Mon 16 Dec 2013

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Monday, December 16, 2013

Vol. 30, No. 12,772

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

Blaze of tributes as Mandela is buried From Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor (with agency report) GREAT tree has fallen; “A he is now going home to rest with his forefathers.

We thank them for lending us such an icon.”

Those were the words of the Thembu family spokesman, Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, at the funeral of the anti-apartheid

INSIDE: A COMMEMORATIVE ALBUM ON MANDELA

Ex-wife, Winnie (right); widow, Gracaand another family member, during the burial of South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela in Qunu... yesterday. Inset: Officers paying their respects at the burial site.

PHOTOS: AFP

icon, Nelson Mandela, yesterday in Qunu Eastern Cape, South Africa.

The last of 10 days of commemorations for Mandela which began with his coffin being taken on a gun carriage from his home ended yesterday at a giant marquee where his portrait hung behind 95 candles - each representing a year of his 95 well lived. He was interred in a family plot, after political and religious leaders paid tributes to him.

South African military helicopters staged a fly-past as Mandela’s coffin was interred. Earlier, some 4,500 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Kidnappers free ex-Army major, wife, fingers chopped off - Page 6

Reps probe use of N100b by Anyim, Maku From Adamu Abuh and Terhemba Daka, Abuja HOW both the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) led by Anyim Pius Anyim and the Federal Ministry of Information under Labaran Maku used N100.561 billion disbursed to them between 2004 and 2012 is now being investigated by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts (PAC).

This was contained in the au-

Ministry lacks record of N4.6b vote dit query issued by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF) to the Office of the SGF and the ministry and presented to the Public Accounts Committee led by

Adeola Solomon Mr. Olamilekan for investigation.

According to the query, several releases were made to the office of the SGF totalling N94,005,343,963.81 between

2004 and 2012 from the Service Wide Vote.

The breakdown of the disbursements are as follows: N255,958,528.13 (2004), N1,532,179,551.70 (2005),

N19,157.972.00 (2006), N1,451,468,535.80 (2007), N26,247,716,599.54(2008),N42 ,568,850,413.24 (2009),N3,791,265,906.58 (2010), N10,189,067,264.53

‘How Nigeria tackled apartheid in S’Africa’ - Page 10

(2011) and N7,949,679,192.29(2012).

Anyim was expected to appear before the committee last Thursday to defend how the money was expended over the years but could not make it due to official engagements. He is expected to appear on Wednesday this week for the defence with relevant documents already demanded by the committee.

The Federal Ministry of InforCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Monday, December 16, 2013

Ministry lacks record of N4.6 billion vote CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 mation was said to have received N6,558,048,253.13 from the same vote between 2004 and 2012.

The breakdown is as follows: N108,464,985.19 (2004), N251,142,635.00 (2005) , N4,412,262,691.94 (2007), N167,500,000.00 (2009),N153,093,712.00 (2010) and N1,180,584,271.00 (2012) respectively.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Dr. Sade Yemi-Esan, stunned the members of the committee on Friday when she told them that the ministry had no single document on the releases made to it between 2004 and 2009 totalling over N4.6 billion. But she agreed

with the figures quoted for between 2010 and 2012.

Piqued by the revelation, Olamilekan directed the permanent secretary to go back and search for all relevant documents relating to the disbursement which had already been confirmed by the Debts Management Office, and to

reappear before the committee on Wednesday Olamilekan expressed deep concern over the reckless manner by which the Service Wide Vote accounts were being abused over the years by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), saying that between N900 billion

and N1 trillion was withdrawn from the account between 2004 and 2012 with nothing to show for it.

He threatened that the committee would not hesitate to recommend the scrapping of the account or reduce it to CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Family members during their arrival at the burial site of South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela in Qunu... yesterday.

Britain’s Prince Charles (left) and others during the burial of Mandela in Qunu, South Africa... yesterday.

PHOTOS: AFP

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Monday, December 16, 2013

Blaze of tributes as Mandela is buried CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 people, including foreign royal families and dignitaries like the Prince of Wales, Charles, attended the state funeral. There were also current and former heads of state and celebrities.

Mandela’s widow, Graca Machel, and President Jacob Zuma were present for the private, traditional Xhosa burial. The former statesman was buried after former comrades, African leaders and his family spoke movingly of their love for Mandela and what he had taught them.

South African President Jacob Zuma said the government and the country would take forward the legacy of the former president.

While the service took place, a 21-gun salute sounded far away in Pretoria.

Zuma, who was booed at last week’s stadium commemoration in Soweto, led the service in song before giving his funeral oration. He noted that it had been a long and painful week: “Whilst the long walk to freedom has ended in the physical sense, our own journey continues.”

According to South Africa’s government news agency SA News, Zuma also thanked the Mandela family for their perseverance over the years when he spent 27 years in jail during the apartheid regime.

In a packed marquee filled with dignitaries, Zuma said Mandela’s love for children would be carried forward. Zuma also thanked Mandela for his sacrifice in

the fight against the apartheid government in what led to South Africa giving birth to democracy in 1994, describing Mandela as a “fountain of wisdom, pillar of strength and a beacon of hope. Mandela taught us to live together, regardless of race.”

Zuma sat between Mandela’s widow, Graca Machel and his ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The late icon’s coffin, draped in the South African flag, was placed beneath a lectern where speakers paid their tributes. Some guests sang and danced to celebrate Mandela’s life as the service began.

It was a befitting end to a three-day period during which the body of Mandela lay in state. South African officials say around 100,000 mourners viewed Mandela’s body at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, with some turned away because queues were too long.

His grand-daughter, Nandi, described him as a man with a sense of humour, saying the family would miss his laughter and smile. It was a sombre ceremony, a marked departure from the singing and celebration of the past week.

A few hundred metres from the marquee where the ceremony was held, hundreds of villagers watched the proceedings from a large screen on a hill overlooking Mandela’s house.

Before the coffin was lowered into the ground, jets took to the blue skies above Qunu, in salute of democrat-

ic South Africa’s first president.

The crowd watched and very little was said. They waved and some screamed.

“Who will be our father?” cried one woman. And that is the question on many people’s minds - who will now be the father of this nation?

After the national anthem, the service heard from a family spokesman, Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, who thanked the army medical team that had treated Mandela before he died.

Close friend of Mandela who featured significantly in his book - Long walk to freedom - Ahmed Kathrada, told mourners that he had lost an “elder brother” who was with him for many years in prison on Robben Island.

Kathrada’s voice was filled with emotion as he spoke of the difficulty of recent months and of how he had held his friend’s hand the last time he saw him in hospital.

“Farewell my dear brother, my mentor, my leader,” he said.

Two grandchildren then addressed the congregation, Ndaba who read an obituary, and Nandi, who spoke fondly of her grandfather as a disciplinarian.

“We shall miss you... your stern voice when you are not pleased with our behaviour. We shall miss your laughter,” said Nandi.

Both Winnie and Machel were praised for their love and tolerance, in an address

by Malawi’s President Joyce Banda.

An unexpected contribution came from Kenneth Kaunda, 89-year-old former president of Zambia, who lightened the tone of the proceedings by jogging to the stage.

The master of ceremonies, ANC Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, had earlier explained that burial had to take place at mid-day, in line with the traditions of Mandela’s Thembu tribe in Qunu.

What many around the world did not see or did not fully comprehend however was that a family elder talked to “the body’s spirit”, the coffin was covered with a leopard’s or lion’s skin, an ox was slaughtered and eaten on the day, another ox to be slaughtered next year to mark the end of mourning.

Anenih donates N100m to UCH Geriatic Centre From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan HAIRMAN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih yesterday lifted the spirit of elderly patients at the Geriatric Centre in the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan as he donated the sum of N100 million to the centre.

The Geriatric Centre was initiated by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof.

Temitope Alonge for the treatment of elderly people at subsidised charges.

Anenih, who was represented by Matthew Urhoghide,

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chairman, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Board of Management said, “I cannot think of a nobler service to mankind than a proper attention to the health needs of the elderly.”

In his welcome address, Alonge said, “living to old age may be attained with a lot of challenges but the main focus should be on aging gracefully and this is in the purview of geriatricians.”

The centre, according to him, provides care for acute life threatening ailments in the elderly as well as caring for

senior citizens with chronic diseases as outpatient clients.

“The financial burden for attendees at the centre has been lessened by the buy-in of 50 per cent as rebate for services provided knowing fully well that most of them are pensioners”, he said.

One of the elderly, Mrs. Grace Apanpa, who spoke on behalf of the elders’ forum thanked the endower, Anenih and Alonge for reduction of fees while also requesting for tricycles for the transportation of the elderly

Rev. (Mrs.) Mary Osusu (left), Dawari George, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Rotimi Taiwo, Head of Service, Lagos State, Mrs. Josephine Oluseyi, representing the state Deputy Governor and Olusayo Oladejo, during the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Victory Baptist Church, Ajah, Lagos…yesterday

Reps probe use of N100b by Anyim, Maku CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 five per cent of what it used to be.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Power has doubted the ability of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to deliver its mandate of supplying electricity to rural parts of the country.

The committee also expressed dismay over the deplorable situation of electricity in the country as a result of the dismal performance of the new companies handling the sector.

“It is clear and obvious that we are sliding back to the position where we were some months back before the privatisation, though the minister and the Presidential Task Force on Power did say it was due to massive vandalism of gas pipelines and sabotage of their equipment,” the committee said.

This development followed last weekend’s discovery that the agency has been unable to spend the N5 billion earmarked in 2013 and received in July by the authorities for the execution of rural electrification projects in the country as well as other sundry allegations of corruption bedevilling it.

A statement made available to reporters in Abuja yesterday said the Chairman of the Committee, Patrick Ikhariale, who led other members on an oversight visit to the Ministry of Power expressed shock when the Minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, declared that the ministry could only use 18 per cent of the N5 billion it received in July this year.

According to the statement, the committee had during the visit also demanded an explanation on the $1.2 billion China Exim Bank loan and sought to know the level of local content involved in it for the HydroElectric Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC).

The committee also expressed concerns over the sustainability of “Light up Nigeria” for selected mega cities and “Light up rural Nigeria” projects for rural communities in the

country.

“This is December and less than three weeks to the end of the year, what kind of miracle do you want for the money that has been in your possession for the past five months?

“You have this money with you and Nigerians have been crying for power, this calls to question, your capacity to spend funds allocated to your agencies,” the committee chairman said.

Responding, the minister who pleaded for patience, assured that 80 per cent of the money would be used before December 20 as contract details on the projects had been concluded with the contractors already commissioned for the job.

He said: “Only last week, I blasted the agency myself but the fact is that there are pressures. Politicians, technocrats, businessmen, everybody want something from the agency.

“Please, when you want to strike, take some factors into consideration before you strike. This is a young agency and these challenges, I believe, would be surmounted as time goes on”.

On HYPADEC, the minister told the committee that it was the verification of nominees of member-states to the board by the governors that was responsible for the delay.

Nebo disclosed that the letter to President Goodluck Jonathan for approval was being prepared as the verification had been concluded, while adding that the $1.2 billion China Exim loan was for the Zungeru 700 megawatts power plant.

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NEWS Monday, December 16, 2013

Suit to unseat defected govs will fail, says nPDP

By Seye Olumide HE New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday dismissed as an exercise in futility the suit by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to sack the G5 Governors for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement, National Publicity Secretary of the defunct nPDP, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said the suit is laughable and betrays the ignorance of the PDP leadership about the laws of the land.

He said, “It is also a further demonstration of the impunity associated with PDP in its disdain for democracy and due process.”

Eze quoted relevant sections of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution to prove that the seats of the affected governors, namely, Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Alhaji Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara), are safe.

According to him, “For the education of the confused PDP leadership and its legal team, there is no danger of any of our governors losing their seats as made clear by Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) in relation to the status of members of a legislative house (state and national) who defect from the political parties from which they were elected to join another political party.

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“The wordings of the aforesaid sections are in agreement with those of sections 64(1)(g) of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria given judicial interpretation by the Supreme Court in the case of FEDECO vs Goni (1983) FNR 203. This case was argued by the best legal minds of that era (Chief FRA Williams (SAN) and GOK Ajayi (SAN). The court held that such a member keeps his seat if his defection is as a result of a division or split in his party.

“G5 Governors must be commended and congratulated for standing against the draconian and undemocratic acts of PDP and should go about their normal business as both PDP and its sponsors lack the power to sack any of them. This as well covers all members of the National Assembly who desire to join the Aso Rock-bound train of APC come 2015.”

Eze said it was not debatable that PDP is crisis-ridden, thus guaranteeing that none of its members who defect can be punished as a result. He quoted and attached a recent letter by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voiding the suspension of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje and Dr. Sam Sam Jaja as proof that PDP is in crisis.

The letter signed by INEC’s Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, was dated November 25, with reference number INEC /EPM/PDP/02/024/Vol. T/161 and titled: ‘Re: Suspension of

Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure from the PDP”. The letter, addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, reads: “This is to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated November 12, 2013 informing the commission on the suspension of four members of your party.

“The commission notes that some of the individuals so suspended held positions covered by the provisions of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and that no notice of the meeting, which approved their suspension, was provided to the commission. “Accordingly, the records of the commission does not reflect the process and composition of the meeting that approved the suspension of the individuals, as such, the commission cannot establish an informed posi-

tion on the matter “Please accept the commission’s highest regard and consideration.”

Eze supported INEC’s position by quoting Section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which states thus: “Every registered political party shall give the commission at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act.” He accused the PDP of mischief for instigating the Houses of Assembly in the affected states to start impeachment proceedings against the defected governors as being witnessed in Rivers State, where six rebel legislators are desperately try-

ing to impeach Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. He warned PDP to desist from any further act of destabilisation capable of plunging the country into chaos and truncating the country’s hard-won democracy.

He wondered why PDP received Chief T. A. Orji of Abia State and Chief Ikedi Ohakim former Governor of Imo State that defected from PPA and Alhaji Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State who defected from ANPP and joined PDP without declaring their seats vacant.

Now that PDP is at the receiving end of the same medicine they administered on others and they are window-shopping for ways to have their cakes after devouring them.

What a pity as about seven more PDP Governors will be joining APC by the first quarter of 2014 at that time they will be preparing on how to bury PDP formally by 2015.

Fish farmers allege breach of grant’s pact From Chuks Collins, Awka THE stage may have been set for a war of accusations and counter accusations between aqua culturists in the country under the aegis of Fishfarm Estate Developers Association and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina over what the association described as a breach of contract.

Members of the association, according to its national president, Chief Maurice Ebo have already unearthed documents concerning a tripar-

tite agreement signed by them, the Ministry and Fidelity Bank for a systematic approval and release of the Federal Government special grant to fish farmers.

Ebo had disclosed in a press briefing to journalists yesterday in Ogidi, Anambra State alleged that the agreement with the Agriculture Ministry and the bank on disbursement of funds was in pursuit of the transformation policy of the Federal Government to boost fish production and exports in the country.

He claimed that the imple-

mentation pattern which was formulated to the satisfaction of the parties had progressed smoothly right from the era of the late President Umaru Shehu Yar’Adua, till there was a change of guards when the minister took over and brought in a new acting Director of Fisheries, Deaconess Areola.

Falling short of blaming the awry situation on the new acting director whom he accused of lacking the disposition and views of the concept of the fishing policy having come from the Forestry

Govt moves to complete abandoned water projects From Joke Falaju, Abuja TO ensure the completion of all abandoned water projects across the country, the National Council on Water Resources has approved the setting up of a joint task team comprising representatives of federal and state governments to ascertain the technical, financial and legal status of such facilities.

This was contained in a statement at the end of the week long National Council on Water Resources from December 9-13 2013 organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in partnership with the Kaduna State government.

The council meeting which was chaired by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, also solicited collaboration between federal and state governments as enshrined in the National Policy on Water Supply and Sanitation to ensure early compilation of all water resources projects.

The council also approved the setting up of inter-ministerial committee with ministers from Water Resources , Environment, Health , Finance and other relevant agencies and state to workout modalities for preparation and development of the 2014 High Level Meeting

Anenih donates N100m to Geriatic Centre

‘Islam not against Western education’ THE National President of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Olufemi Okunnu(SAN) yesterday came hard on groups or individuals killing their fellow Nigerians because of Western education, stating

that they are only deceivers, as Islam is not against Western education.

Okunnu said this at the 90th anniversary of the Islamic organisation and football competition final between Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Liberty, Ibadan(Kola Daisi Babes) and AUD Secondary School, Ikere Ekiti(Wale Babalakin Babes) held at the Obafemi

Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.

He said, “Islam is never against Western education.

Though we did not have Western education in the past, when you go down history, you will discover that we have vast experts in engineering, medicine, to mention but few, and were giving advice.

“Those killing people because of Western education are only deceivers and are not meant to be humans.

I will say it anywhere in the world that Islam is not against Western education; it tells us to ‘seek for knowledge’”.

The legal luminary maintained that one of the primary aims of the organisation is to encourage people to get education, both Western and Islamic, adding that this was because Islam says ‘seeking for knowledge is compulsory for all men and women.’

He explained that the society is all about promoting Islamic and western education and will continue to pursue it with the establishment of schools.

The match which was witnessed by dignitaries that included the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu; the representative of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) and members of the organisation

From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan CHAIRMAN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih yesterday lifted the spirit of elderly patients at the Geriatric Centre in the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan as he donated the sum of N100 million to the centre.

The Geriatric Centre was initiated by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof.

Temitope Alonge for the treatment of elderly people at subsidised charges.

Anenih, who was represented by Matthew Urhoghide, chairman, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Board of Management said, “I cannot think of a nobler service to mankind than a proper attention to the health needs of the elderly.”

In his welcome address, Alonge said, “living to old age may be attained with a lot of challenges but the main focus should be on aging gracefully and this is in the purview of geriatricians.”

The centre, according to him, provides care for acute life threatening ailments in the elderly as well as caring for senior citizens with chronic diseases as outpatient clients.

“The financial burden for attendees at the centre has been lessened by the buy-in of 50 per cent as rebate for services provided knowing

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Kidnappers free ex-Army major, wife, fingers chopped off From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba FTER 16 harrowing A days in the den of cold blooded kidnappers who chopped off their fingers, retired Army Major, Azum Asoya, and his 55-year-old wife, Elizabeth, were set free yesterday morning.

For failing to pay N30 million ransom, which was later reduced to N9 million, the fingers of the 80- year-old former military officer were delivered to the family house at Okpanam, OshimiliNorth Local Council of Delta State last week and have since been in police custody.

Asoya and his wife were dropped at Otulu, Aniocha North Local Council of Delta State where sympathisers helped them to their house at Okpanam to reunite with anxious family members.

The octogenarian and his wife were abducted by some suspected armed kidnappers on November 30 at the small town by some gunmen on their way home from a burial in another part of the town.

A family source disclosed that the octogenarian and his wife have been checked into an undisclosed hospital in Asaba, the state capital, for a thorough treatment for fear of infection from the amputated fingers.

While in captivity in the jungle where they were kept, they were said to have been beaten by rain over six times while urine was used as a makeshift anesthesia to treat the sore on their fingers by the kidnappers.

The mood at the family house in Okpanam was joy flavoured with sadness yesterday as sympathisers and close family members who trooped in to felicitate with them

were happy that the Asoyas have been freed, but expressed sadness that they had to be dehumanised and deformed by the abductors before releasing them.

A source, who would not want his name published, disclosed that the family had to cough out N5 million ransom before the kidnappers agreed to release their victims.

According to him, the family had to make frantic effort to raise the money when it was realised that security men were helpless in the rescue bid. In fact, the kidnapers had threatened to kill them should the family not pay the money on time after cutting their fingers.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio (right); Mrs Imaobong Ebong and Air Vice Marshal Uko Ebong; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Bade and his wife at a thanksgiving service in honour of the Air Marshal Ebong, Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet at United Evangelical Church (QIC) National Worship Centre, Abuja… yesterday.

Doctors ignore minister’s plea, to begin strike Wednesday From Emeka Anuforo (Abuja) and John Ogiji (Minna) OCTORS, under the aegis D of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), are forging ahead with their planned strike to press home some points.

The doctors do not seem impressed by a recent plea by the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, urging them to shelve the strike, claiming the government had met a number of their demands.

In a statement issued yesterday at the end of their National Executive Council meeting, the doctors said the strike would now commence on Wednesday and would only last for five days in order not to interrupt the Yuletide.

“The strike would resume in full force after the celebration”, the NMA said.

The statement read in part: “For over five months now, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has recurrently engaged the Federal Government, through the

Federal Ministry of Health, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on issues bordering on some health sector challenges, workplace conditions and the conditions of service of doctors.

“On September 2, 2013, the Nigerian Medical Association issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the issues tabled by NMA. However, based on the understanding reached following the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, the NMA decided to extend its ultimatum by four weeks at its emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on September 22, 2013.

“Following the expiration of the additional four weeks’ grace granted the Federal Government, the NMA again magnanimously extended twice the ultimatum on account of the government’s constitution of a Presidential

Committee and promised to speedily resolve the issues contained in the requests of the NMA. Sadly, since the report of the Presidential Committee was submitted to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, only the re-constitution and inauguration of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has been realised. The inauguration of MDCN, which took place on November 25, 2013, was even after the government reneged on an earlier signed agreement with NMA to reconstitute and inaugurate MDCN within 21 days (that is, by September 30, 2013).”

The statement jointly signed

by NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele and the Secretary General, Dr. Akpufuoma Pemu, accused the government of not taking action to resolve issues it raised on workplace conditions and injustice allegedly meted out to doctors in their conditions of service, as well

as funding/infrastructure and equipment upgrade in the health sector.

“The association noted its patriotic efforts to further engage the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health (following the invitation of the Minister of Health to a meeting) even at the 11th hour but which collapsed following the unserious attitude of the leadership of the ministry, who seems less bordered about the potential crisis that was bound to erupt from Saturday, December 14, 2013.

“In recognition of the extremely poor progress in the resolution of the demands of the NMA and following the expiration of its last ultimatum issued to the Federal Government, which expired on Saturday, December 14, 2013, the NMA is constrained to declare an industrial action with effect from Wednesday, December 18, 2013.

Accordingly, doctors in public health institutions shall withdraw their services with effect from 8 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2013.

APC urges National Assembly to impeach Jonathan Adamu Abuh and Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja

• Call is irresponsible, reckless, say Presidency, PDP

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the National Assembly to “rise beyond partisanship and save Nigeria from imminent collapse by immediately kick-starting the process of impeaching President Goodluck Jonathan for gross misconduct.”

But in a swift reaction, the Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, described the call for impeachment of Jonathan as reckless and irresponsible, noting that the APC was stretching the freedom of speech to a ridiculous extent. Also, Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the call for impeachment as irresponsible, immature, self seeking and part of a larger agenda to truncate democracy

in Nigeria.

PDP, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in Abuja said: “Upon their realization that they will not win in the 2015 general elections following the failure of their plans to break the ranks and strength of the PDP, they now seek to use all means to cause confusion in the land.

“The APC knows the implication of the call which is to cause massive turmoil and destroy the unity of our dear nation. Nevertheless, the PDP is ready, willing and able to stop them in their track.”

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC said it is issuing this call with a high sense of responsibility and the strong belief that the

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impeachment of the President is a legitimate constitutional option available to the National Assembly not only to protect the nation’s democracy but to ensure the country’s unity. ‘’Our country is drifting dangerously and our people are divided now perhaps more than at any other point in our history, with the exception of the civil war period. There is a total failure of leadership, even as insecurity, unprecedented corruption, palpable impunity, massive unemployment and hunger stalk the land. ‘’Since the raison d’etre of any government is the security and welfare of the citizenry, and the present administration has failed to live up to the justification of its existence, there can be no other definition of gross misconduct than

that. ‘’Therefore, the time has come for the head of that government, on whose desk the buck stops, to be removed through the provisions stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is the patriotic thing to do,’’ it said.

APC warned that if the National Assembly fails to act and do so very fast, it will share with the Jonathan Administration the eternal blame for bringing to naught the hard work of the nation’s heroes past and for crashing and dashing the hopes of millions of Nigerians, especially the youth who are the leaders of tomorrow.

The Presidency, in its statement, said:”We have noted with utter disdain, the reckless and irresponsible call by the APC on Sunday for the National Assembly to commence im-

peachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Ordinarily, we would not have dignified Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s latest vituperations in the service of his paymasters with a response, but we thought it necessary to warn that the Federal Government will not standby idly and let the nation be plunged into unnecessary crises and political instability because of the desperation and apparent readiness of the APC spokesman and his gang of power-seeking desperadoes to sacrifice the well-being of the country on the altar of their selfish personal ambitions.

“The Presidency totally condemns the decision by Mohammed and his party to move further beyond the bounds of honourable and acceptable political conduct with the senseless call for the

EFCC laments acquittal of Bode George, El-Rufai From Abosede Musari, Abuja HE Economic and T Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ex-

pressed concern over two separate court decisions on December 13, 2013, in cases investigated by the Commission.

The first was the acquittal of former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Olabode George and five others by the Supreme Court. The other was the acquittal of the erstwhile Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and two others by a Federal Capital Territory High Court.

In a statement issued by the Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwajaren, the EFCC noted that “without going into the merits or otherwise of the Supreme Court ruling, it is unfortunate that the apex court disagreed with the decision of the two lower courts - the Lagos High Court and the Court of Appeal which upheld the conviction of the accused persons based on the evidence presented by the Commission.

impeachment of a President who continues to sincerely devote himself to the discharge of the sacred mandate freely given to him by Nigerians.

“The APC, which remains a minority party with doubtful credentials in the National Assembly, knows fully well that its attempt to hector and blackmail a Parliament dominated by loyal members of the President’s party, the PDP, into an impeachment process, will come to nothing.

“But it has cavalierly embarked on this outrageous gambit, with scant regard for peace, order, security and political stability in the country, in furtherance of its dastardly and heinous strategy of over-heating the polity and working to cause public disaffection against the Jonathan Presidency with lies, false accusations and unjustifiable indictments ahead of the 2015 general elections.”

