist is for the Ministry of Education to be serious. People like Oby Ezekwesili could have done a lot for this country. We need people like that who understands the system and who also weeps over the challenges that this country faces. I remember, when she came for one of our programmes, building leaders for empowerment and national transformation, which we hold regularly, to look at the different sectors of the society, she came with some data that were so shocking to me, on some of the things that happen in the schools, like students sitting on the floor in classes. I believe that people like that would have been able to put their foot on the ground, since she is not looking for anything other than to ensure that this nation becomes what it should be. Until government stops playing to the gallery, and (until) people who hold offices truly love this nation, I cannot see how we can change. If you truly want to change things, then we
must have genuine, sincere and passionate Vice Chancellors, who are not there because they just have to take a job or looking for money. I know of a childhood friend, who was a Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikwe University. He was the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the school. He transformed Nnamdi Azikwe from a glorified secondary school to one of the top ones in the country. He moved without much subvention from the government. He spoke to parents of the students and told them how their children are all scattered in the town. He urged them to contribute money so that through direct labour, infrastructure would be improved on and the students could move into the campus. The parents contributed and he developed the infrastructure. Not only that, he told lecturers, that era of delaying result was over, that once the examinations are taken, the results must be released at a certain time. He also insisted that and the era of making handouts compulsory was over. If a lecturer wants to write a book, he should and it could be recommended. The era of harassing female students was over. He set machinery in motion to ensure that these things were enforced. And sanity returned to the university. So am saying, it depends on who is there. Until government understands that education is key to the development of any nation and therefore takes it very seriously, and insists that anybody charged with responsibility in that sector and violates it is stepped down, it will bring sanity. Until that is done, I cannot vouch for public institutions. But for private, they know that they have something at stake, they cannot afford to do things anyhow. But statistics show that students from public universities perform better than students from private institutions in competitions? Those are isolated cases. And it is old data that you are working with. On plans for a vocational centre We have acquired a land at Aba and have put up some structures there, but we have not put up everything. As soon as we finish, we would start. I was discussing with someone and he told me that some of the multinationals and constructions companies like Julius Berger do not employ our labourers because we do not shoot for excellent. For instance, look at the tiling of this office. We had to look for labourers from Benin Republic. The ones Nigerians did, after finishing the work, we broke it down. So these are the things I want to be able to tell our people, that you do not lose by doing a nice job. In the final analysis, people will look for you. But our people are too much in a hurry. Everybody wants to make the millions overnight, so they do shoddy jobs. A tailor will sew a cloth for you and within weeks the zip is off. There was a designer one of my sons introduced to me, and I looked at the dress. I said to him, has he thought of marketing his skill outside the country because what I saw can compete with anything outside the country? And today, he is in Kenya, Ghana and South Africa. These are the things I am looking at. Can we do things right and excellently? We would teach how to be a good plumber and the students will be taught thoroughly in order to provide excellent service. This is what am looking at, excellent craftsman. The whole vision is not to start another school; the whole essence is to improve the quality of services that we render. In Nigeria, we render anything to people and expect them to pay for it, it does not work that way; we can also do things excellently.
Nigerian don bags Kwame Nkrumah award From Chido Okafor, Warri OR salvaging the Federal FResource University of Petroleum (FUPRE), Effurun, Delta state, from the cliff of crisis which engulfed the new university last year and making it possible for the university to produce its first set of graduates despite all odds, Prof Lawal Alhassan Bichi, the acting Vice Chancellor of FUPRE and former Director of Academic Standards at the National Universities Commission
(NUC), was at the weekend conferred with the Kwame Nkruma Africa Leadership Award. The Guardian learnt that the All African Students Union (AASU) initiated the award which has been held in Ghana in the last 12 years, to promote good leadership. Speaking during the award ceremony, the Ghanaian representative, Emmauella Davis, said Prof Bichi had demonstrated “determination and courage to trudge on against all odds.” Davis hinted that Tanzania had
accepted to host the African students’ leadership summit tagged: “A United Africa Next Generation Leaders” from May 22nd – 25th, 2013. Bichi received accolades for the way he handled the students’ crises at Ladoke Akintola University and Akwa Ibom State University while at NUC and for bringing calm back to FUPRE where internal wrangling between the university management and academic and non-academic staff brought the university to its knees last year,
leading to the successful graduation of its first set of graduates with the next batch almost due. Representatives of the AASU from Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and a few other African countries were on hand at the FUPRE auditorium for the award. Bichi, while accepting the award, listed the transformation that had taken place at FUPRE since he was appointed vice chancellor mid last year. He said approval and fund for the
building of modern laboratory and workshop for FUPRE had been received and that next Tuesday the foundation ceremony for the construction would hold. He also disclosed that another laboratory for the Department of Petroleum was about to take off and would be physically ready in the next three to four months Bichi said a hostel to accommodate 100 students was ready for occupation while another hostel capable of accommodation
200 and more students would be ready next month, adding that the university had been connected to the national electricity grid during his time. The event was attended by several eminent personalities including the Monarch of Uvwie Kingdom, Ovie Emmanuel Sideso, Abe the first, former minister of Information Prof Sam Oyovbaire, Prof Nancy Agbe, former Vice chancellor of Benue state University, and a host of several others.
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NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 17/4/2013
CAPITAL MARKET
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
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NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 17/04/2013
PRICE GAINERS
LOSERS
Wema Bank, ETI, others enhance NSE’s turnover By Helen Oji EAvy transactions in the shares of some banks, especially Wema Bank and EcobankTransNational Incorporated, yesterday lifted the volume of shares traded, 766.566 million shares worth N9.354 million changed hands in in 6183 deals, higher than 352.15 million units valued at N3.59 billion exchanged in 6705 deals on Tuesday. Specifically, the banking sub-
H
sector dominated in volume terms with 617.6 million shares worth N4billion in 2,840 deals, followed by the food products sub-sector with 24 million units worth N231million. The Beverages— Brewers/Distillers sub-sector ranked third with 23 million units worth N3.7 million. Precisely, Wema Bank Plc recorded the highest volume of shares, exchanging 302.030 million shares valued at
N422.745 million, Ecobank Transnational incorporated ETI followed with account of 113.138 million shares worth N1.810 billion while Skye Bank Plc recorded 60.584 million shares worth N363.930 million. Zenith Bank came fourth with a total of 30.021 million shares worth N581.812 million. Consequently, market capitalisation increased by 0. 56 per cent to N10.661 trillion from N10.655 trillion recorded on Tuesday .
The NSE All Share Index ASI in the same vein appreciated by 18.29 basis points to 33352.96 points from 33334.67 points it closed previously. A breakdown of activities showed that Dangote Cement led the gainers table, appreciating by N4.10 kobo to close at N161.10 kobo, PZ Cusson followed with a gain of N3.33 kobo to close at N39.00 while Boc Gas, Unilever Nigeria Plc and Zenith Bank improved by
N0.50 kobo, N0.41 kobo and N0.36 kobo respectively to close at N8.50 kobo, N52.41 kobo and N19.40 kobo. Other gainers of yesterday’s transactions include GlaxoSmith Kline, Union Bank, Cadbury adding 20kobo, 19kobo and 17 kobo to close at N48.20, N10.00 and N33.18 per share. AG Leventis gained 11 kobo to close at N1.28 per share while Mansard added nine kobo to close at N2.74 per share.
However, Nestle. Nigeria Plc topped losers chart, declining by N14.01 kobo to close at N922, Julius Berger trailed with a loss of N2.01 kobo to close at N51.90 kobo while Presco loss N1.57 kobo to close at N24.00. Other stocks that depreciated in price were Flour Mill Nigeria Plc, and Ashaka Cement which decreased by N1.29 kobo and N0.97 kobo respectively to close at N76.11 kobo and N25.00
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
66 BUSINESS
Determination of MPR, inflation control need new strategies, says Mbama Peter Damian Mbama is the founder and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of RegCharles Finance and Capital Limited. An alumnus of Imo State University, he has B.Sc in Accountancy and Masters in Management from the University of Lagos. He also obtained MBA, SF from the MIT Sloan School of Management Cambridge-USA and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Financial and Planning Managers, Delaware. Mbama has 13 years experience in the Financial Services sector in institutions like Diamond Bank, FinBank, Access Bank and Fund Bridges Limited, covering commercial and consumer banking, corporate and investment banking, risk asset management, SMEs financing and advisory, strategy and operations management. In this interview with CHIJIOKE NELSON, he speaks on the state of the nation’s economy, among other issues. Excerpts. How would you describe your operational profile in the country? RegCharles Finance and Capital Limited is a nonbanking financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide investment management services, credit services, debt and equity solutions and financial and business advisory services. We focus on financing and empowering Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in various sectors of the Nigerian economy like agriculture and agro allied businesses. We are renowned for our social and impact investment capacity. In this, we assess the social, economic and environmental impact of transactions and investments before funding any business. By providing tailored financial solutions and advisory services through our array of products and services, our targets are training and capacity building for new entrepreneurs; participate in rural development for rural youth and women; community development and engagement; health and environment; agriculture and research; leadership development; inculcation of savings culture; poverty reduction and alleviation; enhancement of female entrepreneurship and financial freedom; particularly, we add value to our chosen markets by providing access to market, access to business information, trainings on entrepreneurship, vocational skills, financial management and basic book keeping skills, employment opportunities, information technology outsourcing, business development strategies, other advisory and consultancy services, product development strategies, leadership and organizational development. At RegCharles, we utilize the models of lending (debts), Mezzanine (micro equity and loans), as well as Financial Advisory Services in serving our clients, depending on the peculiarity of the transaction. RegCharles focuses mainly on those businesses from the bottom of the pyramid to the middle, which are always neglected by banks and other financial institutions due to issues of collateral and structures. We provide the platform to structure these companies and position them for funding after a series of capacity development programmes. We also provide fund management services for individual, private and institutional investors, offering a fair returns on investment, while availing them the opportunity to impact their societies and environment by investing in underinvested sectors of the economy. To further buttress our commitment to social and impact investing model, RegCharles Finance and Capital is a member of two renowned networks of social enterpreneurs – Aspen Network of Development Enterpreneurs (ANDE) and Global Impact Investment Network (GIIN). Recently, we were inducted into British Council for Africa, United Kingdom (BCA) for an alliance with the institution in promoting and supporting MSMEs in Africa through financing and advisory services. To measure our performances in this regard, we abide by the Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS) and Global Impact Investment Reporting Standards (GIIRS). Our organization is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investments (UNPRI). How is your company positioned to contribute meaningfully to the economy?
Mbama Till date, RegCharles Finance and Capital has financed over 400 MSMEs in Nigeria in various sectors within nine months of acquisition and restructuring. Our total investments and loans have exceeded N350 million. We intend to impact 1000 MSMEs more, before the end of 2013. Our target investment should be within N1 billion to N1.5 billion by that time. The hunger to inculcate and catalyse entrepreneurship as a source of reducing unemployment has attracted the attention of the international communities on our businesses and the model. Currently, we incubate businesses and nurture them to growth. By relying on borrowings and shareholders’ funds, we have been able to add values to the Nigerian economy. More than 100 female entrepreneurs have been financed and incubated to growth by our model. We have a youth programme targeted at fresh graduates, which is aimed at ensuring sustainable entrepreneurship among them. By impacting positively on these businesses, we have been able to generate employment for over 500 people. Our focus on agriculture and export businesses is the driving force behind strategies, as we intend to fund mechanised farming for more than 500 farmers. We currently have financing requests from MSMEs in excess of N2 billion, but have been unable to discharge them due to fund paucity. We wish to seek the support of those that believe in our strengths to generate and deploy funds to us, which will help catalyse the economy and foster growth across all sectors. The fund providers ultimately will receive the competitive returns expected if they invest in our products. Banks are now churning out huge profit figures. How sustainable is it, given that banks did so post-Soludo consolidation era? The profits generated by Nigerian banks cannot be viewed as sustainable at the moment. Sustainability can be measured from various facets. Sustainability is longevity. You can be sustainable if you are able to remain consistent on whatever model you operate. You can be sustainable if whatever style of operation impacts positively on the beneficiaries. Banks are accustomed to posting unrealistic profits while businesses suffer. Is the economy sustainable? Are small and growing businesses thriving? Are banks lending? How do they even generate the profits? We have had situations where a profitable bank got liquidated after series of bad loans. Some of the failed banks were profitable but illiquid. How can you be sustainable when you are not operating within the objects of your establishment in the first place? These are the reasons why CBN recently established The Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles (NSBP), which is focused on developing the working environment of the banks, as well as improve on their profitability. Adoption of the principles will not only help banks in mitigating the environment and risks associated with their business operations and those of their clients, but also help them to achieve greater efficiencies and a better position to take advantage of opportunities in the global market, where environmental and social issues are becoming increasingly important. They will also enjoy higher productivity, higher staff morale, higher turnover and absenteeism due to strong employee relations and workplace practices will be minimal. The CBN would need to provide the structural mechanism to encourage consistent and widespread imple-
mentation of the principles and develop its institutional capacity to support the banks in their implementation of the principles. NSBP had been developed by the Bankers’ Committee to drive long-term sustainable growth, while focusing on development priorities, safeguarding the environment and our people, and delivering measurable benefits to the society and the real economy. The NSBP is hinged on nine over-arching principles which include managing environmental and social risk in business decisions; managing the bank’s own environment and social footprint; safeguarding human rights; meeting the imperatives for good governance; transparency; and accountability. The principles also focus on promoting women’s economic participation/empowerment; as well as financial inclusion of communities and groups with limited or no access to the formal financial sector, supporting capacity building in the sector; promoting collaborative partnership to accelerate sector progress and reporting to take stock of sector progress and attendant needs. While the first four principles would keep the banks socially responsible, the last five would no doubt improve their reach and profitability, as banks drive towards green areas of the market. The NSBP aims at minimising or mitigating the negative impacts of financial institutions’ operations on the environment and local communities in which they operate with focus on the agric, power and the oil and gas sectors. So, sustainability of profits can be established where you operate effectively within the objects of your operations and impact positively on businesses while remaining profitable in the process. Benchmark interest rate has dominated the airwave for sometime. What is your take on CBN’s stance for over 15 months now? The Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) has been viewed as being on the high side. No doubt about that. However, the apex regulatory body has given its own justifications, owing to the recent global economic challenges. But the negative implications of high MPR cannot be overruled. This includes reduction of access to finance by individuals and businesses, while the real sector will suffer due to lack of finance and high interest rate. Cost of doing business will soar and yields on government bonds will drop. There is also likelihood of increase in unemployment situation, as costs of business operations rises. Of course, there are positives as well, especially in reducing aggregate demand and ultimately curbing inflation; acts as a control mechanism to reckless borrowing; protects the economy from sudden shocks emanating from global economic challenges capable of causing contagion effects; and helps to foster growth and economic stability, among other things. But the fact remains that there are better ways of achieving the above positives besides using MPR. I am of the opinion that MPR should be eased. The apex bank should be innovative in this aspect by establishing structures that will encourage fiscal retrenchment and structural adjustment rather than relying heavily on MPR. This further challenges banks and other financial institutions to be more innovative with their product designs so as to attract funds from the grassroots. I believe CBN is applying this MPR method for the short-term. How has this impacted banks lending generally? Banks’ lending (although they never lend) has been on the decline since the MPR was increased.
