FRI 09 AUG 2013

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Friday, August 9, 2013

Vol. 30, No. 12,643

N150

www.ngrguardiannews.com

President Goodluck Jonathan (left), Vice President Namadi Sambo (right) and some Muslim children during the Sallah celebration in Abuja… yesterday.

Nigeria won’t break up in 2015, says Jonathan From Mohammed Abubakar (Abuja) and John Ogija (Minna) ROM leaders yesterday Fzenscame appeals to the citito work for the unity and peace of the nation to ensure its development.

Among those who made the requests were President Goodluck Jonathan, his predecessors Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

• Leaders urge unity, peace for nation’s growth The President said that those predicting the breakup of the country in 2015 would be disappointed as it would remain united.

He made the observation while speaking with Muslim leaders who paid him the traditional Sallah homage after yesterday’s Eid-elFitri celebration at his Aso

Rock official residence in Abuja.

The delegation, which was led by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, comprised the Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Ustaz Mous Mohammed, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Bala Mohammed and Minister of

State, Olajumoke Akinjide, serving and past ministers as well as the senator representing the FCT, Tanimu Philip Aduda.

According to the President, there can never be a country called Nigeria without Muslims and Christians coexisting, noting that God in His infinite wisdom de-

signed the country to be together.

His words: “For us, we cannot imagine a Nigeria without Moslems and Christians. You can call it another name, but not Nigeria. So, it is a blessing that this is one country where you have a significant population of

Moslems and Christians and this religious diversity will enhance our development because we can get across the whole world; wherever we go, we are accepted.

“That helps us in so many ways. We are not even exploiting our diversity because of the myopic views of the elite about our situation. Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

4 NEWS

Lagos Assembly proceeds on six-week recess

Uduaghan, Dosunmu, VC condole with Fashola over father’s death

By Wole Oyebade

By Gbenga Akinfenwa

HE Lagos State House of Assembly adjourned sitting on Wednesday to proceed on a six-week break, ending on September 22, 2013, after the plenary, which lasted for about 20 minutes, had as the main business of the day the motion for recess.

Initially, some members of the House voted against the motion, which was moved by the Deputy Majority Leader, Lola Akande, but a second round of voice vote, however, had only one objection.

Wednesday’s plenary was attended by half of the 40 lawmakers, while several of the absentees were said to be “on official assignment” to the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Others are on the “absent excused” list.

ELTA State Governor, Dr. D Emmanuel Uduaghan and People’s Democratic Par-

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Corporate Media Relations Manager, Shell, Tony Okonedo (left); General Manager (Communications), Philip Mshebila and Managing Director, Country Chair, Mutiu Sunmonu, during the “Let’s Go” Advertising for Nigeria media briefing in Lagos… yesterday.

Police arrest 30 criminals in Benue, 13 terror suspects in Borno From Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri), Joseph Wantu (Makurdi) and Joke Falaju (Abuja) MID the Sallah celebration in Benue State, 30 suspected criminals have been arrested by the state police command.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ezeala, in an interview with The Guardian yesterday, said most of the suspects were

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armed robbers and cultists, saying that they were apprehended during the stop and search exercise introduced during Operation Secure Benue.

Ezeala further said that the police trapped the rest of the suspects in their hideouts during raids, pointing out that two stolen vehicles, Toyota Corolla 1.8 model and Peugeot 406 belonging to members of

• Senate committee lauds JTF staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, were recovered.

He emphasised that “Operation Secure Benue” was launched by the command in order to provide peaceful atmosphere during the Sallah celebration, saying that the situation was calm in all the 23 local councils of

the state.

However, a member, Benue State House of Assembly representing Katsina-Ala West, Iaana Jato, has called on the military authorities to checkmate the activities of their men; saying the situation where accusing fingers are pointed at them by victims of crisis’ areas was not good enough.

Jato, who made the observation in Makurdi while chatting with journalists, said as a member of the Benue/Taraba joint peace and reconciliation committee on Kuteb/ Tiv farmers’ crisis, there was suspicious evidence that military personnel were allegedly involved in the crisis that engulfed the two states recently.

In Maiduguri, Borno State, the Joint Task Force (JTF) and members of Borno Vigilance Youths Group (BVYG), have arrested 13 terror suspects at the Borno Express Terminus; and Barawa in Gwoza Local Council of the state.

Speaking on the arrests, chairman of BVYG, Abubakar Mallum, told The Guardian yesterday: “It took our members about an hour before the man and his wife revealed the locations and motives behind carrying two AK 47 rifle magazines in their travelling bag at the Motor Park yesterday (Wednesday).”

On the arrests of 10 suspects in Gwoza Local Council at Barawa, he said: “We picked these suspects, after verifying their identities at Barawa,” adding that out of those arrested, one has died while the other was released for lack of concrete evidence of being a member of the Boko Haram sect in Borno State.”

He said all the arrested suspects, along with the recovered rifles, have been handed over to two sector commanders of JTF in Maiduguri metropolis.

Confirming the incidents

yesterday in Maiduguri, spokesman of JTF, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said the youths on Wednesday arrested 13 terror suspects, including a husband and wife at the motor park.

Meanwhile, the Senate Joint Committee on Defence, Army, National Security, Intelligence and Police Affairs has expressed satisfaction with the restoration of peace, stability and the mode of operation of the Joint Task Force in emergency states of northern part of Nigeria.

Chairman of the committee, George Thompson Sekibo, who stated this during a monitoring visit to Borno and Yobe states, said they came to Borno as part of their oversight functions to carry out formal assessment of the emergency rule in the state and study the implementation strategy and chart the way forward.

Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Mustafa who received the committee members, recalled that few months ago, the area was deserted due to the activities of terrorists and the news was similar in other parts of the area before the declaration of the state of emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan on May 14, 2013.

He observed that with the deployment of more troops, coupled with the assistance of Borno State Volunteer Group, popularly known as Civilian JTF, peace has returned to the area, as people are going about their lawful businesses.

The governor called on those who ran away from the state as a result of criminal activities to come back home.

Jato lamented the continuous refusal of the Kuteb people to allow the Tiv to come and occupy their original homes located in Taraba State, maintaining that such behaviour defies the spirit of people that have lived together from history.

ty (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State in 2011, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, have described Pa Ademola Fashola, the late father of Lagos State governor, as a dedicated community leader who nurtured, inspired and encouraged a generation of educated and productive citizens.

In a condolence message sent to the governor, Dosunmu, said: “At the graceful age of 80, the late patriarch lived a fulfilled life worthy of admiration and emulation.”

The PDP chieftain eulogised the deceased as a citizen who nurtured his illustrious children, who have continued to be of tremendous assets to their immediate community and the society at large.

Also, the management team of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon A. Bello, on Wednesday paid a condolence visit to the Governor.

The Vice Chancellor, on behalf of members of the University Community, commiserated with the Governor and the entire Fashola family, noting: “It is on record that Pa Fashola was a man well loved by the high and low because of his humility, kindness and warm nature. These attributes are also the qualities that our amiable Governor displays and which the University of Lagos has greatly benefitted from, especially in recent years. We pray that the good legacies left behind by this great man of integrity will continue to wax stronger.”

Rep member, others flay arrest of Amaechi’s supporter • Cleric urges reconciliation From Hendrix Oliomogbe (Asaba) and Ann Godwin (Port Harcourt) HE lawmaker representing T Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency (Rivers) in the National Assembly, Ogbonna Nwuke, has condemned the arbitrary arrest and detention of members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in his constituency, who are said to be supporters of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

It would be recalled that two of Omuma citizens, Leo Anyanwu and Charles Ahamefule, were on Monday arrested for an offence yet to be disclosed.

Similarly, the leader of the Concerned People of Omuma and former PDP State Assembly aspirant, Darlington Nwanju, expressed total displeasure over the arrest and harassment of Amaechi’s supporters in the area.

Former member of the State House of Assembly who represented Omuma, Emmanuel Okatta, also urged the release of the arrested persons.

Meanwhile, Presiding Minister of Champions for Christ Chapel, Rev. Samuel Akpan Isong, has in Asaba called on leaders from the South-South geo-political zone to intervene in the Rivers State crisis to find an enduring, amicable and acceptable reconciliation to all the parties concerned.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

3

News STF lauds peaceful celebration in Plateau From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos

HE Special Task Force T (STF) has expressed satisfaction with the conduct

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (second left); Nobel laureate/keynote speaker, Prof. Wole Soyinka (second right); with the daughter of the late D.O. Fagunwa, Yejide Ogundipe (left) and Diwura Fagunwa-Adebayo (right) during the opening of an international conference on Fagunwa, in Akure…yesterday.

Bayero urges prayer for peace, stability From John Akubo, Dutse HE Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has called on the people of the state to continue to pray for the sustenance of peace and stability.

Bayero told Muslims faithful at his palace after the Eid-elFitri prayer that no society could achieve any meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancor and uncertainty.

Similarly, the Chief Imam of Dutse Central Mosque, Dr. Abubakar Sani, admonished Nigerians to avoid acts that will bring disunity and affect the integrity of the country as Nigeria clocks 100 years of nationhood.

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Oni, Adeyeye want lessons of Ramadan upheld From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti ORMER Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Adedayo Adeyeye, urged Muslims to uphold the lessons of the Holy Month of Ramadan by avoiding all sinful acts and those things they abhorred during the fasting period.

Oni, in a message signed by his Media Aide, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said Muslims should remain guided by that one month of total abstinence and keep away from those vices they abstained from during the fasting period.

Adeyeye advised them not to relent in the prayers for Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan.

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Govs seek support to build better Nigeria From Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin), Kamal Tayo Oropo (Lagos), Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri), Joseph Wantu (Makurddi) and Murtala Muhammed (Kano) ROM the governors came FNigerians yesterday pleadings that should encourage government at all levels to build a more prosperous Nigeria by being peaceful, loving, tolerant and supportive of the policies and programmes aimed at making life more meaningful to the people.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State called on Nigerians to build on its unique diversity, as it remains a key ingredient for nation building.

Fashola, who spoke to newsmen shortly after observing

yesterday’s Eid-el-Fitri prayers at Dordan Barracks Prayer ground located in Obalende area of Lagos, urged Nigerians to allow the love that flowed in the country during the Ramadan period to continue.

“My message would be that the love, the concern, the brotherhood, the peaceful coexistence, the respect and tolerance we have for our diversity, the way we have used our diversity to create strength, to prosper our lives, are the ingredients that we need for continued nation building and I urge all Nigerians irrespective of faith, irrespective of ethnic origins to continue to live peacefully together in Lagos and everywhere.”

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State charged Mus-

lims to “work hard” for the sustenance of emerging peace in the state.

Peace, according to him, can only be attained when residents, irrespective of their religious, ethnic and political differences contribute immensely in sustaining the emerging peace, despite the four-year Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed hundreds of lives.

Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam urged Muslim faithful to make sacrifices in the interest of nation building, particularly as the country is facing enormous security challenges being perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect. He urged the Muslims to see themselves as vehicle of God’s will and good intentions which He

created to profess peaceful co-existence, love and harmony with other members of different faiths and to contribute to the material welfare of their fellow mankind regardless of religious persuasion or social status.

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State said, “I would like to appeal to all Muslims to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, love and respect for one another. To this end, I urge you to exchange gifts and visits during this Eid-el fitri celebration’’.

Others who admonished Nigerians, especially Muslims, to be peaceful, tolerant and to work for national development are Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State.

of yesterday’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration in Plateau State, describing it as peaceful.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, STF Spokesman, Captain Salisu Ibrahim Mustapha, said that soldiers of the STF went round every nook and cranny of the state to ensure that the peace was not breached.

He added that the task force even went beyond Plateau State to the two local government in Bauchi State under its surveillance, Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa, to ensure there was no hitch.

The Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Mr. Vincent Bature, urged the residents to always remain law-abiding so that the law does not catch up with them, as any break of law and order will be appropriately dealt with.

In a statement yesterday morning, the NSCDC said it has put measures in place to ensure the celebration is peaceful.

A statement made available to The Guardian yesterday said Governor Jonah Jang admonished Muslim faithful to sustain the lessons of sacrifice, discipline and love learnt during the period of Ramadan and beyond the month.

While congratulating the Muslims on successful completion of their fast, Jang urged them to continue to pray for peace, love and unity of the nation. He also called on Nigerians not to allow religion to come in between the growth and progress of the country but to stand up for the promotion and dignity of humanity as well as mutual respect for one another’s faith.

Okoya tasks wealthy Nigerians on job creation

By Chris Irekamba FRONTLINE industrialist, Chief Razaq Akani Okoya, called on Muslims to put into practice the teachings, which they have learnt during the month of Ramadan.

Okoya, who spoke to The Guardian shortly after worshipping with other Muslims at the open ground of Oluwanisola Estate in Ajah, Lagos, described the 30-day fasting and prayer as a sacrifice. He urged on those in authority to always ensure

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that they have the interest of the masses at heart.

“Whatever we learnt from this period, we also should practise it. We should try to follow the will of God and what God has asked everybody to do. We also pray that the leaders should know the feeling of the masses. And we pray to Almighty God to please help them.”

He appealed to Nigerians who have the money to industrialise the country and create more jobs for the

teeming Nigerian youths so that they would not be used as a tool in the hands of the devil.

According to him, “If we industrialise the country, it will be better for all of us. I have visited China several times and I know that their population is 10 times bigger than ours, but what makes the country to be where it is today is industrialisation. They have more people but industrialisation stabilises them. This is what we should focus on. I am an

industrialist and at the moment, we are doing about 30 acres of factory.

We are employing over 2000 people in the next one year. This is what I want Nigerians to focus on in order to help the youth and the youth themselves should also help themselves and avoid the mentality of trying to get rich at all cost.”

On insecurity in the country, Okoya said: “If they get work and are busy working, violence will not occur. If you have a job, and every-

body has a job, what is violence for? What we have to do is to try as much as possible to create more jobs”, he said.

In his Sallah message, the Chief Imam of Eleganza Central Mosque also known as Idiat Abeke Memorial Central Mosque, Morufudeen Akintola, enjoined Muslims to know that they have acquired piety during the month of Ramadan and therefore, they should use it to better the country and help others.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

2 NEWS

One feared killed, others injured in Anambra clash From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka NE person was yesterday O feared killed in violent clashes between truck drivers and the Anambra State Task Force Agency (ASTA) at the Uga rod market in Aguata Local Council of the state.

Two persons, a driver and a member of staff of the task force agency involved in the clash, also reportedly sustained serious injuries and were hospitalised.

An eye witness told journalists that one person was feared killed in the fracas, but the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chike Ohamobi, said that no life was lost during the incident.

Members of the task force accompanied by security agents were on road decongestion duty when the incident happened.

Reacting to the incident, Ohamobi gave the traders and truck drivers 24 hours to remove all the vehicles wrongly parked on the highway, as he threatened to prosecute any defaulter.

He warned that government would not condone such lawlessness, saying that the attack was unacceptable, promising to reinforce security agents to flush the culprits out.

While saying that arrange-

ment would be made to have a permanent police post in the vicinity, the commissioner added that government would work with the market leaders to make sure that

• No life was lost, says commissioner there was sanity in the area.

He said it was in the process

of disagreement that an ASTA personnel and one of the

truck drivers sustained injuries and were hospitalised, adding that one of the police vehicles was damaged while one of the ASTA buses was burnt by the mob.

A cross section of Muslim faithful at the Agodi Praying Ground during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration in Ibadan… yesterday.

According to Ohamobi, it took the intervention of security operatives to restore law and order and prevent what would have been a bloody incident.

PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Police arrest two for allegedly severing corps member’s hand From Willie Etim, Yenagoa WO suspected attackers of a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member posted to Obuah community in Yenagoa Local Council of Bayelsa State, Miss Folakemi Akinbode, were yesterday arrested by the police.

The suspects claimed they attacked her with a machete

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due to her refusal to hand over unspecified cash in her possession.

The suspects, identified as Ebi Jatto and Weriye Aluwa, were arrested on Wednesday at the Koroama community in Yenagoa Local Council of the state while attempting to sell the handset belonging to the attacked corps member.

A top police source told The

Guardian that the suspects had confessed to commiting the crime and claimed the Folakemi, the 26-year- old Ondo State indigene, struggled with them while they were attempting to snatch her bag.

Folakemi, who was attacked at about 8.30 p.m. on Monday while returning to the Corpers’ Lodge near the

Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobori, was reported to have been in possession of huge amount of money used by the hospital to pay blood donors.

According to the police source, the two attackers were present during the payment made to the blood donors by the Corps mem-

ber, adding “they claimed that all they wanted from her was the remaining money she kept in her bag after the payments in the afternoon.

But that when she struggled and identified one of them, she was attacked with a machete.”

Confirming the arrest, the paramount ruler of Obunagha community, the

Ibolou XI, Godsgive Apoh, said the arrest of the suspected attackers was made possible by the community’s Youth Vigilance Association set up to investigate and apprehend the culprits.

Contacted on the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the arrest and said they were yet to establish the motive behind

ingful development in an atmosphere of rancour and uncertainty.

Represented by Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, the emir warned the people, particularly Kano residents, to desist from indiscriminate building of structures on waterways to avoid flooding.

Sheikh Ali Ukiwo, a cleric in Umuahia, enjoined Nigerians to support Jonathan to ensure the realisation of the transformation agenda.

In a sermon at the state library worship ground, Ukiwo said: “As you celebrate, I urge you all to imbibe the tenets of oneness, love and mutual co-operation in building a greater Nigeria.”

The Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, in his Sallah message, urged Muslims to maintain the religious and moral lessons of the Ramadan to promote peace.

Aliyu noted the efficacy of prayers in stemming insecurity in the state, saying: “We must not relent in prayers because the efforts of security operatives combined with our prayers have brought relative peace in the state.”

He urged the public to con-

tinue assisting the security agents with useful information as part of their contributions to sustaining peace in the state.

The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi, prayed for peace and mutual co-existence among the people in the country.

In his good will message in Dutse, he advised Muslims to consider the fast as a period of repentance and sober reflections.

The sultan urged Islamic and Christian clerics to preach with absolute fear of God. He said in his Sallah message that the clerics should fear Allah and live above their own selfish interests while preaching to their followers.

“They should avoid provocative statements that could lead to the breach of peace and violence in the country.

“They should also know that staying attuned to the religious teachings is the only way that brings mutual respect and love which eventually leads to the desired peace in the nation,” he said.

According to the monarch, it is not right for a non-Mus-

lim to interfere in the affairs of Muslims and Islam or to impose his/her views on the religion he/she does not profess.

Abubakar also commended the Federal Government for constituting the committee on the security challenges in the North. He said that those calling for the scrapping of the committee were enemies of peace and were ‘unpatriotic’, and charged Nigerians to give it the necessary support to accomplish its job.

“It is a known fact that no peace could be achieved except through constructive dialogue. On our part, we are satisfied with the work of this committee and we are ready to give it all necessary support to succeed,” he promised.

The sultan urged leaders at

Jonathan says nation won’t break up in 2015 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and we must live together.

Those who are predicting a break-up when Nigeria will be celebrating its centenary anniversary will be disappointed because Nigeria will continue to remain one indivisible entity. Today is a unique day, and I urge our Muslim brothers and sisters that they should continue to pray for peace not just in Nigeria but all over the world.

“If you watch television these days, more than 60 per cent of the time is spent on showing crises all over the world and for the world to move ahead and for Nigeria to move ahead, for us to develop first and foremost, there must be peace and security. Nobody will come and invest in an environment where you are not sure of your workers and investment.

“As a nation, for our children to get where we want them to be, we must create a very peaceful environment for them so they can develop mentally and be focused and use their brains … In Nigeria, we are very religious people and we believe

in one Almighty God and we continue to pray for God to see us through . Yes, we have some few challenges but surely, Allah will see us through.”

The President, who underscored the importance of Ramadan, said it had enhanced the spiritual essence of the Islamic faithful. The President, who fasted throughout the month-long exercise, said it required self-sacrifice.

His words: “You should know that it is not easy to forego food for a reasonable period within 24 hours of the day. For you to have gone through this spiritual exercise, you are worth being congratulated. So, I congratulate you. Let me use this opportunity once again to reassure Nigerians, including Muslim brothers and sisters, that the VP and myself and our entire team will do our best to reposition the country.

“Sometimes when you are not involved in fasting, you will think it is an easy thing to go through. My trousers are just pulling from my waist.”

Babangida and Abubakar were among the Muslim

faithful who worshipped at the Minna main prayer ground yesterday.

Abubakar urged Nigerians to imbibe the lesson of the Ramadan by living peacefully with one another irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.

In a sermon, the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Bahago, urged the citizens to support government’s programmes, especially the polio campaign by allowing their wards to be immunised.

In Enugu, the Chief Imam of 82 Division, Col. Mustapha Garuba, called on Nigerians to always embrace peace in all their dealings.

“All religious scriptures either Muslim or Christian preach peace. Therefore, Nigerians should adhere to them and put aside selfish interests,” Garuba said.

Similarly, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, urged the citizens to continue to pray for the sustenance of peace and stability in the state and the country.

Bayero told Muslim faithful at his palace after the Eid-elFitri prayer at the Central Mosque, Kano, that no society could achieve any mean-

all levels to fear Allah by repaying the trust placed in them in leading their subjects.

“The precarious situation of the nation is only due to bad governance and neglect of divine injunctions.

Most of the leaders are busy amassing wealth and forgetting their subjects

they are meant to serve”, he added.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

NEWS | 5

Emir lauds security agencies, community for peace From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin HE Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim T Sulu-Gambari, has hailed his community and security agencies in Kwara State over the peace in the community and the state at large.

Speaking during the prayers to mark the Eid-elFitri yesterday, he said the people have been peace-loving residents over the years to the extent that people in some other parts of the country relocate to the town in moments of insecurity.

The peace sustained by the people, the monarch noted, has also made easier the work of the security operatives, who he commended for strengthening security in the community.

The prayer, which was led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Bashir Mohammed, was attended by both Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki and some members of the state executive council, among others.

Edo PDP tasks govt on teachers’ audit From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City DO State chapter of the E Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday tasked Governor Adams Oshiomhole to make the audit of primary school teachers’ certificates all encompassing.

The party urged the state to extend the screening beyond the 1,300 primary school teachers it has invited to the political class, government ministries and parastatals in the state.

Oshiomhole, in a meeting on Tuesday with the state leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), had invited 1,300 primary school teachers before a verification committee over issues bordering on irregularities in their certificates and age records.

However, in yesterday’s press statement by its Chairman, Dan Orbih, the PDP alleged that the proposed audit was “discriminatory, punitive, vexatious and a witch-hunting of the primary school teachers for demanding the implementation of the Teachers Salary Scale (TSA).”

It added: “The certificate audit, to gain general acceptability and credibility, must involve all functionaries of the Edo State government, beginning from the staff of the Government House, chief of which is Governor Oshiomhole himself, through the ministries and down to the parastatals.

The party also suggested that an independent body of university dons be set up to screen the certificates, as only such an educated body could tell the authenticity or otherwise of such documents.

Waziri Adamawa, Alhaji Hassan Adamu (left); Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo, and Governor Murtala Nyako performing the Eid-Elfitri to mark the end of Ramadan at the Yola Central Eid prayer ground ...yesterday

31 new cases in Nigeria, others dent polio eradication campaign Govt plans campaign for northern states in September

By Chukwuma Muanya HE global plan to eradicate T polio by 2015 is looking more illusory with the confirmation of 24 new cases in the Horn of Africa (Somalia and Kenya) last week, and five more cases this week.

According to the Weekly Polio Update published by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the number of global polio cases by August 6, 2013 was 177 compared to 223 by the same period last year. Somalia and Kenya did not report any case last year, but interestingly, Chad and Niger, which reported five and one case, respectively, are yet to record any this year.

Also, Nigeria has recorded two new Type One Wild Polio Virus (WPV1) cases in the past week, bringing the total for 2013 to 42; one of the newly reported cases was the most recent WPV1 in the country with the outset of paralysis on July 14.

To address the situation, the Federal Government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and with technical support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Rotary International, among others, will hold the next sub-national Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) across the northern states in September.

According to the Weekly Polio Update, “five new WPV1 cases were reported in the past week (all from Somalia), bringing the total of WPV1

cases in the region to 110 (100 from Somalia and 10 from Kenya). The most recent WPV1 case in the region had outset of paralysis on July 10, from Somalia.

“Two of the newly reported cases are from Lower Shabelle areas that are inaccessible due to insecurity,” the report read. “Special strategies continue to be implemented for these areas, including increased local-level access negotiations, immunising older age groups and setting up vaccination posts at entry/exit points of inaccessible areas.

“Immunisation campaigns across the Horn of Africa, including in Ethiopia and Yemen, are continuing in the second half of August.”

About Nigeria, the report read that, “no new circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus two (cVDPV2) cases were reported in the past week. The total number of cVDPV2 cases for 2013 remains one (with outset of paralysis on June 6 from Borno).

“Though this cVDPV2 case is linked to cVDPV2 currently circulating in Chad, which has also been detected in Cameroun, cVDPV2 linked to this transmission chain had previously been isolated from an environmental sample in Kano in March, indicating circulation in Nigeria.

“Following a new risk-classification of Local Government Areas (LGAs), aimed at improving the delivery of resources to areas where they are most needed, tailored approaches are being implemented in LGAs where performance has stalled, LGAs where performance has de-

creased and LGAs where access to populations is compromised due to insecurity.”

According to the report, strengthened efforts are being made across all areas to track the direct engagement and oversight by council chairpersons. It noted: “The engagement of communities, traditional and religious leaders, is continuing to be fostered.

“The Volunteer Community Mobiliser Network continues to be expanded, and social data analysis is expected to provide further understanding for children being chronically missed.”

Operational plans for insecure areas feature the introduction of Permanent Health Teams (PHTs), conducting wall-fencing vaccinations around insecure areas, expanding transit vaccinations, implementing Short Interval Additional Dose (SIAD) campaigns and engaging non-traditional partners.

In a guest article on AllAfrica.com, Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunisation (SAGE), Dr. Helen Rees, commented that while the Horn of Africa outbreak was a setback, full support must be given to the new Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 20132018.

“Cases such as the ones in the Horn of Africa would occur in vulnerable settings during the final push for eradication, and Rees underscores that the new strategic plan features all elements needed to achieve success, including both aggressive measures to tackle the disease

in the remaining endemic areas and new outbreak response mechanisms,” the GPEI report read.

The plan, however, has one important caveat: “It must be funded upfront. A fully funded plan ensures that trade-offs are not made in emergency situations. Full funding gives the flexibility to effectively respond to outbreaks while continuing to prioritise intensive efforts in the three endemic countries.

The world has a plan to end polio. It’s working and we must stand behind it.”

In Pakistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) remains the major poliovirus reservoir in the country. Virus transmission in FATA is threatening the progress achieved elsewhere in the country and in neighbouring Afghanistan.

An analysis of vaccination status of non-polio acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases suggests that over half of children in FATA remain under-immunized, with as many as 40 per cent never having received a single dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV).

In Israel, a supplementary immunisation activity (SIA) with OPV is being conducted this week, targeting 200,000 children aged two months to 10 years in the southern part of the country. The move follows isolation of WPV1 from sewage samples collected from 20 sampling sites since February. No case of paralytic polio has been reported.

While Israel has high vaccination coverage with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), the objective of the OPV SIA is to boost mucosal immunity levels to rapidly interrupt virus circulation.

Groups launch report on forced evictions in Badia, Lagos

By Bertram Nwannekanma MNESTY International and A Lagos-based Social and Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC) are set to launch a major report on forced evictions in Badia East council of Lagos State, which was demolished by a squad from the state government.

Over 9,000 residents of the community were forcefully evicted in the exercise, as two bulldozers, dozens of officers of the Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Agency (LASPPDA) and countless others working with the Lagos State Environmental and Sanitation Task Force allegedly swooped on them.

Caught unawares in the early morning hours, the residents scrambled to remove zinc roofs and valuables under the menacing watch of the heavily armed members of the Nigerian Police Force who came for enforcement.

As night fell, countless newly homeless residents lined the rail tracks that pass through the community, abandoned to fend for themselves and protect their salvaged belongings through the night.

In view of all these, human rights experts from SERAC and Amnesty International will on Monday present a report on the incidence to the public at Oranmiyan Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja. According to a statement by the SERAC administrator, Toyin Gbadegesin, the affected members of Badia East community would be in attendance.

The group accused the Lagos government of saying that it was the first phase of plans to clear out the whole of Badia East to “redevelop” and evict most of the current residents.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

6 | NEWS

‘Anambra LP will not screen out any aspirant’ Ubah to tackle insecurity From Leo Sobechi (Abakaliki) and Tunde Akinola (Lagos) MIDST ongoing claims to the contrary, the Labour A Party (LP) has denied specula-

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (left); Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu (second right), former Minister of Works, Alhaji Femi Okunu (right) during Eid-il-Fitr prayers at Dodan Barracks praying ground, Obalende, Ikoyi… yesterday.

Ondo youths threaten mass action over oil revenue From Anthony Otaru (Abuja) and Wllie Etim (Yenagoa) N a similar move as that made by their compatriots in neighbouring Edo State, oil producing communities in Ondo State have threatened mass action if their request for the direct payment of 13 per cent derivation fund is not granted.

In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, which was signed by their leader, Mrs. Nowan Uhumwangho, and 13 others and made available to the media in Abuja yesterday, the communities said that the 13 per cent derivation fund belongs exclusively to the oil and gas producing communities.

According to them “the oil facilities, flow stations, etc are located in the oil and gas producing communities where oil exploration, exploitation and production are being carried out, leading to monumental degradation, pollution and health hazards, among others, causing abject poverty in these communities.

I

• Ex-militants to protest kerosene scarcity, disrespect to Jonathan “The 13 per cent derivation fund is a compensation and reparation for loss of fishing rights and productive farmlands. Therefore, its being managed by the governors in the oil and gas producing states is an aberration; it is clearly an implementation tragedy to pay the funds to any of the state government’s accounts.”

In view of this, the youths called for the setting up of a national derivation board with an executive chairman, secretary and members, which would include a member from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

According to the group, in pursuance of this cause, it has written to the chairmen of RMAFC, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), and the executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on the consequences of any further payment of the fund to any body, other than the rightful and legitimate beneficiaries.

To avert crisis, the youths urged the President to direct the chairman of RMAFC to commence consultation with the appropriate leaders, eld-

ers and youth representatives from the communities across Nigeria with a view to constituting the national derivation board.

According to the group, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has ruled that the 13 per cent derivation fund is not part of state consolidated revenue or for the local government. It added that the past RMAFC also agreed with the above position.

“The last RMAFC, in its submission on the new revenue formula to the 6th National Assembly, stated unequivocally that the 13 per cent fund was not part of fund of any tier of government,” the group noted. “It went further to recommend the creation of state derivation boards for the oil and gas communities to access the 13 per cent derivation fund.

“Your Excellency, we believe strongly that this is a miscarriage of justice and failure of service delivery on the part of the governors to continue to manage the 13 per cent derivation fund. Apart from the fuel subsidy fraud, the 13 per cent derivation fund that has been misappropriated and

misapplied by governors of the oil producing states is, no doubt, one of the biggest frauds ever in Nigeria’s sociopolitical and economic development “Therefore, we pray that the illegality perpetrated by the Office of the Chairman of RMAFC as well as the Ministry of Finance be swiftly corrected, as delay in this issue has caused monumental fraud against the oil and gas communities of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, former leaders of the South-South militants yesterday threatened to disrupt legislative sessions at the National Assembly next Monday over the persistent scarcity of kerosene and the alleged inability of Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) to increase the supply of the product in the country.

Also part of their grouse for protest march is the opposition groups and parties’ alleged unwarranted attack and insult on President Goodluck Jonathan. The ex-militants, under the aegis of Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives (LPCDI), said the protest would be peaceful.

However, they called for an independent investigation into the persistent scarcity of kerosene and the sack of the former Managing Director of PPMC, Mr. Haruna Momoh, over alleged failure to reverse the trend.

In a statement in Yenagoa yesterday, signed by Mr. Wilson Reuben, Ezekiel Akpasibewei and Henry Binidodogha, the group queried, ‘where are the huge kerosene allocations to the Niger Delta states and the other parts of the country?

Why is it that only the NorthWest region of the country has regular and well circulated kerosene?

“Why is it that kerosene, when available, is sold at exorbitant prices instead of the approved official pump price of N50 per litre? Why is kerosene, when available, only found in private petrol stations rather than at every petrol station?’”

“It is a shame that opposition political parties heat up the polity and reduce the status of their country’s seat of governance with their unguarded and ignorant comments and abuse of the Presidency, all for the sake of scoring cheap political points and selfish interests.”

NLC urges INEC focus on 2015 polls From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

HE Nigeria Labour ConT gress (NLC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to dissipate energy registering or de-registering political parties but brace up for the herculean task of conducting credible polls in 2015.

Though the NLC hailed the recent registration of the All

Progressives Congress (APC) as healthy for the nation’s democracy, its Vice President, Comrade Issa Aremu, told reporters yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State, after a Ramadan get-together that if INEC fails to register those who meet the standards, nobody would take it serious in any subsequent elections.

However, he said: “Let me tell INEC, especially Prof. (At-

tahiru) Jega, not to waste public funds pursuing wrong causes in registering and de-registering parties; once people want to form association and they meet certain criteria they should be allowed.

“If he succeeds in putting biometrics in place, electronic voters’ register and electronic voting is the only way we can stop rigging.”

tions that it plans to screen out aspirants intending to battle for its ticket for the November 16 Anambra State governorship election with the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah.

It also said that there was no truth in the claims that Senator Andy Uba is sponsoring a rival candidate to deny Ubah the ticket. In separate reactions, the LP National Vice Chairman (South-East), Mr. Callistus Oju Okafor, and State Chairman, Mr. Sam Osi Oraegbunam, told The Guardian that the allegations were meant to create imaginary storm in the state chapter of the party.

They assured that the party would hold a transparent primary election on August 19 for the three aspirants that have picked its nomination forms.

Oraegbunam added that five delegates from the councils would be elected next week while the others, being statutory delegates, are already known.

Also, Okafor noted that LP has cleverly avoided such things that could breach the party’s constitution and laid-down rules for selecting candidates, stating that “as many people as indicate interest in the governorship must go for screening.”

He explained that the party is not owned by anyone, and that Uba’s name is not even among the party’s Board of Trustees, wondering how a senator on another party’s ticket could be determining what happens in the Anambra LP. Meanwhile, Ubah has urged the need to imbibe the use of technology in arresting the lingering insecurity in the state.

He said the talk about tackling insecurity would not amount to much if the state does not improve the administration of criminal justice and reform the judiciary.

Ubah, in a statement, said the people of Anambra deserve to live in peace because that was why they voted to concede power to a political authority that would ensure that their lives and property were safeguarded.

According to him: “We will tackle insecurity in Anambra State by enhancing the ability of the law enforcement agencies and our local communities to detect and fight crime.

To this end we will ceaselessly tackle kidnapping, armed robbery and brigandage which are presently ravaging our dear state.”

He said technology would play a major role in fighting crime, especially in the gathering of intelligence, reporting and detection of crimes, tracking of criminals and maintaining a database of criminals.

“We will partner with the relevant agencies and telecommunication operators to set up emergency lines and hotlines to enable our people report crimes and criminalities as well as volunteer information to aid the investigation and detection of crimes.

“We will tackle the root cause of insecurity by providing jobs, improving the structure and intelligence-gathering infrastructure of our law enforcement and security agencies.

Reliance on force alone will not stem the tide of insecurity in Anambra State,” Ubah stated.

|7

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

Eid-el-Fitr celebration

President Goodluck Jonathan received sallah homage from Muslim community in Abuja led by Vice President Namadi Sambo… yesterday.

Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi(left); Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kisra during the Sallah Homage to the Emir’s Place, Ilorin… yesterday.

Governor Sule Lamido (middle), Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi and other government officials at Dutse praying ground at the Id-el-Fitri prayers...yesterday.

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State (left); Alhaji Aliyu Ukariwo, Chief Imam of Umuahia and Alhaji Suleiman Ukandu, Chairman, Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, Abia State, when the governor hosted the Muslim community in Abia State at Sallah in Umuahia PHOTO: IBEABUCHI ABARIKWU

The cross section of Muslim faithful at the Agodi praying ground during the Eid-il-Fitr Celebration.

PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Worshippers at Ikeja prayer ground during the Eid-il-Fitr celebration in Lagos yesterday.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

8|

Eid-el-Fitr celebration

Little Halima Sani with her mat during the Eid-il-fitr celebration in Abuja yesterday.

Alhaji Babatunde Odunewu (left); Alhaji Ishawu Mobolaji, Alhaji Aro Lambo; Dr. Rasaq Akanni Okoya; Dr. Tajudeen Okoya; Dr. Tairu Bashorun and Alhaji Adigun PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF Osho during the Eid-il-Fitr prayer at Idiat Abeke Memorial Prayer Ground, Oluwanisola Estate, Aja, Lagos yesterday.

Mobola Okoya (left); Mrs. Sophia Okoya and Abimbola Okoya during the Eidil-fitr prayer at Idiat Abeke Memorial Mosque praying ground, Oluwanisola Estate, Aja, lagos yesterday.

PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed (left); Vice President, Namadi Sambo; National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola-Ibrahim; Inspector General of Police, Muahmmed Abubakar, and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa-Belgore during the Eid-il-Fitr celebtaion in Abuja yesterday. Leading the prayer is Chief Imam of National Mosque, Alhaji Musa Muhammed.

Security checks during the Eid-el-Fitr prayer in Abuja.. yesterday.

Secretary-General, National Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede(left); Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Amosum, Salis Shuaib and Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu during the Eid-il-fitr ‌ yesterday.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a dynamic style addressing the teeming Osogbo Muslims after the Eid-il-fitr prayer session at Oshogbo Central Eid ground ‌ yesterday.

9

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

WorldReport Sudan, Al Bashir and Nigeria’s national interest

By Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor ORRECTLY interpreted, the C imperishable controversy over Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir’s recent visit to Nigeria, presents a classic scenario of a clash of a country’s national interest and a peculiarly prevailing doctrine in international politics.

The Sudanese president was in Nigeria for the Abuja +12 Special Follow-Up Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other related diseases and all hell was let loose, the conference waters on the sidelines became very stormy.

His coming immediately put Nigeria on a collision course with varied interests and human rights groups who demanded that the Sudanese president be promptly arrested by the Nigerian authorities in deference to the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s pronouncements relating to war crimes.

The court had in 2009 and 2010 issued two warrants of arrest on Al-Bashir over the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region, where government forces and local Arab militias have fought had been in conflict with rebels drawn mainly from black African populations.

Where lies national interest?

Should Nigeria have buckled under, arresting in an unprecedented manner, a sitting African president? What could have been the possible backlash from such a move? Would the action of arrest be consistent with the decision of the African Union (AU) on the ICC’s perceived principle of selectiveness in taking decisions and in the application of same on African rulers as against leaders from other contin e n t s ?

Answering these questions, invariably throws up the cross roads which Nigeria found herself and in trying to use that visit to define what is in her national interest.

Sudan was in the receded decade, declared a strategic outpost by Nigeria and there currently exist a strategic bilateral relations, which ordinarily should suggest fraternal relations (outside the human rights baggage arising from the Darfur conflict).

In addition to this and very instructively, is the fact that today, Sudan has the largest concentration of Nigerians residing anywhere in the world outside of Nigeria. There are about seven to eight million Nigerians living in Sudan. A certain category of Nigerians are also warming up to be part of the oil industry in the Sudans (Khartoum and South Sudan) even if it is in servicing c a p a c i t i e s .

In an era where economic determinism is now the bedrock of Nigeria’s foreign policy, it has to be put in the public domain that at the highest level, and in consonance with the promotion of intra African trade, there are moves by both countries to create a synergy in the desire to boost solid mineral potential, enhance agricultural production as well as exchange

Al-Bashir inspecting a guard of honour after his arrival in Abuja…recently. technological expertise which would drive economic growth both ways.

Besides, potential Nigerian investors and companies have been told that they are highly welcomed to invest in the sugar industry where Sudan has controlled capabilities as well as practical experience since the founding of the country’s first sugar factory in 1962. By collaborating with Nigeria, today, the plan is to expand productive capacities of sugar to 10 million tons per annum. This is besides interest in a number of linked industries like ethanol, dairy, fodder, meat and production of electricity power. It has to also be borne in mind that Nigeria played a leading role in the resolution of the Darfur crisis with the inter-Sudanese talks in Abuja, which went on beyond half a decade. What happens to the good old post conflict beneficiary rights of nations? These realities weigh h i g h .

The Problem, the arguments Some 2.7 million people have fled their homes since the Darfur conflict began in Darfur in 2003, and the United Nations (UN) says about 300,000 have died - mostly from disease. The ICC has said that it holds Al Bashir’s government responsible for backing Arab militias who consistently targeted among others, the civilian members of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa communities.