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NEWS Monday, December 16, 2013

Islam not against Western education, says Ansar-Ud-Deen

HE National President of T the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Olufemi

Dr. Wale Babalakin (middle) flanked by the representative of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, ASP Mohammed Lawal (left) and Deputy National President, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria at the football event to mark the 90th anniversary of the society held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado, Ibadan ... yesterday.

Okunnu (SAN) yesterday came hard on groups or individuals killing their fellow Nigerians because of Western education, stating that they are only deceivers, as Islam is not against Western education.

Okunnu said this at the 90th anniversary of the Islamic organisation and football competition final between Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Liberty, Ibadan (Kola Daisi Babes) and AUD Secondary School, Ikere Ekiti (Wale Babalakin Babes) held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.

He said, “Islam is never against Western education.

Though we did not have Western education in the past, when you go down history, you will discover that we have vast experts in engineering, medicine, to mention but few, and were giving advice.

“Those killing people because of Western education are only deceivers and are not meant to be humans.

I will say it anywhere in the world that Islam is not

against Western education; it tells us to ‘seek for knowledge’”.

The legal luminary maintained that one of the primary aims of the organisation is to encourage people to get education, both Western and Islamic, adding that this was because Islam says ‘seeking for knowledge is compulsory for all men and women.’

He explained that the society is all about promoting Islamic and western education and will continue to pursue it with the establishment of schools.

The match which was witnessed by dignitaries that included the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu; the representative of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) and members of the organisation across the states in the South-West was won by Kola Daisi Babes by 6 to 5 through penalty shoot out.

Other highlights of the ceremony include match past by different branches of the society and donation with Dr. Babalakin donating the sum of N1 million.

that PDP is crisis-ridden, thus guaranteeing that none of its members who defect can be punished as a result. He quoted and attached a recent letter by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voiding the suspension of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje and Dr. Sam Sam Jaja as proof that PDP is in crisis.

The letter signed by INEC’s Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, was dated November 25, with reference number INEC /EPM/PDP/02/024/Vol. T/161 and titled: ‘Re: Suspension of Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure from the PDP.” The letter, addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, reads: “This is to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated November 12, 2013 informing the commission on the suspension of four members of your party.

“The commission notes that some of the individuals so suspended held positions covered by the provisions of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and that no notice of the meeting, which approved their suspension, was provided to the commission. “Accordingly, the records of the commission does not reflect the process and composition of the meeting that approved the suspension of the individuals, as such, the commission cannot establish an informed position on the matter “Please accept the commission’s highest regard and consideration.”

Eze supported INEC’s posi-

tion by quoting Section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which states thus: “Every registered political party shall give the commission at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act.” He accused the PDP of mischief for instigating the Houses of Assembly in the affected states to start impeachment proceedings against the defected governors as being witnessed in Rivers State, where six rebel legislators are desperately trying to impeach Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

He warned PDP to desist from any further act of destabilisation capable of plunging the country into chaos and truncating the country’s hard-won democracy.

He wondered why PDP received Chief T. A. Orji of Abia State and Chief Ikedi Ohakim former Governor of Imo State that defected from PPA and Alhaji Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State who defected from ANPP and joined PDP without declaring their seats vacant.

He added: “Now that PDP is at the receiving end of the same medicine they administered on others and they are window-shopping for ways to have their cakes after devouring them.

“What a pity as about seven more PDP Governors will be joining APC by the first quarter of 2014 at that time they will be preparing on how to bury PDP formally by 2015.”

Lagos APC thanks citizens, seeks more support

By Seye Olumide have been LgiveAGOSIANS enjoined to continue to unflinching support to All Progressives Congress (APC) as it prepares to “take over power at the centre and majority of states in Nigeria and reverse the deepening rot in Nigeria.”

The Lagos State chapter of the party which made the call at the weekend in a statement by its Interim Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, said “the fidelity of Lagosians to the APC is paying off as Nigerians from all parts of the country flock to the party as the alternative to the rotten conduct of statecraft the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has used to destroy a well endowed and rich country in 14 years of bizarre leadership.”

Meanwhile, the nPDP faction yesterday dismissed as an exercise in futility the suit by the ruling party asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to sack the G5 Governors for defecting to APC. In a statement, National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said the suit was laughable and betrayed the ignorance of the PDP leadership about the laws of the land.

“It is also a further demonstration of the impunity associated with PDP in its disdain for democracy and due process,” he stated.

Igbokwe said that what was happening at the federal level of governance “where the PDP has used corruption and impunity to run Nigeria aground should make Lagosians proud of the huge pay-off they have reaped in good, purposeful and resultoriented governance from

• ‘Suit to unseat defecting governors will fail’ • ‘Seven more to quit PDP for APC next year’ the APC these 14 years.”

He went on: “We are glad that Nigerians are waking to the reality that the country is being emphatically destroyed through corruption, impunity and wholesale brigandage by the PDP government especially the present incompetent and clueless government. These much were confirmed by former President Obasanjo, a ranking leader of PDP in a recent letter to President Jonathan. We are happy that internal revolt and schism is hitting the PDP, which callously boasted that even with its history of non-performance and corruption, it would rule the country till eternity.

“We are happy that leading lights and founders of the party are seeing the end of that notorious party and are leaving the party in droves.

We are happy that Nigerians are finding in the APC a tent good enough to salvage the country from the asphyxiating rule of the PDP. This is a direct tribute to Lagosians who anchored the revival of hope of Nigerians from this scourge. We are happy that this belief is informed in the superlative performance of APC governors, especially in Lagos where meaningful, frugal and competent governance has made the state an expansive oasis that sulks in Nigerians who are afflicted by the blight of leadership the PDP has promoted in Nigeria these past 14 years.

“Lagos APC is proud of the capacity demonstrated in Lagos, which saw a state con-

demned to an irredeemable urban slum restored to become one of the world mega cities with workable and functional infrastructures.

“We are horrified that as poverty riffles through the land, PDP leaders are busy launching newer and more audacious stealing fronts like the unforgiveable stealing of the nation’s oil, the stealing of $50 billion from the nation’s receipts from oil, the plundering of the excess crude accounts, the depleting of the nation’s foreign reserves, the looting of N500 billion from the SUREP fund, the duping of the nation’s treasury of over N600 billion through dubious import waivers between January and September this year, the stealing of several billions of Naira through the kerosene subsidy scam, the festering multi-trillion Naira fuel subsidy scam, etc.

“We commend Lagosians for consistently reposing confidence in us. We urge Lagosians to register and join the APC and maintain its enviable status as the largest progressive block in the country, as we believe that whenever the history of how the country made a recovery from the locusts is written, Lagos and indeed Lagosians will earn an enviable place as the footstool from which the progressives re-launched and delivered Nigeria from decayed and incompetent leadership.”

Eze quoted relevant sections of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution to prove that the seats of the affected gov-

ernors, namely, Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Alhaji Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara), are safe.

According to him: “For the education of the confused PDP leadership and its legal team, there is no danger of any of our governors losing their seats as made clear by Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) in relation to the status of members of a legislative house (state and national) who defect from the political parties from which they were elected to join another political party.

“The wordings of the aforesaid sections are in agreement with those of sections 64(1)(g) of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria given judicial interpretation by the Supreme Court in the case of FEDECO vs Goni (1983) FNR 203. This case was argued by the best legal minds of that era (Chief FRA Williams (SAN) and GOK Ajayi (SAN). The court held that such a member keeps his seat if his defection is as a result of a division or split in his party.

“G5 Governors must be commended and congratulated for standing against the draconian and undemocratic acts of PDP and should go about their normal business as both PDP and its sponsors lack the power to sack any of them. This as well covers all members of the National Assembly who desire to join the Aso Rock-bound train of APC come 2015.”

Eze said it was not debatable

Monday, December 16, 2013 NEWS 9

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Idahosa varsity lauds NUC over research From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City PRIVATE university, A Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Benin City, Edo State at the weekend lauded the National Universities Commission (NUC) for its partnership with agencies to boost research which it said constitutes at least 30 per cent of university education.

Vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Ernest Izevbogie stated this during the school’s 13th convocation ceremony where he added that there was partnership between the school, Edo State government and Israel in the area of agriculture.

“There are benefits for a university to rank high because prospective students and funding agencies that fund research projects tend to have affinities for universities with high academic ranking.

The recent move by the Nigerian universities’ regulatory agency, NUC, to forge partnerships/collaborations with other institutions or organisations to conduct a workshop entitled “Paradigm Shift: Let Your knowledge and Research Create Wealth for You” held on November 26-27, 2013 in Abuja, further underscores the importance of research in universities.”

Bayelsa elders petition Jonathan over road projects From Willie Etim, Yenagoa LLEGING deceit, the A Nembe community at the weekend petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan over oil firms and the Federal Government’s refusal to construct some roads, including the Yenegwe-Kolo-Nembe-Brass highway.

The petition, which was signed by Nembe Se elders, including Prof. E.J. Alagoa Kalaoje, Prof.

Youpele Beredugo, Alabo Jigekuma Ombu-Kieri, among others, decried the Federal Government’s failure to construct roads in Nembe

communities.

The position of the Nembe elders, expressed at the weekend during the 10- year anniversary of the Nembe Congress, argued that the relationship between Nembe and Nigeria has been one sided as the Nembe area has only been good for economic exploration.

The elders noted that the country was infamous for its callous neglect and rape in the Niger Delta region and the Nembe territory was the most tragic example of that neglect, adding, “the starkest metaphor for this age-long neglect is that the

Nembe communities remain without good roads.

They cited the abandoned Yenegwe-Kolo-Nembe-Brass road, which was awarded by the Federal Government since 1973, the OtuegilaAmurekeni-AmutoroEmago/Kugbo-OluasiriOkoroba-Biokponga-Nembe road promised to be built by Shell, the Akpilai/OgbiaNembe and the 22 kilometre Ogbia Nembe road expected to be constructed by the state government.

They added: “What is the fate of these road projects?

How do we get our various obligors to keep faith with their legal and social obliga-

tions to Nembe Se? Has Shell tricked us and finally abandoned the Otuegila-EmagoOluasiri-Nembe road? Is the Ogbia-Nembe road the only serious project NDDC intends to do for the entire Nembe Se with the quota that we contribute to the commission’s roughly N300 billion yearly budget? Will the Federal Government prove to us through concrete infrastructural evidence that it now cares about people and territory of Nembe Se?” They further stressed: “Whilst it takes the Federal Government the better part of the century to connect us

by road, there exists a vast and expanding network of oil and gas pipelines across our territory, connecting oil wells to flow stations to export terminals and so on. In some 40-50 years of oil and gas production, the Federal Government has in league with the oil companies virtually drilled and sucked the life out of our communities.

Our rivers as well as groundwater have been massively poisoned through the worst case of cumulative oil pollution in the world. Gas is continually flared at several points like some oversized Olympic torches at the expense of the people lungs.”

Insurance firm holds cleans programme UINEA Insurance Plc will G on Thursday, December 19, 2013 at 8 a.m, hold its yearly cleanS programme.

The event which is aimed at sensitising people on the need to live in a clean environment, will hold at Guinea Insurance House, No 33, Ikorodu Road, Jibowu, Lagos.

Ozekhome, others become Benin chiefs From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City HREE months after huT man rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was kidnapped and freed 21 days later, the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa at weekend named him a palace chief in Benin Kingdom with the title, Enobakhare of Benin kingdom meaning ‘Oba’s word is final.’ It places Ozekhome as one of the high ranking chiefs in Benin Kingdom.

He was on Friday evening decorated with the title by the Oba’s emissaries led by Chief Festus Osakpamwan and later taught the dance steps of a Benin chief as well as the greetings of the Oba by palace chiefs.

Also honoured alongside the human rights activist was the governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2012 polls in the state, Solomon Edebiri whom the Oba conferred the title of Ikuobasoyemwen of Benin Kingdom.

At a thank you visit to the Oba after performing some traditional greeting patterns to the Oba, Ozekhome said he felt elated to be honoured as a Benin palace chief.

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (second left), speaking during his thank you tour to Ekeremor Local Council in Ekeremor town, while his wife, Racheal (left); Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (third right); State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gborobiogha John Jonah rtd, (second right) and the Chairman of the State PDP, Col. Sam Inokoba rtd, (right) look on.

NBA to honour The Guardian, others for excellence From John Akubo, Dutse ITING their patriotic C roles, the Jigawa State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will today honour The Guardian newspapers and three other media organisations for excellence at its 2013 Law Week.

The NBA chapter chairman, Adamu Turaki Muhammed who disclosed this in Dutse, said the award is for the newspapers’ effort in enlightening the public on their rights and for propagating the NBA’s activities in the state.

He added, “For the media, we intend to give award to The Guardian, Daily Trust, Freedom Radio and Radio Jigawa for their efforts in ensuring balanced reporting and their co-operation with the Bar and in ensuring that the people are enlightened in terms of understanding their rights through partnership with the Bar. “We have been receiving that co-operation and we decided that we should also award these institutions to ginger others to see that they come on board to al-

ways partner with us on the enlightenment of the public.”

He said the input of the Bar in the state has been recognised through these media houses Muhammed assured that in subsequent Law Weeks they would do more by selecting other outstanding

media outfits to enhance better relationship with them.

The award which will take place at the Three Star Hotel would also feature Governor Sule Lamido as an awardee for his support to the Bar. “Also, we intend to give award to Governor Sule Lamido because of the fact

that he has been friendly with the Bar in terms of support, secondly because of his non interference with the administration of justice. For the six years we have been working with him, we have never seen government interference in our affairs.

“We have never had com-

plaints as far as the administration of justice is concerned and also if you look at the support the governor is giving to the judiciary particularly to the staff of the Ministry of Justice, you can see that they are well above board. So it is this aspect that we have noticed that we decided to honour Lamido.”

Ajimobi urges APC factions to close ranks HE Governor of Oyo State, T Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has urged those factionalising the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to unite, stating that the conservatives whom the party flushed away from power in 2011, like bloodsucking foxes, were waiting by the sideline to capitalise on their disagreements to come back to power.

He made this known at the weekend while witnessing the graduation of trainees of skills acquisition centre organised by the Ibadan North Local Council.

According to Ajimobi, he had heard that many mem-

bers of the party were grouping themselves into factions, which they named SENACO, Lamists and many more, urging them to abandon factions and unite as one party.

Ajimobi told the party faithful that the foxes in opposition parties want to capitalise on the attempts being made by some party members to factionalise the party to come back to power through the back door, stating that it was only a united party that could sustain the APC in power.

“I am not governor of a faction of the party but governor of all. When you are

united, you can pose a formidable threat against the opposition. The change that our party has brought to Oyo State and governance in general is not enough; we need the unity of our party members to forge ahead.

That is why we need to reconcile aggrieved members so that our party can be the formidable party it has always been,” Ajimobi said.

Reminding the people that former governor of the state, late Alhaji Lam Adesina, in his life time, desired that the party would unite to confront the opposition, the governor urged all members of the party to

honour the memory of the late leader of the party by coming together.

“Be united so that we can continue to be in power as progressives. In-fighting among us can retard progress. Great Alhaji Lam Adesina, when we were all scrambling for nomination of the ACN, always told me not to mind the scramblers; that I was his choice. So who can be more of a Lamist than me? Why then would anyone who claims to be a supporter of Alhaji Lam Adesina not support his son whom he fought tooth and nail to ensure that he is in office?” he asked.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

Special Report

Mandela

Jonathan

‘How Nigeria tackled apartheid in S’Africa’ Oba Samuel Odulana (then Hon. S.O. Lana – Parliamentary Secretary; the late Chief S.T. Adelegan (then Deputy Speaker, Western Region House of Assembly) and the late Hon. S.O. Gbinovia, represented Nigeria at the 1964 Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held at the House of Commons, London, United Kingdom. This account, culled from the late Hon. Adelegan’s autobiography: ‘The Part to Play’, documents Nigeria’s contributions to efforts at dismantling apartheid in South Africa.

ESPITE the relatively large number of D white settlers in Southern Rhodesia (now South-Africa), the Blacks constantly outnumbered the Whites by an ever-increasing ratio. White rule was, however, maintained through a policy of subjugation and surprisingly, large-scale Black acquiescence - but the latter situation was to remain for a long period. The decolonisation policy followed by the British Empire after the end of the Second World war, saw Southern Rhodesia being first included in a Federation of three other regions: Northern Rhodesia (later to be Zambia and Nyasaland - later named Malawi).

This federation lasted from 1953 to 1963 when it was dissolved in preparation for the independence of these states.

However, the British government foresaw granting these states’ independence on the basis of universal suffrage and Black rule. By now (1964), the White minority in Southern Rhodesia was far too ensconced to accept such a dispensation. In 1964, Northern Rhodesia gained its Independence, as Zambia and Nyasaland became Malawi. Although the British government had initially told the Southern Rhodesians that they would be granted independence, this undertaking was not honoured.

Incensed by the betrayal - particularly because White Rhodesians had been so loyal to Britain in the past, the majority party in the Southern Rhodesian Parliament led by Ian Smith then issued the famous “Declaration of Independence” in 1965. We were in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Session in London when we heard of this.

We had just concluded one of the sessions and went outside to read newspapers. To our shock and total disappointment, we read the details of Ian Smith’s unilateral declaration of independence for Southern Rhodesia. We thought this was incredible! It made us shameful and sad. What sort of independence was this? What happened to the Black natives

of Southern Rhodesia? Would they remain in perpetual serfdom? The Whites seizing the land that belongs to the Blacks and declaring independence for itself; yet Britain could not stop Ian Smith! This made nonsense of the declaration of human rights and the doctrine of equality before the law. It was Chief Samuel Lana, who first raised the issue in the British Parliament as a matter of urgent public importance; if Britain could not see it as such.

When we came back from recess, this matter generated some heat on the floor of the Commonwealth Parliament that memorable day.

Lana’s argument was that, as a subject of the Queen of England, Ian Smith needed to be sanctioned. He had caused a problem for the Queen; a big one for that matter. Speaking in line with Lana, but in a roaring voice, I condemned Ian Smith adding that it was not really his fault. It was because he thought his people in the United Kingdom would support him to trample on the Blacks majority in what is today known as South Africa. But they should realise that in due course, the Blacks would secure might to be able to face the cannon of Ian Smith and remove his yoke off their heads.

Our contribution sounded too harsh, to them. To the Parliamentarians, mine was suggesting insurrection against the Queen. The honourable members of the House of Commons present looked at us with disdain.

Anyway, I had made my point known and I was not apologetic. Some of the members of the House of Commons responded and said there was nothing the House of Commons could do. That was not true; as they could remove Ian Smith from Southern Rhodesia and ensure that freedom was secured. I was not saying the British Parliament sent him there, but maintained that what Ian Smith did was an insurrection.

I pointed out that the British government should do something urgently. True to my

warning, Robert Mugabe, before long, rose up to that challenge and with the help of Nigeria and other prominent African leaders and the natives won the struggle. Throughout the sessions of the 1964 Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Chief Lana would have something to say, about the unilateral declaration of independence by Ian Smith, as a matter of urgent importance, in addition to whatever subject was being debated.

At the close of the meeting, Lana was called upon to give the vote of thanks to the Queen. In his short speech, he still had something to say about the declaration of independence by the apartheid regime by Ian Smith in South Rhodesia. Thank God for all the voices and forces that gathered together later to help the Black natives of Rhodesia who initially owned their land before Cecil Rhodes possessed the lands for British farmers, forcefully. We were in Britain for one month. Apart from meetings, we visited different places.

I always felt sorry whenever I read about the feud in Northern Ireland and about what the politics of religion had done to Northern Ireland. From there, we went to Douglas, a small island near England. We met with the governor and his wife. I spoke to the wife, who showed surprise about the way I spoke. She asked: “How did you learn English”? She faced her husband and said: “he speaks perfect Queen’s English”.

I wondered in my heart, if these Whites still thought we were monkeys. That immediately reminded me of the time I missed my way while we were in Northern Ireland. I was in my complete Agbada dress with damask cap, holding my bag. I was finding my way through a bye-pass to link to the major street. Then I saw some children who trooped after me calling attention of other White people to me, saying: “Look at this man, he is wearing rags”.

I had the opportunity of being taken round

schools in London and I was classified as an educationist. The British Education Minister took me round some institutions. In one of the secondary schools, I taught Geography. I drew the map of Africa and indicated Nigeria. They seemed not to know anything about Nigeria as some of them asked – “Is Nigeria in East Africa”? They seemed to be interested in East Africa. They knew Kenya, Mozambique and others. I drew the map of West Africa and showed them Ghana. They knew Ghana; I could see the glory Kwame Nkrumah brought to Ghana. The people knew Nkrumah quite well. They might not know him as a person but they have heard a lot about him; no wonder, they were expecting him at the CPA Meeting.

At the Middle Schools there, the students knew about Nigeria. I remember the first time the Minister for Education came to pick me for our outing, I was expecting to see his driver come to my room and inform me that ‘Oga’ was waiting for me. The Minister came to me himself and we went inside the car. I was expecting we sat at the back, so that the driver would drive us. To my surprise, he entered by the driver’s side and I sat beside him. The car was very small. It was a Morris Minor. I asked him what happened to his driver.

The British Minister of Education told me that he could not afford hiring a driver, adding that drivers, in some cases earned more than he did. I looked back to Nigeria; where I had a Pontiac car, plus other vehicles like Volvo, Zephyr Six, Simca and an official Mercedez Benz car allocated to the Office of the Hon. Speaker of the Western Regional House of Assembly. I had a personal driver, whom I paid. I could not explain. That was the second time I looked at myself as being unwise. Anyway, I was a school principal and Deputy Speaker; so I rested my mind and consoled myself. But then, I felt Nigeria should emulate some virtues in this and we should learn to be moderate.

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Monday, December 16, 2013 11

PHOTONEWS

Ojora of Ijora land, Oba Fatai Aremu Aromire (left); Her Excellency, Dame Abimbola Fashola; Chairman, Apapa Local Council, Ayodeji Joseph; and Vice Chairman, Bolaji Dada, at the commissioning of a multimillion naira school building built by council.

Executive Secretary of Lagos State Security Trust Fund/Chairman of the Occasion, Fola Arthur-Worrey; President of the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), Nigeria Chapter, Iyabo Aboaba; IFMA Fellow and Facilitator, Jon E. Martens and immediate past President of IFMA Tony Ezeaku, during the IFMA Nigeria 2013 Facility Management Award (FMA) held at The Grandeur Events Centre, Oregun, Lagos.

Chief Host, Chairman-in-Council Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology Dr. Priscilla Kuye (left); Representative of the Guest Speaker, Gabriel Idahosa; Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins and Chief Imam, Lagos Central Mosque, Alhaji Sheikh Seifudeen Ibrahim, during the African Product Forum Lagos 2013 held in Lagos…at the weekend.

Pupils of Vivian Fowler Memorial College at the Christmas Carol and Nine Lessons at the school campus in Lagos.

PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (left); Chairman, Lead City University Board of Trustees, Chief (Mrs.) Remi Oyewole-Makele and Leader, Yoruba Obas Conflicts Resolution Committee, Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, at the conferment of doctors of public administration and doctor of Business Administration to Olugbo of Ugboland and Oyo State Governor at the 5th and 6th Convocation of the university in Ibadan...on Thursday.

PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Group Human Resources Director, Lexcel, Wale Dosunmu (left); Managing Director, Nigeria Distilleries Limited, Dayo Adebayo; Director and Head, Admin and Human Capital, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Adebayo Adegun; Group Managing Director Lexcel, Anil Ahuluwalia, and Managing Director, Supreme Distilleries Limited, Bola Soyinka, at the official presentation of NIS ISO 9001, 2008 Certificate to Supreme Distilleries Ltd by SON in Ota, Ogun State.

Manager, VAS, Data and Content Development, Omotayo George (left); CEO, CCHub, Lagos, Bosun Tijani; representing Chuka Ofili of Okada Books and grand prize winner, Azuka Ofili, and Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Larry Annetts at the presentation of Hyundai IX 35 to the grand prize winner at the closing ceremony of the MTN App Developer Challenge in Lagos…at the weekend.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

General Manager, Admin and Corporate Affairs, Chellarams, Yomi Ogunsowo (left); Chief Executive Officer, Chellarams Plc, Aditya Chellaram; and Group Chief Information Officer, Chellarams, Harbhajan Batth, during the press briefing to unveil Chellarams 90 years anniversary logo in Lagos.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

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WorldReport Ukrainians hold new anti-government rally, EU suspends trade talk HOUSANDS massed yesT terday for a rally against Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovich, just days before he heads for a meeting in the Kremlin, which the opposition fears will slam the door on integration with the European mainstream.

Minutes before the rally, European Union (EU) enlargement chief, Stefan Fuele said on Twitter he had told Ukraine he was suspending work on a trade and political deal, saying Kiev’s arguments to improve terms had “no grounds in reality”.

Fuele’s words suggested the European Union has lost patience with demands for financial aid from Kiev and with the part the bloc was being forced to play in a ‘bidding war’ with Russia over Ukraine.

But United States Senator, John McCain galvanized the 200,000 or so people on Kiev’s Independence Square, telling them their destiny lay in Europe.

“We are here to support your just cause, the sovereign right of Ukraine to determine its own destiny freely and independently.

And the destiny you seek lies in Europe,” said McCain, a leading Republican voice on U.S. foreign policy.

Street protests erupted after Yanukovich’s decision on November 21 to walk away from the agreement with the EU, after years of careful preparation, and

turn to Moscow, Kiev’s Soviet-era overlord, for aid to save Ukraine’s distressed economy.

Yanukovich’s policy swerve, while backed by many in Russian-speaking east Ukraine which is his powerbase, sparked huge disappointment and anger in western and central areas where people see Europe as their proper place.

The presence of McCain at the anti-government rally after a weeks-long standoff between demonstrators and the authorities further highlighted the geo-political East-West tug-of-war, which Ukraine is once again at the center of.

Western politicians, from Berlin and Brussels, have paid morale-boosting trips to the square drawing denunciation from Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev for “crude” meddling in Ukraine’s affairs.