Banks choose to invest in other financial instruments, especially those of the Federal Government, to avoid risks associated with lending to businesses at this time. When bank lending is reduced, for certainty, businesses suffer. Banks have declined financial assistance to the banking public and the developmental roles of banks at the moment have been eroded. What do you think is the net effect of the doubledigit interest rate on the real sector? It is a known fact that the double-digit interest rate is in the short-term unfavorable to the real sector of the country. Meaning that the higher the MPR, the higher the cost of borrowing from commercial banks by businesses and individuals. The lack of access to funds/credit facilities ultimately leads to dearth of businesses with major impact on small and growing businesses. Like I said earlier, there are positives too and we are seeing the positive effect of this on the nation’s inflation rate (currently at single digit), which will positively affect business in the long run. What is your take on CBN’s substitution of dollar for Naira, during the federal allocation? This recent development, I believe is upcoming event for our financial system. The method is such that upon approval, the CBN pays the federal allocation (in Naira - cash) into the bank accounts of the different tiers of the government. This has immediately resulted in excess liquidity in the financial system, which inevitably resulted in inflation and CBN to contract the money supply, in turn offers up treasury bills at favourable rates to these banks and others to reduce the amount of money supply in the system. The effect of this is that the real sector suffers. Most businesses find it difficult to access loans from commercial banks as most of the money is in the hands of the government, who are now heavily indebted to the commercial banks and public. The substitution of dollar for Naira method, as highlighted by some brilliant economists in the country, would involve the use of dollar certificates, as opposed to cash and these which cannot be used for transactions would keep our financial system intact and in fact greatly strengthen our foreign exchange system as there would be more dollar certificates as against smaller supply of the Naira. How will the country fight inflation without reducing investment? The CBN has employed inflation-targeting policy over the past few years, which has resulted in the adoption of high MPR of 12 per cent to fight inflation. This has resulted in near death of the real sector, most especially, great decline in the number of SMEs around. To achieve reduced inflation, I believe the most favourable suggestion is the reduction of government expenditure/spending on consumables, that is recurrent expenditure. Government expenditure takes a huge chunk of allocations, which if otherwise or reduced, that allocation can be diverted to the real sector and result in a healthy business environment that will attract foreign investment as well. Other suggestions include increase of taxes in certain areas. Do you think we are really ready for the IFRS? Knowing that initiatives that uncover loopholes are not easily supported in Nigeria? The issue of Nigeria’s readiness in adopting the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) is definitely a relevant one. The nation cannot continue to remain in isolation as regarding such issues hence, it is necessary that we adopt the IFRS. Granted, the IFRS will expose our loopholes, which most Nigerians will not eagerly embrace, but I believe that overtime, it will become acceptable. Most organisations are slowly adopting the IFRS, undergoing trainings here and there. So, I believe we are not quite there, but we are on the way. In fact, I believe that in the next few years, say five to 10 years, the IFRS would have been fully entrenched into our systems. What role will the IFRS play in fighting corruption and boosting tax revenue for government? The adoption of IFRS at all levels- organisations and governments, no doubt will expose all loopholes in the system, including tax defaulters, evaders, among others. The IFRS mandates that all entities report their audited accounts in a specific format from which it can be easily depicted whether there have been violations or not. This would be a major tool to ensure transperancy. Millions of Naira are being lost yearly as a result of lack of structured system of tax reporting. I believe the IFRS would ensure that. As an accountant, why do you think corruption has become endemic in the country? What is the way forward? I believe it all points towards the issue of transperancy, transparent people and processes. The absence of transparency in any system will inevitably result in corruption. When individuals in any capacity like in a business, in a home, in government, know that they have to present clearly the facts to a person/people, they won’t need to be told that they must do things right. I believe an efficient transparency mechanism, if well implemented, will contribute a whole lot in solving this problem of corruption.
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Opinion The Hugo Chavez revolution (4) By Edwin Madunagu HE most important facts and lessons to T which I wish to draw attention in this article are concentrated in three historical periods: from Hugo Chavez’s enrolment in the Venezuelan army (1970) to his attempted coup, and imprisonment, that is (1970 – 1994); from his formal entry into national politics to election as president (1994 – 1988); and from his first inauguration as president to the attempted counter-revolutionary coup against his government (1999 – 2002). From April 2002 (after the failed coup) to Hugo Chavez’s death in March 2013, the revolutionary process was pre-occupied with two main tasks: defending itself against continuing (and indeed ever-increasing) America’s imperialist hostility allied to the forces of internal counter-revolution and trying to deliver onstwhat the regime had called a transition to 21 century socialism. I shall not, in this particular article, dwell on the first engagement, which in any case, is an open book: a new chapter in a long history of aggression. As for the second, I shall generally, but briefly, make some comments embodying a reformulation of what the Hugo Chavez revolution was doing, or trying to do. Although a defence of Hugo Chavez is inevitable – and some would say mandatory for me, especially in the face of deliberate misinformation, falsification and slander – that is not my main focus here. Hugo Chavez was in office between February 1999 and March 2013, that is, a period of 14 years and a month. Within this period he won re-election three times: July 2000; December 2006; and October 2012. In August 2004 he won a “recall referendum on whether he should serve out the rest of his term”, that is, whether he should be removed from office. The people said No. In December 2007 he lost a constitutional referendum, which included the proposal to lift the restriction imposed on the number of times elected state officials (including the president) could run for the same office. Fourteen months after this, in February 2009, he won a repeat referendum on the same question. The argument of the Bolivarian revolutionary movement on this question of “limitless” number of re-elections (of elected officials) was bold and straight forward: In this transi-
tion period which counter-revolutionary forces had literally turned into a war, competent and committed elected officials should be able to stay in office as long as the people, through democratic elections and referendums, want it to be so. Each election or referendum was hotly, and at times, bitterly fought – with American imperialism appearing as Chavez’s strongest foe. In the closing paragraph of the third segment, I said that the first stage of Chavez’s socio-economic programme consisted of a series of radical populist interventions. It was a socio-economic reform programme quite alright, but its significance went beyond that: it was, more importantly, a radical announcement to the subject classes and groups of Venezuela and Latin America that a government that belonged to them, and would therefore truly serve them, had arrived. It was a wake-up call. That programme of radical interventions was called Plan Bolivar and was announced on February 27, 1999, the 10th anniversary of the 1989 massacre when soldiers were sent to the streets to suppress a peaceful protest. Five thousand people were killed then. Now, 10 year later, under Plan Bolivar, hundreds of soldiers returned to the people: opening up and linking forgotten communities, constructing or reconstructing roads, especially rural ones, building bridges, constructing drainages, building classroom blocks and rural health clinics, giving petty – commodity producers (such as fishermen) “soft” loans, in kind and in cash, removing certain categories of taxes and levies from the poor, etc. The soldiers told the people: “Ten years ago we came to you with guns; but today we are here to atone for that crime”. The political mobilization accompanying this programme was not confined to the lower classes and poor masses – although that was the strategic mobilization. The revolutionary movement saw the urgent need to broaden its campaign: it started constructing what Hugo Chavez called the “polynomial of power” or “power polynomial” whose “strategic goal” was the building of “alliances with sectors of the civil society like the church, businesses, intellectuals, academics, professionals, and so forth”. This was how Chavez saw the task of mobilizing the middle and upper classes for the revolutionary process: “It is like a game of
chess; I have my pieces, I prepare my move in my head and then I go for it. But in front of me there is an extremely powerful adversary, with the capacity to influence these sectors, especially through control of the media, which has a huge impact on the middle class.” Nigerian Leftists of my own generation and, perhaps, a step younger, especially those who passed through practical experiences similar to mine would understand what Hugo Chavez called “power polynomial” although this did not go by that name here. Power polynomials are conceived as “defensive shields” not only for revolutionary regimes but also for revolutionary organisations struggling for power – either as an immediate political objective or as a distant one. And the political history of Latin America in the last 40 years has shown that given certain correlation of forces a genuine revolutionary regime can come to power through elections. However, power polynomials, properly conceived, are centres of genuine popular power; they must not degenerate into bands of fascist thugs that eventually get integrated into the state apparatus. Wherever this had happened in a modern revolution the result had been catastrophic: first for the people – including the “makers” of the revolution – and then for the revolution itself. We may recall that while Hugo Chavez was being inaugurated president of Venezuela in February 1999, General Olusegun Obasanjo, recently released from prison, was passing through the final phases of “coronation” as president of Nigeria. In Venezuela, Chavez came to office through an election conducted by forces that were antagonistic to him, but in Nigeria, Obasanjo’s coronation was done by forces that the masses had battled in the preceding 15 years. While in Venezuela Hugo Chavez started his administration with radical, though populist and reformist socio-economic interventions within the confines of the existing constitution, Obasanjo started in Nigeria by trying to destroy or neutralise centres of potential challenge to his regime. In June 1993 the Nigerian Left helped in no small measure in ensuring the victory of Moshood Abiola in the presidential election; but it was ironic, to say the least, that six year later the Left could not prevent Obasanjo’s coronation. That coronation was the root of the cur-
rent stage of our national catastrophe. The areas of socioeconomic intervention selected by the Hugo Chavez regime under Plan Bolivar were areas which any revolutionary movement anywhere should have seen even before coming to power. In Nigeria areas of intervention would include all those areas listed in Plan Bolivar, and more: problems like corruption, violence and unemployment would make the list. Hugo Chavez’s “21st century socialism” is a big subject and will be taken up, together with other aspects of the revolutionary process not touched upon here in a future article. But, for now, I would limit myself to a few notes on the nature of socialism. Socialism is not like bread, which you either have or do not have; it is not a state of things, which either exists or does not exist. I learnt along the route that brought my socialist consciousness to maturity that socialism is a complex social movement whose foundations must be consciously constructed but whose ultimate “destination” is so distant that to me it resembles the concept of “infinity.” Infinity can be approached as closely as we may prescribe in concrete terms but it can never be reached. Attaining “full socialism” is like attaining infinity. This point can be put differently: However large or distant something may be, as soon as you determine its size or measure its length, and represent these in numbers, it becomes less than infinity and can therefore be superseded, that is, improved upon. Socialist construction is like that. It follows that the question to ask about Chavez’s Venezuela (or indeed China) is not whether the country is socialist or not but how far socialist construction has gone, how strong the foundations are, and the prospects for advance. In posing and answering these questions, we should bear in mind that a socialist construction does not begin in a historical vacuum. This fact comes heavily into the programme of initial interventions. Also, socialist construction is a continuous and holistic critique of capitalism. This construction can start in a national territory but can only closely approach that “completeness”, that “infinity”, globally. Finally, for me, socialist construction means only one thing, in summary: a progressive, concrete, continuous and measurable transition into the realm of equality. • Concluded.