Khartoum had however consistently claimed that the conflict has killed about 12,000 people and the number of dead has all along been “exaggerated for political reasons.”

Now, Al Bashir has visited numerous African countries since the arrest warrant was issued - including Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi.

Before coming to Abuja, he had reasons to turn away from trips to Uganda, South Africa, Malawi and Zambia but has been received earlier this year

by Chad and Djibouti.

Problem is: Sudan, which is not a signatory to the ICC convention, does not also recognise that body which she

accuses of being a tool of Western powers. The country’s stand has since been bolstered by the AU, which in clear terms has asked its members not to arrest Al Bashir. The continental body has also repeatedly spoken of its reservation over the ICC’s warrants, stressing that it will not respect the decision of the court.

The AU had actually called on the United Nations Security Council in 2012 to delay war crimes proceedings against the Sudanese president. In a statement in response to the warrants, the AU had said: “The AU has always emphasized its commitment to justice and its total rejection of impunity. At the same time, the AU reiterates that the search for justice should be pursued in a manner not detrimental to the search for peace. The latest decision by the ICC runs in the opposite dir e c t i o n . ” The AU reasons that it is bizarre to maintain that failure by any state to arrest Al Bashir is a brazen disregard of its international treaty obligation under Article 89 of the Rome Statute of the ICC, which it has ratified since 2001.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru has also seized the opportunity to speak up while the controversy raged. Clarifying the backlash of recriminations on the matter, he said “The Sudanese president came on the invitation of the AU. The AU had at its summit in 2009, passed a resolution not to cooperate with the ICC indictment of president Bashir. He is not in Nigeria at our instance.

Nigeria’s commitment to the AU remains firm.”

While some African leaders have argued that the court is targeting Africans, pro ICC concerns have rejected this argument as something that is “totally inconsistent with the f a c t s . ” The contention here is that; yes it is true It’s true all of the court’s current investigations are in Africa, but seven out of eight of them came about because the governments where the crimes were committed

asked for the court’s involvement or the UN Security Council referred the situation due to the gravity of the crimes. So, CAR, DRC, Uganda, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire asked the court to get involved and the Council referred Libya and Darfur. Now the question then is: How can the court be targeting if they are responding to direct requests from governments affected or the council?

The contradictions?

There has also been a surfeit of talks about the so called inherent contradictions in the operations of the ICC as well as the conduct of its backers. It already rankles enough that of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, only two-The United Kingdom and France are members while the rest (the United States, Russia and China) are not. Whereas membership of the ICC is voluntary, its mechanism ought to compliment the national legal systems of nations and not to override them.

Acting under chapter V11 of the UN charter, the Security Council had referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC prosecutor. But the critical wing of the diplomatic watchers’ colony has since singled out some of the portions of the UN resolution 1593 of 2005 on the m a t t e r .

The grey areas fingered in it include the provision in sixth text which reads thus- Council decides: “That nationals, current or former officials or personnel from contributing states outside Sudan which is not a party to the Rome statute of international criminal court shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of that contributing state for all alleged acts or omissions arising out of or related to operations in Sudan established or authorised by the Council or the African Union, unless such exclusive jurisdic has been expressly waved tion by a contributing state.”

Also, is the fact that eyebrows have consistently been raised over the exemption of some states’ officials from prosecution by the ICC. The case of the US is often cited in this regard

after the draft resolution was adopted by a vote of 11 in favor with 4 abstentions (Algeria, Brazil, China and the U.S.).

Experts speak of the principle of realism Speaking to The Guardian, experts on the Al Bashir controversy, international relations experts called for caution in the attempt to swing to the whims of “the arrest Al Bashir b a n d w a g o n . ” One of such voices in the field and former Nigerian envoy to the Sudan, Ambassador Sulaiman Dahiru told The Guardian: “Away with these gush of sentiments and cheap calumny. Let us ask ourselves, where should the national interest be domiciled?

At the doorstep of public opinion, sentiments? The bandwagon clarion call by some powerful nations around the world or that which serves the aspiration of the people- the ordinary Nigerians, without whom there would not be Nigeria? We have reached a point in our national development where Nigeria has to answer to this.

He then added: “Beyond Al Bashir, it has come to the point where Nigeria has to be very careful the way it opens it’s flanks. Of. Ourselves if we had humiliated Al Bashir, the backlash would have been such that our strategic relations with that country which came about after Nigeria had seen the big picture, would have been irretrievably damaged.”

On his part Dr. Nwangu Okeimiri maintains that the internal dynamics in Sudan should be allowed to play a big role in squaring up with the Sudanese leader as against “the over the bar orchestration from outside the contin e n t . ” Facing up to the signals being sent to the rest of the world by the U.S. with regards to its engagement with the ICC, erstwhile U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Anne Woods Patterson, had told the global body that: “while the United States believed that a better mechanism would have been a hybrid tribunal in Africa, it was important that the international community spoke with one voice in order to promote effective accountability.

The U.S. continues to fundamentally object to the view that the court should be able to exercise jurisdiction over nationals including government officials, of states not party to the Rome Statute. The U.S. decided not to oppose the resolution because of the need for the international community to work together in order to end the climate of impunity in the Sudan and because the resolution provided protection from investigation or prosecution for U.S. nationals and members of the armed forces of non-state part i e s . ” But Okeimiri posits that it is because the U.S. is the leading democratic bastion on earth, that her position on the matter is being closely analysed and dissected. “Her conduct would always be the benchmark for responsibilities, “ he

Suicide bomber kills 30 at policeman’s funeral in Pakistan TALIBAN suicide bomber A yesterday killed 30 people at the funeral of a policeman in Pakistan, including five senior police officers, in the third deadly attack on government targets in two weeks.

A report by Reuters indicated chaos at the scene of the incident in the western city of Quetta as injured police struggled to carry bloodstained colleagues into ambulances.

“They are not Muslims. They are not humans,” Inspector General Mushtaq Sukhera said.

“We have no other option but to fight against terrorists,” he added. “We have made sacrifices and we will continue to do so and we will not bow down.”

At least 30 people were confirmed dead and 62 wounded, Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, the provincial chief secretary, said.

Twenty-one of the dead were police officers, Sukhera said. Others had not been identified but children attending the funeral were among the dead and wounded, Mohammed said.

Fayyaz Sumbal, the deputy inspector general of operations for Quetta, was among those killed. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

Flights resume in Nairobi, Israel closes Eilat airport over security DAY after a huge fire gutted A the arrivals terminal of Nairobi airport, international

flights resumed yesterday with the government saying it expects normal operations from midnight.

But in another development, the Israeli military yesterday ordered the cancellation of all flights in and out of the Red Sea resort of Eilat following a security assessment.

However, Wednesday’s blaze at Nairobi airport forced the cancellation or diversion of scores of flights at East Africa’s biggest transport hub.

Using the domestic terminal for passengers instead of the fire-damaged international hall, Kenya Airways flights from London and Bangkok were the first to land safely early yesterday, said Eric Kiraithe, head of security at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The Kenyan carrier also announced flights coming in from or leaving for African, European and Asian destinations while the government said other international airlines will be allowed to operate from midnight yesterday.

Lines of travellers, muffled up in sweaters for Nairobi’s cold season, sat next to their luggage trolleys piled high with bags.

Meanwhile, announcing the cancellation of all flights in and out of the Red Sea resort of Eilat, Israeli military spokeswoman said: “It was decided to close the airport after a situation report.”

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

10

Politics APC and Southeast project 2015

Okorocha

Ngige

From Kodilinye Obiagwu (Southeast Bureau Chief, Enugu) URING the 2010 Anambra State governorship election, Senator Chris Ngige flew the flag of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the face of derisory remarks like, “how can a Yoruba party govern Anambra.”

When Ngige came second behind the winner and incumbent governor, Peter Obi, such remarks were modified thus: “The people didn’t Ngige.” for but ACN for vote Incidentally, Ngige made it to the Senate, the first ACN senator from the Southeast. Today, the ACN is All Progressives Congress (APC), and the rank of its members in the zone is swelling.

They include Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (former national chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)); Chief Annie Okonkwo, Dr. Nyerere Anyim, former Governor Achike Udenwa, Chief George Moghalu, Mathew Omegara, Ezenwa Onyebuchi, Ododo Charles, Chief Ezekiel Izuogu and Uche Onyeagocha.

Others are Osita Izunaso, Julius Ucha, Adaugo Obi, Princess Frances Mgbada, Val Nnaedozie, Okey Ezea, Peter Okonkwo, Peter Edeh, Chief Livinus Nwambe, Chief Nnamdi Olebara, Prince Marshal Okafor-Anyanwu, Stanley Ohajuruka and Chief Nath Ikeocha.

The euphoria generated by the registration of the APC has raised questions and anxiety in . some quarters in the Southeast Is there a chance that the party can displace the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the zone?

Can the APC be the vehicle that will transport the Southeast to Aso Rock?

While the questions are being considered in particular sections, attention is not on the array of politicians in the party but on the incumbent governor of Imo State Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha.

The reason being that Okorocha, as an incumbent governor, who defected to the APC from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has altered the electoral calculations by giving APC a significant foothold in the Southeast.

Without casting a vote, therefore, the APC, by default, can today lay claim to the Government House in Imo. For that “offence”, the leadership of the APGA promptly suspended Okorocha, who is offering the strong excuses for the Southeast to embrace the APC. Said the defiant Okorocha after his suspension: “APC remains the best vehicle to promote the interest of our people. The PDP has marginalised the Southeast and has nothing to show for all its years in power.”

The Imo governor has insisted that his move to the APC would serve the interests of Ndigbo better. His former party, APGA, according to him, lacks the geographic spread to ensure the Igbo make significant headway in the political leadership of the nation.

“APGA, for me, is not actually a political party,

but a culture and tradition and I believe every Igboman is APGA. We separate the APGA that is APGA for Imo from the APGA that is APGA for politics,” he said.

According to him, the APC would redress the injustices to Ndigbo created by the PDP, and urged all progressives in the Southeast to line up behind the new party and ensure it produces the next leaders.

The governor noted that, “the Igbo have not produced the President, Vice President (since 1983 after Dr. Alex Ekwueme), Speaker of the House of Representatives (since after Chief Edwin Umezeoke in the Second Republic) or the Chief Justice of the Federation.

“But I am confident that under the APC, one or more of these positions will come to the Southeast,” he said.

“For the Southeast, I think it is the best time to look for a better change. There is no way the APC will not consider the Southeast once they take over power.”

Long before the registration of the APC, Okorocha said: “A lot of dust has been raised since I declared interest in the APC. I support APC and I don’t intend to turn my back to the vision of the party.

“I think it is good for Nigeria and indeed the Southeast. I was one of the founding fathers of PDP; the PDP is not what it used to be and for Imo people and the entire Southeast, I do not think PDP is the best option. There is need for change.

“There is no gainsaying that the APC will do well for the Southeast. People say PDP is the party in the Southeast, but that was before and I believe that the APC has come to replace PDP in the Southeast.”

The major political objective of the Southeast is the tenancy in Aso Rock. Political leaders in the zone believe that the PDP, with its policy of rotation, offers it the best option to produce the president.

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, at a Stakeholders Forum in Owerri recently to discuss the rotation of power in Imo, pointed out that, “we in the PDP know that it is only through rotation of presidency can the Southeast ever produce the president. One day it will happen.”

But the questions among some informed stakeholders are: what does the coming together of any form of opposition against the PDP hold for the Southeast? What does the zone stand to benefit in the event of the PDP, which controls three states — Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi — is ousted from the zone?

Can the APC retain Imo or grab another state in the 2015 elections? Will the APC make a President in the Southeast? Between the APC and the PDP, where does the future of the zone lie on that ambition?

On that score, the prospects of the APC in the Southeast are not bright, at least for now. A Second Republic politician and the leader of a po-

D

Onu

litical party, noted in confidence in Enugu that the APC is “just another platform for political activities in 2015.”

He said: “We (Ndigbo) are not in the APC. We have all seen this before, but my question this time is what is there for the Igbo man? Nothing.

“No political party can hold the destiny of any zone. We have said often that to redress this constant power struggle, we must return to the negotiation table and convoke a national conference.”

A First Republic politician, Chief Amaechi Mbazulike, said, “Ndigbo have no future in APC, at least for now. We cannot realise our objective of producing the President in the party. So, why should we troop there?

“The parties that merged to form APC — All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Okorocha’s faction of the APGA — have no Igbo representation and in 2015, the presidential candidate of the APC would come from the North while the Southwest will produce the running mate. I don’t see it working for us.”

The permutation for sharing of offices is at the heart of activities in the APC. For example, it was once mooted that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Okorocha are on the shortlist for a vice presidential slot.

A source in the APC said there is search for a “suitable vice-presidential candidate from the South, particularly the Southwest because, unless something dramatic happens, our flagbearer is coming from the North.”

Has that been agreed upon? Does the Southeast stand a better chance than the Southwest in this permutation?

Before the registration of the APC, the Convener of the Concerned Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said, “in the event of the presidency returning to the North, the issue will be who will deliver the votes from the South for the prospective candidate from the North.”

“The only person I see, who can do it is from the Southwest even though the Southwest has its own challenges,” he said.

“Challenge number one will be to bring out a candidate from the Christian North who will now pair up with a likely candidate who will be from the Southwest. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Southwest is not terribly obsessed with matters of religion.”

When Okorocha emerged at the meeting in Lagos State that announced the readiness of the APC to battle the PDP in 2015, the immediate interpretation was that he had lost out in the internal leadership tussle in the APGA and was looking for a safety net ahead of a possible second term in 2015. But it is not only Okorocha that has embraced the new party.

It was also said that he was looking ahead for a platform to actualise his presidential ambition

Udenwa

and was thus embracing the new party for that purpose.

For now, Okorocha, former presidential candidate, has left his second term bid as governor open to speculations. Will he run again or will he wait to see how the sharing of offices play out in the APC? A crop of other politicians, some young and upcoming, has emerged in the states in the Southeast, aiming to contest the 2015 governorship election.

Meanwhile, there is a tussle for the leadership of the APC between Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, former national chairman of the ANPP and Senator Julius Ali Ucha, the ANPP governorship candidate in 2011.

Such contentions started long before the party was registered. For example, at an inaugural meeting of the APC stakeholders from the zone in Owerri, former Governor Udenwa, who was saddled with recruitment of new members, looked like he was ignored.

In what appeared a power play between Udenwa and Okorocha, two heavyweights from Orlu zone, Okorocha showed preference for Ngige, as the Director of Mobilisation.

But Ngige was seen in some quarters as slowing the progress of the APC in the zone. He was fingered in Ebonyi to be behind the fractionalisation of the senior members of the merger.

In Anambra, the murmurs against what was perceived as Ngige’s “selfish style of politics” are still evident, as he rolled out the drums for his governorship ambition. His performance will present a major opportunity to test the APC’s electoral acceptance in the zone.

Still, Ngige will look back and relish the fact that he is the first APC senator in the zone. However, what will be tested is the APC and not Ngige’s poAnambra. in acceptability litical Within the states in the Southeast, expectations are high and varied. In Ebonyi, the popular sentiment is that the party would provide a new approach to politics in the state.

A former member of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Patrick Mgbebu, expressed optimism that the APC would help the people to reject the acts of impunity enthroned by the PDP in the state.

He believes that the politics of inclusion initiated by Okorocha, through the addition of the APC members from other states in his cabinet would usher in a new climate of brotherhood among politicians in the Southeast and hopes that the “APC will sweep the polls in Southeast in 2015.”

Supporters of the APC in zone repeatedly harp on the “marginalisation of Ndigbo by the PDP” and lament how the Southeast is not occupying any of the five major positions in the country.

Will the zone find the platform in the APC to fight for the 2015 Presidency or will it settle for a vice presidential slot or be content to hold six national offices in the new party?

THe GUArDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

PoLITICS | 11

Why I dumped PDP for CPC/APC, by oladunjoye As the progressives are gathering to rescue the nation from possible collapse, I have deemed it fit and safer for me to operate within the right political party that holds those ideas and ideals that I so much cherish.

Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye, former National Publicity Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Chairman, Ijebu-East Local Government of Ogun State between 2007 and 2010, and governorship running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP in the 2011 elections, recently declared for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) before the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC). At a briefing in Abeokuta, the 2008 United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace explained the circumstances that led to his dumping the PDP, reports SEYE OLUMIDE. LADUNJoYe was a democratically o elected executive chairman of the Ijebu-east Local Government, a position, he said, he held effectively and efficiently till February 2010.

But he said he was “most maliciously and illegally” sacked from office by then Governor Gbenga Daniel.

The sack, he said, was “not necessarily for lack of performance but much more owing to irreconcilable political differences between the two of us, as a result of my clamour for transparency, full autonomy of the local government administration, rule of law and peace.”

“At the risk of sounding immodest, I wish to recall here, and with much gratitude to God, that I performed exceedingly well whilst in office as Council Chairman between December 27, 2007 and February 23, 2010,” he said.

He said his performance engendered “open admiration of Governor Daniel himself, all my cabinet members, ogun State PDP and even my political foes, and till date, the good people of Ijebu east Local Government.”

Paradoxically, he said the loss of a mere council office in 2010 was yet to catapult him into a higher political stage the following year, 2011, when the PDP nominated him (after his initial summary expulsion on the orders of the former governor) as a running mate to Chief Adetunji olurin, in the hotly-contested ogun State governorship elections of April 2011.

Stating that politics is all about seeking and ensuring the welfare and security of the people at all times,

Oladunjoye oladunjoye argued that, “politics definitely loses its intrinsic values when it fails to perform these fundamental functions.”

“I regret to observe that the PDP, the ruling party at the centre and the self-acclaimed largest party in Africa, has failed woefully in fulfilling these basic and statutory obligations since returning to power at the centre for the fourth time since may 29, 2011,” he said, adding, “very sad indeed!”

He stressed that aside from this ugly scenario, the political health of the PDP not only in ogun State, but also across the entire country had suffered a serious decline “to the extent that one is not sure if the party will still be alive to partake in the 2015 race. In fact, it is worse than I left it.”

He regretted that members of the ogun State Chapter of the PDP in particular, “remains irreconcilably divided till date, thereby giving the sad impression that like the Boubourns of ancient europe, they have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing!” oladunjoye addressed the issue of gross financial mismanagement of over N100 million and a N52 million

contract scam in the faction of PDP that he belonged.

N his words: “I fought to expose the fraud, and wait for it, the perpetrators were even bold enough to initially threaten me with N2 billion court action except I apologise. “of course, I refused to apologise and the chief perpetrators quickly and apologetically disembarked from court action when I indicated my readiness to go the whole hog.”

Underlining that he was not out to bash the PDP, noting that in July 2011, when he was still in the party, he had declared on his Facebook wall that Nigeria was a failed country. “or during the fuel subsidy protests when I asked the minister for Information, mr. Labaran maku, to apologise to our comrades for calling protesters “elements”, a term the military used to subjectively address us (including Labaran maku) during the prodemocracy protests,” he said.

As he recalled: “I was warned. Alarm was raised. I was told I would not get any political appointment or patronage if I continue to criticise the PDP and the Federal Government. I responded that I better not get any appointment than to lose my soul.

“Two years, two months after the governorship elections, even as the deputy governorship candidate, I had no appointment, even as the Villa continues to monitor my Facebook wall. I have no regrets whatsoever, as I followed my heart.” oladunjoye continued: “Without any fear of contradiction, I want to thank the PDP for the opportunity to practice what I preached as Council Chairman of Ijebu east LGA, and to run as the deputy governorship candidate in the 2011 governorship elections.

“I thank my teeming supporters in the PDP across the state, who have decided to follow me to my new political party and those who will still join us.

“I also appreciate all PDP leaders, especially Chief Adetunji Idowu olurin.

I will single out Chief Adetunji Idowu olurin for his unique leadership, honesty, humility, forthrightness and foresightedness.

“I thank Senator Iyabo obasanjo, who nominated me for the deputy governorship slot and, of course, His excellency, Chief olusegun obasanjo, GCFr, for all his love.

However, oladunjoye didn’t leave out his political detractors for praise.

“Their machinations,” he said, “achieved three things in my life; they made me to become very popular (more than one million dollars advertisement would have achieved), very conscious of my security and closer to Almighty God.” He emphasised that given such tragic situation, “we are of the considered view that a change of political affiliation is inevitable at this critical juncture. ” He identified himself entirely with the sound opinion of Sir Winston Churchill, whereupon he averred that, “nothing is wrong with change if it is both necessary and in the right direction.”

According to him: “Nigeria today needs critical and collaborative intervention by conscious patriots to stem the progressive slide into disintegration.

“As the progressives are gathering to rescue the nation from possible collapse, I have deemed it fit and safer for me to operate within the right political party that holds those ideas and ideals that I so much cherish.”

He disclosed that in the last four months, he had received offers of membership from members and

some leaders of the CPC, ACN, ANPP and Labour Party in ogun State.

“After much personal reflection and consultation with all my supporters across the state, leaders, friends and family on the way forward; the general consensus favours a change of political affiliation without any further hesitation,” he said.

Weighing the options, he said: “outside of PDP, the main ruling party at the centre, there exists today two principal and viable alternative political parties in the entire country namely, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

“Both parties and a couple of others are working assiduously on a merger plan, which hopefully will consummate soon enough.

“We have many good friends and leaders in the ACN, especially so within the ogun State wing of the party. “equally, we have numerous amiable friends in the CPC. But we have elected to pitch our tent with the CPC, after much consideration.” oladunjoye explained that, “our choice of political affiliation in the new enterprise, which is anchored chiefly on the fact that our Group seems to share the same ideological creed with the CPC, is made with the approval of our followers.”

“And we have no apologies whatsoever for our choice! our cross-over to CPC today signals our very first step into dissolving eventually into the larger All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.

He added: “Together with my great team, we shall work most assiduously to sustain the political integrity of the CPC and by a logical extension, that of the nascent APC as well as for the total victory of the party in the 2015 general elections.

“I cannot end this speech without thanking my colleagues in the activist-community and the media, who gave me their unconditional support throughout. I pray we shall continue to enjoy more of such support in the CPC-APC. “my wife and children are my best friends, best fans and greatest supporters in my political struggle. They have borne serious brunt within a short period. “my prayer is that Allah Subuhana tahala, will keep us together, happily and in good health for the rest of our lives.”

DPP is dead, says Kokori ormer National Secretary of PeNGASFclared SAN, Chief Frank ovie Kokori, has dethat the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) is dead.

He spoke during a consultative visit of Olorogun otega emerhor, a senatorial hopeful for the vacant seat of Delta Central senatorial district, to the political activist at his ovu country home in ethiope east local council of Delta State.

The seat became vacant following the death of Senator Pius ewherido, representing the DPP in the Senate.

Kokori noted that the DPP had outlived its usefulness, stressing that the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose flag emerhor seeks to fly in the poll, was the rave of the moment and the party to beat.

“To be fair with everybody, DPP was not the party we wanted, but we wanted a strong person from Delta State on our labs for the 2011 struggles,” he said.

“Urhobo has been decapitated presently. ogboru is the luckiest Urhobo man ever, whom Urhobo fought for in a period of 13 years without cash.

“We want people like Olorogun emerhor

because with his good name, he will deliver the dividends of democracy to all Deltans.”

Kokori said would speak and work behind emerhor in the coming election, “when he emerges as the candidate of the APC because DPP is dead.”

“If you call yourself a politician, you are either in APC or PDP. It’s only a blind man that would remain in the present DPP,” he added.

In his speech, Olorogun emerhor thanked Chief Kokori for the warm reception accorded his team.

He also commended him for his consistency in the struggle to provide a credible alternative government in Delta State.

“I have offered myself to stand for the Delta Central senatorial seat and I believe it is time to test the APC platform as well as consolidate to use it to liberate the people of Delta Central and Delta State in general,” he said.

With emerhor on the visit were Dr. Lucky otegheri, director-general, emerhor Campaign organisation; Chief Adelabu Bojor; Chief C.C.I Whiliki; mr. edjoghene onoseme and many others.

Olorogun Emerhor and Senator Francis Spanner Okpozo

Olorogun emerhor also visited a national leader of the new APC, former Senator Francis okpozo in ozoro.

There, the way forward for the new party

was discussed, even as okpozo promised the aspirant the support of Isoko people in Ughelli, Warri and other parts of Delta Central.

12

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

TheMetroSection

Muslim congregation offering prayers at the praying ground

Children in celebration mood

Muslims preach peace, tolerance as Ramadan ends

By Abdulwaheed Usamah (Lagos) John Akubo (Dutse) VEN two-year-old Khalid Kabir E whose voice of expression is just barely coming up, could feel that their was celebration in the air, he knew in his carriage and disposition that yesterday was a significant day, going by how his brothers and sisters were jumping around in their new Sallah dresses as they proceed to the praying ground at Ile Zik busstop, along Lagos-Abeokuta Express way.

At various praying grounds yesterday across Lagos State and other states where there are Muslim faithful, people sat in rows, in sober mood, with expression of gratitude to Almighty Allah for permitting them to witness the end of another fasting period.

A Muslim-faithful at one of the praying grounds, Alhaji Lawal Kabir,

who spoke to The Guardian after the congregational prayer, said happiness could be seen on the faces of the people in the fold. Children, even the old ones are not left out in the joy of celebrating the end of Ramadan season.

The middle-aged man said the celebratory mood that took dominance among the Muslim faithful yesterday was not ordinary, but a positive result from 29 days of fasting in which unity, peace, love among others were shared.

He said the Eid’l Fitir marked a significant moment after Muslims had gone through a Ramadan month of abandoning many sinful acts, and the essence is to maintain that purification which the period confined them to.

Another adherent Omijori Abdulwasiu said the Eid celebration, for all who practice the Islamic religion, it is another way of expressing gratitude to God, which is why both the young

old have dressed in their best clothes and proceeded for a congregational prayer.

“At every prayer ground all over the nation, sinful and evil acts that were abandoned during last month’s Islamic calendar while fasting need to be abandoned. There should be peace, tolerance and Muslims should share love among themselves,” he said.

Delivering sermon after the Eid congregational prayer, the Chief Imam, Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque, told Muslims not to depart from the past month’s spirit in their dealings with others, asking them to remember what the period taught them and continue the good conducts till the same month of another year.

He said: “Men and women have fasted for 29 days. Though it must come to an end, those nights of labour and days of neither food nor water should not go in vain. Muslims should be careful in their celebration of the

Eid. Also, in a Sallah celebration statement released by Muslim Right Concerns (MURIC) which stresses the significance of Ramadan season, it stated that the period lies in its capacity to serve as an effective training ground for the faithful, prepares them physically, morally and spiritually.

Physically, they said, “it improves the health of the nation as those who participated in the exercise are already giving testimonies of a healthier carriage, and boost to health records in this country because a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

“Muslims among Nigerian leaders have also witnessed the power of Ramadan. This has the tendency to soften their hearts and make them put the plights of the masses into consideration on national issues. The good changes brought upon men and women in the religion fold must continue and spread in and around the country,” the statement read.

PHOTOS: ABDULWAHEED USAMAH

Briefs Kuti for WHARC’s youth day celebration HE Women’s Health and Action ReT search Centre (WHARC) will host Nigerian youth in commemoration of the International Youth Day on August 12, 2013 at WHARC’s main auditorium, Km 11 Benin-Lagos Road, Benin City, by 10am.

Chief Executive Officer of the New Afrika Shrine and daughter of the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Ms. Yeni Kuti, will deliver a lecture titled: “Understanding Fela, his music and message to the youth” to create awareness among youth of the need to rejuvenate the country along the best traditions of principled Africanism as espoused by Fela.

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole will be the Distinguished Guest of Honor at the occasion.

Fajoyomi, 88, for burial HE death has occurred of Mrs. JuT lianah Aina Folayemi Fajoyomi (Nee Aluko) who died on 11 July 2013. th

According to the statement made available by the family, a Christian Wake-keep takes place on the Friday 9th while Church service holds on the 10th of July at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ilawe, Ekitit by 10.am. Reception follows immediately at Corpus Christian College, Ilawe Ekiti.

Bricklayer swallows 2.065kg of cocaine

By Odita Sunday SUSPECTED drug cartel has reA cruited a 46-year-old bricklayer to smuggle cocaine into the country.

The suspect allegedly ingested 83 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 2.065kg while returning from Brazil.

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials told The Guardian that it is one of the highest quantities of drugs ingested at a time by a suspect this year.

Preliminary investigation, according to NDLEA spokesman, Mitchelle Ofoyeju, revealed that drug barons now have agents who move from village to village in search of drug

mules.

“They have several antics which include promise of better job opportunities abroad,” he said.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar who gave the name of the suspect as Ugankwo Basil Chukwudi, said that the suspect was apprehended after testing positive for drug ingestion.

“He was detected with the help of scanning machines during the screening of passengers on an Asky Airline flight. The case is under investigation,” Hamza said.

In his statement to narcotic officers of NDLEA, Ugankwo said that he regretted his involvement in drug trafficking.

He said: “I am very sad over my in-

volvement in drug trafficking. What is more painful to me is the fact that I was lured into selling our family land to travel abroad in search of job opportunities. I am a bricklayer at Alor village, Anambra State.” “ I got to Brazil on July 10, 2013 and all attempts for me to get job was unsuccessful. That was when they sold the idea of drug trafficking to me.

Initially I objected but when there was no other option, I succumbed.

They made me to swallow 83 wraps of cocaine which was detected by NDLEA officers” Ugankwo said.

Chairman of the Agency, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade in his Sallah message urged members of the public to always turn down requests to smuggle drugs.

Owoyele for burial today

Fajoyomi

HE remains of Chief (Mrs) Mariam T Mosunmola Owoyele, the Iyalode of St. Banaba’s Anglican Church, Ag-

Basil

boyi, Lagos State would be interred today after a funeral service at the church. The service holds by 11am.

Aged 92, the deceased is survived by the Vicar, Bola Memorial Anglican Church, Ikeja, Venerable Tunde Owoyele, other children and grand children.

METRO 13

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

Jajoo becomes th 6 president of Palmgrove Rotary Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji (left); members of the House, Wahab Alawiye-King; Mufutau Egberongbe and Kazeem Alimi at the annual Ramadan lecture organised by Ikuforiji in Lagos on Wednesday.

PHOTO: WOLE OYEBADE

Immediate past President of the Club, Suman Ramesh decorating Venugopal Jajoo as the new President while the District Governor, Olugbemiga Olowu looks on in admiration .

PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

By Isaac Taiwo HANGE of baton in rotaC tion of presidency of Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate, District 9110 took place recently at the Hotel Victoria Palace, Lagos when the immediate past President, Suman Ramesh handed over to Venugopal Jajoo as the 6th President {2013 – 2014} of the Club at a very well attended investiture ceremony as well as induction of office bearers.

In her valedictory message, Ramesh enumerated how her administration was able to touch lives in various areas including giving out of artificial limbs, engagement in eye surgery both in Lagos and Ogun States through the Indo Eye Care Foundation, involvement in maternal child care by giving incubator to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital {LASUTH}, commencement of grooming upcoming youths as future Rotarians, settlement of Rotary Global grant among others which culminated into the club receiving significant achievement award.

Jajoo in his acceptance speech commended the effort of the out-going President during her tenure and vowed to continue in the same humanitarian spirit.

“To begin with, in my tenure, we will continue to focus on our regular projects such as the health camps, eye surgeries, donation of artificial limbs, providing water and sanitation facilities in various educational institutions and

other long term and sustainable projects as highlighted by my immediate past president, Suman in her speech which covers the six areas of focus set by Rotary International.”

“In addition to the above, this year we shall give more prominence to projects involving the provision of microfinance and vocational training to economically weaker families in order to make them self-sufficient and to encourage small-scale entrepreneurship under Economic and Sustainable Development.”

He added: “Plans are in the works to make strategic partners for initiating this task like association with local Non-governmental Organizations {NGOs} and other organizations which shall provide a threefold advantage. Firstly, we will get more knowledge and more insight into the problems. Secondly, this will be an addition to our resources and our abilities and thirdly, we will build more bridges of understanding, friendship and co-operation”.

“I am hopeful that at least, a few families will benefit this year from our microfinance models as we have it in Bangladesh while we expect over 4000 families to benefit from our various projects this year also.”

“We have always been very glad to listen to testimonies like, “Sir, I had been blind for so many years and today I am able to cross roads without

Plans are on anvil to make strategic partners for initiating this task like association with local Nongovernmental Organizations {NGOs} and other organizations which shall provide a threefold advantage. Firstly, we will get more knowledge and more insight into the problems. Secondly, this will be an addition to our resources and our abilities and thirdly, we will build more bridges of understanding, friendship and co-operation

any support” or when a young lads says, “I cannot thank you enough for providing water supply in my school.” It is very humbling and we are always enthused when we hear such things, but again, there are many others around us who are yet to be reached out to for such aid and how happy would be when in future people come to us to say: “We are now living a life of dignity with the microfinance facilities and vocational training you provided,” he said.

The District Governor {20132014}, Olugbemiga Olowu in his address disclosed that Rotary is a club where one can find a display of high ethical standards, adding that apart from the fact that members commit their talent, time and treasure for the benefit of others, application of 4-Way Rotary Test before decision is made would always result into best judgment that would benefit neighbours, community as well as making the decision maker himself a happy man.

“For example, Rotary does not have permanent President and we do not struggle for power or leadership. We believe leaders are made and are also born. In Rotary, one year is enough to do much because the President would have known he was coming to be President, in the past two years, which enables him to plan,” he explained.

Past President Muket Bash in his comment said Rotary Club of Lagos, Palmgrove Estate had touched up to four million lives through The Indo Eye Care Foundation established 2007 who ordinarily would not have been able to afford the cost of surgery and have put smiles on the faces of a lot of people having preventable blindness with 50 per cent cataract through surgery, which without surgery would have led to permanent blindness.

Winner of the Glo Bounce with Artiste singing competition on Youtube, Chima Keke (left); Glo Divisional Director, South South, Mr. Sam Edoho; another winner, Kika Abraham; Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Pastor Imoh Udoh; and a third winner of the competition, Oron Victor at the Glo Slide and Bounce Concert held in Uyo.

President, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos and President, South-East, South-South Traditional Leaders Association, Chief Sir, Oliver Akubueze {KSM}, right, Chairman, South-South Traditional Ruling Council, Lagos, Osu {Dr.} Charles Ogodo JP, Chairman, Elders Council, South-South Traditional Leaders Association, Chairman, Elders Council, South-South Traditional Rulers Council, Iyase {Chief} Dr. Sylvan Ebigwei, Vice Chairman, South-South Traditional Ruling Council, Lagos, Pere John Jacob Asoki and Mayor, Nonindigene, Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Eze {Dr.} Ngozi Israel Ibekwe JP at the South-East, South-South Traditional Leaders Association, Lagos Alliance, endorsing Jonathan as President, 2015.

PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO

Managing Director, Creativexone, Doyin Adewunmi {left}, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Clarion Medicals Ltd., Sir, Edwin Mmuoemanem and Marketing Manager, Mr. Evans Okeke during the signing of communication agreement between Clarion Medicals Ltd. and Creativexone held in Lagos recently.

14 | THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 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 The fear of population explosion HAIRMAN of the National Population Commission, Festus Odimegwu’s C statement the other day that draconian measures should be employed in deterring randy men from contributing to population explosion by impregnat-

LETTER

Islam means peace IR: The recent killing of a these people. Islam is the Sdaylight British soldier in broad most misunderstood reliin London and the gion in the world. Why?

Boston bombings in United States by extremists should be wake up call to ing teenage girls is a parody of the seriousness and deep thinking that should all true Muslims globally to guide policy recommendations and actions. say Enough to the growing Odimegwu, who made this statement on the occasion of the 2013 World religion extremism. It is a Population Day, argued that compared to other African countries which have reduced their adolescent fertility rate, Nigeria, according to a 2008 demograph- sickening situation to watch people maiming ic survey, has a high adolescent fertility figure that stood at 121 per 1,000 live irreplaceable lives with births. With the alleged high adolescent fertility figure, caused by ‘randy men’ impudence, all in the name who sexually harass teenage girls and impregnate them, Odimegwu reckoned of God. Muslims across the that there is bound to be population explosion; and for this reason stiffer penal- world should rise up in unities should be instituted to deter them. son to vigorously condemn Despite the attempt to elevate this plea to some level of profundity by citing these barbaric and heinous an outdated demographic survey of adolescent fertility in Nigeria, Odimegwu’s acts that have no place in presentation was flippant and ineffectual given the complexity and multifariIslam. They (these hoodous nature of population matters. It is riddled with ambiguities, unreliable sta- lums and evil-minded peotistics and outlandish conclusions. ple) have done more What studies were conducted to draw a correlation between these activities of defamation to Islam than those who have misconcepthe so-called randy men and population explosion? Is the unbridled libidinal tendencies of randy men and teenage girls the most important issue in popula- tion of the religion. But can tion matters for it to deserve such a pronouncement on World Population Day? you really blame people While the moral sense in Odimegwu’s admonition is not being discounted, it who see Islam as a violent religion? Personally, no, makes better sense to ask fundamental questions and inquire into first princibecause each time these ples. As experts in demographic studies concerning Nigeria have noted, the criminals murder impumain population question Nigerians have been grappling with is simply the dently, they invoke Allah’s issue of numbers: how many Nigerians there are at any point in time. name. Have we ever seen Since 1866 when the earliest attempt was made to conduct a census of the ter- those that killed from the ritory that makes up present day Nigeria, virtually all the national censuses other religion (Christianity have been marred by controversies. It was either a disputation over conjectural or Buddhism etc.) invoke estimates or squabbles over numerical supremacy amongst ethnic groups. The Jesus’ name (PBUH)? The controversies trailing the last two censuses (1991 and 2006), for instance, answer is No. Let us face brought to focus this politicization of population census. Owing to different reality; we Muslims are not variables being used in the projection of Nigeria’s annual rate of population doing enough to condemn

increase, it is tragic that the country does not have a reliable database and statistical configuration that can accurately tell what the population figure is like and how Nigerians are distributed. If we do not know how many Nigerians there are, how then can we plan accurately for the present and future population?

Even if the Nigerian population is increasing as astronomically as projected, the trial or conviction of randy men, and such men do deserve whatever penalty for their immorality, is not the most important solution.

Nigerians want real solution to real problems. And one real problem is that available resources as well as productive capacity as a nation remain inversely proportional to increasing population, thereby leading to a crisis that has been attributed to cultural orientation, poor management of family, mismanagement of economic resources, a lack of basic infrastructure and ultimately abject poverty of the majority.

Therefore, rather than seek trial of randy men as if this would avert population explosion, the NPC should counsel on more profound strategies of scientifically tackling population explosion. The NPC should deploy its resources to recommend to government and educate Nigerians on the need for serious policies for the many problems of Nigeria’s teeming populace.

A consistent and credible population census must be conducted every 10 years as recommended by the United Nations. This census should not be viewed as another ‘political’ activity but rather as a scientific exercise in national planning. It must of necessity be complemented by reliable registration of birth and death, regular and extensive monitoring of people’s health and welfare status, and a rigorous implementation of the national identity card project.

On the economic level, the government should explore careful economic diversification by encouraging more efficient agricultural productivity and giving priority attention to the industrial and manufacturing sectors.

Notwithstanding the country’s major dependence on oil, leaders should ensure sustainability in the manner natural resources are exploited and ensure that they are equitably distributed. The government must also pursue an infrastructural development agenda that genuinely give priority to the welfare of the people.

Education, of course, plays the vital role of not only enlightening the populace, but also of empowering them for self-reliance. Besides, education should also facilitate the sensitization of both men and women about their natural powers in responsibly planning a family.

When all hands are so genuinely on the plough, a healthy and wealthy population is guaranteed.

Because of the heinous acts of terrorism being displayed by these evil-doers all in the name of Allah (SWT) and our nonchalant disposition towards condemning them swiftly when the killings happened.

From World Trade Centre (USA), to London bombings, to Nigerian Boko Haram, to Iraq and Afghanistan, these people have committed barbaric acts. Their actions have taken more Muslim lives than any other religion combined in human history. I am using this medium to stir up Muslims across the world to educate nonMuslims globally that these terrorists are not Muslims in the true sense of it, as Islam in all ramifications denounces terrorism. Islam means peace and is not a tool for destruction. We all need to come together and honestly condemn these people and curb their excesses in the society. Their actions do not belong to this mod-

ern era. It is disturbing that they see themselves as Muslims.

Religion, belief or faith was not created to instill fear and commit violence against humanity. Those who wrongfully use religion as a tool of fear and violence are the ignoramuses in the society. They use religious violence as a tool to seek power, revenge and undue recognition. Using religion as a tool of terror will ultimately fail because history has a lot of examples regards this. One school of thought also believes that religion is opium to mankind, and in human history, it has done more destruction than good.