Ukrainian opposition supporters gather at a mass rally on Independence Square in Kiev, at the weekend. At least 200,000 pro-European demonstrators began a mass rally in the Ukrainian capital yesterday in a fresh show of force against President Viktor Yanukovych after his failure to sign a key EU agreement.

PHOTO: AFP

North Korea’s leader reckless, ruthless, says Kerry NITED States Secretary of U State, John Kerry described North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un as reckless and insecure after the execution of his powerful uncle, according to an ABC News interview.

The execution of Jan Song Thaek, who was considered the second most powerful man in the secretive country, showed why the world must make a united stand against North Korea’s nuclear weapons program,

France seeks European help in CAR will ask for more FnersRANCE help from European partto bolster its peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.

France has deployed 1,600 troops to the African country to prevent escalating bloodshed between largely Muslim Seleka rebels who ousted exPresident Francois Bozize and Christian militias fighting against them.

The United Nations-authorized mission has helped restore some calm to the capital Bangui, but Fabius said violence could resume in a worsening humanitarian situation for tens of thousands of refugees.

While European nations including Poland, Britain, Germany, Spain and Belgium have provided various forms of assistance, French troops are intervening alone.

“That is a real, big problem,” Fabius told Europe 1 radio.

“Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Council of Foreign Ministers and I will ask (European partners) for stepped-up, more robust aid, including on the ground.”

Support at home for the French intervention has fallen, a poll showed on Saturday, days after two French soldiers were killed in a firefight during a patrol in Bangui.

Kerry said in the interview taped for Sunday broadcast on ABC’s “This Week” program.

North Korean state media on Friday reported the execution of Jang. North Korea said earlier it had stripped Jang of his power and positions and accused him of criminal acts including mismanagement of the state financial system, womanizing and alcohol abuse.

North Korean politics are virtually impenetrable from outside and Jang also could easily have been purged over a falling out with Kim, or other personal reasons.

“It tells us a lot about, first of all, how ruthless and reckless he is,” Kerry said of Kim in the ABC interview. “And it also tells us a lot about how insecure he is, to a certain

degree.

“The insights that we have tell us that he is spontaneous, erratic, still worried about his place in the power structure, and maneuvering to eliminate any potential kind of adversary or competitor and does so obviously ruthlessly.”

The top U.S. diplomat, in some of the most detailed remarks of a U.S. official since the news on Friday, said the execution was not the first under Kim’s rule and pointed to the urgency of addressing the North Korean nuclear state.

“It tells us a significant amount about the instability internally of the regime, with the numbers of executions,” Kerry said. “It’s an ominous sign of the instability and of the danger that does exist.”

Kenya’s bus attack death toll hits six HE death toll in a grenade the withdrawal of Kenyan attack on a minibus near a troops who have joined T Somali-dominated area in African peacekeepers fighting Kenya’s capital at the weekend has risen to six after two more of the wounded died, police said yesterday.

According to Reuters, Saturday’s assault was the first such incident since gunmen linked to the Somali Islamist group al Shabaab stormed an upscale shopping mall in September, killing 67 people.

The attack on the minibus mirrored a series of similar assaults last year that were also blamed on the Somali group, which has demanded

al Shabaab in Somalia.

“The death toll has risen to six after two more people died last night,” Benson Kibui, Nairobi county police commander, told Reuters. “We have also arrested a foreigner in connection with the blast.”

He did not give the nationality of the person detained, but said the arrest was made near the scene of the blast, close to the Somali-dominated Eastleigh district of Nairobi.

The police commander said the suspect was being questioned.

Monday, December 16, 2013 13

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Focus Fresh silver lining in aviation sector

By Dele Fanimo T appears that this is a period of celebration beyond IAfrican, Christmas that is fast approaching. Even in death, South and indeed, the entire world are celebrating the icon of true freedom – Dr. Nelson Mandela, as his bones are interred.

In the spirit of the season, even the troubled aviation sector in Nigeria had cause to celebrate last week in Abuja.

It was, indeed, a great day for the country and Africa at large, as a silver linen appeared on the horizon with the elevation of a Nigerian, Dr. Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, as the new President of the world’s apex aviation regulatory body – International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

This deserved elevation proves to be an icing on the cake, because this is the first time an African will be presiding over the global body.

The mood at the congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on December 6, 2013, can better be captured when viewed from the prism of a Nigerian being the first African to take the position in the 70 years of the organisation’s existence.

It was really not out of place for government and stakeholders in the aviation industry to lap on the joyous moment, if only to drown the myriad of criticisms that trailed the sector in the last couple of months.

Specifically, drums were rolled out at the ballroom and government officials did their best in delivering flowering speeches to celebrated Aliu for the feat.

As Aliu prepares to take charge of the international aviation body next month, expectations are high on the road map for the sector.

He is expected to provide the right leadership for ICAO in its quest towards upping the ante in the safe and orderly development of the global civil aviation and help set standards and regulations backed with corporate governance for the safety, security, efficiency and consistency, required to make aviation the preferred sector.

The uncoming president also has the onerous responsibility of ensuring quality assurance in environmental protection in the aviation industry which is the core value of ICAO as supported by 191 member states savouring the taste of the pudding, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, attested to the fact that Aliu’s election was historic, and assure the President-elect of the unflinching support of the government and good people of Nigeria.

President Jonathan said “the election of Dr. Bernard O. Aliu is especially historic, given the fact that he is the First African and Nigeria to be so elected to this position. Indeed, the election endorses the aviation sector growth in Africa.”

While lauding the feat, the President also thanked the African Union, all member states of ICAO, AFCAC, and United Nations members, noting that Aliu could not have achieved the victory without the tremendous support and goodwill of Mr. Roberto Gonzalez, who is the out-going president.

“It is worthy to mention that the election of Dr. Bernard Olumuyiwa Aliu as ICAO Council President was also made possible by his excellent technical experience and knowledge of the global aviation industry. His work at ICAO over the period has been exemplary and will no doubt become an asset to the organisation,” President Jonathan note.

Also, Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Aviation, Nkeriuka Onyejeochi said “Things are turning around for good for our country and also in the aviation sector.”

The Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah took the opportunity the night provided to regale the public with the progress the ministry has made that equally crystalised in the emergence of Aliu as President of ICAO. She extolled the virtues of Aliu saying: “Dr. Bernard Olumuyiwa Aliu, while serving as Nigerian Representative on ICAO Council, distinguished himself with exemplary performance, contributing to sustainable development of civil aviation globally. It is therefore no surprise that he won the confidence of his peers, and therefore emerged as the Presidentelect.”

She thanked President Jonathan for making it possible saying “I want to give credit and gratitude to Mr. President who provided tremendous support, leadership and guidance that made it possible for our own Dr. Bernard Olumuyiwa Aliu to emerge.”

She noted that Nigeria shares ICAO’s vision of promoting safety, security environmental protection, comfort and sustainability of civil aviation globally. Nigeria also recognises that the aviation sector plays a pivotal role in the economic development of a nation. It is on this basis that Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, through his Transformation Agenda, directed that the Aviation sector be repositioned to play an enabling and pivotal role for socio-economic development of the nation.”

Oduah explained that all efforts in her ministry were geared

Aliu towards making Nigeria a continental hub, taking advantage of the country’s unique geographical location in West Africa and its vast human resources.

“In addition to infrastructural development at our airports, we have also put in place air navigation and meteorological infrastructure that has enhanced safety significantly in the Nigerian airspace, while maintaining our Category 1 Status with the FAA, USA. Our combined efforts at Communication, Navigation and Surveillance strategy have seen the improvements and installations of various modern equipment across the nation’s airports.

The minister also disclosed that the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria is now a centre of excellence for Human capacity development and technical skills training.

“Furthermore, our regulatory and policy framework has been strengthen to ensure that our aviation sector has attained a high level of efficiency and effectiveness.

“The expected outcome of these initiatives is to position Nigeria as a continental hub, taking advantage of her unique geographical location and vast human resources. With support, Nigeria should become a Hub for African air transportation in the near future.

“Also, our aerotropolis and perishable cargo initiatives are on course. These will unlock huge economic potentials through the creation a value-chain and massive employment opportunities. The government of Nigeria remains committed to serve Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world,” she said.

Responding to the accolades, Aliu said “It is really a great day for Nigeria and Africa at large. Since the inception of ICAO about 70 years ago, we have never had an African president.

Therefore, it is a big day for us (Nigerians) to celebrate and Africans as well. The glory goes to God, the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah and all the officials of the Ministry of Aviation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs that have been involved in the process.

“The government has given me unprecedented support, which resulted in the success of the election. Likewise, all African states deserve to be commended because the African Civil Aviation Commission endorsed it. You can understand that this is an African glory. The Nigerian government and I have been involved in all the processes that led to the success as well as the development of the aviation sector.”

He concluded by affirming that “I will do my best to make the country proud and to improve the level of work at ICAO. Aliu’s election by acclamation was confirmed on Monday, November 18 when the 36 States which comprise ICAO’s Governing Council registered their unanimous agreement during the body’s 200th Session. He will officially take over the

Gonzalez reins as ICAO Council President beginning 1 January 2014, for a three-year term.

At the venue Aliu had noted that” “Aviation today faces many challenges but its role in expanding tourism and market access has never been more important to modern society and to the local, regional and global economic players who rely so significantly today on safe and dependable air transport connectivity. I will look forward to working with my Council colleagues over the next triennium, with the support of the ICAO Air Navigation Commission and Secretariat, as we seek to address aviation’s key areas of priority.”

Prior to his election as its President, Dr. Aliu served for eight years as the ICAO Council’s Nigerian Representative (20052013). He was also Director of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s Air Transport Regulation Directorate (2000-2004), Chairman for the formulation of African Civil Aviation Policy under the African Union (2009-2011) and performed many other professional and technical roles in the service of his State’s civil aviation sector over the past three decades.

Aliu follows the departing Council President, Roberto Kobeh González of Mexico, who was elected in March 2006 after Dr. Assad Kotaite retired prematurely before the end of his term.

Gonzalez took up his functions in August 2006 and was reelected for consecutive full terms of Office in 2007 and 2010.

Gonzalez had said after the election that”It has been my great pleasure to help lead ICAO and support international aviation during the last seven years,” adding that “Having known and worked beside Dr. Aliu for much of this period, I am very pleased that the leadership of the Council will now be in such capable hands. Aliu’s broad diplomatic perspective and demonstrated skills at consensus-building will be essential to the success of ICAO’s continuing mission.”

Aliu becomes only the fifth President of the ICAO Council in the almost 70-year history of the specialized United Nations aviation agency, which is responsible for the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) and the over 10,000 international civil aviation standards contained in the Convention’s Annexes.

The ICAO Council is a permanent body responsible to the 191 Member States which comprise the governing ICAO Assembly.

It is composed of 36 Member States elected by the Assembly for a three-year term. Council States are elected on the basis of three categories of consideration, namely: States of chief importance to air transport; States not otherwise included but which make the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for international civil air navigation services; and States not otherwise included whose designation will ensure that all major geographic areas of the world are represented on the Council.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

Politics ‘Expect chain of events in few months’ Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswam of Benue State spoke to journalists, including Terhemba Daka, on the intractable crises in the PDP, the enduring strike by the state primary school teachers and some much talked-about aspects of his government.

HOW would you assess the lingering crises in the PDP? S a politician, you expect a lot of things to happen within the party and the system. I started politics at the highest level since 1999. So, there is nothing that surprises me.

I’m not worried because things had happened in the past that appeared as if the country was coming to an end. But at the end of the day, we were able to come together to consider and refocus the party or the country.

The dimension of what is happening within the PDP is different from what had happened in the past. But that is not to say that the party will explode. What I want to say is that nothing will happen, but it will rather strengthen the party.

May be we were so large that we were taking things for granted and so now the party will be more strategic in approaching issues than it had been before. And this is a lesson that, at any time, we shouldn’t take things for granted. May be as a party, we had taken a lot of things for granted.

What has happened — the five governors defecting to an opposition party — is something that is very unfortunate. It’s something that shouldn’t have happened if we were strategic enough.

But it has happened; you can’t cry over spilt milk. What we need to do now is to strategise; that is my approach to politics. When you have a situation like this, you strategise by going back to the drawing table, and you will be surprised at what will happen.

I don’t believe in noise; there is a lot of noise totally different from noisemaking. I don’t make noise; I’m strategic in whatever I want to do politically. I believe this has helped us, and we are going back to the drawing board.

There is going to be chain of events in a few months that will clearly indicate that Nigerians will vote PDP come 2015. I have no fears at all.

What is your administration doing to tackle the strike by primary school teachers in Benue over unpaid salaries and arrears?

The issue of primary school teachers’ salary arrears of four months is not true. It’s absolutely not true. We have not paid teachers for the months of November and December only, and I told them that I wasn’t going to pay them because we are enforcing, “No work, no pay” rule. And I will tell you the story behind it.

When I resumed office as governor, I increased the salaries of all workers across board to 27 and half per cent. Teachers had double increment in salary; and the Benue State income could not take of all the teachers’ demands.

Then they went on strike. I didn’t draft the labour laws. And that is what the federal government is saying to ASUU in the ongoing strike action by the union. So, it’s not four months but two months.

But I cannot be paying people who are relaxing at home while we had done the salary increase they wanted. The bone of contention here is that they are not satisfied with the increment that we had done.

Within the North Central, Benue State pays teachers the highest salary. What the civil servants receive in Benue State is higher than what federal civil servants take home.

How much do we take in a month? N2.2 bil-

A

Suswam lion. The salary wage is N2.9 billion every month. It is unacceptable when you have recurrent expenditure on N2.9 billion. So, we can’t take money of the whole local governments and pay teachers.

I told them that our resources couldn’t support what they were asking for but they are still on strike. As long as they remain on strike, I will not pay.

Would you clarify the speculations/reports surrounding the Swine Project?

Well, on the swine project, there was a lot of mischief by people without actually trying to know from me. They went to town; some papers carried what they were told. And more so that it was during election time; anything that was said, certain group of people tended to believe it in order to demean you and have leverage over you.

I visited the State of Iowa in the United States of America. The State of Iowa is the second largest producer of pork in the world, and we were trying to partner with them. Actually, what took me there was to partner in crop production.

Iowa is a 100 per cent agricultural state. If you see any land where there is no structure, it is cultivated. There is no land that is not cultivated in Iowa. I was visiting there for me to get to partner with them, for us to share technology as to how we can also cultivate our land here.

So, when I went, the governor then of Iowa received me very well. We had extensive discussion and he introduced me to this pork business. I went through their farms; I went to some of the pens housing the swine.

You know, Benue people — except I don’t know of the Idomas — them Tiv people like pork a lot. Then, we signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the then governor of Iowa, through the State University of Agriculture.

And we paid money; the entire money that I

paid for those pigs was $150,000. But the former governor (of Benue State, Senate George Akume) told people that they (security operatives) had arrested me with $3 billion at the airport, and that I said I was going to buy swine; so they even started calling me the ‘Governor of Pigs’.

There was a lot of misinformation but I knew what I was doing. By the grace of God, the technical partners, who are people from the Federal University of Agriculture in Iowa, arrived with the swine here.

When I went there, I was taken aback because I didn’t expect that was what we were going to have. But then, they have introduced the technology. You know, the male pigs don’t meet the female ones; it is artificial insemination.

Thus, if you are looking for pigs’ sperm, you come to Benue. You just buy the sperm and inseminate in the other pigs and they produce the same species as we have.

People have inundated us with request to open farms and have those pigs. And I have sent a lot of Benue indigenes to America to acquire skills in this area, so they are well trained to do the artificial insemination, as well as look after the pigs and expand the farms.

They next stage is that we are partnering with them to build a meat plant. We have gone very far with that already. And so, it’s not just the production of the pigs, but it’s a value chain possible where we will also begin to provide it for subsidies in terms of the other by-products that come from pork meat.

I believe that Benue State people stand to benefit from that farm. I have said this time and over that, if you are afraid of reactions, you won’t do anything. I’m not somebody who is afraid of the way people react to things provided I know what I’m doing is in the interest of the people.

If I became scared of the misinformation and

the way some people reacted to it, that thing (swine project) wouldn’t have been a reality.

But most people, who go there now, can’t even talk. They are completely taken aback at the huge success of that project.

Also, we have awarded contracts for the expansion of the project to the three senatorial districts. I will move one to Zone A and Zone C so that those who want to go into swine farming can have access to the improved breed.

We are fully prepared and I want the project to outlive me, which is why I want to build the meat processing plant before I leave office.

Hostel accommodation is causing a lot of problems at the Benue State University (BSU); how are you tackling the matter?

I had a very funny (sad) experience. There was a young lady who was admitted to BSU. She came and was just resuming into school. She squatted with a friend and she was raped that night. That her friend incidentally didn’t stay in the house that day, and some guys came and raped her.

Then we set out how we could get these boys.

Luckily, they left with her phone and kept calling her friend. I set up some of my boys, who were able to arrest these criminals. Then I brought the two of them to my office in the Government House, to get the details of the matter.

After this ugly incident, I decided that girls were more vulnerable than the boys, and if I would contribute anything to the university, then let me, out of my own income, build a hostel for the girls. And I built a standard hostel.

You know, we hardly have a standard hostel here in Nigeria.

I decided that I was going to build a hostel for over a period of close to one year. Every month when I had my income, I took from it and gave to the contractor. We have finished and furnished it (hospital). I have done everything, and it’s waiting to be commissioned. That is my own personal contribution.

What informed me was the vulnerability of the girls, who are susceptible to all these problems. There are a lot of them who have suffered this, who might not have the opportunity to meet with me, or who are even scared because of the stigma that it brings.

In fact, I intend to build another hostel at the College of Education, Katsina-Ala. But for the university here, I intend to build another one before I leave so that at least, about 80 per cent of the girls should be accommodated on campus.

What efforts are being made to improve power supply to Benue State?

Let me start with the national grid. If you are going to Makurdi from Abuja or you are going out, there are poles (erected). In fact, they have started stringing the electricity poles and almost completed now to distribute power to Benue State. The 330KV has been completed at Apir.

So, the national grid is almost completed and the substation is completed. Once the stringing is finished, they will connect it to the substation.

And for the first time since this country was amalgamated, Benue will be on the national grid. We started with 330KV, and they upgraded us to 332KV. By the grace of God, we are being upgraded to the highest level. I believe that hopefully, by the end of first the quarter of next year, Benue State will be on the national grid. That will also reduce drastically the power issues here.

How will you ensure that the big people in the society do not appropriate the Makurdi International Market?

I share in your fears that if not properly managed, the market could be hijacked by the privileged. We would consider that in the Executive Council meeting, and I have set up a committee, which will be submitting its report this week.

This is to help us in determining the appropriate pricing for the shops in the market so that the average person will be able to afford it. I also don’t want a few individuals to highjack it.

Monday, December 16, 2013

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17

Opinion When the world is widowed

By Chris Okotie “During my life time, I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society. It is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”– Nelson Madiba Mandela.

EMARKABLE words on marble from a true legR end. What a great privilege to live in the days that Nelson Mandela lived and died, such that the landmarks of his epochal contributions to humanity unfolded under our eyes as live witnesses!

His glorious exit at the age of 95 is the climax of a long life of struggle, which history must record in glowing terms for future generations to read with admiration and astonishment, that a member of the Black race, the world’s failed race, could be so ennobled.

Even before the setting of the sun on this great pearl of Africa, his exemplary qualities had already become the standard by which world leaders are judged. Mandela, more than even Barak Obama, the first African-American president of the world’s most powerful country, atoned for the infamy associated with failed leaders of black countries. He redeemed us from the shame of Idi Amin (Uganda), Jean Bedel-Bokassa (Central African Republic) , Sani Abacha (Nigeria), Francisco Marcias Nguema (Equatorial Guinea), Mobutu Sese Seko (Zaire), Jean-Claude Duvalier (Haiti), Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe), Charles Taylor, Samuel Doe (Liberia) and other inglorious Black leaders who gave the wrong impression that leaders of Black countries have corruption in their genes, and are therefore incapable of transparent management of resources or the ability to govern their own people.

Let us pray that President Goodluck Jonathan does not join this group of ugly ambassadors of the Black race by the time he leaves Aso Rock.

Unfortunately, the way he is going, the President is following the opposite route that Mandela took to greatness. While Madiba struggled all his life to get to the pinnacle of power in his country, enduring a traumatic 27-year jail term in the process,

Mr. Jonathan came to power on a platter of gold, apart from the little stress he went through during the 2011 presidential election. Obama’s ascension to power in the United States did not generate as much effusive emotions as Madiba’s death because, the U.S. leader only won an election in a race prepared for him by the epic tracks already beaten by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other key figures in the great civil rights movement of the 60s. Mandela ran a parallel movement in South Africa during the same period, under more imperious circumstances. Fortunately, he reaped the fruit of his labour by becoming the first black president of the Rainbow nation. Only few revolutionary fighters enjoyed such good fortune. And it is to his credit that he acquitted himself creditably.

Chief M.K.O Abiola fought for our current democracy without living to see it happen. Some of those who are running the democracy that was earned on Abiola’s sweat and blood are, in fact, the conspirators who contributed to his premature death. Like Mugabe, who enjoyed the fruit of the liberation struggle he spearheaded, the taciturn freedom fighter squandered such rare opportunity on the altar of greed and lust for power. After struggling with Joshua Nkomo to liberate the then Rhodesia from Apartheid Prime Minister Ian Smith, Mr. Mugabe has ruled the country he re-christened Zimbabwe with an iron fist. He has destroyed all opposition to his cruel, inept government, including the good legacies of white minority rule. That country, even under Apartheid, used to be known as the Pearl of Africa, because of its sterling infrastructure. Today, it is impoverished, and so badly run down that whoever succeeds the aging Mugabe has a helluva task on his hands in rebuilding that nation. And while Mandela forgave his tormentors, Mugabe visited his with vengeance. That is one of the things that separate the legend from the illtempered Zimbabwean sit-tight dictator.

Mugabe, like so many African leaders, presents such a great contrast in image and legacy from Mandela’s, who grew up in the stronghold of official racial segregation, liberated his country, governed it for

just five years and left office for a younger successor when the ovation was loudest. He gave us a template of responsible leadership which other leaders of the continent have refused to use; even if we all know that Madiba is a hard act to follow; his contemporaries just couldn’t rise above their predatory instinct, to reach out to the noble ideals of selfless service, humility, patriotism, forgiveness and love, that the late icon epitomized. These qualities made him a dominant political figure of his generation; the ultimate man of the last millennium who continued to inspire millions across the world, even in death.

As a citizen of a country like Nigeria with a history of bad leadership, I watched in awe, as world leaders salute Mandela in a flood of tributes that is without precedent. No leader in the last 100 years impacted the world as this great son of Africa, and that for me is a thing of pride. Many nations have had the fortune of having great leaders like French President Charles De Gaulle whom, upon his death in 1970, the leading daily, Le Monde, reported that France was widowed by his exit. In our case, Nigeria is widowed by the absence of good leaders.

Just last month, Americans celebrated the 150th anniversary of the legendary President Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg address; a brief speech by the great leader who freed the slaves in the New world. Lincoln redefined democracy and gave strong leadership at a crucial period in American history. The 50th year anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy was also widely celebrated recently. Kennedy was the man who initiated the process that put the first man on the moon, and shattered all myths about space travel which before then was the subject of science fiction. Although he did not live to see Neil Armstrong step out of the Apollo Eleven to take those famous first steps on the moon in 1969, the world could not but celebrate the culmination of a process he initiated after the Soviet Union sent Yuri Gagarin into orbit.

Kennedy’s achievement beat the Soviet record and opened a floodgate of space exploration that has opened up new scientific possibilities.

While these great men impacted their genera-

The need for true federalism

By Raph Uwechue

ENERAL Yakubu Gowon, then Head of State, struck a pragG matic and now prophetic note on September 12, 1966 in his address to the Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference: “You are re-

quired to find what form of political association this great country should adopt. You will find to analyse, in the light of Nigerian circumstances, all the arguments for and against all types of various political arrangements. There are however, two things for the present exercise I feel should be ruled out, viz: (A). Complete break-up.

(B). A unitary form of government.

I therefore put before you the following forms of government for consideration: Federal system with a strong central government, Federal system with a weak central government, Confederation or an entirely new arrangement which will be peculiar to Nigeria and which has not yet found its way into any political dictionary.”

The above says it all. General Gowon could have been addressing the current National Assembly Constitution Review Committee. Today, after nearly half a century, we are back to square one, still in search of a sustainable constitutional solution to a clearly fundamental political problem still threatening our corporate existence as a nation.

Nigeria, with its over three hundred ethnic and sub-ethnic units, brought together by the force of British Imperialism to forge a modern nation, is still in the process of nation building, struggling to blend together and harmonize the various very rich but differing traditions, customs and cultures of its peoples.

The recognition of the reality and socio-political significance of ethnicity was clear at the birth of an independent Nigeria in 1960.

The larger ethnic units of Hausa/Fulani-Igbo-Yoruba formed the basis of the three Regions North-East-West. Ethno-based agitations aimed at asserting the separate identity of the smaller groups, promptly sprouted in the three Regions. These include the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) Movement in the North, the Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers (COR) State Movement in the East and the Midwest State Movement in the West.

The current concept of six geo-political zones is also ethnically based, with three zones accorded to the larger ethnic groups and, to balance them out, three also to a conglomerate of the smaller ethnic units.

The simple lesson from this political structural arrangement is that the ethnic units are recognized and accepted as the veritable building blocks in the on-going construction work and nation building process in Nigeria.

In our socio-political and economic intercourse, all groups (big or small) must be allowed free-play and equitable access to our country’s resources and strategic political command posts, in-

cluding particularly, the presidency. Sustained imbalance in sharing responsibilities and the ‘national cake’ could conceivably induce in those units aggrieved a rethink of the value to them of our much vaunted national unity. The break-up of ethnically composite countries, some very powerful and prosperous, like the former Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, took place along ethnic lines. Nearer home, the Republic of Sudan has just split up after decades of murderous ethno-religious conflict. These are unsavory examples that we must strenuously strive to limit in Africa, already politically over-fragmented.