Insecurity, state police and Nigeria By Arowolo Obarotimi HE debate on whether the idea of State Police should be inT cluded in the Constitution of Nigeria has been on for a while and interestingly different positions have been taken by different groups and people, even without many people thinking through why they took the position they have taken having based their decisions on vague and primordial sentiments. Against the background of the security problem in Nigeria that is escalating by the day with different types of crimes being committed in every nook and cranny of the country, especially the challenge of terrorism as it concern the attack on churches and Christians, it is obvious that having state police force is the way to go. I am of the view that only those who have not deeply thought of the way Nigeria is drifting, the ignorant and those benefiting directly or indirectly from the present system of police organisation we have in Nigeria to the detriment of our common good and maybe our national survival are opposed to the idea of State Police. I also suspect that those who are aware that having State Police will frustrate their evil agenda of wanting to dominate other Nigerians in the country are against State Police. In the first few days into year 2013, most Nigerians that were interviewed on which areas of our national life they will like to see significant improvement were of the opinion that the issue of security is of upmost importance. Since the year 2011 till date, the pain inflicted on innocent Nigerians all over and especially in the Northern part of Nigeria is fresh on our minds. It is obvious that the capacity of the present Federal Police is overstretched and as such become operationally thin and which has necessitated bringing soldiers to help suppress insurgencies in the country. There is no doubt that the Police Force has shown significant commitment in the last few years but more men
and women are needed in the Force and it seems the way out even with reference to our supposed federal structure is to embrace the idea of State Police or a Multi-level Police Force arrangement. Recent reports of terror threats in Lagos should make us think again. Let me highlight why State Police is imperative now at this stage of our national life: first and foremost, those who are indigenes of the different states and residents in local communities that know one another very well can easily identify strangers and new faces within their communities and this can help to easily track criminals. This is apart from the fact that they best know the terrains of their communities and do know all routes and possible hiding places for criminals. In the light of the senseless killings going in different parts of Nigeria under the guise of religious intolerance in the North, which is gradually being pushed to other parts of Nigeria in the South, kidnapping for money in the East and South-South, armed robbery in the West etc, the idea of having state police and even community policemen who will also carry arms is an idea whose time has come and the Federal Government, National Assembly, state governments, local governments must act fast. Secondly, it is obvious that indigenes of the respective states speak the local language that a policeman who is not from such a state will find difficult to understand even if evil is being planned in his presence. With state police in place as well as community police, policing can be done more proactively and successfully. Thirdly, there is the greater possibility that the violence and attendant loss of properties and lives often witnessed when there is any confrontation between policemen and citizens will reduce drastically if the policemen in states and communities are indigenes of such states and communities since a deadly assault on a policeman or a citizen might mean the death of your own brother or sister as it were. In addition, the thought that an
“outsider” has been brought to afflict your state or community will not be there and the era of ethnic mistrust will be over for good. Also, if state police is allowed, the under-policing being witnessed in Nigeria will be solved because states will have their own policemen to complement the federal police officers. As at now, the ratio of federal policemen to the overall population is precarious and unrealistic. There are many densely populated communities without a single police post and that is why criminals often commit dastardly crimes with ease. The recent sectarian and ethnic killings in many villages in the North that are carried out with ease can be prevented if state policemen and community policemen are in place. It is also common knowledge that the more people are employed as policemen and policewomen, obviously there will be a reduction in the number of youths, men and women who are out of job and by extension a reduction in the level of poverty. Nigeria cannot afford to continue to lose her people, including law enforcement officers as it has been witnessed in the years past, hence beyond allocating more money for security, which is important though, more law enforcement officers are needed and it seems that states and local governments must come on board actively by way of having their own officers and men. The fear that such an arrangement will be abused can be tackled with proper legislation and orientation of the police institution and Nigerians themselves. Every lover of Nigeria must do all that is needful to safe Nigeria and our leaders must confront the security challenge being experienced in Nigeria frontally using a multi-faceted strategy that must include efforts at reducing unemployment through favourable economic policies. This is our God-given time to fix Nigeria, let us get it right. Nigeria can be great again and we have a collective responsibility to see it happen. God bless Nigeria. • Dr. Obarotimi wrote from Lagos.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
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Opinion Jonathan and the Leadership challenge By Etim Etim OR its poor editorial judgement and unFnewspaper, professional reporting, an Abuja-based Leadership, has become the latest addition to the numerous problems of the Jonathan presidency. The paper had a few weeks ago published a front page lead story insinuating that the president had given directives to unnamed people to frustrate the registration of APC as a new political party; plan to increase petrol prices between N130 and N140 and work on a covert action against former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu and five state governors from the PDP perceived to be ‘ambitious’. The reporters flaunted what is clearly a fake and forged document as the source of their scoop. Furious and mortified, Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe, the president’s media and PR staff, had to work overtime to debunk the authenticity of the document. While Okupe called a press conference and read from a prepared speech to debunk the newspaper’s claim, Abati went around early morning talk shows to further discredit the publication. It was one of those rare moments in which the two openly forged a common front to attack a common enemy. Perhaps unknown to the two presidential aides, the publisher of Leadership, Sam Nda-Isaiah has been a good friend of the president’s since when he was the vice president. When President Yar’ Adua was hospitalised in Saudi Arabia, Nda-Isaiah worked tirelessly using his broad network of contacts in northern Nigeria and his goodwill as a publisher of a major national newspaper to mobilise support for Jonathan to become the acting President. Both the then VP and the publisher were very close then – the same warm relationship that Jonathan also shared with Senator David Mark, Senator Bala Mohammed and several other northern progressive elements who were instrumental to the invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity. As soon as Jonathan became the acting President and the polity was stabilized, many of his friends, including some Lagos-based publishers skilfully wormed their way into the inner caucus of the government without Isaiah-Nda. ‘Sam feels used and dumped’, a well-informed source noted last week. I doubt that the publisher is now on a revenge mission against the president. But then
Okupe and Abati should go beyond a rebuttal of the story to repair the relationship between these old friends. Another election season is around the corner and sooner than later, Jonathan will need the publisher again. With all the problems in the country, Jonathan can ill afford a confrontation with a major newspaper in the country now. The news story was clearly an error of judgement on the part of the editorial staff of the paper, which has created a major embarrassment for both the president and the journalists. It is commonsensical that no president, or even a councillor, will issue written directive on such an issue as blocking the registration of another party. Such directives, if any is contemplated, would be made in code tongues behind closed doors. I am sure that by now the management of the newspaper will like to put this ugly episode behind it. They should institute an internal inquiry into how the editors were tricked into publishing such a drivel as a lead story. The publisher’s problem would be further complicated by the fact that only a few months ago, the government of Yobe State announced in paid newspaper announcements that Isaiah-Nda had been blackmailing its officials in order to extort money. Coupled with the fact that the paper’s Managing Director, Mr. Azu Ishiekwene, left the employ of The Punch a few years ago in less than a tidy manner, Leadership will have to work harder to overcome serious reputation damage and brand erosion. It is also important that the police conclude its investigation as quickly as possible. There are a few tips for them to follow. Are the paper’s reportorial crew under severe pressure from management to source ‘hot’ and exclusive stories from Aso Rock? In some newspapers, journalists are graded and appraised based on the number and quality of their front page leads. If this is the case, reporters could go to any extent to meet their expectations. Second, could some people have sold a dummy to the newspaper to embarrass the president who has increasingly become the whipping boy of the opposition, sometime for his own fault? Or, as Yobe government officials had warned, was this a plan by the newspaper to harass Jonathan and extort money from the government? I am aware that many media barons in the country actually make money through similar
schemes. Another lead for the investigators is to examine if the document was created and given to the paper by APC ‘field officers’ to test the waters and ramp up public support for the group. After all, the APC has just prevailed in a battle with other APCs over the acronym, and won a reprieve from INEC, and so an allegation that the president was behind such a plan to frustrate its registration could earn it some sympathy and political advantage. This theory gained strength when ACN’s Lai Mohammed quickly latched on to the fake document and issued an alarming news release, alerting the nation of the purported presidential directive. Why did an experienced lawyer and party administrator like Mohammed issue news release based on a document whose authenticity is clearly suspect? If this document were tendered as an exhibit in a law court, Mohammed, as a defence attorney, would shred it into pieces. But in this case, he accepted it, without question, as incriminating evidence against the president. How low can we go to score a political point? If a political party is so easily taken in by a spurious news story based on an unsigned and badly written document, how would they handle the various fake and deceitful investment and financial schemes that are presented to government officials daily? Another theory could be that that the document was faked and sold to the newspaper by a disgruntled or cunning State House staffer who has previously served as a reliable source to the paper. In a competitive media industry, media houses routinely pay some sources for stories. Whatever the case, the newspaper has itself to blame for such recklessness and indiscretion. The basic tenet of journalism is that facts are sacred, and if in doubt, cross check. When a reporter goes to his news editor and exclaims that he has an exclusive story that will shake Abuja to its foundation, the first instinct and duty of the editor is to scrutinize the evidence of the story. If the news editor had checked the so-called ‘Presidential Directive’ memo, he would have seen through its dubiety. In a standard media house, a front page lead story must be vetted by at least three key gatekeepers: news editor, editor and editor–in-chief. What were their roles in the publication of this story? The management of the newspaper is not helping matters. It has issued a statement describing the arrest of its journalists as ‘a cal-
culated and brazen affront’ on press freedom. Does press freedom entail publishing malicious, unsubstantiated and patently false information? Journalism carries a huge responsibility. Reporters cannot publish barefaced lies and expect to hide under some journalistic privilege. Many European countries, including Britain, the home of some of the fiercest newspapers in the world, are rewriting their laws to ensure that news is reported accurately so as not to cause harm. Truly Jonathan has been unfairly treated by some Nigerian politicians and the media. Some of his problems are self-inflicted too. His proclivity to make statements without deep thoughts and take decisions without care to the national mood and public opinion has landed him in many controversies. Over the years, he has bumped from one ugly headline to another. Although Leadership has clearly crossed the boundary of decency and professionalism in the story, the police should not complicate an already bad situation. In deed the question of asking them to reveal the source of their stories should not arise. As a young finance reporter in The Guardian newspaper, I was detained by the IBB regime for three months in 1988 for not revealing the source of my stories. They were very accurate stories and the issue was not about their authenticity. The government just wanted to know how I obtained those stories. When it was clear that I wasn’t going to divulge my secret, I was released. Just like The Guardian management did in my own case 25 years go, the editors of Leadership newspaper should conduct an internal inquiry into this matter. The nation awaits its outcome. There is no way a president of a country would send a written memo asking his staff to emasculate political opponents. No such directive would be written. It could only be a verbal and covert operation, and in all cases since the Richard Nixon Watergate scandal, presidents don’t get personally involved in such tasks. The fact that the police is asking for the source of the document does not convey any iota of genuineness on it as the newspaper seems to be insinuating in their statement. The authorities just want to establish how this document got into the hands of the reporter, and my sense is that it would have been through any of the channels outlined above. • Etim, a journalist and banker, lives in Uyo.
Professor Matthew Brafe Scott-Emuakpor (1935-2011) By David Okpako ATTHEW Brafe Scott-Emuakpor ‘MBSE’ as he was popuM larly known was born on March 14, 1935 and died on April 12, 2011. He was scion of the famous Scott-Emuakpor and Adjogri families of Evwreni, in Ugheli North Local Government Area of Delta State. Matthew and I finished from Urhobo College Effurun in 1954 and he and I remained friends till the end. He was the first scholar from Urhobo College to gain admission through the entrance examination to University College Ibadan; from where he graduated in Botany with an upper second class degree in 1961, on the basis of which he was admitted for higher degree studies at St. John’s College, University of Cambridge. It is a measure of his outstanding brilliance that in under three years Matthew had completed the work and been awarded the PhD of Cambridge University in 1964 in the field of genetics, and immediately returned to a lectureship in the Department of Botany at the University of Ibadan where he rose to become Professor in 1978. His untimely death in 2011 was a blow to science. Professor Ajovi Scott-Emuakpor PhD. MD, also a distinguished geneticist wrote this about his brother: “At Cambridge he developed fascination for Microbial Genetics and began working on the behaviour of chromatids during cell division in the bread mold Neurosporo crosso. His work contributed enormously to the elucidation of the steps involved in the exchange of genetic materials during gamete formation. For this work he received the doctor of philosophy degree of Cambridge University (PhD Cantab) in 1964. By this accomplishment he became the first African to be awarded an advanced degree in Genetics, and thus the first African Geneticist” of the
modern era. At the University of Ibadan, he devoted his energies to the development of the discipline of genetics and in the process inspiring a whole generation of Nigerian scientists many of whom are leaders in that field today. Professor Scott-Emuakpor was also passionate in finding solutions to common human problems through research. One such was the problem of post-operative wound infections in late 1960s at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. This led him to temporarily transfer to the Department of Medical Microbiology in the Faculty of Medicine where he spent two years painstakingly describing the microorganisms responsible for “wound sepsis” at the hospital with subsequent comprehensive recommendation of simple hygienic measures to prevent its occurrence. At Urhobo College, Effurun, Matthew had an amazingly brilliant career – in the classroom and in the field of play. Like the eagle, he soared above the rest of us in every schoolboy activity. Looking back I can say that those of us who graduated from the school in 1954 were all proud to be MBSE classmates, but we were not in the same class! I was small for my age and not even considered for inclusion in the tough training routines of the legendary Sports Master, late Chief Daniel Okumagba, who made Urhobo College famous for its sports through out Nigeria. In athletics and football, MBSE achieved national fame as a school boy: He held the Greer Cup record in triple jump (1953: 16ft. 7 and half inches) and in the high jump (1954: 6ft. 4 and half inches). The high jump record shattered by Matthew had stood for the previous 13 years. MBSE was a truly remarkable all-round athlete and scholar. He abhorred trivia and was not one to waste anything. I re-
member Matthew advising me in our boarding house washroom in 1953 or 1954 that the most economical way to use soap was to thoroughly ‘soap’ your body and then sponge, don’t ‘soap’ the sponge; I still adhere to that advice! Many who did not know him well might have thought Matthew was snobbish or aloof, but Matthew was warm and eager to communicate; he did not socialize much, he did not meet colleagues at the Senior Staff Club for a beer as many members of staff did to unwind at the end of a hectic day. He did not party! But he had a great sense of humour and he loved to talk – about substantial issues. In many ways his life was the embodiment of the Urhobo College motto: “out optimum out nihil, either the best or nothing”. He always aimed for the best and applied himself to the utmost, and in the most important aspects of his life he achieved the best. MBSE was a handsome man and when he wanted a wife, he chose the beautiful and elegant Mrs. Joke Scott-Emuakpor to march him in good looks; although the marriage was unfortunately short-lived, she has remained a dignified and respectable Mrs. Scott-Emuakpor. Matthew’s personal house at Idi-Ape in Ibadan, which he designed and painstakingly built from scratch single-handedly and was supervising the final touches till the very end, stands there as a masterpiece and an example of his pursuit of the best. Urhobo College Effurun meant a great deal to Matthew, although he did not maintain contact with the network of old students, Urhobo College Old Students Association meeting was one meeting he liked to attend. He was arguably, the most famous graduate from Urhobo College Effurun and will be remembered by all for his immense achievements for humanity for years to come. • Professor Okpako wrote from Ibadan.