Unequivocally, this is subject to honest debate. In a nutshell, religion should be used as a tool for good of mankind, anything contrary to that should be condemned by all and sundry.

To my Muslim folks around the world, it is time to wake up and say: enough is enough to these barbaric acts against fellow humans and ourselves.

• Yahaya Balogun Arizona, USA.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

15

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Non-adoption of PSF guidelines for subsidy payment threatens fuel supply

By Roseline Okere emerged yesItionNDICATIONS terday that the non-adopof the 2010 guideline for the administration of the petroleum Support Fund (PSF), by the Ministry of Finance, might soon lead to fuel supply crisis in the country.

The 2010 guideline for the administration of the PSF stipulates that payment must be made to marketers within 45 days of submitting complete documents to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, (PPPRA).

The PSF import cycle, as laid out in the guidelines, states that once a marketer is issued a licence to import products by PPPRA, the company imports the volume allocated it and delivers to a depot approved by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); the product so imported and delivered is verified and confirmed by PPPRA, DPR and government appointed external auditors.

The marketer will then submit complete and verified documents to PPPRA, which, after verification and batching, issues a Sovereign Debt

Statement (SDS) to the marketer. The marketer goes ahead to submit the SDS to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who then issues a Sovereign Debt Note (SDN) to the marketer.

Going by the guideline, the marketer is to get value for the SDN within 45 days of submission of complete and verified documents to PPPRA. The Guardian gathered yesterday, that delayed payments of subsidy to genuine importers in the last three years, has put many marketers’ operations in serious crisis, as many concerned marketing companies are groaning under the yoke of huge accumulated bank interest charges, which the loans sourced from these financial institutions to import products continue to attract.

The Guardian learnt that the Ministry of Finance is yet to pay the outstanding balance of N145 billion to marketers and some of the overdue payments are for 2011 and 2012 and some N50 billion as outstanding for 2013.

Some marketers believed that it is wrong and unacceptable for the Ministry of

Acting Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency of Nigeria (NTIDA), Dr. Ashiru Daura (left); Deputy Governor, of Cross River State, Effiok Essien Cobman; Governor, Liyel Imoke; iDEA Programme Manager, Mrs. Helen Anatogu; Managing Director, High Tech Data Systems (iDEA Consultant to NITDA), Chinedu Okoli; and iDEA Tinapa Centre Manager, Mrs. Joan Nwosu-Ene, at the launch of iDEA Incubation Centre in Tinapa Knowledge City, Calabar.

Finance to hide under the guise of forensic auditing and thorough verification of claims as justification for these delays, which they said, had drained them of resources to do their business, made them to incur avoidable huge bank charges and putting their credibility and credit rating on the line before their banks.

Executive Secretary, Major

Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, (MOMAN), Obafemi Olawore, said the government has consistently failed to adhere to this guideline, even when the importers/marketers have consistently kept their own side of the bargain.

Olawore wondered why the Ministry of Finance only pays whenever marketers cry out and threaten to discontinue

importation. “By August last year, many oil marketers had discontinued importation of products in protest against the accumulated arrears owed them by the government.

At issue was some N100 billion which the Minister of Finance and the Co-coordinating Minister of the Economy; Ngozi OkonjoIweala was yet to approve for

payment. Though a sum of N888 billion had been earmarked for fuel subsidy in last year’s budget, President Goodluck Jonathan was to later request for an additional N161 billion three weeks to the end of the year, which was given expeditions approval by the National Assembly, bringing the total subsidy figure for 2012 to N1.042 trillion Naira.

revenue loss in the oil and gas sector.

Indeed, a breakdown of the Federal Government bonds to mature this year shows that nine of the instruments, with maturity peri-

ods of between three and 10year will be redeemed after maturity in 2013.

Already, four of the bonds, the 9.45 per cent Federal

LCCI wants govt to reduce yields on bonds

By Femi Adekoya O further aid entrepreneurs’ increased access to funds, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on the Federal government to reduce the yields on its bonds as part of measures to

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• Kicks against investing pension funds on infrastructure enhance lending by financial institutions.

According to the chamber, current high yield on treasury bills and federal government bonds, which ranges between 11 to 14 per cent, is a

major disincentive to lending by financial institutions to entrepreneurs in the economy, as it has a profound crowding out effect, while increasing the burden of debt service on the gov-

ernment.

Besides, the chamber also cautioned the government against utilising pension funds for infrastructural projects, while urging it to plug loopholes resulting in

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

16 BUSINESS

PPPRA challenges NIETI over industry report

By Roseline Okere HE heat generated by the recent report of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NIETI) raged on yesterday, with the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) seeking concrete proof of its culpability in the infractions stated against it by the findings.

Specifically, PPPRA urged NEITI to visit the records at the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria to confirm if the said amount was remitted accordingly by the agency.

The Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Reginald Stanley, said in a statement yesterday, that there was never a time the audit report was `signedoff’ by the PPPRA management, challenging NEITI to make a copy of the ‘sign-off’ public to prove its claim.

NEITI had released its 20092011 audit report on the oil and gas sector, recommending that the PPPRA should remit N4.423 billion, arising from “over-recovery” to the Federation Account.

Stanley said: “We challenge NEITI to tell Nigerians where the N4.423 billion it claims was warehoused.

“If NEITI is indeed, desirous of efficiently doing its job, we challenge it to go and consult the records at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where the Petroleum Support Fund account is domiciled.

“It should also go a step further by visiting the records at

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the Federal Ministry of Finance to confirm if certain amount of money as claimed was remitted accordingly or not by the PPPRA. “To all intents and purposes, it is apparent that NEITI is on a wild-goose chase and selfseeking in its putrid claims.”

Stanley also faulted NEITI’s latest claim that “all the companies and government agencies covered by the

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over-recovery, “which is N3.98 billion owed only by the NNPC. “The total over-recovery due from NNPC within the period was N8.372 billion, out of which the corporation paid N4.391 billion, leaving out a balance of N3.981 billion.

“Contrary to NEITI’s report, neither NIPCO nor AMG Petro-Energy Limited has any outstanding payment for settlement. The issues here are

about facts and figures and we make no pretentious about all of these.”

Stanley, subsequently, provided the table below to buttress his argument: Over-recovery paid into CBN’s Account, N6,996,185,316.65; over-recovery net-off by Federal Ministry of Finance, N3,126,587,419.98; over-recovery outstanding to NNPC, N3,981,011,043.08, total over-

Acting Regional Manager, Apapa, Diamond Bank Plc, Samuel Okeke (left); Managing Director, Borini Prono, Dr. Alberto Prono; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti; Financial Controller, Borini Prono, Ahmad Zaheer; and Business Manager, Diamond Bank Plc, Tin-Can Roro Port Branch, Dubem Ngwuluka, at a courtesy visit by the bank’s management to Borini Prono, in Lagos.

ELAN hosts vendor /lessor business forum HE Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) holds a vendor/lessor one-day business forum in Lagos, with the theme “Enhancing Synergy between vendors and lessors”.

The event, which will take place on Tuesday, at Ikeja, is specifically designed to strengthen relationship between lease practitioners and vendors to enhance the growth and development of the leasing industry.

The forum is expected to consider the increasing important role of vendors in

audit, including the PPPRA, were fully involved and participated actively in the audit process”.

Stanley cited a section of NEITI’s report that claimed that N3.715 billion was yet to be refunded by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and two other marketers, saying that NEITI’s report was incongruous with the realities of what was outstanding in

the leasing industry, the value proposition of closer relationship with lessors and examine the appropriate strategy of working with vendors to ensure enhanced quality and successful transactions.

It is also expected to be attended by manufacturers/vendors, leasing companies, insurance companies, asset service providers among others, with renowned experts discussing relevant issues with the stakeholders of interest.

recovery, N14,073,783,779.74.

Stanley added: “The total of over-recovery was N14,073,783,779.74 with the following breakdown: overrecovery paid into CBN’s account -N6,996,185,316.65; over-recovery net-off by Federal Ministry of Finance N3,126,587,419.98 while overrecovery outstanding with NNPC stands at N3,981,011,043.08.

“It is clear that the three figures add up to the total overrecovery.

“So the question for NEITI is: where is the N4.423 billion over-recovery to be refunded

by PPPRA to the Federation Account.

“NEITI got it totally wrong and should be bold enough to admit so. This singular incident casts doubt on the accuracy and integrity of NEITI’s reports.”

Stanley said that the PPPRA as a responsible government agency, committed to accountability and probity, was always ready to subject itself to any enquiry, designed to promote public good and full realisation of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

He added: “We hereby appeal to NEITI to desist from further confusing the general public.

“Instead, it should revisit and reconcile available figures from both the PSF and Federation Accounts.

“It is high time NEITI rose to the occasion by providing prompt, timely and accurate records for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

LCCI kicks against investing pension funds on infrastructure CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 Government, January 2013 bond, worth N10 billion, issued on January 25, 2008, the N20 billion 5.5 per cent Federal Government February 2013 bond, issued February 2010, the 15 per cent Federal Government May 2013 bond, issued May 2006 and valued at N10 billion and the 16 per cent Federal Government June 2013 bond worth N20 billion have matured.

However, the 3.75 per cent Nigerian Treasury Bills Rate Federal Government September 2013 worth N40

billion will mature September 30, 2013, while the 12.74 per cent Federal Government October 2013 bond valued at N10 billion will mature October 27, 2013.

Also, the 10.98 per cent Federal Government November 2013, the 10.50 percent Federal Government November 2013 and the 11.99 percent Federal Government December 2013 bonds valued at N10 billion each, will mature November 24, November 28 and December 22, 2013 respectively.

Federal Government, according to DMO, had issued a total of N2.4 trillion bonds since 2003 till date, while the total outstanding bond was N1.917 trillion.

In a communiqué signed by the chamber’s DirectorGeneral, Muda Yusuf at the its council meeting and made available to The Guardian, the chamber cautioned the Federal Government against committing pension funds to projects that could expose the funds to high risk.

The communiqué read: “Council commended the steady growth of the

Pension Fund which is currently well over N3.5 trillion. It however cautions against the commitment of pension funds to projects that could expose the funds to high risk. Typically, pension fund investments should be conservative and of very low risk.

“Council noted in particular the mounting pressure to use the funds for infrastructure projects. It noted that such commitment should be significantly derisked to minimise risk exposure, preferably in form of bonds.

NCC, NBC to cooperate on telecoms’ transformation

By Adeyemi Adepetun HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have pledged to forge greater collaboration to deliver the dividends of modern technology to Nigerians.

The NCC regulates the communications industry while the NBC superintends over the broadcast sector of the country.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, while congratulating the new Director-General of NBC, Emeka Mba, who paid him a visit in Abuja on Wednesday, explained that the two parastatals have always been sister

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regulators and “our roles will become more intertwined because of development in technology, because, “these days, it’s either you broadcast through the internet or through the other traditional channels that we were used to.’’

He noted that the importance of the regulatory responsibilities of the two agencies make it overriding for them to always look for avenues of cooperation, so that important issues can be resolved before being escalated to platforms like the Frequency Management Council, (FMC), which they both belong to.

“It is not a question of fighting for turf but to do things properly so that people can

know that we are working well in Nigeria for the good of those who need our services,’’ Juwah stated.

He also highlighted the importance of the transition from analogue to digital transmission; a process that should terminate in 2015, according to the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunications Union (ITU) timeline, but which he observed is running very late in Nigeria. He pledged the NCC’s commitment to the process while declaring to render any assistance that may be required.

While embracing Juwah’s optimism of a synergy for the two industries that technology is blurring into one, Mba admitted that the ‘’two agen-

cies share very unique responsibilities together. While we deal with content, programming in the broadcast sector, you will agree that technology is muddling the differences, bringing industries together.’’

Mba also noted that as the country pursues the digitisation process, it has become more expedient for the two agencies to create stronger bonds so as to overcome every hurdle on the way.

“There is the need to work together, not just work together but to build more respect for one another, and develop stronger relationship. Because more and more, as we go forward with digitalisation and what this new ecosystem will bring for the sector, you will find telcos

who want to be broadcasters and broadcasters who want to be telecoms operators.

“We have to find ways to work together for the benefits of Nigerian consumers,’’

Juwah

Mba added, thus re-echoing Juwah’s position that the future of the two industries will not be about frequency but about quality service to the consumers.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

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Weekend Muslims commemorate Eid-el-Fitri

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20 WEEKEND

Muslims connect with Allah, as Eid-el-Fitri

Muslims celebrating Eid -el-Fitri at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, yesterday.

From the Holy City of Makkah, in Saudi Arabia, KABIR ALABI GARBA captures the mood of millions of Muslims, as they celebrate Eid-elFitri.

FTERALL, the holy city of Makkah, with its A sublime spirituality and dedication to preserving the pristine heritage of Islam, is not immune from suspense and uncertainty that normally trail the celebration of Eid-lFitri, which was marked globally yesterday.

The frenzy mood at the vicinity of Ka’abah, the holy mosque in Makkah was palpable last Wednesday evening, as worshippers (mainly guests including Nigerians who had come from far and near to observe the last 10 days of Ramadan in the holy land) gathered in groups to discuss the probability of terminating the one-month fasting that very night (August 7).

But this agitation is allowed in the sense that fasting, in the month of Ramadan by Muslims, is done for either 29 or 30 days.

Having started the 2013 edition of Ramadan on Wednesday, July 10; by Wednesday, August 7, the counting had reached 29, thus, the announcement even in Nigeria, by the President, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, that Muslims should watch out for the new moon of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Muslim calendar, whose first day is automatically the day of Eid-l-Fitri.

But unlike in Nigeria, especially in past few years, when the waiting game (for the new moon) would extend till mid-night, even day break of the following day, by Mogrib time in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (7p.m. and 5p.m.

Nigerian time), the news was everywhere that the moon had been sighted.

And apart from the two gun shots, loud enough to be heard at every corner of Makkah, signifying the end of fasting, the kids simply took-over every available space with bangers as they commenced the celebration of the Eid their own way.

Curiously however, Muslims, including Saudis were jolted on Tuesday, August 6 (being the 28th day of Ramadan) with the announcement by Saudi Supreme Court (SSC) urging the public to search for the crescent moon. The implication was not lost on the public as they apprehended fasting for 28 days, instead of 29 or 30 days.

“Those who witness the moon should inform the nearest court. If the moon was not sighted on Tuesday, they should look for it on Wednesday evening,” the SSC statement had noted.

If the moon had been sighted on Tuesday night, this would mean Ramadan this year would have ended in 28 days, one day short of the minimum cycle. Islam follows a lunar calendar in which months are either 29 or 30 days.

However, in the neighbouring gulf countries, United Arab Emirate (UAE) and Bahrain especially, officials insisted they would meet on Wednesday to sight the moon. But the Tuesday announcement in Saudi Arabia had a precedent.

According to Gulf News, the last time a similar incident occurred was in 1984, when the Saudi Supreme Court admitted their mistake.

At the time, it was gathered that the authorities made announcement that Eid would fall on what was thought to be Ramadan 29, admitting the holy month began one day late. Clerics said then that Muslims would need to fast for one day after Eid, to make up for the fast that was missed.

Thanks to Allah (SWT), this kind of experience was averted as nearly every Muslim globally celebrated Eid-l-Fitri yesterday, after they had all fasted for 29 days. This time around, give it to Saudis, there was a display of capacity and faithfulness, to ensure that unity among Muslims

worldwide is maintained (with respect to Eid celebration), but without compromising divine dictates of Islam. Even the interest of non-natives, non-speakers of Arabic language especially, under which hundreds of thousands of Muslims who thronged the holy mosque this year falls, was catered for adequately. Two events stood out in this respect.

The first confirmation that Thursday was Eid day for non-speakers who might have not picked the news of the moon sighting from the 7p.m. news bulletin was the non-observation of the traditional, but voluntary prayers called Taraweeh after Solat Ishai (night obligatory prayer) on Wednesday. Also, there was no congregational observation of Tahjud (mid-night prayer that runs between 1a.m. and 3a.m).

Unlike the crowd that thronged the holy mosque the previous day (Tuesday, August 6) when the clerics at the holy mosque led the congregation in a marathon prayer session of celebrating the completion of the recitation of the Holy Qur’an (during Ramadan), the atmosphere around the mosque was not as thick and crowded on Wednesday as festivity mood was already dawned on worshippers.

Apart from multiple of worshippers who had stationed in the Mosque and its surroundings, observing the religious duty called Itkaaf since July 30 when the countdown for the last 10 days of Ramadan began, several other Muslims also kept vigil until yesterday morning when Eid l Fitri prayer was over.

Without the observation of Tahjud in group as individual Muslims were busy with different types of spiritual engagements, activities offi-

The ‘Id al-Fitr is the occasion during which Muslims are expected to bask in an uncommon happiness, particularly for their ability to connect with the Almighty, especially at a time when profanity and bestiality have become fashionable.

Rejoice dear brother if you succeeded re-establishimg your links with your creator. Celebrate dear sister if Ramadan worked for you and imbued you with the spiritual weapons, without which life on this earth would be an extension of hell

cially began at the Holy Mosque yesterday, with the morning prayer (Solat Subhi) which was said at 4.50a.m.

Led by one of the Imams at the Holy Mosque, Sheikh Solihu Umaid, chapter one of the Holy Qur’an (Surat Fatiha) and verses (61 to 77) from Chapter 25 were recited on the first Rakah, while on the second Rakah, Fatiha and verses (18 to 36) from Chapter 83 were recited. The prayer was terminated at 5.02a.m.

Thereafter, the repeated recitation of Takbir as mandated in Chapter 2 V 185 of the Qur’an began at 5.16a.m. and the crowd chorused it after the clerics. This was on for an hour, as Eid l Fitri prayer was said at 6.17a.m with Imam Umaid still leading. He read Chapters 87 and 88 of the Holy Qur’an on the two Rakahs, in addition to Chapter one – Suratul Fatiha. It ended on 6.25a.m and the kernel of the spiritual engagement, the sermon, began thereafter and lasted till 7a.m.

Here, the Imam took the congregation through the lesson and significance of Eid l Fitri with emphasis on Ramadan fasting as an obligatory duty for Muslims.

The word ‘Id, in Arabic, means that which recurs or returns. Technically, it refers to the celebration of the end of the month-long fasting of Ramadan. It is a celebration of the completion of the training in the “school of Ramadan” where Muslims “attended courses” in patience, perseverance, honesty and the consciousness of the Almighty.

The ‘Id al-Fitr is the occasion during which Muslims are expected to bask in an uncommon happiness, particularly for their ability to connect with the Almighty, especially at a time when profanity and bestiality have become fashionable. Rejoice dear brother if you succeeded re-establishimg your links with your creator. Celebrate dear sister if Ramadan worked for you and imbued you with the spiritual weapons, without which life on this earth would be an extension of hell.

Muslims should be happy that, thanks to Ramadan, under no circumstance shall they allow earthly principalities to pollute their souls; never again shall we allow our prosperity to demean our spirituality; never again

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

WEEKEND 21

is celebrated worldwide However, it is important for Muslims to note that their “graduation” from Ramadan is like their arrival to a station which is, in itself, the beginning of another journey. In other words, the whole essence of life and living for the conscious Muslim is all about arrival and departure: we arrive from a religious duty in order to depart for another one. The onset of the Id alFitr, like it is for Id al-Adha, implies the undertaking of series of religious duties. Muslim festivals are, therefore, not ends in themselves, but means to a more hallowed spiritualsocial ends.

shall our temporary adversity purblind us to the greater value in walking with the Almighty in the wilderness of this terrestrial life.

However, it is important for Muslims to note that their “graduation” from Ramadan is like their arrival to a station, which is, in itself, the beginning of another journey. In other words, the whole essence of life and living for the conscious Muslim is all about arrival and departure: we arrive from a religious duty in order to depart for another one. The onset of the Id alFitr, like it is for Id al-Adha, implies the undertaking of series of religious duties. Muslim festivals are, therefore, not ends in themselves, but means to a more hallowed spiritual-social ends. Each time Muslims prostrate in obeisance to the Almighty, they are expected to rise in order that they might rescue humanity from the multiplexity of maladies confronting the latter.

Thus, ahead of the ‘Id al-fitr, prepare to observe the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad.

Plan to wake up very early in the morning; observe the tahajud (do not let this virtue slip away from your schedules after Ramadan), and in keeping with the Sunnah, take a bath before Fajr prayers and put on new clothes (or the best available). It is sunnah for men to use perfume not only on Id days but always. It is not allowed for Muslims to fast on this day. Take a light breakfast before setting out to the praying ground.

Again, Muslims should not forget that it is in the tradition of the Prophet that they give out Sadaqat-ul-fitr, preferably before the id prayers are observed. It is usually paid for and on behalf of all Muslims in a household, the young and the old. It may be paid in kind and this may feature three to four seers of wheat, barley, rice or any staple food. (Sahih Bukhari 24:70).

Recently, Islamic scholars have addressed the necessity of monetizing this act of worship based on existential necessities. In the University of Ibadan central mosque, for example, the Imam usually announces a certain amount of money to be paid by individuals, in lieu of giving sadaqat al-Fitr out in kind. This falls under the legal rubric- maslahat al-Ammahthe promotion of the public convenience.

Whether it is given out in cash or in kind, the more important issue is the intention behind the act. The intention should be the extension of the happiness of the occasion to other muslim brethren who are experiencing adversity.

Muslims should desire for our brothers and sisters the same quality of life the like of which the Almighty has been kind to grant unto them.

“But how shall we go about doing this duty?

It is better we give out our sadaqat al-Fitr to our imams who would and should, following Quran 9 verse 60, distribute same among the eight categories of people who qualify to receive Zakat. Brethren, our acts of generosity stand better acceptance when they are given incognito; when we give, like Ali ibn Abi Talib, in expectation of no appreciation. We should cultivate the habit of giving, in line with the Prophet’s advice, in such a way that our left hand would not know what our right-hand has handed out.

“Brethren, set out early for the ‘id prayer

ground. While going there in your car, stop on the way to offer seats in your car to your brethren who might be going there on foot.

Do not wait to be asked before you offer such assistance. Again this is highly virtuous.

On the way to the ‘Id praying ground engage in much glorification of The Almighty.

In low voice, say: The Almightyu Akbar, The Almightyu Akbar, The Almightyu Akbar. Laa ilaaha ilal-lahu wal-The Almightyu Akbar, The Almightyu Akbar wa-lilla hil hamd.

‘Id prayer is performed in congregation in open areas like fields, community centers, etc. or at mosques. There is usually no Adhan (Call to Prayer) or Iqamah (call) for the prayers because they are nawafil - superogatory prayers. It consists of only two raka t (units of prayer) with an additional six Takbirs. The ‘Id prayer is usually followed by the khutbah (sermon) – this order may be reversed based on necessity- and then a supplication (dua) asking for The Almighty’s forgiveness, mercy, peace and blessings for all living beings across the world. The khutbah is also meant to remind Muslims of their responsibilities to The Almighty after the glorious month of Ramadan.

Listening to the khutbah (sermon) of ‘Id is a necessary requirement (wajib). Thus it is not proper, as is usually the case, for you to leave the prayer ground while the khutbah is being delivered. It is equally forbidden to talk, walk about or offer prayer while the sermon is being delivered.

“Brethren as we celebrate the end of this years’ Ramadan, it is important that we constantly keep the virtues that the month has come to inculcate in us under focus. Have more empathy for the poor. Let us sustain the acts of worship which we engaged in during the month. Steadfastness, patience and perseverance should remain our watchwords.

Ramadan came to call our attention to the power of the spiritual realm; it came to take us away from concern for the ephemeral for that which is eternal. Ramadan came to teach us that our salvation here on earth and in the hereafter lies in how steady we are in focusing on The Almighty, how grateful we are for His blessings, and how patient shall we continue to be when, as is occasionally the case, the tide of time becomes turbulent and troublesome.

“Brethren, once the ‘Id prayer is concluded endeavour to take another route on your way back home and ponder your journeys on earth. Ask yourself this question just before you embark on any endeavour in life: will this route I am taking lead me to eternal salvation?”

Muslims from Nigeria, in their thousands, were part of the congregation that observed the festival prayer yesterday at the Haram.

They came from all walks of like: government functionaries, political elites, business people, religious organisations and so on. Even, Nigerians from Diaspora were not left out.

Kamil Ekungba, a native of Owo, Ondo State, who came from the United States told The Guardian yesterday that he encountered Nigerians a lot in the last 10 days of being in Saudi Arabia. “At every tawaaf (circumbulation of Ka’abah) I did, for every five black people I encountered, two would be Nigerians, even some would be speaking Yoruba,” said Ekungba in a chat. Politicians especially are in multiple.

The Vice-President, Alhaji Namdi Sambo actually led the delegation of the federal government. He was at the Madinah Mosque last Friday. Certainly, he would be part of very special visitors of the King of Saudi Arabia that would be hosted at the palace, adjacent to the holy mosque later today.

But the question that continues to agitate the minds of Nigerians is whether the lesson of good governance that is daily transforming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is being taken by these politicians.

O Muhammad, surely We have granted you the Kauthar (countless blessings, Plenty; Therefore, offer Salah (prayer) to your Lord and sacrifice; Surely Your enemy is the one who will be cut off from the root. (Quran 108:1-3) “Every nation has a festival; our festivals are id al-fitr and id l-Adha” ——-Prophet Muhammad.

Seriki Nupawa, Alhaji Baba Usman (left); Seriki Fulani, Alhaji Rufai Attoi, Seriki Hausawa Agege, Alhaji Musa Mohammed Dogokadai, Chief Imam of Agege, Alhaji Serif Habeeb Abdul Majid and Second Noibi, Alhaji Sharu Ishmeel during the Eid -el-Fitri celebration in Lagos yesterday

Worshipers at Ikeja, Lagos Prayer Ground, to commemorate Eid -el-Fitri yesterday PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

22 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9,

Apple seeks U.S. Samsung phone sales ban PPLE Inc. (AAPL) is trying A to force Samsung Electronics Co.’s mobile devices off U.S. store shelves a week after dodging an iPhone 4 ban by a rare White House veto.

The company will ask a U.S. appeals court tomorrow to block sales of Samsung models a California jury found violated patents for the iPhone’s look and features. Later, a U.S. trade agency is expected to say if it will halt some Samsung imports based on other Apple patent-infringement claims.

For Cupertino, Californiabased Apple, making Samsung change or stop selling some smartphones and tablet computers is more important than money. The $1 billion verdict it won at trial last year equals less than two weeks’ worth of iPhone sales and one-seventh of Samsung’s second-quarter profit.

“Sometimes, the money’s not enough,” said Ray Van Dyke, a technology-patent lawyer with the Van Dyke Firm in Washington. “Between Apple and Samsung, it’s about who’s going to be the top dog. You want to shut them down. This is the club. You can beat them into submission with a club and maintain your top dog status.”

Apple and Samsung together make almost half of all smartphones sold, with Samsung holding the title of world’s biggest and the two companies vying to be number one in the U.S.

The two companies are spending millions of dollars in legal fees battling across four continents. Neither has been able to strike a crippling blow. An import ban that could have halted some of Apple’s older iPhone 4 and iPad 2 3G models at the U.S. border was vetoed

by President Barack Obama’s administration last week.

Slowing Samsung’s momentum will be hard — most of the models named in Apple’s patent cases are no longer sold as Samsung regularly introduces new devices in different price ranges. The company said it has designed around the Apple patents in newer products.

“Samsung’s U.S. sales of the older products in question are very small, which accounts for even less than one per cent of the company’s total handset sales there,” said Kim Young Chan, a Seoul-based analyst at Shinhan Investment Corp.

Based on Samsung’s filings with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, the impact will depend on the wording of any import ban imposed by the agency. A broadly worded order finding infringement of Apple’s patent for the phone’s front design “could create an immediate shortage of millions of mobile devices,” the filing said.

The trade commission, which investigates unfair trade practices, is scheduled tomorrow to announce results of its review of a judge’s findings that some Samsung models infringed four Apple patents.

Apple phones If there is a violation, the commission could order a ban on imports. That too would be subject to review by the Obama administration, and the Korean Ministry of Trade said Aug. 5 it would be watching the case.

“Obama may issue the reprieve again for Samsung, and if not, it will only bring up even bigger international conflict,” said Lee Sun Tae, an analyst at Seoul-based NH Investment & Securities said by phone. “Consumers no longer care about Samsung’s ‘copycat’ image any more as it has somewhat vanished, because even with the ongoing litigation, the Galaxy S sales have continued to rise.”

While the patents in the two cases aren’t the same, some of the products overlap, including the Epic 4G and the Indulge that are now available only in pre-owned models. The Galaxy S II, the precursor to the company’s top-selling Galaxy S4, was cleared by the ITC judge of infringing Apple’s design patent.

The cases tomorrow involve different legal standards over the same basic issue — Apple’s ability to halt Samsung’s sales.

Apple will ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, which specializes in patent law, to overturn District Judge Lucy Koh’s 2012 order that lets

Firm stops sale of aluminium business as prices fall INING giant Rio Tinto M says it has given up trying to sell its aluminium business and has reported an 18 per cent fall in underlying half-year profits.

Rio said it had not found a buyer and it was “not possible” to sell Pacific Aluminium in the current environment.

Many commodity prices are well below the record highs of recent years as China’s eco-

nomic growth rate slows.

Rio said lower iron ore, copper and coal prices all contributed to the fall in profits.

Pacific Aluminium, which has five aluminium smelters, a bauxite mine and an alumina refinery in Australia and New Zealand, was put up for sale in 2011.

The miner’s chief executive, Sam Walsh, said in the company’s statement: “Following a

comprehensive review, we have also determined that the divestment of Pacific Aluminium for value is not possible in the current environment and it will be reintegrated into the Rio Tinto Alcan group.”

Underlying profits were $4.23 billion (£2.73 billion) in the six months to June.

The company said it had managed to make $1.5bn in

cost cuts and had shed 2,200 workers in the period.

Walsh said the future picture was uncertain: “The mediumterm economic outlook remains volatile with a broader range of outcomes now possible.

“Chinese economic growth has decelerated so far this year and is unlikely to recover significantly in the second half, but we do not expect a hard landing.”

Samsung continue selling devices found to infringe Apple patents. Koh said Apple didn’t prove patented features and designs drove consumer sales, so Apple could be made whole with money.

“Samsung has chosen to compete not through innovation, but through calculated and meticulous copying of Apple’s popular iPhone and iPad,” Apple said in a filing with the appeals court. “After the iPhone’s success, Samsung’s phones became iPhone clones.”

Samsung, which denies infringing the patents, will urge the appeals court to uphold the ruling as it hasn’t even yet determined whether the jury was right in finding infringement.

“The most Apple did was to introduce evidence that some consumers value ‘design’ and ‘ease of use’ in general, a far cry from a showing that the limited features covered by Apple’s design and utility patents drive consumer demand for Samsung products,” Samsung said in its own filing with the court.

The ruling could have broad implications for any company that owns patents for features or components of complex products, like a smartphone or computer.

US trade deficit narrows to $34.2 billion in June HE US trade deficit fell by could mean a net upward T 22.4 per cent to $34.2 bil- revision worth about 0.8 perlion (£22.3 billion) in June, centage points and take secthe smallest gap since October 2009.

The percentage contraction was also the largest since February 2009.

The three-month average of the trade deficit, which irons out monthly volatility, also fell to $39.5 billion in the three months to June from $40.5 billion in the previous period.

Meanwhile, May’s trade shortfall was revised to $44.1 billion from the previously reported $45.0 billion.

The smaller June deficit could lead the government to revise economic growth for the April-to-June quarter up from its initial estimated annual rate of 1.7 billion.

“All else being equal, this

ond-quarter growth to 2.5 per cent,” said Wells Fargo economist Tim Quinlan.

In June, imports of goods and services fell by 2.5 per cent to $225.4 billion, mainly because of large declines in petrol imports and of industrial supplies and materials.

Exports of goods and services increased 2.2 per cent to a record $191.2 billion.

Of those, exports to the 27nation European Union rose by 1.5 per cent, while exports to China increased by 4.5 per cent in June.

Imports from China fell by 2.2 per cent, bringing the trade deficit with China down to $26.6 billion from $27.9 billion in May.

Works Ana Pastor will address the panel on Friday and announce extra meas-

ures to prevent such accidents in future, the Renfe chief said.

Spain rail crash: ‘No malfunction reported’ HE head of Spain’s public T railways says the crew of the train which derailed at high speed last month killing 79 people had not reported any problems before the crash.

Renfe chief Julio GomezPomar was speaking to a parliamentary panel about the crash near Santiago de Compostela.

The derailment on 24 July also left about people 170 injured.

Train driver Francisco Jose Garzon Amo is under investigation but has not been formally charged.

“Throughout the journey there is no record of communication from the train to the monitoring centre to report any damage or abnormality,” Gomez-Pomar said.

He said all normal security procedures had been followed and that the driver had

not been on duty more than the standard number of hours, having just returned to work after two days off.

Renfe boss Julio Gomez Pomar says help was sent “from the moment Renfe was aware of the accident” The BBC’s Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid says the parliamentary session is not expected to look at the causes of the accident.

Instead, MPs want to know what measures have been taken since then to improve safety.

The train’s “black box” data recorder has revealed that Garzon was talking to a colleague on his work phone and consulting documents just before the derailment.

Judicial authorities have said the train was travelling at 192km/h (119mph) - more than twice the speed limit -

on the bend where it derailed.

All eight carriages careered off the tracks on the express route between Madrid and the port city of Ferrol on the Galician coast.

The Renfe chief said that on the day of the crash the train had undergone a thorough technical inspection and nothing abnormal had been found. The brakes were in perfect condition, he said.

In addition, he said there were three warning signs on the line telling drivers about the bend near Santiago de Compostela where the train derailed and where the speed limit was 80km/h.

Gomez-Pomar said that under Renfe’s rules drivers are banned from sending text messages during journeys, they can only use their work phone if strictly necessary and are not allowed to

make calls on their personal phone.

Spain’s Minister of Public

Spain’s rail

23

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

ExecutiveBrief In association with TRIPPLEA ASSOCIATES LIMITED

EDITION 273

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT INFOTECH4DEXECUTIVES CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE EXECUTIVE FINANCE ngineer Femi Ariba is a confident enthusiastic and profesE sional team player with wide range of experience in the oil and gas industry. He is the special advisor on procurement and subcontracts for Amec Contractors (West Africa); one of the world’s leading engineering, project management and Consultancy Company. Engineer Ariba is an effective manager, with a track record of executing specific objectives and achieving deadlines under pressure. Engr. Ariba is an entrepreneur, businessman, manager, all rolled together and a member of several professional bodies including Nigeria Society of Engineers and many others. In this interview, Engr. Ariba, who was re-elected as the Chairman of Isheri Mainland club spoke on a wide range of issues.

You were recently re-elected for a new term as the Chairman of Isheri Mainland club, how do you feel?

I fell honoured and grateful to God for the opportunity to serve. I equally extend my gratitude to my colleagues at the club who felt that the good work we started should continue. There is a sudden realization when you get to a certain position that you must know what you are doing in life. The realization will make you become more determined in your cause, more unbending in your resolve to do what you are doing. I have the resolve that I should be more focused and serious in my calling because it has defined my existence on earth. You can start something like a child’s play, before you know it, you assume a larger than life character and it becomes your stamp on earth. If you have cut a good image for yourself, then it will be better to maintain and sustain the tempo and make it worth your while. A Leader with presence engages their team and keeps motivation high - through good and bad times. The greatest business leaders all have executive presence.

There were pockets of protest after the election by some members, was it as a result of non performance in your first term?

It’s natural that a lot of people will not be happy with what you are doing, but I think the protest was as a result of people not adapting to change easily. Above all, I believe it is victory for the club because most of the issues that prompted the protests have been resolved. In our first term we were able to bring about some radical changes in the running the affairs of the club, but some people were more comfortable with the old way of doing things. Isheri mainland club is a top Social, Recreational

When You Work Without Passion, Never Expect

Success

and Sporting Club based in Lagos, Nigeria with membership cutting across nationalities, tribes and multi-cultures.

The main objective of the founding fathers was to foster harmony, friendship and love through recreation. We equally intend to use the activities of the club to develop our immediate environment. I have always believed in the power of sports to influence a lot of things in the world.

Our administration has done well in terms of infrastructural development of the club, and this has propelled people to make generous contributions to the club, because they appreciate what we are doing.

What will your focus be on your second term?

The club used to be a socio-cultural organization with indigenes as members, but the modern-day Isheri mainland club is a success story. Within the last ten years, we’ve been able to integrate other nationalities, tribes and multi-cultures in the membership. It’s very important to also state that the peace we enjoy at the club is also worthy of mention. If not for anything, we have a 200 capacity sitting hall for all purposes. The club house sits on more than three plots of land at MagodoIsheri; you know what it means. On our focus, we intend to complete our cold store under construction which is our major priority. We equally intend to improve on the security and parking arrangements to make it convenient for influential people living within the Magodo estate to be part of the club.

We intend to develop more sporting facilities for the club including a lawn tennis court, squash court etc.

What in your view are the keys to effective leadership?

There are a couple of things that are not taught in school, which are critical to growing, surviving, and achieving success in life and business. The major one is purpose. You must have a purpose driven life for you to achieve success in anything in life. There must be something that drives you, something you subscribe to. Vision is another key issue, but it comes only after purpose. If you know the purpose for which you are created, you can now vision and create that future accomplishment in line with that purpose in different spheres of human endeavour. The purpose of my leadership is to bring my wealth of experience to lead Isheri mainland club to greater heights so that it can compete favourably with its counterparts nationally while adding values in terms of facilities and services.

It is getting increasingly difficult to do business in Nigeria; as an entrepreneur and business leader, what factors are responsible for this and what is the way out? It’s even worse if you are a manufacturer, because the odds are getting bigger. The tasks and challenges are equally getting more daunting. For example, you must have infrastructure, an enabling environment, and access to finance; raw materials and the market. We are in dire stress and I see further deindustrialization if things remain the way they are. The way out is for us to deal with issues like infrastructural development. The government needs to do more to invite more private investment in infrastructure. We need to actively motivate additional investment in power, transportation, roads and communication so that the current infrastructure deficit can be dealt with. I believe the only way to improve consumer purchasing power is to attract new businesses and investments.

What are the The investments will create jobs. The environment has become so tensed up and the way out is for us to imbibe the most spirit of good governance/accountability, doing the right imporpolitical/constitutional issues, getting the police working tant effectively to curb crime, and create more opportunities for employment to be able to reduce poverty.

leadership lessons you’ve learnt over the years?

Upon assumption of duty as the chairman of the club, I

Engr. Femi Ariba

realized that people don’t like change, but change is inevitable. A leader must lead by showing the way, otherwise there’s no leadership. What it means is that you must be firm in your decisions as a leader. Leadership entails vision and working the talk. Discipline is the bedrock of leadership because without it you cannot achieve goals in your life. I’ve watched many successful leaders and I’ve come to realize that they have discipline, they are honest, and their word is their bond. Most of my colleagues believe that I’m a hard guy, but that’s the only way you can get things done. I so much believe in transparency and accountability. Before I became the Chairman, we use to have issues with finances but we’ve streamlined that and made sure that every kobo realized is quickly lodged into the club’s account. We have provided focused leadership as can be seen from the number of people that are eager to join the club.

What are the critical factors for business success?

Talent is fired by passion, desire and enthusiasm. It has been discovered that one who has passion can outperform a passive person who posses greater talents. The most talented people are not always the winners. It takes more than talent to win. You need passion. When you work without passion, never expect success. The other factor that is needed for business success is to have ideas. Once you have the ideas, finance will generally come your way. The most important is to have ideas. The critical factor also includes knowing your potentials; realize what you are good at. The other factor is to have the third eye to spot the opportunity when it comes. People can only make breakthrough with opportunities.

Where do you find the energy to do all that you do?

The moment you begin to utilize your talent, God multiplies them and gives you the energy to move on. The moment you do one thing well, it creates the opportunity to do another one. I’m working in line and I’m enjoying God’s grace. He gives me the power and the ability. Additionally, it has to do with proper and efficient time management. It has to do with effective utilization of time and proper planning. If you spend enough time planning, execution becomes easy.

Planning is the key to success. I am also self- sacrificing and I’m not internally focused. I worry about accomplishing what God has asked me to do. My life ought to be a blessing to my immediate community and the world at large. The overriding principle behind all these is a very strong belief in God.