The long prescribed national unity tenet – unity in diversity – aptly coined in 1957 by Prime Minister Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, of blessed memory, a leader nationally acclaimed for his rare gentility and wisdom, and the political stability of our nation are best guaranteed via an equity oriented constitutional structure and political practice that create and sustain a secure sense of belonging for all Nigerians irrespective of creed or culture. Until we become a truly integrated nation – only time, tolerance and patience will make this possible – it is unrealistic to adopt a constitution which presupposes the existence of an already integrated society.

At Independence in 1960, what our founding fathers settled for was a full-blown Federal Structure, with three Regions, East-NorthWest as the federating units of our nation. All three regions were constitutionally equal in status. A fourth Region – the Midwest – was created by regular constitutional amendment in 1963. Alongside the subsequent creation of states by abrupt military fiat in 1967 and thereafter, the democratically conceived regional option remained very much alive and soon metamorphosed into the current six geo-political zonal arrangement. This equilibrated political zonal structural adjustment, now serving as the basis for the distribution and rotation of key national political offices, was informed by the glaring need to better accommodate the interests of our nation’s numerous ethnic groups, large or small.

The primacy of regional control over the federal in our country’s power equation was dramatically demonstrated by the choice of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the charismatic and powerful leader of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) to head the government in Kaduna as the regional premier and send his deputy Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to head the Federal Government as Prime Minister in Lagos. Thus, the national master plan adopted by our founding fathers at Independence was true federalism. There was an agreed specific power sharing formula between the Federal and Regional Governments. For our recently recovered democratic dispensation to stabilize and endure, we should not perpetuate the autocratic military deviation from the unambiguous terms and intentions of this zonally based socio-political contract, which brought us together as a modern nation.

tions, and the world to a very large extent, Mandela’s glory eclipsed those of the leaders in this generation because of the global dimensions of his influence on the world, through a combination of simplicity, commitment to noble ideals of universal brotherhood of man and genuine love for his people. These infected a world full of hate, war, racism, unforgiveness, and unprecedented human suffering from injustice and oppression.

Literally, he exported these ideals to the world in a way that were easily embraced in all climes and cultures, except a few countries like Nigeria, where politics is seen as the easiest route to wealth. Our leaders are not even ashamed that South Africa which we helped liberate, is now in the group of emerging markets aptly called BRICS; the only black nation in that exclusive club comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China.

But each time some of the global measurements of development are published, we are often ranked alongside some of the world’s acknowledged failed states – Somalia, Afghanistan, and North Korea etc. What these nations have in common with Nigeria is bad leadership. One begins to wonder whether politicians in these countries were in another planet while Mandela was here inspiring millions across the world. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his tribute, said Mandela’s life is what we should all aspire for, because he raised the beacon of leadership to lofty heights of nobility by his exemplary conduct.

As we celebrate Mandela here in Nigeria, we must begin to see the need for a game changer in our polity. We have seen that only one man can make the difference. One man’s dream and great resolve changed the paradigm in America, France, China, Singapore, Japan, and, in our day, South Africa.

For the ordinary Nigerian, I’d like to say that 2015 is another opportunity to look at our leaders; not just politicians or parties, who can bring the desired change we still dream about. We need a leader like Nelson Mandela.

• Rev. Chris Okotie, a Pastor-Politician, wrote from Lagos. Okotie@revchrisokotie.com, follow on twitter@Revchrisokotie

For true federalism to be restored in Nigeria, there should be six regions corresponding with the present six geo-political zones as the federating units. Each region should enjoy the same powers and autonomy as was the case at Independence in 1960. Indeed, the extent of the developmental autonomy enjoyed by the regions at the inception of our union was expressed in the establishment of Agent General’s Offices – a kind of liaison offices strictly commercial in their activities – in London by the three federating regions in order to pursue at their own paces their drive for the economic growth of their various regions.

There can be no doubt that Nigeria was making more progress in national development in the early years of Independence when it practised true federalism of four semi-autonomous regions, with more extensive powers and responsibilities vested in the regions. There was free and healthy competition among the regions vying for primacy in socio-economic development of their respective domains. Those were the days of significant export of groundnuts, hides and skins, and tin ore from the North; of cocoa from the West; of rubber from the Mid-West; and of palm produce and coal from the East of Nigeria.

They were also the days of such achievements as Free Universal Education in Chief Awolowo’s Western Region, of the burgeoning industrialization of Dr. Okpara’s Eastern Region and a booming cotton industry in Sir Ahmadu Bello’s Northern Nigeria. For effective and rapid economic development, capable of providing vast employment opportunities for our youths, the current 36 states are, on the whole, individually ill-equipped to handle certain developmental projects which require collective efforts and pooling of resources to achieve the desired objectives. On the other hand, the Central Government is too unwieldy and distant from the grassroots to handle certain relatively minor but important developmental details nationwide. The Regional structure provides the via media – not too big, not too small– instrument to cope cost effectively with economic projects of considerable size.

To return to true federalism, we need a major restructuring of our current architecture of governance. The six federating regions, should replace the present thirty-six states as the second tier of government, many of which, because of their limited individual capacities, can only survive on support from an over-dominant Central Government. With the current over-bloated administrative structure, the country is compelled to spend some 70% of its annual revenue on the sheer cost of administration. If the existing thirty-six states must be retained in some form, they could be made cost-effective development provinces with minimal administrative structures within the six Federating Regions.

• To be continued tomorrow.

• Ambassador Uwechue OFR, ex–President-General Of Ohanaeze Ndigbo wrote from Africa House, Ogwashiukwu, Delta State

18 | Monday, December 16, 2013

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion Crucifying Christ again

By Raphael Okunmuyide HE legendary “O-Lord-where-are-you-going”T encounter between Peter and Christ when Peter abandoned the persecuted Christians has been repeated trillions of times despite millions of private/public heroic acts by martyrs/saints.

Spiritual reward-for-heroism/faith versus punishment-for-(apostasic)-cowardice/treachery will continually enrich the human-divine drama of Christianity till the end of time. Christ himself foresaw the Church’s tribulations; hence His assurance that “the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Mat 16:18). The recurrent paradox is that, after the early centuries of martyrdom, selfinflicted/internal problems (theological conflict, abuse of authority/power, erroneous/scandalous strategies/tactics for promoting growth etc) became more dangerous obstacles to Christianity’s effectiveness than the external tribulations.

Financial abuse has been the most pernicious of these self-inflicted obstacles to Christianity. It started with the financial pressure for an accelerated completion of St Peter’s basilica in Rome that triggered theological and pastoral uproar against the Church’s hierarchy in Germany. But the billions of souls who were separated from the Church’s sacramental life were far costlier than the basilica’s benefits. Hence, the “pay-to-pray” law for lay German Catholics’ membership in 2012 has re-ignited the Church’s self-inflicted error vis-a-vis Christ’s “Come to me all you who labour and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest (Mathew 11: 28) and the fact that Christ would never have prescribed taxes for pre-qualifying His followers’ sharing in His preaching of the word and breaking of the bread. Pope Francis’s “indefinite suspension” of Franz-Peter Tebartzvan Elst , the erstwhile Bishop of Limburg diocese in October 2013, for “luxurious living”, facilitated by “using the revenue from a religious tax in Germany”, has confirmed the abuse of that law and the legendary warning: “The love of money is the root of all evil”(1Timothy 6:10) Also, the English clergy’s mis-behaviour during the Reformation was reflected in Thomas More’s book, “The sadness of Christ”, in comparing the clergy’s decision to “crucify Christ again” through

their disloyalty to the Church’s teachings rather than forfeit enjoying the Church’s wealth with the apostles who slept during Christ’s agony in Gethsemane, thus: “Does this contrast between the traitor and the (sleeping) apostles present to us a clear and sharp image, a sad and terrible view of what has happened through the ages from those times even to our own? Why do not bishops contemplate in this scene their own somnolence? Since they have succeeded in the place of the apostles, would that they would reproduce their virtues just as eagerly as they embrace their authority. For very many are sleepy and apathetic in sowing virtues among the people and maintaining the truth, while the enemies of Christ..(seek) to seize Christ and cruely crucify him once again..For some of them do not drift into sleep through sadness and grief as the apostles did. Rather, they are drunk with the new wine of the devil, the flesh, and the world.

The next category, but a far worse one, consists of those who are not depressed by sadness at the danger of others but rather by a fear of injury to themselves, a fear which is so much worse as its cause is the more contemptible, that is, when it is not a question of life or death but of money..”

This is why the increasingly reckless, pulpitbullying merchandising of money-donation-inducing prayer-for-miscelleanous-needs within the “ostentatious God consumption” industry that thrives on the “pantheistic superstition” culture and which fuels “God mockery” (Kenneth Ameshi, The Guardian, 27/08/2012), money laundering etc for funding the scandalously opulent lifestyles of the Clergy are collectively worse than the abused sale of indulgences. Instead of expanding Christianity’s frontiers to improve the impact of religion on citizens’lives especially in societies that are still stuck in primordial behaviour/practices like ritual killing, maltreatment of widows, kidnapping-for-ransome, wanton corruption etc, the churches’extensively ruthless rat-race (James 4:2) engagement in private-sector’s for-profit-capitalism through large-scale money-spinning socio-economic projects is an avoidable repetition of christendom’s past errors.

Their intense competition with each other in

wealth-acquisition impels them to intimidate the poor to pay for blessings and patronize their corruptly enriched members to buy salvation in an intensively tenacious and insatiable manner. Their resultant barefaced promotion of religio-commercial utilitarianism, that is alien to Christ’s gospel, has whittled their moral courage to speak/fight effectively against endemic corruption in the society. Indeed the location of most of these “church” projects in prime economic oases has raised serious questions about their real missionary objectives. Thus their growing monetization of Christianity that places premium on materialism over spirituality is subduing its essence in the lives of many Christians through the escalating rate and level of criminality by Christians because such religious leaders are operating more as hirelings than as real shepherds of Christ’s flock (Ezekiel 34:3-5, John 10:11-13, Acts 20:29-30, 1 Peter 5:2-4) despite Christ’s sharp rebuke in :“My house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.” (Luke 19:46) Femi Aribisala, (Vanguard, 05/08/2012) asserted : “In the world today, success in Christianity is measured by the size of the congregation and not by changed lives. Accordingly, highfalutin mega-pastors have fine-tuned church-growth strategies. It’s all a question of numbers. Numbers determine how much money is fleeced from the flock. Numbers determine the extent of pastoral control and captivity of men. When pastors meet, the unspoken question is: “How big is your church?” The answer determines social status..Mega church “wanna-be’s” readily sacrifice the doctrine of Christ on the altar of the imperatives for a large following. Why are Christians still so sinful? Why is so little of character of Christ evident in the churches? One major reason is that too much emphasis is placed on numerical growth and too little on spiritual growth. Indeed the messages that promote numerical growth often impede spiritual growth.” The emerging collapse of religious leaders’ moral credibility towards compromising their duty of guarding the guards (politicians) may implicate them in complicity with

politicians about the increasing levels of corruption (since traditional rulers already capitulated to the politicians’corrupt inducement).

In March 2008, the Catholic Church identified “financial gluttony/excessive wealth” among the seven new social-injustice mortal sins in updating the 6th-century individual-focused seven mortal sins for the moral/spiritual (individual and institutional) guidance of the clergy and the laity in order to check this systemic corruption in the world. And Pope Francis on 11/11/13 differentiated between “sinning and scandalizing”: “The difference is that one who sins and repents, asks forgiveness from Jesus.

But the other who scandalizes continues to sin, but pretends to be a Christian (living) the double life. And the double life of a Christian does much harm. ‘But I am a benefactor of the Church! I put my hand in my pocket and I give to the Church.’ But with the other hand, he robs: the State, the poor...He steals. He is unjust. This is the double life. And this merits that a millstone be placed around his neck and thrown to the sea. (Jesus) does not speak of forgiveness here.

We all know one person who is in this situation and how much damage they do to the Church!

Corrupt Christians (and) corrupt priests : how much harm they do to the Church, as they do not live in the spirit of the Gospel, but in the spirit of worldliness!”

By resisting these obsession-with-money temptations, Christians can avoid the pseudo-religious pressures to “crucify Christ again” by stopping the shamefully scandalous and open adulteration of religion with money and corrupt politics especially by the Clergy (as the consecrated custodians and guardians of every society’s spiritual mores), who were warned in Ezekiel 33: 6: “if the watchman (Prophet/Clergy) sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman (Prophet/Clergy) accountable for their blood.”!

• Raphael Okunmuyide wrote from Lagos.

The Jonathan in you, Obasanjo

By Yahaya Balogun OUR open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan a few days Y ago, going viral on the Internet and the media engendered the writing of this missive to you. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Every time you mount a podium to sermon on us the ills of another political leaders or ‘Militaricians’ like you, it tries to becloud us and further traumatizes our collective memory and sense of history. The present Jonathan’s administration is a product of your conscription to our polity.

This writer is a privileged citizen of the United States of America and a bona fide ‘son of the soil’ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is interlocked with loyalty to both countries. He is very passionate about America because he is adequately protected with the constitution. He is also groused with Nigerian leadership because his counterparts in Nigeria suffer in the midst of plenty. Why do the world adore American exceptionalism?

Because their forefathers did not labour in vain as their leaders past and present respect the constitution and relentlessly continue to create egalitarian society for present and future generation. Sir, try and study the constitution of United States, it is a sacred document as good as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. American constitution is sacrosanct to American leadership. To Nigerian leaders, Nigerian constitution is grossly abused and made a prostrate document that is daily rendered impotent as a mere piece of paper. Political position should not be a means to an end but an end to itself, as there is always life after the mantle of leadership.

Mandela was 100 per cent correct about Nigeria in one of his interviews of the sorry situation in Nigeria. Our leaders have no modicum of shame in them. They are shedding crocodile tears now crying profusely with hypocrisy more than the bereaved families of Madiba in South Africa. What a great exposition by Mandela on Nigerians and their leaders!! Nigeria leadership is embellished with fraud. Nelson Mandela is indeed antithesis of you, Babangida and other mindless politicians in Nigeria.

You were reported to have visited Mandela in prison and championed the release of the man while you were military Head of State of Nigeria. You squandered those heroic gestures. How many universities or farmlands did Mandela establish or acquire with the state ill-gotten money? Again, you wasted lifetime opportunities. You are a man everyone would have been celebrating by now as providence was unkind to you as a result of your selfish and leadership style. I literally weep for Nigeria. Of

what use is it for you to have ephemerality of life and still die unsung? Mandela’s demise as a kindred spirit is an eye opener for not only you and your cronies but to all of us that this world is void with nothingness. Humanity should not lose hope as we are witnessing another Mandela in the personae of Pope Francis (Time Magazine person of the year), Malala And Aun San Suu Kyi and other courageous personalities we are yet to know. They all espouse the qualities of Nelson Mandela and striving hard to create egalitarian society for mankind.

I read on this medium that one wired scholar was communicating with well-informed or ill-informed Nigerians? A purported paid agent and a Cambridge University scholar of African History trying to re-write history by ditching out your pseudoachievements. I dare say to you and him (the scholar from Cambridge) to tell his thesis or his inaugural lecture of your “achievements” to the ordinary man on the street of Ibadan or Kuje or Ekiti; or the families of those that were massacred in Odi by your command; or Ikeja bomb blast victims whom you told in time of their trauma that you were not supposed to be there; or revered and Clergy men of those good old-days of good-religious values you disgraced in the full glare of public; or the family of MKO Abiola and Nigerians who were betrayed by you for your collaboration with your cronies to annul the freest and fairest elections in the nation’s history; or his supports for most African dictators; or trillions of dollars of Abacha loot still yet to be accounted for by OBJism.

Is high time people stopped these highfalutins being embellished with husky pretensions. What a gross deceitful exposition by your scholar.!!! The only thing that is constant in life is change. Posterity is on the side of those who selflessly strife as leaders to create egalitarian society for all without grandstanding (yours, with your letter to President Jonathan is grandstanding instead of understanding the plights of your people and apologise for past misdeeds). Nelson Mandela we all celebrate today is indeed antithesis of Olusegun Obasanjo and our leaders in a beautiful and castrated country. You wasted lifetime opportunities because of selfishness and grotesque of attention seeking.

You, Babangida, Shonekan, Abacha and Jonathan are children of circumstances. Providence gave you mantle of leadership and you all squandered it. I still say it. Every single day in the lives of a widow from Edo State and other deprived Nigerians gives me concern about Nigeria. As beautiful as other nations are organised, Africa is still the threshold of history and Africans must lib-

erate themselves from self-colonialism. We suppose to be swimming in the euphoria of prosperity and tranquillity but leaders, leaders..!! leaders!!! of African countries have failed us woefully.

I thought Africans would wake up and reflect sincerely on the election of Barack Hussain Obama of the United States!! But NO. What did you see? Hypothesis of hypocrisy, deceits and warped minds and other idiosyncratic maladies that dotted the nomenclatures and minds of the citizens. A microcosm of our nuts and mental decadence are comments of some people you read daily on Facebook and other social media. Obama once hailed and adored is now their enemy just because he speaks truths to their conscience.

Mandela they hypocritically eulogize today was densely critiqued by the same species of human beings. Because our minds in that part of the world are intertwined with religiosity, an opium that leaders are using as tools to distracting and destroying Nigeria and African countries today! Nigeria is a bad example of a father to other African countries. When entity of a giant is rotten, those following it will do same. Mandela was genuinely with love and instinctually unhappy with our complacency and our religious and political leaders’ hedonism.

Every street of Nigeria is painted by our leaders with megalomania and religiosity yet our citizens continue to wallow in misery, abject poverty and other ills of the society. It’s a shame.

To Nigerians, Mark Zuckerberg helped us without paying any dime with the advent of Facebook, instead of us to form majority coalition and mobilize the populace, we are busy using religion and ethnic jingoism as a wedge to divide ourselves, all because of our warped minds as a result of long misrules by successive governments of Nigeria. Arise O Compatriots!!! ...wake up and denounce our selfishness to build a country to be proud of by the next generation. We cannot continue like this... O Dear Obasanjo, there is Jonathan in all of you. I bet you still have great opportunity to right the wrongs by apologizing to all Nigerians who have been abysmally affected by your rules.

Maybe, maybe Mandela’s demise has woken you up and all of you who have committed religious, economic and political crimes against Nigeria. Time will tell.

May God give you and your partners the courage to right the wrongs of the past and shape for good the future of present generation and the ones yet unborn.

God bless you, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

• Balogun wrote from Arizona, USA.

Monday, December 16, 2013 19

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection No end in sight over struggle for the late Dana air crash victim’s estate

By Odita Sunday HERE seems to be no end in sight over the crisis rocking the family of late business mogul, Stafford Obrutse who died in the ill-fated Dana airline crash on June 3, 2012.

The family members of the late businessman are now at war over his estate.

One of his wives, Julie and her children, Ufuoma Emore, Ochuko, Oke, Okeiemute, Sandra, Odiri and Oghogho Obrutse had accused one of their uncles, Mr. Daniel Obrutse of intimidation and deprivation of their father’s wealth.

But in a swift reaction, one of the late Obrutse’s sons, Obaro Obrutse, who is a stepson to Julie, Obrutse’s first wife, has dismissed Julie’s allegation against his uncle.

He said: “My stepmother’s accusation of our uncle is targeted at maliciously tarnishing his good name so as to discredit him from standing for equity and justice in order to have her way. Neither my uncle nor any other family member has any personal motive of sharing my father’s estate.

“Our uncle is a successful businessman, a contented person who is financially comfortable, a fact well known and attested to by my step mother and her cohorts. I find it very unreasonable that the person who committed series of forgeries and crimes, in a bid to cover up their acts, are the ones pointing accusing fingers at innocent people.”

“It is also strange that my step-sisters and brothers whose maternal sister, Mrs. Ufuoma Emore, is in control of the company and estate finances, are the people crying of deprivation. What a paradox! What will those of us regarded by them as second-class children and not allowed access to our dad’s finances and properties say?

“I would also state that I appreciate my father’s family for the principled stand they took in this matter thus far. Were it not for their intervention, there would have been bloodbath of monumental proportion amongst us the children. You don’t expect me to fold my hands when the rights are denied me by my step mother and

T

The late Obrutse sisters, knowing full well that according to Urhobo Customary law, my dad’s estate belongs only to the children.”

“The truth of the matter is that my father, Stafford Obrutse, who died on June 3, 2012, had 12 children born to him by four women. Only 17 days after my father’s death, his safe was broken into secretly by children of my step mother, without consulting the rest of us not born by their mother and fraudulently converted title documents of his assets to their names, even when his corpse was yet to be identified.”

“My step mother forged certificate to show she was statutorily married to my father, so she could deprive my mother’s children and our eldest sister, Miss Esther Onome Obrutse, our right to equitable inheritance of our father’s estate. This, we reported to our uncle, Daniel, who told my stepsister and mother to return everything until the family met with all the 12 children after the burial.

Rather than heed this advice, they kept continued with their fraudulent activities with greater desperation, changing documents of my father’s

personal property and company assets into their individual names, with my step-mother insisting that she would take over my father’s companies and make us suffer.”

“At this point, anybody not willing to support her plans instantly became her enemy and since then, our uncle Daniel Obrutse, who stood his ground to ensure equity and fairness amongst us the children, has been her enemy and she feels like killing him. A few of my father’s close friends had taken time to visit my step-mother and told the consequences of the actions she was taking but she insulted them and since then, they washed their hands off the matter, stating it was a family issue and we should try to resolve it among ourselves.”

“After the burial in December 2012, the family met with all the 12 children, where it was unanimously resolved that two children plus a brother of the deceased be appointed administrators of the estate. My step-mother refused, claiming that she had a statutory marriage and as such, she must be the person to administer the estate. She also refused to accept my late father’s child, Miss Esther Obrutse, even when our grand-mother confirmed that she personally told her about Esther and despite the fact that she had a daughter outside before marriage to my father.”

“Surprisingly, in January 2013, she sued my father’s family at Ughelli High Court to restrain the family from discussing the administration of my father’s estate and exhibited the forged marriage certificate. This angered the family to petition the Inspector General of Police to investigate the forgery and fraudulent conversion of my father’s estate committed by her and her conspirators. It was at this point that it was confirmed by the Marriage Registry at Ughelli that the certificate did not originate from the Registry and that it gave no consent to the Anglican Church for the said marriage to be conducted. Further investigation revealed that she only did blessing of marriage at Bamako Church in Ughelli; the church also could not provide a copy of the certificate from their records, which made it more ob-

vious that it was forged. Sadly and shamefully, I must say that the only document they have not forged is a Will.”

“After critical review of the ugly development and especially, the urgent need to sustain my father’s legacy, the family decided that a child from each of the four women that had children for my father should be appointed administrators in addition to paternal and maternal representatives of the family to supervise us and resolve any disagreement we may have. They also resolved that six children representing the four women or gates should be appointed shareholders/directors to my father’s companies, Thus: Esther from her gate, Ufuoma and Okiemute from the first wife, Obaro and Mike from the second wife and Odirin from her gate.

But my stepmother, Mrs. Julie Obrutse, refused and sued the family again to Out-Jeremi High Court.”

“When my uncle stood his ground, my step- mother started harassing him with police, calling him every unimaginable names and threatening to kill him. She also came after me severally with Special Fraud Unit (SFU) with the sole aim of a counterarrest for reporting her looting activities and in the process, arrested my own mother by proxy. This caused our lawyer to petition the IGP again, who ordered that the Lagos State Police Command should conclude investigation on the matter and prosecute all the culprits; based on this second order of the IGP, my stepmother and two of her accomplices were charged at the Ikeja Magistrate Court.”

“My step-mother’s accusation of our uncle is targeted at maliciously tarnishing his good name so as to discredit him from standing for equity and justice in order to have her way.

No family member has any personal motive of sharing my father’s estate, not to mention wanting to take over the estate from 12 grown-up adults.

Our uncle is a successful and contented businessman. Enough of these baseless lies.”

Before his death, Obrutse was the founder and Managing Director of Imoniyame Holdings.

Gov’s wife to sponsor Equal Opportunities Bill at National Assembly From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti HE Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, has disclosed her readiness to lobby the National Assembly for the Equal Opportunities Law assented to by Governor Kayode Fayemi to have national application.

Mrs. Fayemi, who allayed fears that the Law might give preference to women over men and subjugate their voice in the state, however agreed that it was meant to protect womenfolk from violence, but would also check them from committing crimes against men.

She gave the hint recently at the Executive Chambers of the new Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti when the bill was being signed into Law by Governor Fayemi.

Mrs. Fayemi, who is the President of Ekiti Development Foundation, initiated and sponsored the bill in conjunction with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Gender Empowerment.

She said the Law was meant to break all societal barriers against “physically challenged, vulnerable groups, aged people and check women from committing crimes against men”.

The EDF President added that the Law would further help in concretizing the “Gender-based Violence Prohibition Law, Child Rights Act and other Gender Laws that had been passed by the state government in the last two years”.

She said: “No nation can witness transformation when the voices of the voiceless are not being heard. “We have embarked on widespread awareness across Ekiti and fought all forms of violence

T

Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi (left), wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Eniola Ajayi during an awareness and sensitization rally to promote the newly-signed Equal Opportunities Law, in Ado-Ekiti... violence, said: “We are committed to the world of against women. But this does not mean the issue of rights. What we are trying to do is to ensure that all gender injustice has reduced in Ekiti”.

Assenting to the bill, Governor Fayemi said his gov- the social groups can attain their full potentials without hindrance.” ernment would continue to fight all forms of vioThe Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adelence against women in Ekiti to promote peace and wale Omirin, urged men not to rely on the law to family values. abdicate their responsibilities, saying, “equal opFayemi, who described Ekiti as a trailblazer among portunities don’t imply equal responsibilities.” the comity of states in the struggle against gender

Briefs Dufil empowers 2,500 teachers in Abuja VER 2,500 teachers from all O zones of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja assembled and participated in the yearly seminar organized for secondary school teachers by Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, Nigeria’s premium noodles brand.