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For The Record Communicating an implosion: Signs and wander, popular culture and the crumbling of Empire Being text of the maiden inaugural lecture delivered by Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie, Ph.D, professor of Communication, Media and Development, at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, on April 9, 2013. privileged for this opportunity, especially ItionFEEL because the Department of Mass Communicais turning out its first set of graduates in June 2013 and it has pleased God to make me lead the process of producing a set of change agents in mass communication. The mass communication programme has been re-engineered with the four sequences of Broadcasting, Cinematography and Film, Print, and Public Relations and Advertising. The curriculum accommodates elements of new media and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and would keep evolving to make the programme and its products globally competitive. The courses are a distillation of global and local best practices in academic and professional development with a target of producing rounded graduates who are flexible and equipped to compete anywhere in the world. Our slogan “On the Way to the Top” is a message with a mission and a mission with a message. Already and as you may have observed on your way to this venue, construction work has started on the Idowu Sobowale School of Communication which given our current pace of developments in the programme and department is set to be a reference point in communication studies nationally continentally and globally. Once again, let me thank the Vice-Chancellor for giving me this platform to share a few thoughts. Unfolding Plot One of our daughters is a fan of Manchester United and gladly shows off the club’s logo on her laptop while when there is a scream from the living room; chances are that the other who is an unrepentant fan of Chelsea is either applauding a Didier Drogba (and now Frank Lampard or Demba Ba) stunner or wondering at some other point why Robert Di Matteo would be replaced by a Rafael Benitez who did not leave the Premier League and Liverpool in a blaze of glory just some seasons earlier and was on his return initially making the Blues all blue. At Caleb University, Tottenham Hotspur was a tough nut in the campus league but the last laugh belonged to AC Milan, not Enyimba or Bendel Insurance. The fans of the Big Leagues all appear united in appreciating the talent of a mesmerizing Lionel Messi who is not in a hurry to let go of his World No. 1 rating and true to his name can always be counted on to leave the records of whatever club his FC Barcelona confronts in a messy state while also making a mess of the reputation of coaches. The same Nigerian teams producing the stars that make their leagues tick in Europe are however not quite in contention in the consciousness of this unique generation with unique fascinations. The football story reflects in its trajectory an unfolding intricate but somewhat testy scenario. Within its rubrics are concepts like globalization, Americanization, popular culture, communication, values and influence all dovetailing in the logic of empire whether physical, mental or spiritual. In its centenary the inevitable question arises on if Nigeria is a developing country, one with arrested development or if there is a resolvable quagmire if it is agreed that this resource-rich country’s potential is too fundamental not to be realised. A Path Called Globalization The penetrative force of globalization is the ultimate barrier breaker. Adesoji (2006: 4) sees it symbolized by its capacity to integrate societies from the physical to the realm of ideas. It compresses the world and intensifies consciousness with individual identities assuming more complex dimensions (Robertson, 1998: 8). Globalization empowers universal commonalities and represents a paradoxical force simultaneously restraining, and strengthening social and other identities. Paul Valery sees nothing happening in the world anymore without others being part of moulding it, while Hannah Arendt says that traditions and other past histories are now threatened with irrelevance (see Robert-
Prof. Owens-Ibie son, 1998: 48). Local cultures are believed to be undermined by this force. In this process, values are diffused so much that democracy and human rights have become catch phrases in remote hamlets in unlikely continents (Globalization 101: 3). Nyamnjoh (2004: 41-48) credits globalization with turning individuals into “veritable melting pots of plurality and diversity” creating through a process of cultural alienation an African elite who exemplify the paradox of needing what they do not know and knowing what they don’t need. In addition to this, McQuail (2010: 267) identifies other cultural effects of globalization to include cultural synchronization, hybridization and territorialisation, the increase in multiculturalism and transmission of cultural symbols. With the internet as the torch bearer of the new de-territorialization order, the state is restructuring (Shah, 2009: 9, 12) in a mainstreaming frenzy with some nation states appearing to be in better control of some elements than others. In Nigeria, the statistics on internet access is instructive. The 45, 039, 711 internet users constituting 32.2% of the continental total and about a third of the country’s estimated population, 4, 369, 740 on Facebook by 2011 had risen to 48,366,179 Internet users for June 30, 2012 or 28.4% of the population, 6,630,200 Facebook users by December 31, 2012, and 3.9% penetration rate (Internet Users…, 2013). This makes Nigeria a case study of a core and emerging market (Telecommunications…Usage, 2012). The mass media in Nigeria on their part represent a theatre for replaying what OwensIbie (2000: 62-63) describes as the “unfolding script of globalization”, displaying its contradictions in the process as their embrace of market forces entrench them the more within the global orbit. Statistics on media reach in Nigeria better illuminate this scenario with more than 140 terrestrial television stations (including private networks, 36 state-owned stations, 12 private stations and over three Direct-to-Home platforms), more than 137 radio stations (41 Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria [FRCN] stations, 63 owned by state governments, 41 privately owned, two owned by communities/universities), more than 68 magazine titles and 78 newspapers, and more than 124 outdoor companies managing over 21,000 billboards in the country.
Media penetration among the adult population is 79.9% [Television], 82.6% [Radio], 27.4% [Newspaper], 21.0% [Magazine], 66.9% [Out-of-Home] and 22.1% [Internet] (Media Reach Nigeria, 2009). There is a progression especially for broadcast stations compared to the figures provided by Akinfeleye (2003: Annex). While these figures keep changing, there are criticisms on the content on offer in these media (Ajeluorou, 2010). The media just like globalization are themselves outcomes of the elements that have characterised and keep defining their future. These include colonialism, commerce, technology, telecommunications, advertising, interdependence, imbalances and diplomatic relations (McQuail, 2010: 250). The Media are Global The globalisation debate has an ally in discourse on global media which from one perspective are regarded as “messiah” and major purveyors of Western culture promoting values like representative democracy, and women and minority rights. Global media as “menace” are seen as not quite promoting diversity (Demers, 1999: 4-5; Rachty and Sabat, undated: 72-73). By the way they are configured; global media are instruments of a unidirectional flow of content and perspectives (Owens-Ibie & Ogwezzy, 2009: 134) with Mowlana (1980: 27) documenting Europe and the United States of America as the major focus of such content. Although this trend is corroborated by Garbo (undated: 105) the tendency of national media to filter out development-related information in preference for violence is highlighted. Their role in fostering Western values also comes under scrutiny (Ansah, 1988: 14). International broadcasting presents a platform for assessing the impact of such global media. Bumpus and Skelt (undated: 97) assert that the BBC and Radio Moscow made major impact in Europe during the World War, while Germany’s broadcasts achieved results with minorities in Hungary, Romania and Poland. The adoption and sustenance of dominant languages as lingua franca in territories is seen as a triumph of cross-cultural broadcasting (Contreras, 1976: 20). The global gains by the English language can also be seen as a triumph for intensive global media activity. In a study of students in South Africa, Pepler (2003) found that only a few students could name the country’s Minister for Finance, while the same students knew the slogan for Nike. The overpowering image of women in the media has through the same process crystallized over
the years with a two-dimensional image based on their sex appeal and domestic roles (Ceulemans and Fauconnier, 1979: 67). Such stereotypical image is discernible in other settings (Grjebine, undated: 34). Concerns about the distortion of images of local realities ascribed to a Cable News Network (CNN) documentary on Nigeria received some news space (Oguntokun, 2009). A Cultural Whirlpool The manifestations of a global culture with its broad theme of liberation across boundaries and identities is premised on basic similarities in encoding reality with intertwined elements of a cluster which include leisure, consumer, youth and popular cultures (BarHaim, 1995: 24-25). The rise of global culture derives from the primacy of culture to societies. Mazrui (2009: 98) in affirming the significance of culture lists its functions to include “as lenses of perception”; “standard of judgement”; “means of communication”; “spring or motivation”; “basis of identity”; “ladder of stratification”; and “pattern of consumption and mode of production”. These tie culture to human existence and the capacity of humankind to live in society. It presupposes that culture is the moderator of interactions and a definer of the level of functionality in the social and other realms. Mass culture presupposes a measure of standardization and what McQuail (1980: 22) refers to as “products manufactured solely for a mass market”. When culture is produced like industrial products and distributed in competition with local cultures, what ensues is what is called the commodification of Culture (Baran and Davis, 2009: 334). Plato (see DeFleur, 1977: 64) had envisaged a future where children will receive ideas which are the opposite of what they ought to have grown up with and listen to just any type of story. Where individual action converge focusing on a common object outside their personal experience as a response to their needs the outcome is mass behaviour. These individuals transform into a collective which in Blumler’s classification could either be the mass, the crowd or the public, the latter being the only one of the three regarded as a healthy assembly. The mass media are seen as active instruments in detaching the individual from their socio-cultural roots, displacing high and folk culture in the process and drawing him into a vortex which in the estimation of Mills fosters “new forms of dependence” (DeFleur, 1977: 27-30). Although he refrains from attributing to the mass media the capacity to produce direct consequences, McQuail (1980: 11-13) acknowledges the capacity of the media to impact the mobilization of interest and attention. His elaboration on the role of the media includes their tendency to manipulate symbols as evident in public relations and advertising; they bypass existing power structures and communication channels; and are instruments of influence. A Chinese narrative in fact captures how the level of freedom exercised by the media could determine the degree of democracy promoted in a society (Hong, 2002: 1-4). But Bar-Haim (1995: 35) questions the ability of the media, especially Western media, to serve as instruments of reform either at societal or global levels. McQuail (1980: 15) alludes to this too in his contributions to isolation and rootlessness in urban settings, not allowing real participation and presenting the picture of involvement even when that may be more like an illusion. The MacBride Commission had acknowledged the need for mediated communication but also alerted on the threat it posed to the “quality and values of culture” (MacBride et al, 1980: 159). This view is echoed by Omu (1997: 192) and a key transmission belt for this is the flow of films, which Contreras et al (1976: 16) believe is based on commercial considerations and not on cultural policy. In his analysis of how broadcasting impacts social values, Silvey (1974: 312) concludes that those most susceptible to change in this
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ForThe Record Communicating an implosion: Signs and wander, popular culture and the crumbling of Empire (1) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 69 equation are the bewildered and the insecure. Blake (1993: 16) in fact posits that the “rhetorical structures, traditional values and knowledge systems” of white Europe and America are in the process of this transmission propagated as the standard for human and societal existence. Mazrui (2009: 93) identifies three methods used by the West to transmit messages and images to the developing world. These are Western-style education, news and mass media and the internet. Such awareness led in the early days of television broadcasting in Nigeria through the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) to calls for the production of authentic local programmes by the Chairman of the corporation Chief T.T. Solaru in 1961 and Engineer Teju Oyeleye, its General Manager over a decade later (Ikime, 1979: 32), given the rash of films that became the inevitable content of the station. Americanisation’s Broadway Efforts to classify America as imperialist has been resisted by scholars like Bertrand (1987: 1) who regard the American empire as not an intentional creation but the dominant force of the twentieth century and a product of the fascination of nations who copy it due to its attractions and economic advantages. However, there are those who see America’s rise as a carefully cultivated and nurtured process which has involved the film industry and the government. Wagnleitner (1994: 50, 55) notes that in 1938, the government in Washington D.C assumed central control of the country’s cultural exports and established within the Department of State a Division of Cultural Affairs just before the Second World War. Swann (1994: 179) notes that after 1945 this relationship remained strong. Despite the mixed results from such collaboration that the media, film and television now come in what Tunstall (1977: 273) called “American packages” is a reflection of the reach of those efforts. Hollywood became a critical part of the political transformations taking place in America (May, 1989: 125, 127). In this same process Marlboro branded with an advertising-propelled imagery that captured global imaginations transforming the cigarette of the cowboys by 1972 into the best selling in the world. A French source quoted by Bertrand (1987: 3) described this cultural warfare as targeting the head by paralyzing “without killing, conquering by slow rot” and one which obtained wealth “through the disintegration of cultures and peoples”. France Culture Minister Jack Lang in 1982 fired an indirect but obvious broadside at America for seeking to “impose a uniform culture on the whole world” (Taking Cultural…1992). Schiller (1973: 1) declared that media managers in America are involved with the creation, processing, refining and circulating information and images which determine beliefs, attitudes and behaviour and that such production of messages which do not reflect social reality is actually mind management. In assessing Canadian television through this prism, Taras (1991: 191) discovered that it has become as much a vehicle for promoting American culture as it has been of Canadian culture, with Canadians playing a minor role in the process. In his chronicle of American cultural diplomacy, Wagnleiter (1994: 208) affirmed how national cinemas got their cues from Hollywood which defined the dominant themes. That probably explains the launch of Telesur as the Latin American cultural response to Cable News Network (CNN) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), with Venezuela as the driving force. The effectiveness of such initiatives at national and regional levels is better determined through research, but comments like those of a popular act like Jay Leno in 1993 concerning the global impact of American cultural programmes rankles. According to him, “We’re going to ruin your culture, just like we ruined our own.” (see Dwyer, 1994: 31). However, a June 1992 study of 16-year old school boys and girls in Poland by Wawrzyczek and Mazur (1994: 21-22) while acknowledging American influence asserts that young people’s wide ex-
posure to American products do not necessarily eradicate their native cultural patterns. Although such patterns are being transformed, the responsibility for that transformation could be traceable to other sources in addition to America. Popular Trends Within the cluster of cultures, popular culture remains a core focus in any examination of cultural empiricism. Americanisation has a real alliance with the ramifications of culture’s popular variant. Although as Maltby (1989: 10-19) has noted, America did not colonize the rest of the world in the 20th century, it certainly “coca-colonized” it. He was alluding to the blanketing of the world by the Coca-Cola brand. American popular culture has come to define images of what constitutes civilization. This culture he asserts has caused “intense social disruption in the Third World, inculcating new patterns of behaviour, new desires and new dissatisfactions”. Attempts at defining culture position it as a reflection of everyday life in any society. A succinct and encompassing insight is provided by Browne (1994: 11) who describes popular culture as “of the people, by the people, for the people.” He elaborates by incorporating into its sphere “the mass media, entertainments, diversions, heroes, icons, rituals, psychology, religion.” In his defence of popular culture, Rolin (1994: 17) justifies its centrality by stating that all culture is after all consumer culture, performing the task of liberation at individual and social levels, and in relation to time and space. Culture, he notes, is social just as it is historical. He derided the doctrine of good taste, stating that “taste is dead.” Proponents Bar-Haim (1990: 281) adds that this cultural form is fuelled by “disillusionment, frustrations, anxieties and changes effected by ideology, religion, or other belief systems.” It targets a change to the configuration or disposition of cultural power through connecting with cultures of popular culture however assert that symbols are instruments of popular culture transmission (Browne et al, 1990: 1). Such symbols are products of the context which produce them. What a nation feeds itself with therefore determine their destiny, according to Fishwick (1995: 13), quoting an 1826 statement of Jean Brillat-Savarin. Today, junk or fast food is an important part of that nourishment just like hip hop is winning over converts in unlikely quarters. (Hall, 1982: 106108). According to Cooper and Cooper (1993: 61) popular music was a useful tool in the consequent cultural domination. The consequence of the rise of popular culture with a heavy American slant was the approximation of American popular culture to what Todd Gatlin referred to a “global lingua franca” (see Culture…1993: 52). The media and all the artefacts of consumer culture remain effective tools in consolidating the gains of this culture, although critics of the globalization powered by popular culture speak of the ensuing product as “cultural genocide” (Globalisation 101: 14) with decapitated cultures as casualties. But while elite culture co-exist with popular culture in America with the media as allies in their promotion, the increasing access to multi-media has opened up the space for influence especially for the young (Gigli, 2004). The development of video films in Nigeria fit this mould. As Owens-Ibie (1998: 41-42) noted, while local cultures are “refined by influences which dictate the mainstreaming of values to fit global prescriptions”, the themes and plots are primed by local producers for the market and the pre-occupation, among others, with sex, intrigues, conflict, violence and fraud is overpowering. In fact, Owens-Ibie (1989: 11), concerned about the drift towards the hedonism promoted by the growing fixation with dramatic entertainment once analyzed the contest as drama versus development. A study by a parents’ group elsewhere on music television channel MTV, found that in 171 hours of programming that aired during the week of March 2004 there were “13 sexual scenes per hour” in its reality series… 32 cases of the use of foul language per hour in its music videos