For Advertisement and Enquiries 08025070837 08156388800, E-mail:editor.executivebrief@trippleagroup.com

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

24 | EXECUTIVEBRIEF

Executive Management

By Kate Tammemagi ing towards the stage of High Performance. An effective uilding a high performing Manager is working one to Team is a key part of the one to improve individual role of a Manager. 'High per- performance, and working forming' comes from two dis- actively to develop his or her tinct elements, high perform- Team through the stages of ing individual Team memTeam development. Using bers, and a Team that is mov- Tuckman's model as a frame-

B

Effective Management, How to Build a High Performing Team work, we can tease out the Manager's focus and tasks at each stage.

The Manager at the Forming Stage

Executives Finance The Amazing Secrets of

Financial Freedom

By Luigi Carucci ollow the wealth formula and you will live the life of choice and freedom you've always dreamt about. You don't need hard work, to be the most talented guy, or even connections; you just need to know what rich people know.

No matter who you are, or what is your current financial situation, you can become a wealthy man. You only need to know three things to become a moneymaking machine. First, the source of your income is the key element in the wealthbuilding arena. Some sources will make you rich and others will keep you trapped in the rat race. Second, you should have your expenses under control.

Learning how to keep money is as important as knowing how to make it. And finally, you should understand the difference between good and bad debt. I will show you how understanding, and applying, each one of this principles will give you financial freedom.

F

money. This is a great alternative to earn some passive income. This source includes investing in stocks, bonds, gaining money through interests and dividends, royalties earned from investing in other people's businesses.

With this approach, you don't need to build anything; you just use your money to generate more money. #3. - Creating money machines (businesses). Here you create businesses that will make money for you on autopilot. Building multiple small streams of income is the best way to gain financial freedom. But unless your multiple streams of income work on autopilot you won't be able to build, and manage, a lot of them. To gain financial freedom, avoid earning money through active income, trading your time for money, and instead find passive income alternatives that will let you earn money while you sleep, using money to generate money, or creating money machines.

The source of your income There are only three ways to earn money: Keep your money #1. - Trading your time for money. This is the worst source It doesn't matter how much of money. If your money comes from this place, you are an employee or an auto-employee.

You need to work to earn money. Many guys believe that just because they work for themselves, they are entrepreneurs. But, the truth is that most of them are only autoemployees. Your time is a limited resource, you can only work a certain amount of hours a day, and if you stop working your income supply will also stop. You will never become wealthy if your money comes from this source. #2. - Using money to make

you earn, if your expenses exceed your income you are on the road to financial disaster. If you want to gain financial freedom you need to live below your means. Your unavoidable expenses (rent, gas, energy, food, etc.) should not exceed 50% of your income. You can use 30% of your income for you. Spend this money on anything you want, but no more. Use the rest of the money, 20%, to save and invest.

Healthy debt vs. cancerous debt You should avoid debt at all costs. Debt is like a cancer that will kill your financial future, and your peace of mind. The only time you are allowed to acquire debt is if you are going to use the money to buy an asset. That means you are going to use the money to create a passive income vehicle. Keep in mind that although these principles are very simple, they are also very effective. Learn to earn money through the right source, spend less than you earn, and only acquire debt if you are going to increase your net worth. I

At the Forming Stage the objective is the Manager is focusing on three key areas.

1. Aligning the Team to their Company purpose, their Team purpose, their objectives and their goals. The Manager will reinforce these by informing, reinforcing goals, rewarding and praising effort that leads to goal achievement.

2. Bonding the Team, and giving them a sense of identity. The Manager holds informal and formal meetings with the Team as a whole to build internal relationships and bonds.

3. Painting a picture of the path forward, the type of Team we will be in the future. An effective Manager knows the nature of a Norming or High Performance Team, and will describe this frequently to the Team. If they know where they are going, they are much more likely to get there!

The Leader at Storming Stage This is the critical stage, and the trickiest one to navigate through. Individuals come out from behind the reserved Forming stage, and the Storming behaviours begin. The focus of the Manager here is to keep working on the Alignment and bonding as in the Forming Stage, while also working on Storming Stage activities.

1. Encourage cross training and cross team project work.

One of the dangers at this stage is the formation of small, tight sub-groups or cliques. We minimise this by

ensuring individuals rotate who they work with, or are paired up with different people to work on small projects. The benefit of this is that strong bonds are formed, we are sharing Team strengths and individuals learn each other's strengths.

2. Encourage the Team and Team members to begin to think for themselves. Whilst still reinforcing the shared purpose and our Team culture, the Leader begins to use coaching questions to challenge and develop them.

3. Introduce different Team Processes. At the Forming and early Storming stage, the Manager uses the regular Meeting as the main process. He or she will use this both to bind and align the Team, and to manage throughput of work. There will be frequent and wellstructured Meetings. Later, the Manager will vary how the Team works together and they will develop specific processes to be used for different situations.

He or she might hold a brainstorm meeting, a problem solving meeting or a project de-brief meeting.

They may hold daily Team huddles to manage throughput, and may delegate the chair of these brief meetings to Team members.

The Leader at Norming Stage Now the Leader has developed effective Team processes, effective ways the Team can work together and has built strong bonds.

The danger at early Norming stage is that they will become too smug, too comfortable in their own routine. The goal here is to really challenge them, to give them new skills to learn and new milestones to achieve.

1. Involve the Team or subgroups in more aspects of your own Role. This is the time to coach and mentor the Team towards delegation. The effective Manager is not now trying to do all the work themselves, to come up with the new ideas or solve all the problems. Individuals working in pairs or small groups can take on a lot of project work. Rotate the groups and the pairs so that all are being developed.

2. Build the business knowledge of the Team.

This is the time also to educate them more about the nature of your business, your customers and your competitors. The more they know, the better placed they will be to make good decisions.

3. Encourage sharing of skills, and the dissemination of knowledge.

4. Foster a competitive element, but ensure it does not generate bad feeling.

The aim is to build people who want to push themselves and continuously lift the bar higher and higher.

Benchmarking themselves against better Teams and using this as a competitive, achievable goal gives a great sense of purpose. This is also the attitude of the High Performance Team that we are moving towards; they always want to be better than the rest.

Group Condemns Deportation in any guise di-Igbo-Dum, a sociocultural organization has condemned in strong terms the alleged deportation of Ndigbo in any guise out of Lagos by agents of the state government. In a communiqué issued at a one day leaders and stakeholders meeting in Lagos, berated the state government for what it infringing on the rights of people as enshrined in the constitution. Citing the quote from a German Pastor; (“First they came for the Communists and I did not speak out, because I’m not a Communist; Then, they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out because I’m not a trade unionist; then, they came for the Jews, I did not speak out because I’m not a Jew; Now, they have come for me and there is no one to speak for me” German Pastor Martin Neimoller, who was incarcerated by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Regime).

The convener of the meeting Mazi Amobi Moghalu said that the administration has come for the Igbo man in blatant assault on all that is sacrosanct to our

N

national constitution. If we keep quiet in the face of this brazen trampling on the tenets of our nationhood, there will be no one left in Lagos in the nearest future to speak for us. He said.

The group also alleged that the ultimate destination of the agenda is designed to get rid of all those who are not primarily from the Yoruba ethnic stock, who are not of the elite class and those who are not wholly fit or who mentally or psychologically deficit. The group believe that Leadership as the most valuable asset on earth should be geared towards ameliorating the suffering of the less priviledged. Without it, no amount of vision, resources or talent will ever achieve sustainable success for any society. Leadership is what moves us from point A to point B; leadership is what makes each of us all that we have the potential to be.

Leadership is what gives us hope for a better tomorrow.

Among the demands made by the group includes demanding for a special status to the Igbos as they

Action is the foundational key to all success. Pablo Picasso

believe they are partners in progress for the rapid development of the state.

The state government must make efforts to stop the constant harassment of Igbo traders by government officials, because according to them, they are law abiding citizens of the state. They should also desist from imposing Baba oloja, who did not stand for election, on the peaceful traders of Ladipo Auto Spare Parts market. They concluded that their wish is to build a Lagos where Tunde and Tochukwu, Adamu and Alero, Imaobong and Emmanuel can all co-exist in mutual respect and love.

26 ARTS

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

Revue Of patriarchalisation and deification

Who begat African Literature?

Niyi Osundare is an interviewer’s delight. His choice of language and words are graceful. You can’t beat the Ikere-Ekiti-born poet, dramatist and literary critic when he decides to pour out his thoughts. He gained degrees at the University of Ibadan (BA), the University of Leeds (MA) and York University, Canada (PhD, 1979).

Previously professor (from 1989) and Head of English (1993–97) at the University of Ibadan, he became professor of English at the University of New Orleans in 1997.

The author of such works as Songs from the Marketplace (1983), Village Voices (1984), The Eye of the Earth (1986, winner of a Commonwealth Poetry Prize and the poetry prize of the Association of Nigerian Authors), Moonsongs (1988), Songs of the Season (1999), Waiting Laughters (1990, winner of the Noma Award) and many more tells KABIR ALABI GARBA that it is very wrong and utter deification to assert fathership role to any writer of African Literature. He also speaks more on other issues, especially Climate Change.

This debate about the ‘Father of African Literature’, what is your view on it?

HE so-called ‘debate’ rankles in its utter banality and jejuneness. It’s nothing short of an exercise in false – but mischievous – genealogy, a nauseatingly egregious time-waster. As a writer, thinker, and humanist democrat, I’m averse to all kinds of assigned, imposed hierarchies and orchestrated myths of origin… ‘Who Is the Father of African literature’? Let us go ridiculously biblical and reframe the question: Who Begat African Literature? Yes, it’s that ludicrous… Well if we designate somebody — whether it’s Achebe or Soyinka — as the father of African literature, who then would be the ‘Mother of African literature’?

Where, then, are the children of African literature? I think this Father designation is a manifestation of the Nigerian habit of overpraising public figures and privileging them into autocratic arrogance. This patriarchalisation is just one step short of utter deification, one of the notorious practices of Nigeria’s public life. I don’t think any author worth his/her salt would be eager to don this mantle. African literature could do without this primogenitorial distraction.

Let us get this straight: Chinua Achebe, at no point, said or agreed that he was father of anything except his own children.

Soyinka did not at any time call himself the father of African literature. So, we have to trace the origin of this Father- designation to critics, theorists, camp followers and praise singers. I see something rather disingenuous, even galling, about it all. As is the common practice, once anything gets to Africa, it begins a process of trivialisation and bastardisation. This has already happened to our political life. It has happened to our culture. Now it is taking hold of our literature.

Come to think of it: Have you ever heard any Chinese talk about the ‘Father’ of Chinese literature? Any European about the ‘Father’ of European literature? Any Asian about the ‘Father’ of Asian literature?

The designation in question is so wide, so seamless, and, in the final analysis, so irresponsible. And it becomes even more irresponsible when it is being tossed between our two prominent writers: Achebe and Soyinka.

And this ‘Father’ war is being waged along ethnic lines — like most things Nigerian! It falls within the purview of what I have always seen as the tribalisation of Nigerian

T

literature, a plague that has been with us for a very long time. Very disturbing. If you really are looking for people who are enthusiastic and passionate about the works of Achebe, people expect you to go east; if it is Soyinka, they expect you to come west. In my opinion, no disservice could have been greater to these two writers. This tribalisation infantalises our literature; it belittles us as a people. It plays into the sick imagination of those who see everything about Africa in childish/childlike terms — the typical image of the African as the eternal baby.

Let us take a walk down the temporal lane, then ask: if Achebe is the father of African literature, it means that that fathering began in 1958, when Things Fall Apart was published… Now let us pause for one moment and give to that novel and its author the epochal, indelible significance they have so deservedly acquired. As I said in my keynote address in 2008 in Lisbon at a conference which literally kicked off the Things Fall Apart @ 50 celebration that took place the whole year in different parts of the world, some books choose their own epochs, some epochs choose their own books. With Things Fall Apart, both choices worked together in stupendous serendipity, because the book found the right time and the right time found the book and both of them found the right author. Let us crow about Things Fall Apart and its author, what the author has done and the great impact that the novel has had all over the world. Let us not diminish these achievements with petty bickering about disputatious birthrights.

Before Achebe and Soyinka came to the

limelight, the world had witnessed the genius of pioneers such as Thomas Mofolo, Camara Laye, Cyprian Ekwensi, Mazisi Kunene, D.O. Fagunwa and many others.

What about the stupendous stock of African oral literary tradition, a tradition from whose seamless resources Achebe and Soyinka and others, including me, have profited so voraciously? If any entity has a primogenitorial right to African literature, that entity is the African oral tradition… Honestly, this fathering, childing thing has got to stop. It is bourne of a validation complex, the an id-ological anxiety, which Nigerian, nay African literature, would be better without. Besides, it fuels that stereotypical entitlement to Africa’s leadership, which people from other African countries often tout as an unmistakable aspect of Nigerian arrogance.

How do you think that the literary community can move forward from this era, especially with the exit of Achebe?

The literary community has never stopped ‘moving forward’. The literary movement of any country is like a flowing river, which can ill afford to be stagnant.

We have to thank the quartet: Achebe, Soyinka, Okigbo and JP Clark. And Ulli Beier, the intrepid catalyst. We have to thank them tremendously for what they have done. I call them the Mbari generation. A wonderful thing happened in this country in the 1960s, shortly before the unfortunate Nigerian civil war. It is a pity the civil war came and scattered everything. Nigerian literature has been growing in leaps and bounds. My generation (some call us the second generation) has drawn heavily from the resources of Achebe, Soyinka, JP Clark, Okigbo, Mabel Segun, and Gabriel Okara. And in the so

Who Is the Father of African literature? Let us go ridiculously biblical and reframe the question: Who Begat African Literature? Yes, it’s that ludicrous . . . Well if we designate somebody - whether it’s Achebe or Soyinka – as the father of African literature, who then would be the ‘Mother of African literature’? Where, then, are the children of African literature? I think this Father designation is a manifestation of the Nigerian habit of overpraising public figures and privileging them into autocratic arrogance. This patriarchalization is just one step short of utter deification, one of the notorious practices of Nigeria’s public life. I don’t think any author worth his/her salt would be eager to don this mantle. African literature could do without this primogenitorial distraction.

many years I have been teaching creative writing and practising it, it is likely that one or two things I too have said and done have influenced those I have taught or interacted with me. This is how the literary tradition re-generates itself and this is how it flows like a constant river. Achebe was here, Achebe is here. Achebe will be here forever.

As I said in my very short tribute to him, soon after his passing, we are celebrating him, not mourning because Achebe has defeated death and this is what good literature does for its practitioners. This is what arts does. We talk about Picasso in the present tense; we talk about William Shakespeare in the present tense; so Achebe is still very much with us.

But I must say that it is not a matter of saying now that Achebe has gone, a new tradition is going to begin. No! The new tradition was already there when he was alive. I think one of the great characteristics of really great artists is that they live beyond their time and are capable of generating and re-generating their own legacies in the kind of influences that they have on younger and succeeding generations.

There is something today in Nigerian literature that could be called the Achebe School of fiction. This designation began around the 1970s or so. And it is still very much with us. The so many novelists that Achebe has influenced - I do not think Elechi Amadi would quarrel all that much if we say that he is one of the beneficiaries of the Achebetradition. Nor would John Munoye, Flora Nwapa - and younger ones like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie…

On my own part, I feel indebted to Achebe’s narrative dexterity and ingenious linguistic experimentation. True, he wrote prose most of his life, and I have been writing poetry all mine, but that has not resulted in a generic barrier. Achebe did something with the English language that hardly any other African writer did before his time: he bent that language, taking care not to completely break it. There is also a stylistic bridge across the genres. What Achebe did with language in prose fiction influenced me tremendously when I was trying to carve out my own craft in poetry.

The delicately textured language of his fiction joins the tellurian imagery of JP Clark, and oftentimes I swing (what a word!) between the telling simplicity of Things Fall Apart and the riverine riffs of JP Clark’s amazing lyricism. What does it matter that

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

...Why human beings should respect nature CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 guest to be murdered under his watch while he walked or scurried into safety?

How would the Yoruba have avoided being implicated in the bloody, essentially antiIgbo counter-coup? This is one of the potent if’s of History that shouldn’t have missed Achebe’s radar screen. Other silences: did General Odumegwu Ojukwu have any faults at all? Charismatic, well schooled, well spoken, scion of a wealthy parentage quite alright; a courageous man who sprang into his people’s service in a time of acute crisis; but were there any chinks in the shield of this warrior? Did he have his own share of human frailty?

Achebe’s account of the elimination of Ifeajuna is disappointingly fuzzy, just like his account of the overrunning of the Midwest at the beginning of the war. In many instances, Achebe’s portrayal of Ojukwu soars from approbatory to reverential and frequently hagiographical…

Indeed, There Was a Book. Suffused with so much pain, so much passion. This is a book we need to look at more dispassionately, more critically. At the moment, it seems to have lodged itself in the notorious faultline of Nigeria’s ethnic morphology. I hear strident shouts from both sides of the ethnic (almost said tribal!) divide. Needed: a rational engagement with the book and critical appraisal of the circumstances that brought it into being. A large dose of that needed empathy that makes it possible for the onlooker to see the raging fire on the other side of the fence. Honestly, I wish Nigeria would never again put one of its sterling minds to the unenviable task of writing this kind of agonizing autobiography.

How are you coping after the experience of New Orleans?

Still very difficult, especially when the need arises for the things I lost. Like my books and manuscripts, for instance. Or our beautiful house. The nightmares and the dayhorses!... What can we do about nature? Anytime, anywhere I hear people talk about strong winds and rain, Katrina comes straight to my mind. Yes, I think philosophically what this tells us is that we human beings, as arrogant as we are, actually have our limitations. Within the twinkle on an eye, nature could destroy a castle that took a dozen years to build. Nature could just snuff you out, with your billions of naira or dollars. But more than that, I think nature is reminding us that she wants some respect. She should be treated with dignity and consideration. All these natural disasters are happening all over the world because of climate change. The snow is melting in the Polar regions, swelling the oceans and river beyond their capacity.

Lands formerly reclaimed from the oceans are being repossessed by angry water. As I said in one of the verses in The Katrina Poems, water has memory. It never forgets.

Hurricanes have become so frequent and so severe in New Orleans, for instance, because of the decimation of the vast wetlands that used to serve as buffer between the city and the ocean.

What about mountains, rivers, lakes and all? Lake Chad has literally dried up; nobody is talking about it. One of the largest lakes in Africa has literally dried up, and you know what this means to the environment and human life. A friend told me that at a point the whole place was very smelly because dead frogs and fish were all over. What are we doing about this? Each time I am flying into Africa and I have to fly across the Sahara desert, my heart begins to thump because the rain forest is almost gone. Yes, what used to be a vast green expanse is narrowing into a very thin belt, very close to the Atlantic Ocean. We are pushing the forest, closer and closer to the ocean. And we are pushing ourselves closer and closer to the desert. I think we need to go back to the warning in Tess Onwueme’s The Desert Encroaches. On my part, my consciousness has been tugged several times by the feeling that The Eye of the Earth is yearning for a drastic sequel.

What do we have to do? Human beings have to control their greed. The human being is a very arrogant animal. Insatiable in appetite, improvident in attitude, and myopic in vision. Consider the Nigerian personality: You have one million naira,

Osundare

you want to have one billion. You have one billion, you want to have two billions. You do not really care whose ox is gored (literally and figuratively) in your effort to get this. You have one or two houses, you want to have ten. You have three cars, you want to have five. You have forgotten all the toxic emission in the air. You have forgotten that nature does not harbour a vacuum, whatever comes out has to find somewhere else to go. Something will have to happen about our pathological possessiveness. For everything you consume, you are preventing other people from having access to it because when you consume it, you make it disappear. That means its life is shortened and its ability to benefit the lives of others has been taken away.

Fellow feeling and empathy: again, those virtues. Fellow feeling not just for fellow human beings, but also for nature itself.

Nature has life, the tree has a spirit, the river has a spirit that is what makes its water flow. The forest has a spirit, that is why the leaves are green. Unfortunately, we human beings are too deaf or too selfabsorbed to listen when trees talk to one another. So we mistake our deafness for their dumbness. The desert also has its own life. Every grain of its sand is as precious as gold. So, respect for nature is extremely important.

Are we responding positively to the challenges here?

What problem has Nigeria ever responded positively to in a timely fashion? This is a country without a plan. This is a country without a vision. We just wake up, do whatever we have to do in the day and go to bed if we are not killed by armed robbers or die from hunger. We are an ad hoc country. If Nigeria had a plan, we would not be the way we are. Who is talking about the environment anymore? Our friends, Ogunseyitan and Kole Ade-Odutola, used to go around in the 1980s campaigning for the environment. Incidentally, this was about the time my book, The Eye of the Earth, made its debut, and its ecological

message was not lost on the country. In the 1990’s it was Ken Saro Wiwa, Nnimo Bassey, Oronto Douglas, focusing world attention on the criminal oil pollution in the Delta region… Of this lot, only Nnimo Bassey is still soldiering on. What are we going to hand over to the future generation? These days, people do not talk about the environment and, particularly in Nigeria, everybody is trying to grab and grab. Look at Lagos, many parts of which are in danger of being reclaimed by the sea. Unfortunately, this is where you have the most expensive estates, the abode of some of Nigeria’s criminally rich. Yes, water has memory and water never forgets. And water’s memory is vindictive, full of righteous vengeance. You take away something from water, it will retreat and stay quiet for some time but it will come one day and claim back its own.

If you do not believe me, after a heavy rain, take a drive along Ahmadu Bello way or Marina and Victoria Island (by the way, which ‘Victoria’ is this portion of Nigerian land named after?) , it does not take more than ten minutes of heavy rain for the entire place to be taken over by water.

Incidentally, that is where most of the states of the federation have their liaison offices and guest houses. Lagos is a city in danger. The late Prof. Onabamiro used to sound the alarm bell about 30 to 35 years.

Now, nobody is listening. Who is going to listen in Nigeria? Is it our politicians who are busy helping themselves to hefty sums of public funds? Is it our Distinguished, Honorable Lawmakers who are collapsing under the venal weight of their inordinate perquisites and emoluments? These people cannot think beyond their graft and bribe, their oil subsidy scam, and the devising of a more devilish way of rigging the next election… Nigerian politicians do not think about the future. Their eyes are permanently fixed on their stomachs. As the Yoruba say, when a tree is being cut in the forest, it is the wise and conscientious that watch where it is likely to fall. The not-sowise, not-so-concerned only watch the

We human beings, as arrogant as we are, actually have our limitations. Within the twinkle on an eye, nature could destroy a castle that took a dozen years to build. Nature could just snuff you out, with your billions of naira or dollars. But more than that, I think nature is reminding us that she wants some respect. She should be treated with dignity and consideration. All these natural disasters are happening all over the world because of climate change. The snow is melting in the Polar regions, swelling the oceans and river beyond their capacity. Lands formerly reclaimed from the oceans are being repossessed by angry water. As I said in one of the verses in The Katrina Poems, water has memory. It never forgets.

Hurricanes have become so frequent and so severe in New Orleans, for instance, because of the decimation of the vast wetlands that used to serve as buffer between the city and the ocean.

edge of the greedy axe. Our existential tree is under assault, but our rulers are too preoccupied with the pressures of the appetite to care where it is likely to fall. It takes visionary leadership to envisage, to anticipate, where the tree is likely to fall. Unfortunately this kind of leadership is in short supply in obodo dike Naijiria. Otherwise, the Niger Delta wouldn’t have been as polluted as it is today.

Two years ago, when a massive Shell BP oil spill polluted parts of the Gulf Coast near New Orleans, you should have seen the way the American government responded. The erring oil company was brought to expeditious justice, made to carry out a thorough and extensive cleanup; compensate those whose properties and workplaces had been polluted; then cough out millions of dollars in atonement. Today, the polluted areas are back in glory: marine life is back, the pelican soars in the blue sky; and tourists can take off their clothes and swim in clean water!

That is a country where there is the Law, and that law is there to be obeyed to the letter.

Go to the Niger Delta in Nigeria, look at the mayhem we have there, all the oil companies are polluting the place. The Nigerian government is absent. Nigerians are orphans because those who should protect them as their parents have been corrupted and compromised beyond significance.

Take a look at the phone service. Nigeria has one of the most expensive but most inefficient GSM services in the entire world. There is hardly any oversight; hardly any inspection. No one is bringing the GSM companies to order. Why? Because most of the regulating agents have been compromised and accorded the ‘Nigerian’ treatment. In a country that is so devastated by corruption, anything goes. This is really what it is, there is no order. This is the most lawless country I have ever seen. The ones making the laws, our Distinguished and Honourable Lawmakers, are the most virulent lawbreakers. Is Farouq Lawan really a lawmaker? What about the probers of the Rural Electrification Project under the honourable chairmanship of the Very Honourable Elumelu? Those wellheeled billionaire children of billionaires who scammed the subsidy project and subjected the entire country to impoverishment and extreme suffering: where are they today? Where are the looter-bankers and their Prayer-Warrior marabouts? This, indeed, is not a country. Now consider the case of the law enforcers: what law can our police enforce in their present state of destitution—torn uniform, ragged shoes, pigsty barracks, low self and professional esteem…

All virtues flow from the top; all vices also flow from there. Our rulers do not show interest in the country they rule. They have no interest in us, the Nigerian people. Their interest is how to steal our money and where to hide their loot. Most of them do not want for us the people what they so fervently crave for themselves and their families.

What a Country!, the intrepid journalist Kunle Ajibade once exclaimed. Nigeria is not a country, not yet. As Chinua Achebe once said on Saharareporters, when Nigeria has become a country, we will all know. We are not yet there. And a lot will have to be done to get us there.

How and by who?

By us. We the people of Nigeria. Something happened in January last year, when Dr Jonathan, in spite of countless remonstrations to the contrary, decided to remove the so-called oil subsidy and plunge Nigeria into unspeakable misery. The people trooped out and demonstrated their disapproval. And this lasted many days before the intervention of the jackboots. That kind of demonstration has never happened that way in the history of Nigeria, and it’s not going to be the last. Tahir Square is not an exclusive possession of the land of the Pharaohs. It is already here in Nigeria. We the people. The future of this country is in our hands. The fate of Nigeria is too precious to be left in the hands of politicians. We have been taken for a ride so many times by so many politicians (in military uniform or in mufti) because we have not developed the habit of pinning our rulers down and holding them to account.

So long as we remain the kind of feckless, nonchalant, and politically apathetic citizens as we have been, we will keep on getting the kind of politicians we have always had. In the words of Akanji Nasiru, the playwright and university don, our fate is in our own hands.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

ARTS 29

Literature ‘Africa needs platforms to expose its arts, culture’ Two months ago, on June 5, Etisalat, also in nine other countries in Africa, launched its prize to honour writers on the continent. Entries for the £15,000 prize will last till end of August. Already, writers and publishers are pushing their works forward, a situation that Head of the company’s High Value Events, Ebi Atawodi, said is commendable, as it is company’s aim to continue to give platforms for the continent’s artists and culture producers to continue to excel

By Anote Ajeluorou petite Ebi Atawodi, who is also the author FLens,OR of a photography book, Nigeria Through the Nigeria and indeed Africa as a whole have their strongest points in their arts and culture, which sadly, they are yet to wake up to and properly give pride of place. This negligence, she says, is what her company, Etisalat, is trying to fill with the numerous cultural programmes and platforms it supports as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Indeed for the mobile company, its involvement is beyond mere CSR, as the development of the human capacity, especially the teeming youth for whom it directs it operations as target audience. For the company also, creative talent

of young people, especially in the arts and culture sector is key in unlocking the potentials of a large population of the citizenry.

For Atawodi, there should be passion in providing platforms for creative people to excel, “So, there should be platforms, media of expressions for a variety of talents in the creative sector to help it grow. These are things that are needed for the sector to grow. And its part of what we are doing for writers by offering to buy a thousand copies of the three shortlisted books and making them available for readers across board and also taking the winning author to some African cities to read and expose their works to a diverse audience”.

On how to nurture talent, she opines, “There’s no one answer to that; it’s very complex thing.

Talent, in whatever thing or field, is not enough; it needs technical backing, which is what is lacking. So, there should be education, and I use that word ‘education’ loosely; it need not only be in the classroom. But it can be in the form of workshops, seminars, apprenticeship, etc. Education is key. And for visual arts, there should be galleries for exhibition to enable upcoming artists exhibit their works; and there should be bookshops for books0 and writers as well”.

Although the bulk of the mobile network’s consumers may be in Nigeria, there is a need to make the prize a continent-wide one also as part of the company’s future plan to cover the rest of the continent. Atawodi is also passionate about the progress Nigerian writers have made in taking the spotlight in writing in the last 10 years or more, noting, “The company is in 10 African countries and you cannot discount any of these countries. Etisalat Nigeria is a wholly Nigerian company, but we are also a panAfrican company. However, there is a new demand for Nigerian writing, at least consider-

ing the number of Nigerians who have won international prizes. It’s the first time of celebrating first time writers and you want to appreciate the number of Nigerians who have won international prizes. Last year, the Caine Prize was won by a Nigerian – Babatunde Rotimi; this year’s was won by another Nigerian – Tope Folarin.

“So obviously, the writing power is predominantly here. Nigerians will always dominate in writing regardless of how wide you cast the net but as a brand we need to make sure we involve everyone. Of course, Nigeria is the heart of African. In any case, we make sure we celebrate the winner around Africa and sensitise Africans about their writings. I mean if you look at Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Amata Aidoo, it’s always about the tunes, the colours of African writing. So, we need to have that ongoing discussion amongst ourselves to energise the continent”.

While it’s always difficult to get corporate entities and multinationals to support the arts and culture in the country, thanks perhaps to government’s poor knowledge of what culture entails and so poor policy direction, Etisalat has, within its short four years of operations in the country done more for cultural production than those that had stayed for decades. Atawodi put it down the company’s deep appreciation of what culture can do the psyche of an individual and a country.

She argues, “As a brand we deeply appreciate the culture and the content that Nigeria is producing. We understand that what is unique about Nigeria is the culture. So, as a brand we decided we’d push the culture - the music, the arts, the sports. Now, we have Lagos photo, the music, reality TV show and now the literature.

So, it wasn’t difficult for us to decide what we were going to do. But I suppose the question is

Drama takes centre-stage as Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature announces 5th edition

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku REPARATIONS for the 5th edition of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa are now underway, as entries for the prize have been called. The grand finale and award ceremony will hold on Saturday, July 5, 2014. The announcement was made at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday by organizers of the event, Lumina Foundation, with an outline programme of events.

Speaking at the briefing, Chairman of the prize committee, Mrs. Francesca Yetunde Emmanuel said the prize, which was established in 2005 as a biennial award for the best literary work produced by an African, has been serving as the African equivalent of the Nobel Prize, particularly in recognising and encouraging professional and personal excellence in writing.

With the prize money at $20,000, and plans underway to increase it in the future, Francesca said the award is aimed at propagating the dynamics of self-enhancement, celebrate excellence, patriotism, integrity, heroism, intellectualism, selfless service as epitomized by the man Wole Soyinka. She said the prize also aims to extensively promote authors and their works, according them the recognition they deserve among renowned authors across the world, generate excellent books authored by Africans and to generally improve the reading culture and the quality of the books available for the reading public.

Emmanuel stated that the genre for 2014 prize is drama, stating that entries which were invited from all the genres (Prose, Poetry, Drama and Essay) in the past,

P

through the decision of the judges and approval by the Board of Trustees of the foundation, will in the future, only assess one of the genres, with drama chosen for the 2014 edition. This, she noted, was to honour Soyinka, the dramatist, the man for whom the prize is named after, who will mark his 80th birthday next year. Apart from poetry, Soyinka is well known for the drama genre.

She then said any published play or collection of plays by the same author of African descent, published within the two years preceding the year of the prize (2012 and 2013) is eligible for the 2014 WS Prize.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Tanus Communications and Founding Chairman of Lumina Foundation, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, has called for sponsors to help sustain what he referred to as “the African pride which is now of a high status and should not be allowed to die”, while also thanking their previous sponsors. He said the award was getting bigger each year and that its standard must be sustained, noting, “The growth of the WS Prize is not only in quality, but also in scope and scale. In the first edition in 2005, we had 87 entries from eight African countries. This grew to 204 entries from 10 African countries in

the second edition, and by the third edition, we had 336 entries from 11 African. In the fourth edition, we had 402 entries from 26 African countries”.

The first edition (2006) was worn by a Nigerian, Sefi Attah with her book, Everything Good Will Come; the second edition (2008) was also won by a Nigerian, Nnedi Okoroafor with, Zara: The Windseeker; third edition was jointly won by a South African and another Nigerian, Kopalno Matlewa’s Coconut and Wale Okediran’s Tenants of the House. A South African, Sifiso Mzobe won wiith his book, Young Blood in 2012.

Atawodi why literature? But we’re in music, photography and so why not literature?

“We wanted that thing that would encourage a community of ideas and writing comes to mind.

We’ve always had writing. And we hope that other companies will take a cue from us and invest in arts and culture, as a means of building and giving back to communities”.

Coming from a background that had respect for the art, Atawodi finds the arts a natural for her, just as many of her colleagues in her company also share her passion for promoting Nigeria’s arts and culture that has suffered much neglect in corporate thinking. According to her, “My mother was a banker by day and a painter as well; we’ve always had a lot of art in the house and we were always involved drawing and fine art. But as a company, we have a lot of people from different backgrounds and a lot of others who actually like the arts. And there are people in the company who actually write themselves. So, it wasn’t difficult at all to get the idea going.

“My book Nigeria through the Lens is the first ever compilation of Nigerian photographers in one book. It was done five years ago now, and it’s on all the contemporary Nigerian photographers”.

Dry sky

By Kayode Steve Adaramoye The dark dark sky Is dry dry dry Drying hope in dry horizon Drying courage in dark alley Drying faith in hopeless season The dry sky is sky dry!

Yes, the dry dry sky forbidden Fruits of the sky we demand Beseech Thee, rain rain on our land Dry sky, dry from our skies Drop water in siege of glory To compensate sweat expectations Dry sky in wet sky Same sky in seasons Winter entrance Summer exit Autumn exit Spring entrance The dry sky is sky wet

Recently, Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi honoured citizens of the state, particularly women for their outstanding performances in the field of academic and literary pursuits. They will serve as role models for the state’s young people who regularly drop out of school. The awardees pose with Governor Peter Obi (3rd from left) and the awardees – novelist, poet and academic, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo; Mr. Uzo Alutu; Belgium-based novelist and winner, The Nigerian Prize for Literature 2012, Dr. Chika Unigwe; Best Overall graduating student at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ms Roseline Ejindu and Dr Uche Amazigo. They are joined by Chief of Staff, Prof.

Stella Okunna and Comissioner for Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Uju Okeke in Government House, Awka

Dark dry sky dry Wet sky wet dry sky Our hope will not be forlorn Fruitful fruitfulness barns harvest Hail and snow drive through Halcyon days of harvest bountiful!

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

Film In Lagos, Dadu promises to reposition film industry

By Shaibu Husseini HE second interactive sesT sion of the new helmsman of Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr. Danjuma Dadu, and film industry practitioners held at the Corporation’s office in Lagos recently.

The Lagos meeting attended by notable practitioners including Chairman of the defunct Steering Committee of Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MOPPICON), Chief Tunde Oloyede, and the Regional Secretary of the Federation of Pan-African Cinema Professionals (FEPACI), Fidelis Duker, was not in anyway different.

Although many had thought that practitioners were going to boycott the meeting, considering that stakeholders in the industry protested the appointment of Dadu, a civil engineer as head of the apex film agency, practitioners including leaders of guilds and associations who signed the widely circulated petition sat through the almost threehour long meeting where speakers engaged the NFC boss on issues that have hampered growth of the industry.

Dadu said he has come to learn and also will use his experience as a builder to ‘reinforce existing structures and to build structures that will address the yearnings of practitioners’.

The managing director said: “I have only come to learn and to hear your suggestions on where to go from here and to see how we can improve the fortune of the film industry. I want everyone to please talk and speak their hearts out, practitioners didn’t only complain, raised useful suggestions that would move the industry.”

They also want Dadu to ease the issue of training of practitioners of the zone by establishing a campus of the Nigerian Film Institute (NFI)

in Lagos. They also want the NFI to design special skill acquisition courses and short certificate programmes to cater for those who will not be able to run through the diploma and degree programme of the premier film institute.

They want Dadu to resuscitate and re-equip the editing and recording studios at the Lagos office of NFC so that practitioners can have it for use at very subsidised rates.

They want him to equip the Lagos office so that it can become more relevant to the practitioners in the zone.

Participants at the forum were unanimous in their request to Dadu to see to the take off of the Motion Picture Practitioners Council, which Information Minister, Labaran Maku, promised would be tabled before the Federal Executive Council so that it would be sent as an executive bill to the National Assembly.

The Minister had given this assurance during the 2012 edition of the Zuma International film Festival.

The participants are of the opinion that the industry will be better regulated and controlled with MOPPICON in place. But more importantly, they want the NFC to get involved in the international politics of film productions.

They want more exposure for the industry and its practitioners at international movie meets and for the film corporation to review its participation at events such as festivals and conferences especially if it does not have anything to showcase.

Participants also hope that the NFC under Dadu will enter into co-production treaties with developed and developing film societies. A participant lamented the lost funding opportunity in Netherland because he was told that Nigeria has no film production treaty with that country.

In fact the filmmaker spoke of how he was advised by the funders to source a co-producer from South Africa so that he can be able to qualify for the funding.

There was a speaker who called for more direct funding for film production and promotion from the NFC. The speaker noted that beyond the intervention fund released by the Federal Government, it is the responsibility of the NFC to provide non-conditional grants to filmmakers for film productions that will be promoted at festivals at home and abroad.

“If NFC could just set aside say N20 million yearly for film production, it would go along way to boost production, build capacity and employ people.

Agreed that there is an intervention fund, but it is in the statutes of the NFC to fund productions or provide production support services,” the filmmaker said.

Dadu assured everybody that NFC would do its best within available resources to sustain film activities within the Zone and the country in general. He also assured that he would lead an NFC that would make the industry viable and deploy film as a tool for international diplomacy.

He promised that the NFC would work towards repositioning the industry and that all issues raised would receive attention of the corporation.

He, however, charged practitioners to strive to abide by all extant rules and regulations within the sector.

The NFC boss also announced the creation of a new department — Industry Support Services (ISS) — that would adequately articulate industry issues for appropriate intervention.

The new department’s head, Edmund Peters, and the Corporation’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Brian Etuk, accompanied Dadu to the interactive forum.

Mo and Forbes

Ebony Life boss, Mo Abudu, gets Forbes’ nod HIS, indeed, are the best of African continent to own a the United Kingdom.

T times for Mosunmola pan-African TV channel.

In over seven years of its Abudu, popularly known as Mo. Barely two months after the launch of her Ebony Life television channel, she has received another accolade.

Forbes Media, a renowned establishment, which has become a symbol of distinction for recognising worthy business decision makers, investors and progressive individuals, who have impacted the world through their stimulation of business growth, has named Mo Abudu as the first woman on the

Cheaters goes to the cinemas today HE movie director, Frank T Rajah, is set to release his movie titled, Cheaters, at the Cinemas today.

The movie will be showing at the Silverbird Cinemas in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Also, Genesis Deluxe Cinemas in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Film House, Ibadan will show the film.

The movie features a host of celebrities such as 2010 AMAA winner, Adjetey Annang (Ghana), multiple award winner- Jackie Appiah (Ghana), former Miss Cameroun US, Okawa Shaznay (Texas Houston, USA), Omar Sheriff Caftan (Ghana) and Uche Joan Iwuanwu (Nigeria).

Rajah’s heart-on-a-sleeve romantic comedy was in the cinemas in Ghana yesterday.

Other African countries such as Zambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone are set for the release. It will also go to the cinemas in

Europe this August.

This exciting romantic comedy follows the stories of several young couples caught up in a spider web of love, lies and extra-marital affairs. It says that love is a mysterious adventure that takes you through much twist and turns added with a bit of infidelity and you have the perfect recipe for disaster.

A woman would say: Show me a man who doesn’t cheat on his spouse, and I will show a pregnant virgin! A man would say: show me a woman who has never cheated in a relationship and I will kiss my nose and ears.

As arguable as these assertions may be, it is unarguably undeniable that there is a very thin line in to love and to cheat!

Rajah is a renowned name in the African film industry with multiple and credible awards to his credit among which are: Best African Film Director, Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (GIAMA 2012) Texas,

USA, Best African Film Director, Zulu African Film Awards (ZAFA 2011) London, Best African Film Director, Nollywood African film critic’s awards (NAFCA 2011) North Carolina, USA. Movies to his credit include Beyoncé (the president

Frank Rajah

daughter), The king Is Mine, Who Loves Me, Princess Tyra, The Groom’s Bride, Tears of Womanhood, A tale of hidden treasure, Behind a smile, Agony of the Christ, 4play, Play boy, The Prince bride and Somewhere In Africa.