Speaking at the event, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, the Keynote Speaker, a senior Lecturer in the Department of Physical Health Education, Lagos State University (LASU), Dr. Raheem Morounfolu while delivering his keynote address, entitled Effective Interpersonal skills: A tool to Success, harped on the importance of good interpersonal skills to successful teaching.

The Public Relations and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, while giving his address said, we are delighted that the Indomie Teachers' Seminar train has berthed in Abuja, because this development does well to reinforce the satisfaction we derive from assuaging our voracious appetite of giving back to teachers all over the country for the key role they have played and continue to play as it concerns the education and social development of the Nigerian child, not minding the numerous challenges they encounter in the course of their job.

The Assistant Director of Education, representing the Director of Secondary Education Board (SEB) Mrs. Helen Sule said, “The teacher empowerment platform created by the makers of Indomie Instant Noodles is a welcome idea. ”

Persons with Disabilities exhibit talents Disability Day

By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola ISABILITY Policy and AdvoD cacy Initiative (DPAI), a Lagos-based non-governmental organization recently marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with an exhibition of creative abilities of persons with disabilities. The event featured dance, musical and visual arts.

Speaking at the event, a physically- challenged broadcaster with Lagos Television, Folasade Salimoni, in her wheel chair, said: "Disability is not a disease.

We only have a challenge that made us disabled".

"It is high time the society began to recognise that persons with disabilities have potentials and we can function well in any sector of the society.

"Our disability does not limit us in any way; we are like every other person. It’s only that the state of the economy makes our disability more challenging”.

Also, Kayode Ogedengbe, a blind singer, said he has passion for music and was determined to satisfy his audience in music.”

She added that it was crucial for the government to recognise their personality first, before their disability.

“Make our environment conducive; include us in every strata of the society and we will function well or even do better than the able-bodied ones".

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20 Monday, December 16, 2013

Dame Fashola applauds Family Care at Xmas party

By Florence Utor HE wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, has commended Family Care Association (FCA), a faithbased, non- for-profit organization as the group held the 13th edition of its yearly Christmas party for the lessprivileged children drawn from orphanage and rehabilitation homes across the state.

The party, which was held recently in Lagos, had children drawn from 21 orphanages, remand homes and centres for the disabled in attendance. They included Heritage Orphanage, Anthony; Friends of Jesus Orphanage; Arrow of God Orphanage; Lagos State Remand Home among others.

Queen Aniba of Classic FM compeered and while popular Actor, St. Obi made a guest appearance.

Addressing the children, Mrs. Fashola commended Family Care Association (FCA) and the team of volunteers for their efforts at making initiative a yearly event for the past 13 years.

She also urged the children to take their studies seriously to that they could become successful individuals and be able to replicate the same gesture in future.

“I sincerely appreciate Family Care Association (FCA), caregivers, volunteers, the team of sponsors

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other that deemed it fit to put smiles on the faces of these children yearly. It takes those with godly hearts to extend love to these children by doing whatever it takes to put smiles on the faces of these children,” she stated.

The Country Director of FCA, Mr. Joshua Kempeneer explained that the party was in line with the spirit of Christmas which is about giving and showing love, especially to the less privileged of society.

He added that FCA decided to support children in homes and orphanages because many of them lack social activities, parental care and are deprived of such opportunities that the party offers. He also acknowledged support from organizations including MTN, Shoreline Group and Lebanese Ladies Society among others towards holding the party yearly.

“We realized that many children lack social opportunities. The primary activity in their lives is schooling; there are no parents to take them out during the weekends. This in turn affects their sense of dignity, self-confidence and their ability to compete with their equals. These were some of the reasons why we initiated the idea 13 years ago and it has been growing.

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola with the organizers and children from orphanage homes at the party “As you can see, the children are happy and having fun; some of them only go out of the home once a year,” he stated.

We serve them Breakfast, Lunch, drinks, cakes and

snacks. We provide them with games, bouncy castle, train rides, musical entertainment and many more, so that they can have fun and mingle among themselves. Father Christmas is

also on hand to give each of the children a hamper, just as The First Lady of Lagos also comes to spend time with them.

“We started with 100 children but this year, we have

increased to about 400 children from 21 orphanages and homes for the disabled” He also commended Dame Fashola for her support in rallying all the homes and orphanages in the state.

Group takes campaign against corruption to schools

By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo S part of activities marking the World International Anti-Corruption Day, a human rights group, AntiCorruption Awareness Organisation Nigeria (ACAON), recently took the campaign against the social menace to schools.

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Addressing students of Augusta International School, the group’s National Director of Publicity, Cynthia Gold, said corruption remains Africa’s greatest impediment to development that often fights back when genuine efforts are made to curb it.

She said: “Fighting corruption is a global concern because it is found in both rich and poor countries, and evidence shows that it hurts poor people disproportionately.”

“It contributes to instability, poverty and it is a dominant factor driving fragile

countries towards state failure.”

Gold said this year’s joint international campaign focuses on how corruption hinders efforts to achieve the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as how it undermines democracy and rule of law.

Also speaking, Assistant National Chairman, Nice Duzez said corruption leads

to human rights violations, distort markets, erodes quality of life and allows organised crime, terrorism and other threats to human security.

Duzez, therefore, charged the students to quit any form of corrupt practices so as to maintain an equitable distribution of the country resources thereby banishing poverty within the society.

Students of Augusta International School at the event

“Integrity of a man is his ability to stand by the truth, have the right orientation, hold on to it in order to rescue our dear country from existing crisis and darkness so as to let you and I, our children, live a life free of crimes and corruption, he said.”

The group also visited police stations and National Union of Road Transport Workers, Iyana Iba branch.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

PRIMERA AFRICA AS AT 13=12=2013

www.primera-africa.com

Monday, December 16, 2013 MARKETREPORT

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MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 13=12=2013

PRIMERA AFRICA

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MarketIntelligence

Monday, December 16, 2013 27 Published in association with

Monday, December 16, 2013 31

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Homes&Property IFMA decries low maintenance culture, seeks facility managment in curriculum Page 32

Supreme Court declines jurisdiction in Surulere property feud Page 39

Dubai’s Emaar properties, DWC plan lifestyle projects Page 33

Strong outlook for global commercial real estate markets in 2014 Real Estate HE commercial global real T estate market is in a good position going into 2014 with business confidence improving and strong corporate balance sheets encouraging increasing capital expenditure, according to a report from Jones Lang LaSalle.

The firm’s Global Market Perspective Report for the fourth quarter of 2013 says that virtually all major markets are recording sales volume growth and the weight of money, combined with an improving lending environment and heightened risk appetite, point to further uplift over the coming year.

It predicts that global markets are on track to surpass US$500 billion for full year of 2013 with a further 10 per cent growth in 2014 and increasing shortages of quality stock means that high structural vacancy is set to persist in the developed markets.

The report also says that office rental growth is expected to gain momentum, increasing from 1 per cent year on year currently to 3.5 per cent in 2014. The top performers are likely to be Jakarta, Tokyo, San Francisco and Dubai and strong demand from the luxury retail sector will boost values in key international retail hubs.

It also points out that liquidity is improving across a broad spectrum of markets and sectors and, barring external shocks, JLL expects

Jakarta, Indonesia...one of the likely top performers with strong demand from the luxury retail sector will boost values in key international retail hubs

The report predicts that global markets are on track to surpass US$500 billion for full year of 2013 with a further 10 per cent growth in 2014 and increasing shortages of quality stock means that high structural vacancy is set to persist in the developed markets that 2014 global sales volumes will be potentially only

20 to 25 per cent lower than the boom years of 2006/2007.

However, global leasing markets are less exuberant,

according to the report.

While corporate occupier sentiment has improved markedly over the last quarter, companies remain vigilant and sentiment is still prone to external shocks.

Nonetheless, momentum is building in the United State where the office leasing market has the potential to pick

up substantial speed in 2014 and 2015, the report says.

London, a bellwether market, is also showing renewed d y n a m i s m .

Meanwhile, much of Continental Europe and Asia Pacific is still subdued, though leasing activity is

CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

Architects want govt to check influx of foreign practitioners Professional Practice While it might not be totally unacceptable for foreign counterparts to

By Tunde Alao O ensure standardization of architectural practice in Nigeria, the Association of Consulting Architects, Nigeria (ACAN), has called on the regulatory agencies to live up to their responsibility of regulating the activities of foreign practitioners plying their trade in the country.

The foreign practitioners activities, according to ACAN, were at variance with goals and aspiration of the indigenous practitioners, especially, when it comes to national development.

At its 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, last week, the consulting architects expressed the need for stringent control and regula-

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clinch jobs and do same in Nigeria, regulatory agencies must ensure proper control, with a view to encouraging home-grown practitioners and by implication, national development tion of activities of these foreign architects.

Besides, they also saw the need for the expansion of new frontiers nationally and globally, by ensuring the increase of their membership base.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected president of the association, Mr. Tayo Babalakin, said ACAN’s commitment to control and regulate the infiltration of foreign architects would be strengthened through the cooperation of members with relevant authorities. This he said is possible if the welfare of indigenous practitioners

receive the necessary and appropriate consideration.

Babalakin listed his fivepoint agenda to include: the need for the new executive council to seek the expansion of membership from the current 60 firms to 120 firms, both internally and globally.

Second, the executive will to pursue national integration and co-operation with the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and corresponding association in allied professions, such as ACEN, ACQS and with international sister associations. Third, the control of what he described

as the infiltration of foreign architects and also the development of the newly established bookshop and library of the association, including prompt circulation of ACAN’s newsletters, while the executive, through its members will contribute their quota to reduce the effect of global warming by going green in terms of culture, building and surroundings, formed the 5th point of the stated agenda.

Praising the immediate past president of the association, Mr. Fred Coker, Babalakin said his intention is to build on

the legacies of his predecessors.

“My intention is to build on the solid legacies laid by the past presidents, Messrs O.P.A Ladega, Roti Adelano, Fred Coker, to create an enduring legacy for the association by ensuring its position at the national and international levels, hence, the five-point agenda”.

Earlier, Coker, who was the immediate past president, used the occasion to highlight some of his achievements, expressed his concern over the happenings in the industry.

According to him, there are different categories of architects, namely those in the academia, those in government those in construction who are real practitioners and those that are general businessmen.

“Although, the needs of these categories of architects varied, but should be stated that ACAN is for those in practice and one of the areas ACAN hopes to step up its activities is to address incursion by architects that are not licensed, or registered to practice in Nigeria”, said Coker, adding that while ACAN is not opposed to foreign architects coming in, it would like to see them abide by the law and perfect their registration.

Another area he said the group would like to address is the issue of status of the consulting team on projects being financed by banks, but where banks invariably ask the developers to sort out the consultant fees and thus, do not view the consultant fees as part of the total project cost.

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32

HOMES & PROPERTY

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Engineers commit to enhancing sustainable infrastructure Professional Practice OWARDS sustaining high T standards in civil engineering practice, members of

President, International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Ms. Iyabo Aboaba (left); Executive Secretary IFMA, Mrs. Sade Ainohuodion and Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Lekan Akinwumi, during IFMA’s Annual General Meeting held at the chapter’s Secretariat, Yaba, Lagos, recently

IFMA decries low maintenance culture, seeks facility management in curriculum Facility Management

By Emmanuel Badejo RRESPECTIVE of the structures and designs in place, without a conscious effort of maintenance in a pragmatic way among all stakeholders, the nation’s building industry will still be far from attaining its place of pride in the international parlance.

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There is need for sensitization and making facility management as a major cause of study for primary and secondary school pupils in order to inculcate the habit of maintenance culture in the upcoming generation And as part of the measures to revive the culture of maintenance in the country, the International

Facility Management Association, (IFMA), Nigeria Chapter, has initiated moves towards introducing a study on facility manage-

ment at both primary and secondary schools.

IFMA president, Ms. Iyabo Aboaba, made this known last week in Lagos, while speaking with journalist at the body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Aboaba, who lamented lack of maintenance culture, said many of the country’s

CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

Nigerian chapter of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), United Kingdom have pledged to improve public understanding of the profession and uplift the infrastructure in the country.

ICE is an international membership organisation that promotes and advances civil engineering around the world.

Founded in 1818 and granted a Royal Charter in 1828, ICE, with a 200 Nigerian membership and 80,000 global membership, is a qualifying body, a centre for the exchange of specialist knowledge, and a provider of resources to encourage innovation and excellence in the profession w o r l d w i d e .

Members create the structures and systems that sustain society. They are responsible for designing, building, maintaining and improving bridges, roads, canals, docks, office buildings, hospitals, schools, airports, power stations, railways, flood defences, and water-treatment facilities.

The group in its inaugural meeting in Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, ICE Country Representative, Mr. Joshua Egube, an engineer urged developers to consult engineers in their project conception as it affects roads, bridges, buildings, costing, valuation,

water resources, sub-structures, and superstructures.

“Engineers should be consulted first to provide credible guidance to clients and developers because of their Superior knowledge in Soil Engineering, Engineering Geology, Water Resources, Hydrology, Hydraulics, Structural Engineering, Costing, Bill of Engineering Measurements and Evaluation and Engineering Valuation, Engineering Laws and Project Management,” he s a i d .

He explained that “ the Institution of Civil Engineers have a functioning agreement of cooperation with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) that allows ICE and NSE members to share facilities.

Membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers qualifies you as a Chartered Engineer (CENG) with the Engineering Council, London and also makes you eligible for registration by the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

“Corporate Membership of ICE is recognised worldwide as a professional status registerable in most of the Commonwealth Countries.

ICE is covered a by Royal Charter apart from its being one of the nominated bodies by the Engineering Council, London. Membership of ICE makes one eligible for registration as a European engin e e r .

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Prime Estates

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Dubai’s Emaar properties, DWC plan lifestyle projects Projects UBAI’S largest property D developer, Emaar Properties has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Dubai World Central (DWC), the world’s first purpose-built aerotropolis, to develop an integrated urban centre and golf destination in a prime location at Dubai World Central, the home to Expo 2020 and the Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA).

The MoU was signed by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties.

The new development reflects the need for more strategic projects that can meet the growing demand for luxury residences resulting from the ongoing increase in the number of senior investors, executives and employees at Dubai World Central.

The first of the key infrastructure development projects to be announced following the UAE’s winning of the World Expo 2020 hosting bid, the DWC-Emaar JV project is being developed in line with the theme of the Expo ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and its three subthemes ‘Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity.’

The development is spread over an area of 13.63 million sq metres with the first phase of the project to include a golfcourse villa community, several hotels, a high-end shopping mall, leisure attractions, and a business hub that promotes youth entrepreneurship.

Sheikh Ahmed said: “Emaar Properties is associated with the world’s iconic developments, and we will work together to deliver a remarkable new work, live and play destination. Through the joint venture with Emaar, we look forward to benefit from Emaar’s specialisation and experience that they have demonstrated to create truly world-class projects. In the coming future, Dubai World Central will witness several new projects to build an integrated city. Dubai is now focused on building worldclass infrastructure to ensure that we deliver the promise of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to host the best Expo the world has witnessed.”

Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, added: “Dubai World Central is committed to delivering the vision of the UAE’s leadership to astonish the world through the World Expo 2020. A master-planned lifestyle community is central to our development approach,

The Emirates Hills development by Emmar Properties and Meraas Holdings whereby we are creating elegant living spaces for Dubai’s residents and visitors. The new lifestyle development in Dubai World Central will be a significant addition to the city’s residential, retail and hospitality infrastructure.”

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “We are thankful to the Dubai Government and the Dubai Aviation City Corporation for the opportunity to be part of the ambitious developments that will fully equip our city to

host the World Expo 2020.

Expected to welcome more than 25 million visitors during the six months period, it is important that the city further builds its retail, hospitality and residential facilities to meet the anticipated demand. With a

number of hotels and retail choices, in addition to a dedicated villa community set around a golf course, the new development will be another sterling addition to Dubai’s mega-developments for the future.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

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Bayelsa’s Sagbama/Ekeremor road gets 2015 completion date Housing ETERMINED to continue its development strides, Bayelsa Government has set a 2015 deadline for the completion of the on-going multi- billion naira Sagbama-Ekeremor section of the SagbamaEkeremor-Agge road in the West senatorial district of the State.

Governor Seriake Dickson made this known last week in Ekeremor, headquarters of Ekeremor Local Government Area during a Thank you tour to the area, the Governor said opening up of the three senatorial districts has become imperative in view of the resolve of the present administration to attract local and foreign investors to the State.

Accompanied on the trip by his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, (rtd), Dickson called for the support of the people at ensuring timely completion of the project.

While noting the relevance of the area to the economic growth of the State, especially the proposed Agge Deep Seaport, the Governor assured the people of the area of his administration’s support at ensuring that their dream come to reality.

He stressed the need for a crisis free society as the only way to attract foreign investors to the State and generate employment opportunities for the teeming youths in the State.

Reiterating his administration’s commitment to zero tolerance for crime and crimi-

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nality, the Bayelsa State Chief Executive disclosed that in 2014, his administration would set up a crack taskforce to curtail the activities of pipeline vandals and illegal bunkering activities across the State.

He said anybody caught in the act of fomenting trouble irrespective of his/her status would be dealt with in accordance with the law, adding that, Bayelsa is no longer a safe haven for criminals.

“The era of bloodletting is over. Your government has invested so much on security.

In no distant time, the government will launch the marine arm of the state security outfit code named, Operation Doo Akpor” Calling on youths to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the present administration, Hon. Dickson said policies that are centred on youth empowerment will be unfolded in 2014.

He advised the beneficiaries of the women empowerment loan scheme to make judicious use of the fund, adding that it is not a dash but a revolving loan.

The Governor, who spoke on a wide range of issues, also announced Government’s plan to construct a befitting stadium in Ekeremor Town.

In his goodwill message, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, representing Bayelsa west senatorial district lauded the developmental strides of the present administration, submitting that in less than two years, Governor Dickson has transformed the State.

HOMES & PROPERTY Surveyors seek introduction of contract auditing forms in projects’ procurement Contracts From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja S part of ensuring financial probity and accountability at all stages of construction projects, quantity surveyors have enjoined the Federal Government to introduce a new regime in which contract cost auditing forms will be crucial in public procurement and project delivery process.

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The surveyors under the aegis of Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), also stressed that the cost auditing will check the high incidence of delay in completion of construction projects and inflated costs of contracts.

Speaking at the induction ceremony of 275 newly registered quantity Surveyors and 18 practising firms at

the weekend in Abuja, QSRBN Chairman, Mallam Husaini Dikko observed that in view of limited resources and competing needs, value for money should form the cardinal feature of public e x p e n d i t u r e .

Dikko said that contract auditing can be an effective tool to do more with less and help eliminate wasteful spending and cost overruns, adding that most standard

Ogun proposes 1, 300 homes, targets N18b from lands, surveys Housing GUN authorities have O projected to build a total of 1,300 housing units and provide 750 hectares of land for property development, 90 out of which would be made available to private developers.

The commissioner for housing Mr. Daniel Adejobi who made this known while defending the ministry’s budget before the members of the State’s of House of Assembly in Abeokuta, said this was in fulfillment of government promise to provide affordable and qualitative housing for the citizenry.

He said a total of N4.3 billion would be spent in the next fiscal year. The breaking down shows that N100 million would be expended

on recurrent expenditure while N4.2billion would be spent on capital project.

He noted that over N92.2 million would be expended for settling of the various verifiable land owners that fall within the expected 750 hectares at 12 locations, Agbara Industrial park, kobape residential Estates and many more.

Meanwhile the Special Adviser Ogun State Housing Corporation, Mrs. Jumoke Akinwunmi proposed N4.9 billion as budget of the Agency for next year.

The Special Adviser said that N393 million would be expended on recurrent while N2.5 billion would be spent on capital projects.

Mrs. Akinwnmi proposed to realize as its Internal General Revenue (IGR) of over N4.9 billion from the

sales of Houses, plots of land and Industrial Ground rent.

In a related development, the Director General Bureau of lands and Survey, Mr. Adewale Oshinowo had proposed a total amount of N1.1 billion for the next year budget.

The Director General said that N380 million would be expended on recurrent expenditure while N800 million would be spent on capital project.

Mr. Oshinowo promised to generate N18 billion as his Agency’s revenue for the 2014 fiscal year from survey, planning, and building fees.

He plans to generate fund from inspection fees, administration charges, charting fees and certificate of occupancy among others.

operating procedures for monitoring and controlling engineering and construction projects now incorporate contract audit as a tool for achieving value for mone y . ” He explained that one of the cardinal role of quantity surveying on achieving value for money as well as financial probity and accountability at all stages of construction project d e v e l o p m e n t .

His words: “ Value for money means obtaining a high value at a low cost, thus reducing cognitive dissonance to the barest minimum. Value for money is important to the surveyor because it is a measure of the quantity surveying services on any given project.

Outlining the benefits of a well-executed contract audit, Dikko listed stronger contractor-owner relationship; averted penalties, early identification of potential compliance issues. It also offers support for favoured vendor status, improved safety, fraud deterrence, fewer risks, costs and delays, identification of areas for process improvement and good publicity.

Supervising Minister of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Musa Sada, said contract auditing apart from ensuring value for money, will boost efficiency, and effectiveness in the economy.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, December 16, 2013

HOMES & PROPERTY

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Supreme Court declines jurisdiction in Surulere property feud Litigation

By Emmanuel Badejo OR non-conformity with the relevant law, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has struck out an appeal before it bothering on a deal over a property located at 52, Western Avenue, Surulere, Lagos involving a legal practitioner and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The apex’s court verdict was however, not the final, as it directed the appellant to follow the right channel by first seeking redress before the Appeal Committee of the Body of Benchers, before seeking its intervention and adjudication.

Directly involved in the property feud are a legal practitioner, Mr. Jide Aladejobi, his client, Alhaji Saliu Gbolagade on one hand

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On the ground of its inability to adjudicate on an application by a legal practitioner, who was accused of conniving to dispossess a homeowner of her property, the apex’s court declined jurisdiction, directed the appellant to seek redress before the Appeal Committee of the Body of Bencher and Mrs. Victoria Akinyele Aliu, who petitioned NBA, and sought a disciplinary action against Aladejobi, accused of shady dealing.

Aliu’s complaint to the NBA and examined by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers was determined against Aladejobi, which directed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to strike off the latter’s name from the roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria.

According to Aliu and complainant, it was alleged that Aladejobi had conspired with her tenant, Gbolagade and forged her signature on

a lease agreement in respect of the property with the intent to deprive her of the ownership right of the property.

“That you Jide Aladejobi of counsel to Alhaji Saliu Gbolagade, on or about the year 2001, conspired with the said Alhaji Saliu Gbolagade to draft and execute a 10 years lease agreement on behalf of Mrs. Victoria Akinyele Aliu (the petitioner) in respect of the petitioner’s property at 52, Western Avenue, Surulere, Lagos with the intent to interfere with the petitioner’s ownership rights over the property, all contrary to Rules 24, 28 and

49(a) and (b) of the Rules of Professional Conduct in the Legal Professional and section 12 of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1990 as amended.”

Counsel to the complainant, Mr. Mike Umonnan, had written the petition on behalf of his client.

After consideration the evidence before it, the Committee found the appellant culpable of infamous conduct and directed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to strike off the name of the appellant, Aladejobi, from the roll of legal Practitioners of Nigeria.

Unhappy with the decision of the Committee, the appellant, who named NBA as the respondent, asked the Supreme Court to intervene with a view of quashing the recommendation of the Committee.

In response, the respondent filed a preliminary objection urging the court to strike the appeal. The crux of the preliminary objection relates to the jurisdiction of the apex court to entertain the appeal and the court had to determine that first.

Supporting the objection, counsel for the respondent submitted that the court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the appeal from the direction of the Committee dated 22nd February, 2011, maintaining that by virtue of sections 11 (7) and 12 of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1990

as amended, the jurisdiction to hear appeal from the direction of the Committee was expressly conferred on the Appeal Committee of the Body of Benchers.

According to the respondent’s counsel, Godwin Obla, the appellant’s right of appeal to the Supreme Curt could be against the direction of the Appeal Committee of the Body of Benchers after hearing the appellant’s appeal from the direction of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers.

But the appellant counsel, held that the composition of the Appeal Committee as enjoined by subsection 2 of section 12 of the Legal Practitioners Act, whereby two members of the

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HOMES & PROPERTY

www.ngrguardiannews.com

IFMA lobbies for curriculum in facility management CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32 infrastructures were loosing value, as expert facility managers were not involved in their maintenance, if any at all.

According to her, the bane of the society is the inability to imbibe maintenance culture in various stages of development, adding that this has affected all spheres of both personal and national lives.

“Actually, the bane of the society is lack of maintenance culture; it affects every sphere of our life. We do not know when to do what until the decay is so great that it affects everything.

But she said this was not so in the past. “In the past, we did have maintenance culture when we had the colonial masters but now, we leave everything undone and when you see something to correct, we abandon it.”

Asked on the way forward, IFMA’ boss, said that the association would not rest fold its arm, but it has kickstarted a process to ensuring that maintenance culture is included in the nation’s education curriculum.

Aboaba added that the association had met with the Ministry of Education on how to involve the culture of maintenance in the school curriculum, adding that the process, though ongoing, is however is

lengthy.

She is optimistic that something concrete would evolve in the next six months, when expectedly, the process would have been completed.

Justifying the need for the policy, the IFMA president said, “It is long overdue.

Maintenance culture is something we need to teach our children from the schools, starting from age seven before they get to nine.

Aboaba hinted that the association is working towards having a bill on culture of maintenance, using its contact to pursue that in the National Assembly.

Earlier, in her address during the AGM, the facility managers’ chief chronicled some of the achievement of the association in the year under review. She thanked the members for confidence reposed in her, and solicited for their continuous support to give the country a culture that will enhance

the lives of generation to come.

She remarked that as the years went by, the association has consolidated on the slow but steady progress of the focused pursuit of excellent delivery in facilities management.

Some of the achievements of the association, she stated was the fact that other professional bodies are besieging the association’s secretariats for enquiries daily, formation of Ilorin branch, and an improved figure in the association’s books over the previous year.