Prof. Owens-Ibie (see MTV, 2005). Arulogun (1979: 29) recounts his experience in a cinema house in the Ekotedo area pre-independence where young men in jeans, cowboy hats and scarves seen in American films like Wild Wild West gathered. The area, by his account, sooner became a den of miscreants. As Owens-Ibie and Ogwezzy (2011: 214-215) found, the fascination of the young for the trappings of popular culture continues. Talk shows which allow a level of mainstreaming represent one such avenue and is growing in popularity. The battle for the audience and advertising revenue offers another platform for the promotion of popular cultural elements (Owens-Ibie, 1992: 49). In Edo land with traditional historical roots the language; dress, music and dance are being redefined by attempts at mainstreaming although aspects of the culture have survived (Owens-Ibie, 1997: 34). Value Orientations The culture of packaging, virtually patented by the Americans, is evident in the field of communication and journalism and has spawned derivatives rooted in global brands. One of them is what George Ritzer calls McDonaldization which is about how the principles governing the operations of the fast food chain has permeated other spheres of life. The journalistic variant of this neologism is McJournalism which is driven by market principles and in which circulation is key. The local press offers a standardized fare with similarities in formats and contents (increasingly summarized news), and technological convergence eliminates some production functions and the combination of roles and functions, and makes “multiskilling” inevitable (Allan, 2005; Franklin, 2005: 137-147). The adapted versions of this genre is evident across respective channels of mass communication and even more so in the new media. Nigerian television as a terrain of McDonaldization and McJournalism has increasingly built its appeal on a diet of programmes showing significant gains for American popular culture (Owens-Ibie, 2000: 138-140) and even the regulatory National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) despite efforts to moderate the deluge through its enabling law and various enforcement decisions is constrained by the logics in the environment. Owens-Ibie (1990: A6) after surveying the horizon declared that any non-acknowledgement of the solid gains of Americanization would amount to taking a flight from reality. An example was the introduction by the African Beamlink Network (ABN) of live broadcasts of CNN on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) during its
then dark hours of 5am – 2pm (this extended till about 2.55pm on occasions). The transmission which commenced on February 11, 1993 had within a month gained in popularity attracting more advertising till public criticism led to a review. While the defunct Daily Times championed its stoppage because of its symbolism, legislators in the Lagos State House of Assembly canvassed for its retention claiming that since the broadcasts was just “news” they had no prospect of harming the culture. The broadcast was stopped exactly a month after it started (Owens-Ibie, A6). The golden rule now appears to be the consolidation of a framework which uses popularity as a basis for determining media content (Oso, 2012: 53). This trend is consistent with historical narratives on media effects (Bryant and Thompson, 2002: 23-33) which content has therefore to resonate with its audience. The product of this coalescence remains a subject for interrogation. One of the areas of interest has been media portrayal of violence which affects audiences at the psychological levels of behaviour, emotion (affective) and cognition. Owens-Ibie (1991: A6) in what he labelled “Exciting Incitement” recounted the fatalities which resulted from the airing of a local television drama series which blended the qualities of a “Rambo” or typical gun-wielding American hero who was capable of eliminating an army of natives whether in the jungles of Africa or somewhere in Asia. Arelu was a hit in the south west of Nigeria and showed a man with mystical powers and a dane gun who vanquished all foes till a final encounter with a force of light. While it lasted, Arelu won converts some of whom attempted to recreate his fire power. The defunct Daily Sketch of January 5, 1987 reported the killing of a playmate by a 17-year old boy as they rehearsed Arelu. The victim’s father recounted how the culprit had invited his son thrice before the incidence of the misfired dane gun. The rehearsal of Arelu by a child and his colleague in Iwaraja, in the old Oyo State in 1986 also led to one of them being shot in the hope that a mystical bulletproof similar to that in Arelu will vindicate the bold. The boy died (Owens-Ibie, 1991: A6). No matter the weight of this type of evidence in efforts to correlate media portrayal of violence with real violence, the concerns are real. Such concerns date back to the colony when film was introduced into the continent and country. Mgbejume’s account (1989: 3) highlights how from the outset films tended to portray myths rather than reality. The stories of Big Brother Africa and Big Brother Nigeria (Olaiya, 2009; A’daudu, 2006) also capture how reality TV has taken “reality” and its portrayal a notch higher with the no-holds-barred projection of humankind in their natural state operating from a location over a period. That the extremities of inmates have been somewhat moderated may be the product of the protest of strident “local voices”. Other areas and issues have come under focus in national life. The report of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that Igbo one of the major languages in Nigeria faces extinction in 50 years is one of such. Findings from a 2007 study in Lagos and Imo States, show that “7% of children between 611 years in Imo State and 9% of them aged 5 years and below were unable to speak Igbo.” Another study show that 80% of parents in Lagos State and 50% in Imo State either speak a mixture of Igbo and English to their children or mainly English to their children. Although Igbos register a strong presence in Nigeria’s Nollywood (film industry), DSTV could not launch an exclusive channel for that language group because there were not Igbo movies to sustain such a station. The result is that there are now exclusive stations on DSTV only for Yoruba and Hausa movies (Fadare, 2011: 54).
TO BE CONTINUED.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
71
Sports Morocco 2013 CAF U-17 Championship
Cote d’Ivoire’s late goal sinks Golden Eaglets By Tony Nwanne IGERIA’S quest to qualify N for the FIFA U-17 World Cup suffered a huge blow yesterday when the Golden Eaglets lost 0-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in their second group game of the African Under-17 Championship holding in Morocco. Playing in Marrakesh against an ultra-defensive Ivoirian team, the Manu Garba boys, who battered Ghana 6-1 in their opening game of the competition, could not find their scoring boots in a game they dominated throughout. The Golden Eaglets squandered so many scoring chances, which would have put the Ivoirians to the sword, but they succumbed to a wellexecuted counter-attack by their fellow West Africans, who now have four points to top the group. The encounter played in Marrakech was heading for a goalless draw just about due deserves for both sides, when Dogbole Niangbo profited from a defensive mistake to score in the 90th minute. The events that led to the goal saw a Nigeria defender fail to stay on his feet, while chasing a clearance and as he fell the Ivorian player quickly
sent a long ball into the box which the keeper Adeyinka Adewale did not deal with and as the Golden Eaglets tried to stop Kouassi Begbin scoring he squared for Niangbo to slot home. There were few clear-cut chances in the match as the two West Africans sides cancelled each other out. The Golden Eaglets hit the woodwork twice through Bernard Bulbwa and Success Isaac during one of the periods they threatened but at the other end the Ivorians also went close. Paul Bakayoko‘s back kick rattled the cross bar, hitting the ground before bouncing back into play at the start of the second half. Other than that the strikers were hardly given any sniff of goal as both sides put up a master-class in defending, that was up until the stumble and fall that brought about the only goal of the match. The victory takes Cote d’Ivoire to four points with the last group game against Ghana still to come on Saturday, while Nigeria, who started the day on top of the standings in Group B, remains on three points and faces Congo in its last Group game.
Golden Eaglets’ defender, Izu Omego (right), moves to stop an Ivoirian attacker during their African U-17 Championship game in Marrakesh, Morocco…yesterday. PHOTO: CAFONLINE.COM.
NSC promises regular dope tests for athletes From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja O ensure that its athletes don’t fall foul of doping regulations, the National Sports Commission (NSC) says it will
T
Lille has not made any offer for Oboabona, says Sunshine Stars Stars of Akure has SbeenUNSHINE dismissed report that it has offered one million euros for Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona, which it turned down. The Executive Director, Ondo State Football Agency (OSFA), Mike Idoko, who also doubles as coordinator of Sunshine Stars, said the report was not only false but the figment of imagination of the writer. An enraged Idoko said Sunshine Stars has never
stopped any player from advancing his career, wondering where the writer got the information that it has rejected the Lille bid. “We have never stopped any of our players from advancing his career and in this case, we are not ready to stop Godfrey Oboabona from going to any club. But the fact remains we have not received any offer. “We see the report as being planted by an agent, who is desperate to profit from
Oboabona’s growing reputation as one of the best central defenders in Africa. “Before now, it was Arsenal and now it is Lille. The fact remains we are not aware of any offer from Lille. When that comes, we will make it public and Nigerians will get to know, but not from an unscrupulous agent,” Idoko stated. Idoko, however, revealed that Sunshine Stars has received offers from clubs in England, Russia, Croatia and Italy for the central defender.
begin regular tests on Nigerian athletes, especially now that the country is preparing for the Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Olympics. The commission, which said athletes no longer suffered the punishment for doping violations alone, disclosed that it has set up an anti-doping unit that would ensure Nigerian athletes are dope free. Speaking during the opening of a two-day anti-doping workshop for national coaches and technical directors of various sports in the country jointly organised by the NSC and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi said there was the need to nip the criminal and anti-social habit in the
bud. The minister, who was represented by the Director of Grassroots Sports Development in the NSC, Alhassan Yakmut, also promised to regularly organise the workshops on anti-doping to serve as pivot to checking the menace of doping. The NSC boss warned coaches that encouraged their athletes to take performance enhancing substances to desist from such act, threatening that coaches, technical directors, medical crew, other officials and organisations would now share in the punishments outlined for doping. “The NSC, as a responsible sports regulation institution in Nigeria, has consolidated on its endorsement of the International Anti-Doping code by constituting the
National Anti-Doping Committee. The committee is to conduct regular doping tests and to provide broad latitude of advocacy and education on the dangers of consuming performance-enhancing drugs. “It is of paramount importance to reiterate that the beauty of success in sports can only be holistically appreciated when the performance is natural and the preparation is orthodox and consistent with morale principles,’’ Abdullahi said. In her remarks, the Secretary-General, Nigeria National Commission for UNESCO, Maidoh Anene said the collaboration was to provide a legal framework for collective action by governments to address unethical behaviour in sports.
LMC wants Nigerian referees to emulate Edibi IFA’s invitation of Peter FBrazil Edibi to attend a seminar in as part of the 2013
FIFA-badged referee, Peter Edibi, is among the officials listed for the Brazil 2014 World Cup..
Confederations Cup events has been described by the League Management Company (LMC) as a challenge to other Nigerian referees to improve on their performance to also gain international appointments. LMC Chairman, Nduka Irabor said the development supports the body’s charge to Nigerian referees to be at their best at league games and highlighted the reason it came down hard on players, officials and clubs that recent-
ly molested referees during matches. “This is what we have been preaching to referees in the league, if you perform very well, the reward is beyond getting match appointments for league matches, but comes from international recognition such as has come the way of Edibi,” remarked the chairman of LMC, organisers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). He urged Nigerian referees to take advantage of the structures put in place by the LMC to up their performance, as acts of infraction would be
sanctioned. The LMC chairman explained that it is pursuant to this objective that some clubs, players and officials were recently sanctioned, adding, “the LMC will protect our referees and ensure that they gave their best at all times as our desire is to have as many number of Nigerians as is allowed in international tournaments.” Two players of Enugu Rangers were recently slammed with season long bans by the LMC, which also ordered the club to play six home games behind closed
doors. Irabor said he was proud of the success of Edibi, who had earlier attended a FIFA fitness test in Zurich, Switzerland. “This development has boosted my confidence and belief in Nigerian referees. I know they are good and can compete with the rest of the world under the right atmosphere and this is what the LMC is determined to put in place,” Irabor said. The LMC, he assured, would work with all relevant agencies to provide the enabling environment for referees to discharge their duties.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
DSTV signs $1.45m deal with NBBF on league By Olalekan Okusan MPRESSED with the turn of Ideal events in the first four-year of the Nigeria Basketball Premier League, DSTV Nigeria has signed an improved fouryear contract valued at $1.45 million with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). With the intention to grow the league, as well as, market the game to the world, the General Manager, DSTV Nigeria, Mayo Okunola said they decided to ink new deal in their bid to sustain the tempo of the first deal, which expired in 2012. “I want to commend the NBBF for their efforts in changing the face of the league. We want to help the game to grow as a socially responsible organisation, we felt there is need to increase the tempo and we have signed a new four-year with NBBF valued at $1.45 million. “We want the Nigerian team to go to the Olympics and other international competitions and we believe developing the game by growing the league will indeed help to actualise all these. We are committed to the
league and we hope this year will be a fulfilling season for all and sundry,” Okunola said. He, however, acknowledged the enormous challenge in the league but admitted that with time, all these would be surmounted. Okunola further affirmed the company’s commitment to the game with the intention to use television to project the potentials in the game. For the NBBF President, Tijani Umar, the federation would remain grateful to the management of DSTV for their sincere interest in helping to develop the game, adding that with their support, greater attention would be paid to basketball in the country. He assured that the federation would not relent in its efforts to better the league, while commending the enormous support from the stakeholders. “We are grateful to DSTV for their support in the last four years and with the new improved deal, we believe we will continue from where we were with the aim to move up. There is no doubt that all eyes will be on Nigeria after the feat achieved during the Olympics
qualifiers in Venezuela, as well as, the performance of our team at the London 2012 Olympics,” Umar said. To ensure a hitch-free this year, the NBBF boss assured that all necessary logistics and plans have been concluded for the dunks off of the league this month, while also assuring the teams of support. “I want to assure you that every step has been taken to ensure the success of the league. I know expectations are high and the game is greater than politics and we hope this season will be better. For the teams, 40 per cent of the money will go to them so that they can also benefit from this new deal. We cannot but acknowledge the support of all stakeholders including the media for their support to this board and we hope it will continue as we are starting the new season,” Umar said. Comets and Union Bank will officially dunks off the league tomorrow at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos in a ceremonial match to herald the commencement of the new season. Three venues will host matches – Lagos, Abuja and Port
Dodan Warriors’ Abdulwahab Yahaya (right); tries to beat Lagos Islanders’ Jean Pieere Ellong, during the last DStv Premier League final eight held at Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos
Odegbami presents Me, Football, More By Christian Okpara ORMER national football FOdegbami team Captain, Segun will on May 2 pres-
Odegbami
FUTA steps up preparation for NUGA Games HE Federal University of T Technology, Akure (FUTA), has stepped up preparation for the next edition of the Nigerian University Games (NUGA) taking place at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in June. The team to the event has now made training a daily affair in its bid to do better than its performance at the last edition held at the University of Benin two years ago. Part of the strategy, to earn a respectable position when the games begin in June, is the commitment of the coaching crew to present fit and committed athletes for all the events the University will be competing in. The coaching crew is also perfecting strategy to ensure that a good number of its athletes make it through the zonal qualifications. The Chief Coach/Sports Cocoordinator, Ajibua Alayode says the team will give its best at the championship and will not disappoint the manage-
ment, staff and students, who have continued to give necessary support to it. “We expect 65 per cent of our athletes to be in the finals of NUGA in June and in the finals we look forward to be in the best five, against our 10th position in the last edition,” Ajibua said after one of the training sessions at the University’s state of the art sports complex fitted with World Standard tartan tracks. The team co-ordinator says the university is ready for the Pre-NUGA Games tournament scheduled for the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH), where final qualifiers from the zone will emerge in Football, Athletics, Table Tennis, Badminton, Judo, Takwaedo, Tennis, Basketball and Chess. Ajibua commended the ViceChancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola and his management team for the continuous support the team has received over the years and promised not to let them down in June.