In the best of Forbes Media tradition, this honour is coming to the industrious Mo, also known vastly within and outside the industry as Africa’s Queen of Talk, after months of intense research and a thorough verification exercise by the outfit.

An incontrovertible position, the award, no doubt, firmly affirms and establishes Mo as a true primus inter pares who has indeed treaded grounds that many considered an uphill task. The dogged, tireless and steadfast visionary known for her simple, timeless and inspirational mantra, ‘If you can think it, you can do it’, has continued to blaze the trail in many areas, expanding possibilities and being a huge inspiration to millions in Africa and many parts of the world.

Not only is she spearheading innovation, creating employment and influencing great change in the economy of her nation, Mo has made her mark in diverse fields of endeavour, which cut across the corporate world as an Executive in ExxonMobil for nearly a decade.

She was the promoter behind the Protea Hotel Oakwood Park, of which she remains a shareholder and director; she was the Founder of Vic Lawrence & Associates, now one of Nigeria’s leading Outsourcing firms, and most recently in the dynamic world of media, she is the creator, executive producer and hostess of Moments with Mo. The programme is Africa’s first and only syndicated daily talk show. It airs across 48 African countries and on cable TV in

existence, it has transformed the face and flavour of African TV. The show has been able to achieve this feat by constantly seeking to build and project a new, stronger, more independent and confident Africa. One that speaks for itself, celebrates its people and achievements, and solves its own problems.

Over the years, Moments with Mo has hosted an impressive list of guests.

From Presidents to Nobel Laureates; celebrities to Governors; and even the US Secretary of-State, Mrs. Hilary Rodham-Clinton on her visit to Nigeria, and of recent, Christine Lagarde, the managing director of IMF. Over the last few years Mo has developed other TV properties to include The Debaters, a highly intellectual, but vastly motivating, innovative and entertaining reality TV show that gives the youth of Africa a voice; and Naija Diamonds, an award winning documentary series, celebrating the unsung heroes of Nigeria.

Mo is also proud of her philanthropy work with The Inspire Africa Foundation and in partnership with Moreno Construction, The Harbour, a one hundred-bed home for Street children in Lagos, is near completion.

Mo is a great believer in the media, and her strong persuasion about using media and entertainment as a tool to change global perceptions about Africa and to advance various social-economic agenda, is the driving force behind Ebony Life TV.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

In association with

Events A HUSBAND'S WIFE Date(s): 10/08/2013 Location: Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Promoter: M.IKAZ A Husbands wife is a drama filled story of a husband going through midlife crisis and his wife having to deal with it. How far will a man go to reclaim his youth The play takes the audience through the dramatic journey of this couple. It carries a strong message while it effortlessly exhibits witty humor.

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SALLAH SPECIAL

SOMEWHEREELSE Rihanna in Bejewelled Bikini at Barbados Carnival IHANNA flaunted her fab figure in a barely-there jewelled bikini on August 5 as she celebrated during a local parade in her home country of Barbados. The Bajan babe was in town to celebrate the annual Crop Over Harvest Festival of Kadooment Day, and was seen dancing on a float with friends and partying with the large crowd. The Diamonds singer left little to the imagination in her Carnivalstyle costume, which consisted of a bedazzled, cut-out bra and high-cut sparkly bikini bottoms as well as white sneakers and a set of feather shin guards and wings. RiRi posted a heap of snaps from the day on her Instagram account, including one pic of her riding in a car in her costume which she captioned: “#CROPOVER2013” This isn’t the first time the 25-year-old stunner has joined the parade. Back in 2011 she donned a red and gold bikini for the big event, which according to news rejoices the end of the sugar cane crop harvest and acknowledges the crop sacrifices made to the gods for good luck.

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Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Training - August Edition - Lagos

Date(s): 10/08/2013 Location: Precinct Comfort Hotel, Yaba, Lagos Promoter: LiveSpeech Ventures You will learn step-by-step how to plan and deliver a more compelling presentation, taking care of your content from start to finish ALL BY YOURSELF! After this training, you will no longer run up to friends and colleagues to help you out every time you have to give a presentation. Now, THEY will run to YOU! TICKETS: 25,000 naira.

LAGOS FASHION 2013

Louise Redknapp in Eternal Reunion Mystery OUIS Redknapp has denied reports that her former girlband Eternal is getting back together for the second series of The Reunion Big. The singer-turned-WAG was claimed to be reuniting with Kéllé Bryan and sisters, Easther and Vernie Bennett for the hit ITV2 show, but she has since categorically denied the report.

However, her spokesperson in a statement, hinted that there is possibility of a reunion but not involving the show. “Louise has not ruled out doing something with Eternal and would love the chance to do something with the girls at some point,” the rep said. Adding, “She has been overwhelmed at the outpour from fans wanting to see them perform again. However, when the time is right she would want it to be something a bit more natural and not for the purpose of a TV show so has ruled out taking part in The Big Reunion.” Louise left Eternal in 1995 to go solo and later quit pop after marrying footballer, Jamie Redknapp.

L

Calvin Harris Makes UK Chart History!

ONGRATS to Calvin Harris, who has broken his own chart record by becoming the first artist to have nine UK top 10 singles from one studio album. His latest track Thinking About You, featuring vocals from Ayah Marar, hit the number nine spot on the official chart over the weekend. It is the latest hit single taken from his massive 2012 album 18 Months. Calvin tweeted the good news to his fans, writing: “Made a bit of chart history today! Thinking About You went Top 10 in UK...the first time anyone has had 9 top 10 singles from one album!”

He later added: “Big week for me as a song writer/producer/mixer guy.” The Scottish star beat Michael Jackson’s record of seven top 10 singles from one album back in April, when, I Need Your Love, featuring Ellie Goulding, climbed to Number 10. The female record is currently jointly held by Jessie J, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, who all had six top ten hits from a single album.

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Date(s): 10/08/2013 Location: 57a, Jose Marinho Drive, Victoria Island, Lagos Promoter: Hotel Bon Voyage Hotel Bon Voyage presents Sallah Special with Live concert, Buffet Children Party, and a specialn surprise treat.

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Date(s): 10/08/2013 Location: EKO HOTEL CONVENTION CENTRE, Eko Hotel & Suites, Adetokunbo Ademola Str, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Promoter: NACCIMA LAGOS FASHION 2013 welcomes its exhibitors and visitors in the best prestigious exhibition center of Lagos, EKO HOTEL NEW EXHIBITION CENTER with its high standard and first class venue.

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DISCOUNT HOTEL ROOMS @ HOTEL BON VOYAGE Date(s): 11/08/2013 Location: 57A, A.J. Jose Marinho Drive, Victoria Island, Lagos.

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TAKE HEART

Kanye West For 2013 MTV Video Music Awards ANYE West has been confirmed as the second artist due to perform at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, which take place on August 25. Yeezy joins the previously announced Lady Gaga on the bill, and will be performing his new single BLKKK SKKKN HEAD, taken from his sixth studio album, Yeezus. West will now tie with Madonna for the most VMA performances ever, with seven appearances apiece. Some of the biggest names in music are nominated at this year’s awards.

Justin Timberlake, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis lead the field with six nominations each, Bruno Mars is close behind with four VMA nominations, while Pink Robin, Thicke, Miley Cyrus and Thirty Seconds To Mars are up for three nods apiece. The awards will aired live on MTV from 8pm on Monday, August 26.

K

Date(s): 11/08.2013.

Location: TERRA KULTURE Promoter: STAR ART STAGE PRODUCTION COMPANY "How far would you go to save your child?" Come and experience the purest form of EXPRESSION, Samba, Modern and African Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz...

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

36 ARTS

VisualArts

1, Chief Regisrar and Director of Exhibitions for the New York-based museum, Amanda Thompson (left); The D-G, NCMM, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman; and Hon Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke during the preview.

Ife art makes Sweden debut in Dynasty and Divinity Stories by Tajudeen Sowole HOEVER visited the National Museum, W Onika, Lagos in the past one year without seeing the exhibition, Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria, which closes in the next few days may have to follow the show to Europe for another opportunity to see the gathering of vast cultural objects.

Scheduled to return to Europe with the National Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg, Sweden hosting the tour on September 6, the aertefacts are apparently among the fortunate cultural objects of Nigerian origin not under incarceration in foreign museums. Between 2009 and now, Dynasty and Divinity has toured Europe and the US. The tour took off from Fundacion Marcelino Botin, Madrid, Spain in 2009, stopped over at the British Museum as Kingdom of Ife: Sculptures From West Africa and moved to the US, where it showed at Mu-

seum of Fine Art, Houston; Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond; and Indianapolis Museum of Fine Art from 2011 to 2012.

On this Tuesday morning, at the Onikan museum, the Director-General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman, is leading visitors, including the Hon Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke and the foreign partners from the US and Sweden to see over 109 pieces of works soon to be flown to Europe. It’s a familiar terrain: visitors, including the Oni of Ife and his entourage had last year graced the opening of the exhibition.

Some of the works, aside the famous pieces such as the Torso Crowned, Obalufon, keep stressing the need to tap from the vastness of the unknown artists the ancient

treasures. This much, for example, a medium scaled figure Idena (The Gatekeeper), 12th – 15th century Ife, and made of biotite gneiss. The provenance says traces origin the Ore Grove, where it was ‘a guard over the roads leading to the shrine. Interestingly, Idena exudes a modern style in sculpture parlance, even though it was done approximately seven centuries ahead of George Braque and Picasso’s founding of the Cubic movement.

Shortly before taking guests round the display of the artefacts inside the Onikan museum, Usman had explained that the same set of works shown at the previous venues, are heading to Sweden except one. “Only one is left out, because it’s not strong enough to travel”.

On the relevance of the collaboration with foreign museum, he said it is to expand the scope of the tour ”as a result of success

Duke lauds UNESCO’s election of Folarin Shyllon HE Minister of Tourism, CulT ture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has lauded the

committee. Other countries are Oman, Peru, Pakistan, China, Romania, Mexico, Egypt, Ecuador, election of Nigeria into the SubBulgaria, Morocco, Chad, Madagassidiary Committee of the Meetcar, Japan, Italy, Greece, Turkey and ing of State Parties to the 1970 Croatia.

Convention on the Means of ProThe Nigerian delegation to the hibiting and Preventing the Ilsession was led by the Permanent licit Import, Export and Transfer Delegate and Ambassador of Nigeof Ownership of Cultural Propria to UNESCO, Mariam Katagum, erty.

Prof Shyllon, Mr. Augustus Ajibola A member of the Nigerian dele- of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture gation, Prof. Folarin Shyllon, now and National Orientation; Direcserves as Vice Chairman of the tor-General, National Commission committee. for Museums and Monuments, The committee is of the United Yusuf Abdallah Usman, and others Nation Educational, Scientific from the Commission. and Cultural organization (UNDuke, in a statement issued by ESCO). Shyllon’s election was part the Ministry, noted that the develof the outcomes of the first sesopment has put Nigeria in a stratesion of the committee held at the gic position towards addressing UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. the challenge of illicit import, exWith this, Nigeria joins 17 other port and transfer of ownership of countries as members of the cultural property at the national

and international levels.

According to UNESCO, the mandate of the first session of the Subsidiary Committee will be to initiate the development and examination of guidelines facilitating the implementation of the 1970 Convention. The world body prays that the committee should be able to build on the progress achieved through the efforts made since 2011, to fulfill the expectations of states that prioritise the protection of cultural goods and the fight against their traffic, and to encourage the effective implementation of the treaty.

Shyllon, a professor of Law at the University of Ibadan, was the Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1984 to 1991. He was educated at King’s College, London. His current teaching and research interests are in the fields of cultural and in-

tellectual property law. He was a contributor to UNESCO’s maiden issue of World Culture Report (1998) and contributed a chapter to Halina Niec’s Cultural Rights and Wrongs (Paris: UNESCO, 1998), published to mark the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

He is a member of the Nigerian Bar and a former President of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers. He was sent to Barbados by UNESCO in 2000 to advise the government on its accession to international instruments on cultural property.

Shyllon’s visit to Barbados influenced the government ‘s decision to accede to all UNESCO conventions on the protection of cultural property, as well as the UNIDROIT Convention.

One of the works, Idena (The Gatekeeper), 12th – 15th century Ife recorded in the previous outings.”

Indeed, despite dispute over restitution of looted artefacts of Nigerian origin, exhibitions such as this strengthen the country’s status as a promoter of ancient African cultural object abroad. For example, last year, cultural objects of Nigerian origin were chosen to participate in a global gathering titled Bronze, held at Royal Academy, London, UK. The Bronze gathering featured 150 works of over 500 years history from three continents.

The preview, basically, Usman stated, is to afford the public opportunity to see the works before they leave the country. It’s an important routine “to show transparency and accountability” in preserving the ethics of museum management,” he added.

On a broader scale, the tour, Usman argued offers a platform to “build a workable bilateral relationship” with foreign partners.

Parts of the benefits include exchange of ideas, artefacts and capacity building for the NCMM professionals, he added.

In over three years of the tour, Museums for African Art, New York, U.S, has played a prominent role, particularly in the area of enhancing the skills of staff of NCMM. Also speaking at the preview, Chief Registrar and Director of Exhibitions for the New York-based museum, Amanda Thompson acknowledged the value of the collaboration.

She described it as having brought “the grandeur of Nigerian culture, its history and artistic achievements to the attention of the world”.

The care and preservation of the works on tour, Thompson assured, is the “responsibility of the Museum for African Art, New York”.

Stressing the importance of art from Africa to the museum, Thompson disclosed that the second phase of fundraising has been initiated to build a new facility with the ultimate aim of moving beyond just a museum.

“Determined to be more than a museum, it will retain a museum at its core but also expand to include centres for policy, performance and education”.

Enthused by the acceptance of the previous exhibitions, Duke boasted that success of the tour in “Spain, Great Britain and the U.S. are evidences of our high level of development in the world of Art”. The Swedish wing of the show, he assured, strengthens the NCMM’s “partnership and collaboration with other cultural institutions”.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

ARTS 37

Redirecting Matter with Balogun, the Stories by Tajudeen Sowole EVENTY two hours after the sculptor AdeSSoundspiration, ola Balogun’s solo art exhibition titled, opened at Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, he commenced work on another project, Matter Redirected, at Trollhattan and Uttersberg in Sweden, as workshops and exhibitions, which lasted for two months.

Just back in Lagos after redirecting his Matter, Balogun shared his experience at a small gathering hosted by the facilitator of the Swedish trip, Quintessence, Park View Estate (formerly at Falomo), Ikoyi, Lagos.

Viewed in soft copies, Balogun’s works from the Matter Redirected project is an apparent continuation of his conservation themes as most of the works, in metal and drawings stress the artist’s recently- found passion for animals that have the characteristics of strength.

Balogun, a senior lecturer at the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), has developed interest in depicting bull and some species in the bird family, shortly after participating in a show organised by a Lagos-based conservation group few years ago. But with the Swedish trip, equestrian subjects appear to have found a wider space in his themes.

The central theme of the Swedish workshop and exhibitions, he said, is all about “giving another life to discarded things.”

Over the past four years, the artist has explored materials such as shredded rubber from tyres in creating sculptural works that link waste, recycling and environmental as well as social metaphor.

In Sweden, his thoughts on redirecting matter, he explained, were expressed in “14 metal sculptures, 18 drawings for one show and 14 sculptures, 16 drawings for another.”

Between the two animals, Balogun’s renditions in metal and drawing stress the combined strength and elegance of horse while the crude, perhaps, bestial characteristics of the bull seems to challenge and stretch the artist’s skills. Though in metal, a close up of horse’s head titled, The Wild One, for example exudes the artist’s drawing skill; much like the skeletal frames of the animal. But with Tamed, the equestrian theme gets a full size representation in pattern textured.

For the bull, quite a number of drawings, for example, a piece he titled, Veteran, explain the aggressiveness of the animal.

In 2011, Balogun had used the bull as a driving force of his central theme in his solo show, Ants and Giants. Then he fronted the bull, in series, as a metaphor for possible revolt of oppressed people against any irre-

Adeola Balogun with one his works Tamed and a Swede admirer during his residency in Sweden. sponsive regime. search and new techniques in And the effort of Quintessence is quite comhis field of study”. mendable; in the Nigerian art scene where According to the curator, Baartists hardly get support from art galleries be- logun’s show in Sweden yond providing venues for exhibition. In fact, started in Trollhattan, on the outfit’s commitment in promoting NigerJune 1, and on 29, moved to ian artists outside the country predates BaloAstley Gallery, Uttersberg. gun’s Matter Redirected. The gallery had, in 2007, On inspiration, Balogun sponsored a similar trip for the artist Kunle noted that an artist must, natAdeyemi as well as supported a group of ceurally, “be moved” by passion ramists, all to Sweden. to adequately represent a “perceived objects The exchange between Quintessence and Swe- or scenes either on a flat surface or on a three den dates back to the visit of a Swede artist, Eva dimensional format.”

Zetterval to Lagos in 2008.

Though Balogun confessed that the workThe curator of the gallery, Moses shop aspect of the project was not fully reOhiomokhare, while noting that artists need to alised, the entire trip, Ohiomokhare argued, showcase their work abroad, also disclosed that offered the artist opportunity to use the exhiBalogun’s trip had been jointly financed by Swe- bitions “as a moving testament of the creative den. “This is being funded by Quintessences Ast- skill of the Nigerian artist and to promote our ley Gallery, Uttersberg with the support of the culture and capabilities.” the Nigerian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.”

For the Balogun, his experience in Sweden He said the exposure of the artist’s work “has also yielded another offer to show in the US bebecome necessary to open him up for more refore the end of the year.

From the Bull series of Adeola Balogun.

The Nigerian Ambassador to the Scandinavian countries, Benedict Onochie Amobi, who is based in Stockholm, was the special guest at the opening of the shows, Balogun said.

The artist’s last solo in Nigeria, Soundspiration, which opened a day before he travelled to Sweden, brings a musical tone into his art of imploring discarded materials. Some of the works, produced from shredded rubber, rendered in life size figural combines musical instruments.

Who Do You Think You Are?... Artists in search of identity, glory HE importance of identity, particT ularly in a multi-cultural environment such as Nigeria will be stressed highlighted in diverse medium when 12 finalists of a National Art Competition present their thoughts at a grand finale, later this year.

In its sixth year, the 2013 tagged IDENTITY: Who Do You Think You Are? has shortlisted 12 finalists from over 100 entries for a retreat in Lagos as part of the preparation towards individual artist’s effort to create art that could win the coveted prize when the grand finale holds in November Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Co-organised by African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) and Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, the emphasis of the competition, in the last three editions, has been on the process of creating art, hence the need for the retreat.

A day before concluding the fiveday retreat, held at Nimbus Gallery, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, the 12 finalists were formally presented to the media inside the NB Plc Bar, Iganmu, Lagos.

The 12 finalists are Karimah Ashadu, Alayande, Ayanwale, Chidinma Nnorom Chinke, Mary Edoga

Chioma, Brigitte Sésu Tilley-Gyado, Taiye Idahor, Erasmus Onyishi, Olanrewaju Tejuoso, Felicia Okpara Tochukwu and Victoria Udondian.

Others working as duo are Chuka Ejorh and Olamide Udo-Udoma; Halima Abubakar and Zemaye Okediji The Artist Retreat, according to the organisers, had some of the top names in visual arts as facilitators

and mentors. They include Olu Amoda, Uche Okpa-Iroha, Jelili Atiku, Delphine Fawundu, Kelechi AmadiObi, Robin Hammond, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, Joseph Gergel, Orlando Reade, Nick Hagen, Roger Woodbridge, and Richard Eko. In an increasing socio-economic challenges that is forcing ‘art for art’s sake’ to accommodate the en-

trepreneurship of creativity, visual arts has proven to be a strong employer of labour.

Shyllon stressed this much during his presentation titled, The Importance of Supporting the arts in Nigeria.

He argued that art is giving young artist an increasing opportunity for self-employment.

On their part, the organisers of the

Sitting in front of the 12 finalists, Brand Director of AAF, Wunika Mukan; Media&Public Affairs Manager, Nigerian Breweries plc, Edem Vindah; Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Emete Tonukari; Director African, AAF, Azu Nwagbogu; Curator, Joseph Gergel; and Prince Yemisi Shyllon of Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF)

art competition appear to have realised the potentials of providing strong platform for young artists, hence the increase in prize value from nearly zero to current level.

The AAF/NB art competition actually started with a controversial no prize in 2008. But between the second edition and now, it has increased the stake.

Currently, the First Prize is worth N2 million, a solo show at AAF Gallery, Ikoyi, and a three-night stay at Hilton Hotel, Dubai, UAE. The next two prizes simply described as “Winners”, to be adjudged based on “Outstanding Concept” and “Outstanding Production” get N1 million each.

While an issue was almost generated – during the presentation of the finalists – over the need of a young, up-and-coming artist to get established, the importance of the theme, at this period of Nigeria’s nationhood challenge seems the priority of the organisers. AAF, in a media briefing earlier, stated that the theme explores how artists view the relationship between individual and collective identity in Nigeria”, urging to artists to articulate “the role of art as a vehicle for social change.”

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

38 ARTS

Showblast

...The buzz in town

Wailing Stone in lyrical prophecy Stories by Daniel Anazia N the 1980s, Nigerian music industry was agog with reggae music and the likes of Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, Mandators, Terra Kota, Oritz Wiliki, Isaac Black and Evelyn Ogoli and others used their music to address the ills of the society.

Over the years, the face of reggae music in the country has moved from hardcore to dancehall. Blending styles that borrow influences from reggae, hip-hop, R&B and dancehall traditions, artistes such as 2face Idibia, Timaya, Shank, P-Square, Esco Banton, Banky W, and Ice Prince have expanded the scope.

Poised to bring back the old time reggae style is Wailing Stone. Born Kenneth Anikputa, Wailing Stone sojourn into the music industry started over a decade ago.

“I started professional music in 1985. I have this band that put everything together and we got an album that was supposed to be released in 1990 both in Nigeria and UK. We got all the travelling documents to embark on the journey for the first release in UK, but at that point, I felt sick and I was on sick bed for 12 years with ailment that couldn’t be diagnosed.

“The sickness suspended all my musical ambition until re-

I

cently, when God said it is the right time for me to come back as a prophet. I’m a lyrical prophet for the government and the masses. I find it more comfortable using music to express my feelings. It is not about jumping and dancing, but as a medium you can use to express your feelings about the ills of the society and human rights.”

On his come back and determination to bring change with his music, Wailing Stone says, “my motive is to open people’s eyes to many odds going on in the country in all categories, whether political, religious and in the music industry. It is unfortunate that the Nigeria music industry is littered with mediocre. When you watch music videos or listen to the audio, and you are a professional you will know there is smoothing wrong in the industry.”

He adds, “though we are developing very fast musically, but music in this country is not inciting listeners positively. It is sad that there are no messages of any sort in most music available today and the videos only sell sexuality. When I started my career in the music in 1985, before any recording company will sign you, they will like to see the message in your music, which means they are particu-

lar about content. But it is no longer the same today, as many who claim to be musicians cannot play the simplest of musical instrument.”

He continues, “I am very happy with the way the industry has grown, though the structure is not yet in place. I wish the companies that are churning out this music into the market would be like those we had in like in the 80 — in the days of Polygram, CBS, EMI Music and others. It would have been very wonderful. Back in the days, those companies were involved and the artistes made it. But now, it is a different ball game.”

What would you say is responsible for this?

“The truth is that the country has been under pressure economically. If you remember vividly, from about 1995 to 2000, it was like everything was going down the drain. The economy was so bad that if you released an album, nobody was ready to buy it. Many people were finding it difficult to make ends meet. So, music was the least in order of people’s preferences. You have to get shelter, food, medication and other basic necessities of life. You don’t expect people to listen to music with empty stomach. So, the economic downturn of the country affected the fortunes of

the artistes who live on album sales, stage performance and concerts.”

Wailing Stone says, “nobody is touching reggae because it is too hot to handle. For now, just give me a little time to find the fire and come out with my throw. You would find that everybody is going to follow suit. I have been to shows and concerts in recent times and reactions to reggae are still laudable. So, believe it or not, reggae music has come to stay. It has no competition and no rival. What people are playing now is just one-way style.”

His album, Better Generation, is gaining great acceptance from the public. The seven track with two videos already shot is filled with messages that “ginger listeners to do the right thing at Wailing Stone the right time, and correcting negative tendencies that erodes These songs are evergreen as a our society. Musicians like result of their messages. There prophets, ought to be telling is a track that talks about our both the government and the leaders looting the treasury and masses the best to way to go smile to the foreign land, while the masses suffer. The spirit about what we faces in lives.”

He adds, “if you remember that flows in them is what is obsome years back, some musi- vious to us all.”

Sounding evangelistic, he says, cian in this country with their songs that affected our heart, “music is spiritual and if the soul and we still sing some of spirit is in you, it flows. Howthose songs today. We had peo- ever, it depends on which spirit ple likes Sony Okosun with flows in you, maybe that of God Which Way Nigeria, Ras Kimono’s to win souls or other that leads Under Pressure among others. to destruction.

“Raggae is music of the prophets. There are about 101 types of African music, but I chose reggae because I feel it suits me best to reach out to people easily. Great musicians like Bob Marley and others promoted reggae internationally and used it as an instrument to fight injustice worldwide.”

The artiste is billed to embark on major tour of Europe and Africa with his band, Wailing Stone and the Heralds soon.

Ron Kenoly for Feast Of Worship 2013 HE 2013 edition of the yearly Feast of WorT ship (FOW) Concert of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Agbala-Itura, Lagos has received a major boost with the confirmation of Ron Kenoly’s participation at the event.

On the promotional video sent to the organisers of the event from Orlando, United States, the world acclaimed praise and worship leader, said: “I’m really excited to be part of what God is doing through Prophet (Dr.) S.K Abiara and Feast of Worship Annual Concert. I will be in CAC Agbala-Itura, Lagos from August 16 to 18. I will see you there.”

For the first time in the seven years existence of FOW, this year’s event will be a threeday power packed activities with concert, seminar and worship service on each of the days.

The yearly concert holds on August 16 by 8pm, while 17 will be a seminar tagged, Worship Essence, by 4pm, and on Sunday, 18, there will be Worship Service/Thanksgiving by 11am. All the events are scheduled for the auditorium of the church, which is located on Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway, Agege, Lagos.

The Worship Essence Seminar is a forum for lovers of music, all choirs and their leaders to exchange ideas that will positively impact their ministries and they will be privileged to have an autograph session with Kenoly.

Pat Uwaje King, coordinator of the Midnite crew, and Israel Abiara, a widely travelled preacher and gospel artist, will support him.

To support Kenoly at the concert are Igwe crooners, The Midnite Crew, Ayan Jesu, Gbenga Adenuga, Bukola Akinade Senwele, Israel Abiara, Esther Igbekele, The Effect, Yemmy, Unique Steppers and Eternal Steppers.

In his remarks, the Chairman of this year’s planning committee, Mr. Ajadi Samuel, said, “for the first time in the entire CAC in Nigeria and in Agege, we are bringing Ron Kenoly with other powerful song ministers. So, I will just say come praise God like never before and you will go home with testimonies.”

Feast of Worship Live is an initiative of the Youth Fellowship of the church.

Midnite Crew

ONE Africa, Big Brother Africa collaborate to fight poverty HE ONE Campaign and AfricaMT agic are collaborating on Big Brother Africa: The Chase to com-

memorate the 50th anniversary of African Union (AU) with a Charity Week. The week, which started on August 5, ends today. It highlights important and relevant social causes on the continent.

Now in its eight season, the television reality show is working with ONE for the second year running to engage the show’s audience to help end extreme poverty in the continent.

During this year’s Charity Week, housemates undertook a series of

tasks centred on educating viewers about the most pressing poverty issues facing the continent while highlighting possible solutions.

Major attractions during the week included the entrance into the House of the hip- hop sensation, Ice Prince, who engaged housemates on the topic of extreme poverty and the role of the AU in helping end extreme poverty in Africa.

Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Sipho S. Moyo, ONE’s Africa Director said: “We are delighted by this collaboration with AfricaMagic.

The Big Brother Africa platform presents an incredible opportunity

to highlight the unconscionable plight of extreme poverty, which millions of Africans face on a daily basis.

The good news, we know, is that research has shown that extreme poverty can virtually be eradicated by 2030.”

MultiChoice Nigeria’s Head of Public Relations, Segun Fayose said while, the Big Brother platform may be primarily an entertainment programme, DStv through AfricaMagic is always looking for opportunities to use the platform for purposes of viewers’ education and development.

“Working with ONE will help us, as

it did last year, to engage our Big Brother Africa audience to get a better understanding of issues that contribute to extreme poverty and how we can each play a role in bringing it to an end. The fact that we are collaborating, again, is a clear testimony that last year’s partnership was a resounding success in this respect,” he said.

During the week, Big Brother, popularly known to housemates as ‘Biggie’ did not only have housemates discuss issues relating to extreme poverty but to also experience instances of extreme poverty, with a different theme each day.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

ARTS

39

SHOWBLAST

MTV announces Tiwa Savage, Chris Attoh, others as cast for Shuga HE MTV Foundation and MTV Base have reT vealed the key cast members for the upcoming production of Shuga – Lagos, the award-winning TV drama, which starts filming on location in and around Lagos this week.

Hand-picked by director Biyi Bandele, the cast for the hotly anticipated series includes a mixture of well-known faces and some exciting newcomers.

Beat FM’s DJ and Morning Rush host, Maria Okanrende (@MariaOkan), plays the key part of Foye — an ambitious radio and club DJ with a domineering mother.

Singer-songwriter, Tiwa Savage (@TiwaSavage), will also make her TV debut in Shuga in the role of Sade – glamorous owner of Badoo Tree nightclub, a favourite hangout of the key characters.

“Oliva Tweest” star Dorcas Fapson takes on the role of Sophie – a failing student who’s not averse to using her body to get what she wants. The pivotal male role of Ekene – a young music promoter with a steady girlfriend but a roving eye - will be played by Okezie Morro (@okeziemorro), while Tinsel soap star, Chris Attoh (@ChrisAttoh), plays the role of Kofi, a domineering husband.

Other key cast members include: Adeyemi Okanlawon (David) - a handsome medical stu-

dent; “Dear Mother” child star Sharon Chisom Ezeamaka (Princess) - Sophie’s naïve teenage sister; James Timini Egbuson (Tobi) – a conscientious student; Kachi Nnochiri (Osaro) – PA and “Mr Fixit” to a corrupt businessman; Leonora Okine (Malaika) – Sophie’s married friend, and Olumide Oworu (Weki) – Sade’s 16year old nephew.

The Shuga crew is also giving viewers the chance to get involved in the casting process by voting who gets to take two walk-on roles.

Chosen from the hundreds who showed up for the public auditions in Lagos on July 26 and 27, six candidate’s auditions will be available for online voting from August 14.

The cast will join previously announced Shuga Series 2 stars Emmanuel Ikubese, who returns in the role of music promoter Femi, and Kenyan actor, singer and model Nick Mutuma who plays the role of Leo, a close friend of Femi’s from his Nairobi student days.

Shuga is to be produced by MTV Base and the MTV Staying Alive Foundation in collaboration with NACA; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund). PEPFAR (The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) has also expressed a commitment to join forces with the campaign.

Millions of prizes up for grabs at GUS 10 promo ULDER beer, the premium G national alcoholic beer beverage manufactured by Nigerian Breweries Plc., is set to reward consumers in a consumer Promo tied-in to the Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) Season 10.

For the first time in the 10-year history of the reality TV show, millions of lucky patrons of the brand will stand the opportunity of winning mouth-watering prizes.

The first prize is a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero SUV, 3.0L GLX MT, courtesy CFAO Motors Nigeria, the official automotive partners of GUS 10. Other consolation prizes are: 700 units of Gulder gift packs, 550 units of DSTV Walkas, 300 DualSim Android phones, 50 tablets and millions of naira worth of recharge cards.

According to Mr. Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigeria Breweries Plc., the anniversary celebration will be crown-cork based. He disclosed that the crown corks will be of

two types – winning crown corks with designated short codes and non-winning crown corks with brand messages.

Drenth said: “All a consumer has to do is to buy a bottle of Gulder, check under the crown cork for a code and send it to 20388, to stand the chance of winning recharge cards worth N200. The total value of the recharge cards up for grabs is N70 million and there is no limit to the amount of airtime consumers can win.”

He stated further that this phase, which commenced on Friday, August 2, would end on Friday, September 20.

The second phase, which will commence on Thursday, September 26, will see a lucky consumer driving home the brand new Mitsubishi Pajero 3.0L GLX MT, by the time it ends on Wednesday, October 23.

For the first time in the 10-year history, viewers will get to be part of the search under this phase. To participate, viewers will be required to provide cor-

rect answers to questions from clues related to the programme as transmitted on TV. After several weeks, 12 contestants will be shortlisted for a one-day final search, from which one winner will emerge. The winner will also have the bragging right to be called the first ‘Ultimate Champion’ of the first ever Virtual Search of the reality TV programme. That individual will also share the stage with the GUS champion who will be crowned on Saturday, November 2.

Emmanuel Agu, Marketing Manager – Gulder, Legend and Life, advised consumers that wish to partake in the anniversary celebration to look out for Gulder beer bottles with special commemorative labels.

He said: “Only consumers that purchase 60cl bottles of the brand with the special commemorative back labels and crown corks can participate and possibly win.

COSON set for digital music licensing summit OPYRIGHT Society of Nigeria (COSON), in conC junction with the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition, has concluded arrangements for the first Digital Music Licensing Summit in the country. The summit holds on Monday, August 12, 2013 at Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja by 10am.

Themed Working Together to Maximize Legal Digital Music Exploitation Gains in Nigeria, it will bring together stakeholders such as artistes, composers, publishers, label owners, mobile network operators, digital music providers, aggregators, online music service provider and so on to discuss all issues that affect the digital and online exploitations of musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria.

COSON’s General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, said, “improving the music business in the digital and Internet environment has proven to be a tough challenge. Music copyright in the digital environment has become a very topical issue leading to a lot of avoidable litigations across the world.”

He added, “the summit provides a very important opportunity for everyone involved in the business of digital music whether as a seller or

buyer to come together for the first time in the nation’s history under one roof to discuss issues of common interest.”

He further said that the summit would help clarify issues that may affect the exploitations of musical works and sound recordings in the digital/online environment. “It will also help to delineate the boundaries for each stakeholder so as to eliminate or reduce unnecessary squabbles and legal battles”.

Continuing Chukwuji said, “We are fully ready and I guarantee you an interesting and explosive session as this will help broaden our understanding on the dynamics of digital music exploitations.”

Expected at the summit are top players such as Obi Asika, Efe Omorogbe, Audu Maikori, Banky W, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, Mark Redguard of Spinlet, Simon Aderinola, National Coordinator, Wireless Application Service Providers of Nigerian (WASPAN), Gbolahan Awonuga of Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Afam Ezekude, Director General of Nigerian Copyright Commission and several others.

Tiwa Salvage

MDA 7: Osas Ighodaro is new anchor S Maltina Dance All (MDA), A the popular family dance TV show enters selection stages; Nigerians are awaiting with bated breath the 10 families that will eventually make it to the dance academy in September.

The show, which is sponsored by Maltina, a premium malt brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries plc, has over the years carved a niche for itself as the most popular family dance show on TV and a platform which young dancers have used to realise their ambitions.

According to Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji, Senior Brand Manager, Maltina is all about the emotions, excitement, fun and the unbreakable bond that ten families will showcase when they challenge themselves by learning and performing new dance styles in the academy.

Apart from showcasing their dancing skills, families are taken through other skills that are needed for family harmony and unity in an atmosphere of vivacity and camaraderie.

When the show made its debut in 2006, Catherine Edoho was the anchor for seasons one and two; she handed over to Tope Oshinogun who held the forth for season three while Kemi Adetiba anchored seasons four through six.

Adetiba who had successfully been the anchor of the show for three seasons and in the process has warmed herself into the hearts of Nigerians would be passing the baton to delectable Osas Ighodaro, Miss Black USA 2010/2011 and the first Nigerian-American to be

so crowned.

Kemi, who is moving on to conquer other challenges said she would miss the thrills and frills of the show, especially the bitter sweet emotions that often follow each eviction show.

But she assured Nigerians that Osas is coming with a wealth of experience and will equally warm herself into their hearts.

Apart from being a successful model, Osas is also an actress and has been in the entertainment industry, both in the United States of America and Nigeria since 2005. What most people may however not know about Osas is that she is also an entrepreneur. “I am an entrepreneur and I grew up watching and helping my father run his businesses abroad. I have my degree in broadcast journalism and dual minor degrees in entrepreneurship and theatre from the Pennsylvania State University. I got my masters of fine arts in acting from the Actor’s Studio Drama School at Pace University”.

The new face of MDA, which is into its seventh season, says she loves acting and doing Broadway and theatre, which is the bulk of her work. She was in works like the ‘Coloured Museum,’ ‘Revenge of the King,’ ‘Platanos & Collard Greens.’ She promise to bring her wealth of experience to bear on MDA which she describes as “the most popular show on TV with a strong thread linking both the young and old, few shows can boast of this linkage.”

Having worked on a couple of projects together, Kemi Adetiba said, “Osas is a vibrant

young lady who will add value to the show”. She enjoined Nigerians to watch the evolution of dance when MDA hits the screens on September 1.

On her part, Osas said she will do a few dance styles when she hits the center stage in September. “I looked forward to be the new anchor of the show and I promise Nigerians that they will see the other side of a dancing Osas soon.

I’d also like to commend Kemi for the way she has handled the show these past three years, she has always been professional on the stage and I wish her the best in her next challenge.”

The MDA often comes with new themes every year and this year’s theme is “The Evolution” which chronicles dance styles from the 70s, 80s, 90s and to the present in the academy. The winning family will go home with the grand prize of a whooping sum of N6 million and of course, a brand new car. The first and second runners up will also get N1 million and N500, 000.

The show will bring to the fore, the Nigerian people’s essence and values of sharing, happiness, unity, cooperation, vitality and creativity.

From all indications so far, The Evolution is bound to excite, entertain and enliven the family space more than the TV audience would ever anticipate. Evidently, the stakes are higher, dance instructors are ready to hit the ground running and the Maltina brand is determined to enhance national family bond through the viable instrument of music and dance theatrics.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

40 ARTS

ArtHouse Echoes From the Wood

CULPTOR, Veronica Otigbo-Ekpei’s exhibition of recent Sstarted sculptures and button art titled Echoes from the Wood showing from August 2 at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island. It will end on August 30.

More local content on AMC

.K.-based African Movie Channel (AMC), dedicated to U the best movies and series from Nollywood, and the best from the rest of Africa, has arrived. The channel’s official launch is scheduled for Sunday, at the Grand Ballroom of Oriental Hotel, Lagos. The 24-hour African movie channel is already on notable TV platforms such as StarTimes in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Mozambique; TopTV in South Africa, Smart TV in Ghana; Zuku in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and Continental Digital in Tanzania.

Nelson’s House of Gold set for premiere

OUSE of Gold, the latest movie from the stables of H Media GH and Yvonne Nelson Productions is set for premiere on today at the Silverbird Galleria. The hilarious comedy features Ice Prince, Zamani and Omawumi.

Nnenna’s Akaraka still showing

NENNA Okore’s art exhibition titled Akaraka is curN rently showing at Art Twenty One, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. It winds up month end.

Compiled by: Florence Utor

With Back Up, Adokiye rocks big

By Tony Nwanne OPULAR talented P songstress, Adokiye Kyrian, popularly known as Adokiye has shown her readiness to hold the music industry spellbound with her newest single titled Back Up. The track, which was inspired

by Kevin Little is a love song that talks about backing up in all what she does, which also shows the importance of always having a Plan B in all endeavours.

According to Adokiye, “it’s not a party song, it’s just a track that features actors and actress in the video. It’s like a movie, the director rely tried by putting good touches into the music.” Directed by popular actor, Ik Ogbonnaya, Back up is one of the projects the songstress is pushing to take her musical career to the next level.

Speaking at the unveiling of the track, the architect turned musician was of the view that the director of the video made sure that her fans would want more from her with the quali-

ty of works put into the video.

On what makes her different, she noted “I like to tell stories, telling people about the reality of life which the track is all about, and I don’t just sing, I pass my message out to the audience.”

This is the official video of Adokiya, she noted that her album, which is currently under work but noted that for now, she is focusing on catching the attention of the people before delving into doing her album.

Aside music, acting for her is also another thing she is versatile at, which she wishes to go into later.

For Ogbonnaya, fans should expect more from Adokiye because, with her kind of music, she will definitely stand tall. According to him, “ I wouldn’t delve fully into music directing, but fans should expect something good from me because I’m a multi talented person”.