She reminded members of the need to open up more branches in order to expand the scope of the profession in Nigeria.

But it was not all rosy, as the association contended with some challenges in the year under review. She revealed that, the association is yet be through with the land on which it is pro-

posing to build it secretariat, but assured that very

soon, that would be a success story, calling mem-

bers not to renege on giving needed cooperation.

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HOMES & PROPERTY

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Lagos steps up city upgrade, delivers urban Urban Development

By Tunde Alao S part of its programme to A improve on the state’s infrastructures, under its urban renewal scheme, the Lagos State Government last week delivered several road projects in one of the busiest urban centres, Mushin.

The new projects, apart from beautifying the city, analysts said that they would further drive upward property values within the neighborhood, courtesy of the Lagos State Ministry of Works and

Infrastructure.

This possibility of improved property value in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, was boosted last week, as government unveiled plan to complete some of the ongoing road projects.

Besides, officials believed that with the completion of 16 rehabilitated roads that were formally commissioned in the area last week, prospects of improved economic and social life are also in the offing.

Speaking at the official handing over of the roads, Governor Babatunde Fashola Akanro/Ishola, listed

S’Court strikes out lawyer’s case over property deal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39 Association are part, renders the provision unconstitutional or null and void, contended that such offended the principles of natural justice that no man shall be a Judge in his own cause.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kanu Agabi, argued that section 11 (7) and 12 (1-2) of the Legal Practitioners Act, upon which the respondent’s notice of preliminary objection was predicated, are for all intent and purposes unconstitutional, null and void, insisting that the appeal was competent.

It was also his contention that although the Act provides for an Appeal Committee to be established under section 1291) and (2) of the Act, there was presently no such body constituted, and therefore, the appellant could not have appealed to a

non-existent body, urging the court to allow the appeal.

In his lead judgment, John Afolabi Fabiyi, who was accompanied by Ibrahim Muhammed, Suleiman Galadima, Musa Muhammad and Stanley Alagoa, that, it was time to have in place Appeal Committee of the Body of Benchers, if any, yet concluded that the preliminary objection was successful.

“If I may suggest, it should be a standing Committee like the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. I dare say it that the time for same is now in my humble view.

“The preliminary objection is clearly meritorious. It is hereby sustained.

The appeal before this court is incompetent. This court is imbued with jurisdiction.

The appeal is hereby struck out.”

Akinyemi Crescent, Badejo K a l e s a n w o , Olaninbi/Ojekunle Ronke and Ajana Streets, as where property value has witnessed improvement.

Others are Sadiku, Paul Okuntola, Apesin, Eniola, Oyewuwo, Folarin, Kelani, and others, as where road rehabilitation has influenced a considerable rising in quality of living standard.

According to Fashola, the ongoing dualisation of Daleko/Isolo/Mushin road is anther project that would impact positively in the lives of the people after completion. He said: “Mushin has historical importance as far as Western Region, even, Nigeria is concerned. We need to trace the history of the old western region, its infrastructure, economic and social developments and then we would see the reason why we need to do more to revitalize the existing infrastructure and provide new ones. Mushin that comprised the present Ilupeju industrial estate was the economic power base of the old western region”.

The Governor was of the view that apart from popular Ladipo auto spare parts’ market, other markets in the community will soon get similar

prominence after the completion of the ongoing road projects. He also hinted that over 200 road projects have been listed for either reconstruction or rehabilitation in the metropolis.

Fashola, while expressing his delight on the completion of Ishaga-LUTH road, said “the road that once derogatorily referred to as ‘River LUTH’, where incidence of flooding was a matter of rule than exception has now become an axis where movement of people and goods are unhindered”, saying contractors did a perfect job.

“As with all other road projects, the economic impact of property value would receive boost, improved travel time

and social life improvement will happen in Mushin, so also the improvement in security and safety of lives and property’. He said.

However, major problem militating against early comple-

tion of these roads is what the Commissioner for Works and Strategy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat described as inability of the people to obey the laws prohibiting the burial of family members on properties.

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46 MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

HOMES & PROPERTY

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CRIBC’s conference to hold in Nigeria HE International Council T for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CRIBC) Working Commission in Developing Countries, is holding its 2014 Conference next month in Lagos.

The conference has as its theme: “Construction in Developing Countries and its Contribution to Sustainable Development”, also has its sub-theme” “Environment Planning, Design, Management, Technology,

Education and Training”.

In a statement signed by conference Chairman and Head, Department of Building, University of Lagos, Prof.

Godwin Idoko, and Committee’s Secretary, Mrs. Hikmot a. Koleoso, the conference will be a global gathering of “seasoned researchers, industry practitioners and policy makers”.

Expected speakers at the gathering include Professors George Ofori from National University of Singapore, Paul

Olomolaiye, University of West England, United Kingdom, Stephen Ogunlana, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, U.K, Akin Akintoye, University of Central Lancashire, also in U.K, and Professor Rodney Milford, Construction, Industry Development Board, South Africa.

Others are the Managing Direcor, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Terver Gemade, and Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Emeka Eze.

Global house index sees strong growth CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 expected to gradually improve in both regions.

In local markets, the report found that Australia’s medium term outlook for office markets as well as retail and industrial, is set for a measured recovery, with rental growth strengthening.

According to JLL, the September 2013 quarter was characterised by strong institutional demand, both domestic and offshore, which continues to support core valuations.

JLL also says that on the basis of information on future transactions as well as long term indicators such as residential construction, the September quarter marked the stabilisation of office space demand.

Despite this, however, JLL says vacancy rates will likely remain elevated throughout 2014. The medium term outlook for office markets, as for retail and industrial sectors, however, is for a measured recovery, with rental growth s t r e n g t h e n i n g .

“Commercial real estate is

now being utilised more efficiently, leading us to the view that the upswing in occupier demand is likely to be less pronounced than in previous cycles. Even so, the majority of major leasing markets should be on a more solid footing in 2014,”the report says.

Meanwhile, a leading index that tracks mainstream residential property prices in 53 countries around the world has exceeded it pre-financial crisis high with a rise of 4.6per cent over the 12 months to the end of S e p t e m b e r .

The Knight Frank Global House Price Index now stands 4 per cent above its previous peak in the second quarter of 2008 and 12.7 per cent above its financial crisis low in the second quarter of 2009.

Prices rose on average by 1.5 per cent in the third quarter taking annual price growth to 4.6 per cent and Kate Everett-Allen, head of international residential research, said that this suggests that

the world’s housing markets are gaining traction.

Over 69 per cent of the countries tracked by the index recorded positive price growth in the year to September, yet two years earlier this figure was closer to 55per cent.

The data shows that the key emerging markets of Dubai, China and Hong Kong recorded the largest annual rise in mainstream prices, increasing by 28.5per cent, 21.6per cent and 16.1per cent r e s p e c t i v e l y .

The performance of a number other emerging markets, most notably Taiwan, Indonesia, Turkey and Brazil, has bolstered the index this quarter. They recorded price growth of 15.4per cent, 13.5per cent, 12.5 per cent and 11.9 per cent respectively in the year to September.

Ireland has also seen an impressive rebound and recorded the fifth highest rise in prices in the three months to September with prices rising 4 per cent on average over the three month period. Yet less than two years ago prices in Ireland were falling at a rate of 5.4 per cent each quarter.

M. Everett-Allen pointed out that during the global financial crisis Asian housing markets largely compensated for the weakness of Europe and the United States. But with the UK and US housing markets now picking up, the Eurozone debt crisis receding, at least for the moment, and prices in many key Asian markets still recording double digit annual price growth, the index is experiencing a strong surge.

“That said, there remain a number of struggling housing markets. There are still 17 countries where house prices fell in the year to September.

All except three were located in Europe. Only Japan, South Korea and New Zealand interrupt Europe’s dominance at the foot of the table,”EverettAllen explained.

She also pointed out that risks to the world’s housing markets are numerous.

“From geo-political concerns to slowing growth rates in key emerging markets there are risks but perhaps the most significant at present is a reduction in policy stimulus by the US Federal Reserve,” she said.

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Lifemaster debuts, offers incentives to customers Interior Decor NEW player in Nigeria’s A furniture and interior décor business, Messrs LifeMasters has announced plans to offer incentives to its customers as part of moves to woo first time buyers within the fast-growing lifestyle industry.

Speaking at a recent media parley, the Managing Director of Life-Masters, Mr. Andy Xing stated that even though the Life-Master brand is a new entrant in the industry, the company boasts of great insights, a decade of local experience and a list of quality products that fit the taste of Nigerians

that deserve the best in furniture and interior decorat i o n s .

He emphasized that the Life-Master brand’s knowledge of high-quality furniture products and interior décor services, will position it as a leader in the industry within the next few years and they are capable of satisfying the diverse tastes of homes, offices, hotels and other locations of choice.

The media parley also revealed that even though the Life-Master massive showroom is based within the Ikeja axis of Lagos State, the Life-Master brand has ongoing plans to expand to other key markets in Nigeria

such as Abuja, PortHarcourt soon as a step towards achieving its goal of being a leader in Nigeria’s lifestyle industry.

Friendly prices, free delivery and an on-going sales promotion, are a few of the Value-Added Services that Life-Master customers will enjoy this season as the brand aims to enrich the lifestyle of its target cust o m e r s .

Quality furniture products and professional interior décor services are the cornerstones of the Life-Master brand, tailored to customized individual taste and choice without compromising standard that is world class.

Niger begins N3.1b housing project Projects From John Ogiji, Minna HE Niger State T Government has awarded contract for the development of 90 units of different house types, with several hectares of land already acquired outskirt Minna, the Niger State capital.

The Commissioner for Lands and Housing Dr Peter Salle Sarki who disclosed this last week, said that over N3.1bn will be spent on the project.

According to Dr Sarki the houses that will be in three categories are targeted to meet the need of the taste of upper echelon in the society.

According to him, 30 units of the houses are designed as 5 bedroom detached bungalow, 4-bedroom ‘A’ detached bungalow, and the rest 4-bedroom “B” Type category.

While a six-month completion date is set, Sarki said part of the funding for the project would be from the money realised from the sale of some government

buildings in Minna, while the balance is incorporated in the 2014 budget of the Ministry.

The Commissioner further disclosed that following the completion of the housing estate projects at Bida and Kontagora and the complaints of vandalism, government has decided to construct perimeter fencing to safeguard them against vandals.

He disclosed that N148.9m would be spent on the fencing that would also include the provision of police posts.

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How to end extreme poverty, With more than one billion people in the world living on less than $1.25 per day, President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, has stated that extreme poverty is “the defining moral issue of our time.” A physician and anthropologist, Kim has dedicated himself to international development for more than two decades, helping to improve the lives of under-served populations worldwide. He assumed the top post at the World Bank Group [which consists of five organizations] in July 2012 after serving as President of Dartmouth College in the United States. Dr. Kim is also a co-founder of Partners in Health (PIH) and a former director of the HIV/AIDS Department at the UN World Health Organization (WHO).

The UN News Centre caught up with Kim on the margins of the yearly highlevel segment of the General Assembly during which, in addition to participating in numerous meetings and events, he joined musicians and movie stars before more than 60,000 spectators at the Global Citizen Festival at New York’s Central Park to promote the Bank’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity.

Kim N May, you travelled to Africa’s Great Lakes IWhat region with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. do you think are the most pressing needs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the wider region?

We had the opportunity to travel together with the Secretary-General and the United Nations.

The first stop was the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are so many needs there. This is a country where 70 per cent of the population lives in extreme poverty; where some seven million children are still out of school. There are needs everywhere; 2.4 million people need food aid. It stretches from just being able to provide food for families to getting children into school to other issues like energy.

While the Democratic Republic of the Congo has the largest potential for hydroelectric power in the world, there are still millions of people who have no access to power. So the list is very long, but our sense in going in was that we needed to make a really bold start.

So in addition to the money that the DRC is already getting from the World Bank Group, we were very happy to put on the table an additional $1 billion for the entire region. We hope that

that really begins addressing some of the needs.

Specifically, we’re focusing on energy. We’re also focusing on health and education for the population. We’re focusing on cross-border trade… One of the problems is that, while a free and open trading system would help to create jobs and help to spur economic growth, the barriers to trade between the countries in that area are enormous. So we are even going to help in lowering some of those barriers.

Our sense is that by going together, we sent a very strong message – that we’re interested in the peace but we understand that peace, justice and development go hand in hand. And I think we sent that message very strongly.

During the visit, the Bank announced $1 billion

in new funding to help countries in the region. How do you go about determining how much money to give and ensure that it is used wisely so that it benefits the maximum number of people?

When we were able to put $1 billion on the table, we really worked hard to try to find as many resources as we could put together because we know that that region needs so much. The value of putting the $1 billion for regional initiatives, I think, can’t be overstated. That region really needs to come together.

Rather than being involved in conflict and war, the region needs to understand that if they act together, if they move together, there’s so much more that each of them could receive from joint action across the region. So

The best way to lift a person out of extreme poverty is with a good job. So what we know is that economies have to grow. We have to find ways of improving policy, of improving business environments, of attracting investment, so that even in the poorest countries, the private sector can grow...

that was one of the messages we were trying to send.

If you look at the things that we actually put the money on the table for – energy, education, health, cross-border trade – those issues are critical for not only those three countries that we visited [DRC, Uganda and Rwanda] but for the entire region. We wanted to be bold and ambitious in our efforts to join with the SecretaryGeneral’s peace initiative and we were very happy that we were able to put together over $1 billion.

How do you envision the bank and the UN enhancing their cooperation in the future?

You know, from the first time that I heard about the possibility of me becoming President of the World Bank Group, and certainly soon after it was announced that I would be the President, the Secretary-General called me. We have been talking ever since. But this is a person that I’ve known. And if you go back to the time when the Secretary-General was first elected, all of us in the Korean diaspora – the larger Korean community – have been so proud and inspired by him. So for me, it was absolutely natural for me to go to the Secretary-General right away and begin talking about ways we could work together.

One of the things he’s been saying is that this is what the world has always intended for the UN and the World Bank to be – institutions that have different mandates but work hand in glove together. So we have been talking from the very first day of my Presidency on how we can enhance World Bank-UN cooperation. We’ve done it in many ways. But the culmination was this trip this past May. That worked so well, and we learned so much about each other, that we’re going to continue to do it. We’re planning other trips, we’re thinking about other ways we can bring the organizations together. It was always intended that the UN, a political organization focused on justice and development, would work together with the financial organizations in order to make the world a better place.

With the Secretary-General’s leadership – and I can’t overemphasize how important it’s been that the Secretary-General has had a vision not

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BUSINESS INTERVIEW

by World Bank’s boss, Kim just for the UN but for the whole multilateral system to work together… Behind his bold and inspiring vision for how we should work together, I think we can build a multilateral system that the world has never seen before – one in which rather than competing on the ground, the multilateral institutions know that they have to cooperate.

It’s going to be very important in the future for all of us that run these multilateral institutions to send a very strong message to our staff: we expect you to work as closely and cooperatively as you can with all the other organizations because the needs are so great, the disasters in the world have become so severe, the requirement for joint action is so high that every staff member in the World Bank and the UN has to understand that we expect them – and we’re going to hold them to account – to work together.

The Bank deals with a wide range of issues, from climate financing to gender and sanitation. Is there one issue in particular that you feel strongly about?

This past April at our spring meeting, the Board [of Governors] endorsed two goals: ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity, in which we will track the income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of every country. It gives us a much clearer focus.

This is what everything we do is aimed to accomplish. We are trying to end poverty in the world by 2030 and we’re going to focus especially on the well-being of the bottom 40 per cent of every country.

From that, there are a lot of issues that are related. A lot of people don’t understand this, but it will be impossible to end poverty in the world unless we tackle climate change. What we’re seeing is that droughts, for example, in the Midwest of the United States can have an enormous impact on the poorest people living in Africa. As grain prices go up, people are forced into making terrible choices about buying food, sending their kids to school… the effects of these extreme weather events that

are linked to climate change are going to be most severe on the poorest and we will not be able to do what we need to do to lift some 1 billion people out of poverty. So everything goes back to our two main goals, but climate change is a major issue for us.

Growing economies are critical; we will never be able to end poverty unless economies are growing. We also need to find ways of growing economies so that the growth creates good jobs, especially for young people, especially for women, especially for the poorest who have been excluded from the economic system.

We’re focused on these two goals but those two goals are connected to so many other things that our agenda is broad.

What will it take to end extreme poverty in our lifetime?

The best way to lift a person out of extreme poverty is with a good job. So what we know is that economies have to grow. We have to find ways of improving policy, of improving business environments, of attracting investment, so that even in the poorest countries, the private sector can grow, because we know that the private sector creates 90 per cent of jobs in the developing world. A growing economy is critical and we’re doing everything we can to help countries be more competitive and to set their countries on the path of economic growth.

But the other thing that we’ve learned is that if you have growth that doesn’t include everyone, you’re building instability into your society.

We’ve seen again and again in countries that no one ever would have thought would have explosive social movements, we see them arising. This happened in the Arab Spring. We’ve seen demonstrations recently in Brazil and Turkey. Countries even that are doing well are seeing the rise of social movements. You know, social media has changed the world forever.

We’re not going to go backwards. People are not going to accept being poor, accept being excluded anymore. So our message is very simple: we need economic growth but the growth has to focus on jobs for everyone and be inclu-

Africa alone every year needs more than $100 billion just for infrastructure development. Other countries are also in need of tremendous amounts of funding just to meet the infrastructure needs year to year.

What I learned from my work as a physician is that even with the most complicated patients, the most complicated problems, you’ve got to look hard to find every piece of data and evidence that you can to improve your decision-making. Medicine has taught me to be very much evidence-based and data-driven in making decisions sive.

Finally, I think what’s really important is that there has to be a movement to end poverty. We see a lot of interesting things happen in the Global Poverty Project, and others are really trying to push everyone in the world to say ‘we need to end extreme poverty’ and ‘we need to end extreme poverty as soon as possible, no later than 2030.’ That social movement, I think, is going to make a huge difference to ensuring that leaders throughout the world understand the importance of ending poverty.

What unique role does the bank play amid the multitude of actors involved in the global development effort?

There are many things about the World Bank that I think put us in a good position to play a strong role. The first is that we have financing.

One of the things we’ve learned is that overall official development assistance (ODA) is pretty small compared to the needs of the countries.

Official development assistance overall is about $125 billion a year, but the need is in the trillions. Africa alone every year needs more than $100 billion just for infrastructure development. Other countries are also in need of tremendous amounts of funding just to meet the infrastructure needs year to year.

What we’re trying to do, and I think our unique role, is that we’re able to use ‘our ODA’, the IDA [International Development Association] - the fund for the poorest - and match it with the work that we do in the private sector. So what we do is provide financing but what we think will be an even bigger impact is we use our financing to leverage other kinds of financing, especially private sector financing. Countries all over the world, even the poorest countries, are saying ‘we want assistance but what we really want is for people to have enough confidence to invest in our economies so that we can create the kinds of jobs that people want’.

In addition, we have global knowledge that’s really unparalleled. We’ve been working on so many projects in so many countries for so long that we have a lot of data evidence and experiential knowledge that can help countries achieve what they want to achieve for their populations. And so we’ve been focusing a lot on helping countries actually deliver on their promises to the poor. We call it a ‘science of delivery’ but really what it’s focused on is capturing all the best experiences from around the world and then putting that information in a form countries can use and try in their own local settings to improve their own delivery.

So, we provide finance but we want that finance to leverage others. We provide knowledge that’s global and that we hope is also practical and applicable in the settings. We’re also very good at collecting data. So we actually know whether economies are growing or not growing, whether people are being included or not included, and that combination of factors, I think, does give us an important role in global development.

You’ve been in your post for just over a year now. What do you think are the main challenges the Bank faces? Are there ways it could improve how it works?

I think one of the main challenges that the World Bank faces is creating an organizational structure that doesn’t get in the way of its staff.

We have fantastic staff. People told me as I was coming into the organization that the greatest asset of the World Bank Group is its staff, and I think there’s no question that that’s the case.

Right now, we have a great staff but an organizational structure that hasn’t changed for 17 years. The last time there’s been a major rethink of the organization was in 1997. So now is the time to really rethink it and build a structure that is better equipped to deal with the problems of today. So we’re going through a major re-organization process. We’ve already

been doing it now for almost a year. We’re getting toward the end of the major decisions, we’re in the implementation phase and we think we’re going to get it done.

We’re doing this because we want to unlock the full potential of our staff. Right now some staff are only working in one region or one country and are not able to share their experience and knowledge with the entire group.

We’re going to make sure that that doesn’t happen anymore. There are staff that work in the private sector who don’t know what staff who are working in the public sector or on the same problems are doing. We’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen anymore. If we can unlock the full potential of the World Bank Group staff, I think we can have an even more transformational impact in country after country in the world.

Do you think that your background as a physician and also in anthropology has helped you in your current position?

What I learned from my work as a physician is that even with the most complicated patients, the most complicated problems, you’ve got to look hard to find every piece of data and evidence that you can to improve your decisionmaking. Medicine has taught me to be very much evidence-based and data-driven in making decisions.

In terms of my anthropology background, of course, anthropologists think about culture and think about the way people talk to each other and think about language, think about symbols and social organization. So the anthropology has been extremely helpful, and in fact over the last year, I’ve been engaged in deep ethnography around a most interesting tribe of people – the World Bank Group staff. What I’ve learned is that it’s an extremely interesting culture. And cultures build up over time and people sometimes think that the culture is what it is because it couldn’t possibly be any other way.

We’re introducing changes and are trying to move the culture in directions that I know will be better for the organization. That’s always painful, and so we have to think hard about making sure that people can make it through this transition.

But there’s no question, and this came from a staff survey – we surveyed everyone in the World Bank organization – and the message from them was clear: we need these changes, we need these changes now. And the number one issue about change that they identified was to change the culture. Now, most anthropologists don’t go about trying to change culture, they go about studying it and trying to record it.

Well in this case, I do think we have to change the culture. So that’s been very helpful.

The thing that’s been most helpful to me though is the fact that I’ve been doing development work for 20-25 years. It’s hard for me to imagine walking into the World Bank Group having had no experience in development and trying to figure out what’s going on because there’s so much complexity. Doing things in a developed country and trying to do those same things in a developing country are so different, and even among developing countries there are so many differences that if you’ve never done that before, it’s difficult to understand really what we’re doing at the World Bank.

So, the fact that I had worked in more than a dozen countries and have been working for 25 years trying to implement health, education and social protection programmes, I think really helped me inside the World Bank Group and helped me to feel a sense of closeness to our frontline staff. But it’s a complicated organization… I’m still learning… and the ethnography will continue until I’m done with my work at the World Bank Group. And I hope we can bring about the kind of cultural changes that everybody in the institution wants so we can be at our best every day in every country in the world.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

Insurance NAICOM rolls out guidelines for micro-insurance underwriting

By Joshua Nse HE National Insurance T Commission (NAICOM) has advised stakeholders interested in underwriting microinsurance business in Nigeria to be guided by the fact that the business is primarily base on trust such that there is going to be minimum regulation of the business.

Deputy Commissioner for Insurance (Finance & Admin),

George Onekhena, inaugurating the steering committee for micro-insurance and launching the guidelines in Lagos on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel, said that the Commission would want to draw attention to three critical areas in the guidelines including prudential requirements aimed at ensuring that all companies doing this business are run in sound and stable way so that they will be

able to meet requirements to policyholders.

Besides, market conduct has to do with the relationship between consumers and service providers, and corporate governance to ensure that the business is run in the interest of all stakeholders particularly policyholders.

He said: “It is very important that people who are interested in participating in this business should thoroughly study and understand this

guidelines because NAICOM will not compromise as far as this business is concerned.

This is about growth, the growth has to be measured to ensure that customers are adequately protected that is our number one requirement.”

Specifically, the guidelines cover nine areas – an overview, registration requirements, products distribution channels, prudential standards, supervisory requirements,

market conduct, corporate governance, fines and penalties and exit, suspension, cancellation.

For instance, the prudential standards states that any micro-insurer intending to commence a specialised micro-insurance business shall have a minimum paidup [share capital of N150 million for life micro-insurance, and general micro-insurance business N200 million.

The Commission may increase from time to time the amount of minimum paid up share capital as demand dictates, according to the guidelines.

A specialised micro-insurer shall maintain with the Central Bank of Nigeria, a statutory deposit of 10 per cent of the minimum capital requirement.

A micro-insurer shall maintain adequate and valid reinsurance arrangements. A copy of the reinsurance treaty arrangement shall be submitted to the Commission on or before December 31st of the preceding year.

Onekhena said: “In microinsurance business, we are going to learn from the experience of micro finance. We are taking this business to the seg-

ment of society where the understanding is low. If we have problems with the orthodox insurance, now we are taking insurance to the local people, we want to be guided by the principle and experience of other countries that have succeeded.”

According to him: “We want to draw the attention of all stakeholders to the fact that this business is a regulated business because there are some elements of trust, once you have a business which is base on trust, it has to be regulated. It is going to be minimum amount of regulation.”

In order to guard us as stakeholders in this business, he said, the framework was base on the documents of “G20 Global Leaders principle of financial inclusion” that sets what we need to do for us to increase the probability of success. That documents sent a message to all stakeholders including NAICOM as regulators.

According to him, it would be a standard for us; it has nine points – leadership, diversity, innovation, protection, empowerment, co-operation, professionalism in regulation and appropriate regulatory framework.

Continental Re premium rises in Q3 ONTINENTAL Reinsurance C Plc gross Premium rose by 15 per cent from N9.9 billion in

Chief Executive Officer, Old Mutual Nigeria (Left), Offong Ambah, Chief Executive Officer, Old Mutual, Zimbabwe, Jonas Mushoso; Managing Director, Old Mutual Africa, Johannes Gawaxab, and Chief Operating Officer, Tavaziva Madzinga, during the Old Mutual’s emerging markets showcase held in Cape Town, South Africa

NIA lauds support for ‘no premium, no cover’ policy

By Joshua Nse

• Ghana seeks assistance to enforce rule

HE Council of the Nigerian T Insurers Association (NIA) has commended policyhold-

brought to an end mounting volumes of premium receivables in the industry.