ent to the world his latest work entitled: Me, Football and More, a book, which details his odyssey through sports and the arts. Billed to hold at the Anchor Events Centre, Agidingbi, Lagos, the writer, Odegbami revealed on Tuesday that the book is a compilation of his articles in major Nigerian newspapers for over 33 years, adding that it treats issues from sports to his experiences traversing life as an athlete and also as a manager. Speaking on the book, he said, “you are all witnesses to my journey through sports, sports administration and the media- my days in Sports Souvenir and Complete Sports, as a television host, producer and presenter, as a historian, documenting events and building a library of information, data and pictures for posterity, as a manufacturer producing balls, kits and even clothes, as a radio analyst… “When I started to write in a newspaper, even as a football
player in January 1979, little did I know what I was getting into, but from 1979 till the present, except for a break between 1980 and 1982, I have been writing and maintaining columns on almost weekly basis in several publications. “About a year ago, the idea to put together a compendium of some of these articles was mooted by a few persons that have been following this part of my life. Thus, we planted the seed of a book which I shall soon put to bed.” According to Odegbami, apart from the conventional hard copy, there is also an eversion of it, as well as, an audio version of a section of the book. The 350-page book is divided into three sections, including “ME, a collection of articles that look at aspects of my life that may not be directly related to sports, FOOTBALL, a collection of my experiences and opinion on various aspects of my time (and out of it) in football; and MORE, about other aspects of my experiences through my decades in sports,” he said. From the historical perspective, he added, “it will help to
throw light into the what happened even in some local games such as a game between Water Corporation and IICC, the preparation for the 1980 Nations Cup. “It will help the new generation of players to avoid the pitfalls that hampered some of us, and build on those things that made us successful.” On the audio-visual version of the book, Odegbami said he invited such notable artistes as Joke Silva, Yinka Davies, Ronke
Ayuba, Sola Omole, Bimbo Oloyede Roberts, Jimmy Solanke, Soni Irabor, Femi Siwoolu, Dejumo Lewis and Osasu Obayuwana, to lend their voices to the project. He disclosed that Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, who wrote the foreword of the book, would be the guest of honour at the presentation to be chaired by Gamaliel Onosode, while Prof. Adebayo Williams is the book reviewer.
Milo Basketball conference playoffs dunk off in Enugu By Olalekan Okusan champions from SAbia,TATE Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Cross Rivers will converge in the Coal City for the Atlantic Conference finals of the Milo secondary Schools Basketball Championship. With Enugu kick starting the conference play-offs of the annual championship, teams expected to feature in the finals will be screened today
Head, Corporate Communications, Multichoice, Segun Fayose (left); 1st Vice President, Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Muktar Khaleh, General Manager. Dstv Nigeria, Moyo Okunola, President, NBBF, Tijani Umar, Head of Production, Supersport, Niyi Oyeleke and Secretary General, NBBF, Francis Gbiri, at the briefing to announce a new fouryear for sponsoring the premier league by DSTV in Lagos …yesterday. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI
to ascertain the eligibility of the participants. With majority of the players that had featured in the championship all finding their way into the national teams, the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium will come alive today with the group matches. From Enugu, the playoffs will move to the Confluence Conference leg billed for the Indoor Sports Hall of Lokoja in Kogi State on April 24 to May 1, with teams from Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kogi featuring. According to the organisers, the tournament sponsored by Nestle Nigeria Plc will move to the Akure Township Stadium on May 2 to 8 where the Central Conference finals will be played. Nine teams will feature in the zone and they are Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Gombe, Kebbi, Bauchi, Niger and Ondo. The Western Conference finals returns to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on May 9 with teams from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Abuja and Delta competing for places in the grand finale scheduled to hold in Lagos on June 1 to 6.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
SPORTS 73
Ahead Calabar 2014 National Sports Festival
Esuene donates weightlifting facilities to organisers From Anietie Akpan, Calabar S part of her family’s contribution to the preparations for the 2014 National Sports Festival billed to hold at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Senator Helen Esuene over the weekend donated weightlifting facilities worth millions of naira to the organisers. The facilities were presented to the local organising committee (LOC) at the U.J. Esuene Stadium by Senator Esuene on behalf of her family as part of the programme to mark the 20thyear remembrance ceremony of her late husband, Brigadier U.J. Esuene, who was the first military governor of the old South Eastern State from 1967 to 1975. While making the donation, Senator Esuene said her husband saw the state through
A
UNIBEN thrashes Idahosa 3-0, as Zone C pre-NUGA qualifiers begin T was a bad start for Benson Imen’s Idahosa University (BIU) football team yesterday as it was walloped 3-0 by the University of Benin (UNIBEN) team at the ongoing Zone C preliminaries for the forthcoming 24th Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA). The much awaited sporting qualifiers that should have kicked-off on Tuesday at the BIU Sports Complex, Benin City, was delayed as a result of the late arrival of some universities and the accreditation of athletes that lasted till late night of Tuesday. In what could be regarded as home disgrace, the anxious students of the host, BIU, watched helplessly as their darling football team conceded goal after goal, with two of them cheap goals scored by UNIBEN in the first half of the event. BIU woes continued in the men’s volleyball team when the team received baptism of fire from Team Kogi State University (KSU), Anyingba, who won in three straight sets of 25/14, 26/24/ 25/21, though both teams have qualified for the Games proper billed for Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in June, 2013 since only two of them registered for that event. In a related development, the men’s tennis event witnessed another defeat when the duo of Samuel Awiaka and Desmond Ikvembe bid the competition bye after losing to Ighile Kelly of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, and Iyorovbe Joseph of Delta State University, (DELSU), Abraka respectively. However, reprieved came at last for the host, as the duo of Philip Oshikoya and Aisosa Odiase recorded victory in their separate games over Osamuyi Omorogbe of AAU and Odule Olayinka of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun. Also, Nebena Kesha was lucky to have been given bye, while Deborah Edebiri walked-over her AAU opponent, Harringta Itula.
the civil war and went ahead to put down major infrastructure like the stadium, which the Cross River State government and its people deemed fit to rename after him. For this gesture, she thanked the state and promised to do more to encourage sporting activities in the stadium. Commenting on sports development in the country, Senator Esuene, who was accompanied by the former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Bassey Essien, former Permanent Secretary in the regime of Esuene, Wilfred Inah, and other top dignitaries, decried the non-participation of the private sector
in sports development. She said the government has tried in developing sports, positing that the time has come for the private sector to come in effectively and take sports to its highest level as it is done in other parts of the world. The lawmaker, who had instituted the Under 15 U.J. Esuene National Football Championship in memory of her late husband to develop youth football, said after seven years of sponsoring the competition that attracted teams from all over the country, no private sector has come in to assist her efforts. As a result of this, she said, the championship was rested but promised to put it back
Manager, Heineken, Jacqueline Van Faasen (second from left) and Brand Manager, Heineken, Mrs. Kehinde Kadiri first from right both of Nigerian Breweries Plc presenting a dummy ticket to Franklin Chukwu Ijeh (first from left) and his brother Isaac Onochie Ijeh (second from right) two of the five winners billed to travel to Wembley Stadium, London to watch the finals of UEFA Champions League with all expense paid trip courtesy of Nigerian Breweries Plc held on Saturday in Lagos. PHOTO; SUNDAY AKINLOLU
on track as soon as things improved. While receiving the weightlifting facilities, the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, thanked Senator Esuene and her family for the donation as “it will not only be useful to sportsmen and
women in the state but all Cross Riverians.” Senator Imoke, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Patrick Ugbe, promised to make good use of the facilities. He noted that as the state
would host the 2014 National Sports Festival, the equipment would be of much assistance to its efforts. Some of the items donated include treadmill, gyro bike, dumbbell, stepper, multigym, and measurement weight, among others.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
74 SPORTS
European Football
We can’t buy Rooney, says PSG boss ARIS St Germain Coach, P Carlo Ancelotti has played down reports that the club could sign Wayne Rooney in the summer. However, Ancelotti has responded by saying he could not imagine the England striker being for sale. “Wayne Rooney is one of the best strikers in the world,” the former Chelsea boss said in comments reported by L’Equipe. “I think he is impossible to buy. He is an idol for Manchester United.” Ancelotti’s comments come after the club’s director of football Leonardo told Gazzetta dello Sport that no offer had been made for Real
Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and he was unaware of any plans to sign either Rooney or Napoli’s Edinson Cavani. “On Ronaldo, there has never been an offer,” Leonardo said. “I’ve never heard anything about (Wayne) Rooney or (Edinson) Cavani either. I do not rule out big signings, but only if there is a suitable opportunity. “We do want a larger squad with adequate cover in all areas in order to avoid the sort of problems we had in January in midfield with all the injuries and suspensions.” PSG have pulled nine points
Croatian coach sacked for stealing players’ credit card ORMER Dinamo Zagreb open bag before driving FGaspar midfielder, Josip “Jozo” into town with a bit of a has been sacked as thirst to quench where he manager of NK Precko Zagreb after reportedly stealing a player’s credit card and using it to buy not one, not two, but 36 litres of Jagermeister. The Precko board has kept its reasoning for firing Gaspar quiet since canning him over Easter, but allegations appearing in the Croatian media are suggesting that “Jozo” sneaked into the dressing room of FC Sparta Elektra (a local team, who share their training facilities with Precko) and tea-leafed a wallet from an
then spent roughly £450 on 36 litre-bottles of Jagermeister. What with him being fairly well known in Croatia after playing several hundred games for Dinamo Zagreb in the early-to-mid 1990s, Gaspar’s face was almost immediately recognised on CCTV and Police later arrested him as he attempted to buy yet more alcohol with the stolen card at a second shop later in the day. He was then fired from his job at Precko shortly thereafter.
Barca has a legacy other teams lack, says Xavi ARCELONA midfielder, B Xavi has stated that the club has a strong identity and legacy that other top teams lack. The veteran midfielder has been as influential as ever this season, with the club on the brink of wrestling the Liga title from the grasp of Real Madrid. The Blaugrana have also reached the last four of the Champions League, but despite the prospect of bolstering their reserves of silverware, Xavi believes that results are not always the ultimate barometer of quality. “Other teams win and are happy, but it’s not the same.
Xavi
The identity is lacking,” the 33-year-old told UEFA’s Champions magazine. “In football the result is an impostor. You can do things really, really well but not win. There’s something greater than the result, more lasting a legacy.” Xavi continued to explain, “Barca always try to direct the game, they don’t wait for the opposition but go out and attack, so people identify with the club. Barca fans would never understand if the team were not controlling or dominating a match. It’s about doing something extra, not just winning. That’s the way it has to be.”
clear in Ligue 1 to put themselves in line for their third domestic title, and also put together an impressive Champions League run, exiting the competition after being knocked out by Barcelona on the away goals rule at the quarter-final stage. That success has come on the back of major investment from the club’s Qatari owners, and further spending is expected this summer ahead of another assault on Europe’s premier club competition. Most of PSG’s big-money signings last summer came from Italy, highlighted by the deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva from AC Milan, as well the acquisition of Ezequiel Lavezzi from Napoli and Thiago Motta from Inter Milan, among others. However, Leonardo - the former AC Milan and Inter coach - said he could cast a wider net this year. “The market is opening up,” he said. “We may look in Spain or England.” Even if no deal for Ronaldo emerges, one obvious target at Real Madrid would be France striker Karim Benzema, and Leonardo admitted he was keen to bring some French stars into the PSG line-up.
Rooney
Lorient focuses on cup glory ORIENT Coach, Christian LCoupe Gourcuff says winning the de France is now the club’s main focus after they booked their place in the semi-finals with a last-gasp 2-1 win over St Etienne last night. St Etienne, who contest the Coupe de la Ligue final this weekend, saw their hopes of a double ended by an injurytime Jeremie Aliadiere winner as Lorient brought a halt to Les Verts’ unbeaten start to 2013. “I am satisfied with our qualification for the semi-finals, and also with the way we played in the first half,” said Gourcuff. “Tactically, we were able to do exactly what we had planned. We created a lot of space. There were some interesting passages of play in the game, especially considering the fact that the team we put out there was somewhat experimental. “Winning the Coupe de
France is now our goal for the end of this season.” ASSE had designs on reaching the last four of this competition after amassing a 17game unbeaten run in all competitions. That streak - which has them on the verge of Champions League qualification in the league - was made shaky when Maxime Barthelme opened the scored just before half-time, although they pulled level through PierreEmerick Aubameyang with 15 minutes left.
But rather than kick on for victory Lorient stunned their hosts as Aliadiere stole the win in time added on. “The overriding feelings are disappointment and frustration,” said St Etienne Coach, Christophe Galtier. “We had a real desire to go further in the competition, but we were punished. “The players lacked a bit of rhythm, but we had a real desire to go through and we are very disappointed.” In the night’s other match, Troyes put their woeful Ligue
Draxler flattered by Real link CHALKE teenager, Julian Sreported Draxler is flattered by interest from Real Madrid and admits it would be a “dream” to play for the Spanish giants. The highly-rated Germany international has been linked with a host of Europe’s top clubs and Madrid are the latest side believed to be following the 19-year-old. Draxler told Marca, “Real Madrid are one of the world’s great clubs, it makes me proud that they like my style of play. I would be a dream to play at Real Madrid. “I’ve always said that I would like to play in Spain. Every weekend I try to see the matches involving Madrid and Barcelona. I never miss the Classicos.” He added, “right now I’m with Schalke and I have a contract until 2016. I’m having a very good season and I’m doing very well, I’ve scored eight goals in the Bundesliga and I feel very happy.”
Julian Draxler
1 form to one side to beat fellow relegation rivals Nancy 30. All the goals arrived after the break through Jeremie Brechet (51), Julien Faussurier (74) and Fabien Camus (81). “It’s a nice result for us,” said Troyes Coach, Jean-Marc Furlan. “The cup is special. You never know what is going to unfold and it puts you in a totally different state of mind. It was a semi-final and I am very pleased that the players have responded accordingly.”