Adokiye’s biggest fear is that of not meeting up to her targets (career) in terms of fulfilling her dreams.

Director of Desperate Housegirls, Desmond Elliot and cast

Julius Agwu, Amaeze thrill fans at Royal Arts Academy movie launch

By Florence Utor ANS of top Nollywood Fwatch actors have a chance to their favourite stars on the latest movies released into the market by Royal Arts Academy, Weekend Getaway, and the newly produced Desperate Housegirls. The DVDs were launched at an official gathering at the terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, last weekend.

Weekend Getaway, which was screened in cinemas nationwide, enjoyed a successful run. It is a glamorous and

witty movie about five couples with relationship, issues who spend the weekend at the Le Meridien Ibom Golf Course & Resorts. The movie exposes the drama, dysfunction, intrigues and love inherent in their lives.

It stars Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Ini EdoEhiagwina, Monalisa Chinda, Beverly Naya, Uru Eke, Uti Nwachuwkwu, Bobby Obodo, Alex Ekubo, Bishop Ime Umoh and others. It was produced by Emem Isong, Ini Edo & Monalisa Chinda and directed

by Desmond Elliot.

G12 Entertainment fetes less privilege

By Tony Nwanne came the way of SColeUCCOUR inmates of the Modupe Memorial Child Care, Akoka, Lagos, last week when G12 entertainment brought smiles to their faces to mark the 5th edition of the yearly G12 Ramadan Lecture.

It was indeed a great time for the children as they were thrilled to the fullest, ranging from dance competition and musical presentation, and was also showered with valuable gift items.

The organiser of the yearly lecture said it is aimed at bringing happiness to the less privilege in Lagos, making them realise that God has a reason for creating them.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of G12 Entertainment Limited, Hakeem Mustapha, the G12 Ramadan Lecture is a period whereby the company gives back to the society as its own corporate social responsibili-

ty.

“Instead of lavishing funds on unnecessary partying around, I found it important to dine with the less privilege because most of these children are going through tough times.

To me, it’s a time of sober reflection. I grew up without a silver spoon, and I know how it feels to live a needy live, that is why we thought of giving back to the society,” he said.

While condemning the way of the needy and the physically challenged are treated, he stated that, “another thing we are going to do is to remove the stigmatization around them. People still abandon kids on the streets. That should stop because if you know how to treat these kids from preventive, curative and management of the ailment, then you shouldn’t have a problem. It’s not like you pray to God to have one but you shouldn’t abandon them because they are gifts from God.”

Desperate Housegirls, which also has just being released into the market, stars Desmond Elliot, Ini Edo, Kenneth Okolie, May Lazarus, Benjamin Toitou and others. It is about three pretty, young girls who have had enough of the ghetto life. In a bid to step up their game, they decide to become house girls to rich families. Their mission is simple: Get rich by whatever means. It was also directed by Desmond Elliot and produced & written by Uduak Oguamanam.

The event was a casual one

that created an opportunity for the cast and crew to meet and greet their teaming fans, answer questions and take pictures. There were also musical, stage performances and lots of comedy from Julius Agwu and Amaeze.

Agwu commending the works, said, “all nations have their positive and negative sides, but unfortunately, because our story have been told by other people, only the bad side is portrayed. But with works like these, we can show people who we really are.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

INFOTECH4DEXECUTIVES

By Kapil D Singh ou ask anyone and a very predictable and commonplace answer will come, to take better decisions! Of course that's true but CEOs need IT for many other reasons.

Understanding the CEO's needs is important for a CIO to obtain important structural, financial and other kind of resources for being effective. I would like to talk about this important aspect before getting into the second question in the series (which anyway is related to this). I have interacted with many CEOs, and my understanding of their need for IT reveals that there are deeper (and sometimes hidden) needs CEOs have. CIOs must understand these for more fruitful relations with the CEO and for appropriating his support for IT. After all, the CEO creates enabling conditions for the CIO to succeed. Investing time and efforts in making the relationship mutually beneficial makes great business sense. I have found that the CEO's need for IT is driven by their deeper need to defend or enhance their power to lead in the organization.

This power manifestation may be with respect to multiple stakeholders, the external entities like the regulatory bodies or the board above and the internal hierarchies below. I would like to discuss four such needs- mimetic, regulatory, political performance and control.

Y

CEOs need IT to be seen as leading a progressive and contemporary organization.

Many ERP implementations in sectors like auto/auto ancillaries are driven by the mimetic processes in the competitive landscape. Needless to say, many of these do not succeed unless matched with an equal change in the organization's structures, processes and culture. With newer fads like social media, cloud etc. emerging; CEOs

Customer Experience

By Rich McLafferty pturn a Downturn: U Challenging economic times require challenging the status quo. Even when times are tough there are many lowcost opportunities to build, and nurture positive customer relationships that can help an organization accelerate through, and uphold the brand's reputation.

Don't Panic: When faced with an economic downturn many organizations resort to panic and reactive strategies.

Taking a reactive approach can cause a management team to frame action through a negative lens and place focus on what's wrong, instead of what's right. The goal becomes survival at any cost -- as long as it doesn't cost any money. Many organizations stray from logic by reducing headcount, cutting back on services, and eliminating customer perks. In an attempt to drive costs down, they drive customers to the competition. These types of actions exacerbate the issue, and create a vicious circle of compounding problems.

Service quality drops, and customer satisfaction takes a dive. As customer complaints increase, the cost and resources to handle the complaints increase as well.

Negative word-of-mouth advertising impacts sales, and that leads to additional costs in marketing, and customer retention.

Don't Forget About the Employee Experience: Challenging times impact the employee experience as well.

Organizational changes affect employee morale, productivity, and confidence in the organization that in turn affects the customers' experience. Frustration can lead to employee attrition that drive up costs associated with hiring and training replacements.

In the preface of his book The

Why Does the CEO Need IT? would want some noise and association with these fads.

CEOs need IT for meeting the requirements of the regulatory bodies. Many of the IT initiatives in banks or insurance companies are regulation driven. With increasing demand for compliance to these regulations, CEOs need for IT will also increase. That's quite simple to understand. The difficulty for the CIO comes when the CEO's need for IT is driven only by the regulatory demands. Any agenda beyond that does not cut much ice with the CEO. Then there are deeper (and hidden) dimensions of the need. CEOs sometime need IT to maintain their political performance and the powers they enjoy by the virtue of their position. They can sustain their powers given by the boards by keeping the organization functional. If IT plays an important role in creating a functional organization, CEOs will focus on IT whenever the organizational effectiveness becomes an issue. I know of an organization where IT is the backbone for the business value chain of the organization. When IT became a sore point and a source of dysfunctionality, the CEO fired the legacy CIO, brought in a new CIO and gave him all the support to overhaul the IT infrastructure. Not only that, he also put his might behind the CIO to deal with the resistance from the IT staff. But once the IT infrastructure was in place, the CIO found it difficult to push other projects, as CEO could not care less.

through the processes, practices, which helps the CEO remain in touch with the pulse of the organization. Being in touch with the pulse of the organization helps the CEO manifest and manage the power equation with the hierarchies below him in his favour. The need for taking better decisions is underlined by deeper aspects of power play and remaining on top of things.

The system of authority can have both formal and informal aspects. IT can help create the personal system of authority for the CEOs and CIOs can leverage this need by creating appropriate IT infrastructure and systems. It can range from a simple MIS to a complex dashboard for the CEO to be in control. With the CEO remaining in control, obviously there will be affected parties (those who are controlled). How a CIO man-

ages this delicate equation spells success or failure for him. One important question the CIOs need to ask is who is going to gain power and who is not by specific business projects being undertaken.

Many CEOs may not be able to articulate this need clearly in words, it is extremely important for the CIO to sense it and work towards the same. As a CIO, you will need to answer a few questions. What is your understanding of your CEOs need for IT? How much are you able to fulfil that need?

Are you doing the right things keeping in mind the power equation of the CEO with those above him and below him? Are you appropriately leveraging and appropriating the CEO's needs for IT? Can you relate your current bottlenecks with the perspectives emerging through these answers?

CEOs also create 'systems of authority' to remain in control and on top of things.

These systems of authority can be both personal as well as bureaucratic and built

Customer Experience Strategies Success Strategy in Challenging Economic

By Manfred Gollent is certainly someTimes Success thing most of us would like small token of appreciation

Loyalty Effect author Frederick F. Reichheld states, "The fact across a wide range of industries is that a 5 percent improvement in customer retention rates will yield a 25 to 100 percent increase in profits." The key word being retention! It costs less to retain customers and employees than to replace them.

Simplicity is Key: In challenging times, think simple, but simple with an impact. You don't have to drive up costs to WOW a customer; in fact, it's just the opposite. Most customers understand the challenges that organizations face, but they still want value for their money, and to feel appreciated. The goal is to let customers know that you appreciate and value their business. A sincere "thank you" from a customer service representative, or an employee that goes that "extra mile" to provide outstanding service will not only pleasantly surprise a customer, but will start a chain of word-ofmouth advertising. Even a

in the form of a note, an email, phone call, or text message can do wonders to build a brand on a budget. Most of the time it's the smallest gestures that make the greatest impact, and help to enhance customer loyalty. Imagine receiving a note, email, or text message from your mortgage, credit card, or telecommunications provider saying something like: "We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support," or "We know that these are challenging times, and we want to thank you for paying your bill on time." For a minimal investment you would get a maximum return on customer perception, and good will. That's advertising you can't buy!

This Too Shall Pass: The good news is better days are ahead, so go ahead and challenge the status quo! Take a challenge as an opportunity to differentiate yourself by surprising your customers, and building your brand. Not only will it help you get through the leaner times, it will help

to have and few of us ever bother to define in specific terms for themselves. Yes, success is a very personal phenomenon which has potentially different characteristics for each individual. Some individuals define success in terms of material parameters like money, house, car or boat others prefer emotional characteristics like prestige, social, political or professional status. In the end it is often a moving target that once achieved in some way it seems to lose its satisfying quality. Consequently, success should ideally become a sustainable state of satisfaction, hence may require a (paradigm) shift in its description.

My suggestion is to look at success as a continual process with a distinct emotionally satisfying quality.

Considering the matter in some depth I offer to my friends and clients a definition of success which may appear somewhat generic at first sight however, it provides a solid basis for adding specific details which may (and should) change over time while staying true to the underlying principle. The success statement is following: "Success is the continual achievement of your own predetermined goals, stabilized by balance, and purified by belief." With this success description one can focus on acquiring a "process for success" and hone, fine tune and perfect it while achieving ones goals at the same time. It is the journey that is important and not the destination.

There is obviously more to become truly and sustainability successful. One of the more critical elements is to establish a meaningful longterm vision. Long-term can be 3 years or 20 years and will

Success: A Destination or a Journey? very much depend on the individual circumstances. The typical approach for individuals tends to be in the range of 5-10 years. Once the vision is achieved or very close to that stage it seizes its function as a vision and requires a major "overhaul" with a new direction.

All goals and the resulting actions from the goal achievement process need to become aligned with the vision. One's goals and actions should always be tested with a simple question: Does it bring me (or "us" for organizations) closer to the vision. If the answer is no a reevaluation of the goal and actions should be seriously considered to avoid the expense of energy and resources not creating value towards the vision.

Another crucial quality suc-

cessful individuals (and organizations) commit to are their values. As a matter of fact values (in this context) represent the non-negotiable basis for any decision making, hence have an important function in the journey towards success. It may be better to have fewer declared values but commit to them without compromise than to have a whole list of them just to be violated whenever convenient. The subject of values is of vital importance and actually worthy of a separate article.

Certainly, there is more color needed to complete the details of the picture, however, the above mentioned can provide a good outline and a valid starting point to be thought provoking enough to lead to the most effective

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

AutoWheels Cars expected on parade at Geneva motor show

Rolls-Royce wraith Lamborgimi Veneno

Land Rover Defender all terain Electric

By Taiwo Hassan HE Geneva Motor Show T has always been a designer’s showcase for scintillating automobiles with the crème of frenzy auto buyers storming the venue to see the latest auto wheels from car manufacturers.

Indeed, the auto show has been rated as one of the best in the world because of its glamour and funfair that

comes into display during the show.

Expectedly to be on parade at this year’s auto show are plenty of reality–production vehicles with dazzling looks and dizzying performance to spark the enthusiast’s imagination.

These are the survey of some of the most notable automobiles debut at the show.

Lamborghini Veneno The Veneno seemed to exist,

Volkswagen XL1

at least in part, to steal thunder from a certain red Italian supercar at the other end of the Palexpo convention centre.

This street-legal but trackready rendition of the mighty Aventador was beyond exotic, with fittingly eye-popping performance stats and a seven-figure price tag. Like it or not, the coachbuilt Veneno will be remembered for a long time.

Land Rover Defender all-terrain electric test vehicle The Advanced Engineering Team at Land Rover ditched the Defender 110’s diesel engine and fuel tank for an electric motor and a 300-volt lithium-ion battery pack.

The motor produces 94 horsepower and a stout 243 pound-feet of torque, and a full charge will carry passengers 50 miles, or deliver sufficient energy for eight hours of low-speed off-road exercises. \ And yes, the electric Defender

is a real Land Rover, able to ford three feet of water or haul a 12-tonne load up a 13 per cent gradient.

Volkswagen XL1 It is impossible not to be impressed by the XL1’s calling card: 261mpg.

The philosophical antithesis of its corporate cousin, the Bugatti Veyron, the fastidiously engineered and hand-crafted XL1 is a similarly impressive flex of the Volkswagen Group’s engineering muscle. VW is starting small, putting just 50 XL1s on German roads this year – leased to their drivers, not sold. But the arrival this tiny two-seater may just be the biggest news of 2013.

Rolls-Royce Wraith More astonishing than the imposing Wraith’s performance figures – zero to 60mph in 4.4 seconds and an electronically governed top speed of 155 mph– is that it accomplishes such feats of while

staying true to everything that makes a Rolls-Royce a Rolls-Royce.

Grand and great and overstuffed with opulence, the fastest model in the British marque’s 109-year history is as true to the Spirit of Ecstasy as a 1950s-era Phantom IV. Chevrolet Corvette stingray convertible Pre-show teases from Chevrolet softened a bit of the theatricality of its unveiling, but the Corvette Stingray convertible nonetheless rolled out to cheers from a standing-room-only crowd.

Developed in tandem with the fearsome-looking coupe (which joined the drop-top on stage, prompting another round of applause), the convertible is no afterthought.

It promises to match the closed car’s athleticism and refinement.

BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo With one visual minor glitch (an ill-considered fender

vent), BMW’s 3 Series GT made a wholly appealing statement in Geneva – notably better than its bulky stablemate, the 5 Series GT. It is some eight inches longer than a 3 Series sedan, with an extra 4.3 inches between the axles, but the lithe four-door fastback wears its extra size well.

The Gran Turismo – in 240hp 328i and the 300hp 335i guises – lands in the US this summer.

Toyota FT-86 open concept Much less a concept than a coming attraction, the droptop FT-86, based on the coupe sold in the U.S. as the Scion FRS, is a wholly irresistible proposition. As a coupe it is handsome, but as a convertible, the FT is downright captivating. And with a spirited 4cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive and tires just narrow enough to allow a little oversteer now and then, it is the vehicular embodiment of the endless summer.

GM to invest additional $167m in U.S.’s Tennessee factory ENERAL Motors plans to spend another $167 milG lion at its Tennessee factory so it can build two new midsize vehicles.

The investment, according to the company, was at the instance of the previously announced $183 million investment.

The spending is expected to create or keep 1,800 jobs, but GM wouldn’t say how many new people would be hired.

The company also wouldn’t

identify the new vehicles.

They could be new versions of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain crossover SUVs. The assembly plant in Spring Hill, about 30 miles south of Nashville, now makes the Equinox along with a factory in Canada.

Although they’re selling well, they were last reworked in 2009. They compete against newer vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV-4.

The assembly plant was idled amid the economic downturn in 2009, but production was restarted following a 2011 contract agreement with the United Auto Workers that included salary concessions for entry-level workers.

GM announced in 2011 that it would add 700 jobs to build the Equinox and that it would add 1, 200 jobs to build two more midsized vehicles for the 2015 model year.

The Spring Hill plant pro-

duced more than 3.7 million Saturns between 1990 and 2007. Most of the facility’s workers were then furloughed while the plant underwent a $600 million overhaul to build the build the Traverse crossover.

The changes included retooling to build vehicles made of sheet metal panels, as most Saturns built at the plant were plastic body cars.

At its peak, the facility employed nearly 8,000 work-

ers. By 2009, that number was down to about 630.

The plant, which also makes four-cylinder engines, currently employs 2,000 people.

GM announced in January that Spring Hill would also begin making front and rear bumper assemblies for the Corvette sports care assembled 90 miles to the north in Bowling Green, Ky. The expansion at the GM plant follows an announcement in June that Nissan Motor Co. is adding 900 jobs

to start making the Rogue crossover at its plant in Smyrna, about 30 miles northeast of the GM plant.

The new jobs are in addition to 800 positions added at the Smyrna plant last year, and will bring total employment at the suburban Nashville facility to more than 7,000.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen AG is expected to decide before the end of the year whether it will produce a new crossover vehicle at either its U.S. plant in Chattanooga or in Mexico.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

44 AUTOWHEELS

FRSC boss reads riot act to motorists in Lagos

By Taiwo Hassan S the ‘ember’ months approach, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has made it clear that there would be no going back on its directive to dirivers/motorists who flaunt its three core rulesseat belt usage, speed reduction and use of phone while driving, are to face the court of law for traffic violation.

The Corps Marshall and Chief Executive Officer, FRSC, Osita Chidoka, made the declaration while officially flagging-off FRSC/ExxonMobil’s road safety campaign in Lagos at the weekend.

Chidoka stressed that henceforth, any driver found violating traffic rules and regulations relating to the three core objectives will be charged and prosecuted in the court of law.

According to him, the act of driving without recourse to law was no longer business as usual, adding that the agency would not tolerate any driving indiscipline on the highways again.

Chidoka, who was represented by the Acting Unit Commander of RS-2.17 Unit Command, Joseph Samuel Udoabba, at the safety campaign in both Ojota and Ketu motor parks respectively, explained that the campaign became necessary because the agency aims to raise the

A

. Lauds corporate organisations’ contribution to safety campaign The aim of the campaign is not only for the drivers, but to sensitise the general public on why they should use their seat belt usage, reduce speed and use of phone while driving on the road. When you talk about the road users, you are talking about the drivers, people that are walking with their legs, which we refers to as pedestrians and every other persons that is making use of the roads. Now, we found out that sometimes these people neglect these responsibilities, which are very important, because it can lead to something like fatal accident or even takes lives. level of safety awareness on the nation’s roads to reduce carnages and fatal accidents.

He said the agency’s partnership with the oil company would go a long way in reducing road accident in the country, while also pointing out that a lot of road users still abuse driving, while driving on the highways.

Chidoka decried the alarming rate of road accidents in the country and called on the drivers to pay attention to the safety of their passengers and other road users at all times.

“This campaign is a national reawakening to address the challenge of poor attitude to road use in the country which has resulted in several avoidable accidents. The

FRSC, working in partnership with ExxonMobil, is determined to enhance safety on our roads by promoting attitudinal change among our drivers and enforcing the road safety codes.”

On why the safety campaign was flagged-off at the motor parks, the FRSC’s helmsman said: “We look at it that it is useful to move from one motor park to another to inform drivers/motorists about the need to adhere themselves to safety standard.

“The aim of the campaign is not only for the drivers, but to sensitise the general public on why they should use their seat belt usage, reduce speed and use of phone while driving on the road.

When you talk about the road users, you are talking about the drivers, people that are walking with their legs, which we refers to as pedestrians and every other persons that is making use of the roads. Now, we found out that sometimes these people neglect these responsibilities, which are very important, because it can lead to something like fatal accident or even takes lives.”

Speaking at the event, Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Akin Fatunke

said that ExxonMobil was supporting FRSC on the campaign to promote attitudinal change among road users in the country to curb road accidents.

“The national road safety initiative reflects the level of priority which ExxonMobil accords safety in all its locations of operation in the country. This campaign is a demonstration of our commitment to safety and support for Nigeria’s aspiration for accident-free roads,” Fatunke said.

He said that ExxonMobil has a large pool of world-class drivers in its fleet who have

Chidoka

been trained in both locally and abroad to ensure that they imbibe best practice habits on the roads.

He however advised drivers to ensure that they use their seat belts, avoid over speeding and use of mobile phones, while driving to protect themselves, their passengers and other road users from avoidable road hazards.

Similarly, the Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Ozemoya Okordion, noted that his organisation was aware of the act of indiscipline on the part of the road users, pointing out that the safety campaign will help to nip in the bud the various challenges facing road accident in the country.

Okordion said apart from the initiative being targeted on safety campaign, it was also the company’s corporate social responsibility programme of contributing to the development of accidentfree in the society.

The Chairman of drivers union at Ketu motor park, Sunday Ogundipe, pledged that the unit drivers would collaborate with FRSC to promote safety on the roads.

He said that safety should be paramount on the drivers’ minds before embarking on any journey because the right habit on the wheels is a sure way to safety.

Toyota Nigeria pledges to provide vehicles during film production

By Taiwo Hassan and Syntyche Boman OYOTA Nigeria Limited (TNL) has indicated plans to supply all the vehicles that would be needed in the forthcoming Nigerian movie, titled, October 1st.

The move by the company to sponsor part of the proposed forthcoming film by Kunle Afolayan production was borne out of its desire to partake in a movie that would showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage as it marks her 53rd independence celebration in October.

Speaking at a media briefing on the film sponsorship deal, the company’s Executive

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Director, Kunle Adeojo said the partnership with the film producer- Kunle Afolayan, was on the availability of Toyota brand of vehicles, which is expected to be used at the scene of the movie.

He said that TNL was honoured to associate with such a laudable project that will go a long way in the history of the country’s existence.

According to him, TNL participation towards the filmmaking, October 1st was strategic to the company’s growth, because the film hope to evolve the history of the country’s Independence Day celebration.

He added that when Nigeria

got her independence from the colonial masters, all the vehicles used at that time had colonial heritage.

“TNL is glad to partner with Kunle Afolayan, the producer of the forthcoming film, titled October 1st. We believe that our contribution to the success of the movie would go a long way in promoting the cultural heritage of our beloved country- Nigeria. It was unfortunate that when Nigeria got her independence in October 1st, 1960, no Toyota vehicles were used during the celebration. But now, we want to rewrite the history of this country by providing all the logistics and transporta-

tion at the scene of the film,” Adeojo said.

In his response, Afolayan commended the auto company for coming to the aid of film producers, stressing that film production was a high capitalintensive business.

According to him, the movie was about the event that happened during the country’s Independence Day celebration, adding that the movie production would commence in September 1st and ends in October 1st.

He however tasked other corporate institutions to demonstrate their support towards the growth the country’s movie industry.

Toyota Camry

Auto makers record gains as second quarter earning results release ORD, which has just released its second-quarter Fearnings last week and its sales figures were promising, but there are other companies to look at that will benefit downstream from these auto sales.

However, let’s begin with Ford itself expanding sales.

Ford increased first half sales by 370,000 units worldwide, resulting in an additional $579 million in revenue, or $0.17 per share.

This resulted in a higher capacity usage at Ford’s existing plants, leading to a 6.4 per cent operating margin in 2Q’13 vs. 4.9 per cent in 2Q’12 on a worldwide basis.

Europe sales are also improving, although it is still losing money. Ford’s European division posted a loss of $348 million, a $72 million improvement over 2Q’12.

This is just the one blemish in an otherwise rosy report.

Ford’s cash position also

improved by $1.7 billion in 2Q 2013, giving it more flexibility moving forward.

Ford is also capitalising on its OneFord strategy to aggressively restructure its product mix and align its products with demand.

Ford plans on doing this while also capitalising on global platform sharing, to more aggressively compete on cost within the developing countries of China and India.

Ford had been taking steps to capitalise on its strengths and mitigate its risks as well.

Instead of increasing the dividend right away, Ford is using its excess cash to contribute to its pension obligations and buyouts to mitigate future risk.

Ford pays out only 16.5 per cent of earnings in the form of a 2.3 per cent dividend, but is now utilising its cash to cut its business risks.

Investors seem to be fine with this strategy, as the stock has

risen more than 85 per cent this past year, and is still reasonably valued.

Valspar is known for its consumer paint brand of the same name, but it also has a large industrial coatings business.

The company reported seven per cent increase in sales volume and an EPS of $0.91, an eight increase over the prior year period.

The company is now integrating a recent merger with the store branded Ace Hardware paints, and is currently restructuring its consumer division. The company has taken $23 million in charges this quarter to close down one of the plants acquired so that it can run its existing plants at a higher capacity.

Valspar is also dedicated to research and development projects to differentiate itself.

It has increased spending on R&D by 17 per cent, since 2010, and recently came out with a

coating product additive that instantly dries when exposed to ultraviolet light.

This additive will be a boon to manufacturers that can now continue working on recently painted and coated vehicles

almost instantly after they are painted. Sales should continue to increase as the company continues picking up more long-term supplier contracts from manufacturers for its proprietary technology.

Valspar currently has a net profit margin of 7.3 per cent compared to an industry average of three per cent, due to its strong brand name and unique characteristics of its coatings products.

Leventis Motors unveils Foton trucks in Nigeria

By Clarkson Eberu EVENTIS Motors has introduced to Nigeria’s automobile market a range of Foton trucks, varying from Light Duty Trucks (LDT) to Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks (M&HDT) with payload capacities of 1.5 to 8 and 9 to 60 tonnes respectively.

The company hinted that the foray followed the success stories the products have so far recorded in China and other parts of the world, At the launch in Lagos, the Sales Manager, Leventis Motors, Ashish Kumar, said that besides their global acceptance, the vehicles had

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been tailored to suit Nigerian peculiar terrain and cater for the nation’s transportation needs.

He noted, “the Foton trucks meet all safety norms, including frontal crash, roof crash and rear wall strength. Some of the variants are also fitted with ABS to ensure the safety of the crew and the goods. All these features come with economy of very good fuel mileage.”

Also speaking, the Manager, Service, Vilas Bhurke; stated that the offerings apart from carrying a 24month/100,000-kilometre warranty, were also backed

by spares and after-sales service across the federation.

His words: “We at Leventis Motors believe that total customer satisfaction is only achieved when quality vehicle is supported by attentive and responsive customer care and after-sales service and support.”

He added: “A vital component of this is our commitment to Leventis’ 3s – sales, service and spares – which is exemplified by our fully equipped after-sales facilities in key locations across Nigeria with a spare parts inventory at Lagos and branches.”

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

BusinessTravel Flying clubs: The essential aviation career elixir

A big airfield housing light aircraft

WOLE SHADARE writes on the growing debate over the effectiveness of flying clubs to grow the pilots’ population and keep them active.

HEN people consider flying lessons, W one area is often overlooked – the flying club. Learning to fly may not only provide the training people need, it may also offer aviation-related social activities.

While clubs take several forms, the basic concept is to gather several interested pilots, an instructor, and perhaps a maintenance technician to share the ownership of an aircraft or the club. Because they share the costs among more people, clubs can offer lower costs over individual ownership.

Two basic types of clubs exist. First, there’s the “corporate” club, where a few core members own the airplane (or airplanes).

Generally, those outside the owners’ circle buy into the club by paying a membership fee, as well as paying monthly dues. The dues cover each owner’s share of fixed costs such as insurance and the airplane’s tie down or hangar rental. Each club member, including the owner, pays a per-hour fee when he (or she) flies the airplane.

Corporate clubs usually have large memberships. If that doesn’t suit, a partnership club might meet one’s needs. Whether they form a corporate or partnership club, several pilots buy an aircraft as a group. Each

pilot’s name appears on the registration.

If this will be your first airplane, forming a partnership club is an especially good option if the other members have owned an aircraft before. You can learn the ropes of ownership from them while you enjoy your aircraft. But like everything in life, partnership clubs have good and bad points.

The most important part of forming a club is knowing and trusting the other members.

A club composed of four friends who already know they get along well should enjoy a long existence, especially if they buy an airplane that has been well maintained.

On the other hand, any dishonesty, or perception of dishonesty among the members, coupled with a maintenance hog that costs more than the members expected, can lead to problems.

A flying club or aero club is a non profit, just as members run organisation that provide its members with affordable access to aircraft.

Many clubs also provide flight training, flight planning facilities, pilot supplies and associated services, as well as organising social functions, fly-ins and fly-outs to other airports and so forth.

While flying clubs are home to those who pursue flying as a hobby, many commercial pilots also get their start at flying clubs.

Most flying clubs own and rent small general aviation aircraft.

In North America and Europe, the most popular of such aircraft are the Cessna 152, the

Cessna 172, and the Piper Cherokee.

However some clubs also exist to provide access to more specialised aircraft, such as vintage planes, aerobatic planes, helicopters and gliders.

In Canada, however, the clubs can be fairly large non-profit operations, some dating back to the 1920s and operating at large airports as well as small. Canadian flying clubs often serve as fixed-base operators at their airports as well as flight schools and aircraft renters.

Many years ago, Nigeria had flying clubs, which greatly helped a lot of pilots, and many others interested in general aviation.

In a sector that is hampered by some little problems of fuel prices and demographics to name a few, almost everyone is looking to remedy the situation.

The arguments in favour of flying clubs are interesting and heart warming.

Proponents say by pooling resources, clubs can reduce the cost of flying for student pilots and experienced flyers alike.

Beyond this financial advantage, there is some research to suggest that flying clubs create a sense of community and camaraderie that is essential to keeping pilots engaged in aviation.

But skeptics think otherwise. To them, not all flying clubs are good ones. They noted that starting a club isn’t enough – they have to be effective. And there are many obstacles to having an effective club, from financing to insurance to maintenance.

The Accountable Officer of Air First Nigeria, Captain Gbolahan Abatan, noted that as far back as 2008, when he was in South Africa, the country already had about 1,140 private flying schools, adding that Nigeria with about 160 million people have just two training schools and not a single flying club.

Abatan who combines his position as a pilot and aircraft engineer stated that in the United States, pilots from the flying schools do not look for jobs in bigger airlines such as Delta and United because they will not employ them because they do not have the required flying hours, adding that America don’t feel the effect because they have a lot of general aviation aircraft.

According to him, “one of the first steps is the general aviation. In most countries, they have general aviation functioning. General aviation is the beginning. It is like you having an educational system and scrapping primary school. You cannot start your education from secondary school, nothing says you cannot start really but you must get to a certain age before you can start secondary school. Do you want to leave a man to grow up to 15 years before he goes to secondary school? What are you going to teach him?

That is why we were all taught from the kindergarten and the same thing with General Aviation”.

He lauded the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, for creating the general aviation department and for making efforts to revolutionise the system.

Virgin Atlantic on course to ‘Fly in the Face of Ordinary’

By Wole Shadare VER the last few decades, flying has become a common feature of everyday life – whether for short breaks, holidays in exotic destinations or business trips within Nigeria and around the world.

As flying has increased, so too have expectations. Virgin Atlantic provides the alternative that consumers need, setting it aside from the rest of the industry.

Virgin Atlantic is “Flying in the Face of Ordinary” this August with the launch of its new global brand proposition.

“Flying in the Face of Ordinary” (FITFOO) brings to life Virgin Atlantic’s innovative and

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pioneering spirit. The new proposition captures the airline’s passion for flight and demonstrates how Virgin Atlantic goes beyond the norm to deliver unforgettable experiences for its passengers.

According to the carrier, FITFOO describes what the airline does, how it behaves, why it stands out from the crowd – its people, places, experience, and style. “It refers to all elements of our business but in particular our staff and our experience, which makes the airline what, it is”.

Virgin Atlantic’s Country Manager (Nigeria), Rachel Coffey, said: “Our workers hold the keys to the future of Virgin Atlantic; they work

so hard and we are delighted to dedicate this new advert to them. I believe it takes a special kind of person to work at Virgin Atlantic and we’re always on the lookout for gifted young people to take our business forward” Coffey added: “We wanted to capture the essence of Virgin Atlantic with this new campaign and bring the glamour and fun back into long-haul travel. “Flying in the Face of Ordinary” is more than a marketing campaign; it is a powerful brand proposition and long term platform that will be reflected in all areas of the business from communications and marketing to product and service.”

She disclosed that the advertisement was

based upon the lives of real people who work at the airline today and traces the lives of the gifted youngsters born with special skills, and how they later use those talents to become outstanding employees at the airline.

“One child has an amazing love of flight, and then goes on to become a leading pilot.

Another has a keen interest in how things work and who later becomes one of the country’s leading design engineers. Others with excellent people and intuition skills become outstanding cabin crewmembers and ground staff”, she added.

The advertisement will be broadcast on TV stations across Nigeria from August 14, 2013.

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

Easing air travel hassles through online booking

By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi ITH technological W improvements, the face of flying has changed a lot.

One does not have to stay on a long queue before getting a ticket to book for a flight, as almost all the airlines around the globe sell their tickets online, thereby easing the hassles in air travel.

However, the age of computerised processing has resulted in solving many of such hassles of getting a flight ticket. The simple requirement is that of a computer system with Internet connection.

Online booking however provides the travelling passengers more benefits like discounted ticket prices, hurdle free online flight booking, which also gives them

the advantage to select the seat of their choice for enjoyment and comfort while traveling.

There are many websites available on the Internet through which the online flight ticket booking has become easier, as one does not need to go out for ticket and can make a reservation at any time.

Such an informational website offers passengers the news of the flight or fare offers on flights, they are booking for. Through this website, you can easily make a comparison in price and services offered by different airlines. Such assessment by the travellers would assist them, in finding tickets that are in their range of respective budgets.

GOL, Brazilian airline set to begin flight to Lagos

By Wole Shadare OLLOWING the formalisation of its papers with the Nigerian government, Sao Paulo based low cost Brazilian airline-GOL is to begin flight operations between Lagos and Sao Paulo.

An official of the carrier who spoke to The Guardian in Lagos on Tuesday disclosed that the Ministry of Aviation and all other relevant agencies had given their approval.

The carrier operates state-ofthe-art Boeing aircraft with a new and modern fleet, GOL’s operations are differentiated by reduced maintenance costs and low fuel consumption, which translates into high use and efficiency rates for the company.

It would be recalled that GOL purchased VARIG in 2007 and for eleven years, GOL has been driving the Brazilian aviation market to develop, always presenting innovative and pioneering products, services and processes. The firm has

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made air travel in Brazil and in South America affordable.

The airline currently offers extensive and convenient route network in South America and the Caribbean, with almost 950 flights a day to over 63 destinations, domestic and international, in 14 countries.

Combined with operational partnerships with foreign and domestic companies, GOL’s route network is among the best for clients that want to travel to Brazil, within Brazil, or from Brazil.

GOL can offer such efficient services because it has a business model based on structures, systems and controls that enhance the quality, high technology, safety and standardization of its fleet, as well as the motivation and productivity of its team. With a constant focus on reducing costs, the company’s strategy is defined by profitable growth through a low-cost and high quality structure for providing service to clients.

According to experts in the industry, always check the authenticity of a website before making any decision.

Also, ensure the security of payment method before any credit card details.

Therefore, the online flight ticket bookings through any airline websites are the easiest method to book your ticket. The only thing to do, is fill online flight form in the available website. The payment methods are also online for online flight booking.

For business class, these offers are very suitable, as they have to fly frequently and discounted ticket prices are provided for online flight booking and international travel booking.

You can also take free membership of airline websites, to keep you aware about the

new offers regarding the travel bookings and their discounted airfares. You can also do comparison of the prices of the various online flight ticket booking companies.

You can also take the advantage of the various auction sites to get full information about the discount There are many airlines in the country like Arik Air, Aero Contractors, Dana Air, IRS and others that provide online tickets at lower rates. For the regular business class, such offers are often beneficial. The discounted airfare is meant for both the online flight ticket and international flight booking.

This type of airline ticket booking has certain conditions. The people who buy such tickets are not allowed to carry any type of eatables

along with them on the flight. The flight has arrangements so that people can buy on board.

Online flight booking also allows customers to have the freedom to shop around for the best prices. Travellers do not get this kind of freedom when booking flights through a travel agent or calling an airline.

A lot of money can be saved through online booking. If you are flying domestic, you can check in as far in advance as 24 hours and as late as one hour before the flight.

Furthermore, international travellers are able to check in between two and 24 hours before their flight. They simply go to the airline’s website and find your reservation, enter all their information and print out the boarding

Ambassador heights luxury hotel, Accra

Etihad in historic deal to buy 49 per cent equity in Air Serbia

By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi TIHAD Airways has E become the fastest-growing carrier in commercial aviation history, and one of the most successful, by “rewriting the rulebook”, the airline’s President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said recently in his keynote address at the 2013 CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit held in Sydney.

Hogan’s address in Australia came just days after Etihad Airways announced an historic deal with the Government of

Serbia to buy 49 per cent of Air Serbia, the country’s rebranded national airline, and a five-year management contract to run it.

Eschewing the traditional airline model and legacy alliances, the airline chief presented a new business model for global aviation describing the Abu Dhabibased carrier’s unique strategy of building scale through organic growth, code share partnerships and minority equity investments in other carriers.

“There is ample evidence to show that the traditional airline model and legacy

airline alliances are no longer relevant to today’s operating environment and that progress for the industry is unlikely without radical change,” he noted.

According to him, “A sustainable future for global aviation relies on a bold vision and a willingness to break with tradition and past practices.”

He explained that global reach was beyond the capability of any single airline and that progress would come only through partnerships.

“Including Jet Airways, where we’re still going

through the regulatory process, Etihad Airways will have six equity and 46 code share partners, offering a pool of over 96 million guests and a choice of more than 410 destinations on six continents, serviced by a fleet of approximately 500 modern aircraft,” he added.

He further stated that corporation includes joint procurement of assets, services and supplies such as aircraft, engines, fuel and insurance, as well as cooperation on issues such as maintenance, crew training and sales activities, which he said reduces costs for all participating car-

riers.

“We are delighted to welcome Air Serbia to our equity alliance, and look forward to receiving final approvals from regulators in India of our investment in Jet Airways,” he added.

In addition to the actions which airlines must take to ensure their own futures, Hogan said other broader changes were required by governments and regulators including workforce deregulation, reform of airspace management, technology innovation, more investment in infrastructure and greater collaboration with industry.

Movenpick owner to launch luxury Ambassador Height Moevenpick in a secure environment new luxury hotel, manicured private gardens, vibrant central business the A Moevenpick Ambassador and beautiful interiors com- district to the sprawling Ambassador Hotel and with- supported by continuous 24 in the same compound, hour electricity and water Hotel, Accra will be unveiled plete with luxury finishes, seashore. very soon, just as the luxurious residential living homes are already being sold.

Comprised of only 18 luxurious homes in one of the most coveted locations in the city, Ambassador Heights will deliver worldclass design and build quality. Modern glass facades,

fittings, and appliances will compliment an unrivalled ownership experience.

Ambassador Heights is designed to be an urban sanctuary within the city for a privileged few. This impressive development offers immediate access to all of Accra – from the

pass at home.

Major airlines also offer a mobile check-in option in which travelers can have boarding pass bar codes sent directly to their cellphones.

Changing or canceling a ticket is simple when you have booked an airfare online. In many cases, all you have to do is to go directly to the airline’s website and log in with your booking information.

From there, you can simply change the flight to a later date, upgrade to a different cabin class or cancel your reservation. Another benefit is that tickets purchased at a regular travel agency may incur an extra “external fee,” while some carriers waive the extra fee if you are able to finalise changes online through the airline’s website.

Merely minutes away from the Arts Centre, the National Museum, and directly opposite the National Theatre, there is no shortage of local culture and entertainment to cater to those with a discerning urban lifestyle.

Developed by the owner of

Ambassador Heights is luxury personified with each home enjoying direct access to the services and amenities of the surrounding complex, private concierge, world class dining, shopping, fitness, swimming, meeting and event facilities all with the comfort of being

supply.

Owners will enjoy an unparalleled lifestyle experience.

With only 18 City Homes, Ambassador Heights’ offers a phenomenal investment opportunity in what is Accra’s premier downtown address.

CNN strikes live in-flight TV deal for travellers NN will now be available, C live, through eXTV, the global in-flight live television service, serving passengers in EMEA, Asia and Latin America, having reached an agreement with Panasonic Avionics.

The development marks a further step in the execution of CNN’s out-of-home distribution strategy, delivering real-time access to CNN International for international travellers around the world.

“News developments influence critical business decisions around the globe on a minute-by-minute basis.

As the pre-eminent news and information source for frequent international travellers, CNN is a valuable partner in this space and we’re delighted to deliver the continuity that enables our audience to stay informed and follow the big global stories in real time”, commented Saadia Bahraoui, Commercial Director, Out of Home Distribution, CNN International.