According to him, that was a demonstration of the support for the role of insurance mechanism in mitigating risks in the national economy.

The commission and the NIA in December, 2012, directed underwriting firms and insurance brokers to enforce Section 50(1) of the 2003 Insurance Act, which states “the receipt of an insurance premium shall be a condition precedents to a valid contract of insurance and there shall be no cover in respect of an insurance risk unless premium is paid in advance, with effect from January 1st, 2013.”

He explained that between 2007 and 2009, the level of out-

ers in the insurance industry for the support of ‘no premium no cover’ enforced by the National Insurance Commission (NAICON) specifically to enhance quality of service and prompt claims payment.

The Director General of the association, Sunday Thomas, speaking at the media workshop in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State yesterday said that the association appreciated and thanked our policyholders both corporate and individuals for their understanding and support for ‘no premium, no cover’ policy enforced by the industry regulator, as it had

standing premiums produced was about 30 to 40 per cent of the industry’s funds outside the system, which had a serious impact on the performance of the industry.

Thomas said: “This is one of the best things that has happened in the insurance industry in Nigeria. Many of the clients have adjusted immediately and they are now embracing the new system.

We know that in two to three years down the line, the culture will ready improve premium collection in the industry.”

He said that the Ghanaian Insurers Association and the country’s regulator excited by the success of the policy, have solicited our assistance and we have encouraged them to

implement the policy with effect from January, 2014.

The NIA boss said that the policy would enhance the performance of the industry in the payment of claims, improve the liquidity of underwriting firms, as well as meet the expectations of all stakeholders in the industry.

He, however, appealed to the government to obey the law as the biggest spender in the economy because it also affects the insurance of its assets. For instance, he said: “When we are talking about the issue of government, the policy is supposed to have started in January and this is December, premium has not been paid especially in group life, the rule has to be followed, there is no cover without the premium being paid.”

the third quarter of 2012 to N11.3 billion in the 2013 financial period.

According to a statement from the company, the increase was as a result of the successful development of underwriting relationships with existing and new clients as well as strict adherence to prudent underwriting guidelines.

Besides, the company said that it was building on its geographical diversity and sees good opportunities ahead.

Managing Director, Continental Re, Dr. Femi Oyetunji, said: “In the third quarter of 2013, as with the half year results, we continued to see favorable trends across our key core business metrics.

We have maintained the momentum achieved during the first half of the year with gross written premium growing by 15 per cent. Overall, we are making good progress towards achieving our 2013 performance objectives.”

The records revealed that the company had a retrocession premium of N1.4bn, which reflects a retrocession ratio of 12.4 per cent, which is marginally higher than the previous period of 11.4 per cent.

Its loss ratio stood at 47.9 per cent (2012: 47.4 per cent).

There have been no major catastrophe events during the year.

Provided that this experience

continues until the year-end, the company said that it expected to achieve a strong combined ratio.

The firm’s net acquisition expenses ratio stood at 31 per cent and was higher than last year’s ratio of 27.6 per cent.

According to the statement, management expenses stood at N1.0bn, which was are higher than the 2012 comparative of N830.2m by 22 per cent.

The firm’s 2013 management costs ratio to the net premium income of 10.2 per cent was marginally higher than the 9.5 per cent in 2012.

Continental Re’s underwriting profit increased by 20.3 per cent from N1.1bn in 2012 to N1.33bn in 2013 mainly due to a higher growth in premium than the increase in combined costs. The 2013 underwriting profit ratio as a percentage of GPI was 12.0 per cent compared to the 15.4 per cent outturn for 2012.

The firm disclosed that its investment and other income stood at N879.3m, which was lower than last years of N 970.9m by nine per cent. 2012 experienced a huge gain on disposal of available for sale securities.

Its provision for bad debts increased by 10 per cent from N2.82bn to N3.1 bn in the period under review.

Profit before tax stood at N1.7 bn and was higher than last years of N1.6 bn by 8.9 per cent mainly due to a better performance of the technical account.

64

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, December 16, 2013

Media How digitization campaign spurs unity among broadcasters Issue

By Kabir Alabi Garba PART from sharing the same theme – Digital Switch Over: Milestones and Bridges – with the summit organized by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) last October in Abuja, the 59th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) hosted in Abeokuta, Ogun State from November 24 to 26, 2013 appears to have strengthened the bonding between the airwaves’ regulator (NBC) and the operators (who are mainly the members of BON).

In fact, the new song within the broadcast industry is ‘what digitization has put together, let no one put asunder’ in reference to harmonious relationship that now exists among stakeholders.

What gave deep expression to the partnership was the presence, at the opening of the assembly on November 25, of the DirectorGeneral of NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba as keynote speaker. He elaborated on the theme while emphasizing the fact that “for the transition to work, we require deep industry collaboration and creation of partnerships. Nowhere has DSO (Digital Switch Over) worked without industry collaboration.”

The conclusion of the presentation hammered similar point. The success of Nigeria’s march to digitisation, the deadline of which has been set for January 1, 2015, Mba said, demands aggressive public awareness. “As partners, I would like to use this platform to appeal to all members of BON to join in enlightening the public on the imminence and implications of the DSO. Everywhere they have succeeded in this project, broadcasters have actively used their respective platforms to sensitise the people – Nigerians would expect no less from their broadcasters,” he reiterated.

Earlier in his presentation, Mba saluted “doggedness and sense of purpose” that have kept members of BON together “working for the growth of the broadcast sector in Nigeria.”

He underscored the imperativeness of meeting up with the deadline saying, “Nigeria has no choice but to transit with the rest of the world in order to avoid remaining in digital darkness. The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, BON, is therefore a natural ally in this venture, and we deeply appreciate the cooperation existing between us, largely promoted by a mature and effective leadership.”

Essentially, Mba’s presentation detailed the background of Nigeria’s digitisation plan, the progress made so far, a report on the last digital broadcasting summit; including the next steps and policy road map for the digital switch over.

In his opening remarks, BON Chairman, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa drew attention to “convergence” saying it is central to issue of digitisation and future of broadcasting.

He explained, “Today, we can make calls, listen to radio, watch TV, send text messages, receive and send e-mails, take photographs, perform the functions of journalists and a host of others just with our mobile phones. It is one of the devices that take content to the owners anywhere, anytime.

“Some years ago, we could only make calls and not send texts, take photographs with cameras only and develop them before printing and we cannot listen to radio or watch TV on land telephone lines. Through the social engines and various applications such as face book, whatsapp, twitter, etc., we can do everything and anything on the go.”

Speaking on the switch over, Mallam Jijiwa said, “We are now aware that come January 2015, the present set up of a broadcast station with studio, transmitter and mast would be broken into two, namely: Carriers; and Content Providers.

“It is therefore instructive that by 2015, we will find ourselves in any of these two. There will be channels and not stations, network carriers, zonal carriers, local carriers and not our own transmitters, etc. Stations will no longer acquire transmitters, masts etc., but only contents. There will also be national

A

General Manager, OGTV, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga (right); Executive Secretary of BON, Segun Olaleye; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ogun State, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu (who represented Governor Ibikunle Amosun); Chairman of BON, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa; and GM, OGBC, Engineer Tunde Awolana... at BON 59th General Assembly held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on November 25, 2013 Nigeria (VON) did not end his speech without He underscored the imperativeness of meeting up with the deadline saying, updating members on efforts being made to “Nigeria has no choice but to transit with the rest of the world in order to avoid ensure that matches of the 2014 World Cup in are brought to the living rooms of all remaining in digital darkness. The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, BON, Brazil Nigerians. is therefore a natural ally in this venture, and we deeply appreciate the cooper- “Although, we don’t own the media rights does), I believe if we act collectively, ation existing between us, largely promoted by a mature and effective leader- (OSMi broadcasters will take control of their affairs in the coverage of the World Cup,” he envisaged. ship.”

Indeed, BON head was full of gratitude to the channels, zonal channels or local channels for way, we broadcasters would take control of the people and government of Ogun State “for process,” he said enthusiastically. contents which would be available on platforms On the face-off between the broadcasters and accepting to host us and for the generous hosand devices.

“What about the public service broadcast the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Jijiwa pitality.”

Specifically, Governor Ibikunle Amosun was doom-mongers? The immediate fall out of digi- informed members that “BON has taken up the tisation, some say, is that public service broad- issue of payment of royalties with the Attorney congratulated “for the massive infrastructural casting is doomed. I posit the view that in fact, General and Minister of Justice and also the development” the state is undergoing currentcontrary to such scepticism, it will be best time National Assembly. We are also monitoring the ly.

These strides, he said, “are signs and manifestato be a broadcaster because there are many various court cases issues arising therefrom.” tions of the deepening of the dividends of He however clarified, “BON is not interested in more ways to reach the viewer.

“It is however important to have a cohesive whom we pay royalties to, however, we want to democracy.”

Appreciated also were the efforts made by the approach, so that we don’t have to break our ensure that it conforms with the constitution two state-owned stations - Ogun State Radio backs every time we want to develop the same and all the relevant statutes of the Federal content/audience. But it is hard for broadcast- Republic of Nigeria, and what our members (OGBC) and Ogun State Television (OGTV) to ers to deal with so many different manufactur- pay is fair, equitable and reasonable without ensure the success of the Assembly. “It is a practical demonstration of their commitment to coercion. ers’ interfaces.”

“On this matter, we advise our industry col- BON as a forum for the collective aspiration of The challenges, he noted, are obvious, adding, “Spectrum is what so many of our members will league, COSON to sheath its sword – we are not all public and private broadcasters,” said Jijiwa.

In his welcome address, GM of OGTV, Alhaji rely on. For most of us, our markets are terrestri- ready for any grandstanding, open confrontaal, and there are challenges around getting any tion or even joining issues with them. We are Ayinde Soaga commended the support the two growth. And launching the High Definition only respecting the rule of law and there are stations are enjoying from the state govern(HD) services is going to be difficult if the neces- numerous cases in court at this time challeng- ment “to give us quite distinct and identifiable sary UHF spectrum gets used for other purpos- ing the ill-advised, monopolistic and unfortu- personalities.”

In spite of enormous financial challenges on nate choice of COSON as the sole collector of es.”

In addressing some of these issues, BON, in the intellectual property royalties in Nigeria. the Ogun State Government as a result of its outgoing 2013, he recalled, organised series of Broadcasters therefore must also take control commitment to infrastructural rebuilding capacity building activities including of our common benefits with regards to the process, Alhaji Soaga acknowledged government’s very tangible spend on the state’s radio Understanding Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting for payment of royalties.”

Meanwhile, it is learnt that with the interven- and TV with a view to meet the demands of digChief Executive Officers and Heads of Engineering; From Tape to File Based Studio for Chief Executive tion of NBC, efforts are being made to resolve itization.

Governor Amosun was specifically commendOfficers and Heads of Engineering; Content BON-COSON face-off. ed “for his non-intervention in our operations And in line with the desire to “take control of Management for Producers, Presenter and Reporters; Broadcast Marketing and Credit all issues affecting broadcast industry,” BON, and his high level of political tolerance which Management for Heads of Account and Marketing; the Chairman stressed, would continue to fos- have made it quite possible for us to adhere to as well as Multimedia Asset Management for ter mutually beneficial relationships with NBC guidelines most of the time. At several fora, other stakeholders such as Advertising the last being the 2014 Ogun Budget session, we Marketing and Library staff among others.

According to Jijiwa, BON has also written letters Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON); discussed with him the reality of digitisation to all the State Governors, Commissioners of Nigerian Copyright Commission; NBC, of and the collective approach which BON and Information of each state and the Chief course; Association of Advertising Agencies of NBC were making to ensure that all members Executive Officers of stations to set up Nigeria (AAAN); Media Independent made a clean cut-over to full digital operations, DigiTeams to midwife the successful analogue Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), by January 1, 2015,” Soaga noted.

Another significant point about 59th BON to digital transition in each state to comple- and Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) Assembly in Abeokuta was the hand of fellowamong others. ment the one set up at the federal level.

He reminisced: “Our collaboration from long ship extended to the organisation by the Besides, BON has also encouraged Chief Executive Officers to attend National time ago has aided mutual resolution of misun- Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in Las Vegas, derstandings and the hitherto acrimonious Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally USA and International Broadcasting relationships. We are happy that most con- Omowunmi Mbanefo as she was desirous of Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam, Holland where tending issues in the industry have been amica- forming a synergy with broadcasters in projectconferences on broadcasting are held and bly resolved. We are therefore guaranteed of a ing Nigeria as the preferred tourism destinamutually-beneficial brighter future for the tion in Africa. emerging technologies are showcased.

BON, she said, “is the key to Nigeria image “In other words, we are re-tooling our profes- broadcast industry with adequate understandlaundering and platform of presenting Nigeria sionals to meet the demands of a new, world- ing and support of these stakeholders.”

Jijiwa who is also Director General, Voice of in the right and true perspective.” class digitised broadcast environment. That

Monday, December 16, 2013 MEDIA 65

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Stimulating good security agencies-media relation for effective communication Issue

By Kabir Alabi Garba RADUALLY, the need to build trust and foster G collaboration between the security agencies and the media in Nigeria is sinking deeper into the consciousness of stakeholders.

In other climes, especially developed nations such as the United States of America, the understanding that “reporters and fire fighters (invariably security agents) always run towards disaster, while other people run away from it” has strengthened trust, confidence and harmonious relationship between the media and security forces.

Early last April, a three-day interactive session was held in Lagos at the instance of the Chief of Army Staff designed to “enhance media–military relations for improved security” in the wake of violent attacks being unleashed on Nigerians by the insurgents codenamed Boko Haram.

Few days ago in Abuja, November 28 precisely, the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Col. Sambo Dasuki rtd., initiated another platform of interaction between select media professionals and spokespersons of security and emergency agencies in the country with a view to achieve similar objective.

Before the interaction, some of the media professionals in attendance had heard about the sterling virtues of the NSA, which include humility, sincerity, simplicity and punctuality.

Although, they were having close contact with him for the first time, these attributes were easily discernable as soon as Dasuki began to address the gathering that Thursday morning.

He expressed strong belief in the indivisibility and oneness of Nigeria. He was passionate about the Office of the President which he stressed, must be defended and protected in words and in acts by the citizens. Everything should not be boiled down to politics, he told his guests.

At the interactive session, very eloquent in his convincing argument, the NSA stated that his office was aware of challenges between the media and security agencies and therefore called on them to be partners towards national

Dastki development by working collectively in the defense and protection of Nigeria’s image.

Acknowledging the fact that the nation is at a very critical stage, Dasuki however pleaded that the media should be wary of individuals and groups whose selfish agenda may affect national interest (security) through dirty politicking, negative activism and acts of criminality. He said there are lessons to be learnt from happening across the globe so that Nigeria should remain peaceful and prosperous.

With frankness and open-mindedness with which some of the participants marshaled their views, the NSA expressed optimism that the parley would come up with strategies to strengthen the collaboration towards promoting national interest and selfless service.

His words: “I am happy the session, with the kind of views expressed so far by the participants, is redefining the desired collaboration and I hope the parley can propose agenda towards achieving greater synergy on efficient and effective information dissemination for

secured nation and better informed citizenry.”

Dasuki thereafter left for other engagements while the session continued with Stella Ada Apiafi of I-Nigerian project presiding.

And after an engaging and exciting session full of frankness and candour, a number of issues propped up as observations. They included lack of cordial working relationship between security establishments and media practitioners; a seeming inter-agency rivalry between security agencies on breaking news and updates; occasional weak response and lack of convincing arguments to sensitive issues by spokespersons; inaccessibility of spokespersons/media during crucial and emergency situations proprietorial influence on editorial contents in the media; antics of formidable oppositions and activists who dominate media contents; as well as wrong notion of Newsworthiness to include sensationalism and one-sided news reports.

As a way forward, certain resolutions were reached, these included establishment and sustenance of mutual and beneficial relationship between the spokespersons and the media; fostering deep collaboration towards better understanding on the working of the sectors and improve synergy among stakeholders.

Also recommended were frequent securitymedia parley to brainstorm, share and disseminate responsible, adequate and timely information to the citizenry; as well as capacity building programmes for the training of spokespersons on latest techniques and thinking in information management and also workshop for training of relevant media practitioners on security issues, especially in raising awareness on security consciousness and emergency managements In a deliberate effort to protect the territory integrity of Nigeria as a country and to also avoid criminal elements from directly and indirectly benefiting from media exposure, self censorship was recommended as a guiding principle that guarantees professionalism and adherence to ethical standard.

As part of their social responsibility, media should consider providing dedicated platforms on security and emergency management issues for the benefit of citizens in assuring their safety.

Participants also emphasized the need for greater engagement in social media because of its speed and relevance in information dissemination.

Interestingly, the maiden session also gave birth to what is described as plan of actions with emphasis on an independent Weekly Media Review for Spokespersons of Security and Response agencies to enable them track and monitor issues relating to the sector. It is believed that such review can further guide towards adopting proactive approach in tackling national issues.

They advocated a monthly meeting of spokespersons to review and evaluate media coverage for further actions towards objective and fair reportage. The meeting may also examine and identify spokespersons’ activities within the month and agree on further line of actions Proposed also is a quarterly parley between the spokespersons and the media to examine their roles within the quarters and review strategies towards improving the collaboration.

This is in addition to creating responsible media platforms to guarantee timely response to issues, especially media enquiries and the issuance of timely Press Releases, Features among others.

Highlighted in the plan of action also is Biannual training programme which should be organised separately for the spokespersons on information and crisis management; and for media practitioner on security awareness and emergency management.

Before curtains fell on the session, participants commended the Office of the National Security Adviser for hosting and facilitating the interaction which they termed first of its kind where participants spoke frankly and sincerely on most of challenges without any inhibition.

They jointly agreed to adhere to professional and ethical conducts; develop humane temperaments and friendly dispositions to others; sustain cordial relationships to minimise mutual suspicions and misgivings. They were unanimous in their resolve that as professional, they would henceforth separate facts from opinions and fictions in their information dissemination.

An evening of comedy with Knorr Cubes Branding NORR Cubes, the popular seasoning, made K

by Unilever Nigeria, recently staged an event to announce the re-launch of its cube

Winner of Ibrahim Shekarau Prize for Education Reporter of the Year, Ojo Abiodun Olawunmi (right), Editor, Martins Oloja; Head, South West Bureau, Muyiwa Adeyemi; runner-up, Bukola Saraki Prize for Agricultural Reporter of theYear and Nigerite Prize for Real Estate/Construction Reporter of the Year, Temitope Templer Olaiya; and runner-up, News Photographer of the year, Ayodele Adeniran Shola at the Nigeria Media Merit Award held in Ado Ekiti on December 7.

PHOTO EMMANUEL AREWA

Finalists emerge for 2013 African Story Challenge award Twenty journalists from across the continent have been shortlisted in the Health theme of the $1 million African Story Challenge Programme.

WENTY journalists have been T shortlisted as finalists in the $1 million African Story Challenge, a programme of reporting grants to encourage innovative, multimedia storytelling that aims to improve the health and prosperity of Africans. The Guardian’s Ajibola Amzat and Kolawole Talabi of Rise Networks are two Nigerians among the finalists.

The project encourages journalists to experiment with new con-

tent ideas and ways to engage audiences through mobile technology, social media and other innovative tools. It also aims to spur compelling, analytical, investigative and data-driven stories that lead to better policies, increase transparency and hold officials accountable.

In all, over 200 entries from across the continent were screened by a technical review panel that evaluated which ideas have the best potential to become top-quality stories on health, the second of five themed categories covered by the challenge. Other contest categories include business and technology.

“It’s exciting to see that our competition is attracting top calibre of journalists and a mix of well established media houses, as well as

small but influential publications and stations,” said Story Challenge editor, Joseph Warungu. “The range of story ideas proposed is rich and comprehensive and covers health issues that really matter to Africans.”

Finalists will attend a Story Camp in Lagos, Nigeria in January to refine their ideas and learn digital and data journalism tools to enhance their work and ensure maximum impact and public engagement. Also, they will receive grants and mentoring to complete the projects. After their broadcast or publication, an international panel of editors and media experts will judge the shortlisted twenty stories to select the competition winners.

In the first theme of the competition, the three winning entries

came from Ghana, South Africa and Kenya.

During its two-year run, the project will award approximately 100 major reporting grants and provide mentoring to support the best ideas for stories on development issues. Journalists who produce the best stories published or broadcast in media that reach African audiences will win a major international reporting trip.

The project is initiated by the African Media Initiative (AMI), the continent’s largest association of media and operators, in partnership with the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ). Warungu, who is AMI’s content development manager, developed the project while an ICFJ Knight International Journalism Fellow attached to AMI.

seasoning. Tagged, Come Taste the Knorr Difference, the event hosted consumers from different specters of the society to an evening of comedy, entertainment and great food.

According to the brand team, the Knorr seasoning in Nigeria was reformulated to deliver superiority on taste, as it is a winning concept with a compelling insight and proposition for its consumers to buy into.

Not only was the product revealed to deliver superiority on taste, but it also has a brilliant new packaging that re-enforces these benefits.

The new and improved Knorr cubes is said to bring out the very best in all dishes, making it burst with tantalizing flavor.

The new improved Knorr seasoning cubes cost exactly the same as the old and some of its key attributes includes; the Knorr beef which is now three times meatier, both variants have an exceptional new packaging with an appetite appeal through the food visual on the pack and they are easier to crumble. It also scored best on Overall Opinion, Overall Taste and Overall Appearance during its testing phase in Nigeria.

Speaking at the re-launch, the Brand Building Director, Mr. David Okeme, stated that the new seasoning is nothing live ever seen before in the Nigerian market and it would blow away the minds of consumers. Also, speaking, the Category Manager, Savoury, Mrs. Bolanle Kehinde-Lawal urged consumers and lovers of the brand to try out new improved Knorr cubes especially at the festive season, which is fast approaching as a time to prepare great meals and celebrate with loved ones. Some of the guests were rewarded with gifts for answering questions on Knorr.

Monday, December 16, 2013 75

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

OIL&GASWEEKLY Remi Aiyela, Editor-in-Chief

2006 at a water depth of approximately 1,500metres. Subsequently, the Egina-4 was drilled in November 2006 and Egina-5 was drilled in January 2007.

The Egina field is being developed by Total Upstream Nigeria (24per cent) in partnership with NNPC (10per cent), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) 45per cent; Sapetro (five per cent) and Petrobras (16per cent).

ARELYtwo days after shutting down the flow B stations on the Tebidaba-Brass pipeline, which carries about 47,000 barrels per day

UPSTREAM NEWS

(bpd), Italian firm Eni has re-opened them. The company confirmed the closure of the flow stations last Sunday. A spokesman for Eni said in a statement: “Repairs have been completed and the flow stations are being reopened.”

The closure of the flow stations became necessary because of a fire following an act of sabotaged last weekend. After completing repairs in record time the company was able to avoid a force majeure declaration, which would have resulted in a deferral of 47,000 barrels.

Only two weeks earlier, the company was involved in an oil spill when a tanker discharged a large amount of oil during loading.

Nigeria continues to lose an estimated 150,000 barrels of oil per day to oil theft most of which happens through illegal tapping of the pipelines, often causing terrible devastation to the environment. However, the international oil companies (IOCs) have also been accused of adding to the problem through the continued use of obsolete equipment and pipelines.

IM-LISTED Sirius Petroleum’s shares surged A on 13.8% Tuesday to 4.13p following the revelation that its shallow offshore Ororo field located in oil mining lease (OML) 95 has turned out to be larger than expected after an independent evaluation by Schlumberger. The Ororo Field sits in shallow water offshore Ondo State, Nigeria, in water depths ranging between 23 feet and 27 feet.

The new study of the data has revised estimates upwards to 35.2 - 44.1 million stock tank barrels of oil (MMSTB), with Ororo-1 well alone estimated at 10-12.8 MMSTB. Ororo-1 flow-tested at 2,800 barrels per day and seven oil-bearing sands have been found.

Elated at the news, Bobo Kuti, the newly appointed Chief Executive said: “The independent assessment of the oil in place in the first of our portfolio of assets to be exploited, the Ororo field, indicates a greater asset base than we had originally expected.”

Sirius’ partners in Ororo field are Owena Oil and Gas Limited (owned by the Ondo State Government) and an indigenous company, Guarantee Petroleum Company Limited from whom Sirius acquired a 40 per cent interest.

Sirius will get a preferential (88 per cent) cash flow from production to recover its investment but following cost recovery it will mirror their equity interests.

The company now intends to accelerate the development of the field and take it to first oil.

They are in discussions with Schlumberger to provide project management and drilling services.

Total to Produce 150,000 bpd from Egina by 2017 RENCH oil giant Total plans to produce FEgina 150,000 barrels-per-day of crude oil from its deepwater field located 150 kilometres off the coast of Nigeria by the end of 2017. The company disclosed this over the weekend during the celebration of the completion of the detailed engineering of the living quarters for its Ofon field.

The Egina Project Manager, Mr. Jean Nichel Guy said this is going to be trail blazing in the history of oil production by international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria and the West Africa region.

He noted that the Egina project was the first major project in Nigeria since the Nigerian Content Act was signed into law in April 2010.

“It means that we have integrated from the beginning, the requirements of the Nigerian Content Act and it was fully embedded in the scope of work of each of the packages,” he said.

He said the project was an example for Nigerian and international contractors, adding that Total was proud of what had been achieved.

Egina, which is currently under development, is the third deep offshore development of Total in Nigeria. Located about 20 kilometres away from Akpo field, Egina field lies within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130 and covers an area of around 500 square miles in a water depth of up to 1,750metres.

The field was discovered in December 2003 when the Egina-1 well was drilled, with the appraisal well Egina-2 drilled in 2004. The appraisal programme and seismic data processing led to the drilling of the Egina-3 well in

undertake turn-around maintenance over the years which has left the refinery functioning at a fraction of its actual capacity. The refinery is now up for sale along with other governmentowned refineries.