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
75
Boston Marathon Bombing
FBI reveals pressure cooker clues B OMBS that targeted the Boston Marathon on Monday may have been packed in pressure cookers, investigators say. Images from a joint Homeland Security and FBI bulletin show the remains of a dark backpack, a detonation device and mangled pieces of metal. Three people were killed and more than 170 injured when two bombs exploded near the finish line of Monday’s race. Those, who died were, an eight-year-old boy, a woman aged 29 and a postgraduate student from China. The BBC’s Paul Adams, in Boston, says vigils for the victims were held across the city on Tuesday night as Bostonians still wrestled with why anyone would want to attack their much-loved marathon. President Barack Obama will travel to Boston today for a memorial, where he will address an interfaith service for the victims. The White House said Mr. Obama had cancelled a planned trip to Kansas to speak. He had earlier condemned the bombings as a terrorist act. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Special Agent Richard DesLauriers told a news conference that pieces of nylon had been recovered from the scene, along with fragments of ball bearings and nails that were “possibly contained in a pressure-cooker device.” He said they were being sent to the agency’s laboratory in Quantico, Virginia,
Bolt
Bolt confirmed for London Anniversary Games SAIN Bolt will compete U in the London 2012 Anniversary Games from 26 to 28 July, along with 28 other medalists from last year’s Olympics. Jamaican Bolt won three gold medals at London 2012, in the 100m, 200m and as part of the 4x100m relay team. Britain’s Jessica Ennis will also take part in the event at the Olympic Stadium, along with fellow gold medal winners Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford. Sally Pearson and Aries Merritt are among 12 Olympic champions signed up. The event will double as the 2013 London Grand Prix, which usually takes place at Crystal Palace, and will be held on Friday and Saturday, followed by a day of Paralympic events on Sunday, 28 July. It will take place on the one-year anniversary of the opening ceremony of London 2012, two weeks before the start of the World Athletics Championships in Moscow on 10 August. Bolt, who set an Olympic record in the 100m and helped his team-mates post a new world record in the 4x100m relay at London 2012, will use the event as a warm-up for Moscow. Other than the Olympics, the 26-year-old Bolt has not raced in Britain since 2009, when he last competed in
the London Grand Prix, because of tax rules which would force him to give up a share of any appearance or prize money, plus a cut of any endorsements. However, an announcement in the Budget that ‘non-resident athletes’ will be exempt from income tax has removed that financial consideration. Bolt will run the 100m on the Friday, in a field that includes 2003 world champion, Kim Collins, 37, and in the 4x100m relay on the Saturday.
“I’m looking forward to coming back to the UK, especially with it being a year since winning three gold medals in the Olympic Stadium,” said Bolt. “The crowd were amazing at the Games and I hope they will be out again in their numbers at the end of July. I haven’t competed at the London Diamond League since 2009, but it has always been a great meet with lots of Jamaican support. It almost feels like running at home.” London 2012 champion,
Pearson will face heptathlon gold medalist Ennis in the 100m hurdles event in July. In the men’s 110m hurdles, world record holder Merritt will face Olympic silver and bronze medalists, Jason Richardson and Hansle Parchment. The men’s 400m will have Grenada’s Olympic gold medalist, Kirani James taking part, while London 2012 bronze medalist, Javier Culson will take on Britain’s reigning world champion, Dai Greene in the 400m hurdles. Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu, who won silver in the women’s 400m at London 2012, will face Olympic champion, Sanya Richards-Ross.
where experts would reconstruct the devices to determine their make-up and components. He added, “the investigation is in its infancy. There are no claims of responsibility and the range of suspects and motives remains wide open.” Mr. DesLauriers urged people to report anyone they had seen acting suspiciously. The Associated Press quoted a source close to the investigation as saying that the bombs consisted of explosives placed in 1.6-gallon (6litre) pressure cookers, one with shards of metal and ball bearings, the other with nails. The bombs were put into black bags and left on the ground, the source said. It has been reported that a circuit board and battery packparts of a triggering mechanism-was recovered. And the lid of a pressure cooker, apparently blown off during the explosion, was found on
the roof of a nearby building, an official said on yesterday. Doctors treating the wounded say their injuries indicate that the bombs contained metal shards and other shrapnel. A number of victims have had limbs amputated. Boston Medical Center trauma Surgery Chief, Peter Burke said hospitals were saving “large quantities” of fragments extracted from victims for the Police. They include metal, plastic, wood and concrete. At least 58 of the injured have been released from various hospitals around the city, according to AP. Of those that remain, 17 patients are listed as in a critical condition. Speaking at the same news conference, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said the Boston community would “recover and heal” from the attack. “This is one community. We are all in this together,” he said.
…As Radcliffe urges public security awareness ahead London Marathon AULA Radcliffe says specP tators at the London Marathon will need to be more aware of security following the bombing of the Boston Marathon on Monday. The three-time London winner was horrified by the events, which left three dead and more than 150 injured. Organisers say they will hold a 30-second silence and encourage runners to wear a black ribbon at Sunday’s race. “A lot will depend on people’s vigilance and being aware what is going on around them,” she told BBC Sport. Radcliffe added: “I’m confident in the race organisers and the Met Police and they won’t let it go ahead unless they are satisfied. But over 26 miles, you can’t guarantee everything. “It’s a horrible situation to be in where you are looking at the people around you with suspicion.” A senior Metropolitan Police officer has reassured runners and spectators that Sunday’s event will go ahead as planned. Commander Christine Jones said security was being reviewed following two deadly explosions which happened near the finish line in Boston on Monday at the Boston
Marathon. Radcliffe also admitted she would have doubts about bringing her family to Sunday’s race were she in the field. She added: “I think first and foremost as a mother I’d think more about having family at the finish area. “You put yourself there at your own risk but putting family in that situation is something people are going to have to come to terms with and conquer.” But she believes that the London race should still go ahead and competitors will want to take part. “It is hard to comprehend that anyone could want to do something as cowardly as that and to target innocent people, especially children, in that way,” she added. “On the one hand, it seems trivial to be running a race after this but on the other hand, if you call the race off, are you letting terrorists win? “Everyone knows the potential of marathons in terms of raising money for charity and how much would be lost if it can’t go ahead and also how much good could be done to help those suffering in the aftermath of Boston.” Ribbons will be given to all runners when they pick up their race number.
Nadal cruises to Monte Carlo win AFAEL Nadal’s bid for a R ninth straight Monte Carlo Masters title got off to
Nadal
a routine start with a straight-sets win over Marinko Matosevic in the second round. The Spaniard posted his 43rd successive victory at a tournament he has made his own since claiming his first Monte Carlo title in 2005 as the world number 54 was swept aside 6-1 6-2 in a little over an hour. Nadal, who received a first-round bye, raced into a 4-0 lead on his way to comfortably taking the first set, but endured a bit of a wob-
ble at the start of the second as he was forced to fend off two break points to avoid falling 3-0 down to the Australian. The 26-year-old third seed regained his composure, however, and duly extended his current winning streak on the ATP Tour to 15 matches to set up a meeting with Philipp Kohlschreiber in the next round. Fourth seed Tomas Berdych also advanced after a 7-5 6-4 win over Spain’s Marcel Granollers. The Czech trailed by a break in both sets but rallied
superbly to progress in one hour 45 minutes, Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen moved through to face fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro after defeating 12th-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic 6-3 16 7-6 (7/3). Tenth-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain was another high-profile second-round victim as he lost 6-4 6-2 to Jurgen Melzer, but ninth seed Marin Cilic and Stanislas Wawrinka, seeded 13th, went safely through after comfortable wins over Albert Montanes and Kevin Anderson respectively.
THe GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
76| SPORTS
‘My foundation will produce educated champions for Nigeria’ Since winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China, Chika Chukwumerije has become the face of Nigerian taekwondo. He has helped to popularize the sport in the country, but it has also given him the insight into the needs of some of the socalled lesser sports. To that extent, the three-time Olympian, who captained Team Nigeria to the 2012 London Olympic Games, has decided to set up a foundation – Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF), aimed at churning out educated athletes for the country. Fielding questions from OLALEKAN OKUSAN recently, the Abia State-born All Africa Games medalist talks about his career, his foundation and other issues bordering on Nigerian sports. Excerpts: Why did you set up the foundation? eRy simple: to produce educated champions and to inspire the future! Sports and education have played huge roles in my personal development. These two fields have taken me to over 25 countries, exposed me to life-changing experiences, made me valuable friends and given me the tools to tackle an uncertain future. every Nigerian child should have that kind of opportunity. Generally, people set up foundations to make significant impact in a certain area/subject. This often occurs in an area one is passionate about, and has found that extra help is needed in improving that area. The foundation was set up to better guide and aid young Nigerians and West Africans, who have decided to engage in sports. We hope to encourage them in their studies, as well as facilitate programmes that help their physical, technical and tactical abilities as budding athletes. The aim being to inspire them and anticipate that when they become champions, they are also well educated. Hence, our vision statement is “to produce educated champions and to inspire the future.” How far do you think the foundation can go? The vision is “to produce educated champions and to inspire the future.” The foundation wants to lead the sporting industry into an era where our champions are educated, and our children today become creative and visionary persons tomorrow. That is how far the CCSF wants to go, and we hope that the next decade sets us off on this remarkable vision. Why the focus on taekwondo?
V
My core competency is in Operations and Supply Chain Management, and I fully bring this expertise to the drawing table when I sit with my team to strategize on moving forward. For me, every educated champion that is made is a product and we desire to make thousands and thousands of him or her. Thus, I look at the end-to-end process required to turn, for instance, a scrawny insecure kid into a world-renowned educated champion. We have done a value-stream map to pinpoint the bottlenecks along the way and to highlight areas where we could tackle inefficiencies. We have created a model that can be used to produce educated sports people in any sport. We decided to focus on Taekwondo in the first two years of our operations (2012 and 2013) because of the obvious advantages we have in the sport, primarily the vast knowledge I have gathered as a Taekwondo practitioner over the decades. The model will be expanded to include a couple of sports next year. For the past 12 months, my team has been researching the status quo of some other sports in the country. We want to determine what is actually needed in a sport, and learn the peculiar challenges that have beguiled each subject matter over the decade. This will help us strategize better on the best way to make our input in such a manner that resonates with our vision statement. What is the relationship between CCSF and the taekwondo federation? In my opinion, we have had a very professional and cordial relationship so far. The Taekwondo Federation is quite clear on how it wants to be approached from
Taekwondo bodies/persons interested in doing supplementary work to the Body’s role. At CCSF, we make sure we inform the Federation first-hand of all our programmes, and we negotiate the operational roles if the federation is going to be involved directly in any of our programmes. The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) is the governing body for taekwondo in the country, so our relationship with them is very vital if we really want to make any significant impact in the careers of Taekwondo athletes in Nigeria. For instance, during our historic tournament last year, the NTF played a vital role in reaching to all the member states with regards to participation. The NTF also played a vital role in convincing the CCSF staff to be part of organizing the Taekwondo event at the National Sports Festival (NSF), which was adjudged by participants to be the bestever organized Taekwondo event in the history of the NSF. There are many more situations in which the NTF and CCSF have had to collaborate in order to improve the standing of the sport in Nigeria, and the CCSF definitely strives to continually engage the NTF so as to deliver better value to Taekwondo stakeholders across the country. The CCSF intends to fully engage the Federation of any Sport that we intend to share our model with. The extraordinary value of Collaborative Partnerships in achieving our vision statement cannot be over-emphasized. Is the foundation a fall-out of your not-too-impressive performance at the London Olympics? My disappointment at the London 2012 Olympics had nothing to do with this vision, just as my medal success at Beijing did not by itself birth it too. The Olympics was a personal journey for me, and was vital for my career as an athlete. The CCSF is a life-long journey that has started finding its own, and seeks to be vital to the careers of thousands of
… after his Masters Degree in Supply and Chain Management at the University of Liverpool in 2010.
Chukwumerije… after claiming bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China. other athletes. The foundation started in June 2010. It was registered February 14, 2012. The idea was formed in 2007 after the All Africa Games in Algiers, where I witnessed a few disturbing things. For instance, I had to fill the immigration form for some of my teammates because they could not read and write. I had to give money to some teammates months after the Games, because they did not have a sustainable income. The women team did very well in COJA [2003], while the men were below par. The situation was reversed in COJA 2007 and 2011. After detailed analysis, I realized there was no sustainable training regime in place to maintain and increase the quality of our top and upcoming athletes. In essence, some athletes manage to train themselves from the streets, we pick them up, use them, they win medals, and then they are back to the streets. The only value we have added to them is the training and allowance they receive during training camps and competitions, and bragging rights of having represented the country.
In my opinion, that was not good enough. I strongly believe athletes should be groomed more properly (end-to-end), paid better, taught and exposed to higher quality training, encouraged to receive formal education that would be vital to their post-athletic careers, or sponsored to vital seminars to increase know-hows, linked with potential sponsors to increase their brands, and many more. As athletes, we have always known things could be better, but we never quite knew how to kick-start things. My 10-year career so far has exposed me to amazing countries, international competitions, seminars and training workshops that increased my resolve to better the lot of the Nigerian athlete. No one designed this programme for me. Nigeria is losing so much from not producing enough super stars in the world of sports. We need our Usain Bolts, Serena Williams, Roger Federers, Michael Phelps, so that our brand as a country grows from strength to strength. We need to win our Nations Cup again and again, so our diplomats across the
world can have a fantastic icebreaker during diplomatic meetings, and so an average Nigerian on the street could have a friendly tease with his African friends when they meet for a drink at a café. We need our internationalstandard training centres that can attract businesses from other African countries that need a place to train. We need our Sports Medicine personnel to be exposed to such a degree they attract foreign athletes who need their services. Can you say you are fulfilled as an athlete? If I knew then what I know now, my career would probably have progressed very differently. Nigeria is a difficult country in which to develop as a taekwondo athlete. The tactical and technical knowledge I know now would have served me much better as an athlete growing up. Given the conditions in which I developed, I could not have done much more. I was engaging on so many fronts to have done what I did. The victory was in the journey I undertook, not so much the successes and losses encountered along the way. That experience will be with me all my life, and I
My disappointment at the London 2012 Olympics had nothing to do with this vision, just as my medal success at Beijing did not by itself birth it too. The Olympics was a personal journey for me, and was vital for my career as an athlete. The CCSF is a life-long journey that has started finding its own, and seeks to be vital to the careers of thousands of other athletes.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
SPORTS 77
English Premiership
Everton will keep battling, Baines insists EIGHTON Baines is glad L teams do not like playing Everton and sees no reason why David Moyes’ side should give up hope of making the top four. Everton battled to a goalless draw at Arsenal on Tuesday night, when Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was left less than impressed by the visitors’ resolute tackling. Wenger claimed Everton midfielder Darron Gibson had been fortunate not to be sent off for twice pole-axing Theo Walcott in the first half, while Jack Wilshere and the visitors’ Kevin Mirallas were involved in a spat as the players walked off at the break. The Toffees remain in sixth place in the Barclays Premier League, but are just two points behind both Tottenham and Chelsea, albeit having played more matches. Full-back Baines believes the performance at the Emirates Stadium shows Everton can last the distance in the battle to secure Champions League qualification. “We have taken points off a lot of the teams, who will finish in the Champions League positions. I don’t think anyone will particularly enjoy playing against us at any level,” the England left-back said. “You look at it and how we have played away from home against a top team like Arsenal, then against the other top sides we have had good results at home. “We have got a little bit of everything - the work-rate,
togetherness and spirit is inspirational at times. Playing with this group of players I sometimes find I look around and I can’t believe what some of them are doing. “The effort they are putting in... people go above and beyond. They are playing with injuries and it really is inspirational at times just to see that mix it in with our quality and we can’t be a good team to face for any side.” Everton Manager, Moyes played down Wenger’s complaints, maintaining his side had just set out to get a positive result in testing circumstances as Arsenal pressed in the second half. Baines said, “we know they are a good passing team, but we did not speak about physically disrupting them in terms of getting stuck in. “Whoever we play will know they are in for a physical game. The work-rate the players put in was there to be seen.” Everton had won four of their previous five Premier League games before last night. Moyes takes his men to relegation battlers Sunderland this weekend, with the Merseyside derby at Anfield still to come in May. The final match of the season comes at Chelsea, when Baines hope Everton could still have a shot at a top-four finish. “We are talking about keeping in touching distance. We will just try to keep ourselves in the mix,” he said.