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FridayWorship

By Afis A. Oladosu In the Name of The Almighty, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

“O Muhammad, Surely We have granted you “Surely, the religion with Allah is ISLAM,complete submission”... Qur’an 3:19 the Kauthar (countless blessings, Plenty; Therefore, offer Salah (prayer) to your Lord and sacrifice; Surely your enemy is the one who will be cut off from the root,”-(Quran 108:1-3) “Every nation has a festival; our festivals are ness of this terrestrial life. ground. categories of people who qualify to id al-fitr and id l-Adha,” - Prophet Muhammad. However, it is important for us to note Again, do not forget that it is in the tra- receive Zakat. Brethren, our acts of genthat our “graduation” from Ramadan dition of the Prophet that we give out erosity stand better acceptance when HE word ‘Id, in Arabic, means that is like our arrival to a station, which is, Sadaqat-ul-fitr preferably before the Id they are given incognito; when we which recurs or returns. in itself, the beginning of another prayers are observed. It is usually paid give, like Ali ibn Abi Talib, in expectaTechnically it refers to the celebration journey. In other words, the whole for and on behalf of all Muslims in a tion of no appreciation. We should culof the end of the month-long fasting essence of life and living for the con- household, the young and the old. It tivate the habit of giving, in line with of Ramadan. It is a celebration of the scious Muslim is all about arrival and may be paid in kind and this may fea- the Prophet’s advise, in such a way that completion of the training in the departure; we arrive from a religious ture three to four seers of wheat, bar- our left hand would not know what “school of Ramadan” where Muslims duty in order to depart for another ley, rice or any staple food. (Sahih our right-hand has handed out. “attended courses” in patience, perse- one.

Brethren, set out early for the ‘id Bukhari 24:70). verance, honesty and the conscious- The onset of the Id al-Fitr, like it is for Of recent, Muslims scholars have prayer ground. While going there in ness of the Almighty. The ‘Id al-Fitr is Id al-Adha, implies the undertaking of addressed the necessity of monetising your car, stop on the way to offer seats the occasion on which Muslims are series of religious duties. Muslim festi- this act of worship based on existential in your car to your brethren who expected to bask in an uncommon vals are therefore not ends in them- necessities. In the University of Ibadan might be going there on foot. Do not happiness particularly for their abili- selves, but means to a more hallowed central mosque, for example, the Imam wait to be asked before you offer such ty to connect with the Almighty and spiritual-social ends. Each time usually announces a certain amount of assistance. Again this is highly virtuespecially at a time when profanity Muslims prostrate in obeisance to the money to be paid by individuals in lieu ous. and bestiality have become fashion- Almighty, they are expected to rise in of giving sadaqat al-Fitr out in kind. On the way to the ‘Id praying ground, able. order that they might rescue humani- This falls under the legal rubric- masla- engage in much glorification of The Rejoice dear brother if you succeed- ty from the multiplexity of maladies hat al-Ammah- the promotion of the Almighty. In low voice, say: The ed in re-establishing your links with confronting the latter. public convenience. Whether it is given Almightyu Akbar, The Almightyu Akbar, your Creator. Celebrate dear sister if Thus, ahead of the ‘Id al-fitr, prepare out in cash or in kind, the most impor- The Almighty Akbar. Laa ilaaha ilal-lahu Ramadan worked for you and to observe the Sunnah of Prophet tant issue is the intention behind the wal-The Almightyu Akbar, The Almightyu imbued you with the spiritual Muhammad. Plan to wake up very act. Our intention should be the exten- Akbar wa-lilla hil hamd. weapons without which life on this early in the morning: observe the sion of the happiness of the occasion to “Id prayer is performed in congregaearth would be an extension of hell. Tahajud (do not let this virtue slip our brethren who are experiencing tion in open areas like fields, commuMuslims should be happy that, away from your schedules after adversity. We should desire for our nity centers, etc. or at mosques. There thanks to Ramadan under no circum- Ramadan), and in keeping with the brothers and sisters the same quality of is usually no Adhan (call to prayer) or stance shall they allow earthly princi- Sunnah, take a bath before Fajr prayers life the like of which the Almighty has Iqamah (call) for the prayers because palities to pollute their souls; never and put on new clothes (or the best been kind to grant unto us. they are nawafil - superogatory prayers. again shall we allow our prosperity to available). It is sunnah for men to use But how shall we go about doing this It consists of only two raka t (units of demean our spirituality; never again perfume not only on Id days but duty? It is better we give out our prayer) with an additional six Takbirs. shall our temporary adversity pur- always. It is not allowed for Muslims to sadaqat al-Fitr to our imams who would The “Id prayer is usually followed by blind us to the greater value in walk- fast on this day. Take a light breakfast and should, following Quran 9 verse the khutbah (sermon) – this order may ing with the Almighty in the wilder- before setting out to the praying 60, distribute same among the eight be reversed based on necessity- and

Celebrating the Id al-fitr

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then a supplication (dua) asking for The Almighty’s forgiveness, mercy, peace and blessings for all living beings across the world. The khutbah is also meant to remind Muslims of their responsibilities to The Almighty after the glorious month of Ramadan.

Listening to the khutbah (sermon) of ‘Id is a necessary requirement (wajib). Thus it is not proper, as is usually the case, for you to leave the prayer ground while the khutbah is being delivered. It is equally forbidden to talk, walk about or offer prayer while the sermon is being delivered.

Brethren as we celebrate the end of this years’ Ramadan, it is important that we constantly keep the virtues that the month has come to inculcate in us under focus. Have more empathy for the poor. Let us sustain the acts of worship, which we engaged in during the month. Steadfastness, patience and perseverance should remain our watchwords. Ramadan came to call our attention to the power of the spiritual realm; it came to take us away from concern for the ephemeral for that which is eternal.

Ramadan came to teach us that our salvation here on earth and in the hereafter lies in how steady we are in focusing on The Almighty, how grateful we are for His blessings, and how patient shall we continue to be when, as is occasionally the case, the tide of time becomes turbulent and troublesome.

Brethren, once the ‘Id prayer is concluded endeavour to take another route on your way back home and ponder your journeys on earth. Ask yourself this question just before you embark on any endeavour in life: will this route I am taking lead me to eternal salvation?

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51

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

Opinion Gov Fashola and Ndigbo Lagos Island indigenes, like the governor, are to this day still arrested and hounded into HE Abia State government last year came up “Black Maria” trucks by Kick Against Indisciwith an ingenious policy. All non-indigenous pline (KIA) officials. Borrowing a leaf from employees in the state public service, including such places as New York and Hawaii, Lagos teachers, were to be relieved of their duties be- initiated a programme of returning many cause the government’s resources were meant destitute individuals to their home states. for the indigenes. Over 80 per cent of the people Over 3,000 of such people have been reloaffected are from Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra and cated back to northern states where they Enugu states. Most leaders maintained a con- have now been reintegrated with their famispiracy of silence on this policy, which for long lies. When about 80 were sent to Oyo State in will remain one of the greatest impediments to November 2009, the governor screamed to Igbo unity. Abia State was actually treading the the high heavens that “they were dumped on path of the Enugu State government, which had Molete “Bridge” in Ibadan. in the late 1990s decided to sack all non-indiAbout 14 destitute people from Anambra genes in the state’s public service in order to State were sent to Onitsha last week because “save resources”. Almost every casualty is Igbo. of the failure of the State’s Ministry of Social But a number of Igbo social activists have Welfare to arrange for the arrival of these now suddenly found their voice. The people, unlike those of Akwa Ibom and overnight activists have created an unmistak- Katsina states which made proper logistic able mass hysteria in both the social media and arrangements for their own people. A section the traditional media over the bogey that Gov- of the media has since gone to town with the ernor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has extremely dangerous propaganda that the been “deporting” Igbo people from the state. Lagos State governor is driving Igbo people Some politicians who are determined to make out of Lagos through “brazen deportations political capital out of the so-called repatria- and repatriations”. Even professionals and tions have been busy simulating the scholars expected to be more thoughtful and hysteria. But perhaps, unbeknownst to these strategic in their actions have capitulated so people, they are hurting in a most profound easily to the mind poisoning reports and manner strategic Igbo interests. No people can have been responding exuberantly. A man survive – let alone – progress on a diet of lies and who introduced himself as a professor from emotions, or by allowing politicians to create Nnewi called me on the phone on Thursday and sustain a culture of paranoia or siege men- morning to assert with so much authority tality, otherwise called persecution complex. that “only Anambra indigenes are being tarThe Lagos State government launched a few geted for expulsion from Lagos because all year ago an ambitious project to turn Lagos, Nigerians know that Anambra is the leader Nigeria’s economic nerve centre with a popula- of the Igbo nation”. A lawyer in Maryland, tion of some 16 million, into a true megacity. United States, wrote that Fashola dare not reThis entailed, among other things, the en- locate beggars of northern extraction, allegthronement of a new social order and a differ- ing that the Igbo are the whipping boy of ent aesthetic regime. Consequently, the state Nigerian politics. He is blissfully ignorant of began to clear thousands of homeless people, the thousands of northern beggars taken beggars and urchins from the streets. Thus, a away from Borno Street in Ebute Metta and large number of “area boys” who are mostly environs.

By C. Don Adinuba

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How did the industrious, highly republican and intelligent Igbo people embrace, all of a sudden, this level of groupthink that has made us look like a people with unimaginable amnesia? Only last month, a very big plaza in Olodi, Apapa, belonging to Igbo entrepreneurs and housing hundreds of Igbo traders was burnt at night. The next day Fashola was at the site and promised to rebuild it at Lagos State’s expense. No Igbo governor has visited the place up to this moment, and none has promised to assist the victims. Last December, Ngozi Nwosu, an actress, was reported to be down with a serious liver ailment, so an appeal fund was launched. No Southeast government, including her home state of Imo State, responded, just as no wealthy Igbo men and women did. Only N1.5 million out of 6 million needed for treatment in the United Kingdom, could be raised. Fashola provided the remaining N4.5 million. And now some socalled Igbo activists are accusing him of antiIgbo sentiments.

Two months ago, Fashola completed the biggest housing estate he has built and named it for Emeka Anyaoku, an erstwhile Commonwealth secretary general from Anambra State. At a time some Igbo people cannot be hired as teachers or civil servants in South-eastern states, Fashola recruits them in large numbers, with some becoming judges and magistrates. His Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ben Akabueze, is from the Southeast. The chief executive of the state Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, Joe Igbokwe, is an engineer and publisher from Nnewi. Mac Duruigbo, from Imo State, is Fashola’s Personal Assistant on the Media.

Fashola gave Ikemba Nnewi practically a state burial last year in Lagos, the only nonSoutheast governor to accord the famous Bi-

afran leader this high honour. He was the only governor who attended last March the Chinua Achebe colloquium at Brown University on Rhode Island, United States, where he praised Achebe for his monumental achievements at a time the great writer was the butt of criticism by the Yoruba political establishment following Achebe’s unflattering remarks about Obafemi Awolowo in his new book, There Was A Country, a personal account of the Nigerian civil war. So, how did some of us come about the brainwave that the dynamic and cosmopolitan Lagos State governor is anti-Igbo?

Simply because his government relocated some Igbo elements to their home state, some of whom came to Lagos to do business but instead took to hard drug consumption and became urchin, better known as “area boys”! Interestingly when Fashola began to crack down on “area boys”, most of whom are from his state, Igbo traders were over the moon, rejoicing that the governor had saved them from the miscreants of “area boys” who had for decades been tormenting the traders daily, extorting huge sums from them and viciously assailing those who refused with dangerous weapons.

There are more Igbo people in Lagos than any other state. There are so many investments in Lagos because Lagos has for long welcomed the Igbo people, enabling NdIgbo to prosper in Lagos more than any other state. And no governor in Nigeria’s history has demonstrated as much affection to our people as Fashola. Commonsense dictates we protect in a strategic manner the interests of our people and reciprocate the friendship of well meaning individuals and groups. It will be a colossal tragedy if we savour the dishes of salacious lies and terrible propaganda, which we are being served by opportunistic politicians and garnished by hysterical Igbo social activists.

We must be guided at all times by truth and reason.

• Adinuba is head of Discovery Public Affairs Consulting.

Rivers crisis: My minority opinion

By Chuks Akamadu HE red lights are on. The perceptive and the discernable T see them on the road to election year 2015. The recent theatrics in Rivers State, to my mind, has been wrongly tagged: it is not an Amaechi-Wike tussle simplicita, least of all an Amaechi-First Lady scuffle; but an accidental prologue to a tragic-comedy that is capable of distracting the people of Nigeria from the real issues that should preoccupy their minds in the run-up the 2015. If the nation’s intellectual community and the civil society fraternity cannot see through this emergent trick and quickly embark on a counter-offensive, then the people should worry. I am already frightened.

Without meaning to sound alarmist, I foresee current political office holders inventing similar crises in the days ahead, to keep the people away from holding them accountable for their actions and inactions in office. Already, a majority of us have, with respect to the brawl in Rivers State, hugged sentiments and emotions so passionately as if our lives depended on them – thereby ensuring that reason proceeded on vacation. If this trend is left to progress, the electorate certainly will not have the sanity, the psychological stability and presence of mind to either insist on quality candidates or make rational choices in the up-coming elections. I reckon that the idea is to starve the Great Nigeria House of ventilation, so that we, as a deprived and fatigued people, would see the electoral process in the months to come as fresh air and rush into it unprepared. The obvious outcome would be the return of this same calibre of politicians that desecrate our democracy – as witnessed on the floor of rivers House of Assembly.

I earnestly implore stakeholders to arrest the current drift.

Our own Arab Spring should happen in 2015 through the ballot box, without blood bath. With our centenary very much within earshot, the time cannot be more auspicious time. A whole lot is going wrong currently, and we must ask questions and not rest until satisfactory answers are supplied.

Particularly, the youth should be frontline combatants in this battle – being the most short-changed fraction of the population. Rather than dwell on Governor Amaechi and his state, the youth should begin to source accurate figures that capture the gap between how many people that sat for last

UTME and how many our tertiary institutions can absorb.

There should also be ready data that tells without ambiguity, the ratio of youth corps members that passed out in 2012 and how many jobs that were created within same period. Germane issues such as these should be pushed to the front burner, ahead of the elections.

Given the enormity of the nation’s present challenges, truth is that we need imaginative leadership with unusual creativity to leap-frog our communities and nation; men with vision, passion, integrity, demonstrable capacity and track-record of commitment to community’s collective interest – not narrow minds who lack average mental capability to articulate their people’s aspirations, but are just interested in self-serving pursuits. 2015 is a time to enthrone a system that celebrates excellence and manifestly advances the common cause of our land. The young people of Nigeria have a duty to rise and reclaim their destiny from men and women who have run short of ideas. The earlier they realize that their time has come, the better for us all. After all, the purposeful leadership Nigeria enjoyed in the 1950s and early 1960s was owed substantially to the fact that those our heroes past had youth on their side. They had the requisite vigour and vitality as young men and young women and were also integral parts of the future they charted for their people. “Departure Lounge” leaders should be compulsorily retired from decision-making positions.

Point-blank, today’s Nigeria needs iPad, blackberry and iPhone human resources to catch up with the rest of the world. We need young, robust minds that have the necessary intellectual grounding to re-invent our society - not outdated minds that still see things from the perspective of before-thewar. This is the time for the youth to arise. Nigerian youths arise! No more fishes; please demand for fishing hooks – nothing less. You must brace up for the challenges ahead: Power is not given...it is taken. Please, take it!

Let me quickly sound a note of warning: when you choose from amongst you those who would represent you, make sure you do not put forward clones of the unhelpful old order you seek to replace. And make no mistakes about the following: a great mind in office is not likely to steal, because he’s got self esteem on account of his endowments - in terms of knowledge, talents, ideas and accomplishments. Please

note these primary features of leadership. But empty souls will naturally seek validation from the society by unleashing their appetite for greed on the public purse, because they know that the only crown that will be left on their heads when they quit office is “money”. Looting of public funds is a manifestation of mental barrenness. Besides, what our people need is the fishing hook – not fish! When the quality of the mind is abysmally low, filth and everything that is mundane become attractive. And creativity cannot be found there.

There are very many ingenious ways of expanding the economic landscape of your people without necessarily walking the path of corrupt enrichment. Whoever does not share this view should be denied your support. Keep this at the back of your minds.

Come 2015, let the youth of Nigeria endeavour to look out for leaders and aspiring leaders who are able to make a distinction between a life of luxury and a quality life; and who have chosen the latter which is actually what a well-adjusted man needs. So, the society can discontinue the pursuit of things that ultimately usher us into misery. In the same vein, your favourite candidates should be people whose lives teach others be success-oriented as opposed to being victory-driven; for, when a man always strives to be better than his neighbour, by way of crude, murderous competition, he loses his humanity and becomes beastly! Note also that nothing better can possibly come from a spiritually blind and philosophically bankrupt lot. So, flee!

Mentally fertile minds walk the opposite direction: they seek honour and peace of mind. Our concept of service and leadership in this part of the world is flawed. Leadership is a calling that has nothing to do with philanthropy. Least of all, wealth! The manifestation starts from birth...remains present all through until it develops to a point of public expression. It is not happenstance either. Accidental leaders are often times plagues to their people. Please thoroughly frisk the credentials and meticulously scrutinize the antecedents of every public office aspirant in 2015 (beginning with Anambra governorship elections in November this year). This should be your headache – not Governor Amaechi’s Rivers of idle misadventure.

• Akamadu Esq. is Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) Centre for Ethical Rebirth Among Nigerian Youths (CERANY).

52

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

Opinion INEC’s registration of APC

By Victor Oshisada HE front-page lead news-story of The Guardian, August 1, 2013, T reads: “INEC registers APC”. Because of the controversies, doubt and uncertainty that trailed the earlier reluctance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the All Progressives Congress (APC), The Guardian considered the frontpage as the fitting space for the news-story. The INEC earlier contended that there was a political association in existence that shared identical acronym with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

There were phantom associations – African Peoples Congress (APC), All Patriotic Citizens (APC) and All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APCN). The question was: “Why the myriads of associations sharing the same acronym (APC)?”. There is more to it than meets the eyes. As the Holy Writ says: “The hand is that of Esau, but the voice is that of Jacob”. Political pundits and laymen reasoned that the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP) was surreptitiously behind the spanners in the works. In the process, the INEC that is expected to be a neutral and honest umpire had its hands smeared with the suspicion of partisanship. It was argued that the PDP felt jittery about the prospect of the formidable nature of the merging parties.

Consequently, the best approach for the ruling PDP was to torpedo the opposition plans, so as to remain on the crest of power.

Is it worthwhile to stunt the development of democracy? In a country where a Nigerian federal legislator’s annual earning is put at about $189,0000 (N30 million) (The Guardian Editorial, August 1, 2013), whilst millions of citizens wallow in the morass of poverty, should the sorry situation continue unchecked? With unabashed arrogance, when Chief Vincent Ogbulafor was the national chairman of the PDP, he told Nigerians that his party would rule this country for 60 years. And for 14 years of its rule, there is no performance.

To my thinking, intention precedes action. The party leaders were expressing aloud what was going on in the inner recesses of the members’ minds to rule for several decades. Since May 1999, when the PDP assumed power, it has been flippancy all along, marked with rhetorics and empty platitude. There is no performance. As at now, single-party system remains the objec-

tive of the party. The then chairman, personifying the party, said that he would feel fulfilled if all Nigerians abandoned the opposition (parties) to join the PDP. He argued that it would be a positive development for Nigeria if the PDP became its only political party. He expressed: “I don’t care if Nigeria becomes one party state. If we succeed in bringing all the states under the control of the PDP, we would have achieved a lot”. The opinion of that party leader in 2008 still holds sway and rankles in the members’ psyche till today. Man proposes, but God disposes.

Happily however, with such remarks from Chief Ogbulafor, opposition parties and well-meaning Nigerians keep tabs on the PDP, because its members begin to plan their antics to achieve the undemocratic objective. From this backdrop, Nigerians welcome the merger of the three political groupings, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), becoming the All Progressives Congress (APC) as registered by the INEC on July 31, 2013.

Everyone is commending the action of the electoral commission. This writer believes and says with every sense of responsibility that “it is not yet Uhuru”, as it is often remarked. The merging parties must tread carefully and softly, lest they are drawn into the invisible vortex of the land mines laid for them by the ruling PDP; the on-going euphoria occasioned by the registration should not get into the heads of the APC members.

At his campaign rallies, usually in Campos Square, Lagos Island, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was wont to say: “As in the sport of boxing, so it is in the game of politics. Do not under-rate your opponent. I was a boxer. Therefore, in politics, I do not under-rate my opponents”. The APC must remember the suit that is allegedly pending in the court. The Lagos State chapter of the PDP has called for a probe into the registration of All Progressives Congress. The state’s PDP Publicity Secretary, Taofeek Gani, said: “The probe is imperative in view of the pending suit on the original ownership of the acronym, APC”. Lagos State chapter of PDP may be playing politics to rattle the APC, but as the matter is allegedly subjudice, I cannot comment further so as not to prejudice any judicial decision. If anything, a political party must not operate in isolation of competent legal advisers. In the days of our Action Group (AG) or the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), brilliant lawyers were never in dearth to serve the parties’ legal needs. So, it ought to be with the

All Progressives Congress.

Unguarded admission of members is dangerous. Its membership must be viewed from another perspective. The APC must be wary of members now rushing to join. Those political lepers (a.k.a. rugbe-rugbe elements) must not be permitted to infect it with their ideological leprosy, so as not to abort APC pregnancy in its embryo. Vigilance is the watchword. More significantly, the APC must prepare good manifesto to present before the electorate, and a good manifesto must be founded on good ideology. The APC must serve as a blast of fresh air to people who have, for long, been suffocated by the PDP’s pathological ineptitude. To win the heart of the masses, there must be developments at the local levels, meaning that there must be improvements in the lives of our people.

The Action Group’s (AG) magic wand (gbetugbetu) was welfarism.

In the words of late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola at campaign rallies in his days at Onola Square, Isalegongon, Lagos Island: “Rural development is the veritable policy of the Action Group to win the support of the citizens – a farmer who rides his bicycle on tarred road to his farm; a housewife who turns on the tap to fetch pipe borne water; instead of travelling miles (several kilometers) with her pot on the head; patients who get free medical treatment at the hospitals and parents whose children receive free education, all are willingly supporting the Action Group at elections”. So, it must be with the All Progressives Congress, which must not condone treasury looters in the new era. How can these be attained?

There must be financial autonomy for the local governments.

There must not be Joint Account with the State Governments to impede social developments. The constitutional amendments must tilt in favour of the local governments for rural development. On the whole, what this writer is advocating is that the APC must look into effecting separate accounts for local governments.

Finally, like in the days of our Action Group, the APC must endeavour to develop Youths’ Wings politically. It is no grandstanding that this writer was a staunch member of the Action Group Youth Association (Ward H5, Lagos Island) in those days under the able chairmanship of Mr. (now, Alhaji) Lateef Kayode Jakande.

Youths must be encouraged to start serving the nation from the grassroots levels. With the adoption of the fore-going suggestions, a new Nigeria shall be born.

• Oshisada, a veteran journalist, lives at Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Energy: The waste and darkness

By Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni VER the years, Nigeria has always been obsolete O in terms of technological advancement and innovations, everything integral to human progression often come to us late. We are at present struggling with effective functionality of our Automated Teller Machine developed way back in the late 1950s. The much taunted achievement of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Global System for Mobile (GSM) telephony, remains a hard nut to crack with connectivity shrouded in tug of wars.

With the rate of drop calls, one would think each dial is meant to connect those in Mars! Though it would be myopic to compare the rate at which Nigeria match up in technological manoeuvring with other developed countries, considering our chequered history of doomsday leadership, we can’t afford to be complacent with technology and scientific innovation and have our eyes placed on tall dreams like MDGs, Vision 2020 or Transformation Agenda (whatever that means). Dreams don’t just happen, they are made to happen!

The above repertoire on technology was for the simple reason that this piece dwells on how we are again lagging behind on using renewable energy to drive sustenance in the energy sector. The energy generated from the before now waste-able gifts of nature is considered infinite, free, renewable, eco-friendly and above all self-sustaining. All over the world, there is structured re-awakening towards this energy generation with negligible negative impact.

In the United States of America, statistics shows that energy generated from wind and solar in the last three years has doubled from around 5.5 per cent to over 11.1 per cent. The construction of new wind power generating capacity alone in the fourth quarter of 2012 totalled 8,380 megawatts (MW) bringing the cumulative installed capacity to 60,007 MW. This capacity is exceeded only by China. For the 12 months until May 2013, the electricity produced from wind power in the United States amounted to 153.6 terawatt/hours, or 3.78 per cent of all generated electrical energy.

Another country that is seizing on the moment of renewable energy is Germany. The Germany intends to have about 35 per cent of its energy

sourced from renewables by 2020, 50 per cent by 2030, 65 per cent by 2040; and 80 per cent by 2050. It is not a wild dream because the amount of energy sourced from renewables, including wind rose from 20 to 25 per cent in the first half of 2012. And there are plans to match actions with words, not just baggage of rhetoric. They aren’t just dreaming, they are working it to reality.

The Act on Granting Priority to Renewable Energy Sources has been passed since February 25, 2000 by the lower house of the German Parliament (Bundestag). This Act regulates the purchasing and compensation of energy, which has been produced exclusively from renewable sources and it is controlled via power companies, which operate grids for general electricity usage in the country. Does that sound strange to our parliament?

Even Saudi Arabia, the oil-rich Gulf Kingdom, the world’s largest oil exporter, aims to meet onethird of its energy demands by using renewable energy by 2032, setting aside an incredible budget of $109 billion for achieving the goal.

Saudi Arabia is looking at using nuclear energy, geothermal energy and wind power to fulfil its ambitious target of producing 54 GW of energy through renewable resources in the next two decades.

While Saudi Arabia is planning ways ahead, we are sitting on the spoils of our crude oil boom, forgetting crude is actually exhaustible. In a piece written by Japhet Omojuwa for the Africaliberty.org (online), “Green Deal Nigeria: Making growth matter”, he made allusion to the fact that, “We must be thinking beyond spending $13 billion on fuelling household generators in 2011 alone... There are certainly better and far cheaper ways to generate energy”. May I add that indeed there are alternative ways to generate cheaper energy. And that our inability to invest in them would be tantamount to sitting on a gunpowder that would burst soon enough if care is not taken.

In any developing nation, the availability of power determines industrial pace, and where power is epileptic and its generation shrouded in controversies, the state of outcome can best be

imagined. Nigeria’s first contact with electricity production was in 1896 (Lagos), barely 15 years it became a commercial necessity in England. As at 1999, only 19 out of the available 79 generating units/plants were functioning. During the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, $8.5 billion was expended repairing and building the comatose energy sector, but very little success came out of that effort for known obvious reasons – corruption.

According to the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, “Nigeria needs 200,000MW of electricity to attain the status of a country with robust sufficiency in energy availability”, that is improving electricity generation by 10,000MW every year for the next 20 years in an unbroken chain! Statistics from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) showed that the last time the country generated 4,500MW of electricity was on December 23, 2012. This means that all the power generation plants in the country have not generated up to 4,000MW since January 2013 due to consistent system collapse. The World Bank in 2012 estimated that the country is losing about $600 million a year because of inadequate supply of electricity.

With the stagnancy in our power generating capacity, attaining sufficiency might be a tall dream, but we have an untapped alternative with renewable energy. Unfortunately, while the world is actively awake, Nigeria is still at documentation. The Minister of Power said the government is still “trying to build a policy on renewable energy and energy conservation”. Federal Government intends making it “ a very robust document”. I pray the final document does not end-up with books gathering dusts in government archives.

In 2010, renewable energy accounted for 16.7 per cent of total world energy consumption. Researches are in top gear to bring renewable energy to fulfilling basic human needs of transport, food and water by private individuals. The Solar Challenge Nigeria (SCN) group is one of such entities working at the grassroots with a cross-country solar powered vehicle, to be built by tertiary institutions in the country. The competition is aimed at awaking indigenous scientific research into how to tap effectively into the solar energy abundantly available. This initiative not only demands

acknowledgement but support from government and its agencies.

By investing in renewable energy research, particularly solar energy, it would drive the achievement of Millennium Development Goal One of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger through solar powered boreholes, irrigation channels, food processors, power light farm implements, thus heralding the much talked agricultural revolution. Renewable energy is synonymous to MDG Goal Seven; ensuring environmental sustainability, which would further improve global partnership for development (Goal Eight). Renewable energy can take away the darkness, improve infrastructure, enhance educational research and reduce reliance on the national grid which would metamorphose into industrial revolution when industry don’t share electricity with household consumers, a veritable bypass for small and medium scale enterprises to grow.

On Sunday, July 21st, 2013, the U.S. President, Barrack Obama while on tour of three African nations, pledged $7 billion to help combat frequent power blackouts in sub-Saharan Africa. But we need look beyond the pledge and look at the utilization of the pledge for it’s aimed objective. The Energy Commission of Nigeria ably led by Professor (Engr.) Eli Jidere Bala, remains the major patroniser of solar powered street lights in the country and it is so shoddily done that one questions the viability of solar energy. ECN as a regulatory body needs to set standards, consciencitize the citizens about renewables, intensify campaign for LED bulbs and advice government new power generating techniques against what is presently obtainable.

The proposal for renewable energy at this period of our national life is critical because of its abundance and eco-friendliness. Renewable energy can be generated from resources, which are continually replenished such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, animal wastes, plants and geothermal heat.

From all indications, Nigeria is one of the very few nations blessed with all the above sources year round, though we barely use them. So why the waste and darkness?

• Mojeed-Sanni is a volunteer with the Solar Challenge Nigeria (SCN).

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

| 53

Sports Ahead Mandela Challenge

Home-based Eagles to depart for South Africa on Sunday

By Christian Okpara FFICIALS of the Super O Eagles and the homebased players in the team will on Sunday depart for South Africa for the Mandela Challenge match against the Bafana Bafana.

The game, which comes up in Durban, South Africa on Wednesday, is part of the festivities of the 95th birthday anniversary of African statesman, Nelson Mandela.

An official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian yesterday that the four home-based players in the team are expected in Abuja this weekend to join the technical crew for the trip to Durban en route Johannesburg.

The official disclosed that the foreign-based components of the team are also expected to arrive in South Africa on Sunday evening so that the complete squad would begin on field preparation for the game on Monday morning.

“The foreign-based players have all contacted Coach Stephen Keshi to indicate their preparedness for the game and the coach expects a full house ahead the team’s first training session on Monday morning.

“The NFF takes this game serious because apart from using it to honour a great African icon in the person of Dr. Nelson Mandela, we also see it as a good test before the crucial World Cup qualifier against Malawi in Calabar,” he said.

The home-based players in the main team are Chigozie

Agbim, Sunday Mba, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Godfrey Oboabona, but Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC, Nigeria) and Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars, Nigeria), who are on standby, would also travel with the team.

He revealed that Victor Moses, who travelled to the United States with Chelsea, Emmanuel Emenike, who just left Spartak Moscow of Russia for Turkey’s Fenerbahce and Victor Nsofor are eager to rejoin the team after a lenghy absence.

Moses and Emenike have not played for Nigeria since they spearheaded the Super Eagles’ victory at the South Africa 2013 CAF Nations Cup, while Nsofor has been out of the side totally since Keshi became national team boss.

South Africa Coach, Gordon Igesund, on Tuesday chose 28 players to train for the clash, which he desperately wants to win in honour of Mandela.

Igesund, while releasing the players’ list in Johannesburg, said he had assembled the top South Africans for the international friendly to hold on August 14 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

“I don’t compromise my principle, any player that will get a call up from me must play with passion, must play with commitment.

“They must play with the attention the national team deserves. The national team is the pride of the nation, any player in the national team should see it as opportunity to serve,” he said.

The foreign-based players have all contacted Coach Stephen Keshi to indicate their preparedness for the game and the coach expects a full house ahead the team’s first training session on Monday morning.

The Super Eagles are expected to begin training on Monday for the Mandela Challenge game against the Bafana Bafana billed for Durban…on Monday.

Suarez wants ‘amicable agreement’ to join Arsenal Gervinho IVERPOOL striker, Luis from a club in the Champions after giving interviews to two completes Lagreement’ Suarez, wants an ‘amicable League,’ Suarez told sports broadsheet newspapers on to leave the club, daily Marca yesterday. Tuesday, in which he accused honouring last year’s contract clause that said he could go if they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

The Uruguay international scored 29 goals in all competitions last season, but after the Premier League side finished seventh and failed to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition, he has been the subject of intense transfer speculation.

Liverpool has maintained Suarez is not for sale despite a reported bid of just over £40 million plus one pound from Arsenal, who finished fourth to make the Champions League play-offs.

It has led to Suarez, 26, being effectively exiled by Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, who forced him to train alone again yesterday. “(Last year) We had an offer

“I looked at the situation with my agent and they told me a new coach was arriving and that the club would push hard for a place in Europe. We agreed to renew the contract with a new clause: If we didn’t qualify for the Champions League I would be able to leave if an offer for more than 40 million pounds came in.

“The option we have is from a team in the Champions League who are pushing hard for me.”

Asked if he would submit an official transfer request to force his exit, Suarez replied, “my idea is to reach an amicable agreement and that they honour the clauses that we agreed a year ago.

“At the moment they aren’t doing that.”

The Uruguay forward has been heavily reprimanded

IAAF to return to four-year bans for ‘serious doping offences’ from 2015 doping issued by the IAAF Council at the 49th IAAF Congress held in Moscow firmed a return to four-year ahead of the IAAF World which bans for athletes, who com- Championships, mit “serious doping begin today, the Council stated it wished to use the offences.”

The current ban for first- opportunity to “reiterate time doping offenders is the IAAF’s longstanding and two years, with the length unwavering commitment having been reduced from against doping in Athletics.”

The statement continued, four years in 1997. This twoyear sanction currently “the IAAF has an ethical oblimeans that it is possible to gation to the overwhelming return to the sport in time majority of athletes and offito not miss an Olympic cials, who believe in clean Games on the four-year sport. As a leader in this fight, the IAAF has built and cycle.

In a statement on anti- delivers a programme that HE International T Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has con-

is well resourced, far reaching, sophisticated and increasingly able to detect and remove from the sport those who breach our antidoping rules.

“The new WADA Code, which will come into force on January 1, 2015, will reflect our firm commitment to have tougher penalties and the IAAF will return to four year sanctions for serious doping offences.

“The IAAF will not stint in its resolve to do everything in its power to eradicate cheating and the Council invites Congress to strongly

endorse this statement.”

News of the new World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) code, which will come into force on January 1, 2015, follows what has been a tough time for the sport, with a number of highprofile athletes, including Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, having admitted to returning positive tests.

Further doping news followed those revelations this week, with confirmation from the Turkish Athletics Federation that 31 of the nation’s athletes had been suspended for two years for doping violations.

Rodgers of breaking promises and not telling the truth.

Apparently undeterred by the prospect of training alone, Suarez has reiterated his position in the interview with Marca.

Rodgers has made it clear to his striker that he will have to make a formal, public apology before he will be considered to play for Liverpool again.

In the meantime, the Anfield club maintain the strong line they have adopted all along that Suarez will not be sold to Arsenal .

Rodgers said on Wednesday, “there were no promises made - categorically none and no promises broken. The club and his representatives had several conversations and he knew exactly where he meant .

“I will take strong, decisive action. There has been total disrespect of the club - this is a club that is historically one of the biggest in the world and has given him everything, absolutely everything.”

When pressed on whether there was a way back for Suarez, Rodgers added, “we first of all need to assess where (the situation) is.

Things have been said that are derogatory against the football club, his team-mates and the supporters.

“There’s a few bridges to cross before that (playing for Liverpool) can happen again.

It’s about respect. This is one of the most iconic football clubs in the world, you can’t disrespect it. That’s something I will ensure before anything happens in the future.”

transfer to Roma

ERVINHO has joined G Italian Serie A side, AS Roma, for an undisclosed fee.

After joining Arsenal from French club, Lille, in the summer of 2011, the Ivory Coast international went on to score four times in his first season with the Club, making an important contribution as the Gunners finished third to secure Champions League football.

In 2012/13, the 26-year old started the season impressively, netting five times in his first seven appearances in all competitions. After a spell at the African Cup of Nations where he scored twice for the Ivory Coast, the forward returned to play a crucial part in the Premier League run-in, hitting two more goals in the wins over Swansea City and Reading.

Gervinho started his career at the famed ASEC Abidjan academy in the Ivory Coast, before moving to Belgium to spend two seasons at Beveren. The forward’s rapid rise continued with a move to France, firstly with Le Mans and then Lille, where he won the Ligue 1 title in his second season with the club.

An Arsenal statement yesterday read: “Everyone would like to thank Gervinho for his contribution to the club and wish him well for his future career.”

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

54 | SPORTS

Edet, six other coaches on duty, as Mobil schools’ holiday training for athletes begins

By Gowon Akpodonor

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HEAD this weekend’s Athletics holiday training programme for schools in Akwa Ibom State, Mobil Producing Nigeria, sponsors of the programme, has picked seven top Nigerian coaches to help fine tune the skills of the athletes.

The newly elected President of the Athletics Coaches of Nigeria, Gabriel Okon, who was instrumental to the selecting said, “these are the best coaches in the land today.”

They will all assemble in Calabar on Sunday preparatory to the competition that kicks off, which runs from August 12 to 24.

Spanning jumps, throws, long distance and relays, the coaches include Lucas Ogunjimi, who is a professor of Human Kinetics and Health Education, as well as, specialist in Athletic Training and Health Education. He has been actively involved in the training of coaches and sports managers since 1992.

Also on the list is Oluyemi Sule, to take care of jumps.

He competed in triple and long jump locally and internationally until he became a coach. He was actively competing in Nigeria and Africa between (1990-1996) and moved to Spain, where he stayed and competed as a professional athlete between (1996- 2001).

Coach Ken Onaguluchi is the throws expert in the team. With an IAAF level 1 and 4 coaching certificate, Ken’s forte even, when he was an athlete was in discuss, shot

put and javelin.

A graduate of Physical Education of the North West University in the US, he was a member of the nation’s contingent to the 2012 Olympic Games. He also flew the Nations colours in the All Africa Games and Commonwealth Games.

Ken coached his wards to National sports records in shot put and javelin in 1998 and also to African record in shot put in 2012.

Two women coaches, Armelia Edet and Utit Ofon Nkantah are also in the team.

While Armelia was National athletics coach for over five years before her retirement, Utit Ofon, Nigeria and African record holder in 100 and 200 metres, is a specialist in coaching kids.

Coach Solomon Abari is still basking in the euphoria of being rewarded by the Federal Government with the sum of Five million naira as one of the coaches that trained Nigeria’s relay quartet to the eventual gold medal in the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

At the moment, Abari is the Director coaching at the National Institute of sports (NIS).

Also on board is Coach Nuhu Stephen, who is the distances specialist. He is the Manager and head coach of the High Altitudes Athletics club since 2009. Coach Nuhu represented Nigeria in the Cross Country championship in Germany in 1975 and from 2010 to 2013, won the Ibadan Marathon. He also won the 2010 Nigeria at 50 Marathon in Abuja.

Athletes fighting for medals in a recent athletics event. Over 167 students will benefit from the Mobil holiday training/camping for young athletes in Akwa Ibom State

NSC’s vacation tennis clinic thrills Ibadan children ORE than 130 kids particM ipating in the on-going fourth Vacation Tennis Clinics for Beginners organised by Southwest zone of National Sports Commission (NSC) at the tennis courts of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, were filled with excitement while sharing their experiences in the exercise.

The 10-day holiday clinic, which ends tomorrow, attracted children from ages between five and 12 years.

According to a release signed by Kingsize Sports Agency, the Sport Marketer to NSC South-West zone, Lanre Alabi, series of techniques and basics of the game of tennis are being taught the children by seasoned technical personnel hired by NSC. These ranges from hitting the ball against the wall, forehand and backhand drives, bouncing the balls, volley and smashing, with general

fitness exercises suitable for kiddies before commencing the game.

Adding glamour and fun to the tennis clinic, Bobo Foods and Beverage Ltd, who partnered NSC for the events, brought their products namely Bobo and Boyic Yoghurt drinks and shared to the children as refreshment after every training session.

The Marketing Manager of the company, Eric Birhiray, who also gave the kids, officials and parents at the exercise many promotional items of the company commended NSC for the initiatives.

“We are highly committed to grassroots sports development, especially youth- oriented sporting activities because our brands of drinks, which are highly nutritional, are quite suitable for sporting people, especially children. That is why we are proud to associate with this vacation tennis clinics,” said Birhiray.