DOWNSTREAM NEWS

Eni Re-Opens Tebidaba-Brass Pipeline After Flow Station Fire

editor@NOGintelligence.com www.NOGintelligence.com

Sirius Petroleum Ororo Field Find Larger than Expected

in association with

Blacksands Pacific Terminates OPL 2012 Agreement energy group, Blacksands IitNTERNATIONAL Pacific has issued a statement in which it says has terminated all “discussions, interests and agreement” with Sigmund Oilfields Limited and Grasso Consortium consisting of Grasso Nigeria Limited, Oil and Gas Mission Limited and Eurafric Energy Limited for the development of the oil prospecting licence (OPL 2012).

OPL 2012 is located Offshore Niger Delta, in shallow waters between 50 and 100m, within a highly prospective zone bordered by Shell’s HD field to the northwest, NNPC’s Agbara field to the west, several oil and gas discoveries of Addax to the south, H1 field of Sunlink to the west and JK Field of Shell to the north.

Explaining the background to the relationship, Blacksands Pacific said it had entered into a participation agreement with Sigmund and Grasso Consortium following which Blacksands Pacific commenced extensive diligence. The US company says it procured $250 Million Dollars finance for the project but was unable to obtain the necessary commitment and assurances from Sigmund and Grasso.

Blacksands Pacific has been scouting for assets in Nigeria for some years but so far it does not seem to have had much luck in concluding any acquisition. The company’s website claims that “in the African Region, Blacksands Pacific’s core assets and operations focus are in the prolific region of West Africa” although it fails to mention which particular assets those are.

MIDSTREAM

Oando Signs 5m Euro LPG Finance Agreement with German Bank EADINGindigenous marketer Oando Plc has L signed a 5 million Euro agreement with KFW, a German government-owned development bank based in Frankfurt, which will enhance the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Nigerians, particularly low-income groups.

Explaining how the funds would be utilised, Abayomi Awobokun, Oando Marketing’s Chief Executive Officer said the funds invested through the agreement would be made available to select micro finance institutions. These institutions will lend the funds out to end users of LPG as well as micro, small and mediumsized enterprises for their LPG investments.

Awobokun pointed out that Oando Marketing had recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of Microfinance Banks (MFBs) with the sole objective of making cleaner and safer cooking fuel more accessible to Nigerians. The deal with the MFBs will enable customers to purchase a complete set of 3kg O-Gas cylinder with just a N200 initial deposit.

Oando is at the forefront of the campaign to get the general populace, particularly the lowincome group to switch from environmentally damaging kerosene, coal and wood to LPG, popularly known as cooking gas.

Nigeria has the 9th highest deposit of gas in the world, but most of the gas is flared. The government is trying to get the nation to switch from fossil fuels to the more environmentally friendly cooking gas.

PERATIONS have resumed at Warri O Refinery, some six weeks after a fire at the refinery and petrochemical plant which produces petrol, kerosene, diesel and other petroleum by products, caught fire. At the time, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was at pains to dismiss it as a minor incident after the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for starting the fire.

NNPC says did not cause any injuries.

Full-scale production is expected to resume very soon to bring the refinery to its pre-shutdown capacity.

Warri Refinery was opened in 1978 and has the capacity to process 100,000 barrels of oil per day. After undergoing an upgrade in 1987, the capacity was taken upwards to 120,000 barrels per day. The Government has failed to

FINANCIAL NEWS

OPEC Daily Basket Price Stood at $106.96 a barrel Thursday, 12 December 2013 HE price of OPEC basket of twelve T crudes stood at $106.96 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $106.81 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Prices are beginning to rally again after a steep drop of just over $2 between 4th of December and 10th of December.

Introduced on 16 June 2005, is currently made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

IPMAN Members Warned to Comply with Loading Policy HE Independent Petroleum Marketers T Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has warned all its members to comply with the “First in

Warri Refinery Fire Repairs Complete

regarding expatriate quota management. The warning notice stated that it had come to the attention of NCDMB that operators, multinationals and service companies operating in the Nigerian oil and gas industries have introduced early retirement programs as a way of inducing and coercing experienced Nigerian professionals to leave service prematurely.

The notice said that this “disturbing trend” is leading to the depletion of Nigerian experienced manpower in the industry. The companies, the notice said, are also using this as a basis for bringing in expatriates on the pretext that there are insufficient experienced Nigerians to perform critical operations in their organisations.

NCDMB says that to stem the trend, it will now require all operators and service companies that embarked on staff rationalisation from January 2012 to submit certain information about the exercise to the Board.

The information to be submitted to the Board includes the objectives of the exercise, details of all Nigerian staff in employment for a minimum of 5 years, expatriate staff, where work permits were obtained and other information that will enable the Board to review the exercise in question. Affected companies have till 20th January 2014 to submit the dossier.

NCDMB also states in the notice that any operator or service company planning to embark on any form of staff rationalisation must notify the Board of such scheme and provide justification and the impact on Nigerian workforce.

Operators and service companies are also now required to submit quarterly reports showing the succession plan implementation progress for each expatriate position to ensure that Nigerian understudies are given the opportunity to take over positions within agreed time frames.

NCDMB says non-compliance will mean that no expatriate quota will be processed for such organisation. Other penalties specified in the Section 68 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 will also be applied by NCDMB.

First out” (FIFO) loading policy or face sanctions. FIFO is a new petroleum products loading policy introduced by the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC).

A joint statement by IPMAN National President Aminu Abdulkadir and secretary, Mike Osatuyi, said the association will not hesitate to sanction any member, zonal or depot executive flouting the new rule introduced by PPMC. IPMAN explained in the statement that the policy is aimed at streamlining the loading system of both PMS (petrol), DPK (kerosene) and AGO (diesel). The association has directed all its zonal chairmen and depot heads to comply with the policy to ensure the immediate clearance of outstanding tickets.

LOCAL CONTENT NCDMB Takes Hard Line on Expatriate Quotas HE Nigerian Content and Development T Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has issued a strong warning to oil and gas companies

CAMAC To Issue Senior Credit Notes for Oyo Field Finance AMAC Energy has announced that it is to raise C up to $300 million through senior notes, which it will use to further develop the Oyo field located offshore in oil mining lease (OML) 120.

The senior notes are being offered and sold only toqualifiedinstitutionalbuyersunderRule144A under the US Securities Act. It can only be offered to non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act. Only two weeks ago, Houston based CAMAC Energy Incorporated founded by Nigerian, Dr Kase Lawal entered into a definitive agreement for a $270 million equity investment with South African State-owned Public Investment Corporation (PIC). The investment will give PIC approximately 30% equity interest in CAMAC after completion of the transactions. New York Stock Exchange listed CAMAC will also list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as part of the deal with PIC. Prior to the deal with PIC, CAMAC Energy had entered into an agreement to acquire additional interest in its wholly owned subsidiary, Allied Energy, which will enable it to get a 100 per cent economic interest in the production sharing contracts covering Oil Mining Leases (OML) 120 and 121 offshore Nigeria. To acquire the interest, CAMAC Energy will issue 497,454,857 shares of common stock, pay US$170 million in cash and issue a US$50 million convertible subordinated note.

Current production from Oyo Field is approximately 2,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), but there are already plans to ramp up production.

Dr Lawal said that the company intends to pursue a production goal of 14,000 barrels of oil per day once Oyo-7 and Oyo-8 are completed next year.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

InsideTax

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78 Monday, December 16, 2013

Sports Ahead South Africa 2014 CHAN

UEFA Champions League last 16 draw

Eagles return to two training sessions daily From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE technical crew of the T Super Eagles yesterday announced that the team would return to its normal two training sessions per day, following the end at the weekend of the maiden National Youth Games, which forced the alteration of their training programme.

The Super Eagles have been in camp in Abuja since last week, but they were forced to adjust their training schedule to once daily the Abuja National Stadium was busy during the period.

Aside the National Youth Games, the national Under20 women team, the Falconets, also camped and played their FIFA World Cup qualifier against Tunisia at the stadium.

Speaking before leading the team to training yesterday, Head Coach, Stephen Keshi said from today, the team will now train in the morning and evening time.

Keshi, who spoke of the need to reduce the number of players in camp from 30 to 23 due to the little time left for the technical crew to work on the squad, revealed that the team must intensify training to be ready for departure to South Africa in the first week of January.

He warned the players in camp to be very competitive for the CHAN shirt, insisting that no single player will be favoured against another.

“We have just a little time left for training, so we have to begin the process of reducing the team to 23 as required by CAF. “Thank God there are no

more distractions with the end of the youth games. We are going back to our usual two training sessions per day, beginning from Monday. And that will give us the opportunity to watch the boys very well and pick the best.

“At the moment not even the established players like Chigozie Agbim, Sunday Mba, Solomon Kwambe, Gambo Mohammed, Benjamin Francis and Azubuike Egwuekwe are sure of shirts as we have made it clear that only the fittest and the best as shown in training and practice matches will be picked for the tournament,” Keshi said.

The team will now shift its training sessions to the training pitch of the Abuja stadium today to get used to natural turf, which organisers of CHAN 2014 will use for the tournament.

Arsenal, Man City nervously await opponents RSENAL and Manchester A City will be nervously awaiting today’s UEFA

Coach Stephen Keshi meets with his players before a recent training session at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja National Stadium.

National Youth Games has thrown up 370 special talents, says Abdullahi PORTS Minister/Chairman, SCommission National Sports (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi has revealed that the just ended First National Youth Games has thrown up over 370 special talents.

The games ended at the weekend and an excited Abdullahi said he was very pleased with the outcome of the games, explaining that he was impressed with the large turn out of participants and even more so with the enthusiasm and skills of the young athletes.

According to Abdullahi, the first youth games achieved its primary objective, which

is the early discovery and identification of talents.

“We are very happy with the outcome of the games, with the turnout of athletes, their enthusiasm and skills. With what I saw during the games, I am confident that we have a great future in sports.

“I want to assure all the athletes that they are all winners. And for the special talents, we will ensure that they are part of our high performance system, which we have just established,” Abdullahi stated.

The 370 special talents were discovered in 14 sports; football, boxing, basketball, bad-

minton, handball, power lifting, tennis, track and field and squash. Others are weightlifting, wrestling, taekwondo, volleyball and table tennis.

2917 athletes from 31 states and the FCT participated in the games that held between December 6 and December 15. Lagos, Ekiti, Jigawa, Zamfara and Edo states were absent.

The notable highpoint of the games was the disqualification of 667 athletes before the start of events for being over the minimum age of 17.

The 574 disqualified athletes were male, while 93

were female. Benue, Abia and Delta had the highest number of disqualified athletes with 48, 46 and 45 respectively, while Kebbi (seven), Kogi (eight), Kwara (eight), Ebonyi (five), Sokoto (nine) and Kaduna (ten) had the lowest number of disqualified athletes.

Another notable highpoint of the games was the defeat of Nigeria’s Under-18 champion, Sarah Adegoke from Oyo State in two straight sets of 62, 7-5 by Lizzy Pam, a secondary school student based in England, who represented Plateau in the female singles event.

Champions League draw after qualifying for the knockout phase as runners-up.

Defeat for the Gunners against Napoli last Wednesday and City’s slender win over Bayern Munich has left both sides facing a daunting array of potential opponents.

Fellow Premier League clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea, will go into the hat as group winners and can expect an easier ride.

Group winners will be drawn against runners-up, and clubs will not be paired against others from the same country, or against those they have already faced in the group stages.

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Pellegrini’s Manchester City are left hoping for a good draw after finishing second in their Champions League groups. Their potential opponents are Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich (Arsenal only), Borussia Dortmund (Man City only), Real Madrid, and Paris St Germain.

It is hard to suggest there is a favourable draw to be had from this selection, although Spanish superpowers, Barcelona and Real Madrid, perhaps, stand out as the ones to avoid thanks to their dazzling array of star names.

Pellegrini believes Man City’s 3-2 win at Bayern Munich shows that there is not a difference in quality.

The same might also go for the German sides but the fact City beat Bayern and Arsenal toppled Dortmund on their travels during the group stages would at least offer hope.

Atletico do not hold the same fear factor as the other La Liga sides, but cannot be taken lightly as they sit joint-top of the table alongside Barcelona, three points clear of neighbours Real, and also came through Group G unbeaten.

English Premiership

Suarez puts Villas-Boaz job on the line, as Liverpool beat Tottenham 5-0 White Hart Lane would have route to a welcome three UIS Suarez, who captained • Man U beat Villa 3-0 Lyesterday Liverpool for the first time took on Jordan Henderson’s given the Spurs’ board of points.

Welbeck, who had not directors a lot of worry as their at the White Hart

Liverpool’s Suarez (left) celebrates his opening goal against Tottenham with Coutinho during their English Premier League match at White Hart Lane…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Lane, proved too hot for the Spurs’ defenders in their late evening clash that ended with the visitors posting five unreplied goals to pile the pressure on Andres VillasBoaz.

Suarez scored two, with Henderson, Flanagan and Raheem Sterling getting the other goals.

The Uruguayan got the first goal in the 18th by coolly slotting the ball past the despairing dive of Hugo Lloris when the ball broke to him in the home team’s box.

Suarez’s 16th goal of the season took him past the total for the whole Spurs side when he

flick to find the bottom corner.

Philippe Coutinho hit the bar excellent the before Henderson volleyed in.

Paulinho was then sent off for kicking Suarez before goals from Jon Flanagan, Suarez and Raheem Sterling completed a miserable afternoon for Spurs.

A weekend that started with Manchester City beating another London side, Arsenal, 6-3, also saw Manchester United beating Aston Villa 3-0 and Norwich sharing the spoils with Swansea in a 1-1 draw.

But the manner Liverpool dispatched Tottenham at

manager seemed lost in the avalanche of goals.

Earlier, Manchester United seemed to have rediscovered the winning habit in the Barclays Premier League as Danny Welbeck’s first-half double and Tom Cleverley’s strike eased them to a 3-0 victory at Aston Villa.

David Moyes’ side went into the game facing the prospect of a hat trick of defeats for only the third time in the entire Premier League era.

But once Welbeck rattled in the rebound after Adnan Januzaj had headed against a post, there was never much chance of it happening en-

scored in the league since the opening day of the season, added another from Antonio Valencia’s cross.

Then Cleverley, who like Welbeck has been singled out for criticism by many supporters for his part in United’s struggles this term, belted home his first goal in a year from Wayne Rooney’s lay-off.

Gary Hooper scored a superb 25-yard effort to earn Norwich a 1-1 draw against Swansea at Carrow Road, where Nathan Dyer looked to have suffered a serious ankle injury after earlier putting the visitors in front.

Monday, December 16, 2013 SPORT

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79

Inclusion in 2013 Mary Slessor Charity tourney thrills tour pros Stories by Eno-Abasi Sunday CHILDREN’S clinic, where A school-aged children, who love golf from a distance, would have the chance to take their first steps towards realising their dreams, will kickstart the 2013 Mary Slessor Charity Golf Tournament, on Wednesday, December 18.

The pros’ event is one of the two 72-hole events with a winning purse of N5 million slated for the same days in different parts of the country. The other is a tournament taking place at the Oturkpo Golf and Country Club, Akpegede, Otukpo, Benue State. The facility is owned by sponsor of the tournament and Senate President, David Mark.

The Mary Slessor Charity Golf Tournament, the brainchild of wife of the Cross River

State Government, Obioma Liyel Imoke, which made its debut in 2008, has remained quite successful over the years.

Apart from the amateur event being used to raise funds in support of the governor’s wife pet projectsPartnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realisation (POWER), and “Mothers Against Child Abandonment,” it has also contributed to the development of professional golf in the country, even as the Children’s Clinic helps children who love the sport from a distance to take their first steps towards realising their dream.

Speaking of his members’ delight at being accommodated in this year’s tourney, Tournament Director of

PGAN, Martins Odoh said, “some of our members are in a “dilemma” because they are confused about, which of the two tournaments taking place the same weekend to attend. The truth is, we are returning to Calabar after a two year absence and we are very grateful to the governor’s wife for giving us the opportunity to be back in the tournament.

“We tried our best to get a little shift in date in the Calabar event or to make it a two-day event because of time constraint, but we could not.

However, the truth is, we could not turn down the event or cancel it because the organisers bent backwards to accommodate us.

“Having said that, we have enough members that would make each of the two tournaments worthwhile and our members are at liberty to attend any of the tournaments they wish to,” Odoh added.

A programme of activities released by organisers of the event, indicate that after the children’s clinic, professionals would get into action. The 72-hole pros’ event would run from Thursday, December 19 to Sunday, December 22.

In the last two days, the professionals would, however, be joined by amateur players expected to be drawn from all over the country.

Mrs Imoke, who spoke to The Guardian in an exclusive interview during the fourth edition of the tourney, had informed that she had patented the Mary Slessor Golf Tournament in a bid to ensure that it outlives her husband’s administration and continue to realise its objectives.

Bayelsa State athletes wave goodbye to the First National Youth Games, which ended in Abuja…at the weekend.

Makurdi comes alive for FEPSGA games AKURDI, the city in the M heart of the nation’s food region, will host over 6,500 athletes and officials, who will from today begin a 10-day quest for individual and collective honours.

It is the 32nd edition of the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA), which will be formally declared open by Benue State Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam.

While welcoming the athletes and their officials to Makurdi for today’s kick off of the competition, the organisers of the games have promised both the participants and sports fans of an exciting games, which will feature 14 events.

26 teams for 15th ipNX Police Rookies tourney Youth basketballers going for honours during a recent Nestle Milo Basketball Championship. Gombe will host the 2013 National Division One Basketball League, which begins today.

Umuahia Club captain, Nwoko win top prize, as NB golf tourney ends From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE 2013 edition of the Nigerian Breweries (NB) tennis tournament has ended at the Ridge Club, Umuahia, Abia State, with the club’s Captain, Steve Omeoga, sharing the first position on 21 points with Ferguson Nwoko.

The second position went to Livinus Okeh, who scored 20 points in the two-day tournament held in the 93-year-old club.

The 44 players, who featured in the tournament, were drawn from Abuja, Ohafia, Orlu, Umuahia and Uturu clubs Uniquely, all the 44 participants, who won or lost, went home with prizes ranging from washing machines, refrigerators, fans, plasma television sets, pressing irons etc.

The participants selected prizes of their choice from the lot when called out in order of their scores, beginning with the highest or first position.

Speaking at the formal closing ceremony, the NB Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nicolaas

T

Vervelde said the tournament offers his company another window to demonstrate not only its love and commitment to sports development in Abia State and Nigeria in general, but to support human capital development.

Vervelde, who was represented by the Aba Brewery Manager, Ukeje Udah, urged tennis enthusiasts and well spirited individuals and organisations to join hands to promote the sport to an enviable level, adding, “events like this offers us leverage as a corporate body to demonstrate our commitment towards sports development in Nigeria, bearing in mind the importance of sports in the development of an active and healthy mind.”

Chairman of the Ridge Club, Aud Ajuzie, thanked the NB “for its continuous sponsorship of this tournament, which has inculcated synergy and cohesion between us and other sister clubs,” adding that he was optimistic that future national and international champions will emerge from the tournament.

WENTY-SIX youth teams T from across Nigeria will converge at the basketball court of the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos from December 16 to 21 for the 15th edition of the annual ipNX Police Rookies Basketball Championship.

According to the co-ordinator of the competition, Mark Balogun, this year’s tourney would attract teams from the Under-14 to U-18 in the boys and girls cadre, as arrangement are in top gear to have teams from all over Nigeria

participating.

Balogun explained that six teams will vie for honours in the U-14 boys category; eight in the U16 young men while the U18 will features eight team in the men category and four in the women with teams being expected from Delta, Edo, Anambra, FCT, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos states.

Balogun, who doubles as the head coach of the Police Baton basketball club in the Nigeria top-flight DStv Premier League says bountiful prices awaits winners in all categories.

Meanwhile, the defending champions, Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, who came tops at the 31st edition held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, have promised to retain its title, while Team Niger Delta Ministry, who have been winning the gold medal in the Match Past event, have also promised to grab its first medal from the event today.

Yesterday, the organisers held a roadshow in the city to create awareness for the competition.

Speaking ahead of today’s opening of the games, FEPSGA President, Dr. Victor Orji said the modalities have been put in place to ensure that only eligible athletes took part in the games.

He revealed that the opening and closing ceremony would

hold at the McCarty, while Government College and Mount. St. Gabriel College will host football, Makurdi Club will host Badminton, Table Tennis and Squash, and NAF Base will host swimming, while Aper Aku Stadium will host all other ball games.

Dignities expected at the opening ceremony are Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim, Head of Service of the Federation, Bukar Goni Aje, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Fatima Bamidele, Permanent, Secretary Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Henry Akpan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi.

Ondo dominates Lagos invitational gymnastics tourney NDO State showed their O stuff at the Lagos Invitational Artistic Gymnastics Championship after mopping the largest number of gold medals at the two-day tournament held at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park.

To be crowned the overall winner of the competition,

President of Auto Spare Parts Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA), Anthony Ughagwu; Head, Lagos Zone, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Michael Ana and Branch Manager, Stanbic IBTC Bank Trade Fair branch, Chijioke Uzosike, before the kick off of a novelty match between Stanbic IBTC Bank and ASPAMDA traders in Lagos… recently.

Ondo amassed five gold, three silver and five bronze medals, while its neighbour, Ekiti finished second with three gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

However, the host – Lagos claimed third place with two gold, six silver and two bronze medals, while Oyo with a bronze medal settled for fourth place among the five states that took part in the championship.

The competition was organised by the Lagos State Gymnastics Association with over 60 gymnasts drawn from five states participated in the tournament.

According to the organisers, it was aimed to inspire the athletes, as well as giving them the opportunity to compete with the best gymnasts in the country.

Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Oshodi commended the association for staging the championship, adding that the new equipment, which the state government provided for association has been put into good use to develop the athletes.

TheGuardian

Monday, December 16, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Obioha Uchechukwu Ebere OES this title ring a bell? If you have ever used an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) in Nigeria, you would have heard something similar to the title of this article but with a minor change. So, what is the point in all these? Let’s assume you were at an ATM to withdraw some cash for your fiancée and as usual, you heard the “Please wait while your transaction is processing” but you waited for more than 10 minutes without any cash coming out. It is very likely that at this stage you may want to go inside the bank to report this problem and may be, if the bank is reasonable, you will get the problem resolved within minutes. This same situation applies to Nigeria, we all want to see a “wonderful Nigeria” (motorable roads, stable power supply, zero per cent unemployment, zero per cent extreme poverty and among other good things) but it is taking very long for us to see this “wonderful Nigeria” but whom do we report to?

Nigeria is unquestionably one country that the Almighty has bestowed with rich natural resources and wonderful people who try to survive even when conditions are not favourable. Despite the negative image being painted by both Nigerians and foreigners of Nigeria, I still believe that there is something special about Nigeria and even if all may not look cozy at the moment, Nigeria has the potential to become one of the top countries in the world within the next few years, all things being equal. To achieve this, Nigerians need to demonstrate a very high level of patriotism and participate only in processes that will bring about a positive turnaround in the country. It is taking long for us to see that “wonderful Nigeria” because we have refused to change our malevolent ways that have held us from moving forward. Some other countries are already producing results and that is why we run to these countries in search of greener pastures.

Nigerians are so quick in pointing accusing fingers at the government for any negative thing that happens to/in the country but we are largely responsible for the negative image Nigeria may have enthusiastically earned. Today,

D

To create that “wonderful Nigeria” we all crave for, we must first of all, stop our malevolent ways. Though there is no denying the fact that the government still has a role to play in ensuring the country develops rapidly, greater responsibility, however, rest on the shoulders of the average Nigerian. My Nigeria is your Nigeria, if you refuse to change, Nigeria won’t change either. Let the change we are seeking begin with each individual and Nigeria will become a new Nigeria of our pride and joy.

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President Goodluck Jonathan and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during the launch of the YouWiN! Website. The YouWiN! programme is one of the most prominent job creation interventions of the Jonathan-led government supported by N50 billion ($315 million) job creation fund. examination malpractice is rampant in almost all schools, our parents and teachers now see examination malpractice as something that must be done to

ensure students pass their examinations. On the internet, you see websites created by Nigerians solely to provide illegal examination answers to

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are peculiar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

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Editor: MARTINS

OLOJA

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ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125)

Nigeria is unquestionably one country that the Almighty has bestowed with rich natural resources and wonderful people who try to survive even when conditions are not favourable. Despite the negative image being painted by both Nigerians and foreigners of Nigeria, I still believe that there is something special about Nigeria and even if all may not look cozy at the moment, Nigeria has the potential to become one of the top countries in the world within the next few years, all things being equal Nigerians. That Nigerians are seen as fraudsters in the eyes of foreigners may not be unconnected with the obnoxious things we do in foreign countries.

We engage in drug trafficking, prostitution, illegal marriages and internet scam just to make quick and easy money. One thing to note is that the activities of some unscrupulous Nigerians abroad jeopardises the chances of innocent Nigerians getting an opportunity abroad. Instead of running out of the country to engage in fraudulent activities, why not stay in the country and join hands in developing it. John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”.

In our offices, how do we carry out our daily activities? Some of us insist on collecting bribes before we render our duties. How do we handle government facilities in our possession? We treat them badly. We dispose our wastes on the main road, allowing them to clog the gutters and cause flooding.

Nigerians barely obey traffic rules and we are also responsible for the religious/ethnic violence and terrorism Nigeria is currently experiencing. We produce and sell fake and pirated CDs (Compact Discs), engage in kidnapping, nepotism, money laundering and other forms of not-too-worthy things.

To create that “wonderful Nigeria” we all crave for, we must first of all, stop our malevolent ways. Though there is no denying the fact that the government still has a role to play in ensuring the country develops rapidly, greater responsibility, however, rest on the shoulders of the average Nigerian. My Nigeria is your Nigeria, if you refuse to change, Nigeria won’t change either.

Let the change we are seeking begin with each individual and Nigeria will become a new Nigeria of our pride and joy.

Finally, Nigerians should embrace entrepreneurship and young people especially, need to use technology in creating innovative products and services that can help develop the country.

We need change in Nigeria but this change can only start from you and from me.

Ebere lives in Lagos.