Arsenal’s Welsh midfielder, Aaron Ramsey (left); and Everton’s Belgian midfielder, Marouane Fellaini (right), during the English Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium in north London, on Tuesday.
I’m lucky to be alive after leukaemia, Petrov admits STON Villa Captain, Stiliyan A Petrov says he is lucky to be alive as he continues his fight against leukaemia. The Bulgarian was diagnosed in March 2012 but is now in remission after finishing his first year of treatment. “I’ve had my hard moments but I’ve had good moments as well. I’m lucky because some people with this disease will die very quickly,” said the 33year-old. “I’m glad that this hard year is behind me now and I can concentrate on getting back to my
life.” Petrov, who joined Villa in 2006 having spent seven years with Celtic, was back at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground this week. Recalling his emotions when he first learned of his condition, he told Aston Villa’s website: “At the start I thought it was just a cold, nothing serious. “When I was told the diagnosis, I was a little shocked but accepted it and just wanted to start the treatment straight away.”
Newcastle’s Taylor may miss next season
Following an intensive chemotherapy programme Petrov, who has made over 200 appearances for Villa in addition to more than 300 for Celtic, is now in remission. “I have finished all of the high intensity treatment and from now on I’ll be on the softer treatment, which is two years on tablets,” he said. “It was a very, very long year but now, after all this treatment, I can go back to a normal life. “The support from all the fans, the club, the players, has been amazing.” That support extends to the Villa fans applauding Petrov in the 19th minute of every match, in recognition of the midfielder’s squad number at the club. “The 19th minute has been just incredible,” he said. “It’s
EWCASTLE’S Ryan Taylor N could miss the whole of next season after suffering a
Manchester United’s Japanese midfielder, Shinji Kagawa (left); vies with Stoke City’s English defender, Ryan Shotton, during the English Premier League match at The Britannia stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, England at the weekend. PHOTOS: AFP
Chicharito bemoans reduced role at Man United ANCHESTER United strikM er, Chicharito has admitted to growing frustrated at a reduced number of first team opportunities at Old Trafford this season. The Mexico international has started seven Premier League fixtures this term, compared to 15 and 18 in 201112 and 2012-13 respectively, but still ranks alongside Wayne Rooney as the club’s second highest goalscorer with 16 in all competitions.
It has been speculated that Atletico Madrid is lining up Chicharito as it prepares to lose strikers Radamel Falcao and Adrian Lopez, while Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to listen to offers for a host of first team fringe players at Old Trafford, including the 24year-old forward. The former Guadalajara star is keen to stay in Manchester although is growing increasingly anxious at regular outings on the bench.
“It is frustrating,” he is quoted as saying by The Sun. “All the players in the world want to start every single game, every week. Of course any player wants that.” He added, “I’m happy to be at this club but I’d love more games. My attitude is that even when the gaffer wants me to be on the bench I’m going to do my best I have to respect the club, Manchester United. But of course I want to start more.”
further cruciate knee ligament injury. The defender first injured his knee in the Europa League win over Atromitos in August and had surgery soon after. “Ryan has worked so hard and diligently,” said Newcastle Manager, Alan Pardew. “Clearly everyone at the club is deeply saddened by this news.” Meanwhile, Magpies goalkeeper, Tim Krul will have surgery on his dislocated shoulder on Monday. The 25-year-old, who suffered the injury in the 3-0 defeat by Sunderland on Sunday, is expected to return to training at the end of July. Taylor, 28, suffered the latest setback to his fitness following his recent return to training. “Ryan has been a model patient and has given his all to ensure he could return to full training in the best condition possible,” added Pardew. “Ryan has, and will continue to, receive the full support of everyone at Newcastle United during this difficult time for him.” Taylor joined Newcastle from Wigan in 2009 and has made 91 appearances for the club.
Petrov
them showing their appreciation and their support. “I don’t know how I can thank the fans because it’s been incredible. Sometimes I joke with friends when they text me saying, you’ve still got that applause in the 19th minute, when are they going to stop?” Asked about his plans for the future he added, “first of all I’m going to spend some time with the family, show them that things are back to normal and feel a bit more comfortable. The kids especially have really missed me a lot and they’re happy that I’m home. “I’m hoping to open my foundation soon and I’m going to start raising money and awareness for leukaemia and different charities.”
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
78 SPORTS
Oshiomhole attracts world’s best to Okpekpe Road race By Gowon Akpodonor N April last year, Edo State IOshiomhole Governor, Adams shocked many Nigerian sports followers, when he threw his weight behind a sporting event called Motocross Naija in Evbobanosa Village, near Benin city. Then, the focus was on Team Nigeria and the London Olympic Games, but the impact of the Motocross Naija competition, which was titled ‘Easter Day Race’ was well felt in the entire South-south region and beyond.
Governor Oshiomhole is taking the mind of sports-loving Nigerians to another sporting event, this time, in the exciting world of athletics. It will be the first road race in the country. Come May 4, local and international roadrunners will converge at Okpekpe, a sleepy town 25km from Auchi, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. Okpekpe town is famous for its hilly scenery and according to the organisers, the 10km race course will wind around these hills. An IAAF representative will flag it
off. The maiden Okpekpe road race, which was originally scheduled for April 13, has mouth-watering cash prizes for athletes, starting from $25.000.00 dollars for first place athlete to $3.000.00 for athlete in the 8th position for males. For the females, their prizes ranges from $5.000.00 dollars to $1000.00, while the prize money for Okpekpe community athletes ranges from N100, 000 for first position to N5000.00 for athlete in 8th position. Promoter of the race, Mike Itemuagbor, told The
Guardian yesterday that he was hopeful that the Okpepke road race would make the IAAF road race label events list after the first edition on May 4. The Okpekpe race came into being following a beautiful road network in the community built by the Oshiomholeled government. According to Itemuagbor, the road race is a product of good thinking by Edo State government in making good roads available, which has expose the beautiful topography of Okpekpe community for the outside world. The President of the Athletics
Top world runners competing a recent marathon event. Kenya’s Edwin Kipsang Rotich is among those expected to participate in Okpekpe 10-km road race scheduled for May 4.
Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Chief Solomon Ogba has praised Governor Oshiomhole for his effort, saying that the Okpekpe road race would reposition track and field in the country. Speaking with The Guardian, Ogba said, “we have decided to bring track and field race back to the traditional home, Bendel, and I am very sure the Okpekpe road race will reposition track and field in the country. The prize money for this event will be one of the highest in the world. The AFN boss commended Oshiomhole for the transformation of the Okpekpe road, venue of the road race, just as he hinted that Edo would also host the Athletics Golden meet on April 27 at the University of Benin Sports Complex. For Governor Oshiomhole, the decision to bring the world to Okpekpe for the first road race in the country was in line with his administration’s rural development agenda. Oshiomhole said during the visit by AFN officials during the week, “we are excited by the AFN to organise the first road race in this part of the world. For me, we have no apologies as some people say we want to showcase the road to Okpekpe is beautiful. We actually want to show there is life in rural Nigeria. “In Edo State, we pay attention to the rural communities. We want to show that in Edo State we do not see the rural people as being inferior to the urban people and as much as we are working in the urban areas, they are
Oshiomhole doing exactly the same thing in our rural areas. We want to show that our rural roads are even better than a lot of our federal roads called federal highway,” he stated. Top runners from Eritrea, Kenya and Ethiopia are among those expected to compete in the 10-kilometre road race. Among those, who have confirmed their participation are Edwin Kipsang Rotich, the Kenyan, who won the 2012 Rio de Janeiro and San Sylvester, Brazil 10-km race. Also expected are Stanley Kipchirchi Koechi and Mark Korir, both from Kenya, while Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and Nigeria Police Force have also registered for the race. Technical Director of AFN, Navy Commodore Nesiama Omatseye told The Guardian in a chat yesterday that national athletes are already in camp in Auchi strategising on how to compete effectively against the foreign athletes.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 18, 2013
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TheGuardian
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Conscience, Nurtured by Truth
By Gilbert Alasa N the last few years, our planet has Itainties thrived in the most disturbing uncerthe world has ever known. Across continents, the human race contends with the realities of hunger and food crisis. From Al-Qaida in the Middle East to Boko Haram in northern Nigeria, peace continues to elude our world. At the heart of Euro Zone is a financial crisis that keeps nations awake at night, with its multiplier effect glaring at the sordid economic out-look of many Third World nations. With devastating earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and untamed floods ravaging our communities, climate change continues to leave a bitter after-taste in our mouths. And then, with pestilence and nations rising against nations, we are forced to consider the dynamics of an inevitable Armageddon. Now, some folks term these permutations as signs of the times. Others simply opine it’s a reflection human excesses and the peril of capitalism. Some say we are back at the Hobbesian state where life was pretty brutish, nasty and short. But whether these postulations are valid or not is the basis of this narrative. But one thing is clear: We are thriving in one of the darkest hours in human history. Individualism, with its egoistic tinge, is fuelling the concentration of wealth and opportunities in few hands. In many societies, we witness the gradual annihilation of the middle class. As it stands, it’s either you are a rich fellow, rubbing shoulders with Mike Adenuga on the Island or a poor chap slugging it out in shanties and slums. You carry on with the wild hope that one day, the grass would go green. Days run into years and the miracle never happens. You end up impatient, bitter and perhaps devise curious measures of getting a fair crack of the whip. I remain a staunch apostle of capitalism for the singular reason that it encourages the development of talents and the creation of wealth. But in contrast, it lacks a human face; those empathic ethos that reminds us that we rise and fall together as a people. I agree with a columnist Brian Brown when he argued that ‘’the economic and financial systems can be reformed so the poor and struggling earn their daily bread yet retain some dignity in so doing.’’ We need compassionate capitalism to create an empathy society. Today, our society has lost its communal appeal. It was on that sense of community that our African traditional values were once anchored. A man could freely leave his wards in the sole care of a neighbour while he heads for the farm with his wife. Accounts from my grandmother revealed that giving was a fundamental virtue that thrived in these communities. But the story is not the same at present. Yet, there is a strong need to return to that communal culture of sharing and giving. That is the whole essence of an empathy society. It is a society that recognises social inequalities and seeks
The empathy society is one in which people are not left to gnash their teeth alone, a society that shares in the travails of the vulnerable. Governments could create social security nets for the aged. Some of these old fellows served the nation in their prime. Some of them fought wars. Others were the Amazons of the Nigerian Civil Service that once worked. We must learn to reward and encourage such meritorious service. These are the building blocks of national rebirth.
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The empathy society
to make life meaningful for the seemingly disadvantaged. It is a society that demonstrates genuine compassion for brilliant kids whose educational pursuit is hampered by the claws of poverty or the illfate of deceased parents. These chaps are part of the society and so, they need our support, mentoring and encouragement. As a society, we can only attain true social cohesion when these sorts of persons are made to be part of the big equation. By so doing, we reduce the propensity of the youths to dabble into terrorism, armed robbery and violence. The empathy society is one in which people are not left to gnash their teeth alone, a society that shares in the travails of the vulnerable. Governments could create social security nets for the
aged. Some of these old fellows served the nation in their prime. Some of them fought wars. Others were the Amazons of the Nigerian Civil Service that once worked. We must learn to reward and encourage such meritorious service. These are the building blocks of national rebirth. The empathy society is a culture where organisations genuinely practise corporate social responsibility. They don’t do it for selfish ends or the fringe benefit of mounting a billboard. We must grow beyond merely planting flowers in roundabouts. Like President Barrack Obama noted, the government cannot solve all our problems. It needs the partnership of organisations to achieve sustainable development. The reading culture in Nigeria is, at best, appalling. We need organisations that would stir our
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Today, our society has lost its communal appeal. It was on that sense of community that our African traditional values were once anchored. A man could freely leave his wards in the sole care of a neighbour while he heads for the farm with his wife. Accounts from my grandmother revealed that giving was a fundamental virtue that thrived in these communities. But the story is not the same at present.
literary energy and contribute to the good of society. The Nigeria LNG is doing a lot in this regard. Fidelity Bank equally sponsors the annual writing conference that has seen the likes of Chimamanda Adichie impact on participants. Coca Cola and Nigeria Bottling Company equally sponsors Campus Life Project every Thursday on the pages of a national newspaper. That is a scheme that has inspired thousands of undergraduates across Nigerian campuses. We need more. We need an empathy society for morally vulnerable Nigerians. We do not have to abandon these folks hanging on to the law of averages. We could make them appreciate the blaze of the stars and the allure of heaven even if nature places them on the far earth. This is far from some utopist design. But we could ensure that those who work earn a decent reward doing so. We have to exhibit true concern for minimum Nigerians living a minimum life with a minimum wage. We don’t have to wait till the next flood rocks our communities. We don’t have to allow malaria and polio send our young children to their early graves before we swing into action. Perhaps, a little push, a little compassion. That could be all we need to build an empathy society. Seek the lofty by reading, hearing and seeing great work at some moment every day. For this is the only route to avoiding the menacing burden that afflicts the human soul! • Alasa is a 400-level Foreign Languages student of University of Benin.