Alcatel seek first win, as Airtel recharge at Telecoms Games season and are looking AMES Ochei of Airtel colleagues, who came out to of first match success on unstoppable, as they take Jtheir Nigeria made light of cheer us that Airtel will their first outing in the on LM Ericsson in the first defeat to MTN Nigeria bounce back and we will go tournament. Both sides when he said, ‘we lost to the defending champions’ and then promised their colleagues that the team will bounce back. On Sunday is the bounce back date as they match up with Alcatel Lucent in what is easily the crunch tie of the Nigeria Telecommunication Games Match Day 4.

“We truly gave our all and this is the best match we have played but couldn’t get past the defending champions. I promise our

all out to win the next game to remain in contention,” Ochei promised.

Airtel joined the growing list of teams that went down to MTN on Match Day 3 when they lost 2-O to the Cup holders.

Hassan Olumide of Alcatel Lucent knows they need to dig deeper to knock-up a first win in the tournament, which is gradually dragging to a finish. But Alcatel is coming against an Airtel that is still riding the crest

share the common bond of having tasted defeat in the hands of run-away leaders, MTN and it is only the side that is able to physically and mentally exorcise the fear of that defeat that can possibly make hey in this encounter.

For MTN, it is another opportunity to extend their domination in the Championship on a day their closest rivals, Etisalat are not listed to play. MTN has won all its matches this

game of Match Bay 4.

So far, MTN are ahead of the pack with maximum nine points from three games and are followed by Etisalat, who are on six points with three games also. Airtel has played two matches, won one and lost one to hang onto three points.

Other events of March Day 4 are the continuation of competitions in Scrabble and Chess in the tournament organised by MediaVision Limited.

The Moscow government has also prepared a special spectators programme as well, and now the situation is a lot better. For evening sessions the stadium will be full and we hope it will be a great event for athletics. This was the main challenge for us.

How have ticket sales progressed for the morning sessions?

Of course, not as good as the evening but Russian spectators often make a last moment decision to attend. I am sure the situation will change, and it is getting better and better every day. Every day, the number of ticket sales increasing.

Are you confident the event

will leave a real legacy for Russian athletics?

It is important as a federation to help grow the sport of athletics. We hope the IAAF World Championships will do this in two areas. Firstly, we hope the elite will perform to a high standard and, secondly, we hope the Championships will help build athletics among the youth as a sport for life and to improve health. To do this, we hope to promote not just what is happening inside the stadium but also outside. In the sports complex area by the stadium we plan to organise fans’ zones and special kids’ competitions.

How do you feel the people of Moscow and Russia will respond to the event?

It is a big challenge for us because the Championships are staged during a traditional holiday period in Moscow.

We’ve organised a promotional campaign on the streets and through TV. I know a lot of people are coming from outside of Moscow (from elsewhere in Russia) and also from many different countries. The people of Moscow know it is very important sporting event for the year and we’ve received good support.

Additionally, the Luzhniki area is an important place for people to come from across Moscow on a weekend to go rollerblading or cycling. It is a very popular place for breaks in Moscow.

Moscow in festive mood for World athletics Championship The eagerly-awaited IAAF World Championships are set to open in Moscow’s historic Luzhniki Stadium tomorrow and will continue until August 18.

All-Russia Athletic Federation General Secretary and Competition Director, Mikhail Butov, talks to the IAAF website about how the preparations have gone, and his expectations for the huge global event, which has attracted almost 2000 athletes from more than 200 nations.

HAT was the main motiW vation for bringing the World Championships to Moscow?

Moscow is a real sports city and has a long-standing tradition for organising lots of European and world championships; yet, it had never been the host of a World Championships for athletics.

Of course, athletics is the number one Olympic sport and lots of people in Moscow remember fondly the 1980 Olympic Games in the city and there was a desire to return to the Luzhniki Arena in Moscow.

As for the Russian athletes, there was a big enthusiasm from them to compete in a big championship in Moscow. This is a big opportunity for the national team.

Concerning all the people involved in organising the event, from the officials to the volunteers, it is a big opportunity for them to be involved in a big international event with fantastic TV coverage.

For me personally, it is the biggest event of my life. I’ve been involved in organising the IAAF World Race Walking Cup and 2006 World Indoor Championships, but never an outdoor World Championships. This is a once in a lifetime chance.

Personally, what is your role during championships?

An elephant eats something piece-by-piece and for me the final piece is the competition.

During the Championships, I’ll be Competition Director and that is the focus of my attention. I’ll work with the event presentation manager and we’ll be the main managers of the competition for the next nine days.

How successful were last month’s Russian championships as a test event for the World Championships?

It was a very important to us, firstly, because it (the Russian championships) is the main competition in Russia each year, and as an additional point the Luzhniki Stadium staged the championships.

It was very important to us, because for many years we’ve not been able to organise the championships in such a big stadium. The championships allowed us to look at all possible issues concerning the

track, warm-up area, officials etc.

We also had the chance to take a look at work of the event presentation teams for the World Championships.

On particular thing was that we received feedback from the athletes concerning the Pole Vault area. We are interested in the athletes’ opinion and we’ll change a little bit of it (the Pole Vault area).

We’ll also change the length of the horizontal jumps area for the World Championships.

We’ll increase it by five metres because of a special request from athletes and coaches.

Once again it was up to IAAF standard at 47 metres but, for

some of the athletes, they were more comfortable if we added an extra five metres.

These are all small additional points in our preparation and, of course, it was very useful.

What has been the most challenging aspect of organising the Championships?

In my opinion, the Luzhniki is a big stadium and the big question is of spectators (in terms of filling the stadium).

We were quite nervous for many, many months but now the situation is much better.

We’ll distribute tickets to all available athletics federations and we’ll also provide tickets for younger athletes and their coaches.

Blessing Okagbare (middle) and others competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The city of Moscow is set for the 2013 IAAF World Championship

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

School Sports Nestle IAAF Kids’ Athletics Programme Fallout

Why we need to restore athletics in schools, by AFN Stories by Olalekan Okusan HEY might be in charge of T athletics in Nigeria, but Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has acknowledged that the fortune of sports especially athletics in schools has continued to nosedive across the country.

However, at the official launch of the Nestle/ International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Kids’ Athletics Programme in Lagos, the AFN through its President, Solomon Ogba said that conscious efforts must be made to restore the glory days of athletics in Nigeria.

Despite the hurriedly organised inter-house sports synonymous with most schools across the country, the AFN helmsman, believes the Nestle IAAF Kids’ Athletics Programme would re-engineer the revival of athletics in schools.

Also, Funmi Nutayi, a former school and national athlete, who is now a coach, admitted that lip service is now being paid to sports across the country, but with the initiative championed by IAAF and funded by Nestle, athletics may witness the emergence of future stars.

As at 2011, the programme Nestle IAAF Kids’ Athletics Programme had reached over 1.5milion kids across 100 territories and with its take off in Nigeria, 200,000 primary school pupils are expected to benefit from the exercise by September 2014.

This is also in tandem with its Nestle’s Healthy Kids Global Programme, which aims to raise nutrition and health knowledge, as well as, promote physical activity among

school-age children.

According to Ogba, “athletics being the mother of all sports has lost its pride of place because we neglected the very owners, the children.

As well al know, you cannot separate the child from play, knowing that 80 per cent or more of their play constitute more of running, jumping, throwing, and handling, which are the core part of athletics. It is on this note that IAAF in her wisdom went into partnership with Nestle International to discover, promote, popularise and develop athletics starting from grassroots.”

To ensure that the programme is popularise across the country, competitive athletics events will be staged among primary schools in Ibadan, Ilorin, Owerri, Kano, Asaba and Gombe.

Affirming confidence on the imminent success of the programme, the AFN boss said, “this partnership is expected to go a long way to produce future Olympians that will represent our nation in the nearest future. With this partnership our erstwhile dwindling athletics fortune over the years will be a thing of the past. I am using this medium to appeal to corporate bodies and state government to invest in grassroots athletics, as this is the sure way of enhancing the security and future of our children by being grounded in a well planned career in athletics.”

For the programme, Nestlé will provide financial support to train athletics coaches and lecturers with the aim of imparting the knowledge on the kids across the country.

North-Central Zone plans judo workshop, tournament for schools MEMBER of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), Sulieman Damisa has revealed that the North-Central Zone had concluded plans to organise a grassroots judo workshop and tournament, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the event has been scheduled to hold from August 21 to 24 at the Youth Centre, Lokoja, adding that the event would be aimed at scouting for grassroots talents, as well as acquainting students with the modern rules and skills of the sport.

“Our aim is to discover grassroots talents in Judo from primary and secondary schools in the zone, we also want to acquaint the students with the rules of Judo.’’

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According to him, the championship will prepare the zone for the National Youth Games to hold from September 19 to 29 in Abuja.

Damisa, who is also the federation’s chairman, Finance Committee, added that the competition would be held regularly to promote the sport.

The National Coach and Coordinator of the event, Bash Bassey said that the competition would involve Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Bassey added that the event would feature 10 weight categories in each of the male and female events.

With the collaboration between AFN and Nestle, the programme hopes to unearth stars like Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo and Yusuf Ali, whose record in long jump is yet to be halted by any athlete in the country.

Managing Director, Nestlé Nigeria, Dharnesh Gordhon stated, “beyond supporting IAAF’s Kids Athletics programme, we believe that this partnership will further enhance Nestlé Healthy Kids Global Programme and improve the Nutrition, Health and Wellness of school-agechildren”.

Among the aims of the project is to popularise athletics in the six areas through a programme of several competitions called “A Team Event for Children,” which comprises of three event groups: Sprinting/Running Event Group, Jumping Event Group and a Throwing Event Group. There are the three age categories targeted by the programme: 7-8 yrs, 9-10 yrs and 11-12 yrs.

An athlete in action at the launch of the Nestle/IAAF Kids’ Athletics Programme in Lagos…recently

16 schools jostle for honours at Etisalat FC Barca U-17 Cup IXTEEN schools drawn Stionfrom the six Local EducaDistricts in Lagos State are at present slugging it out in the Etisalat Nigeria-sponsored FC Barcelona U-17 School’s Cup. The five-a-side football tournament will be competed in a knockout format with eight teams progressing to the quarterfinal stage of the championship.

To make the tournament juicy for the participating schools, the winning school will get N1million educational award and an all expense paid trip for the team to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to play a friendly match with a local school team.

Also, the first and second

runner-up schools will win N750, 000 and N500, 000 respectively, while players from the top three teams will also receive cash prizes.

According to the Director, Brands and Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye the Etisalat FCB Under-17 Schools’ Cup is an innovative platform created by the company to provide an opportunity to football lovers to express their passion for the game.

“Since signing a partnership deal with Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona in 2009, we have provided our customers with the best of both worlds, – our world class quality of service and the best in football by FC Barcelona,” Denloye ex-

plained.

“As the official telecommunications partner for FC Barcelona, we have been rewarding our customers with the Etisalat FC Barcelona Promo, one of the biggest cash and prize promotion currently in its second year.

Now we are taking the passion of football to secondary schools in order to develop

young talents, build great friendships in a fun and exciting way as well as winning prizes,” he said.

The Lagos State Ministry of Education and the Lagos State Football Association selected participating schools in the competition, with the 16 schools represent each of the six Local Education Districts in the state.

Zonal qualifiers for National Youth Games hold Oct HE zonal qualifiers for the T maiden National Youth Games have been scheduled for October.

Greensprings School team during the 2013 Keele International Cup held in Manchester, United Kingdom (UK)…last week

According to the Director, Grassroots Sports Development, National Sports Commission (NSC), Al-Hassan Yakmut, the tournament which is the brain child of NSC, was earlier slated for September but has now been moved to December, 2013.

However, Yakmut disclosed that the zonal eliminations for team events like basketball, football, handball and volleyball would kick-start the games in October across the zones.

With the host state yet to be ascertained, he said that the reason for the change is to give adequate time for teams to prepare in line with the new sports now approved for the games.

Also, the number of sports to be competed for has been pruned from 19 to 15, while the games will hold in December this year.

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

GolfWeekly Delayed budget approval, guard change hamper NDDC’s plans for Niger Delta pros T was music to the ears of IDelta professional golfers of Niger extraction when it was made public, but gradually, their optimism is being replaced by a great sense of uncertainty, if not outright disappointment as they remain unsure if the programme would ever behold the light of the day.

However, the involvement of politicians, the widespread changes on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), among other reasons may have contributed significantly to the delayed tee-off of the Niger Delta Professional Golf Tour (NDPGT), an initiative of the NDDC until 2014.

Now still in document form a year after it was first expected to get underway, professional golfers from the oil-rich Niger Delta, who were expected to benefit from the megapurse four-legged events, can only wait and hope that the new Board, which is beginning to crystalise finds the programme attractive enough to earn their signature.

The NDDC and renowned International Management Group (IMG), worked hand-inglove to create the NDPGT. If things go as planned, the expected four tournaments, to be spearheaded by the IMG, will replace the Glo Golf Tour West Africa as the biggest winning purse in the history of professional golf in Nigeria.

A breakdown of the winning purse for the events indicate that N25m will be staked for each of the first three tournaments, while the grand finale will have a winning purse of N75m.

The tour expected to involve all the professional players in the nine Niger Delta states, fashioned after the Fed Ex Cup in the United States, would see the winner of the final event sent to Britain to try and qualify for the British Open.

The final event would feature some amateur players and its winner will be sponsored to watch the final of the next British Open.

The IMG General Manager/Consultant in Nigeria, Sam Logan had

informed The Guardian that tournament which will expose the players to a very high level of golf tournament organisation, high-class accommodation, meals and other things, would also make them feel like American professional golf tour players.

However, asked the reason the programme was still in document form yesterday, Logan said, “I spoke recently with Joe Jakpa and he said the programme was still in the NDDC’s 2013 budget, which was yet to be signed. He hopes the budget gets approved in December. Once that happens, then the programme would start off in 2014. But generally, I would say that the programme got delayed because politicians got involved.

“I have done my bid having given the Board of the NDDC a very clear and 100 per cent profit and loss statements to let them know how every naira involved would be spent when I did my presentation to them.”

Jakpa, in an interview he had with The Guardian at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Akwa Ibom had said that the proposed NDPGT was tailored towards radically transforming professional golf and golfers in the Niger Delta region.

Jakpa, who is oil companies representative on the NDDC board said the exercise will bring about a turnaround in the lives of professional golfers from the region in the first instance. Thereafter, the programme would be made to cover the entire nation.

According to him, “there are a lot of things that are not going right with golfers from the Niger Delta. These include poor living conditions and inability to advance their career from tournament earnings. So what we are trying to achieve with this project, is for hard working professional golfers to have a sense of pride in themselves and their profession and begin the building of a process, which will see them graduate to play in some of the best tours around the world.

So that was how we got to get the NDDC to build the project into its 2013 budget.

Jakpa

Lack of, absence at world-ranking tourneys haunt Nigeria Stories by Eno-Abasi Sunday T is now certain that Nigeria will not be represented at the 2013 Omega Mission World Cup of Golf when the championship makes a return to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It will be played from November 21 to 24.

And at the rate things are going, there is a very high likelihood that the country would also not be represent-

I

• Out of World Cup, may miss Olympic Games ed in the golf event when the sport makes a return to the 2016 Olympic Games, after a 112-year absence.

This follows the coming into effect of a new qualifying mode via Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, which has replaced the qualifiers for the Omega Mission World Cup of Golf as non of her over 100 professional

golfer has a respectable placement on the Rolex World Golf R a n k i n g .

The International Federation of PGA Tours, an organisation of the top professional golf tours in the world that sanctions the World Golf Championships and the World Cup of Golf, introduced the new qualifying procedures even as some countries

including Nigeria were hoping there would be a waiver of some sort for countries that were not prominently placed on the OWGR. The 2013 World Cup, according to the International Federation of PGA Tours, boasts an $8 million total purse and returns to an individual, stroke-play competition for $7 million, with a team

component (adding the total scores of two-man teams) for $1 million. The qualification system for the event is similar to that which will be used in the Olympic Games, when golf returns to the programme in 2016. “ The field will include 60 players (no cut), with eligibility taken from the Official World Golf Ranking. Up to four players can qualify, per country, if they are in the top 15 of the OWGR. Beyond No.

15, up to a maximum of two players per country can qualify. If two or more players from a country qualify, then the country is eligible for team competition, with the top-two players comprising the qualified team.”

But the Director of Operations of the Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria (PGAN), Femi Olagbenro, in an interview with The Guardian stressed that there was no CONTINUED ON PAGE 59

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

GOlfWeekly 59

Woods attempts to end drought, seeks elusive 15th major at US PGA Championship IGER Woods insists 2013 will go down as a great season even if he does not add to his 14 major titles at the ongoing U.S PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

The world number one won his fifth tournament of the year in Ohio last week but is still chasing a first major victory since

T

the U.S Open in 2008.

The 37-year-old acknowledges his 15th major title is proving the toughest. “It kind of seems that way,” he said. “It’s the longest spell I’ve had since I won a major.”

Woods has now won 79 career U.S PGA titles, three shy of Sam Snead’s all-time

record, but his goal of passing Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 majors has stalled following a string of injuries, personal scandal and swing changes.

“I’ve certainly had my share of chances to win,” he said. “I’ve had my opportunities on the back nine of probably half of those

Sundays for the last five years and just haven’t won it. But the key is to keep giving myself chances and eventually I will start getting them.”

Woods, who has nine topsix finishes in the 17 majors he has played since last winning one, once judged a season on whether or not

he had won a major, but he now seems to have relaxed his criteria.

“I think winning one major championship automatically means you had a great year,” he said.

“Even if you miss the cut in every tournament you play in, you win one, you’re part of history.

“This year, for me, I think it’s been a great year so far for me, winning five times, and you look at the quality of tournaments I’ve won, a Players and two World Golf Championships in there, that’s pretty good.”

Woods went into the final round of the Open two shots behind leader Lee Westwood at Muirfield, but struggled with the pace of the

This year, for me, I think it’s been a great year so far for me, winning five times, and you look at the quality of tournaments I’ve won, a Players and two World Golf Championships in there, that’s pretty good.

Woods

Nigeria to miss World Cup CONTINUED FROM PAGE 58 cause for alarm as Nigeria would be part of the Africa/rest of the world qualifier, which was expected to hold sometimes last month.

Olagbenro said that he has it on good authority that “those that are not in the Official World Golf Rankings will have the opportunity of qualifying for the World Cup through the qualifiers to hold at a yet to be named venue.

The World Cup will not be a balanced one without giving Africa and rest of the world the opportunity to try to qualify to play.”

However, the body’s Director of Special Duties, Dominic Andrew, yesterday confirmed that, “Nigeria would not be part of the 2013 World Cup qualifiers nor the World Cup proper.

“Uphill the first week of June, feelers we got from the Asian Tour gave us the impression that the usual qualification system will still be applied. It was in June that it was made clear that qualification for the World Cup would be exclusively through the OWGR. Unfortunately, we are yet to have a world-ranking event in the country yet.

“So the implication is that we have to build ourselves up and begin the process of getting tournaments that we

would be able to get worldranking points from in the Nigerian tour, so that we have a chance to be in the world ranking. Alternatively, we can register with other tours around the world that have world-ranking events, if we have the sponsorship since participation in the World Cup now is purely on the position of the player on the OWGR. On how the format change may affect the composition of the World Cup, Andrew, who is immediate past tournament director of PGAN said, “it means that participation in the World Cup by countries in some continents including Africa would be very limited. A lot of countries, whose players would have attempted to qualify through the qualifiers, are now totally cut out because of the new policy.

He added, “for instance, in the whole of Africa, there are just about three countries that would able to field players at the World Cup because they have tournaments that are world ranking. South Africa leads the way because of events on the Sunshine Tour, Morocco is lucky because of the Morocco Open, which is part of the European Tour event and I think Kenya Open, which is a Challenge Tour event and also carries some world ranking points.”

greens and settled for a share of sixth.

But Woods, who has again been consulting fellow pro Steve Stricker for putting tips, raced to a seven-shot victory at Firestone on Sunday.

“Obviously I feel pretty good about winning by seven and coming here,” he said. “I feel like my game’s pretty good.

“As I was saying last week, that’s how I played at the British Open. Only difference is I made more putts last week. I hit it just as good at Muirfield, and didn’t make any putts the last three days. At Firestone, I putted well, but I hit the ball just the same.”

In practice at Oak Hill, in upstate New York, Woods spent the majority of the time chipping and putting under the watchful eye of caddie Joe LaCava.

“A lot of the long putts had double breaks in them.

It’s going to be important to hit a lot of greens and give yourself opportunities because these are a little bit tricky to read, there’s no doubt,” he said.

“There are quite a few subtleties. These little ridges and waves in the greens, a little bit of grain here and there. They are tough. They are tricky to read. I’m sure I’ll be calling Joey in on a few putts as well.”

60 SPORTS

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9 , 2013

I do my talking on the pitch, says Ronaldo

Shakhtar captures Bernard from Atletico

• Chelsea made mistake — Mourinho

Mineiro for £21.5m.

The 20-year-old, who has been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham has been capped five times by his country.

Bernard has agreed a five-year contract and is the latest Brazilian in the Ukrainian champions’ squad, joining Douglas Costa, Luiz Adriano and Fred.

He is expected to act as a direct replacement for compatriot Willian, who moved to Anzhi Makhachkala in January.

Over the summer, Shakhtar has lost Brazil midfielder, Fernandinho to Manchester City and Armenia forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Borussia Dortmund.

Bernard scored 22 goals in 100 appearances during three seasons with Atletico Mineiro.

EAL Madrid forward, R Cristiano Ronaldo has stressed that events taking place off the pitch do not affect him as he prefers to let his football do the talking for him.

Chelsea Manager, Jose Mourinho’s jibe earlier this week that the Portugal star is not ‘the real Ronaldo’ led to controversy ahead of Wednesday’s International Champions Cup final between both sides, but the 28-year-old has remained unperturbed by his former boss’ taunts.

Ronaldo already stated on Monday that Mourinho’s comments did not deserve a reply and remained calm again on Wednesday after helping Madrid to a 3-1 win over Chelsea with two goals.( ( “I do my talking on the pitch.

Things that happen off it do not affect me,” the Portugal international told reporters.

“I just aim to help Real Madrid to achieve its objectives and what happens away from there does not hurt me.”

Ronaldo then went on to discuss Madrid’s Champions League ambitions this season and stressed that they still have plenty to do before they can think about an historic 10th European crown.

He added, “there is a long way to go, we will try to do our best. We have a good team and the new players are very good and hopefully the Decima will come this year.”

Chelsea Manager, Jose

Mourinho says it was “perfect” that his team made mistakes as they lost 3-1 to a Real Madrid inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo scored twice and set up the opener as Mourinho suffered defeat at the hands of the club he left in June. But Mourinho felt the International Champions Cup defeat was a positive step to preparing for the new season.

“For me, it’s perfect we made mistakes so that we have them to work on,” he told Chelseafc.com. “As I said last week, we had five victories in pre-season and zero points.

Now we have five victories and one defeat, we still have zero points. It’s not a drama.

“They play in La Liga, we play in the Premier League. If we meet them in the Champions League and lose it’s a different story, but a summer tournament is a summer tourna-

HAKHTAR Donetsk has SBernard signed Brazil winger, from Atletico

Rooney, Lambert named in England squad

Ronaldo is tackled by Chelsea’s Ramirez during the match

OUTHAMPTON striker, Scalled Rickie Lambert has been up to the England

Bale, Suarez, Rooney as EPL troublesome trio COUPLE of weeks before the start of the English Premier League season, the country’s most exciting player, its most reviled and the linchpin of the England side are involved in emotional and financial tug-of-wars with their clubs.

Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney have been absent from recent pre-season friendlies because they are carrying injuries, are in no state to perform or have

A

been banished from the first team.

Winner of last season’s English player of the year awards, Tottenham’s Bale has been dazzled by the chance to join Real Madrid, the most decorated of Europe’s big clubs.

But his club’s Chairman, Daniel Levy has a reputation for playing hardball and Real are almost certainly going to have to break the world transfer record to take the

Spurs defender turned winger turned all-round attacking talent to the Bernabeu.

Bale’s speed and power, abetted by a hammer shot and a fine dribbling instinct, have been Tottenham’s greatest assets in the past two seasons when they narrowly missed out on Champions League football.

The eagerness of Bale and Suarez to break contracts they signed just a year ago are

wearisomely familiar to clubs and fans up and down the country, but the situation surrounding Rooney also has the potential to cause serious damage to England’s most famous club, Manchester United.

Rooney, often referred to as England’s only world-class footballer, has been at Old Trafford since 2004 and been instrumental in the club winning five Premier League titles and one Champions

squad for their friendly against Scotland.

Wayne Rooney is also included in the squad for the game on Wednesday, 14 August despite missing most of preseason because of injury problems.

Rooney, who is reported to be keen to leave Manchester United following a bid from Chelsea, has suffered hamstring and shoulder injuries.

Manchester United winger, Wilfried Zaha has been promoted from the Under-21s.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9 , 2013

SPORTS | 61

Emenike delighted at Fenerbahce return MMANUEL Emenike has E revealed his delight at returning to Turkish giants Fenerbahce after they agreed to sign him from Spartak Moscow for US$17.4m.

The 26-year-old Nigeria international re-joins the club after two seasons with the Russian league leaders.

“When the possibility of coming back was first mentioned, I said to myself ‘I hope both clubs will agree to that’,” Emenike told BBC Sport.

“Once a deal was agreed, I couldn’t wait to see the fans and city again. Right now, I am just delighted to be back.

It’s like coming back home.”

The Istanbul club said the deal was subject to Emenike passing a medical.

Emenike first joined Fenerbahce in May 2011, signing from Karabukspor at the end of the season, but he left in July the same year without with out playing a a match for them.

He was questioned by Turkish police and arraigned for match-fixing allegations but acquitted in April this year, because of a “lack of credible evidence.”

The Super Eagle insists he has put the episode behind him and is ready to shine for the club.

“I don’t want to talk about

the dark past because there is a bright future ahead,” added Emenike, who will be unveiled by Fenerbahce tomorrow.

“I just want to thank Fenerbahce officials, fans and everyone for making this [his return] happen and for giving me a warm reception at the airport.

“I want to fulfill a huge dream of playing in front of our passionate fans. I have unfinished business here because I owe it to the club and fans who never stopped supporting or believing in me.”

Emenike’s agent, Erdem Konyar has thanked both clubs for making the player’s return a smooth one.

“He’s grateful that things went smoothly with Spartak and he also stayed professional all through negotiations.” he said.

“We thank Spartak and hope his return to Fenerbahce will help make him a bigger and better player than he is at the moment.”

Before the switch, the striker scored three goals in his last three league appearances for Spartak.

Emenike was joint-top scorer when Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations in South Africa in February.

Emenike

Utaka thrilled by first Beijing goal EIJING Guoan striker, B Peter Utaka has told MTNFootball.com he is excited to get his first goal for his new Chinese club.

The prolific Nigeria striker

QPR back for Osaze

“It was a great moment when you eventually meet people’s expectations. A lot of fans have been waiting for me to celebrate my goal but I thank God it has not come too late, so I feel great for the first goal in Beijing and I intend to build on it

for more goals to come.”

The former Dalian Aerbin star added, “I am not under any form of pressure to score goals, it will come for sure. I scored 20 goals in my first season (in China) but I can always get better.”

Abidal returns to France squad for Belgium friendly

PR are considering reQ igniting their interest in West Brom striker, Osaze Odemwingie, according to media reports.

Rangers boss, Harry Redknapp fancies adding Colombian hot-shot Duvan Zapata, who plays for Argentine side Estudiantes, to his Championship promotion chasers.

But mirror.co.uk has reported that the 22-year-old has not yet flown to England for talks as planned, because Italian outfit Sassuolo newly promoted to Serie A – have now offered more cash.

Roma are also interested in Zapata, who had been linked with West Ham, so Redknapp is now trying to bring in Odemwingie.

The 32-year-old has been ostracised at West Brom since his aborted switch to Rangers in January, which saw him allegedly drive from the Midlands to London off his own bat on deadline day in anticipation

promised more goals after he hit the target in an emphatic 5-2 victory over Qingdao Jonoon on Wednesday in a Chinese FA Cup game.

“I am humbled to get my first goal for Beijing Guoan,” Utaka told MTNFootball.com

IDIER Deschamps has D recalled defender, Eric Abidal to his France squad as

Osaze of a deal.

He was filmed sitting in his car near QPR’s Loftus Road home, voicing his delight at joining them, but the deal fell through and Osaze had to stay at Albion - without

ever starting another match.

The Nigeria striker can leave the Baggies for £2million, but Redknapp has to try to persuade him to drop down into the English Championship.

the team prepares to take on Belgium next week.( ( The Monaco captain is set to win his first cap since Feb. 2012 after recovering from a liver transplant, while Samir Nasri has also been named in the selection as les Bleus look to bounce back from friendly defeats to Uruguay and Brazil.

“The South American tour was a disappointment when I compare what I expected and what I did not see,” Deschamps told reporters.

“We were facing opponents in competition mode, we were not equipped to fight, but in terms of investment, our guys needed more. I now have more information about each individual to prepare for the next step.

“Abidal was not selectable,

I think he is competitive again and I do not have a lot of players with international experience. Nasri should have been with us in South America. As soon as he became competitive, I chose him. He’s not a special case. He could definitely have a future in this group. We agree on a lot of things. in June, but I do not want to dwell on it. I think he is competitive again and I do not have a lot of players with international experience.

Nasri should have been with us in South America. As soon as he became competitive, I chose him. He’s not a special case. He could definitely have a future in this group. We agree on a lot of things.”

The 44-year-old analysed the path his team is on, while addressing concerns regarding the lack of striking options at his disposal. “I have no anxiety, nor overconfidence regarding recent results,” he said.

“We are on track to achieve our goals for 2014 qualification. I would have liked better results, but the goal remains qualification. I’m not worried about our FIFA ranking.

“It is not that the level of strikers is too low. Karim, Benzema and Olivier, Giroud, have been quite effective. Bafetimbi, Gomis is struggling with Lyon, and as for Andre-Pierre, Gignac and Jeremie, Aliadiere, I do not have enough perspective on their playing time and their efficiency.

“Unfortunately, Edinson, Cavani and Radamel, Falcao are not available for selection,” he joked. Paris-Saint Germain’s Mamadou Sakho and Blaise Matuidi are notable omissions from the squad, as not a single member of Laurent Blanc’s squad was called up for next week’s friendly.

“Not a lot of players are selectable. I like clubs with high-level requirement, but they need playing time to go to the national team.

“I didn’t talk to Laurent (Blanc) about Sakho, but I had J-Louis (Gasset) and I saw the matches. I would not recommend to him anything about his departure. This is his life and his career. Apparently he has already made up his mind, but I do not know if everyone has understood his decision. He played 60 minutes twice.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 9, 2013

63

TheGuardian

Friday, August 9, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Don Okereke O refresh our memories, ‘anarchy’is defined as T a state of disorder due to the absence, nonrecognition of or a failure of government. A ‘Banana republic’ is a loosely used term which denotes a politically unstable, dependent country ruled by a small coterie of corrupt cabals with an accompanying impoverished working class.

A lot of times one is gob smacked by developments in our polity. Sometimes it looks as if we are still hundreds of years behind civilisation and rationality. Latent and recent goings-on in our polity reinforce the well-known dictum that all is not well with the self-acclaimed giant of Africa. It is no news that innocent people are randomly arrested and detained for no justifiable reason, people are sporadically hacked to death and the perpetrators waltz scot-free. There is a resounding rhythm of impunity, arrogance and raw use of power in our landscape. This is not a swipe at the present administration; it is a critical reappraisal of the Nigerian state vis-a-vis recurrent upshots.

Please is Nigeria drifting towards anarchy, a banana republic? Will Nigeria survive the forthcoming 2015 election hysteria and miasma?

Recall that a few years ago, a United States think tank (not the U.S. government), hinted that Nigeria may be balkanised by 2015. A study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Nigeria as the worst country for a child to be born in.

Nigeria has consistently occupied an ignoble status in Transparency International’s Corruption Index. We repeatedly shrug off these assertions or warnings; we claim they are the handwork of our phantom enemies. An appreciable plus in the scientific method or rational thinking generally is that it employs parameters such as tests and observations before a conclusion is inferred; hence the experiment can be replicated and similar results obtained. Rather than lampoon our imaginary enemies, have we cared to investigate the yardstick they used in arriving at their conclusion? Interestingly, when a particular report says Nigeria is the fastest growing economy in Africa, we flaunt it.

Granted that many countries transited similar trajectories in their quest for nationhood but at a time they told themselves the home truth and took drastic measures to confront their problems head-on. In England hereditary Lords and barons wielded so much power in those days such that no important decision was made without their consent. Not anymore. The United States emerged stronger aftermath of a civil war.

New York was formerly a notorious Mafiosi haven with the likes of Al Capon living largerthan-life until he was caged.

It is a different story in Nigeria. Our so-called leaders do not even want us to discuss the problems with Nigeria. They want all of us to be praise-singers. Offer constructive criticism and you are dubbed an ‘opposition’, a pessimist or a doomsday prophet. Issues that led to the first military coup and subsequently the 1967-1970 Civil war in Nigeria remain up in the air. Instead of using the rare opportunity presented by the forthcoming date for the centennial amalgamation of Southern and Northern protectorates of Nigeria for serious soul-searching and sober introspection, our politicians gad-about with arrangements for a grandiose carnival when the handwriting is on the wall that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder. If it took the United States 200 years to be where they are today, must it also take us 200 years to come around?

If you believe that all is well with Nigeria, can we say that Nigerians are better off, have a better standard of living today than they were 10-20 years ago, even with increased oil revenue? Can we in all honesty say we are truly ‘One Nigeria’?

Can we say the Nigerian nation is more cohesive after nearly 100 years of a forceful amalgamation for the aggrandisement of our colonial masters?

Perhaps let us mull over the following topical random events before making inferences. It will help if ethnic jingoism and political affiliations, sentiments do not becloud our sound judgment: A Human Right Watch report puts the death toll sequel to the Boko Haram miasma in the last three years at 3,000. On December 10, 2012, Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke said that 7,195 cases of extrajudicial killings were recorded in the last four years in Nigeria, with 2,000 of the victims being detainees. Do the mathematics deduce the number of people that have been sent to an early grave in a country apparently not enmeshed in a civil war.

A while ago, the Director General of the National Task Force on illegal importation of Light Weapons and Small Arms, Osita Osakwe made a stunning revelation as follows, ‘‘The governors use their private jets to build up arms ahead of the coming 2015 elections.’’ In a sane clime, this is a serious allegation and the man would have been invited to substantiate his assertion. With about 1,500 illegal entry points into Nigeria according to Nigeria’s Immigration Service, does one really need a private jet to ferry arms into Nigeria?

Premium Times recently quoted the Bayelsa State

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Why Nigeria must not drift into anarchy

President Goodluck Jonathan Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson as saying, ‘’Niger Delta militants steal crude oil to buy arms, recruit members’’. Mr. Dickson was said to have made the statement in Yenegoa when he received the Flag Officer Commanding the Central Naval Command.

We are made to believe the so-called amnesty programme entailed disarmament? Are those blokes going in the reverse direction?

Lately, Asari Dokubo addressed a Press conference at which he said that Nigeria will break up if President Jonathan does not get a second term. He arrogantly dared Nigeria’s security agencies to arrest him if they could.

Kingsley Kuku, a Special Adviser to President Jonathan concurs with him. Asari extenuated his remark on the premise that some Northern blokes made similar statements and got away with them. Such predilections are knock-on effects of setting bad precedents. Can we safely infer that Nigeria has swiveled to the point where somebody brazenly hacks another to death and justifies, extenuates his dastardly act because some other bloke did the same thing and got away with it? In a sane ambiance, the law takes it course when an infringement or a

crime is committed; the Police do not need clearance from the President to perform their statutory duty.

Alarming proliferation of Vigilante’s/ethnic militia’s/cult groups. Zamfara State is said to be tinkering with the idea of arming vigilantes to stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency - The same folks that kicked against State Police.

What an irony! Recently Ombatse Cult reportedly hacked about 90 Police and SSS officials to death. We are not aware suspects have been arrested let alone prosecuted. Rather than work round the clock to fish out and prosecute masterminds of this dastardly act, the DG of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, told us they have forgiven Ombatse Cult for killing their officers on national assignment.

What an ingenious way of boosting the morale of other serving personnel’s in its fold!

Sometime in April, Niger Delta militants basking in the euphoria of a Presidential Amnesty ambushed and killed about 12 police officers. In the South East, Bakassi Boys and MASSOB hold sway while the OPC run things in the South West.

Our politicians and so-called statesmen are busy fanning the embers of ethnic jingoism

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and disunity with their rabble-rousing statements. Is it axiomatic that wisdom and decorum comes with old age? I cringe each time I hear statements ascribed to elderly and apparently educated, knowledgeable men like Edwin Clarke, Prof. Ango Abdullahi or the Northern Elders Forum. If these men make inflammatory statements, what do they expect from youths who have a lot of potent adrenaline in them?

Can these old men tot rifles if war erupts in Nigeria?

Wanton killings have become the order of the day. There is no gainsaying the fact that life expectancy is increasingly shrinking and getting cheaper in Nigeria. Recent statistics put the life expectancy in Nigeria at 51.9 years. People give testimonies and sing praises when they sleep and wake up or travel from Point A to B safely. One is not insinuating it is wrong to render testimonies. Born in Adamawa State, a place I still have a strong affinity for, I recall we used to sleep under dogonyaro trees from dusk to dawn. I am not sure any sane person can try that now. Jos (Plateau state) arguably passed for the most peaceful state in Nigeria then but has metamorphosed into a killing field.

Kidnapping has become a daily phenomenon; school children, octogenarians are not spared.

It has become a cliché in Nigeria that the recent Nigeria Governor’s Forum election was a show of shame. A video shows an NGF election did take place; the election was won and lost. Or was the NGF election video doctored? In Nigeria, the more you look, the less you see.

Rather than apologise to Nigerians, these geezers unblushing gad-about spewing bunkum. Can we trust the judgments of our socalled Excellencies? If 36 fully grown men, some of them in their 60s or 70s cannot comport themselves, what do they expect from the generality of Nigerians? Is this a harbinger of things to come in 2015?

As if this was not enough, another show of shame was replicated recently by some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The Constitution is explicit on what it takes to impeach a speaker, governor etc. The last time I checked, a two-thirds majority is the benchmark. I was wondering if what transpired in the Rivers State House of Assembly was some sort of Nollywood home movie. The video of this infamy depicts a grown man, supposedly a lawyer or something using a mace to club his colleague to almost a state of stupor in the full glare and supervision of a police officer. Are these blokes responsible and honourable as they address themselves and prefer to be addressed? How will these men explain their actions to their kids? The Rivers State House of Assembly members make the Ibadan branch of NURTW (National Union of Road Transport Workers) look like saints. An investigation has been ordered; nothing will come out of it after all it is a ‘family affair’.

Corruption, profligacy and kleptocracy have assumed an unprecedented dimension. It is no longer in millions; it is a fad now to rub it in, in multiples of billions. A former boss of Police Pension Fund reportedly peculated nearly N30 billion and was handed a slap-on-the-wrist sentence. Where the office of UK’s Prime Minister does not have a single Presidential Jet attached to it (not that they cannot afford it), Aso Rock is said to have about 10 Presidential Jets in its parking lot. It is now the in-thing for our governors to globetrot with private jets appropriated with state funds. A certain state governor had to hire a chopper to fly from Benin to Anambra State, a journey of less than an hour by road.

Skyrocketing unemployment rate: Those in the know like former President Obasanjo tells us this phenomenon is a time-bomb. We do not need a clairvoyant to drive home the point. A lot of the ills in our society-wanton kidnapping, armed robbery and even terrorism/insurgency can be attributed to this factor.

Growing trend in individuals wittingly and unwittingly usurping the responsibilities of the state. An average Nigerian or community provides his/its own security (private guards, vigilantes, and militias), their own electricity (generators), and potable water (boreholes), construct roads and medical centre’s. With the proliferation of primary, secondary schools and universities, some individuals in Nigeria can comfortably refer to themselves as ‘sovereign governments’ akin to the arrangement between Italy and the Vatican.

The foregoing can only happen in a banana republic; tell the Marines Nigeria is not snowballing into anarchy and a typical banana republic.

Our politicians and leaders at all levels must put Nigeria first before their parochial personal aggrandisements and tribal sentiments. The ‘Arab Spring’, particularly the current situation in Egypt should be a wake-up call, an eye-opener to them. They must not bask in the euphoria of Nigeria’s 14 years of uninterrupted democracy. It is not yet Uhuru! The alarm bells are ringing!!!.

Okereke is a security analyst and consultant in Abuja.